open arms are never what they seem

Antoinette's ballroom was out of a fairy tale. Rich people in gowns and double breasted suits moved around the room like characters in a picture book. Florentin was similarly dressed, and he had to check several times nothing was out of place. Octaviuses didn't deal with imperfection.

Now that he was actually here, well. It was so much more of a snoozefest than previously thought.

Florentin was taught all the skills to handle high society parties. He was well-equipped to handle these situations but god if he wasn't thinking of better places to be, somewhere darker, with flashy lights and a thin haze of smoke. His father was usually the one that attended these parties for him, but now that he was living by himself in the island, he was obligated to attend for formality's sake. There were grand thoughts of meeting beautiful strangers or impressing a billionaire hotshot that would impress his father. So far? He'd been here an hour, charming as ever, but inwardly screaming on the inside listening to Madame Froo-Froo talk about her princess shih tzu. Didn't these people have more interesting things going on?

Adult responsibilities sucked.

Here he was too, all dolled up like a prince. He preened at his reflection on a marble column. At least he was pretty.

He tapped a waiter on the shoulder and asked him for more champagne.


@Kyros

Florentin was only half paying attention. With the exception of Sasha, the help barely registered as people to him, and he was intent on taking his alcohol and waving the man away.

He glanced at him briefly, and recognition dawned in his face immediately. He grinned. Aleron, or something, that was his name. Florentin recognized him immediately. How couldn't he? Florentin was always on the lookout for people that shined brighter than others, and Aleron was like the sun.

His interest spiked. God willing, this night was about to get more interesting.

He took the champagne, waving a finger at his direction.

"Monsieur... Eleutherius. Aleron, from Math class. That is your name, yes?" He laughed, taking a sip of his drink while still maintaining eye contact. "I'd recognize your face anywhere! What a lovely coincidence! I expected you at this party, but not as kitchen staff. I swear, a waste of talent and a pretty face. What is the world coming to?"

He shook his head in disappointment, then smiled sweetly. "Do you like this job? I can't imagine it would be very fun serving —" Spoiled, boring, high strung, self-absorbed. He gestured vaguely at the crowd, "— the upper class."

Florentin felt his face burn up and his wide smile begin to ache as this wonderful, delightful man gave him a bow, causing heads to turn to their direction and his heart soar into the heavens. Yes, yes, he was delighted with this treatment. It was nothing less than he deserved.

And then he left.

He stood at the middle of the ballroom, feeling cold and self-conscious.

This — this wasn't what he wanted from this. He felt the edges of irritation prick at the edges of his mind, twitching, obsessed. He couldn't go back to the party after that. It was so, so much duller in comparison. His mother had scolded him for being spoiled before, but was it not an admirable trait to pursue one's desires? And in that moment, he wanted nothing more than the attention of this man.

He saw how he looked at him. He wanted him too! Was serving his shift for a penny, or however the saying went, more appealing than he was? Bullshit.

He needed to get him back.

Act fast.

Florentin strode to Aleron's direction and coincidentally "bumped" into a party goer, spilling champagne on his shirt. Florentin made an outraged noise and was met with the man's string of apologies.

"My suit!" He closed his eyes, arms raised to his side as there was a very visible stain across his shirt. "You, Aleron —" he pointed at Aleron, who was coincidentally the nearest waiter near him, "— get me some towels, I'll be in the men's bathroom." He made eye contact with him and headed into the bathroom to soak up the stain in the sink.

Florentin was busy soaking the front of his jacket. In those quiet moments, he thought about the time Sasha chattered on about magical grocery items. Florentin was so insistent they didn't need stain proof detergent, and now he proved to be the fool. Sasha was right yet again.

Not that it mattered, he supposed. It was a terrible night for his clothing but an absolutely delightful one for his plans. As soon as he heard the door open, a small smile lingered on his face. There he was, the little rat in his cage. He took off his jacket and wiped the small stain on his undershirt to no avail.

"Aleron," he said in acknowledgement, taking the towel from him. He knew that if he left it at that, he would leave, so Florentin casually positioned himself against the only exit, wiping the stain idly. He met his eyes. "This night is not going as well as I'd hoped. My colleagues talk up Antoinette's events. I came in expecting to be Cinderella at the ball. I'm coming out in need of a wash. It's not even midnight."

A pause. "I imagine it isn't going well for you either... and that I have no small part in that. I'm sorry. I reacted without thinking." He chuckled awkwardly, tucking his hair behind his ear. "Do you want to go out for a walk? Not too far, not too long. The crisp, night air might be good for the two of us. What do you say?"

Florentin leaned forward, invested. He expected such a stuffy man to put up some resistance. He was on the clock, after all, and it would do him no good to leave his shift for a pretty face, and Florentin was ready to pull out all the stops to lure him out.

Well, color him surprised.

He caved too easy. Once they were outside, it would be easier to make him stay outside. The party would be out of sight and out of mind. Florentin beamed, resisting the urge to loop their arms together right there. He folded his jacket and let it hang from his arm.

"I had my bodyguard drive me here, yes. My car is outside. I can use this —" He raised his arm with the jacket on it, "— as an excuse."

They were doing this, then.

Always a master of sneaking out, Florentin exited the bathroom and gestured for Aleron to come with, a few paces behind him. His walk was casual, and he kept his gaze ahead. People hardly noticed. Should they spare a second glance at his direction, the stained jacket already told the story.

With the outside clear and free from other eyes, Florentin happily bounced down the gallery steps and turned to Aleron. The night air was refreshing. His cheeks were flushed, and he grinned from ear to ear. "There! Is this not so much better?" He moved to his side, lightly touching his arm. "Now, mister valet, shall we walk to my car?"

Florentin laughed and imitated the bow. So stiff! It seemed like flawlessly polite was a default setting for Aleron. It was almost charming. "Yes! I shall."

Now, where did Sasha park his car? Florentin hugged his chest, chilly under the spring night time weather, and made his way to the parking lot. He surveyed the area for a black Ford sedan with a specific plate number. He knew he didn't park near the entrance, that was for sure —

"Do you really dislike it so?"

He froze for a moment, feeling an instinctive response of hatred bubbling in his chest. The vagueness seemed to have hit a sensitive target. He turned to look at Aleron behind him, smile sheepish.

"I dislike a lot of things," he said, singsong, to soften the blow of its severity. "If you mean the party, then... Hm. It was alright! The guests were pretty unbearable. But the art and canape was good, and I got to talk to you. All in all, I'd give it a B-?"

He lead him towards a row of cars with a vague idea that his might be there. "And you? I can't imagine you liked me stealing you away like this. I'd be irritable too, since I promised myself I'd only sneak out of parties for kisses." When he was done joking, his smile softened, shaking his head. "I won't let you get in trouble. I'll take responsibility for this. I promise."

"Oh..." Aleron was suddenly, hm, very close. Victory felt sweet, and he should be excited, but he felt his cheeks flush instead. He took a step back on instinct, bumping lightly against a car, squeaking when he realized. Well!

Florentin tilted his head, studying Aleron's face, trying to determine if it was a joke. Really, he just ended up struck by how handsome he was. Kisses under the dark night sky, a fancy party happening in the background. It was all so... romantic. He knew better these days, but that didn't mean he couldn't be indulgent every once in a while.

"I've been thinking of it all night. Of course, of course..." He chuckled lightly, a hand curling on the front of Aleron's shirt.

Aleron was one of those people Florentin knew was bright inside and out. He couldn't help but flinch when he touched him this intimately, shy under his scrutiny. He was surprised he didn't burn underneath his sheer brightness, with all the dirty, grimy parts of him suddenly being brought into light. He relaxed into the touches, smiling softly and squeezing the hand holding his. His eyes fluttered shut, and he melted under the kiss.

Just when he wanted more, he was gone.

Florentin's face was red. His heartbeat was so loud it thumped violently in his ears. His chest was a jumble of loud, violent emotions he didn't really understand. He usually knew what he wanted, but not now. He didn't understand anything then. Outrage, desire, shame, all of them mixed uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach. He covered his lips with his fingers, the sensation of Aleron's lips almost lingering.

He covered his face and laughed it all away.

"Sorry? For what? Being silly teenagers?" He took both of his hands into his and squeezed. "Listen, Mr. Responsible Adult, you need to lighten up once in a while. This is a good start, but we can probably be more ambitious here. What's the worst thing you've ever done?"

Florentin dropped their hands and stood next to Aleron, resting his weight to his back so he could look up at the stars. It was too intimate for someone that could barely feel intimacy, he thought with amusement.

"I expected you'd be good..." He chuckled. "I'm not. I get away with a lot. All my life, my parents trapped me behind high gates, told me I wasn't supposed to see the world because of my health. They never knew, but I sneaked out a lot. I was a young teenager, and I fell in love with it all, the night life, the people..."

He fell in love with trouble, and he fell in love with this. He got on his tip toes and kissed Aleron, on the lips first, then his jaw, down his neck. Unlike earlier, it wasn't chaste, not in the least. "I'd like for you to see that too, Aleron. Embrace your youth. Just one night. What could it hurt?"