Jamming with no Jam coz' Sugar is Bad (Salem and Canus) @Ani

“Mr Ferecelli is here to see you, Master Canus.” The polite tone of the butler didn’t penetrate Canus’ mental haze fully, but it was sufficient to wake him up.

“Huh?” Canus’ head pounded from way too much ‘fun’ the night before, and he groaned, rubbing at his numb face with the back of his hand.

“Your, friend sir,” the Butler said louder, raising a wince from Canu’s sensitive head. “Mr Ferecelli is here. He’s in the second parlour.”

The boy sat up and groaned again, feeling like he might be sick. “Take him to my music room.” Canus knew he would be a while making himself presentable, and in his music room his old friend would be well entertained while he waited. Salem could play pretty much every instrument ever invented, as far as he knew.

Canus went about getting ready, cutting corners where he could to hurry to his friend. He’d been to his friend’s house once and found him wearing sweats and a T-shirt! During the day!! Granted, the guy hadn’t known Canus was coming over, but still. Canus would never be seen wearing that, and even dressed up more for his trips to the personal gym. Canus hated to sweat, and only put up with it to keep himself looking fit and slim. He didn’t know if Salem worked out a lot, but he seemed to be able to eat whatever he liked and still look great, which seemed unfair to Canus. Salem even cooked up food for himself - well, heated it at least, a skill Canus had absolutely no idea about. Perhaps that was a skill that one of 8 siblings had to learn. Along with sharing a bathroom. Canus cringed at the thought as he stepped into his private ensuite and enjoyed the rejuvenating smells and warmth of his shower.

His hair took the longest time in his preparations. Salem had these adorable messy locks, but Canus painstakingly took care of his own hair, not allowing a single strand to be out of place.

His eyes looked a little puffy so he applied makeup to conceal the worst and highlight the best of his features. Salem never drank alcohol. It was weird among their friends, but right at this moment Canus thought he could see some advantage in teetotalism.

Canus dressed in a fraction of the time he usually did, pulling on black leather pants, a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually folded back, and heavy shiny leather boots that he left open around his calves. He strapped a spiked leather collar around his neck and another strip of leather around his wrist, and he was ready.

As he hurried to see his friend he felt a pang of jealousy, thinking about how many people Salem had in his life that loved and cared for him. Somehow your own bathroom didn’t compare to a housefull of people who enjoyed your music, encouraged you and made you feel they missed you if they didn’t see you for a while. As he stepped in the door to his music room he adjusted his features, smiling as he saw the angular face and long delicate hands of his dear friend.

“Hey Sal. Hope you weren’t too bored waiting for me.” He grinned broadly, assuming that would be sufficient apology for forgetting their jamming session and leaving him waiting for so long.