#quintobatch

Stranger: Well, you know I'm not going to let you escape town without seeing me. -ZQ

You: I wouldn't even dare to think about it. I was going to ring on you tomorrow morning to see if you would like to have brunch, or rather lunch, with me. -BC

Stranger: I would love that! Sounds fantastic. -ZQ

You: I didn't know you would be up this late. I'm glad that you texted me. -BC

Stranger: I'm glad you responded. It is kind of an odd hour. Apologies. -ZQ

You: Oh, no. I've actually just arrived to my hotel. I was going to hop into the shower or bath. -BC

Stranger: I hope they at least put you up in a nice hotel. -ZQ

You: They did. It's rather nice. The beds a bit big though. -BC

Stranger: Hotel beds always are. They presume you're going to whisk someone away up there. Any plans to, by the way? Anyone romantic interests? -ZQ

You: Oh, no. It hadn't crossed my mind to be honest. I don't think I will be whisking someone away. -BC

You: And you? Any romantic interests as of late? -BC

Stranger: Things haven't been going so well on that front lately, I'm afraid. -ZQ

You: Oh. No... I'm sorry, love. Would you want to talk about it? -BC

You: Or possibly go to a pub and drink over it? -BC

Stranger: Second one sounds a bit better. -ZQ

You: Name the place and I'll meet you there. -BC

Stranger: You sure you're up for that? You did just get back to your hotel. -ZQ

You: I am more than sure. -BC

Stranger: You're amazing. -ZQ There's a place called O'Neill's just off second street. It's pretty quiet. Meet there? -ZQ

You: Yes. See you soon then, yeah? -BC

Stranger: Of course. -ZQ

You: [No Response] Benedict set his phone down and looked around his room before moving to the small suitcase at the end of his bed. He hadn't even gotten as far as unpacking yet, not that he cared. Seeing the Zachary Quinto was far better than putting away his silly wardrobe. Slipping out of his current clothes, the brunette called a taxi, pulled on some jeans, a shirt, and a jacket before deeming himself worthy. He waited until he was notified by there being a cab before he made his way to the lobby. Ten minutes later he was walking into the pub, scanning the crowd for his friend.

Stranger: Zachary didn't know where Benedict was staying while he was in town, but he hoped the place he picked wasn't too far away from where it was. He would hate for the man to have to go out of his way at such an odd hour at night just to see him because he was feeling a little down. Getting dressed, Zachary grabbed his phone and a scarf and pulled on his jacket before heading over to the pub. It was somewhere they wouldn't be recognised, thankfully enough. When he got there, it wasn't hard to spot Benedict among the patrons, and he smiled a bit to himself. "Hey there, stranger," he greeted, tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.

You: Sitting at a small booth towards the back with a pint, Benedict twiddled his thumbs together beneath the table while he waited. The song playing in the background was catchy and the place wasn't overly packed. It was rather nice, cozy, but not /quaint/. No. Most certainly not quaint. It was just a bit too large to be so, but it was indeed relaxing. It was while he was going over the tracks of music he'd heard while waiting that Zachary came upon him, almost starling him had he not been used to such sudden appearances. "Zachary!" He exclaimed excitedly, immediately moving to stand. "It has been such a long time since we've seen each other." He stated as he moved in to hug the man.

Stranger: "Too long," Zachary said with a bright smile as he hugged him back, moving away to smile at him, letting a hand rest on his cheek for a brief moment. He was thankful that the man had chosen the somewhat secluded booth at the back, it was comfortable, he thought. When he pulled back from the hug, he moved to sit down, gesturing for Benedict to do the same. "I really appreciate your coming out here," he was sure to say as he took a seat and got comfortable, pulling off his jacket and untying his scarf, letting it hang loosely around his neck. "It was very kind of you," he said with a small nod. He felt that he needed to see Benedict, he always cheered him up. He was just a very uplifting person to be around. "So how have you been?" he asked politely.

You: He leaned into the touch without a thought, just enjoying the contact and nearness he was granted. He truly did enjoy Zachary's company. The man was intelligent, humorous, and very insightful. He enjoyed conversing with the other actor and he always seemed to leave their discussions with a smile. "It has been too long. However, there's no need to say all that. Really. I would come if you called at an even later hour or if you were miles away. I don't mind. Not one bit, Zachary." He chuckled before leaning forward in interest. His full attention was focused on this one man, his cerulean gaze bright with mirth and pure happiness from simply being around the man. "I have been... Rather busy. One movie after the other, but I adore it. I'm doing well. And how are you?"

Stranger: Of course, Zachary knew about how busy Benedict had been. He was following everything he was doing, and had seen every movie he had been in since Star Trek (at least all that were released thus far), as well as having looked in to what he had starred in prior. He had grown fascinated by the man's raw talent and almost ethereal qualities. They made him incredibly unique and made him stand out in the best of ways. He also appreciated that he was so caring and down to earth. He felt honoured to be receiving his attention, he really did, and smiled when he said he didn't mind coming. "Fairly well, I suppose," he said with a slight sigh. "I haven't done too much since Star Trek, but I didn't rise to popularity like you," he said good-naturedly, giving Benedict a playful nudge. "Things haven't been all too fantastic in the way of personal life, though," he admitted.

You: "Oh, come now! You've become rather popular, and you just did the Glass Menagerie, which I heard was brilliant. I wish I had been there to see." He spoke, saddened by having been unable to support his friend and fellow actor. He'd wanted to come, but by the time he was able to take a break and get the flight times all in line, it would have been much too late. Shame at that. Running his fingers through his hair as he used the other hand to drink his pint. At the remark of his personal life not doing well, he frowned and set his beer down. "No? What's wrong...?" He inquired, leaning forward to look the other over. Was it a romantic issue? Which seemed to be a shame... The man was so lovely. Of course, it would be different.

Stranger: After taking a long drink of the pint that he had just recently ordered, Zach gave a slight sigh and absent-mindedly adjusted his scarf. "I've just been facing a lot of rejection lately," he admitted. He knew that it was sometimes difficult being famous and finding love, even more so when being gay was added to that, but he didn't think that would warrant so much rejection. He just wasn't having any luck. Any man he was interested in was either taken or straight, half of whom were very rude when telling him so. He had been met with a good deal of adversity, and a few encounters that just weren't fun. "It's been troublesome to say the least, finding a man who's interested in me," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I just feel kind of lonely."

You: Benedict could understand the feeling of being alone. After Olivia, his dating was rather sparse, or entirely nonexistent. He couldn't really keep anyone with how busy he was either and it just seemed everyone wanted a piece of his career. After so many mishaps, he'd simply stopped looking. Well, it was more so that he'd stopped going after someone and just simply admired from afar. Frowning the further Zachary spoke, the, currently, brunette nodded along and then opened his mouth to say some uplifting advice. It just didn't quite come out that way. At least it was nice. "Rejection? You're so very handsome and incredibly attractive." He fawned, eyebrows drawing together. I can't quite fathom."

Stranger: At the compliments, Zachary gave a smile. "I suppose it is partially my own fault," he said with a slight shrug. "I have been somewhat picky of late." He tried to tell himself it was because he wanted to find someone to settle down with, and while that was the truth, it wasn't wholly the truth. "I've been interested in one man in particular, and everyone else just sort of pales in comparison," he admitted. "The trouble is, though, the ever so cliché 'I can't have him' scenario. It's just kind of rough. I know it isn't healthy, but I compare him to every man I'm with," he said a bit quieter. "Not that that's the entire reason for my dating failure in this last year or so, but that's certainly part of it, and I can't deny that it is."

You: Part of Benedict softened at the smile, but the other part melted with just how smitten he was. Oh. He wouldn't dare say a word about it; not because of his image, mind, but because he didn't know what to do or if it was mutual. Yes. A crush. A romantic infatuation or interest. Just a small little niggling in the back of his mind that elicited heart throbbing motions and tiny grins at random moments of the day when thought of. He denied such a thing avidly, knowing it was very unhealthy, and it also... Tugged just a bit at his heart. The strings aching as they played the typical lover's song. "Ahhh... I've heard that it's easier to move on once you've admitted your feelings to someone. Perhaps you should take such a thing into mind...?" He suggested, coral lips pulling into a temporary frown. "That's a bit scary though.. Isn't it?"

Stranger: "Really scary," Zachary agreed with a nod. He had encountered scary situations in the past that were similar, but none that frightened him quite so much as the one he was confronted with that time. "Especially considering he is, at least to my knowledge, straight. He's only been known to date women. Not that that's really telling of much, but it's still something." Knowing that he was straight just made things that much harder, that much more difficult to face. He wanted to get it out there, he really did. A few times, he had considered it. A few times, when he and Benedict were together and had been having a particularly nice time, he almost felt comfortable enough to tell him, but then something would deter him, some little pessimistic voice in his head would make him decided not to, and he would never get it out.

You: Sighing, Ben brought his pint to his lips and took a deep swig before settling it down and crossing his arms. "What about liquid courage then, hmn? Get a bit drunk and... Tell him. Or... Send it through a text. I mean, there is the chance that it might be mutual or that he may like you. One can never know with romance." He spoke, eyebrows drawing together. "I mean, you already expect rejection, yeah...? Horrible as this is going to sound, what could happen? He rejects you, but then it sounds as if you already expect that... So what have you got to lose?" He questioned before taking another drink. Horrible advice, but he told himself if Zachary could confess to the man he liked, then so could he... He could do it. He just had to... Get a bit of courage.

Stranger: Nodding at Benedict's words, Zachary followed suit and took a long drink of his pint. He paused a moment before taking another, downing almost the rest of it on one go and waving the waiter over for a second round. "I suppose you're right," he agreed. "The worst that can happen is exactly what I expect to happen." He was absolutely certain he was going to be rejected. "I disagree with your order there, though. I think tell him, then get drunk," he said. He would prefer it that way, so he wouldn't make a fool of himself in the confession, and he would still be given the chance to forget about the rejection he would inevitably face. He pulled out his phone, setting it on the table and taking a deep breath. "I'm going to text him," he decided with a firm nod. "You think?" he asked, faltering a bit and looking up at Benedict.

You: Right. So it was going to happen. He likely should do the same then. And Zach was right about the order of events, of course. "Yes. Well, if he's up, and you know he's up, I would call him... If not, a text is nice, but then... If he's not awake, you have to wonder and worry. Of course, you could get lucky and be able to sleep through the next text. Which then means when you wake up, you can see the response and fall back asleep..." He murmured, eyebrows drawing together a second time in obvious concentration. Seconds later he looked back at Zach and smiled. "Either way... It's good to get it off your chest and allow you the chance to move on. It might be some time if you're rejected, but... At least you said something, yeah?"

Stranger: For a long while, Zach sat in quiet contemplation, eventually giving a nod in response to Benedict. He weighed his options heavily. Either way, he knew the reaction was going to be immediate, and he wasn't sure which was going to be safer. He looked down at his phone for a long while in thought, biting his lip, idly fidgeting with his scarf. "I'm going to call him right now," he finally decided, downing the rest of his drink and picking up his phone. "It's now or never," he said, taking a few deep breaths to help calm himself down a bit. "I'm just going to go outside," he said, standing to leave. "Excuse me. This probably won't take too long. It's just a bit loud in here." He excused himself and headed outside. His heart as well as his mind were racing racing. Probably too slowly, he scrolled through his contacts until he came across Benedict's number. Pausing, he hit send and with a shaky hand, pulled the phone to his ear.

You: Watching Zachary go, Benedict wished the man the best. He wasn't petty, well he tried not to be. He hoped the other man on the line would accept the confession graciously and reciprocate. It didn't seem likely and the brunette just hoped the on screen chemistry between Chris and Zach clicked in a romantic sense. Because that was who it was, wasn't it? Straight, a good friend, having only been reported dating women? It sounded as if it were, but he certainly didn't know just how wrong he was. Hearing his phone go off, Benedict frowned and removed it from his pocket without checking to see who it was. Standing up, he gave it a few rings before answered, pressing the small device to his ear. "Ah, just a moment, love... I'm with a friend at the pub, let me just get outside." He spoke, already escaping through the door. He noticed Zach not too far away, and gave him an apologetic grimace before walking a bit away to take his call. "Sorry about that, dear. I'm able to talk now."

Stranger: At first, Zachary was a bit confused by the answer he got, but he quickly realised that Benedict must not have checked his phone when he answered. Zach gave a half-hearted, almost pained smile to himself at that, shaking his head. He turned away and took a few deep breaths, waiting for the go-ahead to speak before saying anything. "Benedict, it's me," he lead with. "It's Zachary," he clarified, though he wasn't sure why, because he was fairly certain Benedict could identify his voice. "I, uhm....before you ask, no, I didn't dial the wrong number," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. "And I'm not calling because I chickened out, either. Nor am I calling to talk to you about the rejection that probably still has yet to happen. I mean, I just..." He paused, sighing, collecting his thoughts and internally chastising himself for rambling. "It's you," he said after a few moments, turning around to look at him before turning away again. "The man I was talking about is you."

You: Several things crossed through Ben's mine when Zach introduced himself. First, it was a deep crushing pang of /no/ and the a mental note '/next round is on me/.' There were several other things, such as wondering if it was the wrong number or if the actor did chicken out, but they weren't nearly as important and Zach didn't seem like the type to back out after having already set their mind on something. He didn't have to guess or thing much longer as the other man continued to speak in order to explain. However, none of it made sense until the actual confession. Bright eyes widened as the words washed over him, catching him off guard whilst also elating him. He didn't say anything for a long while, just basking in the awareness and simple jovial mirth of the whole thing. Reciprocation was a beautiful thing, and one that had him smiling like some smitten fool. Be as it may, a confess also warranted an answer and he had yet to give it. Quickly clearing his throat, the Brit straightened up and raised his chin with a wide moronic grin. "It's very a good thing the man is me then as I've something I wish to admit to you myself, Zachary." He spoke, positively giddy, but not bothering to turn around lest he give himself away. "I have been infatuated with a certain man for quite some time but was entirely unsure of how to go about courting him. I am relieved and happy to confess that this man is you, Mr. Quinto."