« neal caffrey | white collar

[alias_savant]

	✔ Cʀᴏssᴏᴠᴇʀs/AU ✔ Aᴄᴛɪᴏɴsᴘᴀᴍ ✔ Pʀᴏsᴇ	✔ Pɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛs ✔ Oᴛʜᴇʀᴡᴏʀᴅʟʏ ✔ Sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇʀs	♥ F/M ⏰ Uᴘ ᴛᴏ Dᴀᴛᴇ

Comments

[easily]

[alias_savant]

The restaurant is a din of noise around them and it takes time to sort through the conversations that are important and the ones that aren't, especially with the additional white noise of silverware and plates (and heartbeats) adding to the confusion. He briefly considers taking a deep breath but he doesn't breathe anymore so he's not sure how much good that will do.

Then again, placebo effect. It was calming as a human, maybe it will do the same as a vampire.

He closes his eyes and leans back in his chair, letting his shoulders rise and fall as everything comes back into focus again. It doesn't make the heartbeats go away, however, and Neal sets his jaw as he opens his eyes again, focusing on the woman across the table from him.

"Sorry, it's just ... " Loud. It's very, very loud. " ... Is the wine here yet?"

[easily]

He couldn't stay hidden away from people forever -- eventually they had to take steps like this so he could get used to being around other people, even large amounts of them, without losing control.

And that's why she's here with him, in case that proves to be a struggle.

She leans forwards, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze, trying to center him a little.

"It should be here soon."

[alias_savant]

He glances up at her with a small smile, grateful that she's here. He gives her hand a squeeze in return before nodding and going back to the menu. He can focus on the date. He knows he's strong enough to do that and if he can make it through tonight, it's going to be a step in the right direction.

"Did you see anything you like on the menu?"

[easily]

Besides, he'll soon enough learn that food -- much like alcohol -- can help kill the cravings, make it easier to be out in public like this.

"A few things. What were you thinking about?"

[selfishing]

[alias_savant]

[Neal cringes as he makes his way through the gallery, seeing the things that some people were displaying and calling it "art." It's not that he didn't think that art was a matter of expression, and things could be expressed in very different ways.

There was just a fine line between tasteful and obscene when it came to nudity, and this, in his opinion, was far over onto the side of the latter.

He's about to turn around and walk away when he stops short, just avoiding colliding with a woman and her drink.]

Sorry. Excuse me.

[selfishing]

[ Her drink doesn't spill. ]

No. Excuse me. What is it people say in kitchens? Behind? I should've said "Behind." [ She speaks disaffectedly, her voice light and airy. Looking past Neal, her eyes follow the contours of the man's genitalia. ] Do you like it?

[alias_savant]

[Neal glances back over his shoulder before making a face.]

Let's just say it's not to my taste.

[burkethejerk]

[and/or]

[alias_savant]

Neal stays in Cape Verdi because he has to. He stays because it's a safe place to hide, somewhere away from the rest of the world where he can have a life, even if it's not his own. Even if it's not the one he wanted. He lives his life under a different name, but it's freedom, in a sense. It's not prison or living under the thumb of the FBI.

That's ... something at least.

Still, it's one of those nights where he's not okay with the isolation. Where he wants to reach out across the void and feel someone familiar pushing back. Which is why nights like this he sits on the beach, staring out into the ocean and occasionally glancing down at the burner phone in his hand.

He shouldn't call. He'll just be tossing the phone into the ocean when the call is done anyway.

He still does it anyway.

[for_italian_roast]

[alias_savant]

[Peter got him coffee. Peter never gets him coffee. Peter actually got him good coffee, and as Neal takes it from him and takes a sip, he can't help the pleasant surprise that crosses his face before his eyes narrow and he studies Peter's face carefully.]

What do you want?

[Neal gets Peter coffee when he's in trouble. Peter gets Neal coffee when he has to do something that Neal really won't like.]

[for_italian_roast]

[Peter immediately frowns at him, "hurt", because your lack of faith is disturbing, Neal.]

[...It's also probably only fair, considering his reaction when Neal brings him something.] I'd ask if I couldn't bring a friend a cup of coffee, but I'd just end up sounding a lot like you, so.

[alias_savant]

[Yep, pretty much.]

Trust me, I am not complaining, but you're not exactly one to spoil me.

[At all. Ever.]

[golden_glider]

[alias_savant]

[There are any number of reasons that Neal Caffrey has never worked with Leonard Snart. One, Snart's mostly smash and grabs - he never really needs a point man of Neal's particular skill set. Two, Snart's not afraid to kill people, and that's not really Neal's style. Three, is Mick Rory, mostly because he's Mick Rory.

You would think that all of these reasons would be reasons why he would know better than to poke that proverbial bear by making friends with Snart's sister, but Neal has never really been one to do what's best for him where a beautiful woman is concerned.

He's on a sting for the FBI when he spots her in a museum crowd, dressed to the nines and letting her eyes roam the room carefully. Whether she's just visiting or actively casing the place, Neal doesn't know, but he's definitely going to take advantage of the opportunity nonetheless. He slides his way over and offers her a glass of champagne.]

Gold always was your color.

bc i was left wanting more of them.

[buried]

[alias_savant]

[Neal has very few days that he spends in art galleries just for the joy of it. Usually, due to his radius, the good galleries are out of his reach. But occasionally, an agent will take pity on him and claim responsibility, allowing him to see some shows before they leave town.

Tonight, his escorts are Diana and her girlfriend, which means they're taking a very hands-off approach. He's more than willing to let them have their date time, given that they were gracious enough to have him crash it, and eventually lands in front of a a wash of purple and blue that holds his attention for a moment longer.

He's always loved taking in a piece of art, admiring the brushstrokes and the way the colors blend. Neal holds back on reading the nameplate, trying to interpret the meaning for himself, rather than having it thrust upon him. He hears the sounds of heels against the floor next to him, and while he doesn't look to the person right away, he will engage them.]

I've always been a big fan of the abstracts. Everyone's interpretation is different.

[buried]

And what is yours?

[ his interpretation of this art work, that is.

elena is not the artist in the family (a family of ... two. it's depressing, don't ask).

jeremy is visiting and elena wants to make this a good visit for him. she thought he might be interested in checking out this art gallery, and she might've read things right for once, because he's actually taking them in and might even be making a friend himself. ]

[alias_savant]

A calmness. There's something almost soothing about it.

[He reaches up and gestures with one hand as he speaks, to show what he means.]

Usually people associate blues with sadness, but the way she meshes in the pinks and greens create splashes of warmth for more of a middle ground. A contentment, almost.

[He tips his head to the side as he looks at her.]

What about you?

[itswhoyouare]

[alias_savant]

A few months after bringing Alana's killer to justice, Neal finds himself being offered as an asset to the NYPD again, this time with Peter in tow. He doesn't know which detective he's been assigned to, though he assumes Jo's team is involved somehow. He's not sure he's super keen on working another murder, but they likely wouldn't have asked for him if they weren't in need of his expertise.

When he spots a familiar face on the other side of the crime scene tape, however, he can't help the shameless smile that crosses his face, hands sliding into his pockets as he makes his way closer.

"Detective Morasca. We meet again."

It's not that he doesn't like Anna. He does. He thinks she's a good cop. Annoyance just happens to be Neal's love language. That, and stealing you something very expensive.

[itswhoyouare]

Anna's crouched near the body with her back to the barrier when she hears Neal's voice, and her posture stiffens a little. There's a heavy sigh that follows his greeting before she finishes pointing out something to a nearby tech about the wound pattern on the chest and gets to her feet.

Out of the team at the Crime Lab, she's probably not the one who is least excited to work with him, but it may definitely look that way from the outside. Truth be told, Neal Caffrey just reminds her too much of her ex-fiance, Matteo. Gorgeous, alluring, charming, a perfect chameleon. Then there's the whole matter of being a professional liar and thief. He's a dangerous combination if there ever was one, so her blood pressure spikes every time he's around. (Much to Adam's amusement, and probably Danny's to some degree. They enjoy her being riled up when it's not directed at them.)

She really wishes that Flack was partnered with her on this case. He could at least be the one to deal with Caffrey... part of her wonders if the rest of the team are trying to mess with her. Well, except for Mac.

Anna peels off her gloves carefully as she turns to face Caffrey with a strained smile and slips her hands into the pockets of her dark jeans. Out in the field, she's without her usual black-framed glasses, but her dark waves are still in their usual utilitarian ponytail, with her longer bangs tucked behind both ears. "Caffrey. I see we get the package deal this time. This must be Agent Burke," she replies with a professional, but much more friendly nod at Peter. No jurisdictional bad blood here.

[alias_savant]

"Peter, please. Pleasure to meet you, Detective." Peter offers a wave of acknowledgement before taking a step closer. "I hope Neal wasn't too much of an inconvenience the last time you two worked together."

"Peter, please. I'm a delight." Neal takes a step forward, standing just beyond the fringe of crime scene, and looking to peer at the case. "Though I am curious why they summoned us this time.