He looked to find Anthony.  The man just never seemed to be where he expected him.  He was good at knowing where people were and kept good track of them, it was part of being a salesman.  Yet, the man vexed him like his keys, just never being where he thinks they should be.  Speaking of keys, the man paired himself with his keys, Alex noted with amusement.  Anthony walked to him and dropped his keys in Alex’s hand.  Alex smiled with a touch of sheepishness for he never could keep track of his keys, but of course he kept good track of his accounts , otherwise he would not have been so successful in his career.  He smirked at the teasing, but smiles inwardly with a thought ‘Good, the man is settling into the role well, perhaps this night will not be so painful.’  He winces then as he wonders how many of his clients he will have to talk to about this night.  Some ladies can be very possessive.<br/><br/>A hand to the cheek captures Alex’s attention.  It was brief, but slightly unsettling.  The man was only playing along with the role given, right?  Alex never did confirm the man’s sexual preference.  It just wasn’t something he thought about normally.  Men were straight or really not.  If he didn’t see a guy and picture him wearing a pink feather boa, the man was straight.  Anthony didn’t exude the pink feather boa, so Anthony was straight.  Or was he?  In that tiny hidden room that Alex has not ventured into yet, a light fights to life, like a candle coaxing flame to the wick from nothing at all.  Possibilities grew, but slowly.<br/><br/>Anthony stood at the door waiting, his arm crooked.  Alex comes back to the moment.  His mind shedding effects of the wine with time, food and focusing on work thoughts.  His mind flipped through who might be there and how best to achieve their positive attention in between thoughts of Anthony.  He considered that crooked arm a moment before taking it.  Perhaps it was best to get into the role before they reached the party.  That way the ‘show’ would look more natural.  They might be look more natural.  He does not resist the play and falls into it, after all, he had thrust this game upon his guest.<br/><br/>Anthony guided Alex through hand flexes on his arm until they reached the front door.  The taxi was waiting.  There are some places taxis didn’t make people wait and addresses that leave tips like this place often did, never had to wait for a taxi.  Alex lets Anthony lead as they head to the taxi.  Alex slips from Anthony’s arm and opens his door to the taxi for him.  Once in the car, he gives the driver instructions.  The driver was unsure of where they were headed, so he told the driver to head east and take Cherry street north.  He had to keep an eye on the driver as the turns down here are not obvious.  To turn North on Cherry, you have to turn south and take a loop.  The driver looked unsure, so Alex had to instruct him each step of the way, precluding any conversation.  Once on Cherry street, Alex wasn’t sure of the name of the street so he had to watch…. “HERE”  There was only one direction to turn, left.  So left they went.  The driver slowed immediately.  “Further….keep going…. A little more…there!”  Halfway down the block was the entrance.  Alex pays the driver and leaves him a more than generous tip considering the man needed his hand held the whole way, but the man was at the door promptly.<br/><br/>Once out of the taxi, Alex offers his arm to Anthony to let Anthony look around to his heart’s content and not worry about their direction.  The brick pathway was a bit precarious, but gladly, neither male was wearing high heels.  How women did he always boggled Alex’s mind, but how he admired them for it.  The brick buildings showed their age as if a good wind would make the bricks crumble to dust before their eyes.  These buildings have looked precariously fragile since before Alex learned of the distillery and yet they have stood up to floods, blackout riots, tornadoes, restorations, renovations and neighborhood changes.  This area has stood up to the changing tides of time as well as historians determined to make them useful.  They managed to stand sturdy and true and even housed active business and events, like tonight.  He guides Anthony through the iron gates to the surprisingly large sector.  He sees the gentleman there to direct.  Alex heads to him and he points the way to the building around the corner up ahead and down the street.  “Soma, the chocolate place?”  “No, the art gallery next to it, but they are supplying some of the indulgences.”  Alex grins and tips the guy, he turns and leads Anthony to the place they were directed to.<br/>