Penname: BellsNWhistles/DDofEve/BellsNWhistles4Edward
Creative Original or Derivative Fiction: derivative...?
Rating/Warning(s): M
Notes: I know this topic has been explored ad nauseum, but I just wanted to.

Disclaimer: All copyrighted, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization
Prompt: Musical Mastery
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Everyone knows that Edward can be a purist when it comes to having the best things and going the best places. He can be seen as a snob, a snoot, an elitist. There will always be things that Bella and he do not agree on. This was one more thing that Edward was unwilling to let go of. He was stalwart in his disdain for the techno pop style. There were many reasons, one of them being the sheer inanity that one experienced when trying to listen to the same note over and over again. He wasn't sure if they were trying to lull themselves into a stupor or if they really did enjoy the stuff. The incessant thump was like Chinese water torture, an event he had no desire to repeat. He was not sure why anyone would want to subject themselves to such torture and frankly, he quit trying to understand a long time ago.

The trouble with this was that Bella just loved this style of music. She enjoyed "zoning out" and turning her brain off for a while to get away from life and all its many, many thoughts. Edward could not understand this about the human mind. Did they not experience the same effect while asleep? What about daydreaming? He wished once again, with a feeling of bleakness that he would be able to zone out like Bella. There were times that she looked so peaceful during the regeneration process that he was a little angry at how blithely she dismissed the privilege.

He had talked to her numerous times about enjoying the life she had because it would not last and she would likely not remember much of it. Truly it was as if all of humanity was "seeing through a glass darkly."

He wondered again if this was his personal version of Hell, because if it was, he was most likely experiencing the duality of the situation in his burning thirst for Isabella's blood and her body at the same time. He was literally a candle burning at both ends. He was curious how long he could last in this state.

That was the question, wasn't it? How long he could outlast his thirst. He recalled the Biblical story of the Rich Man and Lazarus and how the rich man wanted but a drop of water to slake his thirst. A simple drop of Bella's blood was surely to be the impetus for disaster.

He had no clue how he stopped drinking when James had bit her. He figured that it was his love for her and his desire to not hurt her. But wasn't that just a ruse? Wouldn't someone as greedy and caring of himself as he was would want to make this beautiful, tasty treat last as long as he possibly could? There were numerous theories floating around amongst his family. Rosalie with her agreement on his selfishness. Jasper thought he knew the true reason as it involved Edward's feelings for Bella. Carlisle's pride in his son's self-control was really the icing on the cake for him though. He cringed each time Carlisle smiled beatifically at him, pride overcoming his cautious visage. Alice thought she knew as well, seeing into his "decided" future.

Edward wished he knew his own heart and mind as well as he knew how much he hated that music Bella was listening to.