Coffee...maybe!

[foundtheindies]

Who: Antonio and Afonso
When: Mid-day on February 4th, 2011
Where: The Coffee Shoppe eventually
What: A tale of two brothers and why you should never let them wander the streets alone.

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[tomatomatonio]

"AFONSO!"

And within a split second, Afonso was ripped out of his headspace by an enthusiastic (and perhaps a bit bonecrushing) hug. He really needn't have worried too much over awkwardness at their reunion.

"How long have you been in Liberty?! When did you decide to move? I was really surprised when I heard you were here!" He held him out at arm's length, grinning widely. "I missed you, 'Fonso."

[foundtheindies]

"Oof--!"

And then, suddenly, he had an armful of Spaniard. Well. His brother's enthusiasm hadn't changed. Patting his back, he couldn't help but grin as he was pulled away. Well damn. "I just got here a few days ago, calm down! Mamã was telling me to keep an eye on you, so I decided to apply for the paper here."

His expression softened for a minute, and he reached out to ruffle Toni's hair, "Missed you too. Come on, you better know where this place is, I need the caffeine."

[tomatomatonio]

"What place, 'Fonso? I thought you knew where we were going?" Toni looked puzzled for all of three seconds before the smile was back. "Oh well, if you want caffeine, I know a great place not too far from here, I think."

In truth, this was one of the parts of town Antonio seldom visited, but finding some coffee for his brother didn't seem like it'd be too hard to do. That sort of thing was everywhere lately. If they just walked around a little, a cafe would pop up. They could walk and chat and catch up in the meantime.

[foundtheindies]

Afonso spluttered for a second--he continued to thank every Godly being he could possibly think of for his little brother's short attention span. "Do you? That's great! Let's go, then." Antonio didn't need to remember about Afonso's horrible lack of direction. No he did not.

Smiling--it was easy to be cheered just being in Antonio's presence!--the elder brother put his hands in his pockets and started forward. "So, how have things been in America? Mama sent me over because she was worried about you."

[tomatomatonio]

It had been entirely too long since he'd had a chance to see his brother, and it sent him a slight pang of homesickness he hadn't felt in quite a while.

"Eh? Worried about me? 'Fonso, that's kinda silly. There's no reason she should be worried!" He laughed, spreading his arms open to show that he was indeed in fine condition. "Don't tell me you came all this way just to be my babysitter, hermano!"

[foundtheindies]

Afonso scoffed, but the grin on his face never changed. "Haven't I always been your babysitter? Someone has to be responsible in this family." Striding beside him, the elder brother looked down the street before returning his attention to the enthusiastic Antonio."So tell me about your life here. Are you working? Have some sort of romantic involvement? Are you being safe?"

Motherly? Afonso? Never.

[tomatomatonio]

"So many questions!" Toni laughed, clapping his brother on the shoulder and pulling him closer for a moment, enjoying just being able to do so again. He had always been better able to express his affections physically. "Of course I'm being safe, but other than that..." he paused to try and recount the questions from the beginning.

"Umm...my life? I'm teaching a bunch of really cute preschoolers~! It's kinda hectic, but really fun. Ah, what was next...romance, right?" He drifted off into a dreamy grin.

[foundtheindies]

Preschoolers. That was oddly suiting. He couldn't think of a better job for Antonio. Chuckling, Afonso tolerated the hug, far too used to it to have it bother him anymore. And as for that smile...Afonso and Antonio may not have been blood related--but that face practically ran in their blood. He recognized it immediately. That daydreamy, goofy grin. "So, who is it?"

[tomatomatonio]

The grin only got wider. "His name is Romano. Ayyy...you'll have to meet him sometime. He's wonderful!"

It took him a moment to come back to reality, but when he did, he had a question of his own. "How about you...? Are you keeping someone back home, or has someone here caught your eye already?" If he knew Afonso, he knew that questions on his love life were very awkward for him, but he couldn't help teasing his older brother. Who else was going to keep him grounded in reality?

[foundtheindies]

Of course they were awkward! Afonso had opened his mouth to congratulate his little brother, and ended up flapping his mouth open, turning red. Coughing, the elder brunette folded his arms. "There's nothing. I am very happily single, and I need to focus on making m-money for a while."

Yes. Definitely. Love lives were for not-busy people.

[tomatomatonio]

Antonio laughed. 'Happily single' meant that Afonso was down on his luck in his love life again. "Hermano, money is good to have and all, but there are some more important things to focus on. You can't go having your entire love life be only on paper, you know!"

By this time, he'd entirely forgotten that he was supposed to be leading them to a cafe.

"But...you said something else about paper, right? A new job?"

[foundtheindies]

He wasn't the only one who'd forgotten. By now they were blocks past the coffee shop, deep in their conversation. Oh well. Afonso rolled his eyes and ignored the first half of his statement--he would find something when the time was right, thank you!-and answered the more sensible part. "Yes! The paper here needed a columnist for the lifestyle section, so, here I am. I like it so far...the people are a bit more demanding about deadlines here than they are in Lisbon, but it's not too difficult."

Hopefully Antonio didn't read the paper too often. He'd stolen his journal enough times when they were children that he'd recognize the poetry column in a heartbeat.

[tomatomatonio]

"Lifestyle...so you stopped writing sappy poetry, 'Fonso?" Antonio had a lot of fun memories of playing tag and keepaway with his siblings involving his brother's writing, or at least his journal. They always made sure the book stayed in one piece, but that didn't mean the writing was kept a secret by any means. The girls could even recite some of the more embarrassing ones if asked.

[foundtheindies]

"It wasn't sappy..." Groaned the elder brother, slapping his palm against his forehead. He remembered those days. Somehow, no matter what he did, no matter where Afonso hid his journal, Antonio always, always managed to find it. "And yes, I stopped. But if I didn't I wouldn't tell you, because you'd tell the girls." Which he always did. The tragic life of an older sibling.

[tomatomatonio]

He blinked.

"So...you didn't stop, or you did?" Fonso had lost him with the round-about talk. "Either way, I'll have to start looking through the papers now. Mama would be glad if you sent her a clipping of some of your professional writing, I bet!"

[foundtheindies]

Afonso waved a hand, not wanting to confuse his younger brother any more than he already was. He was adorable--just occasionally, rather endearingly stupid. Oh well. Opening his mouth to respond, the brunet stopped and looked around.

This didn't look familiar.

What did feel familiar was the pit in his stomach that happened every time he went out in this damn city--same with the question that came out of his mouth. "...Where are we?"