OOMM: The Crossing Star (Frederick and Alec)

[knightofmercury]

Frederick is leaning against the bar at the Crossing Star, idly watching the colorful bustle going on around him, while the barkeep fetches his drink. It's rather busy tonight, the sort of night when you could think you saw someone you recognized, then quickly lose track of them. Which has happened to Frederick more than once already, as his glance has been darting around—there are always too many faces in a place like this that are at least somewhat familiar to him.

He's here alone tonight. No one at Dawnbright seemed to want to come with him.

Comments

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

"I consider this a public setting," Frederick replies, glancing at various other patrons again.

"Should I consider you polite company?" he asks, amused and curious.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"Would I be more interesting if I wasn't?" Alec asks.

It's really new territory for him where they're going, but he's interested and curious. Fredrick seems nice enough, but he's never been known for his taste in any reality.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

"Polite society is rather boring, don't you think?"

Frederick knows exactly what Alec is asking, but he's going to toy with him a bit, dancing around the issue. He smiles innocently.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"Considering the people I've met in polite society lately, yes, I would have to say that is rather dull." Alec has had more than enough polite society since he's been in London and he's not been there very long at all.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

"Mm."

Frederick leans back in his chair, crossing his legs.

"So tell me, where are you staying currently?"

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"With my godfather," Alec says with a disinterested shrug.

He names a semi-upper class neighborhood of which someone else beyond the mun would know what they meant.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Frederick's fiddling with his gloves again, seemingly as disinterested.

"I've been there-- that's a lovely little part of London," he says. "I suppose your godfather was told to keep an eye on you. I hope he hasn't burdened you with a curfew or any ridiculous thing like that?"

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"He's actually a bit ridiculous. Obsessively trying to keep me ... safe." Alec wrinkles his nose. It's a kinda cute gesture.

"It took forever to convince him I didn't need a chaperon."

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Frederick taps his chin. That's not what he was hoping to hear... The thought might be more trouble than it's worth.

"That's a shame. I suppose he would notice if you were absent for too long?"

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"Even if he does, then what? It's not like he can track me down," Alec says. "I can go where I want."

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

"Oh, but would you not get in terrible trouble?" Frederick practically sings, his tone horribly teasing, like he's talking to a little boy.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"So you're saying you do want me to go back there then?" Alec asks, switching the game around a bit.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Ooh, interesting…

Frederick would be lying if he said he didn't feel a slight thrill with every turning of the tables, even a partial one, and this time is no exception. He's quiet for a brief moment, trying to decide what angle to take here. Maybe poke at him a little longer… see if he bites.

"I've learned many things through the course of my various… experiences," he says slowly, his tone nonchalant. "And one of those things is that you should never come between a caretaker and his charge. You never know how deep he has his claws in.

"For that reason, I tend to associate with… well, let's say more mature men, who aren't tied down by things like chaperons."

He's being a little irritating, on purpose.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"He doesn't have any claws in me, thank you very much," he says with a bit of an irritated sniff.

"And having a chaperon has nothing to do with a person's maturity level, just their age."

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Frederick sighs lightly, his tone almost in a sing-song.

"Still, your mental state of maturity can't do much to help your physical one. And it certainly doesn't erase the possibility that I might be implicated, if your dear godfather decides to track down the fiend who dared to keep you out past your bedtime."

He gets up out of his chair as if to leave, but comes around the side of the table, leaning in to bring his face close to Alec's.

"Because I really must confess, I'm a terrible influence on any young thing that happens to spend any significant length of time in my company," he adds, in a low voice.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

Alec gets a flustered look on his face. He doesn't back down when Fredrick puts his face close to his, but it's clear that he doesn't know how to respond to the other man. He wants to protest that he's not a 'young thing', though he's already pretty much admitted it with the needing of a chaperon.

He's young. He's stupid. And he's quite willing to jump into anything that Fredrick suggests to prove other wise.

"I don't see how," he manages to get out.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Frederick grins.

"Well, I could very well show you, but like I said, in your case it might end up being more trouble than it's worth." He taps Alec's nose with one gloved finger. "And so, m'boy, I'm afraid I must bid you goodnight."

He stands up straight and adjusts his coat, turning to leave.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

"Wait!" He reaches out to grab the coat, but stops himself from doing that. That would be rude and impolite. "I would like to see. Please."

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Frederick turns back slowly, a distinct smirk on his face that isn't even trying to look innocent.

"I told you, I can't," he says slowly, in a light and airy tone. There's something to it that's far from genuine. "I absolutely must be on my way."

He turns to leave again, making his way towards the door. He retrieves his greatcoat and his hat in two smooth motions, replacing them on his way out and adjusting them as he's walking. (It's only drizzling at the moment.)

As he does so, he listens for footsteps.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

Alec watches him go, conflicted and jittery and uncertain. The very idea, however, of being thought that his godfather can run his life pushes him up to his feet.

He's mere second behind Frederick and not very subtle about it. Of course subtly was never a habit of any Alec.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Frederick smirks to himself, walking faster. His heels click along the cobblestones of the darkened, empty street.

He continues on for about a block or so before ducking into an alleyway suddenly.

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

He doesn't know why he's doing this. It's stupid. It's idiotic. It's beyond moronic. But he does it anyway. Because.

When he sees Frederick duck into the alleyway he slows down and approaches it carefully. He doesn't go across it, or into it. Instead he stands at the edge, waiting and listening.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

It appears to be empty.

It's very dark, though, so it might be hard to tell.

If he knows anything about astromancers under Mercury, he might look up. There are a few shadows that look a bit suspicious, but again, it's hard to tell. Especially when one is looking up into the falling rain.

Dare he take a few steps in?

[elementwizard.livejournal.com]

Alec studies the entry way to the alley and then up in the sky. Hesitating, he cups his hands together and calls up a wispy ball of flame which he releases into darkness.

[knightofmercury.livejournal.com]

Two purple-sleeved arms grab Alec from behind.

"Clever."

Frederick was indeed up there somewhere, looking down. But he had enough time to fly out of the way-- superhuman speed never hurts, either.

"You're really that curious, are you?" he purrs, into Alec's ear.