A Christmas Cocktail

Chapter 4

"Pen, are you ready yet? We're gonna be late if we don't leave now." Calling through the door, he adjusted the wrist of his shirt. He wasn't dressed too differently from his every day, but it was still nicer than a good portion of the Pride ring managed. The well tailored white dress shirt paired well with the black vest and pants, both covered in white pin stripes. The whole outfit was brought together by the simple red tie he'd paired with it; the only pop of color he dared. After several minutes with nothing but silence, Arackniss lifted a hand to knock on the bathroom door once again. "Pen-"

"Will you calm down?" The panel opened at the words and he was met with a sight he hadn't quite expected for some reason. An off white dress shirt with intricate floral detailing on the lapels, a black vest with red lined pockets that fit him to perfection, and a well tailored jacket with a red lining. All finished off with gold buttons, lapel pins, and even a gold tie for just enough flair. Given their respective lines of work, such a dress shouldn't have shocked him at all, but today the sight was a bit more than he felt he could handle. "Nissy, what's wrong? Don't tell me you're having second thoughts now." He immediately shook his head.

"No, no, that's not it. I just..." He was just turned on all of the sudden. No, he couldn't tell the serpent that, even if they were lovers. That would almost guarantee one of two things. They'd miss the party and spend all night tangled together, or he'd get an ear full the whole way to the outing. "I haven't seen you dress like that in a while, that's all." The other man smiled and tugged lightly at his jacket to straighten it.

"Well, we haven't truly had an occasion for it in a while, have we?" He shook his head.

"I guess not." He stole another moment to look the snake over slowly before stepping back and turning toward the door. "Come on, I don't know what traffic's gonna look like today, and I don't wanna be late."

"What's the worst that could happen if we are a bit late?" Arackniss rolled his eyes at just the thought.

"I'll never hear the end of it from Tony. I spent so many years drilling him to be prompt, if I ever show up late for anything he'd take it as an invitation." The two headed down the stairs and out the door to the car waiting. Arackniss had been able to call his guards Luca and Stefano to at least drive them there and back, and the two had been happy to do it. As Luca had stated on the phone, their only plans for the night had been to stay in, get drunk, and tell old stories. At least this got them out of the house for a little while. As they slipping in the back, the grey-brown huntsman turned in his seat to look at them.

"Well, well, don't you two look fancy? I know we're droppin' you off at a hotel, but I kinda thought you just wanted a change of scenery, you know? Or is this a foreplay part of it we should ignore?" Of the handful of people who knew about their relationship at all, these two had been the first he'd told. Not just because they were close, but because he knew their curious selves would have found out either way. Waving his hand at the man, he shook his head.

"It's a party, Luca. A party you two weren't invited to." The huntsman cocked a brow and he rolled his eyes again. "Not that kinda party, you pervert! Get your mind outta the gutter." Luca shrugged.

"It's hard to tell these days, you know? And what's wrong with those kinds of parties anyhow? We're in Hell for fucks sake, it ain't taboo here to find yourself at one of those types of get togethers." Looking at the driver at the sound of a sigh, he found Stefano shaking his head at his partner's logic. "What? You don't believe me?"

"It ain't that we don't believe you, Luca, it's that we want you to shut up." Luca stared at Stefano for a long moment, his mouth open slightly in feigned shock. When the man looked back at him, Arackniss shook his head.