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The beast of pleasure was a much different creature from the one that reigned over business. That beast was at rest - now the former prowled the mall. Well, maybe prowl wasn't the correct word. After all, the silver-haired boy was seated in one of the many seats of the food court. He had his one guilty pleasure before him, and those calculating, fierce, pink eyes scanned the people as they passed by.

He had in his mind to test himself and his new-found sexuality. Of course, he could have gone and seen Paris, but Billy would rather find something more....entertaining in the long-term. He would rather...play a game. He was a predator in search of prey. Thus far what he'd seen had not satisfied his high standards.

The burger in front of him however, and the fries....well, that satisfied a different hunger. He oh so languidly took a fry from its little cardboard container and bit in to it. To Billy, only he could do such and make it appear so sultry. Maybe someone would see, and their eyes would meet. The the hunt would be on. Or maybe...

Billy saw the couple and scoffed inwardly to himself. There was nothing in the sight of a girl ravishing her partner that he found at all appealing. There had been a time when he thought he did, simply because it was expected that a guy be with a girl. Well, he was disillusioned from that simple expectation.

Billy had also seen the reaction of a certain dark-haired boy, whom he didn't recognize from where he was. Billy perceived that the boy had seen just what he had. he also perceived that said boy was...perhaps embarrassed by the couple's actions? He chuckled quietly. What did that boy have to be embarrassed about? Maybe the boy was just a prude.
Ah. Now that could make for a fun little game.

Billy picked up his burger, still in its wrapping and his fries in one hand. The other hand picked up his drink, and he then proceeded to saunter over to the dark-haired boy with long, smooth, strides. He then placed his food on the table before the boy and took a seat in front of him.
"Mind a little company? I-ah," It was then he recognized the boy. Ladon. The boy who had commissioned him, "It is you~" Billy purred. Well now, this gave him some leverage. A grin appeared on his dark face.

"Roadinger, yes. Billy Roadinger," he nodded, taking a sip of his drink. He remembered Ladon's name. He didn't normally bother, but for a customer he could extend the effort. "Truth be told, I think I've tapped this area dry of patrons - either that or the people here have no eye for art, or they do not know the worth of my labors. They turn their nose up at prices that are already too low. It is a starving life we artists lead. And I don't have plans to freeze because of it."

Business had been better at the beginning of the month, but each day, the closer it got to Christmas, the fewer people even looked his bench's way. Maybe he'd set up again sometime closer to Christmas when the last minute shoppers really ran rampant.

"You on the other hand," Billy paused, giving Ladon a small grin, and a appraising look, "have taste, fortunately. You can recognize beauty, talent. For that, I praise you." Billy's praise though was mostly a lure to appeal to the boy.

"It would help if more people thought so. Unfortunately this Holiday becomes less and less about the person you are buying for, and more about just what you can get them that is of the least cost to you." It was an ugly truth. It made Billy somewhat glad that he had no one to buy for on the holidays.

"Even if you are no artist, at the very least, you do posses something in you that is uncommon. Something unique." Billy had seen, and noted, Ladon's reaction to his earlier compliment, as well as remembered his earlier reaction to that couple. He wondered just how Ladon would act if Billy were to exude a little more charm.

"But then again, when I saw you I thought I saw something special in you."

Billy chuckled, "You're nervous. Might I inquire as to why? I tell you now, I might have acted coldly on the day we met, but such is my nature when conducting business - when I am forced to associate with whatever random scum drops by. Times like now, when I am free to act as I will, I am free to choose just who it is I socialize with. And I have high standards, dear Ladon." He dropped his voice low as he picked up a fry and leaned in, "And I would not be talking to you now if I felt you did not fit those standards."

Billy then leaned back in his seat with a confident grin, his voice resuming its usual volume, "I saw you look away from the horrid sight of that couple over there displaying their lust so publicly... You are,..chaste. Innocent. You have a purity that raises you high above the scum that crawls about this place. I admire that. It is for that reason I would choose to have your company."

It was obvious that this non-business side of Billy could be fairly long-winded. And somewhere in his mini speeches there was some truth tucked in to the fishing line he cast out to lure poor Ladon. Indeed, Billy admired that innocence. As mentioned before, it would make for a fun little game. And seeing how easily moved by compliments Ladon was, Billy was sure that his efforts to reel him in would not fail.

Oh, Billy was quite amused, however he hid his amused grin in favor of the 'offended' act.

"You would insinuate that I would not only do something so low, but that I would associate myself with such vermin that would conspire to trick a gem such as you!?" Billy made sure there was just the right sharpness in his tone, just the right amount of accusation, hurt, and anger.

He wondered what Ladon would do with this development. It was true, Billy was playing with him, but with a far greater purpose in mind than public embarrassment. No, Billy sought his own satisfaction. Billy stood, letting his chair screech on the ceramic tiles below as he made an act of gathering up his food.
"I am sorry that evidently the world and all its filth have disillusioned you to the fact that anyone could possibly see any value in you~" He let his voice waver with manufactured pain. He let his pink eyes gain a fierceness in place of their usual dis-attached gleam. Oh, how Billy hoped this new bait would be taken... He was having quite a time of it!

Billy had taken the first step to leave when Ladon had stood, and now that left them quite close. Billy took their proximity as an opportunity, and put on an expression somewhere between hardened and hurt, and looked down upon the shorter boy.
"Perhaps I am to blame for placing too much hope in the pure. But that is all the impure truly hope for - that someone more lily white than themselves will look upon them with the same reverence and envy as they feel. And even if that is not with love, than with association, so that they might feel like even for an instant all their past transgressions have been forgiven~"

Billy was quite proud of himself. He had predicted much of this, yet simply knowing what comes next in a game does not ruin its thrill.

"Perhaps...I am selfish in the search for my own heart's salvation. Or perhaps, yet, I should have seen that no tarnished knight such as I could ever hope to carry anyone off into the sunset."

Inside Billy's head there was probably maniacal laughter. There was definitely a feeling of satisfaction, and a dark stirring of pride. Billy didn't think that perhaps he had merely gotten lucky with an easy target. No. Billy was fully convinced that he was just that good.

"If you think I am not terrible, then you would be wrong. If you are light, then I am shadow. It is only natural than that the shadow seeks out the light," Billy said matter-of-fact, finally giving the boy space. Stepping back a step. Lessening his intensity. It was time to play hard to get...

"But perhaps I acted too quickly. In my desperation I looked to the first light to catch my eye. I have bothered you enough. I should perhaps, continue my search for the light~" Billy made another motion to leave.