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?
[ two things that are pretty rare for julie happen at the same time; the question leaves her a little speechless, opening her mouth and closing it again when nothing comes out, and it flusters her enough that her gaze darts down to the space between them, even when she unconsciously leans a little into the touch of his hand when he tucks her hair back. ]
[ the thing is she plays the part well but julie's really not as confident or self-assured as she comes across. she masks it well, the bitchy, violent girl is a comfortable place to settle for her, but when it's like this? with nothing to lean on? only one person really knows that about her, and she's pretty fucking keen on keeping it that way. ]
[ it does piss her off a little, the way this has her floundering and unsure of herself all of a sudden, though at least the sunglasses hide the brief flash of panic in her eyes when she realises it. julie makes to move away a little, straighten up again. put some distance between them and make some attempt to save face here. ]
I, um-- [ she clears her throat, turns her head to look in any other direction to hide the fact that she's pretty sure her cheeks are a little pink. what a fascinating branch that is over there. ] I don't know.
[ ... jesus christ. fuck. what if she just jumped out the window right now? he couldn't stop her. ]
[ eddie watches her closely. watches the way her mouth opens and closes with nothing to say, notes the subtle shift toward his hand moving her hair out of the way. for as much as eddie thinks he knows julie, he also knows that he knows nearly nothing at all when it comes to the things that matter. when it comes to reading her beyond the surface, though he likes to think he's gotten past the first couple layers she likes to hide behind.
but he doesn't know what she's thinking. he doesn't know if by putting her on the spot, he's managed to dig under another layer of skin. what he does know, though, is that the moment's been lost, whatever the moment may have been, and that's - fine. julie clears her throat and pulls away and eddie doesn't hesitate to let go of her wrist so she can put however much space she wants between them. does he catch the new color in her cheeks? it's hard to tell.
eddie doesn't say anything right away. lets the silence hang for a few seconds after her i don't know. he looks at the random assortment of stolen knickknacks he's unloaded from his pockets, then starts to pick them up at a slow pace, filling his pockets back up. ]
Sure you do. [ he says eventually, only briefly glancing over at her. he picks up the disposable camera, considers giving it to her for her to keep, then sets it back down. ] I do all the dangerous dirty work, and you profit by undercutting my earnings.
[ or, you know. stealing his pilfered cigarettes. ]
[ julie watches him out of the corner of her eye, a brief frown of concentration on her face as she tries to figure out what he's thinking now that she's gone and embarrassed herself. unthinking, she pulls her knees up, wraps her arms around them with a snort at eddie's assessment. ]
[ she can still feel the ghost of his hand on the side of her face, but shrugs it off, turning her head to look down at the pile of stuff he's putting back in his pockets. still pointedly not looking at him, but that's no big deal. ]
Yeah, that's me. [ light, sarcastic. maybe lacking the punch she usually has, but maybe not. ] Big cigarette baron.
[ eddie's used to julie's sarcasm by now, but it hits a little different here, feels a little... empty in a way he can't quite put his finger on. enough to make him pause in the middle of gathering all of his stolen junk up, enough to make him glance her way again, only to find her with her arms cradling her knees.
it makes her look young, he thinks. not in a bad way, because it's not as if she's not young, but she just looks... like a regular person. like someone eddie could know outside of a place like this. he shoves a pen into his vest pocket, picks the camera back up and carefully balances it on the peak of one of her knees. she'd probably get more use out of it than he would, and besides - where the hell is he going to develop pictures in the middle of the woods. sure, nancy's boyfriend might know, from what he's heard, but it's still... doubtful. ]
Lucky for you, [ eddie says quietly, starting to shift up onto his feet, staying in a low crouch for now. he dusts his hands off on his haunches, then rests his arms on his knees. ] I kinda dig powerful women.
[ and that's all he says before he straights up a little and moves toward the window to peek out, looking for that freaky mass of... frozen meat, or whatever the hell the dredge is today. ]
[ julie's still got her head tilted, watching the pile of stuff as eddie gathers it all up, so she catches the way he pauses after she speaks. luckily him balancing the camera on her knee distracts her, and she picks it up. inspecting it to see how many pictures it's even got left. ]
[ how would she even develop it? maybe byers knows, but she doesn't want to ask him for anything. better him than ghost face though, she supposes. ]
Shut up.
[ she snorts at his little comment, powerful women, sure. tempted to push him over when she sees him pull himself into that little crouch, but she doesn't. winds up the camera instead and pushes up the sunglasses so she can look through the viewfinder. ]
Wait a sec-- Smile.
[ that's all the warning eddie gets before she snaps a photo. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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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[ the thing is she plays the part well but julie's really not as confident or self-assured as she comes across. she masks it well, the bitchy, violent girl is a comfortable place to settle for her, but when it's like this? with nothing to lean on? only one person really knows that about her, and she's pretty fucking keen on keeping it that way. ]
[ it does piss her off a little, the way this has her floundering and unsure of herself all of a sudden, though at least the sunglasses hide the brief flash of panic in her eyes when she realises it. julie makes to move away a little, straighten up again. put some distance between them and make some attempt to save face here. ]
I, um-- [ she clears her throat, turns her head to look in any other direction to hide the fact that she's pretty sure her cheeks are a little pink. what a fascinating branch that is over there. ] I don't know.
[ ... jesus christ. fuck. what if she just jumped out the window right now? he couldn't stop her. ]
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but he doesn't know what she's thinking. he doesn't know if by putting her on the spot, he's managed to dig under another layer of skin. what he does know, though, is that the moment's been lost, whatever the moment may have been, and that's - fine. julie clears her throat and pulls away and eddie doesn't hesitate to let go of her wrist so she can put however much space she wants between them. does he catch the new color in her cheeks? it's hard to tell.
eddie doesn't say anything right away. lets the silence hang for a few seconds after her i don't know. he looks at the random assortment of stolen knickknacks he's unloaded from his pockets, then starts to pick them up at a slow pace, filling his pockets back up. ]
Sure you do. [ he says eventually, only briefly glancing over at her. he picks up the disposable camera, considers giving it to her for her to keep, then sets it back down. ] I do all the dangerous dirty work, and you profit by undercutting my earnings.
[ or, you know. stealing his pilfered cigarettes. ]
Very capitalist of you.
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[ she can still feel the ghost of his hand on the side of her face, but shrugs it off, turning her head to look down at the pile of stuff he's putting back in his pockets. still pointedly not looking at him, but that's no big deal. ]
Yeah, that's me. [ light, sarcastic. maybe lacking the punch she usually has, but maybe not. ] Big cigarette baron.
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it makes her look young, he thinks. not in a bad way, because it's not as if she's not young, but she just looks... like a regular person. like someone eddie could know outside of a place like this. he shoves a pen into his vest pocket, picks the camera back up and carefully balances it on the peak of one of her knees. she'd probably get more use out of it than he would, and besides - where the hell is he going to develop pictures in the middle of the woods. sure, nancy's boyfriend might know, from what he's heard, but it's still... doubtful. ]
Lucky for you, [ eddie says quietly, starting to shift up onto his feet, staying in a low crouch for now. he dusts his hands off on his haunches, then rests his arms on his knees. ] I kinda dig powerful women.
[ and that's all he says before he straights up a little and moves toward the window to peek out, looking for that freaky mass of... frozen meat, or whatever the hell the dredge is today. ]
I think we could probably make a run for it.
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[ how would she even develop it? maybe byers knows, but she doesn't want to ask him for anything. better him than ghost face though, she supposes. ]
Shut up.
[ she snorts at his little comment, powerful women, sure. tempted to push him over when she sees him pull himself into that little crouch, but she doesn't. winds up the camera instead and pushes up the sunglasses so she can look through the viewfinder. ]
Wait a sec-- Smile.
[ that's all the warning eddie gets before she snaps a photo. ]
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