closed starter for @ofgenchenier
setting: february 2, 2020 / rowan & andy’s superbowl party
Rowan knew that Gen was going to be at the party --- even before Jer texted her asking her to be nice, she had a sneaking suspicion that Gen would be there. The whole club had been invited, as per tradition, and Gen is part of that -- or, at least, she’s working to become part of that. But now she’s here not just as a prospect, but as Jeremiah’s guest --- and in a jersey with the name ‘THANE’ written across the back, no less. She’s pretty sure her blood pressure had gone off the fucking charts when she saw that, but she swallowed back half a glass of wine and reminded herself she had told Jeremiah that she would be nice. And besides, even if she wouldn’t ever admit it outloud, it’s kind of cute the way Maddie has situated herself between Gen and Jeremiah, jealous of the attention that her uncle is giving someone else while still simultaneously trying to get to know the other woman.
There’s a lull in the game -- or at least, she thinks there is. Honestly, Rowan doesn’t know the first thing about football. She’s tried to watch it with Andy before but really, it just doesn’t do anything for her. Too much stop and go with too much standing around talking. She’ll watch baseball all goddamn day, but this? Pass. But it’s been quiet for a few minutes which is probably as good a time as any to say something to Gen. It’s almost weird that they’ve never met until now. Half the time Rowan forgets that fact, so caught up in wanting to protect Jeremiah from getting his heart ripped apart again and the dislike for Gen that comes with that -- she forgets that the dislike all comes second hand, that Gen has never really done anything to her.
She’s got Benny propped up on her hip as she makes the rounds, trying to ensure that everyone is having a good time -- though not too good that they get rowdy and break a fucking lamp like they did last year -- when she finally comes face to face with Gen. Her lips purse together momentarily, some kind of backhanded compliment about the jersey brewing inside of her but then she can practically hear Jeremiah, ‘please be nice’, and she swallows it back down. “Did you get something to eat?” She asks instead, choosing to ease into whatever kind of conversation they’re going to be having. “Andy made it all but, s’not poisoned. I promise. Buffalo chicken dip won’t kill ya -- though he might, if he finds out you didn’t try any.”