The Grand One
part 4
By Evan & Adam *Thank you Jink, Sarah & Joy!*
Well you're the grand one
Have you noticed
When you walk in all the fairy boys are pale and nervous
Well my starship doesn't want me And neither does his world
I'm glad I caught you on my view screen, Sailor
You're the grand one
Come and court me
'Cause this wooing
Is what I'm wanting
When my spaceship comes to orbit
Then hold me like a girl
I am the captain of the gravity, Maxwell
Everywhere I see your faces
-Hot One-
-Shudder to Think/Velvet Goldmine Sound Track-
Rowan let the sable brush flash across his lips, painting a soft gauze of frosted pearl paint on to his mouth. He slammed down the silver handled brush onto his vanity and regarded his image with disgust, pouting at the magnificent blue and silver eye mask that sat on the blank face of his wig stand. He rarely choose to wear the short starched white wigs the gentlemen loved, but he kept one about just in case it was required.
Not tonight. Even if it was a costumed affair, his unusual colouring, namely his hair, would do nothing but announce him as well as any unmasking. He felt very out of the spirit of things and couldn’t manage to care enough to do more to conceal his identity.
He lifted the glittery gaudy thing and clicked the jeweled clasp tight across his eyes. He looked at himself for a moment, his aquamarine eyes clear and sparkling in the delicate rosy light of the wavering flame.
"Have fun." He told himself. "Go on. Your pouting is ridiculous."
With a quick gesture, he extinguished his elegant glass lamp and sought the music.
The ballroom was more crowded and noisy than Rowan could ever remember it being. Everywhere he turned masked figures in their dress and grandeur studied him curiously and smiled. Who was who? It was a wonderful game, Rowan realized, and found himself feeling braver in his secrecy, flimsy as it was. He kissed several ladies’ hands, and a few in the sweeping hoop gowns that weren't ladies at all.
Some wore nothing more than their usual outrageous finery with a simple if not gorgeous eye mask, while others took to the play with vigor, in towering wigs adorned with twittering live birds in golden cages. Others were as fantastic as characters from children's books or animals that lived no where but a demented imagination.
On the whole, Rowan was pleased he had come. The couples swept past him in time with the rowdy music as they danced, and the masks hid his enemies from him, making him feel at ease and comfortable.
"You came." Seiji had managed to appear at his side unnoticed. "The Queen is already tipsy, I had better give the poor dear an escort back to her chambers before someone else does."
Seiji wasn't dressed as outlandishly as some of their fellows. He had chosen an emerald velvet frock coat and covered his pale blue eyes with a feathered mask like a hawk. It suited him, a bird of prey among the unsuspecting crowds.
"Who is that?" Rowan noticed a brightly coloured faux Soldier hovering by the champagne fountains. He kept casting his gaze in Rowan's direction behind a shiny black eye mask and fidgeting with the low slung sword at his waist. "He is trying very hard."
Seiji shrugged uninterested. "Take him somewhere where you can remove his mask and find out."
Rowan felt the flicker of his interest flare warmly. He laughed a little at himself, for even at a time like this he never ceased to succumb to flattering attention.
The Exotic arrived, apologizing like mad to some older gentlemen for ending their conversation. Or drinking his wine too quickly. Or maybe it was for the temperature in the place. Who knew! The Exotic was always bowing about something.
"What," Seiji began as Lord Sanada turned to greet them softly, "Is on your face?"
The Exotic had painted his face the colour white and slashed his eyes and mouth in red like a porcelain doll. He had abandoned his European coat and breeches to what looked like a deep red robe, but he wore it as if it were a fine suit. "Kabuki." The Exotic simply said.
Rowan smiled warmly at him. "For once, you fit right in Monsieur!"
He toasted the foreign Lord, still deciding whether or not he should take up the chase with his mysterious admirer, and make the next move. But before he could do a thing, the Soldier, with a decided air, walked uncertainly over to him weaving his way through the crowds.
Seiji made a small sound of amusement. "How interesting." His measured look was trained on the stranger picking his way through the throng.
"What are you on about?" Rowan asked for distraction, trying very hard to look as if he cared less about the timid approach.
"Oh nothing." Seiji assured him. "I am off to attend her Majesty."
"Attend. " Rowan snorted as Seiji glided away. "Is that what they are calling it these days?"
The Solider had reached him and nervously smiled in greeting. "Good evening." The curious eyes behind the black band of his mask, flickered to the Exotic in wonder.
Rowan arched an eyebrow. "Good Evening." He peered closer into his face. "Have we met?"
"A dance, Monsieur?" The soldier held out a black gloved hand in invitation.
Leaving the Exotic to a small crowd of the hopeful, the hungry and the determined, Rowan allowed himself to be led out into the crowded dance. He had always enjoyed a waltz, and the Soldier was quite good, graceful but creative. But sort of aloof. He had been hoping for a meaningless affair that didn't last until morning to carry his thoughts away from themselves. But this Soldier was being quite the gentleman. They danced and paused only to fill a few crystal flutes from the bubbling silver fountains. Another waltz began and the Soldier bowed again in silent request. Rowan, while confounded, was still slightly charmed and accepted despite it all. He wasn't used to such respectful tactics, if they were tactics at all!
Therefore it surprised him greatly when the Soldier suddenly closed the polite space between their moving bodies, and pressed his cheek to his. The Soldier's mouth found his own, and in a small moment of indecision Rowan wondered if his dance partner might have changed his mind about making this a conquest. But the kiss turned from soft to fierce, and Rowan could taste the sweet champagne he had drank. It was all he could do to keep dancing at all.
The Soldier drew back breathless, and whispered in his ear. "I am so sorry I struck you."
With a jolt, Rowan froze in shock, letting the other dancers flow past them. He stepped back away from him.
"No please." The Soldier pulled his eye mask away, his eyes wet with impending tears. It was no one other than Sai, his auburn hair in its blue ribbon at his neck. How could have Rowan not realized! "I had to see you. Don't go?"
Amazed, Rowan found his tongue. "What is the meaning of this?" The pearl paint he had so carefully applied to his mouth hours earlier, was smeared across Lord Mouri's lips. He gestured clumsily to Sai to move out of the way of the unconcerned dancers and into the relative privacy of the fringe. "Do you mock me?" His words were tinged with anger and even sarcasm. He would deserve it all, for Sai to hurt him after all of the games that had been played. But the open wounded look on the young Lord’s face held no malice for him.
"I can not stop thinking about you." Sai didn't seem to notice the tears that had begun to flow down his face. "Do you really love me?"
Rowan's heart was thudding in his chest.
The Queens attentions had already been stolen.
Seiji idly bit into a ripe strawberry as he watched Rowan open one of the discreet doors to the gardens and usher the Soldier out into the night. Soldier. Seiji made a face, but he still smiled just a little.
"What is it?" The Exotic was always wary of Seiji's expressions.
"I am afraid I have bad news." Seiji sighed and brushed off his hands. "We've lost."
"Ah." The Exotic's face fell at the word, disappointment showing clearly behind his stark white and crimson paint. "Lost what?"
Seiji tilted his head to look at him in his strange vermilion robes. "Shall we cut our losses?"
The Exotic blinked up at him in confusion. "Pardon?" His almond eyes looked bizarre decorated in red, and his black hair seemed as soft as Asian silk.
Seiji held out his arm casting one more look out to the shadows that passed somewhere out beyond the windows. "Come to my chambers and I will show you."