Thornton & Coombs Dinner Party (Closed)

[jamesthorn]

The table is set with the family's finest china. The candles lit, and doors are open at Thornton Estate this evening. While the estate has seen countless elegant affairs throughout its long history, there's never been one quite like this one. Tonight, the Coombs are coming for dinner as William Thornton's personally invited guests. Despite the recipe for drama, there's still a dinner to be thrown and William has spared no expense for his son's newest girlfriend, Amelie. Fine wine, gourmet breads and cheeses, fruits, and appetizers are laid out in gorgeous displays by the caterer. To be certain that no nosy members of the press learn of tonight's momentary truce, the invitations were hand delivered and the family's private staff are serving.

Promptly, at eight o'clock dinner will be served, but in the meantime, there's plenty of time for mingling...and drama.

OOC: I've always used this particular property for Thornton Estate even though I believe it's more traditionally furnished than the one pictured. However, if you want an idea of the layout, there are plenty of photos and even a movie on the link above, lmao.

William is played by Pierce Brosnan. Obviously he's American in the game. If you wanna talk to William one on one, Rachel and I both have control of that old fart.

Comments

[jamesthorn]

"I mean that cocoa is good." James leans over and kisses Davin gently on the cheek, feeling grateful there's one person around here tonight to put a smile on his face. Even though it would be easy to do more than that, this is supposed to be an elegant affair and his father is in the same room, so he backs off and pats Davin on the arm, as he goes to take another of the appetizers from the table.

He places a few slices of the cheeses onto Davin's plate. "So how are you enjoying Thornton Estate and all its grandeur?"

[davin]

"Excuse you, it's the best - " He cuts himself off when James kisses his cheek and goes a bit pink, biting back a smile and giving him a dopey grin. He understands why he backs off, but that doesn't want to make him pull him back in close any less.

"It is very grand," Davin agrees, smirking as he looks around. He picks up a piece of cheese and turns to smile at him. "But I'll take your fairytale cottage over this place any day."

[jamesthorn]

"It's not a fairytale cottage. It's a regular cottage," he protests with a good-natured smile on his face. After growing up in the convenes of the family estate, James couldn't wait to get away the moment he could. He had purposefully designed his house to be comfortable and modest compared to Thornton Estates sprawling luxury and coldness. It felt like a home. Whereas this, the estate just felt like his father's way of controlling them.

Speaking of his father, he spots William watching him and Davin curiously from the corner. "Don't be alarmed when my father tries to speak with you," he says. "I can see him lurking now. Just waiting to pounce."

[davin]

"It's got definite fairytale elements," Davin argues, laughing a little and leaning in close. He wants to dance, and he wants to actually finally kiss him. But they have to get through this first.

"Oh, I've been mentally preparin' for that since ya asked me," he laughs, glancing over at James' father and then looking back at him. He reaches out and grabs James' lapels, straightening them out and smoothing them down, resting his hands against James' chest. "I can handle your father."

[jamesthorn]

"Can you?" James actually doesn't doubt that Davin can handle his father. It's why he didn't have any hesitation in inviting Davin with him, even though it's only their first date and they are just getting to know one another. Normally, he wouldn't have thrown someone, especially not someone he liked, to the wolves so soon. Davin is a little nervous but he is not intimidated by his surroundings...

He smiles back at Davin, liking the fact that they are somewhat in this together. "You should let me know your secrets then," he says. "Once you've tamed the beast."

[davin]

"Oh, ya think I'm gonna give up my secrets that easily, aye?" He laughs and presses in against James' side, close enough to be intimate but not inappropriate. "So, is the Coombs family just made up o' immaculately dressed woman with permanent unimpressed faces?"

He gestures to the girl over with Daniel. "That must be the girlfriend. She looks slightly less judgey than the rest of 'em."

[jamesthorn]

"That's her," James says, looking over at Amelie standing with his little brother. He can tell that Daniel is completely smitten with the woman. She's beautiful, well-dressed, poised, and James can certainly see why Daniel is taken with her. "I promised Daniel that I would try to give her a chance."

[davin]

"Well, ya should. He seems t'really like her, an' she seems t'like him just as much." Davin bites his lip and then reaches out to take James' hand, squeezing a little. "You're a good man, y'know? Lookin' past the name an' givin' the girl a chance. It's big of ya."

[jamesthorn]

James smiles at Davin's words, that he's a good man, because it's something he's always tried to be. Maybe he isn't always outgoing and friendly, but he always does the right thing. It makes him feel good that Davin thinks of him that way. He checks his watch and sees that it's nearly time for dinner to be served, and he gives Davin's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I need to go see where they are on dinner. I'll be right back. Stay outta trouble," he says, giving his arm a pat before he heads off the kitchen.

He is distracted by the nice time he's having with Davin, despite the weirdness of spending their first night out at his father's house surrounding by the most awkward family dinner ever, he doesn't see William corner him in the kitchen until it's too late. He wishes he had because by the time he leaves the kitchen his father has made him so angry, spewing his vileness about nearly everyone, that he wants to shoot something. Giving himself a moment, he escapes through the back hallway away from the guests and the Dinner Party of Awkward and tries to quell his semi-murderous thoughts.

There's a veranda attached to the room he finds himself in and he heads outside and tries to catch some fresh air before he has to go back inside and face William again without wanting to choke him.

[davin]

It's been a long, awkward while since James disappeared and Davin is uncomfortable with all the small talk, surrounded by people he doesn't know. He really just wants to get out of here, but he can't. He's here for James, and he's not going to let him down.

He sees a flash of movement on the veranda outside and he pushes away from the wall to head for it, grabbing two glasses of champagne off of a tray and looking around to make sure there are no eyes on him before he slips outside. Seeing James makes him smile, but the look on his date's face makes Davin frown with worry.

"Hey, I was missin' ya," Davin says quietly, coming up behind him and setting the champagne glasses down on the railing. He puts his hand between James' shoulder blades and moves it back and forth a little, turning to look at him. "Are ya alright?"

[jamesthorn]

As angry as he is, James is still happy to find that the person that has come to find him is Davin, not another unwelcome encounter with his father or an awkward one with one of the Coombs women. Instead, it's just Davin the only person here that doesn't belong, much like his father was so kind to point out, because he isn't part of this crazy messed up rivalry. James likes it that way too.

Davin's hand against his back is comforting, and most of his anger eases away with a sigh. He turns against the railing to face Davin and offers him a smile. "Just taking a breather---" He lies mostly because why tell Davin every mean thing his father had to say about him? He doesn't care anyway.

"I'm sorry this is such a weird night," he says, looking away for a quick moment, a little embarrassed that he didn't take Davin out somewhere better than this. There aren't any prying eyes out here, and he feels comfortable enough to place a hand on Davin's cheek. "You won't hold it against me too much I hope?"

[davin]

Davin watches James' face closely, and he can't help the way he blushes a little when James cups his cheek. It's tender and sweet, and it's not really something that Davin has ever experienced. He smiles and reaches up to curl his fingers loosely around James' wrist, thumbing at his pulse. "Nah. I mean, now that I've had a conversation with your father, I know what kinda stress your under, an' I know how much tonight goin' well means t'ya. I'm not - I mean, I don't really think I was the best choice for a date, but - I'm still glad ya picked me."

[jamesthorn]

If it's possible James feels even worse about tonight once Davin reveals that William had indeed had a conversation with him. He can only imagine how that conversation must have gone, judging the awful things William had said to him only moments ago, and he hates that William might've said something that could have hurt Davin in any way. He's used to his father being shitty. He didn't want to purposefully subject someone he likes to that.

But then Davin says that he's glad James invited him here for the night, even with the weirdness and the conversation with his father. Davin's still glad to be here. James he isn't sure how to take that and loses all sense of words for a moment. He looks up at him returning the his smile with one of his own. Suddenly he's very overwhelmed with the urge to kiss Davin. He didn't mean to wait to kiss him, but the moment hasn't felt right yet. Unlike now. Now it really does.

On the veranda, it's quiet away from the party, and they are standing so close and he feels the warmth of Davin's hand on his wrist. All it is a moment to place his other hand on Davin's cheek to bring him closer, pressing his lips to his in a soft kiss.

[davin]

He sees James' face fall and Davin wants to reassure him, tell him that his father didn't say anything that Davin hasn't already heard, and that he's not bothered by it. But before he can get any words out, James' face changes into an expression that sort of takes Davin's breath away.

His face is being cradled in James' big, warm hands and Davin's heart is pounding. His breath hitches as James leans in and his eyes flutter shut because he's being kissed. And it's different than other kisses he's had. He's not being kissed as a seduction, or a way to pass the time.

For maybe the first time in Davin's life, someone is kissing him just because they want to.

He makes a soft noise against James' mouth and sags against him, wrapping an arm around his waist and returning the kiss. It's soft and sweet and he cradles James' bottom lip between his own, fingers gripping the back of his jacket.

[jamesthorn]

It's so easy to sink into their kiss, maybe easier than he's actually expecting either from being out of practice or just the fact that he hasn't entered into this with much expectation. But it is easy when Davin kisses him back, humming gently against his lips, gripping his fingers against James' suit jacket, and it's nice and warm and makes his pulse speed up.

As Davin presses closer to him, James does the same, clutching his hands around his face, letting one hand slide further, brushing his fingers through his hair. For a few minutes, he can forget everything else. His brother and Amelie. His father. The Coombs. This dumb dinner party. For now, all that matters is kissing Davin.

Until he must pulls away to catch a breath. His lips are still warm as he opens his eyes again. "I definitely think you were the right choice," he says in a softer voice.

[davin]

James' fingers card through his hair and Davin makes another soft noise, letting his hand slide up under James' perfectly tailored suit jacket. It's embarrassing, but his eyes stay shut for a few seconds when James pulls away, and he's blushing a little when they finally flutter open.

"I'm glad ya think so," Davin says in a slow, rough voice, licking his lips and pulling back just enough to rest his hands on James' hips. "Can we just stay out here all night?"

[jamesthorn]

"I promise my father would come find us," James assures him, watching Davin's mouth as he licks his lips, and he can't help but lean forward and kiss him again on the mouth, letting his lips linger for a few more sweet moments. Once he leans away, he offers Davin another smile.

"But this house is pretty big, it might take him awhile."

[davin]

"Plenty o' places t'hide, huh?" He links his hands behind James' neck and tugs him in for another kiss, grinning against his mouth and then pulling back to look into his eyes. "There better be more kissin' after this dinner, detective. Lots o' kissin'."

[jamesthorn]

James meets his eyes with a matching grin, feeling the warmth of Davin's fingers against his skin. It's difficult to pull away completely because he would love nothing more than to stay here, kissing Davin. "I promise there will be," he says, leaning in for another slow kiss until he must pull away completely.

He takes Davin's hands from around his neck and tugs him towards the door. "Or this dinner may kill me. Hard to say," he jokes.