[008] Commiserate

[makethingsright.livejournal.com]

[Nathan had been pretty occupied actually trying to figure out what was going on with Sylar to actually realize that the one person he knew in Paradisa, that he wasn't related to, had lost someone they cared about. He knew it was someone Pete had mentioned too, but he'd never gotten to meet. Pete had something in the journals about it, but it seemed Wesley was taking it a bit harder. The party was that evening so at least Nathan was glad to have an actual reason not to go to it, other than the fact that he didn't feel like going to a party when there were people leaving, and murders all over the place. Paradisa sucked, and they seemed happy to just continue on.

Nathan asked Wesley for drinks and as usual they simply just planned on going to the same bar they'd had drinks at before. Nathan arrived, asked for two glasses and a bottle of scotch and settled into a booth in the darker corners of the bar waiting for Wes to show up. He hoped he'd show up at least.]

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[thereis-a-line.livejournal.com]

[He needed a drink. He was also considering a dive off the roof, but drinking first seemed a good idea, at least. Dull the pain of impact or something. He was fairly certain Illyria was gone, as well. At least he'd heard nothing of her for weeks, and that seemed unlikely, which meant he was here with people who really didn't know him. And Faith. Which was well. Awkward.

Awareness that Fred was gone seemed to come and go in waves. Biting, overwhelming pain followed by numbness followed by pain so bad he couldn't breathe. He knew this. He'd done this before, hadn't he? Sometime. Just...was it just weeks before? Months. Some time. He had done this. He pulled together...sort of. But he'd had...Illyria. Someone to pull together for. Now he had scotch.

It would do.

He slid into the seat across from Nathan with an attempt at a polite smile that came out like a grimace in ice crusted skin.]

Thank you for...being willing to...[a gesture at the scotch, the bar.]

[makethingsright.livejournal.com]

[Nathan nodded to Wes as he slid into the booth taking another casual sip of his own scotch. He was trying not to make it a habit, but it did seem to help his anxiousness being in the castle at least.]

It's not really a problem. I try to avoid drinking alone. Apparently that's one of the signs of being an alcoholic.

[thereis-a-line.livejournal.com]

[Wesley took a bit more of a sip from his glass, another flash of a humorless smile]

Someone told me that once, yes....not that I listened.

[makethingsright.livejournal.com]

[Nathan's fingers fit to the rim of the glass turning it against the top of the table]

I never knew her, Pete... I guess he was friends with her. Wanted me to meet her, and that Chris guy. I think he's gone too now. [waits to gauge how the reaction to talking about her goes]

[thereis-a-line.livejournal.com]

[His grip on the glass tightens, shadows and pain in his eyes and he's pretty sure his stomach dropped a long, long way because there is the breathless pain that feels like it's slicing him apart inside]

She was extraordinary. In every way. I think you would have liked her.

[makethingsright.livejournal.com]

[the hurt in Wes' voice is clear and almost staggering. Nathan knows this loss of a friend, of a loved one, of a lover is enough to break a man. He knows that talking about her is going to be just as hard as remembering her.]

She sounds remarkable. I'm sorry I never met her.

[he knows he can't compare any loss he's suffered to the one Wes is experiencing now. Even sending his wife away... even knowing that after he told her the truth, after he finally let go of the secrets and lies... that she left. It doesn't compare.]

[thereis-a-line.livejournal.com]

[His fingers are so tight, his knuckles are white, his eyes studying the scotch in his glass as he tries to cut off the emotions, his voice a little too smooth, a little too even]

She was a physicist with a brilliant mind and a grasp on string theory and quantum physics that would put most of the world to shame. The things she understood...the things she saw...

[makethingsright.livejournal.com]

[studying the man across from him he knows that this is difficult to go through, he can see the pain in his eyes despite the smoothness of his voice. The grip on the glass as well is familiar]

Quite astonishing, I would've been very lucky to have known her.

[in an attempt to change the conversation Nathan mentions the party they're both not attending as he glances around]

I guess most people are at that party tonight.

[thereis-a-line.livejournal.com]

Anyone would have been lucky to have known her. [and he's not going to cry in front of someone he's only recently met, but his voice is a bit hoarse.]

[clears his throat]

Was there a party? [some things never change]

[makethingsright.livejournal.com]

[a moment of slight laughter at the remark about the party]

Some... themed period event of a sort.

[thereis-a-line.livejournal.com]

[blinks, looks, mostly bemused actually, not really much caring]

A themed party in a magical, soul-sucking castle. I'm certain there is a twisted irony there somewhere.