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We`rika walked languidly, trying to finish his cigarette before he came to the apartments not far ahead. It was a crisp clear day and he used any excuse to wear his new fleece lines tan coat that he rewarded himself for being so good. And he better live that b***h up because it was probably going to be the only thing he was getting for Christmas.

Sevilin coughed vehemently behind him, clinging tighter to his guardian's shoulders as he was unwillingly toted about. The smoke from the shaman's cigarette kept buffeting him in the face. "Would you stop that! It's gross! Don't you know that cigarettes cause cancer!" So say the commercials Sevilin watched everyday.

"Yeah no shi'..." We`rika didn't even bother censoring himself. It was a losing battle and Sevilin seemed wise enough not to repeat. "Seems like everythin' these days causes cancer..." He pertly ignored his little charge and took another drag on his cigarette, blowing it the other way so the little Frei wouldn't whine.

"Hey look there's th--... oops, sorry..." He had been tugging on We`rika's sensitive hair after being told repeatedly to not touch.

We`rika just closed his eyes for a minute, waiting for the searing burn to stop. He had just bleached his hair last night, tired of his usual black. And holy ********, it hurt just as it had before. It was like something dissolving all the flesh from his scalp. And the horrid itching ugh! But as usual his hair was so black it never went fully blond, it was a rusty color that worked just as well, though it stopped half way down the side of his cheeks. The rest of his thin beard was jet black and looked a bit ridiculous, but as if he was going to bleach his beard every day after he trimmed it. Hell naw!

"OH OH! there's Doctor Kyou!!" The little water raevan didn't wait for We`rika as he floated over to his maker.

We`rika put out his cigarette in the apartment's trash can and followed Sevilin to his client.

"Ah..." We`rika ghosted his hand over his hair, careful not to fuel the fire in his scalp that had started to slowly ebb away. "Thanks... And ya cu' yers too! Though, I dunno, I think th'fro was a nice touch..." We`rika's words turned into amiable laughter as he saw Kyou did not share his sentiments.

Sighing, the Huichol watched Sevilin wander off to the apartment doors, watching his reflection in the glass. "Uhm sooo..." He pulled at his ear like a nervous twitch. "Where do ya... wanna do this?" Jesus, he sounded like he was propositioning the man.

"Uhh well..." He knew some places. Not really nice though. We`rika didn't think it would be too easy looking over construction plans with a stripper on your lap or on the counter of a bar. Rubbing at his jaw feverishly, he tried to get his single-minded brain to chug forward and help out. "... Well, there's a diner close by. Is go' big booths tha' ya could spread tha' thing ou' on..." He motioned down the street, down a few blocks and across. It wasn't far away and the weather was suitable for a pleasant walk.

The girl behind the counter greeted them mechanically as she began sifting through menus. "Three... Booth..." He corrected and motioned to the boy latched onto his back. He would have said two and a half, knowing how ruffled it got Sevilin's feathers. But the Huichol bit his tongue, pretty sure it would be rude to say in front of the man how created the little Frei. Motioning towards a booth, the shaman sidled in along with Sevilin who gave the woman a good fright.

We`rika sat beside Sevilin to pin him in so he couldn't get into trouble or freak out the staff. He wasn't very hungry so he asked for whatever was on tap and a glass of salt water which got him raised eyebrows. But she soon scurried off to do their bidding.

Watching the doctor spread out the blueprints, he pushed silverware and ketchup bottles over, ignoring Sevilin's whining as his space was invaded by utensils. He held the corner closest to him with his right elbow and propped his head up with his hand, trying to absorb all the information Kyou was spewing at him. He rubbed at his goatee in habit, nodding from time to time to show he wasn't completely lost.

Once the man fell silent, We`rika kept his eyes glued to the blueprints thinking. Sevilin leaned over to watch him or maybe wondering where his water was. Eventually, the shaman leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "... Well, I'd say it'd take aboou'.... half a year ta build, which is pretty good. I canno' even give ya an estima'e on how much it'll cos', it'lla jes depend on wha' materials ya use... ... You'lla jes have ta talk ta th'managers abou' tha'. Do ya have like a business card or anythin'?"

We`rika grabbed the frozen mug from the waitress and began gently pouring his beer, making sure to keep the carbonation to a minimum. Sevilin sat quietly and dutifully drank his salt water, never complaining about the feeble amount of salt used in the water. He was being such a good boy. Probabably because the Doctor was here. Suck up.

Taking Kyou's card, he idly flipped it back and forth in his hands, thinking about the question more than simply studying the business card. He didn't know s**t about money and cost. He is told which bar to cauterize, what nail to hammer and where. That's all that encompassed his world.

"I... really canno' say. I mean, is only two floors tall, though th'equipmen' will definitely expensive, bu' thas why called me, eh? I can sure ge' ya a discoun' on supplies and since yer a lab and! help children like a foster home, I'mma sure ya can ge' some pro bono work, especially since I gots one of th'kids... The Huichol may have to start wooing everyone at his work with Sevilin. If th'Raevan could crack his hearts, the other men would be push overs. "Bu' dun worry too much... We'lla ge' this thing finished no matter wha' we gotta do..."

"Swee'..." This was a lot of responsibility he wasn't sure he was even allowed at his current position, but who knows, this could give him a raise for bringing in a new client, especially a lab. That was pretty prestigious.... well, at least it sounded prestigious.

"A festival sounds haw'! Ya never know how much money you'lla need fer these things..." He took a swallow of his beer. "Sometimes shi' will take longer than ya though' and then ya hafta pay the workers for more hours b***h b***h biiitch..." We`rika looked over at his ward who was avidly peeking behind the back of the booth at the customers behind. He gave Sevilin a harmless pinch and the little seas nymph rolled back around with a sour pout on his face. "So ya... I'll atalk ta my manager and see wha' we can do..."

"Yeah tha'd be grea'..." He stroked Sevilin's pretty hair affectionately, grinning from ear to ear with pride. "Thanks..." He couldn't deny that he had been terrified when he brought Sevilin home the first night, and his parole officer was none too pleased either. But We`rika wouldn't be able to live without him now. He really did wake up just for Sevvie.

"Well... th'sooner I ge' these prints ou' th'sooner you'lla ge' yer lab!" He took the blueprints from the doctor and began scooting out of the booth with the little frei following suit. "Me or my manager will give ya a call in a few days and we'll age' this shi' goin' ya?" He raised his hand to Kyou.