Midnight Sparkle

Chapter 1

Adrian Crevan curls up in bed, the warmth of his sheets radiating his own body heat back to him like the Earth's CO2 blanket. He feels the stark contrast between his warm body under the sheets and cold head peeking out the covers, fringe whisked up by the faint breeze coming from the open window in the other room. He doesn't want to get up. Bed is safe, it hugs him and never judges him, provides him an unconditional service for which it expects no payment. He sighs. He shouldn't get up soon, but he doesn't want to leave his bed. That's it, he decides, the day is over before it begins.

Sebastian has other plans.

His lanky roommate strolls in, smiling sardonically down at his friend curled up, a human burrito. "I left your clothes on the radiator to warm them up, get changed," he orders softly but firmly and exists quickly, leaving Adrian to cocoon further into his blankets. The thought of leaving his small apartment and going outside is terrifying the lithe man and all he wants to do is escape into the dark chasm of layered bedlinen. His body shakes with anticipatory anxiety when he stands up, immediately pulling down his fringe to hide from imaginary people.

The clothes Sebastian left him are basic. Loose and black, comfortable when he slips them on, the way he likes them. The length of his hair is pulled into a high ponytail but of course, the front drops over his face, concealing him like a grey veil that tickles his eyelashes. He wraps a choker around his neck scar, zips up the sides of his boots and exists into the foyer.

Sebastian and himself share a flat in Marylebone, an exclusive property in which rent is £24,000 monthly, split between them at £3,000 a week. Opulent and spacious, it feels empty and hollow whenever Adrian is alone. Terrified as he is of other people, being lonely is such a suffocating feeling he can't stand it. He hates the quiet, you see. Walks around the apartment laughing just to hear some noise. "Why'd you 'ave ta drag me outta bed?" He flops down across the couch where Sebastian is typing on a laptop. "I wanna take a day off,"

"Not happening," Sebastian chirps, always the morning person. He shoves a pot of tea into Adrian's face. "You have a client for this afternoon. A gentleman who calls himself..." Sebastian brings up the anonymous responder on their website.

"The Phantom,"

Adrian chuckles behind his hair, tentatively sipping tea. "Very mysterious. Is there a pic'ure? Is he ugly?"

"No picture," Sebastian muses.

"So he is ugly!" Adrian claps and cackles loudly. "What does he wan' in the aftanoon anyway?" Usually their clients recommend a hotel session in the evening.

"He was quite specific," Sebastian hums and turns the website towards Adrian with a smile. "I calculated how much his package would cost for you because I'm nice,"

Midnight Sparkle, Escort Service.
-Name: The Phantom.
-Requested Escort: The Undertaker.
-Time Booked: 1400-1600 (2 hours), £50 per hour + travel and expenses
- Location: Le Gavroche
- Additional Requirements: Wear the top hat in your sample pic ;), £20.
Total - £120 plus expenses.

"Holy shit," Sebastian coughs. "This asshole is paying £120 to take you to dinner at the most exclusive restaurant in London! He must be fucking ugly, he doesn't even want sex afterwards,"

"Desperate," Adrian sighs and shakes his head. "Then again..." he pauses to look at the name. Phantom. Dark, sexy and mysterious.

Adrian dresses in what he can only assume is appropriate attire for an exclusive restaurant. Tight-fitting, all black suit and silver jewellery with a white button-down underneath. He can't put his top hat on yet, for it'll fuck up his ponytail.