Others Try for Resolution

Yep, another portion of the other characters conversation but I promise, this one gives a bit more resolution to the problems exposed. I may let this one go a little longer just so it doesn't feel cut off like the last one. The characters have a lot to say still, so let's get to it.

Recap: Check out the other conversations - Part 1 and Part 2


The first to break the tense silence was Michael. He coughed a couple of times, then took a drink. It wasn't words but enough to crack the slight trance that had overcome the small group.

Andy (Andras) couldn't believe the way things were going. When he agreed to this conversation, he never imagined things would get so tense or interesting. He had figured there would be some conversations about weird plots or author torture like some of the character parties but nothing like this. Yet he found himself wanting to know more. "Okay. I have no idea what is going on but I need details. So, one of you needs to start talking."

"It's not what you think." Dominic spoke, forcing some volume into his voice to be heard even though they seemed to be the only ones in the bar. He was still blushing and having everyone stare at him didn't help matters. Being the center of attention didn't feel very fun. "I mean, I've been best friends with Noah for a long time and..."

"Then you slept with him?" Andy jumped to the conclusion and then nodded towards Bastian. "No wonder he's mad at you."

"I didn't. I mean I did but, not the way your thinking." He looked to Michael, hoping for a friendly face compared to the glare he could almost feel heat from but all he got was a curious glance in return. He sighed, taking a long drink before continuing. "Back when Bastian was deployed with the military, they decided to not be, or I'm not sure how they worded it. Noah didn't cheat."

There was a pause and then Michael spoke next. "Okay... But why you? I don't mean to offend you or anything. I'm just curious why he would sleep with you since I thought your were friends. Doing that with friends is usually a bad thing, I've heard."

"I told him to."

Dominic finally looked at Bastian and with surprise. He always assumed that the first kiss that started things between him and Noah had just been an accident or giving in to a moment. Never would he have imagined that choice had been a suggestions from someone else, let alone Bastian.

"A plot twist." Andy looked across the table. "Where is popcorn when you really need it."

At that moment a waiter appeared next to the table, clearing off the partially finished drinks to replace them all with fresh ones. Then he set down a bowl of popcorn and a bowl of pretzels before walking away. Dominic watched him leave but couldn't pull himself to take another drink or to grab a snack. His stomach turned as he avoided looking at Bastian.

"Why would you do that?" Michael voiced the question that Dominic wanted to know.

There was another tense pause as Bastian took a long drink from the fresh, cold beer bottle that had been placed in front of him before pushing the popcorn bowl away from his part of the table. He didn't look pleased but spoke anyways. "The thing about Noah is, he gets nervous about being intimate with someone and anyone new might have a hard time with his mutation. He lets out small sparks of electricity but Dom here knows all that. It gave him a comfortable place to start. Plus, I figured that way Dom would at least get some once in his life."

"Ouch." Dominic muttered the words only glancing up at Bastian before staring at the table.

"Sorry." The words didn't sound as strong as the previous claims but at least he said them. "But you never leave the house. You have no other friends or people you spend time with except for Noah. Answer one question for me."

Andy chose that moment to interrupt. "Maybe we should change the topic to something less personal."

Bastian glared at him. "This is between me and Dom, so shut it."

"You should be more careful when insulting a demon," Andy spoke slow and calm. "Considering we are in my world and not yours, I think you better rethink your statement."

"We can change the subject after I get an answer. Now, Dom, I just need to know one thing."

Giving in, Dominic rested his elbows on the table. "What?"

"Do you love him?"

The question wasn't what he expected and he struggled to swallow the slight fear that settled on his tongue. He floundered to offer something that wouldn't make Bastian angry. "That's not... I don't. Noah's like family to me."

"Don't lie." Bastian sounded so sure of his claims that the others watched him. "You don't sleep with someone you consider family. Just be honest: do you love him?"

Resting his head on one of his hands, Dominic couldn't look at anyone anymore. He stared at the twisted pretzels that remained untouched in a wooden bowl. Biting his thumb nail didn't get an answer out and at last he had to say something, anything to get over the topic. "He will never know. So, it doesn't matter."

Anger did not happen as expected and instead there was a whoosh sound of a sigh. Then Bastian stood up from the table. "As fun as this messed up night out has been, I need to get out of here. You boys have fun."

The others watched him walk out before turning to look at each other. No one knew what to say next.

The Others continued

Recap: Two weeks ago a group of secondary character, 3 mutants and 1 demon met in a bar located in Detroit. The demon, Andras (aka Andy) was late and walked into the middle of an awkward conversation. Dominic accidentally let it slip in front of Noah's boyfriend, Bastian, that Noah had said one of the rogue mutants was cute and he wasn't happy about that. Now Bastian is waiting for further explanation, Michael (the rogue mutant) is curious to hear more, Dominic wishes he could hide and Andy has no idea what is going on.


Dominic stared down at the ice in his glass, not looking up to see the waiting stare of Bastian. The steady thumb of fingers rapping against the table were enough of a reminder. He probably shouldn't have said anything. Noah might not like that he not only told Bastian but also Michael what he'd said that day. Oops.

"Well?" Bastian continued tapping the solid wood table.

Andras interrupted, giving a slight break for Dominic. "What are you all talking about? I seem to have missed something."

After another moment of an uncomfortable silence, Michael cleared his throat and responded. "Well, it seems that Bastian's boyfriend, Noah, told this one here that he thought I was cute. I'm sure it's not quite as big of a deal as they are making it out to be."

This caused the thuds against the table to stop. Bastian turned from his direct view of Dominic to face Michael. "So. You think I'm over-reacting? Is that what you are saying?"

"Well, yeah." Michael took a drink to swallow the anxiety he felt. Bastian was far more intense than he remembered from the hijacking that had been their first meeting. He was different now and almost a little scary with his muscled form and strong voice. "I mean, he wouldn't do anything about it. I have a boyfriend anyways. Cute doesn't mean that much, anyways."

Bastian frowned. "Whatever. So, Dom, when did Noah say this?"

Finally, Dominic found his voice. "Bastian, relax. It was a long time ago, back when you two were on break cause of the war. And that was all he said. Nothing to be worried about at all."

Tension relieved slightly, Bastian took another drink before directing another question in Michael's direction, ignoring the stray demon for the time being. "You have a boyfriend? Which one are you dating? Not that bossy one, I would imagine but hard to tell considering I don't know you."

"Ty? God no. He's straight." Michael shook his head as he forced out a chuckle. "Kelvin is my boyfriend."

"Oh. The weather boy. Interesting."

Andy stared at the mutants. They were a strange trio, though it was obvious the three in particular didn't usually spend much time together. The two seemed more familiar with each other and the third was a stray in the bunch. At least the awkward feeling had shifted a little from when he first sat down at the booth. The interesting part for him had been when he announced he was a demon and not a single one even blinked in his direction over the notion. They were too wrapped up in their own conversation. The whole "cute" conversation seemed a bit juvenile but whoever this Noah guy was, he was right. Michael was kind of cute. Not hot but still cute.

"What is your name again?" Dominic turned, grateful to have someone else to give attention to at the booth.

"Call me Andy."

Dominic smiled. "Okay, Andy. I take if you aren't a main character since none of us are. Are you dating the main character in yours?"

"No. Not dating Lucas."

"Did you sleep with him?" Dominic couldn't believe the question came out but he managed to pretend that he meant to ask it for real. The others looked a little surprised but didn't say anything to interrupt the new conversation.

The question got a small laugh out of the demon. He couldn't help but smile. "I haven't slept with him either, no. I take it by the conversation that the annoyed one has 'hooked up' with the main character."

Andy was surprised at the response. Instead of agreeing, the frowning one called Bastian looked even more irked as he stared at Dominic, who averted his eyes from the table, looking at the floor a few feet away. If he thought earlier had been uncomfortable, somehow he managed to make the situation worse as the two mutants both tensed. That was a bad sign.



And that's all for now. :-)
Hope you enjoyed it.

The Others Get a Turn

In an empty bar located in detroit, Dominic shuffles through the door and looks around unsure of who he should be searching for before sitting down at a booth in the back. He orders a beer from the server that suddenly appears and begins to fiddle with the metal band on his right wrist. It kept him from sleeping in the world where he was from but he didn't know if it would work here.

"Hey Dom," Bastian settles into a seat across from him.

"Oh, Bastian, hi." Dominic looked around for a second, for either someone else or a waiter. "Do you want a drink? The person should be back soon. Is Noah supposed to be here too?"

"I don't think so. Dawn has him busy and he's been on here before. She said something about us seconds getting a chance to hand out and talk." When the waiter brings Dominic's beer to the table, Bastian orders a drink and then they sit in silence.

Dominic looks around the room, trying to keep his gaze away from Bastian. To his relief someone else approached the table. It wasn't someone he knew but that was okay. He indicated for the guy to sit next to him as he said, "Hi."

Watching the newcomer order a water with lemon, Dominic took the distraction to examine his appearance. He couldn't help but feel he should know the stranger but the name was just out of reach in his mind.

"What are you doing here?" Bastian said in the direction of the newcomer.

Both were surprised but the newcomer shrugged it off first before responding, "I was told to be here."

Dominic had to ask at that point, "Sorry but umm, who are you exactly?"

"Michael." He smiled before tending to his drink.

"Michael." Dominic repeated the name and then it came to him. "Oh, Michael. You're the rogue that Noah said was cute. Now I remember."

"What?" Bastian snapped, his posture going from almost perfect to stiff. He didn't look happy either.

Dominic looked down at the table. He probably shouldn't have repeated what Noah had said about the other mutant, let alone in front of Noah's boyfriend. So, he tried to divert the conversation. "How do you know each other?"

Bastian doesn't respond and Michael bites his lip before taking a drink of the water. After that, at least he gives the answer. "The group I am with, we used him to get Noah to help us. Sorry about putting the knife to your neck like that. We didn't plan to hurt you."

"Sure you didn't." Bastian glared at Michael before focusing on his own drink. "I can guarantee it won't happen again."

Things were tense but the tone changed at once when someone else sat down next to Bastian. This caused Bastian to shift closer to the wall, away from the second newcomer, while the other two looked up in surprise. It was Dominic, as usual, who greeted the man. "Umm, hi."

"Hello. You are the mutant characters right?"

"Right... who are you?" Dominic had a feeling he wasn't from their world by how he had mentioned the word mutants. His voice didn't sound scared or anything but instead had a slight interest with a smile that was more of a smirk as the stranger pulled out a cigarette.

He lit the cigarette and took a drag before ordering a drink. He winked at Dominic. "Andras. You can call me Andy. I'm a demon from Detroit, so Dawn had me meet you all here since you're not familiar with the location."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Bastian doesn't give him much acknowledgement even, and instead stares at Dominic. "Noah said that about him? Explain now."

Dominic looked at Andy and Michael, uncertain as to what he should say. Michael gives him a look of interest and Andy obviously has no idea what is going on. There is nothing to save him from Bastian's anxiety, so he has to say something.


To be continued...