What Did They Say About You I Can't Really Recall

Anastasia had laughed for a good hour when she had gotten home from metting Mr Bernstein. Ivan had been much less amused, but the empath had managed to convince him he should see this as an opportunity rather then a reason to get his sniper rifle out and start scouting out good positions in tall buildings.

Dear Joshua worked as a human rights activist, and, better yet, he had been involved in numerous suits against metas, on the side of the metas. He was a sympathiser, a bleeding heart, and had actually known all about her brother. Not to mention, he had a number of very useful contacts that he'd been happy to drone on about when Anastasia had insisted they share another few drinks.

Still, while his visit was important, nay, vital for the russian pair, it had come at a rather inopportune time. "Ivan," Anastasia called, her voice echoing off the tiles of her bathroom. "Can you let them in? I need to dry off." Wrapped in a soft blue towel the heiress padded across to her room, even as Ivan looked up from the block of ivory and inks he'd been experimenting with. Sensing his <dislike/frustration/impatience> she ran her hand along his shoulders as she walked past him into her wardrobe.

As such, it was the less then dulcet tones of Ivan greeted the two gentlemen waiting outside. "It's open," he grunted into the intercom and opened the gates, then pulled the front door open to let their guests in.

Well, Joshua's friend seemed to be along the same lines; they were both soft, and old, and without any military training he could see. Still, he shook hands without pressing too hard and nodded. "Josh," he said a little shortly, then turned to the other one. "You are?" His accent usually kept people from asking why he did not speak much; it was always safer to play a little stupid.

"Joshua darling," Anastasia called, stepping out in a slip dress and a towel around her head. Still barefoot, she padded across the wooden floor and pressed a kiss to the older man's cheek. <trust/happiness/open> seeped under his skin like a parasite. "Who's your friend?" she turned her smile, and all the emotion behind it, onto Riley.

The gruff voice coming from the intercom should have alerted Riley to what could possibly be a really bad afternoon but he let it slide. Even when the gruff voice materialised into a tall bulky man who didn't look at all happy. Riley took his hand in greeting and planted a small smile on his lips as they stepped into the lavishly decorated house.

The first thing he looked for was the garden and was glad to see it perfectly manicured, though lacking in any warmth. The delicate looking woman who walked into the room immediately gave him a sense of warmth and all doubt and suspicion he previously had was quickly quelled. Seemingly unaware of what was happening to him, all Riley did was smile warmly at Josh at his kind words.

"Oh I don't know if I'm a genius at it. I...work on it a lot." He corrected the lawyer before offering his hand out to the heiress, feeling completely at ease. "You have a wonderful home, Miss van Drakke."

"It must be difficult, being an heiress." Josh was sympathetic. He had never had problems making friends, but he also didn't have his face plastered across magazine stands everywhere. It would surely be problematic, deciphering who was a true friend versus who just wanted to be near her for her money.

He trailed after their hosts, smiling broadly. "You're most gracious." He commented, finding a leather seat across from Eva and Ivan, crossing his legs and leaning back comfortably.

Ordinarily he would have been embarrassed by the reminder of the circumstances under which he'd first met the van Drakkes, but the calm Eva was exuding prevented all but the merest trickle of anxiety from rearing its head, and he chuckled, shaking his head in denial. "I never did." He admitted with the merest hint of a shrug, that one trickle of anxiety coloring his.

"So how have the two of you been? I'm sorry for not stopping by sooner, but my personal life has been a tad bit hectic lately."

"There are worse things to be," the empath said lightly, feeling the <sympathy> from both men crawling over her skin like bugs and making her shudder. "It's not very gracious of me to complain, is it?" Her smile was rueful, even as she amplified their feelings.

Laughing softly, Anastasia lent towards Riley as she looked over at Josh with well meant amusement. "I was getting some water," she started, "When this one," she lifted a pointed chin towards Josh, "Asks if he can buy Ivan a drink." Her giggle invited the two guests to join in, and even Ivan managed to crack a smile as he rose to serve the pie. "Ivan doesn't have the best english," Anastasia went on, "But luckily, I came back before it could get too awkward,"

Leaning forward, she patted Josh's hand and was very happy with what she felt there. This was going so well, she didn't even grimace when Ivan set down the plates of steaming cherry pie. "But I explained the situation in no time, and luckily there was no offence on either side, though Mr Bernstien did go a little red!"

Ivan was watching and eating, his metabolism making short work of what he had to admit was very good pie. Playing with his pretence, he spoke to Eva in Russian even as he shared his <amusement/contempt> with her. "Mr Adams, Ivan wants to know your recipe! He's quite a cook." The pride on her face when she spoke of Ivan was not at all feigned, neither was the respectful glance she shot at him as he pushed forward her own plate with its slice.

"We're just glad for the company," she went on, happy to lead the conversation for now. "I'm used to having parties and get togethers, and while we both enjoy some peace and quiet, you can have too much of a good thing! I hope you'll help us out meeting some new people!"

<eager/helpful/affection> they would love to, she was sure of it.

Ivan picked up her signal and, in his thickly accent low voice, added, "Except this," and bite into another forkful.

Riley was losing all feeling of dread and doubt as waves upon waves of good feelings washed over him. "Oh, no of course it's fine Miss van Drakke. You don't have to feel that way at all. It's mighty rude of people not to be friendly simply because they feel intimidated by your societal status."

He leant forward as Anastasia spoke about their encounter. Riley turned to look at Josh as he blushed. The landscaper's eyes twinkled in glee as he chuckled lightly. "I see."

When asked for the recipe for the pie, Riley perked up and sat up straight before looking at Ivan. "Are you? You must let me see your kitchen." Riley nodded in time to Josh's invite to Sean and his barbecue. "Oh you have to join. It would be an excuse for you to show your culinary skills and get into the community."

With a huge smile, Riley cut another slice of pie and slid it on to Ivan's plate. "Have some more." The older man was pleased as punch to hear how delightfully charming the couple were. He was so sure all of his friends, even Cobalt, wouldn't have any problems being enamored by these two.

"Would you mind if I acquainted myself with your lawn?" Riley asked politely. "It looks so spacious, you could do with some decorations out there."