Nagisa was nattering on some nonsense about something matching his eyes and Hyuk-jae just shook his head. "I really don't want to," he said, already uncomfortable enough. However, Nagisa seemed to know how to push the right buttons, because he leaned hard on the money angle, and Hyuk-jae had to admit that looking stupid was a small price to pay for his rent. The shorter, younger man went on to point out that food was ready and promised to make sure everything would be fine.

About which, for the record, Hyuk-jae had serious, serious reservations.

"God, fine," he said, exasperated. "I'll wear the thing. Whatever. Just — make sure my clothes don't get lost." It was hard to fathom setting them somewhere, letting them out of his sight. After all, Hyuk-jae was wearing literally the only pair of trousers he had! Surely he didn't have to actually say he couldn't afford to lose them, right? Fidgeting anxiously, Hyuk-jae followed Nagisa inside, trying not to catch anyone's eye.

The clothing Nagisa had picked for him was blue. All of it. Hyuk-jae just sort of stared at it, not even sure where to begin with putting it on. He'd never worn such a thing; even his parents were poor. "Er..." In the end, he managed to get it partially on and had to have help with the rest. "I don't think I'm doing this right." Trying to remove his arm from whence he'd put it, but found himself unable. "Nagisa!" It was all the short boy's fault, getting his head partially stuck in the sleeve of whatever this thing was called, and Hyuk-jae was very patently, so far, not having a good time.

Once he had the clothes on, Hyuk-jae turned around, trying to be able to see it. He batted hands away from his hair, however, and refused to take out his earrings or lose his red leather bracelet. "Stop — I'm already in your damn dress! Leave my hair alone!" When all was said and done, he actually… looked really nice. The dark blue outer layer emphasized how very orange his eyes were — orange, not gold. The light blue was soft against white skin, and the tones of the clothing brought out the bluish sheen in his hair. He was a Firebender, or at the very least the son of one. Hyuk-jae refused to make any comments when asked, and instead fidgeted with almost everything.

"What exactly am I supposed to be doing?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head in discomfort.

Hyuk-jae ignored Nagisa's insistence that he looked 'great'. It didn't exactly matter much anyway, but he just felt uncomfortable in unfamiliar clothing. At least his hair was clean. When Nagisa told him to relax, the taller young man again muttered something under his breath about sunny beaches. He tried to pay attention to Nagisa's instructions about how to interact with the customers. It seemed like it mostly consisted of… being nice?

As the other man said he should just look away as though it were painful to ask question, the corner of Hyuk-jae's mouth lifted in a slight smile. If only he knew! It was somewhat painful to answer certain questions. Did this mean he just had to be himself, then? He followed Nagisa through the hall, not saying anything. He blinked a little in the bright light of the hall before looking around, trying to take everything in. Hyuk-jae's eyes were wide. He'd really never seen anything like it! And there was more food than he'd imagined.

He flinched a little when Nagisa grabbed at him, sitting him down in between two women. Their scrutiny was uncomfortable, just like the clothing he wore. At least his new friend? had the forethought to use a false name for him. He smiled faintly at them, having no idea what to say. Hyuk-jae had very little experience with women, even older ones. He was much better at entertaining men — he knew what they wanted to hear, how they wanted him to react. Women were a bit of an unknown for him, especially middle-aged ones. He knew elderly women in his neighborhood, but these women were so well-dressed he doubted they had anything in common.

The shyness was unintentional, but honest. Hyuk-jae rubbed a thumb across one of his wrists in a nervous gesture. "It's nice to meet you," he offered before lowering his eyes, lashes dark and long. How on Earth was he supposed to talk to these women?

God, he didn't think he could do this. Nagisa was so perfect at it, obviously used to it, but Hyuk-jae wasn't an actor. How was it possible that just spending time with people and talking to them was more intimidating than sex? It was unfathomable, but at that moment, the young man realized how very little experience he truly had with human interaction. He'd never even been in school. How did people do this, day after day?

Trying to ignore the strange tightness in his chest, he attempted to follow Nagisa's signals. The least he could do was try to avoid embarrassing the other young man for the night. Hyuk-jae inclined his head, taking her hand and smiling a nervous, but pretty smile. "Nice to meet you," he said, glancing to the other woman, "both. You look very pretty."

"And… what is it that you two do?" He asked, taking his hand back and setting it in his lap. He hoped desperately that Nima would not attempt to pet his hair. Looking around the room, Hyuk-jae was still attempting to take in his surroundings. "I'm sorry," he apologized to the ladies, "it's just I've never seen anything like this before. It's … really something, isn't it?"

Hyuk-jae smiled at Soon Hee, appreciative of what he assumed was an attempt to make him less nervous. He frowned at Nima's comment, which he perceived as making fun of her. "It's a lot to take in," he said, glancing at Soon Hee. Nagisa answered his question about their employment, though he'd really only meant it as filler. One always asked men what they did for a living, as plenty of men enjoyed the opportunity to discuss their jobs. It was a default question for Hyuk-jae, one that took up time and rarely caused harm.

He let Nagisa drag him off towards the food, thankful for the chance to get away. When the shorter young man asked how he was doing, he ran a hand through his hair. "Do you specialize in making people uncomfortable or something?" Hyuk-jae let out a tight breath. "I have no idea what to say to them. It's… so awkward and I'm not a good liar." Well, that was only half true. When he needed to be, Hyuk-jae was a great liar. He just wasn't knee deep in hot water at the moment, and so found himself lacking in the ability to paint on a smile. "At least — I just, I have no idea what I'm doing." He picked carefully at the foods on a plate for himself, removing the carbohydrates and gauging everything with guarded eyes. He had to make sure he ate properly if he was going to eat at all.

If they were men in suits, everything would be easier. He didn't necessarily want to admit it open, but Hyuk-jae knew how to flirt casually with a man. It was easy, like breathing, all he had to do was touch an arm at the right moment, or laugh at their jokes. Women needed a little more… well, something. As if he knew what. Nagisa obviously did, though. Hyuk-jae couldn't imagine himself acting the way the other young man did.

Hyuk-jae rubbed at his shoulder. At least he hadn't had a seizure or otherwise embarrassed himself. It was likely, though, that his performance would guarantee that he could not do host work. Surely the madame would recognize his inability to present with social grace.

Did they make him uncomfortable? Hyuk-jae stared at Nagisa for a moment. "Yes," he said shortly, putting a cupcake on the plate Nagisa was holding. "They make me uncomfortable." As for having a 'type' in his other job… well. "Ah — men like me." He glanced at the shorter young man, trying to gauge his reaction. He would assume that in this line of work, Nagisa wouldn't have a problem with same-sex relationships, but one never knew. He might. If anything, he seemed maybe… too innocent?

"I'm sure you have female clients," Hyuk-jae said, separating the food on the plates in an orderly fashion. "But I don't really deal with women very much." As if that weren't blatantly obvious, of course. He sighed. "They're sort of… overbearing?" Hyuk-jae's own mother never treated him that way. He had been raised with an acute awareness of how much his existence put others out, what an inconvenience it was. He tended to try and stay out of women's way, hinder them as little as possible. It was an unconscious but very present behavior, to hide from women as much as possible and do anything to remain out of their gaze. Sitting between two women who were likely close to his mother's age was almost painful.

He shrugged a shoulder. "Businessmen, mostly. Lots with wives and… particular ticks they feel a male is more suited to handling, I guess. I don't know." He'd been told a thousand times that he was very pretty — pretty enough to be a girl, but man enough to take things they couldn't. That wasn't really, in his opinion, a compliment. He laughed a little, setting the plate down. "I'm probably not what you thought, huh?" Nagisa had probably assumed that Hyuk-jae would slide easily into such a role.

Hyuk-jae looked down at his plate, very simple in comparison to the others. On his plate there wasn't a noodle or starch in sight, just meats and a few vegetables, those he could pick out that were lowest in carbohydrate. "I will eat just about anything," he told Soon Hee, "but I don't eat a lot of starches." There was no point in explaining why, exactly. Lots of people believed too many starches made a person fat. She'd likely look at his slender figure and assume it was a vanity issue, with which Hyuk-jae had no qualms.

He raised a brow, mentally, at Nagisa's reaction to Nima. She must pay him well for him to put up with behavior he obviously found offensive. Hyuk-jae pushed away the glass of champagne Nagisa put in front of his, very slightly shaking his head 'no'. He couldn't have alcohol — not ever. It was completely unsafe. He had to do his best to make sure nothing happened.

Deciding to let Nagisa deal with Nima, Hyuk-jae focused on trying to be nice to Soon Hee. It was difficult to push past his discomfort, but after a few minutes, he was able to strike up a conversation about a singer she seemed to enjoy. She was a quiet and unthreatening woman, which probably helped. He wouldn't be sorry to see the hour up, though.

Soon Hee was nice enough and Hyuk-jae found it relatively easy, once he got going, to talk to her and keep her entertained. He was relieved, however, to see their time end. Hyuk-jae just couldn't flirt with a lady like he could a man. It didn't come naturally, wasn't easy. Nagisa by turn seemed glad to see them go. Nima, to Hyuk-jae's eyes, was annoying to the shorter young man. He wondered why he'd agreed to take her as a customer if that was the case.

"Hm?" Hyuk-jae turned, he and Nagisa quite close to each other. They looked quite pretty, in their complimentary kimono and opposite coloring. "No, I'm okay. Listen, I can't drink alcohol though — ever. That's not a problem, is it?" As he looked up, two men in suits entered, heading straight for Nagisa's table. Hyuk-jae grinned. Now this? This he could do. The two of them looked like corporation men, the kind of guy who had spare cash and loved to spend on things he felt made him look good. Or feel good.

He let Nagisa introduce him, but immediately zeroed in on the taller of the two men, motioning for him to sit close to him. "I love your suit," Hyuk-jae said, prompting a boast about where it came from. He ran a finger over the lapel. "You must tell me what you do," he murmured. The man smiled, leaning in and launching into a story about his company and their exploits. He smelled like a citron aftershave, typical. Hyuk-jae laughed at his jokes and leaned his chin in his hand, looking through his eyelashes. Mr. Yoshida slid a hand over his thigh and he didn't even flinch. "It's so nice to meet you," Hyuk-jae said. "You know, I was beginning to think I wouldn't see a man come through here…"
Mr. Yoshida grinned, tossing back the last of the beer in his glass. "Waiting for a man? That could be tiresome."
Hyuk-jae laughed.

In fact, Madame was noticing how pretty Nagisa and his friend looked together — the two customers who'd sat with them before and remarked on it, and it seemed now that a few others were noticing. It might be a good opportunity to make money, being able to bill a pair of boys together. She pursed her lips in thought. Would they go for it? Judging by his behavior, the young man Nagisa had brought with him wouldn't mind a bit.

At the table, Yoshida grinned. It was no secret that he wished Nagisa took his work home with him, and he seemed to find Hyuk-jae's more hands-on approach very appealing. "I absolutely think he should stay." Hyuk-jae smiled at Nagisa, hoping this meant the young man would be pleased. The last thing he wanted was to put him out for having brought him here.
"I wouldn't mind staying," he said, toying idly with the stem of a glass, "but I'd prefer not to wear this… getup all the time."
Yoshida laughed. "But you both look so perfect!" he exclaimed. Mr. Nakamura had to agree, voicing an approval of the kimono as well.

It was odd, like playing dress-up, but Hyuk-jae shrugged. Whatever they preferred was fine, he supposed. It occurred to him suddenly that the two men would leave after an hour and… and nothing. He didn't have to take Mr. Yoshida anywhere. He didn't have to leave with him. He didn't have to do anything. Hyuk-jae glanced at Nagisa, smiling a little.
"Shouta's been very accommodating," he told the men, who gave each other knowing looks and smiled.
"You two are close friends, then?" asked Yoshida, glancing between them.

Maybe Nagisa didn't understand what the two men meant, but Hyuk-jae understood exactly what they were implying. He smiled as Nagisa giggled, cuddling up to Nakamura.
"We could be closer," he murmured, watching Yoshida's face. The man licked his lips a little, eyes flitting between them.
"You do match," the man said.

Hyuk-jae laughed, laying a hand on Yoshida's arm. Nagisa obviously made money with his childish, young-boy act. Hyuk-jae found it mildly entertaining, though he did wonder how much of it was an act and how much wasn't. As Nagisa pouted and asked Nakamura if he didn't want to try the things he liked, Yoshida grinned.
"Right — isn't that what we're doing though, Shouta? Trying something you like?" He ran a finger along Hyuk-jae's jaw. "It looks like it to me."
"Hmm." Hyuk-jae glanced at Nakamura. It was obvious to him what Yoshida was hoping to see, but Nakamura seemed to be aiming to pay for Nagisa's time specifically. He was enjoying having the young man pressed up to him, and he laughed at the insistence on apple juice.

Running a hand through his hair, Hyuk-jae sighed. He wondered, idly, how long the night lasted. He'd run into Nagisa so early in the morning — did that mean the club stayed open that long? He couldn't imagine how the man did it, being nice and playing a persona all night. Hyuk-jae was good at flirting, but it had always led to one direction — and that wasn't happening. What was he supposed to do all night? The same thing with different people?