[ Wash doesn't actually think much of the request, coming from Nate -- neither of them exactly prefer texting to other communication methods. If Kyna had messaged him to meet in person he'd be worried, but this is probably fine, right? It's not until he gets back the Invincible and sees Nate sitting on his own with a conflicted expression that he starts to wonder if something's wrong. Beyond all the things he already knew were wrong.
He makes his way over and claims a seat, mind racing with possibilities now. Did Rafe pull something? Did someone else show up? It can't be that bad if Nate's okay talking about it in the tavern, but it also must be important if it couldn't wait until they were all back in the room that evening. ]
[ Nate is fiddling with his ring. Spinning it absently on his left hand with the fingers of his right, a fidgety sort of habit he once relegated to a different piece of jewelry he wore around his neck. Gave it to Lance, months ago. Nate hopes he's okay. ]
Mm?
[ He smiles vaguely at the interruption, only barely catching the question by virtue of context clues. ]
[ Lance being okay is something they're all rooting for, honestly, but Wash doesn't know the significance of the ring. All he sees is Nate fidgeting, distracted, and apparently needing a minute to work up to whatever it is he needs to say. Hmmm. ]
[ The following smile is tight, somewhat self-deprecating. Nate himself isn't drinking, just sitting in front of an untouched glass of clear alcohol. He feels like he needs an even keel for this. ]
I think I'm gonna give you guys some space? I'm not- I'm not unhappy with the arrangement, it's actually really nice living with you and Kyna, just- some stuff's come up.
Nate, we don't need-- I mean, we're used to living with my whole team and you know we like having you around, right? If you want your own room we could switch to a house in the village.
[ He'd been considering proposing that anyway, but this seems way more serious than wanting to be able to put a door between them sometimes. Wash's brow furrows, more worried than confused. ]
[ He regains a little energy here, shuffling off the lethargy and shaking his head. Were things not as they are, it might have been nice to move into one of the cottages with them, get some space away from the bar and the overly-abundant alcohol. Nate's never done well in excessively close quarters, anyway. ]
It's- [ He starts to explains, sighs, thinks about it, and starts again. ] Rafe's been spending more time around The Invincible.
[ He doesn't say with whom. Nate has his suspicions. ]
[ Oh. Well that's understandable, Wash thinks, his confusion smoothing out into understanding and a subtle but very clear displeasure. Rafe's on his shit list, obviously, and he's opening his mouth to tell Nate he gets it when his friend mentions Sam too.
Who's Sa-- ohh.
The displeasure intensifies, try as he might to curb it. Sam is actually higher on the shit list than Rafe because he's a goddamn manipulator, a liar, and to his own fucking brother... with such a narrow understanding of the situation Wash can only draw on his own life experiences to make a judgement, and he finds that kind of person far worse. Con artists, backstabbers, selfish assholes who shoot you and leave you for dead so they can get what they want -- they're so much worse to Wash than straightforward threats, even unpredictable ones. But the fact that Nate doesn't want them to move together probably means he's moving in with Sam.
This isn't his family, therefore it isn't his business. Even if he's hit with an almost overwhelming surge of protectiveness at this realization. For a long moment he just sits there, choosing his words carefully. ]
[ And just like that, the temperature in the room changes.
Nate knows Wash has seen his death, thanked him for not sharing it in detail with Kyna, who shouldn't know. He's seen the barrel of Rafe's gun, felt the uneasy sway over the edge of the cliff before the rush of the wind was halted by the outcrop of stone. He felt the hurt. ]
I know how it sounds.
[ Stupid, probably. Moving in with his brother who lied to him, who got him killed. Nate is aware and doesn't want to be mistaken, doesn't want Wash to think he's a total idiot. ]
I'm not letting him off scot-free, Wash. He- I know what he did. Trust me, I know. But he's still my brother.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hardwearing) wrote2021-06-30 08:56 am
text + action
[ Wash doesn't actually think much of the request, coming from Nate -- neither of them exactly prefer texting to other communication methods. If Kyna had messaged him to meet in person he'd be worried, but this is probably fine, right? It's not until he gets back the Invincible and sees Nate sitting on his own with a conflicted expression that he starts to wonder if something's wrong. Beyond all the things he already knew were wrong.
He makes his way over and claims a seat, mind racing with possibilities now. Did Rafe pull something? Did someone else show up? It can't be that bad if Nate's okay talking about it in the tavern, but it also must be important if it couldn't wait until they were all back in the room that evening. ]
Hey. You okay?
no subject
Mm?
[ He smiles vaguely at the interruption, only barely catching the question by virtue of context clues. ]
Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just- uh. You want a drink?
no subject
Do I need one for this?
no subject
[ The following smile is tight, somewhat self-deprecating. Nate himself isn't drinking, just sitting in front of an untouched glass of clear alcohol. He feels like he needs an even keel for this. ]
I think I'm gonna give you guys some space? I'm not- I'm not unhappy with the arrangement, it's actually really nice living with you and Kyna, just- some stuff's come up.
no subject
[ He'd been considering proposing that anyway, but this seems way more serious than wanting to be able to put a door between them sometimes. Wash's brow furrows, more worried than confused. ]
What kind of stuff?
no subject
[ He regains a little energy here, shuffling off the lethargy and shaking his head. Were things not as they are, it might have been nice to move into one of the cottages with them, get some space away from the bar and the overly-abundant alcohol. Nate's never done well in excessively close quarters, anyway. ]
It's- [ He starts to explains, sighs, thinks about it, and starts again. ] Rafe's been spending more time around The Invincible.
[ He doesn't say with whom. Nate has his suspicions. ]
And, uh- Sam is here.
no subject
Who's Sa-- ohh.
The displeasure intensifies, try as he might to curb it. Sam is actually higher on the shit list than Rafe because he's a goddamn manipulator, a liar, and to his own fucking brother... with such a narrow understanding of the situation Wash can only draw on his own life experiences to make a judgement, and he finds that kind of person far worse. Con artists, backstabbers, selfish assholes who shoot you and leave you for dead so they can get what they want -- they're so much worse to Wash than straightforward threats, even unpredictable ones. But the fact that Nate doesn't want them to move together probably means he's moving in with Sam.
This isn't his family, therefore it isn't his business. Even if he's hit with an almost overwhelming surge of protectiveness at this realization. For a long moment he just sits there, choosing his words carefully. ]
Are you really sure about this?
no subject
Nate knows Wash has seen his death, thanked him for not sharing it in detail with Kyna, who shouldn't know. He's seen the barrel of Rafe's gun, felt the uneasy sway over the edge of the cliff before the rush of the wind was halted by the outcrop of stone. He felt the hurt. ]
I know how it sounds.
[ Stupid, probably. Moving in with his brother who lied to him, who got him killed. Nate is aware and doesn't want to be mistaken, doesn't want Wash to think he's a total idiot. ]
I'm not letting him off scot-free, Wash. He- I know what he did. Trust me, I know. But he's still my brother.