2019-11-18 - The Calm Before ...

With November in full swing and the days all start to grow short and go all too quickly, sometimes you have to slow down and take a breath. Or you'll go mad.

Perhaps Bennie's already slipped past that threshold, because when Easton comes home the living room has been transformed. It must have taken every blanket, sheet and pillow in the house - and perhaps even some borrowed from Sutton's place - to turn the area between couch and television into a full blown blanket fort. The damnable coffee table has been pushed out of the way and the cushions taken off the couch to be put on the floor. Flooded with pillows, a cozy area has been set up within the circus tent of sheets that have been pinned, tied and strung together to include the TV. There is the smell of popcorn freshly popped, so bonus. The fort includes snacks.

It's a testament to how out of it Easton is that he doesn't even see the blanket fort when he walks into the apartment. Nope. Somehow his mind blocks that out entirely as he's obviously distracted by his thoughts. He makes it all the way to the kitchen and opens the fridge to grab a beer before slowly turninng back around to face the living room. A smile creeps across his face as he pops open his beer and makes his way towards the fort. "Babe?" He calls out not sure if she's safely ensconced in the fort or has gone elsewhere.

Stooping down to look inside first he at least decides it is safe to enter. He shucks off his jeans before entering, because everyone knows there are no pants allowed in a pillow fort. Normally he might consider actually getting PJs but a tee-shirt and his boxer-briefs will have to do for pillow fort attire for the time being.

A chipper, "In here!" echoes out from within the cave, and indeed the blonde is sitting on a cushion all smiles when he dares a look followed by a snicker as he pauses to take off his shoes and pants before crawling in. Bennie herself is in a tank top and pink pajama pants covered with llamas wearing sunglasses - one of her thrift finds - wiggling with anticipation as she waits for Easton to crawl inside the little fort. A tray has been set up with popcorn, Snow Caps candy, licorice whips (cherry, not that godawful black), and a bottle of champagne with two glasses. She's quick to snag up a brightly frosted cupcake on a plate and flick a lighter to spark the candle stuck in it.

"Happy sixth month anniversary!"

Taking in the whole setup Easton is speechless and a bit perplexed as to the occasion but he doesn't have to wait long for the explanation thankfully. A huge grin breaks out over his face as he laughs at the surprise of it but it falters ever so slightly as he has to admit, "I didn't ... realize?" He's not sure if that makes him a jerk or not, but at the very least he answers with genuine enthusiasm, "Happy sixth month anniversary!"

He sets down his beer to pick up the champagne instead and asks, "Wait. Anniversary of the 911 phone call? Our near first hookup in the bathroom at the pizza place? Or our first date?" When in doubt it's a good idea to make it look like you were just picking a different one of those things to celebrate around.

"And do you make a wish? Do we do it together? Is there wishing on anniversary cupcakes? I apparently have a lot of questions about this." Bennie is not the only one in this relationship that can spout off a million questions in one go.

Bennie answers with a musical bit of laughter at the litany of questions, "I was going through old call reports and found the dispatch to your apartment. It's technically not for another few days but I figure with our schedules, why risk it. I figure that was the safe date to choose because everything else is a little wishy washy." What with the way she withdrew after that dream, him sleeping with Baylee, the weirdness with Gohl and the Incident That She Wishes Not Be Named.

She makes an excited little squeal noise, shaking her free hand as the candle starts melting wax all over the frosting and she quickly blurts out, "No wishes, just blow. One, two, three!" Assuming his reflex to action is quick, the blonde purses her lips and they extinguish the flame together. She relaxes once it's out, slouching just a bit as she takes a dap of frosting up with her finger and makes for his nose.

"God I am so glad you showed up that night." Easton smiles, even though yes it's not like he's happy about the fact that he nearly lost his good leg to one of his first Dreams here, but he met her. He grins and says, "I don't know, I'm rather partial to our first time on the bunk beds." Even if yes, that too didn't end so great with the crazy Dream and then the not speaking. His grin falters for just a second as reflecting on them makes him realize just how much they've had to deal with in their short six months together.

But then there's squeeling and he blows on command with her to extinquish the fire, which truth be told was probably a bad idea under the blankets anyway, but oh well. He doesn't stop her from smearing his nose with some frosting, though he does open his mouth in a silent plea to clean the rest off for her.

"It was the best shift I've ever had." Bennie admits of that night.

The problem with impulse is the follow through. Now Bennie is left with frosting on her finger and on the tip of Easton's nose. Normally there wouldn't even be any hesitation about how to clean that mess up, but there's just the tiniest tick of time that passes before the parting of Easton's lips and Bennie popping her finger in there that indicates a momentary trepidation on Bennie's part.

It causes her that little tiny knot of anguish in her stomach, wishing and willing herself to get past her hang-ups for both their sakes.

After he sucks the frosting from her finger, she gently coaxes his chin forward so she can lean in and give a quick flick of her tongue over the purple dab on his nose, smiling and turning into a proper kiss when she's done. "Happy Anniversary." She repeats again, softer, before her smile grows. "So what movie do you want to watch?" Please don't say Top Gun Please don' say Top Gun. It's the movie she associates with him and the Flu.

Easton's eyes follow her, watching and trying his best not to react to her momentary pauses or her recoiling. It takes time he mentally reminds himself. He even forces himself to remember what he told Ruiz when the Captain asked if it would be enough, it needs to be. He needs it to be. Pushing aside those thoughts he relishes the moment of sucking the frosting from her finger tip.

The kiss is returned eagerly and with the usual press of hunger behind it, but he doesn't complain as she pulls away to wish him a 'happy anniversary'.

"Ooh let's see. What's a good anniversary movie." He takes a sip of the champagne as he ponders this before saying, "Wait why am I deciding? You set all this up for a movie night, you choose. And if it's some cutesy love story, I'll be just fine, because I have you here and really good snacks." Okay and fine, he like her cutesy love story movies just fine and has never once complained about watching them, maybe he just doesn't want to say that part out loud.

Bennie beams at his answer. Not Top Gun! Win! She scoots slightly to lean back against the couch and pats a pillow next to her for him to do the same so she can settle in at his side. "Arm." The word comes automatically now, a subtle order for him to drape it around her and so she'll expect it and not flinch should he do it on his own accord. And then she wiggles down with a glass of champagne in one hand and the remote in the other.

"So. Nothing based on a Nicholas Sparks novel because someone always dies...how about something good natured and entirely 80's....Oh! Mannequin but you totally have to cover my eyes during the part where she's going into the big wood chipper thingie." Like always. Even though he saves her at the last minute, Bennie whines worse than Gunner. Speaking of, the big old puppy sticks his head in a gap in the blankets and gives a soft wuff of air as if asking permission to come and curl up too. Surely it doesn't count as getting on the couch if the couch is on the floor.

Easton, as has become the custom, waits to be invited to take a place next to her. Likewise he does as suggested, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close, but gently. Far more gently than he would have before.

Nothing based on Nicholas Sparks

Easton lets out a relieved breath, but turns to her in confusion when she states the reason. No it's not to save him from sitting through it. But her eventual choice just brings a big grin to his face. Dumb fun sounds great right about now. "Deal."

And then there's a giant puppy and Easton pats his lap, knowing full well that Gunner might wreck most of the pillow fort in trying to wiggle in, but he doesn't have the heart to not let him. Gunner gets his pets, just as rough as ever .

Bennie's flips on the movie when Gunner comes bulldozing in, a wide grin on her face as he takes up residence in the tent. She pitches forward, mindful to set aside her glass of champagne and buries her face in his fur and gives him ruffles right along with Easton. Of course this leaves her half draped across Easton's lap and it seems to remind her of something when she sees the envelopes out of the corner of her eye. "Oh! I was going through the mail and we got invitations to something! I was waiting for you to open them." She pulls them out from the tuck under the couch and then flops on her back across his lap and hands him the one addressed to Marshall. "What do you think it iiiiis. Some fancy Thanksgiving party?" She and Easton haven't made 'plans' yet for the holiday.

Easton's very conscious of her body leaning against his, but figures the best thing to do is pretend like it's normal, like it once was. He blinks as she pulls out the envelopes and pats his lap again for Gunner to lay his head on. The puppy has long since stopped fitting on his lap, but is happy to at least have his head on him.

Looking at the envelope, he flips it over and huhs not sure what to make of it. "Maybe?" He tries to imagine who would send such a thing in all black. Minerva? Gina? He shakes his head and starts to open his, waiting to make sure he's not ahead of Bennie in the process.

And then he reads the card. He looks at her as Gunner raises up off his lap to growl at the cards in their hands, a then give a low warning bark.

"Oh what the fuck..." is about all Easton gets out before the card starts to burn in his hand. He reaches out with his powers to pull the card from her hand, and the one from his and hold them in the air while they burn. He tries to memorize the words, leaving the cards open and facing them as they burn. And once they are but ash, he guides that to the tray, letting it collect in a little pile.

After all that he doesn't say anything. Just sits there, dumbly while whacky 80s highjinks play out on screen.

Bennie cracks open the invitation in time with Easton, starting to enthusiastically read it aloud. "Hello delicious friend. You have been using your gifts..." The blonde's face immediately becomes crestfallen and her voice silenced by the ominous tone of the letter, instead just silently reading the rest. The growl from Gunner draws her attention away from re-reading the paper, just as Easton's ignites and his quick thinking saves them both from having burnt fingers. "H-E-double fudgesicles..." She mutters, some where during the panic she's sat up, and she's smoothing back hair from her face and capturing it against her neck, the waves mushrooming up around her ears. "What do you think it means? Arrival where? Was there an address? A date? And a reward?"

The champagne is down in a gulp as Easton tries to steady himself after that. Easton shakes his head and looks at her, "It means we're about to get fucked with some more." He sighs and closes his eyes briefly before turning and looking at her, "You okay?" He tries not to get angry about this, not to let it derail their night but he's tensed up and his mind is trying to figure out exactly all the things she's asking.

"There was no address. No date. And I'm guessing the reward isn't exactly a good thing. Someone, Tobin? Just mentioned that rewards from these things are usually for doing bad shit." That was more about the bird soup for the flu, but it probably applies here too.

Bennie stares at the pile of ash for a moment before she blinks back at Easton. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay." She lets out a shaky breath and reaches for the bottle of champagne, refilling his glass until it threatens to bubble over the top but miraculously stopping just shy of it spilling over his fingers. "I guess there's only one thing to do. We fuck first. Uh, I mean we fuck them first. Or better. Or ...more? Imagine I said something clever using the term fuck in relation to this conversation." She plucks up her own glass and drains it before adding more. "Nope. Not today. NOT on Anniversary day."

Easton follows her gaze and zones out himself staring at it. Though instead of drinking from his refilled glass, he sets that down and picks up the beer he brought in. He idly picks up some snowcaps to munch on and nearly chokes when Bennie suggests they fuck first. Not that he's opposed to such a plan of action, it's just not at all what he expected. And then he realizes what she was actually trying to say and he nudges her, "I don't know. I like the 'we fuck first' plan. It's always a good plan in my book." He does note that for once she isn't substituting in another f word, or saying 'f word', she's using like a weeks worth of fucks. But then she's declaring Not today and he raises his beer to that, "Damn straight. They want us to be suffering and miserable? Too damn bad." He leans in to kiss her cheek, slowly, and adds, "I refuse."

Bennie doesn't blush often, far too carefree to take embarrassment in her actions, but she does manage to a bit of color this time when he says her original idea was a good plan. There is even a demure lowering of her lashes as he kisses her cheek, "Me too." Determined not to let the Dark Men ruin their night or more importantly their relationship. "I could get the bottle of whiskey and the handcuffs?" She offers a bit shyly, which admittedly takes the spontaneity completely out of their sex life that used to include every surface of the apartment and darkened corner of Gray Harbor.

I could get the bottle of whiskey and the handcuffs

Now normally that offer would be met with great enthusiasm. Seriously, look at Bennie. Easton tries to push back against the thoughts of what was and just enjoy what they have now. But he can't forget the way she would jump him at any moment. And it's not like the usual 'the spark has gone out' issue here. No, sadly it's far more screwed up than that.

So he smiles and says, "Yes, but later. We have snacks. And a classic movie. And, it's our anniversary." He puts his arm back around her and tries to forget a time when she would never have been shy about the two of them getting it on.