designedtoparty | 011 ∞ VIDEO

[Grubby and cobwebby, Nathan is slouched on his bed, smoking a joint. He's definitely not feeling his usual self, looking a bit more withdrawn than he would normally.]

So, I think I died last night. Either that, or someone slipped me some really bad acid. [He stops and groans there, squeezing his eyes shut and dragging a hand down his face.] I don't know. I'm kind of fuzzy on the details.

On the plus side, immortal. So, I don't have to worry about that zombie shit the rest of you lot have going. Down side... actually, I don't think there is a down side to dying, in this case. I mean, it's that or I got raped by some big, beefy bloke while having the worst trip of my life. [Pauses, looking mildly disgusted as he pictures that.] Yeah... let's not go there.

[He waves a dismissive hand at the camera.]

Anyway, I have this letter... bill... thing. Just so you know, I didn't buy anything, so you can forget about me paying it. Thanks.

[He takes one last, long drag off the joint, then pushes himself forward to stub the end out and turn off the camera.]

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[Claire doesn't react right away - in part because she's not entirely sure what he's doing and in part because she's at least a little sure about what he's doing and, on some level, it's admittedly kind of funny and she wants to see if he'll actually go through with it - so that when she does finally notice that he's crouched down, she's already a few paces ahead of him. She doubles back, standing in front of him.]

Right, but not since we've established that you definitely - [And this is accompanied by her fingers twisting in his shirt and a yank: an attempt to get him to stand back up.] - don't heal on the spot. I really don't want to end up being the one taking you to the hospital for a broken toe or something.

[There are people there she wouldn't want to have to explain that to, for starters, and she's never exactly taken great pleasure in watching other people mutilate themselves. Well, depending on the person. She could probably sit and watch Sylar carve out his own eyeballs and only ever stop him to ask if she could help. That doesn't take away from the fact that she's not going to just stand there and let him kick a rock just to prove a point.

She will at least try and stop him. If that doesn't work, then who knows? Maybe he will miraculously regenerate.]

[Nathan staggers back onto his feet, perhaps a little irritated. It's not like he's dying to get hurt, or anything. It just dents his pride that she gets to show off her power while he's pretty much incapable of it. It only helps a little that he's at least attempted to try and show her he can't.]

All right. Jesus. I wasn't going to kick it that hard.

[Claire rolls her eyes, goodnaturedly, and steps around him.]

You'll survive. [She looks back over her shoulder.] Obviously.

[Nathan huffs, though it's more for show than anything, speeding up until he's keeping pace with her again.]

Yeah, well. I'm sure you could've handled a broken toe. You're not exactly squeamish, now, are you?

[Normally she might be a little concerned that she'd managed to overstep her bounds or had irritated or done something not exactly kosher, but the fact that he's caught up with her and is keeping up with her lets her put that habit aside.]

Not really, no.

[There are still some things that gross her out, and losing appendages is still something she's not a huge fan of, but Claire usually sides more with fascination than disgust. In a way, that had been part of what meeting up with him has been about: determining that from his end.]

Do you like watching other people die just because you can't technically do it yourself? Not being squeamish doesn't mean I like watching other people get hurt. Sometimes I think it makes it worse.

Really? I don't think I feel that much different about watching people die than I did before. I mean, it's not as though I like it, but...

As long as you don't like it, I think you're square.

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