Thread: Just to Make a Little Money {darkest_fate&dmm4kes}

Sebastian regarded the message on his computer screen with a small and incredulous stare. It was at least his three hundredth pass through the words, and all he could think was that -- somehow -- someone had figured him out and was pulling some kind of a prank. It was the only thing that made sense. Of course he knew April. The young bombshell had really made a splash at his apartment complex. After all, she stuck out amid a sea of thirty-something divorcees and holdout singles. Since the first time he'd laid eyes on her, he'd been a little bit infatuated. And now she was emailing him ? For help making money? The prospect alone felt like an intoxicating mixture of half-baked fantasies he'd cooked up himself mixed in with a healthy dose of porno-realism. Even if the whole thing was legitimate and April really was seeking his help, Sebastian was near positive that things wouldn't go the way he'd like them to. Still, what could he do? His apartment was one of the nicer ones in the complex a two bedroom with vaulted ceilings, an oversized balcony, and all the little kitchen upgrades a bachelor could fail to appreciate. Despite a rather slobbish streak, he'd taken the time to tidy up, cleaning surfaces he never had. He even shaved. From there, the remainder of his day -- until that moment when she showed up at his door -- was spent doing what he often did Overthinking. Sebastian took special care not to open the door too quickly. It was only after the last of April's announcements that the door gave way, revealing the tall and pale-faced software developer. With a round, trustworthy face and deep grey eyes, the man wasn't hard on the eyes. He fit well into a crowd, and his choice of baggy jeans and a rather bland horizontal striped blue polo did little to accentuate his lanky build. If anything, the attire only accentuated a slightly bulging belly. Locks of rich brown were a stylish mess about the top of his head. Sebastian was frugal to a fault, but he invested nearly two hundred dollars a month on keeping his hair on point. Around the office -- on the rare occasions when he actually went in -- it was kind of his thing . Hey, April. he greeted rather blandly, all too successful in playing down the fact that the girl he'd discreetly stalked was standing at his door in a dress that made him want to immediately seclude himself. Some part of him was terrified he might accidentally let slip some random little detail he'd learned about her while stalking her on social media. Truth be told, Sebastian wouldn't know what to do with April if he ever actually had a chance with her, but that wouldn't stop him from thinking about it. Despite the lewd gears turning behind his gray gaze, his smile actually came off as easy and genuine calm, even. C'mon in, he gestured, stepping aside and motioning the young woman inside . The doorway immediately fed into a naturally well-lit open floor plan. There was a laptop opened up and sitting upon the coffee table just ahead of a leather sofa. Sebastian was in tow, having quietly closed the door. His form nearly brushed April as he meandered around to sit on the sofa. Make yourself comfortable, yeah? With a quick grimace, he leaned in, turning well-versed fingertips loose on the keyboard to rapid fire an email. It was a work thing. He prided himself on being responsive. Quietly, then, he closed the machine and took one of the offered coffees with a smile. Thanks for the coffee. I'm Sebastian, by the way. Yeah, he'd told her his name before -- or he thought he had -- but Sebastian wasn't about to hold it against her for not remembering. Part of his M.O. was to fly beneath peoples' radar. So I got your email- Obviously. Sebastian chided himself internally, but his exterior remained no more awkward than usual. Happy to try and help you, but I don't know how much help I can really be. Have you ever designed a website or anything like that? Or stripped for strangers on a webcam, his inner voice quickly followed up with. Though he knew he'd never actually say it, Sebastian was fairly certain he could compensate for whatever gap April's income was suffering if only he had the courage to offer as much and demand something reasonable in return.