batteryacid | Eddie before the birthday gala....

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!

****

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

graveling

"Not sure. They probably have procedures for these kinds of things, by now. Ways they deal with it all." Five years into a crisis like this, they have to, right?

Angel brings the eggs to the kitchen. "Frying, boiling, scrambling? How we doing these? I don't think I got the skills to poach, yet."

From:

batteryacid

"I'll bother someone at the Oak and Iron once we get into town." Eddie sounds sheepish as he says, "Normally I'd just question the tailors but they're probably going to be mad about the blood on my rental."

In answer to Angel's question about cooking methods, "Fried, I suppose? That's easy to turn into scrambled if the yolks break."

From:

graveling

"I'll get it going."

He's humming some music that was playing at the dance the night before as he gets the pan heated and cracks eggs into it.

From:

batteryacid

It takes Eddie a moment to place the song, and once he does a thoughtful expression settles on his face.

"I don't think I realized how much I missed music until last night. I'm used to all kinds of options... cassette tapes, vinyl records, radio... and I'm pretty sure there's none of that here."

From:

graveling

"No, there's not. No YouTube, either. And like, I've got what I've got in my head, and I can't reproduce it. Don't play any instruments, don't really sing. I tried dancing, last night, at once point."

From:

batteryacid

"You Tube is one of those future things, huh?" Eddie asks. It's more rhetorical than anything.

Eddie rests his elbow on the tabletop, and props his chin on his hand. "You danced last night, and it wasn't with me?" His tone is light and teasing, and he pulls an exaggerated pouty face too.

From:

graveling

"Did you want to dance with me?" Angel turns to look at Eddie, clearly actually surprised by the idea. "If you'd said something, I would have. I think I'd have liked to dance with you. I just...you had other friends you were talking to, places to be. I didn't want to interrupt and hog your time."

From:

batteryacid

Other friends that Eddie has known would not have taken him seriously (would not have picked up on the longing that even he didn't want to acknowledge there). The question from Angel startles Eddie a little -- prompts him to wonder...

Did he want to dance with Angel last night?

"Well... I didn't think you wanted to, since we sort of... wandered away from each other." Eddie glances down, keeps his eyes on the table. "We went as friends, right? But... you wouldn't have been interrupting."

From:

graveling

"We went as friends." Answering the question with affirmation, but is that really all? Angel turns away, pays attention to the eggs. Adds a dash of salt.

From:

batteryacid

Eddie keeps his eyes down, turning over thoughts in his head. "I was safe," he'd said to River, about Myra. But... had he been with Myra because she was safe, too? Both of them hiding behind the other in turn?

"As friends"... he has called only a handful of people 'friend', at home. But they weren't all the same kind of friend, were they? Does Angel have to be held at a distance like--

No. He refuses to even think that name. Not now.

He raises his eyes again. And addresses Angel, "Next time there's a party... if you like... I'll ask you to dance." He amends, after perhaps too long a pause, "As friends?"

From:

graveling

"I feel like there's a layer to this conversation that's going over my head, here."

Something is heavy, and complex, and Angel is confused. But bold enough to make that confusion explicit, to ask what he's missing.

From:

batteryacid

"Maybe? I don't know," Eddie confesses, "Sometimes my thoughts go all over the place, and then I'll hit on something that I'm 'not supposed to' and everything screeches to a halt. Like it's dangerous to even consider. I don't know... I-- I'm sorry. That probably doesn't make any goddamn sense."

From:

graveling

Angel brings the two plates of eggs to the table, setting them down, but doesn't sit down yet.

"Have I done something wrong on accident?"

From:

batteryacid

"No. You're fine, it's just... me."

~~I'm afraid. I don't want to tell you how I'm struggling to figure out what I want.~~

Eddie pokes at his eggs with a fork, then glances up at Angel.

"I probably think too much. I get lost in my own head, in my worries, sometimes."

From:

graveling

"Oh. I'm sorry I can't come in like some cave explorer and find you, when you get lost. I would, you know."

As a friend?

From:

batteryacid

"...I appreciate that," Eddie says, and his tone is sincere despite the bland words.

He reaches across the table to touch Angel's hand.

From:

graveling

Angel shifts his hand so they're not just touching. So he's holding. His gaze lingers on their hands, that connection.

From:

batteryacid

Eddie keeps his hand extended, letting Angel hold his free hand while he eats breakfast. He's silent for quite a while before speaking again.

"You know... if I ever gave you the impression that I know what I'm doing. With, like, life in general... I think that was a mistake. I have no goddamn clue."

From:

graveling

"Well. That's disappointing. I always figured you living people knew what you were doing and the reason I had no clue was because of what I am. I thought--I hoped--you weren't going through the same constant existential crisis, the same dread constantly roaring in the back of your head. I hoped you were all okay."

This is completely and totally serious.

From:

batteryacid

"Um... nope. I can tell you that I, for one, have that constant dread." Eddie sighs. "Maybe we're both weird in that way, and we'll just have to muddle through together."

From:

graveling

...

...

...

"As friends?"

From:

batteryacid

Why does that question hurt? Eddie draws away, sort of curls into himself.

"If you want something else, I'm not fit to give it to you."

From:

graveling

"Eddie, I don't know what I want." But there's the ghost of frustration in his rumbling voice. "I know last night was nice, though. And I know I like being here with you. I've never had...anyone. Friends, family, anyone. I'm here in whatever capacity you want me."