{ inbox } ethyraia

[nonscriptum]

@indy
This is Nate. Leave a message.

Comments

[nonscriptum]

I basically have so little effect I don't even know why we're seeing each other

wait, no, I know why
it's the shoulder holster

[wittingly]

Well, let's not get carried away
It's also the face and the brain and the other stuff I said

[nonscriptum]

you're so cute

[wittingly]

You made me work so hard to get that just now, I think I need some electrolytes and a nap

[nonscriptum]

Jesus, I didn't realize you were wasting away, I'm sorry
I'll work harder to meet your needs

Have I mentioned recently how insanely smart you are? Kind of envious of how easily you've made friends with the entire scientific population in a matter of days

[wittingly]

Thank you, I survive on 10% food 90% ego

Says the man who walked in knowing the guards by first name on day 2

[nonscriptum]

you're making it hard to compliment you when you turn it around on me, you know

because I mean that, you're really popular with everybody

[wittingly]

You're right, I'm sorry
Thank you, I'm incredibly popular
It turns out all you have to do is smoke weed. Not much has changed since sophomore year.

[nonscriptum]

oh my god you really can't just accept a compliment at face value can you

[wittingly]

Okay, okay, okay
I'm likable and charismatic and also good looking, which really helps things along. It's the face and also the hair, it sells the entire theme I'm going for.

[nonscriptum]

I give up

[wittingly]

WHAT
I took the compliment! That was me taking the compliment, and then complimenting myself even more.

You know what might be easier? If we do this in sign language, in the dark. I think I'll be a lot more receptive to that.

[nonscriptum]

No, I'm sorry, it's me, I'm not good at reading sincerity in text so I thought you were just...continuing to be kind of sarcastic about this

you're amazing and I wanted you to take that more seriously, I guess

[wittingly]

No, I'm genuinely pleased
Less about me being popular and more about you thinking I'm popular and being super into it, that's the part that matters

[nonscriptum]

[ No, that's not- Jesus, okay, really dodging this one, isn't he? ]

that's not really it, but
close enough
ish
I guess

[wittingly]

Just weeks in and we already need couples counseling
I believe in us, we can overcome our compliment communications issues

[nonscriptum]

yeah I'll get right on that

[wittingly]

scale of 1 to 10 how legitimately frustrated are you right now

[nonscriptum]

[ Oh boy. ]

I don't know
like a 4? maybe 5

[wittingly]

how can I bring that down to like a 3

[nonscriptum]

[ Fuck. Fuck. He keeps fucking up. ]

I don't know, Ian
I might just need to take a walk, staying at basecamp for too long makes me feel kind of shut in

Cabin fever, you know?

[wittingly]

( Shit.

Time to reread this conversation and identify the places it went wrong, try to analyze them. Figure out what he should have said.

Fuck.

Not even sure what he should say now. Is this an offer to go with thing or a give space thing?

Seems like a space thing. )

Okay, man.
Don't go alone please.
We still don't know what's out there.

[nonscriptum]

[ Ah. That's- Not what he expected, but maybe should have. Cool. Okay. It's fine.

It's not fine. ]

I'll be careful.
See you after dinner.

[wittingly]

( Cool.

Cool cool cool.

He spends minutes trying to think of the right way to respond to that. He knows, because he's not a complete fucking moron, that k is never the right thing to say. Smiley face feels like he's making light of the whole thing. He's already said be careful.

Eventually he gives up altogether, and puts his comm away. Instead, he grabs a drink on his way to the engineering depot to duplicate himself a pad and a pencil, and he sprawls out in a hammock in the section they've been taking.

Loses track of time, but he's got a floor plan down anyway. )

[nonscriptum]

[ Nate shouldn't have taken a walk and put distance between what already feels like a bunch of weird distance, but Hell, what else is he supposed to do? Pretend it doesn't trouble him that sincerity makes Ian buckle and fold like a house of cards? The jokes are for hiding and he knows that, would be able to feel around them in another world to understand the intent, but Nate doesn't know anymore.

The walk is unproductive for anything other than overthinking things before shoving them into a box and he knows, he knows he can't pressure this man. It would be so unbelievably unfair.

He finds him in the bunks area after dinner, deep in thought in the way that makes his forehead crinkle. Nate doesn't greet him properly until he's close, touching the edge of the hammock and then Ian's shoulder. ]

Hey.