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 just smirks at him, and takes a sip of gin to cleanse his palate.

He slips off his stool, glass in hand.

"If you don't mind, I think I'm just going to wander around for a bit."

[runningred]

Jay smiles and brushes his hand over Emcee's sleeve. "It's your house, darling. I'll be on the balcony when you want me."

He grabs a couple of smokes and heads outside.

[i_am_your_host]

It's your house

Emcee turns warm at that, and at his touch, and he smiles in return before Jay heads out onto the balcony.

He lingers for a bit, sipping his drink and casting his gaze around the spacious lounge. And then, just to make it look a little more lived-in, he drapes his coat over a chair and kicks off his boots.

So there.

The bare floor is cool under his feet. He pads around, peering at the complicated-looking stereo system and the big, blank, flat screen that resembles the one above the bar in Milliways.

He opens the huge, shiny icebox. No, refrigerator. There's beer and Coca-Cola but not much else that's perishable, but the freezer is stocked with meals that will cook themselves in the microwave. He thinks this is amazing.

He then wanders into the room with the piano and the bar. It's so surreal, to think that this would be his. It's like something out of a Hollywood film. He runs his fingertips along the edge of the shiny, art deco style countertop. And then over the closed lid of the baby grand. He lifts it carefully. The keys are so perfect and pristine that he can't bear to touch them.

But he does. Just the middle C. It makes a beautiful sound.

He shuts the lid and perches on the edge of the bench, facing the room. He's trying to imagine it filled with people. With friends. Drinking, laughing, singing. But his friends are not here.

The guest rooms make him seriously think about who he can save. Who might believe him and come with him.

Then, the master bedroom. His lips twitch in spite of himself when he thinks the bed isn't big enough.

He opens the doors to the balcony. Again, very surreal, the stuff of movies. He steps out and softly closes the doors behind him, and pads over to where Jay is.

"I think I need another cigarette," he sighs.

[runningred]

Jay's leaning on the rail, looking out over the city.

He lights a fresh cigarette and offers it to Emcee without looking around.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee takes the cigarette with a soft thank you before taking a drag. He leans on the rail as well, sliding over to press against Jay's side.

[runningred]

Jay reaches out and rests an arm around Emcee's waist. "You okay?"

[i_am_your_host]

He leans against him, tipping his head to rest lightly on his shoulder.

"Yes," he eventually replies.

"It's like a dream. As if I'm walking through someone else's reality."

[runningred]

"Make it yours." He gives Emcee a little nudge. "Decorate it however you like. Fill it full of music and parties."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee nods, exhaling smoke.

"I'm thinking about it."

He smiles a little crookedly.

"Mostly thinking of getting a bigger bed," he murmurs.

[runningred]

Jay laughs warmly and puts out his smoke. "How many people are you planning to fit in that thing?"

[i_am_your_host]

"Lets just say that I don't want to limit myself," he says with a smirk.

He takes a drag and gazes out over the city.

"I think I'll stay out here until it gets dark. I want to see the lights turn on."

[runningred]

"Always wise to keep your options open." Jay grins.

He nods at that. "Do you want company?" Jay knows Emcee needs time to deal with all this.

[i_am_your_host]

He's quiet for a moment, before he turns and curls a hand around Jay's arm.

"I'd like that," he says, gently tugging him toward the sofa.

[runningred]

Jay nods and sprawls out, comfortable as a cat and pulls Emcee to lean against him. He settles back, happy just to sit and watch the sky darken than the city light up.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee puts his cigarette out in an ashtray and settles down on the couch beside him, curling up and tucking his bare feet up, and resting his head on his shoulder. He's definitely more comfortable now than he had been.

There's an Afghan throw on the back of the couch, and he pulls it over to cover them as evening falls and the air grows cooler. But Jay is nice and warm. He might even become drowsy at some point. The lit-up skyline, though, with its old and new shapes, still captures his attention and imagination.

[runningred]

Jay sits, happy to be a human pillow and hot water bottle. He strokes Emcee's arm, rhythmic and gentle.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee does nod off for a short while, lulled by Jay's touch and his warmth. Plus the sofa is really comfortable and it's been a long day.

When he opens his eyes next the sky is completely dark and the sound of traffic hits his ears, and he picks his head up. Somehow nighttime traffic sounds different than daytime traffic. But it sounds familiar anyway.

"Oh, I fell asleep on you," he murmurs, stretching a little.

[runningred]

"That's okay. I'm good being your pillow." He chuckles, kissing the top of Emcee's head. "And it's not look your drooled on me or anything."

[i_am_your_host]

He snorts a chuckle.

"I never drool! I'm far too pretty to drool. I...secrete moisture. --Actually, no, that sounds worse."

With a yawn and a stretch, he then presses in even closer against Jay's side, sliding an arm around his middle.

"The city is beautiful, though," he sighs.

[runningred]

Jay snorts a laugh. "Nope, give up on that one. There's no good in that sentence."

Jay shifts to accommodation him, enjoying this easy intimacy. "Very beautiful." But it's Emcee he's looking at.

[i_am_your_host]

He giggles brightly at that, pressing his cheek against Jay's shoulder.

And then he feels his eyes on him. Because he can always feel it when eyes are on him.

He shifts his head to look up at Jay. A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. Reaching up to cup his cheek, he gently pulls him in for a kiss.

[runningred]

Jay leans into the kiss, lingering over it slow and lovingly. The kiss of someone who's content to spend a lazy afternoon being a boyfriend pillow.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee slowly deepens the kiss with tenderness and affection, as his hand slides down Jay's front to rest on his chest. Warm with a beating heart.

After a some time (because making out with Jay is always an indulgent pleasure), he breaks the kiss. With dark eyes glittering in the city lights, he regards him with an impish yet seductive look.

"Do you want to try out the party shower?"

He means the one in the larger, main bathroom of course. The party bathroom.

[runningred]

Jay makes the most of the kiss, brushing a gentle hand over Emcee's shoulder. He massages the back of Emcee's neck, indulgently tactile.

The suggestion makes him chuckle. "I think that's a brilliant idea. Lets do it."

{ooc: sorry darling, my day went particularly pear-shaped.}

[i_am_your_host]

He grins, and deliberately shifts so that he briefly straddles him, before getting to his feet. And he takes his hand and leads him through the lounge and to the bathroom.

It really is a grand setting unto itself, with shiny, clean lines and lots of space, marble tiles and chrome fixtures. The cabinet is stocked with large, fluffy towels and all manner of toiletries. And the tub, which Emcee had only glanced at the first time, is round and has what appears to be built-in seats and little holes all around. He's never seen a hot tub before.

"What kind of bathtub is this?" he asks with casual curiosity as he starts to undress.