Amir Dawar.

The man hadn’t stepped foot on this thing in years. Cue the memories of when he and Damon hadn’t a care in the world, taking it out down to the French Riviera for weeks that neither of them could recall; partly because of the alcohol, partly because some things were best left...forgotten. Amir had gotten a laugh out of the trip down memory lane, at least. Things were different now, admittedly too much to ever hope to repair, but it was a time in his life he would treasure always.

That didn’t stop him putting on a very serious face for her, though: 

“So, I adore you, and I am fully here in support of your hosting duties tonight, but this yacht is giving me trauma flashbacks, so please know it’s a sacrifice.”

REACTION: Most Missed Resident @amirdawar​

“For what it’s worth, I missed you,” Alexis said as soon as she reached Amir’s table, despite having texted otherwise not too long ago. “And it wouldn’t really be London without something like a dog winning this category, would it?

.

“You don’t miss me. You miss the person who comes with me when I show up.”

Even he couldn’t feign the offence for long though, and soon enough the same old smile crept right back in. Luckily he was sat with his family for a change, and unlike when he usually got roped into sitting with Aurélie, he didn’t mind kicking out a seat for her to join him, here. Revati was missing, off grabbing more drinks with Faiza whilst his mother was otherwise preoccupied, but he would have to do.

“To be fair, I would also have voted for a dog over me, and I didn’t even know the dog.”

Seeing them together had been both a surprise, and not at all.

News travelled fast in their circles—particularly to him about this—but to witness it instead of hearing about it second-hand really hammered the realisation home. Amir couldn’t afford to divert much attention their way, nor did he really feel the need to when it’d only taken once glance to see that she was happy. 

It seemed as if he was struggling. Attending the awards was one thing, but making it a public debut with somebody like her, quite another. Amir couldn’t claim to understand how he felt when he’d been in the public eye for as long as he had, but he liked Henry. Respected him enough that he hoped something that would be an inevitable part of his future wouldn’t take a toll. A joke, then, to ease the mood: 

"I see you finally pulled your head out of your ass.”

Alexis: THURSDAY????? WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO???

Alexis: Okay you're technically saying so now but !!! I'M JUST EXCITED OKAY I'M GONNA TELL MY MUM AND SETH. They miss Revati. You, too, I guess.

Alexis: Anyway, I should probably apologise in advance for the mess we will become. I'll prepare the tissues, you don't have to worry about anything except for me kidnapping her for your entire stay here. 🙂

Alexis: Okay, but the greatest gift will be your presence.

Alexis: I'm serious btw Spencer is gonna freak the shit out when he sees you. This serves as your warning, please treat him kindly.

Amir: Feeling the love. Thanks.

Amir: Deal. You do that, and I'll kidnap Spencer. I figured you two would want some time to have simultaneous emotional breakdowns, so I'm gonna take him out Friday night for a hormone break. I'll try not to elope with him.

Amir: We'll be getting into London on Thursday.

Amir: Hope you're prepared, because she is an emotion.

Amir: Not emotional. Just a whole fucking emotion.

“Oh, no!” She laughed, waving her hands in front of her. “I think it is I who should be saying that to you. I see so many people around you at all times… Tell me… Is it as exhausting as it looks?” Even if she did not know him well at all, even if she knew she should have not been as relaxed as to say these things, she felt he perhaps needed a good laugh. Something that wasn’t involving oil prices or which hole would be better to dig Dubai or Abu Dhabi? “I think me and Cassie share a bond because we like to throw things at people when we’re pissed off. It\s a connection that you cannot easily break.” 

Leyla blushed, not knowing that so many would be that informed about the people she hung around with. Or that simply she was important enough to consider in conversation amongst the royalty of London. “I met her last spring through a mutual friend.” A friend who was so kind to impregnate her. “Ever since then I have realised a whole different world of people, that I really do not want to let go. So if they are your favourite people as well - you’re becoming one of mine too.” 

.

“Absolutely. I’m an old man, and I’ve fully reached peak levels of anti-social. I’d rather just be on an island somewhere with some cheesecake, but alas. If you’re fortunate enough to bump into my mother at some point this evening, you’ll realise why one doesn’t argue. If she doesn’t win Most Intimidating one of these years, I swear...”

When she mentioned the having throwing things in common with Cassie, he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. Immediately, he thought back to the story he’d heard about Lara. A shoe to the head from the politician, if he remembered correctly. Truly a pity there was no video. Not that he could make a joke about it now when the woman in front of him, just like everybody else at the party, thought she was still dead. Instead, he raised an eyebrow in amusement, placing a hand over his chest.

“Then I promise to never piss you off. Unless you want to angrily throw dessert...”

The story about meeting Aurélie seemed entirely wholesome, as was expected wherever she was involved, until the rest followed. Amir didn’t know much about Leyla, but she seemed kind; enough that he hoped she wasn’t already hurtling down a path toward something she would have no way of getting out of again.

“A whole other world of people, huh?” Oh great. “I’m going to hope you mean her masses of girlfriends, but on the off-chance you’re referring to something else, a good piece of advice: try to avoid anybody named Laurent or Fletcher."

“Give me time, okay. I got a little distracted trying to figure out which princes have already dated my sisters. Also, I’ve been hiding from your dad because I was warned he might not be too happy about my presence here.”

Yvonne rolled her eyes, the very image of a bratty little sister, but a wide smile remained stretched across her lips.

“Honestly, you deserve it. My family’s put you through enough shit, that you deserve this happiness.” She reached out to offer him an affectionate hug. “There’s nowhere else I would rather be, genuinely.”

.

“Ah. Well, luckily for you there’s only one, and that’d be Mahmoud,” he said, subtly pointing out one of his closest friends with an index finger; the man in question situated amongst a group of their old Harvard peers. Precisely where he’d met said sister. “And don’t worry about my father. The man is absolutely the most anti-social person I know, and I’m including Gideon in that ranking. He won’t come and find anyone for a conversation, and I doubt you’re about to go looking.”

When the conversation edged into more slightly serious territory, though, his amusement slipped. Ever so slightly. My family’s put you through enough shit. Maybe they had, but Yvonne would never be to blame for any of it. Nor would he let his own family treat her or her mother poorly for sins that were never theirs. Amir was grateful they’d come because it was a reminder that in spite of everything bad that’d happened, some good had come from it, too. 

They were the bigger people for it.

“Really? You wouldn’t rather be watching a bunch of guys get their heads beaten in for sport?!” It’d never been Yvonne’s thing and he knew it. It was only a half-hearted jibe, though, given that Amir had been half of its founding members. “Well, once the Saudis disappear and my mother takes dad home, it’ll actually become a party. Promise.”

“Imagine stealing my best friend away from me and taking her as far away from me as possible in the guise of an island getaway. I owe you nothing.” 

“Congratulations to the future Mr. Revati Sharma.”

“Oh stealing, huh? I stole her. Belize absolutely wasn’t your best friend’s idea at all...”

“Imagine not greeting me in the first four seconds of being here. The disrespect.”

“Here, take this. I think it’s vodka.” Yvonne brought the shot up to her nose and it scrunched up in disgust as the smell of hospital hit her. “Yes, it’s definitely vodka. Now hurry, your mom should be distracted for approximately three minutes and you look like you desperately need this.” She held the shot out to Amir while her gaze focused in across the room where his mother was locked in conversation with someone Yvonne assumed was a member of the Saudi Royal family. Which seemed like a fair assumption considering how many people belonged to that family.

“Other than the forced sobriety, you enjoying yourself?”

.

“I’d say you’re my favourite Rutherford for this, but your mom already snuck me three when my parents weren’t looking. You’ve got some catching up to do. No pressure.”

Of course, he was only teasing; the cheeky grin that followed said as much. At least until he was occupied with trying to do said shot as inconspicuously as possible...

“Actually, I am. Despite my being an antisocial senior citizen, obviously. It took a long time to get to this point.” Too damn long. Too much time fucking wasted. “I’m just glad we’re finally here, doing it. And I’m glad you’re here, too.” Glad that life was finally starting to look like Lara hadn’t robbed him of anything at all. “Thank you for that.”

Leyla sidetracked slightly, away from the girls, when she saw the host making his rounds. Even though she had not known him well; a few conversations when he had been with Revati and her, it was his day and she was grateful for the invitation. 

“Hey.” She smiled, apologising to the party that was already leaving. “Didn’t mean to interrupt, but I just wanted to congratulate you both on such a magical day. Everything is wonderful, and it just shows that you are just starting your journey.” Taking a deep breath, she allowed all other thoughts to evaporate from her mind, so she could focus on the man in front of her. “ I really wish you a beautiful marriage, which would be filled with love and laughter and so many adventures.” 

.

The greeting caught him off guard, but he wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Though it was his engagement party, it was the ‘official’ celebration, as opposed to the smaller, more private gathering they’d have at a later date. Whilst he didn’t mind the fanfare, doing the rounds all night, often drowning in formality, could be exhausting. Breaks like this were a welcome reprieve. Especially when she seemed as kind as his friends had already informed him. Amir couldn’t help but smile.

“I appreciate that, Leyla. Really.”

Adriana: I hope you like your present.

Adriana: I even asked them to wear bows.

Adriana: Happy birthday, precioussssssssss. Love u.

Amir: Why are you giving me anxiety on my birthday?

Amir: I'm old. I'm an old person. My gift a heart attack?

Amir: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.

Yvonne fixed her gaze on Amir for a moment before nodding slowly. “I see. Well, it’s good to see that she’s feeling somewhat sociable.” She chuckled quietly. The chasm between the sisters was as much Yvonne’s fault as it was Lara’s and for one of the first times in her life, she felt a twinge of regret for what could have been if the pair weren’t so stubborn.

Yvonne resisted the urge to childishly roll her eyes and instead settled for a quiet sigh. Damn Amir had always been able to read her a bit too well for her liking. “I’m fine. I promise. Why wouldn’t I be?” Other than the fact that even though she survived, someone had tried to murder her sister. And very nearly succeeded. “They’re okay. I know Damon’s been back and forth to Launceston to see her. And Adriana’s back in London.”

.

“Just about,” he chuckled. Even before he asked the next, he knew the answer, though part of him hoped she’d prove him wrong: “Have you been to see her yet?”

Their relationship was complicated, and having been an outlet for many of her complaints over the years, he knew that Lara felt the frustrations even when she didn’t want to admit it. Still, it did neither of them any favours. As much as Yvonne had matured over the years, particularly since motherhood, Amir had realised that Lara was no longer the same person she had been, either. If ever there could be a time for some reconciliation...he hoped that it was now. 

“I haven’t seen him, to be honest.” Speaking of complicated relationships... “I did want to check in on Adriana, though. I hope she’s managing as well as you are.” But Amir knew better. “Is she still staying at Lara’s place?”

Yvonne released a sigh of relief at Amir’s news. To have someone who knew what was going on was like a weight was lifted off of her shoulders. “How is she?” It was the question she didn’t dare ask her sister herself, and a subject she hesitated to broach with either of her brothers or Adriana. But, Amir was safe. Amir had always been safe from the moment she first met him, but he seemed to truly understand just how complicated her emotions were and never pushed farther than she was willing to admit to.

“Dare I ask how you know?” She very much doubted that Lara would spill the news herself, and no doubt her other siblings were working just as hard as she was to keep their lips sealed. 

“You should have told me you were coming. I’d have brought Maddie with me. She misses her Uncle Amir.” Yvonne was already reaching for her phone and swiping to her photo app for any pictures of her daughter that hadn’t already been sent to Amir. “She’s been babbling and is quite good at holding herself up with the couch and coffee table. She doesn’t quite understand the whole balance thing though.”

.

“She reached out to me. A few weeks ago.”

It didn’t seem right to lie to her, but it was a feasible enough explanation he was sure he could get away with it just this once. If it had been Lara to have informed him instead of Connie, regardless of whether she wanted to see him or not, he knew his ex-fiancée was absolutely the kind of person who would’ve used it as an opportunity to test his loyalties. Risky, but given their past... Yvonne was probably smart enough to figure out how stupid he was for the side he would’ve chosen. 

“Well, I’m still here for a few more days. I’m sure I’ll get the chance to see her before I leave again,” he assured, smile growing for just a moment as she spoke of her daughter so fondly. It wasn’t lost on him, though, that Maddie also proved a good segue from the conversation at hand. “Taking a leaf out of your brother’s book, I see?” His old friend was just as terrible at talking about his feelings... “If you don’t want to tell me how you’re doing, at least tell me Damon and Adriana are okay?”

@mobscene-starters​ Date: 16 June, 2022

To say that the past couple of months were an exhausting whirlwind was an understatement. Part of Yvonne knew that she should feel bad for feeling nothing at the news of her older sister’s supposed passing. But if she was being honest with herself, as she was inclined to do so these days, that revelation also brought the same nothingness. She could easily picture Gideon and Damon’s anguish at receiving the same phone call she did, how their stomachs would twist and their hearts drop right out of their chests. But Yvonne had merely stood there, perhaps uttered a quiet ‘oh’. 

Which was why hiding and secluding herself away after the revelation of the truth was easier than playing the role of mourning sister. But yet, she couldn’t hide forever. Even if it meant being a bit snippier than she normally would be. “If you’re here to talk about my sister, I suggest you don’t.”

.

“I’ve already been to see her.”

Well, that was certainly one way of describing what’d happened. 

Had the news come from anyone else, he might’ve assumed it a test. Nobody had any reason to believe Lara was anything other than dead unless they were told, and he’d wondered if they were looking to see who he took the information back to at the first available opportunity. But whilst Andrew might’ve done that to him, he trusted Connie when she’d told him in confidence. She’d never given him reason not to.

The Rutherfords were in a difficult spot. They couldn’t all head to Launceston en masse to be with her without it arousing suspicion, and it’d meant Lara had spent much of her time there in solitude. A month had passed, however, and he had enough business in the Boston area that it didn’t seem strange for him to be there...

That was his excuse, anyway. 

Whilst Yvonne hadn’t lost a sister, and had no reason to mourn her, Amir didn’t doubt that having to sit on a lie like this must’ve been taking a toll, too. That was precisely why he’d sought her out upon returning to London. 

“I came here to see you. To see how you’re doing.”

Yvonne: The awards are right.

Yvonne: I miss you.

Amir: Miss you too, kid.

Amir: If it's any consolation, you won't have to much longer. We'll be moving back to London after the wedding.