After the third time of the extremely black man (not black as in African, although maybe he was) repeating his name to the young engineering student, they had both nearly given up. The gap between them seemed too far to reach across.
The man's skin was an ashy dark gray, so much so that it hardly looked like it could be a natural skin tone. It concerned the younger of the two, but he thought it would be rude to bring it up or even ask about. The same went for his ears and nose, which were either unusually small or completely nonexistent. There was also the matter of the man's teeth, which if the inventor wasn't mistaken seemed to be exceedingly sharp and fang-like. There was also the possibility that the black man (was that a politically correct term?) sitting across from him had only one functioning eye. His right eye gazed past his black coffee towards his younger acquaintance while the left was hidden behind an opaque monocle.
How the monocle stayed on his face with no nose or ears was a mystery to the nervous (and slightly irritated) man with the light brown hair, sipping anxiously from a latte with enough cream and sugar to make a chocolate bar jealous.
"I'm sorry," he said after swallowing another gulp of caffeine and sugar. "Could you say it one more time?"
The older man (whose exact age wasn't known, but it was unlikely he was also in his early 20s) scowled at him and repeated his name angrily. It was no use. The brunet still didn't quite understand the sounds coming from the very annoyed and sharply dressed man occupying the seat across from him.
Perhaps it was the language barrier, this man had just recently transferred into Universidad Nacional de Estudios de Héroe y Villano de Mexico (UNEVM) from a country no one seemed to have ever heard of. Nor could anyone besides him seem to be able to pronounce it. Or his own name. His Spanish was also very rough, and he often asked for translations in class and in conversation. Not in his native language, but in various other languages he seemed to be a bit more fluent in, such as English or Italian. He also seemed to know a bit of Portuguese.
When the younger man shook his head again he groaned exasperatedly. "For Peter's sake, it isn't that difficult, Flug!"
"You don't know what my name is either." The man, whose name was NOT Flug, replied. "And I think you meant 'Pete's' sake." He added under his breath.
"Peter, Pete, it's all the same!" The man said, reaching one hand up to ensure the top hat he wore on his head didn't fall off from his excited movements. How he heard that with no ears was unclear, but served as more tangible proof that he could, in fact, hear him. The young man thought maybe he was reading his lips. "And what do you mean? Your name is Flug."
"No, it isn't." Not-Flug responded, taking another sip. He tried to be mindful of the scars lining the right corner of his mouth, they tended to re-open if he did things like expose them to foods that were very hot or very cold. Mainly because they made him open his mouth wider, which is what REALLY opened them up again. And it was always such a mess when they did that. They'd start by splitting his mouth open, then curl up his cheek to join the crosshatch of scars near his right eye. It was somewhat hidden when he wore his goggles (prescription, much like the horn-rimmed frames he wore in his daily life), but otherwise everyone could see the light cobwebs adorning his tan face.
His companion with the garbled name cocked his head in confusion. It was almost comical. "But then, why does everyone call you that?"
He sighed. "It's a long story."
"I have got time."
"Look, it's just a dumb nickname that's stuck with me forever ok?"
There was a pause. "A...Nick name?" the man asked. "Who is Nick?"
It took a lot of control for the man not to slap the slap the top hat off of the others head. Or slap himself in the face.
"There is no Nick, it's a nickname. It's a…" He figured it'd be better to use a very direct definition. "A substitute for a proper name. It's usually meant as a sort of joke."
"Ah, I see." The dark man said nodding thoughtfully. "Then I have a nickname as well."
The man with the light brown hair, known to all his classmates as "Flug", looked up surprised. "You do?"
"Yes, after a few months in New Orleans the locals started calling me 'Black Hat'." He gestured to his black top hat. "Not many could pronounce my name there, either. And the ones who could were rather elderly, and had trouble being understood as well."
"Black Hat," Flug said, as he took another sip of his latte. He considered it, it seemed a fitting name. Even if it was a bit awkward to use English words.
He took in the man across from him again. The dark skin, the lack of facial features, the sharp black suit that looked to be hand tailored, the red dress shirt that matched well with both the black and the red band in the top hat on his head. Even the coffee, black, seemed to be right for this man.
"Ok then, Black Hat it is." He said.
Black Hat huffed. "At least you have SOMETHING to call me by now, Flug."
Another moment of silence. "Oh, yes, so why does everyone call you Flug if that isn't your name?"
Damn. He'd hoped Black Hat had forgotten.
"My last name is Flugslys," He said with a sigh. "Growing up, the other kids could only really pronounce the 'Flug'. And it just stuck."
"And your first name?"
"Rocinante."
"Roc-ci...Roci-n...cin...Rocin-an...ante?" Black Hat struggled to get the syllables out of his mouth. How was it he could make that garbled mash-up of his name roll off his tongue with ease but saying 'Rocinante' was difficult?
"Just...call me Flug." He said.
Black Hat rolled his eyes. Flug got the feeling he was think Hey, I at least made an attempt to pronounce your name. He supposed that was fair. He didn't have the confidence to so much as try to replicate the guttural sounds of Black Hat's name.
"So, Flug," Black Hat said. "Now that that's out of the way, I wanted to talk to you about joining a sort of organization I'm in the process of making." The "organization" was said in English, while the rest was said in Spanish. Flug guessed that he didn't know the Spanish word was just "organización".
"What kind of organization?"
"Oh that's how you say it?' Black Hat asked. "Good, good. Well I guess you could say it's a sort of, uh...manufacturing and...delivering company."
It was a good thing Flug knew English, because otherwise he was certain the two of them would never be able to get through a conversation.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I haven't worked out all the details but what I'm trying to do is...uh…" He struggled to find the words. Black Hat looked at Flug with a rather odd look on his face. "You may think I'm crazy."
"Tell me anyway." Flug said nonchalantly.
"Well...I want to rule the world."
It took every ounce of self control for Flug to NOT spit out his coffee in shock. He did however, choke on the hot liquid. Burning his throat and causing a few of the delicate scars near his mouth to open up. He quickly tried to look around and make sure no one else heard what Black Hat had just said. While the universidad they both attended offered studies of both heroes and villains, it was common knowledge that it was implied ALL would be future heroes. Or assist heroes. No one came in declaring to be a villain!
Great, he thought. Just great.
Before Flug could open his mouth to ask What the hell?, Black Hat continued. "Yes, I know, unconventional. But it's my dream and no one will stop me from so much as trying."
Flug found that admirable, despite the term "unconventional" being the understatement of the year. He had to admire the man's resolve to achieving his goal. Even if it was world domination.
And he wants me to join him. I'm being recruited by an aspiring villain.
"O-ok so...you want to...rule the world?" He asked, trying to stem the blood flow from his now-open wound. Black Hat nodded eagerly.
"What...exactly...in your mind...does that involve?"
"Having the leaders of the world at my beck and call. Being able to put the world economy at a standstill at a moments notice. The power to move vast armies at my command. Have everyone so reliant on me that none dare to oppose me." Black Hat said with a menacing grin.
So you want to be the next Google, Flug thought.
"And the way to do that is...what again?" He asked incredulously.
Black Hat handed him a few napkins from the table, which he accepted. "I've been studying the way the world works. The phrase 'money makes the world go 'round'? You could say I took it to heart."
Flug held the napkins to the right corner of his mouth. He felt like the blood was beginning to clot, which was good.
"I've come into money these past few years, and I've spent my time trying to learn all that I can about how exactly it works in practice." Black Hat continued. He talked with his hands a lot, making many hand gestures.
"Which is why I've come to study here, as a business major. Or perhaps economics. I haven't decided which would be more beneficial. I considered politics but few positions are as powerful or permanent as I want."
"You could overthrow a country," Flug mumbled. "Change the governing system."
Black Hat gasped. "I thought of that as well! But I couldn't do it publicly. Would be very messy and other countries would surely step in." He paused. "Unless it started with small countries. Ones with few allies or military power…"
Oh god I wasn't serious. Flug thought. What have I done?
"Let's go back to your business versus economics major possibilities." Flug said, trying to change the subject. "Studying those will help you take over the world...how?"
"It's very simple, Flug!" Black Hat said. "I want to become the manufacturer and distributor of, well, anything. Weapons, luxury items, basic necessities, if the people demand it, I want to be the one who has it! I want to be the Numero Uno supplier of Villains worldwide!"
"Ok so, you want to create your own company brand-"
"Yes!"
"-dominate the black market with your wares-"
"Of course!"
"-have all other villains reliant on you for 'everything'-
"Correct!"
"-including basic human needs-
"Well, yes."
"-and then you will...rule the world?"
"Yes, Flug!" Black Hat said excitedly. "With all villains in the world dependant on me for all of their needs, I would control the underworld economy! Then none would dare compete or refuse me my demands!"
Black Hat sat back in his seat, proud of his plan. He looked at Flug with a smile on his face, like he was expecting Flug to shower him with praises and beg him for the honor of joining his team.
Flug himself chugged the rest of his sweet latte. It had a slightly metallic taste now, maybe some of his blood had mixed in with his sugary caffeine drink. He checked the napkin, nothing but dried blood, good.
"Honestly, to tell you the truth, Black Hat," Flug said. "I just don't see it."
Black Hat's face fell. "What?"
"I see where you're going, and it makes rudimentary sense, but on a grand scale I don't think it'll work."
"Rudimentary?" Black Hat asked, his face scrunched up in confusion.
"Basic." Flug said. "On a basic level it makes sense and it could work in a small setting, but trying to do the same thing on a planetary scale, with hundreds, no MILLIONS, of competing markets and differing economies from place to place, just...no. It's not happening."
Black Hat squeezed his cup with so much force Flug thought he might shatter it completely in his hand. He quickly said "B-but it has potential!" in the hopes of calming him down.
It wasn't calming him down. He thought quick.
"Um, uh, oh! Y-you said you h-haven't worked out all the d-d-d-d-details yet, right?"
"Riiiiight," BlackHat said through clenched teeth.
"Well, well, that's just it! The details! If you figure those out, that'll s-surely fix all the problems I c-could find!"
Black Hat stopped gripping his cup so tightly. "You really mean it?"
"H-honest!"
The man in the top hat and black suit seemed to think about this for a few seconds. He lightly stroked his chin with his thumb and looked at Flug. Really looked at Flug.
It made Flug self-conscious. He was always embarrassed by the scars on his face. They did nothing but remind him of his past failures. But there were other things. His one crooked tooth, that they'd never had the money to fix when he was young. The splotchy splatter of freckles across the non-scared side of his face, which popped up in between the scars on the other, where they could. He even felt awkward about his clothes. He wasn't from money, but it wasn't like his family just barely made enough to get by. Black Hat, though. He was dressed sharply, smartly, and suavely. Who wears a suit and top hat anymore anyway?
And seeing him so visibly angry, literally shaking with anger, it had made his stutter come back. He thought he had finally kicked the embarrassing quirk after high school. That certainly wasn't helping his self-esteem.
Black Hat spoke after what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few seconds. "I think you're right, Flug."
"Huh?" said man asked in confusion.
"My plan is far too...rudimentary, to succeed." He admitted with a defeated sigh. He eyed what remained of his black coffee and gulped the rest of it down in one go.
"Black Hat, I'm sorry." Flug said. "I didn't mean to insult you or your dream. I was just-"
Black Hat held up a hand, looking very angry again. Flug quickly shut his mouth.
"I know it's too semplice e basilare to attempt at a large scale right now." He said, breaking into Italian for a change. Flug could only assume he meant he understood how his plan was flawed. "That's why I'm here. I know I can't just jump into my plan of world domination. But-" Black Hat broke off here, bringing his hands together on the table in front of him. "-we all have to start somewhere, no? I have chosen to start here. With you."
"With...me?" Flug asked. Oh, that was right. That was the entire point of their coffee...date? No, no, no, this wasn't a date. This was just two men, in college, getting coffee together at (what time was it?) 9:00 at night, discussing their plans for world domination.
Not a date at all.
"Sí, Flug, you." Black Hat said. "I mentioned that I was in the process of creating my dream organization, right?" Flug nodded.
"Well, the thing is…" He trailed off, wringing his hands. "I've really only just started and...thereisnooneelse." He said quickly.
Flug stared at him. There is no one else? ¿Nadie mas? It's just us? Us two? The two of us against the world?
Flug must've been making a really stupid face because Black Hat got angry again. "Well, it's just me right now!" Oh, right, I haven't said yes yet. I don't count. Flug thought.
"But, if...you wanted to join me or whatever that'd be fine, I guess…" He mumbled, playing with his fingers.
Flug quickly looked away, hoping he hadn't been blushing as hard as it felt he was. Maybe his scar was still bleeding. Maybe it would stop the blood from rushing to his cheeks. Maybe.
"So, uh, Black Hat," He mumbled, trying to pass it off as a cough. "W-what is it you w-want me to do for you?" Oh jeez his stutter! And why did he phrase it like that!?
Flug had a quick flash of himself, blushing like one of the girls in the animes he watched, with one hand up to his cheek, his eyes half lidded. In a maid outfit. What would you like me to do for you, Master? He said in a soft and delicate voice.
OH GOD WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?!
Flug felt him face heat up. If Black Hat noticed or thought anything of it he didn't bring it up.
"Well, the best way I can think of to dominate the black market is to drive my competition out of business. How I plan to do that is by offering equal quality items at a cheaper price or superior items at the same price. Only when the competing brand is taken out will we be able to raise prices." Black Hat said pragmatically.
"Well, ok, that makes sense." Flug said, hoping his blush had gone down. "And I come in…?"
"You!" Black Hat said pointing to him dramatically. "You are the one I want to design my wares!"
"...Me?"
"Yes, you!" Black Hat said, like it should be obvious. "You're a genius inventor from what everyone says, you've been participating in the Engineering Club here since before you were even enrolled, a machine you designed as a high school freshman got you a scholarship, and from what I gather the only reason you do not advance in your field is because you make no attempt to! You are my first and only choice as head scientist!"
"Head...scientist?" Flug asked.
"Yes," Black Hat said, looking like the devil about to seal a deal with an unsuspecting mortal man. "I mentioned I've come into money, ¿sí? I can fund anything you wish to research, any resources you need to make my products better, I will give you. Whatever workspace you need in order to maximize productivity, I'll get it. It's an investment to BOTH our futures, no? I'll pour as much as I feasibly can into you."
Flug's head was swimming. It was like this man he barely knew was offing him the world on a silver platter. All he had to do was help him rule it. And if he did? If Black Hat ever did actually achieve his dream of controlling the world? What would Flug be? His head scientist? Most Valuable Employee? Some huge and important position with a title that gave him power and status?
"So, Flug, what do you say?"
It was all too much.
Far too much.
Too much to take in at once.
"B-Black Hat?" He said, feeling faint.
"Yes?" Said man asked excitedly, hoping for a more positive reaction this time to his proposition.
"Can...can I think this over?" Flug raised a hand to his forehead, brushing against more of his shameful scars. "This is...a l-l-lot to take in. A lot to consid-d-der." His head began to twitch and shake from his stuttering.
"Flug, are you okay?" Black Hat asked, looking genuinely concerned for the young man. "You look malato."
Flug didn't know what "malato" meant but he assumed it meant he looked like trash. "I-I-I'll be f-f-f-f-fine." Both his stutter and head-jerking were getting worse. "Let me j-j-just g-go home and rest a b-b-bit. I'm sure I'll be fine in the m-morning."
"Sure thing," Black Hat, getting up from his seat to help his new acquaintance to his feet. "You can give me an answer tomorrow, here," He pulled out a pen and scribbled a bunch of numbers onto Flug's hand. "Do you need help getting home?"
"N-n-n-n-no, tha-a-nks-s." Flug said, trying and failing to sound convincing. "I s-should be able to w-wa-wa-walk." Those damn w's. They were always the letter he had the most trouble with.
"If you're sure." Black Hat said.
With that, the two men parted ways from the coffee shop. Rocinante Flugslys made it home with minimal stumbling and was able to get in without dropping his apartment keys a million times. He made it to his room silently and stripped until he was in nothing but lacy women's undergarments from the waist down. He put on an old t-shirt to cover his bare slim chest and fell into bed, completely drained.
Notes:
Hi. I'm Fallin. I'm going to explain what you just read.
In my mind, they're both speaking Spanish throughout all of this. Except when certain words are in bold, which is usually when Black Hat breaks into another language because his Spanish isn't perfect at this point. Mainly here he breaks into English and Italian.
Translation:
semplice e basilare = simple and basic (Italian)
malato = sick (Italian)
Universidad Nacional de Estudios de Héroe y Villano de Mexico = National University of Hero and Villain Studies of Mexico (Spanish)
¿Nadie mas? = No one else? (Spanish)
My goal is to update at least once a month. Next chapter focuses on Flug.