Carnival of Color || Varigo

Carnival of Color

The dull thumping of bass surrounded Hugo as he took a long sip of his Daiquiri, the tingling sensation of the alcoholic drink barely being felt. Finishing it easily, he tried to ignore the happy couples to his left who were kissing and sharing food.

He stared back into the empty glass stubbornly before signaling the bartender for another with a sigh. Watching as the bartender slid another one to him, he propped his chin onto his hand bored.

It was the same every year, the loud noises and meaningless colors; except this time it was even worse. Valentine's Day being on the same day as the Carnival was blowing it up into even more raucous chaos.

And he had to deal with it all alone.

Laughing and cheers echoed around him at the brightly lit bar that was decorated with red hearts and beads. People partying and dancing as they flirted and joked.

It stung knowing he was the only one without someone to share that joy with, the grins and music.
But none of it meant anything to him... it was only about the drinks. And how could it be anything else?

There was only a big blurred mess of aggressive, ugly sound that was supposed to be music and distorted unremarkable faces. They came and went without meaning and without change.

He swigged down the second drink and looked around as he felt someone touch his shoulder, a parade float girl who wrapped some beads around his neck.

She smiled at him, but he only glared at her, throwing the beads off and turning his back to her pointedly.
Undeterred by his rejection, she sat beside him and tried catching his eyes by reaching over to his face.

Jerking away as he set down his drink, he pushed her hand back and went into an angry huddle in his seat, radiating frustration as he tried not to hit the flirty girl.

The sequined girl frowned and got up offended, holding her hand is if it had been burned from his touch, flaunting off over to another guy a few chairs down.

Hugo watched her go from the corner of his eye disgusted, shaking his head slightly as he ran a hand through his blonde hair.

He drank his strawberry-flavored drink quickly, his face heated with anger. Just what he needed... some half-dressed girl over him and then making him look bad because he wasn't into her.

He felt some eyes stare into him accusingly as he finished, mostly the young men who she was now flirting with, bringing distorted laughter and harsh noise ringing through his ears.

Angry tears then threatened to come into his dark green eyes for reasons that he couldn't quite grasp, as he motioned for another glass while throwing down some money tiredly.

As the alcohol was being set down, Hugo happened to catch a reflection off of the smooth glass the same time he heard a clear melodious voice that cut through everything else.

Whipping around to identify the blurred glimpse he had caught in the drink, he saw a young man with bright blue eyes and affectionate smile.
Everything seemed to be in sharp focus as Hugo looked at him through the window, the world around the male regaining color and vibrancy.

The feeling intensified as he happened to catch his eyes, making his breath catch in surprise as he watched the freckled and blue eyed man grin at him.

Speechless and stunned, he returned the smile weakly, only to realize he had disappeared beyond his vision into the bustling night crowd.

Heart beating fast realizing he was no longer there, Hugo sat there frozen with shock as he watched his world fade back into the dull coldness it had always been.

Clenching his fist he tried to make himself go after him, the doubt and the impossible chance of finding him again going through his mind, Hugo stood up abruptly.

The stool scraped loudly against the wood, making him rethink his impulse to go after the blue-eyed male as he heard titters and mumbles and felt everyone staring at his actions.

Hugo stood there lost for a minute as the bartender then motioned to the door with his chin, smiling softly and encouragingly.

Needing nothing more then that one person encouraging him, he bolted from the dark wooded and brightly lit bar.

He pushed his way outside into the twisted colorful evening, people bustling around him drinking and dancing as trumpets tore through his ears.

Wincing and running through the sea of faces and strange bodies, Hugo searched desperately for the freckled bright face.

He couldn't lose what he had just found. That person had brought light, music, color and clarity into his life for a precious few seconds... and it all had disappeared with him once he left.

Hands waved and grasped the air as strangers cheered and beads were tossed reflecting the light. Chaos surrounded him as his heart beat faster and faster.

Turning wildly to try to find some space, to find anything to relieve him, he stumbled and fell as everyone ignored him as if he wasn't there.

Tears stinging his closed eyes as he expected to hit the ground, Hugo felt someone holding him firmly, their hands grasping his arm and shoulder.

Surprised, he opened his eyes and stared at his rescuer, the same young man with the bright blue eyes and freckles looking at him worried.

Color enveloped him as he gazed at him, soft notes of beautiful music sifting through the awful noise.

The male pulled him upright, blushing at Hugo as he noticed his gaze. Rubbing the back of his neck he smiled nervously, "So, name's Varian... uhhh.. would you like to get a beignet or something? You look like you could use it."

Heart beating louder as Varian's voice sounded, Hugo nodded, realizing his world was now brighter and beautiful, "Yeah... I'd like that."