Tweak

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Tweak says, "My face froze this way."

Lord Tobias Hurst, Duke of Devon (lord_hurst) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-08-08 21:41:00

Entry tags:

aime_laurent, antoine_laurent, beatrice_stanley, beth_downing, constance_mosley, demetri_blake, georgina_rochester, gwendolyn_linley, harry_fisher, jacques_belmont, katerina_ashcroft, marie_hardwick, melisande_auclair, nell_abbot, patience_hurst, piper, plot, rupert_aveline, sergius_petrov, slater, thaddeus_chadwick, theodore_berteaut, thérèse_du_labarre, tobias_hurst, vivian_thorpe

Lord Hurst: A Ball In His Honour
Item: An invitation sent out by Lord Hurst to many of those in the upper portion of society
Who: Lord Hurst on behalf of Sergius Petrov
Warnings: TBA
Open to: All of the nobility, friends of the Hurst family, those being blackmailed by Sergius, plus Constance, Slater, and Harry.

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rogueblake
2008-08-14 01:14 pm UTC (link)

Demetri only gave a small nod as he moved toward the door with Nell. As he reached the door and opened it, ushering the young boy through, he turned back toward Petrov. "Christopher? I don't know what you mean. Good evening to you sir."

He pulled the door shut and let out a sigh of relief, trying to control his emotions. There had been too many veiled comments that only made him think of Alex, and Demetri hated that he had no control over it.

Reaching out a hand to Nell, he smiled. "Are you alright, really?"

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ex_little_st99
2008-08-14 02:04 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, fine." Nell said quietly, still unable to meet Demetri's eye. "It's not as if I haven't had rough customers before, and he paid me more than enough for the privilege." He wasn't sure why he was being so short or so sharp with Demetri. How the man had said him being jealous was unthinkable had hurt Nell deeply.

He shook his head, trying to stop those thoughts. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't talk to you like that. Thank you for coming in then, when you did."

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rogueblake
2008-08-14 04:14 pm UTC (link)

"I..." Demetri frowned and wasn't sure what to say to him. "I'm sorry to have interrupted your business. Petrov is dangerous and I didn't want you to end up like Al- I didn't want you to get hurt. Well hurt any worse...," he said, his voice losing any emotion. "I said what I did to keep his focus on me rather than you. But if money is all that matters, it isn't my place to interfere. I do apologise."

He was hurt but not at Nell. Having Sergius Petrov around just meant the memories of Alexandre never went away, and it killed Demetri a little at a time. "It's alright; you don't have to be sorry. I'm glad you're okay Nell, I really am."

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ex_little_st99
2008-08-14 04:20 pm UTC (link)

"No, money isn't all that matters." Nell said, closing his eyes. He wished he could have taken back what he'd said before. "I realise now that Mr. Petrov is dangerous, and I will not be taking his money, nor his patronage again."

He caught the quickly hidden name and frowned. So it was like that. He was a substitute for another boy. Just like he was a substitute for Georgie when it came to Harry.

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rogueblake
2008-08-14 04:25 pm UTC (link)

Demetri looked down at Nell and leaned against the wall. "He hurts people Nell. He hurt me in more ways that I think I will ever truly recover from. I care about you too much to see that happen to you. If I had known, I think I would have matched any money he offered, just to keep you safe. And any time with you is nothing if not an enjoyable delight." Demetri tried to smile but he feared he just looked sad. "I hope this doesn't ruin your night. You look wonderfully fetching."

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	ex_little_st99 2008-08-14 04:33 pm UTC (link)
	“I’m sorry he hurt you, Demetri.” Nell whispered, feeling just horrible for how he’d behaved to Demetri. “Thank you. No. It doesn’t ruin my night, not one bit.” He moved to kiss Demetri on the cheek. “I’m so sorry for all of this.” (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rogueblake
2008-08-14 04:46 pm UTC (link)

"Thank you Nell. It was a while ago but apparently not long enough, and he still holds it over my head." Demetri reached up and looped a bit of Nell's hair around his finger, smiling a little when Nell kissed his cheek. "You don't have anything to be sorry about. If I said anything in there that hurt you, it's me who is sorry. I panicked, and didn't want to see you end up.... I just wish I'd interrupted sooner." He leaned in closer and kissed Nell on the cheek softly.

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	ex_little_st99 2008-08-14 04:50 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm glad you interrupted when you did. I wouldn't have wanted you to see what he did." Nell said quietly, smiling a little as Demetri kissed him. "I know I said it'd happened before but...Harry always deals with men like that. Knowing we can't do anything leaves me feeling so very powerless." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rogueblake
2008-08-14 05:05 pm UTC (link)

Demetri slid an arm around Nell. "Would you like to take a walk outside. I think some fresh air might do us both some good." He didn't want to think of what Nell had been through, for Demetri's mind went to dark places he'd rather not think of. "If we weren't at Lord Hurst's I might have found myself dealing with it myself. For you, for Alex. For me. People like that live on fear and helplessness, and unfortunately in this day and age, there is a lot of both."

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	ex_little_st99 2008-08-14 05:13 pm UTC (link)
	“A walk would be lovely.” Nell agreed, leaning in to Demetri. He felt safer with the other man there. His body still ached but it was dulled now. “Who’s Alex?” (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rogueblake
2008-08-14 05:23 pm UTC (link)

Demetri kept him close to his side and walked down the hall, back toward the way he came but then slipped outside rather than back toward the dancing.

He didn't answer Nell right away but moved to the far end of the wall and smiled at Nell. "Alex was.... someone very special to me. I told you I went to school in Paris. Well I met him there. He was a fellow student." The pained look on his face wouldn't be helped, and he was grateful for just the soft moonlight. "I loved him, and Petrov found out, threatened to tell both our families, make it all public if I didn't break it off and.... and then, Alex died. And that Russian bastard still blackmails me today," he said, lowering his voice to a soft whisper."

He turned slight away from Nell as a tear rolled down his cheek. "And I let him because I am too much of a coward to stop him."

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ex_little_st99
2008-08-14 05:29 pm UTC (link)

"He died? That's so awful." Nell said, touching Demetri's shoulder gently, wanting to do more but worried Demetri did not want to be touched. "You're not a coward. Not at all. You're trying to protect your family and your reputation - Demetri, there is nothing wrong in that."

"How did he die? If you don't mind me asking." Nell said, biting his lip. How strange he should be drawn to another man who had lost his lover. Hopefully this one would not be a murder.

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rogueblake
2008-08-14 05:38 pm UTC (link)

Demetri leaned into the touch and reached out to hold Nell's hand. "Thank you Nell. Sometimes I do wonder though. I've done some not very good things, and I fear that my seeing you has only given the man more ammunition and lord knows what he'll to do you, or Harry now because of it too." He sighed and his shoulders dropped. "I tried going away so those I loved wouldn't be harmed, but it didn't work, and I missed home so much too."

He looked over at Nell and shook his head. "I don't mind. I was told it was an 'accident' but I never believed it. It was all too convenient, everything all lined up and perfect. It just never settled right with me, not ever."

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	ex_little_st99 2008-08-14 05:46 pm UTC (link)
	"Do you mean you want to stop seeing me?" Nell asked, worried now. He didn't want to lose Demetri as a client, but more than that he liked him. "Murder?" He said, sitting down heavily on the marble bench set by the wall. "And you suspect Mr. Petrov, yes?" So very like Harry and his Georgie that it made Nell's heart ache. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rogueblake
2008-08-14 06:08 pm UTC (link)

"No... no Nell I don't. I like spending time with you very much. You have been a great joy to me since we met and I look forward to seeing you. But I want you to be aware of the danger because if you wish to not see me any longer, I would understand."

He moved quickly and sat next to Nell. "I don't mean to scare you, and I don't have any proof at all, but yes. If not by his own hands, certainly he had some part." Demetri dropped his head against Nell's shoulder as he hugged him.

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ex_little_st99
2008-08-15 03:18 am UTC (link)

Nell shook his head. "No, I don't want you to stop visiting. I'm already in danger anyway. Harry's got this...feud with another pimp, and I keep getting caught in the middle of it." He smiled at the man, running his hand through his hair. He knew he shouldn't invite more trouble, but the Russian man didn't worry him half as much as Slater. Slater had killed one of Harry's boys before after all.

Nell wrapped his arms around Demetri, leaning against him. "I'm so sorry, Demetri."

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rogueblake
2008-08-15 09:13 am UTC (link)

Demetri looked down at him, still looking sad. "I'm glad. But are you okay, with everything going on? I can not be good, being caught in the middle." He smiled a little as Nell's hands moved through his hair. He should stop, make Nell stay away if for no other reason than his safety.

But he couldn't.

His arms wrapped around Nell and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry too Nell," he whispered back.

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	ex_little_st99 2008-08-15 09:21 am UTC (link)
	"I'm tougher than I look, and Harry has taught me to look after myself...it's just easier to do that when you're attacked by a stranger, not bought by a client." He said, feeling ashamed of himself. He could have tried to stop it, should have but he wasn't sure the Russian man would have stopped. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rogueblake
2008-08-15 11:30 am UTC (link)

Demetri smiled at him. "I know you are. And you should be able to take care of yourself." He smoothed out Nell's hair a bit more. "Nell, it's one thing to be business, and another to be cruel and mean for the sake of being cruel and mean. Do you know what I'm saying?" He wanted to ask what had happened, but part of him feared that it would only add to his anger toward the Russian, and another part had a feeling it hadn't settled well with Nell either. Demetri hugged him again.

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ex_little_st99
2008-08-15 11:50 am UTC (link)

Nell nodded. He understood the difference well enough - some men enjoyed it a little rough, liked to bite or spank, liked to have Nell whimper but it was all in pretend and good fun. This man had just wanted to hurt him.
"I...I wish I'd said no, but he paid me so much, Demetri - more money than anyone has. A sovereign."

He fished in the pocket of his dress and brougth it out to show Demetri. It lay in his hand, heavy and golden and the price of Nell's self-worth.

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rogueblake
2008-08-15 12:12 pm UTC (link)

"You have to do what's right for you Nell. Be true to yourself."

Demetri looked down at the golden coin. He instantly hated the Russian even more which hadn't know was possible. Nell couldn't have said no, not to that, and he'd known it, and used it to hurt the young boy.

He curled Nell's fingers over the sovereign and held his hand. And then he gave Nell a little smile. "Don't you know you're worth ten times this?" Demetri leaned in and softly kissed him before smiling at him again.

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ex_little_st99
2008-08-15 12:18 pm UTC (link)

Nell smiled back, setting the sovereign back in his pocket carefully.
"Well, if that's true you're very much in debt, Demetri." He said with a little laugh, hoping it didn't sound forced or fake.

"At least I can have some good come out of it. I'm going to start an account, in a real bank, and save it in there for when I need it. A few more of them and I could buy myself a house." He said, smiling more warmly now.

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	rogueblake 2008-08-15 12:52 pm UTC (link)
	Demetri laughed softly and nodded. "Indeed I am. I will have to make amends for that as soon as possible won't I?" He nodded. "That's true, and good thinking too. Just keeping putting as much as you can in there, and watch it pile up," he smiled. He held Nell's hand gently. "Feeling any better now?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_little_st99 2008-08-15 12:58 pm UTC (link)
	"Please." Nell said, laying his head against Demetri's shoulder and pressing a kiss to his neck. "Yes, a lot. Thank you, Demetri. I could never have talked to Harry like this. I know he would have gone and tried to start a fight and I don't think that's the wisest course of action. I'll have to tell him at some point, but when we're away from here." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rogueblake
2008-08-15 01:18 pm UTC (link)

Whether it was the please, or the kiss to his neck, Demetri didn't know but he felt better and sighed softly. "Please what?" he said teasing a bit.

"You can talk to me about anything; I never mind Nell. But yes, especially about this, you do need to find time and tell Harry. He needs to know how bad things are getting. I would speak with him if you like; I feel responsible, at least for some of it."

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ex_little_st99, 2008-08-15 01:26 pm UTC

rogueblake, 2008-08-15 01:41 pm UTC

social_climber, 2008-08-16 03:35 am UTC

ex_little_st99, 2008-08-16 03:44 am UTC

social_climber, 2008-08-16 03:55 am UTC

ex_little_st99, 2008-08-16 04:08 am UTC

social_climber, 2008-08-16 04:16 am UTC

rogueblake, 2008-08-16 08:32 am UTC

social_climber, 2008-08-16 08:54 am UTC

ex_little_st99, 2008-08-16 09:00 am UTC

rogueblake, 2008-08-16 09:17 am UTC

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