InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I'll take that for $200, Alex."

Dominic Ramírez || Quetzalcoatl (plumageablaze) wrote in paxletalelogs,
@ 2011-08-16 04:51:00

Entry tags:

osiris, quetzalcoatl

for the night sky is an ocean;
Who: Benjamin and Dominic
What: Dom is in serious need of coffee filters and Benjamin is nice enough to offer some of his.
Where: Outside apartment 109
When: August 16th, a quarter to 1AM-ish
Warnings: Language!
Notes: TBA

Dominic hadn't overly minded moving, although the process of packing followed by unpacking had been a different story. At the very least, it meant everything could now be arranged according to his taste alone; Madeleine was a wonderful woman and they'd shared love that felt secure for a long time, but she was prone to being disorganized. It was rather akin to a sense of relief finally having his own place again. Everything would be managed as it should be, and that was what he preferred.

Except to err was unfortunately and devastatingly human. He was certain he'd picked up all the groceries he needed to get himself through the next week or two but had made a slight miscalculation. Dominic stopped himself from swearing as he tossed his old and last coffee filter into the kitchen trash. Out of the select items he always placed as high priority in his life, coffee filters were near the top of the list. He was now completely out of them and it was already past midnight, far too late--or early, depending--to run down to the closest gas station and buy another pack. Dominic had gotten a late start this evening and the night would certainly be much longer. There was no way he would survive without coffee.

Frustrated, he went to the livingroom where he had his laptop open and ready to go upon the coffee table. A thought struck him, something he'd been told about this new complex he now lived at: there was an online forum specifically for the inhabitants of Pax Letale, a way of further embracing the digital age. While it wasn't Dominic's preferred method of meeting neighbors, he wondered if it was worth a shot to see if any of them were awake at this hour (and in possession of coffee filters he could bum off them until tomorrow). He sat down on his couch and quickly logged into the forum, thankful that he'd bookmarked the website address. After a moment of hesitation, he typed the essentials of his situation--there was no need for excessive detail before 1AM save for on the editorial he needed to finish--and hit post.

Shortly afterward, he received a reply and executed what he felt was a fair trade deal, albeit with someone he hadn't yet met face to face. That would soon be remedied, however. Pulling on a pair of shoes, closing his laptop, and grabbing his keys, Dominic double-checked his mysterious benefactor's apartment number. Not wanting to get there ahead of the time frame he'd given the person, he briefly postponed leaving. After coming to the conclusion that five minutes on the clock to spare was more than an ample amount of time to make it to the elevator (but still not wanting to cut it too close), he chose to then head out, locking his apartment door behind him.

The halls were unsurprisingly quiet and Dominic wondered if he maybe was being too intrusive. There was no shortage of night owls in the world, but something like coffee filters seemed trite, almost, despite the immediate connection between coffee and staying alert at ungodly hours (nevermind that he only drank decaffeinated coffee himself--it was the idea more than anything else, perhaps a true case of mind over matter). But the other person hadn't seemed bothered and Dominic reassured himself of this as he knocked on the door marked 109. Straightening his shirt, he waited for a response, sure of only the fact that the occupant within was willing to share some of their filters.

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o god sorry for suck

of_laconism
2011-08-18 10:10 pm UTC (link)

Fuck the Wright brothers. That, and variations on the theme, had become Benjamin's favorite mantra since roughly ten minutes after his plane had originally gained altitude. The vertigo had lessened in the time since he touched ground, but as far as his stomach were concerned the world was everything but solid.

He'd managed to stay upright long enough, once he reached the apartments, to begin unpacking the kitchen appliances and non-perishables that had been shipped ahead along with his other belongings (an expense that Benjamin was still having internal fits about.) However when the knock came, the young man was laying sprawled in his unpacked living room floor with an arm over his eyes and a cold pack on his queasy stomach. The laptop that had previously been there was sitting within arms-reach in sleep mode.

"Fuck those bastards in their fucking flying asses," Benjamin grumbled softly as he carefully pulled himself to first a sitting position, then a standing one once he'd determined his stomach was being oddly co-operative (the cold pack was left to fall where it may, so long as it didn't hit the laptop.)

"One second!" Thankfully the coffee filters had been among the last things unpacked and ergo were still sitting on the kitchen counter. It took only a second to snatch them up on his way to the door, a blessing as despite his best efforts and the lessening of his vertigo, Benjamin's stride is most definitely more of a stagger than a walk.

He doesn't bother to check the identity of the visitor before opening the door. What would be the point? He doesn't know the guy (he assumes, with a name like that) from Adam. "Sorry about the wait," he apologized, leaning against the doo-rframe. "I'm assuming you're Dominic."

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oh whatever, wenchita bonita. don't even mess!

plumageablaze
2011-08-19 12:17 pm UTC (link)

The surprise was evident on Dominic's face when the door opened. He hadn't been expecting anyone in particular given the safety of internet anonymity, but the figure before him was a shock, nonetheless. Added to this effect, it seemed the other wasn't feeling too hot at the moment--his skin faintly had the sheen of one that'd recently prayed to the porcelain goddess. Dominic nodded a couple of times at the resident's statement, which also served as a way to acknowledge the given apology (not that it was needed).

"Yeah, yeah. That's me. I'm the coffee filter guy. And you're--I'm sorry, I never asked you what your name is." He gave the man a sheepish smile, hoping the hour would excuse his lack of propriety. (The other individual was a young man, right? Dominic wasn't entirely certain, but the timber of the voice surely meant such a thing. Maybe. Possibly. Unconsciously, Dominic's eyebrows furrowed slightly.)

It was maybe forward on Dominic's part to inquire about their health, but regardless of this person's gender, he or she was clearly green around the gills. For better or for worse they were Dominic's neighbor, and neighbors were supposed to help one another in times of need. After all, this guy was nice enough to share his coffee filters and the two of them didn't even know one another. It couldn't hurt to show a little compassion in return.

"Hey, um. Are you all right? You don't look so good, man." Dominic frowned, feeling inklings of concern. He was tempted to say not to worry about the filters altogether, that he could make do with what smokes he had left as a way to make it through the night; it'd be painful, sure, but it was a partially feasible solution. This guy was probably better off resting than handing out favors at 1 A.M, anyway.

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of_laconism
2011-08-24 03:20 pm UTC (link)

Despite the general unease twisting his guts, Benjamin manages a wan smile. The look of puzzlement on the other man's face, slight though it is, is an expression he's quite familiar with. He can't place Benjamin neatly into the gender binary, and it looks to be unnerving him.

"Benjamin," he answers as he pushes some of his hair, beginning to curl in the humidity and the heat of exertion, away from his face where the shorter strands had tried to stick to his forehead. Hopefully the guy won't try to start something; Benjamin could probably hold his own for a while, but he's in really no condition.

The concern for his well-being makes him think it might not be a problem, that it be more likely there will be awkwardness between them. "I'll be alright. Planes knock me for a loop." In other words: I'm not contagious, I don't have the plague, my coffee filters are safe.

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plumageablaze
2011-08-24 10:29 pm UTC (link)

Benjamin? All right, he was definitely a guy. Clearly, this was a case of appearances being deceiving, save for the sickness written all over Benjamin's face. Dominic let it take precedence in his mind instead of wondering about the societal physical standards for the human male and female categories. At least for now.

"You're sure?" He inquired, not wanting to force his aid if it wasn't welcome, but simultaneously uncomfortable with the thought of this man getting sicker from a lack of help. Dominic in no way or fashion had the knowledge of a million health-related cures, only a persistent feeling that if he was able to assist, he should; that would only be fair in the basest of senses. Aside from his family's initial move to the States along with assorted family vacations they'd gone on over the years, Dominic didn't often take to the skies--and when he did, he wasn't accustomed to getting sick to the extent currently displayed in front of him. However, his sister Felicia often had bouts of motion sickness when they were children (traveling to see his mother's parents was always an adventure).

"Maybe you should open a few windows, let a little air into your apartment. My sister'd get pretty car sick when we were kids, and I know that used to help her feel better." Dominic frowned again, because while fresh air might've helped his sister many times in the past, Benjamin looked somewhat beyond the aid of extra oxygen. Would it really be okay if Dominic took the filters and simply went back to his own apartment? While some battles had to be fought alone, there was no sense in leaving a sick man to get sicker.

Then again, medical advice past midnight from a stranger wasn't exactly something Dominic himself would readily accept, or necessarily trust immediately. Especially when it wasn't anywhere near the best. (And yet here he was, willingly meeting up with someone he barely knew aside from a name and a face, all for the sake of coffee.)

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of_laconism
2011-08-26 01:42 am UTC (link)

Applying the term sweet to a man as butch as Dominic is an odd usage of the word, at least to Benjamin. He hadn't thought it in relation to Clark once in the years they dated, despite the other man's genteel manners or the fact that they'd long reached a comfort level in their relationship in which it would have batted no eyelashes. The fact remains, however, that Dominic is acting sweet enough (in a manner much like a fussy, worried bee) that if he knew the man better Benjamin would pinch his cheeks.

Instead his smile deepens with weakened warmth and gratitude, the sort of expression that would be dazzling with more energy behind it. "I tried, but--I'm not sure if the windows are stuck, or I'm not pushing hard enough. Probably the latter." He in no shape, form, or fashion felt like exerting any kind of actual effort on those windows tonight. Fuck windows, wait til morning.

"I'll probably take a walk in a few minutes." Whether that walk would consist of his going upstairs in order to take the person in 205 up on their offer would remain to be seen. Respite his being raised in a town where neighbors generally helped one another out, Benjamin's distrust of his fellow man was highly developed. Granted, there would be no reason for whomever to harm him and many reasons for them to refrain, but as Einstein said, the universe and human stupidity were infinite.

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plumageablaze
2011-08-27 03:35 am UTC (link)

Dominic listened politely, though he didn't approve of the continued lack of fresh air, not when one looked as green as Benjamin did.

Really, it was of no huge matter that the advice he'd offered wasn't the greatest, only that it might help, and for that it was worth a shot. This guy ought to get himself to the doctor in the morning if he wasn't feeling any better. Dominic held his tongue at offering up this extra suggestion with some effort, reminding himself that it was late and there was work to do; he hadn't gone to school to be a nurse, after all.

Choosing the high road, he instead smiled at Benjamin's mention of taking a walk.

"Yeah, that sounds like it could work." Dominic paused, then decided they were neighbors enough now, at least in some sense of the word. "If you need anything, feel free to knock. I'll be up for awhile."

It was a little awkward standing there in the hallway and wondering if he should ask now for the filters or if the sick individual in front of him was going to hand them over soon. Dominic wasn't normally the kind of person to grab something rudely, but then again, he'd only come downstairs this late for one purpose and one purpose only. He shifted a little uncomfortably, remembering how much longer it was probably going to take him to finish his editorial. He was half-finished, truly, but that still left one more half to write, and then he had to edit...the night had gone on long enough.

"Um. I should get going, I've got work to do--I hope you'll feel better in the morning."

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of_laconism
2011-08-27 03:51 am UTC (link)

"I'll do that," Benjamin promises, pausing as he tries to recall if the other man's apartment number had come up in conversation, and if so what it was. He was of the opinion that it hadn't (and how idiotic was that, to give his apartment number to a man who he'd never met and had no idea if he even lived there), however in the interests of avoiding awkwardness he chooses to pretend otherwise. "As soon as I remember it."

He starts to make a motion indicating the scattered state of his mind at current; the hand happens to be the one holding the filters, and the realization of this enters his brain around the same second Dominic's well-wishes and excuses of work trickle in. Oh, shit. No wonder the guy seemed a bit impatient, he'd been holding the filters hostage.

Benjamin offers up the bits of paper with a sheepish grin that hopefully masks his amusement at the sudden image of conducting a bank robbery using said paper. "Don't forget your filters. It'd be a shame for you to make another trip down the stairs." The existence of the elevators has temporarily escaped him, the young man having never lived in a building that had any. Elevators, to him, are things belonging to hospitals, pit mines, and ludicrously large department stores.

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plumageablaze
2011-08-27 04:58 am UTC (link)

The filters were used to gesticulate for a brief moment, their owner trying on a smile that, if it didn't brighten his current sick visage, did wonders for his sense of humor. Dominic smiled again, taking the much desired filters from Benjamin carefully so as to not tear them. One of these days he'd cut back on his coffee intake, but that wasn't going to happen any time soon. Especially not tonight.

"I took the elevator, but thanks. I'll pay you back, man." He was itching to get back upstairs and finish what he'd started--especially now that he had everything he needed. He would be true in his word to Benjamin, albeit he'd only met the man less than an hour ago. It'd be easy enough to schedule a trip to the store tomorrow in order to pick up extra filters, among a few other things (killing two birds with one stone was always a productive way to handle life, and Dominic was fond of opportunities in which this was made possible).

"See you around, yeah?" Leaving now was probably right on schedule with the appropriate goodbyes that he'd already made, and Dominic did so. The sound of Benjamin's door closing in the otherwise empty hallway was oddly loud. Dominic figured if he heard a knock on his door later that night it'd be a surprise, even if it'd been him that'd freely made the proposal. Benjamin, if he actually went on his walk, would be better off getting rest rather than wandering around the second floor of Pax.

The first thing Dominic did upon returning home was start a new pot of coffee, relief coursing through him as everything quickly got back on track. He wrote to the steady, soft dripping of the changed water that eventually filled the pot, the sound reaching him in the livingroom from the kitchen. It was a comfort to hear it, as much of a comfort as actually having a few cups of coffee.

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of_laconism
2011-08-30 05:41 am UTC (link)

Benjamin waves away the offer of repayment with a now-empty hand. "I packed too many, you're doing me a favor." Hmm, should've switched that sentence around. Nothing to be done about it now, and at the moment his grammar is the least to be concerned about.

"Yeah, take care man." Finally, finally the other man departed, leaving Benjamin free to retreat inside his apartment and lock the door. Normally he would have been glad to acquaint himself with a neighbor, might have invited the man inside for food or drink as was the done thing where he grew up. However, the facts remained that not only was Benjamin technically sick, but Dominic had work to be doing.

At least he was feeling a little better, though not nearly up to the walk he'd mentioned. Sleep would probably do the rest, even if it was to be had on his apartment floor instead of a mattress as planned. Beggars, choosers.

It wasn't until he'd stretched out on the aforementioned horizontal surface (much to his relief, as his stomach had decided to make a liar of him and become queasy again) that he remembered the offers made of ginger pills and teas. Moving was out of the question, but maybe he could at least let them know he wouldn't be by/answering his door tonight?

Or not, given that his glance for the laptop revealed it to be well out of reach now. Apologize later, he thought as he slung an arm over his eyes. Hopefully the person in 205 doesn't stay up waiting.

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