Eugene Cho

“I’ve been known to play music from any genre, I mean…if I can get my hands on the sheet music or hear the song enough times I can recreate it on my violin. But when I compose…I guess you would call it classical but I’m not near as presuptuous to assume that anything I make will be a classic ever. Mostly I just…well like I told you I see the world in a series of symphonies. So I take an emotion and just try to channel that through my music.” 

Dallas smiled and shrugged his shoulders slightly. “The same as what you do with a brush I’d imagine.” 

Eugene had settled into a sense of calm around Dallas that he struggled to find with anyone else. The only other time he felt this peaceful was when he was alone, painting. Even if there was a muse there to be painted, he was still alone in his mind with the art and himself. This felt very similar, though... not the same. Not in any way that was bad; just in a new, rather exciting fashion.

“Don’t sell yourself short Eugene, you’ve done well enough in your schooling to do this point to earn yourself the right to a showcase. Even if it’s a requirement of the school can you really say that every person who picks up a brush gets the chance to have their work displayed and celebrated like this.” Dallas rest his chin in his hand as he watched the other, a smile tugging at his lips softly and his eyes warm with encouragement. “If I thought you were just any artist I wouldn’t offer, but you speak with the same passion that I have for my music.” 

The Beta laughed lightly at the other’s embarrassment, not in a mocking sense, but just in a sense that he found Eugene just so…endearing. “A gala is a gala because of the people it attracts, and your passion deserves the proper audience.” 

Eugene chuckled softly and shook his head. “All of the seniors have to do a final presentation in their senior year. I just chose to do a showcase since it made the most sense for me.” But he supposed Dallas was right in some respect; not everyone who picked up a paintbrush had the skill to actually create with it. Even thinking that had him feeling bashful and a little guilty, however.

Dallas paused with his fork pressed against his bottom lip, eyes shining as he could already start to piece together how he could make the music perfect to go along with the pictures, linking together the power and the sereneness of the two pictures. He drummed his fingers on the table and then laughed softly, suddenly excited as he wriggled in his seats. 

“I didn’t think I’d get to have my pieces played for people after I wasn’t able to go to Julliard, but now to have it showcase right alongside a prominent piece of artwork, well that honestly just tickles me completely pink. I’ll have to invite some friends to this showcase so they can see the very good work we’re doing together, my friend.” 

Eugene blushed a new shade of pink when he heard the word ‘prominent’ used to reference his artwork. He shook his head modestly. “I dunno about that. It’s just a senior showcase. But...” Even his own insecurity couldn’t dull the shine in his eyes when thinking about the potential this held. “I think we can make something really special...” Something that perhaps Vollmond could use, considering the general unrest around town concerning social justice.

Ryan. The Omega leader who had no business being in charge of a pack, not really. Drew didn’t care that the rules seemed to be different here. It was a fact of life, of being a wolf - Omegas were smaller, easier to kill, able to carry pups. They weren’t born to lead. Alphas had the speed, the strength, the instincts to kill to defend their pack, and the Omegas he’d known weren’t capable of making the decisions that needed to be made, in the time they needed to be made. They were compassionate, they worried and cared for people, even those who sought to harm them.

“I do not work in bookstore.” He said, sipping his coffee. He couldn’t exactly say what he had worked as - he didn’t want to frighten the little wolf, after all. “I think about getting job. Coffee is good here.” He nodded, smiling at Eugene. “Need money for this.”

Eugene hummed softly, another little blush creeping onto his cheeks as Drew smiled at him. He liked the way the Alpha smiled. “Well,” He giggled a little behind his mug. “When I’m a famous painter and I need a body guard, I’ll give you a job.” He joked, shaking his head and blushing all the more at the mere thought of being even remotely ‘famous’. But the joke had made him think. 

Drew smiled, as the little Omega ordered cake for them both. “Spaseba, malenky volk.” He murmured, watching Eugene, listening as he spoke about his work, about art. Drew had never really gone for the kind of art that was in galleries - some he could appreciate, but some just seemed a little pointless. Still, seeing his new companion get so animated about it was entertaining enough. It was good to have passion, he supposed, if you didn’t have anything to stop you, things to worry about. 

He nodded his thanks to the waiter, taking a sip of his coffee, inhaling deeply. He’d missed coffee more than almost anything else in prison. He’d paid almost two thousand rubles to get some - and it had been terrible, but at the time it had felt like something glorious. “I do not have job here. Just move to here. Find pack.” He shrugged, taking a bite of the cake, and humming in appreciation. 

Eugene cocked his head to the side as the Alpha spoke a language he didn’t understand. He assumed it had to be Russian, since that was what the accent seemed like. The Omega had always had an ear for foreign languages, since his parents had spoken Korean at home for his entire life. But Russian was not one he had ever heard, and thus all the more interesting. 

“Of course I want to be a part of your showcase! Actually I find this to be a very outstanding opportunity. I quite like dressing like a woman, wearing make up and being admired it makes me feel happy, but it brings with it a lot of…preconceptions. I think when people see me in Drag they expect me to be soft and feminine, submissive even, and I’m not any of those things. I’m very brash and bold in my humble opinion and I don’t bow my head to anyone. It would be good for people to see that side of me even through the make up.” The Beta smiled. “I’m hoping that you can help me achieve that, and if you’re artist eye is as good as this conversation tells me it is, I’m sure you can do it.” 

He leaned back as their food was delivered, grinning from ear to ear. “For now though lets eat and you can tell me about the things that you’d like me to do for this modelling position, if you’ve got anything in mind.” He tucked into his plate. “If you want I would love to compose something to go along with the pieces.” 

Eugene nodded as Dallas spoke, imagining the pieces they could make together. It would be not only beautiful, but compelling and powerful, and pregnant with a timely and important message about the world they lived in. It would be real art. Art which spoke. He had always hungered to a chance to make a piece, or pieces, that mattered, and these could very well be the first to really do so.

“Rules? Oh honey, no no nothing like that…I don’t put rules on people that I’ve had scenes with. You’re my friend now, no rules should dictate a friendship.” Dallas rubbed a hand over the other’s hand gently, patting it softly and then leaning back to consider the modelling offer that has been brought up before hand. He clucked his tongue and then grinned at Eugene, eyes sparkling playfully. 

“I wouldn’t mind being the poster child for an exploration of androgyny, I mean I live my life straddling that line. So you’re saying one in full drag, one in boy clothes and one nude…that…that sounds like it would be really fun to be a part of actually.” 

Eugene nodded happily, feeling relieved that he hadn’t inadvertently done anything to make Dallas uncomfortable. Dallas had been so nice to him. They had such a good time during Eugene’s heat, and were having such a wonderful time now. The last thing the Omega would ever want to do would be to upset his friend. 

Drew joined Eugene in laughing, sitting back in his seat. He looked good in the Russian’s jacket. He liked it. It dwarfed the other wolf, but it was kind of cute. “Okay. I will not break.” He nodded, listening to him. 

It was a little hard for him to relate - he’d grown up fast, bringing up his younger siblings, and him being young and stupid had never really happened. Still, he could have sympathy for him. “Spaseba. I will have whatever you have.” He shrugged. “And is not yammering. Better than many conversations I had.” He had spent much of his time alone over time, especially just before coming here, but he didn’t mind company too much. “What do you study here?” 

Eugene smiled and nodded when the Alpha agreed to have a coffee, and he politely flagged down the waiter to order. “Can we have two cappuccinos please? And... two slices of the lemon cake? Thank you!” The waiter nodded and scurried off to fill the order and Eugene returned his attention to the man whose company he was now enjoying so thoroughly.

“You’re just too sweet for words, but hell if you don’t know exactly how to flatter me.” Dallas did color lightly, just because he was aware that he could be good looking didn’t mean it didn’t make him happy to hear it each time. He laughed lightly and ducked his head, curling his fingers around the hand reached out to him. “In or out of a skirt, or did you want a nude model?” His crooked grin said he was joking but his eyes were smoldering lightly in the dim lighting of the restaurant. 

The Beta lifted Eugene’s hand up to his lips, pressing a small kiss there before releasing his hand just in time for the sever to come by to take their order. He winked at the Omega before asking for whatever the chef recommended. That done he turned his attention back to his dinner partner. 

“I’m not used to getting asked on a date after a session with someone, this town is a nice change of pace.” 

“Hmm...” Eugene pondered the question very seriously, debating not as someone who found Dallas attractive, but as an artist looking to create something not only beautiful, but with a message. “Actually... all three?” He bit his bottom lip, the ideas beginning to swirl. “...would you be opposed to being part of a mini-collection? I would like to explore modern perceptions of gender and androgyny... You could really be perfect for a tri-piece mini...” His head was already swimming with palate choices and potential settings, and Dallas hadn’t even agreed. 

Eugene shook his head and smiled. “I mean, if you want. I’m still just a student so I can’t really offer you a lot for compensation but... if I am able to sell any pieces I could give you a percent?” That wasn’t typically the way artists and models interacted, but he only had meager spending money from the bookstore at his disposal right now.

“You should be.” He murmured, looking him over. “There is much about you that big bad wolves like me would like, if we got our hands on you.” He grinned at Eugene, running his tongue over his teeth. His smile faded, though, at the story the little Omega told, and huffed, growling. “He should not have done that.” If you were going to be with an Omega, that didn’t mean you were with them for life, but you didn’t leave them with no warning. He sighed, and shook his head, before looking up, and over at the counter. 

“You buying? I don’t know if you look in my wallet when you pick it up, but… I do not normally spend money on things like coffee.” He chuckled, softly, and shrugged again. “You should not be sad, though. He lose out. You want me to go break him in half for you?” He looked up at Eugene, grinning. “I give you head to mount on wall. Very good decoration.” 

The growl from the Alpha sent a chill down Eugene’s spine, though he wasn’t afraid for himself. He was afraid for whomever found themselves on an opposing side against the Alpha he was sitting with. He shrugged at the remark about Ezra, his ex, but shook his head and waved his hands when the other threatened to break him. “Oh no no no! That’s okay!” He laughed softly. 

“Yes! Oh It’s so nice to find someone that understands what that’s like! Like…I can look at the scenery and hear the music, the thrum of rhythm that courses through the world. The wind blowing through those trees are like the entire woodwind section warming up for an orchestra, the thunder percussion, and the rain falling the strings I…” 

Dallas paused in his monologue, laughing a little bit, voice pinched slightly with embarrassment. He tossed his head slightly, pushing bangs from his face and he sipped his soda. “It’s…been a while since I’ve found someone who can relate to the world like that…I’m sure your work is incredible, I’d love to see it sometime.” 

The Beta grinned, laughing softly. “And if you ever need a model from time to time…” 

The more enthused Dallas became, the more Eugene subconsciously mirrored the excitement. He shook his head when the Beta stopped, and reached out for his hand. “No, no! I understand!” He insisted, nodding as he grasped Dallas’s hand. “It’s so amazing to meet someone else who gets it! Even the other art students look at me like I’m crazy when I say sunshine smells like oranges. But you get it!”

“You will find someone.” He said, shrugging. “There are bad people in the world out there. People who look at someone sweet like you and want to take bite. Not in good way.” People like me. He grinned at the Omega.

“Thank you.” He smiled at the compliment. “I draw it myself, and a friend tattoo it.” He brushed his fingers over the ink. It was in memory of his mate, but it was a happy memory. He missed Vadim greatly, but that wouldn’t bring him back, and he knew being angry about it wouldn’t help. Vadim wouldn’t want him to be angry forever. “What happen in tattoo parlor?” He asked, tilting his head. “I have time for long story.” He folded his arms, watching the other wolf. He had nowhere else to be, and he was enjoying the company, and the scent of the little omega. Perhaps he’d find somewhere for them both to go back to - if he’d been there for a while, he would have digs, presumably. It had been a little while since he’d had any action - he’d had a little group of Omegas in prison, but since then it had been one-night things that weren’t always satisfying. 

Eugene reached for his half-empty coffee and took a sip as the Alpha spoke. “Oh, I know.” He assured him with a nod. “I’ve met some. But I’m not scared of them.” He never particularly thought of himself as a target for those sorts of people. He was small and wimpy and non-confrontational. He wasn’t looking for a fight, and he wouldn’t be any challenge or fun for anyone. In his youthful naivety, he thought that was somehow enough.

Drew nodded. “You should not travel alone. America is a beautiful place but also dangerous for cute little Omegas.” He grinned at Eugene, and chuckled, softly, along with him. “You should do this. Travel. See things that are not this place.” He gestured around, looking at the other patrons briefly, before turning his attention back to the other wolf.

“I draw.” There hadn’t been much more to do in prison, reading, fighting, and the labour assignments that kept them busy most days, but still there was time to fill, and he’d never been religious, going to Mass purely to stay under the radar. “Not so good as you, maybe, but I draw some. Keeps me busy, you know? A hobby.” He tugged his shirt aside, exposing the mating scar on his shoulder, and the tattoo just under it. There were others, stick and poke tattoos, mostly in Russian, if they were words at all, and numbers, symbols, on his forearms, but he hadn’t drawn those. 

Eugene chuckled softly and bowed his head down at the compliment of being called ‘cute’, but he couldn't keep his gaze there long, drawn back up by the inviting smile from the Alpha. He was even more handsome when he smiled, and not half as frightening-looking. But Eugene always had been attracted to those that were the polar opposite of himself. He knew he would always be ‘cute’, not to mention shy and perceived as ‘innocent’. Yet he always ended up liking Alphas that gave off a distinct ‘bad’ vibe, at least if his dating history was anything to go by.