April 3rd, 1891 — The Life of Zeus - Episode 1

Leonid was not the type that came to these sorts of things but his friend was. He had assured Leonid that it was bound to be a great time but did not tell Leonid any details other than that it was a play. Leo could deal with watching a play, he figured. Most of the attendees were a little more flirtatious than he was used to but he didn't think much of it.

The play began and then started to go in a very interesting direction causing Leonid to accidentally spit his drink out in surprise. "But they're naked," he blurted out, equal parts fascinated and abashed as he continued to watch what was unfolding on the stage. He had never seen a naked man or woman before, let alone a man and woman doing the act right there in front of him! He fell silent as he felt a reaction in his trousers and his skin reddening.

He felt like he was having a fever. On whether he was reacting to the man, the woman or both, Leonid couldn't truthfully say or even tell.

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   Reuben Crouch

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Set by MJ

Emrys had been plugged into this sort of crowd for longer than he cared to admit (because it would have hinted at his age, and he didn't need anyone calling him old). The seedy underground layer of wealthy magical society was well-established and thriving, but it was also small; Emrys knew the host and half the people in the room, and had slept with his fair share of them. That was fine, but it also removed some of the challenge and intrigue from things; there was an element of tension to chasing someone that was altogether absent when being able to seduce them was a foregone conclusion. He had eventually settled in to watch the play with a woman who was something of a regular at these events and whom he knew to be fairly flexible company, but he wasn't paying much attention to her. He'd placed his hand on her thigh as the play had begun and he was leaning towards her as though he was listening when she spoke, but really his mind was drifting off to Professor Vorona. Which was not particularly helpful, since she wasn't here.

When a gentleman nearby spoke up, then, he was all too easily distracted from his current company. "Oh," he said, leaning forward with interest. "You're new, then? Who'd you come with?"

  

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Lou made this! <3

Leonid tore his gaze away from the action taking place on the stage when someone spoke to him. New? Implying that this entire thing was a regular thing with this group of people? "I guess I'm new, I had no idea this was a whole thing. My friend brought me along and said it was a whole surprise. He's the one over there but seems to be... busy," Leonid said as he realized his friend was speaking quite intimately with another guest. His tendency to ramble when nervous cropping up at what he felt was the worse possible time. He didn't tend to want to speak to people while experiencing certain things and he shifted in his seat in an attempt to make it go away.

And for some reason it did not help any that the man speaking to him reminded him strongly of a pirate from one of his adventure books with those hoop earrings of his. "Have you ever considered adding a bandana to your wardrobe? It would suit you." He really needed to fix his habit of rambling nonsense when his nerves were shot, he idly reflected.

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   Emrys Selwyn

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Set by MJ

Emrys let out a little huff of laughter at the suggestion that he add a bandana. It was telling, he thought, that this gentleman's first impression of the earrings was pirate rather than exotic, and it implied he was not particularly well-traveled, but Emrys didn't mind. He'd described himself as a pirate only last month, after all, so it wasn't as though he found the comparison offensive.

"I'll consider it," he said lightly. He took a moment to observe the 'friend' this gentleman said he'd come with. There was a chance if he'd invited him to an event like this it was because the two were lovers and he was trying to introduce him to a bit of a wider palette, but on inspection that didn't seem to be the case. At any rate, his 'friend' looked quite preoccupied, and probably wasn't going to turn up demanding attention anytime soon. So this gentleman (Mr. Fisk or Mr. Zabini? Emrys thought he recognized him from Witch Weekly but couldn't remember the details of the article well enough to say) had been left to the wolves, so to speak.

Not that there was any problem with that. From the way he was shifting it seemed that Mr. Fisk-Zabini was enjoying himself, and the wolves in these parts didn't bite — not unless you asked them to, anyway.

"Don't let me distract you from the show," he teased lightly, with an unsubtle glance towards the other man's lap. "There'll be plenty of time to talk about what we are or aren't wearing later."

  

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Lou made this! <3

Leonids cheeks flushed as the man laughed. Between this man with an appealing pirate vibe, what his friend was doing and the happenings on-stage, Leonid felt quite disconcerted. He was probably never going to fully trust a 'surprise' again but he also enjoyed them too much to not fall for this again in the future.

"No, please distract me," Leonid blurted out before trying to cover his lap a little more as if he thought the man could see through the layers of fabric adorning his body. "Later? You mean there's more?" He asked in an absolutely fascinated whisper, leaning in more towards the other. Oh he was curious. He wanted to discover what more there was going to be happening at this event.

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Set by MJ

Emrys' mouth twitched towards a smile as the man said please distract me. Emrys could be fairly distracting indeed, but it was a little too early for that sort of thing — and a little too public for it, too. In theory everyone at this party was either the sort who wouldn't be inclined to talk about it afterwards, or wouldn't remember enough to talk about it afterwards, but it couldn't hurt to be cautious just in case. There were evidentially a few new people in attendance, aside from the usual crowd, and Emrys wasn't sure he trusted the host to have enough of a handle on the crowd to ensure they were all drugged or obliviated before they left (mostly because the host might be drugged before the night was through).

"There is," Emrys replied, in the same hushed tone through his voice contained more amusement than anything else. "This is the sort of party that lasts as long as your stamina does," he continued, suggestively.

The woman at his side made a vague noise of irritation at his having leaned in to exchange hushed words with another gentleman, but Emrys ignored her; he had something more interesting to play with.

  

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Lou made this! <3

Leo's mouth fell open in surprise as the man confirmed that there was more to things. His mind could hardly comprehend it. "What does stamina have to do with things? Is it like underground boxing?" He was aware of that side of things at the very least.
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"Do you personally come to these things a lot?" Leo wasn't sure why but he moved a small bit closer. It was to hear him better, Leonid told himself.

  

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Emrys let out a sudden laugh at the man's question, though it was still a bit hushed. A true innocent, then, or at least not the sort of person to pick up on innuendo.

"It has more in common with wrestling," he said mischievously. "If you're inclined to give it a go, I'm sure you'd have no trouble finding a partner to... help you through the opening paces," he continued with a grin. He wasn't going to volunteer himself just yet, because there was a chance the fellow might figure out the metaphor and be scandalized and Emrys was too careful to be caught in a one-sided tryst.

Leaning back and giving the woman's thigh a quick pat, just to assure her he hadn't forgotten her entirely, he continued, "I've been to enough of these to know all the usual suspects, anyway. One of the reasons I could tell you were new."

  

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Lou made this! <3

Wrestling? Leonid couldn't say he had ever given that a try aside from the occasional scuffle with his siblings. Nor had he watched much of it. "That could be fun," he said cluelessly. He also didn't want the man to think he was a total bore who did nothing fun. He wanted to look cool.

"So you're very experienced at it, are you?" Leonid was oblivious to both the innuendo and slight flirtatious nature of his own words as he smiled at the older man.

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   Emrys Selwyn

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Set by MJ

That was a smile that Emrys recognized, even if he suspected the man giving it wouldn't have recognized it were the tables reversed. New to this, but willing — or at least intrigued. With an answering smirk, he disentangled himself from the woman he'd been sitting with, who rolled her eyes and scooted away from him.

"Experienced enough to make it fun," he returned, just as flirtatiously. "Let me get you another drink, Mr. —?"

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Lou made this! <3

A tiny sort of thrill sent a shiver down Leonids spine. He attributed it to there possibly being a draft somewhere in the room. He had hardly even noticed the woman that was with the older man until she had scooted off. He felt guilty for stealing away her companions attention but not enough for him to stop the conversation.

"You do have the feel of someone that makes things fun," Leonid said in what he felt was a compliment. And there was something in the mans tone that had his intrigue deepening. As the man asked his name, Leo leaned in after a moment of thought. "Is it... safe to provide a name here? But my name is Leonid Fisk." He had no qualms about the man knowing his name but he didn't want to go announcing it to everyone around him just in case it wasn't.

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   Emrys Selwyn

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Set by MJ

Clever boy Emrys thought appreciatively as he asked whether or not he ought to give his name. He had Emrys' favorite combination of character traits: attractive and possessing the ability for discretion. But trusting, too, because he'd given his name, which meant — yes, it meant they could have quite a bit of fun tonight.

"It's safe with me," he said reassuringly. He flashed a smile and went in search of a drink before saying anything else. The bar was nearby, and Emrys asked for a pair of cocktails — sweet, easy to drink, but strong. When he returned, Emrys handed the drink to the other man and then sat down a little closer than he had been before. He leaned back on one arm — conveniently placing it around Leonid Fisk's back, though he wasn't touching him. Just staking his claim.

"You're among friends, Mr. Fisk," he continued, with a flirtatious edge to his tone. "Everyone here is just looking for a little fun. I'm Emrys."

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Lou made this! <3

Leonid nodded to show he understood when the man said his name was safe with him. He accepted the drink and was a little hyperaware of the fact that the man was sitting closer. Probably so they wouldn't be so disruptive to the play with the conversation. Which had apparently only grown more passionate as he glanced up at the stage which brought a pink tinge to his cheeks.

He took a sip of his drink, enjoying the sweet taste. He'd had wines, champagnes, whiskey and such before but he didn't think he had ever drank a cocktail. "I've never been one adverse to fun," Leonid said. Granted, it had always been more innocuous sorts of fun - billiards, nights out with the lads or his siblings, drinks at a pub - but not an erotic play. He hadn't even known it was a thing before now.

"You can just call me Leo." It felt a little odd to him to only have the mans first name while being called by his surname. Plus he felt an odd, contradictory sense of ease and hyperawareness of the mans close proximity, cologne and general being.

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Set by MJ

Emrys smiled at the response. Only giving his first name had been a tactic, and it had played out exactly as anticipated. It forced a sense of intimacy they hadn't actually achieved yet. Later, he might find himself giving Emrys the benefit of the doubt or not shirking back from a touch because well, they were friends, weren't they? They were already on a first name basis.

"I'm glad to hear it. Leo," he said, testing the man's name out on his tongue. He took a drink of his cocktail and let his eyes wander back to the play. "And what sorts of things do you usually do for fun?"

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Lou made this! <3

It felt a little weird to have a man he'd only just met saying his name so intimately. It was all in his head though, he was sure. The man was just very friendly. Leonid was also quite friendly though he wasn't really the type to be on a first name basis so quickly. And not just that, he had provided his nickname as an alternative. He was thinking too much he decided as he took a sip of his drink.

"Billiards, drinks, sometimes cards...," did that make him sound very boring? "I sometimes go to societal events though I have obviously been a stranger to just what else society can get up to."

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Set by MJ

Emrys chuckled at Fisk's joke. "Don't be too hard on yourself," he admonished lightly, and took another not-entirely-subtle peek down towards the man's lap to see exactly how hard on himself he was being at the moment. He'd had a reaction to the play earlier, and hopefully talking to Emrys, sitting close enough they could almost be touching, would have been enough to sustain it. If not — well, it would be disappointing, but Emrys wouldn't take it personally. You couldn't help who you were attracted to, he'd learned, and he was secure enough in his own appearance and charm not to react poorly if things didn't go his way.

"This sort of party is only for those with — particular tastes," he said in a leading tone. "Not for every young innocent, is it?"

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Lou made this! <3