Realistic or Modern Favorable Outcomes

[NofaceFell]

Killian

The morning is cold and it starts the same way it usually does. Horrible. The sun is too bright, the dog is barking at the ghosts of aliens from Christmas past and his roommate is singing off key in the shower. Probably shaving his legs or some shit. Killian snorts softly at the thought and heaves himself from the bed, grabbing the pair of jeans hung over his computer chair and the first shirt he sees. He isn't even sure if it's his, their clothes tend to mix even though they no longer share a room like in the dorm, but it's plain and doesn't have any fancy buttons so he's happy with it. Rubbing sleep from his eyes the redhead is bombarded by the thick body of their shared dog. "Quinn...you ass." he mutters, feeling the dogs claws scraping at his legs through his jeans. Big brown eyes make his annoyance fade quickly, it also makes a bowl full of food appear but Killian doesn't acknowledge that a four-legged asshole has him wrapped around his tail.

A look at his watch lets him know he has time to grab a coffee and some breakfast from the coffee shop before heading into class. He only has two and by noon his learning is done, replaced with his shift in his mothers funeral home. He looks forward to it, down there no one judges where he came from, or the fact that his mom is the 'creepy lady' who likes touching dead people. He runs his fingers through his hair, fixing it as best he can before grabbing his coat. He doesn't bother calling out a goodbye, the slamming of the front door is usually enough to let Ragan know he's gone. The walk is uneventful, nothing but busy people rushing where they need to go and ignoring him as much as he ignores them. He holds the door of the shop open for an elderly couple exiting, repaying there gentle good morning with his own as he steps inside. The air is warm and smells like the rich coffee he has come to enjoy here. Catching sight of his favorite barista he gets in line, leaning over the counter when it's his turn and immediately noticing the tense way Daniel addresses him. Frowning, Killian narrows his eyes and tilts his head. "What's up, Daniel?"

......

Ragan

The day passes, as usual, Ragan wakes extra early, he has a shift at the host club and he needs to make sure he's presentable for the woman who runs it. She likes them all to look their best, which while good for business is a little annoying when he has early classes as well. He looks at himself in the mirror for a moment, running his eyes over his face. What a loser. The voice in his head sounds suspiciously like his roommate, which disturbs him to no end, it's like Killian is so much more balanced as a person...right? Ignoring his own question he leaves the bathroom finally dressed, stopping only to pet Quinn and grab his bag. Sometimes it's almost like we don't really live here.

His classes drone by, and he half pays attention, distracted by doodling on papers he should be taking notes on and avoiding the couple of young women who don't seem to like taking no for an answer. He's a host, not a prostitute and or some reason that is hard for some to grasp. His day seems to only gain color when noon rolls around, classes taking a break long enough that he meets with the small circle of friends he actually claims as such. Killian, normally very vocal and loud is shockingly quiet, but the Irishman leaves before Ragan can question him. Worry sits in the back of his head, as it tends to. By the time his shift rolls around he almost doesn't want to go. The thought of faking conversation and acting enthralled by a woman he has no interest in makes him feel a bit ill. Rent. Dog food. Killians DVD addiction. So many things rely on his half of the money for the month that he hangs his head in defeat for a few moments before finally entering the club. He is greeted by the mostly friendly faces of those he works with. Getting his assignment for the evening from the woman who hired him. He returns her smile, flirting lightly with the older, very pretty woman as they all tend to do. She could inflate any ego with her smiles and laughter.

The woman today is new, though he swears he has seen her before. On campus maybe? Hs walk is smooth as he approaches and touches the seat opposite of her in the private room. "May I sit?" When given consent he does so, settling in and smiling. She is beautiful and he wonders if that is all there is. "My name is Ragan, I'll be your host for the next little while. It's very nice to meet you, Miss...?"

Lucyfer

 

[Lucyfer]

Daniel was tense as he found his way into his shift. It’d only been an hour, but he felt sick. ‘Will he be in today?’ If not, he feared the worst – that Annie would get to Killian before he saw him, and ask Killian about his relationship with Daniel. He’d of course say there was no relationship of note, and that would be that.

He couldn’t help but stressfully pull his fingers back through his brunette hair as his dark eyes darted again to the doors as he heard the bell. ‘Not him.’ Though he put on a smile for the familiar face all the same and took their order. It was easier not to focus on things when he had work to do, and fortunately as classes let out, it did get a bit busier, before becoming quiet again. He endured these periods, glad he took only morning classes to get them all out of the way early.

His thoughts had almost drifted safely to his plans for the essay he had to write, when the bell rang over the door again and in walked the one he’d been waiting for – Killian in all his glory, blue eyes seeming to light up in recognition, ‘Or you’re reading into it.’ He tried not to think much about it, tried to be less tense, but clearly failed as even before he could ask what Daniel wanted, the other was already asking what was up.

Daniel glanced back, “Amy, I’m gonna take my break after this,” though he was already starting to undo the brown apron he wore, over a long-sleeved green top and jeans. He almost felt underdressed for what he intended to ask, but it was too late to change that now. He wouldn’t have wanted to wear anything formal to work, anyways. He’d end up spilling steamed milk on it and make things even worse.

The red-head gave a nod, so Daniel looked back to Killian, “Look, I need to ask you a favor, and it’s not an easy one – so let me get from behind this counter and lay it out for ya. I’ll even throw in a free drink. What do you say?” He put on a more characteristically charming smile, though he knew he was still tensed in posture and appearance. “So, what can I get for ya, Killian?” He remembered his name, at least.

He had nicknames for most who came in, but he’d learned Killian’s name over time, and he almost damned himself for it now. If only he hadn’t known his name, Killian wouldn’t be in this situation. ‘Some other poor sap would be, because you can’t just find a way to tell her no.’

~***~

‘What am I doing here?’ The question had moved through Eden’s head a thousand times as she finished up her last class, threw her things in her apartment, and caught a bus into town – it was helpful that all students got a free bus pass with their student ID, even if she had a car. Parking downtown was a nightmare, and the place she was headed to was near enough to downtown that she didn’t want to try it.

She almost wished the trip was longer, as she couldn’t help but keep checking her hair, making sure the bangs were in place, or that her lipstick wasn’t messed up. ‘It doesn’t matter, they’re paid to pretend you’re pretty.’ She shook her head a bit at her fretting as the bus filled with more people, before eventually, coming to her stop. She quickly exited, heels clicking on the sidewalk.

She was usually dressed nice for her job, so finding a good black sweater-dress hadn’t been hard. It was finding hose that didn’t have a snag in it that was the difficult part, but she’d managed, and kept walking to make sure she didn’t stop and detour elsewhere, like a café, or a bar, or – well – anywhere else. There was the bookstore with the cat, she could go there, and then go home, where her own cat would shun her….

Instead, she entered into the dimly lit bar and managed a smile at the man who greeted her, before he was all but batted away by an older woman who assessed her as a new customer and not a returning one. They had a brief dialogue where Eden explained that she didn’t really know what she was there for, and tried to play it off as only curiosity, but her nerves must have shown. The woman made her an offer that Eden didn’t think about, hardly considering expenses even as the word ‘private’ was dropped, and then sent Eden off.

It didn’t take long before the private space had another, and Eden looked up, managing a smile at the fellow who entered and starting to rise – stuck in formality, before he came over and asked for a seat. “Ah – of course,” she said with a nod. He did look vaguely familiar, but not enough to put a name to him, which meant he wasn’t one of her students. She’d die of shame if that happened. “I’m Eden,” she offers, “It’s good to meet you Ragan, I hope I’m not imposing on any of your regulars. You’ll have to forgive me, I’m a bit new to this scene.” She figured it would probably be best to be upfront, though she had a feeling it also put her at risk of that novice status being used to their advantage – ah well. Everyone had to make money. If she didn’t think she got her money’s worth, she just wouldn’t return. Simple.

NofaceFell

 

[NofaceFell]

The tall man is wary. The barista is tense and it looks like he's as nervous as a boy asking a girl to prom. It's actually pretty humorous and if it didn't somehow involve himself he would be amused. However, it obviously does, seeing as how they will be having a talk once Killian gets his order. If he purposely takes an unusually long time to decide what he wants it's not his fault, he hates serious conversations and it feels likes he's about to take part in one. "Ah, just a regular then, add some of the cinnamon sugar too, thanks." He gives a smile and ignores the huffing from the woman behind him, it doesn't matter to him if she's in a hurry. he would When he finally does move, it's before he gets his drink, going to stand off to the side near the small door that Daniel will leave the counter through. Leaning against the wall, Killian thinks over what this could all be about, dismissing idea after idea. He and Daniel know each other, but they are definitely not what he would call friends. the chime of his phone keeps him busy until he hears the door open and close.

Looking up he takes his drink from the other man before leading him to the table that Killian prefers. Near the back and as private as one gets in a coffee shop so close to a college campus. He lays his hands on the table, keeping his drink between them and giving Daniel nothing to work with but a curious look. After a couple of moments, Killian raises his brows and hums. "Did you kill someone or something, because my uncle would be the one to talk to about that, not me." Whether its a joke or not is hard to figure out.

....

Ragan is happily surprised by the way she greets him, there is no over the top flirting or implications that what happens in the private room stays in the private room. His smile slowly morphs into a more genuine one as he takes a seat. "Of course not. My regulars are very understanding." its the truth in actuality. He has four regulars that always request him, two married and simply looking for someone who doesn't see them as frumpy housewives, one very eccentric young woman who likes to paint him and the elderly woman that reminds him of his grandmother. He likes them, the conversations are friendly and they make his job much easier between the women who come here thinking that for 300 dollars he will do what they wish. On every surface they wish it. He can't deny that there are some of his fellow hosts who bend and break rules in the private rooms, without the knowledge of their lovely boss, of course, he is not one of them.

"So, Miss Eden may I ask what brings you here?" It's the bases for how well they will get along. She doesn't seem to be married, but the lack of ring is not always a definitive on that subject. He is careful as he rises and goes to the bar along the wall, pouring them both cold glasses of water, as he waits for her answer. Maybe she wants male attention and doesn't get enough? He hopes not, he hasn't had the best experiences with those clients. He slides the drink in front of her, settling himself back down and giving her his full attention. Though anyone who knows him would see the dullness in his eyes, he is playing a part and unfortunately, it's not the most pleasurable part, ironic.

Lucyfer

 

[Lucyfer]

Daniel nodded along when Killian ordered his regular, “Got it,” he knows it by heart, as he knows a few others, and he goes about making it quickly as Amy moves up to take care of the register and get the next client. He’s quick at it, despite the hesitance Killian had shown when ordering it – he has been doing this for too long, and the anxiety is giving him speed, even if he would want to avoid this all together. He comes around the counter when the drink is done, and hands it off to Killian, following him along to the table he usually goes to.

He is silent at first, waiting for the invitation to speak. It comes in the question of if he killed someone, and it gets a laugh out of Daniel, “No, ah, nothing that bad,” he shakes his head, “I kind of told this girl, Annie, that I was gay…and that I had a boyfriend.” He imagined that Killian could see where this was going, and he folded his arm over the table and leaned a bit on it. “Look, I really hate to impose, but she won’t leave me alone, and your name was the first to pop into my head, so I…said I was seeing you and that was why you got all these free drinks.”

He could feel his face heating in embarrassment. This was the worst way to ask someone out. Good thing he wasn’t, actually – right? Just as a favor, “I was hoping you could, sort of, pretend for a bit – we can have a break-up later, but it’ll be enough to convince Annie to leave me alone. Please?” He probably sounded desperate.

Well, he was desperate, wasn’t he? ‘Damn it.’ He winced internally as he figured Killian was going to laugh, or turn the idea down completely. He didn’t even notice he’d sucked in a part of his bottom lip in anticipate of just that, biting down on it.

~***~

Eden was trying to read him, trying to read between lines she knew was there as a part of his job, while her mind was racing over ideas of whether or not this even was a good idea. How was she supposed to figure out connecting again, if it was all faked and played? Still, he seemed friendly enough, albeit she knew that gleam in his eye – or rather, lack of gleam. She saw it in students barely tuned in.

He got up for water, and she took the cup with a smile, “Thank you,” she brought it to her lips, before answering the earlier question, once Ragan has settled again, “Honestly, a bit of a whim. I moved to this town a while back and dove into my job and studies, at the expense of a social life. I heard of this place and thought it might be…easier to explore a social life again within certain confinements,” time confinements, intimacy confinements, “and limited expectations.”

They wouldn’t be calling or texting each other at 2 am because of a bad breakup. They wouldn’t be real friends, some of the ‘burden’ of it was gone – but of course, so were some of the joys of it. “Something like the intimacy of a hairstylist and client?” She laughed a bit at the comparison, but it seemed accurate. They remembered each other, they liked each other’s company, but at the end of the day, they were using each other. “I’m sorry, that’s probably horribly blunt, since this is supposed to be…well…a pretty lie and I should pretend to believe it to make it work,” her eyes averted down a moment into the water, before looking back up, smile back in place, “I’m just here to be human again with a no-strings attached sort of close friendship?”

She at least was rather aware that this wasn’t a prostitute thing or an escort service. No sex, no kissing – perhaps she’d long for it if she actually ended up liking him, but that would only help her to remember how to get back out there, or pursue those things, if she truly was missing them. This was to help remind her of things that could be, of a whole life she should have, not just the ivory tower of academia.

 

[NofaceFell]

He doesn't really know what to say, in fact, the only thing keeping Killian from looking around as if he is being punked is the desperation of the other man's face as he speaks. He stays quiet for a minute, his thinking cap firmly in place as he narrows his eyes and takes a drink. It's hot, too hot but he doesn't wince, just takes the sting as he usually does. He has a lot of questions, but first, he tries wrapping his mind around what could happen if he agrees to this favor. Ragan is going to have a fucking field day with this. Taking a deep breath Killian nods when Danel finishes and taps his fingers on the table.

"Ok, let's say I even agree. What's in it for me?" he tilts his head, the inquiry almost second nature, always out for himself. "What's up with this chick that a simple 'no thanks' won't do? She mental or something? Am I going to have to be worrin about the lass showin up to my apartment with knives or some shit like tha?" He really isn't equipped for crazy people in his life, he has his fair share and they are a handful. Leaning back the tall man looks the other up and down as much as he can with the table in the way. No matter what he says, whatever answers he gives the conversation ends the same way.

"Alright, I'll do it. Seems easy enough, whats the worst that could happen." He shrugs as he stands, grabbing his bag and hefting it over his shoulder. "Sides, means I get to have a cute boyfriend for a bit, won't tha be fun times." He laughs a bit and makes his exit, waving as he goes. "Still get off at 3? I'll pick ya up then, we can talk more." Class awaits him, not that he pays much attention, he knows this lesson, has had it drilled into his brain by his mother. He recites the rules of family interaction and is the first to leave when the lesson ends. When 3 rolls around Killian finds himself back at the shop, waiting for Daniel's shift to be over.

....

He likes her, as she talks he doesn't hear the flirty undertone of a woman faking something to get the interest she wants. It intrigues him and he leans over the table a bit, a habit he can't help when he finds himself interesting in something. "Pretty lies make the world go round, but they definitely aren't for everyone. It's actually pretty nice to hear that for a change." The smile he gives is far more genuine and when lunch is served he is sure to be a complete gentleman. Refilling her glass as needed and listening when she speaks, always responding in a way that lets her know he is listening. "I can definitely fill the role of a hairdresser, though you may not want me to, I'll confess that my roommate was not pleased by my last attempt as a stylist." He thinks fondly over the memory of Killian not having enough cash for a barber...and the horrible mess he had made of the other's mans ginger hair.

When another host brings in dessert, he is quick to warn her of the sugar shock she may endure. The lava cake is a gift to all new clients but it could kill someone. "The first time I ate it I think I died, pretty sure I saw heaven on my way to hell." The dull look is gone and he speaks with his hands, sharing about himself before asking the same of her, it's only fair after all. He lets slips that he is in college, has a dog and grew up in the city, but he avoids personal topics with grace and asks various questions to get a feel for her, but he isn't pushy, sliding the questions into the conversation smoothly. "What is it you do?"

Lucyfer