#( th. nilay + roman 001. 𓂀 )

[doctornilaybailey]

"That's not true. Not even in the slightest bit. I told you: I'm an archaeologist. I know better than anyone that the opinions of the dead still matter, whether they've been gone since the Bronze Age or less than a decade." Sure, Nilay never knew Harrison personally. But she was a researcher. And ever since Eli told her more about the Amethyst front man, she did what she does best: she researched. Every video, every interview, every photo, every social media post, every article; She dug and she dug as she did everything she could to learn more about the man. She wanted to know more about him. She wanted to understand who he was and what he's left behind in the world. She wanted to understand why Elijah fell in love with the man in the first place. And... She's been able to understand some. But not entirely. She knew that she needed to ask her boyfriend, but, considering how much with everything else he's been hesitant on talking to her about? She had better luck with her research. "At his grave yesterday," she answered matter-of-factly. "I've been visiting him for awhile now." At first, it was to chew him out for haunting Eli and to blame him for all this chaos. Then... Over time, she began to ask him for help. To talk to him about everything and what she needed to do. In an odd way, it's become... comforting. She didn't feel like she could talk with the living about this mess; Talking to Harrison's ghost, even though he couldn't talk back, has lighten her heavy heart. "When's the last time you spoke to him?"

What a fucking prick, she thought once she saw his smirk. If there was something that she absolutely hated, it was someone underestimating her. No matter what it was, it brought her back to when she was a scared little girl unable to protect herself, whether it was from one of her more horrible foster families or one of her old bullies in university. Only this time, she was capable of protecting herself. "What're your dietary restrictions? If you won't have dinner with the both of us, let me make you something in the kitchen right now. One that won't require any kind of utensils yet is still fulfilling."

Nilay stared at him for a moment. Until, finally, she let out a soft scoff. Though, there was also a hint of a laugh there. And soon enough, she laughed again, shaking her head as she looked away from the former bassist for a moment. "Oh, god, the stories I could tell you," she said, sighing before taking a drink. She thought back to the days of her pregnancy with Rhia. How Elijah got so scared and wasn't sure if he wanted to be a father or not that he left, couch-hopping at some of his friend's places for a month and a half. How they barely saw each other during that time, only twice: once, in which she was able to get him to stay at home for a night and then the other being the day they found out she had placenta previa again and he came back home permanently. "You're not the bad guy in this situation, Roman. No one is. Not even Eli, even though I do agree that it's unfair of him to not recognize that it was wrong of him to do that. But the Eli I know and love, the Eli that I've been watching grow these past four years, is capable of realizing that. You don't want to talk with him? Fine, I can't force you to. But don't you dare sit there and tell me what Elijah is or isn't capable of, because I can assure you that he is more than capable enough. And he will recognize that he's in the wrong. He has plenty of times before in the past throughout our relationship; He will again this time." Her partner was a stubborn man. But she believed in him. And lucky for Roman, Antonio, and Kaya, she had enough faith in Elijah for all of them.

📜@theromandaniels

He couldn't help but snort at the whole 'he wouldn't want to see you like this' schtick. It didn't work when Ophelia tried it after the first verbal sparring with Eli, and it certainly wouldn't work by a woman who never knew him and probably skimmed the Wikipedia page of the late frontman, or heard Eli's version of events when it came to matters of the band. "Well, it's a good thing he's dead and his opinion means fuck all." He spoke plainly, almost exactly what he told Ophelia the last time he had a version of this conversation. It always stung, when he heard his friend's name, of course, but it was lessened by the simple fact Nilay had no clue what she was talking about. He glanced over at her then, a challenge in his eye. "Tell you what, you tell me the last time you spoke with Harrison Morrey, and I will take what you think he'd think at more than face value."

Not that he was ever planning on running into Elijah again, or even actually threatening his life in a more practical level, but he couldn't help but smirk at the idea of that six-foot something lurch motherfucker having a bodyguard who could have been mistaken for Tinkerbell. "Sure." He remarked simply, keeping in mind that even if things were good between him and the former keyboardist, he'd probably deny the invitation on the implication he'd only be fed soup anyway. And even then, spoons could be a deadlier weapon than one would think.

Roman took another sip, resisting rolling his eyes when she made it abundantly clear to everyone in earshot that this place semi-belonged to her. It didn't impress Roman — perhaps it would have if he didn't come from money himself — but it was crystal clear what she was implying: one wrong move and he was being shot out on his arse at her say-so. "You're right, what Eli did was wrong. And he made it clear several times he doesn't think it was. You can take a horse to water, but you can't make it stare at its reflection and recognize it's a cunt." He shrugged. "I have no interest in talking to him. If Toni wants to, sure, whatever. I'm just trying to run my little music shop and maybe go one day without feeling like the bad guy because I dared call him out on his bullshit."

[doctornilaybailey]

Her jaw set at his words, Nilay straightening up as she tried to breathe normally. She was ready to forego everything and ask for him to be escorted out of her family's establishment, to tell Elijah that he didn't owe this jackass anything. But... She knew that wasn't right. It wasn't fair. Even if he was a raging dick, much different than the man she met just a mere few months ago. Before she learned the truth about everything. "Because Harrison wouldn't want to see you lot like this," she shot back. It was a low blow, she knew that. But she wasn't someone to be messed with either.

"And luckily for him, there are plenty of dinner recipes that doesn't require sharp utensils to be able to eat them. Even then, you wouldn't be able to get to him in time to try." No matter what, she wouldn't allow him to hurt Eli. She didn't agree with what he did, but that didn't change how she felt about him. Nor would she ever allow for anyone to hurt him, or even try to.

Searching his face for a moment, she unclenched her jaw and sighed. Looking away from him and at the bartender, giving him a soft smile before saying, "Hey, Nico, your PTO request was accepted by my parents. I hope you have a fun trip!" Her smile grew as she saw his excitement, happily taking her drink before he left to help some new guests, though with more of a pep in his step than before. There was a moment before she said, "Roman... What Eli did was wrong. And I'm trying to get him to talk with you." The curator looked back at him. "I don't know what you, Toni, and Kaya have been through. Believe me, I wish that things weren't like this between you lot. But... I do know things on Eli's side. And I just... I want you guys to talk. You all deserve it."

📜@theromandaniels

He was hoping that Nilay would just do the polite thing and ignore him, walking off like she hadn’t seen him situated at the bar. But no, she had the fucking audacity to strut over to the bar, motioning to the bartender like she owned the place, and it made Roman’s stomach turn slightly. Perhaps that was what brought her and Eli together: blatant arrogance and vanity. 

“For the record, why would you think I’d accept it?” He retorted, pointedly looking away from her, more interested in the colourful liquid in his glass. “If you think it’s a good idea to sit me in arm’s length of Elijah with sharp utensils, well, then I guess I wash my hands of any responsibility of how that would end.” He knew she could do something about him flagrantly threatening her paramour, but Roman honestly didn’t give a fuck. Worse he’d probably get would be a restraining order against poor baby Eli Falvey, something Roman would gladly honour. He never sought out his former bandmate, every time they bumped into each other was pure unlucky circumstance.

“And yet I feel ambushed.” He didn’t care if she was waving the white flag, or trying to solve an issue he wasn’t asking her to solve. And it wasn’t even Roman’s issue! It was that of his former friend’s inability to accept his wrongdoings, and to admit he was a little bitch. But again, Roman wasn’t in the wrong here, thus had no reason to play the game of peace offerings with Eli’s partner who clearly was duped into thinking her sweet talented boyfriend was anything more than a weak, cowardly twat.  

[doctornilaybailey]

There was a certain kind of peace when it came to the hotel and restaurant. A place where she could have moments of clarity and clear her mind from everything happening in her life and in the world. Nilay had always liked it when her parents would bring her and Theo to either places. Granted, it was more so for work and ensuring that everything was running properly. But she loved getting tours around each location, discovering all the key details that each Jade Palace and Silk Road shared while also including elements from the destination they were located at. She loved learning about how the hotelier and restaurant franchise run, how they ensured the highest, most luxurious quality, yet ensuring that it was inclusive to all.

Nilay loved it. And she wanted to run them all someday. Hence, why she was there today. She was going to oversee the production of the show that was filming, even though she had no idea what it was about. While her and Elijah have watched Love is Blind today, she wasn't one for reality shows. Fortunately, one of her assistants was helping her learn more about it, in case someone from the team asked her about it and she wouldn't be ignorant. As they headed towards the Jade Palace's bar, the Queen's Jewels, she had been listening intensively when she stopped in her place. Forgetting how to breathe once she saw a certain Amethyst bassist sitting at the counter.

Roman Daniels. A name that has become synonymous with the pit in her stomach every time she thought about it. A name that had changed everything in her family's lives.

Perhaps, maybe, a part of her should hate him. Before his return to Blue Harbor, things had been perfect. Her and Elijah had been happy, the girls were happy, and any issues that arose were handle quickly, as a team. Yet, for months now, everything has been off-kilter. And maybe, part of her blamed Roman for it. Part of her wished that she never ran into him that day at the supermarket, talking with him and ignorantly believing that they could become friends before discovering who, exactly, he was. But... in the end, there was that part of her that knew that hating him wasn't fair. She knew entirely that Elijah leaving the way he did after the accident was cruel and she knew that the remaining band members had every right to be pissed at him. While she understood why he left (even though that didn't stop from breaking her heart and leaving their relationship in this limbo for the past few months), she didn't agree with it. And she wished that he would talk with them and try to work things out.

Unfortunately, her partner—boyfriend, was just as stubborn as she is. But dammit all if she didn't at least try to nudge the others.

Dismissing her assistant, who had starting fangirling over the infamous Roman Daniels (she did not need to know about all the "Roman Daniels x Your Name" fan fictions she use to read, thank you very much), Nilay began to make her way towards the bar. Signaling towards the bartender her usual, a pomegranate martini. "For the record, that dinner offer is still on the table." She leaned against the counter, a bar stool in between them as she looked at the man. Giving him a soft, hopefully nonthreatening smile. "I didn't know you were... you that day. I'm not trying to ambush you or anything—then or now."

📜@theromandaniels

≈ the jade palace. with @doctornilaybailey

It was a filming week for Ophelia, which meant some sort of obnoxious cast-mate had flown in for some ‘authentic’ dinner scenes. They were due to be set up in The Silk Road, adjacent to The Jade Palace, but production was running behind, so they opted for off-camera drinks at the hotel bar, inviting Roman along. And he only agreed because Ophelia would have called him names otherwise. 

He had managed to dodge the questions about the splint that had an all but permanent placement on his right hand, and pretty soon listening to his sister and her friend/on-screen frenemy reminisce about life in London, it was just easy to forget about all of his shit for a moment. He could pretend his hand wasn’t permanently numb, that there weren’t spirits lingering around this ghost town, taunting him about his past. But then all of a sudden, he noticed from the corner of his eye, a ghost-adjacent. Not a full haunting, but more like a…spiritual orb you only noticed in photographs.

Nilay Bailey. Elijah’s partner. 

He was aware of the company he was in, aware that if production for Ophelia’s show got wind of it, they’d probably try to get it all on-camera. There were simply too many moving parts at play to attempt any sort of scene. So, he politely nodded at her, smiling tightly, wondering just how much of his soured relationship with Eli she was truly privy too, but unsure if he was desperate enough to ask.