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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 13:43:57 GMT -5
It was raining when the taxi pulled up in front of the shabby-looking apartment building. Veidt hurried out of the car, pressing enough cash into the driver's hand to elicit a low whistle as he did, and, adjusting his coat and hat, rushed to the arch covering the building's entryway.
It had probably been a grand building once- the concrete angel busts over the archway could argue that, even if they were probably only to complement the cemetery across the way. But, coming up on eighty now, it was dingy and run-down, with the telltale spiderweb crack of a bullet in the glass to the side of the presently locked front doors.
"I'm sorry, that took longer than expected," said Veidt. "Are you all right?"
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:00:37 GMT -5
Adrien turned up a flushed, tear-streaked face to Adrian and rubbed at his cheek with the back of one careless hand. He was damp and shivering and enormously angry.
"I'm fine," he insisted. "Stupid queen, I still can't get hold of her."
He seized onto Adrian's arms to pull himself to his feet, his legs stiff and sore from sitting on the porch for hours. It was still a warm night, but the porch was cold and so was the rain.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:03:07 GMT -5
"Do you want me to call a locksmith- good God, you're shivering-"
Veidt pulled off his coat and slung it over Adrien's shoulders.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:12:13 GMT -5
Adrien shook his rainy head. He was blond enough that even with his hair wet, it did not look brown.
"Can you get me a hotel?" He asked, wrapping the lapels close. The coat seemed surprisingly large on him. He had noted that Veidt had a gymnast's broad shoulders, but he had not considered the difference. "You're richer than God, so I don't mind asking."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:15:23 GMT -5
"That was going to be my next question," said Veidt, "though that might prove difficult for dressing tomorrow morning. I don't mind it, though, if you don't-"
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:16:10 GMT -5
"I don't mind it."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:18:46 GMT -5
"-or if you'd prefer, I could put you up in my guest room, and have your things cleaned tonight."
Veidt held his hands up as though to placate him as he said this, to create an appropriate distance between the actual offer and what it could be taken to imply.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:19:21 GMT -5
"Oh," said Adrien, shivering idly under his coat. "Oh, yeah. Sure."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:25:34 GMT -5
"When you have a moment," Veidt added, as he reached into his trouser pocket for his phone, "you might also tell me the name of your landlord, if you know it. This building is in terrible condition."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:27:35 GMT -5
"I'll have to ask Divine. If I ever see her around," he said resentfully.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:31:26 GMT -5
"It might be a mistake, you know," Veidt said, in what was clearly meant to be an encouraging tone. "Here- we have to go out to the corner."
He unfolded his umbrella and pulled Adrien underneath it as they moved toward the corner to wait for the cab.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:32:32 GMT -5
"What do you think we'll look like to the cabbie?" Adrien asked, to pass the time.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:33:08 GMT -5
"Father and son," Veidt said flatly.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jan 10, 2020 14:34:49 GMT -5
"Really?" Adrien asked in enthusiastic amazement. "I thought uncle and nephew."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jan 10, 2020 14:40:14 GMT -5
"That works too, I suppose. You're certain you don't mind? I just don't want to have to send you back home in the same unwashed clothes tomorrow morning- though I guess that means you'll need an extra blanket for the bed."
He gave Adrien a very flat, knowing look.
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