forum Depression and Choccy Milk (OXO with Caustic)

Started May 08, 2020 by @Painted-Iris group

tune

(Zedd has a page! I'm working on drawing a full reference so I put the sketch to make the idea for him a lot clearer.)

(Ok I have an idea that would make Zedd wanna keep him. You don't gotta do this, but it's a way Zedd can slowly warm up to Nathaniel. He gets out a knife he's working on and Zedd notices that it's very well crafted and offers a trade: Nathaniel makes knives to sell and gets "paid" in food and shelter.)

The bread hit the pan with a light hiss from the butter that greased the pan. This was one of the very few meals he didn't ruin every time. It was just bread and cheese anyways. After a minute, Zedd flipped the sandwich over and let it cook on the other side. He didn't look at the small boy who entered his quarters. The food might be simple, but distractions caused burnt food.

(:00 I'm down)
Nathaniel watched Zeddicus for a minute or two before sitting down on a stool to wait. He pulled a dagger out of his pocket to twirl between his small fingers. It wasn't necessarily the safest passtime, but it did occupy him for the time being. He knew he wouldn't drop it, anyways. He did this far too often to actually drop it. He hummed softly to himself as he watched the blade spin.

Zeddicus sighed, having finished the quick meal he had made. It was fortunate that the shop was closed today. The past events would have been hell to handle otherwise. Juggling both a small child and several customers at once. Zedd nearly winced at the thought. He took a simple butter knife to cut the grilled cheese into two triangles on the plate. Turning, he noted the small boy sitting down and humming to himself. Zedd nearly tripped noting what it was that the young boy was playing with. He set the plate down quickly before walking over to where the boy was seated. "Where in the hell did you get a knife?!" Zeddicus asked, already taking the sharp spinning blade. Kids weren't supposed to have these, much less play with them! He took a glance down at the knife in his hand before looking back at the small boy. "You could have stabbed yourself."

Nathaniel jumped, startled by Zeddicus suddenly appearing and taking the dagger from him. "Hey! I-I mean, um…" Be polite, be polite… "Um… may I please have my dagger back, sir?" He asked meekly. "It's… kinda important…" He fidgeted nervously. When asked where he'd gotten it, he looked back at at Zedd. "Um… I made it back when I lived at home. I kept it with me to keep myself safe on the streets and stuff…"

Zeddicus was surprised yet again by this kid. He acted mature for his age (minus the obvious timidity) and made knives apparently. He looked down at the blade more carefully, finger tracing along the side. Carefully, he felt the edge of the blade to test if it was even sharp. It seemed to start to stick to the ridges in his finger. It was surprisingly well made. Taking it by the blade, he held the knife back out to the young boy. "It's scary how well made it is," Zedd commented, pursing his lips. "You could sell those for good money," he added, thinking out loud.

Nathaniel took the knife back and returned it to his pocket. "It's kinda just a hobby I picked up… my parents weren't really around too much because they're very busy with their jobs, so I started making swords and daggers and stuff. My parents didn't like it too much because it distracted me from my training sometimes…" He sighed softly and started fidgeting again. "My big brother used to help me get materials and stuff."

Zeddicus crouched before the small boy now, rather than standing at his full height. "Hobby or not, the quality is very impressive." And that was saying something. He wasn't the type to hand out praise easily. The man looked at the floor in thought for a moment. "Sell them here and you can stay until you've got the money to support yourself."

"R-Really? But I… I don't have an anvil or… materials or anything…" Nathaniel fidgeted a bit, his heart pounding. "Do you really think people would wanna buy them?" He asked curiously, looking up at Zeddicus with his eyes wide. He was still struggling to process everything that was going on.

"R-Really? But I… I don't have an anvil or… materials or anything…" Nathaniel fidgeted a bit, his heart pounding. "Do you really think people would wanna buy them?" He asked curiously, looking up at Zeddicus with his eyes wide. He was still struggling to process everything that was going on.

Zeddicus bit his lip, not really sure where he'd find an anvil of all things. Where would he even put it anyways? To make knives, didn't you need all of this fancy equipment? Shaking the thought away, Zedd moved to grab the boy the sandwich he made. "I don't see why not, if they turn out as good as the one you got already," he said, holding out the plate now.

"You really think it's good?" Nathaniel grinned and trilled quietly, seeming excited. He fluttered his wings a bit and accepted the plate from Zedd. He seemed almost confused by the sandwich, as though he hadn't come across such a thing in quite some time. He did seem to remember that it was food at least and took a bite of it. He seemed pleased with it and kept eating, his wings still fluttering in content.

(It's in the art showcase but here you go :>)