<strong>Nathan Maddoc</strong><div class="floatright">(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6784901344_8e4803feaa_m.jpg)</div><br/><em>Sunday Night – In the Fucking Gulch bar</em><br/><br/>Nate couldn't help but chuckle at the brazen suggestiveness of the invitation as the blonde poured him a drink. Then again, he'd found small-town Americans to be just as direct and take-me-as-you-find-me as country folks back home, so there should have been no surprise that straight-talk manifested in a place with such a clear name and agenda.<br/><br/>“Thanks,” he nodded appreciatively at the free drink, wrapping his fingers around the glass as condensation began to form on it. He took a sip; American brewing was quite watery to his palate, but in his travels he'd learned that insulting the local beverages was never wise. Besides, free beer was free beer! As he drank and she stepped out from behind the bar, he couldn't help running his gaze up and down the woman's body out of the corner of his eye.<br/><br/>He dragged over a coaster with one finger and set the glass down, lowering himself onto a stool by the bar, leaving room for her to join him. He smiled at her name. “Amethyst... always liked that stone. Forms the most fascinating geodes. I'm Nathan... Nate, if you like. That's right, it's my first time. Uh, that is to say, I've never been here before. I'm from New Zealand... I guess you're a local?”