The Magic Box, Monday

[existencemisspent]

"Oh please," Eliot said, rolling his eyes at the reusable tote sitting on the sales counter labeled "terrible employee". "As though that's a surprise to anyone."

He crushed the little tote with the large, beautifully crafted leather handbag he'd been carrying -- labeled "addictive personality" -- and flopped down into his usual sprawl to . . . continue being a terrible employee.

What? He was nothing if not consistent in his failure. Just ask the high end luxury luggage set by the door. The carry-on bag clearly said "consistent failure". It was positioned perfectly to block the labeling on the oversized matching wheelie suitcase (which read "will never measure up to amazing friends"), both of which were set up to obscure the battered old military style duffel covered in mud and grass stains, which said "daddy issues" and the raggedy old carpet bag reading "rural Indiana". And lets not even get started on the fancy carved treasure chest inlaid with jewels that read "abandoned kingdom full of starving peasants."

He was ignoring all of it with grace and aplomb, thank you. He even put his feet up on the tote-and-handbag, and used the little make-up clutch reading "crush on a (presumed) straight boy" behind his head for a pillow while he took a nap.

If you couldn't beat your baggage, use it to demonstrate your performative decadence.

[open!]

Comments

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon brought coffee. He also brought GUILT, SELF-LOATHING, and every last fear, closing the door on them (for as long as that lasted).

The new one labeled always a bother he stepped over to get to the counter and hold out the coffee to Eliot. "I left plenty of room for gin."

[existencemisspent]

"Bless you, Jonathan," Eliot said, accepting the coffee without taking his feet off that "addictive personality" bag. "I see I'm not alone in having a bit . . . extra on hand today."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I hate it," Jon said grimly. "I'm burning them on the beach if you want to join in."

[existencemisspent]

"Showy, needlessly dramatic . . . I approve."

There was definitely a bag in here somewhere that said "deflects with decadence".

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

That got a smile from Jon, even if it was a bit grim. "I'm getting rid of them, even if it's only for a minute or two. I don't need the reminders."

[existencemisspent]

“Okay hat seems like a waste of energy, but, well. It is your energy to waste.”

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I'm hoping it will be cathartic," Jon said. "I hate this. It isn't as though I forget any of this when it's not staring me in the face."