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Who: The Brothers Drake
When: Post-power snafu, pre-slavemurderfest
Where: Thiri
What: Exploring. Bro-bonding.

[Technically speaking, jaunts off world are supposed to have some higher purpose, in Nate's experience. Doing a job, escorting a group, exploration a new area to map it, and onward.

Nothing like that's happening today. They're just exploring for the sheer joy of exploration. He's got his notebook ready to sketch a few interesting structures, but he's not mapping anything. Who knows where the day will take them?

Leaning over the side of a ledge, he extends an arm down for Sam to grab.]

Come on, I've got you!

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[Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Drake brothers. Their life mission: to explore new worlds, to seek out lost lives and lost civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Is what Sam might be reciting if he wasn't trying to figure a way up from the ledge he's currently on. Part of him has to wonder how Nate managed to get up there so quickly when there doesn't seem to be any good footholds or rocks to grab onto in his vicinity, but he'll digress. He's glad for the help, and at Nate's offer, he jumps up to grab onto his arm, clutching him tightly at the forearm as he scrambles up.]

Ha thanks...good thing I managed to keep lean and fit all those years, huh? [He grins as he straightens up to stand next to him, taking in the view as he catches his breath a little.] Jesus, would you look at that? Wouldn't mind waking up to that view every morning.

[Because Nate is a Good Brother, he doesn't make a cheeky remark about how it sure feels like Sam packed on a few pounds when he's the one doing the lifting. Besides, he's in too good a mood. Grinning, he rests his hands on his hips and looks out over the expanse.]

You would if it meant having to live in a pop-up tent here. But I know what you mean.

[His drawing fingers twitch, itching to pull out his journal and capture the scene, but no. There's too much exploring left to do. Maybe later.]

Come on. [He claps Sam on the arm.] Let's see what this place has in store.

I don't know, get a good fire started, one of those fancy blow up mattresses? Think I could stay out here for about a month.

[But at Nate's prompting, he too turns, happy to turn his attention to the rest of their surroundings and the ruins scattered across the planet.]

So...scale of 1-10. How likely you think we're gonna find a long lost space pirate colony out here?

[Nate snorts and give Sam a look that shows exactly what he thinks.

A week, tops. Maybe two.]

Honestly, with all the weird shit out here? A five. I wouldn't expect it to happen, but I wouldn't be surprised, either.

What if the treasure's something other than gold, though? Space pirate could think weirdly-shaped rocks are what's really valuable.

[Okay wow that was incredibly rude. Sam returns the look with one of his own: eyebrows raised and a pointed gaze in his direction that says Wow. Really?

It's not a very long-lived look though.]

Well, if it means we'll be rich out here, then it doesn't really matter, right? Imagine what we could get with a real heart shaped rock around here.

You ever get the chance to explore some of this place before?

Not too much. We're kind of spoiled for choice here—the Ingress has access to enough entire worlds that I doubt we'll ever see it all.

[He grins. That's a good thing in his book.]

C'mon, let's check out those ruins up ahead. I bet there's something cool in them.

I don't know, I've got a lot of free time on my hands. I think if anything we could make a decent dent in the worlds out here.

[He also grins. Definitely a good thing.]

Yeah, looks like there might be some sort of temple or building there too.

[He picks up his speed a little, unable to hide the excitement in his expression and pace.]

You ever travel with the missus out to worlds like this? From all your stories about her, I thought she would be into this sort of thing.

[Nate's right there with him. It's been way too long since they got to explore a remnant like this and see what the past held, side by side.]

Oh, she is. We've done some exploring together, just not here. Sometimes she goes herself, too. You know, before we ever met, she was on a show about cool historical places? Kinda like our work, but legal.

[Imagine that.]

Getting permits, going through proper channels, not running away from museum guards and second rate goons? What's the fun in that? [It's so much more exciting when you run the risk of dying as you chase down lost pirate treasures.] You met because of that show, right?

[Sam stops as they reach the other end of the cliff, a sizable gap separating them from their intended destination. Sam takes a few steps to the edge to peer down, then whistles.]

Long way down. [He looks around for a bridge or anything that might help.] See a way across?

[He laughs, because he agrees. Granted, Elena and her team would have had to have gone through those channels to do what they wanted to do—sneaking in and airing the evidence on TV would be a terrible idea.]

We met because of the show, and because I wanted to con her. Undersea salvage operations are expensive.

[He stoops at the edge of a cliff, looking for handholds or anything they can use to climb down and around, but on this side it's smooth and steep. On the other, however...]

Nothing here. Might be time to bust that thing out.

[He knows you brought the grappling hook and rope, Sam.]

Thought you'd never ask.

[Oh yeah. He brought that grappling hook and rope, and he's eagerly unfurling it from where it's attached to his belt, looking for a good structure across the way to hook it onto. Spotting a fallen column of some sort, he points to it.]

I think that's sturdy enough to hold. Well, hold my weight anyway. [He shoots Nate a grin before stepping to the edge carefully. He's about to start spinning it when he looks over at Nathan like he just remembered something, and holds out the equipment to him.] You wanna do the honors?

[Wow, are you calling him fat, big brother? He's thick with rock-hard muscle, not the result of too many cheeseburgers, he'll have you know.]

I think I can handle it. It hasn't been that long.

[It's been twelve years.

He snatches the rope from Sam's hands and gives the grappling hook a careful twirl, getting the feel for it again, its weight and how it will throw, aaaaaand then—!]

...I missed.

[Sam steps to Nathan's side as he twirls the hook, watching him with a smug and amused smirk on his face, turning to watch the trajectory of the rope as it arcs....and then falls.

Sam's eyebrows shoot up, and he turns to his brother, clearly trying to keep the laughter down.]

Wow. That was...that was impressive. You know it's all in the wrist, right?

[He walks over, holding out his hand.]

You need a pro to show you how it's done?

Very funny. I know how it's done. That was just a warm-up.

[Nate pulls the hook back from where it's hanging and holds it and the rope out of Sam's grasp. He gets a mulligan and his wrist is fine, thanks.

Three...two...one...

Perfect.]

What was that about showing me how it's done?

[What a smug dick.]

[Sam laughs, putting his hands up in mock surrender.]

All right, all right. I'm just saying if it wasn't for your warm up we'd already be across by now.

[You cut that ego down to size, mister. Sam gestures to the other side, inviting Nathan to swing across first.]

Ladies first.

[Jerk.

Sam gets a look, but Nate tests the feeling of the rope in his hands before grasping it tightly and jumping off the edge, falling into an arc that carries him across and then up from the chasm. It's a familiar feeling, but nostalgic after so long. After Sam was lost to him, something in him hadn't wanted to make use of the trick that his brother had taught him when they were kids, but it all comes back to him now, like riding a bike...in highway traffic.

He's grinning when he reaches the other side, and turns to wave, letting Sam know the ground is sturdy.]

Come on over!

[Sam doesn't need to be told twice. As soon as Nathan gives the okay, Sam leaps from his spot and grabs onto the rope, swinging to the other side in another high arc with a little more force than he initially intended.]

Oh, shiit!

[He lands unevenly, stumbling forward to regain his balance but still keeping a hand on the rope. It hasn't been as long for him since he did something like that, but after thirteen years in prison the excitement of it has still yet to fade. He laughs as he straightens, gathering the rope in hand to coil it back.]

The landings never get any easier, do they?

[Nate laughs with delight as he sees Sam overshoot the landing a little, but he's still got a hand out, ready to assist if necessary. He won't see his brother drop again.

Luckily, it turns out not to be an issue.]

Not yet, anyway. [He grins.] Be boring if they did. You need a minute?

Do I need a minute? C'mon, who do I look like, Victor?

[Honestly! How rude! And to prove that he is just fine thanks, he finishes wrapping that grappling hook up and begins to move towards their destination, eager eyes scanning over the building ahead of them.]

You know anything about the people who were here before?

['Nah, see, Sully's hairline hasn't changed in the last decade or so.' Nate doesn't say it, but not because he's nice. He's just more interested in seeing what there is to see, so he falls in step beside Sam.]

On this planet specifically? Not really. Just that they've apparently been gone a while. [He grins.] Finally, our first lost city.

[Not his, sure, but the two of them together.]

[It's a good thing Sam can't read minds otherwise Nathan would be down in the bottom of that ditch for a comment like that.]

Instead, Sam grins as well, looking over at his brother and placing a hand on the back of his neck, squeezing it.]

Been a long time coming, huh little brother? [He gives his neck a final comforting squeeze before letting his hand drop back to his side.] Wouldn't mind a little more pirate memorabilia around here though.

[Specifically, Avery pirate memorabilia. They had been so close back home to it...it still gives him a tinge of regret when he thinks about it.]

[Nate laughs, ducking his head a little at the touch and clapping Sam on the back. He can remember doing the same when they were kids, younger and a lot skinnier. Funny how some things never change.]

I can't believe you're still on about that. We're in space, and you want to find pirates.

[He starts moving forward, grinning as he scans the path ahead.]

Hell, maybe space is where Avery stashed his treasure. It'd explain why no one ever found it.

Well, when you've seen what I've seen little brother, you'd be asking about it too.

[It's cryptic, but there's an enthusiasm in Sam's eye that he only gets when he's talking about something related to history or Avery's treasure. Nathan has seen more lost cities than he has, but he can't help the nostalgic smile as he thinks back to the feeling of finding Libertalia and unraveling some of the mysteries behind it.

He moves faster, coming short of breaking into a jog.]

Pretty sure space pirates have better upgrades to their ships. Imagine trying to sail through zero gravity? It'd be a pain in the ass.

You're gonna have to tell me about it one of these days.

[Maybe. Maybe not. He's curious as hell, but he also kinda wants to experience it for himself. He joins Sam in the faster pace, eyes wide and eager.]

Imagine walking the plank. No swimming to shore among the stars.

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