Summary: Antonin Dolohov just wants to get away from his hectic lifestyle for a little while, but was it too much to ask for? (Antonin & Marlene/Rock Star!AU)
A/N: This was written for a fest on AO3 with the song 'Hotel California' as the inspiration. I think there might be a couple of mistakes I've not picked up yet (story of my writing life). Also there's a warning for very mild animal abuse. It's not graphic, but if you know the song, you'll know when to jump ahead.
Such a Lovely Place
Antonin Dolohov; rock star, legend… bored.
Every man wanted to be him, every woman wanted to do him. Sometimes it was the other way round, sometimes it was both. He used to live for the adulation, the cult-like loyalty that came from his fans and the sycophants. Now…
Now he needed something more. He just didn't know what.
He was meant to be doing press for his upcoming album and the tour that would soon follow it.
He was meant to be doing a lot of things at that moment, like being measured for a suit for some award show, visiting a hospital for charity… Always something that wanted more than he could give.
Instead, Antonin got into his convertible and he drove.
And drove.
Until he hit desert then he drove some more.
Even when the sun set and night came, he kept driving. He wasn't sure if he was still in California, hadn't bothered checking signs and hadn't seen one for miles. His phone had been thrown out the window long before the stars twinkled above him; people calling him every other minute, demanding to know where he was.
He didn't want any of it anymore.
Slowly the tension left his muscles and he let his head fall back onto the rest, the evening breeze ruffling his shaggy curls. He sighed as a tiredness settled on him, his eyes growing heavy.
Almost like the desert had heard his tired thoughts, a neon sign flashed; HOTEL AHEAD.
A couple of miles, Antonin pulled into a small parking lot that was filled with cars covered in sandy dust. The hotel looked like it belonged in New Orleans and not the middle of the desert, with it's red bricks and iron balconies on each of the four floors. Green shutters were pulled open from the windows and the large wooden doors, painted in the same green, were flung open to reveal a reception area. Straight past the reception, the courtyard in the centre of the building could be seen through open patio doors; chatter, music and laughter came from the people milling around. Were they celebrating something?
Antonin ruffled his hair with one hand, some errant sand fell to his shoulders and over his face, as he took the place in. All the windows had lights on but no shadows or silhouettes to show occupants. Were they all in the courtyard? Would the people here recognise him?
And as the thought crossed his mind and he toyed with going back to the car…
"Antonin Dolohov, as I live and breathe!" a female voice said loudly.
He was suddenly twenty again.
"Marlene McKinnon!" He looked back at the entrance to find a familiar blonde stood there. She hadn't aged a day since he'd seen her fifteen years ago. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Antonin held his arms open and it was like those years had never happened. She shrieked before laughing huskily as she raced into his arms. He swung her round once. She still smelt the same; roses and oranges. He never did work out if it was perfume or shampoo. Then he held her by the hands, taking a step back.
"Let me get a proper look at you!"
Marlene swayed her hips side to side, giggling as she did. Her long skirt rustled against her legs and her t-shirt lifted a little to reveal smooth, bronzed skin. He laughed and tugged a little on her loose, blonde hair. "You never could manage a brush through this mane."
She slapped his hand away, tutting. "They're called beach waves. I pay good money for this style. Unlike you!"
Marlene jumped to ruffle his hair. She danced away, almost pirouetting as she did before Antonin could grab her.
"God, I've missed you," he said suddenly.
She tilted her head, folding her arms and smiled at him. "I never left you, Ant – sorry, Mr Big Rock Star, I should say."
"You could've come with me."
The smile disappeared. "Come on, I take it you want a room?"
"You work here?"
Marlene shrugged nonchalantly, already leading him to the reception. He looked around at the decor; dark red wallpaper with gold framed paintings spaced around the walls. Every single person in the painting was naked, dancing and drinking. The people in the courtyard started singing together, a familiar song he'd heard a long time ago, but he couldn't place the lyrics.
Marlene leant over the counter, her t-shirt rising up again to show the edge of a tattoo going up her lower back; was it a candle? She stood up before he could see it properly.
She shook the key at him, holding the attached keyring with an eagle stamped on it. "Last room."
They silently walked down the corridor, the level of noise from the courtyard occupants never dulled as they walked around the building. When they reached his room on the second floor, she unlocked it and swung the door open for him. The key was still in the lock; the keyring rocked against the door… tap, tap, tap. In time with a beat of a drum from the song being played.
"Why didn't you come with me, Marlene?" Antonin asked, not going in the room.
She immediately started playing with a silver necklace around her neck, tugging at the heart charm on it, a familiar brand name etched in the centre. "You're asking the wrong question, Antonin," she replied with a playful smile.
Marlene walked away without waiting for his response, going back the way they'd come. He watched her until she started down the staircase at the end of the corridor.
Antonin rubbed his face roughly, stubble scratching at the skin of his palms. When he stepped into the room and closed the door, the voices of the courtyard occupants went up in volume.
This could be heaven or this could be hell, they sang to him.
He went to the glass door that lead to a balcony. It was already open with a slight breeze blowing the nets hanging in front of it. He was directly above the courtyard. He watched the people, dancing and singing. Some held empty wine glasses in the air as they swayed, their eyes closed. Some drank from bottles of champagne. They looked like the exact reason he was trying to get away from his life. And none of them appeared to be going back to their rooms any time soon.
He went back into his room and closed the door.
The music and the singing wouldn't stop.
xXx
At some point, some how, Antonin drifted into a restless sleep with strange dreams of smoking, drinking and dancing close with women he didn't know. He woke with a start, the light still on in the room, and found himself staring at his reflection in a mirror on the ceiling. Was that there before?
The voices below were still singing. He sat up, blinking against the dryness of his eyes, and listened; it was the same song from before. A glance at the bedside clock told him he'd been asleep for an hour. It felt longer but also like it hadn't been enough.
He needed a drink. Something to sleep through whatever that racket was. There was no phone to order room service, so he slipped his boots back on and grabbed the key before going back down.
When Antonin reached the floor below his, the singing and chatter sounded louder. Had they moved to someone's room? There was a loud shriek of laughter down the corridor. He wanted to continue on, to get a cold beer, or even a glass of wine. Instead, he was drawn to the room at the other end, to see what was going on.
He wished he hadn't. He wished he'd stayed in his room. He wished he'd stayed asleep.
He wished he'd gone to that stupid press junket.
The people crammed into the room were no longer singing that song, but he could still hear it, like it was planted deep his brain, never to leave it. The people were still dancing, drinking… now naked. There was blood on them. So much blood.
Some of them had knives and kept trying to stab at a pig. It shrieked as a knife went into its side, which sent a chorus of laughter from the group. But the pig carried on running around their legs, trying to get away with so many wounds on its body.
Antonin tried to shove through the bodies to catch the pig; how was it still alive? He'd done some crazy shit in life when high and drunk, but this was beyond the pale.
No matter what he did, Antonin couldn't catch the pig. The people shoved at him, laughing in his face. A woman snaked herself around him, her hands roaming his body, getting blood all of his clothes; the only clothes he had with him.
He needed to get out of here. He needed to get home, promote his album and go on that tour. What was he thinking leaving it all behind like that?
This had to be a nightmare. It can't be real.
Antonin shrugged off the woman. She laughed as she landed on the floor, a drink spilled over her naked torso from someone else's glass, it mixed with the blood she had on her… so much blood.
He got out of the room, stumbled down the corridor, desperate to get away. He tripped down the stairs, nearly falling head first and made it all the way to the hotel entrance, but it was shut; locked.
"What's the matter, Ant?" Marlene's voice asked from behind him.
He turned to look at her, keeping his back against the door. He opened his mouth to say something, his pulse beating erratically in his neck. The courtyard was still full of people. How many people were in this godforsaken place?
Marlene smiled at him. It wasn't the inviting smile he remembered. It sent a chill down his spine, despite the heat he was feeling.
"You look tense," she said softly, walking over to him.
"I… I have to go. Can you unlock the door?" He grabbed her hand. "You could come with me this time?" He had to get her out of this place as well.
"Oh, that's not going to happen," she said. She pulled her hand away, smirking as she did. "See, once you come through that door, you can't leave. Well" –she laughed once– "not alive, anyway."
Antonin felt like his heart stopped. He took a breath. And another. It wasn't enough. He turned to the door and started yanking the handle. The door wasn't going anywhere.
"I have to go. I've got places– things I need– people will worry!"
Marlene laughed. He thought he missed that laugh. He thought he would've paid good money to hear it one more time.
Now he'd give up everything he had – the money, the travel, the clothes – all of it to never hear that laugh again.
"You said you would never leave me, Ant." He jumped when he felt her hand slip into his. "Now you can't."
Antonin tried to pull his hand away, but her grip was deathly strong, her nails dug into the back of his hand. "I never left you! I begged you to come with me."
"No, you chose the drink and the drugs and the women over me. I'd have been there but you wouldn't have been with me." She sidled up to him, leaning into him. She no longer smelt of roses and oranges; she smelt of rotten leaves and raw meat. "You can have both now, but you can never leave."
Antonin didn't fight when she pulled him into a lingering kiss. He didn't fight as his life was stripped away. He didn't fight as he joined Marlene in working the hotel.
What was it called again? It really was a lovely place.
Word count: 1,999
Written for:
Seasonal
- Days of the Year - 21st January - Write about hugging someone
- Bird Day - 9. Long-Tailed Tit - (restriction) No characters under 17
- Play God Day - 58. Self-absorbed
- Dragon Day - 1. (scenario) Someone acting aggressive
- Tarot - 10. Write about someone feeling restricted by rules and expectations
Yearly
- 365 - 249. (word) Reception
- Musical - Hotel California/Eagles - I had to stop for the night (Used as inspiration)
- Character collection - Male 104. Antonin Dolohov
- Insane House Challenge - 587. (relationship type) Ex