michael.

It wasn’t that Michael pretended he was something he wasn’t or had any interest in doing so. He wasn’t bothered by his work so much anymore to begin with. It was what it was, what worked best for him in his situation. He just didn’t want to tell a kind new stranger what he did at night the first time they meet. By the time he has something to say however Blaine was telling him about his friend during Chistmas time.

Michael looks up from the little menu at that, pursing his lips in an obvious attempt not to laugh until he looks back down.  “I shouldn’t laugh.  If I got the chance to be paid for that I’d absolutely take it.”  Closing the menu he leans back in his seat and pats Apple’s head.  “As far as stories go though, it’s not exactly glamorous.”  He says with a shrug of his shoulder.

“The dream was to get a scholarship and either become an architect or a structural engineer, but I left Chicago when I was sixteen.  I’m just trying to pay the bills and shove the rest in a jar for now.”  It was probably going best after he started the dog walking out of these past four years.  His savings weren’t what he wanted them to be yet but he was getting there.  Now if only he knew what exactly he was saving for.  “What about you? Where is Blaine the dog lover going?”

“She managed to talk two other people into it at the same time she was doing it, so there’s more than one person and you who would do that if they were paid.  I think I could be talked into it,” he grinned sheepishly before he threw caution to the wind and let his grin stretched into a full on cheeky smile followed by a huff of a laugh, “Who am I kidding?  I love Christmas so much, I’d probably do it for free.  The money would only be an added perk.”  

Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention.  Their soon-to-be-waitress waved as she took the order from the table next to them, signalling she would be there next. “Stories don’t have to be glamorous.  I don’t think we’d be very real if there weren’t any ups and downs or parts where glamorous would be the least likely word to describe what we’re going through.  But?  I do get it.  No pressure.”  His gaze darted over Michael’s, head tilted to the side.  “I, sometimes, ask more questions than I should when someone makes me curious.  Sorry about that.  Bad habit.  I guess I’ve always enjoyed talking about other people more than I like talking about myself.”

“That’s not a bad dream to have.  I hope you get there and that jar keeps filling up.  Sooner rather than later.  That’s pretty young to be on your own.  Did you come to New York City right away, or?”  Catching himself slipping right back into the asking too many questions habit he just apologized for, Blaine tucked his chin towards his collar and grimaced his apology this time.  “Me?  I..uh.  I’m in a show a few blocks that way,” he thumbed over his shoulder towards the window indicating the direction of Broadway with a tug of the corner of his lips upwards.  “I write music, too.  Or.  I’m trying to.  We all have our dreams, yeah?”