#c: nate

[annabethblossom]

I always make sure to put plenty of sunblock on all exposed skin, Sir. You don't mind the extra sun on your back? So chivalrous.

Smart girl. Oh, you poor thing. We'll have to lather you in sunscreen before any fun is to be had. Ooh, there's a good idea. And, if I spend a fair amount of time hovered over you, I could shadow you and avoid your skin burning.

[quiisquiliae]

❝ i'll always protect you. ❞ (For Kieran from Nate from @chasindtrevelyan)

Kieran could feel a flush creep across his cheeks, and he focused his attention on helping bandage Nate. The consideration of picking up healing at the rate he and his companions were going crossed his mind, though he didn't know the first person to ask to teach him.

"I just hate seeing you hurt," he murmured softly. "Especially on my account."

[jessehart]

WHERE: fight club. WHO: @n8-shaw & jesse.

Jesse had never expected to be good at this fighting thing. It had been sort of the reason he'd sought it out, actually. Sure, it was a wonderful way to get out some of that anger, but he wasn't a trained fighter. He wasn't much of a fighter at all. He was a shit talker that enjoyed playing mind games and he was positive that showed in his fights.

The ones that he kept losing.

His ribs protested the way he slumped against the wall, back pressed against the bricks as he slid to the ground, wiping at his face with a hand towel and watching it come back with splotches of red. Nothing too bad. Thankfully, his losses were nothing like that one fight he'd watched Nate tank. His bruises were much easier to hide, easy to explain away as lacrosse training or fucking around.

Towel pressed to his lip, his eyes found Nate. He snorted, just a huff of air through his nose. "You here to congratulate me?"

[aliscncooper]

WHO: @nate-strauss WHERE: Allie's Apartment

Moving was stressful and exhausting. She'd done it enough times in her life that the planning and packing came easily, and with professional assistance she and Ryan had barely had to life a finger. But that didn't change the fact that the unpacking had taken an emotional and physical toll on the widow. There were currently about a dozen boxes of Margot's things packed away in various closets, left untouched as she'd successfully gotten through only one before she'd nearly had a breakdown. So she'd moved on to the rest of the house and now? Well, now everything was unpacked and in its rightful place and Allie, she was soaking in a much deserved bubble bath with a glass of wine as Ryan played video games in his room.

She'd had her eyes closed, head leaning back against the side of the tub as the warm water soothed her sore muscles, and was close to drifting off when the sound of a man's voice startled her out of her relaxed state and caused a yelp to escape her lips as she flailed in the slippery tub.

"Oh my god!" She cried out, realization finally dawning as she looked over and registered that the voice belong to Nate. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

[nataliavega]

WHERE: bougie hamptons house. december 26. WHO: @n8-shaw & nat.

The Hamptons plus Nate was a flashback to summer. The wintry scene that greeted her had been so different from the salt air and hot breeze that it was easy to separate then from now. Except, of course, now that she was looking at Nate. She shot him a small grin as she made her way over, tossing a look around before her eyes flicked up to meet his. "You and me in the Hamptons. It's like we're collecting the seasons like Pokemon." She let her stupid joke linger in the space between them for a moment, knowing she didn't need to be in any hurry to say what she'd really come over here to say. It was never like Nate was rushing to fill silence. "I have a hypothetical for you that I feel like you're uniquely qualified to give insight on."

[jetaiimee]

Open starter. Everyone's favorite GOLDEN BOY nate archibald is back. Your muse hooked up with him and for some reason they haven't seen each other in a while. maybe gossip girl posted something about him? now they're at a party and speaking to each other. hmu for plotting.

Nate walked up to her, standing behind her for a while before speaking up. "I wouldn't think to see you here,". The annual Van der Woodsen christmas lunch was usually a party for the closest relatives of the family, hence why Nate was there, as he bascially grew up in that house. "You never answered my texts," He started, meeting her eyes this time. "Are you ignoring me?"

[thecelestexzhao]

closed - @natexdanish

where - sharky's

Celeste didn't know if it made things better or worse, not being able to totally tell who was who with costumes and makeup and masks and all around, but she was at least able to make out some familiar faces--ones she'd seen around town over her months of living here, some who'd been regulars at the bar. And when she caught one face in particular she smiled, beelining her way over to him.

"Well. Didn't think I'd see you here." She teased as she came up beside him.

[will-york]

"Alright, this should be the last one," Will told Nate as they mounted the last TV in one of the rooms. It had been an ambitious endeavor but Will had been sure he could do, especially with Nate's help and company. "If these things fall, I'm totally blaming you," he joked. He took a picture of the last mounted one to send to Penny and then gave Nate a pat on the back. "And now, for being such a great helper today, lunch is on me. I mean I still need your help with a few things in the back before you go but a lunch break is definitely needed." He led them back downstairs and to his truck so they could pick something up and made sure to lock the doors on his way out. "It's looking great in here, right? Almost makes me feel like I'll book a room at the Bed and Breakfast just for fun. I'll make sure I save the grand opening date on your calendar." @nathaniel-donovan

[lucilleweasleys]

"It's good to see you here," Lucy addressed her friend happily. "Want to come browse the activities with me? I haven't decided what I want to get up to today yet."

@natewood

[void-botanist]

🌻 🌻 🌻 fuck me up

From this ask game.

It was a toss-up between a discussion of the Semilsstroms' insect eating preferences and Leon's vague angsty family drama. However you said "fuck me up" so it's drama time.

In Drowning in the Stars Christina ends up leaving Kat with Horatio, so Kat can take advantage of the safehouse plan Horatio had originally put together for Christina. No one realizes at this point that Kat and Horatio are related, but then the pieces come together: Leon's estranged brother (originally called Ed but that name now belongs to Uncle Ed so for now I'm just gonna call him Nate) is Kat's grandfather. Leon and Nate are estranged in the first place because of Kat's grandmother, Nate's wife Shirley, who is the worst. It happened through a combination of Nate being sick of Leon bitching about Shirley and Leon being sick of Nate always siding with her, when it was obvious to him that she was gaslighting the hell out of Nate. They had a fight so bad that Leon just gave up. Just moved localities and didn't tell Nate where he was going. But he left his contact information with Shirley's brother Jedediah so he would know if he was needed.

Fast forward to now, some forty years later, and I know there's some complicated shit going on in that family. Leon has heard basically nothing from Jedediah, and when he left, Nate and Shirley's eldest, Kat's mom, was a baby. I considered having Nate be dead and Leon being one million percent ready to murder Shirley with his bare hands upon finding this out, but then I didn't want Nate to be dead, and when I realized Leon would have had contact with someone, it wasn't so straightforward just to have Kat surprise him with this news. So he's probably not dead. But maybe in a coma? Or some other situation where he's neither Dead TM nor Alive And Ready To Have A Chat (my Sunless Sea brain: he's a Drownie obviously). And I think that whatever put him in that situation is what Kat's parents are busy being vigilantes about. Kat, meanwhile, has mostly associated with the other half of the family, Jedediah's kids, who are all involved in running the Murian Library & Archives. She hasn't hard sided with them because that would make things way more complicated, but really Shirley is just ignoring that Kat clearly thinks her cousin Meredith is the true matriarch of the family (#justonlygrandkidthings). But Shirley and Nate have another kid, Barnaby, who is ostensibly devoted to the point of obsequiousness but is really essentially a spy for the other half of the family, and maybe for others. There's a lot of ??? in this setup actually lol. I suspect there's some twisted webs being woven here that are about more than just Shirley being shitty but they haven't come to me yet.

Anyway I'm still thinking about Leon, the world's chillest seventy-something, absolutely losing his shit because he thinks Shirley has to be responsible for what happened to Nate (she probably is on some level, though I don't think she wanted this to happen).

Kat: aw man it's so good to finally meet the part of my family that has no drama Leon: yeah, yup, no drama here. brb literally stabbing your grandmother with a knife

[annabethblossom]

Mac and Cheese flight for Sir Nate! @dom-i-nate

Mac and Cheese Waffles with dipping sauces, Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese Sliders, Deep Fried Mac and Cheese Balls, Bacon BBQ Mac and Cheese Casserole, Chili Mac and Cheese, Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger, Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese, Mac and Cheese Pizza, Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger Wrap and Mac and Cheese Stuffed Backed Chicken.

[jessehart]

WHERE: their room at the hampton's house. WHO: @n8-shaw & jesse.

Jesse was in a foul mood. It had been following him around for hours, lingering like a bad smell. He could trace it right back to its origin, to the bad omen that had knocked on his door looking for someone else entirely. But he wouldn't admit she'd had that much power, not even to himself. So instead, he was doom scrolling on his phone, sprawled out on his bed while he could hear life and laughter coming from just outside his door.

His eyes had trailed to it again, just in time to watch the knob turn. Nate appeared a moment later and Jesse's mood only darkened. He hoped it radiated off of him, hoped that it festered in their shared space until it became part of Nate, too.

His eyes were back on his phone, scrolling through shit he wasn't actually seeing, and wondering if it was better or worse to even say anything at all. Eventually, though, he decided the topic had been a sensitive one in the past. He could make it one again. "Rhia," he said her name like it tasted bad in his mouth, "came by earlier."

[annabethblossom]

What are your feelings on chocolate cake, Sir?

Oh please do.

[nataliavega]

WHERE: g's rave. WHO: @n8-shaw & nat.

Nat wiped a hand over her face, a sheen of sweat gathering on her forehead and down the back of her neck from her time spent in the middle of the dance floor. If G was going to blackmail her to go to a rave, then she was going to enjoy it!

She'd shed her coat somewhere, uncaring who saw her now and replaying the conversation she'd had with Ollie over and over in her mind. Confidence was just acting. Confidence was just acting.

Shouldering her way through the crowd to the drinks, she was on the lookout for a bottle of water when she caught an eyeful of a tall glass of it instead. She faltered a little upon seeing Nate, but they'd made eye contact for the briefest of moments; it would have been the opposite of confidence to pretend like she hadn't seen him and slip away in the crowd instead. So, she trudged forward without missing a beat. Or, at least, an obvious one. "Hey," she said, super chill and casual. At least she knew she looked hot, and she had that in her favor. "Nice outfit. Did you lose half of it somewhere?"

[thecelestexzhao]

closed - @natexdanish

where - the holiday markets

Celeste had been spending time with Nate, getting to know him, and it'd definitely been nice. He....wasn't what she'd expected. Both because he came from money and just in general since her usual interactions with men tended to be belligerents at the bar. But as cliche as it was..he'd been different. So when he asked to see her tonight and he called it a date, her nerves admittedly spiked a bit. Just the same though, she agreed, offering to meet him at the markets and they could see where the night took them.

Making herself presentable, Cel headed out to the markets and waited by the entrance, biting her lip as she waited for when if he'd show.

[will-york]

"Well that's the last time I put anything in this fridge. You think it's fucked up if I kick a prospects ass for stealing my yogurt?" Will sighed as he shut the fridge and turned back to Nate. "I hope it gives them diarrhea, you got some time to take a ride with me? Figure we could get some more food and supplies if people are gonna keep staying here." Will wasn't really sure how long they would be here but it was clear that whoever was in charge wanted them all to be sleepless and worried and looking over their shoulder. His father's had decided to go spend some more time in Vegas to get away from it all which left him feeling a bit more comfortable. Will couldn't say he had slept a lot in the past week but he was trying his best. His head was already swimming before the tear gas went off but now he just felt a bit stuck in his own reflection. And he was trying to figure out what to do about it.

"Your sisters doing okay? I checked in with Logan a little earlier today, still manage to get on me about shaving so I'd say she's feeling alright." He smiled as he thought about it and walked out of the clubhouse towards his truck. "And uh, Lyds, she uh..she good?" He tried not to seem so desperate to know but he really was. @nathaniel-donovan