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

[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.

[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."