[Open for business | Leo and Aydin | Next Round]

[fluctuationfeels]

[Four months. Four months they had been doing this and it was starting to get easier. Leo was didn't like that. He didn't want it to be hard, but the fact it was starting to feel normal frightened him. Were they ever going to be able to live normal lives after this? After 'Smokey Joe' had burnt him twice. After Ayden was cut and fucked around with around with by the prissy jerk Cameron? After they had made friends who were just as messed up as they were? How were they supposed to move forward?

It was all so painfully normal it made him feel old thinking about it. He wanted to go home with Aydin and get some youth back into his heart, but they were once again short on rent and the days were passing fast.]

Comments

[professional_johns]

You're selling, yes?

[The lisp of a Polish accent came from behind Leo.]

[fluctuationfeels]

[For a split second he thought it was Reese messing with him. It wasn't, the voice was a lot deeper. Leo sighed.

He hated when they came up behind him like that. Steeling himself, he put his confidence forward and squished down his nervous inner child. He needed to go away for a while. Distance himself, like 'Nix had said.]

Yeah. You buying?

[professional_johns]

Who knows? [The man answered with a winning smile that seemed so natural and almost real. He pulled a cigarette case out of his breast pocket and tapped the removed cigarette on it.] Who is selling you?

[fluctuationfeels]

[The withdrawal of the cigarette made him flinch but he bit back the fear.]

We're self employed. [He sighed, looking sympathetically at Aydin before re-engaging the potential client. Leo got the 'time waster' vibe from this one, but he wasn't about to act on it. They needed every client they could get.]

So... You interested?

[professional_johns]

Self employed yeah? [The man lifted his eyebrows, still smiling.] Well, suppose you get more of the pie that way, eh? That is what they are saying in America. Always wanting the biggest piece of pie.

So, are your own boss, so if I want business meeting I talk to you. Fine, good. Come drink coffee with me. [He put his cigarette case back and in the same motion removed a crisp bill from his pocket, offering it to Leo.] Be the most expensive coffee you have. [The bill was a hundred.]

[fluctuationfeels]

[Leo had been about to blow the guy off until the sight of the hundred dollar bill made his tongue freeze in his mouth. His heart pounded as he reached out and took the crisp note, folding it and slipping it into the secret pocket of his jeans.]

I take it you know a great coffee place then, huh? [He said, nodding his goodbye to Aydin. Be safe.]

[professional_johns]

In Poland? Yes. Thousands. In America, eh. But there's one on every corner, eh? Americans think they are miłośnicy kawiarni. [He held the cigarette in his mouth and lit it.] Eh but anyway. Starbucks do for you, eh boy? You get what you want to drink and eat, we chat.

[fluctuationfeels]

Sure. [Leo nodded. He didn't realize this guy actually wanted to get a drink, he though coffee was just his code word for whatever that hundred would buy. He wasn't about to complain though, especially not if he was getting food out of this on top of cash.]

Sorry, what's... Miwaschnitsa Kaviarni? [He asked as he followed him. He knew where the Starbucks was so that was okay. What he didn't know was what the hell this guy would want to 'chat' about. God, he hoped he wasn't a cop. Or Nix' dad. That'd be weird. He's Polish not black, Leo. Chill out.]

[professional_johns]

Miłośnicy kawiarni. Coffee lovers, eh? [The man put his hands in his coat pockets as he walked them towards the Starbucks, his body long, the cigarette hanging out of his mouth.] Is just sweet milk and flavour mostly. Eh, but whatever gets you off, eh?

You order. I pay. Is fine. Hey, chłopak! [He nodded to the guy behind the counter.] Espresso please.

[fluctuationfeels]

Uh... [Leo was used to more time to um and ah over his order, but in a pinch he had his bucket list of 'stuff I want to try' to pull from.]

Can I get a 'Hazelnut Signature Hot Chocolate' and whatever sandwich is the biggest. Thanks.

[He turned to the stranger and gave him a nod.] Thanks a lot.

[professional_johns]

Is no problem. [With another smile, he paid for the food and drinks and then waited for the order - obediently putting out his cigarette and putting it in the nearest trash when the tellers old him too]

We sit in booth yes? Good? So. I am Jakob, your name is?

[fluctuationfeels]

Leo. [He offered a slightly confused smile, but no hand shake. His hands were busy in the best way just then and god, that sandwich smelt so fucking good. He wondered if he could pocket half of it for Aydin? If there was going to be sex after this little chat, probably not. He'd eat it and buy him one later.]

So... Jakob. What do you wanna - [Leo cleared his throat] - want to talk about?

[professional_johns]

Business, as I say. You are in the business of selling, yes? Prostytucja? I am also in the business of selling. In Europe. [He smiled] In America I do buying.

[He took a sip of his black coffee.] Some boys find is better in Europe, eh? Selling is legal, easier to handle. So I look around, I find boys that have the look, see if they have the goods, see if they want to go elsewhere.

How long you working, eh?

[fluctuationfeels]

[Well that escalated quickly. Leo licked the cream from his hot chocolate and tried not to look too disturbed as he listened. Sex trafficking and sex work was not a world he wanted anything to do with, despite him having his toes in the pool.]

Er... About four months. [He answered.] But, um... This is just a temporary thing. We're not planning on doing this once we're old enough to work a legit job.

[professional_johns]

[Jakob chuckled] Well, no one wants to do forever eh? Well... Eh. There are exceptions. Some love it. [He shrugged at his own comment.]

Of course, you are thinking it is easy for me to say all good things. And it is. [He grinned again, wide.] Is always bad in everything, but are better ways to do things than in America. Lot of people in Europe do this as side job or midway job. Like working in the cafe, eh? Waiting tables while waiting for your big break.

[fluctuationfeels]

[Leo opened his mouth wide enough to bite the entire end off his sandwich and start chewing. Real food almost tasted too rich after the diet of instant noodles and toast he was getting so heavily used to.

Still, he needed to have his mouth full right then. He needed to chew over what the man was saying to him as well as the food in his mouth.

It sounded like a sales pitch and he knew not to trust salesman. His gut told him rightly enough without the lesson, but...

Should he really be dismissing the idea so quickly? He didn't want to walk away from something that could actually help them.]

We don't have passports. [He said at length, after swallowing the quarter sandwich and going back to finish that half.]

[professional_johns]

Ah yes? This is problem for you. Even without me eh? Is annoying get around America on bus. [Jakob smiled at the joke of that.]

But you earning enough being your own boss to get passport, yes? Or no? Nieszczęśliwy. But can be worked with. You could get passports. By yourselves or by me. By me, you pay back. By yourselves, well. You see how that works.

[fluctuationfeels]

Right... [Leo nodded, following even though his stomach was twisting with nerves.]

Yeah I guess. I mean... We'd need more information. I'd have to talk to my friend.

[He forced a slight smile to joke through the awkwardness.] You got a brochure or something?

[professional_johns]

Eh, in America these things cause problems. [Jakob shrugged.] We can talk another time eh? All together. You come as package, eh? Peas in the pod? You are the right look for Europe, but he looks nice too. Variety is good.

[He drank his coffee, draining the cup easily.] You have phone yes? All Americans have a phone. Or you work the same place hmm? I will come by again.

[fluctuationfeels]

Yeah... Thanks. [He wasn't sure how he felt about any of these comments. The guy wasn't being mean or pushy. He was business like. Reasonable.]

I always work the same spot, unless the cops come by. So... Yeah if you wanna find me, you can come by whenever. If I'm not there I'm with er... Yunno.

I mean, I do have a phone, but I dunno about giving you my number, sorry.

[professional_johns]

Oh yes. You worry I will send you the uh... What is it? Dick snaps eh? [Jakob grinned that amused look again, reaching into his pocket and removing another smooth, slim case. He pulled a card out of it and offered it forward.]

That is my number eh? But I will come back around. There is no need to make quick decisions. We will all eat, eh? I pay for your time, I pay for meal. Is no problem.

[fluctuationfeels]

[Leo let a laugh pass his lips, feeling self conscious about his teeth for a moment. He was amused though, because he could imagine Reese saying something like that.]

No problem. [Leo nodded. Was this really it? He was getting a hundred dollars for doing sweet fuck all? This day just got better.] Thanks again. [He went back to his food and drink, enjoying the intense flavors of it all. He was gonna be so jacked on sugar.]

Can I have one of those? [He nodded toward the cigarette case.] All out.

[professional_johns]

Yeah, yeah. Nie ma problemu [Jakob held out the case, flipping open the top so Leo could take one.] They don't let you smoke it in here though. You remember this? You American, so I suppose you know.

Ah. But yes. Your friend, he is called what? [Jakob flipped his case back closed.] And you are both eighteen?

[fluctuationfeels]

We're... Not. [Leo sighed. If that was a problem like it usually was, then he might have an easy out here.]

We're fifteen. [He slipped the cigarette behind his ear, hidden between flesh and tufts of dry white blonde. He neglected to mention Aydin's name for now. He felt protective over it for some reason.]

[professional_johns]

Fifteen? [Jakob sounded disbelieving. It was the first time his tone had moved from friendly. He looked at Leo carefully.] Is young, eh? Not right. We don't go for so young. [He rubbed his chin thoughtfully a moment.

[Then he shrugged, moving out from the booth.] Well, will take months to get passports eh? Will be seventeen or so before we know it.

[fluctuationfeels]

[... It was kind of "nice" that being fifteen was a problem. He hadn't figured it would be an issue at all considering what he'd heard about this kind of thing, but some situations were nothing but surprising.]

Thanks again, but... I think we'll have jobs by then. Like I said, this is just a temporary thing.

I mean, thanks for the offer and all. [He finished the sandwhich.]

[professional_johns]

Is good you're earning enough, eh? [Jakob smiled, getting his cigarette ready to get out of the Starbucks and get back to his smoking.] Positive attitude eh? Gets you everything.

Sometimes temporarily lasts a bit longer though, eh? May as well plan for every eventuality. We'll eat eh? Or not. Well. We will all eat for sure. Maybe together. [He laughed.]

[fluctuationfeels]

Right. [Leo couldn't help but laugh again. The way this guy talked...

He sure didn't take no for an answer.]

Yeah, we'll talk again. I can discuss it with Ay... Er, with my friend. Yunno? So... [He finished his drink and licked his lips.] We out of here?

[professional_johns]

Yes, yes. We are out, we are done. [He nodded back towards Leo's ear] Enjoy the smoke, hm? Do widzenia. Until we meet again.

[He lit his cigarette as he took himself down the street the opposite direction to Leo's corner with Aydin.]

[fluctuationfeels]

[Leo watched him leave with a mixture of confusion and satisfaction. He'd had strokes of good luck before landing him easy money, but this had to be the easiest.]

We are totally eating dinner tonight. [He grinned to himself.]