OTA

[kersen]

Kersen sometimes did this thing where when he was feeling his worst, he tried to look his best. Elaborate drag when he was the most down, for example. Like maybe he could force cheerfulness with sequins and lipstick.

This time, he couldn't seem to muster up the energy for drag, though. What "look" said 'I just found out a lover is a serial killer'? Particularly coupled with 'what does this say about my taste in men'? Finally, he'd just gone with the forced cheerfulness: dark purple leather pants and a shirt (gifted to him by an employee years ago) that read OF COURSE I'M PRO-GAY, DO YOU THINK I WORK THIS HARD TO BE AN AMATEUR GAY in bright rainbow colors.

... also he'd started smoking again. Which was a little ironic since he was pretty sure that any effect they had on him was purely psychosomatic.

However, at the moment he was having a smoke break outside his bar. It was fairly early yet, just past 9pm. The streets were still full, lively with people leaving restaurants and shops, heading into bars and theaters. He liked this time of night, where the world was still alive. Wished he could experience more of it.

Some asshole walking by threw a homophobic slur at him, and he was briefly, stupidly tempted to flash his fangs as a threat. Instead he said, "The most fabulous you'll ever see, honey," and flicked the cigarette to the ground. Luckily it was the cowardly sort of asshole, and he just stuck up his middle finger and kept walking.

Comments

[winter_wisp]

Winter was videoing himself with his phone, chatting away about what he'd done that day- But then there had been loud voices, and he'd sighed as he turned off the camera for now. He'd have to re-record that bit later.

"Excuse you, I'm vlogging here," the pixie peeped.

Vlogging was a good word. Vlog. Vlogging. He could say that all day.

[kersen]

Kersen turned around and saw the guy standing there. No, not just a guy. Fae. Definitely. Even his bouncer had apparently noticed, because he'd turned around and was looking at them.

"So you are," he said. "Though I'm not sure you want to vlog here." In front of a vampire bar.

[winter_wisp]

"Obviously, it's much too loud," Winter replied, rolling his eyes a bit and tucking his phone away. He noticed the bouncer staring, and grinned at him.

"Hello," he said, offering the man a cheerful wave.

[kersen]

"I'm not sure this is a great place for you to be, I mean," Kersen said, having no idea if the little fae could spot a vampire or not.

[winter_wisp]

"Why?" Winter asked, huffing a little and then looking to the bouncer again.

"You'd like me to come inside, wouldn't you?" he asked, cooing softly and flashing a smile.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin was drunk and a bit high, having been tempted out for a night of club hopping by a producer on the show he was filming for the beeb. However, the producer had lost interest when it had become apparent that Fin wasn't interested in putting out, no matter how high he got him, and Fin was slowly making his way home now.

He'd missed most of the exchange, but he slowed as he spotted Kersen, coming up behind him and speaking softly in his ear.

"Most fabulous what?" he purred, resting his chin on the vampire's shoulder and humming happily to himself.

[kersen]

Kersen actually jumped a little when he felt someone come up behind him, but he knew from his scent that it was Fin even before he spoke.

"The most fabulous fucking fairy," said Kersen with a snort. Then he couldn't help but see the irony and chuckle a bit. "And now you're here. You're probably more fabulous too."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"The prince of fabulous fucking fairies," Fin said cheerfully, wrapping an arm around Kersen and kissing his cheek.

[kersen]

Kersen smiled. "Were you coming to see me?" he asked. "You did promise me a rain check after your Christmas party..."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I was heading home, but I'm here and you're here, and I'm in no rush," Fin smiled, rubbing Kersen's back affectionately.

[trustearned]

The only reason Michael didn't deck the bloke was because they were right outside Kersen's bar, and he did not want to draw the police here. So as he walked across from the homophobe, he only glared at him, daring him to say something else. His body language eased somewhat as he reached Kersen. "Nice shirt," he deadpanned.

[kersen]

Kersen smirked a little. "Thanks." And assuming he'd seen what had just happened, added, "I'm surprised you didn't deck the guy."

[trustearned]

"If you don't mind risking the coppers right outside your bar, I can still catch up with him," Michael offered evenly. "You were smoking."

It was not something he was used to Kersen doing.

[kersen]

"That's okay," Kersen said. He glanced down at the discarded cigarette. "Yes. The impulse comes and goes. I tend to do it when I'm stressed. Not that I think they actually do anything for me, I guess it's psychosomatic."

[trustearned]

"Addiction is in the mind as much as the body," Michael replied, hands in the pockets of his warm coat.

[kersenjr]

Bonnie had gotten nervous being inside the bar on her own. It wasn't a place she was used to. She'd tried telling herself that she was safe, but hadn't been able to quell the rising sense of panic. So she'd gone to find Kersen. Not that being around the person who'd killed her was particularly comforting, but he was the most familiar thing nearby.

She'd just peeked out the door at first, then gone the rest of the way out of the building so she wouldn't be in anyone's way. She stood close to the entrance, quietly and nervously watching him.

[kersen]

As soon as the homophobe disappeared down the street, Kersen felt Bonnie behind him. Not heard her. Felt her.

He turned. "Hi," he said, managing a little smile. "Bored?"

[kersenjr]

"Since when do you smoke?" Bonnie asked, instead of answering his question.

[kersen]

Kersen toed out the discarded cigarette with his shoe. "Remind me, when did tobacco come over from the new world?"

Okay, he wasn't actually that old. But close.

[kersenjr]

"Uh," Bonnie said. "A long time ago?"

[utterly_mysterious]

Really, it was too chilly to be wearing so little -- jeans and a silky, bell-sleeve grey top that didn't fully cover her hips, with a long vest over to provide a little warmth -- and quite the wrong season to be wearing a pink fedora on her black curls. Angelique didn't care, of course, because she loved pink. It was like her signature color red, but... casual.

Her hips swung as she made her way toward Jazzmin, having decided to surprise Kersen and perhaps convince him to spend the evening with her. She was just in time to hear some wanker shout out Fucking fairy in Kersen's direction, and decided in a snap to show him up.

"Hello, baby," Angelique declared, loud enough to carry, and pushed up on her toes (though she didn't really need to) to plant a kiss on Kersen's mouth.

[kersen]

It might have taken Kersen a moment to register that it was her, if he didn't know her scent so well by now. He started to kiss her back, but then made it briefer than he might have otherwise. He pulled away, though kept an arm around her waist. He glanced back to make sure the homophobe was gone, and then looked at her apologetically. "I'm so sorry, I must taste like cigarettes."

[utterly_mysterious]

"I noticed," Angelique laughed, her dark eyes amused in the glow of the streetlights. "It was worth it, if that jackass spent even a moment questioning his assumptions. Also, I got to kiss you in front of the whole world, so my evening's starting off very well."

[kersen]

"I'm not sure it counts as an assumption if I'm wearing a shirt advertising my sexual preferences," Kersen said with a laugh. "Not that that makes him any less of a jerk. What a nice surprise. Did you come just to see me?"

[utterly_mysterious]

"You, and your drinks," Angelique teased, but she looked at Kersen like he was the only thing in the entire world of any interest to her. She kept close to him, even though he didn't offer any heat, when she added, "Now won't you help warm up a girl who made a wardrobe decision particularly ill-suited to the weather tonight?"