Halphas / Byron James Archer (bringitdown) wrote in monte_logs, @ 2012-09-16 11:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | halphas, nike, ~complete |
Characters: Nike/Valentina (not_a_shoe) & Halphas/Byron James (bringitdown)
Date/Time: Backdated to Saturday, August 25th
Location: Outside Val's apartment, The Laughing Buddha
Rating: PG
Warnings: Language
Summary: What starts as a fun date out turns into the first major strain in their relationship as James tells Val about the baby.
Dating, as much as it had never been his "thing", was actually much easier when your girlfriend was similarly unfamiliar with it. They couldn't exactly make fun of each other or tell the other one they were doing something unforgivably wrong in this new adventure, though there was lots of teasing and outing without it - something he did enjoy, because she could be sweet and brutal at the same time. The one thing that seemed to especially work in their favor was their chemistry; the fortune of being very much alike without fitting each other's mold.
He further enjoyed going on dates with Val or spending time with her. He often put his foot in his mouth, but aside from rolling her eyes, she both tolerated his gaffes and flung them right back at him. It was pretty neat, actually. But there were still more serious matters to address, such as that roadblock to being open about the deeper, more personal issues.
This date James invited her out to tonight wasn't meant to be help-me-this-is-so-serious-I-want-to-die,
~
Strangely enough, Val felt the same way. She did have dates before, but none of her previous dates was as fun as spending time with James. It seemed like due to being rather unfamiliar with this dating-issue, there was no pressure on both of them and they just let things flow. And until now, it worked very well, in Val’s opinion.She couldn’t believe it was only their third date today-- it seemed like so much more. But maybe that was because they spent so much time with each other without calling it a “date”.
Stepping out of the door, Val saw James immediately, which wasn’t that hard, because he stood right outside the building. She was still not used to the neighborhood-- she and Minjung moved only a few days ago, though it seemed more like an hour to her. It was not where party-mad young people like Val and Minjung should live, with all the stuffy, old people around, but she’d get used to it eventually.
A quick kiss on James’ lips was her way to say hello.
~
James returned the kiss happily, linking his hand with Val’s. “Hello, beautiful.”
He glanced up at the new apartment where she lived with Minjung. He hadn’t helped them move in, but he had helped her pack her things from the now old apartment. The apartment she’d moved into looked nicer - safer, but it smelled like old people’s denture cream - but at least he didn’t have to go to lie awake at night, restless that she’d moved into a strange, shady neighborhood. And her roommate was gay. That helped. “Why do I get the feeling you’re at least half the age of the second-youngest tenants in this place?” He asked her, not really expecting an answer, but more or less just musing out loud.
But he gave her hand a squeeze, this time addressing her without drifting thoughts. “Your pick - where do you want to go for dinner?”
~
"Hi sexy.", she replied with a smile. This holding hands was one of the aspects of a "real" relationship, she surprisingly liked most.
Val followed his gaze and pretty much thought the same thing. "I know what you're thinking, but it's not all too bad. Neighbors are nice, at least until they get to know Minjung's and my party habits, and the apartment is huge. What else could I wish for?" Val pulled him away from looking at her new home, giggling at his kind-of-question. He might not have expected an answer, but he got one. "Because it's true. I think the youngest here is, like, forty or so. But hey, if they don't bother me, I won't bother them."
Why did she love the feeling so much? The last person who has squeezed her hand, went home with a black eye, because she couldn't stand the touch of this particular person at that time-- or touching in general. "I was thinking about the Laughing Buddha? Do you like Chinese food?"
~
Yes, James loved dating. If not just for the ‘hey sexy’ comments from a beautiful young lady.
He laughed. “Get out of my brain.” But it was incredibly telling between the two of them that she just had to look at his face and know what he was thinking. It was eerie and unfamiliar, but not unwelcome. “I expect the neighbors are going to learn this sooner rather than later, right? You’ve got to get one big party in before the fall semester at least.” Hell, he’d love to be that one guy the rest of the neighbors chased away with ladles and little yappy dogs because he hung around his girlfriend’s place being loud and obnoxious till the wee hours of morning. “You won’t even give them a chance to bother you and you know it. You’re going to light the first fuse, you always do.”
“I love Chinese food. And moreso because you do.” It sounded corny maybe but he meant it. Getting to share these things, big or small, were fun to do with your girlfriend. It was a reminder that his shot in the dark and his fearful introduction to the relationship proved to be a worthwhile and beneficial move. He grinned, pulling her gently along down the sidewalk by their linked hand. “Come on, I’m starving and I want my own personal Buddha belly.”
~
Well, it was true. Val couldn't wish for a sexier boyfriend, that was a fact. And which girl didn't like being called "beautiful" by said sexy boyfriend?
Val raised one hand in defense-- only one because her other hand was linked with his and she didn't want to break the contact. "Hey, reading your mind is almost as easy as startling Jay. You're pretty much of an open book at times." That wasn't exactly true. In fact, he was the exact opposite of an open book, but they were usually thinking similar things, so it was not hard for her to guess what he was thinking. "Well, of course we'll throw a party. It's only a matter of our unpacking-things-speed. We don't really want people to look through our stuff during the party, that would be awkward. Who knows what they might find?", she said with a faint attempt of an innocent smile. "Pfft, no. I will be my amazingly polite and friendly self until one of them pisses me off." That wasn't true and what James had said hit the nail on the head. She would light the first fuse because she always did. He knew her too well.
She nudged him playfully. "Don't get all corny with me, sexy. This is only date three." But secretly, she liked it. Val couldn't remember if anyone had said something like that to her before, but in the end it didn't really matter, because him saying it was all that mattered to her. She followed him, maybe also leaning a little more again him. "And you think I'd still want to you a Buddha belly?"
~
"Jay?" He raised an eyebrow, the first time he'd ever been called that nickname. Usually people just called him Jim. "I lack an air of mystery, do I? Would it have helped if I'd been born a vampire? Imagine all the ridiculous thoughts I'd have then, most of them cogitations on blood and how much I hate my arch nemesis, Edward Cullen." The thought of it kind of grossed him out and if she wanted that kind of guy, they wouldn’t be here right now. And thank goodness for that, because he really was very content with the way things were. Normal teeth, living body and all. “I can help unpack things - all you had to do was ask. That’s what I’m here for, remember? Heavy lifting, grilling steaks, driving you to and from your hair appointments.” Of course he knew a little better than most all the little things Val kept secret, but even that peaked his interest. He gave her a cheeky smile, silently communicating that he knew full well that it was not the case at all. “You’re right, I’m sorry. You’re the very definition of a perfect neighbor. They should be honored to have you.”
“You’re lucky I held it off as long as I did!” He argued teasingly. “Imagine if I’d thrown corny lines on our first date, now I know you can’t resist me. It means I can say whatever I want and you like it.” He wasn’t one hundred percent sure if she liked it or not - maybe his guy senses were a little worn down - but he figured if she genuinely didn’t, he’d probably get a very different response. But teasing her anyway was just fun. “Yes.” He answered proudly. “You can’t deny this face. And my lovable sense of humor. Outweighs the belly, doesn’t it?”
~
"Yes, Jay. My-" she paused. Val wasn't entirely sure how and how much she should tell him about her mythological mother, but then again he was her boyfriend, a person she knew she could trust. "My myth-mom, the river of hate, Styx. She's here and it is ridiculously easy to startle her." She shook her head in disgust. "No thank you, I wouldn't want a vampire. They're dead and and bloodthirsty and ugh. I've always preferred the hot werewolves, anyway. But you're okay, too." Val had the amazing ability to understate things. James had turned out to be more than just okay. "I think living room and kitchen are mostly done, but the crates in my room need to be unpacked. Clothes, mostly. Sure you want to do that?" She wasn't quite sure she wanted him to look through her stuff, but clothes were safe territory, right? "Hey, I can drive on my own to my hair appointments." Not that she had many of them. "You're there for the dirty work, sexy." God, she loved this smile. "I know, right? There is no better neighbor than me. Minjung maybe, he's an angel."
"Oh dear, I would have run screaming. Corny lines are nothing for a first date." She nudged him again, smiling. "Hey, don't be so full of yourself. That's my part!" But it was true, she did like most things- if not everything- he said and it was incredibly hard to resist him. Val rolled her eyes at him. "As much as I adore your face and your sense of humor, I don't like people with bellies and I probably would force you to exercise. Comes from being a physical ed student, I think." She smiled sweetly.
~
Oh thank god. He was afraid she was trying out a new nickname and that was awful. "Your myth mom, huh? You've been trying to startle her or it just happens that way?" Halphas supposed technically that his father was God, but he never felt a connection and it wasn't like the big guy was going to arrive with an art major in mind. "Demons are an adequate third place huh? Should I start howling during full moons or should I just introduce you to Fenrir?" They crossed the street at this point, nearing the restaurant. He laughed. "Don't expect me to build you a barn or something. And Minjung's got an army of women, that's hardly angelic. That says pimp more than anything. But yeah I can hang up your clothes. I'm sure that constitutes as a dirty job."
At this, he laughed again. "But oh fair maiden! How else dare I express that you are the springtime of my heart?" Though it was to be funny, that silly talk left a bad taste in his mouth. But it was still worth it just to get a laugh out of her. This whole being goofy for your girlfriend thing without being an ass was actually kind of easy. "My heart, you have runneth your dagger through!" He responded at her phys-ed comment. But it didn't keep him from opening the door to the Chinese restaurant and bowing with grandeur: "You first, my lady."
~
Even though she did tend to give people nicknames, this wasn't the case with James. Hell, she didn't even like to call him Jim, because that made him sound like a bald man in his mid-forties instead of her sexy-as-fuck boyfriend. She liked James, it sounded classy. "Eh, I'm not actively trying to startle her. I just respond to things she says. You know me." And exactly because of that, he probably knew that this wasn't entirely true. Val liked to puzzle people deliberately. She shrugged. "Yeah, demons are okay." Mostly because he was one. "And no, thank you, you don't have to introduce me to him. I guess I'll meet him on my own eventually. People are never safe from me forever." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "No, I really don't have use for a barn." Val snorted. "Yeah, but he's gay, so the girls around him are like the guys you hang out with. Just prettier." She grinned wickedly. "Great! You should prepare yourself, because I have lots of clothes and I won't lift a single finger."
Not only did his comment leave a bad taste in his mouth, it also let all the alarm bells in her head ring. Val tried her best to ignore them and laughed instead. "I don't know? With less corny things maybe? Some girls are not into that, you know?" she was tempted to add my lord to it, but didn't. "You'll survive, I'm sure." It was amazing how gentlemanlike he could be. "Why, thank you, my lord." There, she said it. And with that, she went inside.
~
Once inside, James requested a booth for two. Luckily, they’d caught the restaurant in between rushes, so they were seated right away. For a place that also had takeout and delivery options, it was a pretty nice restaurant and the low lighting made it cozier. The hostess gave them menus and said their waitress would be right with them. “What are you into, then? I can’t serenade you outside your house? Learn how to play a guitar, sing you a Taylor Swift song? Maybe quote some Shakespeare. What light... blahblahblah window breaks, it is the east and Valentina is...the wind?” Maybe it was the sun. Or the moon. But he chuckled. “You’re right, I’ll live. I tend to do that.” Maybe to the chagrin of some, but he was pretty fond of life.
He wanted to talk to Val about things, and he shifted awkwardly in his seat. This was where the whole ‘you suck as a boyfriend’ routine usually started to rear his head. He was always good for a fuck, or a fun time out, but it was the feelings that tended to trip him up. To say he was short on tact was an understatement. But before he could open his big mouth, the waitress came by and asked if they were ready to order drinks. Nervous, and fidgeting under the table, he let Val order first.
~
"Hm, I don't really know," Val said while skimming through the menu. "I'm no roses and chocolates girl, obviously, but I would kill to hear you sing and play the guitar!" She grinned. "Would you really do that for me?" The thought was amusing. Val wasn't a particularly romantic person, maybe because she's never experienced real romance before, but there was something about the thought of him playing a song for her. Even a Taylor Swift song. "Of course you can serenade outside my house, but I think Minjung would throw things at you, then. And there's no guarantee I'm going to like it and keep you. Just do it, but at your own risk."
Maybe it was just her female intuition going batshit insane, but something was wrong. She couldn't say what, she just knew it. After they ordered and the waitress had left, she frowned and asked: "Are you okay?"
~
“I’d give it a damn good shot.” James admitted, smirking. He’d serenaded Marilyn back when he was trying to find ways to express how much she’d meant for him. It wasn’t something he wouldn’t try at least once. “But I won’t tell you what night I’ll come by - it’ll ruin the surprise. But I’ll serenade Minjung, too, if that’s what it takes. Maybe I’ll seduce him with my fancy chords and falsetto and I’ll swap sweeties.” Even James knew Val’s roommate had a boyfriend, but the thought of an unimpressed Val in one window and a gushing Minjung flinging kisses at him from another window sounded pretty damn funny. “That way, if you don’t like it, I won’t be the one at risk.”
But his anxiety had been pulsing out louder than he’d realized and when Val called him out on it, he was silent for a long, helpless second before he asked meekly: “Don’t you want to wait until we get the food?” Or maybe until after dinner? Walking home? After she was in bed and sleeping and he was sitting in his car, trying to salvage more nerves for the next attempt?
~
"Wow, so you would really do it." She was kind of impressed, to be honest. "I can't wait for it to happen." She grinned. Even though Val knew he was just making fun, she couldn't completely suppress the feeling of jealousy. "I'm pretty sure Minjung wouldn’t let himself twist around your finger just like that. It takes a lot more to impress him and besides, that would be awkward because he's my best friend. You sure you still want to do that?" She just wanted to see his reaction. "Oh, and Seungwon probably won't be all too happy about it."
She looked at him sternly. What the fuck was wrong with him? Val knew him for a comparatively short time only, but she was sure that this was very unlike him. "No. I want you to tell me now."
~
“Of course I would.” He laughed. “Look at me, I streaked across campus once. Serenading you takes just as many balls, but at least we know I have them.” He was unaware of the jealousy, as he never thought Minjung would be a threat. But if it were anything like the frustrating jealousy he felt when she flirted with Kaden, then yeah. Best not to expand on those thoughts. Really, it was better to make jokes about these things as it kept the strained discussion ahead that much further away. “Maybe I really have a thing for those who play hard to get. Just makes me want to try harder. If Taylor Swift doesn’t work, I can break out some Celine Dion or some Whitney Houston. And Seungwon is a man of established taste.”
His fingers thrummed nervously on his lap; he felt his face flush lightly. Damnit, he hated lying or holding back the truth - especially when it was something like this. This was the problem with committed relationships: the honesty and the guilt. But she deserved to know, and it wasn’t like he was ashamed. But he was worried mostly about her feelings on the matter. He did care a great deal about them and her. “Fine.” He cleared his throat, looking weakly at Val. “As you know, I’m good friends with Marilyn. And I’m helping her with something very...important. Something that needs to be brought to your attention, because I think it’s only right, considering you’re my girlfriend.”
~
"So did I." Last semester. "Proves that we both have balls, just that mine are figurative," she said. Yes, the jealousy could be compared to when she flirted with his brother. To her defense, she did it unintentionally, though, just like all the time she was flirting. "Then you have found the perfect girl for you--me. I can play hard to get as much as you like, baby." Val smiled and thought about whether or not they were really perfect for each other. Maybe in some ways, yes, but in others they were like day and night. Still, she liked to be around him. "Spare me Celine Dion, though. Please. A friend made me watch Titanic and her song still appears in my dreams. It's obnoxious as fuck."
She leaned forward, kind of having the urge to touch him and to calm him, but she did none of it in the end. "And what is something very important? Don't let me worm everything out of you." Val said and made a gesture that he should go on and elaborate what he had just said. She was very impatient to hear what else he would say, but also not quite sure if she really wanted to hear it. Something was behind his weird behavior, she just couldn't figure out what.
~
James’ brain froze. “Wait. You - what? How did I miss that?” Well damn, now he was going to be thinking about that for the next...forever. His own flirtatious nature was one he had no control over. It was a part of his game, it always had been. It hadn’t been until just these last several months that he had become something more than just a flirtatious, uncaring asshole. But it was still a part of his nature. As was the jealousy when his girlfriend’s nature was quite flirtatious, too. They were both more alike than they knew. “I think you could give nymphs a run for their money - almost literally, too.” But he smirked at her, the thought of chasing after her quite appealing. “That song.” Cringing, he took a sip of his water. “That...movie. They call it a chick flick. It’s a fucking nightmare, the whole thing.” Then he lifted his voice an octave, and with a quivering falsetto, whimpered, “Put your hands on me, Jack. The hell was that shit.”
A nervous chuckle escaped his mouth. Val didn’t want to have to worm the truth from him, but she was tough. She would be able to if need be. But he saw the frustration as well as her concern, and so he was the one to lean forward to take her hands. All or nothing. “Before we started dating, I helped Marilyn - who is my friend, not anything more - conceive a baby.” It felt good to finally say it, but oppositely he was sweating buckets over what Val’s reaction would be. “She’s always been a good friend to me - the best - and she wanted a kid. I wanted to help her.”
~
Val shrugged. "You obviously lack proper sources, but in fact I ran around on campus in my birthday suit. No big deal." Someone was a little exhibitionistic by nature. "Nothing you haven't seen yet." Val winked. The flirtatiousness was part of the game they both played. Or have played and what concerned Val, she wasn't ready yet to give up her game. "But I wouldn't want to mess with the nymphs. You have no idea how bitchy they can get, and I'm speaking from experience here." At his reaction to Titanic, Val couldn't help but chuckle. "My goodness, James, it was just a movie. Don't be such a wimp. Why did you even watch something that is supposed to be a chick flick?" She rolled her eyes at him and asked: "Did you cry?"
When he broke the news of him becoming a father to her, Val was dangerously calm-- very unlike her. It took her a few seconds to process what he had said. But after these few seconds of delay, she finally realized it and her reaction was not nice. "YOU DID WHAT?" Val withdrew her hands and screamed so loud that everyone in the restaurant must have heard her. "ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS? YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY WITH HER?" Val was...shocked and couldn't really believe it, but now she knew what was so important. She would have found the situation hilarious if she was one of the other persons in the restaurant, but sadly, she wasn't.
~
Whatever silly commentary James had for Titanic and nymphs and streaking went out the window as Val looked something akin to silent mountain which was preparing for a volcanic reaction.
And what a reaction it was. He expected anger - really, it made the most sense - and shock and lots of questions and a couple of threats - she had a knack for threats - and maybe tears, but it was like an inferno. James flew back in his seat, back pressed against the booth, jaw tightly sealed but eyes wider than saucers. With the sudden stillness of the entire restaurant making its way to way to his notice, James realized in terror that the questions she asked made it sound like he’d cheated on her. He’d be thrown out of here by old Chinese men with butcher’s knives!
“Hey! Heyheyhey.” With some desperation, he tried to grab at her hands again, trying to get everyone’s eyes off of them and solve this new issue with his girlfriend. “It was before we started dating! It has nothing to do with us. I’m going to be there for the baby, but you have to understand, this isn’t something I wanted to keep from you.” He was pretty sure he was missing the point and wasn’t providing the right kind of comfort at all, but she could be mad at him - just not that loud.
~
She sat there, looking like some kind of vengeance goddess and feeling like, well, exactly that. She couldn't recall the last time she had been so crazily mad at somebody and for poor James it was obviously the first time seeing Val being extremely mad. Well, mad wasn't even the right word-- raging fit so much more. Ever since she was little, Val was prone to temper tantrums like that; her brother could tell a thing or two about it, and seeing her boyfriend sitting like that with his eyes wide open felt extremely satisfying.
No tears would flow from her side, but she honestly thought about throwing things at him. He said it was before they were dating, but so what? He would have to be the father of the baby for all of his life. How could he be so stupid and make this decision now? In a calmer tone, Val said: "Shut up. I don't want to hear anything about it. You're going to have a baby and that's all I need to know." Maybe she was being overly dramatic, but what else was she supposed to say? Yay, you're having a baby with a person I don't know? Surely not.
James shouldn't have tried to grab her hands again. That was the wrongest move he could have ever made and without really thinking about it, Val bitchslapped him hard. It made a nice scene for all the spectators and she would regret that later, but at that moment she was just too furious for any other feeling than rage. How could he do that to her? All she wanted now was being as far away as possible from him, not wanting to hear what else he had to say about it, and so she grabbed her stuff and made moves to leave, totally ignoring the waitress, who had just returned to their table.
~
The slap stunned James, who couldn’t find the words to respond. The physical pain was far from the issue, but the fact that she’d been this upset by his revelation was what caused him strains of agony. He didn’t know what to say or how to feel. Val was visible hurting, but he was confused and he knew he was confused. This was a situation he had never found himself in before and for a lifestyle that, up until a few months ago, had been defined by careless behaviors and lack of concern for responsibility, it was something altogether unfathomable.
When Val bolted from the restaurant, he gathered himself quickly, pausing a moment to think if he had to pay. He didn’t. Parting the doors of the restaurant, he moved to the center of the sidewalk, watching her livid, retreating form make its way back to her home. He wanted to follow her, but he wouldn’t. What could he say? Clearly every time James spoke it made it worse. He wanted to explain, to try and assure her that their relationship was completely separate from his with the baby. Wanted to not hurt her feelings.
But he couldn’t. Because as much as he cared about Val, his decision had been made. And he would have to find a way to compromise. As her figure slipped around the corner and out of sight, he sighed, lighting a cigarette. He’d call her tomorrow. Tonight, they both had a lot to think about.