#tarquinchat

[rviner]

@ofwrxth tarquin x emine - pink party

-

"I'm sort of impressed that you get the Pink Party off work every year, looks like you're a die hard fan of it." Tarquin says once he returns to Emine with the drinks he'd left for. "At least you didn't match with Bella this year. Or...did you? I've not seen her, to be honest." he adds with a slight laugh. A part of him is content with their resolution. Friends. It's better than nothing and Tarquin wishes to respect the boundaries drawn, passing over Emine's drink with a small grin. He hopes she hasn't noticed that his eyes have sometimes followed her tonight, and her vibrant laughter has caught his attention over the music more times than he can count. "If I tell you something will you promise to keep it hush? Because it's not really my secret to tell but it's a bloody good one, you'll want to know this."

[rviner]

Tarquin chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Maybe I thought I could turn you." he laughs at his own joke for a second but waves a hand. "Sorry. That was awful." he clarifies but raises an eyebrow back at her as he plays along with the jest, though there's a glint of something deeper in his eyes. "Me and Felix, really? Are you trying to insult me?" he feigns offense but hums a small chuckle about Jakob. "God, yeah. At least it's obvious me and Tav's aren't twins. Those two...like they were grown in the same lab." he quips, with nothing but well humor jabs at their friends. "Then again, Freud had a field day with pretty much everything, didn't he? As my mum says, he was a bit of a twat."

Tarquin takes a sip of his drink, his gaze steady on Emine as she speaks. The word friends shouldn't sound so uncomfortable, nor sit so uncomfortably on his tongue. But it does. He ignores the slight twist in his chest when she echoes the word to him and nods with a smile. Listening to her, Tarquin feels a familiar pang of something akin to regret, but he keeps his expression neutral. "You don’t have to apologize, Em." he reassures her with a soft nod. "We both did what we thought was best, not really a...rule book for that sort of thing." he shrugs, feeling a tension drop away from the more honest discussion, no matter if he hates how everything is now. "If it means anything, you didn't push me away as hard as you think. I just wanted you to be okay." Tarquin adds, though he also doesn't clarify the embedded sentiment to those words. He takes his glass in the next second, moving it closer to Emine's for a small toast. "I guess this can be a new beginnings sort of pizza thing on a Tuesday. The past is the past, hey?" even if he finds his emotions lingering over the things that were, and what they could have been.

Emine snorts, waving a finger. "Well, you did date me despite those allegations, so maybe you don't really believe it." She raises a brow despite knowing he's joking. Even though times have changed, and things are different between them, he's still a good person. A kind person. And you pushed him away. "I'd say maybe Felix is your long-lost brother, but then I see Jakob skulking around and it ruins the theory. Poof goes my doubts." She snaps her fingers for emphasis. "But you're right, Freud probably would have a field day," Emine asserts and is grateful that they never squabbled. Not really. Their relationship hadn't been long, but it had run deep. Tarquin had never made her feel like she couldn't be herself or like she needed to prove anything. Emine swallows. "We are, yeah." Friends. That's what you wanted. She nods in agreement, all too ready when something stronger to drink comes along. "I did, you're good," the witch reassures, taking a hearty sip of her aperol spritz as she tries to sort her thoughts.

"I know. You were really understanding and wonderful about it all," Emine glances up at him. "And I know I pushed you away anyway," she admits. "You weren't bratty. You just did what I asked. Which is what I thought I'd wanted." She doesn't clarify that she isn't sure if it's what she'd actually wanted in the end. Because the past is the past. She knows better than most that you can't go back and change things. Emine frowns a little. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, Tarqiun." She apologies for the first time since she'd ended it. "I want to be able to do things like this," she gestures between them. As friends, right? Right. "But I could've let you help more, and I should've been kinder." Emine had retreated, trying to keep herself together and finding it hard to accept help from anyone, even Tarquin. Especially Tarquin. So kind and understanding and present. And she'd shut the door. "I'm sorry I wasn't."

[rviner]

@gloriouswhispers tarquin x filippa - tarq's apartment

-

"Have you got it?" Tarq swings open his apartment door, hearing the shuffle of movement along the stairs which he assumes is from his mother. Only the shuffling sounds more like struggling and Tarquin quickly realizes that she isn't just bringing a few pieces to store at his place, and it spurs him to leave his door on the latch to venture down and give her a helping hand. "Christ, woman. That's double the size of you." he states as soon as he sees Filippa's hands either side of a canvas that towers in the hallway and Tarquin moves closer, trying to find the best angle in which to help. "Here, just...no...mum, if you just wait a second." he stammers as they both struggle with it, Tarquin finally able to turn the canvas landscape and gently too. He takes a peek to the art work, only to find there's about three strokes worth of paint on the whole fucking thing. "You're joking. Not one of yours, is it?" he breathes out, deadpanning before he laughs and then starts the meticulous task of backing up ascend the stairs. "If you walk as I walk, this will be a lot easier."

[rviner]

@ofwrxth tarquin x emine - tuscany

-

Tarquin steps out into the evening, a cigarette dangling from his fingertips for a ritual he doesn't usually involve himself in unless with others. He heads for the pools edge, where the water glistens under the soft glow of the garden lights. Taking a seat on a lounger, he casts a cursory glance at his phone in the quiet moment he finds but from the corner of his eye he catches a glint of movement under the water. He hates that, just from the shape of the shadow, he knows it's Emine before she even resurfaces.

When she emerges, droplets sparkling like tiny stars on her skin, he greets her with a lazy smile and a nod that says he's caught off guard but not displeased. "Think you needed to start a little earlier in life before you can give Tyler a swim for his money." he teases, the playful lilt in his voice masking the faint unease that's crept in. The trip has been smooth sailing with her, filled with playful splashes and casual banter, yet there's an undercurrent of something more, a reminder of a previous intimacy at Azaria's party that had nearly blurred the lines of their friendship.

"Do you think...it kind of is cheating?" Tarquin asks in a kind curiousness before a slight laugh escapes him. "Not that I could bloody well do any of that. Not even with some magic, I don't think." he adds with a laugh, shaking his head. "Have you seen the way their arms dislocate? They practically have fins." it's probably a stupid way to engage in a private conversation with Emine but it's better than hey...sorry for touching you at the pink party while a song about a pink pussy was playing.

[rviner]

"Not sure I'm anything, Felix. Just myself, aren't I?" Tarquin laughs, but his cousin does manage to capture his attention. Felix is a funny old thing, but Tarquin has found plenty of moments where he's talked about his cousin to others. Oh, my cousin would know that, he always knows this bloody stuff. It doesn't make up for a lack of true family connection, but at least Tarquin can say he is friends with his cousin now. Appreciating Felix a little more than he's had the time to. "I'd probably get the audiobook, yeah. Or ask you to tell me the point of it. To be honest, you'd bloody tell me the point of it without me asking." he laughs, the sound becoming a mischievous chuckle as Felix highlights their insensitive conversation. "Mm, yeah. Heard you tried to pin the blame on the rest of us. Also heard that didn't go down too well...like a wall, perhaps." he laughs again, amusing himself easily before leaning to try and get a closer look at this apparent Claire. "Swindon? No, no. She wasn't a Swindon. Couldn't have been." he declares, because if she was, he would have definitely remained friends with her.

He waves a finger in warning as Felix sheds light on the obvious irony. "Don't start, Fe. You know we have a complex history with the Krauts. And don't get me started either, could talk to you about how beans became a staple all night and I don't think either of us want that." Tarquin states as they walk, hands stuffing into his pockets as he lets Felix take care of business. Saves him having any sort of thread of evidence too, which in turn helps Tarquin mentally disconnect from the whole thing. Makes him a little more removed from it all, and justifies it. "I don't know, never spoken to the guy obviously." he shrugs, before glancing to his cousin with a wide grin. All Tarquin does at first is let out a little burst of a chuckle, almost cheeky. "Can do, if you want, Fe. Knock your bloody socks off if it makes you happy, I can't do much about it. Suppose I'd ask you why you'd want to, though." he answers back, still with amusement.

"Sure, if you're a Nihilist." Felix laughed, finding genuine amusement even as Tarquin tried to twist his words. "Yes, I'd enjoy the tradition. Not read a book about it. Unless it was...I don't know, maybe each chapter is set specifically at the tradition and you only know those characters for that particular chapter and then the next one is their descendants two hundred years later." he tilted his head, giving a small nod of appreciation. Add that to a never ending list of what he could be doing, instead of fidgeting at the thought for a fix. He caught Tarquin's joke, and despite finding it witty, Felix shook his head in disappointment. "Tactless." he quipped, hiding his grin. But not as tactless as they both might have been, Felix returning his attention through his following list for any sign of a Claire. "I didn't, because I claimed I had nothing to do with it. I'm not an idiot." he explained, laughing to his cousin's response while keeping his attention on his phone. "Okay, whatever, Prince Andrew's bestie. Look, Claire Swindon. She's covering her face in a profile photo. Might be her."

Felix blinked then to Tarquin's statement, the comment about beans sending him into another quick laugh. "Oh yeah, the German word for home-ruler. Doesn't get more British than that." he grinned, smug and wide to his cousin. His attention momentarily was back to his phone, giving a slight grumble when Tarquin finally reappeared beside him. "Rocco?" he frowned, still glaring at his screen. "Uhhh...no, he's still around?" he thought, certain he only just was buying from him. "Let me try, he might just think you're a fucking narc." Felix added with a grin, mumbling lazily around his cigarette. "There's a flaw in your logic, by the way." he said as an aside as they walked, glancing to Tarquin. "About all this secretive snorting, I mean." Felix continued, focusing on texting for a moment. "What makes you think I won't just drop in the conversation about taking coke with you?"

[rviner]

"Hmm, yeah. I'd say you are, too." Tarquin muses as he studies over his grandfather for a moment. "Somehow, you're looking pasty and sweaty at the same time." he adds, his hand lifting up to pluck the sunglasses from Archie's face. He immediately sees pupils the size of the moon, stifling a chuckle with an oops frown. "Let's just...pop these back on." Tarquin mutters, carefully sliding the glasses back into place.

His grandfather's eccentric ways aren't even registered as such for the younger witch, Tarquin finding sheer amusement in the situation and also mild concern. What if Archie's heart just gives out from the hallucinations? So, he quickly agrees that he needs to remove the old gent before things start getting weird. With a slap of his hands to his knees, Tarquin gets to his feet. "No, no. I agree. I've known some of this lot for years, too. Last thing I need is them seeing you in that state." he concurs, beginning to help Archie to his feet. "Have to be quick though, pops. By the look of those saucers in your eyes, it's going to be any second." and he doubts a concrete jungle of a city is going to be a fun trip for anybody. "Always you, have you noticed that? We're going to have start thinking about a home soon, I was having a really nice time." he wasn't, he couldn't hear about Bali for another second.

As soon as the words bog and toilet resound from Tarquin, Archie heaves to himself and coughs back the wave of nausea. "Please." he huffs in disgust, waving a hand weakly in request and demand. "I've come over queer, Tarquin. I don't want to think about toilets." the witch insists with a stressed puff of air. His eyes follow the other as Tarquin takes hold of the cup, making a face as he watches his grandson take a whiff of the tea. Even remembering the smell causes Archie to remember the taste, making him cough slightly. "Put it down, put it down." he waves his hand more frantically then, the other still clinging to the cushion for dear life.

Archie then falls silent, watching what appears to be a realization sweep over Tarquin's features. Clearly, something is amusing to his grandson and the older man doesn't appreciate the delay tactics. "What? What is it?" he asks with mild concern, but the worry slowly rising in him like a tingly wave. "I have one foot in the bloody grave as it is, are you waiting for the other one?" Archie then demands, but when the revelation is shared he falls immediately silent. A stark look is given to the cup as Tarquin places it to the table, and then his gaze shifts to the other witch. "Are they mad!?" Archie's voice becomes a lifted whisper. "I haven't touched magic mushrooms since I was in my bloody twenties! I...wh...Tarquin, I do not think I have the constitution for this. I am delicate these days. You..." he falters. "I want to go home. You're going to have to get me home, Tarqi. I can't be here...with these people when God starts talking to me."

[rviner]

Ines' attention follows everybody's input, but she's chuckling to herself at the impromptu discussion as she tucks into the mango. And feeding Jakob occasional pieces. "Didn't you say you had three of these already?" she mutters to him in amusement once she realizes. "Oh, it's fine, I knew you were." Ines then says to Demi, and her hand waves slightly to a dancing Hazel. "Is it weird I'm sort of with Haze on that? I don't think it'd bother me." she shrugs, glancing again to Jakob. "Airtag would work, be kind of useful on the subway too." she teases, also not surprised when her cousin cuts through the moment, huffing as Nico shoves her. "I didn't even want to do them." but her words get lost as Owen's arm reaches over her, making her back up to Jakob but her gaze naturally lands on Noah for a flicker of a second. It's Owen's other statement that brings her attention to the Hawthorne again, feigning an offended head tilt. "I can't. Catholic." she quips to deflect with her casual sarcasm, while pulling out her cigarettes from her purse no less.

-

Bella is much like Nick, not offering an opinion on the tracking magic. "Oh, yeah, here." she responds quietly to Felix's tap on her arm, turning slightly to place her hand over his shirt where the pendant sits beneath. She focuses for a moment to help it dull his senses further. "Better?" she asks him before her gaze finds Nick, wondering if he noticed the same thing she did. The way Demi breezed on by Sebastian with little acknowledgment. Taking the drink from Emine, she gives her friend a smile as the discussion spreads but then is stopped by Nick's admission. "What? Amy!? That's not healthy." she offers her opinion then, shaking her head before she laughs at Nico's antics. "Mm-m. Also can't. His V's are too deep." Bella grins, as she gestures to Felix and then turns with a mortified expression for saying that in front of her brothers and his. "Oh my God, I'm an idiot." she mutters into her drink, fighting a laugh.

-

Tarquin refuses to comment, considering he knows for a fact he's had ex girlfriends place a tracking spell on him after his antics have come to light. Or, he thinks they have. Instead, he also refuses to let his gaze keep finding Emine through the group, and only perks up when Nico retrieves the bottle. He goes to grab it but has to tsk as Owen gets there first, but luckily the Hawthorne wolf is too busy trying to chat up Ingrid. Which allows the Arison to nab the bottle. "Crazy idea, but how about we just all put our chuffing cups up and I'll fill them." Tarquin announces, waving his free hand for everyone who wants a drink to step forth as he unscrews the cap. "Two reasons why licking each other is a bad idea, you'd officially be known as my Alabama friend group. Second, it's bloody hot today. What's wrong with you all?" @dxrkenedheights

★・・・・・・★

It's moments like this that Hazel feels gratitude that Noah drags her out. She's having a blast and without needing any alcohol either. Just the buzz of being around everyone reminds her that life is the exact fun you make it. The St. James is moving on the spot as everyone talks, bopping along to the music as she's surrounded by everyone's chatter. She only catches the tail end of Ines' words, glancing to the shifter and then to Demi. "I think that sounds cute." she remarks about the locator spell, still jiving. "I've never dated...you know, someone who can do that so I can't say for sure but I'd be like mm, I don't know. Safe." Hazel shrugs, still undecided in her own opinion. "Or maybe it'd feel controlling. But, in a cute way."

★・・・・・・★

Sebastian tries not to think about how Demi breezes by him in a locked approach to the shifter, instead choosing to believe that her outgoing nature wants Ines to feel as included as can be. But when he catches his girlfriend's gaze, he gives her a slight smile. Naturally, he glances over his shoulder when the topic moves to spells and he subtly clears his throat for any keen human hearing surrounding them. "It's not that cute." he says with a fair tone, and in response to the bouncing St. James wolf. "But there's probably couples that do it with consent, I bet." Sebastian adds, laughing faintly at the thought before puffing out some air and waving his hand to Demi. "I'd never do that, don't worry."

[rviner]

Tarquin plays into the joke, feigning a light grimace. "Oh, crap. I'd be done for." he laughs, despite knowing the knack is to pay attention while not letting any words take up his mental real estate. He more than likely would pass with flying colors, but for the sake of keeping a smile on Emine's face, he doesn't mind indulging the idea of being caught red handed. Another laugh escapes the Arison about here and there, Tarquin sipping his drink with a soft shake of his head after the glass lowers. "Do I sound like a bloody American to you?" he takes pretend offence with a tsk. "Yeah, I think it's to do with the movements of the mouth? Or something, I don't bloody know. Starting to sound like Felix. Analyzing everything. But our faces do different things with different words." he waves his hand near Emine's face with a chuckle. "I'm sure you know that already."

Giving Emine an engaged nod about him staying, there's a natural glance through the evening before Tarquin's gaze meets hers again. It depends entirely on her, but he can't say that. "Might do. Yeah. We'll see. Always think it's got a certain smell in the summer, though." he scrunches his nose, pretending to share a secret with the comment. Immediately, a laugh leaves him. "Wrong." Tarquin announces teasingly. "I mean, close. Wrong but close. Crisps are what you buggers call chips. And fries are what we call chips. But yeah, he had a pop up loaded chip thing at all the fests. People loved it." Tarquin is still chuckling as he catches the question and how Emine immediately tries to retract it. For some reason the quick bounce backwards makes him grin again. "It was, yeah." but it would have been better under different circumstances, or if she was there and the thought alone makes Tarquin remind himself that it was out of both of their control. Emine was hurting, and there was no blame to be placed.

"Oh, yeah. My mistake." Tarquin tilts his head in pretend defiance to Emine's statement, offering her a sardonic nod and a flash of mischievously wider eyes as she stands taller. When it comes to the great aunt's old home, he lets out a sigh with his shrug. "If I'm honest, it's probably already fully stocked with some art she's forgotten about. Not going to remind her, it'll become a whole thing." Tarquin laughs about his mother, trying to glance through gaps in the crowd to the vase and just seeing glimpses of Filippa Arison trying to speak people's ears off. His attention moves back to Emine at her leaving statement and Tarquin has no choice but to nod his head, not quite feeling as if he has the right to demand her time. "Oh, obviously. I don't want to keep you either." he says fairly with a smile. "But, might see each other again if you need pulling away for a few minutes?"

"All the bloody time?" Emine repeats, a slight smile dancing on her lips. "People might have to start giving you pop quizzes on your conversations, Tarq," she teases lightly, taking a small sip of her champagne. "Here? You make it sound like you're not American." But she knows he relates most with his British background – it had been the source of some heated debates, even if they were over scones and biscuits. "I think I saw a youtube video where someone did the same thing with orange but I'd think someone was weird for suddenly talking about one fruit on repeat." Emine wrinkles her nose, a brief flutter of amusement crossing her face at his expense.

She's grateful for the reprieve from talking about herself, canting her head curiously as he speaks. There was a time when asking follow up questions would've been second nature. But Emine isn't certain she really has a right to want to know more. Even if she does. Shit. She nods, "well, you've returned just in time for swampy New York summer. If you're sticking around..." The witch doesn't want to assume. I just don't know how to be with someone right now. Words she'd said come back to her as she watches him talk about his friend and their venture, meeting his gaze with that steady attentiveness she'd always given him. "Henry is the one who started that pop up french fry shop, right? Or, sorry crisps." She corrects herself with a wry smile. "Was it fun?" Is she allowed to ask? She twists the flute in one hand, waving the other. "Sorry, not trying to..." Emine shrugs. Interrogate. Pry.

"Rude, I actually have grown since I was five, thank you very much." Emine says proudly, standing a bit straighter even if it doesn't do much to prove her point. "Well, it does sound lovely. Like a little oasis from everything." Funny how a few months before he might've invited her to see it too. "Maybe your mom will leave it to you. Or fill it with art. Who knows?" The Sadık ventures a guess, furrowing her brows at the mention of Avril Lavigne, not even bothering to question it since she gets the sense he doesn't want to keep talking about his great aunt's estate. And she doesn't want to seem impertinent by asking when was the last time he'd visited. "Who knows if someone else touches it and gets it. Maybe it'll all come back to you," Emine grins. "It's quite clever. Shame people haven't listened to your mom. Well, I'm not surprised by Owen, but I don't think he minds speaking Italian."She nods and finishes her drink, glancing at the empty flute and then back at Tarquin. "Uh...thanks again for the rescue...I think I'll be okay now. I'm sure a lot of people are gonna want to say hi to you." You don't have to stick around for me. Words that were true several months ago, and now. But she doesn't say them this time and instead, nods at him. "You look nice too, by the way. I didn't say." He always did – with that bright-eyed gaze and smirking smile that spelt mischief.

[rviner]

"They did, yeah." Tarquin sighs with a laugh, but is quick to wave a gesture towards his sisters face. "Now you just look her the first thing in the morning." he quips, always wanting to return any quip sent his way especially when Tavi is on the receiving end. But he's laughing into his drink at the expense of poor Leo now, finding ample amusement at his sister and Felix's trickster ways. "Honestly, this has to be the best one yet. Don't think there's topping twenty million." Tarquin chuckles, shaking his head at how stupid someone would have to be. His grin is more sincere at his sister's idea, however. "I like that, Tavs. Be like...more genuine work to be proud of. I'd help." he offers, hand smacking hers lightly, if anything just to be included.

But when the topic shifts, Tarquin is once again using his drink and laughter to move around it and he waves off his sister's words. "Fine as in, you know, she has a lot going on. But we talked, there's no hard feelings." he explains simply, and none of it's lie even if his casual and unbothered facade may be. "Oh, sorry, did you want me to try and make a move on the girl who's sister died and family went missing? Yeah, I'll get right on that." he cocks his head, giving the other witch a judgmental look. Tarquin decides he has enough of the grilling, dipping his hand into his drink and flicking it into his sister's face. "You should be ashamed of such a suggestion." he tells her dramatically, and to make light of his very real dilemma before he wanders off.

END.

"Well at least you weren't wearing converse." Tavi encourages with a snicker. "Chinos made you look like mum in college." She laughs before taking a sip of her drink. The thought of messing with Leo is amusing as it is easy. "We didn't think that he'd actually bite. But, if anyone did, we figured it would be him." Tavi leans against the wall, waving at Athena before shrugging. "Fuck off," she says affectionately, wrinkling said nose at him. "I've considered opening a boutique. Just in general. We'll probably give the money back. After we make him squirm." She says with a wink before raising a brow. "Mmm, fine as in we've made up or fine as in...you're working on it?" Tavi cants her head at her brother, "or have you given up? That doesn't seem very you, Tarqi."

[rviner]

Amusement remains over Tarquin's features, his attention fixed on the auction despite everything reaching his ears like a blurry drone. Even Tavi's mutterings can be white noise if he tries hard enough, something he thinks is just a trick of being a baby brother. "You're comparing being someone's child to being an assistant?" Tarquin then scoffs quietly to himself, giving his sister a frown that shifts into a grin as he chuckles. "Not sure what that says about you if you're ever mother. Child labor, hm?" he adds, amusing himself as he watches his sister faff around with her watch. The word Hannah rings a few bells, Tarquin only able to give the auction half of his attention before it's back to his sister. "Assistant? I thought she was one of your models." he frowns thoughtfully. "Hannah, yeah? With the legs?" he doesn't intend to be crude but there's not another description worth really mentioning. Not to his sister, anyway.

He waves away Tavi's statement, under the belief that the least he can do is be there for their mother even if his apartment is starting to look smaller by the second. Tarquin tries to dodge the pinch of his cheek, swatting away his sister's hand with a frown. "Piss off." is the only gripe he can give, scowling at her. "Missed her, is all." is added in a little grumble, not entirely helping the mother's boy accusation but also not quite caring. "Anyway, if you just bloody answered the phone once in a while to her, it wouldn't all end up in my place. You're the problem here." he perks up slightly, able to laugh then at Tavi's distaste. Naturally, Tarquin's gaze scans the audience around them trying to find the woman. "She's got a weird hat on. I'm just saying, it won't kill you to give her a smile. Maybe not too wide, starts looking a little...Uncanny Valley then."

"I wish I had," Tavi smirks, glancing at the Patek Philippe on her wrist. "Jesus, another hour?!" She makes a face and then schools her expression, staring up ahead at the art on auction. "That's just what assistants do," Tavi shrugs. "They complain but they come back because they need to the money. And, last I checked, mum hasn't hired either of us as assistants. If she had, I'd want a raise." Comes her amused whisper until she scowls a bit, twisting the watch on her wrist. "Not yet. She's not given me the sick note, per my policy. So I'm having my other assistant, Hannah – do you remember her? Call around to the vets Marjorie would've taken her to. I don't think HIPAA applies here, so I'd like to know either way. Even if it is a load of old tosh." If her assistant is telling the truth, she'll wish the cat well. But if she lied for a day off, well, she'll have many more free days in her future.

The older of the two Arisons returns her gaze up front, a slight twitch of her nose the only sign that she doesn't care for the piece up at the moment. Maybe she does agree with Felix here, that modern art is self indulgent at best. Delusional at worst. Tarqi steals her attention, looking at the catalogue and the painting he's pointing to. "So what I said, mm?" Tavi grins at him and lifts her shoulders. "Your mistake is always answering when she reaches out. You're too available, Tarqi, love, even for dear old mummy. She likely goes to you because you're her darling baby boy," she teases, pinching his cheek. "And you'll never ever wever say no to her." They're given a harsh look from a lady with a too-slicked back bun, prompting Tavi to chew on the inside of her cheek to hold back a laugh. "Can we pretend you didn't tell me this? So then I don't have to engage? New money social climbers are beyond off-putting." She asserts, speaking down on the woman Tarquin mentions, even if her deep pockets make her worth talking to.

[rviner]

"God, not at all. Not if no one can tell, anyway, Em. Do it all the bloody time, I do." Tarquin chuckles but his tone is with encouragement, not surprised in the slightest that Emine needs to tune herself in and out of a night like this. "Have to." the Arison then stresses in amusement. "Otherwise we'd all go mad, the amount of tosh we all talk." He thinks it goes without saying that he's never needed to do it when he talks to her, unlike the practiced gift that he uses frequently at any other time. A quick laugh escapes about rhubarb, Tarquin's head tilting slightly to the side before he grins. "You don't do that here?" he quizzes with a chuckle. "It's what the old stage actors were told to mime so it looked like they were talking, you know? So we just say it to mean nonsense now, sort of thing." Tarquin shrugs, a very Royal we slotted to refer to his British roots.

The nod he gives to Emine is another acknowledgement about how she looks, but Tarquin also wouldn't be surprised if it's the last thing she needs to hear right now. He's certain his compliments aren't quite as dazzling as they used to be either, but she needs space. And Tarquin reminds himself he needs to respect it. "Oh, of course." he says about attending, leaving out how it was an instant switch within him when he realized it was happening. "Yeah, for a while. Just fancied somewhere a tad warmer." Tarquin bops his head with a nod about his travels. "You met Henry, right? I'm sure he popped over a few times but he's looking into getting a little fest going in Greece each year. Was helping him out." he downplays it all, keeping the faint smile on his face.

"Well, you probably haven't grown much since the last time she saw you, in fairness. Have to cut the old girl some slack." Tarquin chuckles, and despite always reveling in a conversation switching around about himself, the Arison finds himself understanding that it's all a distraction. "Four bed, but didn't want to sound obnoxious." he quips about a great aunt. "And technically, she left it to my good ol' mum but...also didn't want to sound like a scrounger." he laughs. "Pretty there though, should-" we should go. "Should be good this year, heard Avril Lavigne is dragging herself out of the clone lab." Tarquin takes a quick sip of drink, moving right along as he's sure Emine needs. "Yes, bloody Sumerian of all things. So now I'm told I officially killed it off. Not really a title I'm proud of."

Emine huffs a small laugh, glancing away from him. She shrugs. "Oh yeah? Zoning out for twenty minutes isn't considered rude anymore?" Her lip twitches as she looks back over at the witch in question and then to Tarquin again. "What are –" But understanding dawns as he makes a show of engaging her. The thing is, if it wasn't for show, Emine could easily find herself listening intently, gaze fixed on his. Because Tarquin has always been one of the brightest stars in the sky, a huge center of gravity that can't be ignored. And she's tried. But even this brief blip of a reunion (is that what this is?) makes it easy to remember why they'd ever ventured into the unknown together in the first place. She shakes her head and the thoughts from her mind, a curious look on her face now instead, "why rhubarb?" Emine asks, a lilt of amusement in her voice before she waves a hand. "Well...thank you." The witch clears her throat before glancing up at him. "And thanks for coming, by the way. Everyone said...I heard you were traveling a bit." Snippets here and there but she couldn’t deny having filed away each into a little folder labeled Tarquin in her mind. Easier to put associated thoughts away. Or, maybe it would’ve been easier had his presence not been so felt, even in his absence. Truthfully, she hadn’t expected him to be here, but his presence in the sea of unfamiliar faces is more welcome than she'll admit.

"Yeah, got my cheeks pinched and everything. Think she still thought we were kids. Last pictures she'd had of us and all..." But she'd been nice enough. Emine just hadn't known what to say after the small talk had died out. "Is that what happened to you?" She chuckles, thinking that his vibrant description was as Arison as it got. Painting a picture, with a brush or words, they were made story tellers. "Two bed in Glastonbury?" Emine takes another sip of her drink and finds her gaze drawn towards his and then in the direction of the vase in question, across the room being watched by Tavi (or not watched since she looked to be on her phone). "I heard it was an accident but you were speaking some ancient language for a week?"

[rviner]

Tarquin laughs at the raise of Emine's fists, a genuine sound of amusement. Mostly from the fact he knows she's stronger than she seems, but he doesn't dare highlight her toned abs at a dinner table. Not to mention a tiny dinner table at that. But, the thought has Tarquin reaching for his water yet again, wearing an easy and hopefully concealing smile. "God, you two love the lesbian allegations." he teases about her and Bella. "I bloody believe it, you know. Probably link toes under the table like absolute wrong'uns." now he's just trying to ease Emine into pure levity, hoping to hear a genuine laugh from steadied nerves. "They squabble more than me and Tavs do, which is weird. Think Freud would have a field day if he saw them then was told they were together for a year, or something like that." he comments, nothing but a well-meaning smile on his lips about his sister.

We were never like that, he's about to say but Tarquin manages to save it, suddenly thanking his lucky stars that he's dodged and dived so many social circles that he can weave even his own vocabulary. "I don't think it's weird, Em. We're friends." he gives her a sincere nod, and gestures to her as he smiles. "I understood, you know. It makes sense. You've been through more than some people do in a lifetime. There's no hard feelings here." he means every word, and there's a relief to say it to her face. "I kind of...left a bit eagerly. Bit bratty." he lowers his tone, now directing the spotlight onto him with complete acceptance. "But, I like that we can do this sort of thing. And more of it, hopefully. We're adults." Tarquin grins, flagging down the server and placing an order for something with more kick than just water to help them through the cozy setting. He knows he orders her go to drink without any qualms, and gives Emine another grin. "I guess there's perks too, like that. Sorry. You wanted that, right?"

"I definitely would!" Emine insists with a chuckle. "And you'll get the perfect, crispiest slice." She shakes her head, lamenting the hypothetical outcome as she pointedly ignores the way Sinan and Athena's tails twist. Stop it. He doesn't listen. Instead, she keeps her focus on Tarquin, lifting her hands in a mock fighting stance, "They can come at me, Tarqi," she laughs. "I won't budge on that." Though she does recall that he'd really only eaten it after a night out. Emine grabs her glass but nearly chokes on her water at his words. Immediately, the witch sits up straighter, trying to plant her feet on the ground. "That was an accident. I only play footsie with Bella." Said with a twitch of her lip. Usually only if a table has a footrest and the two of them fight for purchase to avoid swinging legs.

She's grateful for the way he tries to reassure her that it's not as weird as she might feel it is. Though his first example makes her scoff a bit, given Bella and Felix's rekindled romance, and his second makes her laugh. "That's true... I can't picture them together anymore either." She squints to try and envision it but all she can see is Tavi's face looking like she's smelled something vile and Felix's bored expression. Not exactly the makings of a fine romance. "I just..." Emine swallows, thinking over her words carefully. "I don't want things to be weird." She finally settles on, meeting his gaze. "And I want us to be friends again." She nods, as though trying to reassure herself of the fact as Sinan snorts and she shoots a sharp look at her familiar. "But, uh, you're right. Something stronger is definitely needed."

[rviner]

Tarquin can't help but chuckle softly and he mirrors Emine's nod. "I bet you think you'll get the bad slice, right?" he teases, the corners of his mouth lifting in a wry smile. Not ready to dig into the particular rabbit hole of their familiars, the Arison only watches as Emine shoots Sinan a glance, choosing to not add any commentary on their familiar's closeness. Even if he knows exactly why Athena wants to stay by the wolf's side. "I think there are some Brits who would fight you on that." he teases, offering her a wider grin. "Not me, though, you'll be happy to know. Beans on toast is more of a hangover thing for me." Tarquin laughs but the sound fails slightly as Emine swings her legs, the pang of nostalgia it brings when she knocks into his. He can't ignore it, however, and gives the other witch a teasing grin. "Not everything about this is weird but footsie with a friend is."

Tarquin listens to Emine, noting the slight ramble again which only means one thing and he decides to push his own awkwardness to the side and gives her a more confident nod. "You know," he needs to choose his words carefully and clears his throat as his hand waves. "Things are only as weird as people make it, really. There's a lot of exes that hang out, so. Look at Felix and Bella, they did for a while." he realizes his example may not be the best considering their friends are now back together but Tarquin keeps his gaze on Emine as a slight laugh escapes. "Tavi and Felix too." there you go, not an example of lovers who wound up back together. "Think in a few minutes we'll be talking each other's ears off and forgetting all about it." he's both teasing and reassuring, grinning again to Emine as he takes his drink of water. "Probably should've gone with something a little stronger, though." he quips.

"It would be unlucky but it's happened before." Emine informs him with a solemn not. "Not to me...but I've read stories." When she's searched yelp reviews for restaurants, ahead of time. The witch ignores the way her familiar and Tarquin's act as though nothing's changed. Maybe it says something more about their own psyche, but she refuses to acknowledge it if it does. Instead, she clears her throat, shooting Sinan an unamused look before nodding at him. "A valuable one," she agrees before a smile works its way onto her face once more. "Beans and toast is literally like putting, I don't know, peanut butter on..." Emine frowns, shaking her head. "That's a bad example. Peanut butter tastes good on anything. My point is... even on a non-happy day, I wouldn't dream of beans and toast." She asserts with a grin to let him know she doesn't mean anything by it.

Emine swings her legs a bit, feet skimming the ground before knocking his again. Cheeks flush once more and she tucks them back, shifting in her seat. There was a time it hadn't mattered – when the brush of his leg against hers, hands reaching for the same thing had left little sparks in their wake. If she's honest with herself, the sparks are still there, but they don't carry the same meaning. They're just two people now. It's what you wanted. "Yeah, okay. Exactly," she nods in agreement. "It is kinda close, but I don't mind." Emine admits before adding quickly, "I just mean – it's not bad. Like...I agree. It's weird but just... unexpected weird. Not bad weird." She frowns, "does that make sense?" It's not like she'd planned to run into Tarquin, let alone go to dinner with him and she knows that Bella will have a field day if she admits having done so. But talking with him, however uncomfortable she might be, still comes naturally.

[rviner]

He always thinks it feels weird to be back. But, this time it has nothing to do with the time difference. Usually, Tarquin is convinced New York seems to stand still when he's gone, only to return and everything resume again. Picking up where he left off. He doesn't get that sense now as he looks to Emine once they find their quiet-ish corner of the evening. He can tell the time has passed, and he'd even admit that he has felt every second.

"I've seen you when you're rude, really rude. And that was nowhere near it." Tarquin teases her with a grin, because he doesn't think he's seen Emine wear anything but a smile. Apart from... Clearing his throat, Tarquin gazes over the witch as she glances behind her and a quick "Op. Bloody beady eyes over there." leaves him in a mutter. " I'm just going to wave my hand and make it look like I'm really going to town on this issue." he says, a quick gesture making it appear as if he has Emine enthralled within something with much more meaning. But, maybe he does. "Yeah so the rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb, in the rhubarb needs sorting rhubarb." Tarquin grins again, eyes catching the fact the other witch has received the message, or not noticed that he's been saying rhubarb several times over. "You always look lovely but yeah, you certainly haven't missed the mark. Definitely a gift for everyone." he says, waving his hand to her dress but it's obvious what he really means and the issue is, there will never be a universe where Tarquin can dial himself back. Maybe another plane ticket is in order after he leaves tonight.

His smile is tinged with sympathy, but it's a smile nonetheless. He knows how he'd be feeling if this was Tavi, even if he'd ever admit as such to his sister's face. "Oh bloody hell. Not a great aunt." he sighs in a slightly forced huff. "Only good thing to come from having one is when they leave you a nice little two bed in Glastonbury, close enough so you can hear Elton John's walking stick across the stage every year." Tarquin grins before his hand waves around the evening. "Just so you know, heard you mention that vase, whatever Tavi might say happened, didn't. She threw it at me with magical gloves on and I just fucking caught it in a bloody panic so it didn't break."

Emine keeps her smile in place, nodding as her father's colleague asks if she's hanging in there. It's the appropriate response a few months on, isn't it? It's the only response she cares to give too. A simple nod. A forced smile. Because anyone who knows Emine, or her family – really knows them, knows that they don't want to constantly reopen the wound of the past five months. So the who doesn't matter in the moment, even when she's surprised by Tarquin's presence when he's supposed to be in London. Or Paris. Or Madrid. She's forced herself not to ask. The fact that he manages to extract her, with all the grace and charm she's used to from him, is nothing short of a miracle. Especially when her father's colleague had accosted her for nearly twenty minutes. Emine lets him lead her through the crowd, shoulders scrunched a bit as they worm through the partygoers, until, finally, there's a pocket of room.

She exhales the breath she's been holding and gives him a grateful smile. "Thank you." Emine finally says, accepting the flute with a dip of her head and taking a healthy swig. "I didn't...I didn't want to be rude." She explains, glancing over her shoulder to see if he's still there. The witch almost misses the compliment, a small oh, escaping before she looks back at Tarquin with a laugh. He's always managed to give compliments freely, but they never feel empty, no matter how many times he's said them. "Well, you know, this is sort of for us." She gestures around, "had to make a good impression." Emine takes another sip, feeling a twist in her stomach only because she'd just seen him. Hadn't she? Or had a month and change already gone by? I'm sorry, I just can't do this right now. But here he is, gracious as ever, giving credence to the English's stiff upper lip. Or smile in his case. She scuffs her heel and huffs a laugh, "uh, I've lost count?" She gives him a sheepish smile, shrugging. "At least..." Emine counts on her fingers before holding up her final number. "Eight? Nine if you count some great aunt who had pictures of us on her mantle but never came to visit."

[rviner]

"From the same pizza?" Tarquin has to ask but with complete amusement, his head tilting slightly as he laughs. His gaze moves to Sinan and Athena, the way his familiar's tail curls around the wolf's and Tarquin blinks. You can dial it down a little he tells her but she doesn't seem in a rush to move, and nor does Sinan. Even Tarquin has to admit that the tiny table has made him all too aware that he's sitting opposite Emine again, a snapshot of a repeated memory. Something that used to be natural and welcome. He even remembers moments of laughter for the two of them sat on big tables, feeling miles apart from one another. "Well, I guess we learned a lesson." for next time, he almost says but grins instead as he takes his water.

"Excuse you. I take offense to that." Tarquin responds once he's taken a sip, grinning to Emine. "Beans on toast is a staple. You're being insensitive to my culture yet again." he teases her simply and reminds himself once more of caution. Now they sit opposite one another like two lovers on a date, he even feel how his teasing takes on a whole new tone. In many ways, Emine's blurted out question brings relief and Tarquin laughs as his head instinctively nods. "Is a tad weird, yeah." he admits easily through a softer smile. "Not a bad weird, mind you." the witch adds with a thoughtful shrug. "It's normal for friends to grab pizza together, just not so normal for them to be nose to nose." he speaks with utter levity as he looks to Emine, because that's what they are. Friends. And he's fine with that. He's fine with it. "Unless you find it a bad weird? I can grab the waiter? See if there's another table?"

"I'll give it a 7.5. I can see one of us getting a really good slice and the other a subpar one. Don't ask me why." As they walk and talk and enter the restaurant, Emine's thoughts race in every direction. It feels like nothing's changed, and the thought arrests her because she knows she has no right to think that. Everything's changed because you wanted it to. Yet their familiars don't notice a difference. Or, maybe, they don't care. Sinan and Athena sit contentedly beside each other on the floor, visible only to the witches as they sit opposite each other. Tarquin's legs bump hers, emphasizing his point, and Emine can't help but laugh, trying to ease the awkward feeling as she tucks hers closer. "It's probably because we're having pizza on a Tuesday. And they only break out their big tables on the fun days," she quips.

"Also, you said something earlier that I take a bit of issue with," the witch meets his gaze with complete seriousness. "I would never beans on toast." Emine's lip twitches before the waiter arrives, pulling their attention. Opting for water and a small pizza to share, she wiggles in her seat, partially from anticipation of the food and partially from nerves. Specifically, from being seated opposite Tarquin for the first time in months. To the outward eye, it might even look like they're on a date, which they definitely are not "Is this weird?" she blurts out, reaching for her water. Taking a gulp, she sets down the glass as Sinan glances up at her. Emine gestures between them, around the restaurant, and then at the small table. "Us being here?" If it wasn't weird before, you've made it weird now!

[rviner]

Tarquin was somewhere in Greece when his compass span anew, veering him back to New York City. Home that doesn't quite feel like home. The sensation of which isn't new to the Arison who finds more comfort in the roll of suitcase wheels and intengible boarding announcements. Much more than the same key opening the same front door. But his return home isn't for a period of settling. As a cool evening breeze hit him in the face by the lake, so did the realization that showing his face matters. Not for the institute, or for his mother or sister but for Emine.

Their last conversation was tinged with the raw edges of grief and Tarquin respectfully bowed out the best way he knew how. With a plane ticket, fulfilling the agreement for space by disappearing from the city entirely. Now, he stands as a latecomer to the evening as his gaze immediately finds her trying to fight her way through a conversation. He knows what Emine's smile looks like when full of joy and warmth, and that's not it. Seamlessly, Tarquin interrupts the scene by placing a gentle touch to her arm and offering a polite smile to the other witch that accosts her. "Excuse me, sorry. Just need her for a minute." he says easily and smoothly as he whisks Emine away with him, threading through the crowd until they can be lost within it. "Don't actually need to talk to me for long if you don't want to, just sensed the SOS vibes, Em." Tarquin chuckles, retracting his hand from her arm so he can pluck two flutes of champagne from a tray. "You look lovely." he states and flashes his best smile, passing one glass to her with a nod. "Go on then, hit me with it. How many people have said how much they loved her that you've never even met before?" it's much easier to find levity than admitting how often he almost texted her while away.

+ OPEN / CHARITY EVENT

"Oh, yes, don't worry – I'll be sure to tell them you came. It'll mean so much," Emine tells the stranger she doesn't quite recognize but who'd felt compelled to interrupt her conversation to give well wishes. Your brother said such lovely words about Elif. I was certainly moved. She'll be missed. The witch nods again, swallowing to keep a bright smile in place. "She will. Definitely. Thank you." She waves goodbye when they finally retreat, and returns her focus to her companion. "Sorry, what were you saying?" Emine asks, trying to focus on them and not the thick lump in her throat. "Oh, right," she snaps her fingers, "the vase? Are you going to bid on it?"