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Captain William Laurence (betwixtsea_nsky) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2019-05-05 18:35:00

Who: Laurence and Elijah
What: Meeting up for some drinks
When: Recently
Where: A classy bar
Rating/Warning: Low/none
Status: Complete

Elijah had been staying quite busy indeed. Between holiday travels, business, dreams, and of course Hayley, he’d had little time for other pursuits. But he did quite enjoy Laurence’s company. The two men had a lot in common after all. Deciding that he was entirely too focused on work, Elijah had suggested the two meet up for a drink and to catch up.

He’d arrived early and by the time the other man entered the bar, Elijah already had a glass of scotch sitting in front of him. Smiling, Elijah slipped off the stool, greeting him with a firm handshake. “It is good to see you again. How have you been?”

It had been far too long since Laurence had last seen Elijah. He’d been dreadful in keeping up their friendship, and he regretted it terribly. Laurence had spent nearly every evening since Mary’s return with her, and since Valentine’s Day he’d been having weekly meals with Pidge, the teenager with terrible dining habits he’d been tethered to over Valentine’s Day, and between that and work it had been difficult to remember to keep up with his other relationships.

“Likewise,” Laurence said, smiling warmly and clasping Elijah’s upper arm with his other hand while he shook the man’s hand. “It’s been far too long. I apologize for being remiss.” He took a seat, and then ordered a glass of wine. Laurence wasn’t much of a drinker, though he was hardly a teetotaler. “I’ve been quite well. Busy as well. And yourself?”

“Not at all,” Elijah assured him. “I’ve been rather remiss myself. I’ve been well, thank you. My siblings and I took a trip around the holidays and since then work has been consuming most of my time.” Though that statement required an amendment. “Work and a new relationship.”

“Yes, you lot went to Europe, didn’t you?” Laurence asked. “How was the trip?” He should have asked when the trip was still fresh, but he was genuinely interested in how it had gone. Though, not as interested as the next point of news. “A new relationship? That is exciting. Congratulations.”

“We did,” Elijah confirmed. “To Vienna and Paris. We may well have sparked a new Mikaelson family tradition. IF not traveling around the holidays then family vacations. It was delightful and free of any in-fighting.”

Elijah couldn’t keep the smile from his face as he thought of Hayley. “Yes, thank you. Hayley is a wonderful woman. You have a girlfriend as well, don’t you?”

“That sounds positively delightful,” Laurence said. There was little outward fighting in his own family, though he was sure any vacations they took together would be filled with a simmering tension that no one would quite speak of but that everyone could feel. Not since his cousin Melissa’s wedding had he and his family spent any time all gathered together.

“I did,” Laurence confirmed. “I’m afraid she had to move back to England, so we’ve put a pin in it, so to speak.” The nature of Laurence’s job had made it so that he had no difficulty with the idea of a long distance relationship, but ever practical Mary had thought that perhaps it was best if, for now at least, they had ended things. If he ever moved back to England, or she back to California, perhaps they could resume things. He hoped so, at least.

Laurence’s response tempered Elijah’s reaction. He had no wish to rub any happiness in his friend’s face. “I am sorry to hear that.” Serious eyes studied the man seated across from him. “I don’t wish to seem prying but might I ask how long it has been?”

“She only left on the last day of March,” Laurence said. It was still fresh, but Laurence believed strongly in the phrase ‘stiff upper lip,’ and he was determined not to dwell on it. “I have been managing to keep myself busy, however, and I must say that spending time in good company has helped tremendously.” He shot a smile to Elijah, as an indication of the good company to which he was referring.

“I am always glad to help however I may.” Though he wasn’t entirely sure just how much his presence actually was helping Laurence. “I trust you will tell me if there is anything else that I can do.” He would readily do friendship was something to be cherished, after all.

“I’m afraid there is nothing that can be done,” Laurence said. He knew that Elijah had not been offering to help bring Mary back to Laurence’s side, but that was the only thing Laurence particularly wanted at this moment. “For now, I suppose it is just a matter of keeping calm and carrying on. I hope you will not think too poorly of me if I call on you a little more often than usual, however.”

“Of course not.” Laurence certainly had the stiff British upper lip act under control. Elijah supposed it came to him naturally enough. “I am happy to do whatever I may to help you during a rough time.”

“Thank you, Elijah,” Laurence said warmly. “But please, tell me more about this Hayley of yours. How did you meet?”

“At a bar,” he answered, smiling at the memory. I mistook her for someone else.” His sister’s girlfriend, of all people. “And we hit it off.”

“A happy misunderstanding, to be sure,” Laurence said. “It seems as though this county has strange way of bringing people together.”

“It does at that,” Elijah allowed. “Though I cannot help but be glad for that.” Hayley was a wonderful woman in the real world and in the dream world, different as she was in each place. “After all, we would not be friends were it not for such coincidences.”

“No, I suppose we would not be,” Laurence said with a smile. “The world works in mysterious ways, they say, and I suppose there’s nowhere where that’s more true than here.”

He frowned, wondering if he should ask how Elijah’s dreams were treating him, or if he would be overstepping he bounds. The last they’d spoken of it, Elijah had newly transitioned into being a vampire; it was a change that Laurence was sure could not have been easy. Instead, he opted for “and how have things been otherwise? I hope you’ve been keeping well.”

“There have been, shall we say, additional complications.” Ones that Elijah wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to go into detail about with anyone. “But I believe I am well down the path to mending.” He offered a small smile. “As strange as my dream world is, it never ceases to amaze just how much more complicated it becomes as I proceed through that life.”

“I am pleased to hear that you seem to be on the correct path. It can be a difficult one to find sometimes.” Laurence took a sip of his wine, contemplating it for a moment. “You know, Elijah, if you ever want for anything, you can always feel free to come to me. I know I may not always be equipped for all situations that may arise, though I will do my best.”

“Likewise,” Elijah confirmed. “Though I will tell you it is a bit difficult for me to take my troubles to anyone outside of my family. They see me at my weakest. To the outside world we present something of a united front. But I will say as well that you would be one of the few from whom I would even consider asking for assistance.

“That is entirely understandable,” Laurence said. Laurence likewise had problems taking his problems to much of anyone, though Laurence didn’t often think any problems he had bared much repeating. He had managed quite well to master the British stiff-upper-lip stoicism. “I am honoured to hear you say that though. I will do my best to live up to what trust you place in me.”

“I’m sure you won’t find it any hardship.” Elijah has total faith in Laurence. He was a good friend who had yet to let him down.

Laurence smiled, warmed by the trust that Elijah seemed to have in him. He wasn’t sure if he could live up to it, though he would do his best to do exactly that. “I should like to meet her someday, if you would like. Perhaps I could have you both over for dinner sometime? Whenever you have time for it, of course.”

“I would like that very much,” Elijah nodded. “I will ask Hayley when she might be free. She’s been busy lately - her business was damaged and she’s been repairing everything to get it running once more. But I will text you once I have her confirmation so we can find a date that works for everyone.”

“Oh wonderful,” Laurence said. “Please, let me know, and I will do my best to be sure that I am free.” Luckily, while his work had long hours, it also generally had regular hours, so it was quite easy to build a social life around it.

“I most assuredly will. It will be nice to have a social outing as a couple.” They’d been through a bit of a chilly period when he’d had his red door experience follow him from the dream world and with Hayley struggling to accept her own dreams perhaps some good old-fashioned fun would be the ticket.

“Splendid,” Laurence said, and then took a sip of his wine while he tried to formulate his next question in a way that would not give any sort of offence. “Are there any dietary restrictions I should be aware of?” he added after a moment. He was aware that Elijah was a vampire, and wasn’t sure what, aside from blood, he would be able to eat because of it.

“No, I consider myself something of a gourmand,” Elijah smiled in response. “I am sure whatever you make will be delicious but do let me know if I can bring something. Even a bottle of wine, if you tell me what we’re having. I can be sure it is well paired.”

“I’m happy to hear it,” Laurence said. He had not thought that he would be anywhere near equipped to prepare dinner for a vampire if he had not been able to eat normal food. Laurence prided himself on being a good host, but even he would not wish to need to put himself on the menu. “A bottle of wine, and perhaps a dessert, would be lovely. I will send you the details once I’ve decided upon them.”

“I can’t wait. He lifted his drink in a silent toast. “I only hope my cooking meets expectations.”

“Oh, there can be no doubt of that,” Laurence said warmly. “I think it is I who should be worried, if I’m too be cooking for a self-proclaimed gourmand.” He was, however, more than willing to rise up to the challenge.