Evenings like this are not Bellamy's favourite; enduring a hundred variations on 'so, you became a police officer!' and making smalltalk about his father's business will never be an ideal way of passing the time. Unfortunately, having skipped out on dinner with Ernest not very long ago meant that when he 'suggested' Bellamy attend this dinner party in his stead, he was more or less obliged to agree.
Dressing like his father when attending on his behalf isn't actually necessary, but it's kind of entertaining- thus the turtleneck, which he's adjusting around the collar as he passes through the foyer with Charlotte (a tall redhead in a cream dress). She'd very generously saved him from one of those conversations on the pretext of introducing him to someone else, but they're already parting ways.
Meanwhile, in said foyer, the tall brunette (her hair tugged back into a very low chignon at the nape of her neck, a few loose, shorter strands of hair framing her face) with the golden eyes in her off-shouldered black dress is permitting her escort to take her rabbit-fur coat off her shoulders, accompanied by the leather gloves. She sees Bellamy while Almos is preoccupied with extended how-are-yous exchanged with their host, but she says nothing; rather, she waits for him to see her, though her eyes are on him, and that carries with it a weight of presence- the room does tend to change when she appears, even if she's just in the doorway
( ... )
The difference in Bellamy when he realizes he's being watched is minute but present; he doesn't look around, politely finishing his conversation with Charlotte and passing her off into the next room before he lets his attention move, but there's a certain set to his shoulders like he's not quite comfortable being observed. (It's that particular itch between the shoulderblades, and he supposes it says something about him that that is how he feels when he's under scrutiny.) Charlotte has people of her own to catch up with before dinner, though, and it doesn't take long before he can turn away from the doorway and ... relax, slightly, because it's Hasi.
A moment later he reconsiders the wisdom of this instinctive exhale, but nevermind that.
"This is a pleasant surprise," he says, joining them- his body language doesn't indicate more than a flying visit, but you never know.
"Inspector," Almos greets, neutrally- he's cordial, but he's also the type who's nicer to women than men unless he wants something. Also because he doesn't like the note in Hasi's smile when she meets Bellamy's eyes, but it's not really a jealousy thing so much as a 'this is a variable I can't control efficiently' thing; he's not the type to get foolish.
Especially since he correctly judged that Hasibe will lead a man into hell without really meaning to get him hurt the first time they met.
"Family obligation?" Hasi guesses. "You clean up so nicely, Bellamy."
Inclining his head in response to Almos, he shrugs almost apologetically. "I owed him for missing a dinner not long ago," he explains, glancing sidelong at their host in a mock up of expecting to be frowned at for not pretending enthusiasm and the equally obligatory feigned good humour suggests this is really nothing new.
"We consider ourselves lucky when the Inspector can be coaxed away from his work," he says, dryly.
"Bait," Hasi suggests, innocently, and sashays toward the parlor, "I think it's time for a drink, don't all of you? I'll play barmaid, even."
...well, if you put it like that--
(She's going to make such an impression, and Bellamy and Almos even know when she's toning it down; at least she's got brains to go along with all of the...rest of it).
Bellamy falls in step behind her, clasping his hands at his back and appearing nothing more than rueful at a glance from anyone else. "Not for me tonight," he demurs, "but I'd be happy to show you where everything is."
"Norea, there's someone on staff for that," Almos cuts in with a tone that's just the faintest bit patronizing; she gives him a little bit of a look and he smiles at her, though. And she shrugs, relenting.
"I like to stay useful.
"Be charming," he tells her, gently remonstrating and a bit teasing, "I'm sure you can manage that."
"Nic will be sorry he missed you charming the room," Bellamy says, in a tone that suggests Nicolas shamelessly threw him to the wolves this evening. (Because he did. Martel only coerces his middle child into a suit and tie when he feels like using him as psychological warfare, and there's no one here tonight who has irritated the Lefevre patriarch recently.)
Hasi grins at that, ordering a drink (martini) from the bartender on-site.
"You can send him my very warmest regards."
Roughly around this time, a petite, pale-haired young woman comes meandering up, accompanied by her father, the secretary of transport, one Mr. Chapman; judging by the minute change in Almos's body language, Hasi guesses this would be the 'old flame'. And judging by how said young woman looks like she hates everyone and everything in this room, there is also that.
"Annabel, Mr Chapman," Bellamy greets them with a little tip of his (water) glass, failing to miss how the younger of the pair looks like she wants to be here significantly less than even he does. It probably doesn't mean much of anything, but it's hard to get out of the habit of cataloguing everyone around him - and he's never tried.
It's easy - ease of practise - for him to fade into the background a little. Never so quiet that it could be called rude, and neither so animated that he gets paid much attention; he's just there, occasionally stepping out of his obscurity to fulfill obligations of smalltalk.
Hasi, on the other hand, socializes without any of the practiced determination of a social climber and rather like she genuinely enjoys it- enthusiastically. It's not uncommon to hear her laugh, or for her to gently experiment with teasing her new acquaintances- but sometimes she glances back at Bellamy, until she realizes what she's doing and then she stops it entirely.
(The routine- a quiet man accompanying her to some social engagement, sometimes referring back to him like a touchstone- it's stupid and anyway she's here with Almos, not Bellamy Morray- Almos, who is pretending Annabel isn't glaring daggers at him with a thoroughness so complete as to be almost cruel.)
It's dinnertime soon enough, anyway, and the dining room is waiting.
It's not until Bellamy notices she's stopped that he pays those glances particular attention, truthfully; he watches her, after that. Not too obviously or too closely, but he does, with a vague and patient kind of curiosity that is thwarted by the invitation to go into the dining room with everyone else. He leaves his water glass behind and goes with Chapman, hands in his pockets and a small laugh that doesn't carry.
"Still, yes, sir. It's a great disappointment to my father- he's very sorry he couldn't make it tonight, I was to tell you."
Almos leaves his hand on Hasi's back as they head into the dining room and he pulls out her seat for her, too- general consensus among the guests who indulge in gossip is they're sleeping together (and why shouldn't they be), and maybe they are, but it'd be another of Hasi's bad ideas.
She questions her choice of apertif, realizing the spread ahead of them, but- Americano wasn't first thing on her mind. Dinner, meanwhile, is deviled eggs with tarragon, followed by cedar-planked salmon with farro risotto and baby carrots on the side- and milk chocolate terrine to end it all, which is, indeed, a pretty impressive menu.
Dinner conversation turns to politics and politics, but with the air of familiarity that suggests little debate is going to get done and more casual exchange of information. Hasibe finds this aspect sort of fascinating, though she doesn't have as much to add just yet.
At one point, Annabel says, frostily, of exorbitant spending habits within the political world: "And I guess you'd know, Dad."
The banker's copper son who sits in mute judgement on that merely by existing - Ernest Morray may not be very good at charming anyone, but he's certainly got a knack for the oblique backhand - finds his salmon absolutely fascinating when Annabel takes aim at her father. A quip from Charlotte about Bellamy aptly socializing by way of Fabian strategy had drawn him into conversation about his own politics, but he lets it slide before it can skim too closely to inquiring after Ernest's opinions, relevant as they may be.
And at another point, someone says, "I didn't realize you two knew each other," of 'Norea' and Bellamy.
Norea is seated across from Bellamy, not next to, but she looks up and meets his eyes over her wineglass when that's said, smiling with all the warmth (or flare of heat, though she doesn't think anyone will notice if it's just in her eyes) that familiarity implies. She does, after all, remember what went on the afternoon he woke up in her apartment- what with how most of it was her own fault.
Evenings like this are not Bellamy's favourite; enduring a hundred variations on 'so, you became a police officer!' and making smalltalk about his father's business will never be an ideal way of passing the time. Unfortunately, having skipped out on dinner with Ernest not very long ago meant that when he 'suggested' Bellamy attend this dinner party in his stead, he was more or less obliged to agree.
Dressing like his father when attending on his behalf isn't actually necessary, but it's kind of entertaining- thus the turtleneck, which he's adjusting around the collar as he passes through the foyer with Charlotte (a tall redhead in a cream dress). She'd very generously saved him from one of those conversations on the pretext of introducing him to someone else, but they're already parting ways.
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Meanwhile, in said foyer, the tall brunette (her hair tugged back into a very low chignon at the nape of her neck, a few loose, shorter strands of hair framing her face) with the golden eyes in her off-shouldered black dress is permitting her escort to take her rabbit-fur coat off her shoulders, accompanied by the leather gloves. She sees Bellamy while Almos is preoccupied with extended how-are-yous exchanged with their host, but she says nothing; rather, she waits for him to see her, though her eyes are on him, and that carries with it a weight of presence- the room does tend to change when she appears, even if she's just in the doorway ( ... )
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The difference in Bellamy when he realizes he's being watched is minute but present; he doesn't look around, politely finishing his conversation with Charlotte and passing her off into the next room before he lets his attention move, but there's a certain set to his shoulders like he's not quite comfortable being observed. (It's that particular itch between the shoulderblades, and he supposes it says something about him that that is how he feels when he's under scrutiny.) Charlotte has people of her own to catch up with before dinner, though, and it doesn't take long before he can turn away from the doorway and ... relax, slightly, because it's Hasi.
A moment later he reconsiders the wisdom of this instinctive exhale, but nevermind that.
"This is a pleasant surprise," he says, joining them- his body language doesn't indicate more than a flying visit, but you never know.
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"Inspector," Almos greets, neutrally- he's cordial, but he's also the type who's nicer to women than men unless he wants something. Also because he doesn't like the note in Hasi's smile when she meets Bellamy's eyes, but it's not really a jealousy thing so much as a 'this is a variable I can't control efficiently' thing; he's not the type to get foolish.
Especially since he correctly judged that Hasibe will lead a man into hell without really meaning to get him hurt the first time they met.
"Family obligation?" Hasi guesses. "You clean up so nicely, Bellamy."
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Inclining his head in response to Almos, he shrugs almost apologetically. "I owed him for missing a dinner not long ago," he explains, glancing sidelong at their host in a mock up of expecting to be frowned at for not pretending enthusiasm and the equally obligatory feigned good humour suggests this is really nothing new.
"We consider ourselves lucky when the Inspector can be coaxed away from his work," he says, dryly.
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"Bait," Hasi suggests, innocently, and sashays toward the parlor, "I think it's time for a drink, don't all of you? I'll play barmaid, even."
...well, if you put it like that--
(She's going to make such an impression, and Bellamy and Almos even know when she's toning it down; at least she's got brains to go along with all of the...rest of it).
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Bellamy falls in step behind her, clasping his hands at his back and appearing nothing more than rueful at a glance from anyone else. "Not for me tonight," he demurs, "but I'd be happy to show you where everything is."
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"Norea, there's someone on staff for that," Almos cuts in with a tone that's just the faintest bit patronizing; she gives him a little bit of a look and he smiles at her, though. And she shrugs, relenting.
"I like to stay useful.
"Be charming," he tells her, gently remonstrating and a bit teasing, "I'm sure you can manage that."
"I will do my very best."
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"Nic will be sorry he missed you charming the room," Bellamy says, in a tone that suggests Nicolas shamelessly threw him to the wolves this evening. (Because he did. Martel only coerces his middle child into a suit and tie when he feels like using him as psychological warfare, and there's no one here tonight who has irritated the Lefevre patriarch recently.)
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Hasi grins at that, ordering a drink (martini) from the bartender on-site.
"You can send him my very warmest regards."
Roughly around this time, a petite, pale-haired young woman comes meandering up, accompanied by her father, the secretary of transport, one Mr. Chapman; judging by the minute change in Almos's body language, Hasi guesses this would be the 'old flame'. And judging by how said young woman looks like she hates everyone and everything in this room, there is also that.
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"Annabel, Mr Chapman," Bellamy greets them with a little tip of his (water) glass, failing to miss how the younger of the pair looks like she wants to be here significantly less than even he does. It probably doesn't mean much of anything, but it's hard to get out of the habit of cataloguing everyone around him - and he's never tried.
It's easy - ease of practise - for him to fade into the background a little. Never so quiet that it could be called rude, and neither so animated that he gets paid much attention; he's just there, occasionally stepping out of his obscurity to fulfill obligations of smalltalk.
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Hasi, on the other hand, socializes without any of the practiced determination of a social climber and rather like she genuinely enjoys it- enthusiastically. It's not uncommon to hear her laugh, or for her to gently experiment with teasing her new acquaintances- but sometimes she glances back at Bellamy, until she realizes what she's doing and then she stops it entirely.
(The routine- a quiet man accompanying her to some social engagement, sometimes referring back to him like a touchstone- it's stupid and anyway she's here with Almos, not Bellamy Morray- Almos, who is pretending Annabel isn't glaring daggers at him with a thoroughness so complete as to be almost cruel.)
It's dinnertime soon enough, anyway, and the dining room is waiting.
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It's not until Bellamy notices she's stopped that he pays those glances particular attention, truthfully; he watches her, after that. Not too obviously or too closely, but he does, with a vague and patient kind of curiosity that is thwarted by the invitation to go into the dining room with everyone else. He leaves his water glass behind and goes with Chapman, hands in his pockets and a small laugh that doesn't carry.
"Still, yes, sir. It's a great disappointment to my father- he's very sorry he couldn't make it tonight, I was to tell you."
"Give him my best, Bellamy, won't you?"
"Of course."
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Almos leaves his hand on Hasi's back as they head into the dining room and he pulls out her seat for her, too- general consensus among the guests who indulge in gossip is they're sleeping together (and why shouldn't they be), and maybe they are, but it'd be another of Hasi's bad ideas.
She questions her choice of apertif, realizing the spread ahead of them, but- Americano wasn't first thing on her mind. Dinner, meanwhile, is deviled eggs with tarragon, followed by cedar-planked salmon with farro risotto and baby carrots on the side- and milk chocolate terrine to end it all, which is, indeed, a pretty impressive menu.
Dinner conversation turns to politics and politics, but with the air of familiarity that suggests little debate is going to get done and more casual exchange of information. Hasibe finds this aspect sort of fascinating, though she doesn't have as much to add just yet.
At one point, Annabel says, frostily, of exorbitant spending habits within the political world: "And I guess you'd know, Dad."
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The banker's copper son who sits in mute judgement on that merely by existing - Ernest Morray may not be very good at charming anyone, but he's certainly got a knack for the oblique backhand - finds his salmon absolutely fascinating when Annabel takes aim at her father. A quip from Charlotte about Bellamy aptly socializing by way of Fabian strategy had drawn him into conversation about his own politics, but he lets it slide before it can skim too closely to inquiring after Ernest's opinions, relevant as they may be.
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And at another point, someone says, "I didn't realize you two knew each other," of 'Norea' and Bellamy.
Norea is seated across from Bellamy, not next to, but she looks up and meets his eyes over her wineglass when that's said, smiling with all the warmth (or flare of heat, though she doesn't think anyone will notice if it's just in her eyes) that familiarity implies. She does, after all, remember what went on the afternoon he woke up in her apartment- what with how most of it was her own fault.
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