( it was an opportunity that eddie couldn't pass up. getting out of hawkins was his number one priority since he was old enough to realize the rest of the folk in this place would love to see him fail. maybe waiting on tables for the rich and famous wasn't the most metal career path in the world, but it paid absurdly well, and there were enough chances for eddie to stretch his musical fingers and hope that maybe, one day, someone will notice him.
plus, this meant getting out of america for a bit. only wayne knows where he is, which means no impromptu calls from his old man. the language barrier does mean that it's a little more challenging to make friends with the locals, but not impossible. he's even learned a few essential phrases in thai — enough to get him in good graces with shopkeepers and bartenders where eddie spends most of his off-time.
the white lotus. so long as eddie does all his assigned duties and nails his scheduled performance, fabian doesn't give a shit what he does on his aforementioned off-time. another boat full of guests has just arrived, and eddie puts on his most charming smile, hoping whatever guest family he's being whored off to this week is closer in age to him. fabian must have it out for him, based on the number of older bridge partners and families with small children who end up on eddie's list. he stands up straight, trying to nonchalantly get a glimpse at the next family when he hears fabian say his name. ah, another family...but with a son around his age. said son looks bored out of his mind, but that could just be eddie's imagination. given how much of a pain in the ass it is for anyone to get to this hellhole of a resort, he can't exactly blame the guy for looking so miserable. it's no problem for eddie, he'll just have to —
before he can even open his mouth, the man (his father?) addresses eddie in a manner that makes eddie's blood run cold. not that eddie should be so surprised. he knows this guy's type all too well. old money: anyone in the service industry is automatically beneath him.
[ fifteen hours on a plane, and some-odd time on a boat to the island. it's all melted together, time slipping through steve's fingers. he's been asleep, half-asleep, but not all there when it comes to wakefulness. he'd falling asleep on the boat, his mother poking his ribs gently to wake him up. we're here, son! his father slapped his bare knee, board shorts covering steve's lower frame. when they reached the sand, steve winces at the heat against his feet. he's wearing flip-flops, sand already working its way between his toes.
he steps up with his mother and father to the line of greeters, and his eyes travel from the man speaking to them — fabian, the manager, as he explains — to smiling face to smiling face. when his gaze falls upon the guy at the right side, his father's voice cuts through the pleasantries. steve immediately looks down, the flowers placed on his wrist dangling. it's as if he's being spoken to that way, but then, thankfully — his mother chimes in. don't be so grumpy. sorry, he's been on the plane too long. jetlag. steve's eyes lift to the man around his age, and he mouths an i'm sorry — his father is too busy being placated by his mother. that's what always happens, and steve resents it. he always has. ]
I'm Steve. I was on the same plane.
[ a small joke, one that causes the side of his mouth to uptick as he looks back at the man, watching his face. his gaze then flicks to fabian and the rest of the greeters, and he offers a smile. he lifts his wrists, indicating the flowers and shaking them a bit. he smiles again. ]
What are these for — maybe you can tell me?
[ his focus then shifts back to him, and steve wonders why. yeah, he's handsome — pretty eyes, the way his mouth slightly pouts, his eyelashes when he blinks — it's all devastating, but there's a warmth steve can feel, too. he doesn't want him to think badly of his family right off the bat, so steve steps forward as his parents talk to fabian. ]
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@𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚝𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚞
plus, this meant getting out of america for a bit. only wayne knows where he is, which means no impromptu calls from his old man. the language barrier does mean that it's a little more challenging to make friends with the locals, but not impossible. he's even learned a few essential phrases in thai — enough to get him in good graces with shopkeepers and bartenders where eddie spends most of his off-time.
the white lotus. so long as eddie does all his assigned duties and nails his scheduled performance, fabian doesn't give a shit what he does on his aforementioned off-time. another boat full of guests has just arrived, and eddie puts on his most charming smile, hoping whatever guest family he's being whored off to this week is closer in age to him. fabian must have it out for him, based on the number of older bridge partners and families with small children who end up on eddie's list. he stands up straight, trying to nonchalantly get a glimpse at the next family when he hears fabian say his name. ah, another family...but with a son around his age. said son looks bored out of his mind, but that could just be eddie's imagination. given how much of a pain in the ass it is for anyone to get to this hellhole of a resort, he can't exactly blame the guy for looking so miserable. it's no problem for eddie, he'll just have to —
before he can even open his mouth, the man (his father?) addresses eddie in a manner that makes eddie's blood run cold. not that eddie should be so surprised. he knows this guy's type all too well. old money: anyone in the service industry is automatically beneath him.
this is going to be a long week... )
surprise.
he steps up with his mother and father to the line of greeters, and his eyes travel from the man speaking to them — fabian, the manager, as he explains — to smiling face to smiling face. when his gaze falls upon the guy at the right side, his father's voice cuts through the pleasantries. steve immediately looks down, the flowers placed on his wrist dangling. it's as if he's being spoken to that way, but then, thankfully — his mother chimes in. don't be so grumpy. sorry, he's been on the plane too long. jetlag. steve's eyes lift to the man around his age, and he mouths an i'm sorry — his father is too busy being placated by his mother. that's what always happens, and steve resents it. he always has. ]
I'm Steve. I was on the same plane.
[ a small joke, one that causes the side of his mouth to uptick as he looks back at the man, watching his face. his gaze then flicks to fabian and the rest of the greeters, and he offers a smile. he lifts his wrists, indicating the flowers and shaking them a bit. he smiles again. ]
What are these for — maybe you can tell me?
[ his focus then shifts back to him, and steve wonders why. yeah, he's handsome — pretty eyes, the way his mouth slightly pouts, his eyelashes when he blinks — it's all devastating, but there's a warmth steve can feel, too. he doesn't want him to think badly of his family right off the bat, so steve steps forward as his parents talk to fabian. ]