magic mike (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} mikelane) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} valarlogs,@ 2015-09-10 19:31:00 |
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
mikelane & Navi heyheylistenWhat: Installing a new fixture in the mall theater
When: Thursday, September 10, midday
Where: Irvine Spectrum Center
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Should be a tame scene. Just installing a fixture at the movies. Some flirting.
Status: Closed/Completed Partner Thread
~*~
Irvine Spectrum Center had a very specific look. It was modern chic with an old California feel to it. Their theater was popular among OC residents since they got nearly every new release. Mike Lane had been flattered when he'd been offered the chance to install a new fixture into the theater's lobby area. They wanted a natural seating area for people to rest while waiting on someone to get out of a show, while waiting for tickets, or just waiting on their own show to start seating.
Mike had worked hard to make the wood and rock bench set for the front of house. It fitted well with the rest of the decor as far as he was concerned. He'd reworked the design five times before getting satisfied with the hexagon-shaped bench series with a natural rock fountain in the center. There was enough seating for four people on each bench -so long as they were average-sized or smaller- and with six sides he had managed to make it capable of accommodating 24 patrons at max.
It was a nice piece which did take up some space, but he'd done everything he could to maximize its usefulness so the owners of the theater wouldn't find it anything other than a beautiful new addition to their lobby.
Wiping his forehead on his arm to blot the sweat, Mike stopped punching the tile with concrete nails when he heard someone stop near him. He didn't look up as he offered, "Sorry about the noise. You shouldn't hear it in the actual theater though. I'm not trying to disturb anyone's show."
Mike smiled in reflex, hoping whoever was stopping was only curious about what he was installing and not pissed or prepared to make his life more difficult. He really needed this install to go smoothly. Mike had too much going wrong for him to not deserve at least one right thing for a change. This fountain bench was supposed to get him some more commercial clients, people who could pay more, people who could get him on the map. He wasn't prepared to stop the install for petty annoyances, but he'd do whatever he had to in order to avoid irritating the theater owners.
~*~
Navi had never been one to not go to the movies by herself when she wanted to, and there was a new spy film she’d been waiting to be released showing. So she’d piled into her pickup, drove to her favorite theater, and gotten her ticket. There was still some time before the film started when she’d heard the familiar sounds of construction.
The benches were beautiful. The wood gleamed, and she could practically smell the lumber. “Oh, it’s no problem, I was just admiring the benches - they’re gorgeous. Someone really loves their job.”
~*~
"That would be me," Mike chuckled a little as he let the concrete gun rest against his thigh, "Mike Lane, custom furnishing art. I do pieces for places like this and personal homes. I've done a lot of work for local businesses. This one was supposed to look like it grew up from the marble flooring. You think I managed?"
He liked to hear a real person's opinion on his work. Mike didn't know this woman from Adam. She was a patron of the theater who had likely gotten curious at the racket. There was little he could do about the sound the gun made as it fixed the benches into the flooring on a permanent basis. Some of the theater staff had suggested he come back to do the installation while the theater was closed, but Mike couldn't get Mall Security to clear him to be there after hours to work on it.
Mike was mostly curious to see what she thought of the piece in comparison to its surroundings. It was easy to say a piece was attractive. Saying it fit into the natural landscape he'd plunked it down in? That was a whole other ball game. That was the pinnacle Mike aspired to reach when he was doing a new piece for a new client.
~*~
“I think so. You incorporated a lot of the same materials and art styles as this place, so it doesn’t look too new. If that makes sense. I mean, it is obviously - I know new wood smells when I smell ‘em - but at the same time, it fits in. It’s not the new kid on the first day at school, if that makes sense.” She was already thinking that maybe she should try to commission him for a couple of benches at the nursery. Her mind tended to go a thousand clicks ahead with things even when she wished it would slow down.
The fact that the guy was cute registered with her belatedly, and she blushed. “I mean, I run a nursery for plants? So that’s why I know ... wood.” Right, that helped, Navi, good job.
~*~
Blushing women were a rarity in Mike's world. California girls were among the most confident. Usually, they either dismissed him as the kind of guy who was beneath them socially or they figured he was a good time. A one off. Mike was pretty used to being a one off for women. He wasn't very ready to jump back into the fire for a relationship. All he could do was enjoy life as it came to him. It seemed this woman was not used to talking to either workers or guys like him.
The kind of guys who looked easy.
"I know wood, too. Pretty well. You do exotics or hybrids? Those are amazing. I've done some work for a few nurseries. I have some friends who are really into plants. Me? Black thumb. Couldn't grow anything. Plant-wise," he clarified with a wink.
It didn't hurt to be friendly, did it?
~*~
She just laughed at the flirting. Navi grew up around Marines since she was raised by one, and could be bawdy as heck when the time called for it; she just blushed most of the time. It was a curse of being pink. “I do plants actually, no trees, but my great grandpa was a forestry guy, so yeah. You’d be surprised how easy wood is to cultivate!”
What, she couldn’t play along too?
~*~
A startled laugh escaped Mike as he caught on to her response. She was something, wasn't she?
"I would not be that surprised. I grew up painfully aware of the issues with too much wood and having to deal with keeping the wood growth manageable for the public. I have never raised any plants though I think I've stormed a few rainforests."
He'd managed to make a woman tell him he had gotten her panties to turn "tropical" before. That was close enough to a rainforest, wasn't it?
~*~
The petite blonde cocked her head to the side as she tried to understand the euphemism. “What, like a bathhouse? Oh, I’m sorry, I thought we were flirting!” Trust her to trade dick metaphors with the hot gay guy. The mental image was kind of nice though, so she let her mind wander for a second before realizing she was being weird.
“So, um. I should probably let you work? I don’t know if you have a boss or coworkers or something.”
~*~
"I am the boss," Mike rubbed his face as he tried to keep himself from laughing hysterically, "I'm sorry. I was working on that flirting thing. I think I just might have missed the mark. I was---a really awkward teenager. Girls thought it was hilarious to see how embarrassed they could make me since I'd have to carry a book around to keep from flashing way more of me than I wanted courtesy of my pants never being big enough. My mother was a dresser. She loved well-fitted clothing."
He couldn't believe he'd gotten that off-the-mark with the girl.
"It's been awhile. You might want to check on your showtime. They're likely seating now. I'd hate to keep you away when you've come from wherever to see your movie."
~*~
Navi giggled when he said he’d messed up and shook her head, plopping down next to him. “Well, hi, Boss, I’m Navi. And I was an awkward teenager too. I’m an awkward twentysomething now, don’t worry.” She smiled at his story, shaking her head. “That’s so mean! I mean, sometimes guys can’t help being guys - that happens during stress sometimes too, you know?”
She rifled around in her purse while sitting on the floor, then handed him her business card. “You should call me sometime - and that’s not just flirting, I was thinking maybe a bench would be pretty in the greenhouse of my nursery, so uh. Flirting and money.” She waggled her eyebrows.
~*~
Taking the card from her, Mike gave a grateful grin. It was hard to feel as if he was some guy who had really missed the mark when he was used to being the guy with all the smooth moves. He'd never imagined he could fall as far as he had. How long had it been since he'd taken a woman out? Most of his time was spent on various projects. Mike didn't have the luxury of vacations. He had to work to keep himself afloat. His fledgling business was making it on a wing and a prayer for the most part.
"I like to dance."
He coughed, cleared his throat, tried again.
"Flirting is fun. Getting paid for it is possibly illegal and unnecessary. I would be glad to give you a quote on a bench for your nursery. Free quote. Dancing though? That's something I enjoy. I'm good at it. Some think I'm good at it anyway. In case you're interested in more than a phone call from me."
He offered one of his own business cards to her with his number on it.
~*~
Navi smiled when he smiled; he was almost angelic when he grinned. “I’m an okay dancer. I mean, club dancing okay. Ballroom isn’t really my thing.” She bit her lip when he stumbled over his words, still grinning, and nodded. “Yeah, that’d be awesome. We can talk about forestry and stuff some more too.” She took his business card and tucked it into her purse, giggling to herself. “I’ll call you later, we can talk about dancing then.”
She leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek, something that she did to people far too often. Navi was maternal in a lot of ways, but this was mostly because she was feeling cheeky. “Thanks in advance for the quote.”
~*~
"Thanks for the kiss. I usually get a lot less from a quote offer. I promise I'll be a perfect gentleman when I call. I won't promise I'm such a gentleman when I dance. Club is a lot more my scene than ballroom."
His grin was all mischievous boy. Mike loved the idea of seeing Navi dance. He bet she was the kind who didn't care if anyone was watching or not. That was the best kind of dancer. Someone who danced to dance rather than to impress those who might be watching. Mike liked a crowd, enjoyed attention, but he mostly liked the way the music felt as it pounded through his veins.
"Oh and Navi? Thanks in advance for answering my call."
They were going to have a lot of fun. Mike could tell. He saluted her with the concrete nail gun before going back to work securing the fixture into its new, permanent home.