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 Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 6:32 pm
He took a sip of the drink he'd been given, finally tasting it, and was unsurprised to find that it was delicious. Chase, in spite of his assurances that it was nothing, had a knack for picking out exactly what it was that Auguste seemed to need.
"Wonderful," he breathed happily, and then jerked his head up, almost knocking the cup over in the process, the bracelet jingling a little as he clutched it to keep it steady. Pale blue eyes met amber colored ones, and Auguste's lips parted and then closed again, the flush to his cheeks, which had started to dissipate, growing stronger once more.
"Oh," he said, and a terrible feeling of pleasure seemed to take place in the pit of his stomach; a bubble of happiness that seemed to swell inside of him, taking up all the space. A small, shy smile found is way back onto Auguste's face.
"No," he said, with a shake of his head, "No, no plans. Colin is with his others, I think, I haven't really...said much about my birthday at all to any of them."
The smile grew a little larger, though remained tentative.
"I would...very much like to take you up on that offer," said Auguste.
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 7:46 pm
He chuckled softly, watching Auguste stumble with his drink. It was easier to feel more relaxed about the accidental offer, because while he hadn't intended it, Chase did want to take the boy out but -
Colin is with his others.
Now that certainly had his attention in a way that Auguste hadn't already had. "I'm sorry. Others?" He couldn't help but asked, looking oddly perplexed like it was something difficult to wrap his head around. Perhaps it was because his parents had always been very monogamous and even Chase - to a degree - had once been a man who only ever focused on one person.
But those times had long passed and -
"You shouldn't have to tell them that it's your birthday," he said quietly, almost reaching for Auguste's hand before hesitating. "You know what - I can finish early. We'll go where ever you want, it's most certainly my treat and I don't want you to bother hesitating about price. Nothing is too pricey for your birthday."
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:22 pm
He was relaxing, little by little, Chase's presence and the drink and the bracelet and the fact that he wasn't being treated coldly easing some of the tension in Auguste's shoulders. He took another little sip of his drink, lifting pale lashes to look up at the barista.
A soft smile graced his lips. It wasn't unusual to get this sort of bemused reaction; Auguste was so used to everything that it had become second nature to him by now, but sometimes he forgot that not everyone had seen it all happen the way he had.
"He has a boyfriend," said Auguste, smiling, his tone gentle as he held onto his drink. "And a girlfriend. They just...they work together, the three of them, it's very wonderful to see them all so happy with one another."
He was not, and never had been - and never would be - intimate with Lorne and Nadia the way he had been with Colin, for obvious reasons. They were too much like his older siblings, but all three of them had a deep, unfailing connection with one another that Auguste had felt he couldn't break into for the longest time. Not in terms of intimacy, but in terms of family.
Finding somewhere he belonged, it seemed, was very hard.
Auguste gave a shake of his head, still looking pleased, and the expression only grew at the rest of Chase's words. "Are you sure?" he said, but his happy tone overrode the worry. "I don't want you to leave early on my behalf, but it's - I mean," he added quickly, flushing, "I would very much enjoy spending the evening with you."
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:46 pm
It wasn't unheard of, whatever Colin and his...others were but it was not something Chase was familiar with. It was interesting though and perhaps he would do research later, he didn't like not knowing things.
"So, what does that make you? Another boyfriend?" He wondered what that would be like, especially to know that this Colin was with his others on Auguste's birthday. "Are you not part of that arrangement?"
He held up a hand, shook his head. "Never mind, don't answer that. I don't want to know, I shouldn't pry." But he did want to know and he didn't like that he cared.
Emotions were strange silly things, and he liked it better before all these people managed to worm their way beneath his skin, curl around his heart. Some times, Chase missed the days when he'd been more off his rocker, at least that had made sense. Sorta. At least then the conflict had been his loyalties, not whatever this was.
"I wouldn't offer anything I wasn't sure about," he asserted firm, whiskey eyes shifting from that soft freckled face to the shift coming out the back. "Five minutes, then I'm all yours."
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 7:39 am
Truth be told, even Auguste wasn't sure what it made him. He and Colin had never felt the need to discuss labels, and the inclination to do without them had become a habit. It simply was what it was, without any words necessary to speak.
"It's all right," said Auguste, with a shake of his head, glancing up at Chase. "It's not prying, I don't mind talking with you about it."
He didn't know why Chase was asking, why he had backtracked, why he was looking at him the way he was. Auguste felt the warmth in his stomach, and tried not to overthink it yet again, his chest tightening with every breath so that he felt a little dazed by his own warring emotions.
The smile on his face was soft, reigning in the pleasure, but Auguste had never been good at concealing anything at all.
"Five minutes, then," he said, cheeks flushing with happiness. "I'll finish my drink while you get ready."
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 10:44 am
"Well," he said after a beat of silence, "if you want to keep talking about it you can but," he shrugged, indicating it was not necessary. Chase was interested in hearing more. Both out of selfishness and genuine curiosity.
He looked like he might say more before deciding against it. There was a quick rap of knuckles against the counter before he was turning, heading over to his employee to discuss something - he was out of Auguste's earshot.
Roughly five minutes later, the apron was being pulled over his fauxhawk and folded neatly and quickly, from years of practice, then tucked into a drawer before he was rounding the counter, arms slipping into his leather jacket and keys in his hand.
Immediately, he reached for Auguste's wrist and tugged him to his feet. "Oh, is walking okay? I've only got my bike and one helmet?" He frowned, while he pulled the boy along with him, walking backwards towards the glass door.
"Or I can call a cab, or uber probably." He cocked his head, one hand secure around Auguste's wrist and the other pushing the door open. "Whatever you want. Tonight's your night."
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2016 6:36 pm
He opened his mouth and then shut it again as Chase went to talk to his employee. Auguste felt a weird sort of fluttering sensation in his stomach, reaching down to gather his bag up again, slinging it over a bare shoulder and shifting on his stool.
All too soon - or was it too slowly? - Chase was back, and in a second, work roughened fingers had slid around his wrist. Auguste's lips parted in silent shock, and he was tugged off of his seat, stumbling a little, but catching himself, following along behind Chase with wide eyes.
He was trying very hard to ignore the tingling sensation that was shivering on his skin from where Chase's hand still held his arm.
"Walking is fine," Auguste said quickly, flashing a smile as they stepped outside. "I don't mind; I like walking, it's how I get around most of the time. There's something about the fresh air that's...very soothing, if that makes any sense."
He gave a little laugh, cheeks tinging pink with pleasure. "So where are we going?" Auguste asked, and his tone could not hide the feeling of light, open happiness he felt. "Do I get to choose, or do you have somewhere in mind already?"
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2016 7:55 pm
"Oh good, though if you ever get the chance to ride you should," he replied, pulling the boy along with him. "It's like flying." There was a soft sound of pleasure in his voice when he looked back.
He let go of Auguste's wrist once they were on the sidewalk and he was sure the boy was following. He flashed a softer grin and shook his head. "No, I don't have anything in mind." He slowed in his walk, until he stopped and fully faced Auguste. "Sorry, I just - habit to move away from the shop when I'm not working."
He bit down on his bottom lip, tugged fingers through pink and black hair as he cocked his head. "Where ever you want Auguste," he said softly, letting his gaze sweep over the boy's frame. "Tonights about you and what you might want, okay?"
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 12:29 pm
"I would love to fly one day," said Auguste dreamily, his eyes turning up to stare at the bright blue sky above their heads. "I wonder what the birds think - d'you ever wonder about that? What it would be like to be one of them? I think it'd be lovely, just to be able to soar through the air."
He trailed off, realized he probably sounded a little stupid, and flushed a little, though Auguste was smiling. He had caught the pleasure in Chase's voice; clearly his bike was a thing of pride to him, and it was endearing. Almost as much as that sheepish smile, and the gentle pressure of his hand around his wrist.
His skin still tingled where Chase's fingers had been. Auguste looked up at Chase, feeling his chest tighten a little at the words.
"There's - a little French cafe, down the street," he said, after a minute, cheeks pinking. "It's not very big, and I don't eat there all that often because it seems too much for that, but it's...very warm and homey and nice. Though not nearly as nice as certain coffee shops," he added, with a teasing wink and a little grin.
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 1:33 pm
"Are you saying that you wish you were a bird?" He asked, light and teasing when he too lifted his eyes to the sky and took in the melting colors. "Riding - running's like it sometimes. Close as you can get I suppose." Outside of the royal senshi he supposed but even then, he didn't know if they could actually fly.
Iris had used her wings around him before, but it'd always been more of a glide than flight.
But that was neither here nor there, it was Auguste's birthday and Chase was going to focus on the boy.
When his head drop, his gaze dropped to the glinting metal adorning his wrist. Even now, Chase felt a small amount of pride at how well chosen the bracelet had ended up being.
It didn't matter that Chase thought he was clear about everything being what Auguste wanted, he was incredibly flexible, adaptable and could find food anywhere, and yet - his companion was still terribly sheepish about expressing what he might desire. "If that's what you want, then it's perfect." He stepped into Auguste's space, regarded him carefully before shaking his head slightly when the boy winked at him.
It was cute.
"I'll make sure to judge it harshly when we go so that I don't risk losing you to them."
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 5:55 pm
"Maybe," Auguste said, a teasing note to his voice as he glanced at Chase, eyes crinkling. "Birds are beautiful, I've always loved them. I love animals, though - I have a little dog - well, he's not so little anymore, I suppose - but his name is Pasha, and he's a fluffball."
He grinned wider at the mention of running. "I do like to go running, but I'm not very good at it. I mostly prefer just walking so I can take things in, you know? So I can get a good look at everything around me."
The more he said, the more he wondered whether it sounded silly or naive. Auguste's cheeks were faintly pink, but he was at ease as he stood there in the dwindling sunlight, letting the oranges and pinks and purples wash over them like watercolor paints, tinging everything in a haze of gold.
Chase's eyes looked gold like this, Auguste thought, glancing at him. And then those eyes were closer, because Chase had stepped closer, and all of the breath seemed to go out of Auguste's lungs, his heart beating very fast as he stared up at him.
Don't read too much into it.
Don't overthink this. You're just a customer, you're -
Baristas don't buy customers birthday gifts in the form of bracelets. Or take them out to dinner.
Don't overthink.
His mouth opened and then closed again. Auguste's smile was very shy in the sunset that framed Chase from behind, highlighting the flush to his freckled cheeks.
"You won't lose me," he said, and he felt a little breathless.
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 7:40 pm
"You get better with experience," he commented casually, shrugging his shoulders as he began to walk backwards. It was clear that he expected Auguste to follow, since he knew of the place he'd been talking about. Chase himself hadn't been there, but he'd passed it enough times to know where it was.
Still, as he seemed to have a tendency to do, he receded when he was too close.
Chase needed to keep from admiring the way Auguste's skin seemed to glow in the oranges and pinks of the sky. Or the way the sinking sun-rays made his hair look like a halo around him. It made him think too much about the time at the club, when the flashing lights made the boy glow beneath them.
You won't lose me.
Chase smirked as he spun on his heel. "Good, because that'd be a shame."
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 6:56 pm
He didn't have to say anything; Auguste followed forward instinctively, his eyes bright with a relaxed sort of pleasure that seemed to spread from his chest outwards. If Chase was receding a little, he didn't seem to notice, the smile on his face matching the rapid pulse that beat beneath his skin.
On his wrist, the bracelet felt cool against his sun warmed skin; he resisted the urge to reach out and touch it, instead just picking up his steps a little so that he could fall into step beside Chase, instead of being behind him as he spun around.
A laugh escaped, slightly breathless.
"You do make pretty good drinks," said Auguste teasingly, grinning up at him. "Do you cook as well? Or do those particular talents only lie in mixing up concoctions for persistent dancers?"
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 7:59 pm
Chase didn't have to look to know that Auguste fell in step beside him. There hadn't been a doubt that the dancer would follow as he walked.
Then Auguste laughed and suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, unsettled by the pleasant tingle that ran through him from the sound.
That was weird.
He coughed and started walking again, head shaking slightly as he tried to clear it. "Nah, I'm no chef. I don't - " he frowned, looked a little troubled. Chase had terrible eating habits, borderline disorders depending on how they were looked at. And really, he knew he didn't eat well enough to support his activities. "I don't cook. I forget to eat sometimes," he admitted, shoulders rolling back in a shrug.
"Mom hired a professional chef to make sure I'm eating." Katrina made sure he ate too and when he went anywhere with Prissy or even Suri, food was likely involved. "It's not on the forefront of my mind but - I probably could cook. I've got a lovely kitchen I ought to use." Lara loved her kitchen.
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Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 7:19 am
Chase's faltered steps were noted with a slightly curious tilt of Auguste's head, but he made no mention of it, merely smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. But a moment later he felt the smile slip into something else, a worried expression crossing Auguste's face.
"Remembering to eat can be hard," he said, because he knew how it felt to get wrapped up inside of his own head and, before he knew it, have hours pass. If he didn't live with Nadia, who fussed over him like a mother hen, chances were he'd also have issues eating.
"I like to cook but I'm not very good at it," Auguste admitted, fingers toying with the hem of his shirt. "I grew up with - with help," he added, his face colouring with a mixture of embarrassment and shame. There had been servants and maids and cooks all growing up; Auguste's first attempts in the kitchen had been a disastrous mixture of flour everywhere and several knocked over containers.
He brightened up a bit when he glanced back at Chase, letting out a little laugh.
"I should try and make you a sandwich or something for all the drinks you've made me," said Auguste, grinning.
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