░ ★ LOVE ME DEAD ☆

[axrelio]

@casblatt​.

CLOSED.

   it honestly shouldn’t surprise him anymore, seeing caspar’s hand extended, bills at the ready between his fingertips. it’s practically the only way he sees caspar, really, or it would be if he had anything to say about it. avoiding the flirtatious regular outside of work hours is the best chance elio has of up-keeping his self-imposed rule not to take things too far with a customer. it isn’t for any moral disinclination towards sex outside of the workplace but, rather, a necessary compartmentalizing that keeps the two facets of his life completely separate. caspar just happens to be someone he dabbles with both day and night which is a dangerous game for elio to allow. knowing it’s not just a simple tip he’s being given, aurelio turns a coy glance at the familiar face, arching a brow with a practiced nonchalance. deft fingers pluck the wad of cash from his patron, tucking it under the strap of the rather useless suspenders clipped to his tiny shorts. there’s a thrill to it all, knowing he can be looked at but not touched. he does the touching, thank you very much. his hands grip the back of the cushy arm chair caspar has selected and he effortlessly positions his body close enough to tease without missing a single beat of the music. there are some obligatory catcalls and what elio likes to think of as wistful sighs as he leans down to let his attention fixate on the highest bidder. “what will it be today then, gorgeous?” he drawls, letting his accent come on thicker than usual. the glittering smirk remains firmly in place, a testament to the control he has over this situation despite the way immediate adrenaline races through his heart. 

[axrelio]

what do you like about living in america?

“the boys, mostly.”

[axrelio]

What would you do with your life if nobody was watching, judging or commenting?

“not to boast but i already live my life somewhat shamelessly. i am happy in my chosen profession and do not mind the judgement that comes along with it. if someone wishes to comment, that is a reflection on their own misplaced preoccupation with the lives of others.”

[axrelio]

is there anyone you want to get to know in the apartments?

“anyone wyatt likes – no more, no less.” // @whyctt

[axrelio]

What saying annoys you the most? Why?

“c'est la vie. it is overused, mostly. as much as i believe in a laidback lifestyle, it feels almost too passive. some things you just have to do for yourself instead of just shrugging it off because that is life.”

[axrelio]

what is a lifestyle or religion you don't know much about that you'd like to learn about or experience for a day?

“ it is not a religion but i think i would like to experience the life of someone who practices meditation and deep breathing and all of those zen lifestyle choices. it just must be nice to be at peace with all things and have your affairs in order. sadly, i cannot relate. ”

[axrelio]

[minddpalaces]

[axrelio]

who is the first person you would turn to if you were in trouble?

“wyatt, most definitely. he is one of my oldest and dearest friends and has yet to tire of hearing about my exhausting romantic escapades. i know he would have my back in times of monetary, emotional or interpersonal troubles. he is my person.” // @whyctt

[axrelio]

What do you always say “yes” to?

“other people paying for food. as much as i want to be chivalrous and offer to go dutch at least, i am too broke and hungry to even entertain the thought of turning down free food.”

[ptxweekly]

[axrelio]

What mild injustice was done to you as a child that you are still mad about?

“siblings? no, i kid, i kid. i do not believe it classifies as mild but moving from france was absolutely an injustice.”

[axrelio]

wydaugust!

    august figures the question is meant rhetorical, though that doesn’t stop him from shrugging gently, a small frown forming on his lips. “i guess that would be a little over the top..” he smiles softly, shaking his head at the idea. gus can’t decide which end of that would be worse. doing this theoretical stranger’s laundry, or having to deal with this person that you only just met going off with your clothes. either way it would be something gus wanted nothing to do with. “didn’t mean it in that way, though.” elio being in mulberry because of a one night stand was the last thought that crossed his mind. august just assumed aurelio was still extremely taken with his boyfriend. he’d stopped checking up on elio’s social media when it just became too much. gus was only torturing himself by looking at it, so he had to stop cold turkey. even though elio is right, december not being that long ago, it still felt like a good chunk of time august had been oblivious to the other’s presence in the building. “cool.” it’s really all gus can think of saying. feeling the air getting thicker with every passing second. just as august is about to slip past him and actually get to doing this laundry he so stupidly left for today, he’s hit with a question he has no desire to answer. august pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, head shaking slowly as to try and play it off. “no.. no. i don’t own the building. i think it’s awesome. you guys must be really happy and moving in together is exciting, so.. yeah, no we’re good.” august has a tendency to spit out much more than he really means to. he also likes to keep his assumptions to himself, though he’s obviously not doing a great job at keeping that in check. why else would aurelio move from his old apartment though?? gus swore he loved that place.

    he can recognize the miscommunication almost instantly. last time they’d properly interacted, aurelio was living elsewhere with his now ex boyfriend. he’d made sure to boast how happy and in love they were back then and, apparently, gus presumes their commitment levels to one another would match that honeymooning mindset. it also tips elio off to gus’s lack of interest in keeping up with his socials -- he’s pretty sure he’s tweeted about the breakup more often that he’d tweeted his celebrity crush trying to get a follow. elio could correct him; he could casually mention that he’s single and leave things at that. however, even this short exchange has proven that there’s still an icy chip on aurelio’s shoulder over the way things between them had ended and so it has him feigning a smile and nodding as though he hadn’t just answered a ‘wanted roommate’ sign posted down in the apartment lobby one of the times he visited wyatt. “it has been really exciting,yeah -- though most of that first month was spent settling into a new place. it is not surprising you and i haven’t seen much of one another.” and gus would never see elio’s  ‘boyfriend’ around, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. or maybe it will to an extent. he quite likes the thought of gus thinking of him in some fairytale relationship and maybe imagining the way things could have been. “i kind of forgot you lived here too, honestly.” another lie -- elio’s on a roll. “you remember wyatt?” aurelio had befriended wyatt around the same time him and august were really getting close, after all. “he’s in the building as well.”

[axrelio]

whyctt!

There is a tug in his chest, and then a sense of easing, like something that was pulled too tight has finally snapped and the result is a loosening of all of the things making him feel stretched thin. Being with Elio always seems to cause such an effect, cathartic like crying just from existing in one another’s company. They have known each other a long time, and more than that, they’ve been whatever this is to each other for a long time. It’s important for Wyatt to decompress sometimes, and to remember where he comes from, who’s got his back at the end of the day. Above all others, that person is most certainly Elio. When his friend enters and nigh immediately sprawls atop him, he’s quick to react by wrapping his arms about his body and giving him a squeeze. An exaggerated smooch to his cheek follows before he relaxes back into his sofa with a somewhat exaggerated — if satisfying — sigh. “I don’t want to have feelings anymore. I want them extracted from me so I no longer have to deal with them. Do you think there’s some sort of medical procedure for that?”

    elio pulls a face but only because it’s what’s expected at the over the top kiss to his face -- it practically echoes! he mirrors the sound of the sigh that follows and presses his face into wyatt’s chest sweetly before tipping his head to rest his chin against his friend’s sternum. it’s the only position in their cuddle that allows him both the closeness he craves and the ability to read wyatt’s expression. “that will never do,” aurelio scolds with a momentary crease to his brow. “if you have no feelings, how will you love me? i do not doubt that there is a procedure with something akin to emotion numbing side effects but, morally and medically, i must object.” he tilts his head to press his cheek to wyatt’s heart before continuing, lashes fluttering shut. “tell me what heaviness weighs down your soul? please. i will not experience joy until you allow me to help.” he pries his eyes open as he waits, gaze flickering over wyatt’s features to try and discern his problems before he even speaks them.

[evan-buck]

[axrelio]

wydaugust!

   “are you visiting someone??” august doesn’t think he sounds too hopeful as he poses the question. he wouldn’t be surprised in the least if elio were only here visiting honestly, mulberry was by far a popular choice among the baltimore kids he went to school with. aurelio having friends in the building was actually more likely than one may think. while the laundry room didn’t quite make sense for a visitor, he can’t quite fathom the thought of elio being the one that moved in. aside from his one trial at mending whatever was left of their friendship – a proverbial olive branch tucked under his arm (disguised as elio’s old sweater), which ended in the fatal meeting of aurelio’s shiny new boyfriend, gus is relieved to say he hasn’t had to endure any other surprise run ins. aurelio made it very clear he had happily moved on and had no interest of even glancing back. that was fine. it was. august wanted aurelio to be happy. that’s what you were supposed to want in these situations, wasn’t it? while he’s here he allows himself to stare a moment, study the other as he tries to get his money back one last time. while he will dance around as long as elio lets him, gus knows in his gut he’s living in the same building as aurelio. “when did you move in??” the question falls from his lips ever so softly as his gaze casts downwards, shifting awkwardly to his other foot. maybe he didn’t need to know, because gus is anticipating what will follow is who he’s sharing his apartment with. he clears his throat, shaking his head some. gus fishes around in his pocket, “no, like i said, it’s always broken.. uh, if you need some quarters –” he holds out a few to him. 

    “do you typically do the laundry of your one night stands?” aurelio balks. he supposes he could have played up the theatrics -- made up some stud he’s got a thing with that apparently includes trips to the laundry room for how comfortable they are with each other. he doesn’t know if ‘things’ like that exist but all that would matter would be that august believes it. he wasn’t quick enough on his feet though and, besides, it’s easier to scoff and roll his eyes than it is to elaborate on his response. he’s not quite looking at august. around him, near him, but not directly at him. for as much as he was aware of his ex’s presence in this apartment complex, that didn’t take the sting away from seeing him. “december-ish; not too long ago.” aurelio isn’t sure why he gives an honest answer. it’s not as though he owes gus any sort of explanation. when he can peripherally see that the other isn’t looking at him, he lets his gaze refocus on the former object of his affection. it feels like it’s been an eternity -- august looks different. more mature, maybe. he could just be tired; aurelio knows he feels the same way. things feel heavier now that they aren’t together. “right,” he keeps his voice clipped but holds out his hands to accept the change. there’s no offer to pay him back. he supposes he’s owed at least the pocket change. “merci.” fingers curl into a fist and he steps back, letting an awkward silence lapse between them. he’s quick to call them both out on it, though, arching a brow as he turns back to his laundry. “this will not get weird for you, will it? me being here?” here being mulberry -- but it could also just mean the laundry room.

[axrelio]

Have you ever done something dangerous?

“i let myself fall in love. no, no, i’m kidding with that aesthetic tumblr bullshit. i know the skateboarding and chain-smoking may imply i’m a bad boy but, really, i’ve not done anything all that dangerous. getting drunk on rooftops and some casual street racing with friends is as close as i get to real danger. sorry to disappoint.”