brandon.

Have you ever sent a sexually explicit text?

On an average day, what can be found in your pockets/bag?

Brandon is a simple man: keys, wallet, phone. If he’s going to be working somewhere, usually a tablet or laptop to go with that.

How do you behave around people you like?

He’s very polite and while not particularly outspoken or chatty, he’ll engage in a conversation with the people he likes. He enjoys spending time with them, and would go out of his way to make that happen.

Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

Brandon wasn’t one for stand-up comedy, but when his friend said that he had a gig at Repercussions he couldn’t help but be supportive and attend. Unfortunately, said friend ended up getting ill on the day of the show and had to cancel, conveniently forgetting to inform Brandon – an oversight that resulted in the man sitting at the bar, half-listening to another ramble onstage about some obscure topic he had no knowledge of. “Any idea how long these things usually go for? I came to support a friend who ended up not showing up after all,” he mentioned to the woman next to him, taking a sip of his beer with a sigh.

An everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and lox; or a pumpernickel bagel served with pastrami, eggs and Swiss cheese. Those were Brandon’s go-to items when it came to bagels, but given the Irish holiday that was being celebrated around them, he couldn’t help but notice that green bagels seemed to be a hit among the customers. In Boston, everyone celebrated St. Patrick’s Day regardless of their heritage or connection to the Irish community, so this was definitely a dialed down version from what he was used to. Regardless, he couldn’t bring himself to really be comfortable with the idea of eating a green bagel.

As the server announced that there was only one of them left, Brandon turned to the woman beside him. “Please, you can have it. I was actually... thinking of being a killjoy and forgetting this holiday exists, in all honesty. So if you wanted a green bagel, don’t let me stop you.”

“It’s before sunrise, you’re worse than I am with your phone.” It’s part complaint, mostly teasing, though, as she continues to take a few steps ahead of him. Her phone’s zipped away into her pocket, comfortably so as she knows that the social media sphere of her workplace wouldn’t begin its circus hours from now (and, work emails could wait). The true complaint comes when he suggests going to the gym. Her mouth immediately turns downwards as her brows furrow in decided loathing. “I’m not going to the gym. There’s no way that’s happening.” 

She is thankful, though, that he’d come with her. Especially when she couldn’t drag Mason out of bed during the soccer season when he didn’t have morning practice even if she tried. “You could go, but are you really going to go to Anchor Management? Pass up the chance to hang out with Mason and the dog?” Though her expression had lessened to a raised brow, it’s a snort that escapes her, accompanied by a playful roll of her eyes. “Sunrises and gyms for you, sunrises and hikes for me. How do we get along again?” Lara speaks with that familiar dry tone as she glances at him again. “I’ll bet you a week of carpooling to the city that I can get to the top before you.”

.

“My favorite coworker is at a conference in Europe, we’re trying to make the time differences work for us,” Brandon countered, smirking as he indeed received a text message from Kevin. “See? He’s being a typical tourist and taking pics in front of the Eiffel Tower,” the man quipped, showing his sister the photo as proof that he did indeed have a friend in a different timezone. “But instead of eating a croissant while strolling along The Seine, I’m sleep deprived and climbing to a waterfall named after Quinn’s family,” he complained, knowing that spending time with Lara was the main goal of the day. “The gym isn’t that bad, plus I’d be with you. Although I guess it is getting nicer out for spring, so maybe outdoor exercise would indeed be more your cup of tea...”

“I’ll give Rocky tips, and see if I can coax her into giving me a free refill... or at least a free upgrade to guac from the chips and salsa on their menu,” Brandon countered, not even sure if their sister was on the clock yet or if she would even pander to his requests. “But you drive a hard bargain, and I could never say no to my nephew - even if he’s not in the best mood today for whatever reason.” At Lara’s bet, Brandon raised an eyebrow. Sure, he could’ve taken the train that left Crescent Harbor for the city every morning, or worked from home when needed. But what fun was it without a little sibling rivalry? “I accept,” the man agreed, hastening his footsteps in tandem with his sister’s. “Speaking of work... I’m actually applying for a job closer to home. Software development for one of the Starlings’ research projects, I have an interview next week. It’s only the first round, so I didn’t tell Mom and Dad yet. You’re the first person who knows,” he confided, keeping up the pace as he waited for Lara’s response.

Phoebe loved having her big brother back in town, and relished the ritual of plunking her socked feet on his lap once he sat down. Her socks were predictably mismatched - one patterned with cat butts, the other a solid but violent neon green - but at least they were clean, which was more than she could say usually. Her nose scrunched at his suggestions of apples instead of popcorn, or naked kernels unadorned with butter. “You’ve become so… sensible,” she said, her voice dripping with false reproach… Okay, 80% false… 50, at least… She knew he was right, knew he was saving her one of their mother’s devastating ‘I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed’ looks, but Phoebe lived for danger. 

Brandon’s teasing felt almost like a challenge, and she decided to take it as such. “She’s making Baked Ziti,” she started haughtily in her patented know-it-all voice that always seemed to have the undesirable affect of making her family laugh. “It’s a new recipe. She found it in a cooking magazine Janice gave her, but she’s substituting the sausage with ground turkey…” Not her best detective work, as their mom had willingly offered all that info up as soon as she stepped through the door, but Brandon didn’t need to know that. “And I would have gotten snacks, but I’m very comfortable here and you’re the last seated which means it’s your job now.” 

.

TIME JUMP TO THE CURRENT DAY

“Where do you even get these socks?” Brandon asked, scrunching his nose as he observed his rather plain ones in comparison, merely two-toned striped blue ones. He hated socks in general, only wearing them when absolutely necessary. “Someone has to be sensible in this family, keep everyone in line. Well, at least when Lar’s not here,” he countered with a nonchalant shrug. He knew that he could be considered boring, with his no-nonsense attitude but it was simply who he was. It could also be due to his age gap with Phoebe, where he was a teenager already thinking about leaving home for college when she joined the Winter household and therefore really saw her as a younger sister. 

“Why would she do that?” Brandon asked, grimacing at his mother’s modifications. He had a feeling that it was to make it healthier, but he was of the opinion that indulging once in a while wasn’t a bad thing. “Hopefully she’s putting enough spices so it wouldn’t alter the flavor without the Italian sausage. “Well, I can’t get up to get snacks until someone moves her mismatched socked feet from my lap,” the man countered pointedly, his facial expression turning to a pensive one. “I’m thinking of getting chips for myself, and an apple and some unsalted crackers for you,” he pondered in a serious tone, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Beggars can’t be choosers, Phoebe. So either you get up with me, or you settle for the food I choose.”

Nothing about the last couple of weeks had been an ideal situation, but it was this event, perhaps, that had been, decidedly, the least so. His relationship with Caroline had become strained, their appearance here more for maintaining an image he couldn’t remember caring about in front of a town full of people he didn’t know. Theo circled his thoughts like a drain, unwilling and unable to actually go down. 

She was pregnant. With his baby. There was still so much–

Brandon’s voice cut through his rising inner-panic and he blinked, realizing he’d been picking at the skin around his fingers, and settled into a too-casual smile. “Who would have thought?” Eli parroted, voice sounding strained, though he cleared his throat to try and chase it away. He might have visibly flinched at the sound of Caroline’s name, his guilt returning and clinging to him like a wet shirt, and he tried not to glance around the party lest he actually spot her. “She’s around here somewhere.” He eyed the glass in Brandon’s hand and glanced down at his own empty ones. If this was the conversation they were going to start with, he needed a glass (or four) of his own. “Show me where you got that before you start in on the big stuff. Where’s your party etiquette?” He teased, voice as light as he could stand to make it.

.

“You’re still a nerd, though,” Brandon teased, offering his friend a shrug. “Then again, so am I.” They’d come a long way since then, both men having settled into careers and taking the next steps in their personal lives; marriage for Eli and fatherhood for Brandon. “Right over here,” Brandon stated, leading Eli to the bar area but not opting for a refill on his own drink - not yet, at least. He could sense a bit of discomfort when Caroline’s name was mentioned and decided not to press the doctor on the subject of his fiancée. Brandon didn’t know the story, whether there was an argument between the couple that caused tension and wasn’t going to pry. 

“I actually got notified this morning that I’ve officially been assigned to a foster child. He’ll be joining me next week, it’s... a new territory, but I’m excited. I can’t believe it’s happening so quickly, but I’m ready. I’m gonna be a dad, you’re gonna be married. We’re all grown up, huh?” Of course, there was going to be more to life after this point for them both. “To the journey ahead of us both,” Brandon toasted yet again.

She can’t help the grin that decorates her expression, eyes bright with amusement as she nurses a cocktail in one hand where the ice is already half-melted They should’ve had a bigger celebration and Lara had been thinking so since the family get-together, but maybe she could still surprise him— “False, yellow cake and chocolate frosting will always be the best Especially when there’s cookie dough in the center.” The protest comes lightly, paired with a laugh as she still tries to decide what to reach for first. The macarons? A chocolate covered strawberry? Between the liquor-infused bliss and her sweet tooth being tempted by the table in front of her she nearly doesn’t the second half of what he says. “I uh—” She takes a delicate bite out of a raspberry macaron first. “The team’s actually out celebrating tonight, before they head back to Seattle tomorrow. I just traded one party for another. Your party.” Jokingly, she raises her brows, eyes flicking to her brother’s turtleneck and his bright, cherry red suit. Lara immediately reaches for a cupcake and takes a bite. “Mhmm…. Right.” It’s muffled, she’s only teasing. But Brandon taking fashion advice from her son… “You sure you aren’t just copying that one guy?”

.

“Yellow cake and chocolate frosting reminds me of childhood birthday parties,” Brandon commented, scrunching his nose albeit the nostalgic tone in his voice. While there were parts of his childhood that invoked trauma and pain, there were also the blissful parts - such as actually celebrating his birthday with a family who cared about it, baking cakes and inviting his friends over for a day of playing around the Winter home. “You may be onto something about the cookie dough, though. But I’d always lean more towards red velvet, or mocha cupcakes.” As if to prove a point to his sister, Brandon savored the red dessert with a very satisfied facial expression. “I’m honored that you made the time to attend my birthday party, Lar. The entire town loves me so much, they threw this shindig together,” the man quipped, tossing his head back as he laughed. “Well, I’m glad that the team did so well and that I get to celebrate your success with you. I’m really happy and proud of you.” The words were spoken earnestly, the teasing tone of their usual banter being absent until she mentioned his outfit inspiration. “Oh come on, you have to admit that The Weeknd has great style, and that the halftime show was worth watching. I know Mason does.”

While this was by no means a party in Brandon’s honor – an idea that he’d almost certainly have loathed anyway – he had no problem treating it as such with his closest friends and family. “This is my birthday cake, basically. It’s a selection of different cupcakes, and all of them are ones I love,” he told Lara, gesturing to the small baked goods in front of them. “But you know what, red velvet reigns supreme.” Picking up one of the crimson-colored cakes with cream cheese frosting and pink and red sprinkles adorning it, Brandon unwrapped it and took a bite. “Feeling jetlagged at all? The fact that you came at all is impressive, I would’ve been in bed all now,” he commended his sister, waiting to see if she’d follow suit with the cupcake tasting. “Mason told me to wear the turtleneck, I think your son has a keen eye for style. I’ll go to him for advice more often.”

Brandon had been occupying a spot by the dessert table, deciding which treat he wanted to try next while he had a moment to himself. He had to admit that it was great getting to see his friends and sample various appetizers on display. But there was one person in particular that he wanted to see, and made his way over to him almost instantly.

“Dr. Jeong,” Brandon greeted, raising his glass of merlot to his friend. “Look at us, moving on from the campus parties to this classy shindig,” he mused, cocking his head to the side. “Haven’t seen Caroline yet for the evening, is she here?” He had yet to really get to know Eli’s fiancée, but was indeed looking forward to getting to know her – if she was going to be in Eli’s life, she was likely going to be in his. “I’m really happy for you two, man. It’s going to be a great life ahead of you.”

valentine’s day charity gala 2021 

brandon winter + social media

brandon’s 35th birthday post

Eli: Hey, man. Happy birthday! I'm free after 5 every day this week, so let me know when I can take you out for drinks to celebrate.

Brandon: Thanks man, and thanks for not calling me old. I'm also free after 5 every day, how does tomorrow work? Today I'm with the family all day, my mom is making a super big deal about it.