Who: Gabriel Allen and Andras Kolacsai What: Clothes shopping When: Friday morning Where: An exclusive boutique Rating: G, mildly suggestive (naturally)
Andras Kolacsai could be a challenging friend to have, but Gabriel liked a challenge.
The vampire enjoyed the finer things in life, something Gabriel could likewise appreciate -- and there was something to be said for a fellow old soul who’d been around the industry since the early days.
There was also something to be said about the relief it could be to be in the presence of a creature who didn’t make him hungry. Vampires could be delightful white noise at times -- and while it took a bit more effort to suss out what they wanted without that familiar spark of energy guiding the way, it could be quite pleasant to not have that constant desire pulling at him. Which wasn’t to say he didn’t still flirt and tease -- of course he did -- but he could simply exist in a way he could only ever do around vampires and his own sort, and he found that to be relaxing when it was just the two of them, reminiscing over a particularly good scotch.
(He knew the same didn’t apply to Andras, naturally -- just because Gabriel wasn’t hungry didn’t mean Andy was immune to the song of his pulse, the flush in his skin.)
Andras in public could be a different creature, however -- his ego needed to be managed, and he could have a sharp edge to him -- one Gabriel had to admit to being attracted to despite its occasional frustrations. The vampire liked being the center of attention in a crowd, and had stormed off in a huff on more than one occasion because of it. He also liked to take undue risk -- at least by Gabriel’s standards -- but that could provide a good second-hand thrill, as long as the risk was contained to Andy alone. With vampires, Gabriel was often made intimately aware of his own relative mortality in the face of such changeless beauty, and his own physical weakness compared to such cold strength and otherworldly ability to recover from devastating injury.
Clothes shopping provided a rather happy medium -- a chance for Andras to show his plumage a bit, and preen, and be properly complimented, and for nice stretches of privacy where it was just the two of them punctuated by an occasional sales clerk swinging by with the next set of things or refreshments.
“That tie,” Gabriel said, with a raise of his eyebrow, “is not doing your frame any favors. Now the last one, that one was gorgeous, and was quite well-proportioned, I must say.”
Andy glanced down at the floral jacquard tie in his hands; everything seemed to be geometric lately, strange shapes that were awkwardly patterned to produce optical illusions of definition. He’d been pleased to find something that looked a little less like an eleven year old had produced the design on their computer. Dries Van Noten wasn’t really a favored brand of his -- sunglasses and ties only, really, the label’s clothing far too ostentatious for his liking -- but he’d thought the orange and blue paisley floral would have been a nice addition to his collection.
Still, he could appreciate Gabriel’s eye for such things.
He settled it back on the shelf and reached again for the Prada silk he had originally been inspecting, a strange abstract layered print of the image of a man complemented with, of course, the label’s logo prominently displayed. He liked the colors -- shades of blue and orange again, must be the season -- but was less than fond of the design.
Andy frowned. “I don’t mean to question your judgement on this, Gabriel, but this is… gaudy.”
Andy liked Gabriel; it was a rarity and a pleasure to find someone he could connect with on so many levels. Much as he would deny it, the fleeting nature of most of his dalliances could leave Andy feeling a bit at a loss at times -- even empty. Of course there were people he enjoyed spending time with; he had a soft spot for that little minx, Maddy, in particular. But she was human. She would age quickly, the years ticking away in triple time for Andy, until life took her by the hand and led her away to new adventures elsewhere. Gabriel was more of a fixture that could be counted on, someone Andy had known long enough to be less on guard in his presence.
The fact that he was an incubus and had already caught the eye of all three salespeople in the shop was an annoyance that could be overlooked.
“At least the Van Noten was subtle,” he added.
Gabriel laughed. “You say gaudy, I say eye-catching and bold -- especially when paired with that lovely slim cut suit you favor. The Gucci, is it?” He wandered over, his fingers touching the fabric spread out on the table. “Thank God the latest shows haven’t been afraid of color,” he said, grinning. “There’s a plum colored suit I’ve been lusting after that I need to try, and I thought the era of black and more black would never end.”
His fingers plucked out another Prada tie -- a pattern of triangles in ecru, black, and blue soft and small enough to very nearly read as floral from a distance, keeping the other one he’d been drawn to -- a fascinating piece in coral and grey with figures on it -- in mind for himself. “See now, you’re lucky,” he said, as he displayed the chosen tie to Andy, his gaze appraising. “You could get away with some of those daring floral print jackets they’ve got circulating. Not that you would,” he added with a laugh, “but they would look far better on you than they would on me.”
He raised the tie. “May I?” He asked, tossing Andy a slightly playful look.
Andy snorted. “There’s nothing wrong with basic black,” he pointed out. “Maybe I’m not so adventurous when it comes to color, but I have enough sense to know a classic when I see one.”
Andy may be a bit of a clothes horse, but his oversized closet was populated with a large amount of bespoke suits in shades of black, charcoal, and dark grey. He was more apt to add color in dress shirts or accessories -- ties, pocket squares, even socks when the mood would strike him. Even to that end, the Prada still seemed a bit much.
He’d lived through men’s fashion trends of the last few decades with a growing sense of horror, from polyester leisure suits to narrow ties and Member’s Only jackets, caesar haircuts and that graphic Tommy garbage, finally through the god awful Ed Hardy tees and mandarin collar tuxedos. The classic look was a well-cut suit had eked its way back into the trendsetter’s rule book, but it was slow-going. Andy still preferred it to most other options.
At least he’d never bleached his hair or wore a trucker hat.
Andy arched an eyebrow at Gabriel’s proffered tie before sighing in defeat. “Lay it on me,” he relented.
Gabriel laughed softly, walking over to pop Andy’s collar and thread the tie around his neck. “A blatant excuse, to be sure,” he said, tying it expertly. “I’ll admit my bias -- ties that are just solid stripes of fabric strike me as ill thought out,” he said, “but I suppose I’m more a slave to construction, and you are to color,” he added, tightening it, and smoothing the shoulders of Andy’s jacket. “Now, it’d look best with that blue suit of yours,” he added, “but it does go quite well with your eyes, I must admit.”
He stepped back, considering, and leaned forward to adjust it a little. “Naturally, I won’t be hurt if you go for the floral instead, but I rather like it.”
Typically Andy would know better than to let Gabriel get too close, but they had been having pleasant conversation and Andy was always in a good mood when he was shopping. It took so little a gesture, a tie looped around his neck, knotted at his throat, putting Gabriel right into his personal space and his senses went wild.
Leather. Vanilla -- not the over-sweetened kind, overlaid with with hints of sugar, but rather a more natural sort: dark and heady, straight from the pod. It was just pouring off of Gabriel in waves, whether he was aware or not, and Andy could feel his head start to swim just the slightest bit.
But then he stepped back and Andy’s senses started to clear.
“God forbid I hurt your feelings,” Andy responded dryly. He blinked once or twice, trying to clear the last of the fogginess from his brain. Sensory overload could be a lot of fun under the right circumstance, but letting himself get dizzy over Gabriel in a public space probably wouldn’t go too well for anyone. He arched an eyebrow and nodded towards clerks standing at attention behind the counter. “You might wanna rein that in, buddy, or you’re gonna get mobbed by the help before I even decide.”
He glanced down at the tie, tucking it in and buttoning his coat to get a better read on it. It probably would look good in the blue suit -- and it was one of Andy’s favorites to wear in the coming autumn.
“Maybe I’ll get both,” he mumbled, just on the right side of petulant.
It took a rather admirable degree of restraint to not reply with Maybe I’ll get the chance to take it off you later, but Gabriel could see Andy’s glance to the salespeople, and shrugged expressively instead, tossing him a wink.
...With my teeth.
“Good,” he replied, with a satisfied grin. “And I think there’s rather enough handsome to go around between the two of us. It’s a wonder we don’t start riots everywhere we go.” He picked up the pink and grey tie with the graphic design and laughed. “Now I know you’ll rather think it too faddish, but I’m going to indulge. It makes me smile. Besides, it’ll compliment the grey in my temples, and pink is one of those colors I think is vastly underappreciated in menswear today.” He tipped his head. “It used to be associated with masculinity back in the day, you know,” he added. “Blue was for girls. Funny how things change.”
“Some things change,” Andy told him, picking up the floral tie he had initially been admiring, not even bothering with a glance at the price on the display. A good century or so could add a lot of interest to even the smallest bank account, after all. “But a lot stays the same. Like a classic black suit… and this tie.”
He shot Gabriel a teasing little grin before turning back to the matter at hand. Still carrying the floral tie, with the other that Gabriel had chosen still looped around his neck, Andy’s attention drew towards black silk tie bound in a roll on a wooden display. It looked almost plain, until he spotted the tiny embroidered dancing skeletons dotted across the silk.
Of course; Alexander McQueen.
Andy grinned again and held it aloft. “What do you think?” he asked. “A little too on the nose?”
Gabriel laughed, tickled. “Fitting on so many levels,” he said, “and sharp, just like the potential purchaser.” He walked over to give it a closer look. “Definitely amusing,” he added. “And black never goes out of style.” He shrugged and grinned. “I’d say if you don’t get it, I’ll just have to buy it for you for your next birthday.”
He sat back down on one of the chairs, lolling a bit. “Tell me, how’s your latest project coming along? Good, I hope?”
“I’d better get it, then,” Andy replied with a lazy smile. “I’d prefer a surprise for my birthday,” he added, a soft flirtatious lilt to his voice. This was another reason he so enjoyed Gabriel’s company: the banter, the flirting. It didn’t have to lead anywhere, if they didn’t want it to. It was just that sometimes, it did.
Andy gave a low, pained groan and leaned against a sturdy wooden support. “I’m working with a woman who wrote nonsensical garbage that her adoring public just ate up,” he grumbled. “I like my job so I’m considering her off-limits, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping she takes a long walk off of Santa Monica Pier.”
He sighed, ties momentarily abandoned back to the display rack as he crossed his arms over his chest. He knew he could be a bit pedantic at times, but it was both a matter of pride and a long-standing source of ire. His lack of ability to manage the English language with practiced ease had been the final blow to his fledgling career in front of the camera; now that his job entailed writing and the polishing up of others’ work, it was infuriating to see hacks like this woman receiving the sort of fame and praise he’d never gotten.
“Ah,” Gabriel murmured, “she’s a lucky one to strike such a chord, despite an utter lack of understanding of things like language. Lucky twice over, to have you to turn it into something approaching art.” He shrugged. “I find, with that sort of thing, it’s far more often what it makes people feel than the actual content of it -- their connection to who they think the characters are beyond what the story suggests. Sometimes when something is only partially fleshed out, it gives the reader that much more creative power to fill the rest in, and fall in love with their own creation.”
He looked over at Andras. “I imagine her fans are rather protective of their favorites, and that you have to do a great deal of pandering. She’d better be grateful. In anyone else’s hands, it’d be an utter disaster, I’m sure.”
If Andy was ever the type to blush, he was sure his cheeks would have flamed at Gabriel’s words. That’s the way it always was with Gabriel -- try as he might, the cool and uncaring attitude that Andy often affected with others was never something he could sustain. It was humbling in a way, but also freeing.
Were he the type to delve into any introspection, Andy might think that their friendship, such that it was, was a very good thing for him.
He grinned. “It always sounds so much better coming from you,” he said with a chuckle. Glancing down at his watch, his cheerful expression fell. “I do have a dinner meeting with her and a couple of the producers, though, so I’d better wrap this up.” He collected his ties, unlooping the one from his neck, and straightened to move towards the counter and waiting line of clerks.
Andy stopped before turning away. “We could grab a late drink later, if you’re up for it,” he offered. It had been awhile, after all.
Gabriel grinned and tilted his neck suggestively -- just a fraction. “Yeah,” he said, “I think I’d like that.” His grin widened into a smirk. “Hopefully, looking forward to what you’ve got waiting after will keep you from being too much of a hardass at dinner. Do try to save room for dessert.”