[Eren is happy for Zeke. He's not the type to admit that sort of thing out loud, but he is. He's lived with his brother (and basically Erin) for over three years now, and, despite all odds (and, honestly, largely due to Erin's presence), they've managed to - at least, somewhat - bond. Above anything, he's happy that Erin will be moving in, and will stay with them - a true member of their broken little family forever (so long as Zeke doesn't fuck it up).
[That being said, he was genuinely looking forward to their wedding day. He helped do some of the planning, and he has a sharp outfit to wear (not a stuffy suit, but a collared shirt and nice pants - toss a cardigan over it, and he's looking pretty nice). Over the last week, his body has cooperated with some relative consistency, but...the morning of the wedding, his lungs decided that they didn't want to breathe anymore.
[He hates having to wear oxygen out in public (or a crowded private event). He's been subdued all night, preferring to stay in his seat, or pressed into a corner, away from the crowds. Guests who rarely see Eren keep coming up and touching him, asking how he's feeling. He hates it. Finally, at one guest, he snaps, lashing out with something like, "Will you get the fuck away from me?" She leaves. He glances sideways at someone in his peripheral vision - a girl with chunky headphones placed over her ears. What the Hell is that about...?]
You're listening to music? [But it's already playing. Everyone's dancing, having a nice time.]
[ Truthfully, Lily wasn't sure about coming to the wedding. Her mum had told her it wouldn't be huge or 'too much', but Lily's not always so sure she knows what constitutes 'too much'.
Five people can be 'too much' sometimes. It all depends. But this more than five people, and Lily only really knows Erin and Zeke; not well, but she's at least familiar with them. Everyone else..? Not at all. She knows about Eren (her mum pointed him out at the start), but they haven't met yet. Lily's been too focused on trying not to use the headphones tucked neatly into her bear-shaped shoulder bag. She lasted a while, but soon enough, on they go.
She hears when Eren speaks to her, though - they're close enough to allow for it. Hopefully close enough that if she's speaking too softly, he'll be able to hear her.
She shakes her head. ]
Mm-nn, no. It's just too loud and there's too much talking, and overlapping sounds. It's making me very aware of the seams in my dress and how warm it is in here, so these help keep me calm.
[Lily's explanation doesn't really make sense to him, which causes him to arch a rude brow, but her rather bold question quickly has him furrowing instead. It's not...really the same type of pitying "aw, poor baby" type shit he usually gets, which catches him off guard - disarms him a bit, in fact. He shrugs.]
Sort of. I don't wear it all the time. It rubs my nose all raw and bugs my ears. [A note that he does, indeed, have to pause several times while talking to take breaths. The oxygen helps tremendously; without it, he'd probably be hospitalized right now.]
[ She listens, and promptly gets up, and comes to sit closer next to him, rummaging in her bag as she goes.
Out comes a zip-up fabric bag (full of plasters, painkillers, lip balm, chewing gum, hand sanitizer - just girly things), but only one thing comes out of it. A small, yellow tube. With everything else zipped back up and tucked away, she squeezes out a pea-sized amount onto her finger, and holds it out for him. ]
You can put some of this on your nose where it's rubbing, if you like - it's technically anti-chafe gel, but I just have it because the texture feels lovely on my fingers. It'll soothe where it's sore and also make a barrier so it won't keep hurting.
[ Another look at him, this time at his ears. ]
I don't have anything for your ears, really. They're quite nice though.
[Eren blinks, looking a little dumbfounded for a moment.]
My ears? [They're turning red.
[He takes the dab of gel from Lily's finger, as offered. He turns away a little to apply it to his nose, which requires momentarily taking the oxygen tubes out. He has no capacity to hold his breath, so he tries to go as quickly as he can. Once he has everything back in place, he takes a minute to catch his breath again before turning in his seat to face Lily.]
Can't believe no one's ever told me about something like that before...[It helps.]
[ While he turns away, she contents herself rubbing the rest onto the back of her hand, happily swaying side to side as she rubs it in. She's been told it just feels smooth to other people, but to her, it's got a lovely, fine grain to it. If suncream felt like this stuff, she'd be far happier about going out in summer time. ]
I'm just built different. [ . u . ] I'm Lily by the way, Faith and Lucy are my mums, I think you know them.
[ The idea - the fact - that both his parents are dead puts an uncomfortable knot in her chest. She can't imagine it, and she also can't imagine how many times Eren's been told 'I'm so sorry'. 'That must be so hard'. Of course it'd be hard, what a silly thing to say.
So, she doesn't say either, she doesn't linger on it. Instead, she just falls quiet for a moment, watching the people in front and around them as they laugh and mingle. ]
Do you get on well with Dr. Mears? I don't know her really but she's quite nice I think. Mum says she can be a bit awkward but that's okay, I can be too apparently.
[Eren snorts.] Yeah, so can Zeke. You just wouldn't know it since he's such a liar. [It doesn't sound biting, really; brotherly?]
I've known Erin for a long time. She used to work with my father, but I didn't meet her until I got sick. Didn't meet Zeke until then, either, actually.
[ Brightly; ] My brother is too sometimes! He fibs because he knows I'll believe him, and then he teases me when I get all confused. It used to upset me, but now I just bop him on the arm or I take the last cherry Dr. Pepper.
You can tell she loves you a lot, even though she doesn't fuss over you. My mums tend to do that to me, and I know they mean well, but it can get a bit much sometimes.
[ And then, like it's the most natural, logical segue one could take; ]
They have little cheesy things on sticks on the food table - shall I get some for us? I can smuggle them, I'm good at that. I used to smuggle earthworms into class.
[ She wasn't subtle then and she won't be subtle now. ]
[Eren listens. Lily talks a lot - more than he could get out that fast - but Eren doesn't really mind. She's cute, and she's...very genuine, it seems, which Eren always respects - and she isn't pitying him, which is pretty much a given with anyone else, especially with tubes stuck on his face.
[At the mention of earthworms, he laughs, but it isn't unkind by any means.]
Because I love them very much! They'd come out after it'd been raining, and I'd make friends with them and bring them in so they could experience the perils of year 6 geography with me!
[It's funny. He laughs - can't help it. She says it so brightly, like taking worms to Geography class was the most thrilling experience of her life.]
They didn't get hurt like that? [He gets up from the table.] I can walk with you. [He can handle it.] I don't think we have to smuggle the cheese, though. Pretty sure Zeke and Erin got it for everyone.
Oh no, I was always very gentle with them, and I always made sure my pocket had soil in it for them.
[ Her laundry basket was forever sprinkled with mud crumbs...
[ When Eren gets up, she momentarily wonders if he's okay to - but it's only a moment. If he couldn't, he wouldn't, so she takes him at his unspoken word. ]
What if I wanted to smuggle it? What if I had no intention of using a plate?
[ She leans closer as they walk, conspiratorial. ]
[Pockets full of worms and dirt...What a funny girl.
[Eren often pushes himself far past the point that he should, so Lily shouldn't necessarily trust him to take it slow, but, he promised Erin he would. If he passes out and an ambulance has to be called on she and Zeke's wedding day--
[Well, he just won't let that happen. So he walks very slowly, idly wondering if Lily will take her time and walk with him. She whispers about illegal cheese sticks, and he glances at her, eyes sharp and mischievous.]
You're right...
If we get caught, though, there's no telling what might happen. I can't run away that fast, you know.
I happen to know where they have one stashed, actually. I bet you can't imagine why. [He's fine joking about it with her, oddly. She jokes along with him, and she doesn't freeze up or get awkward. He hasn't known her long, but from what she's said, it seems like maybe Lily is used to being infantilized as well...]
I think if you sit in my lap, I can probably steer us fine.
Oh-- [Eren snorts, breaking into a small fit of snickering (luckily, no coughing fit follows).] Duh. Yeah, we call them that too. Not sure if we have any of those laying around this place, though.
[God, but she has him snickering tonight-- Ah. This time, there's a bit of a coughing fit. He's quite adept and turning himself away and burying his face in the crook of his arm by now. Just gotta get it out and then--
[Back to Lily.]
You know Zeke and Erin didn't even bother tying cans to their car or anything? I mean. [Ah. A frown.] They're not really going anywhere after this. I kinda ruined that for them.
[Most couples go to a hotel the night of their wedding, or something like that, but they can't leave Eren home by himself overnight. Even with his equipment, there's a not insignificant chance he might stop breathing, and he knows that Zeke or Erin check regularly throughout the night.]
I can't blame them, it must make a terrible racket when people do that...
[ After a thoughtful bite out of a wayward breadstick, Lily waits for Eren to get what he wants, before they head back to their table. To those keeping an eye on either of them, it'd seem they've become fast friends. Lily at least seems to think so. ]
It's a shame you can't come to my house for the night; I bet my mums would say yes, and you'd get to meet my dog! Plus, we have a lot of chocolate cake leftover from the other night.
[ Cheesy-thing nibble break. ]
What do you like to watch? Like on TV - or movies, even!
[Lily mentions coming to her house, and something flashes in Eren's eyes. As they're walking back to the table, he tilts his head at her, searching for something.]
Do you really think your mums [Mums! British.] would let me? It's Zeke and Erin that are the bigger problem, but...[Pause. Thinking.] I have to sleep with a machine, but it's easy to move. If I had my emergency stuff, it wouldn't even be a big deal.
[He wants to meet the dog...]
I like all sorts of shit. I play more video games than I watch TV though. It's kind of all I've got to do most days.
[ Oh is this actually becoming a possibility! Lily blinks and smiles as they sit back down, nodding. ]
Mhm! We have plenty of room, so that wouldn't be a problem - and if you like video games, I bet my brother Christopher would play with you. He has dozens of them, he streams on Twitch! You could both do that and I could sit on the bed and eat snacks and draw or something!
[ Already planning... ]
Would you like me to ask them? I can go find them- or text them actually, that'd be better...
Uhm...[Eh...He frowns a bit, scratching at the back of his head. They reach the table and he takes a seat. He's tired.] What are the chances they'd talk to Zeke about it? I think he likes your mom a lot. He's just...
[Eren's lip curls up in a bit of a snarl, petulant.] Overbearing...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
contagion au wedding for @wormchick
[That being said, he was genuinely looking forward to their wedding day. He helped do some of the planning, and he has a sharp outfit to wear (not a stuffy suit, but a collared shirt and nice pants - toss a cardigan over it, and he's looking pretty nice). Over the last week, his body has cooperated with some relative consistency, but...the morning of the wedding, his lungs decided that they didn't want to breathe anymore.
[He hates having to wear oxygen out in public (or a crowded private event). He's been subdued all night, preferring to stay in his seat, or pressed into a corner, away from the crowds. Guests who rarely see Eren keep coming up and touching him, asking how he's feeling. He hates it. Finally, at one guest, he snaps, lashing out with something like, "Will you get the fuck away from me?" She leaves. He glances sideways at someone in his peripheral vision - a girl with chunky headphones placed over her ears. What the Hell is that about...?]
You're listening to music? [But it's already playing. Everyone's dancing, having a nice time.]
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Five people can be 'too much' sometimes. It all depends. But this more than five people, and Lily only really knows Erin and Zeke; not well, but she's at least familiar with them. Everyone else..? Not at all. She knows about Eren (her mum pointed him out at the start), but they haven't met yet. Lily's been too focused on trying not to use the headphones tucked neatly into her bear-shaped shoulder bag. She lasted a while, but soon enough, on they go.
She hears when Eren speaks to her, though - they're close enough to allow for it. Hopefully close enough that if she's speaking too softly, he'll be able to hear her.
She shakes her head. ]
Mm-nn, no. It's just too loud and there's too much talking, and overlapping sounds. It's making me very aware of the seams in my dress and how warm it is in here, so these help keep me calm.
[ With a glance at his oxygen pack; ]
Is that uncomfortable to wear for a long time?
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Sort of. I don't wear it all the time. It rubs my nose all raw and bugs my ears. [A note that he does, indeed, have to pause several times while talking to take breaths. The oxygen helps tremendously; without it, he'd probably be hospitalized right now.]
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Out comes a zip-up fabric bag (full of plasters, painkillers, lip balm, chewing gum, hand sanitizer - just girly things), but only one thing comes out of it. A small, yellow tube. With everything else zipped back up and tucked away, she squeezes out a pea-sized amount onto her finger, and holds it out for him. ]
You can put some of this on your nose where it's rubbing, if you like - it's technically anti-chafe gel, but I just have it because the texture feels lovely on my fingers. It'll soothe where it's sore and also make a barrier so it won't keep hurting.
[ Another look at him, this time at his ears. ]
I don't have anything for your ears, really. They're quite nice though.
[ His ears, yes. ]
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My ears? [They're turning red.
[He takes the dab of gel from Lily's finger, as offered. He turns away a little to apply it to his nose, which requires momentarily taking the oxygen tubes out. He has no capacity to hold his breath, so he tries to go as quickly as he can. Once he has everything back in place, he takes a minute to catch his breath again before turning in his seat to face Lily.]
Can't believe no one's ever told me about something like that before...[It helps.]
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Yes, they're nicely shaped!
[ While he turns away, she contents herself rubbing the rest onto the back of her hand, happily swaying side to side as she rubs it in. She's been told it just feels smooth to other people, but to her, it's got a lovely, fine grain to it. If suncream felt like this stuff, she'd be far happier about going out in summer time. ]
I'm just built different. [ . u . ] I'm Lily by the way, Faith and Lucy are my mums, I think you know them.
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She helped my brother when my parents died. I guess there was a lot of legal shit to sort through.
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[ The idea - the fact - that both his parents are dead puts an uncomfortable knot in her chest. She can't imagine it, and she also can't imagine how many times Eren's been told 'I'm so sorry'. 'That must be so hard'. Of course it'd be hard, what a silly thing to say.
So, she doesn't say either, she doesn't linger on it. Instead, she just falls quiet for a moment, watching the people in front and around them as they laugh and mingle. ]
Do you get on well with Dr. Mears? I don't know her really but she's quite nice I think. Mum says she can be a bit awkward but that's okay, I can be too apparently.
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I've known Erin for a long time. She used to work with my father, but I didn't meet her until I got sick. Didn't meet Zeke until then, either, actually.
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You can tell she loves you a lot, even though she doesn't fuss over you. My mums tend to do that to me, and I know they mean well, but it can get a bit much sometimes.
[ And then, like it's the most natural, logical segue one could take; ]
They have little cheesy things on sticks on the food table - shall I get some for us? I can smuggle them, I'm good at that. I used to smuggle earthworms into class.
[ She wasn't subtle then and she won't be subtle now. ]
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[At the mention of earthworms, he laughs, but it isn't unkind by any means.]
You used to smuggle earthworms into class? Why?
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Because I love them very much! They'd come out after it'd been raining, and I'd make friends with them and bring them in so they could experience the perils of year 6 geography with me!
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They didn't get hurt like that? [He gets up from the table.] I can walk with you. [He can handle it.] I don't think we have to smuggle the cheese, though. Pretty sure Zeke and Erin got it for everyone.
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[ Her laundry basket was forever sprinkled with mud crumbs...
[ When Eren gets up, she momentarily wonders if he's okay to - but it's only a moment. If he couldn't, he wouldn't, so she takes him at his unspoken word. ]
What if I wanted to smuggle it? What if I had no intention of using a plate?
[ She leans closer as they walk, conspiratorial. ]
Illegal cheese sticks, Eren!
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[Eren often pushes himself far past the point that he should, so Lily shouldn't necessarily trust him to take it slow, but, he promised Erin he would. If he passes out and an ambulance has to be called on she and Zeke's wedding day--
[Well, he just won't let that happen. So he walks very slowly, idly wondering if Lily will take her time and walk with him. She whispers about illegal cheese sticks, and he glances at her, eyes sharp and mischievous.]
You're right...
If we get caught, though, there's no telling what might happen. I can't run away that fast, you know.
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That's okay! I'll find the nearest wheelie chair and push us both down the closest hill in it! Easy peasy!
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I think if you sit in my lap, I can probably steer us fine.
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[ There's been a misunderstanding here. ]
Wait - how would you steer it?
[ Processing...Ah! ]
Oh! Did you think I said 'wheelchair'? I'm talking about those big desk chairs on wheels - we call them wheelie chairs!
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[ And at the food table they arrive. The food? Surveyed. A plate? Utilised. The cheesy-things? Hoarded. ]
Maybe with 'just married' written on the back!
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[Back to Lily.]
You know Zeke and Erin didn't even bother tying cans to their car or anything? I mean. [Ah. A frown.] They're not really going anywhere after this. I kinda ruined that for them.
[Most couples go to a hotel the night of their wedding, or something like that, but they can't leave Eren home by himself overnight. Even with his equipment, there's a not insignificant chance he might stop breathing, and he knows that Zeke or Erin check regularly throughout the night.]
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[ After a thoughtful bite out of a wayward breadstick, Lily waits for Eren to get what he wants, before they head back to their table. To those keeping an eye on either of them, it'd seem they've become fast friends. Lily at least seems to think so. ]
It's a shame you can't come to my house for the night; I bet my mums would say yes, and you'd get to meet my dog! Plus, we have a lot of chocolate cake leftover from the other night.
[ Cheesy-thing nibble break. ]
What do you like to watch? Like on TV - or movies, even!
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Do you really think your mums [Mums! British.] would let me? It's Zeke and Erin that are the bigger problem, but...[Pause. Thinking.] I have to sleep with a machine, but it's easy to move. If I had my emergency stuff, it wouldn't even be a big deal.
[He wants to meet the dog...]
I like all sorts of shit. I play more video games than I watch TV though. It's kind of all I've got to do most days.
Horror, mostly.
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Mhm! We have plenty of room, so that wouldn't be a problem - and if you like video games, I bet my brother Christopher would play with you. He has dozens of them, he streams on Twitch! You could both do that and I could sit on the bed and eat snacks and draw or something!
[ Already planning... ]
Would you like me to ask them? I can go find them- or text them actually, that'd be better...
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Uhm...[Eh...He frowns a bit, scratching at the back of his head. They reach the table and he takes a seat. He's tired.] What are the chances they'd talk to Zeke about it? I think he likes your mom a lot. He's just...
[Eren's lip curls up in a bit of a snarl, petulant.] Overbearing...
I can talk to Erin, at least.
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