Dinner Will Be Served Shortly

A fiercely loyal White Glove Society member with little to say and even less to do, now that his old job involves frowned up practices. Don't like the silent stare fool you, this doorman may look creepy, but on the inside, he's... ...creepy.

[silentdoorkeeper]

What is one food that you've always been interested in trying, but never been able to find?

Mm, only pre-war foods. Foods I've only read about. Meats, primarily, animals that no longer exist.

[silentdoorkeeper]

<

Something has been left anonymously on Morris' bed...unfortunately, it has not been signed and there is no note inside.

Morris frowns contemplatively, then picks up the card, turning it this way and that. It's cute, but reminds him very much so of one of last year's cards... the sender of which he'd never identified. The idea that this little 'secret admirer' has been holding on for an entire year surprises him.

This one doesn't seemed to be signed, yet again. Mulling it over, he slips the card into his breast pocket

[silentdoorkeeper]

How would you react if you found out someone close to you was secretly in love with you?

I would be surprised, first and foremost. I'd imagine I'd also feel a bit guilty as, most likely, I would not return the feelings. Tricky business, that. But it cannot be helped.

[silentdoorkeeper]

What's the worst thing you ever did to someone you consider family?

...Likely, not leaving with her. Though, she doesn't seem terribly fazed by it. It's of little issue now, but at the time I was very conflicted about the idea.

[silentdoorkeeper]

What's the worst thing someone you considered family ever did to you?

The only biological family I have is my mother, and she...

...Mhmm.

She's a bit.. difficult... to deal with. Sometimes.

...But I don't think I could ever attribute anything she's done to being... 'the worst thing'.

Though I will say, suggesting I leave the White Glove Society with her was... it was mhm... ...I was not fond of that.

[silentdoorkeeper]

[The smile is reassuring to Morris, though not nearly as much as the hand on his arm.]

If there’s any way I can assist further, you know I would be happy to. [Perhaps happy isn’t the right word, but…]

[affablebusinessman]

[Nigel looks up at him with a smile…then seems to freeze, almost imperceptibly. He thinks better of things and lowers his hand from Morris’s arm.] I, ah…well, I’m afraid there’s not much I can think of at the moment.

[He pauses.] Though…perhaps you would agree to join me one of these nights Nathan drags me to dinner? I…could use someone there I find more agreeable than my brother. To make me feel more at ease.

[silentdoorkeeper]

[There's a small note of disappointment at the withdrawal, but Morris has gotten used to it over the past few months. That would pass soon enough.]

Assuming I'm not on a shift, of course I'll accompany you. Lord knows you'll need the extra moral support.

[silentdoorkeeper]

Knowing you, you’ll catch him slipping up eventually. Perhaps it would even behoove you to play things up a bit. You know, make him think he’s succeeding in his… misguided ideas. I’m sure he’ll be too guarded otherwise.

[affablebusinessman]

Hm…perhaps. That could work, at least to put him off-guard… [Nigel raises a hand to his mouth, clearly deep in thought. A small flicker of a smile creeps onto his face behind and he absentmindedly reaches up to touch Morris’s arm.]

Thank you, Morris. That was very good advice.

[silentdoorkeeper]

[The smile is reassuring to Morris, though not nearly as much as the hand on his arm.]

If there's any way I can assist further, you know I would be happy to. [Perhaps happy isn't the right word, but...]

[silentdoorkeeper]

[Ah. This must be who she was hiding from. Well, Morris wasn’t exactly going to rat her out to someone he didn’t know, and so he… did nothing. Simply stood there as usual.]

[layla-granville]

"Hey, buddy!  You see a little doll with big brown hair?"  The soldier says long before he reaches Morris.  Layla was practically jamming herself in to the wall at this point.

[silentdoorkeeper]

Morris eyes the man, though remains rather still. "That's a bit vague. Is there a particular guest you are looking for?"

[silentdoorkeeper]

So disappoint him.

[Falls silent, thinking about the whole situation. What a bother.]

[affablebusinessman]

I hadn’t planned on doing differently. [He sighs.] I had hoped to at least press him for information about Amber, but he’s been startlingly difficult for such a bad liar…

[silentdoorkeeper]

Knowing you, you'll catch him slipping up eventually. Perhaps it would even behoove you to play things up a bit. You know, make him think he's succeeding in his... misguided ideas. I'm sure he'll be too guarded otherwise.

[silentdoorkeeper]

[Morris simply watched him a moment.] …So I see. But, mm, Nigel, I have faith you’ll make it through this. He may be… …abrasive, to deal with, but I’m sure he’ll… oh, I don’t know. He’ll have his fill of the visit and flit back off to his home.

[affablebusinessman]

Morris… [Nigel runs a hand through his hair to smooth it, his lips flickering downward again.]

I think he seems to have some ridiculous notion of…reconciling with me, over the course of this visit. I don’t know if I’ll be rid of him at all until then. For someone so…so entirely forgetful, he certainly gets these laughable ideas in his head sometimes.

[silentdoorkeeper]

So disappoint him.

[Falls silent, thinking about the whole situation. What a bother.]

[silentdoorkeeper]

So I’ve noticed. [There’s a silence, as Morris recalls a few choice incidents of Nathan… not thinking. He can’t fault Nigel for his unenthused reaction to the visit.]

[affablebusinessman]

[Nigel pinches the bridge of his nose and shuts his eyes tightly, trying to get a hold of himself.] To say that this has left me in a rather bad mood is putting it lightly.

[silentdoorkeeper]

[Morris simply watched him a moment.] ...So I see. But, mm, Nigel, I have faith you'll make it through this. He may be... ...abrasive, to deal with, but I'm sure he'll... oh, I don't know. He'll have his fill of the visit and flit back off to his home.

[silentdoorkeeper]

I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s forgotten completely. [He mutters this, then immediately regrets it. That was a terribly rude thing to say.]

[affablebusinessman]

[Nigel’s face darkens a bit at that.] No…no, you’re right. That wouldn’t be too surprising. That’s the way he is. He simply doesn’t think.

[silentdoorkeeper]

So I've noticed. [There's a silence, as Morris recalls a few choice incidents of Nathan... not thinking. He can't fault Nigel for his unenthused reaction to the visit.]

[silentdoorkeeper]

[He blinked once behind the mask, then turned his attention outward, to catch sight of whoever she was clearly hiding from.]

[layla-granville]

*A man in an NCR uniform started their way, he clearly was searching for someone.  Layla groaned from her spot, but said nothing else*

[silentdoorkeeper]

[Ah. This must be who she was hiding from. Well, Morris wasn't exactly going to rat her out to someone he didn't know, and so he... did nothing. Simply stood there as usual.]

[silentdoorkeeper]

[Very quietly] …Oh dear, it’s even worse than I thought…

[affablebusinessman]

[Nigel rubs the bridge of his nose in exasperation.] He shouldn’t even be here. After the, ah…the way that he…well, left. You would think that shame at least would make the Strip safe from his presence.

[silentdoorkeeper]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's forgotten completely. [He mutters this, then immediately regrets it. That was a terribly rude thing to say.]

[silentdoorkeeper]

…

…Have you considered leaving the casino for a short time? There are always, mmh… excuses, for lack of a better word…

[affablebusinessman]

[Nigel shakes his head, absolutely frowning.] Yes. I mean, no. He seems utterly convinced that we’re going to “bond,” like that would solve any of our…

[He trails off mid-sentence, shaking his head.] The point is, I think if I tried to go anywhere he may well follow me. He’s already been doing just that as I go about my work. Like he’s a lost puppy or something.

[silentdoorkeeper]

[Very quietly] ...Oh dear, it's even worse than I thought...

[silentdoorkeeper]

[There is a long, drawn out silence.]

[Then, very grim;] …Oh dear.

[affablebusinessman]

[Nigel’s smile is rather fixed.] He wanted to stay in my room instead. At that. I…I have no idea when he’s leaving. He was talking about having family dinners and tea and other nonsense together.

[He runs a hand through his hair, smoothing it, eyes flickering up at Morris.] This is a positive nightmare.

[silentdoorkeeper]

...

...Have you considered leaving the casino for a short time? There are always, mmh... excuses, for lack of a better word...

[silentdoorkeeper]

affablebusinessman replied to your post: affablebusinessman asked:Morris, ...

Nathan. Nathan is here. On the Strip. He’s staying in Nickie’s room. He’s here and he’s decided to stay for a while. [He actually frowns.]

[There is a long, drawn out silence.]

[Then, very grim;] ...Oh dear.