Jongho allowed Wooyoung the first strike to set the mood of the game. Bent over the edge of the pool table, Wooyoung expertly levered his cue until he remembered he had to uphold the pretence of unfamiliarity with the game. He shifted his legs a bit too far apart, messing up the angle in the same movement that had nearly perfected it.

He didn't glance at Jongho, trusting that he brushed off Wooyoung's act.

"Maybe I should allow him to help you after all. But Wooyoung will be the one chucking the ball." Jongho leaned against the table's corner to watch as San stepped in to wrap his arms around Wooyoung's back. Their bodies were closer together than the manner of the time would allow, but Jongho didn't comment on it when Wooyoung snuggled into San's arms.

Warm breath brushed Wooyoung's ear when San leaned his head over his shoulder. Wooyoung shuddered, but kept his posture when San's hands settled over his. Slender fingers adorned by thin rings slipped between Wooyoung's digits.

"Try this," San muttered into Wooyoung's shoulder. Wooyoung didn't know if San had noticed his experience in the game, but both of them smoothly played it off as Wooyoung allowed San to get him into position. The other man's crotch pressed tighter against his backside than necessary, reminding Wooyoung of heated nights together and the promises that those hips held. Wooyoung gulped as San pushed his upper body down and Wooyoung was forced to press up against him more. His legs adjusted to where San kicked them, and then San pulled back to leave Wooyoung's back cold.

After a hum from Jongho, Wooyoung finally got to make his first move. The balls scattered away and Wooyoung stood back up with a pleased smile.

Like a predator his prey, Jongho rounded the table and picked out his best spot to attack. Wooyoung stood next to San and watched him. The various other guests in the room glanced at them from time to time, but seemed relatively uninterested in the three young men playing together. The more they lost their attention on them, the more relaxed Jongho became.

"Any myths in particular that you are interested in? They are a grand spectrum of stories to tell."

Wooyoung sunk his next ball with relative ease. Drawing out the game would rouse Jongho's interest in them more and he might agree to a second one that Wooyoung could win without making him look as suspicious. His smile was easy-going and genuine as he replied.

"I like the old myths, those that entirely defy science. Like invincibility. Immortality. Things outside of human abilities and the ways science taught us."

Jongho scored a perfect point. San nodded at him in acknowledgement as he counted in his head.

"Oh, that's not the answer I anticipated. Those old myths are mostly based on the religious belief in pagan gods. Is it the gods you seek to study?"

"Quite the opposite," Wooyoung chuckled. He messed up another turn. Jongho clicked his tongue at him, but the noise was fond of Wooyoung's gaming technique. "I'm curious if those phenomena exist in myths outside of the supernatural explanation of deities. Like the Philosopher's Stone, you know? Seemingly rational explanations for such a fantastical idea. Are you familiar with those?"

Jongho had to think about it. He pursed his pouty lips during his next turn. Only a few balls left, and Jongho was in the lead.

"I do. The Philosopher's Stone would probably have been my primary example if you hadn't already mentioned it."

"Those myths interest me. Only that I don't seek the ones we already talked about hundreds of times in novels and songs. I seek for something new, something that hasn't been done before."

Jongho nodded and leaned on his cue. The next time he spoke, a new determination laced his voice. Full and stable in his words, it filled their corner.

"Well, then. If you win this party, I will take the time to drink with you and tell you anything I know. If not, we will call it a day and not meet again." With an elegant beckon, he gestured at the table. To win, Wooyoung would have to sink all the leftover balls at once. A dangerous move, even for a professional.

Wooyoung's intrigued gaze met Jongho's eyes. The man's lips curled in a sardonic little smile.

Was he mocking Wooyoung?

With a bright grin, Wooyoung motioned at San to stay where he was when he wanted to come over to help him out.

"A wonderful challenge. I shall do my best to win this match, then. Your wisdom fascinates me."

Wooyoung dropped the spiel of the novice player. With burning eyes, Jongho watched how he went into position and circled his wrist to relax any potential strains. His eyes sharply calculated the edges and the amount of force it would take him to sink all three balls. It was difficult, but he was sure it wasn't impossible. A master at this game also wouldn't make an unachievable goal a challenge.

Wooyoung thrust his cue forward, and it connected with the ball by creating a loud click. The white ball went rolling and dunked one ball before it hit the corner of the table and moved on to succeed over the second.

Ultimately, it just barely touched the third ball but couldn't sink it into a hole. With a frown, Wooyoung stepped back.

Jongho sipped on his drink in nonchalance.

"Impressive. Let's talk still. You awoke my interest as well. But first, let's play some more, shall we?"

This time, they included San in their party as well. Wooyoung's relieved beams got countered by graceful smiles from Jongho. For better playing, the man soon pulled off his jacket and played with them only in his striped corset vest that stretched over a well-filled shirt.

"Then what is your affiliation with myths? A personal hobby, perhaps, or a job?" Wooyoung asked yet another innocent question that wouldn't expose either of them while San set up the next round. Upon Jongho's beckon, the barkeeper brought them extra drinks. These were refreshing rather than alcoholic and soothed Wooyoung's burning throat from the long evening of breathing in smoke and talking a lot.

"A hobby, I dare say, although it is a job in so far that I garner the attention of those who consider this field of studies as their work and I help them out from time to time. What is it for you?"

"A job, most certainly. I hope not to make a grand find, but I hope to invest people in my tales." Wooyoung used Yeosang's motivation as his new slogan. He missed the other boy. They had developed such a wonderful friendship, unlike many that Wooyoung had tried out in the modern day and age. He wished he found the time to go back just to spend a few more weeks with the other man.

"Fascinating. Didn't you also find your hands busy with something similar a few months ago, Alisander?" Jongho put his cue down to allow San's turn. Naturally, they all circled the table at any time to map out position and recalculate their next move each time a ball on the dark surface moved.

"Not to the same extent as it interests him. I looked into it when he announced his visit, however, since the chances of meeting intellectuals in London doesn't appear any day." San denied his involvement in the topic. Back on secure ground, Wooyoung ended the round by sinking the last ball. Jongho lifted his glass at him in a toast before he turned towards the bar.

"This is our call to leave, then. Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention tonight. I'm sure my companion had a wonderful time." San smiled at the room before he turned to Wooyoung. All eyes were on him to expect his answer.

"Of course. I rarely get to relish in the formidable company of London's finest. No matter what the higher-ups say, I believe there is no better group to play games with than with everyone assembled."

The ladies giggled at his charming nonsense, and the men agreed with grave nods.

"It was a delight to have you, too. Enjoy your evening and don't be shy to visit us another night if your stay allows you to," Lord Wellington said. His kind voice was the most genuine to Wooyoung's ears next to Jongho's. Wooyoung appreciated the compliment.

They got sent off with many wishes to have a safe journey and to take care on their way back. A few minutes later, they left the basement room with its vibrant colours and the stuffy air. Outside on the grey staircase, Wooyoung sucked in a deep breath. His companions did the same before they snickered with each other.

Upstairs, the servant from earlier had their coats and umbrellas at the ready. He helped them get dressed and sent them off with a polite bow.

The night air was crisp when the three stepped outside. For a moment, Wooyoung just absorbed the fresh air to replace the thick mix of smoke and the scent of alcohol in his lungs. Once San returned after sending for a carriage, he stuck close to Wooyoung to make sure he was fine.

"Ah, what was it they were smoking? I never smelled something as heady before."

"They claim it to be regular cigars, but I always feel woozy from them, too. These nights most often get cut short by headaches," Jongho conveyed his sympathy. Wooyoung sighed before he hooped his arm around San's.

"Where to? Shall we visit our place or yours?" He smiled at Jongho. Jongho merely motioned them to go on and lead the way.

"Better yours so we don't wake my darling."

"Wise words, friend," San hummed. His walking cane tapped into the night.

The three of them found their way back to the carriage and replenished their energy as they travelled to San's home. After a few minutes out in the fresh air, the fog in Wooyoung's head cleared and he could think straight again. His regular charm returned to him as he held the doors for Jongho on their way up.

"Where shall I start? I will try to make this curt since I miss the warmth of my own bed, but I will stay for questions you may have for me."

Troubled by the typical Victorian amount of talking around the real centre of the topic, Wooyoung nodded. He just hoped he would get enough to get an explanation out of and that San could help if puzzle pieces missed.

"The story that might interest you most is one I deducted from a rather contemporary poem called Tithonus. I got published a mere decade ago but I couldn't help noticing its timeless spirit."

When San offered Jongho a drink, he refused. They enjoyed just water to cleanse their bodies as they sat down together in the living room.

"Tithonus was an ancient Greek hero who established his immortality by a bond with the gods. He is granted it, but he fails to mention that he needs eternal youth at its side. Thus, he ages and ages and grows old and sick but he can never die." The sinister shine of Jongho's eyes in the dim candlelight painted the story as even more horrific as it was.

Wooyoung's lips had opened in a soundless gasp. He had never considered that part before. Da Vinci's theory on the peak of human health had made so much sense, but this opposite version of it did as well. San got frozen in time as he turned immortal, but maybe that was a stroke of luck?

"As but a shadow of who he once was, Tithonus supposedly still roams the earth. Not that his person was real, but I found interest in how the poem dealt with mortality. We detest death and want to distance ourselves from it, but he ended up asking for its sweet release. Now I wonder. If we find a method to gain this immortality, by means of alchemy, magic, science even; how would we ensure it ends up being what we imagine it to be? The first person it's tried on is damned to eternal suffering if it is anything but perfect. I wouldn't know how to turn immortal. But if there was a way, the failed attempts must roam the earth. If immortality can be achieved by human hands."

Intrigued, Wooyoung leaned forward over his knees. Jongho threw up a lot of fascinating points at once there.

"Right, humans would make mistakes at first. So you would assume that immortality so far couldn't be man-made or else we would find failed creations everywhere?"

Jongho nodded.

"I never met an immortal, but I heard of some quite... bizarre stories in my research." As if accidentally, his eyes grazed San. San's features stayed neutral, but Wooyoung's mind raced with the theory that Jongho could have a hunch.

"If you do stumble upon an immortal in your studies, I would be interested in knowing whether they hadn't got picked at random by something not human and been blessed with a life none of us could ever achieve. Or maybe they didn't."

Jongho grinned his gummy smile, that held so many secrets at the two tense men.

"Maybe they just became immortal by accident."