Eddie before the birthday gala....

[batteryacid]

A frequent topic of town chatter since Eddie had arrived was Ms. Dahlia Leeds's birthday gala. He had roughly half a month's notice and anything dress code appropriate was firmly out of his means. Even though Eddie was well aware, thanks to the local tailor(s), that Ms. Leeds had opened a tab for people to rent clothing for the event... he hadn't felt right doing so.

Maybe a single meeting during Parade Day was a poor justification, but just attending the party would give him a chance to speak with her more. He could apologize for getting killed when he should've had her back, for one thing, and find out more about her without the possible distortion of the gossip chain, for another.

Then Angel approached Eddie with a request to be his 'plus one' as offered in an official, personalized invitation from Dahlia to Angel... and Eddie attending the gala event became a certainty.

Eddie winced his way through the display of couture options -- listen, his formative years were spent in the United States in 1950s and early 1960s, there were some Very Definite ideas of masculinity that got shoved down his throat -- just absolutely not used to all the fanciness and frilliness available in menswear as well. Luckily, the shop assistant was patient, and they managed to find something appropriate yet understated.

(The darker reds, like maroon and burgundy, are some of Eddie's favorite colors to wear, and he is willing to put up with the weirdly large buttons in exchange for the shiny embroidered embellishments not taking over the entire look. And if he has to shave his legs for the tights, it's not like he's unfamiliar with the process. The things one does for bike racing...)

****

Dress code aside, a fancy party for a rich person's birthday is not unfamiliar to Eddie. Most of his experience with it has been driving celebrities to the parties of their compatriots, but Myra also has some well-off friends. When Eddie and Myra were married, he'd put in a fair number of appearances at such gatherings.

On September the 20th, Eddie took care of all his farm-related duties early in the day (including lavishing Bobbin and Thread with attention and treats so they would -- probably, maybe, hopefully -- not wander). He did all of the washing and grooming necessary to be presentable after preparing Missy for the trip to the Leeds Estate, and then set off on a leisurely pace across the island.

Eddie stops by the townhouse that Angel picked out to live in -- upon officially joining the fire brigade -- and presents him with a boutonnière of cloth flowers. The white rose buds are made of satin, and the leaf embellishments of velvet. (Being on friendly terms with the owner of a clothing shop has its perks.)

"I figured you'd like it," Eddie says to Angel, as he fastens it in place, "and it will last longer than real flowers."

Afterward, the pair swing by Grace Holloway's home since Eddie offered to give her a ride to the gala. It'll be good for Angel to have some socializing time with someone else!

****

Comments

Post-Gala

[graveling]

Angel seeks Eddie out, when everything is embers and clean-up, his clothing singed at the sleeves in particular. He looks exhausted, especially for a guy who's not going to sleep tonight.

"Can I...um. Tonight. Come to the farm, maybe?"

[batteryacid]

Eddie looks exhausted as well. For all that he's been practicing sword-fighting with River... practice is one thing, and actual fighting in a life-or-death situation is quite another.

This time, Eddie's smile is the fleeting thing that drops off his face quickly, even as he nods in agreement. "I would like that. I'm real fuckin' tired but I'd like your company."

[graveling]

"Then let's get the carriage and get you home." Angel's hand, still warm from the fire he'd been handling, brushes Eddie's sleeve gently. It could have been incidental, but it absolutely was not.

[batteryacid]

Eddie sighs softly, and lets his hand slip into Angel's for a moment, giving a gentle squeeze. "Sounds good," he murmurs, before dropping Angel's hand again.

Once they figure out if Grace has arranged different transportation, or if they have to take her home as well, Eddie drives the carriage away from the Leeds Estate. Missy, apparently picking up on the mood, moves at a slow, gentle pace while pulling the carriage.

There's a chill in the air when they finally enter Northwest Hollow again, and the darkness feels thicker than it did in town proper. But Eddie urges Missy on, not up to dealing with any other horrifying nonsense tonight.

[graveling]

Angel's quiet on the ride, keeping a loose eye out in case there's more trouble lurking in the night. But the ride is peaceful, if austere. Maybe a little silence is necessary to gain distance from the horrors.

[batteryacid]

Eddie gives a sigh of relief when they get to the farm's main gate. He disembarks from the carriage long enough to grab and light the lantern which he habitually leaves beside the gate, then opens the gate. He climbs back into the driver seat with the lantern beside him and guides Missy toward the barn.

"Will you go back and close the gate?" Eddie asks, lit lantern aloft. There's another just outside the barn that he'll use to get from barn to farmhouse, and the expectation is that Angel will close the gate, douse the lantern, and follow the light to the farmhouse. It's the usual procedure for any time Eddie has to walk around the farm at night.

Is 'may your lantern always be lit' meant to be so literal? Perhaps not, but Eddie takes no chances.

[graveling]

"I will."

Angel doesn't mind the darkness, even though there's a lot to fear in it, here. He's always felt more comfortable at night, when shadows hide his oddness and he can pass for just another tired bum. But something about following the light to Eddie is different. Is...like coming home.

What a strange fucking thought.

[batteryacid]

After making sure that Missy is taken care of, and her food and water topped up for the evening, Eddie closes up the barn and walks to the farmhouse.

Once inside, he pulls off the suit coat and drapes it over one of the kitchen chairs. He leans against the kitchen table tiredly and just sort of... stares at his hands where they brace him upright. It's not until Angel opens the door again that Eddie even moves -- he looks up into Angel's face, manages a smiles, and declares,

"Next time there's a party, I vote we stay home. I'll bring some books over to your place and we can have an evening in."

[graveling]

"I probably wouldn't have gone, if Dahlia hadn't invited me like she did." Angel sighs, but it's more a postural thing than one of breath. A deflation, a release. Then he walks over slowly to the table. Puts one of his hands on top of one of Eddie's, fingers interlacing.

[batteryacid]

Eddie doesn't even think about it, just leans a bit toward Angel even as he curls his fingers a little to give Angel's hand a squeeze. There's comfort in being close.

"Ugh. I don't even know if I can relax enough to sleep. Maybe we can just... sit together for a while?"

[graveling]

"That sounds nice. You can lean on me, if you'd like. I'm not very soft, but I'm here." Idly, he's considering the possibility of stroking Eddie's hair. Just...to help him relax, or something.

[batteryacid]

Eddie suppresses a yawn as he leads the way over to the settee in the living room area. It's a long bench-like piece of furniture with padded seats but the back is more like a chair, lacking padding. (Eddie has vague plans to buy extra throw cushions for it eventually, but right now it's whatever.)

"Good. 'Here' is more important than 'soft' anyway." Eddie sits down, and tugs at Angel to sit beside him.

Once Angel does, Eddie basically flops sideways into Angel's nearest shoulder. More to himself than anything, Eddie mutters, "Never really liked soft. Ma was soft an' smothering... Myra could be the same..."

[graveling]

Angel, despite his name, doesn't have a wing to tuck over Eddie like a blanket. He's never before wished for one. But. But he can curl his arm around Eddie.

"I'm here. I'm here. Here I am." It's almost a promise, but not in the future tense. He can't swear to always be here, but he's here now, and perhaps that would be enough. It would be enough for tonight.

Next Morning

[batteryacid]

Eddie wakes up stiff the next morning -- no, not like that, mostly in his back. He'll be forty next year and the human back is a scam that doesn't last nearly as long as it should. Without opening his eyes, he shifts a little -- trying and failing to find a more comfortable position.

That earns a frown, a grumble that mostly comes out of his nose, and a sigh. Then Eddie opens his eyes...

...and all of a sudden remembers that he never made it to bed last night. Because here he is, waking up draped all over the settee... and Angel.

A blush spreads across his face. He gives a little cough. "Uh... good morning."

[graveling]

"Good morning." Angel's voice is a low rumble, felt as much as it is heard, and his arm moves to lightly squeeze Eddie closer. Cuddling, unmistakably.

[batteryacid]

Oh.

Angel isn't upset with Eddie for falling asleep on him. Angel doesn't mind.

A soft smile curls Eddie's mouth at that realization, and he moves his arms to wrap around Angel in a proper hug. The guilt is silent -- silenced? -- for once and Eddie feels a relief in taking the comfort as offered.

"I'm glad you're still here," he says, voice soft and still a little scratchy with sleep.

[graveling]

"You'd have woken up if I left." A pause, and then one of those classic smiles that fails to linger. "And it was. Reassuring? It was good, feeling you breathe."

His hand lifts, slowly to stroke once through Eddie's hair, testing if that's okay, if it's acceptable and allowed.

[batteryacid]

"Heh. You're strong enough that you could've carried me to my bedroom and tucked me into bed, if y' wanted."

And... it's reassuring for Eddie, knowing that Angel wanted him close.

When Angel pets his hair, there's a moment of confusion, but it fades in favor of a pleased expression. Eddie releases a breath, and murmurs, "That feels nice."

[graveling]

"Then I'll keep going."

There's a hint of laughter behind the words. Petting continues, gentle and careful. At some point after Eddie fell asleep, Angel had removed his glasses, set them on the arm of the couch. He offers them back now, with the hand not in Eddie's hair.

[batteryacid]

Eddie gives Angel an extra squeeze before releasing the hug, and he accepts the glasses back.

And he leans into the petting for a little bit longer, just enjoying the gentle touch.

"I really should get up, get changed, and doing the morning chores..." Eddie says. There's a touch of a whine in his tone, "But I don't wanna..." After a few more moments, he sighs and smiles wryly at Angel. "Time to be responsible, though."

[graveling]

"Do you want me to come do the chores with you, or to start figuring out breakfast?" Either way, he's trying to offer an incentive to get up, as much as he doesn't fucking want to do it either. The cuddling could just, you know, continue all day or something.

[batteryacid]

Eddie makes a whiny-sounding groan of protest as he thinks over those options. "Ugghhh... you're still in your fancy clothes. Maybe you ought to handle breakfast. I'll change into my work clothes and get started on chores... if I leave the chickens cooped up too long, I might be dealing with a revolt."

Eddie still lingers, cheek pressed to Angel's shoulder now, for a moment. Then he forces himself to stand and not show any regret before he goes back to his bedroom to get changed for the day ahead.

[graveling]

"Maybe I should leave a change of clothes here, in the future, so I can help out next time this happens?"

If there is a next time. He wants there to be a next time.

[batteryacid]

"If that's what you want to do for next time," Eddie answers. It's a good thought. They can't always plan for the island throwing weird shit at them, can they?

He comes back out in his work clothes, with his fancy rented clothes folded up. There's a little blood on them, and he'll explain why to the clothing store, but he doesn't want to risk cleaning the fancy fabric and ruining them with his lack of knowledge.

"I'll be as quick as I can," Eddie says to Angel. "We'll head into town when I have the morning chores done. And you can come say hi to your gal pal while I water the crops."

Angel's 'gal pal' is, in actuality, the other chicken of Eddie's farm. While Bobbin (the clothes-stealing menace) has the usual animal reaction to Angel of 'that's weird and I don't like it', Thread apparently has no problem with him. She follows him around and has been known to preen at his hair if it's in her reach.

[graveling]

"No need to rush about it."

Angel smiles though, at the mention of Thread, and levers himself off the couch--less stiff than Eddie, but like. Rigor mortis isn't entirely not a thing for him. He just hides it very well, most of the time.

He decides to visit the chickens, especially Thread, to see if there's any eggs that might become breakfast. Get some bonus affection, as if this wasn't already an overwhelming amount.