storyseeker | IC Contact (Hadriel)

[He mutters a reflexive thanks as he steps across the threshold, waiting for Elena to close the door before he says anything. Even then, he still struggles with words. He'll be back, Nick reminds himself, despite how he's personally never put much faith in those kinds of reassurances. There have been too many times someone didn't return for him to do so, either sent back through the Door or never resurrected at all. Just saying the dead will be back like there's no consequences whatsoever is the kind of behavior that grates him, as though taking Hope's abilities for granted is an affront to the dead -- and to those left behind if they stay that way after all.

Nick clears his throat.]

I thought you might want to hold onto these.

[He offers her Nate's phone -- and atop it is his wedding ring.]

[Elena gives him a puzzled look as she accepts what's offered—a phone, a ring, neither of which appear to have much significance to either of them. At first.

The phone is forgettable. It's the same as anyone else's here. The ring, nearly so, but only because she doesn't usually see it by itself. She's used to seeing it on her husband's hand, a constant presence for years now.

She looks at him sharply as her hands close around the items in something like a spasm.]

Nick, where's Nate?

[Elena's eyes cut their way to Nick, his own hitting the ground in response. Though he opens his mouth to reply, nothing comes; he shakes his head, trying again after pushing a sigh through his nose. Even with the restart, he finds himself struggling to explain. Disgust bubbles in his gut as his eyes catch sight of lingering traces of ash and blood on his metal fingers; they curl against his coat.]

I took care of it— of him. Of... what was left.

[Elena isn't stupid and Nick's words, though delicate, are fairly pointed. There's only one thing he can mean, and for all that this is coming out of nowhere, it doesn't take more than a second for Elena to grasp it.

But it takes several agonizingly long seconds for her to believe it, because no. It can't be this way. They've come too far, overcome too much, for this to happen now. Nate can't be dead. He wouldn't do that to her.]

No.

[The word comes out small and broken and at the end of a single syllable, she already knows it's denial. Nate wouldn't do this to her, but neither would Nick.]

Oh, god. No.

[His hands shake at her denial; he was in her position long ago, on the receiving end of bad news a lot like this. Hell, it wasn't even really him -- wasn't his fiancé who was murdered, but the real Nick's -- but the frustration and the heartbreak are all the same. At least Nate will be back.

... Hopefully. And if Hope doesn't bring him back for some reason, he'd better be ready to explain himself to an angry synth.]

I'm sorry, Elena. I —[his voices catches in his throat; he bites back his emotions, burying them down]— I wish I knew what to say, but I know there's nothing that'll make this any easier.

Edited 2019-06-14 07:48 (UTC)

[Hope's ability to bring people back and the culpability of the goddamn gods who are responsible for them being here are things she'll think about later, when she can think even a little bit clearly. Here and now, in this moment, she's only able to focus on one thing.]

Who?

[She cuts in sharply, guts roiling as she tries not to throw up.]

Who's responsible?

[Of course, she thinks she knows already.]

I don't —[a muted noise somewhere between a groan and a sigh, as though it physically pains him to say that]— I don't know.

[The Guard aren't the law; that was something Nate respected. They do what they can to protect who they can, no matter what. That's also something Nate respected. Vengeance isn't their way. They're better than that.

But given that Nick knows what he would do if he ever managed to track down Eddie Winter, the man who murdered the real Nick's fiancé, and given what he did do to the woman responsible for Rey's torture when she ended up in Hadriel... he can't say he's better. He knows good and well who is likely responsible for this. He might be damning the reputation of the Guard, but he can't keep it to himself, can't hold it in as ire boils in his chest.]

... but if I had to place my bets, it'd be on a certain demon in town.

[One he had Nate keeping an eye on. Nick feels guilt heavy on his neck; it does little to stifle his vehemence.]

[For a few seconds, it's like Elena doesn't even hear him. Despite having asked the question, she's staring into the distance, like she's somewhere else—with Nate, maybe. But he doesn't have to repeat himself. After a long moment of silence that somehow feels broken, she nods, still not meeting his eyes.]

Okay.

[That's what she thought. Fine. At least she knows who to seek out.]

IC Contact (Hadriel)

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Sorry for the delay!

o7

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