dan and nic

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: The Spooky House, Master Suite
When: Night

After cooking dinner, Nic wasn't entirely sure what to do with his time, especially since night brought on the darkness. He'd wandered into the study, written a journal entry, stole a book and a letter opener, then returned to the bedroom he shared with Dan. He felt safest in private rooms, despite the fact that he'd been forced to deal with more people recently than he would have preferred. When everyone was gathered together as they were, there seemed to be safety in numbers. Now their numbers had been divided, their setting had changed, and Nic was more aware than ever that there were things that went bump in the night. The house seemed to make noises, unexplainable even when he'd looked for the source, and he remained aware of them even while he forced his nose into a book, attempting to read.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: The Campsite
When: Middle of the night

Nic had never been all that deep a sleeper and moving into the house didn't help him one bit. With all the things that went bump in the night, he'd become easy to wake, ready to run and fight at the drop of a hat. Now they weren't even in the house and though the noises of the night didn't bother him all that much, the howling of wolves did. Nic was suddenly awake, his eyes wide as he sat up in the tent. Izzy didn't look all that happy either, growling softly, her ears perked up and the hair down her back fluffed. "Dan," Nic whispered, shaking him softly. "Wake up, Baby. Wake up." He wasn't all that sure what they were going to do about it, but staying in the tent didn't seem like all that bright an idea at the moment.

Dan, on the other hand, was usually out the moment his head touched the pillow - and the absence of a pillow here in their tent didn't make a whole lot of difference to that. But Nic shaking him awake him. "Hmm, umm?" he asked, sleepily, blinking awake in the darkness. "Wha.." He got that far before the next howl hit and Izzy growled louder. That got his attention and he fumbled for the torch, clicking it on and bringing light to the dark tent.

Who: Nic and Dan
When: Evening
Where: The outside shelter

It was getting towards the end of the day and Dan was frustrated. Frustrated because he'd had to watch people working on building the communal shelter today and he'd been about as much help as a little girl afraid to break a nail. He'd tried to help out at first - until he'd knocked his broken fingers against something and the pain had almost crippled him. And it wasn't like they had painkillers just knocking around the place anymore. He didn't feel right going to Dave to ask for some, so he'd bitten his lip and carried on, but it meant he'd bowed out of building not long after that. He'd spent most of the afternoon as waterboy for the various people helping out which, whilst useful, had left him feeling like a spare limb. He'd been there when Adam had stood back as declared that the shelter was as done as it was going to get today though and he crossed to stand with Nic, handing him a pan of water.

Nic had worked with Adam to build the newest shelter and found himself severely out of shape. He'd thought he'd been doing pretty good at working out, but now he was thinking otherwise, considering just how badly his body wanted to rest now. When they quit for the day, he was just about ready to roll into bed, not entirely sure he wanted to walk down to the lake to dunk himself in. But he also didn't want to crawl into bed all sweaty. He'd worry about it in a bit. For now, he took the offered water from Dan and took a sip. "Thanks," he said, giving Dan a small smile. "How are your fingers?" Nic was sure they couldn't be healing right, with all that they'd been through, but it wasn't like Dan could have avoided it easily. Even still, he'd been helpful all day, which was more than some people would do.

Who: Dan and Nic
Where: Down by the Lake
When: Close to Sunset

After getting the tents built, getting the shelters put up, building the fire, and escaping a burning building, Nic eventually wanted to be clean. He wanted it bad enough that he was willing to swim in the lake, just to get the smell of smoke off of him and out of his hair. He and Dan had headed down to the lakeside close to sunset, Dan's flashlight with them just in case it got dark while they were gone. With Dan standing guard, Nic didn't mind stripping down, unwilling to get his one item of clothing wet. The water lapped gently against his hips as he shivered, adjusting to the temperature. It wasn't cold, but it definitely wasn't all that warm. Dan and Izzy sat on the side, Izzy by instruction and Dan by his own free will. Nic knew Dan wanted to be clean as much as he did, probably more, but his boyfriend had sat his butt down on the shore and hadn't moved a step closer. Nic took another step into the water and it rose over his waist. One more and he'd dip himself under completely.

Dan definitely wasn't moving closer - in fact he was about as close as he was going to get to the scarily large and probably impossibly deep lake. Bottomless, he imagined. And full of things wanting to pull him under, or bite his ankles, or catch on his feet so he couldn't get back to shore. And, yes, he was jealous - he felt hideous. Dirty and sweaty and horrible. And he looked a mess - he knew he looked a mess. And stank. But that wasn't enough to get him near the lake o' death there. And so he sat on the shore and suffered - like Nic would have to suffer sleeping with a dirty, smelly boyfriend. Maybe he should offer to sleep out of the tent. Maybe he could wash off enough in the chapel sink. Or something.

Mood: 

Touched

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their room
When: after Dan leaves Sarah

Once he'd left Sarah, Dan returned to their room, running his hands through his newly shorn hair a few times, thinking his head felt lighter, different - it was weird. And he needed a shower, he was all itchy round his neck where the little bits of hair had fallen. But there as time for all of that and he was hurrying back now - he was aware that he'd been gone a lot longer than he'd lead Nic to believe that he would be. Knocking at the door, he waited for it to be answered - that was the one downside of the bar. You couldn't get into your own room.

Nic hadn't paid too much attention when Dan had left. He'd given some little excuse and Nic assumed he'd be back with in a few minutes. But the minutes had stretched on and Izzy was sitting at his feet, and Nic couldn't help but become antsy. He'd taken Izzy down for some exercise, but when he returned Dan still wasn't there. So when there came a knock on the door, he jumped from the couch, hurrying to let his boyfriend in-- or what better be his boyfriend. Again, he told himself they needed a peephole. "Hey," Nic said, smiling with relief as he opened the door, glad Dan was back and safe. "You cut your hair."

Who: Dan and Nic
Where: Their room
When: Afternoon

Dan had returned to their room once he'd finished talking to Sarah, to find that Nic was still gone - something he couldn't decide whether he was grateful for or not. He sat down at the computer, clicking onto his messages - surprised to find a note from his boyfriend, both which made him smile and feel that little bit better. That done, he crossed to the bed and threw himself down, lying on his back, his legs draped over the edge, arms wide as he stared up at the ceiling.

When Nic returned to the room, his hands were full, and he turned around backwards, kicking his heel against the door. He held a plate full of cupcakes, and Izzy was jumping beside him, though he'd taken her out before returning to the room. He thought Dan would be back by now, though if he didn't answer the door in a minute, Nic would have to set the cupcakes down and attempt to open the door himself.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: Just before midnight
NSFW

Nic had spent a lot of time thinking since talking to Dan that morning, wondering if he'd done the right thing or if he was just setting himself up as a hypocrite. In the real world, the outside world, things from his past wouldn't just show up on his doorstep, not like they did here. And even if nothing showed up, even if he could keep his secrets, was he lying to himself in saying that Dan didn't need to know? Nic sat by the window thinking about it, and though he'd finally come to a decision, he wasn't all that happy about it. Now it was hard to climb back in bed, his mind trying to wrap itself around what he should say, how he should say it, and was this really completely necessary. As much as he wanted to fight it, he was pretty sure the answer was yes.

Dan had fallen asleep earlier on, hardly stirring when Nic had left his side, but as he rolled over and reached for his boyfriend in sleep, the fact that he got an empty and cold space instead, woke his paranoia and catapulted him out of sleep, his eyes flying open with a slight gasp as he looked around the room, relaxing only as he saw the shadow of Nic sitting by the window. He could still hear his heart racing in his chest though and he took a moment to steady his breathing before he attempted to speak, sitting up in bed, the covers falling to his waist. "Honey?" he asked, sliding to the edge of the bed. "You okay?"

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their room
When: Morning

Dan hadn't gone back to the room straight away after Sarah had left, instead he'd sat in the living room, staring into the empty grate, Izzy lying on his feet in a strangely reassuring kind of manner. Maybe that was her intent. Dan couldn't believe it - just when he'd thought he'd believe anything, this happened. He couldn't quantify the emotions going through him right now, conflicting as they were. This was a nightmare - truly, honestly, a nightmare on so many different levels.

Eventually, though, he knew he had to go back. He had to. He'd been too long already and he knew Nic would be beginning to worry - or possibly already worrying. His feet felt like lead as he climbed the stairs though and when he finally reached his room, it was Izzy who scratched at the door, rather than Dan knocking to be let in. In the moments before Nic answered, Dan tried to compose himself, wondering what he was going to tell his boyfriend.

Who: Dan and Nic
When: Morning
Where: Their room

Dan had actually gotten up early that morning. 'Early' being just after 9am, but that was early for him, damnit! He'd showered, once he'd pushed Izzy off of his feet and primped for a while, as he always did, then taken the dog down to the kitchen for breakfast - stopping on the way to greet Zhen, since she was outside their door as per usual. That done, he grabbed a couple of bagels and two mugs of coffee and headed back upstairs, knocking on their bedroom door to be let back in, Izzy sitting on her hanuches at his feet.

Nic had slept in, so glad that he could finally get some well needed rest. When Dan wandered down for breakfast, he'd risen, put the bar on the door, and then jumped in the shower. Being alone for a few minutes didn't hurt, and there was a knocking on the door soon after he got out. Walking to the door, Nic paused, hands on the bar, then lifted it, smiling softly when he found Dan on the other side. "Morning," he said, still waking up despite his shower. His hair was still wet, though he'd procured pants, little droplets of water still clinging to his chest.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: Morning

Nic was still struggling with this whole sleeping thing, afraid that the moment he crashed, someone would find a way into their room and would hit them over the head with wrenches. It was unlikely, sure, but Nic didn't want to risk it. Staying up all night, though, was something he was unable to do for multiple nights, and he'd gotten his sleep schedule all off balance after sleeping throughout the day yesterday. Now he was curled up with Dan, having slept half the night accidentally, his body bent awkwardly from how he'd been sitting up when he'd fallen asleep. That didn't matter. He was warm, and in sleep, he felt safe.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their room
When: Morning

Nic was willing to admit he was a touch disappointed to find a dog didn't appear in their room come morning, yet he was also a touch relieved. The idea of anything appearing in their room was discomforting, considering it would once again prove that someone could get in. Nic had been up half the night, awake while Dan slept, but as dawn crept in he'd dozed off. Every ten minutes or so he'd wake, just briefly, and tell himself that he wasn't going to fall asleep again. At the moment, though, he'd given in to dozing.

Dan half woke as he felt his lover stir. He hadn't really slept all night, rousing every time Nic moved, asleep but not asleep, scared to go under and wake up alone again. As Nic moved this time, Dan tightened his hold without opening his eyes, muttering as he did so.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: 5:00 p.m.

Dan hadn't left the room all day - he'd had the world's shortest conversation with Cal over tools and he'd borderline lost it to Emma voer the journals. That had actually helped. Nic had been sleeping and Dan had been able to have a silent breakdown for a while, tears rolling down his cheeks as he'd typed and Nic need never know, Dan could continue to be being strong for him.

He'd also talked to Zhen, filling her in when their friend had brought them up food, talking quietly at the door, their tones hushed - both of them in agreement that if Nic wasn't awake, they weren't going to wake him. The food was the type which could be eaten cold, so Dan had put it to one side after Zhen had gone and gotten on with busy-work, just ebcause he had to keep himself busy.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: After Nic is found and retrieved.

Nic had said little on the climb up the stairs, his legs feeling like jello as he wished they'd been a little closer to the ground floor. He was beyond wondering how he'd been dragged down five flights of stairs and tied to a chandelier; the hit on his head was explanation enough. He cast small, worrisome glances towards the corresponding cut on Dan's head and once they got back into the room, his fingers moved up to lightly stroke Dan's hair there. Now he wanted to boil himself in hot water. He felt absolutely disgusting and... and dirty. Beyond the ability to get clean. But he'd try his best, so long as Dan would stay with him. He didn't want to be left alone.

Dan had been equally quiet as they headed upstairs, wanting to get back to their room. He'd left Nic's side only once since they got him down, not even wanting to stop touching him, be without physical contact with him, even for a moment. The one time he had stepped back was when Nic was being seen to by the doctor, at which time Dan disappeared altogether, reappearing a few minutes later with the supplies he now carried. He'd said nothing about the bag, the wood sticking out of the top of it. He'd just appeared carrying it over one shoulder, taking it with them as they headed slowly upstairs, seemingly forgetting about it in his concern for Nic's progress.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: Evening
NSFW

Dan had spent most of the day alone. He'd gone on a scavenging mission throughout the house first thing (or, well, 'first thing' for Dan - which meant mid morning in real time) then returned to the room with his finds. He'd started out neatly enough - a single flight case open to get out some of his tools, working just out their cleared desk, alternating between wiring and sketching plans. Okay, so Kales was meant to be sending him things to work with, but Dan figured he'd put together his own ideas anyway. It couldn't hurt anything and he felt the need to be doing something.

Sometime around lunchtime, 'neatness' had gone out of the window and by that evening, Dan had near enough taken over the entire room. Most of his cases, containing all sorts of tools and implements, lengths of cabling and who-the-hell-knew-what-else were scattered around the room and Dan was sitting on the floor, indian-style, a pad of paper to his right, a few scraps of paper to his left, two coils of wire in front of him, which he was fiddling with the ends of, and a load of balled up paper rejects behind him. It was obvious that his usual concern with his appearance had been dropped today, as his hair was sticking up as though he'd run his hands through it every few minutes to try and get it back off his face until it stuck in a position where it would actually do that, and he had a look of utmost concentration on his face as he worked.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: Morning

Nic shifted beneath the covers, not wanting to get out of bed. It was a day for sleeping in and hiding beneath the covers. The events of the previous day still haunted him and it was all he could do not to run into Zhen's room and make sure she was there. At least he had easy enough access to checking on Dan, seeing as how he was there in the room with him. If he woke up to find the bed cold and the room empty, he wasn't sure what he would have done. One day's trauma had a lasting effect that took a bit to fade. One day was not enough. What would have happened if he'd been five minutes longer? Ten minutes? What if they hadn't realized she was missing? Or if she'd been one of the later people tied up, rather than the first. It was different than the fear of being strung up himself. Nic had never feared like this for the people around him and the possibility of Dan or Zhen being hurt was now very real. Calming his mind was far more difficult than he'd thought it would be. His body was tired, he'd not actually slept most of the night, and he was sore from carrying around a hundred pound Asian girl. Nic closed his eyes and sighed, wondering if sleep would come with the light of day. It seemed unlikely.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: Late afternoon

Nic had decided that if they were going to camp in the greenhouse, he was going to be proactive about it. He didn't want it to be one of those things that they talked about and never got around to. Thus far, there wasn't anything on their list that had come out like that, but he wanted to set a good trend. The fact that he was looking towards the future this way scared him just a little, but he knew these fears were due to over thinking things. It had little to do with Dan, as he was the one thing Nic was sure on. He wanted him there with him, sharing a room, or a blanket tent in the greenhouse. Humming to himself, he dug through his things, looking for anything that might be fun to take with them and making a list of those he didn't have.

Dan had been checking the journals on the computer, letting Nic start to work around him. finishing up, he switched the monitor off and twisted round in the chair, watching Nic with an arm resting on the chair back. "So, it looks like we lost another person. There's a note on the system - Rowena's been removed."

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their Room
When: Afternoon

It was a slow day and Nic was loving it. It was the first in a long time that he was able to fall back into his routine. He woke at 8am, then went down to work out. There was a shower, then breakfast, then checking the computer. That was always something he liked to put off just a touch, due to the fact that it usually brought bad news. He'd rather not have that first thing in the morning if he could help it and today it just had to wait. That done, he found some time to practice the piano. He was actually sounding better, some of the more simple songs flowing together the way they should. He'd gone down for lunch, then returned to his room to read a book. It was boring, he was lazy, and he wasn't trekking through the woods on an unplanned hike. He loved it.

Dan had had an equally lazy day - and had been responsible for once, actually going down to see Dave to have his fingers checked out. He'd figured that he should do, since they'd taken quite a beating over the past few days and they were hurting more than they should. All seemed okay though, but the doctor had given him some slightly stronger painkillers, along with a lecture about taking more care - as if you could around this place - and that had been that. That done, Dan had headed back up to their room to stash the pills. He hadn't actually expected to find Nic there, but, as always, it was a pleasant surprise. "Hey honey - I'm home," he joked. Because, really, he could and that was all the excuse he needed.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: 3rd floor and upwards to their room
When: afternoon
Warning: NSFW

Dan was dirty, tired and fairly sure that he had a blister forming on his right heel. It hurt like hell anyway. As did his fingers. His falls during the journey had left him looking... interesting. His chin length blonde hair was ratty, streaked with mud and littered with bits of leaf and twigs. He'd tried to get the worst out, but, yeah. Hadn't totally worked. His skin and clothes weren't much better off. The seat of his jeans was the worst - just caked in mud. Slipping and falling down slopes when you couldn't put out your hands to break your fall because you already had broken fingers wasn't much fun. Luckily, he wasn't actually hurt, just muddy and generally miserable.

He'd never been so pleased to reach the house. It took him a while to strip off his books and outer layers, dumping his jacket and bag by the back door to come and collect later. Right now, all he wanted to do was get clean and find Nic - not necessarily in that order. He needed to know his boyfriend was okay.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where: Their room
When: Mid morning
Definitely NSFW!

They'd both gone back to sleep once the noise was dealt with falling back into bed, the lights still out. They talked for a while about getting up, starting the day early, but there'd been mutual agreement that more sleep was needed and that there needed to be a do-over and fresh start for Nic's birthday.

With an effort of will, Dan woke up first - and was amazed that he'd managed it as well. He reluctantly slipped from the bed, crossing to the bathroom, a little disappointed that the scientists hadn't seen fit to leave the presents he'd wanted. Oh well, he'd have to make do.

It came as a surprise, therefore, to find the flowers he'd requested standing in the sink, which was filled with water. And a small, perfectly wrapped box beside it. Fabulous. He dried the ends of the flowers before quickly changing into the very small pair of white shorts he'd found in a draw in the porno room when he was moving out and his tightest t-shirt - both items which he'd stored in the bathroom the night before in preparation. Then, having quickly brushed his teeth and arranged his hair into something suitably cute, he picked up the flowers and the box and returned to the bed, laying the presents by Nic's side, before gently shaking him awake.

Who: Nic and Dan
Where:Their room
When: Late afternoon.

Dan had stayed in their room (still being giddy over the fact he could legitimately call it that now - their room. Just the thought of that phrase made him grin like a loon) unpacking the remains of his stuff as Nic had disappeared after the meeting, saying that there were some things he had to get done. Currently Dan was arranging everything to his liking in the bathroom - something that was taking far too long, but Dan was particular about where things went. And as most of the things in the bathroom were his, rather than his boyfriend's, he felt like he could go to town and do what he wanted. And so he was arranging, music playing softly from the other room, the door to the bedroom open.