City Lights on Urban Nights [E/BKs/Icarus]

Icarus

Also in his casual attire was Icarus, whom had just reached out and pulled the door of his workplace open to slip inside before one of the street partiers grabbed him. The man couldn't go wrong with a v-neck t-shirt in black and some loose jeans that sat low on the hips. Since this was an invitation so he'd zhooshed a bit, adding some tasteful rings and bracelets to make the normal leather bands at his wrists more stylish. The golden head was definitely in high spirits though this didn't manifest too much externally. He was a pretty chill guy in most situations, but the neon colors, endlessly thumping music and general levity rolling permeating the city gave his eyes a more alert gleam. It was only natural to go with it and have a good time, but first he needed to locate his boss. The boss that didn't seem to be where he anticipated.

He'd been expecting the sickly man he'd come to know in their dalliances off the clock. The pale hair and skin was absent, though there was someone there. A darker headed man, quite attractive if Icarus did think so himself. Dark hair was always a draw for the free-spirited young man, especially when it lively with curls. It was a shame that such a handsome face was being nearly rammed into the counter, twisted with some sort of mild distress. Icarus noted the style of dress was actually similar to Ahote, but if anything he presumed this was just an employee he hadn't met who was maybe nervous about handling the bar on his own while Ahote and Icarus took off for the festivities. Peering around for anyone else that would be in their party for the evening, he resigned to there currently being no one else he could ask. Either this was just another bartender or maybe one of Ahote's friends. Either way, it was just a crying shame that he'd have to approach him, right? "Hey, man, everything alright?" Icarus asked with genuine enough concern, though the expression on his face was a tad flirty as his hand slid along the now familiar bar he manned several times a week. He paused right in front of the man, still not recognizing him. "Have you seen the bo-- Ahote around? I'm supposed to meet him here," the wingless man asked next. Icarus was anticipating fun night, and he'd never fight off a good time.

Icarus

"Huh?"

Icarus was left there to blink and try to connect all the chaotically swerving dots of the situation. First, the manner of speech of the dark-haired man, the mentioning of the meeting, and what he'd actually said rattled around in his brain. Half lidded orbs were rapidly becoming more visible as realisation dawned that somehow this healthy bloke was actually Ahote. His cheeks inflamed in shock and he had to raise a coiled fist to his mouth to try and hide his expression. The dalliances with the paler man had been fun, but Icarus understood it for what it was. Carnal pleasure. Since it was offered and Ahote was by no means ugly he'd simply rolled with it, but this version of his boss was much more his actual type. It was so shocking that initially, though he deep down knew it to be true, he told himself this was some sort of prank and this beautiful man couldn't be his sickly employer.

But then another man joined the fray. Playing some sort of electronic music on a button pad, a robed, green-haired individual serenaded the both of them into some sort of brief silence. "I'm not lost. I work here and was invited... and I've heard that before, yes," Icarus replied to the flirty newcomer, trying to play off the handsome comment. He wasn't lying. Icarus knew he had the looks, though he was humble enough to rarely comment on himself. It was one of the reasons for his confidence. The golden haired man wasn't anticipating being hit on by strangers, but he wasn't a very shy person so he took it in stride. The green haired man had also, more troublingly, confirmed what he already knew and didn't understand, though. This was truly Ahote, annoyed expression and all. The way Ahote's friend had snaked an arm around him, Icarus wondered what he'd really been invited to. Was it a rave or some sort of ménage à trois or what ever the term was for more than that, since he was under the impression there were still more to come for this group outing. As per usual, he'd go with the flow, but he was certainly curious about a number of things now. "This is quite a... drastic change, Ahote," Icarus noted, marveling at him but much more composed and back to his usual blasé self.

Icarus

The off-duty bartender was genuinely gobsmacked, though he was trying his best not to appear so. This robed man, newly dubbed 'Baird', was a lot to handle with the excessive flirting, which he couldn't decide if it was just that or if he was trying to annoy Ahote. Perhaps it was both. At any rate, Icarus wasn't one to get too fussed over being touched, though it was annoying since he was trying to get to the bottom of his boss' new face. Icarus' face was grabbed and pulled toward the man's bare chest, and that's the position he was in when he managed a slightly muffled reply. "My name is Icarus, and yeah, I'm coming along," he answered the flamboyant man, stuck somewhere between irritated and amused by the antics. This was the musician of Boomslang, eh? Well, he'd worked quite a few shifts now and had yet to see him, and certainly Baird was someone who left an impression. So either they were on complete opposite schedules, or there was more than one musician and Baird rarely worked.

Finally he was released. Leaving the plus one smooth the wrinkles from his shirt, he took a few nonchalant steps away and toward the door, heavily debating escape but also hoping it would get the others moving to the party. Or at least outside to smoke. He was feeling just a little stressed. While Baird might not care about missing it to stay here and do unspeakable things, Icarus was quite excited about the country-wide party and not being at work. And though he didn't get to respond to Ahote's potentially rhetorical question about his looks in the chaos, he couldn't help but keep glancing at the man as he snatched up his coat and made for the door. Finally they'd be on their way.

Once back out on the streets, Icarus stayed close to Ahote and only strayed for a moment to get some glowing accessories, which he'd share with the dark headed man if he wanted. If Ahote thought he was charming while on the clock, maybe he'd find himself a little more enlightened seeing Icarus in a more casual, natural light, even though the actual lights were anything but natural. It seemed the young man knew quite a few people on the streets, some from Boomslang but many not. There was the girl from two flats down from him, a sassy little number with dark skin and green hair and eyes. He fielded her with easy charm and good-natured laughter, even though she was already absolutely pissed and had lost most of her clothing. Strong hands grabbed his arm a little further into the crowd. It was the man with the super hero muscles from the flat beneath his. Though his strong jaw and pale blond hair made him look quite menacing, he broke into a smile as Icarus turned and then clapped him hard on the shoulder, hard enough for Icarus to 'oof'. His accent was thick and nigh gibberish in all the noise, but they still managed to have a small walking chat before the large man wandered off. It was hard to believe the Icebergian had not too long ago punched Icarus hard enough to knock him out for being too loud. Obviously they'd made up later.

There was a friendliness about Icarus that drew people of all kinds in, yet an aloofness that kept them at an arm's length. He always carefully toed a line that allowed him to have friends, but those friends might not even realize they knew next to nothing about him and if he ever disappeared, it would seem about right, as if they'd known he was intangible all along. It was better for everyone this way. It was more of the same with Ahote, though Icarus seemed increasingly interested and more brazen in his staring. Dark hair made such a difference, and seeing him in the middle of a mass rave made it all the more new and exciting. Perhaps Icarus was falling into the same trap he set for others, finding him interesting but knowing next to nothing about him. From countenance alone, Boomslang and this party seemed like things a poised and enigmatic individual would hate, yet he owned one and had invited him out to the other. He'd been about to ask for more clarification on the change in appearance when the immodest girl with the 'Aqua' appeared. They'd both received handfuls of shots, but Icarus wasn't easily fooled. This had to be alcohol. Regardless, he'd tip them back quickly and set the tiny empty cups on another passing tray. He'd never known Ahote to drink alcohol before, but he too had consumed the liquid. Maybe things would get interesting.

He'd never anticipated what would end up happening. Seeing Ahote blushing at a large stuffed animal gobsmacked him for the second time tonight. Plushies? It seemed so out of character, yet here the man was basically asking his two accomplices if either of them could win it for him.

Icarus' lips spread into a crooked, almost cocky smile. This was a time for a secret ex-rich boy to shine, not that he'd been searching for an opportunity. Rich people spent ridiculous amounts of time and money on learning basically useless things, and one of his many wastes had been dance classes. All kinds of dance taught by Bellum's best. "I got this," he said, moving his way through the ring of instigators to stand opposite of the twins.

They weren't half bad, but a lot of their flair came from their identical gimmick and duo-moves. Icarus was by no means a professional either, but his body was well maintained and he had full control of it. His physical strength played to his advantage for the more technical moves, aerobatics, and break dancing portions, and his shirt coming off to reveal with large white wings that glowed in the black light countered their cute gimmick as well as distracted from his obvious inferiority at pop and lock. Being able to levitate and incorporate skydancing was something they couldn't match. Normally Icarus would hate to admit that he danced in the air, but what one does in their extended periods of time airborne all alone was apparently necessary to win this battle. After comparing the loudness of audience cheers for the competitors, a panting Icarus was handed the huge soft bear, which he carried over to Ahote. "I don't suppose you'd like to have this?" he asked rhetorically, watching the stern man's face closely.

Icarus

The clearly flustered man trying to mute his reaction was just what Icarus expected, but still satisfying to see. A smug smile slowly crept over his lips, and to be honest, he really wanted to lean in and kiss the blushing man because he was being so cute. That thought was actually a little alarming to him, given his attempts to keep everything in his life aloof and casual. That they were doing wasn't particularly affectionate and there wasn't a lot of kissing, so the impulse took him aback. He told himself it was just the shocking change in appearance, but none of it mattered in the end. Unfamiliar arms draped over him from behind, stilling any actions or words or he might have said into silence. Peeking down, he noticed the arms were glowing. From the suggestive waver in the voice, he just knew this was a come on. Watching someone dance always caught attention of already stimulated crowd members, but the second greeting sounded different. The glowing person rounded Icarus properly and the winged man proceeded to get an eyeful of naked glowing man. "Oh...you are....very naked..." he muttered, eyes traveling from the face under purple hair to the less mentionable parts, wondering if he should start trying to get away now or just let it happen. Even stranger than being grabbed by a random naked guy was finding out he wasn't random. Ahote knew him. So Baird had set the tone of the friends he was going to meet after all. When he looked back to the brunette clutching his furry prize, he noticed his eyes were also where Icarus' had just been. That made sense.

It might have hit him later than some, but everything was starting to be a blur. A little from the Aqua, which seemed to be deceptively strong, but mostly from the absolute chaos that came from meeting the rest of Ahote's group. Baird had rejoined the group off to the side and had a rainbow haired woman giggling on his arm, who was called Aewu? The naked one was Iris. His introduction by the man he'd never seen drunk hung in the air as his boss continued to cling to the glow worm. "So these..." Words failed him for a few moments. Overwhelmed and again gobsmacked eyes roved over the motley crew, incredulous that these people could possibly be the friends of the usually stern and collected employer of his. The pieces didn't fit. Then again, he was the outsider here. Maybe he was the one who didn't fit. "These are your friends we're meeting today?" Icarus finally squeezed out of his throat, which was tight from suppressing laughter. The laughter turned into something of a wheeze as Ahote informed Iris of their...situation... and despite his cool exterior, his cheeks finally set fire and he raised a hand to cover his mouth, which was wavering between embarrassment and mirth. What the hell had he gotten into? Did Ahote have a fling with every single one of these wild people?

A tray bobbed by at just the right time, so 'the stud' held up a finger as if to pause the whole situation, though he doubted they'd notice. Iris had Ahote and Baird had Aewu This was a strong flavored group, and Icarus felt if he was to keep up, he needed many more drinks. Most people probably didn't empty an entire tray in one go, but he was thirsty from dancing and in the presence of something that transcended natural party culture. Shot after shot was tipped back, and once all the empty glasses were slammed back down and the shooter girl was off, a more inebriated Icarus turned to shine a lopsided grin at them all. "Nice to meet you all," he replied, much more at ease knowing that within moments of all the liquor hitting his stomach and being processed, he was about to care a whole lot less about this crazy situation. Maybe he'd be more prepared for what he suspected was about to happen to him.

Ahote had finally released Iris and was now draped on him. Icarus didn't mind. "Naaahhh, Ahote? It's not time to be tired. We just caught up with everyone. Don't you want to party with all your colorful friends?"