Nishith Malik

( rahul kohli. cismale. he/they. i’ll be good & jaymes young. ) that’s NISHITH MALIK, isn’t it? they’re always hanging around the ECLIPSE pack, so it’s rare to catch them alone. i heard they’re THIRTY-EIGHT years old, and they’re currently a MEDICAL EXAMINER at OCME. when dusk falls, you can usually find them heading home to THE BRONX by UBER. ( j. 30. she/her. mst. )

“Well that is a weight off,” he replied and pretended to wipe his brow. There was a brief hesitation whilst Justin glanced at the phone in his hand before nodding and passing the phone over. “Be kind,” he requested with a slight wince.

Nish offered him a friendly smile, before he looked down to the phone. He would never want someone to feel bad or be rude about something. The problem was his face or his anxious rambling broke whatever poker facade he might try to show. He took the phone into his hands with a tilt of his head, brows furrowed. “Not bad.” He squeaked and handed the phone back. “You know, uh abstract is really in these days. I like the blur next to the clouds, you can tell they were moving.” Nervously he started to scratch his beard.

on the other side of the door, beck was cooking a simple stir-fry and listening to his music over a record player. he heard his name and turned to look over his shoulder which was draped with a towel. reducing the heat of the stove and wiping his hands he moves to go and open up the door for nish.

dark eyes peer down at the box first and for a split second the alpha had a twinge of apprehension. “yes? you alright mate?”

The scent of the food hit him first when the door opened up. Nishith was grateful that at least Beck was eating something. There’s no bit of his nervous delay, as he had made up his mind. Something heavy on his mind since the dark night at the tavern. “I’m fine. Can I come in?” The weight shifts from one side to the other, before he offered. “I don’t want to drop this. Something smells good.”

Last night was partially a blur, but he awoke in familiar territory. He flashed a look towards Alize, whom he had assumed was sleeping. It was lucky that he didn’t feel a hangover, as he scooted himself off the bed trying to be quiet. Nishith wanted to show his gratitude, so he busied himself in the kitchen trying not to make too much noise. Except, he wasn’t exactly nimble. After a few clashes of pans he turned to see a shadow and offered a lazy smile. “Sorry, I wanted to bring you breakfast & coffee.”

The man couldn’t help but chuckle at the other’s offers, shaking his head. “I promise, it is fine, Nishith.” He replied with a warm smile at the other. He did arch a brow at the offer of a bookmark. “Are…they handing out bookmarks here?”

“Alright.” He nodded a bit as his form swayed. At the mention of the bookmarks he chuckled lightly. “I would be unbelievably happy if they were, but no I have an extra bookmark I got from Durand Books earlier. If you want one that is.”

Nish tried to juggle the box in his arms, and once he had finally balanced it on his knee he knocked hard on Beck’s door. “Beck!” he yelled out, still skeptical that Beck was flying completely straight these days. He waited patiently, but kicked towards the door with his foot just incase his knock wasn’t heard. “Open up”

Cedric looked down to the murky liquid in the other’s glass, smirking a little bit. Of course it was Nish who would be able to make them crack a smile that evening. “Well, then it looks like we’ve switched roles for the evening, man. I’m stone cold sober and you are gone with the wind.” They mentioned, clinking their cglass to the other’s. “No way, wasn’t going to have anyone as a date in case things go weird again.” They mentioned before letting a little snort out at Nish’s ramblings. “Ghosted, my dude, ghosted. and that shit is exactly what they are trying to avoid right?”

There was an air of oblivious to him that was worse than normal. He couldn’t help but giggle at the other’s words. “I mean I’m no Scarlett O’Hara.”  These few words caused him to laugh louder with the other. “But seriously I’m not that gone, man.” Denial. "Brilliant move Ced.” A smile offered to them with a nod. He could respect that reasoning drunken or not. “Ghosted. Thanks.’ He muttered the word a few times to help him remember it. “I mean... are they though?”

@duskstarts

Now that the hustle and bustle that the met gala brought was over, Justin could finally feel himself breathe. That was just what he was planning to do. The sun was setting and there was nothing better than watching the sun set over the Brooklyn bridge. He pulled out his phone and tried to capture the light as it set, sadly the picture just became a mush of colours and overly dull. Justin sighed and put his phone back in his pocket. "Note to self, never get me to photograph anything."

Nishith had his hands in his pocket, and was moving quickly. Even he couldn’t help but pause to look at the sunset. A genuine smile flashed across his lips, and he turned towards the familiar voice from the gala. “If it helps, I don’t think the county is hiring forensic photographers.” He chuckled as if it were his own joke. “Can’t be that bad mate, let me see.”

-

“Oh, let me just…” Percy takes a deliberate step directly into the light; a broad, smug grin on her face. She chuckles for a second, and then moves to sit next to Nish, allowing him to see the pages once more. “Only you would bring a book to one of these things,” she says, more amused than anything else.

“Percy!” Nishith exclaimed with both enjoyment and clear annoyance when she stepped to suck in all his light. There’s a carefree laugh as he looked over to his friend. “You look nice. Well yeah, it’s bollocks I don’t want to be here. I could just pretend to be passed out in a corner, but I’d prefer to read this book that i won’t remember in the morning and maybe i won’t have to look many people in the eye.”  He rambled on quickly taking in a deep breath to steady himself. “Do you like the party so far?”

Lorna had just needed a little bit of time to herself, she found a place to stand and have her drink when she heard the sound a voice,although faint over the music, she could still hear him a little. She moved out of the way,realising that there was indeed some light falling over the two of them. “Terribly sorry about that. I didn’t want to disturb you by asking for a seat.”

Dark eyes lifted back up to focus at Lorna. He offered her an apologetic smile, “I’m- uh sorry for yelling at you. Please have a seat.” He motioned and caught his glass before he knocked it over. “How are you enjoying the party? I took like a ten minute nap during a speech. Please don’t tell anyone.”

.

Cian nearly tumbles into the wall as he loses his footing yet again that night. He guesses it could be from the newish shoes or the fact that the never-ending supply of alcohol just being handed to him is finally catching up to him. Definitely the shoes. “Light?” He shouts, looking around before realizing he was exactly in the few places of undisturbed peace. “Why the fuck do you have a book?”

“Light!” Nishith shouted back but there was something... recognizable about the voice yelling back at him. He grumbled and knocked over his drink when he tried to shut his book for the moment. A quiet curse left his lips. “Because look at me mate. Do I look like I belong here? Escapism is real!”

.

Leaning against one of the taller tables, Logan had nursed his drink for some time now. He’d told himself he was here for work, and admittedly the gala had been enjoyable so far he was still cautiously keeping a look out for anything that looked out of place. It was often hard to switch off from work, something he’d have to learn to do.  An eyebrow cocks up at the other who asks about seeing a drunk guy. There were plenty of them here. “You’re gonna have to be a bit more specific than that. I think half the men here have been forced to attend with their wives and they all look a bit mopey.”

Nishith moved a hand to tug at his beard thoughtfully. His gaze raked the cloud as he looked to the other. “Uh.. well. He’s probably alone. Wait, he might not be alone. Shit..” He muttered and tried to describe more of Beck, he himself butchering plenty of details that would have made it more simpler. “Maybe.. I should just keep looking. How are you doing?”

+

“are you talking to me?” squinting her drunken glossed over eyes to the man sitting in the chair to the right of her. she takes note of the small book he was reading, a quizzical look on her face. lavani moved out of the way, only because she herself loved to read. “what is it you’re reading?” 

“Y-yes. Sorry for yelling.” Nishith murmured, but proudly albeit drunkenly he displayed his book. “It’s about doctor jekyll and mr hyde. A retelling, but he’s a werwolf.” Nishith explained moving his hand around animatedly as if it spoke to the book. “i.I don’t know if I’ll remember it tomorrow.” He hiccuped. 

+

“you could always sit in one of the stalls in the bathroom. pretty good lighting in there – probably not the most aesthetically pleasing though.” remarking as he turned towards her, the drink in front of her now empty. “how about you don’t ditch this after party to read and just get so drunk you forget your name?” giving a shrug as she orders herself another drink. 

“oh, no thanks. I don’t want to take over the stalls.” Though there had been a flicker in his eyes as if he considered it. Nishith frowned towards her, but shrugged. She had a point. “Well, b-because I can’t just drink the night away. I mean my best--” There was a full halt to his words. “You know what? You’re right. What are you drinking?”

beck rolled his eyes looking over the scene before him and for once he thought about whether or not this is how he appeared to other people. pushing the thoughts away, beck sat down with nishith and sighs, “you wanna tell me what all those texts were about?”

Nishith looked to Beck and let out a defeated sigh. Making sure to put his bookmark in place before he closed it. Placing the book in his lap, he turned towards his best friend with a shake of his head. “Not really. I don’t want to live through that again. Back to drinking full time mate?” His words slightly slurred and incoherent no matter how he tried to deliver them.

When the other bumped into him and seemed to stumble a little, Ash instinctively moved to gently grab at the other’s shoulders to ensure he held his balance. “It is fine.” He replied with a kind smile to Nishith. 

He cringed openly but was thankful of the hand that helped guide him. Nishith offered the elder a kind smile after he stopped choking on his olive. “Can I get you anything? A drink? A mint? I have an extra bookmark?”