#donovan newhouse / interactions.

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"i'm sorry, i'm not exactly sure what you're referring to." / @persephonyed

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@thcophagy SENT 🗣 FOR A STARTER WITH A LINE OF DIALOGUE FROM THIS GENERATOR !

if there's one thing donovan newhouse isn't used to (and, it must be stated, he isn't a used to a lot of things, like buying his own groceries or having to wait in line or experiencing normal amounts of empathay), it's being told no. "... you really refuse to tell me where you're going?"

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"oh," he breathes out after a moment, brows furrowing and jaw ticking ever so slightly. he's caught a little off-guard, which is one of his least favorite emotions. "i didn't realize you'd be here." / @gibsvngirl

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open to: m / f / nb muse: donovan newhouse. mid twenties. bisexual. disgruntled son of a fortune 500 ceo. born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a chip on his shoulder. kendall roy in a different font. plot: donovan got caught in a scandal involving your muse somehow. now he's trying to cover things up before daddy dearest finds out. did your muse catch him doing nefarious things? were they doing those things with him? go wild!

"just go ahead and drop whatever altruistic bullshit you're projecting right now, alright?" patience is slowly but surely wearing thin, as evidenced by the (normally tightly reined) annoyance he lets slip. "everyone has a price. so name yours and we both get to move on."

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no, he doesn't really think that. she's beautiful and fascinating, in a remarkably tedious sort of way, but he can't imagine that anyone else would put up with her the way donovan does. which sounds cruel, and maybe it is (donovan isn't exactly the most empathetic person in the world, which could either be a product of his cold upbringing or simply the way his brain was designed), but he thinks it's almost a compliment. most other men in the world are boring, and he doesn't think tilly could handle boring any less than boring could handle her. so he tries to look guilty and sheepish, a hand reaching up to rub at the back of his neck, like a child that's been scolded. "... no. i'm sorry, that was unfair." if you didn't make me. despite his impatience, donovan knows it won't feel as satisfying if she doesn't tell him on her own cognizance. so he lets out a soft exhale and nods, stepping forward to kiss her forehead. so sweet, so cold. "alright, flower. i trust you. i just hope someday you'll trust me, too."

his frustration was apparent, try as he might to keep a cool composure but tilly knew that if he found out what it was she disappeared off to do, it would greatly change his perception of her. her strangeness was no surprise, it was something she had grown to accept about herself and embrace, for any other attempt to hide it would come at the cost of her sanity, but there were certain things she knew she had to hide from people, especially after seeing what it had cost her family. finally, a crack in her seemingly oblivious persona came through and she furrowed her brow at his delicate accusation. "another man?" it felt stupid to even say. while they weren't technically in a relationship, she found donovan extremely interesting, alongside the obvious bonus of his good looks. "i don't- you don't really think that, do you?" if she wasn't satisfied with him and what he offered, then she wouldn't have been humouring his inquisitiveness in that moment, there were more important things for her to be doing than explaining to a man where she went day to day and yet, because it was him, she was giving him the benefit of the doubt. "if you're really that curious, then i'll tell you, because it isn't anything like that but i- i'd prefer it if you didn't make me."

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"i don't exactly have time for this, alright?" he does, because being afforded the kind of life he lives means he has an endless amount of time, but he'd rather not spend it being yelled at. "so why don't you tell me what it is you're really mad about, so we can both move on and i can go back to the party?" / @warstains

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it's becoming increasingly hard to keep his expression neutral, especially when charlie is proving to be so irritating. of all the people that had to hear about his... indiscretions. "even billionaires could use more money," he grits out, jaw ticked as he tries to appear charming, rather than fuming. if there's one thing donovan hates more than being exploited, it's games. they aren't fucking children, and this could all be over if charlie just gave him a number. why can't he see that? "i just acquired the newest bmw m850. it's yours if you sign the nda."

"ah, there he is." charlie knew that under donovan's cool exterior, there was something far more interesting just waiting to be uncovered; who knew all it took was a little eavesdropping after a charity gala to start discovering what that was. "unfortunately for you, i'm already far too well-off to be swayed with money." he ran his index finger along his jaw. "hmm, maybe we can play a game of hot or cold where you list off non-monetary options and i'll let you know if you're getting warmer or cooler?"

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"nah, i wouldn't have let that happen." another confident, arrogant smile, as is the newhouse speciality. "because then you would have gotten less of them in the divorce and i'd end up feeling bad." he's confident, as donovan always is, that the majority of their friends would have chosen his side. then again, he thinks that might not matter as much to her as it does to him. jade's always been better at knowing when people shouldn't matter to you. smiles now, though he tries to mask it with feigned seriousness. "you better. because otherwise you're slacking on me, reeves." eyes track the moment of her hands unabashedly before chuckling. "i don't know, i'm sure there's a wig or two out there that could have come in handy." slight shrug. "it's just all about taking risks, you know?" suddenly isn't talking about her hair.

his joke stings but not enough to cause harm , opting to laugh it off . ' please , ' she says , waving a hand dismissively . ' we could have gone the high school route and made them pick sides or something . ' she follows his gaze to the circle , feeling rather unamused . ' they'd probably like that , though . reality television - esque drama . ' the irony that he was the only one she could tolerate — even now — isn't lost on her . ' next time i'll have a really cool second option lined up so we don't have to hide . we'll just bail . ' still , their little corner is quite nice compared to the crowd surrounding them . ' observant . ' she says , touching her hair . ' it was either a new style or bleach . . . i don't think i should go with anything that can leave me bald if i fuck up . '

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no interest in playing his games? does she really think this is just some game to him? sure, he often lives his life as though the world is his personal playground, but this is different. and if she can't see that, then he isn't all that confident they'll be able to find a suitable solution. eyes narrow as arms cross over his chest, mirroring her actions, though he's trying his best to look intimidating. to look serious. "i'm not fucking playing around, kylee. i'm trying to deal with this in the most sufficient way possible." anger and annoyance continue to bubble under the surface, because she doesn't get it. seems to be making things intentionally more difficult for him, like a painful thorn at his side. takes a step closer, head pointed down to stare at her. "i'm not sure you're understanding, sweetheart." tone is thick with condescension. "this is the plan. this is the only plan. you give up that tape and i make this go away, with you involved as little as possible. anything else guarantees you'll screw things up and make it worse."

kylee leveled a steady gaze at him, her expression betraying little emotion despite the frustration simmering beneath the surface. the accusations hung in the air, and she couldn't deny the mess they found themselves in. donovan's attempt to untangle the scandal felt more like a clumsy dance, and she wasn't sure if his motives were purely altruistic. "cut the theatrics, donovan," she retorted, her tone edged with a mixture of skepticism and exhaustion. "this isn't some cloak-and-dagger negotiation. we're dealing with the fallout of your mess, and i have no interest in playing your games." she crossed her arms, a subtle defense mechanism against the chaos threatening to unravel around them. the air crackled with tension, and she wondered if he truly understood the gravity of the situation. it wasn't just about money or reputation; there were personal stakes involved. "i'm not interested in your price tag," she continued, her voice firm. "what matters is untangling this mess and minimizing the collateral damage. so, if you have a plan that doesn't involve more smoke and mirrors, now's the time to share it. otherwise, we're both sinking."

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she's certainly fun to play with, if nothing else. he lets his eyes dip unabashedly towards her lips, a cool smirk playing at his own. "would you like that alphabetized? or in order of just how much they pale in comparison to you?"

fingers hooking between his shirt buttons, she kept him close, "then write me a list," sawyer practically cooed, though daggers still glimmered in her eyes. "and you can sing my praises against all of them. doesn't that sound nice?"

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and there it is. people have all sorts of different motivations, donovan, his father used to say. you just have to find whichever makes that particular one tick. as though people are merely clocks to be pulled apart, minuscule piece by minuscule piece, until the problem is found and solved. it wouldn't be a lie to say donovan's father meticulously shaped him into the man he is now, a nearly spitting but never quite close enough image, and that, for better or worse, donovan's kept that valuable life lesson close to his chest as a result. it seems to be proving true, in any case, with tilly; she seems to be motivated by fear. of many things, maybe, but most notably disappointing him. feels a rare flash of resistance at this realization, because for all her flaws, she really is sweet, and it might start to feel unfair to take advantage of them. but for now, he bites back a triumphant smile, cocking an eyebrow in feigned confusion instead. "bring it over? well, color me intrigued." teeth baring smile. "i'd really love that." and now he feels at concealing his arrogance, his bravado, when she reveals he'll be seeing something no one else has. because that puts him on top of all others, doesn't it? and donovan loves being the best. brings his kiss down to her nose, then over to her cheek, before briefly against her lips. "i'd be honored, flower." it strangely isn't a lie. "and i'm sure it's nothing stranger than things i've seen at my father's fundraisers."

the last thing tilly wanted was to frighten donovan away, but it was becoming more and more obvious to her that he might just go ahead and leave her anyway. she was keeping him out of a large chunk of her life, not out of shame for what she did but out of a fear of being misunderstood. her father had always told her that while they were doing something incredibly important, the rest of the world would take a while to catch up to their brilliance and that it was not their fault that they were scared of things they didn't understand. the last thing she ever wanted was to scare donovan with the strangeness of the task handed down to her, not when he'd treated her with such unwavering kindness. "i do trust you." she mumbled after he left a gentle kiss against her forehead, the gesture only serving to make her feel worse for locking him out. she'd never been good at relationships, romantic or not, so she had to admit to herself that maybe she was in the wrong, and that by keeping donovan in the dark, she was shielding him from ever getting to know who she really was. "maybe tomorrow night i can... i'll bring some of my work over." it was a hesitant offer, one she didn't really want to be making but when backed into a corner, it made sense to offer whatever she had left to try and prove her worth. "i haven't had anyone else look at any of my notes in...well, ever, so maybe you'll be able to tell me if it makes any sense."

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for all the posturing he does, for all the bravado and arrogance donovan displays, he falls into certain traps remarkably easy. without even really seeing that he's been caught until he's fallen inside the pit. he's starting to suspect he's in one now, feet caught in the bear trap's claws, but all he can do is try and fight his way back into having the upper hand. "no," he grits out, because his greed simply doesn't lie in money anymore. "but you might. your wardrobe could certainly use it." wrinkles his nose with condescending disdain, resisting the urge to physically lash out at charlie. keep it cool, donovan. manages a smirk now, arms crossing over his chest. "if you're asking for sexual favors, i'd rather just let this thing go public."

with each slip of annoyance on donovan's carefully crafted facade of indifference, charlie grew more exhilarated. this was what he was truly after - unnerving the golden boy. "is that your way of saying you'd like some more money? because that's an ice cold in my book." a playful grin surfaces as his eyes track the way the blonde's jaw clenched, practically giddy at the reaction. charlie knows donovan hates games, and it only adds to the thrill for the curly-haired young man. "warmer than ice cold," he starts upon being offered the vehicle. "but still not close to thawing the ice, if you catch my drift." he gave a light shrug. "think more...personal."

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unfortunately, donovan loves this kind of cat-and-mouse game. "while i'd love nothing more than to please you, sawyer, i'm not quite sure whom you're referring to. there could be so many... possibilities."

practically purring, sawyer leaned mere inches from his face, "be a good boy, donovan, and tell me i'm at least a better fuck than she was. or are you really going to deny that you slept with her?"

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lets his fingers catch around her wavy locks, using the action to focus his breathing — and anger — on. he's tense everywhere because of her non-answer answer, and wonders, not for the first time, why he's bothering with such an aggravating creature. supposes that's part of the thrill though, isn't it? that she's not only pretty, but also so mysterious, like the most beautiful rubix cube ever made. resists the urge to tug on her hair as he ticks his mouth and forces another smile. "i have many interests, flower. it would be awfully rude of you to place a limit on them." jesus christ, what the fuck does he have to do to get an answer out of her? tie her up? "i don't think you're trying to be sneaky on purpose," it's an important clarification, "but if i didn't know any better, i'd think this work involves seeing another man." not that they're dating, per se, but maybe that'll get her to come clean.

tilly wasn't ashamed of her work, she thought it was incredibly important and knew that it would one day be respected by others, but until she could provide something concrete she had been advised by her father to keep quiet. he'd also told her to stay away from those who might try and get her to stray away from her path, but donovan was so nice in her eyes, he cared about her and maybe he was a tad bit controlling, but she simply thought that's what all people were meant to be like in relationships, if that was what they were in. "i just don't think you'll find it interesting, that's all." she barely resisted the urge to tilt her head against his extended hand, looking up at him with big, bright, but slightly nervous eyes. "not secrets, no! you make it sound like i'm trying to be sneaky, i just think its for the best that i... that i keep my work to myself."

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pretends to consider the question, though he's sure they both know the answer. "well, i'd hate to give them any sort of credit," pauses to shrug, glancing at the circle they've formed, "but i also wouldn't put it past them. guess that's what happens when you break up a friend group, huh?" half-smirk for a weak joke. he chuckles a little at that, hands moving into pockets. "trust me, i don't planning on leaving this spot for a while." it's too... suffocating out there. tilts his head and bites back a smile. "thanks. you do, too." tilts his head up. "you do something new to your hair?"

brows raise expectantly , holding her breath while she waits . opting for civility , made their tough situation easier — right ? ' do you think we should give them the benefit of the doubt ? or does this seem a little too suspicious ? ' surely , they know the answer is likely the latter . arranging a run - in like this one was bound to have a creative genius behind it . his question makes her laugh , her surname making the smile stick . ' maybe i just have a sensible bedtime now . . . ' a blatant lie used as a joke . ' i'll stick around for a bit but we have to stay here . ' hidden unless someone from the group came looking . ' you look nice , by the way . '

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jaw ticks with the desire to groan in frustration, though still, he manages to keep his (relative) cool. supposes she isn't being difficult on purpose, but it's hard not to feel irritated. "i'm not sure how to answer that, since you won't tell me what it is you do." stops moving once he's directly in front of her, reaching out to brush a piece of hair off her face. has no doubt his smile is still sweet, still giving her the pretense that she has a choice here. "it's fairly customary, yes." though, to be fair, he's never known someone to pique his curiosity so much. "but it would be a lie to say i'm not particularly curious about where you go. you seem to have more secrets than most."

"why would i get hurt?" she hadn't gotten hurt before, except as a result of her own clumsiness, why would that have suddenly changed. his care for her was sweet, if a little intense, and yet she still couldn't quite see the point. "i don't often get hurt, i don't think that'll be any different today." it would've been easier to go along with his wishes, but it was difficult to comply when she couldn't understand the point of any of it. "do you ask everyone to tell you where they're going when they leave you?" it wasn't accusatory but instead a genuine question, her head cocked like a inquisitive dog as she awaited his response. "or is this a curiosity you save just for me?"