Anya Antonovna Romanova Stark (anyastark) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-09-07 18:08:00

Entry tags:

Tied Together With a Smile
Anya gulped down the last of her champagne and put the empty glass on the tray of a passing waitress. Normally she would pace herself, but tonight she just didn't care. She grabbed a full glass from a passing waiter and took a drink. She wasn't drinking to become numb, just the opposite. She was drinking to be able to forget the numbness and emptiness inside of her.

A deep sigh escaped her and she looked around the room. It was a fundraiser for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Pepper had given her a heads up about the event if Anya wanted to go and Anya hadn't planned on going, but the Russian Embassy had asked her very politely to attend on behalf of the Embassy and the Royal Family. There was a collection of Russian art going on display and tonight was the opening night. Anya almost told them to go stick it, but they were making a effort to abide by her request not to be set up on play dates. She could do a formal party at a museum. She had done many before and could do this without much thought or effort.

She could put a smile on her face and make others think she was having a good time. It was easy enough. Or so she hoped. The dress she wore was new, a Van Dyne Original, as well as her shoes and jewelry. Some major retail therapy had been needed and Anya indulged. The amount she spent on that shopping trip had been obscene even by her standards.

Another drink and the glass was already half empty. Her head was already swimming. Maybe she should slow down, or better yet leave. She had made her appearance and had been seen by the people who needed to see her. The Embassy would have to be satisfied.

Anya took another drink and started to make another round of the room.

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	anyastark 2010-09-13 01:48 am UTC (link)
	"What are they?" Anya asked as she stole a fry from his plate. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_citizen
2010-09-13 02:27 am UTC (link)

"Ah would have to take off my shirt to show you my tattoos, Anya. That just wouldn't be seemly in a public place, no matter how late the hour." Austin grins.

"And no, you may not spill your drink on me again to facilitate this." he teases.

"Maybe Ah'll find another way to see that tattoo of yours sometime. You said it's on your ankle, didn't you? Lots of ways for that to happen." he says.

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	anyastark 2010-09-13 02:38 am UTC (link)
	"Rats! You're on to my dastardly plan!" she said and then laughed. It felt so weird laughing. She hadn't had much to laugh about in the past few weeks. "It is on my ankle. I would show you right now, but with this dress on I don't feel like giving the whole diner a show when I put my leg up to show you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_citizen
2010-09-13 02:45 am UTC (link)

"Well, since Ah wouldn't want to share a view like that with anyone, let's consider a compromise. Ah will wait until such a time as it is decent for you to show me your tattoo without embarrassment or without possible discovery. In return, Ah'll use that same time to show you my tattoos." Austin offers, chuckling with her.

"Ah wasn't able to say so earlier, but you look great, Anya. Ah was lucky to catch your attention, what with all the people who must have wanted a moment of your time tonight." he says.

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	anyastark 2010-09-13 03:04 am UTC (link)
	"Deal," she said. "Later or some other time we can play I'll show you mine and you show me yours." Anya blushed a little. She always did when she received a compliment. "Thank you. You look great too." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_citizen
2010-09-13 03:09 am UTC (link)

If Austin was a lesser man, he would make a comment of some kind about how he looked forward to that. As it was, he simply smiled at her and at another fry.

"Thank you, Anya. Ah have a great many people who make it their mission in life to make sure Ah don't wear anything that lands me in the 'Worst Dressed' section of the tabloids." he laughs. He only wishes he was joking though.

"So, what is the meaning of Anya, in Russian?" he asks.

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	anyastark 2010-09-13 03:19 am UTC (link)
	"I don't want to see anyone I know end up on a 'Worst Dressed' list. Granted some people do deserve to end up on such a list once and awhile." "It's Russian for Anna. Which means "gracious" or "bringing goodness", but my dad says it should mean "trouble." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2010-09-13 03:48 am UTC (link)
	"Anna is a pretty name. Ah could see you being 'Anna Stark'...but Anya is much more exotic." he says, biting into his burger. "This burger is amazing." he says. "But Ah can see your dad's point. It's hard not to consider someone trouble when you know they're out to getcha." he grins. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-09-13 04:03 am UTC (link)
	"My brothers call me Annie when they want to tease me," she said and popped a fry into her mouth. "They're okay. If you're ever in New York, go to Big Nick's. The burgers there are amazingly good." Anya grinned. "I keep telling him that I don't go looking for trouble. It finds me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_citizen
2010-09-13 11:55 pm UTC (link)

Austin files away that bit of information. Calling her 'Anna' to tease her sounds like something fun.

"Ah heard Big Nick's is pretty good, but since you confirmed it, Ah can now go and eat there. Ah'm goin' next month to meet with the producers for Mass Effect and get everythin' finalized, so Ah'll make it a part of my experience." he says, eating another fry.

Austin just grins when she talks about trouble. "That's what all the girls who start trouble say."

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	anyastark 2010-09-14 02:43 am UTC (link)
	"It is. My family goes there a lot." She smiled. Some of her best childhood memories were of going to Big Nick's with members of her family. "A lot of the Avengers go there as well." "Well of course. We have to deny looking for trouble." "So tell me, what's your favorite movie of all time?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2010-09-14 02:47 am UTC (link)
	"So you admit that you go looking for it so that you can deny it later! Ah see what you did there, Anya Stark. Clever, but not clever enough to fool me." he laughs. "If Ah had to choose one movie...Ah'd probably say Casablanca. Ah'm kind of a film buff, and Ah can really watch anything." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

anyastark
2010-09-14 03:09 am UTC (link)

"I didn't admit to it. All I said is that we have to deny looking for it. It does not mean I go looking for it."

Anya grinned. "I love that movie. It's my Mom's favorite and watched it a lot when I was growing up. Mom likes the classics. Dork Brother #1 likes cheesy B-movies. Dork Brother #2 likes video games and I'm not sure what my sister likes. Dad's the neutral one. He'll watch whatever."

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	nextgen_citizen 2010-09-14 03:17 am UTC (link)
	"Ah hear an admission in there, Anya. Ah really do." he smirks. "Ouch! Dork Brothers? You are vicious, Miss Stark. Is there anyone who escapes your laser wit unscathed? Or your unerring aim with all drinks and food products?" he asks. No, he was not going to let the spilling thing go. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-09-14 03:21 am UTC (link)
	"I admitted nothing," she said. "I torment them, they torment me. It works for us. And they really are Dorks." She grinned. It was clear to see that she adored her brothers by the way she talked about them. "Har har. Funny." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2010-09-14 03:59 am UTC (link)
	"Hey, if this actin' gig doesn't pan out, Ah'm gonna do stand-up." he jokes. "It's good to see you get on with your siblings so well. Lots of people aren't that fortunate." he says. He should know as he's one of them. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-09-14 04:03 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah, don't give up that acting any time soon," she smirked. "We're each our own special kind of crazy. United we stand, divided we cause more chaos or something like that. Besides, you don't want to piss off my mother. We're still waiting to see who wins the betting pool to when she's going to shoot my father." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_citizen
2010-09-14 04:34 am UTC (link)

"How much time is left and can throw in a bet? My mom shot my dad by accident while she was pregnant. It was funny after the blood loss." Austin says, only half-jokingly. Of course, Anya couldn't be serious about her parents shooting each other.

Right?

"So, Ah'm guessin' your mom rules the roost at home? Ah always figured Tony Stark for the kind of guy who just says jump and the world says 'how high?'" Austin says.

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	anyastark 2010-09-14 04:43 am UTC (link)
	"All Starks are bastards and my Dad is the king bastard so her shooting him is inevitable. We're all taking bets when it will happen." Anya shrugged. Her family was weird and she knew it. "Depends on the situation. They give and take on a lot of things. Neither are the type to just take orders from another person." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2010-09-14 04:57 am UTC (link)
	"You seem pretty certain that she wouldn't shoot him any place important. That's love, though." Austin says. "Yeah, two independent people getting together can be good or bad, but if they love it each other, it'll work no matter what." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-09-14 04:59 am UTC (link)
	"Oh she won't kill him. She'll only shoot to wound. Which is bad enough given that he doesn't have a healing factor." "I hope so. Neither of them are really the type to settle down, but they've grown up a bit so hopefully it will work this time." "Are your parents still together?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2010-09-14 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	"Well, yes and no. My dad died when Ah was a kid, and my step-father stepped in and filled the void. They've been together for almost thirty years, though." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-09-14 06:47 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh. Sorry if I seem to be prying," she said. "Sometimes I just keep going and don't think before I speak." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2010-09-14 07:17 pm UTC (link)
	"No, it's okay. You're the first person in a long time who's asked me about myself without a tape-recorder or a notepad at the ready." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anyastark 2010-09-14 07:30 pm UTC (link)
	"If I get too nosy, just say so," she said. "Do you get along well with your mom and step-dad?" Anya grabbed a fry and dipped it in ketchup before eating it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)