[Out of the corner of his eye he notices Leon looking at him and it makes Thomas smile inwardly, liking the attention. He was trying to think about the best way to flirt with the other man, but he decides to wait and see how their conversation plays out.]
No need to apologise. I understand why you would find it strange. [He gives Leon a reassuring smile.]
I'm happy to do so. [Taking the bottle from him, he pours them each a generous measure and takes up a seat next to Leon, leaving enough of a space for them to be comfortable.]
So. Is there anything you would like to know about me?
[Leon turns slightly to face him better, not so accidentally brushing their knees against one another. His gaze flickers from Thomas' eyes down to his lips before meeting his gaze again.]
Let's see, I know where you're from and when you're from... I like your accent by the way. [He gives him a soft smile.] What'd you do back home? Have you picked something up here? Looks like you're doing pretty well for yourself here.
[He slides the glass closer once it's poured, raising it.] Cheers.
[Well, it looks like Leon was trying to flirt with him too. From the knee brush and the flickering gaze, all the way to the compliment about his accent.]
I'm a servant back home for a wealthy family. Here, I work at a printing press and at the Neptune Lounge, both of which are different but I enjoy it. And you're right, I have done quite well for myself in the city.
[Being a Dominant helped too.]
Cheers to you.
[He raises his glass in return, taking a sip.]
Thank you for the words about my accent by the way. I don't hear that too often.
A servant? [Leon can't help but wrinkle his nose slightly at the word.] People still had servants in the 20s? [He glances to the side like he's trying to remember his time in history class and nods.] Yeah... I mean, I guess people still have butlers and maids today.
I've never had much money. No rich friends either. [He smirks a little as he admits it with a half shrug.]
I've been to the Neptune Lounge. Interesting place. I didn't realize there was a printing press here. [It sounds pretty old fashioned. He's not sure what they'd even print there.
But instead of asking, he takes a sip of the scotch] Mm... you're not wrong. Real smooth. [He nods approvingly before raising an eyebrow.] Really? It sounds nice.
Where I'm from, there aren't a lot of job opportunities around so I picked something I know I would be good at. [Somewhere he could possibly advance in career wise. ] I wonder if they're paid more now. The butlers and maids, I mean.
[Taking a sip from his scotch, he ponders that for a moment.]
Yes, really. My accent is different from the family I serve - let's just say some consider the family's accents a lot more respectable than mine. [Thomas looks amused.]
Anyway. I like yours too. I've only been to America once before. I would love to go back again.
I think they're paid pretty well. Especially, if their employer is loaded. [He doesn't know for sure, but he's pretty confident in guessing they're paid well.
Leon is fairly oblivious to regional English dialects and he's even more oblivious to class differences. So, what he says doesn't quite click with him.] More respectable? [It sounds plenty fancy to Leon.
He raises an eyebrow at the compliment on his own accent. To him it sounds like nothing, some generic American. Not that he minded that, but it just didn't sound like anything special.] If you say so.
Why do you want to visit again? I mean, I guess there's lots of things to see.
To see what other opportunities there could be for me. See the sights, like you said. Maybe find some other people like me too.
[Without fear of being caught.]
And yes, respectable. Things were a lot different a hundred years ago, but I like to think they've change since then. At least from what I've heard from other people here.
People like you. I mean, you can skip the trip and just enjoy that here.
[Certainly Leon has relaxed his guard here. As long as you're having sex no one is really going to bat an eye. He's also tried things here he likely still wouldn't even knew existed back home.]
I guess things must've changed, 'cause I have no idea what you mean. [But he's also just a white kid from the mid-west, so he might be completely off.]
[He exhales a scoff of a laugh, sitting back and rubbing the back of his head.]
Uh... whaddya want to know? I'm not really used to talking about myself... My life... there's just not a lot to tell. [Or nothing that made for nice, light conversation at least.]
Um. I was a cop for a day. [He offers; the story sounds like it'd be funnier than it is. Unfortunately, it's just a nightmare.] Went through the academy for a year and all that.
[He chews the inside of his cheek before offering a pitiful excuse for an already forced smile.]
Um... I'm sorry. This was a terrible thing to bring up. [He shakes his head, swallowing hard.] It's a really shitty story for a good time. And I really am having a nice time. I don't want to tank the mood.
I'm not really sure I have many good stories. Um... I dunno. What kind of stuff did you want to know? I like the color blue, I've never had a pet, ummm... I can fish? [This time the smile is genuine, if a little uncertain.]
[Thomas is quick to reassure him, giving Leon a warm smile.]
Those are things I never knew about you before so it's a good start. And I never learned how to fish, but some people find it relaxing. Do you think it's a relaxing thing to do?
[He does feel a wave of relief when Thomas easily lets him squirm out of talking about Raccoon City. He gives him a faint, grateful smile.]
No?
I should clarify, I know how to catch and kill fish for survival. Like appear fishing. You can do it with a knife too if you're quick enough and the fish is slow enough. [He smirks softly.] I learned lots of survival stuff like that during special forces training.
It's come in handy though. [He smirks softly.] I showed up here with some fish in my bag actually. Never saw them again. Kinda wonder what the hell they even did with them.
[It seemed like such a strange and humorous thing to confiscate from a person. That and the eggs he'd had on him. The dead snake he understands, even though it'd just been for eating.]
Yeah? Oh, so pretty substantial training if they put you to work at a hospital.
You... Hey, you don't have to answer this, but... how'd you get injured? What happened?
[Leon wouldn't be the first person that Thomas had told about his injury, yet he still hasn't revealed the whole truth behind it. That would take much more trust between them.]
I was in the trenches one night, trying to avoid enemy fire. It was dark so visibility wasn't so good. [Holding out his left hand, he shows Leon the half glove he wore on it.]
I thought I heard someone approaching so I got up for a moment to investigate. Then a bullet ripped through my left hand.
[Leon looks at his hand a moment before grimacing.] Shit... That must've been insane.
[He glances up, realizing that might sound kind of insensitive.
He tugs at the collar of his shirt until he can pull it down enough to show Thomas his left shoulder, just under his collarbone, likely inches from his heart. It's a scar Thomas will likely recognize with ease. He'd taken a bullet there and the wound hadn't been properly seen to for a few days, so it'd healed messily.]
When you get hit it's like... It's like it takes a minute for everything to catch up. It's like the last thing your brain can comprehend is that you've been shot. I can only imagine that disconnect is that much more when you suddenly don't have a finger or something.
[Thomas says, watching as Leon shows him the scar on his chest. He looks shocked for a moment before he finds the words to say.]
That was close to killing you. I saw similar wounds on the front line, but sadly, not all of the men survived them.
As for myself, I was in shock for a while. I think I was lucky enough to not lose a finger, but even now, I still get pains in my hand. I also don't really show off the scar either - hence the glove. Over time, I have found it easier to talk about - in this city, not at home.
[Leon's gaze turns less focused as he looks to the side, at nothing, and nods.] Yeah, you're probably right. [He refocuses, meeting Thomas' gaze again.] One of many things that came close to killing me that night.
[He swallows thickly, nodding, understanding the we gravity of what they're talking about all too well.]
I bet. There's no way a bullet goes through your hand and doesn't leave some stuff messed up.
[He nods with a grimace.] Yeah, I know what you mean.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
notfoul
no subject
Date: 2023-11-23 10:07 pm (UTC)No need to apologise. I understand why you would find it strange. [He gives Leon a reassuring smile.]
I'm happy to do so. [Taking the bottle from him, he pours them each a generous measure and takes up a seat next to Leon, leaving enough of a space for them to be comfortable.]
So. Is there anything you would like to know about me?
no subject
Date: 2023-11-24 08:46 pm (UTC)Let's see, I know where you're from and when you're from... I like your accent by the way. [He gives him a soft smile.] What'd you do back home? Have you picked something up here? Looks like you're doing pretty well for yourself here.
[He slides the glass closer once it's poured, raising it.] Cheers.
no subject
Date: 2023-11-26 11:02 pm (UTC)I'm a servant back home for a wealthy family. Here, I work at a printing press and at the Neptune Lounge, both of which are different but I enjoy it. And you're right, I have done quite well for myself in the city.
[Being a Dominant helped too.]
Cheers to you.
[He raises his glass in return, taking a sip.]
Thank you for the words about my accent by the way. I don't hear that too often.
no subject
Date: 2023-11-29 01:50 am (UTC)I've never had much money. No rich friends either. [He smirks a little as he admits it with a half shrug.]
I've been to the Neptune Lounge. Interesting place. I didn't realize there was a printing press here. [It sounds pretty old fashioned. He's not sure what they'd even print there.
But instead of asking, he takes a sip of the scotch] Mm... you're not wrong. Real smooth. [He nods approvingly before raising an eyebrow.] Really? It sounds nice.
no subject
Date: 2023-11-29 07:44 pm (UTC)[Taking a sip from his scotch, he ponders that for a moment.]
Yes, really. My accent is different from the family I serve - let's just say some consider the family's accents a lot more respectable than mine. [Thomas looks amused.]
Anyway. I like yours too. I've only been to America once before. I would love to go back again.
no subject
Date: 2023-11-30 08:29 pm (UTC)Leon is fairly oblivious to regional English dialects and he's even more oblivious to class differences. So, what he says doesn't quite click with him.] More respectable? [It sounds plenty fancy to Leon.
He raises an eyebrow at the compliment on his own accent. To him it sounds like nothing, some generic American. Not that he minded that, but it just didn't sound like anything special.] If you say so.
Why do you want to visit again? I mean, I guess there's lots of things to see.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-03 02:42 pm (UTC)[Without fear of being caught.]
And yes, respectable. Things were a lot different a hundred years ago, but I like to think they've change since then. At least from what I've heard from other people here.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-06 01:25 am (UTC)[Certainly Leon has relaxed his guard here. As long as you're having sex no one is really going to bat an eye. He's also tried things here he likely still wouldn't even knew existed back home.]
I guess things must've changed, 'cause I have no idea what you mean. [But he's also just a white kid from the mid-west, so he might be completely off.]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-11 07:29 pm (UTC)[ He'll never get to see them of course back in his own world, but he's not thinking about that now. ]
What can you tell me about yourself? Can be anything you feel comfortable in telling me.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-13 05:51 am (UTC)Uh... whaddya want to know? I'm not really used to talking about myself... My life... there's just not a lot to tell. [Or nothing that made for nice, light conversation at least.]
Um. I was a cop for a day. [He offers; the story sounds like it'd be funnier than it is. Unfortunately, it's just a nightmare.] Went through the academy for a year and all that.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-18 10:22 pm (UTC)That's a shame you weren't able to put all of that training to use. Can I ask what happened?
[ He puts the question to him gently, curious about what went wrong with it. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-19 06:40 am (UTC)[He chews the inside of his cheek before offering a pitiful excuse for an already forced smile.]
Um... I'm sorry. This was a terrible thing to bring up. [He shakes his head, swallowing hard.] It's a really shitty story for a good time. And I really am having a nice time. I don't want to tank the mood.
I'm not really sure I have many good stories. Um... I dunno. What kind of stuff did you want to know? I like the color blue, I've never had a pet, ummm... I can fish? [This time the smile is genuine, if a little uncertain.]
no subject
Date: 2023-12-27 02:30 pm (UTC)[Thomas is quick to reassure him, giving Leon a warm smile.]
Those are things I never knew about you before so it's a good start. And I never learned how to fish, but some people find it relaxing. Do you think it's a relaxing thing to do?
no subject
Date: 2023-12-28 09:06 pm (UTC)when Thomas easily lets him squirm out of talking about Raccoon City. He gives him a faint, grateful smile.]
No?
I should clarify, I know how to catch and kill fish for survival. Like appear fishing. You can do it with a knife too if you're quick enough and the fish is slow enough. [He smirks softly.] I learned lots of survival stuff like that during special forces training.
no subject
Date: 2023-12-29 06:59 pm (UTC)[Briefly, he wonders if Leon had to put any of that survival training to use.]
I did some medical training back home. For the war. Then when I was sent home after an injury, I volunteered at a local hospital.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-01 08:28 am (UTC)It's come in handy though. [He smirks softly.] I showed up here with some fish in my bag actually. Never saw them again. Kinda wonder what the hell they even did with them.
[It seemed like such a strange and humorous thing to confiscate from a person. That and the eggs he'd had on him. The dead snake he understands, even though it'd just been for eating.]
Yeah? Oh, so pretty substantial training if they put you to work at a hospital.
You... Hey, you don't have to answer this, but... how'd you get injured? What happened?
no subject
Date: 2024-01-07 03:19 pm (UTC)[Leon wouldn't be the first person that Thomas had told about his injury, yet he still hasn't revealed the whole truth behind it. That would take much more trust between them.]
I was in the trenches one night, trying to avoid enemy fire. It was dark so visibility wasn't so good. [Holding out his left hand, he shows Leon the half glove he wore on it.]
I thought I heard someone approaching so I got up for a moment to investigate. Then a bullet ripped through my left hand.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-13 06:17 am (UTC)[He glances up, realizing that might sound kind of insensitive.
He tugs at the collar of his shirt until he can pull it down enough to show Thomas his left shoulder, just under his collarbone, likely inches from his heart. It's a scar Thomas will likely recognize with ease. He'd taken a bullet there and the wound hadn't been properly seen to for a few days, so it'd healed messily.]
When you get hit it's like... It's like it takes a minute for everything to catch up. It's like the last thing your brain can comprehend is that you've been shot. I can only imagine that disconnect is that much more when you suddenly don't have a finger or something.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-17 07:10 pm (UTC)[Thomas says, watching as Leon shows him the scar on his chest. He looks shocked for a moment before he finds the words to say.]
That was close to killing you. I saw similar wounds on the front line, but sadly, not all of the men survived them.
As for myself, I was in shock for a while. I think I was lucky enough to not lose a finger, but even now, I still get pains in my hand. I also don't really show off the scar either - hence the glove. Over time, I have found it easier to talk about - in this city, not at home.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-23 02:50 am (UTC)[He swallows thickly, nodding, understanding the we gravity of what they're talking about all too well.]
I bet. There's no way a bullet goes through your hand and doesn't leave some stuff messed up.
[He nods with a grimace.] Yeah, I know what you mean.