Silver Mistletoe (2/?)
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vigorliTitle: Silver Mistletoe (2/?)
Author: Elvish Lady
Rating: PG-13 for now. Will be NC-17
Summary: An old tradition puts Orlando and Viggo in an awkward position.
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. I wish I did because they’d be in a relationship if I owned them. But I don’t even know these guys, so I’m not going to pretend I do.
Beta: Juniper- please remember that any additional problems with the story are my own fault and are in no way hers.
A/N: I know this took a while to get out, but here you go - part 2 of Silver Mistletoe. Thank you, everyone who reviewed the last part. I don’t know when the next part is going to be out. Hopefully sometime this week, but I’m not making any promises.
*
Orlando got out of the small car that he’d rented for the week and looked up at the large house that his mother had bought after he had made his first million. She hadn’t wanted to get a new home but after all the young women in England had shown up on her door step hoping to get a look at him in the shower, he had convinced her to move. Of course, now that she had the large home she had always wanted (along with the security he wanted for her), she was able to conduct all the ‘Save the Planet’ meetings and efforts in the comfort of her own home, instead of having to go into town because there was never enough room in the house.
“Orlando! Orli!” he heard a shout from the direction of the large doors to the home. He glanced around to see Billy come streaking out to give him a hug as Dominic came trailing quickly after him.
His arms full of two of his best friends, he laughed to see Liv and Sam shaking their heads at the antics of the three of them. Dominic began to gibber away about his new film that was to release in a few weeks and Billy tried to shut him up by tackling him. Orlando laughed again and hugged Liv and Sam, who had joined them.
“Good to see you, big brother. So happy you could join us for once in your pathetically busy life.” Sam teased.
“We can’t all be like you are, Samantha. You have, after all, produced three offspring for our mother.”
“And we all can’t be like you, oh wonderful business man that you are.” They both laughed at the joke that they always shared. “Come on. There’s tea in the living room. You probably need it after the flight. How is New York?” She asked as they all headed inside and proceeded to the small living room that his mother loved to use instead of the large sitting room at the entrance of the house. David along with Liv’s husband, Roy looked up at them as they entered. Roy stood up and helped his pregnant wife to the spot next to him.
“Cold and noisy. Just like it always is this time of year.” Orlando said as they helped themselves to cups. “Where is Mom? I thought she was joining us for tea.”
“She went into town. She had some last minute shopping to do. Apparently there is supposed to be a snow storm right after Christmas, so Sonia, being Sonia, decided it would be best to go and shop now instead of getting snowed in and having nothing to eat.” David said as he added sugar to a cup of tea and handed it to his wife.
“Ah.” Orlando said as he took a blissful sip of his tea. He loved coming home to England. He could never find a decent cup of tea in the whole of New York. He couldn’t understand why Americans had rejected tea for the flavored water they called coffee. He had tried to bring tea back with him, but he never seemed to get it right. He’d have to ask his mother again how she did it. “When are Sean and Karl getting here?” He asked as he realized who was missing.
“I talked to them this morning. They should be here later tonight. They’re driving in from London, so they’re leaving at two.” Roy said.
“Good. I have something I wanna throw at Sean before tomorrow. I really hate to do business on the holidays.” Orlando said.
“So did you get your costume? You did get one right?” Dominic asked as Orlando sent him a reproachful stare.
Sam, David, and Liv all laughed as Orlando rolled his eyes at the randomness of his friend. “Dom, honey, I think by now Orli would remember to get a costume. I think mom would kill him if he didn’t.”
“So what is it?” Billy asked as he began to bounce in his seat.
Orlando laughed as he shook his head at his two friends. “Bills, Dom, I know you have never been to one of Mom’s Christmas balls, but the thing about it is, is not to tell ANYONE what your costume is, except each other, since you are married. That’s the tradition. You don’t tell anyone but your spouse what your costume is, you have to dance with your spouse for the last dance, and you have to unmask each other after the last dance, even though you know who the other is. It’s tradition. Those who are not engaged or married may not tell anyone what their costume is. But I will tell you this, you will know me immediately. My costume is a play on the press.”
Billy stuck his tongue out at him, and they all laughed at the man’s antics. “I guess I’m just going to sit here and shut up since no one is going to be nice to me.” He pouted and his husband wrapped an arm around him.
“Don’t worry Bills. I’ll always love you.”
“You’d better.” Billy said and kissed Dominic as the others laughed. Orlando smiled to himself. He loved coming home and seeing his friends. They all seemed to go right back to where they had been the last time they were together. Nothing seemed to change.
“Except Viggo’s not here anymore.” A treacherous voice inside his head whispered. Orlando shook his head to clear the thought and Liv looked at him, concerned.
“You ok, love?” she asked.
“I’m Fine. I was just clearing my head. I guess I’m a little more tired than I thought I was. I think I’m going to go and take a nap before mom gets home. I’m sure she’ll be about two hours or so if she’s getting food for a snow storm.”
“Okay, sleep well. If you need anything yell, okay?” Sam said as she hugged her brother. “Welcome home. We missed you.” She whispered in his ear.
He kissed her cheek. “Love you back,” he whispered in return, and got up to leave. “I’ll see you all later.” He said with a wave and headed up the steps to his room.
*
Viggo sighed as he exited the Bristol International Airport. Looking around for a cab, he realized he was on the wrong side of the street. Again. He’d been wandering around the airport for the last 30 minutes wondering if he was ever going to be able to get to the other side of the tarmac where the arriving flights were being picked up instead of where people that were departing arrived. The attendant at the desk said it was easy to get to the arriving section of the airport, but somehow he ended up right back where he was in the first place.
With an aggravated sigh he went back inside and was immediately stopped by a woman.
“Viggo? Is that you?” she asked and Viggo sighed. Just what he needed. Someone to recognize him and bring a flock of women to gawk and ask for his autograph.
“I’m sorry. You have me confused with someone else.” He muttered and kept walking.
“Try again, young man.” The woman said and he turned and stared at her.
“Excuse me?” he asked, utterly surprised. Only two women in the world had ever called him ‘young man.’ One being his mother, the other was the older woman who had born the only person that he truly loved with all his heart besides his son.
“I thought that would get your attention. I thought it was you. I saw you about half way to the arriving flights section and for some reason you turned, looked around and then went back the way that you came and so I followed you.” She said as Viggo looked closer at her face and realized who she was.
“How are you Mrs. Bloom?” he asked with a smile at the smaller, older woman.
“For heaven’s sake Viggo! You know you can call me Sonia. By now you should. I mean you did date Orlando for three years.” She said with a smile back at him.
Viggo’s smile faltered for a moment before plastering itself back into place. “Of course. What are you doing here?”
“I came to get you. I was in town getting supplies for the house for after the holiday, and I knew your flight was coming in…so I swung by to get you so you didn’t have to waist your money on a taxi.” She explained as took his bag, her eyes shining.
“Thank you. I probably would have been lost in here forever if you hadn’t.” he laughed.
“With you men, who knows? So how was your flight?” she asked as she began to lead him back to where she was parked.
“Long. Idaho is a long way off.” He said with a yawn.
“Well you can sleep when we get back. I hear that your art is going for quite a bit now.”
“Yeah. I’m getting calls almost everyday from someone trying to commission me to do something for them. I don’t think they realize that I only paint about what affects me and whatever strikes my fancy. But the art and the photography that I do create is going for a lot more than it was before Hidalgo came out.”
“I bet. You did wonderfully in Hidalgo so I’m not surprised that people are interested in what else you can do. And then there is the fact that you are a great artist. I still have the painting you did of Orlando in my bedroom.” She said as she looked closely at him out of the corner of her eye, not missing the brief flash of pain when she mentioned Orlando’s name.
“He’s very photogenic. I had a good subject when working on that one.”
“Yes… I know Orlando is photogenic, but you seemed to catch his very soul on that canvas. But look at me talking about him again like the mother I am. What have you been up to? How is Henry?”
“I’m looking at a couple of scripts right now, and am looking to get a few roles finished before the end of February. And Henry is great. He just graduated. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of him. He already has three job offers.” Viggo said with quite a bit of pride in his voice.
“That’s great! And a whole semester early too! I’m glad to hear he became a music producer. He always did have an ear for it. I guess it’s because you and Exene had him listening to so many different styles when he was little. I’ll have to get him a gift.” Sonia said as they arrived at the small car that she was driving. Viggo could see the entire back seat was filled with groceries.
“Expecting snow?” He asked, wondering if he was going to be able to get out of here before he and Orlando were locked in the same room and he lost the firm resolve that he had put into place for the last five years and did something he was going to regret.
He hadn’t wanted to come, but Exene had convinced him that it would be rude to Sonia, who had tried her hardest to keep the three of them in her life even though Viggo and Orlando where no longer together. She considered Henry an adopted grandson and doted on him often. She had gotten him a new computer when he had graduated from college with his bachelors, he could only imagine what she had in mind for his Masters.
“Yes. The forecast is calling for about 7 inches. I wouldn’t normally mind but the weather men have been known to be wrong, so I wanted to get enough food for about 15 people, just in case some of you guys can’t get home.” She answered as she maneuvered the car easily out of the space and into traffic.
“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. You never know who’s going to be under the mistletoe. They may want to go and celebrate.” Viggo said with a laugh.
*
Orlando applied the last bit of silver eye shadow and looked in the mirror. Perfect. Shara, his makeup artist, probably could have done better, but he still looked pretty good. He had a stunning stark-white line of eyeliner that led to an equally white snowflake. His face was colored with a pale powder with silver specs in it. His lips were colored black to off set the paleness of his face and neck. The same powder was applied to the tops of his hands that were met with a white, flowing sleeve. The shirt was something reminiscent of the silver shirt he wore for Lord of the Rings, while the silver and black lined pants were a linen fabric that was straight-cut but seemed to flow when he walked. The pants were what had sparked his imagination about the costume. He’d seen them and the first thing that had popped into his head was the ice queen from the old Christmas story his mother would tell him and Sam when they were young.
He went over to the bed and opened the box that laid on it. Inside lay a beautifully ornate silver mask. The entire thing was covered in white crystals that matched his costume perfectly. The mask had been the hardest thing to find. He’d scoured the entirety of L.A. and New York looking for a mask that even remotely matched. When he found this mask, he’d known immediately that this was the one. He’d had to take off some black ostrich feathers, but it matched perfectly. He put it on and looked at his reflection. The mask’s eye openings were big enough to see the eye shadow and eyeliner, but hid his eyebrows. The mask stopped just before the snowflake on either side of his face.
Orli smiled and left his room to join the rest of the guests in the ballroom. People were still arriving but the majority of the people were there and the orchestra his mother had rented were already playing a waltz. He looked around at the many different costumes present in the room. There were queens, and kings, as well as Victorian courtiers and jokers. He saw a few people dressed as people from Lord of the Rings, but about half of the crowd had simply dressed up and were wearing masks over their faces. He spotted a couple in the corner that was dressed up as Batman and Robin. He rolled his eyes and headed over to them.
“Couldn’t you two come up with anything more original? I mean I know you two insist that Batman and Robin are gay, but come on!” He laughed at them. The two men stared at him for a moment before realizing who it was.
“OB? Is that you, man? Christ man! You don’t even look like yourself! If I’d seen you on the street I’d never have guessed it was you.” The Batman with Billy’s voice said.
“Yep it’s me. So you think it’s a good costume, huh?” he asked.
“Hell yes! You look amazing!” Dominic said as he twirled his hand for Orlando to turn around. Laughing, Orlando complied just in time to see two men in Greek costumes come into view. They both had masks that covered their entire faces that looked like the mask from ‘The Gladiator.’ The two of them looked curiously at him as they approached the threesome.
“Here, you two. Since you two are too lazy to get up and get your own drinks, you get to get drinks for everyone next time.” Said the Greek who had the dark brown hair, who Orlando guessed from the voice, was Karl. Orlando smiled at the two of them guessing that the other was Sean.
“Hello, you two. Love the costumes. I have to ask. Where did you get the masks?” Orlando said. The light dawned in the two men’s eyes and Sean laughed.
“Evie made them. I guess those metal sculpting classes came in handy after all.” Sean said as he smiled at Orlando. “Love the costume. Ice prince?”
“Exactly. I saw the pants and it just came to me.” He said as he hugged them. “Your costumes are just as interesting. So, Evie made the masks, huh?”
“Yep. She’s gotten really good at carving and metal work. It’s like she performs magic on them.” Sean said with usual fatherly pride in his voice that he always had when it came to his three daughters.
“Well we knew the three of them were going to be good at the arts. I mean look what their father does for a living.” Karl pointed out.
“Well it helps that she has a good teacher. Viggo is one of those people who….” Sean abruptly stopped before looking guiltily at Orlando.
“No. Stop. You know that was a long time ago. I’m over it and I don’t care. You can talk about him while I’m here. I know you guys are still friends and that’s great. I just can’t be.”
“Okay. I just know the circumstances in which you guys broke up weren’t the best and I know you’d like to forget it.”
“I’d like to forget it, but it is part of who I am. It helped me get here so I can’t really complain all that much. I’ve got the firm, which helps thousands of people each day, and maybe someday, millions. I star in the occasional film. I’m no longer a pinup for 95 percent of the entire population of the young female teens and half of the gay men in the world.” He said with a laugh and the rest of them joined in. they all knew how being a pinup had annoyed the hell out of Orlando until he finally said that he’d had enough and did his own thing without thinking about other people thought. It was because of his influence that gay marriage was recognized in most major countries in the world.
“You have certainly grown up since I first met you on the set.” Sean whispered and hugged him again.
“No… I just accepted what needed to be. I said nothing about growing up!” He said as group laughed.
*
Viggo sighed as he pulled away from another set of people. He knew that Sean, Karl, Liv and Rob were in the crowd somewhere, the only problem was finding them. He’d been at it for a few hours now, and had had quite a few interesting conversations, but his feet were beginning to kill him and he wanted to catch up with his friends. It also didn’t help that he was also keeping an ear out for Orlando so he could steer clear of him.
Suddenly he saw a flash of white out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see what it was and his breath caught in his throat. He was met with the most entrancing vision he thought he’d ever seen. The person was obviously male, had on a white shirt that fit perfectly, hugging in all the right places to show off the muscular frame, revealing that this was no woman. The man had only turned toward him for a moment but he could see that the white makeup that adorned his face looked almost professionally done, and matched the gorgeous mask beautifully.
‘The Ice Prince. How ironic.’ He thought as he looked down at his own gold clothes that made him the Sun King. He saw the object of his attention turn toward him again with a huge smile on his face from what the person next to him said. His breath caught again as he saw the smile. There was something about this man that was drawing him closer and closer to the man.
Viggo stopped right behind the man and tapped him on the shoulder. The man turned and gasped in surprise.
“Sorry for interrupting, but would you like to dance?” he asked.
*
Orlando turned at the tap on his shoulder and was met by the sight of a slightly larger man dressed in gold. The man’s finely tailored dress shirt and pants clung in all the right places to show off a taut chest and a pair of nicely shaped legs. The man had obviously used bronzer to liven up his complexion, but the makeup didn’t inhibit the man’s face, or what Orlando could see of his face. Most of it was covered in an ornate mask of the sun. Gold and flecks of brown showed that the mask had been hand painted by someone who obviously knew what they were doing, and black liner on the edge of where the eye holes are, accentuated the blue eyes that hid behind them.
“Sorry for interrupting, but would you like to dance?” asked the man in a voice that could melt butter, but there was something about it that tugged on Orlando’s heart strings. It confused Orlando for a moment, but he brushed it off as an effect of the man’s voice.
Realizing he was still staring at the man, Orlando opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn’t seem to want to come out. He cleared his throat before trying again.
“Yes. Thank you, I would.” He answered and smiled. The man offered his arm and he took it. He could hear his friends whispering behind him but ignored them.
*
The two of them danced for the rest of the night and talked. They seemed to get along great. Orlando found out that the man he was dancing with was an artist, and Viggo found out that the man he was dancing with worked with a firm in America that specialized in getting rid of poverty and world hunger. Viggo had briefly wondered if he worked with Orlando, but immediately chastised himself for thinking about Orlando when there was an angel in his arms.
As a song ended and they turned to clap for the orchestra, they both watched Sonia climb onstage.
“Thank you all for coming tonight.” She said. “I hope you all had a great time. For those of you who have never been to one of my Christmas parties, this is the last dance. If you are married, you must dance with your spouse, if you are not, then you may dance whom you like. When the dance is finished, you unmask your partner. When everyone is finished unmasking, then we shall reveal the silver mistletoe. If you are under the mistletoe and are married, then you will have a very productive year, if you are not, then the couple that is under the mistletoe will be married before next Christmas.”
“Now! Without further ado, everyone please find your partner and dance!” She proclaimed and gestured to the orchestra, who started to play a waltz while a baritone voice slid smoothly out across the room.
“Dance with me?” Viggo asked. Orlando felt the familiar tug in his chest, but smiled.
“Of course.” He said and they began to dance.
The dance ended and they looked at each other. “You ready?” Orlando asked as he reached up and touched his partner’s mask.
“Yes.” Viggo answered, and took a grip on Orlando’s mask.
They both took off each other’s mask and gasped in horror.
“YOU?!” they both said in shocked breathy voices.
“Well! Let’s see who’s under the Silver Mistletoe this year!” Orlando faintly heard his mother exclaim. He didn’t dare take his astounded eyes off the man who stood in front of him. “Oh my goodness! Its Orlando and Viggo!”
Orlando jerked out of his confounded state to look up and sure enough, there hang the Silver piece of Mistletoe his mother had used since he was a boy, dangling from a red cord from the ceiling.
Author: Elvish Lady
Rating: PG-13 for now. Will be NC-17
Summary: An old tradition puts Orlando and Viggo in an awkward position.
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. I wish I did because they’d be in a relationship if I owned them. But I don’t even know these guys, so I’m not going to pretend I do.
Beta: Juniper- please remember that any additional problems with the story are my own fault and are in no way hers.
A/N: I know this took a while to get out, but here you go - part 2 of Silver Mistletoe. Thank you, everyone who reviewed the last part. I don’t know when the next part is going to be out. Hopefully sometime this week, but I’m not making any promises.
*
Orlando got out of the small car that he’d rented for the week and looked up at the large house that his mother had bought after he had made his first million. She hadn’t wanted to get a new home but after all the young women in England had shown up on her door step hoping to get a look at him in the shower, he had convinced her to move. Of course, now that she had the large home she had always wanted (along with the security he wanted for her), she was able to conduct all the ‘Save the Planet’ meetings and efforts in the comfort of her own home, instead of having to go into town because there was never enough room in the house.
“Orlando! Orli!” he heard a shout from the direction of the large doors to the home. He glanced around to see Billy come streaking out to give him a hug as Dominic came trailing quickly after him.
His arms full of two of his best friends, he laughed to see Liv and Sam shaking their heads at the antics of the three of them. Dominic began to gibber away about his new film that was to release in a few weeks and Billy tried to shut him up by tackling him. Orlando laughed again and hugged Liv and Sam, who had joined them.
“Good to see you, big brother. So happy you could join us for once in your pathetically busy life.” Sam teased.
“We can’t all be like you are, Samantha. You have, after all, produced three offspring for our mother.”
“And we all can’t be like you, oh wonderful business man that you are.” They both laughed at the joke that they always shared. “Come on. There’s tea in the living room. You probably need it after the flight. How is New York?” She asked as they all headed inside and proceeded to the small living room that his mother loved to use instead of the large sitting room at the entrance of the house. David along with Liv’s husband, Roy looked up at them as they entered. Roy stood up and helped his pregnant wife to the spot next to him.
“Cold and noisy. Just like it always is this time of year.” Orlando said as they helped themselves to cups. “Where is Mom? I thought she was joining us for tea.”
“She went into town. She had some last minute shopping to do. Apparently there is supposed to be a snow storm right after Christmas, so Sonia, being Sonia, decided it would be best to go and shop now instead of getting snowed in and having nothing to eat.” David said as he added sugar to a cup of tea and handed it to his wife.
“Ah.” Orlando said as he took a blissful sip of his tea. He loved coming home to England. He could never find a decent cup of tea in the whole of New York. He couldn’t understand why Americans had rejected tea for the flavored water they called coffee. He had tried to bring tea back with him, but he never seemed to get it right. He’d have to ask his mother again how she did it. “When are Sean and Karl getting here?” He asked as he realized who was missing.
“I talked to them this morning. They should be here later tonight. They’re driving in from London, so they’re leaving at two.” Roy said.
“Good. I have something I wanna throw at Sean before tomorrow. I really hate to do business on the holidays.” Orlando said.
“So did you get your costume? You did get one right?” Dominic asked as Orlando sent him a reproachful stare.
Sam, David, and Liv all laughed as Orlando rolled his eyes at the randomness of his friend. “Dom, honey, I think by now Orli would remember to get a costume. I think mom would kill him if he didn’t.”
“So what is it?” Billy asked as he began to bounce in his seat.
Orlando laughed as he shook his head at his two friends. “Bills, Dom, I know you have never been to one of Mom’s Christmas balls, but the thing about it is, is not to tell ANYONE what your costume is, except each other, since you are married. That’s the tradition. You don’t tell anyone but your spouse what your costume is, you have to dance with your spouse for the last dance, and you have to unmask each other after the last dance, even though you know who the other is. It’s tradition. Those who are not engaged or married may not tell anyone what their costume is. But I will tell you this, you will know me immediately. My costume is a play on the press.”
Billy stuck his tongue out at him, and they all laughed at the man’s antics. “I guess I’m just going to sit here and shut up since no one is going to be nice to me.” He pouted and his husband wrapped an arm around him.
“Don’t worry Bills. I’ll always love you.”
“You’d better.” Billy said and kissed Dominic as the others laughed. Orlando smiled to himself. He loved coming home and seeing his friends. They all seemed to go right back to where they had been the last time they were together. Nothing seemed to change.
“Except Viggo’s not here anymore.” A treacherous voice inside his head whispered. Orlando shook his head to clear the thought and Liv looked at him, concerned.
“You ok, love?” she asked.
“I’m Fine. I was just clearing my head. I guess I’m a little more tired than I thought I was. I think I’m going to go and take a nap before mom gets home. I’m sure she’ll be about two hours or so if she’s getting food for a snow storm.”
“Okay, sleep well. If you need anything yell, okay?” Sam said as she hugged her brother. “Welcome home. We missed you.” She whispered in his ear.
He kissed her cheek. “Love you back,” he whispered in return, and got up to leave. “I’ll see you all later.” He said with a wave and headed up the steps to his room.
*
Viggo sighed as he exited the Bristol International Airport. Looking around for a cab, he realized he was on the wrong side of the street. Again. He’d been wandering around the airport for the last 30 minutes wondering if he was ever going to be able to get to the other side of the tarmac where the arriving flights were being picked up instead of where people that were departing arrived. The attendant at the desk said it was easy to get to the arriving section of the airport, but somehow he ended up right back where he was in the first place.
With an aggravated sigh he went back inside and was immediately stopped by a woman.
“Viggo? Is that you?” she asked and Viggo sighed. Just what he needed. Someone to recognize him and bring a flock of women to gawk and ask for his autograph.
“I’m sorry. You have me confused with someone else.” He muttered and kept walking.
“Try again, young man.” The woman said and he turned and stared at her.
“Excuse me?” he asked, utterly surprised. Only two women in the world had ever called him ‘young man.’ One being his mother, the other was the older woman who had born the only person that he truly loved with all his heart besides his son.
“I thought that would get your attention. I thought it was you. I saw you about half way to the arriving flights section and for some reason you turned, looked around and then went back the way that you came and so I followed you.” She said as Viggo looked closer at her face and realized who she was.
“How are you Mrs. Bloom?” he asked with a smile at the smaller, older woman.
“For heaven’s sake Viggo! You know you can call me Sonia. By now you should. I mean you did date Orlando for three years.” She said with a smile back at him.
Viggo’s smile faltered for a moment before plastering itself back into place. “Of course. What are you doing here?”
“I came to get you. I was in town getting supplies for the house for after the holiday, and I knew your flight was coming in…so I swung by to get you so you didn’t have to waist your money on a taxi.” She explained as took his bag, her eyes shining.
“Thank you. I probably would have been lost in here forever if you hadn’t.” he laughed.
“With you men, who knows? So how was your flight?” she asked as she began to lead him back to where she was parked.
“Long. Idaho is a long way off.” He said with a yawn.
“Well you can sleep when we get back. I hear that your art is going for quite a bit now.”
“Yeah. I’m getting calls almost everyday from someone trying to commission me to do something for them. I don’t think they realize that I only paint about what affects me and whatever strikes my fancy. But the art and the photography that I do create is going for a lot more than it was before Hidalgo came out.”
“I bet. You did wonderfully in Hidalgo so I’m not surprised that people are interested in what else you can do. And then there is the fact that you are a great artist. I still have the painting you did of Orlando in my bedroom.” She said as she looked closely at him out of the corner of her eye, not missing the brief flash of pain when she mentioned Orlando’s name.
“He’s very photogenic. I had a good subject when working on that one.”
“Yes… I know Orlando is photogenic, but you seemed to catch his very soul on that canvas. But look at me talking about him again like the mother I am. What have you been up to? How is Henry?”
“I’m looking at a couple of scripts right now, and am looking to get a few roles finished before the end of February. And Henry is great. He just graduated. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of him. He already has three job offers.” Viggo said with quite a bit of pride in his voice.
“That’s great! And a whole semester early too! I’m glad to hear he became a music producer. He always did have an ear for it. I guess it’s because you and Exene had him listening to so many different styles when he was little. I’ll have to get him a gift.” Sonia said as they arrived at the small car that she was driving. Viggo could see the entire back seat was filled with groceries.
“Expecting snow?” He asked, wondering if he was going to be able to get out of here before he and Orlando were locked in the same room and he lost the firm resolve that he had put into place for the last five years and did something he was going to regret.
He hadn’t wanted to come, but Exene had convinced him that it would be rude to Sonia, who had tried her hardest to keep the three of them in her life even though Viggo and Orlando where no longer together. She considered Henry an adopted grandson and doted on him often. She had gotten him a new computer when he had graduated from college with his bachelors, he could only imagine what she had in mind for his Masters.
“Yes. The forecast is calling for about 7 inches. I wouldn’t normally mind but the weather men have been known to be wrong, so I wanted to get enough food for about 15 people, just in case some of you guys can’t get home.” She answered as she maneuvered the car easily out of the space and into traffic.
“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. You never know who’s going to be under the mistletoe. They may want to go and celebrate.” Viggo said with a laugh.
*
Orlando applied the last bit of silver eye shadow and looked in the mirror. Perfect. Shara, his makeup artist, probably could have done better, but he still looked pretty good. He had a stunning stark-white line of eyeliner that led to an equally white snowflake. His face was colored with a pale powder with silver specs in it. His lips were colored black to off set the paleness of his face and neck. The same powder was applied to the tops of his hands that were met with a white, flowing sleeve. The shirt was something reminiscent of the silver shirt he wore for Lord of the Rings, while the silver and black lined pants were a linen fabric that was straight-cut but seemed to flow when he walked. The pants were what had sparked his imagination about the costume. He’d seen them and the first thing that had popped into his head was the ice queen from the old Christmas story his mother would tell him and Sam when they were young.
He went over to the bed and opened the box that laid on it. Inside lay a beautifully ornate silver mask. The entire thing was covered in white crystals that matched his costume perfectly. The mask had been the hardest thing to find. He’d scoured the entirety of L.A. and New York looking for a mask that even remotely matched. When he found this mask, he’d known immediately that this was the one. He’d had to take off some black ostrich feathers, but it matched perfectly. He put it on and looked at his reflection. The mask’s eye openings were big enough to see the eye shadow and eyeliner, but hid his eyebrows. The mask stopped just before the snowflake on either side of his face.
Orli smiled and left his room to join the rest of the guests in the ballroom. People were still arriving but the majority of the people were there and the orchestra his mother had rented were already playing a waltz. He looked around at the many different costumes present in the room. There were queens, and kings, as well as Victorian courtiers and jokers. He saw a few people dressed as people from Lord of the Rings, but about half of the crowd had simply dressed up and were wearing masks over their faces. He spotted a couple in the corner that was dressed up as Batman and Robin. He rolled his eyes and headed over to them.
“Couldn’t you two come up with anything more original? I mean I know you two insist that Batman and Robin are gay, but come on!” He laughed at them. The two men stared at him for a moment before realizing who it was.
“OB? Is that you, man? Christ man! You don’t even look like yourself! If I’d seen you on the street I’d never have guessed it was you.” The Batman with Billy’s voice said.
“Yep it’s me. So you think it’s a good costume, huh?” he asked.
“Hell yes! You look amazing!” Dominic said as he twirled his hand for Orlando to turn around. Laughing, Orlando complied just in time to see two men in Greek costumes come into view. They both had masks that covered their entire faces that looked like the mask from ‘The Gladiator.’ The two of them looked curiously at him as they approached the threesome.
“Here, you two. Since you two are too lazy to get up and get your own drinks, you get to get drinks for everyone next time.” Said the Greek who had the dark brown hair, who Orlando guessed from the voice, was Karl. Orlando smiled at the two of them guessing that the other was Sean.
“Hello, you two. Love the costumes. I have to ask. Where did you get the masks?” Orlando said. The light dawned in the two men’s eyes and Sean laughed.
“Evie made them. I guess those metal sculpting classes came in handy after all.” Sean said as he smiled at Orlando. “Love the costume. Ice prince?”
“Exactly. I saw the pants and it just came to me.” He said as he hugged them. “Your costumes are just as interesting. So, Evie made the masks, huh?”
“Yep. She’s gotten really good at carving and metal work. It’s like she performs magic on them.” Sean said with usual fatherly pride in his voice that he always had when it came to his three daughters.
“Well we knew the three of them were going to be good at the arts. I mean look what their father does for a living.” Karl pointed out.
“Well it helps that she has a good teacher. Viggo is one of those people who….” Sean abruptly stopped before looking guiltily at Orlando.
“No. Stop. You know that was a long time ago. I’m over it and I don’t care. You can talk about him while I’m here. I know you guys are still friends and that’s great. I just can’t be.”
“Okay. I just know the circumstances in which you guys broke up weren’t the best and I know you’d like to forget it.”
“I’d like to forget it, but it is part of who I am. It helped me get here so I can’t really complain all that much. I’ve got the firm, which helps thousands of people each day, and maybe someday, millions. I star in the occasional film. I’m no longer a pinup for 95 percent of the entire population of the young female teens and half of the gay men in the world.” He said with a laugh and the rest of them joined in. they all knew how being a pinup had annoyed the hell out of Orlando until he finally said that he’d had enough and did his own thing without thinking about other people thought. It was because of his influence that gay marriage was recognized in most major countries in the world.
“You have certainly grown up since I first met you on the set.” Sean whispered and hugged him again.
“No… I just accepted what needed to be. I said nothing about growing up!” He said as group laughed.
*
Viggo sighed as he pulled away from another set of people. He knew that Sean, Karl, Liv and Rob were in the crowd somewhere, the only problem was finding them. He’d been at it for a few hours now, and had had quite a few interesting conversations, but his feet were beginning to kill him and he wanted to catch up with his friends. It also didn’t help that he was also keeping an ear out for Orlando so he could steer clear of him.
Suddenly he saw a flash of white out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see what it was and his breath caught in his throat. He was met with the most entrancing vision he thought he’d ever seen. The person was obviously male, had on a white shirt that fit perfectly, hugging in all the right places to show off the muscular frame, revealing that this was no woman. The man had only turned toward him for a moment but he could see that the white makeup that adorned his face looked almost professionally done, and matched the gorgeous mask beautifully.
‘The Ice Prince. How ironic.’ He thought as he looked down at his own gold clothes that made him the Sun King. He saw the object of his attention turn toward him again with a huge smile on his face from what the person next to him said. His breath caught again as he saw the smile. There was something about this man that was drawing him closer and closer to the man.
Viggo stopped right behind the man and tapped him on the shoulder. The man turned and gasped in surprise.
“Sorry for interrupting, but would you like to dance?” he asked.
*
Orlando turned at the tap on his shoulder and was met by the sight of a slightly larger man dressed in gold. The man’s finely tailored dress shirt and pants clung in all the right places to show off a taut chest and a pair of nicely shaped legs. The man had obviously used bronzer to liven up his complexion, but the makeup didn’t inhibit the man’s face, or what Orlando could see of his face. Most of it was covered in an ornate mask of the sun. Gold and flecks of brown showed that the mask had been hand painted by someone who obviously knew what they were doing, and black liner on the edge of where the eye holes are, accentuated the blue eyes that hid behind them.
“Sorry for interrupting, but would you like to dance?” asked the man in a voice that could melt butter, but there was something about it that tugged on Orlando’s heart strings. It confused Orlando for a moment, but he brushed it off as an effect of the man’s voice.
Realizing he was still staring at the man, Orlando opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn’t seem to want to come out. He cleared his throat before trying again.
“Yes. Thank you, I would.” He answered and smiled. The man offered his arm and he took it. He could hear his friends whispering behind him but ignored them.
*
The two of them danced for the rest of the night and talked. They seemed to get along great. Orlando found out that the man he was dancing with was an artist, and Viggo found out that the man he was dancing with worked with a firm in America that specialized in getting rid of poverty and world hunger. Viggo had briefly wondered if he worked with Orlando, but immediately chastised himself for thinking about Orlando when there was an angel in his arms.
As a song ended and they turned to clap for the orchestra, they both watched Sonia climb onstage.
“Thank you all for coming tonight.” She said. “I hope you all had a great time. For those of you who have never been to one of my Christmas parties, this is the last dance. If you are married, you must dance with your spouse, if you are not, then you may dance whom you like. When the dance is finished, you unmask your partner. When everyone is finished unmasking, then we shall reveal the silver mistletoe. If you are under the mistletoe and are married, then you will have a very productive year, if you are not, then the couple that is under the mistletoe will be married before next Christmas.”
“Now! Without further ado, everyone please find your partner and dance!” She proclaimed and gestured to the orchestra, who started to play a waltz while a baritone voice slid smoothly out across the room.
“Dance with me?” Viggo asked. Orlando felt the familiar tug in his chest, but smiled.
“Of course.” He said and they began to dance.
The dance ended and they looked at each other. “You ready?” Orlando asked as he reached up and touched his partner’s mask.
“Yes.” Viggo answered, and took a grip on Orlando’s mask.
They both took off each other’s mask and gasped in horror.
“YOU?!” they both said in shocked breathy voices.
“Well! Let’s see who’s under the Silver Mistletoe this year!” Orlando faintly heard his mother exclaim. He didn’t dare take his astounded eyes off the man who stood in front of him. “Oh my goodness! Its Orlando and Viggo!”
Orlando jerked out of his confounded state to look up and sure enough, there hang the Silver piece of Mistletoe his mother had used since he was a boy, dangling from a red cord from the ceiling.
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