#int 01. nate strauss

[cynthiasoriano]

     ❝ ⸻ I believe it, ❞ the slightest laugh tumbled forward, amusement shaded her eyes, ❝ my mind hadn't gone there on a personal level. Don't worry, I know the real world is not like a romance novel. ❞ A decision had been made to not dwell over the possibility that she'd come off in a way that might've misconstrued things. ❝ For my own personal reasons I agree with you. Full heart, mind, body, spirit—everything. ❞ Another, more solid laugh. Most men were assholes and the problem.

All attempts to look around him in the bush, to see what both he and the orange criminal were doing, had failed. For a moment Cynthia blinked at the back of his head surrounded by leaves, considering. ❝ Sookie doesn't seem to care about shiny things but it might be a thing. ❞ Cyn shrugged. ❝ I'm just saying that shaking jagged metal in their faces might not be the method, y'know? ❞ Though, it seemed that whatever Nate was doing was working. It could've been a friendlier, less homicidal energy the cat was reading or maybe the weirdo loved keys. ❝ Aww, ❞ she pouted playfully, ❝ I won't break your storybook heart. Illusions will remain alive and well. ❞

The outburst of laughter caused Cynthia to slap a hand over her mouth quickly so that she didn't startle the beast with claws that had Nate's face awfully close to it. ❝ I knew it, ❞ Cyn let out in fits of giggles, ❝ gosh, it really is true, a woman's intuition is never wrong. ❞

Nate's tactics had worked though and the terrorizer had made a run for it. She'd surprised herself with her reflexes and how quickly she'd stopped the demon trying to make a run for it. ❝ Because his ass deserves to be booked. A few nights in jail might turn him around. You know, if you believe in reform and all. ❞ The words came out slightly strained from her position but Nate thankfully took the feline off her hands. ❝ Maybe you should keep him. Seems to like you. But, we could take him by a vet? They could see if he has a chip. ❞

"Believe it or not, that wasn't a pick up line." Chuckling softly, Nate glanced over his shoulder at her. "I don't think I'm at my most alluring whilst I'm now being attacked by leaves. I'm just stating a fact, most of us are assholes." After the stunt he'd pulled on his ex, Nate could definitely be included in that, even if he didn't want to be.

"Don't cats like shiny things as well? I swear that's a thing." He'd never had a cat so he couldn't say either way but Nate wasn't opposed to trying anything if it helped him get out of the random bush quicker. "If you're about to tell me they also don't play with balls of wool, I'll have to ask you to refrain, it'll completely ruin my sunshine outlook on life."

It annoyed him somewhat that no matter what he tried, the cat didn't move and as much as he couldn't imagine being as much of an asshole as Cynthia had painted, he was starting to see something. "Oh, obviously. I've waited all this time to tell you that I love you whilst I'm stuck in a bush trying to rescue a terrorist cat. You caught me."

As soon as the cat moved, Nate began extricating himself from the bush and once he eventually got free and stood up, his eyes found Cynthia. He pressed his lips together to try to not laugh at the sight but he failed quickly. "You look like you're arresting him." Moving his hands to the cat, Nate nodded at her to let go before he took hold, holding the cat against his chest. For now, he seemed calm enough. "Does he need to go to a shelter or do we need to know who he belongs to?"

[nikoramsey]

     In a moment of clarity, between the laughter over his γιαγιά calling out their tactical high ground, Niko considered that the Holi celebration wasn't really meant as a game of powdered paint ball. The bright hues that stained their clothing and dusted their flesh all had meaning, at least—he'd heard something about that at some point. Despite that creeping knowledge in the back of his consciousness he was still game for the antics. ❝ ⸻ Are you a fast runner? You could try a toss and dash, ❞ Niko suggested. ❝ It's difficult to hit a moving target, you know? ❞

This particular part of the festival took him back to his childhood. Not because he'd done this before, it was just the act of letting loose and having fun in public space in a way that spoke to youth. Adult versions of fun weren't exactly the same as the way he and his partner in crime were glowing with innocent mischief. ❝ You know, now that you mention that, I do think I heard about the colors and the intention behind it. One of those periphery conversations I picked up on but missed the important details. ❞ There was a half roll of his eyes at himself and a light laugh. ❝ On a bigger scale I don't think you would've made out as well as you did. You think they'll do this again next year? You've got time to come up with some plans. ❞

"Aw come on, she revealed the best location?" Luckily, it seemed that even if she had, people still didn't know the men were there or just simply didn't care. Nate had nothing against getting involved in the celebrations, the colours on his shirt proving that he had been in amongst it, but there was something truly amusing about shocking people with clouds of colour whenever they walked somewhere around his hiding place. "Brilliant, isn't it? If only I could find a way to throw it over the top, it would be even better, but I think it would just fall straight back down onto us."

At the surprised squeal from the couple they jumped out on, Nate quickly tossed the colour and ran, ducking back into his hiding place before Niko joined him with his few steps back. "Apparently so, I overheard someone talking about it earlier about how the different colours mean different things, but I don't much about it myself." Although with how much fun he was having, it was definitely something he'd be looking into. "It makes me want to go to a proper one, you know? Imagine this on a bigger scale. I wonder if they have bigger tactics to get people completely covered in colour." The event definitely spoke to Nate's inner child. "Need to figure out a way to catapult the colour next time."

[cynthiasoriano]

     As bad as the joke was Cynthia laughed a little and then furrowed her brow at Nate. A pout of distaste on her expression for even giving her opportunity to find amusement in something so ridiculous. Mostly it was the imagery but also maybe some curiosity at what went on in his head. ❝ ⸻ You're terrible, ❞ Cynthia claimed with a shake of her head and gentle swat of her hand that never actually made contact with him. ❝ No way, ❞ her head shook even more vigorously while also craning her neck a little to see if the little orange monster was visible, ❝ that would mean Cowell was a holy man. Wields the power of God or whatever, and simply saying that aloud could invoke a curse. ❞ That idea alone was waved off with her hand. 

Practially leaning over Nate's back trying to get a look from the safety of not being in the front lines should the orange demon feel backed into a bush and decide on adding an additional assault to his list of crimes, Cynthia pulled back a little when he looked back at her. For second she'd worried that she'd been crowding him too much but she also gripped the back of his shirt ready to push him into the fray should paws start swinging. ❝ I like that you like that and feel that way about me, ❞ she ended up laughing a little bit again, her face scrunching at him for a second, ❝ stay on your toes around me, you know? Never know what to expect. ❞ Maybe it was strange to enjoy being something of a mystery to people. Through her social media popularity Cyn had learned to not put everything out there. It could also be after her betrayal and devorce that Cynthia was afraid to really let her guard down again. ❝ He's not a toddler, ❞ she commented with a laugh at Nate dangling his keys in front of the feline. ❝ Is that how you get women? By being so honest about how deplorable you men are? They may line up and they may be idiots but I don't really mind being alone. ❞ Hyper-independence was grand.

❝ Clearly, ❞ Cyn retorted, ❝ you're practically professing your love for me. ❞ As Nate shifted closer and commented on shuffling the cat out in her direction she was shutdown into tortured silence, or at least had lost the ability to protest as things began happening too fast. ❝ Oh my god, what the fuck, Nate! ❞ It all but came out like a scream but her reflexes had her scrambling. Somehow she'd caught the orange bastard and had him pinned with one hand gripping his scruff and the other holding the rear of his back. ❝ Okay — now what?! ❞

"Kind of assumed someone burgled a house whilst dressed up as a cat, to be honest." He didn't, but if there was an opportunity to crack a bad joke, there was no way that Nate was going to turn it down. Moving a few branches out of the way, Nate adjusted his position slightly to try and get closer to the cat. "Are you sure they're not the same thing? He doesn't exactly give me cuddly vibes, you know?"

Glancing back at her, Nate playfully rolled his eyes before reaching into his pocket for his keys, hoping the jangle or something shiny would entice the cat a little closer. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, you're kind of terrifying in a completely terrifying and also not at all kind of way, it's weird, I like it." Laughing quietly, Nate reached a hand closer to the cat, jangling his keys in a bid to either get him closer, or get him to bolt out of his hiding place. "Understandable, we pretty much are all assholes. You're telling me there isn't a line at your front door? Then they're idiots as well."

Feeling the hand on the back of his shirt, Nate took the gamble and moved closer, not entirely sure what it would look like with Cynthia holding onto him whilst he was knelt on the ground and his head in a bush. "You're the wonderful person?! I have my head in a bush! Do not laugh at that." Jangling his keys again, Nate's eyes widened as the cat looked towards him, his head moving so he could brush his nose against the keys. "Don't move, he's on the ropes. I'm going to get him to go out the other way, just be ready to catch him." Moving quickly, Nate waved his arm as if to swat the cat, prompting the ginger terror to jump outside the bush. "Get him, he's out!"

[cynthiasoriano]

     ❝ ⸻ Where do you think the term cat burglar came from? ❞ Even if Sookie was an absolute angel of a cat Cynthia was aware that by nature they were prowlers and were liquid in the way they could slip through things. But it was Nate's comment about the competition show that furrowed her brow. ❝ They're on like the fifty-seventh season of American Idol so I'm sure they're still going with the talent show one, too. But this orange beast needs an exorcist not Simon Cowell. ❞

At his sarcasm and giving her a hard time Cynthia's eyes narrowed at Nate. ❝ Because I want to terrify him from ever coming back. ❞ She stated that as though it didn't sound like some form of animal cruelty. The goal wasn't to physically harm the small animal but the demon had been tormenting her and Sookie long enough. ❝ No, Nate, ❞ her hands went to her hips and her head shook as incredulity began to show on her expression, ❝ why would I ever think it could be something like that? ❞ It was a challenge he was likely best not to answer. At least not his honest opinion if it were negative. ❝ Me and Sookie are not taking anymore men tormenting us in our lives. Even if that means she and I will end up growing old together. ❞ At this point in her life she'd rather be single than ever go through her dissolution of marriage again. Plus, dating was shit and the idea of another talking stage and the insanity of the way people had no accountability was enough to keep her on her own. Cynthia watched Nate through his endeavor and as the seconds ticked on by she only became more amused by the whole thing. ❝ He's no dummy, he knows you can't get him from there. Plus, he's not a cat. That orange ass is a minion from hell. ❞ When Nate leaned in further she gripped the back of his shirt, ready to yank him back at a moments notice if needed. ❝ Be careful you don't get your face scratched up. And you're clearly proving I am a wonderful person. ❞

As Cynthia explained the situation, Nate's brows furrowed a little, pretty sure that this was exactly why he hadn't chosen to get a cat just yet. Knowing his luck, he'd choose the one that planned on killing him in his sleep. "A cat that can break and enter? Pretty sure that shit could win America's got talent, if they even do that show anymore."

Looking up at her as she held her hand out, Nate could only smirk at her warning. "If he's so evil, why are you running after him and why are we trying to get him out?" Looking back to the bush, Nate tried to pull a few bits apart to try and see through a gap and locate the little creature. "What if he just doesn't like you, Cyn? Have we considered this option? Screw it." Moving down to kneel by the bush, Nate made a few noises to try and coax the cat out. "Why are cats like this? The bush is not his friend. Can you see him yet?" He was about a centimetre from sticking his head straight through the leaves but knowing his luck, he'd never be able to get back out again. "The things I do for you, honestly, even when it's not your cat."

[cynthiasoriano]

     ❝ ⸻ Sorry, ❞ Cyn commented with a small laugh when she noticed she'd made Nate jump, ❝ didn't mean to startle you. ❞ When she'd spotted him up ahead in her pursuit of the Orange Demon leaning over the bushes it seemed like a good bet that he'd likely crossed paths with the evil feline. ❝ More like assault and run, ❞ she quipped, annoyance in her expression and voice. ❝ He's not mine though. My Sookie is a sweetheart. This fucker likes to break and entering, harass me and Sook, and then leave as though he hadn't just spent a couple of hours stealing and terrorizing. ❞ The reason she'd chased after him was to assure that he left the neighborhood. Maybe she'd traumatize him into not coming back.

When Nate moved into the bush a bit she watched but had to caution him, ❝ careful, he's a bit of evil personified. Lucifer reappeared on earth in the form of this orange cat. He might swat or bite your hand. ❞ Clearly he was someone's pet and likely lived in the neighborhood and Cynthia wished his owner kept him locked up in their house rather than let him roam and menace. Right as Nate's question came she heard the familiar sounds of demonic growling. ❝ I don't see him but he's definitely in there. Be careful. ❞

"Well, where did you come from?" Nate looked down as the cat bumped against his legs and moved into the bush he was walking past. He didn't dare glance around, keeping his eyes on the bush in case the cat reappeared. He could only hope that when he tried to catch the little thing, it wouldn't scratch his eyes out.

Hearing the voice next to him, Nate jumped a little as he hadn't seen her approach and only then did he tear his eyes away from the bush. "Yeah, your little escape artist is somewhere in there." Pointing to the shrubbery, he grimaced at the woman standing next to him. "You wait here, I'll see if I can get them out." Moving over to the bush, Nate pulled a section back, trying to see to the bottom. "Can you see anything from the other side? I didn't look away so he's definitely in here!"

[nikoramsey]

     ❝ ⸻ It is, and you're right, she does. She may not be as agile anymore, but she's got the stare of an eagle. ❞ For a moment, Niko broke his attention away to watch his γιαγιά move the the periphery of the Holi celebration. ❝ She's a bit of a menace, though, so she might've called out your location because you found it first. ❞ Laughter spilled after witnessing Nate's tactics in action and seeing the reaction from the person that had gotten bested. ❝ You're just up here in your ivory tower picking people off, ❞ the amusement was unmistakable in his voice.

After taking cue from Nate, he dipped his hand into the vibrant pink power and looked at it at first. Thick in his palm and rich in color like some of the spice markets he'd been to in his travels. The consistency was soft rather than granular. When the male went around the bush to seige on an unsuspecting couple, Niko followed suit on a bystander just entering the scene. The burst of color stained the front of the person's shirt and Niko had taken a few steps backward, laughter spilling out of him. ❝ I never have but this is great. Now I want to learn about it, ❞ he admitted, still with a grin in place as he dusted his hands. ❝ Any idea if the colors mean anything? ❞

"Is that your grandmother?" Nate smirked a little as he looked back out from the gap between the leaves. "She may pass and her white shirt will stay intact by me. She has a good eye, I thought I'd snuck in here completely undetected." As someone else thought they'd get a moments pause from the colour throwing in front of the rose bush, Nate grabbed a handful of red before throwing it over the top and onto them. With the squeal and the jump of surprise, Nate couldn't hold in his laughter. "This is the best idea I've had in a while."

Dusting off his hands onto the grass, Nate grinned over at his new companion. "Not long, maybe ten minutes but it's so much more fun than being out there. It might not be quite in the spirit of things, but we take what we can get." With a different colour now in each hand, Nate snuck around the side of the rosebush, clapping his hands above a young couple to rain down some blue and yellow powder before they scampered off. "Have you ever been to one of these before? I've only ever seen pictures."

[nikoramsey]

     The cultural diversity that was celebrated in Briar Ridge was something that amazed Niko. As someone that had been fortunate to travel and see different parts of the world and experience the way other cultures lived and celebrated holidays, it was a wonderful thing this town brought those experiences to it's residents. They'd started off in the morning and had caught many of the offerings along the way, but he'd warned his γιαγιά about the Holi celebration and the gulal throw. Still, she was adamant about seeing it.

❝ ⸻ It's not for me, it's for my γιαγιά—your surrender that is, ❞ Niko laughed a little bit as he moved a little further into the bush alongside the male hiding in prime location. ❝ She actually saw you up ahead and doesn't want you to ruin her white shirt. ❞ She's old, just humor her please, was the look he'd given the other in the most lighthearted way. ❝ I was just going to compliment on how well you scoped this out. Let me see some of that— ❞ Niko dipped his hand into one of the bright colored gulal buckets and tossed the handful out at a passerby. ❝ How long have you been sitting here picking people off? ❞

Location: Gulal Throw Party Starter for: @nikoramsey

He had never attended a Holi festival throw before, even though he had seen one when he lived in DC. The colours going through the air brought the most amazing atmosphere and as he watched people laughing and throwing the colours, he was once again faced with the depth of community the town offered. It was a truly wholesome scene but as Nate wasn't currently with anyone at the festival, he felt more mischievious than anything else.

Grabbing a few pots of colour, he slunk off behind one of the wide rose bushes, ignoring the buzzing of the bees to occasionally throw a colour through the bushes. With each shocked squeal, Nate's laughter only grew. As the bush rustled, Nate quickly held up his colourful hands. "You got me. I surrender. But this is a whole lot of fun, you should try it."