La Tour D’Argent

[Lets_Eat_Paste]

La Tour D'Argent is one of Paris' finest restaurants. Its owners claim that the restaurant dates back to the time of Henry IV, but the first record of La Tour D'Argent is in 1860. Either way, the restaurant is one of those places in Paris that has always been part of the landscape, nestled happily between the Seine River and the Notre Dame-- both of which can be seen from the dining room. Come to La Tour D'Argent and order from an array of gastronomic goodies-- the roast duck is divine-- and enjoy a night of perfect, Parisian romance.

[The Exodus]

OOC: Crappy first post!! BIC:

Lucian Michaud

Lucian couldn’t help but to spoil Ashton. It wasn’t because she was pregnant or because they were wealthy. It was because he loved her. Sometimes he wondered if Ashton knew that; he wondered if, when he took her dancing or dining or to the opera that she understood that he wasn’t sucking up nor was he indulging for some guilt-complex. He truly loved to see her hazel eyes sparkle and devour presents whole. She was equally awed by nights out in big, fancy restaurants and nights in when Lucian willingly cooked dinner and scrubbed plates clean. But now that they didn’t have to hide in their house, Lucian didn’t mind making big, showy displays of how much he loved Ashton.

Besides, tonight was a very, very important night.

As usual, Lucian carried the engagement ring discreetly in his pocket. It was impossible to see and unless Ashton went digging through his jacket—a slight possibility, knowing Ashton—she wouldn’t find it. She couldn’t, anyways, not until Lucian was ready to crouch on bended knee at her feet. Not until Ashton was ready for Lucian to propose. He was done brooding about being “rejected”. That was childish and he knew it. But he wasn’t going to rush or force Ashton to change her mind. He’d instead make every night out an opportunity, in case the moment was right. Tonight, though, Lucian was watching Ashton with extra-observant eyes. If she looked around at the crisp linen table clothes and dangling chandeliers; or out the windows to the Seine River, Ashton would see the perfect set up for a proposal. One Lucian wasn’t making tonight. Instead, he wanted to see whether he could. If Ashton was distressed by every hint Lucian dropped, he would have to wait. They would have to wait.

[Lets_Eat_Paste]

Ashton Greene

There was never a dull moment when Ashton was with Lucian. It didn't matter what they were doing, just as long as they were together. But the nights out, however, always seemed like a momentous occassion. Not long ago, they had to carefully venture out in fear of being caught by Bill or Damien. But now the air was clear, there were no secrets to be kept behind the privacy of their household door. But the memory of such a time was still fresh in her mind. There was still that sense of adventure of being affectionate in public. And Ashton hoped it never went away.

She held Lucian's from around the barricade of their menus and Ashton took it all in. Lucian really outdid himself-- the venue, with its sparkling, shimmering chadeliers against the backdrop of the river in the Parisian horizon. Something was telling Ashton this was going to be an important night. She took mental pictures of it all and placed them in the rapidly filling scrapbook of her mind. She wanted to remember this night, like every night she had with Lucian. She wanted it to remain as fresh as wet paint, an elegany murel in her memory.

Ashton ordered a water and upon its arrival, she excitedly inspected it thoroughly, looking for a glimmer of cold or a diamond disguised as a princess cut icecube. That wasn't Lucian's style, but one could never be too sure as far as proposals went. Deciding it was safe of forgein objects and choking hazzards, Ashton took a sip.

"What's the occassion?" Ashton asked coyly from behind her water glass. "Should we toast?"

[The Exodus]

Lucian Michaud

Ashton was soaking in the venue. Lucian had to hide a smirk behind his menu. She seemed the right kind of flustered; he could feel excitement quicken her pulse in his hand. She was even eyeing her water as though there might be a surprise at the bottom of the glass. Lucian hated to disappoint, but tonight was not the night. They were in a new restaurant—new for them, anyways—and they had utterly no privacy. Ashton took a sip of her water and Lucian lowered his menu to reach for his own glass of wine.

"What's the occassion?" Ashton asked coyly from behind her water glass. "Should we toast?"

“An occasion?” Lucian echoed. “My love, does a man really need an “occasion” to take his girlfriend out? It’s occasion enough that we can still get out of the house without employing a babysitter and have a grown up date night.”

[Lets_Eat_Paste]

Ashton Greene

“An occasion? My love, does a man really need an “occasion” to take his girlfriend out? It’s occasion enough that we can still get out of the house without employing a babysitter and have a grown up date night.”

Ashton smiled. Happy that she was about their baby, these days of alone, adult time were limited. Their house would fill with the bright plastics of kids' toys, stick figure and finger pain drawings, and nights would be long and sleepless, and date nights like this would be non-existent, and they would relish the moments when their son was down for a nap so mummy and daddy could have a naptime of their own. Maybe that was why Lucian was proposing tonight-- because the picturesque moments of just them would be interrupted soon enough by panic-stricken thoughts of the baby.

But Ashton thought back on Lucian's words. 'Girlfriend'. Was it her imagination, or was there an emphasis there? Ashton's smile twitched away a frown like a horse twitching away flies. The more she thought about it, the less she wanted to be his girlfriend. For so long they had worked for and dreamed of that happy marriage; beneath that pillow fort's white, crisp linen canopy, they reached for and detailed out their wedding-- before there was a baby in the picture. Ashton had been wrong to accuse him of only wanting to marry her for their baby's sake. She had been cruel and rash. She had blocked out the possibility all together. Lucian deserved more than that. They deserved more than that. She wanted to marry him, she wanted to be Mrs. Lucian Michaud, to walk down that aisle and exchange vows. She wanted them to be a family.

"Girlfriend. Right. I suppose a man doesn't need to take his," Ashton swallowed the word, "girlfriend out for an occasion. It's wonderful that you just want to-- just because."

She reached for his hand. "I hope we always have these kinds of nights. I love you."

[The Exodus]

Lucian Michaud

It was not an occasion as one would traditionally think. Lucian wasn’t getting down on one knee to ask for Ashton’s hand; he was not announcing something life altering. But to him, tonight was a sort of celebration. It always was when he could get away from work and pull together a nice outfit and a date plan that didn’t involve take-out. They could raise their glasses in toasts to any number of things that didn’t involve a marriage proposal, but hinted at it. But already, Ashton was frowning and Lucian wondered if he ought to ask what that was about.

"Girlfriend. Right. I suppose a man doesn't need to take his," Ashton swallowed the word, "girlfriend out for an occasion. It's wonderful that you just want to-- just because." She reached for his hand. "I hope we always have these kinds of nights. I love you."

“I love you, too,” Lucian said, stroking Ashton’s hand. “And—honestly—I’m looking forward to a lifetime of date nights ‘just because’.”

[Lets_Eat_Paste]

Ashton Greene

“I love you, too,” Lucian said, stroking Ashton’s hand. “And—honestly—I’m looking forward to a lifetime of date nights ‘just because’.”

Ashton's frown turned into a irrepressible smile. 'A lifetime of date nights' meant they would stay together forever. And for a moment, it didn't matter if they got married or not-- they were staying together until one of them gave their last breath and, depending on what they believed at the time, beyond. She didn't need to know that she would wear a white dress, but rather, that if she did, it would be because they both wanted her to; not because she had to.

"That sounds like my kind of lifetime," she managed to get out. "I can't wait." She sipped from her waiter with her free hand. "Do you have anything planned for after dinner or are you planning on surprising me?" Ashton couldn't wait to be home, sharing with Lucian a desert of their own. But for moment, for the now, Ashton brought herself back to earth long enough to order the blue lobster with coconut licorice.

[The Exodus]

OOC: Toddamien + Lucian! BIC:

Damien Blackwood-Michaud

It wasn’t until Damien was driving to take Toddy to meet his father that he realized how little he understood the sexual-romantic politics of his own family. On one hand, he had his dad who looked like he oozed “faithfulness” and “propriety”, but who was—apparently—considered a stud by younger women and who was now raising a family with someone other than Damien’s mum. On the other hand, he had a mum who had affairs while married, but who had yet to move on or find a purpose now that she wasn’t Mrs. Michaud. Never mind their varied reactions to Damien’s sexuality. Neither of them seemed particularly fazed by it now, but Natalie foisted a beard onto Damien and Lucian seemed relieved for the selfish reason of hooking up with said beard.

Damien’s family tree was a complicated web that, when you untangled it, vaguely resembled a circle.

Toddy was lucky to be disowned. He didn’t have the headaches associated with family.

Of course, Damien didn’t really mean that. He loved his family. Of course he did. Even if they drove him nuts and made him a little bitter, they meant well. No, that wasn’t even the issue. The issue was that Damien had never introduced a boyfriend to his father. This was a test, not just for Toddy, but for Damien’s already strained relationship with his father. What if Lucian didn’t like Toddy? What if Lucian couldn’t actually stomach having a gay son? What if he started in on politics-and-gay-rights? What if he told Damien that he could do better? What if the stealing-Damien’s-dates thing was a habit?

Earlier that night, Damien primped and prepped to avoid too much scrutiny. He wanted to look handsome for Toddy and collected for Lucian. He needed to appear to have everything under control; to keep his butterflies at bay. He wanted to be the best boyfriend and the best son in the world. Of course, the “best boyfriend” bit might have to go to Toddy. Because, honestly, if he could handle the Blackwood-Michaud family, he was a keeper. Damien passed his keys off to the valet as he and Toddy stepped out and he took his boyfriend’s hands in his. They felt stronger than Damien’s own. He looked into Toddy’s midnight eyes and couldn’t help but smile tremulously.

“No matter how tonight goes,” he told him seriously. “I adore you just for coming tonight.”

[Deleted]

Toddy St. James


Every sweetie in the universe had flaw. It just came with the birthing material. For instance, Operah. The woman was powerful, gave away fifty IPads a day, but have you seen the People magazine issue with her without makeup? Not cute. Kim Kardashian with the drop deathly body? The honey is a not talented reality star. Toddy St. James with the sophisticated fashion, flashing smiling, witty comments, and incredible taste-( Which by the way, passed up Kimmy K and big O any day of the week), but his flaw, as if he had any?

Terrible at first impressions.

Which was why tonight was going to absolutely be a hot mess. At least he accepted that he had a flaw. It took a more fabulous person to realize. Toddy was not good at first impressions. He just was a diva, and people did not understand that. Thinking about it it made perfect sense. Damien did not like him the first time. Santiago loathed his glitter gluts. Myron didn't count because... it was Myron. Toddy St. James would never let Damien Michaud know it. Maybe he should at least warn him? Toddy had been debating it all night. But he was trying this thing with his boyfriend called caring for someone elses feelings. Which, Toddy really did not mind walking into his shoes and understanding, because, not only was he falling for his boy toy- but Damien had impeccable taste much like himself. His shoes were glam.

Toddy St. James' father hated him. What made him think that this daddy would? Daddies just did not like him. That's how it went. Wow. Toddy usually did not care what people thought about him. Damien was completely flipping this gays life upside down. Whatever. It was time to get his gay- game face on. This was for Damien if anything. Damien just came out. Toddy needed to be the strong one. Yike- this was getting taxing. Well, it was suppose to be... but it wan't. Toddy St. James liked being there for Damien.

Oh, relationships...

Toddy smiled tightly when Damien took his hand as they got out of the car. What a snazzy night. Damien looked handsome, as usual, in that model way that made Toddy think he could totally be on magazines if he wanted. At a restraunt that Toddy St. James could not pronounce but would act like he belonged.

“No matter how tonight goes, I adore you just for coming tonight.”

Toddy turned to meet him straight on and smiled, his boyfriend's eyes glistening.

"Baby, of course I would come tonight." He kissed his lips briefly, needing that to calm his own nerves. "And I always adore you."

[The Exodus]

Lucian Michaud

Lucian had no earthly idea why he was nervous. It wasn’t as though he was introducing Ashton to Damien for approval. It was far too late for that and Damien had bestowed his blessing to the extent a son could when his father was dating a woman his age. No, tonight, Lucian was not the judged, but the jury. He would be meeting Damien’s new boyfriend for the first time in mere minutes. Lucian’s molars rubbed against each other, as though trying to turn themselves into a fine powder. Damien had never introduced a boyfriend to Lucian. He’d never trusted him that much. Either that, or Damien had never been this serious about someone before now. Either way, it was a milestone moment in Damien’s life. And Lucian would be a terrible father if he ruined that for him. He’d already done a number on Damien’s love life. From the fiancée stealing to the horrid example of a marriage Lucian left behind, Lucian had likely scarred Damien emotionally. It would be a wonder if this Toddy St. James was the paragon of fidelity and attentiveness. Lucian and Natalie had failed on that mark with each other. And while Lucian and Ashton were faithful and devoted to one another, so much of their relationship transpired out of Damien’s sight; it was hardly exemplary for him. Lucian could only imagine what the man Natalie left him for was like, but from Damien’s limited description, he was no catch, no model of the ideal. What if Damien based his criteria on that Walden fellow? Or perhaps worse, on Lucian circa the 1990s?

Lucian had a familiar and shocking urge for a cigarette. It was a habit he’d kicked half a lifetime ago, but it had always made for a good excuse to duck out of a room for a few minutes, breathe, and collect oneself. He instead contented himself with his water and vowed to drink as much as possible if Toddy was every father’s worst nightmare. Whatever that was when applied to your son’s boyfriend.

Lucian scanned the restaurant for his son’s familiar face. He didn’t spot him immediately, but within minutes, Damien came into view. He walked alongside another man who looked vaguely familiar. Perhaps he had one of those faces. Brown hair, ivory skin, blue eyes, big lips… With those descriptors alone, Lucian could have been describing Damien. But there was a certain quirkiness to the other man’s features that Damien’s didn’t have. Maybe he was desensitized to Damien; maybe he was biased to think Damien was handsome. But whatever his biases, Lucian couldn’t help but think that Toddy St. James looked shockingly normal next to Damien. Not unhandsome. Lucian couldn’t judge that. But the way Damien kept his boyfriend underwraps, Lucian had come to expect leather and nose-piercings and electrically-colored hair. Toddy didn’t look like anything to be ashamed of.

But then again, neither did Ashton, and Lucian hadn’t ventured out with her as a couple for months when they first started dating.

Lucian smiled and rose from his seat to hug Damien, whose hand fell from Toddy St. James’ for the embrace.

“Glad you could make it,” Lucian said to his son. Then, releasing him and turning to Toddy with an offered hand, “You must be Toddy St. James. A pleasure. I’m Lucian Michaud, Damien’s dad.”

[Deleted]

Toddy St. James


Once they were in it took a lot for Toddy St. James not to drop his jaw or drool, or something completely not suitable for this place. Were they even allowed to eat in here? Toddy felt like if he flicked something it would just all shatter into millions of pieces. This was the type of place that Toddy knew he deserved, but never got to attend. Yeesh. Toddy St. James was about to spin right around if Damien thought that he were paying for this meal. It would be a month's paycheck. Or... just a swipe of Myron's credit card.

Toddy was to busy looking all around him at the pretty people, pretty food, pretty decor to notice that Damien was leading him toward a human being across the way. Well, alright. So, perhaps, it was easier to be looking elsewhere than nervously looking at the man he was about to meet. His boyfriend's father. Toddy St. James was never into that needing of approval of someone. Tonight was different though. For once, Toddy wanted to impress someone. He wanted someone to think that he was worth something. Which, Toddy was. Not many people saw that though. At least, Toddy did not let them. Toddy St. James would pull out all the stops, but there was no way in hell he was going to change who he was. Besides, Damien's was his. Daddy dearest couldn't change that.

"Glad you could make it."

Toddy blinked, interrupted when Damien let go of him. Toddy walked toward the man, watching them embrace and not getting good glimpse of him. He could see that tre' expensive suit that looked good. Okay, so dad had some class. Well, obviously. Look at where they were.

The first thing noticed were the blue eyes. So, that's where Damien got them from. Toddy smiled. Michaud's were a good looking bunch. He offered out a hand, Toddy took it, but his eyes suddenly bulged.

“You must be Toddy St. James. A pleasure. I’m Lucian Michaud, Damien’s dad.”

Toddy St. James recognized those baby blues from somewhere...

Squinting a little to outwardly, Toddy shook his hand slowly, cocking his head. Studying. Oh wait. Okay. The good digs, the nice accent, the good eyes that made him think of Damien- One night in particular came back to him. Toddy St. James never forgot the people he met. Especially when they looked good and bought him a drink. Oh, great ...

"Oh, it's you." Toddy murmured.

Clearing his throat, Toddy grabbed Lucian's hand with his other like some President, and squeezed. "No!" He blurted, shutting his eyes, and shaking his head. Opening with a relaxed smile- well, as relaxed as he could get, Toddy recovered- well tried to recover.

"I meant, we have met before."

Wait. Maybe he shouldn't have acted like he knew him? Toddy's moment was a hot mess. He was drinking. And complaining about Damien. Oh this was just peachy. He clenched his jaw, thinking that this place better have some nice hard liquor.

"You know what," Toddy released his hand, and waved it in the air, sheepishly glaring at Damien too. "I'm thinking of someone else. I apologize. It's nice to meet you."

Toddy St. James hoped that Lucian Michaud wouldn't remember him. If he did- he would remember Toddy as the drunken, sulking, romantic obsessor.

First impressions were a b*tch.

[The Exodus]

Damien Blackwood-Michaud

Maybe worrying about your dad’s opinion was normal when introducing your boyfriend to your family. Damien wouldn’t know; he’d never done this before. But even as Lucian clasped him in an embrace, Damien was looking for the near-imperceptible signs of disapproval. He was so sure that Lucian would flinch or make a gross generalization or talk politics or something else embarrassing and ruin the night. That was how dads worked, wasn’t it?

No, not Lucian Michaud. No. Damien’s stomach flooded with sweet, cool relief when Lucian offered Toddy a handshake and smile.

“You must be Toddy St. James. A pleasure. I’m Lucian Michaud, Damien’s dad.” It was so succinct, so perfect, Damien couldn’t hide an ear to ear grin. Toddy took Lucian’s hand, but before he could say, “Good to meet you, too, sir” or something equally perfect, his skin got scary-pale and his eyes jumped out of their sockets.

"Oh, it's you," Toddy said, not sounding exactly enthused about meeting Damien’s dad. Damien looked at his boyfriend sharply. You don’t say ‘Oh, it’s you’ when you meet your boyfriend’s dad. You just… didn’t. Damien had met parents before. Ben’s, Chris’, Ashton’s. And if you acted that cavalier, you might as well ask lto be hated.

"No!" Toddy practically yelled. "I meant, we have met before."

It was Damien’s turn to go bug-eyed. Met before? How? When? Where? Here? Why? Why had no one said anything? Was it Lucian’s goal to keep everything a secret from Damien? Damien looked at his dad for answers and just as Lucian’s face melted into a look of recognition, Toddy spoke up again.

"You know what," Toddy released his hand, and waved it in the air, sheepishly glaring at Damien too. "I'm thinking of someone else. I apologize. It's nice to meet you."

“Right…” Damien said, breaking the silence and pulling Toddy’s chair out for him and taking his own. “Well, now that you two have been formally introduced… “

Damien picked up his menu and hid behind it, looking at the wine list. Tonight was going to be a long night.

---

Lucian Michaud

Toddy took Lucian’s hand and the older man struggled to place him. There was something familiar about him that Lucian could not place. Maybe he’d seen a picture; perhaps he’d passed by him in the city. Paris was big, but as Lucian had long ago learned, the same paths continually crossed .

"Oh, it's you," said Toddy, as if confirming Lucian’s second suspicion. He reached back into his mind, still smiling blithely as he tried to remember where and when he’d met Toddy St. James before. "No! I meant we have met before."

Lucian’s smile faded just a tad and he blinked. He suddenly remembered where and how he’d met Toddy St. James.

The Moulin Rouge’s bar was a safe-haven for the bored and the broken-hearted. It was where Lucian waited between Ashton’s performances to look a little less suspicious, since he technically shouldn’t have been dating her at the time. It was also where Toddy St. James had come to nurse a broken heart with alcohol. Lucian hadn’t known much about the young man or what brought him there.

"Ever fall for someone who wants to fall back, but can't?" Toddy had asked him that night. His eyes had been bleary; his voice, dejected. And now, looking between Toddy and Damien, something clicked in Lucian’s head. He wasn’t an idiot. He could very easily place who Toddy had fallen for, but who “couldn’t” reciprocate. He suddenly felt amused but also ashamed. Damien had driven Toddy to drink. Why hadn’t he made Damien more secure? Why did his son skulk around behind everyone’s backs? As a parent, he’d gone wrong somewhere and it could have easily driven Toddy to worse than alcohol. Lucian smiled instinctively, about to say something like: A pleasure to meet you a second time, then, Mr. St. James. Instead, Toddy released the handshake and shot Damien a sheepish look.

"You know what," said Toddy. "I'm thinking of someone else. I apologize. It's nice to meet you."

Lucian smiled, cocked his head and watched as Damien drew Toddy’s chair like a gentleman—was that proper etiquette between two boyfriends, anyways?—and Damien slumped into his own chair unceremoniously.

“Right…” Damien said, disappearing behind his menu. “Well, now that you two have been formally introduced… “

“Damien,” Lucian said, voice soft and borderline reprimanding. Maybe it wasn’t worth it. He tried to meet his son’s gaze over the top of the menu, but failed. Lucian shook his head and turned to Toddy. “Damien tells me you work at the Moulin Rouge, too. Is that how you met?”

[Deleted]

Toddy St. James

Talk about awkward sauce. This was just a hot mess. Hot because they were all incredibly attractive. They had that going for them at least. Toddy St. James knew this was going to be the most gorgeous of all tragedies tonight. Did Lucian remember him, or was he playing along too? Could Toddy call him Lucian like he drunkily did at the bar that one time? Speaking of drinks... could he have ten?

They moved to the table, and Toddy made sure to keep his eyes on his seat that Damien scooted out for him. He was to wrapped up in his own world to even thank his boyfriend. Right away, he plucked his menu from the table like a shield from the Michauds.

“Right…Well, now that you two have been formally introduced… “

“Damien."

Toddy St. James remained behind his menu. Welcome back to his closeted times of hiding away. He didn't dare look away from his menu, although, he understood none that was on it. Food wasn't really what he was worried about. The fact that tonight was going to eat him alive was. Great. First impression was not going to be killed tonight, but it was already preciously slaughtered awhile back. Toddy should really keep his therapy sessions to his glitter diary.

“Damien tells me you work at the Moulin Rouge, too. Is that how you met?”

It took Toddy a moment to realize that Lucia- Mr. Michaud was speaking to him. Who else would he be chatting with? It was more of a hope than just not knowing. Toddy St. James slapped his menu on the table with a nervous bright smile at him, clearing his throat. So, he needed Myron here. Madeleine here. Hell, Santiago Ortiz would be fine. It felt like two against one. Not that Damein was against him, but Toddy was in the hot seat. Both of them would be judging him on tonight. Toddy St. James wanted to judge. He always judged.

Hmm ... maybe he should have had Santiago here.

"Uh- yes. Yes we did." Toddy stated, glancing over at Damien with a smile, looking back to Lucian with a grin, and slapping a flicking hand over at his side of the table. "But tr-usssst me. It was not a romantic movie style that Jennifer Aniston would be starring in anytime soon."

Toddy St. James wanted to slap himself silly. Myron would laugh at that. Madeleine would agree. But... maybe that.. wasn't the right thing to say.

Toddy kept smiling. If the gritting teeth that wanted to eat his own words with buggy eyes was what smiling was, then he was doing it quite well.

[The Exodus]

Lucian Michaud

Lucian wished Damien was ten years old. Then, he would have no compunction against reaching over and pulling the menu from his hands. Then, he could ask, “Where are your manners, son?” in a paternalistic tone without having to brace himself for a go-round about how Damien was an adult now. But without a time machine, Lucian felt that his best bet was to talk to Toddy. If Lucian could win over the boyfriend, Damien would thaw out.

In theory, anyways.

At the very least, talking to Toddy St. James would provide precious insight to Damien’s love life. It would reacquaint Lucian with the grown son he scarcely recognized. Or it would pass the time. Something. Anything. Why did Damien have to put so much pressure on himself and on Lucian about tonight? What was so wrong with a quiet dinner at the house, anyways? Lucian was no gourmet chef and Ashton wasn’t a cocktail waitress, but they could still host a decent meal. Tonight didn’t have to be a big to-do. That was what the coming out party was intended for, wasn’t it? Lucian resisted the urge to sigh and instead focused on Toddy. He wondered what it was that the other man did at the Moulin Rouge. He hadn’t realized there was a big job market for men at burlesque cabarets.

"Uh- yes. Yes we did." Toddy stated, glancing over at Damien with a smile, looking back to Lucian with a grin, and slapping a flicking hand over at his side of the table. "But tr-usssst me. It was not a romantic movie style that Jennifer Aniston would be starring in anytime soon."

Lucian tried to remember which one Jennifer Aniston was. He made the mental note to ask Ashton later. For now, he smiled and nodded, as though he understood the nuances of Toddy’s sentence and then said: “So, tell me, then. How did you two meet?”

---

Damien Blackwood-Michaud

Damien wondered how many glasses of champagne were in a bottle. He wondered how many it would take to relax him; how many it would take to get him drunk. He wanted to know why L’Tour Argent didn’t serve beer and why he thought a fancy restaurant was considered “neutral territory”. Toddy wasn’t comfortable and neither was he. Lucian was probably loving the upper-hand he held over them both. Damien heard his dad say his name sternly, but didn’t even bother trying to make eye-contact. What was the point? If he looked up, he’d just get yelled at nonverbally. Reprimanded for being stubborn and petulant and—

--Why were bottles of champagne cheaper than buying individual glasses anyways?

“Damien tells me you work at the Moulin Rouge, too,” said Lucian. “Is that how you met?”

Damien sucked on the back of his lips, scrunching up his face in a way that made him grateful for the menu-mask. He’d met Toddy the day he intended to come out to Ashton, who, if Damien’s math was right had been sleeping with Lucian at the time. Toddy had been the one normal thing in Damien’s life—Okay. That was melodramatic. Aside from Bill and Reese, Toddy had been the only normal thing in Damien’s life. Toddy certainly had been the best thing. It wasn’t like Damien had a paper trail of hearts littered between here and London. He had never had a boyfriend who, you know… acted normal. Wasn’t jealous. Was patient. And Toddy was wonderfully, beautifully normal. Just what Damien needed in the middle of his crazy life. His family was so messed up. And even though he had thought meeting Toddy was the worst thing to happen to him—certainly, it happened at an inopportune time—it had turned out to be a blessing. Damien had really needed—still really needed—his sane, caring, sassy boyfriend. His eyes slid out from the side of the menu to look at Toddy appreciatively. He met Toddy’s gaze and Toddy grinned.

"Uh- yes. Yes we did,” he said. And for a moment, Damien’s insides got melty and sticky and happy the way they did when Toddy first touched his hand. "But tr-usssst me. It was not a romantic movie style that Jennifer Aniston would be starring in anytime soon."

Happy-melty-sticky feeling gone, Damien looked up sharply, exasperated. How many champagne bottles were you allowed to order in one sit-down, anyways?

“So, tell me, then,” Lucian said, as if he actually understood the rom-com reference, or how very Brangelina he and Ashton were to Damien’s Jennifer Aniston, “How did you two meet?”

“Funny story, actually,” Damien said, lowering the menu. “I went to the Rouge to see Ashton and Toddy was just there. This beautiful, crazy, handsome receptionist who just launched himself over a desk to say, “Hello” and, you know what? I’m glad he did. And you should be, too.”

Damien hoped his eyes flickered in this weird, all-knowing and menacing way that told Lucian: Yes, I just did the math and no, you can’t steal my boyfriend if you get bored with my ex-fiancée. Instead, he probably looked like he had an eye tic. Then, realizing how he must have looked or sounded, Damien reached for Toddy’s hand and held it on top of the table, stroking gently. It wasn’t Toddy’s fault he was irritable. And there was something soothing in Toddy’s lotion-soft hands that reminded Damien that tonight was going to be all right. He smiled again, this time, serenely. He wasn’t looking at Lucian any more, but at Toddy.

“I mean, Toddy’s what inspired me to come out,” he continued. “You know… to you and Mum and…” Damien cleared his throat. He wasn’t going to talk about Ashton. Tonight wasn’t about that part of the story. “Without Toddy, I don’t think I could have been strong enough. I don’t think I would have been able to face you without him telling me it would all be all right.”

[Deleted]

ooc: =] my quirky song I'm playing for this moment ;; not that they're getting married ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRDBvKGc1fE bic:


Toddy St. James


"So tell me then, how did you two meet?"


There were just things in life ladies and gentlemen should know, and not know so much. As in this case, daddy dearest, Lucian Michaud, should know who Jennifer Aniston was, but not know so much on just how Toddy St. James and Damien Michaud met. So, here came this awkward teethy smile moment Toddy was having, just wishing he could melt into this glitter ball of emotion onto that chair that probably cost him his year's pay, because for once in his life, he had no clue as to what to answer with. They met at the Rouge. Shouldn't that be enough for daddy blue eyes? What did he want the biography of it? Sorry, sweetie, but you'll have to await for my ETrueHollywood Story like everyone else. Oh snap! He almost said that too. This was Toddy internally freaking out, because what was he to say-

"Uh- We- Uh-"

Kill me NOW ...

“Funny story, actually,"

Toddy's mouth dropped open, eyes shockingly looking over to Damien who came back from hiding behind his menu. Wow, that sweetie hid a lot. A closet... a menu ... But he always came out at the right times. Toddy swallowed hard. Damien was saving him. Well, honey, he was about to hold onto him like a life preserver.

"I went to the Rouge to see Ashton and Toddy was just there. This beautiful, crazy, handsome receptionist who just launched himself over a desk to say, “Hello” and, you know what? I’m glad he did. And you should be, too.”

Point one for the gays!

To hide his smirk, acting as if he weren't seeing this look exchange of intensity between father and son that Toddy St. James would never get- but just enjoy because both their eyes were quite the sight- he sipped his ice water. Of course, with his pinkie up too. After all, this was a classy evening.

Slight shock when Damien grabbed his hand under the table crossed Toddy's features for a split second, before he felt the butterflies in his stomach. He stroked his thumb, setting down his glass. Just his touch was making Toddy feel all the more comfortable. He felt less of a screw up, less like Damien were being a little bit sassy, and more connected.

“I mean, Toddy’s what inspired me to come out."

Toddy St. James almost spilled over his water, feeling Damien's eyes on him, and a little awkward right now. So where was this pointed at? Him? His father? Sure, lets bring up the gay thing. That will just make these first few moments so much more relaxing, right?

"You know… to you and Mum and…Without Toddy-"

Toddy St. James was grinding his teeth in a smile over to Lucian, glaring once in awhile at Damien. Where was he suppose to look? Gosh, this was odd getting credit for something to remarkable, yet they were discussing this right now? Right here?

"I don’t think I could have been strong enough. I don’t think I would have been able to face you without him telling me it would all be all right.”

"Oh now-" Toddy said, squeezing Damien's hand in the heightened intensity that was his emotions. He could feel his cheeks burning a little bit. "I'm not expecting a gold star here, I just kinda' unlocked his closet door a little bit."

Then Toddy's adrenaline began kicking up again. Now, it was the Toddy St. James' show. The one where he couldn't seem to keep his pretty little mouth shut.

"I mean, the door was so squeezed shut the doll was going to get married to someone!"

Toddy St. James busted out into a fit of laughter, putting a hand to his chest. "Can you imagine that? God bless whatever sweetie had just about thee worst gaydar ever."