Log: A First, a Fourth, and a Fifth
From Literepetition
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It's late afternoon later in the first week of classes. Eric's sitting in Belly Beans with his Gibson and a small battery-powered portable amp - it's a tiny thing, just enough volume coming from it so he can actually hear what he's doing. At the moment, he's got a latte in front of him and is working on a piece by B.B. King.
Edith, perhaps out of a sense of exploration - or perhaps a generousness of spirit, has abandoned Ink Noir this afternoon in favor of its rival. She procures her own latte and settles at a table near the window. Caffeination all arranged, she draws a notebook from her purse, and taking a first sip, begins to look it over.
After a couple minutes, Eric makes a smooth transition from the B.B piece into a Blind Faith number, picking up Clapton's guitar work with a long practiced smoothness. Seeing the woman who's sat down near him, he smiles and nods, though he doesn't stop playing; "Afternoon."
Edith looks up, her glance sharp, but there is a smile on her lips. It seems the shock of address has rumpled her, rather than any characteristic aloofness. "Afternoon," she says.
Eric grins a little in return to the smile and says "Didn't mean to startle you, sorry 'bout that. Studying for class?"
"Oh no," Edith says, "Just working on something."
Eric nods, still fiddling with the guitar; "Would it be too nosy to ask what?" He's pretty clearly just trying to make conversation.
"Nothing important," she says. "Just some notes. It could become a short story I think."
Eric mms. "I know how that goes, I've got about four or five different song fragments floating around in my head, all of 'em things I want to work on, but I can't quite find the rest of the any of them in my head yet."
"You write music?" Edith asks, although he's obviously admitted to it. There's interest sparkling in her address, now.
"Well, I try to. Not like I've managed to finish anything but a couple basic blues pieces yet, and those're easy.", says Eric with a bit of a smile. "I'm Eric by the way. Just started here this semester."
"I'm Edith," she says, smile growing with the introduction. "And it's a pleasure. That's still impressive, you know."
Eric chuckles. "I guess. BB said it best. 'The Blues really consists of four notes. It's all about knowin' when and how to play 'em." He flashes her a smile and adds; "Nice to meet you Edith. Mind if I join you?"
"Go right ahead," she says, shifting her few things around to make more room at the table. "And still. The hows and whens are some of the most important points to understand."
Eric nods, and moves his latte over to her table, along with himself and the guitar. "True enough. I just think I've got a long long way to go with it." He's good with the guitar, and knows it, but songwriting, that's /hard/.
Edith nods in sympathy. "I know that feeling."
Eric says, "So what sort of stuff to you write? I'm not asking to see anything - I know how it can be with stuff you're working on and aren't quite happy with yet, but you've got me curious now.""
"Ghost stories, mostly," Edith admits a little shyly. "Although I can manage some pretty awful teenage poetry. And I'd like to attempt more realistic fiction at some point.
Eric smiles easily; "Hey, there's not a damn thing wrong with a good ghost story. And writing truly /bad/ teenage poetry, while /knowing/ it is? That can be an art form."
Edith laughs. "I'll need to destroy it someday, if only to hide my shame, I'm sure."
Eric snickers. "Sounds like the stuff I wrote when I was younger." He's /still/ fiddling with the guitar, it seems like he does it nearly constantly, even though is attention's clearly on her. "So what're you majoring in?"
"Architecture." The response is prompt. "What about you?"
Eric says, "Music - not much of a surprise there - with a minor in philosophy." He grins a little and asks; "So what do you like to do besides write?"
"And arrange space to be both pleasing and utilitarian?" says Edith. "I like eating good food and traveling. Reading - both for pleasure and critical analysis. I like /listening/ to music, but don't understand much about it. Oh I don't know. Living, I suppose."
Eric grins. "Hey nothing wrong with that at all." Now he's got something to work with; "What sorts of music do you like best?"
"Erg. I don't know. There's some random obscure French Pop on my iPod? And silly indy things, like well, Belle & Sebastian. And some orchestral music..." Edith trails off helplessly.
Eric grins a little; "Damn. I was hopin' there'd be something I could entertain you with.." He thinks for a minute, and then grins, fiddling with the controls on the guitar, giving it a sound that's closer to classical, then starts playing a Mozart guitar piece.
Edith sips her coffee and relaxes into the music, a satisfied grin slowly growing.
Eric works through the piece steadily. "My folks insisted I start out with classical guitar. I was lucky that the guy I learned from thought I should learn more, and taught me Blues at the same time."
"Must be helpful," Edith murmurs, "like studying neo-classical and modern design together."
Eric hrms. "Well, I don't know enough - or anything really - about design, but it sounds like it? You really learn how music's put together that way, because the classical stuff is /so/ rich and involved. For me though, there's just not... as much passion in a lot of it as there is in good blues or rock. Almost pastels versus bright vibrant colors most of the time if that makes sense."
"Sort of." Edith's lips quirk in concentration. "I was considering structures."
Eric nods, listening; "Go on? Can you give me examples?" He seems honestly curious.
Edith says, "Oh. Well, both neo-classical and modern architecture emphasize clean lines and utilization of space. But in neo-classical architecture that means fitting the tapestry into the molding on the wall, for example while modern architecture is much more minimalistic. Absolutely no molding or tapestry, maybe a simple vectored mural utilizing a single color. Am I making any sense?""
Eric nods. "So far you are yeah. So while there are similarities, modern design tends to be more minimalist? Like... the difference between say, the Chrysler building in New York, with it's styling, and gargoyles and all of that, versus what the twin towers were?"
"Yes - each has a history which they're communicating and each has the same basic purpose, and even the same principles kept in mind at times, but the end results are wildly different. The paths of interpretation are most intriguing."
Eric nods. "That /is/ similar. It's interesting to watch what music grows out of. If you follow it along, you go from old Irish and similar music into what became american folk, which then started diverging into both bluegrass and more traditional coutry. Bluegrass to some degree gave birth to the blues, and the blues and country to rock, and now they're all mixing and merging in ways that keep surprising everyone - including me, but really, should have been obvious." He shakes his head; "Oh god, you've got me lecturing."
She smiles. "You started me on it first. And I enjoy being educated."
Eric nods. "Watch.." He starts playing something that sounds like it might be an Irish folk tune, "See the chord progression? Watch my left hand.. it's just three, four patterns over and over.."
Edith stares intently as though she hopes to freeze his quick-moving fingers into photographic memories. Her eyes dance as she attempts to keep up. Then: "I think I've got it."
Eric nods. He changes /one/ finger position on a couple of the chords, and the sequence he's putting the notes together in, and now it sounds bluegrass. "Just a couple little changes and.. lookie here.."
"Oh, yes." It's almost an exclamation.
Eric grins and makes another change, and now the same chord progression becomes a very bluesy piece, using just three chords, about eight or nine notes. "And here we are in the mississipi delta about seventy five or eighty years back..."
"That's magical," Edith says, her gaze alight with comprehensions.
Eric grins. "Ohhhh, we're not quite done.." He makes one more slight change, switches the tone on the guitar, giving it a fuller, richer sound, and launches into Elvis's "You Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog." And the even bigger surprise is, he's got the voice for it. He doesn't go overly loud, but the power and edge to the song is definitely in there.
Edith's glee dissolves into giggles.
Eric doesn't go all the way through the song, his point's been made. Smiling at her he asks; "What's got you going there, Giggles?" He's not upset at all.
"It was very...unexpected," Edith manages, fighting for control and groping for the correct word.
Eric grins. "And then... there's one more change.." Again, a few shifts, and now he's playing what's clearly recognizable as the first part of Clapton's Layla, the original electric version.
Edith hums along, softly. Then after a sip of coffee, "Impressive." Her only comment.
Eric grins and finishing the song, finally sets the guitar aside and takes a drink of his latte. "Wow. You're bringing out the professor in me or something, bigtime."
She smiles. "I like learning new things."
Eric nods "Fair enough." He grins and asks; "So what are you taking this semester?", trying to get the subject off of him for a bit.
"Oh um, a couple of architecture classes, a lit class, and a math class - algebra II." Edith shrugs.
Eric chuckles. "Yeah, it kinda sounds like my schedule this semester. Two music classes and the rest stuff I don't wanna take." He shrugs.
"Oh no! I do want to take them," Edith quickly assures him. "Or at least the literature one: 'Birth of the Modern Novel' and the math is interesting enough - and require."
Eric mmms. "I admit, I tend to be a little obsessive about my music some days. I like learning new things, but I hate being /told/ what to learn."
"Well at least in choose classes, you have some authority," Edith says, sipping her coffee.
Eric grins. "There is that, except for the "You gotta take X from Column A, Y from Column B and all that. Ah well, I just pick what sounds the most interesting and fun that'll fit." He smiles and asks; "What year are you in anyway?
"First year," Edith replies. "You? You mentioned that you were a transfer...?"
Eric nods. "Sorta. I started at NYU a year and a half ago. Flunked out second semester, so I took some time off to get my head straight, and got a scholarship offer a couple months back, why I don't know..., so I figured I'd give it another shot.
Edith nods, digesting this small torrent of personal information, performing the mental math. "So you're still a First Year?"
Eric blinks. "Okay, that was totally TMI. Sorry." He grins and nods; "Yeah, second semester Freshman."
"No. I just had to process."
"Hey, I coulda been clearer in how I told you too. Penalties offset." Eric grins, not worried about it obviously. "You from close to here, or where's home for you?"
"New York, mostly," she answers. "My parents have an apartment in the city, a house upstate and generally rent overseas for the summer months." She grins cheekily. "It was my turn."
Eric nods, listening; "Your turn for?" He seems genuinely interested and curious.
"Too much information," Edith replies.
Eric ahhhs, and grins. "Guess we're even then." He plucks at the guitar a little, it seems to be kind of a default behavior to fill time; "Hey, I'm playing a gig friday night at a local bar. You interested in coming to see it?"
"Can you get me in? Edith asks. She sets aside her latte in all seriousness.
Eric nods. "Yeah, that's not a problem. The place cards, but handstamps. You won't be able to drink unless you've got a fake ID, but I've got one, so I can slip you stuff if you want, at least between sets." He grins a little. "Unless you mind being seen with the crazy musician."
Edith smiles. "No not at all. But is there an age limit to get in? Will I need to bribe the bouncer? Or can I just tell him that I'm with the band? Sorry. Um. Not that it's usually a problem, but I'm a little /young./ And my current faux ID might be in the City or upstate or even here. I haven't looked recently, but I think I've left it in the New York apartment."
Eric chuckles; "S'not a problem. They're eighteen and up, card for booze. They'd loose too much business if they went twenty-one plus."
Edith sighs. "I think I can make it to New York and ransack the apartment before Friday. Or if I'm lucky I brought it back with me."
Eric says, "Well, if not, we can work around it if not - really won't be a problem for one night." He grins mischeviously and adds; "Now if you keep hanging out with me, it might be more of an issue, depending on where I'm playing.""
Edith laughs, "You haven't asked my age. I think I like you."
Eric smirks. "I figure it this way. You're not twenty one or the ID think wouldn't have come up. You're old enough to be here, and don't look to be a fifteen year old wonderkin. Outside of that, why do I care? We'd be in the same amount of trouble if we got caught drinking, and anything else, we're legal for each other." There's no assumption of what else might or might not happen between them in that, it's just a statement of fact.
"Mmm," Edith murmurs to her coffee.
Eric grins a little; "Well, that's kinda noncommittal." He smiles and asks; "So I'll bite? How old are you? Not that it matters to me, honestly. I'm twenty."
"I'll be seventeen on the twenty-fourth," Edith admits. "So you're statement was nearly true. I didn't like to disillusion you."
Eric quirks a brow; "Let me say this. You do not act like you're about to turn seventeen. Nineteen or twenty, more like." He smiles at her and says; "The rest of what I said still applies though, Edith. You're obviously not a stranger to getting into a club, and you certainly holding your own in this conversation. Why should I care what a calendar says, so long as you don't?"
"Fabulous." Edith leisurely finishes her coffee.
Eric can't help but notice that she's suddenly less talkative, and asks; "If I upset you, I'm sorry. You're interesting, fun to talk to, cute as hell. I asked yo u to the gig because I'd like to get to know you better."
"Oh, not at all," Edith reassures him. "I'm happy my age doesn't bother you. I forget sometimes. I skipped a grade when I was young and so have been around a /more mature/ age group through out my schooling. But then, all of the social events I've had to attend in my life, I've been around a much less mature group as well. I've learned that age doesn't matter much - at least not to me. Still it gets awkward at times." She offers a half apologetic smile. "I truly would enjoy seeing you play. I think you're fun to talk to too - and talented."
Eric smiles a bit and says; "Thanks. I'll warn you, I drink too much, and I can be a royal jerk when I get in a debate, and I'm a firm believer in play hard, party, have a good time, and leave an amazing corpse."
Edith grins. "You don't scare me."
Eric chuckles and raises an eyebrow; "Ohhhh. A challenge." He notes her finished coffee; "Want another?"
"I would. Isn't yours getting cold? You've hardly touched it," she says.
Eric grins, and kills his own drink off in a couple long drinks. "Be right back." He takes her cup, and comes back a minute later with fresh drinks for both of them. "So, how much clubbing and whatnot have you done? What sort of places do you like?"
"Thank you," Edith says. "Oh a fair amount. If I was stupid, I'd've been to rehab twice by now, like my cousin. Or one of my cousins. Or several. Do you ever read page six? Oh, you wouldn't, but it's that glossy celebrity trash. I've been to enough of those to know that they're really boring parties. And I attend charity balls more often than I'd like to admit. Sometimes I'll go to whatever club is /the thing/ in the City - when I'm there. Honestly though, small dinner parties with interesting conversations are the best nights. They don't happen often enough."
Grinning a little, Eric notes; "I'm more about the 'Play music, get blasted, take someone home and have fun for the night.' It's cool you like that stuff, don't get me wrong. I just can't seem myself doing it. Probably because my folks are so into it in DC." He grins, he's not judging her at all, and that's obvious - he's comparing notes.
"Oh it's fine enough," she tells him. "Only -- it's what I'm supposed to do."
Eric ahhs. "Yeah... I had some of that too. My Mom's in Investment Banking, and my old man works for Homeland Security. What about you?"
"Oh my mother sits on the board of several charitable committees -- which is one of the reasons I attend all those balls. I'm not exactly sure what my father does, exactly. Well he works in international law, as did his father and his grandfather, et cetera, et cetera. And possibly at one point this had something to do with relations with France - it might still, for all I know. He's very busy and doesn't like to discuss work when he's at home. So --"
Nodding, Eric says; "Sounds like we have a lot in common in that regard, parents who're pretty busy want to act like they know their kids, but really don't.
"They aren't the most present," Edith admits. "Still there are perks."
Eric mms. "Like?"
"Like, a fairly obscene amount of freedom and trust on their part," Edith says. "I could leave next week and fly to Greece and they'd ask if I had a nice time. Also access to money that a teenager probably shouldn't be allowed. They mostly leave me alone and let me get on with things. So long as I appear at events often enough and don't do anything too scandalous publicly. And when they're about I smile winsomely and ask after their affairs; they do much the same."
Eric grins a bit, and nods. "But here's the question - how scandalous are are you in private?" The grin turns impish as he says it.
"If you become involved in my private life, you just may find out," Edith promises.
Eric hrms, to that, and asks; "Annd.. just what does it take to get involved in your private life.."
Edith laughs. "Oh it's no fun if I tell you!"
Eric grins; "Sooo. What's your schedule like for the rest of the day?"
"Well I'm going to drink this coffee, and talk with you. And I might make some notes for this story. Eventually, I'll have do to some reading before class tomorrow. And at some point I should eat dinner." Edith coyly lists her planned activities. "And you?"
Eric hrms; "I was thinking that we might want to continue this discussion somewhere a little more private. I've got some booze, and some ... other things stashed, y'see."
Edith arches an eyebrow, "Oh?"
Eric nods. "That's if your interested. If not, we can sit here and drink coffee, you're fun to talk to."
"Well," Edith says with a slight shrug, "lets continue our conversation and finish our coffee and then see where we end up. I'm never one to rush my coffee."
Eric nods, seeming to be just fine with that. "As you wish, m'lady." He grins a little and asks; "So what /does/ a teenager with access to outlandish amounts of cash do with it?"
"Mostly, have nice things," says Edith. "At least this one does. And travel. I do so love to go places."
Eric nods. "Oh? What're your favorite places?"
"My parents keep access to a place in Nice, which is beautiful." As Edith sips her coffee, her gaze becomes slightly indirect, as though she's staring intently at the hanging plant over Eric's left shoulder. "Paris itself is fun when I find myself missing a city. Also Italy, Greece - the Mediterranean is stunning. Mostly European countries - I think because tourism is so old there, it ceases to be the only thing one sees about the place."
Eric nods, listening; "I've not traveled much at all. I think when the time comes that I have the money, I may well be asking you for advice, though I'll probably be staying places a lot less expensive than you do." He's not bothered by that. It's just how things are. He takes a drink of his coffee; "I'd love to see the UK, and I've got some friends who've said that Majorca is total blast, but expensive."
"I haven't actually spent much time there," Edith admits. "Oh I've been to London and the West End, of course. But the majority of my time has been spent slightly farther east."
Eric says, "Oh? Whereabouts? I like hearing about different places.""
"Most of my summers have been spent in France. Although, at least one involved a trip to Germany. And as I said Italy - Venice and Rome. Carnival is something you should see. And in Greece we stayed for a couple of months in the small islands. It's beautiful there." Edith sighs.
Eric grins. "Maybe if I ever make real money off of this playing and singing thing, I'll take a summer and poke around. Or more, if I'm lucky."
"A tour!" Edith exclaims. "How perfect!"
Eric grins; "That could be, yeah. Who knows if I'll ever make it happen though, you know?" He's not doubting himself, and figures he'll be more than a 'starving artist' but he also knows how hard it is to really make it.
Edith says, "I'd bet you can make it work," she says, smiling."
Eric mmms. "I certainly hope so!" He takes another drink of his coffee, and smiles, asking her; "When did you say your birthday was again?"
"Next week," she says. "The twenty fourth. I suppose I should have a bash."
Eric nods to that, with a grin; "In addition to whatever bash you throw, could I take you out to dinner to celebrate?"
"Oh," Edith says, then smiles almost blushing prettily, "If you like. I wouldn't say 'no'."
Eric grins; "I would certainly like. What're your favorite kinds of food?
Edith looks a bit guilty. "I'm fond of French cuisine. But mostly I enjoy any well prepared dishes that taste divine."
Eric grins; "Then we'll find a nice french place, even if it means driving up to Rochester. I hear there's a nice Normandy-style place up there, if that suits?"
"Oh my," Edith regards him levelly. "Aren't you the charmer?"
Eric laughs a little. "Hey, I told you. I'm all about enjoying myself. I enjoy spending time with you, at least so far, you like French, so... the rest is easy." He grins at her and adds; "I'm not gonna sit here and pretend to be all noble in my intentions, but that's secondary to having an overall good time."
Edith laughs, and smiles widely.
Eric grins a little, and prompts; "So I take it you don't have a problem with my position on things then."
"Not at all," Edith says. "I just need to make sure that you measure up to my standards."
Eric chuckles; "Oh really now. And do I get to know these standards, or are they a female mystery, wispy, shifting and unattainable?"
"You don't actually," says Edith, "because I'd like to think that you wouldn't act in a contrary manner to 'impress' me, shall we say? But I can't be certain. I can tell you that you've got no black marks so far."
Eric grins. "Well, that's promising, at least. And honestly? You'll find that I am who I am. If someone doesn't like me, it's their loss, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I figure everyone should feel that way, so it's not like I'm taking myself too seriously."
"Wonderful." Edith smiles. "We shall get along."
Eric mmms. "One hopes so. We certainly seem to be so far!"
"I agree. This certainly has been a promising encounter."
Eric smiles and asks; "Are you always formal, or is that something that relaxes as you get to know someone?" He's not objecting to it at all, just seems curious.
"Oh fairly." Edith shrugs. "I think it's a standards thing mostly. With the company I may have to keep it helps. Not that I should have to with /you/. It's merely a habit.""Oh fairly." Edith shrugs. "I think it's a standards thing mostly. With the company I may have to keep it helps. Not that I should have to with /you/. It's merely a habit."
Eric nods. "And a perfectly understandable one. No criticism expressed or implied." He winks at her.
She grins, a trifle relived, and sips at her coffee.
Eric takes a sip from his coffee; "So what're you going to do for Spring Break? Be whisked away in the family jet to something exotic like Bora Bora or something?" He grins impishly.
"Oh probably not," says Edith. "Unless they remember and invite me."
Eric ohs? "So they'll just leave you to fend for yourself, tell you to put it on the black Amex?"
'It's happened before," Edith admits with a shrug. "Sometimes I spend gobs of money and go somewhere fantastic, but most of the time I just go to the City and bum around."
Eric says, "Sounds like you're very much at home in the City. I'm sort of surprised we didn't bump into each other before.""
"Well I'm usually only there seasonally," Edith replies, "So it isn't that strange. It's only truly become home base in the las few years."
Eric nods. "I was at NYU for almost all of last school year. The city... well it kinda did me in. Too much to do, and too ready access to all kinds of interesting substances. I think I've learned my lesson though." He smiles and asks; "So where was home before that?"
"That depends on a lot of things," Edith says. "I suppose upstate in the Hudson Valley. That's more constant than one of many overseas locals. But we've always had the New York apartment."
Eric ahhhs. "That must have been different, growing up and not having one place that was 'home'. Did you go to school near one of the places, or boarding school, or?"
"There was school for a bit, when I was young and could be left in care of someone." Edith recalls. "Then as I got older and petulant, there was a string of private tutors so that I was allowed to travel along. Also I was necessary for photo ops, and the like. Eventually, we settled on boarding school when it became apparent that my social circle was not up to par, as it was practically non-existent. Now I'm here."
Eric says, "Where was boarding school? Did you go to Dowd along with a lot of the other folks I've met here, or somewhere else?""
"Dowd eventually," Edith admits. "But my school mates probably don't remember me. I didn't make much of a showing."
Eric says, "Hey, nothing wrong with that. And sorry if it's too many questions, I like getting to know people.""
"I haven't stopped you yet," says Edith.
Eric tips his non-existent hat; "True enough, you haven't." He smiles to her and notes; "You're welcome to ask things to you know. I won't consider it a breech of manners at all."
"So where were you before that year in New York?" Edith asks obligingly.
Eric chuckles. "DC. Well, right across the river in Arlington. Born and raised there."
"Oh, I see." And then she laughs. "I know it's normal, but I'm not used to keeping still."
Eric grins. "See? We've got something to compare notes on, get different perspectives."
"So what's it like keeping to one place all your life?" Edith asks.
Eric hms. "I'm not sure how to compare it. I guess it's closest to say some mixture of comforting, knowing where everything is, having the same people and friends around all the time, and boring, because there's not as much /new/, and there aren't new people to meet, new girls to f.." He stops, and grins a little sheepishly. "Okay, that's not /entirely/ true, but you get my point.
Edith laughs. "Did you go through all the the girls in the greater metropolitan area of D.C?"
Eric shakes his head. "Oh I'm sure not, but it's not for lack of trying." He grins. Hey, the guy is at least honest about not exactly being the one-true-love type.
Edith is silent for a moment, considering her coffee. "So was it a different girl every week? Or a few at a time? Or what's you're modus operandi?"
Eric mms. "Well. Given I'm trying to get into your panties, I think that's a fair question. I'm a musician, Edith. To say that I get a lot of offers would be fair. I've had some close friends who I'd get together with regularly, but then there'd be the ones who'd just show up for a show, and decide they want to take the guitar player home. I'm not the kind to chase a lot, but I don't exactly say no much either."
Edith grins. "Okay. I think I get that."
Eric nods. "You okay with that? If things go the way I'm hoping they do with us, I'm not meaning it as a one-night-stand thing, but I'm not anywhere near wanting to be serious with anyone either."
"I /think/ so..." Edith says. For the first in the conversation color rises to her cheeks. "I mean, I'm flattered. I certainly don't get such forthright offers every day. Honestly, I've never been in that situation before. So I can't say. It hasn't put me off, but I can't say how I'll react to possible eventualities. Does that make any sense?"
Eric nods. "It does. I'm perfectly happy to take things as they come, I just figure it's better to be up front about how I am."
"Oh it is," Edith agrees. "Surprises can make things /awkward./"
Eric mms. "Speaking of which..." He leans forward across the small table, and motions for her to come closer, as though he wants to tell her something quietly.
She obliges, but with a playful wariness. "Yes?"
Eric leans in just a little more, and if she allows, kisses her. It's not exactly chaste, but not a barn-burner either.
Some surprises can be nice. Edith arches an eyebrow, but doesn't make to stop him. Close observers might even comment that she encourages him.
Eric notes the encouragement and does turn out the heat a little, within the boundaries of being in public, and there being a table between them. One hand reaches up to caress her, and as the kiss breaks, he grins; "Surprise."
Edith giggles, "Are you always going to prove me wrong?"
Eric grins a bit; "Only when it's fun for both of us."
