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[lavitanuova.livejournal.com]

Title: The Madness of Absinthe: Part One
Author(s): lavitanuova and maverick0324
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Moulin Rouge is the property of those to whom it belongs. Billy and Dom are their own creations, we can't claim them either. I also want to mention that immitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I love how app1e_pi and lord_alexander format their phone tig, so I decided to do the whole pictures-to-signify-POV thing. It isn't exactly identical, but close enough that I want to give credit!
Notes: And a heartfelt dedication belongs with this chapter, from both maverick0324 and myself to the lovely blondiusmaximus!

Prologue

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"Let me be mad... mad with madness of Absinthe, the wildest most luxurious madness in the world."

- Marie Corelli

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"Long night?" Billy said softly, directly into Dominic's ear. The bed shifted suddenly as Dominic turned, wide eyes blinking and surprised.

"What the fucking hell are you doing here?" Dominic said, and Billy could only watch with the same amused half-smile as he looked around in shock. "You're not supposed to be here, what if Ziddler comes in and finds you? He'll kill us both, Billy, you know-"

"Calm your arse down," Billy said, settling back. "Zidler's well occupied, Henri's seen to that. They're downstairs discussing some business something or other. We've finally gotten his attention.'

Billy was smiling up at the bejeweled ceiling, and only just then realised that the large sparkled plates were there for a reason. His own reflection stared back down at him, upside down and split into four pieces. "That's very interested," He commented, finding Dominic's reflection and grinning at it.

"You shouldn't be here." Dominic said, as he appeared to be trying to gather the blankets around him. It was rather difficult, though, seeing as Billy was currently sprawled out across them, and after a moment or two he just gave up, standing with a lack of modesty typical of one such as Dominic.

Billy chose not to cringe at he disdain for propriety and instead enjoyed the view, the mouth-watering curve of Dominic's arse as it blended into thighs that Billy could so very easily imagine wrapped around his head. "Stop perving," Dominic smirked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Put some clothes on," Billy responded, not bothering to hide his obvious interest. "No, wait. Don’t. Never put clothes on. Never.” He tipped his head back, and then forward again, remembering in that moment why he was here. “Henri wants us to meet with him in an hour. He's going to tell us what Zidler's said - and if he'll let you be in the performance."

"Fucking hope he does..." Dominic bent (oh yes, bent, and there's that lovely arse again) to retrieve a dressing gown and slid it over his shoulders. Billy groaned, pounding a fist against the sheet. Dominic just laughed and rolled his eyes.

"The tragedy," Moaned Billy, "The horror of it all. Plague and disease and starving children hold nothing on the ill that befalls us now."

"Shut your gob," Dominic said, but he was laughing as he pulled on a pair of black trousers and turned to face Billy. Billy caught only the faintest glimpse of the dark hair between Dominic's legs before the trousers were done up, but it was enough to cause a stirring of his own. He sat up, coughing discreetly into his own fist.

"All right, then. I just wanted you to know - the usual meeting place, and hopefully Zidler won't keep Henri too long. We'll just have to amuse ourselves if he does, now won't we?"

Billy found his way out the same that he'd come in - the long way, the way that involved climbing out a window and back into another, down a long hall and a flight of wooden stairs, creeping through back stages until he finally came to the door that was only used by the garbage collectors that came to clear the place out nightly.

He had nothing to amuse his time, and wished almost immediately that he hadn't been so quick to leave the luxury of Dominic's rooms. But he hadn't been invited - not to enter, nor to stay, and as queer as it was that meant something to him. He meant to one day find his way to Dominic's bed and not be questioned for his intentions. But that day was not today, and so he wandered through the streets with a small smile on his face, notebook tucked into his pocket in case inspiration were to strike in a more substantial for than the way his body insisted on periodically calling up Dominic's sleep-sweet smile in the moments before awakening.



Dominic shook his head at Billy's suggestion and made to tell him something but by the time Dominic had turned around - Billy was gone. Dominic shrugged and moved to his bed and flopped down on it. He had half an hour before he would need to leave to meet Billy and Henri and - hopefully- good news. Dom rolled over and grabbed the green bottle on the table and poured himself two fingers worth before knocking it back without sugar. Dom took a moment to admire how the green of the bottle seemed to look exactly like Billy’s eyes before falling back onto his bed.

The ceiling tiles looked down on him, his reflection cut up and reflected 4 times. Dominic’s hand came up to finger the bruises on his hips - tonight’s customer had been younger than normal - and more rowdy to boot. Dominic’s hips and back were covered in bruises and it hurt to move too much but this kind of pain he was used to. Came with the territory.

But. Dominic’s mind couldn't help but wandering to how Billy looked, lying on his bed - his eyes deep and dark with wantlustdesire. And deep down Dominic knew it was wrong and it wasn't allowed - but he wanted Billy - which made waking up to him all the more surprising. Dominic also knew that Billy would be a gentle lover, kind and loving - pushing into Dom like he cherished Dom and not pounding into him as if Dom was a piece of meat and then leaving him before the come had even dried.

Dominic quickly stilled these thoughts - thoughts and dreams that could never work. Would never work. Dominic refused to allow himself to return to these ideas as he knocked back another shot of the lovely green liquor.

*-*

Dominic had fallen asleep again and he cursed himself as he ran through the dirty, deserted streets of Montemarte, hurrying to get to his meeting and pulling on his shirt and buttoning it as quickly as he could. Dominic rounded a building and ran through the gates into a small park. Two lefts, a right and a long walk to the back and Dom had gotten to where he needed to meet the others.

There was only one problem. When Dom got there - Billy was the only one there - leaning against a tree. “Billy…” Dominic warned cautiously, looking around for a sign of Henri but finding none. Dom knew he was late for the meeting and that Henri would not dare to be over a half an hour late and so - that left one alternative.

“Billy you didn't…” Dominic started as he moved towards Billy to chastise him but was cut off by the soft press of lips against his. “Billy…” Dominic choked out again - moving quickly away from him. “No.” He said softly, wincing as he moved away. “No. You can't afford me.”