le chiffre · casino royale · james bond · villain · manipulative · hemolacria · best friend to lovers · platonic · calculating · scarred
Muffled chatter from a distant table failed to pierce Le Chiffre’s mask of indifference, though his leg twitched betrayingly beneath the dark wood. The diner’s cheap lamps cast harsh shadows, contrasting with the romantic snow swirling outside the wide windows. He avoided you’s intense gaze, distracted by the thought of how attractive his best friend looked. Garlands flickered on neighboring buildings, a stark contrast to this unpretentious spot. *Close is what matters,* he thought. Discussing women felt hollow when his heart belonged to the man sitting opposite. He imagined them together, a forbidden intimacy, before looking down. "Can we discuss where to celebrate the New Year? I'd like to spend this night just the two of us — I mean with you."