2019-12-31 - A New Year's Eve To Remember

It's New Year's eve at Devlin's apartment. He's spent some time cleaning his place, and clearing the dinning room table. He has some wine breathing and a few light snacks set out. He knows Morrigan will be coming over soon, yet, he is a little nervous. Barely sitting before he gets up to check something and then returns to the couch repeatedly.

Morrigan wouldn't take Devlin to be a nervous type, but the redhead doesn't know his fidgeting. She knocks on the door and then steps back to let him answer. She's wearing a long wool over coat, jeans and a snug fitting top. Her boots are snowboots, because she's not silly. She's carrying a few gift bags. Probably his Christmas presents.

Devlin gets the door and opens it after doing a quick check. His eyes seem to sparkle seeing you, "Come on in Morrigan." He steps over to the side so you can enter. He offers you a hand, "Can I take those for you? Anything need to go to the kitchen?"

Morrigan gives a soft smile when the door opens and she reaches a hand up to brush the long fall of hair back over her shoulder, "Thanks. I didn't know that you lived in Bayside. You've not had anything...weird going on have you?" she asks him. She hands over the bags for him, "They're both yours. I made you some fudge and candies as well as your present." she states with a smile as she slips off her coat.

Devlin accepts the bags, "Thank you. Nothing Weird yet.." He cocks his head a little, "Something I should know about?" He shrugs as he sets things on the table and quickly helps you with your coat.. as best he can. "I have some roast Venison on the grill outside on the balcony and planning to roast some peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, and onions a little later. Make yourself at home.. feel free to look around. View is nice from the french doors too."

After having invited Morrigan to look around or make herself comfortable, Devlin goes out to where the grill is out on the balcony to check on the food. He does add some charcoal to the coals. And it appears that he does something with the roast before closing the lid.

"The weird always gets you when you least expect it." Morrigan chuckles to that softly. Then there's a look around, "You didn't live here when the murders happened in here, so I'm not wanting to get you feeling weird now." she tells him. Then there's a smile to him, "That sounds lovely. You were mentioning that the apartment was lonely the other day. Is that something you think will get better or just not used to all of the space?" she asks him. Then she's going to look out the French doors, seeing the view as she gives a smile as she stands there.

Once back in, Devlin doesn't even shake off the cold as if he's used to going in and out like that. "Not sure. Before LA, was living in the Barracks mostly, always people around to kick back with. Over in LA, me and some other EMS trainees were sharing a place. Now, just me. So not sure if it will get better or not." He shrugs a bit, "I have will have to see won't I?" He then offers, "Care for something to drink? I have a nice Syrah breathing in the kitchen. If your wanting something else.. yup.. soldier.. so you know means there is beer and whiskey. But I do have some unsweetened ice tea in the frig" He then stage whispers, "A crime against man and nature according to some of my southern friends," followed by a chuckle on his part. He winks, "I keep some good honey and sugar around to keep myself out of some trouble."

Morrigan gives a bit of a smile, "That is something that is hard to get used to after years of being surrounded by people to just go to a apartment alone." she tells him. "I've never really had that many people around." she admits. "I'll take some of the syrah. Unsweet tea is a bit of a sin." she muses to that. "How are you doing with settling in? Everything going alright with the other EMS people?" she asks him.

Devlin nods, "Stephanie has been coaching me on some of the subtle differences due to legalities I have to deal with." He then walks over to a shelf stuffed with study materials to pass to you his initial test results for the Rescue Swimmer's course he has started on. "Making progress," He smiles. He then goes to the kitchen to pour a couple glasses of wine and returns with them, "It's a California wine." He hands holds a glass for you to take. His attention focused on your eyes

Morrigan gives a quirk of an eyebrow, "Stephanie?" she asks. Not recognizing the name or anything like that. She gives a look around the place and then follows him with her eyes as he gets the test results. She reads them and there's a smile, "These are great for just starting out!" she tells him with a nod to that. She accepts the wine from him when comes back with it, "Thank you." she tells him. "So...did we have any specific plans for this evening or just winging it?" she grins at him.

Grinning back, Devlin hmms, "Winging it mostly. So far, the bird seems stable and skies clear." He grins more as he puts the results back, "You were right, training for something else helped me to keep from going stir crazy. I think six of the life guards over at the indoor pool know me by name now. May be I should encourage you to try jumping and skydiving." He returns as he sips his wine. "I am glad you came over." He hmms, "So should I check out the gifts before or after dinner?"

Morrigan gives a chuckle, "Nothing wrong with winging it." she admits. She watches him with a soft smile and there's a bit of a moment that she things on something, but she doesn't do anything. "Well, it's good that they know you really." she points out. "And I'll try anything once. There's not much I'm scared of given history." she muses. There's a look to the Christmas bag, "Sure, can do that before dinner. And if you don't like it we can return it and all that jazz." she admits.

"Miss Shark Woman... yup, can't imagine to many things rattling you.." Devlin chuckles as he moves to take a seat on the couch. He sets his wine glass down as he grabs the Xmas bag, "Lets see what we have here." He has fun with this part, dragging it out just a little bit. He waggles his brows a bit, "Keep smiling like that and I may have to dim the lights to keep from being blinded."

Morrigan finds a seat as well and there's a bit of a grin as he drags things out, "Well I mean it's hard not to smile around you." she points out as she gets comfortable.

Inside the bag is a well tailored shirt in a very dark shade of green, on the right sleeve it has his rank and things embroidered nicely. "I wasn't sure if you'd like it really. I thought it would still give you a chance to wear your rank without being in uniform." she admits.

Devlin hmms as he looks the shirt over, "I like it.." He chuckles, "Granted.. I know some nit picky people that will go ape over it." He gets this evil grin, "Will be fun to mess with them." He then lifts the shirt to lay over his chest and shoulders, "Looks like you have the fit right.." He then leans over to offer to put a arm about your shoulders, "Granted.. " his tone lowers to a conspirator's hushed tone just for you, "Best thing is you here tonight.. hard to top."

"I might have snuck a look at a shirt tag, nothing weird though!" Morrigan admits with a bit of a laugh. "I was on the fence about it, but I think it was nice and if you can mess with people on top of that then it was worth it." she grins. Then there's a bit of a aww, "Lets be honest. The star of the evening is the venison." she teases him. "In seriousness, I'm happy to spend more time with you." she tells him.

Devlin kids, "Damn.. undone by my hunting luck.." followed by a slight chuckle. He then slides his arm about you, "I am happy to spend more time with you." He flushes a little, "I have not been this nervous since High School..." and gently snugs your shoulders. "The roast and vegis only need a few more minutes on the grill. Dinner will be soon.." He sighs a little, "Means I'll have to stand up and leave the couch.."

Morrigan gives a grin to that, "I don't think you're going to need to worry." she tells him. When he slides his arm around her she snuggles into his side a bit more. Though she gives him a look, "Don't be nervous. You'll be fine." she tells him as she leans in to kiss his cheek. "Oh boo. I can go with you to help with plates and things. If that helps with the having to leave the couch?" she asks him.

His cheek is already warm when you kiss, "I think I can survive that." Devlin snuggles back for a moment, "And it would be helpful. At least I don't have paper plates.." a small chuckle on his part. "Mom made sure I had some decent settings. Xmas for Halloween.. and healthier teeth to boot.." He then slowly rises from the couch, turning so you can use his arm to come up. "Glad you like your new.. desk plate.. display." He grins a bit.

Morrigan gives a chuckle, "I wouldn't complain if you were using paper plates really." she tells him as she gets off the couch with the help of his arm. "Halloween is so fun though." she states. She could see it though. "And I love my new display. I hung it right over my desk." she admits to that as they head for the kitchen.

Chuckling, "I bet it looks great with your other shark things." Devlin walks with you into the kitchen, "Glasses up here.." as he points things out, "Plates and bowls there.. flatware there.." Even the kitchen comes off a little Spartan like the rest of the place, then again, not as if he's had years to gain pots, pans, and other fun things a kitchen can need. "Oh.. that spout has the purified water at the sink. Other stuff is around.. just not that organized yet. If something is still in the wrapper.. just rescue it from the plastic if need be.. and a good wipe down." He grabs a large serving bowl and a plate, "I have some roast and vegi's to rescue.. oh yeah.. there is some salad in the fridge to."

Morrigan finds things as they are pointed out. She even sets a few places at the dining table if there is one. "Maybe I should have gotten you a gift card to stock your apartment." she teases him. "So do you have a year lease or how is that going?" she asks him curiously. "Salad in fridge. On it." she grins to him as he goes to rescue the meat!

Many of the cabinets are not that full, plenty of space. As to food, looks like he does eat reasonably health but does some not healthy things. Devlin goes out side to the grill and it does not take to long for him to wrestle the roast and roasted vegis onto serving dishes and return. A small metal tray is next to the roast and once things are placed on the table, he moves past you smoothly to turn good drippings into a gravy that he adds a few things like a touch of fresh garlic, etc to the gravy. "Not a great cook.. but seems you can't be a man in the family if you can't grill.." he smiles a bit. "Got a year lease on it with a military deployment proviso.."

Morrigan makes a little list mentally. Maybe she'd have to pick something up over the next few weeks and see about helping out. "You seem to be doing just fine with the cooking." she smiles to that as he's made the gravy. She gives a nod to the lease mentioning, "Thinking about finding your own place after that or you like the apartment life?" she asks him.

Devlin shrugs to that question, "Don't know yet. Been so busy with certifications, training with you to swim, and keeping sane.. I had not thought about it really. I'm pretty flexible where housing is concerned." he chuckles, "I can live in the woods under a tarp if I had to... doesn't take much to set the bar high for me.." clearly teasing a little there. "Though.. may stay here till having my own place makes sense."

Morrigan gives a smile to that, "True, you have been pretty busy with things. I was just curious really." she admits. She gives a look to him, "No tarp living in the woods here. You'd be amazed what's out in those woods." she points out. "And who knows, maybe you'll find a girlfriend that owns her own home and move in with her sometime." she shrugs to that as she finishes up the salad to sit on the table.

With that, Devlin turns to hug you from behind before you can start moving the salad to the table. "That does sound nice.. " He kisses your cheek over your shoulder. "I hope this girl friend your talking about it is into Sharks.. I like a little spice in my life." He gently releases you, "She has this walk that is incredible to watch as she walks a way.. only good thing about watching her walk away."

Morrigan gives a bit of a laugh and then squeezes his arms warmly as she is hugged, not minding it one bit. "Mmm. Maybe she will have a thing for sharks." she teases him. "But seriously, if things go well there would really be no reason for you to have to look for another place. Just being reasonable." she smiles to that. "And I've got plenty of space." she adds. Then there's a grin, "Still going to think that when I'm cranking at three in the morning after a search?" she winks at him.

That earns a warm chuckle from him. "I learned the most important lesson of Grunt Fu... I think I can survive you being cranked at 3am. Hell, that new guy tried to prank me twice when I was bunking over night at the station with a rotation." Devlin grins evilly, "Ever wonder why he shaved his head suddenly...?"

"Oh, yes, the most important lesson is sometimes the best." Morrigan chuckles to that. Then she's shaking her head as he explains, "I do not know why his head was shaved. You want to explain that?" she asks him with a smile. "It's not like I'm in all the time." she points out.

Devlin smirks, "He tried stealing my clothes a few times.. hoping to leave me naked for a ride along call at night." Devlin's voice takes on that Crusader Knight's voice from Last Crusade, "He failed... badly.." On taking a seat at the dinner table.. "Seems his hat had an accident with Nair.." he puts on his best face of innocence.. "I just can't imagine how that happened.. So.. how do you like your cut.. rare.. medium.. something else?"

"I mean...was he trying to bless the girls on duty with a fantastic sight? Maybe he was giving a huge Christmas gift." Morrigan teases him gently. "But no, it's too cold to take your clothes." she shakes her head. "Remind me not to piss you off. I like my hair on my head." she laughs. Then there's a smile, "Rare is good for me. I'm pretty happy with my meat still moving a bit." she teases him.

"Next time, I'll walk the buck past a fire then butcher for you.." Devlin teases. He grins, "Oh.. the important lesson I learned from the grunts.. how to sleep anywhere in just about any position and be aware of where my things are for the most part." And from there it is a nice dinner for two that he has set up for the both of them.

"Just give me a text before you do so I can have my phone ready." Morrigan winks at him. "And sleeping anywhere is a good skill. I used to sleep on my dads boat in the lifeboat. He would just laugh at me when he found me." she muses. Dinner is enjoyed and Morrigan even asks if he minds her spending the night. She offered to sleep on the couch if it was...too weird for sharing the bed. Not in a sexy way!

All in all, it was a fantastic way to start the New Year!

And yes, he doesn't mind at all and as to the bed, he is more than ok with sharing. Best New Years for him in a long time...