Love is just a word [Auguste]

[Deleted]

- until someone comes along and gives it meaning.
- Paulo Coelho

Late July, 2026

The height of summer meant the balcony setting at the elegant French restaurant was a delight for the senses. The sun was setting over the Pyrenean foothills and leaving the entire area filled with a kind of gentle, golden glow that was almost enough to forget the nerves of going on a blind date. The waiter had come and gone to ask if Severus would like anything to drink and so far he had thirstily downed the chilled white wine to curb his nerves.

However had he been convinced that this was a good idea? Teddy seemed to have become insanely good at the power of persuasion all of a sudden. Or perhaps, Severus reflected as he listened to the late evening bird-song, he had been particularly aware of his mortality after the devastation of Hogwarts. He'd not live for ever and he was definitely hoping to leave this world loved by someone other than his mother and sister.

Keep an open mind, he'd been prompted before this date. Severus swallowed, thankful that the wine made it a little less difficult to do. On top of this date, Severus was preparing himself to begin teaching at Beauxbatons while the school he'd grown up in and subsequently taught at was being rebuilt. The students there had always seemed like pristine, perfect angels whose ettiquette abilities seemed to make even Severus look like a Neanderthal. He was busy smiling to himself at the hilarious idea of the Hogwarts students attending Beauxbatons - who would be more surprised by the differences in expectation? The unruly students or the staff who are used to perfect angel students?

Severus was brought out of his reverie though by a small noise from the waiter behind him. His date had arrived and Severus had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping in surprise. "Bon.. soir," he croaked out through his surprise. Smooth, Severus. Teddy... What in Merlin's fantasy world is this?

@auguste

[Deleted]

Gus was not sure what he expected of the night. He'd told Teddy that he was throwing himself on the market for actual dating rather than flings going forward and Teddy had suggested a blind date. While Gus was plenty certain he could seduce his future partner well enough not to need one, he'd been intrigued enough to say yes. He had no idea what to expect but he did hope it was somebody that he wasn't too likely to have met on his own. Maybe somebody that was just a lot less wild than he was? He did tend to go out to clubs a lot, which made dating complicated at times. If he wanted a more proper partner (which he certainly considered) it probably wasn't the best place to find them.

He'd pled with Teddy to at the very least reserve them a spot at some luxurious restaurant and not something too casual. He was rather done with casual after all. So he'd dressed up to match in a suit, although that edge to show he wasn't just one in a dozen was naturally still present. Gus loved standing out, even while fitting in somewhat. He'd spent more time than usual on his appearance, as the unknown had made his vanity worse. Still, he'd managed to be in time, although he rarely got anywhere early. Gus simply wasn't very good at waiting very long. He'd entered and the dumbfounded staff that clearly had not been expected him apologised for not having a table, which Gus waved away as he mentioned having a reservation that was made by a friend of his. They were highly surprised that the superstar was here on a blind date but well, it intrigued them no doubt. Gus was led to the table by the waiter and found himself facing a man that obviously had not seen this coming either. Now that part was fun!

The man greeted him with surprise and Gus knew he saw that glimmer of recognition in there. The thing he liked most though? The fact he was greeted in French with a croak that suggested that the man liked his company. "Bon soir!" Gus greeted him enthusiastically, giving the other man with the common two kisses on the cheek. He was definitively not going to object to the French familiarity and while less common amongst men, he found that a date was plenty of reason to not behave like straight men would. "Ça va?" He asked as he sat himself down opposite his dinning partner with a big smile. With a bit of luck, he could converse in French, although the fact he was friends with Teddy suggested it might still be English. Gus was fine with both, but naturally he'd try French first. "I'm Auguste Courtemanche, pleasure to meet you." He said in French, ordering a wine as the server asked. In his mind, anybody that opted out of wine in a French restaurant was making a huge mistake. If they had beer? Well that just ruined the mood.

His eyes lazily but with full intensity swept over the features of the other man. He obviously took good care of his appearance and wasn't one of the men that cared very little about how he looked. Good. Besides that his lips just looked delicious and his eyes were beautiful. Even if Teddy somehow made an error of judgement in how well they'd get along, the man was eye candy enough to make it all worthwhile.

@severus

[Deleted]

It took only moments to realise with whom Teddy had made a date for Severus. He was one of the most recognisable, popular faces in the Wizarding community right now - how many times had Severus seen students with his photograph, swooning over Auguste's face and other parts? How many scribbles had he seen with young witches and even some wizards deciding that they were the next Mr or Mrs Courtemanche? Severus was, himself, a fan of the music although he could only listen to that track if he were in private. So it was when his eyes encountered the super star musician standing across from him...

Fuck.

Photographs or videos did not do this young man justice.

Perhaps too star struck to react, for a moment, Severus stood stupidly as Auguste swooped in to place the obligatory kisses on each of his cheek. Fuck my giddy Aunt, Severus felt his cheeks deepen in colour from a wild blush and were they burning? Had Auguste ignited fiendfyre upon his very skin?

Pull yourself together, man! Severus' inner child-born-to-limelight screamed at him and thankfully he recovered soon enough to give a very flustered return kiss on the cheek by the time Gus was finishing the second. "Toujours," Severus replied as easily as he could with all of this ... unexpected stuff happening. Not only was he set up on a blind date, Teddy had taken it upon himself to not prepare Severus that the person was male or a Merlin be damned superstar.

Severus himself was able to reply easily in French, though obviously not as a native speaker he had been brought up with the expectation of fluency due to his father's position in the Ministry. So it is that he replied from now on in French. "I... Yeah, I know who you are," Severus said with an amused crack of a smile, taking a seat across from the man. "Apart from the fact that I work with teenagers, I think I'd have to be living under a rock to not know," stop gushing, Sev, a little voice in his head screamed but Severus thought it only right not to play dumb or down play the man's accomplishments.

"Just so that you are not at a disadvantage, I am Severus Shacklebolt, and it's a pleasure to meet you on such a splendid evening. Isn't the vista magnificent?" Severus asked as he gestured towards the setting sun over the Pyreanean foothills. The waiter brought a fresh glass of chilled white wine for him and Severus took a moment to take a long sip as he noticed Gus look him over. Those cheeks of his felt like fire once more and so the professor swallowed the drink hard.

"How on Earth do you know Lupin?"

@auguste

[Deleted]

It seemed as though Teddy had kept his blind date in the dark. Utterly. While Gus was kind of glad and a little flattered by the obvious reaction from the man, the poor staff certainly had not been prepared for this to happen. This was why he usually made such reservations himself, but well, it seemed that gave away too much or something. Well Gus most certainly had the element of surprise on the other man, although he luckily recovered with some speed, just in time for the second obligatory kiss to be fullfilled. Faster than most really, leaving Gus satisfied. It was hardly going to be a fun first date if the man was so tongue tied he could hardly manage to speak! Flattering, yes, but it always seemed a little... stale.

The man replied in French and Gus simply felt his entire face light up in joy, almost as if Christmas was early this year. It was also too early in the summer for his birthday to be around the corner. Not that it mattered much, he'd take a present like this any day, especially with that kind of wrapping. He didn't know if Teddy had taken the French part into account but the man certainly had picked well on plenty of other aspects. On that point a man that had a taste in men himself could at the very least pick a pleasing face, that was guaranteed. Although Gus did have to admit his taste in people in general was extremely varied.

The worst part about Gus? He (at times) has a truly terrible sense of humour. So as the man stated he worked with teens everything was fine but when he had to mention living under a rock it took every single ounce of his self control not to make a truly bad rock 'n roll pun. Something along the lines of a shrug with the comment that all that rock needs to do is roll with a playful wink. No, that was not the kind of joke he wanted to be cracking on a first date with a total stranger. "Working with teens? So tell me, utter nightmare or total delight? I find them to be delightful if they don't scream loud enough to burst my eardrums." He joked easily, never having had much of a problem with teens. Now he'd been the problem as a teen, which could possibly explain a thing or two. While not stupid by a very long stretch, his need to rebel had far outshone his academic potential. He'd scored too low in a singular class to get into the auror program and his entire plan had derailed into the beautiful mess that had landed him opposite this gorgeous man without a clue what his name was while the opposite was true for the handsome stranger.

He introduced himself as Severus Shacklebolt and well..... He wouldn't mind being shackled by him, if he could be so bold. Not quite on the money, but quite close enough. He smiled easily as he looked out over the gorgeous landscape. "There is very little for me that beats the beauty of my home, but you most certainly seem to be bringing the competition." Gus flirted rather easily, looking the man up and down just a tiny bit greedily. "But the pleasure of our meeting is most certainly a shared accomodation, it would seem. I wasn't sure what to expect from tonight but I'm fairly certain that at least in terms of the view no imaginings could have done it justice." He said playfully, motioning to the landscape but the twinkle in his eyes betrayed what his words were truly designed to mean.

Then of course the man asked how he knew Teddy just as Gus was about to take a sip and he coughed a little awkwardly before laughing. "Let's just say he and I met when I was younger and wilder and found ourselves bonding over a mutual passion for cheap Whiskey." Gus said, trailing off at the last word to indicate that he knew exactly how that sounded, that it was intended that way and that it wasn't exactly the kind of answer that seemed suitable for a date. Then again, with his very devious reputation and his desire to actually get into a long term relationship again, he felt it prudent to be honest rather than pretend that he knew Teddy from far more... innocent ventures. He had a long list of ex lovers and hiding it just seemed a little insane. If the man opposite him was bothered by that, well he obviously was on a date with the wrong man.

@severus

[Deleted]

Thankfully it seemed that Auguste was genuinely pleased to be able to continue their date in French and by Merlin that smile of his had an effect on Severus that ... well, it definitely made Severus' smile reach from ear to ear and his pearly whites flash into a grin. Thankfully, it appeared that conversation was going to flow easily and whilst Severus was a little apprehensive about the date when he'd first seen who'd come into the restaurant. It felt like Severus could barely take his eyes from the charismatic man across from him, though his cheeks burned with a deep blush when he realised that Auguste couldn't either.

Severus' grin only deepened into a hearty chuckle when Auguste asked how he found working with teenagers, "a mixed bag, really... you'd think that one day would be very similar to the next but oh no, not when there's teenaged angst and hormones just ready to make everyone a little bit crazy," Severus said with a level of care and appreciation that he'd never really verbalised before. "I must agree with you there though - they're delightful as long as they're not screaming at each other," he laughed, partly because he found it very amusing that he might share screaming teenagers problem in common with a super star. Crazy. "Do they scream every time they see you?" it certainly appeared that way from the tabloids.

You most certainly seem to be bringing the competition, Severus had been looking over the beautiful Pyranees in the setting sun but that sentence brought a self-conscious smile to the man's face as he turned his attention back to Gus. Last time he'd met up with his sister in Hogsmeade, Severus joked that he was that good looking but to have another man that just seemed to drip with sex appeal tell him that? Fuck, alright then. Severus gulped, despite the fact that he hadn't brought his glass up to his lips this time. Usually Severus himself was quite eloquent but all the words that formed in his mind just seemed to be gobbidigook. "Well, I'm glad to have exceeded your expectations of this evening, though I'm sure once you begin to sample what's available at the table," ... Severus, that was a very weird way to phrase.. Severus adjusted the tie at his throat as he realised this, "you'll be even more ... satisfied."

When Severus had asked Gus how he knew Teddy and the other man coughed on a failed attempt to sip his wine, Severus knew exactly how he knew his old housemate. "He does enjoy a good bonding session over cheap whiskey. I'm far more partial to a good brand of firewhiskey that's aged to perfection, shared in excellent company," Severus remarked, his eyes on Auguste as he spoke as if he could see the two of them in just such a scenario. It was in that moment that a waitperson decided to appear in the small gap between their chairs and ask if they'd like anything.

"May I please get a bottle of Dom Pérignon for the table," Severus began, "unless Monsieur Courtemanche would prefer your vintage firewhiskey?" the wizard asked his companion with a playful quirk of the brow. Before the wait person left the table he'd choose the chef's degustation because he trusted their judgement and the longer he spent with Gus the more he was beginning to trust Teddy's.

@auguste

[Deleted]

Gus couldn't help but chuckle as Severus suggested some people were actually insane enough to think that days around teens could be any sort of monotonous. His own days hadn't been as a teenager and he knew he'd given the teachers more than one scare in his time. That and plenty of opportunities to get detention that he was sure he'd robbed a few years off their lifespan before he'd graduated. Working with teen sounded more than a little crazy. He gestured vaguely before he spoke. "As a teenager I was extremely bothersome to my teachers and father, not to mention anybody else that had the misfortune of encountering me." He admitted easily, although he knew not everybody would agree with him on that. "So which profession might you have? Because if you're a teacher this'd be the first time I'd be hot for teacher." Gus admitted with a very big grin. He enjoyed being straightforward, even more if it made the other man blush.

As he asked if they screamed every time Gus pulled a bit of a face before shrugging. "Mostly seems to depend on what's under my feet. If it's a stage or podium or anything like that? Every single time. But it's expected. On the streets? Not always. Sometimes it's oddly strangled noises or derisive sneers for those that don't enjoy my music. Still too much screaming, though mostly less loud."

Oh how entertaining the other man was. He seemed quite flattered at Gus' compliment but at the same time easily a bit flustered and lost for words. Gus was very much amused, although he had to admit the man recovered relatively smoothly. The phrasing and slight pause in his response brought quite the smile to his face though. Had that second part of the sentence been so duplicious on purpose? Gus wasn't fully sure. He smiled a wicked and knowing smile as he leaned back in his chair with a nearly predatory laziness to his movements. "Oh I'm starving to take a bite, that's for sure." He said, licking his lips as he looked at the other man unblinkingly. "And I'm quite... thirsty as well." He added with a wicked and intent grin.

Gus was glad to see that Severus not only understood what he meant but seemed to hold little judgement ready. Good. He shrugged. "It's a little situational. The way I tended to meet with Teddy tends to get a bit on the expensive side if you go for the better quality, especially if you have an expensive taste." Gus said easily enough. His idea of good was rarely affordable in any sense of the word. It didn't really matter what he spent money on, he almost always got the highest price class when making a purchase. "When it comes to a good whiskey, it should be enjoyed in a timely fashion with good company. In other words, quite situational, although I have seen it fit to stay away from cheap whiskey for the remainder of the foreseeable future." He said with a bit of a chuckle. He had every intention to leave that part of his life behind him permanently.

The other man ordered wine for the table and playfully asked him if he wanted the vintage firewhiskey in stead. A playful twinkle appeared in the eyes of the superstar as he tore his eyes from his date and looked at the waitperson. "We'll take both. The best Dom Pérignon and the most expensive bottle of firewhiskey you have." The waitperson opened their mouth, most likely to inform about prices and whatnot and Gus held his hand up. "I honestly don't care about the price. Charge me a thousand galleons if that's the price or ten times more if that's what it costs but I just don't want to hear the bill until I'm paying it. Money is of no concern today." He said, although there was no unkindness to his voice and he gave the waitperson and kind smile. He hated thinking about anything financial when he was trying to have some fun. It just wasn't relevant! Besides, he tended to tip more than enough for them to take on board the weirder requests he had at times. Though they'd likely not realise that until the end of the ride at this place since he hadn't been here before. He turned his attention back to Severus then. "So, where were we?"

@severus

[Deleted]

A bad boy. How was it that Sev seemed to be taking a leaf out of Deva's handbook and getting all attracted to a young man who was a self-confessed troublemaker? Then Gus said that he seemed to be hot for a teacher with a smile that literally felt like Sev was already sprawled naked in front of him and ... Ah, yep, that's how. Severus shifted in his seat slightly, wishing for some kind of evening cool breeze to take the heat that was growing in his body as he said, "then you've clearly not met many of the other Hogwarts faculty - many of whom could do well in modelling this sabbatical I'm sure of it."

Idiot, Sev internally chastised himself for bringing up much more handsome people when he clearly enjoyed the attentions that were on him. He wouldn't like the idea of seeing Gus eye off other faculty members, he realised all too late. "I teach Muggle Studies... well, at Hogwarts before it was brought to the ground. Now as they rebuild, I'll be seconded to Beauxbatons Academy. Next time you see me, my French will be a little less rusty," he finished in rather flawless French - perhaps his accent could use a bit of polishing though.

The way the other man shrugged and pulled a face strangely endeared him more to Severus. He enjoyed an expressive person and he laughed when he spoke of how situational the screaming teen thing was. "Oddly strangled noises. Dear Merlin, that is too funny." Severus was a minor celebrity compared to the man in front of him, but all too often when he was younger he'd seen some of his father's constituents make similar noises if he paid attention to them in public. "How do those derisive comments feel? I try to teach the students that they should keep nasty thoughts to themselves but it's like pushing a boulder up a hill."

Merlin's mighty rod, Severus watched as Gus sat back in his chair as if inviting the professor to go and straddle him in a far more hedonistic fashion than Severus would ever allow himself and spoke of a hunger Severus was becoming all too aware of. "Please, do not let me stop you," he motioned to the table, his own mouth drying with anticipation. Though his gesture indicated the drink already available, he had something else entirely in mind.

Hot scenes that included his friend and new friend played in the back of Severus' mind as Gus went on to clarify the reason for cheap drinks. "Ah, so the drinking played a much more prominent role then," he replied before listening to Auguste explain that that side of his life he planned to put aside for now. That was good - if Teddy didn't know that Severus was not much of a casual drinking partner kind of person, they'd clearly not communicated enough in their quarter of a century knowing each other. "I rarely indulge in cheap whiskey ... nights. I'm the kind of person who enjoys the whole bottle over a few nights. That way I get to experience each and every flavour that makes the drink itself." He probably sounded very strange right now and internally he cursed at how awkward and out of touch he was in this.

Severus was delighted, however, to find that his date for the evening took up the suggestion of finest firewhiskey. He tried not to balk at the idea of the drink costing 10 thousand galleon - Severus was pleasantly well off enough to rarely worry about money but certainly not enough to drink liquid gold - but instead focused on what he believed was a compliment to how well his evening with Auguste appeared to be going.

"I believe I was awkwardly alluding to the fact that unlike Teddy, I'm not usually a big fan of meaningless ... sex," oh Merlin, did he really just say that? "Not that I begrudge it of anyone else of course. I just... I have to laugh as my best friend, Deva not Teddy, practically told me I needed to reacquaint myself with 'the pleasures of the flesh' and yet here I am talking my way out of it." Ah, Deva would be so proud of him right now. Not. Still, it was probably something the other party should know somewhat straight up... Severus was quite prepared for Gus to leave.


@auguste

[Deleted]

Gus was quick to dismiss the mention of the other staff members. He didn't care if they all looked like models or hags, as they were not here at the moment. The person sitting opposite him was, and so far he hadn't given the impression that he cared more about his position of authority than their date. He'd found too many teachers were far too stuck up for his tastes and dating them seemed utterly drab. "Models are too often shallow and I have more than enough vanity to bring to a relationship. Imagine the horror if they start pointing out that I already show dangerous signs of a receeding hair line or something!" He visibly shivered in horror. "I quite like the sight and personality of the man currently opposite me, so they can take the modelling job and leave me peacefully oblivious." He said in earnest.

He mentioned the Hogwarts thing and Gus was serious for just a moment. It was quite tragic. He just... didn't want to talk about sad things when they were supposed to be having fun. Yet in a far more neutral and respectful tone than previously, he replied with a calm smile. "I hope you'll love it as much as I did. Their apples are truly something else." He said, liking the idea of the man being closer to his home. "Plus, it makes it far easier to visit on days off if you're already in the area." Or well, at least the same country.

As Severus asked how those derisive comments felt, Gus couldn't help but shrug rather carelessly. "I hold no grudges. They never come from somebody that actually matters to me, so their words matter very little. I only half listen to the critics, as I know who I make my music for. As long as those the songs are intended for don't give me a sign that I need to stop, I see no point in doing so. I was never in it for the fame, although it certainly helps pay the bills." If he allowed every sneer and negative comment to hit home, he'd never have made it. In the end his integrity about his music was what carried him through. He didn't change his intended audience at any point, although he occassionally did write songs that had a wider audience. At the core, all his songs were still intended for the same two people. Himself and his mother. No doubt she'd have been mildly horrified at his rather scandalous album.

The topic turned to his friendship with Teddy, which Gus had no intention of hiding or otherwise attempting to downplay. His past activities were plenty amusing to his past self and if somebody wasn't willing to accept that part of him they were hardly a true partner to him. It was supposed to be the good, bad, and the ugly after all. Although he wasn't too fond of the ugly part. That was primarily his vanity speaking of course.

He smiled slightly. "I'm fairly certain that I could enjoy any good whiskey for at least the same length of time, should you describe it to me in such great detail as your tastebuds suggest you experience it." He said, a naughty little grin on his face. Then his face fell just a bit as he claimed to be talking himself out of a fun little night. "Not that I'm saying we should but I do wonder why on earth you've closed yourself of on that notion before the night is fully on the way." Gus asked, although mostly curious. The more awkward demeanor of the other man at least suggested that he wasn't planning to permanently take it off the table. He just wanted it to have meaning. "As for concerns about meaning, I find myself looking for something a lot more... fullfilling, all pun intended. I'm getting to a point where I know I can't have the future I want if I can't commit to somebody as fully as I've committed to writing songs in the past. Before I got famous, that is. The future I want has a somebody in it that I don't want to imagine my life without. It's just a matter of finding out who that person is for me. Then after that I'll just have to see if my extravagant idea of dates manages to win their hearts. Perhaps write them a song or two. You know, small stuff. A small bouquet of at least a hundred deep red roses, each holding a card to tell them just how fond I am of them." He smiled a little dreamily at the idea and then chuckled. "I confess to be a little bit of a hopeless romantic when push comes to shove."

@severus

[Deleted]

Touchy about his hair. Noted. Sev ran his fingertips through his own neatly groomed beard and gave a lopsided grin, "I know a few people, like my sister, who might set you straight about my own healthy dose of vanity," Severus chuckled. "And that is a very good way to stroke a vain man's ego," he said with a grin as Gus complimented him. "I'm glad, as I'm enjoying the opportunity to get to know you all by myself."

Severus appreciated the fact that Auguste's energy change as he brought up the Hogwarts tragedy. So many others didn't... didn't get it. Yet he also didn't linger, which showed a surprising amount of emotional depth from the other man. Perhaps he should have known, if he considered the lyrics of the man's songs. "I look forward to having the apples then," he said with a nod. "That sounds promising," he liked the idea that Gus was already talking of follow up dates. "I'll owl you my schedule, when I know it, shall I?" he teased.

Severus listened as Gus made some pretty decent arguments about why he shouldn't care what others had to say or think about him. Growing up with a father constantly in the limelight and criticised for his policies and then murdered meant that Severus had an appreciation for what Gus had to say. "It's important to not let people who don't know you to live rent free in your mind. It does take some practice, I know," Severus raised a glass to his date. "Shows a strong man of character. I like that."

Merlin, when Gus talked about tasting the whiskey it was all Severus could do not to pull the man over to his lips and let him get that taste. Thankfully the fall in Gus' face when he spoke of talking himself out of a fun night. Severus laughed, "I spoke more of the probability that I was dissuading you from a night of more fun. Not that I'm saying we should." He repeated the phrase Gus had with a playful grin. Severus knew that he could very well be a stick in the mud; it was one of the reasons for his substantial dry spell.

The description that Auguste gave of what he was looking for in life sounded very much what Severus longed for. He'd been playfully mocking with Deva's desires for domestic bliss but it was what he wished for as well. "I've been blessed to grow up with parents very much in love and passionate about life. If I could find even half of what they had, in my lifetime, I would be very pleased." Severus thought it would be prudent to put what he was looking for out on the table - even as the expensive drinks were served up. When Gus spoke of his extravagance, Severus couldn't help but chuckle.

"That sounds like a rather great time. I once, recently, tried taking a date to a place that I thought they'd really appreciate. They liked the performing arts but didn't believe in the magic, so I arranged to take them to see Midsomer Night's Dream at The Globe. I ended up making them very uncomfortable, I believe... rather than special," Severus said with a shake of his head. "Maybe I should have tried the hundred red roses with notes," he said as a rose was conjured from his wand to pass over to Gus.

"Guess I'm a hopeless romantic too."

@auguste

[Deleted]

It seemed, by his words, that Gus wasn't the only vain person at the table. He didn't really mind, as it guaranteed that the other man would at least do his part to look well put together. There was little that Gus found as unappealing as somebody that obviously put no effort at all into their appearance. Effortlessly beautiful or handsome was usually one of those things that came from a mixture of basic self care and confidence. If somebody couldn't manage that much they were not worth the amount of effort he put in himself. They didn't have to put it in every day, obviously, but at the very least for a date it was a requirement. "I'll take that as a good sign in that case." He said with a playful wink. He too was glad to be getting to know this man. He was quite happy that Teddy had bothered to introduce them to each other.

"I would certainly love your schedule so I can wildly intrude on it at appropriate times." He said with a cheeky little grin. He shrugged slightly at the compliment. "I never spent too much time worrying about the opinions of others. Had had plenty other things that took up the space in my mind to make sure there was no space for that." He admitted hunbly with a bit of a chuckle at the madness of that entire situation. His teenage angst had looked a bit different from most as he'd never worried a lot about his appearance as he'd been far too preoccupied distracting himself flirting with people to consider he wasn't attractive. He had a strange kind of confidence as he felt almost untouchable. Or maybe he just never stood still long enough to consider the consequences of some of his actions.

Gus threw his head back laughing in utter joy as Severus suggested it was so easy to dissuade him from fun further down the line. It was a rather funny idea that he'd be so extremely touchy. "Please actively try so I can turn all your attempts back at you as further seduction." He said jokingly, although it sounded like a fun enough challenge if the other man was up for that sort of mess. While he had no problem backing off if he could decipher the other person wasn't interested in him at all he considered the flirting a rather fun game otherwise. Of course he sought to always respect boundaries but that didn't mean he couldn't play while it was still fun for both sides of the field.

He mentioned being blessed with his parents and by his description, he really was. No matter how much Gus had loved his mother, she hadn't exactly been passionate about life. On the other side his father had always been distant with his kids, even more so after they lost their mother. His parents had no doubt been in love, deeply so, it just hadn't been enough. Nothing was, it seemed. For just a moment, the sparkle and life his eyes dimmed just a small bit, but he recovered soon enough. "That sounds like a wonderful environment to grow up in." Gus said with a calm smile, glad to see the other man speak about his family with such love. To have what they had? That truly sounded like a blessing.

He was glad that the rather over the top ideas that he came up with seemed to appeal to the other man. He then shared an experience where his idea of a romantic gesture hadn't been received quite as intended and Gus nodded slightly. "Not everybody appreciates it." He said with a regretful little shrug. "My last girlfriend never liked the spotlight that my fame put her in. In the end it broke us up. No matter how deeply we cared for each other, those parts of our lives were very incompatible. I suppose your date must have had a different ideal date. If date preferences already don't mix I suppose that suggests romantic incompatibility." He said with a big of a shrug. He no longer could imagine dating anybody that would be uncomfortable with all the lights and flashing cameras that his life involved. While he didn't want somebody that loved them more than him, he knew it would never work out with somebody that wanted to live their life anonymously.

Gus felt very flattered and fanned himself for a brief moment before accepting the single rose that Severus had conjured up for him. "Careful now, you might actually make me fall for you." He teased, but it was obvious in his face and eyes he was deeply touched by the gesture. He supposed he was used to doing the romancing himself and hadn't quite considered the idea that he could also be the recipient of such romantic gestures himself. It was kind of nice, to consider that this might just be more balanced in that way. He held the rose gently, the food and drink all but forgotten in the moment.

@severus