![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
( closed ) when it's family,
WHO: Caspar, Nikos & Marisol
WHAT: Marisol invites Caspar and Nikos over for drinks, but omits some details to her dear cousin
WHEN: backdated to pre-Antiva
WHERE: Marisol's hightown estate
NOTES: she's helpful
WHAT: Marisol invites Caspar and Nikos over for drinks, but omits some details to her dear cousin
WHEN: backdated to pre-Antiva
WHERE: Marisol's hightown estate
NOTES: she's helpful
( It's late in the evening, which means it's probably early in the day for Nikos, and they're both laughing over something stupid. Or, at least, Nikos is hiding something resembling a positive expression behind a wine glass, and Marisol is laughing.
And then a servant arrives at the door, and Marisol glances to make sure that there are no grapes in Nikos' reach, and gently slides the plate closer to herself. Removing projectiles? Yes. Getting a snack? Also yes. )
Caspar. ( She stands, smiles warmly, and crosses the room to meet him. ) We finally meet.
no subject
At the name, Nikos, slowly, looks around. His eyes follow Marisol across the room, plotting her course and finding, easily, its apex. It is easy because his eye is always drawn toward Caspar, an irresistible force that Nikos has been unable to turn from since the first day he saw him.
In reality, there are, probably, a great many boys named Caspar who grew up to become men named Caspar. Some of those men named Caspar grew up to be good-looking and charismatic. Some of the good-looking and charismatic men named Caspar might be attractive, objectively, to Nikos. But none of them matter. When Nikos hears the name Caspar, he thinks only of one. The same one who Marisol is approaching, warmly, as if they have known each other for years and years, someone Marisol would call very dear, someone she would greet with three cheek kisses instead of the usual two.
In retrospect, he saw this coming. Feared it, but saw it. Of course Marisol would find Caspar. That is what Marisol does. And of course Caspar would respond. And of course all of it--their conversation or, worse, conversations--led to this moment, with Caspar in the doorway looking both dream and nightmare.
And of course they must have known that Nikos would stay on the sofa, holding his cup of wine in a grip that could crack stone. Contrary to expectations, he does not get up and leave. He does not throw anything.]
no subject
[ Infamous said as if it's a compliment, warm and impressed, because of course everything Nikos has ever said in relation to his family is "don't". Aside from the sly acknowledgement of Nikos' poor recommendations (mutual, he's sure), Caspar ignores him completely; all of his attention is focused on returning Marisol's fond greeting for a few long, patient, very deliberate seconds. ]
It's a pleasure. You have a beautiful home, and very well-behaved flamingos.
[ And then, absently, with a belated and very casual glance over the room— ]
Ah, Nikos! What a lovely surprise.
[ There's a half-assed attempt at mock surprise, but it'd probably be more convincing without the amused grin. ]
no subject
No matter. It is lovely to meet him, regardless of some idealistic differences they may have. )
Oh,
( Taking her cue from Caspar's wonderful sense of humour - Nikos is right, he got three cheek kisses - Marisol looks between the two of them. )
Are you two acquainted?
no subject
He looks, instead, up at the ceiling. Pointed. Crosses his arms over his chest and lets himself slump, low, on the sofa.]
Fucking hilarious. Both of you. I hope you're very happy together. Be sure to write to me and tell me all about it, as I will be removing myself from this mansion and city and whole damn country.
[Antivan dramatics. He's half Antivan, after all. It's allowed, especially when the drama is steeped in dry sarcasm before it is turned loose. Sulky, he uncrosses his arms so he can get a big sip of wine.]
This was a trick? [--He asks the ceiling, unnecessarily. Of course it was a fucking trick.]
no subject
This was strategic.
[ Which doesn't omit the trick part. Caspar gestures towards the seats, a 'shall we' for Marisol. He could just invite himself in and have a seat, but manners. Also, he's still deciding how close he wants to sit to Nikos, both for reasons of respectability and personal safety. ]
Your cousin is a very smart woman.
SORRY FRIENDS i did a failure
Nikos, please forgive me for keeping this from you. I simply... I know that Caspar and your shared cause is a massive part of your life, and— perhaps selfishly I wished to know more of it. You, who think more carefully and critically than anyone else I know, treasure him above all else, and I did not think you would willingly bring us together of your own volition.
( Marisol doesn't presume to place her hand on Nikos', but does hold hers out, palm up. ) If you are so wounded, I will withdraw for the evening, and allow you two privacy to spend time together. If, though, you can... consider the possibility that this was meant earnestly and with all the love in my heart, maybe we can simply have a nice evening the three of us.
forgiven, tag in grace
[One of them being, kneeling right beside him. Nikos sits up a little straighter, already wary of her proximity. He is still not looking at her, or Caspar--but he is, of course, out of the corner of his eye. He does not miss the plaintive gesture, her hand open like a leaf.
Nikos rolls his eyes up at the ceiling and thinks a string of swearwords. He thinks them so hard they burn, sort of, in the air around him. Then he reaches over and folds closed Marisol's hand, a brisk and dismissive gesture.]
Oh, sit down. Both of you. This is idiotic. Not as idiotic as the suggestion of us spending the evening together, without you, in your stupid hulking mansion. Pour me some more wine.
[There, is everyone happy, they're going to have a nice evening together.]