✧ masquerade

[ignoranceisblight]

[Ratio doesn't necessarily want to be here, at this IPC-sponsored masquerade ball. It could certainly be worse than most parties, he supposes, but he doesn't really want to be here all the same. He can't say he minds the mask too much, at least.

Perhaps him being a wallflower is to be expected, though.]

Comments

[takesitall]

[Oh.

He sighs.]

Are you sure?

[He reaches up, fidgeting with his sunglasses.]

[ignoranceisblight]

I'm sure.

[A gentle squeeze.]

[takesitall]

[He hesitates, and then finally takes his sunglasses off and pockets them. Ratio is going to find out anyway.]

Alright. If you're sure.

[ignoranceisblight]

[Ah, his eyes... well, that just confirms that he needs to have a word with Chase and Vivian.]

I'm certain.

[He leans over to cup Kakavasha's cheek with his free hand.]

[takesitall]

[Oh.

He leans into that hand with a weak smile.]

You still don't want to drive me to my apartment. No parking and the streets are tiny.

[ignoranceisblight]

Alright. We can walk together, then.

[takesitall]

Alright.

[They do, and Kakavasha shyly tells Veritas his real first name (but he's allowed to call him Vasha if he wants) before they get to his apartment. There's a tiny kiss at the door which has Kakavasha floating on clouds for days after.

A few weeks pass. The two of them keep in contact, and one day Veritas invites Vasha over for dinner with some friends one night. Vasha accepts, stopping by on the way to get Veritas some flowers.

He may be a gay disaster.]

[ignoranceisblight]

[When Veritas answers the door, his expression brightens when he sees Vasha.]

Good evening.

[... And he leans down to kiss Vasha.]

[takesitall]

Hey.

[A kiss that is returned as Vasha hands over the flowers.]

For you.

[ignoranceisblight]

[His expression brightens as he carefully takes the flowers.]

They're lovely, thank you. [... Another kiss.] I'm going to go get a vase for these, make yourself at home.

[takesitall]

Alright.

[Yeah one more kiss and then Vasha is heading into the living room.]

What are we having, by the way? You wouldn't tell me.

[ignoranceisblight]

Mostly because I was at the mercy of my friends' menu choices and I didn't know until a few minutes ago. We're having curry, though.

[A young woman, close to Vasha's age, is curled up on the sofa, and she looks up when Veritas and Vasha come in.]

Oh, so you're Vasha, huh?

[... She's glad she decided to forego the colored contacts.]

[takesitall]

Ooh, curry.

[He smiles, turning to face the woman.

And then he sees her eyes.]

What--

[ignoranceisblight]

... Hi. You can call me Nisha.

[Veritas, having located and put the flowers in a vase, comes back over, letting his hand rest on Vasha's shoulder.]

[takesitall]

...Kakavasha. I prefer Vasha, though.

[Nisha can almost certainly guess why.]

I'm not the only one...?

[interstellarline]

[Yeah, she absolutely can.]

You're not, no. There's a few of us who've been around and beneath notice. Or at least we've tried to be. [A beat.] ... Do you want some chai? I made some before you got here.

[takesitall]

...yeah. I'd love some chai.

[ignoranceisblight]

[She dismisses herself to go get the chai, leaving Veritas and Vasha alone.

Veritas quietly takes Vasha's hand.]

[takesitall]

Other Avgin...how long have you known them?

[ignoranceisblight]

I met Nisha and her brother a couple years ago. Her brother owns a salon in one of the quieter parts of town.

[takesitall]

A salon, huh...good for him. Is he here too?

[ignoranceisblight]

He is. He's the one making dinner.

[A gentle squeeze.]

... He'll be more than happy to give you a job, if you want it.

[takesitall]

...I'll need to talk to them about that. There's...some bullshit related to my name and why I'm a professional gambler they should know about.

[ignoranceisblight]

Alright.

[Another squeeze to Vasha's hand, as Nisha comes back in with the chai and a slightly older man on her heels.]

Ooh, so you're the cutie Veritas has been so taken with, huh?

Samir!

[takesitall]

[And Vasha, ever the baby brother, just makes a face at this guy he doesn't know.]

Kakavasha, thanks~