interpersonally | ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ sᴇᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏɴᴇ's ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴs

heyyyyyyy mister s jsyk i'm totally keeping an eye on timmy this month and will definitely keep him out of trouble like always 🥰🥰🥰

( why does he even have his number. he's thankful the balfours have a closed network, at least. not thankful that all these posts go to everyone. he's already exhausted.

no emojis for you )

Maybe focus on the keeping him out of trouble part and forget the "like always."

[why do you hate fun, stef]

i'm sensing doubt. do you doubt my ability to behave? i can be good, i promise~

Fine, Koby. You can be good. Happy? Did you need something in particular?

i can't say hello? thank you retroactively for your hospitality? your couch is my favorite by far to pass out on~

You're thanking me, retroactively, for my hospitality.

You're welcome?

I suggest you find Alicent if you have any more thanks to give.

who? nevermind, doesn't matter - i did have business to discuss, per my guardian.

Business of what nature, Koby?

you're gonna make me type it all out? ughhhhhhhghggghgdskksaklal fine. she wants a share in the vineyard and/or exclusive rights to established vintages to serve in her european holdings. she's willing to negotiate.

You're the one who sent me a message. You didn't call. You didn't knock, or god forbid approach me in public like a person.

And you're acting as her proxy. You.

i'm preoccupied. everyone texts first these days, stef, its the new millennium. yup. do you see her anywhere around?

Cut to the chase, I have a meeting.

Jesus, Koby.

Why does she think I would give her a cut into the vineyard over my own flesh and blood? Not to mention, it's not her style. I've been to Alvida's.

( this is more for curiosity's sake, katherine is fighting him for it as we speak. on damon's behalf? not really. on hers. he's not opposed to this plan, a lot less for it coming from a twenty year-old. but, he also needs to shore up more than just blind offers from children.

he does need to make moves but he needs to evaluate properly. )

a meeting? on vacation? you gotta learn to relax. cause things are a mess and she knows it. she's opportunistic. like a vulture. and if you've been there, you know how popular it is. people love trash, they eat it up. she's trying to rebrand, though, get a little classier, high-end clientele. why do you think i'm HERE?

And the minute I ask for your advice, you're free to dole it out. In the meantime, enjoy yours. Vacation, that is. Not advice. Though you're free to take your own and leave me out of it.

Tell me, why do you think you know what you're talking about?

And please, do tell me you aren't here to negotiate a contract for shares of a vineyard I now own 100% of. Tell me you're JUST following at my son's feet, and not going behind his back trying to jockey for relevance on behalf of your tasteless adoptive mother. Tell me that's not true, Koby.

And if you hope to gain anything from this except for a life lesson, they're better be a prospectus on hand.

i'm not on vacation. [too quick, snippy; because this isn't a pleasure trip for him.]

and i've been coordinating negotiations since before i could drive. i know what i'm doing. ...but this time i was just trying to get into your pants, so. sorry for not having a powerpoint ready.

✔️ READ 10:45P

THIS USER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO YOUR NETWORK

Edited 2025-06-03 01:45 (UTC)

[ Sober: ]

Family vacation?

( someone reads.

stefano maintains a perpetual buzz on the saltburn grounds. at least, after his morning coffee. he's paired advil with a bloody mary. )

Family reunion, apparently. I think we know nearly everyone. Including you.

You should join me for a drink. We have mutual interests.

Due respect, Stefan, what mutual interests could we possibly have?

[ It's not a no. ]

( He could physically invite him to join, and then he could let him know, but he's not feeling tactfull today. He fully expects it might draw Stephen in, nonetheless. And in the event that's a no, well, at least he and Katherine aren't the only ones living with this information. )

Your ex-husband is sleeping with my son.

[ ... ]

My what?

Ex-whatever.

Dr. Harry Goodsir.

[ There is a long, long pause here. Busy trying to come to terms with the way that text has just both ruined and made his day.

Eventually: ]

I'm sorry your son has no taste.

I'm also sorry you think I have no taste.

In both of your defenses, you were both young once.

I have an aged Malbec in my suite. Join me. I can finally thank you for saving my brother's eyesight.

( before he turned down a lot of money to be their personal on-call specialist. and stefan was - a teenager. the more things change! and people age. )

[ He's about to argue further, fight to clarify, but there's something about the follow-up that renders the rest temporarily unimportant. ]

I barely saved it. I don't know that it's Malbec-worthy work.

[ It was. But the waters need testing, a little idle flirtation like a skipped stone to see where he stands. ]

By your definition of barely, either my father exaggerated, and he didn't mince his words, ( Guiseppe wasn't one to exaggerate. Hyperbole, perhaps. But always with an air of truth to it. He knows about his brother's challenges that remain to this day. ) or you're being modest, and you are. Better to cut right to it and accept the invitation.

( he didn't think about it like that, not about such things, but crushes existed outside of his dynastic expectance of his and katherine's connection. outside of klaus.

stephen may have been the first example (or what he thought) of a functioning adult, one who might actually be someone to admire.

to further illustrate his point, he sends a picture of the bottle on his bureau, airing out. it's indeed vintage. from the 80's if he zoomed in. and behind the bottle, in the mirror, stands Stefan in his black robe with gold accents, a half buttoned black shirt (1/3 buttoned, let's be generous) and matching black briefs. is this a deliberate choice, who's to say?

what, it's 10 something in the morning.

he also has a bloody mary in his other hand. safe to say it will be finished by the time dr. strange takes him up on his offer. )

Edited (HTML! jesus christ, final time, shoot me) 2025-06-02 22:16 (UTC)

[ Oh. A moment to take that in, make a note of all the things Stefan's left for him to see. To come to a conclusion. ]

Give me a half hour.

[ A half hour to shower away a lazy morning. To agonise over whether to take some pills and ultimately opt for performance over pain relief, leaving them un-taken, counting on the wine and the company to fill in the gaps.

Half hour to dress and groom, to make his way out of his room and ask a passing staff member where Stefan Salvatore's been put, following their directions until he's standing outside the door in rolled shirtsleeves and easy slacks.

Instead of a knock, Stefan gets another message. ]

I'm here.

Not many make me wait. Half hour it is.

( He likes that he finds him. Doesn't ask for his room number like a normal person, that he doesn't even knock like a normal person.

And, in kind, he doesn't answer the message, just answers the door. It's been half an hour, so he found pants. His shirt is buttoned up to his navel. He's presentable.

He gives him a long, lingering up and down before stepping aside. )

Join me.

[ It's been a while since he's had eyes on him quite like this. Even here, in this place, it's possible to spend weeks, months living a self-contained existence. In the stretches between parties and the bustling of guests, the house is just a house - if you don't seek a certain kind of company, it doesn't have to find you.

Then again, maybe the same can be said now. He did reach out to Stefano, even if this isn't where he thought he'd end up.

Stephen's hands are in his pockets when he strolls past him. He keeps his confidence that way, long enough to cast a heavy sidelong glance at his host when they're on a level, lopsided smirk disappearing from view as he enters into the room beyond. ]

Hm. They gave you a good one.

[ There are very few not good ones, words for the sake of words. He comes to a halt looking across into the mirror where Stefano had taken a picture a short half hour before. The Malbec waiting for them. ]

( He did, didn't he. A curious choice at a curious time.

Stefano doesn't need to deconstruct why Stephen reached out, or even why he's at Saltburn. He's a man of deliberate moments. And if they feel good - or right - and they don't take anything from the business, then why not indulge.

He closes the door, turning back and following him into the room. The bottle sits, untouched, by the mirror. A tray of desserts sits ona glass table by a chaise in the corner. It's terribly luxurious, much more Katherine's style, but Stefano has always enjoyed the lap of luxury. He was born into it. )

Bottle or room?

( He strides past Stephen, killing the two glasses. ) The Salvatore's have always been -- what's that American term, six degrees of separation? We're always connected. And the Balfours like connection. We're not royalty, but, we have roots.

( Turning, he hands Stephen one glass. )

It's been a long time.

It has.

[ The earnest pinch of a smile, something warm about shared history. Something bemusing about the passage of time.

A scarred hand peels out of his pocket to accept the glass from Stefano. It tremors lightly in his hold, the slightest ripples across the wine's surface when a muscle leaps as he overcorrects in his effort to keep as still as he can manage. Always hyper-aware in certain company of all the ways he's changed - this one most of all.

Rather than let himself obsess, he lifts the glass for a sip— and his brow folds in approval when he swallows, holding the wine away from him to appraise it for a moment. ]

This is good. [ He'd meant the room, but the bottle's winning now. ] Did you bring this with you?

[ Playfully indignant. If the Balfours are keeping all the best wine for the Salvatores and their connections, he's filing a formal complaint. The divorce may have technically expunged him from the family whose own connections afforded it to him, but he too is used to a certain kind of living. ]

Edited 2025-06-05 22:00 (UTC)

I'd make a joke about pilfering from the wine cellar, but, I don't need rumors starting. ( The Balfours do take great stock in talk. ) I do bring my own bottles. The Balfours stock Il Sangre, but variety is the spice of life.

( And he, like Stephen, he bets, enjoys a fine bottle of red. And good company. )

And there's nothing wrong with inviting someone back and impressing them with your good taste. ( And, it's what do they call it? A "throwback" bottle. Vintage. Like them. He steps forward, a smirk forming as he lightly clinks his glass against Stephen's. ) My good taste.

Hi Mr. Salvatore.

It's been a long time, but I hear you're visiting Saltburnt? I've reconnected with Teo recently. I think we might go out for an evening, but I wanted to bring him some flowers. Do you know what his favorites are now?

I just want to get it right this time.

[ teo, you owe him one. ]

( Really. All of a sudden, everyone (for themselves or their mother) seems to be sending him messages. So, now, instead of hearing everything secondhand, he's being directly involved.

He hates when people stick their noses where they don't belong, and hates it even more when they aren't genuine about it. There is no backbone in this.

Teo really needs to communicate to his real, fake, and otherwise partners better. )

As far as I know, his taste range hasn't differed since the last time you were together, but how about I leave the job of dating my son to you.

( Since you were clearly enlisted and it's clearly a job.

But, he also wants his son to think this is working. Maybe he'll make less trouble. )

He likes poppies, but bring him roses. He isn't Dorothy Gale.

It isn't a job. Dating teo has never been a job. I didn't know he was going to be here, actually, but we ran into one another out by the pool. It's nice to see him again.

[ wow, okay mr salvatore, better remember your son dumped HIM thank you. ]

And he wants to go to the arcade, so I told him I'd take him. I don't have much time before I have to go back into training, so I really want to start off on the right foot.

I'm sure it is. There's nothing like it.

Then. Bring. Him. Roses. They're romantic. And classic. Or, bring him poppies. Those are my suggestions. He'll like the arcade.

Roses, got it. Roses for the first date, poppies for the second, that's what I'm hearing. This is great, Mr. Salvatore. Thank you.

I hope you've been doing okay? I didn't keep in touch after - I'm sorry about that.

[ golden retriever energy: go. ]

Non dirlo.

It wasn't necessary, Quentin. Thank you for the sentiment. Family endures.

( "Don't mention it." )

Good afternoon - is this Mr. Stefano Salvatore?

My name is Hawkins Fuller. I hope I'm not intruding, but if you have the time - I'd like to meet. I'd offer to buy you a drink, but I'm willing to bet it's not as quality as the stuff you've got back home.

Thanks in advance.

( his son sits next to him, reading.

he doesn't know where they are, in their slow journey back to being father and son, but they're probably not to - let me show you what your latest suitor sent me.

that his son seems to be genuinely interested in hawkins z. fuller, means he doesn't get the full force of what he wants to say. this isn't a diversion like q. this isn't a misguided whatever with harry. right?

still. pretenses. he has to work for it. )

There's no need to worry about quality, if you're familiar with Il Sangre De Calabria or Fratelli Borbonici, both are on the premises.

( But he hope he reaches for something on a higher shelf. Don't go for low-hanging fruit. )

I've read your nickname is Hawk, is that because you set your sights on what you want or from your skill with a racket?

I have time. When would you like to meet?

Edited (missing words ) 2025-06-04 00:54 (UTC)

what's the deal with your doctor

"My" doctor? Our family doesn't use the same doctor now? Mi medico di base?

( His general practitioner? What is he trying to ask? )

Stephen Strange? I think he's hitting on me

( His first thought before he gets a response is, do you need a doctor? And then. Wut? )

Where are you right now?

Not right this second!

I'm out by the lake trying to get a tan.

( okay, so, then dr. strange is probably not hitting on his son. this is neither here nor there that stefano hit on him after arriving. )

You used the present tense.

Stephen Strange isn't my doctor. He was your uncle Damon's doctor.

He texted me late last night, drunk. Nobody drunk texts unless they're horny or depressed, and the latter couldn't have anything to do me, since I don't know him.

Did he pay his respects to your grandfather?

After he tried to neg me, sure.

Neg you?

Yeah. It's when you're being insulting, but also trying to get into someone's pants, because you think they have low self-esteem. Real loser stuff.

Like a pick-up artist?

I don't think Dr. Strange engages in that kind of behavior, Teo. Why do you think he was hitting on you? What did he say?

Yeah, like that

He opened by telling me I can do better than Harry, which wasn't from a place of concern, because again - I don't know him. And considers himself among the pool of better options.

( Oh. Oh he could see how that could be misinterpreted. Stephen knowing about Harry is Timoteo's father's fault and led - Well. That has nothing to do with now. He had a fairly messy time - before reconciling, kind of, with his ex and then bonding with his son.

Why does he think he was hitting on him?

He can't just tell his son that not every man with salt and pepper hair is hitting on him. Or would. )

I'm fairly sure, he recently lost an ex-wife. Christine.

every dilf in this place is on the rebound

don't worry, if I were interested, I wouldn't have come to you about it.

After your uncle Damon's graduation from university, he needed medical attention. Dr. Strange saved his eyesight. He knew our family, but declined your grandfather when he offered for Stephen to be on our payroll.

He became renowned, but a tragic accident cut his career short. He hasn't operated since.

And, I suppose he's here for the summer.

You really feel like he was making an attempt for you?

That just makes it weirder. They know each other. There's a lot of bitterness. idk if he respects you more than he hates Harry.

no offense. they just REALLY hate each other.

I was a teenager when he knew our family. Our paths have only rarely crossed. I've read more about him than spoken to him in person.

It sounds like there is mutual loathing there.

He probably just wants to get under his skin.

Or, he was inebriated.

So he hit up a stranger? In that case, it's sadder if he ISN'T looking for a hookup.

He knows the family. There are degrees of being strangers. You could've met him at the funeral, or at Christmas. Instead, he sent you a message.

To berate me. Which is worse than trying to fuck me.

Did you or mom put him up to it?

Yes. After making a great deal of progress and feeling like I understand you better, I went behind your back to someone I haven't spoken to in years and asked him to badmouth another doctor I had recently made amends with. And apologized to. In costume, so, you know what I thought of that. And yet, still he persisted.

As far as I know, your mother is also staying out of it but I haven't had her under thumb in a decade. She tends to do what she wants.

My guess. A friend of the family reached out, out of nowhere, and caught you off guard. He and Dr. Goodsir have a torrid history, he drank a little too much, and he couldn't help himself.

But, again. That is my guess.

Edited (dropped words because i am so gd enthusiastic ) 2025-06-04 16:45 (UTC)

Okay, okay, I get it.

He's really arrogant, though.

Well, he was a neurosurgeon. Tack on a disgraced asterisk.

Well, he should have let it humble him.

I sense a correlation here, but please tell me if I'm off base.

Well, yeah. If he'd let it humble him maybe he wouldn't feel like he's important enough to comment on other people's dating lives.

Edited 2025-06-04 17:35 (UTC)

The last thing I would ever tell you to do is humble yourself. And I'd hope the last thing you'd want me to do is humble myself. ( Within reason. ) We are what we're made of. We're the sum of our parts. He was involved in an accident and it changed his life. But, he still has a sharp mind. And accolades. And, apparently, opinions. Just because you don't share in them, that doesn't mean he should stifle them for yours or my comfort.

He said what he said.

And he didn't say it because of his deep self-importance.

You of all people understand conviction.

And his medical accolades have anything to do with me or who I’m seeing because...?

Are you really comparing that to what I do?

Conviction is doing the right thing, even when it’s dangerous, or you’re afraid. It’s not sticking your nose into a strictly personal situation you’re not involved with while choking down bourbon.

Conviction is about having a take. It's standing up for what you believe in. A broad definition of what you believe in. You stand by your own code. Or morals. Or thought processes. Conviction isn't merely taking a political or environmental stand.

Conviction can be personal. It can be professional. It can be political.

You can't have it one way.

There's nothing wrong with it getting under your skin. And maybe that makes you morally superior. But there are better things.

And, if he was truly attempting something, then, it was in poor form and he probably should have left your doctor out of it.

You think he was taking a moral stand out of principle when he texted me out of the blue to tell me I had shit taste? Please. He's trolling with one hand on his dick.

I highly doubt that.

But, at least you have the one hand accounted for. Messaging you.

I guess. I'll get him a sippy cup so next time he can bother me, get drunk, and jerk off at the same time.

That's an unpleasant visual image.

Exactly.

What's Hawkins Fuller up to? Why not use all of this energy to be wined and dined? Or at least not question your shit taste.

How should I know? I'm not his babysitter, he's not my boyfriend.

[ So much easier to play it cool over text. ]

That was hint, my young one. Thank you for informing me of your theory about Dr. Strange. But, I think we've got to the bottom of the case.

Now. If you don't have a boyfriend or a doctor or a fake boyfriend who seems to always be clumsy, would you like to join me tonight for dinner?

Maybe. I might have plans later. I'll let you know, though.

[ Hawk might call. 🥺 ]

Then let me know if you need anything else, unless it's a theory that the cook doesn't like your taste in sauce. I assure you. He doesn't care.

Okay if I dont like the sauce he should have made a better one. thats an awful comparison.

You're right. Maybe don't eat in public at all. What if all your non-boyfriends find out about one another. And then complain to you!

Yeah, I’m in constant terror that they’ll catch me in the bathroom changing ties every 20 minutes while I juggle multiple dates at the same time.

Come on. Harry knows it isn’t exclusive, he’s fucking other people too. And Quentin is fake, fine, you caught me. Just call me a whore, it would be more honest.

Esmelda did quit because you only wanted Mrs. Doubtfire on a loop. You said it was funnier in English.

Teo. It was a joke. I'm not backsliding. Your body, your choice, and every other modern sentiment. Your father's no boy scout.

Edited 2025-06-04 18:55 (UTC)

If you do need help pulling off your triple-booked dates in the same restaurant, I've coordinated worse.

I thought she quit because mom is a nightmare.

noted 😒

Your mom never liked Sally Field.

She probably thought Norma Rae was offensive to rich people.

She liked Soap Dish.

Really?

Kevin Kline is kind of hot in it.

[ If he's gonna be involved in his son's love life, he's inviting this kind of commentary. ]

I liked Elisabeth Shue.

But, you're not wrong about Kevin Kline. Also, A Fish Called Wanda.

( Also, Jamie Lee Curtis. )

I pretended to, before I was out.

[ Before he should have been watching any of these movies. Boarding school boys... ]

If, Kevin Kline, then Robert Downey Jr.

[ Not the Tim Laughlin-coded one... ]

You like twinks but you turned down Koby?

In that movie, he was a twink?

I'm not attracted to a friend of my son's, and in no world would I take Koby up on either offer he made.

Borderline. But kind of. He looks better now.

[ Now that he's in his 40s. Someone is gonna love the Iron Man press tour next year... ]

I was kidding, papa.

Ha. Ha.

We both need to lighten up if we're gonna make it through the summer. Come on. It was kind of funny.

10%. Room for improvement.

I love you.

🙂

[ Not there yet. But maybe eventually. ]

🍇

[ resting atop your pillow: a luxe, cream envelope, your name embossed in gold letters, holding a textured invitation — ]

( rest assured, he does back channel his way into the right number to question this invitation, all the while fully suspecting his son is pulling a prank on him. he has no interest in an orgy. )

Do you specifically hire people to slip in and out of our rooms to drop your invitations? My assistant might as well be wearing a bell around his neck.

[ point to where it says orgy. this is a respectable gathering. ]

i leave the staff substantial tips. they have access to everything.

I believe this may have been left as a mistake. Is there a return address?

not many people return such an exclusive invite. don't like parties?

[ unless you're the hot stewardess playing hard to get. #embrysversion ]

I don't celebrate the American government, nor am I involved in it.

And I believe my son already secured himself an invite. Who am I to steal his thunder?

it's not a celebration of the american government. i mean, unless you want to celebrate me. i like all the same things everyone else does. come on, if everyone thought like that, we'd have no guests. your son can hold his own. obviously. as demonstrated on video.

Careful.

it was free to the public.

[ he is the public. ]

Not what I'm warning you to be careful about. There are ways around diplomatic immunity, Signore U.S. Attorney.

I suggest you cease mention of my son's very public video. I don't know why you wanted your party to be a family affair, but I'm RSVPing no, Moore-Colchester. Or is it Colchester-Moore? I never cared enough to get all of your names straight.

you can call me embry.

[ ok fine, he'll stop. but YOUR son just sent him two peach emojis. ]

i've noticed a lot of people in this house like to throw threats around. it's like foreplay.

To you, or them? Or do you hope it's like that for me.

ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ sᴇᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏɴᴇ's ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴs

text; un: kboy88

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

the meeting is 100% fucking the former family doctor

live ur bliss stef

he's trying

@sstrange

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

@q

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

text | un: HZF

no subject

@timmyyyyy

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject