Tokowhà
by Anima
Orlando reminisced about this beautiful day. He knew that Viggo had taken part in this shopping marathon only because he had wanted to cheer him up. Viggo had only started to really enjoy himself, too, when they had entered the shop for artists’ supplies.
Orlando had been astonished how many different things obviously were necessary for just one single painting. Canvas, a frame, nails, the colours, fixatives, paint-brushes varying in thickness and material, and not to forget the bulky easel. It just had to be this monster, of all things. The smaller exemplars Viggo had only thrown a pitiful glance at, just to very determinedly pick out this gigantic thing.
This evening Orlando wanted to walk over to Viggo’s place in order to see if he had already started to work on the painting Viggo was really cagey about.
Orlando parked the car and headed for the small shop which offered not only natural products, but also esoteric articles of virtue, magical odds and ends, and some very extraordinary games.
The box was still there. “Dare!” was written across it, red-lettered on black background, and in small fonts directly underneath it: “Erotic Games for the Curious”. This really hit the spot. He knew that it was Miranda’s birthday soon and that she wanted to throw a party. This game would be an eccentric gift for his lively female colleague.
Orlando put the box into the shopping basket and continued to stroll through the narrow aisles. Relieved that his memory hadn’t let him down, he discovered the shelves with the cosmetics and care products. The very label of Viggo’s footbath could be purchased here. A broad grin showed on the face of the young man as he thought back to the day of their shopping expedition. Taking a footbath together with Viggo was definitely a very enjoyable event. At last somebody who didn’t run away screaming when he came near the soles of his feet. Orlando liked feet. He thought that this part of the human body wasn’t payed enough attention. Once more he had to think that he was lucky to have such a great friend. They got along exceedingly well, and Viggo not only had beautiful feet, no, he also left them in Orlando’s care.
Well, strictly speaking, it had been just one foot he had left in Orlando’s care, and even that only hesitantly, if Orlando was honest to himself. But Viggo hadn’t given the impression that he had found it displeasing. Although, sometimes Orlando wasn’t sure about the inner life of Viggo. The Dane was extremely introverted. Even when they had a laid-back talk there was always an area which the older man didn’t reveal but kept to himself.
Orlando looked at the opulent range of products unhurriedly. Lotions, bath salts, soaps, perfumes, foot balm,... all products of the brand Viggo favoured. The foot balm Orlando had been looking for. The small pot landed in the basket, as well. With this present he had a good excuse to drop in on Viggo tonight. He could thank Viggo one more time for his moral support and at the same time maybe also satisfy his curiosity. Maybe Viggo had really started with the painting already.
Now he had everything he wanted to buy. Still looking at all the interesting little things in the overflowing shelves, he walked towards the cash desk as suddenly somebody pushed him aside. This somebody turned around to apologize for the accidental jostle, and now Orlando recognized who was standing in front of him.
“Look out, Karl! Are you blind, or what?!” He glared at the Kiwi actor with hostility. This guy was bugging him all the time! Did he pursue him now?
“Now look who’s here… the Elfling. Out shopping, too?” Karl waggled a little box in front of Orlando’s face. With his deep, calm voice he continued, as if they were best mates, “You know, a certain man from Gondor wastes these little things like other people...” Karl glanced into the shopping basket and could hardly suppress a chuckle when he saw what was in it, “...like other people waste foot balm.”
Only now Orlando noticed what exactly Karl was holding in his hand and blushed crimson.
“Fuck off, you fag!“ he pressed out between gritted teeth, not so sure whether he wouldn’t go berserk any second.
He had barely closed his mouth when his elbow was grabbed, hard. “What did you just say? Don’t tick me off, peewee, or I’ll pay you a visit one evening.“ Karl hissed, then turned away abruptly, and paid for the condoms.
“Don’t be too sure that I’m afraid of you”, Orlando murmured after him. He didn’t think he would be able to control himself any longer if he got louder.
Shooting break, finally! Viggo strolled up to his trailer, lowered himself in its shade, and started to loosen the lacings of his boots. With a sigh of comfort he freed his feet from their prison and wiggled his toes.
“If I did that I could never put those bloody boots back on.” With a moan, Sean lowered himself next to his friend. “You know, it really does me good to be here again. This Wenham, my little brother, is such a nice lad. He’s really funny. I wanted to rehearse the next scene with him, but suddenly he was gone. Do you have a clue where I could find him?”
Viggo grinned. “I have a clue indeed, but I believe he wouldn’t appreciate it to be interrupted right now. He followed my ‘fiancée’ into her trailer. It seems they have to meet for a very urgent call.”
“With Liv?” Sean broached the subject. "Really? That’s news to me.“ He leaned back against the wall of the trailer and savoured the rare moment of calmness. “How do you do that? That your feet don’t swell in this hot weather?” Envious, Sean peered at Viggo’s slim feet.
“I don’t do anything. Maybe it’s just hereditary? No, seriously, I’m barefoot a lot, maybe that’s the reason. Because the circulation is always hard-working. A footbath every now and then isn’t to be sneezed at, either.”
“A footbath? No, thank you, I’m not that old.” Sean grimaced. “That’s only for grannies with rheumatism or gout or something.”
“You have no idea! Quite recently, after such a bath, I received a very nice foot massage”, Viggo smiled dreamily as he thought back to it, “Let me tell you that everything about me felt very young and alive that moment.”
“Everything about you? Very interesting.“ Sean’s gaze lingered on Viggo’s lap insinuatingly. “May I come to know who bestowed this good deed upon you?”
Viggo bit his lip and shook his head. “That’s not important.”
“On the contrary. If you look like this, it’s very important. Come on, spit it out! There’s more behind it.” Sean regarded his friend silently for a moment. “It’s Orli, right?“
“What makes you think that? But yes, you’re right. And I know what you want to say. You’re absolutely correct, I’ll keep my hands off the boy. I can very well remember my own words concerning Orlando and you. I won’t make an exception in my case. I don’t even know why this makes me so, uhm,” Viggo tried to come up with a harmless phrase for the arousal Orlando’s massage had provoked inside him, “disarranged. It was just a foot massage, after all!”
Sean looked at his friend very seriously. “You don’t know at all what I want to say. In my opinion the two of you would make a perfect match. And Orli deserves someone who’s not only lusting after his beautiful looks. I know that you are an honest person and never would use somebody just for your own fulfillment. That’s why I would advise you to not make it so difficult for yourself. Give yourself and Orlando a chance.”
“Orlando is my friend, and I want it to stay this way. End of discussion.” Viggo’s face closed. It wasn’t visible if he wanted to deliberate on Sean’s advice. But Sean knew these moods of his friend. Now he wouldn’t get one more word out of him. He could touch on the subject later again, but for now he had to let it rest.
Viggo had taken his newspaper again and rustled with the large pages. For a while, Sean watched him in silence. “Why are you looking at the real estate advertisements? Isn’t it comfortable enough for you here, you spoiled King-to-be?”
“It’s not that, Sean, I simply don’t have enough space. I need more room for painting. And I want, no, I have to paint something that will blast my head if I don’t let it out soon. Out here are some interesting offers. Big houses, huge properties, with swimming pools and stuff like that, for quite a trifling sum for rent. On my next day off I’m going to visit a few of these houses.”
Sean nodded and ran over the page.
“Oh, there’s a crossword. Viggo, please, will you lend me this page? You know how boring those standby times between the shoots can be. I’ll bring it back to you this evening at the latest.” Sean gave his friend his most beautiful smile.
“Take it already, but don’t forget that I still need the page with the advertisements!” The last words Viggo could only yell at Sean’s back, because suddenly, the Brit was in an astonishing hurry. Shortly afterwards, Viggo spotted Karl’s unmistakable silhouette by the parked cars, in exactly the same direction that Sean had disappeared to.
Orlando was exhausted. He was totally worn out, like every time when he was done with motional workout. He avoided calling it ballet tuition, even in his own mind. But in fact it was just that.
His tutor was strict, and after one hour of “Stand straight, watch your pelvis, don’t trample like that, head up, back straight, and don’t shuffle so terribly, up with your feet!” he felt like the reincarnation of Quasimodo, crooked, clumsy and unskillful. But for today the torture was over and he still had something to do. He was looking forward to meeting Viggo.
He knocked at the door of the trailer, his present carefully wrapped, hidden behind his back in one hand. Viggo opened. A smile lightened up his serious features. “Orlando, how nice, come in.“
Orlando slipped past his friend into the trailer, hiding the gift very well.
“I brought something for you. This morning I was shopping again. But you have to guess which hand I’m holding it in.” The young man had both hands behind his back now. “If you guess correctly, you’ll get your present, if not, I will make a wish and you will have to fullfil it!”
“But you have to promise to not cheat. Elf-Prince, I’m a pauper, don’t forget that.”
Orlando only grinned. “Come on, you filthy man, pick your choice!“
“Alright, I want the... left hand.”
Orlando brought the chosen hand in front of his body. On his palm lay the small packet. “Here you are, that’s for you. I wanted to thank you for the shopping expedition. That was a lovely day.”
Viggo accepted the present, unwrapped it, and grinned. “Hey, thanks, this one was missing in my collection. Where did you get it? I didn’t think you could buy this stuff in New Zealand. You just rescued an old ranger.“ Viggo drew Orlando in an embrace and crushed him to his chest. “Thank you very much, Orlando!”
Orlando returned the hug and entwined his long arms around Viggo. To be so close to Viggo always calmed him. He felt secure here. The day could be as hectic as hell, the colleagues – no, don’t think of Karl! – as bothersome as hell... When Viggo embraced him, everything that had annoyed him just dropped off. Why couldn’t he always feel this closeness...?
The door of the trailer was opened very swiftly. Sean entered and then stopped short in his movements, surprised that Viggo wasn’t alone.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know that you’re busy.” Sean grinned at his friend and handed him the newspaper page he had borrowed. “Thanks again. Don’t mind me, I’m gone again in just a second.“
Orlando fought himself out of Viggo’s arms, forgetting all about his wish from a moment ago.
“Wait, Sean,... oh shit!!” Orlando was distraught. Sean had gotten it all wrong! He wasn’t dating Viggo or something. He had to go after him and explain everything. He was almost out of the door as Viggo held him back.
“Orlando, wait. Let him go. Please, I know that’s none of my business, but first you should consider what exactly you want to tell him. Go to him tomorrow morning if you really need to speak to him. But now you both are tired. Misunderstandings happen quickly, then. Also, you are very agitated right now. Calm down again first, that’s better if you want to talk things out.”
Orlando had listened in silence and finally nodded. “You’re right, but I really need to talk to Sean, we can’t go on like this.” He looked at his watch. “It’s late already, and tomorrow we’ll have to get up early. I guess I better leave now. See you tomorrow, Viggo, and… thank you.“
Viggo looked after Orlando for quite a while. He was worried. The mood swings the boy displayed were alarming. Almost too intense to be called normal. He would have to keep a watchful eye on Orlando in the near future.