Lost Boy

Nathan Anders // Ex-mercenary // 28 // Handyman

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: I mean, kind of, sure

Nico: Great.

Nathan: Later.

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: It wasn't me!

Nico: Awesome

Nathan: Aren't you supposed to control the kids?

Nathan: Yeah, sure

[kelton-tavarez]

But it was not your fault but mine And it was your heart on the line I really fucked it up this time Didn’t I, my dear?  Didn’t I, my dear?

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: All right, well, let me know

Nico: One of the doors kind of fell off so

Nathan: The fuck did you do?

Nathan: I can fix that

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: Well, cool

Nico: When are you coming?

Nathan: I said I would try to swing by. I'm on a job right now

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: All right, but it feels more difficult to talk while you work

Nathan: I can manage

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: Jerk

Nico: I meant like food or something, but sure

Nathan: I'm aware

Nathan: I prefer to be paid in cash

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: Sure it was.

Nico: Well, let me know when that is. I'll buy?

Nathan: You struggling to remember there, man?

Nathan: I'll try to swing by tomorrow. And you will, that's how work works. You pay me to do it.

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: Sure you did

Nico: I'd like to hear about it. You know. In a friendly way.

Nathan: If you don't remember, it was for the job you were having me do

Nathan: Maybe when I finish my work.

[nathan-anders]

“Working,” She said, as if he should know. “Nah man, I don’t blame you,” Sera agreed before taking another drag from her cigarette. “Might even be better if you give her a few business cards to hand out to her friends.”

Nathan nodded, like it was common knowledge. “Hell no, I can get work for people easier to deal with than this lady. Her friends are probably as big of pains as she is.” He commented, flicking the stub of his cigarette towards and ashtray.

[nathan-anders]

Grace took his word for it. If she ever got to Paris, that would be an accomplishment in itself, but there was no use whining about it to a stranger and putting him through her wants and wishes. Nibbling on her bottom lip, Grace watched with anxious eyes as the male tried her macron. “Darn it–” She exclaimed, shaking her head knowingly. “They’ve sat out the majority of the day…you’ll have to come by first thing in the morning to try them fresh. But they’re perfect, other than that? You promise? I can take it, really.”

“Next time I’m out in the morning, I’ll stop by and try them. I’m sure they’ll be just fine then.” He promised her, as he tucked the box under his arm and slipped his wallet back into his back pocket. “I wouldn’t lie when it comes to baked goods.” He assured her, as he headed for the door. 

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: You ran out pretty fast for someone who doesn't scare easily

Nico: Has no one asked you out before?

Nathan: I had things to do

Nathan: I've had an interesting life.

[nathan-anders]

nathan&nico

Nico: Just wanted to say sorry for scaring you off.

Nico: Just thought we had a thing going on, my bad

Nathan: I don't scare easily.

Nathan: Don't worry about it.

[nathan-anders]

Cara considered herself a decent judge of character, and despite recognizing him after a few beats, she’d liked him from the start, and liked him more the more they talked. There was something…not quite off, really, but definitely carefully hidden about him. Maybe one day, if they kept going with this seemingly easy rapport, she’d find out what it was. “Oh, I have no doubt you will,” she agreed easily. “That sounds like a fair deal. One big bag of food coming right up. And thanks, Nathan. I know I’m paying you and everything, but what you’re doing here, helping me get things up and running, I really do appreciate it.” She gave a small wave before turning and heading toward the lodge and her car. 

It was funny; anyone else from, well, that time of his life would have sent him into a tailspin. Sent him running, for that matter. He wouldn’t trust them not to ruin the life he had carved out for himself, even inadvertently. But for reasons he couldn’t describe, he did in fact trust Cara. That trust made him a little uneasy, but he chose to ignore the feeling for the time being. “Doesn’t have to be big.” Nathan corrected. He’d seen the pile and it wasn’t that much. Not really enough to keep him busy that long. “Don’t bother. I’ve got a place to work, a place away from people, it should be me thanking you.” He waved her off, headed towards the pile of wood and the axe.

[nathan-anders]

“Sounds amazing.” Grace said with a dreamy sigh, hoping that one day she’d be able to make it there herself. Of course, that was just a dream for now. “One of each! Coming right up.” She grabbed one of their smaller, rectangular boxes, lined it with pretty parchment paper, and began filing in the macrons one at a time. “Here you go! Hopefully…they’re good.” The witch surrendered over the box, ringing up the price at the cash register, offering the resident discount. “Do you mind trying one right now? I’m dying of curiosity…”

“It’s worth the trip.” Nathan answered her simply, finding it more and more difficult to let her friendly manner drown out the tension he was feeling over the subject. He merely watched as she worked, leaning down the slightest bit to see the macrons disappear into the box she had procured. He took the box, digging in his pocket in return and offering up a few bills. “I’m sure they’ll be fine.” She didn’t even have to ask before he was pulling open the box and taking one from the front and biting into it. He was thoughtful, preferring at the moment to be positive in his assessment. “They’re just a touch dry at the moment, but other than that, perfect.”

[nathan-anders]

“A couple of years!” The exact length of time she’d been living in Pandora. Somehow, despite how amazing and wonderful her current home was, she couldn’t help but daydream and decide that Paris was probably better. The scenery, the food, the people. “Is it as amazing as advertised?” The witch hoped he only had good things to say, but if there were bad experiences he’d had there, that was understandable too. “Okay.” Her tone was still indecisive, as though loudly trying to talk herself into it. “Okay? Okay. OKAY the only way to become better is to not be afraid of criticism. So, I will happily give you some macrons. What flavors?” She pointed down to the rainbow display of confectioneries, their names printed in beautiful, but legible, cursive print.  

“Yes, that is the amount of time I said.” It was hard to come up with any exact times for back then, with so much moving, so many times of not even know where he was. The FFL had kept him busy for five years and the time after that was all moving and keeping busy so he wouldn’t have to think about what he was doing. “Paris? I would have to say there’s no way to describe it.” He could be honest at least, with that. It had always been one of his favorite stops, walking the streets and stopping at small bakeries. “How about one of each?” He suggested, perfectly willing to sacrifice the health of his teeth for something sweet.

[nathan-anders]

“Just one?” Grace now felt a smidge of pressure, wondering what treat would leave the perfect first impression, which one stood out the most. Then, he agreed on her macrons. “Really? Y-you’ve been to Paris? You’d be able to tell me?” Her smile brightened, her too curious if someone who had been to Paris. “No, wait, now I’m self-conscious…I talk a good game but, what if I’m not right?”

“Lived there for a couple years.” Nathan admitted, a smile covering his caginess on the subject. He didn’t want to talk about that time, though he was sure he could find plenty of small anecdotes about the less bloody parts of his time there. Of course he hadn’t really lived there, but he’d traveled through countless times, stayed for a few months at times.. “There’s only one way to find out, then. And I can let you know what you you need to change.”