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 kisses the slope of his neck, resting his chin on Emcee’s shoulder to watch. “Reminds me of that pretty blonde back home.” He mutters softly. Back home meaning the Bar without realising.

The fans close in as the last of the clothing drops away, covering the dancer with a moan that echoes both masculine and feminine. The lights dim and the dancers clear the stage for the next act.

Miss Kitty comes back out, greeting everyone with her usual aplomb and winds the crowds up for another round of applauses. “Isn’t our Vic divine, ladies and gentlemen? Next up is our very own master chef and one half of our glorious management with a song of his own choosing, followed by some audience participation. Hold on to your hats, darlings!”

As Jared comes on, shy but sweet to sing a rather soulful version of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, the band matching him perfectly, Kitty searches the crowd for them.

“I think that’s our cue.” Jay grins and holds the screen back for Emcee.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee tilts his head toward Jay's, smiling and nodding faintly in agreement. He hardly realizes the word home either, it just seems natural to hear it used that way.

Vic's performance ends splendidly, and Emcee applauds and cheers. He's then rather surprised to see Jared come onstage afterward, and for a moment he's fascinated by the man's singing and the choice of song.

But soon enough he turns to put out his cigarette. Looking to the ladies, he gives them a dimpled smile and a little wiggle of his fingers.

"It was a pleasure talking to you, my dears. I hope to see you around."

He slips past the screen and makes his way across the balcony toward the stairs.

[runningred]

Miss Kitty joins them by the bar, beaming, her voice soft to they do disturb Jared. “Still up for a tango, darling?” She asks Jay, beaming wider when he nods.

“And you, lovely?” She addresses Emcee, “Have you picked a song?”

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee is also eager to see Jay dance onstage. He just seems to get a kick out of seeing others in the spotlight.

"I was thinking of 'Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy,' if the band knows it?" he asks hopefully.

It happened to be one of those songs that stood out for him while listening to the device he borrowed from the Bar. Something thoroughly modern, but with a throwback feeling to Emcee's own time and vaudevillian roots. He thinks Queen was remarkably versatile that way.

[runningred]

Kitty downright purrs. "Oh perfect, darling. Just perfect! Let me let them know." She turns to the band and flashes a message in sign language. The bass player spots her and grins, nodding back with a grin.

Jared's song comes to an end and he takes a bow, blushing softly and is greeted with hugs and appreciation as he comes down to the bar.

Kitty heads up without breaking flow and introduces Jay. "Ladies and gentlemen, now we have a treat for me. Finally a man who can tango." She gestures to Jay who squeezes Emcee's hand and follows her up.

Jay bows when presented.

"Isn't he a stud, darlings. I'd raffle him off as the door prizes if I didn't want him all to myself." She flattens herself against Jay who plays along happily by striking a body builder's poise, showing off his arms.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee sees the exchange, thinking that it's a wonderful and clever way to communicate.

When Jared finishes his song, Emcee applauds, meeting him with a bright grin and patting his arm. "I didn't know you sang as well," he gushes. "I wonder what else you can do..."

But now it's Jay's turn onstage, and he squeezes his hand back in a good luck gesture. After quickly ordering another gin (putting it on Jay's tab), he perches on a barstool to watch. He's already thinking What a ham, giggling with delight.

[runningred]

Jaded smile softly. "I sound much better in the kitchen but I lost a bet to the band."

Jay is a ham and is more than happy to play it up to Miss Kitty's teasing - playing tall, dark and silent as Kitty teases him.

The band strikes up the first notes and Jay bows deeply to Kitty.

The tango has been described as sex on a sprung floor and Jay does his best to uphold that as he takes Kitty's waist and dips her slowly, her hands running up his chest in a slow, sensual curl.

The routine is a common one and Kitty and Jay move like partners who have danced forever.

Out onto the catwalk, Jay's boots flash along the edge, poised and balanced. He drops to his knees at the end of the catwalk, hands moving worshipfully over her curves. She makes a show of spurning him and he bounces to his feet to give chase. The dance growing more and more heated.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee regards Jared with an amused but sympathetic smile. "Well, if it's any consolation, I think everybody in the room won because of your so-called loss," he says. "You sounded quite lovely."

He sips his drink with relish as he watches Jay and Miss Kitty, entranced and impressed by the way they move together. Both are captivating to watch, and Emcee finds himself biting his lower lip in a leer.

[runningred]

Jared mutters a shy thank you and slips behind the bar to help Alice.

Jay and Kitty move into a big finish as the music builds. More than a few people are leering along with Emcee by this stage.

Emcee with know Jay well enough to see the grin at the corner of his serious features as Kitty whispers something in his ear as they near crescendo. He nods and they moving into the finish, Kitty dipping Jay perfectly in a sudden reversal of the dynamic.

Jay laughs as the crowd cheers, even more as Kitty drops him on the stage rather than pulling him up.

[i_am_your_host]

That is a finale if Emcee ever saw one, and he puts down his drink to clap loudly, laughing gleefully. As big a ham as Jay is, he's also a good sport.

[runningred]

Jay flips himself back onto his feet and takes his bows with Kitty. She kisses him on the cheek and whispers something in his ear before letting him go. “What a handsome boy. As light on his feet as he is easy on the eye. Let’s have another round of applause.”

By this time Jay’s making his way over to the bar, laughing warmly at pats on the back and the odd grab of the ass from the crowd. He makes his way over to Emcee. “You know, showmanship is my brother’s gig, not mine.”

[i_am_your_host]

Still seated on the barstool, Emcee hooks a leg over Jay's hip and draws him in close, grinning up at him.

"You could've fooled me, darling."

[runningred]

Jay kisses him deeply and thoroughly. And not at all breathless after the dance. The advantage of kicking bad guy ass for a living.

But it's clear the hotness of the dance did have rather an effect on him. "As much as I'd like to claim a private booth right now, you're up next."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee purrs into the kiss, fingers twisting into the thin fabric of Jay's shirt. Nothing like a sexy dance to get one all hot and bothered.

"Mm, you're a hard act to follow, but I'll do my best," he says with wry modesty.

He finishes his drink and peers into the mirror behind the bar to check his lipstick.

[runningred]

Emcee's lipstick is a little smeared. That was a very thorough kiss. But as half the bar was watching it happen, no-one seems to mind.

"I'm sure you'll shine, beautiful man. You always do." Jay grins.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee delicately wipes the smudges away with the pad of his pinkie finger and smacks his lips once to even out the color. Make-up is serious business.

"And you, darling," he says, tweaking Jay's chin, "are the sweetest."

He returns the grin with added cheekiness before hopping off the stool and approaching the edge of the stage, letting know Miss Kitty that he's ready.

Ready to sing a song he's never formally practiced or performed before. With a band he knows nothing about. In a club he's just arrived in tonight.

Ready? What the hell, why not.

[runningred]

Miss Kitty smiles and raises a playful eyebrow as Emcee come over to the stage. Never breaking her patter for a second as she grins at him. Oh, she saw that kiss!

"And the other half of our talented couple comes from old Berlin blood but is new to our humble establishment. Come up here and introduce yourself darling." She hands Emcee a mike, clearly trusting him to know how to work the crowd.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee returns the grin as he accepts the invitation onstage and climbs up to join her. Amid a round of applause, he takes the microphone (wireless, future technology is amazing in all its practicalities).

"My lady," he he greets Miss Kitty, bowing low and gallantly kissing the back of her hand.

He turns to the audience with an impish smile, giving them a childlike little wave.

"Hallo, everyone! It's very nice to see you." He scans the crowd. "And you. And you." He points, flirtatious. "And you, ooh, and I'd like to see more of youuu."

They laugh and giggle, peppered with the occasional whistle.

"People call me Emcee. Which is funny, because that is what I call myself, so it all works out in the end." He turns to Miss Kitty, batting his eyelashes with a mischievous grin. "But you can call me whatever you like."

[runningred]

“I’d call you mine if I could.” Kitty purrs, grinning brightly and clearly enjoying the banter. “But I think I might have some competition on my hands.” She gestures to his adoring audience, waving up a storm of cheers and whistles.

“Now, you’re kindly offered to sing for us. And as the band are still mostly sober, I think we might be able to manage some adlibbing. But just so we’re clear, this is not a karaoke bar,” She warns the crowd with a playful shake of a finger. “If you’re after that sort of party, come back on Tuesdays for the open mic sessions. No, tonight is about love and joy.” She runs a finger up his arm. “And old fashioned lover boys.”

{ooc: sorry I'm so slow this week, love. Work is a trainwreck. Hopefully I’ll be back on a level soon.}

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee puts his hands over his heart and tilts his head in a cutesy, exaggerated expression of gratefulness and modesty -- but he adores the attention. It's why he's onstage right now, making the most of the opportunity.

As Miss Kitty speaks, he turns around to look the band over, waving and winking at them in greeting. Mostly sober is good enough for him, being mostly sober himself. It will all even out.

On Miss Kitty's cue, Emcee nods to the drummer, who clicks the tempo out on his drumsticks. The piano player begins and Emcee sings in a sweet tenor simultaneously:

"I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things,
We can do the tango just for two..."

He can't help a crooked smile, looking right at Jay, having just danced the tango.

"I can serenade and gently play on your heart strings,
Be your Valentino just for you..."

The rest of the band joins in, with backing harmonies on the chorus.

"Ooh love, ooh, loverboy
What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?"

Emcee puts a hand on his hip, shaking it to the beat, and pointing into the crowd at a young man in the front.

"Set my alarm, turn on my charm,
That's because I'm a good old-fashioned loverboy...

Ooh, let me feel your heartbeat (grow faster, faster)
Ooh, ooh, can you feel my love heat?"

He slides his hand down his front, his eyelashes fluttering.

"Come on and sit on my hot-seat of love,
And tell me how do you feel right after all...

I'd like for you and I to go romancing,
Say the word: your wish is my command!

Ooh love, ooh, loverboy
What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?
Write my letter, feel much better
And use my fancy patter on the telephone..."

Basically everyone within eye contact range is getting eyefucked. And it's marvelous.

[runningred]

Jay tries to linger by the bar but fails miserably, being pulled onto the dance floor by more than one member of the crowd. He laughs warmly, looking up at Emcee with that wicked grin of his as he spins and swings.

The band are clearly loving it. As is Kitty who happily joins in with the back up harmonies. The song seems to hit just the right note with the crowd and there’s more than a few people eye-fucking Emcee right back.

[i_am_your_host]

This is what Emcee loves to see most, people enjoying themselves. And of course, he notices Jay dancing in the crowd. It's a particularly nice feeling.

The song's vibe changes into an overly sweet and sweeping melody during the bridge. Emcee slips into that persona easily, all dramatic, doe-eyed expressions and reaching toward the lights.

"When I'm not with you,
Think of you always,
I miss you...
(I miss those long hot summer nights)
When I'm not with you,
Think of me always,
Love you...love you..."

And then it switches back to raunchy and bouncy--and so does Emcee.

"Hey, boy, where'd you get it from?
Hey, boy, where did you go?
I learned my passion
In the good old-fashioned
School of loverboys!"

During the guitar solo, Emcee demurely requests a dance from Miss Kitty, and they take a jaunty spin around the stage. Sort of like a half-waltz, half-tango, all-fun.

For the next few lines, he adopts a prim English accent, punctuating the lyrics with elegant gestures:

"Dining at the Ritz we'll meet at nine precisely
(one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine o'clock)
I will pay the bill, you taste the wine...
Driving back in style, in my saloon will do quite nicely,
Just take me back to yours, that will be fine!
C'mon and get it!"

A wicked grin and a hip thrust.

"Ooh love
(there he goes again)
(he's my good old fashioned loverboy)
Ooh, loverboy
What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?
Everything's all right,
Just hold on tight,
That's because I'm a good old-fashioned
(fashioned)
Loverboy!"

The song ends with Emcee striking a pose, hip jutted out, arm raised above his head, face turned up to the lights -- ever the showman.

[runningred]

Kitty accepts the dance just as demurely. Which is hard to do in a dress so plunging but she pulls it off with style, turning circles with him happily.

The verse about dinner at the Ritz has Jay grinning up at him with a playful smile. After all, they did just that and it was a wonderful night.

The band plays up to his moves, making the finish a big one with a crash of drums and cymbals.

The crowd erupts with cheers and Kitty casually walks over and plants a big, theatrical kiss on him, her voice low. “Oh, we are so keeping you!”

Jay’s standing at the side of the stage, grinning up and whistling loudly.

[i_am_your_host]

It feels so good to hear an audience cheer like that again.

Beaming, he takes a bow, and as soon as he rights himself, Miss Kitty plants that kiss on him. He laughs brightly, squeezing her hands. He hears what she says over the applause, but thinks it's just an affectionate joke.

Turning to the band, he quickly makes his way to each of them, giving them a handshake or a kiss on the cheek, telling them how wonderful they played.

And then he hops off the stage, landing right in front of Jay.

[runningred]

Jay catches him by the waist as he jumps down and kisses him. Lovingly rather than passionately. "You looked perfect up there. It's who you were born to be."