civanguneri

[civanguneri]

Civan's head tipped aside, curious about the hint of regret that seemed to tinge Natalie's words but he didn't press. Letting them both forget some of their woes and focus instead on his attempted banter. "I got told to stuff it," Civan admitted to her openly on the topic of his 'babysitting'. "— but I can't leave her, so here we are." He managed a surprising amount of nonchalance as he laid out his battle with Alara. She'd pushed hard, and taken a few painful digs at him, but at the end of the day, she was his best friend and he refused to let her spiral alone. So he'd be there to take her home or intervene if she made a scene. "What did you have in mind?" He inquired with a raised brow, amused and intrigued. "If you were thinking retaliation for this," Civan gestured down at himself with one hand before he shook his head. "I wouldn't encourage it." He was outnumbered on that particular front and there was no good in pulling anyone else into the age-old spat. "Anything else though... I may encourage." Even just standing there talking to her was already doing wonders, really. A reminder there were friendly faces in the blur of townsfolk and champagne. She'd always had that effect on him. A friendly face amongst a crowd, in this town, that'd somehow never quite felt like home.

Natalie chuckled at his comment, appreciating the way he lightened the mood. "I think you’re one of the few who actually knows how to pace yourself in this crowd," she replied with a teasing grin. "But hey, if everyone paced themselves like you, the night would be a lot more bearable." She raised her glass slightly in a mock toast, her voice softening for a moment. "And sober’s got its perks too. You get to keep your head in the game where some of the rest of us are ready to lose it."

When Civan pointed out her day job, Natalie couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, okay you might have caught me there. I thrive in the right places, but I know there are others where it's probably better I learn to keep my head down. Even if I'm still trying to learn that one," she added with a slight shrug, trying not to shift the mood to her own pensive thoughts as she considered another drink to make sure her thoughts didn't go down that way.

At his mention of babysitting, she tilted her head in curiosity, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Babysitting? I didn't realize you were on the job," she spoke with a quiet laugh, a sense of amusement lacing her voice. "And as for sticking around," she added with a shrug, "I can always make it more interesting, if that’s what you need."

[civanguneri]

"Nate, is it not the first time she's seen you?" Civan asked, brows arched. "Anyone would head for the door. Not sure that means 'stay away forever' or anything drastic." Still, the pair of them were both just taking shots in the dark. A pensive silence prevailed, broken only by the sips of necessary caffeine. "I might not be the best person to ask." He finally amended. "I'm used to Alara." A stiff shrug decorated his shoulders, "— and the only way to get through to her is stubborn persistence. Which I excel at." She wasn't the only woman in his life the concept applied to by a long shot, but that didn't mean it was helpful for Nate. "I hate to admit it," because he vastly preferred straightforward solutions, "but there's never a perfect answer. Just what you're comfortable with, hope is best, and whether or not Holly responds positively to it." Civan didn't think a brief, random run-in was anywhere near enough of an attempt to show interest in being in her life again, but that was merely his own potentially ill-fitted opinion. "Really, truly, if it was me I would..." he sighed, trying to think. "Try to greet her every time I saw her around downtown, buy her a gift, face down the death penalty with her friends to ask them about it. Fail a million times until something clicked."

"When she murders me, I'm going to need you to not say that at the trial. If she does do it, just don't let her get away with it." He couldn't remember exactly, but he was even sure one of the most vicious texts he'd received after it was clear he wasn't coming home was from the petite singer. "Hurt one of her best friends and we'll go into hiding together."

Picking up the coffee cup, Nate instantly took a sip of the coffee, even if it was going to be scalding hot. He'd been doing it for so long now, he barely even registered the intense heat of the drink. "But surely it's worse to not leave her alone when she wants space? She couldn't have got out of that cafe quicker, Civan, she obviously doesn't want to be around me." With another sip of coffee, Nate shrugged a shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere, she'll see me around town, but should I really be actively trying to be around her if that's not what she wants?"

In reality, he had no idea on how to approach the situation with Holly, having never ghosted anyone before, he wasn't sure on the protocol of what to do when the ghosting was reversed. "Is it not better to try and just let her come to a decision and then go from there?" Looking down at the coffee in the cup, he watched it the liquid move for a few seconds before looking over at his friend. "What would you do?"

[civanguneri]

ALARA'S PERSONAL AND ONLY IG FEATURING

a snapshot she grabbed of @selinymaz doing their favorite activity, eating; a fuzzy mirror selfie of her on her bike; documentation of her and her bestie, @civanguneri's special handshake; a snapshot of her practicing kickboxing; @coltonatwater after a night out blowing off steam from a particularly long shift; a pic Colt grabbed of her in her fire suit after getting her ass handed to her; a pic of her and her baby; a forbidded shot of the back of the ambulance rig; and a pic of her doing her favorite activity, eating.

[civanguneri]

"As did I." Civan responded deadpan, "Thank you for so eloquently putting the exact sentiment." He seemed altogether quietly smug, clearly of the mind that had worked in his favor. "No, no. No need for that, I am content for you to dismiss the validity of your own delusions." A part of him wasn't sure why he was even bothering, but his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own. Carrying on. "Adorable too?" He plastered on a grin, "Sounds like more compliments in one day then i've ever got from you in all these years Sana. Maybe you've gone soft." Clearly not. The pull back to their surroundings was inevitable and blunt, causing Civan to take a step back from the woman and put a more reasonable space between them. "Right... highlight of my day." He offered sarcastically, "here's to not seeing you around." Civan raised his basket bearing arm like some semi-absurd 'cheers'.

"Maybe not bribe.. but you just give them that grumpy little stare of yours and they're too terrified to do otherwise." Sana's lips curled into a smile, a mix of amusement and the faintest trace of satisfaction crossing her features. She tilted her head, examining Civan as if he were he most interesting thing in the room. “Oh, darling. I think you're confused. I said 'cute', sure. But that was more mockingly than an actual assessment of your.. charm." She inched closer now, her voice dropping slightly but still tainted with mock sweetness. "If it makes you feel better, though you can hold onto that idea. I'd hate to take that away from you." Her gaze lingered on him, her eyes sparkling with playful mischief, but there was an underlying edge to the look she gave him, like she was savouring the game between them. And she was. "Missed you?" She repeated, her laugh light but edged with something more calculating as she focused her gaze on his ocean blues. "You're adorable when you're delusional," she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm. For a brief moment, it was just the two of them, caught in the back and forth of double edged compliments. But then, out of nowhere, a woman bumped her trolley into Sana's behind, jerking her back to reality. She shot a glare at the intruder before turning back to Civan, her saccharine smile returning instantly. "Well, this was.. riveting."

[civanguneri]

The petty in him was at least .001% tempted to let Sahra go, potentially ascending to the cold hard ground while she went on about her 'cat like reflexes' but they both knew he wouldn't. "Given your age, the location such a wound would be, and the fact I'd severely hope you're up to date on your shots... you would survive stepping on a nail." He amended dryly, and then without warning the man swiftly bent at the knee and fully scooped Sahra up off her feet. One arm looped around her back and the other effortlessly hefted up her legs. "Problem solved." Civan amended in an almost comically flat, level, matter-of-fact tone. Sahra princess carried in his arms. "So, if you're done being a brat..." unlikely, "There's two options. I carry you to my car, which is parked not far, and drop you home. Or, we go buy you new shoes." By 'we' Civan definitely meant he was offering. His gaze flicked to the remnants of his coffee cup sprawled on the pavement, "and myself an espresso." A shot of caffeine was even more necessary now.

Having clamped her eyes shut in preparation for the inevitable collision with the concrete sidewalk below, a surprised squeak left the brunette's lips when Civan's grip halted her descent. She knew who it was from his judgmental tone, so instead of opening her eyes right away she chose to flail a little bit. Make his rescue a little more difficult- her own little revenge for his snippy response. "Must have forgotten as soon as I saw you, bebeğim." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, eyes finally snapping open to meet his, only to nearly roll into the back of her head at the accusation she was the reason for her tumble and not the boots on her feet that seemed to be cast in the latest Final Destination movie.

"I didn't do anything. I was simply walking, you know, like one does on the sidewalk, and then my boot just... broke! Out of nowhere. I nearly ate it right then but all my years of dance prepared me for it, you know. I have nearly cat-like reflexes. But then after I tried to fix them they tried to kill me. And, you know, that's where you came in." Using her hand to gesture to him before waving it away, Sahra utilized his strong hold on her to keep her steady as she leaned down to remove the offending shoes. "Now I have to go barefoot and knowing my luck I'll probably step on a nail, get tetanus, and die."

[civanguneri]

"Yes." Civan answered, though some hints of hesitant confusion still colored his tone. Slowly realizing how important Holly's opinion actually was. "I didn't!" He scoffed, the faint hint of amusement slipped into his defensive exclamation. "I said her skirt was... bright? Maybe blinding? That's all." He didn't remember what he said, but either way Holly had not seemed to take it as a compliment. "It's sequins." Civan's head tipped aside, his gaze raking over Selin's face with a subtle smirk. "Really? I thought I'd outgrown you girls translating for me," he teased. Having moved to Briar Ridge a bit late into his childhood, for a while he'd had a very genuine language barrier in school. "That sounds tedious for you," he dismissed quickly with a stiff shake of his head. It was bad enough he was talking about this now, he didn't want to waste even more of Selin's time on some simple social misunderstanding. "Can't I just buy her something? A..." he offered the first thing that came to mind next, "personalized stethoscope?"

"Civan..." She sounded like a scolding grandmother with an hand raised and trembling to swat him at the back of the head. While she didn't swat him, she couldn't help the little scoff at the mention of lack of friends, mainly because it was a reality she could relate to. Selin didn't make friends easily. These days, it was hard for her family to even tolerate being around her. "I wouldn't say Leyla is that sociable." She was, and Selin knew it, but the slight hint of bitterness took over and she finally conceded with a nod of understanding. "başka ne"

The brunette squinted at the entanglement and betrayal on his part, which granted, seemed quite minimal. She could understand that feelings were hurt but she didn't see how it was such a betrayal that it had Civan thinking twice about it. "You're feeling guilty or wanting to fix it?" Her head tilted to take him in. As someone who had no friends, and enjoyed it, she didn't know why he was caught up on the pain he'd caused if the person wasn't someone he deemed important. "You need to apologize for the fat comment. Then, the rest needs to be dealt with care. With that said, I don't think you should do anything without going through me, for my thoughts and opinions. Yours have clearly not worked out well for you."

[civanguneri]

Civan squinted off into the distance, quiet for a beat as he tried to think. Unsure where to start he chose to give himself an added moment by scoffing, "I did not call her fat." His attempt to compliment her skirt hadn't gone over well, but, that was far from the core of his problem. "As you know, I do not have a lot of friends." It was better that way, generally. "This girl... she's not like me, sociable. Everyone likes her. She reminds me of Leyla a little." A crease formed between his brows, hoping to explain without over-explaining. "I dated her friend." Civan shrugged, "I figured she was just polite to me. You know, as some people are. Apparently I was incorrect." The more he thought about it, turning it all over in his head, the more he realized how in the wrong he'd been even if Holly had not deemed him a friend. The hole he was in was getting deeper and he'd been entirely none the wiser until tonight. "Anyway, I..." Civan licked his lips, "I knowingly withheld information from her regarding another friend and let her down." The worst part was, if he went back in time, a part of him wasn't sure if he still would have told her. Feeding information to her ex was bad, but it still hadn't been his secret to tell regarding Nate leaving town.

"Do you think so?" Selin placed her hand upon her chest as if he'd complimented her. While she wasn't aiming to be intimidating per say, she decided that it wasn't a bad thing. It meant she could command, be seen as someone to take seriously, and who didn't want to bring a bit of fear into the lives of those who deserved no less. "We all make mistakes." In true Selin fashion, she would defend those she cared for with her last dying breath even if she shouldn't.

"An idiot, I'm sure." Selin adds before her hands settle on her hips, soon forgetting her cousin who was off in the distance drinking herself into a alcoholic coma. One issue at a time. Now her problem solving was set on Civan and his mishap with someone who he deemed undeserving. "Maybe I can help, what happened?" There was part of her that was nosy, but she also genuinely wanted to do her best to help. It was innate to her but she just never did or said the right things— so frankly, she probably shouldn't be helping Civan out with this particular problem when she was so often in the same situation. "As long as you didn't call someone fat, everything is solvable. Trust me, I'm bir uzman at talking my way out of things."

[civanguneri]

A good chunk of what Levi bit back went unanswered, brushed over while Civan reminded himself to breathe. "It was given to me." He rolled his eyes, "by a member of staff not blind by bias." Thankfully, their tiff was mostly contained. His mother never had a poor encounter or lackluster service, otherwise, he'd never be here. A loud gruff scoff parted his lips, and he eyed Levi sharply as he stepped closer. The line of his shoulders stiffened, his jaw rigid. "Pah." Civan shook his head, "Of course... I had to have done something." Last he checked existing at a public event wasn't a crime. "She's the problem, not me." It was starting to dry, but a corner patch of his pale blue suit jacket was clearly darker. Damp and smelling of champagne, "I have evidence." Something about the other man stood there, glaring daggers, made Civan feel the impulse to be more quarrelsome. "She's lucky I don't file a complaint." It was a very empty threat. At the end of the day all Civan wanted was to be left alone. That didn't mean he wasn't inclined to let his mouth run away from him. "So, pipe down." He never got that saying, but apparently telling someone to calm down was bad. He'd been trying alternatives.

Levi suspiciously eyed Civan, hell bent on predicting what ulterior strategy would be attempted next. A small, satisfied smirk remained at the corner of his lips while the other man shifted upright entirely, as if that would be any help with both of their frames towering identially. This might've been the most entertaining thing he’d witnessed so far that evening. No surprise this encounter would bore him quicker than initially believed. “Yeah, nice try. Don’t have a hand in the event planning.” His shoulders casually shrugged. With how Civan seemingly kept close tabs on the resort staff, he couldn’t even recall that minute detail? Rich. 

“Looks like you were the one educating yourself.” He snide, nodding towards the resort’s informational pamphlet held within the insufferable individual’s hand. “What definition were you looking up?” Though as Guneri decidedly ranted onwards with slandering the event, Levi’s stance flared at one particular mention. Restaurant and catering staff manager. Everything else went out the window all at once.

Footing forward, his glare shot daggers in the opposite direction. “— What did you do that upset her?” Patience waning. 

[civanguneri]

"Before," Civan admitted with a shrug as he turned to busy himself pouring a fresh cup of coffee. "Before you left. Just some older guy, a teacher at her school. I'd have been difficult." Now, well, maybe it was better if they didn't know. They had a lot of property to hide a body. With a spoon he dropped a singular sugar cube into his friend's mug and placed it down diligently in front of the other man. "Lia is not capable of murder." Civan countered, as unhelpful as that was in the grand scheme of things. Civan turned to rinse the spoon and meticulously placed it back on the holder by his coffee station. "You what?" He looked over his shoulder, caught off guard. It wasn't exactly the response he'd expected. "I'm no relationship expert," hell he'd barely been in maybe three his entire life, "— but I am unsure that's the best idea." His hip leaned back against the kitchen counter, "You left. Your solution now that you're back is to... leave her alone?" Civan mulled it over, unable to think perhaps it was all a double-edged sword. Holly might need space, that was an unavoidable truth. He personally did better with it himself. "Showing some dedication theoretically would be better." His head tipped aside, pensive. "Even a 'I'm not going anywhere' verbally," Civan shrugged. "Reassurance more than an apology."

"I understood why for a while but a whole year of not only not telling them, but actively keeping it a secret? I don't know, it felt a bit like she wasn't as into it as I was or thought she was." It wasn't an excuse, but it was one of the loudest things in his head when he had been thinking things through back in DC. "Don't worry, I get it. If someone up and left my sister, I'd be planning where to bury the body, but I don't know how much the family even knows, so I don't know who's mad at me and who isn't."

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Nate couldn't quite believe just how different their perceptions of Holly's friend was. Having seen Lia in passing once since he got back, he'd genuinely been shocked he was still alive after the look she had given him and the obvious thoughts in her head. "Well you aren't the big bad wolf in Mari's story, are you? It's understandable why she doesn't want to kill you. If I can get a picture in the time it takes for her to give me the look but before she kills me, I'll grab one for you."

Nodding, Nate could almost feel his mouth begin to water. It might have been a bit of a cliche for a writer to be addicted to coffee, but there was little else he loved more throughout the day. "You know me so well, one sugar please." Blowing out a breath, Nate tapped his fingertips against the countertop. "I think I have to leave the ball in her court, you know? I've apologised, I've explained my reasons and made sure she knows that I don't try and excuse it, but I can't keep trying to force her into forgiveness. I tried making decisions for her once and it didn't work, so I need to leave it to her." Even if it went against everything he wanted in wanting to prove to her he was different now. "I'll stop being a sad sack soon so you don't block my number and pack away our matching cardigans."

[civanguneri]

"Luckily for you, I don't believe that is a thing." Civan countered dryly, only the bemused glint in his eyes gave way to his attentiveness. "It should be." In fairness, the core reason he barely ordered in or ate out was merely due to dietary restrictions. In another life, he too might be beckoned to the effortless whims of ordering takeaway. "It's not good for you." His obligated medical professional commentary. A scoffed hint of a laugh answered her Cat Talks admittance. Finding Lia's rant comical in part because her perspective was the opposite to his own. "I feel jilted," he teased stoically. "A night in cooking is ideal for me, and you sound like you're complaining." Absently he scanned the isle, alert to their surroundings, before he'd nod. "I'm on my own." A sigh parted his lips, fairly quick to accept his fate. He didn't have the heart to fully brush her off. "What've you got?" Civan asked as his gaze shot towards her basket. "I can help you decide what to make."

As soon as he greeted her with such little enthusiasm, Lia's face brightened and her smile only seemed to grew. "Of course it is! You haven't changed at all, Civvy, I've missed you pretending you don't adore me." Throwing a wink in his direction, Lia held herself back from giving him a hug. She always had when he had been with Mari, but the least she could do on their little grocery store reunion was restrain herself slightly.

"I am, I'm having a solo night in and if I order in one more time, I'm going to get referred to takeouts anonymous, so I'm trying to get some inspiration on what to cook." Being on her own was still something Lia was getting used to, after being around at least one person pretty much constantly before she moved home. "I just end up talking to my cat because I don't really know how to go an evening without talking, but I suppose it's fun!" Looking at the shelves next to them and then at the spice jar Civan had picked up, Lia pursed her lips. "Are you here on your own as well? Do I get to bug you for a bit longer?"

[civanguneri]

He knew that muttering. Civan had a fresh cup of black coffee in his grasp from Everything Goes and being On Call meant today was one of his 'I've never heard of sleep' days. So though some very quiet voice in the back of his head warned him against it, his feet carried him down the sidewalk in the direction of Sahra's distinctive colorful melodramatics. Apparently, his timing was perfect. Civan rounded toward her with a judgmental once-over just in time for her failed testing step. He reached for her on instinct, and his coffee dropped to the pavement as he scooped her up. "Allah'ım yardım," Civan groaned in exasperation. Sharp blues snapped down to her. "Sahra, of all things, I'd really hoped you learned to walk by now." He huffed a breath, a sturdy arm still bracing her. "What did you do?"

WHO: Open Starter (2/4) WHERE: Anywhere in the Street

"Stupid, fucking, no good boots..." Muttering to herself as she leaned against a nearby car, Sahra did her best to balance on one leg as she inspected the way the heel from her boot hung off the rest of it. "Now I'm gonna end up stranded out here, hopping like a fucking bunny, probably freezing to death because I can't call anyone because I threw my stupid phone into the stupid ocean." She put her foot down and tried to walk again in hopes she could get somewhere, anywhere, where she could sit and attempt to fix the situation. However, as soon as she put any weight on the boot the heel fully broke off and she stumbled once more, nearly faceplanting and grabbing for the nearest steady thing- person, trash can, whatever- to keep her upright. "Shit!"

[civanguneri]

As he stood there, Civan was abruptly aware that he'd never really quite been in this sort of... predicament. He was used to offending people. Just, normally, it was not someone whose opinion he cared enough for to be thrown by it. He rather liked Holly. Like Lia, the man wasn't sure where on earth she gathered her usual warm bubbly energy from but he liked her. She was smart. He was very genuinely interested in her education as a vet and he imagined she'd be very adept at it. "I see." As Holly dug into him Civan fought to keep his expression neutral, slowly grasping the full breadth of why she was upset. "It was not my secret to share." His tone was a little too matter-of-fact as he spoke, and he could hear it float heavily in the air between them. The words that followed really struck deep. Unsettling him. A much heftier wave of guilt swept over him, thinking back on it. Holly was right. Civan was a little awkward but he wasn't oblivious, he knew she'd been miserable. Civan was silent for a stretch, the shock of realization much more plain on his face than he'd like to admit. "I... did not realize at the time that I had garnered any of your genuine good opinion." He'd kind of imagined she was just nice to everyone. "I shouldn't have taken advantage of that." It wasn't quite an apology, offering one at that exact moment felt rushed and unfitting. Not to mention, he couldn't even think of the last time he'd offered one to anyone that wasn't related to workplace condolences. The tension between them was thick, radiating off Holly. "I won't waste any more of your time then." Civan offered, feeling as for the moment she might prefer he left her be. "Enjoy your evening."

Holly's expression remained unreadable as she stared back at Civan, fingers tightening around the sides of her glass. There was a part of her that had hoped he’d stay away, unprepared for this conversation and avoidant of any small talk. But seeing him standing there, shifting on his feet like he wasn’t sure what to say, only stoked the bitterness she was trying to suppress.

"Right. Of course you’ve already seen him," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but sharp enough to land the blow she intended. Her gaze slid from his face to the crowd behind him, unable to focus on her former friend. "Listen, Nate and I have talked. I understand now, but it doesn't make things okay. And it hurts even more to know that you were aware this whole time." Holly let out a soft, humourless laugh before taking a long sip of her drink. The silence between them felt thick, and though part of her wanted to leave, she stayed, almost daring him to say something that would change things. But deep down, she didn’t expect him to. Not anymore. "I thought you had my back, but you just stood around and watched me suffer."

[civanguneri]

To his own surprise, Civan barked a gruff graceless laugh. Deeply amused by her open expression of 'showing people up' and blunt naming of the current dismaying state of the market. "To prove a point then?" He mused, "I agree. Pride or spite are both good motivators." As a stubborn soul himself, either or was often the source of some less than logical behavior. The stiff line of his shoulders melted away little by little, his head tipped aside curiously as Olivia took his very dry attempt at being polite and effortlessly doubled down on it. Both flattered and a little baffled. She seemed to be genuine. "I'd like that." Really, the one surefire way to get Civan interested in something was to involve cooking. "Civan." He offered his name in turn with a nod. Smirking to himself as he attempted to mirror the rest of her introduction, "You can find me at home in the Briar Ridge Hills neighborhood, or at the hospital." His brows furrowed, realizing neither was exactly a good place to actually run into him. "Or, Everything Goes." The only place outside of his kitchen he could get a proper cup of coffee. Someone brushed past him through the produce aisle and Civan straightened, a look cast aside around them. "Well, good luck."

Civan was right about how hard it was to duplicate that feeling of home, and although she and her mother tried on certain days, Olivia was in the process of trying to create a new sensation that was close, but not quite the same. The cooking helped at least, which was one of the reasons why she valued it so much. "Personally, showing people up with my baking is always the perfect reason to suffer through most things, but especially this hell hole." Maybe she'd prepare a little better for the next holiday so she didn't have to deal with the rush, but then again, that would only take away her joy of causing a little bit of a ruckus. Besides, she was sure those chatty ladies would rethink their choices the next time they contemplated blocking an aisle.

As he explained just what he type of kebab he was making, it seemed to ignite a slight rumbling in her belly, and reminded her that she'd chosen to come grocery shopping on an empty stomach. "That sounds incredible." She couldn't recall the last time she'd had eggplant, or if she'd even liked it then, but she would put her possibly dismay aside if it was served the way he planned to serve it.

With the last of what she needed in hand, Liv smiled as she turned her body towards him. This crowd was only going to get worse, and she was sure there would only be more inconsiderate or just downright irate customers who were unhappy with the fact that the store was crowded when they chose to come out, so they probably need to get out of dodge as quickly as they could manage. When he seemed to be thinking the same, she nodded. "Likewise. And hey, after all of the holiday fuss, we should do a food exchange: I'll let you taste that sweet potato pie, and you can treat me to a kebab." Unfortunately for him, Liv didn't take no for an answer, so he was stuck in this agreement whether he liked it or not. "I'm Olivia, by the way. You can find me at Ballenger Realty most days, or anywhere that serves a martini." She teased.

[civanguneri]

"You can be intimidating," Civan agreed with a nod and a quietly fond smile. A rare bark of a laugh slipped through his mouth, "I won't pretend my head is quite that big." The rumble of his laugh died faintly in his throat. "I've made mistakes, but I am just not sure this is what I worry about." A shrug decorated his stiff shoulders. At least, not the usual near-stranger's opinion of him. With a sigh, his gaze skirted away from Selin — inherently uncomfortable now that the subject had firmly switched from Alara to the two of them. Neither of them particularly good at 'sharing time'. "That might be okay." He played along, "Who complains about the company of three gorgeous women? No one." His expression faltered, "but I do think... I have put my foot in my mouth with someone undeserving." Civan's brows furrowed, still a little perplexed by the whole thing. The guilt he felt fresh and unfamiliar. Accidentally offending someone was an unfortunate side effect of his general lack of social grace. He'd much rather offend someone on purpose.

Selin couldn't help but grimace at the words that were a cause for concern. Alara had always been the closest person to her when it came to family so she felt she knew her best, and that little comment, was something that caused her to worry more than the sight of her downing drink after drink. "She's doing worse than I thought. She's a mess."

Her gaze pulled from her cousin, deciding to put her concern on the back burner for now. As long as Alara got home safe, there was a better place and time for Selin to speak to her cousin about her downward spiral. "They wouldn't dare accuse me of that to my face." But she had failed in many ways. The latest fight with Leyla was just another failure of hers, though she wouldn't go into great detail and risk fracturing her perfect mask. "Of course not. I forgot that I stand in front of perfection." She'd be hard pressed to admit she wasn't perfect, but he wasn't just a random person, and she would still argue that she made up for her limitations in other ways. Perfect calves, a nice rack, some good teeth. "We can't all be graced with such divine luck." Her tease ended with a slight nudge.

"You don't need anyone except us." If only she could follow through with her own words given how she continuously picked fights with those meant to be closest to her. "Allah'ım yardım et." Not an easy task to say the least but if it meant she didn't need to be the one to drag her out of here, she was more than happy to provide encouragement from afar.

[civanguneri]

"Mhm, yes... it must be so." Deadpan, his tone unnaturally flat. "Perhaps I bribe them for their company," Civan offered sarcastically as a solution. The numbers weren't high, but the man was surprisingly confident in the friends he did have being genuine. He had too many rough edges for anyone to tolerate him just for the money. "By your previous logic..." his smirk was slow growing, "you just called me cute. I'll take it." A barely audible wisp of a laugh nestled in his chest. "Sweetheart?" Civan's brow arched sharply, "They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I had no idea all this time I had grown so much in your opinion." He blatantly ignored her intended insult, "I'm flattered you missed me." A little too wrapped up in their pointless back-and-forth Civan's sharp blues had remained transfixed on Sana, forgetting they were in the middle of the produce aisle and probably catching some sideways looks.

Sana's lips parted in mock surprise, her eyes widening for dramatic effect. "Oh, you think I'm cute? Thank you, Civan," she purred, her tone dropping with saccharine sweetness. She tilted her head some, letting her gaze sweep over him like she was inspecting an amusing piece of art. "It's nice to know that even with all that sarcasm, you can still muster a compliment. I'm touched, truly." She took another step closer, her basket falling by her side as the heels of her shoes clicked softly against the floor, smile sharp enough to cut. "Better company? That’s cute. I hope they have the patience of a saint because dealing with you sober sounds like a punishment, not a privilege." Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous gleam as she held his gaze, not breaking eye contact for a second as she leaned in, just enough to blur the line between provocation and challenge. "Sweetheart, voyeurism isn’t new to me. But if I were looking for something worth my time, trust me—you wouldn’t even make the list!"

[civanguneri]

Unconsciously Civan straightened, shoulders squared and the man stood at his full height. Silently a little annoyed that Levi was also tall, so there was little to be gained from the habit. "Do you mean how long did it take for me to decide if I would even bother with this mediocre event planning?" He'd gotten a little too good at speaking 'rich prick' over the years, his tone stiff but colored with an air of arrogance that couldn't be faked. You could only come by it genuinely, through privilege. "Excuse?" A brow raised nearly to his hairline, the word barked back in a haughty laugh. "Stating facts is not an excuse. I can wait if you'd like to take a second to educate yourself and look up the definition." Civan gestured at him, with the pamphlet, as if to actually insinuate Levi should pull out his cell phone and Google it. "I figured I would give Paradise Point's unprofessional restaurant and catering staff manager a few moments to compose herself." He offered instead, both an insult and an explanation as to why he'd briefly stepped out of the ballroom. "Little did I know you would follow suit. Neglecting your duty to rub elbows?"

Much of Paradise Point’s hosted party already left Levi in an excessively sour demeanor. Now this. Confronting Civan only made the evening turn further for the worst. Funny how the other man actually did have a point with his terse remarks. There never would be a right time. Any unexpected encounter between them was hardly warranted in any given setting. Yet, there remained a surefire satisfaction from within that currently, his workplace’s turf had the ‘home field advantage.'

With a sole shake of his head, a light, bitter laugh emitted from Levi’s chest. “Right, and how long did it take you to finally walk through the resort’s doors tonight?” A skeptical brow rose. After all, a decent group of resort staff Civan Guneri despised most were readily in attendance. The past betrayal of his closest friend since arriving in town years ago only heightened their lasting tension. A roll of his eyes followed the next line of defense that resounded from the other man. "Must be why you’re out here then..everbody already sick of that overdone excuse?” Levi dead-panned, not shocked in the slightest that Civan would use the same old, tired speech of 'my family's important here' on a consistent basis with the whole town. 

[civanguneri]

A low rumbling chuckle sat in his chest, "Pacing myself, sure." For a split second, he looked up to scan the ballroom, consistent in trying to keep a vigilant eye out for a friend. "If only everyone believed in such a tactic." With a soft sigh Civan's gaze snapped back to Natalie, "Oh?" a slow, amused smirk tugged at one corner of his lips. "You always seemed like the type who thrived in the attention of popularity. Miss News Reporter." Then again, he supposed his own career path was a bit comically people-y. At her offer, Civan's entire demeanor softened. A little stunned silent, the man just slowly blinked at her. "Offering to smuggle me out of here?" he eventually managed to ask, mind catching up, as his hand dropped to fully abandon the lining of his jacket. The napkins crumpled into a ball in his hand, something to fidget with. His fingertips wrapped around the material and tightened, knuckles taunt. "As admirable of you as that is, I can't sneak out." Conspiratorial in gesture Civan stepped closer to her, voice lowered to a whisper and his head ducked. "I'm babysitting." An elbow anchored on the bar, "Otherwise, I can't say I wouldn't have already vanished." His laugh was a low husky rasp that settled in his chest. "But sticking around has some perks, apparently." Civan tipped his head toward her with a wink.

Natalie studied Civan for a moment. Her smile softened, and she offered him a more understanding look, stepping a little closer as if to lend some quiet reassurance without overwhelming him. "Being popular isn't all that it's cracked up to be, but hey, sober is still a win in my book—keeps you sharp for the night ahead. You’re pacing yourself like a pro," she added, a little mischief in her voice because it couldn't be her. Some night she needed a drink or two to just block out some of her other thoughts that left her mind racing and unable to enjoy the night.

She glanced around the room, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement as her gaze fell on him and had to remind herself that this was the same Civan she'd known all her life, even if he didn't look like it anymore. "But if you want to avoid any more awkward run-ins, I can make sure you’re not alone out here. I’ve got a few solid escape routes planned already, in case things get too... 'lively'." She gave him a playful wink, trying to lighten the mood. "Or I'm exceptional at causing a scene too."