(Untitled)

[stayastranger]

There was something satisfying in the change of the weather, Sarah found, as if it were some kind of proof she was right about this place. With the exception of Halloween, it had been quiet of late, at least for her, and she'd been so sure a change was coming; things never stayed that peaceful for long, not on the island or off it. As potential

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[blondrussianspy]

Natalya was dressed in special ops white from head to toe. The material was cheap, and the back panel of the jacket had a ridiculously hideous pale grey camouflage pattern, but the hood was furred and the fit was perfect, and the pants tucked easily into the boots she'd arrived in and worn almost every day since. She hadn't been inside since the weather had switched, and she didn't plan on going in until it was too dark to see anything or breathe comfortably.

There was snow.

"Sarah, pryvet!" Natalya called, beaming and pushing her sunglasses up onto her forehead. "Zima na poslednem! This weather, it is being beautiful, no?"

[stayastranger]

Natalya was one person in particular Sarah felt a little uncomfortable lying to, if only because she felt foolish for having chosen to pretend not to speak Russian. But then, she figured, Natalya was likely suspicious enough of her as it was.

Smiling warmly, she pushed such thoughts aside, pleased to see Natalya so happy. "It really is," she said. "It's breathtaking, really. You look as if you've been enjoying it."

[blondrussianspy]

"Da," Natalya said, "more as yet than anything else I am finding here, this is bring... comforting. Perhaps not so much Disney castle," she added, looking up at the compound with a raised eyebrow.

[stayastranger]

Sarah laughed again, nodding, her hands curled up in her pockets for some extra measure of warmth though she didn't mind the cold at all. "That's exactly what it looks like," she agreed. "Of all the changes I noticed on the walk up here, it's certainly the most... absurd."

[blondrussianspy]

"Is forgivable," Natalya said, inhaling the crisp, cool air. She hummed a little, pleased.

"I am thinking most things would right now be forgivable."

[stayastranger]

"You've really missed it, haven't you?" Sarah observed. "Well, if last year's anything to judge by, it might stick around a little while." For Natalya's sake, she certainly hoped it was so.

[blondrussianspy]

"Is has been years," Natalya confirmed. "Is thing I never could be seeing, away from home, remind me most of it. My training was most in snow," she added, hand absently cradling the butt of her rifle.

"I was... meet my husband, in snow. Is where I am most happy for being." She brushed some of it away from her hair where it fell out of the hood, and flashed Sarah a smile.

"You are I am sure less so, being from California.'

[stayastranger]

Sarah ducked her head, nodding a little. "You know, I think I actually like it," she said. "We never had much at home, but... it seems peaceful." There'd been plenty at times, though, depending on where they had been for the winter. But that was the story of her life, every year so unlike the last until she'd come to Los Angeles and met Chuck. "How did you and your husband meet?"

[blondrussianspy]

"Second year in training with Spetsnaz, in... up north," Natalya said, and grinned a little.

"He was for me, ah... instructor? Was teach me how for use dragunov, then was, ah, officer in commanding. Until we are married, then becoming same rank." Her gaze shifted minutely downward, off somewhere and distant. She didn't sigh or clear her throat, but she looked down to break the thought before managing another smile at Sarah.

"You were going inside?"

[stayastranger]

Sarah nodded, curious, but not wanting to push, not when it came to this. It was too personal. She liked Natalya, but she had no right to pry, she knew, when she concealed so much herself. "I was, yes," she said. "I am. I was just... surprised by the change. I guess I shouldn't be, even my hut changed... Are you headed inside?"

[blondrussianspy]

"Da," she said happily, "for something is warm for drink, since finally can do so with comfort, weather is good for it. Perhaps I am mentioning this previous but I hate hot weathers." She started forward, shouldering the ornate and high arching door open, and gesture for Sarah to head in.

[stayastranger]

"I might have heard something about that," Sarah said, smiling. She nodded her thanks as she passed, shrugging off her coat. "Look at this place. It's practically Santa's workshop." It seemed as if every inch of the place was decorated, strewn with glitter and ornaments. "I wonder if there's hot chocolate now. There was last year."

[blondrussianspy]

"Hot chocolate is good," Natalya said, "better with vodka."

She unzipped her jacket as they walked down the grand, sparkly hall for the kitchen.

"Is must be strange, for you having been here twice for snow, now. A long time from home."

[stayastranger]

Sarah nodded, allowing a trace of wistfulness to slip into her expression. "It is," she said. "It feels like I haven't been home in forever. Not that I don't like it here, but... I miss it sometimes." Sarah Walker would, after all. She had a family to go home to, a father who wasn't in jail, one specific place where she could say she'd grown up. Except that none of that was true and her memories of the holiday season were generally much less innocent than all these lights and the smell of things baking could ever evoke. "It's strange. I knew people had been here a long time, but I don't think I ever really thought I'd be one of them."

[blondrussianspy]

Natalya watched Sarah's expression with ostensibly no more attention than the conversation warranted.

"Da. Already, I am amaze by how fast is time, here. How long I am... have been here. But you are having family at holiday, is good, da? Charles, his siblings."

[stayastranger]

"Ellie," Sarah said, nodding. "And her husband Devon. It really does help. They're wonderful, they really are. They've been so sweet to me." It was one of the things that made this particular mission both very difficult and extremely easy. There was no doubt in her mind that it was worth lying to them to keep them safe.