Of Keys and Locksmiths (Maxxie)

[Archer Landon Kolt]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-color: f9f9f9; border: #a34f4d solid 10px; width: 450px; padding: 15 5 15 5px;] i've been waking all my life tagged Maxxie notes -- credits template by irish! Typically, in the winter in Addison, the weather wasn't this great... but since it was such a rare sunny day, Archer was going to call it a day and leave the shop in the capable hands of his employees. Tt wasn't like he had a lot of cars he was working on right now anyway so he didn't really have much of a reason to be there anyway. He'd done it before, and he'd do it again as often as he felt like it. That was what he liked most about running the shop on his own and not sitting in a cubicle programing god knows what for some big corporation. He got to make his own hours this way and it anyone complained it was taking too long, he'd offer to call the tow truck for them to take it elsewhere. Not that anyone would complain, he had a good reputation, and he'd never had any problems with the clients or the other mechanics that worked for him. Most people would never guess that the normally grease and oil smeared mechanic was an heir to a multi-million dollar inheritance, and he wanted it that way. If there was one thing on this earth he couldn't stand it was wealthy people. Having come from a family that was ridiculously well off, you could rest assured he wasn't one of those people who just hate the rich because they're rich. He hated them because they thought they were so much better than everyone else. His parents were the worst. They tried in vain to get him to join them in their quest to take over the world of law, but he would have no part in it. Needless to say, when he decided to major in computer science, they were dismayed. When he went through the 4 years of college, got the degree, then decided that he hated computer science and became a mechanic, they about had heart attacks and died. Thwarting his parents attempts at making him into one of them was possibly his favorite pass time. Just as he was about to head out, his receptionist told him that someone at the park had locked her keys in the car, again, and needed someone to come get them out for her. This was about the fourth time that month that she'd called them. A young blonde girl who lived up to the stereotype. Although, Archer had a sneaking suspicion that she locked her keys in the car deliberately so that she could flirt with Scott. Unfortunately for her, she'd done it on Scott's day off this time, so it was either him or Inez, and he had a feeling that Inez would probably just smack her over the head with a wrench rather than get her the keys, so he figured he would be the better option... for everyone's sake. Archer told them he was heading out and would stop on the way to assist her The engine of his old roared to life in a healthy growl, the sort that makes a mechanic grin. There was nothing he liked better than an old engine that ran smoother than the robot cars people drove around these days. He took pride in his work, and he could guarantee he could keep an engine running for well over the stated number of miles it should be able to go for. He was just that good at what he did; and he wasn't an idiot who went around tearing up his vehicles by trying to be cool and spin donuts or whatever stupid teenaged boys did these days to try to impress people. It was just foolish. It ruined your tires, strained your engine, and increased your chances of dying stupid by approximately 90%... and considering any guy still in his teens was already extremely likely to not live to become... not stupid... this made their odds of survival about .01%. When he arrived at the location of the damsel in distress, he didn't even bother to ask if she was the one who needed assistance. He knew which car it was, and it would hardly take a moment to get it unlocked. Security on cars these days was certainly below par. He could see the keys sitting on the driver's seat, not very inconspicuously placed there. Archer just shook his head and set about retrieving the keys while the girl looked on, probably not very impressed the the wrong mechanic had come to her assistance, making sure to wipe any remaining car grease off on his jeans before handling the car. Once he had the door unlocked, he opened it and stepped aside to allow her to retrieve her keys, and told her that she should seriously consider having a copy of the key made to aviode this conundrum so regularly. She, blushingly, told him she would... but he doubted that she would actually do it. She seemed to have taken quite a liking to Scott, though he was fairly sure the feeling was not mutual. As she drove off, he just shook his head and was about to leave to head home, when the thought struck him that he'd not wandered about the park in a good long while and today would be a good day to change that. So rather than leaving, he just locked his truck and set off into the park at a leisurely stroll. He wasn't in any rush, so he might as well just take the time to enjoy the first nice day they'd seen in a while.

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[Maxxie Ivy Dane]

The trees around the park were coated with snow and winter frost. A winter wonderland that seemed to go on forever. Through the large pine trees, over the rolling hills, smoothing over the lake. Granted that the lake wasn't completely frozen yet. It was rather close. The paths that curved every which and where strangely didn't have much frost on them. Perhaps someone had scraped it over once or twice. Whatever or whoever did the scraping I was thankful for it and I think the dogs were too. Andy, my dog, since I was like 10-years-old tootled along behind us. He was rustic German Shepard getting in to his older ages. Sure he had some hip problems with the coming signs of arthritis but he almost always came along with me. Honestly though it really depended on him, I never really forced him to go anywhere-except for the vet and the bathtub and you know places dogs generally don't like to go.

Andy always came in training the new dogs though, and we had a new recrute. Lora a black lab and pit mix. Even though she was part black lab, Lora was a white and brown brindle. She had a big head long nose and generally looked like a pit but a bit stretched out vertically. Lora wasn't my dog, some guy had hired me to train her young spirit in some new tricks to show off to his friends. In my opinion she was perfect for it. Correct age, willing to learn, strong, and level minded. The only thing was her extra amount of energy from being so young. We always had to take her round the park a few times first before gaining her full attention. She stayed at my side with he black leash hooked on her neon pink color with some weird design on it. Why her owner chose that one I will never know.

As we rounded on of the bends in the path the dogs were moving along at a trotting type of pace, Lora's floppy ears pricked forward at the sound of a starting car. I glanced up, I couldn't see the person leaving but I stopped and noticed a rather rough looking fellow. He seemed slightly upset over some matter. I assumed that it was reason for the person leaving, but I had to mentally slap myself and say that it's none of your business. Focus back on the dogs now, we kept walking. Lora stayed to my side because of the leash. A few steps on I called to Andy noticing that he wasn't behind us anymore. At first I assumed that he was just peeing on something again but when he didn't come it made me stop to check.

When I turned instead of seeing him casually sniffing a pine, he was sprinting across the parking lot and down the path that the stranger had taken. I panicked and started after the free range dog. The leash tugged a bit but the ever-energised Lora took after me at an even greater pace. Across the parking lot and on to the path, gravel crunching under my boots. I couldn't see the stranger yet, seriously! How far had he actually walked?

"Andy!"