Blessed Are We

Connections, connections, connections

Serj Tankian kept his promise to Daron Malakian on the upcoming meeting, since he's no fan of disappointing people, especially his mother, father and now him. The Saturday meeting lasts from 14:15 to 15:30, which means 75 minutes with Daron, even longer if they pick on Lloyd and Mallorie long enough to get kicked out for the day. He doesn't quite believe that the AA courses will help him recover from his alcoholism, but a promise is a promise in his world. They never told him how long he had to stay in Phoenix, and in Serj's honesty, it doesn't mean shit to him because he's abandoning the country anyway. He needs a getaway vehicle for his trip to Mexico, he realizes. Something with an engine that's cheap, at least. Serj doesn't care if the vehicle has tits strapped on it or if it's in a terrible condition. He prefers a scooter, even though they only go up in 20-30 m/ph. All he knows is that they're awfully cheap.

Some days he wonders if Daron only will distract him from his journey. They've only talked for two days, more correctly one day, even more correctly a couple of hours put together. So Daron should not be such a distraction at the moment. Maybe he knows a guy who sells scooters for a cheap price, Serj wonders. But he wouldn't feel so comfortable taking advantage of this fine man to get to the border line of Mexico, or maybe he will feel just fine? He can't assure that Daron will or will not become a major part of his life? They should be able to say goodbye and move on? It's a platonic relationship, there will be no other worries for Serj, if he no longer overthinks.

Or that's what he pictured himself, the thing with the bonding; what he didn't realize was that in less than two weeks the two men created a bond you would have expected in the beginning. Lloyd and Mallorie saw it coming as their worst fear, as if Serj and Daron paired up as a duo to become a powerful fusion, they assumed they would continue to put them out in the hallway. The boys' power was that strong. And they do get sent out in the hallway. That just makes the two of them smile much more widely than when they meet up at the church. You'd guess they already were good friends for a long time, that their parents introduced them to each other in the kindergarten, that they spent two decades bonding, and that their bonding was not yet done. No, their friendship is closer than a 50-year-old friendship. We assume it's "bromance."

And you might be asking yourself, "Why can't they assign schedules for meeting up during their free time?" "Can't they talk over the phone as well?" And whatever you want to ask about Serj and Daron. Let us put it in this way: they find planning and scheduling ridiculous when it comes to chit-chatting. They think that their mind is at ease, they think they are safe standing in the church or the parking lot. It's more comfortable and delightful talking to someone in person, don't you think? You'd rather have that than have your phonecalls ignored and declined because of bad timing? And isn't it disappointing to hear that the person you're dialling won't be able to make it to your meet up? Well, if you put yourself in Serj and Daron's shoes, they have a lot of free time on their hands. They're unemployed and have no such thing as hobbies, something understandable when it comes to their lifestyle. Meeting up at the AA courses takes a little time of their days only, yet it fullfills their mood when they wave goodbye.

Another thing is that Daron is no fan of being alone or talking to someone from a long distance. He hates it, it makes him feel sad, not least depressed when he hears a faint voice buzzing in his ear. Plus he hates to repeat himself if what he says disconnects by the lack of service. And when he repeats himself, he gets disconnected again, then it goes in a cycle until he sighs, "nevermind." Serj, on the other hand, doesn't own a phone, nor does he have loose change for the phone box. And he has no opinion on how he feels about making phonecalls, it's very neutral for him.

When it comes to ending their quality time, they get a nervous look in their eyes that usually says, "could he die tomorrow?" Or even, "could I die tomorrow?" They don't say anything, they just look at each other in fear for no god damn reason, to be quite honest with their situation. Of course they know that neither of them will die. But they still can't help knowing in the back of their heads that 150 000 people die every day, that one of them could be one of the alcoholics/drug addicts to die because of a destructed organ they caused themselves, also that some people could kill them. Yes, that lingers behind the nervous eyes of Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian. You can tell they are starting to worry about each other.

-

A quite short chapter, to be honest, but the next chapter will most likely bring a lot more. I don't want to make this story too long for you, and the plot is quite short, you know, it all happens within thirty days. Artworks will be published in the next chapter !! Thank you for reading!

-