video;

[sketchycharacter]

[Nathan looks utterly disgusted when his face appears via MID today, and that miiiight have something to do with the IKEA-esque furniture pieces scattered about his quarters. The canny eye might spot that they appear to be pieces of a queen-sized bed.]

Okay, we all know that the Ingress can be a dick, but this is outright sadistic. I'm glad Elena and I won't have to share a twin bed or shove two of them together for space, but sending me a disassembled bed with no instructions through mail drop isn't a lot better.

[He tosses a few stapled-together pages over his shoulder.]

Actually, there are instructions. But Swedish isn't one of the languages I speak. If anyone thinks they can put this shit together blind, let me know—I'll owe you one. I'd offer to trade you this thing for some help [he pans over to show the taco cat bespread] but Elena's already claimed it.

I didn't marry her for her good taste in décor.

[Sorry honey.]

Oh, yeah. [Apropos of nothing, Nate grins.] My best friend Sully came through the Ingress the other day too, so I guess it doesn't completely suck. Anyway, I would ask people not to tell him any embarrassing stories about what I've been up to here, but a lot of you are assholes.

[He says that with affection.]

Just remember I've probably seen you do some dumb stuff too, and if your friends show up, I won't hold back.

Comments

[sketchycharacter]

What do you have against cats?

[He thought Hawke liked...you know what, no.]

Tacos and pizza.

[otiosity]

I'm very Ferelden! We are decidedly an entire country of dog people. Also I'm allergic to cats. My brother too. Much to my sister's dismay when she went through a period of desperately wanting one.

[She shrugs cheerfully.]

Haven't a clue.

[sketchycharacter]

[Something in Nate's face changes a little when she mentions her sister. He smiles, but something about it is different.]

You've been deprived all this time. Tacos and pizza are among the universe's finest foods.

[otiosity]

Well, then why haven't you shown me?

[She tilts her head a little. She can tell something has changed but why?]

[sketchycharacter]

Because I'm not a chef? Not that you have to be, but I don't have any frozen pizza or taco shells either.

[He's fine everything is fine.]

[otiosity]

We ought to have gone to find it on the colony. Now I'll never get to eat the universe's finest foods.

[sketchycharacter]

There's got to be some other planet we can get dough, tomato sauce and cheese. Then you can top it with whatever.

Tacos might be a lost cause.

[otiosity]

How cruel it is to live in ignorance forever. But I suppose I'll have to live with... what was it again? Iza?

[sketchycharacter]

Pizza. It's the food of the gods. Not in any mythology, but trust me on this.

action!!

[otiosity]

[And look who is sauntering up behind you. It's your best buddy.]

I feel like you've cheated me by explaining pizza but not having anyway to make it on this ship. How are you going to make it up to me?

[sketchycharacter]

[You could fucking KNOCK, Hawke!

Even though he left the door open specifically so people could come in to help without him having to get up and let them in.]

I could buy you a drink. But it'll be a drink without pizza to pair with it, so still not as good.

[otiosity]

I'll still take the drink.

[And she's dropping onto the floor next to him like she lives there. She spends a few moments looking at all the pieces before deciding it's boring.]

And you can tell me more about your handsome new friend.

[sketchycharacter]

[It is boring, but he'd like to be able to stretch out in bed, so he's gonna keep at it.

Nate laughs at her description of Sully.]

Oh, he'll love that you called him that. Sully may be the only person I know who gets around more than you.

[He means that in a good way.]

[otiosity]

Clearly, we were fated to meet. And flirt. Thank you for the compliment.

[Hawke is proud to be queen slut of this cabal.]

[sketchycharacter]

[Slut emeritus here is so proud.]

Fate must have been pretty determined, because it had to work hard to get you in the same dimension. Hooray for space kidnapping, huh?

[Funny, he actually sounds vaguely sincere.]

[otiosity]

Hooray for space kidnapping. Bringing us all together. It's poetic almost brings a tear to your eye.

[That's pretty sincere for this bird.]

[sketchycharacter]

Maybe if you cry easy.

[Again, there's something different to his smile now. Almost wistfulness, but not quite.]

Even if he's not thrilled to be here, I'm glad to see him. Right before the time the Ingress pulled me in, he went through some rough stuff, and it was mostly my fault. It's good to see with my own eyes that he's okay.

[otiosity]

Is anyone thrilled to come here?

[Hawke snorts a little bit.]

But I understand the feeling. Someone I know from home came here too. And he's from ahead of me. Glad to know he's okay. Sort of weird though.

[sketchycharacter]

[Astronauts, maybe?]

Tell me about it. Actually, you don't have to—I'm in the same position with Sully. It's...strange. Hearing a little about your own future.

[otiosity]

Yeah.

[WHO PASSED OUT AFTER HEARING HINTS ABOUT HER FUTURE. NOT HAWKE.]

Not sure there's much point to it though. There's not anything we can do about it here.

[sketchycharacter]

I don't know. I mean, yeah, it's kind of maddening to be here and only know what's supposed to happen without actually living it, but...

[He shakes his head.]

Some things are worth knowing about.

[otiosity]

Still waiting for one of those things to pop up. So far, neither Dorian nor Fenris has produced anything promising.

[sketchycharacter]

Yeah.

[He glances sidelong at her, then down at the bed pieces strewn before him.]

Sully came up with one right away.

[otiosity]

Your kid that thankfully looks more like her mother than you?

[Hawke is picking up one of the legs and trying to stare through it like a telescope. SWEET, INNOCENT, PRECIOUS. DON'T HURT HER.]

[sketchycharacter]

Nah. Not yet. It, ah...it was about Sam.

[That familiar pang is still there when he says the name, but now it shouldn't be. That's still so strange to think of.]

My brother's alive.