Shirts are stupid

[Rip]

No one drives cars in New York unless they have a special place in their hearts for backed up traffic. If a man wanted to get somewhere on time he waved down a cab. The taxi drivers were spectacular at accomplishing that goal, and their unwritten motto remained ‘whatever it takes’. As for the rest of residents, most everyone walked. They walked to work; they walked to their homes; they walked to the park; they walked to the store; they walked to the show; they walked to the next walk way. The only time they didn’t walk was when they were leaving the city, and plenty still preferred the bus. Taking a greyhound on the Hudson River line; I’m in a New York state of mind. Hey-ho.

The tall, blonde, skinny kid was never one to do anything expected because he was a typically unexpected person. The norm of society was more like a guidebook, written within its contents the unwritten rules. Rules, strictly speaking, were meant to be broken. But he was a New Yorker, born and raised, and the ‘must walk everywhere’ desire was in him just as it was everyone else in Brooklyn. In any town he might turn a few heads, as he was completely naked except for a new pair of blue Converse All Stars on his feet and a pair of red and black checkered boxers on his bottom half. His body was long, lanky, too thin, disgustingly pale and he had a way of changing his pace on a dime- like he couldn’t make up his mind if the speed was adequate for an idea or not. His face looked exhausted, like a man who hadn’t slept for days, but he sported a grin. The guy towered over some people with all of his 6 feet of his skinny, white boy self, but he was either too used to it to care or just couldn’t care for the life of him. He ran piano-man fingers through his messy, washed out blonde hair and turned to stand on the edge of the sidewalk while the rush of people moved behind him. They bumped his back and shoved, but it was never mean spirited. In the city you didn’t have time for obstacles. No hard feelings buddy.

The boy, Paletown, was tired of walking. They walked because it was faster then driving. Usually it was the other way around- you drove when you needed to be there ASAP and you took a hike if you wanted to smell the roses. Not in NYC. He waited until the cars were packed together so tightly that not even he could slip between them before moving again, and he walked near the back of a mini-van (a real gas-guzzler) and climbed to the top. He sat there like nothing, and when the family inside realized he was there their wails of protest only increased the smile. This was the city, babe. Get used to surprises.

[KOCHI-KOCHI]

As much as Nero loved nature and his old creaky house on the hill, there was something to be savoured about the roar and bustle of a place like new york city. He was thrown into the throng on people mercilessly and despite being.. well.. he was a six foot three black man with tattoos and a broad shouldered muscled body. But they still bumped into him without apologies, muttering about how they were late and damning everything. There waas something spectacular about that in itself.

The sometimes plumber, but all of the time mail man was in new york this weekend for a friends gallery opening. It was a big event and being the friendly supportive sort of person he was, Nero had made the trip out. He wouldn't have if Jericho wasn't horrendously busy with a big case, but it just so happened his taboo lover would probably not even notice his absence.

Hands were stuffed in the pockets of his worn-out work jeans, boots crushing the glass of bottles under them as he looked around over the heads and hats of people around him. Nero wasn't even going anywhere in particular, just wandering around the city. Maybe he'd try to find the statue of liberty. Instead, he found a boy sitting ontop of a van.

He'd seen a lot of strange things. But not only was this a kid on a family mini van, it was a practically naked kid. Nothing really phased him anymore, he had learned to roll with the punches of life and not even this threw him off. Nero scratched at his chest while peering at stranger from the sidework, moving the fabric of his dark wife beater. "Hey Kid!" The taller man called out in his deep rolling voice, "You willin' to show me around the city, for some money?"

One, it would get him off of that vehicle. Two, Nero really did need a guide. And three, he liked interesting people. One of his too-damned-handsome-for-his-own-good smiles was flashed, teeth brilliantly white.

[Rip]

Pale went everywhere. The peace and quiet was a nice place to get away, but he enjoyed the city more then anything. If someone were to ask why, he'd give them bullshit, like how exciting things happened 'round here more often then not. The truth was more complicated- probably stemming from the need to be around other people which was, despite what other people might argue, a need still inside him.

Although, it really was fun to cause problems like this.

The family in the van cried louder, the husband (a real fat bastard) shouted and cursed and threatened the boy's life more then once per sentence. The little girl in the back seat thought it was funny as hell though- she might have peed herself she was laughing so hard. All the same, Pale just sat there with a non-chalant posture and a smile that just hinted faint amusement. Right before the father decided to throw his diet coke from mc'donalds on the mostly-naked-fucker, a new factor entered the equasion. Dull grey eyes looked down, and there might have been a bit of surprise that passed through his expression. Well, he had been expecting someone to come up and try to get him off, but this was diffinatly different. Guide? Pay? Money? Giant black guy?

"Asking for a show?" asked the New Yorker, voice thick with a perfect English accent. The boy turned his body around quickly, laying down on the roof and proping his head up with one hand, facing Nero and drapping one arm over his stomach. The stripper pose didn't last long before he jumped down, cracking his back once and waving at the angry dad.

"Wah ya wahna go?" The accent shifted to Boston- what a weird gremlin of a homosapian. "Rightous. Pay half now, half later, cha?" ..surfer accent?

[KOCHI-KOCHI]

Nero only turned his eyes skyward and grinned at the stripper move. It was only humorous, too ridiculous to be anything else. And damned did the taller man appreciate someone who was willing to do something that others would consider foolish, especially in a city like this where everyone had somewhere to be and something to do. Besides, he was resisting chiding the other for not putting more leg into the pose. Attempt to resist failed. "I don't need a show, I could do better than that." Followed by a rumbling rich laugh that spilled through the air, cascading through the crowd of people and drawing a few eyes before they carried on.

The change in accents was strange. Like a whole lot of people shoved into one body, too much personality to be kept in that skinny little kid. Maybe not little. Hell, he was only a bit shorter than Nero himself. Blue eyes met the others, hand returning to his pocket to grab his wallet and offer the kid a sizable amount. "I don't know," Broad bare shoulders shrugged, "What's there to see?" For a split second Nero considered stipulating nowhere fancy, but, he figured that someone like this wouldn't want to go anywhere posh anyways.

"..." Brows furrowed, skin crinkling in the middle, "Will they even let you in anywhere with no shirt?" Smooth speech came cautiously, choosing his words accordingly and carefully. Maybe, just maybe he'd get an explanation of why- wait, he didn't even know his name. He casually offered extended his tattoed arm for a handshake, "Names Nero."

[Rip]

HEY! How dare Nero insist that he was sexier then the bag of dreary skin and englongated bones that was Paletown! The boy frowned, about to take off his boxers and PROVE that he most certainly could get more attention and calls from the crowd, but...

Both light colored eyebrows shot up at the wad of cash. Whoa, this guy was actually serious? His fingers moved away from the rim of his shorts.

"Ain't ya filled with surprises." Nero was something different alright, different enough to warrent the boy's actual voice. For now, in any case- at least until he spoke again. Maybe. What's there to see? What the fuck kind of question was that? It was New York- there were endless sights, and not just the tourist attractions. Er, not the NORMAL tourist attractions anyway.

"Bars, fight clubs, drug dealing locations, statue of liberty, the police stations- I could give you a tour of that-, the library, the sewer, broadway-" he would have went on and on, not sounding snide at all as he went through the list of things 'to see' in the city (including street signs, cracks in the pavement, grass, ect. ect.) but he was cut off by the shirt comment. The answer to THAT one was much simplier. "Absolutely not." He shook opposite hands with Nero, gripping the back of the hand instead so the black man couldn't grasp him. "Paletown. Ok Dr. King, lets get this fucking tour group started. I could show you this city blindfolded."

[KOCHI-KOCHI]

Paletown took hold of the back of his hand, and Nero didn't falter for a second. He turned his hand slightly to the side and clasped the other ontop of it, effectively trapping the boys hand between his two in a painful grip and gave it a hard shake accompanied by a decievingly pleasant smile.

It was a good thing the younger male didn't dare drop his pants, either. Nero may have had more decency than Pale, but he did have his manly pride. Atleast they both had strange names, and considering that the blonds name was probably an alias as well he didn't question it.

"You don't have to blindfold yourself." I have someone else I can blindfold if I really want. Someone else may have objected to being called Mr. King, but it rolled off his back like water. "Take me anywhere you think i'd like. And that I wouldn't get arrested for being at." No. That wouldn't be good. It would be a very awkward phonecall to a certain lawyer to come bail him out, and he would never live it down or hear the end of it. God, that would be like, what? A pure month of whining and bitch? Nero wasn't sure if he could survive that. It would be an over dose. Torture.

"Don't you get cold?"

[Rip]

He frowned again, pouting more then anything. Curses, Nero was tough, but this kid wasn't one to call uncle. Instead, he just gave that drunken, crazy grin in responce to his hand being crushed to death.

Manly pride had nothing to do with it, really. It was causing unexpected reactions in a crowd and observing the reations. Humorous? Angry? Fucking murderous? It was all so interesting how people responded to the weird, and Paletown loved mind games. Anyone who'd call him stupid was an idiot. That and the crazy things he did were just plain fun. How'd that saying go? Life's too short or something like that? Kinda a pity for Nero that he didn't want to get arrested, that was going to cost alot of fun. But would Pale respect that wish? Hmmm.. decisions, decisions.

"Well that's boring. You're boring. I'm taking you to time square, man. We better get moving before we GET ARRESTED FOR LOITERING!!!" He threw up his arms and waved them around, barking the words at some poor woman's face, who hit him upside the head with her breif case. Ow, fuck- his hand rubbed his face, but he didn't look especially dazed. Actually, he seemed more pleased then hurt, and just started walking, figuring Nero would follow. He shoved a few people who got in the way. "OOPS I MIGHT GET ARRESTED FOR ASSULT!!! OH DAMN ARRESTED FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE!! AM. I. YELLING. TOO. LOUD? IS THIS A CRIME? You know what else is a crime?" he threw a look over his shoulder, folding his long arms behind his head. "Public nudity. You ruined that though, GOD MAN what is even your problem? You're like a fun sucker. But that's alright. The world needs boring people. I guess. It makes everyone else feel better about themselves. NAH I'm just kidding Docta' King. Lighten up."

[KOCHI-KOCHI]

A rather devious feline grin crossed his features with Paletowns antics. Hands were stuffed in his pockets, walking with his nice wide strides. "Kid, they're not gonna throw you in jail, just in the crazy house." And a light hearted chuckle. There was really no way to make him uncomfortable or panic. You could probably tie his feet together and throw him off a bridge and he would stay calm.

"Don't worry, prison isn't so bad. Of course I won't be there to stop you from getting violated, but, my significant other would get all pissy and bitchy. You just have to beat someone up the first day and you're fne." Smile only grew, and his tone was nothing but kind and sincere. Because of course Nero wasn't saying anything that could be construed as evil. Him? No. Angelic.

"What's so great about times square?" He kept up with Pale easily, humming lightly to himself as he looked around everywhere at all the billboards and sights.

[Rip]

The crazy house comment was ignored, mostly because Nero's innocent little question caused an explosive responce. The boy wheeled around, throwing his arms wide and shouted: "AIN'T YOU EVER BEEN TO TIME SQUARE? JESUS CHRIST BANANAS, MAN!" Walking backwards, he was doing a remarkable job of not tripping over people, though more then one busy-body went face first between his boney shoulders. Pale's demener changed rapidly, shrugging. "That's 'ight, I hate time square. The call it the 'cross roads' cause it's the main intersection, but they have alot of other shit, like restraunts and movie threatures. Alot of people though, too many people. Y ou'd probably get run over. You'd probably find something to do th-" His sentence cut off sharply, looking across the way to see a cheap, dollar store. For whatever reason, it captured his full attention, and the blonde manuvered quickly through the moving crowd and dashed inside.

Ducking and trying to avoid being seen by anyone who'd throw him out. He went straight to the far wall and snatched a plastic snorkle, labled 2 dollars (so much for 'dollar' store), and ripped it out of the package. What the fuck was he even doing?

[KOCHI-KOCHI]

This kid was loud. Very loud. But he also kept Nero on his toes... Atleast this wouldn't be a boring trip. The taller man followed Pale into the the little dollar store.

"..." He paused. A long pause. Staring at him. He with his snorkel. The man stopped inside the store, arms crossed over his chest, one brow raised over a very very blue eye. And then, with suspicion and disbelief, "... Goin swimmin or something, kid? You'll need goggles, won't you?"

Nero was bold. Spontaneous. But not even HE was this special flavour, not even on the same spice rack as Paletown was. Still, he moved with the flow. If they were in a dollar store getting random shit for no apparent reason, that was how it was going to go. It was better than being lost in the throng of people, atleast.