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]

"Maybe but I suspect it was something similar. I seem to recall that's pretty much the reaction it got. B thought it was hilarious but he was trying to stay in character."

Jay follows him, glancing over his shoulder to a street he recognises from the last time he was here. He didn't realise the club he spent time at was so close to Emcee's old digs.

"You know me, darling." He says, not entirely lightly. "I don't make promises, or offers I don't intend to carry though on."

[i_am_your_host]

"Ah, I sometimes wondered if he actually had a sense of humor," he says dryly, as he falls back into step with Jay.

"And you know me. I'm not looking for promises or offers. But thank you for making them anyway."

[runningred]

"Twisted and bitter but yeah, he did." There's a slight edge of grudging admiration in his voice. Part of him will always love B. But the rest of him wants to punch in those perfect teeth.

Jay gives him a little squeeze and lets Emcee lead him back to his old neighbourhood. Which so far is blissfully free of MacDonald. It has a rather intimate air, a place people go because they know where they want to be. Or are looking for something in particular. Some things don't change.

[i_am_your_host]

The little cafes, restaurants, pubs, and boutiques that line the street are not that far a cry from Emcee's time.

"Oh, look, is that a sex shop?" he chirps almost cheerfully.

The storefront window is lit with pink neon lights as faceless male and female mannequins model a variety of leather and lacy things.

[runningred]

"Yep!" Jay nods, "That's exactly what it is. Wanna have a look?" He asks with a teasing smile. "Pick out something fun to wear clubbing tonight."

[i_am_your_host]

He snorts a chuckle. "It's all just so blatantly out there, isn't it? In my time these things were relegated to back rooms and basements. But yes, let's have a look-- although I think I've seen a lot of this stuff adorning the patrons of Herr Northman's Fangtasia."

He opens the door and his eardrums are assailed by thumping house music.

"Oh, yes. That sounds familiar."

[runningred]

"Rainbows on every corner." Jay chuckles. "Sex shops in the high street. Welcome to the new Berlin."

He follows Emcee inside, shaking his head. "I've only been to Fangtasia twice. It was... interesting. Not exactly my crowd but interesting." He runs his hands over a rather nice set of leather jeans.

[i_am_your_host]

The new Berlin. It's...a slightly jarring phrase, jarring in its truth. Emcee with have to find a way to cope with it.

In the meantime, he's trying to cope with a display shelf full of dildos.

He picks up a large one made of blue silicone and finds a switch--

"Oh my god, this one rotates."

[runningred]

"I think the phrase is sit and spin." Jay grins dangerously.

He rests a gentle hand on his lower back, rubbing gently. He knows this is hard on Emcee and he doesn't want to rush anything.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee snorts a laugh. Turning the thing off, he places it back on the shelf. And immediately picks out another colorful, buzzing and humming devices to play with.

"So, you went to Fangtasia, too?" he says as a plastic green vibrator rattles away in his hand. "I don't know if it was my type of crowd either, but I had a lot of fun. Eric took me during Cubefall while I was temporarily a woman."

Oh, hey, spiked collars and leather leashes.

He maybe wanting to distract himself from more serious things.

[runningred]

"Hmm." He nods. "I was working on Eric and Pam's security. Both installing and upgrading. Second time I ended up behind the bar. I've worked at clubs on and off over the years. It was far easier than trying to blend in with the crowd there."

"But I'm guessing you as a woman would have been desperately popular!"

[i_am_your_host]

"I suppose," he chuckles as he continues to browse. "I was Eric's arm candy for the night, so he kept everyone's hands off of me, namely the other vampires. He's hot when he's possessive. --Oh, pink fuzzy handcuffs, that's adorable."

[runningred]

"I wasn't quite as attention worthy but I did have a hell of a lot of fun making his groupies drool with the merest suggestion that I knew how hot he gets. Didn't take much more than a raised eyebrow and some well placed implications to get their imaginations fired up." And Jay might have loved every second of it.

[i_am_your_host]

They were indeed an eager bunch, those fangbangers," he agrees with a laugh.

He comes across a selection of fingerless fishnet gloves. "Ooh, I've always rather wanted a pair of these for some reason."

[runningred]

"Cute." Jay comments, smiling at him as he comes over to wrap an arm around Emcee's waist. "And they won't look out of place with any of your outfits."

He reaches around Emcee to finger a pair of butter-smooth black leather driving gloves.

A tall, dark haired girl comes in, rattling off an order of costumes in fluid if slightly accented German. She leans on the counter, scanning the room as she waits for her order to be boxed. She catches Emcee's eye and smiles. It's a sweetly devilish smile. The sort that can only lead to mischief.

[i_am_your_host]

"True. I think I'd wear them with the leather kilt," he says, looking up at him and batting his eyelashes. "If you buy me a pair I'll pay you back."

Mosy likely with...services, rather than money.

As he continues to browse, he of course notices the young woman who comes in. He overhears some of her order of costumes and wonders why she would need them, but then the smile she gives him might explain it. Returning the smile, he casually browses closer.

"Planning a party?" he asks her, his own Berliner accent prominent.

[runningred]

"Now, how can I turn down an offer like that." Jay chuckles.

She grins back warmly. "Darling, it's Christopher Street Day." She struts over to Emcee on stiletto heels longer than most men's dicks. "Everyone's planning a party." She reached out to run her fingers over the gloves Emcee's holding. "But all the best parties are by invitation only."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee glances down at her shoes (because those shoes absolutely must receive appreciation) then looks back up at her face, head cocked with a crooked smile.

"And who do I have to know to get an invitation?"

[runningred]

"Well me." She grins predatorily, pressing two fingers to the underside of his chin to make him look up. "Obviously." She steps into his personal space, right up close. "Bring that boy toy of yours and I might just invite you to our little get together."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee is certainly not against hot strangers getting into his personal space.

"Oh, that won't be a problem. He comes with me all the time."

There was a kommen pun in there of course.

[runningred]

Jay tries not to snigger. His German isn't perfect but he gets the joke as much from Emcee's tone.

The young lady, on the other hand, makes a hungry sound in the back of her throat. She offers Emcee her hand. "I'm Alice. And I very much hope you two aren't exclusive."

[i_am_your_host]

He takes her hand, and as is his idiosyncratic flair, he brings it to his lips for a quick, light kiss as he holds her gaze.

"Delighted to meet you, Alice. Call me Emcee; this is Jay. And you have nothing to worry about in that regard -- both of us like to share and share alike."

[runningred]

"Emcee." She purrs, turning her hand to dragging a painted nail over his lower lip.

She runs a hand over Emcee's waist, slipping something into the waistband of his pants. "Tonight. Midnight. Bring him, or lose him. Either way, I want you there."

[i_am_your_host]

His lips twist in a smirk.

"Then you shall have us."

And everything that it implies.

[runningred]

She hums a hungry tone and turns to collect her costumes. "I'll see you tonight."

Jay comes over, chuckling as they both watch her walk away on those incredible heels and very tight skirt. "You never fail to make friends, do you?"