golden lovers

The world tilted with Kel’s view, that gentle finger stopping both his breath and anything he could say. His eyes flickered from foreground to background, unsure which he was supposed to be looking at. Another piece clicked into place as his mind worked feverishly-this too was a dance. A game maybe. Either way Marquis was looking to get something out of the exchange. Leave you wanting more. Now this was familiar, harkening back to the school days when cruel children would dare each other to ask him out. None of them meant the things they said, why would this be any different? Not a dare though…. Samael what are you up to?

Knowing the situation didn’t help Kel’s reactions unfortunately, so the touch burned as he let this stranger command his attention. “You just-? I mean I’m not, that’s very…” Deep breath, calm down. Why didn’t the words ring hollow like they had in the past? How could he say these things with an honest expression. Good actor. “You’re very upfront about your thoughts then? That’s admirable.”

A shiver ran down his spine like ice as he realized just how close the other was, leaning back to cast sharp eyes over golden features. “You’re worth far more than my time, I’m sure. And I doubt they’d be pleased with such a decision. Wouldn’t want to get either of us in trouble, yeah?” Despite the words, he could feel his body settle in a way it didn’t in these places. Would it really be so bad to make Samael come out and find him? Didn’t he deserve some time with someone who liked him well enough- or could pretend to.

It could be nice to draw someone without hiding in the shadows.

The head escort only smiled warmly, letting his hand fall to his side once he had Kel’s attention. “Am I? Well, it’s hard for me to not be that honest around someone like you. I feel like I can really enjoy my time with you,” he said fondly before raising a brow at the other’s remark. “Am I not allowed to choose who I spend my time with? I think Samael can give me more agency than that now,” he chuckled. The dancer locked eyes with the other, not wanting for him to pull away in the slightest. “And even if that were true, I wouldn’t mind getting in trouble for you. You’d be worth every moment I get to spend with.”

“At least stay with me for a bit? We can watch the dancers together, until you have to go see Samael. I never get good company like you around these parts, not like this anyways.” The dancer tried to hide his pouting face away from Kel, at least in a manner where he knew the other could see it, the way he truly did want this stranger’s company around him before leaving to Hades. There was something so fresh, so pure and so enticing about him that Marquis couldn’t place. But it was unfortunate that the artist had come for other reasons, other reasons that didn’t seem to include him, at least not yet, if he were lucky.

Any hope that the beautiful man would take that as enough of an answer and leave him to drown in embarrassment dried up and vanished when Marquis pretty name for a pretty person waved Kel’s former subjects over. A much better angle for the poses he was practicing but there was no way he was going to get back to work now. “They don’t, it’s not, uh. It’s more that Samael doesn’t much care whether I do the drawings or not. They’re just f-for practice anyway. While I wait.” He wished he was contributing art to the world rather than the means of various destructions. He could find out what Samael liked, do it as a gift….

Kel had been so distracted by the concept that it took nearly a full second to understand what Marquis had said. All he could do was blink at the man, a stranger- he only knew his name and that he worked under Hades! Heat flooded his face and he was ever thankful that blushes weren’t entirely visible on his skin. “You- What?” he wished he could sink into the floor. Why was he so affected by the question? Sure he didn’t have much experience with people having that sort of interest and even less with people who were so forward about it, but still! He had to have some level of dignity and barely reigned himself in from just leaving- meeting with Samael be damned.

“Oh, practice? Practice for what?” Marquis hummed, still peering over Kel’s shoulder at his artwork. Idly reaching over to tuck a finger under the shy man’s chin, Marquis guided his face up to look at the summoned dancers. “They’re beautiful, no? I trained them myself. The way their bodies move, how to act and look... it leaves you wanting more...” the head dancer hummed lowly, a small smile forming on his lips as he nodded in approval at the ensemble on the stage.

The Frenchman didn’t say anything, clearly amused at Kel’s flustered response and heated blushes. He could practically feel the radiating embarrassment. “Do you mind?” he murmured, shifting their bodies so that he was properly facing the artist, turning him away from the stage. “I couldn’t help myself. I have a hard time controlling myself around someone so... beautiful and charming as yourself. And I just wanted to know if your lips are as soft and gentle as they seem,” he mused lightly. There was a playful nature in his eyes, but Marquis’ expression was genuine. No more flirting, no more playboy, just a genuine request and pure fascination at the pure-hearted man that seemed to find himself in too deep within Hades’ lair. “Don’t go see Hades. Stay with me. I promise I’ll be worth your time,” he whispered gently against Kel’s ear.

despite the frequent come-ons, august had to admit he felt a sense of comfort around marquis. perhaps it was because of this feeling of shared responsibility between them when it came to the other dancers, though he was certain that marquis had a much bigger role in taking care of them. so in more ways than one, he respected the other man - more than he ever thought he would. 

still, he couldn’t help that he did feel flustered whenever he was around marquis, but that wasn’t something he could entirely control. he almost felt bad about bringing up the incident, but it was important to him that they talked. 

“i know. they’re some of the smartest people i’ve met,” august agreed, “it’s just…i’ve barely managed to get used to seeing all of this and i can’t imagine…” if only he could move away - if only he had some other choice. he almost wanted to ask marquis, too, if he ever had doubts about being here, but he couldn’t quite bring himself. 

“and what about you? are you feeling okay? you know if you ever need a place to stay for a few nights or hide out…” he asked instead, trailing off for a moment as he sipped at his coffee. “my place isn’t big but the couch isn’t too uncomfortable, either.” 

Marquis sat there comfortably, his chocolatey eyes tracing the other’s very movement. He hummed softly, hiding his amusement behind his cup of coffee. The head dancer didn’t say anything for a moment, still fixating on the other, just to let him finish. Aphrodite always knew how to listen, how to play to what the other wanted. It was what made him that captivating, that entrancing. The escort smiled a bit wider at August’s offer, setting his cup down as he leaned across the table.

“Is that an offer? You should know better than to invite an angel into your home,” he teased, winking at the other man. “Or is this your way of asking for a date?” Marquis hummed in amusement, though his eyes were less teasing than his words. “I appreciate the offer. I think I’ll be alright. Couches aren’t necessarily my thing either. But, if you want bed company, I’m always happy to cuddle. Or more,” he purred, drinking from his coffee cup again. His words were as velvety as the hot, brewed liquid he was drinking down. 

“Actually, now that you mention it, I wouldn’t mind some company walking back home late at night. You never know when someone might come for our heads, and I don’t really have someone watching my back. I’ve paired my dancers off into groups of three so they’ll have company, but you know, my nights are often quite lonely,” Marquis mused, the Frenchman putting on an expression of sadness. “Maybe I could steal you away for myself,” he teased once more, swirling around his coffee cup as he finished the drink. “Just run away so both of us are safe together. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

These quiet hours were nice. He tried to avoid Asphodel during its active hours whenever possible, but business was business and sometimes it couldn’t be helped. He had a minor inkling that Samael knew he wasn’t comfortable with the crowds, or maybe they just preferred to get meetings out of the way early. But in the quiet times, Kel could hide in a corner and wait his turn and put pen to paper until his mind settled. 

Art was still the one thing that made him grounded. Motion captured and frozen on a page- and when the models were some of the best dancers in the city, there was plenty to draw. That didn’t mean he wanted anyone to see though, and the shock of someone breaking his concentration had him scrambling to cover the page. Not that he was doing anything wrong of course!

“I’m- You see, uh, I have a- Your?” Kel swallowed hard as he finally took in the man sitting beside him. Was that glitter? He leaned back as the other came closer, eyes wide, voice caught in his throat. “Um. Kel, I’m Kel. I’ve got uh,” his eyes darted to the bulky metal box on the other side of the table. A bundle of unmade sins tucked away in shiny chrome. “Business. With the boss, that is. I’m- If there’s a problem of me not asking to draw, I talked about it with Samael!” I think. I hope. “B-but if it’s bothering people I’ll stop, I didn’t mean-” God he hoped he’d stop babbling at some point, this was just embarrassing. 

Marquis was unfazed. This was Asphodel, after all. This was like his home. So to see the other drawing wasn’t a problem to him. It helped that the other man was absolutely adorable too. “Kel? That’s a cute name. I’m Marquis,” he hummed, following the other’s gaze to the box on the table. The dancer didn’t pry in the moment though, humming softly at the other man’s response. “Ah, so the boss said so, hm? Well, I certainly can’t argue with that now,” he murmured lowly. “Certainly not when you seemed so in thought like that.”

The dancer chuckled lightly at the comment. “If the dancers were bothered by you drawing them, then they shouldn’t have become dancers. Don’t worry; I’m sure they’re flattered to be your muse,” he murmured lowly into Kel’s ear. Marquis snapped his fingers, waving for three of his dancers to come closer to the stage front before the two of them. The head escort gestured for them to continue as they were doing, rehearsing the routines and finishing stretching. “What would the boss want with your drawings, I wonder. Mind if you share?” he teased, not leaning away from the other man in the slightest. “What do your lips taste like?” Marquis followed up, with no warning or pre-tense. He loved teasing the other man; Kel looked like he was going to melt into the floor beneath him.

A happy hum escaped his lips when Marquis’ fingers slid through his hair, the tension of that days work sliding off his shoulders with every soft touch. His hands moved up the other’s chest and stopped to cup his cheeks before pulling Marquis in closer so he could pepper the man’s face with kisses. “You should get back to work, you know where I keep the spare key and you can come and join me later tonight. I’ll leave dinner out and prep the shower so I expect you to be clean and fed before crawling into my bed.”

He could feel the jealous stares of angry patrons burning holes in the back of his head, and while he was more than happy to flaunt his passion towards Marquis it wasn’t welcome in this setting. His grin slowly fell as he scanned the club, his gaze catching the eyes of others who cursed him out under their breath. When his attention fell back on the man in front of him he forced a well-practiced smile and dropped his hands to his lap. “It’s time for me to go,” He attempted to wiggle out from underneath Marquis’s weight. 

Marquis never really took no for an answer. If he wanted someone, he had them, and right now, he wanted his entire attention devoted to Tyler. So he expected the same in return. Pushing the two of them further into the chair, Marquis rested comfortably on the other’s lap, his hips right against the other’s as he peered down at the dark-haired man. “I look forward to that tonight,” he teased, leaning into the soft peppered kisses.

The dancer could care less about the other patrons. Jealousy over him wasn’t something he was unfamiliar with. But he was allowed to pick who he spent his time with. And he wanted Tyler’s full attention. His brows furrowing a bit, Marquis leaned in, tilting the other’s head so his gaze was back on him. Marquis liked it when Tyler was only looking at him. “Why? I want to kiss you now. I want you to stay with me,” he murmured lowly, before kissing Tyler firmly on the lips. There was so much unbridled heat and passion beneath it, so much want, as his fingers slipped around and threaded through the other’s hair. The other hand roamed over the sitting man’s chest, feeling him carefully through the suit. “The things I’ll do to you tonight,” the dancer whispered lowly into the other’s ear as he nipped and suckled on the soft skin. “Touch me, Tyler... I want you to be my muse for tonight.”

Touch was something Tristin didn’t normally receive as the years passed. The last time they had ever engaged with something like a hug —- they couldn’t remember. Was it with Rafael, something light-hearted, brotherly? Was it from their mother, before the worst, before the sudden moment that changed the course of their future?

How lonely was it, that they couldn’t pinpoint those memories?

But it wasn’t as if they wished to interact through physical means, even if the opportunity presented itself. As the man murmured near their ear, as the other stepped before him, Tristin automatically took a step back, shock rendering them speechless for a few agonizing moments.

“Uh — not looking for you to moan my name later tonight.” Heat crawled up their neck, and they clear their throat. “Flattered, truly, but I’m just here for the music.”

"Is that so?” Marquis mused, leaning in with a glimmer in his eyes. “Pity. You seem like you’re too much fun to pass up. I suppose I’ll give you a pass though, just because you’re so cute. You know, since you’re standing me up and all,” he teased, though he didn’t make any effort to move away from him. “The next time you’re interested, I’ll be here.”

Tilting his head, the dancer’s intense gaze traced over every bit of Tristan, unfazed by the club goers meandering about around them. “Are you much of a dancer? Or do you come to watch and listen?” Marquis’ gaze flickered a bit down to the other’s lips, letting it linger long enough to for him to know just how interested he was in the whole endeavor. “I’ve been told I can be quite... enticing. And I’m always happy to change one’s mind on how their night goes.”

august wondered at times what it must feel like to be so blatantly shameless as marquis seemed to be. it wasn’t something he could ever become - he was almost the opposite, really - to be that self-assured and comfortable. then again, marquis did dance in front of hundreds of people at a time for a living, so they certainly were on different paths. 

and yet, here they were, meeting in a coffee shop at the end of the road. “the day i outshine you is the day hell freezes over. and god knows it won’t be doing that anytime soon,” he replied, though it was hard to hide the smile playing at his lips. this felt like a routine now, and something he’d surprisingly warmed up to over the years. after all, he’d decided long ago that marquis was one of the good ones, and in the end, their goals were not so different from one another’s, he thought. 

“i can afford a cup of coffee. even on my salary,” august said, ignoring the heat rising to his cheeks at the other man’s obvious gaze, and he turned back around as though he was paying close attention to the menu above. in the end, he got himself a cup of hot black coffee, and finally turned back around after he put in the order.

“listen, i’ve - i’ve been meaning to ask. is everyone…okay?” by everyone, of course, he meant the dancers - he hadn’t quite known how to ask them himself, but it’d been keeping him up at night, the shooting. “you know. in case the police come looking for anyone.” 

"Perhaps hell freezing over isn’t as far off as you might think,” Marquis mused as he sipped on his latte some more. He cocked a brow at the other man, no less concerned about the current status between the two sides. It only felt like attacks were increasing every week, and it was certainly making his dancers restless. Even he was unsure if his escorts would come back the next day safe and sound. Part of him hated sending them out because of the risks, but he also knew that it was the job, and they were all in it together. The dancer watched as August ordered himself his own cup of coffee, before gesturing for the two of them to sit down together.

“I know, but I make it a rule of mine to buy drinks for gorgeous men in my life. Think of it like paying it forward, or payment from people always buying me drinks,” he teased lightly, his gaze unwavering as he stared at the other man with a flicker of amusement in his eyes. But it was namely fascination, pure wonder and a bit of lust at the other sitting across from him. Of course, not like he could ever really do anything, but he wouldn’t let it stop him from flirting. The soft heat coloring the other’s cheeks certainly added to August’s charm. 

At the question, he furrowed his brows. The teasing gaze darkened a bit, not because he didn’t want August to ask, but because it brought to light just how dire everything was. How it put his dancers, his escorts in danger. “They... they’re alright. I think some are worried and fearful, but they’ll calm down. But my dancers aren’t dumb. They know how to handle it if the police come knocking.”

"Ah, my knight in shining armor,” Marquis cooed at the older man when he strolled in. The escort smiled warmly, spinning in his chair with coffee in hand to peer at the other. “I don’t remember asking them to send in the charming one. You’ll just outshine me now,” he teased, reaching a hand out to him. “So tell me, what is a man like you doing with one like me? I certainly don’t mind it when you keep me safe, though I prefer it when you stay close to me. I like that feeling,” the dancer teased, raising a brow as he took a sip from his hot coffee.

“Shall I buy your cup for you?” the younger man asked carefully, slipping off his stool as he walked over to the bodyguard. He tilted his head to the side, his eyes tracing over the other’s frame before flicking his gaze over to the barista. “They seem more than eager to assist you. If you wanted, I could put in good word for you,” he said in a sing-song voice with a teasing lilt in his voice.

He swore his work never ended, even on a Friday night when the rest of the hotshot CEO’s were out drowning their stress in copious amounts of alcohol he was dealing with the finances of a club that he didn’t even own. He had left the office at five but the hours kept ticking by as he sifted through mountains of unorganized paper work. He wouldn’t blame Asphodel, dealing with an underground drug market was like learning a whole different language and it was probably better that he took the reigns for the moment to avoid Samael finding themselves in a shallow grave filled with fraud- but perhaps that was just his bleeding heart talking. His insistent need to be the support system his siblings lost after Harvey’s death clouding his judgment and his sense of self preservation- Ah, but it didn’t matter. He was finished. Six hours later he exited the series of backrooms on to the crowded dance floor- with perfect timing since his eyes had begun to ache from the strain and his train of thought swam in so many circles he had become nauseous- he was surprised by the amount of people that crowded around the stage eyeing the dancers, though he was rarely around so late so he assumed this was normal business for the club. Good for them.

He had just been psyching himself up to squeeze through the crowd in search of Samael to give his goodbyes when his sweeping gaze locked eyes with the most gorgeous man he had ever seen- and god did he never get tired of looking at him. Every atom in his body jolted to life at the feeling of Marquis pressed against his skin, “Oh, were you now?” It was quick but he pressed a soft kiss to the man’s cheek “Odd since you just saw me- Or are you always thinking about me touching you?” An arm snaked around Marquis’ waist and pulled the man closer, “Do you use that line on all your clients? I bet they just eat it up- speaking of which, shouldn’t you be spending your time with someone who’ll actually pay?” Despite the question Tyler’s grip tightened on the man indicating he wasn’t willing to let go anytime soon.

Originally posted by godfreygdaily

“If I answer that, would it get you to stay with me a little longer?” Marquis said with a soft chuckle as he leaned into the kiss. The head dancer hummed, his hips rolling against Tyler’s carefully, keeping their bodies against each other. With that arm wrapped around his waist, there was no reason for him to pull away. Not yet. “I think...we can find payment in other ways, wouldn’t you agree?” he hummed, nipping at Tyler’s ear carefully as he gently guided the other to sit in one of the plush couches. He always did love giving a proper show when his clients were seated. “Seems like you seem happy enough with me giving you all my attention,” Marquis teased, feeling the other’s grip tightening around his waist.

The dancer continued rolling his body, his bare chest brushing up against the other man’s clothes. “You know you can touch me. I’ll make an exception for you, but only because you’ll let me bite. Hard,” Marquis breathed lowly, his lips only brushing over Tyler’s skin. “And don’t think you can compare yourself to my clients. No, you’re something more special. And I want it all to myself,” he rumbled, reaching up to run a hand carefully through the other man’s hair. 

date: september 25th location: asphodel open

They slip through the crowd as if it’s a second life.

Perhaps it is; perhaps, in a different twist of fate, a different pull of the strings, this action wouldn’t quite feel treacherous. They would perhaps feel at home, lose themselves in the energy of the crowd and the music thrumming in their veins. 

But this life doesn’t belong to them any longer. This isn’t a place for someone marked as an Olympian.

It’s a foolish action, yes, but it’s one they’ve done before; the occasions were few, months and months stretching between each, yet they still happened all the same. Though each had been brief, a quick dip into the club when watchful eyes were distracted, scanning the area for any changes or physical updates to systems they remember from years prior. And then a faster escape, footsteps light and gaze downcast as they rush back to Olympus territory.

Tonight, though —- tonight they will be here longer, if fate allows it.

Nothing slipped past Marquis, not when it was a busy night like this. Sure, he was the dancer, the escort. But he had eyes and ears better than anyone, and he was familiar with who was a newcomer and who wasn’t. So, when he saw a face that he couldn’t just ignore, the man strode up to the other with an aura that spoke of the place being his domain. “Hello, beautiful,” he murmured lowly against the other’s ear. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving already. I haven’t even gotten the chance to say hello, and you seem like you’re too pretty to just rush past me like that.”

where: street outside of elysian when: september 27th who: open to anyone

killing is not new to her. in fact, it’s second nature, something that she’s had programmed into her code over a decade ago, to the point where she’s almost become numbed to the idea of death. after the first several, there’s no more crying. there’s no more waking up in the middle of the night panicking. there’s only the dark realization that this isn’t a normal way to react. all she can do is destroy whatever she touches, herself included, and it’s a bitter pill to swallow. rosalyn’s aching for something to distract herself, but she doesn’t even have a cigarette on her at this point, and so she’s found herself in the alley behind elysian, pacing and trying to center herself again.

the footsteps approach quickly - too quickly, she thinks to herself. it could be nothing, but she doesn’t feel like risking it, and she’s reacting almost instantly, whirling around where she stood with a frustrated grunt. she grabs onto the person’s arm, twisting it behind their back to gain some sort of leverage, even if she doesn’t need it. better to have the upper hand right off the bat. “haven’t you ever heard it’s impolite to sneak up on someone?” she says through gritted teeth, belatedly realizing that this is only serving to prove herself right. 

“Is this what you do to everyone you meet in the street?” Marquis asked idly, an amused expression on his face as he felt Rosalyn twist his harm behind his back. “I didn’t know I could be such a threat to you.” The head dancer only smiled warmly, not at all phased by the other’s reaction. It was the right one, and he had been walking up behind her, though it wasn’t on purpose. Still, Marquis knew when he was pushing too much, and it wasn’t wise for him to overstep bounds, even if on accident. “Saw you stepping out over here. Figured you’d want to grab some coffee with me, if you have nothing else to do. You are allowed to have coffee with me, right?”

There wasn’t anything going on yet. He was having his dancers practice, set up for the night. In the mean time, between handling some issue between his escorts and ensuring the place would be ready when it needed to be, Marquis strolled around the place carefully. He knew it like the back of his hand; every nook and cranny didn’t escape his gaze. He had to, after all. It was his place of work, and what sort of employee would he be if he wasn’t familiar with the space? Tugging lightly on his shirt as he adjusted some of the dancers’ positioning, his eyes fell upon a particularly engrossed man, the way his eyes flitted between the medium in his lap and the dancers onstage.

Strolling over calmly, Marquis slid into the chair next to him, his piercing eyes trailing down to peer at the other’s work. “And what are you doing here? I don’t remember agreeing to someone drawing my dancers, and I certainly don’t see any drawings of me on there. A shame, really.” He hummed idly, leaning in to let his finger gently run along the other’s jawline.

“Name, please. I won’t ask twice. What’s your business here anyways? I don’t think we’re quite open just yet for the public, if that’s what you were interested in. But I’m sure with that adorable face of yours, the bodyguards just couldn’t help but let you in.” Marquis sighed, moving from his chair onto the armrest of the other man’s. He leaned in carefully, his eyes holding an amused glint in them. “So, tell me, what’s your reason then? I’ll promise not to be hurt that you’ve overlooked me if you tell me the truth.”

The thumping bass, the smell of smoke and sweat, the ragged noises that filled the club... it was an all too familiar feeling for the man. Marquis’ body rolled against the pole, his hands roaming over his body as he held the center stage with three other dancers. But he knew the eyes were on him. They always were. The way his hips shifted to the music, the way his eyes scanned over the darkened room as his head rolled back out of pleasure. There was something about it all that made him feel so... alive. Of course, it was all just a job for him, some means for him to just get more money, but the dancer really knew how to hold his audience captivated. As the music cued the dancers to engage with the audience, Marquis teased every inch of his body off the stage, strolling past the club patrons. 

Some he flirted with, gently tugging on their hair or leaning in to breathe at their necks. Others he rubbed himself up against, his hips the driving force between them. But the instant he saw the other, Marquis’ eyes locked with him. For him, he would put on all the stops. He knew all the important patrons by heart. All the top clients that required some... expertise to handle. Of course, he wasn’t an acting escort for the night, but Marquis made sure to keep his clients consistent. They liked him to keep him around, and he had a long enough relationship with them to trust that they wouldn’t try anything underhanded with him. This one, though, wasn’t just a client. A friend, back when Olympus was still... in Marquis’ eyes.

Strolling up to him, the dancer wrapped his arms around the other’s neck, leaning in close so that the glistening sheen from the sweat on his shirtless body was almost brushing up against him. “Fancy seeing you here. Enjoying the show?” he whispered darkly into his ear, before nipping at it carefully. “I was thinking how good your hands would feel on me when I was dancing on stage.”