1921, Pittsburgh

[themidnightson]

Afternoon class was canceled on the account of a power failure on their floor.

They'd been asked to wait the first half hour while someone tried to fix it, but then they'd been sent home with a time table for when the lecture would be reconvened and the promise of it being fixed tomorrow. Though what the speaker was thinking was that he was promising phone calls tomorrow if the problem hadn't been handled and that someone was going to lose their job over it and hopefully it wasn't him.

With no need to stop anywhere else, Edward went home.

Comments

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

The curtains were forgotten as Esme turned, frowning at Edward.

"You mean to tell me that you haven't accumulated any belongings in the past two years?"

Thoughts of Carlisle's shopping spree for her danced through her mind and she wondered idly why Edward hadn't received the same treatment.

[themidnightson]

"I didn't bring anything with me originally." They took two years to travel with suitcases as props more than anything. "I haven't kept much between places that wasn't for classes."

What was the rhyme or reason to that?

What he held most dear of this life could not hang on a wall.

"It was a very different life style than yours will be."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"What do you mean by that?"

It's not like Carlisle wants any kind of real relationship with her... no, she wasn't going to go down that train of thought again.

[themidnightson]

"This place is important to you," he says, punctuating it with the swish sound of the curtain going on to the rod. "How and whether it looks and feels right and pays homage to. What it can accomplish or evoke, remind of or comfort from."

Even if it's with pillow patterns and curtains.

"It was never a focus before."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme considered his words.

"And you have a problem with that?"

Not that she had the slightest clue what that problem might be, but something about his words and the way he said them gave her that impression.

[themidnightson]

Edward faintly frowned, surprised at her conclusion.

"I don't. It's just different."

Beat.

"Ready."

He held up the curtain ready to be placed.

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Esme said. She wasn't entirely convinced, but she didn't think it was worth arguing about. Though she fully intended to have some words with Carlisle when he returned.

She took one end of the curtain rod and reached up to slide it into place.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle meanders through the door eventually.

"Sorry I am late," Carlisle calls to the house, all formality. "I ended up covering half of another doctor's shift, and..."

He examines the living room.

"Hmm."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme walks out of Carlisle's room and gives him an expectant look. "What do you think?"

[ofthefamily]

Why were you in my room?

"Looks nice."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"Glad you approve," Esme says with a smile. "Edward and I just hung curtains in your room."

There's a pause. "I also offered to decorate Edward's room and he informed me that he's lacking personal belongings."

[ofthefamily]

The amicable compliment fades quickly, leading to a hard gaze.

"Edward has never wanted for anything while with me, if that is what you are attempting to insinuate."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"I'm not insinuating anything," Esme insists. "Merely curious as to why I had belongings forced on me and he did not."

[ofthefamily]

"If you want to run around half-naked, be my guest. In case you haven't noticed, Edward wears clothes."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme nearly comments on the fact that it likely wouldn't affect him at all if she were to run around half-naked, but stops herself in time.

"You bought me twice as much as I needed."

[ofthefamily]

"So? That's my prerogative."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"So basically what you're telling me is that you make the rules and Edward and I have no say in them?"

[ofthefamily]

"I was trying to be nice you -- what do you want from me?"

[themidnightson]

"Neither of you should be shouting so loudly over as inane a subject as whether I do or don't want to own trivial mementos."

That would be Edward in the doorway, text book and half filled pad of paper in hand, doing his best to ignore what actually was rolling off both of their minds.

"I believe that is my choice."

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle gives Esme a sort of snarl. See?




Sorry, Edward.

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme glares back at Carlisle.

"I'm sorry, Edward. I just want to ensure you're being treated fairly."

[ofthefamily]

"You are not the arbiter of fairness here, Esme -- "

You aren't either, Carlisle.

It's only the thought that calms him. Minutely. "Do not presume to know me like that," he responds through a clenched jaw.

[themidnightson]

"It's fine, Carlisle." Edward's expression is calmer than anyone elses, but his voice is still. It lacks in suggestion with it's hard edge.

What would he say if he could? Carlisle invited this into their lives and Edward is doing the best to make it work for him.

His glance shifted to Esme, "If it will help matters, leave me a catalog and I'll pick out things to match with your plans for the room."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme decides to ignore Carlisle.

"Why don't you pick some things you like and then I'll use them as a basis for decorating," she says to Edward.

[ofthefamily]

"Do I at least get to know what you've already done to my room?" Carlisle interjects.