2020-09-28 - Grants At A Picnic

It's really Vyv's fault for starting it. Ginger can't help herself, after all.

Ginger, in and out of Gray Harbor dealing with contracts, finally seals the big project that's swallowed her for months and returns. Vyv, caring cousin he is, stops by to check in, and a casual offhand comment about the outdoors catches Ginger's attention. In most people, such an offhand comment might be thought over, plans half-heartedly made, and then dismissed as too much work.

But not for Ginger. No, once the idea has hooks, attempts to dismiss it simply-- do not work. Google searches are made of the area. Walking boots that should be in the closet find their way out. Three hours are spent digging through her closet for appropriate clothes. Vyv receives a series of uncertain texts asking for good picnic recipes, followed by texts asking for him to ignore the previous, only for the question to return hours later. Soon the 'I was considering going on a picnic' turns into 'should we use this or this during our picnic' as the idea keeps growing in Ginger's mind. Everything - from the picnic basket design to the outfit she wears to looking up the local crime rates of the shore - is looked into, and Vyv receives texts of almost the entire process. Everything. It's not a new process-- perhaps not as familiar as Vyv as it would be to Ginger's siblings, but certainly not an unknown phenomena.

Which is, in the end, how Vyv and Ginger end up walking along the beach's rocky shoreline, looking for a good spot to sit. It's a bit too chilly for swimming, and the view of the beach is bleak-- but nice, nonetheless-- and Ginger is dressed in navy tennis shoes, black slacks, and a peach button-up blouse over a long knit fawn-color cardigan, the sleeves of the peach top rolled over the cardigan's sleeves for contrast. Pearl studs dot each ear, and her hair has been collected behind her in a loose ponytail, save for her blunt bangs. She seems.... antsy, but relieved as well, her compulsion finally in the process of resolution.

And people think Vyv is detail-oriented. ...they're right, but most of them haven't met Ginger. He's reasonably patient with it, particularly all the parts he really doesn't have to do anything about, of course, and lets her get on with it, resigning himself to the not-that-terrible prospect of... a picnic. In late September the only real worry on his part is whether it might rain, but the odds his cousin won't be watching not only the weather forecast but probably the sky itself... well, he's not all that worried, to tell the truth.

He has cut off the basket research with the assurance (and probably photographic proof) that he already has a suitable one, complete with blanket, and those have indeed come along with them today, the former filled with a joint-but-separately-executed offering of food and drink between the cousins. As it's officially Autumn -- and they're in more or less the countryside in any case -- he's broken out the tweed, a lighter, almost mustardy brown three piece with a widely-striped blue and white shirt and far more slimly-striped pocket square. No tie, because this is a picnic, after all. To that end he's also wearing brown leather loafers, and his cufflinks (of course there are still cufflinks) are also fairly simple leather affairs, a good match for the band of his watch.

"How about there?" he suggests, pointing to a spot, "It looks the right size for the blanket, and the view's not bad." There are not many spots here where it is, given 'ocean' and all. And it's been a nice walk so far, but he's about ready to be settling in. Loafers are not entirely ideal for rocks.

Grant was not invited. he isn't to most of the parties he's invited to and generally has never needed to be. When all of your things go up in smoke but for a few you get a pass on certain elements in your life and wardrobe is one of them. Now was Vyv available today? Clearly not. Was he picking up low key stress vibes? Eh maybe a bit because something mattered and that always affects Vyv on some level.

Now how Grant finds things is really anyone's guess. He'd like to call it ninja skills, though idiot savant savvy might be more accurate. What he does do? well he borrows some stuff from his dad and heads on out in washed jeans, and a borrowed blazer and long sleeve t-shir, quarter on a string and medical dogtag on beaded chain around his neck and Bracelets made from bolts and metal bits and string. Graffiti has beome art, has become jewelry, has become Bax. It's not long after they are there there is the sound of wheels, and he rides up, , messenger bacg over his shoulder, sunglasses and hearing aids on, head bopping to the music from his phone bluetooth wired in. he rolls to a stop and keeps the board from rolling forward giving Vyv a warming smile and produces from (seriously from where was this? His back pocket?) a small handful of wrapped marigolds and sunflowers to present to Ginger. "Vyv mentioned picnic and I saw these and figured you might want them."

But now there's an uneven number of settings.
The fiend.

He signs a tilt of his hand, "Hi."

The sound of wheels along the beach - getting closer! does have Ginger glancing backward and shifting a little closer to Vyv. It's a simultaneous, unconscious thing, the move closer, seeking safety. Sure, Vyv is far too well dressed to defend her in fisticuffs, but he is family, and he is a barrier between her and the stressors of the unknown, and she has faith in his ability to metaphysically cut people down with a well-placed sneer.

To her credit, she's only reaching out to pinch Vyv's suit sleeve with two fingers when it's clear Grant is DEFINITELY approaching them-- and she's also taking a deep breath and bracing herself for unexpected contact. Of course, that all disintegrates into vaguely worried panic at the offer of flowers, looking towards the flowers, then Grant, then Vyv, then back to the flowers, uncertain. It's visible, the relaxing and relief when Grant mentions Vyv, and the panic fades on an exhale, "Oh! You're one of Vyvvy's friends." She determines, her smile a little less uncertain as she reaches to take the flowers, cheeks coloring slightly. "Th-thank you? They're lovely." A glance to Vyv, a silent entreaty for introduction

The sound of those wheels is a reasonably familiar one to Vyv by now, though not usually here, and they certainly weren't expected, so he doesn't have them immediately placed before he glances back as well. And, indeed, he probably isn't the ideal defender when it comes down to a brawl -- though his odds are likely better here than most places -- but if the attacker's psyche is vulnerable, he could give that a good try!

In this case it is, of course, not necessary. He blinks as he puts together sound and shape and hair and the skater resolves himself into a familiar form, the slight smile at seeing him spreading a touch further and gaining the company of a slightly quirked brow as he takes in the outfit with a rather thorough sweep of a gaze. It's a marked improvement from the baggy tees and cargo pants, and has him briefly distracted from the need for introduction. "Hello, darling," he greets the younger man, in sign language as well as aloud, "Didn't expect to see you here." It is not a complaint.

That glance is plenty to remind him of the situation, however, and he swiftly obliges the silent request. "Ginger, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Grant Baxter. Bax, I've mentioned my cousin? Ginger Johansson Lovage-Vydal." The corner of his mouth quirks up a fraction. "She's the baby of the family." And a couple years older than Grant, but who's counting? Looking to Ginger, he reiterates his earlier suggestion: "So. Here, Gingembre?" Certainly not even a little taking possible advantage of her momentary discombobulation to try to get that done.

Grant is all easy grin that widens a titch when she relaxes and declares him one of Vyvy's friends. Oh, ho! the smile hits those honey brown eyes "I am." Looking to Vyv he doesn't even have to ask Vyvvy?. Oh that's darling! Does he call him that here and now? Hell no. He'd like this relationship to make it another day in one piece, but he does mouth to Vyv, Vyvvy?

Still, amusing as that is he sign, and greets, perhaps a bit revivified (Revyvified in this case?) by the formal endorsement, "Pleasure to meet you, Ginger." Glancing back to Vyv and then Ginger he shares the confidential intel, "IT's okay, I am too." Looking over it only now occurs to him, "I intruding?" It's really hard to tell if that was a goal to, or if he was trying to avoid invasion, but he's here now.

Ginger smiles, nodding slightly and fussing with the flowers as Vyv says hello - brows furrowing slightly at the hand motion with a surreptitious, inquisitive glance in Grant's direction - then back down to her flowers. She of course looks up and readies herself to face Grant properly at the start of 'Ginger, I'd like you--' and then the rest comes along, and Ginger's mouth falls open. And then hastily snaps shut, one hand rising to press her fingertips against her lips in chagrin as she ducks her head. But also... her eyes flit back up very clearly looking over Grant with renewed interest. So much so there's only a tilt of her head and a "Hmm?" At Vyv's question about a good picnic spot.

But then Grant is asking directly if he's intruding, making Ginger flush - what an awful loss of manners! "Oh, of course you're not. You're Vyvvy's beau, how could you be? I'm Ging-- err, Vyv said that already. I'm-- it's lovely to meet you. I didn't know Vyv was dating anyone here- I'm so sorry, we're... Vyv was treating me to a celebration picnic, I just got back. Of course you're welcome to join us--" Ginger's eyes widen even as she says the words, her nervous clutching of the flowers growing slightly more intense for a moment. Ginger has no poker face. Clearly she's going down SOME mental pathway that has her concentrating intently, enough she freezes, briefly, eyes closing just a moment. It's fast, however, and she takes another deep breath, glancing sheepishly towards the two men, "S-sorry. We didn't, we planned for two. But if you don't mind, we're sitting over there," She points about... five yards away? "That's the spot I checked on the maps. We didn't plan for a third, but it's still a prime number, and you're Vyv's boyfriend." Apparently this holds some delight for Ginger, just as much as the arrangement interruptions seem to have caused her a brief amount of distress. "Um, if Vyv hasn't mentioned it, I just need a bit of time to adjust to surprises, some days." A weak smile in Grant's direction. Hopefully he buys it.

«Do not,» Vyv signs in reply to that mouthing, giving Grant the flattest of unamused looks. There is absolutely no way that he didn't notice Ginger's reaction to the title, but he does quite a good job of failing to react in turn. It's fair enough, in a way; if this isn't the first time she's met somebody he was seeing, she wasn't more than 12 the time before, and may not have even then. It's rarely even been mentioned. This does not, however, keep him from eyerolling a bit at Vyvvy's beau. Even if it is technically accurate.

He also doesn't allow himself to look at all guilty about Ginger's surprise and momentary need for recalculation, if indeed he feels it at all. Certainly there's no apology for not informing her about developments in his lovelife before they unexpectedly arrived bearing flowers. The only hint it's possible he might is the way he glances at her in that tiny pause of concentration, and the fact that he doesn't chime in on whether or not Bax is welcome until she's got through that. It's only then that he agrees, "I suspect we can stretch to three, as long as everyone can be trusted not to devour the entire basket as soon as it's opened." He gives the younger man a Look, one corner of his mouth twitching upward just enough to undercut the otherwise deadpan remark, and turns to head to the spot Ginger chose. "Help me with the blanket, then." Grant is familiar with Vyv's insistence on getting the blanket spread out properly, even if, yes, they ARE just going to sit on it and wrinkle it up. There's no reason to start that way.

The blanket is plaid wool, with a plasticated bottom to keep moisture from getting through, and Vyv glances toward Ginger while he gets to setting it out, wordlessly checking whether she had any specific plans for its precise orientation in mind as well.

Grant looks honestly concerned that he is putting people out for a brief moment. He's used to dealing with 'haves' in High School and while he wasn't a 'have-not' he is acutely aware o status and his awkward frankness being intrusive often as well. And his... him-ness. He watches her face when she speaks, patient almost like he's about to say something, but doesn't. She talks fast, real fast and getting the high points he can fill in the rest.

He looks to the spot 5 yards that way and back signing with words in that way so his own can overhear like others do, and sometimes words don't happen like his brain intends it seems. "Yeah, Good reason as any." and looking to Vyv who is warning him do not he has to sign <<V-Y-V-Y?>> too too amusing! More that Vyv said this to his family which is as far as Bax is aware utterly a first. Looking back t o the hostess he nods with an easy smile, "Yeah. Yeah I am." A bit proud of that fact if he may say so. He does pick up the blanket and help where directed.

There is the warning unspoken of 'don't eat my basket!' and there's a bit of an amused retort of, "I'll do what I can." Looking at the general space he starts and leads off with. "How, um..." how do we want to do this precicely?

"I'll help you, Vyv." Ginger "offers." It's not an offer. It's a 'this will happen' as she half-jogs the few steps to catch up to Vyv. She also apparently finally notices all the signing now that the plans have changed, and she's mentally acclimated herself to that concept. Maybe it's knowing Grant actually can't hear, or maybe it's because she's acclimated, or maybe it's because she has A Plan of Action, but Ginger seems somewhat more relaxed-- or at least, if not relaxed, the tension levels seem to have lowered. She looks at Grant when he asks how, offering a smile and making sure he's looking - as she can't sign - and says, "H-help me make sure there's no big rocks or branches in the way? Th-then Vyv and I can set up. It... it will p-probably be easiest that way." Hopefully Grant is okay with this, or he will learn how Vyv is actually the less exacting of the pair, if he hasn't noticed that already.

Because indeed, once it's time for blanketing, Ginger seems to know the exact orientation she wants the blanket in, precisely how tilted, and once it's spread out, she takes the basket and moves it to no less than three locations on the blanket - each only inches from one another - until she's satisfied with its off-center position. Then she makes sure there are no wrinkles on the blanket... before flashing a smile at the pair and waving her hands, "Now we can sit!" She explains, settling down to sit sidesaddle, spine straight. The moment she sits, she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales, fingers toying with the wedding band on her finger. Twist, twist, exhale, before she looks towards the boys, self-conscious. "I... I think most of the particulars are resolved when we sit." Which Vyv probably knows is code for 'Ginger is no longer a frothing maniac seconds from hyperventilating or murder.'

«V-y-v-v-y,» Vyv signs back, making some emphasis on the last of the Vs, and also on «No.» Apparently even if he's not going to allow Bax the use of it, he cares how it's spelt, and if he could make that look even flatter, he would, but there's only so much the human face can do. The hint of pride in Grant's confirmation softens it, the corners of his mouth curling slightly upward, and they stay that way as he sets the basket down to focus on the blanket.

He's just starting to unfold it to hand Grant an edge when Ginger makes her not-offer, and he makes a small 'all right then' tilt of his head one way and back, tucking the bundled blanket under his arm to free both hands for signing as he leans in to murmur closer to the skater, "You do rather clean up nicely." It's quiet enough to perhaps be spoken mainly for the sake of lipreading, maybe a little for the general tone as well, and may be best it's signed as well.

How they want to do it absolutely is 'precisely', and the chef defers to his cousin's needs on that front, letting the other two handle the rock-and-branch hunt and then assisting in getting the blanket Just Right. Compared to this process, doing it the way Grant teased him about at their prior picnic might as well be tossing it up in the air and just sitting where it lands. Once it's down and as tidy as he'd require it, he watches and waits as she places the basket and removes every last wrinkle, looking decidedly less impatient about it than some might expect. "What've you been up to today?" he asks Bax in the meantime, "Aside from practicing for a sideline as a florist?" And once things are settled, when he moves to take a seat, there's a flicker of a glance toward Ginger, just on the off chance of somehow throwing everything off. It's barely noticeable, and he settles in comfortably, managing to make both the movement and the lean it results in look naturally elegant.

The basket rather qualifies too, all wicker and fine fabric, with gilt-edged white china plates and proper silverware held neatly in place on the lid by more leather straps, and a smaller wicker carrier inside with tea cups and what appear to be cut crystal champagne glasses, too. These are augmented by white fabric napkins and a tiny salt and pepper shaker set, before even getting to the neatly packed plastic boxes that contain the food. He leans to undo the straps and open it once they've all sat.

Grant has his appliances in but the ocean is loud on the background noise of things. There's water slooshing but what most con't consider is all the wind agaist the microphones. It' a lot of a lot some moments. Turning and talking to him so he can pick up the rest of the context seems to relax whatever concerns he might have as he grabs all of the debris no one wants to sit on and sits.

He glances over to Vyv correcting the spelling. Vyvvy. That one is going in his proverbial hat for now.

The direct question brings a thoughtful squints. "Had breakfast with my dad and I went to move things to the new building. We're flipping the garage into a skate shop on its own merit. Big enough to practice flatwork int he winter. They're letting us do that soooo lots of construction. I picked up a few things for that and did a meeting with the lady with the website. She's going to work on some design ideas for me and I need to get her art for that." Looking at both of them he asks, "And how is team Vydal today?"

Ginger's kept the flowers safe! And while Vyv works with removing plates and all the delicious foods, Ginger looks over the flowers more precisely, touching the petals lightly and carefully, fiddlin with the bunch here and there, listening and looking quite pleased. That initial tension does seem to be slowly uncoiling, relaxing her. It's easy to now forget she's present, actually: she doesn't have Vyv's sharp elegance or Grant's colorful presence, more of a quiet, steady presence-- a little airy, even. It doesn't help that she's yet unaware precisely how Grant's hearing impairment works, and it seems quite rude to ask - is he reading lips? Can he hear at all? Should she ask Vyv to sign, or would that be presumptuous?

These questions flit in her mind as she sorts through the flowers, but she is looking towards Grant when he begins to speak, peeking from under her lashes to learn aaaaaaalll about Vyv's beau. After all, Cousin Vyv is so stylish and admirable, what sort of man can get his attention? Grant is not what she pictured - something that anyone with any kind of people skills can read right from her face - but the surprise seems a pleasant one. The question about team Vydal, however, has her looking towards Vyv first, then facing Grant again and saying, "Quite well, for my part. I j-just finished a large assignment. I should have only small r-remote assignments for a bit. I could p-probably take a little three-month break. My handler t-tells me I'm due." Ginger admits with a rueful little smile.

In all fairness, Grant isn't what anyone pictured. He's not even what Vyv pictured. And yet! Here he is, and to someone quite literally familiar with the chef, that little sidelong glance when the skater mentions talking to the website lady looks distinctly fond. "How's your father? And I didn't know about the change in the skate shop; this is new? Will it connect to the current bits?" He only vaguely knows how that whole thing is laid out, but what vague knowledge he has, he's apparently bothered to retain. He does pause in the unpacking to look Grant-ward and to sign most of what he's saying, though whether this is strictly necessary may still be hard to tell. "Bax is an artist," he informs his cousin, "and runs the pro-shop of the local skate park. He's going to start selling some of his work online."

While Ginger answers the question put to them, he goes back to unpacking lunch, setting out three sets of plates and cups and silverware, along with a thermos of something, the salt and pepper, and all but one of the plastic boxes of food. The boxes are opened, and things served, with a pause partway through to look at Ginger. "Do you want to take a break?" he inquires, "Or would you just get bored?" And as far as this part of Team Vydal, "Doing all right today, I'd say."

Grant is pretty much acutely aware that he's not what anyone imagines. Ever. For anything much less someone on Vyvyan's radar. That he's a point of discussion has both of his eyebrows go up looking to Vyv and then back to Ginger and then at the basket. He isn't precisely used to being topic of something outside of 'what were you thinking when you decided this was a good idea' discussion. He's not shy about that, but it does fascinate him a bit to the point of charmed.

He listens though. People are generally interesting and Grant Baxter is in no hurry today. As for the food? He lets Vyv sort that out picking up on the low key short in wiring from not him surprisingly. "Well if you come up with ideas for vacation we can make that happen." There's a pause and he looks to Vyv with a cryptic smile thinking on something but putting out there for Ginger's sake, "Always wanted to go to the observatory in Seattle." The signing does have an audible speech accompaniment to it at the very least.

"Normally I w-would get a little bored." Ginger admits, leaning forward to peek towards the food. And... just maybe... see if there's any sort of cookie/biscuits she can sneak first, before the meal. SCANDALOUS! "I enjoy m-my work. It keeps me stress free to jump into new things. B-but... well, I should likely take a bit of me time to assess myself." A grimace: clearly not something looks forward to, nose scrunching with some distaste. She sneaks another look towards Baxter, as if he is some sort of fascinating mythical creature - and he very well may be! Ginger's only ever heard about Vyv's boyfriends, after all: Cory would know more. So he is a fascinating marvel. Likely much as her cousin is!

"You're an artist? That's wonderful! I don't have much artistic talent myself. I'm m-much better at technical sketches than I am at freeform." She admits, with a rueful little smile. "Err-- do you prefer Bax? Or Grant? Or does it not matter? And, out of curiosity..." Ginger looks towards Vyv and Grant, before waggling her finger in a circle to show the connection between the two, "H-how did you two meet? I mean, I know it's a s-small town," She hastens to add, flushing slightly, "B-but... well, y-you know." Her eyes are all bright-eyed and intrigued even though she's blushing: it's clear Ginger rather enjoys 'How We Met' stories.

Gasp! Though yes, unsurprisingly, that box still in the basket does appear to contain a small selection of sweets -- macarons, madeleines, little palmiers, and some chocolates. One'd almost think Vyv suspected his cousin of having a sweet tooth. "You didn't answer," he notes toward Bax, as much an observation as a prompt, though the skater's mention of the observatory draws a small smile. "Yes, though. I suspect broadly vacationy things could be made to occur,if desired. No promises whether they'd be conducive to self-assessment."

Ginger probably hasn't even heard all that much about anyone Vyv's been involved with -- most likely from Cory when she'd been through France or the pair met up in London for tailoring and a chat -- but now, indeed, she's actually meeting one. If Cory's described anyone before, he's been much more what Ginger probably did picture. And yet.

The question gets a breath of a laugh as Vyv sets a plate before each of them, then one in front of himself. "There was an LGBT night at Two if by Sea. I thought I might as well have a cocktail and support it. He said hello and observed I hadn't killed a particular member of my staff as yet." A faint upward curl at one corner of his lips. "We talked about art."

Grant is also eyeing the biscuits. Ginger is not alone. There may be conspiracy forming here! Protect your cookies, Vyv! ...you know what we mean! The grimace is not missed and Grant refrains from putting the third degree on her. This gets a pin and filed for later and for now, "Sometimes the quiet is the hard part. You stay busy, ya can't hear it. I feel ya." Well he doesn't talk highbrow, but the commiseration is sincere. "Vyv, ya know I talked to him this morning over coffee. He's great. Swamped, but good." Looking to Ginger he tacks on, "My father used to practice Constitutional Law and switched to Family Law when I was a kid. My older sister is in contract law... I think it's contract. My dad's whole job is making sure kids don't get hurt when adults are being adults. Or sometimes not behaving as adults ought to." There's a thoughtful sigh and he confers back to both thoughtfully with a shake of his head. "Sometimes... sometimes I don't think people are all that great at being people."

Questions! More...personal questions which he doesn't seem to mind as 'personal space' is a bit of an anathema for him. "Uhh yes. Either is fine. I like my name and people call me what makes them happy. " And then he hundred dollar questions "Weeeee..." He looks to Vyv for this one as his own ears turn a bit pink with a paused grin. "I went there to actually try to be social cause it'd been a really rough day. My bestie was like 'Baxy, just go.' So I get there and I'd missed some of the folks I was there catching up with and hi the bar at least to see what was going on. I see Vyv there and my pal, also Corey, works for him so I asked what the hell is in the glass?" There's a small grin looking from Ginger to Vyv and back to her as if sharing a well kept secret, "He's a culinary genuis I figure if I can't trust his pallet we're all doomed, right? and we started talking about... art really. Found out we have a very aligned ethos where the purpose and meaning of it come into play, and also talked music."

There's a pause and a wry grin sitting back, leaning hands to the blanket, "What he's not said is we didn't talk for like the two weeks after that and I'd got all these crazy ideas and stuff from our talk and everything...that morning and just the week being what it was. Sparrow made me sit down and paint and finally I had to run through a snow storm carrying this damn painting across town to show up soggy and frozen at his apartment lie 'I just need you... to look at this. It's yours. It needs to go there on that wall. It sounds stupid and I can't explain it any more than that'." There's a fondness to the story because that's the face one makes for a top 5 favourite memory, "And he said 'Come in.' and the rest went from there." There's a pause and he takes a deep breath in it. And because his memory lives out of order tells Vyv. "Separate building. The shorter building by the tall ramp."

Ginger looks at Grant, eyes wide, the stars in them fading slightly as she offers him an oddly pleased, but still somewhat melancholic smile - "Yes. That's it exactly, really. the quiet makes everything so clear sometimes. Quiet is cluttered." Her eyes are vaguely curious, but she doesn't speak: they're strangers, after all, and like he won't grill her just yet, she won't him.

Besides, there's a picnic. And a love story!

Fingers wriggle slooooowly when Vyv and Grant are distracted with one another, as Ginger reaches to snatch a madeleine and nibble on it, the stars still in her eyes. It's not even quite that she wants to go unseen, but perhaps just an awkward politeness about not being SEEN sneaking food before a main meal. Or something. Either way, her attention is raptly on Vyv as he begins to tell the tale, looking more and more fascinated. She easily reaches for a chocolate as the tale continues - not popping it all in her mouth, no. She's a nibbler, taking a small bite of it first. And as Grant talks she settles more comfortably, leaning weight on her free hand. She nods along as if it's expected, of course one trusts Vyv's judgement on foods, and skirts a glance towards her cousin in amused...nonsurprise at the fact that Vyv didn't follow a romance, but her attention is quickly back to Baxter, listening to him describe his end of things.

And, of course, she gives a sigh at the end, "That's lovely, Bax! --I hope you d-don't mind, I like Bax for you, it seems s-suitable. You're a wonderful storyteller! Th-that was much better than Vyvvy's version." She praises, her now-chocolateless hand reaching up to pluck at her necklace, smiling. "It sounds l-like a beautiful beginning. I'm happy you've finally found someone, Vyv." A bright smile toward Vyv, though maybe with that slight tinge of...nostalgia? Fondness? Not quite melancholy?

Nevermind she's the family baby. She is the one with the wedding ring, after all. Apparently it grants her the privilege to "finally" people.

Vyv is never going to complain about being called a culinary genius. That's not what gets the little smile, though; no, it's first the 'aligned ethos' and then moreso the addition of the music topic in there. And yes, okay, 'amused nonsurprise' is probably the most reasonable reaction there. Romance has never likely seemed a major focus, and if it were, would he chase? Vyv himself looks faintly amused, though he's looking at the food he's just set out as he does -- and then a small sidelong glance toward Bax, another of those subtly fond things.

"It's the painting in the dining room," he says, though 'room' is a bit of a misnomer in that open-plan space, "The one that faces the balcony. And I think I may also have asked after the continuing health of his toes, when he arrived. Oddly enough, it was Valentine's Day." Seems like a detail she might like, somehow. "Unexpected. But you're quite right; he's a much better storyteller."

The 'finally' gets a small exhalation of a laugh, and an equally small shake of the head. "Thank you," is what he actually says, however, and after a beat, "I'm reasonably pleased with the situation myself." To Bax, he somewhat belatedly adds, "Glad to hear he's doing well. And that sounds better, I suppose. Keep the rain off."

Grant watches Ginger as she speaks. There's a thing that happens when you are born into the world where sound is unreliable at best and not a reliable too and that is you get exceptionally good at the things emit and not said. Brown eyes follow her as she speak. He doesn't ask about her demons, but he sees them clear as his own. There is stillness, a small smile of commiseration and a nod of agreement. His hands make two small explosion gestures near his ears murmuring, "super cluttered."

Vyv tacks on the small detail about his feet and it's in remembering that one small pained detail one can watch Grant become entirely charmed with him all over again. Sometimes having no poker face is its own reward. Looking back to Ginger he asks, "How'd you come into your line of work. Something you wanted to do or find a natural talent?"

"Oh! Well. Both, I suppose." Ginger admits, twisting her ring about out of habit. Some sort of considering gesture, perhaps. She doesn't seem conscious of it. She does refrain from eating and faces Grant as she talks, subtly hoping to help him hear, without making it obvious she's trying. "I always liked things a c-certain way, and I enjoy p-patterns, and my job is really just going to businesses and looking through d-data or their systems to help them improve. It depends what they h-hire me for, really. If they want more productivity, I have to go there and do physical checks on their p-processes and look up their old statistics, find bad patterns, and help them think of ways to avoid it." Ginger explains, perhaps leaving out the fact that she does it on a large scale, dealing with whole, large factories or businesses with hundreds if not thousands of employees, on an international scale. Vyv might now this. Hopefully he doesn't out her. "Sometimes it's j-just silly things like their suppliers are f-from another country when they can supplement with t-two smaller, lesser known companies to meet their demand and avoid d-distance shipping and travel loss, things like that. It's sort of a much more exciting thousand piece puzzle, where you have to first figure out what the p-pieces look like. It's stressful sometimes, but mostly fun. And it s-suits me."

Grant having no poker face is its own reward for Vyv, at least. Usually. Certainly this is one such time. (Another is probably if they ever try to play poker.) The chef's slight smile remains, and he sits back to start in on his meal. Official permission for everyone to eat, that is. "She's always been remarkably organized," he tells Bax; more care taken not to to speak with his mouth full than with his hands full, though he does seem to keep one free most of when he speaks, captioning with somewhat modified signs. He's definitely improved over the last several months, that's for certain. "Very detail-oriented." And of course that's saying something, by his appraisal of these things. "We used to do puzzles during family get-togethers, growing up. She's very good at the odd inner bits." It's an idle interjection; he seems more inclined to watch the pair of them interact, right now. It's interesting. And it gives him a decent chance to eat.