Does your mother know? [Arthur]

[Lukas Bondevik]

It was that day again, Friday. The beginning of the weekend that would come, that most people associated with 'freedom' if they had a stale, boring office work. For others, like Lukas, that didn't necessarily meant that you had a day off or were free to do as you pleased just because it was days that you were supposed to be free. No, but Lukas was luckily enough to manage his own working schedule, seeing as he owned the lab himself. It was his own loss if he didn't work and earned less money from the pharmacies and other labs whom he shared his results with. So according to Lukas, at least the morning and afternoon were off for him, as he had plans for tonight, that he apparently have had the last few weekends.

Did his brother like it? No, he hadn't uttered anything about it, yet he had seen the looks that were offered to him when he had dragged home the drunk Englishman, or well, not during that time since.. He had been.. Well.. Too busy with said Englishman to notice too much around him, but he had seen how disapproving Eirik had been the day after. But Lukas needed to live a bit too, his work made him want to let loose sometimes.. Not like this what he had in mind, but he enjoyed it, and the Englishman understood him as well. They were different, yet they got along very well, and Arthur was one of the few friends Lukas had in England after all.

Lunchtime, finally, that he had been waiting for since he started. Lukas loved his work and his research, it was his life together with his brother, but said Englishman had started to make his life interesting in other ways as well. Lukas knew that this was a good addition to his life, at least what his father would say. The Englishman brought excitement to his life that he didn't believe that he would take part in, when they were at the bar, spotting a drink in hand, a lot of empty bottles or glass around them later on, and the two of them going home to the other.. A light blush spotted on his cheeks by the thought of their 'nights' together, God, he was becoming so lewd of lately..

Making sure that he could leave his research without making any harm to the bacteria or the solution, and made sure the finish what he had started before he put a lid on some of the things that didn't do too well while being exposed to air, and went to change from his labcoat to his coat that he wore outside instead. A few times had he walked out with the coat, and even Arthur had rolled his eyes at him when they had met up for lunch, and the Norwegian was spotted in the white, very clean labcoat. Lukas didn't like when it was dirty, so it was probably the most clean labcoat that were being used on a regular basis in the whole world.

Not that he minded being seen as a neatfreak either in the lab, he was still doing a very good job, despite his age and the fact that he worked alone. Lukas had been deemed one of the best from Norway, at least, and yet he didn't like the fame that came with titles like that, and decided to stay low here in London, still trying to find his goal, the cure for his brother, cancer, aids, all of those horrible diseases that the human race did not deserve, not according to Lukas at least.

The ride down the elevator was the usual, it went fast thanks to the modern elevators they had, but the music inside of it were horrible like usual, making Lukas wrinkle his nose in distaste and look at himself in the mirror. He looked clean, okay. He had gotten enough sleep yesterday as he had fallen asleep in his own bed while reading last night, so for once he wasn't spotting bags under his eyes. Skin clean, same as his clothes, and his hair perfect on his head and clipped back with the help of the cross barrette. Lukas just liked to look neat and clean, and he always looked that way as well.

As soon he was finally down on the groundfloor, he paid little attention to his surroundings, as usual, this was just a building where he had a whole floor for himself, high up in the tall building thanks to the sight he never really saw, otherwise he didn't like to mingle with people that he held no interest with.

This was becoming a regular thing, to meet up with Arthur on weekdays, grab lunch, have a nice talk. On Fridays, or Saturdays, they met up in the library, read for a bit, before either felt like taking a drink, or ten. Arthur usually challenging him to a drinking competition, which he always lost, and well.. Then things got dirty, in a good way. The first time it had been rather.. Shocking, but now it just happened. The night were usually very good, Lukas had to admit, but only for himself, and them doing it every weekend for the past weeks? Well, he clearly didn't mind it.

Arriving at the restaurant they had talked about, simply going inside to take a seat by a table further into the place, away from prying and curious eyes, and were it was more calm, rather than by the windows were people looked for spots, talked loudly, and were just boring people that liked to be annoyed.

At least Lukas waited until Arthur arrived to order, and instead he looked at the menu, to see what he would order, and throwing a quick look at the watch, Arthur still had 5 minutes before they would meet, and Lukas had told him further into the restaurant. Having a good feeling about the day so far,

[Arthur Kirkland]

Living in London, especially with the reasons that dragged him back into the seedbed of corruption, felt like living in a cage. A cage that he wouldn’t mind seeing mangled, burning, so that he could slip away from its crippled confines. He supposed he should be grateful for his second chance at life, at a respectable life that would allow his family members to forgive him. If he cared enough to have their forgiveness in the first place. Arthur never remembered making any apologies for his behaviour, though he supposed they still expected something that resembled one from him. He was never good at apologising, making up, or extending some semblance of remorse. Especially when he had very little of it for his indiscretions. And so, London remained his death sentence. His position in M16 was a different brand of restraints. It didn’t mean that he couldn’t drag something inside to play with. Lukas was an unexpected friend, connected by their work.

Arthur was, by nature, a creature of risk and possibility. Pacing in his cage, waiting and searching for any means of escape. The same could possibly be said about his relationships. And it didn’t seem long till he was testing the limits of his friendship with Lukas. The first time was unexpected, accidental pleasure after a night of getting beyond plastered. Accidental became intentional. The drinking at the nights spent between the sheets, or up against a wall, or somewhere in the alleyways next to the pubs became a common enough occurrence. Arthur would jest that Lukas needed the excitement in his life. He gave Lukas a taste of a thrill and Arthur received a drunken illusion of connection. He’d never been very good at feeling connected, his sometimes unpleasant self and dry remarks and humour far more effective at pushing everyone away, so this was an agreeable distraction. One that happened every weekend or so.

Fridays were either very dull or too busy. This Friday was of the dull sort, which worked very well for outside plans. It was also the sort of day that caused him to crave liquor at the end of it. Another reason why this meet up was a good idea—the two of them usually found some reason or other to taste their quota of liquor for the week. Or Arthur would usually just bypass such niceties and demand a drinking contest, a good excuse for getting sloshed as quickly as possible. And, of course, the even nicer distractions later in the evening.

Before leaving for the place they were supposed to meet up at, he changed out of his work clothes, which were too nice and too stiff. He had also made it a point to tease Lukas, something that came off more as a dry remark, the corners of his mouth quirking slightly, when he’d arrive in his starch white lab coat, as precise and put together as its owner. Arthur had loosened his collar, heavy and growing into more of a noose with each passing day. His duty to it was heavy and without choice. Unbuttoning and eventually shrugging out of his button down shirt, he pulled into something more comfortable, though still appeared rather put together. Even in his casual clothes, the Englishman couldn’t resist.

After pulling into his charcoal coat, he left the building and started making his way to their little rendezvous. He remembered Lukas letting him know that he would wait for him further into the restaurant, so he walked passed the tables in plain view, the crisp and loud conversations already tightening his expression into one of vague annoyance. It was probably better that they were away from the bustle, and more importantly, away from the possibility of curious eyes. Arthur’s attention roamed the area, catching onto the familiar pale head of Lukas just as he seemed to be inspecting his watch, the menu open in his hand.

The Englishman's expression seemed to loosen, and his mouth curved slightly as he approached the other man, his fingers grazing along the back of the empty chair meant for him. ”I see you conveniently left behind your work clothes this time. Wouldn’t want them to get wrinkled or stained—not that I mind, of course,” his words held a hint of that devious playfulness, very vaguely reminiscent of nights ago. Just as quickly, it passed; however, as he unbuttoned the front of his jacket and slid out of it before taking his seat. His eyes passed over the menu, unfamiliar with this restaurant. As soon as he'd taken his seat, one of the servers approached for drinks, pouring them water in the process, and Arthur immediately asked for wine, anything to ease the tension in his shoulders. He wanted something stronger, but the restaurant didn’t seem the place for it, or his antics that surely would have followed. His plan was to start off on something a little more refined and gradually disintegrate into the burn of hard liquor against his throat.

When the man left, Arthur glanced up at Lukas, ”Did I pass on your test of punctuality? If not, I wouldn’t mind making it up to you,” the offer was seemingly innocent to any eavesdroppers, though the way that Arthur glanced over at him, having a go at something less innocent was on the forefront of his thoughts. Part of the fun for him, was the subtlety in nice places like this, in places where you’re expected to behave to the highest standard and play the part of the perfectly well-groomed member of society. Once that was upheld, everything else was fair game as far as he was concerned. Aside from that, he also fit into the role of Lukas's friend, and was genuinely curious about his comings and goings. He leaned back just a tad, one leg languidly over the other. ”Nonetheless, how was your day?”

[Lukas Bondevik]

At least he could be pleased in one way; Arthur knew that he himself wasn't up to play around all the time. The matter of time and space was often brought to be forgotten when the fine liqueurs were brought to them; but as long as he was sober; either you were there before him, right on time, or before time, or else you didn't need to come. Arthur have probably learned it the hard way; he'd been late once, and some restaurants were not made to eat alone in. He might be a nerd, but not a complete loser; and therefore as the other had been more than five minutes late, he had simply left and went to eat somewhere else, alone, and let's say that the Englishman had hopefully been taught a good lesson after that.

Ah, he was pleased when he looked up as he heard the smooth voice with the accent that made it turn inside of him. He'd really use that when they got down to it. And yet even if a pleasant shiver went down his spine, his face remained calm, as if he had been waiting for his mother or something like that. "Wanted to make sure you didn't get too eager to stain it right away, my brother was rather curious why I washed a 'clean' lab coat last time." As smooth s the other, and yet he smirked up at him to show that he might have planned to use it later, for something else than it was intended to, when he wanted some kind of superiority, and use his work attire to gain that.

"Beer, please." As he pointed at the one he wanted instead of making a total fool out of himself instead of trying to say the German words for it. His language might have a bit of Germanic in it, but no, his German was rusty and bad, with a Norwegian accent.

Checking his clock and clicked his tongue against his teeth. "Two minutes to spare, had me on my toes there for a moment, you'll do something to ease those nerves after this, right?" As his glance told it all; what he really wanted when he batted his eyelashes a bit more quicker, a leg sliding under the table more towards the Englishman, so he felt that the other had his foot there. He'd gladly flirt with him, even doing not too innocent suggestions and trying to be subtle with them. It was a game for the two of them, trying to rile each other up with smooth words and the teasing until both had enough, got smashed and went straight for the suggestive things they both had been promised one or another in the end. The thought of it made his smirk stay on his lips, all too eager to see what hid friend had up his sleeve for today, if he'd be taken by surprise or not.

Before he could reply to his friend, the waitress came over, and he simply pushed the menu towards the waitress. "A shrimp chocktail, and the tuna." And he looked at Arthur, waiting for him to order and the waitress to skip along before he spoke. "Slow, the bacteria is currently growing, and I can't grow anymore. It's as fun to watch as it is to watch paint dry, until something starts happening, and with these bacteria it takes about 12 hours." He sighed and rubbled his temples. Hands shaking slightly, indicating that he'd almost been drinking way too much coffee than he should during a short time, which was a regular thing to happen. "How about you? Anything exciting going on, besides this meeting with me?" The smirk turned sly, and he leaned slightly forward, and a waiter came up to show the wine to Arthur, letting him taste it and his own beer was given to him, sweet beer of his, he could work shitfaced if he wanted, he was his own boss and no one could tell him to sober up.

"Or how was your weekend? I didn't see you at all during Sunday, or heard anything from you after I left your apartment on Saturday." Their usual 'after work' meeting on Fridays, which had once again went a little bit on the crazy side, he still had a bruise on his wrists to prove what a lovely and crazy night the two of them had together, and the thought of it sent pleasure through him. "Missed me?"