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Carter definitely didn't think that his attempt would work. At least one of the two parties seemed incredibly riled up for reasons he didn't understand, but those reasons were predominantly due to the alcohol that ran through his system. Still, there it all was. Isaac was keen to drink and Rya was keen to chat. How they got from point A to point B was something he doubted he'd ever understand. He didn't need to.
"With age, wisdom. Or so they say." He highly doubted it fit him, though.
"Oh, y'know. The seasons change, and so does the heart's desires." He offered, waving his hand at the prospect of such a simple, no fuss answer. "Perhaps I missed the comradery of this community. Or perhaps I simply missed Isaac." Truly, it was life's greatest mystery.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter shrugged his shoulders at the notion of a shared change. He knew he couldn't deny it, because she absolutely wasn't wrong. But he was good enough not to get into the topic. At least, not yet. He didn't want to put a potential dampener on their discussions here.
And then she asked about Stagfort. He scrunched his nose up instinctively, but he didn't totally mean it.
"It's... I mean, what is there, really?" He asked her, waving his hand in dismissal, "It's a town. I'm from the city." He could find comfort in the familiar company, but for him, that was probably the best part of it. "It's... Humble, though. So there's that." And that would be the closest thing to a compliment she'd get.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
"Oh, you know Cam, I always live for the time I get to see you." Rare as it was. He smiled at the man for his hospitality, and while he could try to be on his behaviour, he couldn't help the way he gently spurred him. Better he be mad at Carter than Kenny, anyway.
Carter listened to the way Kenny framed the news she was about to give. It was an appalling start. but he knew bringing that up would only make it worse. She made it sound like she was dying. Patting her hands in the silence, he let his smile grow once more.
"We want to get married, Cam." He announced quickly, glancing at her with a bright kind of love in his eyes, "And we want you to be accepting of our decision, so I've come to ask your permission before I pop the question."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
There were a lot of people in this world who feared change. To an extent, everyone had to grow up, and they likely both knew that. Carter had asked because her words struck something in him. Even he had to admit that he liked changing her mind.
"It's the same for me." He pointed out then, eyes glancing ahead. "You might think you haven't changed much, but you have. It's commendable." Most change was, especially when it was for the better.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Change was either good or bad; there was no in between. Carter couldn't shake the thought and he knew he had to press her for more information, but not without a preface.
"It's been years. You've done... What you've done here." The extent of that, he didn't know. She glossed over it pretty easily, like it was boring or predictable. "I've done a lot, too." The details of which he really didn't want to get into.
"Is changing a bad thing?" Carter asked her then.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
When she looked at him, Carter only stared back. There was nothing about him that indicated that he were joking. It was a very simple question, and there were only two answers he was willing to accept.
He thought he'd be waiting in another bout of silence, but she was kind enough to cut it off before it could grow. Her answer, as simple as she expected.
Was it the answer he expected?
"Outstanding." Carter declared then, smiling for her uncontrollably.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
With Carter's mind completely buzzed from drink after drink, he had to be the only party to find great humour in the altercation between these two. Somehow they'd evidently gone from nearly hooking up to... Whatever this installment was. Isaac offered a volley of well crafted insults; after all, it did seem a little hypocritical, but it wasn't his place to call her out on that. She hadn't come for him, and in turn, he wouldn't actively go for her.
But he would go for another drink, because the smokey liquid in his glass was draining quickly. His hand hit the bartop and his fingers flexed and wriggled, like silently asking for someone to put another glass in his free hand.
"Now now, while this is an amazing verbal pissing contest, we know we're all a little whore-ish, no?" He asked aloud, "Let's all agree that hitting below the belt - unless done softly and preferably in a horizontal motion - isn't called for in this environment." With stipulations in place, for those insults at least, Carter unofficially declared round two to be open for all; "As you were, my amours."
Carter looked genuinely grateful that she wasn't disappointed with him. It would have been such an odd thing to be disappointed about, and a large part of him had been joking. But he'd take a scrap of a compliment where it was given, especially from her.
When she built on it, he hadn't expected her to. Part of Carter assumed they'd fall into some kind of silence and that would be it until her father came back. Even though she didn't look at him, he was studying her like he was waiting for the next joke to fill the air. That was what friends did, right?
Parting his lips, he took a slow breath in before he spoke; "Would you go on a date with me?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter watched as her mind clearly went somewhere. He wanted to ask specifically, but he didn't. He figured his next question might pull the obvious answer from her. He could only be so lucky. This was Luxanna, after all. Subtle coercion hardly ever worked.
"Now I feel I've disappointed you." He replied then, exhaling the rest of the air in his lungs on a heavy sigh. Perhaps she really did deserve better. Or perhaps she was expecting a younger form of him to rear some ugly antics.
"I know this isn't what you asked for. This meeting, I mean." He could tell the second she asked him that it wasn't her idea; "I thought I'd make it as bearable as possible. For you."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter watched the way she was staring at him, like he had in fact done or said something wrong. It was such a short set of seconds in his life; he quirked his eyebrows up to ask her without letting the words leave his mouth for a second time.
He shook his head. He hadn't lied about the lack of parent-meeting. Formal dinners for his family hardly counted.
Relief washed his face as she praised him. It was as close to a compliment as he'd get, so he'd take it. "I fought against just about all my instincts." Carter joked then, a grin finding its way to his face again.
"What did you think I'd do?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
The smile to a scowl was obvious. Carter considered clutching his chest at the sheer warmth of Cam's reaction to him, but he didn't. He didn't want to be overdramatic just yet; that would ruin everything. At least he was still invited inside; that was a nice touch.
He watched the way she kissed his cheek, and again, he deftly considered following suit. But the moment passed with his patience. So instead, he simply followed along as she dragged him into a seat beside her, hand still fastened to his like the lifeline it was designed to be.
"For what it's worth, I'm also offended by the lack of invitation." He added lightly, raising his hand at the point.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter was used to high impact meetings, but never with people's parents. Surely it wasn't so wrong to assume the same details applied here; being polite was so easy but so key. As he was welcomed back, he had absolutely no idea what this man thought of him. For all he knew, it could have been awful. "Thank you," He replied naturally.
Then he was gone, and they were together again. With nothing left to do, he sat back down again.
"He's nice." Carter said to her, finally. After all, he could have been a lot worse; "How did I do?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
A second later and Carter was raising his hands, like he'd been caught red handed and needed to show they were completely empty. And he, completely innocent. "You know I'll only interject if it's necessary." He lied.
But he followed her regardless, leaving the apparent safety of the car to follow her towards the door. At a half step behind her, he stopped short of the door and let her knock on it instead. He felt her hand reach for his and he took it calmly, offering a reassuring squeeze and keeping hold of it for good measure.
The second he answered the door, Carter grinned.
"Hello, darling." He greeted him; "I'm home, and I've brought a friend."
Nervousness didn't wear well on Carter's expression. He sat comfortably and calmly alongside her as they pulled up on her brother's apartment, and his eyes were immediately on her. He didn't say a word as she spoke; she needed to air out whatever she'd been bottling up, and it was better to say it now as opposed to when she was face to face with her brother. He didn't even bother to point out that of the two, he'd likely be better at holding him off.
Surely, it couldn't go that wrong. Right?
"Wouldn't it be far worse if he happened to find out on his own?" Carter asked her instead, shrugging his shoulders. Sure, the possibilities might have been low, but she had to consider more than just the obvious; "Even if... One of his friends walks in one day and sees you, you better believe that information's getting back to him instantly. Then you're in a worse position instantly."
Reaching over the console that divided them, he took her hand with one and pat it gently with the other; "You're going to be fine, dear."
