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Description
   “Fancy seeing you here.” Zach placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling bigger as Arden turned to face him. “Are you following me or something? Out of all the bars in Tokyo, you chose the same one as I did. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”
    Arden blinked in surprise as a hand settled across his shoulder, head tilting to face its source - and a smile growing to match Zach’s. A pleasant surprise indeed. “Zach?” the question didn't need an answer. He tipped his chin up so their gaze’s would meet evenly, brow arching with amusement. “I mean do you blame me?” he gestured towards Zach with a splay of his hand, giving a laugh. Now, without his concern for the other rider’s wellbeing stopping his shameless comments, he looked awful pleased with himself.

    “Was the show all you’d hoped and dreamed for?” Sarcasm sharpened his words some, but he was genuine enough, glancing back over. “I didn't think I’d get too nervous but holy shit.” He turned fully now so he was facing Zach, arms crossing over his chest and drink balancing against the crook of his elbow as he leaned against the bar. “I mean it was a bit much to take in y'know?” Which was true to an extent. The show had been massive, the arena dwarfed anyone who stepped foot inside - it was intimidating to say the least.

     Zach narrowed his eyes now, but it was with interest. Had there been something suggestive to the way Arden had just looked at him? He tried to wave it away, figuring that the drink in his hand was making him think too forwardly. It was an awful big assumption of him to presume that Arden was even interested in other men. What were the chances of that?

    “Um… to be quite honest, I don’t really remember my round.” His shoulders shook as he laughed. It was a stark difference to their last encounter. His face was vibrant and joyful this time, eyes glimmering and a wide grin spread across his face. There wasn’t a hint of nervousness in his composure. Though, that was partially thanks to his drinking, again. “I was going so fast, and then after that last fence it was just a total blur. I’m surprised I didn’t faint off Primrose, but I don’t think the Monarchs would have appreciated having to catch me… or the chestnut mare.”

    They talked for some time then… about the show, about his daughter, before a mischievous smile came to his lips. “I hear the shots here are much stronger than they are back home. A bit more ‘sting’ to them. I promised my friends in Kentucky that I would be as wild and crazy as I could be, so will you do the honors and be a bad influence on me tonight?” Zach chuckled.
    His eyes followed Zach’s and down to the glass, before flicking back up to his face. I mean it wouldn't be a shame to see the man drunk, no? Arden turned around, leaning against the table as he eyed Zach; wicked grin coming on. When the small glass slid across the counter he took it, giving Zach a wink before tilting it back and downing it. “Bad influence huh..?”

    He had grown awfully silent, a brow slightly raised in shock at how quickly and somewhat easily the other had gulped it down. Well, now he had to follow through. He really hated drinking, if he was being honest, but… goddammit, if he didn’t make this trip completely worth his while. He closed his eyes as he tilted his head back, downing the shot as fast as he could. It burned as it went down and Zach scrunched up his nose in response then coughed as he started to laugh. “Oh wow! That was horrible!” He laughed.

    “So… two days ago you said you’ve got no one back home? Not even a romantic partner? Girlfriend or…” He left the question open ended. Hopefully, if he was lucky, then Arden would reveal a little bit more about his preferences. Or maybe, there was more thrill in not knowing. What was he even doing? It was completely unlike him to feel this way, or to even be so upfront. “What does a guy like you do in all his free time then? If not competing for a ‘po-dunk ranch.’”

    He wasn't gonna sit there and deny his intentions with the other man, but he wasn't going to be too upset if they didn't follow through either. He was content with having a buddy if Zach didn't swing that way, but that didn't stop his eyes from trailing over the man’s face before flicking back up to his eyes with another shameless grin.

    “Nope.” Arden didn't bother to hide the smirk that came after. “Not much, I’m a bit of a thrill seeker if I’m going to be honest with myself. Whatever catches my muse.”

     “A thrill seeker? Really… I don’t take you for much of one, Arden.” Zach smiled at him almost tauntingly, then he chuckled again. “I hope you don’t try and prove me wrong by getting yourself into any sort of trouble. I quite like talking to you, so don’t be putting yourself in any situations while we’re here.” He could smell the others cologne now, strong but not too intoxicating. It was nice, he would admit. Definitely an improvement from dirt and horse manure.
    “Do you find anything that strikes your muse tonight, Arden?” Zach wasn’t even sure himself what he had meant by that question. He felt…. funny. Was there tension between them or was it just all in his head? He presumed the latter… it must just be the alcohol. That seemed easier to blame it on, and not that there might really be something there.

    Arden watched the nearing face with a smile again, the other’s reddening cheeks making the smile split into a cheeky grin. Well, Zach had certainly caught his attention, and his current train of thought seemed reckless enough for his liking; it didn't really seem like he was going to back down anyway. The man blew air lightly into Zach’s face - disturbing his hair.

    “Yup.” he answered the question simply, “He’s being rather coy though. I think I might have it wait it out a little longer.” Arden mused, bright gaze still watching Zach intently. Well, that comment was certainly risky enough for his liking; no indicator so far that Zach was even into guys. The alcohol made it a bit easier, but he didn’t doubt he wouldn't do the same completely sober. With his last chance to go back quickly dissipating, he pushed his face forward to cover the small amount of distance remaining between them - lips stopping short of the other man’s before smiling. “Does this count as a bad influence?”

    At first he was confused. No… surely… he had taken that the wrong. Surely, he was just getting himself excited and assuming things all on his own. Or it was the alcohol, definitely it was the alcohol. Why did it seem like Arden was getting closer though, and his cheeks getting hotter. Even as he moved closer to his face, Zach didn’t believe it. His heart made one big thump, a wave of electricity jolting through him as his eyes widened and look down at him. Was this even a good idea… sure, they had said he should probably get to know some people from the other team, but they probably didn’t mean it quite like this. Then again, he doubted they were the only ones with so much tension between.

    “Yes…” Zach spoke huskily. He chose to close the space fully, pressing his lips against the other mans.

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a joke; so a Monarch and a Comet walk into a bar....then they leave the bar... then they. um. oh. wow. //covers thescreen

MY INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS ARE GOING TO KILL ME. i was giving them aneurysms abt zach the last couple days oops. will is going to kill me. ily will im so sorry. rip.

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arden (c) squishyhammy
zach (c) me

Description
   “Fancy seeing you here.” Zach placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling bigger as Arden turned to face him. “Are you following me or something? Out of all the bars in Tokyo, you chose the same one as I did. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”
    Arden blinked in surprise as a hand settled across his shoulder, head tilting to face its source - and a smile growing to match Zach’s. A pleasant surprise indeed. “Zach?” the question didn't need an answer. He tipped his chin up so their gaze’s would meet evenly, brow arching with amusement. “I mean do you blame me?” he gestured towards Zach with a splay of his hand, giving a laugh. Now, without his concern for the other rider’s wellbeing stopping his shameless comments, he looked awful pleased with himself.

    “Was the show all you’d hoped and dreamed for?” Sarcasm sharpened his words some, but he was genuine enough, glancing back over. “I didn't think I’d get too nervous but holy shit.” He turned fully now so he was facing Zach, arms crossing over his chest and drink balancing against the crook of his elbow as he leaned against the bar. “I mean it was a bit much to take in y'know?” Which was true to an extent. The show had been massive, the arena dwarfed anyone who stepped foot inside - it was intimidating to say the least.

     Zach narrowed his eyes now, but it was with interest. Had there been something suggestive to the way Arden had just looked at him? He tried to wave it away, figuring that the drink in his hand was making him think too forwardly. It was an awful big assumption of him to presume that Arden was even interested in other men. What were the chances of that?

    “Um… to be quite honest, I don’t really remember my round.” His shoulders shook as he laughed. It was a stark difference to their last encounter. His face was vibrant and joyful this time, eyes glimmering and a wide grin spread across his face. There wasn’t a hint of nervousness in his composure. Though, that was partially thanks to his drinking, again. “I was going so fast, and then after that last fence it was just a total blur. I’m surprised I didn’t faint off Primrose, but I don’t think the Monarchs would have appreciated having to catch me… or the chestnut mare.”

    They talked for some time then… about the show, about his daughter, before a mischievous smile came to his lips. “I hear the shots here are much stronger than they are back home. A bit more ‘sting’ to them. I promised my friends in Kentucky that I would be as wild and crazy as I could be, so will you do the honors and be a bad influence on me tonight?” Zach chuckled.
    His eyes followed Zach’s and down to the glass, before flicking back up to his face. I mean it wouldn't be a shame to see the man drunk, no? Arden turned around, leaning against the table as he eyed Zach; wicked grin coming on. When the small glass slid across the counter he took it, giving Zach a wink before tilting it back and downing it. “Bad influence huh..?”

    He had grown awfully silent, a brow slightly raised in shock at how quickly and somewhat easily the other had gulped it down. Well, now he had to follow through. He really hated drinking, if he was being honest, but… goddammit, if he didn’t make this trip completely worth his while. He closed his eyes as he tilted his head back, downing the shot as fast as he could. It burned as it went down and Zach scrunched up his nose in response then coughed as he started to laugh. “Oh wow! That was horrible!” He laughed.

    “So… two days ago you said you’ve got no one back home? Not even a romantic partner? Girlfriend or…” He left the question open ended. Hopefully, if he was lucky, then Arden would reveal a little bit more about his preferences. Or maybe, there was more thrill in not knowing. What was he even doing? It was completely unlike him to feel this way, or to even be so upfront. “What does a guy like you do in all his free time then? If not competing for a ‘po-dunk ranch.’”

    He wasn't gonna sit there and deny his intentions with the other man, but he wasn't going to be too upset if they didn't follow through either. He was content with having a buddy if Zach didn't swing that way, but that didn't stop his eyes from trailing over the man’s face before flicking back up to his eyes with another shameless grin.

    “Nope.” Arden didn't bother to hide the smirk that came after. “Not much, I’m a bit of a thrill seeker if I’m going to be honest with myself. Whatever catches my muse.”

     “A thrill seeker? Really… I don’t take you for much of one, Arden.” Zach smiled at him almost tauntingly, then he chuckled again. “I hope you don’t try and prove me wrong by getting yourself into any sort of trouble. I quite like talking to you, so don’t be putting yourself in any situations while we’re here.” He could smell the others cologne now, strong but not too intoxicating. It was nice, he would admit. Definitely an improvement from dirt and horse manure.
    “Do you find anything that strikes your muse tonight, Arden?” Zach wasn’t even sure himself what he had meant by that question. He felt…. funny. Was there tension between them or was it just all in his head? He presumed the latter… it must just be the alcohol. That seemed easier to blame it on, and not that there might really be something there.

    Arden watched the nearing face with a smile again, the other’s reddening cheeks making the smile split into a cheeky grin. Well, Zach had certainly caught his attention, and his current train of thought seemed reckless enough for his liking; it didn't really seem like he was going to back down anyway. The man blew air lightly into Zach’s face - disturbing his hair.

    “Yup.” he answered the question simply, “He’s being rather coy though. I think I might have it wait it out a little longer.” Arden mused, bright gaze still watching Zach intently. Well, that comment was certainly risky enough for his liking; no indicator so far that Zach was even into guys. The alcohol made it a bit easier, but he didn’t doubt he wouldn't do the same completely sober. With his last chance to go back quickly dissipating, he pushed his face forward to cover the small amount of distance remaining between them - lips stopping short of the other man’s before smiling. “Does this count as a bad influence?”

    At first he was confused. No… surely… he had taken that the wrong. Surely, he was just getting himself excited and assuming things all on his own. Or it was the alcohol, definitely it was the alcohol. Why did it seem like Arden was getting closer though, and his cheeks getting hotter. Even as he moved closer to his face, Zach didn’t believe it. His heart made one big thump, a wave of electricity jolting through him as his eyes widened and look down at him. Was this even a good idea… sure, they had said he should probably get to know some people from the other team, but they probably didn’t mean it quite like this. Then again, he doubted they were the only ones with so much tension between.

    “Yes…” Zach spoke huskily. He chose to close the space fully, pressing his lips against the other mans.

-------------

a joke; so a Monarch and a Comet walk into a bar....then they leave the bar... then they. um. oh. wow. //covers thescreen

MY INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS ARE GOING TO KILL ME. i was giving them aneurysms abt zach the last couple days oops. will is going to kill me. ily will im so sorry. rip.

--------------

arden (c) squishyhammy
zach (c) me