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Dorian and Nolan - Hamptons Party
Dorian comes to rescue Nolan from a very tedious conversation.
The party hadn’t been underway for long when Dorian spotted its host caught in a conversation with two politicians Dorian knew all too well. They’d been frequent guests at his father’s political functions and he’d learned quickly that they loved to hear themselves talk. Most especially about themselves.
Dorian finished his drink, set the empty glass down on the tray of a passing waiter, and swanned over to the group. “Apologies for the interruption, gentlemen, but I need to steal our good host,” he cut in smoothly, flashing his best, and most apologetic, politician’s son’s smile. “The caterer is looking for you. Something about a missing case of something.”
As he and Nolan put some distance between themselves and the dynamic duo, Dorian said, “The caterer’s not looking for you. You looked as if you could use an escape.”
Had he? Nolan felt chagrined at the news, for all that he was ready to believe it. "And here I thought I had a better poker face than that," he dryly replied. That took nothing away from his gratitude, as they drew nearer the kitchen area, so it might look as if they were indeed off to manage a catering crisis. "Thank you," he added, his dryness now tampered with honesty. "Conversations about golfing have never been my favorite."
How they had gotten there from talking about charity work, only politicians knew, but Nolan had been considering several possible exit strategies when Dorian had rescued him.
Dorian made a face. “Let me guess? It was a pissing contest about their respective handicaps. God, I hate that I even know that that means. Just be glad I got there before they could ask you to donate to their next campaign. There would have been no saving you then.
“And don’t worry, Nolan,” Dorian added with a smile as he gave Nolan’s shoulder a consoling pat. "Your poker face is flawless. Anyone who ends up in Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum’s sights is in need of an escape.”
"I'm used to finding ways out on my own," Nolan remarked, less a statement about his skills than about his life, all in all. There was no defensiveness to his words; being underestimated - if he even was - wasn't a problem. "It's nice not to have to, for once. Are you enjoying the party?"
Dorian plucked a glass off a passing waiter’s tray. “Less debauchery than I generally prefer, but, given some of the guests, that’s probably a good thing. Even I have my limits.” He subtly gestured to the gathering with the hand that held the glass. “It is a good party, though. Our mutual acquaintances make it better.”
"They generally do," Nolan agreed, with a small, fond smile. Then his soft snark made a comeback. "As for the debauchery, let's wait until I've kicked out the adults and this turns into a proper pool party.”
“Promises, promises…” Dorian said with a sigh. “Don’t toy with my heart, Nolan. I’ve been burned before.”
"Oh, the grown-ups will get kicked out," Nolan replied easily, and smiled. "The debauchery I leave entirely in your hands.”
Dorian gave Nolan a playful tap under his chin. “Smart man.”
Nolan hadn't reacted at the earlier shoulder pat, despite how little he was used to casual touch. He didn't tend to invite it, and most people rolled with that. He couldn't quite hold back the urge to turn his face aside to escape the playful tap, though. "I try," he dryly answered.
Dorian noticed the way Nolan recoiled and made a mental note to hold off on the friendly touching. “And succeed, lucky you. Few can claim that distinction.” He raised his glass as if to toast Nolan, then took a sip.
“So,” Dorian looked at Nolan curiously, “what inspired you to throw a party?”
"Didn't you know? You're not anyone in the Hamptons if you don't," Nolan very dryly answered.
Dorian arched an imperious eyebrow, but looked amused. “Or I was hoping the answer wouldn’t be conventional.”
"Sorry to disappoint," Nolan answered, still very dryly. Of course he wasn't; he could have given any other number of answers, and he had chosen not to.
“No, you’re not, but we can pretend if it will make you feel better.” Dorian cooly took a drink from his glass. Nolan’s acerbity didn’t bother him; he’d been on the receiving end of sharper tongues. “Either way, I’m not concerned about it.”
Looking to move the conversation back onto more neutral ground, which questions about the party had apparently not been, Dorian said, “Gilmore seems to be enjoying himself. I saw him making the rounds earlier.”
A light came on in Nolan's eyes at the mention of his boyfriend, and instinctively, he looked for Shaun in the crowd. Found him chatting with the younger Grayson child, and looked back to Dorian, a faint smile on his lips. "I'm not sure there is a social environment he couldn't handle, at this stage."
“I’m inclined to agree.” In truth, Dorian was surprised. Gilmore was tenacious, but far too kind. He would have expected Society to chew him up and spit him out. “It’s a gift few people have. How did you two meet?”
"He came looking for Kitty, and found me," Nolan replied simply, and vaguely enough not to mention the school. Dorian had enough context to make the leap, while anyone potentially overhearing them would have no idea.
“Quite the meetcute.” Like something out of a movie, even. The talented, sensitive artist and the quiet, mysterious billionaire bumping into one another by chance and falling head over heels. “How long have you been dating?”
"Nearly a year and a half now," Nolan replied, a small smile gracing his lips at the thought. Time had flown by so quickly - and he wanted so much more of it, but he made sure his expression didn't slip. Time to turn the conversation back around on Dorian. "What about you, Dorian? Is there anyone special?"
Why did everyone ask him that? “No,” Dorian replied lightly like he didn’t hate the question, his expression warm with that laughing smile of his that seemed to reach his eyes. “I’ve yet to find someone I love as much as I love myself.”
"Fair enough," Nolan replied, lips pursed in a small smile. He'd always admired - and sometimes envied - people who managed to love themselves. It was no real surprise that he would end up falling in love with someone like that. Shaun was good for him on different levels.
Dorian arched an eyebrow at that. “Well, your tormentors have dispersed, so the coast is momentarily clear. I should let you go so you can get back to your guests before they sniff you out. They’re good at that.”
"I'll go meet them on my own terms," Nolan agreed, easily accepting Dorian's desire to move on. "Thank you for the rescue."
“Anytime,” Dorian easily replied with a wave of his hand that said it hadn’t been any problem at all. “Should the need ever arise again, just give me the Look. I have an exhaustive, tried and true list of excuses on hand as to why one needs to suddenly leave a conversation.”
"I'll keep that in mind," Nolan assured him in his usual dry tone. "And return the favor, should the need arise."
“What a dear,” Dorian said with a handsome smile. “And now, I think I’ll pester your other half. Perhaps he’s feeling catty enough for some good party gossip.”
Nolan nodded, with a small smile. "Enjoy."
The party hadn’t been underway for long when Dorian spotted its host caught in a conversation with two politicians Dorian knew all too well. They’d been frequent guests at his father’s political functions and he’d learned quickly that they loved to hear themselves talk. Most especially about themselves.
Dorian finished his drink, set the empty glass down on the tray of a passing waiter, and swanned over to the group. “Apologies for the interruption, gentlemen, but I need to steal our good host,” he cut in smoothly, flashing his best, and most apologetic, politician’s son’s smile. “The caterer is looking for you. Something about a missing case of something.”
As he and Nolan put some distance between themselves and the dynamic duo, Dorian said, “The caterer’s not looking for you. You looked as if you could use an escape.”
Had he? Nolan felt chagrined at the news, for all that he was ready to believe it. "And here I thought I had a better poker face than that," he dryly replied. That took nothing away from his gratitude, as they drew nearer the kitchen area, so it might look as if they were indeed off to manage a catering crisis. "Thank you," he added, his dryness now tampered with honesty. "Conversations about golfing have never been my favorite."
How they had gotten there from talking about charity work, only politicians knew, but Nolan had been considering several possible exit strategies when Dorian had rescued him.
Dorian made a face. “Let me guess? It was a pissing contest about their respective handicaps. God, I hate that I even know that that means. Just be glad I got there before they could ask you to donate to their next campaign. There would have been no saving you then.
“And don’t worry, Nolan,” Dorian added with a smile as he gave Nolan’s shoulder a consoling pat. "Your poker face is flawless. Anyone who ends up in Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum’s sights is in need of an escape.”
"I'm used to finding ways out on my own," Nolan remarked, less a statement about his skills than about his life, all in all. There was no defensiveness to his words; being underestimated - if he even was - wasn't a problem. "It's nice not to have to, for once. Are you enjoying the party?"
Dorian plucked a glass off a passing waiter’s tray. “Less debauchery than I generally prefer, but, given some of the guests, that’s probably a good thing. Even I have my limits.” He subtly gestured to the gathering with the hand that held the glass. “It is a good party, though. Our mutual acquaintances make it better.”
"They generally do," Nolan agreed, with a small, fond smile. Then his soft snark made a comeback. "As for the debauchery, let's wait until I've kicked out the adults and this turns into a proper pool party.”
“Promises, promises…” Dorian said with a sigh. “Don’t toy with my heart, Nolan. I’ve been burned before.”
"Oh, the grown-ups will get kicked out," Nolan replied easily, and smiled. "The debauchery I leave entirely in your hands.”
Dorian gave Nolan a playful tap under his chin. “Smart man.”
Nolan hadn't reacted at the earlier shoulder pat, despite how little he was used to casual touch. He didn't tend to invite it, and most people rolled with that. He couldn't quite hold back the urge to turn his face aside to escape the playful tap, though. "I try," he dryly answered.
Dorian noticed the way Nolan recoiled and made a mental note to hold off on the friendly touching. “And succeed, lucky you. Few can claim that distinction.” He raised his glass as if to toast Nolan, then took a sip.
“So,” Dorian looked at Nolan curiously, “what inspired you to throw a party?”
"Didn't you know? You're not anyone in the Hamptons if you don't," Nolan very dryly answered.
Dorian arched an imperious eyebrow, but looked amused. “Or I was hoping the answer wouldn’t be conventional.”
"Sorry to disappoint," Nolan answered, still very dryly. Of course he wasn't; he could have given any other number of answers, and he had chosen not to.
“No, you’re not, but we can pretend if it will make you feel better.” Dorian cooly took a drink from his glass. Nolan’s acerbity didn’t bother him; he’d been on the receiving end of sharper tongues. “Either way, I’m not concerned about it.”
Looking to move the conversation back onto more neutral ground, which questions about the party had apparently not been, Dorian said, “Gilmore seems to be enjoying himself. I saw him making the rounds earlier.”
A light came on in Nolan's eyes at the mention of his boyfriend, and instinctively, he looked for Shaun in the crowd. Found him chatting with the younger Grayson child, and looked back to Dorian, a faint smile on his lips. "I'm not sure there is a social environment he couldn't handle, at this stage."
“I’m inclined to agree.” In truth, Dorian was surprised. Gilmore was tenacious, but far too kind. He would have expected Society to chew him up and spit him out. “It’s a gift few people have. How did you two meet?”
"He came looking for Kitty, and found me," Nolan replied simply, and vaguely enough not to mention the school. Dorian had enough context to make the leap, while anyone potentially overhearing them would have no idea.
“Quite the meetcute.” Like something out of a movie, even. The talented, sensitive artist and the quiet, mysterious billionaire bumping into one another by chance and falling head over heels. “How long have you been dating?”
"Nearly a year and a half now," Nolan replied, a small smile gracing his lips at the thought. Time had flown by so quickly - and he wanted so much more of it, but he made sure his expression didn't slip. Time to turn the conversation back around on Dorian. "What about you, Dorian? Is there anyone special?"
Why did everyone ask him that? “No,” Dorian replied lightly like he didn’t hate the question, his expression warm with that laughing smile of his that seemed to reach his eyes. “I’ve yet to find someone I love as much as I love myself.”
"Fair enough," Nolan replied, lips pursed in a small smile. He'd always admired - and sometimes envied - people who managed to love themselves. It was no real surprise that he would end up falling in love with someone like that. Shaun was good for him on different levels.
Dorian arched an eyebrow at that. “Well, your tormentors have dispersed, so the coast is momentarily clear. I should let you go so you can get back to your guests before they sniff you out. They’re good at that.”
"I'll go meet them on my own terms," Nolan agreed, easily accepting Dorian's desire to move on. "Thank you for the rescue."
“Anytime,” Dorian easily replied with a wave of his hand that said it hadn’t been any problem at all. “Should the need ever arise again, just give me the Look. I have an exhaustive, tried and true list of excuses on hand as to why one needs to suddenly leave a conversation.”
"I'll keep that in mind," Nolan assured him in his usual dry tone. "And return the favor, should the need arise."
“What a dear,” Dorian said with a handsome smile. “And now, I think I’ll pester your other half. Perhaps he’s feeling catty enough for some good party gossip.”
Nolan nodded, with a small smile. "Enjoy."