Chapter 8: [8] VVhite Coffee.

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     The button of his cuff would reflect the light for a few seconds as his hand moved, pointer spiraling smoothly. His voice had no hop in tone, only stopping when he turned to point at the board on which accurate lines were traced.

     Morris Kentson, in all of his Human Resource Generalist glory, presenting the material he'd brought in for the meeting with Fey Ad Company.

     His green eyes latched onto every other pair in the room at a time, his hand always circling the air in discreet, small movements. The motion served to subconsciously make them perceive his words in the same circular manner. Linked, structured, word after word, rational.

     His only error was the fact his eyes were missing a certain pair, for it was hidden behind the lens of a camera.

--------

     A white finger stood over the mouse like the leg of a spider, long, thin and bent. Now and again, it would twitch over the mouse-wheel as to zoom in closer to the man. Black little dots, linked by wire, pressed into the lower lip like little fleas attacking a pile of meat.

     He only zoomed closer.

--------

     Thus, the meeting with the Fey Ad Company ended successfully. However, Morris's personal meeting with the company only now began.

     He held open the door of the conference room to let pass one of the regional managers of Fey. A well dressed woman in her 50s, with thin ankles that bent elegantly with each tap of the long heels. She was class.

     "Miss Jen." Morris addressed her as soon as they exited, and gently brushed her elbow.

     She turned around and tilted her head with a surprised smile. "Kentson, lovely presentation. I can just tell Vex employees are on great hands."

     And here Morris was, just about to hand out a particular employee as though it was warm bread.

     "Not only employees, but business partners! In fact, I was just about to suggest that we go for coffee, on me."

     His voice had changed from business mode to I'm-so-young-and-handsome-pinch-my-cheek mode. Surely, his outfit helped his charm, since it should match the ones worn by people on the woman's old days.

     "I would love that." she laughed gallantly and let Morris lead her away, their elbows hooked.

--------

     "This company sure has taste." Jen complimented, glancing around the lunch room. They were seated at a tiny wire-table for two, by the corner. The tall bushes outside let in uncountable little dots of light that moved with the wind.

     "I chimed in here and there design-wise." he said absent-mindedly while trying to find ways to approach the subject of Noah.

     Jen looked impressed by that as she sipped from her coffee ever so graciously. "Did you?"

     "Why, yes, as an HR it's only normal that I contribute to such things as the environment of my people." he said while admiring the floral model on the table, underneath the glass.

     "Speaking of which, I want to... this is weird." he chuckled, rubbing his forehead.

     Jen offered a large, closed smile, her wrinkles suggesting nothing but royalty. Morris took the time to admire that.

     Unlike more than half the planet, Morris couldn't wait to grow old. There was something about the aura of that age.

     "There is a man in this company that is completely wasting his potential in the pits of IT. The building connected to this one."

     Jen tilted her head curiously.

     "Noah Vinson. He has albinism. In fact, his name is after The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation."

     "What?" the woman laughed. "That is..."

     "Yes, he's not happy about it." Morris chuckled. "Now, I know this is a long shot, but I would love to see him out there."

     Out of the building, that is.

     "So I was thinking that maybe I could take advantage of this Fey and Vex encounter and suggest him as a model. I know, wishful thinking, but it's just something to have in mind. I mean..."

     He leaned aside to reach into his pocket and extract his phone. He'd already had the photo prepared, and so he just turned it to her.

     She leaned in, gripping the velvet scarf around her neck.

     "Oh my, that is a handsome young man. IT, you say?" she asked, knitting her thin eyebrows.

     "Yes, Jen, isn't it just sad? Look at his hopeful eyes. Which happen to turn red at the right light, your photographers will love toying around with that."

     Smooth, Morris, smooth.

     Jen laughed lightly, taking another sip of her coffee. "Yes, yes... Oh, I entirely agree with this, but you must understand it can't be done overnight."

     "Wouldn't dream of it, I just couldn't not try, you know." Morris placed the phone on the table and arranged his tie while Jen took another look at Noah.

     "I can certainly see it happening, I will just have to make a few calls." she trailed off, touching her lower lip. "Ah, our CEO is attending the Valentine's Day party! I suppose he'll agree once he takes a look for himself, but for now we'll wait."

     Morris knew Noah would have to eventually find out about... well, switching his job, but the main problem had been getting Fey to agree. With that out of the way, he could only wait for Valentine's.

     Once their conversation was over and Jen left, Morris lingered behind, staring pointedly at his coffee as if to avoid the uneasy feeling in his stomach.

     Jen has had her coffee with no milk. Therefore, there was plenty left for Morris. He got on pouring it in the coffee.

     There was still a tint of light brown swirled in it. From three tiny containers of milk, the last droplets fell onto the table, vacant save for the cup of coffee.

     Morris tsked, opening a last little container and pouring more milk.

     He mixed it well and then got close enough for the smell and warmth to tickle his nose.

     ...Yes, only now did it have the same color as those eyelashes.

 

     Morris rarely accepted going out with Victor and his boyfriend Vincent for obvious reasons. As much as they tried not to third-wheel him, they just... failed. But Morris really needed the drink they were going for, and so here he was, sitting on the bus stop bench while watching two men make out.

     However, unlike before, he couldn't look away.

     Vincent was leaning on the side-wall of the booth with Victor hunched over him, cupping his jaw and kissing him as though it was their first time.

     The noisy rain that tapped the top of the booth must've offered them a sense of intimacy, while it offered Morris a sense of thoughtfulness.

     Ever since that coffee, that... white coffee, he's been thinking of Noah. More like, he's been thinking of his thoughts on Noah, trying to make sense of them.

     And seeing as he's been on Morris's mind all day, it didn't cease now, and he could only relate the thoughts to the view before him.

     Did Noah kiss? Of course he did, most people that age had had their experience.

     He was just curious, how would Noah act around girls? Would he be as devilish as ever or would he... smile. How did he kiss? Would his braces make any difference?

     High school never ends, not quite. Back then he'd asked himself the same stuff about his classmates and teachers, just passing thoughts. Ew, Madame Grossfield has kids and so she must've had sex. Do cheerleaders kiss each other? Betty the Fatty has a boyfriend, do they touch like that?

     But... never had he involved himself into the mental images, as he was doing now.

     Morris's eyebrows lowered while his eyes widened.

     He could see it so clearly. His pitch black hair clenched by mat white fingers...

     "Morris?"

     Morris couldn't even put a finger on whose voice it was. He just blinked, watching the two men watch him.

     As if on cue, the bus pulled up, and Morris hurried inside.

-----

     He's had a little too much to drink.

     As he lay on his wide, tough mattress (it was good for the back), his limbs, sore from dancing, seemingly tried to depart themselves from his body they were so numb.

     A low buzz rang in his ears from the loud music of the club, managing to cover any possible thought. Hence, it was very thoughtless of him to reach for his phone and call Noah's number.

     While it rang, he searched his mind for a joke. It was like staring at a TV on static and expecting to laugh.

     "Yes, Kent."

     See, he kind of liked hearing that.

     "Wha- how..." Morris rubbed his eye, trying to come up with something. "A toaster and a sausage walk into a bar-"

     "You said it before."

     Morris's free arm slumped onto the mattress.

     "Are you drunk?"

     "Nnnnyes..."

     "Hah. Thought you were too all that for such things."

     "I'm not all that, I'm... I like ties."

     "My point exactly."

     Morris laughed more than he would've sober. Enough to roll onto his side and face the nightstand, on which his old-style clock ticked away.

     After catching his breath, he spoke. "It's very late, why are you up?"

     "Really now?"

     "I didn't wake you up, you don't sound sleepy..."

     His voice was sort of always like that. Strained, faint, croaky. Morris liked that, too. Turns out he liked a lot about Noah.

     "I'm sleepy, wasn't sleeping. Surfing the internet."

     Morris wouldn't judge his schedule. "Hehe. Internet. Are you doing the 'what are you wearing' stuff with strangers?"

     So drunk. But Noah laughed, so that was a plus.

     "What are you wearing, Kent?"

     Morris glanced down at himself. "Club suit."

     "Stop. There's no such thing."

     "Yes. Thinner suspenders, no tie, rolled up sleeves."

     "You're such a turnoff."

     Morris howled. As in, that weird high-pitched laughter.

     "Well what are you wearing!"

     "Nothing." he joked with a seductive voice.

     Morris gulped dryly, the buzz in his ears becoming louder and louder as the silence stretched on.

     "Kent."

     Morris was lost in mental images. It was just, his fluffy head would look so big above his little shoulders, and just... so much white. Alien-like. But not in a repulsive kind of way, he'd just be extra-terrestrially cute.

     "Kent?"

     "Yes, Vin." Morris breathed out. "I... I'll kind of miss you." he confessed, regretting his secret plan.

     "We'll see each other tomorrow, goof."

     Morris eyebrows went up, eyelids heavy. "Goof?"

     "Precisely so. Good night, Kent."

     "Bye..."

     Noah hanged up and placed the phone aside with a sigh. He raised his head, red eyes reflecting a square of light each, the screen of his computer.

     Morris's sincere words and slurry, childish tone... Just great, he was feeling somewhat guilty now.

     He hit F5, refreshing the Reddit tab. The number of votes and comments only got higher.

     The elevator video, it had reached front page.

... for those that read the book description, yes, I integrated it in this chapter!

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Condiment

I like cement

Excrement

check out the attached image, it's so sweet! (yes made it in sims 2)

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