{SF} Day Laborers

[Nico Martell]

Right, they'd managed to more or less get the thing moved and together, and now they were apparently going to get something to eat. Probably something not fried, considering what they were working with. Nico gave the device another little nudge with his foot, half expecting the thing to turn into some kind of robot and start attacking.

Nico had to nod at Franck's assessment: this definitely wasn't something that he wanted to be the one messing with, that much was certain. Nico looked over at Franck,, having felt that smile. "nah, I get it," he said, looking back down at the thing again. "Should we... try it?" He looked around for a moment, but, well, he wasn't sure that you should start a fryer without actually having something to fry. There didn't exactly seem to be a whole lot of stuff around unless one of them wanted to put their hands into it or something.

Nico paused and looked at it again, actually kneeling down to prod it slightly. "I don't know anything about this stuff," he admitted, looking up at Franck, then flicking his eyes toward the fryer, trying to figure out if they had anything else to do. At this point, Nico just wanted to head off and, well, apparently get foods.

[François Laffont]

It was sort of incredible for Franck to think that he helped building this thing. And then people would use it. He was not entirely sure how good of an idea it was but apparently they trusted they could do good enough of a job and looking at the result Franck really started to believe the same thing. He was rather proud. He didn't think he totally sucked at manual labor, he could follow instructions after all, but it was still nice to see they managed to do that without too many swears and hurt fingers.

Nico didn't really need to tell Franck that he was not taking any offense in his words as the Frenchman knew it but Nico was not aware of that. Franck also didn't think that inviting him to eat something after may seem like he was hitting on the guy. Sure, he was gay and never hid it but he also didn't scream it at the face of the world. Luckily, while eating, they would put their shirt back on. Franck knew that he might. If he could get something to wipe some of the sweat he could feel running down his back. Somehow, the whole working and sweating look was not turning him on.

Nico then asked a legitimate question. Should they try it? “I don’t know,” he admitted. It was not like he heard the orders from the man very well to begin with. But he saw no oil or anything like that to see if it worked. “Maybe they’ll do it when they have time? I don’t really know how that work to be honest. But maybe they want us to place it somewhere in particular first?” Where could that thing go? Franck had a few ideas but he didn't want to place it somewhere only to find out it belonged someplace else. He might also have to return the tools but that could wait until they worked that little problem of theirs.

[Nico Martell]

No oil, no nothing to fry with. Franck hadn't gotten any more instruction than Nico. So the Hispanic stared at the fryer for a few more moments. Maybe someone else would do it. Franck certainly thought so. Nico shrugged. "Nothing else we can do," he gave the thing another quick rap with his fingers before heading for the door. It was hot in the trailer and he didn't want to spend any more time in there than he absolutely had to.

Just exiting felt good, and Nico stretched. He knew he'd need to collect his things before he headed off with Franck to get something to eat. Had the other guy offered to buy? Nico couldn't quite remember. He was fairly certain he could probably just ask and the other guy would. Perhaps Nico should feel guilty about that. He didn't, but he almost felt like he should.

Instead he turned back toward the trailer. "I'm going to get my stuff," he said, jerking his thumb back where they'd come. "You want to meet somewhere?" Because he figured he might as well go through with this food thing. IF nothing else, it had to beat eating along, if just barely.

[François Laffont]

Normally, Franck wouldn’t like to leave something half done. But he had absolutely no idea what was supposed to be done now. And with no one to supervise their work and tell them what was next, it was hard to see this through. He was tempted to agree with Nico, to claim there was nothing else to do since they told them nothing else. Someone who knew how to use that thing would come, plug it somewhere to see if it worked, throw oil or water or whatever they might need to see if it was doing what it was supposed to do. That someone apparently would not be them. Or they didn’t expect the two boys would be done already. Or they just forgot about them altogether.

Franck followed Nico, nodding at the fryer they decided they were done with. A light chill took him when the breeze hit his bare chest. He grabbed his shirt and put it on. The air was not really that cold, it was still pretty warm, but he sweated enough that any air blown on his skin would feel cooler than it really was.

He didn’t ponder very long about this as Nico said he needed to gather his stuff and it reminded Franck that he should too. Then there was the question of where to meet. He pointed in some direction. “They set up a place where we can eat over there. We’ll just wait for the other there? I’ve got some stuff too to get,” he suggested. Made sense if they were supposed to eat together.

[Nico Martell]

Nico followed the gesture, nodding his understanding. Yeah, he could wait up over there. Then he gave Franck another directed nod before heading off and gathering his things. Thankfully nobody had messed with his stuff during his time off helping. The shirt was fine, and soon back onto his body, and everything else he'd set down while he'd helped was there too. A few other guys had already gone off to lunch and they were pretty well set up with everything anyway.

Which left Nico heading toward the direction Franck pointed. wasn't hard to figure out where the food was, since there were people already gathered there and eating. Nico looked over the offerings for a bit, trying to figure out if he should just go ahead and dig in or wait for Franck. The latter struck him as being more polite or something, plus it wouldn't be like he had to do it for too long, surely.

So Nico lounged a bit, leaning against one of the trailers while he waited for Franck to show up.

[François Laffont]

That guy really didn’t like to talk. Franck felt he might just end up saying way more than he meant to during that lunchtime just because he couldn’t take the silence. He just seemed to realise how awkward it might be. But Franck would not back down. He was the one who suggested they ate together, he was not going to pretend he had something urgent to do just because it might leave him a little uncomfortable. At least he would be able to say it came all from him for once.

He got his school bag, something quite important if he wanted to pay for the meal. Did he offer to pay for Nico? He did not remember either but, just in case the boy assumed that he would, since Franck would not correct him, he made sure he would have enough money. He did, which was good. He didn’t bother to check if anything else had been disturbed in there. If they didn’t take his money, why would they bother with his job’s uniform, his keys or IDs?

When he went to the trailer, Nico was already there. “Did I make you wait for long?” he asked although it was a rather rhetorical question. He knew he didn’t leave long enough to claim that he did and Nico had to grab his things too. He had a shirt on now and that was a good thing. Less distracting. When they worked, he could focus on something else but he might not be able not to stare now that they would only eat. “They’re offering more choice than I’d expect,” he let out after taking a peek to see about it. He nodded towards the food. If Nico didn’t like to talk Franck could be quiet too. For a time.

[Nico Martell]

Nico shrugged. "not really." He'd been waiting a little while, sure, but not enough to really get his dander up or anything. Plus, he had a feeling that Franck was one of those that definitely wanted to hear at least a little response, and Nico could supply the bare minimum for people like that. If only so he didn't have to listen to the horribly awkward attempts at conversation that usually happened whenever someone felt pressured to banish silences.

They did have the food to look at, and Nico turned along with Franck to look around. yep, definitely some choices. "I'm heading for the taco truck," Nico said, nodding and pointing that way. Yeah, maybe he should've asked Franck what he wanted or something. But it wasn't like this was a date or anything. Heck, Nico wasn't even sure if he wasn't paying.

Actually, it turned out that neither of them would be. The same guy who'd been responsible for ordering them to work showed up, yelling for everyone who'd just been involved helping set up to come over and get a voucher for a free meal at one of the trucks. Nico exchanged looks with Franck, shrugged, and moved to get into line. He'd barely gotten over when some guy elbowed him though, insisting on pushing him back. Nico thought he heard some kind of racial slur too, but he couldn't be certain.

[François Laffont]

Nico wanted tacos. This was not something Franck ate much in his life and as he looked around, he preferred to opt for some Greek salad with chicken. He was not judging Nico on his choice of food or wanted to look fancy with the salad. They were big enough to fill you up and with the chicken as well, Franck should have more than enough. With a bottle of water, it would be perfect.

Franck was about to say so to Nico when a voice demanded everyone’s attention. In a way, it was relieving. Franck realised he did not say anything about who was to pay and even if he would have assumed they’d all pay their part, this had not been decided between them. They were not on a date, it was not like Franck was obligated to pay for him. Franck exchanged a glance with Nico and they walked towards the man to get their voucher.

Nico was pushed however. Franck standing behind him, he extended a hand to hold him, in case he’d lose his balance. He then looked at the one who pushed him. “There’s enough for everyone no need to be rude,” he let out but he received nothing in return but a scoff. They were being ignored now. The man was not really worth going back at him and instead Franck focused on Nico. “You okay?” Should be, but he was the one who’d been insulted and if he wanted an apology, at least for the racial comment he got afterwards, Franck wouldn’t stop him. He was in the right. Yet, after spending time with him, he doubted Nico would try anything. “Some people have no manners.”

[Nico Martell]

Really? Franck was gonna give him some kinda half-hearted lecture? Nico hadn't expected anything, really, but that response just had him letting out a slight chuckle. The guy was just giving the "beaner" a look before going back to getting his voucher and all. So much for sunny, progressive Montana. Then again, nobody had really promised that.

Franck at least looked back to Nico. He had to give him that much. Nico brushed himself down then shrugged. Yeah, more or less fine. Nothing major going on. "Let's just get our vouchers," he said, stepping forward. Another guy looked about ready to start a fight, but that one Nico just walked around at the last moment. Soon enough he had his voucher in hand and was getting out of the way.

People were idiots. He could practically feel some of them staring at him now. Nico sighed and rolled his eyes skyward. Was there any way of getting out of this without a fight? Maybe Franck could lecture them to death. It was a possibility, right?

[François Laffont]

Franck knew this really was not necessary. And most certainly useless. People were like that, they’d argue they were not racist or homophobic or whatever but... Franck was not the kind to use his fists or anything but he simply could not keep the comment to himself. He had to point out to the person they’ve been rude. His tone did not imply he was ready to start a fight, physical or verbal, but that a simple apology while shoving them away would have been enough. Still made the guy lacking manners but would have been better. There was no need to say something racist on top of that.

Nico was surprised by this. As Franck expected, it was useless and the guy just picked his voucher and ignored them. Probably wondering what was wrong with kids nowadays or picking up Franck’s accent and figuring the two were right to tag along. Franck too tried to ignore the man. Nico acted as though it was okay, they should just take their voucher and eat and forget about everyone else. It made Franck feel a little embarrassed that he might have looked as though he was fighting the guy’s battle, one he didn’t even want to start. Not to add that others looked as though they had not been physical enough today and could use a fight to let out that extra energy in them. Franck preferred to stay clear of them.

“It’s a habit of mine. I should probably work on that, but I just can’t help it,” he explained as now they were looking at them. It had never been his intention. “I do it even more when it’s about sexuality but I’m not exactly a ‘born and bred’ American or whatever they say. Don’t mind admitting it, like it a lot less when it’s pointed out like that.” But the incident was over right? Unless they’d end up going in line right behind that man again. That wouldn’t happen, right? Franck really doubted it would for him since he’d pick something that was probably too healthy for him but he did let his eyes wander to try and find him around. “First one to get his plate pick the seats?” That seemed to make sense but he still had to ask Nico.

[Nico Martell]

So the guy was some sort of self-appointed crusader of the downtrodden? Whatever helped him sleep at night. Nico didn't care one way or the other; why would he? The guy could do whatever he wanted. Was apparently gay or something, so that really just made sense when you got down to it. Didn't make any difference to Nico. He just shrugged along with it.

There was a moment though, when Franck talked about being a natural born and bred American, when Nico did have to give Franck a look. The guy seriously hadn't just compared being French to being Hispanic, did he? Because that was one of the dumbest things that Nico had ever heard. The gay thing was at least tolerable, though even that made Nico want to roll his eyes. You could hide the gay. You couldn't hide the brown. But, again, he wasn't about to get into the debate with the guy who meant well or whatever.

"Works," was what he wound up offering when Franck finally said his thing. And then Nico almost purposefully strode toward the taco truck. The line was relatively short, and he managed to get his order in quick enough, sliding over the voucher. He could hear snickering behind him but yet again, he mostly just stood there, waiting for them to finish preparing his taco platter, eyes flicking a bit to see where the French guy had ended up.

[François Laffont]

Franck didn’t mean to just admit his homosexuality but it was true that he defended gay rights more often than he did with ethnicities. Even if he could fight for that too, considering he was not exactly American, or at least born an American. Then again, was he a citizen here? He never really checked but thought since he came as a kid and became an adult here that he was. But his father was not, as he was still waiting for his citizenship. Shouldn’t take long.

He shoved that thought aside. It was not important here and doubted the other guy would like to discuss such a topic anyway. Neither did he want to, to be honest. There was no point in teaming up because they were ‘different’ or try to see which one was the most different out of the two. This would lead nowhere and Franck would likely let Nico ‘win’ that competition, even if he felt none of them really did.

Despite the fact they’d been working together for a while, the guy did not warm up to Franck. Or he talked as little even with people he might be slightly more comfortable with. The line turned out to be longer where Franck went. It was not that many wanted a salad, they just offered a large variety of food so a lot more people went there. Franck paid attention to where Nico was. He was pretty sure the guy would get his order before he did and that was proven when he could give it while Franck still waited in line. Oh well. He did say the plan worked for him. At least it went pretty fast when Franck was finally able to order.

[Nico Martell]

Taco platter showed up. Nico handed over the voucher, nodded toward the guy running it, and exchanged a few words in Spanish before heading off. Franck was getting his meal: looked like he'd gone for the salad line (you would not catch Nico going near a salad lean, especially not with food trucks). That meant that Nico was supposed to find some place to sit.

First thing he did was locate the punks who'd been abusing him. A few had noticed him and had apparently dismissed his whole getting Mexican food or whatever (like there weren't other reasons to opt for tacos instead of the other crap around here). They hadn't said or done anything, so Nico didn't say or do anything with them.

Instead he located an empty table with a fair amount of trash on it. The trash had kept people away, but it didn't bother Nico. He walked over, brushed aside enough of it to make space, and then sat down with his meal, opening and getting things ready, figuring that Franck would notice him easily enough. Sitting at an empty table had a tendency to be rather on the noticeable side.