#Italian International Film | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

olderthannetfic · 20 days ago

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would putting a fictional character through real life awful events (something on the news, an article, famous tragedy etc) "allowed" or would that be too far?

No disrespect at all, genuine question. Was curious to how these things work

Allowed? By whom? The fiction police?

This is a stupid way to frame this. Big names write distasteful Two White People Fall In Love Against A Backdrop of Brown Tragedy all the fucking time. Plenty of these things are critically acclaimed and/or financially successful.

Whether you personally should make art about a real life tragedy is a personal judgment call. It's about whether it's in good taste and whether it's kind, not whether it's allowed.

A common rule of thumb is to look at how recent something is. The more recent, the more tasteless. Another is to think about how much you "own" the real life events in question. If it's lockdown, lots of us experienced that. If you personally lost someone in tragedy X, you have something of a claim on it. Another way people look at this is to ask whether the art needs to be about that tragedy and whether it's doing something productive culturally and politically for the people most related to that tragedy.

It's fine to make art about horrible things from real life.

It's usually considered pretty rude to use horrible things from real life as a disposable backdrop for relationship angst between your blorbos.

To pick a real example, Memories of Murder launched Bong Joon Ho to international fame. It's directly about that famous unsolved (at the time) serial killer case that like 90% of Korean crime dramas are riffing off of. The film is all about police brutality and incompetence and the emotional devastation of everyone around the case, from the survivors to the police themselves. The sexual violence isn't shown on screen.

The director commented that he was partly addressing the film to the unknown murderer, and that's why it ends with that character looking into the screen.

This film is massively influential. I'm pretty sure half of the cinematography choices in Beyond Evil are lifted directly from it. People are generally cool with it because it was grappling with something significant to Korean culture, not just doing disaster tourism elsewhere, and because it wasn't luridly obsessed with filming the actual crimes.

Other Korean dramas and films tend to fictionalize the case. Having a similar but fictional set of crimes gives them more artistic latitude and less of a responsibility to the victims.

The Battle of Algiers was made by an Italian guy, but nobody cares. It's an unflinching look at French brutality and is pretty clearly on the side of the Algerians even if it also humanizes the French characters and some of the bystanders getting blown up in the quest for freedom. (The director claimed it was neutral, which it is, comparatively, but...)

It's shot in a highly realistic style and does not sensationalize. Many of the actors are non professionals who lived through the real events.

The upshot is that it is considered important political art with a right to tell that story.

On the other hand, The Last Face faced massive criticism for being about the feeeeelings of two foreign aid workers against a backdrop of African suffering that the film didn't really engage with or seem to care about. I've only seen part of one cut of the film, but what I saw was pretty dire in a noble savage way. Some white guy was talking about how ~inspirational~ this woman was for still dancing after gruesome sexual violence. She's barely a character. She's just there so he can be inspired. It's the kind of art that gets made by outsiders with their heads up their asses.

There have been several cases of contentious fanfics with a similar premise: The OTP falls in love while helping with the disaster in [Haiti/Africa/wherever].

The key ingredients for failing and getting yelled at vs. succeeding are:

How good are your art skills? The better the art, the easier it is to get a pass.

Was the art actually about the tragedy, or is the tragedy set dressing for a story that could have happened anywhere?

Is this story that could have happened anywhere also something frivolous and fun like a romance, albeit an angsty one? The lighter the subject matter and aim of the art, the harder it is to get away with a real world tragedy setting.

Is this your tragedy? Are you processing something that happened in your community or to you personally? (For example, if you lost someone in the Pulse shooting, I'd count that as your tragedy, but if you were one of the endless whiny US queer kids flailing about it for a year while ignoring a million other tragedies that happened to older, less hot people despite living across the country and knowing none of the victims, I would not.)

How these things work depends heavily on the cultural forces in play. Are you from a rich country and writing insensitively about a tragedy in a poor one? x1000 if you're from a country that formerly colonized the site of the tragedy. Do you actually understand the tragedy you're writing about? Are you a good enough writer that your writing feels nuanced when you mean it to?

I really cannot emphasize this enough: the better you are at your craft, the more likely that a terrible, never-do-this idea will work just fine. I fucking love The Ice House and ship the leads despite it starting with a douchebag male cop harassing a "lesbian". The book is 1. good and 2. by a woman. The TV version stars Daniel Craig at his most subtle. On paper, this cop character should not be able to come back from such an inauspicious start, but it works. Every friend I've recced it to is like "There is no way!" and then ends up shipping it too.

The "rules" work differently if you're just that good.

No one is "allowed" or "not allowed". It's more about whether you'll upset people with a closer tie to the bad real world thing you're using...

But even then, some people will always be over-sensitive princesses who think only they have a claim on some topic when you actually have every right to it too. There will always be an outlier who finds some art offensive that everyone else from their same demographic thinks is great.

As a general rule of thumb, I would not use a real and recent tragedy/natural disaster/etc. as the backdrop for a fanfic about the OTP getting together. Just make up a fake earthquake or plane crash.

This is not something you must do: it's just something that tends to be in better taste.

If you're writing historical fiction about events at least 300 years old, people generally do not care what you do as long as it isn't glaringly offensive about colonialism or something.

If you're making political art about the real world, you probably need the real event in there with all its connotations and nuance.

Everything is allowed, anon. But can you take the heat?

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mommykye · 11 days ago

Text

Big Bad Wolf

alpha!ceo!Natasha Romanoff x omega!fem!reader

summary: Rushed by loss and besieged by enemies, Natasha seeks an heir in the enigmatic omega, Y/N. Their first encounter sparks intrigue, but Natasha's iron walls threaten to extinguish the fragile connection before it ignites, leaving the future of her empire shrouded in mystery.

part 1

word count: 4.9k

Request are open

masterlist

The panoramic windows of Natasha’s penthouse suite, usually a canvas displaying the vibrant, sprawling cityscape, now served only as vast, reflective surfaces. They mirrored the disquiet churning within her, a turbulent sea trapped behind a polished facade. Days had bled into one another since the support group meeting, yet the encounter with Y/N replayed endlessly in her mind. It was a fragmented, jarring film reel she couldn't seem to stop, each awkward pause, each sharp word, each flicker of hurt in Y/N’s expressive eyes, and the quiet finality of her departure echoing against the backdrop of her luxurious, yet profoundly isolating, living space.

The rich textures of the room, usually a source of comfort and a testament to her hard-won control, now felt like opulent shackles. The deep pile of the Persian rug, usually soft beneath her feet, now seemed to absorb her restless pacing without offering solace. The smooth coolness of the Italian leather furniture, typically a symbol of her refined taste, now felt cold and unyielding against her touch. Even the warm glow of the strategically placed lighting, designed to create an atmosphere of sophisticated tranquility, now seemed to highlight the emptiness, the echoing silence that had become her unwanted companion. She found herself drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows, the distant hum of the city a stark and indifferent contrast to the internal storm raging within her.

A fleeting image flickered in her mind, unbidden and surprisingly vivid. The same panoramic view, softened by the warm hues of a setting sun, but different somehow. The stark lines of the modern furniture were softened by colorful throws and plump cushions. Instead of echoing silence, the air was filled with the joyful chaos of children’s laughter, the small, excited voices of little alphas and omegas chasing each other, their tiny hands leaving smudges on the pristine glass. Toys, bright and scattered, lay abandoned mid-play. And in the midst of this delightful disarray, Y/N sat on a comfortable armchair, a gentle curve to her pregnant belly, her eyes radiating a quiet contentment as she watched the children, occasionally offering a soft word or a loving smile. Natasha, in this imagined scene, felt a warmth spread through her chest, a sense of belonging she had never truly known. This wasn’t the sterile perfection of her current life; it was messy, vibrant, real. It was a home.

The vision, however fleeting, was potent. It was a life far removed from the harsh realities of her childhood in the Red Room, a life where vulnerability wasn't a weakness to be exploited but a bond to be cherished. A life where an heir wasn't the sole purpose of connection, but where love and genuine affection formed the foundation. But then, the sharp edges of reality intruded. She barely knew Y/N. This idealized future, this sudden longing for domesticity, was absurd, a phantom limb aching for a connection that hadn't even begun to form. And even if… even if there was a possibility, could she, Natasha, ever truly offer someone like Y/N a safe and loving space, free from the shadows of her past? The thought was both tantalizing and terrifying.

She shook her head slightly, trying to dislodge the fanciful image. It was a dangerous distraction, a sentimental indulgence she couldn't afford. Yet, the contrast between the imagined warmth and her current isolation was stark and unsettling.

A soft click of the door broke through her reverie, pulling her back to the cold reality of her penthouse. Yelena sauntered in, her usual playful energy radiating from her like a tangible aura. She leaned against the doorframe, a knowing smirk already gracing her lips. The faint scent of something sweet and slightly burnt – likely a failed baking experiment – clung to her clothes.

“Still brooding by the window, Nat?” Yelena’s voice was light, but held a teasing edge. “Planning your next corporate takeover or just replaying your disastrous attempt at making a friend?”

Natasha didn’t bother turning from the view. The distant city lights blurred slightly as she focused on the internal landscape of her regret. “It wasn’t a disaster.” The lie felt weak even to her own ears.

“Oh really?” Yelena pushed off the doorframe and strolled further into the room, her footsteps silent on the thick carpet. “Because from where I was sitting, it looked like you managed to scare off a perfectly lovely omega with the grace and charm of a cornered wolverine. And I even caught a whiff of her distress pheromones afterward. Poor thing probably thought she’d stumbled into a den of angry alphas.”

A sigh escaped Natasha’s lips, carrying a hint of genuine remorse. “I didn’t mean to.” The admission felt surprisingly difficult, a crack in the carefully constructed wall of her usual self-assurance. The scent of her own faint alpha pheromones, usually controlled and masked, had likely spiked during the tense exchange, adding to Y/N’s discomfort.

Yelena perched on the arm of a velvet armchair, her gaze sharp and perceptive. “I know you didn’t mean to, Nat. That’s the problem, isn’t it? You don’t mean to be prickly, but it just… happens. Like a reflex. Years of deflecting and guarding yourself don’t just vanish overnight.”

Natasha finally turned, leaning against the cool glass. The reflection staring back at her was a familiar stranger – sharp, composed, but with a flicker of something akin to… longing? “I’m used to people having agendas. To looking for weaknesses. Their omega sub-gender often plays into those manipulations. She just… seemed genuine. Unassuming.” She remembered the soft curve of Y/N’s cheeks, the way her eyes held a warmth that seemed to radiate from within, the comfortable fullness of her figure that spoke of a gentle acceptance of herself. It was a stark contrast to the polished, often performative, interactions she was accustomed to.

“And that threw you, didn’t it?” Yelena’s tone softened, a hint of understanding replacing the teasing. “Someone being genuinely kind, genuinely curious… especially an omega who didn't seem to be playing any games… it’s not exactly your everyday boardroom encounter.”

A small, almost imperceptible nod was Natasha’s only response. The memory of the subtle floral and earthy notes of Y/N’s natural omega pheromones, a comforting blend that had felt surprisingly grounding, lingered in her senses.

“So,” Yelena continued, rubbing her hands together with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Operation ‘Win Back the Intriguing Omega’ is a go?”

Natasha raised an eyebrow, a hint of her usual skepticism returning. “There is no ‘operation.’”

“Oh, come on,” Yelena scoffed. “You’ve been staring out that window for days. You’re practically radiating regret. Besides,” she added with a wink, “Kate’s been singing Y/N’s praises non-stop. Apparently, her sourdough starter is legendary. And she makes the most incredible, slightly oversized, but utterly delicious cookies.”

A faint smile touched Natasha’s lips despite herself. “Her sourdough starter? And oversized cookies?” The image of Y/N, her hands dusted with flour, carefully shaping imperfect but heartfelt treats, was surprisingly appealing.

“Apparently,” Yelena confirmed. “And her knowledge of obscure herbs is unparalleled. Kate’s convinced she could single-handedly cure the common cold with a sprig of something she foraged in the woods. She even mentioned Y/N’s incredibly soothing natural scent when she’s calm, something about chamomile and warm earth.”

“Kate exaggerates,” Natasha said, but the edge in her voice was gone. The thought of Y/N possessing such a calming presence was intriguing.

“Maybe,” Yelena conceded. “But she also said Y/N is resilient. That she’s been through things and come out stronger. That she has a quiet confidence that’s rather… disarming. That sounds like someone who could handle a grumpy alpha, don’t you think?”

The thought resonated with Natasha. Strength wasn’t just about physical prowess or corporate power. Y/N possessed a different kind of strength, a quiet inner fortitude that had shone through even in their brief, tense encounter. The way she had held her gaze, even when clearly uncomfortable, spoke volumes.

“So,” Yelena pressed, her enthusiasm building. “What’s the plan? Grand gesture? Public apology? Maybe a strategic deployment of highly trained operatives to locate her favorite bakery and shower her with those legendary oversized cookies?”

Natasha shook her head, a genuine smile finally breaking through her usual reserve. “No operatives. No grand gestures. I just… I’d like to talk to her again. Properly this time.”

“Properly,” Yelena echoed, a hint of amusement in her voice. “As opposed to your usual method of communication, which involves veiled threats and intimidating eye contact, possibly accompanied by a subtle release of dominant alpha pheromones?”

“Something like that,” Natasha admitted, a wry smile playing on her lips. “But I don’t even know where to find her.”

“Leave that to me,” Yelena said, pulling out her phone. “Kate’s got contacts. Besides,” she added with a sly grin, “a little intel gathering never hurt anyone. Especially when it involves a potentially legendary sourdough starter.”

A few taps and a brief conversation later, Yelena hung up, her expression triumphant. “Got her. Apparently, she volunteers at a local community garden a few days a week. And today is one of those days.”

Natasha’s heart gave a small, unexpected flutter. A community garden. It seemed a world away from the polished steel and glass of her corporate life, yet somehow, the image of Y/N tending to plants, her hands in the soil, felt… right. Grounded.

“So?” Yelena prompted, already heading towards the door. “Are we going to go cultivate some… understanding?”

Natasha hesitated for a moment, a flicker of her old apprehension returning. But the image of Y/N’s gentle smile, the quiet strength in her eyes, and the unexpected pull of her calming pheromones spurred her forward. “Let’s go.”

They descended the numerous floors in the private elevator, the silence punctuated only by the soft whoosh of the mechanism. As they stepped out into the bustling lobby of Romanoff Industries, Natasha felt a strange sense of shedding her corporate armor, if only slightly. Today wasn’t about mergers or acquisitions; it was about something far more personal, far more uncertain. The usual respect bordering on fear in the eyes of her employees felt oddly distant.

Yelena, ever attuned to her sister’s moods, clapped her on the shoulder. “Relax, Nat. Just be yourself. Well, the slightly less intimidating version of yourself. Maybe try not to accidentally trigger her flight response with your alpha aura this time.”

Natasha managed a weak smile. “No promises.”

——timeskip——

As the sleek black car idled across the street from the vibrant green space, Natasha felt a familiar knot of anxiety tighten in her chest. The community garden buzzed with a gentle energy – the murmur of voices, the snip of shears, the earthy scent of soil mingling with the sweet perfume of blooming flowers. It was a stark contrast to the sterile efficiency of her usual environment, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered if she’d made a mistake even agreeing to this. The air itself felt different, less controlled, more alive.

“See? Nothing to be afraid of, sestra,” Yelena chirped, her gaze fixed on the activity outside. “Just a bunch of… well, gardeners. Harmless, mostly.” She paused, sniffing the air dramatically. “Definitely a lot of beta pheromones. A few other omegas, judging by the sweeter notes. And… hmm, a couple of other alphas. Keep your claws sheathed, big sister.”

Natasha didn’t reply, her eyes scanning the figures tending to the plots. The sunlight glinted off watering cans and tools, and the air, thick with the promise of spring, carried a subtle mix of pheromones – the grounding earthiness of betas, the bright floral notes of other omegas, and even a faint, underlying hum that she instinctively recognized as belonging to other alphas. It was a sensory tapestry so different from the carefully controlled atmosphere of her penthouse, where even the air filtration system minimized natural scents.

“You’re going to psych yourself out before we even get out of the car, Nat,” Yelena said, a playful nudge in her tone. “Remember what we talked about. Be… approachable. Like a fluffy kitten. Or at least a slightly less grumpy bear. Maybe try suppressing the urge to assert your dominance with a subtle pheromonal pulse every five seconds.”

“I am perfectly capable of being approachable,” Natasha retorted, though her gaze remained fixed on a woman with a wide-brimmed hat carefully pruning a rose bush.

“Sure, and I’m the Queen of England,” Yelena quipped, rolling her eyes. “Just try smiling. You know, the one that doesn’t look like you’re contemplating a hostile takeover. And maybe try not to smell quite so much like you own the entire Eastern Seaboard.”

Natasha huffed, but the corners of her lips twitched almost imperceptibly. This was ridiculous. She was Natasha Romanoff, a woman who negotiated multi-billion dollar deals and commanded the respect of entire industries. Why was the prospect of a simple conversation with one omega, a slightly chubby omega with kind eyes and a talent for sourdough, making her feel like a teenager before her first dance?

Suddenly, Yelena’s breath hitched. “Oy, smotri! Look!”

Natasha followed her sister’s gaze. Walking along the sidewalk beside their car, her figure framed by the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, was Y/N. She was wearing a flowy sundress, the soft fabric swaying gently with each step, and her hair was pulled back in a loose braid, tendrils escaping to frame her face. She carried a small woven bag over her shoulder, and there was a peaceful, almost ethereal quality to her movements. The faint scent of chamomile and warm earth that Yelena had mentioned was now more distinct, a calming aroma that seemed to cut through Natasha’s anxiety.

Before Natasha could even formulate a coherent thought, Yelena’s door swung open. In a move that was as swift as it was utterly unexpected, Yelena was out of the car and moving towards Y/N with a determined glint in her eyes.

“Yelena, what in God’s name are you doing?” Natasha hissed, mortification flooding her senses. This was not how she had envisioned this… whatever this was supposed to be. The subtle scent of Y/N’s surprise and a flicker of fear began to mix with the calming chamomile.

Yelena reached Y/N just as she was about to pass their car. With a surprising display of strength, she grabbed Y/N’s arm.

“Hello there, golubchik,” Yelena said, her voice deceptively sweet, but her grip firm. The shift in her pheromones was immediate, a subtle but unmistakable hint of alpha dominance underlying the sweetness.

Y/N’s eyes widened in alarm. “Hey! What are you doing? Let go of me!” Her voice was sharp with surprise and a dawning sense of panic. The calming scent of chamomile was abruptly overpowered by a sharp spike of fear and distress.

“We need a little chat,” Yelena said, her smile not reaching her eyes. Before Y/N could fully react, Yelena was practically frog-marching her towards the open car door.

“Get your hands off me! I’m calling the police!” Y/N struggled, her protests growing louder, a mixture of fear and anger in her tone. The peaceful atmosphere of the garden was abruptly shattered by the sounds of her escalating distress. Several nearby gardeners turned, their expressions shifting from mild curiosity to concern. The air now crackled with a palpable tension, the natural pheromonal balance completely disrupted.

Natasha’s face burned with embarrassment. This was a disaster of epic proportions. She scrambled out of the car, her mind racing, trying to salvage this unbelievably chaotic situation. Her own alpha instincts flared momentarily, a protective urge towards Y/N warring with her utter mortification at Yelena’s tactics.

“Yelena! Stop it! What are you thinking?” Natasha’s voice was low and urgent, but Yelena seemed completely unfazed, her focus entirely on the struggling omega.

“Get in the car, mishka,” Yelena commanded, practically shoving a resisting Y/N towards the back seat. Her grip tightened as Y/N tried to pull away, the scent of fear emanating from her now sharp and acrid.

“I said let go of me, you crazy woman!” Y/N yelled, her voice trembling slightly. She tried to pull away, but Yelena’s grip was like iron. Her woven bag slipped from her shoulder and landed on the sidewalk, spilling a few gardening gloves and a small trowel.

“Just get in,” Yelena repeated, her tone brooking no argument. With a final heave, she managed to maneuver a flailing Y/N into the back seat. Yelena then slid in after her, effectively trapping Y/N between herself and the car door. The small space now filled with the clashing scents of Yelena’s forceful alpha, Y/N’s fear, and Natasha’s rising panic.

Natasha stood by the open door, aghast. Passersby were starting to stare, their gardening forgotten as they witnessed the bizarre scene unfolding. The subtle pheromonal balance in the air had shifted, the undercurrent of alarm and distress now palpable. One of the alpha gardeners started to move towards the car, a protective growl rumbling in his chest.

“Yelena, you can’t just kidnap people!” Natasha exclaimed, her voice a strained whisper.

“I’m not kidnapping her,” Yelena said, her tone surprisingly reasonable considering the circumstances. “I’m facilitating a conversation. With a bit of persuasive encouragement.”

“A conversation that started with you physically assaulting me?” Y/N interjected, her voice tight with fury. “Let me out of this car right now! You have no right to touch me!” Her plump cheeks were flushed with anger and fear, and her chest heaved with rapid breaths.

“Now, now, no need for hysterics,” Yelena said, patting Y/N’s arm in a gesture that was anything but comforting. “We just want to talk to you about Natasha.”

Y/N glared at Natasha, her eyes flashing with indignation. “Talk to me? After the way she acted at the support group? I have nothing to say to either of you! You were both incredibly rude and dismissive.”

Natasha finally found her voice, though it was laced with mortification. “Look, Y/N, I m am so sorry about this. Yelena’s methods are… unconventional. To say the least.” Her own pheromones were now a confusing mix of apology and a desperate attempt to defuse the tense situation.

“Unconventional?” Y/N scoffed, her voice rising in disbelief, a sharp contrast to the gentle cadence Natasha had briefly heard at the support group. “This is assault! Physical assault! I could press charges! And frankly,” her gaze sharpened, focusing directly on Natasha, “after your condescending attitude the other day, the way you dismissed my experience like it was nothing, I’m half-tempted to! Maybe a night in a cell would teach you both some manners!” The scent of her anger intensified, a bitter tang now mingling with the lingering fear.

“And you would be entirely within your rights to do so,” Natasha conceded, her gaze unwavering, her voice low and sincere, devoid of any corporate edge. She could feel the weight of Y/N’s anger, the justified indignation radiating from her. “But please, hear me out. This… this,” she gestured vaguely at Yelena, still perched beside a clearly distressed Y/N, “is not how I wanted to approach this. My intention was… different.” The word felt inadequate, a flimsy shield against the reality of Yelena’s actions.

“Different how?” Y/N challenged, her arms still crossed defensively, her body language radiating distrust. “Did you plan on sending your goons to ‘facilitate a conversation’ at my home? Maybe leave a threatening note attached to a bouquet of poisoned flowers?” The sarcasm dripped from her voice, sharp and laced with genuine fear. The subtle tremors in her hands betrayed her outward bravado.

Yelena, ever the pragmatist, though her methods were anything but, cut to the chase. “Alright, here’s the deal, dorogaya. Natasha here,” she gestured towards her sister with a flourish, her hand nearly colliding with Y/N’s nose, “is socially challenged. Think of her as a highly intelligent, incredibly capable, but utterly inept puppy when it comes to feelings. She doesn’t always say what she means, and sometimes what she means comes out sounding like she’s declaring war on your entire existence, possibly including your beloved sourdough starter. It’s a communication quirk. A deeply ingrained, possibly irreversible, communication quirk. But! She actually feels bad – genuinely bad – about how things went at the meeting. She’s been moping around her ridiculously oversized apartment for days, smelling faintly of regret and expensive whiskey, and occasionally sighing dramatically while staring at the city lights.”

Natasha shot Yelena a look that could curdle milk, a silent promise of severe and immediate retribution flickering in her eyes. Her own alpha pheromones flared briefly in annoyance, a low growl of displeasure rumbling in her chest, before she consciously suppressed them, reminding herself of the precariousness of the situation. Her sister was making a mockery of the situation, downplaying her own atrocious behavior, but somehow, amidst the absurdity, there was a kernel of truth to her awkwardness.

“And,” Yelena continued, her tone shifting to something resembling a hostage negotiator laying out terms, “if you agree to go on a date with her… in a few days… say, next Wednesday evening? A proper date, involving polite conversation, actual smiles (from Natasha, hopefully), and the distinct absence of any physical coercion… where she will be charming and attentive and will not say anything even remotely resembling a threat, and will probably even compliment your… lovely dress… then we will let you out of this car, unharmed, right now. What do you say? It’s a simple yes or no. Though, we strongly encourage a yes.”

Y/N stared at Yelena as if she had sprouted a second head, her plump cheeks still flushed with indignation, her breathing still shallow. “Are you out of your mind? A date? With her? After all this? I’d rather be locked in a room full of rabid ferrets! At least then I’d have a legitimate reason to bite someone! And the authorities would probably be more sympathetic!”

“Come on, don’t be like that,” Yelena wheedled, her earlier aggression vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a surprisingly earnest expression, her voice softening. “Think of it as a peace offering. A chance for Natasha to show you that she’s not entirely a heartless ice queen. Maybe she’ll even tell you embarrassing stories about her childhood in Russia. Those are always a hit. Besides,” she leaned closer to Y/N, lowering her voice conspiratorially, “she can be surprisingly generous. Think good wine, excellent food maybe even a small, non-threatening gift.”

“She made it pretty clear what she thought of me at the meeting,” Y/N retorted, crossing her arms even tighter over her chest, her chin jutting out defiantly. “I don’t need her pity, or her… generosity. I need her to understand that her words have consequences, that other people have feelings!” The scent of her hurt resurfaced, a subtle undercurrent beneath the anger.

Natasha stepped closer to the car, her expression earnest, her voice low and sincere, the usual steel replaced by a genuine plea. “Y/N, please. I truly didn’t mean to offend you. My… my reaction was rooted in my own… experiences. My own insecurities. It wasn’t about you. I… I’m not very good at… this kind of thing. Social interactions… they don’t come naturally to me. Especially in… emotionally charged environments. I tend to…default to defense.” It was a rare and painful admission of vulnerability, and it cost her a significant amount of pride to say it, to lay bare a weakness she usually guarded fiercely. The scent of her own uncertainty, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in her alpha pheromones, betrayed her discomfort, a stark contrast to her usual controlled aura.

Yelena seized the opportunity, sensing a crack in Y/N’s resistance. “See? She’s practically begging! Just one date. A few hours of your time. And then, if you still think she’s a monster, if she says anything remotely offensive, you can unleash your inner rabid ferret on her. What have you got to lose? Besides a perfectly lovely Wednesday evening and the potential for a surprisingly good meal?”

Y/N looked from Yelena’s determined face to Natasha’s surprisingly vulnerable one. She was clearly still furious and shaken, the scent of her lingering distress still palpable, a knot of fear and anger radiating from her, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes – perhaps curiosity, a desire to understand the woman who had so easily dismissed her, or maybe just the sheer absurdity of the situation was starting to wear her down, the outlandishness of it all bordering on the darkly comedic. She glanced at the concerned faces of the onlookers, the alpha gardener still hovering nearby with a protective air, then back at the two sisters.

“And if I say no?” Y/N challenged, her voice still laced with suspicion, her gaze sharp as she assessed their resolve.

Yelena’s smile tightened, the playful facade momentarily slipping to reveal a hint of the steel beneath, a reminder of the ruthlessness that lay beneath her often-teasing exterior. “Then we drive around until you change your mind. And trust me, dorogaya, we have all day. Natasha has… very comfortable car seats. And I have a playlist of truly terrible Russian pop songs that I’m sure you’d just adore.”

Natasha shot Yelena another warning glare, a silent plea for her to stop digging them into an even deeper hole. This was not going the way she had hoped, not that she had any clear idea of how she had hoped it would go. Kidnapping was certainly not on the agenda, nor was the threat of bad Russian music.

After a long, tense silence, the only sound the distant chirping of birds in the garden, Y/N let out a frustrated sigh, the fight seemingly draining out of her. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and the sharp scent of her anger began to recede, replaced by a weary resignation. “Fine,” she conceded, her voice grudging, the word feeling like it was being dragged from her. “One date. Wednesday evening. And if either of you pulls anything like this again, if there’s even a hint of coercion or condescension, I swear I will have you both arrested. And I know a very good lawyer. One who specializes in… unusual cases.”

“Excellent!” Yelena clapped her hands together, her earlier aggression vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by an almost childlike enthusiasm. “Wednesday it is! Seven o’clock? We’ll pick you up. Where do you live? Is it far? Do you have any… dietary restrictions? Natasha can be surprisingly accommodating when she wants to be.”

Y/N just glared at her, the scent of her lingering annoyance still a palpable barrier. “Just tell me where you’re taking me. I can meet you there. I am not getting into a car with either of you again. Not unless there are flashing blue lights involved.” The thought of being trapped with them was clearly still abhorrent.

“Alright, alright,” Yelena said agreeably, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “We’ll text you the address. Something… classy. Not too intimidating. Maybe that little Italian place with the surprisingly good tiramisu. They also have excellent vegetarian options, if that’s your thing. Now, let’s get you out of here before someone calls the actual police. Or that rather large alpha gardener decides to intervene with his pruning shears.”

Yelena unlocked the car door, and Y/N practically leaped out, putting as much distance between herself and the black sedan as possible. She retrieved her fallen bag and its scattered contents, her movements still stiff with residual anger and fear. She shot Natasha one last, wary look, a complex mix of emotions swirling in her intelligent gaze – anger, suspicion, and a flicker of something Natasha couldn’t quite decipher – before turning and quickly walking away, disappearing back into the leafy paths of the community garden. The calming scent of chamomile slowly began to reassert itself as she moved further away, a fragile peace returning to the disturbed air.

Natasha watched her go, a strange mix of relief and apprehension swirling within her. She had secured a second chance, albeit through the most bizarre and borderline illegal means imaginable. The concerned glances of the remaining gardeners felt like physical accusations, and the nearby alpha’s protective growl still echoed faintly in the air.

“Well,” Yelena said, brushing off her hands as if she’d just completed a particularly challenging task. “That went… interestingly. You have to admit, it was certainly efficient. And now you have a date! See? I told you I could fix things.”

Natasha just shook her head, utterly speechless, the absurdity of the situation washing over her. “Interestingly? Yelena, you practically kidnapped her! That alpha who was heading over here looked ready to tear you limb from limb! We could be facing assault charges!”

“Details, details,” Yelena waved a dismissive hand. “He was probably just worried about his prize-winning tomatoes. The important thing is, you have a date. Now, let’s go home. I think we both need a very fat shot vodka. And maybe you should start practicing your charming smile. The non-hostile takeover version. And perhaps work on your opening lines. ‘So, about that support group…’ is probably not the best way to start.”

As they got back into the car, the scent of blooming flowers and damp earth seemed to linger in the air, now tinged with the faint undercurrent of Y/N’s lingering distress and a surprising hint of her own resilience. Wednesday evening suddenly felt like a very long way away, a looming precipice of potential disaster or, against all odds, a chance at something… more than just another corporate negotiation.

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