filetofish | PSLS BECAUSE GAY

As fine as one can ever be under these circumstances, yes.

[He's getting up and heading for the exit, trying his best to seem calm and full of good humour.]

Come on. We're allowed to go out if we don't wander too far.

[Rean will worry but nothing Gaius has told him has been a lie, he has no reason to believe Gaius would lie about not being able to handle getting him the rest of the day off.]

Where should we go then?

There's a cafe a few blocks away that I go to a lot. It's out of the red light district so hanging out there is kind of refreshing.

Although... I haven't told the guys who work there where I'm from. I don't want them to worry. Is that okay with you?

....If you don't mind taking me there.

[Is it really okay for Gaius to take Rean to a place like that? He doesn't know, but somewhere where he could be treated like normal sounds like heaven right now.]

I don't mind at all. Having some outside friends helps a lot.

[Outside, it's early afternoon and the red light district hasn't picked up momentum yet. It's fairly quiet, and easily apparent that the brothel tgey belong to is prominent, at the fancy end of the drag. Go just two blocks south and it's ugly, seedy, full of dirt and drugs.

Two blocks east, however, and it's a normal neighbourhood. That's where they're headed right now, to a little coffee shop / cafe from which trickles the sound of a piano.]

[He follows Gaius like a lost puppy, honestly, sticking far too close, feeling strangely jumpy on a walk that, two weeks ago, he wouldn't have thought anything of. He's raw and traumatized and "normal" is just a new strange thing from this side of trauma.

The music though, is welcome, and the cafe looks nice. So he's trying to relax as he follows Gaius into the cozy atmosphere of the place.]

[It's a very nice little cafe. Everything is warm and comfortable inside, with plush chairs and couches and quirky little tables to sit at. There aren't a lot of customers, and they all seem as comfortable as regulars.

In the corner is a baby grand piano, currently being played with skill by a redhaired boy a bit smaller than Rean. Behind the counter is another young man their age, a bit taller, with glasses. He's doing what appears to be schoolwork between orders.]

Afternoon!

[Gaius is quite familiar with these people, it seems! He greets an old man sitting at a table on their way up to the counter, and is all smiles.]

Oh, hey.

[Barista nerd almost instantly focuses on Rean. It's kinda obvious how close he's following, and that's weird to someone who has no idea there's anything wrong in Gaius' life.]

You brought a friend this time?

[Friend... Well Gaius is the closest thing to a friend he has now. He smiles at the glasses guy, uncertain but not unfriendly. He doesn't want to come across as weird even if he feels jumpy and out of his own skin right now, but maybe he'll just come across as shy. He lifts a hand in greeting.]

Hey. Gaius told me this place was really nice.

[And it is nice, the piano music alone is somehow helping just a little, soothing his agitation enough that he can probably pretend he's not full of anxiety for a little while.]

He did?

[Wow he's flattered! Machias is a good boy who works real hard here.]

W-well, he does come in all the time, so I'd be disappointed if he thought it wasn't.

[Gaius laughs, then gives his order (a strong tea). He pats Rean on the shoulder, then heads over to chat with the pianist. Rean may or may not pick up that those two are very close. It's not hard. They're in eachother's space, comfortable -- there's definitely a spark there.

The barista glances after Gaius, then turns back to Rean with a sigh.]

Anyway, I'm Machias, and that's Elliot. If you're friends with Gaius, you're welcome here any time. What can I get you?

[Oh. Wow. He's not sure if he's happy for Gaius or really worried for him now, but he sits at the counter, feeling weird, like this is all a surreal dream or maybe he's finally woken up from an endless nightmare. Normal or the brothel, they can't both exist in the same world, it's too extreme.]

Thanks. I'm Rean. Some tea would be lovely.

And here I was hoping he'd brought me an actual coffee drinker.

[He's so disappointed... But he's making both cups of tea.]

So how well do you know Gaius?

I've actually never tried coffee, sorry.

[He glances at Gaius having a good time with the redhead, and runs a hand through his own hair.]

Um... Not too well. We just met, but he's been really kind to me. How about you? You have to have known him longer.

You've never--

[Aaaa!! How is he supposed to focus on being nosy when there's coffee ignorance right in front of his face!]

No, never mind. We've known him almost two years, but that's what I was asking you for. He doesn't talk about himself much. And lately... Well, just look at them. But if I ask he says there's nothing going on.

[He heaves a sigh, setting a cup of tea down in front of Rean.]

Anyway, if I make you one for free, will you give coffee a try?

Ah.... Well....

[Fortunately there's something else to talk about!]

I'd love to, if that's no trouble for you?

Not at all. Just a sec.

[He's running Gaius' tea over to him, then coming back and starting on Rean's coffee. It's a very nice smell.]

I'll convert you in one sip.

That's some confidence. Is coffee that good?

It's only the best. Strong and full-bodied, unlike your fancy tea.

[Hmph! But Machias does make really good coffee. When he pushes the cup over, black and untouched, it's a mellow, deep taste, sweet and bitter like dark chocolate.]

[He takes a sip and in fact, his face lights up. It's bitter, but not so much that Rean can't appreciate the flavor.]

Hey, this is pretty good.

Told you so! I keep trying to get Gaius into it but he just laughs it off. The guy's nice but way more stubborn than he looks.

[Which just feeds into Machias' concern about him, of course.]

Haha... Well I guess he would be.

[But instead of explaining he just, drinks some more coffee. It's... Nice. but he feels also like he might start crying. Which would cause a scene, which would be a problem.]

PSLS BECAUSE GAY

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