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

[interpersonally]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
IL SANGRE

text ❖ audio ❖ video

(this inbox is a choose-not-to-warn experience, please read at your own discretion.)

Comments

[holyposition]

Don't freak out.

Koby filmed it and he's on her network. That's where they would have gotten it.

I'm not. It's called an alibi.

[interpersonally]

( Stefano knows better than to refill a glass tipped back just-so. He prides himself on knowing the edges of every situation. He knows why he invited Stephen. There was very little pretense behind it. Get a load of his picture. Stephen bit the hook he dangled. He expected nothing less.

What he needs today is an escape from disappointing his son, angering his ex-wife, inexplicably saying the wrong thing to his brother again.

Stefan takes the glass from him, and his own, filled glass, and sets them aside. They clang lightly against the bureau. He takes the time to cork the bottle as well, preserve anything he can. Perhaps, they'll have a drink after.

Untucking his barely buttoned shirt, he smirks at Stephen, finding his eyes in the mirror. He turns, nibbling his lower lip, eyelids barely raising as he takes steps back to plant himself in front of him once again. )

Are you saying I've aged like fine wine, Stephen?

[interpersonally]

( )

You literally made porn.

An alibi for what.

[holyposition]

Yes, papa. I remember, I was there.

Nothing bad. I'm just trying to help Koby. He's gonna be in danger if he can't push a deal through.

[interpersonally]

You didn't just, out of the blue, decide you were aroused enough and curious and reckless enough to make a video. You had your best friend produce it.

How do you know Koby didn't leak it?

Only you can say things like that and make them sound pedestrian. Alvida?

[holyposition]

Someone has to hold the camera, just one angle the whole time is boring.

He wouldn't do that.

She's a complete psycho. He's basically her slave. Even if he finds an investor she'll just keep making him do shady shit, I'm not just gonna sit and watch anymore.

[interpersonally]

WHO WERE YOU GOING TO MARKET TO TO EVEN CARE ABOUT THE ANGLE OR LEVEL OF BOREDOM INVOLVED?

Alvida?

What are you trying to do? If she treats him that, what will she do when you get in her way?

[holyposition]

No one! It was supposed to stay between the three of us. But if we watch it back and it’s not fun and hot, what’s the point?

Why would she? She doesn’t know I exist, and Koby’s gone to great lengths to keep it that way, because he’s afraid of her.

But I’m not. And if I tell you, you’ll lose your mind, since it's been a month since the tape got out and you still can’t even handle that

[interpersonally]

THE MEMORY IS THE POINT. DOING IT AT ALL. IT DIDN'T NEED PRODUCTION VALUE. JESUS, TEO.

[holyposition]

Your disappointment is noted. But I’m not arguing with you about it, it’s already done. It’s a waste of time.

Sorry for asking you for help. I won't bother you again!

[interpersonally]

You never asked me for anything, Teo. You asked about the Caribbean.

[holyposition]

I was working up to it and then you went crazy, as usual.

[interpersonally]

( this is what you do to your dad. he finds and sends memes! )

[holyposition]

I need to be put in touch with the person who leaked the tape. Because I need more from Alvida's network, to facilitate getting Koby out of there. You can't threaten them or act crazy, this is more important than revenge over a porno tape.

[interpersonally]

Then I will tell you when I know.

[holyposition]

Thank you.

And it's time sensitive. So if your people cant figure it out, I'll need a backup plan, so let me know. Please.

[interpersonally]

By all means, I'll rush special projects.

Let me know what you need. I'll tell you if I have it.

[holyposition]

Anything to do with her hotel in Nassau. Blueprints, payroll records, employee files.

[interpersonally]

What does that have to with who leaked your tape? Is this in addition?

[holyposition]

I don't care who leaked the tape, I care that they got into Alvida's network, which I need this information from. I want their help.

[interpersonally]

You think they'll give it.

[holyposition]

If it's between that and facing consequences for putting my bare ass all over the internet, maybe. It wouldn't hurt to try.

[interpersonally]

I've sent you contact information for an old friend, and one versed in what you need. Valerie Tulle. Tell her you're my son.

[holyposition]

[ Getting himself an in purely due to nepotism rankles. But his pride isn't as important as Koby's well-being, so he'll take what he can get. ]

Thank you.

See you at breakfast.

[rehandle]

[ Stefano takes the cue, collects his glass and peels away to set it down, to take care of the wine so Stephen's haste doesn't waste it, and he watches him every step of the way. Catches his gaze in the mirrored glass, drops his own to catch the flash of extra skin as Stefano's shirt escapes its confines. Then he's back, and Stephen swallows around nerves and want and the swell of his ego, and tilts his head, smile wry.

That is exactly what he'd been saying, but for the sake of play - ]

I'm saying you've aged. I'd like a tasting.

[ Maybe the wine metaphors need to stop, but he's committed now. He pairs it with a light step in, swallowing up what's left of the scant space between them.

He's out of his depth here. Status and power hover, static bright when he's so rarely needed to notice them before, used to his own being a match for or surpassing the rest of the room. He can't rely on his money or his age or his gender or his wife to guarantee for him how this encounter's going to go, and it's both invigorating and terrifying to be so exposed, so in the dark. Gaze drops to Stefano's lips, lifts to catch his eye again. ]

Then I'll let you know how fine you are.

[ And back down to his mouth, unsteady hand reaching to slide up under Stefano's pulled loose, barely buttoned shirt, his first touch of warm skin over taut muscle smoothing up over abs and sinking to settle and root him at the hip as Stephen leans close, lights the kindling they've laid down with the nudge of his nose to a cheekbone and the gentle flirt of an opening kiss. ]