[ when eddie first arrived in the fog, a shift in julie's attitude like that would have set him on edge - but he's been here for a while now, and he's spent enough one on one time with julie that he's not so easily unsettled by her. definitely not affected by the threats she used to spit at him, which have become notably less frequent.
he does feel like maybe he's touched a nerve though, watching the way she goes kind of static for a moment when he subtly brings attention to the fact that she came out here without her mask. eddie's pretty sure he's never seen her anywhere without it on her in some capacity. even that one time, when he stumbled into the lodge looking for a quiet place to lose his shit for a minute, she came out with it on, like she was ready.
it's just - interesting, is all.
eddie turns his head to look at her, leans a little to bump his shoulder against hers. ]
What, you don't think I could convince it to like me? [ it worked for julie, who's to say he couldn't sway the dredge, too. not that he'd want to, because that sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen, but still. ] In a, uh... non-cannibalistic kind of way. Do you think it counts as cannibalism if it's made up of like - a bunch of human parts?
[ she doesn't like not having her mask, especially not away from the lodge like this. hates being seen without it and the security it provides, but eddie's seen her without it enough that not having it doesn't exactly leave her feeling vulnerable and exposed like it would with anyone else. that doesn't mean she's fine with not having it though. ]
[ the question (disregarding the horse, she can't get into that right now ) makes her roll her eyes, and julie shakes her head. ]
I'm not sure it counts as cannibalism anyway. Is it actually eating anyone?
[ a better question: does she want to know? probably not. ]
Anyway, I don't think you wanna find out. [ if he could make it like him, that is. who really wants a pile of limbs as a friend? ]
[ eddie sure as fuck doesn't want to find out, julie's right about that, but now he's stuck thinking about the technicalities of cannibalism and whether or not it applies to the dredge. is it actually eating people? eddie tilts his head, contemplates. ]
Definitely consumes people. [ he makes lazy air quotes around consumes. ] Puts bodies in its... body?
[ all right, that's enough of that. eddie makes a face like he's grossed out by the thought, physically shakes the whole thought away. whatever, it's not important and he doesn't care that much.
now that they don't have to worry so much about being maybe-cannibalized though, eddie starts to dig through his pockets for all the shit he stole. when he drags a hand out of his vest pocket, he's got those listerine strips in his palm. curious, he flicks the little case open with his thumb, and finds what looks like a bunch of neatly cut blue-green... strips. as advertised, apparently, though he still can't quite grasp what the hell they are.
he looks at julie for a second, then takes one of the strips out. gives it a little shake, like he expects it to make some kind of sound like when you shake a big sheet of metal. he says: ]
If it's not drugs, I hope it's fun at least.
[ and then with a shrug, he simultaneously offers julie the listerine strips and pops one on his tongue. ]
[ puts bodies in its body. she hates that! julie wrinkles her nose and frown at eddie, shakes her head in a way that suggests he better be done with this line of conversation because she refuses to think about it any more. ]
I think we've earned drugs, right?
[ she says, innocently taking a listerine strip and popping it right on her tongue, a move she comes to regret mere moments later when it starts to melt and it's like someone smeared a square of toothpaste on her tongue? it's not gummy, it just kind of turns to slime? julie smacks her tongue against the roof of her mouth a couple of times and and she makes a face of mild horror at eddie like he personally cursed her. ]
[ when eddie puts the strip in his mouth, he has no initial reaction, sitting there next to julie with a blank face. and then it starts to dissolve on his tongue, melting into some kind of fucked up goo, and eddie just - opens his mouth, like that'll make it stop. his brows furrow sharply, and he looks like he's just licked the bottom of a shoe or something.
this isn't drugs or fun. minty, but fucking awful as an overall experience. why do these exist? how cursed is the fucking future, and should he be glad he beefed it in the middle of the upside down back in hawkins? why the hell are people carrying these around with them? just buy some fucking altoids. brush your teeth. nobody should do themselves.
eddie clicks the little cartridge closed, rubbing his tongue against the roof of his mouth just to get the strip to dissolve faster. he looks at julie, then at the little case in his hand, and then twists... and drops it out the goddamn window. ]
What the fuck? [ she still looks deeply upset with this whole experience, halfway tempted to lick her sleeve or something just for a different flavour to suffer with. who came up with those things? is that what they're doing in the ✨new millenium✨? just fucking slurping down toothpaste goo? ]
[ julie's about to ask these questions as if eddie isn't here from ten years before her, but she remembers something and stops to reach in her pocket for the pack of cigarettes and taps two out, because she's keeping this box, and holds one out for eddie. ]
I'm definitely keeping the pack after that. [ she scrapes her tongue against the roof of her mouth and makes another of those displeased cat faces. ] Fuck.
nobody should do themselves??? removing my fingers
[ it would appear that, for the moment, he and julie are sharing the same brain cell, because for a second eddie seriously considers using the inside hem of his jacket to get the gross shit off his tongue, and only decides against it because he likes his vest too much to subject it to whatever the fuck these strips are made of.
eddie throws his hands up a little when julie swears at him like he's fucking mr. listerine himself. he didn't make the damn things, and he sure as fuck didn't know they were awful, so he can't really be held accountable here. he murmurs a disgusted jesus christ under his breath, trying to work the texture and the taste of his mouth when julie digs the cigarettes she stole from him out.
seems a little unfair that she should be allowed to keep him, considering he's the one who did all the work to find them in the first place, but you know what? he decides he's gonna let her have this one. because he's nice. he takes the offered cigarette, wrinkles his nose up as he brings it to his mouth. ] Whoever greenlit that shit's a psychopath, Christ.
[ as far as she's concerned, the toothpaste slime is entirely eddie's fault and he should be held accountable for making this happen to her. but she makes a quiet noise, agreeing with eddie as she stretches out a leg to fish her lighter out of her pocket. a silent prayer as she lights up that this erases the phantom sensation left in her mouth. ]
So. [ she takes that first inhale to make sure it's lit properly and offers the lighter over to eddie as she tilts her head back to exhale. ] Back to Harrington's legs.
[ eddie's half tempted to reach out and pinch the end of her cigarette out when julie brings harrington and his stupid legs up again, his fingertips be damned. he doesn't though, just fixes her with an unamused stare as he plucks the lighter out of her hand and flicks it to life with his thumb, lighting up his own. when he's done with the lighter, he returns it to julie by balancing it flat on her thigh.
eddie fills his lungs with smoke, blows it back out and shakes his head, finding it in himself to laugh a little. christ. ]
Something's wrong with you.
[ that's all he can come up with, half embarrassed but also half wary, because staring at a dude's legs for a little too long is the kind of thing that would land him with a split lip and a black eye or worse, laid out in the middle of the school parking lot or left to bruise in a bathroom stall. hawkins is a very small town, full of not-so-open-minded people, he's learned.
not that eddie expects julie to be prodding just to turn around and give him (serious) shit for it, but it's a habit to be cautious.
eddie gestures kind of vaguely with his hand, careful of getting too close to julie with his cigarette. ]
I just think it's - funny, is all. The dumb little outfit.
[ and weirdly attractive in a way that's kind of bizarre even to eddie, but that probably doesn't need to be said. ]
[ julie's been in the fog long enough, open long enough, that she's kind of forgotten the threat of being queer when you're from some shitty, small town. she hasn't even thought about rochelle who emphatically told julie she's not "that way" and abruptly broke up with her — is it really breaking up when all you do is meet up and make out in secret? — in years. so she assumes eddie's caution is entirely because it's a weird thing to be into, survival instinct doesn't even cross her mind. ]
Oh that's what that face you make means. It's funny. [ she's quiet for all of a moment that might seem like she's going to let it go to someone who doesn't know her, and she nudges him with her elbow just before she speaks again. ] Just admit you're into his stupid ice cream man look.
[ eddie tilts a little when julie nudges him, then straightens himself back up again. he scoffs a little under his breath, passes his tongue over his teeth to buy another second or two. ]
I don't make a face. [ he probably does, but he couldn't do it now if he wanted to because he has no idea what he looks like when he catches harrington sprinting by with his stupid fucking legs out. as far as he knew, he was being subtle, but apparently not. or maybe julie just watches him way too closely, which should creep him out more than it actually does if that's the case.
eddie reaches his hand up and back, ashes out the window before bringing his hand back in. he wets his lips, lifts his cigarette to his mouth, pauses with it hovering there for a moment. he glances at julie out of the corner of his eye. ] Why do you care so much?
[ julie shrugs a shoulder, just looks down at the cigarette between her fingers. she definitely wants to argue that he does make a face because sometimes he does and it's totally hilarious. like he's just seen something he wants in a store window mixed with something significantly less wholesome. and what it means that she's so keyed in to the faces eddie is making during trials that she can pick out his expressions so often isn't worth thinking about too much. she's just observant is all. it's a skill she's had to work on since toying with stealth perks kinda hamstrings frenzy's ability to find people. ]
I only care this much now because you keep denying it. [ a pointed raise of her eyebrows punctuated by a drag on the cigarette. ] I just thought it was funny because I would never in a million years have guessed Harrington did it for you, let alone in his little sailor boy shorts.
[ to be fair, eddie would never in a million years have guessed that harrington would ever do it for him, either. eddie used to hate the guy - distantly, never really to his face, but when they were in school together, their circles couldn't have been farther apart. and then harrington graduated and eddie stayed behind, and truthfully, eddie forgot about him for a while. only remembered the guy existed at all when he met dustin henderson, and the stupid little squirt wouldn't shut up about him.
and then, you know. hawkins went to hell in a hand basket, and through a series of very unfortunate and traumatizing events, eddie got to know steve, and he figured out pretty quickly that - yeah. people do change, and steve - steve's a pretty decent guy. and also attractive, but that's irrelevant. mostly. it should be, but julie won't fucking let it go.
eddie doesn't say anything for a minute. he smokes his cigarette and he pointedly ignores julie, like he's not even gonna bother anymore with arguing if she's just gonna keep insisting that he's lying (because he is). he looks around the small, cramped tree house just to kill some time, rubs his tongue against the roof of his mouth to chase the rest of the acrid listerine aftertaste away, and it's not until he's burned his cigarette nearly down to the filter that he says anything. ]
... He's not what he seems, you know. Or, no - I guess he's exactly what he seems. Now. I used to hate the guy, but I barely knew him. Turns out, sometimes when you get to know someone, they're not as bad as you thought they'd be.
[ eddie turns his head and looks at julie pointedly, because this is not a sentiment that applies exclusively to steve. he goes to stub his cigarette out on the floorboard by his knee but then thinks better of it - with his luck, he'd light the whole damn treehouse up with them inside it - and rubs it out on the leg of his jeans instead.
he looks at julie again, offers a half shrug. presses his lips together for a moment, like he's debating his next words, and then just decides - fuck it. ]
Never saw him in shorts until here. He's got nice legs. Are you happy? [ he laughs. ] Jesus.
[ julie watches him when he goes quiet, trying to figure out what's going through his head, but she can't get it just from looking at him. maybe this is the point to actually let it go, is what she's thinking herself, and then eddie actually finally responds. nothing about it is particularly surprising (and she ignores the hell out of that pointed look), kinda cliché if anything, but it does make julie smile a little triumphantly. ]
Yes. [ she laughs a little herself, leans over and bumps him with her shoulder. ] God, that was like pulling teeth.
[ eddie reaches and pinches her leg in retaliation when julie nudges him with her shoulder, mostly just for something to do but also because she's kind of a little shit and he kind of hates that about her. unfortunately, it's also one of the things he really likes about her, too. ]
Yeah, whatever. [ he rolls his eyes, like she's being dramatic and exaggerating, like it was never that serious even though he's the one who was trying to dance around having to give a straightforward answer, or just straight up trying to lie. ] You're a freak.
[ he looks at julie, and it's clear in his expression that that's freak (affectionate) and not freak (derogatory). after a beat, he looks away... and starts to empty his pockets out into the small space between them, mostly just everything he stole from the cars down the street. when he fishes out the small, disposable camera, he turns it over in his hands like he's never really seen one before, at least not like this - but it seems pretty straight forward. he thumbs at the little wheel at the top right, winds the film, and then without really bring it up to his face, he turns it and points it at julie and snaps a picture, flash on and everything.
[ julie gasps and smacks at eddie's hand when he pinches her leg, laughing softly still at the same time. ]
Takes one to know one.
[ it's similarly freak (affectionate) on her end, a small smile staying on her face as she leans forward to put her cigarette out on the sole of her shoe, totally unprepared for when that flash goes off and blinds her for a split second, which she doesn't appreciate at all. ]
Oh great. [ she rubs her eyes with her thumb and forefinger, still with enough of a smirk on her face to give away that she thinks it's at least a little funny despite the deadpan delivery. ] Now it's like Harrington's here too.
[ eddie sets the camera down between them so he doesn't accidentally blind anyone again, still laughing a little bit under his breath about it. maybe he'd be more interested in taking more pictures - not just of julie - if he thought there was any way to get the film developed. as it stands, he briefly wonders if he could get away with taking the camera into a trial, use it to try to blind killers who expect flashlights and flashbangs over anything else.
his attention is easily drawn away though when julie mentions harrington for what feels like the millionth time in the last hour or so. he rolls his eyes, but there's something vaguely playful in his expression. ]
[ eddies eyes dart up to the sunglasses perched on her head for a moment before he looks back at her. occasionally, it strikes him just how... normal julie can be. how easy it is to get along with her outside of being chased and stabbed a million times.
he looks away from her, leans his head back against the wall, lulls his head to look at her again. her stupid little smirk. ]
You already stole my cigarettes. What more could you want?
[ her smirk turns a little impish as she looks at him, head tilted as if she's thinking hard about this, and she slouches against the wall with a shrug. ]
Better question is what you'd be willing to offer.
[ furrowing his brows slightly at her, like maybe he's trying to get a read on her, eddie looks at julie with a thread of curiosity in his gaze. he doesn't say anything right away, expression vaguely thoughtful. truthfully, they both know that he probably doesn't have a whole lot to give when it comes to bartering - she's the one with a whole ski lodge to herself, with dozens of suitcases to rifle through for more or less whatever she could want within reason, but he still makes a little show of contemplation.
eventually, his brow softens and the corner of his mouth slowly starts to curve up in the barest hint of a smirk. slowly, he leans closer to her, makes a small gestures with his hand like he's beckoning for her to come closer too. regardless of whether she obliges him, eddie tilts in kind of close to her ear, his voice real low like he's offering her something of high value that he doesn't want anyone else to know about. he doesn't even know what it is he's meant to be negotiating for, but does that stop him?
absolutely not. ]
I'll wear the costume for you.
[ that's right, that stupid little ren-fair looking bullshit he sometimes turns up in trial wearing, with the lute and everything. is he being serious? of course not, even eddie knows julie could never properly appreciate the art of balloon pants and dark red velvet. but that's what makes it funny.
just as quietly, like the offer is even tempting at all, he says, ]
[ it's not a real offer anyway. firstly she doesn't even have shorts — at best maybe she could steal some underwear from frank if eddie wants to see a pair of pale thighs so badly — nor does she particularly want to wear any. similarly she doubts eddie has much to offer, this is just a dumb joke conversation anyway. so when eddie leans toward her like he's got a real good deal to offer, it makes her curious. ]
[ so she leans toward him, head bowed, eyebrows raised. real intently listening. it takes a second for her to even process what he just said, and when she does her laughter comes out in a sudden bark that surprises even herself, and she clamps her hand over her mouth to muffle it as much as she can. ]
Shut the fuck up. [ still laughing, she puts a hand on his chest to shove him away. ] I hate that fucking thing.
[ almost immediately, eddie starts to shush her when she bursts out laughing with a finger held to his own lips - they are, after all, still hiding from the dredge. there's a grin behind his hand though, and he has to work to stifle his own amusement, pleased with himself for making julie laugh. granted, it's at his expense, but that's hardly anything new. and, you know, maybe it's worth it. eddie likes it when she smiles.
when julie pushes at his chest, eddie instinctively closes his hand around her forearm, mostly to keep himself from being knocked over regardless of the strength behind the shove. he doesn't let go though, barely even aware he's latched onto her as he smiles back, a teasing lilt in his tone. ]
Ah, the lady doth protest too much, methinks. [ he raises his brows slightly, tilts his head so he has to look at her through his lashes a bit. ] You like it a little bit. It's okay.
[ julie barely even notices his hand on her arm, too busy letting out an audible groan and rolling her eyes at his little bit. ] It turns me into a middle school bully, I've never wanted to wedgie someone so bad in my life.
[ like a bull seeing red whenever she catches sight of that stupid little cape, and then he does his stupid medieval talk and it drives her nuts. she wants to just push him over like an obnoxious child. julie gives him the tiniest little shake of her head, voice low since they're this close now apparently, refusing to let the amusement dancing at the edges of her expression fully manifest by pure strength of will. ]
You have no idea how much self-restraint dealing with you takes sometimes.
[ does she sound a little frustrated by that? it's probably just because she wants to bully him mercilessly and no other possible reason. ]
[ like almost every other time julie's threatened him, serious or otherwise, eddie appears unfazed. amused, more than anything, the corners of his mouth pulling just the tiniest bit as he works to suppress a smirk. a wedgie is pretty tame compared to her usual taunts, which only makes eddie thinks she's deflecting, and that only serves to amuse him even more.
idly, his thumb rubs a lazy line against her wrist that he's not even really that aware of. the thread of frustration in her tone intrigues him and he takes a second to just look at her. eddie's gaze flits up to the cheap sunglasses perched on her head, down to her eyes, down again for the briefest of moments to the shape of her mouth before darting back up.
he tilts his head, keeps his voice low. ]
No? [ eddie slowly lifts his other hand, reaches and nudges the arm of her sunglasses so they slide down over her eyes. absently brushes a loose strand of her hair back without much thought. ] If I'm so bad, why'd you come all the way out here?
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he does feel like maybe he's touched a nerve though, watching the way she goes kind of static for a moment when he subtly brings attention to the fact that she came out here without her mask. eddie's pretty sure he's never seen her anywhere without it on her in some capacity. even that one time, when he stumbled into the lodge looking for a quiet place to lose his shit for a minute, she came out with it on, like she was ready.
it's just - interesting, is all.
eddie turns his head to look at her, leans a little to bump his shoulder against hers. ]
What, you don't think I could convince it to like me? [ it worked for julie, who's to say he couldn't sway the dredge, too. not that he'd want to, because that sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen, but still. ] In a, uh... non-cannibalistic kind of way. Do you think it counts as cannibalism if it's made up of like - a bunch of human parts?
[ a beat. ]
And a horse? [ he's unsure about the horse. ]
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[ the question (disregarding the horse, she can't get into that right now ) makes her roll her eyes, and julie shakes her head. ]
I'm not sure it counts as cannibalism anyway. Is it actually eating anyone?
[ a better question: does she want to know? probably not. ]
Anyway, I don't think you wanna find out. [ if he could make it like him, that is. who really wants a pile of limbs as a friend? ]
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Definitely consumes people. [ he makes lazy air quotes around consumes. ] Puts bodies in its... body?
[ all right, that's enough of that. eddie makes a face like he's grossed out by the thought, physically shakes the whole thought away. whatever, it's not important and he doesn't care that much.
now that they don't have to worry so much about being maybe-cannibalized though, eddie starts to dig through his pockets for all the shit he stole. when he drags a hand out of his vest pocket, he's got those listerine strips in his palm. curious, he flicks the little case open with his thumb, and finds what looks like a bunch of neatly cut blue-green... strips. as advertised, apparently, though he still can't quite grasp what the hell they are.
he looks at julie for a second, then takes one of the strips out. gives it a little shake, like he expects it to make some kind of sound like when you shake a big sheet of metal. he says: ]
If it's not drugs, I hope it's fun at least.
[ and then with a shrug, he simultaneously offers julie the listerine strips and pops one on his tongue. ]
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I think we've earned drugs, right?
[ she says, innocently taking a listerine strip and popping it right on her tongue, a move she comes to regret mere moments later when it starts to melt and it's like someone smeared a square of toothpaste on her tongue? it's not gummy, it just kind of turns to slime? julie smacks her tongue against the roof of her mouth a couple of times and and she makes a face of mild horror at eddie like he personally cursed her. ]
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this isn't drugs or fun. minty, but fucking awful as an overall experience. why do these exist? how cursed is the fucking future, and should he be glad he beefed it in the middle of the upside down back in hawkins? why the hell are people carrying these around with them? just buy some fucking altoids. brush your teeth. nobody should do themselves.
eddie clicks the little cartridge closed, rubbing his tongue against the roof of his mouth just to get the strip to dissolve faster. he looks at julie, then at the little case in his hand, and then twists... and drops it out the goddamn window. ]
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[ julie's about to ask these questions as if eddie isn't here from ten years before her, but she remembers something and stops to reach in her pocket for the pack of cigarettes and taps two out, because she's keeping this box, and holds one out for eddie. ]
I'm definitely keeping the pack after that. [ she scrapes her tongue against the roof of her mouth and makes another of those displeased cat faces. ] Fuck.
nobody should do themselves??? removing my fingers
eddie throws his hands up a little when julie swears at him like he's fucking mr. listerine himself. he didn't make the damn things, and he sure as fuck didn't know they were awful, so he can't really be held accountable here. he murmurs a disgusted jesus christ under his breath, trying to work the texture and the taste of his mouth when julie digs the cigarettes she stole from him out.
seems a little unfair that she should be allowed to keep him, considering he's the one who did all the work to find them in the first place, but you know what? he decides he's gonna let her have this one. because he's nice. he takes the offered cigarette, wrinkles his nose up as he brings it to his mouth. ] Whoever greenlit that shit's a psychopath, Christ.
eddie says no to masturbation
So. [ she takes that first inhale to make sure it's lit properly and offers the lighter over to eddie as she tilts her head back to exhale. ] Back to Harrington's legs.
rip
eddie fills his lungs with smoke, blows it back out and shakes his head, finding it in himself to laugh a little. christ. ]
Something's wrong with you.
[ that's all he can come up with, half embarrassed but also half wary, because staring at a dude's legs for a little too long is the kind of thing that would land him with a split lip and a black eye or worse, laid out in the middle of the school parking lot or left to bruise in a bathroom stall. hawkins is a very small town, full of not-so-open-minded people, he's learned.
not that eddie expects julie to be prodding just to turn around and give him (serious) shit for it, but it's a habit to be cautious.
eddie gestures kind of vaguely with his hand, careful of getting too close to julie with his cigarette. ]
I just think it's - funny, is all. The dumb little outfit.
[ and weirdly attractive in a way that's kind of bizarre even to eddie, but that probably doesn't need to be said. ]
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Oh that's what that face you make means. It's funny. [ she's quiet for all of a moment that might seem like she's going to let it go to someone who doesn't know her, and she nudges him with her elbow just before she speaks again. ] Just admit you're into his stupid ice cream man look.
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I don't make a face. [ he probably does, but he couldn't do it now if he wanted to because he has no idea what he looks like when he catches harrington sprinting by with his stupid fucking legs out. as far as he knew, he was being subtle, but apparently not. or maybe julie just watches him way too closely, which should creep him out more than it actually does if that's the case.
eddie reaches his hand up and back, ashes out the window before bringing his hand back in. he wets his lips, lifts his cigarette to his mouth, pauses with it hovering there for a moment. he glances at julie out of the corner of his eye. ] Why do you care so much?
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I only care this much now because you keep denying it. [ a pointed raise of her eyebrows punctuated by a drag on the cigarette. ] I just thought it was funny because I would never in a million years have guessed Harrington did it for you, let alone in his little sailor boy shorts.
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and then, you know. hawkins went to hell in a hand basket, and through a series of very unfortunate and traumatizing events, eddie got to know steve, and he figured out pretty quickly that - yeah. people do change, and steve - steve's a pretty decent guy. and also attractive, but that's irrelevant. mostly. it should be, but julie won't fucking let it go.
eddie doesn't say anything for a minute. he smokes his cigarette and he pointedly ignores julie, like he's not even gonna bother anymore with arguing if she's just gonna keep insisting that he's lying (because he is). he looks around the small, cramped tree house just to kill some time, rubs his tongue against the roof of his mouth to chase the rest of the acrid listerine aftertaste away, and it's not until he's burned his cigarette nearly down to the filter that he says anything. ]
... He's not what he seems, you know. Or, no - I guess he's exactly what he seems. Now. I used to hate the guy, but I barely knew him. Turns out, sometimes when you get to know someone, they're not as bad as you thought they'd be.
[ eddie turns his head and looks at julie pointedly, because this is not a sentiment that applies exclusively to steve. he goes to stub his cigarette out on the floorboard by his knee but then thinks better of it - with his luck, he'd light the whole damn treehouse up with them inside it - and rubs it out on the leg of his jeans instead.
he looks at julie again, offers a half shrug. presses his lips together for a moment, like he's debating his next words, and then just decides - fuck it. ]
Never saw him in shorts until here. He's got nice legs. Are you happy? [ he laughs. ] Jesus.
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Yes. [ she laughs a little herself, leans over and bumps him with her shoulder. ] God, that was like pulling teeth.
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Yeah, whatever. [ he rolls his eyes, like she's being dramatic and exaggerating, like it was never that serious even though he's the one who was trying to dance around having to give a straightforward answer, or just straight up trying to lie. ] You're a freak.
[ he looks at julie, and it's clear in his expression that that's freak (affectionate) and not freak (derogatory). after a beat, he looks away... and starts to empty his pockets out into the small space between them, mostly just everything he stole from the cars down the street. when he fishes out the small, disposable camera, he turns it over in his hands like he's never really seen one before, at least not like this - but it seems pretty straight forward. he thumbs at the little wheel at the top right, winds the film, and then without really bring it up to his face, he turns it and points it at julie and snaps a picture, flash on and everything.
eddie laughs, a little surprised by the flash. ]
Oh, shit. Sorry.
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Takes one to know one.
[ it's similarly freak (affectionate) on her end, a small smile staying on her face as she leans forward to put her cigarette out on the sole of her shoe, totally unprepared for when that flash goes off and blinds her for a split second, which she doesn't appreciate at all. ]
Oh great. [ she rubs her eyes with her thumb and forefinger, still with enough of a smirk on her face to give away that she thinks it's at least a little funny despite the deadpan delivery. ] Now it's like Harrington's here too.
[ flashlight clicking jerk ]
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his attention is easily drawn away though when julie mentions harrington for what feels like the millionth time in the last hour or so. he rolls his eyes, but there's something vaguely playful in his expression. ]
I'm not putting on shorts for you.
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[ she shakes her head, reseats the sunglasses on top of her head, and fixes eddie with a playful smirk in return. ]
But I might be able to be bribed.
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he looks away from her, leans his head back against the wall, lulls his head to look at her again. her stupid little smirk. ]
You already stole my cigarettes. What more could you want?
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[ her smirk turns a little impish as she looks at him, head tilted as if she's thinking hard about this, and she slouches against the wall with a shrug. ]
Better question is what you'd be willing to offer.
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eventually, his brow softens and the corner of his mouth slowly starts to curve up in the barest hint of a smirk. slowly, he leans closer to her, makes a small gestures with his hand like he's beckoning for her to come closer too. regardless of whether she obliges him, eddie tilts in kind of close to her ear, his voice real low like he's offering her something of high value that he doesn't want anyone else to know about. he doesn't even know what it is he's meant to be negotiating for, but does that stop him?
absolutely not. ]
I'll wear the costume for you.
[ that's right, that stupid little ren-fair looking bullshit he sometimes turns up in trial wearing, with the lute and everything. is he being serious? of course not, even eddie knows julie could never properly appreciate the art of balloon pants and dark red velvet. but that's what makes it funny.
just as quietly, like the offer is even tempting at all, he says, ]
You know the one.
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[ so she leans toward him, head bowed, eyebrows raised. real intently listening. it takes a second for her to even process what he just said, and when she does her laughter comes out in a sudden bark that surprises even herself, and she clamps her hand over her mouth to muffle it as much as she can. ]
Shut the fuck up. [ still laughing, she puts a hand on his chest to shove him away. ] I hate that fucking thing.
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when julie pushes at his chest, eddie instinctively closes his hand around her forearm, mostly to keep himself from being knocked over regardless of the strength behind the shove. he doesn't let go though, barely even aware he's latched onto her as he smiles back, a teasing lilt in his tone. ]
Ah, the lady doth protest too much, methinks. [ he raises his brows slightly, tilts his head so he has to look at her through his lashes a bit. ] You like it a little bit. It's okay.
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[ like a bull seeing red whenever she catches sight of that stupid little cape, and then he does his stupid medieval talk and it drives her nuts. she wants to just push him over like an obnoxious child. julie gives him the tiniest little shake of her head, voice low since they're this close now apparently, refusing to let the amusement dancing at the edges of her expression fully manifest by pure strength of will. ]
You have no idea how much self-restraint dealing with you takes sometimes.
[ does she sound a little frustrated by that? it's probably just because she wants to bully him mercilessly and no other possible reason. ]
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idly, his thumb rubs a lazy line against her wrist that he's not even really that aware of. the thread of frustration in her tone intrigues him and he takes a second to just look at her. eddie's gaze flits up to the cheap sunglasses perched on her head, down to her eyes, down again for the briefest of moments to the shape of her mouth before darting back up.
he tilts his head, keeps his voice low. ]
No? [ eddie slowly lifts his other hand, reaches and nudges the arm of her sunglasses so they slide down over her eyes. absently brushes a loose strand of her hair back without much thought. ] If I'm so bad, why'd you come all the way out here?
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