#wolf lioness

ADAM:

Somehow Nala had convinced Adam to host a Thanksgiving dinner. When he’d suggested celebrating American holidays it had been in jest. A tease because, yeah, Thanksgiving was coming up but they had been discussing mistletoe and he’d been thinking about it hanging up around the castle, catching Nala underneath it. The text had just happened and all of a sudden he was inviting her and her family to Thanksgiving dinner.

Thankfully Nala, being the planner she was, had dedicated an entire binder to the affair. There were cooking schedules, a small guest list, his best china picked out to use, and an actual spread as to how everything would be arranged. Of course, with anything that was planned at the castle she had included him in everything. They’d spent the days leading up to the day in his kitchen and dining room figuring everything out.

And now with the groceries purchased, the turkey cooking in the oven, and a moment to breathe, all there was left to do was wait.

The idea of meeting Nala’s parents… Of having a sit down meal with them over an American holiday set his stomach in knots. He wasn’t stupid. He knew what Thanksgiving was, how it had come about. But this day, at least to him, was for giving thanks for what he had. And he had a lot. Even more now that he was with Nala and a part of an actual pack. But he was aware that most people did not see it that way.

“They won’t…. They won’t think I’m some barbarian because this is the holiday we’re meeting, will they?” Adam asked from his place at the counter. He’d been mashing up the potatoes when the thought had entered his mind and he’d had the need to voice it.

NALA:

Nala was excited.

Nala was also terrified.

Here was the secret-- see, her parents had actually never met one of her boyfriends. This was partially because her father was one of those extremely intimidating traditional Kenyan fathers and partially because Nala never had a boyfriend who lasted long enough for Nala to want him to meet her parents. The latter fact was of course extremely pathetic and she was happy that thus far she and Adam had avoided swapping their dating histories, both of them out of mutual respect-- especially because Nala was pretty sure, considering what Adam said about how he used to be, he had been some sort of serial dater with so much experience and she was entirely out of her depth--

See! Best just not think about it!

But that meant this was going to be a first for Nala and she didn’t know how it was going to go. Whenever her father had talked about Nala dating, he’d deadpanned in that charming, very dry humour of his about how she was not allowed to date until she was married, or that he expected to see the boy’s resume beforehand, and also that she better date a good Muslim boy or he would fall very ill from heartache… but Nala always laughed these off because surely he was just kidding.

And her mother would laugh too! And even her father-- before, er, getting a very serious face on and saying, You listen to your baba, malaika.

But it had been many months now that she had been dating Adam, and she had told her daddy many months ago. He’d made a kind of snorting noise when she’d confirmed that no, he was not Muslim, but he also had not fallen ill from heartache and Nala considered this a win-win.

Why stress out Adam with any of this though? There was no point and so Nala had told Adam that her parents were so excited to meet him and were very touched that he invited them in the first place.

Nala had just finished setting the table and wandered in to hear Adam’s question. She put on a big smile just for him. “Oh no babe, not at all!” she said cheerfully (maybe a little too cheerfully...but she was excited!! Really!!) She came round to kiss his cheek and touch his arm. “In fact, my mama was saying she was so pleased that we’d get to share one of your traditions. We know not all cultures are perfect and-- let’s be honest, there are more problematic things in today’s America than Thanksgiving.” She raised her eyebrows at him suggestively; she was pretty sure he knew what she was talking about.

“But traditions are so important to my family, so it’s good that they’re important to you too, hmm?”

ADAM:

For the most part, Adam wanted to believe her. He wanted to be less nervous about this, about everything. But all he could think about was the large parties his parents had thrown. How they were the talk of the social circles and were expected to be extravagant events. This was nothing compared to the Thanksgiving dinners his parents had thrown.

But those parties had also been so impersonal. Just a group of people gathered to brag about what they had and how they had acheived it.

So while Nala talked about tradition, Adam couldn’t help but think that he didn’t really have one. He was just winging this because he was American and a part of him missed that. Not the parties, of course, those had been boring affairs with stuffy billionaires. He missed the way his nannies would try to teach him about the holidays. What they meant and why they were celebrated. The little gifts that were sometimes laid on his bed; reminders that even if he acted like a brat there were still people that cared about him, even if those people weren’t his parents. It was those thoughts that made it easier to even want to start those traditions.

“Yeah..” he huffed out a laugh, knowing exactly what she meant. The whole country had gone to hell. Made him glad he’d gotten out when he had. “Sure as hell isn’t the same as it used to be. That cheese puff screwed everything up.”  Though, Adam didn’t feel he had any say simply because he hadn’t voted, hadn’t been a citizen of the States in years.

But he felt slightly reassured by her kiss and her words. It wouldn’t be all bad. Not if they were coming willingly…

The thought was cut off as heard footsteps followed quickly by three knocks on the door. He looked to Nala then, just a bit of that insecurity showing on his features as he stepped away from the counter. “I should get that, huh?” Adam said, a nervous smile playing over his lips. He grabbed the dish towel and wiped his hands on them before scratching at the light scruff that coated his cheeks. Maybe he should have shaved for this dinner. He looked a bit rough with it but… He hadn’t thought of that.

He moved from the kitchen quickly, crossing through the living room and den before getting to the door. He could smell her parents stronger there and it did nothing to calm the nerves that had suddenly caught up to him. Another gulp and then he pulled the door open, smiling as warmly as he could. “H-Hello, Mister and Mrs Calame. Uh--- Come… Come in.”

NALA:

Nala had another speech coming, a speech that included compliments that Sarafina had made in different conversations that Nala had had with her mother. Sure, they weren’t direct compliments-- That boy must be doing somethin’ right if you’re still with him-- but Nala considered them, at the very least, compliment-lite. And she figured that Adam would need as much cheerleading as possible to boost his confidence before--

Knock knock knock.

Before the knock. Before the descent. Before right now.

She glanced toward the door and was about to offer to answer it herself, let Adam position himself as a kitchen and use food prep as excuse, but her boyfriend surprised her. The surprise showed on her face as she pulled away-- eyebrows lifted and a small smile sneaking on her lips. She was impressed. This was the perfect level of confidence. Maybe he didn’t need compliments after all.

“I’ll come with you!” she volunteered anyway and scurried along his side-- complimenting him anyway too. “You’re gonna do great, babe, seriously, my mom already loves you, my dad-- just has a dry sense of humour but I swear, he’s just kidding, just remember that, just laugh if you don’t know what to say-- they are so excited, I am so excited, okay, okay, I’ll stop talking now, just-- you look so handsome.” She said and kissed his cheek again before Adam opened the door. “Okay, now you can open it.”

Honestly, half of those things she said were to herself more than they were to Adam.

She said it again quietly before the door swung open: Baba is just kidding. It’s going to go great!

Then the door opened and there they were: Nala’s parents. Sarafina bustled in front first, with a massive smile and her arms outstretched. “Oh, there’s my Nala!” she cooed. Nala laughed and fell into the hug right away, squeezing her mama right on back.

“Oooh, something smells gooooooood!” Sarafina gasped as she pulled away. She turned to Adam-- and was still smiling. “C’mere boy-o, is that your cooking? Maybe we’ll have something to eat after all!” And with another laugh she went ahead and hugged Adam, patting him on the back. “And call me Sarafina, won’t you?”

Nala’s father shuffled in with less energy than Sarafina. But that was Okoth for you. He was always quite composed, an exacting man, everything in its place. He had worn a suit for the occasion which told Nala he was taking this very seriously. And though he did not beam at Adam, his lips twitched under his greying mustache. He extended his hand to Adam.

“Okoth Calame. You may call me-- Mr. Calame,” he said.

ADAM:

Immediately Adam smiled as he watched Nala with her mother. They were alike in so many ways. It was easy for him to see where exactly that sunny disposition Nala always had came from. And her energy. How many times had she greeted Adam in a similar way? He’d lost count. That energy was something he loved about Nala. No matter how late it was or how many hours she worked, each time they were together or met for lunch or had dinner, Nala was always full of life and excited. She made him excited for life. Had brought him out of his shell more and more the more they were together.

So it wasn’t strange, per say, when she turned to him with outstretched arms. It was only a little awkward for him to be showing this level of affection to someone he was just meeting but… It was Nala’s mother and-- he did want to be on good terms with them. There was a slight flush at her kind of (?) compliment. Of course he knew that Sarafina was a good cook. An amazing one, actually. Nala had made (not shared) some of her recipes and they’d even made her chili, and Adam had found each dish to be just as good as the next. Her thinking that their combined cooking smelled good was enough for him. “I-- I hope so. We’ve been cooking all day.” He gave her a soft smile, trying not to let any of his nerves show through.

Mr. Calame, on the other hand, made him nervous. There was no reading him, no trying to figure out what he was thinking. He took his hand, giving it a firm shake. A weak handshake on a first meeting was not acceptable. It was, actually, never acceptable. A man had show exactly who he was with that first shake. Adam desperately wanted Nala’s father to realize that he was a good man, that he was a good match for his daughter. Because Adam was trying. The boy he’d been ten years ago no longer existed. All of this was new for him.

“Mister Calame, it’s nice to meet you.” He gave a nod as he took a step back to stand next to Nala again. He wanted to reach out to her, either wrap an arm around her shoulder or tangle their fingers together, just for that extra vote of confidence he usually gained from her in moments he felt just a tad overwhelmed. He refrained, though, out of respect for her parents.

“There’s just a few more minutes left on the turkey. We can, uh, we can move to the den. It’s more comfortable than the foyer, I promise.”

NALA:

Nala watched, not at all nervous, as Adam shook her father’s hand. She stared intensely at it and a hundred different conversations leapt to the tip of her tongue as well. That was just Nala’s social training for you, wasn’t it? Especially when it came to Adam, Nala always felt primed to start or redirect interaction as needed. She didn’t mind doing that, by the way. It made her feel important sometimes and she got this warm, fuzzy feeling when Adam gave her a look that so clearly meant Thank you. Like she was a good girlfriend and everything.

But she had to refrain. Because this was her father and if there was one person on whom Nala’s social training did not particularly work all the time, it was Okoth Calame, for he knew how to cut straight to business. If he wanted to talk to Adam and only Adam, then that is what he would do. He would not be distracted or redirected. No matter how much Nala, or even his own wife, might try.

But this was fine! Okoth wasn’t exactly smiling, but he hadn’t launched into grilling Adam right away.

And Adam, he was brilliant. Polite, collected, confident. She’d kiss him if her parents weren’t right there.

“Yes,” said Nala’s father then to Adam. And that was all.

Nala couldn’t help but break in then. She took her father by the arm-- and this made Okoth smile-- and began to lead him toward the den, with Adam and Sarafina in tow. “Baba, you really should see all of the manor. It’s absolutely gorgeous. The architecture’s all been taken care of despite the age and-- oh, there’s so much artwork!”

She exchanged a look at Adam. This look said: remember the cheat sheet I prepared for you of my father’s interests?! Artwork! He collects artwork!

“Is that so?” said Okoth, a slight touch of amusement in his voice.

“Yes! Gorgeous stuff too, Adam knows more about the history of those pieces than me,” she said and looked at Adam again as they arrived in the den.

ADAM:

He was trying very hard to remember the cheat sheet that Nala had given him. He wanted to make a good impression on her parents. This was important to him, to her he assumed. Well, actually, he was certain that this was important to both of them. It was a big reason why he’d never done this whole routine before. Meeting parents was an important step and he realized that. Had to make sure that a good impression was made. For whatever reason it had been important to the girls he’d dated when he was younger. It was why he often left before it could even get to that point.

It was different with Nala, though.

There was no denying how much he cared for Nala. It had slowly crept up on him until it seemed obvious every time he looked at her. That flood of warm emotion whenever she caught his own gaze. This dinner showed that. A joke made into an actuality.

The walk to the den wasn’t a long one, thankfully, and Nala’s topic of conversation gave Adam an answer to what the hell was even on that list. His eyes caught Nala’s briefly as his lips turned up in a quick smile. Saving the day again. “My great grandmother thought the place needed more colors.” He said as a way of explanation. And, for all he knew, it was true. Some of the journals he’d read in the library hadn’t all been his grandfather’s. He wasn’t sure how exactly they had made it to the library but a part of him was grateful for them. They gave him an insight into just who his family here had been. Aside from the great-great grandfather who had been, for some reason, obsessed with werewolves and other magical creatures.

As was customary in the winter, and whenever there was someone who wasn’t a werewolf in the castle, there was a small fire already going. It crackled as everyone sat and, even though he wasn’t necessarily hot, he was grateful for it’s warmth. “A lot of the pieces she bought were from local artists. I’m still trying to catalogue them all.” He looked to the one that was hanging just above the mantle. “That one was done around 1855 by Waramunt Costantini. She has a few from him; I think he might have been one of her favorites.”

NALA:

Allah, she loved Adam.

The words struck her: three arrows, one for each. I love you, she thought as their eyes met and he smiled at her, before gently and easily sliding into conversation. I love you, she thought it again as he spoke of his family. He didn’t do it often, you see, but when he did… well, there had always been sadness in some tinges of his voice but now he seemed calm, even… happy?

She loved him. She wanted to tell him. She kept hiding it away like they were cards to be kept turned toward her, like this was all a game and she was waiting for him to play his hand first. And it wasn’t that she wanted to be told first for all those silly gender norms, but rather… if she said it, and he wasn’t ready…

Now wasn’t the time though. She had no idea why she was brimming with all these feelings right now, while her parents were not even a metre away.

Adam was just so...handsome. That must be it. He talked to her father like they were already friends. It was his confidence and his soft voice and the way he smiled. She loved him.

“Ah, that is a remarkable piece,” said Okoth as he gaze up at the portrait that Adam had referenced. “I could spend all day in this place, looking at such art. It is its own museum.”

“I told you so,” piped in Nala, grinning. “Didn’t I tell you so? He fixed it up nicely, yeah?”

Okoth snorted once and then remarked something in Swahili. It made Nala wrinkle her nose and roll her eyes. “Hush,” she said, glad for her dark cheeks, so they’d hide her blushing.

“Are you looking to expand your collection?” Her father turned the conversation back to Adam-- back to the art-- as he sat down on one of the couches. Nala sat next to him.

ADAM:

So far it seemed as if things were going well. Adam felt at ease talking about the things he knew. His great grandmother’s art, the age of the castle. They were easy topics for him simply because he’d spent so much time in the castle learning all he could about it. He knew there were secret passageways throughout the castle that had long since been abandoned. Some he’d ventured down but most remained untouched. If Okoth had any questions, Adam would surely be able to answer. It would only be when things turned to a different set of questions or interests that Adam would lose that calm and collected demeanor he wore as a mask.

Okoth complimented the piece and inwardly Adam beamed. He wanted the man to like him, wanted that approval and vindication that would come from having Nala’s father’s approval. “There are more pieces around the castle. I wouldn’t mind showing you them. There are some truly magnificent pieces in some of the other rooms. And most of them are from local artists over the years.” For the first time in a long time Adam was thankful for his family.

The next question gave him a bit of pause. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to collect more. Sure, he liked the pieces that had already been collected. They brought life to the rooms that no one had been in for a century or more. They gave life to the castle, period. But was he an avid art collector? He didn’t really think so. But he still was looking for something to fill his time and to do with his life. It had made him feel useful to repair the parts of the castle that had been in disrepair. Even getting some of the paintings restored had been satisfying. But still he wasn’t sure.

“Honestly, I’m not sure, sir.” He answered honestly. “I had never had an interest in art until I came here and started working on the castle. I definitely want to restore all the pieces here. A lot of them have sort of faded simply because of time and the fact no one was here taking care of things. Maybe once I finish that project I’ll look at more.” It was an honest answer, at least. Better than saying nothing or saying that he didn’t know. Especially because he did have a feeling that at some point he’d be buying more. “Nala’s told me that you collect art. If I were to start collecting are there any hints you could give?”

As he finished he looked over at Nala, giving her a hopeful sort of smile. He was trying his best to play to all those helpful hints she’d given him before her parents had arrived. And God was he thankful for her. It was a swell of emotion that filled him so quickly that it was almost scary. He hadn’t thought that they would have gotten to this point but he was glad that they had. Glad that he hadn’t managed to push her away out of fear or because he was too intense. He would do something for her after all this was over. Something special because if it wasn’t for her Adam wouldn’t be feeling comfortable talking to her intimidating father.

NALA:

Adam smiled at her and Nala smiled back. If she were younger, maybe she’d try to sneak two thumbs up his way. Silly, eh? But Adam deserved it. This was going better than Nala could have ever hoped, and it made her feel both giddy and embarrassed at herself for being so worried and drilling Adam so hard.

She shouldn’t have ever doubted. And just like that, Nala’s brain started whirring at top speed the way it liked to do...making plans for family vacations and, oh! Adam meeting her uncles and Cousin Hama! And more holidays to come, both Adam’s traditions and her traditions…!

Yes, she was getting ahead of herself.

Meanwhile, Sarafina sat next to Adam, opposite Nala, and caught her daughter’s eye. She wore a smirk on her face and she raised her eyebrows at Nala. Nala rolled her eyes back. This itself was its own conversation-- Sarafina reading Nala’s mind-- while Okoth talked to Adam.

“I don’t know about hints,” said Okoth and he chuckled. “So much depends on the tastes you cultivate and the space you have.” He gestured to the castle. “You could stay very true to the time period and the style of this castle. This perhaps would be the easiest, for you would narrow down the window. Though finding pieces to fit this castle I imagine would take much time and money, much hunting. You would need to be dedicated.”

“Oh Adam is very dedicated,” Nala piped in. “He helped plan the summer gala, which raised money for the VFD, Baba.”

“Ah.” Her father nodded. “Is that what you do? My daughter has not yet told me much about your occupation. Mostly about this castle.” He chuckled again.

ADAM:

In almost an instant Adam felt his feet get swept from underneath him. He hadn’t thought this question would come up.  Not now at least. He’d been enjoying the present conversation. It had seemed that Okoth had been too. It had been foolish but Adam had begun to think that maybe this actual question wouldn’t come up. That he’d be able to stay on the list of topics that Nala had given him and everything would be fine.

But of course he didn’t have that luck.

At once he stammered, his reply to Okoth dying on his tongue. How could he tell his girlfriend’s father that he didn’t have a job. That all he could offer her was money and a castle. Adam didn’t have prospects. Not anymore. He hadn’t gone to college, hadn’t thought of getting a job until maybe a year or two ago. Of course he hadn’t acted upon it. Instead it had remained just a thought. Hell, he didn’t even know what he wanted to do.

Working with the VFD had been nice. It had given Adam a way to feel like he was useful. For a moment he’d thought that even with his wolf, he could help people. It was what he had wanted after he’d caused so much pain and suffering; so much death.

But he hadn’t done anything since that stupid invasion of the undead.

“I—Actually, Nala helped me plan that. It was just an idea I had.” He admitted it almost lamely as he turned to look at Nala briefly. He was so supremely screwed. This was one thing she couldn’t help him with. “I don’t actually…. that’s not what I do for a living. But I would like to— help people in some capacity…”

NALA:

Oh no.

Nala had really been hoping she could avoid this one topic of conversation. This hope was ultimately a foolish, useless one, since, to be honest, Okoth was most certainly a proud man and proudest of all of his work-- after his family of course. To him, working hard was the measure of good character. That was why Nala was Nala-- it meant success. And that is what Okoth wanted for her: success in all things through an ethic of hard work.

She had danced around the topic in all of their conversations prior, always coming up with something silly and funny to say when her father asked about Adam during one of their weekly phone chats. She wanted something funny to say now to break the tension-- distract her father-- spare Adam or give him a headstart so he could make a break for it--

Haha, just kidding, wouldn’t be that serious…

She didn’t think.

“Adam volunteers with the VFD, Baba,” she blurted out and grinned. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Ah, a volunteer,” said Okoth and he nodded. “And what about when he is not volunteering?”

“Well--” Nala’s tongue got stuck. “Um. Well, he’s-- between… jobs at the moment.”

She saw her father’s eyebrows raise for one second, and then furrow the next. Uh oh.

“I see,” he said. He looked at Adam directly. “What did you study in school? Perhaps I can help you find a position.”

“Baba!” Okoth held a hand up to signal Nala to shut up. Which...she did. Even Nala listened to her father.

ADAM:

With just a few words Adam went from feeling slightly okay to feeling like an insignificant speck of dust. How could he admit that he didn’t have more than a high school education? How could he admit that he didn’t have a job and had no idea where to start? He wasn’t some rich brat that lived off of his parents money; except he was. He was no better than the boys he’d grown up with who still had nothing to show for their lives.

How embarrassing it was.

He looked down as Okoth looked to him, his questions still hanging thick in the air.

Nala probably thought he was pathetic. Would no doubt end this once their dinner was over. She didn’t need some worthless boyfriend who was going nowhere in life. Adam wouldn’t blame her. He couldn’t.

“I didn’t study after high school,” he admitted carefully, quietly. He was ashamed of himself, even if the reason he hadn’t studied had been a legitimate one. “I wanted to. I had a place in Harvard but-- my parents were killed before the semester started and I left. The States. This place was in their will and I figured it was far enough away from everything.”

He gave a small shrug as he finished speaking, not sure how else to go on. Either way his lack of success was an embarrassment and in no way was Adam good enough for their daughter. They’d see that and so would Nala.

All he could do was prepare for the worst.

NALA:

Yallah.

Nala wanted to kneel down and pray now. She wished Adam had just lied-- which...was a bad thing, she knew, to wish for. She should be proud of Adam. And she was proud of Adam, really! She was so proud of all his progress, so proud of the castle, the VFD, all the good things he had accomplished. She’d watched him grow and knew how far he had come. Little by little, he’d emerged from his so-called hermit crab shell.

But her baba didn’t see all those things. Her baba didn’t know. And Nala couldn’t defend him, because if she did, she knew it would just make this whole thing worse. He wouldn’t see those incremental changes for what they really were.

This was the man who asked to see the resumes of boys who were interested in her!

She swallowed, her hands folding into fists on her lap.

“Ah,” uttered Okoth.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your parents,” broke in Sarafina, who reached forward and clasped Adam’s shoulder. Ah, bless her mama. Maybe Allah was listening after all.

“Yes, that’s very unfortunate,” echoed Okoth. “It is unfortunate too that you never went back.”

“Baba,” Nala said, voice sharper.

“What? I speak as a parent. I would want my child to live a fuller, richer life after my passing. That’s how a child honors their parent, Nala.”

“Well-- it’s not so easy--”

“I never said these things were easy. Nothing worth having ever is. But that is why you work hard.”

ADAM:

For a brief moment Adam wanted to melt into the carpet. Wished that instead of lycanthropy he’d been cursed with random invisibility. He could feel the waves of judgement rolling off of Nala’s father and it soured his stomach. This was not the impression that he wanted to give. A useless recluse who collected art. Ha! He could just imagine the conversation between Nala and her father when this was all said and done.

Sarafina’s hand on his shoulder was sudden and unexpected. Adam tensed just slightly before relaxing. “Thank you,” He murmured, giving her the faintest of smiles. She was a sweet woman. He liked her, just as he liked Okoth. They were good people; devoted and full of love.

That softness was gone in the next moment, Mr. Calame’s words piercing the air once more with what felt like disappointment. All Adam could do was nod, even as Nala tried to interject. As much as he appreciated her in that moment he knew that he would have to face this himself. “It’s okay,” he said softly, looking to Nala with a terse smile. “I know. I stopped living after their death. If it hadn’t been for Nala and my friend Belle, I probably would still be that way.

“I’d like to go back to school. Maybe not Harvard, I’m not sure I could handle that much change right now. But I have time and I have money and I’d like to find my own calling helping people. If there’s one thing Nala’s taught me since we’ve been together it’s that sometimes the biggest reward comes from helping others achieve.”

NALA:

Nala was so tense she thought she might snap in half. She knew her father would not tolerate any excuse. It mattered little if Adam had frikkin cancer-- Okoth had once just been a son of a farmer, the oldest of four. He’d worked since he was small and had to drop out of school two different times. But he always went back. And she knew that her father would wonder why Adam-- rich, privileged, white Adam-- could not find the same metal to do so.

And she loved her daddy. She loved his determination and work ethic and she understood his story. She just wished he’d chill for a second and remember that everyone was different. A little bit of empathy, that’s all she wanted--

But Okoth was more interested in results. Well. At least for a boy who was dating her daughter. To his credit, Okoth would not be nearly as judgmental if Adam wasn’t her boyfriend.

Slowly, her daddy nodded. “Pride University has many good programs,” he said-- and this was Okoth’s quiet way of encouragement. “Their social work program might be of interest to you. Simba Lyons is in it, isn’t he?”

“Education, Baba,” Nala corrected. “Though it’s housed in the school for social work.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Another good career-- I was a school teacher, chemistry, before I came to work for InterPride,” said Okoth. “Tell me, Adam, what are your strengths? I am sure there’s a program for you at the university.”

ADAM:

While Adam had been thinking about going back to school, there hadn’t been much that he’d thought of doing. He just knew that he wanted to help people. It was the opposite of what his parents had done. They’d taken from people, uncaring of who they hurt or what means they had to go through to get what they wanted. All they cared about was their business and the money it gave them.

Adam didn’t want to be like that.

Okoth brought him out of his thoughts quickly and almost abruptly but that didn’t deter Adam. He knew what he was good at. Or… he knew what he had been good at. Talking to people, getting people to talk to him. He made friends easily and he could tell when he was being played. He had a head for numbers, thanks to his father, and knew how to be organized. He was a leader despite not wanting to be one. He was a businessman with a heart. What could he do with that?

“I don’t mean any offense, Mister Calame, but I don’t think teaching would be for me. I didn’t mind school but there wasn’t one singular subject that held my attention so wholly that I feel I could teach it.” He ducked his head slightly at that before rubbing his hands against his thighs to try and dry them just a bit.

“My parents-- Er, well, my father was grooming me to take over the family company,” he explained carefully. “I didn’t want it. Didn’t totally agree with everything it stood for. They were--- more concerned about the money rather than their clients.” He sighed, not wanting to go much further into it. “I know how to lead, get people to talk, know when they’re lying. And I was really good with numbers. Math and such.”

He took a breath, then, and looked towards Nala briefly. “But social work--- You mean like social workers, the people who deal with broken families and kids that are put in foster homes?”

NALA:

You know, her father asked a good question, one that Nala wondered if she knew the answer to. What were Adam’s strengths?

Not-- you know, not like personal strengths. She knew of the strength and fortitude of Adam’s moral character. He was a good man. Kind. Gentle. Quiet, but honest. He cared for flowers and had an eye for beauty and had, under the tough exterior, a beautiful heart that wanted to do good things for people. That bieng said, er...well Nala had sort of handled the planning for most of his fundraiser. So she couldn’t speak much to his management skills. Or his organization. Or… er… well-- anything.

And she didn’t know what he was passionate about besides the things that filled his hours-- his garden and his library, for example. She could talk to him endlessly about the books they read together and they went on long wonderful walks through the grounds. And she knew that he was fitness-minded and not a shabby cook.

But did any of that scream career? Nala wasn’t sure. And she felt embarrassed about that, like, shouldn’t she have, a long time ago, asked Adam some of these questions herself? In the past, she never would have dated a bloke like Adam-- that is, a bloke that had no job and seemingly no ambition.

She was shocked at herself. She was impressed with herself. She supposed Simba would call it character growth, ignoring her list and loving Adam despite it all. But she think she might have overcorrected a little, having not talked to him about it at all.

“There are many types of social work,” continued Okoth, redirecting Nala’s attention to her father again. “Many do work with broken families or foster children, yes. But many others work in other facets-- in criminal justice, for example, or in hospitals. It is a very wide field from my understanding. InterPride has case workers too, for example, who help families find affordable, safe housing.”

Nala blinked. “That-- that’s true!” She sat up a little straighter. Could Adam work at InterPride? “And we have case workers who work in our education initiatives too, if you wanted to work with children. There are-- internships! If you want, I could arrange an informational interview.”

“A good idea,” said Okoth with a firm nod.

ADAM:

Okoth was bombarding him with information, with ideas. It had been a long time since he’d thought about his future. For so long he hadn’t thought he’d have one. All he’d been concerned about was punishing himself and paying for everything he’d done in his past. Part of him knew that he was still making up for it but it wasn’t such a severe punishment. Slowly he was coming to know that in order to truly repent for what he’d done, he had to be better. Do better.

That’s what this conversation was about. Doing better.

“I think-- I mean, I want to do more research on it. Talk to the people at PrideU and-- an informational interview with InterPride would be good.” He gave Nala a small smile before turning to look back at her father. He was an admirable man. Stern but it was becoming easier to see that it came from a place of concern. Adam could understand it. Had felt a bit of it when he and Nala had taken care of their little Cherri. She’d been little but Adam had known very, very deep down that no matter what he wanted the best for her. It was clear to him, in that moment, that was what Okoth wanted for Nala.

And he would respect that. He would become that for her because Adam cared about her. It hit him so suddenly that for a moment he felt dizzy with it. He did love Nala. Had for some time, if the way he often looked at her and thought about her was anything to go by.

“I know I’m not exactly any father’s ideal man for their daughter but I want to be.” He said this softly yet firmly as he looked to Okoth. He wanted his approval. Wanted to let the older man know that he would do whatever it took to be worthy of Nala.

NALA:

Nala wanted to be annoyed at her father for being much too harsh and judging Adam the way that he had. She had started planning her own confrontation after dinner, when she and her parents left and she could rail against her father in private. Not that it would have done much, but it would help her release some of her own hot air and make her feel like a better girlfriend--

But Nala had to admit, Okoth had a point. And she’d gotten caught up in Okoth’s hot air, and she couldn’t even be that mad because social work was a good idea for Adam. It wasn’t like Nala’s job-- meeting after meeting, budgetary balancing, all the ins and outs of management. No, it was personal. One-on-one work. And she could see Adam sitting down with a troubled child, or perhaps with a family in need of assistance-- or even parents, looking to expand their own family.

He was attentive, a good listener, empathetic and kind. And because Nala was Nala, she found herself enthralled with the images and ready to spring into action. She could arrange an interview with the head of the department in the next five minutes-- after all, Nala had taken Thursday off, but the rest of InterPride was open.

Good thing that at that exact moment, before Nala could steamroll ahead, the oven dinged from the other room.

“Oh! That’ll be dinner,” said Nala. She blinked like she’d just woken up from some strange fever dream (which is how it really felt, to be honest, seeing Adam and her father in the same room.)

Okoth chuckled. “You might as well get that. I’ll stay here and get to know Adam more. I am sure he will impress me,” he added at one of Nala’s looks. Okoth glanced back at Adam. “He has resilience, Nala. And that is something any father would want for their daughter.”

Nala smiled sheepishly and she got up. “Well in that case… he still better be in one piece when I get back!” she pointed a finger at her dad playfully.