“Truth be told, I wasn't allowed at the shoot,” Ansel replied playfully, looking down at the young man coiled around his arm. “I was told he wanted to leave the images a surprise for me. You can imagine how much I'm aching to see them for myself.”<br/><br/>Mrs. Clout instructed the men to follow her and they both did so obediently, Ansel enjoying the way Lucio held onto him and gently led him along. “Dealing with what?” Ansel whispered, leaning close to his love so their company wouldn't hear. “Your adoring fanbase? I signed up for this when I fell in love with you, Lucio. It's my burden to bear.” He chuckled, returning to his full, straight stance as they approached the bar. Ansel was eager to get some alcohol into himself. It didn't matter what kind. If he was going to be required to shmooze with these people, having a drink in hand would make the night far more tolerable.<br/><br/>As they approached, Ansel couldn't help but find his eyes immediately drawn to the large crowd of onlookers surrounding one particular photograph, one that was much larger than all of the rest and positioned directly in the center. It was a tasteful photograph, with what looked like some kind of faux fur wrapped around his young lover's exquisite body. Although the image didn't<i>show </i>anything that would cause Ansel worry (Lucio was actually quite covered up in actuality), he found himself torn by the amount of attention the photograph was getting from the masquerade goers. Part of him felt incredibly proud knowing that so many found his lover beautiful and alluring, for Lucio most certainly was both those things and more, and the three photographs on display showcased Lucio's staggering looks perfectly. But the looks on many of the admirers' faces were ones of lust and desire, not simple aesthetic appreciation, and Ansel found himself prickling up, wanting the crowd to look at anything else.<br/><br/>“Hm?” Ansel said distractedly, only half listening to his lover's happy exclamations over his brothers' photos. “Oh, yes. Griffith looks lovely,” Ansel replied, clearing his throat as his hazel eyes darted back to the pulsing crowd in front of Lucio's images. His darling continued to attempt to pull Ansel's attention elsewhere, pointing out Cassio's photos next. The youngest of the Bane boys looked far too sulky for Ansel's liking, and he personally didn't share Lucio's opinion that Cassio was the prettiest out of the three of them, but he nodded anyway. “I like the crowns,” Ansel huffed. He was telling the truth, at least.<br/><br/>“You know some of the crowd over there, the ones looking at your photos with their jaws hanging to the floor?” Ansel avoided pointing outright and instead merely nodded his head back in the direction of the group, unwilling to allow Lucio to redirect him. Under normal circumstances, Ansel would have been happy to casually stroll and admire the artistic works before him, but he simply couldn't focus on anything other than his lover's perfect body, right there on display for everyone. And they were eating Lucio's image up like ravenous wild dogs.