Merry Brandybuck is busy at work (young_buck) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-06-12 13:10:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, frodo baggins, merry brandybuck |
ooc: Okay, so I was suddenly on a mini hiatus I didn't plan, but I'm back now. I'll spend today tagging things I couldn't tag till now.
Who: Merry Brandybuck and Frodo Baggins
What: Following his date with Rose, Frodo has a chat with Merry. Merry has some major concerns about the whole thing. Something close to the sex talk happens.
When: Last Friday Night (Before The Gamewide Plot)
Where: Frodo's House, Laguna Beach
Rating: PG13? I mean, there's some grown-up talk in here.
Status: Complete!
It was about eight o'clock when Merry pulled through the gate and into the driveway. He and Frodo had fallen into something of a nightly routine, getting together over a drink and sometimes dinner of they hadn't yet eaten. Tonight would end up being one of those dinner occasions, and Frodo wasn't allowed to drink at the moment, anyway. The smell of frying mushrooms and garlic flowed like air through an open window. Merry's stomach rumbled as he turned the key Frodo had given him weeks ago.
He passed through the living room, totally failing to notice the Disneyland tickets and maps on the coffee table. He was drawn, cartoon-like, by the delicious aroma.
He found Frodo in his usual station over the hot stove. Merry retrieved a beer from the fridge and snapped off the cap with a bottle opener as he sat down.
"Portabellas?" he asked.
Frodo nodded. "Good nose." He was using his right arm almost exclusively, but his left seemed slightly more mobile. At least, it clearly wasn't frozen anymore.
"How's the shoulder?"
"Much better, actually. Started clearing up last night. Somewhere between Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain."
Merry lower the bottle from his lips. "You... were at Disneyland?"
"Yes," Frodo chirped. "And not alone, either."
Now to bottle rattled lightly on the kitchen table, as Merry set it down completely. Frodo was trying and failing to suppress a mischievous grin. Merry's eyes narrowed a bit, and then widened. Finally, he began to grin himself. "Hell, Frodo, who is she? Where did you meet her?"
But as clearly thrilled as Frodo was, gushing over every detail of his evening with Rose Tyler, the smile slowly faded from Merry's face. In fact, it didn't stop there. By the end of the story, he was frowning, a look that didn't exactly work for him.
Frodo halted. "...What?" he asked, turning the burners off, but not moving to fetch any plates. He raised his right hand to his hip. "You're looking at me... like there's something you don't like about all this."
Merry shook his head, but fighting the frown was useless. It remained in place. "No. I'm just... surprised, is all."
Frodo scowled. "No, it's something more."
Merry covered his mouth with his palm, now trying to hide the frown. He shook his head. "Well, you say she's twenty-two?"
With a little wagging of his head, Frodo conceded that this was a detail worth some consideration, but only of the minor sort. He told Merry that he'd just have to meet Rose and then he'd understand. His voice quickly became more emphatic. He'd never had so much unbridled fun on a date.... Age really had nothing to do with it, when they were both children at heart...
He even showed off a photo he had snapped on his iPhone, as they watched the evening fireworks "And just try to tell me we don't look smashing together."
They did, in fact, look quite smashing. But Merry began to voice other concerns: the apparent disparity between their income levels and Rose's job itself. "I mean, you've heard the term sugar daddy before, haven't you?" He said this very tentatively, because, honestly, he didn't want to accuse anyone of anything. But Frodo was family, and protecting him suddenly felt like a duty.
But Frodo had grown annoyed, the way only a man who might very well be falling in love far too soon could do. He shook his head and paced away, getting himself a glass of water when he clearly wanted something much stronger.
"That's not what's going on," he said firmly.
"Maybe not," Merry replied. "I'll give you, probably not. But I'd make sure before... you know."
Frodo darted his eyes to the side. It was a wordless question.
"You know, before you..." Again, Merry's voice trailed off. "Oh, c'mon. Don't make me say it." He paused. "Or have you already?"
Frodo did something between shaking his head and rolling his eyes. There was a flush of color in his face. He poured himself another glass of water. His mouth had gone dry.
Merry was beginning to squirm in his seat, but he felt compelled to press onward. "It would be your first time. Am I right?"
His cousin didn't reply. He pretended to look for something in the refrigerator instead.
Merry ran a hand down his face. His skin was a little clammy. "Because adding sex to the equation, it doesn't always have the effect you expect it to. It can make things... complicated. But I assume you know that, or else you probably wouldn't have waited like you have." Again he paused. "Then again, I'm not really sure why--"
Frodo cut him off. His back was still turned. "Do you really want to talk about this? I'm sure I don't." But he wasn't sure. Not at all. Some time passed between them in silence. And then Frodo turned around. His arms were folded. "I waited because I wanted to fall in love first. I know that some people see that as a silly, outdated notion, but it's how I've always felt."
"I don't think it's silly," Merry replied. "So, you're in love with this girl?"
Frodo wasn't sure how to put it. There didn't seem to be the right words. "Well, it has potential," he said, somewhat curt. A few more quiet moments passed. He sighed with a huff. "Although I have to admit, the idea of the first time being with a twenty-two-year-old is a bit... terrifying."
A little smile played upon Merry's face. "Yeah, I can imagine."
"I mean..." Frodo looked down and kicked the floor with the toe of his shoe. He began to chuckle. "Not that I... Well, I expect... Will it really be all on me, to get right?"
"Oh, I'm sure she'll help you out."
Now, Frodo's face turned bright red.
"I wish I could tell you it's not something to be terrified about the first time, but I can't."
"No, I know."
"But once you get past that initial, you know, it comes quite naturally."
Frodo snorted. Merry looked at him blankly. Then his eyes lit up.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that!" He shook his head. "You have a filthy mind, Cousin Frodo."
"I don't," Frodo replied. Then he shrugged. "Only sometimes."