"In-laws and Out-laws", Baccano! Post-Nano response
My New Year's resolution is to get back into writing fanfiction regularly. ...For real this time. (Sixteen fanfics in November and one in December. What the...?)
In RL news, I somehow managed to maneuver myself into going home for Christmas, where I immediately forced my brother, sister, and cousin-in-law to marathon Baccano! with me. Of course they all loved it. :D (Even though I had to drag my sister into it because she was squicked by the Ladd-arm incident of episode one a couple months ago...)
In work-related news, I learned that my supervisor rigged a draw (that I didn't even enter) for me because I was "the only one who deserved to win". I was all: BUH O-O Um. Thanks? (I 'won' some popcorn, popcorn seasoning, some chocolate, and a DVD. I watched the DVD. One Night at McCool's. It was, um, inappropriately entertaining? Jewel's such a maneater. All the guys' lives were either ruined or ended. ...And as I learned from Baccano! the assassin always wins in the end. :D)
The response is for sakura_no_miko this time. Sorry it took so long. T-T
Character(s)/Pairing: Claire/Chane, Gandor Brothers
Genre: romantic comedy
Rating: anything...though I don't know how it would go above PG-13
Prompt: The Gandor Brothers must eat their words after Chane accepts Claire's proposal.
Title: In-laws and Out-laws
Characters: Claire/Chane, Keith/(Kate), Berga/(Karia), Luck
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rating: PG
Warnings: English adaptations of inappropriately adorable nicknames; Novel spoilers related to the older Gandor brothers' love lives. 9.9
Wordcount: 1901
"What are we even doing here?" Berga complained loudly as he and his brothers sat in the restaurant, waiting impatiently for the one who had invited them there in the first place. Claire was already over half an hour late and Luck had been forced to wave away their waitress twice with apologies and assurances that the rest of their party would arrive very soon. "It should be obvious by now that he's not going to show up. I knew it was just another of his tricks. There's no way anyone would willingly marry that guy."
"We've already had this conversation ten minutes ago," Luck sighed, "and ten minutes before that. Can't you think of something else we can talk about, Ber-bro?" It wasn't that he wasn't annoyed as well, but what was the point of talking about it again? They'd just end up increasing their own sour moods that way. Wouldn't it be better to talk about something they enjoyed instead?
Keith would have nodded in agreement, but he was too busy ignoring the tired conversation in favor of reading the slightly more entertaining dinner, desert, and wine menus while he worked on his coffee. He was starting to note the overuse of adjectives obviously intended to increase the reader's appetite, which was far more interesting than enduring Berga's complaints about Claire for the third time since they'd arrived.
Growling a bit, Berga admitted to himself that Luck was right, but couldn't quite let it go. "If Karia and Kate were here, they'd be able to find something good for us to talk about while we waited. I still don't understand why Claire told me and Kee-bro to leave our wives at home."
It probably wasn't the smartest thing to say in this situation, but it was the dinner rush and there was a small crowd gathering in the front and their waitress was glaring over at them in between assuring customers impatiently waiting to be seated that they would be able to clear a table for them shortly, and, for once, Luck didn't care about the consequences. In this case, Claire deserved some consequences, especially since he was probably keeping them waiting because he couldn't decide what to wear, or something similarly ridiculous. "He mentioned something to me about not wanting to shame them with her unparalleled beauty."
If Luck had any reason to be afraid, he didn't think he'd be able to decide which of his elder brothers he should consider more frightening: Berga, whose face contorted in anger as he slammed a fist against the table, or Keith, who let the menus slip from his fingers to reveal a significantly more intense version of his usual scowl.
"I... am going to kill him," Berga grit out, even though he was well aware that Claire wouldn't have any problems ruling out any possibility of him fulfilling that promise, even with immortality on his side.
"Personally, I'd settle for the usual baiting and casual insults," Luck suggested. "If it were to be accidentally revealed to him about our imperviousness to death and injury, and we managed to piss him off enough, he might just decide to show us just how much he's learned in the trade."
Keith and Berga slowly calmed down, but resolved to make this evening as unpleasant for Claire as they possibly could. As Keith pulled out a small notepad and began to write something down, Berga vented, "I bet he completely made her up. Like an imaginary friend or whatever. He's going to introduce us to a hand puppet. I've seen crazier things happen. And they always, always had something to do with Claire in the end."
"Sorry! Sorry!" a voice called out, drawing the attention of all three Gandors, and they turned their heads toward the entrance just in time to see Claire Stanfield approaching in a suit they'd never seen him wear before, holding the hand of a young woman wearing a black dress. Not actually expecting him to actually bring along an actual human being despite what he'd said over the phone, Luck and Berga were unable to reply immediately, and if Keith thought differently, he rarely said anything anyway. "Sorry we're late!" Claire said as he reached the table, not looking the least bit apologetic. "I couldn't decide what Chane was going to wear!"
After a brief look toward "Chane" by the brothers, it was obvious that Claire was absolutely full of it and she'd worn only what she'd wanted. Rather, instead of taking their time choosing evening wear, their lateness had probably more to do with her failed attempts to get him to leave the room so she could get dressed at all, or so the exasperated expression upon her face seemed to say.
While still in the process of taking their seats, the two new arrivals were immediately approached by the impatient waitress, intending to serve them their preferred beverages right away in the interest of moving along business as quickly as possible. What got the Gandors' attention, however, was not that Claire thought nothing of ordering for both of them without looking toward his date for input, but that she didn't seem perturbed by his behavior in the least. Almost like they'd planned it out beforehand. Introductions had to wait until after the waitress went on her way, but Claire got to them right away. "Chane," he said, pointing to each man in turn, "this is Keith, Berga, and Luck Gandor, my brothers by adoption. Everyone, this is Chane Laforet, the one who has agreed to become my wife. Isn't she just the most beautiful woman you've ever seen?"
"You mentioned something like that before," Berga grit out, his anger only partially stifled in the presence of a lady.
Before his older brother even began to think about bringing things to blows, Luck interrupted that particular conversation in lieu of a slightly safer one that could possibly include banter without spilling blood. "So, Miss Chane, I admit that we don't actually communicate regularly with Claire, but if I'm not mistaken, you two have only known each other for about a week or so. I'm a little curious about if you're really comfortable moving at such a fast pace," Luck voiced with slight concern. Claire wasn't so desperate as to trick a woman--or, heaven forbid, kidnap a woman--in his selfishness to secure a wife, was he?
"Ah, I forgot to mention this," Claire suddenly spoke up, surprising Luck with his interruption of an interruption, "but she can't answer. I mean--it's a little insensitive to say out loud, but--she can't talk. A complete mute. She lost her voice somehow, you see, but if you want an answer for that question or any other, I'll happily translate her thoughts into words for you."
Luck gave himself enough time to blink at the new information before he grinned and replied, "That won't be necessary, actually. You just answered my question. Looks like you gave her an offer she just couldn't refuse."
The quip came completely unexpectedly, for Claire hadn't even the slightest notion of his brothers' slowly stalling anger due to his usual lack of consideration--which they were mostly used to by now. His mouth hung open for a moment before he recovered and met the grin and banter with a little of his own. "You better watch out, Luck," he said, waggling a finger his way. "As the only remaining bachelor in our little circle of friends, people might begin to think you're a sore loser or something."
Out of the corner or his eye, Luck noticed Keith hand his notepad and pen to Chane, who read the words in a confusion drawn with the slight shift of her eyebrows. "Since I am younger than you," he replied, "I still have a few years before you actually 'beat' me at anything."
Instead of responding to that, however, Claire reached for the notepad Chane offered him and said, "Wow, Keith, I didn't think it was possible, but your handwriting has gotten even worse. Let's see...We sincerely apologize for allowing this man to kidnap you and bring you here against your will. Please be patient and remain calm and we'll help you escape later." Laughing a bit, Claire asked, "Seriously, what have you three been up to?" before the light dawned and his cheer dissolved. "Wait a second. This note is for Chane, isn't it? You three seriously think she's not here because she wants to be and we're not actually engaged?"
Instead of answering his questions, the three Gandors just adverted their eyes, avoiding his stare, which was all Claire needed for confirmation.
"Really?" Claire asked, feeling oddly sad that they would think that way about him. "You guys really think that?" However, depression and Claire never mixed all that well and it slipped away just as soon as it arrived. "Alright, then," he said, coming to a decision, "if that's the way it is, we're just going to have to prove to you three, once and for all, that Chane and I are completely and utterly in love." He stood and announced, just as the waitress appeared with his and Chane's drinks, "Chane! Our first kiss! Right here! Right now! It must be done!"
A fierce blush rose to Chane's face and she shook her head quickly, but Claire wasn't about to back down. "But, Chane," he complained, "this is the only way we can prove our spectacular, unmatched, and undying love!" As he advanced, she shot up out of her chair and pulled out a knife she'd had hidden on her person. The waitress screamed and dropped her tray, adding to the spreading panic of the customers seated at nearby tables as they rose to flee to a safe distance.
Instead of being dissuaded by being held at knife point, however, Claire only seemed to be getting more and more excited with this turn of events, unable to keep a slightly twisted smile from rising to his lips. It was like the rest of the world had faded from existence, as they both completely ignored the screaming and commotion all around them in favor of focusing on each other and only each other. "So it's going to be that way, huh?"
As if hearing a bell ring, signaling the beginning of the fight, Claire and Chane sprang away from each other simultaneously before rushing one another, Claire flipping and springing over her shoulders, attempting to kiss Chane midway through the movement, but was forced to pull his head back when she brought up the hilt of her dagger, and he landed lightly on a nearby table before launching himself backward to make another pass, which Chane was once again able to fend off with a swing of her blade.
The Gandor brothers, forgotten completely, watched their antics in a state somewhere between amusement and bemusement.
"We were wrong after all," Luck observed, watching the two of them 'play'. "He's holding back, but there's no way he'd be able to bring her here against her will."
"Damn it," Berga complained, digging out his wallet, "this is the absolute last time I bet against you, Kee-bro."
"You really do have the devil on your side," Luck added, counting a few bills and throwing them on the table. "I was a little suspicious when you bet against your stance."
The corner of Keith's lip turned up in a rare smile as he pocketed his cash. Betting against your opinion paid off because you always gained something from the outcome.
In RL news, I somehow managed to maneuver myself into going home for Christmas, where I immediately forced my brother, sister, and cousin-in-law to marathon Baccano! with me. Of course they all loved it. :D (Even though I had to drag my sister into it because she was squicked by the Ladd-arm incident of episode one a couple months ago...)
In work-related news, I learned that my supervisor rigged a draw (that I didn't even enter) for me because I was "the only one who deserved to win". I was all: BUH O-O Um. Thanks? (I 'won' some popcorn, popcorn seasoning, some chocolate, and a DVD. I watched the DVD. One Night at McCool's. It was, um, inappropriately entertaining? Jewel's such a maneater. All the guys' lives were either ruined or ended. ...And as I learned from Baccano! the assassin always wins in the end. :D)
The response is for sakura_no_miko this time. Sorry it took so long. T-T
Character(s)/Pairing: Claire/Chane, Gandor Brothers
Genre: romantic comedy
Rating: anything...though I don't know how it would go above PG-13
Prompt: The Gandor Brothers must eat their words after Chane accepts Claire's proposal.
Title: In-laws and Out-laws
Characters: Claire/Chane, Keith/(Kate), Berga/(Karia), Luck
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rating: PG
Warnings: English adaptations of inappropriately adorable nicknames; Novel spoilers related to the older Gandor brothers' love lives. 9.9
Wordcount: 1901
"What are we even doing here?" Berga complained loudly as he and his brothers sat in the restaurant, waiting impatiently for the one who had invited them there in the first place. Claire was already over half an hour late and Luck had been forced to wave away their waitress twice with apologies and assurances that the rest of their party would arrive very soon. "It should be obvious by now that he's not going to show up. I knew it was just another of his tricks. There's no way anyone would willingly marry that guy."
"We've already had this conversation ten minutes ago," Luck sighed, "and ten minutes before that. Can't you think of something else we can talk about, Ber-bro?" It wasn't that he wasn't annoyed as well, but what was the point of talking about it again? They'd just end up increasing their own sour moods that way. Wouldn't it be better to talk about something they enjoyed instead?
Keith would have nodded in agreement, but he was too busy ignoring the tired conversation in favor of reading the slightly more entertaining dinner, desert, and wine menus while he worked on his coffee. He was starting to note the overuse of adjectives obviously intended to increase the reader's appetite, which was far more interesting than enduring Berga's complaints about Claire for the third time since they'd arrived.
Growling a bit, Berga admitted to himself that Luck was right, but couldn't quite let it go. "If Karia and Kate were here, they'd be able to find something good for us to talk about while we waited. I still don't understand why Claire told me and Kee-bro to leave our wives at home."
It probably wasn't the smartest thing to say in this situation, but it was the dinner rush and there was a small crowd gathering in the front and their waitress was glaring over at them in between assuring customers impatiently waiting to be seated that they would be able to clear a table for them shortly, and, for once, Luck didn't care about the consequences. In this case, Claire deserved some consequences, especially since he was probably keeping them waiting because he couldn't decide what to wear, or something similarly ridiculous. "He mentioned something to me about not wanting to shame them with her unparalleled beauty."
If Luck had any reason to be afraid, he didn't think he'd be able to decide which of his elder brothers he should consider more frightening: Berga, whose face contorted in anger as he slammed a fist against the table, or Keith, who let the menus slip from his fingers to reveal a significantly more intense version of his usual scowl.
"I... am going to kill him," Berga grit out, even though he was well aware that Claire wouldn't have any problems ruling out any possibility of him fulfilling that promise, even with immortality on his side.
"Personally, I'd settle for the usual baiting and casual insults," Luck suggested. "If it were to be accidentally revealed to him about our imperviousness to death and injury, and we managed to piss him off enough, he might just decide to show us just how much he's learned in the trade."
Keith and Berga slowly calmed down, but resolved to make this evening as unpleasant for Claire as they possibly could. As Keith pulled out a small notepad and began to write something down, Berga vented, "I bet he completely made her up. Like an imaginary friend or whatever. He's going to introduce us to a hand puppet. I've seen crazier things happen. And they always, always had something to do with Claire in the end."
"Sorry! Sorry!" a voice called out, drawing the attention of all three Gandors, and they turned their heads toward the entrance just in time to see Claire Stanfield approaching in a suit they'd never seen him wear before, holding the hand of a young woman wearing a black dress. Not actually expecting him to actually bring along an actual human being despite what he'd said over the phone, Luck and Berga were unable to reply immediately, and if Keith thought differently, he rarely said anything anyway. "Sorry we're late!" Claire said as he reached the table, not looking the least bit apologetic. "I couldn't decide what Chane was going to wear!"
After a brief look toward "Chane" by the brothers, it was obvious that Claire was absolutely full of it and she'd worn only what she'd wanted. Rather, instead of taking their time choosing evening wear, their lateness had probably more to do with her failed attempts to get him to leave the room so she could get dressed at all, or so the exasperated expression upon her face seemed to say.
While still in the process of taking their seats, the two new arrivals were immediately approached by the impatient waitress, intending to serve them their preferred beverages right away in the interest of moving along business as quickly as possible. What got the Gandors' attention, however, was not that Claire thought nothing of ordering for both of them without looking toward his date for input, but that she didn't seem perturbed by his behavior in the least. Almost like they'd planned it out beforehand. Introductions had to wait until after the waitress went on her way, but Claire got to them right away. "Chane," he said, pointing to each man in turn, "this is Keith, Berga, and Luck Gandor, my brothers by adoption. Everyone, this is Chane Laforet, the one who has agreed to become my wife. Isn't she just the most beautiful woman you've ever seen?"
"You mentioned something like that before," Berga grit out, his anger only partially stifled in the presence of a lady.
Before his older brother even began to think about bringing things to blows, Luck interrupted that particular conversation in lieu of a slightly safer one that could possibly include banter without spilling blood. "So, Miss Chane, I admit that we don't actually communicate regularly with Claire, but if I'm not mistaken, you two have only known each other for about a week or so. I'm a little curious about if you're really comfortable moving at such a fast pace," Luck voiced with slight concern. Claire wasn't so desperate as to trick a woman--or, heaven forbid, kidnap a woman--in his selfishness to secure a wife, was he?
"Ah, I forgot to mention this," Claire suddenly spoke up, surprising Luck with his interruption of an interruption, "but she can't answer. I mean--it's a little insensitive to say out loud, but--she can't talk. A complete mute. She lost her voice somehow, you see, but if you want an answer for that question or any other, I'll happily translate her thoughts into words for you."
Luck gave himself enough time to blink at the new information before he grinned and replied, "That won't be necessary, actually. You just answered my question. Looks like you gave her an offer she just couldn't refuse."
The quip came completely unexpectedly, for Claire hadn't even the slightest notion of his brothers' slowly stalling anger due to his usual lack of consideration--which they were mostly used to by now. His mouth hung open for a moment before he recovered and met the grin and banter with a little of his own. "You better watch out, Luck," he said, waggling a finger his way. "As the only remaining bachelor in our little circle of friends, people might begin to think you're a sore loser or something."
Out of the corner or his eye, Luck noticed Keith hand his notepad and pen to Chane, who read the words in a confusion drawn with the slight shift of her eyebrows. "Since I am younger than you," he replied, "I still have a few years before you actually 'beat' me at anything."
Instead of responding to that, however, Claire reached for the notepad Chane offered him and said, "Wow, Keith, I didn't think it was possible, but your handwriting has gotten even worse. Let's see...We sincerely apologize for allowing this man to kidnap you and bring you here against your will. Please be patient and remain calm and we'll help you escape later." Laughing a bit, Claire asked, "Seriously, what have you three been up to?" before the light dawned and his cheer dissolved. "Wait a second. This note is for Chane, isn't it? You three seriously think she's not here because she wants to be and we're not actually engaged?"
Instead of answering his questions, the three Gandors just adverted their eyes, avoiding his stare, which was all Claire needed for confirmation.
"Really?" Claire asked, feeling oddly sad that they would think that way about him. "You guys really think that?" However, depression and Claire never mixed all that well and it slipped away just as soon as it arrived. "Alright, then," he said, coming to a decision, "if that's the way it is, we're just going to have to prove to you three, once and for all, that Chane and I are completely and utterly in love." He stood and announced, just as the waitress appeared with his and Chane's drinks, "Chane! Our first kiss! Right here! Right now! It must be done!"
A fierce blush rose to Chane's face and she shook her head quickly, but Claire wasn't about to back down. "But, Chane," he complained, "this is the only way we can prove our spectacular, unmatched, and undying love!" As he advanced, she shot up out of her chair and pulled out a knife she'd had hidden on her person. The waitress screamed and dropped her tray, adding to the spreading panic of the customers seated at nearby tables as they rose to flee to a safe distance.
Instead of being dissuaded by being held at knife point, however, Claire only seemed to be getting more and more excited with this turn of events, unable to keep a slightly twisted smile from rising to his lips. It was like the rest of the world had faded from existence, as they both completely ignored the screaming and commotion all around them in favor of focusing on each other and only each other. "So it's going to be that way, huh?"
As if hearing a bell ring, signaling the beginning of the fight, Claire and Chane sprang away from each other simultaneously before rushing one another, Claire flipping and springing over her shoulders, attempting to kiss Chane midway through the movement, but was forced to pull his head back when she brought up the hilt of her dagger, and he landed lightly on a nearby table before launching himself backward to make another pass, which Chane was once again able to fend off with a swing of her blade.
The Gandor brothers, forgotten completely, watched their antics in a state somewhere between amusement and bemusement.
"We were wrong after all," Luck observed, watching the two of them 'play'. "He's holding back, but there's no way he'd be able to bring her here against her will."
"Damn it," Berga complained, digging out his wallet, "this is the absolute last time I bet against you, Kee-bro."
"You really do have the devil on your side," Luck added, counting a few bills and throwing them on the table. "I was a little suspicious when you bet against your stance."
The corner of Keith's lip turned up in a rare smile as he pocketed his cash. Betting against your opinion paid off because you always gained something from the outcome.