[Erik Vaughn]

It had been a long day in court, though Erik was satisfied with how it had gone. His current case was hardly anything that exciting, but it paid the bills and frankly he preferred the cases that didn't involve anything to do with the Guild. Even if it was just something as banal as breaking and entering, it had hardly be a difficult task to sow doubt whether or not his client was guilty. There had been witness testimony and some circumstantial evidence, but no "smoking gun". Hardly a challenge, but it did mean after he'd sorted out all of the things that needed done after the trial, he was free to relax for the rest of the day.

Stepping out of the court house he briefly shielded his eyes against the afternoon sun, blinking against the harsh light as his eyes readjusted. Erik was dressed in one of his usual well-tailored dark grey suits, his hair slicked back, and an expensive watch around his left wrist. He was about to head towards his car when a familiar face made him pause. It took a moment for his brain to connect the face to memory, but once it did he froze in surprise.

Ethan Rivers.

Erik hadn't seen him in years. Not since they'd known each other in law school, to see his old friend here unbalanced him for a moment. Maybe it was the surprise of the moment, maybe it was his loneliness and the fact that all that was waiting for him at home was a cat, but right then and there he couldn't help himself as he stepped towards Ethan. He'd... missed his old friend, a realization that only washed over him now that the other man was right there. It was the sort of sentimental nonsense that he despised, but Erik had always been weak when it came to the people he cared for. Even those from long ago.

"Ethan? Is that you?" What an inane question, really, Erik would have verbally eviscerated someone saying it to him and yet here he was. The smile on his face felt odd and unpracticed before it morphed into something closer to a smirk. An expression that came much more naturally to him. "I thought I saw a familiar face. Here for work, I hope? If not I could give you a discount if you need a good lawyer."

Asking someone earnestly how they were doing wasn't his style, the question instead implied as he spoke teasingly. The words lacking their usual sharp edge. Had anyone who'd spoken to him these last few years heard him then they would have boggled at the fact that Erik was capable of saying something in a tone that wasn't cutting or deeply mocking.

Ethan Rivers

I hope this works!

[Ethan Rivers]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","ETHANsimple_lyrics"]Upside down and not all here[break]
Right a wrong, it's all so crystal clear[break]

---

[attr="class","ETHANsimple"]


Even though court had gone smoothly, Ethan was tired by the end of the day. He’d had back to back cases, with barely any time to reset between them. At least they weren’t Guild clients today. When he didn’t have a client in front of a judge, he was running back up for some of the senior partners at his firm. [break][break]

At least he hadn't taken any losses today. He’d successfully defended a shoplifter, a violation of probation, possession of controlled substances, and he navigated a plea deal with a DUI. He was tired of dealing with other people’s problems, and ready to go home to his bottle of red wine and binge watching The Originals on Netflix again. He had the biggest crushes on Phoebe Tonkin, Joseph Morgan, and Charles Michal Davis. [break][break]

As he made his way down the steps in front of the court house, Ethan’s smart watch buzzed with a text notification. He glanced down at it, and let out a quiet sigh. It was his father, which never meant anything good for him. When he reached the bottom of the steps he paused and pulled his phone out to check the message, pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t business this time. His parents were planning to be in town in a couple weeks. Not that it was all that much better, but at least he didn’t need to rush to meet some Guild client of his father’s. [break][break]

Before he could text his father back, Ethan heard a familiar voice call out his name. He couldn’t place the voice immediately, but when he looked up he recognized the man calling out to him. “Oh, I’m certain you could. But no need, here on business, as usual.” Ethan let a smile take over, forgetting how tired he’d been a moment ago and filled with a nostalgic excitement. “Erik, it’s been way too long. If we’re both working here, how are we just now running into one another?” [break][break]

Probably because they were both busy lawyers, too busy to keep up with old friends from law school. Ethan could remember Erik having some family drama towards the end of school as well, but he didn’t know the details. It wasn’t like he was a stranger to family drama, so he’d never pried, and he didn’t plan on doing so now either. [break][break]

More than likely, Erik would have plans for the evening, or somewhere he should be getting. Time was always a premium. But Ethan couldn’t help the desire to catch up with an old friend, one he remembered fondly. They’d gotten on well in school, ran in the same circles but never quiet connected, not the way that Ethan had hoped they would, anyway. Ethan could remember having a bit of infatuation with Erik back in those days. He still had that same attractiveness, but something felt different. He couldn’t put a pin on it. [break][break]

“You probably have plans now, but if not, I’d love to catch up with you. If you’re interested, of course.” Ethan was careful to keep his own feelings in check, not wanting his own desire to catch up to bleed out and influence Erik’s decision. [break]

---

Erik Vaughn [break]
Let me know for any changes!

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[Erik Vaughn]

Probably both of their busy schedules had kept them from running into each other. Not to mention Erik knew himself well enough to know he rarely paid attention to who was around him when he was heading somewhere with purpose. It was not at all impossible that they'd passed by each other without ever noticing.

Erik did in fact not have any plans, unless you counted a bottle of wine and watching soap-opera on his couch as plans. Not that he'd ever admit to that of course. He'd rather chew glass than admit to his lack of social life these days. Though, another question was if he wanted to catch up with Ethan. A part of him wanted to, but he was wary of letting anyone too close. Last thing he needed was someone paying too much attention to what he was doing.

Then again, it wasn't like this needed to be anything than just shallow catching up. Besides, now that they were aware that they both worked as lawyers in the city they'd most likely run into each other again. If anything, building connections for the future would benefit him in the long run. Thus having rationalized it into something that wasn't as purely driven by emotions he made his decision.

"I suppose I could pencil you into my busy schedule, I've got some time to spare." He drawled after making a show of glancing down at his watch. Then he let his eyes stray, giving Ethan a quick once-over. Still handsome, he absently noted in the back of his mind, though more mature now than the frat-boy he remembered.

Cocking his head he offered Ethan another smile that bordered on a smirk. "If I remember correctly you're more likely to have a full social calendar. Still the life of every party?" Erik remembered feeling envious at the how the other man could skillfully navigate social situations, drawing people in with an almost effortless ease. An ability Erik had never had, though thankfully he'd gotten over the pathetic need to feel liked by his peers. "There's a coffee shop I frequent nearby, unless you'd prefer something stronger?"

Ethan Rivers

[Ethan Rivers]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","ETHANsimple_lyrics"]Upside down and not all here[break]
Right a wrong, it's all so crystal clear[break]

---

[attr="class","ETHANsimple"]


His old friend checked his watch, then went on to joke — or what Ethan could only presume was a joke — about penciling him in, declaring that he had some time to spare. [break][break]

When he commented about Ethan’s full social calendar, a smirk pulled at the corners of Ethan’s lips. It was true, he’d always been a bit of a social butterfly, as his mother called it. Though she tended to say that it was more making connections when it was Ethan and not his younger sisters. [break][break]

“I don’t know about life of the party these days, but I do still enjoy a good gathering every now and then.” He confirmed. “However, work tends to beckon at the absolute worst of times, so I disappoint when I have to duck out just as much as I entertain.” His phone had the worst habit of ringing right when he didn’t want it to. [break][break]

Erik offered up two options, coffee or something stronger. As nice as coffee and catching up sounded, he was more prone to the second of the two. [break][break]

“Something stronger, definitely.” He nodded, decisively. “It’s been a long week, as I’m sure you can relate. I know a few places in the area, unless you have somewhere in mind?” [break][break]

There were several bars in the area that Ethan could be found at various nights of the week. Sometimes by himself, other times with someone he met on one dating app or another, never really sure if he wanted to be there. Sometimes, if he was truly honest with himself, he was almost grateful when problem clients like Ernie Richard got themselves into trouble late at night and got called away. [break]

---

Erik Vaughn [break]
Let me know for any changes!

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[Erik Vaughn]

Good to see some things never changed. There was still a burning, seething jealousy that bubbled beneath the surface at Ethan's apparant happiness. A green-eyed monster that coveted everything that seemed to be out of Erik's reach. Though, for once it seemed quieter, its sharp claws not digging as deep into him as he thought it would at seeing someone from his past having a good life. 

"Well, I am glad to see even you have to bow down to the stress of working life." He drawled, though there was no sting in his words where it usually would have been. Instead he gave Ethan a crooked smirk. "Oh I can imagine."

He couldn't say he was surprised that Ethan wanted something stronger, though Erik would have preferred a coffee. Not that he was going to admit to that, he already knew he was a bore, no need to say it out loud. Though, a coffee and baileys right now did sound like exactly the thing he needed.

"I think I'll have to bow down to your superior knowledge there, I don't tend to go out to drink." Probably another reason why they hadn't run into each other before. Erik was unlikely to frequent the bars that Ethan did, especially not at the same volume or rate. There was the issue of his car, but he could let it stay here overnight. He could either take a taxi home later or have his brother pick him up. The brat already owed him several favours, and he was intending on collecting.

Stepping away from the court house, he gestured towards the street.

"Please, lead the way."

Ethan Rivers

[Ethan Rivers]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","ETHANsimple_lyrics"]Upside down and not all here[break]
Right a wrong, it's all so crystal clear[break]

---

[attr="class","ETHANsimple"]


Back in their school days, it seemed like all anyone did was party. And Ethan, well, he made a point to be at as many of them as he could attend without failing his classes. It wasn't like it was hard for him to sweet talk a professor into an extension on a late assignment or even, sometimes, dropping the assignment all together. These days, he still relied on his gift to let him coast a little more than he should, but he had at least been trying to be a little better about it. [break][break]

He was no longer found at any and every gathering of friends. Mostly, he stuck to a few nights a week, going out with whoever held his interest long enough. It had been a while since he'd made a go at anything resembling serious. Every interaction he seemed to have lately felt like it was very fleeting. [break][break]

That's why he was glad to have run into his old friend from law school. Erik wasn't someone who he would think about ditching after a single night of hanging out. They had been friends once, even if it was nearly a decade since they saw each other last. [break][break]

“I tend to forget not all of us are still as degenerate as we were back then. It doesn't have to be anything stronger than coffee, if that's what you’d prefer.” Ethan backtracked a bit, worried that he would influence the other man's decision by his own desire for a cocktail after what had been a grueling day. [break][break]

Ethan motioned down the sidewalk a ways. “There both coffee shops and bars this way, so whichever is fine, really.” He knew that more than the long day, the text from his father had fueled his want for a buzz. It wasn't a healthy coping mechanism. [break]

---

Erik Vaughn [break]
Let me know for any changes!

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