cravating | (no subject)

Yeah. The offices are sort of secret but I could be in central pretty easy. So just say when and I'll be there if I can.

[ He's drawn to him, he knows, and he shouldn't be, especially now he knows why. ]

We can catch up on some shit. You can tell me if Simon wears that little lawyer wig in bed.

[The offices are secret?? What does that mean? He doesn't actually care, not when he's realizing they could really see one another. Soon.]

What about tonight? After the show? To either celebrate or help me get over it being a disaster.

[ He hesitates over his phone, unsure. He wants to see him, of course he does, but it's... messy. Still though... ]

Yeah I can probably manage that. But it's the celebration yeah? You're going to be amazing, mate.

Thanks. Hope so. Well I'm actually here and things are getting started. So just let me know what bar you end up at and I'll head that way when I'm done here.

[He's more nervous about seeing Matt than about the show now. Well that's one way to get over his professional nerves.]

[ He shouldn't go in. He shouldn't. He should put a healthy distance between them. But the difference is of course he really is his best friend, even without all that shit in the way. He misses him, he wants to see him. He probably shouldn't head to a bar on his own. If he gets nervous he knows he'll drink, and probably too much. He almost wonders if he should go and get someone to go with him, but that would be weird as fuck. So he doesn't, he just goes alone, and heads to a decent pub, ordering a pint. He's on his second when he texts. ]

I'm in the Fox in Shoreditch if you want to come over.

Just finishing up here. Order me a drink, would you?

[He gets there as fast as he can, but with networking and all that, it's about 25 minutes before he walks through the door, glancing around, trying to catch sight of Matt.]

[ When he walks in, Matt is over at a corner table away from the bar. He's sitting, leaning back and poking at his phone with half a drunk pint in front of him, and next to that a light lager that he knows Nate likes to drink.

Matt is looking a little 3-days-stubble, and with a tshirt that looks like it's seen better days. Somehow he pulls it off. He waits for Nate, and glances up, just catching sight of him. He lifts a hand. ]

Hey.

[Nate's eyes sweep the room until he sees Matt. God, how long has it been? Doesn't matter, really, but it's surreal as hell to see him sitting at a table with a pint, waiting for him.

Reminds him of how things used to be.]

Hey. [He approaches with a nervous smile, unbuttoning his pea coat and shrugging it off so he can drape it over his chair. He runs a hand through his hair, suddenly very aware of the length now that Matt's brought it up.]

Sorry to keep you waiting. Got held up talking to the head of another gallery.

[ Christ but it's good to see him. He's looking great, really great actually. Keeping well, and that hair looks even better in person. Still though, he can remember how it looked when there was blood in it, when he'd caused that. He can still see it when he looks at him, see his face swollen and hear him trying to get through to him. ]

Oh yeah? Went well then? Fucking told you it would, didn't I?

Really well, actually. Got some buyers interested in adding some stuff to their personal collections. Got a few contact numbers of people who want to see some newer stuff before it goes to shows like these. You know the sort- trying to get it cheap just in case I make it big.

[He laughs lightly and reaches for his beer, wrapping his hands around the glass but not lifting it from the table yet.]

How've you been? You look good, mate.

[Really good. Uncomfortably good. He hates that he still thinks like this, even after everything, even when he's very committed to a wonderful man.

A man he wasn't exactly honest with about what he's currently doing with his evening.]

[ He laughs and shakes his head. ]

Fucking charlatans. You make them pay higher, you hear me? Don't let them get away with an original for anything less than top price. And thanks, yeah, not bad. I mean pretty good really. This gig is pretty cool. Not really what I expected but better than mopping up old beer and getting the drunks home, right?

[He just ducks his head and laughs, nodding like yeah totally going to charge them top price. Except no. He's just glad to be selling them.]

So what is it you're doing anyway?

I don't think I'm supposed to talk about it.

[ He looks from left to right, as though he thinks someone might be watching idek ]

But it's cool. I mean, really cool. You know the place is pretty big, I bet we could buy some of your art for the walls. Just not the really weird shit, yeah?

What? [He looks amused and baffled by that answer.] Are you some sort of spy or something?

Something like that. [ he turns his head again, and then leans in, speaking in a whisper. apparently he doesn't do what he's told ] I'm a fucking Knight.

[Nate leans in when Matt does, not really sure what he's expecting to hear, but it's not... that. After a very silent moment, he just lets out a laugh.]

Yeah, okay. Fine, don't tell me.

I'm being serious! The whole nine yards! Elves and people with magic and all that shit. And shadow kind. I mean can you imagine my da's face if I told him I was hanging out with those?

[He just sort of squints a little, but they've been friends a long time and Nate knows the difference between Matt pulling his leg and actually telling the truth.]

...A knight.

[He just can't process that.]

How does that even work?

Fuck if I know, but they know their shit. They want to fight bad guys, and that has to be pretty cool, right? Kicking the shit out the--

[ He stops, trails, and feels awkward as fuck because he really shouldn't bring up beating people up. ]

How's Simon?

[ Smooth segue ]

[He looks a little uncomfortable by that change of topic. Like talking about beating people up made Matt think of Simon? Not a good sign. He shifts a little in his chair, his fingertips toying at the rim of his glass.]

He's good. Busy, but good.

[ Well fuck. Does Nate think he wants to beat Simon up? Is that who he thinks he is now? Maybe it is who he is now. He doesn't want it to be. Fuck fuck fuck. He should have probably not come here. ]

Cool. [ And let's have some beer. ]

[They sit in silence for a moment. Nate takes a drink of his beer, trying to decide if he should just ignore it or--]

You don't like him much, do you?

[No, they're apparently going to talk about it.]

[ oh shit, this is not the conversation that he wants. At all. ]

Doesn't matter what I think as long as he makes you happy, Nate.

Sort of does matter, actually. [He says, setting his drink down and looking right at Matt, like oh boy this is happening.] Matters to me.

[ Well that shocks him. It's kind of unexpected. He could see why he'd care a few years ago, but now? He doesn't really hide the shock, pausing his glass midway to his mouth. ]

He should have been there with you tonight, that's all. You deserve better than an excuse, mate.