Edwin Payne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
technicallyhellbound) wrote2025-09-06 12:41 am
technicallyhellbound) wrote2025-09-06 12:41 am
Ghostcat shenanigans
It had been a few weeks since they'd started this arrangement, and so far the Cat had, in fact, been a surprising amount of help. Enough so that Charles had stopped being mostly on-guard while in his presence and had even taken the 'puppy' nickname in stride, though he still hadn't really looked too deeply at why it didn't bother him as much as it probably should.
That particular day was neither a Monday nor a Friday, and was in fact a Wednesday, so while it wasn't one of their scheduled briefings, it was a visit that had been arranged in advance, a few hours while Crystal and Charles were at a concert, the kind of thing that while Edwin enjoyed being invited to, really wasn't the kind of thing he actually enjoyed going to, and the others both knew it, which was why they continued to invite him, even if he always declined.
It was late afternoon, not yet early evening when he stepped out of the mirror into the cannery, tugging at the collar of his slipover in much the same way he did the lapels of his usual jacket. He'd been branching out from his usual look, just a little, in bits and pieces, and now had something of a range of shades of those softer jumpers, this one was a deep bottle-green and was nearly a cowl-neck, but definitely less severe than his usual look.
It had been raining in London, or rather it had been misting heavily, and he wasn't quite sure if it was still raining here or if it had just finished, there wasn't the same kind of moisture in the air, which meant that if it was raining it hadn't been doing so for long, and all he knew was that the Cat had something planned for them to do, he was only now considering that he probably should have asked a few more questions beforehand.
That particular day was neither a Monday nor a Friday, and was in fact a Wednesday, so while it wasn't one of their scheduled briefings, it was a visit that had been arranged in advance, a few hours while Crystal and Charles were at a concert, the kind of thing that while Edwin enjoyed being invited to, really wasn't the kind of thing he actually enjoyed going to, and the others both knew it, which was why they continued to invite him, even if he always declined.
It was late afternoon, not yet early evening when he stepped out of the mirror into the cannery, tugging at the collar of his slipover in much the same way he did the lapels of his usual jacket. He'd been branching out from his usual look, just a little, in bits and pieces, and now had something of a range of shades of those softer jumpers, this one was a deep bottle-green and was nearly a cowl-neck, but definitely less severe than his usual look.
It had been raining in London, or rather it had been misting heavily, and he wasn't quite sure if it was still raining here or if it had just finished, there wasn't the same kind of moisture in the air, which meant that if it was raining it hadn't been doing so for long, and all he knew was that the Cat had something planned for them to do, he was only now considering that he probably should have asked a few more questions beforehand.
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It didn't take much for his line of understanding to flip over from 'science reference' to 'sports reference', and things definitely clicked into place far more easily with that understanding. He hummed a quiet acknowledgement of the reassurance, just nodding once, "That is heartening to hear." And it was, though he realized that was probably one of those things that sounded sarcastic coming from him, which was why he just continued, "Though now I have another question, and maybe you're the wrong person to ask," but clearly he was going to anyway, "but why do Americans make everything about baseball?"
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"Definitely the wrong person to ask. It's just one of those things they relate to. Like how British people have the monopoly on tea, or crumpets, or whatever." He gives a little one-shouldered shrug, not really tied to any patriotism either way, being a magical Cat and all. "The concept is pretty universal, though; most dates amp up in physicality the more a pair see each other."
Well, maybe not in Edwin's time. Even thought he Cat was technically alive then, he didn't really pay all that much mind to actual conventions of relationships.
"Doesn't courting work like that? Or does someone have to promise a dowry before they can get a kiss on the cheek?"
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He shook his head at the actual question, "Those couplings were arranged and generally chaperoned by family rather than the would-be happy couple themselves. A kiss on the cheek would have been incredibly daring and certainly only after a proposal had been secured." His brow creased a little then, "I'm sure some families weren't quite so strict as the Paynes, but that's certainly what would have been expected of me. It's what was expected of my older brother, or would have been, once the war was over."
It occurred to him, as it always did, that he could just look up whether or not Bernard had survived, and if he'd carried on the family name, or if it had only been Daisy in the end, marrying into some other family, ending that branch of the Payne line. But as he always did whenever the thought occurred to him again, he decided that he didn't actually want to know, it wasn't as if he would gain any comfort from knowing one way or the other.
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"Incredibly daring, huh? Well, by those standards, we're probably at like, second or third base at least. I dunno where making you moan against my mouth falls on that tier list."
He smirks, but he realises the fault in his teasing almost as soon as it leaves his mouth, because talking so bluntly about it only makes him want to do it again, and his eyes are suddenly transfixed on Edwin's mouth once more.
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So instead he just answered the almost-question, "I'm not saying it didn't happen, of course, but it's definitely the kind of thing that would have spelled trouble for everyone involved." He shook his head, "Of course, that was just for courting couples, a couple who was already engaged, or even married, a kiss on the cheek would be commonplace, hardly commented upon, depending on where they were and whether or not it was mixed company." It was all things he suspected the Cat knew, or at least had a reasonable idea of, but he didn't mind explaining it again, either.
Though it was easy to tell when the Cat's gaze dropped, and Edwin pressed two fingers lightly to his chin once more, not enough to push him away, but enough to keep him from advancing, "One. You've already had it."
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When he's stopped, he doesn't deflate exactly, but he does inhale and hold it, golden eyes flicking up to meet Edwin's green ones. A pause. It looks like the Cat is going to say something, and then visibly changes tracks.
"Well, it's a good thing that times have changed, then. Since we're neither married, nor courting. We'd be causing a real scandal." He doesn't back away, though, something simmering in him like a child told to wait their turn, something he wants to say or do or ask.