InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Proud"

vampire_compton (vampire_compton) wrote in silverage,
@ 2011-06-24 19:11:00

Entry tags:

!log, bill compton, bob falfa, donna noble, ianto jones, selina kyle, tony stark

Who: Bill Compton and OTA!
What: Party at the Playboy Club - please, post multiple threads!
When: Friday night
Where: The Playboy Club
Warnings: Well, it IS Playboy, after all...

It was everything a club in 1960's New York should be. It was smoke, and the low hum of conversation. Dim light and glimmering cocktails. The clinking of glasses and the occasional peal of laughter. Women in corsets and bunny ears milled about, all smiles and perfume. A dark man sat at the piano.

Businessmen of all stripes were there, from Wall Street traders to drug dealers and mafiosos. Women, too, though they were few and far between if they weren't employees. Everyone in the club knew their role, and though there were certainly unhappy people in the crowd, it seemed there wasn't a frowning face to be found. Everyone absorbed the heady atmosphere - and true, it was intoxicating, even for those not drinking. The world didn't seem to exist outside of the wine red walls. It was beautiful women, wealthy men, and jazz music.

These were the thoughts that occurred to Bill Compton as he played the piano. Though he had been all over the world - London was particularly enchanting - he was acutely aware that New York City was something special. He had, of course, heard about it all through his life, particularly when he was a young man in Bon Temps. People discussed it much the same way they spoke about the president - something unreal, something that existed just beyond the average person's grasp. And here he was, almost two hundred years later, playing the piano in a club. Life sure was odd.

He had found an apartment, finally. Sleeping in the ground was nice sometimes, but it had gotten too risky. He had attracted too much attention. He found a basement level - small, but dry and clean. He was beginning to draw some attention by never showing his face in daylight, but he waved it aside with the "I work nights" excuse. The landlady got the rent check every month - what did she care?

His fingers trilled along the keys. Few noticed him. He was a bit too far away from the tables for most people to be drawn to him, too much in the shadows. He glanced out across the room as a few more people entered. One of the bunnies squealed...delight? Did someone goose her? He didn't know - it was just another night in the New York City club.

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sansiron
2011-06-26 02:34 am UTC (link)

Tony Stark was relatively well known at the Playboy Club. Well known and liked. Though he paid his twenty five dollar yearly membership, he probably didn't get the full value, because he didn't go often. More often than not, the bunnies could be found with him in various locations around the city that weren't the club. Still when he walked into the place, he was treated like a king. The staff knew that when Tony came there was every opportunity to pick up an extra half-week's pay just for bringing him a drink.

Tonight when he walked in, the bunny at the coat check snapped to attention after giving him the briefest of curious looks. He'd always come alone (though he'd never left that way), but tonight his new assistant trailed behind him. "Let the girls know to treat him well, would you?" he murmured to her, slipping a twenty from his wallet. "It's his first time."

He wasn't sure whether Ianto looked completely comfortable or not, but as Tony had explained to him in the car over, "if you're going to work for me, these are experiences you need to have." Why these were experiences he needed to have, Tony didn't bother to explain. Admittedly, there wasn't much of an answer to be given aside from, 'because this is what I'm doing tonight, so you're coming with me'. Didn't matter though. As he led them up to the Living Room floor where the atmosphere was set by a piano player in dim lighting, Tony was sure that both he and Ianto would have an evening to remember.

"Two whiskeys. Top shelf," he ordered for them after they'd slid into a booth. "Becky, this is Ianto, my assistant. He'll need a key." His hand brushed up against her thigh as she left to get their orders.

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iantojones
2011-06-26 02:40 am UTC (link)

Ianto wasn't sure how to feel about his invitation to visit the club with his new boss. He couldn't precisely turn him down, since keeping Tony company was part of the job. It normally wasn't much of a burden, because Ianto found him inexplicably fascinating. He was an odd dichotomy of the modern and antiquated, hiring on women and minorities without batting an eye, but still enjoying the reality that was 1964.

It didn't bother him, he knew that. Although he found the idea of a 'man's world' ridiculous, he understood the time period he now lived in. The Bunnies made good money for the job, and there were strict rules protecting them from unwanted advances. He had no doubts Tony found a way to entertain his favourites outside of the club, but inside he had to behave.

Ianto had read the Bunny Handbook. It seemed like essential reading. Being Tony Stark's assistant meant he could get anything he wanted, including their rulebook.

He nodded his head to the girl. Whiskey or scotch were both fine by him, especially since he tended to avoid beer in this era. It just wasn't very good. "I take it the key means my job will entail me coming here on a regular basis?" It was a simple question, without judgement. He was good at that.

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sansiron
2011-06-26 02:54 am UTC (link)

"As often as you'd like," Tony answered, his eyes wandering the room as he searched for one or two of the women he tended to spend the most time with. Molly was carrying drinks closer to the pianist, and he didn't see Francine. Pity, that. She would have liked Ianto; he'd seen her melt even the most uptight of men and while Ianto did have a sense of humor that came through every so often, more often than not he was as serious as anyone Tony had ever known.

"There are better clubs in the city, but you won't find prettier, more accommodating girls." The fact that many of them were in their twenties meant little to Tony-- they were all girls. "There's the VIP lounge upstairs as well. We'll move on after a few drinks. I've always liked the piano player on this floor anyway."

He gestured to the people sitting in the booths around them. "I can't imagine why a man would ever bring his girlfriend here, but there you have it. You should have a look around, though. I can almost guarantee you any woman you want."

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iantojones
2011-06-26 03:02 am UTC (link)

Ianto's eyes followed Tony's, his sharp gazed focusing on the girl. He made a mental note of her, filing her face away. It might come in handy someday, especially if he needed Tony and the man had gone missing on one of his jaunts. He'd started filing away all of Tony's acquaintances though, just in case.

He coughed softly, a faint blush on his pale skin, and shook his head. Now this trip made sense. Tony was probably trying to do something nice for him, introducing him to the Bunnies. Most young men would find it incredibly gratifying, but Ianto had Jack. The other man had the oddest appeal; Ianto never wanted to stray. He could really explain it, especially since he and Jack hardly had a conventional relationship.

Then there was Gwen... which complicated it further.

"I um... actually have someone. At home." He wondered if it was wise to tell his employer he slept with men, or if he should just lie and say he had a girlfriend. He didn't want to shove Jack underneath the table like that, but they did have a cover. Jack was married to Gwen, and Ianto was her brother.

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sansiron
2011-06-26 03:16 am UTC (link)

Tony raised an eyebrow and then shrugged. "I'm sure half the other men here do too." It probably wasn't surprising to anyone to know that Tony and monogamy didn't quite sit hand in hand. He had no problem with the concept and wasn't against the idea of marriage, but he knew it wasn't for him. He had yet to meet a woman that made him want to give up all other women.

Becky made her way back to the table with their drinks before Tony could continue his lecture on monogamy. He sent her away with the first of many tips for the evening and a long stare at her retreating backside.

"Tell me about her, then," he said after his first sip of whiskey. "I'm fascinated about the qualities any one woman can posses that leash a man to her."

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iantojones
2011-06-26 03:23 am UTC (link)

This was really the moment he'd been dreading. Tony seemed like a progressive man, especially considering who he'd hired to work for him, and he knew Ianto was from the future. The 1960s weren't the worst time in history to be gay naturally, but it wasn't accepted either. Men kept it hidden, and pretended to be straight for the sake of their jobs and their friendships. Ianto planned on doing the same, but he didn't want to lie to his employer, especially if he seemed accepting. He'd already made that mistake once.

"His name is Jack," he said without flinching, taking a sip of his drink as if he'd just announced he'd bought a new suit or a car. Ianto found that when breaking certain earth-shattering information it was always best to pretend he was absolutely not bother by it in the least bit. Even if he was ready to bolt at any second.

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sansiron
2011-06-26 03:56 am UTC (link)

Jack could have been Jacqueline, and Jacqueline could have been a cute little French girl who was in town visiting. Perhaps a flight attendant with a long layover. Tony could have thought of any number of reasons as to why a woman's name was Jack, but there was very little he could do with the 'his' bit of the statement aside from raise a solitary eyebrow and stare at Ianto. "His name?" He knew about the East Village, of course. He even had associates who liked to travel down town and slum, but they went for the women and the drugs. He didn't know anyone who'd ever openly admitted to participating in any of the other, more sordid, activities that went on down there.

"You're trying to tell me you're--" Hell, what was the nice word for it these days? "You're doing that with a man named Jack? What the hell's wrong with the women where you come from?"

Because why else would anyone choose that? Tony shook his head. He was going to make sure that Ianto met Francine at some point in the very near future.

The news was such that he finished the rest of his whiskey in one gulp. "You're entirely serious?"

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iantojones
2011-06-26 04:04 am UTC (link)

"There's nothing wrong with them." Ianto said calmly, because really, this was going better than he'd expected. Shock and surprise was one thing; it was rage he'd been worried about. Most men didn't like the thought of another man in bed with another man, even if it didn't involve them. Ianto was about as non-threatening as any bisexual man could be. He was polite, good-looking, and not at all effeminate.

"I had a girlfriend before Jack." He took another sip of his whiskey and finished it, smiling at the Bunny and raising his glass for another. She giggled and took it, and he grinned, raising an eyebrow at her. Flirting he could handle; he had learned from the best.

"For me it's not about gender." He could have been much more crude, but he refrained. He did know how to behave himself. "It's about the person. Where I'm from they call it bisexuality. I like both." He wondered if he'd have to explain that it wasn't a choice. He was physically attracted to both men and women; he'd tried to deny the part of him that liked men for years, and failed with Jack.

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sansiron
2011-06-26 05:36 am UTC (link)

Tony choked on what little whiskey was left in his throat. "Both?" And it was amazing that Ianto could say that while looking at the Bunny the way he was. Tony almost recognised a bit of his own flirtatious manner in the smile. But how could someone look at a woman like that a claim to also be able to look at a man like that too? He was enlightened, but not that enlightened because men like him didn't have to be. There were reasons why other men's East Village proclivities didn't come up in polite conversation.

He shook his head. "Take my advice, Jones, and keep that to yourself in this city," he said. "At least up here. There're men with the same... preferences. I'm sure I know some of them. But it's not talked about. If you like women... well, there's no shortage. But the other-- well, don't use my reaction as a gauge. After all," he paused to raise his glass for another drink. "I'm an eccentric."

He wasn't --not really in his opinion, anyways-- but it was a decent public image to keep. He got away with more than the average businessman. "My acquaintances think I'm nuts --not that they'd ever say it-- for having Misty as my body guard. You don't have millions of dollars and a company to shield the blows." Tony was frank because the topic was already rather crass for well bred conversation.

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iantojones
2011-06-26 01:34 pm UTC (link)

His expression sobered, and he nodded his head, leaning forward in his chair. "It's not completely accepted in 2008, honestly. I hid it for a very long time, even from myself because I was ashamed. It's not something I could fix, though." Explaining to a man from the 1960s that sexuality was genetic, part of the human makeup, and not a choice wasn't going to be easy. He wasn't even sure if it was possible. Jack would be better at it, but Ianto was convinced Jack could work miracles.

"I know better than to broadcast it here," he replied with a resigned sigh. "Or even talk about it. It's easier not to lie to my employer about it though, especially when he already knows I'm not... from around here." He paused as he felt the familiar sensation of someone walking up behind him, and plastered another somewhat fake, but authentically flirtatious smile on his face, and took the whiskey from the Bunny.

"But no, don't worry. I have no intentions of running a newspaper article about Jack." He paused, remembering. "You actually might have met him... at the race."

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sansiron
2011-06-26 05:50 pm UTC (link)

It was a moment before Tony realised that he'd handed the man his second place prize that Saturday. "That Jack." He remembered the somewhat boisterous man and had a hard time picturing him with Ianto. That was probably for the best, to be perfectly honest.

Tony reached for the newest glass of whiskey and took another healthy sip. The conversation called for it. "I could say that I appreciate the honesty. I guess I do, because apparently you trust enough that I'm not going to use it against you. That said, this is probably the last conversation we'll have about it."

The alcohol was, as always, the best social lubricant for an awkward situation and Tony smirked slightly. "And if you ever try and make a pass at me, you remember that I have a suit in my garage that flies and shoots lasers out of the hands."

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iantojones
2011-06-26 06:19 pm UTC (link)

Ianto coughed into his whiskey, face a little red. Well if Tony was willing to make a joke like that, he couldn't have been too bothered. Or he had the same coping mechanism as Ianto, and he was covering up his reactions with a sense of humour. Either way, he was glad he hadn't had to bolt from the room to avoid arrest, although he never really thought Tony would go that far.

He never planned on bringing it up again. It had been said once, and that was enough. If he saw them together he'd know, but then there was also Gwen. More complications, and ones he doubted he'd ever explain.

"I shall keep that in mind sir, and if I ever plan on making a pass, I'll be sure to hack into the system and disable it." He might not have been a genius, but he was from another decade. He could likely do some damage if he really wanted to. Jack could probably turn New York upside down with his wealth of knowledge.

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sansiron
2011-06-27 08:01 pm UTC (link)

"Touch my suit and it'll be the last thing you do." Hack was an unfamiliar term, but between Misty and Ianto he'd heard it thrown around quite a bit now. The way they talked about computers fascinated him. How they'd gone from Bournemouth fixtures that took up entire rooms to squares that could fit in ones lap was beyond even him.

He was still grinning though, his easy smile that was only helped with every glass. "Don't have me going down there, trying to show off and impress someone only to have it not work. Or more importantly, when I'm trying to use it to save people. I do that too." Though he hadn't of late. His nights had been spent here, or back in his lab with the same tumbler of whiskey in his hand

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iantojones
2011-06-29 12:14 am UTC (link)

"I will endeavour only to touch your suit when I know that world isn't at stake." It might be good for Tony's ego if he did shut it down one of the times he was trying to show off. At any rate it certainly wouldn't hurt anyone if he did. The Iron Man suit was a dangerous toy, and Ianto wasn't certain how anyone had come up with it in 1964.

Then again Tony Stark was a genius, despite his often juvenile behaviour.

Ianto had noticed his drinking a few times, but he pushed it off as just part of the era. People drank in the office, and unless it began impairing someone's judgement, he wasn't going to worry. It wasn't his job to be a nursemaid any more.

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