RP: Brothers

[rar_stephen]

Date: Saturday, 14 September 1999 | Evening
Characters: Stephen Cornfoot, Liam Cornfoot (NPC), Joshua Cornfoot (NPC), Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, Cho Chang
Location: Utopia
Status: Public
Summary: Stephen's brothers visit.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_cho]

Cho was glad she and Angelina had decided to get out tonight. While shopping the evening before, they had discovered neither had plans for Saturday night. Both thought some fun at Utopia sounded much better than staying home tonight.

The pub already had quite a crowd when they arrived so they made their way over to the bar to wait for a table to become available. After placing their drink orders, Cho turned around and took a look around at the crowd. When she saw Stephen over at the pool tables, she smiled as she nudged Angelina and motioned in his direction. "Looks like Stephen had the same idea tonight." She noticed he was talking to some blokes, as well as Katie Bell, and it looked like they had a reserved pool table. "He seems busy right now, but we should say go and say hello at some point."

[rar_angelina]

Angelina turned around and scanned the crowd when Cho said she saw Stephen. "Where?"

Cho pointed and Angelina finally saw the bloke. He was at the pool tables, playing with two men she didn't recognize. Katie was also there with them. Angelina didn't realize Katie and Stephen were friends, and she said as much.

"Are Katie and Stephen friends?" she asked. Then she slid off the stool and grabbed Cho by the arm. "No reason not to go over and say hello. I'm sure he'd love to see you."

[rar_cho]

"I don't really know. They both live in our building, so it's probable they know each other." When Angelina suddenly said they should go over to say hello, Cho picked up her drink from bar to take it with her. "Sure, that sounds good." Angelina collected her drink as well, before they made their way over to Stephen.

[rar_angelina]

Angelina grabbed her drink, and she and Cho weaved their way through the Saturday night crowd. When they arrived at the pool table, one of the blokes spewed his beer all over an unsuspecting waitress. Angelina grimaced as the bloke tried to apologize and clean up the mess.

Angelina and Katie hadn't spoken since the dance class when Katie had admitted to lying to her. She wasn't completely settled with how she felt about that, but she smiled anyway. "Hey Katie," she said. Then Angelina glanced at Stephen. "Hey Stephen. How's everyone doing?"

[rar_stephen]

Liam was relieved the witch hadn't gone psycho on him for his accidental spewing. Besides, Katie had said that Stephen had gone to a dance class, which was absolutely absurd. Katie was obviously confused.

Two birds walked over and smiled at them--smiled at Stephen, mostly--like they knew him. The tall bird said hello to Katie and to Stephen, and Liam was impressed. Perhaps he had been wrong about his brother, who seemed to have birds flocking to him every time they went out. Plus, the two birds were good-looking as well.

Liam moved over and leaned against the edge of the pool table. "Well, hello there," he said before Stephen could respond. "Stephen keeps neglecting to mention he knows such lovely birds."

[rar_stephen]

Stephen closed his eyes and inhaled slowly as soon as Katie mentioned the dance class. It was one of the last things he would have ever mentioned to his brothers, but it was too late now. The cat was out of the bag, so to speak.

He rubbed the back of his neck and then shoved a hand through his hair just as Liam spit his beer out. A distraction was good. Maybe they would both forget it had even been mentioned, but Joshua was already questioning him, too.

Stephen didn't want to talk about it. He really didn't want to talk about it. Then out of nowhere Johnson from his apartment building walked up with Cho. Cho! No, no, no, no! Anyone but Cho. Shite, not here. Not with both of his brothers around.

Stephen glanced quickly at her, and she smiled sweetly. He wanted to pick her up, toss her over his shoulder, and run out of the bar with her before she could be subjected to his brothers.

Too late. Liam was already moving in.

[rar_cho]

When she and Angelina arrived at the pool table, Angelina said hello to everyone as Cho was looking at Stephen. It was good to see him tonight, but he was definitely looking uncomfortable. She hoped he was doing okay. She smiled up at him, "Hello, Stephen."

She looked at the bloke leaning against the pool table who had greeting them. "Hello," she smiled. "It seems all the neighbors in Stephen's building decided to come here tonight."

[rar_stephen]

Stephen tried to smile at Cho, but his mouth wouldn't move. He quietly said, "Hey." He was still trying to think of ways to get Cho out of there.

Liam moved in front of Stephen and held out his hand. "You're neighbours?" Liam asked. "Well, that makes much more sense for why Stephen has so many female friends," Liam teased. "I'm Liam, Stephen's brother."

[rar_cho]

She shook the bloke's hand as she nodded, "Yes, we're neighbours." After he teased Stephen and then said they were brothers, she realized why Stephen would be uncomfortable. "It's nice to meet you, Liam. I'm Cho," she gestured to Ang, "and this is Angelina. We're both Stephen's neighbours on the third floor."

She smiled, thinking Liam was clearly the extrovert of the family. She remembered her conversation with Stephen about his siblings' professions. She tilted her head as she looked at Liam. "Stephen mentioned you worked at the Ministry, and I think I must have seen you there." She smiled as she explained, "A year ago I did an internship in your department, International Magical Cooperation. I really enjoyed my time there."

[rar_stephen]

Liam raised an eyebrow. She knew where he worked because Stephen had talked about him to her. Interesting. Liam wasn't sure how comfortable he was with this new side of Stephen. Since when did his baby brother talk to birds, especially enough to talk about his family? Stephen barely talked to him.

But she was definitely attractive. At least his brother had good taste. He smiled at the tall bird Angelina and said hello. Then he focused his attention back to Cho. "A pleasure to meet you," he said. "I don't remember seeing you at the Ministry," he added, taking a step closer to her. "And I never forget a beautiful face."

[rar_stephen]

When Liam stepped toward Cho, it was suddenly clear to Stephen that his older brother was flirting with her. Something ugly and dark flared inside Stephen's chest. He didn't like the feeling, but he liked how close Liam was standing to Cho even less.

Stephen stepped forward and grabbed Liam's forearm. Liam looked over at him. Stephen shook his head and spoke quietly. "Not her." Liam seemed confused, and Stephen wasn't about to elaborate. Not in front of a room full of people, and definitely not in front of Cho.

[rar_stephen]

Joshua watched two new women approach the table. He was still reeling over the idea that Stephen had been to a dance class. Maybe Stephen had been doing research?

Before Joshua could comprehend what was happening, Liam had moved in on the petite dark-haired girl who introduced herself as Cho. She seemed to have heard of Liam before because of Stephen, which was odd. But what was even stranger was Stephen's reaction to Liam. What was going on...?

Joshua could see the tension in Stephen's body language, so he stepped between the two brothers and smiled at the young woman. "Cho, is it?" he asked politely. "I'm Joshua, the final Cornfoot brother. Nice to meet you. Fancy joining us in a game of pool?"

[rar_cho]

Stephen's brother was a blatant flirt and she was getting ready to redirect the conversation back to work, when Stephen stepped forward. He was being protective and although she knew she could handle Liam's type, she was appreciative he wanted to look out for her. The third bloke then came forward and introduced himself as Stephen's other brother.

She smiled at him, and took another look at all three brothers. All were very different individuals it seemed. She nodded, "Hello, Joshua. It's nice to meet you too." She looked questioningly at Angelina when he invited them to play, and Ang nodded in agreement. She smiled at Stephen before turning back to Joshua, "Thanks, a game of pool does sound fun."

[rar_stephen]

Joshua invited Cho and Angelina to play pool, and though he was glad to have her there, he didn't actually want his brothers around--not when he wasn't sure what he and Cho were... He didn't exactly know how to act around her, and he was incredibly uncomfortable under the scrutiny of his brothers' watchful eyes.

Liam shrugged away Stephen's hand and grabbed his pool stick again. He grinned at Katie. "I'll rack the balls again, but don't worry, Miss Katie," Liam cooed, "we can still take the new arrivals."

Joshua offered to swap teams and take Angelina for a partner. Angelina smiled at him and chuckled, mentioning that she was rubbish at pool.

Stephen took the opportunity to step toward Cho and brush his fingers down her arm. He leaned down close to her and whispered, "This isn't exactly how I wanted you to meet my brothers."

[rar_cho]

Liam and Katie were evidently playing together, and Joshua then took Angelina as his partner. Cho smiled, more than happy to play with Stephen.

When he stepped beside her, she instinctively leaned closer as he touched her arm. He whispered it wasn't an ideal way to meet his family and she understood what he meant. It was early and quite unexpected for them both. She nodded, "I know. I hope they don't tease you too badly because of this." She whispered quietly so only Stephen could hear her, "Um, is it too early to let your brothers find out I'm pretty good at pool?"

[rar_katie]

Katie watched the exchange between Stephen and his brothers and Cho with some interest. It appeared that she'd gotten it wrong. Stephen wasn't interested in Millie. It was Cho. There was definitely something going on there.

"Miss Katie?" She said with some amusement. "Yes, I'm sure we'll wipe the floor with them, Mr. Liam."