It was after his hand slid down the front of his face - not for the first time that night - that his stare found Lane - again, not for the first time - though this time there was an unspoken, searching look in his stare that suggested, This isn’t over. In fact, he was fairly certain he was ready to kick the other two from his apartment so that the two of them could have the conversation that was kept steadfast on the tip of his tongue throughout this little meet and greet. Something had shifted in the dynamic of his mind, changed the direction he wanted to go, and James decided like he had only decided a very few times in his life that he was going to tell the truth -- and nothing but the truth.<br/><br/><br/>Something about living for longer than his natural life span upped his pride.<br/><br/><br/>And right now it was being ripped away like so much tinfoil armor.<br/><br/><br/>Naturally, that meant he was bound to say something stupid. Like now.<br/><br/><br/>“Fiora can shove the stick that’s already up her ass even further, Remington. You and I know better than anyone in this room that a dinner is just a pile of bullshit on top of more shit, lies, and just a way to prettily manipulate the situation. Fuck off to your boss. I’ve already offered once before to break your curse that ties you to that she-bitch. Lane, keep that book locked away and safe. Your friend looks like she knows what this is about too.”<br/><br/><br/>He reluctantly dragged his attention away from the blonde to stare pointedly at Remy, whose smile at frozen on his face, causing him to look even more like the stone man that he had been caused. Finally, the frozen countenance seemed to relax, and he straightened up with a polite sweep of his hand.<br/><br/><br/>“I will pass the word along that you, Mr. Sinclair, will not be joining our dinner, even though I don’t recall inviting you in the first place. Ms. Barnes, ...Nora, the both of you are welcome to discuss anything you wish with Ms. Fiora.” Slate grey eyes slid to Lane, nodding toward the book. “He is right about the grimoire; keep it in a safe place.” The man hesitated, as if rethinking his words, then he shook his head and smiled blandly at Nora. Her he stepped closer to and took up her hand and let his lips graze the knuckles on the backside of it. “Take care, Nora.” Then, to the rest of the room. “I have overstayed my welcome here. I will be in touch if dinner is still an option.”<br/><br/><br/>The stone man smiled a grim smile, then turned and left out the door, keeping his poise with him, and left the three to their own devices. Once the door had clicked shut behind him, James closed the distance to the door and watched Remy walk down the stairs and back toward his car through the peep hole before turning around, thrusting open the door again.<br/><br/><br/>“You, the friend.. Nora? I need to talk to Lane, so if you don’t mind -- leave. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior,” the alchemist grinned through his teeth. “She’s a very powerful witch, so I promise if I do anything untoward, she’ll smite me into the ground.”