conflicts of aries ↬ rafe/seb

↳ RAFAEL SALAZAR

The decanter of firewhiskey was empty when the door creaked next. God, what would he host with now? He turned the chalice between his fingers idly, quiet for a moment as he composed himself.

Then with a practiced grace, he turned on a heel.

And Rafael’s eyes gleamed at the sight. Of everyone on his list of people to see, Sebastian was rather low in ranking, all because he hadn’t expected the other and certainly not the despondent expression across his face. That was why he had never taken quite a liking to the other: Salazar always kept on a smile and made the others guess their intent. Their faces were poised, rehearsed, a show that can start with one snap of a finger, and Sebastian … seemed to have left his face at home today.

But then again, the other had always been the soft one, forever taking in strays. It was ironic, especially when you’re born to a house of snakes, but perhaps some genes simply fell short of others.

A chuckle escaped him once Sebastian began. “I am very known for my convoluted sense of self,” he drawled with a trace of whiskey upon his breath. Rafael then placed a mint in his mouth, speaking around it, “Holt’s harmless. She is my investment, and she will not be harmed.” He kept his promises. Sometimes.

“I haven’t filled you in, right?” his brow rose almost languorously. “The ballot had about … twenty? Thirty? slips of paper with Holt’s name on it. That wasn’t easy work but …” he trailed off into a smile that doesn’t quite the eyes.

“Everything turned out just as planned, cousin.”