It was amazing how much work was necessary for a small get together, but also how quickly and easily it went with the help of another person. Especially when that person happened to be on staff
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Parties weren’t really Megamind’s shtick - he wasn’t used to casual social interactions where one had to make small talk in order to survive drowning in a sea of meaningless drivel. He was usually far more concerned with presentation and making an appearance and an impression (and avoiding getting caught) than sticking around to chit chat.
This was an entirely new ball game for him.
Still, he’d seen Bryn’s invite and he would be hard pressed to say no to her. In fact, he’s coming to the grudging realization that he isn’t able to say no to her, much to his chagrin and overall irritation.
He had something for her, too - nothing big, but with what he was able to get from Rem, coupled with the use of his dehydration gun, he had come up with something he rather thought she’d like. Or at least, he’d hoped she would. He’d spent an ungodly amount of time on it, scouring the Keep for spare pieces and random odds and ends to craft it, and thankfully his gun, with the right amount of direction, could serve as a welding tool (and lacquering, bless that Minion).
He was pleased with it.
He just had to find her.
Clad in all black and with just the right amount of high collar (locating suitable attire from clothing meant for residents of a society long past was challenging at best) and no small amount of general awkwardness, he went off in search of the hostess.
Parties had never really been Bryn's thing (beyond enjoying the dressing-up aspect) until she'd come to Holloway's Keep. It was amazing what a difference it made to be around people she liked and far from her parents and their connections.
Remembering Megamind's awkwardness at the last function, and well, his general awkwardness with a great many things, she was extremely pleased to find him there voluntarily.
Face lit up, she practically bounded up to him, pushed on by the sugar rush from a chocolate and pink frosting cupcake.
"You came!" she exclaimed, giving him a brief hug before stepping back. "Do you want some punch? Or I've got cookies if you want dessert instead?"
He looked slightly offended at the vociferation, of course he'd come - she'd invited him (along with everyone else but that was neither here nor there), and therefore he'd certainly shown up.
"I--"
His response was delayed as he suddenly found himself being hugged by her - and he's immediately flustered despite the fact that this is not the first time that something like this has happened to him. Awkwardly, he reaches a hand to pat her back.
"Well. Yes. I...of course I came. That's...silly to think otherwise." He swallowed, relieved and disappointed at the same time when she stepped back.
"Ah, no I'm...not hungry, I was actually just...looking for you."
"Oh yes, I suppose it was silly, but I'm still pleased to see you here," she replied, beaming up at him. How wonderful that they were starting to really be more at ease with each other. Megamind handled that hug far better than he had the last one.
"But you were looking for me?" Bryn asked, tilting her head. "For any particular reason or just because you had arrived?"
He was never, ever going to get used to that. Ever.
"Oh, no - I always have a reason for the things I do, Miss Bryn." He gave her a cocky little grin, then gave an exaggerated bow to her and produced a black box with a flourish.
Well perhaps he should try. Bryn is always going to be pleased to see him, really. She can't imagine a circumstance in which she wouldn't be.
When he spoke and gave her that little grin, Bryn couldn't help but grin back, but her expression turned to surprise as soon as he held out the box. Her lips formed a little "o" shape and her eyes widened.
"Megamind, how on earth did you find out?" she asked in hushed tones, taking the box and holding it close. "I didn't tell anyone..."
Oh, he didn't know? Bryn blinked at Megamind, clearly baffled by this. If he didn't know it was her birthday then...
"Thank you," she said, but still perplexed, continued, "But if you didn't know it was my birthday, why..."
She trailed off and opened the box, and immediately gasped. It was a necklace, handmade, and so incredibly unique. She'd never seen anything like it, and compared to the jewelry she was used to seeing, this seemed, well, quite exotic, and absolutely lovely.
Wide eyed, she looked up at Megamind.
"It's beautiful," she said, words completely heartfelt.
“Because…” He fidgeted. “Because…” He didn’t have an answer - he’d never made something for someone just because before, and here he’d done it twice in the span of a blasted month. What in the name of the Maker was wrong with him.
“Really? Do you really like it?” He asked, obviously pleased with her reaction and eager to point out exactly what it did. He waited impatiently for her to pull it out of the box, and when she did, he was immediately at herside, gesturing and pointed excitedly.
“Right here, see? You touch it just so and the wings will flutter. I wanted to give it holographic capabilities but I lacked the proper instruments and tools, the tech here is, as I’ve told you countless times before I’m sure, incredibly primitive and were I at home this could have been much, much more impressive but it will do in a pinch, I think.”
"I love it," Bryn replied honestly, with such emphasis on her words that there could be no doubt that she was sincere. She watched him demonstrate how to get it to move and where he saw limitations, Bryn found herself in awe. It was beautifully crafted, unique, and absolutely lovely.
"No, Megamind, it's perfect as it is," she added, shaking her head. "It's...It has a subtle charm to it, this way. What it does isn't readily apparent and so that sort of surprise...it leaves a lasting impression. At least, I think so."
It was the best not-birthday present she had ever received. Bryn leaned over and pressed her lips to his cheek in a chaste kiss.
"Y-you do? Even without...without holographic capabilities and flight tech? It could--"
His rambling trails off when he sees just the way she's even looking at it - it's with pure admiration and not scorn, disinterest or contempt. Her face radiated appreciation, pure and simple.
He ran a finger along his collar, tugging at it awkwardly.
"I. Well. I'm...I'm glad you like it, then - it was crafted specifically with you in mind--" He blinked at it, then hurried to add-- "Not that I think of bugs when I think of you! More along the lines of delicate beauty and fine...fine..."
He stops again for fear of sounding like a complete idiot, and it's then that she absolutely shocks him and renders him speechless for a good five seconds.
She'd kissed him.
Granted, it had been a kiss on the cheek but there it was and it was of her own doing and she didn't seem repulsed or disgusted in any way and Megamind felt like he could take on Metro Man all by himself right about now.
Bryn couldn't look any more shocked than she did right then. No one had ever mentioned her and beauty in the same sentence. Gunn had said she'd looked pretty before, but he was family and well, family was supposed to say that. Not that her parents ever did, of course, preferring instead to comment on how unruly her hair was, how her chin protruded too much, and that her legs were too short. Her mother despaired of her ever "catching a man."
She looked down at the necklace because it was easier, with her cheeks flushed as they were. Looking at it brought such a wide smile to her face.
"I think this is possibly one of the best birthdays I've ever had now," she said with a pleased smile, but still quietly enough that no one else nearby would hear.
Still unable to get over the complete shock of being kissed on the cheek, Megamind is mostly still at a loss for words and complete sentences. Hoping to the Maker that he doesn't sound like an idiot, he tries desperately to pull himself together and at least give the impression that he isn't as awestruck as he actually is.
"I'm...glad. Very glad for that, then." He paused before he added. "And...I'm glad I could contribute something to it." Even if he hadn't intended it to be a birthday gift - had he known he would have done something far, far grander than a simple necklace, but he supposed given the circumstances and that she hadn't told anyone...
This would have to do.
"...I do have a question, however."
Something that was now bugging him, and he had to ask - just to satisfy his own curiosity.
She nods immediately. This was definitely the best birthday she'd ever had. Even the one where Gunn had gotten her a special present not picked out by their parents, oh, yes. This topped even that.
At his request, however, Bryn managed to tear her eyes away from the necklace to look back up at him.
"You're welcome to ask me anything," she replied. It went unspoken that if the question was too uncomfortable, she wouldn't answer, but it was her sincerest wish to do so otherwise.
This was an entirely new ball game for him.
Still, he’d seen Bryn’s invite and he would be hard pressed to say no to her. In fact, he’s coming to the grudging realization that he isn’t able to say no to her, much to his chagrin and overall irritation.
He had something for her, too - nothing big, but with what he was able to get from Rem, coupled with the use of his dehydration gun, he had come up with something he rather thought she’d like. Or at least, he’d hoped she would. He’d spent an ungodly amount of time on it, scouring the Keep for spare pieces and random odds and ends to craft it, and thankfully his gun, with the right amount of direction, could serve as a welding tool (and lacquering, bless that Minion).
He was pleased with it.
He just had to find her.
Clad in all black and with just the right amount of high collar (locating suitable attire from clothing meant for residents of a society long past was challenging at best) and no small amount of general awkwardness, he went off in search of the hostess.
Reply
Remembering Megamind's awkwardness at the last function, and well, his general awkwardness with a great many things, she was extremely pleased to find him there voluntarily.
Face lit up, she practically bounded up to him, pushed on by the sugar rush from a chocolate and pink frosting cupcake.
"You came!" she exclaimed, giving him a brief hug before stepping back. "Do you want some punch? Or I've got cookies if you want dessert instead?"
Reply
"I--"
His response was delayed as he suddenly found himself being hugged by her - and he's immediately flustered despite the fact that this is not the first time that something like this has happened to him. Awkwardly, he reaches a hand to pat her back.
"Well. Yes. I...of course I came. That's...silly to think otherwise." He swallowed, relieved and disappointed at the same time when she stepped back.
"Ah, no I'm...not hungry, I was actually just...looking for you."
Reply
"But you were looking for me?" Bryn asked, tilting her head. "For any particular reason or just because you had arrived?"
Reply
He was never, ever going to get used to that. Ever.
"Oh, no - I always have a reason for the things I do, Miss Bryn." He gave her a cocky little grin, then gave an exaggerated bow to her and produced a black box with a flourish.
"For you."
Reply
When he spoke and gave her that little grin, Bryn couldn't help but grin back, but her expression turned to surprise as soon as he held out the box. Her lips formed a little "o" shape and her eyes widened.
"Megamind, how on earth did you find out?" she asked in hushed tones, taking the box and holding it close. "I didn't tell anyone..."
Reply
“Find out…?” His head tilted and his eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. “Find out what, if I may ask…?”
What on earth was she talking about?
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"I thought you knew that...that it's my birthday day," she said in hushed tones. Why else would he have brought her a present?
Reply
Oh. That's right, humans liked to celebrate the day of their birth and gift each other with presents and other follies.
"It...it is?" He had, obviously, no idea that was the case. "Well...er. Congratulations." Is that what you were supposed to say?
When she opens the box, she'll find a necklace nestled in amongst black silk.
Reply
"Thank you," she said, but still perplexed, continued, "But if you didn't know it was my birthday, why..."
She trailed off and opened the box, and immediately gasped. It was a necklace, handmade, and so incredibly unique. She'd never seen anything like it, and compared to the jewelry she was used to seeing, this seemed, well, quite exotic, and absolutely lovely.
Wide eyed, she looked up at Megamind.
"It's beautiful," she said, words completely heartfelt.
Reply
“Really? Do you really like it?” He asked, obviously pleased with her reaction and eager to point out exactly what it did. He waited impatiently for her to pull it out of the box, and when she did, he was immediately at herside, gesturing and pointed excitedly.
“Right here, see? You touch it just so and the wings will flutter. I wanted to give it holographic capabilities but I lacked the proper instruments and tools, the tech here is, as I’ve told you countless times before I’m sure, incredibly primitive and were I at home this could have been much, much more impressive but it will do in a pinch, I think.”
He grimaced. Bloody Keep and its limits.
Reply
"No, Megamind, it's perfect as it is," she added, shaking her head. "It's...It has a subtle charm to it, this way. What it does isn't readily apparent and so that sort of surprise...it leaves a lasting impression. At least, I think so."
It was the best not-birthday present she had ever received. Bryn leaned over and pressed her lips to his cheek in a chaste kiss.
"Thank you so much. I'll treasure it forever."
Reply
His rambling trails off when he sees just the way she's even looking at it - it's with pure admiration and not scorn, disinterest or contempt. Her face radiated appreciation, pure and simple.
He ran a finger along his collar, tugging at it awkwardly.
"I. Well. I'm...I'm glad you like it, then - it was crafted specifically with you in mind--" He blinked at it, then hurried to add-- "Not that I think of bugs when I think of you! More along the lines of delicate beauty and fine...fine..."
He stops again for fear of sounding like a complete idiot, and it's then that she absolutely shocks him and renders him speechless for a good five seconds.
She'd kissed him.
Granted, it had been a kiss on the cheek but there it was and it was of her own doing and she didn't seem repulsed or disgusted in any way and Megamind felt like he could take on Metro Man all by himself right about now.
"Well. You're...welcome."
Reply
Bryn couldn't look any more shocked than she did right then. No one had ever mentioned her and beauty in the same sentence. Gunn had said she'd looked pretty before, but he was family and well, family was supposed to say that. Not that her parents ever did, of course, preferring instead to comment on how unruly her hair was, how her chin protruded too much, and that her legs were too short. Her mother despaired of her ever "catching a man."
She looked down at the necklace because it was easier, with her cheeks flushed as they were. Looking at it brought such a wide smile to her face.
"I think this is possibly one of the best birthdays I've ever had now," she said with a pleased smile, but still quietly enough that no one else nearby would hear.
Reply
Still unable to get over the complete shock of being kissed on the cheek, Megamind is mostly still at a loss for words and complete sentences. Hoping to the Maker that he doesn't sound like an idiot, he tries desperately to pull himself together and at least give the impression that he isn't as awestruck as he actually is.
"I'm...glad. Very glad for that, then." He paused before he added. "And...I'm glad I could contribute something to it." Even if he hadn't intended it to be a birthday gift - had he known he would have done something far, far grander than a simple necklace, but he supposed given the circumstances and that she hadn't told anyone...
This would have to do.
"...I do have a question, however."
Something that was now bugging him, and he had to ask - just to satisfy his own curiosity.
"If you don't mind answering."
Reply
At his request, however, Bryn managed to tear her eyes away from the necklace to look back up at him.
"You're welcome to ask me anything," she replied. It went unspoken that if the question was too uncomfortable, she wouldn't answer, but it was her sincerest wish to do so otherwise.
Reply
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