#𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍. matteo delvaux.

[boltscutter]

starter.               matteo delvaux and serena alderidge.

for whatever ridiculous reason , marlon had decided to purchase an art gallery . whether it was his pathetic romantic sentiment , or the neutered artist in him that he sometimes semi-regretted killing , matteo didn't really know the motivation behind it . he just knew he thought it was stupid . and that he was here , at the opening , for a stiff drink and an opportunity to do lines of coke with other rich assholes . he should've expected serena to be there . maybe part of him did . maybe part of him came for another reason . with a clearing of his throat he made himself known , having caught her deep in thought , looking at one of the art pieces . ❛ you could just buy it . save us the hassle of you standing there pretending to care about it . ❜

[boltscutter]

he  more  than  happily  turns  when  she  does  ,  triumphant  smirk  on  his  features  as  he  folds  his  hands  behind  his  back  .     ❛  peri  wasn’t  as  forgiving  as  you  thought  she’d  be  ,  was  she  ?  i  doubt  i could  say  anything  to  you  that  she  didn’t  already  .  ❜     he  pulls  his  hands  from  his  back  and  shrugs  before  crossing  them  over  his chest  instead  ,  taking  a  good  look  around  at  the  art  that  adorned  the  walls  . ❛  she’s  not  the  same  person  you  left  ,  is  she  serena  ?  she  really  …  transformed  after  you  disappeared  ,  it  would’ve  almost  been  beautiful  if  it  hadn’t  been  so  revoltingly  violent  .  ❜     he  laughed  ,  freeing  one  hand  and  wagging  a  finger  in  the  air  as  if  he  was  recalling  a  plesant  memory  .     ❛  you  should’ve  seen  the  way  she  ran  her  ex  boyfriend’s  new  girlfriend  out  of  town  .  wow  .  ❜ matteo  looked  directly  at  her  ,  a  sigh  escaping  his  lips  as  he  refolded  his  arms  .     ❛  you  would’ve  been  so  disappointed  .  ❜

she chuckles mirthlessly, not looking in his direction while standing in front of the next piece to take in. " i don't think you should be criticizing someone about their holier-than-thou attitude, " serena glances over her shoulder to his direction, then turning back to the art piece, " of course, you would think that hours of endless entertainment on the expense of yourself and others is better than caring about something or someone. " caring. that was the one thing serena wanted and wished from him, to care enough about their relationship and change so they could be together. for him to be a better man. and yet there were they, standing on opposite sides of a room in a cold war of hurtful side comments. however, her whole body turns in his direction this time, eyebrows furrowed not believing in what she was hearing. " what do you want to say with that, matteo ?? " her tone harsher than the usual sweet one, " don't dance around it, be a man and say it with your whole chest. "

[boltscutter]

he chuckles , though doesn't make any sort of effort to look in her direction . ❛ those vapid ways of life have provided me endless hours of entertainment . i can't say the same for depth . depth is boring , stale . gives people those annoying holier than thou attitudes . ❜ he moves opposite to her , further away as he begins to do a mirrored lap of the space . the room of the gallery they're in is largely empty , though , so even with the increased distance the sound still finds itself able to bounce off the walls . people were more interested in some modern art piece in the other room that made his lip curl . ❛ buy it . maybe you could throw it out in six months when you get bored of it . ❜

fingers daintily move a strand of hair behind her shoulder before her face turns in his direction and back to the painting, heart beating faster at the mere thought of another conversation with matteo. " you have become too used to the vapid ways of life, " says not to offend him, but just a general comment of things she had seen since she returned and is sure he'd agree with her even in the state of their connection. head tilts to take in more of the painting standing in front of them, " it reminds me of you, this painting, " it could have been a throwaway comment, but instead she adds pointing to show him what she means, resembling one of their memories together in their visit to the louvre. " the colors are dark but the strokes the artist used made them almost soft, as if the darkness is just a shield to what they are hiding, " she lets her hand fall to her side again, " maybe i will buy it, " and walks to the painting next to it.