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"You're wish becomes my goal, Orah, " Björn pushed the cart to where they'd gotten it then followed her directions to the back inventory.

Know my mom better- That is a tough thing to approach on an occasion that is supposed to be light and happy. But sorrow itself is sometimes sweet as well. What is a gentle way? Picking up an open journal with writing already plain is more inviting to pen some of your own, ja? "I never knew my father. I was a surprise memento from a week holiday in Stavanger. But I have no complaints, except maybe that it would have been nice to have a brother or sister." The last words were laughed, like it was a common joke-ribbing between mother and son. "I am told to mind my own business of it. "

He left it open at that, so that Orah could choose to open up or not without him prying. It wasn't necessary to their friendship, after all, nor to their day. But sometimes just talking, and finding closeness from that with someone helped make a day-a week-a life a little better. Even one person just caring enough to open up first and stay open, leaving light from in a house streaming out into the open, windswept roads of life.

Björn was plainly neither anxious nor seemingly aware of any sort of awkwardness on the part of anyone finding him attractive- he took care of himself specifically to meet ideals of the human figure as put forward long before in statuary of bronze. He liked feeling fit and healthy, and he liked to be pleasing to others eyes or company- it was all natural, purposeful and hoped for.

"It would have been nice, but it hasn't detracted any. I guess I could have gone looking for him sometime- I've been to visit my family many times in Sweden and Norway, " he shrugged smiling over at her, "But I have not wanted for anything. Simple man, simple needs, ja? But...four...that was a long while ago. You have a good memory."

When she mentioned the inventory stocking specifically he nodded, grateful for the reminder. Doubly certain now, Orah had a good head on her shoulders, "Rotating the stock, ja, my mother has me do the same, so that you don't have stuff too old in the back or bottom and it sells first. I would have forgotten. "

Björn shifted easily from simple, clearly related task to the next. The cermainc plainly made him a nervous, his brows lifting as he pulled up the first few in his wide paws. Do not drop or break things

This would take just a little longer for a task for being careful more than difficulty. Reaching shelves wasn't a problem, he was tall with long arms- playing with delicate things was like daring the fates to make him the bear in the ceramic pot shop. "Gwen? She is another friend? "

"I'm glad you have many hands to help make the load lighter. Is she a classmate? " It meant less worry in his day, or second guessing that maybe he should be rescheduling more around to offer more. He didn't mind to do so, there was joy in giving, but it was helpful to not have to reschedule too much with his responsibilities as an officer. No, no I will still worry.

No point pretending.

St. Mags....Orah does have a history of taking in questionable strays Björn recognized himself as part of that grouping, and couldn't help but wonder if 'Gwen' had just had an unfortunate misstep that had landed her in the school for bad girls. It was certainly possible that the girl was a rough character regardless, heart of gold or not.

The doubling up on florist work seemed mean- weren't there usually contract problems about non-competition with that sort of thing? Well, if Orah doesn't mind it and thinks its fine, then it probably is. She knows about floristing.

He looked over some a stack of pots as she went to answer the door and just paused for a moment, taking in the day. It was hard to remember every day having been so once in the ignorance of bliss- his biggest problems being exactly such things as trying not to break plates when packing boxes to move, getting lost in the city, or whether a friend was really as okay as they were letting on. It felt, all at one, too idyllic.

He finished off the pottery and moved to the rolls, making sure to lift with his knees and not his back. How did she do it normally? Wounded or not she wasn't that much stronger and certainly no taller. Plainly she was a wizard. Or had a dolly....or something. Tasks complete he crossed to the portal between the back and front, looking out unobtrusively (he hoped).
Better to be available to get her something if she needed it for the customer.

Björn couldn't help but chortle at the 'srsbsns' young man hunched on the stool and throwing kindness at his sister like a wet towel. He assented with a single nod to Orah, turning to follow her after observing common courtesy -
"Hallo, Matthew. It is a pleasure to meet you."

It was called both genuinely pleasant and inevitably booming.

Following behind Orah, though, he offered, "You father does not mind he has so many pierce? He seems young to get them without parent permission they ask at the booths. They look cool, though. When I find a good place, I'd like a labret, myself. "

"That is not so kind of your brother, " Björn heaved on a sigh. It wasn't by any means unusual behavior, though. He'd never understood the need for most youths to rebel so destructively against the authority of their parents. Anna had always had a wise perspective and was always helpful about offering him ideas of how he should be acting or deciding on things. She'd given him his leash to learn, certainly, and had also made it very clear when and why in the few instances that he was to obey without question. He'd liked the authority, and the growth of his responsibilities he'd been given had made him proud. It had meant as the years passed she'd trusted him more and more to be responsible for himself and had made her proud. Hopefully Matthew wouldn't go so far with it as to end himself up needing to enroll at Hillworth.

"Some must fall a few times when trying their wings, I guess."

"Ja, a labret is the one that goes here, " he touched the dip between his lower lip and goatee with his thumb. "Just a stud, ha. A ring would look strange there. "

"Piercings can be very nice accents on some faces, but they're not really necessary. I don't think it is a think about bravery- some faces are beautiful enough in their own right. Sometimes its just an interesting adornment. It's just my opinion, " He ventured gently, "But with your dark skin, and cute nose, an ala stud, just gold, could be fun. I don't think it would add anything that isn't already there, but it would just be a fun catch to the eye. "

"Not that I'm smart about fashion, believe me, " he laughed.

He'd actually never heard the name of that stuff pronounced before, so it was actually a surprise to hear it as KEEN-wah instead of what was in his head - kwin-oh. "There's some cardboard burgers they make out of that in the frozen aisle at the co-op. So that's how its supposed to be pronounced."

Since he didn't watch much TV, he'd missed the recent NFL commercials highlighting the exact predicament, though mispronouncing it as kwee-noh.

Actually, there were a lot of gross, odd everything not-meat at the DC Co-op. He wasn't sure why he bothered to stay half vegetarian, other than it had become habit, but doing so was easier with access to the selection that came with a membership at the place. "Chicken is fine. Is it an Indian recipe?"

"Salad is cold, so the chicken is cold, ja? It will heat fine in the belly, " he nodded gratefully over the meal. "Thank you for this. Its a lot not to have to cook for myself after a few months. Anna does sneak into my apartment and leave meals for me to find- I think also to check out my fridge and if I'm eating right. But it isn't so often."

"Yes, she is a chef. In New York, " it was strange not to say back home, but a few years in Destiny City had usurped the title, "She worked at a restaurant and earned some stars. Some fancy stars, I don't remember the name. "

"When we moved here, she wanted to try something new, so she opened a crazy cupcake place. She makes strange brownies and pastries there, too. So if you ever need baked goods, I can hook you up. She makes a whole selection of ones for people who won't eat some things like vegetarian, vegan...the fish one...there's the one about no gluten, too."

But that wasn't who's food he was eating, "I have lived off my own cookie for a bit now. And before that was school lunches at Hillworth. I'm sure it is divine. "

And he wasn't going to waste more time debating that. The best proof of a good meal was leaving none on the plate.