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 Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 6:45 pm
It was Tuesday night which mean that Chase was working. He wasn't entirely sure when he decided it would be a regular thing but if one of his barista's mentioned a freckled-boy with locks of silver as the reason he'd vehemently deny it. Either way, it was Tuesday and he was behind the counter as per usual.
It'd been a slower day at the coffeeshop with a slower trickle of customers than usual. Normally, he'd work on paperwork and he had all these applications to go through to hire more help. Business was steady enough to warrant it and besides, Chase wanted the freedom to leave as he pleased.
Especially when surprise business became a thing.
He was cleaning the stay cups glancing up at the glass door and windows as though he was expecting someone. He was, Auguste had told him that he would stop by on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so now Chase expected him. Of course the last time Auguste had been in things had gotten tense and then -
Things had been weird at the bar.
Sometimes Chase could still feel the warm press of the dancer against him and then there'd been that moment that they'd -
No it wasn't important. Besides, Auguste had a Colin.
He didn't need a Chase.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:18 pm
He felt the reality of his situation come upon him halfway through dance rehearsal.
It was not as though Auguste had not thought about it - him - Chase - since that night. He had, all too much, and yet it had done him no good at all. What remained of his own sensibilities was confused and convoluted, and did not make a lot of sense, at least not to his hazy mind.
As such, Auguste had tried not to remember what day it was all day, and had done relatively well until he'd been in the middle of a leap and thought, somewhat abruptly, of warm amber eyes and a relaxed smile beneath the multicolored lights of a bar.
He'd fudged the step, but recovered quickly; and now, at the end of rehearsal, was taking his time, Auguste sliding his bag over his shoulder and exiting the darkened building to the shadowy streets beyond, his sweater pulled tightly around him.
He wasn't sure what he expected - nothing? Slightly more than nothing?
No. No, nothing was better. Nothing did not hold the promises of further confusing him. He'd just act like everything was fine and as though things were perfectly normal. Which they were.
Hopefully.
It took Auguste a good two minutes to work up the courage to actually push open the door to the coffee shop, peering in rather shyly.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:01 pm
At some point Chase had moved away from the counter, tension keeping his shoulder tight and tense. There was a constant strain of thoughts that invaded his mind as he looked for something to keep his hands busy. There was another barista on shift, one of his part-time managers that he'd scheduled to close, so he could leave if he wanted but -
Chase was still hoping that the blue-eyed dancer was going to step through the door like he promised.
It was a weird, conflicting feeling that left his stomach twisting uncomfortable as he waited. He didn't like not knowing. He didn't like the questions that popped into his head.
Had he been drunker than he thought at the club? Had the dancing and casual touches been too much? Had he been to harsh last time?
His head was a hazy mess of too many thoughts when he heard the door open and he jerked up, rag in one hand and espresso on his cheek. "I didn't think you were coming," he said slowly, feeling as though a weight was lifting off his chest.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 10:22 pm
For a moment, in which he stood suspended awkwardly in the partially open doorway to the cafe, Auguste wondered whether he'd made a mistake in come back. He'd convinced himself that what had happened at the bar was just an excess of drink and giddiness; and even if he couldn't quite get the memory of Chase's hands on his waist out of his mind, he could act as though everything was normal.
Maybe.
But before he could make up his mind, Chase's voice came wafting across the room to him, quiet and familiar, and Auguste felt his chest tighten a little as he glanced up. He was standing behind the counter, his usual place, except the look on his face was anything but usual.
Auguste swallowed hard.
Normal, he thought, normal.
"I...rehearsal ran a little late," he said, closing the door behind him, Auguste stepping in and holding his bag against his chest. "But of course I came by, it's Tuesday, isn't it?"
There was a little smile on his face, genuine, but slightly uncertain, in spite of his attempts at keeping it simple.
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 8:17 am
Chase noticed the hesitation almost immediately and while there was tension between his shoulder blades as a result he didn't let it show. Instead he smiled a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It is, but that isn't always a guarantee," he replied, brow furrowing slightly before his gaze dropped to his hands that he was cleaning off. There was a moment of hesitation that hiccuped between them because he couldn't miss the way Auguste was holding his bag like it might as well be a shield then -
He dropped the rag on the counter, splayed both hands on the polished surface and leaned forward, dark brow cocked. There was a hiss of an exhale, before he spoke breaking up the charged tension that threatened to make itself at home between them. "What are you feeling like today?" That felt like the easy subject to broach.
They didn't need to talk about the night at the club, the closeness, the - everything because things had gone to s**t and well... Chase didn't want to think about it.
But he couldn't help but wonder if the nerves that the freckled boy was likely unknowingly broadcasting had to do with that night.
"Take a seat," he suggested, lifting his palm off the counter to gesture at the stools. "I don't bite," a pause and a smirk, "most of the time."
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:51 am
The smile caught him off guard; Auguste blinked at it, trying to figure out why it looked...off somehow, while simultaneously trying to ignore the confusing fluttering sensation in his stomach. He padded forward, still holding his bag, and said lightly, "It is if I've made a promise to come every Tuesday."
And sometimes every Thursday as well, because the more time he spent with Chase, the more time he wanted to spend time with Chase. But it was all a mess now; he couldn't tell whether or not the feelings of friendship were returned, and that moment on the dance floor -
- their lips had been only inches apart, he'd almost been able to taste his breath -
"I don't bite. Most of the time.
No, thought Auguste, as a steady flush of pink crept unwillingly into his cheeks, his mouth opening and closing abruptly as he stared at him. No. It wasn't anything, it was just the heat, the dance -
He cleared his throat, smiling shyly up at Chase instead, and slid onto his usual stool at the counter, letting his bag slide to the ground at his feet. Auguste laced his fingers together and tugged his draping sweater sleeve back up onto its proper place on a slender shoulder.
"Something soothing," he said, "And preferably sweet. How are you today?"
He was not going to think about the biting comment he was not.
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 9:40 pm
Chase relaxed slightly when his companion confirmed that he'd be here every Tuesday because he promised. "Then I'll just keep expecting you," he said, searching the dancer's face from something. Then, as if to emphasis the biting comments, he flashed his teeth to Auguste, the points of his canines sharpening his smile.
"I think a tea is in order then," Chase decided, letting his gaze linger before he turned and made his way towards the various jars of tea on the counter a few inches from the espresso machines. He took a minute to decide on which tea to pick, settling on a camomile tea which he began to steep beneath hot water while he mixed some honey into. Then, he slid over to the steamer, opting to steam a small batch of whole milk, setting a timer for the tea before returning to the counter where Auguste was waiting.
"Fine," the answer was more clipped than he intended. "How was rehearsal?" Was he a little irritated that it had run date? Or that was just part of it and his mind was occupied by something else entirely.
Lips grazing an ear.
Fingers tapping against hipbones.
Faces too close.
No, no. Now was not the time to dwell on such things. Besides, that whole thing had been a lapse in judgement induced by a haze of alcohol. The only type of relationship the two of them had was barista and customer. That was all.
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:07 am
He was not going to be pleased about Chase expecting him every week, he was not. But Auguste had never been good about keeping his emotions hidden, and a light pink flush crossed his face anyway, in spite of all of his attempts at keeping it at bay.
Especially when Chase was smiling at him the way he was. Auguste had a fleeting memory of those teeth close to his neck, of those lips so near to his, music pounding around them, the warmth, the touch of hands on his waist, the laughter -
He wanted to kiss Chase.
It was a terrible, frightening, startling realization, but he couldn't act on it, he couldn't possibly, because for one thing, Chase's inclinations were as of yet unclear. Dancing was one thing, kissing was entirely another - and for another thing, Chase Black was not interested in him.
Focus.
Auguste watched him work, as he always did, his expression softening, though the pink remained on his cheeks, growing a little hotter at the abrupt, single word answer. No, Chase Black was definitely not interested in him, not when he didn't even want to look at him.
But those lips against his ear -
Stay. Focused.
"Rehearsal was good," said Auguste, tucking a stray strand of hair behind an ear, pleased at how calm and relaxed his voice sounded, in spite of everything. "We're getting ready to put on a recital, it's a themed one, based around Neverland and Peter Pan."
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 8:49 pm
It was cute, the way Auguste's cheeks were tinged pink from happy embarrassment, and it was hard for Chase to keep from letting his intense from lingering whenever he got a moment to turn his attention away from the drink he was working on. He licked his lips without realizing that his whiskey-colored gaze had drifted to the boy's lips and it was only the beeping of the tea timer that had him tearing his gaze away.
"So are you one of the fairies? A mermaid about to sink a handsome sailor with your beauty and charm or..." Fingers tapped against the counter as he pulled teabags out of the cup and deposited them in the garbage. "Do you get to dance with Peter Pan and his lost boys?"
The milk was added and so was a lid, then Chase returned to his place at the counter across from the freckled boy and slid the drink his way. "Do you want something to pair with it? Shortbread is great with this tea."
A beat then, "when's the recital?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 10:00 am
It was bad; he felt too comfortable at the cafe, too warm and secure in this little coffee place with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla heavy in the air and Chase's continued, familiar presence behind the counter. It was habit, now, for Auguste to watch him as he moved - and so he noticed when Chase turned to him, looked at him, and something in Auguste's stomach fluttered.
He felt his cheeks redden further. His mouth opened, and then shut, and a sudden, desperate desire to lean forward over the counter and pull Chase to him just to learn what it felt like to kiss him almost overpowered him. Auguste snapped his mouth shut again, pushed and shoved the emotions aside.
He's not like that. Stop.
Let go.
Auguste dragged in a breath, and then eased it out again.
"I'm one of the lost boys," he said, smiling as Chase handed him his drink. He gave a nod and said, "Yes, please, I would love to have some shortbread. I'll be one of the boys who dances with Peter, but Peter is always played by a girl."
There was a look of pleasure on his face as he lifted his cup. "The end of May - oh, this is perfect," Auguste sighed as he felt the warmth of the drink ease into him. "This is lovely, as usual. You always know what to make just perfectly."
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 10:32 am
There was something about the way the fluorescent lights lit Auguste's hair, making the soft locks of white appear to glow whenever Chase looked at him. He liked the way the pink blush highlighted the freckles that dusted the boy's nose. But, then again, there were few things about the dancer's soft, fair features that he didn't like.
It didn't appear like Chase noticed Auguste watching him, or if he did then it didn't phase him, until Auguste took a deep breath. That, warranted the arch of a dark brow when he moved to the pastry case and plucked a shortbread cookie in the shape of a scottie. He slid it onto a plate which he then placed in front of his companion, letting his long fingers graze against the back of the boy's hand when he pulled away.
"See, I thought that was just when it was the musical, I didn't think it'd extend to all types of performances?" He seemed contemplative when he returned to the steamer, cleaning up the pitcher and returning the mild to it's proper place. "Do you get to shoot the Wendy bird?" That'd always been his favorite part when he was dragged to the plays or musicals by his mother.
Thinking of Lara made him frown and remember that he needed to keep her from the city longer. It was a shame, really, because the recital sounded like something she might like.
But it was in May, it was still a possibility.
"It sounds like something my mother would like," he commented absently, only returning his attention to Auguste when he complimented him on the drink. "As long as I have an idea of what you might like, I usually do okay."
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:04 am
Auguste toyed with the rope bracelet around his wrist as Chase slid the plate towards him, eyes crinkling with pleasure at the sight of the cookie. But it was the lingering touch of Chase's fingers, ever so light, on the back of his hand, and Auguste's breath caught in his throat, his eyes fixated on this singular moment.
It wasn't fair. It was confusing, disorienting, a heady rush of emotions and frustration and feelings twisting inside of Auguste's stomach. The fleeting touch felt as heavy and meaningful as if Chase had grabbed his hand and held on, his heart beating so fast that it ached.
"It doesn't - " His throat felt dry. Auguste swallowed hard. " - it doesn't always, but my instructor wanted to keep with the feeling of musicals, so we've got a female playing Pan," he continued, relieved when his voice kept its steady tone, unwavering. A smile touched his lips again. "I don't personally, but it's been wonderful to watch and to be a part of all the same."
He took another sip of his drink, lashes fluttering at the taste. "You could always bring her to watch," said Auguste, without thinking, and then blushed. "I mean - that is, if you - you ever wanted to come and see, I wouldn't mind."
He held his cup a little tighter. "It might sound a little silly, but you seem to always put a little bit of heart and soul into these drinks. It's...very nice."
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 11:27 am
"I'm sure it's lovely," he replied absentmindedly, nearly dismissively as his eyes drifted from Auguste's fair features to the bracelet he'd been playing with. He seemed fixated on the rope jewelry for a few minutes before his gaze lifted and gold met blue.
"I'll think about it. I don't know, she's in poor health. It's probably best to refrain from moving her around much." He didn't commit or say he wouldn't go but it certainly sounded more like a no thanks than a real maybe or yes.
Besides, it was unlikely that Auguste was inviting him for any reason other than promoting his recital and out of politeness. They weren't friends and they certainly weren't more.
Of course his reluctance to properly consider the invitation seemed cemented when he shrugged at the compliment, leaned back and away from the dancer. "You might be imagining it, I don't really do anything special." Which wasn't the complete truth, but Chase made sure it sounded like it was. "It's not hard, not really."
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:38 pm
He was trying to concentrate on things other than Chase's tone of voice, but it was difficult not to; sometimes he sounded interested, other times, like this, as though he couldn't have cared less. And it shouldn't have hurt, shouldn't have confused him - but it did.
What do you want from me?
He desperately needed to stop over thinking this. Auguste took another sip of his tea, his brow furrowing. "I'm...very sorry to hear that," he said softly, biting his lip. "About your mother, I mean, I...I'm sorry that she's in poor health, that must be difficult."
His tone was unquestionably sincere, lacking in false niceties. Auguste flinched slightly at Chase's words, barely able to conceal the majority of it.
"You do," he said, and his voice was quiet, almost hesitant, both hands wrapped around his cup. "You seem to always know what to make to make me feel...good. Welcome," Auguste added tentatively, glancing shyly at Chase from beneath lowered lashes.
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:06 pm
"Don't be," he said brusquely, complete with a shrug. "Much of her became wrapped up in my father. Without him, she was like a flower without sunlight." His palms pressed against the edge of the counter, fingers tapping against the surface.
"She's not in the city anyway, I sent her to visit relatives." The city wasn't safe. He wasn't safe for her, not when he couldn't bring her into his world. His jaw seemed to set, a slight tick of the jaw, in a clear nonverbal way of saying conversation over.
"I've been doing it for years now, I'd be a shitty owner if I didn't know how to surprise my customers." He was being a little harsh again, like that last time Auguste had been in the coffee shop but talking about Lara often left Chase irritable.
And he's rather be cold than think too much about how nice it'd been to have Auguste pressed close to him at the club and how he'd nearly leaned in and -
No, no. He wasn't going to think about that.
"Well," he sighed, hissing through his teeth unintentionally. "I'm glad, I guess?"
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