[ AW ] The Show Must Go On

R

eturning to the Howling Moon after his grand escape had left him in quite a state. Emotions ran wild and rampant through his mind and all be wished to do was drown them in gallons of alcohol. As soon as he'd arrived, however, he'd made a swift beeline to the bar to request that Carmichael no longer give him his typical drinks or choice, requested or not, and instead trick him with a sort of..."mocktail” as he would call them. The same range of beverages he typically consumed...with the alcohol removed.

Oh, how horribly dreadful it was to search for that glimmer of hope amid the tones of cranberry and citrus only to find the absolute void of the sinful spirits. He sipped regretfully upon one of them now, leaning against the far corner of the main seating area. Valerian had to resist the urge to ransack the stores of wine and ale, biting his paw to try to take his mind off of it. There was a show this evening...he had to soon retire to his chambers to stretch and soothe his damaged nerves and muscles from that awful battle prior to taking the stage, otherwise the might look the part of a fool during his performance.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

This... was the place Sundstol had suggested they visit? It couldn't be it, yet Grigori was certain he remembered the directions right. Maybe he should have waited for an opportunity for the two of them to go together, maybe it was a stupid idea to get familiar with the place on his own. But... truth be told, company of wolves he didn't know well or at all had a certain kind of appeal. Their ignorance to his loss.. it was some semblance of normalcy.

If he's made it all the way here, then might as well have a look... right?

Easier said than done. Far too nervous at the thought of anyone taking note of him, Grigori went straight towards the bar, avoiding eye contact as much as possible along the way. At the very least, ordering his favorite was as simple as anywhere else. But securing a drink was hardly a solution to his conundrum; he didn't want to drink it alone, afraid that it would be seen as an opportunity for the... ladies, who work here, to approach him. No, he needed company immediately.

After one desperate glance over the venue, he spotted a wolf who was enjoying a drink by his lonesome. Well, 'enjoying' might be a bit of a strong word, the silver male made it look almost like a punishment. The cowboy had never been to this kind of saloon before, he had no idea if an uninvited man approaching another for company, even the decent kind, would be considered as some terrible faux pas. But he did so nonetheless, finding it preferable to the alternative.

"Howdy" As he greeted the other, Grigori decided to forgo forcing a friendly smile. With how nervous he was feeling, it would surely be a disaster. The natural brooding look he has these days might be better for this place, anyway. Isn't it something often considered attractive? Not that he wanted to attract attention, but standing out like a fool would be even worse. "Everythin' alright? Yer lookin' somewhat.. distraught." Pot calling the kettle black. Yet it was his only ray of hope - that this wolf will be far more inclined to focus on his own problems than on Grigori's unease.

„*”

T

he bard began to draw himself up with a grimace, waving a paw at Carmichael as a signal that he'd soon return. When he spun around, he noticed some chattering between the ladies on different sides of the room as they gossiped and pointed out a customer who'd just recently stepped into their establishment. He looked up and saw eyes turned on himself and there was no doubt that the one they were whispering about was this fellow that approached. He was a rather burly looking man, with a golden complexion and a scowl upon his face that could ward off any solicitation.

Valerian shot the mistresses in the main foyer a look, giving them a subtle shake of the head. This one's not for you girls, nor for myself. The entertainer wasn't one to throw himself at another and could take a hint when it came to the energy of others. This one clearly wanted to be left alone and he could respect that. He shifted himself out of the way and was about to make his way to the back when a greeting rumbled it's way from the man.

“Howdy."

Ears flicked to attention and Val turned to peer up at him, clearly not expecting to have been spoken to by the brute. And that rough tone with that accent drew him in much further than he needed to be. “Oh, ehm, hello there." He slowly lowered his haunches until he was seated again, not expecting too much from the greeting, but intrigued nonetheless. And who was he to be rude to a patron by abandoning them at the bar? Certainly not the Silver Stallion of all the fine faces of The Howling Moon. He would not be caught dead with a single bad review reported back to Danya!

Val was taken aback by the man's next question, wondering just how readable his emotions must have been upon his countenance moments ago when he was debating throwing himself into a barrel of mead. His surprise made him snort in quite the unattractive manner and he covered his maw with a paw before clearing his throat. “Ah, yes, uhm, everything is splendid, actually. I was just thoroughly enjoying my non-alcoholic beverage." He emphasized through gritted teeth, glancing over to find Carmichael staring at him with a dull and wholly unimpressed expression.

“If you have ever tried kicking alcohol to the curb, I do not recommend...nope, zero out of ten, horrible experience..." He leaned back against the bar with a grin, finding that he had to laugh at himself to get through this travesty of a life change. “My advice...is to never get adopted to the stuff in the first place...easier said than done though, it seems..." He sought the man's eyes curiously and quirked an eyebrow. “And you? Everything's fine and dandy with you as well? It's not often a man enters giving off ‘don't acknowledge my existence' vibes."

@Grigori

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

The other man seemed to be surprised by his approach, which by itself was enough to make Grigori's stress level spike for a moment. And yet, he remained in his seat and engaged in conversation... lacking other options, the cowboy took this lack of outright denial as permittance and seated himself next to the silver wolf. It almost amused him, how immediate and noticeable his relief was. He could finally try to relax, knowing that he wasn't standing out like a sore thumb anymore.. blissfully unaware that he was speaking to a wolf who actually works here.

Despite his companion's chipper attitude, the topic was a rather somber one. Not that Grigori was in any position to mind that, considering it was his question that brought it about. He looked at his own drink, wondering when was the last time he's gotten any good sleep without drinking beforehand. "Ain't it so." he agreed, before downing his very much alcoholic beverage. He sighed, taking a moment to savor the minty aftertaste. Maybe.. maybe he could try going back to just chewing mint. Maybe next week. "I'll keep yer advice in mind." Maybe it wasn't the most opportune moment to say it, but he was dead serious. It wasn't disregard for the other's experiences that prompted a swift end for his drink. Rather, he felt like it'd be rude to just let it sit between him and a wolf who was trying not to drink.

Looking up again, he inadvertently met teal eyes, realizing that the silver male was looking at him now. His ears folded backwards at the blunt description of his first moments in this establishment have gone. "Ah.. that obvious, huh?" Grigori felt his cheeks heat up, and it wasn't just the alcohol. "A friend recommended this place. He... didn't elaborate." Sundstol wasn't a particularly outspoken wolf, Grigori struggled to imagine the woodsman just taking it easy and unwinding here, of all places. Yet, it would seem his friend was in truth more capable at handling this kind of environment than he was.

Still, that didn't really answer the question, he realized. "I just.. didn't want any women to approach me. Cause they'd be wastin' their time and it'd be awkward to tell 'em that.. y'know?" Grigori looked down to his empty glass again, but his expression softened somewhat. As embarrassing this was, he felt a bit better after letting it off his chest. Well... as long as his predicament is met with understanding, that is.

„*”

V

alerian stared at the golden brute, watching as he downed every last drop of his drink. His gaze was glued to the man's throat as he gulped it all back, his own maw starting to fall open as he imagined the sensation of that sweet burn as it slid down to his belly. Saliva pooled in his own mouth and he had to smack his lips to keep it from dripping out, quickly turning his sights away from the man as soon as he was addressed again. "If only I could learn to drink in moments of enjoyment instead of using it to try to numb everything..." He grumbled, grinding his teeth together and humming an exhale through his nose instead of the whimper that lay behind it.

Val once more tuned back into the words of the stranger that proceeded to carry the conversation. He had all of his attention, smirking to discover that he had pegged the gentleman's energy from across the room almost instantly. He sat up, clearly intrigued by the mention of a recommendation from a friend and he had to wonder if it was someone that he'd attended to or not.

"He...didn't elaborate."

Valerian blinked and attempted to hide his amusement, but found himself biting his own lip as it was explained that he didn't want to be approached...my women? He claimed it would be a waste of time which made the curious bard size him up, meeting his eyes and lifting a brow as if to ask a wordless question. It was the mention of an awkward interaction with one of the ladies that made him burst into a hearty bought of laughter.

"Ohhhohoho...that...that is rich..." He lifted a paw to wipe away a tear or two that formed at the corners of his eyes. "I needed that...thank you..." He let the rest of his chuckling roll within his chest before he took a deep breath and let out a sigh, grinning at the seemingly misplaced patron. "I can assure you, my good, good sir, that there is no such conversation that you could have that would strike as 'awkward', at least not for our esteemed ladies..." He propped an elbow up on the bar and leaned forward, gifting the brute a shameless wink. "...and certainly not for me..."

@Grigori

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

It was a bizarre experience, to hear someone he barely knew talk so openly about the severity of their struggles but never mention what they actually are. It'd be one thing if the silver male simply downplayed it all, but it was this weird in-between approach that Grigori had no clue how to even comment on. And yet, it's not as if he couldn't relate, silently reflecting on his own attempts to numb the pain. Oddly enough, this place seemed to do the trick - he was thoroughly distracted, and.. it'd be difficult to think of Aryth here, anyway.

The other male laughed at his confession, but at the very least it didn't seem ill-mannered. Still, Grigori frowned, more confused than anything else. Was is truly that funny? "Well, awkward for me-" he began to clarify, but then the silver male leaned towards him with an unequivocal wink. "Oh. Are ye, um..?" Is he what? Truthfully, the cowboy didn't know what exactly. He stared at the other man wide-eyed, not sure how much of this feeling was realization and how much a reckless assumption. Either way, he looked over the smaller male before he even realized it. If his confidence came from belief in his own attractiveness.. then it didn't seem unfounded.

"I'm-" Married. It's what he would have said, but it just wasn't true any more. It remained a valid reason to refuse the other's apparent interest, but if he did so, it would remain in his thoughts for the rest of the evening. More drinks would follow to silence it, and.. would it be so wrong to chase something other than misery, just once? It wasn't right.. but nothing was, not anymore. Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, Grigori leaned forward, drawn by much lighter yet still sea-like eyes.

He held his breath, pressing the side of his muzzle against that of the silver male before rubbing against it with just the faintest hint of eager roughness. But whether it was his frustration with himself or the alcoholic drink he's consumed that spurred him to this thoughtless act, it could only get him so far. The blonde brute hesitated, unable to stop wondering if he's just made a fool of himself. "Sorry, it's.. it's been a while." he sighed. But while he lacked the boldness to search for answers in the silver male's eyes... he was just as reluctant to lean back into his seat.

„*”

"O

h, are ye, um..?"

The brute caught on pretty fast and seemed to start stammering which tugged the corners of Valerian's mouth into the wider smile. He then held up a paw to momentarily hush him as he smiled. “I know, I know...it's not every day you meet a local celebrity. You must be starstruck as many are to be in the presence of The Silver Stallion in the flesh!" He took the same paw and smoothed back the hair stop his head, striking a pose as he revealed his illustrious title. He waggled his eyebrows in the direction of his fan and newest acquaintance.

He began to speak again and it seemed he could not find the words. “Stunned speechless, eh? I can't say I'm surprised.” Valerian scoffed lightly, puffing his chest out to match his inflated confidence. When his bright cerulean orbs met silver, he noticed something there that did hold an unusual mystery about them and his grin faltered for a moment when he saw it. He blinked, remaining still as the man leaned in towards him, pressing a larger muzzle against his smaller one with an air of longing that felt somewhere in between desperate and longing. Val's eyes had fluttered closed, breathing in a scent of mint with an undertone of smoke where the man lingered just before he pulled away.

When he opened his eyes again, they were softer, moving over the southern sounding gentleman's features with curiosity, an intellectual itch that begged to be scratched. He shook his head slowly as an apology fell from the dark lips of the male seated across from him. “No apologies necessary." He leaned in again, lowering his tone to one that only the two of them could hear.

“You do know that it is not a requirement to bed myself nor anyone else here if you do not wish to, don't you?" A gentle smile was gifted to the man then, reaching out a paw to briefly place it atop the larger golden one perched upon the bar nearest him. “Consent is taken very seriously here at The Howling Moon...and that goes both ways. I'd be more than happy to simply keep you company without the extra bits if that is something you would prefer..." Val leaned back, removing his paw to make a gesture to the barkeep. “Carmichael, I'll foot this gentleman's bill, Anything on his tab, add it to mine."

He began to stand up, cringing with the tingling along his upper spine. “Care to join me in my chambers? We can order whatever you want back to the room and you can tell me more about yourself while I prep for my show this evening. How does that sound to you?" Valerian extended the invitation, knowing full well that a rejection was possible and that did not even bother him in the slightest. It would be nice to have someone to talk to while he warmed up for the event to come, but he understood if he chose otherwise.

@Grigori

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

The silence between them lasted only seconds, and it was almost enough to give him an opportunity to stand up and walk away, without ever seeing how the other male responded. But the answer came before that, and it was one of gentle reassurance. And after it, an explanation.. one that was actually quite helpful. "Oh.. o-of course." Grigori stammered, before clearing his throat. There are many places where you're either a customer or you're asked to leave, part of him must have been convinced that the same rule applied here. The truth made so much more sense now that he stopped to think about it, given that Sundstol frequented this place, and he surely wouldn't do anything behind Cyril's back. It was a relief, but.. did it change what he wanted to do? The cowboy wasn't sure. The warmth of the smaller male's paw lingered on his skin even after the touch ended, impossible to ignore.

Ironically enough, the matter of consent didn't seem to apply to his bill. Grigori opened his mouth to protest, but he quickly decided otherwise. He believed kindness is better met with appreciation than resistance. "..thanks." The less he spends here, the more he'll have in reserve if his sons ever happen to want something. And though he didn't doubt his own ability to pay.. he also wasn't quite sure how much the silver male's time would exactly cost him, otherwise.

"Alright." Standing up shortly after the other did, Grigori was quick to agree. Some whisper of temptation in the back of his mind aside, he still lacked any alternatives - there were still many hours to get through and for once, he didn't feel like going back to only drinking. "I wouldn't mind hearin' more 'bout ye either, ah... Mr Stallion, was it?" A hint of a playful smile tugged at his lips as his mind finally started to catch up in processing the title the small wolf introduced himself with earlier. It was... positively ridiculous. But given the circumstances, he couldn't deny the possibility that there was a reason for it. Maybe it was a case of, as they say... big things coming in small packages.

But first, Grigori turned his attention to the bartender, for one last moment. "I'll have one more, please. Same as before." He didn't want to taunt his host with more alcohol, but he thought it might be rude to refrain from ordering anything at all after the generous offer. Besides, even though he felt less overwhelmed now, having a bit more liquid courage really wouldn't hurt. He turned his gaze back to the silver male, taking a moment to examine him again now that they were standing, before saying "Lead the way, then."

„*”

H

is entire being seemed to brighten as the invitation was accepted. At the mention of his stage name as a surname his wide smile turned a bit sheepish, knowing the mention of it was a bit of a jab. He found that he had to join in on the playfulness from the other man. It didn't feel malicious in any way and he felt that he could mirror the brute's smile with his own impish one. “Mr. DeSoto, actually...Valerian DeSoto. 'Mr. Stallion's is merely a stage name." He knew that the self-given title was silly, but as outlandish as it was, it caught people's attention and found it's way onto everyone's tongue and most of all, it meant something to him that no one would ever know of. The Silver Stallion was the loudest of his secrets to ever have existed.


Val watched as another drink was over and he hopped up once more to address the barkeep. “Make that two of those, but just...if you could pour the tiiiiniest spot of alcohol...I would be most grateful, Carmichael, you beautiful, beautiful man." The man behind the bar stared at him and he pouted. “Oh, c'mon! I am celebrating...ehm...new friendship! Yes! That's it! And a new friend deserves a worthwhile toast!" He spun on his heel, not willing to hear any more objection from the serving side of the bar, swishing his tail as he looked over his shoulder. “Have Nell drop it off and could you also have her add a board of meats from our finest selection? Please, 'kay, thank youuu!"

And with that he ushered the larger man towards the back of the house and towards the rooms where various couples, throuples, and the like could be seen disappearing into. The sounds of pleasure and even a mixture of pain could be heard as he trotted to a room in a back corner of the establishment. Fortunately it was a bit quieter on that side of the house...mostly, because the other women couldn't stand to hear his rehearsals during their ministrations, but that was besides the point! It was like his own little penthouse area and that was how he liked it!

"Welcome to my humble abode!" He held the door open and waved the far larger man into his personal chamber that was decorated in a rather flamboyant fashion. Silks and pillows of a variety of blues and purples and teals, that he lovingly referred to as his peacock pallet, framed an oversized bed of furs that took up at least half of the room. It was obvious that it was not meant for the tiny man, nor for him and one other, but most definitely form multiple partners to enjoy.

On the other side of a room was an elegant partition and outside of it a vanity with several props and accessories that could only be the belongings of a showman. “Make yourself comfortable! You can set your drink wherever. Mi casa es su casa!" He waited for him to enter and then trotted over to where the vanity was, turning checking his appearance before turning around to admire the large man. “So...to whom do I owe the pleasure?"

@Grigori

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

"Oh, really?" Raising a brow, Grigori feigned surprise at the entirely expected reveal. There was some irony to it that amused him - after how ignorant of this place he's proven himself to be, perhaps it wouldn't be so far fetched for another to assume he'd think Silver Stallion was a real name. But no. The cowboy might think himself dense at times, but not quite that dense. And if he ever meets a wolf genuinely named anything of the sort, well.. the disbelief likely won't offend them much, because they'd be getting it from everyone.

Valerian giving into the temptation of having a drink was something the blonde brute wasn't sure how to feel about, particularly when his presence here was the excuse. All the same, it didn't seem like his place to interject... was it a cowardly thing to think, after the silver male offered the courtesy of making sure he wouldn't unwittingly do something he might regret later? Perhaps. But Valerian was on his own turf, and Grigori was but a guest. He didn't want to overstep. Surely, this Carmichael had to know how much leeway he could give. He could always say it was impossible instead. After all, making something that would resemble whisky and ginger wine with a bit of mint for taste, using only a tiny bit of alcohol, wasn't something the blonde brute expected to be doable.

As far as brief walks to a room go, this one felt like the longest Grigori has ever experienced. Walking past the doors knowing what might be transpiring behind them, hearing it even... it was awkward, to say in the least. He made a mistake and glanced through one door that was slightly ajar, then almost dropped his drink as he quickly looked away, blushing. As absurd as it might sound, staring at Valerian's backside seemed to be the safest and most decent bet here.

While Grigori couldn't deny that all of it together has made his heart beat a little faster, he walked into the relative safety that Valerian's room offered with great relief. "Damn..." he muttered, admiring the sheer lavishness of the silver male's dwelling. He's never seen anything quite like it before, not even when he would visit the castle to accompany Aryth. He set his drink on the nearest suitable surface as instructed, but not before gulping down half of it. The burn in his throat and relaxing warmth spreading through his chest were welcomed as he continued to look around.

It could have taken him a while to remember that he had company, fortunately Valerian didn't wait long before asking for his name. Grigori turned to face the silver male, immediately realizing how intently those teal eyes were following him. He swallowed, his throat feeling dry even though he just drank. "Grigori. Grigori Hardin. Pleasure to meet you proper, Mr Sta-" he bit his tongue to interrupt himself, then snorted. It was too easy to make a habit of this. "Mr DeSoto." That's better, and the amusing mishap helped him relax some.

"No fancy stage name for me, though." The blonde brute rolled his shoulders, the contours of his muscles shifting visibly under his fur as he did. "I'm just a Jacobite soldier." Carefully and slowly, as if the enormous arrangement of furs could somehow not be sturdy enough for him, Grigori seated himself on the edge of the bed. It did prove sturdy, and so big that it felt... awkward to just sit on it on his own. He gave Valerian a questioning look, unsure if his host was in a rush to prepare for that show of his and he should just stretch out, or if the small male wanted to make himself comfortable next to him for moment first. Maybe... he was just slightly hopeful for the latter.

„*”