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[At a glance, Nate doesn't seem too perturbed for a recently spirited away from home guy who never expected to go into the upper atmosphere of Earth, much less make it to the far reaches of space. Either he's extremely adaptable or he's great at putting up a front. Then again, why can't it be both?]

This is where we all share a little about ourselves, right? [He raises a hand in a casual wave. Those who have met Nate since his arrival might notice that he is now wearing a wedding ring.] My name's Nathan Drake, my hobbies include climbing and digging into the really dusty parts of the library, and I don't actually like long walks on the beach that much. Which I wouldn't have thought would be an issue since, you know. Space. But then we went to Vacation Planet.

[The cheerful expression of an amiable wiseass slips a little, revealing something closer to wonderment.]

I've gotta tell you, when I boarded my plane home, I didn't expect to end up outside of the solar system. So far, space isn't what I would have pictured. But the view on the observation deck, wow—it's pretty out of this world.

[He chuckles at his own pun, because he's the kind of person who does that.]

Can't say coming here would have been my first choice of next career moves, but I can think of worse places to be. Anyway, good to meet everyone, or at least talk at you. [He shrugs.] Close enough.

[action for nomo #013; this is the first time Nate's returned to the ship since going down to spend a few days in the lap of luxury, and he's brought a few things with him. His area of the room isn't messy yet, possibly because he just doesn't have that much stuff yet, but there are a few packages stacked on his bunk. Nate himself is sitting on the couch, flipping through his journal when he's not playing with the MID.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Pfft. No.

[~~GOOD FUCKING QUESTION~~ He shrugs, not looking particularly bothered. She'd gotten the bullet points version of how he met Sully some time ago, but all the details of his past had just never come up.]

I was on the streets before I met Sully, and he didn't try make me enroll once we partnered up. I'd have run and he'd have gotten some tough questions about why he was suddenly living with a young boy.

So when we weren't on a job, I just left the house every morning so the neighbors wouldn't think I was a truant, if they bothered to notice. Got a lot of self-teaching done that way.

Edited 2016-06-06 01:32 (UTC)

Huh.

[ Elena swears she can see a star soar above their heads with a rainbow trail saying, 'the more you know'. ]

So why not put some of those self-taught lessons toward your classes? Unless they all have to do with thieving and breaking into places...?

I mean— you are pretty smart, for someone mostly self taught.

Oh gee, thanks.

[He's not actually offended by her hedging on that compliment, though. She's not wrong.]

Yeah...I guess I will. I just never thought of how to pass that knowledge on to somebody else instead of absorbing it myself, you know? Plus languages just make sense to me. They always have. And if you start with Latin, it helps with a ton of other languages. But I doubt most people here have the same background.

What, I'm being serious! I've seen you solve some pretty tough puzzles, piece things together with the smallest bit of clues. You're good at what you do, and we both know how much you love doing it.

[ She never would've guessed he was someone who'd been raised mostly on the streets and learned on the go without the education to back him up. ]

They don't. But you won't know that unless you ask around. If Latin is like a primary root for other languages then start your course outline with that and go from there.

That probably is the best starting point, unless they have something specific in mind. I don't have training, so I'd pretty much have to stick with what I know.

[He's still not sure if he's a teacher because education is valued in space or because the crew needs certain kinds of skills, but he supposes he'll find out soon.]

What about you? I don't suppose they made you the official ship news anchor or something.

Nope. It's something else. Something not related to being a reporter or journalist.

[ Surprise surprise. ]

[Not that surprising when they clearly don't match backgrounds with assignments.]

Yeah? What is it? Don't leave me hanging.

That's just it— 'hanging' is what I'll be doing.

Huh? I don't get it.

[ GRIMACING. ]

I'm uh. I'm the new climbing instructor.

What?

[For a moment Nate just stares, as if he's waiting for her to laugh and say she's kidding.]

But that's—you're—I could have done that!

I guess they...thought I was more quali...fied...?

[ There's no laughter and no 'HAHA JUST KIDDING!!'. Elena's just wincing. His voice pitching in a disbelieving whine makes her wince all the more. Oops. ]

Sorry.

[If it were anyone else but his wife, he'd be whining hardcore, and maybe demanding a job re-do. But it's her, so...Nate slumps back in his chair and gives her a wan smile.]

Well, you are pretty good. I've seen that.

I guess you could say that I learned from the best.

[ Since the other seat is within reach she extends a leg and gently nudges at his thigh with a foot, smiling back. ]

[He chuckles and grabs her foot for a second, making like he's going to keep it trapped, before letting go.]

It's all right, you don't have to try to make me feel better. You had natural talent before you ever met me; you just hadn't brought it out yet.

[ It might be a little too much too soon to relax back into the chair and let her extended leg rest over his lap. He has a good pair of strong hands, maybe she's forgotten what they feel like in a subtle massage along her calve. ]

Okay, true. But you still helped.

I'll take that.

[A little bit of credit, sure. If nothing else, he'd given her the opportunity to do a lot of ridiculous climbing.

He's quiet for a minute, but it's a fairly companionable silence. It's...really nice.]

So this is pretty convenient.

Mm?

[ She looks up from the spot she'd been staring at on the ground in front of her, blinking over at him. The silence had been nice, sitting there with him was even more so.

Elena drapes her hands over the arms of her chair, her right close to his. ]

What is?

You living next door.

[He nudges her hand with his knuckles.]

This way I won't get lost when I come to take you on a space date.

Seriously?

[ Her head lolls over to his side. She doesn't need to look down to see the ring, she can feel it under her fingers as they catch over his and brush up to his knuckles. ]

A space date.

[He splays his fingers, catching her fingertips between his.]

We're in space, aren't we? That makes it a space date.

Did you plan something out already?

[ Her fingers slide in to lace with his. What is this casual hand holding? ]

Nothing specifically. But I gathered a few ideas.

[It's great is what it is.]

I know we can't just go back in time. But I figure we can start from the beginning.

[A no-expectations first date between married people.]

What do you say? Will you go out with me?

[ Go back in time? To their first date? That was pretty much finding Drake's coffin and then getting attacked by pirates, or at least she liked to joke that it was. ]

I'll have to think about it.

[An outright 'yes' would have been preferable, but he'll take thinking about it. Nate nods and squeezes her hand lightly.]

You know where I'll be when you decide.

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