✧ 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]

Then I think it works out well enough for me~

[He offers his glass up for a toast.]

[ignoranceisblight]

[A toast!

Their food doesn't take much longer to arrive and it's wonderful. Ratio ends up feeding Kakavasha a not-insignificant portion of the kleftiko, but he's fine with that. It's cute how much the other man clearly enjoyed it.

Once the meal is paid for...]

Hmm... I'm not certain I want to part ways just yet.

[takesitall]

You, too?

[He smiles, leaning in a little.]

[ignoranceisblight]

[He nods, smiling and leaning in as well.]

We could... drive around, perhaps, find somewhere to walk around together? See where the night goes from there?

[takesitall]

I'd love that.

[They end up at a park with late night food trucks still around and end up just wandering the park. Ratio even gets Vasha some dessert, because he's a gentleman like that.

Eventually it starts to get late, and Ratio offers to drive Vasha home. He plugs in an address that is absolutely not in a residential area.]

You'll want to stop here, and I can walk the rest of the way.

[ignoranceisblight]

... Are you certain? It's late.

[And the nearest residential area... is it really safe for Kakavasha to walk that far alone?]

[takesitall]

Yeah, I'm sure. Your car is...well, it'd stand out.

[ignoranceisblight]

[... Ah, so that's it.]

In that case, I'll walk to the residential area with you. I just want to make sure you get home safely.

[takesitall]

That...might not be safe either. You'd stand out, doctor, and just because the neighborhood is nice enough doesn't mean...

[ignoranceisblight]

[After a few moments, he reaches over and takes one of Kakavasha's hands.]

I'm more than capable of defending myself, Vasha.

[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...?