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[04_after]

The ten-year-old boy who walks into the bar has been here before; his blond hair is mussed from crawling under a tight space, and his blue dress shirt (pants merely khaki dress trousers, today) is a bit dusty.

He blinks at the Bar, irritated expression disappearing into mildly pleased curiousity. This is a way better place to hide from his father than the attic.

Comments

[mm_tl]

"What sort of things does the garage have?" he asks, curiousity piqued.

The Bar could give interesting parts, but -- well, he doesn't know how to ask for things he's not already familiar with.

[3nanashi]

"Lots of vehicles from different worlds."

"I've seen motorcycles, cars, trucks, and hovercraft. And some construction equipment."

And mobile suits.

"Some of it's pretty historic."

[mm_tl]

He looks around. Milliways is fairly busy, but not by any means full -- and not really a big enough space that even if half of everyone drove here, the garage would count as lots of vehicles.

"Are they a collection?" he says, interested but also somewhat dubious. Collections are heavy. And-- probably a collection owner wouldn't let him look at it.

[3nanashi]

Trowa shrugs.

"I guess."

"No one seems to know whose they are, if so. But it's open for general use."

[mm_tl]

"Do you -- do you think we could go look at it?"

Quatre is trying not to sound entirely enchanted about the idea, and pretty much failing.

[3nanashi]

"Sure."

Trowa was IN NO WAY setting things up for this distraction from philosophical questions!

With another kid, he might be more hesitant to encourage wandering off into mysterious garages with strange adults. (Not that Trowa himself wouldn't have done that confidently at age ten, but he's aware that most people's childhoods feature more nurturing and less weaponry.) But he knows Quatre turns out all right.

He rises. There's an elevator across the bar over there.

"Want me to grab a toolkit?"

He knows the answer, of course.

[mm_tl]

Quatre stands, quickly.

"If you'd like to," he says, which is stand-in for yes, please.

[3nanashi]

It seems like it'd be useful.

(Also: Quatre at this age is really obvious when eager. And, in certain respects, predictable at any age.)

Accordingly, Trowa nods, and heads towards Bar. Basic toolkit coming up!

[mm_tl]

Quatre follows and watches, interested, as the toolkit appears.

"Thank you," he tells the Bar, glancing up briefly to Trowa to make sure that was appropriate.