Chapter Text
The soft, lingering twinkle of electric guitar strings hummed across the patio, their vibrations buzzing through the stone tiles and atop Kai's pristine platform shoes. His legs were crossed over a barstool, one foot dangling and one on the ground. He absentmindedly tapped the glass top of the high table in front of him, his expression blankly staring at Noeul across the sea of socialites and jet-setters.
"You like sangrias, don't you?" a low, steady voice asked behind him. Before he could turn, Sara cautiously slid a glass cup across the table, its rim lined with salt.
"Neutral." Kai sampled the drink as he side-eyed Sara. She perched herself atop the chair beside him, her own much larger drink in front of her.
"It's rare that I see you without a drink."
"It's rare when you're not the first one in line at the bar," Kai replied. "That would explain why."
"It shocks me that anyone can sit through one of these sober," Sara said. "The crowd these little parties attract doesn't exactly compensate for Noeul's music choices."
"Are you serious? These are the most entertainment I get all week."
"You're wired in a much different way," Sara said, softly tilting her head as she stirred her drink with her straw. "You thrive off elite bullshit."
"Why else would I be in Dalseum?" he laughed, half-offended.
Sara picked up on his precarious tone. "I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's a great thing for you."
Kai exhaled through his nose. "It has been, for the most part. Elite bullshit is the most fun when you can hold yourself at a distance, and I forgot to do that."
"Yeah, you've been up the bull's ass for a while now."
"Uh-huh."
"Noeul mentioned something going on between you two, but, in all honesty, I tuned him out. What's your side of the story?"
"There's not much of a story," Kai explained. "I'm just getting bored with him, you know? One man can only handle so much of Noeul Sang."
"He's a remarkably unexciting man."
"His connections are exciting," Kai said. "Everything about him is exciting except for the individual, really."
"I'd almost understand the appeal if he wasn't so," Sara trailed off, "Noeul."
"I mean, he's an angsty pretty boy with a rich dad, it's no wonder everyone in Dalseum is trying to get into his pants."
"And everyone in Dalseum is succeeding," Sara muttered.
"But he's so bland," Kai continued. "He'll do whatever you tell him, which is fun for a while, but it loses its charm after he does it with zero enthusiasm for the nth time."
"I don't think Noeul has felt enthusiastic about anything a day in his life."
"Sara!" a high-strung voice exclaimed from the crowd behind them. Kai turned to see Adam and Sonnet, hand-in-hand, emerging through the patio entrance. She hesitantly waved them over before turning to Kai again.
Sara angled her heavily ringed hand to shield her face. "God, he needs to break up with them."
"Huh?" Kai asked.
"It's ridiculous. It's so ridiculous—hey, Adam!" Sara put on a stretchy fake smile as the pair approached their table.
"I came by to see your getup for the night; you always look fabulous," Adam rambled, clearly some form of not-quite-sober. "Do a 360 for me, a little spin."
Sara cautiously stood up and shook her golden bangles down to her wrists. She shuffled an awkward turn between the bar tables. Her long black skirt had embroidered floral detailing, and her black criss-crossed fabric top held her chest at a flattering angle that surely took numerous attempts to perfect. Layers of golden Arab jewelry decorated her neck, ears, and hair, which was pinned into a bun of small braids with two dangling to frame her face.
"Impeccable, as always," Adam said. "Is that necklace new—the one with the ankh, is that how you say it? Is that how you said you say that?"
"No—well, yes, that's how you say it—but it's not new. I don't wear it often since it's more sentimental. I wouldn't want it broken."
"And how have you been, Kai?" Sonnet asked, attempting to break the silence. "I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever."
"Fine." Kai took a sip of his drink.
"I'm surprised you aren't up there with Noeul—aren't you usually up there?"
"Wanted a change of scenery."
Sonnet had a strange, malicious glint in their eye that was certainly more intentional than the redness from however much cannabis they were on. "It's always fun back here. You're always welcome to join us. Make it a full Council function."
"Except for Gale, who actually takes advantage of the social opportunity," Sara said. "Almost like the whole point of these was to strengthen Council and Cocktail connections, but maybe it's my fault for expecting that would happen."
"We talk to people all the time!" Adam protested.
"Do you ever remember who you spoke to afterwards?" Sara asked.
"Do you?" Adam rebutted.
"Sara does everything for the Council. Let her be a recluse," Kai said.
"I'm far from a recluse," Sara laughed. "If anything, these two are."
"We go to all the Council shit, what do you mean?" Sonnet asked.
"I have never seen either of you speak to someone who wasn't the other at any Council function," Kai observed.
"We totally do," Adam said, unconfident.
"Then go do it!" Sara said. "If both of you can go the rest of the night without talking to each other, then I'll stay off your asses next week about this."
"You're acting like Sonnet is sober enough to keep themselves upright, let alone initiate a conversation," Kai said.
"Is anyone else here sober?" Sara snapped.
"Touche." He leaned back in his seat.
"I'm sober enough. I'm too scared to take any more than one of Sonnet's edibles at once. I'll take you up on your bet, Sara," Adam said.
"Have fun out there, Belle. Don't tell anyone, but you're the only person on the Council I trust."
"Don't worry, my lips are sealed." Adam winked, his brassy curls bouncing as he nodded at her before leaving to work the crowd.
"I might head to the front and see what's going on up there," Sonnet said, pressing their weight against the bar table. "Where's Gale?"
"He's too short for me to point out in a crowd," Sara flatly said.
Kai opened his mouth. "No," Sara immediately snapped, raising her finger at him.
"Hmm, I might trail him for a bit. He always knows what he's doing. Does that still count?"
"He's not Adam. Knock yourself out, Chea."
"Ooh, I see him!" Sonnet exclaimed, adjusting their skimpy top as they, too, disappeared in the opposite direction.
"How long do you think this is going to last?" Kai asked.
"Give them ten minutes, maybe."
"I really am curious how many milligrams it takes to get Sonnet that high consistently. It has to be insane."
"I always wonder what's going on in their head. It has to be messy up there."
"I'm sure it's beyond our comprehension."
Sara blinked her heavily-lined eyes as she observed the crowd. "You think Gale is as innocent as he lets on?"
Kai raised his eyebrows. "I don't think he has any other choice."
"Think about it, though. You've had a few hookups after these parties, and we know Noeul does. Sonnet and Adam sometimes get roped into whoever Noeul finds. We don't talk to nearly as many people as Gale does, either. He has to have some ulterior motive, don't you think?"
"I'd rather not think about Gale Porter's sex life."
"You are so strange about him. Why does he threaten you so much?"
"Threaten me?" Kai laughed. "He's just obnoxious. I can't fuckin' stand him."
"And you can stand Sonnet and Noeul and Adam?"
"They're different, they're…"
"Skinny?"
"Oh, shut up. You know that's not it."
"They aren't nearly as competent as he is. Gale's pretty quiet compared to the rest of the Council, too. I think you have some sort of unresolved issue with body image."
"I don't like when you try to pathologize my choices, Cherti."
"You need to think about your choices more. Everyone does. This isn't a Kai-specific issue."
"I'm trying to do better on that with Noeul. Being his sidepiece was a poor decision. I can recognize that."
"That's a step in the right direction."
"I was actually thinking about branching out more tonight. I want to try something new, y'know?"
"I was, too, actually. Maybe it's the full moon."
Kai stared into his half-empty glass. "I didn't know you were into that witchy shit."
"I'm not really subscribed to it, but I don't think it's a coincidence that everyone is suddenly itching for change around the same time. That, and we're all hornier than average."
"We?" Kai said, fighting back a shit-eating grin. "The almighty, pure-hearted Sara Cherti feels temptation?"
Sara laughed before playfully swatting at him. "You know I've hooked up with a handful of women after these parties! I'm as human as the rest of the Council, believe it or not."
"I've been waiting for your shell to crack, Sara, I can't lie."
"I feel like this isn't nearly the revelation you're making it out to be."
Kai scanned the crowd. "I can't even imagine what your type could be. I didn't know you liked anyone, really."
"I usually go for other alternative women. Try to find that common ground, and they're usually more down to Earth."
Kai pursed his lips before perking up and pointing into the crowd. "What about her? Red skirt, chain necklace, blonde."
"Blonde?" Sara scoffed. "That's my one rule—no blondes."
"That's fair, that's fair," Kai said, nodding.
"We've established your type is pathetic little rodent men, so I'll keep an eye out for any more of those," Sara joked.
"Can I be honest with you, Cherti?"
"Always."
"I'm exhausted with pathetic men. I haven't been topped in too long. Keep an eye out for that for me."
"Oh, so we have the opposite problem."
"I always assumed you'd be a top—glad to have that confirmed."
"Oh, yeah, pure stone top. My issue is that Cocktail girls are too touchy, too sentimental about it."
Kai nodded. "I see the stone top lifestyle for you."
"I wish other lesbians did."
"How about this—we work the crowd for a bit, and if we happen to find someone for each other, we meet up back at the table."
"I like this game, Shirogane." Sara rose from her chair, sangria in hand.
"See you on the other side, Cherti." As Kai rose from his seat, the music swelled. He peered over his shoulder at Adam behind him, eagerly chatting with a handful of particularly well-dressed Cocktail women. Kai assumed they were the opposite of what Sara had requested.
As he journeyed deeper into the crowd, closer to the "pit" gathered to watch Noeul, he kept his eyes peeled for anyone who fit either bill. There were numerous well-groomed gentlemen around the premises, but a majority of them were too normal for Kai's taste. He wanted a bit of intrigue, a bit of mystery. That was what made a hookup memorable.
As he wandered closer to the stage, he happened to bump into someone just below him. "Oh, fuck, sorry—"
He looked down to apologize to this individual, unbeknownst to him that he had stumbled into exactly what he was searching for. She was a shorter girl with a chic French bob, dark burgundy lipstick, and a silver septum piercing. She looked rather pissed that Kai was anywhere near her, which likely meant she and Sara were highly compatible.
As he opened his mouth, he realized he had no idea what to say.
"Hey, you're exactly Sara's type!" No, too forward.
"You come here often?" Entirely wrong impression.
"Are you gay?" Would likely get him smacked.
"Do you want to hook up with my desperate coworker?" Absolutely not.
Instead, what came out was, "You here to see Noeul play?"
Of course, because everything Kai did circled back to that fuckass guitar-wielding whore.
"Oh, yeah!" the girl said. "I had never been to one of these before, but my girlfriend invited me."
Fuck. He was then presented with another handful of options.
"Girlfriend, as in dating, or as in a girl who is your friend?" Septum piercing, he knew that answer.
"You open to a third?" Noeul was rubbing off on him too much.
"She doesn't need to know if you hook up with Sara Cherti." God, Noeul again.
"Kill yourself." Probably not the right choice, either.
He settled on, "Oh, sweet! Have a great night."
Kai glanced behind him to see if he could find Sara. She was speaking to an otter-esque man, who was admittedly not bad-looking, but was far too old for him. He wasn't sure if he should be offended by Sara's assumption that he would be into older men. Hell, he wasn't even sure if he was into older men. He had never been with one before, but he couldn't imagine the experience being pleasant. He preferred an experience with as little Viagra as possible.
As he turned himself back around, he found himself making direct eye contact with Noeul. Fuck.
He glanced beside him at a bottle of vodka, in which Noeul had made a significant dent. He closed his eyes and braced himself.
"Shirogane!" Noeul slurred. "So kind of you to finally join me tonight."
Kai whipped his head to look at Sara, who stared at him, as well. Both were dumbfounded.
"I'm not joining you, Noeul, I'm looking for someone. Keep playing," Kai sternly said.
"Looking for who?" Noeul's microphone was still connected, meaning the entire patio heard his half of their conversation. All eyes were on them. That whore knew exactly what he was doing.
"Don't worry! Keep fucking playing, don't ruin your set over me."
Noeul laughed. "You know, I have a better idea. Folks, I've had this song in my repertoire for a while now, but I think tonight, I'll dedicate it to Kai."
He thought about what Sara said before—about being straight up the bull's ass. It was a gross image, but it wasn't inaccurate to how Kai felt with the heat of the crowd pressing against him, his head blurry from the combination of how damn strong Sara's sangria was and the way Noeul was metaphorically tugging at his collar and leash at a public function. He hated feeling like his pet.
"Friends, this is Drunken Lament."
Noeul's glistening cobalt guitar warbled as he expertly bent the strings, the crowd softly whooping in response. As Noeul grasped the microphone stand and slung his guitar behind his back, he extended his arm to Kai, inviting him on stage.
"No, no, no," Kai protested, but the music drowned him out. The crowd pushed into him, inching him forward. He had no other choice but to take Noeul's hand.
As Noeul grabbed his waist to lift him onstage, Kai caught a glimpse of Sara's disappointed expression. He smiled at her as some half-assed attempt at an apology. He could barely make out the words Noeul was singing over the heavy bass coming from the speakers, but he could see the way Noeul looked at him through his blue-tinted glasses. He could feel the way Noeul latched onto him and just about ground against him, his stupid fucking height overtaking Kai. He hated feeling small. He especially hated feeling small on a stage in front of hundreds of powerful people.
But he loved the feeling of Noeul's breath against his neck, his soft skin pressed against him, his dog-like adoration of Kai on full public display.
Sorry, Sara. This was what was exciting about him.
"I'm throwing a party tonight,
I drink more than a sailor, I'm sure
Pour the rum in my eyes,
Tell me lies."
As Noeul slurred the last half of the last line, Kai leaned into him, folding his arms over his neck.
"Don't try to fuck with me, Kai," Noeul whispered into his ear, microphone held away from them. "Don't do that shit anymore, alright?"
Kai didn't respond. He didn't have time to respond before the next verse started, Noeul leaning in to kiss him before starting. He tasted like clear, hard vodka. From the stage, he could see everyone in the crowd, including Sonnet. They looked incredibly pissed. Kai unleashed the shit-eating grin he had been repressing all night.
As Noeul continued, his gaze focused on Kai, and he lifted his arm and raised his eyebrows as if to ask for his arm. Kai, mentally repeating "fuck it" to himself over and over, lifted his hand and let Noeul shakily spin him. It was stupid, and Kai knew it had to look even stupider from the crowd's perspective. He tried to at least sway along to the beat, but there was far too much happening for him to pick out which beat he was supposed to be following.
As he returned to the microphone stand, Noeul stumbled over his heels. Instead of ignoring this, as a normal person would, he purposefully brought himself down to his knees, ensuring his spine was straight so as not to ruin his vocal performance. He felt himself up from his bony hip to his collarbone, which Kai may have found attractive in a one-on-one situation, but was cringeworthy in front of a crowd of this caliber. He gazed up at Kai as if to egg him on to this public display of freaked-out debauchery. He considered refusing to do this, as a normal person would, but remembered how pissed Sonnet looked. He didn't have anything against them, in particular, but something within him couldn't resist an opportunity to enrage any member of the Council.
He carefully slid down to Noeul's level and straddled him, sliding his hands underneath Noeul's tight black tank. He was more sensitive than Kai remembered, his muscles twitching as Kai brushed his skin. He looked at him like he was pathetic—like he was playing right along with his little game. And Kai was. And Kai was pathetic.
"You were the mermaid for me,
'til one day, you found your feet.
Leaving me in this God-awful bottle,
a model of heatache and grief."
Noeul kissed his ear before standing to actually play his damn guitar for the last verse. He finished with a deep sigh and to the most applause Kai had heard all night—maybe he hadn't been paying attention.
"Thank you all for coming out tonight," Noeul said into the microphone, his soft-spoken tone jarring compared to his singing voice. "This is going to be it for my set for the night, but please stay and enjoy the amenities, please. I'm sure anyone on my Council would be more than happy to meet you. Speaking of, can we get some applause for Sara? She's the mastermind behind this concert series. I wouldn't be here without her."
The crowd cheered, and Sara humbly waved from her seat. Her sangria was full again. She must have finished the first one.
"Again, thank you. Have a great rest of the night, and make sure you get home safely."
Noeul bowed as he placed the microphone back on its stand and turned it off. The "pit" dispersed throughout the patio, and he stretched his arms across his body like nothing had happened.
"You didn't mean a single word of that," Kai said.
"Oh, it's standard concert protocol, shut up," Noeul laughed.
"You're a whore. I hope you know that. There was no need for whatever that was."
"I'm the whore? Who were you looking for?"
"I don't know." Kai couldn't think of a better answer.
Noeul took his guitar off his back and safely placed it back in its case, his body language smug. "You want to continue where we left off tonight?"
"Yeah." Fuck it.
"I thought so." Noeul smiled. "I'm going to shower while the Council wraps this all up—unless you'd rather me not."
"No, please shower, you sick fuck."
"Ah, but I'm your favorite sick fuck, aren't I?"
"Right." The exhaustion of the night was finally catching up to him.
"I'll see you tonight."
"See you tonight," he muttered. As Noeul exited stage left, Kai caught a final glimpse at his table.
Sara didn't just drink her sangria, but she finished off Kai's. He almost wasted his energy mentally chastising her, but he probably deserved it.