Ficlet February 16: "ask questions later"
Early today!
***
Ficlet February 16: "ask questions later"
Charles tips back his drink, letting the last of his gin and tonic drip out of the glass. The set has been over for about ten minutes, but the floor is still too crowded for him to approach the bar for a refill. He has distant hopes that the waitress will have remembered the wheelchair and reappear to ask him if he'd like another, but with the throngs of people leaning against the bar and trying to get another drink before the next set starts, he's not optimistic.
He sighs and fishes a tonic flavored ice cube out of the glass to suck on while he waits.
While he has a tendency to blame most things on Raven when he knows full well he's the culprit, this is one that deserves to fall squarely on her shoulders. It's her bloody girlfriend who's in a band--Charles could be tucked into his townhouse reading this very moment, but no, Raven wanted to be supportive and dragged Charles along with her. It would have been fine if she was here to commiserate or at least chat with him between sets, but Angel had hurried her to the green room as soon as they arrived and insisted Raven watch the show from the VIP reserved seating up front, where it was impossible to maneuver a wheelchair.
She'd offered to stay back with Charles, of course, but he'd waved her off and told her to have fun. That was stupid of him.
He considers ducking out; odds are that Raven will be fully engaged with Angel after the show and won't miss him at all. He can text her from home later and pretend that he stayed for the whole thing and slipped out after the encore, all the while escaping to somewhere quieter and brighter with cheaper drinks.
He's just about ready to gather his things and fight against the crowd to reach the exit when a tall, attractive man drops into the empty seat next to Charles. He's moving hastily and furtively and looks at Charles for a split second before leaning into his personal space.
"Ask questions later," he whispers, then kisses Charles.
Really, really kisses him.
And keeps kissing him.
For a very long time.
It takes Charles a moment to get over the surprise of the kiss, the skill of the kiss, and the uncomfortable jolt of swallowing the ice cube in his mouth. He finds he's held onto the kisser reflexively, one hand cupping his face and the other curled around his shoulder.
I'm sorry, what exactly is happening here? he finally has the presence of mind to ask. The kisser startles, but not as much as Charles expected.
I need to get rid of someone, the kisser responds. The projection is a little clumsy, but competent enough, which Charles respects. Mostly, though, his brain power has been reduced to clutching his stranger and attempting to match him, kiss for kiss.
Eventually, the kisser breaks away and pulls back just far enough to get a good look at Charles and, Charles notices, covertly glance around. Whatever he's looking for, he doesn't find it. He relaxes and sighs, then focuses on Charles again.
"Sorry," he says, and slowly his face starts to flush.
"Believe me, you have very little to be sorry for," Charles says faintly.
"I was...there was..." the kisser says, gesturing out into the crowd.
"An ex?" Charles offers.
"Something like that," the kisser says. "I'm Erik."
"Charles," Charles says. They're still sitting very close for being near strangers.
"It's a long story," Erik says. "I'm--very sorry I pulled you into it like that. I panicked and thought--"
"--that jumping a stranger would be a good solution?" Charles suggests lightly. Erik flushes more. For some reason, despite this evidence to the contrary, Charles gets in the impression that Erik isn't normally one for flushing.
"--that the best way to blend in somewhere like this would be PDA," Erik says. "I didn't mean to get so carried away."
"Mmhm," Charles says.
"You're a good kisser," Erik adds.
"Likewise," Charles says.
They sit for a moment in awkward silence.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Erik blurts out.
Charles smiles. Feeling bold, he says, "Will you kiss me again?"
"He's gone," Erik says.
"He might come back," Charles replies.
Erik smiles slowly. It's a sharp, dangerous smile. Charles likes it.
"He might," Erik agrees.
"Then get me a gin and tonic," Charles says.
Maybe the night won't be such a waste after all.
*
ficlet february!
Get some sleep
Five minutes away
Faint recognition
Half an hour before sunrise
Useless, but beautiful
Something’s broken
Surprise celebration
There were signs and signals
Rituals
Write about a postcard
What are you looking for?
You remind me of someone
A meeting, a beginning
Lasting impression
Long drive
Behind closed doors
Ask questions later
Six impossible things
Day off
Lost in a city
A door key
A late night phone call
Someone else’s mortification
***
Ficlet February 16: "ask questions later"
Charles tips back his drink, letting the last of his gin and tonic drip out of the glass. The set has been over for about ten minutes, but the floor is still too crowded for him to approach the bar for a refill. He has distant hopes that the waitress will have remembered the wheelchair and reappear to ask him if he'd like another, but with the throngs of people leaning against the bar and trying to get another drink before the next set starts, he's not optimistic.
He sighs and fishes a tonic flavored ice cube out of the glass to suck on while he waits.
While he has a tendency to blame most things on Raven when he knows full well he's the culprit, this is one that deserves to fall squarely on her shoulders. It's her bloody girlfriend who's in a band--Charles could be tucked into his townhouse reading this very moment, but no, Raven wanted to be supportive and dragged Charles along with her. It would have been fine if she was here to commiserate or at least chat with him between sets, but Angel had hurried her to the green room as soon as they arrived and insisted Raven watch the show from the VIP reserved seating up front, where it was impossible to maneuver a wheelchair.
She'd offered to stay back with Charles, of course, but he'd waved her off and told her to have fun. That was stupid of him.
He considers ducking out; odds are that Raven will be fully engaged with Angel after the show and won't miss him at all. He can text her from home later and pretend that he stayed for the whole thing and slipped out after the encore, all the while escaping to somewhere quieter and brighter with cheaper drinks.
He's just about ready to gather his things and fight against the crowd to reach the exit when a tall, attractive man drops into the empty seat next to Charles. He's moving hastily and furtively and looks at Charles for a split second before leaning into his personal space.
"Ask questions later," he whispers, then kisses Charles.
Really, really kisses him.
And keeps kissing him.
For a very long time.
It takes Charles a moment to get over the surprise of the kiss, the skill of the kiss, and the uncomfortable jolt of swallowing the ice cube in his mouth. He finds he's held onto the kisser reflexively, one hand cupping his face and the other curled around his shoulder.
I'm sorry, what exactly is happening here? he finally has the presence of mind to ask. The kisser startles, but not as much as Charles expected.
I need to get rid of someone, the kisser responds. The projection is a little clumsy, but competent enough, which Charles respects. Mostly, though, his brain power has been reduced to clutching his stranger and attempting to match him, kiss for kiss.
Eventually, the kisser breaks away and pulls back just far enough to get a good look at Charles and, Charles notices, covertly glance around. Whatever he's looking for, he doesn't find it. He relaxes and sighs, then focuses on Charles again.
"Sorry," he says, and slowly his face starts to flush.
"Believe me, you have very little to be sorry for," Charles says faintly.
"I was...there was..." the kisser says, gesturing out into the crowd.
"An ex?" Charles offers.
"Something like that," the kisser says. "I'm Erik."
"Charles," Charles says. They're still sitting very close for being near strangers.
"It's a long story," Erik says. "I'm--very sorry I pulled you into it like that. I panicked and thought--"
"--that jumping a stranger would be a good solution?" Charles suggests lightly. Erik flushes more. For some reason, despite this evidence to the contrary, Charles gets in the impression that Erik isn't normally one for flushing.
"--that the best way to blend in somewhere like this would be PDA," Erik says. "I didn't mean to get so carried away."
"Mmhm," Charles says.
"You're a good kisser," Erik adds.
"Likewise," Charles says.
They sit for a moment in awkward silence.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Erik blurts out.
Charles smiles. Feeling bold, he says, "Will you kiss me again?"
"He's gone," Erik says.
"He might come back," Charles replies.
Erik smiles slowly. It's a sharp, dangerous smile. Charles likes it.
"He might," Erik agrees.
"Then get me a gin and tonic," Charles says.
Maybe the night won't be such a waste after all.
*
ficlet february!
Get some sleep
Five minutes away
Faint recognition
Half an hour before sunrise
Useless, but beautiful
Something’s broken
Surprise celebration
There were signs and signals
Rituals
Write about a postcard
What are you looking for?
You remind me of someone
A meeting, a beginning
Lasting impression
Long drive
Behind closed doors
Ask questions later
Six impossible things
Day off
Lost in a city
A door key
A late night phone call
Someone else’s mortification