howmuchtrouble | for duderaider

Thanks.

[he takes the plate for her, immediately reaching for the pineapple. he has it about halfway to his mouth, even, when he stops abruptly]

Wait, wait, wait.

Are we, like, eating stuff, one at a time, so we can judge what a good watermelon is or whatever?

[that is how they got here, right? over an 'argument' on watermelon]

Oh, good point.

[She looks down at the plate.]

So the plan was honeydew versus watermelon, right? Maybe we should just take it one cube at a time.

Start with the honeydew?

[so he has something to wash his mouth out with, so to speak, with the watermelon, if he decides he still doesn't like honeydew]

Honeydew it is.

[She reaches forward and skewers one of the pieces. It is good honeydew - lightly sweet and juicy enough that it's not a struggle to chew. Almost melts in your mouth.]

Yum.

[Nathan pops a piece into his mouth, too, though it's slowly, tentatively, like he expects it to bite him if he moves too fast. once he's swallowed, the flinch of an expression he's been wearing softens a little]

Okay, it's definitely better than some of the ones I've had.

[he's still not sure he likes it, though?]

I will accept better than you remember.

[It's not a win, necessarily, but better than him fully disgracing honeydew's good name.]

[he can be taught. or something]

[anyway]

You wanna try the watermelon, next?

Sure.

[The watermelon is actually pretty juicy, as well as nice and sweet. She contemplates, before considering.]

That's not bad either.

[Nathan takes a bite of his own watermelon, satisfied]

Agree to ... kind of agree?

[since he's not exactly going to disagree that honeydew might be okay, maybe]

Agree to kind of agree.

[She nods, before popping another piece of fruit in her mouth.]

We should find out where he ordered from. This is pretty good fruit. It'll be great for sending your brother Christmas gifts when he won't come home.

Sam always was a sucker for a nice pineapple sunflower.

[it still might be hard to get an edible arrangement to him, however. he'd be willing to bet they don't deliver to middle of nowhere Mongolia, for example. not that that stops Nathan from juggling his plate and silverware over to one hand so he can try and find some kind of identifying mark on the arrangement]

[They could probably find a way. The Fisher-Drake family is creative that way.]

I'm sure Chloe wouldn't mind benefiting either. Is he still working with her and Nadine?

[it's true, they are]

Chloe, yes. Nadine? [Nathan makes a face and a so-so gesture] She didn't murder him, at least? [but he's not sure Nadine didn't stomp off after the Tusk of Ganesh job]

I'd say that's a step in the right direction.

[Not wanting to murder someone is only a few short steps from being besties.]

Chloe and Nadine seemed to get along well though. Not sure if I should be pleased or worried.

[Nathan lets out a bark of a laugh, at that]

Probably worried.

[a beat]

At least they're usually on our side?

[kind of. sort of. some of the time]

There is that. Nadine's really become much more level headed now that she doesn't have to deal with Adler anymore.

[She's still got friend potential, Elena thinks.]

[Nathan's a little more wary -- probably because she beat his ass multiple times. still, though]

Yeah, Rafe was kind of ... [fucking nuts] It's weird, though. Like, I'm not sure he was always like that? [or was he? Nate can't really remember]

[She gives a small shrug.]

Obsession can really mess with a person. By the time you ran into him again, he probably had lost a lot more credibility and standing than he had when you started. That can take a toll on a person.

Yeah, I guess so.

[that sounds reasonable, but at the same time, Nathan also recognizes the fact that he sometimes puts his trust in some really questionable people. and that he only really realizes that they're questionable after the fact]

[for living the life he's lived, your husband can be pretty naïve, sometimes, Elena]

If I ever start getting all kill-crazy or whatever, you'll let me know, right?

[She nods, because yes, that is a thing she can do.]

I'll be sure to make sure you don't spend all our live savings going on a treasure hunting murder spree. Promise.

[and since things have suddenly gotten Too Serious, he takes this time to pause for effect, before making a joke]

.... we have a savings?

[She laughs.]

If we ever have a savings.

[and at the sound of her laughter, he can't help but break, smiling, pleased. he nudges her with his shoulder, just on general principle]

Okay, yeah, that sounds better.

[She grins before her phone starts to buzz. She sighs.]

Duty calls. Let go me see what they want us to dig up now.

[Nathan gestures towards the door]

Be my guest. I'll be right here, with the fruit baskets.

[or probably standing by the door eavesdropping more realistically.]

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howmuchtrouble - 2023-02-12 19:23 (UTC) - Expand