Checking up with curly man {for Joel, Spencer}

[bachjones]

 It had hurt Bach, the things Joel had said, but drunks always spoke ugly truths and he simply wasn't good with women when there was no sex involved anyway.
He was pretty sure Joel was a friend and the man was nice. And nice people didn't deserve hangovers.

So here he was, in front of Joel's store, a fried egg bagel and a few aspirin in a cheap plastic bag his only company.

Comments

[doublethepain]

He blinks in surprise at that, mostly because the man hadn't really been doing anything worth being thrown out and over; but it seems that he and Joel have a history Spencer is very much unaware of so he pushes past that and shakes his head at the question.

"No, I-- He's-- We--" He's suddenly tongue-tied, suddenly realizing that it's probably quite inappropriate to make reference to his and Joel's personal lives to a customer who isn't even asking in the first place. "He stills runs the store on his own, I'm just... visiting." It's not a lie.

[bachjones]

Stuttering? From a grown man?

Bach gives him a more thorough look. "Just visiting? So early, already? You must really love books, man. The only reason I am here already is that I can't sleep and thought Joel needed breakfast."

[doublethepain]

That gives Spencer pause, and he lowers his eyes to the floor as he chews on his bottom lip. He trusts Joel more than anyone, knows that Joel would never do anything to hurt him, but he also knows well enough that people don't usually just bring others breakfast. Granted, his only experience with someone bringing him food--other than Emily and Cosette, of course--has been Joel so perhaps he's not the best judge after all.

"Er, yes, I suppose you could say that. I work at the library, actually, so books are something of a passion." His eyes shift to Joel with his customer again before snapping back to the other man, or at least to the shelf of books just behind the other man. "It was kind of you to bring him breakfast."

[bachjones]

"'Oooh, no wonder I don't recognize you!"

Bach may have lost picking up on everyone's rhythms, but that doesn't mean he's blind for any body language right now. The only question now is: Is Bach the problem, or Bach's proximity to Joel?

"He's cool. He really is. A bit soft and gushy about his boyfriend when he's drunk, but some people just do that. It's nice to see a clean love like that in the world."

[doublethepain]

That's a fair conclusion, to be honest. Spencer doesn't go all too many places--it's home, the library, or the Cove Cafe and now, Joel's store--and it seems like the last one is the only one they have in common.

He doesn't quite know how to respond to what Bach has to say about Joel's drunken gushing, though, and he'd smile about it if he didn't know for sure that the last time Joel had been drunk had been a few weeks ago, after what had happened at the lighthouse. He knows this because they've spent every night together since and neither have them have been drunk in that time--save for a bit of a buzz at the wine fesitval.

"Is that so?" he settles on asking "You're right, though, he is... cool. A good man." The best he's known since his brother, to be honest.

[bachjones]

"It is." He tries another shot. "Very protective of him, I wasn't even allowed to go visit him to check if he was worth Joel's time."

Joel's eyes are digging into his back but surely he wouldn't mind and if it was just a random guy he was pestering, he would allow Joel to throw him out in a minute. "..You know him, the guy?"

[doublethepain]

Spencer isn't sure whether the man has guessed or had already known exactly who he is and is giving him a hard time or is genuinely just speaking his mind. Either way, it brings a flush to his cheeks that he can feel spreading down to his neck, and he has to clear his throat before answering.

"Know him? Yes, I know him. I can't speak as to whether you'd find him worth Joel's time or not, though."

[bachjones]

Bach gives him a playful shove because damn these shy awkward love birds are being adorable as fuck and it seems that he's been turning into a woman lately.

"Sorry man", he laughs. "Just playing with ye, just playing. I'm deaf now but you two are going together like the end rhymes of a chorus. And no customer comes by this early, the only reason why I almost mistook you for one because you looked to fresh and clean."

[doublethepain]

Spencer ends up nearly falling over because he's so stunned by the shove, and he instinctually reaches up with his good hand to rub at his shoulder even as he huffs out a surprised laugh.

"Right. Well, to be fair, you're here. Bearing gifts of food, no less. In any case, I'm Spencer. Although, you already seem to know who I am so I suppose I should learn who you are."

[bachjones]

"Oh man, your hand! That was from the white knight shitty villain thing, right? Fuck, I'm such an ass. I'll bring you a bagel next time as well. And some cinnamon rolls on top. Do you like fried egg? Do you eat eggs? Because you look a bit ..vegetarian?"

Bach pulls back his hair and tries to laugh at himself. "I'm such a dick. But maybe calling me Bach is more socially appropriate."

[doublethepain]

The white knight shitty villain thing. The man, Bach, is all over the place and it makes Spencer's head spin but he finds that he doesn't mind. He's gotten far too many pitying looks and people attempting to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder--which he hates, for the record--in the past few weeks so Bach's succinct summary of the incident with Mark and the lighthouse makes Spencer smile, albeit wryly.

"Yes, from that exactly. It's getting better." He holds up his left hand, sighing at the sight of his three fingers still in splints but at least the cast has been removed. "I do eat eggs and am not a vegetarian. Is it the cardigan? Does it scream vegetarian?"

He shakes his head in protest when Bach calls himself a dick. "No, it's fine. You're not a dick. It's a pleasure to meet you, Bach."

[bachjones]

"Not having all of your fingers is horrible. I mean, I'm not a musician any more, but I think everyone can understand how handy ten fingers are when you lose a few. Temporary or not. We need them."

He hums, tilts his head from side to side to give him a little time to form his thoughts into a nicer reply. "I don't know. You look like eh ..animal-friendly? You know, the kind that can do a soliloquy" - he got that fancy word from that one experimental girl that wanted him to write a soundtrack to Shakespeare's work - "about animal rights and how we're killing nature. More than the cardigan. The cardigan is just moth-attractive."

Maybe he should have spent a bit more time on that reply. "Thanks, man. If Joel likes you, I don't see why I shouldn't."

[doublethepain]

He appreciates Bach's kindness, even if it's out of loyalty to Joel, and he ducks his head to hide his broadening smile. "No animals rights soliloquies, I'm afraid. I would love to give them if I thought I could but the mere thought of delivering a speech to a large crowd of people..." It makes him shudder and he figures that's as much evidence as Bach really needs.

"I'd have to agree about needing fingers, though. It's remarkable, there's twenty-seven bones in a human hand and all it takes is one fractured finger to wreck everything." He's got three and while the doctors are optimistic that he'll heal just fine, Spencer still sometimes fears that maybe they've missed something.

He doesn't want to think about that, though,so he latches on to something else Bach had mentioned. "You're not a musician anymore, you said? What did you used to play?"

[bachjones]

"I'm really showing my people skills here right now, aren't I?" Bach licks his lips, only slightly phasing out when it comes to the anatomy class moment.

"Crowds are okay. I worry more about someone coming for you just for you. And the music ..", he waves it away. "I'm not writing or making it any more. Still have to get used to it. But anything with a snare I could get my hands on. I was saving for a harp. A cello. The big ones, that carry stories in their wood."

[doublethepain]

"You believe yourself worse than you really are," Spencer tells him. He's hard on himself, too, when it comes to talking to strangers. He tends to fidget when he's uncomfortable--shifting from foot to foot, crossing his arms over his chest, rubbing at the back of his neck, anything to remind himself that he's still capable of moving--but he's got the mug in his hand right now so it's not as difficult to make it seem like he's at ease.

He is, actually, he realizes with a bit of a start. He's a bit jittery from meeting Bach, meeting someone who doesn't already know both him and Joel, and maybe it's having Joel just a few feet away but Spencer is doing all right. At least, he hopes he is.

"I've already had someone come just for me," he says, eyes flickering downward before meeting Bach's again. "I'd rather that not happen again, believe it or not. But I like that, 'the ones that carry stories in their wood.' You still sound passionate about it, why did you stop?"

[bachjones]

"It's an easy habit to keep, right? Just see yourself as the worst basis and forget about all the other maybe positive ideas people are stacking on that. I'm the worst music piece, if you could read notes. Can you read notes? Do you read other languages as well, being librarian and stuff?"

Maybe the guy's not that bad. A bit ..like a hare, maybe. Ready to run, but maybe he's got a reason for that. "Sickness", Bach shrugs. "I hope I can find a cure before I kill myself over it."

[doublethepain]

Spencer hasn't ever necessarily seen himself as the worst kind of person, he's not even particularly insecure most of the time; it's more that in times like these, when he's speaking to someone he doesn't know, he ends up second-guessing himself; over-thinking things; convincing himself that he's socializing all wrong, and it becomes frustrating enough that he doesn't want to try again. It's a vicious cycle that's only recently been broken and a big part of that has been because of Joel. "On the other hand, sometimes it's nice to believe that there are people out there who think you're more than the scum of the earth."

"Well, I'm not sure that knowing other languages is directly correlated with being a librarian," he says, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement, "but yes, I took Latin and Spanish in high school. I'm working on French and Italian right now, as well, I have this app on my phone that's quite helpful. As for the notes, I can read notes and I did play the piano but I fell out of the habit. Some of the most brilliant musicians are the ones who can improvise, though."

He has a great admiration for people who are skilled with instruments. He'd learned how to play, yes, but he wouldn't say he was especially good at it, nor did he have the inspiring passion that he'd seen in others his age. The mention of a cure for a sickness makes him arch an eyebrow, though, and he tilts his head in morbid curiosity. "You're ill? I'm sorry to hear that, what-- I mean, may I ask what your condition is?"

[bachjones]

"That's a weird idea though. Probably comes with the optimistic lifestyle." He grins. "My mother used to say that was only for rich people and dumb people. But you're a librarian, so I guess you fail with both categories. Right? Or should I get into libraries to make money?"

"Holy shit. That's ..they teach Latin and Spanish in high school? Huh. I knew I missed more than bullshit about dead presidents. You have language books in your library? Or like ..music tapes so I can learn from them? Don't have anything better to do now anyway .."

Bach licks his lips, unsure how to explain it in a possibly sane sounding matter. "Eh. I think my organs are dying off. And my senses. Like that."

[doublethepain]

Spencer isn't rich but he isn't struggling. He'd been left a considerable sum of money after his mother's passing and there had also been that awful life insurance check he'd received in the mail that he'd immediately put into a separate account at the bank and hasn't looked at since. It's not as though he goes anywhere often so he doesn't spend much money and he certain can't complain about his pay, but he's not a Coombs or a Thornton or an Abasi.

"Er, I think if you're looking to actually fall under the 'rich' category, you might look elsewhere than the library. And yes, actually, we do have all those things there. I'm back at work part-time now, if you ever need help. I can get you set up with a library card, show you around, that sort of thing."

He blinks at the explanation, not entirely sure what to make of it. "You're speaking... medically?" Spencer doesn't want to outright ask if it's to do with the curse on the town, with witches and sirens and whatever comes in between because he knows how much Joel values his own privacy and Spencer won't betray that if he can help it.

[bachjones]

"Thought so. You need a card to get into the library? Is it like a security thing?" Bach has never worried about showing his dumb ass. "Or how does that work? Do I have to pay for it?"

"Eh." He scratches his temples. "I think so? Stuff is just fading away right now, and the people who are supposed to know about such things only say that I'm blocked up. Which sounds like a good big bathroom break would help, but nah, it doesn't."

[doublethepain]

He shakes his head, a bit surprised that Bach doesn't seem remotely familiar with how the library works, but he's practiced in patience so it's not as if it's a problem. "It's not for getting into the library," he explains, "it's more for tracking purposes. You can get one with a $5... well, we call it a donation but a more apt name for it would be a membership fee. It's good for life, though, and when you want to borrow a book, you just give your friendly neighborhood librarian--that would be me--your card and we scan it into the system. That way, we know what day you took the book and when you're supposed to bring it back. You can borrow as many as you want, whenever you want, but there are fines if you return them late or not at all."

He foregoes further explanation in favor of focusing his attention on Bach's condition and sets his mug aside on a nearby table so he can bring his hand up to scratch at the light stubble prickling his jawline. "Fading away. Well, I can't say I'm an expert in such things but this town is always full of surprises. Maybe you'll find a book in our Rare Texts section that will help you, you never know."

[bachjones]

"Five dollars. Okay. I think I can do that. I saw a thing about free cinnamon rolls soon, that could be food for a while .. You have a lot of library customers? Learning language? Because I don't wait for anything, I'm really impatient. And how long can you keep the books before having to bring them back?"

He pushes a laugh back down. "A book is going to help me. Is that Rare Texts section the place for Kama Sutra stuff else well?"

[doublethepain]

He doesn't think Bach's looking for pity, not that Spencer is often inclined to give it simply because he hates it so much when it's directed toward himself, but the comment about free cinnamon rolls being good for food and can't help but apply that knowledge to what's still working in the back of his mind. Bach had brought Joel food today and what must that mean? By all logical standpoints, by the way Bach had described himself as protective of Joel, it seems to Spencer that Bach has more than just a casual interest in their favorite bookshop owner.

He files that away to think on later, though, because he wants to be able to help the other man understand how the library works more than he cares to make connections in his mind that may or may not even be valid in the first place. He answers the questions shot off one by one, and he's glad to have something else to to focus on rather than his own nagging and unwelcome bit of insecurity.

"Quite a bit in general but not all too many specifically coming in to learn new languages. If you mean having to wait for the books themselves then I think you'll be okay. What language are you looking to learn? You can keep them for two weeks but you can always re-borrow them, the rule is more to keep track of inventory."

The flush threatens to return at the mention of Kama Sutra but Spencer clears his throat, rubbing at the back of his neck and shooting another glance Joel's way to see whether his boyfriend is done with his customer yet. He isn't. "As a matter of fact, yes, we do have books that pertain to, er, that."

[bachjones]

"Spanish. Definitely Spanish. I don't know why but it sounds amazing and it has a lot of emotion stacked between the lines. Or that's how it sounds like, at least."

"Just two weeks? I don't read that fast." When was the last time he even read things?
His stomach growls, and he covers it with a hand. "Sorry, man. Less women willing to cook for me, these days. Money and sex really do make the world go around. How often do you find dirty things in those kind of books?"

[doublethepain]

"I could help you, in that case." He surprises himself a bit by offering, he doesn't usually volunteer his services for people he doesn't know very well; but this is a friend of Joel's, and Spencer wants to make an effort to get to know him even if their conversation so far has taken a bit of a strange turn. "Two weeks but you can borrow it again, you just need to stop by the library so we can enter it into our system."

He raises an eyebrow at Bach's next comment and shifts uncomfortably, skipping right over the question about what he finds in the books because he doesn't often look at the in the first place. "You could cook for yourself," he suggests carefully. "It's not as if it's exclusively a woman's job, after all. I'm not very good at it myself but I've found that microwavable ramen bowls tend to come in quite handy here and there."