Oh HAI Who: Brian and Tina (featuring Deanna) When: XHM When: After these messages What: Lunch Date Rating: Low Status: Closed; Complete
Tina made her way into XMH wearing high-waisted black pants and a grey tanktop tucked in at the waist, with her hair moussed a little different than usual. She made her way over to reception and set down the carry bag of Louise's burgers (and fries!) on the desk and asked the lovely receptionist: "Could you please page Dr. Pritchard?" She asked with a sugary grin. "Got some fries in it for ya." Bribery. It worked every time.
Bless her soul, Deanna was never going to be the most professional receptionist in the world. But she made up for it in genuine sweetness. Those big doe-like eyes looked up at Tina as a smile spread across her face. "No wonder he's been smiling so much lately." She said with a slight giggle. "Let me get him for you." The blonde hummed happily as she dialed the number of Brian's pager into the phone,
"Thanks!" Tina replied with a happy bounce. So Brian had been smiling a lot lately, huh? Good to know. True to her word she fished out a small box of fries and handed it over to Deanna. "My sister made 'em."
"Oh, thank you!" She took the fries happily, giving the most adorable smile. For a former stripper, this girl was honestly too precious to exist. "I'm Deanna, by the way. I'm new here. Most people just call me Dee."
"Well there's a couple of ladies far too lovely to be in a hospital lobby..." Brian grinned, walking over to the desk. Deanna just blushed a little and backed off, letting them talk. "God, you look great." He told Tina, leaning in to give her a kiss.
"Pleased to meetcha, Dee. I'm Tina."
When she heard Brian's voice, Tina's face lit up and she happily kissed him back. "And here I was, worried that I'd have to drag you away." She liked how dedicated he was to his work, though.
"Never..." Brian laughed, holding her to him for a long moment. "Knowing I get to leave here and be with you? Definitely makes finishing much more enticing."
Adorably, Deanna just gave a loud, swoony sigh watching them. "Omg... you guys are like a romantic movie. I'm just melting here!"
"I guess we are," Tina agreed with Deanna. Throw in some dancing and that was exactly what they were. To Dee, she said: "I'm gonna steal him away while I can. But! If you ever find yourself in need of some company sometime, hit me up, okay?" Hell, she could use more friends herself, so it wasn't entirely selfless to ask.
To Brian, she took hold of his hand and tugged him out of the hospital: "All mine!"
"All yours." Brian said with a smile, pulling her to him for a hug.... and to give her ass a gentle squeeze. "You have no idea how happy you make me." He said, not realizing it was going to come out until the words were spoken.
"Well, I have some idea, Mr. Smiley," she replied, cheekily pinching his cheek. She knew what he meant, though. She decided to take them over to a park bench so they could have their meal.
"Thanks again for this." Brian said as they sat, eagerly taking the burger she'd brought him. "I spent so much time with the kids in the peds unit today I kinda forgot to eat. It was worth it though. Seeing how happy they were when we'd joke around, or sing songs, or just chat about things they like...."
Tina helped herself to her own burger. "I don't know how you do it. Seeing kids like that would just about make me cry." She admired him for his work with children, his dedication, the way his face lit up when he talked about work. He really was made for the job.
"Oh, it breaks me up inside. I won't lie and say I don't cry sometimes at home thinking about them." He admitted, groaning happily as he took his first bite. "But while I'm there? Sometimes I'm all they have. So I do what I can to make them smile in a bad situation. There's a kid in there now who keeps trying to teach me Galadorian pop songs. Keeps trying to talk me into signing up for that singing thing Ben Bale is doing."
Tina laughed, just imagining Brian singing was adorable, okay? "What singing thing is that?" She asked curiously. She didn't read the network often, so she'd missed that entire thread, apparently. She also made a mental note to thank Louise for cooking the burgers. It looked like he was enjoying it.
"Oh. Like, an American Idol sorta thing." He waved it off. "I don't think I'm good enough... even if I was, I enjoy being a doctor. And then spending my spare time looking at you."
"Which I should think would take most of your free time," Tina replied with a flirty smile. She took a moment to continue with her meal, chewing on her thoughts. "If you enjoy singing we could do karaoke sometime?"
"I dunno... I only enjoy it if it's a song that really resonates with me, you know? Otherwise, nah. I'm not being humble when I say I'm not that good." He caught himself just gazing at her for a moment and blushed. "Ok, that probably seemed weird. Sorry. Sometimes, I look at you and it's almost like I forget just how gorgeous you are, and it just stuns me all over again."
Tina nodded. She wanted to give him something to enjoy outside of work (beyond her amazing company!), so she was going to keep asking questions like that until something stuck.
"You know, my whole life I've never been complimented so genuinely." She liked that about him, too. There didn't seem to be a dishonest bone in his body. "Keep it up, Yummy, and I might just have to keep you."
"Well fingers crossed then." Brian laughed, loving the almost reverent attention he tended to get from her. "Because you're shaping up to be everything I've ever wanted"
It was sweet that the idiosyncrasies that scared potential partners away from both of them in the past were the things that drew them together now. Tina looked at him steadily for a good ten seconds, decided that she believed him, and smiled. "Yeah. I'm keeping you."
"You're not gonna hear me complaining." Brian told her, before leaning in to give her a long, loving kiss. "This part will show you how bad of luck I've had lately, but.... so where do we go from here? I mean... we haven't so much said the words, but do you want to date me... exclusively? Start actually building towards some kind of future?"
Tina nodded. "Exclusively, yes." Truthfully she'd had her eyes on him virtually as soon as she arrived on Galador, so in her mind they kind of already were. "I think we fit well together, don't you?"
"Thank god." Brian blurted out, laughing out of embarrassment. "Not gonna lie, I was worried for a minute." He thought back to some of the women he'd loved and lost. Rory and Gertie, neither of whom ever even saw him that way. Alexis, who didn't want the same things he did. Or Baily, who tossed him aside without a second thought. Was it him? Was Tina going to tire of him the same way? "I just feel like no matter how much time I spend with you, it's never enough."
Tina leaned over and placed a tender kiss to Brian's throat. Truthfully, she worried that she'd be too much for him. Most of the men she'd dated couldn't handle being with her for long. "Then we'll make more time together," she decided. "I know that your work keeps you busy, but you know I have no problem coming to you." She shoulder bumped him.
"I'm falling in love with you so damn fast, Tina..." He told her, a vulnerable smile on his face as he looked down into her eyes. "And it's a little scary. But I wouldn't trade it for anything."
She brushed the back of her fingertips over the light scruff on his cheek. "Well, I'm falling in love with you too, handsome, so in that way at least we'll be a little scared together." She gave him a lopsided smile.
"...you are honestly one of the most interesting people I've ever met." Brian said with 100% sincerity, taking her face between his palms gently. She was so quirky, goofy, and random.... yet also kind, attentive, and always so eager to please him. He'd never met anyone quite like her. "I am... so glad I have you in my life, Tina."
She met his gaze unwaveringly. "I'm so glad that you're in my life too, Brian. All the boys I loved before don't even hold a candle to you." She pressed her lips to his, nibbling on his bottom lip.
"This... probably isn't the best place to get me all wound up." He teased, moaning a little when she bit his lip. Fuck, she was almost too good to be true. He tried to push that thought away, lest he let his depression overtake him again. "Not that I'd ever tell you to stop..."
"Well now, that's a dangerous thing to say to me," Tina teased, eyes lighting up. She enjoyed getting reactions out of him. He was probably right that she shouldn't tease him when they were out like this. "Do you feel better?"
"I do." Brian admitted,again placing a soft palm to her cheek as he gazed into her eyes. "All you have to do, really... is just be yourself, and it makes me feel instantly better." Everything from her oddball humor, to the attention she lavished on him... it all made him fee like a million bucks.
She leaned against his palm, enjoying his touch as well as his words. "So... when do I get to steal you away?" She asked a little breathlessly, figuring that he'd have to go back to work soon.
"Hm. Well..." He began, trying to hide the little grin that was starting to form. "That depends. What you say if I told you I got the rest of the day off, and that I'm yours as of now?"
Tina squealed, and hopped up and down in her seat. "Really?" Obviously there was no hiding her excitement, huh?
"Damn right." He replied, placing a hand on her thigh, giving it an affectionate squeeze. "I can honestly say there's noplace on this planet I'd rather be than with you."