Vex and Nolan - Kitty's Sweet Sixteen
Apr. 13th, 2019 09:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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ax_mainHamptons plans are made. Sorry not sorry, Shinobi. <3
Nolan had perked up when he had heard Shinobi's dedication to Vex, and looked very amused as he listened to the song. Something had changed indeed. Whether on a deeper level or just a shallow one was the question. Whatever had led to this, Nolan was and remained amused as Vex all but dragged Shinobi to an isolated room as soon as the song ended.
But then Shaun had smiled at him, and Nolan had forgotten about Vex and Shinobi for a while.
Some time later, he found himself by the drinks at the same time as Vex, and he gave her one of his customary small, dry-but-warm smiles. "Enjoying the party, Vex?"
Vex took a sip of her drink and arched a brow at Nolan in response. She suspected that was a leading question. "It's a very lovely tribute for Kitty. Another posh location filled with very geeky riff-raff."
"The place is very her," Nolan confirmed, amused in his usual dry way, as he reached for bottles of mixers to fix himself a mocktail. "I didn't expect the karaoke, but in retrospect, I should have."
It had absolutely been a leading question, of course, but Nolan had not reacted to Vex's raised eyebrow in any way. That, in itself, was a telling response, of course.
“Have you been thoroughly entertained?” Vex asked.
Nolan pursed his lips. "There have been some interesting choices." Of course Shinobi's latest had been, but Shaun hadn't disappointed either. Still, Nolan had a feeling that thoroughly would not come until they were back at his place.
“When do you go up?” Vex pressed.
"In about ten minutes," Nolan replied without missing a beat. "In an alternate universe where I like being in the spotlight." Vex knew him enough that he didn't think she had truly expected his answer to be any different. "When do you?"
Vex smiled wryly. “I thought accompanying Shaun’s Queen obsession would be enough for the night. I don’t have any grand serenades on deck.”
"There's always next time," Nolan remarked, soft-dry. With Shinobi around, there would always be a next time, when it came to karaoke.
"So I hear you're planning a getaway," Vex broached.
Surprise flitted across Nolan's features; he hadn't known whether Shinobi would ever broach the topic with her. "If it sounds appealing," he confirmed the offer.
"I'm going to need more details," Vex admitted. "Shinobi is great with laying a trail of breadcrumbs, but I'm not sure what you have planned."
Nolan looked dryly amused. "I know I'm a control freak, but I wasn't thinking of planning anything in terrible details - not unless all four of us decided on something in advance." There was more than enough activities they could do in the Hamptons without extensive prior planning, and when all else failed, a walk on the beach or cocktails by the pool were always easily achieved.
Vex was quiet for a moment before saying, "What exactly did you propose to him?"
Nolan blinked. "You're not talking about the weekend getaway?"
"He said something about a getaway. He was vague on headcount or intention. Your use of 'the four of us' makes me wonder if you proposed some kind of couples retreat." She looked skeptical even as she said it.
"Well, I wouldn't have called it that," Nolan replied, very dryly. "Just a weekend in the Hamptons, the four of us." He did raise a pointed eyebrow as he repeated the same phrasing.
Vex sighed. "He really loves embellishing. Okay, so just a weekend. The four of us. At your home?"
"Yes," Nolan confirmed. "The guest room could be officially yours, this time."
She snorted softly. "That is far less dramatic than I anticipated. That's a very nice suggestion, Nolan. Your home is beautiful." Never mind that she wasn't supposed to know what the interior of the main house looked like.
"Thank you." Nolan was very proud of his home, after all. It was a dream come true. And he knew very well that Vex had seen a lot more of it than she should have, or he would not have tagged that 'officially' on his last remark. "I'm very fond of it myself."
"I'm very curious about the friends you kept before school," Vex commented. "Between Shinobi and Shaun it seems like you're a magnet for colorful individuals."
"Shinobi is a friend I kept before school," Nolan remarked, rather than say he was Nolan's only friend from before school. "But they feel like the magnets, really."
"So you're the one with the weakness for sparkle?"
Nolan considered that for a second, then amended, "For gems." Both of them were one, in their own ways, and the image seemed apt in more than one way.
Vex's smile softened. "Shaun is a gem." It was easily said. Shaun was a treasure. As warm and soft as an emerald, and as bright as a diamond. Shinobi was certainly his own gem as well. More likely a beautiful, brittle black opal.
"So is Shinobi," Nolan added, unsure why Vex would not say so. Did she not think so? Was she wary of thinking so? Was she as yet undecided? It was none of Nolan's business, and so he did not ask, only went on, with a slightly rueful, mostly dry smile, "Albeit a very different sort. But I'll let Shaun decide which; he's the expert when it comes to gemstones."
“That he is,” Vex agreed.
"So we'll have to find a weekend that works for all of us," Nolan remarked. "I'll send an email to coordinate."
“Are you sticking around after you graduate?” Vex asked.
It still took Nolan by surprise, every time someone was this clueless about him. He smiled, amused but not mocking as he answered, "I graduated high school four years ago. I'm only here because the Professor is helping me with my mutation. But yes, I've requested an apartment from the graduate housing."
Vex blinked. She knew Nolan was smart and already had his own business, but she assumed he was still some kind of student since he was living in the dorms. “Well,” she said. “That explains quite a bit. Between you and Percy I’m really feeling the gap in our education. He’s finishing up now, but he’s the baby of the group and it’s a little frustrating.”
"I've, ah, been frustrating people for a long time," Nolan admitted, going from a little too honest to snarky over the course of the sentence. "When are you graduating?"
“Next year, if I take more summer classes.” Vex smiled grimly. No doubt, had she stayed in London she would have taken all of the necessary classes last summer and Syldor would already be talking about universities. Amazing how much one missed when running away from formal education.
"Do you know what you'll want to do afterwards?" Nolan inquired.
Vex shook her head. “It’s hard to say. The world pulls in several directions.”
"All equally interesting?" Nolan checked.
All equally dangerous, Vex thought. “I’ve no idea. We’ll see.”
Vex did not seem eager to discuss her options, and Nolan was not going to push. "You have some time to make up your mind, at least." Not that much time, if any of her options involved college, but some time.
“After Percy, I think I’ll be the only one finishing school next year at least. As long as the others want to stay, I’m happy to stay over here.” So much of Vex’s plans were tied to Vox Machina, but that didn’t necessarily ensure they’d stay together. The only sure thing was one day they’d find the monsters that hurt Percy. Other than that... hard to say what the future held.
Nolan nodded acknowledgment; they all seemed quite tight, and he wasn't surprised that they would want to stay around each other. In fact, that reminded him... "How is Grog getting along?"
“Happy not to be in classes,” Vex said. “I’m not sure if Scanlan will get up to less or more trouble now that he has the room to himself.”
"Is he capable of getting up to less trouble?" Nolan asked dryly, but there was a glint of amusement in his gaze, and the slight curve of his lips.
“Keep spending time with us, darling. We’ll keep you entertained. And possibly no one will get arrested.”
"Risky kind of entertainment," Nolan remarked with raised eyebrows.
“What’s life without a little risk?”
"Jail-free," Nolan replied without missing a beat, "but I'll keep that in mind."
“Keep us on the straight and narrow, Nolan. Heaven knows some of us need the moral compass.” She glanced over toward Shinobi, a smile curving her lips.
"If you want a moral compass, I think it's Shaun you want to talk to," Nolan replied honestly. He had done his fair share of illegal things, after all, and would not likely stop now. But he liked to carefully weigh out the risk/benefit ratio, and mostly, it was instinct not to say so in idle conversation.
“Shaun will save us all.”
He would, too, and the small, loving smile on Nolan's lips said as much. "Speaking of, it's been too long since I've talked to my boyfriend." And since Shaun wasn't currently on stage or dancing, it seemed like a golden opportunity. "Want to come along?"
“You’re too cute. Sure.” Nolan and Shaun and Vax and Percy were ridiculously sweet for each other. Whatever Vex has going on with Shinobi, it certainly didn’t come with a tether that pulled her back continuously simply to hear the sound of his voice. She wasn’t a stranger to that giddy thrill, but she wasn’t eager fall that far down again. Vex would leave the cute factor to the boys.
"He brings it out in me," Nolan assured her, even as he offered her his arm.
Nolan had perked up when he had heard Shinobi's dedication to Vex, and looked very amused as he listened to the song. Something had changed indeed. Whether on a deeper level or just a shallow one was the question. Whatever had led to this, Nolan was and remained amused as Vex all but dragged Shinobi to an isolated room as soon as the song ended.
But then Shaun had smiled at him, and Nolan had forgotten about Vex and Shinobi for a while.
Some time later, he found himself by the drinks at the same time as Vex, and he gave her one of his customary small, dry-but-warm smiles. "Enjoying the party, Vex?"
Vex took a sip of her drink and arched a brow at Nolan in response. She suspected that was a leading question. "It's a very lovely tribute for Kitty. Another posh location filled with very geeky riff-raff."
"The place is very her," Nolan confirmed, amused in his usual dry way, as he reached for bottles of mixers to fix himself a mocktail. "I didn't expect the karaoke, but in retrospect, I should have."
It had absolutely been a leading question, of course, but Nolan had not reacted to Vex's raised eyebrow in any way. That, in itself, was a telling response, of course.
“Have you been thoroughly entertained?” Vex asked.
Nolan pursed his lips. "There have been some interesting choices." Of course Shinobi's latest had been, but Shaun hadn't disappointed either. Still, Nolan had a feeling that thoroughly would not come until they were back at his place.
“When do you go up?” Vex pressed.
"In about ten minutes," Nolan replied without missing a beat. "In an alternate universe where I like being in the spotlight." Vex knew him enough that he didn't think she had truly expected his answer to be any different. "When do you?"
Vex smiled wryly. “I thought accompanying Shaun’s Queen obsession would be enough for the night. I don’t have any grand serenades on deck.”
"There's always next time," Nolan remarked, soft-dry. With Shinobi around, there would always be a next time, when it came to karaoke.
"So I hear you're planning a getaway," Vex broached.
Surprise flitted across Nolan's features; he hadn't known whether Shinobi would ever broach the topic with her. "If it sounds appealing," he confirmed the offer.
"I'm going to need more details," Vex admitted. "Shinobi is great with laying a trail of breadcrumbs, but I'm not sure what you have planned."
Nolan looked dryly amused. "I know I'm a control freak, but I wasn't thinking of planning anything in terrible details - not unless all four of us decided on something in advance." There was more than enough activities they could do in the Hamptons without extensive prior planning, and when all else failed, a walk on the beach or cocktails by the pool were always easily achieved.
Vex was quiet for a moment before saying, "What exactly did you propose to him?"
Nolan blinked. "You're not talking about the weekend getaway?"
"He said something about a getaway. He was vague on headcount or intention. Your use of 'the four of us' makes me wonder if you proposed some kind of couples retreat." She looked skeptical even as she said it.
"Well, I wouldn't have called it that," Nolan replied, very dryly. "Just a weekend in the Hamptons, the four of us." He did raise a pointed eyebrow as he repeated the same phrasing.
Vex sighed. "He really loves embellishing. Okay, so just a weekend. The four of us. At your home?"
"Yes," Nolan confirmed. "The guest room could be officially yours, this time."
She snorted softly. "That is far less dramatic than I anticipated. That's a very nice suggestion, Nolan. Your home is beautiful." Never mind that she wasn't supposed to know what the interior of the main house looked like.
"Thank you." Nolan was very proud of his home, after all. It was a dream come true. And he knew very well that Vex had seen a lot more of it than she should have, or he would not have tagged that 'officially' on his last remark. "I'm very fond of it myself."
"I'm very curious about the friends you kept before school," Vex commented. "Between Shinobi and Shaun it seems like you're a magnet for colorful individuals."
"Shinobi is a friend I kept before school," Nolan remarked, rather than say he was Nolan's only friend from before school. "But they feel like the magnets, really."
"So you're the one with the weakness for sparkle?"
Nolan considered that for a second, then amended, "For gems." Both of them were one, in their own ways, and the image seemed apt in more than one way.
Vex's smile softened. "Shaun is a gem." It was easily said. Shaun was a treasure. As warm and soft as an emerald, and as bright as a diamond. Shinobi was certainly his own gem as well. More likely a beautiful, brittle black opal.
"So is Shinobi," Nolan added, unsure why Vex would not say so. Did she not think so? Was she wary of thinking so? Was she as yet undecided? It was none of Nolan's business, and so he did not ask, only went on, with a slightly rueful, mostly dry smile, "Albeit a very different sort. But I'll let Shaun decide which; he's the expert when it comes to gemstones."
“That he is,” Vex agreed.
"So we'll have to find a weekend that works for all of us," Nolan remarked. "I'll send an email to coordinate."
“Are you sticking around after you graduate?” Vex asked.
It still took Nolan by surprise, every time someone was this clueless about him. He smiled, amused but not mocking as he answered, "I graduated high school four years ago. I'm only here because the Professor is helping me with my mutation. But yes, I've requested an apartment from the graduate housing."
Vex blinked. She knew Nolan was smart and already had his own business, but she assumed he was still some kind of student since he was living in the dorms. “Well,” she said. “That explains quite a bit. Between you and Percy I’m really feeling the gap in our education. He’s finishing up now, but he’s the baby of the group and it’s a little frustrating.”
"I've, ah, been frustrating people for a long time," Nolan admitted, going from a little too honest to snarky over the course of the sentence. "When are you graduating?"
“Next year, if I take more summer classes.” Vex smiled grimly. No doubt, had she stayed in London she would have taken all of the necessary classes last summer and Syldor would already be talking about universities. Amazing how much one missed when running away from formal education.
"Do you know what you'll want to do afterwards?" Nolan inquired.
Vex shook her head. “It’s hard to say. The world pulls in several directions.”
"All equally interesting?" Nolan checked.
All equally dangerous, Vex thought. “I’ve no idea. We’ll see.”
Vex did not seem eager to discuss her options, and Nolan was not going to push. "You have some time to make up your mind, at least." Not that much time, if any of her options involved college, but some time.
“After Percy, I think I’ll be the only one finishing school next year at least. As long as the others want to stay, I’m happy to stay over here.” So much of Vex’s plans were tied to Vox Machina, but that didn’t necessarily ensure they’d stay together. The only sure thing was one day they’d find the monsters that hurt Percy. Other than that... hard to say what the future held.
Nolan nodded acknowledgment; they all seemed quite tight, and he wasn't surprised that they would want to stay around each other. In fact, that reminded him... "How is Grog getting along?"
“Happy not to be in classes,” Vex said. “I’m not sure if Scanlan will get up to less or more trouble now that he has the room to himself.”
"Is he capable of getting up to less trouble?" Nolan asked dryly, but there was a glint of amusement in his gaze, and the slight curve of his lips.
“Keep spending time with us, darling. We’ll keep you entertained. And possibly no one will get arrested.”
"Risky kind of entertainment," Nolan remarked with raised eyebrows.
“What’s life without a little risk?”
"Jail-free," Nolan replied without missing a beat, "but I'll keep that in mind."
“Keep us on the straight and narrow, Nolan. Heaven knows some of us need the moral compass.” She glanced over toward Shinobi, a smile curving her lips.
"If you want a moral compass, I think it's Shaun you want to talk to," Nolan replied honestly. He had done his fair share of illegal things, after all, and would not likely stop now. But he liked to carefully weigh out the risk/benefit ratio, and mostly, it was instinct not to say so in idle conversation.
“Shaun will save us all.”
He would, too, and the small, loving smile on Nolan's lips said as much. "Speaking of, it's been too long since I've talked to my boyfriend." And since Shaun wasn't currently on stage or dancing, it seemed like a golden opportunity. "Want to come along?"
“You’re too cute. Sure.” Nolan and Shaun and Vax and Percy were ridiculously sweet for each other. Whatever Vex has going on with Shinobi, it certainly didn’t come with a tether that pulled her back continuously simply to hear the sound of his voice. She wasn’t a stranger to that giddy thrill, but she wasn’t eager fall that far down again. Vex would leave the cute factor to the boys.
"He brings it out in me," Nolan assured her, even as he offered her his arm.
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Date: 2019-04-28 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-04-30 01:38 am (UTC)