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Post by Nathaniel Bernhardt on Apr 3, 2009 23:44:24 GMT -5
It had taken him two hours to get ready. Just like a frickin' girl. Nate sighed, handing his car keys to the valet. He managed to get an invitation to the large bash at the Palace tonight through his agent. He thought he'd go, after all, there was something eerie and familiar with the place, like so many things and people here.
He had managed to abstain from drinking all day long, though a large dose of Vicadin had dulled his senses somewhat. That constant pounding was still knocking away at his head, albeit at a softer tempo. That afternoon had been long, as he slept, and then would dress, and then relax. It was hard to get past the pain in his head, but as the cloud of alcohol cleared he found that he was actually functional.
Resolving to remain sober for the rest of the evening, he had taken a cab back to that parking garage and finally reclaimed his car, and had driven it over to the Palace straight away. He wasn't a VIP, but still, the vehicle was enough to get him into the party quickly, along with the invitation that he carried. Security was tight. He found himself sneering at the Secret Service agent that forced him to go through the magnetometer at the entrance. Finished with that annoyance, he approached the open doors to the ballroom, pausing to glance at his reflection for a moment.
He was a mess, Nathaniel had to admit it. He had combed out his hair, put on the tux, and polished his shoes, but there were still circles under his eyes, and his face was pale. Oh, well. He wasn't there to wow anyone with his appearance. He doubted they'd believe he was a model right now even if he told them he was. Well, he wasn't exactly in the mood for smalltalk right now, anyway, and that included questions about his career.
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Post by Iyashii Hiroki on Apr 4, 2009 10:16:09 GMT -5
Hiroki had never won a damn thing in his life….until yesterday. Somehow his name had wound up in a department raffle, and subsequently pulled as the winner of an all-expense-paid entrance to the palace New Year’s Eve party. At first, he wasn’t sure whether he should be happy he’d won something, or angry that what he’d won was a trip to come in to his workplace without having to work.
His logical side reminded him that he’d at least get a free meal and probably even drinks out of it, so he finally caved and accepted the ticket and the amenities that came with it. A gift certificate to a salon for a hair cut – which he slipped into his wallet to be used when he actually needed a haircut – and a second certificate for a tuxedo rental which he immediately put to use.
He made his way through the long security line before entering yet another line to get into the main ballroom. Not one to conform to the sheeple being herded into the room, he glanced over and found that he could just go right around. As he passed the crowd, he saw someone stop in front of a mirror before entering the room…someone that seemed rather familiar. His lips curled into a sly smile as he moved towards the guy. Once he caught a glimpse of the reflection, there was no doubt in his mind. This was the guy that Endy-erm-Mamoru had told him about.
He came to stand beside the man, his own reflection in the mirror now. His arms were crossed, and the grin still upon his lips as he spoke. “Trying to add some last minute fluff to that hair of yours?”
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Post by Nathaniel Bernhardt on Apr 4, 2009 13:06:59 GMT -5
Nathaniel whirled around at that all-too-familiar voice, narrowing his eyes at the cheeky, short blond man that seemed to be making fun of him. Somehow, he knew he had heard that taunt before, and it only added to his massive headache. He was too spent to even bother thinking up a witty retort, and was sure that even if he did, he was not in the mood to be carry off a successful delivery.
"Trying to make sure I don't scare anyone with this dour face of mine," Nathaniel replied curtly, with as much bite as he could summon for a moment, his gaze raking over the man from head to toe, trying to place him, at least in his mind.
"What's it to you?" he challenged, with a toss of that 'fluffy' hair. It was time for people to start speaking up. It couldn't be a coincidence that this man had singled him out with such a familiar remark. Or maybe he was just going crazy after all-- everything here seemed to strike him as something he had known or seen before. If Nate didn't have answers by the end of this night, he would go straight to Tokyo General and have himself institutionalized, at least until he could get some schizo pills.
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Post by Iyashii Hiroki on Apr 4, 2009 14:14:53 GMT -5
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Normally, Jadeite would not have backed down to a such challenging remark. Neither would Hiroki, actually. But now that he was sure he’d found the man who was undoubtedly his brother in arms, he needed to keep the man talking. “You look like you could use a drink. Perhaps something that’ll put some color in your face and some hair on your chest.” He kept his smirk as he continued the thought in his mind, ’Instead of having it all on your head.’
He held out his hand – an American greeting – and introduced himself. “Iyashii Hiroki.”
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Post by Nathaniel Bernhardt on Apr 5, 2009 16:20:30 GMT -5
"Nathaniel Bernhardt," Nate replied cautiously, extending his hand and shaking Hiroki's, still eying him hesitantly. This man was certainly strange, even if he was familiar. Equally insulting and friendly at the same time, it was bizarre. Certainly a unique approach to offering to get a drink together. Obviously, it was something to this man-- he had asked, he had approached him, made the comment. Nathaniel was not an idiot; he could tell there was some kind of motive beneath it all.
Unfortunately, since he had no answers he was along for the ride. Or maybe Hiroki was just a product of his very messed up mind. Sometimes he just couldn't tell anymore.
"I do need a drink, but I've already had enough Vicadin for the night that I'm afraid it's not an option," Nathaniel replied. "I'll have to get a virgin something, and you can drink the booze for me." God, a Bloody Mary sounded good right now, but he had to resist the temptation. He had been playing fast and loose with painkillers the past couple of days-- for pain, but still not exactly to the prescription. Here he'd have to be a bit more careful, and he needed his wits about him, though Hiroki's uncanny face looming before him, he knew that his wits were really a thing of the past.
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Post by Iyashii Hiroki on Apr 5, 2009 20:08:03 GMT -5
Hiroki took the man’s hand and firmly shook it, familiarity washing over him as if he’d just seen him yesterday. Part of him wished that this Nathaniel knew who he truly was. The other half knew he was going to have fun with this. He was sure he’d pay for it later, should Nephrite awaken. But this was going to be oh so worth it.
“Vicodin?” Hiroki quirked an eyebrow. He thought back to his own pain and hallucinations just before he’d awoken fully as Jadeite. Perhaps this guy was closer to becoming Nephrite than he’d thought. He waved it off. “I’m not even going to ask.”
He turned on his heel and headed into the ballroom. Running his hand through his hair, he let out a low whistle. “God damn the money they put into this. No wonder they can’t pay more… Go figure.” Giving the room a full once-over, he located the bar that had been set up. He turned back to Nathaniel and gestured towards the bar with his thumb. “Alright virgin-man, the bar’s that way.”
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Post by Nathaniel Bernhardt on Apr 5, 2009 20:46:25 GMT -5
"Good. It wasn't an invitation too," Nathaniel replied. He certainly wasn't going to explain why he needed the pills to this man, even if just touching him made his heart hurt a little bit more. Maybe a small drink wouldn't hurt? Just a little splash of alcohol? You're going to end up in AA if you don't quit this... He lectured himself, following Hiroki over to the bar, and stopping to look at the ballroom, nodding in agreement.
"Our tax dollars at work," Nate muttered. The decorations were incredibly beautiful, but probably very expensive. "All this money just so our fair Queen can party like it's 1999." He shrugged, continuing to follow Hiroki, smirking a bit at being called a virgin-man. "On a better night I could drink you under the table, shrimp!" The banter struck him as remarkably similar to something he had said before, but not to Hiroki, to...
Well, yeah, to Hiroki or someone who was his identical twin. But he had just met Hiroki tonight. Nathaniel tossed that out with the rest. Nothing made sense anymore. Perhaps this man really was someone he had just dreamed up.
"Maybe I'll have something after all..."
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Post by Iyashii Hiroki on Apr 5, 2009 21:17:18 GMT -5
A mischievous grin crept upon Hiroki’s face again at being called ‘shrimp.’ The right buttons were being pushed, and he knew he had to keep it up. “Whatever you say, Sasquatch.”
Upon reaching the bar, he ordered a gin and tonic then turned back to face Nathaniel. “Of all nights when the liquor is running freely, you decided to pop a few pills. What the hell were you thinking, man?” A gleam caught in his blue eyes as Nathaniel decided to have a drink anyways. He gave the man a light slap on the back and let out a hearty chortle. “I knew you’d come around.”
While he waited for his drink, he decided he may as well try some small talk. “So what brings you here tonight anyways? Looking to pick up some high-class broads?” He lightly snorted. “Whatever the reason, it’s gotta be better than mine. So I work here, right? And my name is pulled in some department raffle. I won a trip to come back to work. How lame is that?” He shrugged and picked up the glass that the bartender had set before him. “I never would have shown up, but the food and booze is free so I figured what the hell.”
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Post by Nathaniel Bernhardt on Apr 5, 2009 21:38:00 GMT -5
"I'm not Sasquatch! My hair is much fluffier, and I think I'm taller, too," Nate protested with mock-hurt, leaning against the bar as Hiroki placed his order. "I was thinking that I had a headache bigger than Everest," Nate remarked dryly, raising an eyebrow at the slap on the back. This guy was getting friendly, fast. For all of the teasing and mocking, was he... interested?
No, definitely not. He looked like hell tonight, there was no way. Nathaniel ordered a Bloody Mary and sipped on it patiently as Hiroki explained his story, nodding sympathetically. "I got my ticket through work, too. My agent had one. I didn't have anything else better to do. Also thought I might run into a few familiar faces." One of which was Kino Makoto's, or so he was hoping.
"If you manage to impress anybody important here, though, your boss might take note of it. Could be an advancement opportunity," he offered, not sure why he cared about the man's career at all. He found himself caring about a lot of other people since arriving in this city, and it wasn't an entirely comfortable change for him.
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Post by Iyashii Hiroki on Apr 5, 2009 21:59:51 GMT -5
“Coulda fooled me…” He trailed off, further poking the bear he knew lurked beneath.
Hiroki took a drink from his glass as he listened to Nathaniel’s tale. He raised his eyebrows at the word ‘agent.’ “Agent? You some kind of celebrity or something?” He nodded, mostly to himself. “I should have figured as much. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of familiar faces around this place.” He stifled a chuckle by looking away and taking another drink, his eyes landing on several familiar faces as he scanned the room again. ’Some more familiar than others…’
He did, however, laugh heartily at the comment on impressing people. “Man, I’m not here to impress anyone. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about any of these people. I’m here to get shitfaced and stuffed with food, and if I’m lucky I’ll wake up with some rich broad in my bed tomorrow morning.” Hiroki snorted as he finished, mostly to cover up the last comment which he knew was a bold-faced lie. Sure, he wouldn’t mind waking up with a woman in his bed… but in the back of his mind it was one with a long mane of raven-colored hair and skin like porcelain. Not that he’d ever admit that to anyone. He had a hard time admitting it to himself, really.
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Post by Khalid ibn Maleec on Apr 5, 2009 22:18:39 GMT -5
Khalid was not usually a man to drink away his problems. He had no problem with drinking, but did not find being drunk or in any way out of control of himself to be an enjoyable experience. However, the combination of guilt and deja vu was a bit much for him to deal with this evening, and he decided that one drink to take the edge off would not be an unwise decision.
He frowned slightly as he approached the bar. The two men he saw only added to his sense of familiarity, though he could not recall ever having seen either of them before, and yet he found himself approaching them rather than an open part of the bar. "Scotch, neat." He placed his order and glanced over to the men.
"Evening, gentlemen." He nodded towards them and then raised his glance as the bartender slid his glass to him. "Kampai."
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Post by Nathaniel Bernhardt on Apr 6, 2009 9:43:47 GMT -5
Nathaniel shrugged casually. "Fine, I'm Sasquatch and you're Grumpy from the Seven Dwarves. You're just PMSy enough, and vertically challenged, too."
Nate snorted at Hiroki's question. "Or something. I have my fans, but I'm nowhere near a household name. I'd like to keep it that way." Fame did not interest him, really. Oh, he enjoyed the attention somewhat, he could admit it, but he had enough headaches with some of his fans that he'd have to be crazy to want more of it. Besides, once a model became overexposed, it could actually be damaging for business. He wanted to go through the business successfully, but not become a franchise in his own right. It just seemed to be a very limited way to live.
He raised an eyebrow at Hiroki's abrasive, but somewhat endearing response, throwing up the verbal middle finger to his work and the intrigue that boiled in the room. It was bold, if not very smart. "That works, too. Let me know when you find this rich broad, maybe she'll have a friend or a sister." Even as he said it he felt almost as if he'd be betraying Makoto-- even though they only had one date. Nevermind the fact that he was starting to get bored with mindless sex, that he found bimbos a turn off, even if they were filthy rich. Making enough money on his own meant that it was no longer that impressive. In fact, it only made them more high-maintenance.
The throbbing in his temples seemed to increase in speed as another man that just wafted of familiarity came up and placed an order. Nathaniel raised an eyebrow as the man raised his glass. Were people truly this friendly, or was it just tonight? Or maybe he had just thought up another imaginary friend.
"Kanpai," he answered, raising his glass in return and sipping it, still watching the third man curiously.
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Post by Iyashii Hiroki on Apr 6, 2009 10:10:08 GMT -5
’And there he is!’ Hiroki grinned behind his glass as Nathaniel poked back.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to keep your cover. Laying low can be a very good thing in many circumstances.” He knew that for a fact. His appearance alone attracted enough unwanted attention, so he’d learned to stay away from people and remain as blended in as possible. It didn’t always work, but it is what it is.
Once again, Hiroki found himself trying to stifle a chuckle. ’Oh, she has a sister all right…if he only knew.’ He instead managed a ‘bro’ nod and took another drink from his glass…
…Then promptly choked on it as a white haired man stepped over to the bar and offered a greeting and a salute. ’You have got to be kidding me…’ He managed to clear the gin from his lungs and rasped out a “Kampai” in return before taking another drink.
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Post by Khalid ibn Maleec on Apr 6, 2009 15:40:21 GMT -5
Khalid raised an eyebrow as the blonde man chocked on his drink. He took a sip from his scotch as he looked closely at the two men. He frowned slightly as he looked at the scotch in his glass, careful not to let his own confusion to show on his face. Unfortunately, getting a drink had only served to deepen his sense of deja vu and guilt.
"Something wrong? I did not mean to startle you."
Khalid did believe in owning his mistakes. He had always taken responsibility for his own actions. However, he could not figure out why he felt like he owed these two men an apology, as if he had some how failed them.
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Post by Nathaniel Bernhardt on Apr 6, 2009 16:50:28 GMT -5
Nate nodded in agreement, though he wondered why Hiroki would want to 'keep his cover.' "Gives you more options," he agreed, staring into his drink, wondering if he should really finish it, or hold off. He knew he'd want another one as soon as the last drop was gone, and forced himself to look away. He shouldn't have been drinking at all. But, he could just blame it on Hiroki, and peer pressure.
He found himself raising an eyebrow in confusion at Hiroki's choking on his drink as the man came over. Could he possibly have the same feelings...? "Does he seem familiar to you, too?" Nathaniel asked his drinking buddy under his breath, while ostensibly turning to the side and taking another sip of his drink. Christ, I feel like I know everyone here. What's the deal?
He reached over and patted the choking Hiroki on the back, perhaps thumping a bit more than was necessary, trying not to smirk. "You two know each other or something?" he asked the white-haired man casually, but the question was anything but nonchalant. Nathaniel looked at the other man expectantly, wondering if he could discover anything else.
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