Re: quicklog: steph/eddie -- the arcade
[When she stepped into the office and he wasn't there, there was a spike of worry in the pit of her stomach. But then his voice popped the bubble, and she couldn't hold back a sigh of relief. After the party and the way he felt, like she said, she wasn't afraid or pissed off -- she was worried. Concerned beyond comprehension that something might happen to him, or that he might spiral. And she would have come out right with it if it weren't for Holly's appearance, nay resurrection from the dead.
She smelled the smoke immediately. That lingering stale odor that simultaneously made her crave a cigarette of her own and turn her stomach because she knew he only smoked when he was stressed. Kind of like she did. Truthfully, the former overpowered the latter (it'd been a stressful ass week), but she didn't say anything about that. Just walked out behind him and watched him set up another shot.]
Hi. [She said it again, voice soft and trying to crack through. She could just sense the wall building up around him, and while part of her felt like she had no right to try to sneak behind the barrier, she also felt like this was her job. It was her obligation. It was her privilege.] Nice set up you've got here. [She leaned against the doorway to his office for a minute, and she almost opted to stay there, but instead decided to step closer to him. A hand ran down his arm to try to get him to look at her.] It feels kinda like a smaller version of the block parties they had near our apartment. [But those were overloaded with wafts of different foods in the air, kids shouting and adults drinking on the corner, and locals setting up shop to sell whatever crafts they'd dug up that week. She missed things like that about Jersey, so this little taste was welcome.] If you want anything else set up, I'd be happy to help.
[Again her hand ran back up his arm, and then she gave him the moment of space.] Can I try a shot?