Some Time Alone (Eddie)

[Nigel Barksworth]

(Note: I am thinking that this could take place before the auditions. And it's up to you whether you'd prefer to have it before Eddie runs into Troy or after... whichever you think will work better for you.)

Although Nigel had been with a few guys in the past, most of them never lasted long enough to get to this stage. He never wanted to just bring a guy to his house, because it would seem like he was showing off. The house was quite large and well-equipped, and it wasn't in Nigel's nature to brag or show off. Despite his success, he was basically a pretty humble guy who liked to poke fun at himself.

But he was comfortable enough with Eddie now to bring him here without feeling like he was being too arrogant. There were few places in the world where Nigel felt most at ease than at his own home.

They had just finished dinner at a local restaurant, and Nigel had suggested that they go back to his place this time. He apparated them both there, removed the protective wards around the house (fans could be pretty crazy sometimes), then opened the door to let Eddie in to the house.

Nigel quickly followed, stepping into the foyer with its massive spiral staircase in front. "You can put your cloak on the coat rack there," he said, nodding.

[Eddie Shriver]

Dinner had been amazing- even if Eddie's mind kept floating between Nigel and his run in with Troy a couple of days ago. It even caused Eddie to ignore one of Nigel's owls, because he was still reeling and trying to figure out what to do with the situation he found himself in.

He still didn't know. But he did knows he liked Nigel, and so he made sure they could get together. He would have been lying if he said nerves didn't erupt in his stomach when Nigel suggested going back to his place. This was where the rockstar must start showing, right? Still, he agreed because he was enjoying his time with Nigel and didn't want to leave him yet.

That all changed when he stepped inside and was met with an actual mansion spread out in front of him. He was thousands of kilometers out of his league here- what was he thinking? His eyes were transfixed on a chandelier over the spiral staircase, and found himself feeling quiet inadequate.

Taking a deep breath, he hung his coat and gave Troy a look. "Let me guess... 14 bedrooms and a balcony on at least five?" He was teasing, so he quickly added, "It looks stunning. From the foyer, anyway." Merlin, what was he doing here?

[Nigel Barksworth]

Yes, the house was big, and a bit ostentatious in places. But some of the rooms were more moderate, with humble but comfortable furnishings. After all, Nigel might have been a rock star now, but he had come from humble beginnings, and his family still lived in a small, comfortable house in Wales. Nigel didn’t like to forget his roots. That was part of the reason he liked Eddie… he wasn’t caught up in the ideas of fame and fortune. He was just real. There was very little of that in Nigel’s life these days.

He smiled wryly at Eddie. “Actually, there are 18 bedrooms, and 9 of them have balconies. But to be honest, I don’t spend that much time in this part of the house. The east wing is a little more… sedate. The rooms are smaller… I’m told they were originally the servants’ quarters.”

[Eddie Shriver]

"Ah," Eddie replied, unsure if he found the reply humorous or depressing. "I wasn't even close with that guess, then."

It was just odd to him, and he supposed he ought to give Nigel the benefit of the doubt- the man was flashy and much more bold than Eddie was, but he didn't seem like he had an inflated ego or inflated sense of self worth. This house didn't seem like Nigel. That being said, they were never going back to Eddie's little place that was more kitchen than living space. Even if Nigel preferred the more humble side of the house, Eddie felt like there was a line of "too humble."

Stop.

"When did you move in here?" he asked, making himself talk so that he could ignore the self deprecating thoughts about his place. He was an adult. This sudden sense of self consciousness was ridiculous and needed to stop.