A Time to Celebrate [Open]

The appreciation that Lelei held for the tolerances of the island should probably have been taken with a grain of salt. While it was fantastic that the island of Manta Carlos seemed to have a much better attitude toward diversity, originating in the fact that most of the populace also had powers and abilities that made skin color and appearance much less important, Lelei had never been off the island. He thus had no frame of comparison. With some thought, he could see how the mainland and other countries could be less tolerant. But most of the time, he just thought everyone would be, more or less, accepting of him.

The alcohol coursing through his system addled his critical thinking processes, however, and Lelei simply nodded agreeably along with Leeroy. It took him longer to get drunk than most humans, but at that point in the night he had already consumed enough to make it not matter. Plus there was the matter of the blond twink occupying most of Lelei's attention.

Friendly nothin'! He looks inviting..."

Lelei was beginning to show the initial stages of slurring as he playfully nudged Leeory with his elbow. The blond boy had taken to gently rocking his butt from side to side as he talked to his friends. Intentionally or not, it was getting Lelei's attention.

"Nah. You see. It's like how my ancestors hunted. Gotta scope out the prey first. Gotta circle. You can't just rush in there, even if it seems like an easy catch."

He gave Leeroy a toothy grin.

"And it's always best to travel together, y'know. Especially when they travel in schools like that. It's gonna take more than one hunter to get that fishy."

"That's my man!"

Lelei followed Leeroy's example with a smile and down his entire glass of whiskey at once. It was an impressive feat considering the size of the glass, and intimidating to look at. Lelei essentially opened his sharky maw wide and dumped the entire contents of the glass into his mouth without even touching it to his mouth, and it almost looked like he was just going to eat the glass too.

His head closed shut with a satisfied sigh and a shake of the head as the tip of his head fin grew even more red. Setting the glass down, he leaned in close to Leeroy, like he was telling a secret.

"So here's how we do it, Lee... We approach together. Stay close, like, an arm's length away. We need to move as one. And look your attractive. Like that."

Lelei just pointed at Leeroy like he had done something other than exist.

"Then when we get there, you go on one side of blondie, and I'll go on the other. From there... From there, it's like we do it in the police. Good cop and hot cop."

No gestures were made to indicate which one of them would play which role.

"Engage the boy and his friends. Ask them how they're doing and what brings 'em around. Y'know. Smooth talk. Flirt even. Keep 'em interested and make sure they don't walk away. I'll handle blondie. You can have any of the other boys there. They all look pretty soft to the touch if you know what I mean~"

Lelei almost wanted to highfive Leeory for going along with the plan. However, for the plan to have the best chances of succeeding, Lelei needed to not look so much like he and Leeroy were planning something. The four boys across the way could may have had some inkling that the two men were up to something, but that was alright in Lelei's head. As long as the two of them were had the facade of having no strategy or forethought, then everything was going to be okay. Somehow.

Leeory was given time to order and slug back his shot as Lelei saw no problem in that. Lelei was itching to go and he eagerly followed alongside Leeroy as they came up to the four boys. The moment the two of them left the bar, the four of them pretty much knew what was coming, and giggled with anticipation.

The term "boy" was a much better fit for the four than "man". They were all lean and svelte, skinny and lacking the overt masculine shape that Leeroy and Lelei possessed. Blondie had the most pronounced hips of the bunch, and the most audacious outfit. One was a darker-skinned boy was possibly the most sensibly dressed in a tight polo shirt and jeans. Another boy was essentially in work out gear with a tank top and shorts. The fourth boy, a brunette, surprised Lelei. He looked like he might have been the most covered with a light-weather hoodie. However, hidden behind the others, it was revealed that the boy was wearing extremely short-shorts and striped thigh-high socks(leggings? stockings?).

Leeroy's entrance definitely got their attention, which was saying something given that a shark man was also approaching them. His rugged cowboy entrance, complete with hat tilt, was a killer and Lelei would have to buy him a drink for that. All the boys turned their big eyes to him and shot coy little greetings, which gave Lelei enough time to slip in on the other side.

"Layin' it on thick, dontchya think, Leeroy? I don't think these boys can handle THAT much cowboy at once. Although..."

The boys were nicely surprised with Lelei's presence, and they started chuckled between the two men, especially when Lelei made noticeable eyes at the blond boy, whom was the first to really speak up.

"This is my first time here actually, and I must say that I'm loving it already."

The boys hooted at the obvious coyness, and the brunette casted a few glances in Leeroy's direction.

"What about you two? Are you always moseying around these parts?"

The boys were eating up Leeroy's cowboy act. They were all smiles, giggles, and the occasional concealed whispered to the boy next to them. They made no effort to hide their gazes at either men, at least until they were also being watched back in which case they would playfully avert their eyes. The boy with the hoodie and tiny shorts was goaded into swapping places with his friend after some not-so-subtle nudging, putting him closer to Leeroy and making his face redden.

Lelei was having just as much fun watching Leeroy play his part as he was playing a silent tug of war with the blond boy. For someone who professed to not have any interest in intimacy nor have any flirting chops, Leeroy was killing it with the boys. Whether he was trying or not, every other word out of his mouth was tinged with innuendo. The boys had no idea that Leeroy was just putting on airs. To them, he was coming on harder than, well, than Lelei was.

"I AM an apex predator, buddy. I gotta know the most active feedin' grounds or else I ain't gonna make it."

There was a little less subtlety with Lelei's words and that might have been attributed to Lelei actually trying for something, and the alcohol. The boys still loved it since it let them know that they were the center of attention, and the blond boy grew a salacious smirk as he began to wiggle his hips like a tantalizing fish.

"Oh yeah. Looks like we hit a hot spot for sure tonight. Might turn into a feedin' frenzy."

They were turning into an almost perfect double act for the boys. Leeroy was smooth and alluring with his words, whether he meant or not. Lelei was more aggressive and overt. Silk vs. leather. Wine vs. whiskey. Both captivating in their own ways, and coming together to be larger than the sum of their parts. Leeroy's hooded admirer was already in the "biting his lower lip" stage.

"Same reason you're here, cowboy~ We had ourselves a tough week and we needed some to loosen up, relax, have a good time."

"And the warm weather means we can finally break out our spring wardrobe."

"Speak for yourself. I'm just happy to not have to wear a coat again. YOU are just looking for an excuse to show off your new stockings, Tomi."

The boy in the exercise clothes teased Tomi, the brunette with the hoodie, whom shyly glanced at Leeroy and extended his toned leg as stealthily as he could, trying to make it look like he wasn't showing off.

"... Maybe..."

Tomi seemed to be inching closer and closer to Leeroy. Every so often in his fidgeting or shifting from foot to foot, he would scoot an inch or so in his direction. Unlike his blond friend, Tomi was not as active with showing off his body, other than his choice of clothing. He idly sipped his fruity drink while his friends and Lelei spoke, occasionally shooting glances over at the cowboy, or his thick muscular arms. By the time he halted his advance, Tomi was almost close enough to touch arms with Leeroy, and from there he could definitely get an idea of much smaller he was than him.

Lelei was doing pretty well on his own with the blond boy, whose name turned out to be Sam or "Sammi" as everyone seemed to refer to him as. Sammi had taken a similar approach to Tomi, only much more aggressive. It was difficult to say whether one or both of them had contributed, but eventually Sammi was leaning on the table right in front of Lelei, and Lelei was standing immediately behind him, easily able to see over his head and talk with the others.

Leeroy's eyes met Lelei's, and there was approval in them. For all that it mattered to him, everything was working out wonderfully, for both of them.

"Cute, nothin'. The warm weather makes you all looke fine. Good enough to eat."

The boys cooed like a live studio audience at Lelei's audacity, and the well dressed boy teasingly rolled his eyes.

"Coming on a little strong, aren't we, Mr. Lelei?"

"Oh, hush, Aaron~!"

Sammi was enjoying the attention either way. Of the four of them, Aaron seemed the most level-headed and reasonable. Though he liked flirting with Leeroy and Lelei, Aaron had yet to really fall for their wiles and was simply having fun. He still shot the occasional lingering glance at either one of them though.

"Heh. Well, if we're going to be playing games, how about one of you big men buy us some drinks? I'm getting kind of low."

Lelei smirked from over Sammi's head and looked at Leeroy.

"I'm down. Whaddya say, Leeroy? I'll buy the round."

As if to encourage him, Tomi surreptitiously rubbed his leg against Leeroy's.

"I'll have whatever you're having..."