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open rp post

MOSTLY ACTIONSPAM ★ PICTURE PROMPTS OR OTHERWORDLY PROMPTS WELCOME ★ TELL ME WHO YOU WANT IN THE HEADER

★ MUSELIST

( code from supersuits | gif from ahgiffers )

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter rests both elbows on the table, chin resting in his hands long enough to say in a wondering sort of voice, ] Madigan, you’re the prettiest girl in the world.

[ But the act is short-lived, once Madigan changes the topic, and he drops one hand, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. ]

Noted and appreciated. But it’s not like I’ve got anywhere to go or anyone to go with. I’m good.

[griffonix]

Much better.

[ She tilts her head a little at his response, a slight frown on her face ] Nobody at all?

[ A stupid question, she realizes. If he had someone to go to, he would have done so instead of ending up on Charlie's doorstep again. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts a little at the question – easier to take it as a joke than feeling sorry for himself or bringing the mood back down, after they’d already dragged it, kicking and screaming, into something more manageable. ]

Pretty sure every friend I’ve got lives or works here. No point in wandering much further.

[ That, and he has no idea what the fuck Maybelline is up to. The old gang clearly still held a grudge; who knows if that creep does, too? ]

[griffonix]

I guess that’s fair. I do close the place down for Christmas, though. Some of the girls go home, but most of them stay. We just kind of hang out for a week and get ready for the New Year.

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah? So what do you guys do, watch A Christmas Story or It’s A Wonderful Life and wear ugly sweaters?

[griffonix]

We have a little party, exchange gifts and that kind of thing. Beyond that, you’re free to watch or not watch as many Christmas movies as you want. I always try to squeeze in a viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol, myself.

And come on, I look good in anything, even an ugly sweater.

[nostalgiabomb]

Right, right. [ He gestures vaguely with his free hand. ] Everything, anything, nothing – it’s all the same.

Well, I guess I’ll be sticking around for the holidays, then. Unless you want this to be a girls’ thing, in which case I’m game to holing up in my room while you all, I dunno, do your nails and talk about boys.

[griffonix]

[ She wrinkles her nose a little, but about then the kitchen timer beeps and she moves to pull the skillet from the stove and fish a couple of plates from the cabinet. ]

Of course you’re welcome to come. Charlie usually does. Jacob and his merry little band do, too.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Ah. The cop. Peter’s lips draw into a thin line for a second, something approaching distaste, but he refrains from saying or doing much else. Family ties and everything. ]

I’ll think it over. Not like I’ve got any shortage of time, right?

[griffonix]

[ She slides him a plate, taking a seat across from him with her own food ]

Jacob's not all that bad, I promise.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He offers a quick word of thanks as she passes over the plate. ]

I’ll take your word for it. [ … that sounded kind of dismissive, didn’t it? Which is why he frowns at himself and adds, ] I mean, yeah. I’m sure he’s fine.

[ yeah, that was much better. He decides relatively quickly that maybe he should stick some food in his mouth before it gets much worse. ]

[griffonix]

[ She leans her chin in her hand, casting him a flat look from across the table ] It's because he's a cop, isn't it?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He doesn’t choke on his food, but it’s a near thing. Once he’s in no danger of coughing the stuff back up, he shakes his head. ]

What? No, of course not. [ Lie. ] I just– you know. Don’t know him all that well.

[griffonix]

It's totally because he's a cop. [ Now she's grinning. Got your number, Peter. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He scowls a little, head ducked as he looks down at his plate. ]

It’s not. Really. [ Does it count as a second lie if it’s the same lie? ] What, a guy can’t have reservations about another dude he barely knows?

[griffonix]

Wow, stop. Do I look offended right now? Jacob may be family, but he's also The Man, and you're an ex-merc. It makes sense.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ For a few seconds, he just picks moodily at his plate. Then, his shoulders sag, and he lets out a breath. ]

Yeah. Alright. I don’t like cops.

[griffonix]

[ Totally deadpan, ] Alert the fucking presses.

[ But then she smiles a little, expression smoothing into something more understanding ] It's fine, Peter, really. I'm not here to make you be best friends with him or anything. If you want to make yourself scarce when he's around, then that's fine.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He looks completely unimpressed by the little comment, judging by the flat look he gives her. It’s for the best that she continues on, because it’s enough to mollify him. ]

… You really don’t mind? [ Considering he was her nephew, and all. ]

[griffonix]

Of course I don’t mind. The fact that he’s my nephew doesn’t take precedent over the fact that he makes you uncomfortable.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He watches her over his plate for a few seconds, before letting out a breath, the corner of his mouth tracking up in a small smile. ]

You’re kind of an odd person, you know? Not many would take a guy saying “I don’t like your nephew” in stride like that.

[griffonix]

You don’t like that my nephew is a cop. And I’m aware of your background. It’s not like this is totally out of nowhere.

[ She shrugs, using the pause to take a couple of bites of dinner. ] I just do my best to be understanding.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His gaze drops to the tabletop, and he picks at the food on his plate again.

Slowly, ] Well, I appreciate it, is what I meant to say. Even if I kinda made it sound like I didn’t, just then.

[griffonix]

I didn’t mean to make you feel like you weren’t being grateful enough. I was just saying.

[ She offers him that small, warm smile again. ]

You’re a great guy, Peter, and having you around has done wonders for this place. I don’t want to do anything that would make you want to leave.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That smile sends a flash warmth through him, something that makes heat crawl up the back of his neck, and his own smile in response is a shy, tentative thing – because for as much of a flirt as Peter is, for how shameless he can seem, it’s sincerity that seems to embarrass him, as it does now.

He clears his throat, looking back down at his plate, and murmurs quickly, ] Yeah, well, lucky for both of us that I’ve got more than a few good reasons to stay, so.