the quiet one

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David nodded. “Yes, good different.” Everyone looked good different. In fact, he didn’t think there was a single person at this entire event that didn’t look good. David knew that Hannah was just messing with him, but the comment about him looking hot made him flush red. He wasn’t used to those sorts of comments from anybody, especially somebody like Hannah, who looked like the most innocent person in the entire world. He cleared his throat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.

He shook his head, his cheeks feeling hot as Hannah winked at him. “Comments like that shouldn’t be coming out of your mouth,” he said with a small smile. “I think I’ll just have some water, please. I’ve already drank quite a lot of wine.” If anything was to go down, he needed to be at least somewhat sober.

Hannah gave him a humble smile and said, “thank you very much.” As soon as his cheeks flared up, Hannah laughed. He was just too adorable and even though she’d meant it genuinely - that he was looking good - she didn’t intend to embarrass him too much. She was just looking for a bit of fun hence, the bold phrasing of her words.

David was sure that if the stranger ever knew the full extent of his techno-phobia, she would be very disappointed, but it wasn’t really a conversation that you tended to have with a complete stranger at an event like this, so he just laughed and shrugged. “My phone has snake on it. I think that’s the only game it has. They last for years and so does the battery. My sister’s kids are always going around looking for an outlet for their phone charger.”

“I suppose that’s just how the other half live,” David replied, looking around the room again. “I’m sure a lot of people here are wearing clothes that are more expensive than what I earn in a year.”

“Then your nephew has nothing to worry about, as long as you know how to play Snake. You’ve got enough to keep yourself entertained for hours, if the urge takes you.” She couldn’t help laughing at his point, which was, unfortunately, completely valid and the bane of her career. “Tell me about it. I actually like having a phone I can use, but unless I carry around a back-up battery I’m never going to get a full day of use out of it.”

It seemed that the stranger he was suddenly deep in conversation with was good with technology and she reminded him of the Diamond hackers who were all about the latest tech, trying to persuade David to upgrade.

“They certainly know how to live,” David agreed with a nod. He’d seen Wren’s lavish apartment, he’d seen his late sister’s too, with everything perfectly in its place, very aesthetically pleasing and the complete contrast to David’s cramped house that he shared with his sister and her three kids. He eyed her dress for a moment, knowing that what she was wearing probably cost more than the suit he was wearing, that he’d worn to Molly’s wedding around 20 years ago. David laughed again. “I think it probably was gemstones. People like to show off things they own.”

David laughed, shaking his head. “No, I just have the one.” He didn’t see the point in having some fancy phone that had all sorts of gadgets, if he wanted information he’d look in the library, if he wanted to get in touch with somebody he’d phone them, if he wanted to see their face he’d go and see them. There was no point in video calling. Social media baffled him just as much as everything else.

“My nephew constantly laughs at me for it and tries to get me to switch but he showed me the phone he has… with all the applications and games and social media. One of those ones you’ve got,” David explained, “it’s all a bit much for me.” David sipped on his wine and shook his head. “I’m sure if it wasn’t an open bar, none of us would be able to afford the prices at a place like this.”

“Oh, good, I wouldn’t want to be disappointed in the tech habits of the guy I met at an open bar,” she teased. “What’s it like to keep the same thing for so long, though? I don’t remember early phones being that durable. Though they were probably better than this,” she mused, tapping the phone she had - one that was mostly screen.

It was strange seeing so many people he knew dressed to the nines when they were usually just in comfortable clothing when they hung around the HQ. A lot of people trained at the HQ regularly, so any sort of formal outfit would just look out of place. To see Hannah dressed the way she was certainly surprised him and David was unable to keep that look of surprise off his face when he initially saw her.

“Hannah,” he said, looking her up and down for a brief moment, “you look…” He paused. “Different.”

David didn’t know what else to say, feeling somewhat protective over her now that she was dressed the way she was. There were no doubt a lot of single, eligible bachelors at this event and there was a part of him that now wanted to keep a close eye on who was talking to Hannah. “Um… No it’s okay. You can go…”

The look of surprise on David’s face made Hannah chuckle softly. She had sported a similar look when she’d caught sight of him and Darcy walk in, some time ago. Though it was a little more subtle yet, surprise nonetheless. David looked quite dapper all dressed up and it was a pleasing sight, really. Not in a weird way but, like admiration for your dad or elder sibling kid of way.

Bowing her head humbly she grinned at David. “I hope good different,” she teased him with a chuckle. “You’re looking hot and I’m really worried about Darcy’s heartbeat,” she added in the same playful tone, giving David a wink just to mess with him a little.

David stared at her phone for a brief moment, wondering why on earth somebody would pay seven dollars for a game on their phone before he gave her a small smile. “I just have a basic phone,” he replied, pulling his 15 year old phone out of his pocket. “It texts and calls, does the job really.” He shrugged. “I’m not great with… technology.” David gestured towards the stranger’s phone.

“It’s an open bar so you’re more than welcome to go next and get mine,” David added with a polite smile. “At least you can justify spending seven dollars on your game when you don’t have to pay for your drinks.“

Layla very nearly physically winced at the idea of using what looked like something from the early 2000s. “If that’s all you need it to do, then fair enough. You’re doing a better job than most, keeping it in one piece for as long as you must have. Unless you’re one of those people who keeps a drawer full of the same phone, just in case something happens to it… you aren’t, are you?”

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Hannah was completely at ease at the event. It wasn’t anything new for her, she was at her best, being a social butterfly and mingling with people. She’d done this countless times before because being a Price meant being in such social circles. She wasn’t a socialite but, would’ve made a rather alluring one if she were. She’d been looking around for familiar faces and flirting with the unfamiliar pretty ones in the meanwhile. Her champagne running low, she made a bee line to the bar for a top up or maybe a different drink altogether. She’d decided when she reaches there.

“Hannah,” he said, looking her up and down for a brief moment, “you look…” He paused. “Different.”

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Out of all the people from the Diamonds that Drew didn’t expect to see here tonight, David was at the top of that list— though he wasn’t completely sure why he was surprised to see the strategist here tonight, it wasn’t like David was widely known for disobey a direct order from their boss. He was too boring and strung up to go against their leaders wishes, even for something as small as being required to attend this function tonight.

“If you’re offering,” Drew answered, stepping up to the bar and ordering himself another one of those fruity cocktails he had been handed on arrival, after turning down the champagne flute. “Do you think any of them will show?” Drew asked David idly, only making conversation with the other Diamond to pass the time while he waited on his cocktail, as opposed to actually wanting to engage with the man.

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

“I’m always next.” Ace told him, if he could cut a line he would, more than happy to just barge up the front and get what he wanted. He approached ordering at the bar like he approached most things in life. He wasn’t completely rude, especially once he realised it was his friend he had skipped. 

“Can I get a Jameson on the rocks, and can I get, uhh.” He took a quick glance at what David was holding, nearly two decades of friendship holding him back from rolling his eyes at his drink of choice. “Whatever sort of wine this one here was drinking too. Thanks.” 

He drummed his fingers on the bar top impatiently as their drinks were being fixed, his attention drifting to David. “Having fun?”

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Christian wasn’t exactly one to avoid a social gathering, and this smelled more like a trap than anything the Diamond’s had done. He was there as a local simply enjoying the open bar and appetizers, but his information was the reason the Kings knew better than to walk into whatever this was intended to be. 

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

“Oh no, go ahead. I’m just waiting for a soda.” Jessica motioned the man forward, the bartender would get to her after he’d mixed more tedious cocktails and handed out everything he needed too. She didn’t mind waiting idly by the bar as she waited for Bella and her dad to arrive. It had been more or less a surprise that she had been attending to the event. She hadn’t exactly planned on it until a coworker said she was going and had a plus one that no one was using. So she put on a party dress and slipped into the event to rub elbows and potentially pull some funding there way if she could manage it. “You look like you could use it.” She said in a light and pleasant tone. 

To say he was nervous was an understatement. There were so many people at the event, mingling, walking, dancing, drinking… who knew if the guy that confronted David and Darcy was here? Who knew if Sixes was here? He felt on edge, his bruised knuckle from where he’d punched someone in the face tucked in his pocket, right hand clinging onto a glass of red wine almost desperately. It was almost finished, so he waited in line at the bar to order another one. Alcohol would calm him down… at least, David hoped.

When the bar tender turned to him, David noticed a person next to him and looked between them and the tender.

“Oh, I think you’re next, aren’t you?” He asked them.

Layla smiled at the man, inclining her head politely. Realistically, yes, it did look that way, like she was next. But both she and the bartender knew better by now. “Oh, no. To be perfectly honest with you, I’m just standing here so I don’t get any looks for playing with my phone,” she explained, lifting the device to show him the game of Oxenfree she was playing. 

“Only seven dollars, and it beats networking,” she joked, gesturing for him to order. “I can get your drink for you if you really want me to go next, though, I don’t mind.”