Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been a good while since he'd met the junior at HITS. Long enough that she'd no doubt already transferred her senior year at Crystal, and may be graduated already or about to finish much like he was himself. Espresso Yourself hadn't been as much in his routine anymore, unlike when he'd first moved to the city- he was much more full time trying to work on his competition goals, and more often had been helping Colin with training. Though that had petered off now as well. Graduation looming had a way of replacing already scant leisure with attempts to eat or sleep.

The message on his phone came as a surprise. Not only because he used the thing next to never so it was always startling to hear the Ride of the Valkyries out of the ether, but because it had been more than a year. Reading the message brought a smile nonetheless, and he left the weight room at the city gym to shower early and get dressed in normal clothes. He wanted to be on time. And so he nearly was - only five minutes late since it was more of a walk than he remembered.

On entering, he picked her out easily- pretty pale greens and deeper emeralds framing a warm face with large eyes. Large eyes that saw the world with admirable artistic sense that he'd be honored to be a part of. he lifted his hand immediately in greeting, calling over the comfortable seating, "Harmony! Det var länge sedan vi sågs sist!* "

"Can I buy you something to drink?" It looked like she was cradling something, but it was more polite to offer a lady something if you were at a restaurant anyway. Besides, he felt a need of something himself since he was coming straight from working out. "You worked here, ja? Do you still work here?"

Who knew what had changed, and that was some of the excitement of catching up.

* Long time no see

The hug was very welcomed, and he returned it bear-style. She was so small! Really, everyone was. "I will be able to find you for time to come. It is good for me; I hope as good for you."

"The portraits worked out very well. I think if you want to make money, you could make a small store on the internet and link it to my family in Sweden and Norway. They find it fun and funny both, that such a trade was made. I think you could sell some prints. They tease now I have been Thor, I can cut my hair and look normal."

Once they were seated he quirked, seeing parcel offered out to him. Listening, he blushed, "Are you certain? It...."

"Well, it is a great honor. Truly. And the ribbon? It is such good news I brought you some luck. I didn't know you put them in competition. Maybe that is good, I would be too shy. I don't know why...it cannot be so different from a crowd or judges at bodybuilding. Ach, but I should stop it. Den beskedlige får ingenting. ** "

"Have you done a lot of photographs this year? Any scholarships? You must be near college, ja? "



** The modest one gets nothing.

"Scholarship even! Congratulations!" That was incredible. Scholarships were foreign to him, representing so many heights and honors- they were merits at art, athletics, academics, community service. They came for careers that he didn't belong in and couldn't realistically dream of at colleges he'd never go to as a student for degrees he would never hold. It just wasn't in him, and he was okay with that. But to know people for whom it was not only a possibility, but a certainty that they had earned such things and could pursue them was amazing.

"Housing is always important, and the independence that comes with earning and keeping your own space. And not getting woken every two hours by a baby cry is better for studies. " His eyes gentled, worried a little that maybe there was something else behind it. A new baby, and with a sister already so much older? It would be hard to not feel jealous, or maybe displaced. Maybe it was a new marriage? Or an oops.

"If and when you are moving, feel free to call me. I'm very good at carrying boxes, beds, dressers and cars, " he patted one of his biceps jokingly, hoping it would get a smile out of her. "As for me? Graduation will be very soon. It is intimidating. I will have to move home with my mother for about a month I think, and then I will be looking for housing. She and I are going to look at what we both need. Catering has been picking up, so she likes to have me help her carrying and setting up, but it isn't full time. I have been looking at going into contracting and construction or possibly EMT training. "

"Working on an ambulance would be exciting and useful, but hard for me to learn all the training. Maybe a challenge is a good thing, ja? Either would still give me the time I need to train, I think. "

"What do you think?"

That someone as talented as Harmony was saying that EMT training was a good idea was a lot off stress off his mind. He wasn't wholly sold on it as the best path for himself, but it meant it wasn't a bad idea- and that was something he was often worried about. It was better to find someone with a better head to bounce things off of than just go stumbling around in the dark.

At mention of contests, he smiled, and laughed, "So it is. But I have hopes to win some I do enter. The season for lifting and throwing heavy things is fall and winter. If you feel like getting shots of men in skirts, I can send you the highland games schedules for around a couple states here. There's also the regular dead-lift contests and strongman qualifiers. It will be strange not to be competing in school colors. "

Or anyone's colors. A couple years on now and he hadn't heard from Talia in a long time- he didn't have any sponsorships after all. It wasn't crippling, but it wasn't the best situation. It would work out, though. Things always worked out as long as he kept on working hard. He wondered if artists like Harmony felt the same way- if hey had regular buyers and if it was bad if they lost contact with them. "building up a client" or something. No, It was a longer word than client

"At least I will still know where to buy coffee when I am in this area. A stable job is very lucky, and that will work around as you need it. "

"With moving...and with going to university...do you have a bike, or car? Its an extra cost, gas and insurance and registration. I haven't tried with all of that yet, but I don't fit into most cars so it hasn't been important. Maybe for you? If you'll need just a car to move things, or if your parents have a SUV, or if a rental trailer or full truck is needed. Do you have your license?"

"Well, you have my phone...so like I said, and I mean it...call me if you need or just want company and help with moving. I can bring cupcakes from my mother's bakery and maybe you could bribe your family with them to help, too. "

"I'll be staying around Destiny City for a while yet, so I'm available- what are friends for, ja?"