Thicker Than Water (LukeDeadwood & TNT)

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Scenario Specifics

WHO:

Garrett "Rett" Moorcock & Liam Moorcock
1990-
29, 6'4", 235lbs, Thickly Built w. Jet Black Hair & Steel-Blue Eyes
Garrett lives in Ventura & Liam lives about 50 minutes away in Santa Clarita, California
Garrett is an Actor for Paramount Pictures in Hollywood & Liam is a Ranger for the Pico Canyon Park

Supporting Cast of Sinners

Nim Luó
1976-2012
The Sin of Gluttony
36 (43), 5'9", 175lbs, Lean w. Jet Black Hair & Eyes
Nim has served as a Chef for Master Moorcock for 3 (10) Years
He trained at Hattori in Tokyo, Japan

Jax Klein
1983-2012
The Sin of Sloth
29 (36), 5'10", 185lbs, Muscular w. Dark Brown Hair & Eyes
Jax has served as a Butler for Moorcock Manor for 2 (9) Years
He trained at The British Butler Institute in London, England

Ethan Moorcock
1995-2019
The Sin of Envy
24, 5'8", 145lbs, Lean w. Dirty Blonde Hair & Light Green Eyes
Ethan lives in Hoboken, New Jersey w. Two Roommates and a Cat
He works as a Phlebotomist for LabCorp in Yonkers, New York

Luka Pearce
1990-2012
The Sin of Lust
22 (29), 5'10", 190lbs, Muscular w. Jet Black Hair & Dark Green Eyes
Luka has served as a Personal Trainer for Master Moorcock for 2 (9) Years
He trained at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand

Rhys "Q" Quiroga
1976-2012
The Sin of Greed
36 (43), 5'9", 165lbs, Well-Built w. Medium Brown Hair & Light Brown Eyes
Rhys has served as a Financial Advisor for Master Moorcock for 3 (10) Years
He trained at the London Business School in London, England

Kai Moorcock
1981-2019
The Sin of Wrath
38, 6'2", 195lbs, Well-Built w. Dark Brown Hair & Dark Blue Eyes
Kai lives in Soho in Manhattan, New York City, New York
He works in Greenwich Village, in the 6th Precinct, as a Police Officer

WHAT:

Sinner Specific Kinks

Nim, The Sin of Gluttony vs Liam in the Kitchen
(Nim has Medium Balls & a Medium, Uncut Cock)
Anal Sex, Anal Virginity, Extreme Tightness,
Figging, Fingering, Internal Cumshots, Oral Virginity,
Rimming, Smaller Dom/Bigger Sub & Swallowing

Jax, The Sin of Sloth vs Garrett in the Chapel
(Jax has Medium Balls & a Medium, Uncut Cock)
Clothed Sex, Cum Inflation, Cum Marking, Cum on Clothes,
Excessive Pre/Cum, Formal Attire/Coats, Smaller Dom/Bigger Sub,
Theft, Vandalization & Wardrobe Malfunctions

Ethan, The Sin of Envy vs Liam in His Bedroom/Dressing Room?
(Ethan has Small Balls & a Small, Cut Cock)
Blindfolds, Gags, Kissing, Leather, Masturbation,
Smaller Dom/Bigger Sub & Young Sugar Daddy

Luka, The Sin of Lust vs Garrett in the Gym?
(Luka has Huge Balls & a Massive, Uncut Cock)
Hair Pulling, Hair Play, Humiliation,
Large Cock/Ball Worship, Muscle Worship,
Smaller Dom/Bigger Sub & Tattoos/Body Art/Piercings

Rhys, The Sin of Greed vs Liam in the Billiards Room?
(Rhys has Large Balls & a Medium, Cut Cock)
Corruption, Dirty Talk, Fighting/Wrestling,
Multiple Orgasms, Roughness,
Smaller Dom/Bigger Sub & Threat of Death

Kai, The Sin of Wrath vs Garrett in the Main Hall?
(Kai has Medium Balls & a Medium, Cut Cock)
Abuse, Anal Virginity, Ass to Mouth,
Blackmail/Coercion, Double/Triple Penetration,
Face Fucking, Oral Virginity & Vandalization

WHEN:
Friday the 13th of December, 2019 until Sunday the 15th of December, 2019
On the 7th Anniversary of the Moorcock Massacre

WHERE:

Moorcock Manor in Wraxall, North Somerset, South West England

Floor Plans

Ground Floor

Second Floor

Inspirational Images, Exterior

Moorcock Manor: From the Side, At Night & In Winter

Front Gate of the Estate & Family Chapel

Inspirational Images, Interior

Sitting Room, Main Hall & Library

Family Gym & Servant's Gym

Billiards Room, Kitchen w. Scullery & Dining Room

Family Chapel

Various Bedrooms, Washrooms, Baths & Dressing Rooms

 

[LukeDeadwood]

The flight from Santa Clarita to Bristol left Liam worse for wear. The roughly seventeen hours long trip had turned into nearly twenty due to a delay at one of the stops, worsening the jet lag that wore him down and making it nothing short of being a bitch. The drive to his uncle's estate was only maybe six or seven miles. Not that long of a drive at all, but apparently long enough for Liam to doze off and lean against the door of the cab uncomfortably so. It had taken the cab driver -- whose name he couldn't remember -- a couple of times to get his attention.

"Hm? What?" Came the snort as Liam jerked back into wakefulness, almost grunting at the crick in his neck. The driver repeated himself, telling the man that they were almost there. "Right. Yeah. Sorry." He sat up with a wince and rubbed at his neck before pulling his phone from the pocket of his beige overcoat. He used his reflection to make sure his hair still looked fine then checked the time, sighing. Alright, it was only around ten. He still made it before noon. For a while there he was starting to think his brother was going to beat him here even though Garrett had the later flight. Wouldn't that have just been a pain in the ass?

Keeping the laugh to himself Liam turned his attention to the window, looking out as they passed the snowy landscape. He snorted at the sight of the old front gate. The unnecessarily medieval-esque, dramatic front gate. Jesus, had that really been there the last time he'd been here? Liam had been a kid the last time he'd been here, so he didn't remember much. The main house itself wasn't much different as they rolled up, the Gothic-styled building looming almost ominously in the fog created by the snow. "The Dark Ages sent a letter: they want their design back." Liam huffed under his breath, amusing himself. Though it really wouldn't surprise him if this place has actually been around for that long.

After those painstaking hours of being cooped up on three separate planes and dealing with crowd after crowd, Liam was practically leaping out of the car as it rolled to a stop. The cold from the snow hit him like a punch in the nose when he took a deep breath, however he didn't mind. Granted a cup of coffee was a much better wake-up call than freezing temperature, but he wasn't going to complain. He was just glad to be able to stretch and not have to remain seated anymore.

"Ah, fuck!" He groaned in relief as he stretched his arms upwards, the overcoat riding up some as he worked the stiffness from his muscles. With an overdramatic sigh he shut the door, making he way towards the trunk to collect his belongings: a duffel bag and a small thing of luggage. Slinging the duffel bag over his shoulder and setting the luggage to the side he went to the driver's side to hand over the pounds he owed plus a generous tip for having to deal with his groggy ass. With a two-fingered mock salute as a wave, Liam watched the driver pull around the loop and back the way the came.

Once the car was out of sight he turned towards the manor. "'A Weekend 2 Remember", huh?" He repeated from the invite he'd gotten in the mail. He scoffed. "Yeah right, this place looks deader than a doornail." Maybe he was just kidding himself from the activity he'd adjusted to back in Cali, but the place seemed so quiet. Maybe it's just from how it seemed so much creepier than what he could remember. Whatever. Kinda too late to turn back now.

Liam only then realized he'd been standing there for a good amount of minutes. He could feel the cold starting to seep through his clothes. "Fuck, it's cold." He could see the fog-like cloud of his breath when he spoke. There wasn't snow in Cali where he lived, not really anyway, unless he traveled to Mount Shasta. So he wasn't quite used to the freezing lows anymore. Okay, may a tee and jeans weren't the best choice to go with, and he definitely should've put his gloves on instead of keeping them crammed in his bag. But at least his boots were sturdy; he couldn't say he liked the idea of slipping and eating pavement to start of the weekend of a family reunion. Or whatever family showed up, really.

Eyeing the entrance of the manor he found himself wondering if he should knock or just go ahead and waltz right on in. Would anyone even answer the door or would he just be standing there like an idiot, much like he was now as he stared up at the house? Ah, fuck it. He could apologize for "intruding" or whatever. No matter how much he liked the outdoors, he wasn't going to wait for someone to come running from the other end of the manor while he stood out here freezing his ass off.

Making his way to the porch and cloister, he kicked off as much snow from his boots as he could so he wouldn't leave tracks through the manor. Then he made his way through the door and let out a low impressed whistle and an accompanying "Damn" as he walked through the vestibule and into the main hall. Damn Liam had completely forgotten how huge this place was. He couldn't begin to imagine how it must've looked to him back when he was little. Was there going to be a tour of this place, or maybe a map or something? Because he could already tell that he was going to get lost at some point or another without one of those two things. It was completely different from his condo, for sure.

And once more Liam found himself standing and staring instead of moving. 'Could you get a hold of yourself already?' He scolded himself with a frown. He was usually better than this, honest. The trip here was just kicking his ass. "Hello?" He finally called out, glancing around. For such a huge manor, this place seemed pretty empty. Shouldn't there be a bunch of servants bustling around here or something? Liam knew it was morning, but it wasn't early in the morning. Which worked out with the delay he'd been hit with, he supposed. But at the same time, where was everyone? Or his uncle? Maybe he's just watched one too many movies.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Standing in the middle of the room he was certain once served as servants' quarters, due to its modest decor and meek amenities, Ethan Moorcock ran a slim hand through his relentlessly unruly, dirty-blonde hair with the hopes of keeping it out of his light-green eyes just long enough so that he could successfully return his tortoiseshell glasses to their rightful place.

'Ha! Take that!' he found himself inwardly mocking his longish locks that did indeed seem to have a mind of their own and, moreover, seemed to enjoy getting in his way whenever and however they could, especially at times like this, when he was on the verge of making a good impression. Or, well, making an effort to make a good impression.

'Why do you even care what they think?' he then thought as he took the five or so steps across the room to bring himself to stand before one of the three windows that afforded him an excellent view of the front courtyard and connecting drive, both of which were completely covered in a fresh bed of snow that had fallen overnight.

"It's not like they even know who you are," he whispered, as he brought a willowy hand up to gently push aside the delicate, lace-fringed drape that barely covered the frost-encrusted window.

Gazing down upon the auto as it neatly pulled into place, just a few feet away from the front door - unlike his own cabbie who had refused to go through the front gate, forcing him to have to walk his way up the ridiculously long drive, in the snow, lugging bags and all - Ethan could feel something inside of him sour as he watched a hulking, raven-haired man, with rich, tan skin slide out from the rear, looking every bit as roguishly handsome in person as he had feared.

"Rett?" he questioned aloud, with a sneer upon his thin lips, just as he caught himself carelessly shredding a bit of the lace from the edge of the curtain. "No," he then spat, with a shake of his head, "it's the other one, the more rugged one."

Watching closely as the well-built man went about his business of collecting his things, right before paying his way, Ethan continued to feast his eyes on the sizable, male specimen as he now hesitated to enter the manor.

'What are you waiting for? An engraved invitation?' he inwardly mocked the man. 'It's not like that lackadaisical, son-of-a-bitch butler is going to come running to your aid.'

It was true. The butler was good for nothing. Why his uncle even kept him around was beyond Ethan's comprehension. In what little time he had spent with the lazy poseur, he knew that the guy was nothing more than a silver-tongued leech. Granted, the mostly unimpressed young man had to give credit where credit was due. The bastard had managed to weasel his way into a fairly comfortable life, even if he did have to wear a penguin suit and occasionally pretend to give a rat's ass.

'And speaking of asses...'

Returning his attention to the courtyard, seeing that he had drifted off inside his own head, Ethan now watched as the man made the bold move of simply letting himself in, as if he owned the place!

'Must be nice to feel that entitled,' he thought as he turned his back on the window and the frigid world beyond. 'Okay. It's showtime!' he then mused as he excitedly snatched up an emerald-colored, knit cap and two-toned scarf that he had strategically placed on the end of the nearby bed, which looked suspiciously untouched.

Slipping out into the hallway, Ethan quietly, yet quickly made his way along the cleverly-crafted, day-lit corridor that would've more than likely been ahead of its time, back in the day of its creation, hundreds of years ago. Donning the oversized cap and shabby scarf as he went, he didn't bother to button-up his threadbare cardigan, seeing that he wouldn't actually be heading outside. He just needed to give the impression that he was.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Approaching the grandiose main hall, from the distinct advantage point of above, the slender blonde waited and actually had the chance to watch some more as his annoyingly tall, dark, and handsome cousin strode into the room, looking both impressive, in his own right, and impressed by what he saw.

'For fuck's sake, how is it that I'm related to this godling?' he now inwardly lamented as he got a much better view of the masculine male whose lustrous, jet-black hair looked perfectly windswept - yes, perfectly - and whose piercing, bright eyes were the color of...

"H-hello," Ethan suddenly found himself replying, in a shy, awkward voice, as he made himself known by stepping out from the upper doorway he had been more or less hiding in. "Y-you...you must be Liam," he then stated, as he approached the railing, inwardly enjoying his lofty position, high above the world that was currently being dominated by a man who had no right looking so good, so effortlessly. "I...I'm Ethan, Ethan Moorcock, your cousin," he then shared, sounding a bit uncertain that such words were actually the truth, seeing that the two were so vastly dissimilar in their looks and build, like night and day or, better yet, the famed prince and the filthy pauper. "I had planned to be outside to, uh, welcome you," he elaborated, with a slight gesture to his scarf and cap, "but you...you were too quick for me."

"I certainly envy you those long and powerful-looking legs," he openly confessed, with a lingering gaze, not caring in the least if his firmly stated words sounded like more of a come-on than a mere compliment; however, without missing a beat and almost as if flicking some sort of internal switch from 'strange' to only 'slightly strange,' he asked, in a more timid voice, "May...may I have the pleasure of showing you to your room?"

 

[LukeDeadwood]

Liam would admit he honestly hadn't been expecting a reply when he called out. Could he really be blamed, though, for being startled just a little bit? He hadn't heard any sort of footsteps heading his way, and after walking around the Park he worked at for so long, he liked to think his hearing was pretty decent. He had to keep an ear out for the wildlife after all. Or anyone who'd been dumb enough to step off of the designated trails and get stuck somewhere they shouldn't be.

Whatever, enough about that train of thought.

His head snapped up and he looked over to see the man on the next floor, looking over the railing. Holy shit, there really were other people here. For a brief moment Liam was struck with the thought of 'hey, I've seen this guy once or twice before, right?' He couldn't really say when or where he's seen the man before. He just knew he'd seen him before. But before he could ask, the man -- Ethan -- went ahead and introduced himself. Which thank God for that. He would've felt like an ass trying to recall the name of the face he hardly remembered, let alone knew. And cousin? Oh yeah, he'd have felt like a right dick about that. Even if they hadn't really met before he'd still feel like a prick.

He did let out a laugh though, at the mentions of Ethan going out to greet him. The guy must've seen him standing out there like a moron. Embarrassing. But Liam knew how to play it cool. "Yup, I'm Liam. Rett won't be here 'til later. Sorry about just barging in like this." He reached up to rub at his neck. "I couldn't tell if anyone was actually home or not, and it was getting cold just standing out there." Even if Ethan wasn't the man to apologize to, he still did it for the sake of at least doing it.

The confession had Liam pausing though. He had to admit that was a little weird, and he even looked down at himself. He knew he was good-looking, but he couldn't say he'd go that far. Just a basic work-out routine and plenty of hiking. His job did make it pretty easy to get in those daily steps.

But he didn't dwell on the fact. Liam couldn't dwell on it, not when Ethan's offer sent such a wave of relief shooting through him. "Yes, please." It was obvious how he relaxed, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. For a little while there he'd really thought he might have to navigate this place alone. If he didn't like the thought of eating pavement, he really hated the thought of walking into the wrong room. That's an awkwardness he didn't really want to deal with this weekend.

He could already see it now: "Hi, I'm Liam. I'm the guy that walked in on you while you were changing because I got lost." Because that would go over so well. And knowing Liam's luck, that'd be exactly what would happen if Ethan hadn't been here to offer, seeing as nobody else seemed to be around here.

Grabbing his small thing of luggage he began to ascend the steps, finding himself beginning to babble out a couple of questions. Part of his job was delivering information to the park-goers and explaining this-and-that, so he was prone to talk a lot. And when he wasn't working, his habits of talking weren't any different. "So, how long have you been here? Has anyone else showed up, or is it just the two of us so far? Have you seen uncle Louis yet? How many people are even here in general that you know of?"

Liam reached the top of the stairs and paused as if suddenly realizing he was about to ask questions until Ethan's ears fell off. He grinned sheepishly, yet it was still undeniably charming without him meaning for it to be. "Ah, sorry. Didn't mean to fire off so many at once. I tend to talk too much, as I'm sure you already noticed. If it gets annoying, don't be afraid to tell me. I won't get offended by it." He would honestly be surprised if it didn't annoy at least one person here over the weekend. Getting stuck indoors with a outdoorsy chatterbox like him for that long? Yeesh. At least the manor seemed big. Plenty of places for them to get away or to keep him busy, right? "Anyway, if you really don't mind it, I'd appreciate it if you showed me where my room is."

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Leaning a bit more firmly against the solid, ornately-carved railing, Ethan essentially planted himself in place and waited for his cousin to come to him. Could he have dashed downstairs to help him with his things? Sure, he could've, but, well, he didn't want to be that helpful now did he? Physical labor wasn't exactly his thing, hence his choice of working in a lab with a bunch of samples that weighed less than a few ounces. Liam's duffle? Well. It certainly looked big enough to fit a body in it and, he imagined, was currently heavy enough to sink a small boat, regardless of the fact that the man was single-handedly carrying it as if it weighed next to nothing.

"I...," he began to answer the inquisitive man's first question, only to be abruptly cut off. "I...," he then started again, only to eat the rest of his words, as a third inquiry quickly came. I...give up, he then thought, with a subtle sigh, as the now rambling rogue just kept on babbling, all the way up the stair.

Jesus. If he wasn't so easy on the eyes - and only growing more easy, the closer he got - Ethan would've been tempted to cause some sort of devastating mishap that would've sent the Chatty Cathy tumbling back down the steep flight, only to land at the bottom, hard, with a sickening thud; however, the man really was so ridiculously handsome, he could've easily spent the rest of the weekend listening to him repeatedly read the periodic table, forwards and then backwards, just for laughs!

Okay, that was a lie. Actually, both were.

First of all, Ethan wasn't some cold-blooded killer. The mere thought of him harming another human being actually sent a chill along his spine. Why that idea had even crept into his head in the first place was beyond him. As for listening to Liam drone on and on, well, at some point, he would more than likely want to stab his own ears out with an ice pick, since, again, he couldn't see himself needlessly harming someone, especially when that someone was such a close - albeit, infuriatingly attractive - blood relative. But, that being said, there was indeed a small part of him that found the far less illegal act of muffling the man, just so he could enjoy the view in silence, rather appealing.

Enjoy the view, and the scent.

'Man, does he smell delicious,' Ethan thought to himself as they now stood just a few feet away from each other. Like freshly fallen pine needles, on a forest floor, after a heavy, summer rain, he then reminisced, as he took a deep breath only to find himself also enjoying a hint of mint. Naturally - and, yet again, annoyingly so - the man smelled as good as he looked, as opposed to Ethan who suffered from not only a severe case of halitosis, but more than a mild case of bromhidrosis, both of which he tried to cover up with a bit too much sage and patchouli, as well as Dollar Tree mouthwash.

"Y-your room? Oh. Yes. Of course! I, uh, I offered to show you to it, didn't I?" he finally managed to blurt, having practically given up on ever hearing his own voice again, but also getting more than a little lost in the man's stunning eyes that reminded him of the shimmering, blue-grey fins of a Siamese fighting fish. "R-right this way," he then announced, being mindful of which direction he spoke, seeing that he now felt very self-conscious of his potentially bad breath.

Leading the much taller man - because, of course he was - along the landing, Ethan had to laugh at himself as he quickly realized that he probably could've just as easily pointed the man to his room, seeing that its entrance was, quite literally, less than four yards away from where they had just been standing at the top of the stairs.

"Kind of, uh, anti-climatic, no?" he found himself musing as they now stood before the impressive, hand-carved door of the chamber, which would serve his cousin better than well - and certainly better than his own - for the entirety of the weekend. "After you," he then offered, only after he had grasped the ornate, tastefully tarnished handle and shoved the heavy door attached to it open.

Pressing his lithe body up against the decorative doorframe so that the more broadly built man could easily enter the suite - because it was indeed much more of an expansive suite than the cramped closet he had been afforded - Ethan closed his eyes and deeply drank in the man's masculine scent once more as he passed by. Lost, for just a moment, in the rousingly rustic image that the natural cologne had conjured earlier, the young man managed to regain his focus just in the nick of time.

"Oh! A-allow me," he now called, as he swiftly crossed the well-appointed room and invaded the man's personal space from behind so that he could lend him a rather awkward hand - hello, eight inch difference - in working his camel-colored, cashmere top coat from his broad shoulders that only seemed to grow broader as they became exposed within his muscle-tight tee. "Oh my," he found himself openly exclaiming as he momentarily struggled to gather up the sizable and surprisingly weighty garment in his slender arms, as his wandering eyes drank in the pronounced lines of Liam's well-built torso.

"Is everything about you supersized?" he then casually tossed the suggestive comment out as he purposefully carried the coat over to the king-size, four-poster bed, which sat upon an elevated platform, and carefully laid it out like it was some sort of revered, ceremonial robe of a long-deceased royal who once occupied this very space.

"Oh, and, to answer your questions from before," he suddenly stated, a bit more lucidly, as he returned his overly appreciative gaze to Liam. "Two hours and twenty-nine minutes, Kai is here as well, yes, and, as far as I am aware, a total of eight," he shared, rather proudly, without missing a beat.

"Would you like me to draw you a map of the manor?" he then questioned, in what initially sounded like a surprisingly smartass tone, before quickly adding, "I...I'm joking. I actually snapped a pic of one that's hanging in the library. If you give me your digits, I...I can text it to you!"

Along with a dick pic or two, he then playfully thought, with a very naughty grin, as he fished out the device from the rear pocket of his faded jeans and then stood waiting for his cousin to make the next move.

 

[LukeDeadwood]

Liam couldn't help but let out a laugh when Ethan led the way...right around the landing to a door that was right there in front of them. Wow, okay, yeah. He definitely might've been melodramatic with the notion of getting lost just a tad bit. Did he expect his room to be right there? No, he didn't. But he felt like a bit of a drama queen for worrying so much about it. "Yep, you're right: anti-climactic as hell." He chuckled as he made his way into the room, offering a "thanks" as he passed by Ethan.

He was impressed all over again as he looked around his designated room for the weekend. This by far left his bedroom back in Cali in the dust. He almost felt like he was royalty just by stepping foot in here. And was the bed really his to sleep on? Damn. This place really was all medieval styled. He hadn't really expected some of the inside of the house to resemble the outside. Though he should've seen it coming, huh?

Setting the thought to the side with a silent 'oh well' he set his duffel bag on the foot of the bed, the mattress creaking slightly, and left the luggage next to it. Pulling his phone from his coat pocket to slip it into the front pocket of his jeans so he couldn't forget about it, he proceeded to slip off his coat. He wasn't outside anymore and keeping the soft wool on would only serve to start slow-cooking him instead.

"I--thanks?" Liam blinked at the sudden help and comment as he glanced down at himself. While his self-esteem was great, he didn't have an ego. Well, not a humongous one at least. Or so he liked to think anyway, and he wasn't about to go tooting his own horn. Even if he did look fucking great and he knew it. "Hm, I guess, depending on who you ask." Now, put him next to a pro-wrestler or a bodybuilder? Even he knew he couldn't compete with that. He liked doing more things than just consistently working out to just attempt a build like that. He was perfect with where he was, thanks.

Hearing Kai's name instantly had him doing a double-take, taking a second to make sure he'd heard Ethan's answers correctly. Kai? His and Rett's older brother? The guy who hasn't said a single word to either of them in years, even when he reached out to see how the man was doing? That Kai? Christ. Kai was the one man he hadn't been expecting to show up, and it wasn't because Liam wasn't trying to be an asshole. After the years of silence, he'd just assumed Kai didn't anything to do with family anymore. What little they had left of it, anyway. As depressing as that thought was.

Keeping those comments to himself he grinned at the mention of a map. Was there seriously a map? He couldn't help but laugh, directed more at himself. "Shit, there's a map? For real?" Wow. "Just earlier I had asked myself if there was a map. You know, just being dramatic about this place. But there's actually a map hanging up around here?" He snickered. Ask and he shall receive, apparently. "But yeah, I think I'll take you up on that offer." God forbid he actually wound up turned around and lost for real. Some park ranger he'd be if he got lost indoors. He would never be able to live that down.

Glancing at his cousin's phone he then reached back into his pocket to get his phone again, spouting off his phone number without giving it a second thought. "Do you wanna take a picture so I can add it to your contact? Maybe add a nickname anything?" He asked as he held up the sleek black device in an offer. Ethan was here, so hey, might as well ask, right?

'Speaking of asking...' After that he found his thoughts slowly drifting back to Kai for a moment. When was the last time he'd actually seen the guy, not counting the passing glances when they were last together? "Hey, another question -- a quick one this time, promise. How was Kai when you saw him earlier?" He asked as he looked at Ethan. "Haven't talked to him or seen him in a while. Did he at least look like he was doing okay?" Just because they've stopped talking didn't mean he stopped caring. Granted, he doubted Ethan would actually know how Kai's been better than himself or Rett. But there was no harm in asking if his brother had become a mess or anything worse over the years. God, Liam hoped that Kai was still doing good.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

"I suppose blueprint is the more appropriate term, but it...it reminded me of the Marauder's Map," Ethan corrected himself now as he went about entering Liam's number into his phone. "You know, that enchanted parchment, from Harry Potter?" he then felt compelled to elaborate, in an inquiring voice, only to find himself blushing like a fool as he quickly realized just how nerdy the question sounded even to his ears. "No, Ethan, someone like him wouldn't know what that was," he then mumbled to himself as he got lost in pulling up the image and sending it off.

"A, uh, contact picture?" he then found himself nervously blurting as he tucked his phone away. "I...I take horrible pictures," he then insisted, as he suddenly became very self-conscious, even going as far as to put a twitchy hand up to his unshaven face, only for it to flutter up into his unruly hair in a fruitless effort to bring it back under control. "You, on the other hand, no doubt, take amazing photos!" he then exclaimed, as he fumbled for his phone, only to drop kick it once it was freed from his pocket.

Scrambling to retrieve the discarded device, which had skidded across the wooden floor, only to settle before Liam on the edge of the handwoven carpet he was standing upon, Ethan actually remained on his knees, at the foot of the bed, just long enough to take in his relentlessly inquisitive cousin's next round of questions.

'Jesus. He really does love to hear himself speak,' he then thought as he pulled himself back up, using the nearby bed for support. 'Well, maybe this will shut him up...'

"Kai's doing great!" the dirty-blonde began, as he turned away from Liam, all in an effort to hide the mischievous gleam in his now brilliant-green eyes, as well as the surprisingly crooked smirk he let take shape upon his lips. "Actually, he's never been better," he continued, with his back still turned towards his cousin, as he made his way over to the stone fireplace that sat heavy in the middle of the side wall. "I mean, with his recent promotion at work, his new apartment in Soho, and the distinct possibility of wedding bells within the year, he really is doing rather well for himself," he more or less info dumped now - inwardly wanting every detail to feel like a thorn in Liam's side - before finally turning around. "We, uh, we see each, every now and then," he then shared, rather sheepishly, as his more meek disposition returned, both in his features and his voice.

Oh boy, just look at his face.

"He...he talks about you and Rhett a lot," he then felt compelled to tack on for good measure, just to drive his malicious point home, even though he was still in meek mode. "It's a shame you're not closer," he then twisted his point, like a knife. "In proximity, I mean," he then tried to play off his insinuating words, only to achieve a final, all too deep, low blow, by adding, "You could've joined us for Thanksgiving, you know, had the two of you not decided, all those years ago, to live so far away."

 

[LukeDeadwood]

Oh. That...that kind of answer wasn't exactly what he was looking for, in terms of the details that were given. Was it good to know Kai was doing okay? Of course! But...Liam could have gone without that knives that pretty much introduced themselves to his gut and the slots between his ribs. That was a bitter taste he hadn't been expecting and it was a tough one to swallow. Tough enough to genuinely stun him into silence, he realized after some time of just looking at Ethan in shock. He couldn't bring himself to make a comment on how he really doubted Ethan couldn't take at least one decent picture.

"Yeah?" He started, pausing to clear his throat and reaching up to rub at his neck in what was painfully obvious awkwardness. "That so? Good to know he's doing well, at least..." He trailed off and the light laugh he gave sounded fake even to his own his. Liam had very little knowledge about his cousin's existance, as douchey as that sounded, yet Ethan and Kai were off being buddy-buddy on the other side of the states? Kai couldn't have been bothered to say anything when Liam had sent the guy messages? And Thanksgiving? Really? Fuck, that hurt, and it was pretty damn cold, too.

'Change the subject now.' He told himself. But after that spell? Liam was damn sure that nothing was going to smoothly brush that off. Later encounters weren't going to be smooth, either, or so his hunch told him. But he was going to at least pretend he was brushing off all of those low blows that Ethan had sent his way.

"And uh, for the record...I do know about the Marauder's Map, thanks." He said as he directed his attention to his phone to bring up the picture that had been sent to him. It might as well have been like dragging a sheet of sand paper getting dragged along loose gravel, the way he started that transition. But he was going with it anyway. Better than suffocating himself in the god-awful silence that loomed over him.

"The map that Fred and George gave Harry in the third book, Prisoner of Azkaban. They gave it to him and they didn't even know that Harry's dad was one of the map's creators. Funny how that destiny stuff worked out for them." Yeah, that's right. Liam was a bit of a geek, too. He did his research. How could any fan of a classic like Harry Potter not pay attention to details and look into it at least a little bit if they only watched the movies? Not that he was going to elaborate on that, though. He was -- thankfully, not that he was going to say it out loud -- a tad bit more caught up in looking over the mansion's blueprint that lit up his phone's screen.

'Jesus, I'm definitely going to get turned around a couple of times in this place...' He thought, before shaking his head and pocketing the device -- he could look at it more when he needed the map. "Anyway...yeah." Liam then finished, almost cringing at how lame it was as he left it up to Ethan to say something. Needless to say, it wasn't the turn of events he'd been expecting.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Inwardly enjoying his cousin's very awkward response, which his sympathetic expression covered masterfully, Ethan allowed the painful experience to continue for an unhealthy moment more before finally replying.

"If it makes you feel any better," he began, as he slowly stepped away from the fireplace, only after running a hand over the dusty mantel that he would later condemn Jax for allowing, "Kai did make mention of this being a weekend to, uh...'make amends,' I believe were the words he used? To finally, 'set things right,' he most certainly said, as recently as this morning, with such conviction, I might add. Anyway. I'm certain he will be happy to see you and your brother just the same."

Closing the gap he had created, Ethan now stood just inside the invisible line of Liam's personal space, soaking in the finer details of his fit form, which could clearly be seen coming through his muscle-tight tee and equally snug jeans that were both on full display now, seeing that his coat had been stripped away. The fact that he got to linger within the heady cloud that was the man's undeniably masculine scent was a mere bonus, but one he was certainly going to savor long after he was gone.

From the room, that is, not the world of the living.

"Not sure it you noticed it or not, but this decrepit place actually has a rather large gym," he informed the obvious fitness-conscious man. "I haven't had the opportunity to check it out myself because, well, that's not exactly my thing," he unnecessarily admitted, as he waved a slim hand along the length of his own lanky form. "But...but I'm sure it will more than suit your needs, along with the undoubtedly pressing needs of your image-obsessed brother," he casually tacked on, regardless of the fact that it certainly sounded like an unwarranted jab towards Rhett.

Turning away now, Ethan began to take his leave. As far as he was concerned, the damage, er, his work was done here; however, before officially removing himself from the annoyingly spacious suite, he hesitated in the ornate doorway and announced, "Dinner is being served promptly at seven. I...I believe cocktails start at six in the drawing room."

"Oh, and, jacket and tie are required," he nearly forgot to share, as he took a step out, only to come right back in, clinging to the doorway as he did. "I trust you do have both in that ratty rucksack of yours," he disparagingly remarked, with an outright sour expression directed at Liam's dusty duffle, before finally taking his leave for good, essentially ignoring whatever reaction or remarks were made at his swiftly retreating backside.

 

[LukeDeadwood]

Even though he wanted to, Liam couldn't tell himself if he was honestly sure he trusted those words Ethan said. When it came to his older brother, he wasn't sure of anything. He wanted to believe them. With every fiber of his being.

But even he couldn't kid himself with how uncomfortable he was feeling being around his cousin. It was such a sudden 180 from when he first walked into the building Liam may as well have gotten whiplash from it. He knew he completely outmatched Ethan in the physical sense, with how much of a squirrelly man the blond was. He could easily knock the man's head off if he really wanted to. He should, actually, especially for the jab that was directed towards his twin. Yet as it was, Ethan rendered him completely unnerved and practically paralyzed where he stood. And the distance -- or lack thereof, in this case -- between the two of them was only worsening the ache he felt blooming in is chest.

It was only when Ethan turned away did he finally realize the ache was because he'd been holding his breath. Liam's exhale and following inhale were more like wheezes, and he was more grateful than ever that the other was finally taking his leave. He didn't know it was possible for him to feel so relieved upon being alone.

"Christ..." He breathed out once he finally realized he'd been staring at the doorway, a hand coming up to cover his heart while he ran the fingers of his other hand through his hair. He hadn't been prepared for that kind of awkward turn. There wasn't any way he could've prepared for that. This weekend hadn't even started and yet it already seemed like it was out to bite him in the ass. 'At least it's a big place. Plenty of places to go to avoid him.' That wasn't Liam's usual thought process when it came to people. But it was his now and oh how it provided a sense of comfort. Really, aside from whatever gatherings his uncle might've had planned, what were the odds they would end up bumping into each other? In these halls? Not very likely, he liked to think.

Then with a curse he turned towards the bag on his bed, Ethan's parting words finally registering in his brain. "Shit...a tie? For dinner? Seriously?" Yes, he had packed one for the sake of being thorough, but that didn't mean he wanted to wear it. Liam was going to spend entirely too much time fiddling with it to just to get it right and then end up playing with it throughout the night. He already knew it, and he scoffed, running his fingers through his hair a second time. "Fine, whatever. It's just for this weekend anyway." He'd only met Ethan so far, and yet he felt stressed. Nobody else in the house was like that, were they? God, Garrett couldn't get here soon enough.

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

If anyone witnessing Liam's entrance from earlier had thought it bold, as he essentially walked right in without waiting to be formally received, those same individuals would probably be horrified not only by the way that his twin tore up the front drive in his brand new, Aston-Martin-Lagonda, but by the pompous way he then stood outside of the sleek vehicle, calling out for a servant to come fetch his things right away, and by things, he would mean his eleven pieces of designer luggage that barely fit in the rear of the spacious SUV.

Standing now in his fashionable, travel attire, with his leather carry-on in hand, near the popped, back hatch of the limited-edition crossover, Garrett's deep voice did indeed ring true across the snowy, still landscape that surrounded him, even going as far as to echo off of the lofty walls of the manor house itself. He would give the help another few minutes before making a scene. Or should that be more of a scene? Anyway. If they came running, with their tail tucked and a series of sincere apologies spewing from their lips, he would be mollified; however, if they failed to show him the respect he deserved, by keeping him waiting in this godawful weather, he would probably ask to speak to his uncle at once, so that they could be terminated by the end of the day, if not, preferably so, right on the spot.

Garrett didn't have time for such games, nor the people who liked to play them. He was a busy man, with a fairly solid plan, that typically only worked if everything and everyone involved in it ran like clockwork. With an expansive estate such as this, he had assumed his uncle would run a tight ship, but, from the looks of it, that was apparently not the case. Apparently it was okay to keep your guests waiting, guests who had not only flown thousands of miles to be here, but also drove hundreds of miles, after attending a high-profile meeting in London, whereupon a very lucrative deal had finally been struck.

Truth be told, the meeting had come up at the thirteenth hour, but it was one that Garrett simply could not refuse, nor dare to postpone. Actually, there wasn't much in the world that would've kept him away from it, even if it had meant delaying or possibly even canceling his trip here. That was just how important this career defining contract was, even to an A-list celebrity such as himself. It was a once in a lifetime role that he was more than happy to take over for a certain Mr. Craig who had made the most of it for nearly the last decade and a half. This was going to be his time to shine, to truly distinguish himself from all of the other action stars who had flooded the market within the last few years. Beating out the likes of Cavill and Hardy was certainly a boost to his ego, not that he needed such a thing, but still, it was nice just the same.

What wasn't nice was being woefully ignored by his uncle's help, if you could even call it that.

"Hello?" he called again, directing his voice towards the set of double doors that sat nearby, which he assumed was the manor's main entrance, where a footman or butler or whatever should be stationed, just waiting to jump into action, like they did on so many of those BBC productions he had watched as a kid with his father, god rest his soul. Okay. This place wasn't exactly Downton Abbey, more like Downer Abbey from the shabby, rundown appearance of its rather drab exterior, but that didn't mean those who were employed here could behave in an equally dull manner. If anything, they should be making every effort to compensate for the establishment's shortcomings. Shouldn't they?

"Well shouldn't they?" he then muttered aloud, as he began to seriously lose his patience.

 

[LukeDeadwood]

The annoyed huff was attached to a look of disdain as the second call rang out through the mansion, motivating Jax to finally peer through the window of the library. He'd heard the car, the way it tore up the drive, and promptly ignored it alongside the first call. "Arrogant brat..." He muttered lowly, narrowing his eyes to glare at the hulking figure while his lip curled at the sight of the mountain of luggage. He'd known it was about time for the second bratling to finally show his mug. But it hadn't made him dread the man's arrival any less. In the end, every famous "shining star" were the same, and Jax was in no hurry to kiss the ass of a metaphorical slave driver.

There were other, much more enticing things he could do instead. 'Oh what a shame it'd be if something of his were to be left out in the snow. Such a waste if something wound up scattered across the landscape.' He thought, his gaze lingering on the pieces of expensive luggage. 'And speaking of which...'

"At least the other one had the decency to pack light and carry his own things..." The butler huffed, the notion of actually doing hard labor weighing heavily on his shoulders and steadily sapping away whatever minute motivation he might've had. Both twins were obnoxious. Garrett, however, was easily taking the cake. What, was the prick waiting for an invitation to come inside? Waiting for Jax to come running like some mutt eager to beg for scraps? Of course he was. 'It runs in the family', as the saying went. It was borderline disgust that built up in his stomach, thinking about putting forth all of that effort. For a moment his sneer deepened, making a horrid look cross over his features the longer he looked out the window, his hands balling into tight fists at his sides.

Then, just like a switch being flipped, the tension left his shoulders. Jax stood straight instead of slouching and a charming smile appeared to replace the previous expression. He smoothed out most of the creases that formed on the black blazer that adorned him, even going as far as to straighten his tie some and make sure his trousers were decent. He made sure that he was just short of being fully presentable, to "paint a picture" of sorts for his excuse for being late to aid the new arrival. After all, he was just one lone butler, in charge of the upkeep of the entire mansion all on his own. How could he possibly be in so many places at once fulfilling his duties, especially with this important weekend at hand with everyone showing up? 'As if,' Jax chuckled lowly before turning on his heel, making his way out of the library. "Time to get this show on the road."

It was all too easy pretending he was out of breath as he exited the doors, never once flinching from the cold as he made a show of hurrying to Garrett. "Apologies, Sir Moorcock," He wheezed, greeting the man with a polite smile and swift bow instead of the snarl he was so tempted to do. 'Eat your heart out, you so-called actor.'

"I was on the far-end, trying to wrap up my cleaning when you pulled up. Please, forgive my shameful tardiness..." Straightening, Jax then motioned towards the designer luggage before reaching out to grab one of the bags, burying the temptations to scoff, spit and kick at it to see if he could leave any scuffs behind. He was, of course, going to have to make multiple trips as he'd neglected -- er, was unable to bring a cart with him. Must everything always be such a hassle? "Allow me to gather your belongings and get them out of this dreadful weather before anything can get ruined, and I shall show you to your room at once." 'Is that good enough to please your highness, or shall I wipe your ass for you as well?' Jax would've snorted if he wasn't so busy playing the part of the lowly butler. 'What a pain...'

 

[Twisted_iN_Tux]

Reflexively turning on the charm the moment the surprisingly young man came running - since being a total bitch wasn't exactly the star's modus operandi, especially when dealing with the public - Garrett flashed the brightest of smiles at the genuinely sorry servant before warmly replying, "Oh. No problem at all. I only just arrived."

Taking a step away from the vehicle, the twin regarded the servant some more as he began to gingerly handle his luggage. Certain that he couldn't be even a day older than the actor himself, Garrett began to wonder why his uncle would select such a young individual to run his household when clearly such a formidable estate required a much more seasoned individual. Unless this man wasn't the one who was actually in charge, although, given his formal attire, he certainly seemed dressed for the part of head butler.

"Here, allow me to give you a hand," the celebrity then offered as he snatched up one of the larger, leather bags so he could add it to the top of the pile that the man had carefully gathered up in his arms. "I suppose the rest can wait until after you show me to my suite," he then remarked, as he casually glanced at the remaining pieces. "Although, I'm assuming we'll be dressing for dinner. So that large case on the bottom is a must, as is that garment bag there," he directed, with a gloved hand, before turning away.

Making his way towards what he assumed was the front door, since he couldn't actually recall, seeing that he had been a mere child the last time he visited, Garrett proceeded to wait for the servant to shuffle his way over so he could do his job properly by opening the door for his master's guest. Truth be told, it was a rather shitty thing to do to the poor guy who had his arms full, but the star firmly believed that every person had their part to play. This man's lot in life was that of a butler. To rob him of his duties would be an insult.

Wouldn't it?

Removing his cell from the confines of his plush, fur-lined, leather coat as he waited, he quickly typed up a text that he had planned to send to his agent, letting them know that he had safely arrived; however, upon hitting the send button, the message went nowhere fast. Saving it to send later, when the signal improved, he then made an attempt to contact his twin, whom he assumed was getting himself lost somewhere within the lofty halls of this ancient manor. Once again, the signal failed, so he simply gave up and tucked the sleek device away.

"Is the service always this bad?" he then questioned the butler as he approached, totally unaware of how his words could be mistaken as a slight towards him, instead of the cellular kind.

 

[LukeDeadwood]

The amount of effort it took to keep smiling made Jax nearly positive that his face would freeze up and become permanently stuck in that sickly polite expression. 'This arrogant little-!' He had to bite his tongue to ensure the filter between his mind and mouth stayed intact as the bags were piled in his arms as if he were some personal errand boy. Or slave, really, as that seemed to be the better word in his opinion. 'Spoiled prat. I'll give you a hand. Shove it right up your-'

"Ah, yes -- formal attire is indeed required for dinner tonight." He startled himself with how he managed to abruptly cut-off that thought, somehow managing to snag the bag that was oh so necessary for his highness. 'Entitled child.' Came yet another silent insult when Jax stumbled for just a moment, a spark of panic mixed with dread at the thought of having to gather the items a second time lighting him up on the inside. He really didn't want to do that, and knowing that he was still only on his first trip had him on the verge of surrendering. Of just dropping what was in his arms to go back inside and leaving Garret standing here — and hopefully leave him looking like some pissy man-child.

The comment made about service only served to spite Jax and further his inclinations of abandoning his work. While he knew he was uncaring and held special...“opinions” about his so-called work, that was just rather uncalled for.

He truly made an effort to clench his jaw and ignore the question, but his spitefulness slipped out and it was a pure struggle to curb his words. "Hm, well, if that uncle of yours had the audacity to realize a crew of servants would’ve worked better than just one, things would move more smoothly. As hard as that is to believe, I'm sure." The actor was lucky Jax was even out here, having chosen to skulk about in favor of seeing the arriving Moorcocks and scoping them out for himself.

‘Just wait until I can get my hands on you.’ This time, he couldn’t keep his disgruntled huff silent as his back met the door in an awkward motion to open it, his gaze teetering on the knife’s edge of being a glaring sneer when it settled on Garrett. Eyeing the suit he would’ve gladly ogled had it been worn by to anyone else, Jax couldn’t help but feel pity that something so nice belonged to someone so rotten. It seems ‘beauty on the outside’ truly didn’t mean much. ‘Let’s see just how long it stays nice, Pretty Boy.’

With that thought, Jax turned away and cleared his throat, snatching the reigns over his self control so quickly he could’ve genuinely given himself whiplash. “Your room is this way, on the second floor.” He spoke, waiting just long enough for the dolled up man to step through the threshold before taking the lead to show him to the main hall. He paused just long enough to send a distasteful look towards the stairs before carefully ascending them, the earlier thought of dropping everything returning tenfold.

“You’ll be right across the hall from Liam’s room. The two of you will have to share the bath, I’m afraid, but I assume that’s no trouble?” Though he had it phrased like a question, Jax honestly couldn’t bring himself to care less about it. Not even if he tried. “And while I’m sure it’s not as grand as your abode back in the states, I hope the accommodations are to your liking.” No, he didn’t. He really, truly didn’t.