King Phillip

97.86% of the time. You?

“Boycotting, huh? Everyone needs a supportive guy like you in their lives.” Alex shook the cell in his hand now, waving it slightly. “It’s too bad this isn’t your phone or I would have slipped my number in so we could keep in touch. I guess I can trust the universe to give us more run-ins though if it really is working in my favor.” Peering over at what Phillip seemed to be doing with his phone, he watched in silent interest until he had it back in his own hand. “The least you could have done was order me something, too. Guess I’ll just grab a donut or something from the bakery. I’ll get you one, too, if you really do decide to show up. If I don’t get lost again.”

“I wish. I didn’t think one was necessary considering the phone is always in my hands or pocket, but now I’m regretting coming to that conclusion.” Even with that out there, he still didn’t make any attempt to take it back, still amused by the banter. “I’ll be sure to let everyone in the bakery know that you’re looking. Let’s just hope that doesn’t hurt your chances.” His delivery clearly still needed some work after-all. “Well, I was hoping to gas up the treats more than the people. That way they’d want them more. Maybe I should try a less insulting approach though.” Once the information that he needed was mentally locked in, Alex handed the stranger’s phone back. “Trade again? This time with names? Mine’s Alex.”

“And that’s the reason the universe brought you to me.” He nodded, proceeding to open the phone. Going straight to a food ordering app. “It’s not urgent.” Phillip waved it off. And he couldn’t exactly afford a personal-anything, at the moment, anyway. “Well, it worked for me. I’m going to be there your first day. And if you don’t get hired... Well, I’m boycotting.” He had just finished his food order when he looked up. Disconnecting the phone from the charger, Phillip handed it back to the younger male. “How am I going to tip my delivery person now?” He sat back after taking the phone he’d shared back. “Phillip.” 

“You plan on hanging out with me only for the holidays?” Nevada mused, shaking his head. “I’m hurt,” he exclaimed dramatically. “I live a couple blocks from here actually– not at all. Poochini is always worth it.” The older man shrugged, “I guess I got lucky in finding one that’s soundproofed– though, it was easy to partially soundproof my last one.” Nev smiled over at him, “I may need to be reminded,” he cooed, repeating his words from earlier.

“I haven’t finished watching it but it’s interesting so far. Maybe, we can watch it together. Hm? Like, old times,” he suggested. 

“Yes, with tea, of course. Just for you,” he crooned, nudging him playfully with his elbow. “It’s been about two years now?” Nev questioned, not quite sure how long he had been gone for. “Litle too long, I suppose.” The musician followed him inside the front gate and into the building. 

“And whenever one of us spontaneously invites the other over. Isn’t that our thing?” He chuckled, nudging Nevada back playfully. “I look forward to seeing it. When should I stop by?” He looked over. “Well, play your cards right, big guy, and I can give a reminder any time you like.”

Phillip smiled at the offer. He was a documentary guy. Usually serial killer documentaries, but the hotel history was just as interesting. “Let’s do it.” For a moment trying to remembered if they talked about films they were going to watch in the past, or if it was another false memory.

“It sounds perfect, then.” It felt like those two years had gone by fast, but it was quite a bit of time to be away. “What made you decide to come back? Or was that always the plan?” He asked curiously, heading towards the elevator.

“I can’t tell if you’re bluffing or not, which is why it’s a good thing I’m headed toward a bakery right now and not a casino, but I guess I’m not exactly the best at baking either, so maybe the universe was looking out for everyone in town with that favor.” The temptation to snoop through the phone in his hand to confirm the truth only intensified the longer that he held it, but as Alex watched the map app begin to work its magic he zoned in on what he actually needed from the device. “As appetizing as you look, I’m not so sure that you taste as sweet or hit the spot just as hard as what’s on this bakery’s menu. Hey, that’s not a bad pitch line for potential customers. What do you think? Should I use it on them if I get the job?”

“I usually am.” He voiced offhandedly, but didn’t confirm if he was or not in fact bluffing this particular time. Instead, picking up the stranger’s phone, he watched the screen light up with new life. “You have a passcode on this?” He asked, before even checking. Not because he was planning on snooping. He actually just wanted to order some food. “Well, that’s the real bummer. Because I was looking for a baker, myself. A personal baker.” He shrugged the idea off. “Sure, people usually love hearing that they don’t compare to baked goods. And I’m sure it’ll be true in most cases.” Phillip would totally choose a bakery treat over a lot of the people he knew, after all.  

“I hope that you would,” Nevada cooed, looking over at him. “You think I’m going to have enough fill of seeing you only once? I don’t think so,” he chuckled. “Though, I’ll have to come bother you at your place next.” The older man shoved his hands into his pockets, slowing his pace down to match Phillips as he fell into step with him. He could feel his shoulder brushing against his as they walked together. “Not all of them– “Got boring? Wait– massage therapist… I always knew you were good with your hands. You going to give me a little preview?” he teased.

“Oh– have you watched that new netflix documentary of the cecil hotel?” he questioned. “I still have that piano– it’s actually in my classroom, at the moment. I like to play little jingles for my students in the mornings to brighten their day,” he exclaimed. “Snake cafe? I have a friend who owns quite a bit of snakes…. I can pull a few strings and make it happen for you.” he mused. “No, I spent some time in California with my family and then, Washington with a good friend of mine.” He glanced up at the apartment building, pressing his lips together as he chuckled softly. “That is quite the graveyard,” he teased. 

“Of course not. We have St. Patrick’s Day, your birthday, Easter, and many other holidays to come.” He stated matter of factly, chuckling lightly. “You still live in the neighborhood? Or will I have to travel to come visit?” Moving around Chicago wasn’t that big of a task, but bigger than, say, walking around the corner. “Which I guess I can do, for Poochini.” Head tilted. “Where do you even find a soundproofed apartment? Or did you do it yourself?” He nodded. “I’m pretty sure I already have.” Giving Nevada a look while smiling. 

“I haven’t, but I know of the many deaths there.” Phillip mentioned, remembering his slight obsession with it a few years back. Even going as far as having spent a night there once, on a trip to LA before it had closed down. “Should I watch it?” It sounded like something Phillip could get into, but he wanted to hear Nevada’s opinion on it. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. Guess I can say I helped brighten people’s day.” 

“You would? With tea, instead of coffee?” Which Phillip preferred. An intrigue in his eyes. “How long has it been since you left town?” He was curious, since he couldn’t remember the exact time frame, but he was sure it was well over a year. He was sure that he’d already been fired from the magazine the last times he’d seen Nevada. A detail he didn’t share then or now. “Did I say graveyard? I meant ‘my living room’.” He chuckled, walking towards the front gate. 

He snorted, shaking his head. “Oh– yes, it was that five head of yours,” he teased, grinning across at him. Nevada pushed the door open, holding it open for Phillip before leading the way. “You’ll have to familiarize the way to my new apartment. It’s a little bigger than my last one, I wanted a little more room as my baby grand took up most of the space. And, there’s even sound proofing– that means no more pissing off my neighbors,” he mused. “So… Phillip, are you still in journalism?” He asked.

“I never had any cats but I think I do remember mentioning to you that I did have a cat at one time– I do miss having cats. There’s a cat cafe here in the city, I might have to pay a visit.” He thought to himself. “I did– I backpacked mostly, so, it was easier to travel with them at my side. Yes, I was in Europe mostly.” Nev quirked a brow, “Is this you telling me, that you want to see me naked again? You missed me that much?” he teased.

Phillip gave a similar chuckle, eyes fixed on the other. When he recalled their time together, Phillip could remember that Nevada had a similar effect on him. Easily being interested whenever the older male invited him over. Right from the start, it had been fun and alluring. “I will?” He raised a brow in question, eyeing the other, though his tone was light. He continued walking. “You mean your neighbors didn’t enjoy Beethoven’s fifth?” He took a turn. “I’m not. That got boring, so now I’m a massage therapist.”

He nodded, realizing it was a wrong memory. “Other than the one I gifted you.” He thought back to the toy. “Let me know when they open a snake cafe, I’ll pay that one a visit.” He joked, though the idea did seem appealing. Drinking his coffee with a bunch of slithering friends. Which is what he assumed a cat cafe was. “This whole time?” He made a stop, gesturing to his apartment building. Ie: not a cemetery. “Walked right into that one, didn’t I? I am a sucker for some interesting body art & scars.”

His eyes never left Phillip, studying the man before him as if he tried to place any noticeable difference from the last time he had seen him. “I can do that,” he hummed, his lips curling up into a smirk. “It was definitely that also along with something else but that’s only for me to know,” he teased. Part of him wondered what would have become of them if he had stayed around. “Come on…. Phillip– you should know better than to ask a man his age,” Nev chuckled, shaking his head. “36″ he answered, “Of course, I am.”

Nevada smirked as he leaned forward towards Phillip as the last piece was offered to him, taking it out of his hands with his mouth. After, he grabbed his bag and stood up. “Poochini! That’s it– well, I have another dog now too and her name is pawarotti,” he mused, smiling over at him. The name was a take an another famous musician. “I might have a few tattoos– maybe, I can show the to you later,” he mused.

 Phillip couldn’t say he’d changed much physically since the last time he’d seen Nevada. The biggest changes in his life were his career, and so his lifestyle. “You can say it. It was my big... forehead. Wasn’t it?” He joked, giving a small laugh. Standing up to head towards the exit, he tossed his trash. “And you should know how curious I am.” Down right nosey, most of the time. “It’s totally working.”

“Guess you’re about to find out.” Which was a sort of terrifying thought as he watched the charger magically appear almost like a shovel ready to dig up dirt. “Just remember that I’m holding your phone right now, so if you become snoopy I’m becoming woodstock and joining with my own little search party.” He suspected there wasn’t much to find on either device other than maybe a couple of sent or unsent nudes, but the threat still brought him a little amusement. “You know, I did consider that the universe was trying to tell me something, but I thought it was something more along the lines of how irresponsible I was. But maybe that message was more for the guy who was considering hiring me.”

“My phone? That isn’t my phone.” Eyebrow quirking, like he couldn’t understand how the stranger came to that conclusion. Though considering it had come from his pocket, anyone would assume so. “Why would I give you my phone?” Head tilting. “Either way, don’t make any conjectures based on whatever you find on it. Or do, might make me look more interesting.” He shrugged. “That’s not the universe, that’s just shitty luck. The universe only works in ones favor. For example, taking two lefts and a right to run into me.”

“It’s a bummer that phones that don’t need a charger aren’t a thing in this century, isn’t it?” The retort was followed by a small sound of laughter as he lifted his hand to show the man the dead device in it. “Want to trade?” With another breath of laughter, he accepted the help by taking the phone from the stranger’s hand to quickly check for coordinates. “Was so nervous about this job interview that I’m going to that I guess I left the house a little unprepared. I could have sworn that right before the phone died it told me to take two more lefts and a right, but I don’t see a single bakery in sight so maybe it was two rights and a left?”

Phillip closed his magazine, leaning forward. “Sure, I’ll trade.” He took the other’s phone, though he knew it hadn’t been serious offer. “Got anything juicy in here?” After all, a dead phone could easily be brought back to life. All Phillip had to do was connect it to the charger near by. Which he did next. If only so the guy could leave with some battery in it, and Phillip could do a good deed that didn’t require he left his current seat. Everybody won. “Could just be the universe telling you that this job’s not meant for you, or whatever.” He replied nonchalantly. “Did you think about that?” He raised a brow in question.

“You know that’s nothing new, Phillip.” He mused. “–and you know, I’m shit at baking,” Nev chuckled softly, shaking his head. “So, I would if I could but… that’s what I had you for. You always seemed to be bringing me those– you know, now that I think about it. I think you were trying to fatten me up,” he teased. “Not until April but that’s not too far away,” Nev answered. “Well, if it was anyone, I’d only want it to be you.”

“Is that so? I’d love to join” Nevada hummed, smiling across at Phillip. “I’ll happily bring my shovel,” he joked teasingly. There were so many good memories with Phillip, that’s all he could ever recall knowing there wasn’t a bad one with him. “You’re not wrong– I’m sure the dog would be excited to see you again,” he cooed. The man gapped, staring across at Phillip. “Goatee? Those are fighting words, Phillip. I hope you’re prepared,” he teased, reaching up to rub his fingers over his beard, knowing that Phillip knew he’d never hurt a fly.. “I hope you know I’ve been working on this for a long time, I even trimmed it before coming back to the states.”

Phillip’s eyes wandered away, as if in thought. “You might have to refresh my memory...” His voice lingered. “Was it my beguiling personality and company, or something else that also lured you in?” A light chuckle escaping him. He nodded, bits and pieces of old conversations coming back to him, and internally questioning if he could trust his memory, either way. “Yeah, that was the plan all along.” He nodded, chuckling. Suddenly, Phillip remembered sharing a bag of treats, Nevada on his lap, and how it felt like ‘their thing’, at the time. “April. Right, how old are you turning?” He chuckled. “Oh, now you’re just trying to butter me up.” 

Nevada knew that there would always be lingering feelings for Phillip even after all this time. He had never quite confessed his feelings back when they were really close because he was content with the relationship that he had. The man had been through enough heartbreak and he didn’t want to lose Phillip in the midst of it all.

“I am back to teaching,” Nevada nodded, reaching in to take a sweet before popping it into his mouth. “Well, you can catch me here nearly every morning. Oh– you know it won’t take much to lure me into your cave… desserts or not. I’d happily follow,” he teased lightly. “Still doing sacrifices– I knew you always liked me because you never offered me up for one,” Nev mused lightly. “Alright, buffy– the next time you’re hanging in a cemetary… let me know, I’ll come join you.” He quirked a brow when hearing that Phillip had sold the yacht. “No kidding? Looks like I’ll have to bribe someone else to take me out on the waters,” he teased lightly. “well…. nothing last forever. You can say that good memories were made on the yacht… it’s not like it had ever came as a waste.”

The older man leaned back into his chair as he gazed across at Phillip, taking in the sight of the man as he studied his features. “You look good…. it’s really good to see you.”

“Right. Hard to teach when you’re... ‘here and there’.” Using Nevada’s words. He knew there was more to the story, but he wouldn’t ask. Not right away, anyway. “That’s how much you like the treats, huh? Have you ever considered making them yourself?” A similar teasing tone. “And I didn’t know that, but now I’m curious to try it. Isn’t your birthday coming up?” He raised a brow. “Occasionally.” He waved it off. “And maybe that was the plan all along.” A light chuckle at the joke. “Maybe I was saving the best for last.” It almost felt like they’d had a similar conversation before. Or maybe it was just the feeling that came from talking to someone he’d known for so long. 

“I wasn’t aware that you enjoyed spending leisure time at a cemetery, but I’m headed there for a bit, today.” He mentioned. “In case you want to join me.” Why not continue catching up? He thought. “If I remember correctly, the best memories were at your place.” Phillip put another bite-size piece of the treat into his mouth, looking right back at Nevada. “You look good, too. Miss your cute little goatee, though.” He added with a small chuckle.

“Did he ask first, or did he just go for the hug?” Sev raised a brow. He wasn’t put off by hugs, but he definitely wasn’t up to the idea of a total stranger that he didn’t click with touching him. “That just… no..I couldn’t. I feel for you.” A chuckle. “My name is Seven. Most people just call me Sev for short, though.”

“I don’t remember. I just know that was the last time I’d agree to a date with someone just because they gave off hot serial killer vibes.” He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t into it. Minus the whole mom thing, of course. He took his drink from the bartender with a ‘thanks’. “So, Seven, tell me more about yourself. If your date decides to kidnap me so he can have you to himself, I want to be able to sell my part.” 

Seven appreciated the act that the other man went along with, as he didn’t have to. At the question, he ran his fingers through his hair before answering. “We didn’t vibe well. He had some opinions on things that I didn’t agree with and started to get angry as heck that I kept turning him down for a night cap.” He explained. “Like, why would I want to go home with someone I wasn’t vibing with?”

"Sounds like this guy I went out with once. He thought it was acceptable to hug me at the end of the date.” Which was something only Phillip would be put off by, but it was like an awkward Voldemort hug. “Talked about his mother way too much. Total Norman Bates vibes.” He shrugged, looking back to Seven. “So, what’s your name?” 

His ears perked up to the familiar voice, turning his head to spot one of his favorite people that ever came to living in Chicago. “Phillip,” Nevada breathed. He could feel his lips curling up into a smile as he remembered back all to the times that he had spent with the younger man. There were Crème brûlée bites, ones he swore Phillip only ever bought to bribe him with. Next, was the cat piano that played soft meows that he received from him for his birthday (he still owned the children’s piano.) There was even a box of toys that was given to him on that same day only for the items to be used later that night. It was a good birthday and honestly, Nevada really hadn’t had a good birthday since then. “Well… you know, here and there,” he mused lightly and decided to take a seat across from him. “Oh, I sent plenty of smoke signals… I just must have been too far away for it to reach you,” he answered. Of course, he peeked across the table to see what kind of goodies the other hand. “What have you been up to?”

Phillip smiled as the other looked over. He remembered the numerous special occasions they spent together. Like Valentine's Day evening. With baked goods and music, getting to know each other. Phillip could still recall falling for him during this time. This all felt like a lifetime ago. Nothing was the same in Phillip’s life. He did think fondly of Nevada, though. The older man was the first guy he got that close to, since his early twenties. Even to this day, he had not gotten as close to any one. Not that he was complaining, but they were nice memories. 

“Still teaching?” He leaned forward, offering the bag of dessert to his new companion as he peered at the bag. A small chuckle left his lips. “Probably, I’ll make sure to come visit this place more often so I can see you, again. Or, I can lure you into my cave with some of these.” A cave was what his new career felt like, since it was far less glamorous than the magazine. “The usual. Satanic sacrifice, cracking spines, hanging out in cemeteries.” His voice lingered. “Sold the yacht.” He mentioned regrettably.