He had been patient, up to this point. Anyone that knew Alfred knew that he truly had a kind heart. He might be egotistical, and he might sometimes talk before thinking which made him come off as an asshole. But overall, he was the golden boy at Hogwarts for a reason. However, his patience with this date was slowly dwindling. This had been such a stupid idea. But if he hadn’t agreed to it, Ivan wouldn’t have left him alone. And right now, that’s what he wanted - to be left alone.
He glared at the fork suddenly offered to him, trying not to smack it out of the other’s hand. His appetite lost, which said something for a boy who felt eating was his favorite hobby. After what Ivan had said, he hated this. He hated this sudden attempt to go back to flirting, this being over the top, this sickening presentation of this date. It would make anyone uncomfortable, their hatred aside or not. But the fire in his belly kept building, until finally he stood up abruptly.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” He wasn’t the kind of guy to date and dash, especially when he hadn’t even touched his own food. But, he definitely needed space, he knew that much. Which was why he had darted off to the bathroom, clutching the sink counter and glaring into the mirror. This was stupid. He tugged his bow tie off, immediately trashing the thing. He got his hands wet and ran them through the carefully sleeked back hair, seeming more wild and untamed like he usually did. Popped a few buttons open on the top of his shirt. Why had he dolled up? Why had he tried?
He shouldn’t have been surprised when the mirror shattered, taking a quick step back to avoid being showered with reflective shards. He’d been avoiding magic for so long, but his anger swelled within him, and his body has responded on instinct. He stared at the broken mirror for a bit, one eye reflecting in a shard back to him as he blinked, before splashing his face with water. He needed to make it through this date. He couldn’t fail.
[ With the other retreating, Ivan plopped the fruits in his mouth as he sat back. The other was clearly at his breaking point. He could obviously keep up the act but with the other acting how he was... ]
[ This wasn’t fun anymore. Ivan’s mind lingered on that expression on the other’s face, the scowl, the tenseness. Where was the push back? Why was he restraining himself? Ivan knew he wasn’t wrong: unrestrained retaliation was what they specialized in. It was sadomasochistic in nature but he didn’t care. He knew the enjoyment was mutual. It had to be. He couldn’t afford to be wrong. ]
[ The other was guarded - that was it. Because he was being told a certain thing happened, of course Jones would take the opposite stance. Adding in the contrary personality he had put up, Ivan had confused him. That was the rationale. ]
[ Aka, Ivan was the reason this date was going to crash and burn - and not in the way Ivan wanted it to. ]
[ He sipped his wine, brow furrowed. With the other in this uncooperative mood, convincing him today to simply let go would far from give him success. Then what? What was the use to continuing his attempts this round? Yes, the other would hate him at this point but this hate - the evasive hatred that had left him alone at the table - was not the kind of hatred he wanted. ]
[ Alfred obviously wanted to leave. His jaw clenched, eye cast downward. He was so accustomed to knowing what people wanted and then using that to his advantage but their goals were so opposite - Alfred wanted to go, Ivan wanted to stay. More importantly, Ivan needed Alfred to be around him to suceed. ]
[ He’d need to start from the beginning. He just needed to relearn the other. ]
[ The man quietly stood from the table, heading to the restroom. Ivan attempted to gather his thoughts as he stood outside the door. No, maybe it would be better to not have these thoughts. No scripts, no planning. Perhaps then it would be more... Candid. One breath, two - He stepped inside, searching for Alfred. As he found a broken mirror, his brow bent. He procured his wand, waving it to fix the mess before returning his gaze to the one he sought. Alfred. Ivan’s mouth opened, attempting to formulate words of some kind without truly thinking them through. ]
“I don’t know what you’re doing but I don’t either.”
[ His jaw immediately clamped shut after such an awkward confession, teeth clenched as cheeks turned red. What the hell did he just spout? Shouldn’t he been able to say more? More sync and composed? Giving his next few words at least some thought, his eyes scanned over the absent bowtie, hair... his opened shirt. ]
“ I like what you did. What you did with your - ”
[ He gestured awkwardly to the other’s hair and pointed to his shirt. ]
“ ... I’ll wait back at the table. ”
[ A hasty retreat to the dinner table, staring at his food murderously. Never again would he attempt to simply spout what was in his mouth to Jones. He poured himself a whole glass of wine, chugging heavily from it. ]
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