#sooorry rereading same difference and I just loooove that storyline there

[breitzbachbea]

"God, you don't even notice, do you?" Arielle said as they stood on the balcony, Lyons to their feet. Her eyebrows slightly furrowed, a layer of removed disdain on her words.

"I'm afraid not, Miss Halévy?" he asked her. He was used to her scorn, but this was different.

"You smell like you smoke," she answered. "Like a cheap backroom bar."

~

"Mister Bailey."

The other two stopped in their tracks.

"Well, either he's just found out something that is troubling regarding business ..." Arthur said.

"Or he's pissed with me," Robert added. They turned around as Tahir joined them.

"I think we have to talk about your habits," Tahir said, the thin veneer of politeness over it all.

"My habits?" Robert asked. "The fuck you've been hearing again."

"Hearing is not the sense that's concerned here." At least the friendlyness was dropped for unfeeling efficiency. "Your habits of tarring your lungs now make people think I smoke. This is getting ridiculous."

"... well, you are dating a smoker, Tahir ..." Arthur said. "Not that I also think that it could always be less, but ..."

"But what? Do you not mind, that you reek of nicotine against your will?"

"Well, I would, if I did but I'm certain someone would have told me if that was the case. I think you're forgetting that you're probably more exposed to it than me."

"Either way, I'm not stopping," Robert said and did so with a grin when he noticed Tahir's growing ire. "You're getting fag-free kisses, that's all we ever agreed on, handsome."

"Then a new deal is in order, because I'm not letting people think I'm an irresponsible sleazebag." Tahir stepped closer, his face barely removed from Robert. "You will get a grip on this, because either the fags go or I do."