Characters: Diwa, Exec. (played by w.), Aniti (played by tc.)
Content Warnings: None
Location: A cruise ship's background
During the cast reunion party where everyone meets in person for the first time, Aniti's fiancée and him have an explosive argument that ends with both of them leaving the party. Diwa and Exec. are both good friends of Aniti's and so decide to check up on him.
Diwa and Exec. fish some gossip out of Aniti.
Diwa casts a faraway glance at Sister Ria before she escorts Aniti away into one of the bathrooms. They close the door after themself.
In the bathroom, they take care to lower their turtleneck and undo their bandages. Their neck is full of bite marks.
"So, Aniti."
Aniti doesn't comment on the bandages. Nor on the bite marks.
"So, Diwa." It seems he has the infuriating nature of his letters - written across his face, when in person. In the tilt of that smile.
Diwa has recently grown tired of patience. They lean into the mirror to lightly press their fingertips into the bite marks, examining.
"Any reason why your fiancée hates you all of a sudden?
Aniti tilts his shoulder against the wall. A fleeting glance given toward the door. As though wishing Exec. had already returned with a drink.
For all that he seemed to want to cut Beau's drinking off, the ever-hypocrite has no such concerns about himself.
"Like I said." Lilting, light-hearted. "I took your advice. Evidently."
His wrist flicks out to show the engagement bracelet woven onto his wrist. Red stones for Beau, blue stones for Bel, and a seashell for himself.
"I decided to be selfish. And dearest Beau does not like when I make decisions that don't involve her input."
"- I don't suppose your god-killing musing was more than mere theoretical?"
"My advice implied discretion," Diwa huffs. "Don't blame your shortcomings on me."
They let their fingers light up ever so slightly as they graze through the bruises on their neck.
"I never said anything about killing a god. You misinterpret my words."
Aniti's mouth tilts just a little. It's fond, hopelessly so, as he gazes down at his bracelet.
"Mm. You mistake me. I'm grateful. You kicked my ass into a path that will bring me happiness, if only for a while."
The slant of his eyes trail along the exposed skin, the slight glow of light, before averting. "Mm. All those talks of rebellion.... Pity. I'll likely die trying to kill one then."
There's no heat to his words, just an idle musing. It's not asking for help. He doesn't want it. Nor does he care about their approval - the words flowing out of him despite knowing that their loyalties likely lie more with Beau.
"Beau wants me to leave. To take care of myself instead of taking what I want. I won't."
It's as oversimplified as any words could be.
"You're stubborn," Diwa replies as a simple fact. They meet Aniti's eyes through the mirror.
"Is annoying your lovers part of the squabble? I believe you may be over simplifying it."
The truth is that Diwa is possibly one of the few neutral parties here. They are not particularly close to anyone in the show except for Exec. and Sam, and they do not care about any outcomes. They are just nosy to a fault.
There's a knock at the door— just a courtesy before it opens and Exec. slips inside. He's carrying a tray of drinks and glasses; a bottle of whiskey for Aniti, wine for Diwa and himself.
"Beau's yelling loud enough to be heard through the door," he comments, mildly. "Something about Belphagor proselytizing to her. And you being a self-sacrificial idiot."
🤭
Aniti's fingers close around the bottle before doing anything else. "With all those witnesses? What a fucking idiot."
It's fond, carried on a sigh. He is, after all, driven mad over that idiot. Enough to let himself take a large swig from the new gift given to him.
"She doesn't know how to be discreet. Did you see her? She was jumping every time I walked within fifty meters of her. And now."
Aniti absently tucks his boot behind his ankle. "Everyone thinks they know why." Except, now, Exec. and Diwa. He's always been stupidly fond of them both. Even more for the attachment being lopsided. He can't resist giving them what they want.
A lazy flick of his hand accompanies the rolled tilt of his eyes. "Don't give me any shit about her being right. I've never been less self-sacrificing then I am now. I'm cleaning up the fucking mess that my fiancée, who the mess will upset, is making."
"Discretion is not part of her line of work, for the most part," Diwa points out with a shrug. They sidle over to Exec. to rest their head against her arm.
"We are not here to accost you, Aniti. Do you think everyone here will turn against you?" Eyebrow raise. "Are you giving them a reason to so they don't turn on Beau, perhaps?"
So serenely out of the loop. It wasn't a lie when Exec. said he minds his own business, for the most part. He's content to refill Diwa's wine glass, just listening.
He's always been fond of Aniti, but he watches him with particular attention, now.
Like a flickering of a flame, warming at the intellect of the people across from him. Far more clever than he could hope to be.
The expensive glass bottle lifts just a little with a nod to Diwa. "It was remarkably easy, to turn the room on me." Maybe he'd been pretending not to notice all those looks. "Maybe a bit embarassingly so, for some of them."
"But it's a short-term solution until she can control herself better around me. I don't thrive off the friendship and love of others. Not in the same way she does. And if someone's opinion of me can't be reversed after one incident, then they're not really worth knowing anyway."
A little look toward Exec. "- you're alright?" No explanation given. He feels like Exec. can put together what he's checking on.
Of course he can.
"Depends on the severity of the incident, I suppose," he responds with a quirk of his lips. The tray is set down wherever, and Exec. retakes his own glass of wine. "Oh, I'm utterly bereft. You might've been too busy with Beau to notice, but see how coldly Sam acts with me now?"
Bereft, he says, as if Sam's coldness didn't immediately bring a smile to his face.
"While he's still so warm with my lover, no less. I'm a bit jealous, babe." Directed to Diwa.
"I seem to know how to make up with people well enough," they tease Exec. "The only person I believe dislikes me right now is Wolfgang."
They take their own glass of wine and swirl it around.
"We may all languish in our distrustful appearances and ill bonds. And Aniti, you must change your strategy. It will get boring quickly enough."
"Is it my purpose to entertain you?" The laughter that slinks past his tongue is a little tired but hopelessly amused. "I will be certain to take into account putting on a show for you in my future decision making."
He won't. Well, maybe he'll 5% consider it. He does like making people laugh.
"I don't think she'll tell anyone without you knowing about it." A bit off-handed. It's always been hard to tell where Aniti's loyalties lie. To Exec., it's been proven. To Sam, it's been proven. What a mess to be in the middle of.
Except, he's not been part of society for so long that maybe it never even occured to him that he needs to take a side.
"I do think letting it linger will make it worse, though. Don't wait until the wedding."
"Then it may be my turn to ask you for advice?" Smiling sweetly at them, Exec. tucks Diwa's hair behind their ear. "Do tell me what went on between you and Wolfgang, at some point. I'm very curious."
There's a beat of silence before she turns her gaze to Aniti.
"So I hope. She promised me as much. Same as I promised her that she'll hear everything long before the wedding. Within a week, actually."
A sigh.
"Just... Mm. Sam is swayed easily by the people she loves." Ask her how she knows. "And gets caught up in the moment. If she tells King, then everything might spiral out of control."
Even still, Exec. doesn't sound particularly worried about the possibility. Just acknowledging that it's there.
"I take it she's already approached you for guidance on this."
"Maybe so. Or perhaps you need to find a way to keep your ruse from wearing thin. It really is your choice." Diwa was pretty amused watching the performance Aniti put on.
It seems like Exec. and Diwa simply cannot stay off of each other. Right now Diwa is taking Exec.'s hand in theirs and planting a light kiss on their knuckles. Sorry for the cuckoldry, Aniti...
"He's just protective over Ria, that's all. It doesn't bother me." Back to the subject at hand...
"I don't think she'll tell King. She must know how disastrous it'd be for everyone if King caught wind of it all."
NOT sorry. Unashamedly caressing Diwa's hair.
Somewhere outside, Sam is muffling a sneeze.
Aniti doesn't even really register them being gross in front of him. It's what he expected to see 24/7 from every couple and is mildly impressed, in fact, that the group gathering wasn't Much More Gay.
"... mm. Ria dearly misinterpreted your intent. I don't think Wolfgang is the only one displeased with you."
A little lazy flick of his gaze to Exec. Sekrit emails...
"Sam didn't even confirm it to me. Just made a vague comment as I was helping." Aniti's shoulder shrugs. "What you do is yours to decide."
"I would be cautious of assuming. That King doesn't already know something is amiss. And won't be trying, the entire evening, to assist." And therefore, find out what it is.
Snorting at the mention of Sister Ria. "Oh, right. Is that all? They seem to like me well enough. I know it doesn't bother you, babe, but I hate to see people view my fiancé unfairly. All based on a terribly biased opinion."
"Mm. I figured." It's why she didn't bother to greet King while Sam was around. She slumps against Diwa, looking genuinely put-out about this one. "Right when King was softening up on me, too... And I brought my chess set so we could play together......"
"We'll deal with it later," they answer calmly and with a smile. "People can't help but side with the weak. It's in their nature." ^^
They gently stroke Exec.'s hair, sighing in solidarity.
"I'll get King on my own before Sam can explain too much. And I have things he needs anyway, so cutting me out is not an option." ♥️ "I noticed we managed to swerve the conversation away from your current situation. Happy, Aniti?"
Aniti tips down the glass bottle at beinf addrssed, having used the moment to try to make up for lost time.
"Very. ✨"
"Good. Please do." She's nuzzling her head against Diwa's, pouting. "King is sooo cute. Sooooo cute. I want to play with themmm."
"I knooww." Their fiancée is far cuter. Diwa feels a little emotional to have Exec. cuddling them like this.
Back to the matter at hand.
"And you are going to stop pulling that stunt, right? Before people catch on?"
Aniti shrugs just a little. "Mm. Figure I have just one more time I can pull it before it becomes too obvious But Beau might've already ruined that, depending on what she told the others."
"- speaking of which." A little push at the door with his shoe. "I should probably make sure I know where she is."
"From what Exec. said, she might be in one of the rooms near here?" Head tilt. "A man on a mission. Look at you go."
"Powder room," Exec. supplies. "But it sounded like things were getting violent. So who knows if they're all still there."
"- I'll figure out, I suppose. Best of luck, lovebirds."
Did you know that some birds can be exceptionally dangerous with a loved one around? Now you know.
Aniti... disappears....
"You too," Diwa replies with a smile. And then Aniti is gone.
"Shall we go back to the main event?"
Click.
The door locks behind Aniti.
"Not yet." Exec. smiles, wolfish, and tugs Diwa by the waist until they're flush against her.
[government mandated 15 minute yuri break!!!!!!]