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 Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:36 pm
Unfortunately, when Hadrian and Thorn arrived, all the seats were sold out - save for their ticketed seats. There was no hope of Hadrian getting a seat away from Thorn. And their seats were up in the closest thing to a private balcony the small theatre had. Natalie had worked a bit of magic, it seemed.
When the performance started, most of the theatre became very, very dark. The set was interesting - it was divided in two. THe front half housed the props and the actors. Behind them was a translucent gray screen - behind that, dark shadowy figures. The chorus. The members of the chorus wore period garb, and were usually still, like another audience. From time to time, though, they would join in the songs, enact flashback scenes, or show people leaving by carriage, via little puppets. It really was quite ingenious.
The music itself was better than was probably expected - by some stroke of luck, the tone of all the actors' voices melded wonderfully, despite their woeful lack of practice together. It wasn't to the level of a professional opera, of course, but it was much better than the average high school or college performance.
Natalie shown. There was something about the repressed love and yearning that she seemed to understand. Her costar was almost coldly in character at times, when it was necessary. There didn't seem to be any supressed passion, if he was Natalie's man, but they might just have been good actors.
Whatever it was, the performance was rather enjoyable, all in all. If you were paying attention, at least...
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:34 am
Thorn was dressed a little bit more formally than such a performance might had entailed. It was an expensive suit, with cuff links that were just shy of discreet and his hair was neatly clipped in place, as if he had put his moneys worth into appearing more than respectable tonight.
It wasn't just about the performance, though. It was about the man who had finally called him up, and while it had taken some doing, Thorn was more than a little bit smug that the mage was accompanying him tonight.
It was the first day they had met, since THAT night. And Thorn... well. He wanted to bask in the glow of whatever it was Hadrian was feeling. Whether it was annoyance, shame, or joy. It was exciting.
"This way." he said, his words quiet even as his motioned with his fingers. He scanned a glance through the crowd, seeing nothing that interested him too much. He was a business man who attended arts for the networking value. Not because of true enjoyment.
But then, that was his view on everything else.
"I am delighted that you decided to join me." he added a quick grin. Ironic, his words. He had all but guilted the man into it.
But Thorn could live with that kind of guilt.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:28 am
Of all the emotions possible after such an occurrence, the one Thorn was currently basking in was shame. Embarassment.
And just a tidbit of irritation that Thorn had managed to guilt him into going.
So it was a mostly-silent Hadrian that followed Thorn towards their seats, his face stony. It was obvious that the mage wanted to be anywhere but with Thorn; he'd planned on finding his own seat somewhere else, but...
That was impossible now.
Sitting down in the seat, he gave a stiff answer to Thorn, concealing that shame best he could and shoving the annoyance forward.
"I'm certain you are."
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:38 am
Thorn sat down next to him, nodding his head as he looked around. No one he knew, yet. Which was both good and a bad thing. It could have provided so many opportunities to... explore Hadrian's reactions. The mage was capable of so many, that it was like watching a goldfish perform tricks.
"You behave as if you would rather be somewhere else." he murmured, his voice kept low so that those behind them, those beside him couldn't overhear.
Handing over a program, his hand hesitated, holding it for just a fraction longer.
"I believe." he said, his voice full of amusement. "The last time we met, you were more than... pleased to have me around."
The show might start soon, but either way, he would get what he wanted. Darkness. Privacy in plain sight.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:56 am
Well, that certainly got a reaction as Hadrian snatched the program from Thorn.
And for once that annoyance gave way to anger, as he spoke in quiet, hard words. "You got me drunk. When you're that drunk, your standards lower."
Ouch. Yeah, Hadrian could be very nasty when he got angry...he was rather like a wild animal in that regard. When injured, a wild cat would act even more violent, more dangerous, in hopes of chasing the predator away...and that was very reminiscent of what the mage was doing.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:12 am
Thorn arched a brow. Point to Hadrian, then. "Alcohol also lowers your inhibitions, but there is only so much you can blame the drinks for." he smirked. "Hadrian, if you hadn't wanted it, the drinks wouldn't have made a difference."
Sometimes Thorn might wonder. Was he attracted to Hadrian as a man, or as a sadist? Sometimes one answer came out, sometimes the other. And othertimes, the fact that he belonged to someone else. That he was so enigmatic. It was a mix, which made it harder for Thorn to ease off.
Blame the psychosomatics.
"You were eager, Hadrian." he purred. "There is no doubt." a pause. "About that."
And the show started, giving Thorn some refuge her needed.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:23 am
Hadrian was staring at the stage, not really watching the play - but using it as something to focus his eyes on rather then just leave. Because he was very tempted to just stand up, and walk out.
Except that probably wouldn't go over so well. And Natalie didn't deserve that, when it wasn't her fault he couldn't pay attention.
"Fine, then. Alcohol and your mind games."
Well, he certainly didn't trust the other man anymore; at least not at the moment, he didn't.
"But I did not wantthat."
He hadn't...right?
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:33 am
Thorn laughed quietly. The kind of laugh that escapes husky only because control was placed on it's volume. "Darling Hadrian." he purred. "When a man drinks enough to be swayed by mind games." the last two words dripped with mockery. "Usually he cannot... ah." he stopped, as if it was a delicate situation to talk about.
"Perform." he chose the word carefully. "So well. But I saw nothing wrong with your performance."
Alright. So maybe it wasn't completely true? But it was true enough, and he wanted to rile this mage up. He wanted temper to spark his cheeks and for him to lash out.
Surely, not even MARC had recieved that potent a reaction from him?
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:56 am
It was true; Marc had never received such a reaction from him. Because Hadrian never struck intentionally to hurt his lover, as he was attempting to do so with Thorn. Though anger had been achieved...just not intentionally hurtful words.
And Thorn succeeded in his wish. Color rose in Hadrian's cheeks, though whether it was a blush or from anger would be unknown.
Speechless with embaressment and anger - that would be a good assessment of Hadrian's mood for a few moments. Before he narrowed his eyes anyway, turning to face Thorn with accusation in his voice.
And, following a stray thought, he struck not at the accusation - but more at Thorn himself.
"I think it says a lot about why I didn't want that, if you have to give someone alcohol to get them to sleep with you."
Was that a jab against Thorn's 'performance'? Well,that was unexpected.
Hadrian...was likely going to walk out soon. He was angry enough that he wouldn't care if Natalie noticed.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:02 am
Thorn sat there facing the play, enough of his mind watching that later, he would be able to congratate Natalie without lying. But the rest of him was fascinated by this mage who was getting worked up. More and more interesting!
"Hush, Hadrian." he said levelly, smiling. "The audience can here you."
He waited, for just a fraction. "It says nothing." there was no unease in his voice, no stiffening of the male ego. "We drank, we had sex. I do not need to _give_ someone alcohol."
He sounded more than amused. But whether this was an act, another layer? Bah. Only Thorn knew. "People drink at gatherings, Hadrian. At functions. At dinner. Just because you are unused to it, doesn't mean it's a personal attack against your..." he stopped, as if searching for the right word.
"Integrity."
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:10 am
Clenching his jaw, it was through sheer force of will that Hadrian kept quiet. He'd rather not the audience hear the entirety of this...or any of this, for that matter.
And at Thorn's lack of reaction to his comment, he felt his anger grow. He wanted some sort of a reaction - some validation that he was getting to the man.
Keeping his voice low, and returning his eyes to the stage, he spoke again.
"Well, I don't drink very often. If I had known that drink was alcoholic, I wouldn't have drank it. If you were half as...polite as you're pretending to be, then you would have informed me of it."
He was floundering. Trying to come up with an insult or accusation - something that didn't just reflect back onto himself...and he was failing.
Well, it wasn't as if Hadrian did this a lot.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:13 am
Thorn turned his head slightly, and inclined it in a sharp nod. "I should have." he said promptly, agreeing with just that. Because he wasn't saying it was polite, merely that IF he was, he would have. He should have.
"I apologize, Hadrian." he said, his words amused. He couldn't help it. Something about seeing this man try to agrue had him feel... stronger. And more interested. "Had I known you were so weak to drink, I would not have attempted to imbibe you with alcohol."
"I would simply have waited to see if you would have reacted the same way without the alcohol."
Alright. And if he hadn't succeeded... try try again.
"I am no monster." he added. Even though you try to make me out as one.
A crazy person believes they're sane. Maybe it worked on the same principle.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:49 am
While Hadrian made Thorn feel strong, it was reversed with Hadrian. Thorn had the effect of making him feel weak - and he hated that. He hated that he couldn't seem to win, with this man.
"I wouldn't have."
Stiffly told, his gaze straight ahead...and it was true. Hadrian wouldn't have slept with Thorn that night without persuasion in the form of alcohol.
As for him not being a monster...well, in his anger, he had doubts about that. But strangely enough, the rest of the time, he agreed with that - perhaps? - delusion; Thorn was no monster.
Just a...predator.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:57 am
Thorn smiled. A long, slow smile, and proceeded to watch most of the play in silence, making the occasional comment. But he wasn't disturbed yet, or rankled. There was something fun to this game now. Instead of the polite, distant Hadrian, he was getting a reaction.
And like a cat, he lapped it all up.
Watching the show, in silence, it was interesting enough-- and Thorn idily wondered who it was that Natalie was so interested in. Mentally, he cast aside the ones who weren't his age.
Or maybe the man was a backstage hand? A director?
He had enough to amuse himself to leave the mage alone.
For now.
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Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:03 pm
Hadrian should have been content at the silence - but instead, it unnerved him. So it was no surprise that, at the end of the play, he was up out of his seat pretty quickly. And he wasn't going to stick around...
"Tell Natalie I said the performance was good."
And then the mage was leaving the balcony, and heading for the exit.
Obviously, he didn't want to spend more time then he had to with Thorn.
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