"Thank you for telling me, bruder. I appreciate it." Ludwig told him. "So.. Tell me more about your job and the club. N-Not everything, obviously. But some things that might be interesting. I didn't really see much myself when I was there to know anything about it." He was curious about Gilbert's job. Though he didn't need to know everything. Like anything that has to do with his brother stripping. But other than that, yeah. He'd like to know.

Gilbert rolled his eyes. "It's not like I do anything that would disturb your ears!" Not that he didn't feel he never wanted his brother to see him dancing ever again. No amount of acceptance would make that okay. "Some people would consider pole dancing quite a good exercise! My abs are rock hard, ya know!" Realizing he in fact had only talked about stripping, he coughed into his hand. "I mean...what do you want to know?"

Ludwig could feel his face flushing from Gilbert's words. He could coughed slightly, hoping it would clear the embarrassment. "Tell me about the other people who work there. Anybody you get along with?" He asked, wishing he had kept his mouth shut. Though he wants to know if there were any prospective friends for his brother at his work.

Gilbert chuckled a little at his brother's embarrassment. He could be bad himself, but Ludwig was way worst and at another time, he'd love to tease him. Instead, he answered the question with some seriousness. "Ah yeah, I guess so. Other than 'Liza, there's Francis and Toni. They're idiots and Francis will sleep with anything that moves. Yeah, and there's this other weird dancer, but I don't know his name. Honestly, everyone is so weird!" he exclaimed like he was the most normal person working there. "I'd rather you not meet them. Feli would probably invite them all over for dinner."

Ludwig was silent while Gilbert was talking. "And you're normal?" He asked, his voice quiet and not intended to be heard. He let out a small laugh at that part about Feliciano. "That is very true." He agreed. The Italian was the type of person who could make friends with anybody, after all. "Though I'm not sure how me meeting them would lead to Feli inviting them over for dinner." Just because Feli has met everybody he knows doesn't actually make an anything, right?

Gilbert heard the whispered comment anyway and narrowed his eyes, only just holding back from snapping back. Today didn't feel good for that though. He just shook his head at Ludwig, giving him a knowing look. "Oh it does. It's an inevitable fact of life and it baffles me that you don't see it. That little Italian is all over your life like cheese on a pizza!" he exclaimed, holding up a slice for illustration. He made a gagging face before eating half his pizza in one bite.

Ludwig felt his face flushing again, knowing that it was true. "He is not!" he denied. But at that moment, as if to prove a point, his phone went off again with another message from Feliciano. He looked at it but didn't respond to it. It wasn't an urgent message, after all. Just another random message like the last couple ones that were sent. He wasn't sure why the Italian felt the need to keep him updating about everything in his life, but he normally didn't mind. Except in this moment where he was trying to deny that very fact.

"Feli?" Gilbert asked, one eyebrow raised. As much as their lovey-dovey show sickened him, he was happy to see the two together. They were good and Feliciano was fun to be around. "Just answer the message already. You're not fooling anyone. He'll just send you another if you don't." Gilbert did not want to spend the rest of his dinner listening to Ludwig's phone go off after his went silent.

Ludwig looked at the message and typed out an answer before putting his phone on silent and back into his pocket. He wanted to redirect the conversation to something other than this, but he didn't know what to say without sounding to awkward. He instead focused on finishing his food so he could go be alone with no further embarrassment.

The brothers finished their dinner in peace before Gilbert nodded his head to Ludwig and left him at the table with a 'see ya later'. Since he skipped on work, he didn't have a lot to do and settled down to play video games until late in the night. Thankfully the day didn't turn out too bad and looked forward to his new friendship with Matthew.

Alfred was walking down the street, eating the greatest food to ever exist; a hamburger. His friend, Kiku, had told him about a new game release that he hadn't been aware of and he was on his way to get it. Stopping outside the game store, he finished his burger and threw the wrapper into the trashcan sitting outside. He knew from experience that the people here didn't like when he brought food in. He wiped his hands on his jeans before going inside, going straight over to the game, excited to play it.

Ivan spent his morning at work glued to his computer and not seeing visitors. Since his employees thought he was in a bad mood, they were more than happy to avoid him like a plague. The reality was, Ivan couldn't be happier. He even hummed part of his beloved Swan Lake as he 'worked'. With company resources, he looked up Alfred, starting with his Facebook and moving eventually to his credit card charges. Knowing his full, legal name was wonderful indeed. Ivan hadn't been able to stop thinking about his new friend since they last parted and he needed some way to get in touch again, to know everything he could about Alfred. This is what friends did right?

A recent charge to a hamburger joint caught Ivan's attention. He noticed several charges to a nearby video game store in the past and decided that area was a good place to start. Taking an early lunch, he headed across town and ten minutes later, walked into the store with the most innocent smile ever.

Alfred was standing with his back to the door, so he didn't notice when someone new came in. He was on the phone with Kiku. "Yeah dude. I found the game." he said. He picked up the case and looked at it. "This looks amazing! This is going to be sweet!" He noticed a few more games he wanted. "So we're going to do a gaming marathon tonight, right?..... Yeah, that sounds good. See you later dude!" With that, he hung up and went up to the counter to pay, still not noticing anybody in the store as his focus was on the games in his hand.

Alfred didn't seem to notice him, so Ivan followed behind him to the counter. The blonde both sounded very distracted with his excitement after all. Not considering how surprising it might be, he dropped a hand onto Alfred's shoulder. "Hello, friend. It is nice to see you again," he exclaimed with a large girn on his face.

Alfred jumped when a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. Though he would deny it immensely. "Holy shit!" He exclaimed, turning around. "Oh hey, Ivan. Great to see you. I didn't know you liked video games." he greeted, turning to face the taller man. He hadn't pegged the Russian to be into gaming, but it appears he was wrong.

Ivan didn't notice Alfred jump or at least peg it as his own fault. The younger man was just excitable. "Oh yes, I am quite a big fan of tetris," he said back with a grin, seriously, but said in a voice that was hard to judge. Ivan hadn't really grown up playing video games though and couldn't imagine the sort he saw in this store. "Who were you talking to on the phone just now?" Another friend? A better friend? The thought almost made him frown.

Tetris? Really? That wasn't a game Alfred was a huge fan of. There was no excitement to it. "I was talking to my friend, Kiku. We're going to have a gaming marathon tonight!" he told him, a big grin on his face as he held up the games in his hand. All of them were some type of horror game. "Its going to be amazing!"

Ivan crowded just a little closer to Alfred before he looked at the games he held up. That was fun? Despite thinking that, he smiled at Alfred. "Oh how interesting. I'm sure it must be lots of fun," he said as he committed everything Alfred said to memory. Kiku? He needed to remember that one. "Can I come as well? I would love to play!" He wouldn't really, but he could hardly let Alfred walk away and play with someone else.

"You would?! Of course you can come! The more the merrier, as I like to say." Alfred told him, giving him a grin. He thought for a moment. "I can call Mattie and we could have a big gaming party!" he added. He was sure his brother would come if he asked. Plus, he wanted to introduce him to his new friend. At that moment, it was his turn to pay. He stepped up to the counter and set the games down, giving the clerk a smile.

"Who is Mattie?" Ivan asked with the slightest frown. More friends. Ivan would end up outnumbered at this rate. As they came up to the front, Ivan smiled his brightest smile at the clerk mad well. The guy went a little paler, making Ivan wonder if he were ill. It was rather warm in the store after all. A breeze would do them some good.

"Mattie is my brother. He's great! I think you'd like him." Alfred explained. He noticed the clerk's complexion and wondered if he was ill or something. "You alright dude?" he asked him. The clerk nodded and rang them up, hoping the strange tall man would leave. He didn't mind Alfred, he was in here all the time. But this stranger seemed off. Alfred pulled out the money for the games and paid before taking the bag the clerk gave him and headed out.

"Oh I see. His must be Matthew..." Ivan muttered, the last part to himself. He did remember seeing something about a brother, but he'd been focused on figuring out other things about Alfred to pay attention to that. He also did not understand why Alfred said he'd like Mattie. He liked Alfred but that was because the boy wanted to be his friend. Would his brother also want to be his friend? Did Ivan want to be his friend? Following Alfred outside, he continued to smile. "Where will we be playing these games?"

"At my place, of course!" Alfred exclaimed. "If you give my your number, I'll text you the address." he added. He was excited about the idea of his gaming party. He pulled out his phone and sent out a text to Matthew, asking if he would come over for it. It only took a moment for him to get a reply and he was happy with what it said.

"Yes of course. I will type my number into your phone," Ivan said as he snatched Alfred's device away from him barely after he'd finished reading whatever message he just got. But Ivan didn't mean to be rude. He was just excited to get near his new friend and to see his place because that would be most splendid indeed. "I am quite looking forward to this." His number typed in, he placed the phone back into Alfred's hand.

Alfred couldn't help but glare slightly when Ivan just snatched his phone out of his hand. 'Rude..' he thought. But he got over it once he got it back. "Me too! It'll be great!" he exclaimed. He sent a message to Ivan with his address. His stomach growled again. 'I need another burger.' he thought. "So, I'll see you later tonight? Let's say about 6. I'll make something for dinner and we can get started after." he said.