A Night on the Town

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash stepped out the door, locking it behind him. The warm Lyon breeze blew gently and ruffled his hair, making him smile. He looked up at the stars, glittering like thousands of diamonds. It was good to be home. He turned and looked up at Laurent Château towering overhead, its turrets and towers casting their shadows upon the moonlit grounds. A small smile tugged at his lips. This had been his home his whole life, and now it was all the more precious because Daniel was finally gone, and could no longer control him. Ash was finally in control. He’d waited for this his whole life, and he wasn’t about to give it up now. Not without a fight.

Ash turned and walked down the gently sloping expanse of emerald green grass that made up the main lawns. He walked towards the front gate that would lead to the streets, while walking; he listened to all the sounds that his home had to offer. The whisper of wind through the trees, the chirping of crickets, the crunch of rocks underneath his feet as he approached the gate, the squeaking as he opened the gate on slightly rusted hinges.

Walking towards the main part of Lyon he shivered slightly. The wind was becoming a bit chillier. But that didn’t matter, Ash could see the light of the club he was going to up ahead, soon he’d be inside in the warm building. He walked closer to Le Menestrel and smiled, it was packed as usual, the music pounding the air, causing one’s body to vibrate in time. Walking in, he looked around, the place was jam-packed tonight. More than usual. Ash saw a banner that said ‘Amateur Night: Get Discovered Now!’ Ash laughed slightly, shaking his head. Figured. Le Menestrel was always doing some form of entertainment. Be it Bingo Night, Charades Night, or like tonight, Amateur Night.

Walking towards an empty booth near the back, he wove in and out, between dancing, heaving, grinding bodies, slapping hands away as a few perverts tried to cope a feel. He sighed in relief when he finally reached the table. Sitting down he looked around the room. There were of course plenty of cute guys, but Ash just wasn’t read yet… he still thought about Cris sometimes. What if they’d taken things slower? Would Ash still be at Hogwarts? He shook his head, to clear it of those thoughts. It wouldn’t have mattered; Ash had known that eventually he would have come back. He just hadn’t expected it to be so soon. Scanning the room once more, his eyes fell upon a boy near the bar.

Smiling at the boy, Ash quickly diverted his eyes, and looked around the room as if seeking someone. Every once in a while though, he would look back at the boy and give a small smile, before looking away once more. Sitting there alone, Ash sang softly to himself, "The time has come once and for all.
You've met your match, you will fall." The song made him think of...not Maxi or Cris...but Bray. Ash realized that they had been playing a game. A game of will. But who would give in first, was the question...

"This little game we play is gonna break us down, only one of us can wear the crown." One thing was for sure, it wasn't going to be Ash who gave in. Oh no, not at all! He would fight with every ounce of will power he posessed. He was tired of Bray treating him like dirt. He wants to play dirty, fine. Two can play that game Ash thought bitterly, eyes narrowing in anger.

"It's not as easy as you thought it'd be, when it's down to you versus me." Ash definitely wasn't going to make it easy on Bradyn. No, he would make it as challenging as possible. Otherwise, where was the fun? It was more enjoyable to gloat when you won against a skilled opponent, rather than a weak one.

"I play rough, I don't need to try You like to play mean but the score never lies.

Game over, Game over. Game over, for now." Ash smirked slightly as he finished the last part. It was Game Over. For Bradyn.

[Nick Braye]

The night life for Nicolas Braye was an exciting one but also consisted more of work than play. He was here for one thing and one thing only, Talent for the Club. Sure, he looked at the pretty woman that walked into the bar, but what guy didn't? The difference with Nick, however, was that he looked at the guys too. He wasn't quite sure what his sexuality was anymore, sometimes he could swear up and down that he was straight and even went on a few dates just to prove it, but other times, he found his eyes wandering toward men. Was it wrong? Maybe, maybe not but it didn't bother the man either way. In fact, he was supposed to be meeting some girl this very night at a club she spoke fondly of. Harlow was her name and she was late, but what did he care? He wasn't supposed to be on a date with her, it was more of checking out this band she bragged so much about.

Le Menestrel was full to the max tonight and still, there was a line waiting to get in outside, sure this club was very popular but never had he seen it this packed. Perhaps it was the fact that there were so many talent scouts sitting around the bar and that it was Amateur Night where undiscovered singers or bands could play their music or music of others and show everyone just what they were made of. That's just what Nick was doing as well. Scouting. Scouting for new talent for his club. It was definitely something that could help get Club Motion started off. What would be better for a grand opening than a live band or DJ?

Nick sat at the bar, a rum and coke in hand. If he had to listen to the sound of one more sad pathetic, 'lets slit our wrists because you don't like me' song, then he'd definitely need a drink or two. Sure, maybe some people liked that kind of music, but it just wasn't Nick and it definitely wasn't what Nick wanted playing at the Club. He started scanning the room until his eyes fell on a dark haired boy looking his way. The boy smiled, so Nick sent one back his way. Was he a player looking to impress, a fan coming to see a local band or just someone looking for some fun? Why this mattered to Nick was something he couldn't answer. Things like that happened to cross his mind when he looked at a complete stranger.

Nick tried his best to listen to the band that was playing when Harlow decided to make an appearance. Of course, being the kind of woman she was, she sat herself right on Nick's lap.

"Hello, Love. Fancy seeing you here," Harlow whispered into Nick's ears.

Nick, in return, placed a hand around her waist with a laugh, "You invited me, remember?" Of course, his attention should have been on her, but his eyes kept catching those of the dark haired boy. Harlow seemed to have noticed because she moved herself so she was blocking Nick's view then went on as if she knew nothing of Nick's confused sexuality. After all, the two had slept together only the night before. She knew Nick wasn't a player and would stay with her for a short while, she just didn't want to lose him that quickly.

"Nicky. Baby. Do you like the band? These are the guys I was telling you about. Do you like them Sweetie?" she asked as she straddled Nick.

This band. This was the band that Harlow was so excited about? This wasn't the kind of music that he liked, not in the slightest. "Harlow, listen. I don't think that they're what I'm looking for. I mean, they're not grand opening material," he said giving her small pecks on the neck in-between his rejections. Of course, Harlow didn't take this too well and soon she gave a loud sigh and said something about going to the ladies room before walking off. Nick shrugged, her loss.

Nick scanned the room for the mysterious boy before his eyes fell on him once more. He was mouthing something but it definitely wasn't the song that was playing. He picked up his drink and finished it off.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash watched the woman’s antics with a bit of disgust. Sure, Ash didn’t mind a bit of PDA, but that was too much. Even for him. He couldn’t suppress a small sigh of relief when the woman stood and left. The guy didn’t seem to care, in fact, he looked a bit relieved. Ash smiled at him once more and stood.

Weaving his way through the crowd he made his way to the bar, grabbing a seat close enough to the man where he could observe him, but far enough away to not be conspicuous he sat down. He wondered where the guy was from. He’d never really seen him around. Then again, Lyon was the third largest city in France. There were lots of people he’d never met.

Sneaking a glance at the man, he smiled and looked away. He pretended to suddenly be very interested in the wood of the bar. He didn’t know what it was about the man that made it so impossible for him to go say hello. Sure, Ash was a bit shy, but that had never stopped him from chatting up a cute guy before. So what made tonight different?

Deciding he’d play a little game with the guy, he sent him one more smile then stood and walked towards the door, he walked slowly as if he had all the time in the world. Every once in a while, he would turn his head slightly, as if looking to see if the guy followed him. Slipping outside, the blue-eyed teen leaned against the brick wall of the club. He’d had his hand stamped, and shouldn’t have any problem getting back in.

Looking up at the bright stars he smiled. He’d never seen so many stars out like this. Maybe it was a sign that undiscovered stars were out? Ash laughed quietly at his own joke, lame as it was. Slipping his jacket off as the night air was beginning to warm up, he lay it beside him, taking in all the scents, sounds, and sights of the night life. The chatter of voices, the pounding beat of music, the scent of cologne, and perfume, the sweet smell of jasmine that Ash knew was planted just out of sight around the corner. The flashing strobe lights, the people walking by. Lost in his surroundings, Ash failed to realize that someone was right next to him, until he suddenly heard a voice…



((For anyone interested, here's a link to a pic of Laurent Château. Or at least the model I'm using.)) www.lagiraudiere.com/resources/chateaux_passirac.JPG