[Yelena likes to check out the shops and stores on missions, assuming the mission is one that has shops and stores. This one does, so once she’s settled into town she makes a point of popping into the general store to buy a few things. And to eavesdrop, of course.
She notices Itachi talking with the clerk and drifts a little closer to the front desk, curious about how he's handling this mission. Plus, she’s pretty sure he was in the first group to arrive, so maybe he’s learned something by now. Though, actually, she wouldn’t necessarily bet on his being willing to share.
Still, she browses a shelf nearby, waiting for him to be done with his business, and maybe listening into his conversation a little. Like you do.]
（ so she gets a real treat — itachi, completely in character as his charming self, heir to a great fortune and somewhat profligate with both affection and money. he is flirting with the shopkeeper playfully, and there is real richness and warmth to his voice that is so often entirely absent when he speaks. whether it gained him any ground or not is hard to say, but as he's leaving he steps past yelena, inclines his head, ）
Ah, Miss Belova! This package is terribly heavy, would you mind accompanying me back to my home?
（ she is now his Designated Packhorse, thank you.
and the package is barely heavy at all as he dumps it cheerfully into her arms. ）
[Yelena accepts the package with visible confusion. Not because he passed the package to her but because he’s smiling and it’s weird. Being trained in spycraft herself she is familiar with the concept of playing a part, and she’s even doing it herself at the moment to an extent. She just wasn’t expecting this level of commitment from Itachi.
She stops herself from saying "what the fuck" and instead says:]
Okay, lead the way.
[She is actually speaking in the worlds worst attempt at a Texas accent herself.]
（ so he does. and yelena is treated to the spectacularly uncanny sight of itachi making nice. he greets many of the townsfolk by name, tips his hat (yes he is wearing a hat, as is the style at the time!!) and is generally charismatic, affable and entirely unlike himself.
the façade doesn't drop until they're back at the house he is sharing with sabriel, and as soon as the door closes there's an immediate shift in his body language, back to baseline. yelena knows what he is. ）
Please take more care with my cover in the future. You nearly gave us away.
（ is he being critical because of their shared experiences? maybe. ）
Oh, please, you were the one that approached me, I was just browsing the leather goods. If you didn't want me to be surprised you shouldn't treat me like a pack animal.
he removes his shoes, because some things never change, and then reaches to take the box from her. he then carries it through to the main sitting room of the house. ）
Come. I will make tea. What have you learned so far?
（ her sister — the other girl from that dream? hm.
the box is set down on the table but not unpacked for the moment — it contains nothing of use for this. instead, he sets about making tea with the sort of practiced ease of one long accustomed to such a thing. as he works — ）
（ he pours her a cup and then himself — the pleasant familiarity of ritual is always a welcome thing to him — and then he sits down opposite her at the table. that there is something off about this world, or at the very least this town is unmistakable, but even silence tells a story. ）
It paints a picture, neveretheless. Have you noticed the townsfolks' tendency to repeat themselves?
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Action, Scorpions Bend mission
She notices Itachi talking with the clerk and drifts a little closer to the front desk, curious about how he's handling this mission. Plus, she’s pretty sure he was in the first group to arrive, so maybe he’s learned something by now. Though, actually, she wouldn’t necessarily bet on his being willing to share.
Still, she browses a shelf nearby, waiting for him to be done with his business, and maybe listening into his conversation a little. Like you do.]
no subject
Ah, Miss Belova! This package is terribly heavy, would you mind accompanying me back to my home?
（ she is now his Designated Packhorse, thank you.
and the package is barely heavy at all as he dumps it cheerfully into her arms. ）
no subject
[Yelena accepts the package with visible confusion. Not because he passed the package to her but because he’s smiling and it’s weird. Being trained in spycraft herself she is familiar with the concept of playing a part, and she’s even doing it herself at the moment to an extent. She just wasn’t expecting this level of commitment from Itachi.
She stops herself from saying "what the fuck" and instead says:]
Okay, lead the way.
[She is actually speaking in the worlds worst attempt at a Texas accent herself.]
no subject
the façade doesn't drop until they're back at the house he is sharing with sabriel, and as soon as the door closes there's an immediate shift in his body language, back to baseline. yelena knows what he is. ）
Please take more care with my cover in the future. You nearly gave us away.
（ is he being critical because of their shared experiences? maybe. ）
no subject
Oh, please, you were the one that approached me, I was just browsing the leather goods. If you didn't want me to be surprised you shouldn't treat me like a pack animal.
[A beat.]
Or smile. I didn't even know you could do that.
no subject
（ gosh, yelena.
he removes his shoes, because some things never change, and then reaches to take the box from her. he then carries it through to the main sitting room of the house. ）
Come. I will make tea. What have you learned so far?
no subject
["Almost" as good. Because will anyone ever be as good at Natasha from Yelena's perspective? Probably not.
She shrugs a bit and the question and finds a place to sit while he makes tea.]
There is some talk of bandits I'm trying to follow up on.
no subject
the box is set down on the table but not unpacked for the moment — it contains nothing of use for this. instead, he sets about making tea with the sort of practiced ease of one long accustomed to such a thing. as he works — ）
The Bouldersnakes? I've heard them mentioned.
no subject
Yes, that’s right. Have you heard anything specific? Or interesting?
no subject
Only that the townsfolk seem scared of and unwilling to discuss them at any significant length.
no subject
Yes, that is all I’ve gotten, too. It’s frustrating.
no subject
（ he pours her a cup and then himself — the pleasant familiarity of ritual is always a welcome thing to him — and then he sits down opposite her at the table. that there is something off about this world, or at the very least this town is unmistakable, but even silence tells a story. ）
It paints a picture, neveretheless. Have you noticed the townsfolks' tendency to repeat themselves?