#c: suresh 002

[jonahxrivas]

for: @xsureshxsoundsx location: holiday markets

Bringing a candle close, Jonah oooh'ed at the scent of this one, the same reaction he had given to the three others that preceded it. Choices were hard to make when everything was good, especially with these local market stalls and last minute shopping. He hadn't meant to leave it off till the end, but with so much on his mind he still hadn't crossed off all the names just yet. Spotting a familiar face amongst the crowd, Jonah gave Suresh a friendly wave, "Hey! Doing some last minute shopping as well? Or just out and about?" Readjusting the tote bag so it wouldn't slip again, the movement gave way for his sweater to be displayed in all its glory, "Can I ask you for a favour if you can spare a minute? Which is better to you?" he asked with a point to the selection of candles in front of him, "I can't seem to decide and you have good taste."

[nyraxodeyer]

She made face at the other emotions listed, none of which she wanted to feel, "I'm not doubting nor saying we can't feel them, we can, I just don't think in this moment, for this time, such things will be of any benefit or use if given importance. What will anger do for me? Or bitterness? I cannot change what's already been done, why let that simmer and turn my mood foul?" She could perhaps give thought to what he said, but such was her state of mind that harbouring rather than letting things go would not give her any peace of mind. "I didn't but do I need to ask that?" she questioned instead, forcing her thoughts to turn, "You will tell me regardless. An algae covered cavern, huh? You might miss people too much, who will you bare your teeth at? The fish?"

What did they learn about her? How much she bet? But others had outbid her. How much she cared for this hotel or the Fae? But that was nothing new. "Did you see that night as a point of learning about others? It was high stakes and high emotions, actions might be sincere or they could be erratic. Dilan was just trying to keep Leyla safe, did you notice that?" She wasn't faulting him, not a bit, but such events brought a different side in people, "You might act in a similar fashion in all situations, which is not a bad thing, consistent but others might not and that's not a bad thing either."

Nyra simply let out a light laugh at his comments, "Oh it very much is recreational." As he continued, laughter quietened to settle as a small smile, as much as Suresh flashed his annoyance at people, at her even, it was such displays that kept her belief alive that he maybe cared. Or at least, she was taking it as such but by no means would she verbalise that thought. "I appreciate that but I'm not doing this, saying all this, under any guise of nobility, I'm stating facts. The idea, and to a degree the execution, of this Fae ball was mine, the premise was set knowing full well what it could entail. I'm not inviting blame by accepting responsibility nor does this make me feel better, but it's something. What would you have be do? Shrug my shoulders and move on? Nothing will change this, I know and I accept that. Can only learn from this."

Nyra held up her hands, "No catch, Mr. Masculine and ravenous. I can't lie so you have no choice but to believe me. As much as I do enjoy telling you off, this is not a moment for it, stop being so suspicious and take this as a nice thing."

Suresh pursed up his lips, looking out from beneath his eyelashes, the portrait of utter innocence. "Who said anything about numbness, love? There are so many other emotions. Anger. Wrath. Jealousy. Bitterness. Believe me, I know as Fae we're capable of those just as strongly as anything else." He hummed, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Are you asking me if I think you're abysmal? Because again, I said no such thing. Perhaps I will move back to the sea, though. Store myself away in some forgotten cavern. Algae is good on the skin." He ran his hands along his own face, deciding it was already silky smooth.

Suresh offered a shrug. "I don't know. A prize? A golden trinket? A sense of smug-satisfaction or relief? There are so many options, Nyra," he muttered. "My point is: nobody learned anything about me they didn't already know. The same can't be said for everyone, now can it? Dilan put on quite a show really. Bloodthirsty for the world to see." He gave a terse grin, a clenching of his teeth.

"What I do in my private quarters is none of your bloody concern. It's not as though I make the housekeeping staff tidy after me. Any visits they might make to my suite are purely recreational," he retorted. "No. No. You know what I think is foolish? Taking the weight of a bunch of bell-ends on your own shoulders. You didn't trap anyone. You didn't harm anyone. I don't believe in this nobility shite people whip out all the time around here. Falling on the sword. You can't pay your bills with it, and you can't wipe your arse with it. So who is it for? Not me. You then? Does it make you feel better to think you had some control over it? It's shite, Nyra. It happened. It's shite."

He scoffed, but there was a semblance of genuine irritation that she was blaming herself for the tragedies. "Masculine and ravenous," he sniffed, voice sharp. "Why don't I believe you? I thought I wasn't meant to be...distracting the staff? What's the catch here?"

[jonahxrivas]

"Oh, right, the catalyst." Jonah pieced together who Suresh was taking about. "That's good. No waste." While he want entirely confident the other operated on a no waste policy, Jonah couldn't judge nor was he able to. Having nice things for yourself wasn't a bad thing. On the tail end of a chuckle, a shake of his head was held back to let Suresh imagine whatever he wanted to on the origins of his sweater, it was a surprise tohim to hear Gucci had shark sweaters but he did not make a mental note to look that up lest the price shocked him. "Pretend away."

Jonah simply shrugged, "I don't know what to tell you... I work in a aquarium and dive a lot in the tanks my hair specifically is always in some state of wet." Running a hand through said hair, Jonah smiled, "It's dry now though, that's a win." In some capacity, yes, he did know what he looked like, but he hardly paid attention to his appearance ever, which resulted in easy dismissals. "Yeah, fortunate is the word I'd use for this too..." he muttered, shuffling on his feet at what seemed to be happening, "Are you sure? I'm certain you have better things to do, right?" Not enough protest could be made when Suresh messed with his glasses, "Is that a compliment or an insult?"

Watching him walk off, Jonah hesitated briefly before catching up to him, "So wait, if good looking people are taken seriously, then... have you done anything to help out?" An idea brewed that he was sure would get shot down but attempt had to be made, "Uh, no we don't sell corndogs, what aquariums did you go to that do?" Avoiding further tangents, Jonah continued, "If what you say is true, am I just believing you since you look good? I have a proposition, if I'm gonna try on things, whether you're successful in getting me in Armani or whatever is a different matter... how about you also join me in conservation efforts? We'll save the oceans... that should in a way be beneficial to you as well, right?"

Suresh narrowed his eyes. "No! Impulsive makes it sound as though I'm wasteful. I have money. I have plenty of money. That goddamn Lauren or Laurentia or whatever the hell her name was took a nice bloody chunk of it, but I simply don't have to fret about repercussions for having nice things." Suresh groaned at that. Living in the moment. He had never lived anywhere except the goddamn past, but Jonah did not need to know that.

He met the other man's gaze. "Is it a Gucci Winter 2018 red shark jumper? Don't answer that. I'm going to pretend it is." Suresh gave a low huff, offering a dismissive shake of his head. "Average? Average? Mate. Have you seen yourself? Fine, you're rough around the edges. Sort of...grungy. And it's odd how I'm the siren, and yet you're the one who's always sort of...damp. That said, you must know what you look like, mate." He groaned, throwing back his head. "You can be whatever you want. You are so...fortunate you have me to guide you now. I don't have to do this, but I am. It's what makes me so nice."

Suresh clicked his tongue. "Let's just not make any jokes. We'll save it for the deleted scenes," he grumbled. "And, personally, I think you should wear contacts all the time now, and...may I?" He brought up his hands without really asking Jonah's permission to slide his glasses gently down his nose. "Hmm. Keep them on, mate."

Starting off down the sidewalk, then, Suresh rolled his eyes. "Maybe I'm fetching you a bloody robe, hm? No. No! The store. The store. An actual store. Not...wherever you shop now. The Farmers' Market? We'll try some things on, and if I like something, I'll buy it. And if I like something on you...we'll see." He wrinkled ups his nose. "Of course they are. Everyone likes beautiful people. They take you more seriously. They believe what you say. I wager I'll put you in Armani, and you'll never wear a poly-blend again. You do what...? Sell corndogs at the aquarium? How would you like to be...personally responsible for saving all the whales? Clothes and hair can do that. Look at me. I'm bloody gorgeous."

[nyraxodeyer]

"Without sentiment, I would be numb and that's not something I wish to feel." The truth feel and she did not attempt to stop it, felt no need, she did not wish to feel such a thing any more. Though at his statement, a chuckle fell despite her intent, "Creature of the abyss? I don't think I've heard that one from you yet. Are we from this same abyss then? Or neighbouring ones?" It may be just a hotel to him, and he was fit to view it as such, seeing that it was just a hotel, but it came to mean something bigger to her, greater than a structure. She no longer had a home but this came so damn close it that some days it did feel like it.

"What would you like to show for it?" she questioned, "Divulging truths about ourself, no matter how petty doesn't seem like your thing, or have I gotten it wrong? You do love to talk about yourself." She added a light shake of her head to brush away the seriousness of the night, "It came with your residence here actually, though you have yet to burden yourself and lift a finger. I cannot even expect to keep your room clean." All in all though, no matter how much he tried to ruffle her feathers, sometimes even succeeding, he was, in all sense of the word, a relief - not that she would ever admit that though. This was too much fun. "No," she said now, the humour falling, "Aiyla doesn't need to bother herself with this. This was my doing. I opened our hotel, our home to all thinking maybe we'd be advantageous, one step ahead... you don't need to say it, I admit that was a foolish move. So this-" her gaze swept about the place, the destruction and whatever was left intact, "I bear the responsibility. You don't have to be on the repair crew, you deserve a break." Though at his words, a laugh fell through, genuine and light, "Primal? Oh, darling, sure of course. That's it." She shrugged before continuing, "If you're willing to be so generous and give them longer breaks, who am I to stop you? As long as it's fun for you, I stand by what I said, you deserve that break."

"Without sentiment, you'd be feeling decidedly less abysmal right now, love. Creature of the abyss I am and all. I sense these things," Suresh cooed, rolling his eyes. He sniffed defiantly. "Yes, I suppose I do live here." But he would not admit affection for the building or for the Fae Court; even if such a thing existed, he knew better than to try to talk around it and give up his advantage. Bringing up his hands in mock arrest, the siren raised an eyebrow. He shrugged. "There are phone apps for that now. Besides, I did not lose all my money. Only an irritating chunk. And what do I have to show for it? No more than anyone else, and they didn't even learn a petty truth about me." He laughed. "You're concerned about my being your friend, but I'm concerned about you being my employer. When did that happen again? If the Fae Queen wants me on the clean up and repair crew, she should declare it properly." Suresh shook his head, features knotting into irritation. "Pretty's not quite the right word. My lure is perhaps more primal and forbidden, thank you," he scoffed. "You do know if you post me down here, their union-mandated breaks will just get longer, right? More enjoyable for them, of course, but it's your funeral, pet."

[jonahxrivas]

"Impulsive, then? I'm not judging, by the way! It's great you buy things whenever you want. Living in the moment and all that." Personally, he felt he needed a little of that mindset. "If it's just this specific one, then it's alright I suppose. I have others. Yesterday, I wore a shark one, is that more acceptable?" he grinned. It likely was all of his collection that Suresh hated but mood was light and a few grumbles wouldn't change that. "I guess? Dunno, I've always just sorta been average? Rohan does think otherwise, yeah, but," Jonah shrugged, "Fitting in, or even being funny, had never really been something I was capable of. Growing up at at least." Not despite attempts, but trying had ceased when he realised it was futile. "You don't strike me as a shy type though..." But noting the shift and what Suresh continued to say, Jonah gave him a nod, "He can definitely be whatever he wants."

Rather than apologising for it, brows furrowed, "Hmmph, is it just puns that are off the table because I have fish jokes...I don't actually want to be rude though, in case they are..." Another shrug bounced on his shoulders, "I do, sometimes, but glasses feel more comfortable." With a tilt of his head, Jonah stared at the other with mild confusion, "The Cathedral? What possibilities does a church have when it comes to clothes?" It did take a few seconds for things to click, tips of his ears turning red as embarrassment rose, "Ooohh, oh you mean that store...right sorry... are we going shopping? Wait! Do think that's possible? Are stylish people more approachable for donations? Coral reef research and restoration projects actually do need more funding."

Suresh allowed his lip to furl ever so slightly upward, his nostrils flaring. "Oh...the importance of being earnest. Planning is a constrictive word, bruv. I see something I like, I buy it. When I see it." He sighed very deeply, meeting Jonah's eye. "Hmm. Well. Candles I can give or take...it's all very trick r' treat. But no, I certainly don't hate jumpers. I dislike that jumper. May I wager a guess? You sort of...became good-looking late in life, did you, mate? Grew into yourself? It happens. A person gets it into his mind that he must be...quaint. At the very least funny." Suresh pursed his lips, eyes darting away for only a moment, a shift in his posture. But catching himself, he seemed to straighten back up. "But then, one day, he's strapping, and he doesn't have to be those things anymore. He can have whatever he wants." Suresh sniffed. "You are married, aren't you? Surely your husband tells you you're fit? Wait, what? No. No. No fish puns. It's in poor taste around sirens." He did not actually think it had anything to do with him, but he thought he could perhaps convince Jonah of genuine offense. Suresh sighed. "Well, thank goodness the pufferfish can tell where they're going. Bloody hell. Do you wear contact lenses? Hmm. I'm feeling very special today. Come on, bruv. To The Cathedral. Let me to show you what's possible. As a repayment for your focus grouping, hm? Maybe you can even use your newly acquired sense of style to...collect donations for coral reefs or something. Shite."

[jonahxrivas]

"That's why I asked, yes?" he answered in question and with confusion, which thankfully dissipated, "Oh that's good! You plan." A small frown forming at what was said about his sweaters, usually he met the others dour outlook with a smile but this made it hard to do so, "Come on now, it's not bad. I find them charming. Do you normally hate candles and sweaters or did seeing me trigger something?" Pausing when Suresh spoke, he blinked at the man, "Uh, sure? I'll take it as a compliment." But Jonah was unsure about that, yet thoughts on that didn't hold for long as the next comment brought forth a laugh, "As a what? That's… I've never had that one been said to me before." Features held onto that smile despite everything as he looked down to his attire, "I thought this was very Christmas-y with my own spin. Fishmas," he said with a grin, "Get it? It's a pufferfish today. Did you know they have excellent eyesight?" Couldn't be said the same for himself as he pushed his glasses up, "What do you suggest is more appropriate?"

In truth, Suresh had no taste for handmade holiday nonsense. But he had come out today to buy presents. And that was, of course, the problem with shopping this time of year; everything made such a perfect gift. For himself. He looked up when he heard Jonah's voice, but he did not return the wave. He flashed a thin smile that was not quite welcoming but also not immediately dismissive. "Wouldn't you like to know? There is no last minute shopping, bruv. I buy things precisely when I mean to," he replied, giving Jonah and his ensemble a completely undisguised look up and down. Suresh humphed. "Yes, of course. Your sweater is quite possibly the worst thing I've ever....Oh...." he hummed, trailing off when it seemed the question was about candles, not his clothing. "I do have impeccable taste, yes. But if you want the truth, nobody wants a candle for Christmas, mate. It gets locked in a cupboard until they regift it next year. Can I ask you a question? You look like a bloody Burberry model. Rugged but completely unintimidating. That's a compliment. And yet, you dress like the little dentist elf from that reindeer movie. Have you ever considered gift-wrapping yourself appropriately before worrying about the candles, love?"

[nyraxodeyer]

The jolt made her press her lips to a thin line, familiar voice and a tone that was fine tuned to annoy her she was sure, Suresh's comments did not lift or lighten her spirits. "Is sentiment so bad? This is in a way your home too, you know." Nyra spun to face him, his actions on the night materialising faintly in her head, she couldn't blame him, with everything that had unfolded she too wished she could hide away but there was a responsibility here she wouldn't shy away from. "Are you excluding yourself from that? You also gambled, are you indirectly saying you're my friend? I have half an idea of putting you on clean up and repair crew," she said, a smile creeping on her face, "You think yourself pretty, right? You can be that some sort of diversion in an actual constructive way."

Coming up behind Nyra, Suresh pursed his lips, planting his hands upon her shoulders. "I cannot tell a lie. It's a bloody gigantic hole." While he himself had largely been confining himself to his suite on the hotel's upper levels, even Suresh found he needed to wander outward once in a while in search of entertainment. One such prospect was annoying others. "It's a building, love. No use crying over spilled casino. What is it? Sentiment? While I suppose I can understand sobbing over ruined things, there are always bigger, newer things to be had. Besides, so very many of your friends and neighbors spent their fortunes. They've nothing left to gamble," he hummed, raising an eyebrow. "Perhaps you should find a pretty builder of some sort. It's a nice diversion. That's what I've been doing. That bulldozer man is a rather absurdly handsome bloke."