marcel's choice of club really speaks volumes, and dominic isn't sure whether to be surprised or not. he slinks behind the pair at a calculated distance - close enough to watch the trainwreck unfold, far enough that he could slip away with ease.

inside, his eyes scan the roiling crowd with latent interest, but dominic remains close to his colleagues - at least for now. he joins marcel and mclaren a few moments after they reach the bar. his mouth twists into a sharp grin, vaguely reminiscent of that of a gengar, and he leans close to marcel's ear to speak.

"puis-je t'acheter un verre?"

dominic doesn't wait for a response, waving the bartender over to order for the three of them.

marcel maeda mclaren mcflurry

dominic’s mouth is twisted into a cheshire cat smile when he pulls back from leaning forward to murmur into marcel’s ear. he fixes the woman with a stare, and though his eyes crinkle at the corners, the smile doesn’t quite reach them.

"my, my, won’t you look at that," he drawls. "kalosian and perfect hearing?" dominic’s tone drips with sarcasm and if he’s impressed by either fact his features don’t betray it. very briefly, his light grip on marcel’s shoulder tightens and then he lets go entirely.

dominic turns away from the pair, his lack of interest in the rest of the conversation made explicit by the way he laconically leans against the bar, glancing over his shoulder to scan the crowd of bodies with latent interest. his gaze lingers on one or two people - pretty.

when the drinks arrive, dominic downs his in a single smooth motion and keeps his hand curled around the other two. perhaps they were originally intended for his colleagues but they managed to erode his goodwill at record speed.

marcel maeda mclaren mcflurry

marcel’s considerate gesture - moving firmly in between him and mcflurry - shields her from seeing dominic’s lip curl in disgust. as she lists her languages, dominic finds himself rolling his eyes.

briefly, he makes eye contact with the bartender again and mouths another round. perhaps it’s projection, but dominic chooses the interpret the look in the man’s eyes as sympathy for his plight.

"are you sure that’s a good fit?" dominic interjects at marcel’s offer. it’s a rhetorical question and he already knows the answer to it - marcel is the type to pick strays off the street.

dominic stretches himself to his full height, and this time marcel’s bulk won’t hide the woman from his sneer and narrowed eyes. "that tic of yours? i wouldn’t call it - what word did you use? inconspicuous?"

marcel maeda mclaren mcflurry

dominic’s gaze flickers between mcflurry and marcel as he shifts forward - movement leisurely but deliberate. he places one arm around marcel’s shoulders, drink still in hand. ice clinks against glass. craning his head to study marcel’s face, dominic’s lips are parted as though in thought - marcel will catch the derision in the way his mouth curls, the way mirth glimmers in narrowed eyes.

"yeah? alright then," dominic says softly. he turns to face mcflurry. "intel, huh? you two will have… so much fun. together. i am-" though his expression remains impassive, only briefly biting his lip, marcel may feel dominic’s body shudder with barely suppressed laughter.

"i am looking forward to hearing all about it. i think you will make an incredible team."

dominic removes his arm from marcel’s shoulders and finishes the drink he had been holding, tossing a few bills on the bar between them.

marcel maeda mclaren mcflurry

lips set in a taut smile, dominic shakes his head - a very slight, barely perceptible gesture. this is a royal fuck up in the making and he refuses to believe that marcel is oblivious to it.

his amusement at all this is a thin veneer, but there is no contempt or malice either. perhaps the reality is so much worse - with his gaze searching both mclaren and marcel, dominic finds that he feels absolutely nothing.

inclining his head over his shoulder, dominic sees that one of the women that had caught his eye earlier had stepped away from the dance floor. he catches the way her gaze lingers on him when she sees him watching her. when she smiles, dominic turns away from his colleagues and approaches her without another word.

there’s a cavity in dominic’s chest and if he can’t fill it with drink or their company, then he will find someone else that can.

marcel maeda mclaren mcflurry