along the middle path they tread

By this point, the older members of the group had gravitated into a conversation of their own nearby, leaving the group of young men to their own devices. In a way, that came as a relief to Avery, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t out of the woods in that regard just yet.

Despite his genuine interest in the redhead, Jesse shrank back when Mal took the initiative to place himself between the two of them. He could only assume and hope that Mal’s reaction was out of a protective instinct rather than actual jealousy – but either way, he had a feeling that if Ricky’s interest was genuine, they might have another chance to have a proper conversation before the end of the evening.

Though Ricky recognized the thinly veiled barb, he chose to brush it off with a brief chuckle. “Yeah, you got it,” he agreed with a slight grin, briefly shooting Mal a one-handed finger gun as their handshake ended.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ricky couldn’t help noticing when Thaddeus called for his son’s attention once more, and Avery reluctantly shuffled over to join the older crowd. Apparently Stefan himself had wanted an opportunity to talk to Avery himself. Though he remained moderately aware of what was going on with the rest of the group, he relaxed a bit more as Angelica once again went out of her way to occupy Thaddeus’ attention.

“So,” Ricky spoke again, turning his full attention back to Mal and Jesse once more. “I imagine it must be interesting working for Mr. Campbell. Never a dull moment, as they say?”

Avery had gotten up from his bar stool at some point during the conversation, even just to use his father as a barrier between himself and the gaggle of strangers. However, he couldn’t help but glance up when he heard his name spoken. It didn’t help that the blonde woman, Angelica, had drawn Thaddeus off to the side just a little to engage him – or perhaps, distract him, with one of her famous stories.

“That’s me,” he spoke up, with a small wave of his hand. “I’m Avery.”

It was a moment of social bravery that surprised even himself. It did help, however, that his father was distracted, and that Ricky was right next to him now. Ricky was his best friend…perhaps, indeed, his only friend, and having him there was the greatest comfort of the evening for Avery, seeing as he could always count on him to deflect attention away from Avery and onto himself.

Ricky, at the moment, was smiling his smile that some would call cordial and others would call dazzling, with his focus trained on the two younger men in the party. Younger, of course, but closer to Ricky and Avery’s own ages.

“Ricky’s the name,” he introduced himself to the man who’d addressed them both, whom Thaddeus had called Mal; while extending his hand for him to shake. “You weren’t far off, though; I am mainly known for standing around and looking pretty.” Despite himself, he glanced over at the other young man standing next to Mal, the doe-eyed, curly-haired one who had been described as Stefan’s son. The one who had kept sneaking glances at him since the group had walked in. “How y’all doin’?” Ricky asked, directing the question towards both men equally.

Avery knew his friend all too well, and averted his eyes for a moment to keep from rolling them. He knew that look – Ricky had a habit of finding the one person in a room he should not flirt with, and setting his sights squarely on them. Clearly tonight was no exception, but at least Campbell Jr. seemed receptive to it.

The eye contact between Stefan and Thaddeus was incredibly charged – about as much so as the ensuing handshake was tense and awkward.

“Thaddeus,” Stefan said simply, by way of greeting.

“Stefan,” Thaddeus replied in kind, shooting him an ear-to-ear grin that he did not return. “How nice to see you this evening.”

Before Stefan could respond, Angelica loosened her grasp on Laurence’s arm and cozied up beside Stefan instead, giving Thaddeus a dazzling smile of her own.

“Hiya, Teddy bear,” she greeted him, batting her eyelashes. “It’s been too long. How’ve you been?” As she spoke, she extended one of her bejeweled hands for him to shake, waggling her fingers a little for good measure.

Angie’s intrusion had clearly caught Thaddeus offguard, though it was a wonder how he had managed to miss her given how her dress sparkled like a disco ball. He visibly faltered before delicately shaking Angie’s offered hand.

“Angie,” he responded, his smile suddenly looking a lot less menacing and more forced than it had before. “As…lovely as ever.”

Laurence made no attempt to insert himself into the conversation, but coughed into a handkerchief to muffle his laughter. Thaddeus, however, was quick to bounce back – he had caught sight of Jesse, where he lingered beside Mal.

“And I haven’t seen you in a dog’s age, either,” Thaddeus went on, gesturing towards Mal as he released Angie’s hand. “Mal, wasn’t it? And I’m guessing this must be your son I’ve heard so much about, right, Stefan?”

Stefan’s blue eyes narrowed, his hackles raised at Thad’s attention towards both Mal and Jesse, but he said nothing in response just yet.

The man in question was already making himself cozy at the nearest mini bar, martini in hand as he sank into a bar stool; long, gangly frame clad in a purple pinstripe suit. Thaddeus welcomed these events whenever they rolled around – they were a rare opportunity to rub elbows and collect secrets where he could.

On Thad’s right stood the redheaded Ricky, leaning up against the bar as he nursed a whiskey neat; though he kept his senses sharp. He was still technically on duty, after all. He stood nearly as tall as Thad himself, and almost as eye-catching in a deep crimson-and-black plaid suit and pale blue tie. He, like Angelica, liked to draw attention to himself in one way or another.

Meanwhile, Thad’s son Avery sat to his left, trying to sink into his own seat and become as invisible as possible. His thick, curly dark hair helped to obscure his gaunt face, and he had opted for a simple, albeit slightly too big black suit and tie to further blend into the background. He held no drink, having a different substance entirely in the back of his mind.

Despite their proximity, Thad’s thoughts and focus were far from his son. Instead, his beady blue-green eyes scanned their surroundings, searching for one person in particular – and soon enough, he found him.