fandomtownies | the perk: saturday afternoon

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nathan byrn

the perk: saturday afternoon

The news that another Black Witch (or someone who could make themselves look like one) was on island had set Nathan on edge. He hadn't slept much last night and sleeping inside tended to make his sleep a little more restless than when he slept outside. But, he didn't want to chance being outside if this was Jessica (or another Hunter with that Gift). It'd just be too easy for her to come upon him and put a knife in his belly.

Despite not wanting to be an easy target, Nathan also didn't want to hide so he'd dragged himself out of his room and down into town. Caffeine wasn't something he'd taken too back home but it was needed now. He ordered by pointing randomly at the menu and was grateful the barista didn't ask him too many questions about the drink. Just made it and handed it to him.

Nathan paid and then took his drink outside so he could sit at one of the tables there. His back was against the wall just in case. He didn't want anyone to sneak up on him. Better to see anyone who might come by. Nathan took a sip of the drink, made a face at the sweetness and took another sip.

Maybe it'd get better after he got used to the flavor.

[Open for Nathan bothering, possibly his father a little later or using the Perk for your own Parents Weekend needs!]

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Karl had the luck that he had Anders to fill him in on the details of the island, or he might have never have found this place. He had a satchel full of unfamiliar coins now, however, and some directions-- both to this place and to what might be decent enough.

He still felt self-conscious, walking around with his staff tied to his back, but apparently no one had felt the need to shout for the Templars just yet.

He nodded at the man sitting outside as he fidgeted with the coins in his satchel, then took a step inside-- and promptly found he hadn't a clue as to the answers to half the questions the barista was asking him.

Nathan didn't pay much attention to Karl besides giving him a nod in return until he caught sight of the staff on his back. It was familiar. He watched the man through the window and couldn't help but notice similarities in how he looked like he was slightly lost.

Nathan stood up, leaving his drink on the table and came back inside. He didn't want to leave Karl alone in a strange situation and it gave him something else to think about besides his own issues.

"Having some trouble?" he asked from behind Karl.

"Sorry," Karl said quickly, and fixed an apologetic smile on Nathan. "We're simply trying to come to an agreement about the tea."

The barista was at this point practically shoving her box of tea bags in his face in desperation. "We're out of Earl Grey," she said. "Just pick one. And then we'll go over the sizes again - and whether you want a sweetener or--"

Nathan was hardly an expert on tea flavors and sizes but maybe he could help. Or at least stand there in case Karl had a question of some sort. He didn't want to just walk away.

"Most of their teas here are good," Nathan interjected after a moment. "And you can have something small, something large or something in the middle depending on your thirst."

"Have you got any recommendations?" Karl asked him, a little wryly. "They don't even have elfroot."

And elfroot was everywhere.

"I don't drink a lot of tea, actually," Nathan said, rubbing his fingers through his hair. And didn't know what elfroot was either. "Do you want something sweet? Something tasting like fruit? Or just something to wake up with?"

Important questions because there was a lot of tea flavors.

"That last one," Karl said. By now his face had assumed that kind of apologetic smile that made it clear he knew he was being a bother but he wasn't sure how else to get out of it. "I'm not fully awake yet."

Both an apology and an explanation.

"Neither am I," Nathan said and looked at the tea packets. The words all ran together and he winced. He glanced up at the barista and said, "Something strong, please. Just pick something strong and make it a large one."

Best he could do and he hoped the barista just stopped asking questions and made Karl's tea.

The barista, damn her, looked like she was about to ask even more questions - Karl could only imagine what kind - but instead she grabbed one bag from her display and vanished behind her machine.

Karl let out a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I really am. I just got here."

"It's all right," Nathan said, waving the apology away. "They don't make it easy here at all. There's too many varieties, too many words, and they won't make anything simple. You're not alone in how difficult you might find this."

"That's good to know," Karl replied. "All I'm thinking right now is that I should've asked Anders for more extensive information than simply 'where do I get tea'. My mistake."

"Anders?" he asked, feeling like he was on a little more solid ground with that topic. "You know Anders? Are you his guest?"

Anders hadn't mentioned that but Nathan couldn't really blame him. His guest had been the hot topic yesterday.

"Not an expected one, but yes." Another vaguely apologetic smile - mainly because Karl had forgotten to introduce himself up to this point. "My name is Karl. We are - were - part of the same Circle."

"I know Anders. He's a -- " A guy that he kissed? That he cared for? The label escaped him right now. " -- a friend. I'm Nathan. Was he excited to see you? He's told me some things about his Circle and I didn't know if he'd ever get to see anyone again with what I know."

"Anders and I have been friends for a very long time," Karl said easily. And more, for a short time, but that seemed rather less relevant. "I actually came because I was worried. He's never managed to escape for quite this long, and I hadn't had word."

"Does you being here mean you've escaped too?" Nathan asked, eyes widening. "You're -- you're not here to take him back, right?"

Had to check. He didn't think so since Karl and Anders were friends but he couldn't help but be worried. Plus, maybe his personal issues were bleeding in a bit.

Karl's eyes widened immediately. "What? Of course not! Never!"

"Sorry, sorry," Nathan said, immediately apologetic. "I shouldn't have even entertained that option. I'm sorry. I'm a bit of a runaway myself and I worry that someone's going to take me back. I generalized."

Karl ran a hand through his hair. "Your first guess was right," he said. "I escaped the Tower to come find him. So I understand your reluctance, but... no. Never."

"I believe you and I'm sorry," Nathan said again, sounding contrite. "If you've escaped then you should stay here. It's safe."

For the most part.

"Anders seems happy here."

"He does," Karl said, nodding. "Which brings me a great deal of joy. I'd feared he might have fallen prey to something."

"The only thing he's fallen prey to is the massive amounts of food this place shoves at us," he joked, smiling a bit. "But, I've fallen prey to that too. It's strange to have so much to eat when you're used to so little."

"You might have escaped from worse circumstances than us, then," Karl said quietly. "We were - usually - fed all right at the Tower."

"I...managed with what I could," Nathan said carefully. "I didn't starve though it was a close call sometimes."

Mainly when he'd escaped from the Council and hadn't been introduced to the act of stealing just yet. "Things are better now. Though, they're also a lot more confusing. This place is difficult to manage."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Karl said, with an honesty that was as understated as it was - to his knowledge - useless. "But... difficult? Difficult how? Is it something to do with the Fade here?"

That would explain how he'd simply... wandered in the way he had.

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