Tokyo Bound

John looked at Clyde with some surprise for a moment. On one level, John could understand some slight surprise, especially since Clyde seamed slightly…crass. A sort of endearing crass, but crass. On the other hand, he just sort of assumed that in a company whose main purpose was lesbian sex, Clyde would be used to the LGBT persuasion being around.

Still, John wasnâ€t bothered. He just kept eating, looking at Clyde with a somewhat expectant face, as if questioning why he wasnâ€t eating. Then, it came.

First, John quirked his head, then he began to laugh. Quite loudly, in fact, making the people in the neighboring table turn their heads for a moment. “Yup, the rare and elusive Bi man, in his natural habitat heâ€s a most fearsome predator, taking special delight in spoiling the lunch of the nomadic Wrestling Cowboys.” John chuckled again, now working on some fries. “Relax, attractive as the suit is, youâ€re safe from the Big Bad John.

Still smiling, John put his food down for a moment. "I take it your surprised that I like women and men?"

“Oh good, for a moment there I thought you were worried it was contagious.” That comment would be enough to imply that John didnâ€t doubt Clydeâ€s strength or ability to defend himself from unwanted advances. It brought it back to the level of friendly banter.

John smirked a bit as Clyde said that he was, in fact, surprised, because John didnâ€t act stereotypically gay. “Well…I could act all promiscuous and girly, if that would make you feel more comfortable.” He said, chuckling a bit. “I could whip out the 80â€s synthesizer and give you the whole after school special about stereotyping and unwarranted assumptions, but Iâ€ll spare it.”

This might have gone on for a little longer, if Clyde didnâ€t make that one comment. John had to grin wildly at the may comment, it was funny, perfect timing and delivery.

“Nah, nah…nah, look Iâ€m bi and I donâ€t even know the answer to that one.” John said, knowing that Clyde was about to say that you had to be born with it. The conversation was shifting more to an actual discussion of the issues, and not so much teasing. “Me, personally, I think I was born bi. But I know people who insist that they went from one orientation to another, itâ€s all…itâ€s easier just to take whatever it is at face value, really.”

“Yeah, well thatâ€s true, thatâ€s very true.” John had just about finished his burger, and was now working on the chicken and fries. Clyde would probably notice that John had taken extra honey mustard sauce, and seamed to like a lot of it on his chicken fingers. “So what about your girl? She a tension wrestler?”

By face value, John just meant that he didnâ€t like to try to think about “why” someone was LGBT, or “when” they became that way. He just accepted, because it didnâ€t bother him ultimately. To be honest, though, John was glad to steer away from the conversation. It wasnâ€t BOTHERING him, but it was a bit too serious for his lunch.

When Clyde had mentioned his girlfriend wasnâ€t a wrestler, John was actually surprised. Considering how sexually charged this league would be, it sounded like having a committed relationship with an outsider who didnâ€t understand might be difficult. But, Clyde soon explained that she still worked for AFW. Nevertheless, John had an idea that most of the wrestlers here would pair up with other wrestlers who could deal with seeing their significant others in a sexual match, because they both shared the experience.

“Huh…so what, sheâ€s like…human resources for the friction league?” It sounded like some boring office job…but it actually didnâ€t surprise him. “Or does she work for like…the whole company? He was a little curious how he met someone in Friction, but wasnâ€t asking directly.

"Hi, Clyde," Cassie said as she passed by with a neatly arranged tray of food.

It was the first time she'd seen Clyde both sober and put together. She had to admit that he was much cuter when he dressed nicely. She set her tray down a few tables away and sat. She was not at all dressed to impress in a baggy old sweatshirt and what looked like pajama pants, with just enough attention given to her short orange hair to keep it from sticking up. She just didn't have as much motivation to take care of her appearance lately, and she was just going to the gym.

She hadn't expected there to be boys around. She suddenly felt self conscious, and picked at her sweatshirt but there was no way to make matters any better or worse. It didn't matter, anyway.

On her tray was a glass of water, a cup of tea with milk, a small bowl of oatmeal with sliced banana and no sugar, and a piece of steamed fish with lemon and soy. Maybe it was an odd mix, but it looked so pretty when she had meticulously laid it all out. With a smile on her face she picked up her chopsticks and ate a slice of banana while she looked around.

It was nice that Clyde had friends. She had worried that he was some loner good-for-nothing, but friends, and guy-friends especially were good for him. She took a sip of her tea and finally noticed the guy Clyde was with. She only just stopped herself from spitting it everywhere, and choked on it instead. She recovered quickly, but her cheeks were already red with embarrassment.

Who was that? And did he see her tea-related near-death experience?