beauty & grace

August sighed at his response, but he didn’t argue. He could barely even convince himself. “Yeah well, let’s just get trashed,” he shrugged, pushing past Kasper and through the doors to the bar, handing over his ID upon entrance.

“For the record, it doesn’t much matter to me. Labels only belong on clothing, babe. I read that on a poster once and fell in love. Terrible cliched, but life changing.” Kasper slid on by the other as his hand just so happened to graze the against his hip. “You stop for them?” He asked, paying the bouncers no mind as they nodded him in. Being a regular certainly came with it’s perks, well as many as a guy could get whilst still near campus. “So. A few shots, great company, what else are you going to gift me with tonight?”

“Not sure,” he shrugged indifferently, placing his hands down firmly in his pockets. “I’m… straight. Just for… to clarify,” he said, even though he knew his words weren’t entirely convincing. He didn’t really know if he wanted them to be.

Kasper said nothing at first at the revelation and looked from August to the bar a few times before finally smirking. “Try it with some conviction next time.” It would take a lot to set Kasper on another course once his mind was set. “You almost had me convinced.”

“How about a good old-fashioned subject change!” August suggested, eyes glued on Kasper for a moment before focusing on the steps he was taking. Augusten rolled his eyes, shaking his head at his words. “You’re relentless,” was all he said, biting his bottom lip to stop a smirk. He glanced over to him when he felt his arm against his own, nodding his head. “I’m going to need a shot to warm myself up, honestly.”

“Hm... Not my first choice of things to do.” He replied quickly. “Why do I get a feeling that you say that like it’s a bad thing.” Kasper remained close, their steps in sync and for him, the weather ignored. The harsh weather only really ever went to soothe him. “Shots? That’s one way of going at it. I’d offer something now, but I can only assume that you’d end up walking into a wall before I even finished my sentence. I refuse to injure that pretty face.”” 

“I don’t think I want to know what you’re thinking,” he said, making his way in the same direction, unsure why he wouldn’t just turn around and go home. “More the vodka type, myself. But I’m not particularly picky,” he replied, crossing his arms to shield himself from the cold. 

“Are you sure about that? I don’t quite believe you.” Kasper spoke his mind, as always, and kept his pace slow enough to fall in step with the brunette. “I could be talked into one on the rocks. Then again I’m sure there is little you couldn’t talk me into. I’m quite the adventurous type when a pretty face is involved.” He caught the move and stepped closer, using the guise of warmth to brush their shoulders together. “Just round the corner, fancy.”

“You keep bringing up this drink I knew nothing about. But fine, I’ll take any excuse for drinks, Just don’t get any ideas,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “Also, please warn me before getting in my lap.”

“The one you’re clearly excited for. Ideas? Don’t try to censor me. My mind is quite the exciting place. If you could see what I’m thinking..” he purred, turning sharply towards the on campus bar. “Why, so you have time to adjust? Boring, and I’ll make no such promise. What’s your poison of choice? I’ve always been a scotch fan. There’s something to a drink that’s both harsh but goes down smoothly.”

“That’s a new one. I wasn’t thinking the ghost until now, more the African YouTuber. Kasper it is. Do you usually flirt upon first meeting? Or am I special?”

“I haven’t a single idea as to whom you mean. You can show me another time, perhaps over drinks. No, usually I’d be in your lap by now and then start flirting a little to cover my tracks. As for special.. I’ll let you know in a while.” Kasper grinned. “Maybe after that drink you were going to get me.”

“Yeah, usually only one sibling gets the good looks. Augusten. August, usually. No other month. Yourself?”

“Sarcasm suits you. Next time do it with your shirt off. August. I like the way that sounds, and yeah, most go with Kasper. Make any ghost jokes and I’ll have to start pouting.”

“Alright… great. Amazing. Got any sisters?”

“I do, but she’d eat you alive. Anyways, I’m the pretty one. What do they call you, fancy face?”

Are you actually friends with Kasper?

“Great, but how does that help me?”

“Clearly you’ll marry rich, which some might accuse me of being, and I’m quite charming. Painstakingly so. What more, aside from a good swat to the backside, could you ask for?”

“-- I think I just fell in love.”