Never Forget The Importance of Style

16. What goes round, comes round...

As usual, the sun was shining bright and hot, its heat tempered by a steady breeze from the glittering sea. Wind caressed the stripe of nearly white sand that stretched for miles and miles between the water's edge and the tree-lined boulevards up on top of the flood walls. Its airy fingers touched the sun-heated roofs of pastel-colored houses, it flustered in passing the trees of a small park and continued into alleys meandering right and left between broader, straighter main streets, up and down gently rolling hills.

The city of Dirna in all its glory was basking in the warm breath of salty water as the breeze swept busily through it, found its way through a window that had been cracked slightly open, and made the ample tulle curtains flutter breathlessly. They in turn got tangled into the spiky leaves of a potted palm tree that rustled in response, trying in vain to shake free. The noise was not loud, but considering that the afternoon was beginning to turn into early evening, it was enough to make one of the room's occupants slit an eye open.

Merdos threw an arm across his eyes with a wide yawn, rolled fully on his back and bit back a groan as his backside let him know that they might have gone just a little overboard in their activities earlier that same afternoon. Not only that, but he was feeling even more unpleasantly sticky and sweaty than he usually did after having sex and then falling asleep without a bath. Merdos wrinkled his nose delicately and kicked away the last sheets that had wrapped themselves around his legs. Gods, he was hot... but at least the sun had reached an angle that indicated late afternoon. Late afternoon would soon be followed by evening, and that meant a few highly pleasant things, such as cooler weather, and dinner, and who knew what else?

Merdos glanced to his side and smiled, as he always did whenever he saw the sight. Leone was still asleep, sandy-brown head cradled in the crook of an arm that was resting on the pillow, looking oddly innocent. Merdos had tried before to decide what exactly it was that produced the effect, but he found it as difficult as usual. Was it because the eyes, those cool and penetrating gray eyes, were closed, hidden behind long dark lashes? No, rather it might have been the softness of the lips; usually they were either smirking a little or looking like they might pull into a smirk any moment, but now the mouth was relaxed, lips parted just a little, oddly childish against the neat short beard. Merdos fought against the urge to let his finger touch those lips, he wanted to watch and not wake Leone up yet.

But there was a slightly stronger breeze that made the opened window rattle the latch that kept it open. Leone's lids quivered, he opened his eyes, and Merdos' breath hitched when he suddenly saw what he'd been looking for so long. It wasn't the lips, nor the eyes - it was the tiny quirk of one dark eyebrow that somehow transformed the expression on that face from peaceful innocence into a mirror of mischievous amusement. He smiled to his lover.

"What time is it?" Leone mumbled and pulled Merdos close enough to kiss him slowly. Merdos glanced at the clock on the bedside table and sighed.

"It'll soon be five," he said. "Time to get up."

"Absolutely." Leone wriggled a little and snorted. "But I guess we'll just have to believe it - when in Dirna, do as the Dirnai do. Fuck in the night or morning, not in the afternoon."

"It's too darn hot," Merdos agreed. "But it's all your fault, you know. If you hadn't started undressing me when we came here..."

"... then you'd have started it," Leone finished the sentence and grinned. "And hey, didn't we decide, together, that it was too darn hot to be fully dressed, hmm? It wasn't my fault that you got so horny while doing it!"

"Oh?" Merdos retorted. "I wonder, who it was who got so horny that the slacks he was wearing were getting painfully tight? And can you seriously expect me not to get horny when I unbutton your trousers and something jumps straight into my hand?"

Leone laughed and crawled on top of Merdos. "You can't expect me not to get horny when you're anywhere near," he murmured into the dark man's neck. "Or far, for that matter. Now a bath, then we get dressed and then we go to dinner. How's that for a plan?"

"Never heard a better one." Merdos wrapped his arms around that slim, long-limbed body and squeezed hard. "Better remind Torell to leave the bathtub half empty, though, or we might flood the bathroom again."

"You're so right." Leone reached for the bellstring. "Not that he wouldn't remember it anyway."

About an hour later, two impeccable young men exited the nice little apartment they had rented upon their arrival in Dirna, some six weeks ago. The rooms occupied one end of a house with altogether three roughly similar apartments, in a deceptively quiet little street. It was easy to imagine that here one was far away from all hustle and bustle of a city, but one only needed to walk about fifty yards and turn one corner to discover the delightful truth: the street, actually a cul-de-sac, led to a busy street where smaller and bigger shops, cafes and restaurants vied for the attention of the flow of pedestrians strolling along broad sidewalks. If one turned left, slightly uphill, the street would soon take one into the even busier streets of the inner city. Turning right, as the two young men did, one got to walk down towards the seashore, and before long one would find himself on the Beach Boulevard.

Merdos, resplendent in an off-white linen suit, looked around and smiled to himself. The creamy beige figure beside him seemed to be glowing faintly in the waning light, and he saw Leone's teeth flash a little as the taller man smiled as well. Six weeks, and neither of them still had had enough of the sight that this vantage point offered over the definitely most fashionable part of Dirna.

Gorgeously dressed couples were flowing at a leisurely pace past them to both directions. Ladies, clad in elegant simplicity and breezy materials, carrying flimsy parasols that were a must for them in this climate and yet so troublesome on the eternally windy seaside, talking animatedly with their escorts. Gentlemen, mostly wearing pale colors and stylish straw hats, their heads bent attentively to listen to their charming companions' chattering. Groups of men in easy conversation. And all those couples walking close to each other, perhaps arm in arm, straightening each others' bow ties or sweeping a more or less imaginary fleck of dust off of an immaculate three-piece suit.

Merdos' smile broadened, he looked into Leone's water-clear eyes and saw their corners crease a little. Leone's head tilted, and then they simply bent closer and kissed. A hand covered by a thin white glove pressed into Merdos' back between the shoulder blades, and he responded by cupping the back of Leone's head with one hand and pulling the blonde closer. Tongues warring, teeth nearly grazing, they kissed deep. Merdos knew that Leone, too, had closed his eyes and was simply feeling now.

He loved the roughness of that sandy-brown hair in his bare fingers, splayed them to better feel it, laughed deep in his throat into the kiss and felt an answering hum from his friend. The short beard was prickly, such a deliciously familiar touch on his face, and then he just had to pull away to breathe properly. Leone was reluctant, dark lashes rose slowly, he smiled and Merdos smiled back, out of breath, one hand still possessively behind Leone's head.

"Mine," he breathed. Black hair fell over his eyes, he jerked his head to flick it away but Leone's hand was already there to push it aside, and only then he remembered again that they were on the Boulevard, not far away from one of the more lavish restaurants, people all around.

And this was Dirna. Passers-by were looking at them, some with a raised eyebrow, some others in mild shock, most of them with a smile, more than a few turning their eyes off not to let the envy shine out too clearly. A tall, lone man was just stepping past and stopped for a fleeting moment, his eyes devouring Leone in one sweeping glance, then winked at Merdos and continued on his way. His lips moved, and Merdos caught a murmur of words in the breeze as the man passed him by.

"You lucky devil..."

Merdos laughed aloud.

"What was that?" Leone, amused, glanced after the man, and Merdos chuckled.

"Oh, nothing... Listen, now is the time for major decisions."

"Exactly." Leone straightened Merdos' jacket lapel that had been squeezed slightly askew during the kiss, then nodded in satisfaction. "There... do I look decent?"

"You? Decent?" Merdos smirked. "Not in a lifetime, you gorgeous thing! But please, help me here. Where to dine tonight? Shall we turn left or right?"

"Right," Leone said. "More to choose from."

They joined the leisurely traffic that filled the Boulevard at this time of the day. The heavy transports, pulled by sturdy draught horses, had done their rounds during the earlier hours, and now the street was full of small, light carriages and cabs. They were taking people to the restaurants and dance pavilions that lined the city side of the Beach Boulevard, or just for a lovely drive along the seashore. The beach was mostly deserted, a few people and couples were taking a walk along the wet sand, and somewhat further away an occasional rider could be seen, taking advantage of the empty expanse.

There would still be endless numbers of people walking along the street before dawn; most of them rich people, among them some Dirnai engaged in people-watching, and of course the less well-to-do tourists amusing themselves with the antics of their wealthier fellow travelers. And of course the inevitable predators, regardless of their sex equally painstakingly outfitted to blend in the scene and yet to catch the eye enough for their prospective clients to spot and recognize them. Such a delicate balance they had to strike, Leone thought in passing, as his eye picked one such predator from the crowd. Such a delicate thing, and so hard to master. Her mouth was cold.

After some deliberation Merdos and Leone decided that a place proclaiming its name as 'Silver Lantern', with a large patio beautifully illuminated with numerous specimens of the object it was named after, presented the most inviting facade on that particular night, and strolled in. A young and efficient head waiter appeared in a flash to bid them welcome, and a look at the menu and the accompanying wine list further heightened their hopes for a successful evening.

"How is it possible that we haven't been to this place before?" Merdos inquired, the first sip from his aperitif still tingling pleasantly on his tongue.

"I guess we've never got this far before, at dinnertime, that is." Leone placed his glass back on the table and relaxed in his chair, looking much like a self-satisfied cat. "This might not look that extraordinary in the daytime, or we'd have noticed. I know we've walked past here several times before."

"We must have." Merdos nodded. "Now let's just hope that the food is as good as the atmosphere."

It was. After the first mouthfuls they were nodding appreciatively at each other, a pleased smile playing on their lips. No wonder that the 'Silver Lantern' seemed to be a regular dining place for quite a few people, judging by how many of the new arrivals hardly took a glance at the menu before placing their orders. Neither Merdos nor Leone failed to notice that they weren't all favoring the same thing, so it couldn't be just the high season of some to them unknown Dirnai delicacy, either.

They had just been introduced to their desserts - two amazing creations consisting of a plentiful helping of meringue over a heap of diced fruit - when Leone glanced at a couple who were just being ushered towards a nearby table by the handsome head waiter, blinked and almost dropped his spoon. This highly uncharacteristic display of emotion shocked Merdos enough to make him look over his shoulder and drop his own spoon which clattered on the table.

"Father?"

Indeed, there was hardly any mistaking the dark, square shape of the well-dressed middle-aged gentleman who eyed the place around himself with clear approval. But what had startled both of the two younger men considerably more was the equally well-dressed, shapely lady on his left arm, a lady with an ample dark hair coiffed fashionably up. She was no young girl; if someone had had the impertinence to ask her age, she'd probably have given it as thirty-two, and not lied very many years either.

Merrell Alayssian's dark glance swept over Leone and Merdos, then his eyebrows jumped and he homed once more in on them. A wide smile spread on his face as he squeezed the lady's arm and said something to her.

"Oh my," Leone murmured. "This is quite some surprise."

"Father!" Merdos had barely time to squeak before his sire had snatched him into an affectionate hug. "We had no idea that you'd be in Dirna! Weren't you going to visit the Sermans in Ledar?"

"I was." Merrell Alayssian beamed at his son and shook hands with Leone. "But, well, I met a very charming lady on my way there, and I decided to travel with her to Dirna instead. Seeing as I'm officially retired and all, and free to do whatever I please now that my baby boy has flown from the nest, too."

"Such a pleasant surprise," Leone said with a smile. "And so delightful to have a chance to meet the charming lady herself."

"Indeed!" Merdos' father turned to his companion. "Yes, my dear, as I told you a moment ago, this is my son Merdos, my pride and joy, and this is his dear friend -"

"Whom I believe I have met before," she interrupted him. "Mister - Leone, wasn't it?"

"Quite right." Leone took the offered hand and bowed his head to plant a light kiss on it. "You amaze me - and now you must excuse me for using your given name, madam Heini, for I am not aware of your current family name."

"No use learning that," Merrell put in. "It's going to be Alayssian soon enough."

Merdos didn't know which piece of news to choke on first - the fact that Leone obviously knew his soon-to-be stepmother, or that he was going to have one in the first place.

"Congratulations!" Leone, suave as ever, didn't miss a beat. "What a pleasant surprise, don't you agree, Merdos?"

"Oh, absolutely!" Merdos managed to breathe. "Do I, uh, get to give you away, father? Or would you prefer us to be just witnesses?"

"Jokester!" his proud parent laughed. "Witnesses, if you please, gentlemen! But dear me, Heini, I had no idea that you and Leone might be acquainted?"

Merdos resisted the urge to bite his lip in anticipation, dreading what kind of an explanation he'd be hearing and wondering already whether it would be truthful or not.

"Oh, but you should have told me the name of your son's friend!" She smiled to her fiancée. "Of course I'd have remembered him. I was visiting my brother's family in Shelinet a few years ago, and Mister Leone was staying in town at the time, although we have only really met a couple of times."

Leone smiled. "So we have. And how are they all? I believe Miss Shiryell must be married by now?"

"She is, and what's more, without scandals." The lady looked quizzically at Leone. "Aren't you at least a little surprised to hear that? As I recall, she didn't exactly care to hide the fact that she had quite a crush on you back then."

"I'm afraid you're quite right," Leone admitted graciously. "But she was so very young, and had some rather foolishly romantic notions... and how are her parents?"

"Both well, though not together."

Leone's eyebrows climbed to his hairline.

"They are divorced, I'm afraid," she explained. "Though it certainly was the best solution for everyone concerned. My sister-in-law was always rather obsessed with her health, as I'm sure you remember... and then my brother caused quite a scandal a while ago, by literally running away with this very attractive young man he met at a spa near Reál."

"Oh dear!" Alayssian Sr. chuckled and patted her arm. "Rather embarrassing, really. I can understand very well why I haven't heard anything of this, either!"

"It's not anything to be discussed, really," she agreed.

"Indeed," Leone said after taking a few steadying breaths. "That must've been quite a blow."

"Hmm, knowing Haldann I'm only surprised that it took him this long to do it, and that it was a man. I never had any idea." The lady shrugged a little. "The actual miracle is that their marriage did last for twenty years. I always thought they weren't at all suited for each other."

Merdos leveled a narrow look at Leone who was nodding in agreement, on his face such an angelically innocent expression that Merdos felt his hackles rising. He had no doubts whatsoever as to what might've been going on between Leone and Haldann, and therefore he was only half-listening as the two continued to chat amicably under the benevolently watchful eye of Merrell Alayssian. So this was something that had happened months, if not years before he'd even met Leone? So what - all right, Merdos thought, he was being stupidly jealous, but that wouldn't prevent him from thoroughly chewing out his partner as soon as they were alone again.

"Yes, I remember that Mr. Haldann spent - ah - quite a lot of his time at the club," Leone said and the dark lady rolled her eyes with a tolerant smile.

"I can't really blame him," she said. "Well, I hope that he and that Doylen boy have a good time together - oh, what is it?"

Merdos had unwisely picked up his glass to sip from it and almost inhaled his mouthful of wine.

"I beg your pardon?" Leone said weakly. "Did you say - Doylen?"

"Yes," the lady nodded. "Cleonas Doylen was the name - you know him?"

Merdos managed to breathe in some air at last and dug up his handkerchief, still unable to say anything. Leone pursed his lips.

"My, oh my," the elder Alayssian smiled broadly. "Such a pity that we haven't talked about this before - you see, I know the boy as well! His family has a villa not far away from my house."

"Really?" She looked genuinely surprised, then tilted her head with a charming, dimpled smile. "It's such a small world! But Merrell my dear, how about sitting down with your son and Mr. Leone, unless they have anything against it? Seeing that we are all going to be family now!"

Leone hurried to assure that the soon-to-be-wed couple would be most welcome, and all four of them settled around the table. Conversation flowed, but the young men were slightly distracted. They especially had to avoid looking at each other for too long, because it became nearly impossible to control the twitching of their lips if their eyes met for more than a second.

It was already well past midnight when Merrell Alayssian and his future wife wished his son and said son's boyfriend good night and strolled along the Boulevard towards their hotel. Merdos and Leone looked for a while after them, then turned towards their own apartment. For a few minutes they both just walked on, side by side, not as much as glancing at each other, but finally Leone stopped.

"Well, come on."

"What?" Merdos turned to face him; Leone looked expectantly at him and fished the cigarette case from a pocket.

"Are you going to scold me or not? I was Haldann's lover for a while. Not denying it."

"No." Merdos shook his head. "I was going to, but I changed my mind. This is simply too rich."

They looked into each other's eyes for a while, then Merdos chuckled. Leone's barely contained smile broadened into a grin, and they both began to laugh, laugh so hard that they were soon leaning against the low stone wall lining the pavement.

"Do you think we've taught Goldie a little too well?" Leone nearly sniffled, ineffectually drying his eyes with a glove.

"Can't help wondering," Merdos sighed. "And I also wonder what will happen when they find out that they've both been acquainted with the same sandy-haired devil? Maybe they've found it out already?"

"Oh, if they have, they ought to be sending their blessings." Leone preened shamelessly. "I did teach Dani quite a few things... and as for Goldie, well, he's entirely our creation. Can't say anything about their compatibility otherwise, but at least in bed neither of them should have anything to complain about!"

"You conceited puppy!" Merdos glared at Leone. "Let's get going. I think I'll show you a few things once we're home!"

"Is that a promise?" The blonde man easily caught up with Merdos, who had turned to go.

"You'll see," Merdos said as darkly as he could, unable to stop his lips from twitching.