Chance Meeting of Two Unknown People

Draza, who was positive he could not get any more terrified of Cesario than he already was, became even more terrified of Cesario. He crawled out of the box, looking pretty much as pitiful as one could imagine. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were red and dark circles under them indicated his apparent lack of sleep. Slowly, and rather cautiously, he stood up.

"U-uh, I...a-at least tell me what you're going to do to me." He muttered.

He was humiliated, sure, but at this point he just wanted to know what Cesario was going to do. Kill him? He doubted it. Hurt him? Probably.

Cesario punched him in the face with a prolonged sigh.

"Scusi, amico mio--this hurts me infinitely more." He cracked his knuckles. "Now, Signore--I take it you don't have the pay? It's fine, really--that punch was more of a formality."

As much as it hurt, Draza was just happier that he knew what was going to happen. Actually, no, the more time he had to feel the pain, the more it just really hurt.

He held his poor cheek, taking a few steps away from Cesario and backing up towards the couch. Not that that would do much at this point. There was nowhere to run, but if he got hit so hard that he fell backwards, at least he'd hit his couch.

"I-I don't have enough money..." He mumbled sheepishly. "I only have about twenty-five dollars..."

He sighed again, glancing around at the room.

"I would say you have a nice place or some other cliche shit, but you really don't--I'll make this quick and simple instead, si? Signore Dragovic, you owe us money. I am your resident collector for that money. Since the amount you owe is getting huge, I am here to remind you why you should be paying--again, a mere formality. We have to make sure you're not hiding profits from us.

"Now, you really have three options. One: come up with the money yourself in the next workweek, and all your problems with me disappear. For now.

"Option two: You can take out a high-interest loan with us, and we'll allow you to pay off that instead of demanding all the money you owe us now.

"And then there's happy, fun option three: you find some way to make it worth my while, and I say that you paid. Maybe I'll even keep your pretty face intact, Signore..." Cesario chuckled softly, invading Draza's personal space to roughly grab his bruised face. Perhaps it was the gloves, but something about his touch felt particularly inhuman and threatening.

Draza avoided looking at Cesario. There was really only one option he could take, and he wasn't even sure it was even an option for him.

"What...would you find worth your while?" He asked, finally summoning up enough courage to look at Cesario in the eyes. "B-because...I'll do anything at this point."

He grinned.

"Ah, what do you get the man who has everything--a common question, I assure you. I'm sure you'll think of something, eh?" He plopped onto the couch, watching Draza with an amused expression. "I won't leave until you give me an offer, though."

Almost immediately, he began to pace around the room.

"I-I have jewelry that's not worth much but it might help my debt, and I can make you any sort of flower you want, a-and I can cook or maybe I could clean your house or, or..." He kept listing a whole lot of things he could do, but none of them were really all the special. "...I could even, oh, I don't know..."

He hung his head.

"...I guess you're going to have to just kill me. I'm not any good at anything except flowers and love..."

"Flowers and love?" he laughed, wiping a tear from his eye. "Do tell, amico mio, do tell--I am curious."

He looked up.

"What do you mean? I...I've been told I'm a wonderful boyfriend." He said, not sure where this was going at all. "But that's really it...Whenever I get into a relationship, I just...put all my efforts towards the other person. It's kind of pitiful, actually..."

He sighed, running his hands through his hair. "As for flowers, you've seen what I make...I know I'm good at raising flowers and arranging them, but...those are the only things I'm good at. Flowers and love."

"Then pick one and try to interest me," he replied, staring at his nails.

"Y...you want to go on a date...with me?" He looked thoroughly confused. That WAS what Cesario was implying, right? Right?

"Do you think it will keep me from breaking your face?" he asked unhelpfully.

He shook his head.

"...I think it would probably make you want to break my face more." He said meekly. "N-never mind..."

He laughed.

"Go on, find something~"

"I don't know!" He said, aggravated. "Can't you just tell me?! I'm telling you, I'll do anything, you just have to tell me what do!"

He glared at Cesario, forgetting for a moment who he was talking to.

"I need a cigarette..." He grumbled irritably.

Cesario offered him one, grinning devilishly.

"I don't care what you offer me, Signore--just make it good. Trust me, if I knew what I wanted, I would have it already."

He took the cigarette and took the lighter from inside his pants pocket. He had found his old decorative lighter recently, as he had also thought about taking up smoking again.

"Thank you..." He mumbled, taking a long drag on the cigarette. "...If you don't want flowers from me, the only other thing I can offer you is...uhm. Something of the romantic persuasion."

"Do explain, Signore," he said with a laugh. "English is not my first language, you see."

"W-well..." He mumbled awkwardly, pausing to smoke more. "...A date. Or, uhm. Something more intimate. Like...You know."

He motioned extremely vaguely. Somehow, he had a feeling this wouldn't go over very well."

"Sex?" he asked, lowering his shades. "Are you any good, even...?"

He frowned.

"That's what everyone tells me." He said, a slight tinge of pride to his voice. "B-but you don't want that, do you?"

He hoped Cesario said no. He was actually frightened of what sex with him would be like.

"I suppose I am single at the moment," he replied thoughtfully. "Why not? It's the only point of dating, after all--I like a man who is straight-forward, anyway. It will be a change from women...then again, they're boring as fuck." Cesario smiled at him. "So again, why not?"

He swallowed nervously. Oh why had he ever suggested that...

"Alright." He said. "But first...I want you to at least promise me that it'll be enough for this week. Please?"

"I told you," he replied, "If you make it worth my while, I will waive this entire month's fees, possibly the ones before it. It all depends on your performance Signore."

He frowned suddenly.

"Fine!" He said angrily. "I'll make it worth your while whether you like it or not!"

He glared at him.

Then, he paused.

"...wait, right now...?"