Construction site (open, humor me and join)

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

"You like her...I can tell and right now you're probably thinking of her and her beautiful red lucious locks..." he teases me and my face reddens, not because I necessarily like her, (do I?) but simply because of the way he words it, like a high school taunt from one of your buddies.

Wait, red locks? Nora doesn't have... he doesn't know...

Oh, he's trying to bait me into saying more about her.

He offers to pay for the stew, which looks mouth watering I must admit, and I don't argue. When he calls himself half a cripple and his mood seems to take a dive again, cosying up to his beer and his eyes being all glazed over, I joke to him "Hey, thanks to me, now your only three quarters of a cripple!"

Okay, not my most tactful joke.

I recline in my chair to try and make myself not seem as embarrassed as I am, and tell him in as smooth and assured a voice I can muster "Yup, a few weeks and you'll be just as you were." I tell him with sincere confidence, even if it is somewhat uneasy.

I quickly try to change the subject. He... uhh... Nora! He wants to know about Nora!

"So Nora..." I blubber out.

"She's not a red head... her hair's blonde." my voice evens out.

"Brighter than mine. Much brighter. And she's got brown eyes, kind of like a puddle of mud..." I muse to him, taking a sip of my beer before casually adding to him "Weirdest thing I ever saw."

Oh god, if Nora heard this, she'd give me that look again...

But I like mud! It was a compliment! Ah! Think of something else nice to say! Umm, she sure did smell nice...

Nah, that'd come of as really creepy...

I begin to eat my stew and I look to the bar at the other end of the pub. When I see Nora drinking there, next to her dad, (she took after that man when it came to drinking, I swear...) not noticing me, my heart stops.

To my everlasting credit, the stew stays down my throat.

[Jack Lexington]

"three quarters is more than half , if I recall that right, mr. Genius." I tell him while I shovel another spoon ful in my mouth.
I can't help but grin a little when he tells me about the blonde with the muddy brown eyes. "Mud, lovely."
It doesn't take long for me to go back to sulking. A few weeks is longer than I want it to be but I guess it's still better than my whole life. I have to remind myself to stay thankful.

His gaze shifts to the other side of the room and something registers. When I turn around to follow his gaze I see the usual old bums in here but at the end of the oak bar is a grey haired fellow accompanied by a blonde girl. If that really is the same girl Garth has been talking about he's sol.
"Looks like this one already has company...but I'm sure can outdo the old fart she's with."

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

OOC: Trying a new color scheme.

He seems to take the whole "not half but three quarters of a man now thanks to me" fiasco in stride, but while I'm distracted by Nora, he begins to speak again.

"Looks like this one already has company...but I'm sure can outdo the old fart she's with."

Damn it, he knows.

I'm a genius! Why can't I understand how people work?!

"It's her dad." I tell him quietly, not taking my eyes of the two people across the room I'm staring at, practically hearing my heartbeat. All it took was one night, one night and an offhand comment to completely change how I saw Nora. Now what? I can fix a generator I found in someone's backyard, but I can't fix my own girl troubles?

And then Nora looks at me. Damn it, she always knew when someone was watching her, especially when they did it for too long! I know that, because I can too!

She pats her father on the shoulder and points over to me, then begins walks over to our table.

I look at Ty with a look that says "help me."

"So, who's this Garth?" her voice rings out behind me, pulling out a chair from a nearby table, swinging it around backwards, and straddling the seat, her hands clasped on the wooden back of the chair.

"Since when do you have friends?" she jabs, feigning genuine surprise.

"That's right. You've always been more of an 'ally of convenience.'" I tell her, immediately returning to my usual state of aloof sarcasm.

"That and I'm also a very snappy dresser." I tells me with an eyebrow raised, deadpan.

Before I can continue are brief little sparring of words, she turns to Tyler and looks at him with intrigue.

"Now, you're an attractive guy. I'm sure you could do better than Garth." she tells him.

"He likes my personality." I tell her.

"No one likes your personality, Garth." she responds before turning back to Ty once more.

"So, who are you and what are you doing with my boy toy?" she asks with theatrical interest, her hand resting below her chin.

O.K, maybe I did have a crush...

[Jack Lexington]

Oh I'm starting to enjoy this. The very girl he was talking about before is here now and before we know it she's noticed him and comes over. The look on his face is priceless and puts a chuckle on my lips. "Oh, man."
Nora is defiently attractive and I can totally understand why she wouldn't want to be with a guy like Garth. Yet they are friends as I can tell by their quick banter and that must have a reason. Garth is witty for example.
She sits down and instantly doesn't only put Garth on edge but me as well by calling me attractive. Usually girls aren't that blunt so I simply smile and play her game. "Sorry, I had no idea he's your boy toy. Figured I'd make him mine but if you've already got your pretty hands on him..."
I give her a sheepish grin and then extend my hand. "I'm Tyler and you must be Nora. Garth has been telling me what an ugly brat you are." I'm as serious as I can be while she's letting her gaze drift over to her friend, who's turned the shade of a ripe tomato by now.

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

Tyler was having too much fun with this. He was playing a game and he didn't even know the rules.

"Ugly brat?" she tells me, but not like she's angry, more like in a playful way. I can tell she can spot Tyler is lying, as if that was hard...

"That's quite a compliment from you Garth. Admitting someone has usurped your title." she says, still playing with her eyebrows.

"Seems like that's the kind of guy Tyler's drawn to, that why I've been sitting here and trying to convince him to give your brother a shot." I tell her with faux disinterest, looking at my fingernails casually.

Nora quickly turned to Tyler.

"I don't have to start worrying, do I?" she asks quickly.

I lip-sink "thanks for the help" to him in a sarcastic manner while Nora looks away, but then she quickly returns her gaze to me and I barely recover. She was trying to wear me out. But we had known each other long enough to know that when we play this game, I usually come out on top.

Figuratively speaking of course.

"He's too good looking for my brother." she says, obviously trying to irk me by repeatedly pointing out Tyler's attractiveness.

"Runs in the family..." I tell her.

"Explains why we practically adopted you." she counters, turning away from the wall and eating nuts disinterestedly.

"Oh, we both know it was for my charming personality..." I reply.

"Certainly wasn't for your looks."

"Irritability not an attractive color on you."

"Are you finally admitting I'm attractive?"

"Are you finally admitting you've lost?"

"I don't think I've lost quite yet."

"Losing and failing to win are one and the same."

"You know that all too well don't you?"

"Only when I'm around you."

And that's when we both just about run out of breath.

We break each other's gaze and I begin to work on my stew as she continues to eat her nuts.

Finally she casts a sidelong glance at Tyler for a split second, before returning it to the wall.

"So, how do you two know each other?" she asks, sounding completely disinterested.

"Work place romance." I tell her disgustedly.

"Those are never a good idea." She adds.

"Neither is dating friends." I tell her.

She nods at this, as if she understands some hidden meaning in my words.

"Well, if it makes you feel better he's got a great ass." she says before spinning her chair back around, patting me a single time on the back, and placing her chair back at the table she took it from.

Well, if you need me I'll be right over there at the bar. My dad has to leave, so it will just be us. You boys have a good night." she says with playful smile directed towards me, and then she headed back to her seat at the bar.

My eyes, now once again returned to their usual emotionless state, linger on her posterior for a few moments, but then I avert my gaze and return to my stew without looking back up at Ty.

"So that's Nora..."

[Jack Lexington]

Their conversation flys back and forth faster than I can grasp any of their words or interject. So Garth answers for me that we know each other from work. Their words are dripping with sarcasm and often I can't figure out whether their serious or not but there's one thing that's for sure. He talk a hell of a lot more around her than anybody else.
I'm not exactly sure whether she referring to my ass and cast an irritated glance at her. Is she hitting on me...or maybe on Garth? This is too confusing for an outside.
So I'm somewhat relieved when she leaves but at the same time so intreaged that I follow her with my pale green eyes and never let her out of sight.
"I guess it is." Is all that I can mutter before I turn back to him and lean forward to ask.
"Do you guys always talk like this? Cause I only got half of that shit."
With a look back at her I tease him again. "Buts she sure is fine...I think I might talk to her...if she lets me get a word in."

Quickly I finish up my stew and beer and grab my crutches.
"Are you coming or did you run out of fuel?"

Pushing myself up i wait for my new friend to join me and watch her dad pay and walk away, which is the perfect opportunity to hobble over and join her.

"Let's try this again...I'm Tyler. I work at a construction site with your buddy and it's nice to meet you. Now don't start any of that confusing banter, okay?"

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

"Do you guys always talk like this? Cause I only got half of that shit." Ty asks me, still recovering from the chaos created when Nora and I sparred.

"No, that's only when we flirt." I laugh.

"Buts she sure is fine...I think I might talk to her...if she lets me get a word in." he says to tease me.

'Get a word in.' Yeah, good luck with that...

"Are you coming or did you run out of fuel?" he asks me as he get up out of his chair.

Is he trying to get me to talk to her? I just did, and maybe he didn't know this, but that was how it typically ended up.

I get up lazily from my seat and follow him, taking up the seat on Nora's left as he properly introduces himself.

She nods her head with a smile.

"I'm Nora, and I make sure Garth here stays out of trouble." she tell him, trying her best to keep the sarcasm to a minimum as she wasn't addressing me. Nora was always more personable than I was...

While Ty wasn't paying attention for a moment, Nora began to whisper to me.

"Is your friend making a pass at me?" she asks quite seriously.

"No." I tell her.

"He's trying to get me to."

A look of I don't know what crosses her face for a split second.

"I know." I tell her, still keeping my gaze fixed on the bar mirror.

"Three sure is a crowd." I joke.

[Jack Lexington]

It's totally inappropriate for me to go and talk to the girl my saviour is clearly interested in. But I don’t have the motive they think I do. I just want to talk to the girl he likes and get to know her a little more.

Turning my head towards him I snicker. “Don’t worry. I’m not interested in your girlfriend. I wouldn’t dare.”
Then I turn towards her again.
“No offense, you’re very pretty but I don’t work like that. I actually like Garth.”
Now this came out a little awkward. I hope she’s not assuming that I’m sexually interested in him.
“Not in a …” I stick out my index fingers and connect them.”…weird kind of way. Your friend helped me out in a very generous way so I respect him.”

Now it’s my turn to change face colour.

I try to change the subject by asking her. “So how long have you known this guy?”

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

After a rare, awkward moment from Ty, he asks Nora how long we've know each other. She answers politely, which surprises me, but that's only really because she never talks politely to me.

"Sounds like Garth." she tells him after he tells her I helped him out.

"What he do? Give you his life savings?" she asks.

I lip-sink "don't you dare" before he can speak again. Nora continues.

"How long's it been..." she muses absently over her beer.

"Four years." she tells him finally, pretending she had to put more thought into it than she really had.

"Felt like longer." I say.

"That's only because you enjoy my company so much." she replies.

[Jack Lexington]

I watch the banter pick up again and the glances these two exchange and you can tell there's something there, which makes me grin. I wish I had a friend like that.
"Should I leave you two alone?"

Lifting my hand I order another beer and then turn to Garth. "You should really get it over with..." I'm referring to him telling her about her feelings.

My beer arrives very fast so I ask her. "What are you drinking. Let me buy you another."
I'm starting to have fun now.
It's kind of hard for me to balance on the high bar stools and not make a fool out of myself but she sits there like a statue. Nice posture, chest out. I understand Garth.

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

"Should I leave you two alone?" Ty asks us, and we both look at him with disgust.

He urges me on, and then orders Nora another beer, I guess trying to keep her in the chair longer. But I'd be a fool to think he wasn't enjoying this. It kind of annoyed me.

Hell, half the reason I'm tempted to to make a pass at Nora is I'm afraid Tyler might if I don't.

"So, Tyler..." I say, trying to shift the focus towards him and not me. Easy since Nora doesn't know him and it is only natural that we talk about him a little.

"Tell Nora about what you do for a living." I tell him, trying to come up with the most boring bar talk I could think of before Nora makes another wisecrack.

Tyler was enjoying our little asides, I could tell.

[Jack Lexington]

It looks like they both don't fancy me talking about their 'relationship' and switch topics which is fine by me. Garth encourages me to tell her about my job and I don't think anything of it so I agree because I'm actually quite proud to be a foreman at my age.
"Drink up, Garth." I tell him since he seems to be nursing that beer for an awefully long time.
"I work in construction. My speciality used to be roofs and windows but I've been promoted a few months ago and am now the foreman on an office building site. I oversee everything that's going on there. It's coming along quite well."
Of course that's only the half truth so I start fiddling with my fingers and quickly have a drink of cool beer.
"We just had some injuries and sicknesses lately so we're falling behind. That's why we've been looking for new people...like Garth."
My eyes shift to him. "So why do you show up so late. Is this your second job?"

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

I anticipate Nora is going to answer for me, so I just sit back and enjoy my beer a little as I'm proven right.

"Yeah, he and I work the morning shift at the lumberyard together. That's actually how we met." She tells him, keeping her usual facade of complete disinterest.

"What wonderful friends there are to be had in the workforce, you see..." I comment.

Nora shoots me a look that says 'shut up' and I smile smugly at her.

"Anyway, he isn't very good at his job." she continues.

"Takes one to know one." I reply.

"Besides, I'm too smart for it."

"Funny, that may very well be the stupidest thing you've said today."

"I'm trying to beat your record. How many stupid things can be said in a single day. She's the champ you know." I tell Tyler.

Nora and I stop bickering because we realize suddenly we are not the only ones here. We make an unspoken pact where I continue to drink while she continues to speak. That's how it usually went.

"You should see the generator he's building in his basement." she remarks, changing the subject to the first one tonight that hasn't been meant to overtly insult me.

"Not building, fixing." I correct.

"Whatever it is, it's damn impressive." she says lazily as she continues to drink. I don't think I've ever since Nora drunk. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure if she can get drunk.

Well, she's not drunk now. Not yet anyway. Her insults aren't even slurred yet.

[Jack Lexington]

Their bickering is starting to get a little nervy so I decide to take a few good gulps while I listen.

I see Garth's looks and try to qualify that I'm not a drunk so I mutter.
"Helps with the pain."
It's true. That kneecap had been giving me one hell of a time and since I ran out of pain killers very quickly I resorted to alcohol...maybe that does make me a drunk. I muse over this question for a moment but then snap back to reality.

The basement however interests me.
"What generator? What are you going to use it for? Being independent of the moody power supply situation in our district would be a great advantage to our construction site. Are you going to sell it?"
The capitol often simply turns our lights off when there's a shortage and then we're stranded.
Plus I don't know anybody else who has one of those at home. They are hard to come by.

[Verbal, Lord of The Dreadfort]

"What generator? What are you going to use it for? Are you going to sell it?" Tyler asks me, his interest piqued.

"I don't know." I tell him disinterestedly.

"The damn thing doesn't even work yet. I'm missing a few key parts. I could fix it in flat out a half hour if I had them, but they aren't easy to find. And no matter how good a mechanic I may be, without the proper parts, it's a no go." I tell him, still staring at the bar mirror.

"Besides, the stupid thing's too big for a house, what would I even use it for?" I tell him, frustrated for some reason I can't explain.

"No, for now it simply remains an after school project of mine. But it won't even be that for very long since I've fixed it so completely that there's nothing left to due but replace those few parts I can't replace."

I begin to drink from my beer again. Nora joins me, nodding her head in slight understanding. We lightly tap out beers together in kinship and go on quietly drinking.