Over the top - NYC: Veil of Shadows

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Manhattan - Purgatory

Trendy and popular, Purgatory boasts a sleek, modern look and feel. The theme is freedom and boundlessness and everything from the cool blues and chrome finishing to the airy open spaces speaks echoes it. Purgatory is a fair sized club built out of gutted old office building. Blue and white tubing lights and runners high in the ceiling provide a light airy space in the center of the club which houses the dance floor and near the bar. Lights spark and flash and run beneath the floor, winding their way beneath and between the booths and tables. As one nears the back of the club and outer walls, the lights grow dimmer, the shadows more and the booths, tables and couches there are shrouded in a shadowy sort of privacy.

The bar is white, chrome and blue, reflecting the dcor of the club, and blue neon runners pulse around the bar, splashing it with flickering color. Behind the bar is a mirrored drink area and shelves filled with bottles of liquors and spirits; wine and martini glasses hang from chrome racks in the ceiling for ease of reach, and to easily compliment the interior, the flashing lights spraying the bar and bar stools with prism reflections.

While the music is loud and one can feel the bass throbbing beneath one's feet as the lights pulse in time, the acoustical setup of the club somehow makes the music more bearable than in other clubs. Near the bar and along the back walls, conversations can be held without shouting to the point of hoarseness; on the dance floor, near the speakers, the music becomes blisteringly loud but no one complains.

If Purgatory is the waiting room, then it's only fitting that the two VIP areas are Elysium and Abaddon.

Characters


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Siobhan is practically squeeing inside. She's been in Purgatory before, but somehow this time is different. She's getting in legally, even though she's under the age of admittance, and it's all thanks to Brooke. The witch fully intends to send her mentor a nice gift basket of thanks, and one to Mr. Collins as well. Purgatory really is upscale and the place, and even Quin can't give her the boot. Though, as she and Preston head inside, Preston using a far too well made fake ID, she racks her brain to recall if she told Quin that she and Jenna got special dispensation from his boss.
Mentally, she shrugs. Oh well, he'll find out soon enough.
She grips Preston's arm and looks around the club, eyes tracking for a familiar face or two. A few of the girls from Julliard come here, and sometimes she's seen some kids from Dalton. "You get to be my beard tonight," Siobhan teases her friend. "Keep the drooling frat boys away from me."

Preston grins down at the young witch on his arm. "Dressed like that, DD? I'm not nearly threatening enough."
Beat.
"I'll do my best though. I did promise Harper to keep an eye on you and keep you out of trouble." He's only half teasing. Siobhan's boyfriend did text Preston after he heard that Siobhan was getting a free pass to Purgatory and would be taking Preston along. He's been charged with making sure Siobhan doesn't get in over her head, because she can be a little naive with regards to how boys look at her. Preston may not like girls, but he can admit that his friend attracts boys like bees to honey.
"Dance floor first, or did you want to get a drink?"
Beat.
"Water, soda or something virgin for you," Preston reminds her.

It's the end of the week and it's time to blow off a little steam. Nightclubs can be fun. A place to pick up whomever he feels like at the time he's out. Cooper may have a preference, but he's an equal opportunity lover. If he feels like bringing a woman home with him, he will. His friends might say it's a bit self-destructive to do that, but he doesn't care.
His parents don't usually care who he's brought home in the past either, unless it was one of them. Those freaks of nature. He has no idea how they could always tell, but they could.
Right now, he's up at the bar. Flirting outrageously with the bartender. Flabbergasting the poor man simply because he can.

"A drink is the only thing virgin about me tonight," Siobhan winks saucily at Preston. She's in a good mood. Her first grueling week with the NYC National Ballet is over and she survived it. Much to her amazement and surprise, she was given a dancing role in each of the three short ballets that the Company will be performing. Not only did she get a dancing role that isn't just an understudy, but in all but one, she's going to be dancing a good portion of the ballets.
So tonight isn't just a night out, it's a celebration. One that she wants to share with Jenna and Pres, because she hasn't told them yet what she'll be dancing. But Jenna might not be joining them, and she's not sure how long she can keep it quiet.
"Are you buying?" Siobhan bumps Pres with her hip. "I think I'll start with a virgin daiquiri. It'll look like I'm drinking." She barely notices the leering looks she's given as they pass a few college boys.

Preston leads the way to the bar. He doesn't have to avoid alcohol, but he might, just to keep his wits about him. He's not a huge drinker anyway, and can nurse a beer or two all night, if he's in the mood. Shots and drinking games not withstanding.
Siobhan might not notice how she's being watched, but Preston does. He presses a hand to the small of her back to guide her along, and it's enough to make her would be stalkers think she's attached.
It's all about timing, and as they approach the bar, a stool is being vacated, leaving enough space for the pair to squeeze up next to the bar and -
Oh hello. Preston helps Siobhan onto the stool as he takes a subtle glance, and then another at the tall drink flirting with the bartender.

Cooper glances behind him and catches sight of the newbie. Grinning broadly, he turns fully around and winks at her. "Well, well, well, hello there, duckling." It's an outrageous, over the top flirtation, but he figures she'll laugh it off. Rumor around the company is that she's hot-and-heavy with some honey out in Massachusetts.
Getting a look at the male with her he waggles his brows, then turns back to the bartender. "Give me two Between the Sheets, and a bottle of Stella."

Siobhan blinks and does a double take. She recognizes Cooper. Of course she does. He's one of the few male dancers in the company and he's good. Good is an understatement. He's danced lead, and she saw him dance several times with Sadie Jaffe. It's not that she's going to fan girl, but the witch is surprised that he seems to recognize her. It's not like she's spent that much time with the professionals.
Siobhan grins a greeting, giggling a bit. "Hello … fancy meeting you here." It's lame, but she's honestly never talked to Cooper before, and it's the first thing that pops into her head.

Siobhan's 'date' for the evening is ready to put on his 'protective boyfriend/brother' airs when he realizes from Siobhan's greeting that she knows the hottie at the bar. Preston gives her a curious look, one that reads 'Introduce me' and slides a lazy, flirty grin back at the man as he turns back toward the bar.
"You just make friends all over the place, don't you, DD?"

Cooper is definitely looking. First at the petite dancer, just giving her a once-over now that she's not in leotard. He's got to admit that she looks good, and whomever it is she's dating is one lucky sonofabitch.
"Cooper Montgomery," he offers to Siobhan's friend. "I dance with her at the company." He doesn't say which, because he figures that the guy knows it.
The bartender slides the beer over to him and the two drinks. Each of the other two he's ordered are slid over to Siobhan and her friend.
"Drink up, lovelies. The duckling's dancing in all three of our performances this fall."

"This is Preston Van de Mark," Siobhan introduces her friend to her company member. "He's doing Mamma Mia." Yes, she is bragging and she is proud of Pres, no matter how small or large a part he has.
The witch stares for a moment at the drink she's been given. She promised Brooke she wouldn't drink, but this one was purchased for her, and it's only the one drink right? She's still sitting the fence between drinking or declining when Cooper says what he says, and the witch turns a lovely shade of pink and squirms. That wasn't how she planned on telling Pres.

It's amusing to Preston really, how easily and often Siobhan is checked out. He's always thought that it was a good thing that Jenna was so simply accepting or else the two wouldn't be as good of friends as they are. He's not upset or disappointed, because his gut has never steered him wrong, and he's got a good sense that the dancer happens to go both ways; just like Jenna's Cowboy, but he's not going to be the one to reveal that.
"Pleasure," Preston says with a friendly smile, taking a moment to check out Cooper. "To hear DD tell it, she's just a little wallflower there that no one notices." He's about to say more and then he simply gapes at Siobhan. "Siobhan Knight! Are you keeping secrets? Little Miss 'I'm The Albatross?'" He gives her a pointed look that says they're going to talk later about her self-esteem issues and then he gives her a warm, friendly hug. "Congratulations, DD."
"Next round is on me." The last is said to both Siobhan and Cooper.

"The Albatross?" Cooper snickers at that. "Why duckling, do you know why the other girls won't even bother with you? It's because they're afraid that once you have the appropriate training with your natural skill, you'll beat them all for the role of Odette in Swan Lake next year. They're envious. Hence the name 'Ugly Duckling'. Don't let it get you down though. You'll outshine all those poseurs."
A hand is held out to Preston, and he says, "Van de Mark? Of the media barons? I believe they've covered every ballet the company has done since it's inception."

Siobhan stares at Cooper. She knows she has to look like a complete idiot, but she's stunned by his words. It's the first compliment and acknowledgment that she's been given, other than words from Eric and Cyn, director and assistant respectively. "They are?"
Not really thinking about it, she lifts her glass and drinks from it. The moment she tastes the alcohol, something niggles the back of her mind, but she's still trying to come to terms with what Cooper has just said.

Preston knows that look. How anyone can be as good as Siobhan and work their ass off the way she does, and not realize her skill and talent has always been beyond him. He pats her on the head. It's a rather patronizing and fraternal gesture, but he knows he can get away with it. "You have to over look my little DD here. I've been dancing with her since high school and the only one who doesn't know how good she is happens to be her."
Accepting the offered hand, Preston gives it a firm shake. He holds on a second or two longer than appropriate and then picks up his drink. "That would be the one. I'm the black sheep. I'd rather be on stage that filming the stage."
Beat.
He waves a finger. "I know you, now. You danced Albrecht in Giselle. Absolutely phenomenonly, if I may add." He knows that because of his family ties, and because Siobhan has dragged he or Jenna, sometimes both, to every performance by the Company that she can.

"Of course they are, sweet pea. They loathe you for your looks and your skill on the stage. Haven't you wondered why no one will talk to you?" Cooper swoops around and sets one arm over Siobhan, and the other over Preston.
"As of this moment, duckling, you're under my wing. You'll dance Odette, and you will kill that part, because I said so." She may not have a lot of confidence in her skill, but he'll do his damnedest to go around that.
"Ah. The black sheep then. The one who was in show choir at Dalton. I do remember you. My little sister fussed about losing that competition."

"I thought it was because I was the kid who's going to screw up and ruin the ballet," Siobhan admits honestly with a bit of a frown. She's revised that since actually getting a real chunk of dancing roles in the upcoming repertoire, but still she feels that it's because she came in late and she's the odd woman out.
The witch can't help it. She laughs, it's a delighted and surprised sound, and she shakes her head. "All right, then. If you say so." Siobhan really just wants to make it through the upcoming Gala first and the holiday performance and she's not thinking any further ahead than that. Besides, he's probably just making smalltalk and things will be back to normal on Monday.

He's easy on the eyes and charming to boot, and Preston likes this guy. Still, he's trying to gauge his sincerity, because he doesn't want to see his Shivvie hurt or disappointed. "Haters gonna hate, Shiv, you know that. Girls - and a few guys too - have been hating you since high school just because you rock so brilliantly. I've told you that before. I'm promising now that I'm going to watch you dance Odette, sooner rather than later."
Preston laughs and winks at Cooper. "We can't all be winners. Dalton had me." He laughs, showing that he's not that arrogant. "And I had the best damn showchoir that year, period. Missed Nationals by one placement."
Remembering his drink, Preston finally picks it up and takes a drink. "Is this how you spend your Saturday nights? Seems like a great place to dance and blow off a little steam."

"Sweetie, you're definitely not a kid. You out dance at least half those girls, and that's just pure raw talent. Wait until they see you once you've had a bit of classical training. Trust me. I know. I've been dancing with the company since I was seven." Cooper lifts the bottle of beer to his lips and takes a drink, then he glances from the young dancer to her friend.
"Dalton was lucky to have you." He gives the younger man a once over, catching his eyes at least twice. Taking another pull of the beer, he smirks.
"Some of them. This week I decided to hit the club."
Glancing back at Siobhan, he catches her eyes and then stops. He stares at her for several long moments and then looks away.
"I like to pick up a bit of fun at least once a month."

Siobhan still hasn't learned yet. Unless she's in a place where she knows eye contact might be wonky, she never thinks about it. She's still smiling from Cooper's compliments, feeling a little extra confidence that she's been missing. It's one thing to have the support of her friends and family, another to hear it from a professional. So, she's taken by surprise when she really, truly looks into his eyes for the first time.
That familiar, magical tell is there. Not like looking at her father or Chance, more similar to looking at her mother or, actually, Christian. More muted than when she looks at her mother, but still there. The part of her that's sorcerer responding to the witch part in him.
Witches don't have a secret handshake, or code word, but there's something in his gaze that tells her he's wholly unaware of what he is and what that feeling is. As he looks away, Siobhan racks her brain to think if she's heard anything about male witches other Christian and Brooke's brother, not there's any kind of ledger, or that she would be in the know.
"We were lucky to have him at Dalton," Siobhan agrees with another sip of her drink. "We missed him when he graduated." She flashes Preston a bright smile.

Preston shoots Siobhan an 'I told you so' look and leaves at that. He can lecture his friend later. He turns his attention to Cooper, and taking a sip of his drink, gives him a lazy grin. "Well, I don't imagine that being too hard for you to do. And there's plenty of pretty to choose from."

"Yes there are," Cooper replies, giving each of them another once over. It's too bad the duckling's taken, because he could have some fun with these two.
Taking another pull from the beer, he sets the bottle down on the bar. Grinning, he points to the drinks. "Finish up, sweeties, and we can hit the dance floor. Show these poor pathetic normal people what dancing is all about."
Preston has connected.

Did he just check us both out? Siobhan's got no problems with whatever people's sexual orientations are, and she knows a handful of folk who are proudly bi as Pres is proudly and loudly gay, but she doesn't think she's ever had someone giving her and Pres a once over at the same time. Still, she's not uncomfortable with the look, maybe a touch embarrassed because she's only used to that sort of blatant looking from guys (and the occassional girl) that she doens't know.
Picking up her drink, she holds the glass aloft with a grin. "Dancing. That's why we're here."
Beat.
"Well, it's why I'm here." She gives her 'chaperone/beard' a grin and turns the glass up to her lips.

Preston decides that he likes Cooper. The man clearly is not ashamed to be himself, and knows what he likes. He's even a little amused, and more than a little flattered, because it's not easy to compete with Siobhan and end up on the same playing field. It doesn't mean he'll go home with the other man, but it looks as though it will be a fun night of dancing and flirting.
"Take it easy, Shivvie," Preston warns as the witch turns her glass up to her lips. She's not even supposed to be drinking, but he's not going to point that out. Then, he chooses to disregard his own words of taking it easy and quickly drains his glass.
Setting it back on the bar, he winks at Cooper. "Let's see how many of these poor saps we can put to shame."

"Then dancing it shall be. We'll try not to show off too much." The words are said with ease, and as though Cooper doesn't mean them at all. He's got two other dancers right there with him tonight, and they may as well make it fun.
"One drink won't hurt her. I'll make sure she's got soda for the rest of the night and that the two of you get home safely." Cooper may be on the prowl tonight, but that doesn't mean that he's not going to see to the slightly younger pair that he's taken on as his 'wards'.
"I'm betting all of them."

"Why don't I believe you?" Siobhan giggles and wrinkles up and wiggles her nose prettily, then finishes off her drink after an eye-roll at Pres, who's taking his job far too seriously. She tosses back the rest of her drink, and slides gracefully off the bar stool, hitting the floor with acrobatic ease and lightness.
"I promise to be good the rest of the night, Pres." She doesn't want to get in trouble anyway, not on her first night here.

Preston shakes his head, "What fun would there be in that? The whole point is to show them what moves are." He grins broadly, happy that Siobhan is going to have a care with drinking and a little surprised that Cooper is going keep an on her too.
He nudges Cooper with his elbow. "We promise not to harsh on your game too badly."

"Because I'm a horrible liar, and I enjoy showing off pretty things on my arm." Cooper flashes them both a charming smile, and then loops one arm through Siobhan's, and grabs Preston's as well.
"Sweet thing, you are so not going to be harshing my game. You're just going to make everyone in here jealous, because I've got the two lookers on my arms tonight."

Siobhan laughs. It's happy and genuine, and for the first time some of the tension and stress from the week seems to be lifting. She likes Cooper and she thinks she'll like having him in her corner. The young witch-sorcerer gives him a hip bump as the walk, her four inch heels giving her a little bit more of height, though both men are still a good head taller than she is. "You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself, you know." She's bold, she's a little, because she can be because it's harmless. Her ring is glittering on her finger, and heart and body belong to someone else.
Reaching the dance floor, Siobhan twists and steps, turning so that she's sandwhiched between the two males. It may not be what Cooper or Preston had in mind, but for right now, she's going to be the girl dancing between two talented, good-looking guys.

Six months ago, Siobhan's flirtiness would have sent up a few flags, and Preston would be keeping more of an eye on her. He knows that it's all in fun now, she's doing it because she can, and who's he to question anyone soaking up a little ego stroking?
Speaking of stroking … Naughty, Preston. Back off. He wouldn't mind a taste of Mr. Montgomery, but Preston isn't in the mood to be the one-off, and it's really just a night out of fun and dancing.
"I think she's right," Preston winks at Cooper as they hit the dance floor. "There'll be jealousy all around."
He grins and shakes his head when Siobhan situates herself between the pair of them; she has always been the take charge sort on the dance floor at the clubs.

"Now that's a sound I like to hear, duckling. You should laugh more during rehearsal. Don't take it so seriously or you'll begin to loathe it." Swatting her behind as she turns it toward him, he catches Preston's eyes over her head and grins.
"I have to agree. There'll be a lot of jealous men and women here tonight."
The music is quite fast-paced, and he picks up the beat easily enough. For now, Cooper is content to just dance and not pull out any of the fancy moves. One hand is set to Siobhan's hip, the other reaches around her to settle on Preston's and draw him a bit closer creating a protective circle around Siobhan, and not leaving any space for another guy (or girl) to butt in.

Siobhan's eyes widen and her mouth forms a small 'o' of surprise at the swat. She suspects that Cooper is a big flirt, but she's not had a guy be that flirty forward with her before. Preston doesn't count. It only takes her a few moments to regain her equilibrium and pick up the pace of the music, tossing Cooper a cheeky grin over her shoulder.
Then she's settling into the dance, tossing one hand loosely up on Preston's shoulder and resting her other atop Cooper's. Her hips swing and she winks at Preston, as she moves.

Preston meets Cooper's grin with one of his own, and snorts a laugh at the look on Siobhan's face. Really, he wishes he'd had out his phone just to snap a picture. She doesn't seem offended, so Preston just follows suit, going with the flow of the dance. Letting himself be drawn in closer, and moving in sync and rhythm with Siobhan and Cooper.
Preston has danced plenty with Siobhan, and they just click and move together; they know each other's bodies and movements. He's surprised at how easily Cooper falls into line with them, meeting and matching them, and complementing every step and twist and sway. None of them are doing anything fancy, but Preston knows the trio looks damn good together.

From the look on Preston's face, and the snorted laugh, Cooper knows he surprised the little dancing diva. Winking over Siobhan's shoulder again, he slides his hand down from Preston's waist to his backside and gives the younger man a bit of a pinch.
Admittedly, he is a big flirt but what's the point of living if he can't have a little bit of fun with it.

The song changes to something with a deeper bass and a more moderate pacing, and Siobhan changes her dance accordingly. With a mischeivous grin, she gives her shoulders a shimmy and rolls her hips, grinding against Preston and then backwards to shimmy against Cooper.
The witch is loosening up, and just having fun and cutting loose on the dance floor.

Preston is not as easy to surprise as Siobhan is. The pinch earns Cooper a saucy grin, and a wink. He tattoos his fingertips over Cooper's hand and meets Siobhan's little grinding move.

Cooper doesn't move his hand at all when she presses backward. He does shift his hips just a fraction of a bit away from her so that he's not pressing tightly against her. A girl with a boyfriend is hands off territory.
It takes him a second or two to adjust to the deeper beat of the music, but his moves perfectly synch up with Preston's. When the other man backs off, he presses in and vice versa.

It's good fun, and a good way to let her hair down and just dance. Siobhan isn't worried about some grabby hands frat boy sidling up and trying to grind his junk against her ass, or trying to sneak a grope at her boobs. She's having a good time because she's just able to let loose and shake and shimmy and twist suggestively without anyone misinterpreting what she's doing. She twists and sways and bumps her way through the second song, having more fun that she's had in a long time while out dancing.
Later, she's going to have to thank Pres for coming with her, and she's going to thank Cooper for dancing with them.

Preston considers the two songs a warm up. Much needed to loosen up his muscles and get him going on the dance floor. Having not one, but two very good dance partners is a plus, but as the music changes into a third song, it's time to get a little bit fancy and show off a bit.

"Come on, duckling. Let's show everyone what you've got." Cooper wastes no time at all and slides his hand from Preston's hip. Grabbing Siobhan's other side, he picks her up and twists her around. "What's the fun of dancing as well as you do if you can't show it off, hmm?"
He could easily lift her up, but he honestly doesn't want to overstep his bounds or have her thinking he's coming on to her.

"Alright, what did you have in mind?" She's grinning at him, a bit boldly with a mischievous glint in her dark eyes. She holds his gaze for a few moments, just to observe his reaction, and then she dances around him with a few fancy steps and spins. She's not just a ballerina as hinted by her ability to spin and step in the heels she's wearing. She dances up to Preston, and starts to make her way around him as well.

Preston snickers and steps to the side. He knows that Siobhan has quite a repetoire of dance skills, and figures Cooper probably does too. He's about to say something when the witch dances up to him. With a wink at Cooper, Preston grabs her around the waist and bounces her up from one hip to the other, then twirls her around behind his back.

Cooper laughs and quickly steps behind Preston. As Siobhan is twirled behind his back, Cooper grabs for her hands and slides her between his legs and back around. Once he's got her in a decent carry, he hoists her up and calls out, "At the next heavy beat, drop backward and let Van de Mark catch you."
He holds her and twirls, and as soon as the heavy beat hits, he lets her go, having no doubt that the other man will catch her.

Adaptable and quick on her feet, that's what Siobhan is. She knows Preston's moves, but not Cooper's, but part of her natural talent is an intuitiveness that keeps her moving and responding. She's quick enough to follow Cooper's lead, a bright smile on her face, both because he's good and because it's fun. The witch is loose-limbed and free, and when the heavy beat does hit, she follows instructions perfectly, dropping backward with the music.

Preston is right there to catch his witch friend. Catching her under her arms, he bounces her and then lifts her up and spins her out just enough to let her turn and come back to him. Taking her arms in a crossover, he lowers her parallel to the floor, then hoists her up into his arms and over his shoulders, swinging her back to her feet and sending her toward Cooper again.
A good portion of those on the dance floor are slowing, or have slowed their dancing to watch the trio, and Preston smirks proudly.

Catching Siobhan, Cooper lifts her upward and flips her over his back. Then he draws her along the floor and through his legs. Twirling her toward him, he asks, "Having fun, duckling?"
Before she can answer, he's spinning her back out toward Preston, so that the other man can grab her hand once more. He obviously doesn't care about people watching them, that was the whole point of the dance floor escapades.

Siobhan is loving every minute of the impromptu dance floor shenanigans. They didn't plan it or choreograph it. It's just off the cuff, whatever moves work to the beat and tempo of the music, and it works. Usually it takes time to get in sync with someone and learn their cues and dance floor tells, but Cooper just synced right up to she and Preston.
The witch has a huge, bright smile on her face and her eyes are sparkling. She's glad she opted for the dress with the loose flare rather than the body sheath she planned on originally, and she only wishes that Harper was at least here to see it. This was exactly what she needed to blow off some steam after her first week.

Preston is always happy to show off his dance moves. He knows that he's good, and he knows that he and Siobhan look great dancing together. Added with Cooper's skill, experience and fantastic good looks? Yes, they are quite impressive out there, both with dancing and good looks.
As the song fades and blends into another, Preston grins at his dance partners, slapping Cooper on the shoulder and wrapping an arm around a far too bubbly Siobhan's shoulders. "Water? Drinks? On me this time."

Cooper can usually pick up on other's moves fairly well. It helps that he's been watching Siobhan all week at rehearsals and knows that she's got a pretty fluid style and can pick up on new moves swiftly.
Twisting her around as the song ends, he dips her and then looks over his shoulder. When he stands, and Preston claps his shoulder he grins.
"Let's head back to the bar and let everyone pick their jaws up off the floor, sweeties."

Coming out of the dip, Siobhan squeals excitedly. She's flushed from the exertion and the heat of all the bodies pressing in around them, and also blushing faintly from the bits of applause and praise she can hear. The witch throws her arms around Cooper in a friendly hug, at least she doesn't mean it as anything more than that.
"That was fun!" She presses a light chaste kiss to his cheek. Then she's turning to Preston and doing the same, hugging her friend and pressing a kiss to his jaw. "I miss dancing with you, Pres."

Preston is happy to see his friend so happy. She's been tight lipped about her week, but he knows that Siobhan is her own worst critic. The fact that she hasn't been gushing about the Company says as much as if she was complaining. Seeing her happy? It's a good thing. Cooper can't be a bad guy if he's managed to be part of putting that smile on her face.
Preston wishes that he could share Jenna's news with Siobhan, but he made a promise. He's happy for both his girls, and proud of them too. "Ditto, DD, but you're going to be flitting across the stage in The Ballet." He says it with emphasis and you can hear the capital letters. "I think that makes up for it." Preston presses a kiss to her temple and looks over at Cooper. He gives the other a flirtatious grin, "I like your moves."
Beat.
"Why don't I hit the bar, get us all a round and you two grab us a table if there's one available?"

"I've got plenty of moves you haven't seen yet," Cooper replies, with a wink and a waggle of his eyebrows. It's outrageously over the top in the flirtation department, but he doesn't care. It's all in the name of fun.
He is a little surprised by the kiss to his cheek and peers down at the tiny dancer. There's something in her eyes that he just can't figure out, and he's not sure if it's a hidden attraction to her or something else entirely.
"Good idea. Table it is."
Setting his hand to the small of Siobhan's back, he begins leading her across the dance floor to locate a table, hoping that her friend will be able to find them later.

Cooper's over the top flirting makes Siobhan laugh. It's been a while since she's seen someone flirt with Pres, and even if she didn't practically have a fiance, she wouldn't feel slighted or mind in the least. It's good for Pres' ego and Cooper is hot.
The witch holds his gaze when he looks at her, trying to gauge what he knows. It's hard to tell if he's a witch who's figured out who and what she is, or if he's one who's just a little confused by the vibe he gets when their eyes meet, and is trying to play it cool either way.
Or, if he's one who doesn't know. She's heard that there are those out there, who come from a dormant line of power that suddenly flares or those whose parents refuse to allow them to enter in and know about the supernatural world and their talents. It's hard to figure out with Cooper, and again she wishes Jenna were here to get a vibe from him, or Harper was here. Not that she wants her boyfriend going around reading minds, but it would be nice to know.
They have perfect timing, as a table is being vacated as they arrive at it. Luck and timing, although Siobhan wonders if there's a spell to 'reserve' a table. Ok, it's not a way magic should be used, but what harm could it do?
Taking a seat, she grins brightly over at Cooper. "You're really good. I mean, I've seen you at the studio, and I know you're a fantastic ballet dancer, but you're just really good period." The witch has no problem complementing others.

"I'm sure you do," Preston tells Cooper with a salacious little grin. "Maybe we can compare notes sometimes." Yes, he can be over the top as well, especially when it's all in good fun and he knows present company won't mind at all. He doesn't turn away until Cooper is leading Siobhan off toward a table, purely for the selfish purpose of being able to check out Cooper's backside as the pair heads away from him.
There is a brief moment where he questions if he should let Siobhan wander off with some stranger, no matter how pretty and talented or how well known in ballet circles. It's short lived because while neither he nor Siobhan has Jenna's skill, the witch typically has good instincts and does have to work with the other man.
After giving himself a moment to enjoy the view from behind, he turns and heads toward the bar to order the drinks. Unfortunately, as handsome as he may be, Preston is not Siobhan or Jenna, and without boobs, two X-chromosomes and/or a bright vivacious smile, it takes him a bit to make it to the bar.

Admittedly, Cooper likes the sound of her laugh. It shows him a part of the duckling that he doesn't get to see in rehearsal. A carefree young woman who's been hiding herself behind extra hours of practice, and a serious, dour expression.
He doesn't allow her to sit right away once the table is vacated. Instead he tidies up the bottles and empty glasses onto the tray and slides them over to one side of the table. Grabbing a napkin he wipes down the seats and then the table in front of them, and motions for her to sit.
"Well so are you, duckling. The confidence you had out there on the dance floor tonight? You should shine with it at rehearsal."

The witch dips her head a bit at the compliment. It means a lot coming from someone of Cooper's calibre. "Thanks."
Shrugging, she shifts a little in her seat. "It was fun. I didn't have to think or worry. I just danced." About how inexperienced she is, about how she knows everyone is watching her, about how she feels she has to work harder just to prove that she really is good enough to be there and it's not a mistake that she was admitted to the Company.

Reaching the bar, Preston places the drink orders. Another Stella for Cooper because he does pay attention, a Heineken for himself, and three bottles of water. One is a bottle of Bling H2O, just for Siobhan. Since she isn't drinking anymore tonight, she can at least enjoy the pretty bottle. She'll probably hit him for it, but it's worth it.

"That, duckling, is how you need to be on the stage. Don't think, don't worry, just dance. Soon enough you'll stop worrying about the stares, and you'll start to see yourself as a swan like the other girls who loathe you do." Cooper's not going to hold back, because the younger dancer needs a good boost of confidence so that she doesn't falter when they put on the Fall Gala.
"If you listen to me, you'll outshine everyone, and that's precisely what you need to do to fit in. Show them that you're better with your raw talent than they could ever hope to be with their classical training."

"Is that really how they see me? Feels more like a pimple." An unwanted blemish. Siobhan gives a little frown and then shakes her head, straightening her shoulders. "I'll try to be more confident and worry less next week. Just … dance." It does mean something that a talented professional like Cooper is giving her advice and praise. In this line of work, you don't get praise that you don't deserve. No one says anything just to make you feel better.
She bounces a little to the music. "Have you been here before? This is only my second time." The first time, she and Jenna were crushing on the same guy, though that did end up working itself out.

Preston makes his way through the crowd, being stopped once by two girls who want to congratulate him on his dance prowess and then seem quickly disappointed when they realize that he'd rather snog a bloke than a pretty girl trying to shove her boobs in his face. He is amused by the whole thing and is wearing a grin when he reaches the table with Siobhan and the extremely hot and graceful Cooper. Preston isn't prowling or crushing, but he's certainly admiring.
And certainly happy that Siobhan is well and thoroughly spoken for.
"Beer is tasty," Preston says, setting one bottle in front of Cooper. "But we need water to rehydrate. You, my little diva," Preston winks at Siobhan and gives her a playful kiss to the cheek as he sets the water bottle in front of her. "Are on water or soda, but I thought you at least deserved some sparklies."

"Christ, duckling, they act that way because they're jealous. You've come in at the last minute, and you're making them look bad." Cooper glances out into the crowd, trying to keep an eye for Preston. He watches as the younger man gets accosted by the women, and chuckles.
"Quite frequently. I used to date one of the bartenders."
Sliding the bottle of beer to the side, he reaches for one of the bottles of water. Cracking it open, he downs a good half of it before flashing a smile at Preston. "Thanks, sweetie."

Siobhan considers that. She supposes she might feel the same way … but no, she'd just work harder and get better. For her dancing has always been first about the pleasure of the dance, and second about the camaraderie and teamwork. A brilliant show can't happen without a brilliant entourage.
Her teeth worry of her lips, and she squares her shoulder. "Well, acting like that they're not going to chase me away or make me dance worse." Siobhan will work her ass off, if not to win the other dancers over, at least to show Eric Fell, the director and current Powers That Be in charge of the Company, and Madame Beaudreau that they didn't make a mistake in choosing her.
Beat.
Siobhan cranes her neck toward the bar, pausing to giggle at Preston's predicament. "Oh? Which one?" Casual curiosity.
The sparkly bottle does earn Preston a swat to his arm. "You ditched your girlfriends that fast?" She opens the bottle of water and takes a generous few swallows from it.

"You're very welcome," Preston tells Cooper. He takes a seat between Siobhan and Cooper, but the table is a round top, so it's not like he's trying to send a message; either way, he'd be between them.
He gives Siobhan a grin, "They're darling, but have the wrong equipment where it matters, you know that, sugar."
Beat.
"Or maybe they lack the right equipment. Either way, I had to break their hearts."

"The point is to chase you away or make you fail, so it's good to know that they're not going to manage that." Cooper slides his fingers over the condensation of the water and waggles his brow at Preston.
"Matt. Then Lisa. Then Matt again."
Shifting his eyes toward the girls, he grins. "They're not cute enough for you anyhow. If you were going to swing both ways, I'm sure the duckling here has better friends than that."

"My parents say that I'm too stubborn for my own good and don't know when to leave well enough alone." It's what gets her into a spot of trouble from time-to-time, but it's also why she dances with such passion and why, when she wants a spell to really work, it does.
If she needed confirmation of Cooper's fluidness, she has it now, but Siobhan isn't put off. Surprised, really. She's met a good number of male dancers, and many are gay; the other half seem to feel the need to show off their hetero-ness when they're not on the stage, just so everyone knows. Cooper's a breath of fresh air, really.
She doesn't know Matt from Lisa, but she peers at the bar. "I think the 'tender in the red shirt is kinda cute."
There's a giggle which turns into an outright laugh at the last. Siobhan really can't help it. "Well, Pres did date my bestie back in high school …"

Preston taps his bottle of water against Siobhan's. "Miss Dawna and Doctor Robert are right. You are and it gets you into trouble."
He twists to follow her gaze and nods. "I see you a cute and raise you a hot." Though his gaze does slide to Cooper at the last, before he's sighing and rolling his eyes. "Yes, well, it was before I finally figured out that girls really weren't my thing."
Beat.
"Don't get me wrong, Jenna is awesome. She's pretty and she's as sweet as sugar, and also dating this very hot, tall drink of water from Texas."

"Stubborn can be a good thing if you don't overdo it. Don't let those jealous women scare you off. You're a breath of fresh air for the company, and I can see you dancing with us for a rather long time if you want it."
Cooper doesn't offer praise at all lightly. There is a spark in the youngest dancer in the company, and he's seen it a few times before. Dancers who really have no idea how good they are and nearly kill themselves trying to prove that they can make it. He doesn't want her to fall into that category.
"That yummy 'tender in the red shirt is Owen, and I've spent the last three months trying to figure out if he's fluid or straight. He's a tough nut to crack."
He eyes Preston for a few minutes while he finishes off the bottle of water. "I don't know, gorgeous. I can definitely see you in a three way with the right woman."

Siobhan doesn't know if she wants it. That could still be her nerves talking, and she hasn't been on the stage yet. She wants to prove herself, wants to make it or break it, but beyond that, the young witch doesn't know. In her mind, she's still going back to Julliard to finish up her degree there. That might change, but right now, she just isn't giving it that much thought.
"Talk to me after the Gala," Siobhan murmurs, teasing the lip of the bottle against her lip, though not really drinking from it. She blinks and turns to Preston. "Don't tell Jenna. About the Gala. I want to tell her myself when I see her."
Her eyes go wide at Cooper's words and hints of pink bloom in Siobhan's cheeks that are dark enough to not be hidden by her tan complexion. She doesn't consider herself naive or ignorant, but there's a boldness there that she isn't expecting. Added to the fact that there are certain things she never wants painted in her imagination, and that whole image has to be one of them.
"Do people really do that?" The words are out before she realizes that she's said them, and she looks down at the table, mentally kicking herself for looking so completely … innocent.

"Siobhan is going to steal the show and own that stage, mark my words," Preston tells Cooper. "She just needs a swift kick in the pants, but once she's up and going, there's no stopping my little dancing diva."
The 'don't tell Jenna' has Preston sighing and rolling his eyes. First Jenna and now Shiv. At least the witch isn't planning on keeping her secret for weeks and weeks. "Of course, sweetie." Preston reaches out and gives her hand a squeeze. "It's your news to share. I wouldn't want to steal your thunder. My lips are sealed."
Preston lifts a brow at Cooper's words. He snickers, "You think so?" Preston has tried women, well honestly, not entirely in the whole intercourse manner, but he's seen plenty of naked female flesh and it really doesn't do anything for him.
Before he can say more, Siobhan says what she does, and he leans over to give her a one-armed hug. "Oh, DD, you just don't know. But you don't have to. You and Harper have one of those storybook perfect romances where all you'll ever need or want is each other."

"Oh, sure. Just ask Matt and Lisa." Cooper waggles his brow at the blushing, somewhat stammering younger dancer and winks. "Or don't. Matt would be far too embarrassed to talk about it, but Lisa tends bar downstairs." Which means that she's hardly embarrassed by anything.
Cooper leans back on the seat, tossing his arm behind Preston's shoulder in order to prod Siobhan's arm. "I have no doubt she'll still the show. You kick her in the pants off the stage, and I'll be there giving her stern looks on the stage and she'll do fine."
Allowing his fingers to rest on Preston's shoulder, he nods. "I know so. For you it wouldn't be an all-time thing, but something to add a certain… je ne sais quois to the bedroom."

"She is sitting right here," Siobhan feels the need to point out, though it's hard to summon enough annoyance and exasperation when she's in such a good mood, despite her embarrassment. She does clear her throat, and focuses on scratching at the crystals on the side of the bottle. "I'll just … take your word for it."
Beat.
"How does that work? Doesn't someone feel jealous or left out?" She can't help it. She's curious. She can't imagine having anyone else in the bedroom with she and Harper because she's not going to share her boyfriend.

Preston gives Cooper a considering look, feeling a bit out of his league and over his head for the first time in a very long time. He takes a long drink of water and gives Cooper a smirk, "I almost feel like I should challenge you to find the woman. I was skinny dipping with three very lovely ladies recently and quite frankly, there wasn't even a twitch." He doesn't bother to apologize to Siobhan, or offer her a quick 'no offense' because he knows she won't be offended.

"Not if you're doing it right, duckling." Cooper winks at her, and slowly slides his hand back across Preston's shoulders. "You really can't do it if there's jealously involved because that just leads to hurt feelings and drama. You need to be secure in your relationship and know what the other person wants."
Giving Preston an appraising look, he laughs. "I can try, but I don't know you well enough to be able to find that one woman that'll set off sparks for you, sweetie. Now, another man? I've got a few ideas there."
His eyes drift over to Siobhan and he whistles low. "I can't imagine seeing this one naked and not feeling a spark of something."

"I think I'm going to stick to vanilla twosomes. I'm not sharing my boyfriend with anyone." It may sound naive or whatever, but Siobhan's comfortable enough to admit that. She's also pretty certain Harper has no interest in bringing a thrid party to play along. Besides, there are enough other things Siobhan wants to try that they won't get busy or bored with each other for a very long time.
Siobhan notes that Preston didn't say she was one of the women involved, but she's sure that the dark blush that's returning to her face speaks volumes. Although the blush comes more from the look and Cooper's flirting than any embarrassment at what she got up to in the Hamptons. "Probably because Pres thinks of me like a sister, and still would even if he were straight." Her words are light, and strong and unwavering despite the blush. "And we were all pretty drunk."
Beat.
"Though Pres has a nice bum." Anything to shift the focus off of her.

Preston laughs and pats Siobhan's arm affectionately. "Like I said, romance of the ages. We all envy you, even if we pretend we don't."
He turns his attention to Cooper, allowing his knee to brush up and rest against the older man's. "Then I suppose you're just going to have to get to know me," Preston says with a playful eyebrow waggle. "I'm fun to get to know."
He follows Cooper's gaze to Siobhan, and then blinks when the witch offers him up like male candy. "I'm trying to summon some modesty and embarrassment, but I am failing miserably."

"Oh, sweetie, you can have a lot of fun in a monogamous relationship as well. If you know the right things to do." Cooper winks at her then sighs wistfully. "Whoever he is, I've got to wonder if he knows how good of a thing he's got."
Sometimes things don't need to be said to be implied, or for someone to make assumptions. This is what's happened in Cooper's case. The way the two are together, it only makes sense that she'd be one of the three.
"I don't know, I think I'd have to judge his ass for myself."
Glancing down at the knees, he smirks a little. "Now that is a challenge I might take if you're up for it."

The witch can't help it. She sits up a bit straighter and grins coyly at Cooper. "He does." She finishes off her bottle of water and wiggles her left hand at him, the light catching on the diamonds in her ring. "He really does." He damn well better after how long she waited for him and has been head over heels for him.
"Tequila," Siobhan suggests off handedly. "And lots of wet pussies and blow jobs." Beat. "The shots, I mean. The shots." She reaches for her bottle of water only to realize that it's empty and all she can do is tap the lip to her lips.

"Anytime," Preston winks at Cooper. Whether he means checking out his ass or taking the challenge isn't clear.
"Don't listen to her. I'm not a sloppy drunk, nor am I that easy to ply with alcohol. We were naked before the alcohol started flowing, all for the sake of solidarity. Although only one of us had any modesty." Amusingly enough, Jenna who suggested the skinny dipping. "But none of us had anything to be ashamed of." He trades his bottle of water for his beer. "I may not be interested but I am capable of appreciating aesthetics." Preston takes a draw on the bottle, "Honestly, if I were a woman, I'd probably kill to have one of their bodies." For Preston it's a matter of prospective.

"Well if he ever forgets, I've got two large shoulders you can cry on." For once, the outrageous flirtation isn't behind his words. He's being sincere. He knows how breakups can devastate dancers just as easily, if not more so, than they can anyone else.
"Tequila, hmm?" Cooper glances at Preston, pressing the side of his tongue against the inside of his cheek. "I'm sure plenty of blow jobs could loosen anyone up."
Noticing that Siobhan is trying to drink her water and it's empty, he flags down a server. "Another Bling H20 for the lady."

"He won't," Siobhan says with all the conviction of a woman deeply, head over heels in love. She has no doubt that there will be arguments and disagreements, but she and Harper are in this for the long haul. Still she smiles at Cooper, "But thank you. I'll remember that."
"Yes, tequila," Siobhan repeats with a nod and a giggle. She really shouldn't be so terrible, but it's pretty clear to her that outrageous flirting aside, Preston is interested in Cooper. She might just have to go powder her nose to give them a few minutes alone together.

Preston snorts and shakes his head. "Yes, I won't argue with that. Blow jobs do seem to work a certain sort of magic."

The server comes over just as Preston makes his comment. The woman smiles at the two men, licking her lips. "Right away!"
Once she skitters away, Cooper snorts. "I think she's looking for the wrong sort of tip."
Lifting his bottle of beer up, he takes a pull and considers things. "They do at that. Especially when someone doesn't have a problem swallowing." He glances at Siobhan and waggles his brows. "The drink, of course."

Siobhan gazes after the server and shakes her head with a faint giggle. "You can't really blame her. There are two hot guys sitting here talking about blow jobs. Some women really enjoy giving that sort of pleasure." The witch isn't admitting to anything, just making conversation and pointing out the reason for the woman's enthusiasm.
She shrugs and smiles at them both innocently enough, "I've heard that of the other kind too." Then she borrows Preston's water and takes a long swallow, somehow managing to keep her face straight and pefectly serenely innocent.

"Well, we are hot," Preston agrees, bumping his knee against Cooper's and tapping the other man lightly on the arm before withdrawing his hand.
He stares at Siobhan a moment, waiting for her facade to crack, and when it doesn't, he whistles. "I am impressed, Shivvie. Maybe you should be on Broadway with Jennie and me. I almost believe you're as innocent as you're pretending to be." He knows what she's gotten up to in the past, and he knows bits and pieces of what she got up to with Harper, including their antics in a beach cabana.

"I suppose not." The server isn't what he's looking for tonight. Cooper really isn't trying to date everyone that works at Purgatory either.
He notes the innocent look, then laughs. "Only heard of it? Highly doubtful, duckling." Coupled with what Preston's words, he laughs again. Dropping one hand to the younger man's knee, he squeezes it.
"Guess I'm going to have to get tickets to this play, to see this girl. If she's half of what the two of you are…"

"I played 'I Never' with you, Pres, so I know that I'm at least more innocent than you are." Siobhan blushes a little as she recalls a few things she learned about Pres and Quin's girlfriend from that drinking game. It was half of what spurned her on to be adventerous and strip tease and screw Harper in the cabana. She's not quite sure she should be boasting about that, so she squirms a little in her seat and clears her throat.
She bats her eyes at Cooper, "I don't kiss and tell."
Siobhan reaches into her purse and pulls out her phone, "She's supposed to come by if she's not too tired when she gets off of work."

Preston flashes a positively lascivious grin at Cooper before turning his attention back to Siobhan. "I thank god for that small favor regarding your innocence. Considering the asshat you were dating, I'm afraid I'd have to break his nose for defiling you that way. He didn't deserve that sort of trust and respect."
Preston blinks at her. "No, you don't kiss and tell. Unless it's me, Jenna or involves shots and a drinking game."

"Well, well, well! It seems to get to know you, I need to get you drunk and see just how not-innocent you are," Cooper teases Preston. He boldly slides his hand up a little, and then lifts it back up to the table.
"What's the point in kissing if you don't tell. Besides, I'm fairly certain your boy and I have heard plenty about blow jobs in our time." Grinning at her innocently as he can, he tips the beer bottle back and takes a pull from it before setting it back on the table and palming the neck.

Siobhan pulls a face at Preston. It's only half-seriously frowning though because he is telling the truth. She has shared a lot with Pres, especially lately when she can't give all the details to Jenna and she's bursting to tell someone something.
"Sometimes, though, you want to keep a few things to yourself." Sometimes but not always. Siobhan shakes her head with a giggle, and rolls her eyes. "Somehow I think that the two of you know more about them than I do."

"Being drunk is not a requirement," Preston says cheekily. "I'm a lot more fun sober, or slightly buzzed. You wouldn't want it to be easy would you?"
The server returns with the bottle of Bling H2O, and gives a meaningful and envious look to Siobhan, which seems to say 'Lucky bitch,' before asking if she can get them anything else. With a special emphasis on the anything.

"Blow jobs," Cooper says with an innocent smile to the server. He waggles his brows and then adds, "The shots, unless you're free later?" He doubts they'll be seeing the server again after that, but he can't help teasing the poor woman.
"As for that, little duckling, I've no doubt that you're right."

The poor server's eyes do go wide, and though she seems interested in both men, she's obviously not feeling that playful. "I'll bring your drinks right out." Then she's gone, blushing profusely.
Siobhan giggles, and feels a bit bad for not pitying the woman. "She has to have been hit on before or heard worse," Siobhan explains. "I get hit on buying a latte in the morning. If I worked here …"
"I'm not drinking." Siobhan worries her teeth over her lips, knowing how it might look to Cooper, but she did tell Brooke that she'd stay out of trouble and above board with her admission to Purgatory. "I shouldn't … I'm not even supposed to be in here. A good friend is da … working with the owner and got him to bend the rules a little for me and Jenna. I told her that I'd stay out of trouble and not threaten his liquor license."
The witch gives Cooper a saucy wink, holding his gaze for a moment, "If I need advice, I know where to come.

Preston watches the poor server leave in a rush and waggles a chiding finger at Cooper. "You are terrible. I thought I was bad. I could learn from you." He bumps his shoulder against the other man's and reaches beneath the table to squeeze his knee. "The poor woman might be too embarrassed to bring us the drinks."

"Don't worry, duckling, I'll drink yours if she brings three." Cooper has no problem doing two shots if he has to. "Though you know, the easier way to say anything like that is to claim you're the designated driver and no one will think anything of it. Even if you're taking a towncar or taxi home."
Snapping playfully at the chiding finger, he laughs. "It's not my fault. She did ask, and she did emphasize the word anything."

Siobhan taps a nail against the bottle. "I could, but we're being so frank, I thought I'd be honest."
She watches the interaction between the two men, and once again wonders if she should slip off for a bit to give them a little time to talk and flirt without her there in the middle of things.
After a beat, she puts the bottle on the table and pushes to her feet. "I need to go powder my nose." She puts her hand on Pres' shoulder to keep him in his seat. "It's the ladies' room, Pres. I'll be fine. I don't think I'll get seriously molested between here and there."
With that, the witch heads off, intending to take the longest route to the ladies room.

"If you're not back in twenty, I'm sending a rescue squad," Preston promises. He knows that Siobhan can take care of herself, but it's a Saturday night meat market, and sometimes drunk coeds can get a little carried away.
Preston watches her go until she disappears in the crowd and then cranes his neck to watch her a bit longer. When he turns back to Cooper, he gives him an apologetic look. "I worry. I know, it's terribly unbecoming, but the girl honestly doesn't realize how much attention she gets."

"I find it charming, actually. That the two of you are such good friends you'd want to take care of her." It's a rare quality in what Cooper considers 'normal people', let alone gay men. Preston's mother-henning is absolutely freaking adorable.
"Though I'm hedging a bet here that she was less powdering her nose, and more giving you time to flirt and make nice with the strange dancer who's monopolized your friend's evening."

Siobhan is half-tempted to leave a little spell at the table so she can hear what's going on, but she decides against it. One, they pair needs a little privacy, and two, if Cooper detects the magic, she'd be hard pressed to explain it. She pulls out her phone on the way to the ladies and starts texting Jenna, updating her friend on the evening so far.

Preston takes a drink from his beer and finishes off the bottle. He grins cheekily at Cooper. "Here I thought I was already doing that."

"But not as openly as you might with your friend gone." Cooper rests his arm on the back of the seat again, slouching down until he's more comfortably seated. He watches the dancing for a while.
"Let's see. If the server doesn't bring those shots, I'm hoping the guy in the red shirt does. You can help me figure him out. Straight. Bi. Closeted. He's a difficult one."
Tilting his head so he can give Preston another once over, he smirks. "You, on the other hand, are out and proud, and I think it's pretty obvious my preferences tend to flip-flop."

"My gaydar does have a ninety percent accuracy rate," Preston says with a proud smirk. "It's not perfect, but when it works, it's usually dead on."
Beat.
"Works for identifying the switch hitters, too." Preston gives Cooper a look and a deliberate once over. "I had you pegged at the bar." He's also pegged a few more - Jenna's cowboy swings like Cooper, but that's not his place to tell, and Siobhan's sweet little brother is in the closet because he's scared to come out. They talked about it in the Hamptons, and Pres left well enough alone with the reassurance that he would be there whenever Christian was ready to come out.
Preston chuckles, "Sweetheart, I don't think your preferences flip flop so much as you like to have the best of both worlds. Have your cake, eat it, too."

Cooper actually laughs at Preston's assessment of him. "Guilty as charged, but you have to admit, sometimes the cake can be rather yummy. I swear if the duckling wasn't already seriously spoken for…" Well, he'd definitely consider her the cake of the evening.
"Now I'm curious. What else have you got pegged about me. When the shots arrive, if you get something right, I'll down them."

Preston smirks knowingly and shakes his head. He might be interested in Cooper, in that casual way that one is interested and attracted to a new person, but he's not going to be offended or bent out of shape because the other is admitting an attraction to Siobhan. He's known the girl years and knows what to expect.
"You're a couple of months too late there," Preston says in reference to Siobhan. "Classic girl and boy next door growing up together story." Beat. "You'd have to take the pair." Preston adds the last with a teasing wink.
He considers Cooper for a long moment. "You're not looking to settle down. You're not a player, but you're not looking for a long term commitment yet. I'd say serial monogamist but … mostly just the serial. Not so much the monogamy."

"The pair, hmm? Now there's a thought." Cooper doesn't mean it, not really. Siobhan seems extremely head-over-heels for the guy she's with, and if that ring is any indication the feelings are reciprocated. He's not in the habit of pushing his way into relationships.
"You're not wrong. There's plenty of time to settle down. There's no need to rush into anything." That, and he happens to think that people by there very nature aren't designed to be monogamous.

Preston laughs. He has to because he has a good idea that Cooper isn't really serious, but also because it paints an amusing picture. Siobhan would kill him for thinking it, but he thinks that he knows his friends well enough to be amused by the very thought of it.
"No arguments here," Preston agrees. He's not shopping around to settle down. Honestly, he's not even shopping around. Jenna and Shiv seem concerned with finding him a boyfriend, and though he will admit to being envious of Sharper (because they really are the dream storybook romance couple), he's really not in pursuit of that final endgame.
He grins at Cooper. "There are advantages to being young and exploring all your options."

"I'm sure I'm not the only guy in here tonight thinking it." Cooper smirks as Preston laughs at the idea of him sharing Siobhan with her boyfriend. It's not as though he's not done it before, just not with a couple that was taking things to the whole ring level.
"Plenty of advantages," Cooper replies. His fingers tickle over Preston's shoulder and he winks at him.
"It's much more fun to explore while the exploring is good."

"I doubt that you are." Preston knows that half the guys in here who see Siobhan, maybe more than half, probably have thoughts that would make her parents want to whip some serious magic at them. He is male and though his thoughts and attractions are geared toward men, he knows the sort of thoughts his hormones kick off. Also, he's spent a lot of time in male locker rooms over the years. "Luckily I only feel obligated to protect her bodily. I'm not the thought or fantasy police."
He tilts his head and stretches, allowing his leg to rest casually against Cooper's. "Something tells me that you're quite the adventuresome explorer."

Cooper chuckles and glances back toward the restroom. "And thank God for that! I'd hate to have someone so cute trying to monitor my thoughts. I might scare you away." He's got no shame in being honest about it. Siobhan is an extremely hot girl, and that's generally the type he goes for. A bit innocent for his tastes, but that doesn't mean he can't picture her as having a great deal of fun in the sack.
"Oh, sweetie, you have no idea."

"Or maybe I'd just be intrigued," Preston waggles his brows.
"I'm adventurous myself. And a quick study." Preston finishes off his bottle of water as the shots arrive, delivered by a new server, and not the cutie behind the bar in the red shirt.

"You likely would. I was thinking about you and your friend when you walked up to the bar." As promised, Cooper takes one of the shots and downs it quickly. Flipping the shot glass upside down, he sets it on the table and licks his lips.
"Not as good as an actual blowjob, I've got to say."
Cooper considers Preston's flirtation and leans toward the younger man's ear. "You will have to tell me all about your adventures."

"What exactly were you thinking?" Preston inquires with the look and tone of one feigning ignorance but has a very good idea of what the answer will be. He doesn't know why but for some reason he wants to hear Cooper say it.
"That's a story that's going to cost you more than a shot," Preston teases. He takes one of the shots, and with a wink, downs it. Yes, Cooper said he would, but Preston sees no reason to not indulge in the alcohol.

"How much fun it could be fucking you both at the same time." Cooper lifts the bottle of beer to his lips, and reaches for Siobhan's shot. As the bottle is set down, the shot is taken and he leans his head backward for a few seconds before flipping the shot glass upside down beside the other.
"Name your price, Broadway."Logfile from NYC - Cooper.

"Forward and bold," Preston says with a soft exhalation of breath. He knew the answer was coming, and though he's calm on the surface, there is a rippling beneath and a certain heat that leans itself to need. The younger man isn't interested in his absent friend in that way, but there is something about Cooper's boldness and assured calm that does interest him in the older man. "I'm flattered to be on the same par with Shiv."
Preston hasn't said that he isn't interested, but he has established that he likes girls as friends, not sexual partners so it doesn't need to be repeated.
Reaching out, Preston scoops up the shot glass, tosses it in the air and catches it. It goes back down on the table, and when he grins at Cooper, it's positively debauched. "Not the drink."

Siobhan has visited the restroom. She's powered her nose, touched up her lipstick and eyeliner from the small supply in her purse. She's fixed her hair, texted and then called Jenna, and realized in mid-call that while she was having a dancing blast with Preston and Cooper that she flashed her pretty lacey panties at the whole of Purgatory that was paying attention.
There was plenty of gushing over Cooper, not in the "Omigawd he's so hot," way (although his attractiveness was noted), but mostly in the fact that he complemented Siobhan and gave her a good boost of confidence. With little left to say, other than a joking wager on whether or not Preston would go home with Cooper, and knowing that Jenna's coming after work if she's up for it, Siobhan straightens her dress and steps out of the bathroom into the loudness and crushing bodies of Purgatory.
The way back to Preston and Cooper seems easier than the way there and she's almost to the table when a penis steps into her path. It has to be a penis, because it's leering, obviously drunk and not thinking with the head on its shoulders. "Look at you, with all those curves, and me with no brakes."
Siobhan stares at him for at least a full ten seconds, wondering if she just imagined that bad pick up line. "Wow. Really? Does that like work for you? Ever?"
"No reason to get hostile, sweet pea, I just wanna get close to you."
The witch takes a step back and puts up a hand, pressing her palm to the center of his chest. "Let's not and say we did." With that, the witch goes to make a step around him only to be intercepted again.
The man-boy follows, glancing back over his shoulder, "I saw you with those two. Why don't you let a real man buy you a drink and show you what it's all about? You can do a whole lot better."

"The best way to be."
Cooper considers how long the duckling's been gone, and glances toward the bathrooms again. He's about to comment on the fact that she's been gone a while, and he's glad that she wasn't there to be embarrassed by what he's said when Preston names his price.
"Well, well, well…" Dropping his hand to Preston's knee he grins. "Maybe we'll see what we can do about that later."
That's when out of the corner of his eye, he spots the duckling being accosted. "Though it looks like you're going to need to hold that thought, Broadway." It's a swift and dextrous move that has him hopping over the back of the bench and onto the table behind them. A quick apology is offered before he swings himself down and right behind the guy that's bugging Siobhan. Tapping the guy on the shoulder, he calmly says, "I'd suggest keeping the hands off my girlfriend."

Preston's heart is thudding, but he's as calm as a cucumber. He's been bold and flirtatious in the past, but nothing like that. He's glad that Shiv and Jenna weren't there to witness it, though he figures he'll end up telling them about it later. He has a reply on the tip of his tongue when Cooper is suddenly off, over the bench and table.
Swiveling in his seat, Preston sees what caught Cooper's attention. Shaking his head, he makes a mental note that the girl can't even go the bathroom in peace, before standing from the table.
"Could you hold the table, please? Thanks. Next round is on me." He slides a twenty to the couple the next table over and follows at a more sedate pace. Siobhan can take care of herself for the most part, although it's always wise to step in before she pulls out the big guns.
"Hey," Preston says stepping up behind Cooper, "We have a problem here?"

Siobhan sighs, and then gives the college boy in front of her a smile dripping with honey. She bats her eyes and pouts her lips. "You're absolutely right. I can do a whole lot better."
Beat.
"Than you." The sweetness vanishes from her face and she fixes him with a glare. "Now move out of my way before I move you."
"Are you threatening me? You're one of those types who thinks she's too good? Come in here showing off the wares but not selling?" As he talks, he presses closer, hands going for her waist and hips. "I'm going to show you how the big boys play."
Siobhan is about to send him hopping with a magical charge when she sees Cooper over his shoulder and hears his words. She bites the inside of her cheek to stop from laughing.
The guy stops and looks back at Cooper. Evidently sizing him up to see if he's a threat. "Why don't you tell your girlfriend to stop flirting?" His gaze goes back and forth between Siobhan and Cooper, evidently trying to decide if Siobhan's worth or it or if he wants to pick that fight.

"My girlfriend doesn't flirt. Not with douchebags like you." Cooper pops his neck to one side, then the other. "Yeah, we got a problem here. This asshole won't take his grubby hands off my girlfriend. I'm giving him about ten seconds to back away before I knock him on his ass, unless you want to go get the big bouncer by the door."
Stretching his arms, he puts his fingers together and cracks them. "Come here, duckling. I don't want you getting in the way, or his disgusting hands to touch you anymore."
He pauses.
"And for the record? She is too good for you."

Preston is stunned for a few fleeting moments by how quickly and easily Cooper took up a role, and plays it. Cooper doesn't come off as the fighting type, but Preston doesn't doubt the persona that the other man is putting forth - real or not. "I could do that," Preston says quietly, considering the other guy. "I hear that they have a really strict blacklist here." If Cooper's the fighter, then Preston will be the quiet, still best friend type. The guy you're not sure how to take.
He pointedly does not look at Siobhan because he knows one or the other of them will start laughing and give it away.

Siobhan waits for a count of three, then shakes the guy's hands off with a soft exhalation. There's also a gesture behind her back, one that will send a little more force toward his hands, just to make sure he gets the picture.
The idiot is evidently trying to work out things in his alcohol laden brain, which gives her the opportunity to skirt around him and sidle up to Cooper. She wraps her arms around her fellow dancer and leans up to brush her lips across his. "Don't waste your time, or your energy, sweetie. He's not worth it."
She bats her eyes adorably at Cooper and pats him on the chest. "Let's just go back to our table?"
The witch is taking a page from Preston's book and not looking at her friend either. The laughter will be inevitable if she does.

Cooper is good enough to not look shocked when Siobhan kisses him. It's just a light kiss, barely touching, but he wasn't expecting it of her. Wrapping his arms around her, he dips her down and stage-kisses her, making it look as real as possible. Then he stands up and passes her off to Preston.
"Take her back to the table. I'll stay here to make sure this guy doesn't make any more trouble."

… And the Oscar goes to …
Preston is only mildly shocked when Siobhan kisses Cooper. He knows it's a faux kiss, having played this ruse with her before, but he is surprised that she's bold enough to do it. He's a good enough actor to not look surprised, and projects an air of repetitive boredom when Cooper dips the witch.
Wrapping a protective, brotherly arm around Siobhan's shoulder, he nods to Cooper. "Just stay out of trouble."

The dip surprises her, but fortunately Siobhan recovers fast, and it can be chalked up to not expecting to be dipped instead of surprise from the 'kiss.' She's not on Broadway, but she's no stranger to acting, and she plays it up rather well. She combs her fingers through Cooper's hair, runs a hand over his shoulders and looks suitably kiss-dazed when he puts her back on her feet.
"Whatever, I'm not scared of you," the drunk says, but he ambles away despite his words.
Leaning on Preston, Siobhan bites the inside of her cheek hard enough to hurt. She's forgotten her anti-creep charm, but honestly, not having it made that kind of fun. And she really needed to blow off some tension and have some fun.

"Touch her again, and you will be," Cooper says, calm faced as can be. He stays in position until he's positive the guy isn't swinging around to try and grab Siobhan again. Once he's satisfied that she'll be left alone, he exhales a breath.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he saunters back to the table and sits down. "You okay, duckling? I swear, if he hurt you I will go punch him. I'd hate to break my hand before the gala, but que sera sera."

"Sadly, this is too typical. That's why she brought me along tonight." Preston shakes his head, "Though it could have been worse. I'm sorry I wasn't being more attentive." Guys have been known to get more grabby, especially as they get drunker and it gets later. If Jenna's with Siobhan, the situation can be diffused, but the little witch has snark and bitchiness that come bubbling out when she gets overly agitated. Most guys don't take kindly to snark and bitchiness. Especially if they are drunk.
Preston pats her hand and rests his head against hers, "I'm the worse faux boyfriend. It's a good thing Cooper was here to pick up my slack."

"Oh cut it out," Siobhan is more amused than anything, really and it can be seen in her sparkling eyes and bright smile. She nudges Preston, then pulls his head down and kisses his temple. "I didn't expect you to eye stalk me, and I sort of had it under control." Meaning she would have sparked the guy or burned him in very short order if he hadn't backed off.
The witch looks over at Cooper and grins at him, "You were good though. Thanks for that."
Beat.
"And I'm fine. He didn't hurt me."

"I imagine so. With a body like that… hell if she were my girlfriend I wouldn't let her out of my sight, let alone in a place like this. It's a veritable meat market." Cooper watches the interaction with a great deal of amusement. Especially after what he told Preston. He could see the pair of them naked and making out, and he has to pinch the skin between his thumb and forefinger to draw him out of the fantasy.
"No problem. It was my fault you ran off without your boy-protection."

He doesn't know why, but Cooper's frankness still manages to surprise Preston a little. Even after their conversation. Maybe it's because he doesn't expect the man to be so honest in his appraisal of Siobhan.
Preston nods his head, "I'm sure her boyfriend would love to lock her in a tower, but butterflies really shouldn't be caged."
Preston drapes an arm around Siobhan's shoulder and places a kiss on the top of her head. It's a light, friendly, comfortable affection. "That's why I've been elected to take care of her and keep the handsy grabsy overly horny cavemen away when she makes these forays."

Color crawls up from Siobhan's chest into her neck and spreads to her cheeks at Cooper's words, but she's starting to get used to his outspokenness. The witch doesn't duck her head, and only squirms a little, biting her lip for a few seconds.
"I'd like to see someone try and put me in a tower." She tosses her hair over her shoulder and then gives Cooper a soft smile, reaching out to pat his hand in a friendly manner. "It wasn't your fault, and it's not like Pres could come with me … well, I guess he probably could, but you know what I mean."
It's not the first time she's touched Cooper, but it's the first time Shiv isn't so completely distracted that she can pick up the ripple of his power. Like touching any witch, or sorcerer, it's like that spark jumping from skin to skin, a sense of ability that can't really be defined, just that she knows what it is, if not how to determine the full measure of his strength. It reminds her that he's still something of an enigma.

"I don't know. They have butterfly galleries." Cooper smirks at the pair. "Besides which, if I were locking you in a tower, you wouldn't have any need or reason to escape." Winking at them, he leans over Siobhan and stage-whispers to Preston, "Though I think we'll need to pick up our discussion at a later date. Unless your friend is into watching. That, and I think management frowns on those sort of activities going on below the table."

Cooper is dangerous. Preston sees that quite clearly now. Being around the man is like playing with fire, but Preston finds himself wanting to feel the flame. The over the top flirtatiousness and implications of his words conjure up all sorts of naughty images that Preston really doesn't think he should be entertaining about a man he's just met. He licks his lips slowly, "I'm sure you're a perfectly congenial prison keeper."
Preston chuckles, a low hoarse sound, and gives his head a shake. He's feeling just a little flustered, but trying not to let it show. It was easier to be bold and forward when Siobhan wasn't sitting right there, though he suspects Cooper is doing it on purpose. "I think we can table it for later. Wouldn't want to get tossed out and banned."

Preston may be playing it cool and trying not to let things show, but Siobhan turns darkly pink at Cooper's insinuation. She may be inexperienced and innocent in quite a few areas, but she's not naive. She reads. She's heard other girls talk. She's seen a few pornos. It's not terribly hard for her mind to paint a picture of what Cooper is implying.
The witch clears her throat and then fixes Cooper with a look. "Are you always like this?"

Cooper finds that he likes the low chuckle from Preston, and he winks at the man again. "I thought it would have to be tabled. Too bad. It could've proven to be an interesting evening. Don't think I won't get that story out of you yet." There's either a promise there, or a tease.
Chuckling at Siobhan, he grins at her. "Like what? Bold? Up front about what I want? Horribly flirtatious? It's who I am, duckling."

The up and coming Broadway actor smiles a wickedly mischeivous smile. His arm is still resting loosely around Siobhan's shoulders and he lifts his hand to tickle his fingers along Cooper's arm. "You can certainly try."
Beat.
"If you decide you want to, Shiv knows where to find me."

Siobhan hasn't been drinking, aside from the one drink earlier and the swallow she stole of Preston's beer. It means that she's nowhere near drunk; nor has she cast any magic, so she's not riding a magical high. Those are usually the sorts of tings that will loosen her tongue, but she doesn't have those for an excuse when she tilts her head curiously and asks, "You want to give my best friend a blow job under the table?" Knowing that she's probably shocked one, if not both of them with her boldness, Siobhan flashes a sweetly innocent smile and bats her eyes. "Because I can totes leave you two alone and go dance with myself."

"We'll see, Broadway."
Cooper doesn't look at all disturbed or shocked by her curiosity. Instead, he laughs. "I do believe that was the payment for the story I was asking him to tell, yes." Shaking his head, he frowns at her.
"I don't think Broadway is planning on leaving you alone again for the rest of the night. Mr. Grabby is at the bar glaring at you." The frown deepens, and he gives them both a broad grin. "So if the two of you will excuse me, I'm going to make good on my promise to punch the look off his face."

"Try not to get kicked out. I'd like to hang out again," Preston tells the dancer as he departs. He grins at Siobhan when Cooper is out of ear shot. "I like him."
Beat.
"That was bold for you and you're not even drunk."

"Bye Cooper," Siobhan flashes him a friendly smile. "I'll see you next week."
"I never would have guessed you liked him," Siobhan remarks dryly, rolling her eyes. Then she shrugs. "I was just trying to find my center. I don't like feeling like a blushing virginal bride."
Beat.
"And I have to dance with him. I'd like to be able to hold my own if he's always like that."

NYC: Veil of Shadows

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