lancenewcastle:
âWhatâs the point of having so much money, but not spending it, especially for things Iâm being given?â he answered rhetorically, persistently sliding a(n excessive) roll of cash towards her. âThatâs not exactly it. Iâd love for it to be that simple and terrific, but itâs more of a ârich doucheâ vibe. Iâve had someone tell me that I usually talk like Iâm bored âcause Iâm grounded from my personal yacht. That, or Iâm pretentious as fuck.â He was glad that she didnât seem to know he was the heir of quite high-profile entrepreneurs. With alcohol reducing his inhibitions, he expressed the thought. âYou know, youâre familiar. Are you famous? But, you know, I know the feeling of being known. I wasnât really in show business or anything. More like just business. Not always nice, being recognized. I wonât figure out your identity if you donât figure out mine. Iâm Lance, good to meet you.â He observed her curiously as they shook hands. âYouâre very tiny. âLilâ is an appropriate nickname, if you donât mind me saying.â
Pushing the cash back with a laugh, Lil shook her head. âThat is the point. Itâs something youâre being given. Not something youâre purchasing. Hang onto it for next round.â She gave him an amused look as he explained, eyes turning back to the roll of cash before rising back to his face. âI can see why they say that, but as long as youâre not actually a douche, youâre cool by me.â The witch had had more than her fair share of dealing with actually pretentious people and it wasnât something she was fond of, truth be told. Her eyes studied his face as he continued, trying to place if sheâd seen him before. He did look familiar, now that she was thinking on it. âMm, I may have been. Maybe weâve seen each other at a party somewhere? Did you ever spend time in New York?â Lilith snorted a laugh as she shook his hand. âTrust me, Iâve heard that before. Itâs like my parents planned it, right?â
He almost went on his rant about how he and other affluent, influential people were accustomed to being given everything without paying, and that it wasnât right. He held his tongue, however, and replied, âIâve spent time pretty much everywhere, but I donât stay for long. Perhaps we have.â He smiled as he let go of her hand; he had made a conscious effort to reduce his gripâs firmness. The people surrounding him during his corporate days would praise his handshake as âpresidentialâ, but he really just thought his family taught him to seem overly passive-aggressive. âRight. Itâs cute. My parents just made my name sound like directions youâd find on a map: Lance,â he said, pronouncing it like âlandsâ, âmiddle name Weston....â He trailed off, not wanting to provide his surname. âWhether I am or am not actually a douche depends on your perspective, I suppose. I ought to be upfront: Iâm not the nicest, most virtuous man youâll meet; but I try. So, have you been in New Orleans for a while?âÂ















