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Sen had still not entirely adjusted to his new life. He didn't yet know how to be considerate enough about his wallet, which was devastatingly light. Despite the fact he could hardly afford it, he was still out paying for overpriced drinks. Even during happy hour, they were price-gouging him and carving a hole in his pocket. Once one descended into madness, there was no stopping. This was his justification.
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It was the world's biggest con. See people get a little tipsy and then watch them spend their life's savings on sugary liqueur-infused fruit smoothies. What a miserable way to live, he didn't know how the hell he was supposed to make it in life like this. Yet, the very idea of going crawling back to his dad seemed even more miserable. For right now, the pain of one action didn't override the pain of another. He could still bare to get up in the morning, so he'd have to put up with this shit.
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Dazing up for a moment, he didn't immediately notice the guy sitting next to him or the look he was receiving. Not until he spoke and he couldn't stop himself from jumping a little. It wasn't like he was unfamiliar with getting chatted up, but somehow he'd still managed to be caught off guard.
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At least the guy was cute.
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Maybe not in his usual type sort of way, but cute and nerdy sort.
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"Oh uh.. hah yeah if you like syrup with a little vodka added, it's alright. Happy hour though so can't complain." His height helped a lot in getting noticed, not to mention years of feeling self-important enough to demand attention when he didn't receive it. He managed to flag down the bar tender and then motioned to the redhead beside him. "Pretty red here wants a drink."

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emerson whitlock  

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Even seated on a stool, the guy looked tall. Emerson stuffed down the pang of envy that instantly came from his own lack of height. When the stool beside him cleared, he pulled himself up onto it. Not that it made too much difference. He was still a scrawny little twerp.[break][break]

There was also another flutter of something else that Em also tried to shove away because, well, this guy was exactly his type. Tall, dark-haired, and stupidly striking. It almost made him want to be resistant from the onset. Just out of simple stubbornness.[break][break]

But of course his mouth had already opened and words had come out, and he was probably going to say more stupid nonsense before his resistance could actually kick in. Whatever, at least this time orange soda wasn’t coming out of his nose like it had when he’d first met Leif.[break][break]

Honestly, Emerson sort of expected to be ignored. Or at least given a grunt of acknowledgement. The sort that said i heard you, but leave me alone. It wouldn’t be wholly surprising–he gave off the impression of a pitiful drowned rat (drowned in orange soda.) Mousy and scared of everything, because, well…he was. Usually. Out in public on his own, anyway. He liked to think he was getting better about that thanks to the few friends he’d managed to gather somehow by miracle work or divine intervention.[break][break]

But did that show when the guy beside him actually acknowledged him? With words? Of course not.[break][break]

“Yeah, uh. Yeahmm.” Em could say more than that, right? He wanted to smack at his face a little bit to knock some sense back into himself, but that would only make him look weird. “Best way to drink vodka.”[break][break]

Actually…sort of true.[break][break]

If he hadn’t been red before, though, it was abundantly clear now. Even in the neon glow from the bar light. Pretty red. Him?? “No, you’re pretty.” Babbled back like he had a death wish before the bartender interceded and saved his life. Exhaling, he managed to order the same thing. Though not without hiding behind a card-sized specials menu for a minute.
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Sen Hasegawa  

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Despite how he was raised, Sen wasn't regularly unfriendly. At least, he didn't go out of his way to be. If people thought him pretentious or rude then that was without intent. How he was raised wasn't normal, and he enjoyed using it as an excuse to justify the things he didn't understand. Most of the world after leaving the family was overwhelming and daunting. He had to figure it all out and couldn't even pay his way through. It was bizarre, but that was what normal people did every day.
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Best way to drink vodka. He smirked at that response. The man beside him clearly wasn't a drinker or at least didn't seem to make a habit of the hard stuff. Sen hadn't gone to college, but he'd gone to college parties. Anything that was synonymous with stupid fun, was usually the kind of thing that attracted him.
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The other man's red face had not escaped his notice, which was good. He liked playing with his food, pretty much. Maybe this guy would be his source of entertainment for the night. Even if he probably lived in his mom's basement watching amateur porn at 2am. Sen wasn't really picky and he wasn't in the position to judge, considering who he was.
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"No, you’re pretty." He almost spat up his drink, suppressing the startled laugh that sputtered free. He was not expecting that. It was either boldly spoken or awkward. Sen couldn't completely tell. "Oh.... well damn, that's flattering."
[break][break]
He might have graced him with a smile or a wink, had the guy not been shielding himself behind a menu like shield against dragon fire.




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emerson whitlock  

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At least this guy isn’t scowling at him or biting back with insults. Maybe that would be easier to handle. In that case, his babbling would turn into the typical landslide of apologies that came with his social awkwardness. But on the other hand…he didn’t want to be ridiculed or insulted by a cute guy, either. Emerson was a friendly person. Chatting up strangers at the bar, though? Not exactly his forte.[break][break]

It didn’t help that he wasn’t too well-versed in mixed drinks, so that probably made him look dumber. He should’ve stuck to what he knew–beers and hops and IPAs. Hanging out in breweries that weren’t as busy. He’d never been a house party guy. Or a club guy. Or an ‘any sort of crowded social scene’ kind of guy. And now that was going to come back to bite him.[break][break]

He could feel the attention settle over him in a way that was almost petrifying. Rust red eyes went wide with mortification as the stranger sputtered and nearly started coughing on his own drink. And he was laughing?? His face flushed a deeper shade of red. That drink needed to show up stat.[break][break]

After a moment of humiliation, he peeked over the top of the drink menu. “Well…that’s good at least. It wasn’t an insult.” Even if he was awkward as hell.[break][break]

As soon as the cocktail showed up, Em latched onto it. His face quickly twisted at the taste. “Yep. That’s definitely syrupy.” But he could still feel the speed of drinking it down quickly go right to his head. Good.


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Sen Hasegawa  

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It was easier to be a bitch online, even if he'd grown up in a familiar that regularly laced their tongues with proverbial swords. He hadn't quite kept up with the rest of them, of course he usually found a way to win in the end. He was still a Hasegawa, obviously. Failure was never an option, except recently wherever his shitty luck was involved.
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Anyways, he'd take advantage of the attention he currently had, not that he was exactly desperate for it. He could get company when he wanted it, but nothing could be worse than the idea of taking anyone back to the bug infested apartment he was sadly forced to live in. It was all he could suffer to afford, which he was likely lucky to even have.
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Admittedly, he wasn't exactly great at making a good impression. It was easier back when he'd had money, now he had only his looks to flex on. That only when so far if people realized he was also an asshole to be around.
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"I warned you." He said with a huff of laughter, sipping at his own with a sneer. "The worst part is that the more syrup means the less alcohol." That was the easiest way to save on expenses, at least.
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"You meeting someone here or what?"




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emerson whitlock  

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Out of the corner of his eye, Emerson observed the other man. Studied his profile as innocuously as he could manage. Usually, nerves swallowed him up as soon as he registered the fact that oh, this person’s hot. And then it would only be a matter of time before he was shrugged off for making an embarrassment of himself.[break][break]

It was a far cry from the confidence he could hold himself with online, in streams, or when he was set up to talk science for work. But maybe he could at least try now. Maybe then the night could end in his favor. For once.[break][break]

His nose remained wrinkled at the drink, but he still suffered it. “I’ll survive, I think. Just means ordering something stiffer next.” Was it just him, or did this guy’s voice sound oddly familiar? Nah, Em was imagining things.[break][break]

There was something almost flattering about being asked if he was meeting another person. Almost like he was worth spending time with, or that this person felt intrigued enough to keep talking to him. Or maybe he was just being polite. Yeah, that was probably it. Still, a mildly shy smile twisted his lips at the idea. Wishful thinking.[break][break]

“Hm? Oh, no. I just came to get a drink, or two.” Or many, depending on whatever turn this interaction took— good or bad. He looked down at the swirling contents of his glass, then let out a quiet huff of determination before looking back up.[break][break]

“Are you?” Fidgeting, he tucked a stray lock of red behind an ear. “Meeting up with someone, I mean.”

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Sen Hasegawa  

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Expense alone would demand that he not sacrifice his wallet for the sake of drinking, even for a pretty face. Yet already, he was figuring that it wouldn't be that bad, just to keep up. There was nothing worse than being sober and lonely.
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"Am I?" He nursed the idea, humming out as he pretended to think it out. As if he had a wide array of people he could call upon to cure his boredom. At one time, that may have been true, back when he could afford to buy his company. "Nope just little ol me." How depressing, at least under most circumstances. Then again, he wouldn't object this turn of events. He did like redheads after all.
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"So, what do you do for a living?"


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emerson whitlock  

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Surely the other man was meeting someone, and his delayed response was his means of trying to figure out how to let Em down carefully. Or maybe he didn’t care at all, and just wanted to toy around with him. Not that Emerson would say boo about it if he was. The fact that he wasn’t though, gave Em pause. “Oh. Well, lucky me.” He tried not to perk up too much.[break][break]

He braced himself, then downed the rest of his drink. His nose wrinkled at the sickly sweetness of it. But it was no more than a means of hyping himself up. Emerson blinked against the sudden headrush that came with the chug of liquor. Then his attention returned to the other, and the corners of his mouth curved in a tentative smile. Not quite confident yet despite the following offering. “I’ll buy your next round, then.”[break][break]

Near immediately, his hand shot into the air to flag the bartender back. Maybe that time he’d be noticed more readily. His cheeks remained stubbornly warm, though now he had the excuse of the cocktail’s effects to blame more than his own sheepishness. “Just IT assistance. Some programming. Nothing too special.” He tilted his head to the side and the messy hair he’d tucked away stubbornly fell over his shoulder again. “You?”[break][break]

Probably something way cooler than his job, anyway. Not that Em didn’t like his work, it just sorta went hand in hand with the concept of geeky.

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Sen Hasegawa  

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Despite himself, he couldn't help but admit to himself that the attention was kind of nice. Even if the company was no more than a brief interaction in a bar, Sen was acquainted with loneliness. Even for all the smack he talked, he had grown up in relative loneliness. He didn't have siblings and he wasn't a huge fan of any other family. Friends had been few and far between. Anything romantic was brief attraction, prompted by want of money or power, only to desert him when they realized he had little substance to go with it. The money he had was already owned and it was bloody. Not that he did anything to deserve the money, bloody or otherwise.
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Nepotism at its most worthless. And he couldn't even fucking manage that without screwing it all up. So, yeah, the company was unexpectedly nice. Even if he wasn't really being his normal horrible self. It was all a long-con anyways. Always was.
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His eyebrows shot up, "You sure? Wow thanks." He didn't expect that weird sensation of gratitude, poverty had an uncanny way of making him extra thankful. He wasn't sure he liked it. That feeling of almost being stepped on, only to be saved by someone more fortunate. A lot of people felt that way and didn't complain about it though.
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"Oh shit, same. Sorta. Some people think I'm a whizz but... not so sure. Kinda in between jobs right now." Unemployed, a bad way of covering it up. Shit. He tried not wince as the words left his mouth. It was natural of him because he'd never actually been formally employed. It had been under the table or hobbies. He fucked people over because he could, not because he needed to be paid for it.
[break][break]
The next round was poured out and he took a long sip, knowing he should probably pace it some. Especially considering he was surviving off cheap noodles, beer, and tap water.



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emerson whitlock

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Maybe, just maybe, he could swing this. Emerson wasn’t exactly used to the practice of picking someone up. Usually it was the other way around, given the fact that he lacked boldness in most in-person social interactions, no matter what sort. But he’d been doing better recently. Even if only a little. So why shouldn’t he be able to manage now? As long as this guy didn’t laugh him out of the room for trying. He seemed to enjoy Em’s attentiveness, though. Pretty red. It burned in the back of his mind, pleasant and warm like a cinnamon burn.[break][break]

Emerson’s head tilted. “Yeah? ‘Course I’m sure. You like someone, you buy them a drink.” He paused, brows furrowing together. “Right? That’s how that goes?” When he thought about it, he wasn’t usually the one buying drinks for others so maybe there was more social structure to it than he realized. Sure, he sometimes bought drinks for friends. But that was distinctly different. Unspokenly so. Or at least that’s what he had thought.[break][break]

His self-inflicted worry faded to the background, though, at Sen’s response. All too quickly, Em lit up—a degree of confidence returning at the prospect of a shared interest he was actually capable of talking about without any sort of nervous behavior. “Really? No way! What’re the odds, really?”[break][break]

Arms folding to rest against the bar too, Em leaned sideways toward, a conspiratorial smile pulling across his mouth as he looked up at the other. “Okay, okay see—what you should say instead is right now, you’re doing freelance.” His nose wrinkled as his smile stretched into a grin. “Saves some extra questioning.” It’d helped him out before. Both when he’d been unemployed, or when he’d been focusing on projects that weren’t exactly smiled upon as upstanding.[break][break]

But Em wasn’t about to add that bit. He took another long swig from his glass, not thinking too hard about the fact that he hadn’t leaned away yet. Drinking until that fizzy feeling lit up his brain again. That was the point after all, wasn’t it? At least, it was if he picked up the vibe that Em put down anyway.


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Sen Hasegawa  

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Sen smiled at that, it was such an innocent sentiment. Maybe it was an act, but it was still nice that he could provoke that kind of response. Even if it was bullshit and most of this was simply the reaction to attraction. "Yeah, suppose that's true. Though now I suppose I owe you, sounds dangerous." His grin was crooked, just a touch wolfish as he teased him. He definitely wasn't about to object free drinks, especially when he couldn't afford it. Free booze and a pretty face, talk about hitting the goddamn jackpot tonight.
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Admittedly, even Sen had a bit of a nerdy side. It seeped out with the things he was passionate about, tech being one of those things. Of course, his interests weren't exactly squeaky clean, but the other's response made him feel that maybe he understood that too. "Freelance, right." He laughed at that, feeling a little sheepish. "Yeah I'm freelance right now." It technically wasn't untrue. Especially if he could work some money out of his more successful cousin, Yumi Hasegawa . Though there was no telling how that shit was gonna go. He was loathing the idea of even approaching her. He had been a bit of an asshole, after all. Sucking up was a bit demeaning.
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The way the other was looking up at him did not escape him, of course. It was practically an invitation to push this farther. Maybe too far. Granted, he hadn't had any regrets as of recently in that department. Maybe some stagnancy, if anything. Maybe this was just what he needed.
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After another quick round, he leaned forward, weight shifting in the stool. "You wanna get out of here?"



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emerson whitlock

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Though seemingly demure and coy in exchanges like this, Emerson wasn’t exactly innocent or inexperienced behind the shyness. He had needs just like anyone else, and he met them in whatever way seemed best in the moment. Though if behaving like a shrinking violet earned him bonus points, then he wouldn’t protest. Sort of like using an additional power up in a game to his favor. He was awkward, he was shy, he flustered easily because he didn’t know how to accept a compliment to save his life–but he was not a prude.[break][break]

So his smile turned sheepish, and his glance flit away for a moment as he sipped on the straw of his drink. “True. Don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s always the quiet ones, y’know?” If he were bolder he might’ve punctuated the suggestion with a wink, but that would’ve defeated the purpose too, in a way.[break][break]

And really, the connection point of tech was a bit too exciting to overlook. Emerson laughed as he amended his statement. “See? You’ve already got the hang of it. Much better.” It was easy to talk shop. Comfortable, even, as they polished off yet another round in record time.[break][break]

Despite his best efforts, the question still caused color to rise to his face. Was he charmed? Was that somehow easier than it was usually made out to be?? “Mhm, yeah. I’d like that.” Em teetered clumsily as he slipped off the stool, but used both hands to brace against the edge of the bar before he settled up with the bartender. Glassy eyes eventually drifted back toward the other, and had to keep traveling up, up, up.[break][break]

“You’re even taller than I thought,” he commented with a flurry of laughter. He sorta wanted to scale him like a tree, to be honest. Evening air nipped at his face, somewhat cool against the heat in his face from the succession of drinks. He was short, and while his tolerance wasn’t terrible, he was by far more adjusted to beer than he was liquor.[break][break]

“Where to– your place? Mine? I’m not far off. Or…uh, other..?”

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Sen Hasegawa  

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He didn't even know this guy's name.
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Though it wouldn't be the first time. Luckily, he had drank just enough not to be particularly worried about the potential serial killer her was choosing to go home with. Red was small, which was both undeniably attractive, but also made him somewhat more confident about his chances if this did somehow go wrong.
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"It's nice until you meet a low ceiling. Then, not so much." His hand pressed to the small of the other's back as he awkwardly dismounted the stool, a little chuckle slipping free before slipping through the bar.
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He expected warm, humid air when he stepped outside, the stickiness of a hot day lasting well into the night, however was granted by a touch of evening chill. Even then, his own apartment didn't really have a/c, so it might be nice to spend a night in a place that didn't feel like an oven. There was also no way in hell he was going through the humiliation of taking someone back there.
[break][break]
"Let's do yours then? That okay?"
[break][break]


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emerson whitlock

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