#olieti

the beginning of their actual dating relationship always gets me bc for oliver, etienne is already someone dear to him (he would be less so inclined to admit it at this point but it is too late, etienne has already infiltrated family xmas photos, thanks mom) that he didnt consider him to be a potential partner--not that oli hadnt considered it and would maybe admit that etiennes alright on the eyes, but esp as a colleague and family friend that oliver just doesnt expect etienne would also want or indulge that sort of relationship between them

and like i can easily see oliver honestly mistaking etienne inviting oliver to dinner as just another work dinner to tidy up a case or something and when oliver realizes what he’s done when etienne shows up looking fine n fresh he feels so! foolish! and honestly i think oliver would have to like

actually say that he needs to consider it bc it puts them in such a delicate spot in their careers as a conflict of interests, and especially politically since theyre not only govt but also from families of power and repute? the last thing oli wants to do is compromise the integrity of the force and their families but

like.... normally oli will take the safest option when its a matter of other ppl but for etienne? he actually wants to take the risk and instead of playing it safe this time he instead starts to consider, alright, how can we make this work RATHER THAN JUST turning down etienne which at the time seems like the more logical option at the time all things considered 

pre dating: people watching/making up stories about strangers and eating olis lunch

pre dating: having dinner/drinks and oli getting a more than a lil buzzed, goes from occasionally grazing his legs to etiennes under the table to full on resting his legs against his (ugh im such a sucker for this ughhhh) 

oli starting to do this when hes sober

pre dating: oli awkwardly dodging advances from a female colleague and every time she leaves oli just has a Look on his face and etienne has to stifle laugh so hard

pre dating: fam pictures show up on his screensaver slideshow include some w etienne (like the xmas ones) and when etienne comments oliver is like “why would i exclude you”

“just a little surprised. you never seemed... thrilled, by my presence when we were younger” “as compared to now?” “well, i had hope” 

“alright but you have to admit, it’s a little odd when your mother brings home a new son the same age as you” “fair enough”

oli bringing out the cigars every so often and them smoking on the balcony together