To start things off [open]

[Andrei McQueen]

The sun is barely half way up the sky when Andrei got back home from his morning jog. His chest expanding as he catches his breath. His damp shirt silhouetting his lean muscles underneath. His sweat, glazing his body with a shine and ran along the contours of his arm.

He walked over his door and stretched his arms up with his shirt barely revealing his garter waistband. Cracking his neck and back, he felt that relief from the back pain he grew to know. The time in Eisai taught him how to completely conceal his secret and walk perfectly straight.

He opened the front door, and with one swift motion, took his shirt off with one hand and locked the door behind him with the other. He grabbed his glasses he left on the table beside the door and made his way to the kitchen. He needs to have his morning dose
of coffee before waking up his brother and starting his day.

The sound of grinding coffee beans filled the household but wasn't enough to wake the sleepy head up stairs. Four transparent wings started to to slowly peel out from the center of his back and reflected the light passing through the window panes. The strange sensation didn't bother him as much any more. He got used to it but the back pain was still an issue.

He pulled out two coffee mugs and placed them beside the coffee machine before silently fluttering his way up the stairs and into his brother's room. he made sure not to wake Mason up as he hovered above the figure under the blanket.

"WAKE UP!!!!! " His wings stopped fluttering.

[Mason McQueen]

Mason was tired.

Normally he’d join Andrei in his morning laps (he had to keep those pounds off after all, and it seems yoga and self-defence classes aren’t enough), but he was just so swamped that his alarm just buzzed through him. A habitual crammer, the man’s been up all night once more grading the last batch of his student’s lab reports and inputting said grades in his excel file. He promised his students (all five or so classes’ worth of them) that he’d be giving them feedback about their current standing before the midterms so they sort of have an idea about how hard they’d have to study for it (or that if they need to exert effort to get that coveted A+). It was a nice promise, but he didn’t realize how much work he had to put into it to actually fulfill that said promise. His eyes tired beyond compare, he would’ve actually slept through the day (thereby missing his classes) had his brother not barged into his room and promptly shouted at him.

“Whu-whu-what?!” he bolted up, unintentionally butting heads with the figure fluttering above him and making him groan in slight pain and frustration. “What is up with you today?” growled the man, giving Andrei what he would’ve called a ‘stern big brother glare’ (not that it’s imposing or anything like that) as he sat up revealing his bare torso, “Didn’t I tell you not to wake me up like that again?”

Giving his little brother another huff, he promptly lied down and rolled to his side, pulling his blankets over him. “What time is it anyway?” he said from beneath the covers, “Give me five minutes. Don’t make me kill you bro.”

Not that such warnings ever stopped his little brother, didn’t it?

[Andrei McQueen]

No, it didn't.

He jogged a while ago and endorphin was still racing through his system, putting him in that happy mood. He knew his brother was up all night. He wanted to help him with grading papers but he had his own share of work load to carry. He remembered Mason's first month being a teacher at Hammel and had a hard time adjusting on grading papers. Andrei used to help him, but he always ended up taking a nap on a pile of test papers and slowly drifted to slumber, leaving his older brother to work.

Andrei half-smiled as he rubbed a small part of his head, both because of bumping it with his brother and because of remembering such a thought.

He lifted his body down the foot of the bed, crossed his arms, and examined the sleeping Mason. He stayed there for a good thirty seconds as he retracted back his wings. A smirked escaped his lips, hinting a devious idea. He crawled his way over the blanket, resting his knee close between Mason's legs and a palm on the headboard."What's up with me?" He ran his other palm over the part of the sheets where Mason's chest was located. "But I can see what's UP on you. It must be a really GREAT dream."He breathed out a laugh as he remembered Mason in full mast when he entered.

He sent a kiss through the sheets, directing it towards the part where Mason bumped on him. He was being more affectionate than usual but he just felt really happy. He could be in any form of annoyance, or give Mason that unease feeling, or even have a totally different personality but he knew his brother would still be there for him."What do you want for breakfast? I'm thinking of nice meaty SAUSAGES." He breathed out another quiet laugh.

Maybe not telling him it's a Saturday is a good idea.

[Mason McQueen]

As much as Mason would like to insist that what Paul saw when he entered was not his morning wood but a coincidental folding of the blanket right above where his crotch should be, everyone knows no matter how thick the blanket is, it wouldn’t really fold up to be that stiff and that high. That, and Mason’s still using the thin ones for summer. So really, he had no excuse.

And besides, having a full mast is the least of his problems. (Why must willing it down be so hard? Pun totally not intended). It’s that stickiness that came along with it that he hopes his brother won’t notice.

So yes, he totally had a great dream.

“Go away,” he grumbled, thwacking Andrei’s arm away from under the sheets. He promptly turned around on his belly, but after a split-second of realizing that letting his obviously crazy brother (he meant that in a good way) be in his blindside is anything but wise, he settled to rolling on his side, curling into a foetal position.

Mason usually doesn’t mind Andrei’s rather affectionate ways; they’re brothers after all and, well, to the man this signifies their strong bond. But with the teasing he’s been getting from him currently, he’d most likely explode. He’s turning so red right now that he’d probably give a beet the run for its money. “What is up with you today? Like, seriously, ” said Mason, finally peeking from under the sheets, shaking his head as he gave his brother a lazy grin, “Did you just get laid in the middle of running? Or did that guy two blocks down (What’s his name again, Marc?) finally agreed to go out with you?”

Realizing that with his brother happily hovering above him his chances of getting a quick snooze is one in a trillion, he promptly motioned for his brother to scoot and got out of bed (situation went down a bit anyway; not fully, but enough for him to hopefully go unnoticed). “Anyway, breakfast. Is it my turn or yours?” he asked, stretching his arms and back with a yawn for about two seconds then unconsciously scratching his chest, hair and stomach.

“And I’m not in the mood for sausages. Waffles, we’re having waffles.”

ooc:
Sorry if it's late Bee. </3. I'll try to work faster next time. ^^.
- Jam

[Andrei McQueen]

"HEY! I may be gay but I don't drool over every hot sweaty guy that passes my way." He does, but he doesn't show it. Not to Mason, at least. He doesn't want his brother to use that information to tease him.

Andrei rolled over Mason's sheets and prompted himself to lay down over them. He stretched his arms and felt the warm cloth under him."I was just in a really good mood and about to do you a favor but since you insist. I like three waffles, please.". He smiled until he smelled a pungy/musky scent released from under, when Mason stood up. He also felt a slightly colder sensation on his thigh, like when wet skin is colder than dry. Assuming it was just his sweat from when he jogged, he set the thought aside until his brother looked at him in slight embarrassment. He looked at his brother and had that sibling mind reading instinct.

"I don't want to hear it." Even though he doubted what his mind was telling him, he read a messy confession from his brother's face. He didn't want to confirm what happened here during the duration of the night but his brother's stoic expression just did. "Dude. Whats wrong with you!?"

But, what was wrong with Andrei for still laying on Mason's messy bed? He realized this thought and jumped out of bed, wiping his knee on Mason's blanket.

"You make breakfast, I'll just rinse YOU off of my thigh" He exited Mason's room in slight disgust. He likes his brother, but not in that way. Or does he?

lololololol
It's cool.
-bee-

[Mason McQueen]

“My bad,” said Mason, playfully rolling his eyes, “You don’t drool on every sweaty guy that passes by you; you jump and pounce on them like there’s no tomorrow.” A warm chuckle escaped from his mouth soon after. True, he hasn’t seen his brother actually pounce on someone (and he doesn’t want to. Ever) but he’s jogged with him enough to know how his stare lingers at every other guy. Not to mention he’s already heard enough to know how wild his little brother can get. (The walls aren’t soundproof after all). If only asking Paul to install soundproof paddings around his room won’t sound too offending, he would’ve asked him about it early on.

On retrospect, maybe he doesn’t need to. He could just coerce Levi to help him install some on his room. Paul wouldn’t be hurt/embarrassed by that, wouldn’t he?

“Wait, what? What’re you talking about?” People say he’s rather easy to read after all. And considering how well Paul knows him, well, it’s more instinctive than anything for him anyway. But then he saw his brother’s leg brush through that spot and bam, the realization hit him. “Wait, don’t tell me. No need.” The man quickly added, eyes widening as he gave his brother a firm glare telling him not to say it.

He didn’t need further embarrassment so early in the morning.

“Nobody asked you to jump on my bed anyway,” muttered Mason as Paul ran out of his room, pulling a white shirt over him as he walked down to the kitchen to start making waffles.

Feeling a little creative, Mason decided to mix a bag of chocolate chips to the waffle batter. Hopefully it’ll be enough to bribe his brother to be silent for the rest of the day. “Dude, your three waffles are up. Don’t blame me if they get cold.”

“How’s your new book coming up anyway? Your publisher called the other day, did you get that call?”

[Andrei McQueen]

Paul turned the faucet on and let it ran for a while. He doesn't know why, but it comforted him to watch the water flow to the drainage. After what happened, he needed to think what really happened. He dropped the toilet cover, sat on it, and stared at the beige tiles aligned in front of him; if only he could straighten out his life like how the walls are. It doesn't even make sense.

He took off his clothes, entered the tub, and turned on the shower head. The cold water dripped through his pulsating warm body but didn't quenched his cheeks that are still red for lingering on his current thought. How could he not notice this? How could he not have view this from a third angle?

He rinsed Mason's white, crusting fluid from his thigh. he shook his head. "Loser..."

He remembered those times when he invited different friends over just to make sexual noises that would make Mason uneasy. He also remembered those time when he brought home individuals for a night at home, only until he remembers his sleeping brother on the other room and ends the night earlier instead. Paul annoys Mason, yes, but he only does things falsely on purpose and not unintentionally; if you know what I mean. To make things more clear; he would have sex with someone but not until Mason meets him first. Mason is important to him, he is his older brother, of course. Paul may not appear that way, but he does think of settling with someone, and with, at least, his brother's approval.

He turned off the shower, towel dried himself and smiled at his reflection, hoping it's enough to make him feel better. He walked in nude to his room and wore a pair of green boxers before shouting "I'm coming!" as he ran down the stairs. He paused for a second when he realized his choice of words but just continued like no internal monologue of turmoil happened within him.

He saw his older brother, radiating with morning light and making a complete mess in the kitchen. Mason's muscles involuntarily flexing under his white shirt, his brother's smile brightening up his day; Paul couldn't want the sight to be anything more different.

His brother's waffles was always an enjoyable breakfast. Before his brother turned to him to ask about his book, Paul was already half stuffing his mouth with half a waffle. He swallowed a chunk and kept a straight face at the plate before responding.

"uhmm.. yeah.. He's cool with me taking my time on the book. He knows I'm not a full time author anymore, and that I work at the local paper... I'm kinda stuck on the incest part of my story" He mumbled the last few words. He doesn't even know how his story got to a part like that.

He quickly changed the topic and asked. "How's your students doing, It was late when I fell asleep and you were still up, what time did you finish?"

[Mason McQueen]

While Mason would insist that Paul tell him about his problems and such, well, it’s oddly a good thing he wasn’t privy to this one. He definitely wouldn’t really know what to do. He’d feel really weird, and despite telling himself he won’t, he certainly feel a little uncomfortable. Because for him, all those affectionate teasing from his little brother was just that – platonic playfulness.

Things just seem way too good right now; he’d rather not have his status quo shaken.

Thus, oblivious to his brother’s turmoil, he promptly poured the last of the waffle mix into the waffle-maker and began wiping the counter. Yes, he can get rather messy when he prepares food. He’s not exactly a bad cook, but more because he has this innate need to be precise with his measurements and have every equipment tool he needs within his reach. Says it’s the chemist in him.

“Stuck? Want me to look over it and maybe try to help you out?” He used to do that when he moved in with his brother anyway. True, the book which got Mason’s input didn’t do as well as those written by his brother before, but he’s gotten quite the cult fan following anyway, so it still made quite the profit. “But incest? You’re tackling more and more controversial topics lately.” Mason is open-minded, but he’s not sure he’s that open yet. He’ll try to learn though, he thinks. “What’s this one about anyway? I’m not sure you’ve told it to me yet.”

With the familiar ding signalling that his waffle’s ready, Mason happily grabbed it from the maker and sat down across his brother. He smeared a generous heaping of butter over one of his waffles and drowned it in maple syrup. One could just imagine the teasing he’d most likely get if Ella or Sam was around. “Good, but disappointing. Remember those students I told you about, Harry and Francis? Well, they still did bad on the exam. A number of students failed, but they’ve been the most consistent as of late.” He doesn’t know what to do anymore. They didn’t show up for his tutorial sessions. They don’t do their homework. He could only do so much after all. “I don’t know what to do with them anymore.”

“Finished grading their papers at 2.” A yawn escaped him soon after, accompanied by the customary arm and back stretch. “What time is it again? I’m not yet late for my class, am I?”

ooc:
Sorry if it's late. And rather crappy. >.>
- Jam

[Andrei McQueen]

Andrei stood up and went over the coffee machine. He poured himself a cup, leaned his lower back on the counter edge and rested a palm on the surface. A daily dose of his addiction was always a cure for any of his problems, maybe it was too much cure leading to another problem but it was surely worth better than having what he was having a while ago.

He heard his brother ask if he would look over his writing. Andrei just swayed his head, giving a hint of nods and shakes, not being sure if he wanted to accept but motioned to keep the option open. Mason was his brother, yes, but his books was more like a twisted diary of truths and lies about his life. Maybe he might ask for help on some parts, but not this one.

He took a sip before he spoke. "You know me, my best sellers involved a rape scene and some gay love. Controversies are in my system. Don't worry, it's just a small part." He hinted a smirk, and with the way Mason looked at him, he finally slipped out of his writer's block and knew what to write. "It's about an orphan in a whorehouse. Parents dead, siblings never knew her, and now, her brother is her best client."

He took another sip and cancelled every possible option his brother might have taken. "Hmm.. Have you tried their councilors? Try to know what's wrong with them; do they have family issues or vices? Know their personalities, their likes and dislikes, and twist it around, like, if they play video games, bribe them; if they like sweets, treat them; if they like homicidal massacre, give them a dead body to autopsy. I dunno." He shrug his shoulders with full knowledge of his brother still eating. Paul does not know if his recommendations would even help Mason and his students. Those things might work in his writing, but he's not sure if it would be the same in real life.

He walked over to his phone on the living room and checked the time and date. "It's nine o'five. You have classes this Saturday?"

[Mason McQueen]

“These waffles are awesome, no?” grinned the man as he took a bite out of his last waffle. Yes, he’s already patting himself at the back. Not that making waffles are that hard anyway. He was just about to take a second bite when the smell of that alkaline addiction suddenly filled the room, making Mason shiver as he sniffed and enjoyed the scent with his eyes closed. “Goodness, I almost forgot about that,” he nodded, turning towards his brother with a big grin, “Hand me a cup, will you?”

Guess caffeine addiction runs in the family. Has anyone proven that it’s somehow connected to one’s genes? Maybe he could look it up as his research on the side; he misses the lab (the real lab, not just the classroom lab) deeply after all. Hopefully Mr. Spade would allow it.

Mason grabbed the dishes and dumped them in the sink before walking towards Paul. “Was it me in charge of the dishes today, or was it you?” Then again, they weren’t that many, so it’s not much of a hassle. Not like it’ll make him late for school or anything. Of if it will, he’ll just leave it there until he comes home. In his mind, Paul might get frustrated with it anyway and wash it himself while he’s gone.

“True. You just love giving Mom and Dad heart attacks, don’t you,” he chuckled, imagining their parents’ (or even their older sister’s) faces should they be privy to what Paul has written. “You write them so well though – and I’m not just being the biased big brother around here. Even Mr. White thinks it’s great.” And boy was that man a harsh literary critic or what.

When he heard the general premise of said incest, well, whatever previous thoughts of slight disgust he felt was suddenly transformed to awe. God is his brother brilliant or what? “Woah. I could never have seen that,” said the man, his eyes wide with delight, “I wish I had your talents. You’re just too awesome for words.” And with that, Mason pulled his little brother close for a hug, playfully rubbing his nose on his forehead.

Mason insists such a display is totally legit; they’re brothers after all. Despite everything, Paul will always be that little boy whose hands he always holds whenever they’re walking across a busy street in Manila.

“Now you’ve got me excited,” laughed the man as he sat on the counter. He chuckled loudly when Andrei suggesting him stuff, his ideas going from great to just plain weird. “I think I’ll go give them a cadaver; that’ll hopefully scare the shit out of them so they’d behave.” Not that he knows where to get one anyway.

When Paul suddenly said it was Saturday, Mason almost fell from the kitchen top. “Wait, are you serious?” He hastily grabbed his phone on the table and looked at the calendar. It is Saturday. “It’s Saturday! Why’d you wake me up so early?” he whined, giving his brother a light punch on the arm as his face changed from a smile to an exaggerated pout, “Meanie.”

His face softened after a while, though he’s still inwardly scolding himself for being so stupid. “Want to go to the lake for a swim then? I’ve got nothing else to do today anyway, surprisingly.”

ooc:
Long and rambly. Once again, I apologize Bee.
- Jam

[Andrei McQueen]

Andrei's left eye twitched a bit when he heard the dirty fishes being dumped on the sink. It was a good thing he was still at the living room, as to not let the twitch be obvious. "It's okay, I'll do the dishes today." He said as he walked back to the kitchen. He knew Mason could clean up after both of them, but his little OC seems to be acting up.

He let a few minutes pass, with a couple of looks on the kitchen sink as he listened in on the things his brother said. He took a few sips of is coffee as to help everything sink in. True, mum, dad, and their oldest sister wouldn't be happy if they knew the things Paul wrote, or even when they knew about the things he conjures inside his mind regarding him and Mason.

He chuckled a bit as he thunk the thought; good thing he did it only after Mason mentioned about giving his students a cadaver. Mason would now just think it was about his students and not the scenes playing in Paul's head. If nobody knew their real relationship, they would surely be assumed to be a couple living together.

Next thing he knew, he was being hugged by this man in front of him. He would have acted very differently if it wasn't his brother or if he was drunk. but he isn't, so he has to let his imaginations subside.

"Uhm... Thanks?" it was the only word he could say. After all the things Mason said, the good praises and the simple critiques about him, he was still thankful. Not about what just happened, but to all the things that are happening, him being there, the morning, the brotherly love. Everything. It might have not let it out in the most obvious of manner, but he made sure, it came from his heart.

When Paul heard Mason's invite to go to the lake, he became light on his feet. "Yeah! Sure! You go get changed as I clean up over here." He walked over to the sink and turned on the faucet.

It's cool.. Sorry for being late..
-bee-

[Mason McQueen]

Continued in
Not too cold yet, isn't it?