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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Wherein Ethan and Travis Go Shopping (aka Amy can't figure out an actual title and is pressed for time)
Original Fic: White Pine Series
Pairing: Ethan McDowell/Travis Murphy
Rating: PG-13 for some suggestiveness
Word Count: 1,030
Warnings: None
Short Summary: A birthday fic for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
haldoor. Also, just one more reason to drag my boys out shopping.
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another which also states that this has already happened.
-- Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
“Hey man,” Travis said, pulling up outside a large, plate glass window. “Let’s go in here.”
Ethan looked in the window and squinted. “Why? We’re looking for a birthday present, not a wedding dress.”
“We are getting married,” he reminded his partner.
“Yes, we are,” Ethan conceded, “but last I checked, neither one of us needed a dress for the occasion.”
Tilting his head, Travis studied his boyfriend. “Hmm, you sure about that? With those pretty green eyes and slim build, I bet you’d look pretty damn hot in a dress.”
“Oh hell no, Murphy. I am not wearing a dress in front of your family.” He held his hands up, palms out, warding off whatever his lover had up his sleeve.
Travis grinned, his blue eyes sparking with mischief. “You won’t even try one on for me?” He batted his long, dark lashes for emphasis.
Looking around to assure no one was within earshot, Ethan shook his head. “You want to get us tossed out of the state, Travis? That kind of thing does not go over well here.”
“You want to take a trip to Vegas then? It’s only a four-hour drive from home. They have no problems with it.” He even knew of a particular clothing store that catered to that sort of thing, as Ethan had put it, among other things that might just scandalize his rather straight-laced boyfriend.
He chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before responding. “A long weekend would be nice,” he admitted, “but there’s still no way you’ll ever get me in a dress, Travis.”
“Okay,” he said, shrugging. “Does that mean I can’t try one on?”
“Not here you can’t!” Ethan scrubbed the palms of his hands against his face. “Why would you even say that,” he muttered through his fingers.
“To get your goat, why else?” Travis reached up and pried Ethan’s fingers from his face. “This is the problem with cops. They take everything way too seriously.”
“That’s because we have to, Travis!”
“Not with me you don’t.” He slipped his hand into Ethan’s and tugged him down the sidewalk. “I think there’s an ice cream place down here, isn’t there?”
“There is, but we still need that birthday present, remember? Her birthday is today.”
Travis continued to tug his lover down the sidewalk. “I know, you keep reminding me. There’s also a book store down here, you know, on that specializes in science fiction and fantasy authors.”
Ethan stopped. “Really? I think I know what to get, if they have it anyway.”
“Well, let’s go then! That ice cream will only wait so long,” Travis insisted.
“You are so predictable,” Ethan laughed. “Food and sex are the only two things that matter to you, aren’t they?”
“Nope, books fall in there too,” he corrected.
“Of course they do,” Ethan teased, pushing open the door to the little book shop. “Now let’s see if they have what I’m thinking will be the perfect gift.”
Ethan headed off looking for god only knew what while Travis perused the current fantasy novels on display. He was thumbing through something with a scary looking woman, covered in blood and holding a sword, when Ethan returned, book in hand. “What’s that?”
“The perfect gift,” he said holding it aloft so Travis could see.
It had a bonded leather cover, gilt-edged pages and a crazy little guy in each corner blowing raspberries. “What is it?”
“The More Than Complete Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, collector’s edition. It’s out of print, but they had a used copy. Looks good, doesn’t it?”
Travis took it from him and flipped through the pages. Finding a random page, he read: “’The Universe,’ said Arthur, ‘is big enough and old enough to look after itself for half an hour.’ Okay, so what the hell kind of book is this anyway?”
“A very funny and rather ridiculous one,” Ethan informed him. “Which is why I’m currently dumbfounded that you’ve never heard of it.”
“They got a paperback copy?”
“I don’t know, but I have one at home. Also on my Kindle, too.”
Travis wasn’t sure if Ethan was embarrassed by that admission or not, but it was cute the way his cheeks were reddening. “Hmm, so which will you let me borrow?”
“The Kindle. I’d rather replace it than my ancient hardback copy. Anything you want while we’re here?”
He gave the current releases shelf another look and lifted a book called Severed Souls in the air. “This looks interesting.”
“And it’s also book fourteen in the series. Try this instead.” He handed Travis another book, hefty for a paperback. “It’s alternate history and might force that idle brain of yours to work a little harder than usual.”
“That’s so not fair,” he whined, following Ethan to the cashier. “But maybe just a tiny bit true.”
Ethan grinned over his shoulder. “Only a tiny bit?”
“Shut up.”
He placed both books on the counter in front of the cashier. “And to think I was actually considering that trip to Vegas…”
“Oh no you don’t, don’t you even dare think about changing your mind about that!”
“I never said I’d do it,” he reminded him. “But maybe…”
“Can we discuss it over ice cream? You’re so much easier to convince when you’re distracted by something.”
With an eye roll of epic proportions, Ethan nodded. “Yes, we can, but let’s not take all afternoon. We have a party to attend.”
“Point made. Now, I want some sugar.”
Ethan licked his lips. “That will have to wait until after that party, but I can get you some World Class Chocolate until then.”
Despite himself, Travis laughed. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He opened the door and let Travis exit ahead of him. “Not from you anyway.”
xx
End note: The boys and I couldn’t help ourselves. There will be cake if you’d like to attend your own party. But I promise, no Vogon poetry and plenty of Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters.
Original Fic: White Pine Series
Pairing: Ethan McDowell/Travis Murphy
Rating: PG-13 for some suggestiveness
Word Count: 1,030
Warnings: None
Short Summary: A birthday fic for
haldoor. Also, just one more reason to drag my boys out shopping.There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another which also states that this has already happened.
-- Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
“Hey man,” Travis said, pulling up outside a large, plate glass window. “Let’s go in here.”
Ethan looked in the window and squinted. “Why? We’re looking for a birthday present, not a wedding dress.”
“We are getting married,” he reminded his partner.
“Yes, we are,” Ethan conceded, “but last I checked, neither one of us needed a dress for the occasion.”
Tilting his head, Travis studied his boyfriend. “Hmm, you sure about that? With those pretty green eyes and slim build, I bet you’d look pretty damn hot in a dress.”
“Oh hell no, Murphy. I am not wearing a dress in front of your family.” He held his hands up, palms out, warding off whatever his lover had up his sleeve.
Travis grinned, his blue eyes sparking with mischief. “You won’t even try one on for me?” He batted his long, dark lashes for emphasis.
Looking around to assure no one was within earshot, Ethan shook his head. “You want to get us tossed out of the state, Travis? That kind of thing does not go over well here.”
“You want to take a trip to Vegas then? It’s only a four-hour drive from home. They have no problems with it.” He even knew of a particular clothing store that catered to that sort of thing, as Ethan had put it, among other things that might just scandalize his rather straight-laced boyfriend.
He chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before responding. “A long weekend would be nice,” he admitted, “but there’s still no way you’ll ever get me in a dress, Travis.”
“Okay,” he said, shrugging. “Does that mean I can’t try one on?”
“Not here you can’t!” Ethan scrubbed the palms of his hands against his face. “Why would you even say that,” he muttered through his fingers.
“To get your goat, why else?” Travis reached up and pried Ethan’s fingers from his face. “This is the problem with cops. They take everything way too seriously.”
“That’s because we have to, Travis!”
“Not with me you don’t.” He slipped his hand into Ethan’s and tugged him down the sidewalk. “I think there’s an ice cream place down here, isn’t there?”
“There is, but we still need that birthday present, remember? Her birthday is today.”
Travis continued to tug his lover down the sidewalk. “I know, you keep reminding me. There’s also a book store down here, you know, on that specializes in science fiction and fantasy authors.”
Ethan stopped. “Really? I think I know what to get, if they have it anyway.”
“Well, let’s go then! That ice cream will only wait so long,” Travis insisted.
“You are so predictable,” Ethan laughed. “Food and sex are the only two things that matter to you, aren’t they?”
“Nope, books fall in there too,” he corrected.
“Of course they do,” Ethan teased, pushing open the door to the little book shop. “Now let’s see if they have what I’m thinking will be the perfect gift.”
Ethan headed off looking for god only knew what while Travis perused the current fantasy novels on display. He was thumbing through something with a scary looking woman, covered in blood and holding a sword, when Ethan returned, book in hand. “What’s that?”
“The perfect gift,” he said holding it aloft so Travis could see.
It had a bonded leather cover, gilt-edged pages and a crazy little guy in each corner blowing raspberries. “What is it?”
“The More Than Complete Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, collector’s edition. It’s out of print, but they had a used copy. Looks good, doesn’t it?”
Travis took it from him and flipped through the pages. Finding a random page, he read: “’The Universe,’ said Arthur, ‘is big enough and old enough to look after itself for half an hour.’ Okay, so what the hell kind of book is this anyway?”
“A very funny and rather ridiculous one,” Ethan informed him. “Which is why I’m currently dumbfounded that you’ve never heard of it.”
“They got a paperback copy?”
“I don’t know, but I have one at home. Also on my Kindle, too.”
Travis wasn’t sure if Ethan was embarrassed by that admission or not, but it was cute the way his cheeks were reddening. “Hmm, so which will you let me borrow?”
“The Kindle. I’d rather replace it than my ancient hardback copy. Anything you want while we’re here?”
He gave the current releases shelf another look and lifted a book called Severed Souls in the air. “This looks interesting.”
“And it’s also book fourteen in the series. Try this instead.” He handed Travis another book, hefty for a paperback. “It’s alternate history and might force that idle brain of yours to work a little harder than usual.”
“That’s so not fair,” he whined, following Ethan to the cashier. “But maybe just a tiny bit true.”
Ethan grinned over his shoulder. “Only a tiny bit?”
“Shut up.”
He placed both books on the counter in front of the cashier. “And to think I was actually considering that trip to Vegas…”
“Oh no you don’t, don’t you even dare think about changing your mind about that!”
“I never said I’d do it,” he reminded him. “But maybe…”
“Can we discuss it over ice cream? You’re so much easier to convince when you’re distracted by something.”
With an eye roll of epic proportions, Ethan nodded. “Yes, we can, but let’s not take all afternoon. We have a party to attend.”
“Point made. Now, I want some sugar.”
Ethan licked his lips. “That will have to wait until after that party, but I can get you some World Class Chocolate until then.”
Despite himself, Travis laughed. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He opened the door and let Travis exit ahead of him. “Not from you anyway.”
xx
End note: The boys and I couldn’t help ourselves. There will be cake if you’d like to attend your own party. But I promise, no Vogon poetry and plenty of Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters.
