(closed)

[daemonized]

WHO: Ardyn, Fynn, and Grell
WHERE: Ardyn’s house!
WHEN: Forward dated to June 24th. (Saturday.)
WHAT: Introductions and food!
WARNINGS: none!

[Here’s how it went: Ardyn had mentioned Grell in passing to Fynn (it was bound to happen sooner rather than later), and his younger brother showed an interest in meeting her (also sooner rather than later). And while Ardyn is wary of how others might find his little brother’s personality a bit… well, loud, he wouldn’t be so cruel as to deny him this. And so a meeting had indeed been arranged, in the form of Grell coming over to visit at his home, and Fynn offering to cook for the both of them.

Excitable personality or not, that alone would be worth it, he muses idly to himself.

And so here they are. Ardyn had ushered Grell in when she arrived, of course, and the only proper thing to do would be to begin an introduction.]

Fynn, this is Grell. And Grell, this is my very enthusiastic [loud] younger brother, Fynn. He’s been eager to meet you.

Comments

[rygdea]

[The idea of his older brother having an actual living and breathing girlfriend sort of astounds Fynn on several levels. First off, he knows Ardyn is a very attractive fellow even if he doesn't find the bastard all that attractive or charming 99% of the time. That's his brother, dammit. There's none of that creepy ass incest garbage here, folks.]

[Second of all, Ardyn always came off as a little...weird. Weird how? Well just look at how badly he dresses! Only a damn nerd would think the hobo chic look is totally happening and have the nerve to add a fedora to it. Like honestly, a fedora in this day and age screams fashion reject. So, it's understandable that Fynn stared at his brother like he grown a second head when he mentioned Grell offhandedly one evening. Fynn legit asked if that was the name of his imaginary friend before finally believing his brother is actually dating a human female.

Don't you judge Fynn. He has a right to be skeptical.]

[So with that out way, in comes this hilariously awkward scene here. Fynn already has the lasagna in the oven and it's half way done. He also made the garden salad and garlic bread sticks to go with it. Hell, he even purchased some fancy red wine for the evening and actually put on something nice to impress Ardyn's new girlfriend. It's not everyday that Fynn looks like a damn Dolce & Gabbana supermodel. Fynn even trimmed off the scruff and rough off his face and neatly combed his absurdly long hair into a loose ponytail.

Not bad for a incorrigible scoundrel like Fynn, no? He cleans up nicely.]

Hiya, Grell! [Yep, he's the enthusastically loud little brother that makes Ardyn cringe at times. Fynn holds out his hand to Grell to welcome her with a handshake. He's holding back a good sixty percent of his enthusiasm right now in hopes of not frightening the poor woman. Fynn is quite energetic at times, almost like a puppy.]

You're really pretty! I'm kind of shocked.

[erythristic]

[she's heard bits and pieces about Fynn from Ardyn, but so far, it felt like they kept missing each other. two presences not meant to collide, even though Grell had to admit her own interest as to who he really was. it would happen when it could happen, she had come to accept - and such an occasion would come up when things were arranged with her, something she had readily agreed to.

(Ardyn had, of course, gotten a few remarks thrown at him about keeping a relationship secret from his family and how if he wanted the high stakes of a secret relationship he'd forsaken that chance already. he deserved that much.)

but here they are now, and so far she doesn't feel frightened or awkward. more amused, and as she returns his handshake, she's smiling.]

Shocked? That's a generous compliment. But it's nice to meet you at long last, Fynn. I've been told enough to be curious about you.

[daemonized]

[Shocked? Fynn, please. Ardyn raises a brow at his little brother, and while he's immediately aware that Fynn is trying to be on his best behavior, he can't help but say wryly-] Shocked. Come now, what is there to be shocked about?

[That he'd be dating someone as attractive as Grell? Ardyn, bless him, manages to leash his tongue, though. No need in letting this devolve into fond brotherly bickering in the first fifteen seconds of their meeting.

And so instead he wanders a little further into the kitchen (just adjacent to where they are), bending down just enough to peek into the oven. Idly, he continues.]

I told you she was beautiful, didn't I?

[Being embarrassing on purpose? Who knows.]

[rygdea]

[Fynn shoots his brother a slight glare from the corner of his eyes but he doesn't take the bait. He bites down really hard on the side of his tongue to stop himself from answering. Damn right he thinks Grell is far too pretty for some disheveled fancy fop like Ardyn! Like the woman is a damn "8" on the Drop Dead Gorgeous Scale and Ardyn is like a "4" when he's in full hobo regalia. It's obscenely unfair that his brother has a girlfriend while he's still in the "Alone and Single" category here. Although, there's more to this story of why Fynn is still single and it has something to do with him being locked in a closet.]

Nothing~ [He replies in a fake sing-song voice.] She's just the prettiest girlfriend you've brought over yet.

[Not to mention the first---]

Oh? Ardyn told you about me? [His attention shifts back to Grell and goodness, she's easy on the eyes.] What did he say? Anything bad?

[Fynn already knows what Ardyn says about him. He's caught him a few times talking smack but sometimes the man actually praises him.]

I can assure you I'm a law biding citizen who's an officer of the law. Anything incriminating he has said is all hearsay.

[erythristic]

[he told him that? goodness. Ardyn knows exactly what he's doing, offhand mentioning something like that, and she glances in the direction of his voice before looking back to Fynn. she can only hope Ardyn didn't mention anything beyond general facts to him.

but Fynn mentions being an officer, and her eyes light up.]

Don't worry, he's said nothing terrible, but he didn't mention you were an officer. Which branch of the precinct? I can't help but wonder if we've indirectly crossed paths or not.

[oh, wait a sec.]

I should clarify, I work with the police on a pretty regular basis.

[daemonized]

[Ardyn takes a moment in the kitchen, seeing just how much of a mess Fynn is made so he can remind him later to clean it all up. (He might help this time, if he's feeling gracious.) As nothing seems too terribly out of sorts, he reappears where the two of them are moments later.]

Nothing too terrible, at least.

[Sorry, don't mind the commentary from the peanut gallery.]

[rygdea]

Cram it, Ardie! [Fynn damn near shouts as he waves his fist ruefully at his brother.] Quit circling the grub, chubby! It's almost done.

[He sighs quietly as he pinches his brow. Ardyn is being a pest but at least his new lady friend is rather nice. Though, he does look mildly surprised to hear that Grell apparently works alongside law enforcement. He honestly never seen her before until now.]

I'm just your average peacekeeper, lady. [He says with a small smirk.] I'm still a rookie but I'm working my way into SWAT.

[Mentioning the lasanga earlier, Fynn moves to the kitchen quickly to yank it out the oven but he doesn't do so without hastily replying to Grell. While he might be shouting from the next room, he can hear her just fine.]

What's a pretty lady like you doing at the precinct? Are you a lawyer like Ardyn?

[erythristic]

[it's hard to only have the corner of her mouth twitch when Fynn yells - Ardie? that's getting filed away for later. but a lawyer? definitely not.]

A medical examiner, actually.

[one of them dealt with the living, and one the dead.]

Usually I'm not there in person unless I have to hand deliver something or I need to make sure a friend isn't taking to living in their office, but my name crosses enough reports. That's what I meant about indirect - it explains why I couldn't recall seeing the name Izunia.

[it's kind of hard to mistake.]

But if you're worried about gossip, don't be.

[daemonized]

[Ardie? Chubby? Really?]

My name isn't Ardie, Fynn. I don't know how many times I have to say that before it gets through that relatively thick skull of yours.

[But the statement is said with more exasperation than actual irritation. How many times has he proclaimed this in the past, to no avail?]

Please pretend you didn't hear that, Grell.

[Too late now, Ardie is out in the wild. But he'll also let them continue on their conversation without too much more crying foul.]

[rygdea]

[Fynn actually does a double-take once he hears the woman's profession. That dainty little redhead is the medical examiner? The kitchen door creaks quietly as Fynn peeks out at Grell.]

No way! You look more like a "model" than a medical examiner. [That's not him flirting, that's just Fynn being honest.] Besides, the last examiner we had there was a creeper. I'm talking grim, all black, and just greasy lookin'.

You're a step up.

[He pauses for a moment as he gives Ardyn a glance.]

Blah, blah, blah. How about you set the table? The food's ready now.

[Despite his teasing, Fynn can't help but give his brother a proud glance. Ardyn, you've done well.]

So, where you from, Grell? A town native?

[erythristic]

[she thinks about telling Fynn that the "greasy looking" person is still in some respects her boss, but decides against it, instead shooting Ardyn a smile to let him know that the nickname at least won't fall from her lips. if she was going to nickname him, she'd choose something else, anyway.

but she manages to look slightly modest about the whole step up business - she wasn't Dr. Sutcliffe for nothing.]

No, I moved here a few years ago, when I got the job. Long enough ago to now know the city well, but not so long that I can't still be surprised about things I haven't seen or overlooked. You two probably know everything there is about this place...everything important, anyway.

[daemonized]

[Ardyn is not the sort of person to roll his eyes all that often, instead preferring to express his exasperation with too-many words. But Fynn is adept at becoming the exception to this rule, and so he does, shaking his head but making no move to argue the point of setting the table. (He's glad, at least, that Grell seems receptive to the idea of not calling him Ardie.)

The clinking of silverware, of glasses, of various other noises associated with making the table presentable for guests can be heard, though Ardyn will speak up occasionally.]

Fynn knows the city more intimately than I do. Probably more than I would ever wish to.

[Such is the curse of a cop, to know the city like the back of one's hand. Tourist traps and more disreputable places alike.]

[rygdea]

Is that right? [Fynn says cheerfully now that his brother is actually doing something other than sitting at the collective peanut gallery.] Well, word of advice! Stay he the hell away from Grove Street and Delancey in Chata. Major tourist trap central! You'll never make it out alive.

[He's not even joking either.] Though, I have to admit I like Chata far more the rest of the city. Quite peaceful usually.

[Ardyn is certainly right about Fynn knowing this city inside and out, just listen to him talk! The man knows his stuff with is surprising for someone as expressive and brash as him.]

That just about does it. The food is finally ready and we can chow down.

[Of course Fynn plans on having the perfect table manners around Ardyn's guest. He won't be digging into that lasagna like a cave beast this time around.]

Now we got Sprite and red wine, which would you like?

[erythristic]

[so far? so far Grell thinks this is going far better than she could have anticipated when it came to meeting Ardyn's brother. there's still an air of care about the whole thing - not the same relaxation that comes when you know someone or somehow immediately click, but it just means it's something to work at.

she's never minded dinner with new people, after all.]

Wine, if you don't mind.

[a safe choice. but going back to their previous topic...]

Peaceful thankfully doesn't mean boring. I'm always pleased when I discover something new about Recolle...so much seems to validate the choice to come here, saying "if you'd played it safer, you would have missed this." No regrets, at least in that respect.

[daemonized]

[Generally speaking, yes, this could have been much more of a disaster than it actually is. But, despite what he might say, Ardyn does have enough faith in Fynn to know that he will not make a fool of himself so readily. The man might be loud and opinionated, but at least he knows when to rein it in.

He continues setting the table, though it won't take him terribly long to do so. Ardyn can't resist making a comment, though, with a vague smirk on his face.]

You would've missed several things. A certain charmingly eloquent individual, for one.

[rygdea]

[Truth be told, Fynn was nervous as hell when Ardyn suggested this little idea. He had no idea his brother was even dating nevertheless actually seeing someone. That sort of explain the late nights on Ardyn's part. Fynn typically comes home late since he frequents the bars after work but Ardyn never been the type to come home as late as him. Fynn should've known. The clues were right there.]

Red wine it is!

[He states cheerfully as he pries the bottle out from the fridge. Chilled wine is the best wine and he made sure to get the kind that has a cork in it. None of that grocery store wine, we're talking the real deal. As he pours the lady a glass, Fynn keeps talking.]

That's great to hear since I honestly think this town is great minus...a few things.

[He subtly bites his tongue. There's no need to mention Retrospec here.]

Aw! [He grins over at his brother once he starts flirting with Grell. He can't stop grinning as he eyes the two of them. So this is what Ardyn is like when he's smitten, huh? How adorable.] Keep that up and you two are going to be at the altar no time flat.

[erythristic]

[she's about to respond to Ardyn's comment, when Fynn's hits and her reply dies in her throat. she can't help it, she has to look away and reach up to adjust her glasses, trying to recover.]

It's a bit too soon for that, isn't it?

[Ardyn would know, it's exactly like when he joked about it and she practically had to restart her systems in front of him.]

[daemonized]

[He knows Fynn is teasing. (Well, he certainly hopes so.) And he knows his brother well enough to tell when this teasing is relatively harmless, like it is now. Still, jokes on marriage were his forte; his weapon of choice to fluster her at inopportune moments, and when Fynn makes a jest that runs hilariously parallel to that, it actually does catch Ardyn a little off-guard.

He clears his throat. Loudly. Giving his little brother an even stare, coupled with a faintly sardonic grin.]

Set the food on the table, Fynn. Let's not keep our guest waiting and hungry.

[That's him totally moving the conversation along.]

/oh shi--!

[rygdea]

[Fynn was chuckling some until he caught that look from Ardyn. Not just any look but more like a "Don't you do that shit again" type look that their father usually would give them. It's then that Fynn abruptly coughs and glances away. Yep, somehow this conversation fell off the rails and now Fynn is desperate to bury it.]

A-Ah, yeah! Sure thing.

[He says with a sheepish chuckle once he scurries off to get the lasagna first before bringing the salad to go with it. It's a good thing he made so much food, there's bound to be leftovers at this point. Fynn tends go overcook sometimes but that's a good thing. At least no one will be starving.]

Bon Appétit!