Rafael Atala (freyr) wrote in paxletalelogs, @ 2017-03-06 18:38:00 |
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Entry tags: | fenrir, freyr |
the tenderest meat
Who: Rafe & Abel.
What: Abel and Rafe have a run-in in the hallway of the fifth floor. Ruh roh.
Where: Pax Letale, fifth floor.
When: Late Thursday night, following this
Abel felt loose, one short night in a club that left him with little to show for it. He'd danced and drunk, though not to excess; it would take time for his hunting skills to flower anew, especially now that he was slowly checking off various clubs in the area. He leaned against one wooden wall of the elevator carriage, his head swimming a bit as it rattled upward to his floor. He was wearing a blank tank over black pants, comfortable sneakers on his feet. He felt buzzed, but not enough to not be aware of his situation.
Once the door dinged open, showcasing the fifth floor in all its empty glory, he slid out and moved toward his apartment. Well before he got there, though, he was surprised to see Nish's door open -- but it was not the woman who emerged.
Rafael shut her door gently behind him, letting it close with a soft little click. He smoothed a hand over his front, over buttons perfectly redone and a shirt almost entirely unwrinkled, as though reassuring himself everything remained in place.
Too late he felt a presence in the hallway; he looked up to find the man who had earlier bumped into him, at what had been, perhaps, the worst possible moment to have done so. He swallowed around a rising lump in his throat. He nodded a brief greeting, and continued his short path to the elevator beyond.
Abel didn't feel like allowing this interaction to end before it even began. Once he caught Rafe's gaze, he smiled wide.
"Hey! The guy from the lobby," he said, his voice dripping with amicability. "You look like you're doing much better." Abel made a show of glancing behind Rafe to the door from which he'd just exited. His brows rose in amusement. "Late night house call?"
Rafael twitched a small, uncomfortable smile. "I guess you could say that," he said. He took a single step closer to the elevator, only to realize he was likely seeming quite rude. He stopped, his hands sliding into his pockets. "Abel, right? I'd forgotten you were up on this floor."
Abel nodded, slipping his hands and his keys back into one pocket. He jerked his head in the direction of 507, which was nearly directly across from Nish's apartment.
"Yeah, right across the way." His eyes narrowed, taking in Rafe's distracted expression. "Everything OK?" This his face brightened as though realization had hit him. "Lover's quarrel?"
Faint color rose to Rafael's cheeks. "Sort of," he said. He slid a hand over his shirt once more. "Not really. It's fine." A lie, and an obvious one. Rafael shook his head, his eyes squeezed shut, then opened wide, as though this might somehow clear his muddled head. He waved what he hoped was a friendly farewell. "Thanks, though. You have a good night."
It wasn't much, but it was enough. Abel tipped his head in Rafe's direction, sweeping his lengthy form to the side so that the other man could pass.
"You too." He did not wait for Rafe to get to the elevator; he knew where to find the man should he need him. Instead, he was too intrigued by the opportunity that had been so unceremoniously dumped into his lap. He walked to 507 casually, opening and closing the door like any other person arriving home would, and went straight to his computer.