(Untitled)

[pullsneedles]

[OOM: This morning, Lucas was lookin' handsomeIt's been a long, fun day and it's time to come in for dinner

Comments

[pickyourmoments]

"You lost, kiddo?" Chandler asks, leaning over the back of a booth.

[pullsneedles]

"I think so, sir," Lucas says, walking up to the booth. He's wiping his hands on his shirt so that they aren't as dirty. "I thought this was the door to my house but the inside isn't my house."

He's taking a reeeeeeeeeeeally good look at just how big the place is now.

"I don't think I've ever been anywhere this big before. That wasn't outside, I mean."

[pickyourmoments]

Chandler's never been called "sir" by anyone. Well, anyone who wasn't a telemarketer, that is.

"Yeah, this place'll do that," he says. "You new?"

[pullsneedles]

"I guess so. It's new to me, so I guess I'm new here, too."

He holds his hand out to Chandler to shake.

"My name's Lucas."

Don't talk to strangers? Nonsense! Everyone's nice in Tazmily!

[pickyourmoments]

"I'm Chandler," he says, shaking the boy's hand. "Are your parents here, or is it just you?"

Chandler may look like an adult, but he's secretly an over-grown 12-year-old. At least, that's what his friends say.

[pullsneedles]

"Just me. I don't see Mom or Dad or Claus, he's my twin brother, here. And Boney would find me if he's here 'cause he's a real smart dog."

[pickyourmoments]

Chandler's never done the introduction thing before, so he's not exactly sure what he's meant to be saying.

"I bet if you went outside again, you'd find them," he says.

"Or you can stay here. They have ice cream at the Bar."

Actually, ice cream sounds very good right now, he realises. Maybe he can get some and mix it in with his morning coffee.

[pullsneedles]

"That's what I don't get: outside LOOKS the way outside my house is supposed to look. So this should be my house but it's not."

That's a tough one to reconcile.

"They have ice cream here? Oh, but if I do that, I'll spoil my dinner. And Mom makes the best dinner."

But at the same time, ice cream is sooooo gooooood.

"Maybe she won't mind if I have just a little..." he says, rationalizing it the way any young boy would.

[pickyourmoments]

"Yeah, it'll do that," Chandler says. "Don't ask me how, but this whole place is crammed in one of the closets at my work. And it's in another closet at my apartment."

He gets up, making sure that the belt on his dressing gown isn't going tangled up. "You like chocolate?"

[pullsneedles]

"Really?"

Lucas isn't sure he's ever heard anything so fantastic before. It's hard to believe except for the fact that he is standing right here in it.

"Yes!" he agrees excitedly, then amends it with, "Please."

[pickyourmoments]

Chandler wanders off to the Bar, and returns with two bowls of ice cream -- chocolate, with chocolate syrup poured over top.

See? Overgrown twelve-year-old.

"Here ya go, kiddo," he says. "Bar can get you pretty much anything you want."

[pullsneedles]

"Oh wow, thank you!" he says, reaching his hands out for the bowl.

And remembering just how dirty he is.

"Um, can you tell me where the washroom is? I'm still dirty from taking care of the sheep."

[pickyourmoments]

Chandler points in the direction. "Just over there," he says helpfully.

[pullsneedles]

"Thanks!" he says, heading off in that direction.

He comes back a little while later with his face and hands scrubbed clean and takes his bowl of chocolate ice cream.

"Thanks again, Mister Chandler," he says before starting on his bowl.

[pickyourmoments]

Chandler laughs lightly. "Just Chandler," he says.

"You got sheep at home?" Chandler's never actually seen a sheep up close, and he wonders if they'd make a good house pet.

[pullsneedles]

"Okay," he says, and then brain freeze sets in.

His spoon goes down and he rubs his temples before answering.

"Yeah. Dad's a shepherd. He's teaching Claus and me how to take care of the sheep. They're really nice animals."