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nonscriptum) wrote2019-06-27 11:42 am
nonscriptum) wrote2019-06-27 11:42 am
{ inbox } hadriel
This is Nate, you know what to do. I'll get back to you.
This is Nate, you know what to do. I'll get back to you.
[ There is a level of familiarity in friendships at which point threats are not taken seriously, because the friend in question has no design to shiv you unless said in jest. They are not yet at this level of friendship, as evidenced by Five's sudden and vehement ire, and the fact that Nate one-hundred percent believes the guy will open him up right here in his own room.
It occurs to him he would have reacted the same way, once, if the threat of losing Drake's ring were ever hovering over him. He did react this way, once. So much of his identity was tied to it, and this little marble means something. ]
Okay.
[ He says, placating, immediately pushing it into Five's hand. ]
I get it, okay, no need to leave a mess for Wash and Kyna to clean up.
It occurs to him he would have reacted the same way, once, if the threat of losing Drake's ring were ever hovering over him. He did react this way, once. So much of his identity was tied to it, and this little marble means something. ]
Okay.
[ He says, placating, immediately pushing it into Five's hand. ]
I get it, okay, no need to leave a mess for Wash and Kyna to clean up.
That didn't answer my question!
[ He abandons his gun to gesture fruitlessly at Rafe, who by Nate's account has clearly abandoned his evening activities for the sake of- what, exactly? Pissing Nate off? Stalking him? Reminding him of his uselessness, or something else entirely? So difficult to tell with this many options at his disposal.
Nate could easily leave. It wouldn't be hard, and Hell, he could step over the edge with featherfall and float gently to the ground if he really wanted to, but it doesn't occur to him to not feel cornered by someone who has a history of doing just this. Less charitably: ]
Thought you were filling a gap in your schedule.
[ He abandons his gun to gesture fruitlessly at Rafe, who by Nate's account has clearly abandoned his evening activities for the sake of- what, exactly? Pissing Nate off? Stalking him? Reminding him of his uselessness, or something else entirely? So difficult to tell with this many options at his disposal.
Nate could easily leave. It wouldn't be hard, and Hell, he could step over the edge with featherfall and float gently to the ground if he really wanted to, but it doesn't occur to him to not feel cornered by someone who has a history of doing just this. Less charitably: ]
Thought you were filling a gap in your schedule.
Christ's sake.
[ he grabs it back, turning around to walk back towards the window with a huff. he doesn't pocket the eyeball again immediately, though, rolls it through his fingers like he's done for decades. without turning around, he says, ]
Don't ask about it, and I won't ask about your grave.
[ it's said like an offer, not a threat. tradeoff. ]
[ he grabs it back, turning around to walk back towards the window with a huff. he doesn't pocket the eyeball again immediately, though, rolls it through his fingers like he's done for decades. without turning around, he says, ]
Don't ask about it, and I won't ask about your grave.
[ it's said like an offer, not a threat. tradeoff. ]
Wow.
[ Okay, deep cut, but an offer he'll happily accept. Nate has no intention of bringing up that specific brand of trauma, even if it's news to him that Five decided to look. Every person who's told him is a surprise. ]
All right. [ Hands up again briefly, before he drops them to his side. ] You want me to start the shower so it's not cold?
[ Okay, deep cut, but an offer he'll happily accept. Nate has no intention of bringing up that specific brand of trauma, even if it's news to him that Five decided to look. Every person who's told him is a surprise. ]
All right. [ Hands up again briefly, before he drops them to his side. ] You want me to start the shower so it's not cold?
[ There's a temptation to respond in kind if Nate is so eager to bandy corporate banter. He's rescheduled his appointment for a mutually preferred slot. He can pencil something like that in whenever he wants. But that's not why he's come up here and it's none of Nate's goddamn business so he (visibly) restrains himself, jaw working as his mouth stays pressed in a thin line.
Stepping farther from the edge for some peace of mind, he just narrows his eyes in the dark and waves his arm impatiently. ]
You were going to say something before you backed off. [ In case Nate needs the reminder. ] Not like this town's big enough for the two of us if you're going to play that game, so. Where else was I going to start looking?
Stepping farther from the edge for some peace of mind, he just narrows his eyes in the dark and waves his arm impatiently. ]
You were going to say something before you backed off. [ In case Nate needs the reminder. ] Not like this town's big enough for the two of us if you're going to play that game, so. Where else was I going to start looking?
Edited 2019-07-30 05:19 (UTC)
[ Nate would argue that Rafe explicitly going out of his way to bring these issues to bear is, in fact, making it Nate's goddamn business, but he knows he won't win an argument of semantics. Only one person on this roof attended school past the age of twelve and actually learned how to debate, therefore Nate is woefully at a disadvantage. ]
Yeah, I backed off because I didn't wanna talk about it.
[ Hence the forget it. He waves a hand. ]
Thought you could take the hint.
Yeah, I backed off because I didn't wanna talk about it.
[ Hence the forget it. He waves a hand. ]
Thought you could take the hint.
[ It's not an unwelcome surprise on an otherwise dark morning. ]
Sure, Gene, what's up?
Sure, Gene, what's up?
[ Nate is .5 seconds away from asking how serious it is when Gene laughs, so the humor tempers his concern. He's tired of privatizing all his messages with people anyway, so the request makes sense and saves him the hassle of a call over something in-person. ]
Uh- yeah. Yeah, I don't blame you. Where do you wanna meet?
Uh- yeah. Yeah, I don't blame you. Where do you wanna meet?
[ Nate doesn't think he's yet partaken in their local crab's creamery, so why not? Ice cream for breakfast sounds perfectly respectable. ]
Done. I'll see you there.
Done. I'll see you there.
( he's there early, dressed rather casually for someone who defaulted to a military uniform for the first few weeks of his presence here. his lantern's tied off to his belt an' emits a soft golden glow that ain't unlike the first fingers of dawn light cleaving the sky on the horizon. soon as he sees nathan, he gives him a friendly little wave an' ambles towards him at a leisurely pace. )
Heard the red beet's not too bad.
Heard the red beet's not too bad.
[ Nate makes a face like he doubts the claim a little bit, but is willing to try anything at least once. He hated everything about tripe until someone stir-fried it in chili oil in a stall next to a tuk-tuk repair shop in Thailand. ]
I'll take your word for it. Guessing this is better than ration chocolate, right?
I'll take your word for it. Guessing this is better than ration chocolate, right?
( wow, don't you slander the good name of hersheys like this, nathan. gene actually laughs and digs out the last of the bars he's been hoarding. another thing he'd win in poker matches. he breaks off a rectangle an' holds it on out for nate to sample it. figures, a man who loves history probably ain't had much chance to interact with things from his era that're as new as the day they were issued. this was from one of the last d-rations he got in holland. )
Depended on the ration. D-rations got the good stuff, straight outta the Hershey factory, an' they got to bypass wartime rationin' anyhow. C-Rats... eh, tasted like chocolate dirt unless you got lucky with the Brachs.
Depended on the ration. D-rations got the good stuff, straight outta the Hershey factory, an' they got to bypass wartime rationin' anyhow. C-Rats... eh, tasted like chocolate dirt unless you got lucky with the Brachs.
[ It was a joke, sort of. Judging by the look on Nate's face he didn't anticipate Gene reaching into some secret wartime snack stash and pulling out the thickest bar of chocolate he's ever seen in his life. The cube snaps off neatly and Gene holds it out to him with the kindness Nate has come to expect of him, and Nate honestly can't resist the opportunity to try 1940s chocolate in mint condition, per the period.
He examines it for a moment before biting off a corner, chewing it speculatively and concluding that it tastes like a cross between an energy bar and a handful of cacao nibs. ]
It's not bad. Kinda tastes like Mexican chocolate without the spices. A little bitter.
He examines it for a moment before biting off a corner, chewing it speculatively and concluding that it tastes like a cross between an energy bar and a handful of cacao nibs. ]
It's not bad. Kinda tastes like Mexican chocolate without the spices. A little bitter.
[ Seeing as Nate is one of the least subtle people in any given hemisphere, it's either rich as hell or just plain hilarious for him to try and lecture Rafe on hints. Of course Rafe had gotten Nate's drift but as he's just saidβ Beacon is only so big and they're both of them stuck in it for the foreseeable future. Rafe has taken his own measures, maintaining what distance he can in the tight quarters allowed them, but this kind of petty huffing bullshit like on the network is going to grate and fast.
But fine, Nate doesn't want to say? Rafe isn't stupid. Kyna's post. A conversation with Raylan. People whom Nate's got a connection with as well. He crosses his arms, an attempt to stave off the bristling irritation with this whole fucked-up situation. ]
And miss out on the list of people I'm not allowed to talk to? Perish the thought.
But fine, Nate doesn't want to say? Rafe isn't stupid. Kyna's post. A conversation with Raylan. People whom Nate's got a connection with as well. He crosses his arms, an attempt to stave off the bristling irritation with this whole fucked-up situation. ]
And miss out on the list of people I'm not allowed to talk to? Perish the thought.
( he envies that about nate, you know? that curiosity. he has that sense about him that he'll go anywhere an' try anythin' once. there's somethin' wonderful an' warmin' to be around that manner of soul, an' gene smiles to see him try the chocolate. )
'Not bad', he says. Lordy, I oughta cuff you.
( but he's absolutely laughing as he says it, an' it ain't hardly meant in any serious manner at all. )
'Not bad', he says. Lordy, I oughta cuff you.
( but he's absolutely laughing as he says it, an' it ain't hardly meant in any serious manner at all. )
Don't miss your chance.
[ He quips, popping the rest of it in his mouth like the absolutely Godless heathen he is. Around the Clif Bar masquerading as Hershey's chocolate Nate grins, and wonders if this really does count as breakfast.
At least he finishes chewing and swallowing before speaking again. ]
Wish I had some M&Ms to give you, you'd probably hate 'em.
[ He quips, popping the rest of it in his mouth like the absolutely Godless heathen he is. Around the Clif Bar masquerading as Hershey's chocolate Nate grins, and wonders if this really does count as breakfast.
At least he finishes chewing and swallowing before speaking again. ]
Wish I had some M&Ms to give you, you'd probably hate 'em.
( he doesn't quite cuff him, but he does give nathan's shoulder a playful shove just the same. )
Oh, you're a regular ol' gas, ain't you.
( but it's said with due fondness, at least. investigate a creepy forest with a guy an' it's like you ain't never been aught but pals. )
An' I'll have you know, Mr. History, we had M&Ms all the way back in '41 an' I take exception to your thinkin' otherwise.
( sorry nate he misunderstood your purpose in mentioning them. he's gotten so used to folks referencing things he ain't seen yet or heard of as if it's old hat to them that it's just the default he's come to expect now. )
Oh, you're a regular ol' gas, ain't you.
( but it's said with due fondness, at least. investigate a creepy forest with a guy an' it's like you ain't never been aught but pals. )
An' I'll have you know, Mr. History, we had M&Ms all the way back in '41 an' I take exception to your thinkin' otherwise.
( sorry nate he misunderstood your purpose in mentioning them. he's gotten so used to folks referencing things he ain't seen yet or heard of as if it's old hat to them that it's just the default he's come to expect now. )
[ He probably should have expected Rafe to draw the correct conclusion sooner, rather than later. Nate wishes he could just wave a hand and say it's jealousy, but even that isn't correct - he's never entertained the sensation much and Rafe would call him out on it, but it sounds more pat and simple than the truth.
He doesn't have an argument he wants to share, because that would require an emotional vulnerability of him that Rafe has not and will not earn. ]
Jesus Christ, Rafe, you stalked me out here because I stopped texting you. Why do you care?
He doesn't have an argument he wants to share, because that would require an emotional vulnerability of him that Rafe has not and will not earn. ]
Jesus Christ, Rafe, you stalked me out here because I stopped texting you. Why do you care?
Hey!
[ He laughs at the shove, providing an exaggerated wince for the effort in spite of the fact that it was light enough to be a love tap. Nate rubs any remaining chocolate residue off on his jeans like the animal he is and tries to school his face into Taking Gene Seriously. ]
I know, I know. They invented them for the war. But the formula's changed now! They're way sweeter, I don't think you'd like them.
[ He laughs at the shove, providing an exaggerated wince for the effort in spite of the fact that it was light enough to be a love tap. Nate rubs any remaining chocolate residue off on his jeans like the animal he is and tries to school his face into Taking Gene Seriously. ]
I know, I know. They invented them for the war. But the formula's changed now! They're way sweeter, I don't think you'd like them.
I wasn't stalking, would you knock that off. I'm here to talk, not lurk at you from the shadows like a knockoff Bond villain.
[ His eyes flash, a spark of red in the lanternlight as he snaps back but thenβ No. He's in control. No matter how obtuse Nate wants to be about this, he'll stay in control.
With that in mind β both the thickness of Nate's skull and the control β he answers slowly enough that it ought to sink in. Though Nate's smart enough that he has to have figured some of this shit out on his own by now. ]
This is a small town. We're going to be stuck here for a while. [ Rafe is still banking on figuring something out, on getting anywhere else, dead or not. There has to be more. Has to. ] And I don't need you getting any pissier at me than you already are.
[ DΓ©tente is way too much of a stretch but...an armistice at least. It's all Rafe can aim for when imagining the damage Nate will do the second he decides to open his mouth. ]
[ His eyes flash, a spark of red in the lanternlight as he snaps back but thenβ No. He's in control. No matter how obtuse Nate wants to be about this, he'll stay in control.
With that in mind β both the thickness of Nate's skull and the control β he answers slowly enough that it ought to sink in. Though Nate's smart enough that he has to have figured some of this shit out on his own by now. ]
This is a small town. We're going to be stuck here for a while. [ Rafe is still banking on figuring something out, on getting anywhere else, dead or not. There has to be more. Has to. ] And I don't need you getting any pissier at me than you already are.
[ DΓ©tente is way too much of a stretch but...an armistice at least. It's all Rafe can aim for when imagining the damage Nate will do the second he decides to open his mouth. ]
Edited (i type good) 2019-07-31 23:38 (UTC)
[ Rafe is the one wearing pomade and black clothing while purposefully seeking out someone just to finish a conversation he found unsatisfying, but sure, Nate is the one overreacting about how absolutely fucking weird this is. Never mind the fact they've had a couple mildly civil interactions, there's still too much unresolved in the murky water between them and even Nate's adventurous diving habits have a fraction of self-preservation.
He watches Rafe with a thin, unamused expression for the tone of voice that sounds like something a stressed adult might use to address a five year old. Nate isn't an idiot, and he's been in a place like this once before, for years. Rafe doesn't know the half of it, thinks he has it all figured out, probably assumes he can file everything neatly in his mental cabinet of Shit To Deal With.
Sooner or later he's going to learn just how small small really is. ]
So...what, exactly? You want me to be okay with you cozying up to people I like when I know how you operate? [ Perhaps surprisingly, there's no venom in his voice, but calm resignation. ] I'll just pretend you didn't spend a little over a month trying to kill me after nearly getting my idiot brother killed fifteen years ago, and- well. Guess you already accomplished the former, didn't you. We can just shake hands and wave at each other across the potluck.
He watches Rafe with a thin, unamused expression for the tone of voice that sounds like something a stressed adult might use to address a five year old. Nate isn't an idiot, and he's been in a place like this once before, for years. Rafe doesn't know the half of it, thinks he has it all figured out, probably assumes he can file everything neatly in his mental cabinet of Shit To Deal With.
Sooner or later he's going to learn just how small small really is. ]
So...what, exactly? You want me to be okay with you cozying up to people I like when I know how you operate? [ Perhaps surprisingly, there's no venom in his voice, but calm resignation. ] I'll just pretend you didn't spend a little over a month trying to kill me after nearly getting my idiot brother killed fifteen years ago, and- well. Guess you already accomplished the former, didn't you. We can just shake hands and wave at each other across the potluck.
Edited 2019-08-01 04:42 (UTC)
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