The first meeting

[whrrenah]

The commotion at school was insane. Worse than insane! Wren had no idea what was going on at first but the crowd of people who gathered in the cafeteria, screaming someone's name warned her that she did not want to be there. As she walked by, she slowed down, looking in the same direction as everyone else, spotting the set up stage and a single man under a light, strumming a guitar and crooning. Oh. That's what all the commotion was about.

"And now, for our grand finale, the one person who can answer all of Mr Wik's trivia questions will win a band tee with his signature on it!"

Wren rolled her eyes, mentally going "and the crowd goes wild!" in her head while the crowd actually went wild. Along with a couple of her friends. "Wren! Wren, don't you know who that is?"

Turning to the girl who went by Tweet, she responded in a flat tone. "Another boy hell bent on stealing the hearts of thousands so he can pay the bills?"

"Oh my god, Wren! It's WiK! Don't be a spoil sport! He's soooooo cute! You have to look at him! Tell me he's not cute!"

"He's perfectly fine--for being a feelings moocher."

Tweet shook her head. "You don't get it, do you? He used to go to school here."

Wren turned her eyes to her friend. "And? Everyone goes to school in some fashion. There's nothing special about that. But you want to know what is special? Letting all these people believe that they have a chance with him. Hell, even encourages it because that's how he makes money. Sell the belief that you can be with him, and everyone is climbing hand over fist to buy the next new album. Or his Merch, or whatever guitar he says is good. He's an actor and he's playing to the crowd. So if you want to enjoy the fantasy, enjoy it. But don't buy into it, okay? You're smarter than that."

She went on to class, not even taking a second look.


*****

Having been convinced to go out to karaoke (as Tweet sadly, didn't win the shirt), Wren chose the blue halter-top maxi. It was hot out with no sign of relief yet in nighttime Bangkok. Cute and lightweight, she decided to pull her hair up off her neck and frame her face with a few ringlets. Ready for a night on the town, she joined her friends in one of the bar booths, filled with drink and food, they all took turns on the mic, making a bit of a game out of it. When it was Wren's turn, she decided to go with the Disney-themed songs and started her rendition of "Kiss the girl."

It just so happened that she caught sight of said pompous boy in the hall, strolling around the rooms. And there was some eye contact. Deciding to play it up since her friends hadn't noticed yet, she decided to sing to him and tease him as well. "My oh my! Look like the boy too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl."

Comments

[meanmugging]

He looked thoughtful a moment " Cake and ice cream both." he decided nodding his head more to himself than to her. He caught the look on her face and something inside of his chest stoked a little. Though Kim had such a poker face no one would be able to tell.

" Sure. Take your time, I have a few phone calls I need to make to get things in order before we go anyway." he said smiling. " You do your thing and I will be on the balcony, just grab me when you're freshened up." he said stepping to the doors.

[whrrenah]

"Okay!" It was an agreeable chirp before she wondered into one bedroom with her go-bag. Should she get ready completely? No. That would indicate she thought it was more than what it was...or that she wanted more than what it was. Did she want more than a simple friendship? Wren wasn't certain and she felt that implying something that wasn't equally expressed or felt by both parties was railroading.

So nix the shower. She changed into capris and some short-sleeved blouse before touching up her blush and gloss. Oh! And maybe an extra dab of perfume. Of course it was a perfumed oil that wasn't found on this world (literally) and had those cloying scents that were so familiar with some of the tropical flowers around, but yet they weren't. Wren wondered if he would take note of it and what she would say that would be a sufficient answer. She'd figure something out if it came to that. Right now she eyed herself in the mirror, deciding that the look would do and topped it off with a high ponytail to keep the hair off the back of her neck. Switching from a purse to a simple bill fold that she could slip into a front pocket, she headed back out to the main living area and then the balcony, making certain she made noise to indicate her presence. It was habit and probably a good one for him as well.

[meanmugging]

She's a woman who knows what kind of witch craft she may feel the need to cast over her self or how long it would take. Kim was out on the balcony talking a bit quickly and lowly in Thai. Organizing things for the up coming days.

The noise she made coming up was probably a really good thing since Kim was quite secretive about his life and how he dealt with certain things. It was fine though since he got his point across and was standing finishing a cigarette. " Ready?" he said looking to her and stubbing the smoke out in the ash tray.

[whrrenah]

She had heard him speaking on the phone but not what any of it was about. It wasn't her business, anyway and the mental victory of him continuing to spend time like this was overriding any thought that he might be behaving suspiciously. "Yep!" Another happy, bubbly chirp as she skirted off to the side so he could come back into the apartment. Well, penthouse. She knew her friends were going to ask questions when they realized she wasn't taking the usual route home from school but Wren decided that could be dealt with at another time.

"Are we going to that YumYum spot?" It wasn't the real name of the little soda bar, but it sounded close enough to yumyum that she dubbed it that.

[meanmugging]

Let's be real, at this stage in his life he was always behaving suspiciously. That was just the way he had to roll to keep his lives separated. He stepped in through the door closing it behind him.

He lofted an eye brow " YumYum spot?" he really wasn't sure what she was talking about, more times than not he wasn't big on sweets. He walked over to trade the house slippers for his shoes. " You'll have to show it to me."

[whrrenah]

She hummed for a moment, looking at her phone as she padded over to where their shoes were, basically walking out of the slippers and stepping into her shoes. "Oh! That must be the name they gave me while they were drunk. Typical. But the place is really called Swensens."

But.. It was in a mall. And well populated. She paused, looking back to Kim. "Would that work for you or is that too high profile?"

[meanmugging]

" It's fine." he said waving his hand. He had a cap and sunglasses that would serve as just enough to make people wonder if it was who he might look a little like or if it was just someone who looked like WiK and really that was all he needed.

" Actually..." he held up a finger and disappeared down the hallway into one of the smaller bedrooms. Yes, he kept his wardrobe in there no judge face there Wren. When he came back out a few minutes later he was sporting a pair of baggy jeans over sized red tee with a sports logo on it matching hat and shoes. The hat of course on backwards and a pair of red sunglasses on his face.

" Not a word, and let's go." he said knowing how silly he looked dressed like that, but that was the style for some of the Thai dudes his age.

[whrrenah]

Wren had to bite her own lips when she saw him emerge in his disguise. Yes, silly, but... "You look very normal," she complimented, ready to go. "Just your run of the mill Thai boy with no discernable...uh...wisdom? That's not the right word for it-- Fashion sense."

It was fine, though because they were going for dessert and she had the feeling Kim wasn't this sort of gracious with his time like this. She would take the victory.

[meanmugging]

He lowered the sunglasses to cut his eyes to her. " Shh or no ice cream only the driest cake I can find for you." hard to tell if he was joking or not with his delivery. He opened his phone and by the time they were back down to the ground level there was a taxi waiting on them. he was covering all his bases here.

" Your chariot awaits." he said opening the door to the cab. He told the driver where they were going and settled in for the ride.

[whrrenah]

Still learning his mannerisms, she peered right back, almost looking like an owl in the process. They were still going down to the ground level so she left it at that, smiling brightly as she snuck into the back of the taxi, sliding further in to give him room.

From there, she didn't say anything else about his attire. Wren hummed a jaunty little tune as she watched the scenery pass by her. It was a good day, she thought, despite the weirdness that happened earlier. And arriving at the mall in the cab was nothing to turn heads, which was even better. She knew the part and kept quiet, letting him help her out as needed, her hand squeezing his long enough without making it weird.

[meanmugging]

The little owlish expression was just too cute and even though she couldn't see it he smirked in amusement. The ride over Kim was quiet as he usually was when he was riding in a car. Though Wren humming did make him smile even if it was out the window and not toward her.

Holding hands well, for Kim it was all awkward because he never really did it. In fact being touched in most situations caused a recoil reaction but he was chill. " I haven't been here in a while, we may need one of those mall maps or something." he said trying to spot a kiosk with one.

[whrrenah]

Pulling her hand away, she turned in the opposite direction, looking for a map kiosk as well. "Hmm... I think on the south side?" Wren pointed in that direction, glancing back at Kim. "At least making a sweep from one end to the other will be helpful. Either we find it or we find a map."

It was simple for her to navigate the crowds of people, slipping through and between them like she was the rock and they were the water moving around her.

[meanmugging]

He gave a most unhelpful shrug, and really it was a good thing she was good with navigating the masses. He didn't mind the crowds of screaming fans he had when he was on stage and performing, but when they were people just shoulder checking you left and right Kim really hated it.

Grunting as a taller man nearly bowled him over and flexing his fist because honestly giving him a black eye would be his first option, however, he knew it would bring too much attention. He also decided that he really did not like the mall. " Let's hope we find it soon." he said irritably.

[whrrenah]

She glanced back when he had been body-checked and immediately shifted so that Kim was closest to the storefronts and walls and she was on the outside, acting as a buffer against everyone else. Several people came close, but they didn't knock into her like they did Kim. "We will, grumpy," she assured him, eyes still out on the signs and looking for a map place. "You got this. I have faith."

Swensen's was about six storefronts down and bustling, even if there was no line. Most of the tables were full and it was a little chaotic with the music and conversation from the numerous tables. Grinning, she turned to look at Kim. "See? Made it in one piece."

[meanmugging]

He was thankful for the buffer, but strangely found himself annoyed when people came too close to even bumping into her. Fucking animals in this place. She called him grumpy and he huffed. " I am not grumpy." he totally was.

When he seen how packed the place was his bitch face did not ease any. Fuck. He'd promised her desert though. " Barely." he said sourly and took her wrist t lead her to an empty table which was almost stolen by another couple, he managed to punk them off with his magic I will kill you for this seat stare. Kim really could be a thug when the situation warranted.

" Order whatever and as much as you'd like. May as well make their day, and you can always take left overs back to the apartment with you."

[whrrenah]

He was totally grumpy but she didn't argue with him, just smiled, tilting her head slightly. As he grabbed her wrist, she moved with him, voice quiet as she waited to see what he was doing. Ah, a table. And the way he simply growled at everyone near them had her looking a little concerned. "Kim, come sit down." she implored, reaching up for his hand and scooting his chair closer to her and the wall. "I've got this," was the preface as the server came up to them. "Two of each on the menu, please. One cake and one iced cream served but everything else boxed up to."

The server blinked, looking at the woman for a moment. She turned her head to look at him. "I spoke Thai. One of each, serve a cake and ice cream. Prepare the rest as to go."

[meanmugging]

She didn't know yet, just what he was capable of, the growling and death glares at people were nothing. He did sit down after one last stare-off with a larger guy. Really Kim was in a mood for these dudes and their swinging dicks to fuck around and find out the hard way that he was not one to be messed with.

Wren managed to calm the raging Thai bull down. Though he looked at the waitress as if to say why are you standing there chop chop sister. " I want an extra of the coffee flavored cheese cake and key lime." presents for Khun since his eldest brother would make a big scene if he found out he had stopped here and not gotten him anything." If you have glitter sprinkles I want them covered with it."

[whrrenah]

Glitter sprinkles? Wren blinked, turning to look at Kim. He... didn't seem the type to be that whimsical. But finally, the waitress agreed to make the order and turned to go. The way he was bristling at everyone for what seemed to be nothing had her concerned, but not worried.

"You okay?" she asked softly, leaning in so that the conversation could remain between the two of them.

[meanmugging]

And another stare off as someone walked too close and bumped his chair. He thought he was actually doing well considering. No one was bleeding and he hadn't taken a swing at anyone. Good right?

Wren leaned in and whispered, eh maybe not as good as he had thought. He took a breath sighing and leaning to her " It might not seem like it because of what I do but, I actually really hate being in crowds that's all. I will be fine."

[whrrenah]

She nodded slightly, still whispering. "We can take it all to go. I didn't want dessert for the public ambiance. I just wanted to spend a little more time with you."

It wasn't her intention at all to make him uncomfortable and his peace was pretty important to her in this moment.

[meanmugging]

He almost did a double take when she said she wanted to spend more time with him. For a second he was looking at her like she was nuts.

" No need. I mean can't really talk much here but..." he shrugged. Pausing a moment " You don't need to have a reason to hang out with me...we can just hang out sometimes if you wanted." it was awkward feeling to say it, and he felt like he sounded stupid too.

[whrrenah]

The way he looked at her told her everything she needed to know: People didn't want to get to know Kim as a person. Well, Kim, hope you don't die of shock. But then her smile warmed up at his offer. "That sounds great. I'd like that."

And then the served dishes came out along with water and utensils. She thanked the waitress and then went to her dessert, glancing over to his plate. "So Americans are a little-okay, a lot bull headed. Most of them don't understand the complexities and innuendos that are common place here. So I'm going to pretend to be a stupid American because if you really did get the driest cake in the house--" She scooped some of her ice cream and dallopped it on the corner of his place to do with what he wished.

[meanmugging]

he turned his head laughing lightly, " It was a joke." he said picking up his spoon and taking a taste of the ice cream. Not big on sweets he was trying to decide if he liked it or not. As for people knowing Kim as a person, He was used to all of that. Too used to it really.

He still wasn't too sure why she seemed to like him so well. Not like he had done much that he felt anyone else would have were they able to. It was alright though, it was still safe and not too much of an issue.

[whrrenah]

Wren smirked, "Oh, now it's a joke." She didn't mind the quiet and didn't start asking about the ins and outs of Thai New years. Even though she had been in the country to witness a few of them, getting anything out of her classmates beyond 'country wide water war' was annoying. Besides, there was nothing cool like that in the United States.

"One would think that with a country as big as the US, they would be more... accommodating about other's cultures. Melting pot and all that fun stuff, you know? But they're as ..xenophobic as anywhere else. Makes it difficult to find the true story behind the tradition."

[meanmugging]

" It was always a joke, I would never pay for dry cake." he said with a nose wrinkle. Kim wasn't one to participate in the watering of the New Year. And no one would dare to surprise him attacking him because the kid was very unpredictable and it usually was painful for the other party.

He shrugged a bit, " It is what it is really. I don't hold expectations for any country to accept anything when I am there. Italians are pretty friendly though, but I think it is because they want you to spend money."