Vodka For The Pretty Lady (Private: Arc and Beyril)

Natalie nodded, "I run up and down zem for cardio." she smirked, "I'd race you, but you'd lose too easy right now."

"Yep, I would." Jay said, nodding. With a sigh, he took the first step of many.

Natalie skipped backwards up the first few steps, facing him as she walked upward, "So... Eef you are so vorried about getting caught, vy are you in Death Ceety?"

"I'm only worried now because I'm drunk enough that it might be a problem. Since my animal form is smaller than my human form, I might just drop unconscious after transforming. Dunno. Never downed a whole bottle of vodka before. I'm confident in my ability to run away if that doesn't happen." Jay explained. "Anyway, I heard good things about the city, so I thought I'd check it out. So far so good."

Natalie nodded, "I've only been here one year."

"I won't be staying that long." Jay said.

Natalie raised a brow, "Have plans?"

"I'm travelling around. Not staying anywhere too long." Jay stopped to look back at the city, from where they were about halfway up the stairs. "Nice view, as long as you don't look into the desert."

Natalie smirked, "You should try Russia."

"I'm sticking to the US, for now, but maybe at some other point." Jay said, thinking of all the things Natalie had said about her country, and thinking that, no, it's probably not a prime holiday destination.

She shrugged, "Ve make excellent snowmen. You are missing out." she teased, looking over her shoulder, "Almost to zee top."

"Snowmen aren't my thing." Jay said, and, breathed a sigh of relief to hear that there weren't many more stairs left.

She shrugged, "Und be have ze palace at Moscow..." She sighed whistfully, "Ees beautiful."

"I'm sure it is." Jay said, all attention focused at the top of the staircase, which was oh so close, rather than the conversation.

Natalie skipped ahead slightly, twirling at the top of the stairs, "Come on, not much further."

Finally arriving at the top of the stairs, Jay turned and sat down on the highest step. "Torture. I think I see why meisters are so fit physically."

Natalie shrugged, "Eet vas easy for me ze first time."

"You're a special case." Jay said. "Now, fold the parachute out already."

Natalie nodded, opening the backpack and checking the chute for holes. Her fingers moved over the fabric as she inspected it, careful, and trained, like she had done this before.

Watching Natalie check the 'chute, Jay wondered, and asked: "D'you steal parachutes often?"

Natalie laughed, "No, my family deals in weapons and arms." she mused, "I had to learn how to properly inspect all forms of military equipment. We have to know our product."

"Ah, okay." Jay said, unquestioning. Apparently, being surprised with Natalie and her family was quite pointless.

Natalie folded back into the pack, "How high?" She asked.

"Whenever you say stop." Jay said, standing up from the step. "I'm going to have to use the open parachute to send you up with a powerful updraft. Might be a little... Turbulent, at first."

Natalie laughed, giving him a thumbs up, "Give eet your best shot, bord boy!"