genlisae | Pleasantries - Chapter 3, Part 1 (Reply)

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Chapter 2

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Chapter 3

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

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If you haven't already please read: The Future Of Pleasantries

Genre: Drama, Modern, Sci-fi, Dark, Crime
Word Count For Chapter: 15900ish
Rating: NC17 / M for story as a whole and this time it really does apply to the chapter!

Advisories: (for entire chapter) Language, Violence, Angst, Many many verbal slurs (if Political incorrectness - which is not actually a word - offends you DO NOT READ!). Death, Discrimination, Implied Drug Use, Implied Adult Situations, Very Loosely Implied Prostitution (seriously, so loosely that I am not sure I even need this but hey, ass is covered.), Alternative Sexuality, Pizza unfit for human consumption (It's okay though, Tel isn't human), and one itty bitty little fantasy courtesy of Ripp ... I think that covers just about everything.

Note: Trying something this time. Time is a bit all over the place for this chapter so thanks to a suggestion from the awesome amochan8878 I am dropping in "Law & Order" style time stamps.

Pleasantries - Chapter 3 - Grunt Work- Part 1

7:10 PM Saturday, April 12

“Oh hey, Ripp,” Damon said staring curiously as Telesto greeted the new arrival.

“Hi,” Ripp replied quietly.

All eyes in the room swung around to stare at him.

“I didn’t know you were coming over,” Damon continued.

“That’s because he’s not here for you,” Telesto explained pointedly, looking slightly amused.

“You’re not?” Damon arched a brow.

“Uh, no,” Ripp murmured, shifting uncomfortably, “I came over to talk to Tel.”

“Oh,” Damon sounded surprised.

“You’ve met my brother, right?” Telesto asked changing the subject, “Well, my other brother, the one who is technically also my uncle due to Dad and Grandpa being impregnated by the same Alien? It’s really not as wrong as it sounds, I swear.”

Ripp shook his head, “Not really, no.”

“Well then,” Telesto gestured to the green skinned man on the couch, “This is my brother, Caliban. Cal, meet Ripp, he’s a friend from school.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Villega,” Ripp said quietly.

“Please, just Cal,” Caliban smiled, “Are you sure he’s a friend of yours though, Tel? He’s polite!”

Ripp blushed slightly.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Telesto rolled his eyes, “We are going before you idiots embarrass him more. Enjoy the game. We’ll be in my room. Try very, very hard not to need anything please.”

Ripp felt the eyes of the room’s occupants continuing to follow them as they made their way past the couch and into the hallway.

“Am I the only one that found that odd?” Caliban asked once Telesto and Ripp were out of the room.

“No,” Damon agreed, “You aren’t, and this is not the first strange thing those two have done recently.”

“You know,” Rein turned to Damon with a small, mischievous smile, “Suddenly I think I left something important in Tel’s room.”

Damon nodded, “Hey me too. How weird is that?”

“No,” Rythe Villega cut in adamantly, “Absolutely not. If Ripp wishes to speak to your brother privately you will leave them alone.”

“So,” Caliban arched an interested brow, “You hear anything good you’ll let me know right?”

“Cal!” Rythe sighed, exasperated, “You are not helping!”

Ripp breathed a mental sigh of relief as they entered Telesto’s room. The curious stares of those in the living room had almost been too much. He wondered about that briefly. It wasn’t like he had never been to this house before; he’d been friends with Damon for years and was there at least once a week. Tonight though it was like they all knew something was up. The really strange part he knew was that if he wasn’t so nervous about asking in the first place it wouldn’t be a big deal.

Of course in all the years he’d been visiting this house, he’d always been there to hang out with Damon, never Telesto. Odd that. Telesto was certainly part of the wider circle of Ripp’s friend’s but they’d never really spent any time together. In fact, Ripp had never even looked inside this room before even though the door was usually open and it was directly across the hall from Damon’s where he’d spent many hours playing video games. Recently part of the reason had been too avoid the distraction though he admitted to himself.

Realizing the only thing he really did know about Telesto was that he was gorgeous beyond words, Ripp glanced around the room. The décor was certainly … eclectic. It suited the Alien though he decided. It felt comforting, relaxed, hinting at refined, while still being fun and playful. Then his eyes settled on the display above the bed and he couldn’t hide a small smirk while adding salacious to the list of Telesto’s traits.

“Nice.”

“Thanks,” Telesto grinned.

“I find they are usually good for a raised eyebrow or two,”

“I can imagine,” Ripp nodded.

“Damon keeps trying to steal the first one,” Telesto mentioned, his voice tinged with amusement, “I have to admit he was the reason I hung it in the first place. I knew exactly what meaning he was going to go with for it and I couldn’t resist screwing with his head.”

“It would make a bit more sense over his bed than yours.”

Telesto shrugged, grinning, “It’s grown on me.”

“So, what’s up?” Telesto asked flopping down on the bed and making himself comfortable.

Immediately Ripp was back to uncomfortable fidgeting at the reminder of why he was there. How did you ask this? Did you just come right out and say it? Did you explain why first?

Telesto just lay there smiling expectantly up at him.

“Um,” Ripp began forcing his mind back onto why he was there and not on anything to do with how delectable the other boy looked stretched out like that, no definitely not that, “You … I mean I’ve noticed you are really good at dancing ...” because I can’t seem to stop watching you whenever you are around, he added to himself.

Telesto nodded, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Ripp gave a return nod, swallowing. The Alien looked amazing when he smiled like that. His eyes lit up more than usual which really wasn’t fair when a person was trying to concentrate, “And I have kind of … well … always wanted to … um … learn,” Ripp pressed on. “So, uh, would you, I mean if you don’t mind, and you have time and … you know, you think it won’t be too hard …”

Ripp’s courage left him and he flopped down onto the chair behind him.

“You want me to teach you?” Telesto asked sitting up

Ripp nodded but didn’t look up to meet the other boy’s gaze, “If you …” he didn’t get to finish his sentence as the phone rang.

“One sec,” Telesto sighed crossing the room to the desk behind Ripp to answer the phone.

Ripp sighed. Why was this so difficult? Really all he had to say was: Hey your pretty good at it, could you teach me to dance so I actually can without making an ass of myself? It wasn’t all that hard. The words just kept getting mixed up as he tried to speak them and different ones added themselves in there somehow and Telesto probably thought he was a complete idiot by now.

“Hey Jules,” Telesto smiled as he answered the phone, “I wasn’t sure you were going to call tonight.”

Telesto seemed to be a problem all his own. Maybe this hadn’t been the best idea. He was nervous enough just about asking and then the actual learning, without making a complete fool of himself in the process; but the way being around the other boy affected him, he hadn’t expected that.

“I can’t really talk right now,” Telesto was saying as he paced the room, “No, Ripp is here.”

Sure he was guilty of looking, who wouldn’t? Okay and maybe he’d done some thinking, fantasising really if he was honest, but again that was normal right? What wasn’t normal was his inability to form a complete sentence!

No, now that he was here and thinking about it a little more clearly this really hadn’t been a good plan. He should just go.

“Jules!” Telesto’s nervous laugh cut through Ripp’s musing, “I am so not discussing that with you right now!”

Ripp gave a silent nod, he should go right now.

Ripp stood and started toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Telesto asked placing a hand on his hip, “No, not you, Jules, hang on.”

“I don’t want to interrupt your phone call,” Ripp told him fidgeting nervously with his fingers, “I’ll catch up with you later.”

Telesto reached out a hand and placed it on Ripp’s arm, “Stay.”

Ripp managed to stifle his initial gasp of surprise staring down at the pale green hand resting lightly against his arm. That was not good. Actually it was; really, wonderfully, skin tingly good.

Which was not good at all.

“Jules you know I adore you but sometimes I think you’re crazy,” Telesto chuckled.

Reason one why it wasn’t good; he was on the phone with his girlfriend! Ripp could have listed many more reasons had he been able to think clearly. He couldn’t. Any moment now Telesto was going to move his hand away, Ripp just knew it. He was counting on it, hoping for it really, so he could start breathing again.

He tensed slightly waiting for the moment he knew was coming.

Or not!

Looking up, slightly horrified, from the hand now reassuringly stroking his arm, Ripp stifled a groan. That wasn’t helping any, despite the Alien’s intentions. He should just move away, take a few steps back.

He really didn’t want to. He wanted to step closer, a lot closer.

“Little too soon for that don’t you think?” Telesto was saying into the phone, he paused for a moment listening with a slight smile before speaking again, “Well no, I wouldn’t object, but still!”

With a small sigh of self reproach, Ripp shook his head. How was he ever going to be able to face Juliet again?

Telesto noticed the gesture and shot him a sympathetic glance, his hand trailing down to grasp Ripp’s reassuringly, “Sorry,” he whispered moving the phone away from his mouth slightly, “She never shuts up. Just a minute more okay?”

Ripp nodded, fully expecting the Alien to let go of his hand then.

He didn’t.

“I will call you back later,” Telesto insisted.

Ripp was fairly certain he was hallucinating. Years of repressing, ignoring certain things could cause that couldn’t it? Cause you to imagine things were happening that weren’t? Like that Telesto had just twined their fingers together. That had to be a hallucination.

The fingers laced with his gave a gentle squeeze. Okay, so not a hallucination. Tel was a ‘touchy’ kind of person though wasn’t he? Huggy even? Ripp tried to remember. They seemed like traits the Alien would have, but as he tried to remember specific examples, times Telesto had exhibited those qualities he came up blank.

“Ripp has been waiting very patiently, Jules,” Telesto sighed, “Yeah, tell you all about it. Bye.”

Breathing a sigh of relief as Telesto dropped his hand, Ripp silently willed his nerves back under control. There was no way he could go through with this. No way at all. Just a few minutes alone with the Alien and he was a mess! How was he ever going to manage long enough to learn anything from him?

“So you want me to teach you to dance?” Telesto inquired once he had hung up the phone.

“Actually,” Ripp hedged timidly, “I’m thinking that was not the best plan. I’m not even sure why I asked really.”

Telesto smiled, “Because you wanted to.”

“I … I did … but now.”

Telesto pouted, “So I don’t get to teach you?”

Ripp blinked, “You mean you actually wanted to?”

“Hell yes!”

“But … why?”

Telesto regarded him thoughtfully for a moment, “I like you and I remember when I was little, you didn’t seem so sad. Now you are. I’d like to see you smile again.”

“Oh,” Ripp shifted uncomfortably. He had no idea what to make of that.

“So do we have a deal?” Telesto asked hopefully.

Ripp stared at him. He wanted to say no. For his own sanity he really should say no. How did he say no when those eyes were looking at him like that though?

“Yeah …”

“Sweet!” Telesto grinned flopping down on the bed again, “When did you want to start? We are going to have fun, I promise!”

“Sure,” Ripp agreed uncertainly. Now if he could just manage to get through this without connecting the words Telesto and bed too often it should be fine.

Who was he kidding? It would be a miracle if he thought of anything else. He was so very, very screwed.

* * *

1:17 AM Sunday, April 13

Ripp stepped carefully over the fifth stair. That was the squeaky one that was sure to wake his father. He’d spent far too long talking to Telesto. It had been a pleasant surprise to discover they had much the same taste in music. Telesto had heard of more bands and knew more songs by the groups Ripp did recognize, but their overall music preferences had matched up nicely and the two boys had spent several hours simply going through Telesto’s CD collection.

Now it was well past midnight and Ripp was quietly sneaking his way upstairs being careful not to wake anyone. He needn’t have bothered.

“Where the hell have you been?” Tank demanded loudly from the top of the stairs.

Ripp groaned inwardly. There was no way his father had slept through that.

“None of your business,” he shot back, turning to make his way back down the stairs to wait for the General.

He missed the look of stunned surprise on Tank’s face when he didn’t immediately cower and answer the question.

“It is, however, mine,” Buzz stated, rounding the stairs, “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

Ripp glanced at the clock on the wall, “One twenty AM, Sir.”

“I suppose you have an explanation for why you are only just getting home,” Buzz inquired his tone dangerously low.

“I lost track of time, Sir.” Ripp explained ducking his head.

“You lost track of time?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And where were you that it was so easy to lose track of what time it was?”

“Damon’s house, Sir.”

Buzz paced slowly, “Damon? Damon, why is this name familiar?”

“He has been my friend since pre-school, Sir,” Ripp explained with a sigh. Really how many times did he have to explain who Damon was?

“Last name?” Buzz demanded.

“Villega.”

“Rythe Villega’s boy?” Buzz snapped, “Related to that Alien, what’s his name, the police officer?”

“Yes, Sir,” Ripp nodded. This was going to get ugly, “Caliban Villega is his Uncle.”

“He’s got an Alien brother too,” Tank supplied with a satisfied smile from the stairs, “Oh and Damon is gay.”

Ripp could have happily strangled Tank with his bare hands at that moment if only he dared to move to do it.

Buzz stopped pacing to pin Ripp with a stern glare, “Slumming around with Aliens and faggots boy?”

“They are just people, Sir.”

“People,” Buzz snarled, his hand clenching around Ripp’s throat forcing the boy’s head back painfully, “are human. There is nothing human about parasitic mutants! Are we clear?”

“Yes, Sir,” Ripp choked out.

“People have a gender,” Buzz hissed, small drops of spittle hitting Ripp in the face from the force of his words, “People are male and female. People are not androgynous alien monstrosities that will screw anything that moves. Do not ever call those things people again.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Buzz snapped his hand back, staring down at it as if he had been touching something filthy, “First thing in the morning you will get your hair cut,” he ordered, “I will not have you walking around looking like a girl. That may work for your little gay Alien freak friends, but I will not tolerate that behaviour under my roof.”

Ripp nodded, “Yes, Sir.”

“Now get your worthless ass to your room and stay there.”

Ripp nodded and made for the stairs.

Tank met him at the top grinning, “What no tears this time? Did the whiney little pussy finally grow some balls?”

Ripp ignored him, far too angry to deal with Tank and his immature taunts right now.

Tank had other ideas, “I am sure your pretty-boy boyfriend loves that, doesn’t he? Does the little green dyke get off on how tough you are now?”

Ripp paused, “What did you call him?”

Tank laughed, “No fucking way? You mean I was right? You are fucking queer aren’t you? Oh this is too good, wait ‘til Dad hears this. Or maybe you aren’t if it really is that freaky little brother of Damon’s you’re after. No God damn way that is a guy.”

Something inside Ripp snapped. Before he was aware of moving he had Tank pinned to the wall, his arm across his throat, “Stay the fuck out of my life.”

“Or what?” Tank challenged, though he seemed a little less sure of himself this time, “You’ll go tell your pretty little boyfriend. Oh wait, he’s not your boyfriend is he ‘cause he’s really a girl and dating that Capp chick? You’ve got a hard-on for a God damn lesbo.”

Ripp leaned back slightly, a sadistic smile curling his lips, “You think he’s pretty, Tank?”

“I don’t … I never said …” Tank sputtered.

“You did,” Ripp smirked, “Who’s the queer now, Tank? Huh?”

“Get off me you disgusting little shit,” Tank snarled.