Luke nodded in agreement, offering, “My family call me Lucas when I’m in the shit,” he said, “Which, if I’m honest, is pretty regularly. Otherwise everyone just calls me Luke.” He understood the value of having a name that you didn’t associate with being in trouble. His fingers twitched again, the other name that was used for him as an ‘affectionate’ nickname by his family would have easily tripped off his fingers in ASL. Following his birth, all of his surviving family got a ‘cute’ signed name based around various synonyms of ‘The Grim Reaper’ which was morbid but his dad had thought it was hilarious and it had stuck. Maybe that was one to discuss with Percy and Sunny before sharing with the rest of the world.
Especially before sharing with the hot water witch who was telling him about being exploited for free labour. He chuckled and rubbed the side of his neck. “I feel you there,” he shared. “I spent a year with my older brother and he basically did the same thing.” Except Max’s version of free labour was ‘here, hold this and tell me what the fuck happened because I have no idea and I don’t speak whatever this ghost is talking at me holy shit’. “And, uh, thanks for the swingers club mental image. Gonna need to bleach that outta my brain.”
He grinned to show he was only teasing before he turned his head, watching Mickey move from behind the counter, shifting on the spot and resisting the urge to try and settle his hair down over the implant. He should have worn a hat, that was a great idea. Plus it would have kept his head warm during the walk from his place over here. Honestly though anxiety had done a pretty good job of that for the most part.
Holy shit, he thought as Mickey smiled at him, small and shy though it was it was a little window into what a full smile would look like and Luke was immediately sure he probably couldn't handle that. What was it with this place and attractive people? Unfairly attractive, he might add.
“Two?” Luke responded, eyebrow arching. “I’m pretty sure I told you I wasn’t sure that my ego could handle one harsh opinion, let alone two. It’s pretty fragile, I’ll have you know.” He chuckled again, the sound low and rich before he lifted a shoulder and with a dry, deadpan sarcasm, “But ultimately, yes, my sole reason for being here is mercenary, and nothing to do with trying to make new friends and get acquainted with someone new who moved into my home town.”