So, as it turns out, I've been writing a lot when I wasn't working or in class. Nothing post-worthy quite yet, or ready to be posted, is more accurate. Until now, that is. I finally, after years of protesting and reluctance, decided to watch Love Actually for the first time ever, and I adored it. I got inspired, and decided to write a story with a similar idea to that.
This story centers around a ton of losers as people prepare for the Van Dijk-Zwingli wedding. I just really wanted an excuse to write some of my favorite pairings (aka rarepairs no one fucking writes for lol). As evident here, there is a lot of other things brewing for some of your favorite characters, and it is very exciting for me to write something a little more fun, not super chronological, but still all interconnected.
MAIN PAIRINGS THAT WILL APPEAR: SwissBel, NedViet, IceThai, SloCzech (CzechSlovak? CzeSlo? IDK y'all), AusHun (feat. Prussia), MoldLiech, OzMon, HongTai, PortMac, BelaSey/SeyBela
Other characters or pairings will appear, too, but those are the main ones.
ALSO, I will keep this list of the names of the main characters I'm focusing on at the end of every author's note, as well as a chapter summary. I will also make sure you are aware of any not-main characters too and tell you their name, if it's a character with a not canon name. Because of this, I will probably do the author note at the end, because this is a very long list of names because lots of characters are being used.
Switzerland ~ Sebastian 'Basch' Zwingli
Belgium ~ Josephine 'Fien' Van Dijk
Luxembourg ~ Benjamin 'Bennie' Van Dijk
Netherlands ~ Johannes 'Jan' Van Dijk
Vietnam ~ Lien Nguyen
Iceland ~ Erikur Thomassen (usually I use Steilsson, but AU'd this one up)
Thailand ~ Kiettisuk 'Kiet' Sripuy
Liechtenstein ~ Elise Vogel
Moldova ~ Nichita Costin
Czech Republic ~ Tereza Lukáč (I normally use Veselá, but AU)
Slovakia ~ Matej Lukáč
Austria ~ Roderich Edelstein
Hungary ~ Erzsébet Edelstein (AU'd it up)
Prussia ~ Gilbert Beilschmidt
Australia ~ Christopher 'Chris' Walters
Monaco ~ Camille Leroux
Hong Kong ~ Leon Wang
Taiwan ~ Mei Xiao
Portugal ~ Domingos de Silva
Macau ~ Joaquim Wang
Belarus ~ Natalya Braginskaya (AU'd up)
Seychelles ~ Nichelle Laurent
CHAPTER ONE SUMMARY: Jan is a dick to his relatively attractive co-anchor, but after that's settled, they dig each other. Then, they don't communicate, and shit hits the fan for a bit.
BACKGROUND CHARACTERS FOR CHAPTER ONE: Mariya (Ukraine), (England), Francis (France), Mikkel (Denmark), Alfred (America), Andrei Costin (Romania) (if i miss someone my bad it's over 7k words)
The Wedding Bell Tolls
Jan Van Dijk
His mother was going crazy with this wedding shit, and the last thing he wanted to hear was about how lonely Jan was and how sorry she felt for him. But of course, at family dinner, he heard it, and while Bennie (as shitty as the kid was, he had some good points) tried to stand up for him, Fien indulged her mother.
"I bet I know someone that Jan would love! She can be his wedding date!"
Jan's head whipped around, as Fien smirked – her catlike grin taunting him. Fien, due to the fact she was the only daughter and the only one getting married right now, was the favorite child, and she always won bonus points for being a massive kiss-ass.
"I don't need a fucking wedding date, Josephine," Jan responded. Fien fumed, because since she was little, she seemed to have some kind of resistance to using her full name. Jan knew this pissed her off when he called her that, and used it as a means to punish her.
"The hell you don't!" their mother yelled. "Johannes, you're almost twenty-nine years old. I was married with three kids by the time I was your age!" Jan wanted so badly to point out by the time she was thirty, she was divorced with three kids, but out of respect for his mother, he kept that sarcastic comment to himself.
"Women know you as the hot stud who talks about sports on the news channel," Fien piped up again. "You should have no problem finding a date."
"I don't want a bimbo," Jan grumbled. "Why can't you harass Bennie? He's single too, you know!"
"Benjamin is my baby, he's too young for romance!"
Bennie and Jan exchanged looks in solidarity, rolling their eyes simultaneously. Jan maybe didn't hate Bennie so much. Not anymore, especially when he seemed to respect Jan and his life decisions.
"I think I know just the girl! I'll call her up later!" Fien spoke, ignoring the look of death from Jan as their mother clasped her hands together. "She's right up Jan's alley, too."
"Moody and humanity hating?" Bennie piped up. Jan's focus shifted to Bennie. He wanted to be mad for the deadpanned response, but he could only assume Bennie learned that from him, and it was a well-played, if not somewhat accurate, response.
"Well," Jan finally cut in, rising from his seat. "This dinner has done nothing but piss me off. Guess I'll catch you all soon, in light of the wedding and all." Slamming his chair against the table, Jan walked over, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to his mother's cheek, before glaring at his siblings. He still had to show his mother some sort of affection and respect, but he could sure as shit be rude to his siblings.
"If any of you would like to criticize me more, I now will only take that shit in writing!" he shouted once he reached the front door. He was sure Bennie was about to say something smart, and before he could, Jan slammed the door.
They would not get the last word in. Over his dead, cold, body.
x x x
"Johannes, come in."
When the head of the network wanted to meet with him, Jan wondered if his latest comments towards field reporter Andrei Costin were going to get him fired. Andrei was fine, normally, but Jan could not stand long periods of interactions with him. He was sure the HR Department was having a field day with him by now…
The head of the network folded his hands on the desk, narrowing his bushy eyebrows. "As you know, your sports segment is top notch, and we love the work you do."
"Thank you, Mr. Kirkland," Jan responded.
"And while you do amazing things, we believe… that we need to also reach a more diverse, broader audience," Mr. Kirkland continued. Jan raised an eyebrow, unsure on whether he was being fired or not "Now, I know that you can be resistant to change… the desk incident was proof enough… but, I think what your sports segment needs in order to give it a diverse, modern facelift is a co-anchor."
Jan sputtered. This was almost worst than being fired. He, at least, got to keep his job. Jan opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He was left looking like an idiot in front of his boss. His boss took this cue to continue talking.
"Her name is Lien Nguyen," he told him. "She actually just transferred her from a small station out in California. She's covered World Series to little leagues, Johannes. She's good. Scary, crazy good." Jan bit his lip, wanting to protest he did not need a co-anchor. Mr. Kirkland smiled, reaching over and pressing a button on the intercom system on his desk.
"Nichelle, can you please send in Lien Nguyen?"
The door opened moments later and Jan turned around.
All he could say was he immediately hated her. She was dressed in a nice, trendy top with a slimming, black, white, and tan pattern. She was wearing black slacks, which made her legs seem long, but maybe it was the nude, pointy-toed heels. Lien had brown eyes, a determined gaze, and long black hair, pulled up into a high ponytail.
"She looks like a political analysis." Jan snorted as Lien turned to glare at him, walking over to the empty seat next to him. She sat down as Jan asked, "And so you expect me to work with her?"
Mr. Kirkland timidly nodded as Lien turned her body towards Jan. "Is there a problem, Mr. Van Dijk?" she asked.
"I don't think I need a co-anchor. If you want to give her a slot on another program, by all means…"
"You're much more arrogant than you look," Lien interjected. Jan raised an eyebrow. "How do you expect me to do any work in this kind of environment?" Lien's question was directed at Mr. Kirkland, as Jan coughed.
"What does that mean, Miss Nguyen?"
"It means you're insecure about the fact that I can probably do this job better than you."
"I haven't seen your work," Jan grumbled. "Who would know? Although, judging by your attitude…"
"See!" Mr. Kirkland was quick to jump in, cutting Jan off before he could have yet another HR complaint filed against him. "This is what I want! Chemistry! You two are going to be perfect together!" While Arthur praised what he hoped was the beginning of banter, Jan leaned back, crossing his arms as he glared at his boss. "Lien, Johannes, you two are going to be the biggest duo since… well, you know…"
Lien rose up, nodding her head as she said, "I look forward to working with the station, Mr. Kirkland." Turning towards Jan, she scowled, clicking her tongue as she added, "However, the same cannot be said for my co-anchor…"
x x x
Jan was a damn good sports journalist and a damn good sports reporter. He was able to overcome any adversity, so naturally, a new partner was like his trail period with the radio station he started at, when they said he was 'too young.'
"Uh, I know the area has some kind of investment in local teams and they seem to care about the Chicago teams, but really, are we just going to ignore the fact that the Titans are in the playoffs?"
Jan rubbed his face. Lien was from California, which meant she had more exposure to professional sports than he did. He noted that she had an Oakland Raiders flag in her cubicle, and a Golden State Warriors keychain. Jan saw her desk was adorned with pictures of her with various Warriors players and his eyes twitched.
"Why dedicate that much time when we can focus on the high schools competing for spots at state?" Jan asked. He wondered if Lien had ever done a high school sporting event like wrestling. He assumed maybe, but this was different in Iowa. Small farm communities started their kids with wrestling in diapers. That was their bread and butter.
"I guess, but I do think the NFL fans need a bit of coverage too," Lien protested. Jan looked at the clock. Luckily, they weren't on until the 6 PM time slot today, which gave them plenty of time to perfect and practice.
Jan sighed as his phone buzzed, shaking his head. "We should also touch on the terrible basketball season for the Iowa Hawkeyes," Lien said.
"You can't say it's a bad season!"
Lien shot daggers at Jan. "What would you call it? A blip? A slip?"
"A rough patch," Jan grumbled.
"Look, I'm sorry, but even with some key players, this is more than a silly little 'rough patch,' Johannes." Lien began to spread the papers out in front of her. "Look, I'm sorry this is not how you little Iowans handle your sports, but where I'm from, it was better to be honest…"
"You shit on a team, you get fucking crucified! I don't care what little show you did for your stupid, nobody station, we are Eastern Iowa's leading news service. People are not tuning in to hear us talk about how terrible a team is, but…"
Lien crossed her arms. "You can go, Johannes," Lien said, cutting him off. "I'll make changes to my notes. I'll get my shit done, but I'd rather not have you sit here and criticize my experience."
Waving him off, Lien picked up her papers. Jan fumed silently, but stood up, leaving her cubicle. He didn't even know what to say after that, but all he knew was that he wanted nothing more to do with Lien Nguyen.
x x x
"And now, we'll take you over to the Sports Corner, with Johannes Von Acker and new co-anchor, Lorraine Nguyen!"
Jan almost did a double take as he heard his new co-anchor's name. Jan knew that Lien didn't use her first name for broadcasts. But Lorraine? She could do way better. "Thanks, Toni," Jan replied, looking right into the camera. "As he said, the Sports Corner has a new face here, and we are so excited to have Lorraine here. How do you like Iowa, Lorraine?"
"Thanks, Johannes," she all but hissed back at him. "It's different, but I'm adjusting well. All I can say is, at least it's not Kansas City!" Jan resisted the urge to roll his eyes as she gaze the camera a dazzling smile.
"Well, at least the Chiefs are in the playoffs there, Lorraine," Jan managed to say. "Our top story tonight, the Iowa Hawkeyes squared off with the Maryland Terrapins in College Park. It was, uh, quite the night for the Hawkeyes, wouldn't you say?"
Lien nodded. "Yes, I would. Iowa is now winless in the big ten, with an zero and five record after today's shenanigans in Maryland. The coach was ejected late in the first half, and another play dismissed from the game following a technical foul. Now, looking at the tape, Johannes, I would say the officiating here definitely seemed to like to take momentum away from Iowa…"
"Uh, well…" Jan gulped.
"However, we are looking at a very young Hawkeye team that has yet to learn synergy."
"Now, I would say they have it…"
"I mean, watching them play is like watching a high school team!"
"I think we have a rough patch, and that soon, we can pull it together," Jan argued, turning to face Lien. "Iowa actually played very well in this game, in spite of the fact that Coach M was tossed from the game before the second half."
"I think we're looking at a offense that doesn't fit a team of young men, and a team with a lack of defense. I mean, come on, the team is tall and they're allowing how many points in the paint?"
Jan clenched his fists. "We cannot blame just one person for this, but if we were to keep talking about this, we would be here all day!" Jan turned back to the camera, forcing a smile as he added, "Coming up, Li- Lorraine and I still get to talk basetball as we check out metro scores…"
"And I get my firsthand look at real, all-American, Midwestern wrestling!" Lien added. "I cannot wait!"
As the ON AIR sign flashed off, Jan turned to Lien. "What the fuck? We are here to report facts! We didn't even get to the coach's postgame interview!" he yelled. Lien scoffed, shaking her head.
"Oh, give me a break! I'm not gonna sit here and blow smoke up the ass of the people! I'm here to challenge and ask questions!"
"You haven't been through the McCaffery era here, Nguyen." Lien stood up as Jan stepped closer. "You don't know Iowa Basketball."
"You've put your team out on a national stage. You're lucky I didn't go into my ejection speech…"
"On in five!"
Jan huffed. Lien crossed her arms and smirked. He wanted to curse and scream, but he instead took his seat. Jan was quick to resume the broadcast, which lead to another heated argument about California versus Iowa wrestling.
At the end, he muttered, "Stay in your own fucking lane, Nguyen." She was silent as he stormed away.
All in all, it was an awful day at work…
x x x
"Nguyen! Van Dijk!"
Jan jumped as he was gathering his things. Sticking his head out of his cubicle, Mr. Kirkland motioned for him to step out. Lien was quick to exit her cubicle, calling, "Yes, Mr. Kirkland?" she asked, watching Jan slowly approach them.
"Tonight's newscast?"
Jan gulped. He was waiting for all the awful words that Mr. Kirkland could say. He was waiting for his job to be threatened. He was ready for the worst of the worse. He had already started looking up transitional jobs that required him to not take off his clothes. He couldn't be a stripper, he was sure of it…
"Was absolutely amazing! So much fire and banter! Fans love it!"
Jan blinked, his jaw hanging open. Lien raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me, sir?" she asked, crossing her arms. "You're telling me…"
"God, people just went absolutely bonkers! Everyone thinks you should have your own talk show and that was just based on one, short segment!" Mr. Kirkland was practically yelling this, his voice raising an octave as he waved his hands frantically. "I was on the edge of my seat! Two differing opinions, it was incredible! This was exactly the boost we needed!"
"Mr. Kirkland, while I am happy at the success, I need to speak with you about…"
"I need you to cover both evening and late night segments!" Mr. Kirkland exclaimed. "Bring the same fire! It's intense, it's… riveting!"
"Mr. Kirkland, please," Lien pleaded. "I really would much rather…"
"Jan and Lorraine, Iowa's most heated sports broadcasters!"
As Mr. Kirkland saunter off, Lien tried to reach out to him, but he was quick to go to another part of the building as Lien groaned. Jan watched her return to the cubicle. As she stormed away, his stomach sank.
Following her into the cubicle, he muttered, "Guess I'm stuck with you?" he offered.
"Guess I better learn to stay in my own fucking lane," she deadpanned. "Leave me be. I need to work on my emails to Mr. Kirkland. I'm not going to stay in an environment where I feel unwelcomed…"
Jan backed up, before changing his mind. "Lien, wait…" He immediately walked over to the empty chair next to her. "This station, we've been falling behind for a while. I need this job. If I do well, I can… move onto bigger things, you know?"
"Now you want to play nice?" Lien snapped.
"When you get a compliment like that from Mr. Kirkland, yes," he stressed. "Mr. Arthur Kirkland is a bitter man who hates everything and everyone and that was the first time in a long while he's been genuine."
"And I'm just some convenient broad for you to further your career." Lien opened her email application and began to furiously type. Jan placed his hand over one of hers, drawing her attention back to him.
"You came from a small, nobody station…"
"You keep saying that!"
"But, let me guess, you need this break just as much as I do!"
Lien rolled her eyes, but stayed quiet. Jan cleared his throat, adverting his gaze. "I may be asking you for my own selfish reasons, but you definitely have yours too. Don't play the patron saint of anything, Lien. We can make this work."
"You say one more out of line thing to me, and I will have you fired." Lien turned back to face him, adding, "Your career will be over and you won't be able to get a job at McDonald's. That's what I will do if you so choose to speak to me again like how you did earlier."
Jan nodded, because that was fair. "Agreed."
x x x
Two weeks later, the show was a bigger hit than it was before. Lien had began to tolerate being in the same room as him and they had developed a better working relationship. In light of all the praise, Jan was less abrasive to Lien's opinions, and in many occasions had even found himself agreeing with her.
She was a persuasive woman, amongst being knowledgeable about most all sports. Jan had her beat in baseball and wrestling, and probably hockey, although Lien boasted season tickets to the San Jose Sharks, but he wasn't quite convinced.
"Iowa State has picked up a few wins, including a good set of marquee ones." Lien tapped her pen against her notebook.
"They'll make the tournament," Jan replied, with no hesitation. Lien rolled her eyes.
"The NIT, maybe," she answered. "Considering there is still a large gap between them and the ninth place team in the Big 12, I don't think with powerhouses like Kansas, Oklahoma, and even shocker Texas Tech they'll stand a chance at a 20 win season, let alone winning a championship."
Jan shrugged, "They're everyone's favorite Iowa team."
His phone buzzed and he groaned. As of late, Fien had been more needy than normal. Bennie had admitted to turning his phone off to avoid calls and Jan used work as an excuse. "Your sister again?" Lien asked.
"She's asking me or Bennie to pick up her shoes at Basch's sister's bridal shop," Jan muttered. "God, this is pathetic. Can't she do anything herself?" Jan watched as Lien rolled her eyes.
"No wonder you're single."
"I choose to be single, thank you," Jan replied. "Can't say you're necessarily a peach either, Miss Nguyen."
Lien nudged him with her foot, "Okay, so, we should talk about the state tournaments heating up – and probably throw in some Waterloo Blackhawks talk, just because… people like them?"
"It's the puck sluts – you know how it goes. You were probably one."
Lien rolled her eyes, and Jan froze. "Can't say that on air," she replied. Jan must have looked like he was going to die of fright, because she felt the need to reiterate, "I think I know when you are joking and when you're being malicious. You've lightened up."
Jan turned a light pink. "Only because I don't want to be jobless the rest of my life."
"Well, that's still a possibility." Lien grinned, her brown eyes sparkling with delight as Jan lowered his gaze. "You're probably already going to die alone, so you might as well add future hobo to your list, Johannes."
"Jan."
Lien blinked, tilting her head. "Jan?"
"Just call me Jan. I've always been called Jan since I was a baby. Johannes is way too stuffy, but Kirkland said it sounds good on TV." Lien nodded, looking at him as if she was waiting for him to change his mind. Jan shrugged, looking down at the ground.
"Okay, Jan," she said, trying out the name as someone whom she may not hate and is forced to work with. Lien nodded, giving a small smile. "So, anyway, about tonight's show…"
x x x
By the time January ended and February began, Jan realized that Lien and him spent a lot of time together. Lien shared some personal information with him – how she used to be a beauty pageant contestant and a model, but following a diagnosis anorexia, she spent time at a treatment facility, and gave up her mother's dream of her being the next Miss America and proceeded to chase her dream of sports journalism.
"I was married when I was sixteen."
"What?"
Jan turned to her after they had finished working on their show outlines for the next week. "I was in Vegas with my then-boyfriend for a modeling thing. He was some hotshot football player, going to USC on a full ride, and I was modeling almost full time, and I wanted some independence. I forged my parents' signatures, had my cousin pretend to be my dad on the phone, and we got married. It wasn't valid or anything, and when we broke up, the divorce shit was simple, but I let my dad handle it…"
Lien looked at her watch. "Have you been to that brewery? I went with my cousin, and the food is good, if overpriced. And the beer is better than what they have in any normal pub."
"Are you inviting me out for dinner and drinks?"
Jan watched as Lien nodded, standing up and grabbing her jacket. "I think we've been working together for a month, we haven't killed each other, and we're the highest rated news channel at the end of January. That's cause for celebration!"
Jan rose, grabbing his coat as it was always so cold during Iowa nights, and followed Lien out to the parking lot.
x x x
"So, Fien is the middle child, and she's getting married to Basch Zwingli – he's running for sheriff soon," Jan explained. "Bennie is our younger brother, and he's just kind of there for the drama of it all. Bennie's helping Fien find me a wedding date."
Lien listened intently. "Everyone should just elope."
"Vegas would be nice and there's not as much fucking drama and fanfare and it's easy," Jan admitted. "My mom would have a fit, but I kind of want to see her face if I were to get married by a man dressed at Elvis."
"My ex wanted that, I refused, but if I had to do it again, I would just say fuck it and let the Elvis man marry me." Lien brought her glass to her lips and smirked, a twinkle in her eyes. "So, your sister is trying to play match maker?"
"She's set me up with a few of her bridesmaids, but I'm not interested," Jan explained. "I've met them for drinks or dinner. They either talk to much or not at all. She even tried to set me up with her future sister-in-law, but her ex-husband showed up and made a big scene. Sweet girl, not my type, and not worth that drama."
"You mean you don't like confrontation from the ex?" Lien teased. "I'll have to call off mine."
"He's gonna fly all the way to Iowa to get his ass kicked?"
"Big talk coming from you, and he lives in Kansas City right now." Lien laughed, shaking his head. "Alfred and I are actually on very good terms, so it's not as much drama as the divorce was."
"You were married at sixteen, you probably didn't even read what you were agreeing to."
"I still don't read any contracts, otherwise I would've demanded my own show." Jan smirked as he leaned back. "You know, for an arrogant dick, I can stand to be around you now."
The waiter came over and Jan ordered another beer, while Lien declined, still working on her first. "And, are the checks together or separate?" the waiter asked, looking at them from over his glasses.
"Sep–"
"Together," Lien quickly said. Jan glared at her as the man walked away. "And because I can stand to be around you, let this be my treat. Your cheese fries aren't as much as my dinner was."
"Two beers."
"You can get next time," Lien offered. Jan raised his eyebrow, but slowly nodded. They talked while they both finished their drinks, and Jan couldn't help but feel something that was close to a heart palpitation in his chest every time she would smile and laugh with him.
Jan wondered if a volatile start to a relationship could change to something so warm and friendly.
He also wondered if such a rough start could mean that he and Lien could be something more.
x x x
"I can't date her, you know."
Bennie looked over at Jan who looked at his hands. "Oh yeah, don't date the coworker," Bennie said, although he was rather apathetic toward his whole statement. "You think you like her?"
"Bennie, I've never wanted to kiss someone so bad in my life."
"Have you kissed someone who isn't Nanna?"
Jan shot Bennie the nastiest look he could, and Bennie shrugged, still maintaining his 'don't care' persona about this whole topic. Jan and Bennie exchange a few looks, essentially Bennie telling Jan it doesn't matter, Jan arguing with him that it does, and Bennie's looking telling him that he has seen that woman and she is a former model and she is attractive and quick-witted and she is not going to be single forever, but Jan will be if he doesn't step up his goddam game.
Jan is surprised he got all of that from one look, but as much as he likes to talk shit on his younger brother, Bennie is a Van Dijk, and he is just as expressive as Fien and himself combined. "I probably shouldn't bang my co-worker."
"You should probably bang, wife up, and then proceed to have the most sarcastic babies with your co-worker, then you can both work for ESPN and have a couple's show and be hashtag goals."
"Why do I go to you for advice again?" Jan grumbled.
Bennie rolled his eyes, before reminding him, "Because Mom is nosy and Fien will interject herself into this situation, but instead of maybe being of some help, she would actually hijack the conversation to get this girl's opinion about wedding napkins."
Jan shuddered, remembering the three-day argument that Fien and Basch had over wedding napkins. Lien found it funny, at least. Jan was thrown in the middle and after siding with Basch, Fien threatened to throw him out of the wedding party.
"Why don't you ask her to the wedding?" Bennie pressed.
"That's really intense, don't you think?" Jan raised an eyebrow, challenging Bennie's suggestion. "If we went as friends, maybe, but… that's not… I mean I always thought wedding dates were like, long term relationship things."
"I brought my three month boyfriend to Elise's wedding when she got married," Bennie argued.
"You broke up two months later, Ben," Jan reminded him.
"Not because of that, but because he was cheating on me with your best friend," Bennie hissed. Jan gulped. "Are they still together?"
"No, Kiet and him broke up," Jan explained. "He didn't want kids, so I guess he dumped Kiet is more accurate." Bennie shrugged, which probably meant it was not a big deal to him. Jan was glad that asshole was out of his life for good – the whole "brother vs. friend" thing was ridiculous.
"So, it's settled, you're asking Lorraine Nguyen to be your wedding date." Bennie stood up, grabbing Jan's empty coffee cup as he quickly maneuvered into the kitchen to get them refills. Jan opened his mouth the protest, but shut it quickly.
Well, it wasn't a bad idea, he assumed.
x x x
"Fien gave up on the wedding date thing."
Jan dropped this casually during lunch with Lien. He had decided now to do this over pho, because Lien had yet to be impressed with any pho places in Iowa. She seemed to like this one well enough. And it was a close walk to the station, so maybe he could ask her to hold her hand after…
Lien raised an eyebrow. "Did you just agree to one or…?"
"I kind of… found someone on my own," Jan muttered. Lien raised an eyebrow. "I think she's pretty cool. I was planning on asking her today." Lien's expression was unreadable. Setting her utensil down, Lien folded her hands in her lap.
"Really? Would I happen to know her?"
"Well, yes?" Jan gulped, lowering his eyes towards the table. The last few days he had been discussing the idea with Mariya, a woman who worked at the station's front desk. Mariya helped him work through what he wanted to say.
"Well, Mariya is a fine woman." Lien checked her watch, refusing to meet his gaze. Jan's eyes widened as he tried to get out a sound. "She's quiet pretty, and her body is nice. She's a sweet woman, as well. A fine choice indeed."
"Lien, what the hell…"
"You know, I remember, I have a meeting with Francis because he wanted to do something different with makeup, so I need to go now, so I'll see you on set." Lien grabbed her purse. "This was a good place, thanks."
Lien was quick to leave, leaving Jan in shock. When he returned to the studio, Lien wasn't in her cubicle. Mariya told him she had been in Francis' office since her return.
"How did it go?" Mariya asked, although her tone made it seem she knew already.
"She thought I was taking you," Jan forced a laugh out in reply.
"Eduard would be so pleased to hear."
Jan, by the evening taping, proceeded with the show as normally as he could. Lien, appeared to be as cool as a cucumber, but Jan could tell by the lack of inside jokes used and playful looks she usually gave him, she was still in a sour mood.
By the end of their last taping for the night, Jan returned to his cubicle confused, trying to figure out how to fix this misunderstanding. Lien did not say anything to him, so he assumed he wanted to be left alone until tomorrow, which didn't sit well with him. Jan frowned, knowing that Thursday and Friday, he was off for wedding bullshit, and if he didn't fix it by tomorrow…
A quiet rapping sound woke him from his inner monologue about how dramatic everything was. He swiveled his chair and saw Lien at the door. "Can I come in?" she asked, quietly.
"Oh, uh, if you want, yeah," Jan offered. Lien entered, closing the sliding glass door slightly behind her. "What's up? You left lunch in a hurry."
"I, uh…" Lien bit her lip. "I just…"
"You know, if you want to say something, you can just say it," Jan commented.
"I'm trying, you asshole!" she whispered-yelled.
"We've always been honest," Jan reminded her. Lien stepped closer and Jan crossed his arms. "You never leave without letting me know what you think and feel, and then you stormed off like I offended you at lunch and…"
"Are you truly that dense?" Lien leaned down, putting on hand on the arm of her chair. "Are you really that fucking oblivious?" Jan didn't even get a chance to respond, because Lien didn't give him a chance.
She pressed her lips against his, and Jan tried to hide the surprised noise caught in the back of his throat. Lien pulled away quickly as Jan stood up, stunned into silence as Lien brushed her lips with the tips of her fingers. "Fuck," she cursed. "Fuck, I shouldn't…" She turned around quickly and left the cubicle.
"Wait, Lien, I…"
Jan, after a few moments of realization, tried to chase after her, but she was not in her own cubicle. Jan gathered his things quickly, leaving the station, sending a few texts to Lien before he drove back to his apartment.
x x x
"Johannes, may I speak with you?"
Mr. Kirkland motioned for him to follow him and Jan gulped. When he finally arrived at work, Mr. Kirkland had been lurking by the front desk, seemingly awaiting his arrival. When Jan closed the door behind him, Mr. Kirkland said, "We've called in subs for today. I know your sister is getting married, so why don't you go be with your family?"
"Well, thanks, but my time off isn't scheduled until…" Jan blinked. "Subs? What about Lien?"
"Lien, as of this morning, has informed me she no longer wants to work for the station. I have given her a week's time to make sure she is not just homesick, and if she wants to put in her two weeks next Wednesday, she can."
Jan's stomach flipped flopped and his heart sank. "She's quitting?"
"It seems like she wants to, yes. Do you know anything about this?"
Jan lowered his gaze, but shook his head. "Did she say why?" Jan asked.
"She said it was a lot of conflicting feelings and interest, I assumed she missed California." Mr. Kirkland shrugged his shoulders. "I figured this news would shock you, so I think you really should take today off, and enjoy your sister's wedding, and come back in Monday, and we can discuss…"
Jan blocked the man out, absentmindedly nodding as he pondered all the information thrown at him. Jan didn't say anything to Mr. Kirkland after he rose up, and left the building.
He sent Lien a few more texts, met by radio silence, and even called her, only to be sent straight to voice mail. He drove to Bennie's place, ranted and raved about how awful everything was, and Bennie just got quiet.
"Man, I wish I could help…"
Bennie was being sincere, and Jan felt like for the first time, this was an unsolvable problem. He decided to help Roderich and Gilbert prep for the bachelor party, to get his mind off of everything, and by the time they finished everything, Jan had a couple texts from Lien.
[LIEN] I'm not ready to talk about this
[LIEN] I'm not ready to talk about my feelings
[LIEN] but I fucked up I need time to think
"Yeah, me too," Jan muttered, typing a quick reply before he decided to get shitfaced to avoid thinking about his problems.
The night was fun – Bennie's friend made out with the officiant, there was strippers, there was booze, and Basch made some grossly adorable speech about his love of Fien – and how he was ready to spend his life with her.
x x x
Call from… LIEN.
Jan awoke, hung over, to the sounds of his phone ringing. He rubbed his eyes, grabbing his phone as his hands shook – partially from his body still waking up and partly because of nerves.
"Hello?" he groaned, rubbing his head.
"Jan?"
He exhaled – okay, she hadn't reverted to Johannes – that was a good sign to him. "Lien – ow – hi."
"I, uh… Mariya said last night was a bachelor party…" Lien sounded unsure and was trying to avoid a subject that was hard to avoid.
"What's up?" Jan muttered, probably still slurring and probably sounding very stupid drunk. Thank God today was recovery day for the boys…
"About… Tuesday, I shouldn't have… I just… I was jealous." Lien sounded like a child who was being forced to admit they were actually wrong, which he was certain was a huge jab at her pride. "And, I, uh… I'm sorry…"
"Lien, you didn't even let me explain… at lunch or at the station," he forced out. On one hand, it hurt, but he was proud he was making so much sense. "Did Mariya also tell you I was gonna ask you to the wedding?"
"That's, uh… why I called?" Lien sounded unsure, but he could see her embarrassed little grin. He snorted, then moaned in pain, because that hurt.
"I like you, you know."
"Now I do."
"You like me, I know."
"Well, I guess you do now…"
"Why don't we just actually go the fuck out?" Jan finally said, rubbing his temples. "Not… right now… because I might actually die in the sunlight, but…"
"What about work?"
Jan huffed. "Well, if it doesn't work, it doesn't…" he trailed off as Lien sighed loudly. "C'mon, this is infuriating. You make a big deal about kissing me and me maybe asking a girl who wasn't you to be my date to a wedding, and you're going to bust this out?"
"It's just, not professional!"
"Couples work together all the time."
"We aren't Pam and Jim, Jan," Lien replied. "I don't know… I just… I still… need time."
Jan yawned, rolling over onto his side as he grumbled, "Take all the time you want, Lien. I'm going back to sleep."
Lien began to say something, but Jan quickly hung up, turning his phone on silent, and rolling over away from the nightstand, dozing back off.
x x x
February 17th, 2018. The day that Jan Van Dijk would gain a brother-in-law, watch his little sister get married, probably got really drunk at the reception, and hear the endless jabs, asking when he was getting married. His mother had already brought it up multiple times at the rehearsal dinner, and he was quick to shut it down.
Bennie, dressed in a nice, purple shirt, approached Jan before the start of the wedding, asking, "So, did you speak to Lien?"
"A bit. She called me, we've… kinda texted."
"Interesting… what's the sitch?"
"She needs time to decide if she wants to be professional or personal, I guess." Jan shrugged his shoulders as Bennie offered him a flask. "What brought this up?" Jan asked, glaring at Bennie as if he had ulterior motives.
"Oh, Kiet said you seemed a bit distant Friday after the dinner, so I wanted to check in…"
"Since when did you speak to, and I quote, 'that boyfriend stealing bitch,' Benjamin Louis?" Jan watched as Bennie just smiled in return.
"Time for the wedding procession!" Bennie announced, clapping his hands together as Jan took his spot next to Elise, Basch's stepsister. Jan glared at Bennie, who opened the doors to the makeshift chapel as Bennie escorted their mother down the aisle. Jan and Elise quickly followed as soon as his mother had taken a seat.
Jan looked around at the guest, before glancing over to where his friends were suppose to be, watching as Chris and Mikkel whispered to each other. Kiet smirked, leaning back and turning to the woman seated next to him.
Jan's heart rate increased, noting the woman seated next to him with dark, straight hair and a taunting smile. The woman looked at him and he knew. Lien was seated next to Kiet, although she didn't look as surprised as he would have assumed. He assumed his spot at the altar, trying so hard not to creepily stare during the rest of the procession, and then returned his attention to Domingos, the officiant, waiting patiently for the ceremony to end so that he could get to the reception, and maybe catch Lien…
Once they were legally pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Zwingli, the wedding recession began, and everyone cheered, blowing bubbles as the happy couple made their way towards their "love mobile," as the maid-of-honor dubbed it.
Jan, Elise, and Bennie rode with his mother, and Jan kept tabs on the group Snapchat, noting that, yes, Lien was still with them. He entered the reception hall and made his way to the table his friends were seated at, noting that only Camille, Chris, and a few people he didn't know were standing around, talking to each other.
"Jan! You looked so good up there! Doing nothing!" Chris exclaimed, smiling as Jan sighed. "What's up?"
"Where's Kiet? I need… uh…" Chris smirked and leaned over, whispering to Camille as he nodded towards the bar. Jan made his way toward the bar, locating Kiet as he tapped him on the shoulder. Kiet turned around, and grinned.
"Janny!"
Lien whirled around, her expression neutral as Kiet embraced him. "You glad it's over?" Kiet asked. Jan nodded, and Kiet continued to babble on, making sure that he did a quick introduction to Lien, even though they worked together, before rambling on about how amazing the wedding was. Jan could hear the envy in Jan's voice, but let his friend ramble on.
"Kiet…" Lien was finally brave enough to interject, although she looked a bit unsure. Kiet turned, sipping his drink as she motioned toward the dessert table. "That guy… your friend… the kid with him…"
Kiet paled. "Oh, yeah…"
"He's looking at you. Do you know him?" Lien pressed, placing a gentle hand on Kiet's shoulder. Kiet nodded, and Jan looked over. He remembered the group chat said something about Lukas' little brother earlier in the week. "You should talk to him."
Lien's emphasis was not so much out of concern for why he was staring or Kiet's sudden silence, but it was more of a hint to leave her and Jan alone so they could have a bit of one-on-one time. Kiet mumbled something and Lien pinched him, which caused Kiet to make his way toward where the wedding cake would be displayed.
"He's, uh, chatty," Jan tried to think of a phrase that wouldn't cause her to become upset. "I didn't know you knew Kiet."
"He's my cousin, the one I tell you about," Lien explained. "I thought you knew, but Kiet's kind of dense, and didn't realize I worked with you…"
"Kiet doesn't watch the sports segment, usually. He's too biased to the Hawkeyes to hear anything negative…" Jan chuckled, nervously. "Did you know?"
"At first, no," Lien answered, knowing exactly what he meant. "Kiet said there was a wedding he was invited to, and he had a plus-one on his RSVP. His plus-one ditched, so I offered to go. He said that he was good friends with the bride's brother, and I got suspicious and asked, and of course…"
Lien didn't finish and took a sip of her drink. Jan shifted uncomfortably. "You look gorgeous," he blurted out. Lien blinked, caught off-guard by the declaration. "And, whatever you decide, I'm okay with. I know…"
"I didn't offer to go." Lien turned a light shade of pink. "Kiet was going to cancel his plus one, your brother told him not. He said he should ask me, and that… it would make sense as to why when I got here."
Jan wasn't even surprised – Bennie was nosy and probably had done some kind of investigating. "Did you know?"
"Well, Kiet asked me to replace his plus-one and I said sure, then he explained how he knew the bride and I figured…" Lien shrugged. "Look, I'm sorry. I don't handle this kind of… thing well. Just ask my ex-husband. Or whatever. We probably weren't legally married at all, in reality."
"No, probably not…" Jan muttered. Lien snorted.
"But, I think… as odd as this would be, maybe we can go on a date. Like, a labeled date. Not like what we usually do where we just casually meet up or whatever…" Lien waved her free hand. "I think… I want to take it slow."
"Oh, oh yeah," Jan concurred, nodding enthusiastically. "So, uh, I don't want to take you away from your date tonight, but… maybe you could spare a dance for me?" Lien rolled her eyes, grabbing his arm as she motioned behind him with the hand that held her drink. Jan looked over his shoulder, toward the dessert table, where Mikkel was clapping his hands and cheering, with Kiet kissing a very tall male.
"I don't think Kiki is going to mind too much," Lien offered.
