Skeletons in the Closet (potassiumboron x Ms. Flair)

potassiumboron

~I'm drinking coffee on a trampoline~
Original poster
MYTHICAL MEMBER
Posting Speed
  1. Multiple posts per day
  2. 1-3 posts per day
  3. One post per day
Online Availability
3pm - 1am (GMT / BST)
Writing Levels
  1. Beginner
  2. Elementary
  3. Intermediate
  4. Adept
  5. Adaptable
Preferred Character Gender
  1. Male
  2. Female
  3. Nonbinary
  4. Transgender
  5. No Preferences
Genres
Monsters, supernatural, fantasy, romance, criminality, slice-of-life (modern or set in past, usually with some twists)
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Only a month ago, Kai Ludvigsen could only have dreamt of being in the position he was now, living a life in civilisation. He was just 19 and had what many would consider a pretty boring life. He didn't have an education and no friends, his entire life being devoted to the job at a small cafe near the small town's university. Yet, to Kai, his small job meant the world to him because it was the first and only real example of the sacrifice he had made in leaving his family and his community to seek out his own independence; to live his own life.

Because Kai had never had that before - he was from a world where no technology existed. His family and the community they were a part of lived in the middle of the woods, in huts, living a life comparable to that of a few centuries ago, before modern inventions made life simpler and easier. They were very much of the belief that the way they lived was the right way; the only way, in fact. They enforced such beliefs upon every child born into that camp - including Kai. He had been told constantly that his only role was to marry an alpha he didn't like and provide for the camp.

Kai didn't want that and never had. He wanted to escape the camp, to go out into the world and experience new things. He had no idea what the world outside the woods was like but he knew that he needed to find that out. It was a few days before the marriage ceremony with the alpha that he decided to take the drastic step and leave, with nothing but a few clothes and a childhood toy in his bag.

That was why his job meant so much to him. It represented the independence he had, and it had enabled him to buy a small apartment downtown. The apartment was ridiculously tiny, in a dreadful, crime-ridden area, but again, it epitomised his independence and the new life he had for himself. Did it depress him that he had no friends to share it with? Sure. He hated seeing kids from the university enter the cafe, laughing and chatting amongst one another, but he also knew that he would soon have all of that. The longer he was in the town, the sooner he would have the life other 19-year-olds did - he would be able to party and go to clubs and have fun like they did.

For now, all he had was the job to focus on, and he was determined to give it his best shot.

Like every other day, he entered work with his apron on and went about his day, serving everyone from the regular old folks to university students who had dropped in during breaks in their schedules for the cheap coffee and something to eat. He envied the students the most, wanted nothing more than to befriend them, though every effort he made to perhaps crack a joke and earn their affections went downhill. He wasn't used to socialising yet, even after a month in civilisation. He was awkward and he knew he tried too hard, which only depressed him more.

After another failed attempt, his eagerness had disappeared and he went about the job with a dull smile, having zoned out completely from making any effort to perhaps connect with anyone.
 
@potassiumboron

Travis came into the cafe, as he was by himself for once. Most of his friends were sleeping off parties from last night or too lazy to come out to the cafe. It wasn't that far from the university either, so he usually came there for before, after practice or when he just wanted to have a drink and something to eat. Finding a spot at a table, sitting down in the area that Kai was serving, as he fished out his phone to see if he got any messages.

Travis came off as a jock, who flirted with females and was on top of the sports teams he was on. He hid that he was gay, and he also didn't think he was gay either. He was in the closet, and that was one of his biggest skeletons that were in his closet.

Looking around the cafe, he tried to get some attention from Kai so he could order something with his phone out. Looking over his phone, he sent a flirty text to his current girlfriend of a couple of weeks. It's hard to keep it up for him, but he also had no idea why it was so hard for him? That was something that ran through his mind. "I wonder if I should just do that combo like that one time I ordered," Travis commented under his breath. When Kai did come, a smile came across his face.

"One of those days? I can tell by your look," Travis asked with a chuckle leaving his lips. "I am trying to decide what soup I should have with my sandwich and drink. What is your favorite?" Travis asked.
 
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Kai had a good eye for faces - he got to know the people that came into the cafe and so could differentiate between the ones who had come in before, however irregularly, and the ones that hadn't made an appearance there before. Whilst he hadn't seen Travis there for a few days, he recognised him instantly, though was a tad taken aback by the fact he was alone. He liked to watch people and try and understand what they were like as individuals. It didn't take a genius to work out what sort of person Travis was - he was popular and clearly into his sports. That sort of combination made Kai nervous, but it wasn't going to prevent him putting on a bright smile and getting on with his job.

"Oh, the tomato soup is to die for. I'm sure that'd go well with any sandwich-- though I recommend ham and egg. It's my favourite. Nothing better than that combo with a tall glass of chilled lemonade," he smiled politely as he held the pen against the pad, forcing the smile to maintain on his lips, despite being called out for looking a little less joyful than he was usually.

"I'm just tired, don't worry. I'm worked off my feet here-- it's all you college students rushing in at lunchtime that does it," he teased with a laugh, rolling his eyes to emphasise that it was a joke. "So, you wanna try the tomato soup, then?"
 
Listening about what Kai suggested, Travis thought about it for the time once before ready to order now. "I like all of that except for ham and egg sandwich idea," Travis commented with a smile. "Not a big fan of that. I have had that sandwich before actually," Travis said after. Ready to order though but he let Kai answer more and what was on his mind currently.

"Yeah, I am a little tired too. Practice and school, then also my job," Travis said with a shrug of his shoulders. "At least I come in not drunk or hungover. My buddies do though, and I bet you served them like that," Travis said with a chuckle leaving his lips. He knew it was a joke so that why he was laughing. "You make me laugh..and its good thing..."

"Yes, I do want that tomato soup, the lemonade with that ham and swiss sandwich," Travis answered him with a smile. "Maybe one of those treats later on after this meal..." Travis added with a shrug of his own shoulders. Thinking about it for a moment, before wanting to ask more. "You been working here long huh? I think I came here on your first shift...that was when I was with a bunch of my friends..."
 
Hearing about the other's drunk or hungover friends didn't make the omega tut in annoyance as many of his co-workers tended to do. They worked long hours and the last thing they often wanted to deal with was drunk students - or moody, miserable hungover ones the next morning. Yet, Kai really didn't mind dealing with those customers. He envied that carefree lifestyle and liked nothing more than to observe just how joyful the students were when drunk. Sure, dealing with them when they were hungover wasn't easy, but he didn't mind too much, always reminding himself just how happy they had all been the night before. He wanted that, to have friends and go partying and just to live a little. Being reminded that he didn't have that yet was depressing, but it made him more determined than ever before to achieve it before his youth left him.

"Not too long, actually. I... just moved here, really. Got myself a cute little apartment, a tidy job here-- it's not too bad. I like it, you know? I lie meeting people, and this job is great for that," he declared with a faint smile, scribbling the order down onto the pad whilst glancing up occasionally at the alpha sat at the table opposite him. "I've seen you before, sure. Usually with your friends, but I guess they're all at class or something?"
 
Travis nodded his head, listening to him talk about his life. "I like my dorm life too. It's nice way to be near people and its close where the practice is for me," Travis said, agreeing with him. "I bet this job is pretty good for you. To be able to meet people like this," Travis said after him with a smile still on his face. Nodding his head, as he laughed a little while he was asked about his group of friends. "Most are sleeping off the parties they attended or just being too lazy..."

"I bet let you get back to work..Kai..." Travis said. "We can talk more another time maybe?" Travis asked him before taking a sip from the glass of the water that was on his table.

Watching people come in, as he spotted something as it was more students from school and even people who lived near the university. He had to admit, that there were a couple of cute guys. Wait, why he was thinking like that? No, no, this can't be happening to him. He was straight, not bi-curious and especially wasn't gay.
 
"Oh-- Oh, yeah, work! Gosh, I get so carried away talking. I swear my boss is going to have my head one of these days," the waiter laughed, his own eyes drifting across to the students that entered the cafe. Unlike Travis, Kai had never had to worry about hiding his sexuality. While his parents and his entire community were traditional, they also didn't prevent their son from exploring his sexuality... as long as he married an alpha male they decided for him. He hadn't ever had to hide his sexuality or even question whether it was okay to, hence why he glanced at the cute guys that entered without panicking about if his glances were subtle or not.

"Holler if you need anything else, I'm here to help," he smiled once breaking his attention away from a particularly cute student that had wandered in with the others, nodding quickly back at Travis. "I'll have your food out to in five minutes for 'ya, okay?"
 
"My coach has said that about me too though. When I start to daydream or not putting enough effort in," Daniel commented with a laugh leaving his lips. Daniel noticed how Kai looked, as he tried to not make any judgments on Kai though. Why did he care though? Trying to shake what thoughts away, as he sat there at the table.

"Sure will Kai. I will let you know," Daniel said to him. "yeah, I know I won't have to wait long for that food. You guys are pretty quick which is nice in this type of enviroment.." Daniel said to him after.

Looking around, watching him leave eventually as someone else grabbed the attention of Kai. "Oh hey, Kai? Isn't that a cute jock there? He is always with his friends, but never with a girl. I wonder if he is with someone."
 
As Kai handed the order over to the chefs in the kitchen, he busied himself making a few milkshakes behind the counter, his intense concentration only pulling away from the task at hand when the co-worker questioned him. He had to hide how surprised he was by the comment - not the content of it, but merely the fact that someone was talking to him. He got along with his co-workers, but they hadn't really warmed to him enough yet to engage in gossip with him, so having someone take time out to start a conversation up made him smile gratefully, before he finally took into account just what had been said.

"Cute jocks like that are always with someone. He's probably dating an 'it' girl; someone rich and beautiful with curves and all of that. Guys like that always date girls like that, it's just the way of the world," he shrugged, his eyes glancing back over to Travis as subtly as he could. "...Why? Do you like him? I could always ask him out for you; he seems sweet. Maybe he's not dating? No harm in asking, right?"
 
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Travis sat there at the table, looking over at them before looking back to his own phone. The lady coworker noticed, and let out a little innocent giggle while hearing what Kai was saying. "You never know Kai. Never know with people, sometimes they like to experiment in the college years," the lady started to say. "I may like the way he looks. I don't know if he would date me, but ask him anyway? Ask him though when you take the food..."

Before anyone can do anything, someone had come over to the table that was Travis was. It was a young male actually, who had come over to Travis. "Hey there Travis! I am glad that I found you," the male started to say before placing a plastic container that was filled with food. Travis was rather surprised and he was about to say something but the male interrupted him. "I want you to have this! It has my love in it, will you go out with me Travis?" the male asked.

Travis let out a sigh, as there were nerves showing across his whole face. Pushing the food back toward the male, "I am sorry but I am not interested and I am dating a beautiful woman," Travis started to say. "Thank you though for this," Travis continued on before the male walked away but they left the food there.

The co-worker who was there just shook his head. "It amazes me when people will go do that.."
 
Kai wasn't used to the world outside the community in the woods yet, but it didn't take a genius at socialisation to feel second-hand embarrassment at the sight of the poor teenager getting shot down by Travis. It also didn't help to hear some of the other students in the small cafe immediately erupt with laughter at what they had witnessed, especially when much of that laughter consisted of them making fun of the student's sexuality and how idiotic he must have been to thin Travis would be interested; that he was similarly minded.

Kai knew he was gay and he had never been embarrassed to show that, but hearing a few students openly criticise the poor student who had asked for Travis' love just for being gay made Kai all the more scared that he would be subjected to such behaviours. He didn't know whether the cruel words were what everyone thought. If they were, how was he ever going to make friends who accepted him for who he was?

"I feel bad for him, that must have taken courage and-- and at least we learnt that that guy's straight. And in a relationship. Saves you embarrassing yourself asking him out, huh?"
 
"I do too. We do have it happen here a lot," the lady said to him. "It does save me but I don't think it was all true. He was nervous," the lady said after hearing the bell go off to go deliver the food to other customers.

Travis didn't mean to have it happen like this, as he quickly stood before taking a long drink from his now empty glass of ice water. "What he did had guts so don't make fun of someone like that! Most people can't do that," Travis said, defending the young male who just confessed him. "Judging someone for their sexuality is wrong too!" Travis added on before sitting back down at the table.

The food was ready for Travis, as the bell rang for Kai to deliver it.
 
Kai observed the display quietly from behind the counter, awkwardly averting his gaze in an attempt to gather his thoughts. It was nice to hear that someone like Travis, who he thought was the epitome of cool, defended something as natural as sexuality... but that didn't mean he suddenly believed he wasn't straight. His co-worker might be eager to say that Travis was protecting himself by not admitting to his sexuality, but that didn't make much sense for Kai - if Travis was so eager to defend sexuality, why pretend to be straight? It was precisely that that made him thin that it wasn't a lie; that, in reality, Travis was just another normal college kid with a girlfriend he loved - and that was fine too.

"Well, things are getting mighty crazy around here. Does this happen a lot? Cute guys declaring their undying love for you, Mr. Popular?" He teased once up at the other's table, setting the food down expertly whilst maintaining the same playful smile on his face. It wasn't flirtation, at least not conscious flirtation - he believed Travis was straight so the last thing he was going to do was to try and flirt with him. Hell, Kai barely even knew how to flirt. "Bet your girlfriend's not too happy about that."
 
Sitting there now, with his phone out as he paying attention to it to keep his mind off what just happened. He almost dropped his phone when he got surprised, as he laughed a little after when asked that. "I have had few people declare to me. Most females, the first male though," Travis said with a smile on his face. He noticed the other try to flirt with him but didn't bother him. Shrugging his shoulders, "Yeah, she isn't that happiest but I don't care. You can't stop people from doing that, but I do feel bad still that he got humiliated like that..."

Shrugging his shoulder, before he moved to take a long sip from the glass of the lemonade. Letting out a sigh of relief, "That taste pretty great," Travis said before taking a taste of the soup. A satisfied look was on his face, "That is pretty good tomato soup," Travis said to him. "Good suggestion Kai. I may have to order some for later on to take home with me.."

Travis thought about it for a moment before he asked, "Have you seen the area around really? Since your new?"?
 
Kai had never had anyone dislike a suggestion he had made for them, but he still beamed proudly knowing he had recommended something Travis apparently enjoyed. He would hate to be riddled with guilt knowing that he was potentially at fault for someone not having a good meal. His smile grew curious when the other proceeded to question him, his brow arched as he took the question in.

"Not really. I spend most my time working and-- it's not fun walking about alone at night when I finish work, you know? I'm hoping my co-workers ask me out soon, to go for drinks or something. I doubt it, though. I'm 19; they don't want to ask me out to go drinking when I'm underage and could get caught, so-- God, I'm babbling, huh?"
 
"Yeah, I can see why that isn't fun. I go for night jogs sometimes, since it is pretty safe around where I am," Travis commented. Hearing what he said, he shook his head no to him talking. "Nah you are not. I get why it is hard for you to go with someone, but you could always hit one of the university parties that are always happening.." Travis said.

Thinking about it, as he thought maybe that he could help out Kai with this problem. Even if he could regret it later on. "What if you come along with me one time to one of those parties? I can take you since I get invited to those all of the times, and you would get to meet many people," Travis suggested. "Unless you rather not. I may have overstepped..."
 
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For a few seconds, Kai was completely silent, his odd-coloured eyes staring at the alpha in shock. It was only when he became aware of just how quiet he had become that he pulled himself out of it, smiling brightly in response. All he had ever wanted was to go to a college party, mingle with people his age and make some friends. Being invited to one by someone who was evidently one of the more popular guys at college felt surreal. If Travis wasn't as nice as he was, Kai would have thought this was some sort of cruel joke. However, even though he'd only just started talking to him, Kai could tell he was sincere and genuine, which left him quickly nodding in acceptance of the offer.

"Are... Are you sure? I would love that, I-- I barely know you, though-- but this is so nice!" He grinned, adjusting the ties of his apron nervously. "...You sure people aren't going to judge? You bringing along some random guy who doesn't even go to college?"
 
Travis sat there, taking a sip before taking a bite right after ready to give him an answer. "Yeah I am sure," Travis answered before thinking about it some more. He actually didn't know the other that well. Was it safe to do this? Shaking off those thoughts, as he nudged the other in a playful teasing manner. "People may, but who cares about that. Also, people still do it and even bring people younger than you. Like high schoolers, or they try to sneak in..."

"If you are too nervous to go. We could try to go, and just hang out first before the party. So it's not overwhelming matter...." Travis suggested.
 
"No! No, I'm not nervous, no! I... I'd love to go to the party, really! When... would the party be? I can take the day off work for it," he nodded eagerly, glancing over his shoulder to ensure his boss wasn't lingering nearby, overhearing him. Not wanting to sound too eager (despite this being everything he had ever wanted, he shrugged as casually as he could, his hand resting absently on his hip.

"I mean...I'd like to come along if you want to extend the invitation; it'd be rude to turn it down..."
 
"I don't know yet. I would need to get some info from my friends to see when the next big one is and has to be a good one. Your first time needs to the best time," Travis said, not knowing for the moment that he had flirted with the other like that. Looking away nervously, "I will make sure to find out that..." he muttered under his breath.

That was pretty close.

"I am extending an invitation for both. To come out to hang out normally with a tour and other to a party..."