Quindell Parker VI

Gisele’s smile brightened doubly at Quin’s response. “That is the perfect answer,” she assured as she settled into the chair more comfortably and shot Kamryn a grin as well. This really was the ideal sort of date for Gisele, and she knew no matter what happened, she would enjoy herself with Quin. When it was her turn she rolled a six before passing the dice on, the game continuing while they chatted between actions. 

“Sometimes I did. Not as often as I would have liked,” she admitted with a soft laugh. “I always had to rope my siblings into these kinds of things. I don’t think they could keep up with my competitive nature. Too bad you can’t exactly play Clue alone. But sometimes they humored me enough. But that sounds like even more fun than playing with family. My friends always wanted to play Pictionary, and I can’t draw to save my life.”

It was nice having someone to just talk with about ordinary things; not all of the gossip or crime in their mafia life. It allowed her to deny her role temporarily in that field. “I’ve actually never played that, but I always wanted to,” Gisele nodded eagerly. “I’ve seen it on tv shows and it always seemed like fun, but I don’t know– or well, I didn’t know anyone that played it. But now I know that you do.” She grinned again. “Maybe we’ll have to set up a game night or something with a whole slew of us so that we can play.” It soon became her turn again, and Gisele rolled the dice, this time getting a three. “What other games do you favor? I used to love Life as a kid… but now as an adult it feels a little too real.”

.

"I figured as much." Though he had not had a lot of memories, especially now, of playing board games as a child. Quin had found when he was able to catch a game such as this with the friends he had at school, or just at a school in general or with his foster family. He had favored Clue. Solving the crime had been very fun. Once greetings were given between the three and no one else seemed to join in on the fun. Quin, being the first to go, rolled the dice once more, then moved his piece about six squares. Looking over toward Gisele as she spoke up again.

With a small laugh he shook his head, before listening to Kamryn reply about spending many game nights with his father and siblings. Quin nodded "I never had much game nights growing up. But I enjoyed any time I got to play any game." He grins a bit. Then, with another small laugh he replied to Gisele's next comment "I think I might have scared a couple of classmates with how hostile I'd become when I was losing. No telling when the board would go flying. Though I guess, thinking back on it now. The detentions weren't worth it." Kamryn had laughed lightly hearing Quin's comment.

"Ooo I never played Pictionary actually." Quin then informed. Tossing a hand over on the table he leans in a bit "I can't draw for shit either. So, guess we're in the same party. Hah." Kamryn however also didn't seem to be much of an artist either, as he had mentioned, trying to keep in the conversation. With the mentioned of never playing Dungeons and Dragons, Quin let out a sigh "Same here. It wasn't quite the thing where I lived growing up. Going to preppy rich schools was more about sports." He lied. Continuing his delusion that he grew up wealthy and not abused.

Nodding in agreement he smirked "That's about where all I have seen it played, in my life." Kamryn however brought up then that he played Dungeons and Dragons. Quin nodded toward the other "Ooo Look at you, Mister Cool." He complimented lightly then looked again toward Gisele "Oo Get our friends into it! They would love that!" He exclaimed at Gisele's suggestion "It will be a great activity for us all." Quin blinked them, thinking of other board games he had played "I think I liked Memory and Apples to Apples a lot. But I've grown out of them." Kamryn commented that his favorite would have been Candyland, growing up.

-

“Yeah, my mom taught me!” Elaine said with a smile. “I was very young when she did, around seven or so,” she shrugged and that’s when she stared at her left hand. It was not chance that her dear and sweet mother taught her because there had been a reason for it and the reason had been her husband. She got married very young, when women didn’t have a choice and having a husband provided them with a sense of security and purpose, but none of that came to her life and she learned it well, but never thought that her own children would become victims too. 

It all came to Elaine like a wave crashing against the shore. She had been four years old the first time she decided to go to the basement on her own. She knew that was the place daddy worked because he told them and in her mind, she decided that daddy needed some company. Mom and Tristan were in the kitchen and she had been bored after playing with her toys, so without the woman looking, she slowly opened the door and walked the stairs, one by one, without making too much noise, listening to the music coming from the radio her dad used to listen while working.

He stared at her but didn’t say anything. The glare in her direction was more of enough for her to keep silent while he worked. Little Elaine just took a seat on an empty chair and stared at the animals around the place. Her dad would take a drink from a bottle and continue, cursing here and there when what he had been trying to do didn’t work. After a few minutes she gave up being frozen like a statue and did what she shouldn’t have. But she was a kid, a curious one at that, so why blame her when she reached to touch? Only when the pressure on her hand was too much, she yelled, asking daddy to let her go.

When he did, her hand was already swollen and red. He screamed at the top of his lungs to get out and never touch his work again. Elaine ran back usptairs to her mother, who noticed her daughter’s purple hand. She took some oils and massaged it gently, whispering that everything was going to be alright. Tristan hugged her, of course. Her twin was worried about her and the tears didn’t stop, not even when the pain lessened a little. Her father’s footsteps made her hide her face on her mother’s chest. “Keep them away from where I work!” He said to his wife before opening the fridge to take another bottle.

Her left hand was still shaking when she finally left that memory but Elaine was sure that she could see the bruises and the pain. It was the first time her father put his hands on her. It could have been many mother but somehow her mother would make him give up, or, Tristan was there to protect her. Taking a deep breath she smiled at Quin. “Sorry, I just…went back for a second there.” Elaine bit her lower lip and wiped away the silent tears that had been running down her cheeks. 

.

Quin nodded, understanding as Elaine exclaimed that her mother had taught her how to cook "Oh. That's cool." He nodded then and looked away at that moment "I think mothers are more likely to teach such a thing than the dad is." He muttered. Though his own mother was more likely to get take out or something quick like that. Something that didn't require much brain usage. His mother had failed at being a mother, which was reflected in Quin if one would have noticed.

Reaching out to finish the background on the painting as Elaine went quiet for some time. Because of course, he could not read her mind. So he didn't notice really what she had been quiet for. Figuring it was just her getting lost in thought. As well he just wanted to finish the painting for that moment before whatever shit was about to hit the fan came about. Quin would glance toward the other here and there as he made his strokes on the canvas. As she finally came back he nodded.

"Oh? You went somewhere?" He asked her, giving a bit of a squint toward Elaine before offering a small sympathetic smile toward her. He tilt his head a bit though "How long have you been doing that?" Quin had to ask. Wondering what the memory was. He figured it was such a thing, given the look on her face, probably about her father. It was easy to deduct. Quin pulled away from the painting, imagining she wouldn't be in a mood to do any painting herself. How very coincidental.

Resting his painting arm down he put the brush to the side and placed the rest of the items he was holding now that he had been sufficiently satisfied with his painting he looked around. Knowing that the painting would be there for a least a day or so before he could take it home "Well I guess you'll get what you want... Let's get out of here and go get something to eat." He grabbed her by the shoulders and started to direct her out of the room "You're crying."

Gisele had felt cooped up all week with work, so anything to get out of the house sounded appealing. She’d enjoyed catching up with Quin after running into each other (literally), so another chat over drinks seemed like a pleasant way to spend the day. The potential of board games would be even better. Since a child she’d always had a tenacity for them, though it was rare she could get anyone to sit down and play them with her. Perhaps because of her overly competitive spirit. Either way, she was looking forward to it.

Eagerly she tapped away a confirmation text that she would be there, then rifled through her closet in search of something casual to throw on. Probably the loungewear she was currently in, wouldn’t suffice. She couldn’t exactly go out looking like a slob.

The Root Blend was a favorite of Gisele’s, though she never actually had the guts to join in on a game with someone she didn’t know. Social butterfly and all, she usually people watched in a corner while enjoying whatever drink of comfort sounded best that day. Once she arrived, Gisele spotted Quin already seated and chatting up another familiar face, and she returned his wave with a smile.

“The real question is, when do I not want to play Clue?” she chirped back excitedly. “Although I have to warn you guys. I’m very competitive, but also a bit rusty. It’s been a while,” Gisele explained as she slipped into the chair beside Quin. “Red is my lucky color, so I’ll go with that.”

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Quin spotted Gisele easily as she walked into the little shop. Waving her over he grinned at her comment for playing Clue "Oh, um. I am going to say never is the best option." He suggest slyly. Quin glanced over toward Kamryn listening to the younger male talk about the game, just to refresh everyone on the rules. Then he handed over the red piece to Gisele player spot on the board.

They each were to roll the die and whoever got the highest went first. Kamryn rolled first, then Quin let Gisele roll before he rolled it himself. Kamryn had rolled a five. Quin rolled a nine. Quin handed the dice over before returning to look at the board can have a brief exchange with Kamryn, introducing himself to the other male then turned his attention back to Gisele, his date for the time being.

He offered a smile before getting a bit curious "So did you play this game a lot growing up. I--" He began, though paused, remembering he didn't have anyone that would play such things with him. Though he often made such things up "Always would go over to a friends house. They had a lot of board games and kids. So we would all play games there. You ever play Dungeons and Dragons? That one was one of my favorites at this friends house." He liked living in a world of make believe.

Elijah nodded softly, “That’s understable, I can only imagine how uncomfortable it must be. I’m glad you are looking better, looking better too.” He said softly as he gave her a soft playful punch to the arm not wanting to hurt him or knock him over. He nodded in agreement, “True that. I have one but just because my sisters would probably fly down here constantly if they didn’t see me.” He said honestly. Echo and Aubrey were the ones he had become closer to them after everything.

He nodded softly as he listened, he could only imagine. It was a miracle he survived, so he knew that would only mean that there was consequences. It was only obvious, a serious injury meant that the long term effects were just as serious. “I can’t imagine losing two years like that, but now you can make the most of the time you have in front of you. You pushed forward, and we are happy you are back.” He said honestly, as he patted Quin’s back lightly. He nodded softly in understanding. “I understand that part more than you know.” He said softly, even though no one knew about what he went through with Tatiana. It was hard to explain the feeling of losing something that many wouldn’t get. He saw his far away look, “everything okay, bud?”

Though his attention returned to Elijah in the next moment as Elaine was brought up, and the divorce “Oh boy do I—” He made a face “Kinda?” He shrugged and went back to what he was doing, honestly, he couldn’t remember much of it at all. It wasn’t one of the more important memories to him, or well, the reality is it might have been too new a memory that it just was lost on him since the accident “That bad, huh?” He shook his head “Look, Elijah, you cheated. We’ve all been to that point.” He nodded, certainty he had a reason for why he wasn’t interested in dating as much as he was in having sex, Quin was known for his promiscuity prior to the accident. But he had never boxed himself in long enough to cheat, or was very open about what he wanted.

Elijah hummed softly as he shrugged softly, he was sure how to actually feel about that any more. He knew she had the right to feel hurt, and he didn’t mind that. He understood, he just didn’t know why that mistake still had to be brought up constantly even six years later but he guess that’s what people meant when they said you will get judged for the one mistake you make instead of everything else. “Yes and no, it’s not only that.” He rubbed the back of his neck, “I know, and I get that, but we aren’t even together it’s been years..”

Frowning down toward the boxes, Quin blinked “For normal people, not me, of course, but normal people. I imagine that monogamy is very important. If you wanted to step out and sleep around, Elaine is certainly not the woman to have done that with. Given her past with her own father.” Elijah had to have known. But at the end of the day, the divorce seemed more to do with Elijah’s anger with Elaine’s position as Vice President. From what Quin could remember “But you didn’t do it out of a need to fuck some bitch with a nice tight pussy. No. You did it to hurt Elaine. That probably makes it far worse than just cheating.” Quin sighed reading the side of the box for a moment “ To put it bluntly, anyway…” Smiling then toward Elijah he gave a shrug “This is karma, my man.”

He laughed softly and rolled his eyes gently, “It was once, and I was pissed and drunk. I never done good things in that state, my brother can surely attest to that. I sure as hell ain’t like him, I get it. I fucked up, but trust me when I saw darker things ran through my head and it settled on that.” He knew he could get in trouble for admitting this but at this point he didn’t care. He was tired of being judged for one mistake that his brain decided was the less dramatic way. He licked his lips as he stayed quite as Quin pointed out that he did it to hurt Elaine, he had kept Tatiana to hurt her and Adonis. It was his pattern and he knew. It wasn’t new to him. Adonis had pointed out to him long ago that when Elijah didn’t agree with something people got hurt. “Karma.” He nodded in agreement.

“Bitches love when a man reaps what he sows.” He teased lightly “So are you going to stay reaping, or are you going to start reaping, Elijah?”  Quin questioned challengingly “It’s time we started being a real threat to those Reapers. They are going to be coming for us, do to that little slip up. We need you to get your head in the game.” His eyes shift as he searched for what else to say “I guess i’m starting to get some color back in me, anyway.” With the playful threat he rolled his eyes “Please. I’d poke you just right you would be paralyzed before you knew what was coming.” He hoped anyway that his martial art skills were just as in tact as his knife skills seemed to be. Opening the box up then he looked toward the pizza box as it was opened “Hmm spicy!”

he chuckled softly as he shrugged, “I don’t know, as you can tell Elaine won’t even tell me about a job. She rather hand it to a newbie and now we are in deep shit. Because we don’t even have the element of surprise. I think the part you missed is that I no longer have distractions or a weak point, the boss doesn’t think to think about that though. I just want to get something done, I’m getting antsy.” He said honestly before letting out a laugh, “You think you can move fast enough too?” He teased softly. He chuckled softly as he nodded, “It’s mild, I didn’t want to upset your stomach so fast.”

Elijah chuckled softly, “Well just to warn you take out is not all I can offer, I had to master cooking.” He hummed softly as he got to the box Quin pointed to and started unboxing. He looked at Quin, “Remind me again on how you got a crown collection?” He asked with an amused look.

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Eying Elijah for a brief moment Quin then gave a nod "Surely. The one of the most uncomfortable things I can think of." He took the playful punch with a grin before turning his head a bit as Elijah went on talking. Quin had never had siblings, he wouldn't know the feeling of being missed, like that. Though he had not even known it from his own mother either, being unwanted and treated like a cash cow by her "Oh? That is interesting. I'm an only child as you know. So I can just disappear one day and no one would really care." Opening his mouth as the dark humored joke he bat his eyes playfully toward his friend "The ultimate game of hide and seek, you think?"

When Elijah commented on making the most of the years he had ahead of him he inhaled "True." Two years were nothing to him, except the fact that they were lost. Along with other memories leading up to those two years. However, at the pat on the back he froze for a moment, his mind moving back to a time nearly two years ago. He could hear voices behind him, and the sound of surgical scissors as something poked at his back. Before a female commented something and then the world began to go dark once more "Heh." Quin got lost in the thought for a moment before finally hearing Elijah's question to him "Y-yeah. It's fine. Doctors said it's going to take my head a bit to get used to all this...stimulation."

"--And that I would have moments where I'd just space. It's the brains way of either processing stressful information or dissociating from it." Quin muttered as he moved toward the boxes in his living room. Hearing Elijah's humming he frowned a bit, maybe there was just some things not needed to be mentioned, or constantly brought up. But it seemed the other had need to know such a thing, from him personally. But he gave a shrug "True. You are not. You both have got to move on with it now. It would be easier not to bring it up. But everyone sees the tension between you both a lot of the time. I've barely been out of a vegetative state for three months and I can feel it sixteen blocks away."

Of course, he was only lightly teasing Elijah. Blinking toward his friend Quin gave a shrug "Maybe there's certainly more to it than you two realize. You were the IT couple at the Serpents. To watch that break over a stupid mistake like adultery, probably is too complex for some." Gesturing toward Elijah "Look at you, you're hot. She's hot. --Though I should meet your new girl? Show me you moved on, and all that." Carelessly he waved a hand, dismissing the entire divorce conversation for the most part. Quin was clearly not as interested in it as he appeared. What was his issue is that it involved two of his long time friends and he felt like the kid in the middle. He sniffed a bit at Elijah's comment on Elaine not giving him work.

"Then complain to Aleja." Was his solution to it "She has to take orders from him. He probably won't like that she's keeping her hitman out of jobs that minor soldiers shouldn't be fucking with. Especially in this last job. I still cannot believe she used one of my soldiers for that shit." He grumbled. But he could understand Elijah's drive to work, he too had it. Though he had many more reasons for being kept off the battlefield, as it were. Quin glanced toward Elijah then "Oh I am sure I can muster up enough speed to take out some annoyances. But my specialty has always been in poison. So I don't need to move. I just need to be sneaky." Looking toward the chili flecks then he gave a nod "Yeah, Doctors said that my stomach should be back to regular in a couple of weeks."

At the other mans bringing up their learning how to cook he smirked "Oh you did? I still am shit in the kitchen. Even more shit now. If strained." Quin made a face at this "So maybe you should show me your cooking skills. I'm a good taster." At the question of his crown collection Quin set the one in his hand down, unwrapping it a bit "Well they are hand made. I spend a lot of coin on these motherfuckers. So that's how I get them." Lifting the one he had just unwrapped up and placing it on his head, he smirked "It helps me feel better. I suppose. Plus, I just think they are neat."

-

Elaine was no fool and she knew that Quin was probably in pain. If he was, he was very good at hiding it but only a few weeks after he woke up, his body must be still trying to get back on track. She sighed and stood up from the chair, picking up her shoes, top and jacket, to walk to him and gently take his face in her hands. “My poor and sweet Quinie! Here I am, trying to make you paint me and you can’t even draw a stick figure!” She kissed his cheek and then poked his nose with her index finger.

He was so lucky to have survived that fall and that his brain was still intact and the Serpents needed him. He was smart, too smart and Elaine needed him by her side. “Let’s go some place where we can have some drinks or even better, dancing! I remember those moves you pulled on our mission, remember?” she smiled. They had to act like a happy married couple and even Elijah voiced his jealousy, but they had still been married so there was no need for him not to trust her. 

“The target is all that matters,” or so Aleja said to them when he let them know what they were going to be doing. It had been before she was given the chance to be Vicepresident and it was one of the missions that helped her to raise in the ranks of the Ivory Serpents. They played the part well, a rich couple who had just got married and were in their honeymoon, enjoying themselves. Easy enough to play and it had been fun too, lots of food and sushi if she remembered correctly. 

Elaine turned to see what he had been doing on the canvas and shrugged. “Well, it could have been worse, right?” She gently patted his shoulder and then took his arm. “Or, we can go to your place and I can give you a massage?” she smirked. “Then we get drinks and dance? How does that sound?” 

.

It was not so much painful, he had long been passed that, healing all he would while laying in bed for two years. It was however the lingering nerve damage that at times acted up. Certainly he was still needing to take it easy, there was no doubt with this. As Elaine seem to catch him stiffen he looked over toward her as she approached him, a finger poking his nose "Hm? It's not that bad. Though I was never much of an artist." He commented giving a small shrug. Then, glancing around at others staring at them he let out a sigh "I just need to rest a moment..."

Quin didn't appreciate being treated any different than before his fall. But he knew also that it just came with what happened to him. He was not fully recovered. The likelihood of that to it's full extent was highly unlikely. With Elaine's suggestion to go somewhere else he frowned a bit "I would at least like to finish what we are doing here." He commented, not one to just leave a project incomplete. Plus he would have liked to see what the couples ended up with in the scavenger hunt part of the little festival. Quin swallowed thickly, rubbing his shoulder blade still as Elaine went on.

He thought back for a moment, the memory of the mission somewhat hazy for the moment "Yeesss?" Though the reminder of who he was then and the difference of who he was now suddenly made him feel a bit off kilter "Right. Yeah. I--" Cleared his throat "Should definitely still have them, of course!" He was not sure though. With a broken back, hip, and a shattered leg, it could be assumed that he wasn't great anymore, added on the fact that he had still been lacking some of his mobility still. As Elaine mentioned the target he grinned "Yes. That's true." Grabbing Elaine's hands he smiled "How about we finish things here, and then we go get those drinks?"

When Elaine's attention soon turned to his bad attempt at art he grinned, scrunching his nose a bit "Don't it look so skillful.--But yeah, it could always be worse. Everything can be." At the patting of his shoulder he rolled his shoulders and dropped his hands to his sides "That is an interesting option. I didn't know you could massage?" Quin questioned lightly, eyeing the vice president before sighing, he seemed to understand that Elaine was not going to get into the mood of Valentines at this rate. But who could get into such things when the Holiday was more about selling cards.

-

Elaine winked at the young man who had began to stare at her while she took off her jacket and sweater. He blushed and the woman who was next to him slapped him on the chest, making hum turn his attention to her and talk in whispers, probably trying to tell her that she was the only woman in her life and that he was just distracted. She covered her mouth with her hand and snorted. 

There was a couch there, probably so people could sit while looking at the art on the walls and probably talk about that subject, but Elaine realized that this was the perfect place for Quin to draw her because she wasn’t going to just sit on the floor and stand up the whole time. “Do you want me to take off my shoes as well?” she asked him, going to the couch to just lie there. “Or maybe more clothes?” she added with a teasing smile. 

His hand was probably shaking so bad that he was going to end up with a stick figure instead of a work of art, but still, if they were going to be here might as well enjoy it while they could, on her part, at least. “What do you think, honey?” she asked another man and he opened his mouht but no sound came. “Huh, no words. That’s a first,” Elaine giggled, knoing very well that every woman in the gallery was probably wishing she was dead. 

The Vicepresident wasn’t going to take all her clothes off since there was a young couple of kids on the other end. Probably around sixteen or so so she just took a deep breath and smiled at Quin. “If we were at your place or mind, this would be very different right now, don’t you think, my dear?” 

.

Glancing toward the young man who had been staring at Elaine, Quin made a face before looking back toward Elaine, shaking his head a little at her antics. As she sat on the couch he followed Elaine's gaze for a moment before frowning a little as she mentioned taking off her shoes "Why?" He questioned, if she were going to remain clothed it didn't seem important that she not look awkward, not wearing shoes. Though her next suggestion had him smirk "Oh. That would make this a lot better."

Teasing back he peeked from behind the canvas in front of him "I'd say yes. But you can make that decision on your own. Powerful Woman." He rolled his eyes a little before pulling back behind the canvas once more. So far he had been able to keep his hand mostly steady as he stroked the brush along, glancing back to Elaine to catch details here and there. He was clearly no expert in this field however. After another moment he heard Elaine speak up to someone else. His attention moved to the man, seeing them stuttering.

"Elaine, you are just to eye catching it would seem." He sighed dramatically, bringing his right hand to his face, the brush still in his hand "He's speechless. Shame." He did catch a few dagger eyes from other participants in the vent, however. Though ignored them as he went on with his painting, switching to other brushes for better details along the way. As Elaine once more, finally, spoke to him he leaned over from behind the canvas and raised his eyebrows at her "Oh, I like the sounds of that. Are you propositioning me?"

Though he hand was starting to cramp up as he was painting. Pressing on Quin shook his hand out briefly before returning to his painting, quietly trying to get as much of it done as he could "Hm. It's---" He began, muttering. He didn't like how cartoonish it was turning out overall. Not at all serious or realistic. Making another stroke along the canvas however, he pressed on only to lock up and drop the paint brush as his hand began stiff, pain shot through his left shoulder. Pulling away a bit he placed the palette down and moved to massage his shoulder.

𝐍𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Quin had been watching Elaine, she was clearly on edge at that moment. Not giving him much attention, going on about something Serpent related. Lifting up a cup of tea to his lips he sipped from it, taking some of his medicine for that afternoon.  When he had finished with that he set the cup down and walked around the counter toward the woman "Elaine, we've got this. Last time, was a mistake. I doubt anything like that will happen again so soon. It's statistically unlikely." But statistics could at times be wrong. Reaching his left hand out toward her right, he entwined his fingers with her own, comforting "Focus on the mission, don't assume the outcome before it's even started."

-

“I do not think you have heard of Sindel, pr played video games for that matter,” Elaine said, looking at him. She knew some things about his family but that was it. Her own family didn’t have any luxuries and most of the time they had to play with old toys or their mom was creative enough to invent a game for the twins to be entertained while their father worked in the basement. 

The first time Elaine set foot in that place, a shiver ran down her spine. She had been more curious and scared and that’s probably why her dad allowed her to stay, always warning her not to touch anything or he would punish her. When his wife find out, she tried to keep Elaine away from there, but she refused. Still a kid and trying to understand what her dad was doing with all those animals and why there were frozen like statues. It took her a few years to understand and the moment she did, she never set foot in that place again. 

Following Quin inside the gallery. she noticed how some of the people there knew very well what they were doing. The only expertice she had was from her art classes at school and even there she wasn’t that much of an artist. “So everyone is here to paint, huh?” she looked around on her tiptoes to see if there were any other familiar face but no. “Well, let’s just hope your hand doesn’t shake that much;” she smirked and sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. Even the smell of the paint was starting to bother her. 

“I have an idea,” Elaine said when she watched the other people already painting and couples whispering to each other’s ears. “You’ve seen Titanic, right? What if you paint me naked like Jack painted Rose?” she asked Quin with a smirk. “Let’s do it!” she said and began to take off her jacket and sweater. 

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"I have! Pssh." He glanced to one side before looking back toward Elaine "You wouldn't know. I have a lot of time spent in playing games." He lied still. He wasn't going to give up on this point. Quin had a undying need to, in some ways, fit in with his peers. He wouldn't relent on this unless given physical proof he didn't know a thing about video games, to know who Sindel was, anyway "Good thing I am not a Wendell though." Quin mutters.

Quietly entering the gallery with Elaine and making their way over to the canvas he blinked, looking the room over before turning his attention back to Elaine when she questioned about what they were meant to do there "It would look like it, Elaine." He confirmed for her, giving her a 'are you serious' kind of look on his face. Then, exhaling, he went about prepping his canvas. Only to hear her comment on his shaky hands "Well...I'll try. This will be good in any case."

He figured that needing to focus and concentrate on what his hand would be doing that the nerves would start to making the old connections. Thankfully he was adept enough to recover at the rate he was even recovering. Most people would have just given up or not been adaptable enough to take this at the same stride as him. It made him even more pompous thinking about how 'great' he was. Glancing toward Elaine again as she brought up having an idea he made a face "Really?"

Following Elaine's gaze to the current participants of the event he sucked a bit on his bottom lip, trying to figure out what she was getting at, before squinting at the mention of Titanic "Uh. Who hasn't?" Even with his brain damage and memory issues from it, he was sure that Titanic was forever seared into his brain. Just like anyone else’s who had ever watched the movie "Oh? Like one of those french girls?" Quin question, raising his eyebrows, then, blinking, he looked away.

"I am sure the gallery is going to have us banned before the end of the day." He smirked back, his attention now on the canvas. Though it was 'art' right. Could they really be too upset for the prospect of a the living model baring it all? Seemed a bit questionable of them. Quin lift the current brush of choice up, waiting for Elaine to finish getting ready for her being painted. Glancing toward her as she removed items of clothing. His eyes running along her body briefly before he began to stroke at the canvas, spreading a dash of paint on the wet white paint coating.

-

elijah let out a soft chuckle, “you know what I mean, Q. it’s just so good to see you, well see you actually up and awake.” he grinned softly as he nodded in understanding. “How do you feel about iphone getting rid of the home button?” He teased knowing it wasn’t a big change in the outside world but it seemed to bug a lot of people out there even with various of them out without it. 

he licked his lips as he nodded softly, “still tricky to decide?” he asked honestly wondering how his friend was doing. he hummed thoughtfully, “Kinda? after my split with Elaine, I was a fucken hot mess, you remember? I still feel like I’m on autopilot for weeks before I notice.” he chuckled softly as he rolled his neck lightly to crack it. “Just lack of sleep, I guess. You look better than you used to so i’ll give you that.” He teased back as he looked at Quin.

elijah grinned and rolled his eyes at Quin, “don’t tempt me with everything going I might just actually kick your ass at it.” he joked back. he watched quin and grinned as he noticed his knife skills were still in tacked. he was happy to see the skills he worked so hard on were still a part of him. he flipped the pizza box open, “I have chilli pepper flakes if you want some.” he placed the box somewhere they could reach it. “So where are we starting?”

.

Smiling toward Elijah, Quin nodded "I can tell you that the first couple of days after waking up felt so unreal. It was ...kind of gross." But he was feeling much better now than he did then. It took a lot of ambition on his part to get the hell out of there as soon as possible. Thankfully he was still younger and could bounce back relatively quickly. Pausing, he blinks as Elijah brings up the Iphone home button "Huh. Probably about the same as them fucking with the ear jack. I don't like smart phone companies. But I'll live with it if I got to make that call." He muttered unimpressed overall with the question. Quin was not a big fan of phones, so much could come of phones, most of it trouble for those like himself.

"A little bit. It feels, often, not real." Quin muttered, glancing up from his box and frowning "Two years just gone like that, that's awful enough. That's two years I am never getting back," But what made it all worse was the memory loss, the feeling of of vertigo that came with not laying in bed every single day for two years "It's hard to explain this feeling off something I've lost." It wasn't like he just woke up and everything was fine. He was merely able to keep up the illusion thanks to some of his memories remaining in tact. Bringing a hand to his face, he brushed his finger tips along his forehead "There's a lot missing..." Quin muttered to himself, seemingly forgetting briefly that Elijah had been standing right there.

Though his attention returned to Elijah in the next moment as Elaine was brought up, and the divorce "Oh boy do I---" He made a face "Kinda?" He shrugged and went back to what he was doing, honestly, he couldn't remember much of it at all. It wasn't one of the more important memories to him, or well, the reality is it might have been too new a memory that it just was lost on him since the accident "That bad, huh?" He shook his head "Look, Elijah, you cheated. We've all been to that point." He nodded, certainty he had a reason for why he wasn't interested in dating as much as he was in having sex, Quin was known for his promiscuity prior to the accident. But he had never boxed himself in long enough to cheat, or was very open about what he wanted.

Frowning down toward the boxes, Quin blinked "For normal people, not me, of course, but normal people. I imagine that monogamy is very important. If you wanted to step out and sleep around, Elaine is certainly not the woman to have done that with. Given her past with her own father." Elijah had to have known. But at the end of the day, the divorce seemed more to do with Elijah's anger with Elaine's position as Vice President. From what Quin could remember "But you didn't do it out of a need to fuck some bitch with a nice tight pussy. No. You did it to hurt Elaine. That probably makes it far worse than just cheating." Quin sighed reading the side of the box for a moment " To put it bluntly, anyway..." Smiling then toward Elijah he gave a shrug "This is karma, my man."

"Bitches love when a man reaps what he sows." He teased lightly "So are you going to stay reaping, or are you going to start reaping, Elijah?"  Quin questioned challengingly "It's time we started being a real threat to those Reapers. They are going to be coming for us, do to that little slip up. We need you to get your head in the game." His eyes shift as he searched for what else to say "I guess i'm starting to get some color back in me, anyway." With the playful threat he rolled his eyes "Please. I'd poke you just right you would be paralyzed before you knew what was coming." He hoped anyway that his martial art skills were just as in tact as his knife skills seemed to be. Opening the box up then he looked toward the pizza box as it was opened "Hmm spicy!"

Leaning over he grabbed a slice from the box and brought it over to his mouth, taking a bit out of it and chewing for a moment before nodding, pleased "That's great." Though he shook his head "I'll pass on the chili flakes for now. Still need to take it easy on the stomach." Quin had already vomited once at Elaine's earlier this week because of eating too much grease and things too heavy on the stomach "You guys keep feeding me like this i'm going to think I'm some kid that just found a house made of candy out in the woods and you are all witches ready to cook and eat me." He joked. Then pointed toward some boxes "I got some more crowns over there. I am setting my crown collection back up." Quin then told his friend, before reaching into the box he had already opened and pulled out what looked to be a wrapped up crown.

𓆓

Scrunching his nose he nodded, before saying, “Alright - fair point.” He simply said. Crossing his arms across his chest, though he shook his head at the next thing the other said. “Well, duh. People are still in need of a good massage.” He lightly taunted, though speaking of one, he could use a spa retreat himself. Though it was somehow perfect that Quin owned Lavender Heights, especially after waking up from his year-long coma. “Speaking of. Ever got a massage here yourself?” 

Leaning against the counter, he kept his eyes on his friend. “What? I can’t come to see my friend after waking up from his coma?” There was no underline reason why he came to see Quin - he genuinely wanted to check in on him. “Are you free to grab a bite with me? It’s on me.”

.

"I am known to make fair points. Don't let my cracked skull fool you. I still have a very high IQ!~" Quin tapped a finger to the side of his head "I got tested." He smirked and glanced to one side before again looking back to Tristian once more as the other went on talking.  He would hope that people were still getting massages in his absence. What else were his lawyers doing otherwise? His head tilt to one side as he considered what shady shit they might have gotten up to. Now he was curious, he would hate to have them executed.

At the question of if he had ever taken advantage of his business he glanced away again staring at something else entirely "No. Never. Why would I do that. It's not like I'd just be pointlessly paying myself to get a massage or anything. Why would anyone do that." Squint he looked back "Of course I've gotten massages their, and more. If you're that curious." A sly smirk spread over his lips. There was more ways to loosen up, and some of them did not always require the full body massages. Quin always did like adding to his anonymous sex count.

"Women love Lavender Heights, Tristian. Some of them not just for the massages and whatever else, alone. I get by just fine." Quin went on before pausing again. Listening once more to what Tristian to say then laughed lightly "Right. Did you know they are calling what I was in a 'vegetative state'. It's just easier to say coma, they are so pretentious." Quin muttered "Though, considering I should be dead if it were a coma, I'd say glad that didn't last more than a couple of days itself, honestly." If even that, thus the miraculous recovery.

Quin nodded then toward Tristian "I would hope this isn't the only time you've decided to visit me in two--" He paused, his face going blank as a memory came to mind. Fear came over his face for a moment. Dropping his head down he clenched his eyes closed, letting out a shaky breath. Then, shaking his head he continued "It's great to have you visit anyway." Swallowing thickly, he brought a hand up to his chest, feeling his heart raising at the feeling that was present in the memory. He had felt in that moment that death was coming " Yeah! Let's go get something." Quin cleared his throat and looked back to Tristian once again offering his usual smile, before adjusting the collar of his shirt to play off his uneasy feeling.

It was as clear to Domizio that Quin was as unfamiliar with him as he was with Quin, save for simple reputation and allegiances. But the way he was up front and honest about his situation right now, Dom took as a good sign that things wouldn’t suddenly erupt in any way right now. At the moment they were simply casual peers that had happened upon one another, and both were happy to just let the moment be. “That’s true, and that’s been my experience in the past as well. Best to just let them be.” Speaking through the allusions, it managed to put everything at ease for now. And though they were on opposite sides of a war, Dom had to admit being a little fascinated by just how well the man seemed to be moving after such a hellacious accident and what some could call a miraculous recovery. Under other conditions, he might have bought him a beer. Several close calls from his SEAL days gave him some perspective on just how fragile life could be, but probably not as much as Quindell Parker had.

“I’m afraid not. I’m pretty sure it was a gift, to be honest.” Dom shrugged, unable to fully answer his question but taking a stab at it nonetheless. The chuckle it brought to Quin also had Dom laughing too. “That’s a good point though, as long as somebody’s thinking of it, it’ll get done right? Sometimes it’s better to just trust somebody else on that sort of thing. I know I’d be useless trying to figure any of that out.”

.

"Mhm. Yes. No sense getting bit when you can absolutely avoid it." Quin continued before giving a small shrug of his right shoulder, rolling his right hand expressively as he did. He certainly wouldn't have wanted to make any more enemies with the other than what was already a natural born one between their groups. Not at the moment. They could certain keep up a little civility when not actively needing to kill one another.

Though Quin would certainly have no problem putting a bullet in a Reaper when the moment called for it. Even if their were unfortunately innocents in the crossfire. Though, he was curious about what the other knew of him, overall. But, deciding it best to leave things as they were he sighed "No?" Quin commented as talk continued about the gift cologne " Hah. Well, suppose it doesn't matter."

Giving a small shake of his left hand index finger, he grinned "That's right. Someones going to get things done. Eventually." Quin remarked then blinked, Domizio's laugh bringing a sort of ease. Well, more ease to the interaction. It was always a good sign, Quin had figured. Pulling away a bit he glanced away "Well, I suppose I should let you go back to your business. You have a nice day." Quin wished waiting for the other to step out of his way.

-

“Good!” Elaine said, smiling at him. “I want to be the only Elaine in your life,” she touched his cheek and winked at him. “Nicholas, huh? You don’t look like a Nicholas, no offence,” she shrugged. “And I’m surprised you have no idea who Sindel is so next time you go to my place I know what we will be doing a whole afternoon Video games,” she nodded. “Adding the junk food we’re going to eat it’s going to be super cool. We just have to work on your reflexes and you’ll be a master with your thumbs!” She wasn’t that much of a video game fanatic like some younger members of the Ivory Serpents who were always playing when she visited other affiliated locations and they were there supposedly to protect it. She was still surprised that some of them even got paid for playing some video games and such. 

“You would be a pretty hot vampire,” she pointed at him. “With that nice coat on, it gives you a mysterious vibe and girls love that, I like it too,” she shrugged. “You already look pale enough to past for one, I guess,” she added. “You could be a warlock too. I don’t see you as a werewolf, I mean, the nurses said you were not that hairy…” she stoped talking and smiled. “Let’s not get into that, yes?” It was better to change the subject but if she knew him well, and she did, he was going to be curious about his time asleep. Two years was a long time and she made sure he was taken care of while he was in the hospital. They had connected from the moment they began to work together and only because of that they had been sent to that mission as husband and wife. 

At his words she couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, lots of Vaelntine’s ahead of me and I’ll be spending them alone, I’m sure of that, Quin,” Elaine said. “I’m not destined to fall in love and if I do, it won’t end pretty.” She was almost sure she was bound to spend her life like her poor mother, not being able to love the man she shared her life with. Elaine lost her sweetheart when she had been very young and it hurt, but nothing like when she found out about Elijah’s secret. It completely broke her trust in men and even when she wanted to find love again, she didn’t want to risk it for obvious reasons. A third time was a charm for some but not for her, it seemed. 

“Well, let’s see what they have inside this gallery besides art,” she said. “Maybe we can paint our own Mona Lisa!” she gasped. “That would be great!” She never took art lessons as a kid, mostly because her father didn’t allow it. She tried when she found out there was ballet classes but the man was not a fan of that “nonesense,” as he called it, and she had to obey her orders if she wanted to please him. 

.

Quin made a face at her 'good' then shook his head lightly, before blinking "Oh. Is that it. Well congratulations, you probably only ever will be." He cheekily informed her. Though as she commented on his middle name he sighed a bit and looked away "That's because I am a Quindell. Middle names never look like their person." Plus it was just a name his mother tacked on just to give him a middle name.

When she mentioned her surprised at his never hearing about a character in a video game he blinked "NO! Wait. I have...totally heard of her." He lied, almost forgetting that he was a stuck up child growing up in a rich family. At least that was the lie. He wasn't from poor birth and didn't know anything about games because he had no video games growing up or any other such luxury big or small. He was lucky if his mother allowed him a piece of scrap paper and a pencil to draw with.

His childhood had certainly proven to be a point of deflection for him in most cases, even with members of the Serpents he trusted. His mother being an asshole, but one they had, he hoped, never met, because she never visited him, not even when he had nearly died. She always managed to get his phone number however. And keep up to date on his social medias. But face to face contact had not been a thing in nearly over a decade. The fact that Elaine new his mothers phone number and sent his mother those photos was something he would one day have to question. But not today.

"Well, I am sure once we get to playing the game I will uh, definitely, remember her. I had so much growing up though it's easy to forget a character like that." He tried to course correct himself, then looked at his hands a moment "Maybe playing video games might help with some of the nerve damage, actually. Huh." Quin didn't imagine it could hurt, in any case. With the comment on his being a pretty vampire he frowned "Ew. I don't think so." He raised his eyebrows as Elaine continued to talk about it though.

Though her commenting on his paleness had brought it all together "Gee, thanks Elaine. Here I thought it was because I had regained my healthy skin color once more." Two years under bleaching lights, cool conditions, and not moving had certainly not done him any favors. You bet he was using all his massage freedoms on getting back to normal. Though something caught his attention "Wait--Not that hairy--NO! Why are you changing the subject now?!" He questioned her a little panicked by what she was insinuating.

Inhaling, he calmed himself down though "Fine. Fine! That's fine. Moving onto a different subject, alright." Shaking his head then he frowned "Well, if you're spending them alone. I'm guessing i'll be getting laid by someone else every year as I always did, on this day. Gotta get back to tradition after all." He grinned at her "Nothing beats randomly getting fucked or fucking someone at the end of Valentine's day. Perfect send off to the day, actually." Quin shifted, looking around, as someone a few feet away shushed him for being vulgar and covered their child's ears.

"Anyway." Quin ignored the shrew and looked back toward Elaine once more "Let's go see--" Though her gasp had him pause for a moment "Paint our own Mona Lisa. I don't know how good your art skills are. But i don't think mine are quite at the level of Mona Lisa at the moment." He muttered. Walking inside with Elaine he found where the event was taking place. Moving over toward the paints he took a kit for himself "Wealthy bastards, look at these kits. They want twenty dollars for this?!" He muttered before handing over a twenty to the volunteer. Then they were shown to a canvas.

Looking over the array of oil paints, and the palette Quin frowned concentrating on what he would start painting. Squishing some colors onto his palette he picked up his brush and started, making a few quick strokes on the canvas in front of him.  Just a white at first, to get the canvas wet and start in on what he really wanted to do over all.