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

[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.

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[Nate just assumes that no matter what he says, Taako will do what he wants, so it tends to work out one way or another.

What Taako will spy with his falcon eyes is a man he knows well, shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows, dragging the boat up onto the sand to beach it briefly while he explores the cove. Thoroughly convinced that there is a cave system in an island complex like this Nate wraps the rope around his hand again and pulls, pausing in the act only to deal with whatever just fucking attacked him.

It's a blur - a bird blur - of a raptor that practically flies straight into his head and in response Nate manages a loud HOLY SHIT before he ducks, hitting the sand and glancing back up to identify the offender.]

[Man, he looks good all rugged like that. Taako should do this more often. He just loves seing boys being made into huge messes, what can he see.

From Nate's side, the bird circles wide around him, letting out another screech that sounds a bit... hiccuped. Breath by breath, Nate might figure out it's an unnatural noise for a bird to be making, because it damn well sounds like it's laughing at him. It circles back in front of him, beating its wings as it goes to land. But as soon as it's foot hits the ground, it's legs elongate, along with the torso, wings folding in and over shoulders, claws becoming a familiar boot. And sure enough, only seconds later it's Taako, the birdcall phasing out into his familiar laugh as he shakes out his arms and brushes a feather off his (white caped) shoulder.]

Oh man, your face was classic. Totally incredible. Did you think you'd found a new species or something?? Holy shit.

[Nate punches Taako's shoulder without hesitation - nothing hard enough to bruise, but a tacit indication that the criticism is unearned and solely the fault of the elf with the smug expression.]

Asshole.

[He gasps in mock offense, bringing a hand up to rub his shoulder.]

Wow! Rude, Natey boy. Don't injure me or you'll have to carry me again.

[A wink. Now that he's cemented his position as The Worst, he puts his hands on his hips, surveying the area.]

Nice place you got here. What're we gonna do now that we found it?

[Yes. We.]

[The only rude boy here is Taako Taaco, asshole extraordinaire, literally swooping in to give Nate a heart attack.]

Uh.

[He noticed the "we." Very distinct, very difficult to miss. Nate didn't exactly count on Taako agreeing to spend time with him in a capacity like this, giving the steep decline in his own mood. Sam would have liked the twins, if he'd gotten to talk to them more.

If he'd stayed.]

I mean, I was just- I was going to do a little exploring, maybe some climbing. See what I see. It's nothing...flashy.

[Nothing he thinks Taako would particularly enjoy.]

[Taako isn't looking at him, but he can feel Nate's focused eyes. There's scrutiny. Figuring out what he's doing and for what motivations. But Taako sure as fuck won't say it. He's not a words guy. All those discussions about missing his brother and how much it sucks that he's gone can go to another person.

But Taako knows what he did when Lup disappeared. He didn't want to be alone then either.

Don't think about it too hard, Nate.]

You think there's somethin' to see out here? Guess you found sand, so. Alright, I'm game.

[He looks back to Nate, cool as ever.]

I used to survey planets for a living, my guy, I am super good at this biz.

Wait- you surveyed planets?

[Nate has an incredibly hard time imagining Taako doing anything serious, let alone working as some kind of intergalactic surveyor. Maybe it's his attire. Maybe it's the general "whatever, my dude" vibe that he gives off.

Then again, ten years ago Nate never would have thought he would be working in a legitimate business with adult things, like a mortgage.]

And I thought my résumé was weird.

Uhh, yeah, my guy.

[He points to himself and delivers the weirdest sentence in the most blase way possible.]

Chief arcanist and head chef on the Starblaster. Charted one hundred unique worlds. If it's magic- and like, it deffo is- I know what it's doin'. So really you've got the best guy for the job here.

[He hasn't dropped a title like that in a long time. Mostly because he didn't remember them. But that doesn't mean he didn't earn it.]

You should be thanking me, really.

[This is a lot to process, and not just because it's very difficult to see Taako as the chief something of anything, particularly on a magical spaceship built to document planets in the far reaches of the cosmos. For a long moment he kind of stares, waiting for the SIKE! that doesn't come.]

...yeah, you know, I would not have called that.

[Consider him pleasantly surprised.]

Was this an official organization thing, or...?

[He snorts, grinning at Nate, all teeth.]

Uh, yeah, dude! Lup n' I got perfect scores on all the admissions. Everyone said only one of us would make it, but sike. They promised a spot to the top score, so we matched and got it in writing.

[Like either of them would run off into the multiverse without the other. Bullshit.]

Sorta became this whole thing? Pretty wild in the end, saved the world and like tons of others, no big. But yeah, I'm the best of the best babe. You literally could not ask fot a better companion.

[He'll just step over and slide his hand around Nate's waist, right there, oh yes.]

So c'mon, Natey boy, navigate me.

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

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