Klaus

[lepidopterologist]

Now that Harry had the burner phone back, he'd texted Klaus and asked if he could meet him for a drink. He choose a quiet bar with a decent selection of food, and was already nursing an old fashioned and crunching on a piece of celery with some amazing dip when Klaus came in.

Harry smiled at him. "Hi, have a seat. What would you like to drink?"

Comments

[seanceinfurs]

Klaus was not a psychic, but the fact that the text was 'meet me' and not 'go to thus hotel, undress and send me a picture of a wicked scene' meant something was up.

Klaus dressed nicely, tight pants, loose shirt, lots of necklaces and showed up at the exact time.

"Hiya," he said, cheerful as ever. "I'll have the same as you."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry gestured to the bartender, and then looked at Klaus. "You look delicious," he said. "How have you been?"

[seanceinfurs]

"Lonely," Klaus said, but with a smile. "You're looking smart as ever."

[lepidopterologist]

"You know, this weekend I went shopping and just wore jeans and a cardigan," Harry said with a little smile. "Have you found a permanent place to stay yet?"

[seanceinfurs]

"Yeah, sure," Klaus lied easily.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry didn't quite believe him, but he didn't push.

So he only nodded. "Good."

Then as the bartender passed the drink to Klaus, Harry said, "I wanted to tell you that my ah... sexual tension issues at work have found something of a resolution."

[seanceinfurs]

Klaus nodded, having sort of expected this. "Got your boy back?"

[lepidopterologist]

"Well, it was more that I didn't have them in the first place," Harry said.

He wondered briefly if he should tell Klaus more. Admit that there were two of them, and the complications that caused.

But instead he just said, "But it looks like it might work out after all."

He put a hand lightly on Klaus' knee. "I'm not so vain as to think that you'd be devastated if you didn't hear from me, but I did want to tell you in person."

[seanceinfurs]

"Look, you mentioned, so no worries," Klaus said. "Though I will miss it. It was a lot of fun."

[lepidopterologist]

"And you," Harry said, "were perfect. Exactly what I needed, and I don't know that I even realized it. I hope you might accept a small gift."

He opened his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box, handing it to Klaus.

Inside was a rather expensive bracelet. Gold, dotted with a few jewels. It was intentional. Easy to pawn.

"It isn't sentimental," he said. "But I thought you might find some use for it."

He couldn't bring himself to give Klaus money. It made the whole thing seem... tawdry, somehow. And he also didn't want to risk Klaus being offended. But Harry had money, and Klaus clearly needed it.

[seanceinfurs]

"Oh!" Klaus exclaimed when he opened the box. The bracelet was very flashy. He got it out and put it on, thankful. "Thanks, it's lovely."

He'd sell it tomorrow. Should bring in some good cash.

[lepidopterologist]

"You're welcome," Harry said, watching him. "And I hope you don't mind if I keep your number."

[seanceinfurs]

Klaus grinned. "My booty's just a booth call away. Hey, but I'm glad things worked out for you!"

[lepidopterologist]

Harry smiled at him. "It's still rather complicated, but I am feeling highly motivated to try to make it work." Then he teased lightly, "Perhaps I should have asked you for a reference."

[seanceinfurs]

Klaus snickered. "Happy to, if you need it."

Then, he admitted. "I will miss it, though..."

[lepidopterologist]

"If you don't mind my asking, Klaus..." Now Harry was mostly satisfying his own curiosity. "Was that really what you wanted, or were you attending to what I wanted?" He asked mostly because it had been entirely clear when he first met Klaus that he'd been angling for a bed and a meal.

[seanceinfurs]

"Yeah," Klaus assured him. "I liked being kept busy. Sure I liked making it good for you, giving you what I thought you wanted. And the bed was nice too... But I wouldn't have done it if I didn't like it. I loved it."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry looked pleased. "Good, I'm glad, I... this is something I only fairly recently discovered about myself. I don't have much practice."

Before this, it was mostly only his ex. Harry didn't really do one night stands.

[seanceinfurs]

"Then you're a natural talent, man," Klaus said. "And that magic stuff... awesome."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry looked pleased by this. "Oh, ah... well. I'm glad." He tilted his head a little and added, "I think that if it's something you would like more of, you won't have trouble finding someone interested. You're very... appealing."

[seanceinfurs]

"Don't sell yourself short, sir," he added with a glint. "That stoic badass look you got going on is very appealing too. But thanks and yeah, don't worry about little old me. I always get by."

"Though er... you'll still ask me for consulting business?"

[lepidopterologist]

"I may," Harry said, nodding.

Pause. "Though I would ah... need you to be discreet about how we know each other."

[seanceinfurs]

"Yeah, sure. You can just say you found me. I do seances now. You could have heard of me." There was a hint of pride there. It wasn't much, but he was doing something for himself and making a little cash.

[lepidopterologist]

"Ah, very good," Harry said, nodding.

Part of him wondered if he should warn him that someone else had seen the phone. Though on the other hand, Klaus' face wasn't in the photos anymore than Harry's was.

Though he was certain that Q knew exactly who Klaus was. Harry trusted him, though.

[seanceinfurs]

"Yeah, it's nice to do something good. You know, helping people." Taking their money too.

[lepidopterologist]

"That's good," Harry said, nodding. "It's good to have purpose. And also good when that purpose happens to intersect with making a living."

[seanceinfurs]

"Yeah, people really want closure, you know," Klaus said. "The pay is pretty good too."

[lepidopterologist]

"Just be careful," Harry said. "People can get... very charged, around death. If they hear something they don't want to hear."

[seanceinfurs]

"You're sweet," Klaus said and put his hand on Harry's knee.

[lepidopterologist]

Suddenly Harry thought of telling Klaus to go into the bathroom and take off his underwear and…

He cleared his throat. “I do care about you,” he said. “I would like you to stay safe.”

[seanceinfurs]

Klaus grinned, as if he'd heard Harry's thoughts. "Admit it... you're going to miss me as well," he teased.

[lepidopterologist]

"I think I will," Harry admitted. "You truly did make an impression."

[seanceinfurs]

Klaus was pleased to hear it. "Well, the offer stands. I'm always game."