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#MSVJackOfDiamonds – January 24, 2018
Nathan tried his best. Really, he did. He tried and he tried and he tried. But he just couldn't do it. He couldn't sleep. So he thought he would get up, go back to his gear and do what he always does... tinker. Tweak. Fix. After a fruitless ten or so minutes of that, he gave up. His mind was just riddled too much with the events on that ship and... the flashbacks. The dream in the pod. They all plagued him equally
and he just wasn't prepared to face that with sleep or by trying to bury them with work. He picked up his stowed canteen and twists the lid off, starting to wander the ship aimlessly as he takes the occasional swing from the silvered container. It smells distinctly of bourbon. He's meandered his way to the door leading into the galley, head down and brow furrowed.
Leah hasn't moved much since Ilyna picked up Li and Zaylus took his leave. Still seated on the floor at the window, she now has her back to it, top of her head pressed against it as she stares upwards distantly. The bottle she has raided from the pantry that's sitting between her legs indicates she had a similar idea to Nathan when it sank in that sleep wasn't an option. Split lip. Dark, tired circles around her eyes. A
slight bruising around her jaw. She's seen better days. She's rhythmically tapping her boot against the floor to the calm music coming from the omni-tool sitting at her side. The song is human. Female vocalist. French. A soft piano is backing the vocalist. Leah seems oblivious to Nathan's presence, lost in her own mind as she lifts the bottle up and takes a long draw from it.
Nathan leans against the doorway as it slides open, looking at Leah as he cradles the canteen in his hands. His eyes slowly raise to the ceiling as he listens to the gentle pressing of keys from the piano and his eyelids slide closed. One hand drifts to the side and he gently mimes the keys along with it, seeing if he can place the song. He stops when he can't, but he stows the melody down in a small fragment of
his mind for later. He might try and learn that. "Room for one more?" His voice is soft, barely able to be heard above the music as he motions to the spot besides her. Dark circles aren't as prominent as hers, but they have their place upon his worn and weathered expression.
Leah's gaze slowly moves to the door as Nathan speaks up. A small smile tugs at her lips but never quite manifests. She gives a small nod of her head, still pressed against the window behind her that she, at some point, gave up on staring out of. Nothing but a flurry of distortion and colors all merging into one another. "Always." she says simply, an exaggerated grunt escaping her as she scoots along the window to give up
some space for him to join. Her large green eyes glance down at the bottle in her hands as she settles back into a seated position, only now noticing just how light it has become in a relatively short amount of time and scrunches up her nose.
Nathan he walks over, footsteps as light as they can be. It's almost as if he is worried about interrupting the woman singing, despite it all just being a recording. He slips into the spot next to her, sliding down to a seated position. Bending one knee up, he rests the arm holding the canteen atop it, the other arm draped lazily across his leg. Stubble has adorned his face, passing the point of a five o'clock
shadow but not venturing any further forth. "Who's singing?" He asks, finding that he rather not broach the subject of their harrowing escape. Not yet. Maybe after his canteen is empty.
Leah furrows her brow for a moment, seemingly having forgotten the music was even on. An 'Oh!' moment occurs to her and her attention snaps to the omni-tool briefly. "Jacqueline Petit." she says, that half-smile creeping back onto her face as she pulls in a tired breath. It's probably not an artist many had heard of. Little renown outside of France's sphere. Even less outside of Earth's. As a clank sounds out from the
direction of the bridge, Leah grips the neck of her bottle and jerks it to her side, as if to conceal it with her body. Craning her neck for a moment, she watches towards the door. When the coast seems clear, she seems to realize the ridiculousness of her reaction and gets a little- perhaps slightly inebriated- chuckle out of it. "The last thing I need right now is Halisi telling me I shouldn't be drinking..." she
explains, slowly bringing her attention back Nathan's way. "I'm good." she continues her explanation with a shrug, "I'm uuuuusually good. Today? Today is definitely one of those few 'I need a drink' days."
Nathan nods slowly at her explanation, mouthing the name to store to memory. Sofia will probably like this artist. Her voice is quite enrapturing. He jars a little at the clank and, almost out of paranoid instinct, his hand snaps to where his holster usually sits with his pistol. He grasps at nothing and he finds himself conflicted. Thankful that it wasn't there so he didn't make an arse out of himself and a little
bit put down that he lost his weapon. He sighs softly and allows a small chuckle himself to escape, raising his canteen up for her to see. "You an me both...". He lets his head sag towards the container and he swings the liquid, grateful for the burn he feels as it travels down his throat. "...Today... was fucked up."
Leah's gaze turns a bit more distant the moment Nathan responds, her thoughts obviously going right back to that Collector ship. "It sure was." she agrees. After a moment, though, she wills herself out of her trance and elects to simply unscrew the cap from the bottle and take a long pull from it. She winces at the burn, scrunching up her nose as she licks at the roof of her mouth and examines the bottle of whiskey. It
wasn't the sort of thing she'd find herself drinking normally. But beggers can't be choosers so she just took the first thing she found. Certainly gets the job done. As she screws the cap back on and tucks the bottle between her thighs, she pulls in a deep breath. "...But we made it. All of us." she says, rotating her head against the window to look back at Nathan. She reaches out with her right hand and places it
over his, giving it a small, comforting pat. "I don't know how..." she continues in little more than a whisper as she repeats her sentiment, "...But we made it..."
Nathan winces a little at her words and her small, comforting pats feel like lead against his skin. "Redrock made it... sure. But there were so many others that didn't," he says softly, refusing to meet her gaze. "I know, I know, before you say it. I know we were lucky to get out alive. I know it's a small, fucking miracle..." His words aren't venomous or accusing. They're just tired, drained and a little bit
guilty. "But we woke those people up and by doing that, we made a silent promise that we would get them out. A few of them could fight, but there were others who couldn't... and then there was that girl... Nadia. I... I was trying to get her out. Trying to protect her. And I just-... her blood was all across my visor and I could see it pumping between my fingers as I tried to-... tried to...". His hand
holding the canteen begins to quiver, the machine-gun rattling of the cap bouncing against the metal surface as it shakes.
Leah's gaze lowers to her hand as Nathan speaks. Her dirty nails and a bit of dried blood lingering on a cut across her middle finger reminds her that she still needs a shower. She chews at her lower lip, focus unmoving from her hand over top of Nathan's until he finishes speaking. "I know..." she says softly, her attention moving from her hand to the canteen. "We failed them..." she says simply. It's followed by a small,
almost imperceptible shrug, "But-... But there's others we didn't fail, Nate... Others who are only here-... only alive because of us." She gives his hand a squeeze before continuing, "It always hurts to lose people. But all we can do now is dust ourselves off and make sure we're better prepared next time..." A short sigh escapes her before she adds in an exhausted, beaten mutter: "...And there's always a next
Nathan exhales sharply and the canteens shakes begin to quieten, but only because he tips his head back and downs a larger shot of the bourbon. He grimaces as it sets fire to his insides, but he welcomes the jarring distraction from the thoughts playing before him. "I wish there wasn't... I don't think I'm cut out for Redrock if you guys keep... keep running into these things." His admission is soft, barely audible
as he turns his hand over to grips hers, just for her to act as a temporary mooring in this storm of nightmares. "But you're right. I know you are. We got a little girl and her mother out and reunited a daughter with her mother." He manages to tilt his head a little to glimpse at her from the corner of his gaze, shaking his head softly.
Leah continues to focus on their hands as Nathan speaks, reorienting her fingers to interlock with his. She grips the bottle with her free hand and shifts against the window, allowing herself to slide down it a bit as she tilts to her side and rests her head against Nathan's shoulder. The soft, pleasant music continues to play, volume low as to not bother the others they share the ship with. "...Yeah." she says, nodding
against him. Working with Redrock has certainly added a laundry list of complications to her life, as well. But her mind travels back to Zaylus. To the discussion they had less than an hour prior. When everything was all but lost, they still came for the rest of their team. Where anyone else- anyone sane- would have written them off as a lost cause, Zaylus and the others didn't stop fighting. "But you're not going
anywhere, Nate." she says, as if it's already set in stone, her slightly inebriated state perhaps making her a bit more forward and candid. "How many people would fight their way through a Collector ship just to save a little girl? There's good people in Redrock." She gives his hand a squeeze, "You belong here." She tries to roll her head enough against Nathan's shoulder to look up at him, but it's a poor attempt at
best. "Besides. I'll kick your ass if you go anywhere, and I hit pretty hard." She blinks a couple of times through glassy green eyes, a tired, battered, but sincere smile crossing her lips. "...That was a threat."
Nathan 's canteen slowly comes to a standstill, resting against his knee as his gaze drifts down to her. He listens, a brief smile tugging at his lips that then spreads into a more sincere one. Equally as tired, not quite as battered as hers, but it's a decent rival. She's right, after all. How many people would go to save a little girl against the boogeymen of the galaxy? Shit, even Jessica came along in the end.
That has to say something. And there is a small twang of guilt in his chest for snapping at her as he did. Admittedly, it is a little short lived. "Well... when you put it like that... suppose I should consider staying," he says gently as he smirks down to her, craning his neck so his eyes can meet hers. Well, as best as he can. Angles are a little awkward, but he manages. And there is a little stirring in
his chest at her words. 'You belong here'. It felt odd hearing that. Out here, in the arse end of the galaxy, someone told him he belonged there and he was finding himself agreeing. Her words can't release the lingering horror and guilt that plays in his mind and breast, no. But they do calm him. Make him rethink on it all. It'll be a slow journey for him, but he knows it'll reach its end. "C'mere." He
shifts so he slips his hand free of hers, but only to switch the canteen to that hand. His now free hand moves to drape across her shoulders and pull her in for a side hug, a deep breath escaping him. "You're lucky you're so charismatic."
Leah gives a small snicker as Nathan begins to shift things around. Her now-free hand moves to his side and she walks her middle and index finger across a couple of ribs before jabbing them into his side playfully. "I am, aren't I?" she teases as he reaches across to pull her into a hug. She releases her smile and pulls in a deep breath, her hand moving from his side to slip around to his lower back. Her other arm, bottle
still in-hand, wraps around his opposite shoulder and the bottle gives a soft clank as it comes in contact with the window behind Nathan. She presses her forehead into the crook of his neck and squeezes him tightly, the closeness of the gesture seeming to drain the pressure of the day's events. Just a little. Another day that she almost didn't survive. Another day that almost took her away from the people she cared
about. What a life to live. She doesn't seem intent on letting go any time soon, her only movement a brief shift away from Nathan's neck to press a quick kiss to his cheek.
Nathan sets his canteen down to the side, turning his now free hand to gently grip her wrist as he nestles into this spot. His skin prickles as he feels her forehead come into contact with his neck and his smile grows warm, if a little tipsy. Sometimes its just the small things in life that can wash away the pain, the tension, the pressure of even the most harrowing of experiences. And this small gesture, her lips
pressing against his cheek, is enough to do just that for the moment. He turns his head and pecks her forehead, chuckling very faintly, little more than a rumble in his chest. "Don't let it go to your head now," he warns with a gentle nod. He tilts his head back, a very light thud as it leans on the window. The passing flurry of warped colours out the view port drifts by and an odd thought crosses his mind.
But he lets it disappear with the blur of motions outside, exhaling softly as his eyes drift close for the moment. "Hey, Leah? You don't mind if we just sit here for a little bit? I know it ain't exactly comfortable, but..."
Leah returns to pressing her forehead right back into the crook of Nathan's neck as she shuffles to get a bit more comfortable. With little regard for the sanctity of a good bottle of whiskey, she releases it from her grip. It clonks to the ground, falling onto its side and rolling a bit before wedging itself against the window. She slides one leg over top of his, her clunky boot scuffing at his pantleg as she leans her
weight against him, obviously settling in to stay a while. A soft hum is her only response at first followed by a muted nod of her head against him. After a moment, she adds quietly, "...Thanks for not dying out there." It's followed by a tired chuckle.
Nathan breathes out a chuckle and he adjusts slightly to move himself into a faintly more comfortable position himself. His canteen was already thankfully on the ground, so no need to be dropping that to the ground anytime soon. He squeezes her a little more tightly, his head lulling to the side to rest his cheek against her. "With you around? Not even a thought," he muses softly. There's a pause before he adds
almost silently, "...Likewise, Leah." He finds his chest tightening a little at that, a smile creeping onto his face before he falls silent, eyes briefly opening to look at the woman resting next to him. It's only been a few short months, but he's already told her more than he has anyone else in his life. And she's revealed much about her. Her troubles. Her demons. He's not sure how much he can help with
Leah shifts in place a bit more, bringing the arm that was around Nathan's shoulder back so she can wrap it around his waist. A much more comfortable resting spot for her hand. She remains like this for a number of minutes, green eyes falling shut as she listens to the music play and enjoys the closeness provided by her teammate in silence. By her friend. As her drunken mind continues down that road, it's inevitably drawn to
the only place it could possibly go. To Damien. She draws in a deep breath as her tired eyes peel open again and she shifts away a bit. "...I should... I still need to take a shower." she offers, almost apologetically.
Nathan blinks out of his small doze. The music, the alcohol in his system and the comfortable(ish) position almost able to afford him a proper nap. He looks down to her as his hands slide off of her as she moves away, a brief look of disappointment on his face. But it is replaced by understanding and he nods softly, pushing himself up to sit a little more upright. "Uh, okay. Yeah, good-... good idea." He nods,
Leah seems torn for a moment as she puts a small amount of space between herself and Nathan and looks him over, green eyes searching his face. She remains silent for a number of moments after he has finished speaking until a sudden discomfort crosses her features and she finally responds, nodding as she speaks. "Yeah! I-... With everything going on-..." she begins to explain in half thoughts, "...And my hair is still
all-..." she frowns as she reaches back and grips her braid, pulling it over her shoulder. She scrunches up her nose as she leans in briefly and playfully uses the end of her braid to brush at his face to get her point across. "...Should take care of-... of that." She draws in a deep breath as she climbs to her knees with a grunt to fully face Nathan and falls back into a seated position on her clunky boots. "Bet I look
Nathan blinks as he listens to her talk, perking an eyebrow softly. A brief smile crosses over his face as she leans across to brush her braid on his face, the stubble mingling with her golden locks. However, it fades once more as he realises that she's rambling, something he's beginning to piece together with her being uncomfortable or nervous. Well, among a few other things, but given the context, he's more
hedging it on being one of those two. He waits a moment more before he says softly, "You told me that I could come to you if I needed to speak my mind about anything. Right? You know the same applies to you...". His own eyes flit back and forth across her expression, a modicum of worry shining through as he rests a hand on his knee.
Leah's gaze lowers and she brushes a few stray hairs back behind her ear, nodding distantly. "Yeah-... Yeah, I know..." she says, forcing herself to meet his eyes. "I just-..." she begins, but simply trails off, forcing a small smile instead. Giving a shake of her head, she takes a deep breath and holds it for a moment before letting it out. "It's nothing, Nate." Realizing that's probably not going to suffice, she quickly
adds non-chalantly: "It's just one of those days..." That sounds off to her as well and she gives yet another shake of her head, breaking eye contact. "It's the-... alcohol and the-... fucking Minagen. I just need a shower..." she mutters. With a shrug of her shoulders, she inches forward on her knees before leaning across him to grab for the bottle she dropped rather unceremoniously.
Nathan clearly doesn't believe her, his brow knitting further as she tries to explain. Even the added excuse of the booze and Minagen isn't enough to convince him. So he doesn't pry further as she leans across him to grab the bottle. Once she grasps it and she begins to lean back, he would reach other and quickly try to catch her in a hug. It's brief, lasting a moment or two, but it's as warm as he can make it. A
tight squeeze, before he releases her and leans back against the window. He grabs his canteen and twists the cap off, the smell of bourbon hitting his nostrils hard. "I'll be here. Drinking. Leave that bottle and I'll probably end up passing out on that couch too." He smiles a little, trying to crack a joke as he takes a swig of his booze. "If I don't, well... yeah. I'll be here," he reiterates, looking down
Leah seems caught off guard by the hug, but she doesn't fight it. Quite the contrary. She leans into it without a second thought for however brief it may be. Even bringing both arms around Nathan in an uncomfortable attempt at returning the hug, the loosely held bottle of whiskey pressing into his side. She, once again, seems hesitant to release the hug. But she does. As she falls back into her seated position, she gives a
few short nods in response to him. Her mind elsewhere, it takes a moment for the joke to set in and her smile manifests a half-step behind the joke itself. "Then I'll-... I'll make sure to keep this with me." she teases half-heartedly, lifting the bottle a bit. As his gaze lowers to his canteen, her smile falls away. "Plan on finishing this sucker myself. Can't have my drinking buddy passing out on me before I get
back." As she begins the slow climb to her feet, she's suddenly and painfully reminded of just how sore her body is. A fact that's reflected by the look on her face. She leaves her omni-tool where it is as a new song shuffles into play.
Nathan smiles faintly. It's a half-hearted return, but the smile and the fact it is returned is a small victory in of itself. He nods to her comment about drinking partner, then his brow knits once more at the expression on her face. He looks to his canteen then to her before he nods sharply. "Go on. Take your time. I'll still be here and awake for when you get back, don't you worry." He sets the canteen down and
motions to her omni-tool, a slightly more genuine smile on his face. "'Sides, I'm going to listen to your music if you don't mind. I'll see about learning one or two of these." He leans his head back and waggles his fingers at her in farewell. "Go. A shower will do wonders."