The years had been kind to Winter Blaze, né (which incidentally is the correct form in this case, née is feminine) Blaise Winston, and he admired himself in the glass of his gilded vanity.  He was beautiful, the long plaitnum locks bringing out the vividness of his upturned green eyes, and framing that exquisite high cheekboned face, the face that graced endless posters, appeared in advertisements for everything under the sun, and showed itself only at the very most exclusive parties.  He pursed his full lips as a long fingered elegant hand reached for his powder puff, and he contemplatively dusted it over his nose.  He was as far from the mousy little thing he’d been only a few years before.  It was incredible what a little scandal and a really inspired dye job could do for one’s career.  He inspected himself, touching up his eye makeup.  It was going to be a good day.  He was going to see the man who’d started it all.  He almost wondered if he should have been grateful. He’d been so naive and hopeful, dreaming of a future with the other man.  He’d been so innocent.  He never would have been right for Ezra, he could see that now, an inexperienced starry eyed little thing like he’d been would never have kept the other acrobat’s interest long, and honestly it was good he’d left.  He’d had such high hopes, dreams of shared stardom, of… of so many things, but the cruelly worded note had shown him the truth, had taught him that his idealism and naivete had been liabilities, not assets. The note had informed him Ezra was leaving him in the cruelest words possible. Winter's cried for days, but when his tears had dried he’d awoken hardened by experience, and ready to do exactly what needed doing.  He’d cut up his old costumes, turning modesty to daring, bleached his hair, and painted his face.  The crowds had eaten it up.  It was then that Satis had appeared, approaching him in his dressing room one night, whispering promises of glory and much more for the most minimal of prices.  Winter had eagerly agreed.  All he had to do was break hearts, and Winter was ready for that. Winter wanted his revenge on the world, on all men for what Ezra's abandonment had done. That night, he’d made his way into Mr. Bayall’s,  the ringmaster’s, bed.  It was funny, it wasn’t until Ezra had gone that he’d realized what his stares had meant  It hadn’t taken long to earn himself a starring role, he’d always been a fast learner.  His performances grew more sensual and daring, dangling himself from silk and twining himself round rings suspended in mid air wearing next to nothing, all perfect ethereal beauty, drawing crowds and coin to their little operation.  Within a few months, he’d exploded onto the public consciousness, bleaching his hair platinum blond and posing for scandalous photos.  His performances were packed and he had the ringmaster wrapped around his little finger After that betrayal, The ringmaster had had Winter in his bed, precisely where he wanted him, within the week, but of course ultimately it had backfired.  Once he was no longer useful Winter had unceremoniously thrown the man out, taking with him everything of value, leaving him destitute.  He'd heard he'd shot himself not long after.  Just another rung on the ladder of success.  Satis had approved. There had been others, wealthy patrons, artists whose muse he’d been, socialites and celebrities.  The most beautiful and important people in the land made their way in and out of his bed, dropped when they were no longer useful or when he got bored.  He was fickle as a cat, a devourer of hearts, a sex symbol… no the  sex symbol.  He’d been the songbird of the Folies Bergère, stolen hearts at the Moulin Rouge, performed anywhere and everywhere that was anywhere, before anyone and everyone who was anyone.  He arched his back, tightening the elaborately jeweled corset, examining his slim graceful figure, the long legs in fishnet stockings, the stiletto heels, the impressive bulge in the satin knickers.  Lovely, he thought, blowing himself a kiss in the mirror.  He was looking forward to tonight.  They’d found Ezra, and the circus’s management had readily agreed to bring him on at a word from Winter.  He was after all their star attraction, and so what he said went, no questions asked, and if he wanted this particular performer for his act?  Who were they to question it, especially when he’d agreed to such a marvelous price. “How do I look?” asked the redhead, turning to Satis who’d been observing from his chair in the corner. The pale man smirked.  “Like sin and broken hearts, as always,” he said, coming over to offer Winter his hand, “shall we?” he asked and Winter nodded with a wicked smile.  He sauntered into the theater for the faux "audition", glittering like the stars, adjusting the veil on his hat, and approaching the other man.  He knew that he was pretty as a picture and that he walked like every inch of ground he walked on was under his personal employ and just loved being stepped on.  It was easy enough to pretend he didn’t know just who it was he’d be meeting. "So you're my new associate," he said before looking up to meet the other man's gaze, feigning surprised recognition with perfect accuracy. He pretends he did not know it was Ezra he was meeting.  Their time apart had made him a very good actor The other man was Ezra. Ezra has been working under a new stage name since he left Blaise all those years back, so it could have been an honest mistake. Ezra has seen the posters, the magazines, but he had never made the connection between the sweet faced blue eyed honey blond Blaise Winston and Winter Blaze whose supernatural loveliness he had always assumed was exaggerated, and whose green eyes were hard so unlike Blaise's. Before he recognizes Winter, Ezra is already attracted to him. Winter is unimaginably, preternaturally beautiful and desirable. So when he realizes Winter is Blaise the recognition leaves him speechless for a moment, before he smiles, a touch awkward, but not unwilling to make amends. He had assumed Blaise had been starry eyed and overly loyal to him and that leaving would be the best thing for both of them. "I never expected," says Winter, feigning shock at seeing Ezra, as Ezra really is shocked at seeing him. "You've done well for yourself, so what are you booking b-list performers for?" says Ezra with a smile "I was told you were good, If I'd realized it was you-- well I still would have hired you, we always had good chemistry on stage," says Winter with a dazzling smile He intends to seduce him, to make Ezra fall hopelessly, desperately in love with him, before abandoning him and telling him exactly why. Winter and Ezra dance a pas de deux, with Ezra whirling Winter round, lifting him, and Ezra being painfully aware of Winter's body, his ability to move with strength and grace. They are beautiful together. Winter begins to realize he has become in some ways more like Ezra due to Ezra's betrayal. Characters Winter Blaze: A cabaret performer, a singer and dancer. He has gone from a beautiful but wholesome honey blond with freckles to a stunning icy creature with the help of Mr. Satis (a supernatural entity who feeds on heart break). His hair is long. He wears makeup, and feminine clothing often (corsets, lingerie, gowns, etc). His androgynous beauty is part of his appeal. He was from an educated but not wealthy country artisan family when his talent as a singer and acrobat were discovered by Ezra who took him away with him to Paris. He has an incredible collection of jewels. He is a diva, vengeful and beautiful and proud. He is tall but delicately built. His nails are long an lacquered. He mingles masculine pride and feminine vanity. He loves being beautiful, but is also enjoys that he is a man, a slender, graceful, beautiful one. One of his resentments about Ezra's abandonment, the tone of the letter was he felt that Ezra had treated him the way a cad might treat a woman. So he has become a man who resembles in some ways the kind of woman-- no diva no one treats that way. He presented in a relatively masculine way before becoming Winter, embracing his androgynous loveliness rather than obfuscating or ignoring it. Ezra: Winter's former costar, a handsome brunet with a roman nose, smooth skin and a body like a grecian statue. He is exquisitely handsome. His hair is thick and wavy and worn longer now. He has great cheekbones and a strong jaw. He was a cad when he was younger, and still in some ways is. He finds Winter devastatingly attractive now, and attempts to smooth things over, but he has suspicions something is amiss about his former lover. He is the illegitimate son of a nobleman, and has always been ambitious. His hair is wavy and to his shoulders. Although he never made it big, he is as good looking as ever. He is stunned by Blaise's transformation into the glamorous Winter. He is taller and more muscular than Winter. He is overall still confident despite never making the real big time, aware of his good looks and ability. He finds the transformed Winter far more interesting and appealing than the sweet young thing Blaise was. The truth is, Winter now is far more right for Ezra than he was when he was younger. He has done alright as a performer, but not achieved the staggering heights Winter has, because frankly, he wasn't the right sort of ruthless. He liked the bohemian life. Mr Satis: A creature who feeds on men's heartbreak and has made a deal with Winter to give him unimaginable success in exchange for wrecking emotional devastation upon as many men as possible. He takes the form of a tall, dark, handsome man with a presence like a panther. He is olive skinned, and something about him suggests criminality. Universe It's a pseudo belle-epoch century Paris with lots of vice and color, and a vibrant gay subculture. The tone and feeling is decadent, the language poetic yet gritty. The world has petty thieves and broken bottles on the streets that glitter like diamonds as well as grand houses and gardens filled with roses@Winter Blaze @Ezra @Blaise