InsaneJournal

WHO: Nate, Thomas
WHAT: hanging out
WHEN: Sept 7
WHERE: burger joint
WARNINGS: n/a



Nate was smiling as he pulled over the company loaner, a jeep with bright red highlights, and then hopped out, heading to knock on the door. He’d made plans to see and hang out with Thomas today and by God, he was going to do it, even if he was crazy busy all the time. He was tired of letting his life get between him and his friends.

So he knocked, and waited.

Thomas knew Nate was busy. He was busy, himself, with magic lessons, and work, and trying to be around for Neena's prenatal visits--and just to be able to spend time with her. He knew she and Nate were still close, and always would be, and he was trying not to let that fact drive a wedge between himself and his friend anymore than he wanted to let it drive one between himself and his fiancee. Spending more time with Nate seemed like a good way to work on that.

He smiled as he went to the door to let Nate in. "Hey, man. How's it going?"

“Pretty good. So, do we want to hang around here, or go find a friendly bar and grill and see if we can manage to simultaneously not be bored and still stay out of trouble?” Nate smiled, eyes warm as he extended a hand to the other man, stepping in.

“How’s life treating you these days?” He knew a little about Thomas’ trials, via Cora, and he cared about the guy, in an odd way, and wanted the best for him.

“Are you feeling lucky today?" Thomas asked, laughing a little. He knew the running sentiment that no Summers could stay out of trouble, ever. He also knew that Neena was convinced that he, himself, possessed some strong luck magic. Thomas suspected the luck was mostly Neena's, but this would certainly be a good chance to put the theory to the test.

"You know me, I'm generally up for anything."

“I’m always lucky. Not everyone around me is, however.” He nodded, then grinned. “But it might be fun to see what happens. A little.” Nate nodded at THomas’s answer, and grinned wider. “Then lets go and you can tell me how Hollywood and life are both treating you on the way.” Nate was glad to see Thomas smiling and hoped things were going well.

Thomas tried not to think about the sort of bad luck that could follow both wizards and superheroes. Today was about focusing on the positive. He nodded resolutely, and grabbed his wallet and keys. "Your vehicle or mine?"

“Mine. I brought along a jeep from work. It’s got four wheel drive and nifty seats.” He grinned as he led the way out. Oh, and the jeep was bright green. Very bright.

“Good, because I’m not letting some kid behind the wheel of my Jag,” Thomas quipped, playfully jabbing Nate’s arm as they walked toward the jeep. He arched his brows, and started walking around the vehicle, as if looking for some company logo that might explain why it was such an eye-searing color. “Which of your many jobs requires you to drive around in a giant Jolly Rancher?”

“Oh that? Heh. That is just the anti-theft coloring.” Nate hopped in and punched a button, and then the whole jeep seemed to subtly shift, taking on more modern lines and a dark, metallic, and more than dark black color. “New technology, still being tested. It’s sort of a stealth car. But the tech is based on wizard energy that I took readings on Harry for. Hopefully, it won't interact with your energy and cause any problems.” He nodded.

Thomas chuckled at that. He liked Nate’s sense of humor. Of course, his jaw about hit the ground when the vehicle changed before his very eyes. It was like something out of a comic book movie--but then, that really shouldn’t have come as a surprise. “Okay, you win,” he said as he hopped in, “Your car is much cooler than mine.”

He resisted the urge to add, but I still get the girl. “How careful should I be?” he asked, “r do you want me to get all hot and bothered and see how well it handles?”

Nate snerked. “Nah. Just different. Yours is way cooler!” And much less likely to experience malfunctions and explode. “Either way. Maybe keep the hot and bothered stuff to a minimum now until after we go cause trouble, er, avoid trouble.” He started the car up and grinned.

Thomas laughed again, wondering what sort of trouble Nate was planning to get into. Or avoid. “All right,” he said, “I’ve had a pretty quiet morning, so hopefully we’re good for a few hours.”

And Nate drove, casually avoiding the faster and more intense traffic areas. He had an ease of driving that came from long years of it, but he hated crowded areas, and avoided them, going around whole blocks to avoid traffic. Finally, he parked, the bar and grill they were in front of one that sported no garish signs or run down fronts. It seemed, at least, nice.

“Here we go.”

Nate seemed to know his way around pretty well, and he drove with a confidence that made it easy to forget that he’d been ten years old when Thomas had first met him. The younger man really seemed to have assimilated all the extra knowledge and experience he’d gained through his dreams and his time-travel. But that was a good thing. Thomas hoped his niece could do the same through her own dreams.

He got out of the car, gently shutting the door, and waiting for Nate to activate the anti-theft protocols. “Have you been to this place before?”

Nate flipped the switch and it became a bright orange this time, with electric blue highlights. He chuckled as he led the way. “A couple of times. Good burgers and good drinks, and good shakes, which is what brought me here the first time. I appreciate a good ice cream shake.” He nodded as he pressed the door open and stepped inside holding the door.

"You and Cora both, eh?" Thomas observed as he stepped inside. One did not have to know Corazon Mallory for long to know of her love for ice cream, ponies, and ninja. "I am a pretty big fan of burgers myself, as long as they aren't from a fast food chain."

“We do seem to have a lot in common, eh?” Nate smiled, grinning. He liked that he and Cora shared so much, even if they would not share a bed for some time. Her heart and his seemed to beat in time with one another.

“Good. This place has awesome ones.” He found a booth and settled down and the waitress whirled by, dropping off waters, menus, and ogles at Thomas. Nate snerked.

Thomas rolled his eyes, once the waitress was gone; jokingly holding the menu up in front of one side of his face, so only Nate could see him. “Why are they still staring at me?” he asked in an exaggerated whisper. “Don’t they know I’m not an incubus anymore?”

Nate chuckled. “You’re still the most handsome man in the room, pardner.” He smiled at Thomas and nodded.

Thomas chuckled. He might be handsome, but Nate was more built. But Thomas was the one whose face was plastered on cologne ads across the nation. "Eh. You're far from bad looking, bud. If you'd worn a tighter shirt, they might not know which way to look."

Nate laughed. “Maybe. We could oil wrestle and donate the funds to charity. Advertise it and ask for twenty dollars a head for entry…” He grinned. He was not above it. As one of several possible heirs to Frost Enterprises, it suited his image to be more physical sometimes.

Thomas chuckled, and tossed his shaggy head. “Never let it be said that Nate Summers is sexist in his hedonism, eh?” He knew all about the last oil-wrestling match. After all, it had gone down at Neena’s bar. “If I didn’t think you would probably wipe the floor with me…”

Nate waggled his finger. “No powers and I won't be trying to wipe the floor with you, just have fun. I don’t give a rat’s ass who wins, honestly. I just think raising money for charity and wrestling in oil with someone to do it sounds like fun.” He chuckled.

“Lucky for you, I don’t--” Thomas started to say that he didn’t have any powers, and then he realized that it would have been a lie. He still had powers, just different ones. “I take that back,” he said, “I could probably make a mud pit to trip you up a bit.”

“True. Not to mention if your powers flare all sorts of things can happen. Back when he started dreaming, I saw your brother make the entire kitchen come alive for a moment. I was ten at the time. It was a bit wild.” Then he grinned. “Cool, but wild.”

He nodded to Thomas. “You have real power, even if it isn’t trained yet. You’re smart, and stronger than you know. And you’re a good man.” Nate respected Thomas, more than he really knew how to say.

“Plus we could start in tuxedos and make sure they get destroyed, ending up in trunks and oil…” He smirked.

Thomas grinned. He could imagine that watching Harry in the midst of a power surge would be pretty wild, for any age audience. If his own power was anything like his brother's, it could get pretty wild. "Do you have a tuxedo that you've been wanting to get rid of!"

Nate shrugged. “Why not?” He chuckled. To him it was no big thing, but he knew that mean in tuxedos fighting was a thing for some women. ”I just think it will draw watchers, is all.”

“Tuxedos are expensive!” Thomas said, laughing. “I mean, I know I have that kind of money to waste, but what about you, college boy? Or did this particular tuxedo just really offend you somehow?”

Nate blushed. “Ah, well, I work for my grandfather in the research division, and also have been working on a startup of my own, trying to merge in concepts from dream tech to this world without waves, you know? So I have a little money.” He nodded.

“Figures,” Thomas muttered, shaking his head. But he was smiling. Brilliant, young genius; could retire by age thirty-five, but would be bored out of his skull if he didn’t have something to do. “I could probably get one donated to me in exchange for a little publicity.”

“Hell, Frost would hire you for some spots without blinking! Thomas, you are a smart, handsome, and extremely charismatic man. Having someone with your talent talking for a company? In anything? Would be a boon.” This Nate didn’t lie or hem and haw. “Hell, if I wasn’t trying to stay under the radar, I’d hire you myself!”

The waitress came back around and Nate ordered a round of beers, as well as a burger and fries for himself.

“Actually, he has hired me for some spots,” Thomas said, “It’s just a matter of scheduling them in between other shoots.” He ordered, and leaned back in his chair, striking a casual pose while they waited. “So, when were you thinking of having this charity event?”

“Good.” Nate smiled a little, and sat back. “Whenever we could get it organized. Seemed like we raised a bunch of money when the women wrestled, so maybe we can have different bouts different weeks. You and I can do one week, and then a set of ladies another.” He chuckled. “If it actually works, we can see if others are interested.” He nodded.

“All right,” Thomas said, extending a hand across the table. “You are on.” He smirked. “We’re going to give our ladies palpitations, aren’t we?”

Nate met his hand and shook, grinning. “Well, yes. And it’ll be fun. Yeah?” He winked at Thomas. “If all goes well, it might even lead to more publicity for you.”

He liked to look on the bright side.

“Yeah.” Thomas nodded. They could all use a little bright side now and then.