- RETROMIX + HEATMETAL

[camarod]

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[retromix]

[ His head lolls as he goes from horizontal to vertical with very little help from his own limbs. Is he being propped up? Are they both ... ? Oh, okay. That's really nice of them. ]

Hargrove. Ooo, your hair smells goooood. Little bit like weed. Little bit.

[ Swinging a look at Eddie he smiles in relief, expression softening. ]

You're a great crazy dancer.

[camarod]

[Ah - he glances at Eddie, bites his lip and look, he tries to say with his eyes, I am trying not to laugh here. Look, except when he speaks there is a bit of a laugh there anyway. ]

Thanks, lightweight.

[He is still glancing at Eddie, shakes his head and mouths what the fuck.]

[heatmetal]

[ jesus christ. eddie shifts a little, getting a better hold on steve. ]

Thanks, man. I'll teach you how keep up with me next time, okay?

[ eddie glances back to billy, giving his head a shake. ] Gonna need you to watch your feet for us, 'kay? One foot in front of the other here. [ and then back to billy, did someone spike his drink? ] That's right, man. Once we get you some fresh air I'll call us a cab.

[retromix]

No, no, no, I want to stay, or find a bench to lay down on. Hargrove's huge, he can spot a bench a mile away.

[ Boop. Steve pokes Billy on the cheek. Audible booping, even. ]

I want to summon something with my superpower, I'm gonna do it —

[camarod]

[Eddie gets a puzzled look, a mouthed I didn't see shit before there is a finger in his cheek and he blinks, a little slow and stupid before he chokes on a laugh. ]

No fucking way man. You're going to bed, you're fucking wasted - quit swerving around before we drop you on your ass.

[heatmetal]

Yeah, no, no summoning in the bar.

[ just focus on getting him on out the doors... don't be jealous of a boop. don't be jealous of a stupid drunken boop. come on, munson, chill the fuck out over here. ]

It's bed for you, sire. I don't need your inevitable alcohol poisoning on my conscience tonight.

[retromix]

Why are you both so nice to me?

[ The floor is so swirly, oh God, that final major drink is hitting his bloodstream. ]

Can we call Robin? I need Robin. [ He looks at Billy quizzically. ] D'you remember Robin Buckley? She's my best friend. [ Swerving his attention back to Eddie. ] I almost fell in love with her once but I wasn't ... paying attention.

I could summon Robin, you guys!

[camarod]

Must've been dropped on our heads as kids or somethin'.

[He shifts his weight a little, pulls Steve's arm slightly taught to keep him from wriggling away again and then glances at Eddie, shakes his head. ]

It's gonna be a no from me on that one.

[heatmetal]

You know the answer to that one, dingus.

[ alright, out into the cool night air. Eddie tightens his grip and pulls his phone out of his pocket - pausing when steve suggests a truly horrible idea. ]

Yeah, uh, no. No, no, no, no, we are not gonna see what happens when you try to summon living things. Especially when you're smashed.

[retromix]

Okay.

[ He looks so sad but heeds the sensible advice. The night air is so good, he sticks his tongue out to taste it. ]

Where are we even going? I had a secret extra drink at the bar, oops. You're right, I'm wasted. I'm so sorry.

[camarod]

[This is insanely stupid. Billy follows Steve's tongue, wets his own lips and looks almost fond. He's seen something new tonight; he's going to savour this, however dumb Steve looks.

Then Eddie's calling them a cab, and Billy looks at him, eyebrows lifted like can you believe I want to fuck this guy so bad while he's tasting the air and having secret drinks. Jesus christ. ]

I dunno man, I think it might've been the vodka coke's you drank like water.

[heatmetal]

[ ... oh. oh yeah, he is little jealous. no, wrong word. threatened? eddie's only ever done casual hookups before, this is... well, steve seemed like he wanted something else. he can do casual, if that's what he wants, but.

shoving those feelings down. he'll get fucked up and dwell on this a different day. ]

We're just switching venues. [ he manages a smile at billy that doesn't totally meet his eyes, but there's sympathy there. god he understands. then he's turning back to give the driver their location. ]

It's okay. [ he ruffles steve's hair fondly. ] Pace yourself next time, alright?

[retromix]

[ Why is Hargrove so tanned? How often does he do sunbathing?

And that's Eddie ruffling Steve's hair. ]

I don't want to pace myself, I'm freaking out.

[camarod]

[Every day - ]

Yeah, assplanting will do that to you.

[heatmetal]

[ he stuffs his phone back in his pocket, gently tapping the side of steve's face to get him to look at him. ]

Hey. Deep breaths, okay? [ and takes one in himself as an example. ] What's got you so riled up, huh?

[retromix]

I need to speak to Robin.

[ The widest eyes in existence peer at Eddie, trying to impart secrets and insinuations without doing any of that in front of Hargrove. ]

She knows me, okay, she knows me inside-out, knows all my history and secrets that aren't really secrets anymore because she's so smart that she found them out. She knows me, and I ...

[ Steve hangs his head, studying his shoes as he walks. He gives a wriggle to try and free himself, quietening down. ]

I just need to talk to her because she'll get it.

[camarod]

Jesus -

[He's sure this is all very meaningful and Robin is great, and that this thing is important for Steve to work through but, like. He pauses, swivels and dips, hauling Steve over his shoulder by the waist and giving Eddie the most exasperated look he can muster. ]

Can you go back there and make sure he doesn't puke on my ass.

[heatmetal]

[ Billy's earlier assessment is right. Those big brown eyes make it hard to hide exactly what he's feeling. There's something... maybe a little vulnerable in them as Steve starts that desperate plea. Something a little like resignation.

Like, naturally, whatever this is was too good to be true once they were out in public, or with someone from home, or where he wasn't the only choice Steve was clinging to because he was familiar. Eddie's about to say - he doesn't know, it's cool, we're fine, we can be friends or whatever no matter what and then Billy's got him up and over his shoulder.

It could be nothing or it could be everything. ]

Uh. Yeah. I've got puke watch. [ he rubs the back of his neck, wishing he'd been smart enough to get blackout drunk. ] Cab should be here in five. Unless you think you can carry him back, then we can probably hoof it.

[retromix]

You — Whoaaa.

[ He flails as his weight drops and settles, upended with a view of Billy's ass and the pavement. Steve tries to kick his heels but he feels so heavy he isn't even sure if he's moving his legs. ]

Hargrove, stop being a bastard, oh my god.

[ If he cranes his head sideways he can see Eddie. This is, even through an alcoholic haze, incredibly embarrassing. ]

Why is nobody listening to me! I'm — goddamn it — I'm not Boromir! I have Aragorn intentions! Eddie, hold up!

[ The sheer effort it takes to spin all that nonsense while wasted is impressive even to Steve, hoping some of the sentiments get through. ]

[camarod]

[It is basically gibberish to Billy, but: ]

If he stays still I can haul his ass back.

[Do Not Make Him Slap Your Ass.]

[heatmetal]

No, no, I get it, man. You're always Aragon. And you got a looooot of feelings you gotta let out. [ hopefully not all over hargrove's ass. ] But right now, you're the ring. And Hargrove and I are playing Frodo and Sam, so we gotta take you to the top of Mt. Diadem to lay you to rest in the softest bed before you spew like Mt. Doom.

[ he pats steve's cheek. ]

Besides, we know who the Boromir is here. Just chill.

[retromix]

You're talking shit —

[ All the blood going to his head makes it hard to think, eyelashes fluttering as his cheek is patted. ]

... Ed — nnnngh.

[ Out like a light. ]

[camarod]

[More gibberish, and he is sure he was just insulted somehow, what the fuck.]

Did he just pass out?

[Dead Weight] What the fuck was that about?

[heatmetal]

Yep. Sure did.

[ god if that isn't a reminder that this isn't his crowd.

eddie slides his hands back into his pockets and tries to straighten up. ]

Lord of the Rings is my favorite book. I made Harrington watch the movies the second he let his guard down.

[camarod]

I knew that sounded like some nerd shit.

[It’s not malicious - Billy dropped nerd shit the moment his mom dipped. Maybe if - well, maybe in another timeline this would be a different conversation.

He shifts Steve’s weight, figures it’s what? Twenty minutes to walk? That’s doable.

He grunts, turning his head just enough to catch most of Eddie’s face. ]

He’s like - [he pauses, rethinks.] He’s into you. Blinders on full. People like us don’t watch nerd shit if not.