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 Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 8:42 pm
It was a delightfully cool afternoon, and Brad could not possibly be bothered to stay in the Club. Donning navy blue sweats and a black tanktop, the man had taken a fancy to doing something productive while shirking his duties; a good jog was in order, and what a better day than one where most people stayed indoors?
His hair was getting too long to be left as it was, thrust into a small ponytail that left his sharp face unadorned. Two buds sat snuggly in the cradle of his earlobes, a small iPod strapped on his arm, looking like any other guy taking a jog. In the cool weather. With a ponytail. So maybe he didn't exactly blend in with the general populace, but it was a far cry from his suit and tie at work. Part of him missed the days of gallavanting around his loft in nothing but a pair of jeans, and even then only when he had to be decent; the other part was strangely grateful he wasn't such a lump on a log.
Thank goodness the streets weren't packed. Not that he'd take main roads - he didn't like being gawked at as it was, at least he got paid for it at work - but it was hard to find any backroads in town anymore. It was just him, the brisk air in his lungs and a light sheen of sweat despite the agreeable weather. Well. Maybe not just him.
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 9:48 pm
Grumbling faintly beneath his breath, Viran smoothed down his vest absently. He was dressed exceedingly casual, with his hair completely down for once and the earrings that separated him from his brother was nowhere to be found. The vest was too large, the t-shirt he wore was no closer to his actual size, and the jeans.. Okay, well, the jeans fit at least. Though dressed like he was, Viran looked more his own age [Real age, mind you. Not the fake one he and his brother had adopted.] then the waiter attire he was so used to.
There wasn't really a good reason as to why the man was out at this time of day, which was the peek hour for the cafe. None, except for the fact that the waiter didn't feel like dealing with the mess back at his work place. His brother could hold the fort while he took another break. It wasn't as though Nik hadn't have had to do it before. There were perks to being close to your boss, you see.
Fidgeting with the dial of his wristwatch, Viran took a look around him a new. He knew the city inside out, having to run through the streets more often than he would have liked as a kid. But many things have happened in his short life time, and things he once remembered were abolished with new stuff taking their places.
In short, Viran was more or less 'lost', however he would be pained to admit it.
The thing with Viran being lost and the thing with Dominik being lost was that the two reacted very differently. Though neither exactly 'panicked', while Dominik would try to find a way out of his predicament as quickly as humanely possibly, Viran would simply stop... And observe.
Which was precisely what he was doing, leaning back against the metal pole of a street lamp to observe the other pedestrians when the steady rhythm of a shoes hitting on the paved ground caught up with him.
"Ah.."
A faint spark of familiarity showed in his dark eyes briefly, though as quickly as it showed, it was gone. Still, Viran continued to watch with slightly more interest as Brad jogged on. Something about the man he recognized but minus suit and tie, Viran had a hard time placing just who the other was.
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Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 10:07 pm
Brad was one of those people who simply did not get lost. Maybe it was part of the cartographer in his family, or because he'd helped construct a good deal of buildings in the area, but he could be abducted and dropped anywhere in the town and find his way home. Not that he was expecting to be abducted anytime soon, but it allowed him to zone out and listen to the music and set a pace for his movements.
And then he had that feeling. The one that told you that someone was staring, watching, or otherwise gaping in a manner that was not acceptable by normal civilization. A quick, disinterested glance around didn't yield any immediate suspects, and so he ignored it for a moment, considering that he was possibly being paranoid. He would have liked to have been used to attention by now, but alas, he was failing on that front. Not surprising, just disappointing.
That line of thought annoyed him somewhat, prompting another swift gander. His eyes skirted over someone who at first struck him as either homeless or a gangster, before returning and fixating on the man. His clothes were far too loose to be normal and he looked...out of place, somehow. Brad scowled inwardly, ready to ignore the fellow, but there was something that stopped him. The angle of his face? His expression? He wasn't sure, but there was something familiar about the man's face that made him pause.
Knowing that he was familiar could be a good or bad thing, but as the other was simply staring, it suggested that he also recognized Brad himself.
Being stared at by someone who looked vaguely familiar and who seemed to know him in turn did not improve his mood. He was almost betting he'd regret his next motion, but he had already slowed his pace, popping out an earbud with irritation. As if the guy had made him do it, the nerve! Indigo eyes met Viran's, narrowed in the slightest, no hint of a smile anywhere in the horizon.
In his bass voice, which wasn't quite as pleasant now as it usually was, he grunted, "Can I help you?"
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:39 am
While Viran was not exactly one with a photographic memory, he was very good with voices. At least, the discerning of voices. If one asked him to memorize a box full of thirty random objects in a minute, he couldn't even remember two. If one asked him to remember a voice he heard for less than a second on the phone, he could immediately recognize the owner of the voice as soon as said owner spoke. It was one of his more.... helpful quirks.
"Possibly." Looking away briefly, the man adjusted his shades in a motion born of habit. While he could immediately connect the voice with Brad's name, the air of which the other spoke was vastly different from anything he had heard in the club. It rubbed him the wrong way, though Viran did his best to keep his own irritation from showing. This man was his way out, after all.
"You are Brad. One of the hosts from the host club, no?"
Cocking his head to one side, the man pulled off his glasses as he spoke, tucking them away into his vest pocket before training his gaze back to the older man. Viran's eyes were void of color, just black like colored glass.
Perhaps he should offer a smile? Though the problem with that was that the waiter smiled as much as Brad did naturally. That was to say, not much. While he did occasionally give a sheepish grin to the more outgoing and friendly of his patrons, his job was only to serve-- It was the host's job to smile and be social.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 12:45 pm
Great. Of all the ways to be recognized.
Brad regarded the other quietly for a moment, trying to pin down where he'd seen the man. Obviously it was from work, but there were so many people in and out of the Club, it was hard to say if they'd met or if he'd just seen the other in passing. His eyes, however, told a different story; Brad knew he'd seen such dark pools before, but not so placid, not so cool and aloof. There was a click of recognition in his mind, but something was still not falling into place. Maybe it was the hair. The Italian man was quite good with faces and names, and was often one who could tell when another had altered their appearance, but Viran's look was such a far cry from the one or two times that he had seen him that the twin's identity was still out of his grasp.
Still...it meant that the man was a co-worker or a customer, and that he should probably treat them with some measure of kindness. However, what Brad should do and what Brad choose to do were not frequently one in the same.
"I am," he replied quietly, unable to hide the small bit of surprise in his voice from being recognized. In one aspect it was flattering, and in another, it was somewhat freaky. Brad couldn't even place the calm voice of the other, since the one time they had interacted had been somewhat more chaotic than a meeting on the street.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 1:07 pm
Viran couldn't help a smirk at the other's expression, blank as it was. He could tell the other recognized him, but couldn't pin down who he was exactly... Which was a good thing, in truth. He hadn't been entirely proud of how he had displayed his first impression. Now the question was whether to parade as Dominik or not?
Then again, it was best not to. Knowing his brother's tendencies...
"Then you would know your way back to the cafe? Are you heading there now?"
Not that Viran was intending to go back until the peak hours were long over. He had no wish to fight with his sibling any further, and two twins being under the same roof that did not see eye to eye could result in nothing but. Though at least, if Brad lead him back to the shop, he would know where he was and have a basis point to wander off again.
Running a hand through his hair, Viran casted his gaze to one side. He and his brother both had a tendency to lock gazes with people, but never holding it for long. Just long enough to let others know that they were anything but intimidated or demure. Still, such actions could sometimes give off the wrong impression regardless. And in truth, Brad did intimidate him. People who were so vastly different in work and in their private life tended to do that to the waiter. Then again, he was guilty of it himself-- Hypocrite.
"I am... A little lost."
There, he admitted it. Chewing on his bottom lip for a moment, Viran shrugged. It seemed like that younger man had no intentions of helping the host out in the memory department. Tucking his hands into his vest pockets again, Viran toyed absently with his sunglass; small fidgeting motions that betrayed the man's lack of ability to keep still.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 1:27 pm
It was close. He almost made a snide remark, almost commented that only a fool would stray so far from the familiar...and then the man bit his lip, showing his uncertainty, his discomfort.
Brad had opened his mouth to be his oh-so-charming self, when he suddenly realized who he was dealing with. Those black eyes had been fearful almost, scared, the one time the Italian had a good look into them. The uncertainty of facing a certain exuberant young girl was what the older man remembered the other by. Probably not the best first impression, but there was also another point worth remembering. This young man was a lover to his boss.
Who was he kidding? He wouldn't care if the guy was the President's personal clock cleaner.
His lips shifted into a very faint smile, and it wasn't entirely friendly. It rubbed him a little that Viran hadn't bothered to explain who he was to make this easier. If the young man liked difficult, well, he'd certain run into the right person. "That's a shame," he replied in a near purr. Was he offended? No. Was he going to be the bigger man and just help the other? Maybe. But likely not right away.
"Of course I know how to get back to the place I call home," he replied loftily, as if anyone who lived there should know better. "It's...well. Quite a few rights, lefts, straightaways and conjuctions, if you want to be told. I am returning there myself at this time." His eyes never left Viran's face; perhaps the other was polite enough to look away every now and then, but Brad preferred a certain degree of intensity. The type that generally made people leave him alone.
It likely wasn't the best way to speak with a co-worker, but if the other didn't want to identify himself, then he'd treat him like any other person on the street. Maybe.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 1:48 pm
Viran frowned at the other's words. He wasn't a stranger to the type of attitude Brad was giving him-- God knows the man dealt with these types more than a few times in his life times. So calmly controlling his annoyance [It had yet to evolve into full out anger, as his brother might have reacted with.] the man drew in a deep breath, releasing an inward sigh. The shades were pushed back into their proper position and he looked full on at Brad this time, gaze unwavering. The waiter smiled. Not a brilliant smile, but something almost as chilling as a certain masked bartender's might have been. Hey-- he was trying, at least.
"I see."
Flicking a few strands of jet back hair over his shoulder in a manner that mimicked his brother's whenever Dominik felt like being particularly snarky, Viran fought the urge to just leave. He needed to get back-- And while he can always ask strangers on the street, it wouldn't do if he ran into a few certain someones from his past. [That was how he got lost in the first place, god damnit.] Plus he needed to remedy that first impression of his.
Taking a step to the side, Viran put a bit more distance between them before turning around to greet Brad once more, taking in the Italian fully. Even with the glasses on, the man's gaze was almost as intense as Brad's own.
"Then I suppose we are heading the same way. Would you mind if I joined you?"
Keeping his voice as neutral as possible, Viran studied the man in detail. He had heard the rumors, been part of one himself, but now having interacted with the infamous host himself rather than the Brad that operated in work mode, found that the rumors were anything but possible. This man.. Though not as unbearable as some others, was pretty rude. Perhaps it was his own fault? Though Viran never really did introduce himself unless someone asked specifically. It was how he and his brother were. After all, one did not give out their names when they went around stealing from shops.
Besides, whatever he had said could not possibly have merited such a blatantly spiteful response. Least not to his knowledge.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 1:59 pm
"It'd be easier than following me, that might look bad," he remarked noncommittally. He could tell the other was displeased with him, but the older man could not be bothered to care. Brad had left the Club to get away from the song and dance of it all, and yet here he was, standing with one who still wrapped himself in mystery. It irked him, but did not show in his placid expression.
If this was a second impression, the first might have been better to stick with, for both of them.
Brad popped the other earbud from his lobe, letting it rest over his mostly bare shoulder. He might have been unpleasant, but he wasn't entirely rude enough to completely ignore the other man by listening to his music. He started down the street, indigo eyes shifting only once towards Viran to make sure he would follow. He had his bad points, but leaving someone he knew in such a bad position - whether he liked them or not - was not something he would ever do.
"What are you doing all the way out here, then?" he asked with a mild accent, looking around the street. He wouldn't make any assumptions or educated guesses, because he truly didn't know Viran well enough to pretend. He also had a feeling that the chance to know one of the twins might never come again due to this stint, but hey. It would be one less rumor hanging over his head.
The man exhaled softly, belittling himself for being so cynical. He had to stop making people hate him for the sake of his privacy. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he glanced over to Viran again, slightly curious.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 2:20 pm
Say it. Say it....
Viran bit his bottom lip grudgingly. Though as they began to walk, the soft 'thank you' he muttered was almost drowned out by the sigh he released for the umpteenth time that day.
If one observed closely, they would notice that despite the shades Viran wore, he was constantly alert and watching. Though the man kept his head down for the most part.
"Ah..."
At Brad's question, the waiter frowned again, glancing to the older man. He offered another shrug, as if he wasn't going to answer. Though after a moment of silence, Viran went with honesty. While he was as much intent on hiding his history as the next guy, especially to one who had not won any points with him in the past five minutes, the waiter did owe Brad a favor. Two, including the one now.
"Running away." The male touched a hand to his glasses. He walked directly beside Brad, as though trying to make himself invisible from the other side. Secretly, Viran was quite glad that the host was taller than him, if only by two or so inches. There was not many people he could slip behind.
Viran offered no in depth explanation, seeming not to care whether Brad interpreted his explanation negatively or positively. Though at the thought of how the Italian might interpret it, the man couldn't help a self amused smile, turning his head to one side to try and hide the fact less the other thought he was laughing at him.
It wasn't as though the man would be interested anyway. In modern English society, many people asked questions out of nothing better to do, not because they generally cared. Viran hardly indulged in such offhanded, meaningless rituals, however. He only asked how someone's day went or what they were doing if he was truly curious. His answers followed that same rule, which happened to be why most people found him to be somewhat curt in conversation.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 2:39 pm
Brad made a soft tsking sound. "Running away," he repeated, although there was no disdain in his voice. "Make sure it's something you can run away from, and not something that someone else will have to lead you back to."
Of course he had no idea what Viran was running from. Heck, he'd started this merry jaunt for a little escapsim himself, even if it had a way of biting him in the a** anyway. It wasn't his business, and if the waiter wanted to elaborate, Brad would listen. He might seem like a d**k - and one might be right to say as much - but the man was good at listening. For one who valued his privacy, he knew the merit and value of secrets and keeping them. Maybe it came from having none of his own, but he was good as absorbing information and keeping it filed.
Unfortunately, the tall man was not part of the modern society. It could have been why he didn't fit in, or why he didn't try. Despite his flippant attitude, he only spoke when necessary, and thus rewarded each returned word with a respectful ear. He was raised in a family of tradition and standards, most of which he followed unfailingly. The only part he failed to embrace was the biggest standard of his heritage, to live, laugh and love. He had lived that way once, and it had only turned him into who he was now.
He chose to look straight ahead for the most part, watching the signs and streets as they walked. Viran could have stuck his tongue out at Brad and it likely would go unnoticed. "At least you picked a day of fair weather. Auspicious."
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 3:02 pm
Despite himself, Viran found he was laughing at the other's words. Running a hand through his hair again, the man closed his eyes briefly before turning his gaze to see what Brad was looking at. "I'll be quite happy if you don't lead me back to what I was running from. Else they will be your problem as well, not just mine." The man grinned ironically.
"I don't know whether to curse this weather or thank it." It was this good day that was the deciding factor for his slacking off, anyway. Withdrawing his hands from his pockets, Viran folded them over his chest, only somewhat annoyed that he had decided to take off his earrings-- He was used to fidgeting with them as well.
"You are out here because of this weather too, no? Or just to be away from all those rumors and advances?" Seeming to loosen up a bit more once the other made no mention to further poke him about his answer, Viran decided to revoke his earlier opinion of the host. He wasn't someone who saw things in entirely black and white, unlike his other half. Though regardless of the fact, the man wasn't expecting a reply to a question so [In his opinion] personal. Still, if Brad chose to reply, he would be very much interested. The host was of equal mystery to him as he was to the host.
Making careful note of the street signs and buildings less he happened to wander lost this way again, Viran finally pulled is hair back from his face, holding it there with one hand while he searched in vain with his other for a hair tie. He knew there wouldn't be one, but being human, couldn't help but try anyway. He was definitely going to get a hair cut some time soon.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 3:22 pm
The older man lifted a hand, pulling his short ponytail from its confines, handing the tie to Viran with a sidelong glance and a faintly amused smile. "You think so?" Brad considered offering a swap of issues - in jest, of course - but his problems, at least, he could deal with. There was no way for him to know what phantoms haunted the young man at his side. He used his other hand to brush his unruly hair forward as best he could before he spoke again.
"Both," he answered the question after a time, giving their surroundings another fair looking over. They probably hadn't gone a mile yet. "Most folk stay indoors on a day like this. It's a waste." After a moment, he added, "It's nice to get out and not have to be a part of every man's conquest." Rumors. What rubbish. He couldn't tell if the rumors were detrimental to his position or if they did, in fact, help. He didn't like them, all the same. Each person wanted to demean him, to destroy his work, and they were welcome to try. Just because he didn't care about what was said, didn't mean he liked to hear it day in and day out. He was only a man, after all, not the super hero Host everyone made him out to be.
Taking a deep breath of the cool air through his nose, he exhaled his next words, "It's tiring, sometimes." He took pride in his work, because he was flawless in everything he did, or so he liked to think. The effort he put in was seamless, and it was easy not to lose himself in his work because it was just that - work. However, making himself to be desirable as a job was tiring, especially when he didn't always like who he had to be. It was a job, and he would do it, but even he needed a break from himself.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 4:01 pm
Viran reached out to take it in a casual motion, momentarily forgetting that he was dealing with a host rather than his brother. Hesitating for a moment millimeters from the tie, the man withdrew his hand only an inch before taking the band with a soft murmur of thanks. He made short work of his long hair, tying it into a high ponytail and off his back. Still was going to get the damn thing cut. He swore it.
"You're more recognizable with your hair down.--" Stopping short as he realized he spoke his mind, Viran bit his bottom lip quickly as a way of self scolding. Perhaps it was because he was tired that he made such ungraceful slip ups.
When Brad continued to speak, however, Viran smiled almost in sympathy.
"I'd imagine so." Chuckling softly, the slightly shorter male tugged absently on his long shirt fabric, directing his attention down to his hand momentarily. "Hm? Tiring to be the the target of everyone's vicious desire, or tiring because you have to keep up your facade?"
It wasn't that Viran particularly cared about the predicament Brad got himself in or necessarily wished to help him. It was just that he was interested in seeing what the man had to say for himself rather than hearing the gossip around the club. Besides, it was fun to talk about someone else for a change.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 4:25 pm
Another smile surfaced, still without any light or mirth. "You are too, with your hair up," he replied breezily, his smile slipping into a very faint grin. It wasn't his charming Host expression, but it was his, and it was real.
"Neither, not really," he continued onwards in an attempt to stem any rage at the fact he had recognized Viran for a while now, putting his hand back into his pocket. "It's tiring to build such a perfect construction, that no one else can see through it." Maybe that's what he really wanted, was for someone to see beyond the job. That was impossible, of course, because he himself executed his performance...only he would know what was a slip and what was not. He was very careful of what information he shared and how he portrayed his answers. More often than not, he could completely avoid a question and no one would be the wiser due to his misdirection. In a way, he deserved the rumors, for being so false himself.
That gave him grim satisfaction. Karma always came back, didn't it? What goes around comes around, and all that jazz. He was just sulking because there was no challenge in it. Brad was fully aware that he was a complicated, strange individual.
He was also quite aware that he himself was the topic of discussion, something he and Ferdinand seemed to have hit a brick wall with. It wouldn't hurt to get in some practice, he supposed, and didn't bother to ask any questions in return for the time being.
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