Chapter Text
“Stop fiddling with that waist coat, you look fine, I promise.”
Bofur grunted as he pulled once more at the constricting fabric as he stood before the mirror; quite displeased and feeling naked without his beloved hat.
“Can’t I wear me hat?” He asked, “Just fer a while?”
Bilbo chuckled as he made to leave; “It’s a formal dinner,” He explained, “Hobbit style. Besides, you’ve very pretty hair, show it off for once.”
Bofur groaned and Bilbo chuckled again, waving his hand at his partner. “I’ve got to check on dinner,” He explained, “Can you check Jeri and Frodo?”
Bofur nodded and cast his reflection a despairing look; “Whaddya mean it’s a hobbit style affair?” He asked as ran his thick fingers through his hair.
Bilbo, leaning backward and poking his head through the open door, said with a smile: “That means no food fights, belching, and most of all, no tossing the dishes around.”
Bofur snorted and flopped his arms at his sides; “Might as well just stay in here!” He sighed, “I’ll loose me mind otherwise.”
“Oh, that’s silly,” Bilbo chided from the hall way, “Now just check the children will you?”
Bofur moaned under his breath and started down the hall way in the opposite direction of Bilbo; He’d have to do his best not to let boredom and bitterness ruin Bilbo’s carefully planned evening. After all, Bofur knew, the hobbit had been planning an evening with some close friends for sometime now and he’d agreed to it. Begrudgingly.
‘Well,’ Bofur resigned, ‘I’ll just keep my self busy with Jeri and Frodo. They’re gonna be the more entertaining guests any ways.’
They strolled in one by one and, to his dismay, rather early and Bofur found himself called from the living room and away from the children.
Bilbo waved him over and made him greet the guests with a false smile; He didn’t dare try to recall their names at the moment. Two married couples and then two childhood friends, that’s all he really knew, and he dare not asked Bilbo for any help.
‘Let see,’ Bofur thought as Jeri and Frodo came to his side to greet the guests as well, ‘Those are the Ropers, and those two are the-uh-Proudfoot's? And the two fellows are…Hopper’s?’
“Bofur did you hear him?” Bilbo asked suddenly, casting a Bofur a concerned gaze.
“Eh…Sorry,” Bofur stammered, “My mind was else where.”
Bilbo’s jaw stiffened, yet, he kept his pleasant demeanor and explained: “Tobias-Toby-was asking about your toy shop, he asked if business was still good.”
Toby, one of the Hopper’s, smiled brightly at Bofur whom felt his cheeks burn. “Aye,” He answered nonetheless, “Better ‘n better every day actually.”
“My Lily loves they toy pony you made,” Toby replied with the same smile, “Sleeps with it even!”
“Yer married?” Bofur asked, earning a wide-eyed and tight lipped look from Bilbo, “Aint ye the gay one?”
Bilbo broke out into loud nervous laughter and clapped his hands several times before Toby could answer.
Frodo and Jeri seemed absolutely shocked at the maniacal, and quite unusual, behavior of their loved one and looked at Bofur who was just then realizing the mistake he’d made.
“Let’s head into the den shall we?” Bilbo offered his stunned guests, “Bo-Bofur, if you will, there’s some appetizers stored in the pantry. Could you fetch them please?”
Bofur nodded slowly, told Jeri and Frodo to follow Bilbo, and quickly hurried out of sight.
When he was in the privacy of the delicious smelling storage closet, Bofur slumped against the wall and slapped his hand to his forehead.
Overcome with humiliation and, most of all, guilt over having already compromised what his partner had hoped would be a peaceful, pleasant evening with old friends.
With a sigh, Bofur pushed the unpleasantness away and, at first, reached for the large tray of different cheeses and crackers.
Until, out of the corner of his eye, he spied the drum of ale. Bofur licked his lips and eyed it with hungry eyes.
Bilbo had been quite specific; alcohol was to be served after dinner; which meant a very, very long wait for the already uncomfortable dwarf and it was to be wine, not ale which was his favorite leisure drink.
“Well,” Bofur whispered as he looked over his shoulder, “It won’t hurt to have little nip o’ the good stuff.”