been in pain like me;

“You’re obsessed with Halloween ‘nd everything fall related -- Sure. I get it, some people are obsessed with Christmas which sometimes is an overload but -- What I don’t get here is why you have to have an excuse to watch horror movies. Or, really -- Why is your hometown at fault?”

“Nope, just a pipe bursts infecting us all, y’know how it goes,” he shrugged nonchalantly, a sillent chuckle not leading too far behind. “I stayed at a hotel -- They knocked off the price a little bit for us but, I wasn’t wearin’ a mask for a few weeks.”

“Nope, just a pipe bursts infecting us all, y’know how it goes,” he shrugged nonchalantly, a sillent chuckle not leading too far behind. “I stayed at a hotel -- They knocked off the price a little bit for us but, I wasn’t wearin’ a mask for a few weeks.”

“Woah, well -- ‘m not sayin’ I’ve got that kind of power. Just pure luck ‘nd optimism. Enough to go around, certainly. Maybe I should big decisions, but not life or death ones... Maybe a new theme to my bedroom or, a new car. Oh! Maybe I should hire an assistant....”

“Its not about participating, I go, or at least in the past when I have, for the music, because you can’t go wrong with live bands. Plus some of the people who get up there and crazily talented. I just love hearing music. And to top it off, the place had some pretty awesome coffee, so two birds in one stone really.”

Devin listened to the other explain the mic night. Of course, as he mentioned, it wasn’t in his comfort zone but he didn’t need to participate either. “Well, if you’re ready -- I’d be more than willing to go watch some killer talent drinkin’ to coffee,” he laughed at the way he worded it. “Two birds with one stone,” he repeated with a light smile.

“Then that’s all the matters, right?” he smiled softly, brushing his fingers through his hair before pointing at it. “So, if I came in -- You’d take care of this mess?” he chuckled.

“Hmm, -- Maybe we’ve got to change that. Who knows, ‘m on a lucky streak.. Tonight might be the night,” he laughed, his tone rather hopeful for such a silly request. “Alright, I trust you.” Devin continued walking, taking in the scenery that was leading for wherever they ended up going.

Devin motioned with his head a few cars down at the black on the same side of the street as they had been. With his hands in his pockets, Devin raised a question, “Why won’t you be paying for the damage? You just bashed in the hood of your car.” Licking his lips, Devin canted his head to the side, “Well, your tone of voice, fer one was a given.”

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.” Zack replied cryptically, although he was almost certain that Devin was seeing right through his demeanor. When they had made it to the bar—only a couple of blocks from Zack’s place, Zack found himself a place at the bar as he hoped up on the stool. “I’m a radio host, you can’t out-talk me Devin.” He grinned softly as he waved the barkeep over, ordering a couple drinks to get them started. He felt that all too familiar tinge on his cheeks as Devin spoke—the wink at the end of it sealing the deal. “You think you’re smooth, don’t you?” Zack asked, his eyebrows raised at the suggestion. “I bet that’s the first time you’ve that line, is it?” He was joking, but part of him was curious, too.

Devin chuckled as his vision was fixed on the other, even through the busy strips of hundreds that they were sure they had passed from point A to point B. “You’re lucky I like you, otherwise; we’d be having a totally different conversation right now,” he grinned, playfully threatening Zack. “Radio host vs the stock broker -- I’d like to see who’d win that battle,” he confessed, grasping the drink that was laid out in front of him. “I thought we’ve been over this; I’m very smooth -- Suave smooth,” he chuckled. Devin shrugged his shoulders, as he previously pondered whether he had ever said anything like he just had, “Can’t say I have. Maybe a make me here ‘nd there but, --” Devin cut himself on the subject to raise his drink just so. “Cheers to what I believe will be a phenomenal night,” his smiled beamed.

“I plead the fifth.” Zack replied, shaking his head with a sly grin. He didn’t truly mean to make Devin sweat, but he couldn’t deny he looked kind of like a puppy dog when he was waiting on his answer. He placed his wallet in his back pocket as Devin spoke. “What am I good at?” He asked, pondering the question. He waved his hand dismissively as the other brought up music. “That doesn’t count, you already knew I played from when I told you last time. I’m good at…” He trailed off, thinking about it. What was he good at? “I’m good at running my mouth, I guess. I talk a lot sometimes. Uh… and I mean, I like to think I’m a pretty good lover? Does that count?” He asked a soft smirk growing across his features. “Nah. I don’t really know, besides playing guitar and talking a lot.”

“Oh no, -- You’re not gettin’ away with not answering my question,” he giggled unintentionally, preceding Devin to use the palm of his hand to cover his mouth. “You totally wanted to come with me all along ‘nd you used my convincing skills when they weren’t needed at all!” he shook his head with a grin resting easy on his appearance. Devin lead the way to the bar, thankful that there really never was one far no matter where they were; one perk of the perks of New York. “Alright, you’ll do all the talkin’ tonight -- That’ll surely show me up -- shutting up,” he smirked. His eyes adverting toward back to Zack, he just couldn’t resist, “It certainly wouldn’t be the first time you did so, lover,” he played, winking. 

Zack let out a soft chuckle as Devin gave him his terms. For one, Zack had to admit that he was pretty impressed. The way he just managed to turn on the charm like that—it was beyond Zack how Devin did it. Devin was always pretty charming, though. “Alright, alright!” He cried out, arms raised in mock defeat as he flashed as a wry grin. “You’ve got me. I’ll go with you. Although just between you and me—you had me convinced before you said anything. Let me grab my wallet.” As Zack grabbed a few things in preparation of leaving, he kept his attention focused on Devin. “You’re right, y’know. We do usually have a lot of fun together.” He was ambiguous on what kind of fun, of course, but that was part of it. “I’m game, but I’m not very good at pool—just warning you now.”

There was a moment that seemed much longer than actuality where Devin was dying to know whether or not he had convinced Zack to grab drinks with him. He would have come up with another reason for them to hang out, however he was truly glad that he hadn’t to put up too much of a fight. “Oh, psh -- That wasn’t very fair, huh? I bet you had all the fun watching me plead my case,” he rolled his eyes playfully, crossing his arms over the other. “We do have fun together, ‘nd tonight shouldn’t be any different.” The situation was a bit more relaxed than some of their other encounters so, it’d should be a laid back night, right? “What are you good at, Zack? Show me up; I’d like to see it,” Devin waved his index finger at him, “’Cept musically, we all know you’d slay my ass.”

“At best, I try to avoid those sorts of things as much as I can. I knew my workaholic personality would pay off someday,” he scoffed, rolling his eyes. “People are absolutely absurd,” he glanced over at the other, “All the wannabe artists in New York -- Jus’ tryna get attention.”

“I’m glad that you didn’t get pissed a few cars more ‘cause, -- You would’ve hit mine. But, by all means -- You hit your own car ‘nd then be pissed off later on that you’ve got to pay for the damage,” he shook his head a minimal few times. “What’s got a guy so pissed anyhow?”

“First of all, it’s gourmet pizza night—get it straight,” she said, biting playfully at his index finger. “Secondly, why are you risking our swanky life with online poker? I let you live me with me because I thought you would be responsible, Wallace!” She cupped his cheeks. “You can’t disappoint me now, I’m attached to you!”

“If you want to call the pizza that we get every week gourmet then, I suppose I can’t really stop you. Although the price we pay, you’d think it was some real gourmet pizza,” a toothy grin appeared to tag along with the brief chuckle that moved from his lips. “I was on a big winning streak for two weeks Mar, I can’t stop ‘till the luck runs out,” he admitted, shaking his head. “Oh, I never told you that I’d be responsible in all aspects. I pay rent on time, and I always make time for you, darlin’.” His hands rested lightly on his hips as she cupped his cheeks, “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“There was a gas leak from one of the pipes ‘nd it was super dangerous. It was like, walking on eggshells twenty-four seven. Had to like, wear a mask ‘nd shit if you wanted to stay in your apartment.”

“No, but you know -- At this rate, I might have a fair chance,” he laughed. “Y’know, maybe for nothing as serious as that but, definitely ready to make some big decisions.”

“Wait, -- Are you serious? You’ve never found the bar for you, that you pretty much always go too?” Devin was under the impression that everyone had that  experience. “I had it back home, I loved it,” he admitted with a wide smile. The male stood from his seat, and began leading the way to no certain destination. “I hope you know I have no idea where in the fuck ‘m going,” he laughed.