closed starter for @wintcrstcrfall
xander wasn’t entirely sure how he’d let himself get pulled into this arrangement. he had always been efficient with endings — relationships filed away neatly, emotions compartmentalized before they ever had the chance to slow him down. he didn’t linger, didn’t romanticize what was already over. forward had always been the only direction that made sense.
except this time, his thoughts still had a habit of circling back to his ex, unwelcome and persistent. it irritated him more than he cared to admit. and now here he was, stepping into the performance of something new, playing the role of devoted partner while feeling faintly out of his depth — a sensation he rarely tolerated, let alone acknowledged.
what he and marcella had built wasn’t exactly dishonest, but it was undeniably strategic. mutually beneficial. she had expectations pressing in from one side of her life, he had his from the other, and together they presented a polished solution no one thought to question. a united front. clean, convincing, effective. and if he was going to participate in theater, at least his co-star happened to be stunning. still, as they approached the inevitable introduction, a flicker of unfamiliar nerves threaded through his composure.
“be honest with me,” xander said, glancing over at her, voice calm but edged with quiet curiosity. “are your parents going to hate me?” it wasn’t insecurity — not quite — but he preferred walking into a room already understanding the terrain.his gaze drifted ahead before returning to her. “what are they like? intimidating? traditional? the kind that smiles while deciding whether i’m worthy of breathing their air?” a faint smirk tugged at his mouth.
“and more importantly… how exactly would you like me to behave?” he adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, immaculate as ever. “because i can be charming, respectful, painfully well-mannered. i can talk about markets, philanthropy, art, whatever makes them feel comfortable.” a small pause, then his brow lifted. “but let’s be realistic — you don’t actually want me to be myself, do you?” the corner of his mouth curved, something amused glinting beneath it. “i have a tendency to make strong impressions. not all of them are parent-friendly.”
