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Though Carter had never slept with his friend's sister, it was always an easy way to quip him. He mightn't have cared all that much who his sister hooked up with, but it was still fun to say. It was clear, though, that Isaac was still very much looking for someone to take home tonight. The concept of just having fun with friends for a night seemed to dissipate.
Now, the bartender was the mark. Carter was keen to watch though, given he knew the girl serving the drinks. That meant he spent too much time here.
And then Rya was back, and while whistling was a little harsh to grab someone's attention, it certainly got his. Carter exhaled a special kind of laugh when she took a dig at Isaac. Rocking back on a step, he removed himself as the buffer between them and took a long sip of his drink. Anything to say to that would be better out of the other man's mouth.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter considered what it would be like to involve himself on their potential sibling drama. It was easy for him to put himself into that situation if it meant helping her, but he'd never been a fan of when someone did that to him. But this was different, right? This was like taming an immediate fire. And she was a bit like a sister.
"Oh, of course. To support you fully." Carter replied, nodding his head firmly; "That'd be the only reason."
He shrugged his shoulders then, unable to help himself dragging them back to where they started. "And to keep our dear Cameron out as well, of course."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
True to his own form, he liked very much to ensure he looked good, no matter who was going to look at him. Literally stepping up seemed natural; men shook hands, and Carter knew that already. Interest came from the way Lux interacted with her father. That was probably the best thing about this dinner, for him.
Reaching out, he took her father's hand without a second thought, shaking his hand as he knew he'd have to. "I'm the one." He declared, but surprised etched into his expression that he knew nothing about him. It wasn't that most people did - and they absolutely did - it was more that from how he understood it, this man had asked to have him over for dinner in the first place.
"Oh, well," Carter began, in turn; "I moved away after I graduated, and I've only really just moved back into town." It seemed like a good enough reason, right? He looked to Lux for confirmation.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
"Well, everything does have its advantage." Carter pointed out. Sure, he'd absolutely enjoy being front and center to Cam's head exploding out of a confused fury. "But you know it'd be much greater to have a ringer in your corner when you need a little help." And who better to argue for her than the man doused in an annoying, workable charm? He'd vouch for her choices any day.
Carter waved his hand at the thought that it would be weird. "Come now, Kenny. I'd love to support you and, obviously, your colleagues in their endeavours." He mightn't strictly look at her, but that was okay, his presence could be enough as his eyes went elsewhere.
"The real question is; would it be weird for you?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Of course, Carter felt the corner of his mouth pull upwards at the idea that she got a job. A gig, as she called it. Though she seemed skeptical to give that information, he had a sneaking suspicion there had to be more to the story than that. Getting a gig - for whatever - had to be a good thing, right? His blue eyes studied her curiously.
Recognition his his eyes when she dropped the name of her new employer. He'd seen the fliers plastered around town. Who hadn't? This entire place was slowly developing to accommodate the new crowd that moved in. A specified club was an inevitable turn in this formally sleepy-town vibe stricken place.
"I don't think it's stupid." He reassured her. Sure, the business would seem automatically questionable given its nature. Most men were overprotective of their sisters, and hardly wanted them to be in a negative space or situation. "I do think your brother should be barred from entering the facility. Make sure you give the bouncers a recent photograph of him." He added, humour lining every word and mention of her brother's potential fury.
"And I'd like to be there when you tell him. For support, of course." Of course. Who wouldn't want to be there for that?
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
It was admittedly funny, how similar Kenny and Cam were. The slightest mention of one of their family members and she was adorning her own brand of over-protectiveness. He had to laugh at that. Truth be told, Carter had never met her, but likely wouldn't be able to help himself when it came to hitting on her. It'd be worth it, if just for the reactions he'd get alone.
Glancing back towards her, he couldn't stop the curiosity in his eyes when she spoke again. "Always." He replied. Anything he could use to infuriate Cam was absolutely worth listening to.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
"I'd put it on your resume for when you finally look for a new-" Carter continued on, more than willing to carry humour while it kept them busy. It mightn't have been as good as play-wrestling on her bed in a drunken, giddy haze, but he'd take what he could get.
Until he got cut off as the door opened.
Slowly, Carter drew himself to a stand, hands pulling at either side of his jacket once; natural reflexes to ensure his near-effortless perfection was still very much in tact. But rather than saying anything, he simply waited. After all, her father had only offered his greeting to his daughter. It only seemed right to let her speak first.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter immediately glanced at their joined hands when she squeezed it. He squeezed it back a second later. It was nice to be able to talk about such burdens without being overly grilled for it; there were few people in this world that Carter could confide in, and most of them didn't live in this country anymore.
"Oh, it's never been anything less. I suppose you simply get used to it." Sad as it was, it was still the fact of his life. He didn't really feel so rocked by it when he went home and things never changed.
"But sure, I'll come stay with your family. Maybe then your dear friend Olivia will give me the time of day." He added with a grin, nudging her shoulder with his own as he laughed.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
It was always so much easier with a second party on his side. Carter offered something easily construed as a dig. Really, a bartender's job was hard enough. They didn't need to be belittled for doing a thankless job.
But she thanked her, quietly as she had. That was nice, at least.
Aside from that, she gave him nothing. Not even a look; she paid the bartender more mind than she did the platinum blonde boys she'd diminished as option one and option two for her nightly roll. So he turned his form, forearm leaning against the bartop as his eyes focused on Isaac.
"So how's your sister?" He asked with a wicked grin he quickly drowned in his drink.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Grinning from ear to ear, Carter looked away from her as she called him out and instead his attention turned to the little pillow he twisted in his grasp.
"Oh I'm sure." He replied sarcastically, nodding his head along to the fake sentiment. He didn't need to look to know she was pointing at him, readying her aim for a quip of her own. And what a shot it was. He covered his chest with the cushion instantly, like pressure to a gunshot.
"Twice in one night." Carter pointed out then, eyes feigning pain as they narrowed in on her; "You do so love to wound me, Luxanna. Is this a new hobby of yours?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Was that a compliment? Carter tilted his head to the side in curiosity as he looked towards her unexpectedly. That was the last thing he thought she'd do. Not to say she was often careful with her words, but in his presence, he assumed she would be.
"And if I don't have a child, who will I belittle into taking on the family business when I die?" He said jokingly; "Who will be my greatest disappointment when they instead opt for the riveting career path of a bartender?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter had to offer a hearty laugh to the way Isaac was acting. It was nice to be able to have a joke, but it seemed that one in the party wasn't all too willing to join in.
A smarter man would have left well enough alone. But she didn't leave, and perhaps that was the point. Carter being Carter had never been the type to quit while he was ahead. Besides, the bartender had been nice enough to place a drink in his hands.
"Now now, no need to snap at those who don't deserve it." Carter pointed out, this time dryly. Obviously she was upset, or cross, or at the very least she was feeling a type of way that didn't agree with her, "Even Isaac knows that."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Reaching back, Carter drew an idle cushion forward and allowed his fingers to dance across the material. It gave him something to do as he waited. He leaned back in his seat, head against the rest as his eyes glanced up at the ceiling.
"Just considering the inevitable, I suppose." He continued on, shrugging his shoulders at the fact. "I've never been entirely sure if twins can be hereditary, but my father's a twin, and so was his." All in a perfect line of duplicated boys. Still, he had to laugh about it. It all seemed incredibly funny for him to sit there and say.
"I hardly want to be the anomaly in such a perfect lineage."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Isaac was quick to put Carter back into appropriate perspective. Given the way she was acting, he thought for sure something had been agreed upon between the two already. But no, his tone indicated his inevitable direction, and he freed himself without a fight from Carter. He didn't like the idea of ignoring the person he'd originally come over here for.
But with Isaac still in reach, Carter pressed a hand to his shoulder blade and leaned in; "Make that two, won't you, chère?" He asked, his eyes glancing up at the bartender before offering a quick wink.
When he eased back there was a body close enough to press against his own with the slightest bit of encouragement. Suggestive words hit his ears like no time had passed at all. He quirked his eyebrows once, instinctively. "And what, you would have me leave my friend to drink the woes of losing you alone?" He asked her then, corner of his mouth dragging up with clear humour. Quickly, he finished the last of his glass and hit it back against the counter.
"Somehow, my dear, I get the very real sense that you have but one desire." He continued on, his hand reaching for a new drink without letting his eyes stray from her face; "And unfortunately for you, you seem to have forgotten that I always deserve so much more than to be your second choice."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
"Some women don't think about it because they don't want them." Carter said quickly. Then again, he supposed they did have to think about it in order to get to that conclusion. Best to let it be. He was hardly one to speak for women.
He felt the spotlight back on himself, and he was never really one to shy away from that.
"I'm not sure. I don't think you get a choice on that. Not really." He followed her steps now, moving into the living room and sitting on an adjacent chair; "If I didn't have twins, I'd be pissed." Carter added with an immediate laugh.
