Eliot

[fawnthefae]

 Fin was supposed to be taking him to meet a friend, but when he'd gotten a job at the last minute, he'd insisted Fawn Go without him.

"Eliot's nice," his brother had said. "You'll like him, Fawn. Trust me."

And so Fawn had set off to the bar. It was nearly closing time and he moved through the dwindling crowd, heading towards the bar. He was the spitting image of Fin, a bit slighter, his hair much longer. He also dressed far more casually than Fin, favouring tunics over robes.

Nervous, he took a seat at the bar and looked around.

Comments

[eliot_thespectacular]

Fin had, of course, voiced exactly what Eliot had been trying to ignore. He let that statement sit for a beat and then blurted, "Is this stupid? For me, I mean. I know I shouldn't ask you this, you're not exactly unbiased, but should I try not to get too..." He searched for the word. "Invested?"

This was a first date. It was ridiculous to be thinking as far ahead as "is he going to break my heart?" and Eliot was okay with that. Honestly he was okay with the risk of a broken heart, too, but it would be good to know going in if it was an inevitability.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I... Have no idea," Fin admitted. "But these things are rarely cut and dry, are they, Eliot. Love and even friendship is a winding path."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Of course. You're right. I'm getting ahead of myself. Sorry, I'm nervous." And it wasn't that he was nervous because of Fawn, exactly - he liked him, sure, but it wasn't like it was love at first sight or something. But he just hadn't even tried to open himself up to anyone in so long, romantically or otherwise.

And then he added, "Anyway, thanks for introducing us. I'd love to spend some more time with you too, sometime." He didn't want Fin to think that all he'd been interested in was... well, dating.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'd like that very much," Fin said, smiling brightly. "Perhaps we can meet on the holodeck one day?"

Before Eliot could answer though, Fawn came wandering through. He was wearing Fin's green dress. A fitted, floor length piece that was almost silk in appearance and embroidered with a simple floral design. His long hair was pulled into a bun, and he wore a faint hint of blush and lip colour. Much like Fin often did.

"Hello," he said, looking just a tad bit awkward.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot was suddenly very glad that he'd dressed nicely. He hadn't been expecting this, but... he liked it. He liked the drama.

He grinned. "Hello," he said. "You look fantastic."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn looked down at himself and fussed with the dress a little.

"Thank you. You look nice too. Very so," he said. Though Eliot had looked nice when they first met. It was why Fawn had wanted to put effort in. Eliot had looked kind of fancy... Fawn wanted to be fancy too. They could be fancy together.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Thank you," said Eliot. "Are you ready to go?" He offered Fawn his arm.

He looked at Fin and smiled. "It was nice seeing you."

[fawnthefae]

"And you, Eliot," Fin smiled, offering a polite nod.

"Yes, am ready," Fawn said excitedly, looking confused when Eliot offered his arm.

[eliot_thespectacular]

When Fawn didn't take his arm, Eliot assumed it was just a cultural thing because of his confused expression, and instead opened the door for him.

[fawnthefae]

Fawn perked up at that, wandering off through the door.

"Where are we going? What are we eating?" he asked excitedly.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"We are going to the restaurant attached to Ten Forward," said Eliot. "My friend arranged for... something. I'm not entirely sure what. I did mention you're a vegetarian though - that's right, isn't it?"

[fawnthefae]

"Yes, I don't eat my friends," Fawn nodded.

"Do you eat other animals?" he asked. "Many humans do."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I did before I came here," Eliot said. "It was just what people do, as you say. Here there's not much real meat, ,which I think is perfectly fine. But I figured you probably would prefer not even having the taste of the replicated stuff. Plus there are some fresh vegetables from the gardens."

[fawnthefae]

Fawn smiled brightly at that.

"You are very thoughtful, yes? That is kind of you."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh," said Eliot, a little embarrassed by that particular piece of praise, " I haven't been on a date in a long time, but I did want to... make you comfortable."

[fawnthefae]

"I am comfortable. Well, this dress is tight. I didn't have anything pretty though. I don't buy a lot of clothes. Fin does, he likes... Being dressed? Fancy, I mean," Fawn said, chatting away.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Well I think you look very pretty, but I promise you don't have to dress up for me," Eliot said.

[fawnthefae]

"It was nice to do once. I might do it again," Fawn smiled.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"It can be fun to dress up," Eliot agreed. "Perhaps I should do it more myself."

They walked into the restaurant by Ten Forward, and Eliot's bartender friend immediately greeted them. "Oh, come with me!" she said excitedly, and led them to a corner where there was an area with some privacy and a table with fresh flowers and candles. "Tada!" she said. "Ben proposed to me here. It's romantic, isn't it - oooh, and champagne!" She pointed to a bucket of ice, looking pleased with herself.

Eliot leaned in and kissed her cheek. "You're a peach," he said, and was genuinely touched. He didn't think they were that close, but in this moment she reminded him of Margo.

[fawnthefae]

"Fancy," Fawn said, taking it all in, then pausing to watch the pair. He almost looked like he was studying them.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Fawn, this is - " Eliot began, but she waved him off.

"I'm Mags," she said, "but we can chat later. I don't want to interrupt, and I'm also late for my own romantic evening, Have fun, you two!" She wiggled her fingers at them and dashed off.

Eliot pulled out one of the chairs for Fawn. "She's in love," he said.

[fawnthefae]

"With you?" Fawn asked, sitting down in the offered chair.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot chuckled. "No. I imagine if she was she'd be a bit less enthusiastic. She's recently engaged. So she's just seeing romance in the air." He picked up the bottle of champagne and popped the cork.

[fawnthefae]

"Engaged is before married, yes?" Fawn asked, jumping a bit when the cork popped.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Yes," said Eliot. He smiled reassuringly when Fawn looked alarm by the pop. "Sorry," he said. "Do you like champagne?" He poured. "I know you don't drink much, but a little is okay I think? It's bubbly."