Enchantment Under the Sea

[broken_brushes]

One thing I'd learned in my time on the island was that you could always count on people to lend a hand when you needed it. It had taken most of the day, but working together we'd managed to transform the rec center gym into something straight out of a Fifties flashback

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[pitythetrumper]

A theme party and him a week here. Freddie still wasn't sure what to think about the island, but he also wasn't letting it get to him. He had other things on his mind, like Maureen. And Sergievsky. And Sergievsky's boytoy or whoever it was who had warned him off. No, he had much better things to worry about than some strange island.

But then there was the party. In his experience, a good party was the best way to get out of yourself and into a little fun.

He still had the suit from his arrival and he dressed it up with a hat that the box gave him and went to explore what the party had to offer. His toes were already tapping as he arrived. Now all he needed was...

"Where's the alcohol?"

[whoneedsadream]

Why he should have been so surprised to see Freddie here, Anatoly didn't know. It was a party, a themed one at that, and most of the people here did come to these sorts of things - why should the newest resident be any different?

All the same, seeing his rival only reminded him this wasn't a dream. He was really and truly here, and the sooner he accepted this fact, the sooner he could attempt to deal with it.

"On the table," he said, more or less civilly. "Right in front of you."

[pitythetrumper]

And so it was, but he wasn't going to admit that he hadn't known that. Or that he hadn't known Sergievsky was here. God, what was he doing here? To Freddie, just hearing the civility in his voice felt like nails dragging across a chalkboard. He hated the sound because he knew it was all an act. He was the only one who had an act around here.

"Do you have to be here? Can't you go...somewhere else?" Where else he wasn't sure, just far, far away.

[whoneedsadream]

They were in public. There were lots of people around. It would be bad to punch Freddie right in his obnoxious mouth. Anatoly reminded himself of all these things and yet he found it nearly impossibly to keep his hands from clenching into fists.

"Yes," he answered shortly, glaring at Freddie as he took a drink for himself. "I am here because I want to be. Feel free to leave if this bothers you."

[pitythetrumper]

"Oh, it doesn't bother me," Freddie answered, lying through his teeth. His eyes hardened at the continued civility and he remembered something that he thought Sergievsky might be interested in. But how to bring it up?

"I suppose you're the one who's always hanging by the chessboard. Pity. Maureen told me there was someone worth playing." Not exactly her words, but it was the thought that counted. Then, for a brief moment, he stopped being hostile and was just plainly curious. "Have you met Roger?" The man who looked like him, Freddie assumed that the Russian would have met him.

[whoneedsadream]

Anatoly's face whitened at the mention of Roger and he quickly threw back his drink and set it down on the table before he could do something foolish like drop it or break it over Freddie's head.

Whatever it was he had with Roger, he'd resolutely blocked out how much how he looked like Freddie. Their similarities were only in their looks - everything else from personality to movement was completely different. After everything with Lex, he'd only wanted simplicilty - and it was easier to repress then deal with what it said about him that he was so attracted to the rock star.

That luxury was gone now, and he thought he might be sick. Only his pride kept him from fleeing; he was damned if he was going to give Freddie any sort of victory. Perhaps he'd be really lucky and throw up on Freddie's shoes.

"Yes. I have."

[pitythetrumper]

Oh, now that was not a reaction that Freddie had anticipated. That was more than just 'met'. That was more than just 'know'. He...he wasn't sure what that was. He kept his eyes on Sergievsky's face, looking for the least change that would possibly clue him into what was going on.

"So tell me," he said, curiosity still present in his voice, "what he's like. I've only heard about him from Maureen. Prior. Bill." In fact, it sounded like he was going to hear a lot more about his other self by word of mouth than by actual interaction.

[whoneedsadream]

Anatoly shrugged casually, desperately wanting another drink but knowing it was a bad idea. "He's a musician, very much dedicated to his music. He might look like you, but that is all. He is actually tolerable to be around."

That was as far as he dared to explain. Any more and Freddie might think... God knows what he would think but that was one conversation he refused to have.

[pitythetrumper]

"Is that right." Oh, there was very much more there and Freddie could almost taste it. Almost, but not quite.

"It seems you're surrounded by men. First the one who looks like me and then the one who warned me off of you. You have quite a stable growing, there. Are there any more I should be waiting to hear from? Do you have anyone left in the wings?" That roundabout way to the man who'd threatened him was definitely a worthwhile information-gathering session.

[whoneedsadream]

"What are you talking about? What man?" Anatoly frowned as he racked his brain trying to consider who could have done it. No one came to mind other than Kon, and he'd already told him to leave Freddie alone.

[pitythetrumper]

"You don't know? Interesting. Very interesting." He could have told Sergievsky right off, but he didn't. Not yet. Make him wonder just who was playing the white knight.

[whoneedsadream]

Didn't the man ever grow tired of games? How Florence had stood him for seven years, Anatoly would never know. He sighed angrily, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, and I don't particularly care right now. If you'll excuse me, I have better things to do."

[pitythetrumper]

"He was bald if that helps." Freddie knew it would, since there hadn't seemed to be very many bald men around. "And he seemed very interested in your welfare. Is there something you feel you need to mention to the class?"

[whoneedsadream]

"What?" Nothing in the world could have kept him from revealing his complete and utter surprise at hearing that. It didn't make sense, why would have Lex done such a thing? He'd made it obvious how little he cared, surely it would have made no difference to him what Freddie did.

"No," he added a few moments later, reaching for another glass alcohol. "I have nothing to say to you."

[pitythetrumper]

"Well, you can tell me now or I can find out by my own means. Either way, you can tell your lapdog to go nip at someone else's heels. I wasn't even here an hour before he was warning me off." It implied that he'd seen this man before he'd seen Sergievsky, which was just what he wanted the man to know. If he was confused by that, what kind of reaction would he show when he found out that all of this had happened a week ago.

[whoneedsadream]

"He is not my lapdog," Anatoly snapped, gesturing wildly with his free hand. "He has nothing to do with me. You want him to leave you alone, you tell him yourself!"

There was nothing for it but to find Lex and try to find out what in the world he thought he was doing. Not here and not now, but soon. It all was enough to drive him insane.