One In A Million

Whispered something in your ear It was a perverted thing to say But I said it anyway Made you smile and look away

He pours drinks one after another, keeping his smile alluring and encouraging his clientele. Hell, he’s having as much fun as his clients are, maybe even more despite him working in Sakura. He revels in their attention as much as he gives them what they ask for. Company, compliments, someone to listen to their woes, comfort, stress relief, whatever it is. When he works, he puts his all into it without hesitation or even taking a moment for himself.

Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby As long as you're with me, you'll be just fine Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby Nothing's gonna take you from my side

There are days when his clients asks for him outside of Babylon, either to fulfill some sort of fantasy or discretion; he never really questions it. He’s happy to indulge them and himself of the thrill that their requests bring. Taking them in seedy alleyways, an orchestrated pick up in a bar, a romanticized dinner, even college parties as a date, he’s been thrown into multiples of each, and he always fulfills them no matter what. In his arms and care, he makes sure that they are satisfied and happy before he parts ways with them. How else was he supposed to keep them wrapped around his fingers?

When we dance in my living room To that silly '90s R&B When we have a drink or three Always ends in a hazy shower scene

Wrapped up in his hoodie and his face half covered with a mask, he sits in a corner of the Lion’s Den, smiling as he follows the steps of a heroine and her friends on their quests of relinquishing a demon king trying to take their lands to rule over. He’s been engrossed in the series and had even found himself purchasing the box set of it later on after he decided it might be better to have some books in his place if he didn’t feel like leaving the comforts of his home

Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby As long as you're with me, you'll be just fine Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby Nothing's gonna take you from my side

His apartment’s a mess. Of course it is. He had barely slept in it due to his busy schedule and his free time had been spent outside because he didn’t want to deal with his mess, but today begins his decluttering, and hopefully he could finally finish unpacking all his things that were still left in boxes. It takes a few hours, with much needed breaks. He takes the night off, lets his employers know that he will take a couple of days off to recover and take care of some things at home.

And we laugh into the microphone and sing With our sunglasses on, to our favorite songs

Visión / Ilusión’s bustling crowd never fails to amuse him. On top of it being the middle of the week, the pool within the night club had amazed him and still does months later of living in the island. Upon learning of the club’s schedule, he had made it his routine to show up whenever the pool was open to the public; nevermind the cold outside, he always found a way to warm himself up within the club. Be it booze or another body, the club never failed him.

And we're laughing in the microphone and singing With our sunglasses on, to our favorite songs

Nathan wakes up from yet another dream, refusing to call it a nightmare, of the betrayal that pushed him to swear off falling in love. He stares at the ceiling of his apartment for a few moments before sitting up to take a swig from the bottle of whiskey sitting on his nightstand. He sighs as he puts the bottle back on the small table before slipping out of bed. He finds himself walking out into the small terrace in his apartment and looking out the marvelous view. It’s still cold out, but he didn’t care for the lack of his shirt, only wearing sweatpants as he looked up into the sky before closing his eyes. He takes the bite of the cold until goosebumps formed on his body and he was shuddering from whispers of the wind. He could feel the storm forming in his mind and around him, but he pulls himself back into reality, leaving the what-ifs to be blown away into the darkness of the night.

@khonshu-mp​

A few months ago.

Nathan had just arrived on the island, so it was only logical for him to check for job openings in the island. Surprisingly, to him, the island was packed with basically everything they needed, and he’s not entirely sure why that surprised him really. He’s living among deities for fuck’s sake.

Everything else aside, he had the choice to use the very expensive piece of paper that’s been framed and hung in his office area in the apartment per his mother’s instruction, but there was also the choice to do something he actually enjoys.

It took him some time to ponder his choices, but given his recent burn out from the biotechnology firm, the choice had been made for him and so he sought out jobs that were to his liking and piques his interest.

That’s when Sakura Lounge and Babylon’s openings captured his attention.

He was elated when he got a calls for interviews, but the first one he had gotten was for Sakura Lounge and he didn’t hesitate to schedule a time for an interview with them. What could go wrong, right?

On the day of the interview, he made sure to wear something he’d probably wear on the job rather than go for a business attire. It just didn’t feel right to him, but he still managed to keep some sort of professional look and stance as he came in to the establishment a good amount earlier than his set interview time. It could be a good opportunity to do some networking.

So, he made his way to the bar, but rather than alcohol, he opted for a virgin cocktail given that he does have an interview coming up soon. With a good look around, his eyes fixated on a man that seemed to be sitting on his own in the establishment. Shouldn’t he be entertained at this point already? he thought, given that he had noticed he had been the only one sitting alone in customer tables for quite a bit now. Hosts shouldn’t leave their clients alone for an extended amount of time.

After a quick look at his watch and finishing his drink, he told the bartender that he’ll be back as he slipped off his seat and made his way over to the man, a smile already adorning his lips as he approached the table.

@maibeemp

[ ✉️ → Sunflower 🌻 ] Im on my way over!

After picking out a few pastries and some slices of cake from Black Forest Bakery, he sent a message over to Mai, letting her know that he will be at her place soon. They had planned to meet after the blizzard and he would’ve offered his apartment if it wasn’t in such a state of disarray and he figured it’d be better for him to come over either way.

No one needs to see the sweet sunflower visiting him.

Nathan drove back to the residential area, parking his car in his spot before walking over to the Banshee Apartments to meet Mai. With the bags of goodies in hand, he made his way over.

@vulpe-mp

It wasn’t an unlikely meeting, really. Nathan had known that Vulpe taught at Zero to Hero, just that he didn’t go out of his way to find out when exactly. So, seeing him there when he was working out was still a pleasant surprise. 

Stares met, smiles exchanged, that was their passing until he finally caught him right in between his sets. He had managed to slip past Vulpe’s students leaving the dance studio and there didn’t seem to be people waiting outside so he assumed the other to be free, in which he then place his hand over his hip from behind and leaned to whisper.

@mpxcharlotte

Despite how he acted growing up, one of the escapes that remained in his life even into his adulthood had been reading. Books, he found, had been places he’d rather be in than reality. So he had been sneaking into the library in the island clad in clothes that would keep him hidden from sight. He doesn’t really let that side of him be shown to others.

So that’s when he found himself in Lion’s Den, sitting in a hidden corner of the bookstore, tucked in with a novel in his hands as he lets himself escape into yet another written world. This time he’s exploring Velaris, taking in the sights in his imagination alongside the characters of the book.

He had sat there for hours with a small stack of books beside him on the floor, going through one novel after another before he would bring them to the counter to be purchased. Though with the hours going by, it seemed that his energy had also come to pass with the time as he nodded off into yet another land, but this time in his dreams.

Nathan spent his holidays and an additional couple of weeks after the holidays in Taiwan, meeting old friends, clients, and of course, spending time with his mother. Most of his days out of the island were spend with her, taking her out and spoiling her as she deserves. 

He nearly didn’t return to the island, but has decided to still do so. Independency and all that, he says, but really it’s more so to run away from certain things. It’s one thing he believes he’s good at.

As he returned to the island, he’s feeling revitalized and ready to return to is new life. With his remaining time off, he decided to go out for drinks and spend the few evenings racking up more clientele at Sakura and Babylon. Talking people up and a few looks and compliments here and there, some smiles and looks to throw their way and that was it.

@vulpe-mp

The night had went on with the festivities, and despite losing his cloak to a sunflower maiden earlier on, he seemed to fair well with the chill in the air, even with the undone doublet that exposed most of his chest.

He had seen some familiar faces in the ball. Some co-workers, new found friends, some of his clients, and new faces he hasn't seen before. Some dressed so elegantly, some taking the easy route (he doesn't blame them because he kind of did, too), there were even some who looked quite accurate to their costumes.

Though one of the people that seemed to hold his attention a bit more than others that evening was actually one of his previous clients. He wore a black tutu that looked straight out of the stage of Swan Lake and he was accompanied by a girl in a white dress. Interesting, he thought. He had considered coming up to him to say hi earlier on, but he had gotten distracted by the fleeting people around him.

@maibeemp

Nathan had been greeting and smiling at the faces that pass by, hoping to maybe meet some more people to befriend or perhaps some more. Who knows? But his eyes seems to return to the girl wearing a flowy green sundress, wondering how she was able to handle the chill in the air. He watched her as she rubbed her arms from time to time, seemingly trying to keep herself warm. Cute, he thought before he finished his drink and placed the glass onto a passing tray as he moved from his spot.

He started unfastening the half cloak that he wore over his half done up doublet. She seemed to need it more than he does, so he comes up behind her and carefully draped the cloak over her shoulders as he leaned down to whisper. "Relax, you just seemed cold," he says softly before walking around to where she was seated and fastening the cloak properly on her. It easily covered her up and he smiles at her.

“Sorry to break your fairytale, Little Fox, but ballads don't end happily, and neither do the two of us.”