Nyx

[eliot_thespectacular]

The invitation arrived the way trouble often did for Eliot: casually, and with excellent timing.

He was behind the bar at Sanctuary, halfway through polishing a glass that didn’t need polishing, when the woman slid onto a stool. She was dressed impeccably, in a way that stood out even there.

"Eliot Waugh," she said, like it was a conclusion she’d already reached.

He blinked. "Ah yes, hello, that’s me. Have we met, or is this one of those situations where my reputation precedes m?"

She smiled wider and placed a card on the bar. Not a business card. Too heavy. Thick, textured paper.

"Invitation," she said. "Tomorrow night. Very exclusive."

Eliot glanced down at it. Only an address written on it, along with a silver-embossed symbol - curving, elegant, suggestive without being obvious.

Before he could open his mouth to ask more, she added, "And you’re welcome to bring a guest."

He looked up. She was gone.

Naturally.

Eliot turned the card over, and then slipped it into his pocket.

He didn't even debate who to invite. There was something about the woman's demeanor and the slight suggestiveness of the symbol on the card -- if this wasn't some kind of sex party, he'd eat his hat. So Nyx it was. Definitely.

Which was how they found themselves standing outside the next night, at the address on the card.

Of course, there was no sign. No line. Just an unmarked door down a side street that looked like it led to storage, not decadence.

Eliot glanced at him. "Maybe I'm imagining it, but I swear the card just named a little in my pocket."

Comments

[tempting_the_fates]

"Well, now we have to go in," Nyx grinned, walking up to the door and knocking. It took a moment, but eventually the door opened, the man behind it looking them both over before stepping aside and inviting them both in. Music could just barely be heard coming from below, and the sound proofing told Nyx all he needed to know as a man took his coat.

"Fun," the fae grinned, waiting for Eliot, then hooking his arm through his as they headed downstairs to the real party.

"So some stranger invited you to this? Someone must have their eyes on you," he purred, leaning in close to be heard.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Somehow I didn't get the impression that that's what she was angling for," Eliot chuckled. Though in all honesty he was a little uneasy.

"But when she told me I could bring a guest there was only one number on my speed dial..."

[tempting_the_fates]

"Aww," Nyx purred, grinning. "Maybe she works for some rich bloke. Gonna swoop in and take you away..."

A pair of men wandered by, one of them on a leash.

"...And keep you like a pampered pet."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Mmmm well...." Eliot's gaze followed them. "That might be fun..." He looked back at Nyx. "Though only for a night. I suspect I'd be pulling at the leash after that."

[tempting_the_fates]

"Same," Nyx laughed. "Come on, let's go people watching."

He tugged Eliot towards the bar, and ordered them each a drink.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Mmmmm what kind of people are you most excited about watching here hmm?" Eliot asked.

This might be a fun place to bartend, he thought.

[tempting_the_fates]

"Oh, the real freaks. The ones who live it," Nyx said, helping himself to a peanut from a bowl on the bar. "You?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh, do you mean like... the fellow with the pacifier over there?" Eliot said.

He happily took the drink from the bartender. "I like watching... mmmmm the ones who seem to like to be watched. I can respect that."

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx followed Eliot's gaze, nodding a bit. "I get that," he replied, finishing his drink and ordering another. What was interesting was that no one was watching them, Nyx had been sure that someone here must have their eye on Eliot, but if they did, they seemed to be hiding.

"I really need to pee, where do you suppose the toilets are, I've not seen a sign. Come with me, I don't want to wander into a closet orgy on my own."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"You're right, if you're going to a closet orgy I want to be right there beside you," Eliot said solemnly, and picked up his drink before getting up to follow along after him.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx laughed brightly at that, catching Eliot's hand in his own and tugging him off towards what he hoped was the right direction.

"Maybe... Here?" he hoped, pushing a door open and looking relieved when they were greeted by a wall of urinals.

"Never thought I'd be glad for the smell of piss and air freshener, but here we are," he quipped cheerfully, only to feel a wave of unease wash over him as the door fell shut behind them. His head tilted, and his hair almost seemed to stand slightly on end, fluffed up like a spooked animal. Magic. He could smell it. Taste it. Fae magic. The lights flickered, and Nyx started to tug Eliot back towards the door- Only to find it gone.

The lights flickered again, then shut off, leaving them in complete darkness. They couldn't see it, but Nyx could feel the room around them vanish as a sliver of light appeared up ahead, something like sunlight fighting its way into wherever they'd been transported. Though Nyx knew exactly where they were, he could feel it in his blood. That, and, well, he could feel his glamour was completely gone. Stripped away by the fresh air of his home land. Truthfully, he was sort of glad to be standing in the dark- Humans always had unpredictable reactions to his full true form. The strange eyes and sharp features they were fine with, usually, but, you know, the ears and tail that appeared when the glamour was fully removed was a bit startling. People either found it adorable or horrifying. He hadn't found much in between.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"What -- " Eliot sounded dazed, maybe a little frightened. Not because of the darkness, or even just the buzz of magic, but just because he hadn't exactly had good experiences with being unceremoniously deposited into another world. Because he could immediately feel that's what it was, even if it wasn't Fillory.

[tempting_the_fates]

"Portal," Nyx huffed, catching Eliot's hand again to keep him close as he led them towards the light. Even a magic using human shouldn't wander alone in the fae lands.

Stepping out into the light, Nyx squinted and his ears went flat, tail flicking in agitation as he adjusted to the brightness- And the chill. There was snow on the ground here, thick and untouched until they stomped through it.

In the light it was hard not to notice Nyx had changed. He still looked like Nyx, but his features were sharper, eyes greener. The ears were the most noticeable thing though. They were always pointy, but they were longer now with a soft coating of what could only be described as black fur. Then there was the tail, long and swishy like a cat's.

The fae shivered, then used his magic to give them each a thick winter coat.

"I hate the fae lands in winter," he muttered.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot held on to Nyx's hand tightly.

Once they were in the light, he did look a touch startled when he saw Nyx, but then relaxed once it was clear that it was still him.

"Thanks," he said, pulling the coat tighter around him, not sure what else to say. "Um. So we're...?" He looked uneasy.

[tempting_the_fates]

"In the fae lands," Nyx nodded, scowling a little to himself. "Absolute pain in the arse to get out of, but not impossible. I think we're... Northeast? Yeah, yes, those are the star peaks- I think I know a place to open another portal, I just need a few things first."

He shivered, pulling his own coat tighter around himself. "There's a market to the south of the river, which is- Uh, that way, I think. Come on, but stay close, alright? This place isn't safe for humans."

[eliot_thespectacular]

That didn't exactly help Eliot to feel less uneasy. He was just hoping he didn't see any fae that looked like the ones in Fillory.

"So ah.... the new look?" he asked curiously.

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx's tail flicked, and he pouted a little.

"My true form," he said softly. "All fae, here at least, are slightly different. Some with wings, some with scales... We're all different."

[eliot_thespectacular]

“Oh, I think you’re still very pleasing looking,” Eliot assured him. “And still, um, nothing like the psychotic fae I have experience with.”

[tempting_the_fates]

Nyx's tail flicked a bit more gently at that, always happy to be praised.

"It's already getting late, we don't want to be out after dark either. I can probably make us a shelter, though I might need your help if my magic starts to drain."

[eliot_thespectacular]

“Of course, I’ll help however I can,” Eliot said hastily.

Pause. “So do you… know why we’re here?”

[tempting_the_fates]

"No idea, but it seems unlikely that we just happened to wander into a club with a portal to my homeland... I do know they were looking for me again, but they can't make me stay," he added with a huff, setting off towards what looked like higher ground. He was being honest, he wasn't sure why they were here, but he was certain they needed to get out before whoever had set it up found them.

As they neared a clearing, Nyx did his best to focus his magic and calm himself, before starting to build a shelter for the night ahead. It wasn't big, but it was nice, some windows, a door, a decent roof. Inside he even made some furniture, though nothing flashy. A simple bed, some blankets... That would have to do. He looked unsteady as he finished, steadying himself as best he could.

"Let's get inside," he suggested.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh I wonder if they... knew I would invite you," Eliot mused, though it did make him feel a bit guilty, even knowing that even if so it wasn't his fault.

He steadied Nyx, a hand on his arm. "Here, let me just... I'll do a simple warding spell, something that will raise an alarm if someone comes close."

[tempting_the_fates]

"That's a good idea, wards," Nyx said, nodding and lightly holding Eliot's shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze of thanks.

Nyx didn't care if they'd been lured here, he wasn't staying. He'd have them both home soon, and he'd keep Eliot safe.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Nyx was clearly unhappy to be here... and Eliot couldn't imagine how he'd feel if they'd been unexpectedly yanked to Fillory. (Not that that was possible anymore...)

He made quick work of the wards and then went back inside. "So ah... anything I should know?"

[tempting_the_fates]

"Ah, well... I might have run away from home," Nyx admitted, ears flicking forward slightly, before going a bit flat. "And they might be looking for me. I'm sort of a prince here. Not an important one, I'm not in line for the crown or anything- That's my sister. But, ah- Well, my court tends to fight another court of fae every year. In fact, I fight the same fae every year... It's ceremonial, really. We fight, he usually wins, and then the pair of us just sort of hang out until it's all done."

Fuck, more like. The pair of them laid around in bed until it was time to go home.

"...That fae might have come looking for me, and I might have convinced him to just hang out in the mortal realm with me, and... You know, that possibly didn't go down well here."