Rose Reichsmark (Casper)

[Deleted]

Country: Germany - Berlin
Current Time: Saturday 9:45PM August 1936
Weather Conditions: Cloudy with a light easterly wind.


Cheering and laughter explodes through the night air as a door is pushed open to a pub. The people step into the warm and joy filled building and the door closes behind them, muffling the sound of the music and voices. The sidewalks where packed with hundreds of people moving between the several pubs and bars that dotted the main street. Most where celebrating and laughing, shouting out drunkenly as they stumble about. Germany had just won the Olympics with 33 Gold Medals awarded to its athletes, and the whole country was exploding with parties.

There were very few people who weren’t celebrating, and those people stood out like a sore thumb. One of those people was Jace Rosewic. The crowds flow around him as he walks like a river flowing around a boulder. His somber walk was slow and depressed, his head hanging as if running a tragedy over and over again through his mind. The image of the failure was frozen in his mind, the fall of his hero.

Stanisława Walasiewicz had lost her world record to a foreigner, a U.S. runner named Helen Stephens. The Polish sprinter had won gold in the 1932 Olympic games and was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit upon her return to Poland. She quickly became the most popular athlete in Poland and captured Jace’s imagination and ambition. She had been born in Wierzchownia and had moved to the states shortly after where she had competed against and defeated most of the American athletes she went up against. Her story had touched something in Jace, seeing someone succeed against great Americans who had been born in Poland gave him a hope that he had never had before.
He had tried to follow in her footsteps, spending most of his time training himself to run faster and longer then ever before. When he had learned that she was to compete in the Berlin Olympics, he had believed that he would have a chance to meet her, or at least see her take home another victory, after all, her speed was equal to the world record, how could she lose?

Seeing his heroine lose to an America, a people she had once dominated, had crushed him. The one person he had ever looked up too had failed him, and he now wandered lost and alone through the joy filled streets of Berlin. Looking to drown his sorrows, he picked a random pub and pushed open the door. The blast of laughter and cheering blows him backward and he closes the door again, walking down the street to another pub. Eventually he found one where he wasn’t blow out onto the street as soon as he opened the door. He shuffles in and threads his way through the crowded pub up to the bar and shouts an order over the din of the crowd to the barkeep. He collects his drink and wanders over to an unoccupied booth against a wall and slumps down in it, putting his head in his hands as he tries to collect his thoughts and control his emotions. He drinks his beer and runs his fingers through his hair, wondering what he was going to do now.

[Casper Heniz]

Germany – his Germany – had just won the Olympics! 33 Gold medals putting them top of the leader-board and thus winning. It was an amazing feeling for the young German lad as he celebrated with his friends. It was a cloudy night with a slight East wind. He was so happy, sitting at the bar with two of his friends as they laughed and joked and drank. The young boy was the youngest of the trio – but he did not act the youngest. He was punching and cracking jokes over and over. He was a light of the party that was brewing in the pub.

He had been in the pub for the last few hours and it was now approaching 9:45pm or so. The atmosphere had died slightly as people moved from pub to pub and Casper hadn’t moved. His two friends had left him a few minutes ago and he was sitting staring at the empty drink in his hand. He had a fuzzy feeling, probably because he was slightly drunk and tired. He had been working in the bar underground all day and it had worn him out. The door had opened and closed so often and he had been watching people go and arrive. But one person had caught his attention, a man who had just left. Casper found something interesting about him, something....different. A potential client maybe? He smirked and stood up, smiling at the bar tender and made for the door. A slight wind hit his face as he came outside into the street. It was alive with activity and people. He saw the man walking away, towards a smaller and quieter pub a little way down the street. Casper followed him. He pulled his white sleeves up and stuck his hands into his pockets of his brown trousers. He saw him enter and he followed. The man had brought a drink and had walked over to a small booth on his own.

Casper knew the bar owner who smiled at him. ”Abends.” the man replied back a short hello and Casper was given his drink – beer and a packet of smokes. He smiled and pocked the smokes (cigarettes) before heading for the man. He strode up to him, a smile on his face. ”Abends. Darf ich mich setzen?“ he asked, nodding to the chair seat next to the man. “ Mein Name ist Casper. Ich dachte, du würdest einige Unternehmen benötigen“ he said and put his beer down, sitting down and looking at the man – the smile still there. His hand was lightly shifting nearer to the man’s knee.


Translations:
Evening
Evening. May I sit?
My name is Casper. I thought you’d need some company

[Deleted]

What was he going to do now? The question toppled through his mind several times over. He truly didn’t know, he didn’t know where he was anymore, who he was or how he’d come to be here. Ever since his mother had disappeared he had wondered about without a goal, just flowing through life without a goal or anything to look forward to. When he had found Stanisława he had found a goal and believed he knew what he wanted. But she had failed him; she had let him and all of Poland down. Confusion ran through his sodden mind like a fog. He needed something to grasp onto, something to give him direction, anything.

His confusion was still holding him strongly when a voice registered in his brain; someone was next to him, speaking to him. He didn’t know the voice, and could barely make out what was said. He lifted his head from his hands and looked to his side where a young boy was sitting. A second or so later the words the boy had said sunk in and began to make sense. The boys name was Kazpa? Kasper? Casper? That was it, Casper he had said, and he had also said that he thought Jace could use some company. In truth the boy was more right then he knew. Jace needed someone, who could pretend to care, pretend to listen, a sympathetic shoulder to rest his head on. There had been so few of those in the past, Jace knew no one was really interested in his problems, no one really cared, they would just pretend to until they got what they wanted. Once he had even payed a hooker to listen, she had patted his back and stroked his head then blew him and took the money and left.

Jace wanted to be a stronger person, he didn’t want to need people to confide in, to need someone to tell him it was OK, slowly he was shedding the weaknesses in his soul, cutting out the parts of him that needed warmth, and it was only a matter of time before he would be the man he wanted to be, independent, strong, and unshakable. But those days where far away, and at the moment Jace was simply a lost man sitting in a bar trying to drown his sorrows.

He continued to look at the boy for a moment through bloodshot eyes before putting his head back in his hands.
“Ich brauche mehr als Unternehmen.” He words where muffled by his hands but not so much that they couldn’t be heard. He remembered the soft touch of the hookers hands on his back; maybe he would be able to find another woman like here around here? But with all the festivities any hookers that would be out would no doubt be way too busy to listen to him whinging. He didn’t notice Casper’s hand moving closer to his knee.


Translation:
Ich brauche mehr als Unternehmen. – I need more then Company.

[Casper Heniz]

The man had blood shot eyes. Poor man. He looked depressed and Casper didn’t like seeing people depressed. Especially people of the man’s age. He frowned, his hand still creeping nearer and as he glanced down he heard the man talk. ” Ich brauche mehr als Unternehmen” Maybe it was because of what Casper did for a living that he got excited by this remark. He chuckled softly, ” Ich kann Ihnen, dass.” he muttered softly. He didn’t know whether the man wanted his company – maybe he wasn’t turned on by guys. But Casper was slightly drunk, he wanted company just like this man; his friends had left him and he was alone now. Having said that, he’d always been alone and he’d managed perfectly fine – if that includes becoming a male hooker and drinking excessively in Berlin.

His hand was coming ever closer and he shifted closer to the man. One hand was on his beer and he took a quick swig from it before setting it down on the table. ” Ich bin sehr gut darin, die Menschen glücklich.” his hand was now on the man’s knee and his lips were close to the man’s ear. He stretched his arm which had been holding his drink round and stroked the man’s hair, seeing his rough hands and stroking them lightly before quickly moving away; back to his drink. He had told himself before not to be too hasty towards potential clients and he was worried that he’d upset the man.

” Es tut mir leid.” he took a sip of his drink and looked away at the pub. His hands were clasped together and he kept glancing at the man next to him. He was handsome for a man. The poor guy needed someone in his life and Casper felt attracted to him – he was attracted to a lot of people – but this man had something about him – something dangerous even. But at the moment, he looked like he was drowning his sorrows in a pint of beer. He needed re-energising. Casper cocked his head to one side and looked at the man’s clothing.

” Wie ist Ihr Name, Herr?”



Translations:
Ich kann Ihnen, dass – I can give you that
Ich bin sehr gut darin, die Menschen glücklich – I am very good at making people happy
Es tut mir leid – I am sorry
Wie ist Ihr Name, Herr? – What’s your name, mister?

[Deleted]

The soft chuckle, the soft-spoken words of ” Ich kann Ihnen, dass.” where almost lost on Jace. He remembered that tone being used before on him, so soft, gentile, and even compassionate to a degree. But as the words swam through Jace’s confused mind he failed to see the innuendo behind them, simply because he hadn’t expected it.

He felt Casper shift closer to him and his confusion grew as he realised he didn’t object to the warmth and the closeness. Strange, very strange, Jace even found his mind flicking back to times when he had been forced to share a bed with other men simply because there was no where else to sleep, so perhaps the feeling wasn’t so strange after all. He had enjoyed the warmth of their bodies because they helped to fight off the cold night air. On one of those nights he had been awoken by a weird sound, opening his eyes he peered through the darkness and in the dim light he could see two of the other men kissing. At the time it had seemed strange, but Jace hadn’t said anything, he’d just closed his eyes and gone back to sleep. He spent the next day wondering what it had meant to them, why they did it. Perhaps there was something two men got from each other that they couldn’t get from a woman? Hell knows what that was, Jace had been with women and he had always got something out of it.

New thoughts where slowly rushing through his mind as he remembered those times. Maybe there was something more to be had? After all Jace’s mother was a woman, but his stepfathers had never seemed satisfied with just her, so they had payed visits to Jace in his room. It had been a long time since he had thought of those nights.

” Ich bin sehr gut darin, die Menschen glücklich.” Happy? How could…. His thoughts suddenly froze along with the rest of him. With his head still in his hands he looked through parted fingers down at the boys hand that was resting on his knee and his lips where so close to Jace’s ear that he could feel his breath. He didn’t know what to do, he was suddenly taken back to a night when his stepfather had enterd into his room and sit at the foot of his bed, Jace had pretended to be asleep. Pretended not to notice the hands rubbing up his legs.

Panic started to rise in Jace but he was frozen, he didn’t know what to do, was this normal? It must have been, many of his stepfathers had done it, all had sworn him to secrecy and now this young boy was doing the same thing to him. In his confusion Jace actually felt his groin grow warm. Casper was stroking his hair and hands now, not rough, not demanding. Gentle, soothing fingers traced through his hair and along his fingers. What was Jace meant to do? How was he meant to react? When he had been with women he never had these questions, he just seemed to know what to do, where to touch and so on. But Casper wasn’t a woman, and Jace had no idea what to do.

Suddenly the touch was gone, the hands retreated but the warmth did not, that lingered like a footprint and faded slowly, and as it faded Jace found that he missed it. What was wrong with him? He didn’t know wether he enjoyed the touch or not. He just didn’t know. ” Es tut mir leid.” Sorry? This boy was sorry? For what? Was this wrong? Was Jace meant to be sorry too? Such a confusing time, so many questions. The only thing Jace did know was that his groin was growing cold again. How could he get that feeling back? ” Wie ist Ihr Name, Herr?” His name? He had to think for a moment, sort out his thoughts.

“Ich bin Jace. Schön, Sie kennen zu lernen.” Jace made a move, he had gotten a feeling when Casper had touched him, and he wanted it back. Jace reached out slowly and took Casper’s hand by the wrist, before leading it back down to his knee and placing it in the spot it was before…



Translation
Ich bin Jace. Schön, Sie kennen zu lernen. – I’m Jace, Nice to meet you.

[Casper Heniz]

He seemed to be so lonely. The man in front of him. He saw him looking at his hand on his knee. Maybe he didn’t want that hence why Casper had moved it away. He remembered clients who he thought had wanted him, had not. He’d been beaten by them, shouted at and kicked and threatened that the Nazis would come and kill him when they were in power. Now they were in power but Casper had not been found out. All he heard was good news about the Nazis – how the unemployment had dropped to under 2.5 million the new before. Why, the Nazis had been told the saviours of Germany and were sorting out the mess that the Republic had left them in. Casper didn’t like the Nazis that much, he understood that they were saving Germany from becoming a mess but he had preferred the freedom that the Republic had given him and people like him. He had to be careful now and as he thought this, he glanced around at the people in the room; him and the man were hidden away from few so that was alright.

The man seemed frozen, and Casper was worried that he’d gone too far. He just sat there, not knowing what to do; having a feeling he should run and get out of here as soon as possible. But no, the man introduced himself as Jace and that it was nice to meet him, Casper. Jace took Casper’s hand that was in his lap and placed it back on his knee. For a second, Casper just stared at it, realising that Jace wanted him to do more. He smiled softly. ”Gute.” he muttered softly and rubbed the man’s knee affectionately with his hand, shifting in closer to him and kissing his neck tenderly. ” Sag mir, wann man aufhören muss.” he said softly in his ear before kissing the top of Jace’s jaw. The man was still quite stiff in his whole body. Casper would have to make him un-stiff but that was easily done.

With his other hand, he cupped Jace’s chin and moved it towards his own face. He looked into those eyes, the eyes of someone who seemed to be battling with an inner demon. Poor guy. Casper stroked Jace’s face, his eyes scanning his whole face: every piece of skin, his nose, his lips, his eyes, his eyebrows and his hair. Casper kissed him softly on the lips, moving his other hand up the man’s leg. ” Sie befinden sich in sicheren Händen jetzt,” he muttered and stroked Jace’s hair. His other hand felt Jace’s groin. He suddenly had a feeling of eyes watching them and turned his hand to see a shadow of a man on the wall behind him. He retreated all his hands and turned to see the man, looking at them in horror. Casper could just make out a Nazi symbol of the swastika on the man’s arm.

” Guten Abend meine Herren.” The man spoke in rough tones, a smirk on his face. ” Genießen Sie das Fest ein bisschen zu viel sind Sie?”

Casper stood up quickly, and shook his head, glancing at Jace. He would leave and Jace would hopefully follow. He made to go past the man but the man grabbed his arm and growled under his breath – ” Seien Sie vorsichtig, du kleine Hure .... Sie möchten nicht in den Lagern gebracht werden Sie jetzt tun?” Casper shook him off and walked towards the exit, pushing a few people out the way. He felt hot suddenly, hot with anger and lust. He pushed the door open and lent against the pub’s wall. So many people were still out, it was close to 10 o’clock but Casper didn’t feel like celebrating – he wanted to be with Jace for the night. The air was soothing on his face and he lent against the wall, closing his eyes, hoping that Jace would have got the hint and followed him out.


Translations:
Gute – Good
Sag mir, wann man aufhören muss – Tell me when to stop

Sie befinden sich in sicheren Händen jetzt – You are in safe hands now
Guten Abend meine Herren – Good evening, gentlemen

Genießen Sie das Fest ein bisschen zu viel sind Sie? – Enjoying the festivities a bit too much are you?

Seien Sie vorsichtig, du kleine Hure .... Sie möchten nicht in den Lagern gebracht werden Sie jetzt tun? – Be careful you little whore.....you do not want to put in the camps now do you?

[Deleted]

The warmth quickly returned, as soon as Casper’s hand was back on his knee the warm, tingling feeling he had before spread out through his leg, as if the younger boy was able to pour soothing energy into him just with a touch. It was the same feeling he had got when touched by a woman, this couldn’t be wrong then. If the warmth was the same, if it felt so good, how could it be wrong? Something wet touched his neck and a shiver ran down his spine as Casper’s lips caressed his flesh. There was no way this could be wrong, maybe that’s what the others had gotten out of it? Maybe they felt the warmth too? Jace soon stopped wondering about such trivial things and he rased his head from his hand, sitting up straighter but leaning closer to Casper as he whispered words into his ear.
” Sag mir, wann man aufhören muss.” When to stop? Who would want this to stop? The confusion in Jace’s mind was slowly being pushed back by his lust and he wondered if he should try touching Casper, to see if he could return some of the warmth that was flowing into him from every point where Casper touched.

He was kissing Jace’s jaw and Jace was thankful that he had shaved that morning, he had wanted to look his best for when his hero won another Gold. But at the moment he couldn’t even remember her name, he had been thinking that this trip to Germany had been waisted, how much money had be begged, borrowed and stolen in order to get here, book the room of a hotel and a ticket to the games. Far too much for it all to amount to nothing, but now it seemed that this trip wasn’t going to end as bad as he thought it would, these sensations where both new and familiar to him. As he slowly began to relax the boy pulled his face around and stared him in the eyes. Casper scanned Jace, Jace looked at Casper. While Casper was taking in every aspect of Jace’s face Jace was lost in the boys searching eyes. He had always had a thing for eyes, he didn’t know what it was, but he liked them, and Caspers eyes where full of promise, the promise of something new to experience.

The kiss took him by surprise, he should have known they where leading up to it, but he didn’t actually think their lips would touch. Jace’s lips trembled a little, unsure of what to do now, things where going quickly and Jace had little control over it. He was new to all this, he didn’t know the rules of engagement, didn’t know what to do. Suddenly he felt himself kissing back, his lips moved and pressed back against Casper’s.
” Sie befinden sich in sicheren Händen jetzt,” Jace didn’t doubt it. He felt the pressure on his groin, fingers trying to feel through the fabric of his pants and Jace felt his blood begin to rush. He was excited, the temptation of something new drew him out and he reached towards Casper’s leg, his second move in a dangerous dance. But his move was cut short and the coldness he felt when Casper’s hands where snapped away was almost painful.

It took a second for Jace to realize something had gone wrong, they where in a booth, near the back of the pub, there should have been no reason for anyone to come back here, and yet there he stood. Like a stone sentinel that saw everything he scrutinized the two men in the booth before him. The look of disgust and horror was evident and his voice seemed cold and rough, like glaciers grinding together. ” Genießen Sie das Fest ein bisschen zu viel sind Sie?” Jace was finally enjoying the evening before this rock of a man showed up, flashing his swastika arm band and glaring at Casper and Jace like a hawk about to sink its claws into a rabbit.

Jace felt a pang of pain as Casper got to his feet and took off. Jace didn’t hear the growled words that passed from the rock to the boy. But soon enough Casper had broken the grip that held him and forced his way outside, leaving Jace sitting in the booth, under the stone gaze of the sentinel. Jace blinked a few times, and reached for his beer. He spoke up to the rock, putting on a massive slur in his words and looking up with his bloodshot eyes. “Hast du Angst aus meinem Kellnerin. Wo ist das Mädchen gehen?” Jace hoped his drunken appearance and slurred speech would let him get by the German without a beating. He got to his feet and stumbled past the rock quickly, following Casper’s trail towards the front door.

Jace burst through the door and took a few steps forward; he had failed to notice Casper against the wall of the pub and was scanning the crowded streets for any sign of the boy. With rising disappointment and slouching shoulders he couldn’t pick out anyone in the crowd who resembled Casper.



Translation
Hast du Angst aus meinem Kellnerin. Wo ist das Mädchen gehen? – You scared off my waitress. Where’d that girl go?

[Casper Heniz]

He was angry. Angry at the man for stopping his lust. How dare he do that?! If this was a few years previous then no one would have thought any the wiser but because of those Nazis....they just ruined it all. Ruined, ruined, ruined! He was upset and he banged his head against the wall, a few passers-by gave him odd stares, he gripped his clothes and tugged them around him, the air was suddenly cold. He wondered if Jace would follow him out of the pub, and he did. The door opened and the man rushed out.

He had not noticed Casper standing there and Casper wondered if he would. No, there was a worried expression on the man’s face and he saw the bloodshot eyes. Casper pushed himself off the wall, ”Jace.” he muttered softly in the man’s ear, tapping his shoulder from behind. ”Es tut mir leid, ich konnte nicht in sein dort nicht mehr.” he said almost apologetically. He stepped away from Jace and glanced around – people everywhere, all still celebrating and all in high spirits. It was amazing to see – Berlin would never be this high with activity again for a long while. The last time it was this full had probably been when the Nazis had come into power and people were celebrating back in 1933. Casper remembered watching as Adolf Hitler had been driven down the street and the crowds of people shouting and screaming at him – almost like a film star!

” Können wir irgendwo hingehen?” he asked, turning and looking at Jace. He didn’t know how the man would react – from the way he had been acting in the pub, Casper could tell he was new to it all. Maybe he had only had a girl on his arm, but they had been something about the man, something that had attracted Casper to him. He didn’t know quite what it was but in time, he’d find out no doubt. Casper cocked his head to one side and gave a small smile towards the man. He rubbed his left arm, as if the cold air had bitten deep into it and stood, wondering what the man would do. He wanted to give the man an experience, take him away from the scariness and hype of the Nazis and the celebrations. He also wanted a bed for the night but he would not say that to Jace’s face. Jace could just leave him, walk away into the night and find a girl and Casper would wonder alone again but he had a feeling that that might not happen.


Translations:
Es tut mir leid, ich konnte nicht in sein dort nicht mehr – I am sorry, I could not be in there any longer
Können wir irgendwo hingehen? – Can we go somewhere?

[Deleted]

Jace’s heart was dropping with his shoulders; he couldn’t see Casper anywhere. He thought about calling out but that wouldn’t get him anywhere. The crowd was too big and noisy; his voice wouldn’t be heard over the roar of collective voices that where already shouting and cheering. He was startled by his name whispered in his ear and when his shoulder was tapped he turned around slowly, and there he was. Casper hadn’t run off and abandoned him, the boy had hadn’t teased him and left him wondering and questioning himself, he had simply waited.

”Es tut mir leid, ich konnte nicht in sein dort nicht mehr.” Casper said that as if it wasn’t obvious. Jace could guess what would have happened if they had remained in the booth, under the hawk like gaze of the Nazi sentinel. He didn’t think it would have ended well.
“ Es ist in Ordnung. Sie hatten keine Wahl.“ Jace said as he stepped a little closer to Casper closing the gap again and ignoring the people, he was still playing on new ground, but the grog in his system was making things easier, that and the alure of the warmth that Casper gave him wherever he touched. Jace almost felt like he was on auto pilot as he reached out a shaky hand towards the boys face, yet he felt the smoothness of his skin as he traced a finger down Casper’s cheek. This was Jace’s second move in the dance, and he wondered how long the music would play.

” Können wir irgendwo hingehen?” Go somewhere? Where would they go? Possibly to a more private place, where Jace could let Casper lead him down this new road? Jace lowered his hand and rubbed his index finger against his thumb for a moment, an unconscious habit he had when he was thinking. For a short time he didn’t say anything, he didn’t move, just stared at the boy, looking over his face and body, wondering how far it would go. If Casper were a woman Jace would already be dragging him back to his hotel room, his hands fondling every part of him, but Casper wasn’t a woman. Still, maybe that didn’t matter; maybe Jace should just go along as if he was a woman and worry about the different bits when and if it came to that.

Jace stopped rubbing his fingers as he made up his mind. The confusion he had felt earlier had been pushed aside so easily when Casper had touched him before, maybe if he just went with it, he would figure out what to do. Jace found he was nervous, he was always nervous when facing the unknown. In the coming years he would loose those nerves and become more like the man he wanted to be. But right now, he was so nervous he could barely speak. Somehow he found the strength to open his mouth and cleared his throat.
“ Ich habe ein Hotelzimmer. Wir können es gehen, wenn du magst?“ He almost whispered the words, then cleared his throat again and said it again louder. Jace looked over Casper again and a small grin came to his lips, maybe he would find out what his stepfathers had gotten out of it. Maybe he would understand. He reached out and gripped Casper on the arm where the Nazi had, not roughly or forcefully, but softly. Jace was still swimming in dark waters but the more he wrapped his mind around it the clearer he began to see things. While he was nervous he was no longer questioning if this would be wrong or right, it had felt right before so maybe a little more couldn't hurt.

Jace let his hand slide of Caspers arm and turned up the street, his hotel wasn’t far away and he threaded his way through the crowd to the large building. He didn’t turn around to see if Casper was following, but he was hopeful. He passed through the doors of the modest hotel and looked at the reception desk, thankfully it was empty. The clerk was probably drunk in a back room somewhere. Jace turned towards the stares and climbed them quickly, entering his room and leaving the door open for Casper to follow through. The room was dark, the only light came from the festivities and pubs outside below them. He steadied his breathing and turned to see if Casper had indeed followed him here.





Translation:
Es ist in Ordnung. Sie hatten keine Wahl. – It’s ok. You had no choice.

Ich habe ein Hotelzimmer. Wir können es gehen, wenn du magst? – I have a hotel room, we can go there if you like?

[Casper Heniz]

Casper could tell Jace was getting braver as he stepped towards him, saying that he had no choice but to leave. The man raised a hand and traced Casper’s cheek with his fingers. They were soft and Casper closed his eyes, a warmth going through his body. He wanted to teach Jace all he knew, he wanted him to experience a new kind of “being.” He wanted the man to realise just how exciting it all was even man to man. But then there was silence as Casper spoke his thoughts about going somewhere.

Oh no. Perhaps he had gone too far? He stepped away, a worried expression crossed his face and he saw Jace’s eyes trailing over his face and body. He stood frozen, not sure whether Jace would be angry or exceptive of what he’d just asked. Perhaps he should never have asked that question before? It was rather forward and he’d only just met the scared little individual. Jace had taken his fingers away from Casper’s face and there was a long silence between the two. Of course, there was not silence in the whole street but there was here and the two men just watched each other until Jace spoke again.

” “ Ich habe ein Hotelzimmer. Wir können es gehen, wenn du magst?“” a hotel room? Perfect. Casper smiled and nodded. Jace was already on the move and Casper followed him. The man moved quickly through the crowd and Casper had trouble keeping up with him at first. The hotel was not far away, just a few minutes or so through the crowds. He followed through the doors and into the reception. There was no one at the desk – thank god – and Jace was already heading for the stairs. Casper was quick to follow, taking the stairs two at a time until he reached the room. Jace had left the door open for him. The room was dark apart from the lights coming from the celebrations below. Casper closed the door behind him. It gave a slight thud. He could see Jace’s face through the semi-darkness. He felt the nervousness of the man – radiating off him.

” Bleiben Sie ruhig.” he said softly. He did not want to make the man even more nervous. He came towards him slowly, his hands began to explore his body. ” Einfach entspannen.” his voice was soft and caring as he began....

---

The morning dawned sunny and warm. The street outside the hotel was covered with party items and people were asleep outside shop windows. Most people had not gone to bed until 7am that morning. It was now approaching 10am and street cleaners had begun work on clearing up the mess. In the hotel room, Casper lay sound asleep, naked in the hotel bed. The covers were around him and he was unaware of any movement in the room or outside. His hair was ruffled, his breathing long and deep. He was a skinny boy, if Jace had noticed; he would have seen scars on the boy’s back from various rounds of hitting by various clients. However, Casper was in bliss – happy and asleep as the sun rose over the city.


Translations:
Stay calm.
Just relax

[Deleted]

The morning sun burned through a gap in the curtains and warmed Jace’s face. As he slowly woke to the heat he thought it was Casper, trying to wake him for something. But as he opened his eyes and squinted into the light he realized it was just the sun, burning bright as it rose higher into the sky. Jace turned his head from the light and looked at the body next to him. The residue of the sunlight piercing into the room fell on Casper’s head like golden dust. Jace gently untangled himself from the boy’s body and slid over to the side of the bed. He sat there for a few moments while blurry images of the night ran through his mind. It hadn’t been what he had expected; in truth he didn’t really know what he had expected. It was strange and new but somehow, at some point through the night, Jace had fully embraced what was happening, the dance had continued through the night and even now he believed there was still a little music left, maybe.

He got to his feet slowly, stretching out muscles and yawning. How odd was it that, even though he had spent the night doing something that he had only guessed at before, he still woke up the same way he usually did. Jace felt strange, he had walked through a new door last night and entered into a new experience, new options where open to him now and yet he didn’t feel different. He quietly walked into the bathroom and closed the door over, switching on the light and looking at himself in the mirror. His naked reflection stared back, his bloodshot eyes hadn’t left him during the night, he still looked the same and yet he felt that something should be different. After all the nerves, after all the hesitation, the big decision to go with what he was feeling and now he felt, normal.

He switched off the light and walked back into the room, looking at Casper again for a moment, remembering parts of him that where covered by the blanket. Even in those instances he had only felt nervous for a little while. He shivered a little and went over the window, closing the gap in the curtain so the beam of light wouldn’t disturb Casper. He glanced out the window as he closed it and froze with shock and horror, there was no way… it couldn’t be possible. The Sentinel was down in the street, pointing into the hotel and talking to a small group of soldiers. Jace felt his stomach retch and he covered his mouth, tasting bile. He had wanted to go lay back down next to Casper, he had wanted to see just how much music was left in him. But that had been stolen away from him. As the soldiers started to enter the building Jace jumped back onto the bed and shook Casper awake. Jace was panicking, he didn’t want this, he didn’t want to run away from this and he wouldn’t just leave Casper here. As Casper woke Jace told him what he had seen and pulled the boy out of the bed.

There was a knock at the door that sounded like the heavy feet of death himself approaching and a muffled voice came through the door. “Haushalt” Jace’s heart started beating again, it was just the cleaner.
” Eine Minute bitte!“ Jace called out and he looked at Casper and the bed. The soldiers wouldn't be far off now and Jace was about to head to the window when an idea came to him. He reached towards Casper and cupped his face in his hands and whispered, “ Verstecken im Badezimmer, schnell.“ Jace released Casper and grabbed a pillow, covering himself he went to the door and opened it slightly, peeking through the crack at the young cleaner holding a handful of fresh towels. He stepped back and ushered her inside quickly, she gave a little laugh at his nakedness and made towards the bathroom.

“ Miss würde, wie viel es kosten, damit Sie lag in meinem Bett nackt?“ The cleaner turned and looked him over, Jace was getting impatient, who knew how long it would take the soldiers to find his room. Outside he could hear shouting and a door being forced open, maybe they where going room to room looking for them. The girl seemed to sense his need and fear and smiled. “ Einhundert Reichsmark“ Jace nodded and she smiled, throwing the towls behind the bed and quickly slipping out of her dress. That was all that covered her and so she was naked quite quickly and climbed into the bed. Just as she was grabbing the covered the door burst open and three soldiers stormed into the room, the girl screamed as their rifles where leveled at both of them and the sentinel from last night pushed past them into the room. He looked at Jace then at the girl whos breasts where still not covered by the blanket and sneered at Jace. Then without a word the soldiers left and made to continue down the hall to the next room, but at a barked order from the sentinel they rushed back the way they had come. Jace went to the window and watched them get into their truck and leave.

Jace’s hands where shaking as he found his pants and took out his wallet, he had the hundred there, but it was money that he needed to get back to Poland. He guessed he would find another way back home. He paid the girl who dressed and left, leaving the towels on the floor. Jace closed the door and went to the bathroom, hoping Casper was ok.


Translations:
Haushalt- Housekeeping
Eine Minute bitte! – One minute please!
Verstecken im Badezimmer, schnell. – Hide in the bathroom, quickly.
Miss würde, wie viel es kosten, damit Sie lag in meinem Bett nackt? – Miss, how much would it cost for you to lay naked in my bed?
Einhundert Reichsmark - $100

[Casper Heniz]

He had been completely oblivious; sound asleep like a baby in a cradle. But suddenly, he felt someone shaking him, speaking quickly and he moaned as he opened his eyes. Why had he been awoken? Jace was pulling him out of the bed and Casper stumbled, grabbing hold of Jace’s arm and looking directly at his face which was a blur. The words registered in his mind and he suddenly felt awake – what?! Soldiers?! The knock on the door frightened him and he jumped, turning round to look at it and then back to Jace. He felt Jace’s fingers around his chin, listening to what he said. He nodded, grabbed his trousers and briefs quickly before rushing to the door and moving it ajar, hiding behind it just as he heard the door open. He quickly dressed his lower half, listening to the conversation in the other room. Really? Jace would pay the girl 100 marks for just to lie in the bed naked?

The door burst open a second later and Casper held his breath behind the door. Deathly silence entered the room. He was shaking; he could see his hands shaking. What was going on? After a few more seconds, he heard the footsteps retreating and the door closing. Then he heard a few seconds later, the door close again and footsteps – Jace’s – coming towards the bathroom door.

Casper did the rest of his trousers up as he saw Jace was still naked. The boy took the man’s hand and pressed it against his cheek. ”Danke.” he kissed the man softly on the lips, pressing his half clothed body up against the man’s own naked one. He stepped away and brushed past him, out into the room and headed towards the window. He peered out and saw that the soldiers were marching down the street, away. ” Sie sind gegangen.” Casper said, smiling and turning back to Jace. If Jace had noticed, when Casper had turned away from him, he would have seen the scars on the boy’s back. Casper moved and looked back at Jace. He wasn’t certain as what the man wanted – it had been a completely new experience for the older man in the night. It had been a wonderful one, at least Casper hoped Jace saw it like that. If not, then he was not doing his job properly.


Translations:

Danke – Thank you
Sie sind gegangen – They have gone

[Deleted]

Jace’s face broke out into a large grin when he saw that Casper was ok, he even held the grin when he noticed that Casper was half dressed. Jace looked down at his own nakedness and wondered if he should put some clothes on too…maybe the music had finally stopped and their dangerous dance would come to an end. Jace let Casper take his hand and rubbed his cheek as the boy said his thanks. Jace just nodded and returned the kiss, it wasn’t like it was just Casper’s neck on the line, if the boy had been found in Jace’s bed by the stone sentinel Nazi it would have been the pair of them who would have been clobbered and dragged away.

Jace looked at his pants and decided it was best to put them on. He sat back on the bed in order to thread his legs through and looked at Casper as the boy looked through the window. Even in the dimly lit room Jace could see the numerous scars that covered the boys back. Jace had noticed them during the night as well, not so much by sight but he could feel them when he had traced his fingers along Casper’s spine. Jace had politely said nothing but now that his lust was dying down he felt his curiosity rise. He watched Casper for a moment longer before clearing his throat.
” Was geschah mit dem Rücken?” He asked. He hoped he wasn’t probing too far, and in the light of the new day Jace thought he was seeing Casper differently. Originally Jace had thought Casper was just some random at a pub that had liked the look of him, but now with a slowly clearing head, another thought popped into his mind. Maybe Casper was a male hooker. The thought was a little unsettling, but it wasn’t the first time Jace had slept with a hooker. This was the first male one though.

As Jace did up his zipper he felt his wallet in his pocket. He wondered how much Casper would charge him, if he were indeed a male hooker. There had been no mention of money last night though, so he could be just imagining things. Jace remembered that he still had about seventy marks left in his wallet after paying the cleaner and he hoped that if Casper did want some money, it wouldn’t be over that. He brought his attention back to Casper and what the boy was saying, he would find out soon enough if he owed any cash.



Translation:

Was geschah mit dem Rücken? – What happened to your back?

[Casper Heniz]

The light streamed on to his face and it refreshed him; woke him up from that early-morning feeling that many people get when having been woken suddenly and sharply. He watched the soldiers disappear down the street; he was trying to phrase a statement in his mind, to not sound too harsh in that he wanted money. Maybe Jace did not realize what he was and would just leave. He had had clients like that before, but he had tracked them down sooner or later. He would stop Jace if he tried to leave without paying, he’d threaten him...even though he was young, he could still hold a good argument if he wanted to. He had grown up fast in the dangerous game he played in so often.

” Was geschah mit dem Rücken?” Jace had cleared his throat so Casper had been waiting for him to talk. He now did so and Casper turned around. Jace was sitting on the bed, pulling his trousers on. He did not say anything for a moment, grabbing his shirt and putting it on, buttoning it up quickly. ” Männer können rau sein.” he said bluntly, coming to sit next to Jace on the bed to put his socks on. He glanced at the man, raising a hand up and stroking his cheek before letting it drop and looking away. He pulled one sock on at a time, then put his shoes on, tying the laces tightly then stood up once more. ” Sie sind nicht aus Deutschland. Ich kann von Ihrem Akzent zu erzählen.” He said knowingly. ” Und du schuldest mir 40 Mark.” he said it sharply, now more business-like than before. He had to be for if Jace decided that he could walk over him – he was wrong.

” Es war dein erstes Mal?” He asked, nodding to the bed and then pointing at Jace. His voice had changed again, softer like it had been before in the night. He came towards Jace, a hand outstretched, waiting for his payment for his services he had given. He would leave soon, leave the hotel room and go to his friends. He’d stay with them for a few days until he was sure that he would not be recognised.


Translations:
Männer können rau sein – Men can be rough
Sie sind nicht aus Deutschland. Ich kann von Ihrem Akzent zu erzählen. – You are not from Germany. I can tell by your accent.
Und du schuldest mir 40 Mark – And you owe me 40 marks.
Es war dein erstes Mal? – It was your first time?

[Deleted]

Jace listened as Casper spoke of rough treatment at the hands of other men and he understood that Casper was indeed a male hooker. How else could he have received so many scars, and the way he had said it, that men can be rough, left him little doubt that the boy was going to ask for money. Still, Jace found it hard to imagine what the men could have done to cause such scarring; maybe they had used whips on him, or a blade. Either way it didn’t look pleasant. Jace closed as eye as Casper stroked his cheek. Maybe this wasn’t just another job for Casper, after all, it was him who had approached Jace. Had the boy taking a liking to the look him? Jace found that a little hard to believe, he could imagine how he looked last night, depressed at the fall of his hero, drowning himself in a pint. Maybe Casper had wanted an easy client? Damn these questions, he didn’t really want answers to them but he couldn’t stop them running through his head.

The next words where about Jace’s accent. All he could do was shrug. “ Ich bin polnischer Sprache. Ich kam nach Deutschland für die Spiele. He said as he pulled on his shirt and looked around for his socks. He felt awkward with the small talk, as if there was no point too it, he half wished that Casper would just come out and ask for some money rather then playing around it. The thought had only just started forming when the boy spoke up about the money. Clearly Casper was in business mode now. The deed was done and he obviously expected to be payed for it. That was fair enough, and Jace stood up so he could pull his wallet out of his pocket, opening it and counting out the notes.

Casper continued talking, asking if it was his first time. Jace had thought it had been obvious, apparently not. He placed the notes into Caspers outstretched hand and put his wallet away before answering.
“ Ja ... Das war eine Premiere für mich.’ He collected the rest of his clothes but didn’t finish getting dressed. He felt like he needed a shower so he walked over to the bathroom and turned on the tap to get the water running. It would take a little while before the hot water came through so he stood in the door and looked at Casper. He scratched the back of his head before muttering something that sounded like a Thank You as his nerves came back. How long would he be plauged by his nerves. He would have to steel them against things like this.



Translation:
Ich bin polnischer Sprache. Ich kam nach Deutschland für die Spiele. – I am Polish. I came to Germany for the games.
Ja ... Das war eine Premiere für mich. – Yes... That was a first for me.