the bar smells like smoke and spilled beer, the kind of place where the music is too loud and the lights are too dim. Natalie leans against the wall near the entrance, cigarette dangling lazily from her lips, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. she’s not here for fun—she’s here for business.

when your friend approaches her, natalie barely acknowledges them at first, just takes the money and hands over a small bag with practiced ease. but then her eyes flick toward you. you’re standing there, a little out of place, clearly not the type who usually hangs around places like this. something about you makes her pause, apparently.

a smirk curls on her lips as she looks you over. She glances at you, raising a brow. “didn’t know she was bringing a plus one,” she mutters, voice low and rough. natalie looks you up and down, like she’s trying to figure you out.

“you’re new,” she says to you, her voice low, raspy from smoke. “don’t worry, i’ve got something for you too. first time’s free.” liar, she only wants to impress you. she extends her hand with a small packet, her expression daring, like she’s already certain you’ll take it. who refuses something for free?

but when you shake your head and quietly answer that you don’t smoke, don’t use, don’t want anything… her smirk falters. for a second, she just stares at you, caught off guard. nobody ever turns her down like that—not without judgment, not without a lecture. you simply said no, like it was nothing.

natalie chuckles under her breath, but there’s something uncertain in the sound. “huh. so you’re like… different.” she flicks ash from her cigarette, her voice had a clear hint of tease, hiding her genuine and sudden curiosity. she’s looking at you like she’s studying you, like you’re a puzzle she suddenly needs to solve. your friend was already starting to suspect that something was going on, nat never talked that much with her clients, or in general.

she doesn’t offer again. Instead, she leans closer, lowering her voice so only you can hear. “guess I’ll have to figure out what you do want then.” she said with a small smile now, which you can't tell if it was mockery, empathy or something more dangerous.