Empty Gold - {ryden}

12. Misinformation

12. Misinformation (noun) - false or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately intended to deceive.

Ryan stared in awe at the size of the convention center and all of the artist's booths set up around them. There had to have been hundreds of booths, some with artists he recognized, some he didn't, but he couldn't stop smiling either way. Brendon had a soft grip on his hand, smiling at his boyfriend's excitement as they filtered through the convention center. "You look," he started, trying very hard to stifle a laugh, "extremely starstruck."

Ryan turned to him, beaming brightly. "I am," he cooed. "This is. This is like only something I've ever dreamed about my whole life. But, I can see that's it's all in front of my face, so I know this isn't a dream anymore."

Brendon laughed softly as they continued walking the aisles of the center. "Glad to know I've made at least one of your dreams come true, Ryan Ross," he said with a sideways smile at the younger man.

Ryan smiled up at the man walking beside him, thinking to himself how Brendon's made more than one of his dreams come true, but he decided to keep that thought to himself for now.

As they turned down a different aisle towards the panelists section, a man a little taller than Brendon with a turned down mustache and middle length hair was turning toward them and smiling brightly at the older man.

"Brendon," the man called happily as he walked toward them, "it's so good to see you again!" As he got closer, Ryan noticed who he was and unconsciously made a small gasp as he tightened his grip on Brendon's hand.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Oliver," Brendon said as the two shared a small welcome hug. "Nice to see you're still in the game."

"I couldn't ever leave it," he said with a soft shake of his head and a sly smile. "This is my life."

"Amen, brother," Brendon said as he laughed gently.

The man - Oliver - turned to look at Ryan with a little smile. "And who's this you've brought with you?"

Brendon smiled and pulled Ryan a bit closer. "This is my boyfriend and fellow associate, Mr. Ryan Ross."

Ryan smiled, a look of shock still present on his face as he outstretched his hand to shake Oliver's. "I've nearly seen every second of Ink Masters there is in the world to stream, and it's an honor to meet you, Oliver. Your show helped inspire me to become an artist."

"Is it now?"

"Oh, yes sir," Brendon answered softly for Ryan. "He did this rose on my arm the very first day I met him, and I must admit that it's one of - if not - my favorite piece I've ever received."

Oliver looked over the picture on Brendon's arm and smiled appreciatively as he nodded. "That's pretty clean line work, Ryan," he said approvingly. "Where did the idea come from?"

"Oh," Ryan started, "I just did it on the spot."

Oliver raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Really?"

Brendon nodded, smiling brightly. "I told him to do a rose, but make it creative, y'know? Make it his own," he said as he shrugged. "And he did, completely from thought. No sketch, no imagery assistance, nothing."

Oliver looked a bit stunned as he smiled. "That's incredibly impressive, Ryan," he said happily. "You ever thought about auditioning for Ink Masters?"

Just as Ryan's heart was about to stop beating, Brendon tugged him a little closer. "Not this time, Peck," Brendon said with a soft smile. "No more taking my artists."