RP: In Maschera
Date: 22 July 2001
Characters: Terrence, Theo
Status: Private
Summary: Is it still a date if you don't go together?
Completion: Complete
Terrence wriggled nervously as he fiddled with his hair and tried not to worry himself out of his mind. This was one of those things that had him out of his element, but that only served to make him that much more excited. After his last date with Theo, which had resulted in some really spectacular public sex against a wall, he'd been so eager to go on another, to play their little game again and learn each other all over again. He knew that it was more work for Theo, since he was the one doing the seducing, turning Terrence into his little fuckpuppet (which wasn't really all that difficult, considering), but Theo seemed to be enjoying it just as much, and so Terrence didn't feel too bad about asking him to do it again. And this was a different brand of it, a step up as it were, from Muggle bourgeoisie to Muggle aristocracy, and every step further meant another acknowledgment of who and what he was to yet another group of people.
The thought occurred to him again that really he should do this for Theo someday, or more than just once, since Theo, while he might never admit to it, seemed the sort who wanted to be seduced and hadn't ever really had the opportunity. And that was something Terrence could give him above and beyond his love and obedience.
But not tonight. Tonight, they were going to the opera. Well, sort of. They were both going to the opera, but not together. He had his ticket tucked neatly into his jacket, and had sent Theo's off to him along with a pair of opera glasses, and beyond that, it was all up to...well, however the cards fell.
Another deep breath, and a deep swig of the wine he'd poured himself to soothe his nerves, and then he collected his glasses, hat, and gloves, and Apparated to a point near the Royal Opera. He slipped on his hat and gloves, and with them, his character for the night, the young gentleman student with a thirst for knowledge and a lack of experience, before heading into the theatre and up the stairs to his box. The box was smallish, for four people but with unrestricted view for only two, and he found the other occupant of the box to be a distinguished older gentleman, the type who had probably been going to operas regularly for the last forty years. Terrence had called in a favour to procure the tickets for the night, and the gentleman whose seat he was currently meant to occupy had opted to host a supper party for a number of the regulars, who had chosen not to attend this opera because of the highly critical reviews. The box therefore was empty but for the two of them, himself and the gentleman, who introduced himself as Arthur Norman, but please, do call me Arthur -- Robert said I was to be expecting a friend of his, but I'd no idea you would be quite so young!
Fortunately, he was the sort who wanted to enlighten Terrence, not the disdainful type, and so the next several minutes were spent listening to him wax florid about the artistry of the Kirov, and how this conductor was so very emotive, and the way the lighting was especially dramatic from this angle, and oh have you seen a Verdi before, old chap, and what do you know of the story's origins, punctuated by Terrence's own excited glances around the theatre (with furtive glances toward the still-empty box to the right), taking in the sights with delight and eagerly awaiting the start of the evening.
Opera culture was an entirely different class of people, really -- the only reason, in fact, that he was allowed to be in the front row of the box right now was that there were to be no ladies in the box for the evening. The women were the queens of the scene, as it were, the boxes their little castles and the gentlemen their attendants, and there was such a specific set of rules for everything that Terrence had nearly gone cross-eyed trying to memorise it all.
Glancing over at the Royal Box again, which was where Theo was meant to be sitting, he was disconcerted to find that it was still empty, and he could hear the orchestra beginning to warm up, which meant curtain was less than five minutes away.
"Are you looking for a member of the Gilding party?" Arthur asked, and Terrence looked at him for a moment, blinking.
"Beg pardon?"
"Oh, the patrons of that box are all always friends of Miss Gilding," Arthur explained. "Absolute socialite, cares nothing at all for music. I believe she's at Robert's gathering this evening, but I shouldn't be surprised if she shows up at the first entr'acte or so with a cadre of gentlemen in tow just so Mrs Worldly -- there, across the way, with the kilo of diamonds round her neck and the especially dour-looking husband? -- will be suitably jealous. It's quite entertaining, actually. She usually comes with her cousin James -- she's given him two of the six seats, with the firm caveat that he must bring along one of his charming young gentlemen friends to occupy the other. She's a darling lady, if a bit...well. She's certainly one of a kind. I should be happy to introduce you if you would like? I daresay she'd take to you quite well."
"Er..." Terrence started, but fortunately was saved from having to answer by the single oboe note to tune the orchestra. Arthur patted his shoulder with a chuckle and went back to reading his programme before the lights dimmed, and Terrence shifted uncomfortably, hoping that Theo hadn't decided this all too much trouble and just opted to skip out.
Characters: Terrence, Theo
Status: Private
Summary: Is it still a date if you don't go together?
Completion: Complete
Terrence wriggled nervously as he fiddled with his hair and tried not to worry himself out of his mind. This was one of those things that had him out of his element, but that only served to make him that much more excited. After his last date with Theo, which had resulted in some really spectacular public sex against a wall, he'd been so eager to go on another, to play their little game again and learn each other all over again. He knew that it was more work for Theo, since he was the one doing the seducing, turning Terrence into his little fuckpuppet (which wasn't really all that difficult, considering), but Theo seemed to be enjoying it just as much, and so Terrence didn't feel too bad about asking him to do it again. And this was a different brand of it, a step up as it were, from Muggle bourgeoisie to Muggle aristocracy, and every step further meant another acknowledgment of who and what he was to yet another group of people.
The thought occurred to him again that really he should do this for Theo someday, or more than just once, since Theo, while he might never admit to it, seemed the sort who wanted to be seduced and hadn't ever really had the opportunity. And that was something Terrence could give him above and beyond his love and obedience.
But not tonight. Tonight, they were going to the opera. Well, sort of. They were both going to the opera, but not together. He had his ticket tucked neatly into his jacket, and had sent Theo's off to him along with a pair of opera glasses, and beyond that, it was all up to...well, however the cards fell.
Another deep breath, and a deep swig of the wine he'd poured himself to soothe his nerves, and then he collected his glasses, hat, and gloves, and Apparated to a point near the Royal Opera. He slipped on his hat and gloves, and with them, his character for the night, the young gentleman student with a thirst for knowledge and a lack of experience, before heading into the theatre and up the stairs to his box. The box was smallish, for four people but with unrestricted view for only two, and he found the other occupant of the box to be a distinguished older gentleman, the type who had probably been going to operas regularly for the last forty years. Terrence had called in a favour to procure the tickets for the night, and the gentleman whose seat he was currently meant to occupy had opted to host a supper party for a number of the regulars, who had chosen not to attend this opera because of the highly critical reviews. The box therefore was empty but for the two of them, himself and the gentleman, who introduced himself as Arthur Norman, but please, do call me Arthur -- Robert said I was to be expecting a friend of his, but I'd no idea you would be quite so young!
Fortunately, he was the sort who wanted to enlighten Terrence, not the disdainful type, and so the next several minutes were spent listening to him wax florid about the artistry of the Kirov, and how this conductor was so very emotive, and the way the lighting was especially dramatic from this angle, and oh have you seen a Verdi before, old chap, and what do you know of the story's origins, punctuated by Terrence's own excited glances around the theatre (with furtive glances toward the still-empty box to the right), taking in the sights with delight and eagerly awaiting the start of the evening.
Opera culture was an entirely different class of people, really -- the only reason, in fact, that he was allowed to be in the front row of the box right now was that there were to be no ladies in the box for the evening. The women were the queens of the scene, as it were, the boxes their little castles and the gentlemen their attendants, and there was such a specific set of rules for everything that Terrence had nearly gone cross-eyed trying to memorise it all.
Glancing over at the Royal Box again, which was where Theo was meant to be sitting, he was disconcerted to find that it was still empty, and he could hear the orchestra beginning to warm up, which meant curtain was less than five minutes away.
"Are you looking for a member of the Gilding party?" Arthur asked, and Terrence looked at him for a moment, blinking.
"Beg pardon?"
"Oh, the patrons of that box are all always friends of Miss Gilding," Arthur explained. "Absolute socialite, cares nothing at all for music. I believe she's at Robert's gathering this evening, but I shouldn't be surprised if she shows up at the first entr'acte or so with a cadre of gentlemen in tow just so Mrs Worldly -- there, across the way, with the kilo of diamonds round her neck and the especially dour-looking husband? -- will be suitably jealous. It's quite entertaining, actually. She usually comes with her cousin James -- she's given him two of the six seats, with the firm caveat that he must bring along one of his charming young gentlemen friends to occupy the other. She's a darling lady, if a bit...well. She's certainly one of a kind. I should be happy to introduce you if you would like? I daresay she'd take to you quite well."
"Er..." Terrence started, but fortunately was saved from having to answer by the single oboe note to tune the orchestra. Arthur patted his shoulder with a chuckle and went back to reading his programme before the lights dimmed, and Terrence shifted uncomfortably, hoping that Theo hadn't decided this all too much trouble and just opted to skip out.