#Edwins face be squishy

[mrsdillydallyduck]

OLNF SECRET SANTA FIC

@olnfsecretsanta2024 @olnfsecretelf

HEYY @smileylord ! I'm your secret santa this year!!

So Merry Christmas! i had a really fun time writing this especially cause it was a fun challenge with someone else's OC.

it takes place in step one on christmas day.

it doesnt have a title and i'm sorry if its super descriptive.

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Golden Grove had its usual chilliness to it, except now it was wintertime. Snow layered every roof and branch, and all the warm tones of leaves had been buried under the snow by now. Edwin Porter walked slowly into his yard, heading towards the street exiting their little cul de sac, his shoes crunching rhythmically against the freshly fallen snow.

It was nice and quiet. After a full day of Christmas with his mom—presents, eating at the diner table, and a movie marathon in their living room—it felt good to stretch his legs. The cold air nipped at his cheeks, but Edwin didn’t mind. He was meeting his best friends, Qiu Lin and Tamarack Baumann, in the center of town, a cozy spot at the heart of Golden Grove.

The town was always decorated to perfection. Golden Grove seemed to thrive in winter, the small-town charm heightened by the festive season. Twinkling lights lined every storefront and home, and Edwin could already see the glow of the giant Christmas tree lights reflecting off the snow. He fiddled with the zipper of his coat as he walked, tugging it up and down absentmindedly, the sound blending with the soft crunch of snow beneath his boots.

The center of town was alive with quiet activity. People shuffled from shop to shop, snow sticking to their boots, their chatter blending into the hum of distant holiday music playing from hidden speakers. Families passed him with wide grins and bright scarves, pulling sleds or holding cups of steaming cocoa. It all felt peaceful in a way Edwin found comforting.

The town was hosting a little gathering today for Christmas, and Qiu, Tamarack,  and Edwin all agreed to meet each other there. It didn't take much convincing from Qiu and Tamarack for Edwin's mom to let him go. It's a safe town after all, and it's not the first time they've done this.

As Edwin got closer to the spot they were planning to meet, he could see everything closer. There were tables set out with little snacks and pastries provided by local businesses, and familiar faces from town all around the decorated streets. Now he just needed to find his friends. 

“Winnie!” Tamarack’s voice rang out, clear and cheerful, from across the street.

She was easy to spot, bundled up in her usual outfit, only it was now winterized with a pair of leggings underneath her overalls and a fuzzy hat that made her look a little like an overenthusiastic elf. She waved at him, her arm flailing like she was signaling an airplane.

Beside her stood Qiu, definitely calmer but no less warm. He was sporting his usual green coat, with little snowflakes resting on the fluff of his hood. “Hey!” He nodded at Edwin, his small smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.

Edwin raised a hand in greeting, his heart lifting a little as he approached them. He didn’t say anything—he didn’t have to. His friends understood him.

Tamarack wasted no time, closing the distance and pulling him into a quick, squishy hug. Her sweater made it feel like being hugged by a marshmallow.

“You made it!” she said, her breath puffing out in white clouds. “I was starting to think you might get snowed in or something.”

“It’s like, barely snowing,” Qiu said, gesturing to the light flurries drifting lazily around them. His voice was soft, a grounding presence compared to Tamarack’s exuberance.

“Okay, Mr. Weatherman,” Tamarack shot back, giggling a little.

“Anyway,” Qiu said, stepping closer to Edwin, “we saved you a spot by the fire. Come on!”

Tamarack grabbed Edwin’s sleeve and tugged him toward a little bonfire at the edge of the street. The warmth grew stronger with every step, and Edwin felt the heat on his cheeks even before they reached the circle of glowing fire. Families gathered around, their quiet laughter blending with the occasional crackle of burning logs. Tamarack plopped down on one of the wooden benches surrounding the bonfire, patting the seat next to her.

“Front row!,” she said with a wide grin.

Qiu sat on Edwin’s other side, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. He nodded toward the fire. “Perfect spot, huh?”

Edwin gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His friends always made things easy, even on days when words felt impossible.

“Look at what my omi gave me!”

Tamarack was already digging into her bag, producing a slightly squished chocolate bar. “Okay, marshmallows or no marshmallows?”

“Marshmallows,” Qiu said immediately, his tone so serious it made Edwin silently chuckle softly.

“Good answer,” Tamarack said, passing out skewers and marshmallows.

The three of them roasted their marshmallows over the fire, the sticky treats bubbling and turning golden brown. Qiu started to talk about his family’s Christmas morning, things ranging from what he did, who he hung out with and what he got, “My parents got me some new pens for my notebook,” he said, his voice full of contentment.

“Maybe it’ll make you keep track of your litter more now,” Tamarack said.

“Hey, I don’t lose them that much!” Qiu exclaimed, waving his marshmallow like it was a sword. “They always come back to me anyways.”

“Because you lose them so much!” Tamarack groaned, but Edwin caught the way her lips twitched like she was trying not to laugh. He smiled faintly, his eyes crinkling. Tamarack always brought this kind of lively energy to their group, and Qiu always managed to lead the conversation with his affability. It was a balance Edwin liked.

Edwin mostly listened, his skewer turning slowly in his hands. He didn’t feel the need to contribute; he didn’t have to. The rhythm of their voices, the crackle of the fire, and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air around him, wrapping him in warmth.

When their marshmallows were perfectly roasted, they carefully assembled their s’mores. Tamarack, somehow, ended up with sticky marshmallow on her hands and the tip of her nose. She didn't look particularly upset about it though. 

“how did that happen?” Qiu questioned with a shake of his head, handing her a napkin.

“I don't know, it just did,” she said cheerfully, wiping her face.

Edwin handed her another napkin without a word, his smile hidden behind his scarf. Tamarack noticed and smiled at him.

After the s’mores, Qiu pulled out a thermos. “Hot cocoa. My mom made it this morning.”

The cocoa was rich and warm, with just a hint of cinnamon. Edwin held his cup close, letting the steam warm his face. Tamarack let out a satisfied sigh after her first sip, and Qiu smiled quietly, clearly pleased with their reactions.

As they drank, Tamarack started humming what was probably a Christmas carol. It was soft at first, barely audible over the crackle of the fire, but soon Qiu joined in. Edwin didn’t hum along, but he didn’t mind. He simply leaned back, watching the snowflakes drift lazily through the firelight.

After a while, there was an interruption in the silence. “Oh wait!” Qiu nudged Edwin gently. “We got you something.”

Tamarack reached into her bag and pulled out a small box wrapped in shiny red paper. “Merry Christmas!”

Edwin hesitated, his hands brushing the wrapping paper. He unwrapped it carefully, revealing a set of metallic gel pens in a rainbow of colors. Tiny stars and planets glittered on each pen, catching the firelight, each in their respective colors.

“I saw them at the store and thought of you,” Qiu said. “You like space and stuff, right? Plus, they’re perfect for school.”

“They’re perfect,” Tamarack added. “Way cooler than boring black pens.”

Edwin nodded quickly, his way of saying Thank you.

Edwin’s eyes lit up as he turned the pens over in his hands, his smile growing. He glanced at Tamarack and Qiu, his gratitude shining through even without words.

“See? Were the best friends ever,” Tamarack said, leaning back with a triumphant grin.

Qiu chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright then”

Edwin let out a chuckle, not loud enough for most people to hear, but Qiu and Tamarack did. They always did.

They sat there for a long time, sipping cocoa, roasting another round of marshmallows, and sharing quiet laughter. The world outside was cold and vast, but here, with his friends, Edwin felt safe.

And for the first time all day, he realized he wasn’t just happy—he was content. And that was the best thing he could have gotten this Christmas.

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Anyway that's it I REALLY HOPE YOU LIKE IT SO SORRY IF YOU DON'T. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[mavibonghostexpress]

You literally don’t know how long I’ve worked on this-

[isleofancients]

"but I am the lint roller... " he blinks "how do you lint roll the lint roller?" he snorts before giggling. okay that one might have broken him a little as he buries his face and just giggles his shoulders shaking from his amusement

Edwin snorts and pats his head.

"Squishy dork."

[eddiesasspbrak]

When I’m With You Ch.1

Eddie can't stand the barista at his favorite coffee shop. Richie has fallen in love with the man he sees twice a week. Stan is dating someone but won't let his friends meet them. Ben is in love with Beverly, but is so afraid of scaring her away he's not moving forward. Chaotic friends navigating college together.

Read on AO3

Ch.2

6k+ words

“Please.” Ben begged, gripping his friend’s shoulders from behind as he followed him into the classroom.

“No.” Eddie slapped his hands away and sat in his preferred seat.

“But she’s so pretty and perfect and I want to go out with her.”

“Then you ask her out.”

“I can’t. What if she says no?”

“She can still say no if I ask her for you.” Eddie pointed out, unzipping his bag and pulling out his notebook and a pen.

“If she says no to you, I won’t die of embarrassment.” Ben plopped down into his seat beside Eddie, frowning.

Eddie rolled his eyes and opened his notebook to a fresh, clean page. Ben, one of his best friends, wanted to ask out a girl they met on campus. He fell in love with her at first sight and had been trying to work up the courage to ask her out for months. Every time he saw her, he turned into a babbling mess and lost his nerve. Eddie made the mistake of letting him know that she was in one of his classes and now he was determined to get Eddie’s help asking her out.

“What if I just invite her to hang out with us and conveniently get a call and leave you two alone?” Eddie suggested, taking pity on his sulking friend.

Ben perked up and thought that over. “That could work. Do you think she’ll say yes?”

“We have class today. I’ll ask her when I see her.”

Ben leaned over and placed his head on Eddie’s shoulder, a big grin on his face. His arms snaked around Eddie’s middle and he hugged him tight. Eddie sighed, but patted his arm and dropped his cheek to the top of Ben’s head.

“I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” Ben said.

“You bet your ass you will.” Eddie responded.

They separated as the professor stood from the front desk and began speaking. Ben was positively beaming for the entire class and Eddie swore he saw him scribbling her name in his notebook instead of taking notes. Honestly, he was jealous of his friend. He’d finally come out when he’d come to college, except to his mom, and hadn’t had much luck in the relationship department. He did make out with an average looking guy at a party, but it hadn’t been great, and he spent the next two weeks ignoring his texts. Why he even gave the guy his number he’ll never know. Blame it on desperation and alcohol.

*

Eddie would forever kick himself for signing up for an early class this semester. Ben was always perky in the morning, up early to go for a jog before the sun was even up. Eddie, on the other hand, was not a morning person. If Ben didn’t call him, he would never get up in time for class. He was lucky to stay awake until the end of class. He said goodbye to Ben and immediately made his way across campus and into town where a little coffee shop waited.

Eddie had begun frequenting this shop after his early class for a caffeinated pick me up. It was close to the building his class was located in and by the time he got there the line wasn’t too awfully long. It gave Eddie plenty of time to drink his coffee and relax before he had to head off to his next class. There were big, squishy chairs all over the café that Eddie really liked. He’d almost fallen asleep in them countless times, but he couldn’t resist. Most of the other patrons were always on their way somewhere else so early in the morning so it was mostly empty and quiet too and the music was never played too loud over the speakers. It was Eddie’s favorite place and almost perfect.

As he entered the shop and joined the queue, he groaned inwardly at the person behind the counter. Yes, this place was almost perfect, except for the man who seemed to work this shift every day that Eddie had class. He was very friendly, smiled at every customer. More accurately, he was smiling at whatever stupid joke he’d just made about their order or their name. He had no filter and it annoyed Eddie endlessly. He was the definition of a man child. He recognized Eddie every time and already knew what he was going to order. A medium coffee, black.

Eddie dreaded having to interact with him again. It’s like he had an ongoing bet with himself, whether he could make Eddie laugh and piss him off first. It was usually the latter. The most annoying thing he did, in Eddie’s opinion, was the way he wrote his name on his cup. The very first time he’d simply made the mistake of spelling his name like ‘Eddy’. Whatever, that was fine. It didn’t bother him. Ever since then, though, it seemed like he tried to mess up his name in new and unusual ways. How does one misspell the name Edward? Some notable names he’d written down in the past were: Eugene, Edwin, Elliot, Eduardo, Emmett, Eli, and Eileen. However, when he would call out the name for the order he always said ‘Eddie’, so he knew exactly what he was doing, and it was infuriating.

Despite how annoying he was, he was also extremely efficient at his job combined with the guy making the drinks. The line moved quickly and there wasn’t a long wait for your drink to be delivered, even the complicated ones. Which meant that Eddie only had to stand at the counter for a short amount of time. As long as the cashier was willing to leave him alone. Which was extremely unlikely. When it was Eddie’s turn in line, he was met with a wide, crooked grin.

“Good morning, Eddie. It’s Thursday.” The man said.

“Yes. It is.” Eddie responded, hoping he wouldn’t continue. “I’ll have-.”

“Medium coffee. Black. Right?”

Eddie nodded, already holding the cash in his hand for the other to take. The guy punched a few buttons on the screen before looking back at Eddie, ignoring the money in his hand.

“You’re late today. I was beginning to wonder if you skipped class today.” He said, leaning his hip against the counter.

Eddie looked back to see there was no one in line behind him and he sighed. He’d made the mistake on his first trip to the coffee shop of telling this man that he had taken on an early Tuesday, Thursday class in passing. He regretted giving him any personal information about him as he absorbed it like a dry sponge.

“Class ran a little long. Here, my money.” Eddie held his hand a little higher, in his line of sight.

“I was sure you had stood me up for our weekly date.” He winked, still ignoring the money.

“I just come here to get coffee.”

“Oh, Eddie, we both know that it’s not the coffee that keeps you coming back here. You come here to ogle me while I make your coffee. It’s my wit and wiles that have you drawn to this little coffee shop twice a week.” He was very dramatic as he spoke, putting his hand to his forehead and leaning across the counter. “I’m beginning to think there is no morning class that has you making the trip here. You can deny it all you want, my dear but I know what your ulterior motives are.” He placed one finger beneath Eddie’s chin and tilted his head up a bit.

Eddie’s face turned bright red as he leaned away and swatted his hand away. This was typical and Eddie honestly couldn’t tell if he was supposed to be flirting with him or if he just liked the way Eddie reacted. For instance, at the moment Eddie was flustered and unable to keep his cool any longer.

“Can you please stop and just take my fucking money.” He grumbled, holding the money out again.

He grinned exceptionally wide and took the money, very slowly counting it out and putting it in the register. “There’s no need to use such language, my dear. I know you can’t stand to be around me for too long lest you leap over this counter and do indecent things.”

Eddie positively fumed as he waited for him to fiddle with the register as if he was getting change. He knew exactly how much he had to pay so he always had exact change. It was all just for show to keep him standing there that much longer. While he waited, trying to calm himself, he dropped two dollars in the tip jar, he may hate the guy, but he wasn’t an asshole. Unable to calm himself completely, he tapped his foot impatiently while waiting for his receipt. He really didn’t need it, but it was like a compulsion to keep every receipt he received. He finally handed over his receipt and turned to the other guy behind the counter.

“I’ll make this one, Mikey.”

The other guy, Mike, looked over to see Eddie before smiling and shaking his head. So, it wasn’t just in his imagination. Even his coworker could tell that this guy just enjoyed annoying Eddie as long as he possibly could.

Eddie carefully folded his receipt in half and tucked it in his pocket as he walked to the end of the counter to wait for his coffee. He watched as the guy took a cup and scribbled something on it with marker. Eddie could already feel the annoyance for whatever name he was given today. The ever-present grin on his face didn’t help as he poured the coffee into the cup and put a lid and cardboard sleeve onto it.

“Coffee for Eddie.” He said, holding the cup high in the air, too high for Eddie to reach.

Eddie just stared up, refusing to jump to try and get the cup from him. He was too tired for this shit and he hoped the daggers he was mentally sending to the other showed on his face. He smiled down at him, and waited, expectantly.

“Can I just have my coffee?” Eddie asked.

“Oh, of course. I need a thank you first though.”

Eddie sighed loudly and a bit more dramatically than necessary to show how over this routine he was. “Thank you.” He grumbled.

“Thank you…what?” He asked.

“Thank you, Richie.” Eddie said through clenched teeth.

Finally, the cup was lowered to his hands and he snatched it away carefully, storming away from the counter and to the farther chair from the counter that was currently available. He looked down at the cup and just above the cardboard sleeve the name “Estiban” was written. Mike came to stand beside Richie, slapping a hand down on his shoulder.

“Why do you do that to him?” He asked with a smile.

“He’s cute. I like the faces he makes when he’s mad.” Richie shrugged.

“You know he hates you, right?”

“Nah. I’m going to marry that man one day.”

Mike laughed as the bell above the door chimed and they went back to their stations to wait for the next order. Richie could clearly see Eddie sitting in the large chair, sipping his coffee and looking like he might fall asleep. As he took the next customer’s order and entered it on the screen, he stole glances over at the tired boy. Richie couldn’t help smiling as he fought to keep his eyes open while taking another sip from his cup, his face scrunching up in disgust from the taste. It was like this every time, he hated the coffee, but he kept coming back and ordering it and drinking every last drop. Richie was smitten.

*

When Eddie arrived at his afternoon class, Bev was already there, her bag in the seat beside her to save it for him. As he approached, she moved her bag and smiled at him. She was annoyingly beautiful, and Eddie understood why Ben was so in love with her. If he liked girls, he’d probably be in love with her too. He greeted her and took his seat, immediately putting his head down on his arms, staring up at her sideways.

“I’m exhausted.” He said, followed by a yawn.

“Aren’t you always?”

“Yes.”

She grinned at him and pulled her phone from her pocket. She was really into fashion design and would often show him what pieces she was working on or had finished. She opened her camera roll and slid her phone across the table to him. He lifted his head and looked down at the pictures of a dress hung from a hanger, only one sleeve attached.

“I can’t decide if I like it with sleeves or not.” She explained. “The original sketch had sleeves, but then I really liked the way it was looking and once I attached one sleeve, I just wasn’t sure anymore.”

Eddie covered half the picture with his hand before switching and doing the same to the other side. He liked that she asked his opinion, especially seeing as she made fun of his fashion sense relentlessly. It showed that she trusted his opinion and he liked knowing that. He really enjoyed their friendship and silently hoped that if she dated Ben and they broke up, it wouldn’t somehow impact their relationship. He’d really hate to lose her.

“I like it without the sleeve.” He finally said after looking at each side several times.

“Right? Ok, it’s decided. Thanks.” She leaned over and put her arm around him in a half hug, kissing his cheek.

He rubbed at his cheek with his sleeve, knowing there was bound to be a red lipstick mark left behind. Now seemed like a good time to ask her to hang out and he honestly worried he’d forget if he didn’t ask her soon. He just had to be casual about it. “So, hey, what are you doing tomorrow night?”

“Mmmm, I was going to get drinks with a friend.” She said, taking her phone back and sliding it back into her pocket.

“Ben and I are doing the same. We should meet up, go together.”

“Yea, that sounds good.” She smiled brightly. “I could use a buffer anyway. My friend can be a bit…much.”

“Oh, joy. Please bring them.” Eddie was sarcastic and it made Bev snort out a laugh.

“He’s really not that bad. He just gets very mouthy when he drinks. More than usual anyway.”

“Well, luckily I’ll have a few drinks in me too.”

Eddie pulled his phone out and sent a quick text to Ben. ‘Talked to Bev. She’s down. Tomorrow night. Bringing a friend though.’ A second later Ben responded with a smiley face. Eddie already knew that Ben wouldn’t worry about the addition of a fourth person. He knew that Eddie would be able to distract the friend and he tried not to let that bother him. After all, it was mostly his idea to begin with so he couldn’t be too upset at the idea of being left with Bev’s friend.

*

There were few things Eddie enjoyed more than anything else. He enjoyed cleaning, organization, spending time with his friends. But the thing he enjoyed most was sitting in his quiet apartment, completely alone, enjoying the rest of his free afternoon. He’d picked up lunch on the way home and sat at his kitchen counter to eat it, scrolling through social media on his phone. After he cleaned up his lunch dishes, he moved to the living room to do some reading for class. This time of day on a Thursday most everyone was out so he couldn’t even hear his neighbors through the walls. It was utter bliss, until.

Eddie jolted when he heard the music and groaned dramatically as he flopped back on his couch. Every so often, one of his neighbors down the hall chose to listen to their music at an obnoxiously loud volume. And every time, Eddie silently hated them. It wasn’t even good music half the time, and even when it was, he didn’t want to hear it thumping through the walls and into his apartment. He stood and went to his bedroom, retrieving his earplugs from his bedside table.

He pressed them into his ears as he made his way back to the couch. They blocked out most of the noise, but he could steal hear it and feel the thump, thump, thump in his chest from the beat. There was no way he was going to finish his reading now or take a much needed nap. The buzz from the coffee he’d had a few hours earlier was long gone and he wasn’t willing to go back for another. One interaction with Richie a day was enough for him. He really ought to buy a coffee pot for his apartment. At least one of the little pod ones that made one cup at a time. He would save money and wouldn’t have to ever go to that coffee shop again. His life would be Richie free and he’d have coffee in class instead of after. He pulled out his phone to make a note to himself to price coffee machines when he saw he missed a text from Bev.

Bev: Hey, do you know what bar you’re going to yet?

Eddie: We haven’t really discussed it. Some place local, I guess. Maybe near campus

Bev: Have you heard of My Mom’s Bar? It’s down on Engle.

Eddie: I’ve heard of it, never been there though

Bev: It’s one of my favorites. Doesn’t get to crazy even on Fridays. You down?

Eddie: I’ll talk to Ben, but it should be fine

He switched from the conversation with Bev to the one with Ben and typed a quick message to him.

Eddie: Bev wants to go to My Mom’s Bar. Is that ok with you?

Ben: Your mom owns a bar?

Eddie: What? No. That’s the name of the place.

Ben: oooooh. Yea that’s fine. I’ll go anywhere as long as Bev is there.

Eddie: Even a gay bar?

Ben: As long as she doesn’t fall for another girl or a bi dude while we’re there. That could happen anywhere though

Eddie: True

He let Bev know that they were fine with her pick and they made arrangements to meet there around ten. He gave the information to Ben, planned to meet up at Eddie’s place beforehand. The idea of going out the following night and socializing was already so tiring. He liked spending time with his friends, but this wasn’t a regular social call. He’d have to interact with someone he didn’t know, orchestrate a plan and an excuse for him and the stranger to leave them alone. He really felt like he needed that nap now and silently cursed the inconsiderate neighbor with the clearly broken headphones.

*

Eddie spent most of his Friday at home alone, working on homework and finally finishing the reading he needed to do for class. If he was going to spend the evening in a crowded bar, interacting with strangers, then he wasn’t going to have a single second of human interaction the rest of the day. Eddie valued his alone time and he wasn’t going to feel bad about it.

It was now evening. He’d eaten a light dinner, knowing well that Ben would order bar food and how he was incapable of ignoring it when he’d been drinking. Still, he wasn’t willing to drink on an empty stomach. He prided himself on the fact that he had never once had a hangover or puked from drinking and he wasn’t about to start now.

Ben arrived at his door while he was still trying to decide if his outfit was fine for going out with friends. It was cold out, the winter months only half over, so he chose one of his favorite sweaters that was just slightly too big for him. He chose jeans, which he wouldn’t usually pair with this sweater, but he figured it was appropriate for a casual night out. Especially since he didn’t expect to be there too long. He and Ben had worked out a signal for when he was ready for Eddie to leave them. He hoped it wouldn’t take too long for him to work up the courage.

When Eddie opened the door a few minutes after buzzing him in through the downstairs door, Ben was bouncing on the balls of his feet with nervous energy. The smile on his face looked slightly panicked and Eddie couldn’t help but laugh. Ben’s smile fell away and he immediately looked down at himself.

“Is it my outfit? Is it stupid?” Ben asked.

“Your outfit is fine. I was laughing at how crazy you look.” Eddie giggled, stepping aside for Ben to enter.

“I look crazy? Should I cancel? What if Bev thinks I’m crazy?”

“You just need to calm down. You’ve hung out with her before. She likes you.”

“Does she though?” He placed his hands on Eddie’s shoulders and shook him slightly. “Is this all a big mistake?”

“Jesus…maybe you should do a shot or six before she gets to the bar.” Eddie shook Ben loose so he could go to the couch to slip his shoes on. “If you get too nervous then I’ll just stay. I won’t leave until you give me the signal.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise. Please chill.”

Eddie grabbed his jacket and his keys and double checked that he had his phone before ushering Ben back out the door and toward the elevator. Ben’s nerves didn’t settle on the way out to the waiting uber Eddie had ordered, and he babbled on and on about Bev to their poor driver. When they arrived at the bar, Eddie practically had to pull him from the backseat of the car and mentally made a note to give their driver a glowing review.

As they showed their IDs at the door, Eddie hoped that Ben’s nervousness wouldn’t be considered suspicious as neither one looked their age. Somehow, they got in without issue and Eddie did a scan of the place. It wasn’t huge. The floor plan was open, the bar against the wall to the left of the door and tabled scattered across the room. They didn’t see Bev yet and Eddie wasn’t sure if that was good for Ben’s nerves or absolutely terrible.

“Let’s get a table while there’s still some open.” Eddie said, grabbing Ben’s arm and steering him to a table near the wall.

They sat, Eddie’s back to the door and Ben across from him. Which maybe wasn’t the best seating arrangement as Ben’s eyes were fixed to the door. Part of Eddie knew that things would get easier when Beverly arrived. She had a way of breaking Ben out of his shell. Any idiot could see they were made for each other and, while Eddie really didn’t want to be there, he was happy to help them get one step closer to being together.

“Should we order drinks now? Or do we wait?” Ben asked, quickly glancing at Eddie before looking back to the door.

“We’re not losing our table. Just wait until they get here.” Eddie was already so tired.

“Should I offer to pay for her? What if…she…” Ben’s voice trailed off as a light flush flooded his cheeks with color.

Eddie was sure that meant Bev had arrived and he lightly kicked him under the table. “Be cool. You’re drooling.”

“Hey boys.” Bev said as she approached.

Ben stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as it was pushed back with the movement. Eddie winced at the sound and gave him a look that said, ‘what the fuck?’. He always did this, acting like he needed to stand as soon as she entered the room like some dude in a Jane Austen novel.

“Hello, Beverly. You look nice.” Ben said, the words tumbling from his mouth.

“Thank you, Benjamin.” She grinned. “Hey Eddie.” She patted him on the shoulder and moved to sit beside Ben.

Eddie looked over his shoulder and saw no fourth person coming to join them. Maybe this would be easier than he thought. He looked back to them in time to see Ben nearly miss his chair when he went to sit down. Luckily, Bev was looking down at her phone and didn’t notice. Eddie stifled the laugh that nearly broke free, trying to save his friend any embarrassment.

“I thought you were bringing a friend.” Eddie said, bringing Bev’s attention back to the table.

“I did. He’s outside talking to the dude checking IDs. When we were walking to the door, he pulled a fake mustache from his pocket and intentionally gave the guy a really shitty fake ID. It had a picture of some guy like twice our age, bald, with a mustache. I left him there while he tried to prove it was a joke and that his actual ID was real.” She rolled her eyes, but she was grinning from ear to ear.

“What if he doesn’t make it in?” Ben asked.

“His loss. I told him to stop pulling shit like this.” She shrugged, before nodding toward the door. “There he is.”

Eddie turned to look, and his stomach dropped to the floor. He quickly turned back to the table and tried to make himself invisible. He’d been worried about having to hang out with this stranger, dreading what an awful night it would be. He just never considered how awful it truly could be. The last person he wanted to see had just strode into the bar, tucking a fake mustache back into his pocket.

“How’d you manage to convince him, Richie?” Bev asked, leaning back in her seat.

“I asked him if he really thought I’d be stupid enough to use a fake ID that looked that bad. He said yes but let me in anyway.” He responded, putting his hands on the back of the only empty seat beside Eddie.

“Idiot.” Bev laughed. “Well, introductions are necessary, I guess. This is Ben, and this is Eddie.”

Eddie gave up trying to make himself disappear when Bev said his name. He looked up into the glasses covered eyes of none other than Richie, the barista from the café. The man who made his Tuesday and Thursday coffee runs so detestable. The grin on his face was hard to ignore and Eddie wished he’d gotten a drink before they arrived.

“Holy shit, Eddie.” Richie said, finally sitting in the chair. “I’ve never seen you out in the wild like this.”

“You two know each other?” Bev asked, looking between the two.

“Eds here comes into the shop twice a week to grace me with his presence.”

“Don’t call me that.” Eddie said, leaning against the wall and hoping he could somehow fuse through it.

Richie, thankfully, turned to look at Ben instead. “So, this is Ben? He’s hot.”

Ben smiled as the color on his cheeks grew darker. “Oh, I, um…you…you too?” He said, visible flustered.

“Don’t embarrass him Richie.” Bev scolded with a smile. “As punishment, you will be fetching the first round.”

“Yes milady.” Richie said as he stood and swooped down into a dramatic bow.

“I can help carry drinks.” Ben chimed in, standing quickly.

Eddie hated himself. Hated that he cared so dearly for his friend and his desire to fall in love. Hated the words that were about to come out of his mouth. “Stay. I’ll help.” He put his hand out to Ben, urging him to sit as he stood.

Richie seemed surprised as they walked side by side to the bar. Eddie tried not to look at him, really not wanting to interact with him. This was, of course, a good chance to let him know of the plan. Hopefully, Richie wasn’t interested in Beverly. If he was, he could potentially ruin the night for Ben and then he’d have to hate him even more than he did before.

“You’re not going to cheat on me, are you?” Richie asked, just as Eddie was about to open his mouth.

“What?” He narrowed his eyes at the other.

“Their menu says they offer coffee.” Richie pointed up at the chalkboard menu above the bar. “I know it will be hard to resist but drinking another man’s coffee does constitute cheating in my books.”

“Oh my God.” Eddie sighed. “I think I need something a little stronger if I’m going to survive a night out with you and your jokes.” He shot back.

Richie grinned and chuckled. “So, I should get you drunk to make you like me. Good to know.”

Eddie was going to say something along the lines of ‘no amount of alcohol will make me like you’ when the bartender came over to take their order. They opened a joint tab and ordered a round of beer, a light beer for Eddie. Each grabbed two bottles and carried them back to the table where Bev was telling Ben a story.

“So, he jumped from the roof of the fake building swinging the wooden sword down like it was a guitar he was going to smash and when it hit the stage it broke. The top part flew across the room and hit Jared in the arm. He stumbled back trying to get away from it and fell right off the stage and now he’s in a cast.” She was saying.

Eddie handed a beer to Ben and reclaimed his seat. “What are you talking about?” He asked.

“I was telling Ben the reason we aren’t allowed to use wooden swords in class anymore. They’re all rubber now and for a while we had to use long balloons until the rubber ones came in.”

“In my defense, I didn’t think the sword would break.” Richie said as he sat.

“Maybe so, but your actions still caused poor Jared to break his ankle.” Bev said, taking a swig of her beer.

“You go to the same school?” Eddie asked, looking at Richie. He’d never seen him on campus, never saw him with Bev. She’d never even mentioned him before as a friend.

“Theater major.” He said.

“Why is that not surprising.”

“I can’t tell if that was an insult or not.” Bev laughed.

Eddie shrugged. Their conversation continued this way for a while, discussions of school and classes and how each of them met. Beverly hadn’t known that Eddie and Ben had actually grown up together in a small rural town. Ben was visibly embarrassed when Eddie pulled out his phone and found some old pictures of them from middle school. Bev and Richie loved the photos though and teased them for how dorky they looked.

“So, wait, you actually carried a fanny pack?” Richie was laughing.

The drinks had been flowing for a while by this point and each of them was more than a little tipsy. As predicted, Ben had suggested ordering some bar food for the table. Beverly had been more than willing to order food, going to the bar and grabbing a menu. Half empty plates of wings, pretzel sticks with beer cheese, mozzarella sticks and fries sat between them.

“Why is that funny, asshole?” Eddie asked, pointing at him with the top of his bottle.

“No, it’s uh…” Richie laughed again. “I’m sure you were very fashionable.”

“It wasn’t about fashion. It was about function. I kept my inhaler in there.”

“Isn’t that what pockets are for?”

“I need another drink. Ben?” Bev said, standing.

Ben nodded and stood, following after Bev. Eddie reached over and grabbed another fry from the plate, washing it down with a mouthful of beer. He knew that Richie was watching him, but he tried to ignore it. They’d been bickering all night and he wanted just a second of peace and silence. Of course, Richie wasn’t about to comply with his wishes.

“Tell me something.” He said with a smile.

“Ok, you’re not funny.” Eddie said, making himself laugh in his buzzed state.

“No. Tell me why you always order black coffee when you seem to hate it.”

“I don’t hate it.”

“You look like you want to die whenever you take a sip.”

Eddie had never realized that Richie watched him while he sat in the café and drank his coffee. It made him feel slightly embarrassed and a little uncomfortable. He knew the guy liked to tease him and test out stupid jokes on him, but he didn’t know that he paid so much attention to him.

“My friend Stanley says you just have to get used to drinking black coffee and eventually you’ll love it.” He explained.

Richie laughed. “Why would you do that to yourself?”

“It’s better than loading it down with a bunch of cream and sugar and flavored syrup. It’s empty calories.”

“Ok, so you don’t want added calories in your coffee, you drink light beer, but I just watched you help the rest of us devour a bunch of fried foods. Explain.”

“It’s not like I’m counting calories or anything. I just don’t think it’s smart to drink your calories. If you drink sugary crap all day then you’ll gain weight and spike your blood sugar. It’s not good for you.”

“So, then what do you drink?”

“Water, mostly. Sometimes I indulge in a soda with my meal if I’m so inclined.”

“Oh my God. You’re like an old man.”

“Fuck you. I just care about my body.” Eddie said, downing the last of his beer. He looked to the bar to see if Bev and Ben were headed back with another round yet, but he couldn’t see them. “Where did they go?”

Richie looked back and scanned the bar only to come up empty. “Must have left.”

“What the hell. Why wouldn’t he tell me he was leaving?”

“It wasn’t his choice. Bev had this plan from the start to ditch us so she could spend some time alone with him.”

“Are you fucking serious?” Eddie now realized that he never did get the chance to tell Richie about their plan. “Ben was supposed to give me a signal to leave them alone here. I can’t believe you didn’t warn me.”

“You didn’t warn me about your plan. What were you going to do with me?”

“I don’t know. I figured I’d just go home.”

Richie raised his eyebrows and grinned. “So, you were planning to take me home?

“Oh, fuck off. You know what I meant.” Eddie stood and grabbed his jacket. “Well, if they’re gone, I’m leaving too.”

Eddie slipped his jacket on, not catching the way Richie’s smile finally fell away and was replaced with a frown. He stood as well and followed Eddie to the bar. They closed out their tab and split the cost, though Eddie planned to get at least half of that back from Ben for ditching him without warning. He resisted the urge to pull his phone out and text him to let him know he sucked, but he was with Bev and that’s what he wanted. Why did he have to be such a supportive friend?

Without saying goodbye, Eddie turned to leave but Richie was close on his heels. They walked out into the night and Eddie realized he hadn’t even bothered to order an uber. He pulled his phone out and opened the app, only to realize that Richie was staring down at him expectantly.

“What?” He asked, glancing at him before turning his attention back to his phone.

“Before you head home do you want to get some…ice cream?” He asked.

Eddie finally looked at him. “It’s like thirty degrees out here. There’s snow on the ground. And you want ice cream?”

Richie shrugged. “Yes?”

“Yea, I’ll pass.”

“Ok, it doesn’t have to be ice cream. There’s a 24-hour diner close by with really good pie.”

“I think I’d rather go home and sleep.”

“I’ll treat.”

Eddie’s fingers paused on his screen. He really didn’t want to spend any more time with this man, but he knew of the diner he was talking about and their pie was amazing. It was the offer to pay for him that really had him considering saying yes. He was going to respond when Richie’s phone chimed. He pulled it from his pocket and frowned down at the screen.

“Shit. I um…I have to go somewhere but…rain check on the pie?” He asked, giving him a sheepish smile.

Eddie couldn’t help thinking he looked disappointed. “Yea. Maybe.”

Richie said goodbye with that same look for disappointment still on his face as he rushed off down the street. Eddie was lucky enough to get an uber that was already close by. As soon as he got home, he collapsed on his couch and sent a text to Ben.

Eddie: You left me alone with Richie. You owe me. Big

He didn’t expect to hear from him until tomorrow with a full report of what happened with Beverly. Eddie was happy for his friend. He could tell that Bev liked him too and he wanted them to be together. Wanted them both to be happy. He just couldn’t help but feel jealous. He wanted to like someone, to have someone like him back. Longed for companionship and love. He fell asleep on the couch remembering the look Richie had given him when he left and wondering where he had to rush off to.

[edwinxerathi]

Consumed

((A warning for mentions of gore. This is a story Edwin told in a story telling circle. I edited it to read better on here!))

Edwin moved to stand, walking to a central spot made for story telling. While he spoke he reached into his hip pouch. "Now, it's been awhile since I've told this one.. So I might have some of the details wrong." He threw the small ball he retrieved into the dirt and a dark smoke began to billow from it. "The docks of Southshore told me of an urban legend they saw from the coastline.. A horror they followed." He curled his fingers, using shadow magic to toy with the smoke and shape it as an intense gaze grew on his face from the pain of his magic. "All horrors of course, have an origin do they not? Let me tell you of the Ghost of Gilneas."

Edwin's fingers arose, closing in as if pinching the air. The smoke rose in front of him and it shaped into an armored man's silhouette. "The men always told me of this guard they watched in Gilneas." The figured began to patrol, a watchful gaze inspecting the listeners from the shadow. "He was quite the admirable guard, bravely defending his city." He smiled, fingers curling as a woman's figure entered the smoke. "Of course, pillars of society stand together.. He was madly in love with another respectable  guard." Red billowed into the smoke of the man's heart, throbbing into the open air to profess his love. "Every day he would speak to her in hopes that one day she may take him." He paused for a moment, a grin lifting his lips. "Eventually he made his interest clear, and professed his love to her." He spoke hopefully and his finger flicked to the side, the woman's silhouette vanishing. "She denied his undying love." The male's figure lowered in shame. "The anger that comes along in that shame, that strike to human emotions.. He fled his safe haven of a city."

The smoke blew open like a massive gate, the man desperately fleeing the land. "Irrational thoughts meant he was no longer able to return home." He chuckled, fingers pulling back as that smoke began to slam into a massive wall, sitting in front of the tiny smoke man. "But escaping safety is much easier than breaking in." The smoke man turned from the wall, and began to slowly roam away, it's head  lowered in shame. "He did what most lost souls do, he wandered.. Far.. So far. The deckhands swear he even visited Southshore at some point, failed to find his life there." Buildings made of that same dark smoke came and went around the man, his head lowering with each failed refuge.  "Eventually he moved further north... And we know what resides north of these lands." Edwin broke the tension briefly with a chuckle. "My homeland, of course. Good ol' Lordaeron." His joyous visage turned into a sinister smirk, his tone matching. "The good ol' home that caught a sweep of nasty grain.. Did they not?" The lone smoke man desperately sifted through a box, looking for whatever food he could get his hands on.. Those grains poured into his throat, consuming them just as quick as he found them. "The difference in the forsaken turning you.. And being plagued by yourself?" Edwin flicked all five of his fingers at the  smoke man, knocking off most of the man's body mass, leaving a withered, bare bones human. "You don't understand that you no longer reside among the living."

He got into character, speaking in a bolsterous, ominous voice. "All of Tirisfal heard the wails that came from the awaking man. He fled the sewers he had rested in, painfully shrieking as he wondered what had become of his body." The figure ran through several shadowy smoke trees, nothing distinct in sight. "Had I not eaten in this long? Will I survive? Were the only inquiries  the man held as he cried out, desperately searching for any scrap of food." The running became more frantic, before coming upon a lone barn-house. "In Tirisfal he found his salvation." The doors of the home opened up and a table of food resided inside.. How peculiar. "How could such a frail man deny a blessing of a life time? He ran to gorge on the meats the table offered." The figure nearly dove onto the table in a feverish rush for the food. "But that meat was much too rare.. He quickly scarfed down the pieces, but moved on. There were beautiful strawberries! Fresh from the orchard. He shoved them into his mouth feverishly.. But oh they tasted just like the iron from the nearby mine!" The figure by now was frantically looking around, Edwin's free hand  drawing a dagger from his belt. "Next he moved to the bread at the center.. So squishy.. Why is it gushing? The grain.. It's gone bad. That poor soul muttered to himself." He struck down his knife behind the smoke, blood pouring from the smoke man's  mouth as he screamed in horror. "I consumed flesh!" The mismatched food took it's real shape.. The much too rare meat of a dead man.. The squishy, bloody juices of his guts and the soaked loaf of his organs.. How deep into rigor mortis was this poor soul?

Edwin's fingers twisted to make the withered smoke do a desperate dance, bloody hands digging into his head. "He screamed loud.. Loud enough to wake the dead." Edwin smirked as the figure taking off running. "He spent years wandering those forests, looking for his lost love.. Looking for his home... And most importantly. Looking for his life." The tired, bloodied smoke man slowly stumbled through the shadowy woods. "When he found his home however." Edwin shook his head, a 'tsk-tsk' coming from his lips. "The walls had fallen” That one massive wall of smoke was now crumbled clouds of dust. “He found that his kindred were just like him." Hundreds of withered forms grew in the distance, wandering aimlessly about the lost country-side. Edwin spoke with great pain in his voice. "He chose not to leave those lands, living within the sewers of his blighted home." He grinned knowingly. "Some say he haunts Gilneas to this day." With that Edwin stepped back, a smile on his face as the smoke faded away with the withered man.