GP: Saturnalia Grand Opening

[goodfellow]

It had taken considerably longer than Robin anticipated, thanks to some building code issues that had pushed back his renovations by months, but following the thrown together "preview" on New Year's Eve (that had gone very well if he did say so himself), Saturnalia was finally officially open for business.

The inside of the club looked somewhat different than it had in January: more polished now, better decorations, furniture, lighting. There was still Greek inspiration, particularly in the murals on the walls - modern, graffiti-inspired versions of Greek art and myths, bright colors splashed amidst chrome industrial decor. Most of the employees (bartenders, dancers) were wearing togas.

The grand opening was a hot ticket, but Robin had sent out invitations generously, and instructed the bouncers at the door to let in the beautiful people as usual, yes, but to be rather random about it as well. After all, what was the fun in only the rich and beautiful?

Alcohol was free flowing, and the music was hot, spun by a DJ on a stage who seemed to have the perfect sense of the crowd. He may have even had a little help by magic. Because why leave these things to chance?

Comments

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin nodded, his thoughts drifting to Felix and their recent animosity towards one another. Life was certainly too short to deal with that mess.

[anamusebouche]

It was a coincidence that Hannibal spotted Felix at that very moment. All beauty and sparkles, it was hard not to look and appreciate. "And this place is full of quite the opposite." Because Felix, was beautiful.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin followed Hannibal's gaze, a small frown resting on his lips at the sight of Felix.

"What's pretty on the outside isn't always so lovely inside," he said, appearing to sober slightly and stand up straighter- As if he didn't want Felix to so much as catch a glimpse of him looking anything but composed and calm.

He didn't want to be that bloke though, the one whispering about others in the corner, and so he found a smile and moved on.

"Speaking of lovely, however, you look very dashing tonight, Hannibal. What a beautiful suit."

[anamusebouche]

"Conventional, I know," Hannibal replied. "Much more conventional than your own attire." He saw the look Fin shot Felix, and was intrigued, but he would leave it for now.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'd argue it was less conventional, and more classic," Fin said of the doctor's suit, before looking down at himself. "As for myself, I suppose I was simply going for bold."

And, alright, the collar may have been a bit of a 'fuck you' to the tabloids that had taken such an interest in his sex life.

[anamusebouche]

"That's a way of putting it," Hannibal agreed. He had read about Fin's private life, of course. Tabloids were a great pleasure to him, and he gathered exactly how much of it was true. "The press has been particularly unkind to you as of late."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Not all, but the rags have certainly had a field day," Fin agreed, frowning slightly.

[anamusebouche]

"I hope it has not done too much damage to your reputation," Hannibal said.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"There's been some unkind words, and some unwanted advances from people above me in the industry, but- I think I've weathered it all quite well, considering," Fin replied. "I got lucky, this scandal could have gone far worse for me. In the end it actually wound up opening a few doors for me, got me a bit of attention- But it's enough to make me more cautious in the future. I forget sometimes that not everyone I meet has good intentions, and it didn't occur to me at all that anyone would be interested in something as tawdry as a sex tape involving me. I never considered myself interesting enough for that sort of thing."

[anamusebouche]

"Fame appeals," Hannibal argued. "And the faltering appeal even more. It's a cruel world."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I know, it's just- Well, exhausting, I suppose," Fin shrugged. "Things could be worse though. I've no reason to complain really."

[anamusebouche]

"I wouldn't have blamed you if you had complained," Hannibal said, agreeably.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin smiled warmly, shaking his head. "No- No, I'm- I'm exceptionally fortunate. I have Will and our little family- Strange and fractured though it is sometimes. I have the freedom to do the things I love, the things that make me happy... Bad things have happened, but I can't find it in me to really get upset. Not when I know how fortunate I am."

He shrugged, then offered a slightly crooked smile. "Though I suppose knowing that hasn't stopped me from sulking about things from time to time."

He looked over at Felix again, watching him, and frowning slightly. "I'd like to think the bad things in my life haven't left me sour beneath the surface."

[anamusebouche]

"That is an admirable spirit," Hannibal replied with a light smile. "I'm very glad that you have found peace." Boring, though. Very dull.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Had Fin been able to read his thoughts, he'd have laughed at the idea that there was anything boring about the peace he'd found, and not simply because Will had made it clear their lives were in danger now.

Instead he only heard kind words, and smiled- A smile that faded slightly as he spoke.

"Thank you. ...I must confess- I did sort of have a reason for coming to say hello," he admitted, his words betraying that he may not have been that surprised to see Hannibal here. "Alcuin came looking for me earlier, he had some interesting questions."

He was vague, clearly testing the waters to see how much Hannibal knew himself. If Alcuin hadn't told him anything yet, Fin certainly didn't want to be the one who told him first.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal knew what Kersen had told him; that Alcuin had fairy blood. He also knew that Fin dabbled with the supernatural in various ways. So, it wasn't hard to put two and two together.

Alcuin hadn't told him yet, though, which was somewhat annoying. But Hannibal decided to pretend Alcuin had told him. "He's found out some... peculiar things about himself. Did you have interesting answers?" Hannibal asked.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Some, though not all the answers he needed, sadly. I've recently discovered some similar things about myself, you see, and I have a few personal ties to that world, but I'm hardly an expert. I've suggested he come speak with my partner, Will. He knows more about these things than I do," Fin confessed.

[anamusebouche]

"Perhaps you should both come over for dinner," Hannibal suggested. "I'd be very interested to understand more about it. You mentioned Will is vegan before, but I'm sure I can make something insteresting."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin considered that, then nodded a little. "I already invited Alcuin to just swing by ours, but I'm sure we can make that happen. Will can be a bit hard to round up is all," he laughed.

The fae tended to do as he pleased, and had little regard for schedules or set times. Getting him somewhere on time, or even the right day, could often prove to be a challenge.

[anamusebouche]

"If at all possible, I would like very much to have you for dinner," Hannibal replied with a charming smile. Then, he asked curiously. "You have fairy blood too, then?"

2016-06-08 20:22 GMT+02:00 finlay_flynn - DW Comment <dw_null@dreamwidth.org</p>

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin nodded a bit, looking thoughtful as he considered how much to share.

"It's, as I told Alcuin, a very long story," he warned, "but the short version is I had fae blood in me, then grew unwell, lost it nearly completely without even knowing it was there, only to have it restored recently. ...I'm less 'part fae' now and more 'part mortal', but the idea is the same, I'm sure.'

[anamusebouche]

"I'm sure it isn't," Hannibal countered. "But I understand very little of these matters. That is why I would enjoy your and Will's company for an evening. To understand Alcuin better."

He wasn't very pleased with the fact that Alcuin hadn't told him yet, but he would deal with that later.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin quietly thought the only person who needed to understand Alcuin right now was, well, Alcuin. That how he wanted to do this trumped all their desires. He'd never pegged Hannibal as the controlling sort, but the way he was pushing so hard to be involved in this conversation rubbed him slightly the wrong way. Though Fin couldn't put his finger on why that was. Surely Hannibal was acting out of love, nothing more.

"Of course. Why don't you ask Alcuin when he'd like to do this, and I'll do everything in my power to get Will there," he smiled.

He never made flat out promises on Will's behalf after all. That would be like assuring someone that the wind definitely wasn't going to blow tonight. Will, like the wind, did as he pleased.

[anamusebouche]

"Naturally I will ask him," Hannibal said. "It's about him."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin smiled at that, the words simple, but enough to relieve him of the concerns he'd had.

"Lovely. I'll not take up any more of your night then, unless I can tempt you to dance?" he teased with a faint smile. The music had slowed a bit, less frantic and wild, but Fin doubted that Hannibal would want to dance- Or that if he did, he'd chose to do so with him.