[video] you will hear it for yourself, and it will surely fill you with wonder

[nonscriptum]

[As can be expected Nate's film-related framing could be significantly improved - he isn't entirely in line with the feed, but it does enable viewers to see the edge of a jib boom, thick fabric, and the roiling, dark waters behind him. Upon finding a sailboat moored in one of his island's small, rocky coves he commandeered it for the express purpose of old school navigation: no trade or transport, but cartography.

This might be evidenced by the worn pencil he has stuck behind one ear, and the notebook flat, open, in his hand. The other he uses to talk, being a gestural sort of person.]

I know everyone else is doing the whole- y'know, "organizing stuff and travel" thing, which is great! But I've been mapping the area because we're pretty scattered. Not just in terms of area and amenities, but environment. And the lunar cycle feels like it's twice as fast.

[He isn't an astronomer or an astro-physicist, but he's had to find his path by stars before and the passage of time is expedited here in a way that must contribute to the limited extents of high tide and low tide on the islands.]

I'm not sure if there was any life here before we arrived, but if anybody finds any ruins - ones we didn't bring with us - let me know.

[Nate turns briefly, glancing out at something adjacent to him. A shadow in the waves. When he speaks again it is with calculated casualness.]

And, uh...if you see a tall guy in a denim jacket...smoker, Boston accent, answers to "Sam." Tell him I'm looking for him.

Comments

[video]

[hot_mes]

[that is a real sail he knows that sail!!]

Where did you find it? How far have you sailed?

[ignoring literally every other bit of Nate's message, sorry bro]

[video]

[nonscriptum]

[The rapidity with which Law responds to Nate's post regarding naval ventures is surprising, but the distraction itself is welcome. He isn't really sure whether he could manage to talk about something that isn't yet confirmed, but feels true.

Sam is gone.]

I've gone around two of the four big islands so far. The central, and the one furthest north - if we're...using our cardinal directions on this alien planet, anyway.

[He looks down at the sloop, then back at Law.]

Found it in a little cove near Spire 2.

[video]

[hot_mes]

[yeah sorry Nate he's not here for your internal trauma, he's just here for ships]

Huh. Just sitting there, hmm?

If there's no other boats of that size around, mind if I board it? I want to see if it can handle longer trips.

[video]

[nonscriptum]

[Mind if I board it? he asks like they just discussed going on a manly bonding trip together. Like they haven't met a grand total of two times. It might be better not to press, even if he wants to know how the Hell Law intends to board in the first place. Having him pilot over to pick him up, island carpool style?

Nate looks down at the boat again.]

Define "longer." It's got a one-man cabin, the kind you need to crawl into and out of. Not much storage. Depending on your skill level and fishing prowess I guess you could manage it for a decent amount of time.

[video]

[hot_mes]

[he really can't help the smirk]

When I was thirteen I spent six months in a tiny lifeboat with the barest semblance of a sail. My ship now is bigger but I still remember how to handle a small one. Honestly, I just want to have a look at it first, before I go thinking about making any kind of long trip.

video;

[storyseeker]

[Elena doesn't need to voice her concern for Nate over the network. She's sure he's felt it—still feels it, even if she's not with him at the moment. And she's pretty sure that no one's going to report seeing Sam, but she's not going to give up on him if Nate isn't. Family doesn't do that.]

We can compare notes later. I've been walking the eastern side, getting footage with my camera. It's got a better zoom than this thing.

video;

[nonscriptum]

[He knows she's there for him - a pressing, insistent support - and he knows that his own tendency to curl around the hurt parts of himself is alienating. Unnecessary, when he has the buffers, the port in the storm.

Sometimes he just wants to let the waves beat him against the rocks, if only for a little while. He'll come back.]

Spot anything good? I haven't seen any marine life that we would qualify as "familiar."

video;

[storyseeker]

[He'll talk when he's ready. If he doesn't, if he tries to lock it away like he did the first time he lost Sam...well, she'll deal with it when it happens. Until then, she'll just do what she can for him.]

There are some rock formations near the shore that are worth climbing, for starters. I'm not sure about native fauna, though. How far from familiar are we talking?

video;

[nonscriptum]

[There is not talking for the sake of hiding things, and there is not talking for the sake of not needing to. It isn't regressive behavior so much as it is knowing that if and when he returns to their own world, he'll see Sam.

Provided the guy didn't kick the bucket when they hit the water in Scotland.]

There are fish, in...the loosest definition of the word. Further out there's a kind of- like a sand bar, but with a lot of thick marine grass. Seeing a lot of eel-like fish there. With a lot of teeth.

video;

[restinglichface]

Can't find your bro?

[There's a lot to what Nate's said, but how could that particular part not stand out to her. Siblings are important.]

Taako an' I can peek around the islands for you.

private video;

[nonscriptum]

[The particulars aren't something he wants broadcast everywhere, so Nate switches the video's privacy settings and replies, expression inscrutable.

Siblings are important. Lup saw how close Sam and Nate were, back during that event where everyone was forced to relive their childhoods.]

I'd, uh...appreciate that, Lup. [He chews his lip for a moment.] But I won't get my hopes up. His contact number is dead.

private;

[restinglichface]

Shit.

[They've both been here long enough to know how that goes.]

Still, I'll give a look around, keep my ears open for anythin'. You never know when the shitheads in charge are just tryin' to fuck with you. But, uh - [hm. this is hard for her, but nate is a friend. a dear friend, no matter how much shit they give each other]

But if you need anything, hit me up. Like a drinking partner or someone to just listen or whatever you need. I've got you, bud.

[nonscriptum]

[He can tell that this kind of outreach not only isn't in her wheelhouse, it isn't the kind that is prepared to deal with him. They don't talk about things like this. The last time Lup extended an empathetic courtesy she was calling him out for being a lying asshole to his wife, so.

Yeah.]

I'm...I'm kind of doing a sailing trip, in the loosest sense. The sloop's on the far edge of the west island.

[Willingly offering his location is the most he can do to ask for company. It gives her an out.]

[Audio]

[drabsolutelynot]

I'm afraid to say that more often than not someone going missing suddenly when it is not a God event means...well...you know.

[Rosen knows Nate has been here long enough to know the 'you know']

[Audio]

[nonscriptum]

Yeah, I know.

[It comes out in a rush, because it's a subject he doesn't want to linger on - particularly when people might start doling out sympathies. As far as he's concerned it's no better than pity and the last thing Nate needs is that.]

Sometimes it's just worth asking.

Re: [Audio]

[drabsolutelynot]

Yes. Sometimes it is.

[Awkward pause]

I hope the situation goes in your favor, Nate. If I see anything I'll be certain to let you know.

[Audio]

[nonscriptum]

[He hates coming across like this. Like an asshole. Like someone who isn't already familiar with loss and knows his brother is going back home and will be fine, probably, but it doesn't help. He just needs to figure out how to process this by avoiding all related thoughts.

Which is more difficult than he expected.]

Thanks, doc. Don't worry about it if you don't.

video

[pocketspa]

[He was all prepared to give him some shit for digging around again, for making a boat and ending up in the ocean. But that last bit gives him pause. Ah, shit. Awwwww, fuck. He does a quick glance over his phone contact, then again when he thinks he must've missed it.

Ah, hell, now this is gonna be an emotional conversation.

He doesn't go into it that way. Or well, he's trying.]

Maps? We get to a cool beach planet and you're worried about maps? Jeez, dork city over here.

video

[nonscriptum]

[The long and short of it is that the cartography is a cover: a means by which Nate can conveniently occupy his brain so he isn't thinking about the fact that when he grabs dinner tonight it won't be with someone who smells like cigarette smoke and talks like every Boston stereotype.

By no means is this situation as bad as the time he believed that Sam was dead, but it still hurts.]

Yeah, I figure if I cover the main island chain I'll know where all the best beaches are and you'll be trying to sun yourself on some craggy shoreline while I'm relaxing on nice, soft sand.

[When it doubt, deflect.]

video

[pocketspa]

[Listen, Taako knows some things about covers. No, I'm not out looking for someone who disappeared, just taking a walk, what are you his absent mother? It's easy to throw people when you can shove them off to their own insecurities.

He knows exactly how to do it. And how to play along.]

Bullshit, if there was sand here I'd have found it already. Also you do know I can fly, right? Like, that's a thing, and you're out here in that.

video

[nonscriptum]

You can't fly, the bird whose body you technically inhabit can fly.

[Nate points out, because he's learned a thing or two about the way that transmogrification works just by merit of being in Taako's general proximity. The guy never shuts up about how great it is.]

And I'm looking at sand right now.

[He turns the camera. Sure enough, there's a small cove: the sand stretching into the surf from the columnar rocks is definitely the product of ancient volcanic activity, though.

It's black.]

video;

[lemontree]

[ She isn't as interested in the cartography at the moment, but - ]

You've lost someone.

[ There's a note of understanding. Clear sympathy in her slight frown. ]

I'm sorry.

video;

[nonscriptum]

[Looks like she figured out how to get her communicator working, enough to make an effort to do...what, exactly? Offer condolences? From somebody else it might come across as patronizing or insincere, but as ever her diplomacy isn't lacking.]

Yeah.

[Comes the reply, and Nate is careful not to let his inflection waver.]

My older brother. It's- [He shrugs one shoulder.] It happens.

video;

[lemontree]

It does, but it's painful all the same.

[ She's yet to lose anyone near and dear in Hadriel, but Daenerys has lost several people in her life that she loved to death or other things. ]

He may yet return, or so they say.

video;

[nonscriptum]

[Nate huffs a laugh.

Painful doesn't quite cover it, but neither is it altogether too accurate. Nate spent nearly half his life without Sam - he's adapted, but not so much that it still doesn't come as a kick.]

Well, I'd thought he died fifteen years ago, so...at least the jackass is alive.