I don't have a choice but I'd still choose you

[sketchycharacter]

Who: Nathan Drake (sketchycharacter) and Elena Fisher (tearsinajar)
When: One fine evening on Vacation Planet
Where: A fancy establishment
What: Mr. and Mrs. Drake try to take the "strange" out of "estrangement" by having a first date 2.0 3.0
Warnings: Hideous romantic grossness. Bring a toothbrush. Also references to married adult activities and maybe some angst.

[It's been a long, long time since Nate's gone on a first date, and he doesn't remember the experience of preparing for it making him so nervous. Granted, he hasn't gone on a lot of first dates that actually mattered, but still—he's a grown adult, not a clueless teenager, and he shouldn't have sweaty palms, jitters or the need to check his suit for stray lint every few minutes. But check, check and check, he's got every one of them.

It doesn't actually help that he's married to the woman he's taking out on this particular first date. Considering the circumstances of what led to it being a first date and how much he has to lose if this goes badly, it actually makes things worse. And it's not like he can look back to their original first date, which was running around on cursed zombie island or marathon sex in a Panamanian hotel, depending which one he decides to count, for inspiration. The first option would be very hard to replicate and the second wouldn't do much to fix their problems.

So all right, he's doing this without a net. What else is new? At least the unlimited credits allowed him to buy a (pretty sharp, if he says so himself) new suit so he doesn't look like a complete schmuck unworthy of the gorgeous woman he's taking out, even if he is. Nate checks his watch, takes one last look at himself and heads over to Elena's room. It's time.

At least next door isn't very far to walk. He steadies himself and raps on the door.]

Comments

[tearsinajar]

We could go out onto the beach and dance barefoot and I'd still be just as happy.

[ They could dance along the shoreline with the gently rolling waves washing up over their feet and ankles, it would be a lovely evening no matter what. ]

There has to be a spot near the boardwalk. I bet it's gorgeous down there at night with the lighting.

Again Elena's looking out the window, focusing past their reflections in the glass before looking at him through it, turning to look back across to him. ]

[sketchycharacter]

Oh, it is.

[He checked. He did research for this. A great dinner, dancing, a romantic view. Nate may have dropped out of school long ago, but he did his homework.]

Barefoot dancing sounds pretty good to me.

[tearsinajar]

Is it? So I wouldn't be the first girl you take down there at night?

[ Some teasing accompanied by a teasing smile. She brushes his ankle with an extended leg under the table. ]

That's too bad. I guess we'll just stay here.

[sketchycharacter]

Oh, I was dancing by myself. Got some funny looks, but I had to be thorough.

[He slides his foot forward to press against hers.]

Best plan is to split the difference. Have a dance here, have a dance there.

[tearsinajar]

If you weren't so far away I would reach and pinch your cheek.

[ As in stop being a cute husband, husband. ]

Okay, that sounds fair. I'll be happy to get out of these heels sooner or later.

[sketchycharacter]

[Hey, he's not a baby. He's a man. A handsome man who's in love with her.]

Later. Let's not rush tonight.

[Nate wants to make this last.

It's not too much longer before their food arrives, and from the look and smell of it, it lives up to the five-star reputation of the restaurant. He'd been a little concerned about alien standards, but so far this date is going just as he'd wanted it to.]

[tearsinajar]

[ Elena on the other hand has no high expectations for this date. It either goes really well or it doesn't. Either way, it's something they've been missing in their time together— a real date. Something for the books, a night to remember.

There's definitely no need to rush tonight. Their food looks delicious, amazing, and Elena's reminded of how hungry she is as soon as the smell hits her. ]

It's too bad I didn't bring my camera with me. I'd hate to say it but I'd be taking a food selfie right now.

[sketchycharacter]

A food selfie? How does that even work? You don't look like a plate of food.

[Okay, he can deduce what she means by that, but it's too amusing to take the combined terms literally.]

You'll just have to keep it in your memories. I mean, I hope tonight will be memorable.

[tearsinajar]

What, you mean I don't look good enough for you to eat?

[ By eat, he should know what she's getting at. She cocks a brow, giving him a cheeky look, smirking. ]

That's a damn shame. But you know what isn't? This feast.

[sketchycharacter]

Oh, always.

[He raises an eyebrow and grins. He knows what she means, for sure. And that's...a little ahead of them. Flirting, banter, those are easy to get back to. Real intimacy takes more time. But they'll get there, one step at a time, and this is the first one.]

Then let's dig in.

[tearsinajar]

[ It felt so naturally to flirt, to tease. To add a little extra to the table. She wonders why she would let such a thing slip and puts on a smile, saying nothing.

Digging in is what Elena does, quiet for most of the meal. She listens to the music and the chatter all around but seems more content in drinking her drink and eating. Keeps her from saying anything else that might be too ahead of their time.

With a few bites left that's when she has to put her utensil down and lean back in her chair, blowing out a heavy exhale, cheeks puffing. ]

Now that's what I call a meal. How was yours?

[sketchycharacter]

Excellent. Almost as good as the company.

[He's just full of cheesy lines tonight, but in fairness, they have to go somewhere—he's so full of really goddamn good food that there is no more room in him for lines. Plus he means it. They could be eating lukewarm beans and he'd be happy.

The waiter is attentive as always, swooping in to nonchalantly take their plates away once they're no longer needed. Nate reaches across the table to take Elena's hand and nods his head at the dance floor in the center of the restaurant.]

Want to give it a try? At least one dance.

[tearsinajar]

What? Now?

[ She huffs out a small laugh— he can't be serious. ]

I feel like I could go into food coma right now. And I probably look like I have a food baby to boot.

[ At least the dress wasn't tight in a restricting way. Elena pats her stomach, squeezes his hand. ]

[sketchycharacter]

Yes, now. It's slow dancing, see?

[The music's been low and slow all evening—multiple other couples are out there now, not all of them human, dancing and being close. Maybe it's just because he wants to hold her, but Nate really wants to join them.]

Please?

[tearsinajar]

[ It's the way he asks, how the 'please' sounds. She watches him for a moment longer before looking away to the dance floor. Her napkin comes off her lap after her gaze lingers on the other couples and she pushes the chair back, rising up.

Hard to deny him this when she can see he really wants it, so she moves and holds out her hand. ]

Show me your best moves.

[sketchycharacter]

[Nate grins widely and squeezes her hand as he leads them out to the floor. She's right, he's not a good dancer, but he can handle slow. One arm comes up around her waist as they face each other and get close.]

Nothing but the best for you.

[tearsinajar]

You're too good to me.

[ She won't sound sad, she'll try her damnedest to not look sad. He'd been all she ever needed. He'd been the best. What they'd had had been the best. And now they had to somehow work to build it all back up.

Elena drapes an arm over the back of his shoulder and neck, drawn in close enough to smell whatever he's put on for the night, close enough to make out the tiny, faint and years old scars. She cups a hand to his jaw and sweeps her thumb along one; she's had years and many close encounters such as this to know where each little freckle and scar sit. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[That's unsettling in a way that it shouldn't be, because that's the thing—he hasn't always been good to her, and he made vows saying he would. This date is only one step in the right direction.

But Nate knows she wouldn't want that to bring him down when this is going so well, so he does his best to put the thought out of his mind and focus only on his wife. It's easy enough to steer them around the dance floor while leaning into her touch.]

Find anything you like?

[tearsinajar]

Mm... I think so.

[ It really is easy to let him lead while she keeps on looking over his face, gaze roaming. She smiles faintly, another scar brushed under her thumb. ]

You can tell your skin's been through a lot. Maybe you should consider exfoliating.

[ He must've missed a spot, her nail scrapes over a tiny patch of dark stubble at the edge of his jaw. ]

[sketchycharacter]

[That makes him laugh.]

I've never done that in my life, why start now?

[God, she looks good when she's smiling. It lights up her whole face. She's so beautiful.]

Then again, maybe I should follow your lead. Because you look amazing.

[tearsinajar]

You're never too young to start on your wrinkle phase. Better start now before it's too late.

[ Her smile widens, entire palm smoothing up the side of his face to comb her fingers through his hair alongside his head. ]

There you go again with the flattery. You of all people know what my daily night and morning routine is. It's nothing special.

[sketchycharacter]

Then you must be the special one.

[As if there were any doubt of that. Nate twirls the two of them around a little, just cuz.]

Would wrinkles be so bad? A few fine lines might make me look wise and distinguished. Fake a few people out.

[tearsinajar]

You aren't exactly faking anyone out with the gray hair coming in.

[ She teases, hand at his shoulder when the twirl comes. She can feel the coarse skin of his fingers brush the naked skin showing in the low-cut back of her dress and she tries to ignore it, pretending to look closely at his face for any of those fine lines. ]

[sketchycharacter]

The gray hairs are real, the wisdom and distinguish...ment...are not.

[He's going to blame the gray hairs on people like Lazarevic. And Marlowe, And the entire El Dorado thing.]

Good thing that's not a dealbreaker for you.

[Plenty of other things about him could serve as that. He's glad they haven't. His hands tighten on her ever so slightly as he pulls her closer.]

[tearsinajar]

There may be one or two things.

[ Elena feels her breasts brush his chest, the touch drawing a small shudder from her, and still she plays it off. They haven't been this close in...a long time. It's a harmless dance but there's a sexual tension underlining the surface.

She says nothing else, fingers tracing up the side of his neck and around to the back, teasing. ]