[a couple hours later he jerks awake to the sound of screeching tires and gunshots. He stares, blinking blearily into the middle distance, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. The sounds are not out of place in New York but he's uncommonly warm, his stomach is empty and there is a spring poking him in the lower back.]
[ Anthony was jostled when his head-shaped pillow moved and he blinked the sleep from his eyes as he tried to discover where the fire was. ]
Huh? Wha.. do you mean what happened?
[ He had not been asleep at all! Not for a minute! It might have looked like it in the way he stared blurry eyed at his cousin or squinted at the TV to try and discover what show was on. ]
What do you meant I stayed...-- Well, I'm here aren't I?
[ Way to ask a question with an obvious answer! The remote one was far more challenging as he looked to the arm of the sofa where he was sure the thing had been only to find it must have wandered off. ]
It has to be around here some where. Maybe between the cushions? They always end up between the cushions.
Assumed you had a life. [a wry joke. He can't find it so he looks about on the floor and sees that it's slipped under the table. A place where he's not up to reaching right now. With a sigh he leans back, watching the goings on]
[ Anthony's phone was in his hand in an instant, sending a text off to Grace. Some thing along the lines of, 'Not dead or with a secret girlfriend, at Alec's place. Still. More later.' ]
I do have a life, but I've slept through most of it today.
[ He hit send on the phone and looked back to the screen. Car cashes, gun fights, people making impossibly crazy jumps and not dying, this was awesome! ]
Are you kidding? This is a great movie! What do you do, sit around listening to NPR all day?
[ Which brought another question to mind! Anthony placed an elbow onto the back of the sofa and turned enough to stare at Alec. ]
You might want to actually go home to your fiance-- Girlfriend. [he unwrapped his sandwich and bit into it, leaning back into the corner of the couch]
I grade and grade and grade more. Or if I'm not doing that I'm at one shelter or another. In the summer when I'm bored out of my mind, I read. [but not anything Anthony would be interested in. He watched pointedly as, in the movie, some men got out of cars and started a proverbial dick waving contest with each other]
[ The term wasn't given more than a head bobs worth of protest. ]
It'll be fine. She's met us, she knows how crazy we all are.
[ The rest earned Alec an upturned nose. ]
Real party animal you are. Don't you ever want to get out, take in a show? I know, I could take you to one of those underground clubs some time. They are more than just drinks and loud music, some of them have amazing food too.
And of course this movie is great. Hot women.
[ He said as a chick in a tight skirt slid out of the Ferrari. She draped herself over one of the muscular men's arm. ]
Hot guys.
[ The two men having a quarrel decided to settle their trouble with a race. ]
Hot cars. Gotta love the fast cars, what's not to love about a Ferrari?
No. Not a show. Not a movie. Not a club. Don't you ever get a trapped feeling? Like, you're sitting there and you have no choice but to watch the show. You can't walk about or read a book or anything. And what if it's a bad show or you don't like the actors? And as for clubs the last thing I want to see is young people being intimate on the dance floor. If I wanted that I'd watch this. [he gestured to the tv]
A bit sexist, isn't it?
[he's not even going to touch the Ferrari because what does he know?]
[ The word was said in a long drawn out way like he couldn't understand feeling trapped at a theater at all. Trapped in other ways, by family or obligation... or doing what was right, sure. ]
If a show sucks you can just get up and leave. Its not like they glue you to the seat. And usually you are too smashed or dancing too much in a club to care what other people or doing. Nah, clubs and theaters are not where you feel trapped. There isn't any place that's freer.
[ He floated another plan, something simpler that wouldn't have a crowd around to bother anyone. ]
Private room? They have those. Then it would be just you, me and whoever else we decided to invite.
[ Anthony sat back and watched the movie a little longer. ]
Nah, I don't think so. She's a better driver than those two anyway.
That just sounds tawdry like we're paying for some...weird services. No, just... just live your life and have your fun and I'll... I don't know... Get by...
Anyway you're not forced to sit, but what if you're in a middle row and have to get by everyone?
They're there for a reason, you know. To keep people safe. To keep people from being run over or to stop wrecks. I haven't broken them and I won't and, in any case, I'm not allowed to drive.
Still there is something to be said for out west. Huge stretches of flat road without another car in sight for miles and miles. You can get some amazing speed out there and no one even cares. No speed limit in some places.
[ It was a shame though that Alec wasn't allowed to drive. It sort of brought back home that whole idea he had cultured before his nap, that maybe there was more to this illness than his cousin was letting him in on. ]
Sorry. Maybe... I could help you grade papers some time.
Maybe you should take a holiday out there. [he smiled a little in response to that wistfulness. That freedom that he knew Anthony craved]
Of course if we let you into Vegas. [he blew a breath] Might not ever see you out again. [he took another hefty bite of his sandwich, glad it was at least edible. He regretted it a bit when Anthony spoke again and he nearly choked on a shred of carrot]
No thanks. I'd like to keep my job where it is and the poor wee bastards deserve someone who actually knows the context of the homework they've been given. English isn't like math or science. It's all... you know... subjective. Literature. Shakespeare.
Oh I bloody hate Shakespeare. [he ate a crisp] You ever try to teach Romeo and Juliet to a bunch of snickering middle schoolers? It's hell it's what it is.
[ Now there was an idea! Just take off and get lost in Vegas, but after the initial joy the suggestion brought his smile dimmed. ]
Before I might have done that, but now... Well, can't just up and leave on holiday. Anyway if I were going it'd have to be back home, wouldn't it? Grace has been talking about wanting to meet the rest of the family. So... maybe in Fall. Or Christmas, that would be the biggest surprise for mum.
[ A man who didn't like plays was teaching Romeo and Juliet to a bunch of middle schoolers? This brought the smirk back even as he uttered a few lines from his grandest theatrical performance. ]
These violent delights have violent ends. You forget I played Friar Laurence at Queen Elizabeth?
[ The High School not the person. ]
Back then I fancied being an actor. Funny how things turn out. A guy who likes kids works with plants and a guy who doesn't like groups much at all is trying to teach Shakespeare to Middle Schoolers!
God. I'm sorry about that. Maybe you're the poor bastard after all. You know what they'll do don't you? Ten seconds after you meet them they'll be discussing whether to send your kids to Oxford or Cambridge. You sure she's ready for the deluge.
[it was a good oration and he raised his mug at it before sipping the disgustingly cold coffee]
I didn't know that. Did I know that? [he can't remember] Not sure who thought casting you as a Friar was a good idea, hellion that you were
[he smirked and shook his head]
You'd be a good actor, probably not bad with plants either.
I'll be the first to admit I'm not in the right job-- seemed like a good idea at the time...
Grace, nah, she was born for it. I see her fitting into the family perfectly. She will be right in there with them, picking out the first blankets and arguing for American schools. I'm the one that will be climbing out the window five minutes in.
[ His own coffee had been consumed hours ago but he looked for it right about then just to have something to drink. Who could say why this felt like a drinking conversation. ]
You know I haven't been back home since I left for University?
[ Maybe Alec did, maybe he didn't... Anthony was sure he had known about that play but time does have a way of playing tricks on the memory. ]
Better find her a ring before that, right? Grace can distract mum with the sparkle while I make for the window.
[ He chuckled a low laugh under his breath. In hindsight, yeah, maybe the Headmaster was making a joke with that casting. He had certainly never been Priest material! But then he had known that and hadn't locked himself into a career that drove him mad. ]
You could quit? You have the perfect excuse to go on a health sabbatical. Then maybe you could find something more 'you' to do... accounting, information tech...
[ Anthony added the last one like a joke but some how it felt the closest fit. ]
[he chuckled roughly at the thought of Grace. Maybe that was why Anthony fell for her. She was too much like the family that some part of him must miss. He finished the disgusting coffee and snorted]
That I know. Aunt Evie insists on telling me every time she rings me up. She misses you for some reason I can't fathom. [but he said it gently because he didn't wan Anthony to take it the wrong way.
He wrinkled his nose at the idea of quitting and even more at the suggestions. None of it seemed appealing, but then nothing ever did. A faint smirk at P.I.]
Police force wouldn't have me. Anyway I'm not about to go freelance and look for cheating wives or missing alimony payments.
[there had to be more to life. Only there wasn't and not much left, but nevermind that for now. The thought of Grace niggled at him once more and he shook his head]
I don't get it. This whole thing with Grace. I mean, if you're so determined to go out the window and not sure about marriage or commitment-- why go through with it?
[ He had been right, this had turned into a drinking conversation. Anthony considered looking around for a glass and a splash of the dog that had bit him last night only the thought of having two hangovers in a row stopped him. ]
Well, I love her, don't I? We've been a thing for five years. I may not feel ready to settle down, cold feet or... whatever they call it, but I don't want to lose her. Have that be one more screw up in my long life of screw ups. It would be nice if for once I could show mum, the world, everyone that I wasn't a complete fuck up.
Eeeh, besides... I've got nothing against kids. I think I would be good with kids, so long as I avoided lullabies...
[ On screen a car took a ramp and few over a series of other cars, managing to land on it's wheels and carry on the high speed race. This was a fairy tale as no car would ever have survived that without a broken axle but it certainly looked good on the screen. ]
What about you? You've never thought about it, settling down, having the 2.5 children?
[he reached over and ruffled his hair, knowing it would annoy him]
If you love her, if you feel you want to, then you should. But don't get trapped by your mum or her expectations. I think you've done well for yourself no matter what you end up doing.
[so long as he didn't hurt Grace in the interum. He smiled at the question, though now he wanted a drink. Fortunately he also didn't want to get up so it stopped him from being stupid. He watched the chaos in the show for a little while longer]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Wh' happened?
no subject
Huh? Wha.. do you mean what happened?
[ He had not been asleep at all! Not for a minute! It might have looked like it in the way he stared blurry eyed at his cousin or squinted at the TV to try and discover what show was on. ]
Is that Fast and Furious?
no subject
You stayed? [more screeching and he winced]
Where's the bloody remote.
no subject
[ Way to ask a question with an obvious answer! The remote one was far more challenging as he looked to the arm of the sofa where he was sure the thing had been only to find it must have wandered off. ]
It has to be around here some where. Maybe between the cushions? They always end up between the cushions.
no subject
Do you actually watch this....chaos?
no subject
[ Anthony's phone was in his hand in an instant, sending a text off to Grace. Some thing along the lines of, 'Not dead or with a secret girlfriend, at Alec's place. Still. More later.' ]
I do have a life, but I've slept through most of it today.
[ He hit send on the phone and looked back to the screen. Car cashes, gun fights, people making impossibly crazy jumps and not dying, this was awesome! ]
Are you kidding? This is a great movie! What do you do, sit around listening to NPR all day?
[ Which brought another question to mind! Anthony placed an elbow onto the back of the sofa and turned enough to stare at Alec. ]
Do you ever even go out? What do you do for fun?
no subject
You might want to actually go home to your fiance-- Girlfriend. [he unwrapped his sandwich and bit into it, leaning back into the corner of the couch]
I grade and grade and grade more. Or if I'm not doing that I'm at one shelter or another. In the summer when I'm bored out of my mind, I read. [but not anything Anthony would be interested in. He watched pointedly as, in the movie, some men got out of cars and started a proverbial dick waving contest with each other]
There's nothing great about it.
no subject
It'll be fine. She's met us, she knows how crazy we all are.
[ The rest earned Alec an upturned nose. ]
Real party animal you are. Don't you ever want to get out, take in a show? I know, I could take you to one of those underground clubs some time. They are more than just drinks and loud music, some of them have amazing food too.
And of course this movie is great. Hot women.
[ He said as a chick in a tight skirt slid out of the Ferrari. She draped herself over one of the muscular men's arm. ]
Hot guys.
[ The two men having a quarrel decided to settle their trouble with a race. ]
Hot cars. Gotta love the fast cars, what's not to love about a Ferrari?
no subject
A bit sexist, isn't it?
[he's not even going to touch the Ferrari because what does he know?]
no subject
[ The word was said in a long drawn out way like he couldn't understand feeling trapped at a theater at all. Trapped in other ways, by family or obligation... or doing what was right, sure. ]
If a show sucks you can just get up and leave. Its not like they glue you to the seat. And usually you are too smashed or dancing too much in a club to care what other people or doing. Nah, clubs and theaters are not where you feel trapped. There isn't any place that's freer.
[ He floated another plan, something simpler that wouldn't have a crowd around to bother anyone. ]
Private room? They have those. Then it would be just you, me and whoever else we decided to invite.
[ Anthony sat back and watched the movie a little longer. ]
Nah, I don't think so. She's a better driver than those two anyway.
no subject
Anyway you're not forced to sit, but what if you're in a middle row and have to get by everyone?
[he shakes his head and folds his arms]
They are breaking so many traffic laws.
no subject
[ Anthony smirked, adding the rest only after a lengthy pause. ]
Never broken a traffic law?
Looks fun really... the open road, no rules, out running the cops. Too bad you can only get away with that sort of thing in the movies.
no subject
no subject
[ Anthony's smile grew wishful. ]
Still there is something to be said for out west. Huge stretches of flat road without another car in sight for miles and miles. You can get some amazing speed out there and no one even cares. No speed limit in some places.
[ It was a shame though that Alec wasn't allowed to drive. It sort of brought back home that whole idea he had cultured before his nap, that maybe there was more to this illness than his cousin was letting him in on. ]
Sorry. Maybe... I could help you grade papers some time.
[ Nothing sounded more boring. ]
no subject
Of course if we let you into Vegas. [he blew a breath] Might not ever see you out again. [he took another hefty bite of his sandwich, glad it was at least edible. He regretted it a bit when Anthony spoke again and he nearly choked on a shred of carrot]
No thanks. I'd like to keep my job where it is and the poor wee bastards deserve someone who actually knows the context of the homework they've been given. English isn't like math or science. It's all... you know... subjective. Literature. Shakespeare.
Oh I bloody hate Shakespeare. [he ate a crisp] You ever try to teach Romeo and Juliet to a bunch of snickering middle schoolers? It's hell it's what it is.
no subject
Before I might have done that, but now... Well, can't just up and leave on holiday. Anyway if I were going it'd have to be back home, wouldn't it? Grace has been talking about wanting to meet the rest of the family. So... maybe in Fall. Or Christmas, that would be the biggest surprise for mum.
[ A man who didn't like plays was teaching Romeo and Juliet to a bunch of middle schoolers? This brought the smirk back even as he uttered a few lines from his grandest theatrical performance. ]
These violent delights have violent ends. You forget I played Friar Laurence at Queen Elizabeth?
[ The High School not the person. ]
Back then I fancied being an actor. Funny how things turn out. A guy who likes kids works with plants and a guy who doesn't like groups much at all is trying to teach Shakespeare to Middle Schoolers!
no subject
[it was a good oration and he raised his mug at it before sipping the disgustingly cold coffee]
I didn't know that. Did I know that? [he can't remember] Not sure who thought casting you as a Friar was a good idea, hellion that you were
[he smirked and shook his head]
You'd be a good actor, probably not bad with plants either.
I'll be the first to admit I'm not in the right job-- seemed like a good idea at the time...
no subject
[ His own coffee had been consumed hours ago but he looked for it right about then just to have something to drink. Who could say why this felt like a drinking conversation. ]
You know I haven't been back home since I left for University?
[ Maybe Alec did, maybe he didn't... Anthony was sure he had known about that play but time does have a way of playing tricks on the memory. ]
Better find her a ring before that, right? Grace can distract mum with the sparkle while I make for the window.
[ He chuckled a low laugh under his breath. In hindsight, yeah, maybe the Headmaster was making a joke with that casting. He had certainly never been Priest material! But then he had known that and hadn't locked himself into a career that drove him mad. ]
You could quit? You have the perfect excuse to go on a health sabbatical. Then maybe you could find something more 'you' to do... accounting, information tech...
[ Anthony added the last one like a joke but some how it felt the closest fit. ]
P.I.
no subject
That I know. Aunt Evie insists on telling me every time she rings me up. She misses you for some reason I can't fathom. [but he said it gently because he didn't wan Anthony to take it the wrong way.
He wrinkled his nose at the idea of quitting and even more at the suggestions. None of it seemed appealing, but then nothing ever did. A faint smirk at P.I.]
Police force wouldn't have me. Anyway I'm not about to go freelance and look for cheating wives or missing alimony payments.
[there had to be more to life. Only there wasn't and not much left, but nevermind that for now. The thought of Grace niggled at him once more and he shook his head]
I don't get it. This whole thing with Grace. I mean, if you're so determined to go out the window and not sure about marriage or commitment-- why go through with it?
no subject
Well, I love her, don't I? We've been a thing for five years. I may not feel ready to settle down, cold feet or... whatever they call it, but I don't want to lose her. Have that be one more screw up in my long life of screw ups. It would be nice if for once I could show mum, the world, everyone that I wasn't a complete fuck up.
Eeeh, besides... I've got nothing against kids. I think I would be good with kids, so long as I avoided lullabies...
[ On screen a car took a ramp and few over a series of other cars, managing to land on it's wheels and carry on the high speed race. This was a fairy tale as no car would ever have survived that without a broken axle but it certainly looked good on the screen. ]
What about you? You've never thought about it, settling down, having the 2.5 children?
no subject
If you love her, if you feel you want to, then you should. But don't get trapped by your mum or her expectations. I think you've done well for yourself no matter what you end up doing.
[so long as he didn't hurt Grace in the interum. He smiled at the question, though now he wanted a drink. Fortunately he also didn't want to get up so it stopped him from being stupid. He watched the chaos in the show for a little while longer]
Once. A long time ago. Never got it worked out.
no subject
You know it's not as simple as all that.
[ Or Alec didn't... but family was complicated and it always would be. Anthony was only where he was now because of them. ]
Yeaah, sucks. I wish it had.
[ Though what he really wanted to do was ask about that relationship. Prying too much never worked out well for them. ]
Do you need anything before I take off?
no subject
[a small smile]
Nah. I'm fine. Tomorrow I might need an ambulance after the principal decks me but that's tomorrow's problem.
no subject
[ Anthony spoke with a faint frown. Living all on your own like that... bit sad really.
So he looked back to the movie. ]
Wait until they get to the end of the movie. Some poor sod has to drive through a wall of flames.
About the school though, you could always tell them you were visiting a ill cousin. I mean, they wouldn't have to know it was a hang over...
no subject
[he shook his head]
I already fought with her, remember? Anyway I'll take my punishment like a man.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)