magiclwritings

[magiclwritings]

The tension in his body was something to be marveled at. Had it been any other night, that comment may have gotten a right hook. But there were too many people and truth be told, acting like that in front of Quin wasn't exactly on his bingo card for the night. Not that there had been a card but if there were, he'd think of several other better things to takes it's place. But when he heard Quin all of that shuffled away. The real thing had always been better than anything he could have dreamed up.

Cesare didn't move but let Quin come to him, more curious if he'd actually touch him. If only his heart would stop the skipping it was starting to do. What he hadn't expected was for him to want the pot he'd brought. Max rarely ever smoked with him. Well, not as often as he used to. Neither of them did much of what they used to. What he still didn't know was what Quin now did, or really what he'd done before. But as he stood before him and contemplated, there wasn't much of an answer to give. His friend would understand.

"I didn't know you'd be up for it." His gaze drifted for just a moment towards the bar. Seeing Carter completely in the weeds as he would always call it, he felt even less bad. Cesare moved to tuck the baggie back into his pocket and patted it for good measure. "But I'm always up for an adventure." His gaze found Quin again and a small smile spread on his lips. "Want to now?" He was exactly itching to get them both high but the thought of alone time with him was too good to pass up. He wondered briefly what Max would think. If he'd be mad or upset he wasn't being invited or that it was his brother taking his place this time. He'll forgive him too. There was a lot of that tonight but Cesare was rarely ever selfish, for Quin he could and would be.

Quin’s gaze tracked Cesare as he made his way through the crowd before he glanced back at the man in front of him. The stranger was pouting and pleading, reaching for Quin’s waist, trying to convince him to dance with him. He remained stoic, unwilling to show his displeasure and reluctant to move. Quin had always frozen when he was unsure of how to handle a situation. He had done it as a child and as a teenager, so it made sense that he continued to act that way into adulthood. He wasn’t like Max. Max acted without hesitation, most of the time anyway. 

The loud slap of the towel against skin pulled Quin’s attention. He tilted his head to the side to see Cesare smirking behind the man. Upon seeing him standing there, Quin’s body visibly relaxed, and he leaned his back against the bar, elbows pressed on the wood, holding himself up. He would never admit it to Cesare, but playing the role of hero suited him nicely. It didn’t hurt that he was always looking out for Quin, still even to this day. 

“Forget it,” The man hissed, shooting a glare at Cesare and then turning around to face Quin. “You’re not worth the trouble,” He scoffed. The insult landed home, hitting Quin’s most vulnerable insecurity. At first, he recoiled, wincing at the words, but Quin managed to recover relatively quickly from it. He forced out a laugh, waving the man off. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard before, and it wasn’t anything he didn’t already know, but knowing that Cesare heard it as well was a sore spot he didn’t want to deal with. 

And then it was just the two of them, Cesare standing in front of him, and Quin unable to look anywhere but at him. He wanted to be upset about Cesare swooping in to rescue him. The insults were on the tip of his tongue. Quin could have told Cesare he wanted the man, had been interested in him, and he could have reminded Cesare that he didn’t appreciate the white knight in shining armor routine. But he didn’t. Be it that it was a rescue he was grateful for, or maybe it was the alcohol in his system softening his edges. Quin wasn’t sure. He didn’t even really care at that point. 

“Smooth,” He said, pushing himself off from the bar and stepping closer to Cesare. He reached for the towel, eyes narrowing when he recognized it to be the one that had hung from the bartender’s shoulders. His jealousy flared, big and ugly, within his chest. Instead of going for the towel, he redirected his path, his fingertips tugging at the pocket of Cesare’s jeans, revealing the baggie he had shown both him and Max earlier. “What are the chances of you sharing these with me instead of the bartender?”

[magiclwritings]

The amount of push and pull going on within his own body was enough to drive him mad on the spot. Mostly because he just wanted there to be a simple answer for all of this. But it would seem whatever this wizard laid his hands on was, for lack of a better phrase, meant to burst into flames. Julius wasn't sure what that meant for him but whether he liked it or not, he was getting more comfortable with that notion the longer this day went on. Especially when one considered the collar now sitting damn near perfect around his neck.

Julius cleared his throat and thought of what Iggy had asked of him. What sort of King was his father? The immediate rush to defend his honor was going to get him in trouble if he let it slip out too quickly and so he sat quietly for just a moment. There was a reason Iggy had asked him. That much he was getting the hang of. There wasn't something asked without a purpose. So what sort of King was he? If he had to really sit and think of it. Their subjects were relatively content from what he was told. There hadn't been any major uprisings that the crown knew of or actively waged against. And it seemed that nearly everyone had enough to eat. There were whispers of course but none that ever really concerned his father. But that didn't really say what sort of King he was.

"I think he tries to do right by most." He started off with because at their core, Julius knew that his father wasn't a monster. That wizard was another matter entirely. But he selfishly thought of moments they shared. The first time he'd been taught to ride his horse or the first time he struck out his own blade. All of the big moments his father was there and so very present. "Always made sure that I was nice, polite and neat where everyone else was concerned." He liked to think that he was the same way with his subjects but when his Queen, not Julius' mother, passed on; there was a shift in him. Not terrible but a sadness that nothing seemed to cure. "I think he tries to be better than he actually is."

The prince bit down on his lip so hard he tasted the iron before the pain actually registered. He hadn't meant to say that out loudly. And he knew that Iggy saw that flare of fear in his eyes. Not that he was worried of this one spreading that around. It was just ... weird to think of his father out of the context of that role. He supposed he had before but maybe not to that degree. "I think we can appeal to his good nature. If he thinks we're lying to him though." The prince diverted his gaze from Iggy's for a moment. "If there is any bit of advice I can give you in your stay here. For however long all of this goes on, he despises liars." Though he hadn't always been like that. As he got older it became more and more prevalent in his personality.

"If you've got a plan that doesn't involve deception of my father, I'm all ears." A small smile pulled on his lips at the thought. "The wizard is always free reign though."

He used to be that way too. Naive about magic. Iggy was happy to see it wasn’t just him that to learn the hard way that magic was never easy. It tainted and complicated everything it touched. He didn’t fault Julius for not knowing. How could he? The prince had been raised to believe that magic would grow his rule. And now that it was right in front of him, he was learning that all magic came with a cost. The universe was giving Julius Ignatius at the cost of his father. 

And a part of him was relieved too– at Julius’ denial of bonding just the two of them. It would have been risky, especially with Ignatius not having a connection to his magic. He didn’t know all of the details pertaining to the ritual, but what he did know was that it didn’t require much magic from his end. He understood Julius’ point though, if something went wrong and it was just the two of them, who knew what could possibly happen. 

“Then we need to cozy up to your father. Sooner rather than later and by soon I mean, tonight.” He leaned back, folding his arms over his chest. He rested the side of his head against the back of the chair, keeping his gaze upon the prince. “We need to see how much influence his wizard has over him. He may be our only hope to get this,” Iggy pointed to the collar, “off as quickly as possible or at least get him to see reason why this isn’t necessary. It’s not like I can hurt you without hurting myself. I don’t know what kind of lies his wizard has placed in his head and the only way for us to figure it out is to talk to him away from the man.” 

Iggy knew going forward with this plan that the King’s wizard would catch wind of it. He wasn’t sure how deep their connection was to each other. He knew it wouldn’t even come close to matching the kind of bond Ignatius and Julius would have. But he was banking on the King’s excitement about his future bond with Julius to intrigue him enough to come sit down with them. “Tell me about your father,” He asked the prince. He didn’t know much about the royal family other than the few moments he had met the King when he breached the castle. “What kind of father is he? What kind of King?”

[magiclwritings]

It was harder now with Everett in this mix. Colter hadn't thought about the implications of everything going on. He was as he always had been, concerned with himself. But seeing the way his lover and friend peered in at the pair of them, well, it made Colter a bit queasy. And not in that love sick sort of way. In an actual sick kind of way. He'd seen that look on August's face before when Colter would have to entertain whomever was visiting the court at the time. But that was different. That was a duty. Part of who he was and would always be. This, Colter was completely out of his league with and it was beginning to unnerve him all the more.

He stood straight then and made his mind up to keep himself between the two for the time being. That was surely a disaster in the waiting. You can do this. That voice nearly shot a visible chill down the prince's spine. For it was August. Not here in this room but the memory of nearly every time he'd ever told him so in their past. Try as he might, Colter couldn't stop himself from looking over at that man. He was August. He just had to prove it to him. There wasn't a fiber in his being that didn't believe it. But for now they needed to get home. Maybe everything would be better once he was surrounded with his things.

"Thank you." Colter spoke softly, turning to look at Everett just then. He could still see how tightly drawn his jaw was and decided better to not poke the bear at that moment. "Why don't we give Aug- ..." Colter stopped himself and cleared his throat. "A-sa, time to gather his things." His head nodded turning back to face the other. His stomach sank and the prince just wanted to run to him and forget the last however many weeks. "Sound, okay?"

Colter didn't wait for an answer and instead was quick to slide himself up to Everett's side and place his hand on the inside of his elbow, pulling him in closer to him. "Meet us out front." He paused, looking him over one more time. A part of him was scared to take his eyes off this man. The last place he lost him had been here. But something felt better than it at the first time. He just couldn't figure out what could have been different aside from the time of day. And, well, there hadn't been any trips to the cellar. He thought to ask Everett about that again some day.

With the two of them out of the room, Colter turned on Everett quickly. Both his hands rested on the man's shoulders and he pinned him gently to the wall. "I know you're cross with me." He spoke quickly, not giving him a moment to think before anything else. The prince bent in and kissed his lips so softly for just a moment. The tingle was still there when he pulled back to look into those warm pools. Though the confusion looked to be just as prevalent if not more so now. "I just ..." He sighed, squeezing onto Everett just a little tighter. "I know that's him and I know you think I'm mad for saying so." The flex of Everett's brow told him everything he needed to know.

"Just tell my father I insisted. If it really is that much of an issue." He didn't enjoy being weak as his father would put it. But he also knew that to save face, Colter's fits would get him just about anything. "Please?" He damn near whimpered. "I'll do anything if you just help me with this."

With the way the prince looked at him, Asa half expected his touch to be familiar, but when he cradled his face in his hands, touched him as if he was someone truly special, there was nothing familiar about it. It was just a soft hand of a royal, stroking his burning hot skin. Then lips pressed to his temple. Asa leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. It was hard not to be jealous of whoever August was. He had this, had someone who touched him like he was holy. Loved him effortlessly. It was confusing, though. This Everett they spoke of, Asa assumed, was the man with the prince, who looked at the prince the same way the prince looked at Asa. Yet, he remembered a brief moment between them when they had been seated at their table. 

So the prince loved this August person and fell in with Everett in his absence. Interesting. Asa could use this to his advantage. 

But he did not want the prince to bring August’s parents around. What if they were able to tell he wasn’t their son? The prince, for some reason, probably his denial, couldn’t see it. Asa wasn’t sure about Everett and the rest; he was banking on being happy that the prince was settled. “Not now,” He whispered, a bit confused when the prince pulled away. “But maybe once I get settled back in, that would be nice.” 

Everett left Rufus’ office and approached the room he knew Colter was in. His steps were lighter, probably from Rufus cleaning him out on every bit of gold the man had on him. He wasn’t convinced this man was their long-lost friend; the problem was that Colter did. He had heard the story from Rufus. Asa turned up beaten and bruised with a piss poor story of being new to the kingdom. Sure, he looked almost identical to their August, but August would rather die on the streets than accept a job in a brothel. 

“We’re good to go,” Everett said as he entered the room, mildly surprised to see both men fully clothed and not touching. Their new addition looked Everett up and down, sizing him up. His eyes weren’t slitted like Everett was used to when in August’s presence. It was a teasing look, like Everett was a puzzle he was determined to solve. “We should head back soon and figure out what we’re going to tell your father before we do.” The King was going to lose his shit. Everett was supposed to get rid of August, and he wouldn’t like a copycat coming back to fill the void. Fuck. 

[magiclwritings]

He had to hand it to Max, when he really wanted something he was cool, calm and collected. Whatever made his brain actually focus in was incredible when it was working ... properly. Cesare loved Max and his antics and sometimes he forgot that this was a part of him too. A soft smile crept on his lips as he looked at his best friend. Though he attributed the fuzzy feeling to the shots they'd just downed. He exhaled loudly and finally turned to see what it was Quin had gotten himself into. The spike in his blood pressure was a bit unexpected and Cesare was on his feet before he knew it.He only gave a look to Max before he was headed for the dance floor.

Once his feet hit the bottom of the steps he was able to gain a little bit of clarity. Get a grip. He rolled his shoulders back, a few vertebrae popping as he did so and he began to make his way towards the bar first. He could see that man getting incredibly hands and it spiked his blood pressure all the more. From out of his periphery he saw Carter giving him a rather odd look. Cesare held his hand up and squeezed his fingers as if to gesture a ball in his hand. The other gave him the oddest of looks before deciding it was the towel on his shoulder he was after. The man shook his head and tossed it towards Cesare.

He caught it with his finger tips and that was when he'd completely formulated his plan. A sly smile crept up on his lips as he began to spin the towel between his two hands. Though it got a bit dicey once he'd actually gotten back into the crowd, he'd be speaking a prayer to whomever would listen. And thankfully, they seemed to be smiling down upon them in that moment. Cesare caught Quin's eye and ducked back behind the man, rolling the towel as quickly as possible and then he flung it towards the man's backside with a wicked force.

The crowd around could hear the crack even over their music and it cause Cesare to smile all the more wide at his back as he began to turn around to see exactly who'd cracked such a vulgar and crisp towel whip to his backside.

"Doesn't look like that's going to get you anywhere there bud." He starter, gathering both ends of the towel in his hands again and he slowly began to tighten it once again. "Think you might want to step off before I welt the other cheek." His gaze drifted to Quin then for just a moment, unsure of the look on his face. He was pissed but he couldn't decide if it was at him now or just the idiot between them. "Or would you just like to ask me for another in front of all these people?"

Max followed Cesare’s gaze and found exactly what had captured his best friend’s attention. Quin, feigning interest in another man. It was a nice move on his brother’s part, but Max could see how bored he was, how forced the attention he was giving the man was. It was a show, that much was clear. “Don’t look at him,” Max said, snapping his fingers until Cesare looked back at him. “Don’t give into that bullshit. This means it’s working.” Cesare knew Quin so well, Maximus would never deny that, but sometimes he was so blinded by Quin that he couldn’t see certain things. “He’s not interested in that guy, and nothing is going to happen with that guy.” His eyes flickered back, just in time to see Quin looking at their table and seeing Cesare looking at Max, not at him. His little brother’s brow furrowed. “Keep looking at me.” 

Quin’s eyes narrowed as his gaze flitted back to the man nearly pressed to his side. “Yeah, I’m a real estate agent, making bank, making dreams come true. There’s real big money in real estate…” The bartender passed them, and the stranger waved him down. “Couple shots for me and this sweet thing, please.” Quin forced a smile. He didn’t want a drink. He didn’t even know what he was doing over here. Cesare didn’t care. He had a recurring date with the bartender soon. “Here you go, babe.” A filled shot glass was pressed into his hands, and Quin looked down at it with distaste. “To getting to know each other better.” 

“The best thing we can do is support him with going back, or at least pretend that we do anyway.” Max took a shot, glancing over at the bar since Cesare couldn’t. Quin was biting off more than he could chew with that guy just to prove a point. He was so ridiculous. “But keep giving him those mixed signals where you kinda give it, but pull away. You know, like what he does. We need to act like Quin to get Quin. What do they call it? Breadcrumbing? Yes! See you and I are too eager to fix things for him or beg him to stick around. It never works. So let’s give him a taste of his own medicine for once, and if it doesn’t work, I have a backup plan to fall on.” 

He took the shot and was convinced he would never get comfortable with the sting of liquor. Quin wiped the back of his mouth with his hand and slammed the empty shot glass on the bar. “Well, that wasn’t fun. I’m going to return to my friends now.” He turned to slide away from the bodies at the bar, but was stopped by someone grabbing his arm. Quin was yanked back, coming face-to-face with the man. 

“Nooo, stay. We were talking, and I got you a shot. We can drink some more, maybe dance…” 

Quin scoffed, yanking his arm out of the man’s grasp. “I didn’t ask for a shot. You were talking, and I don’t dance.”

“Ohh,” The man hissed, moving to stand in front of Quin, blocking him from exiting the bar. “I see now. You like to play hard to get. Like to put up a little fight, like to make a man work for it. Okay, I like it.” He took a step forward; Quin took one back. It allowed the man to cage him in against the bar. 

Max tilted his head, reaching forward to squeeze Cesare’s shoulders. “I know it’s asking a lot and I know it’s going to be hard for you, but it might be hard for a little bit, but then we’ll have him forever and that’s…” His gaze shifted to the bar. Max couldn’t see Quin anymore, well, nothing but his curls anyway. “Do you think sending you in to play hero will help our mission or ruin it? Because our boy might need a rescue.”

[magiclwritings]

Reality was starting to set in and this whole thing was truly laying out before the prince. The more he thought about and immersed himself in what was to come, the more he wanted to push it as far from him as humanly possible. But he couldn't. Not with Iggy now collared and looking to him as if he was the one that would have all the answers. The fact that his father was going to meet his untimely demise at any moment was just starting to reach it's way to his complete understanding and the paranoia was starting to settle in properly. The prince could feel his heart starting to flutter and instead he drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Iggy's words crossed into his mind and he took them into consideration. Because at the end of all of this it was going to be the two men seated so closely in this room together. No matter what his father had taught him, showed him or bestowed upon him would be immortal soon. He'd step into his rightful place and this man would be his right hand. His everything. Did that mean that he was only to think of him then? But surely that wasn't true. His father had never shown that to be the case but then again; after seeing that collar and the subsequent actions that followed wasn't something he'd thought would ever happen. What he was coming to realize was that whatever happened, would happen at his say so. Just like his father now had.

Julius took the goblet from him and drained the rest of it. Something told him there'd be more than a few empty goblets for him later on. "It would irritate him, yes," He hesitated, dragging the tip of his tongue over his lower lip to catch the last bit of wine threatening to drip from it. But something just felt off. "I don't know." He answered honestly because that was all he could think. There'd been so much that happened and he was just trying to catch his breath. "What if something goes wrong and ..." He didn't know that it was a possibility but he'd never seen this much emphasis placed on a person with magic before. Not in person nor in his teaching from the books of before.

"If you'd have asked me before the collar ..." He shook his head, moving the goblet back and forth between his hands just then. The prince leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, steadying himself just so. "I wanted this to be easy." The words were out before he could stop them and he promptly shut his mouth. It was only then that he allowed himself to look back at Iggy. His longer curls framing that too thin face. Was this the best place for him? The loss of color and vibrancy he blamed on the sinister magic of the ugly thing at his neck. But still was he the best judge for his well being? Or his kingdom for that matter. "I .. I think I'd feel better if it wasn't just us." He knew before Iggy spoke that he'd be disappointed in his decision but he was still too new and the future that fate had dealt to him this afternoon was too much to stomach.

Iggy watched Julius pace around the room. The collar felt heavy and cold around his neck. He half expected the King’s wizard to return with a leash for it. He knew what this was about, containing his powers, sure, but the other part of it was a show of dominance. Iggy was coming in to replace him. The dawn of a new King and wizard was upon the kingdom, and this was the man’s last chance for an ego trip. It didn’t help that, with Julius and him being fated, they would be more powerful. Everyone who wore a crown wanted to be remembered, but not many of them had the means to do so. Iggy and Julius would. 

Julius returned to his side, and Iggy turned to him. It was sweet that the prince was trying so hard to help him, to keep him here, to support him in such a way. If he were like this before the bond, Iggy could only imagine how he would be after they fully cemented their bond. “I wouldn’t be able to get word to them as quickly as the King’s wizard can get word to the Academy. He has magic, and I currently don’t.” Ignatius sighed and flicked his hand outward. “He could invoke the trials and make me go through them to prove I’m a wizard befitting a king, I suppose. If he does that, then this collar has to come off.” 

He leaned closer to the prince, propping his chin upon his palm and studying the man for a moment. “How close is your father and his wizard? What if we invited your father to dine with us tonight, just the three of us? He’s got to be thrilled that his son has a mate. It’s what every King who doesn’t have one wishes for his son. If we can get him alone, talk to him, and just let him see us together, then maybe he’ll help us.” People with magic were accustomed to hoarding it, while those without magic were accustomed to showing it off. Even though this meant the King’s rule would end, his line produced a bonded pair. It was the only thing a King could ask for.

“What do you think?” He reached for the goblet again, taking a slow, careful sip. "Or we could just initiate the bond ourselves, just you and I. That'll kill his wizard. He won't be able to witness a ceremony that hasn't happened in centuries."

[magiclwritings]

Flynn didn't hide his amusement at his now coy nature. This one was rather amusing. He had to admit that if he had to run into someone, at least this one wasn't boring. He cleared his throat but made no move to push the man off of him. If he were being perfectly honest the contact was nice. It wasn't often that he got to engage with the people he'd saved. Much less with ones he didn't immediately want to feed to what he'd saved them from. This one could grow on him though.

"It's a lot easier than you'd think." Flynn told him plainly because that was the truth of it for him. He didn't have any family anymore and the property that was left to him was in a trust and no name was readily available for it. There wasn't much of a life before or after his family had been ripped apart. Even that was being generous. He loved his family for everything they tried to be. For his parents only knowing that they loved one another and that would have to be enough. But he knew that piss poor answer wasn't going to be enough judging by the puppy dog eyes still looking at him as if he were hanging on waiting for some grand finish.

Flynn sighed and found himself settling back onto the sofa with Dodger following in sync with his movements. "I trained in the navy out of high school. Made my contact there and ..." He felt the need to clam up coming over him and he squeezed the hem of his jeans to keep him from stopping. "Parents died because of a job I was on. I never told them what I was getting in to." He shrugged a bit, turning to look at him just then. "Now it doesn't seem like it would have mattered either way." He forced a half smile on his lips and patted the other's leg gently.

"And now here I am. Closer to home than I want to be and telling some poor soul that his life is not what he thought it was. " Flynn crossed his arms over his chest to keep himself from fidgeting at the contact with this man. "Sort of men in black like but without all the cool tech." He sighed, actually a little down about that. "They've made improvements but I definitely don't have a bow I can just call to appear or my trunk to roll out an armor full of trinkets and crystalized daggers." He tried to hide the smile coming but couldn't and instead winked for emphasis. "A guy can dream, right?" Flynn felt himself relaxing more and more into the run down sofa and enjoying the odd company.

"Your turn. Spill. Something juicy too."

“I guess it makes sense,” Dodger said, fingers brushing across the secured band-aid on his neck. He noted that Flynn wasn’t answering his questions about being the slayer. He doesn’t trust me yet. Which was smart of the man, but frustrating for Dodger. “If they cause too much commotion where they live, people will start to notice and once they’re discovered they’re fucked.” Dodger had to give it to the slayer. He knew the thought process of vampires quite well. They couldn’t act feral like nature intended, not if they wanted to live amongst the humans. There was no point in setting up their lives here if they had to move again after too much killing. But Dodger already knew this information; it was information he lived by. He needed more from Flynn than this shit. 

Dodger had to admit he was impressed. Flynn wouldn’t be an easy nut to crack, and he liked it that way.

This was an in and one he couldn’t refuse. “You would do that?” He asked, face brightening at the offer. If Flynn trained with him, Dodger would be able to understand his fighting style. In a way, this was even better. He could figure out how to beat him physically if he couldn't get information from him. “But if you show me some moves, you’ll stick around to protect me, right?” He grinned and leaned forward, resting the side of his head against Flynn’s shoulder. “Now that I know what this city really is like, it makes me feel safe knowing you’re here, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn a few moves just in case.” 

He sighed, keeping his face against Flynn’s shoulder. “It must be lonely being the slayer,” Dodger commented after a quiet moment fell between the two men. He turned his head up, looking at the man. “Not being able to tell the people close to you who you are, in case it gets them hurt. Carrying the burden of this huge secret. How do you handle it? I don’t think I could be that strong.”

[magiclwritings]

He almost rolled his entire head in annoyance at her question and he knew exactly why she'd done it. Though she could have been a bit more discreet. Leave it to Lily to charge forward. His smile grew when he noticed Rose turning in as if she didn't already know what is answer was going to be. He decided rather than to drag it out, as he was sure she was thinking he would, he'd get it out and they could just move on from it.

"You're an absolute terror to me and I highly doubt I'd ever do something like that to you." He told her, sticking his tongue out for emphasis. To which both girls laughed and Al settled in under Scorp's arm. It only dawned on him that it would also be his first time hearing this as well. Touché sis. "If you absolutely have to know it was ..." He sighed and covered his face. "When Scorpius nearly forced me to down shots for the first time." His hands came down to cup his chin and he glanced over his shoulder at the man next to him. There was a slight pinkness in his cheeks and he knew it was visible to everyone else too but, did it matter?

"Haven't really been kissed like that since." He quickly added, sliding his cup up to his lips and he downed a large gulp. Not that he needed any more encouragement but he truly didn't know where this game would go and if they were going in then it was in. "Not that I can recall anyway." His laugh a little forced but he reached for Rose and she squeezed his hand in turn. "Give me a bit more and I may just sing a few more secrets free."

Before Lily could push him for more he tossed Rose's hand back to her and pointed. "You've been a little too quiet since the start of this." Al found himself scooting forward and against Scorpius as he angled Rose. "Truth or dare and don't make it boring." He nodded back towards Scorpius and sighed. "Or you can pass to him."

Truth be told, Al had never been a true fan of this game. If for no other reason than the rest of his family delighted in making his life a living hell with it. Rose in particular when they were younger. So when he saw that glint in Lily's eye he had a sinking feeling that he was truly going to be in for it. But a notion had entered his brain about the point in time that the pig's tail had made it's appereance and he decided it was truly one of the best revelations he could have. Albus Potter no longer cared. And while he would have said he'd been that way for a while, this time he truly meant it.

The ruckus of Andrew and their table was drowning out what voice of reason the middle Potter had. He should have gotten up and helped him. Should have been the better person and put a stop to all of this but seeing all of that happen and not having to feel responsible for it kept his behind parked right in the seat he was with Scorpius. The back of his neck was on fire and there was no question that conversations would be had until they were both blue in the face over it all but damn if it didn't feel good when he flashed that smile at his sister and her anticipation.

"Seeing as Teddy seems to care very little for the well being of the patrons tonight ..." He started, taking his glass in his had to slam back the rest of his drink. His cheeks puffed out with the contents before he swallowed it all back, eliciting a hushed snicker from Rose. "I think a truth may actually hold more harm than good tonight." The threat of a blush was edging on the sides of his face but he refused to give in to it. Though he could blame it on the alcohol, a certain someone would know better. He hated that much hadn't changed for him since the last time he and the blond at his side had seen one another but that was just the nature of his beast at the end of it all.

Albus was who and how he was, for better or worse. The older they got the worse it seemed to end up but who was to say it wouldn't have been that way anyway? The four of them cluttered around the table had more in common than they thought, Albus just didn't have the strong constitution the rest did. Or whatever Teddy tried to tell him the last time Al found himself in a moment of weakness and ready to whip everything into oblivion.

"You know team secrets are off the table." He warned, jokingly but not. Lily's quick nod let him know she understood, no matter how she disagreed with it. "Give me your worst."

[magiclwritings]

Tingles shot up his arm as if it were the most normal thing in the world. And then came the warmth. His fingers ached to pull him in so close and yet Colter couldn't find it in him to do it just yet. His eyes looked over the man standing before him and felt as though everything were falling right back into place. But the very last thing he wanted to do was lose his head when they were so close to ending this perpetual nightmare.

"Of course." He answered softly, moving August's head to the side and he just couldn't stop looking at him. As if he' hadn't already memorized every inch of his body but this was different. He felt different. "Everett shouldn't be long." He offered, trying to keep his flinch from being noticeable. Of all things, that man was probably not the one to bring up right then. But he'd been concerned for him too but rather than let any still bad blood linger, Colter moved in and placed a soft kiss to his temple. Behind closed doors should have been okay for August but given the time they'd been apart he felt as though he were truly pressing his luck.

But it was then that something started to feel different. And it started because of the way he smelled. Colter had no delusions that he'd smell of his oils and fabrics he'd worn day in and day out. But this was different. August smelled as though he were another person. Colter allowed the tip of his nose to press against his temple as a soft sigh escaped his lips. "I am so sorry." He whispered gently, his hand lightly running up the length of August's arm.

It'd been at least a few moments before Colter realized his body was pressing into him without hesitation and the prince pulled himself away. This isn't right. Not here. Colter forced a smile and took to wrapping his arms around himself. Once they were home things would start to settle in. His father would .... he could feel his eyes growing at the realization that he'd have to tell his father where he'd finally found August. Surely there was something that could be done. He'd have to get Everett alone before they got back to the castle. Yeah ... that's it. Find Everett.

"Should we have your parents come once we arrive back? I know they'll be so relived to see you." He bit his lip before allowing the thought to push through anyway, "Not as much as I." He teased, hoping to find something to latch onto.

Asa sat quietly on the bed, soaking in the information that the prince was spewing. He obviously thought that he was this August person. Perhaps, Asa had it all wrong. The dark-haired man and the prince were not lovers, but the prince and this August had been. He must have looked like Asa to provoke such a response in the prince. He could continue to deny the prince, but that wasn’t getting him anywhere with him. No matter how often he tried to explain that he didn’t know the prince, he continued to insist that he did. 

What if he went along with it? 

It was possible. If it got him into the castle, he could store away items and coins to steal if the prince ever realized he wasn’t his August. That way, if he got kicked out of the castle, he wouldn’t have to return to this disgusting tavern. It was risky, but it wasn’t impossible. Asa had learned how to read people working with Rufus; he had become a good actor, pretending to be flattered by the customers he entertained. 

Interestingly, the prince lost this man here at the tavern, but again, it couldn’t have been Asa. He’d only been at the tavern for a couple of weeks now. He didn’t think much about it; it worked in his favor. It wouldn’t be hard tricking the prince; he had so much guilt that he would believe everything. No, it would be everyone else back in the castle, which would be much harder. It wouldn’t matter much, though, as long as the prince believed. Asa would have him eating out of the palm of his hand. 

He pressed his cheek into the prince’s hand, feeling the warmth radiate and seep into his skin. “I knew you would,” Asa said softly, nuzzling his cheek against the hand that cradled him. “And you did so well.” In his experience, men liked to be reassured, placed on a pedestal, even idolized. Whoever August was, it was clear the prince had lost him. Maybe they broke off their affair, and August left the castle. The prince had men looking for him and longed to bring August home. He was no different than most men out there. He wanted to be a savior. “Promise we can go home?”

[magiclwritings]

He wasn't entirely sure how he felt about this one touching him but he wasn't so opposed to it. If everyone back at headquarters could see this he'd never live it down. Touch was not something Flynn willingly allowed from another person. Ever. So he drew in a deep breath and settled in. If for no other reason than he was convinced that this one was still in a bit of shock. He couldn't blame him. Though outwardly, you'd think this man was a saint or something. Perhaps that's why he seemed to draw people towards him. Even when they're the wrong ones.

"I stay where there's work." He answered swiftly. Not because he wanted to cut him off but so he understood that he wouldn't be a permanent fixture if he could help it. While this coven was larger than most he'd faced, he wasn't detoured by them. Especially after that little run in tonight. It excited him in a way he hadn't been in quite some time. His tongue touched on the back of teeth as he thought of how to bridge that from such a short answer but it seemed this one was not one to rest on ... well, anything really. It wasn't that far out of the realm of possibilities that he'd ask that. In fact, Flynn would have been more impressed if he managed to stay away from it.

He cleared his throat, adjusting to feeling his new companion even closer than he'd remembered him being. "The network of people we've put together is rather useful." He wouldn't dare disclose how many there were or where for that matter. He was willing to give a little but not to someone that looked like he might faint at the mention of another vamp anywhere near his vicinity. "I've always been more to myself anyway." Flynn gave a quick shrug and he moved to place the first aid kit off of his lap before he settled back onto the sofa with this man.

It wasn't until that he realized his little tiff actually was a bit more than he gave that piece of garbage credit for. His back felt as though it would scream if he allowed it. His eyes fluttered shut as he exhaled hard. A few pops shot up his spine as he settled in and his eyes closed for a minute. "Is this your way of trying to see if I have a significant other?" He felt his mouth pull into the smile before he could stop it but he did keep his teeth from adding insult to injury. And maybe he wasn't but Flynn was up for ruffling this one's feathers. He was fairly certain there was at least one splinter in his ass from saving him so he figured it would even out. "Need to work on your execution" He tsk'd at him but refused to open his eyes to see if he'd flustered Dodger in the way he'd intended.

“I guess it makes sense,” Dodger said, fingers brushing across the secured band-aid on his neck. He noted that Flynn wasn’t answering his questions about being the slayer. He doesn’t trust me yet. Which was smart of the man, but frustrating for Dodger. “If they cause too much commotion where they live, people will start to notice and once they’re discovered they’re fucked.” Dodger had to give it to the slayer. He knew the thought process of vampires quite well. They couldn’t act feral like nature intended, not if they wanted to live amongst the humans. There was no point in setting up their lives here if they had to move again after too much killing. But Dodger already knew this information; it was information he lived by. He needed more from Flynn than this shit. 

Dodger had to admit he was impressed. Flynn wouldn’t be an easy nut to crack, and he liked it that way.

This was an in and one he couldn’t refuse. “You would do that?” He asked, face brightening at the offer. If Flynn trained with him, Dodger would be able to understand his fighting style. In a way, this was even better. He could figure out how to beat him physically if he couldn't get information from him. “But if you show me some moves, you’ll stick around to protect me, right?” He grinned and leaned forward, resting the side of his head against Flynn’s shoulder. “Now that I know what this city really is like, it makes me feel safe knowing you’re here, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn a few moves just in case.” 

He sighed, keeping his face against Flynn’s shoulder. “It must be lonely being the slayer,” Dodger commented after a quiet moment fell between the two men. He turned his head up, looking at the man. “Not being able to tell the people close to you who you are, in case it gets them hurt. Carrying the burden of this huge secret. How do you handle it? I don’t think I could be that strong.”

[magiclwritings]

"I .. eh ... yeah. Yes. Yes of course that'll be fine." He spat out as quickly as he possibly could. He hadn't considered actually having to ride along with them. He supposed that should have entered his mind but he'd give himself a slight bit of grace all things considered. "I'm not quite umm ..." He began to click his tongue and he sighed out, keeping his blush to a minimum but it still shown through. "I'm rather quite shit with horses." He told him in earnest. This fast friendship was going to be his salvation until he could figure out how to get back to that fountain. And from the sounds of it, the King had no intention of lingering too long in the area.

Grady found himself peering back over his shoulder through the encampment and towards the direction they'd come from. He could have just broken into a full on sprint and maybe made it back. His teeth dug into his lower lip as he really thought about it. But then he turned back and looked at the King again. The smile came naturally then and Grady had his answer. And while it was entirely selfish. That people back home would now be starting to look for him. And when they find out there isn't even a cell phone tower to ping his phone from, well, he wondered if he'd feel his parents' hearts break after a weak of not seeing him.

"We might actually be more help to one another than I first realized." He admitted because he had a feeling the amount of things he was about to become very familiar with would be damn near out of his comprehension. Grady set to scoot himself a bit closer to the King just then. The warmth of the fire rolled over the pair of them and he found himself still lingering on the man's face. But he was more aware of what was around them. Without all that noise back home he could actually hear the men in their tents carrying on. Most of them were in various stages of drunk or not. Some in card games but what he found most as he listened was that none of them were truly ill content. Given their circumstances he could hardly say he'd blame them for being out of sorts but they weren't. Their mood was rather cheerful and that spoke volumes to Grady.

A ghost I may be in my world but here .... "What would be the chances on us getting something a bit ... heartier?" He'd hoped that Beckett would pick up his little innuendo.

Beck turned his head towards Grady, smiling at him softly. “We will make it to the end.” He claimed it as if it were certain. Although Beckett knew nothing in this world was certain, he was certain about this. He believed that good prevailed because in his life, it always had. When people used manipulation and dirty tricks, it may appear they were ahead, but they always faltered. Beckett believed in his people; he believed in himself. He would make it back onto the throne. The guide, the man sitting by his side, had chosen him. It was done. 

They had only briefly been in each other’s presence, but he could sometimes see that Grady was holding things back from him. It didn’t bother Beckett too much; he assumed it came with the territory of being a higher power. Grady was here to guide Beckett, not to fix things directly for him. “I think that sounds lovely, Grady,” Beckett replied, “I look forward to trying it in the next town. Just let any of my men know what you need to make the bread, and they will get it for you.”

“The next town is half a day’s ride away,” Beckett explained after a moment. “It’s just over the border, so we’ll be back in my country, but none of us are sure who has allied with my brother and who has stayed true to my rule. Things may change once people catch wind that I am actually alive, but regardless, we must be careful. Our goal is to slowly progress through the outer towns, making our presence known while we gather allies to join our cause. I wanted to go straight through to the capital and confront my brother head-on, but Elias believes it to be too risky. He’s annoyingly committed to keeping me alive, but it’s a relief to have someone at my side who enjoys telling me how wrong I am. It keeps me humble. Anyway, we don't have an extra horse yet, but you'll ride with me until we can find one for you. Is that suitable for you?”

[magiclwritings]

"I know." He told him because that was all he could really say because he did. Cesare knew how important it was to keep Quin here. He just couldn't lie to him. And if he were being honest, Q staying would mean a lot more uncomfortable conversations and definitely no more sleeping in his bed. A part of him wanted to whine out at the loss of that but in the same stroke, wasn't the real thing better?

Cesare brought his hands up to his faces and rubbed vigorously for a moment. His head felt a little fuzzy and when he brought his hands away it took him a moment to regain exactly what he was looking at. Max's face was all blurry and instead found his eye drifting out onto the bar. First to the dance floor, seeing quite a few couples out and enjoying one another fully. He smiled a bit wider as he moved to look for Carter at the bar, seeing if he was ready yet but what he found was that someone else was seeing how ready he was.

His stomach felt as though it were in going to fall out his backside. That hadn't been something he'd been anticipating, Quin interested in someone else. That was probably naïve of him. They could have just run into one another and he shouldn't be such an asshole to assume that Quin was doing anything other than getting drinks for the three of them. His teeth dug into his lower lip and Cesare brought his drink up to his lips and quickly downed the rest of it.

"I don't want to lie to him, Max." He finally settled on. Because why wouldn't it be. "He's not the kid that left us all those years ago." As much as that pained him to admit it to him, he needed to hear it too. He wasn't the young man that left. The one Cesare had pined over for years. He'd grown into ... well, himself he supposed. The hardest part about all of it was that it felt like they both were playing catch up with a man that didn't want to be caught. Cesare couldn't help himself and stole another look back at the man with Quintus. His hands were closer to him to him now and it made Cesare damn near want to hop out of that seat. Thankfully, one of the bar girls slipped two more shot glasses onto the table as she walked by, making eyes at Max as she did so and mimicking for him to call her later.

Cesare smiled wickedly at his friend and pushed the glass towards him. He ran the tip of his tongue over his teeth, mostly just to feel that they were still there from how numb his actual mouth felt at that moment. "Whatever play you want to make to get him to stay ..." He tipped his shot to him and then downed it quickly. The burn of the alcohol hadn't numbed his throat entirely and so he drew in a deep breath. "I'm in. I'm always in and you know it."

“Is that so?” Quin asked, tilting his head to study Cesare across the table. “Did you hear that, Max?” He turned his attention towards his brother, a smirk gracing his lips. “Cesare thinks you’re obsessed with him, that you daydream about him and can’t let this hook-up business go.” His lips turned down into a sad, mocking pout. “Poor thing,” Quin reached over and ruffled his brother’s hair. “It must be so hard to watch this happen every weekend.” He wouldn’t let Cesare one-up him so easily. While Quin wasn’t sure what his angle was, he knew there was one. Again, Cesare was playing some sort of game, and he wouldn’t catch Quin in a trap, no matter how hard he tried. 

Quin’s gaze fell to the baggie Cesare was holding, and he held back on rolling his eyes at it. “How cool,” He said, tone flat. He remembered Max and Cesare sharing joints all of the time when they were younger; the two of them would immediately hide them away when Quin walked by. Not that he wanted to partake in something like that anyway. Quin did not enjoy losing control over his mind or body. Maybe he wasn’t fucking the bartender, not that Quin cared, but Cesare clearly cared enough about the man to hook him up with an internship and to bring him free joints. At this point, he might as well fuck him and get something out of it. 

He didn’t understand it. 

Quin was frustrated and annoyed. It didn’t help that the shots were making his head fuzzy, and he didn’t feel like he could keep up with this conversation any longer. “Nothing,” Quin answered Cesare, reaching for another shot and knocking it back. Their drink tray was nearly empty, and while Cesare had attempted to wave over a worker, Quin needed a break. “Don’t worry about flagging down a waitress. I’ll go grab us more drinks.” Then he hopped out of his seat, took the tray, tucked it under his arm, and made his way to the bar. 

He was waiting at the bar for Cesare’s buttbuddy to see him when Quin felt a hard body press uncomfortably close to his side. “Did you sit on a box of Lucky Charms?” Hot breath hit the side of his face. Quin turned to find a stranger leaning in close to him. “Because that ass is magically delicious…” 

At first, Quin ignored the man pressed against him. His gaze shifted to the table, where Max and Cesare were talking. He didn't want to go back over there. He knew they were talking about him. He knew Cesare would be leaving soon to meet the bartender to smoke joints or whatever, and even though Cesare said he wasn't sleeping with the blonde behind the bar, Max had been adamant that it would eventually happen. He wanted it to happen. "Hi," Quin said softly, turning his head back to the stranger next to him. He leaned his hip against the bar, nodding towards the wall of liquor next to them. "Buy me a drink?"

Max waited until Quin was far enough away from the table. “What are you doing?” He hissed at Cesare, punching the man’s shoulder. “I wanted him to think you were fucking the bartender,” Max whined, kicking his foot out and hitting Cesare’s shin. “He was finally showing some kind of emotion and was getting all jealous. And then I thought if  I acted all indifferent to him leaving, he’d want to stay. You went and ruined it by friend-zoning Carter.” He sighed, tossing his head back and looking at the ceiling. “I need him to stay, C. I want him to want to stay.”

[magiclwritings]

Few things could sway Dario at that point in his life. He'd found himself a life that wasn't one he'd planned for but loved all the same. His parents were never the wiser and the regional futbol team he contracted with gave him enough plausibility for them to believe that he was just always away for work. And to this day that was entirely true. The kind of work was up to debate but that was neither here nor there at the moment. And as he stood outside the building of where he'd pick up his next job, Dario found himself a bit more giddy than he'd anticipated himself feeling.

Everything and everyone was bustling inside, the smells were fantastic and all he could think was how wonderful this was. Nevermind how the establishment came to be but more because he was impressed. A waitress crossed in front of him and he quickly plucked the first plate he could get his hands on. Hopefully that table didn't get too cross with her. His eyes trained on a set of curtains off to the corner. The fact that two large men were standing out front was a dead give away. He tutted the laziness slipped off to cause the distraction to pull both of those buffoons' away from his prize.

A rather large crash and a shrill scream later, the restaurant was a blaze with chatter and movement. He'd have to let Milo know to watch the sort of tables he allowed into his establishments. The doorway was clear and the smirk that graced his features was one he hadn't felt in quite a while.

"Isn't all this a bit ... your father?" He asked as he came strolling through the door way with the plate pasta marinara. One he'd eaten time and time again. But this felt more like nostalgia than anything else. The food, the atmosphere, his company. It felt like he'd just walked off the bus from a long ass tournament and this dumbass was ready with a table full of pasta and meats for the pair of them. The only thing that was missing was the smell of weed but he imagined that not all of this one's habits died when his old man did.

Dario didn't look at Milo's face but instead spun his pasta around the fork that came with it and took a rather large bite. His eyes fluttered shut and a soft moan sounded from this throat as he chewed and then swallowed. "If that's your mother's recipe you'll need to make sure I get a jar or two. I've missed her cooking." It was only then that he came closer to the man and he set down his own plate the chair opposite Milo. He looked well. Hair was still just as unruly as he truly remembered and those dimples ... "You seem a little surprised to see me." He started, moving to grab the napkin to his right to spread over his lap. "I thought this was the job interview." Dario took the fork again, spinning another mouthful onto it. "Might want to hold a few more spots. The two out there ..." He held up his fork, point at Milo first and then himself, dragging it just in front of his neck. "need a little work."

trouble's coming

You will be going undercover to infiltrate the Silvestri family. We have been investigating this family for years now, but they’ve slipped out of our grasp time and time again. This time is different. There has been a shift in power. They are weak and vulnerable, and their guard is down. 

Milo bent down, tying his dress shoes. He stood from his bed and slipped on his shirt, a soft lilac purple button-down. He tucked the ends into his pants and walked in front of the mirror, twisting and turning to see every inch of his body. 

In the last month, the Silvestri heir has taken over the family business after his father’s passing. This is our only opportunity to get someone into their circle. He will test the inner circle, seeing if their loyalties will shift from his father to him. This means there will be openings. He will want to ensure the people closest to him are loyal to him. We will not have another opportunity to get someone on the inside. 

The mansion didn’t seem to be intimidating now that his father was dead. It was quiet. Milo didn’t have to sneak around anymore, fearful of whatever kind of mood his father was in. This was his house now. He made the calls now, people flocked to impress him, he owned the businesses, and nothing was out of his reach. He felt like a King, sitting on a throne of fucking money. This empire that his father had built now belonged to him. His father was rolling over in his grave, knowing that he had died and left it all to Milo. Good. May he rot in pieces. 

There is a deal going down today. A team will go with you to intercept the runner. Once the runner is handled, you’ll be on your own. Take what he is transporting and meet with Lorenzo at this restaurant. Your goal today is to impress him, intrigue him, and show him you could be an asset, and hopefully, he will take the bait and keep you around. While we wait to collect evidence of what his family is doing, it is more than that. Someone else owns this family. We need someone deep undercover to determine who. 

The car was waiting for him outside, and he slipped inside. The ride was quick, and he was grateful that his driver didn’t try to make small talk with him. He had taken meetings before, so this was nothing new, but a part of him was still adjusting to taking over for his father. There was just so much to handle. The actual businesses he had to run seemed never-ending, from bars to nightclubs to restaurants. Then, there were the criminal activities behind the scenes at each real business. His phone was constantly pinging over and over again. He was hardly able to sleep. Someone needed something from him day in and day out. 

But he loved it because it wasn’t his father’s kingdom anymore. 

Whatever you do… 

He arrived at the restaurant, a popular Italian place his family owned. He was ushered into a private room in the back, which was now reserved for him at all times. Milo’s ass barely hit the table before plates of various dishes were placed on the table. He scanned the different meals and realized they were trying to figure out what he liked so they could prepare it anytime he stepped through the doors. A wave of his hand and a glass of white wine was poured for him. Milo grabbed his wine glass and swirled it once, twice, three times, then lazily tilted his head towards the waiter. “Please send my guest directly to me,” He said in a lazy drawl. The food looked and smelled heavenly, but he refused to eat. He wouldn’t allow him to know him or anticipate anything about him. Not yet. He was still too fresh. “You’re excused,” He said again with a second wave of his hand. Milo had just received all of this money and power. He wasn’t letting it slip through his fingers to easily. 

Don’t get caught.

@magiclwritings

[magiclwritings]

A small part of him wondered for a brief moment if this is what his fits had felt like for the others. It was a surreal feeling. Of having absolute knowledge of something and the rest of the world looking at you as if it weren't. Maybe it was just a continuation of his own delusions. Whatever it was, Colter had decided that August was coming home where he belonged come hell or high water tonight. What he wasn't prepared for was the on slot of accusations that erupted from him once they were alone.

The way he was speaking as if this were truly his life was what was truly throwing Colter. A part of him thought that once they were alone that act would drop but he was holding true and a piece of Colter started to shrivel inside of him. Those eyes looking at him from across the room were not ones of love but rather they were just empty. His hands clasped at his front to prevent the man before him seeing him starting to shake. Because the ground beneath him was very unstable, metaphorically, and Colter was attempting to find reason in what he would say to the man he'd been without for weeks on end.

"The last time we were here was the last time I saw you." He told him plainly. Colter began to chew on his lower lip, terrified that this was some sort of game that he could lose and lose August all the same again. "Everett said you went to go get us drinks while I was playing cards and you ..." He drew in a deep breath because Colter knew how that night ended and how he'd left at his friend's request, so certain that August would return on his own. That he was simply sleeping off all the fun he was out having that night.

The prince swallowed hard and took three steps towards the man, so put off by how he lounged like that. How many people had he done this for? "August ... " He breathed, trying to keep the smile on his face from growing on his face at just the name and the man in the same room. "I've have had people looking for you the whole while." The prince came to stand at the end of the bed, not close enough to touch him but close enough to see his features. How he longed to touch him, his hand even stretched out towards his cheek as if to cup it. "It's time to come home."

Rufus slipped the ring into his pocket and held it tightly to the coin purse. “Asa,” He turned towards the young man, nodding towards the back rooms. “He’s paid for your time tonight. Take him to a private room while I discuss business with Everett here.” Rufus slipped from behind the bar, clapping Everett on the shoulder and leading the man away. 

Asa climbed from the bar, watching Rufus and the prince’s companion leave them. His head was swimming with questions. Why had the prince looked at him like that? And why did he want to buy Asa’s contract? Tripling it? It was insane, it was crazy. They had never met, yet he was determined to have Asa by his side. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but Asa assumed he would be out of a job here. What was it supposed to do? Live on the streets? None of it made sense until he heard it. Auggie. The name was said with such softness, a whisper of a plea, but Asa didn’t know who the prince thought he was. He almost regretted trying to seduce the prince into buying him tonight. It was turning out to be so much more than he had expected. 

“Follow me,” Asa said to the prince, and then he started walking toward the private rooms.  He picked one of his favorites, different than the one he had for his last customer. 

“Before we start, I want to know something,” Asa turned towards the prince, after hearing the click of the door shutting behind them. He studied the prince’s demeanor. “What is the reason for buying out my contract here? I’m not sure you understand what that means for me. I don’t have anywhere else to go but this place. I don’t want an alternative way to support myself, and I don’t have any family to fall back on to take me in or friends.” Asa bit the inside of his cheek before continuing, relishing in the sharp sting of pain it brought. He made his way towards the bed, and, lounging back on the bed, raised a curious brow at the prince. “Is that who you want me to be?” Initially, he thought the dark-haired man with the prince was his lover, until he heard him utter that name. “You’ve paid for my time tonight. I can be whoever you want me to be.” There were deep-rooted feelings there, and Asa just didn’t know what he had to do with them. 

[magiclwritings]

Forget-me-nots

“Declarations of love amuse me. Especially when unrequited.”

Simon pondered over the meaning of that line before he closed the book and slipped it back onto it's shelf. He hated to admit how much he'd missed it. The smell of this place. There wasn't another like it. The smell of books mingling from different homes and lifetimes. The spines worn and some in perfect condition. It said a lot about a person, the manner in which they'd kept their books. Asher had always been meticulous in his care and storing of this beautiful shop. He'd only wished he'd been around to see it finally open. There were a lot of things Simon had wished were different for them. What mattered now was that Asher was willing to see him at least. The anger was still rolling off of him like a freight train but the pace slowed nearly every day. So long as Simon could just not be Simon.

The quiet rustle of money and the prongs flinging open as Asher made exact change for the older lady that lives over on Buehl. Nice. Widow. Husband was a piece of work according to pack records but overall fairly normal. Comes in for old western romances but somehow left with a well worn copy of New Moon two weeks ago. Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks every now and then.

“The way he looked at you. I got it then. He loved you, and it was killing him. He won't get over you, he can't.”

Simon felt as though he were going to crack the spine of the next book he picked up. It seemed to him that a crisis of conscience was going to happen while he wondered the stacks today. He supposed that was okay. So long as it kept him in Asher's presence. It was the only thing truly keeping him going. Being away from his pack was hard but to leave Asher again wasn't in the cards. They'd come home when they were ready to and things would go back to normal for a little while. The time hadn't come for his check in with the elders, which also worked in his favor. He wasn't entirely sure that Asher would be okay with him leaving for there after the last time. And things wouldn't be like last time, he promised them both that.

His shoes scraped against the wood floor as he made his way back up, his hand mindlessly dragging down the books as he went. His fingers caught on a final spine and he pushed the book open to see what the first line would be.

"I wouldn't give up loving you. Not for anything."

His gaze instantly found Asher then. The sunlight trickling through the stained glass window at the top of the house bathed him in different colors that danced on him as if he were the very essence of it. Simon's whole body felt hot in that moment and his heart stuttered. That man would never know just how truly awe-stricking he was to him. The heavens and earth and way down below wouldn't stop him from getting to him. He'd spend the rest of his life proving it to him. The sound of a wooden pencil on his notebook told him that Asher was tallying up his sales for the day and it was nearly time to walk him home. Perhaps tonight he'd let Simon take him for dinner or even an ice cream. Though he knew he was still a while off from having actual alone time with that man, he'd wait. Asher had for him without hesitation and Simon could do the same.

"But as long as I remember what it was like to love you, I'll always feel like I'm alive.”

Simon closed the book and tucked it under his arm. He'd be borrowing this one tonight. With a deep breath drawn in, he set forth towards the counter and laid the book upon it. "I hear there are wolves hiding in the woods tonight." He smiled wickedly as Asher simply shook his head, attempting to hide the smile he knew was on his face. "Think I better walk you home. Just to be safe. Rather them eat me." He pushed back from the counter, running his hands down his body. "I'm a little bit more to gnaw on. Give you time to get away." He winked and picked the book back up, hiding it behind his back. He shrugged his shoulders when Asher's brow rose. "Have to have a reason to walk you in the morning."

[magiclwritings]

The night? That was the oddest two words that could have been put together when it came to Colter in that moment. This wasn't just for one time. This was for always as it had been intended. And even looking at him then, that was always going to be the case. What he wouldn't give to melt into him right at that moment. To feel his familiar hands on his body in any capacity would feel so welcomed. He'd been starved for it for too long. And while he'd delighted in Everett, what August and he had could never compare to what he took in the mean time. That was the way he remembered it and that was how it was going to be no matter what.

"He's not yours." Colter spat at the bar keep. Mostly because that tone reminded him of his father and the grip on that man's ankle was the very same he felt around his neck day in and day out as the crowned prince of their region. His eyes narrowed and he knew it was going to be hell if he lost it. But August was right there. This could be fixed if he could just touch him. His fingers ached to reach for him but that was the way of it. That wasn't their way. Everett's voice did little to soothe him but he knew that he'd help him.

The prince looked down at his friend in the chaos and found that the look on his face gave him pause. There was bewilderment at his actions of course but it was almost like he was afraid. But of him? Colter hadn't stopped to consider what he'd done until that moment. His eyes fell to the floor and slowly up to his own feet. Things felt as if they were getting fuzzy at the edges and he couldn't afford to lose focus. Instead he closed his eyes so tightly he could feel his forehead wrinkling with the effort.

"Wh- .." He started, taking a half step back towards Everett. He hated that he gravitated back that way but he had no choice. Whatever was going on with August and this man was out of his control and he couldn't stand for him to be hurt. It was really only then that he'd started to process what the man behind the bar wanted. His hand slid to his belt pouch, jingling the coins in it at his side but he somehow felt that wouldn't be enough. Not with how the crowd was hollering for him. It maybe him absolutely sick to his stomach but Colter had to have him back. At least to know if ... if this is what he truly wanted.

His gaze drifted onto Everett but he didn't say a word. Instead he simply plucked the garnet ring from his pinky finger, his mother's, and offered it to the man that had hold of August. The flash of red that caught his eye as he did so sent a shiver down his spine but he would happily give over one of the last piece of her to have him back. "A life for a life." Colter told him, dropping it into his open hand as well as the small pouch from his waist. His eyes scanned back up to find August. The look he couldn't place and it made him want to vomit. To have known this man for most all of his life and to be looked at as if he were some stranger was something Colter wasn't sure he could ever reconcile.

"Buy him outright, Everett." It wasn't a question, that was an order from the prince. And Colter rarely ever pulled rank amongst themselves but he would to ensure not a single hand land on this man was without his consent. "Whatever number he thinks of, " Colter tucked his now bare hand behind the other and pressed it to his stomach. The temperature fit how ghostly he felt in that moment. "Triple it." Colter's cool eyes fell onto August and he forced a smile, knowing this to be some game. It had to be. Colter found favor in Everett and this was his penance. Whatever this was, Colter would dive through the rivers and oceans of the underworld to bring it all back right.

"Auggie ... please?"

Asa kept his eyes on the prince as he moved across the bar. So many customers were calling out amounts they were willing to pay at Rufus, but there was only one target in his sights. He spun around the bar carelessly, blowing kisses to the crowd and winking at them all while the prince pushed his way through the crowd. He was shouting something, but the hollering of the other patrons drowned him out. 

And then the prince was in front of him, standing on top of the bar. And Asa couldn’t think of a word that described seeing the prince up close. He was breathtakingly beautiful, of course, but there was more to it. He felt familiar in a way that didn’t feel possible. August. That wasn’t his name; it didn’t feel like his name. Asa’s brows furrowed. It wasn’t uncommon that the customers who paid for him called him a different name; maybe that would be the prince’s game. But then he continued, saying I found you. It sounded frighteningly intimate. How was he supposed to respond to something like that? The prince thought he was someone else. Thankfully,  Asa didn’t have to think about it too hard. Rufus had to negotiate everything for him anyway. It wasn’t like he had a choice. 

“Hey,” Rufus said, snapping his fingers loudly and pushing Asa back from the prince. “You want him, you pay for him,” he scolded, wrapping his fingers around Asa's ankle as if he was scared the prince would haul him over his shoulder and run off into the night. The prince looked at him like he was the only person in the room. Maybe Rufus had a right to be nervous about that. “I know who you are, and I’ll book him with  you tonight, but don’t forget that he’s one of mine.” 

Everett fought for his life to get to the bar. When he finally made it, he saw Colter standing on the bar next to Rufus’s new boy. He did look strikingly similar to August, but Everett knew it couldn’t be him. August would never leave the castle to work in a place like this. And he knew that Colter longed for August and missed him, so he wasn’t surprised that he was dead set on this man being their missing Auggie. “Sorry, Rufus,” Everett said to the man. He leaned against the bar. Part of him wanted to pull Colter down, but he knew it wouldn’t happen. “He’s just excited about being out.” 

“I would prefer his excitement stays off my fucking bar,” Rufus grumbled, glaring up at the prince. “You know how this goes, Everett, he either pays for the night or I gotta give him to someone else.” Rufus waved his wand around, gesturing towards the crowd. Then he looked up at Colter, raising a brow.  “What’s he worth to you, Prince?”

[magiclwritings]

There was this sound. One he recognized and knew very well but there wasn't a thing on the earth that was going to stop him from getting to the man on that bar. Because that was August. Even with the longer hair and leaner physique he knew it was him. Why he was up there was irrelevant. Colter could have cared less whatever circumstances landed him there but so long as he could have him back then all would right in the world. He wouldn't feel so disjointed and wrong.

"August!" He shouted, not being able to grab his attention amongst the rest of the patrons eager for his attention as well. It was then that Colter felt how hot the room was getting and he started to look side to side as if getting his bearings. Because he was. His metaphorically orbit had been off for so long that having that man back threw him into ... well, Colter couldn't quite describe what was going on inside of him. His hands were at the laces of his shirt to loosen them, give him some breathing room in this crowd of people. Why is everyone so close?

Colter gave his head a hard shake and saw that August was coming back down towards him. Without another thought, the prince stepped onto a patron's lap and then onto the bar itself. The roar of the crowd under him was enough to make him want to throw himself down and curl into a ball. His hands cupped his ears almost instantly. All of it was so loud. "August." He croaked again, looking directly at the man before him. His chest felt like it was caving in and that he couldn't catch what little breath he did have.

"I found you."

Rufus slid Asa a fruit plate. The younger man pulled himself onto the bar, kicking his feet and pulling the plate into his lap. He picked through the fruits, looking for the ones he liked, pushing the ones he didn’t off to the side. “Busy tonight,” Asa commented, popping a mango in his mouth. “Need me to work the room? I can take a break from the back.” 

Rufus grunted, moving away from Asa to refill goblets. When he returned, Rufus nodded towards a table with two younger men. From his view, Asa could see they were touching each other under the table. They looked longingly into each other’s eyes as if they were the only two in the room. But he also noticed their attire. It wasn’t the same as the other customers'. No, these two wore rich material fabrics that were well put together. Expensive. “That’s the prince,” Rufus whispered. “Second time I’ve seen him here, and next to him is his right hand. He’s here all of the time.”

Everett turned towards Colter, eyes scanning over the prince, trying to decipher his words. Was Everett ever going to stop yearning for things truly? He didn’t know. If he had to assume, Everett would say it was unlikely. No matter what he wanted, he was always looking for more. But he knew, deep down, he knew, what Colter was looking for. No matter what Everett did, he would always be looking for August.

Asa studied the two from across the bar. A feeling lingered in the pit of the stomach at their closeness, but he didn’t understand why he felt a longing. He pushed it aside and chalked it up to jealousy. He didn’t have any friends here. He didn’t know anyone here. “Do they rent workers?” Asa could only imagine the coin they both carried in their pockets, and he wanted it. He wanted all of it. 

“The dark-haired one, yes. All of the time. He’s run through my entire roster ‘cept you, of course. The prince seems slightly shy, uncertain of this place, but Everett can be incredibly convincing when he wants something.” 

“Everett.” The name tasted funny on his tongue, like disdain and anger, but Asa didn’t understand why. He had never seen this man before. “What does he like?” 

Rufus chuckled, wiping his hands off with a towel. “Anything that breathes, really, but the safest bet is a challenge. I’ve already told him that he can’t book you today.” 

“Colter,” Everett said, running his fingertips along the prince’s arm. “You make my heart full. I don’t need anything else when I have you.” The lie slid off his tongue with ease.

“Auction me to the bar,” Asa said quickly, pushing the abandoned plate of fruit off to the side. “Do the usual bit, they’ll bite, I know it. I’ll clean them out of gold and leave them wanting more.” He promptly stood on top of the bar just as Rufus cleared his throat, silencing those around the bar. It was thrilling to have heads turn towards him, to feel their gazes on him. While Asa didn’t like what he had to do in Rufus’ employment, he didn’t mind the attention. 

Everett’s gaze snapped towards the commotion of the bar. He squinted, trying to see what Rufus’s new boy looked like. 

“Everyone,” Rufus called out, his hands framing his mouth to extend his voice. “I want to introduce you to my newest boy, Asa.” The crowd clapped, and some whistled their approval. Asa bowed, half of his body dipping low in gratitude. He walked along the length of the bar, making a show of it, then moved to the side of the bar closest to the prince, blowing a kiss out to the crowd. “You all know the deal. The highest bid gets the first night.” 

The boy moved across the bar with ease and grace. Everett could see he had long limbs and a small figure. The customers around the bar started moving towards the boy, shouting out the amounts of gold they were willing to give to Rufus. Everett wanted him immediately. He couldn’t look away from the back of the male’s head. He felt Colter squeeze his thigh. “It’s a game,” He explained, watching this Asa boy twirl across the bar. “Highest bidder gets his first night.” Then the dancing male turned, walking along the bar until he was across from Everett and Colter. He gasped, slapping his hand across his mouth to muffle its sound. “He looks like…”

But he couldn’t be because August had been gone for months. Everett had (kinda) looked around the kingdom for him. There was no way he had been right under their noses the whole time. There was no way that August would work in a place like this, selling his body to random customers night after night. Everett felt quick movement next to him and turned, but the prince no longer occupied the seat. “Colter? Colter, wait!”

[magiclwritings]

Watching siblings was an odd thing. And something even more odd to Cesare in particular. He loved both of the men his opposite. Max, for reasons and people that would remain nameless. For experiences and travels they had. For shared space and years and years of every day together. There were countless reasons for Cesare to love Max and he would for years and years to come. But Quintus was different. The same feelings came forward, the fondness and needing to be around him but the feelings that came up around Quintus had always been different.

"It's funny you bring that up." Cesare smiled right back at him. He felt that tense in his bones and from the look on Max's face, he was ready to see a little fireworks. "Usually when someone can't stop talking about a certain subject it's because they themselves continue to daydream and even regular dream of that very thing." He had no idea if any of that was true but he'd been told by a few women in passing and this bartender they were spatting over at the moment. So if for no other reason than he felt so certain Quintus wouldn't call him out on it, he continued on.

"Carter is actually looking for an internship and I promised I'd help him get in with another firm." He told him plainly, mostly because he knew Max was already aware but that little bratty attitude from Quintus was not going to fly with him where it concerned that person. They were a friend and had been a shoulder for things that Cesare couldn't tell Max about. Mostly about the younger man at his side there. "He's meant to take a drug test here in the next few weeks for it so I thought we'd celebrate with a ..." He trailed off, leaning back in his chair to dig through his pocket. Once the baggie brushed his fingers he smiled and yanked it out, showing the brothers proudly. Three already rolled extra long joints. "little something." He smiled, seeing Max beam back at him.

Cesare couldn't quite make the look on Quin's face and thought better than to continue to wave it around. "Nothing special but it's good." He threw his hand in the air then, trying to attract one of the walking waitresses. He was going to need a few more shots if Quin kept on like that. And from the looks of Max, the alcohol was going down rather well for him. "Did you want ...?" He started to ask, brandishing a grin when he caught one before he brought his attention back to the table, completely unaware his train of thought had left all of them. "Yes?"

Cesare's gaze drifted after Max but soon found his attention back on their friend. "Of course." He mused, leaning forward ever so on the bar. "I brought the goods tonight. If it's to be believed you might actually feel like jelly this time and not like the last time." He couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine at the one bad sack he'd come across in his dealings here at the bar. Though sometimes that couldn't be helped. Dealer's choice if you would. This wasn't a habit the pair of them shared but every now and then he liked to surprise Carter with a little something. And it was only then that he'd really realized how it would look to anyone other than them. But until now, that hadn't had to be a concern. "Same spot?" One of the idiots next to him was growing impatient and by the look on that one's face, Cesare was already in the know.

It had occurred to him that he didn't have to head back to the table but he also didn't want to hear it from Max anymore than he'd already laid it on. More than anything he wanted to see Quin before he completely exploded from ... well, everything. And so he found himself bobbing through the bodies and even dancing a little to the music himself. This was a good place, a good energy and pretty decent people. A part of him wanted Quin to enjoy it too but as he approached the table, that dagger look in his eyes. Here ... we ... go ...

Cesare slid in next to Max and immediately took one of the shots on the tray. A green tea. Thank the gods for that man some times. Cesare ushered one shot for Max and the other for Quin, avoiding any gaze from the younger of the two. Perhaps if they just drank enough all could be forgiven in time. It was a fool's wish but he clung to it nonetheless. The other two took the shots, Max more enthusiastically and they held them up, Quin following reluctantly.

"It's been a while." He started, projecting his voice so the pair could hear him over the thumping of the bass. "Been a while but it's good to have us all back together. Good to see we've all grown up and not killed one another." He chuckled a bit at that but quickly recovered. "I'm just really happy to be out with you both. And Quin," He paused, looking directly at him in that moment. "I'm really glad you're back. You've been very missed." He didn't give Max the chance to join in and instead clanked all their glasses together and quickly threw back his own shot.

Cesare's hand shot out for one of the shorter glasses on the tray, whiskey by the looks of it and chased the sweet goodness down. He drew in a deep breath through pursed lips as the glass left his lips and the burn from the alcohol started to sink in fully. He'd thought to say to Max about who was driving later but he imagined they could figure that out before it was too late into their night. Just relax for right now. "And now that I've gone all sappy," His gaze drifted from the table towards Max. "Why exactly are you tossing me aside like chopped liver? Afraid Quin will like my company more than yours? His own brother?" He dared not to smile as widely as he wanted to at that but still.