Family Dinner → Brent Yaxely

[Tiffany Lestrange]

Brent Yaxely's home

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Tiffany found Brent outside having a cigarette & approached him almost nervously. She hated herself for her cowardice. She wasn't afraid of him. She wouldn't act afraid of him. Her eyes travelled from the cigarette, following the upward trail of smoke, before her eyes landed on his face instead. 

"Have you been waiting long?"

Her tone was surprisingly soft, not stern or threatening or anything of the sort, like it normally was.

[Brent Yaxley]

Noticing her walking towards him, Brent glanced her up and down, had he been anyone else he'd of been impressed she'd dressed up for the family, he'd of complimented her, but nope, this was Brent, so compliments were off the cards. He himself, well he was at home, he seemed different, he dressed more laid back and relaxed, his shirt was tight, showed off his toned arms and stretched nicely across his chest. With it he wore faded navy jeans that hung perfectly from his hip bone. His hair was washed and styled and most importantly, any hint of blood on his body was gone, even the scratches had been removed with some of his wand work, the only thing he sported was a slight scar on the left side of his cheek, just under his eye.

"You think I'd wait outside for you, dear?" He questioned, eyebrow raised, giving her one of the undoubtedly many unimpressed looks he'd give her as the evening progressed.

"Loretta is here, and my father is joining us too, apparently. Aren't you a lucky girl?" stopping, Brent flicked ash from the end of his cigarette, but as he would usually flick it towards Tiffany he stopped himself and flicked it in her opposite direction, he was presenting Tiff to his mother, one of two women in his life he actually respected and he figured him burning her wasn't the way to do it unless he wanted nagging all evening. 

[Tiffany Lestrange]

She immediately stood stock-still, waiting for the cigarette to be thrown in her direction, then seemed to relax, but only a little. Her nervousness for the evening was unchartable, her discomfort obvious in her stiff, unmovable posture. "That isn't what I meant, but sure." she gave a little sigh, looking up at him with one eyebrow quirked almost challengingly - but tiredly so. It looked as though she was putting up all she could, but was ready to drop to the ground & pass out at any moment. The mention of Loretta made her spine stiffen. The girl had never done anything to warrant dislike from Tiffany, but the fact that she occasionally saw her around the school grounds made it all so surreal & uncomfortable for her.

"The luckiest." she replied without hesitation, reaching out & carefully brushing a little ash from his shirt & immediately withdrawing her hand, not wanting to give him a large opportunity to slap it away.

[Brent Yaxley]

Pausing, Brent realised the mistake of communication before shaking his head, growling softly. "In that case, no, you're actually early. Guess you just wanted to spend more time with me, hm?" His voice was humourless but he was clearly joking.

"Good girl." He retorted, eyebrow raising as she touched his shirt, though he didn't flinch, or stiffen, he simply watched her, his eyes practically burning into his flesh.

"Inside?" He started, gesturing for her to open the door in front of him. "Ladies first, right? Not that I'd quite call you that but-" lowering his voice, he tilted his head towards her ear. "You're lucky my mother is around, apparently I have to act like a gentleman." He sounded amused, almost even cracked the tiniest hint of a smirk on the corner of his lips at the thought. Brent wasn't even sure he knew how to act like a gentleman. 

[Tiffany Lestrange]

Deciding to take advantage of having him forced into acting like a gentleman, she smirked & went on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek. His stubble scratched at her chapped lips, causing a little rift as she pulled away, giving him a challengingly cheeky look. She'd pay for it later, but it was almost worth it.

"Thanks sweetheart." She mocked almost playfully.

[Brent Yaxley]

Turning his head slightly, his look said it all, like he was about to snap her spine at any moment if she wasn't careful. "Watch it." He muttered harshly under his breath before reaching over and pushing the front door open effortlessly.

Placing his hand a-little-too-roughly on Tiffs back, Brent pushed her inside somewhat, the place was nice, large, after all it was a manor house, but unlike the Lestranges it was bright, clean, the smell of fresh air continued from outside into the lobby, the staircase was wide and open, the chandelier lighting up the whole room. Bright, lively flowers graced the table. Quite the opposite of what you'd expect from Brent.

[Tiffany Lestrange]

She felt homesick immediately. The brightness & friendliness of the house made her think of the smaller one they'd raided earlier, causing her stomach to clench up in excitement, eyes widening. The two conflicting emotions made her squirm on the spot, eyes flickering up to Brent's face. If they were alone, she would have him take her right then & there.

"It's lovely." She said aloud, more of a general statement than a compliment to him. The floors were clean, new-looking. So different from her own home. She shifted her weight from foot to foot as she waited impatiently next to him.

[Brent Yaxley]

"Thank you" came a voice from the room next door as his mother walked in to greet them in the hallway. "Good evening Ms Lestrange-" spoke Brent's mother, Letitia. Brent rolled his eyes slightly, his mother looked young, well kept, her hair straight, the same colour as her sons but her features were much softer, her eyes didn't pierce like Brent's did. She seemed so much more gentle, her frame tiny, somewhat frail like. She wore a dress that ended just below her knees and hugged around her slim figure.

At that moment, the top of the stairs also became occupied, by an older male who resembled Brent more than his mother, they donned the same stubble but this man seemed so much more gentle, he had a smile on his face as he walked down the stairs, suited and booted, his hands moving to button up the top few buttons of his shirt before he tied his tie around his neck. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs he nodded towards his son and future daughter-in-law. "Tiffany." He spoke simply, having met her a couple of times when he's stuck around after the death eater meetings. "Nice that you could join us" he added, giving her a slight grin as he patted Brent on the shoulder, causing his son to grimace somewhat.

[Tiffany Lestrange]

She shook Letitia's hand, too uncomfortable in her own skin to even attempt anything more personal, then glanced up & did a double take. She'd met him before, but she'd never met him on such casual circumstances - and certainly not in a partially unbuttoned state of dress. Her jaw slackened almost unnoticeably but she kept her mouth shut, instead forcing a small, not particularly genuine smile & nod as he headed down to greet them, taking his hand shakily as he approached them. She stood a little closer to Brent as if to confirm loyalty, the blush returning to her cheeks again. This was becoming a habit with her, apparently. She wondered if Brent would notice again. She knew better than to think he paid that much attention to her exclusively - he just happened to be vigilant & observant like many other good death eaters.

In that moment, she realized she could do it. The idea of rearing young was still frightening but she knew she could live out her years with him. They'd make it work, to keep the line pure. It wouldn't be as horrible as she'd thought - they both had the same values & goals.

[Brent Yaxley]

Letitia seemed happy enough with a shake of the hand before simply letting her hand fall to her side as she gave them both an appreciative smile. Zebulon (srsly tho, natalie, why these names i have no idea) smirked softly, he was good at picking up on simple mannerisms, maybe that was where Brent learnt it from but he didn't miss a beat, noticing the slight slackening at the top of her jaw. Raising an eyebrow he almost chuckled to himself as he shook her hand and went to wrap his arm around his wife's waist, his nose nuzzling the top of her head as he pressed a kiss there before standing upright again, arm still around Letitia.

Brent didn't move, he didn't shuffle, he didn't offer affection, he just stood there, still and emotionless, as he was good at. "Where's Loretta?" He finally spoke up, glancing in his mothers direction until she confirmed his younger, unnaturally blonde, sister was still getting ready.

"Drink, anyone?" Zebulon asked as Brent quietened down.

[Tiffany Lestrange]

"Yes, please." Tiffany said so quickly she nearly cut him off. She needed something small to calm her nerves a little. Turning to Brent, Tiffany have him an uncharacteristically pitiful look. Be nice, she was inwardly urging him, squirming on the balls of her feet. She hadnt worn shoes in a long time - always heeled boots instead. Her scarred legs felt vulnerable in their exposure where her dress ended below the knee. She was hardly dressed 'skimpy' but she certainly felt like she was.

[Brent Yaxley]

Zebulon paused, chuckling softly at how fast she replied and with a simple click of his fingers the Yaxley household house elf turned up in a flash of smoke, a small dainty female elf, almost hard to believe it'd still be alive with Brent in the same house as it. "Drinks" Zebulon spoke simply to the small creature whom bowed. "What drinks would sir and madam like?" It asked almost timidly as she looked around the four much taller adults around her.

"Whiskey-" Brent answered simply, his hand reaching to rub the back of his neck. His father nodded in agreement with Brents choice as Letitia asked for a glass of rosè wine. "Tiffany?" Brent questioned, waiting on her to select a drink of choice.

[Tiffany Lestrange]

"Wine sounds perfect, actually." She agreed with his mother, glancing up at him in surprise when he touched her so lightly. It was obvious how starved for affection she was, by the way she practically melted into the touch - starved not specifically from him but just in general. Her eyebrows were raised in question, but she didnt dare stop him, knowing that it wouldn't last & she should just appreciate what she had right then.

[Brent Yaxley]

Letitia offered another smile to the young couple as the house elf disappeared with a pop to go get their drinks and Zebulon gestured towards the living room, waiting for Brents carefully placed hand on Tiffs back to lead her in there, taking a seat on the couch beside the unlit log fire, his hand resting against his knee. His parents sat across from them, Zebulon with his arm still wrapped affectionately around his wifes waist. "So Tiffany, how is school? Your mother? I haven't seen her in a while." Brents eyes rolled just slightly as he sat back against the couch, fingers drumming somewhat boredly against his knee.

[Tiffany Lestrange]

"School is a nightmare, it's run by absolute chimpanzees. You really don't want me to bore you with the details," she gave a small, polite smile & placed her hand on Brent's knee as if it came naturally.

"My mother is doing perfectly fine. She's ecstatic at the current political situation, you can only imagine. You've been keeping well?" She arranged her face to look hopeful & interested, keeping up an act of 'perfection' as she dragged her nails as softly as possible over Brent's knee, tracing the outline of the cap through his jeans.