Serious Talks [Tristan]

[brendis everard vane]

“

Classes at Rutherford School for Powerful Mages were back in full swing and, though Brendis was loathe to admit it, he was already struggling. He was retaking a few classes and had added two new classes to his schedule, but even just a few weeks into the term, Brendis already felt like he was behind. He could keep track of his assignments well enough, but completing those assignments and getting satisfactory grades on them was another thing entirely. 

So, as usual, Brendis was ignoring the problem entirely. He'd gotten pretty good at that over the years, whether it be ignoring the fact that his brother had dropped out of school and barely spoke to him anymore, his impending expulsion from school, or the fact that the man he was seeing didn't seem interested in using him for much more than a warm body. He was an expert at avoiding his issues, but at least one of those he could maybe try and fix. 

Things between Tristan and Brendis were good, he supposed—they both seemed to enjoy themselves, had fun for the most part, but it was starting to feel a little like Tristan just came to Brendis for sex and someone to complain to. It wasn't exactly what Brendis could say he wanted, and maybe they had fallen into that rhythm because they hadn't talk about it. That could be it, right?

Brendis bounced idly on the balls of his feet as he waited for Tristan to answer the door. His hands were tucked in his pocket to reduce nervous fidgeting as best he could, but apparently the nervous energy still managed to get out somehow, and he resisted the urge to pace back and forth as he waited for Tristan.

It was their usual rendezvous, and so Brendis didn't expect to wait long. Still, when Tristan swung the door to his flat open, Brendis couldn't help but grin. "Hey there, handsome," He greeted, stepping forward to place a light kiss on Tristan's lips. 

tristan adrien slade ● october 9, 2022 ● 334 words ● n/a

Brendis Everard
Vane★

dandy ♫

[tristan adrien slade]

tristan adrien slade

Tristan had never been interested in being in a serious relationship with Brendi Vane, or with anyone really. For as long as Tristan could remember, he wanted to make a name for himself in professional Quidditch, and that was all that mattered to him. He was used to getting what he wanted, but he was also used to working for it, to setting his mind to the thing he wanted and doing all that he could to accomplish that. He was determined, and he would make sure that nothing got in his way to achieving what he wanted, or nobody. Which was exactly why he didn't want to be in a serious relationship. 

However, he had been enjoying whatever was between him and Brendis. It was entertaining., satisfying, and Tristan could say that he and Brendis had fun together. That night, Brendis was coming over again, their usual routine of him coming over after Tristan came home from practice. After their little argument at Brendis' work, Tristan had avoided picking him up, and simply suggested they meet at his house since then. 

"Hey there, handsome,"

Tristan just finished getting dressed after the shower he took when he got back from Quidditch Practice. His hair was still a little damp as he opened the door for Brendis, a grin playing around his lips as well. "Hey," Tristan mumbled as Brendis leaned forward, returning the kiss. His hand grabbed a hold of Brendis' shirt as he pulled him into his apartment. "Can I get you a drink?" He asked, another kiss pressed against Brendis' lips before he let go of his shirt and made his way over to the fridge. "I put some things in the fridge for you," 

brendis everard vane - 287 words

aeron at GS

[brendis everard vane]

“

Tristan's handsiness was never an unwelcome sight, and a sneaky little grin spread across his lips as the other male's hand grasped onto his shirt, pulling him into the apartment. Things usually moved fast with them, and usually that was of no issue to Brendis, but tonight he had other things on his mind, other things he wanted to talk to Tristan about. Luckily, Tristan released his hold on Brendis' shirt with one last kiss, turning towards the kitchen.

Tristan's flat was considerably more luxurious and spacious than Brendis' own apartment. Brendis shared his with two other people, of course, but even the shared spaces that one would think could be easily-compared were tiny in comparison to Tristan's. The kitchen was gleaming and new, spacious counters and bright new appliances punctuating the room with a feeling of grandeur and expense. It reminded Brendis of the kitchen at his parent's house, big and fancy and exemplifying its owner's wealth. Brendis, Callie, and Atlas' apartment was a hovel in comparison, not that Brendis found that he minded much. It was only when faced with a flat like this that he thought much about it

"Hey. Can I get you a drink? I put some things in the fridge for you."

Brendis couldn't help the smile that stretched across his lips at the revelation that Tristan had bought drinks for him, but he shook his head a but nonetheless. He trailed after Tristan in no particular haste, dragging his feet a little. It wasn't that he was scared of asking, but more that he was scared of Tristan's reactions.

"No, I'm alright," Brendis replied. He took a deep breath. "Actually... I was thinking we could go out some place. There's this really nice Italian restaurant down the block I think you'd like. We've never been on a real date, you know."

tristan adrien slade ● october 9, 2022 ● 308 words ● n/a

Brendis Everard
Vane★

dandy ♫

[tristan adrien slade]

tristan adrien slade

Anyone who knew Tristan, knew that he had been focused on his career and nothing else since he graduated from Hogwarts. His brother had set an example by becoming a professional Quidditch player, and Tristan had decided to follow that example, and aimed to be even more successful than his brother. It meant that his entire life revolved around Quidditch and his team. Next to that, he didn't have time for a relationship, having to deal with someone else not only in his personal life, but also when it came to the public. He was the Captain of the Wimbourne Wasps after all, people would be watching him, would be talking. He didn't have the time or energy to deal with any of that. 

And so, he thought what he had with Brendis was perfect. Someone that satisfied his needs, while at the same time there were no strings attached and nobody outside the two of them needed to know. Nobody would talk to get involved. Exactly how Tristan wanted it. 

"No, I'm alright. Actually... I was thinking we could go out some place. There's this really nice Italian restaurant down the block I think you'd like. We've never been on a real date, you know."

Tristan had opened the fridge and reached for one of the cans of beer when he heard Brendis' words. He closed the fridge again without taking anything and waited for a moment before turning back to Brendis. This again. The past weeks Brendis had been asking him again and again on what seemed to be a date. So far, he hadn't realised that Tristan wasn't interested in going on a date. Or even going out at all. 

"I don't know Brendis," Tristan said, "I already ate something after practice and I am really not dressed for a date," he said, gesturing towards his grey sweatpants and plain white t-shirt. "We could order in though. Do they do delivery?" He asked, not wanting to reject Brendis' idea entirely. 

brendis everard vane - 333 words

aeron at GS

[brendis everard vane]

“

Brendis had never been dating material, exactly. At least, that was all of his exes had said, more or less. He was a nice guy, a great lay, but a terrible boyfriend. He was always too clingy or too distant, wanted to move too fast or didn't want to move at all. His choice in men had been less than stellar, of course, but that many guys couldn't have been wrong, right?

But Brendis had tried hard with Tristan. He'd been cool, he'd been laidback, and that was what Tristan wanted, right? If Brendis could be what Tristan wanted, maybe this relationship wouldn't be a disaster. That was how Brendis saw it, anyway. 

"I don't know Brendis. I already ate something after practice and I am really not dressed for a date. We could order in though. Do they do delivery?"

Brendis shook his head a little, a smile quirking at the corner of his lips. Whatever Tristan was trying to imply, about them going out together or being seen together, was lost on Brendis. "C'mon, baby, I know you've got about a dozen sexy ass outfits in that big closet of yours," He replied, stepping forward to trace a single finger down the front of Tristan's chest. Merlin, Tristan was fit. It was like running his finger along a washboard. It practically made Brendis weak at the knees. "It'll be fun, we never go out together. A date will do us good, don't you think?"

tristan adrien slade ● october 9, 2022 ● 246 words ● n/a

Brendis Everard
Vane★

dandy ♫

[tristan adrien slade]

tristan adrien slade

Tristan was getting incredibly annoyed with Brendis' persistence. Tristan didn't want to go out, he had told Brendis, had told him many, many times before, but the other guy didn't seem to get it. Brendis didn't seem to understand the clues that Tristan was giving about not wanting to be in a relationship with. Maybe he was being an asshole, he was sure that he was. Maybe he was holding up Brendis' hopes of this having the potential to end in something that would last. But Tristan simply didn't see that happening, but it seemed like Brendis was. So now Tristan had to figure out how to tell him that without absolutely crushing him. Which was not one of Tristan's strong points.

"C'mon, baby, I know you've got about a dozen sexy ass outfits in that big closet of yours. It'll be fun, we never go out together. A date will do us good, don't you think?"

Of course Tristan had a closet full of clothes for any occasion. More than enough outfits for a date, but Tristan didn't want to go out on a date with Brendis in any of them. It had been yet another attempt as an excuse for why he didn't want to go out, that once again, Brendis did not seem to understand. 

"Brendis," Tristan sighed, his hands coming to rest on the other male's shoulders while softly pushing him away. "I told you I don't want to go out. Press and photographers have been following me anywhere lately and I don't want them to be writing about us," he said, "There is no way I will be relaxed while sitting in a restaurant right now," he said, a bit harsher than before, but still trying to brush Brendis off without ruthlessly crushing him. 

brendis everard vane - 299 words

aeron at GS

[brendis everard vane]

“

"Brendis, I told you I don't want to go out. Press and photographers have been following me anywhere lately and I don't want them to be writing about us. There is no way I will be relaxed while sitting in a restaurant right now,"

Brendis' smile drooped as Tristan pushed him away. It was gentle, soft, but a push away nonetheless. He swallowed, taking another step back even after Tristan's hands fell away from his shoulders. His gaze dropped, and for a few seconds he didn't know what to say; any thoughts he might have had were swept away with such a simple motion from Tristan.

"I was just thinking.... y'know, we've been going out for almost three months, and we've never been on a real date," Brendis replied at last. His mouth was suddenly very dry—when had that happened? He tried to swallow again, hoping it would do something to help with the situation, but if anything it made it worse.

He was doing what he always did, retreating from the issue at hand and instead focusing on everything he shouldn't have been. It had been a useful coping mechanism growing up in the Vane house, where he might not have been able to explain to his younger siblings why Mummy and Daddy weren't around a lot and didn't care to spend much time with their children when they were, but what he could do was put on their favorite muggle film, make popcorn, and snuggle in with his siblings under the fort they'd built in the sitting room. He couldn't protect his siblings from the heartbreak that was being the child of Romilda Vane and Ashcroft Wenlock, but he could, at least for a little while, make them forget it.

It had been useful then, but it wasn't so helpful now. He needed to focus on the matter at hand. But words were, evidently, inaccessible to him in that moment, and all he could do was clear his throat and scratch the back of his neck, waiting for Tristan's response. 

tristan adrien slade ● october 9, 2022 ● 342 words ● n/a

Brendis Everard
Vane★

dandy ♫

[tristan adrien slade]

tristan adrien slade

Tristan was someone who tended to get what he wanted. It wasn't as if he hadn't worked for anything in his life, on the contrary, he had worked as hard as he could when he was recruited for the Wasps, even landing him the captain position faster than anyone could have predicted. He had worked for that, it hadn't just come easy. The thing was just that whatever he worked for, he got. Whatever he wanted, he achieved, even if he had to work for it. Tristan wasn't any different in relationships. When he wanted something, that was usually the think that happened. 

"I was just thinking.... y'know, we've been going out for almost three months, and we've never been on a real date,"

Tristan took another step back, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Are you even listening to anything that I'm saying?" He shot at Brendis, clearly annoyed by now. "I don't want to get harassed by photographers on my evening off," He said, "besides, we haven't been going out, we have been hooking up, that's something entirely different," Tristan said. While he had tried to be nice about it before, he was really starting to loose his patience with Brendis now. "Clearly you are unable to pick up on the signs, but I don't want to go on a date with you, Brendis. So either forget about it and stay, or just go,"

brendis everard vane - 238 words

aeron at GS

[brendis everard vane]

“

"Are you even listening to anything that I'm saying? I don't want to get harassed by photographers on my evening off. Besides, we haven't been going out, we have been hooking up, that's something entirely different. Clearly you are unable to pick up on the signs, but I don't want to go on a date with you, Brendis. So either forget about it and stay, or just go."

At last, it was out in the open. Perhaps Brendis should have picked up on what Tristan was trying to say long before the other man had to say it so plainly, but Brendis had never been good at picking up on signals. He needed things to be said outright, without dancing around one's meaning or implications. He supposed, at least he could be thankful Tristan had finally come out and said it, even if it hadn't been what Brendis wanted to hear. 

And there it was, in words Brendis couldn't pretend not to understand. Tristan didn't want to be with him, never had, and Brendis had just deluded himself into thinking he'd found a guy who actually liked him for more than a good lay. 

Brendis swallowed hard, clearing his throat as his gaze remained fixed downward, or on the wall to his left, or really anywhere by at Tristan. "No, yeah, it's stupid, I was just joking," He replied with a little shake of his head. "I'll, uh, I think I should go. I'll... see you around."

He turned quickly, grabbing his jacket from where he'd set it, hastily hung on the hook by the door. Vaguely Brendis recognized the weight of his wallet and wand in his pocket, but he didn't even stop to check. He wanted out, and away. He didn't want to have to look at Tristan with that look of disgust on his look even once more. 

It was raining when Brendis at last reached the sidewalk outside of Tristan's flat, pounding rain starting to soak him immediately. But Brendis barely noticed, bowing his head and starting off towards his own flat, Tristan's words ringing in his ears on repeat. 

tristan adrien slade ● october 9, 2022 ● 354 words ● n/a

Brendis Everard
Vane★

dandy ♫