Connections, Money and Secrets [Almaz]

[Oriena]

Ori was pleasantly surprised that he took the offer of the smoke. Though by the blinking he did she apparently surprised him in turn with the revelation about Aurora. “One less job for you, no?” she teased, entirely cruel. Her lips sharpened a smirk for the revelation of her own renown on his lips, clearly not disappointed that he knew both her name and about the club. That took at least a little digging. So he was doing the proper work to suss out Nox, his life and home and habits. She took the hand, eyes dark.

The arm snaked then. Stupid or bold, and Nox was often both. She gave a sidelong, completely unimpressed look for the liberty he took. Nox was all tease and no bite, despite that he was busy fucking every girl that fluttered an eyelash around Almaz. It didn't mean Ori stopped pushing all those buttons, just to get a rise and see him struggle, but she wouldn't chase. And honestly, for all that the new darkness in him sparked something primal, she rather expected he was still crying himself to sleep every night over Rafael. It doused the flame of interest.

She tuned out for most of the little interlude of their frosty family reunion. Nox chained the anger up, let himself be a victim. At some point Jacob seemed to make a recalculation of tactics, to which Ori only fluttered a little dismissive laughter. Her fingers curled around the neck of the vodka bottle as she slid from her stool, all sex and venom. Whatever Arisha had placed on her tongue made her fizz a little inside. Her other hand grabbed Nox with nothing short of possession.

"No one comes here to drink and talk," she said derisively, tugging Nox along with every expectation that he'd follow. "And nothing good ever happens topside. We're missing all the fun."

If Jacob followed or not she didn't care. They were headed downstairs.