(Untitled)

[frustrated_asst]

Natalie wanders down to the bar, settles in at a table, and orders dinner. She decides upon spaghetti and meatballs, with a small side salad, and a good red wine paired with the meal.

She would not be adverse to some company while she eats, though.

Comments

[imthegoodguy]

Not too far away is a man wearing circular glasses, reading a newspaper. In Russian.

If he wasn't a native English speaker there might've be wacky language hijinks in the future!

[frustrated_asst]

She looks over lazily, quirks a brow, and twirls her spaghetti against a spoon. "What's the good news?" she asks.

[imthegoodguy]

"It's a new year and nothing is happening," he replies, looking up to her with a grin.

[frustrated_asst]

She smirks. "No Swavorski balls dropping to say 'hi, it's the new year'? No drunken soirees to help the rich celebrate? No fireworks gone haywire? I'm disappointed in the Russians."

[slightlymonkish]

Someone is now sitting next to her, straightening out her napkin.

Who could it possibly be?

[frustrated_asst]

"Hello, Mr. Monk." She smiles at her boss. "How are you?"

[slightlymonkish]

"Okay," he answers honestly, distractedly poking at the napkin dispenser across from them. "Still trying to clear my head."

[frustrated_asst]

She nods. "Can I help?" she asks, looking over at him.

[gorgonfondness]

There's a young woman nearby, not much older than Julie. In fact, she looks the same age as Julie.

She was only passing by, starting to ponder about her own supper and possibly bringing some home when she catches a whiff of Natalie's simple-yet-delicious meal. And she's a big advocate of simple-yet-delicious.

She stops, takes a step back.

Well, Uncle Rabastan always did seem to favor Italian, but she's never seen that exact dish.

"Excuse me, but that looks good. What's in that?"

[frustrated_asst]

Natalie looks up, and smiles. "This? This is spaghetti and meatballs. You can try a bite, if you'd like," she says, offering the fork to the girl.

[gorgonfondness]

The meatballs she's wary about. All ground up and in tomato sauce? They could be anything from ant to grog snake.

But she takes the fork and ventures a bite.

Thank goodness, it's cow! And pig! Yummy!

"Ooh, I like that. Much better than some of the meatballs I've had before at home. And it looks like it might be fun to make."

[frustrated_asst]

"If you want, when I go home, I can get you a recipe and bring it back to you." She smiles at the girl again. "By the way, my name is Natalie."