colorfulcharms (colorfulcharms) wrote in thecaldera, @ 2018-04-20 12:53:00 |
|
|||
People reacted differently in times of crisis. Some people got their shit together, some banded closer with their kin, or pulled from a well of strength they didn’t know they had to solve a problem. Little problems to big ones, small like oops I messed lost my dog all the way up to my twin is missing. Well. Troian fell into none of those categories. Instead he had the distinction of belonging to the much less respected classification who said when things go sideways it’s best to forget about them, deny them, and throw yourself into more pleasurable things. Troian would have been an excellent Greek. So when he rolled out of uh, Kelsey’s? Yeah. Kelsey’s bed, at four in the afternoon, he tossed his clothes in her dryer so his nice jeans and wine red shirt - both chosen to be the most eye catching, flattering and accentuate all his best features (read: all of them) were not wrinkled and danced out her door. Well. Kylie lived in an apartment, but there was a definite bounce in his step. More on the way where that came from, with caffeine on his mind. His excuse was that he was checking in on an application he put in at this hipster little shop, the same kind that had been popping up all over the place back in Brooklyn and even Harlem. Troian slid into the line just in time to catch a very tall man with some delightful shoulders place a quiet order before he sort of shuffled off to a corner table with a nervous air that seemed to contradict his looks so much that he was intrigued. That didn’t stop him from smiling charmingly at the girl at the counter, delighting in her blush as he placed his own order. He lingered long enough to flirt with her as she made both his drink and the stranger’s. When she slid his across the counter it came with an extra number on the cup and a lovely grin to boot. She was tempting! But he needed a distraction, and a challenge wouldn’t go amiss either. So he grabbed the stranger’s drink, peering at the name curiously before weaving expertly through the tables and swiveling a spare chair around to sit gracefully at Terry’s table. “Here you go handsome, “ Terry was distracted and focused, when Troian slid his drink over to him. However that wouldn’t last long with Troian around, not when he smiled like he was, “Mind if I join you?” He leaned forward with the words, not enough to be threatening but enough to show his entire attention was on the older man, like they were friends instead of strangers. It seemed that the goddess of gacha eluded him again. After more than twenty attempts at rolling for the five star super rare of the current event, Thierry was finally giving up. He sulked, frowning at the screen on his phone when he heard someone standing right in front of his table talking to him. Someone was talking to him and calling him handsome. Wait, what? "Uuuh...." Thierry stared at the boy with wide eyes. Boy because he couldn't be a year past twenty. After staring for a couple of seconds, Thierry looked around to make sure the boy wasn't talking to someone else, but his corner in the coffee shop was currently empty, so there was no way he could be talking to anyone else. Not that it was possible when he was sitting right in front of him. "Uh," Thierry started again, licking his lips, spending what felt like an eternity trying to figure out how to reply. "I-I guess?" The boy hadn't waited for his answer anyway, so Thierry didn't know how to say no. He picked up the drink to inspect it and-- yes, it was his drink. What was going on here? Who was this boy? Was this one of his students or a friend of them that was trying to pull a prank on him? Thierry looked around the store to ensure no one was filming him. Troian had to take a sip of his drink to hide his delighted grin at the man’s reaction, it reminded him of this cute bookish girl from one of his classes who had basically lived in the library. There had been a scowl on the guy’s face, or something akin to it, which shouldn’t have been endearing but somehow was. Then again, he was an expressive person and usually appreciated it in others as well. When he wasn’t asked to leave he got more comfortable, pulling out his phone and placing it face down on the side of the table to show that he wasn’t distracted and crossing his arms over the table. He was relaxed. Far more at ease than the other, “Thanks, I’m Troian by the way.” The hand not holding his damp drink extended to shake, hands he kept soft and fussed over while still maintaining calluses from years of guitar playing. It was an odd balance. A nod towards the man’s phone, “Are you winning?” He obviously wasn’t, but hopefully it would help him relax. Thierry held his phone in his left hand as he reluctantly reached over to shake Troian's hand. This boy was bizarre, he thought, trying not convey his confusion on his face, but probably not being very successful at the task. "Do I know you from somewhere?" Thierry berated himself for blurting out such a rude question, his brow furrowing. "I mean-- I might have f-forgotten you, and I'm incredibly sorry for that." When his game was brought up, Thierry pressed the button to turn off the screen and hastily put it away in his shirt's pocket, the electronic item almost flying off his hand in his rush. His eyes were wide as saucers, staring at Troian looking like he had just been caught red-handed. "Uh." He gulped. "No...?" It was entirely possible that he had not met anyone who looked so uncomfortable to be there, or in his own skin for that matter, since he left school. It was a bizarre concept to Troian, who would feel comfortable if he woke up on an unknown beach naked with strangers. Hypothetically. Obviously. “No, I just got back in town.” An easy laugh, careful not to sound mocking and instead leaning on flirtatious and genuinely amused, “Don’t worry, once you get to know me you’ll find I’m pretty unforgettable.” The wink was probably laying it on a little thick, but the laugh hopefully conveyed he didn’t take himself too seriously. He raised a curious eyebrow at the haste to put away his phone but stamped down questions about it, feeling a bit like he was approaching a skittish animal. Just got back in town. So this was a complete stranger? Another glance around the café and Thierry was finally completely sure this couldn't be a joke.... Unless it was a hidden camera? Social media kids did those strange challenges these days. He got so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't realize he had been staring at Troian. "I, uh. Uhhh. Okay...?" Thierry licked his lips before bringing his drink to his lips. As good as he remembered, but the unexpected company certainly worsened the experience. How was he supposed to deal with strangers like this kid? Thierry toyed with the sleeves of his shirt, checking his watch and then looking over at Troian again. His gaze lingered for a few seconds, blinking at him before ducking his head back to sip his hot drink. Thierry's awkwardness was exponentially proportional to the time he spent with complete strangers. Luckily for all parties involved, Troian wasn’t the least bit phased about being stared at. In fact, he was usually pleased with it, the preening peacock that he was (or so he had been called), though it was usually with a very different expression than the one Thierry wore. The man checked his watch and Troian felt a lick of disappointment that he was so eager to rush off, “You alright?” He glanced around the shop and caught the barista’s eyes again, grinning at her happily before looking back at Thierry, “I’m not taking someone’s spot, or making you late am I?” Boy, would that be embarrassing. Thierry practically jumped on his seat when he was called out, reaching up to adjust his glasses when they slid down his nose. "No-- No, it's just. I, uh." He rubbed his thumb against his index finger as he tried to come up with a believable excuse. "I have to go. There is-- Uh, work?" There was zero security in his words, but he figured there was no way he'd get out of this one without making a fool out of himself. "I've got to go, or I'll be late, so, uh. If you excuse me...?" Glasses weren’t something he seeked out in people he pursued, but nor was it something he disliked, and Thierry definitely made them work - even though he would probably combust if Troian told him that. He hadn’t even acknowledged the handsome comment, or actually introduced himself, but it was probably due to his discomfort more than purposeful rudeness. He did let himself pout just a little though when he made a silly excuse to ditch him. The option of inviting himself to escort the other out the cafe occurred to him but was dismissed in the same beat. Sometimes it's better to push a little and back off, there was an art to flirting and knowing when to let it go. Or at least wait, “Of course, I’m sure you’re busy.” Troian stood from the table and let his fingers dance across the top of Thierry’s hand gently for a moment in a move that could be brushed off as accidental while he grabbed his phone off the table, “I’ll see you around though, hopefully my timing will be better next time.” Accompanied by his most innocent smile, because he had one, no matter what his sister said, thanks. |