Always Remember Your Pride

ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR PRIDE 1x1 Nala AU Blog Current plot: 1904 Travelling Circus

[notanotherinvention-flik]

Circuits and Wires

[notanotherinvention-flik]

“Nope. Not having. As much as I like animals, I like my hands more and I have no plans on losing them.” Normally Flik wasn’t this eloquent or god at joking, but with his hands busy it was easier to work around his normal discomfort at, well, speaking to people. Maybe that was something he should remember for the future. If he had another opportunity that was. 

He listened to her describe the lions she worked with, nodding slowly. He supposed that made a lot of sense. He still felt like anyone who worked closely with animals had to have some kind of connection, and this only proved it. Still, there was something she’d said that stuck out at him. The idea that the animals could better understand her than the people. He’d always felt that way about machines, but he had also been told that he was weird. So it made him curious. “Don’t you connect with your fellow performers at all? Or even the other animal trainers? I mean, it seems like they’d be in some of the same circumstances as you and they’re probably better conversationalists than the lions.” 

“Right. Yeah, sorry. You can call me Flik. Or if you forget, ‘the mechanic’ is fine, but I wouldn’t worry about the ‘mister’. That makes me sound way fancier than I actually am. And my sister’s name is Dot, so if you hear me talk about her, that’s who it is. Might as well get the two important names in while I’m thinking about it.” Damn, couldn’t he ever shut up once he started going? She probably didn’t care about any of that, and here he was rambling on because now he’d gotten distracted and flustered. And sounded like an idiot. 

Flik looked back down at the mess in his hands and deliberately started working again. He sounded at least moderately sane this way, and he could always use the excuse of the deadline if he needed it. Besides, he’d never been good at leaving a job only part of the way done. If it meant he was also distracted from his thoughts about her, well, that was just a side benefit. 

[headstronglioness]

She laughed freely at his response, amused by his instant witty response to her proposition. Watching him work made it clear to her this is where he belonged. She was meant for the ring with a bunch of feisty cats and he was meant to work with all of these wires, making sense out of all of the mess.

His question caused her to purse her lips before she could even stop herself. It was an innocent question of course, but one she didn’t want to think about. “Short answer? No. Most performers don’t enjoy having the spotlight taken over by some girl. Especially not a girl of my....background,” Color was what she truly meant to say but allowed the inference to hang heavy in the air between them. “The people who aren’t violently jealous are obviously attracted to me and spend all of their time ogling at me. It’s bad enough to have people stare at me on stage with such dirty thoughts in their minds..but to get it as I walk around the camp night after night.. It’s exhausting. You’d think I’d learn to cover up better. But I’ve come to find it doesn’t help much. Unfortunately I don’t find I have much in common with either of these groups. So I guess I’m stuck talking to lions, hmm?”

She smiled, forcing the negative emotions off her expression as she looked down at him. As he told her his own name as well as his sisters name, Nala couldn’t help but chuckle softly and bite her lip. He sure was charming and she found herself feeling thankful she had run into him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Flik the mechanic, brother of Dot.” She responded, her amusement clear on her voice.

When he broke their eye contact and turned his attention back to the wires in front of him, Nala slid off the table where she was seated and strolled closer to where he worked. Reaching down with elegant fingers and mischief shining in her eyes, she picked up assorted doodads and trinkets, taking a quick glance at each of them before tossing them aside. She knew she was probably getting in his way, but that was the big idea after all. Anything to delay the train’s journey.

[notanotherinvention-flik]

Circuits and Wires

[notanotherinvention-flik]

Flik snorted. It wasn’t hard to realize she was copying the barker’s style of speaking and advertising. “I think that’s more your speed. The beauty of my job is that if I do it right, no one should ever see me or realize I’ve done it.” It was only when something went wrong you called a mechanic or blamed him. No one thought of them as actually part of the show. 

The cursing didn’t actually bother Flik as much as it would some people. He wasn’t huge into swearing himself, but mechanics were a bit infamous for their awful language. Sailors just had the bigger reputation. Maybe if he wasn’t working that would have shocked him more, but right now he was so used to curses filling the air it seemed only right that she do the same. In a weird way it relaxed him in the new environment. Which maybe said more about him than anything else. 

Mr. Moneybags….there was something Flik was missing with that comment. A story. But they had just met, it wasn’t really his place to ask. “Lion tamer, wow. That sounds like a rough job. I mean, I know you do it a lot but you’d have to be wild to have some kind of connection with those animals. But I guess I can see why you’d want a break then. Still, my job description is getting us moving, so I can’t help you out too much. Take a long nap tonight, but wake up early enough you get to lay in bed for awhile. That way it feels more luxurious than it is. That’s what my sister did every time she was expected to do something she didn’t want to do.”

Flik cleared this throat, brushing his hair out of his eyes again to give himself a moment to get settled. It wasn’t exactly that he had never seen a girl before. Just never so much of one. And wow she was gorgeous. But you can’t say that, because she probably heard that all the time and if he started trying to explain it, he would never stop and terrify her into running away. So. No rambling Flik. Not right now. “Thank you. Happy to be here.”

[headstronglioness]

“Yeah I know. I’ve heard over and over again how me and these long legs were made for the spotlight.” She responded with a roll of her eyes before smirking. “Wanna switch? I’ll work in the background and wear those cute suspenders while you get to tie up this corset and deal with some moody cats. Whatya say? Even just for one show?”

She couldn’t help but smirk to himself as he didn’t even flinch at her cursing. It was nice to meet a guy who didn’t scold her and her ‘poor behavior.’ She was sick of being told to act more proper. If they wanted her to act like a perfect lady, they shouldn’t put her in the ring with wild cats night after night.

“Yeah so I’ve heard.” She responded with a shrug. “They do call me Wild Nala after all. But I guess theres a part of me that understands them. I dunno. They’re trapped in this circus just like me. Out of everyone here I have the most in common with them. On a daily basis...working with them isn’t too hard. The males are practically kittens for me, completely submissive. It’s the females that give me some trouble. But I’d expect nothing less from them. It’s much more fun to raise a bit of a ruckus than submit to everything in life.” She grinned wide as she talked about her cats. She truly loved working with them, except for the rare nights when they completely wore her out like tonight.

“That sounds pretty luxurious. I might just do that. Maybe I’ll light some incense and only wear my prettiest silk robe to sleep. I’ve never been a very good early riser though. Unless someone wakes me up..”

She grinned as he pushed some hair out of his face. She could tell she had left him a little flustered, but she almost always had that effect on men so it was nothing new to her. She just decided to ignore it. “Of course. Now you know my name....but I have no idea what yours is. Care to tell me? Or am I destined to call you Mr. Mechanic for the rest of this conversation?”

[notanotherinvention-flik]

Circuits and Wires

[notanotherinvention-flik]

“Absolutely. My parents used to joke I was born with a wrench in one hand, pliers in the other, and hair blown up by static. I’m the best around.” He said the whole statement in the same easy tone. He wasn’t bragging. It was just a statement of fact. He knew he was a great mechanic, and he had no problem admitting it. Time would prove him right.

Flik was aware of the girl moving around him and pausing, but he didn’t look up again, hands buried back in the mess in front of him. If he threaded one through there, he could pull out wires two and three, but wire four seemed to get more tangled by it. Or maybe that was actually wire one all over again, which was why it was getting more tangled when he tried to undo the previous mistake. Damn. And once he sorted them all out, he had to reconnect them somehow, which meant he had to figure out what they all did. As annoyed as he was, the love of the puzzle brightened his eyes. 

Funny response for a circus girl though. Wanting to be stopped in the middle of the countryside. Weren’t most circus people all about the life of the road, and the excitement of new places, and the next opportunity to earn their living? The ringmaster certainly seemed eager when he’d hired Flik on. “Not eager for your next show? What is it you do?”

He reached another stopping point and looked up. And then swallowed. Clearly his previous look had not done her justice. Curly hair, pale brown skin, yes he had seen those before. But that didn’t prepare him for the rest of it. His eyes followed the length of high black boots swinging from the edge of the work table. Up long legs that were distractingly revealed, and in all honesty, more scandalous than he had ever seen. Black shorts and a black corset hugged her figure and she was wearing some kind of open robe. He forced himself to look up at her face rather than be rude and stare.

[headstronglioness]

“The best around?” Nala repeated, the amusement clear on her voice. “Then you joined the right circus. We’re full of the ‘best around’ here. We bring crowds for miles and show you wonder and amazements you can’t see anywhere else!” Her voice fell effortlessly into a perfect impression of their barker trying his hardest to draw people into the tent.

She loved his focus and how, despite her presence, he continued to work on the task at hand like he was chasing on the tails of a solution and wasn’t going to stop until he caught it. Nala let him remain focused, knowing he would look up once he had the chance. She was disturbing him while he worked after all, but if her conversation with this cute new mechanic helped delay the train, then she was willing to make any sacrifice necessary to make that happen.

“Not at all..” Nala responded with an exasperated sigh, leaning back on her arms with a shake of her wild curls. “Kiara was impossible today. She wouldn’t do a damn thing I told her.” She never had been much of a lady and the cursing only proved that point. “I’m the lion tamer. Wild Nala and her ferocious felines. Watch her command the cats and seduce her way right into your heart.” She hated the tag lines they used for her, but she wasn’t given much of a choice about anything anymore. “The next city only means the next performance and the next Mr. Moneybags Wild Nala needs to perform for.”

Finally, the young man in front of her looked up and Nala automatically smiled. She couldn’t help but notice how his eyes raked up her body, likely to be noticing her scandalous outfit and just how little she was wearing. But she was focused on his eyes herself and just how dark and warm they were. Not even the messy hair falling in his face could keep her from noticing them. Her gaze then slipped down to his lips and the perfect curve of them and she found herself thankful this new mechanic joined the crew. “Welcome to Barnum & Bailey’s,” She added with a warm smile now that they finally locked eyes.

[browngurl]

[notanotherinvention-flik]

Circuits and Wires

[notanotherinvention-flik]

Flik jumped slightly as a strange voice echoed over his head, but not as much as he would normally. He hadn’t expected anyone to end up on his side of the train, and he rarely had people around while he was working. Still, if he was going to be part of this whole mess, he needed to get used to a lot of noise and a lot of people. 

“I think any court would consider me duly provoked considering your last mechanic was a complete idiot who should never be allowed anywhere near a wire or a screwdriver.”

Extricating himself carefully, he pulled on one of the wires and gave a pleased shout when one of the worst knots came untangled. “Got you you little bugger. One down.” Far too many to go. Really, how were you so much of an idiot you created this much of a mess?

Flik wiped his face with the back of his arm to try and avoid all of the grease on his hands, but he doubted he was too successful. As he squinted up at the person standing nearby, he caught the impression of wild curly brown hair and darker skin than he had usually seen in his hometown. More than that was difficult to tell with the sun behind her, so he mentally shrugged and started winding up the wires. “Hopefully I should have everything sorted out in an hour or two, but no promises. There might be other problems I can’t see.”

[headstronglioness]

She smirked at his start, knowing it was unfair for her to speak up without announcing her presence. But he seemed to roll with the punches and moved on without bringing any attention to it, a trait she had to admire. Most people in the circus were far more sensitive to such a thing.

“Is that so? And you’re far more qualified for the job I’m to assume?” She asked taking a few steps closer to the young man. She didn’t mean to question his authority on something he clearly knew more about than her. But she found him amusing and she wanted to know more about him, hence the teasing tone to her voice.

As he was clearly engrossed in his work, Nala walked around the large mess of wires and other assorted electrical circuits until she found a surface in front of the man that she could perch on and watch him work. His preoccupation allowed her the perfect opportunity to take him in, from the stained undershirt to the heavily worn work pants and boots that were likely an unofficial uniform for his line of work. But beyond that, she couldn’t help but notice the lean muscles of his arms that flexed as he reached around, working with all of the wires and trying to solve the complex problem in front of him. Not to mention the messy mop of hair that fell into his face and was entirely endearing despite it’s disarray.

He was fascinating and Nala soon found herself engrossed in watching him work. She almost forgot he had said something to her. “Oh I don’t mind. Hell...you should just snip that wire there and pull that entire circuit thingie out over there. I’m perfectly fine with the delay. We can stay here all night and it would be no skin off my nose.” She responded with a mischievous expression from her new vantage point in front of him.

[notanotherinvention-flik]

Circuits and Wires

It was Flik’s first real day on the job, and already he could see why they had hired him. Well, why they had hired him after the sketchiest of interviews and with basically no references. He’d thought it sounded a little strange, but then, he’d wanted to be part of the circus so much, and he’d wanted to be gone so much, he hadn’t questioned it. 

Now he was stripped to his undershirt and completely covered in machine oil as he tried to untangle the wires so the circus could get moving. 

“What kind of damned idiot thought it was ok to let everything get like this? I know I usually work in a chaotic shit show but you don’t leave other places a chaotic shit show. When I find whoever did that I’m going to strangle them with their own mess of wires. Once I get them untangled.”

He was so lost in what he was doing, he didn’t notice anyone else coming up behind him.

[headstronglioness]

Nala didn’t know much other than the fact they were delayed in heading to their next location. But she didn’t mind, being the star and having show after show grew tiring before long. So she took the opportunity to wander their train, taking in all of the familiar sights and some of the new ones.

People waved to her as she walked by and she gave each person a warm smile in return. She wasn’t interested in talking. Not tonight after she had one of the longest performances of her career earlier that night. The lions had been especially testy and it took all of her skills to get them to cooperate for the crowd.

So when she came to the quiet car near the front of the train, she was grateful. She needed to find the perfect spot for a little alone time. But then she heard the voice complaining about something and she couldn’t help but investigate. Coming up on a large unorganized mess of wires, Nala spotted a guy she had never seen before cursing up a storm about wires and disorganization.

“You shouldn’t make such threats out loud. Not unless you want me to be a witness.” She finally spoke up with a laugh, her eyes dancing with amusement. She had a feeling she found the reason for the hold up.

[headstronglioness]

And Blinking, Step into the Sun | Choice

After walking away from Flick, Nala rushed to her room to finish the last bits of packing. She had been looking forward to leaving Hogwarts for the summer ever since the war ended; something didn’t feel quite right about the school anymore. Like they were no longer safe there. So at Flick’s offer of a grand adventure away from all of the destruction in a place far less uncertain with a much greater chance of being sunny, Nala pounced on the opportunity. She needed this, almost as much as Flick did.

Of course she would never need it as much as Flick. Seeing how hollow his eyes were, void of the warmth and intelligence she was used to, broke her heart into a million pieces. Just thinking about it had her packing faster, rushing until she could meet up with him again. Then a voice rumbled through her entire room, causing her to lose her balance and fall on the bed. “Don’t forget to pack your socks.” The bodiless voice said, causing Nala to look around the room with one brow arched and lips pursed in confusion.

“What do you want?” Nala asked, knowing better than to question a weird voice in a place like Hogwarts. It must need something if it was talking to her.

“Just...take these. Make a decision. Pick one to go back to where you belong and forget all about this life, two to forget all about these memories and remain here or three remember it all but your fates left up to me.” The male voice responded, a tone of business to his voice. He seemed impatient, like this was a complete waste of his time. But Nala could barely register his words before a flood of memories came back to her. She was a lion? And so was Simon? Except his name was Simba and Paul and Timon were there too. Paul.... She paused at the memory of him, recalling his true face to the forefront of her mind a moment as tears welled in her eyes. Everything seemed simpler in this other world. She was queen with Simba by her side. A romantic partnership she had considered her whole entire life. But one thing was missing. Flick.

“What the hell kind of choices are those?” Nala asked angrily, unwilling to choose between all of the people who mean the most to her. How could she choose between being with Flick and Paul being alive again? Why would someone make her choose between those choices.

“Will you just make a choice?” Came the voice again, clearly becoming impatient with her attitude.

“Will you give me better choices?” She responded automatically, putting her hands on her hips in defiance. She wasn’t going to be bossed around by some unknown voice.

“Your only option will be number 3 soon if you don’t choose. And trust me...you won’t like what I come up with. Now on the count of three....three......” He began, a hint of menace to his voice. “Two...”

Nala’s mind raced at the impending threat. She didn’t want the choice taken away from her if it was all she had. Gut instinct kicking in, she called out. “Flick! I pick Flick! Number two!”

With that a whoosh of air blew through the room, blowing around old pieces of parchment and tousling her wild curls, leaving Nala with no memory of the exchange. All that remained was optimism at her new adventure with the boy she loved and a lingering annoyance she couldn’t quite place.

[flicktheinventor]

Never Let This Go || Wildheart

[headstronglioness]

Something about Flick’s demeanor reminded her of a fire that was put out and smoldering quietly in a pile of ashes. But it was understandable with everything that had happened. It was just her job to help light his fire again, anyway she could. “Perfect!” She responded brightly, taking both his hands in her own. “I’ll see you later tonight, Flick.” Standing up on her tip toes, she planted a soft kiss on his lips. “I can’t wait for this new adventure with you.” And with that she turned and walked off to pack away her old life and start another.

[flicktheinventor]

He smiled slightly into the kiss, feeling the brush as a small warmth where so much of him was numb. This would be good. Maybe she could find something to make her happy while he found himself. All that he had left to do was pack. Walking away from her, he headed back towards the Hufflepuff dorm to pack the final remnants of the past 7 years of his life. After that and maybe one more goodbye, he would have severed all ties to this place. Hopefully the future held something decent. He had given enough pain to earn it.

[flicktheinventor]

Never Let This Go || Wildheart

[flicktheinventor]

He should really tell her no. After all, apparation was dangerous over that kind of distance, and he couldn’t really help her since he had no idea where they were going. And yet…”That sounds great. I can be ready by tonight. I don’t have many goodbyes to say either, so as soon as you’re ready, we can go.” Why not? After all, both of them had survived something that had killed so many other people. They should be able to manage this. It’s not like he had anything to lose.

[headstronglioness]

Something about Flick’s demeanor reminded her of a fire that was put out and smoldering quietly in a pile of ashes. But it was understandable with everything that had happened. It was just her job to help light his fire again, anyway she could. “Perfect!” She responded brightly, taking both his hands in her own. “I’ll see you later tonight, Flick.” Standing up on her tip toes, she planted a soft kiss on his lips. “I can’t wait for this new adventure with you.” And with that she turned and walked off to pack away her old life and start another.

[flicktheinventor]

Never Let This Go || Wildheart

[flicktheinventor]

“Sure. Fine. That sounds great.” He meant it when he said he didn’t care where they were going as long as it was far away, and South Africa was about as far as they could get. After all, it was hot and dry to Scotland’s cold rain, literally on the farthest side of the hemisphere from where they were. And he knew how much Nala wanted to go back. It was nice she was going to get something good out of it. “I just have to pack my school things and then I’m ready to go. I can probably find somewhere to stay in town if you need longer.”

[headstronglioness]

She shook her head in response to her question. “Nope it won’t take long for me to pack. I’ve been packing every day since the end of the war. I guess part of me knew that we’d be leaving.” She grinned up at him, trying, once again, to be as encouraging as possible. She could tell he needed it. “I should only take the afternoon to finish up. And then we’ll go? Like....by apparation so we’ll be in South Africa tonight?” She felt her heart begin to race with excitement. Was she really going home?

[flicktheinventor]

Never Let This Go || Wildheart

[flicktheinventor]

He couldn’t let himself believe the words, so he didn’t bother to try. She would stay or she would walk, that was up to her. He couldn’t try to predict the future. Right now his entire focus was on getting as far away from the memories as possible, because nothing in his future could hurt as much as the past. So it was time to keep planning for it right? Make it happen. Step by step he could get through this, at least as best as he could. That was what mattered. “Why don’t you pick where we go. I don’t really care where.”

[headstronglioness]

"Anywhere.” Nala responded automatically. As long as she was with Flick, she would be happy.  Getting away from Hogwarts was exactly what she needed. But she missed her home and always wanted to take such a special guy there. “How about South Africa? I know we talked about it a while ago and this seems like the perfect time to go. The beaches are amazing in the summer....” She smiled up at him, trying to be the optimism she knew he desperately needed.

[thesimon-king-deactivated201508]

“OUCH! Hey! What was that for?”

[headstronglioness]

I haven’t heard from you for weeks! You deserve way worse!!

[onceuponatimefan1]

[sassinessbee]

[flicktheinventor]

Never Let This Go || Wildheart

[flicktheinventor]

Flick just stared at her as she spoke, trying to convince himself that this was real. Even with everything she’d said, most of him had figured that she would walk away as soon as he broke. And yet she was still here, saying she wanted to stay with him and travel with him even when he had no idea what he wanted. Swallowing hard, he leaned his forehead against hers so they could have a little extra contact. Just, more. “I don’t know how I got this lucky. I’ll try to be worth it.”

[headstronglioness]

She could tell her words shocked him, but she was glad for the extra contact when he leaned against her forehead. The news about Dot still had her mind reeling and she honestly didn’t have any words that could possibly help him. What he was going through was entirely unimaginable to her and she knew he was beating himself up in his head and would continue to do so for far longer than he should. But so long as he clung to her for any semblance of salvation, she was going to be there for him. Closing her eyes momentarily at his words, she hated the hesitation and heartbreak she heard in his voice. “You already are.”

[headstronglioness]

Hold On Tight | Wildheart

[headstronglioness]

Nala frowned at his words, but nodded with a smile at the mention of dinner. “I would love that. I haven’t been up to a whole lot without you, but I promise I’ll make lively conversation regardless.” She grinned wide again before leaning up to kiss him softly on the cheek. “Don’t forget about me.” She added before turning away from him with a smirk and heading out of the room.

[flicktheinventor]

As she walked away, he couldn’t help watching her. No. No there was no chance of him forgetting her. He let out a long slow breath before he set an alarm so he could be sure to meet her for dinner. It was bound to be an interesting night.

[flicktheinventor]

Never Let This Go || Wildheart

[flicktheinventor]

As she hugged him again, he wrapped his arms around her, needing her close, needing to feel something resembling alive. “I can’t go back Nala. I can’t go back to being anywhere near my dad, and I have no idea if he’s ever going to give my mom the truth. I saw him when he came to get Dot, and I knew I can’t go back. I need to be anywhere else.” He mumbled the words into her hair as he leaned against her.

But he couldn’t let her do this without knowing everything. It would be easier to end things here than to discover she was tired of him in a few months. Taking a deep breath, he tried to find the words for what he needed to say. “But, I’m…I’m not the same Nala. I don’t think I ever will be. I feel like a clock that’s been gutted of all its wheels, and yet its supposed to keep ticking. I know it hurts, but the hurt is so buried in emptiness, it feels like there’s nothing there at all. I don’t know long it’ll be before any of it comes back. And if you don’t want to deal with that, that’s ok. You shouldn’t have to deal with it. You’re still so…so much. You deserve better.”

[headstronglioness]

“You don’t have to, Flick.” She responded simply. He didn’t need to explain himself to her. Families were complicated and death made things even more complicated. She knew that. So he would never need to explain his feelings to her concerning his family. She would just accept them for what they were.

Nala sensed his hesitation and fear before he spoke up. But at his words, Nala shook her head softly. “I wouldn’t expect that to happen and you come out of it unscathed, Flick. So I understand. If I lost someone like Simon. Or you..” She paused, unwilling to even consider the possibility. “You have nothing but understanding and patience from me Flick. I’m going to be by your side every step of the way and we’ll try to reassemble the clock I promise. I don’t think it will ever be 100% fixed again. But It will get better. Of that I have no doubt. And I don’t care what I ‘deserve’ Flick Tenae. You’re the one I want.”