pullmeoutalive | Ramey

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.

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

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.

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.

[ 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.

[ 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?

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

Jacob's not all that bad, I promise.

[ 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. ]

[ 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?

[ 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.

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

[ 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?

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.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

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.

[ 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.

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.

[ 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.

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.

[ 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.

[ She doesn’t remark on the way he seems almost shy, and though there’s a part of her that- selfishly, dangerously selfishly- wants to hear what those few good reasons are, she opts instead to go for the teasing route. ]

It’s totally all the free alcohol, isn’t it?

[ He’s glad for the change in tone, apparently, because there’s a bit of a glint in his eyes, even when his expression deadpans. ]

It’s 100% the free alcohol.

I knew it. My brilliant plan to keep you around with free drinks is working.

Ramey > open rp

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