Eithan Paine (
deviances) wrote in
realityshifted2015-01-26 06:10 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Entry tags:
☼ thirteen ☼
[Know what else is great about cold weather? Fireplaces. Know who's going to make that happen? This guy.
Eithan is not at all a fan of the cold. Snow? Snow is fun. Cold? Cold is very much not. So since he still wants to waste time on the Plane instead of dealing with shit in his own world, he's bound and determined to find a way to stay warm. Fortunately, the house he brought to the Plane a while back has been properly fixed up, so it's a perfect shelter from the cold... especially since it has a completely functional fireplace!! Furniture, well.. that's still a little sparse - but there's at least two (obviously well-loved) couches and a good many (nicer, better kept) Victorian-esque parlor chairs near said fireplace. So that counts for something, right?
He's already inside, and is making sure the fireplace stays lit - in fact, anyone wandering anywhere near the building is bound to see smoke rising from the chimney. He's not about to let it go out anytime soon, and he's just as freakin' determined to not set foot out in the snow anytime soon, either.
So, come join him by the fire! Anyone who comes into the house will find him either poking at the fireplace to keep it nice and toasty, or sitting around and basking in the warmth. Possibly smoking - he's had it rough lately, after all. And maybe if you're really lucky, you could convince him to play his guitar - he's brought it with him, it's just going untouched for the moment.
And as if to prove his point that he doesn't want any cold anywhere near him... there may or may not be a snow-free ring around that house, because he may or may not have melted it all with fire. Just saying.
Eithan do you hate fun]
Eithan is not at all a fan of the cold. Snow? Snow is fun. Cold? Cold is very much not. So since he still wants to waste time on the Plane instead of dealing with shit in his own world, he's bound and determined to find a way to stay warm. Fortunately, the house he brought to the Plane a while back has been properly fixed up, so it's a perfect shelter from the cold... especially since it has a completely functional fireplace!! Furniture, well.. that's still a little sparse - but there's at least two (obviously well-loved) couches and a good many (nicer, better kept) Victorian-esque parlor chairs near said fireplace. So that counts for something, right?
He's already inside, and is making sure the fireplace stays lit - in fact, anyone wandering anywhere near the building is bound to see smoke rising from the chimney. He's not about to let it go out anytime soon, and he's just as freakin' determined to not set foot out in the snow anytime soon, either.
So, come join him by the fire! Anyone who comes into the house will find him either poking at the fireplace to keep it nice and toasty, or sitting around and basking in the warmth. Possibly smoking - he's had it rough lately, after all. And maybe if you're really lucky, you could convince him to play his guitar - he's brought it with him, it's just going untouched for the moment.
And as if to prove his point that he doesn't want any cold anywhere near him... there may or may not be a snow-free ring around that house, because he may or may not have melted it all with fire. Just saying.
no subject
Heya Fire-head. This your doing?
no subject
Eithan grins at her as he finishes poking at the fireplace and stands straighter.]
Yep, all me. Was gettin' damn tired of the cold, so why not?
no subject
[She hangs the cloak up and rakes her hands through her hair to shake out the half-melted snow.]
no subject
[He stretches his arms above his head - he's been hunched over that fire for a bit, just to make sure he doesn't accidentally blow the place up when he lights it - and then flops down on one of the couches.]
How long you think this'll stay here?
no subject
'Awhile' huh? I wouldn't be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. Dunno how long it'll stay here though - hopefully not much longer. Being cold and wet all the time is starting to get old.
no subject
no subject
no subject
[she pulls off her hat and gloves as she enters, still wearing a heavy coat over her usual attire when she spots Eithan by the fireplace]
Should 'ave known it was you who's got this little, ah, event well in hand. [she smirks. the snow-free area around the house was amusing to see--but also welcome] Got something cooking, too? [she gives the air an experimental sniff, noting that the aroma of chocolate she picked up outside continues in here. what she doesn't know, of course, is that it's an aroma only she can smell]
no subject
[One last tweak... and there, it's perfect! He stands, brushing his hands off on his jeans as he grins over at her, nods in greeting.]
Welcome to my home away from home - and, currently, shelter from the damn cold. [He smiles.] Nothin' cookin', no, but you're welcome to bring somethin' if you want.
no subject
[she stuffs the hat and gloves into her pockets before removing the coat, which she lays on the floor. then she comes over to join him, sitting down on one of the parlour chairs. she frowns at his response, though, and waves a hand] No, just...thought I smelled something. [she sniffs again, but as this is her third sniff, the aroma abruptly disappears, and she shakes her head dismissively]
Anyway, how've you been?
no subject
[Which is true enough. He does like to be helpful! And who doesn't like a cozy fire~? He picks a chair, plops himself down in it and gestures for her to take a seat too, if she wants to hang around.]
Been better, been worse. Just takin' it a day at a time, while I can. What about you?
no subject
[Eithan is someone she trusts enough that, if it seemed like there would be a point to it, she would share about the strange dream she had and the mysterious aroma of chocolate. however, a dream and some brief olfactory weirdness do not an emergency make, so she just shrugs] Same as usual back in Manchester. And as far as this place goes, I'm not exactly what you'd call a fan of snow--[she wrinkles her nose]--but I've gotta admit it's done worse.
So what's got you staying 'ere in your, ah, fortress against the cold, anyway?
no subject
[He shakes his head, kinda glances around a bit as if to say, well, this is it, really.] Eh, just that. What you see is what you get, really. I'm out here, the cold's out there, and that's the best arrangement I can think of right now.
no subject
[she pauses when he misunderstands her meaning, wondering whether to leave it at that. but then again, it has been a long time since she's seen him, and she wouldn't be her nosy self if she didn't ask]
Not a good time to escape the snow back where you're from, then? Or you just like this place better?
no subject
[He knows what she's actually getting at, though. So he relents, a little.]
I just like comin' here, and it's worth it to brave the cold when you've got a fireplace to work with, you know? [Beat.] Dunno. For the moment, this place is a helluva lot less stressful than home. Keywords bein' for the moment. [And he cracks a smirk at that.]
no subject
[but at that, the smirk drops, her expression souring] Yeah, well, you know this place. It'll probably fix that soon enough. [but then she pauses. she has a feeling it's useless to ask, but she wants to anyway, so she does] Anything back 'ome that we could 'elp you with?
no subject
[He snorts at her comment about this place fixing the pleasantness. It's funny because it's true, you know? But at her last question, he blinks, then shakes his head.]
Nah. Nothin' to help, really. Thanks, though.
[And he smiles - genuinely appreciative of the thought behind her offer. Still, what the heck can anyone outside of Meridia do to help with Meridian politics and all this Order bullshit? Rebellions are from within, not from the outside.]
no subject
[she nods, taking his lack of detail as a hint not to pry and actually following the hint for once. instead, she just says, earnestly:] Good luck.
no subject
That, and maybe I was feelin' petulant enough to do it in the first place. [He cracks his knuckles, showing off - obviously more for the laugh than anything.] That'll teach it.
[He'd answer, honestly. He really would. He just has no idea where to start, it's all so much, and it's not at all relevant to her. So why burden her with it? Maybe one day, he'll cave. Until then, he'll remain convinced that this is no one else's
faultproblem but his.]no subject
Mind if I stick around for a bit, enjoy this little sanctuary you've got 'ere? [because she doesn't feel like going back to work at the moment, and as far as she can tell, he's made this into the most pleasant place on the Plane. the fire alone is a definite advantage over anywhere else, and she's holding out her hands to it now, flexing her thawing fingers]
no subject
[He looks around, somewhat sheepish, and shakes his head at himself.]
Eventually it'll be more comfortable. Just gotta find better stuff to put in here. It'll be like... a home away from home. And obviously all my friends'll be welcome here. Just gotta find the time to get off my ass and furnish the place, I guess.
no subject
no subject
That'd be awesome! Though, payin' you back... Not like I know the exchange rate between Meridia or Tharia and-- uh... you from Earth? I swear everyone's from this Earth place but me.
no subject
But, yeah, I'm from Earth. Different part and time than most of the others, but same place more-or-less.
no subject
[He gives an exaggerated groan and shakes his head, but he can't keep the grin off of his face.] See? Earth again! The hell, man... It's like I'm the weird one now!
no subject
[she snorts, amused] Suppose that depends on your point of view. I wouldn't exactly call our futuristic super-soldiers normal, for one. So I wouldn't worry too much.
no subject
having spent his entire life in new england, he's more acclimated to the cold and everything that comes with it than eithan might be. he happens to like it a lot, actually, because it means he can bundle up in his ridiculous amount of sweaters and hoodies and be nice and toasty-warm. he's got several layers on him and is out for a walk in all the powdery white stuff when he happens across the house and the snow-free ring around it.
well.
of course this means he has to stop in and say hello. things have been kind of ... spotty since the whole ordeal with the other him and what had come from it, but if he's completely honest with himself, there's no one else he would rather see right now.
he lets himself inside and finds eithan poking at the fire, lingers a tiny bit behind him as he tries to think of something to say other than - )
Hi.
( good job, darren. gold fucking star. )
no subject
Things really have been rough since the whole... other selves thing. Both of their shadows had been particularly nasty, dredging up shit that neither of them wanted to face, particularly truths about each other. But worst of all, when Darren's struck and he had to watch as...
... He doesn't want to think about it. He shuts it out - like everything else. He'll face it later. Because that's healthy, sure.
Eithan's finishing up with the fire when he hears the door, and when he hears Darren's voice behind him...
It doesn't matter that it's just the one word. Eithan smiles, stands up straight and turns to him.]
Hey.
[He might be happy as hell to see him, and certainly wouldn't want to spend his time with anyone else right now... but he's just as short on words for the time being.
Good job, boys.]
no subject
it's kind of funny that he's more concerned about the things he will prospectively have to discuss with eithan than he is about the fact that he's died on the plane. when you're brought up to think that death is pretty certain and then you … accidentally get yourself killed by your own freaking shadow and wake up a little while later like nothing had ever happened, you may tend to see things a little differently.
he doesn't know about the black blood yet. the understanding of his dragon … it's new, it's something that he has to get used to and something he will inevitably bring up to eithan just to lighten conversation in future, but for the most part he's keeping quiet. there are way too many things on his mind that he … decidedly does not want to talk about.
the shortness of words shouldn't really be an issue – it's them, after all, and they've never really felt the need to fill a stretch of silence with words that don't mean anything. all in all, even if this ends up being a little awkward for a bit, there's nowhere else he'd rather be, either.
darren smiles back, shoving his hands into jean pockets. ) Nice place you got here … even if it's a little under-furnished.
no subject
Eithan really does want to talk about.. things. Everything. He hates that nagging feeling that they should be having a conversation, because when it's up against the fact that he has no idea where, how, or if he should even start, it puts him at a complete standstill. So all he can do is leave it alone. For now. The time will come, right? Maybe.]
Yeah, well, it's still more furnished than it was when I found it. Less broken as hell, too. [Snort!] Though yeah, I admit that movin' in is... kinda slow. I originally brought it here 'cause Emil and I were gonna make a restaurant and stage out of it, but... well, he's not here anymore. So. [He's quiet for a second. ... Then he shrugs.] Guess I'll just call it my own, huh?
no subject
darren wants to talk about Things, too. but he doesn't know where in the world to start, doesn't know if he should start off by saying he's sorry, that he'd never intended for eithan to find out about the depth of his thoughts and feelings once he'd found out that the other was spoken for; because how could that conversation have gone, anyway? hey, i kind of like you – a lot – but you're getting married, and i don't even know if you like guys …? no, thank you. this one has some pretty impressive social anxiety even on a good day, and he doesn't think he could have taken the direction that conversation was sure to have taken.
so, for the moment, he's going to wait. eventually, he knows they're going to have to talk about things – because it's them, and they've never had an issue with working things out, no matter what it happens to be – but sue him if he wants to keep the veneer of normalcy up between them for the moment.
he hums a thoughtful note as he moves close to one of the couches, fingers tracing along its back. ) Nothing wrong with that. ( golden eyes flick upward, a knowing little grin curving the line of his mouth. )
Hm … do you have a Goodwill in Meridia? You can always find cheap furniture and stuff there. ( he laughs, just for the hell of it, for the sake of how ridiculous what he's saying actually sounds. ) Not that you need to worry about cheap, but you never know what you're gonna find. Most of what's in my apartment, I got because nobody else wanted it.
no subject
See, either of those worries would be plenty enough on their own. Darren's just had the misfortune of having to worry about both of them. And that's not fair. ... Which is the whole point that Eithan's been trying to work on. Fair... none of this is far to him - or to Val, either, and probably not to himself but he's less concerned about that one since he's sure he's the one who made this mess (or at least didn't help it) - and he just... needs the right time to tell him the rest of everything. So maybe he'll realize things really are okay.
But for right now... sure. Normalcy. Why not.
He's momentarily distracted, just watching Darren's small smile positively light up his face - but he zones back in on what he's saying, and blinks, curious.]
Uhh, you mean like the virtue? ... Intent. Whatever? That? [Snort!] Nah, I know, I figure that's, what, a store? Haven't heard of it.
[He grins as well.] Ehh, yeah, sure, but it's easier to get away with it if there's not a money trail. I mean, all this was free! The couches were bein' thrown away, so I grabbed em. And the chairs? Well, uh, mom decided she wanted a new color for one of the parlors, and these were last month's chairs. [He even waves his hands, emphasizing the silliness.]
no subject
there's so much to talk about, so many things to go over and smooth over – but darren has always been something of a coward, even if since he'd first started coming to the plane that's changed, if only the smallest bit. he likes to think that he's gotten over some of those fears, of being an inconvenience, of getting in the way, but as they say, old habits die hard. and it doesn't matter how much he's progressed, some things will always be a proverbial cloud hanging over his head.
but. maybe he'll work up the testicular fortitude to broach the subject. any subject that needs to be broached.
all in good time, naturally. ) Thought not. It was a shot in the dark, anyway. ( there's a small laugh, and he absently reaches into a pocket for his pack of cloves, tucking one into the corner of his mouth and simultaneously patting other pockets down in search of his lighter. the hell did he even put that thing.
last month's chairs. what on earth. he will never understand you noble types. ) Last month's chairs … well, I can't blame her. Gotta keep with what's in. ( snort~
… still can't find that lighter. what in the world! )
no subject
Oh don't worry, he would gladly watch you. .... What?Eithan'll bring it up, if Darren doesn't. Eithan will probably pop under the pressure, otherwise - under the guilt of making things worse for the one he really cares about. It'll come. It will. Just... not right this second. Let him have this moment - that smile, that honest happiness. He knows he'll see it again later, that it'll all somehow be okay, but... that doesn't make it that much easier.]
Hey, it'd be pretty impressive if a store managed to be in both Earth and Meridia. That's like, some sort of transcendant achievement or somethin'. Also, would be kinda creepy.
[Snort!] And yeah. Apparently black wood is out and dark wood is in. Who knew? Maybe next month, they'll make chairs outta twigs.
[Still no lighter... oh dear goddess, boy, come here!
Eithan shakes his head, walks around that couch Darren is standing behind and stands beside him. With a quick word, a fireball appears in his hands, and he holds it out toward him with a grin.]
Need a light, I take it?
no subject
he's never been to the house, but when he sees the snowless ring around it when he comes upon it, he can't think of anyone else it might belong to. ( never mind that it doesn't look like it belongs here, with the style of architecture. he's never been to meridia, man, but sheesh, that's some interesting shit. )
he lets himself in, easy as you please, takes a second to look around before going in search of eithan himself. you can bet he's gonna comment on the lack of furniture, because really, dude? a couple of couches and chairs? you can do better than that!
eithan is just about to light up a cigarette when york finds him by the fireplace, the whole room nice and toasty from the fire, and the latter lets out a contented sigh the closer he gets to the source of the heat. he doesn't get cold easily – but everybody likes a nice fire, don't they? yes, of course they do. )
Hey man. ( a small smile, friendly, what the other will be used to seeing from his ~older brother figure~ ) How you been?
no subject
And well, at least the house stands out as his. It's kind of flattering, honestly, like he's got some sort of reputation around the Plane or something. (Maybe he does~) But of course York is welcome here. Whenever. And he's glad to see the Freelancer when he looks up from his sprawled-out position in one corner of a couch. He grins around the cigarette dangling from his lips, finishes lighting the thing with his own fire and sits up a bit straighter.]
Hey. Could be better, could be worse. You know. [He takes a short drag from his cigarette, lets the feel of the smoke pull another small smile out of him before he continues.] Been a while. How've you been?
no subject
eithan? reputation? whatever do you mean? ( come on, kiddo. we both known you're probably infamous now for all the trouble you've stirred up since you first started coming here. not that isn't a fun thing to do – we also know this one right here has stirred up his fair share. this is probably part of the reason you two get on like a house on fire. )
he's just gonna make himself comfortable on one of the other couches, not quite sprawling, but definitely giving off an air of being comfortable around the mage. like he could be anything else at this point. ) Could always be better or worse. ( he replies with the hint of a grin. ) Look where we are.
( a beat of a pause. ) Eh, all things considered, I've been okay. ( shrug! does eithan need to know about the second plane death yet? nah. ) There's been some stuff goin' down back home, but that's what this place is for. Ignoring shit you don't wanna deal with.
( ha. )
no subject
He's glad York is as comfortable around him as he is in return, and with a grin, he settles into his own couch a little bit more. Mm, nothing like lounging and smoking by a fire, huh?
.... Snort.] Man, good point.
[He catches that pause, pulls in another mouthful of smoke as York continues talking. He lets it out as a steady stream, one that curls in the air in front of him as he grins.]
Damn right, it is. Until it pulls its own shit, then we're all just fucked.
no subject
c:
eithan has been there for him when he needs him – and hopefully, it's been the same for the redhead vice versa – so of course he's going to be comfortable around him. big brother figure and all that … gotta get the kid used to not having to be one all the time himself. let somebody worry about your goofy ass for once! c'mon.
speaking of booze …
york looks around, despite having already noted how barren the place is, mouth twisting into another grin. )
Got anything to drink around here? I feel like we should make a toast to ignorin' shit. ( ABOUT THAT BOOZE RUN … ) Y'know, 'cause that seems like the right thing to do right now.
no subject
Eithan snorts, grinning.]
Thought about it. But that'd involve goin' out in the snow to get it from the bar, so I'm still tryin' to decide if it's worth it or not. [Sigh.] I'd just grab some from home, but I think dad'd notice. Easily. And I don't wanna be on the receivin' end of that.
no subject
[After tapping his feet off and leaving a pile of snow on the ground, he wanders in, looking around the place until he finds a familiar figure poking at a fire in the fireplace.] Wow, this place is looking great, Eithan. Nice and cozy.
[He bends down, setting his groceries down by the entrance to the room and heads over to join him at the fire.] How've you been?
no subject
Thanks, man. You helped though, you know. Give yourself some credit, too.
[He gives a firm nod, then finally lights that cigarette with the help of a small fire in the palm of his hand. He takes a quick puff, then looks up at him again.]
Been okay. Things got real there for a bit around here. Tryin' not to think that this snow's just some stupid apology, 'cause if it is, they sure don't know me that well. [Snort!] How 'bout you?
no subject
[By now, North should be used to seeing someone using magic so casually, but he still gets a little starry-eyed and intrigued when it happens. This time is no different. He smiles upon seeing the small flame, but it fades some after hearing what Eithan says.]
Yeah... [His eyes drift over to the fireplace.]I don't think it went well for anyone. [For many reasons.] I'm just glad it's over. [He half-smiles, encouragingly, and claps Eithan on the shoulder.] We're still here, after all.
But if you mean today? [His expression starts to brighten again.] Today is going to be an excellent day. [He points a thumb at the groceries he's brought.] Brought some things from Manchester to make a special dinner tonight, and...[unconsciously, this wide grin starts spreading across his face.]...I'm going to propose to Patricia.
no subject
-- proposing. ... Wow, what an accidental smack that North, of course, had no way of knowing about!
But Eithan's nothing if not great at playing it cool. And it's made all the easier by the fact that he really is happy for the guy! He grins, genuinely excited.]
No fuckin' way! Congrats, man!
no subject
Thanks a lot! It's...wow... [Things hit him and he just...sits back for a second.] It's something I honestly never thought I'd be doing. Back home, we're still in the middle of a war, but when I'm with her in her reality... It's nothing but peaceful. She's my real home. I just didn't know it when I first came here.