2024-12-28 - Late Night Cocoa Confessions

Saturday had been filled with a flurry of activity -- the trip out to the chalet, skiing until the afternoon, a trip to the spa, and dinner in the evening. After that, folks sort of split up and wandered off in groups or to their rooms, or out and back again before the later evening activities.

Now it is late on Saturday night and relatively quiet. Some folks are probably asleep, getting ready for another day of skiing and shenanigans on Sunday.

Trace is awake. He'd tried to sleep but he's gotten so used to the magic giving him control of his dreams that his brain isn't used to just.. sleeping.. without that magical control. Or maybe he's just too up in his own head in general. Either way, he's in a pair of red and black plaid pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt with a mug of cocoa in his hands that he'd made in the kitchen, sitting in the dark in the living area in front of the fireplace, mostly just watching the flames crackle, illuminated by the firelight.

Fin comes shuffling out from the hallway looking as if she had been asleep, at least for some amount of time. Her hair is rather messy and she's wearing a pair of buffalo check flannel pajamas with fuzzy black sherpa slippers on her feet (making that shuffling sound). After rubbing at one eye and yawning, she blinks a couple of the times before focusing on the fact that Trace is there in the peace of the fireplace and she is now invading.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was up." Her voice is a whisper, as if not wanting to compete with the serene sound of the fire crackling.

Trace glances up and over, smiling a little as he hears Fin's familiar voice. "Nothing to apologize for. You're allowed to be awake," he teases gently, his own voice pitched low so that it doesn't carry outside of the room that they're in. Not that anyone is really close enough to hear them at the moment. "There's cocoa.. there's still some in the pan on the stove if you want some." He lifts his mug in a vague little gesture. He'd made enough for a couple of cups.

"Cocoa sounds delightful," she says, turning to head to the stove to get herself a cup. Fin speaks with him as she goes, lifting her voice a little so he can hear her. "Couldn't sleep or just wanted to enjoy the beauty of a dark night with snow outside the windows and a warm fire to sit by?" Suddenly realizing how tranquil a scene that paints, she says, "darn. The one time I don't have a camera. I could have taken a stellar picture of you." Getting a mug out, she pours the cocoa in and adds some little marshmallows before shuffling back toward Trace and the fire.

Trace tends to make things in twos or threes around the apartment fairly regularly in case Fin or Gabe want some. And if they don't turn up, he either drinks it himself or just puts it in the fridge for later. "Sleep was a little weird. I keep waking up," he says as he lifts his cup and takes another small sip.

Taking his phone off the couch behind him, he offers it out to her. "It's a phone camera, but it's a camera." Definitely not the caliber of her professional one, but it is more than zero camera.

The fact that Trace does often make enough for the others around him is one of the many wonderful traits the man has, in Fin's book at least.

"Maybe you should spike your cocoa and see if that helps your sleep." She waggles her brow a little before lifting her cup to take a temp-testing sip, licking her upper lick after. "I got a cramp in my leg, then rolled over to try to stretch it out and realized I must have bruised my ass when I fell. Figured I'd walk out the cramp instead."

The offer of the phone camera gets a small 'ooh' from her and she sets the mug down to take it in hand. "Most phone cameras aren't too horrible these days. I mean, not quite stellar, but, they still take nice pictures." She opens up the camera app and takes a photo of Trace as he lifts his mug for a sip. "It's giving very holiday ski-chalet. The best part of not sleeping is cocoa in your cup ads."

Trace looks down into his cocoa and says, "I'm trying to pace myself. I drank a LOT at my folks' place. Not sure I'm quite at the needing to knock myself out cold stage yet." He winces a little at the cramp. "Yeah, my whole right side is a bit bruised," he chuckles. It's a little stiff but it'll be fine. "Sorry 'bout your butt."

He isn't sure whether he's supposed to be looking at the camera or not when she takes the picture but he's looking at her when she lifts the camera so that's the shot that she gets. Him looking at her from over the edge of his cocoa mug. Then he laughs and says, "Nice. Very not-quite-Folger's."

"I imagine you did. I imagine I would have drank a whole lot too, if I was at your folks place." When he says, 'sorry 'bout your butt', Fin turns around and twerks for about two point zero seconds. "Still works," she laughs.

"Way better than Folger's," she says, looking at him, then the screen, then him. "Now turn toward the fire. Let that glow hit your amazing skin." He's apparently her muse now, or at least for now. Should he do so, she'll take a couple photos then segue... "So. You and Enzo seem to not hate each other anymore." She peeks at him then quickly looks back at the screen, instinctively hitting the shutter button to see if she gets an interesting reaction.

"It wasn't as bad as it could have been, honestly. Time with Camille and Nonna was worth it," Trace says. When she gives her butt a good wiggle to ensure it is in working order, he laughs and then covers his mouth when it comes out just a little too loud. "Good, good. No broken butts allowed."

Trace doesn't seem to mind the scrutiny or the camera. It's not like he seeks it out, but he's been photographed a lot through the years as part of his father's picture-perfect family and there's a certain ease that comes with just being used to it.

It makes him a fairly easy subject. His gaze returns to the fire obediently, smiling amusedly at her commentary. "You're going to give me a huge go with all the compliments," he scolds her. Her next comment has his gaze dropping from the fire into the cup in front of him and a small, wry little smile touching his lips before he says, "I've never hated him."

Fin nod nods. "True. They both sound like good people. I love the stories of them that you have shared. Your Nonna sounds like the kind of woman I want to hug."

Leaving her butt behind the conversation (see what I did there?) Fin takes a few more photos. "Did you ever consider going into modeling?" she wonders. Talk about giving the man an ego. "Psh. You know me. I tell it like I see it. Besides, focusing on beauty has kind of been my job for most of my working life. I am trained to appreciate it." She walks over and hands him back his phone, takes up her cocoa and goes to sit on the luxurious sofa, curling up in one corner a bit. "I saw that smile. And okay, you didn't hate him. But, you were... you did not seem fond of him and absolutely did not trust him. I've tried getting secrets out of him, but nothing juicy yet. He's only told me he's here because other people he knew were coming here. Essentially." Her eyes keep darting to the hallway to make sure no one else is coming down unable to sleep.

She takes a slurpy sip of her cocoa. "He also hasn't asked me any prying questions about you. I would think if he were here trying to get info on you I'd be a prime source." She takes another sip, this time with an extra slurp to get a marshmallow. "Of course, he could be playing the long game and that was his reason for pampering me so much."

"He's a great dancer, by the way."

Sip.

"Just sayin'."

"Anyway, you seem to be getting along since uh... your mother's surprise visit." She waggles her brows again, clearly she is referring more to the kiss between Enzo and Trace and not Mother Dearest's surprise. "On the other hand, Angelo seems really nice too."

"She's a good hugger," Trace confirms.

He then laughs at that question and asks "Modeling? No. Never would have crossed my mind. I'm a huge nerd. Labcoats and fire-resistant protective gear model, maybe." Then he pauses and says, "But I do appreciate the compliment. And I will take your professional word for it. If any opportunities come my way, I'll remember you said I have a shot."

He takes his phone back and glances through the pictures for a couple of moments, head tilted a bit to the side. Then he blows out a breath and puts the phone away, looking back to her. "He said he came here to be with his friends, and now I know that.. these were the friends he came here to be with." He gestures to the chalet, indicating the triplets. "And that makes sense. They're best friends. And yet, he's not doing what he seems passionate about doing here. And I keep feeling like there's something else going on."

Then he confesses, "I am just confused by the way that in one moment, we can feel like we've known one another for years and just talk, and banter, and.. then he's running cold and treating me like I'm the enemy again. He won't call me by my name. He's always, always associating me with my family." He runs his fingers through his hair, "I don't think he's trying to get any info on me. I think he's here for something else and my being here is just.. a thorn in his side."

His smile is a little crooked as he says, "He said the same of you, when I ran into him in the hall after the ball. That you were an excellent conversationalist and a very good dancer."

And when she mentions the kiss he drops his head into his hands, sitting cross-legged with his elbows on his knees. "I liked it," he admits. "I really liked it. Kissing him." He never did answer that question when she'd asked it the first time.

"Maybe I'll get to meet her someday," Fin says of Nonna, the wonderful baker and hugger.

"Hey. Nerds are sexy too! Sometimes the most sexy. You know Ashton Kutcher was once a something-ist Engineer? He's hot. See. Nerds are hot." She watches as he looks at the photos, tilting her head, curious as to what he thinks. "Yeah, that's what he said. The triplets. But he said he knew some others too." Tilting her head again, she asks, "what is he passionate about doing?"

"Mmhmm. I would be confused by that too. Have you tried just asking him?" She hmms again, her lips quirking to the side a bit. "I still say he is suffering from Jason Alvarez syndrome." Boys who have crushes on someone and don't know how to process their emotions and end up kind of bullying people instead. "Hmm... like, something he doesn't want your family finding out? So like, he's worried you might find out just like, a peripheral threat?"

Fin huffs a breath on her nails then shines them on the flannel lapel of her jammies. "I wouldn't say very good, but I managed to not step on his toes." She flashes Trace a smile. She watches as he finally confesses. "mmhmm. I had a feeling... Plus, I mean, the way you described the moment to me, well, it sounded kinda hot. Not going to lie."

"You seemed to be having a good time with Angelo at the Ball. Is that.. like... a potential thing?"

"Next time I have to go out there, you should come with me," Trace offers. "No expenses. They'll send the jet any time they get a chance to get me home." But then he laughs and says, "Okay, okay.." As he looks at the photos its clear that he likes them, and he shakes his head and says, "I bet you could make anybody look good. But you just.. have a real eye for light and shadow. The composition is so good."

"Yes. It's.. always a convoluted and circular conversation. He asked me not to tell my family or his family that he was here. I promised. I haven't. I've already promised I'm not going to say anything," he sighs, "But then while we were in the hall the other night after the ball he was like 'Sometimes I wish you would tell your family about me.' and I was just like... WHY? And he gave me a look like I should know. I do not know, Fin. And when I was like 'Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of like not dragging up potential drama?' he didn't answer the question. And yes, I get there's a certain hypocrisy in my complaining about people who don't answer the question."

"It was," he admits with a faint groan, and the faintest of color touching his ears. "The reason I ended up in the ditch yesterday was because I was just staring at him skiing and.. daydreaming," he mutters. While in full confession mode.

Lifting his head he says, "Angelo's great. But Angelo and I both need friends. Real friends. I don't have a lot of friends. You. Avery. We get along really well but we both, we really want to work on this friendship thing. Besides, it seems like a pretty shitty idea to date someone when all you can do is think about kissing their best friend."

"I absolutely will if I can!" Fin is quick to accept the sometime-in-the-future-potential-invitation. "Even if just to meet her." It is her turn to blush a little as he compliments the photos. "Aww. Thanks. For some reason, I've noticed that even my souvenir photos taken with the park camera turn out a bit better than some of the other photogs." She hasn't quite figured out yet that on the islands, she has the ability to manipulate the light around her a bit.

Leaning forward with her mug between her hands, she listens to him speak about his experiences with Enzo, occasionally letting out thoughtful hums. When he also confesses to the reason why he crashed, she lifts a hand and curls her fist to her lips to not laugh. When he then speaks of Angelo and the need for friends, she nods. "I totally get that. So many of the ones I have are married, have kids, living all over the place. When I was traveling so much, it was hard to really have close friendships. And yeah... good point."

But she pivots then back to Enzo. "So, let me see if I get this straight... Your father and his father are basically... enemies, rivals, bad blood there for obvious reasons. Your family doesn't like that you are here. His family doesn't know he's here. He first asks you not to tell anyone, but then says he sometimes wishes you would... Does he maybe think telling your family about him being here, and you... talking to him... would be kind of a bit of revenge? Like, it would upset your dad, probably, to know you were friendly with Enzo, from what you've told me, right? And it sounds like it would also upset Enzos family vice versa. I dunno. Maybe he thinks if you told your family and his family found out it might be a... way to separate yourselves from your family a bit? Like, come out of their shadows... be your own people..."

"Maybe kiss more."

Sip.

"Then I'll let you know the next time I go out there," Trace says. "We'll go some fun places for photos too." Because he's not going to JUST drag her out to Boston to meet his family without something else to do as well to make it more interesting. "We should get some of them blown up," he says, of her photos. "Hang them in the front room of the apartment. Like pick a couple of each of our favorites." He's including Gabe in this, of course, "And put them up. What do you think?"

"I have some in Boston, and some in LA from when I lived there. But we're not really in touch as much as we used to be, and that's cool. They have their own things. I'm trying to make the park home, make friends there, have a circle of real friends. And I think Angelo and I definitely have a bond. I think we're going to be really good friends. And I like that. I want to hold onto that."

"Pretty sure that my dad would hate the idea that I was friends with the son of the guy he's been tangled up in court with for years. Like at this point I feel like that whole case is his white whale. Its been years now. In and out and in and out of court. But at the same time, he'd probably try to use me to try to get information, anything that might help them finally pin Enzo's dad and.. I don't want part of any of that shit. That's why I'm here living my life, doing my thing, because I have separated myself from that, to not be in that shadow."

He lifts his cup to take a sip and then coughs a little as she says that right as he drinks.

"Yes! I'd love that!" Regarding her photos, Fin says, "oh, absolutely we can do that. I usually have a bunch hanging up around my room after I develop them. If either of you see one you would like, let me know. I'll hook us up." She isn't shy about sharing her photos.

"I am just really glad that I got you as a roommate, then Gabriel too. It's really helped make it feel like home having both of you and as I get to know others better as well." She smiles and says, "then absolutely hold onto the friendship."

He coughs and Fin can't help but laugh this time, lifting her arm in front of her face to shield herself from cocoa spray if any were to happen. "You okay over there?"

"Man. Your families have really put the both of you in awkward places. Like, even if you weren't both in Spellbound. Even separately." Fin shakes her head. She's quiet a moment then wrinkles her nose. "It's sad. Like, for a lot of reasons, but like, clearly you are both hindered by your fathers and the case. What if that wasn't a factor at all and you just organically met each other. I can't help but wonder if there would still be this Jason Alvarez situation or if you two would automatically hit it off... or if the tension of the whole situation is making it seem more appealing." She shakes her head again. "I need to stop analyzing." With a laugh, she adds, "you are adorably tortured though. Starting to make me want to figure out his secrets for a different reason than we began with."

Trace's smile turns warm as he says, "Awesome. Yeah, I'm really glad that the three of us all get along and are really chill. I mean, Gabe spends a LOT of time in their room but that's cool. Like, I'd like to get to know them better, but I'm gonna give it time. I kind of feel like they'll warm up as time goes on." He then says, "And I'm glad I met you. Best possible roomie scenario." He offers out a fist-bump.

Recovering a little from the cough he says, "Yeah.. I think I'll live. Just a little cocoa in the lungs."

"Ironically, if it wasn't for all this, I don't know if we would have met at all. I mean the first time I saw him was in court when we were kids," Trace says as he runs his thumb over the handle of his coffee mug. "I thought he was cute. I was way too shy to talk to him though. And I mean, I knew it would piss my dad off and I was still afraid of really standing up to him, then." He then groans again when she calls him adorably tortured. "I'm a fucking idiot is what I am. Even my sister told me that I was an idiot when I was at home." He slumps backward then, holding his mug in both hands in his lap, cradling it there.

"I hope to get to know them even better too. But so far, they have been a great addition." Fin meets Trace's held-out fist with her own to bump knuckles. "Absolute best roomie scenario," she agrees.

"I mean, you might have still met. If you both still came here. Right?" She grins and agrees, "he is cute. I mean, the grown up version. Extremely handsome. But then so are you." Tilting her head she has to ask, "what precisely makes you an idiot? That you liked being kissed by a fine ass man? That you might like more of that? Or is it just because your fathers have been going at it for years?" Fin shrugs and picks a marshmallow out of her mostly empty cup, plopping it in her mouth. "If you ask me, that's their problem, not yours or Enzo's. You two should perhaps just figure things out without them in the equation. I know... easier said than done. Would help if we could find out what his secret is. Like, the real reason he might be here."

"Yeah, they have," Trace says with a grin. Then he asks, "Hey, are you going to the New Year's Eve concert and fireworks?"

Trace considers that and says, "Maybe. Maybe we would have met here. We did arrive on the same ferry on the same day."

"Getting all twisted up over someone who I absolutely cannot figure out and who, aside from one incredibly hot kiss, doesn't.. actually seem interested in me. And.. while it sure felt like more than a distraction to me, I don't know if it felt that way to him. So.." Trace trails off with a little shrug and then finishes off his cocoa, setting the mug down on the coffee table.

"I dunno. He says his father doesn't know he's here, that he thinks he's scouting real estate in California. But honestly, how is he pulling that off if he's not actually sending his father any information on real estate in California?" Trace asks with a furrowed brow. "I dunno. None of it makes any real sense to me."

"I wouldn't miss it!" Fin answers a bit too loudly, covering her mouth with her hand after and peering down the hall. She breathes a small sigh of relief when it seems she didn't wake anyone.

"Really? Same ferry, same day? Huh..."

"I dunno.. getting all twisted up about someone you can't figure out and stuff is... intoxicating. Even if it is fleeting. But, I'm a romantic. I think anytime a person feels twisted up like that is kind of wonderful in a weird way." Fin shrugs a bit. "I dunno. Kissing was his idea." She shrugs again. "Maybe he has someone looking at real estate for him in Cali and he just relays the info to his Dad as if he's there? Seems pretty easy especially if his dad is as preoccupied with his own stuff as it sounds."

She flutters her eyes a bit and asks, "does it actually have to make sense?"

Trace laughs a little quietly at that a-little-too-loud response and says, "Good because I have to load like a thousand shells that morning and I want everybody to see how good it all looks because I helped do the choreography and I'm going to be pooped."

"Yeah, we literally stepped onto the same ferry from the mainland. That was the day he told me not to tell either of our families we were there. It was.. the closest I'd ever been to him at the time. He put his hand on my shoulder and looked in my eyes and I was like.. god damn, this man is gorgeous, and I believe that's when my brain fled my body."

Then he smiles a little wryly and says, "There are times when it feels.. yeah, I guess intoxicating is a word for it. Maybe why I keep going back for more." But her theory on the fact that he probably has someone doing it and giving him information makes sense, "Yeah, you're probably right. I guess it would be pretty easy to do that. Probably should have thought of that."

He smiles at her a bit crookedly and says, "I guess not. Because here I am."

"Sounds like I will want to get the show filmed." Fin winks at Trace then covers a yawn with the back of her hand. "He really is gorgeous. I tell ya, if my roomie wasn't all twisted up over him... Just kidding. But for real, I think the two of you might be the best-looking men on staff. I am surprised stars didn't like collide and blow up in the sky when you two entered the same zone."

"Mmhmm. Here you are. And he's... right down that hall." She pokes at the air in the direction of the bedrooms with her fingertip a couple of times. And then, she turns to look at him with a sly grin on her lips. Trace has seen that look a few times now. It means she has some sort of idea she thinks is brilliant.

"And that," she says as she rises from the sofa to stand and start to carry her mug to the kitchen. "Is also where I will be. Going to try to get back to sleep now that I am full of chocolate and good conversation with my bestie." She winks at him before she turns to walk toward the hall. "Good night Trace! Sweet dreams!"

Trace chuckles and says, "Pretty sure there were fireworks, even if they were only my brain short-circuiting." He glances down the hall when she does, to the other rooms where others are sleeping and then back to her, catching that look and he laughs, shaking his head, worried what that brilliant idea might be.

"Goodnight, Fin. Thanks for being amazing, and sweet, and putting up with my ... " he gestures vaguely, "Drama." He laughs. "Sweet dreams." He lifts his mug to her as she departs.

But he doesn't follow immediately. He gets up to put out the last burning embers of the fire so it's not left unattended. Then he cleans up the mugs, though he doesn't wash them this time, and eventually crawls back into bed to try to sleep again.. without dreams.