(open)

[jamesthorn]

When his father said he wanted to throw a formal dinner party for Daniel and his new girlfriend Amelie Coombs, what he really meant was --- James needs to throw a dinner party for Daniel and his new girlfriend Amelie Coombs. Because his father's dealings in the affair was simply calling James and yelling about caterers and invitations and place settings. While ordinarily his father is quick to hire event planners to handle this type of thing, this is one event where secrecy is key. No one wants this mingling of sides to become public knowledge until it's absolutely necessary. His father is attempting to make nice for Daniel, but who knows if that's actually going to happen. Plus, some of his father's reputation and business dealings hinge on the fact that he's not exactly pro-witches or pro-magic, and to be seen with any of the Coombs family would be scandalous to say the least.

James understands all that, but still, the absolute last thing he cares about is a dinner party for Daniel and his girlfriend. Coombs or not. But, he does it, not for his father, but for his brother. Who knows how serious Daniel even is about this woman, but James cares about his brother too much to not help out.

That's the only reason he spends his day off running errands all over town trying to get all the last minute arrangements made. His last stop is his normal suit shop out on the northside of town. Everything's being done too late, but the family tailor always manages to squeeze them in. The one thing James does care about is the fact that Davin agreed to accompany him for the night, and so he hopes to look his best.

It's been too long since he's had any semblance of a date, but he likes Davin and he's anxious to see how the evening goes. His tailor assures him that his suit will be delivered in time for the dinner, and after paying his bill, he steps out onto the busy sidewalk. Heading in the direction of Seaside Bakery so he can grab a quick coffee, he pulls out his phone and checks through the list of errands he was supposed to finish.

OOC: Find James grumpily running all over town preparing for the Thornton / Coombs dinner party that is coming up. His father is attempting to make nice with Daniel's new girlfriend, but it's probably going to be a disaster.

Rest assured James is probably super grumpy.

Comments

[davin]

Okay, so. He's going on a date with James. A date which also happens to be dinner the Thorntons. The Thorntons. There's no way that his one suit is nice enough for this.

Fuck.

He's considering dropping one of his paychecks on a new suit, and getting a haircut, and maybe some new shoes. Oh god, he can't do this. He's going to be so embarrassing. He can't even pronounce his g's.

But then he rounds a corner and he sees James standing there with a coffee in one hand and his phone in the other, looking adorably grumpy. Davin relaxes at the sight, a smile gracing his face as his shoulders drop from their tensed position.

Davin wanders up while James is distracted by something on his phone and plucks the coffee from his hand, taking a sip and waiting for him to react.

[jamesthorn]

James doesn't notice Davin until his coffee has already been stolen mid-sip, and he looks up, realizing he's been absorbed in this text message war with his father for the past five minutes. When he sees it's Davin, he manages a smile because it's good to see someone not pissing him off at the moment.

"Did you just steal my coffee?" he asks, pointing at the coffee in Davin's hands and he's already drinking it. "You can't steal from the police. It's really not good."

[davin]

"One thing you'll learn about me is that when it comes t'coffee, nothin' stands in my way." He takes another sip and then laughs before handing it back over. "Oh, but have an in with the cops. This super attractive officer kinda digs me, from what I hear."

He winks and blushes at the same time, smiling brightly and moving in closer. "So what's got ya lookin' grumpier than usual? Anythin' I can help with?"

[jamesthorn]

"Is that what you heard? I wonder who told you that," James grins back at him, amused, forgetting for a moment what's put him in such a foul mood this morning. He doesn't move away when Davin steps in closer to him, instead he just shakes his head leaning over to show him his cellphone screen. His inbox is pulled up and there are thirty messages from his father about this damn dinner party.

He just sighs. "Dinner plans," he explains. "I'd just rather be doing, literally, anything else. But, considering the list I had, I'm almost finished." He looks over at Davin putting his phone away. "What about you? Out shopping?"

[davin]

"I can't reveal my sources," Davin says with a laugh, just watching James for a moment. He really does have a gorgeous smile, and Davin's happy to have been able to put it on his face.

He looks down at the screen when James shows him the phone and frowns a little. He was already nervous about this party and that certainly doesn't help. He's never met the eldest Thornton, and he can't help but to feel like he's going to be little more than a young, rough around the edges mechanic in the man's eyes.

"Uh, yeah. I was thinkin' about gettin' a new suit, actually. I mean, I have a suit, 'cause every grown man needs one, I think, but I don't think it's nice enough." He's obviously a little nervous and it shows in his wide amber eyes, but he smiles. It's a lot of pressure for what's supposed to be a first date, but he can handle it. "I wanna look nice, y'know? Fit in. I know you're stressed about this an' I just wanna help make sure it goes well."

[jamesthorn]

James gives Davin a softer smile because he hadn't considered until now that he was throwing Davin in with the wolves. Only because Davin's never once asked about his family's status or money or anything like that, and he's never treated him weird because people can treat him weird when his family is so well-know around here. So he didn't think Davin would be nervous. They had gone to lunch together at Francesco's, and he just went right along with it.

"Fit in?" He asks with a smile. "Davin, I'm not even certain I'm going to fit in. I know it's a lot to ask on a first date, but I promise you and I will probably just blend into the background." He is hoping to anyway. He gives him a smile though. "You know what would really help? Throwing things at my little brother's head. You wanna help do that? I can call him."

[davin]

"Oh, well. I'd be happy t'fade into the background with ya," Davin tells him. He does feel a little bit better and he smiles a little, feeling it turn into a grin at James' suggestion. "Is this all Daniel's fault? Y'know, my only two experiences with him were him paintin' on my back at a rave and buildin' gingerbread houses together. It's like ya took all the grumpy genes for yourself."

He's obviously teasing and he winks, bumping his shoulder against James'. "I bet he can't dance as good as you, though. An' there's no way he's better at cuddlin'."

Davin smiles and reaches out to rest his hand on James' arm. "But if throwin' stuff at him will make ya keep smilin', I'd be happy t'join in."

[jamesthorn]

"You know, Daniel?" James asks, eyebrows raised in slight surprise. Unless Davin mentioned it before, he didn't realize Davin knew any of his siblings. Though, Siren Cove is one of those places where it's hard not to know everyone anyway, so maybe he shouldn't be surprised. That's actually probably good that he knows Daniel. It may make things less awkward at dinner.

He huffs out a laugh when he bumps his shoulder. "I'm not grumpy," he says...it's just been a rough morning is all. "But I saw my brother at yoga the other day, and he's woefully uncoordinated so me being a better dancer is a pretty safe bet."

Feigning to be thinking over Davin's offer, he holds up his hand pinching his fingers close. "I am feeling a tiny bit better now," he says with a laugh. "Hey, so. You wanna help pick out food? I'm headed to the caterer now."

[davin]

"I've met him a few times, is all. Ya do yoga? Hm." He loses a few moments just thinking about James in yoga pants, and he blinks a few times and looks back over at him, cheeks a little pink.

James is laughing, and being playful, and Davin looks at him just sort of starry-eyed. "Yeah, sure. Are they gonna have chili dogs?"

He winks and leans against James' side. "Kiddin'. But yeah, I'd love t'join ya an' look at mini quiches an' whatnot."

[jamesthorn]

"If there were chili dogs, my father would lose his mind," James says, smiling back at Davin when he agrees to tag-along. "When we were growing up, we had to sneak food in from Quill. He just doesn't respect their cheese fries like he should."

Now that they were grown up whenever his siblings and he got together it was usually Quill on the menu and every greasy combination of food they could think of...but even James wouldn't ruin a good dinner party with cheese fries. Besides, there's also the fact that he invited Davin as his date. He thinks a good meal is in order.

"Alright, let's go. We can probably walk from here, if that's okay?" He asks moving in closer to Davin as they begin to head in the direction of the caterer's shop. "I've never thrown a dinner party myself. There's kind of an art to it. You know my mother was good at this, her events were always perfect."

[davin]

"I know, I was jokin'." He laughs and smiles over at James. "Well, we can jus' go get chili dogs after, aye?" He smiles and lets his shoulder brush against James' as they walk. His expression softens a bit when he mentions his mother and reaches over to place his palm low on his back. "I think you'll follow in her footsteps just fine, James. An' I'll help ya however I can."

[jamesthorn]

A genuine smile flashes over James' face. He has always taken after his mother. Sometimes he thought that's why William, his father, was always so blunt and stand-offish with him. James is a carbon copy of Jacqueline, down to their pressing need to boss and protect. Yet, his father was stand-offish with all his siblings so James couldn't feel too special about that.

But it's nice when Davin says what he does. "I'd like that," he says. "Not only because I need all th ehelp I can get."

[davin]

"Well, I'm glad." He smiles, cheeks slightly pink, and slides his arm through James' as they walk. "So, tell me, are we gonna get samples at this caterer? I haven't had lunch yet."

[jamesthorn]

"You haven't?" He asks, looking at Davin beside him. "There could be samples. Probably not enough to call it lunch." He checks his watched, and it isn't too late in the afternoon. "We could still make lunch at Quill afterwards. If you're up for it."

[davin]

"Nah, I've been runnin' 'round an' I just haven't gotten t'it yet." Davin smiles warmly and reaches up to pat James' shoulder. "But look at that, it all worked out. Now I get a very handsome lunch date."

[jamesthorn]

"And I would say the same," James says with a smile. He gestures up ahead where his car his parked along the curb. Davin is certain to make the rest of the afternoon go back quicker and easier so he's happy to have the company. "Let's go."

[davin]

"Flatterer," Davin says with a smirk, but he's blushing just a little bit. It's a little baffling to him that someone like James could find him attractive, but he's trying not to question it. It makes him happy.

"Aye, let's go. Nothin' fancy, okay? We'll get enough o' that," Davin tells him, bumping their shoulders together as they head for the car.