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Alexandria Rose Nash | Urðr ([info]urdr) wrote in [info]paxletalelogs,
@ 2011-09-09 21:45:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:jormungandr, thor, urdr

Dinner for Three
Who: Adam, Alexandria, and James
What: Nom Bombs!
Where: 503
When: Friday, September 23rd, 2011
Warnings: Extreme awkwardness, heavy side eye
Notes: LULZ

Cooking wasn't Alexandria's forte.

It could be said that she'd learned the basics in the years since she'd left her parents house. There'd been some opportunity to learn at home, but even after her health had improved, she'd been more interested in her books and her piano than in learning how to temper an egg. When she'd gone away to school, she'd quickly figured out the most important staples of any undergrad's diet: ramen, Easy Mac, and rampant theft from the dining hall. Once she'd moved into her own apartment in Philadelphia, she'd had a roommate who'd been merciful enough to teach her to cook pasta and a few very, very basic dishes which generally involved a Foreman Grill and steamed vegetables. It served. Food was at best a distraction for Alexandria, and so she never bothered more with it than she had to; she'd rather just pick up a prepared dish, or some nuts and fruit, and not worry about it.

But she'd wanted to make a nice dinner for Adam; had wanted to impress him. And when she'd run into James yesterday, she thought it'd be nice for the three of them to have a dinner together.

What idiotic flight of blind optimism had made her decide to do this escaped her once the salmon had burned, the lettuce had wilted, and the sauce had curdled.

It was all at the bottom of the trash now. The windows were open, the smoke had cleared. The simple, modern plates she'd bought from Ikea now graced her table at the center of which sat several bags from In-N-Out Burger, in addition to a milkshake and soda at each place setting. The flowers James had brought her the other day were elegantly displayed as the centerpiece, though she'd move it once they were ready to eat. She'd meant to let Adam know James would be joining them, but things had gotten so out of hand with the near-conflagration in her kitchen, it had slipped her mind.

It was with relief that she'd managed to make it in and out of the shower and into a simple sundress before they arrived. She'd even managed to uncork a fine bottle of Shiraz and pour herself a glass as she stood in front of the table, admiring her handiwork with a wry smile and a shake of her head.


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[info]torden
2011-09-11 02:45 am UTC (link)
James gave a loud beating of Alex's door before trying the handle and letting himself in. He slipped into her apartment with a devilish smirk on his face wearing his typical wardrobe: a button down long sleeve shirt in a dark color with nice dark pants. He smelled fresh and of after shave as he eased into the apartment and smiled at his sister.

"I thought you were going to make dinner," he said with a laugh as he drew close to his sister and gave her a brief hug and a kiss on the top of her head. "In-N-Out Burger is not dinner that is made by you. Although I'm sure that I'll be less likely to die from it." He smirked and took a dancing step back, waiting for Alex to try and retaliate, but a knock from the apartment door caught him off guard.

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-11 07:30 am UTC (link)
Adam was not late, exactly, but he had not arrived as early as he'd planned. It had taken longer to choose his outfit than he would have liked, concerned as he was with every nuance of his appearance. Between his own grueling work schedule and Alex's academic pursuits they had had little enough time together; he had been grateful beyond measure at her invitation, and was determined to see the night go well. In the end he had chosen black trousers, a black dress shirt - sleeves neatly rolled to his forearms, vivid tattoos peeking out from beneath - and black Cuban heels. His ever present wallet chain aside, his only adornment was a single ring, polished to a mirror shine: the silver Ouroboros she had given him, green eyes gleaming against his pale skin. Though Alex had insisted the dinner was hers to prepare, Adam had felt it impolite to arrive empty handed. He'd brought with him a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, now clutched loosely in his hand.

He knocked again. After a brief pause he let himself in, a small smile quirking at the corner of his mouth as he nudged the door shut behind him. His lips parted as if to greet her, but soon enough words failed him altogether. He stopped where he stood, black eyes darting first to Alex, then to her brother. It was troublesome, he thought, how easily his traitorous mind called up that dream, that scrap of something so sharp and strong it almost felt like memory instead. There was no fighting the rising flush already coloring his cheeks, but at least he could attempt to seem something less than the small and timid creature he had been in their youth.

"Evening, Alex," he said, giving her a slight, stiff nod. "And James. What a... surprise."

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[info]urdr
2011-09-14 02:06 am UTC (link)
Alexandria barely had time to give James a hug, much less express her outrage at his insult to her cooking (however true it may have been), before the knock came. Then, there was hardly time for her to look around and make sure everything was in place before her next guest arrived.

"Adam," she said with a tentative smile. She hadn't thought Adam would mind if she'd invited James; she knew there'd been some tension between them when they were kids, but all that was past now -- or so she'd thought. But then, it was supposed to have been just them. She should have told him. By way of apology, she crossed over to him.

"Jamie brought me those flowers," she said, motioning to the bright bouquet on the table, "so I invited him to come tonight. I thought we could all catch up. Though he's already complaining about the food." She made a face at her brother.

She gave Adam a hug and a tight squeeze, as though asking if it were all right and apologizing if it weren't all in one.

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[info]torden
2011-09-14 04:04 pm UTC (link)
"Adam," James replied with a sigh. He lingered behind, feeling tension build in his chest as he saw his sister embrace the smaller man. Swallowing hard and giving a loud clear of his throat, he moved forward with easy, confident steps towards the two.

"I'm not complaining about the food; simply that you gave me false advertising." He straightened his posture and looked down his nose at Adam. The memories of the dream he had were heavy and real. He could almost taste Adam on his lips and remember the near spark when they touched. Still, he didn't allow this to show on his face or even in his stance. He presented his hand to Adam and waited for him to shake it. "It's been years. You're... grown up." He swallowed and glanced over Adam again, his expression looking nearly like he was disgusted, but turning to nothing but blank under his sisters gaze.

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-15 01:31 am UTC (link)
Adam had no ready answer, and so instead he held his tongue. He let the look slide; he had seen worse, both from this makeshift friend and others far less cordial, and regardless of his own discomfort he felt no desire to ruin Alex's night over such a petty thing. He switched the wine bottle from his left hand to his right, taking James' hand entirely against his better judgment. He gave it as hasty a shake as he could manage, ignoring the resurgence of sense-memory that came with it. But for all his outward calm a chill raced down his spine, raising gooseflesh on his tattooed skin, even after he'd pulled away.

"I brought you this," he said to Alex, his black eyes at last falling away from James. He stepped past the taller man, holding the bottle out to Alex. "I didn't know if it's work for tonight's dinner, but if not, maybe some other time."

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[info]urdr
2011-09-17 01:43 am UTC (link)
Alexandria blushed hard, then squinted at her brother, though she couldn't help the smile that came to her lips. "Listen, I tried. Very hard. I'm a woman of few talents, and cooking doesn't seem to be one of them."

With sheepish grin, she looked back to Adam, taking the bottle of wine.

"Thank you, Adam." Her first impulse was to give him a kiss on the cheek, but she resisted, her blush returning. It felt strange to show that kind of closeness in front of Jamie. It seemed like it would invite questions that she didn't really know the answers to, and she didn't want her big brother's ribbing or overprotectiveness to scare Adam away.

She shook it off, deciding instead that banter would be a safer bet.

"See, Jamie? This is how to be a gracious guest. Besides, you love In N' Out."

She wished she could squeeze Adam's hand, but instead, she gestured toward the table.

"C'mon, boys. I'll pour the wine; let's eat before it gets cold."

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[info]torden
2011-09-17 03:10 am UTC (link)
What James had not expected was the familiarity of Adam's hand in his. It caused him to pause and look back at his sisters friend, studying him seriously for a moment before turning his attention back to his sister.

James smiled at Alex and bit back any witty comebacks he had. For Alex, he would do just about anything, even keeping his jokes at bay, but Adam wasn't in the clear.

He stepped ahead of Adam, bumping into him purposely, and again there was that near spark. That memory of the dream was so livid and James craved for it again. But it was a dream, that was it, still the feelings and memories showed only by a momentary pause before James continued to glide across the floor and take the seat furthest from the door. He slipped into the chair, tipping it back on the back legs, and watched Adam with a blank expression, quick to glance away if Alex or Adam looked at James.

"Milkshakes... nice job, Alex," James said with a brief nod and a smile as he grabbed the cold drink. "All right, the In N' Out was a good idea."

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-17 05:38 am UTC (link)
Adam had only just begun to find his figurative footing when he felt that rough touch; it was too like the dream, and too unlike it, with all its entitled forcefulness and none of its charm. In that dreamspace there had been a vulnerability to James he would not allow here. Here, he was Alpha, and whatever else there may have been between them, that fact reigned supreme. Still, the dream weighed heavy upon him, that hard brush, shoulder to shoulder, calling up memories best left where they lay. With a faint dusting of pink warming his pale skin he made his way to the table, ducking his head to hide his embarrassment at least from Alex's gaze. To his dismay there were only two options: Across from James, there to see him with every upward glance, or beside him. It was difficult to contemplate which was worst. In the end he kept a chair's width between them, leaving room for Alex to keep them blessedly apart.

He paused, then, his hand on the chair's back, feeling somewhat more in control of himself now that this minor decision had been made. He turned, looking back to Alex. "Need any help?" he asked. Save me, he might as well have said.

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[info]urdr
2011-09-18 03:42 am UTC (link)
"Oh, don't worry about it," she said, giving him a little smile that was sweeter than it might have been for anyone else. It might have been her genuine happiness to have them both there, or simply her determination to make this dinner as close to perfect as she could given its disastrous beginnings, but she didn't detect any strangeness between Adam and Jamie. So she said, "Just relax, have a seat; I'll be right back."

She turned to her brother, arching her brow at him - though she couldn't quite keep the curving hint of a smile from her lips. "Jamie, please don't break my furniture. It's not meant for moose balancing." The teasing nature of the warning was in her voice and on her face -- and of course, Jamie was nothing like a moose. He actually moved his body with quite a bit of grace, particularly for someone his size. Even still, Alexandria could hardly resist the opportunity to rib him.

"I'll be right back!" With that, she disappeared into the kitchen, where she went about gathering glasses and trying to find the wine key.

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[info]torden
2011-09-18 10:41 pm UTC (link)
With a loud thunk, James tipped the chair back to all four legs and crossed his arms, resting his elbows upon the table as his eyes followed his sister. She left, leaving the room quiet and only he and Adam to stare at the floor. Or the wall. Or the food. Or each other.

James chose to stare at Adam. A smirk appeared and he leaned back in the chair again. He plucked up a straw and took off the wrapper, rolling the paper up into a ball and throwing it across the table. It hit Adam in the face and James grinned.

"So, you live here, hmm?" James began, his voice quiet and cool. "Keeping an eye on my sister?" He raised his eyebrows as if to say he already knew the answer. Staring so freely at Adam made goosebumps form up and down his arms. With a frown he crossed his arms over his chest and attempted not to look bothered. But he had noticed the looks Adam had given him. Something of surprise, maybe; he had never been very good at reading Adam's facial expressions... all except when he was in terror as James gave him a wedgie or the emotions that played on his face in the dream.

Ripping away from those memories he set his jaw after asking, "Did you even know I moved back?"

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-20 01:39 am UTC (link)
He had blinked at the little projectile's dull flick; James had graciously aimed it just shy of Adam's left eye, its minuscule point a hair's breadth from the dark liner limning his eyes. It was a terrible feeling to be so quickly and effortlessly transported two decades back in time. Terrible, but not so bad as that dream, whose memory James' last question too easily conjured up. He fought the flush that wanted to rise, wishing he could focus on the slightly less mortifying question of his interest in Alex. He wondered which question would be worse to answer truthfully.

"I didn't," he said, quiet, flat. He reached over to where the straw's wrapper had fallen, plucking it from the table and palming it without a moment's glance away from his old friend. His was a gaze difficult to hold, full of hidden things Adam dared not try to name, but there was nothing for it. He had learned long ago this one was a dangerous creature to turn one's back on, regardless of Alex's often balancing presence so near. Slipping the paper beneath the edge of his plate, he tried for a smile, and almost succeeded. "We've lived here about a year now." One sharp canine sank into the edge of his tongue. How easily he had let slip that simple pronoun; how dangerous a mistake it might be. He stopped himself before it could slide free again, choosing his next words more carefully. "Alex and I have both been busy lately. I guess she didn't think to mention it."

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[info]urdr
2011-09-21 03:00 am UTC (link)
Busy was one way to put Alexandria's current condition. She could not for the life of her find the wine key, which she'd been so certain she'd put in its proper place. The nightmares she'd been having had subsided, if only a bit, due in no small part to being able to sleep next to Adam and feel safe, protected. Having Jamie nearby doubly lent itself to that sense of security. But lately, intermittent with the nightmares, and perhaps more frequently, she'd been having stranger dreams - less violent, but still sufficiently unsettling.

They left her feeling strange -- a bit out of herself, a bit set back in some way. She was forgetting things, losing things. The wine key always went in the second drawer to the left of the sink - always. Always.

And yet.

With a slow breath, she gathered wine glasses and set them in a row.

"I'll be right out, guys - feel free to dig in. I'm just looking for the wine key."

She frowned, frustrated, knowing she should just use the simpler corkscrew she had for emergencies, but pride wouldn't let her give up yet.

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[info]torden
2011-09-22 01:10 am UTC (link)
Hearing his sister, James glanced towards the kitchen, then a smirk curled up his face and he rolled his eyes back to stare at Adam. "Take your time, Alex," James called out before pursing his lips and continuing to stare at Adam. Raising an eyebrow in some sort of a challenge he dared Adam to suggest helping Alex. Don't do it. Stay here and talk with me. He silently thought.

"Alex and you? Really." A sudden flash of something nearly like jealously coursed through James. He got to his feet, the chair skidding backwards on the floor, and slowly began to circle the table with timed steps. "What is the relationship between you and my sister, Adam?" He came close to Adam, pausing and leaning forward, coming too close and invading Adam's space. He knew it and it excited him... and it reminded him of the dream that was still vivid and real. Hissing down on Adam's neck, wanting to grab hold of him and simply kiss him, he turned his jealousy into overprotective rage. "I swear, if you hurt her..."

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-22 03:23 am UTC (link)
There was no escaping now, no easy way out from beneath the long shadow of his friend and tormentor. Adam tensed, his jaw clenching as he held James' eyes, fighting the instincts that still, after all these damnable years, told him to run. Keenly he felt the heat of James' skin, familiar in ways that could not, should not have been; he wondered at that, as certain of it as he was sure it was impossible. He felt the hair on his arms begin to rise, little pinpricks dancing at the nape of his neck. Their lips were a hand's breadth apart, their bodies closer than they had been since they were children, when James' torment had been more frequent but no better concealed.

"Why would I hurt her, James?" His voice was hushed, but behind those quiet words lay a slow sort of poison. Later, Adam would wonder what had made him say such a thing. Now, the words came too easily to stop. "You're the one who left her. For... how long, was it?"

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[info]urdr
2011-09-23 02:58 am UTC (link)
As she dug into the large utensil drawer, blindly and stupidly, she'd acknowledge later, she did not find the wine key - but did find the sharp edge of something which made her hiss and jerk her hand back. Not wanting James to tease her about her clumsiness, or worse, for either him or Adam to fuss, she ran it under cold water and tried to think of where the damn wine key could be as she watched the pink of her watered blood circle the drain. Once it had subsided sufficiently, some soft, familiar, exasperated voice whispered in the back of her mind, The dish device. Washer. The washer of dishes.

Sucking on her finger, Alex furrowed her brow. She never used the dishwasher. She rarely dirtied more than one dish at a time, and she was perfectly content to wash them by hand. Even so, something compelled her to pull the door open and...

There it was.

"Christ," she muttered to herself as she moved to fish it out of the little basket where it was wedged.

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[info]torden
2011-09-23 03:06 pm UTC (link)
He moved back as if having been hit. James jaw set and his nostrils flared. He took in a shaking breath as he stared down at Adam, anger quickly clouding his judgement that Adam had dared to suggest that he would hurt Alex. The dream of Adam being so close and sweet, being his, crossed his mind and only raised his level of anger. The dream seemed intrusive right now. It twisted in his mind, tightening it's grasp on his brain, and only squeezed out more of James' anger. How dare this little snot sit here with slick words implying such things to James?

His fist was moving forward before James had a moment to really consider what he was doing. It connected just to the side of Adam's eye and knocked the smaller man to the side. James wanted to see him knocked off the chair, onto the floor, he wanted to see blood in a more animalistic need than he had ever experienced. Still a more level headed voice in his mind was telling him to calm down, that he was ruining the dinner his sister had put together, but that only enraged James more.

"Say it again, Adam. Try it and see what happens," James snapped as he towered over Adam. His fists were clenched and his breathing came quickly. "Try it."

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-23 10:28 pm UTC (link)
Slowly Adam straightened up, blinking blearily to help lift the fog from his eyes. Though the strike had rattled him, he could not have said it was entirely unexpected - or, were he honest with himself, wholly uncalled for. His black gaze darted behind them, searching for Alex, glad to see she was safely outside their line of sight. She would see the damage soon enough - already Adam felt the bruise blossoming over his cheek, a darkling shadow stretching over his pale flesh - but they could at least spare her the sight of the immediate fray. Thus reassured, he looked looked back to James, watching him through eyes narrowed to heavy-lidded slits. He fought to keep from raising a hand to his face, to stop himself pressing thin fingers to that already deepening mark. Within him, his blood was pounding in his ears, every fibre of his being telling him to flee; without, he showed nothing but unflinching, unbowed poise, his black eyes unblinking and cold.

He spoke, and to his own ears his voice sounded low and sibilant. "I won't repeat myself, James."

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[info]urdr
2011-09-23 11:25 pm UTC (link)
The sound of flesh striking flesh was unmistakable, if not entirely usual for Alex to hear. It happened just as Alex was balancing their three wine glasses in her hands, which were just slightly too small for the job. That hard crack, though, had her rushing forward, the deep red of the wine sloshing dangerously up the sides of the glasses as she re-entered the room.

The sight she found had her blinking at first.

"Jamie?" she asked her brother, who was looming over Adam in a most menacing fashion. Her gaze dropped to her other guest, however, and she almost dropped the wineglasses.

"Adam!"

As it was, she set down the glasses as quickly as she could, then moved to Adam's side, tipping his face so she could see the swelling bruise blooming on the side of his face.

"What's going on in here?" she demanded of both men.

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[info]torden
2011-09-24 03:34 pm UTC (link)
"Nothing," James replied flatly. His eyes didn't pull away from Adam at first, continuing to lock his gaze with the dark eyes that stared back. "There was a small misunderstanding, that's all."

James blinked and turned his attention to his sister. He felt a little sorry, his sister had tried to make this dinner so nice for them and they (because really, it was never entirely James' fault) had ruined it. Swallowing and standing a little straighter, nose up in the air, James tapped his hand on his thigh briefly as he decided what to do. "Nice wine glasses, sis," was all he could come up with, a spark in his eye revealing that he was still on edge and more than happy to finish what Alex had interrupted. But he still couldn't quite crush the feeling of guilt that he might have made his sister upset.

James wasn't one to give emotions out freely but Alex had always been able to pull them out and reveal them to the world. A slight frown showed on James' face and the spark died in his eyes. "I'll leave if you like, Alex," He said quietly yet with strength. His voice wouldn't waver. "I wouldn't want to leave you. Only if you decided I should go."

He wouldn't walk out of this little party, this was true, but it was obvious that his words had a double meaning and he fought the urge to look back down at Adam.

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-27 02:26 am UTC (link)
Adam's jaw drew tightly clenched, sharpening the angle of his already harsh, narrow sideburns. Though James could not seem to meet his gaze, it was clear Adam felt no such compunction. He was almost embarrassed at how taken aback he was; it should have been no surprise to see him spin this to his own benefit. For someone so aggressively capable and masculine, Adam thought, James was quite fond of playing the martyr. His words crawled beneath Adam's skin, stinging all the more with every passing second. Of the two of them, Adam could guess well enough which of them would go and which would stay. The fight-that-wasn't was nothing to bother him overmuch, but to be dismissed, by her no less, was a humiliation he could not bear to consider. So he reached up, canting his face as he did, deliberately concealing that telling shadow from Alex's searching eyes. For his part, Adam had no desire to share his side of this very short story, knowing no good would come of its telling.

"Thanks," he said, the small, quiet word directed at her and her alone. He put the glass to his lips, drowning the echo of James' little jibe with the warm taste - if not the typically resultant buzz - of wine.

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[info]urdr
2011-09-28 02:22 am UTC (link)
Looking in disbelief from one man to the other, she shook her head. There sat Adam, a black eye rapidly darkening and swelling on his face, and there stood her brother, obviously the one who'd inflicted it, telling her it was a "small misunderstanding"? It was close to insulting, was what it was. Their burgers and fries sat there, getting progressively colder, their milkshakes progressively warmer, and she still had no idea what the hell was going on.

There were few feelings Alexandria hated more than that.

"You two have got to be kidding."

She looked at James.

"No, I don't want you to leave. I want you to tell me what kind of 'misunderstanding' would make you hit another person? Adam, of all people? Did he steal your milkshake or something?" she demanded.

Then she turned to Adam.

"Should I know better than to try to get anything out of you right now?"

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[info]torden
2011-09-28 11:28 am UTC (link)
Narrowing his eyes, James looked down at Adam for another moment before pushing away. "Ask your boyfriend, Alex." His eyes snapped up and took a careful look at his little sister. He wasn't liking this, not at all. He came to the apartment complex assuming things would be much as they were when they were children but what he had come to realize was that his little sister not only had grown up but had gained an entire life separate of him.

Turning on his heel, James moved to the other side of the table and took his seat. Leaning back in the chair he lifted his milkshake and took a sip, raising an eyebrow at the two of them, eyes flicking back and forth between the couple before James carefully placed the drink down. "It's a good milkshake, I like your choice, Alex." he commented before pressing his lips into a line and crossing his arms over his chest. He returned to staring at the two of them for a moment, a small smile playing on his lips as he noticed the bruising of Adam's eye, then grabbed hold of a fry to munch on.

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[info]jormungandr
2011-09-29 12:33 am UTC (link)
Adam's lips pursed in an almost comical fashion, his silence bought and paid for by the siblings' rapid-fire comments. Further complicating matters, that terrible label he had successfully avoided for so long had now officially cropped up, grinning like a drunk at a funeral, painful and impossible to ignore. He had no more answer for Alex's question than he had for James' snide comment, and so for now he held his stoic silence, busying himself with distributing bagged food as he fought for something, anything at all, to say.

"I didn't say that," he countered lamely, glancing sidelong back to Alex. It seemed the only thing, then, that needed to be said; weak though it was, he could not bear to have her boorish brother frighten her off, to undo all the hesitant steps they had taken in his blessed, too-brief absence. He swallowed hard in a dry throat, silver rings clinking dully against his milkshake when he reached for it. "It was nothing, Alex," he said, shaking his head. He looked back to James, more disheartened than disgusted by the look on his face. "A misunderstanding."

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[info]urdr
2011-10-01 02:56 am UTC (link)
Alex's throat seemed to swell shut when Jamie threw that word mockingly at her, a flush rising to her cheeks as whatever response she might have made was choked down in the wake of the look on her brother's face, the way he just plunked down and casually smirked at them. But the coup de grace was Adam, to whom her gaze immediately turned when he spoke before she could.

She swallowed, her jaw tight, her eyes too bright, then turned back to her brother. It took her a moment before she was able to speak at all, and it was only sheer force of will that kept her from just walking out her own front door, leaving the two of them behind.

"No. He's not my boyfriend," she said, only the slightest strain in her voice.

Her hands had unconsciously balled into fists, and she took a breath then released it.

The snark and sarcasm and withering words she'd had prepared had died in her throat. It was only the truth; whatever was between them wasn't a real relationship. Not a real romantic relationship, she reminded herself. There were vital elements of a committed relationship that were definitely missing from hers with Adam. There was no reason to be upset with him for being honest.

And so instead, she took one of the wine glasses.

"You're both full of shit," she said, though her voice was quiet, subdued.

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[info]torden
2011-10-01 09:31 pm UTC (link)
James stopped chewing his fries, his mouth pausing and crumbs lingering about his lips. He grabbed a napkin, wiping his lips clean quickly before dropping it onto the table, all the while his eyes didn't move from taking in his sisters expression.

His hands formed into fists again, his eyes snapping to Adam as he gave a soul crushing glare. Whatever had just happened, Alex was hurt, and he was sure it wasn't because he had punched Adam in the face. At that moment he would be more than happy to try and punch him again if only to save his sister from having that look of disappointment.

Maybe they weren't in a relationship, Alex would have been honest with him if they had been, but this reaction... it dawned on James that maybe Alex wanted a relationship. She had always been so close to Adam and Adam's opinion of Alex had never been something James was oblivious about.

"Sit down, Alex, eat your hamburger before it gets cold," James replied. His voice was completely altered from the tone he used towards Adam. It was a near coo, something comforting and surely used for Alex and no one else. Still, his eyes were on Adam with an unspoken threat. "The fries are just the right amount of crunchy too."

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[info]jormungandr
2011-10-02 03:12 am UTC (link)
Though James' words were not directed at him, Adam behaved to some extent as if they were. They were reasonably sensible, after all: Take out your food, make a show of eating in spite of the palpable tension in the room, pretend everything is normal when it is anything but. Too, it helped him avoid James' piercing glare, busied him so he did not have to see the hurt in Alex's eyes. He had seen no better way out of the corner he'd found himself in, but now he regretted the choice he'd made. He would have given much to see James have one wholly uncharacteristic moment of consideration, just one flash of insight and wisdom, and get up and leave the two of them in peace. Then perhaps he would have an outside chance at setting this to rights. As it was, though...

With far more delicacy than the task required, Adam withdrew the remainder of his food from the bag. He sipped half-heartedly at his milkshake, shallow little sucks at the straw that drew his pale cheeks in, casting them even deeper in shadow than was usual. With open dialogue removed as an option, Adam wanted nothing more than to get up and slink out, letting the door close behind him without a sound. But this, too, was not his to wish for. So instead he nibbled at a fry, intently avoiding James' gaze all the while.

"It's very good," he agreed, quirking a weak smile. He chuckled, gazing down at his own plate. "Comfort food, they say."

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[info]urdr
2011-10-02 06:03 am UTC (link)
At first, she looked at each of them with equal measures of disbelief, disgust, and shame, the latter pinkening her cheeks as she took a long breath.

"No."

She took a long drink of wine, nearly draining her glass. Her thoughts were swirling around in her head too quickly to manage, her embarrassment and hurt quickly being consumed by her anger at the fight that had obviously happened, but more so at both Adam and Jamie's unwillingness to even admit anything had happened. The thought struck her that if Adam didn't have a fist-sized bruise swelling up his eye, that they would have kept it from her entirely.

"I've lost my appetite."

With that, she drank the rest of her wine.

"Since the two of you obviously have some kind of 'misunderstanding' to work out, I'm going to leave the two of you to it."

Once she set her glass down, she started walking toward the door.

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[info]torden
2011-10-04 12:04 am UTC (link)
James let out a sigh and made a pointed glare at Adam once more before he jumped to his feet. "Alex, 'Lex come on, you aren't going anywhere."

He moved quickly and with the grace of someone who had spent many years on the track field. Going around the table he moved towards Alex but took the opportunity to smack Adam on his shoulder as he passed. He twisted to look at him, pointing at Adam with eyes large and filled with annoyance. It was a warning, simply put, that Adam better jump to his feet and help fix what was happening. His sister would not be made upset.

James slipped behind Alex and placed more gentle hands on her shoulders with intention of steering her away from the door. He could simply lift her and place her in her seat, he had done it enough while they were children and their adulthood didn't mean he would suddenly behave, but in this case he didn't want to upset her further. "Alex, first of all, this is your apartment and you aren't leaving it. Second, you are not going to skip out on a meal. Third, what is going on between Adam and myself is between the both of us. Just forget it happened."

James hated it but there was an edge of desperation in his voice, emotion that he only shared with his sister, and he hated Adam even more for being witness to it.

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[info]jormungandr
2011-10-04 02:09 am UTC (link)
Adam rose to his feet the moment James struck him, hating himself for how his ready obedience must look, particularly given the circumstances. But whatever else lay between them, they shared at least a deep-seated concern for her, and it was clear even to them that they shared the blame for this quite equally. A pace behind James he moved closer to Alex, feeling foolish all the while; it looked to him as if they thought they might somehow herd her back to the table, as if she were a disobedient puppy. Having nothing to say James did not already express, Adam merely stood meekly by, his hands in his pockets, his tongue flicking restlessly against his labret.

After a moment or two of this useless standing about, he realized something, anything at all, simply must be said. His cheek still pulsing from James' well placed blow, he looked up to Alex, meeting - and by some miracle, holding - her gaze. The regret written plainly in his black eyes was no farce; it was more of himself than he cared for James to see, and he had no doubt he would later answer for its appearance, but now he had more pressing concerns. "C'mon, Alex. Please stay. I'm sorry."

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[info]urdr
2011-10-04 02:33 pm UTC (link)
Alexandria's lips were pressed firmly together as she looked up at her brother. She hated that note in his voice possibly more than he did. If he were anyone else, it wouldn't have worked. It was a manipulation, whether he intended it to be or not. It played on her emotions, her love and sense of loyalty toward her brother, and that sound did not erase the fact that there'd just been a punch-up in her apartment involving her brother and her best friend.

When Adam joined them, and she looked at him, it felt like her ribs were closing around her heart. She could feel prickling behind her eyes. This, too was a manipulation, though definitely unintentional. Again, though, it didn't matter. It was a lure, a draw to stay, and she could not begin to envision how the rest of this meal would play out. She didn't want to leave because they didn't want her to leave -- but she certainly didn't want to stay, either.

She took a breath.

"I'm sorry," she told them both. "This was a bad idea."

She slipped out of Jamie's hands by simply ducking -- he wasn't holding her that tightly. When she spoke, her voice lacked any vitriol; it just sounded strained and tired.

"I just want to go. It's fine. I just want to take a walk to clear my head. I'll give you each a call later. You guys can stay if you want, or take your burgers. Whatever you want."

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[info]torden
2011-10-05 11:09 pm UTC (link)
"I'm not going to stay in your apartment with him," James sneered. He reached for Alex again, brushing at her hair as he did when she was a child. So many mannerisms they held when they were younger and James couldn't shake them. "I came over to have dinner with you. Don't leave. This wasn't a bad idea; I apologize... for ruining your dinner."

His eyes slipped towards Adam, a silent warning in them as he took the silent man in. Say. Something. he mouthed to Adam. If Alex had her backed turned he would have hit Adam again. Kicked him. Anything to get the little idiot to start talking.

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[info]jormungandr
2011-10-06 11:58 am UTC (link)
Had they been alone, Adam might have let her go; it was clear to stay meant further discomfort for her, and that to ask her to do so against her will was the most selfish of requests. But had they been alone, they would have been eating some time ago, sharing easy conversation over the odd combination of burgers, shakes, and red wine, with no telling black bruise to disturb either of them. As it was, though, Adam knew that was no option at all. James' expression made it perfectly clear what Adam was meant to do, and hinted strongly at the ramifications of ignoring this silent missive. And so, with lips drawn thin and brow faintly furrowed, Adam took another step, trying to meet Alex's eyes.

"Alex, please stay," he said, sounding every bit as exhausted as she. "James and I'll work this out later. We won't ruin your dinner any more with it, okay?" Sure, he thought, let's all sit and talk about how wonderful it is to have the old band back together.

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[info]urdr
2011-10-07 07:00 pm UTC (link)
Every word out of either of their mouths was making her more uncomfortable. She took a step back, moving her closer to the door. She reached up to the hook where her bag generally hung, and took her keys.

"Look, I don't know if either of you noticed, but one of you just gave the other a black eye, and whatever caused that is not resolved. The tension between the two of you is making me uncomfortable, and I'm not going to sit through a meal pretending it's not there." She neglected to mention the embarrassment of being called out on her feelings for Adam, but she hoped that had flown under the radar.

"I understand that you're both sorry, and that's great, but if you want to keep whatever issue there is between the two of you to yourselves, you probably shouldn't have gotten into a fight in my apartment. I'm going to go. Though please, as a personal favor to me, can you guys refrain from beating on each other?"

She gave a pointed look at James.

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[info]torden
2011-10-09 12:22 pm UTC (link)
"Fine, I promise I won't hit your friend," James replied grumpily. "But you stay here and we will go. We can take our food with us so that it's not a waste. I refuse to let you walk out of here as if this isn't your apartment, Alex."

He crossed his arms and looked down at his baby sister, raising an eyebrow as if to say try and argue, baby sis, you won't win. Then, as if to prove his point, James turned and went back to the table to gather his food. With his meal in his hands, he gave a look to Adam that signaled he should move and move immediately. He had given his sister no time limit of how long it would be that James would not be hitting Adam.

Going to his sister, James kissed her on the top of her head and pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm sorry, Alex. I'll make this up to you, okay? I love you, little one." He stuck out his bottom lip in a pout, trying to garner a smile from her before he took his leave.

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[info]jormungandr
2011-10-10 02:41 pm UTC (link)
It did not precisely annoy or particularly anger Adam, this familiarity James showed to Alex so easily after so long an absence. Instead it seemed only a fresh wound, heaping insult upon literal injury. Having no recourse - it was clear Alex wanted to hear no more from either of them, though James ignored this missive as easily as he ignored anything not entirely to his liking - he slunk to the table, collecting what food he could in spite of his now thoroughly diminished appetite. The wine he left, and the melting milkshake, and headed for the door.

"Have a good night, Alex," he said, and slipped carefully beside them, out into the hall.

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[info]urdr
2011-10-11 03:47 am UTC (link)
The look she gave her brother was still a bit sullen, but she gave him a squeeze before he released her and left.

She would have liked to have give Adam a kiss on the cheek, to check his eye, but she was too torn by all that had been said, and found herself silent as he said goodbye.

In the end, she found herself alone in her apartment, feeling worse than she had in some time.

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