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 smiles warmly, a supportive arm around Emcee's waist.

The barman smiles and shrugs. "I'm glad someone appreciates them. Look, I gotta get back to work but... if you guys are still around, maybe I'll see you at one of the parties? Some of us are hoping to get into Wonderland tonight."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee gently slips the photo back in almost the others and puts the lid back on the box.

"Wonderland?" he says. It takes a second before he realizes why it sounds familiar, and he pulls the invitation from Alice out of his pocket. Wonderland, reads the address.

"Oh, luckily we've managed to get a pass. Perhaps I can get you in. It's the least I can do for you for giving me this." He pats the box.

[runningred]

The barman grins. "I'd like that. Thanks." He slips past them towards the door, someone calling inside for him to hurry up. "Hopefully I'll see you there."

[i_am_your_host]

"You will," Emcee says as he raises a hand in a wave.

When the barman is gone, Emcee lets out a long breath and sinks back against the wall.

This whole sequence of events had been more emotionally taxing than he expected.

[runningred]

Jay leans over him, a hand resting on the brick either side of Emcee's shoulders. From the outside it might look quite threatening but Jay's instinctively moved to block everything else out, to create a private, protected space for Emcee.

[i_am_your_host]

And Emcee appreciates it. A lot.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he exhales another sigh that's a bit shaky.

"I'm sorry, I just need a little time to process things. It's not exactly easy to see everything that's a part of your life condensed into one shoe box."

[runningred]

"Nothing to be sorry for." Jay promises, brushing the back of his fingers over Emcee's cheek.

"Look, I've got us a place to crash not too far away. If you want to slow down for a little bit?"

[i_am_your_host]

"You do?" he says, raising his eyes with a grateful look. "Yes, please, let's. Thank you. I'll be all right to go on tonight, but yes, slowing down sounds like an excellent idea right about now."

He stands up a little straighter, his back still against the wall. Touching Jay's cheek, he gives him a light kiss on the lips.

[runningred]

Jay nods, returning the kiss just as softly.

He steps into the street, flagging down a cab. The place isn't far away but Emcee looks like he could do with being out of the street sooner rather than later.

He puts an arm around Emcee in the cab after giving the address, pulling him close.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee tucks the precious shoe box under his arm and follows Jay to the street.

After settling down in the backseat of the cab, he leans his head against Jay's shoulder. Letting his mind go blank, feeling numb.

It's overwhelming. But he keeps telling himself that all of this is important.

[runningred]

Jay doesn't talk on the way there. He just holds Emcee close, stroking his arm softly.

They pull up outside the back of an art deco building, Jay fishes a swipecard out of his wallet and opens a nondescript door. It leads into a hallway and an elevator. Jay swipes again to summon the elevator, holding Emcee against him.

The hallway is clean but welcoming, decorated with 20s and 30s movie posters.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee figures that this is one of Jay's residences for when he does...business abroad.

The posters surprise him, though. It's a very specific kind of decor. The ones of Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks and Greta Garbo make him smile as they pass them.

With a sigh, he leans against Jay as they wait for the elevator.

[runningred]

Jay holds him, pressing a soft kiss to Emcee's hair as they wait for the elevator.

"Come on." He gently pulls Emcee into the lift and up.

The penthouse is understandingly comfortable but with a fantastic view from a broad balcony. Jay gently takes the box and draws Emcee out to the deep couches on the balcony.

[i_am_your_host]

The lift carries them all the way to the top floor, which again surprises him. A penthouse suite is the ultimate in luxury. And when he enters, he can't help a chuckle as he casts his gaze over the well-furnished interior.

"This place is amazing..."

He gives Jay the box for safe keeping and steps out onto the balcony. The view simply takes his breath away.

"I've never seen the city from this kind of vantage point before," he says, awed, as he sits down a bit stiffly on one of the couches. It's a nice couch. Too nice for him to be completely comfortable on.

[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.