#closed interaction : nathanccrane

[camxle]

status / closed @nathanccrane

location / the grape escape

Staring out into the lush vineyard, Cam was brought back to her summers in France. Gregory's family owned a vineyard that the couple frequented often. She missed it dearly. So many amazing memories with her husband had been made there. It was memories like those that had kept Cam from returning to France. She feared that going back would only break her heart all over again. With the time that had passed since his tragic loss, the club owner felt more confident about returning to France. She was currently in the process of planning a ten day vacation to Europe, including a few days being spent in Paris. She was slightly nervous about going back, but not enough to stop her.

Sipping on her wine, the soft sound of someone clearing their throat reached Cam's ears. She glanced over her shoulder to see Nathan standing behind her. "Nathan, hi, it's been awhile." The tattooed club owner gestured to the empty seat beside her. "Would you like to join me?"

[miloxhughes]

status / closed @nathanccrane

location / the blue wolf (parking lot)

"Milo?"

He arched a brow and turned his head to the side, blue hues settling on a male stumbling over in Milo's direction. Great. "Who wants to know?" It had been a long day and he wasn't in the mood to deal with some drunk idiot. Milo had met up with Nathan for a business meeting and drinks following soon after. While his boss stayed inside to take care of the bill, Milo waited outside by the car. He was minding his own business when the inebriated stranger decided to bother him.

"You don't recognize me, do you? I used to date your mom when you were some pain-in-the-ass little twerp."

Milo's mother had too many boyfriends for him to keep track. Each one was just as unforgettable as the last. The guy's face looked a little familiar, but Milo couldn't recall much else. "Good for you. Would you mind fucking off now?" This wasn't the best of times to test the young male's temperament. He was tired, which meant his patience was razor thin. Having his mother brought up didn't help the situation either.

"You rude shit, just like your mother. Useless bitch, the only thing she was good for was opening her legs."

A violent wave of unbridled anger washed over Milo. He couldn't let himself believe that someone talking ill of his mother was the reason he had such a reaction. Milo himself had said worse things about her in the past. Blaming his quick temper was the easiest thing to fall back on. "Is that right?" The part of his brain that told him not to react shut down completely. He marched over to the other, ignoring his pleas for Milo to back off. Hands shot out to grab the drunken fool's shirt, dragging the guy between two cars. Milo's balled up fist went swinging through the air, connecting with the older male's cheek. His arm snapped back again, delivering another solid punch to the drunkard's face.

[felipexflores]

status / closed @nathanccrane

location / flores boutique

With summer just around the corner, the boutique was preparing for the new seasonal collection that Felipe was debuting. Summer was when the fashion designer was most inspired. It was the time for fun, bold, and bright colors. Ocean blue, palm tree green, coral pink, lemonade yellow, shades that Felipe was looking forward to bringing to the mountain city. The soft chime of the front entrance door rung through the boutique. Felipe glanced up to see a sharply, well-dressed male stroll into the boutique. The fashion designer didn't want to judge a book by it's cover, but based on the potential customer's style, it didn't seem likely that the unfamiliar face was here to see the latest summer trends. Who knows? Maybe they had a closet full of brightly colored outfits. There was only one way to find out. Felipe approached the customer, flashing a brilliant smile. "Hello, welcome to Flores. I'm Felipe, the owner. Is there anything I might be able to help you with?"

[thierrydupont]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​​

location: somewhere downtown

The sun had set over the horizon and the sharp chill of the December air was growing colder as night crept forth. Thierry walked out the front entrance to The Blue Wolf, pulling the zipper up on his leather jacket, burying his hands into the warmth of his pockets. He had swung by the jazz club after he finished his shift for a drink. Spending time alone with his thoughts was still a rocky path that Thierry was trying to gain some footing on. Keeping himself busy was the easiest way to find his way back to some kind of emotional normalcy. He just needed some time. Instead of heading back to his cabin, Thierry opted for a walked around the streets of Downtown. A long stroll would help tire him out, maybe then he could get a solid night of sleep.

The former detective found himself wandering down one of the many streets lined with small shops and restaurants, most that had already closed up for the night. Thierry’s brown hues kept his gaze forward as he walked along the sidewalk. A shop door swinging open caught his attention. He glanced over to find himself locking eyes with Nathan Crane. The pair hadn’t seen each other since the day Nathan asked for the cop’s help. Thierry preferred it that way.

He expelled a steady sigh, slowing down to a stop as he reached distillery owner. “Crane.” Thierry noticed the scatted cuts healing on the Nathan’s face, mildly curious as to how they got there. 

“You’ve looked better.”

[thierrydupont]

Thierry simply returned Nathan's scowl with one of his own. Of course he would take offense to the suggestion. It didn't matter what the cop said. He could give Nathan a genuine compliment and he'd still find a way to take it the wrong way, not that Thierry would ever waste his breath stroking the male's already bloated ego. "The point would be to show that there is repercussions to one's actions. It make any future idiots think twice about wanting to cause mayhem in your place of business. Less idiots, less of a chance that I have to show up and you have to deal with me."

"Of course," he nodded curtly, but thought bitterly to himself 'I bet you don't ask in that tone though, do you?' Dupont's disdain from him had always been obvious and it was more so now. At least the feeling was mutual.

A bouncer or two. Nathan could've laughed. They certainly had enough people milling around at the distillery to fit the description, but it wasn't the bar they were keeping an eye on and he wasn't about to share that with the police. Instead he scowled at Thierry, before glancing over to where his employees were carefully clearing up the mess, scooping larger chunks of glass into a dustpan and revving up the vacuum. They couldn't be blamed for looking as disgruntled as they were, Alison had worked hard on that gin display and it was lucky that only the bottles had been hurt. "You can ask them, but I don't think it'll do much good. What would be the point? He's not the first idiot we've had in here, he won't be the last."

[miloxhughes]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​​

location: touch of ink (holiday tattoo sale)

“I have the best fuckin’ idea.” Milo came to a dead stop as he and Nathan were about to pass by Touch of Ink. Ever since his boss had shown up at his condo, requesting to indulge in some of Milo’s coke, the pair had been spending more time together. Getting high or drunk were their favorite hobbies of choice. Six days had passed since he found out his mom died and not one of them had been spent sober. It was a never-ending bender with no expiration date. Milo would stop when he was ready to.

“We should get matching tattoos. I’ve been wanting to get some new ink. It can be a bonding experience and shit.” Milo drunkenly chuckled, nudging Nathan’s shoulder. “I’ll even fuckin’ pay for it. My treat.”

[miloxhughes]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​

location: nathan crane residence

There had been an undeniable tension hanging around the warehouse and distillery over the last week. Freddie had given out a vague instruction for everyone to be on alert, but gave little explanation as to why. It didn’t take long for the rumors to start. Nathan’s noticeable absence the past few days had some of the guys wondering if the Crane brother had been taken out. Milo was relived to learn that wasn’t the case when he had been instructed to go to over to Nathan’s house for a private meeting. It wasn’t very often that Milo felt anxious or nervous. He didn’t rattle easy thanks to his chaotic upbringing. The idea of talking to Nathan one-on-one had caused a little sweat to creep along the back of his neck. He wiped his hand across his nape just as he reached the door that that led to Nathan’s study. Milo knocked before stepping inside, closing the door behind him once he entered the room. A look of surprise reflected back in his blue hues when his gaze landed on the older male’s face. “Shit, that looks like it fuckin’ hurts. You okay, boss?”

[camxle]

continued from here / @nathanccrane

"And you felt it was necessary to bribe me? I'm not sure if I should feel offended or flattered." Cam jested back, reaching into the bag to pull out a bottle of Scotch. She glanced down at the expensive liquor, playfully releasing a soft whistle. "Fancy. I usually prefer jewelry when I'm being bribed, but I'm willing to make exceptions." The club owner smirked back at Nathan, sliding off her bar stool to step behind the bar to grab two glasses. "You caught me, I hate getting gifts. Nothing is worse than having someone buy you an extravagant present. The nerve of some people." Cam grinned, returning to join Nathan at the bar. "Jokes aside, thank you for the Scotch, and the apology. Both are very much appreciated." A kind smile graced her lips. She poured them both a drink from the bottle of Scotch, sliding a glass over to Nathan. "It's nice to see you back to yourself again."

[camxle]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​​

location: the blue wolf

Cam had arrived at The Blue Wolf before opening hours to prep for the big night ahead. A Grammy award winning jazz artist was coming to perform at the club tonight and every seat in the house was filled. Being the meticulous business woman that she was, Cam was going over every single detail to make sure the night went out without a hitch. She was going over the specialty cocktails with her bar manager when another member of her staff informed Cam that Nathan Crane was outside looking for her. Besides noticing him from across the room at the Snowdrop Soirée, the pair hadn’t seen each other since he made a scene at Le Cirque, forcing her to remove him from the club. She was concerned about Nathan’s behavior, but it wasn’t her place to tell the distillery owner what to do. If he wanted to be a mess, that was on him. Cam just wasn’t going to allow him to be a mess at her nightclub. She told her employee to let him, asking her bar manager to step out for a minutes. Cam swiveled her bar stool to face Nathan as he walked inside. “Long time no see, Nate. What brings you by?”

[camxle]

status: closed - @nathanccrane

location: killarney, ireland

Cam glanced out one of the cottage windows to see patches of gray clouds forming over the horizon. It wouldn't be a trip to Ireland without a rainy day. Her vacation to Europe was nearing it's end. Only a few more days before Cam and Nathan would return to their normal lives back in Providence. The time away had been exactly what she needed. An escape from all the responsibilities that were waiting for Cam back home. The trip seemed to be doing wonders for Nathan as well. The club owner couldn't recall a time she had ever seen him look so relaxed, especially when they arrived in Ireland. It was as if a wave of peace had washed over them both, cleansing them of all the stress that they carried around in their daily lives. It was almost perfect. Almost.

When they first arrived in France, Cam was overwhelmed with emotion. Memories of her life with Gregory came rushing back to her. Everywhere she looked, something reminded her of the man she lost. Despite the tornado of feelings swirling around inside her, Cam masked her pain by keeping a smile on her face when she and Nathan were together. She didn't wish to make him feel uncomfortable during a time when he should be enjoying himself. As difficult as it was to go back, Cam felt stronger for it. She faced a fear that had been haunting her for almost two years and felt proud of herself for doing so. It was their arrival in Italy when things started to take an unexpected turn in their trip.

An unspoken tension began blossoming between Cam and Nathan. It started subtle at first. A small touch on her back when they walked into a restaurant. A goodnight kiss on his cheek before they parted ways to their separate rooms. Nothing unusual between friends. Towards the end of their time spent in Italy, it didn't feel so subtle anymore. The touches lingered, and the looks shared between weren't that of two people who only saw one another as just friends. Cam convinced herself it was all in her head. Nathan had never made even the slightest inclination that he was attracted to the club owner. In fairness, neither had Cam. She blamed on it the romantic atmosphere that Tuscany had to offer. Things would likely settle once they reached Ireland... only they didn't. The tension that started in Italy made the trip to Killarney with them. There was no separate hotel rooms for them to escape to in Ireland. Cam had rented a cottage when she booked the trip and Nathan seemed perfectly fine with sharing a space with her. She couldn't help but wonder, did he have regrets now that they were under the same roof?

The sound of Nathan emerging from the bedroom pulled Cam's attention away from the scenic view outside. "Morning," she greeted her travel companion with a gentle smile. "I was thinking about going for a walk before the rain comes in. You're welcome to join if you want."

[camxle]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​

location: le cirque

Cam’s plans for staying in for the night were dashed when she received a call from the manager at Le Cirque that someone at the club was causing a bit of a scene in the VIP section. When she learned that person was none other than Nathan, Cam decided to drive over to the club to handle the situation herself. It was hard to imagine Nathan being a nuisance at her place of business. She was under the impression that there was a level of respect between them and a line like that wouldn’t be crossed. The club owner her way through the back entrance of the building, checking with her manager before heading upstairs to the VIP section. Cam approached Nathan’s booth with a raised brow. “A little birdie told me you were causing some problems here tonight. I found that so hard to believe that I had to come and see for myself. On my night off, no less. You want to tell me your side of the story?

[camxle]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​

location: cam’s place (august 9th)

Hearing the unexpected noise of a car door closing shut outside of her home had Cam reaching for the newly purchased baseball bat she had by her front door. Carefully peeking out her window, she spotted Nathan making his way towards her home. “Nathan?” Cam murmured to herself, releasing her steely grip on the wooden bat in her hands. Why was Nathan here? She had told Ingrid to tell her business associates that the club owner would be taking some time away from work for personal reasons. Cam didn’t want anyone to see her yet. Her face was still badly bruised and her mental state had been on edge since the attack. Douglas had been let out on bail and was freely walking around the place Cam had called home. Nathan’s knock pulled the club owner from her train of thought. Glancing over at the mirror at her wall, Cam could only grimace at the reflection staring back at her. “Fuck it.” She sighed softly under her breath. Cam opened the front door, cocking her head slightly to the side. “How did you find out?”

[camxle]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​

location: cam’s place

Cam could barely sit still after Nathan informed her that he had news on her situation with the Bentleys. He was heading over to her place to give her the update in person. In her anxious state, the club owner started pacing around her house, counting down the minutes until Nathan arrived on her doorstep. She hated the uncertainty of not knowing whether he came bearing good news or bad. Cam hadn’t heard from the Bentleys in weeks, but that didn’t mean they weren’t keeping an eye on her. Everywhere she went, Cam couldn’t shake the feeling that she constantly needed to look over shoulder. That wasn’t the life she wanted for herself. Something had to be done to try and stop the corrupt family from further damaging lives. She could only hope that Nathan had the solution to that very problem.

Hearing his car pull up in the driveway, Cam quickly made her way outside, offering a small wave as he exited his car. She searched his face for some kind of hint of emotion that could tell her if the news he had was hopeful or grim. Nathan wasn’t what you would call an expressive person. There were only a few occasions where she could recall him cracking a small smile or two in her presence. Usually she found that kind of personality trait in a person intriguing. That wasn't the case as Nathan walked up the ramp leading to her porch, masking any possible clues behind his poker face. “We have to stop meeting like this.” Cam smiled, attempting a lighthearted joke. “Is it okay if we talk out here? I could use the fresh air right now.”

[camxle]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​

location: crane brothers distillery

Cam was intrigued when Nathan reached out to her about a potential marketing idea he had for a new flavored whiskey his distillery was working on. So far, getting involved with the Cranes had been beneficial for her business. Their whiskey was a big seller at the club and had been bringing in a wealthier clientele. She knew of the family’s reputation and was always mindful of that. Cam used to have a penchant for dabbling in risk-taking behavior herself. She still did, but had made steps to be smarter about the risks she was taking. Selling the Cranes whiskey in her club felt utterly harmless.

Stepping into Nathan’s office, her dark eyes settled on the unopened bottle of whiskey on his desk. A cheeky smile reached her lightly rouged lips. “I hope that’s for me. Business meetings are way more interesting when booze is involved,” she teased.

[thierrydupont]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​​

location: tree lighting ceremony

Thierry had offered to work security at the tree lighting ceremony, but his chief insisted that the cop take the night off. He had been pulling doubles while other officers at the station were taking time off for the holidays. Thierry had no plans to leave for Christmas, and all of his family resided in Louisiana. The former detective had nothing but time on his hands for the holiday season. Too much time was never a good thing for Thierry. He needed the distraction of work to keep him safe from the threat of unwanted thoughts and memories. Like how much Olivia loved Christmas. She looked forward to it more than her birthday. It was a struggle not to think about about his daughter during the holiday season. 

As he watched the tree light up with vivid color, Olivia’s smile unexpectedly popped into his head. The cop stepped away from the crowd, finding a quiet spot to clear his head. He grabbed the cigarette he had resting behind his ear, bringing the stick of nicotine to his lips. Thierry reached for his lighter, breathing the smoke into his lungs once the cigarette was lit. It was a temporary fix. One that would only last until he found his next distraction.

[miloxhughes]

status: closed - @nathanccrane​​

location: holy spirits

Milo had lost count on how many drinks he had consumed he bumped into Nathan. The former drug dealer had a handle of his drunkenness at the moment. He couldn’t guarantee what would happen after a few more potent beverages. “Hey, boss man. You look slick as fuck.” Milo chuckled, his blue hues scanning over the well-dressed CEO. The man looked and even smelled like money. Milo had no idea what he would do with the kind of wealth Nathan had. Probably nothing good. “I’ve been meaning to hit you up since I’ve been back. How’s the business? Freddie still being the wild fuck that I adore so much?” He teased, downing the last of his drink.