Edward Sullivan

“Exactly, the goal is to keep people alive, rather than the alternative.” teddy agreed with a laugh. “Oh shit. I hope he didn’t get hurt? Fuck. That’s bad. I once had a date fall through a table he was sitting on but he was huge so he really should have known better.” Teddy commiserated. “Maybe you should go with like an upholstered kind of footstool-table thing rather than glass or wrought iron ... you know to prevent future injury.” He suggested with a nod, “Absolutely. Yeah brand new. I’ve only been here about five or six weeks now I guess. First time living in the States so it’s a bit of a change.” 

As hard as she tried, she would always hurt someone else without intending to. She was like a bad apple. 

“Go for it, couches are my speciality. I slept on dozens for 6 years.”

The endless nights going out always ended on someone’s couch. Sometimes, it would be a bed, but lumpy pillows and worn material would be what she saw most. Her bedroom, when at home, was the living room. The couch was springy and luckily soft, but far from new. It was probably only a matter of years before she started to feel backache from all of the uneven surfaces she had slept on.

“Sounds like you have some stories to tell.” Teddy replied with a light shrug. “Couch sleeping doesn’t seem that comfortable as a permanent way of life.” He continued without judgment. “I really appreciate your help. So I liked this leather one.... quite firm but still comfortable ... or that one over there ...” He pointed to a fabric upholstered couch in dark grey. “Thoughts?”

She leaned in next to him to get a better look on the ingredients he pointed out, as he pointed them out, while he too could get a chance to read on the back. “and this is… What’s the name? Fruity fiesta? Yeah that does not sound very healthy either.” Scrunching her nose, she looked up at him with a grin. “Oh yeah? Willing to take a bet on it? Strawberry versus blueberry?” 

“Not even remotely healthy.” Teddy replied and then laughed quietly. “Ohhh are you inviting me for a taste test?” He teased. “What’s your favourite flavour anyway? Cause you should definitely get what you like best?”

The female rubs her chin as she thinks about what he could add. “Do you plan painting them ever? And what kind of colors do you not like? With white walls it’s best to go with neutral colors and tones, which is fairly easy to do. But I don’t recommend pure white couches.. they’re so easy to dirty and a beach to clean up. So unless you plan to be super careful.. maybe not. A cream would be a good substitute, though. You can add a decorative pillow or throw blanket to add some color.” She pulls a blue decorative pillow from a nearby. “Something like this.”

A smirk pulls at Eevee’s lips at the way this man is able to keep up with her banter. Interesting. “Call me a snowflake and I’ll start crying about how your generation fucked up the economy for all us young folks,” she counters, eyes practically shining with mirth. “I know, right? I might need to invest in one of those life alert things. Or maybe just a bar in the shower considering how many times I’ve slipped.” Cheeks tint slightly at the compliment, never knowing how to fully take one, but still appreciative of it nonetheless. “Absurdly beautiful? You’re really laying it on thick, aren’t you,” she teases. “Well, not a complete random. More like, a very intriguing man who happens to be easy on the eyes. So tell me, stranger, what’s your game plan for tonight?”

“Well back in my day ...” He replied with a sage nod and affecting a creaking old man voice. Then he laughed, “Life alert, huh? You poor fragile creature. Sounds like someone needs some assisted living real soon.” Teddy teased, “Ohhh ... look at this ... compliments from a gorgeous women. This night is getting better and better for me. Game plan originally was to have a couple of drinks and then head home to bed.”

The musician was charming and cheerful, even intoxicated. He could see why he enjoyed his life. “Sam on drums.... sounds right.” Teddy laughed softly. He nodded at the information, “Well done ... sounds like you guys are doing well. Do you guys plan to record or anything?”

“Something like that.” she laughs along, grinning at his discrete comment about intentional bruising. She understood that completely. She didn’t mind those sort of bruises, if she says so herself. “Oh, sure!” Excitement dazzles in her eyes. She loooved interior design. “Definitely. Are you furnishing the whole space or just your bedroom right now?”

“Bedroom and living room mostly. Looking for the basics and then I’m just hoping to date someone with good taste so they can make the place look great. Right now it has white walls, a few boxes of books and some decent dishes and linens but that’s about it.”

“If only it were that easy with finding someone,” she mumbled, smiling and looking away to the arm of the couch she was sat on. “I mean, I’m still waiting on someone to fall in love with the mess in which I am but I’m not doing very well.” she half joked.

Standing, she straightened out her baggy t-shirt and moved over to the table he was standing by. “I like this one.”

“Well ... that would be the next challenge, isn’t it?” Teddy replied with a laugh. “Although it surprises me that someone as lovely as you is single.” He replied, “If that isn’t too forward. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” He demurred before he continued. “Okay okay ... that table was in my top three but the question remains about a couch ... don’t suppose you’d be willing to give me an opinion on my top choices, in case I’m hideously wrong.” 

“Oh I don’t mind. Just starting actually because I finished school earlier this year. I’m a pharmacist actually.” Teddy replied with a thread of pleasure in his voice. He was rather proud of his degree after all. “An incident? A good kind or a bad kind?” Teddy joked with a soft laugh. “Ummm ... just come comfortable for the bed. Couch ... I was thinking maybe leather? I’m not entirely sure.” 

“Yeah well, it was a lot of school so really hope I like it.” Teddy replied, laughing as he did so. “Makes sense. What’s your band like? Is it big?” At least this was interesting conversation. The other guy managed to hold his own despite being drunk. He wondered if the other dude would even remember him or this conversation when he woke up later. Probably not, he thought with some amusement. “Do you guys tour much?”

“Every job has its downsides.” Teddy returned with a light shrug, “Pharmacist.” It still felt a little good to say that after so many years of work. “Mindblowing? Isn’t every kind of music mindblowing to someone?” He joked, “I’m guessing rock or jazz of some kind .... could be wrong though. Did you study for it or all learn on the job so to speak?” 

“Touché, I guess,” she mumbled, “Whatever floats your boat.”

Her body slouched further into the couch, her legs crossing, almost as if she was imagining it in her tiny apartment. Now she had a job, it was an option… but did she need it? 

“Oh, I know how it goes. I probably should be shopping but browsing is a lot less expensive.”

 “Exactly.” He agreed with a nod. “I’m trying to just get the basics for new place and then just start dating someone with good taste so they finish it off, which is probably the laziest sentence I have ever uttered but still true.” Teddy shrugged lightly and then offered a half smile. 

“I’ve had lots of time to develop that thought.” she jokes, nodding along as he thinks out loud. “If you do or not, make sure those pillows are fluffy.” she added, pointing her finger as a mindless gesture. “You’re welcome! I’m browsing today, but everything I like is screaming ‘buy me’. I’m trying to be good.. It’s so hard, though. Sometimes I would just like to wrap everything up and take it home.”

“Lots of bruised noggins?” Teddy had to laugh as he said that. “Of course... the fluffiest. Promise. No bruises on my watch. At least not the unintentional kind.” He shrugged lightly. “Well, I’m trying to furnish my insanely small new apartment. Maybe you could give a few suggestions? A second perspective?”

“Yes, and it is not an area anyone wants a rash.” Teddy agreed with a nod. “Sounds like you are one of the lucky ones. Condoms do taste gross though.” He acknowledged. “But yeah, stick with less complex scents, less likely to cause a reaction. But I’m just a boring pharmacist so I’ll leave it to you as to whether to listen to me.”