[closed] and since we've one place to go

[nonscriptum]

Who: Nathan Drake, Elena Fisher, Agent Washington, Agent Maine, Kyna Midha, Staci Pratt, Poe Dameron, Taako Taaco, Lup Taaco, Peter Parker
What: Nate leads a polar expedition out to the mountains.
Where: Out on the tundra; at an undisclosed excavation site in the foothills.
When: February 1-14
Warnings: PG-13+ for swearing, descriptions of dead bodies/science torture. :(




[source]

WELCOME TO SNOW HELL

the journey | the door | the bunker | the lab

Comments

[storyseeker]

[That much is true. Elena can think of multiple times when some pretty awful shit led to relationships she still values highly, which probably never would have existed otherwise. It doesn't negate any of the awful shit part, though.]

We're all bullshitting our way through this, honey. There's no guide for any of it. That you mean it, that you care so damn much—it matters. Don't think for a second that it doesn't.

[nonscriptum]

[ As the world's leading expert in bullshit of a different variety, Nate doesn't particularly like this version. Adaptable he may be, but being able to empathize openly with multiple people to make it look like he's got this crap together is way harder than he thought.

He exhales through his nose, forehead still wrinkling, knowing the worry is as tangible as the alien bodies they saw being torn apart.

Nate falls back on what makes him the most comfortable. ]

They should make a guide. "Leading A Bunch of Randos In Times of Crisis."

[storyseeker]

[For all that the joke is expected, part of the routine and not at all indicative of actual humor in this moment, it makes her smile. It's a start, that he can joke. If they were so far gone from their defense mechanisms that Nate couldn't bring himself to do that, Elena thinks she'd be even more lost than she feels right now.]

Yeah. Real inconsiderate that it hasn't come out yet.

[She closes her eyes for a moment, focusing on his close presence.]

Doing something will help. I don't know what, yet, but when we bring this information back to the town—the fact that we know more puts us in a better position to act on that knowledge.

It's not the same, but years ago when Jeff and I were chasing after Lazarevic in Nepal—the things we saw, the people who were suffering...it was rough. But knowing we were acting to expose him to the world, doing something to make some kind of difference, it helped, even before we ran into you.

[nonscriptum]

[ Joking is coping, inasmuch as it can be. She's right - once again, always - that they'll be able to use this information to their collective advantage. Nate knows as much, has taken down all the data he feasibly can, has made copies of the images and videos, is marginally ready to share them.

He doesn't want to expose more people to material like this, but ignorance is worse.

Thumbing at the small of her back Nate nods as Elena speaks, his mouth thinning at the mention of Jeff, poor bastard, and he knows that accepting some of this goes hand in hand with the remedy. Exposure isn't everything, but it can be enough. Awareness can be enough. ]

We don't know what good this information's gonna do anyone. [ He points out, because as far as he knows the majority already hate the Null. ] But I see your point.

[storyseeker]

Good, cuz it's awesome. My points always are.

[Elena knows there's the possibility this information will only be marginally of use. But it's not nothing, and enough marginally useful things can add up to some incredibly useful things.

She just hopes people don't have to go through more of this in the process. For a moment, she holds him a little tighter.]

[nonscriptum]

Okay, well, don't get too carried away.

[ Nate chuckles, a low rumble from his chest into hers. Out here, humor and MREs are all they have. Elena squeezes him tighter and Nate returns it, exhaling when he pulls away enough to push some of her hair behind her ear.

It could always be worse, he knows. No matter how dire, things can be worse. He'd rather have the company. ]

I'm glad you're here.

[storyseeker]

[The casually intimate gesture makes her feel better as much as their embrace does. If she could read his mind, she'd remind him that they've got each other, too, and that matters. It matters a lot.]

Same here, cowboy.