"253 Creekside Canyon" 17
Christmas shopping.
By Gaedhal
Last part (16) is at:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/gaedhal/194145.html
Los Angeles, December 2005
When Ron suggested that they exchange gifts for
Christmas, Brian balked.
"I don't think so," he said, not meeting Ron's eyes.
They were standing in the Virgin Megastore on Sunset,
looking over a wall of new DVD releases. Brian thought
he might pick up something to take back to Gus.
"Why not?" asked Ron. He was frowning at the selection
offered. His own collection of films was enormous, but
he was always on the lookout for something he didn't
have. "Don't you like buying presents for people?"
"No," Brian replied. "I love buying presents for other
people. It's getting presents myself that I'm not too
good at."
"Why the hell not?" Ron questioned. "Everyone loves
getting a gift! What's your problem, Brian?"
Brian shrugged. "I don't know. I'm fucked up, I guess.
That's why I'm not big on my birthday. Or Christmas,
for that matter."
"Bah fucking humbug? Don't give me that shit!" Ron
chided. Ron moved over to another section of the store
where they had animated films and Japanese anime on
display. He took a package down from the rack. "Your
son might like these. They're beautifully done and
won't insult the intelligence of a five year old."
"Maybe." Brian took the copy of 'Spirited Away' that
Ron handed him and examined it. "Don't you think this
might be over his head?"
"He can grow into it," said Ron. "Here's a good one." Ron
picked a copy of 'Yellow Submarine' out of the bin and
smiled. "I want to get him this. You can never start
being a Beatle fan too early."
Brian held his breath. "He's already seen that film."
He thought of Justin's battered tape of 'Yellow Submarine'
and the countless times they'd all watched it together.
When Brian finally packed up the junk Justin had left
behind, he found the video and tossed it into a box headed
for storage.
"Oh, well, then...." Ron turned the DVD over fondly,
looking at the blurb on the back cover. "If he's seen it...."
Brian could hear the disappointment in Ron's voice.
"But he doesn't have his own copy." Brian paused and
touched Ron's arm lightly. "It'd be a nice gesture for
you to get it for him. Thanks."
"And what about you, Brian?" Ron asked. "I really
want to get you something. It's Christmas, after all."
"What about Hanukkah?" Brian returned, raising
his eyebrows.
"Oh, first you don't want any gifts and now you want
eight?" Ron headed for the cashier. "One is more than
enough."
"That means I have to get you something, too." Brian
followed him and they both got in line. The store was
packed two days before Christmas.
"You don't have to get me anything, Brian," said Ron,
his voice weary. "I just thought it would be a nice
thing to do."
Shit, thought Brian. He's trying to be good to me and
I'm acting like a fucking asshole. That's so typical.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
"Okay. One present. But nothing big," said Brian. "Or
too fancy. I don't have time to do a lot of heavy duty
shopping. Christmas Eve is tomorrow."
"We have the rest of today," Ron pointed out. "And we
can go out in the morning if we have to. But you're
right -- it doesn't have to be anything fancy. It's
the thought that counts."
"Yeah, I've heard that one before," Brian huffed.
"Usually from my mother when she was handing me
a fucking $20 gift card for the Big Q!"
"The Big Q? I sincerely hope you're joking," said Ron.
He moved up to the cashier and placed the DVD on the
counter.
"I only wish I were," Brian snorted. "But if you knew
my mother, you wouldn't even ask that question."
After Brian and Ron left the store, they split up, each
going off to shop. They promised to meet in two hours.
That should be enough time to get something decent,
thought Brian.
He wandered in and out of clothing stores, searching
for just the right piece. Ron was no fashion plate, but
he was able to afford the best and he had a number of
suits that were well-tailored and stylish. He should
wear more Italian clothes, thought Brian. But then he
thought everyone should wear more Italian clothes.
Armani, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace -- you can
never go wrong with the Italians. And Ron had the tall,
lean frame and dark hair that looked good in anything
Italian.
But a full suit would be outside the scope of their
agreement. And it needed to fit right. Brian would have
to bring Ron to the Emporio Armani on North Rodeo
Drive and get him fitted out in something really great.
Maybe next week. Something blue to bring out his eyes.
He wore too many bland colors. Too much brown and
grey. Stuff that was too 'safe.' Yes, and too boring. But
Brian could change that.
Brian passed a vintage store and stopped to look in the
window. Ron loved anything from the Sixties. Something
fun. Something he'd never buy for himself.
Brian went inside, already planning how he was going
to wrap his Christmas gift to Ron.
By Gaedhal
Last part (16) is at:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/gaedhal/194145.html
Los Angeles, December 2005
When Ron suggested that they exchange gifts for
Christmas, Brian balked.
"I don't think so," he said, not meeting Ron's eyes.
They were standing in the Virgin Megastore on Sunset,
looking over a wall of new DVD releases. Brian thought
he might pick up something to take back to Gus.
"Why not?" asked Ron. He was frowning at the selection
offered. His own collection of films was enormous, but
he was always on the lookout for something he didn't
have. "Don't you like buying presents for people?"
"No," Brian replied. "I love buying presents for other
people. It's getting presents myself that I'm not too
good at."
"Why the hell not?" Ron questioned. "Everyone loves
getting a gift! What's your problem, Brian?"
Brian shrugged. "I don't know. I'm fucked up, I guess.
That's why I'm not big on my birthday. Or Christmas,
for that matter."
"Bah fucking humbug? Don't give me that shit!" Ron
chided. Ron moved over to another section of the store
where they had animated films and Japanese anime on
display. He took a package down from the rack. "Your
son might like these. They're beautifully done and
won't insult the intelligence of a five year old."
"Maybe." Brian took the copy of 'Spirited Away' that
Ron handed him and examined it. "Don't you think this
might be over his head?"
"He can grow into it," said Ron. "Here's a good one." Ron
picked a copy of 'Yellow Submarine' out of the bin and
smiled. "I want to get him this. You can never start
being a Beatle fan too early."
Brian held his breath. "He's already seen that film."
He thought of Justin's battered tape of 'Yellow Submarine'
and the countless times they'd all watched it together.
When Brian finally packed up the junk Justin had left
behind, he found the video and tossed it into a box headed
for storage.
"Oh, well, then...." Ron turned the DVD over fondly,
looking at the blurb on the back cover. "If he's seen it...."
Brian could hear the disappointment in Ron's voice.
"But he doesn't have his own copy." Brian paused and
touched Ron's arm lightly. "It'd be a nice gesture for
you to get it for him. Thanks."
"And what about you, Brian?" Ron asked. "I really
want to get you something. It's Christmas, after all."
"What about Hanukkah?" Brian returned, raising
his eyebrows.
"Oh, first you don't want any gifts and now you want
eight?" Ron headed for the cashier. "One is more than
enough."
"That means I have to get you something, too." Brian
followed him and they both got in line. The store was
packed two days before Christmas.
"You don't have to get me anything, Brian," said Ron,
his voice weary. "I just thought it would be a nice
thing to do."
Shit, thought Brian. He's trying to be good to me and
I'm acting like a fucking asshole. That's so typical.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
"Okay. One present. But nothing big," said Brian. "Or
too fancy. I don't have time to do a lot of heavy duty
shopping. Christmas Eve is tomorrow."
"We have the rest of today," Ron pointed out. "And we
can go out in the morning if we have to. But you're
right -- it doesn't have to be anything fancy. It's
the thought that counts."
"Yeah, I've heard that one before," Brian huffed.
"Usually from my mother when she was handing me
a fucking $20 gift card for the Big Q!"
"The Big Q? I sincerely hope you're joking," said Ron.
He moved up to the cashier and placed the DVD on the
counter.
"I only wish I were," Brian snorted. "But if you knew
my mother, you wouldn't even ask that question."
After Brian and Ron left the store, they split up, each
going off to shop. They promised to meet in two hours.
That should be enough time to get something decent,
thought Brian.
He wandered in and out of clothing stores, searching
for just the right piece. Ron was no fashion plate, but
he was able to afford the best and he had a number of
suits that were well-tailored and stylish. He should
wear more Italian clothes, thought Brian. But then he
thought everyone should wear more Italian clothes.
Armani, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace -- you can
never go wrong with the Italians. And Ron had the tall,
lean frame and dark hair that looked good in anything
Italian.
But a full suit would be outside the scope of their
agreement. And it needed to fit right. Brian would have
to bring Ron to the Emporio Armani on North Rodeo
Drive and get him fitted out in something really great.
Maybe next week. Something blue to bring out his eyes.
He wore too many bland colors. Too much brown and
grey. Stuff that was too 'safe.' Yes, and too boring. But
Brian could change that.
Brian passed a vintage store and stopped to look in the
window. Ron loved anything from the Sixties. Something
fun. Something he'd never buy for himself.
Brian went inside, already planning how he was going
to wrap his Christmas gift to Ron.