[ THE DECEIVER ]

[kaylakaye]

With a grin, Heather leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek before heading inside to drop off the items. Sebby wasted no time in running into the living room and hopping onto the couch. He got the memo. Finally having her hands free, she turned back to Marco. 'The daughter of two chefs? I'm always hungry. What did you make?'

[marconuwachen]

he chuckled at sebby finding his spot on the couch. walking over to where heather put the stuff down, he wrapped an around around her, taking a moment to really appreciate how lucky he was. he smiled at her answer "good, because i always make too much for blake and i and i usually have to drop stuff off to alessandra. i made hot pot and xiaolongbao."

[kaylakaye]

Heather knocked on Marco's door, smiling as he opened it. She held up the bag of painting supplies she'd scrounged up, plus the bottle of wine. Sebby woofed in greeting, his tail wagging. Someone had suggested a wine and paint date and she figured what the hell, might be fun. With hands too full to sign, Heather inclined her head in a silent question of if the other was ready.

@marconuwachen

[marconuwachen]

as soon as he opened the door and saw heather, a smile found its way onto his face - a likely thing to happen whenever heather's around. marco nodded his head and invited her and sebby inside "she arrives with supplies. i've just finished making food, are you hungry?" at this point heather and sebby were welcome to make themselves at home as much as they pleased in his house.

[oxtofmydcpth]

"So, how did it go?" Blake had been sat on the kitchen counter, feet dangling off the edge of it, sketchbook rested on his thighs quickly closed as Marco re-entered their home. He assumed, given how he was a little later coming home, that he had been with Heather, and Blake's smile showed the intent behind his question. "You gonna introduce me to her soon?"

@marconuwachen

[marconuwachen]

he had barely closed the front door before he heard his cousin calling out. marco walked through into the kitchen "not even going to let me take my jacket off before you start interrogating me?" he asked, opening the fridge to grab himself a drink and offered one to blake. the slight mention of heather brought a smile to his face. "yeah? i'll introduce you. alessandra's already barged her way in and heather's not run away, i'll take that as a win."

[kaylakaye]

Well, that didn't help much, though at least it made Heather's expression soften. Still, she jabbed Marco in the side. 'Okay, what's something you've maybe wanted to try?'

[marconuwachen]

"ow, and people say i'm the mean one" he joked, rubbing his side at the swift jab he received "shit, heather, i don't know. the tiny kayaks or something" he answered in a panic.

[kaylakaye]

Though Marco was grinning, Heather couldn't help the huff as she rolled her eyes. 'Okay but what would you like to do? I'd rather it wasn't always what I wanted.' She gave the other a pointed look.

[marconuwachen]

"i don't know, i've never had a lot of time to figure out what i like to do. i've spent my life looking after my family and the kids i teach" he shrugged like it was a normal answer but he knew it was woeful. if he didn't sound lame before he did now. "i do know that i want to spend time with you no matter what we do. canoes, swimming, food, i don't care as long as it's with you"

[kaylakaye]

Spotting her boyfriend, Heather ran up and jumped onto his back with a hug, body shaking with silent laughter. Once she let go and let Marco turn around, she grinned up at him. 'Want to go swimming?'

@marconuwachen

[marconuwachen]

he was talking to some colleagues when he was attacked by a leaping heather. he laughed when he realised who had jumped onto his back and turned to face her when he was released "so i see you're in the business of giving me a heart attack" he grinned back at her "if anyone else asked it would be a firm no, but for you? sure."

[kaylakaye]

A large smile graced her features at the thoughtfulness. Getting on her tippy toes, Heather pressed a kiss against Marco's cheek. 'Thank you.' Setting the water down for Sebby, she took the shot and grimaced. Whatever Marco grabbed, it was certainly strong. Biting her lip, she glanced at the crowd once more. 'I'm sorry if you wanted to dance. I'd just get in everyone's way.'

[marconuwachen]

he was stunned that he even got the chance to be here with heather, never-mind somehow managing to earn a kiss on the cheek from her. he gave her a smile when she took the shot "heather, since when has dancing ever been a top concern of mine? i don't care about any of that or what anyone else wants. only you"

[wanderinglcst-deactivated202412]

@marconuwachen

Danny heard the bell above the door jingle, causing him to look over from where he had been sitting behind the counter, trying to get the wifi to work. "Hey, welcome to the Grape Escape.... do you know what's wrong with the wifi in this town?"

[marconuwachen]

he'd stopped by the winery for a bottle that he had promised he'd bring along to the next family dinner. marco looked at the guy like he had asked the more absurd question in the world "we don't have wifi. did you not get told this when you arrived?"

[kaylakaye]

She leaned into Marco, both in appreciation and in comfort. As they reached the less crowded side tables she let go of his arm with a sigh. 'I think I could use a drink. Maybe a shot of liquid courage will do the trick. Mind grabbing me one?'

[marconuwachen]

being here with heather was nerve-wracking enough, he didn't want the crowds ruining her night for her. marco nodded at her request and went to the bar to grab them some drinks, including some water for sebby and he eventually returned to heathers side, placing the drinks on the table "one shot for courage, one drink for enjoying and some water to keep sebby hydrated"

[kaylakaye]

It was rare for Heather to take someone's arm or hand. It made her feel silenced. But with a trusting smile she looped her arm around Marco's. As they got inside she stopped and had to take a few breathes to steady herself, adjust to the crowd. After a moment she nodded, ready to go further in. They would have fun, she was sure of it. She just...needed to get a bit more used to all the visual stimulus.

[marconuwachen]

normally he wouldn't have offered his arm, knowing well enough how heather felt, but this time it was assist her walking up the stairs. sensing her apprehension, marco patiently waited and he held her hand in support. he cautiously watched heather, determined to make sure that she was comfortable and was ready to go in before he took another step "you got this"

[kaylakaye]

At the flower her entire expression lit up. Heather genuinely couldn't remember the last time anyone had given her one. Taking the flower, she leaned in to kiss Marco's cheek in appreciation. Looping the stem around the strap of her dress, not unlike Sebby, she signed, 'I promise, I'll let you know if it's too much. But for now, I want to enjoy our date. We've more than earned it.'

[marconuwachen]

he wasn't used to the terrifying feeling that he might fuck this up. heather was too important to him for him to let his own head get in his way. the noise in his head stopped when he received a kiss on the cheek and he let the tension drop from his shoulders in relief. "whatever you want. it took us long enough to get here" he smiled "shall we?" he asked, offering his arm for her to take.

[fiyerotigelar]

#same

[kaylakaye]

Taking a few deep breaths, Heather put a hand on her chest to calm herself. 'Not your fault I'm a little jumpy. You look very handsome yourself.' Finally she was able to relax again, giving Sebby a few pats to assure him everything was okay. 'Is it...alright if we stay in more of the edge of the hall?'

[marconuwachen]

marco held a flower out to heather. "i would've brought more but i figured carrying them around all night would be annoying for you." she deserved more. marco looked down at the dog "i didn't forget you either, sebby" he smiled and pulled a paper flower from his pocket, tucking it into the dogs collar "course, we'll go wherever you feel comfortable. if you want to leave, tell me and we'll go"

[kaylakaye]

Heather stood outside the dance hall, grip on Sebby's lead tightening. She could feel him nudging her leg, likely sensing her distress. Normally she would opt out of these kinds of activities. Large groups of people were overwhelming. She had profound deafness so to be surrounded by a din of muffled noises was disorienting. On top of that, it was hard to know which lips to focus on. But....this was a rare opportunity to go on a unique date with Marco. She would try her best, and had already warned him that she may need to leave early if it became too much.

As a hand touched her back she let out a strangled gasp, startled out of her anxious state.

@marconuwachen

[marconuwachen]

he had tried to give her a heads up by letting sammy see him. the dog nudged heathers leg but she must've thought it was for another reason. marco gently touched her back and held his hands out when she got a fright "it's me, it's just me" he signed quickly "sorry i thought sammy had let you know i was coming." he chuckled nervously "you look beautiful"

[kaylakaye]

Heather rolled her eyes at that response before looking down at Sebby to give him a 'can you believe this?' expression. Shaking her head, she reached up to flick Marco in the forehead before pulling him in for a kiss. They're in a town full of Eldritch horrors, professionalism can take a step back.

[marconuwachen]

he'd thought he'd just blown their friendship to high heavens. he shook his head, caught off guard at the flick he had received to the forehead. no time to question it, his jumper was yanked on and the next thing he knew he was kissing heather. after a moment, marco leaned back to search for some sort of answer but his brain couldn't come up with anything but one "fuck it"

[oxtofmydcpth]

"Yeah, yeah I will..." it was a clear attempt to stop this conversation before it really got started, and he knew what Marco was like, knew he persistent enough to continue pushing Blake to make that move, if not today, it would be tomorrow, or the next day, or some time next week. "I'm gonna see if they got any of that herbal tea at the market some time this week. I know it isn't a fix, but it's something." At least he could make it seem like he was trying to get better, trying something that wasn't what people were recommending, sure, but something was better than nothing. Blake shrugged, biting into another blueberry, "bad," was all he said, eyes trailing down to his feet, stupid that he even brought them up in the first place, "and that guy creeps me out," he added. Honestly, Blake would rather be stood here talking about Heather than about his own issues, and he'd keep that subject change up as long as he could, ignoring everything else to focus on it. "So Heather," he tossed a blueberry into the air, catching it in his mouth, "you gonna take her for a drink or something some time?"

[marconuwachen]

"don't just say it to move on form the conversation, actually do it please. your body and your brain can't keep this up" they were cousins but marco always saw blake as more of a younger brother. "trying something like that is a step forward. you won't know if these things work until you try them." he chatted as he busied himself with starting dinner. "you have said something sooner, you don't need to suffer in silence. alessandra and i are here to help you when you need it, you know that" blake being creeped out by the doctor wasn't a surprise to him but that didn't mean marco didn't think he should go see him. "he's worth talking to. he could give you some advise that helps" he suggested. marco was about to ask him something else but his cousin had expertly switched the conversation to a topic he knew would catch marco out. ah shit, he had him there. "we're talking about your problems, not mine. besides i don't even know if she'd go or whatever, it's not professional"

[kaylakaye]

She stood up fully, quirking a brow. 'You think I'm cute?' Heather had a feeling, but she hadn't wanted to say anything to complicate their professional relationship and friendship. She had to bite back a smile.

[marconuwachen]

shitshitshitshit. marco froze on the spot after catching what he'd let his mouth say. "i, uh...i mean yeah, you are. we both know you are" he admitted before shaking his head "i'm sorry, that's unprofessional of me, i shouldn't have said it" he apologised, convinced he had messed up and in a desperate attempt to salvage whatever friendship he could save.