Devil's Effect

Compliment and Contrast

The ride into downtown L.A. hadn't taken nearly long enough for Mike to be able to appreciate the interior of Jason's Jaguar. He was in awe of how the bucket seat wrapped around his body like a hug, the expensive attributes of the dash, and the way Jason handled the power of the car effortlessly. Unlike driving his Honda, he didn't hear road noise or feel every bump and turn in the road. It was a smooth ride, complete with the radio in the background and conversation about this new artist they hoped to meet.

Their conversation came to a halt as Jason looked for and found parking, then neatly parallel parked the car next to the questionable looking building downtown. Mike knew it was supposed to look artsy and edgy, but the surrounding area seemed a little sketchy. He looked around at the neighborhood and then over at Jason curiously. "You aren't afraid to leave your car parked here on the street?"

Jason pulled off his aviator style sunglasses and propped them on the dash before he looked around through the windshield. "It will be fine. It's the arts district, after all. And it's not a main road. I'm not worried. Even if something goes wrong, it's insured..." He shrugged and then smiled at Mike reassuringly. "You worry too much. It's not even your car."

"It's just a beautiful car," Mike offered, leaning forward to run his hand over the dash. "I'd probably be afraid to drive it if it were mine." He continued to admire the inside of Jason's car, unaware that Jason was watching him.

"You'd look great behind the wheel of a car like this." Jason watched Mike for another minute before he said, "you can drive it home if you want."

Mike's hand stopped and he looked over at Jason. "I do. Want to. Driving anything other than my car is so much fun. I love driving Chester's car. I'm sure yours is just as fun." He sat back and looked out the passenger window again at the building where they were supposed to be seeing art together. "I'll totally drive home after we get sushi. I might be looking forward to that more than the art."

Jason chuckled at the thoughtful look on Mike's face. "I know what you mean. I never get to eat it, either. Ry's not a sushi kind of guy. Kind of like Chaz." It's no wonder they hit it off immediately. They're so much alike. Mark knew what he was doing with them. They'd never be able to sit through sushi. I don't think sushi restaurants even keep bottles of ketchup.

"Yeah, if Ches can't put ketchup or syrup on it, it's a no-go." Mike smiled at the thought of his boyfriend's quirky eating habits. "They get each other that way. I don't know. I sort of like tasting my food."

"Same," Jason said as they both got out of the car. He squinted a little at the sunlight, and thought about getting his sunglasses and putting them back on, but he didn't want to keep up with them inside. He let Mike come around the front of the car to him, and then they started toward the exhibit together. Mike was in his standard flannel and jeans, a look Jason had grown to appreciate on him. It was his own off-beat style, and one that wasn't too extreme, especially with how some people dressed in the city. He was dressed far more casually than Jason's navy button-down and tan pants, and even though Jason had thrown a jacket over the top to tone it down a bit, he still looked like the curator next to Mike, who looked like the artist. He realized Mike was talking as he held the door for him to pass through.

The inside was minimalist, and even though it was almost mid-day, dark except for spotlights over each work. "I think the most interesting part of these exhibits for newer artists on the scene is getting to talk to them about their work, and why they chose the medium they did. Just changing from acrylic to watercolor, for example, changes the whole tone of a piece." Mike stood at the entrance, looking into the exhibit and talking to the air, while Jason pulled out his wallet. He turned and caught Jason from the corner of his eye and stepped back over to the small kiosk where they were supposed to get their hand stamped after paying. "Oops, I was already looking around. Sorry about that." He reached for his wallet, but Jason dismissed him with a wave of his hand.