[PAST] The Only Thing Left (For Mattie & Nordics)

[Mattie Williams]

“I… I’m starting to think I can’t do this without you, Maman…” A teenage boy sat in the graveyard, a well-loved stuffed polar bear in his lap. His voice was quiet, but then, he’d always been quiet. “… You always told me I could… but I don’t think I can… I don’t know how to… I don’t like being alone… And now that you’re with Daddy and Al… I can’t ask you…”

He paused, then sniffled and shifted, looking down at the bear. “Oh… I’m sorry, Kumajiro… I don’t mean that you don’t count… you always count-” He paused again. “… Ask for help? But Maman isn’t… oh… other… other restaurant owners…?” Maybe he could do that… but that meant talking to people, and he’d avoided everyone he could feasibly avoid. He’d never been the one to make friends easily, even if he was the older… Al was always the more outgoing one.

“What, now? But it’s… it’s… I… yeah… if I think about it… I’ll talk myself out of it. You’re right, Kuma… you always are.” The boy sighed, and shifted, looking once more at the three gravestones before him. “Je t’aime, Maman, Daddy, Al.” It took him another moment to leave, but he did with a sigh, turning to trudge through the other graves and monuments and statues and trees, out toward the street. He… he guessed he was lucky. It was late afternoon… and the staff was okay doing the cooking after the breakfast hours were up. Okay, but not fantastic. He’d been trying to teach them… but no one could make hamburgers like he could… and there was no way that anyone could make pancakes like him, either. Unless he was there, pancakes weren’t offered in the evening.

… well, whatever… he was lucky, he guessed, because he’d have time to talk to a few restaurants today. He’d… he’d have to do it, before he lost his nerve. It was already disappearing. It was just… the thought of losing Al’s… the thought of losing Al’s wasn’t remotely bearable, because it was the last thing he had that was familiar.

Of course… what he hadn’t expected (and had been terribly afraid of) was the fact that no one would help him. “Not now, too busy,” “Try someone else,” “Learn it the hard way, kid,” “Telling you won’t teach you anything,” and so many other similar responses were given when he’d asked… he was starting to think it was impossible. Impossible. Impossible… he didn’t like that word. That word was what he’d heard so often when asking couldn’t Al and Daddy come home? Couldn’t they? No… non, c’est impossible.

It was growing dark outside by the time he made a deal with himself. One more stop, one more no, and he was going to go home. He’d go home… and then he’d see about hiring a manager. It was something he didn’t want to do… he didn’t like interviewing people… that meant talking to them… telling them what he expected… Maman was always the one that had done it and the thought of trying to do as she’d done… the thought of hiring someone else to do her job… it…

He pushed open the door to a bar, and looked around. If these people couldn’t… wouldn’t… help him… he… he could at least get something to drink, he supposed… even though he didn’t really like to drink… he supposed it would be warranted after this.

“… yes, I know, Kuma… I have to find someone to talk to before I can ask, though…” He muttered, not having come far in from the doorway. It would probably seem odd to any just to look at him… after all, he was a teenager, yet he still carried a stuffed animal. He stood tall… yet appeared as though at the slightest provocation, he’d hide or shrink into himself. And there was something infinitely sad about the hesitant smile that crossed his lips as he finally took a step into the bar, looking around.

[thenorgeone]

Nikolai chuckled as he listened to a story about one of his regular’s sons. The boy had somehow managed to find the one patch of wild catnip by the cliffs and was followed around by cats for nearly two days before he listened to his mother and changed his clothes. The sound of the bell above the door jingling drew his attention to a mousy looking blond shuffling into his bar. The kid was squeezing a stuffed bear like it would run off if he let up and definitely wasn’t old enough to be in a bar.

Nodding at the laughing man, Nikolai threw his rag over his shoulder and made his way out from behind the bar, calling Tino to come take his place. He weaved through patrons until he was standing in front of the kid, hands on his hips in the classic ‘big-brother-disapproval-pose’ he’d perfected against Egil. “Hei, you’re a bit young to be drinking in a bar, ja?”

Maybe he was lost. He certainly looked lost, and maybe a little ill. Well, not exactly ill but certainly not healthy. He probably didn’t eat well, though he was too clean to be homeless. Abused? No bruises, so maybe he was just waiting for someone and trying to do it somewhere warm. “Do you want some juice or something?”

[Mattie Williams]

Mattie grew more and more nervous as he looked around. He honestly wasn't sure why he chose a bar of all places,,, except that it had seemed fairly welcoming from outside... "Shh, Kuma... not now..." he muttered in an undertone, really not wanting to hear that he wouldn't find someone to talk to if he didn't move away from the door. He... he knew that. It was just... the door... he could easily pretend he'd made a mistake and turn around and leave. In fact, he was more than halfway considering doing that. Except... someone was coming toward him.

He watched the older boy come out from behind the bar with wide violet eyes. Oh no... was he coming to tell him off too? To deny his question? ... he hadn't even asked the question, how could the other decline to answer? He didn't know! It... it could happen. He was sure it could! The... the other even looked disapproving. It was probably because he knew Mattie didn't really belong anywhere anymore... He didn't have a family... he just had Kuma and his house and his restaurant. That was it. Honestly, he couldn't really lay claim to any friends either... made him wonder who would care if he joined Maman and Daddy and Al one day.

"... I'm... I'm sorry..." He mumbled, not looking up at the other. The stern expression on the bartender's face would be too much. "I..." He could do this. He could do this. He had to do this. Squeezing Kuma tightly for reassurance, he finally mustered the courage to look up slightly. "I... was wondering if... I could ask you some questions about running a business." He started out strong, or, well, as strong as Mattie ever could when he was feeling out of place and pressured, but ended up in the same quiet mumble he'd first spoken in. "It's okay if not... everywhere else said no too..."

Really, he wouldn't be in the least surprised. Seemed like they were busy... and he wouldn't blame them if they didn't want to help a rival business out. Not that Mattie served alcohol - he and Maman had decided against it. People got too violent, a lot of the time, with alcohol - and Mattie knew he couldn't handle a fight. He, well, Kuma, knew that he'd just go hide in a corner under something until it was done.

He hadn't even registered the other's question.

[thenorgeone]

Staring down at this little blond thing in his bar, Nikolai frowned. Run a business, at his age? Though, Nikolai really wasn’t one to talk. He’d been running the bar since he was a kid really. He could well imagine the other owners on the district chasing him out, not wanting even more competition. Nikolai knew he’d have had trouble if his father hadn’t prepared him for this in advance. Well, he couldn’t very well send the kid away and live with himself, not with how sad and pathetic he looked right now.

“Alright.” He put his hand on the blond’s shoulder, steering him toward an empty booth. “Sit, I’ll get you some juice.” He waited until Mattie had sat down before going to get a cup of apple juice and a can of beer. “Watch the counter for me.” He headed back to the booth and slid into the opposite side, setting the juice in front of Mattie. “You said you had some questions?”

Too late Nikolai realized he didn't even know the kid's name. Oh well, he'd ask once they were done talking if it wasn't volunteered.

[Mattie Williams]

As the other continued to stare at him, Mattie continued to stare at the floor. A moment later, he'd started to back away slowly. "I'm sorry... I'll --" But the other's voice and hand stalled him again. For a moment, Mattie looked up at the bartender, completely surprised. And then, realizing he was staring, he looked down again, hugging Kuma tighter. Well, he... he'd come to ask for help, and it looked like he was going to get it... so... so that was good. That was good, right? Yes, it was good. Of course it was good. It was just unexpected.

He sat where the other had directed him to, the bear in his lap, his chin tilted down, eyes on the table. Well, usually. Every now and then, he chanced a glance around at the other patrons, but he'd always revert to staring at the table if someone were to catch him looking. He didn't want a confrontation. He didn't. He couldn't... he'd leave. He'd just go now and then no one would remember him and - and the barman was back.

And there was juice. ... Juice? ... he'd said he was going to go get juice. Of course. To be polite, Mattie hesitantly reached for the glass, as if almost afraid he'd break it by touching it, and took a sip. ... It was good. Really good. "Merci-- I... I mean... thank you." Maman had ingrained good manners into the boy... even if those good manners had been taught in another language.

"Ah. ... Yes... but... but if now isn't a good time, I can come back, or I can not come back if I'm being a bother... I don't want to be a bother..."

Ask the damn questions, Mattie. ... Okay, okay... he'd ask, but he wasn't sure about this still. ... That much is obvious. Painfully obvious.

"It's just... I've... I've got a restaurant. Ah, Al's Restaurant. I... someone else... Maman... M-Maman did the managing... And then Maman got sick... and-and there wasn't enough time to teach me... and I don't know how to find anyone to work in the restaurant or how to keep the workers I've got, or whether they're paid enough..." This had been a mouthful for the quiet boy, and, realizing that he'd rambled a little and let it slip about Maman, his cheeks flushed and he fell silent again, staring once more at the table between them.

[thenorgeone]

He stared at the rambling kid in front of him, expression bland and hands resting folded on the table. Maybe he should have gotten himself something stronger, or the kid. A little alcohol might just calm him down. Not that he would ever give someone who was clearly already depressed alcohol. At least not for free. He did kind of make a living off of exploiting alcoholics.

Okay, so his mom had died and left him with a business he didn’t know how to look after. Nikolai popped open his beer and took a long drink. Obviously he’d come to a bar as a last resort, meaning Nikolai was his last hope of getting his business under control. Putting the can down he sighed and shook his head. “If I wanted you to leave I wouldn’t have gotten you juice. How long has it been since your mother died? Have your workers been paid on schedule?”

There was no hope for it. Nikolai was just going to have to sacrifice some of his free time and help this kid out. He couldn’t let his dead mother’s business fall into debt.

[Mattie Williams]

How long had it been... "Two weeks, four days." His voice shook as he gave the time frame, but for once, there was no hesitation. He knew that time. He didn't like that time, and if he'd been any good at inventing like Daddy and Al... he'd... he'd... they'd all be with him still, or he'd have gone along, or... or something. But that wasn't here or now.

"... they... say that they have. M-Maman probably set it up before she..." He trailed off, though, looking down again. "... I know they get paid every other Friday." So he'd have to find out when their last paydate was...

A thought struck him... If Kumajiro could have smacked him upside his head, he would have. Mattie would have done the same to himself for not figuring this sooner. "... You mean... you're going to help me...?" Even if he already had, Mattie needed the confirmation that he wasn't going crazy at last, like all the neighbors seemed to think.

[thenorgeone]

“Ja, I’m going to help you.” Leaning back in his seat thoughtfully, Nikolai looked Mattie over. He didn’t look like the sort that could run a business. To Nikolai he seemed more the type to be tricked and walked all over by his employees than the sort of person to keep a firm hand over a restaurant. “It’s good you’re looking for help now, too much longer unattended and a business could go down. Is there a good time during the day that I could stop by and look over your paperwork and the employee schedule?”

Sipping his drink, Nikolai nodded. The woman either had an outside company take care of paychecks or she’d set up a system to make sure everyone got paid on time. He approved entirely this strategy, especially since this kid obviously hadn’t had the presence of mind to get payments out. Hopefully she had the same system for paying the bills. “So your employees were paid on time and they get paid every other week. How has business been? A good amount of people coming in?”

[Mattie Williams]

A business could go down...? Did that mean that he'd lose Al's? ... that wasn't acceptable. At all. Mattie wasn't going to allow that to happen. "... Um..." A good time for him to come see? "... Anytime... really... I'm always there... Al's opens at six-thirty... and stays open until nine at night..." One might infer that Mattie had little of a social life... and be completely right. He didn't have any friends to speak of... so he worked. At least he enjoyed what he did...

"... There are regulars that come often... and there are people that come when their ships are in..." Mattie started, nodding. "... the same amount as usual have been coming." They didn't advertise, really... anything new business was probably just because someone recommended the place to someone else - and Mattie was pretty much okay with that, at this point.

And then he came to realize that he didn't know the other's name... and that he hadn't given his own. "... I'm sorry..." He murmured, looking down. "...I should have introduced myself earlier... I'm... Mathieu Williams... but... mostly, people call me Mattie."

[thenorgeone]

Standing, Nikolai nodded. “I’m Nikolai Korsmo. I’ll go grab something to write with and give you some instructions until I can look your place over. Where did you say it was?” Maybe he’d take a few off, leave the place to one of the others while he got this mess straightened out. It wasn’t like the bar would fall apart if he took his attention off it for a little while and he was due some vacation after having been in the damn place every night for several years.

Walking away, he slipped into the back and grabbed a paper and a pen. The new pen had been a gift, something one of his customers had used to help lower his tab. It had ink inside instead of using the cheap quill and inkwell, which was good for him because that shit never mixed well with open alcohol. Grabbing more mead and juice, he carried it all to the table and sat down. “Here, drink.” Then began to write out basic instructions helpful for running any business with employees.