#v: pre7

[diedindulvey]

Despite faffing about all day picking an outfit, changing his outfit, talking himself out of leaving his apartment, changing his outfit again, talking himself into going, going back to his original outfit, and traffic, Ethan makes it to the cafe early. He gets himself a coffee, finds a place to sit and wait, and starts dicking around on his phone to pass the time. He doesn't actually expect anyone to show up.

Ethan doesn't see much of anything worthwhile in himself. Mia had seen something in him, and that meant something. But she's been missing for two years. Declared dead. A cold case; all the fingers pointing at Ethan, but no evidence to connect him. Because he didn't kill his fucking wife. So he's doing great.

So great, in fact, that Mia's mother set up a dating profile for him. H:e protested- of course he did- but she's been adamant about this. 'I've already lost a daughter, I'm not going to sit back and watch my son in-law waste away in his depression and lose him, too.' Ethan's been happy to let her do what she wants because nothing's ever come of it.

Until now.

He's almost through with his coffee, ready to head home as soon as he's finished, when his mystery date actually shows up. Green eyes blink dumbly; Ethan almost doesn't know what to do. "Uh... hi? Are you, uh, I mean, I'm Ethan." Smooth. Real fucking smooth.

[diedindulvey]

@thxgrxmrexpxr on maybe the worst blind date

Someone down the spider web of his wife's father's sister's friend's colleague's and maybe a few more had done something to help set this up. Ethan isn't sure exactly who is to blame. All he knows is that nearly three years is apparently enough time for Ethan to move on according to his mother in law. Was she his former mother in law now that Mia is gone? He doesn't know and hasn't asked, especially when she excitedly told him she's found him a date. It feels fucked up.

Mia would find it hilarious. Ethan just finds it so weird. Being urged to move on. Find happiness is what she said when giving Ethan the name of the restaurant. It's what Mia would want. She wouldn't want to see him like this: somehow more introverted than previously, hardly bothering to eat, not really sleeping, only half-heartedly keeping his home and himself clean. Maybe the hope is that moving on will help somehow. Maybe doesn't want to lose a daughter to mysterious circumstances and a son (in law) to grief.

Ethan makes it only a couple minutes late washed and combed and dressed in maybe the seventh outfit he tried; something he would wear to work if he had to actually go into the office and present to people who make way more than him. He makes it to the door and then turns and makes it about halfway back to his car before turning again for the door about a million times. He's terribly late by the time he forces himself to actually go in. If he can just strike out without completely making an ass of himself this whole 'moving on' thing will be dropped without anyone getting too offended or accusing him of not trying.

He awkwardly makes his way through too many tables filled with happy faces and either finds the right table. Or a serial killer. Ethan sits down and tries to look normal. Affable. His smile nowhere near reaching his eyes. "Uh; I'm Ethan and I think you're waiting for me? Or I'm at the wrong table and we'll both have a 'you won't believe what happened' story by tomorrow." Smooth, Winters. He could kick himself.