(no subject)

[seawalled]

Arright, my outlet converter has gone missing. Might've fallen out on the ride from the airport.

How am I supposed to charge my mobile now? I rather need it if I'm going to start looking for a new ... everything.

[there's a pause as the fresh face takes a deeeeep breath and exhales slowly, before smiling]

Right, I'm sorry, that's the absolute wrong way to go about introductions, isn't it? Hullo, my name's Ellie, and I just started getting these ... other memory things. I still feel daft saying it. But I don't suppose any of you have any advice for someone needing a flat here in the city? Apartment. You call them apartments here. I bake. I cook. I'll pay you in food. I'll walk your dogs. I don't know. I'll something.

Comments

[temptationaccomplished]

Oh. Oh, goodness. This is YOUR Ellie? Oh, she's lovely. She's really very adorable. How in the world is she related to you and Anthony?

[scotch_egg]

Piss off and don't encourage her. First flight home she's gone and isn't coming back. [he regrets the first part of that as he's not really mad at Fell but he can't take it back so he'll leave it as is]

[temptationaccomplished]

You're being exceptionally disagreeable, even for you. She seems nice! Much better than the rest of the lot, no offense intended. What's wrong?

[seawalled]

He doesn't want me here because he knows I'll make him take proper care of his daft self, whether he bloody well likes it or not. Alec, don't you dare butt into my personal conversations and tell people to piss off ever again, or so help me I will hire you a massive Swedish live-in nurse and give her full permission to use restraints.

[temptationaccomplished]

Oh, now, I don't think that would be necessary. The restraints. He'd probably be able to slip out of them anyway, skinny as he is.

But Anthony and I will be very glad to have more help in the matter.

Though I appreciate the defense,
I've grown rather used to Alec telling me in varying degrees of politeness to 'piss off.' It's charming.

[seawalled]

You've got a more generous definition of charming than most people. Bet it drives him mad. ... Good on you.

[temptationaccomplished]

[Adorably proud.]

Thank you. I'd certainly like to think so. But then I can say that since he lets me get away with it.

[scotch_egg]

[no. fuck that. Fuck all of it. He's going somewhere-- far away to get drunk and regret it. ]

[temptationaccomplished]

[You had better not, sir! We do not want a repeat of last time]

[scotch_egg]

[there won't be...]

[temptationaccomplished]

[That still sounds ominous. Need I remind you: dying is strictly OFF LIMITS. Thank you.]

[seawalled]

[SECONDING THAT THANK YOU]

[seawalled]

Does he really now? You're goin' to 'ave to tell me that secret for sure.

[temptationaccomplished]

The trouble is: I'm not sure how I lucked upon his favor. Our first meeting was, well. It went down rather poorly, if I'm honest, and every time after. [And yet, even as he says that, he looks immeasurably fond and pleased, and like he might tell the whole story in grand detail if allowed.]

[seawalled]

That sounds about bog-standard for Alec, really. [her expression nearly matches his... she may be encouraging this grand detail.]

[temptationaccomplished]

Bog standard! No, don't tell me that! I like to think I'm an exception. HE makes me feel like the exception and that's the grandest part.

Anyway, we met on the network, Alec and I, shortly after his first memory. I made the cruel mistake of confusing him with Anthony--a fact I'm sure he will never let me forget. Nor will anything else in this bloody universe. He invited me to dinner at what I suspect was a wonderful Indian restaurant but may never really know. Or maybe I chose the location; I think it may have been that. In any case, he bought me flowers and grumbled about everything and we never did get round to eating.

But he was so utterly wonderfully Alec. Charming in his brutal, sweet nihilism.

He was so protective of Anthony. I couldn't appreciate it at the time--but he's... Well, you're his sister, I'm sure you've seen it yourself. It's like being sheltered from a storm.

I don't know how he ever gave me the time of day again after the row we had, but he's been a vexing source of comfort and kindness ever since. Oh, it's been awkward of course. Neither of us are proficient at small talk. I think we could spend hours together in awkward silences. I irritate him more often than not and he irritates me out of nearly every meal we try to share. He certainly won't call us friends, even after we spend all morning together at the zoo with balloons and ice cream and wild cats. He's awful.

But he was the one who told me about Grace, and he was the one who told me Anthony intended to propose to her at the party... And without his encouragement, Anthony and I might never have got together in the end.

[Which was immediately followed up by Alec's near-death. Best not to mention that.]

He clearly doesn't want me to enjoy his company and yet somehow I do.


Oh, good grief. I'm sorry. You didn't want all that.

1/3

[seawalled]

[got together?]

2/3

[seawalled]

OH! YOU'RE HER! Or, er, him! ANTHONY'S - OH! OH, this is brilliant! HULLO!

3/3

[seawalled]

That is, goodness, I certainly wasn't expecting the world to get this small! Now I'm even sorrier I wasn't at that bloody dinner. Oh good God, Mr. Fell. It's so lovely to meet you, and I'm so sorry it took so long. You've been such good for Anthony, he seems ever so happy - [by Anthony standards] - and the way you and Alec are getting along sounds absolutely lovely, you're quite right.

Zoos! Uhmf. He'd never go with me to a zoo, I think you've hit on something there. 'Brutally sweet nihilist', I don't think anyone's ever described him more perfectly. Though you may want to add something about prickles in. Maybe he's a hedgehog.

[temptationaccomplished]

A hedgehog! Don't let him hear you say that, but that's perfect. He would be such an adorable prickly hedgehog.

Oh, you didn't miss much. The dinner was a disaster, as nearly all my meals with a Crowley seem to be.

But yes, I'm...her. [a blush, he is pleased anyone thinks he's so good for Anthony] I blame Anthony for that rumor getting out of control. And it is a pleasure to meet you, too.

[seawalled]

It is, innit?! Maybe I'll get him a stuffie or something for Christmas. [then it occurs to her that he can see this if he likes, and she clams up. there are better and cleverer things than stuffies]

So I 'eard. Do the family go with you to all your dinners, then, or do you just have poor luck on social outings with Crowleys? Perhaps you should go on one with a Wright and see if things go any happier.

[temptationaccomplished]

[Oh, no. Now he has the thought of Alec looking precious fast-asleep with a stuffed animal and it is an adorable idea.]

[Teasing] Are you asking me out, Ms. Wright? I'm afraid I'm quite taken, but if you're free for lunch some time, I'd love to treat you to a sample of what the city has to offer.

[seawalled]

[she can vouch that sleep is the ONLY time Alec Crowley looks precious]

Oh, I don't wanna cuckold my own cousin! [she says, with a grin that's proof positive just how much she's loving the little joke] Come on, Mr. Fell, I've got some morals. Besides, what would the fam say if I started going out with a lady? ... Seriously though if the girl joke bothers you, just tell me straight off and I'll say no more 'bout it.

And lunch sounds absolutely lovely.