It had been a couple of months, give or take, since Ryan initially gave in to Brendon's advances, and they'd somewhat returned to normalcy. For a while it was unbelievably awkward, because Ryan had blown up at Brendon the morning after and then was obviously ten times more timid around him for weeks afterward, but recently he'd been getting better at hiding how it all affected him. Hell, he was [i]still[/i] sleeping with him whenever he got the chance, so clearly it wasn't that big of a deal. It's just that he was having trouble squashing his feelings entirely even now that he knew the possibility that Brendon might like him back, or eventually feel the same way, was incredibly slim. It wasn't just the fact that that was how Brendon naturally was, but also Ryan likely ruined his chances by the way he'd acted originally.

It'd been impulse to jump on Brendon about his emotional unavailability. Impulse, and completely not his business. Fair to say that anything and everything involving Brendon was his business given his still relatively new job, but Brendon was allowed to have his own thoughts and feelings and opinions, and if he didn't want to stick with [i]anyone[/i] let alone Ryan, then that made sense. It was up to him - and not just one reckless night between a boss and employee. That's what they were, ultimately, and Ryan had to stop pretending they were anything else, or could be anything else. Ever since what he now called - in his head, since he was too embarrassed about his reaction to talk about it - The Incident, Ryan had been working on ignoring everything or otherwise trying to turn every romantic thought that crossed his mind into a platonic one.

If Brendon smiled, for example, and Ryan felt his whole world light up as a result, it was definitely just 'cause Brendon had become his closest friend and not because he harbored any sort of infatuation for him. If he felt the urge to kiss him out of nowhere or as a result of him doing something Ryan thought was cute, well. They were sleeping together. That wasn't platonic, necessarily, but it was certainly a reason he got such strong swayings on occasion. And the fact that he was never annoyed by any kind of ridiculous request, was actually happy to do whatever for him; Ryan explained that away by his just being a good employee. When Brendon asked him to pick up yet another bunch of suits that cost more than Ryan was worth he really had no issue - just some concern for how Brendon's bank account would feel about it, despite his knowing that Brendon would certainly be fine regardless.

Anyway. Ryan went to do that. The family had a stylist in Beverly Hills, and because he wasn't fond of any task that involved adventuring around Los Angeles, Ryan rushed through it, retrieving Brendon's suits and hanging them up on the hook above his window when he returned to his car. At least he knew Brendon was out today, scheduled to meet with [i]someone[/i] (Ryan rarely knew who these days, since he always mentally bristled at the mention of dates now), so with that comfort in mind he hooked the suits over his hand and went up to Brendon's penthouse. He stopped at the door, uncertain, when he heard the sound of someone inside, the picking of guitar strings and footsteps. Didn't sound like two people, or even like Brendon. Had it been Brendon he'd be in the middle of a whole song. Ryan chewed his lower lip tentatively and then bit the bullet, pulling his spare key and opening the door.

Lo and behold, there was already someone there, and so many guitars lined along the walls had curled up broken strings that Ryan suspected there'd been a break-in. His free hand reflexively went to his pocket for his phone to, like, call the police or whatever, and then he realized the person leaned up against Brendon's furniture was a familiar face. Ryan paused, recalibrating before he slowly stepped forward and hung the suits up on the door's back hook. This was one of Brendon's friends. Ryan had maybe seen them in person once or twice, but only across the room of a club where he had to monitor Brendon from a distance, or something. On the other hand, he'd seen them in covers of magazines or in web articles or on the Snapchat explore page countless of times, for as much reason as Brendon had to be listed on those places: none. Well, nothing except for the fact that they were the spawn of people with accomplishments and accumulated wealth.

Ryan liked them because there was nothing not to like. Realistically he probably shouldn't even have an opinion formed on someone who didn't produce any content other than their own face in photoshoots, or whatever, but. They just seemed... charismatic and charming, much like Brendon was. Made sense that they were friends - and it made the fact that they were here in an apartment that wasn't theirs much less worrying. [i]Hola.[/i] Ryan remembered to smile, so he did, albeit nervously. [b]"Hi,"[/b] he replied tentatively, his voice soft without meaning for it to be. He was caught way off-guard. [i]Gabriel, amigo.[/i] Well, he knew that. Ryan had become something of a social media celebrity guru ever since he started working for one. He nodded silently, rendered sort of speechless by the surprise. [i]Ryan, right? Come, shut the door. We have a lot to talk about.[/i]

Bewildered, Ryan obediently closed the door behind him before he actually thought about it. Wow - maybe he was just used to taking orders now. Or Gabriel here had that effect on everyone. [b]"Right, yeah, it's Ryan,"[/b] he answered belatedly, moving closer slowly but remaining on the other end of the sofa Gabe had so elegantly draped themself up against. With a martini, no less. Ryan could only dream of hosting a break-in so classy. [b]"Um - like what? Did Brendon ask you to talk to me?"[/b] Ryan had a brief moment of panic in which he considered maybe Brendon was sending someone to fire Ryan for him. That way he wouldn't have to hear Ryan's arguing or see his face when it happened. But, really, things had gotten better, so there was no reason for him to get cut off... especially when Ryan was the only one who had the guts to instruct the barista through Brendon's exact coffee order, real control freak style. In Brendon's words, it's 'cause he's a Virgo.

[b]"And does he know you're here? I don't think... I mean, it's nice to meet you and all, I've heard a lot of great things, but I'm not sure if you should... be here. Without him. Breaking stuff."[/b] Another super fun Virgo skill - knowing when things are out of place instantly. The guitar strings, the vermouth way out of its spot on the bar, the olive jar still open, etc. He was out on a limb talking to Gabe like that, especially considering Gabe was taller than [i]him[/i] and about as gorgeous and powerful as Brendon, but. Ryan had sorta learned not to give a shit in every respect except for socially.