It Wasn't Meant For You (Melix and Elemental Son)

[Elemental Son]

When Lyall grasped his hand, Dominic actually flinched. It caused a physical sensation of pain, as if hot wire was scraping through the inside of his chest. Domini didn't know what his friend - or former friend - wanted, so different now from the coldness he'd displayed this morning, but he did know that he wouldn't be able to keep doing this. Eventually, something would have to give. If things stayed the way they were now, Dominic would work to make sure he simply did not see Lyall anymore. It was screwing him up too much.


Pulling his hand free the second time - mindful not only that they were being watched, but of the anguish which roared through him at the contact, Dominic figured it was time to get this over with. To tear off the bandaid, clean out the wound, and through pain, bring the pain to an end. To that end, instead of ignoring Lyall, he responded. "The hell do you want?" It came out sounding far more sad than aggressive as intended - more like a plea to just be left alone, to stop hurting him. Dominic was exhausted, and he knew, if nothing else, that he could not keep this up.


Instead of looking at Lyall, Dominic hugged his own arms to his chest, shielding himself, and nodded towards a copse of trees not far from the school gates. The area was heavily wooded, the offshoot of a nearby nature reserve, and it would operate to give them some desperately needed privacy. It was also his way of saying, despite not being able to form the words, that he was willing to talk this out - if only to bring the whole trainwreck to an end.

 

[Melix]

Lyall nodded and began walking in that direction, clenching his fists. He wasn't angry. He'd really wanted Dominic to hold his hand, not pull back. This was as close as he came. It was just one more thing that showed Lyall where this was going to go. "Dominic," he said, and the name felt both good and awful all at once. When he arrived at the thicket, he sat down and tried to collect his words. Then he figured, screw it. It would be easier if, instead of beating around the bush, he dived in and ripped off all the leaves at once. When they were both inside, he said, "Your dad says you can come home if you disengage from gay behaviors. I talked to him and took responsibility for what happened between us." The nervous cough was back. "I told him I kissed you because I was sick and you shoved me away and now you hate me. The latter half of that is true." He shrugged. "I want to apologize for everything that happened after we kissed. You don't have to forgive me, though," he said. He got up and walked forward towards Dominic. He wanted to see Dominic react to this up close. "I won't apologize for the kiss. No matter what I said, I'm happy I got to kiss you." 
(By the way, I won't be on for a bit. I'm going on a walk.)

 

[Elemental Son]

[No worries - enjoy!]


"Then why push me away?" His voice was unusually hoarse, quiet but strained. It just made no sense to Dominic - if what Lyall said was true, and the foolish courage he'd used yesterday was not unwanted, then why had it been rejected? That was the crux of it. The core of the anger, the vulnerability. The deep sense of betrayal. While he wanted to believe what he was being told, he simply didn't feel he could trust Lyall - or himself - as he had the day before. Dominic wanted to fix things, but he just didn't know how.


He'd focused on that in preference of the ultimatum his father seemed to have asked Lyall to pass on. To hell with it. He'd figure it out in time - first, he needed to figure out this, because it was this that was tearing him apart. Homeless would suck, he knew that. Disowned would suck. But he could deal with those things practically - sort himself out, find a way around it. With this, Dominic didn't know up from down - he couldn't tell whether he was angry or hurt or just wanting. He couldn't breathe right anymore. Whatever might come after, this had to come first.


"If you were so happy about it, why the hell did you tell me that soccer mattered more - that you had things which were... that it wouldn't be me? Why the fuck, if you cared about it, would you do that to me? Because I don't know if you've noticed, man - I'm not good at this. I can't - I don't work like that. I can't figure out when yes means no or no means yes or what the hell it is you're after." Hoarse had become stricken; Dominic was fighting to keep composed, and he was losing. "All I know is, I wanted something so much it scared me - and you gave me a shot and then told me there was something wrong with me for taking it. What the hell, Lyall, am I meant to do with that? Enlighten me, because while I'm glad you're so goddamned happy about it, it's fucking killing me."

 

[Melix]

"I was so scared," said Lyall, and he finally just dropped his guard. He needed to, because he could see Dominic dropped his. "I don't like having feelings for you. It makes me feel awful inside." He knew these words could start a fight, but he needed Dominic to know. "This isn't some isolated incident, either. For the past couple of months, there have been days where I looked at you, especially if I saw you talking to a girl, and honestly, I felt like crap. Being jealous when your best friend talks to a hot girl? Token. But I never wanted to have the girl, I wanted to be the girl. So when I kind of sort of getting these warm fuzzies for Sarah, I was really relieved, because it meant I wasn't...you know, gay." He bit his lip. "So I wrote a letter to Sarah, but I was thinking about you, and I guess I put it in your locker. And then you were so sweet about it in a completely infuriating way and you said, and I quote, 'I don't have a response for you yet.' And I got scared because having a chance with you brought out everything and then you kissed me." He rubbed his cheek. "I don't want to be gay. I don't want to get AIDS. I don't want to spend the rest of my life getting yelled at and having people threaten me and all that." He stepped forward and walked until he could hug Dominic, since he might never get to talk to him like this again, much less have contact. "More than all that, though, I really, really don't want to lose you. I love you." He tightened his grip. "If you leave now for your house, no hard feelings." 
(Hey, that's our 100th post! Cool!) 
(Oh, and, uh, my next few posts might be weird: I'm about to take some serious painkiller and it makes me woozy and weird. Sorry.)

 

[Elemental Son]

(Damn. That's pretty good going for a 1x1! Also re the meds, are you okay? I'm happy to wait if you need some time. Don't push yourself, yeah?)


Dominic just let Lyall hang off him, slowing down to try and process what he had been told. It wasn't until Lyall said 'no hard feelings' that he gave a shaky, quiet laugh. Hard feelings were exactly what these were. Hard to understand - hard to live with. But he didn't leave. Not yet.


"I still don't. Have a response, I mean. You're talking about stuff that's over my head, man - living like this. AIDS. Love." Dominic let the words hang in the silence, feeling strangely disconnected from the world as they stood alone among the trees. There was a surreality to the conversation - to the speed at which things had turned around. This was not how he had pictured his life - including or even having to deal with the possibility of these things. It would take him some time.


"I don't... I'm not gay. I don't know what I am. I guess... I just know, I'm not going home for a while." It was Dominic's best effort, and hopefully, it would be enough to convey what through words, he could not.

 

[Melix]

(I'm all right. I only took a half dose, which doesn't appear to be working.)


Lyall closed his eyes, just thinking about everything. "Then I'll decide for you," he said, running his hands up Dominic's back and shoulders and neck and into his hair. "I want you to do what's best for you." He leaned up and kissed him softly, because he'd decided, and this was going to be the last one, and he pulled away and let go. "Go home." He leaned up and kissed Dominic again. "Leave me." More kisses on his cheek. "We'll still be friends if you want. I promise." He forced himself to look away, pull back, stop touching Dominic in ways he probably didn't like. "I'm going to quit the soccer team either way." Lyall looked back and decided he'd been sad too dang long. It was time for something happy to happen. "Um, in other news, my boss told one of my coworkers the other day that when he retires he's going to make me the new co-manager with his kids." He smiled. "So, um, at least I'll have a steady job in a few months." 
(Okay, now I've taken a full dose and I feel weird. Sorry.)

 

[Elemental Son]

Dominic fought the urge to lean into the touch, and before he knew it, it was gone. He listened to Lyall's promises, and sighed. While what his friend proposed was probably the neatest option, it wasn't truly what either of them wanted, and he knew it. As Lyall stepped back and forced himself to change topic, Dominic responded in protest.


He stepped closer, and, swallowing his nerves, placed his hands atop Lyall's shoulders. It was about as much as he could stand yet, given what had happened just the day before, but it was clear that he was making the effort. "That's... good, I guess. I don't know if you should be wanting to keep working there, but a secure job's a secure job, right?" What he said - not by word, but by gesture - was far simpler. Dominic hadn't left yet, and if he could stand to stay, didn't plan to. I am trying. Give me time.


(No worries; please take care of yourself, yeah?)

 

[Melix]

Lyall sighed, leaning in to the slight touch. "I feel like I know a song about this," Lyall whispered. He wanted Dominic to kiss him so badly. but he just stood there, and sighed. "Dominic?" he asked. "Promise we'll always be friends?" He rubbed Dom's arms, ends attached to his shoulder. "Or something?" Dominic was being so sweet. Again. A lonely breeze flushed through the copse and fluffed Lyall's hair. "I have to go to work soon, so I do have to be going." He reached over and grabbed Dominic's shoulder's, too, a pantomime of the intimacy he'd felt yesterday. "I'll understand if you don't, but if you kiss me, I won't run away this time." He stepped forward and pressed his lips to Dominic's shoulder, but instead of backing away, he set his head down and let it rest there. He trusted Dominic to push him away if he didn't like what Lyall was doing.


(Yeah.)

 

[Elemental Son]

"Yeah. Yeah, we'll always be friends." Dominic just let him rest there. While he didn't have the courage of the day before, the same sense of peace was rising, washing away the tension in his stance. After the ordeal of the storm they'd gone through, he no longer had the energy to fight, but was nice to feel grounded, just for a while.


Instead of kissing Lyall, Dominic closed his eyes. He didn't know how to let himself have what he wanted, even when it was literally in his arms. But the knowledge that it was closer now than it had ever been was enough to confer a sense of peace, and that, for now, was enough. There were going to be problems, and the rational part of his mind knew that. The rest of him didn't care.


"I can't. Not yet, man." Looking up, with a half smile, he said "Maybe let me get used to this, yeah? Then, I guess we'll see."

 

[Melix]

"Okay," said Lyall. He loosely wrapped his arms around Dominic's waist. He didn't know what compelled Dominic to stay, but a small, guilty part of him was grateful that Dominic hadn't turned around and left him yet. He didn't need a yes or no answer right now. He just needed Dominic to be here. "I guess we'll see." he repeated. He didn't kiss Dominic again, though. He just relaxed a bit, leaning on the sturdier boy for a moment before getting uncomfortable and letting go, moving back from him completely. "I have work tonight." said Lyall. "I have to go." He did the awkward straight-guy back-pat hug. "See you later?" he asked, a bit pleadingly. Had they really reached a truce, or where they still fighting outside of this copse of trees? He cracked his knuckles. "I have to go," he said again. No, even though he couldn't keep his hands off Dominic, he still wasn't comfortable with this. "We could get pizza or something." 
(Hey. I'm going on an impromptu camping trip, but I'll be back sometime tomorrow.)

 

[Elemental Son]

(Just quietly, your life sounds kind of awesome - impromptu camping and the fair. Epic win!)


Lyall pulled back, but for the first time things their insane liaisons had begun, Dominic wasn't concerned about the cause. Now that he understood - now that they'd talked it out - his mind was somewhat at ease. The half-smile was back, so different to the easy grin he wore day to day. As Lyall pulled him into an awkward hug, Dominic laughed, returned it, and let him go. They had some work to do, to develop that kind of physical trust.


"Definitely - my shout." Food sounded great right now, but part of his mind fixated on what Lyall had said about work. In truth, it still bothered him - more than it should. Why the hell a teenage boy was working in a gentleman's club... it just didn't sound right. The sense of, what? Dread? Suspicion? Was strong enough that by the time Dominic said to Lyall "Work... yeah. I guess I'll call you after? I'll go home, clean up. What my father doesn't know won't hurt him, uh.", he'd already decided to follow him.

 

[Melix]

(Thank you!)


Lyall looked at Dominic and bit his lip slightly, an apparent nervous habit. Lyall used to not be nervous, but, then again, he also used to be a confident, sure, "straight" young male, not a really confused....god, what was he?....male. At least he was still male, last he checked. That certainly wasn't going to change. But something uneasy stirred in him. Dominic was going to his house. He really was very clearly indecisive, and with the things Dominic's dad had said to him...When Lyall wasn't even his own son...What if Dominic came back and he'd made a decision, and the decision wasn't Lyall? On one hand, Lyall wanted Dominic to repair things with his dad, but on the other hand, he really wasn't going to be able to deal with it if Dominic came back and said, "No, I'm sorry. Promises or no promises, I can't be your friend now." If he lost Dominic as a potential lover, okay. But as his best friend, or his friend period? Oh, no. No, no. The kind of never-ending panic-attack kind of no.


"Just remember your promise," he said. "And actually, I'd have to give you my coworker's number. I killed my phone last night." He shrugged. No way he was explaining that embarrassing situation. He stretched out and leaned forward on one foot, looking like an ice skater in school clothes who skated on dirt instead of ice. Actually, he just imitated the pose. He really couldn't look like a skater if he tried, and he wasn't trying. "Thanks for the food. The number is-" Lyall listed off the seven-digit number and continued. "Her name is Amber, and she flirts with everyone, but she's one of the only dancers who is promiscuous outside of the work, so I wouldn't suggest going for that if you don't want to get sick." He raised an eyebrow and lowered his foot. "Sorry. I'm gonna have to run, so I'm stretching first. More running! Yay!" Sarcasm. "Thanks for the food. I'm gonna need it."

 

[Elemental Son]

"You have my word." That was said without levity, without mischief; Dominic meant it. That much, at least, mattered to him, and he was certain of it. Their friendship was non-negotiable, and given that it had survived the 24 hours of confusion and pain prior, it was something worth fighting to maintain.


Dominic said the number over in his head several times, committing it to memory. It was one of the few things with numbers he was good at - once in his head, it would stay there. Watching Lyall stretch, Dominic was amused by the caution Lyall gave out with his co-worker's contact details. As if, after today, Dominic would be chasing her. While he'd never explicitly sworn off dating girls, it had been a while since he'd even been inclined to try. At the moment, he had neither the words nor the time - from the fact Lyall seemed ready to race off - to explain that in full. Instead, Dominic simply shrugged and said "She doesn't sound like my type. Thanks for the heads' up though."


Lyall continued his stretching, and Dominic continued watching in the purely platonic appreciation-of-an-art form kind of way. Whether he would have done so the day before, was anybody's guess. He did have to smile when Lyall complained about running, though. "More running - which means you shouldn't quit the soccer team. You're getting all this extra training in, man. May as well use it. As for food, just get your friend to let me know when you get off work. I can pick you up or something. If all goes to plan, I won't even be dressed like a mechanic when I do."

 

[Melix]

Lyall smiled and nodded at him- nodded at everything, saluted, and took off. Like a cartoon character, he left behind a flurry of dust in his wake. His legs started to hurt less than five minutes in, probably from the earlier running, and his heart and head pounded, but he ran through it until he could get to the middle of town and take a taxi. It stopped hurting eventually. Well, it stopped hurting when he got in the cab and massaged his legs and chest. If the cab driver noticed the poor moaning boy in the backseat, he didn't care. If Lyall didn't quit the soccer team, he would definitely at least need a break. He gave the cabbie his money and directed him to the club, which earned him a funny look and an, "Aren't you a little young to be going to clubs like that?"


"I work there!" Lyall said. "As a waiter," he added hastily, lest the man get the wrong idea. They arrived just before opening, and Lyall slipped past Edward "Eddie" Rifeil, the bouncer, and through the main area into the back, where he changed into a standard uniform, though, with pants instead of a skirt. Say what you wanted about Lyall's boss, but at least he was a little merciful. In just a few moments, he had to be out and ready. The doors were opening.

 

[Elemental Son]

Dominic watched him go, and after a minute, set off himself. It had felt like an eternity, in that wooded refuge, but in reality, there were still students leaving the school gates as he walked back onto the main track. More than one of them shot him a strange look - something which perhaps, did not bode well for the near future.


Ignoring it for now, Dominic headed home. It was still early, but having to walk back might mean that his father was out playing cards or golf with old friends, as he often did on weekday afternoons. They hadn't had a conversation about what had gone on, although Lyall had said he'd talked with him. That was one of the things Dominic had appreciated the most about Lyall's apology - he knew full well his father could be an intimidating man, but Lyall had gone to plead clemency on Dominic's behalf, even so. I owe him more than a damn pizza. It was still a question as to whether Dominic would take up his father's offer, however. For now, he just wanted to shower, eat something, change, and find out what Lyall's mysterious workplace was all about.


Eventually Dominic got to his front door - mildly bemused that the weather had stayed as good as it had, considering how miserable it had been out the night before - and found the front door locked. Good sign. Sliding the spare key from under one of the loose boards under the awning, he unlocked the door, and headed inside.


Like most teenagers, the first thing he did was find his phone. Oddly, there had been no text from Alan. Weird. I wonder what he was playing at? However, as he scrolled into the conversation thread attached to Lyall's number, he froze. What the hell? Dad must've read my- Reading further up, he saw Lyall's concerns, his apologies. Dominic felt like a jackass. So that's why he was so pissed off this morning... oh well done Dom, you idiot.


Frowning, he put his phone back with his now mostly-dry clothes - he'd need to do laundry eventually - grabbed some fresh, slightly dressier gear - good jeans, a shirt with a collar, a leather jacket - and headed for a the shower. Once clean and ready to go, he took his phone back up, and called the number Lyall had given him earlier. Then it was just a matter of waiting.


"Hello, Amber? This is Dominic - I'm a friend of Lyall's. Listen, odd request, but could you give me the address of the club? I need to bring something in for him."

 

[Melix]

A bubbly voicemail picked up. "Hello! It's Amber! If you weren't calling for Amber, you've got the wrong number, but if you were, hi! I can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I will get back to you as soon as possible. If you hear a sound like this- beeeeepppp- start talking please! Thank you! Beep!" Amber checked her phone twenty minutes letter and promptly texted Lyall's friend the address: 1700 Wallaby Avenue.


Lyall was struggling to get an apron out of the kitchen closet. By no means was he short- he was of an average size, though he paled in comparison to some of his friends- but he was not quite tall enough to fetch an apron from the top shelf of the high and narrow shelf in there. Luckily, being a capable athlete, he wasn't the worst climber he ever came in contact with; that honor went to Alan. Alan once fell off of a two-inch stool and landed on his face. It was pathetic. Lyall stepped up onto the second to bottom shelf and continued up until he got an apron, but just as his fist closed around it, the sweat on Lyall's skin betrayed him and he slipped a little. Then he slipped a lot. He didn't even think before he landed, not on his back or front like he would have thought, but on a person, or rather in a person's arms. The person hunched a bit to catch him, then straightened when they got their balance."Well, hello, there," said a grinning dirty blonde, looking down at him. "This must be my karma for saying, 'Catch you next fall' to a kid who tripped. Or maybe because I always say cynical words about love falling from the sky.'" Lyall didn't know how to respond to that, so he responded by getting angry.


"Why are you back here? You don't work here." The boy smiled. "Put me down!"


"I do work here. I'm the new underling chef," he said. "My name's Christopher."


"That's great," said Lyall, realizing with a grin that he knew who this guy was. "Put me down now!" he commanded with authority. The blonde finally obliged, and once Lyall's feet were on the ground, he picked up his apron and glared at the newbie. "I'm Lyall Mendiola. Your boss. Welcome to the job, and thanks for saving me from a month of physical therapy. I don't like you." Why did this guy have to say those things and make it all weird? "Go to the kitchen and start making food. Three of everything on the menu. Go. Hurry." He was going to have fun with this guy.


But first, he needed to open the doors for the customers.


(The first one was boring, so I changed it.)

 

[Melix]

A bubbly voicemail picked up. "Hello! It's Amber! If you weren't calling for Amber, you've got the wrong number, but if you were, hi! I can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I will get back to you as soon as possible. If you hear a sound like this- beeeeepppp- start talking please! Thank you! Beep!" Amber checked her phone twenty minutes letter and promptly texted Lyall's friend the address: 1700 Wallaby Avenue.


Lyall was struggling to get an apron out of the kitchen closet. By no means was he short- he was of an average size, though he paled in comparison to some of his friends- but he was not quite tall enough to fetch an apron from the top shelf of the high and narrow shelf in there. Luckily, being a capable athlete, he wasn't the worst climber he ever came in contact with; that honor went to Alan. Alan once fell off of a two-inch stool and landed on his face. It was pathetic. Lyall stepped up onto the second to bottom shelf and continued up until he got an apron, but just as his fist closed around it, the sweat on Lyall's skin betrayed him and he slipped a little. Then he slipped a lot. He didn't even think before he landed, not on his back or front like he would have thought, but on a person, or rather in a person's arms. The person hunched a bit to catch him, then straightened when they got their balance."Well, hello, there," said a grinning dirty blonde, looking down at him. "This must be my karma for saying, 'Catch you next fall' to a kid who tripped. Or maybe because I always say cynical words about love falling from the sky.'" Lyall didn't know how to respond to that, so he responded by getting angry.


"Why are you back here? You don't work here." The boy smiled. "Put me down!"


"I do work here. I'm the new underling chef," he said. "My name's Christopher."


"That's great," said Lyall, realizing with a grin that he knew who this guy was. "Put me down now!" he commanded with authority. The blonde finally obliged, and once Lyall's feet were on the ground, he picked up his apron and glared at the newbie. "I'm Lyall Mendiola. Your boss. Welcome to the job, and thanks for saving me from a month of physical therapy. I don't like you." Why did this guy have to say those things and make it all weird? "Go to the kitchen and start making food. Three of everything on the menu. Go. Hurry." He was going to have fun with this guy.


But first, he needed to open the doors for the customers.


(The first one was boring, so I changed it.)

 

[Elemental Son]

[All good; sorry about the delays]


Within twenty minutes, Dominic had his answer. He texted a short 'thank you', and headed out. It was far enough he'd need to drive. Oh. Goddamnit Lyall. Dominic had not recovered his keys (nor hotwired his car), so it was still in the Hospital parking lot. Thankfully there were no parking restrictions in the area, or he'd've been in a bit of trouble. Instead, he'd just have to take a taxi for now.


Dominic called one, and eventually it came. The cab driver was more than surprised to be carrying a second young man to the same club tonight, and said "They hire their boys young there, huh?" Unlike Lyall however, Dominic was tall enough and sturdy enough he looked a little older than his age, so when he growled out "I'm just the bouncer" in response, his answer - along with the bruises still visible on his face - weren't further questioned.


As the cab pulled up on the sidewalk, he added a request. "Actually, can you drop me around the back? Boss prefers us to be discreet about working here. Bouncers scare off customers and all." Dominic's thinking was that he was much less likely to run into a real bouncer if he used the service entrance. It wasn't often he thought things through to that degree, but he knew a thing or two about being discreet.


Paying the taxi driver and stepping off, he stood outside the back entrance to the club, now not entirely sure what he was doing there. He knew he'd followed Lyall out of some misguided attempt to - what, protect him? Ensure that he wasn't working somewhere detrimental to him? In reality, Dominic knew it was none of his business. That left only one option - play it cool. Walk in, find a table somewhere, and if he saw Lyall, just tell him he got bored waiting to pick him up. Something like that would do.


So, with a rough plan in mind, that's exactly what Dominic did. He waited until the coast sounded clear, and then walked in as if he owned the place. The few people he did pass payed him zero attention, and he just kept walking until he could see what looked like a stage. Predictably, there was a door to the side leading into an area with thirty or so tables, low lit and framed in that particular space between good old fashioned machismo, and outright sleazy.


Settling in one of the more hidden booths, Dominic sat back to wait, not 100% sure of what he'd gotten himself into.

 

[Melix]

There were aprons on the floor from where Lyall had fallen, but seeing as how Christopher was officially in charge of tonight's food, Lyall had better things to do, like actually wait the tables for once. He slipped into the uniform left for him in the changing room locker, relieved as he was every time he had to wear this monstrosity, that at least the guys' uniform and the girls' uniform were different, and at least the wait staff's and the dancer's uniforms were different. The uniform was actually in his size, a pretty big step up from his last job, but the shoes took a bit of concentration to get into. That was okay, it could be worse. They could have been heels.


The doors had opened earlier with some difficulty, as always, and, as always, Eddie, the bouncer, had wanted to wait a few more minutes to open up. But who was Lyall to keep unhappy, hungry, unsatisfied customers outside when they so clearly wanted in? The tables were set and the food was being made. The dancers were onstage. It was time.


Lyall reflected briefly on his own hunger, realizing that thinking about his growling stomach was better than thinking of his tired, now-squished feet. When that didn't do it, he reflected briefly on Dominic, for a second going back into the lala-land with Dominic in the wooded copse outside of his school. He must have daydreamed a few moments, sitting on the little plastic holed bench, because someone came by to scold him, and with that, Lyall set off to work. When he got to the kitchen, he was surprised and happy to find that already a few dishes were done. Christopher was fast. Lyall helped out by putting the dishes back in the unused stove and hurried out, going table to table, asking people if they were ready to order, pen and paper flying everywhere as he frantically wrote orders and helped customers. Being a waiter was exhausting, so eventually he took a break, sitting down at his favorite empty windowside booth and considering sleeping for the next half hour.


Then he saw Dominic, just two tables away, and he felt wide awake. Well, it could be someone else, if they had the exact same build. And hair. And skin color. It was doubtful. What was he doing here? He'd never come here before. He even knew the name and he never came. Logical conclusion: Lyall had been duped. So now it was time to do some duping of his own.


[Not a problem at all ]

 

[Elemental Son]

Dominic had watched Lyall running around. He seemed happy enough, and safe enough. That was the important stuff squared away. For the first time in days, now, Dominic felt completely at ease. Maybe if things were okay here, they could be okay elsewhere? It was a pleasant thought, and he lost himself in it for a while. By the time he zoned back in, Lyall was nowhere in sight, and the dancers had begun their routine.


It astounded Dominic how little interest he felt towards them. Two days ago, he would have at least had a look. Now, it was a cursory glance to identify the movement at the edge of his peripheral, and that was it.


Maybe it was time to get out of here? Dominic reflected - he'd got what he'd come for - reassurance that Lyall was doing okay - and he was technically underage in this club. Not that they could do much if they caught him - he knew damn well they employed minors, not just let them in, so he wasn't particularly concerned about it.


Before he could move, a waiter showed up at his table, with a 'Hi, what can I get you?' Unable to explain that he wasn't really here for long, Dominic's decision was made for him - he'd be staying a little longer.

 

[Melix]

Lyall was in the back room again, examining himself in the mirror. He looked alright, but something was...off. He stood another way. Ahh. It was the boxers. It was pretty likely that any of the three girls in his size (Red Caligaris, who'd kill him; Janie Reed, who'd be embarrassed; and Kylie Killigan, who was likely to wear her only piece of what he was looking for) might have it. Some kind of underwear that wasn't girlish enough to look horribly awkward on him, but also not boxers. He was thinking shorts.


Lyall was wearing a dancer's costume. A female one, obviously. And despite the weirdness that was going on, Lyall had never, ever, dressed as a girl before, and he didn't plan to do it again. It was a common line that wearing kilts or skirts allowed for a pleasant breeze on the legs, but really it just made Lyall itch. He changed quickly into Kylie's shorts (turns out she did have some in her locker) and strode forward into the eating zone. Quite a few heads turned as he passed, but Lyall wasn't sure if it was because he was wearing a pink tank top, shorts with the word 'BABE' written on the butt in glitter, and a small white skirt, or because he actually looked pretty okay.


Either way, Lyall made sure to walk right past Dominic's booth and sat next to the first male he could find. "Hi," he said casually.

 

[Melix]

(Offline today because I ran out of clothes and need to buy new ones. I'm not doing laundry every 3 days... Maybe every week.)

 

[Melix]

(Furthermore, I'm only going to be able to reply on weekends from here on out.)

 

[Melix]

(Okay, I give up. Goodbye.)

 

[Elemental Son]

Normally, Dom would have kept to the simple plan - play it safe, wait for an opportunity to leave without arousing suspicion. Ask for water while he 'considered his order', and then just slip out when the chance presented itself. When Lyall strutted past, dressed like that, the situation became far from normal. Somewhere deep in his chest, a primal type of rage caught alight. It didn't even occur to him that Lyall might have seen him, or might have been screwing with him on purpose. Rather, knowing no better, Dominic assumed this was the standard procedure for a worknight for Lyall.


He wanted to kill something.


Sounding far older than his age, and having the demeanor to match, Dom growled "Alcohol. Something strong." at the poor waiter, who stammered an affirmative response before making himself scarce. Aggressive customers were not uncommon, but rarely was it murderous intent, rather than self-entitled lust, prompting such furor. The one benefit, from Dominic's point of view, was that there was no request for ID.


Reigning himself in, Dominic feigned ignorance, but watched the man sitting across from Lyall like a hawk.


He had no plan any more - he was responding purely to emotional impulse. The message he was receiving was painfully clear: no one got to lay a hand on his best friend. No one. - and anyone who did, might just lose that hand.


All he had to do in the meantime, was watch, and wait for his drink to arrive.