Papa's Got a Brand New...Bling (Late July 2008)

[nomorekaraoke]

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life--

Wrong theme song, even though the theme certainly applies. It's a new day in Lorne's life. He quite enjoys dawn, thank you very much. He's found a new place to live - another penthouse in the middle of Youdon'tneedtoknow-ville. And recently, he's been indulging more and more in taking breathers at Milliways.

In short: good times all around.

Comments

[nomorekaraoke]

"Nope. Not a One Ring to Rule anyone, either. World domination is so not my style." Up the stairs they go, and down one of the many hallways to his room. "It's a charm. You'll see."

[stilljustandrew]

"Now I'm all curious," Andrew complains, good-naturedly.

[nomorekaraoke]

He unlocks the door, showing Andrew inside with a grand sweep of his arm. "After you, kind Sir, after you. Now... This may be somewhat...unsettling. Goodness knows it was for me, so I might as well lay all my cards on the table, in style."

He closes the door behind him, bracing for some, unnameable impact. "I've got myself a glamour. Custom made. --to look, for all intents and purposes, as human as possible."

[stilljustandrew]

"...Oh cool," says Andrew, looking delighted.

[nomorekaraoke]

That's worlds apart from the reaction he expected, but in retrospect, he really should've known better. He smiles, self-consciously relieved. "That's what I think."

He steps inside, moving to the bedside table and reaches into the uppermost drawer. He fishes out a ring, turns it over in his hand, and shoots a thoughtful little look Andrew's way.

"Only problem is... It's stupid, but I just can't find anything to wear that doesn't clash with the faux face."

[stilljustandrew]

"...seriously?" Andrew looks dubious. "What's wrong with the kind of thing you always wear?"

[nomorekaraoke]

"Why don't I just show you instead of standing here yapping?"

He shrugs good-naturedly. Slides the plain little ring onto his left thumb, and--

It really would be nice if it happened with a flair or some sort of spark of drama, but it doesn't. He's just suddenly a lot less green, and a whole lot more mundane.

But his clothes aren't. Therein lies the dilemma.

[stilljustandrew]

"Oh," he says involuntarily, blinking.

[nomorekaraoke]

"That very eloquently sums it up, peaches," Lorne says, and if you look closely, it almost looks a whole lot like his verdant, usual self.

Except for the fact he's very...Caucasian, indeed.

[stilljustandrew]

He is.

Andrew tilts his head to one side as though to get a better view.

"You still look like you," he says in a tone of faint wonder, "only ... human."

[nomorekaraoke]

He ducks his head, surprise written all over his face, though if it comes from the sudden smile tugging at his mouth or the compliment, he isn't sure.

"Yeah, that's sort of the point." It seems so silly now. Why didn't he go for something completely different?

[stilljustandrew]

"That's kind of amazing."

Andrew's starting to grin.

[nomorekaraoke]

"Well, between you and me, I paid a lot of money for the Real Life factor, so it'd better be fantastic."

That? That's the hint of a grin in the making, right there. "Now if I could only figure out an outfit, 'cause the peachy complexion? It's screwing with my fashion sense."

[stilljustandrew]

He looks as though he's muffling a laugh. "So basically what we need here is Queer Eye for the Used-To-Be-Green Guy?"

[nomorekaraoke]

If Andrew's muffling a laugh, Lorne's not much better off. "Yeah. Something like that."

[stilljustandrew]

"I don't know if Geek Eye is what you're looking for, though." Rueful.

[nomorekaraoke]

"Well, I cover all the five queer boys' bases if I do say so myself, but--" He shrugs out of his dark plum suit jacket - and that really doesn't help the clashing colo-rama-lama-bang-bang issue.

"I could use an objective pair of eyes."

[stilljustandrew]

"Objective I can do," he assures him.

Of course he can.

[nomorekaraoke]

"So talk to me, handsome," he exclaims with an easy grin and a casual sweep indicating himself. "Tell me what's wrong with this picture."

[stilljustandrew]

"I don't really ... see anything much wrong with it." He studies the ensemble carefully. "I mean, it does kind of stand out."

[nomorekaraoke]

"Huh." He gives himself a long once-or-twice-over. "I just... With the glamour up and running, in my usual get up, all I see in the mirror is Disco Stu. Seventies revival. You name it."

Curse his love of big, unbuttoned shirt collars.

[stilljustandrew]

"Well," judiciously, "you could get rid of all the bright colors and wear a plain gray suit. Maybe with a blue tie."

Andrew's face is completely deadpan.

[nomorekaraoke]

Completely deadpan, and completely adorkable.

"Oh, why didn't I think of that?" He smirks, torn between impish mirth and wry self-deprecation. Truth is, it crossed his mind, but he didn't want to think he'd have to actually resort to such a comparatively monochromatic scheme.

"...you really think so?"

[stilljustandrew]

The deadpan cracks into a laugh. "No, you doofus."

[nomorekaraoke]

Silly him, how could he possibly think he'd get some serious advice.

Funny how a blush shows up so much more vividly when you're screamingly pale. Funny how embarrassment feels exactly the same way despite the glamour. Hot and cold at the same time, and entirely vicious.

"Right. Of course not. How about some genuine advice, smarty-pants?"