Jan 27, 2021
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I kinda want to either write a one shot or draw some art where edvard and barnaby show each other all the stuff they’re interested in and talk about their special interests/hyperfixations while the other listens
and maybe in a more modern setting edvard shows barnaby movies like Star Wars for example and they have a marathon of all the movies and barnaby actually gets invested in it and he’s just watching it with Edvard either asleep leaning on him cuz it’s late and he’s tired or just talking about the movie cuz it’s one of his favorite movie series
@good-lord-no cuz you said you’d read the shit out of this
————————————————————————————
“I can’t believe you’ve never seen them!”
Barnaby takes a long sip from his flask, savoring the look on his companion’s face, “You know they’re not really my style, Ed.”
“Well, I really like them and I think you will.”
“Alright, of you really like them I’ll give them a try, bring the around my place later along with any other movies you really like.” Barnaby says with a wink before walking off, leaving Edvard almost beaming with glee and flapping his hands out of excitement.
Edvard gathers up his collection of movies, runs his fingers through and picks out his outfit. “Should he wear formal attire or casual?” He ponders.
“A movie marathon is a casual thing to do, there’s no reason to be formal” Edvard justifies.
He fiddles with his outfit and hair a little more while looking in the mirror. He wants to look good for his date. It is a date . . . right? Did he misunderstand what Barnaby meant. Oh shit, he definitely did. Why does he have to be like this. Why can’t he tell what people mean. It’s wild that Barnaby and him are friends, it would be insane if he liked him back. Why would an affluent and influential man of such high standing fall for a insane, dramatic, and prideful inventor. It just makes no sense.
Edvard looks into the mirror one final time and sighs. He gathers up his stuff and heads to Barnaby’s house. Castle is more like it, you can tell you have to be rich and powerful to live there. He knocks on the door and is greeted by a smiling Barnaby. It’s not his normal smile of smug confidence though, it looks nervous and excited at the same time. Edvard ponders why but is brought out of his thoughts by fingers snapping in front of his face.
“Hey, you in there?”
“Oh! Uh Yeah!”
“Good, I thought I lost you for a moment there.”
Barnaby motions for Edvard to come in as Edvard does his eyes fall on the couch with a big blanket draped over one arm, the coffee table in front of it with wine and popcorn on it, and the expensive-looking television.
“Yeah, it’s a bit basic, but I didn’t want to overload any senses and I like it better simple than overly fancy.” Barnaby says rubbing the back of his neck.
“Bit basic for normal people or just you?” Edvard remarks
Barnaby chuckles in response and clasps his hands together, “So, what are we watching first?”
Edvard pulls a dvd out of his bag and proudly announces, “ Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope! It’s the first Star Wars movie released and I think we should watch them in the order they were released so it’s easier for you.”
“Alright, whatever you say.”
Edvard and Barnaby settle in and Barnaby drapes the blanket over them. It’s weighted, Edvard finds it relaxing and it seems like Barnaby agrees, somewhat leaning into the blanket.
Edvard explains who almost everyone is and what their deal is when they first show up on screen. He can’t help it, it’s just what he naturally does with his special interests. Usually people tell him to shut up when he does this, surprisingly Barnaby seems to be taking in all the information and processing it and Edvard feels his heart swell up with happiness that someone is actually taking an interest in and listening to him talk about one of his special interests.
Barnaby actually gets really invested and shakes Edvard at the iconic, ‘Luke, I am your father’ scene and whisper-yelling, “Ed! Ed! Eddie! that’s his dad! Eddie, they’re related! Eddie, he’s his son!”
When the movie ends, Edvard turns to Barnaby and asks, “So, what did you think?” as if he doesn’t already know the answer.
A giant smile is plastered on Barnaby’s face, “What do I think? What do I think? I thinks it’s amazing!”
“You ready for the second one?”
Barnaby bounces his body in excitement, “yeah!”
Edvard puts the second movie in the DVD player and the same thing happens, Edvard explains what he feels he needs to and Barnaby loves it. Barnaby is still invested but calms down after the fourth or fifth movie and returns to leaning into the blanket and trying to be casual. About halfway through the movie he somewhat sneakily wraps one of his arms around Edvard’s shoulders.
Edvard’s mind races. “is this a date? He pulled that classic sneak arm around date thing. But what if he meant it just as a friend, Barnaby does seem to prefer to be tactile. But it’s a date thingggggg.”
He looks up at Barnaby to try to decipher the meanining behind the action. Barnaby’s covering his mouth with his fist and seems to be trying to avoid Edvard’s gaze by staring straight ahead at the tv screen, but he does appear to be blushing. Edvard decides to test the date theory by laying his head on Barnaby’s shoulder. Barnaby’s seems to shake out of surprise but he relaxes after a few seconds and the blush on his face definitely deepens.
“I think Barnaby likes me back! Maybe it is a date!” Edvard thinks.
“Oh my lord! oh my fuck! He’s laying his head on my shoulder! His head is on my shoulder! Should I say something?! Would that ruin the moment?!” Barnaby thinks.
Edvard runs his fingers up and down Barnaby’s arm and on the outside Barnaby looks the same bu internally he’s freaking out about every little thing Edvard is doing.
“I’d hate to ruin this moment, ”Barnaby pauses as Edvard looks up at him and takes in just how beautiful he is, “ but in all honesty I just kinda went for it and didn’t expect any of what you did!”
“Do you not want to me to-“ Edvard starts
“No! I mean yes! I mean . . .” Barnaby takes a deep breath, “ I really really like you and I didn’t ever think it was possible for you to like me back!”
Edvard’s eyes widen, “Wait you like me back!?”
“Actually, I think I love you!” Barnaby says taking one of Edvard’s hands in his.
“I think I love you too!” Edvard says flapping his free hand in his happiness.
“I feel like we should kiss.”
“No, yeah, absolutely” Edvard responds before pulling Barnaby into a kiss.
To be clear Aldranin is Squiffy’s real name
————————————————————————
“You ready, Eddie?” “Hey! That rhymes!” Barnaby says clasping his hands together.
Edvard rolls his eyes at Barnaby while fixing his tie unsuccessfully.
“Here, let me help you.” Barnaby says and without letting Edvard say anything in response he takes ahold of his tie and in a way Edvard can only describe as gentle and graceful Barnaby fixes his tie.
“Uh thanks”
“Don’t mention it.”
There’s a calm silence for a couple seconds where Edvard gets to take in just how handsome Barnaby is, fancy party outfit and all.
Then suddenly a voice breaks the silence, “Are you two ready or not?”
Lilith stands there arms folded looking frustrated with the two men, “You’re going to be late.”
“Of course we are. You can’t show up on time to a party, you have to show up fashionably late.” Barnaby assures her.
She pinches the bridge of her nose, “ok you know the plan, you two pretend to be a rich and fancy couple so you can figure out where they’re storing the precious artifact.”
Barnaby outstretches his hand to Edvard, who takes a deep breath then takes Barnaby’s hand. Barnaby intertwines their fingers and Edvard tries his best to keep calm and not turn bright red due to the hand holding.
They make their way to a giant estate, when they are almost there Barnaby leans his head to whisper in Edvard’s ear, “I think it’d be best if I do the talking.”
Edvard nods in response.
Barnaby hands the man by the door their invitations and they head inside.
A man in coat embellished with gold approaches the duo, “ Ah Mr.Fortescue, so glad you and your partner could make it. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him.”
“Well, Moore this is my partner Lumiere, Lumiere this is Moore, he’s the head of the horse racing business.
Moore outstretches his hand for Edvard to shake. Edvard hesitates so Barnaby nudges him and Edvard shakes Moore’s hand.
“You’ll have to forgive him, he’s not used to all this” Barnaby says gesturing to the giant room absolutely filled with people, and noises, and lights.
“Ah I see, well I hope you enjoy the party.”
“Thank you. We will.”
As they walk away Barnaby feels Edvard’s grip on his arm tighten, “you’re doing a phenomenal job, Ed. You can calm down a bit.” And he pats Edvard’s gloved hand.
Most of the night goes of without a hitch Barnaby charms other guests, If Edvard wants to say something he whispers it in Barnaby’s ear and he says it and if anyone asks about it Barnaby can explain it’s because his boyfriend is shy or not used to this setting and people buy it.
Then, a voice shouts out, “Barnaby? Barnaby Fortescue!”
The owner of the voice practically struts over to Barnaby and Edvard, followed by a woman.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?” Aldranin asks
“Ah, well. . .” Barnaby starts
“He didn’t know how’d you react.” Edvard quickly interjects
“Yes! That’s it. Thank you sweetheart. You know being with a boy is still new to me and not exactly my style, so I didn’t know how’d you react to me dating one.”
Edvard tries his best to hide the blushing on his face caused by the pet name.
“Well, I think it’s great! You, me, Lizette” he gestures to the woman next to him, “and your partner can all go on double dates. It’ll be fun!”
“Yes, it would be wonderful,” Lizette says, “now we haven’t been introduced, Barnaby, who is your significant other?”
“This is Lumiere, he’s a genius inventor.”
“Ah, an inventor, what have you invented?”
“Uh, yknow what, I would love to answer that, but I uh I have to go to the bathroom. Please excuse me.” Edvard speed walks away to the area the bathroom is located.
The other three stand in silence watching Edvard walk away, until Aldranin speaks up, “so, what’s he like in bed?”
Lizette hits him in the arm, “Aldranin! you can’t ask people that!
Barnaby collects himself and says,” Aldranin, I understand that you’re probably just joking and don’t actually want an answer to that, but if you are what I and Lumiere do in bed is absolutely none of your business.”
“Sorry, in retrospect that is a weird thing to ask.” Aldranin says rubbing the back of his neck.
Meanwhile Edvard is gripping onto the sink so hard his knuckles are turning white and he’s heavily breathing in and out, deep in thought. “ok, Edvard, you are a genius inventor and definitely smarter than Amadeus Astor. You are going to steal a precious artifact from this Moore guy and get your money.”
Edvard thinks back to the planning of this heist.
Lilith stands over the desk, “shit.”
“what’s the matter?” Edvard inquires.
“We need to steal this but.. ugh we’re never going to be able to sneak in.”
“Aren't they hosting a party?”
“only for rich couples”
“Then... Barnaby can go with.. Ziliah-“
“no, that would never be convincing...”
“Hey, why don't you and Barnaby pretend to be a couple!”
Edvard nervously laughs as he feels his face heat up, “w-what?”
Barnaby zoned into the conversation, “sorry what?”
On the surface he doesn’t know why he reacted like that, but deep down he does, he knows he wants to actually be with Barnaby. He knows he wants to wake up next to him every morning and run his fingers through his hair and wants him to hold him by the waist and he wants to feel Barnaby’s stubble tickling him while Barnaby kisses him. He knows he wants him but he also knows he can’t ever have him.
Edvard is shaken out of his thoughts by tears falling into the sink. He hadn’t realized he was crying. He looks up into the mirror to see the tears stream down his face, and he breaks down into a sobbing mess.
After a while he hears knocking at the door, Edvard wipes his tears and asks, “who is it?” Edvard cringes at how weak he sounds.
“It’s Barnaby, Edvard are you alright?”
Edvard runs a shaky hand through his hair, “yeah, yeah I’m fine.”
“Ok, you know you’re a much better inventor than Astor right?”
“Yeah, I know he doesn’t get to me.”
“But did Lizette’s question get to you?”
“N-no”
“Whatever you say, just know if you ever need to talk I’m here for you.”
Edvard hears Barnaby footsteps as he walks away. Edvard knows he should get out of the bathroom, he knows he should go help with the heist, but he feels psychically unable to. So he just stands there and stands there watching more tears stream down his face and thinking about Barnaby’s offer. They have nothing in common how could he talk to him about his problems.
The only possible thing they have in common is that they’re both born into rich families who force them to act a certain way and conform to societal expectations. Okay maybe there’s some common ground he can talk to him about.
But Barnaby wasn’t born in the wrong body, he has no problem with loud places and blinding lights, he doesn’t have to compete with a rival, he doesn’t have to worry about anything to do with money. The only reason he’s doing crime is because it seemed like a laugh. He’s such a lucky piece of shit.
Edvard finds himself sitting on the floor, leaning on the wall, sobbing. “Barnaby doesn’t have to worry about breaking down crying in a rich person’s bathroom during a heist” he thinks.
He hears the door open and looks up to see Barnaby with quietly closing the door behind him, “sorry, I just got really worri-oh fuck! You weren’t alright!”
Barnaby crouches down in front of Edvard and wipes away his tears, “what happened, I thought you were okay?”
“I just-I’m really sorry, we should be getting what we came here for not in the bathroom”
“I already got it, don’t worry about. Now what happened, why are you crying?”
“Everything” Edvard responds, choosing to ignore the fact that Barnaby already stole the artifact.
“Sensory overload?
Edvard nods
“Yeah, I get that too. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. It sucks.”
Edvard smiles, and files the fact that Barnaby also sensory overloads in the back of his mind.
“Well on the bright side we can leave now.”
Barnaby helps Edvard up, intertwines their fingers again, and leads him out of the estate and back to the Eleanor’s Largely Legal Antiques.