Chapter Text
Deft fingers slipped the button of his suit jacket free with practiced ease. The motion came like breathing, mostly without thought. Those same fingers drifted to the half Windsor knot of his tie giving it a firm tug to ease its noose like state under the collar of his shirt. The tight feeling at his neck didn't ease until another firm tug wrested the two top most buttons of his shirt loose. Rolan took a deep breath and let out a longer sigh as he furrowed his brow, pinched the bridge of his nose and bared his teeth.
Like a dancer who knew their moves by heart he navigated to the drink bar, poured himself a glass of Arabellan Dry and sunk into his couch. The well worn leather gave way under him, the space shaped perfectly for him after years of use and he brought the glass to his forehead. After a long while yellow eyes opened and gazed out towards the large floor to ceiling windows that lead out to a balcony high above the city and his tail flicked.
The night brought street lights, sirens, music, and a cacophony of other sounds both beautiful and dreadful rising to meet his pointed ears and set the otherwise dark room in a pale light. Cal and Lia were out there still. Lia was probably dancing in a club with reckless abandon as Cal stayed close to enjoy the party. Knowing Cal he would provide Lia an out if she needed one.
They wouldn't be home for hours yet.
The piercing sound of his phone echoed against the bare walls of the living room and he bared his teeth again. The phone didn't make it past the second ring as he hissed. "What do you want?"
"Darling, I'm hurt. Can't I call a friend and not need anything? I mean really, so grumpy~"
"I'm NOT grumpy!" He growled and took a breath trying to be more amiable but instead curtly spat. "What do you need, Astarion?"
There was an offended huff on the other side of the phone. "Well, I thought you might want to know they are here."
Eyes he didn't realize he closed shot open. "They? They're at your bar right now?"
"I'm not repeating myself, just get here, or don't~" *Click*
Rolan found himself staring at his phone for half a beat too long before he got up and bee lined it to his library in the adjacent room. Hurried hands shuffled through the letters sprawled on his desk in the center before skin met with the desired target. A sealed envelope sat firmly within is grasp as his breath shuddered.
This could be his chance. If he cleaned himself up he could be down at Astarion's establishment in 10 minutes but would he be too late again? Would it be worth the effort to venture back into the city or would he let his nerves get the better of him and confine him to his high-rise apartment?
The grip on the envelope tightened nearly creasing it before the muscles in his hand relented and the contents were lowered back onto the desk. His indecision was costing him time. He was losing his chance and he felt it as his tail flicked back and forth in agitation.
Each tail flick counted down the seconds.
Each moment lost to fear of failure.
Each moment slipping into the night as yellow eyes watched the envelope begging for an answer he already knew.
A choice had to be made.
It had to be made now.