Ethan Chandler (somenightwork) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-03-31 00:18:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, dorian gray, ethan chandler |
Who: Ethan Chandler and Dorian Gray
What: Lunch
When: Earlier this month
Where: Somewhere fancy that Dorian picked
Warnings: Low/none
Status: Complete!
When Dorian and Ethan had made plans to meet for lunch to catch up, Dorian had decided that the best place for them to do that was a restaurant instead of his house. Having Vanessa over was one thing, but Dorian didn’t want Ethan to get the wrong idea. After all, when Dorian had taken Ethan home in the dreams, they had wound up having sex and things had been awkward enough since just before Christmas when Dorian and Victor had kissed as a result of that strange mistletoe, which Dorian had to admit, he was strangely intrigued by. Then again, many things intrigued Dorian that others probably found odd.
Deciding to go for neutral territory, Dorian made a reservation at one of his favorite restaurants and had taken a seat in the waiting area when he arrived to wait for Ethan.
Neutral territory is definitely a good choice, in Ethan’s opinion. He likes Dorian well enough, but there’s something about the man he doesn’t quite trust all the way. He can’t put his finger on it, and maybe it’s lingering discomfort from the dreams or from Christmas, but he’d much rather meet him out somewhere than have drinks at his place.
So he manages to clean himself up a bit. Clean jeans and a button down shirt. He even finds a blazer to throw on, since he figures this place is a little more upscale than his usual fair.
He smiles when he sees Dorian and offers his hand in greeting. “Well don’t I feel underdressed.”
Dorian only partly regretted what had happened when he and Vanessa had bumped into Ethan and Victor just before Christmas. He wouldn’t admit it to either Vanessa or Ethan though, but even though he was compelled to kiss Victor, he had secretly enjoyed it. He hadn’t met Victor in the dreams yet, but he had a fairly good feeling that nothing like that would happen there between them. He could be completely wrong, but he didn’t think he was.
As he spotted Ethan, he got to his feet and approached the other man’s hand, smiling, “Don’t worry. You look fine, Mr. Chandler.” Dorian had a tendency to slightly overdress for most occasions, especially going out to dinner. He glanced over at the hostess and signalled her that they were ready to be seated.
Dorian does seem that type, Ethan thinks. The sort to dress to the nines no matter what the occasion, even just lunch. Ethan’s more of a jeans and boots type, but he cleans up okay.
“Nice to see you again. And just Ethan would do me fine. Mister Chandler makes me feel like I’m at work.”
The hostess approached them and gestured for them to follow her to a table, “Ethan it is then.” Dorian had grown up addressing most people by their last names aside from classmates and friends, but when it came to the people from their dreams, Dorian couldn’t help but fall into the habit of using formalities. It was common place in their dreams and Vanessa was the only one who he addressed by her first name, but that was because they were actually dating and continuing to call her Miss. Ives would just be silly.
“How is Victor? He’s home, I hear.” Dorian asked as they reached their table and he sat down, picking up one of the menus to look over.
“He is, yes!” And Ethan looks pleased and most of all relieved at that. He’d been so damn worried about Victor, but he’d visited. And e-mailed when he couldn’t get over to visit. “He’s looking a lot better, these days. Healthy like.” Or at least as healthy as Victor ever looks.
He frowns at the menu a little because it all seems a bit pricey, and not Ethan’s usual fair. “What would you recommend here?”
“That’s good. I’m sure he’s happy to be back with you as well.” Dorian glanced over his menu before telling Ethan his personal favorites on the menu. The restaurant was a little pricey, but Dorian had said it was on him, so Ethan was free to order whatever he liked, “I know that I’m happier when Vanessa is around.”
“Well I hope so anyway. I know I’m happy to have him back around.” Though Victor’s been working since he got home, and Ethan hasn’t seen him all that much. But it’s fine, Victor needs his work, and they check in with each other.
It is a bit pricey, and though Ethan is more of a red meat sort, he settles on a less expensive chicken dish. He doesn’t like to take advantage of an already generous offer.
“You and Miss Ives are doing well, then? Settling into each other and all.”
Dorian placed his own order when the waitress came around, adding a bottle of wine to the order then nodded, smirking once she left, “We are. In fact, I’ve been mulling around the idea of asking her to move in with me.” Dorian had never liked someone enough to go out with them more than a few times and certainly had never liked someone enough to ask them to move in, so this was a very big deal. His feelings for Vanessa had already led to him showing Vanessa his Portrait so it only made sense, in his mind, that the next step was asking her to move in.
Ethan honestly looks surprised at that. Not that he doesn’t approve, he’s glad the two of them are happy and all, it just seems like a big sort of step. “Is that so? Well congratulations to you. I’m sure she says yes.”
Now that their orders are placed and Ethan has nothing left to fiddle with, he decides to take a few deep breaths and say what’s on his mind. What’s been on his mind for ages now.
“Look -- I know we talked about it on the phone but I’m the sort that don’t feel right until something gets said out loud. I was sore as hell about Christmas. And I know I try not to be that jealous type, but sometimes we can’t help how we feel, you know?
Now, you said it won’t happen again and I believe you, but I just want to hear it said face to face. Cuz I care a lot about Victor. A real damn lot. He means the world to me, and I suppose after he’s been sick I’ve gotten a mite protective over him.
But if I can hear you say that you’re dedicated to Miss Ives, and that what happened on Christmas won’t happen again, then I’ll feel worlds better.
Is that fair?”
“It’s not something I’ve ever done before, but I feel like it’s the right step. And I’m fairly certain she’ll say yes.” Dorian was sure that the question would surprise Vanessa, but she stayed at his place quite often and his house was huge, so there would be plenty of space for Vanessa’s things.
He had just taken a sip of the complimentary water when Ethan began talking about the incident around Christmas and he sat up straighter as he placed the glass back down on the table, “Ethan, I assure you, I have no desire to kiss Victor again and had I not been compelled to do it then, it never would have happened.” Sure, he might have flirted with Victor and he might have enjoyed the kiss, but had the mistletoe not, more or less, made him do it, he wouldn’t have kissed Victor that night. “You have my word.”
Ethan had just need to hear it out loud, really. He was the sort of man who still believed that someone’s handshake was an unbreakable bond, a real old fashioned sort. So hearing Dorian promise face to face like this, well that makes him feel better.
“Thank you. I’m not trying to imply anything about your character, mind. Just that it was an uncomfortable experience that I didn’t want repeated.
All that said, I honestly am happy for you and Miss Ives. I think you make a fine pair. She really is something, ain’t she?” Ethan smiles, clearly fond. “Helped me out more than a time or two. I owe her a lot.”
“I completely understand, Ethan.It was a unique situation.” He was sure that if Victor would actually talk about what happened he’d confirm that what had happened was a little out of their control. “I can assure you, I don’t normally go around kissing people at random. I only kiss those who are interested.” And people were usually interested, but ever since he’d started seeing Vanessa, he’d done very little flirting; at least not actively with the intention of hooking up with someone. “She is something else. That’s for sure. I’ve never met a woman like her.”
That’s the worst part, really, is that Ethan had kind of enjoyed watching the two of them. Knowing what happened between he and Dorian in his dreams, and that Dorian is certainly an attractive man, paired with how he feels about Victor -- well. All that together is probably why he’s projecting his anxieties onto Dorian.
But now it’s all been aired out and they don’t have to talk about it again.
“She really is, isn’t she? I don’t think I have either. A real firecracker.” The wine arrives and Ethan’s eyebrows go up. “Well, don’t I feel awfully fancy.”
Dorian smiled as the wine bottle was opened and poured, “Only the best for my friends,” And he was quite glad that they were friends. “Perhaps next time, I can invite you and Victor over for dinner with Vanessa and I.” He still needed to make things right with Victor, so it seemed like a good idea.
“I think that’d be nice.” If he can drag Victor away from work and all. Fingers crossed. “I’d like that a lot, actually. I promise I’ll dress nice and comb my hair and all that,” he teases with a smile and a wink.