The Start of Something Beautiful (Lord A, if you please)

[justdandy]

(So there's only so much we know about Biffy's past, artistic licence engaged! For anybody reading, this is set in the past and so should be safe to read whether you've read the books or not - and hopefully will be rather interesting)

Sixteen year old Sandalio was not having nearly as interesting a time as he had hoped to. It was three years since his (English) mother had insisted to his (Spanish) father that they relocate to England in order to find their son a nice English wife, and that they must do so with enough time that Sandalio could learn to be a proper English gentleman with a proper English accent (quite why she worried about this when she herself had married a Spaniard, he wasn't sure, but he didn't question his mother's motives).

This was the first time since arriving in England that he'd attended a public event, his accent - though still retaining the faintest hint of his Spanish origin - was deemed acceptable and his manners even more so, and thus he'd been allowed to finally attend a ball, just as he'd been begging to do for months.

He wished he hadn't been, because so far all that had happened was that he'd been accosted by several giggling young ladies, or worse, introduced to his father's fat, hairy old acquaintances and forced to stand in a cloud of cigar smoke while they talked about the future and other boring things.

So a mere hour into the party, Sandalio had escaped to a balcony for some fresh air and the chance to lament his sad fate.

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[atadflamboyant]

Of course, Lord Akeldama didn't usually attend every party. There were simply so many of them, even for a vampire of his... stamina. Besides, that was what he had drones for. But, this close to the beginning of the season, he couldn't not make an appearance. After all, everyone was afire with gossip -- who was coming out, who was getting married, and most importantly, what they were wearing during it all. And, of course, his presence would provide a hotbed of scandal and gossip fodder for the next month. One couldn't miss that.

And, as Lord Akeldama watched the young Spanish man slip onto the balcony, he was so glad he hadn't. Fresh meat of the variety he preferred didn't usually appear until later in the season, after the elder bachelors had taken their pick of the flock, but apparently someone was ignoring convention. Lord Akeldama did so love such impertinence.

He sent a young, fresh-faced dandy to summon the boy over to their group.

[justdandy]

It felt like he'd barely been out there five minutes before someone was attracting his attention, and it was all the young man could do to suppress a sigh - until he actually turned to look at the person who had spoken to him. Someone a little closer to his own age and not a simpering girl was just the fresh air he was really looking for, so he supposed he couldn't be too put out at the interruption.

Then the newcomer explained his reason for speaking to him, and his mood fell again. The young dandy didn't want to actually talk to him, he was just summoning him for someone else, and since he was far too well-dressed to be a servant he could only assume that when the man said 'master' he meant 'vampire'. So far, the only vampires he'd met were as old and as dull as everybody else, and he had no idea what this one wanted from him. Still, he had to be polite, so he smiled pleasantly and agreed to follow, all the while making plans to escape as soon as possible and find a better hiding place.

Then he saw Akeldama.

He wondered if he was staring too openly, but he couldn't quite tear his eyes away, because quite frankly the man - the vampire - was stunning.

"My lord Akeldama, may I introduce Mr. Rabiffano," the young man who'd fetched him introduced.

He hoped he wasn't blushing as he bowed, perhaps a touch lower than was strictly necessary.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Akeldama."

[atadflamboyant]

[At the very least, Biffy had found a collection of similarly aged young men -- and not one had an interest in courting or marriage. Well, not beyond gossip, at least.

Lord Akeldama, however, was looking particularly radiant in a saffron jacket he'd just received back from the tailor. Paired with a rich sapphire waistcoat and a gold and ruby paisley cravat, he looked like some exotic bird or bloom in a hot house.]

Mr. Rabiffano. How delightfully foreign.

[He didn't need to see Biffy's blush to know that it was there. He reached out, catching his chin and tipping it up as Biffy leaned into that bow.]

Now that will never do, Mr. Rabiffano. Don't give them an inch more than you ought, no matter who "they" are. Unless, of course, it's me. You can give me everything.

[justdandy]

"Spanish, my lord," he admitted a trifle sheepishly, his mother had been so insistent on him becoming a proper English gentleman, he wasn't sure if he was supposed to be admitting that part - but how was he supposed to avoid it, when his name made it so obvious?

When the vampire caught his chin, he found his gaze drawn irresistibly upwards, meeting Akeldama's eyes and unable to look away. His brow furrowed in confusion at the words.

"But it is you, so surely I'm not doing anything wrong?" His lips quirked up into an awkward smile, until he realised how cheeky he was being, and then he blushed again.

[atadflamboyant]

The rest of the drones have ceased their happy chattering and are watching the encounter hawk-eyed. One never knows how their master will react to anything. But they relax when Lord Akeldama tips his head back and laughs.

"So there's some spanish fire to go along with that name! How droll."

Lord Akeldama rested a cool hand against Biffy's inflamed cheek, giving the boy a thorough look-over with his eyes. He was well enough turned out, but there was so much more that could be done. Lord Akeldama simply loved getting them fresh, there was so much potential waiting to be teased out.

"Will you join us for a bit of a repast, Boffy dear?"

[justdandy]

When his assorted companions went silent, for a moment Sandalio was absolutely horrified, he had heard about how short-tempered vampires could be, how easily offended, had he just said something inexcusably stupid?

Apparently not, and his relief was obvious on his face for a moment before he managed to control his expression once more and it returned to one of polite interest. He wasn't normally so bumbling, was he? He felt it around this wonderfully flamboyant individual, felt young and silly and awkward. He counted himself lucky that Akeldama did not seem to mind.

"I..." he stammered a little, taken aback by the sudden nickname and not sure, immediately, that it was him the vampire was still speaking to. He assumed he must be, and quickly remember his manners "I would be honoured, how kind of you to offer."

[atadflamboyant]

In some things, at least, Lord Akeldama was comparatively mellow. The training of young, green boys was one of them. Fashion, though -- that must be treated with the utmost care.

"Excellent! Tizzy, fix our new friend a plate, won't you?"

As a flame-haired drone raced off to comply, Lord A slipped his arm through Biffy's and steered the boy companionably toward an intimate sitting nook.

"Bless the boy, he's charming, but what do you match to that hair? He can't even wear pink!"

Lord Akeldama shuddered theatrically and left the floor open to comments. Go on, Biffy, show your stuff -- this was a test, even if it wasn't phrased as such. The boy was charmingly flustered and devastatingly attractive, but Lord Akeldama simply could not waste his time on the unstylish.

(As if he'd ever have trouble dressing one of his drones. The thought.)

[justdandy]

He glanced back at the young man for a moment before turning his attention to Akeldama. He hadn't the faintest clue that he was being tested, although he was definitely on edge in case he said the wrong thing again - and now he seemed to be being steered away from everybody else, he couldn't even use their reactions to guess at whether or not he was on the right track.

On the other hand, the thought of actually being tucked away with the vampire on his own sent a thrill of something through him, a feeling he wasn't entirely familiar with, but he had to admit he wouldn't mind feeling it again.

Since this strange new emotion and the fear of getting things wrong were unsettling him so, he didn't really have time to think up what he was supposed to reply, so he just said what he was thinking and hoped for the best.

"Pink would clash terribly, but a dark blue would go rather splendidly with it, and there's always white, or green of course, although as with the blue darker would probably be better."

[atadflamboyant]

"You think so?"

In truth, Lord Akeldama loved Tizzy in blues, but he wanted to see if Biffy would stick to his guns, or if he would be intimidated and back down.

"But red hair is so classically paired with earth tones. Maybe a nice beige..."

If Biffy agreed, that was it for him. Beige was for boring people.

[justdandy]

It was less that the young boy intended to stick to his personal convictions and more that he was just stupid... well, sort of. Maybe it was because there was something he liked about the vampire, maybe it was because he'd gotten drawn into the conversation and forgotten the risk of saying something wrong, maybe it was just that he cared that much about the issue (which he sort of did, he loved matching up colours) - either way, instead of politely agreeing with what Akeldama had to say, Sandalio shook his head.

"If we only ever did things classically, style would never change," he pointed out to begin with, fashion after all was an ever-changing art form. "Beige would make him blend into the background far too much, and it's just so... so... bland! It would make him and his hair look completely lack-lustre. A nice dark blue or green, or a combination of the two, that would really compliment it so much better," finally he remembered his manners and cringed slightly, but he couldn't think of any way to make his vehement disagreement sound any more respectful.

[atadflamboyant]

Oh, could he keep this one? Lord Akeldama settled them onto a small loves eat, shifting his grip to both of Biffy's hands.

"You're quite right, my dear! I would hate to be thought of as traditional... Or worse, boring." he let out a theatrical shudder, his graceful hands closing on Biffy's in an intimate squeeze. Just like it was dull to rehash the same styles and colors, season after season, it was dull to constantly be agreed with. Lots Akeldama didn't mind a little respectful dissension -- as long as it came from a place of passion and knowledge.

"Tell me, Biffy, is fashion an interest of yours?"

He'd passed his test with flying colors, and now the vampire was just being his nosy self.

[justdandy]

He couldn't believe his luck, not only had the vampire not been offended by his response, but he actually seemed pleased by it! He was a little taken aback by the endearment, not yet realising Akeldama's tendency to use them on simply everybody, but at the same time it - particularly combined with the contact of Akeldama's hands on his - sent a shiver of delight down his spine.

"Well both my parents do their best to be at the height of style, of course," he explained, feeling a lot more relaxed and less worried about getting something wrong "so I've learnt plenty from them, it all seems to come so easily, I do enjoy matching up colours and styles rather a lot - although interesting as fashion is, I find decorating a room more thrilling than decorating myself, perhaps because the process takes a little longer, and one must live with the results. It's more exciting because there's more at stake."

[atadflamboyant]

"Such a pity. I'm sure your wife will want to do her own decorating..."

He let the question lead on, wanting to see how Biffy reacted. It really would be a shame if this young man were serious about his prospects -- Lord Akeldama had an entirely different path in mind for him.

[justdandy]

"My wife!?" He looked startled. Ok, so he knew that was technically why he was here - and why those girls were paying him so much attention - but he was still only young, so he was hoping to get a few of years of life actually being interesting before he had to do the marrying thing.

"Well, I... I wouldn't know, I'm not engaged to anybody currently and I can't imagine I will be for a few years yet."

[atadflamboyant]

"But certainly an exotic young man such as yourself has a wealth of opportunities awaiting him!"

Unless, of course, he wasn't attracted to women -- certainly that could not be a possibility! Except, of course, that Lord Akeldama not only accepted that sort of aberrant behavior, he encouraged him.

"Certainly you do not mean to just languish these next few seasons!"

[justdandy]

"Well..." he knew he couldn't really admit that the thought of having a wife filled him with dread, even though he hadn't quite examined all the reasons for that just yet, but he didn't want to lie and say he was looking forward to it, "I... being so young, I have plenty of time to make sure I make the best match, so I wouldn't want to rush into anything." he finally came up with, feeling a little pleased with himself for his quick thinking.

[atadflamboyant]

"Ah, but the older you get, the less time you have -- and the fewer chances."

Lord Akeldama tapped his finger thoughtfully against his lips, waiting. Mostly because he was enjoying watching Biffy squirm. Maybe it was a little bit evil of him -- but he'd already determined that the boy was perfect for his household. Now he just had to convince Biffy of it.

"Unless, of corse, you were doing something practical with your time... Say, for instance, studying..."

Ah, yes, and be labled a bluestocking.

[justdandy]

He brightened up considerably, the vampire had unwittingly (or so Biffy thought) offered him a solution to his predicament, find something to do with his time! Perfect!

"A jolly good idea," he agreed fervently "although I don't think studying is quite the thing, my mother would absolutely hate to have an academic in the family."