Nate had kept more about the house than usual but still he was here when others were there, or no one was there and he was there. He was getting more and more comfortable being at the house despite all the current politics that went on behind the scenes of the Southern Mansion just off the bayou. Presently he was sitting on a chair out back, brow eyes locked over the bayou as the frogs sent off a chorus of sound that mingled in perfectly with the crickets song and the soft rolling growls of mating gators not far off. Shifting some in his seat he pulled out a smoke and pegged it between his lips. Taking a deep drag and pulling the smoke within his lungs before a slow easy outward blow was given to release the vile smoke out into the air. The browns held their thousand yard stare as he sat.
Since his reveal to Syd Nate had done little to harness the power that easily rolled off his form. What had been hidden talent before was now openly displayed for those at the house, the mixed smells of Syd, Logan and now the newest member of the house who's name he still hadnt caught nor had he really caught him, but in time they would meet. His power eased along but kept somewhat near him he was happily content in the quiet solitude of the back porch. A brow did rise curious if the house had other occupents today.
Speaking of lions his own was lounging rather contently near by. The large white beast shifted his head slowly left then right before easing it back and taking on that thousand yard stare in silent contemplation. A look upwards and a chuff of a noise called out to those about the house and nearby that might hear him and seek him out. He wasnt the Rex and he certainly wasnt the Regina, but if they were nearby he would call to them. In hopes at least one or two might join him on that hot Nawlins afternoon. After all prides spent time together right? Thus far he had spent a matter of an hour or so with Logan, Syd and himself. He had hated every minute of it and now just wanted to put it behind him.
With all that had happened over the last few days, Syd hadn't been around the house all that much, and because of that, hadn't been able to have much interaction with those that lived with her either. This was her brother. Besides Jean, and Mouse, Luke had been one of the solid constants in her life, since she was 8 years old. So it wasn't till a few days later after Luke's accident, that he'd finally made Syd go home. She wasn't doing anyone any good sitting there in the hospital day after day, leaving only long enough to shower and change. eating vending machine food.
So currently, the early evening found the lioness decending from the second floor into the kitchen. That call comming from her back porch both surprised, but made her smile as well. Nate was getting more comfortable. Even Syd could see that, in the way he was acting as of late, since really opening up. It made her smile. As for Valen, since the day at Paix, and a few scattered other encounters, Syd hadn't really gotten the chance to learn more about the newest addition to their now growing family. That would be rectifyed as soon as she was able to get a quiet moment.
Wandering into the kitchen, she spotted the cookie jar on the counter, and smiled, heading for it. "Bless you, Jean..." Le'Cleric knew what comforts helped those in this rag tag family, was was slowly starting to learn the ones for their new additions. From small home comforts, to comfort foods, Le'Cleric just naturally made things more comfortable. pulling off the lid of the glass cookie jar, Syd scooped out a few of the cookies, and lifted one of the cookies to her lips. Takeing a bite of chocolately chip goodness, as she put the lid back on, and moved to the fridge, pulling out milk and pouring some into a glass.
Slipping then to the backporch, Syd, and her white counterpart slipped from the house, to curl onto the whicker bench under the picture window that looked into the dinning room. The white female moved towards the larger white male, and flopped lazily, stretching out her slender, muscled form, and flopping onto her side. As worn out as Syd. Sitting crosslegged, she nibbled her cookies, looking out over the water, and finally spoke quietly. "You seem to be getting more comfortable....or just feeling sociable tonight?"
Eye's shifted towards him, and she tilted her head to the side, chesnut strands cascading over her shoulder. "Sorry i haven't been around the last few days....Luke's doing better so..." She just smiled. She'd been worried about her brother. She counted on Luke to be there, to make sure she stayed grounded. To remind her not to let herself get lost again like the last time. And why she tried to keep an emotional distance at least from anyone trying to get close in that respect.
"How have things been going around here?" The club she wasn't worried about. The current run of the show was done, and while they worked on the new show, the club was able to be used for live performances. Though there hadn't been many lately. but the magic shop got enough buisness that the bills got paid. Not that it was really needed, but it had been in the family for longer then Max had done their secondary job. And even now, Syd's jobs had cut back considerably. The two more recently, were an abnormality in their schedule, and not something that usually happened. It would be months now before she had to go out of town again. And that was if Jean found something that caught her eye.
Eye's shifted back out towards the bayou, and she nibbled at her last cookie, takeing her time to enjoy it, even though all she had to do was go back in and get more if she really wanted. But Le'Cleric's chocolate chip cookies wern't to be rushed in her opinion. And they were always the same and had been since she was 4. Glancing back to Nate again, she watched him quietly. he always seemed to surprise her. she was sure today would be no different.
Nate had assumed that like it normally seemed he was there when the others weren't and even though he called out he was still a little shocked when he felt Syd nearby and growing closer. As she eased close he let that power move outwards to envelope her as it had the first time he showed her he was more than what he had said initially. To say he was growing more comfortable was an understandment. nate was fully coming out of his shell and pushing past the closed individual he had been when first arriving.
Easing the power down a smidge as she emerged he watched her take her seat and get comfy. His tigers head turned the moment it felt another near and waited until that matching white lioness emerged with her counterpart. Moving over to flop and stretch he picked himself up and moved towards her nuzzling against her head however he let out a growl that was a little more umph than previous and flopped to rest against her lazily.
Nate in hearing her question took another deep inhale of his smoke then slowly let the blue white cloud billow from his lips in little ringlettes he made. Hues shifted from the bayou towards her to take in her tired weary form as she ate the cookies. He watched her quietly a moment then turned forward. "Feeling more comfortable, and feeling a bit out of sorts being the only one home save Jean. You have come and gone in a blink of an eye but given the circumstances. I understand why. Good to know Luke is doing better. I know you are close to him." His eyes looked to her a moment. "You need about a weeks worth a of rest but knowing you as well as I think I do. You will run yourself ragged."
"The house has been quiet. Haven't seen hide nor hair of anyone save Jean." He offered in response. His lion nipped and pulled against the back of her neck with a growl then settled and lay his eyes out looking about for any signs of danger. His tail flicking up and down back and forth. His power seemed to ease about her and ease her. SHifting in his seat he took a deep inhale of his smoke and slowly let out the circles of smoke again his hues easing upwards to the sky then back to her. "You seen anyone around?" His brow arched slightly. "House full of people always seems empty." His eyes turning to her. Hows the business going on your end, aside from the accident with Luke?"
Nate's assesment about what Sydney needed, and what she would end up doing about it was disturbingly accurate. IT was exactly what she would end up doing. SHe couldn't help it. She was the one that had to keep her head up, and keep moving forward. She had been ever since Max had gotten sick. Settling her head back, she closed her eye's, and let her body stretch out over the wicker love seat, head resting back against one arm, and soon eye's opened and she was staring up at the roof of the porch....Le'Cleric was right...they needed to paint...To Nate's assesment however, "I'm fine. Just need a good night's sleep is all." She hadn't been getting that with Luke in the hospital, and with the fights that she was having with her brother wasn't makeing things any easier.
After a few silent moments, Sydney shifted and looked towards the white male, then out towards the sounds of mating gators, and bullfrogs comming from the bayou. "....I told Luke, the job we pulled last month.....that was the last one. We're done...." SHe didn't know why she felt like sharing this with Nathaniel, but out came the words anyway. Did she really care what Nate thought? Yes, but the man was becomming her friend slowly but surely, and what her friends thought about her was important to her. She knew he didn't really care about what she and the others did for their jobs. But something was telling her it was time to stop. It wasn't something she could keep doing forever, and for another thing, there was a slowly growing pride to think of, and going out of town every few months to do a job, was putting them in danger should anyone ever figure it out.
Not that she was really worried about that. The paperwork that was in place to cover their asses had held up to the highest scrutiny possible when Max had been investigated years earlier due to a the attention, and hatred of a man named Samual Wyatt. Max had taken the boy in, as he was prone to do. As he'd done with Luke, and Sam in return has betrayed them. Stealing from friends of the family, and trying to pin it on Sydney herself. There had been investigations, and it had all ended up going away, because nothing could ever be found. All money was explained. The shop and club doing very well, and nothing out of place. Even now, with the incomming money, one couldn't tell. But it was hardly the point.
She'd lapsed into silence again, and soon though, heard the question about having seen any of the others lately. Shaking her head, shepulled a smoke free of her own back, placing it between her lips and lighting it, blowing the smoke up and away from them. "I saw Valen briefly this morning before he headed into Paix for work. He said something about being around later tonight after he was done with work. Looking thoughtful for a few minutes, she gave a small nod of her head as if deciding on something.
"What would you say to us having some kind of end of the summer cook out sometime this week? I"ve been neglecting you guys, and that's not cool....We'll drive Le'Cleric nuts by grilling out, while he chases us all out of the kitchen so he can make the stuff we don't 'burn'" She grinned at him. SHe knew the old cajun well. Le'Cleric belived grilling out was barbaric, and all you were doing was turning the meat into more charcoal. "I"ll get ahold of Valen and Logan later. See when works for the two ofthem.
Sounded like a plan to her. Things were going to start moving forward now. And she was liking the direction they were taking thus far.
Nate looked to her a moment then back towards the bayou as he pulled out his pack and stuck the filtered in against his lips. Lighting the smoke then taking an inhale his eyes looked from the cherry towards the Bayou as he listened. Hues shifted from the bayou towards her. "Want company? Maybe a warm body and a real bed would be good for helping you relax into a sleep." And no he didnt mean sex. Sometimes just the nearness of another was enough to bring comfort to aid in sleep. He watched her as she was sprawled on the wicker loveseat. Pushing hismelf up smoke in hand he slipped her up enough to pop his ass right there on the wicker chair and one hand lifted the smoke to his lips while the other arched backwards and over the back of the wicker love seat hues turned out towards the bayou. Perhaps that power, his scent would ease her wariness.
Hearing her words about the job being the last he looked from the bayou down to her before easing his eyes back to the bayou. "Good, one less thing for me to worry about." he said then looked back to her. "Not to mention the increase in safety to the pride you are trying to form." He offered taking a long pull off the smoke he slowly let out a small grouping of ringlettes as he exhaled. He had been honest from the start about where he stood about her and it wouldnt stop now. Time was the ultimate benefactor and patience was a virtue. Not rushing into anything was best. Nates eyes eased along the bayou before looking down to her a moment in thought but the thought passed and his eyes eased back to the label as he peeled at it.
He nodded to her and closed his eyes as he sat in a quiet peace while they spoke. "Ahh Valen, thats his name again. I keep missing him. he comes, I go....tragic to a degree. I would like to meet him, and this time I promise it will go better than when I met Logan." he half muttered at her as he took a long drag of the smoke. "I'll however keep an eye out for him." He said looking to her a moemnt then upwards at nothing in particular.
He looked down to her as she spoke about a cook out. He mulled it over a moment finishing his smoke then flicking it in the general direction they were not in. Looking from her to the bayou. "I think it has potential." And then she said the n word and he sighed slightly lowering his gaze to catch her own. "No one is dead and nothing is broken. I think we were fine. Besides, there is no one to neglect since no one is ever home save me and on occasion Valen." he offered, he hadnt seen Logan since the day they met that he could remember and that fact wasnt boding well on Nates mine. However his silence was held as he idly plyed through her hair. "As for the cook out..." He began his eyes looking from the bayou down to her. "I think its a good idea. Gives everyone a chance to say hi and meet those going for their positions of honor and value in our little rag tag pride." And by our he meant the pride as a whole not just the two...
