Comments | the_metroplex: RP: Mr. Fix-it

max_stuart in the_metroplex

RP: Mr. Fix-it

Jan 22, 2011 14:15

Date: Saturday, January 22, 2011, early afternoon
Characters: Max Stuart, Kudzu Emory
Location: hardware store, Ft. Worth area
Status: Privateish
Summary: Max is getting to work on some home projects, and runs into someone who looks like they know what they're doing..
Completion: Complete
( Building Up )

character: max stuart, post: private, january 2011, character: kudzu emory, location: public place

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kudzu_emory January 22 2011, 23:06:56 UTC

Kudzu stared meditatively at the selection of nails. He didn't really need any nails at the moment, but he liked to keep the toolbox in the truck well stocked just in case. He jumped when the man next to him addressed him.

"Oh...uh."Kudzu blinked. "You'll want a matching gauge and something heavy. Better to overdo then under."

max_stuart January 22 2011, 23:15:17 UTC

Max looked at him, noticing how quickly he rattled that off. He looked a bit scruffy, but that only meant he wasn't concerned with appearance, not that he was stupid.

"Thanks. You do a lot of home repair, then?" Max asked, turning to look more fully at him.

kudzu_emory January 22 2011, 23:16:53 UTC

"Uh...yeah. Sorta." He offered a slight smile. "I kinda fix things for a living. Carpentry mostly."

max_stuart January 22 2011, 23:18:59 UTC

"Good skills to have. Its been a while since I got to do this sort of thing." Max commented, looking at the selection of screws, and picking the gauge a step above where he'd been considering. "You in business for yourself."

kudzu_emory January 22 2011, 23:20:24 UTC

Kudzu looked him over carefully. He seemed friendly enough.

"Sort of. I..uh..haven't found anything permanent, but I take odd jobs here and there. Haven't been in the area long."

max_stuart January 22 2011, 23:25:22 UTC

Max grinned. Talk about auspicious. "Me neither. Just getting settled back in Burleson. Max, Max Stuart." He held out a hand.

kudzu_emory January 22 2011, 23:30:52 UTC

Kudzu shook back, glad he'd washed the last of the paint off his hands before he'd gone out.

"Kudzu Emory. I'm over in Irving."

max_stuart January 22 2011, 23:39:13 UTC

"Nice to meet you." Max smiled. "So what brought you to the area? Friends, family? My folks are up in Dallas, not too far from Irving. Nice area."

"So, what kind of carpentry? Or are you a jack of all trades?"

kudzu_emory January 22 2011, 23:41:09 UTC

"I do little bit of everything, yeah." He pushed his hair out of his eyes. "Mostly floors and refurbishing furniture."

He shoved his hands in his pocket.

"I...uh..came to find work. Kinda nothin' brewing in Louisiana these days. What about you?"

max_stuart January 22 2011, 23:46:15 UTC

Max was starting to think he'd lucked out. He continue his subtle interrogation. "Sounds good. What's the hardest job you've ever done?"

"Well, family has roots here, so I figured best set up not too far away." Max shrugged. "You know how it is. They want to be able to hover over you and mother you." Max shook his head. "Just glad they didn't want me to move home. So, Louisiana? Definitely a change around here."

kudzu_emory January 22 2011, 23:51:13 UTC

"Hardest job?" Kudzu blinked and mulled that over, more than a little curious about what he wanted to know. "Redid this Victorian chest of drawers. Lot of what do you call 'em? Curlicues? That was hard."

He stomach twisted as it always did when he thought about how far away he was from everyone that cared about him and how much he would rather be at home, having his Aunties hovering over him.

"It's different for sure." But probably wouldn't be manly to admit to homesickness.

max_stuart January 22 2011, 23:55:15 UTC

A man with the ability to do detailed work. Check. "You get a lot of solo work, or get added onto a crew?"

"Guess it would be. I'm back to school, myself, and that's about as weird as it gets, being surrounded by a bunch of kids." He chuckled to himself. "But sometimes different is good, in the long run."

"Hey, can I pick your brain about some lumber?" He gestured to the cart. "I'm making some shelves, and I can't decide what kind of hard wood is better."

kudzu_emory January 23 2011, 00:09:13 UTC

"Mostly do solo work, but I'd like to find a crew. More regular work that way." And lord knew he could use the money. He wanted to help Peony get through college, but right now he could barely afford to feed himself.

"School? What're you studying?" He cocked his head to one side. "Color? Depends on what your aiming for and what money you got. You can always buy cheap and stain it whatever look you want."

max_stuart January 23 2011, 08:47:10 UTC

Max nodded. "Definitely true." He would work up to it, but he got the feeling this guy would be a good addition to the crew he'd started building after his interview and subsequent job offer that week.

"Bit of everything." Max said vaguely. "No major yet. But gotta start somewhere."

"Not concerned with color, cause yeah, I can stain it whatever. I just decide between walnut or cherry." Both were reasonably hard woods, and probably a bit much for shelves, but Max saw no reason to skimp if he could do something that stood the chance of enduring.

kudzu_emory January 23 2011, 15:41:48 UTC

Kudzu stood a little straighter. He was always more confident when he was talking about something he really understood. This was sure territory.

"Depends how wide you need the planks." He shifted on his feet a little as he thought. "Cherry usually only comes 12 inches wide or less. Walnut's also a little bit harder. Durability's good on both though."

max_stuart January 23 2011, 22:07:35 UTC

Max was pleased. The last had been a bit of a trick question, but Kudzu knew his stuff, and passed with flying colors.

"That's what I thought. Figured cherry for this batch, and see how it goes." Max cocked his head at Kudzu. "So, you have a job right now? Something you're working on for someone?"

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