: STAR-CROSSED SPIES AU :

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek Thelyss had been set up on a double date by his friend Jester.

He was not one who particularly enjoyed social interactions. He had enough of them both in his profession as a model, as well as his moonlight job as a spy for the Dynasty Government. Both sides of him did not have much in the way of time for such frivolities as dates. Certainly he was seen on the arm of quite a few men, but those were for publicity only and otherwise he eschewed any such interactions.

But Jester was Jester, and she was insistent.

Jester had caught him reading some tome on the intricacies of Dunamantic Technology and said that she knew just the man for him. To which case it became a Hurricane; Hurricane Jester coming in to whisk him away. So he decided to go and then at the end of the evening he would tell Jester's mystery man that he was not interested and thank you for his time. But that did not mean that he was going to show up being anything less than the model Essek.

So of course he would dress with care; even though he was sent on crushing this man's hopes he at least wanted it known that he was quite the prize, because he did have a bit of vanity to him.

A small local restaurant was selected on the seaside of Nicodranas, where he was currently on location for a beach shoot. One that specialized in fresh seafood. He wear tight white velvet pants and an off the shoulder slinky tunic, his hair was styled immaculately with little sparkly stars that still managed to hang in those waves.

Jester had told him to carry the book and so he had it tucked underneath his alongside his little beaded clutch. He walked into the cozy little seafood restaurant and glanced around as he surveyed the people to see if he could possibly guess who his date would be. That is, if his date had even arrived yet. ]

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[zauberdecke]

[ And here was this borderline insufferably adorable man having gotten him to speak of his family. He had not expected the conversation to go quite here and the other man was fishing that information out of him skillfully, he tried to hide the aftereffects of his laugh and the ensuing smile from his lips. ]

That does not happen very often.

[ And then he clarified as he set down his glass and then reached for a piece of bread which with perfectly manicured hands he methodically started to rip apart. It looked precise the way he did so, but perhaps also with a strangely erotic quality to it. Certainly Caleb would be looking at fingers that could perhaps form sigils beautifully. ]

Talking about myself, I had hoped actually to get yourself talking about you so that I would not have to be pressured to reveal things about myself in case I found I did not like you. Most people are quite content to talk about themselves for an unspecified length of time, just from personal experience.

[ausgebrannt]

No? Then I will count myself very fortunate to have that peak behind the curtain.

[Blue eyes sparkled with a soft, undeniably pleased light, that Essek had allowed him that much at least. He did indeed watch those precise, elegant fingers as they plied at the bread. There was a hypnotic grace about the drow that Caleb found himself not even slightly immune to.]

Perhaps I'm being too optimistic to think that this means that you like me, at least a little?

[Caleb could hope, right?]

[zauberdecke]

I suppose that is dependent upon how this meal plays out, now does it not?

[ A lift of his brow, the barest hint of a teasing smile as he bit into the bread and then tore an even smaller bit lightly with his teeth; perhaps it was a demonstration of his teeth and how they could lightly vore-- but he said neither yay nor nay so it was a maybe. It was also hope. ]

So was it just because of our mutual friend's insistence that you accepted this date? Curiosity or perhaps something more?

[ Essek lightly directed the conversation back to Caleb with a deft skill. Though not without his own mild curiosity as well. ]

[ausgebrannt]

Ja, I suppose it is.

[Caleb admitted with a sip of his wine, though there was still a smile lingering in the faint crinkling at the sides of his eyes. Did he notice those sharp, precise teeth? Of course he did.

He considered the question.]

One does not easily say 'no' to Jester Lavorre, of course. So there was that, of course.

[But that hadn't been all.] I admit I was curious as to who this was that she thought would be such a certain match. I have not been very fortunate in my romantic life. I tend to be subsumed by my work and my studies.

[zauberdecke]

You are correct, one cannot simply say no to Jester Lavorre. It is nigh impossible to do so-- though there are a few things perhaps I have put my foot down upon, but this was perhaps not it.

[ He clasped his hands together. ] I suppose that we have that in common-- being subsumed by work and studies though I should inform you that while I have been on dates, I have never been in a relationship, nor have I ever been inclined to remedy that. Mainly because of being married to my life choices as well as the fact that I have never met anyone that has sparked a need to know more about them.

[ The book that he had been reading though, and Jesters own assertion that she had the perfect man for him? He could not help but want to know what she thought would be his perfect match.

And sitting across from him was an unassuming Professor who looked like he was out of place in a nice outfit and yet strangely comfortable talking about Dunamancy and magic, and he could not have gotten up even if he wanted to. ]

[ausgebrannt]

Neither have I. Not since a teenage fling, so to speak, when I was first at the Academy.

[Since then, well, Caleb had been busy with both his magic professor persona as well as his life of a worryingly effective spy. There were whispers of the Empire spy who was called by the single name of Scourger, hushed and entirely unverifiable stories of a ruthless and efficient infiltrator and assassin. Half ghost story half man. But in the end very real, and very, very single. For what was probably good reason.]

Still, and this is a secret -- though Jester has dragged it out of me -- I am something of a romantic at heart, deep down.

[And of course he was a nerd, and Essek had lit up all his nerdy side with the magic talk.]

[zauberdecke]

Ah, a secret.

[ Essek was rather good at sussing out secrets though he had not been trying with this man; worrying indeed. He leaned back in his chair as if considering this-- he was not surprised of course, moreso surprised by his own reaction. ]

I do not think I am particularly romantic, if I am then it has not been unlocked within me-- [ and then a question, yet another question. ] Then let me ask you, what would you consider a suitably romantic date that would make a believer out of a non-believer?

[ausgebrannt]

[Not unlocked, hmm? And here was Caleb wondering, perhaps, if he could somehow find an appropriate key to open that particular door. Ah but he was getting ahead of himself. Essek Thelyss, despite what Jester thought, was entirely out of his league, and likely deserved better than a spy pretending at having a civilian life.

But oh that question. That was interesting that Essek was asking.]

Mm... well. That would depend on the particular non-believer. For a bright, clever model who is married to his work but having a secret torrid affair with Dunamancy on the side...

[He considered, gesturing around.] Dinner is nice, but this is not quite what I am thinking. Instead...

[Caleb's voice was thoughtful as if he were imagining the scenario as he spoke it.] In Nicodranus, in particular, there is a small used bookshop that is too often overlooked. It has the sort of arcane volumes that you can only really find in places like this where so many cultures come and go. One can get lost in the shelves there for hours, but it's important to mind the time. There is garden that is built around several fascinating sculptures as an ode to the port city's history... and it's very pretty at sunset. And after the sun goes down, perhaps, a shared blanket on the beach and we teach other the pictures our countries see in the stars.

[zauberdecke]

[ Despite Caleb's low self-opinion of himself, Jester thought that Caleb deserved the world, including a hot model boyfriend, and then she could have the bragging rights that she set them up and she would be the bridesmaid at the wedding and it would be 'Oh So Romantic' because she was planning their wedding already.

A smile twitched once again at the corner of Essek's mouth at the description, especially the lead-in. Well that was rather apt, wasn't it? Secret torrid affair with Dunamancy on the side; he liked that weaving of words and found himself leaning in despite himself. ]

That could make a believer out of an unbeliever. [ But he was not going to say nothing more on the matter, after all-- he rather thought that if Caleb asked him out on such an excursion, he may take him up on it. But that was one thing where the other man had to take that chance to shoot his shot.

The food came out and was laid out before them. To which point Essek picked up his fork. ] I had no real time to do anything today as the shoot took up most of my time, most of my swimsuit shoots had to happen at sunrise because of a drow's sensitivity to the sun.

[ausgebrannt]

Ah yes, that would make a midday photoshoot rather challenging.

[But that also opened up the opportunity that Caleb Widogast was, perhaps, just brave enough to take. He was not throwing away his shot, okay? Something about this drow was intriguing in a way that Caleb was not used to often experiencing. So there was no stopping the faint flicker of a smile as he looked across the table at him.]

That is too bad that you missed out on exploring today. Perhaps you'd let me help you make up for the missed opportunity? [A playful spark in skyblue eyes.] I know this bookstore, you see...

[zauberdecke]

[ Well look at that, the Professor did shoot his shot after all. Essek inclined his head as he picked up his fork, it could've been held as a precursor to his response. It was not exactly a second date, was it? Except it was, and Essek Thelyss knew that it was. ] I suppose that if you are offering so graciously, that I should take you up on the offer.

[ A forkful of fish, leaving Caleb to hang on to the pause before he continued. ] After all, I am rather weak to books, especially the sort of bookstores you've described where I may perhaps find hidden treasures.

[ Essek would consider lately how this man managed to charm him into another meet-up when he had been rather adamant before that he would let Jester's chosen date down easy. This was decidedly not letting him down easy.

He valued his privacy however, and it did not seem as if the other man would force him into public situations involving the press. The less he had to deal with them, the better.

His eyes flicked upward to meet those meltingly blue eyes. ] Clearly I will have to watch myself around you, Professor Widogast.

[ausgebrannt]

Ja, it is a bit of a treasure hunt. That is a very good way to put it. I think you will like it.

[Or he hoped he would anyway. His plan was to make it a good time for Essek if it was the last thing that he did. He was already putting together the details of this second date in his head.

He looked startled by that comment though, smiling in soft amusement.] No, I am entirely harmless, Herr Thelyss.

[He lied. He was lethal, when the need called for it. But not for this man.]

[zauberdecke]

Are you?

[ But that was completely wrong, this man was intriguing him in a way that was dangerous, and it was not fair how much the other man was taking him by surprise. He would be grilled by Jester tomorrow at a much more reasonable shoot time, and what would he say except that perhaps she had been right and that maybe he would suit?

Or perhaps he could not reveal that just yet. ] I will take your word for it then, until proven otherwise.

[ The zemnian accent was also nice, he'd been trained to think of the the Empire as untrustworthy to the Dynasty but there was something slow and melodious about that voice. ]

[ausgebrannt]

My students have occasionally accused me of trying to talk them to death...

[He admitted. He was a yapper when it came to magic and things that caught his interest. Most of his students liked him though. Something about his passion for the material and subject matter shining through.]

Good. I will do my best to live up to that small trust.

[Jester would be so smug about her matchmaking leading to a second date. And Caleb rather thought he may owe the tiefling a great deal of gratitude.]

[zauberdecke]

[ The two of them perhaps lapsed into the sort of companionable light chatter over the meal. With Essek asking Caleb about the courses he taught, and perhaps prying for a bit of story about being a professor, since Essek was certain that Caleb probably had quite a few of them. And surprisingly, Essek found himself enjoying the time spent in a way that he had not anticipated, but then it was true that the enthusiasm shone through clearly and brightly.

It was far more benign then staring into the sun but just as incandescent.

And perhaps Essek did circle back to Caleb's areas of study, finding those fascinating as well especially his interest in Dunamancy. Perhaps Essek feigned being a dilettante when it came to that magical study but he knew far more than he let on and he could tell that Caleb was an aficionado of magic.

Perhaps it was nice to enjoy time with someone who came across as highly authentic? ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Time passed in a blur, the hours melting away until dinners were eaten and dessert ordered and also gone. They'd taken the table for the majority of the evening (Caleb would tip very well to try to make up for it).

But eventually it did have to come to an end.

But not for all that long.]

Tomorrow, shall I pick you up?

[For date numero dos?]

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek thought about it for a moment; he had agreed to it-- but there was something delightfully teasing about how he managed to prolong the anticipation just a little bit. He took out from his clutch a piece of paper and a pen and then he wrote something down on it, and then he leaned across the table.

And he tucked the piece of paper right into Caleb's pocket.

It was a slow methodical gesture, what did he write? Was it his phone number or was it something else. ]

You may pick me up, I am staying at the Lavish Chateau.

[ A raise of his brow as he then pulled back, after he patted that pocket with the slip of paper inside, and then his hand was withdrawn. What a gesture, it was a gesture of a man who knew the pull he had, but had never cared to use it predatorily until just now. This mild-mannered Professor who looked like he was not quite at home with such attentions.

Essek would never have guessed the secret that Caleb hid. ] Even a small bit of trust from me is nothing to scoff at.

[ausgebrannt]

[Essek was going to be the death of him. Caleb could tell. He could feel the heat of a blush in his cheeks as the drow leaned closer, as he found himself with something tucked quite intimately into his shirt pocket.

That ah. That shouldn't have so completely undone him, but here he was. Undone.]

Good. Ja, good. Then I suppose I'll be able to let Jester have her opportunity to gloat a little too.

[God he wanted to look at that paper right now. Would that be cool? Or uncool? Should he wait? He didn't know.

Fuck it he was going to pull it out to look at. Just a phone number, probably. Right?]

[zauberdecke]

[ There were words, not just a phone number.

You are very attractive when you blush. And then just underneath it, his cellphone number; he had seen Caleb colour only a little bit after something innocuous, so perhaps he had figured that Caleb would blush after reading the slip of paper. He shifted in his seat and pretended that he did not see Caleb taking the paper out of his pocket to view, he had already taken out a mirror to check his face and his hair to make sure that it was perfectly in place.

Not because he was vain but because he was highly fastidious. ]

For the week, I have a private villa at the Lavish Chateau.. [ One that was secluded, and had it's own pool and hot tub. ] You may pick me up at the Opal. [ Which was the cottage that he'd been lodged in.. as with all the cottages, they were reserved for high profile guests who preferred privacy.

The patio coincidentally also overlooked the beach. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Oh that definitely had him blushing, the unexpected compliment written above that phone number. He raised his gaze to Essek's in quiet surprise, but despite the blush, he smiled at him. Well, that was quite an effective little move there, Essek. Caleb was clearly flustered, but pleasantly so.

Still, he carefully tucked the paper with the number back in his pocket -- even if he would not need it since his memory was quite photographic -- and nodded.]

The Opal. Ja, I am familiar with that particular space.

[It was a good view of the sea to be certain, and Jester was good at making sure her friends were well situated when they stayed at the property.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Jester had told Essek of the parties that she held there at the Chateau, so of course Caleb would be familiar. His clutch was already out so when the waiter brought the cheque, he very quickly and gravitationally pulled it to him, before Caleb could even touch it.

Even though Caleb would not know this, the fact that he was paying for the date meant that he enjoyed himself. Normally he let others pay for him because he felt it rather like he was owed it due to his not having a good time. But he very carefully put a crisp bill inside, wrote 'keep the change' and then he pushed the black leather folder to the side casually. ]

I requested something that was a bit further afield of the Chateau, I value my privacy especially considering I spent a great deal of time in the spotlight.

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb tried to reach for the cheque, but he was no match for gravity now was he? He offered a smile that verged on sheepish with a softly murmured danke at being treated to the meal. And tried to pretend his heart was fluttering, and hadn't been fluttering for pretty much the entire meal.

But ah yes, he nodded.]

I think I can understand that -- well, in a way. I am not someone who attracts much spotlight, but even so I do appreciate privacy, and quiet.

[Not just because he was a master of espionage and assassination, but also because he was a socially anxious nerd.]

[zauberdecke]

[ Perhaps it was Essek's fault for not being more perceptive, not looking in deeper. But why should he, this man gave off vibes of being everything that he was supposed to be, a professor of magic. It was the sort of thing that was appealing to Essek. Surprising him in an almost unlooked for way, he had indulged Jester by agreeing to this date.

And now he was indulging himself though he was going to blame it on a scientific desire to see if this man could convince him that there was something to be said for romance; him the great non-believer. ]

You are fortunate, there are times when... [ But then he thought better of it, perhaps that was not first date thoughts, but then he didn't know what those were. Even so, he got up carefully from the table and then reached for his book and his own purse. ] I suppose we should take a wager on who Jester contacts first?

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb would utterly romance this drow. It was a terrible idea. His real job was not the sort that lent itself to an actual relationship, and he could tell very clearly that Essek Thelyss was far more than a quick hookup for fun and release. But something about the other man had called to something in him, and whatever that was it had answered, was still answering.

He was curious about what Essek had begun to say and then stopped, but he did not press for this moment, tucking it away in the back of his mind.

Instead he laughed.]

I think we will be fortunate if she is subtle enough not to just start a group chat.

[zauberdecke]

She would not--- [ Except that was an empty exclamation, he knew that she would-- if the idea occurred to her within any form or fashion. They both knew Jester, and Caleb had reminded Essek just what a force Jester was to be reckoned with. He worried his lower lip with his teeth and as he tucked the book underneath his arm and then looked to Caleb with a wry smile. ]

I suppose that we shall have to cross that bridge when we come to it, if we come to it; that is if Jester decides that is a bridge to be built in the first place.

[ A glance to Caleb; he had not thought of a quick hook-up because he was not the sort to merely hook up, he found it too messy and complicated but he rather thought of perhaps what it would be like to kiss the other man, to be kissed by him.

And that was where it crossed into highly dangerous territory. ]

Until our date then?