Brightside | ✓

56 | hall of fame

Running into the motherfucking Grammys late was not on Eddie's list of things she ever wanted to do again, as much as she hoped that Axel succeeded monetarily in his musical pursuits. Axel still looked green, even against his all-black outfit, and if he wasn't the favourite for his alternative music nominations, Eddie might have taken pity on him and let him stay at the hotel like was begging her to do while doubled over the hotel toilet.

Instead, there they were. In the hallowed halls. Two seats saved for them by their friends and a series of frantic texts that Eddie had sent Moxie while they were taxiing to the venue.

"I'm sorry we're late, everyone looks gorgeous," Eddie said. She tried shuffling Axel in front of her but his feet were not picking up like they normally would be. "How are we?"

"Moxie took some edibles 'cause her endo is acting up," Cruella said. "Other than that, we're great."

"I'm greeeeaaat," Moxie concurred.

"Shhhh," Axel said. "Don't tell Moxie we're late."

Cruella gave Eddie a concerned look at her friend's comment.

Eddie winced. There was only one thing he had that calmed him down. "Ambien. If he falls asleep I'm hoping it's when he's not on camera."

"Oh! Axel!" Moxie said. "You're here early! Did you want one of these? They're so good."

"Yes, please—" Axel eagerly reached toward the packet of weed gummies that Moxie extended toward him. Perfect, the first time they'd ever gotten along and it was because they were both flying high.

"No, thank you, he's okay. Sit down." Eddie used perhaps a little too much of her strength against him to all but throw him into the seat beside Moxie. Which might not have been her brightest idea.

"Buzzkill," Moxie said.

Axel turned to her. "She's such a narc."

"I'll sneak one over when she leaves," Moxie said. "Don't tell anyone."

"You're the best," Axel mused. "I love you."

Mick, notably a couple seats down, threw a hand in the air. "Now this is the worst day of my life."

"I tolerate you," Moxie said. "Today."

"I'm honoured," Axel said. He looked over at Mick and reached across Cruella and Moxie. "I like your... gold things."

Mick turned his nose up at him. "It's about time you noticed."

Mick was wearing a lovely burgundy tuxedo with gold accents along the chest, legs, and sleeves. It suited him. Subtle enough that if someone hadn't spent too long rewatching the same three Star Wars movies with their boyfriend, the untrained eye wouldn't have noticed that the colour scheme and designs were very similar to Axel's favourite science-fantasy princess. Eddie had to respect the hustle.

"You look verrrrrry pretty," said an unfortunately high Axel who would've probably told him that if fully aware of his surroundings, too.

"If it helps, Mick," Eddie tried, "all he had to say was where'd the back of your dress go to me. So he means it."

(The backless dress she'd had her sister make for her was an easy way to skip the middle man when it came to avoiding the zipper incident of their last red carpet.) (She was entirely too thankful that was the route she'd taken, considering how Moxie seemed at that moment, though she supposed Cruella Queen would've helped her.)