@improvise

[acquaint]

[ sylvain'd had his fair share of balls and galas growing up. the kind of fancy and boring stuff that he never enjoyed but had to attend because of his parents, always eager to show off their golden son in hopes of making everyone forget about miklan. the only good part about them was getting to see felix and ingrid and dimitri; glenn, who took pity on them and rounded them up from the "adults" table and treated them to ice cream on the condition that they'd be on good behavior for the rest of the night. but that was years ago and now, sylvain stands in front of his mirror, fixing his hair as he gets ready for the gala klavier invited him to.

it's a good plan, for all intents and purposes. klavier has amassed an even greater following since his last album took off, already topping the charts despite being out for less than a week; as much as anyone would rather believe otherwise, it's no surprise that he's attracted some more, ah, eager and vocal fans lately, some who may or may not be attending the same gala tonight. but that's where sylvain comes in, fresh from his father's cushy private law firm and right into public defense. he's to join fraldarius alc in the summer, because glenn has taken a shine to him and they make a killing together in court, but no one knows about that just yet. not even sylvain's father himself. regardless, with his inheritance on the line, there comes the expectation of marriage and sylvain would rather cut himself off from his family entirely than marry someone to appease his parents. which is, actually, what he's planning to do anyway, but no one said he couldn't have a little fun with it first. besides, klavier is a good friend and sylvain owes him for all the advice he'd given him when he was fresh out of law school and hated everything about his father's office. when would he ever get another chance to attend some fancy music awards gala anyway?

so friday night, sylvain dresses to impress: slim shirt, narrow tie, narrow-cut trousers that border on work-inappropriate but are good enough to get him a pass to the venue. he's klavier's plus one but he isn't going to thank the guy by being sloppy. they're to meet at the hotel the gala is being held at, and sylvain passes off the keys to the sleek audi he'd borrowed from dimitri to the valet, stepping out into the lobby to look for his date. ]

Comments

gently opens your eyes while my third eye opens to klavain

[improvise]

[ it was only natural that prominent names within the lawmaking business would come to meet one another. kristoph gavin, ever the one to rub elbows and keep tabs on the fluctuation of businesses within the industry, was a colleague of both the fraldarius and gautier firms. he and klavier attended a prestigious (and luxurious) convention put together by the gautier house, and this is how klavier and sylvain came to know one another—first at the refreshments table, with sylvain giving him accolades for his album, and then next when klavier sidled up beside sylvain at his table to discuss his law school experience, his dislike of his brother and his father's firm, and his desire for freedom.

klavier, who had achieved an ultimate sort of freedom with his internationally recognized and platinum-record band and independent law practice, was immediately inclined to take sylvain under his wing. more so than that, in the years of advice that followed, klavier considered him a true friend and respected him as an equal competitor in law.

today, however, the two of them were something else to one another‐and just for this night, as agreed to by the both of them, since only one night seemed to be enough. sylvain was making his ultimate move against his parents' wishes, and klavier was making a slightly milder move against his rabid, tiring fanbase. while this was a favor repaid to klavier for his years of help, klavier understood the weight of the situation for sylvain, and as aloof as he could seem, he regarded it with utmost importance.

sylvain will have already been met with some crowds of paparazzi capturing pictures of his back as he steps from his car; bodyguards hold them off outside of the hotel lobby entrance, where hotel attendants will lead him inside. when he arrives, sylvain will be met by another small group of photographers—not aimed towards him, but held by velvet rope towards the corner of the lobby, where attendants are smiling for the camera before stepping into the grand ballroom for the gala.

klavier is there by the end of it, posing over the red carpet that lines the floor in front of the entrance. his hair is perfectly coiled over his shoulder as always, and he's wearing a slim-fitted suit, tapering at his waist and ending in black, matte boots with a slight heel. his dress shirt and pocket square are his signature purple, and for once his shirt is done up to the second-to-first button.

he catches sight of sylvain the moment sylvain catches sight of him. he seems to brighten, and he reaches his free arm for sylvain, palm upward, inviting him over as he steps toward him. ]

Ah! Our main act has arrived! One moment, if you please.

[ he nods his head toward the paparazzi. come and take a picture with him before you go inside, sylvain. ]

[acquaint]

[ the crowds of paparazzi is to be expected, as well as the sheer amount of security detail; sylvain has always been in the public eye in some way or another since he was a child, and while he's never been particularly fond of it, it's something that he's used to. enough for him to slide on that perfect shiny smile with ease as he enters the lobby, charming and photo-ready. this is how most people know him first, and his accomplishments in law, second.

but that's never been the case with klavier, who had come to know sylvain not because of how others saw him, or to use him as a means for his own gain, but because he'd genuinely wanted to. the easy conversations certainly helped, and it's not like it's a hardship to be around klavier—he's bright and enthusiastic, talented in music and law; free in all the ways sylvain wishes he could be. but he's working towards that, and as he catches klavier's gaze, he finds himself just happy to be able to spend time with him moreso than anything else.

is it gay to be eager to fake date your famous musician law friend whom you may or may not be crushing on?? maybe so. regardless, sylvain's smile turns a little more crooked, less polished as he meets him halfway. ]

No one told me I'd be performing tonight, or I'd have practiced my karaoke. [ it's a joke, of course, enough for the paparazzi to laugh good-naturedly as sylvain slides into place next to klavier with a wink, sliding an arm around him to settle his hand on his waist. ]

[improvise]

[ the rabble of questions and flashing lights would never completely leave klavier's periphery. he adores it as his backdrop too much to ever leave it behind. still, when sylvain meets his gaze with a clear brightness in his eyes, a pure joy at seeing him, it's briefly worth it to lose sight of everything else around them for the moment.

because he does look stunning in his tuxedo, with his hair coiffed but still artfully messy, and always that signature smile that rivals his own, if not overtakes it in his mind. fellas is it gay to think your friend looks super good and you would kiss him if he said you could?

either way, klavier knows how to tuck away his feelings. this isn't about him, even if he would spend the night delighting in in the presence of one of his closest friends while he's in one of his elements. this is about putting on a show for the people who are making sylvain's life hell where they shouldn't, even if they mean well. klavier was going to play a part in breaking him free, and despite the word of his agents and manager, he would break a few hearts to do it if it was for sylvain.

klavier meets his little joke with a light chuckle, his arm slipping around to catch sylvain around his ribs just as he meets his waist. the cameras flash in a sudden barrage, catching sylvain's attractive wink and klavier's wide, debonair smile. ]

Achtung! There'll be plenty of time for the audience to enjoy your voice another time. [ he looks out towards the cameras, offering them a moment for a photo before leading sylvain towards the entrance. ] I have a private performance for the night, ja? I'm not about to waste a moment of it.

[ as if to clinch it, he tilts his head and leans in to peck a kiss at sylvain's jaw just before the bouncers close the doors behind them. and yes, there were definitely pictures. ]

[acquaint]

[ is it gay to want your friend to kiss you because he also looks really good?? absolutely. does sylvain care? no. but saying that out loud in the midst of all these people is out of the question; sylvain has yet to work up the courage to come clean with his pesky feelings, and there's only so many excuses he can make before they start catching up to him. he knows he won't be able to put it off forever, and klavier being so open and welcoming doesn't help either.

or that kiss to his jaw, for that matter? whew. ]

I guess I should be glad you'll be the only one around to tease me for it, hm?

[ god, his ears are turning red, he already knows, and it's by sheer force of will that he pushes the rest of it down. he's not a teenager anymore, but he wasn't expecting that, and the cameras will likely have picked up on the slightly bashful tilt to his grin. klavier's going to kill him by the end of the night and try as sylvain might, he can't even begin to pretend to mind. it's why he doesn't move to pull away even when the doors close behind them, his hand slipping from klavier's waist to rest comfortably at his back as he follows him in. ]

So will I get to see you make an acceptance speech later? [ he reaches out to pluck two flutes of champagne off a passing waiter's tray, handing one to klavier. ] I brought tissues with me, I'm prepared to break out the waterworks.

[improvise]

[ klavier isn't unaware of the creeping red in sylvain's ear, nor the genuine bashful tilt of his mouth when he smiles. no doubt the camera had a view of klavier taking a moment to look over his date with a happy, almost sly smile, seeing the fruit of his labor blossoming. why can't a bro just like the way his bro smiles when he kisses him?

the hallway is peppered with the occasional partygoing crowd with their expensive evening wear and cocktails cradled in their hands. an usher points them to the ballroom with a bow and a sweep of their hand, and klavier leads sylvain slowly toward the next doorway, savoring the quiet before the chaos that he gets to spend with sylvain. not that he's going to say that out loud......

he takes the champagne offered to him, chuckling and clinking his glass alongside sylvain's. ]

I'll let the numbers for the new single speak for itself. [ it's probably platinum or something. he takes a small swig of his drink. ]

Your eyes will be puffy afterwards, no? You'll harm your handsome features. But I suppose that kind of theatrics will help our cause for tonight.

[ he winks. he knows they're here to make his father leave him alone, overall. ]

Just stay by me. Enjoy yourself, ja? We'll have plenty of publicity.

pool party let's go

[acquaint]

[ for once, it's not sylvain's pool party at one of his family's beach houses. no, it's a friend of a friend, someone from law school that he hasn't seen in a few years, more of an acquaintance than anything. but sylvain has always been on good terms with his cohort, even if most of them are cut from the same kind of rich, trust-fund baby cloth that he's grown to dislike. it takes one to know one, really. still, sylvain would never turn down free alcohol and entertainment, especially if it's klavier who's performing; pretending to be interested in conversing with half the people here is a small price to pay in the long run.

it's worth it, when he can drag klavier off to the more secluded lounge area in the back between his sets, or let klavier save him from another boring conversation with a former classmate. he's just tipsy enough to have a good buzz going the next time klavier steals him away with an arm around his hips, dropping some excuse that sylvain doesn't really care to pay attention to. he's sprawled on the chaise before he's aware of it, has his fingers tangled gently in klavier's hair as he sucks on his lower lip. this is the second time they slipped away like a pair of horny teenagers they're too old to be, but sylvain can't really be bothered to care when he's got klavier on top of him. ]

Hey, [ it's murmured between kisses, hungry and insistent, breaking away just enough to smear the rest of it against klavier's jaw. ] How long until your next set?

[improvise]

[ klavier knows too many people to know any of them exceptionally well. as good-natured and honest as he's tried to be, he's had to play the game of feigning the importance of otherwise non-important individuals in order to get where he needs to be. at this pool party, he is genuinely attempting to enjoy the company of his acquaintances and even friends between his sets. he considers it a happy and lucky circumstance that he gets to play in such a relaxed setting. but despite all of his well-wishing, when he catches sight of a certain redhead nearby, dolled-up in swim trunks and glasses, he knows where his attention would mostly lie for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

sylvain doesn't stop him. now that he's given free reign to finally kiss and touch and tease where he likes, when he likes, klavier could only try to contain his voraciousness. sylvain seems to invite it, which makes it that much worse and better. they flit around each other through the party, stealing bits of conversation and knowing, flirty smiles until klavier finally decides to do something about him.

secluded down a cobblestone patch to the lounge area behind the set, hidden by tall plants, sylvain immediately gives towards the chaise behind him when klavier lowers him down. it's a matter of time before he's climbed over him, one arm bridged over sylvain's head, the other splayed over his chest, slick with suncreen. they always go for his hair, don't they, even when he has to perform? not that he minds it. he'll come up with some excuse later, when sylvain's not sucking at his lip and murmuring to his jaw.

klavier laughs breathlessly, knowing what sylvain's intent is. his hand spreads down his ribs towards his side, his thumb pushing at sylvain's soft, erect nipple. ]

Long enough. [ he's already grown a little hard, the bump in his swim trunks pushing near sylvain's hip. he brings his weight to his knees, his hand now traveling between sylvain's legs, his palm hot against the soft weight underneath it.

he leans back to catch sylvain's expression, wearing a sly smile as he squeezes him softly. ]

You'll indulge me before then, schatzi?