Posts by Floral Frolic

JAMES LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — ooc;; I'd totally be up for that! i enjoy your writing style as well, so i think doing another thread would be fun.

James chuckled at the comparison, rubbing lightly at the back of his neck as he nodded in agreement. "It's very nearly that anyways, isn't it?" he joked. "We just moved into together, after all." He couldn't do much to change the opinions of Collin's parents; no matter how much he denied the status of their relationship aligning with their ideas, it looked the way that it looked. Awkward as it was, and as much as he wished that he could convince them - even if only to save his face from turning any redder - he had to cut his losses, so to speak, and just let them think what they wanted. He wouldn't have to see them every day, enduring the comments, near innuendos, and light judgement, so he would just let it go, and joke about the awkwardness of it, much like Collin himself seemed to be doing.

He barely restrained himself from wrinkling his nose up in distaste at the thought of snow. "Nuh-uh, I am done with snow. If I have to walk on ice and scrape the shit off a windshield one more time I'm going to lose it," he said, and though his tone clearly conveyed his dislike for the cooler weather, it wasn't so heavy as to carry actual anger. Really, he could appreciate snow. It was pretty, and it had always been fun to go outside and make snowmen, throw snowballs and, on occasion, go ice skating. It was the not so fun things that he really hated, and were what made it not so worthwhile. The sun - heat - were warm and comfortable. "C'mon, running off to Hawaii would be a dream, wouldn't it?. Pretty water, shining sun, soft sand. Even those beaches there that have black sand. That'd be cool to see," James hummed, trailing off his little speech with a grin.

The surprise on Collin's face that resulted from his very sudden comment, well, James couldn't say that he was shocked to see it. As comfortable with himself and as smooth of a joker the man was, James still would have been more shocked if he hadn't been caught off guard, even just a little. He didn't mind teasing and joking around with his friends - and while he did likely consider Collin to be a friend already at this point - they'd still only just met one another. James honestly just needed to calm down. His mother's incessant questions, while a decent enough distraction, weren't really helping much with that. "Oh yeah, it'll be loads of fun," he said with a snort. Honestly, he hadn't even figured out if he would tell her right now or not. Down the road, saying he'd met a friend and decided to become roommates was so much easier to explain than saying that they'd bought the house together. Knowing his mother, he had a nagging suspicion that she might not take that so well. What if he'd been scammed somehow? What if Collin was a murderer? What if they hated each other and now owned a house together? James could see it now - hear it now - and he honestly didn't even want to think of any of it.

The drive back home went, thankfully, smoothly, as he munched quietly and leisurely on his bag of chips while Collin maneuvered the vehicle along the considerably calm highways. Of course, the easygoing feel of it all dispersed as soon as they began moving furniture again. The shit was heavy as hell. "Here I am, caring for your well-being and hoping you don't die an untimely death by tumbling down the stairs, and you're threatening to kill me," James said, mock offense in his tone, although it was severely dampened by the effort he was putting into holding up the damned furniture. He was just thankful when they'd finally finished with it all. Food sounded just about heavenly, and he certainly didn't mind being the one to go get it, since Collin had already driven to his parent's house and back that day. He caught the keys with an ease that made him look way smoother than he tended to be on a daily basis, and pushed himself to his feet with a grunt brought on by tired muscles. "Alright, I'll be back, then."

Of course, he had to stop off in his own room before going anywhere, because there was no way he was going to keep this sweat soaked shirt on for any longer than he had to. He changed quickly, grabbing the first wearable thing he got his hands on, before he was bounding down the stairs and to the front door, twisting the lock behind him as he went. Collin has graciously offered use of his SUV, and the keys were in his hand, so James unlocked the driver's side with a click and climbed in, igniting the engine with ease. He'd seen a decent looking taco place on his way into town, and Collin had said he wasn't picky, so that sounded good enough. He did, however, remember the man being of rather large appetite, and James wouldn't say no to a handful or two of tacos, so he ordered for practically a party, and then a few extra, just to be sure. Remembering that they still didn't have much at home, he asked for a few drinks as well, and grabbed numerous napkins from the dispenser that sat waiting by the counter. Luckily, there wasn't much of a wait at all, and he left the place loaded up with three large bags - two stuffed with food, and one holding bottles of soda. "Collin, I'm home," he shouted into their house in the sing-song tone that everyone recognized, yet unwilling to replace the first word at said moment. He'd embarrassed himself enough already today, after all.

JAMES LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — ooc;; ok, I'm finally back! Thank you for waiting! <3

"Finding out is part of the fun," James crowed, a grin set upon his face. Collin could claim that he was against hot weather all he wanted - and while he has heard and could certainly see merits in the argument in favor of cooler temperatures - with the sun came fun things. The beach and summer vacations being two of those. "And besides, even if it is, it'd certainly make for some pretty pictures. And Hawaii has plenty of other beaches that aren't black that would be no problem to walk on." James had never considered his body to be much of a looker. Sure, he worked out and took general care of himself, but it wasn't anything special. Nothing to draw eyes or write home about, in his opinion. Even so, he could easily put himself in a swimsuit and take some permanent photographs while having fun on a beach. Making happy memories was worth it.

"Hmm, my mom's probably going to think you're a murderer. Or a con artist." After a pause, James reconsidered his words. "I mean, you still could be, I guess, but I'm holding out hope for the more positive options," he continued with a light chuckle. "Besides, you don't seem like the type who could con," he teased. "Far too nice." It was a very real compliment, hidden and delivered under the guise of a jest. Collin was nice. James was still extremely surprised at the luck he'd somehow managed to collect in order to get a housemate that wasn't - so far - creepy or weird, or anything else that seemed it would pose a problem in the two of them getting along. "That being said though, I think I'd prefer the 'oh God, our son is gay and he's eloped' crisis from her and my dad. Hell, they might get over it faster than the 'he's going to be murdered!' one. Less police involvement, too, probably." With each of these statements, he delivered them with appropriate levels of shock and inflection to match his likely-to-be astonished mother. no matter what, James wasn't planning on telling her either of those things. He would lovingly keep it all to himself for now, until a reasonable enough amount of time had passed. His parents needn't be privy to every aspect of his life, after all.

"You can be an ass when we're done moving your furniture. Promise," James said, shifting his hold on the heavy wood slightly, feeling it jostle to the side before settling into the more comfortable grip. A feeling of relief washed over him once they'd set the dresser down in Collin's bedroom. The heavy lifting was done, and now James could give his muscles a much needed break. Carrying things upstairs was no joke. He had a new level of respect for movers and other people who did shit like this on a daily basis. It was a real pain in the ass. "I'll be sending you the bill for my chiropractor, just so you know," James said from his position stretched out on the floor. He pushed his arms above his head along the ground and stretched out his back, feeling more than hearing the satisfying pop of his vertebrae. Going to get food was actually a welcome chore; his stomach was grumbling and the light snacking he'd done earlier hadn't held out through the furniture moving, so he was running on empty at this point.

Given that he'd ordered so much, he ended up having to wait for a bit, but honestly didn't mind. There were wooden benches in the entrance where the Maître d' had offered him a menu and taken his order, so he sat himself upon the one furthest from the door to wait. He pulled out his phone - as nearly everyone does when left alone with nothing else to occupy their mind - and fiddled around, scrolling through his different social media sites. James wasn't one for posting unless it was something particularly stunning. His graduation, for example, had a folder on Facebook dedicated to photos of the event, and his Instagram was generally reserved for nice vacation pictures and the like. But, usually, he was more of a follower and observer than a poster. He was occupying himself looking through the engagement photos a friend from college had posted yesterday when a text from his mother popped up at the top of his screen. Again. He sighed. James loved his mother, really, but he did just move away. She didn't need to ask him what he was doing every single moment. Luckily, she was only asking what he planned on for dinner, and seeing as he was taking care of that now, he typed out a rundown of what he planned on eating and sent the message off with a tap of his finger. The call of his name dragged his attention upwards, and within a few moments he was carrying the haul back to Collin's SUV.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he sang in response, depositing the food bags onto the kitchen counter before returning to the front door, locking it and slipping off his shoes. Looking at Collin, he noticed the man had showered while he was gone. James planned on doing the exact same once he finished eating. Hopefully the water pressure in his bathroom was good. He gestured widely to the food he'd purchased in a sort of 'voilà' motion. "You said you weren't picky and, I quote, 'surprise me', so here you go." He tossed the man's keys, which had been in his back pocket, onto the counter before reaching for the closest bag. It held the drinks he'd purchased, and James grabbed one. Its cap twisted off with a hiss and he waited for it to die down before taking a sip. "We still don't have any kitchen shit, so there's napkins and silverware too."

JAMES LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — He grinned, somehow entirely enthralled with Collin's absolutely messy and mildly cliche tale of a conniving murderer. "Hmm, I think I prefer the 'running off' story, mostly because I don't have to deal with blood, no matter who it belongs to," James hummed before a sly grin overtook his face, "absolutely nothing to do with being uh, 'kissed real good' and swept off my feet, as you say," he chuckled. "I'm not quite that easy, Collin," he continued with a wink. James was, in fact, close to that easy, but nobody needed to know that, now did they?

"I am an old man, thank you very much. Can't you hear the creak of my withering bones?" Really, James didn't have a chiropractor. There was no way in hell that he could afford one, likely even on the new salary he was being offered. He'd only ever visited one once, back in high school, when he'd injured himself due to landing incorrectly while playing volleyball a few too many times. It hadn't been anything serious or permanent, thank goodness, but the doctor had offered several nice techniques for muscular strain that had stuck with James to this day. He watched with interest and raised eyebrows as Collin offered his own services, however. "Careful, I might take you up on that, you know," he hummed. "I'm not crazy enough to turn down a massage offer."

James simply shook his head at the claim that Collin would have to kick his his ass because, for one thing, he doubted that the man would be the type to even attempt such a thing, and secondly, wasn't even sure if he could. Any hidden strength be damned, James liked to at least think he wouldn't go down easy. "No need for love confessions so early," he said, laughing with ease at the complete joy that seemed to have overtaken Collin from the sight of his favorite food. "We haven't even had that first kiss yet." Really, James hadn't chosen Chinese food for any reason other than it was a good-looking place he'd seen on his way into town. But, he was glad to have impressed the other man with his quick choice. "I aim to please," he replied with a grin, shrugging nonchalantly as he stabbed his fork into a piece of battered chicken. The food really was quite good, well worth both the wait and the price.

"We'll probably need to make some sort of list," he said, attempting to think over all the things that they'd likely need. His mother had always said that once he moved out, he'd end up needing ten times more than he were to ever plan for. They wouldn't be able to get everything in one trip. They probably wouldn't be able to think of everything at first. At least, James knew that he wouldn't be able to. Objects would come to his mind as he spent time in the space they'd occupy - as he noticed their absence. That was another great thing about this house though, beyond the incredibly low price point. A furnished home was incredibly convenient. Sure, there were some pieces that he wasn't particularly fond of, but that was only to be expected. They could get rid of things and buy replacements as time went on, if they wanted.

James' eyes were more focused on his food than anything else, his mind occupied with both the things they'd need to purchase, as well as finding all the onions that were in the dish he was picking through, because they happened to be particularly good. Collin's strange words dragged his attention and gaze upward, first to the man's face, and then to where he was looking. Now, James knew better than to tease someone for any phobias - they could be caused by anything, and might not even have a particular cause in the first place. But, that didn't mean that he couldn't find his own embarrassing as hell. What grown man was afraid of moths for no good reason? He wasn't even afraid of butterflies, and they were practically no different, damn it. That being said, and as trustworthy as Collin seemed to be, James really didn't want to display this fear outright, just because of a little lost kitchen moth. "Ah," he said, watching as it flew about, "wonder how it got in here? Not like there were many lights on or people going through." He shoveled another forkful of noodles into his mouth, continuing to watch the moth out of the corner of his eyes as he did so. He was fine. He wasn't going to outright panic, as long as it stayed in the kitchen. It was once they got lost again that James began to worry the most. Even the simple thought of it brushing past or landing on him was enough to make him want to shudder. He finished his food rather quickly after that, attempting to keep track of the little creature the whole time.

JAMES LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — While waking up early in the morning to the shrill sound of a blaring alarm was bad, James couldn't say that he wasn't used to it. Plus, it had the added benefit of him not having to appear or sound like a functioning human while he roused himself from sleep. However, something worse was waking to the sound of his phone ringing, which meant that somebody wanted to speak to him. Groaning, he fumbled for the device that laid hooked up to the charging cable on the table and didn't even bother checking the ID before answering it. "'llo?" he grumbled.

"Oh, James, don't tell me you're still asleep? It's past nine!" he mother's voice rang in his ears, and James barely managed to reign in his annoyed sigh. Didn't living alone . . . away from them, rather, reserve him the right to not be woken up on his parent's schedule? It was his day off, dammit. He hadn't planned on getting up until at least eleven. Unfortunately, once he woke up in the morning, falling back asleep was almost always a fruitless effort, so he pushed himself into a sitting position and resigned himself to spending a while speaking with his mother. Usually, when she called rather than texted him, it was something at least mildly important. "We want you to come to the cabin with us."

James remained silent for a long moment, his barely conscious brain taking a while to comprehend the words to their full degree. His parents had always been fond of camping, the outdoors, and long trips spent away from their jobs and in a small cabin that sat tucked away in what he'd always considered to be the middle of nowhere. James hadn't been there since before he'd left for college, but his mother and father still went often enough that it could be considered a second home. "You serious?" he asked. "For how long?" Her response was a very enthusiastic 'as long as you want,' as she explained that they'd have to return home eventually, but he'd be welcome to stay in the cabin for as long as he could stand the quiet. As he looked around the bedroom he'd woken up in, James realized that the offer was one he couldn't refuse.

~~

Amy Lilldon shared the news with her husband that their son would be joining them on their most recent trip to the cabin with a wide grin. James' visits had been few and far between since he began college, and especially since he graduated, that the chance to spend some time with him was a blessing. Amy didn't know any of the particulars, but she did know that something had happened with James and his boyfriend - Collin - that had soured his mood for what seemed to be permanently. Maybe a vacation would help her boy.

Already ready to start the day, Mark and Amy loaded themselves up into the family sedan - a vehicle type that they'd settled on as soon as James had come into the world - and set off. They had several errands to run before they could even think of leaving for the cabin, but Amy had a need for caffeine before doing any business. Flashy, popular establishments didn't sit well with her in a particular way that couldn't exactly be described. Needless to say, she much preferred the quite, family-owned type. Looking out at the myriad of shops lining the street, she tapped at Mark's arm when she saw one that looked like it sold hot beverages. "Let's check that one out, Honey," she said, and he agreed amicably.

Inside, it was nice and warm, which was a refreshing change from the chill outside. It smelled lovely, of coffee and teas, and Amy was pleased to see that it was nearly empty. She stepped up to the counter, her eyes locked on the menu and her husband trailing behind her as thought over what to get. "I think I might have a medium latte, please," she decided after a moment.

AMY LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — The sound of the voice that belonged to the man behind the counter was enough to bring Amy's gaze to meet his with surprise. "Oh, Collin! I would have never expected to run into you here, hello!" she said with a wide grin. Truly, she was happy to see the boy. James had been with him since the beginning of his college years, and she'd talked to the both of them many times. Of course, it'd taken her a bit to get over the initial surprise that came with learning her son - who'd dated a girl throughout high school and shown no hint at other preferences - was also into men. There have been times when she looked back and thought that her reaction was a bit too harsh, that she'd said things that came across as just a touch too cruel or judgmental, and she knew that her husband had done the same as well. She hoped that over time, at least, she had managed to do better for her son. She did want him to he happy, after all, and he'd seemed the most so whenever he was with Collin.

Unfortunately, seeing the two together had come to a rather abrupt and surprising end a few months ago, and Amy had no clue as to why. She wasn't normally privy to the details of her son's life, and this was no different, but it was still hard to come to terms with such a sudden change in both James' lifestyle and mood if he didn't give any serious explanation. Either way, seeing Collin here was nothing short of a shock. "I had no idea you worked in a coffee shop! I hope you're doing well?" Every time she'd spoken to the boy, he'd been nothing short of a sweetheart. Respectful and kind as he was, she had a hard time believing that he would ever do anything to harm her son. As much as she loved and trusted him, she often wondered if James himself had done something to sour his relationship. C'est la vie, as they say, but Amy was never happy with that outlook. She was much more of a 'take life by the reins and steer it' sort of woman.

As she waited to pay for her order, Mark's hand around her waist as she dug through her pocketbook, a picture that she kept folded and stored away behind the fabric for safekeeping caught her attention. It was her, her husband, and James at the cabin the last time they'd gone before her son graduated high school. He looked so much younger four years ago that it often made her either want to cry or laugh - it was a toss-up - but it gave her an idea of sorts. She'd grown used to the idea of considering Collin a boy of her own, and she wanted him to be happy in life, just as with her own son. "Winter's here, the holiday's are coming up, do you have any plans?" she asked, looking up with her debit card in hand.

JAMES LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — As he dug through the clothes in his closet for something comfortable to wear, he found that he was coming up empty handed. With a huff, he settled for remaining in his boxers and the old, worn shirt he used for bedtime, and padded out into the living space of the apartment. Laundry should have been the first task on his to-do list, considering that he was running particularly low on things to wear, but instead he turned into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl from the cabinet next to the fridge. A quick serving of cereal was a suitable enough breakfast to satisfy the small pang of hunger that had hit his stomach. All in all, he was really having a hard time figuring out why his mother had suddenly invited him out the the family cabin. It wasn't like he'd ever been banned from it or anything and, likely, he could just show up there whenever he wanted even if his parents weren't present. But to actually be invited for a family vacation was something that hadn't happened in years. It was weird, but he was thankful for the opportunity to get away for a while. While being in the quiet wilderness with his own thoughts was a worrying prospect, being alone in the apartment sucked too. A change of scenery might do him some good.

JAMES LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — "A gentleman never runs off unless at least a bit of effort has been made," he said while tilting his nose up and speaking in a haughty tone, fit for a Regency nobleman. Of course, as he understood it, it was the gentleman who did the effort-making and nearly never the running in those times, but who was here to correct him? Hopefully not Collin. The man was certainly on his way to making an effort already anyways, as kind and funny as he was. He chuckled at both the teasing threat, as well as the wink that accompanied it. "I'll have to be careful to keep an ear out for you, then," he hummed.

"Five vertebrae, to be exact," he replied with a grin, correcting something that wasn't even true. Honestly, James' back never popped or cracked unless he tried really hard to get it to do so. It was a bit annoying, actually, considering that he had a bad habit of sitting with a slouch. A back that popped regularly when stretched out might help to relieve some of the tension he brought upon himself, but alas. "Really though, if you heard something it was probably my knee," he said, sticking his right leg forward slightly and gesturing to it with a wave of his hand. For emphasis, he swung the leg up and bent it at the knee quickly, reveling in the loud pop that followed the action. If he chose to, he could get it to do so countless times by repeating the action, but once was likely enough to showcase his point. "I screwed my leg up a bit in high school, so," he said as explanation with a simple shrug, "If you're offering, I'll accept."

James scoffed at the man's puckered lips, slightly messy in the way that came from eating and set in such an exaggerated position that he could only shake his head. "I will not kiss you with food in your mouth, don't even think about it," he said with a laugh, shoving a bite of his food into his own. Collin was so easy to joke around with that it was really quite astounding. Being out about his interest in guys was still such a new experience that he'd thought he would feel awkward and uncomfortable, despite the familiarity he had with jokes and teasing. What could he say? James was the sort of guy who liked to mess around. Still, he'd thought it would be stranger. Surprisingly, however, it hadn't been. It'd actually been quite comfortable and fun, and James didn't know if he could credit that to an overreaction about the whole thing, or Collin himself. Likely both. "Good," he said, nodding in regards to the notebook. "I'll probably end up making a note on my phone or something too. God knows I'll end up thinking of something randomly when I'm outside or whatever. I'll lose the thought if I don't write it right then y'know." Already he'd likely begun to forget anything he might have thought of just a few minutes ago.

James stood and watched with a curious eye and from a safe distance as Collin followed the little moth around the room, obviously attempting to capture it between his hands, even as it circled around him above his head. James could never. He not-so-fondly remembered the one time a moth had gotten into his bedroom. He could never bring himself to kill it - that was too cruel - nor to capture it - that involved getting close to it - so he'd grabbed his pillow and a blanket and slept on the couch instead. Still, despite the actions being way outside of his own comfort zone, James couldn't deny the fact that it was definitely humorous watching Collin trying repeatedly to catch the thing. He snickered lightly at the barely audible curses that the man let out after a couple of failed attempts.

Finally, however, Collin managed to cup the moth between his hands. "I can't believe you managed to catch it," he said, purposefully looking at Collin's face instead of the creature he held. The man's excitement would have been damn contagious if James weren't so uncomfortable with the proximity. Unfortunately, he did have to look down at the moth as it began to worm it's way out from between Collin's fingers. Automatically, and rather unconsciously as well, James took a slightly jerky step back and to the side, setting himself further away from the moth and any possible flight paths. He really didn't know what he'd do if Collin called him out on any strange behavior. It was fucking embarrassing.

AMY LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — She smiled gently at the boy as he spoke, because it was oh so obvious that he was nervous in their presence. It was an odd sight, considering that they'd spoken together - both with James there and alone - so many times that she'd thought the nerves were a thing of the past. Apparently, whatever had happened between Collin and her son was enough to have turned him into someone who was wholly uncomfortable with them standing in front of him. Amy felt a bit bad for it, but her feelings could mostly be boiled down to a sudden rage at her son, for turning this kind, outgoing young man into a quivering mess of nerves. Hadn't she raised James to be better than that? Yes, breakups happen (Amy had experienced more than her own fair share before Mark came along) and while she'd been sad over almost all of them, if they were amicable enough she had no problems encountering people she'd met through her ex after the fact. Collin's expression and behavior spoke of something different, and her heart ached for him as a mother watching a boy she'd grown to see as a son in pain.

Still, it wouldn't do to work herself into any sort of fit here, so she followed along the flow of the small conversation they'd started. "Oh yes, I know," she said, chuckling at the boy's near obsession with hot tea, almost always in hand or nearby, according to James. "You know I've never been a fan of it, of course, but I tried a hibiscus tea a few weeks ago and actually really liked it." Mark chuckled behind her, his fingers shifting lightly over her hip as he moved his weight across from one foot to another. "She even got me to try it," he chimed in, the small smile of his likely showing across his face, although Amy didn't look back to check. Tea was a familiar and safe topic, at least. She wasn't about to go asking about what had happened with their relationship or anything like that while in line at a coffee shop. Not only was it far too rude and straightforwards anyways, poor Collin appeared as though he was barely managing to act normal already. She didn't want to purposefully make him uncomfortable.

"Oh, well that won't do at all," she said with a shake of her head as she took her card back between her first two slender fingers. With her other hand she pressed in her pin and tapped the green button to agree upon the price to accept finalizing the payment, but there was a sad frown upon her face as she glanced back up at Collin. "You shouldn't have to be alone and work to fill your time," she said, shaking her head slightly as she shoved the card back into its proper place. While Amy and Mark had both been there and done that - working their weekends and holidays away when they were younger - they now enjoyed the chance to take breaks as they pleased, as well as drag along other for the ride if they so wished. "You should come to the cabin with us for a bit!," she exclaimed, snapping her fingers as she spoke. "You know we would have loved to invite you sooner if timing had worked out properly!" Unfortunately, that was the truth. All of Amy and Mark's trips to the cabin had somehow conflicted with already held schedules in the time that they'd known Collin.

"Yes, and unless weather changes, we'll be out of the way of the worst of the storm while we're there," Mark added. They'd certainly get hit by flurries - they always did - but power outages and getting snowed in shouldn't be in the picture. And if it were, well, they did have a couple of generators that could easily be up and running in no time. "Oh," Amy added, piping up as she remembered something else in her quest to convince Collin to join them at the cabin, "you can bring your kitten as well. Oliver, was it? He'll be no problem if you don't want to leave him." Honestly, they hadn't had an animal at the cabin with them before, but small kittens were always a joy to have around, and it would be much easier for Collin to bring his pet if he wished, rather than try on short notice to find someone to help take care of him.

A large part of her wished for Collin to accept their offer. She knew that it was a bit unfair, of course, to not inform him that James would likely be there - as well as vice versa with her son - but she could tell that something was off with both of them. This was no normal breakup. James had been apathetic since his graduation, which had been something he'd been looking forward to for years, even without Collin in the picture. He barely spoke and, as far as she or Mark knew, never left his home aside from going to work. Collin seemed to be much in the same boat, although he appeared to be more nervous and uncomfortable than anything else at the moment. Amy really just wanted her boys - because Collin might as well have been family already - to be happy.

AMY LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ — "Oh, I know you did, Dear," she said, smiling kindly at the boy - it was a mother's gentle smile in an attempt to make him as comfortable as possible. If he was going to feel nervous around her and her husband, she didn't want to do anything that might possibly exacerbate his discomfort. "To be honest, I was a bit scared to try it at first. You'd done a lovely job recommending different types of teas but they just never seemed to be for me. This one caught me by surprise." In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she'd likely drink it again in the future, which was truly surprising considering that there'd never been a tea that she would willingly taste a second time before. Collin had really had his work cut out for him, but he'd been determined.

Amy tutted fretfully over the boy as he stumbled his way through some sort of reasoning that he'd be okay being alone that whole time. Well, alone besides his new cat, that was. As personable and as good for company that animals were, they never substituted the conversation that one could have with another human being, she found. As he stumbled - quite obviously - his way through excuses of why he couldn't travel down to the cabin for a bit, Amy was about to attempt and talk him into it some more when his boss generously allowed him the time off. She clapped her hands - as well as she could when holding her latte, meaning she smacked one palm against the back of her other hand - in glee. "Oh, your boss is too kind," she said with a grin followed by a louder "thank you" meant for Alice herself. "Trust me, Collin, you'll have a great time, and I couldn't stand to know that you'd be alone the whole time!"

As for how to get there, well, Amy tended to over-pack, so there'd likely be no room in their own vehicle. "Oh, just follow behind us at your own pace, okay?" She said. "Plus, if you're bringing Oliver, I'm sure there's a bunch of stuff that you'll want to take with you, so I think it will be better if you have your own space to pack as much as you need." It went unsaid, because Amy was devious like that, but if James was going to be there - which, as far as she knew so far, he was - then she didn't want to actually trap Collin at the cabin by being his only means of transportation out of there. As much as she wanted him and her son to reconcile, for the well-being of both of them, it wouldn't do to not allow him to have a way out if he so desired. She wasn't going to be that forceful about it. Besides, running into Collin here had been something like a stroke of luck. Fate, if you will. She believed it would work out for the best, so there was no need to push too far.

"We'll be leaving this weekend, but Mark is planning the final details right now, so he'll let you know exactly what time we're setting off. As of right now, plan for Saturday, but we'll let you know if something comes up." With that, she smiled widely again at Collin. It really was great to see him again, as she was looking forward to being able to spend time together at the cabin. He really was like the second son that she'd never had, and she desperately wished for him to be happy. Looking back, she noticed that the door to the shop had opened, and two people were now walking inside to the line. "I think we've taken up enough of your time, though. I'd forgotten that you were still working," she said with a chuckle. Holding her coffee up in a goodbye, she nodded at Collin. "One of us will text you, okay? Have a good week, Collin. It was great seeing you again!" And with that, she finally stepped out of the line and headed for the exit, Mark wishing the boy farewell and following behind her.

ooc;; i was out of town for the week, but im back now!

JAMES LILLDON ✦ ✧ ✦ —  "Oh, I see," James hummed nonchalantly, putting up one arm and holding his head up with his chin in his hand. His eyes were on Collin and he watched with a grin as the man emphasized his ninja abilities. Honestly, he had no way of knowing whether he was exaggerating or not, but James was going to assume - and hope - that he was at least a little for the bit. Most people tended to make at least some noise when they moved, and also weren't plotting the demise of their new housemate.

He listened intently as Collin regaled the tale from his youth that resulted in an apparently fucked-up back. "God, kids really do dumb things, don't they? You're lucky you didn't break your neck, dude," he said, eyes slightly wide. James had engaged in his own fair share of stupid shenanigans when he was a kid, and had gotten hurt in a variety of ways, but he could easily say that he'd never been dropped on the hard asphalt from someone's shoulders. Honestly, some stiffness was probably the best outcome that Collin could have asked for, given how sensitive to injury the back tended to be. James shook his head lightly at the idea of how much worse such an injury could have been, and carefully didn't mention the aforementioned sister that had been brought up briefly again during Collin's story. He still didn't want to pry, since the last time that he'd mentioned her Collin had clammed up as though it'd been a mistake, but James couldn't deny that he was curious, and grew more so each time. If she really was the girl in the picture he'd caught a glimpse of in the family home, her and Collin looked strikingly alike. Ether way, his attention was quickly shifted back to his own injuries, and he couldn't help but to laugh at the disgust on the other man's face when his knee popped. "What, you don't like it?" he teased with another laugh, tossing his head back slightly with the action. He would have done it once more - just to be contrary and to see if he could elicit the full-body shudder of Collin's again - but tossing his leg upward like that wasn't the most comfortable in his current position.

"Wash your mouth and I'll show you fun," James murmured with a humored huff, stabbing another piece from his own serving and bringing the fork up to his lips. It was an obvious tease - the type of joke that he'd assumed he wouldn't be comfortable speaking aloud for a long time. Yet again, spending time with Collin was bringing surprises. Really, it was looking more and more like he couldn't have asked for a better person to share this house with. With such a serious stroke of luck, James almost couldn't believe it. "That's probably a good idea," he said with a nod, forcing his attention back to the matter of the house and their lists. "Wouldn't want to end up buying something twice somehow," he hummed thoughtfully. If they had two individual lists that hadn't been checked against one another then they'd surely end up with multiples if they ever went to the store alone. As nice as having backups and spares was, it definitely wasn't very cost effective.

James wouldn't say it out loud, but it wasn't as though looking at Collin's face instead of the moth was a hardship. The man's face was alight with excitement and fascination toward the creature in his hands and, well, he wasn't unattractive to begin with. Still, he couldn't help but to breathe a sigh of relief when Collin carried the moth to the front door and released it back outside where it belonged. He moved back against the counter - to where he'd been before when they were eating - and physically felt his posture relax now that the moth was no longer in their presence. Surely, he'd been obvious about his fear - as humiliating as that thought was - and the way that Collin seemed to be studying him likely proved what he suspected. However, surprisingly, the man didn't question him about his behavior at all, which was nothing short of unexpected. Instead, James just watched as he went back to his food as well.

Grateful for the distraction that seemed to fully lift the mood that had settled over the kitchen, James pumped his fist up in the air once at Collin's remark. "Hell yeah," he cheered lightly with a laugh and a grin. "Really though," he continued in full seriousness, "I'm glad. You're not so bad yourself." The comfort they both seemed to feel around one another was usually to be expected from those who had been friends for years, not two people who had just met. It was . . . strange and entirely unexpected, but very, very welcome. With that being said, James couldn't deny that he felt strangely okay with the prospect of letting Collin know some things that he usually wouldn't reveal to a stranger. And, well, the man had looked like he wanted to press for answers. "Go ahead, then," he said with a chuckle and a shake of his head. "I'm sure you want to ask." After all, James certainly would, if the positions were reversed.

— name

♦ James Alexander Lilldon

— nicknames

♦ Jamie, Alex

— gender

♦ Male

— age

♦ 22

— sexuality

♦ Biromantic Bisexual

— pronouns

♦ He/Him/His

— birthday

♦ March 13

— current romance status

♦ Long-time single

— faceclaim

♦ Garrett Hedlund

— appearance

♦ James stands at a height of 6'1", which is pretty average for the males in his family. His father is 6'0", his uncle is 6'2", and even his mother is above average height for a woman, standing at 5'9". He's satisfied enough with his height though, and wouldn't really want to be any taller

♦ He doesn't actually know his exact weight. He hasn't gone to the doctor in a long time, and even though he works out, he never really did it to just stare at the scale every day. If he had to guess, though, he'd say that he ranged somewhere between average for his height, to a little above average

♦ His hair is a sandy blond, cut short along the sides, but left a bit longer on the top. It grows straight, and James doesn't do much for styling, just makes sure that it looks presentable, sometimes with a little gel, if he feels like it

♦ His eyes are a light color, somewhere between grey and green, and usually depending on the lighting. Out in the sun, the green really shines through, but otherwise it's pretty muted.

♦ His skin tone is pretty pale, although he does tan very well, rarely ever burning

♦ No tattoos and no scars, except for one along his left index finger from a knife accident in the kitchen when he was younger.

— overview

♦ James is naturally curious and adventurous, and will sometimes shift into recklessness if there isn't someone sensible around to keep him in check. The only things he has no interest in investigating are things off the ground (he hated having to be on upper floors in the city; and one of the reasons why he moved away for college)

♦ Will stand up for the things that he believes in and won't let anyone push him around. He has sharp wit and a sharper tongue, and isn't afraid to use them

♦ Despite this, he's actually a pretty emotional guy, and doesn't enjoy arguing with his friends nearly as much as he does strangers

♦ Loves to joke around, and sarcasm is one of his favorite methods. He'll poke and tease his friends mercilessly. (don't worry though, he's willing to take anything that he dishes out). This all comes from a place of love, of course

♦ Don't try to tease him if you're not actually friends, though; he won't appreciate it

♦ In general, just very sweet, and cares about his friends and family a lot

♦ Sometimes has a very difficult time dealing with social situations if he's the center of attention

— likes

Summer weather, thunderstorms, animals, sweet foods, listening to music, singing, etc.

— dislikes

Snow, tall buildings, hiking, tomatoes and pickles, insects, etc.

— phobias

♦ Arachnophobia - fear of spiders

♦ Acrophobia and basophobia - fear of heights and falling

♦ Mottephobia - fear of moths

— parents

♦ Mark and Amy Lilldon, married 35 years

— siblings

♦ None, an only child

— children

♦ Currently 0

— romantic relationship history

♦ Dated a girl name Angela three out of his four high school years

♦ "Dated" a man named Charles his second year of college

— close friends/trusts

♦ TBD

— enemies/does not trust

♦ TBD

—birthplace and living condition

♦ James was born and grew up in a big city. He was used to crowds and moving along with the pace of everyone else. Nobody cared what you did when there were too many other important things taking up their attention.. Somehow, there were no secrets - people would do and say anything out on the streets - but at the same time, everything was a secret. As soon as something happened, everyone else was bound to forget it in less than a day, and if they didn't, they certainly wouldn't remember your face. James attended college in a smaller town straight out of high school and pursued his bachelor's degree in marketing. He graduated at 21, and moved back home for a year. He found that the bustling city didn't suit him quite as much as it used too, however, so he moved out once again back to a small town and into a nice woodland cabin on the outskirts.

—education

♦ Completed a marketing BA with a statistics minor

—employment

♦ Financial analyst position with an electrical company.

—hobbies

♦ Reading, video games, going to the gym, singing (privately), he played recreational volleyball through high school and college, but hasn't since

— site activity

♦ Varies, but generally active all afternoon and most of the night on most days

— writing level

♦ Advanced

— preferred name

♦ Floral Frolic, Floral, etc.