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IC Contact
You've reached Senator Nathan Petrelli. If I'm not answering your call please leave me a message, and I'll get back to you just as soon as I can.
You've reached Senator Nathan Petrelli. If I'm not answering your call please leave me a message, and I'll get back to you just as soon as I can.
[ He wasn't lingering because he didn't want to - not really - it was just a passing thought, bittersweet, and he brushed it quickly away. ]
We always get through these things without really talking about you.
[ A suggestion, a prompt. Maybe she'd take pity on him and talk about herself, maybe not. ]
We always get through these things without really talking about you.
[ A suggestion, a prompt. Maybe she'd take pity on him and talk about herself, maybe not. ]
[ Being so open about certain details of her life was hard for her. Bela blamed it on having trust issues as well as not giving anyone anything they could use against her.
But then, he had shared something secret and private with her. It seemed right to do it in return. ]
That's because you mightn't like what you hear. [She glanced down at her hands, suddenly finding them more interesting. She does continue though. ]
It's difficult for me to trust other people and sometimes I lie to them to protect myself.
But then, he had shared something secret and private with her. It seemed right to do it in return. ]
That's because you mightn't like what you hear. [She glanced down at her hands, suddenly finding them more interesting. She does continue though. ]
It's difficult for me to trust other people and sometimes I lie to them to protect myself.
Oh, believe me I know. [ it wasn't that far a space between mom and dad and miranda and greyson; jenna went from one of the babies of a big family to the only adult, what felt like overnight. ] Yeah, well. Tough is a stretch, but I paid the bills and nobody starved or drowned in dirt so I call it a win.
[ Nathan hesitated, but the moment passed, a stray thought whirring unwanted against his mind, then slipping away before he could voice it. He couldn't stand to think of what would happen if Peter was wrong. This ship didn't keep people for long. It let them get comfortable, then whipped them away, leaving behind only raw wounds and the people who nursed them. Nathan still wished he could have explained himself to Claire, spoken to her more than he had, and yet she was gone and there was no getting her back to make up for lost time.
Peter wouldn't necessarily stay. Nathan himself could vanish at any given moment, leaving Peter to know only that he was returning to his own timeline and his own mistakes; things that he couldn't change. Knowing his own future was a tragedy waiting to happen and there was nothing he could do to prevent it--it ate at him in ways he hadn't told anyone, and yet he put on a brave face, threw himself at it, because he wasn't prepared to let Peter see how much it scared him. He'd made his own choices that led him there, felt he could justify them even now.
He just wished he didn't have to lose Peter in the process. He only knew now that he had it back how much he'd missed this; even something so simple as sitting by his brother's sickbed.
Holding Peter a little closer, he made the most of it, just in case, brushed a kiss to his brother's temple and lay his own head down, closing his eyes. ]
Peter wouldn't necessarily stay. Nathan himself could vanish at any given moment, leaving Peter to know only that he was returning to his own timeline and his own mistakes; things that he couldn't change. Knowing his own future was a tragedy waiting to happen and there was nothing he could do to prevent it--it ate at him in ways he hadn't told anyone, and yet he put on a brave face, threw himself at it, because he wasn't prepared to let Peter see how much it scared him. He'd made his own choices that led him there, felt he could justify them even now.
He just wished he didn't have to lose Peter in the process. He only knew now that he had it back how much he'd missed this; even something so simple as sitting by his brother's sickbed.
Holding Peter a little closer, he made the most of it, just in case, brushed a kiss to his brother's temple and lay his own head down, closing his eyes. ]
[ All he can think of is Peter, and what a pain in the ass he was at that age. Nathan had been away at the time, but that hadn't stopped his brother's tumultuous teenage years causing problems even when he was on the other side of the world. ]
How is it? Not as good as the real thing, I know.
How is it? Not as good as the real thing, I know.
Well-- I haven't had any of Ianto's supposedly magic coffee yet, but I think...
[ she takes another sip, and shakes her head sadly. ]
I hate to tell you this, but you're going to have to make me a lot more coffee from now on.
[ she takes another sip, and shakes her head sadly. ]
I hate to tell you this, but you're going to have to make me a lot more coffee from now on.
[ He shifted slightly, then reached out to prod her in the shoulder, trying to get her attention. He was smiling. ]
Then lie. Listen, I got my reasons for giving it up, namely I did something so wrong that I might never come back from it, and I got nothing left to lose. But just cause I'm opening my heart to you now don't mean I don't understand protecting yourself, lying so you don't get hurt.
So lie to me. Mix it with a little truth if you like, but don't tell me which is which, or if there's any in there at all. Cause even lying, you're not hiding who you are.
Then lie. Listen, I got my reasons for giving it up, namely I did something so wrong that I might never come back from it, and I got nothing left to lose. But just cause I'm opening my heart to you now don't mean I don't understand protecting yourself, lying so you don't get hurt.
So lie to me. Mix it with a little truth if you like, but don't tell me which is which, or if there's any in there at all. Cause even lying, you're not hiding who you are.
[Bela raised her eyes to look at him when he touched her shoulder, her expression somewhat neutral.]
That seems like a fair compromise. I'll agree to it, Nathan. Even if I think you won't get to know the real me if I do.
[A smile crossed her face briefly before she continues.]
The issues that I have with people go back a while and as such, I've never really formed attachments with others. Nor have I been in a long-term, committed relationship with anyone before. I don't see myself as the settling down type anyway.
That seems like a fair compromise. I'll agree to it, Nathan. Even if I think you won't get to know the real me if I do.
[A smile crossed her face briefly before she continues.]
The issues that I have with people go back a while and as such, I've never really formed attachments with others. Nor have I been in a long-term, committed relationship with anyone before. I don't see myself as the settling down type anyway.
Oh, totally. I admit it, this is great coffee and I will be demanding more.
[ she rolls her eyes, shaking her head. ] Electric kettles I can deal without. What I want to know is where the machine is that makes me a Big Mac. I don't even like Big Macs, Nathan.
[ she rolls her eyes, shaking her head. ] Electric kettles I can deal without. What I want to know is where the machine is that makes me a Big Mac. I don't even like Big Macs, Nathan.
[ Honestly, when had he ever known a real woman?--No, that didn't sound right in his head. But people were just so duplicitous, and the problem with marriage was that the perfect person that you seemed to get so close to always seemed to change once they didn't have to hold your attention. It was worse in politics, with hidden agendas and false personas; nobody was real, and nobody felt even the slightest bit guilty for the fact. That was why affairs suited him, one night stands where he never had to see beneath the mask.
He could fool himself into believing, at least for a little while, anything he wanted to. ]
I don't think anyone's the long term commitment type, to tell the truth. It's too damn complicated.
[ The slightest smile. ]
And being on this ship is a lot like being married to a whole bunch of people you never got to meet before the march down the aisle, don't you think?
He could fool himself into believing, at least for a little while, anything he wanted to. ]
I don't think anyone's the long term commitment type, to tell the truth. It's too damn complicated.
[ The slightest smile. ]
And being on this ship is a lot like being married to a whole bunch of people you never got to meet before the march down the aisle, don't you think?
...You liar.
[ literally everyone jenna has ever met has eaten a big mac or twenty in their lives. nathan petrelli how in the world. ]
How? Are you sure you're a real American-- actually, can I see your birth certificate? I'm having some severe doubts about birthplace right now. You might even be from France.
[ shhhh she's not making gentle republican jokes or anything. ]
[ literally everyone jenna has ever met has eaten a big mac or twenty in their lives. nathan petrelli how in the world. ]
How? Are you sure you're a real American-- actually, can I see your birth certificate? I'm having some severe doubts about birthplace right now. You might even be from France.
[ shhhh she's not making gentle republican jokes or anything. ]
Petrelli is an Italian name, but nice try.
[ So terrible. In any case he sits back, trying to look abashed but ending up looking rather proud of himself. ]
I didn't exactly have a traditional American childhood. We had staff, and I ate exclusively deli sandwiches when I wasn't going from restaurant to restaurant making political sponsors swoon. The closest to burgers and chips I ever came was on the carrier.
[ So terrible. In any case he sits back, trying to look abashed but ending up looking rather proud of himself. ]
I didn't exactly have a traditional American childhood. We had staff, and I ate exclusively deli sandwiches when I wasn't going from restaurant to restaurant making political sponsors swoon. The closest to burgers and chips I ever came was on the carrier.
...oh my god you're a Fell on steroids.
[ jenna can't help but laugh, shaking her head and taking another sip of her coffee ruefully. ]
The more things change.
[ jenna can't help but laugh, shaking her head and taking another sip of her coffee ruefully. ]
The more things change.
[Relationships could become messy and complicated, especially given the life she led and the deal hanging over her. Which was the reason why Bela preferred to have a night with a handsome stranger, no-strings attached, and she could slip away in the morning without having to worry about it. She already had a few liaisons on the ship and Bela had enjoyed them.]
If what you're saying is true, then I think I like the idea of marriage even less now.
[Bela laughs a little.]
At least I can say that some people on board have made this whole experience a lot more tolerable. Present company included.
If what you're saying is true, then I think I like the idea of marriage even less now.
[Bela laughs a little.]
At least I can say that some people on board have made this whole experience a lot more tolerable. Present company included.
Hey, I take offense to that. I'm a Senator, that makes me my own brand of weird. Accept no substitutes.
[ He shakes his coffee at her slightly, in a toast, then takes another sip too. It isn't actually that bad. ]
What's so great about McDonalds anyway? It's just food.
[ He shakes his coffee at her slightly, in a toast, then takes another sip too. It isn't actually that bad. ]
What's so great about McDonalds anyway? It's just food.
Only good thing to come out of it--
[ He shakes his head. Now isn't a good time to ruminate about his failed marriages. ]
Present company included. [ Toned like an agreement. He felt the same way. ]
Think I would have gone stir crazy if you hadn't shared that bottle with me a few months back. Thrown myself out an airlock. What do you think's with that, anyway?
[ He shakes his head. Now isn't a good time to ruminate about his failed marriages. ]
Present company included. [ Toned like an agreement. He felt the same way. ]
Think I would have gone stir crazy if you hadn't shared that bottle with me a few months back. Thrown myself out an airlock. What do you think's with that, anyway?
[There was a smile from her when he said the same thing.]
I'm not sure. Maybe you felt overwhelmed with things and you just needed someone to talk to and have a drink with. A stranger. Someone who wouldn't judge.
[They knew each other now of course but back then, Bela wasn't having the best time of it. She still wasn't, even now.]
Nice to know that I made a difference.
I'm not sure. Maybe you felt overwhelmed with things and you just needed someone to talk to and have a drink with. A stranger. Someone who wouldn't judge.
[They knew each other now of course but back then, Bela wasn't having the best time of it. She still wasn't, even now.]
Nice to know that I made a difference.
Ooof, in Mystic Falls? Same thing. The Fells are a Founding Family.
[ she totally set down her coffee and did sarcastic jazz hands there, yup. the founders crap deserves it. ] As in, of the town. They're all rich and snooty and awful, and they cheat on you with skanks named Monica and break your heart, and then they come back to town and take advantage of your vulnerable newly child-having state and seduce you with cheese fries and being nice for a change and then they dump you again by email.
[ b e a t. ] That last part may have just been one Fell, and I might still be having a few issues with him.
[ longer pause. ] Actually, let's talk about your lacking in American cultural staples again.
[ she totally set down her coffee and did sarcastic jazz hands there, yup. the founders crap deserves it. ] As in, of the town. They're all rich and snooty and awful, and they cheat on you with skanks named Monica and break your heart, and then they come back to town and take advantage of your vulnerable newly child-having state and seduce you with cheese fries and being nice for a change and then they dump you again by email.
[ b e a t. ] That last part may have just been one Fell, and I might still be having a few issues with him.
[ longer pause. ] Actually, let's talk about your lacking in American cultural staples again.
Edited 2012-10-05 03:21 (UTC)
[ If one had applied to him and her both, then there was nothing to stop the other from meaning the same. Someone to have a drink with, someone who wouldn't judge. He squeezed her shoulder where he still held it, smiled a soft, bordering flirtatious smile. ]
You made more than a difference. You proved to me that everyone on this ship wasn't crazy, and if all else failed I still knew where to find someone who could talk sense. That's not really replaceable in any situation.
[ A pause. ]
I wouldn't be sharing my view of home with you if I didn't appreciate it. Call it a thank you.
You made more than a difference. You proved to me that everyone on this ship wasn't crazy, and if all else failed I still knew where to find someone who could talk sense. That's not really replaceable in any situation.
[ A pause. ]
I wouldn't be sharing my view of home with you if I didn't appreciate it. Call it a thank you.
[In the beginning, she was adamant about not making connections here, but it soon became apparent that she would need to in order to survive. He had kept her sane.
The squeeze to her shoulder draws an almost playful look as she fiddled with his collar, the touch light.]
Well, I could have told you that I wasn't crazy. [She laughs briefly.] It's nice to have someone that you can have a decent conversation with and share a story or two.
[Her gaze drifts out to the skyline before she looks at him again.]
You're welcome. Maybe one day I'll let you into my world a little, yeah?
The squeeze to her shoulder draws an almost playful look as she fiddled with his collar, the touch light.]
Well, I could have told you that I wasn't crazy. [She laughs briefly.] It's nice to have someone that you can have a decent conversation with and share a story or two.
[Her gaze drifts out to the skyline before she looks at him again.]
You're welcome. Maybe one day I'll let you into my world a little, yeah?
Oh, I'm sure. I only dated him... half my life and through way too many other girls in his hot tub.
[ coffee JUST FRANTIC COFFEE DRINKING god someone stop her. ]
Sorry, I have terminal overshare disease. The day I met Ric, I told him all about my high school humiliations.
[ coffee JUST FRANTIC COFFEE DRINKING god someone stop her. ]
Sorry, I have terminal overshare disease. The day I met Ric, I told him all about my high school humiliations.
Edited 2012-10-07 08:39 (UTC)
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