@bettertelepath Pressed The ♥ For A Starter

❛ i love you, but you’re not mine. ❜ says @murder-popsicle

"that's not fair."

it's difficult when one of you is hiding out from the world, unready to admit that they're out there, and the other is a well-known avenger. natasha had always been easy to pick out of a crowd with her stunning red hair, but recently, it had been even more of a tell since she'd help save the world the day the sky had fallen open in new york. she wanted to see jane, she wanted to respect the fact that the other wasn't ready to see steve and that she didn't trust what was left of SHIELD. not to mention it was tricky when HYDRA was still out there hunting for their most prized possession. but she'd never expected it to be this difficult.

natasha had been walking on egg shells, keeping her opinions to herself, unwilling to talk for more than a few sentences here or there. beyond that, everytime she showed up, jane had to be prepared to move because it was only a matter of time until the black widow drew media attention for visiting the town jane was so desperate to hide in. it was why natasha had suggested that she stop showing up for a bit... to give jane her best chance at figuring out herself and what she wanted without the theatrics that natasha brought.

"what do you want me to say? i've done the whole on-the-run nonsense you're trying right now; if i keep showing up, you're going to keep risking being exposed. my presence is more of a hindrance to you right now."

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fun fact, nat is the “who did this to you? it doesn’t matter i’ll kill them all.” type of person for the people she cares about.

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𝒐𝒉  𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆  𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈  𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆  𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆  𝒚𝒐𝒖  𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆?   i'm  getting  old  &  i  need  something  to  rely  on.   𝒔𝒐  𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍  𝒎𝒆  𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏  ,  𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆  𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒂  𝒍𝒆𝒕  𝒎𝒆  𝒊𝒏.   i'm  getting  tired  &  i  need  somewhere  to  begin  …

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natasha gives a slight hum at the acknowledgment that he doesn't know where Sam is or what's next. and she can relate to that on many levels. the not knowing what comes next. she hasn't known that for a while, instead, focusing on each day as it comes. life is easier that way along with a little less overwhelming.

the silence between them envelops her for a moment as she sips her drink, allowing it to settle between them comfortably. but as quickly as it's there, her head is turning, listening as he speaks, responding with an uneasy smile as she processes. "thank you, james. i'm glad that i'm here with you." she means it because as uneasy as she is in the world around her, this right here is familiar and comfortable.

"but don't go all soft on me now." eyes narrow slightly with a smile that twinkles despite the words that she speaks.

He finds it easy to talk to her, still. It’s been a good long while since they’ve actually sat down and had a real discussion, and yet the words flow from his mouth comfortably. He knows, somewhere deep embedded in him, that he’s not going to find judgement with her.

“I don’t know.” He answers both questions at once, a small shrug of his right shoulder. He thinks Sam is in DC, but he hasn’t heard from him. He will, at some point. If that means a friendly chat or gearing up, he won't know until he answers the phone.

“I wanna say something.” He says, after a long moment of extended silence– the type that doesn’t need to be filled. He’s filling it now, because he doesn't see the point in biting his tongue. He looks at her, something genuine in his gaze. “I’m really, really glad you’re here, Natalia.” He doesn’t mean just here, where they’re sitting, and he hopes she understands that.

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@badgerops pressed the ♥ for a starter

for a moment it's as if she doesn't know that he's there, her body doesn't move, her lips don't open. but then there's a hum of acknowledgment before she tilts her head slightly to talk over her shoulder without really looking at him. of course, she'd known he was there, she'd known he wasn't a threat. "what brings you knocking on my door? i'm not much help these days. haven't you heard — i'm retired.

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100 INDULGENT TROPES

A collection of one hundred tropes of varying nature. Spiritual successor to my previous An Extremely Self-Indulgent Meme. Some of these pair well together and can easily be sent in various combinations. Some are also highly suggestive in nature. Engage appropriately.

one muse steps protectively in front of the other

one muse tends to the other’s injury

one muse is not acting like themselves and the other has to snap them out of it

one muse kisses the other during an argument

one muse pins the other to a wall

one muse kisses the other on their hand or wrist

one muse kisses the other on their neck or shoulder

one muse helps the other put on a necklace or tie

our muses aren’t supposed to be together but keep meeting anyway (on purpose or by accident)

our muses have a secret relationship

one muse takes a blow meant for the the other

one muse fights away enemies attacking the the other

one muse asks the other for their favor / a token before battle or a tourney

our muses share a night together believing it might be their last

our muses are in an arranged marriage / betrothal

our muses willingly marry for political reasons

our muses get married for love

our muses get married in a spur-of-the-moment decision

one muse has taken the other captive

our muses are in love but one thinks they aren’t good enough for the other

our muses are forced to ally for a common goal

our muses are enemies or former enemies but have started to fall for each other

our muses claim to hate each other but there is palpable tension between the two

our muses are trying to manipulate each other

one muse is trying to manipulate the other

our muses have feelings for each other but have conflicting loyalties

our muses are friends but have started to fall for each other

our muses are childhood friends that have been slowly falling for each other over the years

one muse has been in love with the other for a long time but is afraid their feelings are not reciprocated

one muse is in love with the other but they are in a relationship with or engaged to another person

our muses engage in a courtly romance

one muse is a knight in service to the the other’s family

one muse seeks comfort from a loveless marriage with the other, their lover

one muse traces the other’s scars

one muse kisses the other in a moment of heightened emotion

one muse confides in the other in a vulnerable moment

our muses are in love but circumstances prevent them from being together

our muses are exes who discover lingering feelings after reuniting

one muse confesses love to another after that person is injured

one muse confesses love to another because they believe they may die soon

our muses must share a bed

one muse lifts the other’s chin to look them in the eye

one muse places a hand at the back of the other’s neck to pull them extremely close

our muses have been hooking up, no strings attached

our muses have been hooking up, but one or both has developed deeper feelings

our muses are exes that hook up against their better judgement

one muse presumes the other is dead but is shocked when they show up alive again

one muse betrays their long held loyalties in order to save the other’s life from their own allies

our muses fake a relationship but have no actual interest in each other

our muses fake a relationship but start to genuinely fall for each other

one muse is known for their hard exterior and softens only in the other’s presence

one muse is the other’s weakness, something an enemy is trying to exploit

our muses are stuck somewhere together and must occupy their time

one muse has feelings for the other but has not acted on them due to their association with another character (a sibling / relative / ex / etc. ) or an organization

one muse is scared to act on feelings for the other due to poor experiences with love in the past

one muse is oblivious to the other’s feelings for them

one muse acts oblivious to the other’s feelings for them but really they are aware

one muse has unrequited feelings for the other

our muses are co-workers engaging in a hidden romance

one muse reveals one of their darkest secrets to the other

one muse comforts the other during an emotional breakdown

one muse calms the other from an intense rage

one muse’s family forbids them from seeing the other

our muses are in love but their friends / family do not support their relationship

one muse seeks redemption for past actions and comes to the other to atone

our muses regularly exchange letters

our muses move in together

our muses adopt a pet together

our muses have a child together

our muses adopt a child together

one muse discovers they are pregnant by accident

our muses have been set up by mutual friends

our muses have been set up by a matchmaker

our muses are in love with each other but are in denial

one muse is the other’s bodyguard / protector

one muse is royalty while the other is a commoner / rogue / societal outcast

one muse kisses the other for a bet

one muse relentlessly flirts with the other

our muses kiss for the first time ever

one muse wins a date with the other at an event

our muses dance together for the first time

one muse brushes their fingers through the other’s hair

one muse drunkenly confesses something to the other

our muses drunkenly hook up and wake up next to each other

our muses are roommates

our muses are partners in crime

one muse is a supernatural creature who falls for the other, who is a mortal

our muses are supernatural creatures from opposite clans or species that are historically hostile to each other

one muses is under a spell / in the middle of a monstrous transformation but somehow recognizes the other and refrains from harming them

our muses cuddle for warmth

our muses run away together

one muse wears piece of clothing or jewelry that belongs to the other

our muses bathe together

our muses cook together

our muses cuddle in bed

one muse serenades the other

one muse holds a weapon to the other as a threat

one muse physically lifts the other up

one muse protectively wraps an arm around the other

meet cute !

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i can control myself. i’m more powerful than you ever were.  ©

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i wouldn’t be me if i didn’t come back and say let’s do the darn thing. press the heart to talk shipping with nat, priority will be given to those willing to interact and develop both ic / ooc. pre-established or building relationships both welcome.

&. 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

(  you  know  that  dynamic  of  the  emotionally  closed  off  one  &  the  kind  one  they  have  a  soft  spot  for?  yeah,  that’s  the  vibe.  )

said from the lone wolf.

❛ you think you know me, but the truth is, you don’t. ❜

❛ going home isn’t an option anymore. ❜

❛ i’m fine. there’s nothing for you to worry about. ❜ 

❛ do you wish i was different? ❜ 

❛ i just, i don’t want anything bad to happen to you. ❜ 

❛ you deserve better than what you’ve got. ❜

❛ i guess we both lost something we were fond of. ❜ 

❛ i’m not leaving you out here alone. ❜ 

❛ you don’t have to keep me company, i’m fine by myself. ❜ 

❛ coming here to see you is the only place i could go. ❜

❛ i’m afraid of losing you, okay? ❜ 

❛ i know you probably hate me right now, and i get it. ❜

❛ what is with your weird fascination with me? ❜ 

❛ yeah, you keep on telling yourself that bullshit. ❜ 

❛ i didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, i just have a lot on my plate. ❜ 

❛ you’re lucky you got away with only a scratch. ❜ 

❛ if i could be a different person, i promise you, i would be. ❜

❛ people like us don’t get to decide when we’re done. ❜

❛ i’ve never had anything good happen to me when i trusted others. ❜

❛ you won’t survive out there. they tear all good things apart. ❜

❛ i don’t know what’s the truth or what’s a lie anymore. ❜ 

❛ you got guts, i’ll give you that. ❜ 

❛ the more you know, the shorter your life will be. ❜ 

❛ for the first time in years, i felt something that i thought had been lost to me. ❜ 

❛ what you think you’re going through is nothing to what i have been through. ❜ 

said from the soft spot. 

❛ you’re not as bad as everyone says you are. ❜

❛ how is it that you’re never scared? ❜

❛ you think i’m weak because i’m not like you. ❜

❛ you wanted to be left alone, right? ❜ 

❛ how do you make the pain go away? ❜

❛ you shouldn’t smoke, you know. ❜

❛ destroy what is destroying you. ❜

❛ i hope you find the peace you’re searching for. ❜

❛ you know my door is always open to you. ❜

❛ i look at you and my heart breaks because all i see is loneliness. ❜

❛ you’re avoiding the subject and you know it. what are you hiding from me? ❜ 

❛ you’re not at war anymore, you can come home. ❜

❛ it feels like you’ve been avoiding me. ❜

❛ what are you so afraid of? ❜

❛ you shouldn’t be out here by yourself. ❜ 

❛ why do you care? you could have just walked away. ❜ 

❛ i know you. how else do you think i found you so easily? ❜

❛ if it was the other way around, would you have come back for me? ❜ 

❛ i just thought you’d like some company. ❜ 

❛ are you jealous? want me all to yourself, do you? ❜

❛ i knew you had a heart. ❜ 

❛ can you look at me? please? ❜

❛ i don’t think i’ve ever seen you smile. ❜

❛ if you won’t take care of yourself, then who will? ❜

❛ you have something beautiful inside of you. it’s hard for some people to tell, but it’s there. ❜

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mutuals are always welcome to bother nat on wire at madeofmarblex

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