Painless. Guiltless.

[destrvere]

destrvere - "to demolish" - written by sam.

NATHANIEL KESSLER - (33, cismale, David Corenswet fc) - about + connections + stats + threads + tags

NOZOMI "HOPE" NAMINO - (31, cisfemale, Anna Sawai fc) - about + connections + stats + threads + tags

[c0exiist]

There was no use in arguing with Nozomi when it came to his death. However, Adem didn’t worry too much because he knew that if she wanted him dead, he should have done so during the time she raided his cargo. He has a gut feeling that she was enjoying the rush and adrenaline that she’d been craving and technically, he was the only one who could give that to her. “Yes.” he murmured into her ear. “And I can assure you it’ll be over and done with once we come to a conclusion.” 

Adem then pulled away and stood behind her while watching Nozomi observe the pieces of jewellery. He wasn’t fixated on the merchants that were eyeing the both of them as his attention was solely on her. When she confirmed they were real, he smiled, content with the fact that they were making business. “Amazing, business is booming ladies and gentlemen!” he declared while clapping his hands together. However, he could see Nozomi’s behaviour, like she was thinking of doing something else, which now caught his attention. “Ah,” he said at first before leaning in to view the pieces from behind. “What if I ask for both?” he asked while meeting her gaze. “I feel like you have something in mind already and that has me curious.” He then stood up straight to give her back her personal space and waited patiently. He has a gut feeling that these negotiations were going to turn into chaos.

[destrvere]

Nozomi’s gaze lingered on the glittering treasure, but her smile spreading across her lips wasn’t for the pieces. She could taste the greed in the air. They wanted to believe this was business, but business was always the lie for her. She didn’t even flinch when Adem leaned in. If anything, the weight of his curiosity fanned the flame of treachery in her mind.  “You’d like both?” She lilted. “How very greedy of you.”

Then, without any warning, she moved. Her silenced pistol was out before the merchants could register the shift and before they could blink the wrong way, its muffled crack rang out. The nearest merchant fell back with a hole between their eyes. The others froze, mouths opening in shocked gasps, but she didn’t give them the luxury of panic. Two more shots. Quickly, efficiently, and without mercy. The rest dropped before their cries could carry. 

“See,” Nozomi exhaled through the smoke curling from the barrel. “The problem with business is that someone always wants more than their share.” She raised her weapon at the surviving merchants. Their dropped goods clattered to the floor as they stumbled back, tripping over one another. She simply laughed. Her pistol was still warm in her hand as she stepped through the blood and scattered treasure. “You asked what I had in mind.” Her hand closed around a jade necklace. “This.”

[c0exiist]

“In a city like this Nathaniel? It’s needed.” she stated with a wry smile. Cynthia wasn’t going to waste good resources, let alone assets, especially if they were working in her favour. “Thank you.” she sincerely added once he agreed on building a Spa. “And see? I knew you were the best fit for this project, you’re a complete visionary.” As always, she was impressed by his work and had no doubts that he would be able to complete this successfully.

“Sounds good to me, we will be in touch then.” Rolling her eyes playfully, she then placed her phone face down on her desk and crossed her arms as she studied him closely, “I believe you.” she said at first. “With that being said I expect perfection, not half-assed completion. So those phone calls better reflect that expectation." He could take it as a warning or advice, it was up for interpretation at that point. "So do you have any further questions?"

[destrvere]

She wasn’t wrong. A great risk came with generating wealth in this city, but that was the cost of winning. By now, he was sure they were comfortable with each other’s motivations, and at this point, their interests remained aligned, and that’s all that mattered. Still, he knew it was best to stay professional. “Protections worth more than profit half the time.” Another polite smile. “Visionary’s generous. But I’ll take the title if it comes with repeat business.”

He matched her energy without bristling, keeping his posture relaxed, maintaining a steady gaze, and conveying that measured warmth in his expression. “You’ll get it. I don’t do half measures. Just let me know what the target dates are, and I’ll let you know realistically when my team can get them done.” He flipped another folder open, giving it a quick skim before closing it. “As for any other questions, none right now. I’ll know more once I start drafting, and when I do, I’ll call. Late or otherwise.”

[ofgrenvde]

Izel stepped through the door he held open, appreciating that he wasn't trying to dodge this conversation or make excuses about why he couldn't talk right now. "Good, because I wasn't planning on letting you leave without having it," she said, moving toward the counter with him beside her. She could already tell he was different from the usual guys who circled around Marisol—most of them would've been stammering by now or trying to charm their way out of a serious discussion. This one actually seemed to get that she wasn't here to play games or waste time with small talk. "You mentioned complications, and I need you to understand what that actually means in our family." She turned to face him directly, keeping her voice low but clear. "When I say complicated, I'm talking about people who might use her to get to us, situations where being associated with our name puts a target on your back, and decisions that normal couples never have to make." The barista was waiting for their order, but Izel wasn't ready to break this conversation yet — she needed to see how he handled hearing this stuff laid out plainly instead of dancing around it with vague warnings. "So, when you say you won't walk away, do you actually know what you're signing up for?"

[destrvere]

He gestured apologetically at the barista, hoping they could wait a moment. Then, he lightly rested his hand on the counter. Hardly rattled and more relaxed, he turned toward her.  “Look, I don’t claim to know every detail of what you’re talking about,” He said plainly. “But I’m not new to complicated. I know what it means when someone’s life puts you under a microscope, or when people try to take advantage of what you care about. That pressure changes things.” He knew about sacrifices and how to maintain his composure while he carried on.  “What I do know is I don’t walk into something like this with my eyes closed. If being with Marisol means hard choices, then I’ll face them. That’s on me, not on her.” He gave the barista a smile, ready to order so as not to hold up the line.  “Still coffee, right? Or is this the kind of talk that needs something stronger?”

[ofgrenvde]

"Because I don't do things halfway when it comes to people I care about." Zelie picked up one of the tiles, turning it over in her fingers as she processed what Nozomi had just laid out for her. Okay so this woman wasn't going to pretend they were just casual acquaintances anymore, and honestly that was refreshing after all the careful word games they'd been playing around each other. "I could have asked Cynthia about you, but she would have given me the polite version where everyone's motivations are pure and nobody ever gets hurt." She set the tile back down with a soft click against the table surface, her mind already moving past the need for more interrogation because Nozomi had basically just told her everything she needed to know without actually saying it outright. "You're not going anywhere, are you?" She'd blurted out the question, but she had to know if he would stay or leave.

[destrvere]

“If I were the type to vanish, you wouldn’t have had the chance to ask that question.” Her fingers drummed against her tiles lazily. Between Cynthia and Zelie, the former was capable of rousing interrogations, and a part of her wished that Zelie had kept at it.  “It’s funny…” She started before letting out a small giggle. “Naïve, liar… It’s funny how quickly you make her sound like one or the other. She’s honest, maybe more than most of us can stomach. But if you can’t hear her truth, that says more about you than her.” Best friends, family, or not, it didn’t matter. People hid parts of themselves from others, but Nozomi liked how honesty could sting. “You think she only shows you the polite version? Cute. It isn’t naivety, it’s a choice. It sounds like she gives you courtesy. She gives me truth, and I’m not sure you’d recognize the difference if it bit you.”

[poisonvdhonvy]

Two months sounds reasonable, but it still feels like forever. He knows rushing would be stupid, yet part of him wants to throw the doors open tomorrow just to prove the place is still alive. Testing sooner… that’s tempting. Could run a quiet night for trusted regulars, see if the systems hold. But then if something fails, the whispers start again and the Grand Royale’s name takes another hit. “Alright… two months for the public works,” he says slowly. “But I like the idea of a trial run. Invite-only, no press, keep it tight.” He pictures the Kingmaker’s Room restored, no scorch marks, no ghosts of that day. People need to see it breathing again. “I’ll draft something for the public. Keep it vague but give them hope. Maybe even hint at surprises when we’re back.” He leans back, mind already flipping through names. “You think the staff we’ve got can handle a closed-door test without it leaking?”

[destrvere]

“It’ll work if it’s airtight. No leaks, no half-measures.” He said steadily.  If even one thing slips, he had enough experience to know that the whispers of a broken building could spread faster than the fire ever did. Though despite the risk, he continued. “As far as I can gather, it seems that the crew you’ve kept on are loyal. They’ve got just as much invested in seeing the Grand Royale stand tall again as you do. But staff talk even when they don’t mean to.” They were human, and some mistakes were to be expected. All they needed to do was keep any infractions within the tolerance level.

“I recommend keeping the circle small with managers, veteran dealers, and people like that.”  He lightly tapped his finger against the desk. “If you want my professional read, we treat the closed-door test like a stress test, not a party. Controlled conditions, eyes open, every detail logged. If something wobbles, we fix it before the public ever hears a word.” 

[c0exiist]

“Man, what happens in this circus, stays in this circus. Once we leave, we’re done. End of conversation.” Desmond had an image to uphold and he wasn’t going to let some clowns ruin it for him. “I would pay to see you speed date. Sure, you’re a pretty boy, but you’re one hell of a nervous one.” Des laughed at his take on strategic comfort and said, “You would call it that. Hey man, I won’t judge! You got this, but it’s literally the same shit.” He knew this was a big milestone on Nate’s end to find someone that he actually wanted to click with. For a second he thought he was going to forever be an unavailable bachelor, yet here he was admitting his feelings freely. “Who is she? And so? Everyone makes mistakes, it’s perfectly normal. What’s wrong with that?” 

[destrvere]

He had a feeling that his friend was a step below hysteria when it came to clowns, so he decided not to press him further on it. Still, however, he couldn’t keep himself from the slight smirk after Desmond ended the circus talk with finality. “Ok, that’s not my fault. How do you get to know someone or figure out if you’re interested if you only have a couple of minutes to speak to them?” That, and for as pretty as he felt, he was past the stage of falling over himself when people complimented his looks; it just wasn’t enough. Secretly, he hoped he wasn’t being too sensitive about it all.

“Marisol’s…. She’s the kind of person who can walk into a room and things just shift, not cause she’s loud but because she’s present. She doesn’t try to be anything other than who she is… and somehow that ends up being more impressive than others who break their backs to put on a show. She’s sharp too, in the way that she cuts through bullshit faster than I can design a floor plan. When she laughs, I forget the rest of the room’s there… and I just don’t want to mess things up with her.”

[c0exiist]

“Dangerous? I thought I was keeping the standards high.” joked the brunette with a shrill laugh. Marisol then gasped at the mention of phase three and happily clapped as if she had accomplished something life changing. “Friendship level up! We love to see it!” she exclaimed with glee. When Nozomi replied to her question, she pressed her lips into a thin line as she was slightly confused about what brought about her friend’s interest in a place like this. However, the more she explained herself, the more understanding Marisol became. “Awwww you’re so cute.” she blurted out at first before breaking out into fits of giggles. “And it's an honour to be making memories with you in your favourite place ever. Hell yeah you’re re-writing it, as you should. This is all about new beginnings and experiences moving forward.” 

Entering the tent, she was already feeling a rush of adrenaline from the excitement of the spectacle. “Maybe today will be our lucky wicked day!” she exclaimed. “Gerald? Hm…Okay the second one can be Gertrude!”

[destrvere]

Nozomi arched a brow. If her other ‘friends’ couldn’t hold a candle to Marisol, she could always get rid of them. “Oh, you’re so right…” But it was probably best not to tell her friend that. That wasn’t how normal people talked. “Yes! Just don’t skip straight to phase four. It involves matching tattoos and at least one legally dubious adventure.” Or many. Being on land meant that there were so many rules, and if they were going to have fun, something was bound to be broken.

When Marisol called her cute, Nozomi made a soft scoffing noise, pretending to wave it off even though she appreciated the compliment. “Aw, I’ll go soft if you keep calling me cute…” She hung off of Marisol’s arm, doing her best to contain her excitement. “But ahh, Gerald and Gertrude sound like a couple destined for a tragic, messy end.” She gasped as she watched them perform. “Between the two of us, who do you think could do this act better? With a little practice, I’m pretty sure I could. Maybe we should go to an axe-throwing place next.” 

[c0exiist]

“Hey, I’ll take it. At least I don’t smell like shit.” Adem had heard worse and he took it as a sign that she was growing soft on him. Wrong, but he didn’t care, it was the fact that they were even walking side by side and spending time together. To him, that was big progress. As they made their way deeper into the trade district, he headed over to a nearby warehouse and led her up some flights of stairs to his office where the merchants were. “No, I need a prenup because I respect you and would prefer that you have something for yourself. As for our joint account, it’s a gift in my eyes and it’s the thought that counts. What would you prefer that I smell like, hm?” Not bothering to tell her to put her weapons away, despite his office being a weapon free zone, he entered and greeted the merchants with a smile. “Lovely, we got a full house today.” Gesturing a seat at his desk, he urged Nozomi to take his place and to assess what was presented to them. He took a few steps forward and leaned against his desk before bending down to whisper in her ear, "The negotiation is that they're selling me authentic gold and jade, so they want a cut down on their stall deposit. My only issue is I would prefer if they weren't fake, let alone belonging to the Zhaos. If you can confirm they're real and not stolen, then you can have your cut."

[destrvere]

Up the stairs, into his office, she took in the space with a single sweep of her eyes. Her knives stayed exactly where they were, even though she knew that this was a weapon-free zone. “You talk about prenups like you’re doing me a favor,” she murmured, sliding into the seat he’d gestured toward. “The only favor you could manage is dropping dead.” His cologne lingered as he bent closer. She didn’t move away, but her jaw tightened when his whisper brushed her ear. Authentic gold. Jade. Zhaos. Now it was interesting. “You want me to confirm what’s real?” she asked, voice quiet enough that only he would hear. A faint, dangerous smile curved her mouth. 

“Fine. Let’s see what kind of story your little trinkets tell.” Her eyes tracked the merchants’ movement. Even from a glance, she knew: the weight, the luster, they were authentic. This wasn’t costume jewelry or cheap imports. This was the real thing, and that was the problem.

She leaned forward, brushing a fingertip lightly against the edge of one golden bangle, testing its heft as if she were simply appraising. Inside, her thoughts were rougher: how many exits this office had, how fast she could drop the merchants, how much Adem would get in her way if she decided to clean house. “They’re real,” she said finally, leaning back in the chair, “Not Zhao work either. Whoever sourced these knew what they were doing.” She tapped the armrest idly. She glanced back at Adem, then back to the display. “So the question is, do you want me to confirm value… or test how easily they go missing?”

[c0exiist]

Marisol appreciated Nate’s transparency and willingness to make this work. “Mhm, you’ll hear from me…Don’t you worry.” she teased. When he was willing to cover for her, she laughed and felt herself smiling no short of adoration towards him. “My hero…” she mused. Mari still couldn’t wrap her head around having someone like him in her life, but she truly enjoyed his company and it made her more willing to try this out. Scoffing slightly, she shook her head in disagreement and said, “Mr. Kessler, we are too good for PB&J.” However, she was caught off guard by his words as she fell silent, looking into his eyes and searching for any lies. In truth, she’s heard plenty of false promises and compliments before, but this…this was different. 

It scared her.

“Oh…I see.” she managed to say out loud. No, she wasn’t scared of him. In fact, her fear stems from the inner conflict she was feeling between her truth seeping into Nate’s life. She didn’t want to lose him, yet she didn’t want to hurt him due to outside factors she couldn’t control. For once she was being seen and treated the way she wanted to be treated, it was something she was scared of losing from the jump. With a gentler expression, she reached for his hand and gently squeezed it, more so needing it to ground herself more than ever as she said, “Normally I’m quick with responses, but with you…I have to process and provide an answer worth giving. It’s not a bad thing, it’s a good kind of change. I can actually be present and genuine with my responses…I don’t have to hide parts of myself just because…” 

Letting go of his hand, she decided to shift the conversation and test the waters between them by doing a question and answer activity. "So...I was thinking of ways to really get to know each other and do a vibe check, so I thought maybe we can do something simple like 21 questions?" She then used her free hand to point at him and said, "Gentleman first, ask me anything. If either one of us don't feel comfortable with answering a question today, we can say...Raincheck! And it'll be our understanding to either revisit it at some point once we're comfortable. Is that okay? And if you have any of your own boundaries, feel free to bring it up now."

[destrvere]

He wasn’t worried. If anything, Nate had grown fond of how direct she could be. “Good…” He smiled softly. “Maybe. If you offered it to me, I’d still like it. It’s the thought that counts.” He wanted her to know that she didn’t have to overthink and craft a perfect meal or a perfect version of herself for him, or anyone else. At the end of the day, what mattered most to him was that they were experiencing something together. The squeeze of her hand grounded him just as much as it seemed to ground her. He brushed his thumb lightly against her knuckles before she let go. “That’s all I could ever ask for.” 

When she shifted gears and introduced the game, his brows lifted in mild surprise and then amusement. “Twenty-one questions?” He repeated back to her as he leaned back with one hand propping him up. “Haven’t played that since college, but I like your house rules. Yeah, it’s ok.” He gave a small, approving nod. “Alright then, I’ll go first.” He thought for a moment before tilting his head at her curiously. “When was the last time you felt completely at peace? Just you, breathing easy. And where were you?” 

His questions slipped out naturally, and before he realized it, the corner of his mouth tugged into a sheepish smile. “Wait, that’s two, isn’t it? Ah, now three.” Nate chuckled and sat back up as he held his free hand in surrender. “Caught myself breaking the rules already, my bad. Maybe we should make a rule for rule breaking.” He joked, hoping that it could soften his interest and make it more palatable. He didn’t want to come on too strong.  “Guess you can choose which one to answer… or neither. No pressure.”

[c0exiist]

With a light sigh, Adem shook his head and decided to set her straight, "Nozomi, no matter what kind of insult you give me, let alone threats, it does not phase me. If anything it's better than a compliment...Still rude though, I mean bitches love matcha, what do you mean!?" He was ready for her to dismiss him, maybe even leave the vicinity with a couple more insults and not join him. However, to Adem's surprise, the brunette decided to do so. Laughing, he shook his head and began walking in the direction of the market. "Delusional is what makes people live longer...Of course, sharing is caring. I never let someone with your caliber of beauty go home empty handed." He paused and kept up with his delusions by adding, "—Although when we do get married, I would still prefer a prenup, but we can definitely have a joint account as our middle ground. What do you think? Seems fair?"

[destrvere]

Her lips pressed into the thinnest of lines. Of course, he’d twist her insults into some kind of compliment, it was exactly the brand of delusion she expected from him. “Better than a compliment? Fine. You smell like the inside of a bargain-bin perfume aisle. Take that however you want.” She fell into step beside him anyway, half torn between humouring him or slicing his throat. The market ahead was noisy, bustling, and if she was being honest, a distraction she could use. Wherever the crate she needed was, she didn’t know, and she had a sneaking suspicion she had gotten wrong intel. “You’d need a prenup because I’d drain your accounts before the ink dried,” she said smoothly, eyes fixed on the crowd ahead. Nozomi paused. “And if I did agree to a joint account, I’d only use it to buy better cologne.” Her knife caught the light as she spun it once in her hand before slipping it back into its sheath. “Fair enough?”

[c0exiist]

The way she was so determined to have him killed had Adem almost giddy inside. To be reunited again with someone like Nozomi was a treat and he wasn’t going to take it for granted. “Aw my love, don’t act so hastily now.” he cooed before breaking out into a laugh. Crossing his arms, he sighed and observed her movements before feeling offended by her comment. “Babe, come on? Cheap? This is Le Labo Thé Matcha 26, don’t get it twisted." He then eyed her from head to toe, admiring her determination to rip him apart. However, he had a job to do, so if she can't beat him, she might as well join him. "Come on, I got some vendors trying to convince me for a stall. You're an expert at treasures, might as well use your intelligence and beauty to see through their bullshit. Apparently they want to sell jade and gold, sounds too good to be true."

[destrvere]

She’d heard a lot of noises come out of him over the years, most of them irritating, but the cooing still managed to scrape new nerves. “Le Labo or laundromat, you still smell like you bought it in bulk,” she said, sliding her blade back into its sheath but not relaxing an inch. Nozomi let him look. If it kept him distracted, all the better. His pitch about vendors and “treasures” was laughable, but her mind still caught on jade and gold. Too good to be true usually meant interesting, but she wasn’t about to admit that out loud. “If you think dangling shiny rocks is enough to get me to babysit your vendors, you’re more delusional than I thought,” she said, stepping past him. She paused just long enough to glance back over her shoulder. “If the gold turns out to be real, I’m taking a cut. Try not to cry about it.”

[poisonvdhonvy]

Rayan lets out a low breath, not quite a laugh, more a release of something he is not naming. “Guess I was just picking my seat,” he says, eyes still on the stain like it might shift if he looks away too long. Her question lingers though. Bothering him? Not exactly. More like the way she moves through this mess makes him wonder what she’s already decided about it. People who can keep their hands steady in rooms like this usually have a reason. He’s not sure if that’s reassuring or a warning. “I’m in,” he adds, stepping closer to the table. The tiles feel heavier than they should when he picks one up, like they’ve soaked in the air here. Part of him wants to push the game, see what she does when the rhythm breaks. Another part wants to just play and watch. “East wind, right? Let’s see if it’s my lucky round.”

[destrvere]

The stain again. She noted how his eyes kept finding it. Her smirk curved a little more when he mentioned picking his seat. If she hadn’t been taught better, she might have told him just how entertaining the story behind the scenes was, but it seemed that neither of them was ready to break pretenses.  “Good. Some people make the mistake of thinking where they sit matters more than how they play.” She slid a fresh row of tiles toward him. “Ah, a good game of mahjong gets my blood pumping!” She cheered before confirming, “East wind.” She found her own seat. “The start of the game is the easiest place to believe you’re lucky.” She added, keeping her tone light, but weighed by the fact that she’d seen plenty of unlucky endings. Some of them her own doing. “You know, I haven't seen you around, are you starting a new hobby?”

[ofgrenvde]

Izel nodded and started walking toward the café, her steps measured and purposeful. "Smart man. I'm not here to intimidate or scare you, but you do realize she's very important to me, right? This goes without saying, I expect you to never make her cry." She kept her tone conversational, almost casual, but there was steel underneath that she didn't bother hiding. Honestly, she wasn't trying to be the scary older sister here, but Marisol was her baby sister and that meant something. She'd seen too many guys who thought they could charm their way into someone's life and then disappear when things got complicated, and in their world, things always got complicated eventually. I'm not going to pretend I don't know what kind of life we live, and I'm not going to act like dating someone in our family comes without risks. But Marisol deserves the world." She glanced at him sideways as they approached the cafe entrance. "I would ask what exactly your intentions with my sister are, but that's none of my business."

[destrvere]

Nate’s hand caught the café door before she could reach for it, holding it open for her without breaking eye contact. He believed her; she wasn’t trying to be a threat to him or Marisol. Though, he was surprised at how early this encounter was. Maybe his crush really liked him back. “I’m not the type who takes someone’s trust lightly.” He offered her a slight smile. “You don’t have to tell me how important she is, I’ve seen enough to know.” During project meetings, Marisol would talk at length about her siblings, so of course, he expected this level of protection. “I hope that I can be the source of happy tears.” He let the door close behind them as they stepped inside. For a moment, he took in the sounds and smells of the café, grounding himself as he pondered her statement. What kind of lives did they live? As far as he was concerned, rumours existed just as they did, and that was all.  “I’ll still address it anyways.” Not the rumours, but the question she held herself back from asking fully. “I’m not here to waste her time or walk away just because things get complicated.”

[alinaxdarzi]

Alina’s lips curved, but it was the kind of smile that didn’t give everything away. She let her fingers drift over her own tiles, as if the right answer might be hiding somewhere between them. “Dangerous?” she echoed softly. “Guess I’ll risk it. You've never given me a vibe anyways, as the type to let someone get away with empty words.” She placed a tile with quiet precision, her gaze flicking up to meet Nozomi’s. “And here I thought you liked the push. Keeps things interesting, doesn’t it?” There was a pause—brief, but deliberate—before she added, “As for why I’m here…” Her voice dipped, almost thoughtful. “Let’s just say I was curious. And I don’t ignore curiosity.” Her eyes lingered on Nozomi’s for a moment longer, a faint spark there. “Besides, you’re not the only one who likes figuring people out.” She could've mentioned she had a potential property as well to check out, but chose instead to keep up with the vague answers. Nozomi would figure it out anyways; the other woman was incredibly sharp that way.

[destrvere]

Nozomi traced the curve of Alina’s smile with her eyes like she was measuring its edges. “Mm. Risky move,” she murmured, picking up a tile and rolling it idly between her fingers. She briefly dropped her gaze to her hand. “I do like the push… but you know I like it more when someone can take it as well as they give it.” Her voice trailed off and allowed her tiles to click into place as she placed more down. “That American phrase about cats and curiosity. How does it go?” She hummed absentmindedly; her tone was thoughtful, but she had a playful glint in her eyes. With easy grace, she leaned forward slightly, adjusting how she sat. “Curiosity is hardly a safe habit. Thrilling, sure. But you…” She chuckled, grinning again. “You only act if it’s worth it. Which makes me wonder…” Her eyes narrowed into warm crescents as her grin widened. “…just how fun you think work’s going to be today.”

[nazlixelmas]

She tilted her head, studying him with a mix of amusement and sincerity. “Nate, you do realize you’re probably the only one in this entire situation who thinks you’re embarrassing yourself, right?” Her tone was light, but there was truth beneath it. “Marisol probably doesn’t think so, otherwise you wouldn’t still be in the picture. You’re reading every little thing you do like it’s some big misstep, when really… it’s probably what’s making her notice you in the first place.” She leaned back, letting a faint smile tug at her lips. “And for the record, I’m not in the business of making people I care about feel like idiots. I’ll leave the merciless teasing for when you actually deserve it.” Her gaze flicked to his, steady and encouraging. Although if Nazli knew her boyfriend had been the one teasing Nate earlier, she probably would've piggy-backed off of it just to tease the man in front of her for a bit. “If you want to get it right with her, stop trying to choreograph every move. Just be present."

Then, a knowing smirk crept in. “And yes, I heard the word ‘client’ in there. Which means you should tread carefully, but… not so carefully you disappear. You’re already in dangerous territory, so you might as well make it worth the risk.” She nudged him back, her grin widening. “Now, tell me—do you want my actual advice, or do you want the kind where I help you overthink it until you’ve mapped out your wedding colours? Because I'm game for both.”

[destrvere]

He wasn’t going to admit it, but he was a little stunned by the mix of amusement and sincerity in her voice. His face was beginning to hurt from how much he was sheepishly grinning. He ran a hand through his hair. “Wait… so you’re saying all this time, I’ve been auditioning for the ‘Embarrassing Myself’ Olympics for nothing?” A chuckle, though he wasn’t sure if he was nervous or relieved. “And Marisol’s… noticing me anyway?” What a foreign concept. It felt too good to be true. “Okay, okay… that’s… wow. That’s… really good to hear.”

His sister and mother had always told him that if he listened well, women weren’t nearly as complicated as he thought. Though, even with Nazli’s reassurance of the situation, he knew he wouldn’t have come to the same conclusions as her. Marisol made him nervous and excited all at once. He felt silly, not being able to handle it all and having to consult others, but he was truly at a loss.  Nate leaned back a little, eyes tracking her smirk as it widened. “And here I thought I had to choreograph every move like I was directing a ballet starring my own awkwardness. Present… right. I think I can do that. Maybe.”

A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes as she nudged him. “But…” He cleared his throat. “Now that you mention overthinking wedding colours,” He had, but he wasn’t going to tell her that, “I might just need a bit of the other advice too. You know… just in case I want to panic preemptively." He lightly shrugged. "But seriously, real advice sounds like exactly what I need right now. Teach me your ways, oh wise one.”

[ofgrenvde]

"Okay, I hear you." Zelie set down the tile she'd been holding, because honestly, this whole conversation just shifted gears in a way that she wasn't expecting—Nozomi wasn't playing games anymore, and neither was she. Look, this sounds like she was being overprotective, but there was something Nozomi needed to understand about how things worked when it came to Cynthia, and if she was being direct then Zelie could be direct right back. "I know this probably makes me sound like I'm her keeper or something, but there's something I need you to know. I'm protective of my family, and Cynthia is family. You clearly have her interests at heart, so I'm dropping it." She leaned back in her chair, feeling some of the tension leave her shoulders because this woman wasn't going to hurt Cynthia, not if she could look Zelie in the eye and say yes like that without flinching. "I'm just glad she has another friend in her corner, you know?"

[destrvere]

Nozomi’s expression didn’t shift much. Close friend or family, she thought of this conversation as odd. What did it matter if love or feelings were involved? Love could get people hurt just the same as the absence of it. “If you want to think of me as ‘another friend,’” she said, voice even, “I won’t stop you, and I gathered as much. Her schedule’s pretty open when it comes to you.” She glanced at the tiles on the table, touched one lightly with her fingertip, then looked back at Zelie. “I care about her in ways that aren’t going to fit neatly into a label most can sign off on. Whether that’s the kind of care you’re hoping for…” She gave the faintest shrug. Then she leaned back, posture relaxed again. “Protect her as you see fit. I’ll do the same…” She owed her employer that much. “But why go to the trouble of speaking to me directly?”