open ✪ i'm on the pursuit of happiness and i know

[causational]

who: eddie thawne & OPEN
what: rainbow fireflies, catch-all; open prompts under the cut
when: april 20th forward
where: around the quarantine
warnings: tba in subject lines



✪ i. riverwoof pet café

[Eddie has owned more cats than dogs, but that's mostly down to cats being a bit easier to maintain - it isn't that he likes them more. And sure, he'd asked about cats on the network post he'd replied to about this place, and he's interested in adopting one...but he definitely loves dogs. They're so cheerful and friendly, they love so unconditionally in a way that makes Eddie feel at ease.

So here he is, carrying a strong americano with a bit of cream and sugar-free-vanilla that tastes way better than the sugar-free-vanilla at home, wandering among the seats and trying to find an empty one while he tries to decide which dog he wants to pet first.]

Oh...excuse me, do you mind if I share this space?

[It's said pleasantly enough to the person occupying the other half of the only table with an empty spot in the place. Well. At least it's doing good business.]

✪ ii. rainbow bite

Eddie is going to be out and about around the city, both on the job as a police officer and off-duty. He frequents bars, coffee shops, outdoor markets, clubs to dance at, and anywhere you can get a good craft beer or weird street food.

While out and about, he might get bitten by fireflies:

✪ YELLOW: Eddie is not one to give in to fear, but he definitely feels it. This firefly will make him a bit jumpy and paranoid, looking over his shoulder a lot.

✪ GREEN: Eddie is not a naturally jealous or envious person, so if he gets bitten by one of these, it'll wear off fast. But not fast enough to stop him from asking for a bite of whatever you're eating, because it looks delicious...

✪ BLUE: Eddie is carrying a lot of grief and loneliness that he's hiding very comfortably under happiness. While he's still good at hiding it if he's bitten, if you run into him at a bar or when he's had a beer, he'll look off-kilter and upset and be more open to talking about sad stuff. CW: The blue firefly will probably come with talk of his death by suicide.

✪ PURPLE: Eddie's already an affectionate person by nature, and he has zero interest in hiding it, so if you so much as chat with him he'll probably end up giving you shoulder squeezes, hugs, and more depending on how real the conversation gets.

I know these prompts are either vague or very limited, and I don't wanna make you do all the work, so feel free to just set your character up in an open space (optionally drop your preferred firefly colour in the subject line) and I'll approach with Eddie.

I am also open to honest orange firefly bites, or lustful red firefly bites, but would like to plan those out a bit first, so hit me up in PM or at caffemisto to figure it out.

Comments

[causational]

[That thought hadn't even occurred to Eddie, that he was saying anything bad about Cisco, though if he paused to consider it, he might realize what he was implying, what he does think, to some extent. That if Cisco were as demanding about his feelings as Barry and Iris are, that he'd get more attention for them. Still, he doesn't see that as a fault, not really, for a person to put others before themselves, which speaks a lot to his own personality, his priorities, his own tendency to ignore his own needs and not speak up for himself when he should.

It's a relief when Cisco says he'll keep the offer in mind, and really seems to mean it. Eddie still doesn't expect that he'll take him up on the offer, but he seems, at least, to appreciate it. He also seems to appreciate the arm over his shoulder, judging by the long sigh and the way he rests his head against his shoulder, his voice quiet as he says he'll have anything, that Eddie should tell him what his favourite is if they're going to be tight. Smiling a little, Eddie tightens his arm around Cisco's shoulders and rubs at the opposite one gently, his eyes bright as he looks down at him.]

Definitely not vegan. And it's pasta. Basically any kind of pasta. Tomato. Cream. Cheesy or not. Plain or with meat. If it comes on pasta noodles, I'm sold. Of course, I can't really eat a lot of pasta, but, you know, when I'm having a cheat day or something? That's what I go for.

[Shifting, he nudges against Cisco a little, surprised at the weird lightness he feels, the comfort, when Cisco presses his cheek into his shoulder and his voice can't help but come out muffled. He's a little startled, a little distressed, by how pretty Cisco looks with his hair hanging around his face.]

By the way, I'm totally not letting you skip out on answering that question. What's your favourite? If you could pick any meal in the world.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco smiles quietly at Eddie's answer - as straightforward and unpretentious as Eddie is, himself. And it's not lost on Cisco, either, the way he talks about pasta as an indulgence, says it's something he only has on 'cheat day's. That tells Cisco a lot: that Eddie is someone who eats healthy, in a way that is more scrupulous and even perhaps grudging than self-righteous.

Which is interesting, but perhaps not too surprising. One of the things Cisco had noticed right away about Eddie was that he took good care of himself. He dressed well, knew what to do with his hair, that he was never not put-together. That distinguished him from a lot of the other cops Cisco had met. Hell, from a lot of men. Stereotype or not, maybe he should've guessed a little sooner Eddie wasn't entirely straight.

He doesn't notice Eddie looking at him; the after-effects of the panic attack are sinking in, a kind of weakness and exhaustion that Cisco feels down to his bones. He's glad Eddie doesn't mind having Cisco draped on him like this He exhales slowly, considering the question.]

Wasn't skipping out on it. Just... considering my options. Do gummy worms count as a meal? Skittles?

[ Cisco huffs a tiny laugh, brushing his hair from his face and adding in a more serious voice: ]

Just kidding. Probably breakfast. Pancakes, and hash browns, bacon and eggs with hot sauce, and coffee. Lotsa coffee.

[causational]

[Part of him is intensely relieved when Cisco doesn't ask about the 'cheat day' thing, because it isn't really something that he'd intended to say. The fact that he has to be careful about what he eats isn't something he's exactly proud of, and even if he's comfortable talking about his history as a fat kid, it's not really something he usually brags about. And when he does, well, it's always in the past tense, focusing on the fact that he's better now, not that it's something ongoing, something he still has to work on in order to avoid becoming that person again. To avoid becoming the fat slob who doesn't fit in, he has cheat days, he makes his hair match up to whatever's in the magazines, he picks the right clothing, he makes sure he's well presented. Anything to fit in.

But that's not what Cisco asked about and so it's easy to keep it to himself. Easy not to say it out loud, honesty or not. Admitting it to himself is enough, and it's easy to move to the next topic, to focus on Cisco's body resting against his and the casual comfort of rubbing his shoulder, providing comfort. There's something about it that makes Eddie feel strong, stable.]

Gummy worms and Skittles do not at all count as meals. How do you not have scurvy?

[It's gentle, teasing, and he shakes his head a bit, brightening at the mention of breakfast.]

I love breakfast too! I make big ones for myself and Yuri every morning, you know? I haven't got any hot sauce, but why don't I make you one? If you want, you can borrow one of my hoodies, and you can come stay in the kitchen with me and I'll cook for you.

[And when Cisco agrees, Eddie finds one of his biggest comfiest clean post-gym hoodies, and then leads him out into the kitchen, where he makes them both a big breakfast-for-dinner. And it's good. It's better than he could've anticipated considering the circumstances. In fact, by the end of the night, he's glad all of this happened.]