scott inc.

He’s hyperaware of the eyes on him, like this is his first gig. It’s easier to tune it out now, he got used to it all. All but a particular set of eyes, tracking his movements, watching. He learned not to let their gazes meet too often, not to give himself away like that. It all comes crashing down at the end, wasn’t bad both giant praise coming from him and not enough to sate his need to please Todd. He swallows, handing off the guitar and smiling at the people watching. “I know, I know.” He says, I got distracted he wants to say but telling Todd he lost focus because of him is a terrible idea. “I’ll practice when we get home.” He turns to him fully, real smile now. “So what are we doing tonight?”

“I don’t know.” He brush his fingers on Beau’s, just the little contact they can have in public.  He puts the guitar away, and tries to not look at his fingers, like he was doing all night long. Because very little detail of Beau’s body was already imprinted on his mind. “Do you want to go out?” He asks, tilting his head to the side. “Or just go home?” Please, please, please, please, go home, he thinks, wanting the comfort of the bed, with Beau under him. The only way he can truly feel safe in this strange town.

Jackson smiled over at Todd and he looked at him while nodding. He couldn’t quite tell what kind of vibes this older male was giving off, but when he had introduced himself, Jackson knew that it was polite for him to return the gesture. He extended his own hand and he grabbed ahold of Todd’s and nodded while speaking loud enough so that he could be heard. “Nice to meet you, Todd. I’m Jackson. What brings you to the bar?”

The man shook his hand and Todd felt that this was better than trying to keep up with the music. Secretly, he hoped that they struck up a nice conversation that would lead him somewhere else than going back to the crowded place. “My friend is too busy dancing.” He poinetd with a thumb over the dance floor. “I’m just too old for that.” He smiled at him; forced and uncomfortable. “And you?”

He raised his hands in defense at the other’s words with a shack to his head. “You a simple no thank you would have worked there was no reason to bite my head off.” He spoke before letting the other order and pay in peace before going up and placing his order. “So what you so pissed off this morning someone cut you off in traffic or something?” 

He knew his reaction had been a little too much, but Todd was the type of man to double down on the rudeness than apologize. Thankfully, this time he decided to shut up. He ordered his coffee and decided he had been too rude. Still, the man was talking to him, and the least he could do was talk to him. “No I’m just—” he paused, uncomfortable. “I’m just not used to strangers talking to me.” Hitting on me, he intended to say, but didn’t want to assume.

Javier tilted his head slightly as the other seemed shocked by his look. He was used to this kind of reaction and didn’t take much offense to it. However when the other asked about flowers for his specific situation, Javier tilted his head. “Well for celebrations you can do stuff like lilies, carnations,  maybe even gladioli. Or if you know their favorite flowers, you could do something more along those lines. Really make it specialized towards them?” He shrugged, and leaned against the counter as he waited for a response, ready to help with whatever Todd wanted.

He considered it for a minute, thinking if Beau had a favorite flower. Even if he did, he had never disclosed that to him. “I don’t.” He sighed, a little defeated. “I don’t even think he has a favorite flower, really.” He confessed, to add that he wasn’t a bad friend, just not the type of things that they discussed. Unfortunately, Todd didn’t know what any of those flowers were, so he would just have to guess what would make Beau happier. “Can I see one of those carnage ones, then?” He asked, scratching his head.

Beau was just finishing his set — it was a local small venue, not that much of a big deal, but every gig was as exciting as the first one — and Todd watched from the wings, wondering if his feelings for him were too obvious for anyone looking from outside. When finally he makes it out of the stage, Todd extends his hand to catch the guitar. “That wasn’t bad.”​ He was always hard on him, yes, but this was why they got so far. “Your fingers kept sliding in Night Full of Song again.” He always had very specific pointers, but it was just because he always watched the show paying too much attention. “You need to fix that.”

Javier sighed as he sipped at his coffee, dark circles under his eyes showing off his complete lack of sleep. He was heading to his flower shop, knowing he was opening up late, but not really caring too much. Arriving at his shop, he unlocked the door and pushed it open. He flicked the lights on and shrugged off his jacket. It only took a few moments before Javier was working at full speed, though he was still taking breaks to sip down his coffee. Hearing the bell ring as someone entered, Javier walked out from the back and smiled. “Well hello. How can I help ya?” He leaned against the counter, tilting his head as the other. “Need a bouquet or something? Or looking for something more potted?”

He was so happy for Beau that he felt he needed to buy him a gift. The problem was that nothing seemed to fit the occasion. Sure, it was early morning, and he wasn’t actually looking at the stores he was passing, so he was having trouble finding the perfect thing. And then he saw a flower shop. He went in without much thinking — otherwise he would never get in in the first place. “Uhhh” He hesitated, looking around. “I don’t know.” And then admitted he was lost. If anyone could help him, was the flower guy. “What is a good one that says ‘congrats on the album deal’?”

Saturday mornings where the first time of his week that timothy got to enjoy his morning. Knowing there was no court dates for him and that he didn’t have to be into his office till he wanted to be. He took his time getting up and putting on his suit. Makin his way out of his small place and out into the world for his morning coffee. He took a moment to bask in the chill of the early afternoon he made his way to his favorite coffee shop with a sense of joy in each step that he took. He quickly spotted a cute man in line and moved up to them. “How about you let me buy your coffee this morning in exchange for your number.” 

Todd enjoyed the city, but in the weekends he missed home. There were very few things to do back home, yes, but it was better than the non-stop vibe of the city. He couldn’t even get a coffee without someone... hitting on him. He was surprised by the man’s forwardness. “That’s cute.” He said, in a tone that let it obvious that it wasn’t cute, almost offended. “But no.” He turned ahead and told the barista: “I’ll buy my own coffee.”

It wasn’t surprising that Jackson was found in the middle of the dance floor, enjoying the night as he was bumping to the music. He liked to have a great time and he spent a lot of his great times in the bars. But he needed another drink so here he was at the bar. He was waiting for a beer to be brought over to him and he saw someone walk up next to him. While he was waiting for his drink, he turned his head towards him and spoke loud enough that the other could hear him over the music. “This place is rad right? Do you want to dance with a couple friends and I?” He asked as his beer was then set down in front of him. 

He felt like he had been at the counter for the past hour, but maybe it had just been two minutes. Between the lights and repetitive music, he couldn’t tell time apart. That’s when someone came around him, yelling. He assumed it was for him anyway. “Well, yeah!” He shouted over the music, but not really excited about it. He was still regretting coming to this place and was wondering why anyone would enjoy that loud noise they kept calling “music.” “I’m Todd.” He shouted, offering a hand. He didn’t want to make a friend, but considering how long his drink was taking, he should just have a family with this guy.

it was a slow day at the new veterinary clinic he’d just started working at so he decided to give wilbur, an old chocolate lab that was there for kennel service for a walk. joel liked giving the kennel dogs a little walk around around town because he gave him some time alone with a dog plus helped him get used to the new neighborhood. the only thing was that wilbur was a curious boy, who liked to get into other peoples space as he was doing as the dog pulled on the leash joel was holding so they could run up and sniff the stranger walking the other way. “ oh sorry ! he really likes to meet new people..” he nervously laughed out as wilbur jumped up on the other person. “ oh god, he’s just excited - sorry ! “ joel softly pulled on the leash to let wilbur know it wasn’t ok to jump on a stranger which got him to go back to all fours. 

He was walking without proper purpose. He didn’t have to be anywhere for the next couple of hours, which was a feat on its own. Instead, he walked through his favorite part of the neighbourhood. He wasn’t really surprised of the dog attack, but was pleased. One of the things he still missed from back home were animals. Sure, they had a dog, but constrained in that tiny backyard... just wasn’t the same. He kneeled down, petting the dog  “That’s okay.” and played with him a little. ‘What’s his name?” He asked, just a little too excited.