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Tweak says, "Brian Kinney <3 Justin Taylor"

Bran Wilder {The Phantom} (lemortvivant) wrote in bellumlogs,
@ 2010-07-15 01:08:00

Entry tags:

glinda, phantom of the opera

Who: Bran and Gabby
What: A spontaneous visit + dinner
Where: D3
When: Let's backdate this to Monday, about 5:30-ish
Warnings: None at present

Even though Gabby had been more tolerable than expected, Bran hadn't really thought about her offer of dinner very much during the next couple of weeks. It wasn't that he was particularly busy, because it wasn't like he had an actual job or anything, but he did need to get money somehow and most of his time was spent... exploring other options through which he could obtain money. Some might say he was breaking the law, but he liked to think of it as doing what needed to be done. Besides, he never took anything from people who didn't have enough of their own - hell, he was like a modern-day antisocial Robin Hood.

The idea came to him randomly, really. Bran was beginning to realize that he really had no friends or even acquaintances in the building whatsoever - he and Lotte were something weird and awkward, certainly not friends, and he only knew a few others in passing. Could it really hurt to play nice for a bit and try to get in a few good books?

He decided the answer was no, and it was that combined with a building frustration that led him to decide to take up Gabby on her dinner offer without prior notice. Fuck it, right?

Which was why he headed up to the deluxe floor that evening, a bottle of acquired (aka stolen) wine in hand (but at least it was expensive, which made up for how it got into his possession) and a winning smile on his face. He was sick of feeling like a particularly homely dog that had attacked someone and subsequently went around with its tail between its legs. Despite her overt cheeriness and habit of being a little too physical, at least Gabby treated him like a human being. Stopping outside D3, he raised his hand and beat out a little percussion of knocks on the wood.

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i_luv_shoes
2010-07-23 07:42 pm UTC (link)

High praise coming from Dark and Mysterious Raven! "I'm glad you think so," she said, allowing a bit of blush to come into her cheeks. "So what do you consider 'tamed,' exactly?" she asked, the wine glass in one hand as she studied Bran - he sure was a fine specimen, that was for certain. Honestly, Gabby was surprised he wasn't seeing anyone! But not like she cared. She'd swoop in and grab that merchandise, no worries.

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lemortvivant
2010-07-24 02:58 am UTC (link)

He flashed a grin that was full of charm, but the compliment was genuine - even if relationships were the last thing on his mind, Bran wasn't blind, and he couldn't deny that Gabby was attractive. "I don't think 'tamed' is a word very many men like to hear. It implies... submission and makes it seem like the woman has the man wrapped around her finger. Or vice versa." He took another bite and shrugged. "To me, it's boring. You tame animals to be obedient, not people."

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i_luv_shoes
2010-07-24 02:44 pm UTC (link)

"That's a good way of putting it," Gabby said, popping a piece of tofu into her mouth. "I was just curious. And I don't think submission for either gender is very good either, equality in a relationship is important. Or whatever you consider a relationship," she added, grinning. "I was raised in the south, so we're all about charm and gentility there. My mother was the perfect housewife," she laughed airily. "But I don't want that. The thought of the man coming home from a hard day of work and the woman being there with dinner, a cigar, and the evening paper makes me want to throw up."

She daintily dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin. "Sorry, that was quite a ramble on my end there!"

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lemortvivant
2010-07-24 08:56 pm UTC (link)

"There's no challenge in a relationship based on submission and dominance either. It really only benefits one person." It was part of the reason why he couldn't see himself and Lotte - never mind Erik and Christine - in any sort of actual 'relationship'. Not that she was submissive, but... she was timid. Scared, even, in a lot of ways; although he was far from perfect himself.

Bran pulled a face. "I'm not really interested in a housewife. I'm sure some men are, but it's a little too old-fashioned and bland for my liking." He took a sip of wine before smirking. "Ramble away. I don't mind."

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i_luv_shoes
2010-07-24 09:29 pm UTC (link)

"It's part of the reason why I won't move back home despite...warnings, or extreme insistence, to do that," Gabby admitted, shrugging as she twirled a few noodles with her fork. "I love my family, of course, but I just don't want to live there." Plus, it seemed kind of weak to just...give up because a few people hated this building. "So!" She looked over at Bran, smiling prettily. "When was the last time you've been on a date? You should go on one. With me, I mean. Besides this, if you count it as one." If he didn't want to that was entirely up to him but she just wanted to throw the offer out there! La de dah!

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lemortvivant
2010-07-25 05:26 am UTC (link)

"Everyone has to leave their family sometime." He shrugged, as if he had any experience living in a remotely stable family unit. The change of subject was welcome, even if the topic was less than desirable. Bran couldn't even remember how long it had been since he went on a date, not that he had many of them to begin with. They weren't really his style, since he preferred to be solitary and interaction with women was fleeting at best.

Of course he couldn't come out and say that, so he pretended to think as though he had a mental list of dates to sort through. "A couple months ago, I think," he said carelessly. A date wasn't high on his list of priorities, but why not? That would show Lotte that he wasn't some kind of freak once and for all. "Which means I'm probably due for one. And if you think I should go on one with you, well, how can I decline?"

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i_luv_shoes
2010-07-25 02:51 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, good!" Gabby hadn't wanted to look like some desperate psycho bitch but she was awfully glad that Bran had said yes because she thought he was très cute. "I would definitely say you're due for one, yes," she nodded. "It's been awhile for me too," she confessed. That was true - after the fiasco with Mr. Hollywood, she hadn't dated much after she ran off to Thailand. "But it will be fun! And nothing boring like, the movies. Because then no one gets to talk and that's just silly."

Since they both looked to be finished, Gabby stood up to clear the table, so she could get the dishes going in the dishwasher and put the leftovers in containers. "You can take them back with you," she said about the leftovers. "I'm sure you need some real food somewhere in your bachelor pad."

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lemortvivant
2010-07-25 09:42 pm UTC (link)

"Then it works out perfectly, because we're both due for one." He tilted his head to the side, wondering if Gabby was being honest or just humoring him because he'd been lacking in dates during the past few months. Movies were something he preferred to watch alone, and he hated talking during them because it defeated the whole purpose of watching a movie - but then the silence became awkward after a while. "Yeah, movies have never been a good date idea for me. Talking kind of ruins the movie, and not talking defeats the purpose of being on a date anyway."

Leftovers were fine by him, since dinner had been good - better than anything he'd had in a while - and it would be a nice change from takeout. "Thanks. You might actually be able to wean me off of my takeout diet with a few more dinners like this."

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i_luv_shoes
2010-07-25 09:53 pm UTC (link)

"Anytime, darling," Gabby said cheerfully, referring to dinners - although she wouldn't mind dates anytime either. "Someone has to make sure you eat well, right?" She tsked-tsked Bran at the thought of him putting away take-out food night after night. And she really did want to make sure he didn't kill his intestines; she wouldn't even charge him sexual favors either!

"You just have to kiss me goodnight each time, that's all," she added, as she loaded the dishwasher. Surely Dark and Mysterious Raven could handle that!

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lemortvivant
2010-07-26 02:50 am UTC (link)

"Of course, since I'm not very good at making sure I eat right all on my own." He didn't care enough to bother about a healthy diet, or even proper food intake at all, even though it probably wasn't the wisest thing to neglect. Luckily Gabby seemed to take an interest in his well-being, though.

Bran pretended to look affronted. "What kind of date would I be if I didn't?" He knew that much, at least.

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i_luv_shoes
2010-07-26 03:22 am UTC (link)

"Not an awesome one," Gabby replied as a matter-of-fact. She pushed some hair from her face, and her eyes were playful. "And I think you'll be an awesome one, so I would hate for you to disprove that," she said as she spooned the remainder of the pad Thai into a Tupperware container, closing the lid and sealing it up good.

But she hid it away from him at first, teasing, as she flitted back toward Bran and rose up on her toes to kiss-attack him. It was better than attacking with bombs or knives! "You must earn your leftovers," she joked before she smooched him again.

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lemortvivant
2010-07-26 06:07 am UTC (link)

He'd never been described as 'awesome' in any context, but it would be an interesting challenge to live up to whatever expectations Gabby was forming for him. He could be anything he needed to be, and being an awesome date was no exception. Erik would have been disgusted by the entire situation, but right now Bran didn't particularly care. He wasn't the one letting himself be lied to and living in a delusional fantasy, after all. "There will be no disproving, don't worry."

Bran was expecting to just get his leftovers and be on his way, so Gabby's kiss-attack had its desired effect. Yes, Erik definitely wouldn't have approved. "Do I?" His expression was entirely innocent, but his attempt at grabbing the leftovers while distracting her with a kiss was the complete opposite.

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i_luv_shoes
2010-07-26 12:57 pm UTC (link)

Oh, that Bran! Dark and Mysterious Raven should be nicknamed Sneaky Raven instead. Gabby returned the distraction kiss but slid the container over toward him and shoved it into his hands. Then she flung her now-free arms around his neck and kissed him soundly for good measure.

"That was really tricky," she lamented with a sigh, pulling back. "My witchcraft is not up to par, I suppose."

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lemortvivant
2010-07-26 09:52 pm UTC (link)

Bran let out a victorious chuckle, although it came out muffled in the wake of subsequent kisses. His hands closed around the container, although he doubted he'd have to worry about her trying to steal it back. His little distraction trick had worked, as basic as it was.

"I'm quite the tricky character when I want to be," he grinned. "But your witchcraft seems perfectly fine to me."

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