Players:
Summary: Another late night advice session at Nolita.
Date: February 09, 2010.
Log Title Soul of Discretion
Rating: PG.
Nolita
Slipping in at closing time isn't a problem. Ethan's been here before and if the staff looks at him funny, Xane's name is like a pass to get into to see the chef as his staff departs for the evening after having left the place in that immaculate state that is so remarkable and the hallmark of a truly professional working kitchen at rest. Ethan is dressed for the weather, in a heavy cashmere and wool blend coat that he loves (and is the most expensive thing he owns), a pair of black slacks and a blue dress shirt under a black sweater. The shoes match. It's a little somber but he does his best to try to look older than he is so people will take him seriously. When he gets back to the kitchen, he thanks the sous chef who escorted him in (and presumably warned Xane of his coming) and leans on one of the steel counters, waiting for the Spirit and generally looking around with interest.
The kitchen is appointed very nicely, though right now the counters are bare, stainless steel. A single pass table made of white marble rests in front of the kitchen exit, at waist height to make easy grabbing. The chef is actually in his office right now, and of course, his sous chef didn't say ANYTHING about someone waiting for Xane. "Louis, j'ai besoin de ces palourdes et langoustines demain, s'il vous plais." He says, his cell phone held up to his ear. The French fishmonger, one of the best in town, is getting some new product in, and Xane is trying to catch the first choice. He stops in his tracks as he sees Ethan leaning on the counter. He holds a finger up and mouths 'just a sec'. "Louis, je vous rencontrerai au marche. Oui, bon nuit, mon ami." He ends the call. "Ethan, what a surprise, two visitors today." He's smiling though, never wanting to shy away anyone.
Ethan smiles and his eyebrows lift at the stream of French and he waves genially as he waits for Xane to finish his business. He says, "Ah, sorry, I used your name to get back here. Somebody was supposed to tell you. Bad time?" He doesn't seem put off by the idea that Xane has things to do. It's a business. He's a businessman. Busy happens. "I can bug you later, if you'd like."
"You kidding? It's closing time. I just had to call that guy cause he's getting in the seafood at five. And I'm making sure that he's giving me first pick. And Monty loves to screw around with me like that. So, what's up?" He's in a bit of a cursing mood, considering the heat of the line brings that out in most cooks and chefs. Xane puts down his prized knife-roll and ventures over to a fridge with a label written on masking tape that reads 'XANE'S SHIT, DON'T TAKE ANYTHING.' And pulls out two small round bottles of Orangina. He slides one over to Ethan and opens his own.
Ethan nods his thanks and salutes Xane with the bottle, shrugging out of his coat, folding that across the prep table and pulling up a stool. Apparently, he thinks this might take a moment. He cracks open the drink and takes a sip. "Well, other than the fact that I just wanted to, you know, say hi? I can use some advice. And you're pretty much the advice guy in my life." That last is said with a mixture of wry amusement and a rueful sort of self-revelation.
The chef takes a good sip of the citrus beverage. "Sure, ask away." He offers, grinning from the wanting to see him part. "What is it, girl advise, boy advise…alien advise?" He wiggles his eyebrows in jest at that last one.
Ethan snorts. "Aliens aren't my thing. And, um, yea. I think it would be kind of a conflict of interest to ask you about my romantic life, all things considered." He pauses and says, "But it is sort of related." Another drink. "Ok, so here's the thing. Um, what do you know about Drew and Kaden's future plans?" If they haven't told him, he doesn't want to betray any confidences.
Xane stops taking a sip after Ethan mentions Drew and Kaden. His eyes turn white, looking at every inch of Ethan. He still doesn't receive any info though. Dammit. "Umm…tell you what, you tell me what you know first." Hopefully, because the general consensus among the Spirits and Ethan is that he's good at advise, Xane most likely knows more on that subject.
Ethan pauses a moment and those white eyes cause his own to get a little wider. He says, "Ah, I'd hope you'd keep this quiet if it's new to you." He doesn't make childish demands about swearing Xane to secrecy because, well, it's Xane. "They are thinking of moving out because they want to stand on their own. I do too. I've never /had/ to do that before and it's probably about time. But they also extended an offer for me to go with them. The thing is, they have plans for their future and I … really don't yet. Beyond vague stuff. Also, it kind of feels like I'd be siding with them against Keith. And I know Keith likes me as well. Just you know, as he put it, as 'a sexy little guy who spends his nights in the Spirit's beds'." He shrugs. "That pissed me off at first, but you know what? I kinda earned it. I've been a little …giddy… ever since I met all of you."
Xane's own eyes widen at the comment Keith made. "What the hell? Just cause he's a damn partyboy, doesn't mean we all are." Especially because of the relationship Xane has with Ethan. "And you've never spent the night in my bed." He shakes his head. "So, do you want to go with them? You won't have the butler there to clean up after you guys. Bear that in mind, and it's not going to be as good as what we've got now." Xane himself has been mulling over moving out for a while himself, not wanting to upset anyone else, he's been keeping very quiet over that. "You know…there's other options available to you as well."
Ethan blushes faintly but feels the need to be totally honest with Xane, all things considered. "Not /your/ bed. No." The stress is faint but mistakable and he shrugs. "I could say something like just being around you guys is a little overwhelming but that's only part of it. You also have a …closeness… a bond that that I find really hard to resist even being at the edges of. Belonging and all that." He says, "And I'm not exactly worried about cleaning up after myself. I've been living in dorm rooms since the age of twelve. It's sink or swim on cleaning and laundry and stuff." He tilts his head and says, "Options are good. The more the better."
"Yeah, well, I mean. Depending on what you guys are going to do. I was going to move out soon, I want to experience new things." Yes, even Xane hasn't experienced life in New York by himself for very long. "Even if it's just you. You're welcome to join me." Xane says, smiling still. "I know how you feel, I mean, I feel the same. But I can be away from the others for a while. You know? Not being around all the time. And since Kaden and Drew may want to do college or something, if they wanted like to live there during the summers and holidays, I wouldn't mind. You as well."
Ethan's eyebrows lift at that bit of news and he takes a drink of his juice. Both his visible demeanor and to Xane's supernatural senses, he radiates relief. "Oh man. It wasn't me, then!" He lets out a low, long breath. "I was really half-convinced that I was the reason that Drew and Kaden were breaking off…." He grins faintly at Xane. "My mom is an anthropologist. 'Don't disrupt the native culture' is rule one." He pauses and then says, "I have to admit living with you, even part-time, is an attractive option. But then again, like Keith, you don't need my help. I'd kind of being living off your charity. The rest sounds good though. Wouldn't it alienate Keith, though?"
Xane says, "Well, I mean, you wouldn't have to live off my charity. You could just. I dunno contribute or something." Xane says, before shaking his head. "No, I don't think it would alienate him, it's our natural progression. We are all doing our thing, and Keith and everyone else should respect that."
Ethan grins broadly and doesn't speak for a moment. And then, "I'd really like that As long as I'm paying my share. If nothing else it facilitates my master plan to get you out on dates and such." He says that in the offhand, casual way that means he's not joking at all, just using the polite pretense of one to give Xane the option to laugh it off. "And it solves a couple of the second-tier problems as well. Like not intruding on Drew and Kaden in what might be a kind of important point in their lives. And making sure that it doesn't seem like anybody is taking sides. Given Keith's personality and tastes, he's going to assume the four of us are pairing off, whether or not that happens. That's a motivation he understands and will accept."
Xane leans his head toward Ehtan in agreement. "I bet. And you know you don't have to convince me." He says, leaning towards the dating comment. "He doesn't have to accept it, he just has to respect the decision."
Ethan grins faintly as Xane puts that out in the moment and nods. "Good. I'm glad." And then, "Yea, but you guys belong together. And frankly, that's far more important than me. You're, well, I know you hate the thought, but you're more than human. More than mortals. Not gods in the classic sense but pretty close. And if you have a fate or job." He shrugs and says, "Mage. My job is facilitate that stuff. Not hinder it. And certainly not be, ah, Ganymede to this particular pantheon."
"You remember what I said earlier? When we are all together it is a bad sign, and when we aren't, things are going alright. It just happens." Xane says, believing this is a good sign for the group as a whole. "We are more than men, true, but that doesn't mean we have to all be together on Mount Olympus."
Ethan grins and nods. "Well, in that case, maybe I'm just catching you guys at the time when things are going well." He finishes off his drink and gives Xane a long look before saying, "You know. Even knowing your portfolio, so to speak, I'm glad you're in my life. I don't think I've had anybody else, ever, who can just step back with me and try to handle things on a logical level but still keep people's feelings in mind. It's nice not to be, ah, at the risk of making you laugh… the only adult in the room."
"Ethan, you're much more adult than you give yourself. Just because you're physically seventeen, you act much more mature." Xane finishes the bottle of Orangina in his hand. "Oh, and that 'thinking on a logical level while still keeping people's feelings in mind'? That's something you get with either a higher maturity, or age. I got mine from age though." Xane gives Ethan a smile, and reaches in to hug him. His sleeves are a bit caked with cooking, but the body of his jacket is clean.
Ethan starts to make a self-depreciating joke but the hug catches him by surprise and he just returns it, wordlessly. If Xane is looking, his emotions and aura spike towards happiness and contentment at that. He tilts his head up to kiss Xane's jaw line. Not quite chastely but not jumping him at the first sign of intimacy either. After a moment he says, "I've been solving my own problems for a long time. You get smart. Or you get messed up." He grins faintly and says, "And really? The market for messed up teenagers? Completely glutted." A pause. "Hm. Want to go home? Or can I buy you a cup of coffee and pretend I'm all suave and stuff?"
