Thirteenth Summoning [Accidental Video] || Overworked and Underpaid

[knew_anyway]

[The feed clicks on to show Nat in his study- but unlike his public addresses, he's not sitting calmly at his desk, or even looking at the camera. Instead, he has his back to the device, reaching up to get a book from his top shelf.

His study is nothing short of painfully organized chaos. Stacks of books and loose papers seem to reach the ceiling. His walls are covered with chalk marks, very few of which are English. He has Japanese characters, foreign words, and even a hieroglyph or two- and of course, lots and lots of Latin interspersed, with dark, angry lines connecting words together or crossing sentences out entirely.

It looks very much like he's lost it, especially as he opens the book he'd just gotten, turning slightly so his face is profile to the camera. He hasn't slept in days, his hair is messy from the times he's ran his fingers through it, his shirt is untucked, tie loosened.

With a negative mutter, Nathaniel snaps the book shut and turns to cross out another line of foreign writing, letting the book drop to the floor by his feet in frustration.

He continues working tirelessly, unaware that he'd being recorded, until the feed shuts off.]



[[ooc: SOOOO to anyone who can speak a foreign language, the words he has written are all regarding names- names of deities in that language's culture mostly, but also little scrawls on statistics and probabilities and things relating to alternate worlds, dimension hopping, and Other Places.

I am JUST returning from being internetless as well, so all of Nat's, Rome's, and Regulus' tags will be done shortly <3 <3]]

Comments

[flameandpassion]

[She glances down, at Nathaniel touching her hand, before refocusing on his face, brow furrowing slightly as he trails off. And when he continues, Rei chews on the inside of her cheek for a moment before she looks at him expectantly.]

What?

[She's fairly certain she's heard it all. What else could be worse than stabbing your best friend or opening Purgatory?]

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

I... [It's hard to say. He can't just come out with it. He finds himself talking anyway, leading up to it perhaps, or just stalling for time.]

...I told you- and the rest of Adstringendum- back when I was new here. I told you all about my world and the government. How people vying for power summoned an entity which broke free of their tenuous control and rained fire down on London.

[He glances off.]

How I decided to change things, with a friend of mine, and- with Bartimaeus. [His voice gets quieter now, he glances down and fiddles awkwardly with his sleeve.] And I'm... I'm afraid to say that I told the truth. None of the cabinet survived the attack.

[He looks up at her from the corner of his eye, nervous, almost trembling.] ...not even me.

[flameandpassion]

[She's quiet, as she listens, watching him intently, with every ounce of her attention. And Rei, before Nathaniel even finishes, knows what he's about to say, and when he finally says it, her shoulders relax slightly, because of all of the news she expected, it certainly was not that.]

Remember when I told you that if it was worth dying for, then it was worth it?

[It's soft.]

You don't say that without some amount of experience.

[She's quiet, for a moment, before Rei takes his hands in hers, offering him a tiny smile.]

You're alive here, aren't you? Take advantage of it.

[It's soothing and calm -- and while Rei's eyes hold a large amount of sadness, they hold no pity.]

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

But I'm not.

[He takes her hand, leaning in a little close. He hadn't told anyone this- hadn't really even approached the subject with Bartimaeus, who was there up until his death, or Raven, who had to save him from his injuries upon his arrival.]

This- all of this, it's just a point in between. I'm alive because we live in a pocket dimension in which life and death are so tangled up that people who die come back. It's going to end- and when it does, there won't even be enough of my remains to put in a grave. [He doesn't know why he's arguing this point, but- it's all he's thought about since he got here, it's dominated his mind and colored all of his actions.] I can't go to my home. I can't go home with you. If and when Adstringendum collapses, I die with it. And I don't want...

[A deep, shaky breath.]

I don't want to put you through that.

[flameandpassion]

Nathaniel --

[Rei takes a deep breath before shaking her head slightly.]

Even if that's the fate of every person in this city that's doomed to die when they go home, you can't spend your time thinking of it that way.

[Her tone remains quiet, soft, almost a whisper, but there's a certain sense of conviction to it.]

This city, for as much as it's a hell, is a reprieve. It's a chance to be someone -- to change your path from what it was in your world. I've seen people take a look at what their lives were and change everything to become better people, and even if that work is fruitless when they go home, they have their lives here. For a week, or a month, or a year, or three -- that's worth something, even if this universe collapses tomorrow.

[And suddenly, Rei sets her jaw, gritting her teeth.]

And I wouldn't be so certain of not getting out of here, because I won't let this place collapse without preserving everything I can. Not without a fight.

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

[He nods slowly, looking back up at her.]

I worry, sometimes. [Drawing back, but only so much to rub his hand over his eyes with a long sigh.] I want to do that. I want to make a difference in this place- and if summoning the Animus will do that, then that's what I'm going to do. If I can- [he's building momentum, thinking faster, going from point A to point B without a second's pause.]

-if I can stabilize the fire, the rest of the Animus would be in less turmoil. Through that- if they could use their power to stabilize this world, if we could get to the scientists and have them help us, then maybe we can preserve the city the way it is. With the population intact, with nobody having to go home or be pulled here again.

[flameandpassion]

[There's a tiny tug in her stomach, at that -- because Rei, eventually, must return to her own universe. She is needed there. But she would want to come back -- to see the people she loves, to never forget them -- but she pushes that down for another discussion, another day, and instead smiles slightly up at him.]

I think, out of everyone in this city, you have the best shot of doing that.

[It's quiet, but confident. But then Rei pauses, before she arches her eyebrows, in a challenge.]

But you're only going to be able to do that if you actually get some sleep -- and a decent diet. And, you know, if you're dating me now, you have literally no excuse now to brush me off.

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

I suppose so.

[What's this? Nat actually giving in to his body needs? Rei must be a miracle worker.]

I am a bit tired. [A bit. Meaning that he's been about to drop for hours.]

[flameandpassion]

[Rei doesn't look extraordinarily impressed, but she purses her lips before stepping to the side, though she hasn't let go of his hand yet.]

Go.

[Before you pass out and she has to carry you.]

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

I- um.

[He didn't mean right now D8. They're a couple now, shouldn't they celebrate with kisses and oh god tired.]

Is there anything else I can do for you?

[flameandpassion]

[Oh, for the love of -- ]

You can kiss me goodnight and then go to bed.

I'll hang around until you fall asleep.

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

...alright. Yes.

[He takes a deep breath and leans forward, brushing his lips hesitantly against her cheek.]

[flameandpassion]

[She grins to herself before pursing her lips together, nodding firmly, and patting him on the arm.]

Ten points.

Now, go to bed.

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

[He nods and takes two steps away, before looking back at her.]

You don't have to stay. If you don't want to.

[flameandpassion]

I'm going to go through all of your stuff while you sleep, don't worry about it, I'll be entertained.

[It's said with a straight face, but she's joking. She's just going to read. She has the feeling that Nathaniel doesn't really sleep in longer than hour long increments.]

Go to bed before I punch you.

[knew-anyway.livejournal.com]

Please, don't.

[But he gets the joke and offers a wry smile before disappearing down the hallway.]

[flameandpassion]

[She'll toss him a look before moving to his study, to take a book she can understand and curl up in a chair to wait. Depending on how long he's sleeping, she'll be gone when he wakes up, but not without a note telling him to eat something.

And there might be a meal attached to the note.

Maybe.]