open post.

[mund]

GEN/NSFW/TFLN/TEXTS/STARTERS/PROMPTS from canonmates/non-canonmates most welcome.

Comments

Secretary of Homeland Security probs best -- lemme know if this doesn't work lmfao

[efficaciousness]

[ When Blake Moran had first researched Percival Graves he hadn't thought very much of him. He'd done some research for the Secretary of State, briefing her on the newly confirmed appointment. There was nothing of particular note that made him stand out and maybe it was a bit strange that there wasn't all that much to learn about the man that was no running one of the most important departments of the United States.

That being said, when Blake had first met Graves in person it had been another matter. He'd not seemed to have much patience for the the Secretary's executive aide who was tasked with stalling him just outside of Elizabeth's office as she dealt with a last minute conference call with Ambassador Ming of China. If anyone knew anything about Ming it's that he's annoying and tends to ruffle the Secretary's feathers. The last thing needed then would be for Graves to burst in in the middle of what was likely a heated dialogue.

On top of that, Blake hadn't known what the meeting was for -- which means that the Secretary of State didn't know what the meaning was for and neither of them liked that very much which transcended to a dislike of the man causing the issue -- Secretary Graves.

From that meeting, however, came many more meetings and a high level joint project between the departments that Blake didn't even have full clearance for -- which hindered his own abilities to assist the Secretary and she ended up frazzled at him more often than not. Despite that, there was less animosity between them all.

During one of the lulls when Elizabeth had to step away to deal with a foreign diplomat while Graves was present, Blake was alone with him. They'd talked about any number of things and the conversation had ended in somehow Blake very awkwardly blurting out an invitation to dinner.

For some ungodly reason, Graves had accepted and that had been the start of a string of dates. In truth, it had been a long time since Blake had dated anyone. His job at State took up all of his time and most people didn't understand that. Then there was the annoyance of people incorrectly assuming things about him and just the right man or woman had never been in the right place. He'd already known that Graves had a daughter from his original research but they'd never really talked about her before. So, after -- well he's lost count of the dinners -- the something-th dinner, they were at Blake's tiny DC apartment, his cat locked away as she doesn't seem quite partial to Graves yet.

Blake finally brings it up: ]

Are you ever going to mention your daughter? [ Maybe this is Blake's subtle way of wanting to establish if they're something more than casually dating, not that Graves seems the particularly casual type to him but sexual and romantic encounters have their own dynamics. ]