lovesick electric (tag: zeeky || OPEN)

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

It was almost too easy, Thalia thought to herself.

All she could see from Keane's eyes was the bedspread and a heap of dirty clothes that had migrated to one side of the room. Keane himself, was drunk, thouroughly and completely drunk, and this time, without Thalia's guidance. He had just returned from a very exciting class reunion, where the alcohol was plentiful and the nerd chicks had suddenly developed breasts. It was wild, even as Thalia observed, and completely unnecessary.

Now, at only midnight, Keane was too drunk to care and too drunk to do anything else but sleep. A perfect opportunity for the muse to have her time with Keane's body. While she mulled over the level of pervertedness that thought just was, she slipped Keane's mind to the back of his consciousness, taking her place as the primary owner of his body.

He - she sat up and stretched out. It was good to be back in control for once. Everything got so tiring sitting and watching life go by through someone else's eyes. Thalia stood up and glanced at herself in the mirror. Keane looked good, she should've complemented him earlier, but that moment had come and gone and she planned to use it to her advantage. Thalia straightened out his jacket, looking for a moment into his - her - eyes with a coy smile. They were a dark yellow and held a gaze that was as irresistable as a predators'.

It was time to go catch some prey.

[ZEEK VINO]

I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything
All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love?



Ezekiel had been lazing about behind the vip rope most of the night. He was bored, bored out of his mind. His eyes zoned off into the crowd watching them dance. He was tired and bored out of his mind. He leaned back on the oversized couch, a girl on one side chatting in his direction. He ignored the vapid blonde. Women were not what he was in the mood for tonight. His blue green eyes were half closed as he took a slow breath. In one hand slumped a wine glass and the other was empty and tangled in his own hair.

He looked the typical Bacchus reclined as he was and as pleasant as he looked. When the woman leaned over he leaned away. “No thanks doll. Sorry. Not interested.” he turned his gaze over to the woman, looked her over and gave her a sweet smile. “Another day maybe.” He reached out and tapped her nose. He was far drunker then he had intended to be at this point. His heavy lidded eyes turned away as she pouted.

With a wave of his good hand she stormed off and out of the vip section. Pity, his bouncers needed something to do anyways, the underage girl had tried to convince him to give her a drink. He glanced to a bouncer and waved a hand. The large man smiled and nodded and trailed the girl off. He could guarantee she would be gone in a few moments. He was important here, more important then the DJ's, more important then the bartenders, he was the owner. He was the god of this party and that was how he loved it. He licked his perky lips and frowned.

Zeek was feeling indecisive right now. He wanted something new. He wanted something unusual. He was feeling wild and something was calling to him. It was as if a thread was pulling him. Leaving his open bottle service he wandered to the bar and waved over a tender. The barkeep was over soon as he had a moment and Zeek leaned over. “How are we doing.” The barkeep nodded. “Electric lemonade then.” he said leaning on the bar with a lazy half smile. He glanced around, something still was making him feel excited. It was as if his body was reacting to some unseen stimuli. Something was going to happen tonight and he was more then ready.


Going away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero
What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

The pounding rhythms that filled up the atmosphere of the club, made Thalia feel more alive than she had the past two-thousand years. Being crammed into the back of a male's mind had taken it's tole, the muse thought as she made her way around the outskirts of the dancing mob. Her acquired male instinct noticed a pair of stiletto'd legs coming her way - a blonde stunner, probably YEARS underage, strut by angrily as Thalia watched. She smirked at the girl's obvious irritation. It was satisfying to see an attractive woman get rejected, her charms wasted on some rich bastard who could afford to decline her attention.

Thalia returned her gaze ahead and nearly ran into a man who was following the girl with a serious expression. A bouncer, Thalia would wager. She glanced toward the back of the club, where the important patrons were hosted and the bouncers guarded with attentive eyes. A VIP was looking her way with an amused expression, assumably the arrogant bastard who had rejected the girl, as he moved towards the bar.

The VIP was attractive, extremely attractive, with tousled brown hair and a killer look, and he was heading to the bar, empty glass in hand, barely noticing anyone around him, deliciously drunk, and fuck, was she really just going to stand here and stare?

...

That was the one and only catch. Thalia wasn't standing in the club, stock still in a crowd full of people - Keane Hughes was.

Male, straight, minorly attractive, quirky Keane Hughes.

How the fucking hell was this going to work?

[ZEEK VINO]

I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything
All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love?


Zeek watched the bartender make his drink his eyes on the guy's ass his lazy grin never leaving. He just couldn't help it, he was drunk and lonely and not in the mood for drama. Women, were always drama. He wanted to relax tonight, maybe just laze about and be idle. He wasn't in one of his manic moods today, this had been a good enough night. Just boring.

The bartender handed him the electric blue drink and Zeek slid a five over the counter with a smile. “Thanks.” He turned and leaned back on the bar staring out over the flock he currently had brought in. It was a great night. The techno was thumping away and the DJ was on fire. A club owner could not ask for anything better. He stared out into the crowd when something caught his eye. He was being stared at. At first Zeek glanced to one side then the other quirking a brow as he looked to see where the woman near by was.

Realizing he was alone on this part of the bar his eyes turned back to the man with a curious expression. Slowly he raised the glass to his lips and took a drink. He cringed at the alcohol in the drink and then smirked. Oh what the hell. He was drunk, he was lonely and this man right here was staring. If he was lucky this one wasn't just looking to beat him up for sleeping with his girlfriend or something silly like that. Then again there was that tug again, drawing him towards this man. It was as if something inside him was tugging, ever so slightly, in that direction.

As he got closer his eyes swept Keane in a slow sweep, taking him in with a half smile. “Hello.” He spoke over the music, “Anything I can help you with?” His voice was sweet and even a little feminine but it fit the rather light male. Something about Zeek always seemed to make those around him feel inebriated, at least tipsy. It was like he himself was a fine wine that melted into your senses.

[/color]

Going away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero
What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero[/center]

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

Shit. She'd been noticed. As Thalia was observing the VIP, he glanced in her direction, his eyes locking on hers with an uncanny accuracy. She felt her - Keane's - face heat up in embarrassment. Oh, great. Now, not only did she have mental versus physical gender conflicts, she looked like an complete idiot in front of the second-most attractive man Thalia could remember. Even compared to Adonis, this man by far had more charm and a less of a shallow personality - the only god that had Adonis beat on that aspect was the egocentric Narcissus.

The man looked away for a moment, glancing down the bar, and Thalia realized the very obvious manner in which she was checking him out. Shitshitshit. He was the ONLY person sitting there, making Thalia looking like a lust-struck teenage girl who was thinking over fantasies in her head. Which, in this case, wasn't far from the truth, if you substituted "teenage" with "archaic" and "girl" with "female-trapped-in-a-male-body" and "fantasies" with "mental erotica". She cursed again under her breath, naming Aphrodite, Eros, Peitho, Adonis, Erato, and the fates individually and vehemently. Someone was going to pay for this later.

And it was probably going to be Keane....

Thalia hesitated for a moment, taking in the sights and sounds of the club, and attempted to calm herself down. Nothing had gone wrong yet. Keane was still sleeping soundly in the back of her - his - mind. Which gave Thalia free will do to whatever she wanted while he was still asleep. What she wanted right now, was this man, without a doubt. And if Keane had an issue with it when he awoke, she'd deal with him. There was a feeling of belonging, a sensation of a pull, that was wrapped itself around the VIP, and Thalia would be damned by Tartarus before she let that pass by.

As the man smiled at her from over his drink, Thalia made the decision to damn all convention and go for it. She wove through the crowd, her golden eyes locked on him, arriving just as the man set his drink down and smiled drunkenly. The VIPs teal-coloured eyes peeked out from between his half closed eyelids. There was no doubt that this guy was WAY past sober.

“Hello.”

The man had made the first move, speaking with a lilting voice that was laced with a hint of slur. Thalia strained to hear his dulcet tones over the pounding music, moving a few steps closer until she - Keane - was standing next to him at the bar. Up close, Thalia could see him more clearly - he had a feminine air about him, but absolutely reeked of authority, lounging on the stool as if he owned the place. And Thalia had to admit - she had a thing for men with power...

“Anything I can help you with?”

With a smirk that was more maniacal than flirtatious, Thalia responded, "Actually, yes. You see, I was trying to figure out what drink would best rid me of my sobriety the fastest." The transition between Thalia's feminine thoughts to Keane's baritone voice felt a bit out of place, but the insistent urge that pulled her to the VIP soothed her nerves. Running a hand through her - Keane's - hair, Thalia faced the dance floor, leaning back on the bar and turning to look at the man. "I've never been here before - do you have any suggestions?"

[ZEEK VINO]

I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything/
All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love?


Zeek almost swooned with joy as the man returned the attention with clear interest. Oh yes this man had a pull. It was like the intoxicating feel of a woman in the body of a man. Oh he was thinking the same sort of bedroom thoughts as his counter part and something about his half lidded eyes and the smirk on his lips. When the cute guy in front of him asked about drinking his eyes lit up glassily. Oh could this get any easier. “Defiantly. My name is Ezekiel I own this place. The best way to end your soberness...”

With a cocky wink he motioned after himself and sauntered off into the vip area hopefully toeing along his new catch. He glanced back, “Lets get you something nice here.” he waved off the bouncer and slipped in to the open bottle bar. With a grin he waved over a tender and grinned. “Two Hurricanes. Make it good.” He said lazily. The woman beamed at him and went about her business.

He loved being in charge at times like these. He flopped down on one of the over sized couches and waved the man over. “So how are you liking club Leopard? I always like to hear ways I can improve my club.” he spoke over the music again. It was a bit quieter in the semi sectioned off area and people milled about lazily. When people came close he nodded or waved. A few he flashed seductive smiles at before turning his attention right back to Keane. He was hooked on this odd man and his attention was not easily diverted.

He looked like the beaming doe in the eyes of the wolf right now, innocent yet elusive. He was in his element and at his ease. The party was his home and it always had been. This place just made him feel alive. Here he was, he had the attention of someone who drew him like a sharp tug, and he was in his kingdom. He almost felt like a god ruling over his cult, then again drinking lots always gave him delusions of grandeur.

“What is it you do then?” He purred out.

[/color]


Going away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero
What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero[/center]

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

“Definitely. My name is Ezekiel. I own this place."

Thalia straightened up at Ezekiel's words, eye brows raising slightly as she listened. The owner? She had a feeling that he was more than just an important guest by his comfortable manner and attitude, but the owner of the club? Thalia had either hit the jackpot or totally screwed up, but from the feeling of the situation and the look in Ezekiel's eyes, tonight was going to be a night to remember regardless.

"The best way to end your soberness..."

Sober? Thalia was already drunk - drunk on the sounds of the club, the feel of the night, the attraction to Ezekiel - and even without touching any alcohol, she could feel herself getting buzzed. The feeling was reminiscent of something long past, but Thalia couldn't grasp the thought for long enough to recognize it, so she dismissed it as unimportant. Right now, she needed all of her attention span, because it was hard enough to concentrate on anything but Ezekiel's voice or eyes for very long. Thalia was being pulled in headfirst, little by little, to the situation, and she was perfectly contented with that.

With a wink, Ezikiel stood up and made his way towards the VIP area, and Thalia followed in tow, glancing uneasily at the bouncer as they passed by them. That uncomfortable feeling was returning, a part of Keane's mind was probably blinking and flashing with warning alarms, but as Thalia took a deep breath, it disappeared, and her focus returned to the situation. A drink was handed to her as Ezekiel made small talk, and she took a sip, wincing slightly at the shock from the sweetened liquor. Ezekiel was already lounging when she joined him, sprawled out on the couch like a satisfied king as he observed his vassals hard at work.

"So how are you liking club Leopard? I always like to hear ways I can improve my club."

Thalia glanced around and took another sip of her drink before answering. "Seeing as this is my first time at Leopard," Thalia began, raising her glass to indicate the club and grinning slyly. "I would think that everyone gets the five star treatment, or perhaps only attractive personages like myself." Keane was probably having drunken nightmares about this as he recovered from his riotous class reunion. Actually, Thalia doubted that Keane had ever considered this situation as plausible. He trusted the muse to be responsible with his body, since their were sharing it for the rest of Keane's life. If he only knew...

A seductive smile from Ezekiel captured Thalia's attention once again, and he questioned the muse nonchalantly as he leaned back on the couch. "What is it you do then?"

A cliched response jumped to the front of the muse's preoccupied mind as she looked Ezekiel over lazily, and she spoke it aloud before considering the consequences. "What do you want me to do?"

Lame. The muse of astronomy could come up with a better riposte. Thalia coughed, embarrassed that such an appallingly cliched flirt could even pass through her lips. Well, Keane's lips. She recovered quickly, taking another sip of her drink before she hastily continued.

"Er, I work for the newspaper The Inquirer, writing articles."

Thalia prayed a quick prayer to Peitho for guidance and help. She was going to need it.

[ZEEK VINO]

I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything
All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love?



If Ezekiel wasn't so relaxed he might have purred with delight. He grinned as the woman brought over the drinks, handing one to each man then she unobtrusively vanished off to help others. His eyes didn't leave Keane though. He was fixated. This strange new drug coursing through him. He felt powerful, he felt heady but that could be the booze. Something told him this was a puzzle he needed to figure out or it would drive him mad. Then again deep down madness was a release to the god who slumbered in his lithe body.

He grinned at the assessment of the club, showing white teeth and his eyes lit up. Well that was a good start. “Oh well the good looking ones get better treatment but we try to keep it on that general 5 star level.” He smirked and leaned forward on his couch, taking a swig out of his glass.

”What do you want me to do?” Zeek could have died of joy. This game was like playing chess with a skilled pro. It was easy, cheesy, and classic. He loved it. He was a fan of cliché honestly so the line didn't bother him. This was going to be good. His blue green eyes swept the man again frowning at the fact he couldn't place what was distinctively feminine about him. This man was definitely masculine, in looks and style but the person he was talking to wasn't. Well the world did silly things and he wasn't going to complain at the good fortune of having it thrown into his lap.

”Well we could start with your name and work our way up to a private room upstairs to talk.” He said as smoothly as any cheesy pickup line could be delivered. He grinned lopsidedly his boyish charm shining as he took another sip. Man he loved alcohol. It raised your courage, and made you more then happy to talk to strangers. It was definitely a wonderful social intoxicant. He leaned more forward, almost losing his balance, and then leaned back again laughing.

When he said reporter his inner hound caught the scent. The business man in him sat up just a little straighter. “What do you think about writing a piece about this place? Or is that really not your thing?” He said as if it didn't matter. He kept his face relaxed not showing his excitement. Wow he really had hit the jackpot so long as this night went well. ”If you like it that is. If you find your experience bad please tell me and I will do my best to improve it.” he said with an even cheekier grin. Oh this was a fun game.


Going away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero
What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

Thalia, either by nerves or a need to be intoxicated, had finished her drink in the short time span she had been talking to Ezekiel. She glanced down at the empty glass woefully and set it aside. There was this longing urge that was pressed against the front of her mind to get drunk, absolutely wasted, and party for the rest of the night. A small frown coming to her - Keane's - face, as she thought of tomorrow morning. Poor Keane was going to have to deal with his own hangover while handling Thalia's bitching and her hangover as well. Oh, well. Ezekiel's presence was already making her love-drunk, but another vibe in the air was making her intoxicated, layering itself over the influence of the alcohol.

Businessman that he was, Ezekiel made a proposal Thalia couldn't refuse. "Well we could start with your name and work our way up to a private room upstairs to talk.”

Momentarily flustered by his comment, Thalia faltered in her reply. "My name is K-"

WAIT. She couldn't say her name was Keane. Despite the unattractiveness of having someone else's name called out to her, if she gave him Keane's name, then he could look Keane up and visit Keane and then Keane would find out about Thalia's escapades and... No. Thalia couldn't let that happen, and like HELL she was going to be called Kingston.

She smiled, and continued without hesitating this time. "-Thalia. My name is Thalia." Smiling, Ezekiel leaned forwards so that he almost fell off of the sofa, and she laughed with him drunkenly. This night was going better than Thalia had expected. She was hoping MAYBE to dance and flirt with some of the more attractive guys, but being accepted by the club owner? Thalia grinned in delight at the thoughts that were tangling together in her head. "And writing headlines isn't my area of expertise, but I'm sure I could connect you with the right people." She tried to take a sip of her non-existent drink, laughing at her stupidity in embarrassment again.

It was do or die time now. Ezekiel had drawn the line and was daring Thalia to cross it with each word he said, each glance he gave her, each movement he made, daring her to make the jump. She took it, but not with a gigantic leap of faith. Instead, Thalia made a suggestion.

"But Ezekiel," Thalia began, making Keane's voice drop to a sultry tone. "I haven't experienced anything yet, so how could I pass judgement?"

[ZEEK VINO]

I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything/
All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love?


Zeek just about died and went to heaven. If Thalia thought she had hit the jackpot so did the slight little Ezekiel. He flushed with both embarrassment and drink. It was not often someone was quite so blunt. Then again he was drunk and so was his companion if he was lucky. He wiggled a bit in his seat debating where to go with this. Oh this could go oh so many delicious directions. He was more excited then a kid at Christmas. He relaxed his body and mind trying to calm down. There was that tug again.

“Thalia. Sounds foreign... you don't however. Exotic parents?” he asked grinning from ear to ear. Well now he had a name and that meant he was getting somewhere. People who just wanted free drinks didn't give their name. Then again sometimes that didn't matter. In this case he doubted he would have cared. That internal pull was too strong and he just couldn't ignore it. This was what felt like a once in a life time chance. He closed his eyes a moment and breathed deep the thrumming air of the club.

”Well you want an experience follow me.”

He leaned in then stood up. He just grabbed a bottle of vodka, and one of rum, off the table and grinned coyly. “Then your friend will have a lot to write about when they get in touch.” he said with a devilish wink. He was feeling ballsy tonight and this man was stroking his already massive ego. He grinned in that lazy lopsided manner and nodded towards the back of the vip section his eyes glassy and flashing like fire. Oh he was in heaven. This night was going far better then expected one he had kicked out the underage bimbo. Now he could play the bimbo and all was well. Zeek was a little screwed up at times but he didn't care.

So off he went again, wobbling slightly through the crowd beaming like he had just conquered the world. He nodded, once again, to a large man in black, another bouncer, and pushed through a black door that said employees only. “Thalia is with me.” He nodded to the Keane who he had in toe, again, and grinned broadly like he had just caught public enemy number one.

The bouncer slid aside nodding and chuckling to himself. If nothing else Zeek was a good boss and his employees seemed to like him. The door led into a tiny black hallway and Zeek navigated it with ease pushing open another door on the right showing a utility staircase. He walked up the metal steps and opened one last door, “welcome to my real vip lounge.”

The rome was spacious and white. It had large white couches with glass tables and a full bar, so his grabbing of the drinks was just a drunken spur of the moment choice. There was a private bathroom, clearly tiled and granite making it shine. This was where the massive names got to hang out before they went on to do their sets. No this was his special room. It was designed for twenty or so people to mill about comfortably and clearly was well maintained. Speakers lightly played the music from downstairs, but no where near as loudly. He wandered to the bar and left the bottles there running a hand along the bar before turning back to Thalia/Keane.

”Welcome to the star experience. I am your host” He gave an exaggerated bow and almost fell over laughing his eyes dancing with youthful joy. ”Zeek. Ask and you shall receive in this room. The world is your oyster so long as my means may provide it.” He looked up from under those wild locks and beamed then he stood up, staggering slightly at the suddenness of it. ”How does my guest like it?” He strolled around lazily his eyes never leaving Keane's form. Oh he was loving this game. It was one he didn't often get to play. This one thought on his feet. He wasn't some two bit ditz looking for a fling. No this man was smart and witty and Zeek was caught, he was the willing lamb at the slaughter.

[/color]


Going away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero/
What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero[/center]

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

As Thalia followed Ezekiel to his secret place, she formulated an answer to his question. "Exotic? Well, no, my parents were always into Greek mythology, so I was named after the most important muse, Thalia, muse of comedy and idyllic poetry." They were weaving their way through the club towards the back as she spoke, and Thalia watched Ezekiel move with barely concealed interest, reminded of a long past memory.

When she had first met Keane, that most entertaining night years ago, they had exchanged information about each other. Past, present, likes, dislikes, secrets, and fantasies. For two people sharing the same body, this seemed like an important thing to do, but Thalia had withheld one piece of information. At the time, she had not seen a reason to share it with her partner, as she was sure he had not seen the reason to share the same with her. The information concerned her sexual exploits when she was still a muse in the Greek times, and, seeing as she was trapped in Keane's body, there was no pressing need to leak her secret.

Her secret was that Thalia loved to be in control - not to the point of sadism or domineering, but along the lines of switching traditional roles. She was an actor, a comedian, a thespian; she lived for the moment, the attention of the crowd, the mastery of her art, the perfect and undeniable controlling influence an actor had on the feelings of their audience. A moment Thalia was reminded of by Ezekiel was her escapades with the god Dionysus, who was almost always ready for a good tumble, no matter the gender or even the species. Now THAT was a god who was fun to be around... His mere presence made most mortals drunk and as confident as a enraged bull, and he ruled the festivities with a drunken fist and a disorderly temper. Dionysus, with his inebriated wit, had been perfectly willing to let someone else make the decisions for him, and that suited Thalia just fine.

They exited the mainstream of the club, entering Ezekiel's private lounge. The real VIP lounge was stylish and pristine, clearly meant for the high class and famous that resided in Hollywood. Thalia should have felt honored to be in the room, but right now her focus was held captive by the charming Ezekiel. He set the two bottles down, pausing for a moment at the bar, and turned back to Thalia bowing with a roguish grin on his face.

"Welcome to the star experience. I am your host, Zeek. Ask and you shall receive in this room. The world is your oyster so long as my means may provide it.”

My, my. Thalia wasn't sure whether to be pleased or concerned that Zeek had offered her this open ended promise. There were more interpretations to that phrase than she could even consider, and considering the moment and the playful look in Zeek's eyes, his intentions were exactly as they appeared to be. This man was born to appease his guests, to be the ever-pleasing host of the party, to cater to the actors and actresses that found their way here.

”How does my guest like it?”

....

Fuck formality.

Without a second's hesitation, Thalia took control of the situation, stepping forward, and her lips met his. A moment later, though it seemed like hours, she pulled away, a smile on Keane's face. "The question is: how do you like the guest?"

[ZEEK VINO]

I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything
All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love?



Zeek smiled and nodded. “I know a bit of Greek myth.” He smiled pleasantly and winked. ”Muses are always fun in religion. The deity of the stage who makes the words ring like poetry.” He let the implications, like almost everything he said it had several meanings, ring in the air for a moment longer. Then he let it go.

“Personally.” He said lazily. ”I have always been a fan of Dionysus.” He shot him a wink and grinned broadly. ”Something about the god of drunken revelry, the stage, and madness, echoes in me.” He breezed confidently now that they were alone. ”He is the perfect host. The man who controls his throng with a smile and a glass of wine. It is because of him this club is club Leopard. It was how he was always depicted. I did my research.” he gave a little nod trying to look serious but it broke back into that infections grin he had worn since meeting Thalia. Such a good find tonight.

When Thalia/Keane grabbed him the smaller man almost swooned. His hands twitched at his side clearly unsure what to do. His mouth yielded to the kiss like the moon falling for the sun and he stood, lost in that kiss for a few moments. He slowly, gently returned it. His hand reached up to tug the man closer then he was gone. He pouted drunkenly as the kiss ended so soon, his blue green eyes flashing sadly before he perked up. Oh so he was being playful. Zeek could play that angle, drunk or not. So he did what he did best, he submitted. His lips were soft, almost feminine for the god had never been anything but androgynous and he played off the pouting prince very will.

He bit his lip before leaning slowly back in to brush his lips very softly against Thalia's his half lidded eyes staring at him/her dreamily. “The host much approves... in fact” He trailed his lips in a slow trail along his cheek and down along his neck to leave a kiss on his collarbone. He pulled back grinning from ear to ear. He was the cat who had caught the cannery. He slunk back a few steps and glanced around clearly deciding where would be best to wander. ”Would you like another drunk- I mean drink?” He said with a shake of his head and a sheepish smile, well that was a slip if he ever heard one. He was, most defiantly, drunk.

With a grin he backed up to one of the white couches and fell over backwards onto it grinning from ear to ear. ”Anything else the muse might want with this lowly mortal?” He ran a finger along his belly grinning broadly at his own witty druk. He was way too trashed to be so classy but perhaps his 'muse' brought it out in him.


Going away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero
What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

Thalia was a bit disappointed as she ended the kiss abruptly, but it was all for the teasing game of desire that the two were playing. Surprisingly enough, Zeek continued the taunt, tracing a line down her neck - Keane's neck - with his lips. Her mouth was suddenly dry, and Thalia wished that she could muster the self-restraint to move away and get another drink, but she was trapped until Zeek made his move.

Like the Dionysus that he claimed to honor, Zeek's next move was to get another round of courage. Indeed the two were drunk, Zeek building off of a previous buzz and Thalia making her own, but unlike Thalia, Zeek held his alcohol well. He was relaxed, but not wanton, a merry king who retained his head as the liquor absorbed everything else. The small slip of his tongue made Thalia smile as she accepted a drink.

"Dionysus, you say?" Just looking at the man made Thalia drunk, and something in the back of her mind hinted at the possibility of a dormant god or even an awakened one who was keen to hide. If she had to choose an option, Zeek would be a dormant Dionysus - no active god of revelry would have allowed the revelation of her name and status as a muse to go unmarked. Was it really possible, though? There were thousands of drunkards in Hollywood, and Thalia had managed to stumble into the lair of their patron god?

God or not, as of right now, Zeek was her own personal deity and it was her duty to do what she did best for him - make life entertaining.

"Let's see..." Thalia changed Keane's voice to an antiquated lilt, reciting the lines of a poem while she swirled her drink in her hand. "Ye shall dance on hill and level; ye shall sing in hollow and height in this festal mystical revel, the raporous Bacchanal rite." Thalia was surprised that she could remember the lines correctly under the influence, but the muse would have been more troubled if she'd not remembered the words at all. She continued to speak, collapsing carefully on the sofa next to Zeek and leaning towards the owner after she set down her own glass. "Taking up the charge of Dionysus would be a difficult task for a mere mortal, but I'm sure you're no lowly mortal, are you?"

Keane's face was no less than five inches away from Zeek's, and Thalia was fighting the urge to kiss him once again. Her love of the game of restraint they were playing kept her from making any moves as she held the man's eyes in her own gaze.

And now the game continued...

[ZEEK VINO]

I let you down when you're not around you know I can't be trusted with anything
All this time we've wanted so much to just belong why can't we just feel love?



Zeek nearly swooned again. He felt like a girl in one of those romantic girly books, that he avoided like the plague after a girlfriend made him read one. The poetry coming from the lips of the muse before him made his heart race like a pounding drum. It felt like a frightened bird slamming against his ribs and it filled his ears. He licked his lips savoring the feeling. This man had away with words.

At the mention of Bacchus his eyes, for just a second, flashed a beautiful violet ringed in gold. Then he shook his head drunkenly and laughed rolling off the couch and onto his hands and knees. Oh he could hold his booze well enough, he almost never got ill, but he was an expressive drunk. ”Hard? I think not.”

He swung himself up to his feet, using both Keane's knees, and the arm of the sofa he was nearest. He came up inches from the mans face and winked. “I want to show you my recipe.” he said giddily then kissed Keane firmly on the lips before swaggering off to the bar grinning like a fool. He disappeared behind the bar and vanished behind the counter for a minute. There was a sharp pop and a hiss before he returned with two glasses of golden, bubbling wine. ”My parents run a vineyard. I have the honor of selling their product at my bar. This.” He swirled the glasses as he weaved his way back over and placed each glass on the glass table before him beaming like a fool.

”This is a concoction of myself and my father.” He puffed up more looking like he might explode. ”Only the very best of the best get to drink this.” He shot a roguish wink at the man/woman, screwed up twist of consciousness.

”I give you ambrosia.” He stood taller, ”May the merry makers of Bacchus rejoice! For I have brought you the wine of the gods!” He spread his arms as if he were the ring master of a circus. ”Next I will cause everyone to go mad, drink til they need a vomitarium!” He gestured wildly and then fell laughing onto the couch, ”Then finally, more drunken revelry, perhaps some public fornication!”

He chuckled and looked over at Keane with a toothy smile, that lazy gaze sweeping the man approvingly, ”And perhaps at the end all the women will run into the city in nothing but skins and tare the town apart.”

He rolled himself so he could deposit his head into Keane's lap looking satisfied with himself, ”What do you think Mr. Muse?” He wiggled himself down into the couch a bit more, ”Does this little mortal play a good Dionysus? Or is the muse unimpressed?” He feigned a dramatic pout and it slid away infected by the good mood of the night into a half smile again.


Going away leavin today you've gotta find a brand new hero
What will they say when I've gone away? Gotta find a brand new hero

[KEANE HUGHES]

well, I like to dance
so if you do, just get on the floor.

forget the romance; this is what
music was created for.

A brief moment, only a millisecond, was all the time it took. At the sight of Zeek's eyes, Thalia inhaled sharply. Now, she was positive that Ezekiel was a host of a deity, and she was more than ninety percent sure that Dionysus was hidden under all of that intoxication.

Another kiss from Zeek distracted Thalia momentarily, but the feeling she had before were muted by concern. The owner had disappeared behind the bar, undoubtably to get a more stronger drink to share. By all means, Thalia would need it.

It all fit together - a classy, drunkard owner of a night club whose inheritance was a wine business and a vineyard, and-

"I give you ambrosia!"

Ambrosia? Thalia listened to the rest of Zeek's monologue as she stared at the glass of amber liquid. His dramatic rant was lost to deaf ears as Thalia thought furiously. She had only tasted ambrosia four or five times when she was among the gods, but it's taste and feeling was unforgettable. It was an unsettling feeling, but she knew that the glass sitting before her was the answer to all of her questions and probably the death of the carnal vibe that had been permeating the air.

As Zeek plopped himself down, his head on Keane's lap, Thalia picked up the drink carefully, as if holding a treasure. A second passed in silence as the muse tasted the drink.

"What do you think, Mr. Muse?" Zeek began coyly. "Does this little mortal play a good Dionysus? Or is the muse unimpressed?"

Unmistakable.

Thalia swallowed the lump in her throat, looking down at Zeek with an expression of amazement. There was no doubting it now.

She spoke carefully and slowly, "No, Zeek. The mortal doesn't play a good Dionysus. You are Dionysus."