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]

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."

[fawnthefae]

"I would like to try, yes!" Fawn nodded, not wanting to miss out on new experiences.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I think you will like it," said Eliot, and filled the two glasses that were there. "It's... fun. And it's sweet."

He grinned. "Like you!" Then laughed. "God, sorry, that was lame. It was jus too perfect." He handed Fawn one of the glasses and then sat down with the other.

[fawnthefae]

"No, that is nice. I'm... I don't know the word. I feel good when you say nice things like that. It's nice. You are nice with your words. ...Handsome and kind, yes," Fawn smiled.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Thank you... that is very nice to hear too," said Eliot. "But you are very easy to be nice to. And we should get to know each other now, hmm? What is something that makes you happy?" He took a sip of the champagne.

[fawnthefae]

Fawn sipped the bubbles, smiling as they tickled his nose.

"Ice cream, and when the suns used to set on my planet, painting the sky pretty colours. ...I miss that," he admitted softly. "What makes you happy, Eliot?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

The first thing that came to Eliot's mind was plums. The sweet taste, dripping into his mouth while Quentin held the fruit to his lips while laying in his lap. One of the flashes of memory he sometimes got. Fleeting.

He didn't say that.

"Parties with a lot of music and laughter and joy," he settled on instead.

[fawnthefae]

"I've never really been to a party," Fawn admitted. "That does sound fun though."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I think you would like it very much," said Eliot with a smile. "Friends, music, food, drink. At least, that's the best kind of party. The ones with strangers... they can be a different kind of fun but I don't think you would care for it."