[log] the lonely are the prettiest of all they burn from the inside

[rhyfelgri]

By the time Enfys realizes she'd left anything behind at Brian's - when she casually broke into his flat, made him dinner and took some of his clothes with her when she left, leaving merry implications behind her - it feels like it was forever ago. It's not too hard to slip back in to pick up her things; it wasn't too hard going without them,

Comments

[whitecityson]

Mrs Sutherland looks up from her typing calmly although you can practically see the speculation going on inside her head. "He's in a meeting with the other Mister Stewarts but he should be out shortly. You can take a seat over there, if you'd like." Outside Brian's office there are a few seats grouped together that look...ridiculously comfy and more pricey than your average waiting area. "Can I get your name, please?"

[rhyfelgri]

...it has been noted, and ought to be noted again, that she has what one might generously call a mischievous streak something like a mile wide.

"Enfys Eddings," she supplies, guilelessly charming, and adds, "I don't suppose you could let him know his lunch is going cold? I'll just take a seat."

[whitecityson]

Mrs Sutherland eyes the little basket and wonders if this was the young woman she heard Frank mention when he passed by her desk. And then she smiles, picks up the phone and presses a number. "Mr Stewart, I'm sorry to interrupt you but a Ms Eddings has come by with a parcel."

Somewhere on the other side of that phone there is a long silence and a mumble of "I'll be out soon" and some idle curiosity from someone else. Mrs Sutherland goes back to her typing and waits.

In just under five minutes later, Brian comes around the corner from somewhere else in the building trying not to look sheepish while Mrs Sutherland is sitting there pretending to type. Before he can even give out a greeting, another similar looking man is standing a little way off and giving a little wave in Enfys' direction. Yes, Frank is enjoying this.

"Hey," Brian manages. And now they're all here. Looking at him. With their eyes.

[rhyfelgri]

Enfys waves back cheerfully, unrepentantly enjoying this about as much as he is - albeit for very different reasons. "I was picking some things up from your flat," she explains, briskly good-natured and dangling the little basket from her fingers, "and I thought I'd swing by and save you finding your own lunch. Hi, Frank! I'd have made more if I knew you were about-"

Oh God Brian just smother her.

[whitecityson]

Frank is in the middle of saying "Hi!" back when suddenly the room turns cold and dark shado -okay, no but Derrick sort or appears looking about as happy as a reincarnated Denethor of Gondor would be (see: not very), wondering what all the fuss is about. Frank stifles his good natured mockery because the big guns have been pulled out as far as he's concerned.

"Um, uh-" Brian begins because oh god, how do you control this situation now. "Enfys, you've met Frank. This is my father, Derrick. Dad, this is Enfys. My friend." ...because he may as well add that in now for all the good it will do.

[rhyfelgri]

Erp. Enfys doesn't let her solid enthusiasm flag in the face of what must be the local patriarch - she smiles on cue, switching her basket to under her arm so she can take a half-step forward and offer Derrick her hand. "Oh, Lord, I hope I haven't really interrupted. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She's got something of a knack for dealing with other people's parents, as it happens, but she's still getting a feel for this gentleman.

[whitecityson]

Well Derrick may be generally grumpy and dominate his son's lives but he is a gentleman so he smiles benignly and shakes her hand. "And you, it's no trouble at all. One of my son's has spoken about you. The other not quite so much." And he gives Brian a Look because he is...quietly approving the little lunch basket, that is the nicest thing, dear god Brian if you've found yourself a good one you better marry her good.

Said son is standing there, silently hoping this is going well. And then wondering why because Enfys isn't really his girlfriend so why is he bothered that a fake girlfriend should make an impression on his father?

[rhyfelgri]

"It's like getting blood from a stone, I know," she observes pleasantly, tucking her hands around her basket and resisting the urge to swing on the balls of her feet like she's a child. "I'm really sorry I didn't bring more, now! It was sort of a whim, since I was in the kitchen anyway - it's beautiful! I don't know why it doesn't get used more, lousy man - so, anyway, I thought I'd drop by and see if I couldn't persuade the quiet one over there to lend me his car for a couple of hours. Turns out I have to go further than I thought for this book...that's all very boring, though."

It is entirely possible she decided that part about Brian's car on the spot as she said it. Look at her go!

[whitecityson]

Brian is...standing here, wondering what has happened to his life.

Derrick, however, is presently charmed. "Well I won't keep him from you any longer- You know, you should come by for Sunday dinner when you can."

Well that sealed it. Brian walks forward and loops an arm around Enfys' shoulder. "Like you said Dad, you're keeping her from me. We'll talk later about the acquisition. Enfys, if you'd like to come along for lunch now..." His fingertips might be pressing a little bit firmly into her shoulder about now. This is not the first time he's wished for a Batman style grapple-hook gun for quick getaways (they don't do them as Christmas stocking fillers ._. he checked ._.)

[rhyfelgri]

With little to no self-preservation instinct, Enfys beams back at Derrick as she lets herself be drawn away: "I would love to! Sunday after this is my birthday, actually-"

Brian is going to kill her, she reflects, her good mood unmarred.

[whitecityson]

More like dragged and Brian thanks the god of elevators that one is already there, ready and free of occupants. After they're a floor or two down, he turns to give her a Look. "I would ask if you're happy with yourself but I already know the answer."

[rhyfelgri]

Enfys holds the basket primly in both hands, smirking at the elevator door instead of turning to look back at him. "He liked me."

[whitecityson]

...sigh. "It's like all the hassle of having a girlfriend but with less sex." He gives a wistful look at the basket. "I hope whatever is in there is good."

[rhyfelgri]

"I know you're not casting doubt on my cooking." As a matter of fact that was probably not the point of what he just said, no, Enfys, you terror. "Anyway," she adds, stepping out on the ground floor and grinning at him over her shoulder, "if you didn't like it, you wouldn't put up with it. Or do I not even need to put out to keep your balls in a basket?"

[whitecityson]

"You do not have my balls. And could we please keep that subject away from lunch because I went to Heston Blumenthal's restaurant not long ago and they had plums on the menu. Suffice to say, people in Medieval England had some clever ideas about how to dress up their unwanted bits of meat." And it had sounded so nice at the time.

When they head towards the car park, Brian takes out his keys and gives it a click. Somewhere nearby, lights flash up in friendly greeting.

[rhyfelgri]

Enfys laughs, remarking, "I could if I wanted," and trundling towards what must be Brian's car. "You're not a fan of the medieval set, I take it. You know, I spent a few months stuck in the most ridiculous outfits - all in the name of a bit of research - research I can't even use, now, how unfair is that? I altered all the gowns, though. Not a terrible loss."

...she did terrible things to what were some flatteringly elegant dresses.