[ He thinks Bev might be the only person (besides Richie) to ever use petnames on him. Honey, affectionate and easy. They've grown closer than he is to, well, anyone else in the last year. It's nice. ]
I'm not overthinking it!
[ A furtive glance around, like maybe Santa will ambush him. He's overthinking it. ]
I have to buy more presents this year than I have in my life. That's a lot to think about.
[ For people like his secretary. And, y'know, Maggie Tozier. He wanders further along the display, bending to inspect stockings with names embroidered on them. Real family of four bullshit. Oh god. ]
Are you sure I can't help Some light Facebook and Instagram stalking and I can figure out your secretary over hot chocolate You can still write the cards 😉
[ Baby steps! ]
And for the record you don't have to get me anything You know that, right
[ Beverly's actually disappeared from whatever display she's standing behind because she's doubled over laughing. Which he must know, her laughter is distinctly bright and carrying. A woman with a stroller gives her an alarmed glance and gives her a wide berth. ]
I give so many shits about the X-Men!! I read the one in your hospital room! It was cool!
[ because it... had Iceman on the cover.... ]
Eds YOU'RE NOT BAD AT THIS It's not a contest, it's CHRISTMAS God I hope your office isn't doing Secret Santa
[ he whips his head around to look for her, trying to pinpoint the sound. ]
Fuck off. Of course my office is doing secret Santa. Helen from Marketing organizes it every year.
[ Helen also attends the annual Christmas party with an ugly jumper over the top of her cocktail dress and a bow on her fucking head. More importantly, she's still taking sign-ups, so he's going to add his name to the goddamn spreadsheet as soon as he gets home. ]
I bet you're not telling Ben and Richie not to buy you gifts, huh. I know for a fuckin fact that Bill and Mike have already got books for everyone. They both hounded me about Richie's reading habits. As if he's selective.
[ Richie reads a lot and knows a lot. It's awful. ]
[ She shouldn't laugh, she should be supportive, she's trying to keep it together. EDDIE STOP MAKING HER (AND HELEN) THE BAD GUY! ]
I told everyone actually but half the Losers beat me to it They've probably been plotting since Thanksgiving But I'm happy just spending some time with you guys I know it's cheesy you don't have to say it
[ She doesn't like being fussed over, is still navigating those hiccups even after all this time since Derry and the divorce. That's sincere enough. ]
But hey if it helps I think of them as like Thank you gifts
[ But he gets it, of course he does. Why do you think he cares so much? ]
I dunno how much that would help me. I've got a lot to be thankful for, y'know.
[ He's too serious, so he immediately jumps to how he wouldn't be here, alive and happy, without them, which is an awful lot of thanks to put in a gift. ]
Especially if I'm shopping for you 🖕
[ Dumbass goes unsaid 'cause he doesn't talk like that to Bev, but it's Eddie so, y'know, the implication of a rude-but-affectionate monicker is there. Thanks for helping him with the divorce and for softening the fall after he whirred past I'm gay straight into the brick wall of it's Richie.
Eddie pockets his phone with finality, even though she won't be able to see it and starts toward the checkout line with an armful of stockings (embroidered with an R and an E, shut up), a seasonal book for Bill since he's a freak, and a stupid Christmas candle. It's a start. ]
[ Yeah, she knows. Midlife crisis, new lease on life, reuniting with the family they'd missed for years — there's a lot to be thankful for and Thanksgiving did nothing to make a dent in the gratitude she's got welling up in her. The softness of the moment is broken by Eddie's next message and the emoji that accompanies it, the unspoken "endearment" ringing loud and clear; it makes her laugh again, looking up from her phone and catching his eye just long enough for her to pull a face.
Yeah, they're in their forties. But being together makes her feel thirty years younger and sometimes, when the mood is right (it so often is), they act it, too. ]
Awww Eddie I'm not crying I just got glitter in my eye
[ His phone's tucked away by the time she sends that. But she joins him at checkout a few minutes later with a box of ivory porcelain tree ornaments and the least terrifying nutcracker soldier she could find. ]
Hey, see! [ She can't peer into his bag of purchases but the fact that he has one is a win! ] You did it!
[ His mouth twitches, pleased that their timing has synchronised for a regroup — even if he pointedly holds the bag away from her gaze. ]
Yeah, yeah, go ahead and tease me, Marsh. Baby's first fuckin' Christmas present. [ A father pushes his daughter along behind him with a sudden swiftness. Oops. ] It's just decorations and a thing for Bill, [ With a scrunch of his nose. Sorry, Bill. ] but he's the easiest anyway.
[ At least for Eddie, who knew him first (or close to it) and has settled into their brotherly sort of friendship. He gives a roll of his eyes as he hooks his re-usable bag on the arm farthest from her and then straightens the navy collar of his coat. ]
You and Ben doin' one of those [ a nebulous gesture. ] artsy trees?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 03:49 pm (UTC)I'm not overthinking it!
[ A furtive glance around, like maybe Santa will ambush him. He's overthinking it. ]
I have to buy more presents this year than I have in my life. That's a lot to think about.
[ For people like his secretary. And, y'know, Maggie Tozier. He wanders further along the display, bending to inspect stockings with names embroidered on them. Real family of four bullshit. Oh god. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 04:00 pm (UTC)Some light Facebook and Instagram stalking and I can figure out your secretary over hot chocolate
You can still write the cards 😉
[ Baby steps! ]
And for the record you don't have to get me anything
You know that, right
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 04:07 pm (UTC)Jesus Bev
[ SERIOUS SUGGESTIONS ONLY ]
But research would probably help, yeah. I'm not eating or drinking anything from the restaurant in here though.
[ ""research"" ]
Do you know what you're getting for Mrs. Hanscom?
1/2
Date: 2020-11-14 04:17 pm (UTC)Don't 'Jesus Bev' me! I'm serious!
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 04:17 pm (UTC)I'll love whatever it is
I'll love the X-Men!
[ Tell her all about Jean and Bobby. ]
We can brainstorm over snacks somewhere else then
For you, not me
I already got Mrs Hanscom's gift 😬
1/2
Date: 2020-11-14 04:25 pm (UTC)jk 2/3
Date: 2020-11-14 04:26 pm (UTC)I fucking knew it!
You really do think I'm bad at this!
[ translation "oh, god, I really am bad at this" ]
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 04:28 pm (UTC)I'm gonna get you such a nice gift
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 04:38 pm (UTC)I give so many shits about the X-Men!!
I read the one in your hospital room! It was cool!
[ because it... had Iceman on the cover.... ]
Eds YOU'RE NOT BAD AT THIS
It's not a contest, it's CHRISTMAS
God I hope your office isn't doing Secret Santa
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 04:52 pm (UTC)Fuck off.
Of course my office is doing secret Santa. Helen from Marketing organizes it every year.
[ Helen also attends the annual Christmas party with an ugly jumper over the top of her cocktail dress and a bow on her fucking head. More importantly, she's still taking sign-ups, so he's going to add his name to the goddamn spreadsheet as soon as he gets home. ]
I bet you're not telling Ben and Richie not to buy you gifts, huh.
I know for a fuckin fact that Bill and Mike have already got books for everyone. They both hounded me about Richie's reading habits. As if he's selective.
[ Richie reads a lot and knows a lot. It's awful. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 05:05 pm (UTC)I told everyone actually but half the Losers beat me to it
They've probably been plotting since Thanksgiving
But I'm happy just spending some time with you guys
I know it's cheesy you don't have to say it
[ She doesn't like being fussed over, is still navigating those hiccups even after all this time since Derry and the divorce. That's sincere enough. ]
But hey if it helps
I think of them as like
Thank you gifts
no subject
Date: 2020-11-14 05:32 pm (UTC)[ But he gets it, of course he does. Why do you think he cares so much? ]
I dunno how much that would help me.
I've got a lot to be thankful for, y'know.
[ He's too serious, so he immediately jumps to how he wouldn't be here, alive and happy, without them, which is an awful lot of thanks to put in a gift. ]
Especially if I'm shopping for you 🖕
[ Dumbass goes unsaid 'cause he doesn't talk like that to Bev, but it's Eddie so, y'know, the implication of a rude-but-affectionate monicker is there. Thanks for helping him with the divorce and for softening the fall after he whirred past I'm gay straight into the brick wall of it's Richie.
Eddie pockets his phone with finality, even though she won't be able to see it and starts toward the checkout line with an armful of stockings (embroidered with an R and an E, shut up), a seasonal book for Bill since he's a freak, and a stupid Christmas candle. It's a start. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-11-15 09:13 am (UTC)Yeah, they're in their forties. But being together makes her feel thirty years younger and sometimes, when the mood is right (it so often is), they act it, too. ]
Awww Eddie
I'm not crying I just got glitter in my eye
[ His phone's tucked away by the time she sends that. But she joins him at checkout a few minutes later with a box of ivory porcelain tree ornaments and the least terrifying nutcracker soldier she could find. ]
Hey, see! [ She can't peer into his bag of purchases but the fact that he has one is a win! ] You did it!
no subject
Date: 2020-11-17 06:28 pm (UTC)Yeah, yeah, go ahead and tease me, Marsh. Baby's first fuckin' Christmas present. [ A father pushes his daughter along behind him with a sudden swiftness. Oops. ] It's just decorations and a thing for Bill, [ With a scrunch of his nose. Sorry, Bill. ] but he's the easiest anyway.
[ At least for Eddie, who knew him first (or close to it) and has settled into their brotherly sort of friendship. He gives a roll of his eyes as he hooks his re-usable bag on the arm farthest from her and then straightens the navy collar of his coat. ]
You and Ben doin' one of those [ a nebulous gesture. ] artsy trees?
[ With the colour schemes and fancy ornaments. ]