#𝟎𝟐 ⠀ ⠀ ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v : ⠀ no mourners‚ no funerals

[hishedonism]

@democrow ➤ shadow & bone prompts   ➤ accepting

wylan said : there's certainly more to you than meets the eye, isn't there?

    his fingers freeze where they're drumming against the wall of the building behind him, absent beat stalling mid - tap as startled eyes dart to him. he'd only been taking a break, a breath of fresh air — as fresh as the air ever managed to be in ketterdam — but he'd lost track of time, lulled into distraction by the sound of the flute trilling from the instrument still held between the other's fingers.

    he hadn't even realised he'd stopped playing, that he'd been noticed. he briefly, wildly, considers making a run for it, but no — he's just being paranoid. the guy could mean anything. hell, maybe he's just flirting. he can still play this off, act like a normal gods - damned citizen with nothing more to him for five minutes.

    still, he ducks his head, surveys his reflection in a window for a moment just in case. nothing seems different — hair still curled the same way as before, eyes still brown, freckles still in place — but, ghezen, he can't be sure.

    he spins on a heel, plasters a grin on his face and hopes it looks passable.

⠀ ⠀❛     who, me ? look at you, you're the one with hidden talents. earn any kruge playing that thing out here ?     ❜

[hishedonism]

the pouch lands before the question does, outstretched hand already neatly catching and weighing the coin in one palm before he falters, eyes flicking to meet his.

⠀ ⠀❛     a conversation, huh ? that a euphemism ? ❜

he strolls to a bedside table, drops the bag into a box and locks it tight ; never leave the payment where it can be snatched back again, even if the man it came from is all pretty and respectful — which, compared to his usual clientele, is probably cause for suspicion in itself.

he perches on the side of the bed, leans back on his hands as if he hasn't a care in the world — but he's searching, guarded.

⠀ ⠀❛     i hate to disappoint, but i doubt my conversation is much worth paying for. sparkling wit i may have, but as i'm sure you've heard, my talents lie more in the realm of the physical. ❜

HE FOLLOWS the man to the room upstairs . the charm is thick on this one and it makes nikolai wonder why . he's certainly pretty enough not to need it . he wonders if it's something about nikolai HIMSELF that's causing it . well , little matter now . he's got the man's attention and that's all he needs .

there's a slight smile at the rules that are laid down in front of him , though there's a small tug too , knowing those rules are probably very necessary . nikolai pulls out a small bag of kerch coin and tosses it lightly toward the other .

❝ will that do for a conversation ? ❞

[hishedonism]

tag dump !

𝟎𝟎  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀out of character 𝟎𝟎  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀in character 𝟎𝟎  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀queue 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀mirror 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀headcanon 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀answered 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ask meme 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀dash meme 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀starter call 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀wardrobe 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀aesthetic 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀about 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀wishlist 𝟎𝟏  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀playlist 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ main 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ best years of your life 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ fame‚ liquor‚ love 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ crime pays  (  on occasion  ) 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ magic comes from pain 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ eat your heart out 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ dead man walking 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ here be dragons 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ super dysfunctional 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ truth is always stranger 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ groundhog loop 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ well‚ isn't this domestic? 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ the other kind of booty 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ always said i was a deviant 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ the odds are never in our favor 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ wild‚ wild west 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ visionary without a vision 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ not even trying to catch 'em all 𝟎𝟐  ⠀ ⠀  ✦ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀v :  ⠀ no mourners‚ no funerals

[hishedonism]

    he draws himself up at the query, lets himself fully slip into service mode, and flashes a bright, easy grin.

⠀ ⠀❛     for you, love ? i have all the time in the world and a little more.     ❜

he diverts his attention for only a moment, sweeps his gaze across the room in search of the establishment's procuress — usual routine is for the client to pay the madam directly, with elijah only seeing his cut of his earnings once she deems it time to hand it out, but it's not the first time she hasn't been immediately available, and she'd hate for him to keep a man waiting more than she'd hate him having to bring the money to her later.

with a mental shrug, he crooks a beckoning finger, turns on his heel and leads the way to the decorated staircase that beckons them toward the private rooms upstairs. he saunters, puts that extra sway in his hips as he walks the way he knows draws attention to them, and resists glancing over his shoulder to ensure the man is looking. they always look, he's not sure why he feels the peculiar urge to confirm this one's interest, but something about him feels different in a way he can't quite put his finger on.

once he's finally scoped out an unoccupied room, he pauses at the door for long enough to unwrap the band of silky fabric tied around his wrist to wind it around the handle instead — the sign for occupied, in the absence of being assigned a room by the madam beforehand — before turning back to face him, a touch more businesslike.

⠀ ⠀❛     i'm guessing you know the rules and all. payment upfront once we're in, amount depending on what you'd like. i'm open to most things, but do try not to damage anything permanently, or above the neck at all. the face is my selling point, i'm told. trust me, you don't want those extra charges.     ❜

HIS EYES take in the reactions of the man’s body , as subtle as they are . he finds himself glad to notice that by the time the other is speaking , there’s distinctly less apprehension than he’d noticed when he first walked up . that’s good . even ignoring the fact that nikolai  doesn’t  want to make the man uncomfortable , it also hopefully means there will be the chance for more - - -  OPEN  conversation . 

a slight smile quirks at his lips , compliments he is sure that are flung at every prospective client . although nikolai  does  know he’s handsome , even when tailored as sturmhond , so he figures there’s less of a lie there than there could be . he tips his head in greeting , though he’s currently electing not to give the other his name . 

❝ lovely to meet you ,  ❞ he says with charm , but not so much as to make it seem  GREASY , saints forbid .  ❝ i was wondering if you were free at the moment . for a bit of privacy ?  ❞

[hishedonism]

    he's trained to sense a client's approach before he sees them, awareness sparking at the edges whenever eyes alight upon him with intent, whenever sections of the crowd part just so, whenever that awareness of being observed teases at the hairs on the back of his neck — it would never do to be caught off - guard by a prospective patron at an unflattering moment, after all.

    it's this that has his gaze pausing in its flitting scans of the room's inhabitants, settling on the lines of the man's shoulders as he makes his way toward him. a tight ball of sinking resignation is already making itself known in elijah's stomach before he's reached him, but he pushes it down, straightens — and it's cheshire who greets him, lets a coy, open grin play at his lips.

⠀ ⠀❛    that i do. glad of it, too, if i've caught your attention.    ❜

    now that he's gotten a good look at him, that suppressed trepidation dissipates just a little more — he's nice to look at, and there's something about his tone, the way he stands, that tells him this is going to be one of the better ones. sometimes they put on a ruse of civility until they're behind closed doors, sure, but he's gotten this far depending on his ability to predict character, and he's relatively sure this man isn't going to be of the more unsavoury breed of clientele.

    besides, most of the time he isn't even afforded the luxury of a little conversation first — an interaction with a customer with any more substance than being pointed out from a distance and summoned to heel is something of a minor novelty in itself.

    he feels himself relax a little more, lingering tension in his limbs loosening as he leans against the wall behind him, gives the man a slow, deliberate once - over.

⠀ ⠀❛    what can i do for you, handsome ?    ❜

@hishedonism liked for a season 2 starter

THE UNIFORM of a security detail fits in a way he dislikes , though one would never know looking at him . he slides into the role as easily as slipping into a robe . he stands with shoulders squared , hands clasped loosely in front of him , as if ready to grab a weapon or throw a punch at a moment's notice . his plan is in stasis , will be until the crows show their heads again in ketterdam . until then he soaks up the city , slipping in and out to learn its secrets . he already knew well - enough about the menagerie . he'd done his homework thoroughly before hiring the crows ( though perhaps he should have done MORE of it , given that they'd failed in their task ) .

but brothels are a hub of secrets and knowledge . there are many things people spill in moments of perceived vulnerability . his eyes lift . COURTESAN'S CALLING . a bit on the nose if he does say so himself , but it looks clean enough . he removes his hat and steps inside , taking slow stock of those around him , workers and patrons alike . one catches his eye , in the back . a young man . nikolai's head tilts almost imperceptibly as he studies his features . there's something about them . almost - - - too perfect . almost like it's . . . ah . he makes a casual way over .

❝ hello , ❞ he says softly , A QUIET CHARM , but not too much . ❝ do you work here ? ❞ he knows the answer , but he figures he can have an out , if he likes .