In Ariadne's room, at Casino de la Renard; Nice, French Republic:
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Hey. You awake? How're you feeling?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Hey there. I'm feeling just fine, now that Mrs. Esterly gave me some pain medicine… Well, not too terrible, anyway.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh heh. Yeah. I can see that. She must've given you some sweet shit. :-P
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): I don't remember the name of it but, I think I want to run away to Canada & make it my bride… I should probably learn it's name, though. That could be embarrassing. :-P
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh. Just have a torrid affair with it. No names needed.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heh. Good idea… So, what's up? Or did you just come to see the invalid's gnarly scar?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Nah. Shit. You gonna end up with a scar? Where did you get hit?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Through the back on my right side. Straight through. Luckily, it missed organs, but it bled like a bitch… I was worried I wasn't going to make it. I'm really grateful that you got me to the hospital.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): It wasn't a big deal. Seriously. I owed you one anyway. If you hadn't turned off that inhibitor field when Wilkinson grabbed me. I'd have been breathing outta a nice new hole in my neck. Heh. You know. For the 30 seconds it took me to bleed out.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heh… So, can I ask you a weird, silly girlie question?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Absolutely not.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): … Well, fine… Can I ask you a really inappropriate vaguely dirty question?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Yes. Absolutely. Heh... I'm just kidding. Ask me whatever the fuck you want.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heeh-- Ow. Don't make me laugh, it hurts like hell… Anyway, I just was wondering how long after you & Aiden were dating did you guys move in with each other?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): ... Shit. Uhhh, I'm not really sure. Between the two different realities and the different timelines... Fuck. A couple of months? A year? I have no goddamn idea. Heh. Thinking about moving in with Mr. Suit, huh?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Oh, uh, not yet. Maybe. I don't know… It's just this whole getting shot thing made me realize that life is short & well, I love the big stoic weirdo. I doubt he'd agree to it. Hell, he'll only tell me he loves me in French… Cuz, he thinks I don't speak it…
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Ha ha ha! He kept muttering at you in French the whole time we were in the hospital. He's gonna be so upset to find out you understood everything he said... He was asking all kinds of questions about you, you know.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Oh? I don't remember much of what happened in the hospital… What did he ask you about?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Yeah. I didn't think you did. Mostly just kinda general questions. How well I knew you. What kinda shit you liked. That kinda stuff... He was also asking if I knew anything about the time you spent with Maladori. Guess I had some nightmare after I fainted that made him think I might know somethin'...
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): … Why would he want to know all that?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Which part? The boring shit or the disturbing shit?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Well, all of it... I'm sorry, it's been awhile since I was in anything that could be remotely described as a relationship.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh heh. Sorry, Itty Bitty. It's not like I can offer you a whole lotta relationship insight myself. Before Aiden... Shit. In any reality you look at I wasn't the poster boy for Healthy Functionality, you know? Look at it this way, if there was somebody whose brain you could pick about Ji Yong's past and shit, would you?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Yeah… I tried that with his brother but he wasn't all that helpful. I think Gee was having a hard time dealing with the fact that Ji Yong was dating someone… and it was me. Heh. Apparently, I didn't fit his idea of who his brother would date. Not really surprising though. I doubt I'm anyone's choice of a girlfriend for their brother or heck, son for that matter.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): What? Pffft! Sell that bullshit someplace else, sister! There's nothing fuckin' wrong with you. You think ANYONE we know is a parent's Dream Date for their kid? You look fuckin' outstanding compared to most of us assholes. I think it's more likely Gee was shocked his "boring, stuffy" older brother had a woman as... How did he put it? "Vibrant and sexy" as you. :-P
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): HAH…OW. He really said that!?! Well, that explains a lot.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Yeah. Right after he tried to pick me up. :-p
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heh. I thought that might happen. The night I was hanging out with him on our own, my gay-dar was going haywire… OH. Heh. Ji Yong made vague references to having male & female partners… Damn, while that's kinda hot. He's not really someone that I can picture checking out dudes with…
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): HA HA HA! What? Really? Shit. He didn't ping on my radar at all. Heh. You think he just gets down with anyone willing, or what?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heh. I don't know. He could have also been saying it just to be vague and mysterious… God, now I want to know. Damn it.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Hell yeah you do, cuz now you're picturing it.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Yeah, of course, I am. Aren't you? Come on, admit it. You do too.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Of course I am. As the saying goes, I'm engaged, not fuckin' dead.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heh. Now, I really wish I wasn't hurt… How long do I have to rest up?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): For a through and through? Probably a couple of weeks, a month at the most.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Ugh. I hate laying around already. I'm not going to make it that long. Just kill me now… Oh and I really want a cheeseburger.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh heh. I can get you a cheeseburger at least.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Really!?! I would love you forever.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh heh. Down girl. Don't let Mr. Suit hear you say that. What would he think? :-P
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): What!?! Are you kidding me? He'd probably keep me stockpiled in cheeseburgers the whole time I'm recuperating.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): So what you're sayin' is that I should tell Ji Yong to bring you cheeseburgers, huh?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Are you trying to get out of getting me one, Nate?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh. God forbid I not get a woman her burger. Alright. Gimme a minute. I'm still a little beat up from the other night.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Wait. Hold on a minute. I was just kidding. You don't have to get me anything.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): I know. Do you want a burger or not?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Yeah, I do… You know, you could just ask the kitchen here to make one. Apparently, someone has been sending up soup to me… I don't have a cold. I've been shot. I'd just really like some red meat. But, don't hurt yourself for a stupid burger, ok?
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh. I'm not. Don't worry about it. Contrary to popular fucking belief, I don't like fucking hurting myself. Also, these bitches are French. You think they know how to make a burger? ... You wanna Big Mac? And fries?
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Oh god, yes… And, a strawberry shake? I can't believe that I want to eat that but I do. I'm so glad there's no fast food over here or I would be soooo fat by now.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh. Yeah. This side is great an' all, but shit, y'all! Where's a good ol' boy supposed to get his fill o' grease here? I'll be back in a little bit.
Ariadne (to Nathaniel): Heh. Thank you, Nate… I owe you one.
Nathaniel (to Ariadne): Heh. No you don't. I've been looking for an excuse to grab shitty food. I'll see you in a few.
A short time later:
Ariadne: I take back every nasty thing I ever said about you, nasty fast food hamburger. I love you more than anything… other than this shake.
