Tenement Funster

Unexpected...

"The minute you walked in the joint....I could see you were a man of distinction...A real big spender...Good looking, so refined...Say, wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind?  So let me get right to the point!  I don't pop my cork for every man I see....Hey, big spender...Spend a little time with me!"

"Woo hoo!"  Roger and Hugo cheered and howled from their table near the stage as Freddie vamped about and belted out the song.  Raising catcalls and sounds of approval from the large audience watching his performance.   A mass of men adoring the creature on stage.  Shouting for more.  The trio had gone to a cabaret club in a predominantly gay area of Paris and found it was a night where anyone could get up and perform.  After a few rounds of drinks, Freddie had decided to offer up his party piece to the crowd.  

Freddie finished the song and took a flamboyant bow.  Relishing the applause as he blew the crowd a big kiss. 

"You know Freddie...I think you missed your calling!"  Roger exclaimed as Freddie returned to their table.  His face alight with pride at the response to his performance.   "You should have been a singer!"  Roger declared as Freddie took his seat and smiled widely at his friend.

"Thank you Roger...."  Freddie responded as he took a sip of his drink.  "I think that life is a bit too high profile for my tastes..."  he remarked as an older attractive man approached the table.  Honing right in on Freddie.

"You were marvelous!"  the man told him with a thick French accent.  His face showing his admiration for Freddie. 

"Merci...."  Freddie told him politely.  

"Could I take you to dinner?"  the man inquired.  Eager.  Freddie gave him a look of appreciation.

"I am quite flattered by your offer...but I am spoken for..."  he revealed.  Seeing the man's face fall at the news.  

"You break my heart with this news..."  the man advised in a charming manner.  "I bid you a good evening..."  he said politely and slipped away from the table.  

"I'm available..."  Hugo remarked sourly.  Watching the handsome man disappear.  "I bloody live in this town and can't seem to find anyone..."  he complained.  "You're here less than 24 hours and you already have a boyfriend and have to fend off the admirers!"  he said in a playful manner.  

"Well...we love you Hugo!"  Roger reminded him as he leaned over and pressed a kiss to Hugo's cheek.  Freddie gave his friend a sympathetic look.

"I am sorry my dear..."  Freddie responded.  "I do think it's time for you to come back home to London..."  he proposed.  "You've run out of options here and back home you'd be considered fresh meat!"  he observed with a touch of humor.  Seeing Hugo empty his drink at the thought.

"I think you might be right..."  Hugo agreed as he gestured at their waiter for another round of drinks.   "My luck with romance has been on the outs for quite a while..."  he said with lament.  

"Much like your career as a painter..."  Freddie threw back as Hugo groaned at the reminder.

"Yes...the other part of my life that is a disaster..."  Hugo said as a waiter appeared with a tray filled with drinks.  

"Compliments of the gentlemen at that table..."  the waiter advised as he gestured towards a table of older men looking their way and waving to them.  He set down three glasses of champagne as Freddie waved back to the gentleman.

"That was lovely of them..."  Freddie said as Roger also turned and waved.  Hugo checked them out and groaned again.

"What's the matter?"  Freddie asked his friend as he grabbed his own glass of champagne and raised it in the air to toast the other table.   "Are they too old for you to fuck?"  he inquired and took a sip of his drink.