A Club.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise rolled his eyes, forcibly taking the words as a tease rather than absolute disregard. It hurt a little that Ariel was so eager to get away from him, but Markise knew this needed to be done. At least, if Ariel decided to stay with him, he'd know it was him, and not that he was the only guy available. "Just remember that if I'm giving you free license, I'm getting it too," Markise said. "If you decide you want to dance with me, I'll be around." He'd be off forgetting Ariel for a while.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel wrinkled his nose like that but kept his mouth shut, knowing it was logical. "I'll come find you," he said, already wondering if he could find that guy with the brown spiky hair that he had seen earlier. He just wouldn't think about Markise dancing with somebody else. His hands fell to Markise's hips, though he wouldn't pull away until Markise did, even if he desperately wanted to go out into that crowd.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise cursed the warmth that moved through him despite the knowledge of what they were about to do. He wanted to dance, but he didn't want to let Ariel go, didn't want to risk losing him already, just when they'd been getting somewhere. But there wasn't another choice, not tonight. He could only hope for the best. Markise tipped his chin up and pressed a soft kiss to one corner of Ariel's lips, then pulled away before he could change his mind and take it all back. He gave one last look over his shoulder, then slipped into the crowd, letting it swallow him whole.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel watched Markise, the urge to follow him leaving the moment a caramel-skinned boy passed in front of his eyes and switching to the dark haired boy instead. He danced, yes, though it didn't last long with each person and they usually ended up on the edges of the floor with their arms tight around each other. A little while in Ariel found his little brunette and stayed with him for quite a bit longer than the rest and ending up in a booth. Ariel kept his word, his pants stayed on, but that didn't mean they were any more tame, and they parted with a satisfied look in their eyes.

By the time Ariel set out to find Markise, all remnants of his bad mood had left, replaced by a satisfied haze and an excited gleam in his eyes. His feet ached as he went through and he wasn't in any hurry, pausing every so often for one last touch with someone, one last brush of bodies before he moved on. He wanted to find Markise, even if his mind was still on some of the other guys he had found since he and Markise had parted ways.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise didn't need to scout the crowd for partners. He'd barely gotten into the crowd before someone noticed he was alone and asked him to dance. He was cute, so Markise said yes, and before the next song was over, he'd been passed off to yet another partner, even cuter than the first. He still had Ariel in the back of his mind for a while, but as the time passed, he began to let himself go. At one point, he had a hard body on either side of him, and his arms rose into the air as they moved in unison.

When he'd tired himself, he headed for the bar after something to drink. He didn't have any Muggle money, but that didn't matter. The bartender gave him his water for nothing more than a wink and a smile, and when he'd finished that, an attractive brunette who had to have been at least five years older than him and likely a few more sent down a drink. He'd picked it up and chatted with the guy as he sipped, then gone back onto the dance floor with him.

It was hot in the room, and Markise was feeling so good. His mind was entirely gone, and so he thought nothing of it when the man parted his lips against Markise's. It had lasted until about the time that the guy suggested finding more private surrounds, at which point Markise had given a saucy look, a firm no, and slipped back into the crowd, hips swaying.

He wasn't entirely sure how he ended up on the table, nor did he care. His shirt was pushed up to his chest, exposing more glistening skin to the air, and he was dancing. His arms were up, his hips moving suggestively, and he could hardly see through the thick fringe of his black-painted lashes. The guys around the table cheered him on as he moved, switching back and forth between encouraging him and trying to tempt him down.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel had found his brunette again somewhere along the road to finding Markise and so lost track of what he had been doing, until he followed his partner's gaze and pointed finger to a table. He stopped in his tracks when he recognized Markise up on that table surrounded by onlookers. His lips parted in momentary shock. Did he have any right to say something about it? He wasn't sure, but he stood debating long enough that he was soon alone on the floor again before he glared around and headed towards the table.

[Markise Sterling]

The rush of adrenaline was incredible, and it made it worth the effort of the miniature show he was putting on. If he'd been thinking about that drink he'd had, he would have told himself he knew it hadn't affected him. If he was drunk, there'd be no way he could lift his leg straight up against his body like this without even stumbling. His audience roared at that, and the offers grew more persistent. Markise was considering a few of them. He didn't even see Ariel. He was half blinded by the lights as he resumed dancing, and the guys around him were little more than silhouettes.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel wondered if Markise could hear everything that the guys were suggesting. It didn't really seem like it, considering the complete lack of response to some of the more lewd comments that made even Ariel's blood boil in anger. He came very close to just turning around and finding another partner, but what if Markise gave in to something one of the men were calling out? He pushed his way to the front of the crowd, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise could hear perfectly well, he just wasn't paying attention. He continued dancing for some countless moments, showcasing the graceful arch of his body beneath fashionably clinging clothes. He teased, one hand moving to the hem of his shirt and sliding it up just a bit farther before he felt...something. It wasn't a change in the music or the voices calling up to him, but all the same, he could feel it, and his lashes lifted, pale blue eyes squinting against the light. He looked at his little crowd of admirers, but nothing seemed out of place until... Why was that one just standing there? Markise couldn't see his face well enough to tell who he was, but he didn't at all appear to be having fun.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel's eyes darkened when Markise looked at him and tried to ignore his body's reaction to the movements of Markise's. He couldn't deny that he liked the way Markise was moving, but there were others watching him dance! Dancing on a table had certainly not been part of the understood verbal contract. "Enjoying yourself?" he called up, glaring at the sparkling Markise.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise's lips curved into a slow smile, and though the motions of his body slowed, they were no less suggestive. He bent slightly toward Ariel to a rise of cheers, and one hand moved to push a lock of fine lavender hair away from his flushed face. "I am," he said huskily, half taunting. He reached out one hand to Ariel and gestured up toward himself. "Come up here, I wanna dance wit you." His New York accent was shining through right now, not like anyone here heard more than an American.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

"I'm not getting on the f~ing table," Ariel said, feeling a couple of glares from the guys around him. He would dance with Markise, but there was no way he was getting on the table. Markise was lucky he hadn't already left to find someone else. There was still the possibility, but since he had Markise's attention, it wasn't as high as it had been just a few minutes before.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise gave a purposefully sultry pout at Ariel's complete refusal. "You don't wanna dance wit me?" he asked, straightening again to roll his hips in an almost obscene motion that got the crowd riled up again. Markise kept his eyes on Ariel, though. He upped the stakes of the dance, idly wondering if Ariel would pull him down or not. "Is it hot in here?" he asked, loud enough for the crowd to hear. His eyes glittered at Ariel as one hand moved to the bottom of his shirt again.

[Ariel Logan Callahan]

Ariel glared all the harder at that and he went silent, deciding to give Markise just one more chance before he turned back into the crowd and forgot all about him. He gritted his teeth at the motion of Markise's hips and the hand at his shirt. He couldn't believe that even with the anger he loved watching Markise so much. Ariel wanted to go back out and find a new dance partner.

[Markise Sterling]

Markise really did want to dance with Ariel now that he was here, and the hard-headed man was just standing there brooding. Markise didn't want to let him spoil his fun, but when he looked around at his audience, he realized through the fog of his mind that he'd gotten himself into a dangerous situation. If he didn't leave with Ariel soon, he'd probably have to pick someone, and it wouldn't be pretty when he wouldn't take more than a kiss. Markise abruptly stopped dancing, gave the crowd a brief, teasing wave and a smile, then lowered himself to sit on the edge of the table, arms sliding over his shoulders and around the back of his neck. "I pick you," he said huskily. He could still taste that tangy sweet drink on his tongue and couldn't wait to share it with Ariel.