conversation going. He ached, desperate for words after so many years of silence. Lost, he bit his lip, trying to think of something to say.
The wind picked up, spraying them with a fine mist. Ah, the weather. He could speak about that. He opened his mouth, but Robert spoke first.
"I think we missed the bus. Shit. I was hoping to get to work early today. Where are you headed?"
He thought a long moment. He knew direction mostly. Had to think about an actual destination. “Cream Dream. A club, yes?"
A sudden excitement rippled over Robert's face. “The Cream Dream. It's not too far, if you don't mind the rain. I'm going there myself. We could walk together."
Death turned down the street; the line of lights glowed in the distance. Weather didn't bother him. “All right."
Stepping out into the rain, they walked in no particular hurry toward the club. A pleasant rush spread through him.
To walk with someone. It seemed strange to do such a thing, but relaxing. Normal.
"I didn't get your name,” Robert said.
Death blinked at the blue-eyed man. He couldn't remember the last time someone asked him that question. His name... he'd had one at one time. A faint memory stirred but he couldn't be certain where it came from.
"Simon,” Death said.
"Nice to meet you, Simon. Do you go to the club often?"
"I've never been there. I just have business there tonight."
"Oh. I see.” The rain matted Robert's hair and dark curls clung to his face. Drips of water beaded off his chin as his face fell a bit. “I work there. A dancer."
"You have a dancer's grace.” Death let his eyes linger over Robert's frame, remembering the sweet contours of his body. He would love to see such a body in motion.
Robert's smile returned, lighting up his face. “Thanks. Will you be there awhile? Maybe catch my show?"
"Yes,” he said before he could stop himself. “If there's time."
"What do you do? Businessman or something? You don't see many businessmen walking in the rain."
"No, I... deliver things."
"Like the bike delivery people."
"Yes, something like that.” Death smiled at his own joke. Messages and deliveries. He'd have to remember that one if he was ever in such a conversation again. Not that it was likely to happen.
Robert pointed. “There's the club."
Music poured from the squat black building on the corner and neon lights flickered overhead. The large sign would have been hard to miss, even if Robert hadn't pointed it out. Bright purple and blue neon glared out into the night like a beacon.
Death stepped over a puddle as they walked the last of the way through to the parking lot. He was already missing the company that would leave him. He looked Robert over, longing to keep the normalcy of pleasant conversation going. He had the sudden urge to stop him from going inside. To prevent him from ever going into the club.
The tug of souls cried out to him, begging for his touch to take them. Not Robert, but others demanded his attention. He winced at their painful call and the urge passed.
"I gotta go around back. It was nice meeting you, Simon. I hope you stay for my show."
Death started a bit at the sound of the name. Simon. That was him. He liked the sound of it. It had a nice ring coming from Robert's lips.
"Yes. It was nice meeting you too. We'll meet again soon, I think."
Robert's face glowed with pleasure. “I'd like that."
Death watched him go, feeling suddenly obligated to see Robert again. The young man had clearly misunderstood his words.
He let out a slow deep breath and walked to the front of the club. He had work to do. A ritual he'd grown accustomed to.
A large bouncer appeared as he opened the door and stepped out of the rain. The man's eyes peered through him, his expression confused as Death slipped past. Loud music and more neon flickered through the dark club. Small tables and booths filled the open space in front of the large stage. The mostly male crowd was in various dress from peacock flashy to
The wind picked up, spraying them with a fine mist. Ah, the weather. He could speak about that. He opened his mouth, but Robert spoke first.
"I think we missed the bus. Shit. I was hoping to get to work early today. Where are you headed?"
He thought a long moment. He knew direction mostly. Had to think about an actual destination. “Cream Dream. A club, yes?"
A sudden excitement rippled over Robert's face. “The Cream Dream. It's not too far, if you don't mind the rain. I'm going there myself. We could walk together."
Death turned down the street; the line of lights glowed in the distance. Weather didn't bother him. “All right."
Stepping out into the rain, they walked in no particular hurry toward the club. A pleasant rush spread through him.
To walk with someone. It seemed strange to do such a thing, but relaxing. Normal.
"I didn't get your name,” Robert said.
Death blinked at the blue-eyed man. He couldn't remember the last time someone asked him that question. His name... he'd had one at one time. A faint memory stirred but he couldn't be certain where it came from.
"Simon,” Death said.
"Nice to meet you, Simon. Do you go to the club often?"
"I've never been there. I just have business there tonight."
"Oh. I see.” The rain matted Robert's hair and dark curls clung to his face. Drips of water beaded off his chin as his face fell a bit. “I work there. A dancer."
"You have a dancer's grace.” Death let his eyes linger over Robert's frame, remembering the sweet contours of his body. He would love to see such a body in motion.
Robert's smile returned, lighting up his face. “Thanks. Will you be there awhile? Maybe catch my show?"
"Yes,” he said before he could stop himself. “If there's time."
"What do you do? Businessman or something? You don't see many businessmen walking in the rain."
"No, I... deliver things."
"Like the bike delivery people."
"Yes, something like that.” Death smiled at his own joke. Messages and deliveries. He'd have to remember that one if he was ever in such a conversation again. Not that it was likely to happen.
Robert pointed. “There's the club."
Music poured from the squat black building on the corner and neon lights flickered overhead. The large sign would have been hard to miss, even if Robert hadn't pointed it out. Bright purple and blue neon glared out into the night like a beacon.
Death stepped over a puddle as they walked the last of the way through to the parking lot. He was already missing the company that would leave him. He looked Robert over, longing to keep the normalcy of pleasant conversation going. He had the sudden urge to stop him from going inside. To prevent him from ever going into the club.
The tug of souls cried out to him, begging for his touch to take them. Not Robert, but others demanded his attention. He winced at their painful call and the urge passed.
"I gotta go around back. It was nice meeting you, Simon. I hope you stay for my show."
Death started a bit at the sound of the name. Simon. That was him. He liked the sound of it. It had a nice ring coming from Robert's lips.
"Yes. It was nice meeting you too. We'll meet again soon, I think."
Robert's face glowed with pleasure. “I'd like that."
Death watched him go, feeling suddenly obligated to see Robert again. The young man had clearly misunderstood his words.
He let out a slow deep breath and walked to the front of the club. He had work to do. A ritual he'd grown accustomed to.
A large bouncer appeared as he opened the door and stepped out of the rain. The man's eyes peered through him, his expression confused as Death slipped past. Loud music and more neon flickered through the dark club. Small tables and booths filled the open space in front of the large stage. The mostly male crowd was in various dress from peacock flashy to
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