#💥 ch: nathan

[kahvilahuhut]

we both know how it will end

a small little thing i've been thinking about related to what happens before cynosure. some mars politics and stuff. hehe, enjoy 🤍

summary: Election days tend to look greyer if what you believe in is not winning. Even more greyer if you know how bad things would be if the guy who's currenrly winning wins. characters: Nathan, Dana, Victor (mentioned) warnings: smoking

Nathan stepped out into the quiet alkey. He's been leaving through back doors more and more now, to leave unseen and to avoid all the curious people interested in small talk or too nosy about his life. Often forgetting his coats inside, too.

The cold air felt weird on his hands, and as he unrolled down his sleeves, he was debating on whether to go back inside to get it or of he should just come back tomorrow. No, it's not that important. Not like I'll get sick anyway.

Last time he was on an election event, the room was full of hopeful, happy people. They knew things were doing well. And even if they wouldn't win, everything would be fine. Mars policymaking was always made on compromises, and everything was taken into consideration no matter what.

But this was different. Since the beginning, each of the guests seemed full of dread, no hope in sight. One of those who were in the race, a new face to him, at least he thought so, walked to Nathan at some point, asking if it was like this before. If everyone was so scared. Nathan shook his head, not having the energy to try and comfort the person.

Another stopped Nathan by the bar, asking how he felt about being here, yet not being able to actually do something. Stripped of rights he once had, in the worst way possible. "I'll be fine, don't worry," was all he could say.

Victor did as he promised - built a large group of followers who believed whatever he said - and it was enough to turn things around. Turn things to worse, so that only he and his friends would benefit from it, even if it would look like everyone does. Turn people against to each other so that they would have other things to do instead of paying attention to what was happening behind the scenes of the millionaire's charismatic show.

Nathan leaned back on the wall and took out a cigarette. A weird little habit he picked from a collegue, who was now missing, who knows where, not important right now. It's not like Nathan liked smoking - it's not like it had any effect on him, either, but the little smoke breaks they used to have usually helped him calm down.

As he flicked the lighter, a slightly distorted voice asked, "Feeling nervous?".

Nathan, startled, dropped both the lighter and the cigarette, and muttered a quiet 'fuck' as he kneeled to pick them up. "Do you enjoy scaring people like that?" He asked while dusting off the lighter.

"Still not used to this, are you?" Dana chuckled.

"No." Nathan looked around to make sure he's alone, and carefully sat down on the more clean-looking part of the street and closed his eyes. Blue interface appeared in his sights, along with Dana's audio call avatar. "Ugh. Okay. Yes to both of these questions."

"Well, I wish things were different too, you know."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't think otherwise."

"Aren't you grumpy today. Where are you?"

"In the back alley of the club, tried to have a smoke," he muttered and put the lighter in his pocket, "The streets are awfully quiet. It's unsettling."

"Smoking android. Interesting concept," Dana's voice sounded as if she's actually thinking that it's funny. "How's the sunset there?"

"Blue, like always. What do you want?"

"To check on you. Know how you feel. Can see it in your system readings, too."

"Why even bother asking if you can read?"

"I'm bored and have no one else to talk to," she paused for a moment, "Besides, I would love to hear your thoughts. Can't read those anywhere. Have you talked to Finn yet?"

"Phineas's still on Phobos," he muttered and looked at the sky. A darkish, uneven spot on the sky was making him painfully aware of how long it has been since he saw his partner. "As for my thoughts? Woke up today and thought, how much do tickets to Earth cost, and how much paperwork would moving there require. Hell, Dana, it is not going well."

"Hey, at least you can move."

"I'm not planning it, don't worry. I'm sure we'll figure something out. It's not the end of the world."

"Keep saying that. Meanwhile that rich fucker and his little friends will turn this whole planet into worker's nightmare or something. Or, well, not the whole planet..."

"So your plan is working?"

"Early to say. I am hopeful, though. Mackie reps seem to be quite excited. Nice to see a corporation that absolutely hates Victor."

"Good for you."

"Thank you! As for this day, well. We both know how it will end, Nate. I just wish you strength to survive it. Though I'm sure you won't need it, you're naturally good at it. Go home and curl up on a couch instead of some dirty alley full of dust after yesterday's little storm. Sun will shine tomorrow again, and maybe you'll get an idea or two on how to get out of this mess."

[kahvilahuhut]

btw. enjoy some out of context cynosure scene brainstorming:

"We should get going," Nathan said while looking at his watch, "the train leaves in four hours."

Phineas rolled his eyes. "You say it like it takes a day to get there. It's a five minute walk if not shorter."

"Can we get my cat back first?"

Phineas turned to Tobias, not even trying to hide his annoyed face. "Your what."

"My cat, Melody. The guys who brought me here said I can get her back from here," he showed a piece of paper, "Surely we can go there if there's four hours left?"

"Are you fucking kidding m-"

"Sure thing," Nathan interrupted Finn, "And we could buy snacks on our way back."