Pleasantries - Chapter 2, Part 1
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Chapter 1
Part 2
Part 3
Chapter 2
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
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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: 11750 or there about.
Rating: NC17 / M for story as a whole
Advisories: Aside from bad title puns and obscure cover images? Course Language, Implied Prostitution, Angst(ish), Alternative Sexuality (I keep forgetting that one, and for those who asked me to define it, it means exactly what is says, however you happen to define that, it is in here somewhere!) Teens Behaving Badly, Lame School Projects, One Overly Emotional 'Tough Guy' (he is so not, but humour him, k?) A Sarcastic Little Jerk or Two, A Spoiled Heiress, Egotism, and Long Authors Notes to follow part 2.
Really there aren't that many warnings this time around. Over all this is a happy fluffy chapter, or half a chapter. More on that in the notes at the end of part 2.
Pleasantries - Chapter 2 - Much Ado About No Thing- Part 1
10:05 AM Thursday, April 10
“Alright everyone, settle down.” Mr. Phelps began, coming to a stop at the front of the class, “Mr. Capp, find your seat please and I will thank Mr. Villega to remain in his this time! There are enough chairs to go around; you do not need to share. We will be continuing to review your video assignments today so you can put your books away.”
There was a brief moment of shuffling as everyone got settled before all eyes turned expectantly to the television set at the front of the room.
“Let’s get started shall we?” Mr. Phelps asked pushing the button on the remote to turn the TV on.
The TV came to life, the smiling face of Tybalt displayed across the screen.
“Hi, I’m Tybalt Capp,” the image on screen said.
A groan escaped real Tybalt from the middle of the class room. A few scattered chuckles broke out around the room before fading off as the image on screen continued speaking.
“Of course most of you already knew that. Except maybe you three in the back that are always sleeping.”
“You idiots don’t have a clue about anything. Yeah, I’m talking to you Ottomas. Wake the hell up and pay attention!”
Heads twisted around briefly to stare at the sleeper in question, a chorus of chuckles spreading through the room as David Ottomas snapped his head up.
“Huh?” he muttered sleepily, “What’d I miss?”
“This assignment was to make a five minute video that showed our passion,” on screen Tybalt continued. “Didn’t Think I could do it at first.”
“The thing is though when people say ‘Passion’ they can mean a lot of things. For this assignment passion meant that one thing that is yours; your thing, so to speak. You know like some people are really into playing the guitar?”
“I don’t have anything like that. Nothing that is my thing, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have passion. I’m a pretty passionate guy!”
Predictably, laughter broke out around the room.
“No don’t laugh,” onscreen Tybalt insisted, “it’s true. Here let me show you.”
“Passion number one,” Tybalt’s voice now came from somewhere off camera, “The single most important thing in my life.”
“We could show them passion if you brought the camera with later,” the image of Damon on the screen said raising his eyebrows suggestively, “Or, here is good too. The rug is pretty comfy as far as I remember.”
A throat cleared somewhere in the classroom and several of the students failed to stifle giggles.
“Knowing you they’d be more likely to get perversion, Love,” the disembodied off-screen Tybalt voice sounded again, laughing this time.
Damon shrugged, “Both start with a P.”
“Kind of weird for a guy who was still trying to convince himself he was straight six months ago huh?” Tybalt, now back on the screen gave a small, thoughtful shake of his head. “I still get questions. People wondering what the hell I am doing with him. Seems no one had him pegged as my type and not just because he’s a guy. They don’t get it. They don’t get it because they have never experienced it.”
“I feel sorry for them,” he said ducking his head, a secretive smile curling his lips.
“I love you too,” Damon whispered giving Tybalt’s hand a gentle squeeze while the smaller, screen version of his boyfriend continued to smile shyly down at his lap obviously lost in thought.
Tybalt returned the gesture, neither of them noticing as the heads of several of girls in the room turning to stare at them, each face wearing matching adoring expressions; and if they heard the gagging noises made by a few of the other students they chose to ignore them.
“Something else I am passionate about,” Tybalt’s voice said from the television’s speakers again, “my family.”
“When my parents died it really hit home for me how important family was. How you should never take them for granted because no matter what, they are the ones who have your back.”
“Like Grandpa here. He didn’t have to take us in. Raising three teenagers at his age, I know we are hell; but he did, because he loves us and that is just what family does.”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my family.”
“Not the green little shit though. He’s just always here anyway,” Tybalt’s voice sounded only slightly annoyed. “Him I tolerate for the sake of my sister.”
“Awww,” Telesto said with a smirk, “I knew you cared. Now kiss me.”
“Shut up, Villega,” even off camera the embarrassed smile was evident in Tybalt’s voice.
Juliet laughed closing her book, “Nice try, but we know you don’t hate him Tybalt.”
“No, I don’t hate him,” Tybalt grumbled, “I just really want to hurt him.”
“Okay, I know that sounded like I was picking on him, but you have to understand, he was on his best behaviour there. They both were! Usually they are much more … you’ll see.”
“Family doesn’t just mean the ones you are related to by blood though. Sometimes friends can be as much family as those you were born to, maybe more.”
“And these guys are definitely like family to me.”
“We love you too, Tybalt!” Lilith called grinning.
“Wait,” Dirk held up a hand, feigning surprise, “We do?”
“Even the green little shit,” off camera Tybalt admitted reluctantly.
“See, I knew he loved me,” Telesto gloated.
“Again, shut up, Villega, before I remember I am only supposed to be tolerating you.”
“If there was one thing that I had to say was my thing, this would be it,” Tybalt, now back on screen having joined his friends, was saying.
“Hold up,” a voice interrupted from off screen, “Get that camera back here for a minute, Capp.”
“What?” Tybalt’s voice queried from off camera.
“I’m dating Juliet and she’s your sister, right?” Telesto inquired.
“Yup,” Juliet confirmed, folding her arms.
“And, Rein, is my sister and best friends with Juliet,” Telesto stated.
“We are,” Rein Villega confirmed with a nod.
“And I don’t even want to know what you are doing with my brother!” Telesto insisted.
“But sometimes I think giving him nightmares would be so much fun anyway!” Damon interjected.
“What’s your point?” Tybalt inquired.
“Point is,” Telesto said flashing a grin, “You and me already are family!”
“Now where’s my kiss?” Telesto demanded, puckering his lips “Come here you gorgeous stud you!”
“Aww, come on Tybalt, don’t look so scared,” Rein laughed, “I want a kiss too!”
“I am so not watching this!” Juliet declared, “Not that I really object if you want to go around kissing other guys, honey, but it’s just wrong when the guy is my brother!”
“Do it!” Damon called bouncing up behind Telesto, “Here! Bunny ears make everything less scary!”
“They’ve lost it haven’t they?” Dirk asked from the couch in the background.
Ripp nodded.
“Nope,” Lilith countered, laughing, “They didn’t have anything to lose to start with.”
“See, now that is what they are usually like!” Tybalt sighed, once more with his friends. “As I was saying: If there was one thing that I had to say was my thing, this would be it; Friday afternoon coffee at FM with my people. It’s our chance to forget about school and homework and all the rest of it and for a few hours we can be just us.
It isn’t the same as really digging playing the guitar maybe, but I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
There was a moment of silence before Tybalt continued, “Now everyone go hug Fen for missing having his pointy blue ears in the last few shots because he was working the camera.”
“Thank you Fen!” Lilith, Dirk and Telesto sing-songed jumping up off the couch, arms outstretched toward the camera.
“Except you,” Tybalt murmured in the background, pulling Damon onto his lap, “You come here.”
“Here Fenny, Fenny, Fenny,” Juliet called grinning.
“Down girl!” Rein admonished, “The blue one is mine.”
“Aww, no fair, Rein” Telesto mock pouted, “I thought Dad taught you to share?”
“Okay fine,” Rein sighed, “But I draw the line at kisses.”
“Here, Fenny, Fenny, Fenny!” The group called in unison this time, laughing as they advanced toward the camera.
From somewhere off screen a startled yelp sounded followed by the voice of Fenrir Mullin, “No, all of you stay away! Ah! Ripp, help!”
Ripp just smiled and shook his head as the screen faded to black.
Mr. Phelps stepped before the class again, “Well, I think we have all learned there is more to Mr. Capp than we might have thought. A very creative interpretation of the assignment,” he stated, ‘You turned your disadvantage of not having an out of school hobby that fit the assignment to your advantage nicely showing a surprising depth of character. Well done.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Tybalt nodded.
“In future though, given the intended audience, perhaps it would be advisable if Mr. Villega were not allowed to speak since he is rarely able to say anything appropriate.”
Tybalt nodded again, “Probably, yeah.”
“Right,” Mr. Phelps turned his attention to one of the other students, “Up next, Narvi takes us into the fascinating world of ballet is it?”
“I knew you could do it,” Damon whispered, beaming a proud smile toward Tybalt.
Tybalt didn’t turn his head, merely grunting quietly staring thoughtfully toward the front of the classroom.
* * *3:50 PM Thursday, April 10
Juliet snaked her arm around Telesto’s neck deepening the kiss. With an appreciative moan he pulled her closer.
“I missed you while you were visiting Cal,” she murmured against his lips.
Pulling back slightly he stared down at her, puzzled, “I’ve been back for a week.”
Flashing him a sly smile she trailed her hands down his sides, “Yes, but I really missed you and we have barely spent any time together since you got back ...”
Telesto caught her hands in his and stepped back chuckling, “We are going to be late.”
“Do we have to go?” Juliet sighed.
“Yes, we have to go. We said we would.”
“Sometimes I hate our friends,” She whined as they made their way toward the door.
“No you don’t,” he chuckled draping an arm around her shoulder, “You just don’t like it when you don’t get your way.”
“You make me sound like some sort of spoiled little princess,” she protested.
“You are a spoiled little princess!”
She sputtered indignantly turning to glare at him.
“And that is why I love you,” he stated flashing her a grin, “You never settle for anything less than the best.”
“Liar,” she countered planting a playful kiss on his cheek, “You like me because I never settle for anything less than the best. You love what that says about you.”
Telesto blinked at her.
“You are transparent as an open window,” she smirked at him, “Now let’s go, before we are late.”
Shaking his head while he mulled over that bit of insight into his character, Telesto followed her down the stairs.
* * *
4:45 PM Thursday, April 10
“You might want to reread the question before you decide on that answer,” Fenrir suggested reading Rein’s homework over her shoulder.
“Really?” Rein hesitated, her pen hovering above her notebook, “Which part did I get wrong?”
“Nice try,” Fenrir chuckled, “if I do it for you, you won’t learn anything.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Tybalt grumbled flopping down on the couch, “It’s all a waste of time anyway.”
“Ripp can’t make it,” Damon sighed pushing buttons on his phone, “Anyone want me to pass a message on?”
Lilith and Dirk dropped their heads, Juliet shooting them a questioning glance.
“Tell him to hang in there,” Lilith said quietly, “and he knows where I am if he needs to talk.”
Damon nodded punching the text message into his phone.
“So what’s with Mr. Sunshine over there?” Telesto asked gesturing toward Tybalt.
Damon shrugged, “Donno. He’s been pissy since he got his mark on that video assignment this afternoon.”
“Oh yeah?” Telesto arched a brow, “You fail?”
“No,” Tybalt snapped, “I did not fail.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Telesto asked.
“It sucked,” Tybalt snarled, “No actually, it didn’t just suck, it blew. Lame from beginning to end. I made an ass of myself by showing that I have a ‘surprising depth of character’ and it was all pointless because it doesn’t mean shit anyway.”
“I liked it,” Damon protested sinking down onto the couch, “I think you did really well.”
“You would,” Tybalt snorted, “It wasn’t you embarrassing yourself on camera admitting shit that you should have kept to yourself was it?”
“I donno,” Dirk cut in, looking slightly disturbed as he and Lilith joined them on the couch “Thanks to him on that video I know more about your sex life than I ever wanted to. I will never be able to look at your rug again man.”
Rein nodded agreement, still scribbling in her notebook, “Yeah, but knowing too much was accomplished just knowing they have a sex life. Jules what did you put for question twenty-three in the History homework?”
“Haven’t done it yet,” Juliet admitted crossing the room with Telesto.
Rein let out a frustrated sigh as Fenrir chuckled quietly.
“See, you are just going to have to figure it out on your own,” he told her.
“I’ll do it later,” Rein grumbled, “Much later.”
“So,” Telesto cut in, “Since Ripp ditched us, are we ready to go?”
His question was greeted with momentary silence.
Juliet placed her hands on her hips and glanced around the room. Something wasn’t right here.
“I guess, yeah” Lilith finally agreed with a heavy sigh.
“How come Ripp isn’t coming?” Juliet asked furling a puzzled brow, “Did he say?”
Dirk and Damon exchanged worried glances before Damon hesitantly answered, “Something came up at home.”
Juliet frowned thoughtfully. She knew an evasion when she heard one. Damon was not telling the whole truth.
If there was one thing that Juliet Capp, heiress to the Capp fortune, could not stand it was being kept out of the loop. If there was a secret to be known or gossip to be shared she made it her business to know about it. One could never have too much information after all, especially not when the information concerned cute boys who were too shy for their own good.
I don’t know what they are hiding for you Mr. Grunt, she mused to herself, but I intend to find out.
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On to Part 2