[ The ring of met glasses and the evocation of taste, and Stephen tips his head in acknowledgement, mouth tugging at its corner as a little skitter of pride wraps around the thrill of closeness and implication and bursts bright somewhere deep and vital.
He lets those last words and the answering tension hang in the air for a moment before he turns his head and lifts his glass for another sip. ]
It's a fine vintage.
[ One more hesitation, a lingering cut of his gaze back to Stefano— and he tips his glass again, swallowing down the contents in a few smooth draws, leaving his glass with nothing but the sluggish red stain of the dregs as he surfaces with a sharp exhale and draws a fresh breath.
He'd intended to take this respectably slowly, see what happened as it happened - conversation, empty glasses refilled and emptied again. But he's not sure that he can stand to reminisce, play catch up with the intervening years. Some moments just need to be taken in hand before you can think better of them. ]
I'd like to try another.
[ Vintage. He hopes it's fairly evident he's no longer talking about the wine. ]
no subject
He lets those last words and the answering tension hang in the air for a moment before he turns his head and lifts his glass for another sip. ]
It's a fine vintage.
[ One more hesitation, a lingering cut of his gaze back to Stefano— and he tips his glass again, swallowing down the contents in a few smooth draws, leaving his glass with nothing but the sluggish red stain of the dregs as he surfaces with a sharp exhale and draws a fresh breath.
He'd intended to take this respectably slowly, see what happened as it happened - conversation, empty glasses refilled and emptied again. But he's not sure that he can stand to reminisce, play catch up with the intervening years. Some moments just need to be taken in hand before you can think better of them. ]
I'd like to try another.
[ Vintage. He hopes it's fairly evident he's no longer talking about the wine. ]