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 Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:25 pm
Otto was actually going to let Chance take the bill this time, obediently setting his books down. However, it wouldn't be fun if he made it easy, would it? He moved to take his card away, but Chance stepped in front of him, blocking his attempt. First attempt. So now he reached around him, balancing on his toes to each for the man's hand. If all else failed, Otto smacked his wrist whenever Chance tried to hand it over.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:31 pm
Chance let out a low hum of amusement, shifting his feet again to stand up on his tiptoes to block Otto's deliberately wandering hand.
"Stop that," he said, attempting to sound serious, but it was very hard to sound serious when he was already starting to laugh, amusement in his eyes as he took a step back, pressing the heel of his boot lightly onto Otto's toe. "I'm buying you these ******** books whether you like it or not."
One of Chance's hands came up, fingers wrapping around Otto's wrist to tug it away as he struggled to hand his card over with his free hand. The cashier gave them both a mildly suspicious look, as though debating whether they were trouble; but then he shrugged, and passed back the card without much more incident.
Chance looked marginally triumphant as he turned to look at Otto, still holding his wrist.
"Now we're even," he said with satisfaction, and let go to snag the bag of Otto's books, holding it out to him.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:36 pm
Otto was also satisfied, even if didn't win anything. He'd been a mild pain in the a** for a moment. Balance was restored. His toe and hand were freed, and he took a step back. Taking the bag, grateful despite his brattiness, he shrugged. "Actually I'm pretty sure that cost more than the dinner." He'd get him back. Maybe a bag of Skittles to call it even. But not today. They had cakes to bring home. He idly wondered if he should wait for another day to get music. Night was setting in. It was getting late. It was best not to squander leave time on running through the city for a CD shop that was still open. Yeah, another day, maybe. "Should we head back?" He asked as he left the store, using his foot to keep the door open for Chance.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:42 pm
"That's okay, even if it did," said Chance, and winked at Otto. "Tax for listening to me for the past several hours."
Outside, it was growing darker, the crowds of people shifting from the evening shoppers to the later night laughing, giggling partygoers, the brooding and moody clubbers, the colors and sounds and sights still loud and brash and everywhere. Chance made sure to stay right next to Otto, hopefully able to act as a buffer.
"Sure," he said lightly. "Don't want to get that cake melted, what are you gonna do with it? You gonna save it or share it with your roommate?"
The portal was only a block or two away, but the crowds of people were everywhere, glowing lights on their figures to work with the blacklights of clubs. Chance slowed his steps, careful to stay within a short distance of Otto.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:48 pm
It was hardly a tax. Otto enjoyed listening. Enjoyed sharing. It was mutual, he was sure. "Share it, maybe. If she ain't around I'll keep it in the fridge for later..." Or snack on it later. How he could snack after so big a dinner was unheard of. He stuck closer, again finding he felt safe keeping to Chance's back. Why was it he felt so anxious with all these people? They were out, living their human lives, with human problems. So alien, and so outside all he knew now. Maybe he felt like an outcast, or maybe he just felt overwhelmed. Scared he'd never fit in, or scared he stood out too much. His hand laid at Chance's shoulder, his gaze narrowing at the passing groups laughing and being loud. Much like a cat he sought to hide under some furniture and silently resent them all.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:55 pm
"Sounds like a good plan," said Chance agreeably. "It can be a good midnight snack or something."
Never mind that it would be midnight in just one or two hours. The noise level in the street rose higher the closer they came to some of the more occupied areas, the low, rhythmic beat of music from a local club vibrating in the very pavement beneath their feet. Chance could feel Otto's hand on his shoulder, and he kept his pace carefully, easily, holding his head up a little higher as though to remind people that they were here and that everyone else just needed to move away while they passed.
The alleyway was only half a block away now; he could see the alleyway where it was hidden. A giggling girl with vibrantly red hair staggered into Chance, nearly knocking him over, and he automatically reached behind him, attempting to keep contact with Otto.
"Oooopsssss," the girl slurred, bubbling with laughter and reeking of booze and cheap cigarettes. "My bad, didn't mean to knock into you guys - "
"Kimi, this way!" hissed another girl, this one a blonde, just ahead; the redhead gave a silly wave, collapsed into giggles, and dashed off to meet with her friend. Chance watched the two of them slip into the line for one of the more refined restaurants.
"You doing okay?" he asked, in a low, deliberately casual voice to Otto as Chance resumed walking, rounding a corner to the street where the portal was.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:05 am
His hand gripped fabric at Chance's back as he staggered from the sudden jostling. Otto felt shame within his heart for being so uncomfortable here; of hiding and being.. well, himself. The people around were the normal ones. Droves and groups of people he'd never relate to. "I'll be better when we're back." He murmured back. The energy and carefree drunkenness and lights of the people around him made his stomach feel tight and painful. Why didn't he see this behaviour as fun like they did? Why didn't he want to enjoy music in a club? In theory it sounded okay. Music, fun lights, a bar. He didn't much care for dancing, but it was fun to watch. Just... not while he was actually there. Maybe if he watched from a booth. Then maybe. Still, drunk people were no fun unless he was drunk as well. Who was he kidding. A rock concert was more his thing, even if he didn't mind dance songs. And even then the crowds would bother him. Cake and books awaited him past that portal. He'd survive. "You into stuff like that?" He asked distantly. "Clubs n' crowds?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:16 am
He almost reached around and took Otto by the hand to make it easier, but decided against it, for Otto's sake. Chance glanced left and right, slowing his steps as they came to the crosswalk that would lead them to the right road.
"Clubs..." The word was mulled over in his mind as they waited for the light to change. "Well, I suppose it depends on what sort of mood I'm in."
Like the I'm just trying to forget that I ******** up mood from the day before. The bruises were still evident around Chance's collarbone and neck, hidden beneath his layers of clothing. Out of sight, out of mind, after all.
"Not often," Chance said, as the light switched to the walk symbol, and he pressed forward, his free hand reaching to tug at the front of Otto's coat, keep him nearby as the crowds surged forward. "I much prefer solitude than anything else, or just small companionship. I'm not hugely averse to dancing at a club, if I'm in the right mindset."
The talking was less an explanation, more of a distraction to keep Otto from focusing too much on the people. Trying to cross a street with dozens of people going this way and that was irritating, even for Chance, and his hold on Otto's coat tightened.
"I went to a club just the other day, in fact," said Chance, trying to keep it light as a man knocked into him. They were almost there, just a bit more. "It wasn't that pleasant, I did some s**t I probably shouldn't have, so either way, clubs, not totally my comfort zone."
And then finally, they had broken free of the crowd. Chance stumbled a few feet, practically dragging Otto into the alleyway and then leaned against the brick wall, his fingers clenched in the front of Otto's coat.
"Better?" he asked, smiling down at him, though he felt strangely ill at ease; perhaps he wasn't quite as comfortable in the crowds as he'd thought, or maybe because the thought of Otto being uncomfortable was unpleasant.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:25 am
It was a good distraction. It kept a good deal of focus off the crowds and more on Chance, even as they were bumped and jostled. Were Otto alone, he'd have moved as quick as he could; weaving through openings and cursing with each bump and jab. He was tugged along, feeling the world blur by almost dizzyingly. What was with this city? Was it even the city? Of course Otto was curious what Chance had done, but not enough to pry. They'd finally made it to a spot with no one shoving them. He took a moment to steady his breathing, feeling his temper start to ease back down. "Better.." He murmured, slowly letting go of Chance's jacket. Of course, he wondered why Chance still clung back. Maybe he'd not enjoyed crowds either. That and it was a crowd from Hell. "Y'okay?" Despite the threat of people and drunks, it had been worth it for the day spent otherwise.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:31 am
Neither one of them had any real idea of where they were, because they hadn't been paying too much attention to the aide at the portal entrance that had recommended it. At the time, it hadn't been important; the leaving was the focus on their trip.
The portal was just around the corner of this particular alley, but Chance had paused near the entry because he had needed a moment, and he knew Otto would too. He felt the other's hand slowly slip away from his jacket, and after a second, Chance managed to unwind his own fingers as well, exhaling a breath. He offered Otto a small smile.
"Good," he said, in answer to Otto's earlier statement of "better." "And I'm okay," Chance added, in an effort to reassure him. "Sorry about that, that was a ******** nightmare."
He lifted a hand and patted Otto's shoulder, pushing himself away from the wall.
"Ready?" he asked. "Or do you still need another minute?"bittiface /shhhh I am going to bed right now I promise
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:41 am
Otto rolled his shoulders, puffing up a bit in an attempt to redeem his masculinity. "Nah, I'm good to go now. Hope those assholes didn't squish the cakes." He sniffed indignantly, walking toward the corner he was sure the portal had been. A confident stride, as if the whole clinging to some dude to hide from pushy crowds never happened. It never happened.
Man man manly man Otto forever.Except Otto had never been a manly man in his life. Ornery, temperamental and sometimes obstinate. But not manly.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:32 pm
There was an amused look on Chance's face as he stepped up beside Otto, trying very hard to hide the fact that he could tell exactly what the other was attempting to do. It was a little endearing, but since that was literally the exact opposite of Otto's intentions, Chance just kept his mouth shut.
"If they did, I'm sure they still taste good," he said airily, hands shoved into the pockets of his coat, a lightness to his steps. "And if not, then we'll just have to go back and get more some place with less assholes around."
The portal was just up ahead, and Chance was half glad to see it, half a little reluctant to actually go through it, since it meant going back to everything they'd left behind. He took a small, discrete breath, and flashed Otto a casual smile.
"After you," he said grandly, gesturing.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 4:33 pm
Otto nodded, walking through the portal. Back one Deus, the tropical air hit him like a wave. It was familiar, and there were no crowds in sight. He breathed out, stepping forward a few paces until Chance came out. He had mixed feelings about Deus. It was his home, but sometimes it was just as nerve wrecking and uncomfortable as those crowded streets.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 4:47 pm
And then they were back.
Somehow it felt strange, as though he'd gone a great distance and been gone a long time without any of that actually being true. Maybe because going off the island with Otto had given Chance an opportunity to forget everything that had been going on; a nice, pleasant distraction away from the messy strings.
"So, what do you think?" Chance asked, as he stepped up beside Otto, the sights and sounds of the city they'd just left nothing more than a lingering echo in his ears. It was late; the grounds were dark, the fluorescent bulbs of the buildings the only lighting.
"Gonna take those back and share with your roomie? Or did you want to have a drink before sleep?"
For Chance it would be before bed, because sleeping was less of an option when one couldn't actually sleep; but he was good with either option, leaving it for Otto to determine which one he was comfortable with.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 4:49 pm
"I'll have a drink with you." He affirmed with a nod, waving his hand out in front of him to let Chance lead.
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