1369/Tom, Dick, and Hairy.

Tom, Dick, and Hairy.
Date of Scene:	09 July 2017
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Nightwing, Daken, 1166

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Nightwing has posed:
    Gotham is always alive at night, rivaling even New York for its late night escapades. There are shows to be seen, parties go go to, and soirees to be seen at. One such an event just so happens to be ball that's thrown for a charitable organization. This year it just so happens to be for the Boys and Girls clubs of the city. Those local neighborhood organizations and buildings that try and give kids a place to go to instead of running the street wildly.
    This year it's in the Plaza hotel's grand ball room, the catwalk dominates one side of the room, while the other is for the people to walk around and mingle along with a plethora of tables for food, drinks, and just relaxing. The music is provided by a string quartet that are offering touches of the classical to the air.
    But right now, the young man known as Dick Grayson is mingling, walking around, smiling, offering greetings to the people he knows. He has a soft spot for the charity this year, so he's even gone so far as to offer himself up to be auctioned.

Daken has posed:
There are always celebrities at these things, and then there are personalities, models, and all kinds of pretty faces and pretty everything-elses that end up mingling around the crowd. The more fashionable and the more appealing to the eye, the more likely photos will promote the event and make the cause look better. It's shallow, sure, but it gets the word out.

So whether or not he was strictly invited, Daken is there in a devastatingly flattering ensemble in subtle, dark tones that clings, slinks, and reveals enough to catch the eye. It's something that would probably make the editors of GQ clutch their pearls, the editors of Out wish they dared as much, and the editors of Rolling Stone bitter and resentful they didn't think of it and put it on a cover first.

He's eating canapes and sipping champagne, which does absolutely nothing to him but make his nose tingle with the bubbles. It's hard not to notice him, especially with that hair.

Toro (1166) has posed:
Thomas Raymond is oddly feeling more comfortable than he's been in a bit - formwalwear hasn't changed much at all in fifty years, which is one reason he accepted this invitation. He's been a long-time controbutor to this cause in .. his previous life, and since his ID has been reinstated, he's started to get mail like this. So he thought, what the heck? Now that he's onsite, among a lot of people, it's seeming like less of a good thing - but the organizer has also asked him to participate. And why not? It's for charity, after all. For now, he's mingling about, and trying to listen in to various conversations.

Nightwing has posed:
    The auction is starting to get underway while everyone else is mingling, talking. The announcer is standing at the podium, smiling as he clears his throat and adjusts the microphone.
    "Attention, everyone, attention." He's a tall man, older and greying but with a rather well kept beard. He looks out over the audience and clears his throat.
    "Welcome today, Ladies and Gentlemen." And he begins the spiel about how what a lovely cause it is, how important it is to see to the needs of the youth of today. And then he goes on to ramble a bit even as the first Bachelorettes are brought up on stage.
    Dick Grayson, however, is moving through the crowd towards the snack table. He wends his way, smiling and giving a few nods. And, as fate would have it, his path leads him near Daken and Thomas. "Hello," He offers in greeting even as he's reaching for a small bit of frozen fruit.

Daken has posed:
Daken doesn't answer immediately. His eyes take in the glorious vision that is Dick Grayson, and as a trained fighter, he can certainly appreciate a well-honed body even when it's covered by the finery that this kind of event always asks. But that's a tailored suit, and it's not as concealing of the form beneath it as, say, something off the rack would be. He can respect that Dick is definitely someone of favorable circumstances. Maybe a valuable ally. Who knows?

Probably at least a bit of fun. "Evening," he replies, belatedly. "You must be one of the bachelors for auction. There's no way you'd be coming here to buy a date." He offers a bright smile, though his eyes do veer off to check out Thomas, on the other side of Dick and very close.

He's sure that both of them have more going on than either would openly admit, especially at a public venue, but they can probably just as easily tell the same about him. Daken pops the last canape into his mouth from his plate and sets it down, then stretches his arms up, a little catlike in the gesture.

Toro (1166) has posed:
Thomas Raymond nods to the other young men around the snack table, though Daken's looks get a double-take from him - he's still not quite used to modern and post-modern looks - but he tries to keep his reaction calm and frosty. That was the term, right? Dick gets a friendly nod and smile, a fellow clean-cut red-blooded All-American guy. Dude. Whatever people were, now. "Hello," he says to both as he gets a bit of cheese from the snack table. "I had no idea so many people would show up to something like this."

Nightwing has posed:
    It's but a tuxedo on him, but to be fair... Dick Grayson carries it off and carries it off well. He'd blend into the crowd of tuxes upon tuxes, but the figure he cuts is clean and rather sharp. And when he espies Daken he gives the man a smile and a nod, "I am, not sure... third I think?" The smile is small, a little nervous as he gestures with his glass of water.
    Settling into the place now that they've created their clique of the pretty amongst the pretty, Dick looks between them. "Though," He looks to Daken, "I do plan to bid a bit. I mean it's for charity." He offers, then he extends his hand. "Dick Grayson,"
    When it's accepted his shake is business like, short and non-aggressive but firm. Just two pumps, done. Once introductions are made he'll take another bite of his frozen fruit and then looks across the way.

Daken has posed:
"You certainly are." Daken replies, taking the hand and giving it a good, firm squeeze. Nothing to prove here; but he looks right into the other young-looking man's eyes, his own gaze a penetrating one. He doesn't so much take his own hand back once the gesture is done as he makes a sort of point of allowing Dick to do it first.

By the time Thomas greets him, Daken's turning, as if to look back at the hors d'oeuvres and other finger foods. He must have an incredible metabolism. "Evening to you too," he rumbles, with only a little assurance of danger in his tone. "People love to be seen. In this city, they've got to choose somewhere with lights, what with the shadows being so long and dark."

Toro (1166) has posed:
"Thomas Raymond," Tom says to Dick and Daken, shaking hands around as polite people do. His suit is obviously off-the-rack rental, but he still fills it nicely. "I guess so," he says at the mention of bidding. "More fun to see who gets you, though, I suppose. Um, speaking of that, this is my first time doing, um, anything like this. What happens then?" he says, shifting to look around at the gala and then back to the others.

Nightwing has posed:
    A young woman, blonde, attractive starts to walk down the catwalk in a white dress. She smiles to everyone and gives small waves while blushing furiously. Dick lifts a hand and gives her a small wave before he turns back to Daken and meets the other man's eyes, "Oh it's not so bad here," He offers about Gotham, "Sure the nights are long and there's a certain... gothic oppression vibe to it," His lips widen into a smile, but then he adds. "But during the day it really opens up."
    He looks over to Thomas and smiles, "Well you can bid on someone when they start taking them, and if you win you get a nice dinner and perhaps a show of some sort. But really a lot of it is in fun."
    That having been said he finishes off his small canape and then wipes his fingers on an equally small napkin. "I promised a friend that I'd bid on her when it's her turn. But I think she'll be fine without needing a ringer."

Daken has posed:
"Seems like I only get out here at night," Daken comments, leaning back against the table but not putting his full weight against it. Not that it couldn't take it, but he knows better. He's polite enough not to set his rear end on a table of food, no matter who might suggest it's a fun, edgy idea.

"Gothic Oppression Vibe, huh? I think I did a shoot for one of their albums." He keeps things light with his tone, slightly fatuous with the way he easily moves, gestures, almost dismissive or casual. But it'll be easy enough to note that he obviously keeps his body under a kind of discipline, and it responds instantly, readily, to what he demands of it.

He goes quiet again, watching Dick and Thomas interact. They may know each other, he's not sure. Not best of friends, though, probably. "Mainly a meal, like he said. Lots of photos, because they want to have something to show the investors and the press." His smile widens, to show his almost brilliantly white, perfect teeth. "Probably not hot monkey sex. But you never know. Gets kinda crazy in Gotham City late nights."

Toro (1166) has posed:
Thomas Raymond actually does blush at the idea when Daken mentions sex, and he takes a long drink of his club soda. "Well, that's, um, good to know. I haven't been to Gotham, before but the newspapers - well, they led me to think this was a different sort of city." For a young man, looking maybe 18 or 20, his diction is a little staid. His movements, though, something Daken would certainly pick up on and Dick might as well, are careful and economical. He knows how to fight, by the way he moves, and the way his eyes don't seem to miss much.

Nightwing has posed:
    The bidding had already started for that young lady, and while the three men chat another two young women are sent up and each given a round of bidding. The pace is brisk, and the mood is bright. No bidding wars have broken out, no need for people to push their claim. The first two of the three were bought outright with no counter bids, but the night was still young.
    "Does sound like a band doesn't it?" Dick smiles across the way to Daken and then turns to finagle another bit of snack, though this one seems to be a cracker of some sort with a bit of spread. He turns back around to them, looking between them. But then he laughs lightly at Daken's comment, "No, I am sure there is a distinct lack of hot monkey loving." At the last word he sort of makes a face as if the idea was crazy, but he turns back towards Thomas.
    "I imagine it depends on which papers you read." Dick gives a short nod, and does a fairly decent job of keeping his manner seeming a bit too open and casual, his control of motion, his stance... even the way he occasionally looks over the crowd after every few moments, it speaks of something else. "But for ages Gotham and New York did sorta have a friendly rivalry. Especially when the Knights won the championship."

Daken has posed:
"So...who are you both hoping will buy you up?" Daken eases off the table and drifts somewhere between them, slightly off to the side so the two can easily, openly see each other instead of having to stare around him. "Unless you've got a shill somewhere in the audience. Failsafe, just in case something gets too crazy."

It's not hard for him to see that Dick has the money to pull off something like that. Maybe he'll try for Dick, maybe not -- but he's entirely sure that, unless Thomas has rich friends, he probably doesn't have any such save in place. This trip to Gotham might not be such a waste of time, Daken muses.

Toro (1166) has posed:
Thomas Raymond brightens at the mention of the Knights. Sportball! Something he knows! "Man, I love watching the Knights. This has been a building season for them, though, I think. Cleaver's injury made that a certainty," he says.

"Um, um, redhead, I hope," Tom says, at Daken's question. "I don't have anyone, no; first time here," he says. He takes another long drink from his soda, then picks up a refill from a passing waiter.

Nightwing has posed:
    "Yeah, but they did pretty good in the draft." Dick points out to Thomas even as the next young woman comes up. Dick looks to Daken and answers him with a smile, "I really don't have a preference. I mean, I know there's something to be said to make sure that things work out a certain way." The young man looks between the two of them, but then he adds perhaps a little upbeat, "But that seems like, you know, cheating."
    That having been said a young woman with dark hair comes up. She's a little bit shorter than some, and perhaps a bit older than some. But it's then that Dick turns to the others, "One sec, if you'll excuse me." And as he says that he holds up a card, getting his bid counted for a thousand dollars to start, and then the bidding starts to go around.
    There's a few more passes, numbers being throw about and Dick pushes the bidding up to five thousand, but at that the bidding stops and the auctioneer points towards Grayson.
    "And sold, to the young Mr. Grayson. Good on you, sir."
    He steps back and waves, while the girl blows him a kiss and he grins, shrugs, then steps back to them. "Kind of fun."

Daken has posed:
Sportsball. Not much to say about that. Daken can't even see them getting a little too aggressive with the conversation, so his pheromones can't really boost that for a little amusement. Not that he would; he's not bored, and he kind of likes these two. For the moment, anyway: Dick's smooth and a fantastic liar, and he has an incredible back end, and Thomas is just too pure and sincere. Probably twisted as hell if the right circumstances arose.

"Redheads! Yeah, who doesn't like a redhead?" Daken drifts easily closer to Thomas while Dick is distracted with auction matters. "If I win you, we can swing by somewhere and grab some Manic Panic. Candy apple!" He gestures illustratively to his head, apparently implying that it's some kind of dye.

Toro (1166) has posed:
Thomas Raymond whistles softly. "Well, that's good for the Boys and Girls clubs," he says, clearly uncertain but impressed by someone who can drop five thousand so casually. That's something he's still having to wrap his head around - how much things cost. That would have bought a house when he was a kid! "Good choice," he says under his breath to Dick.

He just blinks uncomprehendingly at Daken.

Nightwing has posed:
    "She's a friend," Dick tells Thomas as he settles back into the easy company of the other two men. Something about Daken, just makes it seem natural to be spending some time there in casual conversation. For really the man has an interesting turn of phrase and insight. But Grayson eats the rest of his snack with a quick bite, then dusts off his hands before wiping the fingers clean with the same small napkin.
    "You could go up there if you liked, I am sure you would rake in the money." He looks over to Thomas and grins, "Heck either of you guys. I mean if you want, I could get them to add you to the list? Or are you already on it?" He presents some element of flightiness, fuzzy-headedness as is befitting someone so taken with such a party. But Daken most likely can assuredly see it's not a'tall what it seems.

Daken has posed:
Daken laughs a pleasant, light laugh that is neither too sharp nor too loud. He can apparently read a room, and he's pretty good at it. When the situation calls for it, he knows his way around polite society and manners. Though it tempts him to play with Dick's perfect facade, he'll let him have it...he's enjoying the show of a really well-practiced person with him, so close. It's like a performance, and he can appreciate it like he can appreciate any performance art.

"Me? Then I wouldn't be able to bid on *you* though!" It's perhaps noteworthy that he doesn't clarify that. Apparently he intends for it to be the plural "you" and refer to both Thomas and Dick at the same time. "Unless I would. I guess there's no reason why I can't go on *two* dates."

Toro (1166) has posed:
"Oh I'm on it," Tom says. "Um, I'm pretty sure I am. The coordinator guy took one look at me and said I should enter so I told him I would. Charity, and all." He blinks again at Daken, and he shifts on his feet. "But.." he says then he shuts up. He's mostly missed out on the whole gay rights thing, and he's only now kind of getting caught up on current events.

Nightwing has posed:
    "No reason at all you couldn't bid on whomever you like. The dates aren't for a particular day, they usually negotiate when." Richard takes a sip of his water and then tilts it back, crunching on a piece of ice as he then sets it down as the last of the female bachelorettes are set to order and the auctioneer hurries them off.
    It's at that moment that Dick Grayson adjusts his jacket, then sweeps a hand through his hair. "Well then, looks like it's almost showtime, Tom." He takes a moment to look at Daken, "If you ever want to see someone break the bank, you should see when Bruce Wayne is up there. That guy holds the record." A nod is given, then he pats Thomas on the shoulder, "C'mon!"
    And with that he starts to head towards the stage and on to the back to get set in line.

Daken has posed:
Daken shrugs, as if nothing really could be that upsetting to him, based on the easygoing way he seems to go along with everything so far. "Sure, I'm game. Whoever you have to talk to. Give me a signal when I'm supposed to get on the stage." He flashes a grin to Dick, then looks back to Tom. "Good luck. Show that Bruce Wayne how it's done, huh?"

He gives a little bob of his eyebrows, stepping aside so the pair can take their place backstage. Once he's watched them retreat into the distance, he looks around himself, scanning the room much like Dick himself had done. He's pretty sure he could find the man he needs to talk to, just in case. But he'll let Dick have first swing. No need to expend energy unnecessarily; besides, he's got to get his supplies to do the bidding.

And he should probably figure out how best to do that. He's a quick student.

Toro (1166) has posed:
Thomas Raymond nods and sets down his drinks, makes sure his hands are clean, and then follows Dick to the back staging area. "Nice to have met you," he says to Daken, offering him a handshake as he departs.

Nightwing has posed:
    Back stage Dick gets in line, then he leans over, "Hey, Will." He holds up a hand while he stands behind a few of the other eligible bachelors and motions to the producer. "There was another fellow by the name of Daken, he was thinking he'd like to be put in as well if we have time."
    "I don't know, Dick." The older man in the white tuxedo steps over and smiles towards the ward of Bruce Wayne.
    "Really, he's pretty... unique. I bet he'l be a big draw. And what the hey, charity right?"
    "I suppose, can you point him out to me?"
    A grin, "You'll know him when you see him." And with that, Dick motions for the guy to go out and find him.
    But back there in line, even as the first few bachelors go forwards, young master Grayson turns to Tom. "Good luck."

Daken has posed:
Daken happily takes Tom by the hand, gives a squeeze of his warm, soft skin, and lets him go. Whatever cologne he's wearing, it's subtle but delectable -- probably something decidedly uptown, one of those fancy-schmancy designer fragrances -- and it complements his natural scent perfectly. Talk about those models and their planning everything in their ensemble down to the fine detail! "Pleasure's all mine," he answers, waving in a cheerful, almost innocent way as Tom and Dick wander off.

Daken's right there in the crowd near the stage, having found his way to a pretty prominent, up-front position. Who wouldn't just let him slip by? The only thing is that, once he has, they either regret it, wishing he'd stayed right there, or find themselves pretty distracted by his look. He's just doing his job as a model. Easy money.

Toro (1166) has posed:
Thomas Raymond looks back at the exchange and after it's done he checks his neatly-combed hair, just to make sure. I mean, he's going to seen by a lot of people. "Thanks, Dick," he says with a smile. "It's a really worthy cause." He pauses. "I suppose he would make a big splash. The guy with the, um, hair," he says.