Chapter Text
Wren sat on a cushion on the floor, Alexander braiding her hair. One of his foster sisters had taught him how to, and somehow he was better than all of the girls at it. It was their weekly tradition to get together just the four of them. After a long week of rehearsals, combat training, and the weird new acting technique Gwendolyn was trying to force on them, it was nice to unwind.
The night started, as many did, with Wren drunkenly giggling. “Of all the boys in the Caesar cast, who do you think is the cutest?”
“My boyfriend,” replied Meredith as if it was obvious.
Wren giggled some more,“I think it’s James...maybe just cause he’s playing my husband.”
“That’s a bullshit answer and you know it, Meredith,” said Alexander, “It’s about who you would fuck not who you’re already fucking.”
“I asked who you thought was the cutest, I didn’t say anything about,” Wren hesitated “fucking.” Hearing Wren whisper ‘fucking’ in her adorable british accent felt so out of place that Filippa couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Well, the cutest is clearly Coli-pfft, what? No!” Alexander tried to quickly think of a new answer, “Oliver. The cutest boy in the Caesar cast is obviously Oliver.”
Meredith nodded in agreement, a few not so saintly thoughts passing through her head. “Ooh, you might actually be right there.”
Alexander: “I am? I mean, of course I am.”
Meredith: “Okay, but like, when did Oliver get hot? Cause he definitely didn’t look like that last year. “
Filippa: “Oh, he definitely worked out over the summer. What else are you going to do if your stuck in Ohio for two months?”
Alexander shrugged, “Smoke a lot of weed?”
Filippa: “When I said you I meant it generally, not like you personally.”
Meredith: “You know what I like? He’s all muscular now but he hasn’t bothered to buy new clothes so now all of his lame old band t-shirts are really tight, it’s great.”
Alexander: “That is great. Have you seen him shirtless?”
Meredith: “No, have you? “
Alexander: “Yeah, he’s like a greek god.”
Meredith: “Ooh, okay I’m changing my answer. I’d totally fuck Oliver.”
Wren: “You can’t say that!”
Meredith: “Why not?”
Wren: “Because you’re dating my cousin!”
Meredith: “Well, you don’t like it when I talk about that either.”
Wren: “I love hearing about that, just not the way you talk about it.”
Alexander leaned forward to whisper in Wren’s ear, “Meredith and Richard have sex.”
“No!” Wren screamed as she covered her ears.
Alexander: “Hey, speaking of having sex with Richard-”
Meredith: “Alexander, my boyfriend doesn’t want to fuck you.”
Alexander: “Okay, but if you two ever want to spice things...you know where my dorm is.”
Meredith: “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Filippa: “I’m so glad I’ve never been roommates with either of you.”
Alexander: “Oh, like you’ve never-”
Alexander probably would have said something incredibly inappropriate had Oliver not walked in. He was shirtless, wearing only sweatpants, oblivious to how hot he looked.
“What were you guys talking about?”
Filippa: “The cutest boy in the Caesar cast.”
Oliver: “So, James?”
“Actually,” said Meredith with that signature sultry tone in her voice, “we were talking about--”
Filippa: “--Richard. Alex and Meredith were being…”
Oliver: “Alex and Meredith? Yeah, that explains Wren.”
Wren was still covering her ears. Filippa tapped her on the shoulder “It’s okay, they’re done now.”
Oliver eyed Alexander and Meredith. They both winked at him, somehow completely in sync and completely unaware that the other had done the same thing.
Confused and uncomfortable, Oliver looked away “Have any of you seen my copy of Antony and Cleopatra? I think I left it in here.”
Wren shook her head, “I haven’t seen it. ”
Oliver: “Well do you mind if I look for it?”
Filippa: “Go ahead.”
Oliver smiled at the group then disappeared behind a bookshelf.
Meredith undid the top button on her silk pyjama shirt and rubbed some red wine on her lips. “How do I look?”
Wren: “You always look pretty, it’s not fair.”
Meredith smirked, even without her usual $10 000 of make up was still an absolute bombshell.
Filippa: “Don’t encourage her.”
Wren: “Don’t encourage her to what?”
Meredith started towards Oliver.
Wren: “Oh no, I’m going to have to be the one who tells Richard about this, aren’t I?
Alexander: “Not if I have anything to do about it.”
Meredith nudged Oliver, “Antony and Cleopatra, huh? You know that’s my favourite.”
Oliver: “No, I didn’t .”
Meredith: “Maybe you could read it to me sometime. Just you and me, alone in your room.”
Oliver: “Well, it’s James’ room too. So, I don’t know if we’d be alone. Hey, maybe he could join!”
Meredith: “I’d rather it was just the two of us.”
Oliver: “Are you sure? James is a really good actor.”
Meredith touched Oliver’s bicep, “I think you’d make a better Antony.”
Oliver: “You really think so?”
Meredith: “Of course, I’d love to be your Cleopatra.”
Oliver: “Oh, you would make a good Cleopatra.”
Meredith giggled, “You’re sweet.”
Alexander appeared beside Meredith. He gave Oliver a look that would of made half the first year boys melt but just made Oliver puzzled. “How about we swap roles, you be my Cleopatra I’ll be your Antony.”
Oliver: “I don’t know if I could pull that off.”
“I can help you pull it off,” Alexander winked.
Oliver: “Do you have something in your eye?”
Alexander: “No, but I’m hoping I’ll have something in my mouth later.”
Alexander grinned as he saw Oliver’s soft brown cheeks flush red. He pulled Oliver closer and whispered, “You know where my dorm is.”
Alexander gave Oliver one last once over then slinked back to his spot on the couch. Oliver watched him, confused and slightly turned on (although he would never admit the latter).
Meredith marched over to Alexander. “Fuck off, Alex,” she whisper yelled, “he doesn’t even like guys.”
Alexander: “Have you seen the way he looks at James? He likes guys, he just doesn’t know it yet.”
Meredith: “I’ll give you Richard if you let me have Oliver.”
Wren gagged.
Alexander: “You’ll give him to me? What does that even mean? I don’t want your asshole straight boy, I’d much rather have this oblivious bi hottie.”
Meredith: “Leave Oliver alone or I’ll show Colin all of those little lovesick doodles you make of him when he’s on stage and you’re not.”
Alexander: “That was one time! And I burned all of them after!”
Meredith: “Not all of them.”
Alexander: “Do that and I’ll tell Richard you tried to fuck me.”
Meredith: “That’s a sure fire way to get him to kick your ass.”
Alexander: “No, it’s a surefire way of showing him you’re a tasteless slut.”
Meredith: “He already knows that.”
Filippa watched Alexander and Meredith bicker with a look of mild disgust. She reached for a book to distract her, only to realize when she saw the name written on the first page that it was the book Oliver had been looking for. “Oliver, I found your book.”
“Oh, thanks, Pip. You’re the best.” He gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” he said to know one in particular as he left the room.
Alexander: “He hugged you?”
Meredith: “What does he smell like?”
Filippa: “I don’t know, I didn’t bother to smell him.”
Meredith: “Why not?”
Filippa: “Because that would be weird! He is our friend and you’re treating him like he’s some kind of pornstar.”
Meredith: “I mean, did you see those abs?”
Filippa: “Meredith, you have a boyfriend who you love. Don’t cheat on him.”
Meredith pouted, “Fine.”
Filippa: “Alexander, stop telling everyone you want to sleep with them. They already know.”
Alexander grumbled, “Fine.”
Filippa slumped back onto the couch.
Alexander: “Where’d Wren go? I never finished braiding her hair.”
Filippa: “I think she left to go throw up. One of us should probably go make sure she’s okay.”
Meredith started to pour herself another drink. Alexander started fiddling with a loose thread on his sweatshirt. Filippa sighed, “Guess I’ll go do that.” She begrudgingly left the room, leaving Meredith and Alexander alone.
Alexander sprawled out on the couch, resting his head in Meredith’s lap. She brushed a loose curl away from his face.
Meredith: “You have really nice cheekbones.”
Alexander: “You have really pretty eyes.”
Meredith: “Thank you.”
Alexander: “You wanna makeout?”
Meredith: “Do you think it will make Oliver jealous?”
Alexander shrugged. “It might.”