Who: Domino and Lucky When: Mid July, after they arrived, after Lucky meets Caspian for the first time Where: Their tent, Zion Mystique What: Updating each other, catching up Warning(s): None
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Lucky had thought he and his brother’s first day at the Carnival was amazing. In the last few days, that changed. With working as a roustabout - setting up heavy stuff for amazing acts and seeing things he had dreamed off years ago when he still had a connection to magic - he was amazed even more. But he had a new development that had him feeling more alive and happy than he had in years. But he worried how he’d tell Domino.
Towel-drying his hair, he had gotten a shower and was ready to calm down for the night. The werewolf slipped into the tent he shared with his brother and sighed.
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“Look, I don’t care if you have reservations. We’re going to the party. I promised the hot guy.” Ben, and he’s a fire elemental. “I know he’s a fire elemental. Yes, Ben. Him and his husband, the party is going to be just fine.” Domino waved a hand at Lucky as he saw his brother coming in. “Luck, tell sparky that the party’s going to be great.”
Dominic was sitting on his bed, the partition that could be pulled to separate their beds was pushed back and he was wearing a white undershirt and his pajama pants. I have a name, it’s not Sparky. Well, Dom wasn’t aware she didn’t like terms of endearment. I- I’m not used to them. We’ll see how I feel about it… when I’m not upset with you.
--
Ruffling his hair some more, Lucky smoothed his own undershirt and pajama pants. He had developed a routine of taking a small bag with his sleep clothes so he could change after the shower at the end of the day. He raised an eyebrow at the term ‘hot guy’ and ‘him and his husband’. Who had he gotten to talking to?
“Well, any party Dom puts together is always good” He replied and smirked as he walked over to set his work clothes out to air before sitting down on the end of his own bed.
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“Well, I’m not putting it together, more getting the invite from Scotty.” Dom had mentioned Scotty to Lucky a few times, while also avoiding introducing the two. Scotty Bowers owned a pump station that had a lucrative side business Dominic wanted to keep his little brother away from. Edi agreed, Domino could tell that she didn’t really agree with his associating with Scotty either. But he kept insisting to her that he was a good guy, it was just sex and he was connected and a guy could meet the right person looking for talent at one of the parties Scotty’s boys worked or could get you an invite to.
Dom looked up at his brother. “So, how’s the carny life? Miss serving tables yet?”
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“Oh? Scotty’s going to have a party?” Lucky lifted his chin. He knew of Scotty Bowers and his pump station. It seemed there were people in Hollywood trying, as usual, to rise in the fame and fortune stuff. He wondered where Dom had heard about the party..
“It’s okay. Good, hard but honest work. Nah, nah. This place is much more interesting.” The younger brother smiled to himself.
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“More like he knows a guy who’s having a party.” There was a slight chance that he’d have to promise to ‘work’ it to get two extra invites, but Domino had a way of being persuasive so there was a chance he could find another way to pay the man back. “He always knows where the good ones are.” Had been looking for people to work it and asked him about it the week prior, but he’d turned it down as he wasn’t expecting an invite.
Dom nodded, he was glad his brother was finding his place. They were aware from Kristoph that the carnival was looking to return to its own time- once it knew it was safe to try again and Dominic knew that when the time came, should Edi still be living in him, he’d have a choice to make. If Lucas wasn’t getting on well, the choice would be much harder. “Meet anyone interesting yourself?”
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“That sounds nice.” Lucky wasn’t much of a party guy as of late, but he would be for his brother. But a part of him was curious about what his brother got into. “Do we know who else was invited?”
Lucky was good with routine, things to do to keep his mind off other things. He was anxious to find out more about how the full moons were handled here. Yet he had the shackles Dom had come up with and were used up til now. “Maybe,” the werewolf replied, a smile trying to tug at his lips. “Don’t know what’s going to happen yet.” He looked over at Dom.
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“Well, it’s at George Steven’s house.” He was a director at one of the major studios. “So, anyone who’s anyone I’m sure.” Dom chuckled. “Lots of networking.” Then lots of sex. Dominic! It was true though, may parties broke down after dinner. In a safe place, people were able to be with who they wanted to without worry.
Domino laughed and gave his brother an interested look. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense!”
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“Wow. Sounds like one of the bigger parties.” Lucky smiled. “Sounds like a good opportunity.” If the young brother was smart and/or observant, he’d already have an idea that his big brother was energetic and social in all accounts. And Lucky was.
Lucky blushed a little and looked down at his hands, seeing his brother’s look. “He works in one of the gaming booths.”
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Of course Domino knew of his brother’s interest in boys, he’d done his best to help him feel comfortable. After all, he, himself, didn't have a preference. “Really. Which one?” He asked curiously, moving from his bed to his brothers, he pulled his legs up and sat cross-legged as if ready to gossip.
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Lucky trusted his brother the most and he was thankful that he could confide in him even with affairs of the heart. “The milk bottle knockdown one. He has dark hair, Irish accent.” Lucky smiled to himself and then looked over at Dom again.
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He thought back on who worked what. “The one with the floppy curls, or the other?” He asked, Though one had an English accent- he was pretty sure? Didn’t hurt to clarify. Domino placed a hand on Lucky’s knee. “Have you actually talked to him? Or just stared fondly from afar?” He asked, knowing how his brother typically operated.
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“No, no curls,” Lucky smirked and blushed a little. He thought it sounded Irish, but he could be wrong. But it didn’t matter to him - Cas’s voice was enchanting! “No...not this time,” the younger brother shook his head in almost disbelief. “I actually talked to him, played the game.” Then he smiled brightly and turned a deeper shade of pink.
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Domino laughed happily and nudged his brother. “Oh, the other one is a cutie too. More rugged, and definitely Irish.” And you’ll stay away because your brother likes him. It was as if Edi didn’t think that Domino could control himself around someone his brother liked. Of course he would. He’d do nothing to hurt Lucky. Really? Okay, nothing on purpose. There was that one time he’d sort of flirted with the baker’s son, but he had no idea Lucky had liked him. Really? Lucky hadn’t said anything- just given him some looks. “So, did you just give him money and play, or you two actually talk?”
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Lucky had been quite the cautious and shy sort of guy when it came to flirting or anything else with people he liked. There were a couple of times where he made it to kissing and making out. But that was before the war, before becoming a werewolf. He often let his brother be the one to be outgoing - it was in his nature. “We talked. No, he let me play for free. And I won. He’s amazing! You would not believe the rest. I’m glad you’re sitting down.” Was Lucky the one to kiss and tell? Not to friends or acquaintances. But perhaps to his big brother the person he trusted and relied upon the most in this world.
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Domino followed along with the story excitedly. He was so proud of his brother for taking a risk. Something about Zion Mystique seemed to make it feel okay. Like everyone here was just… safe. Most of the time, yes. Most of the time. Edi had shared their run in with the men in black that had stolen and tortured her. He hurt for her.
As his brother prefaced the next part of his story Dom nodded. “Yes? Okay… You’re doing this on purpose!” He laughed as he urged his brother to continue.
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Lucky didn’t want to be over-confident, get his hopes up thus his hesitation in telling anyone. He too found that everyone here was safe for the most part. But caution had been burned into him for a while. Unconsciously, the werewolf ran a thumb over the tattoo on the inside of his left forearm.
“No! No, I’m not. I’m just so excited and I don’t want to jinx it.” Lucky wrinkled his nose. “He asked what I wanted my prize to be. And I told him I’d talk to him somewhere private later in the evening. And we did. And I told him my prize would be a kiss. And we did.” His eyes were alight as he scrunched up his shoulders, giddy.
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Domino practically pounced on his brother, arms wrapping around him in a tight hug. “Lucas Maddox!” He said with almost a parental cadence. “You kissed a boy. I’m so happy for you!” Laughter came out almost melodically as he nuzzled at his brother and pat him on the back. “Turns out it was a good idea to visit this place after all.” Oh Dominic, you really do care for him don’t you. He wasn’t sure why Edi was questioning that at all. Maybe it was because he did give his brother a hard time sometimes- but he just wanted to push him because he knew he could be better. He’d never actually let his baby brother get hurt.
“So, you know we’re going to have to get you a new outfit for your first date, right?” He added, with a big grin.
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“Oof!” Lucky nearly let his brother knock him over with that pounce and hug. He wrapped his arms around his brother and laughed with a smile. “Thanks!” He beamed. It had been so hard, especially in the last five years. But a bit of it was his own doing, distancing himself from others as he feared what he was. Lucky did value his brother’s encouragement among other things. He still looked up to him.
“What? A new outfit?” he blinked with a crooked smirk.
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“Of course. Something snappy.” He held up his fingers in a square shape as if judging a scene for a movie. “Maybe something with a splash of blue or green to bring out the green in your eyes.” He reached up and ruffled his brother's hair. “Maybe a trim as well.” Not that Domino’s own hair wasn’t a bit on the floppy curl side itself. “I know a great place to take him to, private tables, quiet, a bit romantic… and from the outside it’ll look like a business dinner.” Not that he cared about appearances himself, but he knew Lucky did.
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Raising an eyebrow, Lucky continued to smile. “A splash? Mmm,” he wrinkled his nose. “I bet you know a place for the clothes and a barber.” He couldn’t keep from beaming at the idea of going on a real date with Caspian. “It’s ridiculous how much I like him.”