Louis knew he would need to play his hand carefully. He couldn't just charm Rialyn in the usual way he did with his fans. The other Fae was too guarded, and knew how to play the game just as well as Louis did. He would see through any shallow attempt at flirting and walk away, or worse, ignore Louis' attempts outright as he had at the Gala.
He knew the plan he had for capturing his Pretty One's attention wasn't going to be a walk in the park. It was going to require a combination of charm, wit, and mystery - things Louis was more than capable of providing. He knew well that he was irresistible, he just had to make Rialyn aware of that fact as well.
He eyed himself in the mirror, his fingers tracing the metallic dark violet lines of his tattoo that undulated from his hairline down to his knees. It was the perfect mirror to Sabine's, only his was on the right side of his body. It made him stand out, even in the Realm, and was something he usually covered with glamour when he went out so as not to be mobbed. But it was currently going to be the centerpiece of his outfit, he just hoped the red-haired Fae appreciated what efforts he was going to.
Instead of opting for his usual flashy and skin tight wardrobe, he dressed in simple blacks, leaving the intricate tattoo as the star of his ensemble. The neck of the t-shirt was wide, and fell off his right shoulder, showing off his neck, collarbones and just above his bicep on that side. It was jaggedly cut along the bottom, so the left side of the shirt was longer and reached his waist, but the right side stopped high enough to show some of his ribs and stomach. The lean muscles flexed as he twisted in front of the mirror, checking himself out from as many angles as he could. The black jeans hugged his ass just enough, without being as tight as his stage clothes, and the black boots matched the rest perfectly.
He chewed his lip in thought, then reached out for an eyeliner pencil. Carefully, he outlined his lilac eyes with cobalt blue, then smudged it slightly before running a hand through his short indigo hair to give it that slightly messy look. He smiled, admiring himself in the mirror one last time. This would set the start of the plan he had told Sabine about.
Leaving the rooms given to him and his twin sister, he nodded to the Storm Demon who was his guard for the day. He hated that he couldn't just blend into the crowds and go wherever he wanted like everyone else in the Realm, but he wouldn't give up That Band for anything. Even the freedom to come and go as he pleased. He can, and had used his Centaury Fae Gift to go places without a guard on occasion. But Lady Dumisa frowned on his doing so, just because it took more focus to change forms and still be Fae, than it did to become an animal... Focus! He needed to remember why he was going out.
The night was just falling when he arrived at Bedlam's Revel. As he made his way through the throng of bodies, dancing and moving with the pulsating rhythm, many eyes watched him, with a few hands reaching out to brush against him as he slid past. He paid them no mind, his focus was on one person only.
Rialyn was hard to miss with his blood-red braids that cascaded down his back, falling to mid-thigh. They contrasted starkly against his caramel skin, and the flashy gold silk shirt that was an exact match to the shade of the golden runes around his red eyes.
Seeing his Pretty One there, amidst the chaos of the Revel, a beacon of allure in his golden shirt and wild red braids, it became all the more obvious - this was not going to be easy. Oh, but Louis loved a good challenge. It made the eventual victory all the more satisfying.
Rialyn was dancing sensuously in the middle of one of the dance floors. Hands waving around, only to trail teasingly down his own body as he moved to the music. A hand black as night wound around the Fae's waist and sent him spinning as he threw his head back and laughed. It was only then that Louis registered that Rialyn was not alone, but in the company of the Soul Mage he had heard much about when he asked a few discrete questions of his various contacts.
The Djinn stood taller than most on the dance floor, his red eyes seeming to glow against the black of his skin and the darker black of his long hair. Djuran swayed to the music, not quite as blatant as Rialyn's uninhibited movements, he still drew almost as many eyes to him as the Fae, and for much the same reasons.
Louis watched from the edge of the dance floor, his lilac eyes tracking Rialyn's every move. It was clear that the red-haired Fae was enjoying himself, lost in the rhythm of the music and the intoxicating power of Djuran's presence. Louis felt a prickle of jealousy, an emotion he wasn't used to experiencing. He had always been the one with all the charm, all the grace, all the attention. But now he was on the outside looking in, and he didn't like it.
The Djinn was tall and dominant with his dark skin practically swallowing the neon lights that bounced off him. His eyes, glowing in stark contrast to his dark complexion, were fixated entirely on Rialyn. The two of them moved together as if they were one being — a sight that would captivate anyone who dared to look their way.
Louis swallowed, the sight of Rialyn allowing the casual touches from Djuran that to anyone with eyes, showed they were more than merely friends, was enough to send a spike of jealousy through him. Jealousy he knew he had no right to feel. Rialyn was not his after all, no matter how much he wanted the other Fae to be so. And he still didn't understand his fascination, what exactly was driving him to claim Rialyn as his? It was more than wanting to twist him around his little finger like he could with the fangirls. Hell, he'd be just as happy at the reverse. Allowing his Pretty One to twist him around his fingers and follow happily.
Shaking his head slightly, he moved to an unoccupied table where he could watch the Fae and Djinn dancing. The sound bubble around the table immediately cut off the music, leaving Louis in blessed silence to watch and plan his next moves. Tapping the middle of the table to bring up the menu, he ordered a Faerie Fire. A potent brew that burned all the way down, and had a cloud of smoke wafting off the glass. Sabine would not approve, but she was not here to object.
The fiery liquid stimulated his senses and heightened his awareness. He knew his Storm Demon bodyguard was still hovering out of sight, but unless he was actually needed, the guard would not step in.
With each sip, he kept his gaze fixed on Rialyn, noting how his body moved to the rhythm of the music - his eyes half-closed, lips curled into a seductive smile.
Finishing the small glass, he decided it was showtime. Tonight, he would pretend he had not noticed the other Fae and just be himself. Wondering just how many girls and guys would mob him, he allowed a slight smirk to curl one side of his lips. Leaving the sound bubble, he moved to the dance floor and let the music flow through him.
As soon as Louis let the pulsating rhythm of the music take over, he became just as mesmerizing a spectacle as the Fae and Djinn he had been watching. His moves were fluid, borne from years of practice and stage performances. He let his body sway to the beat, hands casually trailing the air around him. Soon enough, the crowd began to react to his presence and his movements. His indigo hair and the metallic violet swirls of his tattoos glowed under the neon lights, creating a captivating display that attracted the attention of everyone around him. One by one, everyone in sight started to notice him, and realize who he was: an Incubus with silver eyes that glowed in the dim light of the club, a Gargoyle whose stony gaze seemed riveted by his movements, a Succubus with mischievous green eyes and a smile full of promise.
His movements were fluid and graceful as he lost himself in the rhythm, his body swaying seductively to the beat. His lilac eyes were half-closed in enjoyment, but beneath his lowered lashes, they watched Rialyn with a predatory intensity.
Louis danced like he commanded the night itself to resonate with him. And male and female, everyone was seemingly drawn into him, moving closer, brushing against him as they vied for his attention. His presence was magnetic, the stage had always been his domain, after all. Finally, he allowed himself to be pulled into a dance by an attractive Incubus. His movements were effortless and tantalizing, enough to evoke envy from those who watched.
He never stayed with the same partner for more than one dance, sometimes he changed partners multiple times in a single dance. Each movement taking him closer to where Rialyn and Djuran were dancing. Rialyn was finally starting to notice the crowds growing fixation on something, or someone.
Rialyn's eyes roved over the dance floor, following the trail of whispers that seemed to be setting the crowd on fire. His gaze landed on Louis, who was dancing with a striking looking Fae. His lilac eyes met Rialyn's for a moment, and then flicked away again almost like a dismissal. Rialyn felt a thrill of anticipation run down his spine. He had to admit it, Louis was enchanting when he owned the crowd like that.
The indigo-haired Fae had drawn the eyes of nearly everyone in the club by now. He was a spectacle to behold, and Rialyn felt himself catching his breath before his red eyes narrowed and he firmly turned his attention back to his own dancing.
Louis, now dancing with an Earth Demoness whose fingers teasingly traced over the swirled designs of his tattoo, was getting closer. Louis allowed a slow, predatory smile to spread across his face before he laughed lightly but loud enough to be heard over the music. Spinning away from his current partner, he raised his hands over his head and waved them around to the beat. Someone grabbed his left hand and pulled him into another spin that ended with him pressed up against a firm body.
Looking up, and then up again lilac eyes locked onto the glowing red of Djuran. He hadn't expected a mage to be as well-built and firmly muscled as what he was feeling from this close. He also hadn't expected the Djinn to be the one to take his bait. Louis could say honestly that though Djuran was nice to feel and look at, he only had eyes for the Fae that he had come looking for. But this could still be fun.
"Enjoying the dancing?" Djuran's voice was a smooth purr that melded with the thumping music in a way that sent ripples down Louis' spine. His skin also felt cooler than expected for all the dancing that was going on. Just how much excess magic did this Djinn have?
The smirk on Louis' face never wavered, his delight in the unexpected turn of events sparking in his eyes. "More than I anticipated," he admitted, letting his gaze lazily drift from Djuran's glowing eyes to linger on Rialyn who was watching them intently and then to the crowd that was pressing closer around them.
Djuran chuckled, the vibrations against Louis' lithe body sent goosebumps down his skin. The music shifted to a slower tune and Djuran deftly caught Louis around the small of his back, pulling him even closer. "I warn you," Djuran murmured into Louis' ear. "Your games won't work with Rialyn." His voice was laced with amusement and a dash of warning. He obviously enjoyed this cat-and-mouse chase Louis had initiated.
"Is that so?" Louis drawled, the corners of his mouth twitching up into a sly grin. "Challenge accepted." He leaned closer to Djuran, his breath feathering over the Djinn's neck. Djuran was almost a foot taller than Louis, and it was hard to get angles right but he would manage.
Djuran's bemusement was clear, but he played along with Louis' antics, his hold on the smaller Fae not slackening in the slightest. The crowd around them watched entranced as they swayed to the slow tempo of the music.
As the night wore on, Louis danced with many more patrons: a fiery-haired Succubus who left a trail of sparks wherever her fingers brushed against his skin; a Gargoyle with obsidian eyes and stone-like hands that were surprisingly gentle; and even an Incubus who joined him for a fast-paced dance that left both of them laughing and panting.
Rialyn watched, with only a few snarky comments to Djuran as he did his best to tell himself he wasn't interested. Because he wasn't. They were both flirts and show offs, and it was never going to work. Especially with the crowds they ran with. He was relieved he wasn't being chased this time, he did like to do the chasing after all. Or at least, it had almost always been him doing the chasing. That was the same thing really.
After a while, as it got later and later, a piercing whistle echoed through the crowd, accompanied by a few flashes of black and white wings in what was clearly some kind of pattern. Louis didn't miss a beat. He spun on his heel with graceful agility and moved effortlessly through the pulsating crowd. Catching a hand here and there, and pressing a kiss to the back as they tried to grab or stop him, he finally made it back to where his Storm Demon guard was waiting impatiently.
A wing shot out and hid him from the crowd, as well as two sets of red eyes, before he was hurried out of the club.