░ ★ LOVE ME DEAD ☆

   it honestly shouldn’t surprise him anymore, seeing caspar’s hand extended, bills at the ready between his fingertips. it’s practically the only way he sees caspar, really, or it would be if he had anything to say about it. avoiding the flirtatious regular outside of work hours is the best chance elio has of up-keeping his self-imposed rule not to take things too far with a customer. it isn’t for any moral disinclination towards sex outside of the workplace but, rather, a necessary compartmentalizing that keeps the two facets of his life completely separate. caspar just happens to be someone he dabbles with both day and night which is a dangerous game for elio to allow. knowing it’s not just a simple tip he’s being given, aurelio turns a coy glance at the familiar face, arching a brow with a practiced nonchalance. deft fingers pluck the wad of cash from his patron, tucking it under the strap of the rather useless suspenders clipped to his tiny shorts. there’s a thrill to it all, knowing he can be looked at but not touched. he does the touching, thank you very much. his hands grip the back of the cushy arm chair caspar has selected and he effortlessly positions his body close enough to tease without missing a single beat of the music. there are some obligatory catcalls and what elio likes to think of as wistful sighs as he leans down to let his attention fixate on the highest bidder. “what will it be today then, gorgeous?” he drawls, letting his accent come on thicker than usual. the glittering smirk remains firmly in place, a testament to the control he has over this situation despite the way immediate adrenaline races through his heart. 

“the boys, mostly.”

“not to boast but i already live my life somewhat shamelessly. i am happy in my chosen profession and do not mind the judgement that comes along with it. if someone wishes to comment, that is a reflection on their own misplaced preoccupation with the lives of others.”

“anyone wyatt likes – no more, no less.” // @whyctt

“c'est la vie. it is overused, mostly. as much as i believe in a laidback lifestyle, it feels almost too passive. some things you just have to do for yourself instead of just shrugging it off because that is life.”

“ it is not a religion but i think i would like to experience the life of someone who practices meditation and deep breathing and all of those zen lifestyle choices. it just must be nice to be at peace with all things and have your affairs in order. sadly, i cannot relate. ”

“wyatt, most definitely. he is one of my oldest and dearest friends and has yet to tire of hearing about my exhausting romantic escapades. i know he would have my back in times of monetary, emotional or interpersonal troubles. he is my person.” // @whyctt

“other people paying for food. as much as i want to be chivalrous and offer to go dutch at least, i am too broke and hungry to even entertain the thought of turning down free food.”

“siblings? no, i kid, i kid. i do not believe it classifies as mild but moving from france was absolutely an injustice.”

    he can recognize the miscommunication almost instantly. last time they’d properly interacted, aurelio was living elsewhere with his now ex boyfriend. he’d made sure to boast how happy and in love they were back then and, apparently, gus presumes their commitment levels to one another would match that honeymooning mindset. it also tips elio off to gus’s lack of interest in keeping up with his socials -- he’s pretty sure he’s tweeted about the breakup more often that he’d tweeted his celebrity crush trying to get a follow. elio could correct him; he could casually mention that he’s single and leave things at that. however, even this short exchange has proven that there’s still an icy chip on aurelio’s shoulder over the way things between them had ended and so it has him feigning a smile and nodding as though he hadn’t just answered a ‘wanted roommate’ sign posted down in the apartment lobby one of the times he visited wyatt. “it has been really exciting,yeah -- though most of that first month was spent settling into a new place. it is not surprising you and i haven’t seen much of one another.” and gus would never see elio’s  ‘boyfriend’ around, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. or maybe it will to an extent. he quite likes the thought of gus thinking of him in some fairytale relationship and maybe imagining the way things could have been. “i kind of forgot you lived here too, honestly.” another lie -- elio’s on a roll. “you remember wyatt?” aurelio had befriended wyatt around the same time him and august were really getting close, after all. “he’s in the building as well.”

    elio pulls a face but only because it’s what’s expected at the over the top kiss to his face -- it practically echoes! he mirrors the sound of the sigh that follows and presses his face into wyatt’s chest sweetly before tipping his head to rest his chin against his friend’s sternum. it’s the only position in their cuddle that allows him both the closeness he craves and the ability to read wyatt’s expression. “that will never do,” aurelio scolds with a momentary crease to his brow. “if you have no feelings, how will you love me? i do not doubt that there is a procedure with something akin to emotion numbing side effects but, morally and medically, i must object.” he tilts his head to press his cheek to wyatt’s heart before continuing, lashes fluttering shut. “tell me what heaviness weighs down your soul? please. i will not experience joy until you allow me to help.” he pries his eyes open as he waits, gaze flickering over wyatt’s features to try and discern his problems before he even speaks them.

    “do you typically do the laundry of your one night stands?” aurelio balks. he supposes he could have played up the theatrics -- made up some stud he’s got a thing with that apparently includes trips to the laundry room for how comfortable they are with each other. he doesn’t know if ‘things’ like that exist but all that would matter would be that august believes it. he wasn’t quick enough on his feet though and, besides, it’s easier to scoff and roll his eyes than it is to elaborate on his response. he’s not quite looking at august. around him, near him, but not directly at him. for as much as he was aware of his ex’s presence in this apartment complex, that didn’t take the sting away from seeing him. “december-ish; not too long ago.” aurelio isn’t sure why he gives an honest answer. it’s not as though he owes gus any sort of explanation. when he can peripherally see that the other isn’t looking at him, he lets his gaze refocus on the former object of his affection. it feels like it’s been an eternity -- august looks different. more mature, maybe. he could just be tired; aurelio knows he feels the same way. things feel heavier now that they aren’t together. “right,” he keeps his voice clipped but holds out his hands to accept the change. there’s no offer to pay him back. he supposes he’s owed at least the pocket change. “merci.” fingers curl into a fist and he steps back, letting an awkward silence lapse between them. he’s quick to call them both out on it, though, arching a brow as he turns back to his laundry. “this will not get weird for you, will it? me being here?” here being mulberry -- but it could also just mean the laundry room.

“i let myself fall in love. no, no, i’m kidding with that aesthetic tumblr bullshit. i know the skateboarding and chain-smoking may imply i’m a bad boy but, really, i’ve not done anything all that dangerous. getting drunk on rooftops and some casual street racing with friends is as close as i get to real danger. sorry to disappoint.”