eatsfish | ☂

You are correct.
Did you know that if a jellyfish is cut in two, the pieces of the jellyfish can regenerate and create two new organisms?

I didn't, no. I guess that would be useful, albeit incredibly strange.

What made jellyfish the theme of the day if I might ask?

I've been using them in my tests today.

I'm surprised they'd let you do that here. Are you getting the results you'd hoped for?

Why wouldn't they? I'm not doing anything questionable. They're quite open about using their facilities as long as the study relates to our locale.

The results are promising. None of them are dead yet. I named them since I expect they will last quite a while. Subject A is now Hartley. Subject B is Jell-O.

What have you been doing?

I suppose I'm still not used to the concept of authority no longer so heavily breathing down our necks.

... those names hardly go together.

You are authority, Oswald.

I fail to see how they don't. They're both famous brands of gelatin mix. Do you not like them? I was trying to be amusing.

Perhaps, but not the highest. Not for now, anyway.

I wasn't aware of the correlation. You'll have to excuse my ignorance. I've never found those concoctions to be very palatable. Why would my opinion on their names concern you?

For now.

Really? I find them quite enjoyable. It's not a concern but your opinion on anything is one I take into account. I thought you knew that.

So you're telling me that's perfectly fine and onions are the real problem?

Of course I know. How could I not? I just didn't think it would extend as far as what to name a jellyfish.

The onions' existence in most dishes is completely uncalled for and you know it.

Why wouldn't it?
But I'm not going to change the names even if you hate them.

We've debated this enough times that it would be a waste to repeat myself. I'm holding my position that oatmeal is much worse.

Because it seems like a small enough matter that you wouldn't need to.

I had a feeling you would say that.

Oatmeal is delicious but I will respect your disgust.

It is a small matter. Do you not want me to consider your view next time I'm naming something?

I appreciate it.

I hadn't meant to imply as such if that's how you took it.

I know what you meant.
But I can not consider your opinion the first one I seek out. Take off some pressure. Since it wouldn't be one-sided anymore.

You just couldn't let that opportunity pass, could you? You had to

[ He paused, taking an extra moment to consider what he'd just been told. He was still angry, sure, but he couldn't ignore the guilt that had begun to rise up in him either. ]

You know what? Say what you want, Ed. I deserve it.

Do you? What you deserve would be easier to determine if I had all the information.

You're right. You deserve honesty. I'll give you the truth, Ed, but it can't be like this. I need to say it to your face. It's the only way you might understand. What I deserve after that I'll leave in your hands.

Very well. Just say when.

As soon as you're able.

I don't want there to be secrets between us anymore.

Now.

Where?

Living room.

Understood. I'll be there.

[ What more was there to say than that? He didn't know. All the weeks he had spent slaving over the right things to say and he still hadn't figured out anything. Was there a right way? Could there ever be? Or was the affection he couldn't extinguish, couldn't hide, the thing that would destroy what they did have? It was just another uncertainty. In that moment the only thing he could be sure of is that secrecy itself wasn't going to be what tore them apart. The thought of what would come after that was perhaps the most frightening thing Oswald had ever faced in his life, but Ed had a right to know. He'd had the right to know from the start.

For a time Oswald had taken to pacing the living area, his nerves increasing with every passing second of wondering where Ed was and what he was thinking. The suspense and torment of waiting was only fair. He'd done it to the person he claimed he loved, hadn't he? Maybe he was too selfish for love. Too... greedy. Eventually he found himself on the couch, face in his hands and a cloud of desperation hanging over him. He was going to ruin everything and Ed would hate him forever and he couldn't do a damned thing to stop what was coming. Why why why had he not been honest sooner? ]

[ Ed keeps him waiting for at least five minutes. Intentionally. Truth be told, he was already in the room and simply backed out when he told him to meet him there. Just to see what he'd do. How he's reacting. If Ed can guess what it is that's driving Oswald to hold it to himself so deeply before he goes in there and tries to provoke it out of him.

He's off to the side, in the doorway. Craning his neck to look at him from the hall. A little out of sight but not really. If Oswald really looked, he'd see him.

The pacing is a sign of increasing nerves. Oswald thinks Ed will hate him for, he deduces. Guilty but he doesn't know of what. He can't think of anything he did wrong towards him. When he sinks down on the couch, he moves ahead into the room. He looks so sad and he doesn't want to see it. ]

Oswald. [ He doesn't know if he should even be mad or not. Oswald seems to think he's justified on it but Oswald also thought he had to rig an entire election because he doesn't know what people are thinking about him. Ed decides he's just mad about being favored second for things.

His expression probably comes off a little cold that way, calculating. Eyes flickering about Oswald's face to try and notice any subtle change in emotion and trying to get into his head and solve it before he says anything. ]

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