The Elf, the Cat, and the Human

“I am so killing you for this later.” Teric vowed, stumbling again over the thick, clunky boots his roommate had forced on him.

“So you’ve said.” Edrin replied absently, straining to see past the queue of people in front of them.

“Seriously, Edrin.” Teric threatened, squinting at Edrin’s back. Edrin may have managed to hide Teric’s ears, but he wasn’t sure that the price of losing his glasses again was worth it. Not that Edrin would’ve let him leave the room wearing them.

“Stop complaining.” Edrin gave up trying to see around a woman with an enormous hat.

“I’ll complain as much as I very well please.” Teric informed Edrin haughtily, wishing for the thousandth time that he could see properly.

“I don’t’ see how you have anything worth complaining about.” Edrin smirked, letting his gaze trail along Teric’s form. Teric rolled his eyes.

“How about boots that are two sizes big?” Teric countered, letting Edrin pull him forward as the queue moved.

“You’ll get used to them.” Edrin replied distractedly – the real complaint Teric had and never voiced. Edrin would hang around with him for a bit before going dancing (something Teric avoided like the plague) or being dragged off to a dark corner somewhere. Or worse, to some stranger’s place. Some stranger that wasn’t Teric and Teric would be left half-blind and on his own. It really wasn’t fun to see the friend you were crushing on – even if it was only a very minor crush, Teric told himself firmly – go off with someone else.

Edrin thought Teric did the same, so he was constantly dragging Teric out in his chase after ‘tail,’ and it really amused Teric that he called it that. He didn’t really mind. He liked the club atmosphere and occasionally he’d manage to strike up a conversation with someone interesting.

The only thing that usually detracted from it was the girls (and that one really scary guy) who would follow him around the clubs cooing over his ears. They didn’t seem to understand that just because Teric had dared to go clubbing, that he didn’t really want their less-than-gentle fingers trying to poke and prod at his sensitive ears.

In truth, the only time Teric had ever spent the night away from the dorm had been the time he’d left to go home and gotten lost. Because Edrin had taken his glasses away. Then he’d missed all the bus runs and couldn’t figure out how to get a taxi – not that he could’ve afforded one. Edrin had just been thrilled though, when he’d come back exhausted with clothing rumpled in the morning, so Teric had let it go.

“And, we’re in.” Edrin announced, flashing a grin at Teric as he pulled him in after him. Teric smiled back distractedly, staring around the small, dimly lit coatroom.

“Edrin, where are we?” Teric demanded. The clubs they usually frequented didn’t have coatrooms. Edrin paused in the act of hanging up his jacket, and Teric decided his smile was leaning towards sheepish.

“Ah, The Lady Blue?” Edrin offered and Teric sighed. No wonder Edrin had finally conceded and helped him camouflage his ears.

“But you look as human as I do, so don’t worry.” Edrin hastened to reassure, shoving his jacket onto one of the provided racks. “We can leave if you don’t like it?”

Teric shook his head, fighting the urge to pat down his hair to make sure his ears were still hidden. Shrugging off his coat in concession, Teric frowned at Edrin.

“Don’t leave me alone in there.” Teric decreed. He didn’t want to face a lynch mob of elves if his ears or tail decided they needed to make an appearance.

“Awww, but Teric.” Edrin whined, draping himself on Teric’s half-bare shoulder. “How’m I supposed to puck up a hot piece of elven tail that way?”

“Offer a threesome.” Teric told him dryly, shrugging Edrin off. “And elves don’t have tails.” Edrin snickered at him, following him to the door at the far end of the coatroom. “Did you think about how I was supposed to pick up here?”

“Oh. Good point.” Edrin’s voice was apologetic. “Sorry, I just got excited when I heard they were opening to humans tonight.”

Teric shook his head, amused despite himself at Edrin’s thoughtlessness.

“We’ll go someplace else after an hour or so, okay?” Edrin offered, and Teric shrugged.

“If you want.” Slanting a smile at Edrin as he opened the door into the club’s proper, Teric continued, “Unless you’ve gotten your elven tail by then.”

Edrin snickered again, and nudged him inside. Teric smiled to himself, surveying the club blurrily. The bright area lining the wall to his right would be the bar, and the dark area with the flashing, bright lights, would be the dance floor. There was already a crush of people throwing themselves about vigorously to the music.

Teric smiled – the club had some sort of spell in place – the music where he was wasn’t loud, but merely a pleasant thrum in the background. Probably the dance area in front of the DJ’s station was much louder.

“I’m dancing.” Edrin told him, right next to where his left ear was slicked down and held stiffly in place with the styling gel. Teric nodded, fighting to ignore the pleasant shiver that snaked down his spine as he headed for the brightly lit bar.

“How about that one?” Jenai gestured to one of the humans lured in by the music. She was dancing rather well for a graceless animal.

“No. Too tall.” Akeid dismissed, bored. This was a stupid idea, but Jenai and Mareth wouldn’t let up unless he left with someone.

“Her?” Mareth tried, picking out a blonde girl with a large chest and long, shapely legs.

“Too busty.” Akeid declared, smirking when both Jenai and Mareth gaped. “Besides. Dad told me to avoid human girls. They tend to be diseased and deceptive. I don’t want a half-human bastard child haunting me later, do I?”

“Good point.” Jenai agreed. “But are you okay with a guy?”

“I’m not picky.” Akeid hid a smile because he’d been nothing but picky all night.

“Oh? How about him? He’s been alone since he walked in.” Mareth picked out a skinny human leaning against the bar. He was twisting one of the heels to his clunky boots back and forth in time to the music, his gaze focused on the dance floor as he nursed his drink.

He was pretty enough, with dark hair spiked around his head in a curiously flattering pattern. He wore snug, flashy, silver and black clothes that molded to all the right spots but still gave him a hint of mystery. And of course, Akeid was always a sucker for big boots.

“Okay.” Akeid agreed, taking a last swallow from his drink and standing up.

“Good luck.” Jenai told him cheerfully, saluting his fluorescent blue drink towards Akeid.

Akeid snorted delicately. He wouldn’t need luck. The only reason the humans flocked here was to see if they could score an elf. This human would be easy.

Akeid sauntered over to the bar, somewhat disappointed when the motion didn’t attract the young man’s attention. He sauntered quite nicely. Pausing a few feet away, Akeid wondered what approach he should use for a moment before quickly deciding to go directly to the point.

Stepping into the human’s personal space, Akeid smiled charmingly as the young man turned to look at him. And he had pretty honey-brown eyes too – Akeid let his smile widen. Humans did have such aesthetic appeal sometimes.

“Hi.” Akeid greeted, letting his eyes travel the length of the human’s pretty body.

“Ah. Hi,” was the shy response and Akeid smiled again. This was too easy, especially with the ‘are you talking to me’ expression on the human’s face.

“I’m Akeid.” Akeid introduced himself, waiting to hear if the human’s name was as pretty as his face. Things should go rather quickly after that, and he’d be able to placate Jenai and Mareth for a week or two. Though maybe he’d take his time tonight.