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The Speakeasy is just fine by me.
[It probably helps that the owner is basically his daughter.]
Meet you there in an hour?
[It probably helps that the owner is basically his daughter.]
Meet you there in an hour?
That sounds perfect, thank you.
[ And she's there as promised, poised with both feet perched on the footrest of her barstool, already scribbling away in a notebook resting on the bar. ]
[ And she's there as promised, poised with both feet perched on the footrest of her barstool, already scribbling away in a notebook resting on the bar. ]
[Nick arrives shortly thereafter, a thick file tucked under his arm. He surveys the room, spotting the one person in the Speakeasy he doesn't recognize and hoping he's right. The fact she's already taking notes is a good clue.]
Lucretia, I presume?
Lucretia, I presume?
Let's just say it's gotten us in hot water more often than not, and my faith he'll change anytime soon isn't real high. The gods are more open with us than they used to be, but we don't often give them a good reason to trust us. Some of us, anyway.
Yeah. Or at least I said I would.
[The gears of guilt and frustration turn in his head, practically audible in the pause.]
Someone mechanical needed to go, just in case they use that gizmo they had last time, the one that wails loud enough that it cripples anyone organic nearby. Better me than some of the others in town.
[The gears of guilt and frustration turn in his head, practically audible in the pause.]
Someone mechanical needed to go, just in case they use that gizmo they had last time, the one that wails loud enough that it cripples anyone organic nearby. Better me than some of the others in town.
That's right.
[ She's at least socially adept enough to push the notebook aside when he approaches her, smiling in greeting. ]
And you must be Mr. Valentine. Thank you for meeting me.
[ She's at least socially adept enough to push the notebook aside when he approaches her, smiling in greeting. ]
And you must be Mr. Valentine. Thank you for meeting me.
Jesus. Yeah, good point.
[ Not that any of this still sounds good; he trusts Nick, to be both smart and efficient, but if the worst happens he's still one guy against however many Null show up. ]
You're gonna keep in touch, right? If anything goes wrong?
[ Not that any of this still sounds good; he trusts Nick, to be both smart and efficient, but if the worst happens he's still one guy against however many Null show up. ]
You're gonna keep in touch, right? If anything goes wrong?
I'm not sure if I can, since Fear will have to take us to wherever this exchange is happening. Reception gets fuzzy outside of town, so I can't imagine it'll be better at the rendezvous point.
[He... does not sound particularly hopeful about any of this.]
I should probably try to make some arrangements, just in case anything does go wrong.
[He... does not sound particularly hopeful about any of this.]
I should probably try to make some arrangements, just in case anything does go wrong.
[ It was more wishful thinking than realism; Nate knows how spotty their service was when he went out to the base of the mountains. ]
I would. Hate to see you guys get vaporized.
[ There's no humor in his tone. ]
I would. Hate to see you guys get vaporized.
[ There's no humor in his tone. ]
[He gives her a polite smile, settling on the stool next to her.]
No need to be that formal with me. Just 'Nick' is fine.
[He sets his own file on top of the bar; if the page peeking out of it is any indication, it's all hand-written. Despite his mechanical nature, he likes taking notes the old-fashioned way.]
Hope that's not more than you bargained for. I've been trying to keep a rough log of what we've been through since I got here three years ago. It was mostly for my own reference that I started writing it all down, but I'm glad someone else might be interested in it.
No need to be that formal with me. Just 'Nick' is fine.
[He sets his own file on top of the bar; if the page peeking out of it is any indication, it's all hand-written. Despite his mechanical nature, he likes taking notes the old-fashioned way.]
Hope that's not more than you bargained for. I've been trying to keep a rough log of what we've been through since I got here three years ago. It was mostly for my own reference that I started writing it all down, but I'm glad someone else might be interested in it.
I'll do what I can to make sure that doesn't happen, but no promises. For now, I need to get in touch with the rest of the Guard, see what we can do with this information you all brought back.
[If nothing else, they can prep for another Null attack. They'll keep busy.]
[If nothing else, they can prep for another Null attack. They'll keep busy.]
[ Already a little distant, venturing into his own thoughts, Nate nods. ]
Yeah. Yeah, okay, just keep me posted as much as you can.
Yeah. Yeah, okay, just keep me posted as much as you can.
Nick, then.
[ It should be immediately obvious that it's not more than she bargained for. The moment he sets the file down her gaze is drawn to it as if by a magnet; she's itching to grab it and start paging through, see what treasures of knowledge and information she can find inside. ]
Oh - no, please, it's wonderful. It's so important to document these things as they happen - our memories are so unreliable, it's shocking how much we can forget, or how easily our recollections of what happened can be influenced -
[ She cuts herself off finally, with an embarrassed laugh. ]
Anyway, I - I'm just glad we have a firsthand account. Thank you so much for sharing it with me.
[ It should be immediately obvious that it's not more than she bargained for. The moment he sets the file down her gaze is drawn to it as if by a magnet; she's itching to grab it and start paging through, see what treasures of knowledge and information she can find inside. ]
Oh - no, please, it's wonderful. It's so important to document these things as they happen - our memories are so unreliable, it's shocking how much we can forget, or how easily our recollections of what happened can be influenced -
[ She cuts herself off finally, with an embarrassed laugh. ]
Anyway, I - I'm just glad we have a firsthand account. Thank you so much for sharing it with me.
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