[ He chortles at the reaction and declines, the drink meant to be mostly for Nathan anyway. He adjusts his position, straightening legs and keeping up his weight with arms planted behind him. Observing the visible areas of Hell below them. ]
Feeling better yet?
Feeling better yet?
[amusement falling away in measures, Nathan takes a moment to consider that. eventually, he shakes his head, though it's not an outright no, but] I don't know, man. [a beat] A little, maybe, yeah. It's less -- less raw, now, I think?
[having talked to someone]
[having talked to someone]
[ James reaches out to clamp a hand on Nathan's shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze. ]
Good. You want to stay up here and finish the bottle? Fair warning, I don't drink much, so there will be a very drunk Holden before you know it.
Good. You want to stay up here and finish the bottle? Fair warning, I don't drink much, so there will be a very drunk Holden before you know it.
[Nathan flashes him a soft smile, at that touch. he glances to the edge of the roof where they came up, as it fades]
Depends. [a beat] You think you can climb down, if you're drunk?
Depends. [a beat] You think you can climb down, if you're drunk?
I think I can fall down, but I'm not confident about safely getting down.
Edited 2021-11-21 21:51 (UTC)
Yeah, alright. Let's, uh -- let's get down, and then we can see how we feel about the rest of the bottle, here.
[because he really doesn't want James to land on his head or something equally horrific, on the way down]
[because he really doesn't want James to land on his head or something equally horrific, on the way down]
In which, James managed to more or less get down unscathed, and they drank more back in the comfort of a suite.
text: un: sicparvismagna; backdated to just after Elena's arrival
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duderaider
2022-01-10 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, so uh. You got a minute?
I've got someone I want you to meet.
I've got someone I want you to meet.
Oh yeah? Color me curious and available in twenty minutes. Where should I meet you?
Hotel bar, maybe? Twenty minutes?
[and yeah, he realizes that James already specified twenty minutes, but he's a little anxious that Elena is here, period, for all that this is literally hell, and a little nervous about introducing them, beyond. he has no reason to think he and Elena won't get along, but he sure hopes they get along]
[and yeah, he realizes that James already specified twenty minutes, but he's a little anxious that Elena is here, period, for all that this is literally hell, and a little nervous about introducing them, beyond. he has no reason to think he and Elena won't get along, but he sure hopes they get along]
See you then.
[ He's curious, to say the least, comfortably leaning against the bar top with arms loosely folded and no drink in sight; James is being both polite and unsure which type of drink this encounter may or may not call for. ]
[ He's curious, to say the least, comfortably leaning against the bar top with arms loosely folded and no drink in sight; James is being both polite and unsure which type of drink this encounter may or may not call for. ]
[Nathan, meanwhile, give the same cryptic message to his wife, albeit in person, tapping her on the shoulder as he moves past her and where ever she's sitting on his way to the door]
Hey, c'mmon. There's someone I want you to meet.
[he's absolutely not going to tell her that James has become kind of a stand-in for Sam, for all that Elena probably doesn't like Sam much, at this point, all things considered]
Hey, c'mmon. There's someone I want you to meet.
[he's absolutely not going to tell her that James has become kind of a stand-in for Sam, for all that Elena probably doesn't like Sam much, at this point, all things considered]
[Yes, that is probably for the best. It's not that she doesn't like Sam - she doesn't know Sam - but she doesn't like the choices Nate makes as a result. That being said, she turns and easily follows him, falling in step at his side.]
A friend, I take it? Or an important person I should probably know and make a good impression on?
A friend, I take it? Or an important person I should probably know and make a good impression on?
[to be fair, at this point in his life, Nate doesn't like the choices Nate makes as a result of Sam. Sam lied to him, then got him killed. if he ever shows up here, he'll probably punch him just as soon as he'll hug him, their story just as unresolved as his and Elena's, at this point]
[but anyway]
Yes? You get that those things aren't mutually exclusive, right?
[James is a friend. James is important to him and he hopes that he and Elena hit it off]
[but anyway]
Yes? You get that those things aren't mutually exclusive, right?
[James is a friend. James is important to him and he hopes that he and Elena hit it off]
No, they're not. But there's a difference between someone who has control of our fates and could make our lives here easier versus a friend that you want me to make a good impression on.
[There's a difference between Casual Elena and Formal Journalist Elena.]
[There's a difference between Casual Elena and Formal Journalist Elena.]
Oh. Yeah, that's -- [a very good point] Sorry.
[can you tell your husband is nervous, Elena?]
He's one of us.
[he's a friend]
[can you tell your husband is nervous, Elena?]
He's one of us.
[he's a friend]
It's okay.
[But good to know. She can adjust her expectations for the evening appropriately.]
So who is he? Do I get to know in advance?
[But good to know. She can adjust her expectations for the evening appropriately.]
So who is he? Do I get to know in advance?
His name's James, and weird as this is gonna sound? He's from the future. Like People Are Living in Space the future.
[which is both crazy and awesome]
[which is both crazy and awesome]
[Her eyebrows go up because that has her curious.]
Has he visited other planets?
Has he visited other planets?
[Nathan nods]
Mars and, like -- I think they're calling it New Terra? [there are other places he's pretty sure James has mentioned, too, but those were the ones he was most interested in] I think the woman he was seeing, back home, was from one of the asteroid belts, too.
[a beat]
You should ask him about it.
[well, maybe not the girlfriend, but the rest of it. it's really neat!]
Mars and, like -- I think they're calling it New Terra? [there are other places he's pretty sure James has mentioned, too, but those were the ones he was most interested in] I think the woman he was seeing, back home, was from one of the asteroid belts, too.
[a beat]
You should ask him about it.
[well, maybe not the girlfriend, but the rest of it. it's really neat!]
I will. I already have many questions.
[She glances around as they walk, trying to see if she can spot him in advance. Can you see spaceman on someone? Don't know but she's going to try.]
[She glances around as they walk, trying to see if she can spot him in advance. Can you see spaceman on someone? Don't know but she's going to try.]
[ He's still comfortably leaning against the bar top with arms loosely folded and sans a drink, giving cursory glances. When he spots the couple, James's face lights up with the sincerity and strength of his smile and he gives a friendly wave. ]
[Nathan spots him, and when he does, flips a wave back before reaching for Elena's hand, to tug her in his direction] C'mmon.
[and once they get close]
Hey. [he pauses, letting Elena go so he can gesture between her and James] Elena, James Holden. James, my wife, Elena.
[and once they get close]
Hey. [he pauses, letting Elena go so he can gesture between her and James] Elena, James Holden. James, my wife, Elena.
Hi.
[Elena smiles as she reaches out to shake his hand.]
I've heard some very interesting things.
[Elena smiles as she reaches out to shake his hand.]
I've heard some very interesting things.
[ His movements are as easy and relaxed and his smile, and James gives a shake in greeting. ]
I imagine they've been as interesting as your husband's life.
[ Because Nate's had a pretty badass life discovery ancient secrets and the like. Just sayin'. ]
It's really great to finally be meeting you, Elena.
[ And he's sincere in this admission. Drake could seriously use the win. ]
I imagine they've been as interesting as your husband's life.
[ Because Nate's had a pretty badass life discovery ancient secrets and the like. Just sayin'. ]
It's really great to finally be meeting you, Elena.
[ And he's sincere in this admission. Drake could seriously use the win. ]
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