[ The hour gives Rafa time to practice. In Eudio he could have made an appletini with his eyes closed. Now he has to test that theory. The liquor looks different here, the bottles are different. Sometimes they glow. He goes on scent, and ends with something flecked with gold and lurid pink. But it smells right.

So does Dick, when he arrives. Rafa catches the scent before he sees him, and it brings back every moment wrapped in warm arms, the smooth chest rising and falling beneath him while his fingers had traced over scars, the sweet words whispered in his ear, the bright blue of eyes that had crinkled when they looked at him.

He turns, the drink in hand, and sees Dick almost exactly as he'd left him in Eudio. Almost. Some scars are missing, the scars that Damon had left. That brings mixed feelings, because it's confirmation that this is not Rafa's Dick, but it means no other vampire has ever marked him.

That shouldn't matter.

It does matter a little bit. And then Dick is as sweet as ever, making Rafa smile as soon as he speaks. He goes over to him, with the bar standing between them. He leans over it to set the drink on a coaster in front of Dick, and then looks up, dark eyes meeting brilliant blue. His smile softens. ]

You always knew how to charm me. The way you look at me as if I am the handsome one, as if you have never seen a mirror in your life.

[ He taps the base of the glass. ]

It looks wrong, but trust me. It should taste right.

This must all be so strange for you, my friend.