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Valusid slunk in the bar to his usual booth alone, made his order and settled in. Once his drink arrived he slouched in his seat watching the others in the bar. Making up stories about who they were and what they were like. Fae-watching, a better pastime than wondering what he was going to do now. Watch, drink, go home, sleep most of the day away and repeat.

He smirked at his own fiction of some pair happily chatting at another booth. They seemed to be enjoying themselves that was certain. The female acting coy all the while rubbing her leg against the male. They won’t be sticking around long. Val mused. And just like that through the bodies that every so often blocked his view they were gone. Knew it. Switching his attention the dance floor full of those who enjoyed moving their bodies around strangers to a beat doing very little to divert his thoughts.

He swirled around his drink stiring the contents obsessively with a straw. The ice making only subtle noise in his full glass. Taking a drink he grimaced. “Eugh, someone poured heavy.” Muttering to himself while taking another sip.

He began coming here more frequent recently. His mother was pestering him to find a strong baddie girl. Even giving him flyers for ‘Meet & Greets’ and speed dating. Why did she have to bother him, he was already confused. He had meant to start dating then a short but eye opening instance he was unsure of himself. He told her to back off, snapping his teeth at her during their last visit and he hasn’t gone to see her since. She’d been pestering ever since she finally settled down herself. Some guy named Farren, he knew nothing about and avoided. He just wasn’t interested.

A server brought him out of his daze so he ordered something else hopefully less awful, the server taking the empty glass giving a concerned look back as his table as they turned to leave. He supposed he looked pitiful having been here almost nightly. He brought his eyes down and noticed the mess he made with a napkin. With a Oh he brushed away the pile of napkin shreds that had appeared. He was fidgeting again.

Making sure all the pieces were now on the floor, checking his arms and pulling a stray from the netting tucking it all outta sight for the time being, curtesy of his tail. To his dismay suddenly there was a visitor across from him and his brow furrowed. He finished his second drink making a less disgusted face and was contemplating just walking off and find a new place. Did he just smirk at me? I really don’t want to fight tonight.

His eyebrows raised when he heard the Baddie speak, his dual colored eyes slightly widening, "What?" His gaze landing on the large elder light grey in color with bright aqua hair, and was...was that blood? Dumfounded and annoyed that this, whoever he was just inviting himself. "Who you calling pretty boy, pretty boy?" He retorted before his brain could catch up. Mentally yelling at himself at his choice of words shielding his face in embarrassment. The newcomer was attractive though and Val felt his skin flush under his fur, hoping it was just the effect of his drinks.

“I…I know you meant me.” Valusid stuttered as he leaned back sliding his hands down his face sighing. This night was not going as planned and he wasn’t sure what to do, he just wanted to be mindless and go home and sleep. He didn’t feel he could just get up and leave anymore, the other Baddie had drawn attention and he did not want to draw any more by storming out possibly causing a scene. A server went by, and he tugged on their sleeve motioning for another drink, he really felt he needed another to deal with this, maybe a few. Watching the other males’ antics for a moment while he was waiting for the refill. As soon as it arrived, he downed half before letting it clank a little loudly on the table. He sank in his seat some more, nervously tapping claws on his cup.

“I don’t see why I need to give you my name. I don’t even know yours and you seem awful comfortable sitting there.” He glanced at the other frowning, he had invading, teased and laughed. Valusid was sure this was some game, why couldn’t they find someone else to bother, why him? He sat up a little so his elbows would reach the tabletop again and begrudgingly rested his head on one fist. Flicking his eyes between his cup, looking around and then back to the albeit still pretty cute male in front of him.

“I am not pretty.” He declared. Feeling defensive, unsure if he was being complimented or toyed with. Either way he wasn’t used to being called Pretty. He wasn’t used to being hit on by someone so bold either, he shrugged off others like they were flies, barely took any effort. However, "...lusid,” His voice had cut out and he spoke too quiet. He took his glass, finished it off and cleared his throat. ******** it. “My name, is Valusid.”

His heart jumped when he heard his name spoken out loud. Valusid made a troubling frown at himself for reacting. What was it about him, he couldn’t tell, not quite. Maybe he shouldn’t have finished that last drink so fast. He didn’t even taste it, and it would hit him without warning. He knew that but his nerves got the better of him as he tried the liquid courage trick. He had already had enough, having what he usually partook and then heading home to ignore life. The urge to ask for another lingered, it was nerves.


Shaking off the fact he was called pretty, again. This baddie laid it on thick, he was starting to believe him. And then he finally got a name from the strange persistent male. “Pekelo, huh?” hesitant as he looked down at the offered hand, like it would bite him. It was a long pause before he reached out as well giving a light squeeze and shake. “I suppose it’s nice to meet you too.” Wait, what did he just say, his night got better when he saw me? He flushed holding his hand still. This was not the drinks talking, was it really that warm in here? He pulled away suddenly grasping his empty glass hoping the chill from the leftover ice would help.


He recalled why he was here, was there a reason, yeah, he still hadn’t spoken to his mother after she was pushing for him to date. She didn’t understand and he wanted to be left alone to figure it out on his own. She was a proud Elder Baddie just wanting the best for him sure, but also too busy to really get to know him, just demands and never letting him have a say. “I come here a bit, stay out of the way, and slip out. I have my reasons.” He didn’t want to just unload all his problems on him, the booze taken more a hold leaving him feeling a bit more chatty. He bit his tongue; he didn’t need to hear his boring story. They might not ever see each other again either, nor did he want to put him off with rambling. The feeling of running had subsided, mostly because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to at the moment, or he might stumble off looking ridiculous.


“Pekelo, you’re not bad looking yourself.” Ah yes, there it was. That liquid courage, he held onto his personal stuff but now his thoughts just went to the attractive company. He raised his empty cup to get ice. He chewed the cube cooling and wetting his mouth as it felt dry. Why did he want to hang around him though. He stared into his eyes.


“Why me?”

They were just staring at each other which felt like an eternity. He felt like if he looked away he would lose some game. So he stuck to it as long as he could even as he felt more awkward by the second. Pekelo looked like he was deep in thought for a bit. He shouldn’t have asked why, what did it matter? But suddenly there was that ‘Pretty’ again and the distance between them closed significantly, so it felt to him anyway and his breath caught. Again, he felt as if he retreated he would lose. What the heck was this baddie doing? What was he doing? His mother would be telling him to stop wasting his time fooling around. Whatever, she wasn’t telling him how to live.


Still closer than average he cleared his throat. “Well, uhm, Pekelo.” He did like being called pretty; he finally admitted to himself. The closer he looked at Pekelo the more he stared at all of him. Though whatever this game was he wasn’t gonna be a fool either. Unless…
His mind trailed off into all the what ifs. Why was he thinking so hard about it? They would probably go their separate ways. Forget worrying, forget the expectations others had of him, and just go with the flow. Easier said than done. He raised his glass to flag someone for another. Last one. Before he knew it he had a refill. His dual colored eyes darted around as he couldn’t think straight looking right at him anymore but soon to look back at the male however to speak again. “Soooo…do you come here often?” Smooth Val, smooth.


He sighed and slumped a bit, palm to his forehead. “Sorry, that was lame, I am lame, you should go find someone else. I am not worth anyone’s time even if it’s just in passing.” He was all nerves again. A loner was he, yet he wasn’t alone and there was no guide to tell him what to do in this situation. Some creeping thought began, making him flush all over. Never should have asked for this drink he chided himself, all the while taking a big sip anyway not even tasting the alcohol. “I should go. This…was well…it was nice to meet you.” The need to get out now was taking hold. He was dizzy, he was warm, he was confused, he felt his heart race. Foolishly he was running away, scooting out the booth less than gracefully, realizing too late he was not stable. He stumbled. s**t.

Valusid heart was racing, and he was trying so desperately to gather himself. God what a mistake it was to drink that heavily just out of feeling out of place, not ready at all for his stumble but then he didn’t have to be. He was a little dizzy but having expected to feel worse it took him a moment to realize he was not on the ground. He did not hit. As this near stranger, Pekelo had him. So very close. Oh.

He thought his heart was trying to beat right out of his mouth, it beat so hard it felt like it was in his throat. Was it triggered by the fall? It kept on as he slowly realized where Pekelos' arm was, having saved him from crashing to the floor. He flushed so hard he thought he was overheating. He parted his lips to say something, but it caught. He started to get his legs under him, lightly pulling Pekelo off and pushing himself back. “Ah…Uhm...thanks.” The place where Pekelos' paw was he could still feel, feel him squeeze at his side even when it wasn’t there.

He felt like an idiot, and also felt very out of breath. Was it the drink, was it him. He was nervous and embarrassed. And like all eyes were on him, he panicked and scrambled up, running out the door after he slammed some money on the table to pay for his drinks and apologies for the ruckus. He just needed out now, somewhere cooler, where he could gather himself somewhere not so damn hot.

He hadn’t meant to book it like that but the fight or flight hit him and he ran. Not really trying to run away, but after a scene like that he was sure everyone saw. He leaned on the side of the building, it was cool and just was what he needed, helping him keep his mind and find his balance better. He would definitely need a minute to recoup. And as he did he felt like an a**, leaving him there like that. Contemplating if he should go back in to apologize, but he remembered he was trying to leave already, so this was his chance. Instead he waited against that wall.

Valusid leaned on the building calming whatever was left of his racing heart from his flight. Not knowing what he would even say if he saw him again. But of course, he was out of immediate view, despite his bright fur he had been around the corner, close enough to listen if he could hear through the blood pumping so loudly in his head. How much of it was the fall, how much was the fact he had been so near to the other. In his arms. He absently touched where he had felt him take hold.

He decided he probably wouldn’t come back to this bar for a while, just in case he left the staff in a sour state with his ruckus, and well he didn’t want to be noticed. That was why he came there to begin with, left to a corner. The run was over, time for a new quiet place. But he had started to forget his worries distracted by the company. Maybe being alone wasn’t so good, left to ruminate. He did that just fine at home, but figured doing so out was better somehow.

Recounting the last moments, had him flush. He was embarrassed, he acted that way, running, instead of just being normal. He did save him from the floor. He sighed heavily there, taking a few deep breaths before it caught. He heard him, so he thought, pausing again, then there was his name, at least it sounded like it. He was looking for him. He braced against the wall, pushing off to straighten up, less wobbly and easier to balance now that he was out in the open.

He came out from hiding, looking at the tall grey baddie, he was much bigger when standing now that he was looking. He really was a sight, though he seemed a little off. Realizing it was probably the drinks, as he saw him rub his temples and heard his name again, quieter this time, had he been further away he would have missed it. He didn’t really think ahead but walked up to him, tail low and swaying to help with his balance as he came up to him, and before thinking he reached out a paw and touched his arm, just to let him know he was there but instinct had him step back as well. Don’t sneak up, without being prepared to be lashed out at. Not that he was trying to sneak but in case he caught him off guard.


“Hey, you alright?” He really didn’t know what else to say, what could he say? He didn’t know him, only that he had been determined to talk to him for some reason.