to Berlin with love.

[runningred]

 From here

Jay opens the door into a quiet back alley that could belong to any city - the lingering scent of garbage and the miss-matched colours where graffiti has been washed off or painted over. In the mid-afternoon chill of early spring, he takes Emcee's hand and leads him out into the street, pocketing the key. The sunlight is thin but warm and picks out the green swell of buds in the branches. The tree lined avenue is quiet this time of day. Not lacking in people but without rush, a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Comments

[runningred]

Jay sets the box somewhere safe and kicks off his shoes, perfectly at home.

He joins Emcee a moment later with a bottle of good gin, two glasses and a packet of cigarettes. He sets all of it down and flops gracelessly into the couch next to him.

Jay has no such issues when it comes to expensive furniture. At least none of them are antiques.

"The view is one of its best features."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee begins to relax a little more, seeing how comfortable Jay is.

He picks up the bottle of gin.

"What's another feature, an endless supply of liquor?"

Uncapping the bottle, he pours them each a measure and hands a glass to him.

[runningred]

"Not endless but easily replenishable." Jay jokes, taking the glass and inviting Emcee to lean against him and sprawl out.

[i_am_your_host]

"Still sounds ideal."

He does lean back against Jay but he's still a little uptight. He doesn't even get too comfortable with the furniture in his room at Milliways (except for the bed).

"Do you stay here often? It doesn't look very lived-in."

[runningred]

Jay shakes his head. "I've only stayed here once." He hesitates, wondering if now is a good time to tell Emcee. "I didn't really buy it for me."

[i_am_your_host]

The question starts out curiously enough.

"Oh? Who did you buy it...for...?"

And then as the words leave his lips, he realizes that this is what Jay had wanted to give him all along, wasn't it? A way to escape? A new life?

[runningred]

"It's yours, darling." Jay says, very softly as if worried he's going to spook Emcee. "This is what the key unlocks."

There's more but he doesn't want to rush this. It's a lot to take in.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee sits up, his eyes wide. Part of him wants to laugh at the absurdity of Jay's statement, the other has absolutely no idea what to do.

"That's-- this-- this?"

He's shaking his head.

"How am I supposed to-- what am I supposed-- how?"

The last word comes out as an incredulous, helpless laugh. He really doesn't know what to say.

[runningred]

Jay quirks a smile, glad Emcee's laughing at least a little. "This." He nods. "The penthouse is yours."

[i_am_your_host]

He's still shaking his head as if the idea is too big to handle.

"But people just don't give penthouses away," he says, trying to-- reason with him, or something.

[runningred]

Jay lets him compute in his own time. Now might not be the best moment to tell him about the club... or the whole building.

[i_am_your_host]

"It's ridiculous!" he insists, only just a bit hysterically.

"I mean, thank you all the same, but--"

He cuts himself off.

And he goes quiet, as he looks out at the city skyline. He turns to glance up and down the balcony-- he's never even been on a balcony-- and then behind them through the glass at the interior of the living room. That ridiculously huge living room. He's never had his own living room before. And then he looks down at the couch he's sitting on, sweeping his hand over the fabric.

It's slowly, very slowly sinking in. Not all the way. But enough for now to realize what Jay has done.

"Thank you."

[runningred]

Jay starts to speak when Emcee protests but stops himself when he goes quiet again.

He puts a gentle hand on Emcee's forearm, trying to catch his eye. "If it's too much, it's okay. I can get rid of it and we could look for something else. I just want you to have somewhere. Somewhere safe." He shrugs. "Somewhere you can bring friends if you can bring them through too." There are a couple of spare rooms after all.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee glances into Jay's eyes and shakes his head.

"No, no, I-- it is too much, but that doesn't mean I don't like it," he says, managing a bit of cheekiness.

But he takes a breath, putting his hands to his face, still shaking his head a little. The idea of bringing his friends to this world, saving them, isn't one he's thought through.

"I have to think about this first. I just-- this is a Very Big Deal, and I am the worst when it comes to handling these things.

[runningred]

"Then tonight, just enjoy the place. Treat it like a hotel- jump on the beds, steal the soap." Jay jokes, trying to lighten the mood. "Test drive the bathroom."

[i_am_your_host]

He breathes out a chuckle.

"I'll try."

Taking a swallow of gin, he then reaches for the pack of cigarettes.

"I don't suppose there's anything to eat in the kitchen?"

[runningred]

"Should be." he mutters thoughtfully. "I asked the building manager to stock everything up. Want me to put something together or do you want to explore the kitchen for yourself?"

[i_am_your_host]

He blinks at him.

"Oh, dear. I'm going to have to learn how to use a modern kitchen, aren't I."

[runningred]

Jay laughs softly. "I can teach you the basics. Other than the microwave, everything else is pretty similar."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee still looks uncertain, but he nods.

"I'll have a look. I don't usually cook for myself and the Bar has spoiled me rotten, so this would be something to get used to."

[runningred]

"There's no end of restaurants or delivery services around. You can always order out." Jay shrugs.

[i_am_your_host]

"Delivery? There are places that deliver meals?"

That could probably be the best modern invention he's ever heard of.

[runningred]

Jay chuckles and holds out a hand to him. "I'm pretty sure there are menus in one of the kitchen drawers."

For just about any nationality or style food Emcee can think of. And a few that he might not have.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee takes his hand and gets to his feet, taking along his gin and cigarette, and follows him to the kitchen.

It's very...shiny. Like the kitchen in Milliways. He's tempted to open all the cupboards and cabinets to see what's in them, and he's pretty sure that he wouldn't be using half the appliances available. The coffee maker alone looks too complicated.

There is indeed a drawer full of menus, and he sorts through all of them, marveling at the variety.

"I've never had pizza before."

[runningred]

"Pizza it is." Jay grabs a phone and shows Emcee how to dial. He writes the address down to give for the pizzeria for the delivery. Fortunately the building access is off a different street to the club so it won't give away the game.