Look, this is hard to write... the first few scenes of Othello are boring, and stuffed with information irrelevant to the main plot. It'll get better once Adri-ago forms his real plan.
Adrian sits in the university café, watching the table opposite him intently. There, Grell and her boyfriend William eat together and discuss random topics. They're surrounded by friends, including Ronald, who remains a fringe member of the group despite - or perhaps because of - him being Grell's ex.
"I haven't seen you in some time," William supposes, scrutinising Ronald behind the glare of his well-polished glasses.
"Oh, I've been real busy with classes..." Ronald shrugs, taking a small bite of food and chewing with tension. His eyes roaming the café, they meet Adrian's cold stare for a brief second. Adrian is the one to break the stare, however, when his fiancé slams a binder bulging with papers on the table beside him.
"You gave me a heart attack!" His bottom lip juts out in a pout.
"Apologies dear, it's not time for you to die yet," Vincent reaches up, threading his fingers through Adrian's hair. It makes the latter shiver under his touch. "I hope you don't mind, I invited Grell and her friends to sit with us,"
Adrian stares at Vincent with suddenly wide eyes, frantic horror ripping his heart from its place and dropping it into his stomach. "That's... absolutely fine," he croaks out, his voice cracking to falsetto.
Grell and her friends move over from their table. Despite ending up in the seat opposite him, Ronald refuses to acknowledge Adrian whatsoever.
After everyone else introduces themselves, Grell nudges Ronald's arm. "You're being rude," she mutters, loud enough for only him to her.
"I didn't know you were seeing someone..." Ronald spits through gritted teeth in his only admittance of Adrian's existence.
"Even I knew that," William scoffs. "And I've never spoken to the man," He turns to Adrian. "You're lucky - so am I,"
"I am, aren't I?" Adrian grins, leaning into Vincent and resting a hand softly on his forearm. Ronald never thought the liar capable of such tenderness. "There aren't enough words to speak or write how beautiful my partner is, to attempt so would be an injustice,"
Grell blushes with his romantic words. "Oh, I hope none of you mind. I've invited Professor Othello to join us, he should arrive once his class ends,"
Adrian and Ronald briefly meet eyes once again. The latter's face has turned a shade of horrid green. Adrian kicks him under the table, a warning to act natural.
"I don't mind at all,"
"Are you sure that's wise?" William sighs, shaking his head with incredulous dismay. "A horrid rumour was spread around the university about Professor Othello and Grell, I feel so bad for the man,"
"Fucking racists," Grell takes a sip of her latte.
Adrian gulps down his drink, harsher than he intended to.
"It might have been someone who's jealous of you being the TA," Vincent suggests. The pounding in Adrian's chest grows deafening, the beating of his hideous heart drowning out his rationality in the situation.
"That leaves everyone in my class with motive," Grell shrugs, her eyes softening with hopelessness. "I mean - aside from everyone here. You're all too honest to do such a thing,"
With that, Ronald claps a hand over his mouth and rushes to the bathroom.
"What on Earth got into him?" Vincent glances past William to watch him slam open the toilet door.
"He's not good with-" lying "- talking in large groups," Adrian dismisses.
"He seems confident in class," Grell frowns. "Perhaps I should check on him,"
Adrian is out of his seat faster than the speed of light. "I'll do it,"
His legs burn with how fast he walks.
Thankfully, they're alone in the large bathroom. Adrian bangs loudly on the closed stall door. "What the Hell was that?!"
Ronald opens the door, filling the room with a hideous stench. "This is wrong, Adrian... we should stop this,"
"You're nervous, that's fine. Then bail, and let me handle this!"
"You promised me a reward!"
"One you won't get if you back out now,"
"I'll tell Grell-"
Adrian jumps him with the same speed at which he left the group, slamming Ronald into the cubicle, forcing him down on the toilet. His long hand wraps around Ronald's throat with room to spare. "Listen to me, and listen good. This isn't the first time I've done this,"
Ronald's eyes widen in surprise.
"That's right. I know what I'm doing. So trust me. And if you don't, I'll ruin your life and Othello's, Grell's too. So take the path of lesser evil, alright?"
Ronald nods, a tiny whimper escaping his throat. Adrian releases him, seeing slight red marks appear on his neck. He fishes in his bag for a scarf. "Here, cover up,"
Ronald does, the scarf cool and soothing against his irritated skin.
By the time they return to the table, Othello has joined, now sitting in Adrian's seat. He curls up his lip.
"Are you feeling alright?" Grell asks Ronald, the frown still present and her brow furrowed with worry.
"I'm not well... I must have eaten something," Ronald croaks out a weak excuse. "I'll see you for class on Monday, alright?"
"Don't overexert yourself" Othello smiles. "I'll understand if you can't come on Monday, I won't mark you absent,"
He's such a kind man... this is a mistake. "Thanks," Ronald quickly darts out the window.
Adrian takes Ronald's pervious seat, feeling dethroned from beside his boyfriend. However, despondence diffuses to sadistic pleasure when Grell and William exchange whispers across the table. But Othello doesn't even seem to care that he's being excluded from their conversation, the benevolent man obliviously eating his sushi in a childishly clumsy manner.
"Don't you know how to use chopsticks?" Adrian quirks an eyebrow, making a soft expression.
"I only started eating Asian food in my thirties," Othello explains with an apologetic smile. "It's a difficult skill to learn in adulthood..."
"Maybe you just weren't taught right," Adrian smiles and walks over, standing over Othello from behind. I could poison his food, I could attack him when we leave... but I want to ruin his life, not kill him. I must get him to trust me. "Take this one and hold it like a pencil,"
Othello does, expertly.
"Now place this one between your ring finger and, er... last finger," 'pinkie' is too cute a word for Adrian. Othello complies, and feel more confident in holding them this way.
"It's difficult to get the angle, but try to push them together by moving the pencil one down,"
Othello manages to pick up a small clump of rice, holding it long enough to eat. "Wow! I haven't been able to do that before... thanks,"
"You're welcome," Adrian smiles, but if Othello could see his eyes behind the curtain of hair, he'd know its really a smirk.
*
Adrian and Vincent sit in their dorm room, the latter filling out some business reports while Adrian rests his head against the wall, his eyes closed. Contemplating.
Vincent's pencil taps the desk, gaining Adrian's attention.
"That was altruistic of you," he doesn't turn to look at his silver-haired boyfriend.
"Your point?"
"Don't get yourself into trouble, love,"
"I won't,"
Vincent spins around in his chair, forcing Adrian to look at him. "Do you promise?"
"I promise,"
"Then when your plan is over, I expect you to tell me everything,"
"Fine,"
Vincent quirks an eyebrow.
"Yes, sir,"
Adrian closes his eyes again. William loves Grell, and she loves him. But she also has love for her professor. And he has the utmost fondness for her. Though I despise Othello, I cannot deny his benevolence. He wouldn't suspect Grell, neither would I in his position. But with his innocence comes trust, the susceptibility for corruption. I will corrupt him into hating Grell. Like a sponge, Othello will absorb my lies. Othello will regard Grell with the purest vitriol, I'll make sure of that.