#minidon

Gaylord Focker : meeting the parents

His life consists of suits that have been pressed free of any wrinkles, shoes as flawless as the bottles of wine he shares with his business partners. He smiles easy for a man who has his life cut into rigid blocks of time, his words known to draw out even the worst of poisons but as he sits across the dinner table from his former business  partner--her own father--he cannot help but feel as if he is terribly out of control.

"So," Levi began crisply. "Erwin," He snapped the glass bowl of salad onto the glossy wood surface a little too sharply. "When exactly did you meet my daughter?"

He moved to speak--but Mikasa clutched his hand, shaking her head minutely. "I've already explained that."

"It's fine, Mikasa." Erwin speaks smoothly. "I have no problem telling the story."

"No." She laces her fingers with his, reassuring him with a firm squeeze--her dark eyes darting up to her father with the barest hint of irritation. "You've worked with him before. You should know he's trustworthy. He's a good man."

Levi nodded as he adjusted the lavish dinner he'd cooked himself. "Oh, he's a good business partner. Sharp, smooth talker. I know he's clean, I know he works hard. I know most of his background, know most of the money he has now was made through his inhuman work ethic and a mind as twisted as it is brilliant. I've been to enough business trips with him to know his favorite wines and that he's allergic to shellfish. I know he's well mannered, so much that he's often forced himself to eat things that made me gag and spit without batting a damn eye to impress them because a million dollar deal depended on it. That was Erwin's strength--sealing the deals."

Levi served Erwin his plate. 

Erwin froze. "Levi..."

Mikasa pinched the bridge of her nose. "Shellfish..." She muttered beneath her breath.

Carmen:  I decided to keep him around... Isn't that right, Aberddon?

Aberddon: C'mon, cut it out... you know my ears are sensitive...ah- ahh!

Carmen: He amuses me