After the lights.

"You... belong up... h-here. With me." The hotel owner shifts a bit back, to make a spot up on the sofa - more importantly, on his lap.

"Hi..." He murmurs back. Ash can see his neck shown off to him and chuckles, brushing his hand down to the warm expanse of skin. Then he bends down to kiss him. Cradles his face as Ash leans himself over to him.

Marcus' brows furrowed and it wasn't long before he was leaning over the counter to inspect the bottles a little closer. "Hey, what gives?" His eyes darted back to the employee stuck working the game. In all honesty, he wasn't too upset about the fact that he had wasted his own time and money on the game. If anything, he was more upset that there were probably a bunch of kids that wasted their entire allowances on this thing.

A little shrug as he holds it out to the other. "Not... the em... employee's fault. But..." He can't help a soft grin, letting Marcus take it and tucking his hands into his pockets. "Least he... m-made it right." Was the big dolphin worth $20? Probably not. But still.

At the sight of the dogs, Taliesin sat down on the floor, given over to childishness. He'd always loved animals, their uncomplicated affections. His own cat, Mrs. Robinson, an enormously fluffy white Persian was devoted to Taliesin, however much she seemed to hate literally everyone else. He'd spent so long dusting her fur of himself before he left the house he'd almost been late. "Hello. Hello darlings," he giggled, letting the pups climb all over his lap and push their faces into his. He scratched behind their ears, took the most excitable one into his arms to tickle its belly.

Ash moves to slip out of his shoes and close the door. He turns on a few lights, and brushes some of his long hair out of his face as he heads off to the kitchen. It's an open concept top-floor apartment. Essentially a penthouse but simpler and a bit smaller. But nonetheless, it looks important. Nice. With some warmth to it- old throw blankets on a large sofa, a balcony with dog beds out there that he clearly hangs out on during the mornings. A cup of coffee sits on the little deck table, one of his flannels hanging off a deck chair.

But it's so slow, and almost comforting. He can feel Tal's head turn, and Ash's hand slides up to caress it. A broad palm settling there while a thumb brushes the man's jaw.

He's grinning too, and he keeps his hand in his as they walk.

Ash chuckles, a warm rumble in his chest as he walks - wavy dark hair tousled from a bit of wind as they head down the sidewalk. "Near... here. A few... blocks. That okay...?" He has a nice place - any owner of a nice hotel would, after all.

"I'll hurt you, Ash." Because that's exactly what he did, every time. People who were nothing but kind to him ended up on the receiving end of his teeth, and Ash was one of the kindest, and Taliesin didn't want to hurt him... But goddamn if the thought of going home with Richard now made him want to curl up and die. "Take me home with you."

He knows what Taliesin is. It doesn’t mean he respects him any less. But it does mean that he doesn’t expect anything. In the end, Ashwin is a 55 year old hotel owner. Quiet, to himself. He knows that he isn't exactly many younger folk's type.

Ash grins though, at that request, because he thought he’d never ask. The hand has stayed in Tal’s and he uses it to lead him back towards the side door to head out. The tall man downs his drink and sets the empty glass down. Brushes his long hair out of his face and tugs Tal into the alleyway. It’s there  that he finds his face with long fingers, tracing his chin with his thumb, and kisses him. 

"Home... it is, then."

He's the only one? Ash grins slightly, rolling up the sleeves of his nice shirt as two glasses of merlot are set down for them. The place is a bit dead, so he can't be too flattered. But he holds out a broad hand regardless to shake hers. "Ash... I'm the... owner." He explains with a small nod, words taking an extra moment to form around his tongue. "Your name?"

LOCATION: coney island

"So I... have to buy you?" Ash's hair is teased around a finger and he watches him. There's no judgment in his eyes- it's rare Ashwin would ever judge another for doing what they need to. It's more-so figuring out how he can best help the other.

Because he'd very much like to take him home, just as Tal had said. But he isn't the type of man he assumes Taliesin is looking for. "Maybe... I can... find you l-later." He murmurs. The hand is close enough, and he lifts one of his own- catches Tal's and presses a kiss to his knuckles. A smirk, because it's a bit corny. And Ash is fully aware.

"Don't... want to keep you from... Dick."

His family finding out that he'd been fucking his father's business partner, fucking him for years and years, had been the last straw. His parents hadn't even spoken to him, just quietly blocked his number, had the locks changed on the house. Taliesin's brother had called eventually, given him the dressing down of a lifetime about what an embarrassment he was, what he'd jepordised without thinking. And the worst part was that his father was still working with him, had managed to patch it up for the sake of the enterprise, but not for the sake of the family. And now he did exactly what he'd always done, but now there was money involved. There was always a destructive, angry impulse in him, but then he really would be risking it. There were no lifelines now. God, he wanted to burn the world down. "It would have to be a secret," Taliesin hummed, looking at Ash. What was it about older men? "But you're very good at keeping secrets, I suspect."

"Why?" He walks a bit closer, and tilts his head in curiosity. He has this urge to prove himself and he's not sure why. "A...Ashamed, of me?" Ash's voice is hushed, rough, still working his tongue around the words. He's nearly chest to chest with Tal as he takes a light sip of his drink.

Briefly, his eyes flit around the room. Then he turns back to the other with a warm gaze, with raised eyebrows. "I... am good at s-secrets." He murmurs. "You... do not seem... to be."

Ever the quiet and attentive type, Mikala merely listens to Ashwin; the distinct quality of his voice, the cadence of his speech. Attention shifts only briefly when the glasses of wine are placed on the bartop, and he reaches for his own, sipping and savoring the merlot.

Eyes go from the aforementioned corgi to Ashwin again, head tilting slightly, "Freddie? That's... charming." A little smile, though it's anyone's guess if it's in regards to the dog or the other's introduction.

Ash lets himself sink a bit further into his chair. Eyes the man's comment about Freddie's name. Not entirely sure if that's sarcasm or not. Charming. "Bowie... Freddie... Queenie... George." He points to each one to give their names.

Mikala. A unique name for a unique man. A soft nod. "The three... are... siblings. Were... at a pound. Couldn't... leave them. But Freddie is... new."

Santiago wasn't really someone to frequent bars, alcohol being a vice he didn't overindulge in. Tonight however, he had decided he wasn't quite ready to go home yet and found himself wandering into the hotel bar. The atmosphere in there seemed to suit him better than most other places in the city. There weren't any large crowds nor was there obnoxiously loud music that he would have to shout over just to order something. Instead things here felt relatively peaceful.

Instead, he watches the other stand and shift to his table. A small nod and a smile as he motions for two merlots instead of one to the bartender. The tall hotel owner's long legs are tucked under the chair, and he slips out of his suit jacket with a small nod. "...Mine. Yes." He murmurs. "Feel... free to say... hi, they're... friendly." His words take a bit longer to form with a recovering tongue, but nonetheless his tone is warm, and kind.

"Ash." He holds out a broad hand to the other man with a small nod, eyeing him for a moment. "...What... brings you h-here?"

That was Taliesin's schtick, being unobtainable, except for the very wealthiest, those of the highest social calibre. It made them feel like they'd achieved something, the honour of his presence. And Ash's, presumably, was his discretion. Taliesin could bring home all the nameless pretty boys from the club that he wanted, that was par for the course, and they were gone in an instant. He'd be playing a very dangerous game with Ash, compromising his image - and, likely, so would Ash. He smiled sadly, sipped at his drink. "I'd ask you to take me home, but I think that would be bad for both of our businesses."

Taliesin is interesting, though. Seemingly pretentious and spoiled. Seemingly vain in his own way... and yet, Ash can feel something beneath the surface. Maybe a sadness, an emptiness. Jury's still out, but Ash is curious enough to keep poking around.

A little smile at the proposition that isn't exactly one. Ash murmurs in a near purr - a rumbling tone in his chest: "Bad... for business? To... take you... home?" An eyebrow raise, a tiny smirk as he takes another long sip of his own drink. Shaking his head. "All the... old men... will get... jealous, of... this old man." He adds, gesturing to himself with a look to the left and right at the affluent older idiots around. Their version of 'casual' for this place is golf shorts and a polo. Ashwin would rather die than fuck one of them - but he gets why Tal does it.

Another nod. "Feel... free." The four corgis are all very sweet - there are two with a lot of darker markings and white bellies, another in tan with a white belly. And one who's far younger, a puppy- also a buff color. "They... are fr...friendly. Sort... of follow... me around."

It took Taliesin somewhat by surprise, the way Ashwin looked. Hotel staff, even managers, had a tendency to dress like part of the upholstery. That was the point though, to be invisible, to make the entire experience seamless. Seeing him like this... Well, it wasn't quite as bizarre as seeing a PE teacher out of their sports gear, and much more pleasant. "Who let you out of the hotel?" Taliesin smirked. "What's that expression they use about Henry Cavill? Oh yes. You grime up good."

His glass is lifted to his lips as he takes in the other. A moment where his warm brown eyes just seem to shift over Taliesin, who he always sees with some old man paying for his drinks, his dinners. A nice hotel room... who let him out of the hotel? "I did." He is the owner after all, not that he announces that at every moment of every day. Then, a glance down to his own clothing. "Grime... up good..." A smirk. "You think... it looks good, then?" He asks, shifting a bit closer. "I ask... again. How.. can I help, Tal?"

There is no logical reason for Mikala to be at a hotel, when he has a perfectly fine home that's costing him an arm and a leg to pay off, however he's found himself at one regardless. Perhaps he enjoys hotel bars more than standalone businesses, finding them to be a little more peaceful. Quiet.

He doesn't expect there to be dogs—four of them, to be specific—and he's eyeing them with a curiosity. Inevitably, he catches the eye of their owner and he merely returns the curt nod. It would be rude, wouldn't it, if he ignored the invitation?

So, he takes a seat next to the man.

And he gets the same drink, too. Deep red wine, like Ash. His warm gaze focuses on him and he gives a soft nod. "They... are. Fr...Freddie is the... newest." He points to the smallest, who's tucked up against one of the bigger corgis. "I r...run a... tight sh-ship." He explains, and holds out a broad hand to the man. "...Ash."