the quiet one

david cheslyn diamond strategist you can do what you like, just keep me outta it var sc_project=11184072; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="8cb6fb86"; var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://secure." : "http://www."); document.write("");

[davidcheslyn]

dxrcyadams:

After the ordeal at the gala, Darcy hadn’t wanted anyone to touch her. She knew she was fine, save for a few bruises and the cuts around her wrists from the tight bindings that had held her. The moment the party had cleared, Darcy didn’t stick around for more than a quick statement, refusing the paramedics that were offered. She didn’t want anyone to see the distress in her eyes. She showed up at David’s door still in her party dress, and she didn’t have to say a word, he simply ushered her in and left it at that.

Curled up next to him in one of his t-shirts, Darcy tried to will away the nightmares, powered by the fear she felt deep down. It was a rancid emotion, yet it plagued her more than she wanted to say. David already had so much to deal with, he didn’t need her to crack and lose her mind too. The rain had been rather comforting, right up until the brutal crack of thunder that jerked her awake. Darcy momentarily forgot where she was, drawing in a sharp breath until her hand hit the warm body next to her, brown eyes slipping closed as she tried to catch her breath. Running her hands through her hair, Darcy took a moment to gather herself, shaking her head as she swallowed hard. “Does it ever go away?” she whispered. “The paralyzing fear? I feel like I’m never going to sleep again..”

David looked over at Darcy when he heard her voice. He remained silent for a long time, unsure what to say. He moved to lie next to Darcy properly, snaking his arm around her waist from behind, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “Sometimes,” he whispered into her skin. “Sleeping pills help too…” David didn’t know whether that would help her and he’d only taken them once. Yes, he woke up groggy and with a headache, but at least he’d managed to get a full night of sleep once.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked. David never pressured anything, he never made someone say or do anything they didn’t want to. That was the same now. It was going to be hard for Darcy, David knew that, he was in the same situation as her. In a cruel way, it was nice to have someone who understood what was happening inside his head.

[davidcheslyn]

★ :)

Send me a ★ and I’ll bold what applies to your muse.

I like you / I hate you / I dislike you / I love you / You are family / I would take a bullet for you / I would shoot you / I would lie to your face / I would say something cruel to you on purpose / I would say something cruel to you accidentall / I would cheat on you / I would physically hurt you / You annoy me / You amuse me / I’d laugh at you / I’d laugh with you / I’d manipulate you / You scare me / You confuse me / I wish I knew you better / I trust you / I don’t trust you / You inspire me / I consider you an equal / You are beneath me / You’re better than me / I would trust you with my life / I think you’re mean / I think you’re petty / I think you’re childish / I think you’re smart / I think you’re stupid / I think you’re a bad person / I think you’re a good person / I’m not sure what kind of person you are / I wish you would listen to me / I want to make you proud / I wish you would notice me / I want to impress you / I would hurt other people for you / I’m not sure how to make you happy / I’m a bad influence on you / You deserve better than me / We make a great team / I’d have a one night stand with you / I’d have a relationship with you / I would marry you / I fantasize about our life together / I would trust you with my most treasured belonging / I would tell you my darkest secrets / You disgust me / You intimidate me / I hope I intimidate you / I’d hug you / I’d let you hug me / I’m scared of losing you / I don’t think you like me / I want to be better for you / I respect you / I don’t respect you / You’re my mentor / You’re my friend / You’re (of one) my best friend / I have a crush on you / I could easily watch you die / I’d get drunk with you / I’d party with you / I’d comfort you / I’d prank you / I’d spike your drink / I’d act behind your back / I’d abandon you / I’d hurt you to get what I want / I would choose my happiness over yours / I would choose your happiness over mine / I despise how much I care for you / I need you / I’m dependent on you / I don’t know what I’d do without you / I’m scared of you leaving me / You frustrate me / I’d call for you in a time of need / I would protect you / I’d visit you in hospital / I’d carry you if you were hurt  / I’d feel guilty if I hurt you / I’d let you be near me when I am vulnerable / I’d ignore a phone call from you / I’d call you at 3am / I’d break you out of jail / I’d get angry at you / I would shout at you / You’re too loud / You’re too quiet / You’re too sensitive / You can’t take a joke / You embarrass me / I feel nothing for you / You’re reckless / You’re bossy / You bore me / I would ask your advice / I would blame you for something I did / I would cry in your arms / You have the power to hurt me more than anyone else

[spittletooth]

Send me a ★ and I’ll bold what applies to your muse.

((Feel free to add your own. Have fun~ ))

I like you / I hate you / I dislike you/ I love you / You are family / I would take a bullet for you / I would shoot you / I would lie to your face / I would say something cruel to you on purpose / I would say something cruel to you accidentally  / I would cheat on you / I would physically hurt you / You annoy me/ You amuse me / I’d laugh at you / I’d laugh with you / I’d manipulate you / You scare me / You confuse me / I wish I knew you better / I trust you / I don’t trust you / You inspire me / I consider you an equal / You are beneath me / You’re better than me / I would trust you with my life / I think you’re mean / I think you’re petty / I think you’re childish / I think you’re smart / I think you’re stupid / I think you’re a bad person / I think you’re a good person / I’m not sure what kind of person you are / I wish you would listen to me / I want to make you proud / I wish you would notice me / I want to impress you / I would hurt other people for you / I’m not sure how to make you happy / I’m a bad influence on you / You deserve better than me / We make a great team / I’d have a one night stand with you / I’d have a relationship with you / I would marry you / I fantasize about our life together / I would trust you with my most treasured belonging / I would tell you my darkest secrets / You disgust me / You intimidate me / I hope I intimidate you / I’d hug you / I’d let you hug me  / I’m scared of losing you / I don’t think you like me / I want to be better for you / I respect you / I don’t respect you / You’re my mentor / You’re my friend / You’re my best friend / I have a crush on you / I could easily watch you die / I’d get drunk with you / I’d party with you / I’d comfort you / I’d prank you / I’d spike your drink / I’d act behind your back / I’d abandon you / I’d hurt you to get what I want / I would choose my happiness over yours / I would choose your happiness over mine / I despise how much I care for you / I need you / I’m dependent on you / I don’t know what I’d do without you / I’m scared of you leaving me / I’d give my life for you / You frustrate me / I’d call for you in a time of need / I would protect you / I’d visit you in hospital / I’d carry you if you were hurt / I’d feel guilty if I hurt you / I’d let you be near me when I am vulnerable / I’d ignore a phone call from you / I’d call you at 3am / I’d break you out of jail / I’d get angry at you / I would shout at you / You’re too loud / You’re too quiet / You’re too sensitive / You can’t take a joke / You embarrass me / I feel nothing for you / You’re reckless / You’re bossy / You bore me / I would ask your advice / I would blame you for something I did / I would cry in your arms / You have the power to hurt me more than anyone else /

[davidcheslyn]

@dxrcyadams

When David had seen what had happened to Darcy after the whole ordeal, he didn’t want to leave her side. Thankfully, Molly or her children hadn’t been around that night. So David’s main focus was his girlfriend and his girlfriend only. He knew that things had been affecting her a lot recently, especially after being shot at during the event in central park. This was just another thing on top of that. He hardly slept, watching over her in case she had a nightmare or needed something else. Of course, there was more than one reason why he was staying awake. His own dreams were plagued with nightmares; visions of Sixes’ face in his own, laughing, the pain of the knife digging into his arm, scarring his skin… It was enough to keep anybody awake at night.

David was grateful for coffee, which he was sipping on at that moment as the clock struck 2 o’clock in the morning. Darcy was visiting, tucked up asleep in his bed as he sat on the couch in the basement (or rather, his bedroom) of his sister’s house. He could hear the rain thundering on the ground outside and was thankful for the noise. At least it was something else to concentrate on.

[davidcheslyn]

sourires-et-masques:

Hannah could understand the discomfort that David sometimes felt at such comments. He was her friend but, more like dad-friend and calling your dad hot would be so inappropriate. However, he wasn’t her dad and he needed to be reminded that he was, at the end of the day, he was an attractive man regardless of his age. David took his age very seriously which really wasn’t that necessary.

Either way, she apologised for making him uneasy. “You don’t belong among your friends?” She asked with raised brows, eyes flickering over the crowd briefly before returning to his face. “The others don’t matter because, you belong with us. Everyone else is just decoration,” she added with a shrug after a moment.

David shrugged a shoulder. He felt awkward when people complimented him because he simply wasn’t used to it. He’d spent so much of his life hiding away from people, always being in the shadows, that when he put into the spotlight everything just felt wrong. Being a wallflower was a lot better. “That’s true,” he replied, sipping on his drink. “I just feel a little… odd at anything like this. If I’m in a room with more than three people in it, it’s an awkward situation.”

[andy-clutterbuck]

(◕‿◕✿)

[sourires-et-masques-deactivated]

David:

David nodded. “Yes, good different.” Everyone looked good different. In fact, he didn’t think there was a single person at this entire event that didn’t look good. David knew that Hannah was just messing with him, but the comment about him looking hot made him flush red. He wasn’t used to those sorts of comments from anybody, especially somebody like Hannah, who looked like the most innocent person in the entire world. He cleared his throat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.

He shook his head, his cheeks feeling hot as Hannah winked at him. “Comments like that shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth,” he said with a small smile. “I think I’ll just have some water, please. I’ve already drank quite a lot of wine.” If anything was to go down, he needed to be at least somewhat sober.

Hannah gave him a humble smile and said, “thank you very much.” As soon as his cheeks flared up, Hannah laughed. He was just too adorable and even though she’d meant it genuinely - that he was looking good - she didn’t intend to embarrass him too much. She was just looking for a bit of fun hence, the bold phrasing of her words.

“Oops! Sorry?” She said sweetly, looking very much like the innocent kid that David and Marshall thought her to be sometimes. “Are you sure?” She asked with a quirked brow but, then gave a nod and requested a white wine and a glass of water. “Are you enjoying?”

[davidcheslyn]

He knew it was all fun and games and that he always tended to overreact to compliments like that because it just didn’t feel right to him to have someone as young and beautiful as Hannah (and Darcy, of course) to say those sorts of things. He was old enough to be her father, David only had to look at Ace and Jessica’s age gap to realise that he could easily be Darcy’s dad, with a good 19 years between them.

David took the water gratefully and nodded. He was enjoying himself mostly; as long as he didn’t have to talk to a lot of people he would be fine. “It’s okay,” he replied, “I don’t feel like I belong here, though.”

[layla-m-blog1]

davidcheslyn:

David was sure that if the stranger ever knew the full extent of his techno-phobia, she would be very disappointed, but it wasn’t really a conversation that you tended to have with a complete stranger at an event like this, so he just laughed and shrugged. “My phone has snake on it. I think that’s the only game it has. They last for years and so does the battery. My sister’s kids are always going around looking for an outlet for their phone charger.”

“I suppose that’s just how the other half live,” David replied, looking around the room again. “I’m sure a lot of people here are wearing clothes that are more expensive than what I earn in a year.”

“Then your nephew has nothing to worry about, as long as you know how to play Snake. You’ve got enough to keep yourself entertained for hours, if the urge takes you.” She couldn’t help laughing at his point, which was, unfortunately, completely valid and the bane of her career. “Tell me about it. I actually like having a phone I can use, but unless I carry around a back-up battery I’m never going to get a full day of use out of it.”

“The other half is rather, um. Much.” She concluded, shrugging and looking down. Her dress was expensive, and she knew it, but it hadn’t been her choice to wear it. And anyway, it was at least a few years old. She hadn’t bought it just for the gala… and she was defending herself in her mind from someone she didn’t care about the opinion of. Great. “I can guarantee it. I think I saw someone with a purse inlaid with actual gemstones, but I’m really hoping they’re glass.”

[davidcheslyn]

David laughed. “I just about know how to play Snake, yes. What was the game you were playing? It must be good if it cost you seven dollars.”

It seemed that the stranger he was suddenly deep in conversation with was good with technology and she reminded him of the Diamond hackers who were all about the latest tech, trying to persuade David to upgrade.

“They certainly know how to live,” David agreed with a nod. He’d seen Wren’s lavish apartment, he’d seen his late sister’s too, with everything perfectly in its place, very aesthetically pleasing and the complete contrast to David’s cramped house that he shared with his sister and her three kids. He eyed her dress for a moment, knowing that what she was wearing probably cost more than the suit he was wearing, that he’d worn to Molly’s wedding around 20 years ago. David laughed again. “I think it probably was gemstones. People like to show off things they own.”

Finally, David held his hand out in front of him. “I’m David, by the way.”

[layla-m-blog1]

davidcheslyn:

David laughed, shaking his head. “No, I just have the one.” He didn’t see the point in having some fancy phone that had all sorts of gadgets, if he wanted information he’d look in the library, if he wanted to get in touch with somebody he’d phone them, if he wanted to see their face he’d go and see them. There was no point in video calling. Social media baffled him just as much as everything else.

“My nephew constantly laughs at me for it and tries to get me to switch but he showed me the phone he has… with all the applications and games and social media. One of those ones you’ve got,” David explained, “it’s all a bit much for me.” David sipped on his wine and shook his head. “I’m sure if it wasn’t an open bar, none of us would be able to afford the prices at a place like this.”

“Oh, good, I wouldn’t want to be disappointed in the tech habits of the guy I met at an open bar,” she teased. “What’s it like to keep the same thing for so long, though? I don’t remember early phones being that durable. Though they were probably better than this,” she mused, tapping the phone she had - one that was mostly screen.

“Well, that’s a bit like going from zero to 80 in ten seconds flat, isn’t it? You’ve skipped quite a few generations of phones. Really, he should start you on one with just a Snake app.” She chuckled as she nodded, happy to concede his point. “Even if I could, I wouldn’t want to. If I’m going to pay twenty dollars for a glass of something, I’d at least like it to be more fun than champagne.”

[davidcheslyn]

David was sure that if the stranger ever knew the full extent of his techno-phobia, she would be very disappointed, but it wasn’t really a conversation that you tended to have with a complete stranger at an event like this, so he just laughed and shrugged. “My phone has snake on it. I think that’s the only game it has. They last for years and so does the battery. My sister’s kids are always going around looking for an outlet for their phone charger.”

“I suppose that’s just how the other half live,” David replied, looking around the room again. “I’m sure a lot of people here are wearing clothes that are more expensive than what I earn in a year.”

[sourires-et-masques-deactivated]

David:

It was strange seeing so many people he knew dressed to the nines when they were usually just in comfortable clothing when they hung around the HQ. A lot of people trained at the HQ regularly, so any sort of formal outfit would just look out of place. To see Hannah dressed the way she was certainly surprised him and David was unable to keep that look of surprise off his face when he initially saw her.

“Hannah,” he said, looking her up and down for a brief moment, “you look…” He paused. “Different.”

David didn’t know what else to say, feeling somewhat protective over her now that she was dressed the way she was. There were no doubt a lot of single, eligible bachelors at this event and there was a part of him that now wanted to keep a close eye on who was talking to Hannah. “Um… No it’s okay. You can go…”

The look of surprise on David’s face made Hannah chuckle softly. She had sported a similar look when she’d caught sight of him and Darcy walk in, some time ago. Though it was a little more subtle yet, surprise nonetheless. David looked quite dapper all dressed up and it was a pleasing sight, really. Not in a weird way but, like admiration for your dad or elder sibling kid of way.

Bowing her head humbly she grinned at David. “I hope good different,” she teased him with a chuckle. “You’re looking hot and I’m really worried about Darcy’s heartbeat,” she added in the same playful tone, giving David a wink just to mess with him a little.

“Oh come on! Tell me what you’d like to have. I’m already here. Can order more than one drink,” she said warmly.

[davidcheslyn]

David nodded. “Yes, good different.” Everyone looked good different. In fact, he didn’t think there was a single person at this entire event that didn’t look good. David knew that Hannah was just messing with him, but the comment about him looking hot made him flush red. He wasn’t used to those sorts of comments from anybody, especially somebody like Hannah, who looked like the most innocent person in the entire world. He cleared his throat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.

He shook his head, his cheeks feeling hot as Hannah winked at him. “Comments like that shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth,” he said with a small smile. “I think I’ll just have some water, please. I’ve already drank quite a lot of wine.” If anything was to go down, he needed to be at least somewhat sober.

[layla-m-blog1]

davidcheslyn:

David stared at her phone for a brief moment, wondering why on earth somebody would pay seven dollars for a game on their phone before he gave her a small smile. “I just have a basic phone,” he replied, pulling his 15 year old phone out of his pocket. “It texts and calls, does the job really.” He shrugged. “I’m not great with… technology.” David gestured towards the stranger’s phone.

“It’s an open bar so you’re more than welcome to go next and get mine,” David added with a polite smile. “At least you can justify spending seven dollars on your game when you don’t have to pay for your drinks.“

Layla very nearly physically winced at the idea of using what looked like something from the early 2000s. “If that’s all you need it to do, then fair enough. You’re doing a better job than most, keeping it in one piece for as long as you must have. Unless you’re one of those people who keeps a drawer full of the same phone, just in case something happens to it… you aren’t, are you?”

She chuckled, asking the bartender for a fresh glass of his wine. “What, you wouldn’t let me treat you if the bar wasn’t open? Who says chivalry is dead?” she joked, lifting an eyebrow. “Well, the same game is twenty dollars on PC, so I think I’ve chosen the cheaper alternative. With the added benefit of being able to play while waiting for the bus.”

[davidcheslyn]

David laughed, shaking his head. “No, I just have the one.” He didn’t see the point in having some fancy phone that had all sorts of gadgets, if he wanted information he’d look in the library, if he wanted to get in touch with somebody he’d phone them, if he wanted to see their face he’d go and see them. There was no point in video calling. Social media baffled him just as much as everything else.

“My nephew constantly laughs at me for it and tries to get me to switch but he showed me the phone he has… with all the applications and games and social media. One of those ones you’ve got,” David explained, “it’s all a bit much for me.” David sipped on his wine and shook his head. “I’m sure if it wasn’t an open bar, none of us would be able to afford the prices at a place like this.”

[sourires-et-masques-deactivated]

David:

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Hannah was completely at ease at the event. It wasn’t anything new for her, she was at her best, being a social butterfly and mingling with people. She’d done this countless times before because being a Price meant being in such social circles. She wasn’t a socialite but, would’ve made a rather alluring one if she were. She’d been looking around for familiar faces and flirting with the unfamiliar pretty ones in the meanwhile. Her champagne running low, she made a bee line to the bar for a top up or maybe a different drink altogether. She’d decided when she reaches there.

She was just about to place her order when she heard David’s voice and turned to look at him with a bright smile. “I can go after you, David. I don’t mind,” she chimed.

[davidcheslyn]

It was strange seeing so many people he knew dressed to the nines when they were usually just in comfortable clothing when they hung around the HQ. A lot of people trained at the HQ regularly, so any sort of formal outfit would just look out of place. To see Hannah dressed the way she was certainly surprised him and David was unable to keep that look of surprise off his face when he initially saw her.

“Hannah,” he said, looking her up and down for a brief moment, “you look…” He paused. “Different.”

David didn’t know what else to say, feeling somewhat protective over her now that she was dressed the way she was. There were no doubt a lot of single, eligible bachelors at this event and there was a part of him that now wanted to keep a close eye on who was talking to Hannah. “Um… No it’s okay. You can go…”

[drewthomason-blog]

DAVIDCHESLYN:

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Out of all the people from the Diamonds that Drew didn’t expect to see here tonight, David was at the top of that list— though he wasn’t completely sure why he was surprised to see the strategist here tonight, it wasn’t like David was widely known for disobey a direct order from their boss. He was too boring and strung up to go against their leaders wishes, even for something as small as being required to attend this function tonight.

“If you’re offering,” Drew answered, stepping up to the bar and ordering himself another one of those fruity cocktails he had been handed on arrival, after turning down the champagne flute. “Do you think any of them will show?” Drew asked David idly, only making conversation with the other Diamond to pass the time while he waited on his cocktail, as opposed to actually wanting to engage with the man.

[davidcheslyn]

David wasn’t a stupid man, he knew that Drew didn’t like him for one reason or another (not that it really affected the strategist’s life, if Drew didn’t want to like him he wouldn’t question it), but he did wonder why he was talking to him. It seemed, usually, that Drew didn’t have two seconds to speak to David whenever he gave him a mission to do. Once Drew had been given his drink and David had received a refill, he turned to look out at the crowd and shrugged a shoulder.

“Possibly,” he replied, “there are a lot of people here. The odds that one of them wouldn’t be here are… slim.” He glanced to his side before looking back out at the people, spotting a few of their own mingling with strangers. “I’m trying not to let paranoia get the better of me, but the fact that at almost every single one of these things there’s been a disaster, I would expect something to happen.” All David could do was hope that it didn’t involve Sixes. He didn’t know what he would do if he saw the masked man again. “What do you think?”

[acelawrences-blog]

davidcheslyn:

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

“I’m always next.” Ace told him, if he could cut a line he would, more than happy to just barge up the front and get what he wanted. He approached ordering at the bar like he approached most things in life. He wasn’t completely rude, especially once he realised it was his friend he had skipped. 

“Can I get a Jameson on the rocks, and can I get, uhh.” He took a quick glance at what David was holding, nearly two decades of friendship holding him back from rolling his eyes at his drink of choice. “Whatever sort of wine this one here was drinking too. Thanks.” 

He drummed his fingers on the bar top impatiently as their drinks were being fixed, his attention drifting to David. “Having fun?”

[davidcheslyn]

David smiled in amusement as Ace took his place to order his drink, knowing exactly what his friend was like. Ace wasn’t a man to wait around; he’d always get ahead if he could. David didn’t mind, he was patient enough for the both of them. He didn’t make a comment about Ace’s glance at his wine glass and David ordered another refill of the Malbec he had been drinking.

David shrugged a shoulder. “As fun as One can have at an event like this.” He felt like he was sticking out like a sore thumb in comparison to the obviously rich guests who were talking next to him. “Jessica looks very grown up tonight,” he commented. David had been friends with Ace for a long time and had seen his daughter grow from a child to a beautiful woman. “I expect you’ll be keeping at least one eye on her at all times.”

[christixncolemxn-blog]

davidcheslyn:

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Christian wasn’t exactly one to avoid a social gathering, and this smelled more like a trap than anything the Diamond’s had done. He was there as a local simply enjoying the open bar and appetizers, but his information was the reason the Kings knew better than to walk into whatever this was intended to be. 

As he made his way through the party, Christian gave polite nods to everyone he recognized, spotting David Cheslyn at the bar. It felt like an opportunity missed if he didn’t, so he headed over, stopping next to him with a grin. “How about we just order together and call it a tie?”

[davidcheslyn]

David smiled weakly at Christian, nodding slightly at his suggestion. He ordered his drink quietly, handing the bar tender his empty glass before receiving a new one. He was grateful for the open bar and would take full advantage of it – anything free was good with him. He’d eyed up the food earlier and he knew that Wren had spent a good sum of money on the entire event. Anything to keep up appearances in the city, it seemed.

“It’s hot in here, isn’t it?” David commented randomly, not sure where the sentence had come from or even why he had decided to say it out loud. He wasn’t good when it came to small talk and he felt like he needed to say something to stop feeling so awkward. Now, he just felt even worse. “Sorry,” he apologised quickly, “I’m not… great with these sorts of things.”

[jesslawrcnce]

davidcheslyn:

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

“Oh no, go ahead. I’m just waiting for a soda.” Jessica motioned the man forward, the bartender would get to her after he’d mixed more tedious cocktails and handed out everything he needed too. She didn’t mind waiting idly by the bar as she waited for Bella and her dad to arrive. It had been more or less a surprise that she had been attending to the event. She hadn’t exactly planned on it until a coworker said she was going and had a plus one that no one was using. So she put on a party dress and slipped into the event to rub elbows and potentially pull some funding there way if she could manage it. “You look like you could use it.” She said in a light and pleasant tone. 

[davidcheslyn]

“Just a soda?” David commented, although he thought it was a good idea. He probably should have just stuck to soft drinks too, but his nerves seemed to be getting the better of him, his forehead sweating slightly thanks to the feeling of dread pooling in the pit of his stomach. Large social events were never his thing anyway, but he was on edge after the events that had happened to him over the past few months and he knew that anything could happen anywhere. “Thank you,” he smiled politely at Jessica and got himself another drink.

“You look nice,” he commented afterwards, “are you here with anybody or just by yourself?” David looked around for Ace, no doubt lurking in the corner somewhere to make sure his daughter was safe, but couldn’t see him just yet. “Is your dad here yet?”

[layla-m-blog1]

davidcheslyn:

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Layla smiled at the man, inclining her head politely. Realistically, yes, it did look that way, like she was next. But both she and the bartender knew better by now. “Oh, no. To be perfectly honest with you, I’m just standing here so I don’t get any looks for playing with my phone,” she explained, lifting the device to show him the game of Oxenfree she was playing. 

“Only seven dollars, and it beats networking,” she joked, gesturing for him to order. “I can get your drink for you if you really want me to go next, though, I don’t mind.”

[davidcheslyn]

David stared at her phone for a brief moment, wondering why on earth somebody would pay seven dollars for a game on their phone before he gave her a small smile. “I just have a basic phone,” he replied, pulling his 15 year old phone out of his pocket. “It texts and calls, does the job really.” He shrugged. “I’m not great with… technology.” David gestured towards the stranger’s phone.

“It’s an open bar so you’re more than welcome to go next and get mine,” David added with a polite smile. “At least you can justify spending seven dollars on your game when you don’t have to pay for your drinks."