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So far, his English adventure wasn't panning out that differently from what he had imagined it would be. Sure, there were some unrealistic dreams of sweeping some rich lady - or gentleman for that matter - off their feet with his boyish good looks and Irish charm, but while Ed liked being a dreamer, he also happened to be a realist.
He hadn't been here for long yet. It hadn't been that easy to get a place, because while he could make a valiant effort of hiding the accent a little if he wanted to, he didn't really want to. Anyway, people always asked. Still, he had managed to get a room from a landlady by being as charming as possible and promising no trouble and no bringing home of women. He'd have to pay for it though, so after his first few interviews went less than great, he took his guitar and found himself a reasonably busy street to busk on.
Turned out that the charm and the good looks worked a lot faster there than they seemed to in job interviews and room hunting, so while he played his tunes and sung along, he was actually getting a decent amount.
He was near finishing one song when he heard a horse approach, so he stopped and moved to the side a little, leaning his head back and watching. Beautiful horse, as far as he could tell. He wasn't really an export, but it looked pretty.
"She's a beaut!" He called out to the rider, whose face was hard to make out properly from that angle and with that cap on. "Does she like music?"
He hadn't been here for long yet. It hadn't been that easy to get a place, because while he could make a valiant effort of hiding the accent a little if he wanted to, he didn't really want to. Anyway, people always asked. Still, he had managed to get a room from a landlady by being as charming as possible and promising no trouble and no bringing home of women. He'd have to pay for it though, so after his first few interviews went less than great, he took his guitar and found himself a reasonably busy street to busk on.
Turned out that the charm and the good looks worked a lot faster there than they seemed to in job interviews and room hunting, so while he played his tunes and sung along, he was actually getting a decent amount.
He was near finishing one song when he heard a horse approach, so he stopped and moved to the side a little, leaning his head back and watching. Beautiful horse, as far as he could tell. He wasn't really an export, but it looked pretty.
"She's a beaut!" He called out to the rider, whose face was hard to make out properly from that angle and with that cap on. "Does she like music?"
Jon didn't often ride his horses through the streets for obvious reasons but today he had been showing her off to some potential buyers and it seemed stupid to arrange any other way. With dad gone, it was up to him to provide and he had plans. He had three horses, two were absolute beauties with speed the likes of which had never been seen and one was a wee little foal that Axel could ride if he held on tight. Maybe not all money makers but they were good enough to show around and find buys for.
If he made enough by the end of the week, he could afford some good food for once, instead of cans, and maybe have enough to start having savings. They needed savings, they had no steady income.
Jon slowed the horse down at the musicians question and tugged the reins so she slowed. Turning his head, he lifted his cap back a little so he could see the bloke. Irish. Huh. Not many of those here.
"She's not a big fan of that modern stuff, I'm afraid. She's more a folky type." Jonathan informed him as he stroked the horse to keep her relaxed. "She probably don't like that Dublin twang, sunshine."
If he made enough by the end of the week, he could afford some good food for once, instead of cans, and maybe have enough to start having savings. They needed savings, they had no steady income.
Jon slowed the horse down at the musicians question and tugged the reins so she slowed. Turning his head, he lifted his cap back a little so he could see the bloke. Irish. Huh. Not many of those here.
"She's not a big fan of that modern stuff, I'm afraid. She's more a folky type." Jonathan informed him as he stroked the horse to keep her relaxed. "She probably don't like that Dublin twang, sunshine."
"That's awfully discerning of her. More used to the dulcet lilt of her owner, is she? I could muster up a folksy tune or two for someone with such distinguished tastes." Ed took it in good humour, honestly happy to have encountered a fellow Irish person. Really much less of a sting in being called a Dubliner than the actual slurs he'd heard a lot since coming here. "Where are you two off to? Just enjoying a nice stroll?"
He wondered why someone would ride a horse through here. Although now that he'd identified the man as likely being an Irish traveller, it made it a little easier to make an educated guess.
He wondered why someone would ride a horse through here. Although now that he'd identified the man as likely being an Irish traveller, it made it a little easier to make an educated guess.
"I'm hoping to get home before it gets dark." Jonathan admitted, not sure why he was still talking to a city boy like this but he figured he ought to be nice. It was a tough time for their lot and his dad had always told him to look out for his own. And Holden argued recently that 'their own' included all of Ireland for some bloody reason. Bloody bleeding heart liberals.
"Me and the old girl are knackered. We're gonna celebrate a good day with some whiskey back at mine." While he was sitting idle, he pulled out his cigarettes and put one in his mouth. "Nice strolls are for the lucky sods, I've been on my feet since 5am."
"Me and the old girl are knackered. We're gonna celebrate a good day with some whiskey back at mine." While he was sitting idle, he pulled out his cigarettes and put one in his mouth. "Nice strolls are for the lucky sods, I've been on my feet since 5am."
"Ah, the best way to celebrate." Whiskey sounded damn good. Ed glanced into his case briefly to confirm that, no, he'd not be celebrating tonight. He'd be lucky if he did scrape up enough to give his new landlady the good faith money she'd asked for. Shame, he'd have loved a drink or two.
"5am? Hardworking pair, the two of you." He let out a low whistle, grinning when the horse reacted to it. He held his palm up to gently press against her nose, wanting to calm her a little. "I'm Ed. It's nice meeting you two. Nice hearing your voice."
"5am? Hardworking pair, the two of you." He let out a low whistle, grinning when the horse reacted to it. He held his palm up to gently press against her nose, wanting to calm her a little. "I'm Ed. It's nice meeting you two. Nice hearing your voice."
"I'm Jon, nice to meet you." Jonathan didn't offer a hand because he wasn't used to doing that with outsiders. They never really wanted to take his hand. "The girl you're stroking is Midsummer. She's not easily scared, she's just sensitive to commands." Edward was brave, he'd give him that, most city folks were scared of horses. Afraid they might bite or kick. Not his girl.
"You making good money with the likes of this?" Jonathan asked as he nodded his head towards the guitar case. "I thought it was only us bogmen struggling to find a career. They don't like the Dublin sort for jobs neither? Christ, what luck do the rest of us have?"
"You making good money with the likes of this?" Jonathan asked as he nodded his head towards the guitar case. "I thought it was only us bogmen struggling to find a career. They don't like the Dublin sort for jobs neither? Christ, what luck do the rest of us have?"
Edited 2024-01-10 19:48 (UTC)
"Luck of the Irish," Ed said, with more than a small trace of irony. He looked at the horse, nodding his head. "That's a beautiful name. Fitting." She was a beautiful horse and clearly very well behaved.
He glanced at the money he'd made so far and shrugged. "You be the judge of how good the money I'm making is. Better than nothing, I reckon. I'm more suited for work on the street than in an office, you see."
He'd certainly been told as much today. Repeatedly. "Fuck 'em, eh? They have to pay us, don't they? Because they can't resist a beautiful girl like Midsummer and they ain't resisting my voice either." He winked and stepped back, moving his guitar back around. "Hope to see you around, Jon. Damn."
He tilted his head a little, getting a better look now with standing further away and with Jon's cap pushed back a little. "We are a handsome lot, ain't we? No wonder they feel threatened."
He glanced at the money he'd made so far and shrugged. "You be the judge of how good the money I'm making is. Better than nothing, I reckon. I'm more suited for work on the street than in an office, you see."
He'd certainly been told as much today. Repeatedly. "Fuck 'em, eh? They have to pay us, don't they? Because they can't resist a beautiful girl like Midsummer and they ain't resisting my voice either." He winked and stepped back, moving his guitar back around. "Hope to see you around, Jon. Damn."
He tilted his head a little, getting a better look now with standing further away and with Jon's cap pushed back a little. "We are a handsome lot, ain't we? No wonder they feel threatened."
"I reckon we are, yeah."
Jonathan lit up his cigarette and inhaled deeply as he considered what to even say or think on that one. Most lads, when they made those jokes, they said them in a different way but Edward was slanting in a direction that felt off. Maybe it was how he smiled or his body language but it was a red flag. Not that Jonathan minded a red flag but he looked at him for a while and then he nodded. "Luck of the Irish. As you say."
With a cigarette hanging from his mouth, he looked back at Edward, as if he was trying to get a read on him. "They'll always feel threatened on the unknown. That's part of the fun."
Jonathan lit up his cigarette and inhaled deeply as he considered what to even say or think on that one. Most lads, when they made those jokes, they said them in a different way but Edward was slanting in a direction that felt off. Maybe it was how he smiled or his body language but it was a red flag. Not that Jonathan minded a red flag but he looked at him for a while and then he nodded. "Luck of the Irish. As you say."
With a cigarette hanging from his mouth, he looked back at Edward, as if he was trying to get a read on him. "They'll always feel threatened on the unknown. That's part of the fun."
That was interesting. Not an immediate rebuttal of some kind, something to joke about it or - not that unlikely - lash out by calling him a queer. Not enough to draw any conclusions yet, but enough to have him smile a little more. Or at least smile a little differently. He strummed on his guitar, but without much intent. His eyes were on Jon. So much more to figure out now.
"I don't mind being a bit of a threat. There's a thrill to it, ain't there?" Certainly not how it had usually gone in his life. Skinny poor boy, he'd been more of a victim than a threat. He supposed that would have been different for a traveller like Jon living here. "Personally, I can never wait to go into the unknown. Some look for trouble." He shrugged. He certainly did.
"I don't mind being a bit of a threat. There's a thrill to it, ain't there?" Certainly not how it had usually gone in his life. Skinny poor boy, he'd been more of a victim than a threat. He supposed that would have been different for a traveller like Jon living here. "Personally, I can never wait to go into the unknown. Some look for trouble." He shrugged. He certainly did.
"You'll find it here. We got the Tories bearing down on us, the cops oppressing us, AIDS lurking and the IRAs has a local chapter. So if you were hoping to dodge 'em, they're here." Jonathan explained as he looked around for a moment because even talking about the IRA was a problem. Everyone had feelings on it but the English screamed terrorist if he talked too loud.
"I ain't got nought to do with God, myself." That was his way of subtly stating he had no stakes in the IRA and if this Ed fella was protestant, he wasn't about the beat the shit out of him. He was a catholic, sure, but he didn't believe.
"I ain't got nought to do with God, myself." That was his way of subtly stating he had no stakes in the IRA and if this Ed fella was protestant, he wasn't about the beat the shit out of him. He was a catholic, sure, but he didn't believe.
"Yea, I doubt God's ever given a damn about me, so I'm returning the favour." He saw very little reason to believe in someone who stuck him with his father for that many years. Nothing about that making him very devout. Now, the IRA...
Not at the moment, no. He was hoping to try and make an honest living. Still, he could see some of the points they were making. Who didn't? "The only thing that would bring me to my knees is love," he stated, then, with a cheeky grin, he added, "Or maybe an especially handsome lass."
He glanced around briefly, much like Jon had done, before continuing. "Or pretty lad."
Not at the moment, no. He was hoping to try and make an honest living. Still, he could see some of the points they were making. Who didn't? "The only thing that would bring me to my knees is love," he stated, then, with a cheeky grin, he added, "Or maybe an especially handsome lass."
He glanced around briefly, much like Jon had done, before continuing. "Or pretty lad."
When he said lass, Jonathan was ready to take it as him reading into things. He did that, he knew he did that - what gay man didn't. But the lad was all he needed to hear to know that his instincts were correct. He had trouble with his lot, they'd never accept it in him and he represented too much of the community to ever be 'out'. It was that denial that made it appealing, almost taboo. The urge to act on it even now was there.
"You gonna play here all week?"
Jonathan asked it for small talk. Or so he told himself. He couldn't today, he wouldn't. Temptation was stupid to give into so easily but he could talk. Why not?
"You gonna play here all week?"
Jonathan asked it for small talk. Or so he told himself. He couldn't today, he wouldn't. Temptation was stupid to give into so easily but he could talk. Why not?
"If it keeps going this well, why wouldn't I?" Damn. Yeah, that was going a lot better than he'd have expected. Sure, it wasn't quite being pulled on the back of Jon's horse to ride off into the sunset, but given circumstances? Close enough. "I'll be here tomorrow. Around the same time, is reckon."
Or at least he'd make damn sure of it now. "Have a nice evening, Jon. Nice dreams too. Slán go fóill."
Or at least he'd make damn sure of it now. "Have a nice evening, Jon. Nice dreams too. Slán go fóill."
Jonathan arrived back home later than he wanted to, the sun had set as he arrived but their was a fire going, candles lit and he could mostly see where he was going. Mostly. He had brought himself a torch from the local offy a couple of weeks back so he could ride down the country lanes and see where the hell he was going.
He tied up the horse as soon as he got back and left her in the makeshift stalls before he headed passed some of the locals. He said hi, he was nice and polite but he wasn't really in the mood to talk to people. He didn't like people. He didn't want to be social. He wanted to be alone but he didn't get the option. Dad left him in charge before he fucked off and for some reason, people took it seriously.
Walking up the steps of the caravan, he walked in to see Holden and Axel reading together by candle light, like good lads, and Alfie was in the kitchen doing God knows what.
Jonathan didn't say anything, he just flopped onto the nearest bed. Fucking hell, what a day.
He tied up the horse as soon as he got back and left her in the makeshift stalls before he headed passed some of the locals. He said hi, he was nice and polite but he wasn't really in the mood to talk to people. He didn't like people. He didn't want to be social. He wanted to be alone but he didn't get the option. Dad left him in charge before he fucked off and for some reason, people took it seriously.
Walking up the steps of the caravan, he walked in to see Holden and Axel reading together by candle light, like good lads, and Alfie was in the kitchen doing God knows what.
Jonathan didn't say anything, he just flopped onto the nearest bed. Fucking hell, what a day.
"Long day, Jonny?" Alfie called out to him and then, a minute or so later, he sat down on the bed near his feet, passing him a bottle. "There you go, mate. Buck up."
He glanced over at Holden and Axel, making sure they were still doing fine. Thankfully they tended to handle themselves pretty all right. "There's some beans left on the stove, if you fancy. I cooked for my lads, didn't I?! Holden!"
Holden looked up and then simply nodded. "Yea, he did. Beans." Not much else to say on that.
He glanced over at Holden and Axel, making sure they were still doing fine. Thankfully they tended to handle themselves pretty all right. "There's some beans left on the stove, if you fancy. I cooked for my lads, didn't I?! Holden!"
Holden looked up and then simply nodded. "Yea, he did. Beans." Not much else to say on that.
"I walked from one sodding end of this city to another to meet those idiots and they fucking changed the pub to have a laugh at me." They apparently found it funny to make the pikey walk across the city and back. Jonathan was seething but what else could he do? "They didn't laugh when they saw the horse. They'd buy her. For 1800."
A good price but Jonathan wasn't sure if he wanted to sell to them or not. He supposed he had to but he didn't think those idiots knew how to handle a horse.
"Did you just make beans? Did you at least put it on some toast?"
A good price but Jonathan wasn't sure if he wanted to sell to them or not. He supposed he had to but he didn't think those idiots knew how to handle a horse.
"Did you just make beans? Did you at least put it on some toast?"
"Holden did the toast. He's a good lad. Respects his elders and doesn't talk like a little shit." He lightly hit the back of Jon's head, but obviously didn't mean much by it. Felt bad to see him so tired. Made him angry at the bastards, but what else was new? "You wanna hold out for a better price? She's a future champ, that one. You said so."
Jon was the one with the eye for horses, Alfie trusted his instincts. "If you don't like them, don't sell her. I'll win the fight this Friday, that will have us sitting nicely."
For a few days, anyway.
Jon was the one with the eye for horses, Alfie trusted his instincts. "If you don't like them, don't sell her. I'll win the fight this Friday, that will have us sitting nicely."
For a few days, anyway.
"We just really have to think about what's the best move right now, that's all. If you think you can win, maybe we can hold off. I don't like 'em and I think she'd be wasted there. She needs a proper sort that understands how to best train her." And sure, they had jockeys but if they worked under guys like that, how did he trust them to be responsible.
"I'm going back into the city tomorrow. I'll see if I can find another buyer, might be able to drum up interest."
Jonathan rolled over and looked across at Axel and Holden. "You have a good day, boys? Learning lots of smart things?"
Axel nodded his head, kicking his legs back and forth. "I learned to punch. Alfie showed me." Ah. So no smart things.
"I'm going back into the city tomorrow. I'll see if I can find another buyer, might be able to drum up interest."
Jonathan rolled over and looked across at Axel and Holden. "You have a good day, boys? Learning lots of smart things?"
Axel nodded his head, kicking his legs back and forth. "I learned to punch. Alfie showed me." Ah. So no smart things.
"Axel did a book report. He's finished reading his book." Holden was prouder of that than the punching, although he understood why that was the highlight for Axel. A lot more fun, after all. "Ax, you can give your report to Jon when Jon's not so tired." Holden was worried for his brother, he looked pretty exhausted. "Do you want beans on toast?"
"Holden can't take a punch," Alfie felt that was maybe worth noting, "We gotta toughen that lad up or he'll be beat on every day of his life."
He was just looking out for his brothers. "Anyway, of course I can win. I'm the best! I'll stay sober and everything." He celebrated that decision by taking a swig from the bottle, then he grinned at Axel. "Do you wanna show Jonny your punch, Axel?"
"Holden can't take a punch," Alfie felt that was maybe worth noting, "We gotta toughen that lad up or he'll be beat on every day of his life."
He was just looking out for his brothers. "Anyway, of course I can win. I'm the best! I'll stay sober and everything." He celebrated that decision by taking a swig from the bottle, then he grinned at Axel. "Do you wanna show Jonny your punch, Axel?"
Jonathan willed himself up and pushed himself off the bed and into a sitting position so he was by Alfie. "I'll eat later, it's fine. You can show me your book report, Ax. Then you can punch your stupid brother." Jonathan felt education came before Alfie needing a punch. Alas.
Axel took his paper and came over to Jonathan, holding it out shyly. Jonathan couldn't make sense of a lot of it but his boy had his lettering improving and his spelling looked better too. Jonathan couldn't judge him, he wasn't the best either. He was self taught, after all. "And you read the whole book yourself?"
"Holden helped. It was about a cat and it was really funny." Axel hoped he did a good job.
"You did good, huh? Real good. You proud of it?" Axel nodded. "Good, you should be. Wanna punch Alfie?" Axel nodded again. "Go for it."
Axel took his paper and came over to Jonathan, holding it out shyly. Jonathan couldn't make sense of a lot of it but his boy had his lettering improving and his spelling looked better too. Jonathan couldn't judge him, he wasn't the best either. He was self taught, after all. "And you read the whole book yourself?"
"Holden helped. It was about a cat and it was really funny." Axel hoped he did a good job.
"You did good, huh? Real good. You proud of it?" Axel nodded. "Good, you should be. Wanna punch Alfie?" Axel nodded again. "Go for it."
"Axel's real good at reading," Holden said encouragingly, as he walked over to sit by his brothers. Or by his brother, at least, because Alfie was now standing up, crouching down and awaiting Axel's punch. He stumbled backwards dramatically, falling onto the floor.
"Knockout! Wow, Axel's the new champion!" Alfie reached out to wrap an arm around Axel and pull him down so he could cuddle him, only to end up tickling him as well. He liked playing with the kids, he always love that part. A lot less responsibility.
"Knockout! Wow, Axel's the new champion!" Alfie reached out to wrap an arm around Axel and pull him down so he could cuddle him, only to end up tickling him as well. He liked playing with the kids, he always love that part. A lot less responsibility.
"Damn good, Axel. You keep working on that swing, yeah?" Axel was giggling loudly as Alfie tickled him, wriggling and squirming until he was free. Jonathan watched the two and then idly turned to Holden, talking quietly to him. "I think Axel might get to do ballet if we convince Alfie it's for boxing."
It could be a funny way to work around Alfie's blanket ban of Axel learning to dance. Even if Axel danced all the time on his own anyway. He pulled out a cigarette and his lighter, looking at Holden. "What did you do today?"
It could be a funny way to work around Alfie's blanket ban of Axel learning to dance. Even if Axel danced all the time on his own anyway. He pulled out a cigarette and his lighter, looking at Holden. "What did you do today?"
"He thinks Axel would be a good fighter." Which Holden had mixed feelings over. A bit of envy, because their big brother had never said that about him and mostly a lot of worry. Fighting was so... stupid, really. He never liked it, he didn't want his Axel doing it. "I'll tell him that's why Axel needs to dance."
Seemed like a good idea. He looked at Jon and shrugged. "I didn't do so much, I just hung out with Axel and I did homework." He hadn't been able to go to school today, not with Axel in his care. "Did you have any fun or was it all just rubbish, with those stupid bastards?"
Seemed like a good idea. He looked at Jon and shrugged. "I didn't do so much, I just hung out with Axel and I did homework." He hadn't been able to go to school today, not with Axel in his care. "Did you have any fun or was it all just rubbish, with those stupid bastards?"
"Alfie has been saying everyone would be a good fight. He's just mad I ain't a boxer and you ain't neither. He's had almost 20 years on this earth and all he cares about is fighting and fucking." And Jonathan didn't blame him. It seemed like it would be fun to be that simple in wants. Jonathan wanted way too much from life, too many complicated things - he wished he was able to turn his brain off.
Even now, he was kicking himself for not just taking Dublin boy off with him and fucking him in the fields near their home.
He was an idiot. "I didn't have fun but it was alright. Just tedious, you know? So many people, so many pointless conversations." If he was getting anything done, he would need some uppers tomorrow morning or he was fucked. "We're gonna be fine though. We got a good payday coming."
Even now, he was kicking himself for not just taking Dublin boy off with him and fucking him in the fields near their home.
He was an idiot. "I didn't have fun but it was alright. Just tedious, you know? So many people, so many pointless conversations." If he was getting anything done, he would need some uppers tomorrow morning or he was fucked. "We're gonna be fine though. We got a good payday coming."
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