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]

"Not something you'd see on the open market. Stuff's called Nomex." The bracers feel like cloth but move with the stiffness of leather. "It's designed to be fire-proof. The jeans are made of the same stuff but blended with a different fibre to make them comfortable."

Up close, the jean have bands of stiffer fabric over the hips and down between the upper thighs, a slightly darker V that draws the eye. And more importantly, protect the arteries. "The vanbraces are treated to make them slash proof."

[i_am_your_host]

He can't help running his fingers over his hips, noticing the different fabrics.

"It's fashionable armor," he murmurs, awed and impressed. And also a little turned on. "Forget boytoy, you could be my bodyguard."

[runningred]

Jay shivers, a little turned on himself. It's hard not to be with Emcee touching him like that. "If you wanted bodyguard, I could have gone with the Armani suit and the shoulder holster."

[i_am_your_host]

The name Armani itself doesn't mean anything to Emcee, but it still has the weight of the likes of Chanel or Gucci.

"Perhaps next time," he says, his eyes a little wide, as he sweeps his fingertips along his waistband, making sure to touch skin as well. "You might actually make me melt."

[runningred]

Jay tucks his hands behind his head, flexing his shoulder in a classic bodybuilder's pose. Scars and muscles stand out on the kitchen's lights. The shirt rides up, the line of the jeans accentuating the slope of his flat stomach. "Well, all those blonde, beautiful guys who'll be there tonight. Gotta do something to impress you."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee would become the Tex Avery cartoon wolf if he knew what that was, but as it is he'll keep his eyes and his tongue inside his head.

He laughs and leans against him, unabashedly slipping his hands just under his shirt to feel him up.

"You have nothing to worry about, darling. I came with you and I'm leaving with you."

[runningred]

Jay tilts his head back and groans, unabashedly enjoying the feeling.

"You don't have to, you know?" He tries to sound serious but the breathlessness gets in the way. "If you find someone you want tonight, you're more than welcome to bring them back here. It's your-" he cuts himself off before pointing out it's Emcee's house.

He laughs and rests his hands on Emcee's hips, pulling him close. "But just so you know - I will beg you to bend me over something and fuck me."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee just smiles up at him and winds his arms around his middle.

"I would do that right now if we didn't have somewhere else to be," he purrs, pecking him on the lips.

"And who's to say that someone else won't find you just as tasty? Let's not think too hard on these things. Whatever happens will happen."

[runningred]

Jay draws him into a kiss. Deep and direct and not without a level of lust to it.

He draws back enough to smile. "Finish your pizza and I'll put some finishing touches on this outfit."

[i_am_your_host]

Whatever distractions the night may provide, Emcee is sure that he and Jay will wind up with each other anyway. The kiss makes it so.

He slips out of his arms and pats him on the chest.

"You do that. And I have to put some makeup on as well."

[runningred]

However the night fall, Jay just needs Emcee to know he's free to do as he wants. He doesn't want Emcee to feel indebted to him for anything.

Jay grins and slips out of his arms and back into the guest room. When he emerges, it's with a little bit of make up of his own - subtle but effective. A little eyeliner to darken his eyes and a bit of shaping to his lips. A touch of concealer to soften the lines of his more prominent bullet scars.

Also a boot knife no-one would ever know what there.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee finishes his food, drains his glass of gin, and mashes his cigarette stub out in an ashtray. He then digs into an inner pocket in his coat for a tube of lipstick and an eyeliner pencil, which he happens to carry with him in case of emergencies, and heads off into the main bathroom.

His technique is anything but subtle, but it suits him, especially for a party. Eyes lined bold and black with smoky shading, and scarlet lips in a perfect Cupid's bow (which may very well end up less than perfect before the night is through).

When he comes out and sees Jay, he notices the differences right away.

"Hot damn, darling," he chirps delightedly, "I should put you in eyeliner more often."

[runningred]

Jay grins and tousles his own hair into a more artful mess, making the white steak even more prominent. "Yeah, but I can't rock lipstick nearly as well as you can."

He kisses Emcee's cheek and offer him his arm, leather jacket slung over his shoulder. "Ready?"

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee laces up his boots halfway (the way he wears them might be considered pretty punk rock for his time) and slips on his leather coat-- then remembers the mesh gloves. Taking them out of his pocket, he pulls them on, and slips a hand into the crook of Jay's arm. He reaches up and tugs a few white strands of hair over Jay's forehead just so, and smiles.

"Ready."

[runningred]

The club is an easy walk away, Jay intentionally taking a slightly longer route so it’s not quite so obvious where they are.

The club’s signage is simple – the word WONDERLAND in large, Art Deco lettering over a non-descript door, watched over by a solidly built blonde man with a rather sweetly young face. “Invitation only tonight, gentleman.” He stops them gently with a large hand, almost apologetically.

[i_am_your_host]

Walking around in any city at midnight is its own special sort of (deranged) thrill, and it makes Emcee cling to Jay's arm with giddiness.

However, he does pick up on the fact that they had barely gone very far when they arrive at the club door. Also, the bouncer throws him off. Nice move.

Emcee plucks the invitation out of his pocket, presenting it to him with a smile.

"It's a pity you're working the door and not enjoying the party inside."

[runningred]

The bouncer gives Emcee a shy little smile. “Oh, I’ll get to swap out in a little bit. But it is nice to meet people as they come in. Especially new guests.”

He steps back to hold the door open for them. “Welcome to Wonderland.”

The open door brings a rush of warm air and the scent of spice and alcohol. A hallway of dark wood and art deco mirrors leads them to a cloak room with a cute petite woman in a playboyeque white rabbit outfit already being chatted up by another girl in a black leather corset, a riding crop loose in her hand. Both of them eye Emcee and Jay with open appreciation as they drop off their coats.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee grins up at the bouncer as he opens the door for them.

"Then perhaps we'll meet up later," he says as they pass. Yes, he works quickly.

And still quicker when they reach the cloak room.

"Nice tail, darling," he tells the bunny with a flirtatious wink, before eying the other woman's riding crop with a suggestive smirk.

It's as if he's already right at home here.

[runningred]

The bunny girl giggles and wiggles, showing off her pert ass. “What thank you!”

They step around a corner into the club proper. They seem to enter at the back of the club, facing towards the stage and its extended runway, a dance floor either side. Tables cluster in the shadow of the mezzanine, draped richly for the occasion. Everything had an original, dark wood feel to it – either maintained or lovingly restored with the bar against the far wall glittering with the sharp angles of gold art deco mirrors. Full of people but not crowdedly so.

Alice is behind the bar, now dressed in a blonde wig and a blue pinafore, sinfully short with long white stockings, garters just showing and another pair of killer heels as she steps out greet them. The sort of Alice in Wonderland adult fantasy. “Gentleman, welcome.” She holds her hand out for Emcee to kiss. “First drink is on the house, the rest are on you. House rules are simple – good manners and no mess. Nothing that would require my brother to remove you.” She brushes white tipped nails over Emcee’s cheek, pale lips pouting warmly.

[i_am_your_host]

It is an incredible venue, and Emcee is visibly awed by it, impressed by the decor and turning every which way to take everything in. Mostly he likes the size of the stage. It looks like it has a purpose.

When Alice comes over, Emcee realizes what she needed all those costumes for. With an admiring grin, he takes her hand, holding it at arm's length for a moment just to fully appreciate her outfit, and then gallantly kisses it.

"My lady, I assure you that our behavior won't require any disciplinary action -- unless you insist upon it," he says, tilting his chin up at the stroke of her nails.

"Will you introduce us to your brother?"

[runningred]

“Oh, you already met him. At the door.” She grins and leans in close, lips brushing his ear. “Beware the Jabberwock, my son. The jaws that bite, the claws that catch.”

Jay snorts softly from behind them. Alice glowers at him with the sort of look that implies a riding crop may follow. “You’ll keep.” It’s almost a threat.

She looks up, her expression relaxing into a smile as the DJ fades out the music. “Ah, what excellent timing. Find a seat, gentleman, the show’s about to start. I’ll have your drinks brought to you and we’ll talk later.”

[i_am_your_host]

"Ooh, that was him?"

Emcee wouldn't mind being manhandled by him. Or her, for that matter, when she murmurs in his ear.

He catches the exchange between Alice and Jay and almost snorts a laugh himself, but thinks better of it. Jay will see the amusement in his eyes, though.

When Alice leaves them to find seats, Emcee grasps Jay's arm.

"Well, this is exciting, isn't it?" he says gleefully, as they take seats at a table up front.

[runningred]

The DJ, dressed in a green puffer jacket and antennas, looks the part of the Caterpillar, a dry ice hookah rigged with shifting coloured lights set on one corner of the decks. “Ladies and Gentlemen, to open our Pride celebrations, we have a treat for you tonight.” As he speaks, only half looking at the crowd as he fiddles with the decks, a band assembles on the other end of the stage. “Supported by the Queens of Heart, our house band, give it up for the most fabulous Cheshire, Miss Kitty Kat.”

A drag queen in a plunging Jessica Rabbit dress, tiger striped purple and blue steps into the stage, bowing with a flourish. She makes her way slowly down the runway, catching every eye as the DJ sets up an old fashioned microphone on a stand. “My darlings. Happy Christopher Street Day.”

Echoes of the greeting call back to her, along with wolf whistles and cat calls. All of which Miss Kitty seems to take as her due. She has that presence that Emcee has, the ability to make everyone in the room feel welcomed.

Jay nudging Emcee with a flash of a smile as a handsome youth in a pageboy’s wig and a playing card vest bring them their drinks. Champagne cocktails with dry ice stirrers that smoke and hiss, sending a fog over the rims of the glasses and onto the polished table tops.

“Tonight is a night for all of us.” Miss Kitty goes on, coming back to run a hand up the mic stand in a way that would make even the straightest of men shiver. “For joy, for love, for acceptance and for remembrance. And how better to honour the past than by living the present for all we’re worth. So dance tonight, my lovelies. Sing. Love and be yourselves.”

The band starts up, a stirring rendition of Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit

[i_am_your_host]

It is a rare event in which Emcee is part of an audience, where he gets to relax and enjoy without bothering about cues or being on all evening. So it's with great appreciation as he watches the show unfold. There's even a familiarity to it, in the way Miss Kitty presents herself, how she addresses the crowd. And it strikes him that this is all he really wanted -- just to make people feel welcome. Somewhere. Anywhere. Her message is simple enough. Why can't it be like that all the time?

Emcee glances up at the waiter with a smile, which turns into a silent gasp at the magical concoctions that he brings them. He has no idea what to do with his drink, so he waits until the band starts playing before giggling into Jay's ear.

"I don't know whether to drink this or inhale it."

[runningred]

"Oh drink." Jay chuckles, leaning in to nuzzle Emcee's ear. "Just don't play with the bulb on the end of the stirrer till it stop smoking. It'll burn your fingers." He warns softly.

Miss Kitty has a sexy Shirley Bassey voice and makes the most of it, moving from White Rabbit to Diamonds are Forever smooth as polished silver. The way she handles the microphone is certainly attracting Jay's attention

At the end of another song, Miss Kitty takes a bow, "My darlings, it's my turn for a drink so I hand you over to the Queens of Hearts for something we can all dance to.

The band strike up a playfully tune, bot quite a polka but not unlike one.

The stage fills with young men and women, Alice included, inviting people to come up and dance or finding partners on the floor. Alice eyes Emcee, crooking a finger at him in a very distinct come hither.

Jay smiles and gives Emcee a gentle nudge. "Go, enjoy yourself."