* 𝐆 𝐎 𝐃 𝐋 𝐄 𝐒 𝐒

º ✧ 。      ⧸      𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐌.   ›   intro   .   wanted   .   muse   .

“ —oh. ” she recognised him from somewhere. most likely one of the drinking establishments ( she knew the location of the vast majority, of-course ). “ what am i putting it down as, the second best elton john rendition of the evening? ”

he agreed with a casual shrug, “ i suppose. ” if one could term that an agreement. shaking his head, a bitter sigh leaves him. “ there are better ways, yes. though i didn’t really have much of a choice, ” he chuckles, also bitterly. there wasn’t a bone in his body that regretted his conduct— that would be like admitting that he made a mistake. but he did sorely miss out on the far more interesting life that he was leading prior to the headlines. “ i hope you’ve had a better time than i have, ” he mused, somewhat referring to more than just the evening itself. adjusting to the area hadn’t gone down well for someone like xavier, who was waiting around for the dust to settle to get back into the game. though it was highly likely there’d be plenty of his time spent idly.

derin held the cupcake in her right hand ( the left was occupied by her drink ), admiring the small details on the little delight. “ thank you, ” she said, a pleasant smile covering her features. 

“ it’s nice to meet you lauren, ” she nods. “ and really? i’m having a hard time believing that, ” she narrowed her eyes with a smile. “ if i hadn’t been in my own world, i would have probably been able to come over to say how well that look suits you, ” she said, words accompanied by some flurrying hands. “ seriously— you look great. ”

“ why, i am feeling incredibly popular tonight, ” he remarks lightly. though he wasn’t going to say no. the host and owner of the establishment was, after all, best aware of what there was on offer. that, and he hadn’t reached his cut off point just quite yet. “ is this to get me through the no-doubt wonderful performance you’ll be gracing us with? ” he smirks, words doused in humour.

xavier had been sampling the canapés when he caught sight of adelaide walking towards him. he was almost about to make some comment about how she should leave something for the rest of them when he became the recipient of one of the two tumblers in her hands. “ is this bribery? ” he muses, a hint of a chuckle following his words before he put the glass to his mouth. “ i’m inclined to think it is, purely based on the fact that this happens to be my go-to. ” the whiskey went down neat after a day of work. or not work, considering his current situation.

“ doesn’t matter. we’ll host another event just for you, ” she chuckled before adding, “ —a masquerade. ” wide eyes were a tell-tale sign of the excitement that was already brewing inside of her. a small frown covered her features when he mentioned stress. “ you know i’m here to listen if you need me to. if not now, whenever. or your drinking buddy for the evening. ” because a sober coach she was most definitely not. nodding at danny’s words, it was almost as if the mini events going on tonight filtered their way back into her mind as he mentioned them. “ ah yes. i think the charity’s going to have a good night. ” that was, after all, what was most important. shaking her head, “ you’re fine— i’ve seen plenty of people who haven’t even improvised. ” namely, the men in their regular suits. shrugging, she focused on danny once again. “ so, i know you’ll be donating, but are you thinking of participating in anything that’s going on? are we going to get a rendition of greased lightnin’ ? ” she jested.

never one to turn down an extra drink, derin’s eyes lit up as gina handed her one, as she had done earlier. “ thanks ! ” she cooed before holding up her phone, camera ready, “ here— be in my first, ” and most likely last, “ post of the night. ”

“ i wasn't aware i had put myself down for the karaoke session. though i’m sure they’ll be more than happy to take your donation nevertheless. ” 

xavier nodded in the direction of the bartender, “ i believe he misheard and handed me a pair instead. ” it was so easy for him to be honest in simple moments like this, and yet entirely difficult when it was more so required. honesty— such a fickle little thing in the right hands. there was also the small matter of him being too tired to pretend. for someone who hadn’t attended a public event since everything came to light, it was natural. though with the choc-o-bloc schedule that he was previously used to, one would assume xavier would not feel this way. “ i can’t remember the last time i stepped foot into a nightclub. say... fifteen or so years? ” he chuckled, turning his gaze to their surroundings. he felt a tad out of place even without factoring in the attire of the other attendees. then again, he felt out of place in islesbury itself; that would still take some used to.

“ i can imagine it was really awkward, ” she offered the other woman a small smile, clearly embarrassed by the situation at hand. where the gravest of actions did little to bring shame about her person, it was little things like this that made her cheeks colour crimson. because of how it made the other person feel.

giving him a wide smile, derin twirled before facing him again, the beads of her dress dancing away. “ thanks, danny. you know i wouldn’t miss a chance to dress up. ” not that she didn’t have the time to do so on a daily basis, but derin preferred a pared back look. if one could call her still polished appearance that. nevertheless, it was not as overtly-glamorous as daisy gatsby, that’s for sure. “ i don’t think so, ” she took a canapé from the passing waiter before taking a bite, “ i love these. ” food and drink was a distraction for someone who otherwise did her best to stay present in a conversation “ actually—  you might want to double-check if you have missed something. truth be told, i don’t particularly know. ” derin never did do well at paying attention to what was going on at events in the last few many years. scanning over his attire, she cocked her head to the side “ who are you supposed to be, by the way? ”

tonight required no such effort from him. “ i’m all for having a good time but this... ” he gestured to the sea of costumes surrounding them, “ isn’t really my sort of thing. at least the liquor’s decent. ”

“ is that so? ” she raised a brow, “ i’ll hold you to it. ” hardly— there was a very slim chance derin would hold someone to actual promises, much less throwaway statements. pushing aside the fresh flute of champagne the bartender had placed before her, she instructed him to fix her the same as the woman beside her. “ you don’t seem to be enjoying yourself, ” she voiced her observation. not that there was an unwritten rule that one always had to be in a good mood when at a party, or even merely outside of the comfort of home. derin herself had spent several evenings at glittering events, dressed to the nines yet glued to the bar due to a sour mood. “ the olive not doing its trick? ” she added moments later with a light chuckle, not wanting to over-step her boundaries, nor make it seem like she was prying. just... observing. nevertheless, she was also wholly available should the woman want someone to listen to something. anything.