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 is content to be the object of his attention. He can still feel other people's gazes on him, on them, but Jay creates a little insular bubble within his arms and with his smile just for him.

And Emcee realizes how much of what Jay has done was just for him. God, what a silly boy he is. Silly, silly, silly.

It actually makes Emcee love him for that.

He tips his chin up and presses a light kiss to Jay's lips.

[runningred]

Jay smiles into the kiss, his hands moving down to cup Emcee's hips. He feels so perfectly happy in that moment, just enjoying the dance.

But the music, like all good things, comes to an end. Jay leans back just enough to offer Emcee a deeper kiss.

In the background, the band announces they'll be taking a short break and will be accepting apprehension in the form of abject adoration and requests in the form of alcoholic bribery.

The DJ gets set up again, keying the music up just loud enough to enjoy but not so loud as to dissuade conversation. Servers weave their way through the crowds with platters of hors d'oeuvre and nibbles, all very, very good. The bouncer from the door lingers near the kitchen door, watching the trays go out with proprietary pride.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee cups the back of Jay's head as they deepen the kiss, lost for just a moment amid all the noises and activity around them. It's quite nice.

And the party is quite nice, too. Emcee manages to stop every server that comes by to try one of whatever's on their tray. He also manages to effortlessly flirt with them in the process, but really, that's to be expected.

Emcee takes Jay's hand. "Come on, darling, I need another drink," he says, tugging him through the crowd toward the bar. As they approach, Emcee spots the bouncer by the kitchen door, and he breaks into a grin.

"Yoo-hoo, Alice's brother!" he sings out over the music, waving at him.

[runningred]

The bunny girl with the nearest tray giggles warmly at Emcee's flirtation.

Jay follows him happily, keen for another drink himself.

The bouncer gives them a wave, stepping away from the door to greet them. "Jared." He introduces himself. "How are the blue cheese and pear balls?"

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee blinks at Jared for a moment.

"Oh! You mean the hors d'oeuvres. I did have something ball-shaped, and it was rather delicious!" he replies with a smirk. "Actually, everything was delicious. I couldn't keep my fingers off of them.

"Anyway, delighted to meet you, Jared. This is Jay; call me Emcee."

[runningred]

Jared chuckles and smiles, that sweetly young face flushing a little. "Yes, hors d'oeuvres. I'd offer you one of my bell pepper tarts but the pun would just be too easy."

He offers each of them his hand in turn; large hands strong and warm. "Jay, Emcee, a pleasure to meet you."

[i_am_your_host]

"I'd like to try it! One cannot subsist on puns alone."

After shaking his hand, perhaps holding it a little longer than necessary, he asks, "Are you still working the door tonight? I was hoping you would let in a bartender from the Cat and Mouse-- a bearded fellow, about so tall. He was very kind and helpful to me and mentioned that he wanted to get into Wonderland, but I don't think he had an invitation. I told him I would try to get him in."

There may be a bit of a pleading note in his voice and some eyelash batting.

[runningred]

Jared glances to Jay who nods. It's a tiny flicker of a look between them, a fraction of moment's expression. "I know him, most of the clubs workers in the area know each other. I'll ask Bella to look out for him."

He waves down one of the pageboys with his tray of bell pepper and tomato tarts. "Here, please? I always like to know my cooking is appreciated."

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh, that's marvelous of you, darling, thank you," he chirps.

"And you cook, too? Ooh, I like a man who knows his way around a kitchen and can also forcibly eject someone from the premises."

He picks out two tarts, one for himself and one for Jay. He bites into his, and immediately voices his approval with a little moan of delight.

[runningred]

Jay takes it with smile, "I'll go get us those drinks." Intentionally leaving Emcee to his flirting. "Thanks, Jared."

Jared laughs softly, blushing again. "The kitchen is my domain. I'm studying as a chef. Alice kicks me out of the kitchen from time to time, so I don't spent all my time in there."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee glances at Jay as he leaves for the bar, then turns back to Jared, munching on the rest of the tart.

"Well, all cooking and no play makes Jared a dull boy, and we can't have that," he says, poking the man in the arm. It's a very nice, solid arm.

"But it is good of you to pursue your interests. I hope that works out for you. I think it will, judging by the delicious treats you've created."

[runningred]

"No wonder Alice picked you for the first dance. You scold like her." Jared teases playfully. "But I'd be happy to keep running the kitchens here, even after I qualify. No reason we can't run the club as a restaurant as well. it'd bring in more people in the lunch hour."

[i_am_your_host]

"I do not scold like her!" he giggles. "For one thing, nobody ever takes me seriously when I scold."

That's not entirely true, but he rarely ever does so anyway.

"And that's a wonderful idea. People like to drink and dance, but they like to eat, too."

[runningred]

Jared laughs warmly. "Clearly you need to get to know my sister better." He smiles shyly again. "And I think she'd like to get to know you better too."

[i_am_your_host]

"Mmm, likewise," he says with a warm grin. "The night has just begun, darling. By closing time I suspect that I will have made the acquaintance of many."

[runningred]

Jared smiles and takes Emcee's hand, kissing it softly. "I hope so." He flushes again. "But I'm keeping you from your date, I'm sorry."

[i_am_your_host]

Sweet.

"Such is the life of a social butterfly," he says with a little smirk. "I'll see you around, darling."

As he makes his way toward the bar to find Jay, he can't help being distracted by someone's unusual hair color or their fascinating outfit and telling them a compliment or two.

[runningred]

Jay's leaning against the bar, chatting with Miss Kitty, turning to offer Emcee a glass of very good gin.

Kitty grins and greets Emcee, "Well hello, beautiful. Your charming toyboy was just telling me you're quite the entertainer. You were magnificent on stage with our darling Alice. Will you dance with me later?"

[i_am_your_host]

"Well, hallo yourself, gorgeous," Emcee chirps back as if they were old friends, before taking the glass of gin with a kiss to Jay's cheek.

"Thank you, I would be absolutely delighted to dance with you, Miss Kitty. But what has he been telling you about me, I wonder?" he then says with a playful nudge to Jay's side. "I assure you that rumors of my entertaining prowess have been greatly exaggerated. And that's just the way I like it."

He smirks.

[runningred]

Just the way Miss Kitty likes it. After all, all her guests are friends. As they should be.

"Oh, only the very best things! I can see why you keep him." She grins to Emcee, running a finger over Jay's bared shoulder. "Well, that and the rest of him. Do you tango or would you prefer something else?"

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh, yes, he's very handy to have around."

Emcee hangs on Jay's arm and affectionately leans against him.

"Tango? I can improvise. Jay is the one who knows how. He tried to teach me once, but as an instructor he was very, very distracting and our lesson swiftly led to other things." He squeezes Jay's arm.

[runningred]

Miss Kitty looks Jay up and down. "Yes, I can see how that might be a problem. Big handsome lad like you." She touches the tip of her fan to the underside of Jay's chin. "Perhaps I should invite him to tango and pull you back on stage for something else? We do love having our friends join us. Makes the show so much more exciting."

Jay's eyes glitter, lifting his chin to the touch, his arms around Emcee's waist. "I'm willing if you are."

[i_am_your_host]

"Do it, darling," he encourages Jay with a grin. "I want to see you dance."

With a sip of gin he turns to Miss Kitty. "And I certainly am a firm believer in audience participation, so pull me up for anything you like, my dear, I know I'll enjoy it."

[runningred]

"Then I'd be glad to." Jay grins, turning to kiss Emcee's cheek.

Kitty purrs deeply, her lips curling in a grin as she looks Emcee up and down. "Which begs the question, darling, what do you like to do? Tonight's show we have have plenty of room to be...flexible."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee smiles and coyly shrugs a shoulder.

"Oh, you know, I like to do a lot of things. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Dancing and singing and whatnot. I must admit I'm not up to speed on today's popular songs, but I do love the classics. Does the band know any Queen?"

Queen is classic, right?

Emcee may be adapting better than one may expect.