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Post by Matthew Williams on Jan 26, 2012 18:33:20 GMT -5
After coming to a decision, Matthew placed the menu down neatly on the table.
Everything looked and sounded amazing on the menu, but he was not about to make Ivan pay for it. It was simply way too expensive. Though, he hope the man wouldnt get offended by his choice. It was simply to much to ask.
A brief awkward silence filled the air, or was it a comforting silence? No, it was defintely the former. Not a doubt in his mins about that one. Matthew was comfortable with silence, but not of this calibur. He took it upon himself to start a conversationg with the elder man.
"S-so, what brought you here?"
Well, that was vauge. Brought him to where? The restaurant, the mall? Matthew couldnt help but face-palm slightly. He himself wasnt good at the art of small talk. [/blockquote] |
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Post by Ivan Braginsky on Jan 26, 2012 19:07:37 GMT -5
Ivan fiddled with the menu, flipping the same page back and forth as though he were seriously debating something. He didn't notice at first how absurd that must have seemed, blatantly trying to appear as though he had something to do. "Hmm?" he asked, voice shaking a little bit. He felt nervous at having to actually talk about things... that might have had consequence.
"Er... nothink," he said, all too quickly, as though the response were prepared somehow. "Just..." Ivan bit his lip behind the menu. "Shoppink for gift for someone I do not know..." Well, that was a common enough experience for most people, wasn't it? Having to shop for people you didn't know or didn't like... That was innocuous, right? Granted, he wasn't trying to be sneaky or deceptive, he just... had no idea what he ought to be doing at this point.
There was a small gulp in his throat before Ivan tried to change the subject. "Do you... happen to be knowink what you woult like to haff?" There. That was a good topic! |
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Post by Matthew Williams on Jan 27, 2012 13:51:18 GMT -5
"Someone you don't know?"
The thought seemed odd and he wasn't sure what Ivan really meant by that. Though, he guessed there were stranger oddities in the world. And Matthew really didn't want to press for details; no matter if it might steer into a conversation, he hated prying into peoples business.
"Y-yeah, I think I do now. A-and, thank you again. This is really nice of you." Matthew offered the other a slight smile, thanking him, before darting his eyes away towards the interior decorations. It wasn't too fancy; but definitely something that you didn't see often. [/blockquote] |
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Post by Ivan Braginsky on Jan 27, 2012 21:30:07 GMT -5
Ivan gulped again, using the menu as a social interaction shield. Okay, so maybe that wasn't as common as he thought it was. "Is... er... I haff colleague whose birthday is comink up ant... I not know him at all but I... haff to get him some sort off present. Is customary," he quickly explained, hoping that was sufficient for the young man. It wasn't that he thought the young man was nosy or rude, because... he really seemed laid back about the whole thing, but... he just hoped it was enough so that he didn't have to talk about it anymore.
Then the topic of food came up. "O-oh? That... is goot~" Food, that was easy enough to talk about. However, at the notion of gratitude, he paled a bit. Today was just not one of his confident days. Sometimes it was easy to keep a straight smiling face and appear calm and collected on the outside, but today was just... not one of them. "N-no neet to be thankink, is... perfectly okey..." He felt himself smile a little bit on his side of the menu. At least, it seemed, he'd made a friend. |
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Post by Matthew Williams on Jan 28, 2012 19:21:22 GMT -5
Matthew had not exactly expected an explaination, but it did quench his brief curiousity on the topic. It made sense, he nodded and smiled a little more at the thought. "I-I know the feeling. I don't usually buy things for people, t-though." the blond admitted somewhat embarrassedly. Usually, Matthew made gifts or a pot luck would be organized at one of his jobs. The concept of buying a present was not foreign to him, but he often reserved it for only close friends of whom he knew their likes. Doing otherwise was a bit hit-or-miss, but food in the lower sectors was always a welcome gift.
Shifting a bit in his seat, Matthew attempted to get comfortable and control his own fidgiting. He couldn't wait for the waiter to get there so that he could at least mask some of his nervousness behind his drink.
"D-do you have any idea of what to get him? Maybe a little lead of some sort?" maybe this was a topic that could be rolled with for awhile. [/blockquote] |
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Post by Ivan Braginsky on Jan 28, 2012 20:50:57 GMT -5
Ivan shook his head, forgetting at the moment that he couldn't exactly be seen behind the menu he was using as shield. For all of his knowledge and years, he was not exactly always aware. Granted, the moments where he was properly aware of what was going on were far more often than not... just today was not his lucky day when it came to that kind of thing.
"Нет," he said after realizing that his head gesture was invisible behind the menu visual blockade. "I haff very... little idea what he might like or neet..." It was hard to shop for wealthy people. This was just a fact. Ivan knew that he himself always enjoyed receiving vodka, cigarettes, and homemade most anything. Unfortunately, to give these kinds of things, he still would have to know preferences... which he had no idea of. What if he got the wrong brand of alcohol or cigarettes? What if they weren't fancy enough... or too fancy? Or what if he wanted cigars instead? Those were even more difficult for Ivan to sort through considering he didn't smoke them and had no idea about the different kinds. He cringed slightly at the thought.
Luckily though, the silence that followed his confession of ignorance was broken by a waiter arriving. Ivan quietly ordered his favorite soup that they served along with his usual tea. Reluctantly, he allowed the waiter to take his shield as the waiter looked at Matthew expectantly. Ivan, however, set about looking around at various things to try and do anything but look at Matthew, because he knew he'd start staring and that most people... rather didn't like being stared at. It wasn't that he would stare for any particular reason, it was... just kind of what he did. |
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Post by Matthew Williams on Jan 28, 2012 22:23:19 GMT -5
"Hmm..." Matthew droned, training his eyes downward as he twiddled his tumbs. Mildly from nerves and mildly to help his thought process. Little idea of what he might want or need. And it just had to be something small, right? Maybe not too fancy. It took him a minute to figure out what could work. Mostly trying to remember that this sector was so different from his own. What was considered expensive and cheap were scewed compared to his own definitions of those words.
As he was about to open his mouth, the waiter finally approached. He nodded and replied with just a water, which most likely earned him a bit of an odd look. But, the Canadian immediately downcast his eyes as to not see any looks that might have been shot at him. Nervously, he spoke again, "H-how about a gift card for a vacation o-or maybe a restaurant?" [/blockquote] |
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Post by Ivan Braginsky on Jan 28, 2012 23:40:06 GMT -5
Ivan frowned a little bit at hearing that Matthew was only going to have water. Well, this was one of those times where he had to speak up. "Ey." He gently tapped the waiter on the elbow with a knuckle. "Will all be on my ticket..." He looked back at Matthew with a mostly flat expression save a slight smile. He was doing business... something he was good at. It was easy to fall back into his normal behavior for this and put the social discomfort aside for a few moments. "You can get somethink to eat, Matffew, is okey~" This was a gift for the young man, a kindness. He could surely have more than water if Ivan was footing the bill.
Unfortunately though, that face cracked. Ivan felt his smile falter and his cheeks go a bit red, suddenly wishing he had that menu back. The gift card idea went over his head in his preoccupation with wanting to not be looked at. It was hard to maintain his resolve today. Maybe it was how meek and gentle Matthew was... or at least seemed to be. Ivan imagined it would be hard for even the hardest heart to be cruel such a precious-looking being. His own heart wasn't stone, figuratively speaking as metallic was probably far worse, but he... was known to be hard to reach at times... Well, he seemed to be... at least.
Everything was about "seeming", wasn't it? |
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Post by Matthew Williams on Jan 29, 2012 0:21:58 GMT -5
Matthew stiffened and wanted to object; there was no way that he could let Ivan pay for all of this! It was far too expensive, if he looked at that menu again, the blond might have had a heart-attack. Though, he did understand that it would be rude not to take him up on the offer. And was secretly plotting to still steal that check at the end.
Defeated, the man smiled sadly to the waiter, "I-I'll take what he's having." Really, that hurt him more than it should have. How could merely going out to eat with someone and ordering food hurt? It didn't make sense to Matthew at the time, but there had to be a way for him to repay his kindness. He allowed his gaze to fall back to that of the elder man and noticed the seemingly un-easiness that graced his features. "Or maybe a plant?" he tried to make a distraction and was starting to feel bad yet again.
Anxiously, the blond rubbed the back of his neck and tore his eyes away. He had never been in a situation quite like this before, but Ivan seemed like a nice man. What was he going to do, though? Matthew's interests didn't extend above a few things and he didn't really have any hobbies. Maybe he could get to know Ivan better if he'd just ask, but the words kept dying in his throat. [/blockquote] |
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Post by Ivan Braginsky on Jan 29, 2012 14:55:37 GMT -5
Ivan was determined to pay for it and would keep that final check in sight the moment it would appear. He'd snatch it up and pay for it without any further complaints, or so he hoped. Was it normal for people to not want a free meal? Besides, he was merely being kind, despite his... people problems. At least Matthew finally agreed to eat something. He looked a bit thin anyway...
Really, Ivan was just making up for accidentally insulting a new acquaintance, or so he thought. Sometimes he couldn't make sense of his own motivations. It would be hard to say "friend" exactly, although it was what Ivan was hoping for, but... the concept of "friend" he'd grown up with was someone who'd been through hell and back with you. He'd had some of those once, but they kind of... it was best not to think about it. Sometimes though, it was just... hard to avoid... Friends... He missed them... Through boot-camp... Through war...
The food-devoid table stared back up at him as his eye unfocused. The smile melted away into a flat line as a far-off muffled explosion echoed in his ears. There was really nothing, but... he felt his blood go cold and began to hear muffled shouts of his name. "Kaufmann..." he muttered, "Greene..." Ivan shivered as images of snow overlaid what he was actually seeing, darkening everything in his sight despite the pure white of the flakes. |
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Post by Matthew Williams on Jan 30, 2012 22:45:57 GMT -5
When no answer came, Matthew briefly began to wonder if he had said something wrong. Not wanting to lift his gaze to see for fear of what look he might recieve from the Russian. He was mucking things up again, he just knew it. His mind was racing at a hundred kilometres per minute. How was he going to apologize for his screw up?
Though, the brief muttering pulled the blond out of his deep thought. Cautiously, Matthew allowed his gaze to meet the figure of Ivan. What saw him made him worry. He was shivering and muttering something that Matthew could not comprehend. The Canadian slowly leaned forward on the table, a look of concern on his face. "]M-Mr. Braginsky?" he tried first, "Ivan?" Matthew waved a hand lightly in front of his face. Was he okay? [/blockquote] |
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Post by Ivan Braginsky on Jan 31, 2012 13:25:48 GMT -5
A few clumps of snow where turning red here and there. The sound of frantic boots crunching through it sounded so far away, but... Wait. Someone was calling out for him. It was different than the sound of his buddies. "Mr. Braginsky" instead of just his last name... Then his given name. That was... different. No one in his team ever called him that, well, except Kaufmann and Greene, but...
Ivan shook his head, blinking rapidly before looking up to see the gray gradient of snow melt away to reveal the world just as he'd left it.
These moments were never anything he actually had any real control over. It just kind of... happened. Something periodically would remind him of back then, but normally it was when he was alone, without anyone around and without any way to keep occupied. That was part of why he worked so much. It gave him something to do and kept the majority of the melancholy away. Unfortunately, it taught him that... money cannot buy happiness, it can buy the way to lock yourself away in the depression. Normally, nowadays, though, someone was there when he came out of it and it was usually Yong Soo. But not this time.
"Matffew?" he questioned before suddenly realizing he'd just... gone off into nightmare-land not only in a public place but in front of someone he'd only really just met. Bright color of embarrassment flood his face as he quickly pulled out his wallet and slapped down a hundred eco-unit bill on the table. "I am b-beink very sorry, but I..." he began stammering as he refolded his wallet, tucking it away. "B-but I r-really must be goink! Th-that shoult be more than enough to cover the bill..."
He stood up, dusting himself off as he tried to walk away as fast as his stiff knees would carry him. "До свидания!" |
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Post by Matthew Williams on Jan 31, 2012 18:01:50 GMT -5
Matthew blinked in surprise when Ivan seemed to have snapped out of his reverie. Though, his face quickly contorted into one of concern for the man. That...wasn't a normal reaction for someone to have, right? "H-Hey, are you oka---"
"I am b-beink very sorry, but I..." he was cut off as the Russian had slapped down an eco-unit bill and began stammering. The concern never left his face, but Matthew could only nod when Ivan stood up and began his trek out of the bakery. "U-um, thank you!" the blond called out to the other as he walked off. It was strange, but Matthew felt concern still panging at him.
When he turned back to the table to ponder the situation, another delimma reared it's head. The money that Ivan had left, it was..far too much. This wasn't right and Matthew was supposed to be the one paying for it. As a waiter walked by, he raised his hand, "E-excuse me, could I get the check and the orders to go instead?" he asked meekly. The waiter, shot him a bit of an odd look, but nodded in response.
He stuck the money in the check, paying for it and gathering the change. The soups in a bag. He could give it as a treat to some of the kids. The rest of the money, though, he stuffed into an envelope; stuffing it into his inner jacket pocket.
Next time he saw Ivan, if ever, he would make sure to give it back. [/blockquote] |
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