Original Sin (MewGulf AU)

🌻Chapter 12

🌻

"Mister Bright."

Gulf had arrived five minutes early and was waiting for Bright at the bar when the man appeared at the lounge. Gulf was relieved and raised his hand casually to wave Bright over.

There was one bartender behind the dimly lit bar. The interior design was upscale and subdued and included a beautiful wooden bar without a single scratch on it.

It wasn't one of the so-called 'literary bars.' Many ordinary people went there. But the owner loved mystery novels and was well known in the industry. He sometimes even wrote reviews. Thanks to his clout, authors would often put in appearances there. His name was well known to aficionados.

"Hello. I'm so nervous." Bright said.

None of the customers that day looked especially like authors, aside from Bright, stressing out on the stool beside Gulf. Of course, Gulf couldn't remember what every single author looked like, so he had to avoid saying anything careless.

"Do you get nervous being in a place like this?"

Bright looked like a man of experience, but maybe he really wasn't.

"Oh, it's not the bar. It's just you calling me out here to give me your impression of the book. I mean, it's not even close to being done. I have zero confidence."

Once Gulf had read the work that Bright had sent him, he had wanted to discuss his reaction so badly that he just couldn't wait. They had made plans to get together, and since Bright had expressed a desire to see what that bar was like, they had agreed to meet there.

"First things first, what would you like to drink?"

"I'll take a bourbon on the rocks."

Gulf drank his share of alcohol, but he couldn't handle anything strong. Even the smell made him feel sick. When he actually managed to drink whiskey or bourbon, his delicate build made their effects even worse, Gulf thought bitterly. "Anything to eat?"

"I guess some vegetable sticks and cheese."

"All right."

Gulf ordered a salty dog then turned back to Bright, who was digging in to the bowl of complimentary nuts.

"I read your work."

Bright had just tossed a handful of nuts into his mouth, but the sudden turn in the conversation seemed to catch him off guard. He began coughing violently, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"

"No! I just wasn't expecting that. But how was it?"

"It was excellent. I know that you only have fifty pages of it, but I regret rushing through it. At least I was able to spend some more tune on it." Gulf smiled shyly.

"You're pretty good," Bright responded playfully. Maybe it was his way of hiding his embarrassment. "Is that what you tell all your authors."

"Not at all. This is my job, so if it wasn't good I would tell you."

"Then I'm happy to hear that you liked it. It makes it all worthwhile."

Honestly, Bright's writing was so good that it didn't need to be flattered. The plot had an intriguing romantic touch to it, but Gulf was eager for the complex story he was sure would come. But once Gulf had begun, he'd been sucked into the world of the book by the charm of Bright's character description and his profound knowledge.

"Did you notice any problems?"

"There was one thing. The main characters are almost exactly the same. They're both intellectuals. It's interesting when they talk to each other, but I think if you define their roles a little more clearly, that would highlight their individuality and make them more interesting."

"Hmm."

"Would a little change like that be difficult?"

In the end, only the author's opinion mattered. Gulf couldn't force him to change anything. Gulf pursued the idea with Bright in a very roundabout way, not wanting to upset him if he couldn't help it. But Bright shook his head easily. "No, not at all. I was a little confused by them, too. Most parts are easy to write, but those two are essentially the same. I wasn't sure how I was going to give either of them emotions."

Bright was surprisingly compliant to Gulf's suggestions. Of course, nothing said that an author needed to meekly obey his editor in all things. It was only natural that he would have opinions of his own about his work. Of course, if Bright could accept and integrate the opinions of a third party, so much the better.

The two had finished off a good amount of alcohol, so when they finished talking about the project, their conversation turned naturally from business to their personal lives, and they began discussing Bright's school days.

"Did you do any part-time work while you were in school?" Gulf asked.

"Yes, I worked in a map store." Swirling the liquid in his glass, Bright's eyes turned toward Gulf. He seemed to be searching Gulf's eyes. Bright's face was painful to look at and Gulf unobtrusively looked away.

"A map store?"

"Yeah. We sold antique maps."

"Excuse me for asking, but why maps?"

"When I was writing Appearance, I needed to use an older map for reference. But I couldn't find the one I needed anywhere."

While searching every map store he could find, Bright had entered a particular antique map dealer's store. For some reason, he and the owner hit it off after a casual chat.

"You mean, like what kind of music you like?"

"Sort of, but not quite. But hey, what do you think I like?"

"Hmm. I'm not sure. Rock or punk probably." Gulf guessed, dutiful offering the genres that seemed to best fit Bright's style. Bright shook his head in amusement.

"Nope. Rakugo."

"You mean that medieval comedy stuff?"

Gulf's usual mask of detached composure slipped momentarily. Bright stole a glance at him, looking amused, but he quickly looked away again.

"That's right. I'm a rabid fan of rakugo. I was listening to a mini disc of it that day and I suddenly burst out laughing in the middle of the store."

Gulf was sure that had been awkward. He could understand why the owner had started talking to Bright.

"That's interesting. So you just got a job by chance?"

"Yeah. But it was really useful. If you ever need a map for your research, you gotta come by our store." Bright grinned, and then suddenly peered into Gulf's eyes. "Hey, your eyes are a lot paler than most people's. Do you wear color contacts?"

"No. I was born with them. It makes my eyes water when the sun is too bright."

"Really? Is that because you don't blink very much?"

"Maybe. I don't really understand it very well myself," Gulf answered ambiguously. That seemed to satisfy Bright.

The doors to the bar opened, accompanied by the sound of more people arriving. The air moved slightly, brushing pleasantly against Gulf's cheek, flushed with alcohol.

"I always imagined the editors of pulp mystery novels to be more like the raving fans. I'm a little surprised. Your features are so delicate---so beautiful."

Gulf only smirked at being called beautiful, a word that normally described women. "People tell me all the time that I don't fit the image. I used to work in literature and fiction."

"I'm really grateful I get to work with you. Your suggestions are really clear."

"It's only because you gave me such a fantastic outline to work with."

It was going to be some time to see whether Bright would continue to accept Gulf's  critiques so eagerly and still maintain their friendship all the way into the end of the project. But if Bright felt positively about the person he was going to be working with, that would make working together much easier.

"Oh, no. Really, it's not---" Bright started to speak, then cut himself off. His eyes were fixed on a single point and didn't move.

TBC