technicallyhellbound | for @convincingsmile - Nobody's dying today (probably)

for @convincingsmile - Nobody's dying today (probably)

Edwin knew as soon as he fell through the mirror that something was wrong, and not just a little bit wrong, but the kind of wrong that made the whole world tilt on its axis a little.

It wasn't a misdirected portal, not like the case that had ultimately led them to Crystal, not like many other failures of concentration when traversing mirror portals before, it was something else, and he couldn't place what it was. All he knew was that he'd simply passed through the mirror in question and had landed, hard on the floor on the other side of the room, hard enough that he actually skidded a couple of feet and that couldn't be right because that actually hurt, and hurt in the way he hadn't felt in... well, decades.

It was enough to tumble him against the far wall just from his own momentum, impacting hard enough to knock the breath out of his lungs, and that was definitely wrong, because he shouldn't have had breath or lungs. He could see, even through pain-hazed vision that the poltergeist he'd been baiting had, indeed, gotten caught in the trap he himself had leapt over when aiming for the mirror.

That was, however, the last thing he saw before the half-rotted-through loft floor gave way beneath his sudden and unexpected weight, sending him falling, flailing, scraped to ribbons on the broken slats, to the ground below, and he was reasonably sure he'd actually heard something snap on impact, ribs, if the sudden radiating pain was anything to go by, though his shoulder wasn't in good shape either, and that was an entirely different kind of pain, just layering on top of the feeling of the ragged scratches from the wood, and it occurred to him, dimly, that he'd forgotten how much he hated the feeling of blood on his skin.

It had been different in Hell, the pain, the sensations in general, all of it, it had been horrible, yes, but it was so much more visceral now, and even as his vision began to go hazy again, head swimming, his last thoughts were trying to remember how he'd somehow gotten separated from Charles, who had been barely a step behind him when he'd rounded the corner into the loft pursued by the poltergeist now trapped securely above him.

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The man inclined his head in thanks even as the Night Nurse looked even more exasperated at the nickname, "No, that will be all. If any cases better suited to your involvement come through the Lost & Found Department in the next few days they will still be directed to you, I trust you'll find some way to work around this new development."

Edwin did his best not to smile, but it still inched into place anyway, "Of course, the agency is only on a brief health hiatus, emergency cases are still a priority."

"Right, wouldn't wanna leave folks in trouble cuz of this," Charles grinned, motioning at themselves. "And three days isn't that long, yeah?" he shrugged.

After they also agreed on a daily check-in until the effects of the spell were there, the Night Nurse escorted Mr. Lionel back to the Lost & Found, as it was more up to standard to keep him there. So when they got back to the office, and Charles and Edwin remained, the silence was something Charles didn't want to hear for too long.

"Didn't see that comin', huh? I mean, the whole guy coming back to praise you doing a good job with his spell an' all," Charles remarked, eying the spot where the Nurse disappeared with their client. "And the three-day thing," he added, clearing his throat. He paused for a moment before turning to Edwin with an easy smile. "You're okay?"

Edwin gave a half-startled, breathless little laugh, shaking his head, still looking more than a little off-balance, but definitely coming around, blinking over at Charles again at the question, "I..." He shook his head again, "At the risk of repeating myself, it's an entirely unexpected relief."

He was still trying to collect himself, mostly surprised that he'd managed to stay so during their official meeting, "I suppose we should give Crystal an update, and then..." He opened his mouth only to close it again, shaking his head once more, a little bit like he'd gotten caught on the movement, some sort of nervous tic, mind going too fast to realize he was still moving, "Well, after that I really did mean what I said, earlier." There was a blush cresting the tips of his ears again, even though he wasn't saying anything explicit, or even that racy, it was just the thought of it that was causing the reaction.

Charles's smile widened as he watched Edwin work through his relief. They didn't mess up the spell, that it was going away soon... and that they would be dead in no time was... well, it made Edwin happy. It was what he wanted. And it was the goal they would have worked toward anyway. So Charles tried to be truly happy about it. Everything was fine...

So Charles moved to Edwin again, reaching for him as he spoke.

"Right, and..." but he stopped when Edwin continued about his promise from earlier. Charles did feel a burn in his cheeks too at the memories. "Yeah, okay, right," he nodded, moving closer to put a hand on Edwin's waist. He let go of a trembling breath and let himself think about the next few days and what it all meant. "How about we- we do stuff during the day? Like, try things ghosts can't do, and the nights... so the nights we, I..." Because he was sure Edwin wouldn't just want to do it like rabbits, which Charles would be terribly down with. "Maybe we could find a bed somewhere?"

Considering how overwhelmed he'd been just by Charles going down on him, it was probably a toss-up just how down he would be for the rabbits scenario, already nodding at Charles' proposed plans, because there were some things he would like to do while he was solid, though they'd always seemed trivial before, like taking one of the guided tours through the museum. It wasn't that he didn't already know the history of the items there, it was just that he liked hearing people talk about things they liked.

He wouldn't object to going to another movie, either, now that he wouldn't be achy through the whole thing.

But before he could even start listing things, Charles brought up an incredibly salient point and his brow creased, "...Where was Crystal sleeping when she stayed with us?"

Oh, Charles had many ideas too. Even more if half of his thoughts would leave the image of Edwin naked under him alone... Now that he could touch him freely, and he wasn't in pain, and they had limited time, Charles felt like it wasn't going to be enough.

He opened his mouth to answer but stopped for a second.

"The couch...?" he furrowed his brows as he remembered. He knows that he put Crystal on the couch the first time, but for those few days... "Wait, she had a mattress, didn't she? An air mattress..." It was just such a useless item for them that Charles completely forgot about it when Crystal moved into her current place. But it still wasn't a bed. "We could ask her, yeah? Maybe she has ideas," he shrugged. Then he took Edwin's hand, squeezing it. "So, gotta make a list, right?" If he could, he would have run out and do everything all at once, but all these years with Edwin at least made him a little bit more patient, even when he was nervous.

"Oh, a list is it? I'm surprised you'd go for something so organized." There was clear amusement in the tone, it wasn't even close to being a jab and he hadn't really meant it as one, it was the relief of the situation still making him a little giddy.

He was already moving to the desk for a fresh notepad so that they could do just that, "And yes, we should ask Crystal what's become of the thing, just as long as we're both prepared to be laughed at for not considering it sooner." He didn't think she'd laugh too hard about it, as she was bound to understand it wasn't the kind of thing they'd ever had to worry about before.

"So, how were you thinking of organizing the list? Activities and cuisines or day by day?" He asked, settling in his chair, pen poised over the notepad.

"I gotta, otherwise I'd go mad, mate. I mean... three days!" Charles chuckled, a little tense. The more the situation was dawning on him, the more his heart rushed. But he always loved to see Edwin so giddy. He was so busy with his thoughts that he barely listened to Edwin, he just started to walk about the office, thinking thinking thinking...

"Huh? Just- I was thinking about writing everything down we wanna do and then hope for the best?" Charles said. Yeah, he had the idea of a list, but that was it. That was as far as he could think. "Like, we need to go to the theme park, the new rides look insane, oh, and and, what if we go to the concert tomorrow at that underground club? And-" Charles rambled on, voicing every thought the moment they came to him, as if they were too much to keep in his head anymore.

To his credit, Edwin did write down everything Charles listed off, though he left checkmarks next to the things that were near enough to the office to feasibly actually do. Theme park, for instance, was probably out, he didn't think there were any near enough to make it worth the time spent, and while the idea of the underground club made him grimace -too many people and too much noise in too small a space- he did reason with himself that it would be worth it to see Charles in his element, and if it got to be too much, he could always wait outside.

Once Charles had, apparently, run out of suggestions, he added a few of his own, voicing them as he did, "There's also the museum tour, and the bird encounter at the botanical gardens, walking tour of the botanical gardens themselves, that street market on the bridge, though we can always add that to the walk home from somewhere else if we're in that direction, and we really ought to do something like go for ice cream where we can just sit and enjoy it."

Charles froze a little at the mention of museums and botanical gardens. As if his body immediately wanted to just. Not go. They had barely any time, so why waste it on... But he had seen Edwin get lost in nature a few times, and it was adorable even before they got together, so Charles figured he could maybe enjoy those visits too.

"Right, right, fine, yeah," he nodded, then walked to the desk to look at the list. It... did look like a mess, and definitely not enough for three days, especially if they get an emergency case. Charles felt cold sweat at the back of his neck. But he figured they definitely could get ice cream sometime. "This is exciting, isn't it?" he asked, looking over some of the items. "And we're gonna need so much help from Crystal," he added.

"We're going to have to eliminate some of these, just for being too far away, and we can bundle others together, things that are in the same general area to save on travel time." A small smile, "And we are going to need help from Crystal. You know she'll complain about it, but only out of habit, I think."

His brow creased just a little, "We could also bring her along, for a few of these, I expect she'll enjoy the club far more than I will." And that meant that Charles wouldn't have to enjoy it alone -or follow and not enjoy it at all- if Edwin had to step out to collect himself.

He studied the list, crossing off a couple of things, even as he asked, "Is there anything on here that you absolutely have to do? We can start there and work our way out."

Charles felt his heard his heart skip a beat at the thought of Crystal also coming with them. That the whole agency could enjoy these days of being alive... he wanted that. He wanted to connect with Crystal as alive friends and not just as a ghost and psychic.

At Edwin's question he sat on the edge of the desk, looking at their list. He tried to swallow his nerves at the crossed items and focus on the remaining ones.

"What I really wanna do is you," he started, sending Edwin a playful look. "That's the most important thing," he shrugged. Then he fell silent, his, lips resting in a smile. "I wanna listen to live music," he pointed at the item on the list. He wanted to feel the thumping in his chest at the bass. "Drink beer, I wanna know how it tastes like." Maybe getting a little tipsy. "I wanna eat everything," he added in a chuckle.

"Yes, well, we'll definitely get to that as it is the most important thing." He shot back, biting back a smile, excitement and nerves both rising at how casually Charles teased about it, hoping that he'd managed to hit the same tone in his response, surveying the list again and crossing out a couple of the things he'd added to it, though he tapped the pen against the lines for the museum tour, the botanical garden and the exotic bird encounter, "Of these I'd pick the gardens and the bird encounter over the museum, as those are in the same place and can be done in the same afternoon."

He knew that Charles didn't need the explanation, but he was going to give it anyway: "I like to be reminded that I can be outside, that I've gotten out." A small tilt of a smile followed, "And the birds, well..." A huff of a laugh, realizing how ridiculous it sounded even as he started, "My uncle had a parakeet of some sort when I was quite young, brought it back from safari. I learnt my first curse from that bird. Mother was furious, mostly because my father and my uncle found it hilarious."

He shook his head a little at the recollection, "I'm sure the ones they have at the botanical garden aren't the sort to swear like a bunch of dockhands, but I suppose I've always been fond of them since then." It was just that birds, like many animals, didn't react well to ghosts, so he generally kept his distance.

Charles grinned, knowing that their priorities were set on the same thing. From here, these day should be a piece of cake. He nodded along as Edwin was explaining his decisions. His heart broke a little knowing that Edwin was still comparing things to Hell; that Hell was still on his mind. Not that Charles blamed him. He noticed thinking about those rooms more often than not... And he was there for a few hours most. Without really thinking, he reached out to brush Edwin's perfect hair in an attempt to calm him.

"Wait, what? You learned to swear from a bird?" Charles gasped, amused. "What was it?"

Charles also could not help feeling warm in his chest, because of course Edwin would be fond of birds because of a swear word. It was also a story that he would cherish forever now, taken Edwin didn't really talk about his family. And Charles never pushed. Though that was because he thought then he had to talk about his own family...

"It was only 'bollocks' but I was also maybe four, so I was at the age where I was going to repeat anything that got a reaction ad nauseam." Mostly Edwin didn't talk about his family because he only remembered very few things, moments like that, and fewer still of them were truly fond the way that one was, mostly they were just there, unemotional, uninteresting and only marginally important because they were reminders of who he was before it all.

"So, I think, today once we get in touch with Crystal about the new development in the case, we can just get prepared for it all, and then tomorrow we can go to the farmer's market and just eat our way down market street, sample as we'd like, pick up something we actually want for dinner on the way back, go to your underground club afterward if there's something happening tomorrow night, and the day after we can go to the gardens midmorning? Early afternoon? Stop for ice cream afterward and then have the evening and night all for ourselves and the rest of our plans."

A shrug, "And the final day we can find something to do, we've still got a list, we can just pick something and go from there, I suppose."

Charles couldn't help the full-body laugh that left him. Just thinking that Edwin Payne learned his first curse word from a parakeet amused him endlessly. Imagining him at four years old imitating a bird and repeating a bad word. As if Charles wasn't in love with him as much as he already was...

"Yeah, sounds like a plan, innit?" he nodded, still wiping the tears from his eyes at it all. Somehow three days felt too much and not enough. "I'll call Crystal then and we put it in motion, yeah?" Charles said, leaning over for a quick kiss. "Are you gonna teach the birds to curse?" He teased.

He leaned into the kiss, easy as anything, "I most certainly will not." He replied, though the amusement broke through again as he added, "That's for their handlers to do."

He did nod, moving the list to the inbox where he knew he wouldn't forget it, "As for the rest, it's a sound plan, and you can invite her along on our trip to the club and to the gardens, unless you'd rather ask her in person so you can see her face when you do."

Truthfully Edwin was curious, whether she'd be instantly onboard with it, or whether she'd have to think it over, consider what it would be like going somewhere with them, knowing they were together.

"I'll give her a heads up, but not much," Charles grinned. He was also looking forward to Crystal hearing the new that they will stay alive for a bit. And that she was going to join them in their endeavors. Charles could not sit still as he was thinking about it.

The night was spent with them preparing and planning a bit more, also asking Crystal what was to do around that they were not thinking of.

Then, the next day they set off. Charles could barely believe that they were out in the sunshine! Just walking and talking and bumping into people. People saw them! And it was a rush. It was a rush to receive glances, especially from girls and boys of their age. Charles only realized how he missed it. The flirting, the moments his eyes met with an interested strange. The way his smile or wink could fluster a person. He was pretty convincing after all!

They had a great time at the market, tasting everything they could and having a great time. It was so fun that they could even have time for a little nap before they continued with their plans and visit the club Charles found nearby their office. He went there a few times as a ghost but it wasn't the same as stepping into the underground place with the music already blasting and feeling it in his chest and limbs. Now that he knew how spells felt like, he could confidently say that music was magic, and it did things to the spirit and the body, too.

"Huh the band isn't half bad," Crystal remarked.

"You're kidding right? This is bloody brills, I listen to these guys all the time, I wish they had CDs!" Charles grinned, his grip on Edwin's hand tightening as they waded inside the dark place, full of people and some smoke from the smoke machines on stage. The stage, which really was like an elevated part of the dancefloor, currently occupied by a band of three members, scream singing about something. It must have been their new song.

"So, you guys thirsty?" Crystal asked then with a smirk. Charles grinned back, beaming excitedly. "Come on, let me work my magic."

Crystal had been more than happy to tell them where the air mattress was and how to set it up, she'd even brought fresh sheets for it, even though there was still a set in the same cabinet she'd stored it in when she'd moved out, just in case they needed spares. That was also the first night since this had all happened that Edwin slept deeply and long, comfortable for once as well as exhausted, which meant the morning started a little later than he'd intended, but not disastrously so.

Despite the crowd, Edwin had been alright at the market, mostly because if it got to be too much -and he was surprised that it hadn't done- he'd have been able to just step out of the flow of traffic and stand aside of things the way he'd grown used to doing as a ghost.

But being in it, and not being bothered by it that he could tell, was an entirely different experience, especially with Charles' hand in his for most of the day, except when Charles was pointing something out excitedly, or when they sat to eat, but sometimes even then.

Crystal hadn't brought an entirely new wardrobe for them to go to the club in, but she'd brought supplements to what she and Charles had already collected earlier in the week, which was fine for Edwin's sensibilities. Really the only concession he made to his usual put-togetherness was the lack of pomade in his hair, if only because he didn't really want to bother with it if it was only going to be a few days that he'd need to.

Edwin's reaction to the club, the same as to the market, wasn't as bad as he'd been expecting, though it was still early when they arrived and the crowd only continued to build as the night went on. Which was why when Crystal asked if they needed drinks he was quick to agree, "Yes, thank you." Mostly he was hoping that alcohol would help dull some of the senses that seemed altogether too sharp at the moment.

On that first night, with the mattress, Charles was looking forward to it. But something about Edwin just collapsing on it during the night and falling asleep instantly made him feel the kind of fondness for him that hurt. He didn't want to bother him... so he slept nearby, on the couch. So he won't wake him even when the nightmares came close to the morning.

Charles was also prepared to tend to Edwin when he would need it, and during the day, during the market visit it, seemed easy. Holding hands was easy. And they were still two friends being together for thirty years now, Charles could mostly spot when Edwin needed space, or wanted him close.

But he could feel his attention slip the moment he could feel and not just hear music.

"That was quick, mate!" Charles gasped amused, looking over at Edwin. "You're curious about drinks too, aren't you?" he smirked. Personally, he was glad Edwin would wear his curls for the time being. They made him look more alive. And terribly cute. It made Charles want to slide his fingers into his hair so much, too...

At the bar, looking at the offered drinks, he once again felt a thrill. He could ask for any of those drinks and with Crystal's little help, he would be served. But the thing about it was... that he could interact with the people. He could point at something, and he could drink or eat or experience it... the living didn't know just how lucky they were.

"Yeah, I'll stick to gin tonic," Crystal scrunched her nose, reading some of the drinks.

"I..." Charles bounced on the balls of his feet, a little child-like. Was it too much to ask for.... everything? He knew it was a bad idea, but next to beer he really wanted to try some of the hard liquor too. "Can we do shots?" he asked. "And then... beer."

"Whoa there, you think you can handle it?" Crystal asked, not entirely out of worry but... in a challenge?

"Oi, I can hold my drink!" Charles insisted. "Edwin?"

A string of expressions crossed Edwin's face at Charles' declaration that he was curious about alcohol, as if he didn't already know what he liked, of course, the menu was something else again and with the noise and the press of people -less at the bar than out in the main area, but still too close for comfort, all he had to say, with a brief wrinkle of his nose was: "As loath as I am to admit it, especially in public, I believe Crystal has the right idea, gin and tonic seems... sensible."

It was mostly a tease, at least the first part, and he could tell by her bark of a laugh that she'd taken it as such. She gave his arm a squeeze, "Let him have this. Round of shots, then you and me can enjoy our classy old lady cocktails while Charles has his beer..." She eyed him a moment before giving a nod, "Lager, then we'll get him out there to dance." It was difficult to tell which one of them that last statement was directed at and maybe it didn't matter.

Edwin was a little surprised to find that Crystal only intended to use her abilities to get them out of having to show ID -since it wasn't as if he or Charles had any- rather than to get out of paying.

He was also a little surprised by the flavor of the liquor used for the shots, something almost viciously herbal in a way that was both entirely foreign and strangely familiar to him, but still something he swallowed down without so much as a wince.

"Sensible, right," Charles chuckled, crossing his arms with a frown. Though his smile never left his lips. This was fun. This was... the most fun he had since years! He could feel his heart rush in his chest, he could feel the music go through him... And while he wasn't entirely fond of the crowd either he was slowly getting used to it. Though with it all, he also noticed something dark and sticky in the pits of his stomach. Something unpleasant and overly familiar.

He agreed with Crystal that they should only cheat about their IDs and not with money, they weren't criminals here. Well, not like that. They were detectives who happened to be... well, appearing underage. No, Charles was not going to think about that.

The shot they took was absolutely horrible. While Charles expected it to be strong, the taste was throwing him off; he struggled not to cough too much and appear like an idiot in front of everybody, especially seeing that Edwin didn't bat an eye sending it down... But despite all that, it was cool. It was hot as it ran down his throat and stuck in his stomach, making his body feel light and heavy at the same time. The beer did not help to wash the bad taste out of his mouth but he wasn't someone who would back down at this point. His next drink was going to be something else... and by the third sip, he didn't even taste the bitterness of it, as a very pleasant buzz got him. And it felt amazing...

Edwin couldn't help but smile at the way Charles grimaced at the liquor, just patting his shoulder in something like consolation, "Well managed, Charles." The gin and tonic wasn't as strong as he remembered gin punch to be, but it was still pleasantly so. Though it didn't much help with taking the sharpest edges off senses that seemed to be assaulted at every turn, from the number of people in the space, to the crash and wail of the music, that seemed to vibrate into his very bones, to the glycerine fog that he caught the smell of only in snatches, finding it to be something sickly sweet rather than the char of smoke or the bracing damp of actual fog.

He was fine, right up until the band started in on what was apparently one of their popular songs, given the way people in the crowd began screaming along to what he could only assume were the lyrics, it was all too much, as he'd been afraid it would be, and he knew he needed to get outside, even if it was only for a few minutes.

Unfortunately Crystal was the only one he was able to catch, with Charles already apparently having the time of his life on the dance floor, and while Edwin did want to stay and watch that -would always want to watch Charles enjoying himself- he knew that the memory of the moment would only be soured by his own overwhelm if he did. He managed to reel Crystal in, letting her know that he needed some air, and if Charles asked, he'd be back in a minute or two.

He made sure that the neon orange wristband that had been strapped on him on the way in was still in place before weaving his way back around the edge of the crowd and up the stairs, only realizing once he was actually outside that he was shaking, barely managing not to collapse, just perching on the low ledge of a planter in front of the next building as he took a few moments to force his breathing to even out again.

Edwin's patronizing didn't actually help with Charles trying not to feel like a fool. But there was music to dance to, to shout the lyrics and to just get rid of that something dark in his chest. With the buzz, with the drinks and the music so loud it could make anyone deaf, Charles lost track of time, and anything else around him really...

So when Edwin told Crystal he was stepping out, she assured him it was okay. She checked on Charles, who was still being caught in the singing, so when Crystal thought she had given Edwin enough time, she decided to bring him some water.

"Here, just so one of you're still alive tomorrow," she said, offering the bottle of water to Edwin. She knew better than to tell him to leave, she knew he wouldn't. Because of Charles. "Holding on?" she asked instead.

Edwin had only realized that the statement might read as condescension instead of genuine once he'd said it, but they'd already moved on to the next thing before he could attempt to reiterate that he'd meant it.

He startled at the voice, only to relax almost instantly when he realized who it was, accepting the water even as he said, "I'd hoped you would stay with Charles so he doesn't think we've abandoned him." Though he shook his head almost immediately, uncapping the water with a more subdued, "But thank you. I am." The trembling had finally run its course, and he could only suspect it had been some kind of adrenal response, and while his ears were still ringing, he was sure that was just due to the relative quiet outside after the nearly-physical wall of sound inside.

It was after another swallow of the water that he unfolded to his feet, drawing himself upright with his usual sort of deliberate precision, steeling himself a little, "We should go back inside before he notices we've both gone."

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