Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Van the Man Whore ❯ Strangeness ( Chapter 2 )

Author's note: Hope you enjoy!

Strangeness

"I can't find my Gucci shoes," Van panicked.

"Where did you put them last?" Millerna asked.

"If I knew that I wouldn't be trying to find them," Van sarcastically replied.

"Van, aren't you wearing them?" Dryden enquired.

"No these are my cheap everyday shoes," Van shot back.

"Well, Van you can go without them, you look stunning anyway," Merle blushed. Van was too angry to notice. He started looking through the pile of clothes that needed to be ironed, hoping that the shoes may have been under there. Van was throwing the clothes everywhere.

Allen walked in, "Well what's going on?" Allen started until one on Van's boxers fell on top of his forehead. Van turned to see who it was. He then went up to Allen and picked his boxers of his head.

"I've been looking for these for ages," Van said stunned. "Anyway, onto more important matters." Van continued to mess up the apartment trying to find his most valuable pair of shoes.

"Van, just think about it, you don't need those shoes," Millerna said frustrated.

"Yes I do, Dryden forget to mention that this banquet isn't any banquet but the Banquet of Amos." Van said.

"The banquet of what?" Millerna asked.

"You know the banquet which celebrates the two people who found this city. It was believed that their love brought the birth of the city," Van replied amazed at their lack of knowledge. He then started to look in the closet.

"That's so romantic," Merle, said dazed.

"I found them," Van cried.

"Aren't you lucky," Allen smiled.

"Yeah, it seems that way," Van said as he started to put his shoes on.

"Van, do you remember the three things about man whoring?" Dryden asked.

"Yes I do. It's the three P's. Politeness, Posture and Payment," Van said with a rehearsed voice.

"What about Pleasure?" Allen asked. This caused everybody in the room to start laughing. Allen wasn't laughing he didn't seem to understand what they where laughing about.

"Yeah right, with the freaks we get," Merle laughed.

"Well if you meet the right person, it's very pleasurable," Allen said looking at Van who was too busy doing his cufflinks.

"Your weird, Shezar," Van remarked. "Anyway, how do I look?"

"You look perfect," Merle said dreamingly.

"Beautiful. Just beautiful," Allen replied.

"You go get them, tiger," Millerna purred at him.

"Rock on," Dryden said but his thumb up.

"Ok, I'm set to go. I'll see you guys later and don't wait up." With that Van left the building.

Van walked down the streets to his destination Mrs Thorne. He was meant to meet her at her hotel. He finally got to his destination and when he got there he saw her. Mrs Thorne. She was old but in a young looking old way. She had blonde hair and she wore lots of diamonds. Van could see that this lady's best friend were diamonds.

"You must be Van," she said. "He didn't mention how handsome you are."

Van replied with the usual, "Thank you." And the usual kiss on the hand routine.

"Why don't you get in the limo?" she said.

"Yes me lady," he replied. He sat there for 5 minutes until she came in.

"I wish Dryden told me how handsome you are," she said.

"Why?" Van asked tenderly.

"Because I would have gone for the other package deal," She replied smiling flirtatiously. Van was always used to the women acting like this around him.

"What other deal?" he asked with interest.

"You know the one that includes sex," she lustily replied.

"Oh," he said shocked but quickly put on a smile. He chuckled and she moved closer to Van. She then squeezed his leg, which caused Van to jump. She giggled.

Oh great. He thought. I'm stuck with Mrs I'm so horny. He smiled at her to try and hide his discomfort.

"We are here," she giggled. Van and her got out the limo and went into the great founder's hall. As they entered the hall they were instantly greeted.

"Well hello Mrs Thorne," women and men said.

"Jenny Macron, I haven't seen you since high school," Mrs Thorne greeted with delight.

"Elisabeth Thorne," she replied back. She then looked at Van lustily. "Who is this fine specimen?"

"Oh this is Van," she said putting her arms around his waist.

"Van what?" Jenny asked.

"Van Slanzar de Fanel," he replied and kissed her hand.

"Oh he's quite the gentlemen," Jenny giggled. "Why don't' you two come along to the private bar?"

"Come on Van," Mrs Thorne said. Van followed them. The bar was elegant and extraordinary. Van was amazed on how beautiful it was.

"Van what would you like to drink?" Jenny asked.

"Surprise me," Van replied. She giggled at Van's reply.

"Van I would like you to meet my dearest friend Georgina," Mrs Thorne said.

"Nice to meet you," Van elegantly replied.

"The pleasure is all mine," Georgina, replied baffled by Van's good looks. "Van I would like you to meet my daughter." She then pointed a pretty girl with brown hair.

"Hello," he said.

"Hi," she replied. Van felt a little nervous. He had no idea what to say.

"So, I'm guessing you're at College (University)," he tried to make conversation.

"Yes I am," she said. "I'm studying medicine."

Great Van thought. She was one stuck up girl. It was obvious that her mother wanted him to like her but he couldn't see how anyone could. She was irritating. Mrs Thorne meanwhile was keen on the idea that Van and her weren't getting on. Van could see that clearly.

"Van why don't you get the next round of drinks," she said and with that Van left to get the drinks.

He got to the bar and waited for someone to serve him. Finally a guy came. "So what you want?"

"The usual for table ten," Van replied.

"I'll get someone to send them over to you," he said. Van then left to go back to go to the dreaded table of boredom.

As Van returned, Georgina's daughter started to make conversation with Van and he politely talked to her but he wasn't enjoying it.

"Here Mrs Thorne," the waitress said as she placed the drinks on the table. But then suddenly something happened the waitress was pushed over by a loud man. The drinks fell on Mrs Thorne.

"I'm so sorry," the waitress replied.

"Why you." Mrs Thorne started, until Georgina interrupted and cleared the air. Van did not realise this was happening because he was in a conversation that he wasn't listening to. Instead Van was thinking about what he was going to do with the money.

Finally Van had got to the last segment of the night, which was the play about the two lovers. Normally Van would be interested but he had every woman there lusting after him, even the most beautiful single women at the place. It was pathetic. I can't be that good looking. He thought.

Van then asked Mrs Thorne if he could get some fresh air and she had replied yes. Van then left the building to go outside to look into the sky. He started staring at the stars in wonder until he was interrupted by a noise that sounded like crying. Van then decided to go and investigate. And there he saw a girl crying on the steps. Normally Van would leave the person crying but he was compelled to go and investigate.

"Are you ok?" he asked as he approached the girl.

"Does it look like I'm ok? I just lost my job." She sobbed into her laps. He then went and sat next to her.

"Why?" he asked sympathetically.

"Because I spilled a drink on Mrs Thorne," she sobbed.

"That was you," he said shocked.

"Yes," she cried even harder.

"Hey if it makes you feel any better, you did me a favour," he said.

"I did," she sobbed

"Yeah, seriously don't worry about it. I don't even think you should have lost your job. It wasn't even your fault." He said. "Things like this happen." He started to get up.

"Thanks," she said looking up.

"It's ok," he whispered. She laughed Van looked at her. She was quite pretty she had brown hair. He unfortunately didn't get the chance to look at her eye colour for she turned her head the other way before he got to have a proper glance at her and also because it was dark. Van knew she had to be older than him but not much older. She looked it. She seemed like she had been sad for a long time.

"I better get back, they might send the dogs after me," he laughed. "I'll see you around." He started to walk up the steps when she said something.

"You remind me of someone," she said randomly.

"Really," he said surprised.

"Yeah, personality wise anyway," she said. "But the person I know is." She didn't finish the sentence.

Van then had to leave her as he had Mrs Thorne yelling out for him. It was unfortunate because he didn't get her name. There was something about her and he knew it. He then returned to watch the play still in deep thought about what the girl was saying. I remind her of someone. He thought. This puzzled him all night. The night then flew by and finally Van was going to drop of Mrs Thorne at her hotel.

"Why don't you come inside Van? I can pay you there." Mrs Thorne giggled. Van did what he was told.

He was Mrs Thorne's room waiting as Mrs Thorne went to get his money. He looked around the place it was very nice. Van waited there for ten minutes. Finally Mrs Thorne came but she was wearing a rather revealing silk black bra with matching knickers (panties).

"I thought this wasn't part of the deal," Van stammered.

"Neither did I. But I never have been so attracted to someone." She said as she came closer toward him. Van stammered backwards. "I'll pay you an extra 10,000."

"Aren't you married?" Van asked.

"Widowed," she replied. "So what do you say?"

***

Van was in quite a predicament. He would usually take this request seeing that he was going to get paid very well but Van thought that he was getting paid very well anyway and that he didn't need the extra money even though it would be useful. Something clicked inside Van and that was his dignity. He didn't want to this job anymore. He never wanted to do it in the first place but now it just seemed so. He couldn't explain it. His brain was working very fast into trying to solve this problem. Mrs Thorne was moving closer to Van and Van was moving backwards and before Van knew it, he was pushed up against the wall. He started to panic.

"Umm. Why don't we talk or something?" these words stuttered from Van's mouth.

"Oh Van, your such a gentlemen," she stroked his face. Van wanted to be sick. What could he do? Van did something strange he turned his face away from her. "Are you ok, Van?

Then it hit Van. "Mrs Thorne, do you have any children?" he asked.

"Yes I do," she said giggling. She pushed him harder against the wall and started to move closer to him. Van felt wet kisses being planted onto his neck and not good ones.

He then continued still panicking, "How many?"

"Two," she said and started to play around with his jacket.

He continued, "How old are they?"

"About 27 and 25," she gasped. "They are your age." She slowly backed away from him.

"Actually just slightly older," he said as he adjusted his jacket.

She then went into her room. Van was puzzled and also mysteriously relieved. She then came back with a chequebook. "I'll pay you an extra £5000, if you keep quiet about my behaviour tonight."

"Yes my lady," he said trying to hold back a grin. She then gave the cheque to Van and he left. He looked at the cheque and it read, "15000." She looked at Van and then shuddered.

"Shut the door on the way out," she said as walked into her room. Van walked out of her room and then out of the hotel.

Van walked down the street until he reached his apartment. He took the longer route home. He needed the fresh air to think and clear his mind. I'm so lucky he thought to himself. As he walked home he got several glances from loads of women. He ignored them as he always did. There was no woman alive who seemed to interest Van. He was attracted to women but none of them had the spark. He reached his apartment and opened the door. The bedroom was dark so Van turned on the lights to find his friends yelling out "Surprise." Van was surprised. He was in shock. He shut the door.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" Van asked. "It's not my birthday."

"We know, but we thought it would be nice to have a party on your last night of being a man whore," Dryden replied. "Anyways it was Merle's idea." Van looked at Merle who was blushing.

"Guys, you didn't have to, seriously," Van said. He walked over to Merle. "Thanks." Merle giggled.

"I think you should kiss her," Millerna giggled. Dryden started to scratch the back of his head to show discomfort.

Merle started to blush. Van bent over and kissed Merle's cheek. Merle went from a pink flush to a bright red one and then she sighed. Van didn't really notice how Merle reacted. He turned to look at the room. It had snacks all over the place and drinks a lot of alcoholic drinks. He then saw Allen appear from his bedroom.

"Shezar, what the hell are you doing in my bedroom?" Van asked with annoyance. "You seem to appear out of no where," Van added.

"I was…getting something," Allen struggled to answer.

"Like what?" Van questioned.

"Drinks," Allen said.

"Drinks, from my room, you know I don't drink alcohol," Van eyed him. "Actually come to think about it who in the hell would have drinks in their room with the exception of water and alcoholics. Just forget it Shezar. You're too weird and a real big waste of my breathe."

Dryden smirked at Van's remark. "You'll never change and I hope you never do." Merle looked at Van dreamily and Millerna was looking Merle and giggling.

"Me neither, except the man whore thing." Van laughed. "I suppose those days are over. Thank Goodness."

"Um I need to go freshen up in the ladies room. Merle won't you join me," Millerna said.

"But Millerna we don't have a ladies room. We have a bathroom and you surely don't need me to go to the.oh. I think I'll join Millerna." Merle said as she went giggling of with Millerna.

Van looked puzzled as they exited the room. "What's wrong with them?" Van asked. "Oh I get it. They are lesbians."

"I wish," Dryden said thinking dreamily of the thought. He looked at Van. "I don't believe you don't get it."

"Get what?" Van asked.

"Merle's in love with you," Dryden said stating the obvious.

"She is," Allen, said shocked.

"Shut up Shezar," Van yelled. "What's that got to do with them going to the bathroom together?"

Dryden slapped his head with his hand. Allen looked puzzled and bewildered. Van just started to laugh.

"What are you laughing at Van?" Dryden asked puzzled.

"Merle and Me," And he broke out into hysterical laughter. Then he just managed to say, "That's like saying Shezar fancies me." He laughed harder. Allen blushed bright red and then turned back into his normal colour and started to fake laugh with Van until Van told him to shut up. Van eventually stopped laughing.

"You shouldn't have kissed her, you've made things worse now," Dryden said.

"How?" Van asked.

"Well now she thinks she has a chance with you," Dryden said.

"Damn, should have thought of that," Van angrily said.

"So how are you going to break to her?" Dryden asked with concern.

"I don't know," Van whispered. There was silence in the room.

"I know," Allen said breaking the silence. Van looked at Allen questionably. "You can pretend you're gay."

"Shezar," Van sighed. "Shut up." He turned to look at Dryden. "I'll break it to her gently."

"Yeah, probably the best option," Dryden said.

"Anyway what the hell are those girls doing in there?" Van cried. "I still think that my theory that they are lesbians is true."

"If only," Dryden said hazily.

Van laughed, "What could you do with two lesbians?"

"I could have a threesome," Dryden smirked. "Lesbians are known for threesomes and if they wouldn't let me join in. I'd just watch."

Van just laughed. He wasn't keen on the idea of threesomes. He would never have a threesome with the women he loved. Allen just gave a toothy smile.

"What are you laughing at, Van?" Merle said as she walked into the room with Millerna.

"What else would I be laughing at? Shezar of course," Van covered up. Allen just gave a fake smile and Dryden just burst out laughing. Millerna walked over to Dryden in her short pink dress and whispered something into Dryden's ear. Dryden stopped laughing.

"Sorry you guys but duty calls," Dryden smiled widely. And with that he picked up Millerna and took her into his room.

The rest of them watched as Dryden did this. It wasn't unusual to see Dryden do that. The room went silent when they left. Van was happy that Dryden's room was at the other side of the apartment because if it wasn't Van would never sleep.

"So, what do you guys want to do?" Allen asked breaking the silence yet again.

"I think I'll go to sleep," Van replied. "I had a busy night."

"Me to," Merle said eyeing Van. Van finally noticed what Merle was doing. Dryden was right. He thought.

"Shezar would you leave, I have to talk with Merle," Van said politely.

"Sure," Allen said and left the room. Merle starting to giggle and blush and Van started to scratch the back of his head. He was very uncomfortable.

"Merle," he started but the rest of the words he wanted to say wouldn't come out. Van was fed of women making him feel weird. What is it with tonight? Van thought. He was put in several uncomfortable positions in one night. Well at least I'm not trying to back off an old horny lady. He thought and shuddered at the thought.

"Yes Van," Merle said blinking.

"I don't know how to say this," he sighed.

"Oh Van," Merle fluttered. "I know what your trying to say." "I really don't think you do," Van said uneasily.

"Yes I do, I've been expecting it for some time," Merle started. "I couldn't confirm it until tonight."

"The kiss," he murmured. She nodded.

"I care too, Van," she smiled. "We'll be really happy together."

"Merle I wish that were true but you're missing the point," Van said. Merle looked puzzled. "Merle all I did tonight was kiss you on the cheek."

"But why did you kiss me in the first place?" Merle said with eyes watering.

"Because I was thanking you, for being a good friend." He replied. "If I had known you had feelings for I wouldn't have provoked them."

"Van," she cried. Tears were pouring out her eyes.

"Merle I'm sorry. But I don't feel that way for you," Van said and then he tried to hug her but Merle pushed his arms away and ran off into her bedroom. Van felt lousy. He walked into his room sluggishly.

Great. I've upset a good friend. He thought. Van then dove into his jacket pocket and pulled out the cheque and smiled and then with that he plonked himself onto his bed.

The next day Van woke up to the sun beaming down on his eyes. He had forgotten to close the curtains. He got out of his bed and went into the kitchen. There he saw Merle. But as he entered the kitchen she left it.

Dryden and Millerna looked at him sadly. "Why don't you pop out and get some milk?" Millerna asked and she gave him some money. "She needs time."

Van then left the building. He walked across the streets but instead of taking the short route to the store he took the long one. The one, in which, you walked through the park. He walked casually whistling until he saw her. He stopped and looked at her. It was the girl from last night. The one that cried when she was fired. He walked up to her and said, "Hi."

The girl looked up at him she was huddled on the grass reading a book. "Oh it's you," she smiled.

"What's your name? Seeing as you know mine from Mrs Thorne's yelling," he asked and remarked.

"My name," she said bewildered. "My name's Yukari."

***

"Nice to meet you, Yukari," Van said.

"Why don't you sit down and join me?" she asked.

"OK, but only for a little while, you see I'm supposed to get some milk for my room mates and if you get to know them they are pretty grouchy people," Van replied and sat down. She laughed at him.

"Thank you," she said.

Van looked shocked, "Thank you for what?"

"For making me laugh," she replied. "I haven't really been laughing that much lately." Van looked at her puzzled.

"Why?" he asked.

"Everything bad seems to happen to me," she replied.

"You're just going through a rough patch," he said trying to comfort her.

"A rough patch that lasted for 4 years," she remarked.

"It can't be that bad, it can't be anything compared to what I've been through," Van said. She turned to look at Van. "But then again I think bad luck is about to go away." She smiled at him.

"Well at least I know someone's life's getting better," she said.

"I'm sorry," Van said. "I'm probably making you feel worse."

"No, actually your making feel better, a lot better," she said. She paused for a moment. "Can I ask you something?"

He looked at her. She had dark brown hair, which looked like it turned red in the sunlight and to match them she had dark brown eyes. "Go right ahead," he replied.

"How do you cope with every single woman in the world lusting after you?" she asked.

Van was shocked by her question. He couldn't answer the question. He was to bewildered to answer the question. "Um. I don't think that's true."

"So what do you call every single woman from 2 years old to 90 who know years old in the park are staring at you," Yukari remarked.

"Um…a coincidence," Van replied. She laughed.

"Yep, you're definitely like him," she said giggling.

"Like who?" Van questioned.

"This guy I was love with," she replied sadly.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he saw her eyes start to water.

"When he died, I never got to tell him something," she said. Van looked at her. Tears were gushing out of her eyes. Van didn't know what to do so he did what came naturally to him. He hugged her. He felt her warm tears on his shirt. He was a wearing a tight blue shirt, which showed of his spectacular body.

He then softly whispered into her ear "You never got to tell him you loved him, right."

"No," she whispered. "I never got to tell him he would have a…" she whispered.

"What?" he asked desperately.

"Son," the tears were now at full blast. Van held her tightly. He truly felt sorry for her.

"I'm sorry, it's sad that your child will never get to see his father," he said trying to comfort her.

"Its worse," she gulped.

"It can't be possibly be any worse," Van stated.

"It is," she said. She paused yet again "I lost the baby." Van felt bad. Here he was a complete stranger having someone's sad life being told to him and here he was thinking his life was bad. Mind you, it did come close. He had lost both his parents and his brother. He hadn't had known his brother that well but it still hurt like hell when he was mentioned.

"I just loose everything, first him, then baby and now my job," she started to sniffle.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Don't be it's my life, not yours," she said.

"Yeah but still," he murmured.

"Thank you. For listening," she said and with that she backed herself away from his body.

Van didn't know why the next set of words came out but they did. "Why do I remind you of him?"

She stopped crying and gazed down, "I don't know it's funny," she smiled. "He was always smiling and so caring and you sort of look like him."

"I do," Van was even more surprised. " Anyway if you get to know me I'm pretty sad most of the time and I'm more sarcastic than caring."

"I don't believe that, you've been really nice to me and you hardly know me," she stated.

"Well ok, maybe to some people, but I'm always sarcastic to Shezar. That moron." Van laughed.

"Shezar," she said shocked. "As in Allen Shezar."

"Yep that's the moron," he confirmed. "Do you know him?"

"Yes I do, he was the one who introduced me to my lover. They were best friends," she said.

Van's brain started to get into gear. "Oh my. It can't be. Allen's best friend was Folken, my brother."

"You're Van, Folken's brother," she said shocked. "I should have known. Folken was my lover."

"No you couldn't have been. He would have told me," he said shocked.

"Van you were 6 years younger than Folken, he was careful of the things he told you," she said. " He didn't feel you needed to know."

"Whatever." Van said. He shrugged.

"He always said you were the smart one in the family," she said trying to comfort him.

Van felt spiteful. "Do you know you what he died of?"

"Yes," she said sadly. "That's why I had the baby terminated." Tears trickled down her eyes.

Van felt bad. "I'm sorry."

"Are you like him?" she asked.

"Not anymore," he replied. "Never again." Van got up.

"Please I want to see you again," she said.

"Do you know where Shezar lives?" he said. She nodded. "Ask him." He then left to go to pick up the items.

When he got home something happened to Van. He went from feeling sad to feeling angry. He went and plonked the milk on the kitchen table. Dryden walked into the kitchen.

"What's up Van?" Dryden asked.

"Where's Shezar?" he asked angrily.

"I think he's in his apartment," Dryden replied. "But why do you want to." But Dryden was too late Van had stormed out of the apartment. Van took the lift to Allen's floor. He then got to his room and banged on the door.

"Shezar I know you're in there," Van yelled. "Open up." It took two minutes until the door opened. And to Van's horror. Allen appeared in little towel.

"Van," he said looking over his shoulder. "What are you doing here?" Van pushed past Allen and entered his room.

"Van I'm kind of busy at the moment," Allen hesitantly said.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he yelled.

"Tell you what?" Allen asked.

"You know," Van replied spitefully. Then all of a sudden a guy came out of Allen's room. It was a guy with dark hair and dark eyes.

"Who the hell are you?" Van asked.

"I'm Gaddes, who are you?" he asked.

"Van," he replied puzzled.

Gaddes then looked at Allen. "You're cheating on me with him. Aren't you?" Allen smacked his head with his hand. "You told me I was your one and only and now here you are trading me in for a younger model."

"Don't be stupid," Allen said. Van started to laugh. Gaddes and Allen were looking at him.

"I told Dryden you were gay, but he didn't believe me," he choked out. Allen and Gaddes stared at him.

"So I take it you weren't cheating on me," Gaddes said looking at Allen.

"I was trying to tell you," Allen murmured. "Why didn't you stay in the room like I said?"

"I'm sorry, but can you blame me," Gadded replied. Van stopped laughing and he remembered what he came here for.

"Why didn't you tell me about Yukari?" Van said angrily.

"Folken's girlfriend," Allen sighed.

"Yes," Van confirmed.

"He didn't want you to know, I don't know why, he just didn't" Allen answered.

"She had his baby terminated," Van yelled.

"I know. She knew she couldn't take care of a baby who would have had AIDS," he said solemnly.

"Has she got AIDS?" Van asked curiously.

"No," Allen replied. "It's strange though that she isn't."

Van the felt odd

It wasn't because of his chat with Allen but it was because he suddenly realised that Allen was just wearing a small towel and so was Allen's so called boyfriend. "I'm going to go now," he said.

Van then left the room and shut the door to Allen's apartment. He leaned his head against the door and started laughing.

I knew Allen was gay. He thought. I can't wait till I tell Dryden.