cravating | (no subject)

[ He laughs and shakes his head. ]

Fucking charlatans. You make them pay higher, you hear me? Don't let them get away with an original for anything less than top price. And thanks, yeah, not bad. I mean pretty good really. This gig is pretty cool. Not really what I expected but better than mopping up old beer and getting the drunks home, right?

[He just ducks his head and laughs, nodding like yeah totally going to charge them top price. Except no. He's just glad to be selling them.]

So what is it you're doing anyway?

I don't think I'm supposed to talk about it.

[ He looks from left to right, as though he thinks someone might be watching idek ]

But it's cool. I mean, really cool. You know the place is pretty big, I bet we could buy some of your art for the walls. Just not the really weird shit, yeah?

What? [He looks amused and baffled by that answer.] Are you some sort of spy or something?

Something like that. [ he turns his head again, and then leans in, speaking in a whisper. apparently he doesn't do what he's told ] I'm a fucking Knight.

[Nate leans in when Matt does, not really sure what he's expecting to hear, but it's not... that. After a very silent moment, he just lets out a laugh.]

Yeah, okay. Fine, don't tell me.

I'm being serious! The whole nine yards! Elves and people with magic and all that shit. And shadow kind. I mean can you imagine my da's face if I told him I was hanging out with those?

[He just sort of squints a little, but they've been friends a long time and Nate knows the difference between Matt pulling his leg and actually telling the truth.]

...A knight.

[He just can't process that.]

How does that even work?

Fuck if I know, but they know their shit. They want to fight bad guys, and that has to be pretty cool, right? Kicking the shit out the--

[ He stops, trails, and feels awkward as fuck because he really shouldn't bring up beating people up. ]

How's Simon?

[ Smooth segue ]

[He looks a little uncomfortable by that change of topic. Like talking about beating people up made Matt think of Simon? Not a good sign. He shifts a little in his chair, his fingertips toying at the rim of his glass.]

He's good. Busy, but good.

[ Well fuck. Does Nate think he wants to beat Simon up? Is that who he thinks he is now? Maybe it is who he is now. He doesn't want it to be. Fuck fuck fuck. He should have probably not come here. ]

Cool. [ And let's have some beer. ]

[They sit in silence for a moment. Nate takes a drink of his beer, trying to decide if he should just ignore it or--]

You don't like him much, do you?

[No, they're apparently going to talk about it.]

[ oh shit, this is not the conversation that he wants. At all. ]

Doesn't matter what I think as long as he makes you happy, Nate.

Sort of does matter, actually. [He says, setting his drink down and looking right at Matt, like oh boy this is happening.] Matters to me.

[ Well that shocks him. It's kind of unexpected. He could see why he'd care a few years ago, but now? He doesn't really hide the shock, pausing his glass midway to his mouth. ]

He should have been there with you tonight, that's all. You deserve better than an excuse, mate.

[Nate glances down.]

We've just got our own stuff going on. He comes when he can.

Difference being, mate, is you'd cancel your shit if he had something special going on. He wouldn't even have to ask.

[ he knows because, well, Nate cancelled shit to go to his shows before now. ]

Well.. yeah, but that's different. [Is it though?]

[ he laughs, because shut the fuck up is it ] No it's fucking not. You just deserve the best, mate, that's all.

He's great. [Not the best, though. He sure didn't say that. Weird.] Really.

[He's quiet for a bit.]

He, uh- asked me to move in with him.

[ That has him lifting his head and shifting a bit. He didn't come here to talk to you about your stupid rich boyfriend, Nathan, fuck. But apparently they are. ]

Oh yeah? Nice. You gonna do it?

I told him I need to think about it. [He gives a little shrug. It feels weird to be talking about it with Matt, like he's doing something he shouldn't.]

Do you think I should?

[ nope nope nope, he is noping right out of that. He smacks a hand down on the table and raises both hands. ]

Not fucking touching that. You really think I'm the person you should be asking? You do you, nobody can tell you you're wrong. I can't tell you what you're feeling. You love him then sure, do it. But fuck if I know.

Who else am I going to ask? [He says before he even thinks about the words coming out of his mouth. Well, that happened. So he might as well add:]

No one knows me better than you.

[ That seems to catch his breath a little and he pauses a moment. ]

Oh I dunno. Laura or Kelly or Sam or what about Donna? [ oh look at their old friendship group that are apparently all women. Women who Matt hasn't spoken to since he left. ]