Fic: I'm a Scientist
Title: I'm a Scientist
Author: rainne
Pairing & Fandoms: 109.Eleanor Zissou (Life Aquatic)/Nathan Stark (Eureka)
Rating: G
Spoilers: None
Notes: Man, these two play off each other well. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, I don't own.
“I’m here with my wife. Eleanor, this is Mandeeza. Mandeeza-”
“Do you really want to put me through this?” Eleanor inquired before she stalked away from Steve and the radiant African woman. The nerve of him- at a party in his honor, for his new movie, and in the middle of her show of support. It was nearly enough to make her leave the party, leave Loquasto, leave him... nearly. I’m right on the edge; I don’t know what comes next. His words, surprising how well they fit.
Eleanor accompanied her glass of champagne and a napkin of grapes out onto the balcony, letting the night air cool her anger after she sat down. She looked out over the harbor at the Belafonte. A rented water taxi ferried its first load of passengers (prospective investors all) out to the ex-sub hunter. Doll-sized interns onboard scrambled to finish stocking the makeshift bar. Eleanor wondered vaguely who had strung up the lights- perhaps Vladimir or Vikram; they were the crewmembers most intimate with the Belafonte’s cantankerous electrical system.
“Enjoying the party?” a warm, masculine voice asked from a few feet away.
Eleanor turned to see a tuxedoed man smiling at her, half hidden in the shadows where she hadn’t noticed him. She smiled back, and he walked a few paces into the light. She smiled more, admiring the efficiency with which her companion checked off tall, dark, and handsome.
“Eleanor Zissou, I presume?” the man said, “May I call you Eleanor?”
Eleanor nodded cordially, “You may.”
“I’m Nathan Stark. I represent a company based in the northwestern Pacific, in America.”
“Interested in my husband’s work? You’re talking to the wrong person. Oseary Drakoulias takes care of the financial aspects of Mr. Zissou’s films. I believe he’s already left for the Belafonte.” Eleanor turned her gaze back to the ship, and so had to quickly cover her surprise when Stark settled next to her.
“Actually, I’m not interested in your husband’s work. Not that I didn’t enjoy the film,” he added swiftly, but with enough clumsiness to make it seem like a charming blunder, “But what my company would like to discuss with you is your work. It’s true that you’re a scientist, right?”
Eleanor looked unblinkingly into Stark’s blue-gray eyes, “Yes, it is. And I am.” She found she was enjoying this game. It was so rare that she got to talk about her work, something which seemed to fade into the background of her life along with everything else, as the years went by.
“Excellent,” Stark beamed, “Eleanor, I am in a position to offer you an invitation to work with my company, to take your research as far as it can go. We will provide you a laboratory- several, if you need it- technicians, assistants, funding... you name it. Any thoughts?”
Eleanor peered at him, at the deep-seated but not completely hidden boyish enthusiasm that had shone through his whole spiel. “You’re from Global Dynamics, aren’t you? Based in Eureka, correct?”
Stark looked chastized as he turned away from Eleanor and stared at the floor, rubbing his palms together. He stood up and retreated into the shadows before turning back to her. “You’ve heard of us,” he said flatly, “Why am I not surprised?”
“I’m very intelligent and very rich. There isn’t much of anything I can’t find out if I put my mind, and my resources, to it.”
“The offer still stands, of course, just with a little less alluring mystery. In fact, that kind of drive and dare I say cunning is exactly what we’re looking for.”
Eleanor allowed the silence to stretch between them. She again took in the Belafonte below, its deck now teeming with people. She swallowed one of her grapes and sipped her champagne. Eleanor contemplated the night sky until movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention- she saw Steve looking at her from inside the reception area. He waved, a small simple movement, and moved out of sight down the stairs.
“Mr. Stark,” Eleanor said, “Will you give me time to consider it?”
“Absolutely. You’re worth- pursuit.”
Eleanor held in her laughter, but only just. Stark handed her his card, it had only his name and a telephone number. He thanked her for her time, kissed her hand, and merged into the crowd emptying out of the reception.
“The film was wonderful,” Stark said when Eleanor stepped onto the balcony.
She listened to the slowly fading applause, thinking how she would like to conduct all her business at formal receptions, if her associates filled out tuxedos as well as Stark, “Thank you.”
“I assume you’ve given some thought to my offer, or you wouldn’t have called.”
“Yes, I have. I’m afraid I’ll have to decline, Mr. Stark.”
Stark’s eyebrows jumped without censure. Apparently he’d expected a different response, “You’re sure? Eleanor, this is a very rare opportunity you’re giving up.”
Eleanor gazed at him, this man she truly didn’t know. “Do you have a family, Mr. Stark?”
A muscle twitched in his jaw- he really was off his game tonight, Eleanor noted. “No, I don’t.”
“You should try it sometime.” As she passed back inside, Eleanor stopped and squeezed Stark’s arm warmly. He gave her a half-smile, which she returned. Then she spotted several red hats bobbing down the stairs. She left to rejoin them.
Author: rainne
Pairing & Fandoms: 109.Eleanor Zissou (Life Aquatic)/Nathan Stark (Eureka)
Rating: G
Spoilers: None
Notes: Man, these two play off each other well. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, I don't own.
“I’m here with my wife. Eleanor, this is Mandeeza. Mandeeza-”
“Do you really want to put me through this?” Eleanor inquired before she stalked away from Steve and the radiant African woman. The nerve of him- at a party in his honor, for his new movie, and in the middle of her show of support. It was nearly enough to make her leave the party, leave Loquasto, leave him... nearly. I’m right on the edge; I don’t know what comes next. His words, surprising how well they fit.
Eleanor accompanied her glass of champagne and a napkin of grapes out onto the balcony, letting the night air cool her anger after she sat down. She looked out over the harbor at the Belafonte. A rented water taxi ferried its first load of passengers (prospective investors all) out to the ex-sub hunter. Doll-sized interns onboard scrambled to finish stocking the makeshift bar. Eleanor wondered vaguely who had strung up the lights- perhaps Vladimir or Vikram; they were the crewmembers most intimate with the Belafonte’s cantankerous electrical system.
“Enjoying the party?” a warm, masculine voice asked from a few feet away.
Eleanor turned to see a tuxedoed man smiling at her, half hidden in the shadows where she hadn’t noticed him. She smiled back, and he walked a few paces into the light. She smiled more, admiring the efficiency with which her companion checked off tall, dark, and handsome.
“Eleanor Zissou, I presume?” the man said, “May I call you Eleanor?”
Eleanor nodded cordially, “You may.”
“I’m Nathan Stark. I represent a company based in the northwestern Pacific, in America.”
“Interested in my husband’s work? You’re talking to the wrong person. Oseary Drakoulias takes care of the financial aspects of Mr. Zissou’s films. I believe he’s already left for the Belafonte.” Eleanor turned her gaze back to the ship, and so had to quickly cover her surprise when Stark settled next to her.
“Actually, I’m not interested in your husband’s work. Not that I didn’t enjoy the film,” he added swiftly, but with enough clumsiness to make it seem like a charming blunder, “But what my company would like to discuss with you is your work. It’s true that you’re a scientist, right?”
Eleanor looked unblinkingly into Stark’s blue-gray eyes, “Yes, it is. And I am.” She found she was enjoying this game. It was so rare that she got to talk about her work, something which seemed to fade into the background of her life along with everything else, as the years went by.
“Excellent,” Stark beamed, “Eleanor, I am in a position to offer you an invitation to work with my company, to take your research as far as it can go. We will provide you a laboratory- several, if you need it- technicians, assistants, funding... you name it. Any thoughts?”
Eleanor peered at him, at the deep-seated but not completely hidden boyish enthusiasm that had shone through his whole spiel. “You’re from Global Dynamics, aren’t you? Based in Eureka, correct?”
Stark looked chastized as he turned away from Eleanor and stared at the floor, rubbing his palms together. He stood up and retreated into the shadows before turning back to her. “You’ve heard of us,” he said flatly, “Why am I not surprised?”
“I’m very intelligent and very rich. There isn’t much of anything I can’t find out if I put my mind, and my resources, to it.”
“The offer still stands, of course, just with a little less alluring mystery. In fact, that kind of drive and dare I say cunning is exactly what we’re looking for.”
Eleanor allowed the silence to stretch between them. She again took in the Belafonte below, its deck now teeming with people. She swallowed one of her grapes and sipped her champagne. Eleanor contemplated the night sky until movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention- she saw Steve looking at her from inside the reception area. He waved, a small simple movement, and moved out of sight down the stairs.
“Mr. Stark,” Eleanor said, “Will you give me time to consider it?”
“Absolutely. You’re worth- pursuit.”
Eleanor held in her laughter, but only just. Stark handed her his card, it had only his name and a telephone number. He thanked her for her time, kissed her hand, and merged into the crowd emptying out of the reception.
“The film was wonderful,” Stark said when Eleanor stepped onto the balcony.
She listened to the slowly fading applause, thinking how she would like to conduct all her business at formal receptions, if her associates filled out tuxedos as well as Stark, “Thank you.”
“I assume you’ve given some thought to my offer, or you wouldn’t have called.”
“Yes, I have. I’m afraid I’ll have to decline, Mr. Stark.”
Stark’s eyebrows jumped without censure. Apparently he’d expected a different response, “You’re sure? Eleanor, this is a very rare opportunity you’re giving up.”
Eleanor gazed at him, this man she truly didn’t know. “Do you have a family, Mr. Stark?”
A muscle twitched in his jaw- he really was off his game tonight, Eleanor noted. “No, I don’t.”
“You should try it sometime.” As she passed back inside, Eleanor stopped and squeezed Stark’s arm warmly. He gave her a half-smile, which she returned. Then she spotted several red hats bobbing down the stairs. She left to rejoin them.