2019-07-24 - Baggage that goes with mine

Dahlia had called Eli and asked if he wanted meet her for coffee at Espresso Yourself. She didn't lead with the fact that she wanted to try and get his side of the fight with Eve. Instead it was wanting to chat more about the particulars of some langauge lessons! She had claimed them a somewhat secluded table to minimize the chance for prying eyes and was skimming the menu while she waited for him. Her hair was pulled back, right arm still in a bandage, and she wore a white strapless dress with little yellow and pink flowers dotting it.

Despite the hot day, Eli arrives at the coffee shop wearing a long sleeved shirt - it's a light dress shirt, but one that covers both of his arms. It doesn't take a great detective to see how carefully he's treating his right arm. He takes a minute to order himself a cup of coffee and then makes his way over to the table where Dahlia is already waiting. Eli looks tired, dark clouds around his eyes, though he otherwise looks to be healthy aside from the arm and some already fading scratches on his cheek. "Hey Dahila." He offers quietly once he's settled. "Pretty dress. How is your arm? How are you?"

Dahlia watches Eli closely as he approaches, smiling a touch. "Hey Eli." Gesturing for him to sit and giving a little shrug of her shoulders. "My arm still hurts a bit but it's healing. Mentally...I don't know. I've not really had time to process any of it." Because she was keeping herself too busy, or high, or drunk to do so. Though she seemed clear headed this morning. "More importantly. How are you?"

"A little bit numb." Eli admits, looking down into his black coffee with blue eyes and searching the liquid for answers. He doesn't find them. Instead he just lifts the mug and takes a careful sip of the steaming liquid before looking back toward Dahlia across the table. "I'm not sure who voted that I was more important. I've dealt with this madness for a long time. You find ways to cope over time and keep putting one foot before the other. You and Eve - well, it's a bit more fresh for you two. I worry. I've seen this place break a lot of people."

Dahlia nodded as she listened. "Eve mentioned that you two got into it the other night." Sitting back in her seat, pausing as a waitress came over to grab their orders. Hot chocolate and an everything bagel with creamcheese for Dahlia. Focusing back on Eli when they were alone again. "It makes sense for you to worry. For you both to be worried...I told Eve she needs to get angry. At the wolf. To stop fearing it - but I know it's easier said than done." Pushing a hand through her hair. "What did you two fight about?"

"Easier said than done for certain. But, you might be right. We pushed it back and wounded it. The way you attacked it seemed to catch it by surprise, Dahila. I admit that we don't understand it and it's a dangerous game to figure out as we go." Eli curls his fingers around his coffee mug, lips tightening at Dahlia's final question, the tension in his body language undeniable. "She doesn't want to see me get hurt. She blames herself and is miserable that she's dragging me into this. She tried to push me away to 'protect' me. I'm sure you can understand that I couldn't just do that."

"Well, I'm good at getting angry...like I told Eve I don't even really remember what I did. I just didn't want to die. Or want you guys to die. Especially not by some movie-type monster that my brain couldn't explain." She ran a hand over her face. "Still can't really...but maybe I can help with the getting angry thing." A hint of a smile. "I understand. I can see both sides...you guys care about each other a lot. I wish someone looked at me the way you two looked at each other." Though the faint rise of pink on her cheeks may betray that there was potentially someone.

"I don't wanna be in the middle of your business. But I think you guys can find a comprimise of some sort...you're in this together. It's no different that if she had some crazy ex-boyfriend that was trying to get at her. But instead of getting the ex-boyfriend thrown in jail, you've gotta get the beast back in the cage. Or dead. However it works."

"I think we're going to be fine. At least as fine as we can be given the circumstances. We're stronger together than apart. If I walked away to protect myself it would just come after her and then come seeking me once it was done. Divide and conquer." Eli notes, keeping his voice low while he has another sip of his coffee. "I understand how she feels. The first time this happened I thought it was me that had brought this upon us. I was ready to walk away. I almost did walk away." He swallows an turns to look out the window instead of directly at Dahlia. "That's what I've done my entire life. Run, hide, bunker down. I kept people far away. I don't want to go back to that, Dahlia. Eve makes me feel alive in a way I've honestly never felt. I didn't tell her this - but even if she forced me to physically leave her, I don't think I could keep out of her dreams. I'd come back no matter how far I was."

Dahlia smiled a little more as she listened, taking a sip of her cocoa. "Well, if that's not a storybook love right there, I dunno what is." It was said sincerely though. "I think you two are perfect for each other. Every couple is gonna have fights. Some are gonna be worse than others but I agree. I think you guys are going to come out the other end of this closer and stronger. You need to face this thing head on - together. Be prepared for a fight...And maybe...don't try and fight it physically...it wanted to wear us down with our fears. So fight back by drowning those fears out. Talk about things you love. Things that make you feel brave. Things that don't scare you...Maybe that'll help?"

"I think you're right. It's there to make us miserable. And nothing is worse right now than driving a wedge between us - I heard it the other night. Telling me that I was meant to be alone, always will be alone and that this was going to end in misery. And I know that it's rotten words, but at the same time it penetrates deeply and it's hard to shake. Does that make sense?" Eli asks, looking across the table toward Dahlia. He's not sure it does. But, that's just how it feels around here. "I'm not sure if we can actually face off against it with the Carebear Stare, but I think we at least have to be able to block out the negative when we face it." He shakes his head. "I'm glad Eve has you to talk with. Her and I are very connected, but we need other voices to give us perspective sometimes."

"No...it does make sense." Dahlia agreed. "When I was stabbing it...it was telling me I was worthless. That no one wanted me...that mom was ashamed of me..." A little shiver ran down her spine. Though chuckled at the mention of the Carebear Stare. "It wants to tear you down. Like you said. It could at least help with blocking the negative thoughts. Letting you get close enough to attack it. There's got to be a way to kill it permanently...I just have no idea where to even begin."

"Or at least drive it off. I've dealt with this before, Dahlia. Not the Wolf, exactly. But, similar things. I've never really won so much as hit rock bottom and eventually they ease off and seem to go away for a time. A month. A year. It depends. But, this time I don't want us to hit rock bottom. I'm certain that would end with Eve and I apart. Maybe forcing her to leave the town. I'd crawl back to my old apartment. I can't go back to that." Eli says, voice firm on that last note. "Eve and I promised to fight this together before it happened. We're going to keep doing that, even though it gets harder every week." He swirls his coffee and takes a sip. "We talked about getting out of the city for a few days. Maybe find a bit of relief in that."

"I can't even imagine...I mean. I've always felt like something was wrong with this town but I don't know if I could've handled it if I was exposed to it when I was younger. Hell. maybe I'd really be crazy. I still might go crazy. I guess I'm a little numb too. In disblief...I might even meltdown once I really realize what's happening." Dahlia sighed. "Getting out of town sounds like it might be a good idea. Maybe out of the state even. Some kind of small vacation - let you guys get some kind of decent sleep...sounds like a good start."

"We'll see what feels right. It was a lot of raw emotion and that's ... well, I don't know how much you spoke with Eve. I can - we both can - feel that more than other people. It has a way of making those situations escalate before you realize it's happening. You feed off of each other and it snowballs into something larger." Eli shrugs, watching Dahila across the table. "You've been coping alright? You seem to be, honestly. I was a lot younger, but I was a mess for months when it first started happening. Not sure I ever became not a mess."

"My last relationship was kind of like that. Well. As far as feeding off each other. We both had tempers, and I had a penchant for liking to get a rise out of him. So it didn't take long before we were constantly fighting about petty things. Fighting for the sake of fighting. But...he was always there for me despite that. At least until the fight that broke the camels back." A wry smile. "So I understand a little bit how that can be." Tilting her head slightly and shrugged about the coping. "It depends on your definition of coping? I've been sticking to getting high and drunk in my spare time. Exploring things with Declan...I've been avoiding thinking about it too much."

"Something to be said for distraction. I know that dugs and alcohol are likely less than ideal ways to cope, but if they get you through the days? It's a short term bandaid at least." Eli smiles briefly at the mention of Declan. "How are things with our resident handy man? Genevieve had mentioned that the two of you were going to go out. He seems like a great guy - I was happy to hear the two of you got along."

"A temporary fix until I'm ready to deal with it." Dahlia agreed. Her smile brightened a moment when he asked about Declan. "Our date went better than I thought it would. We're on the same wavelength about a lot of things." She took another sip of her drink. "I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out. We've both got issues, but everyone's got issues. So, I'm trying to be optimistic about it."

"I'm looking for baggage that goes with mine." Eli quotes (but he doesn't sing it), smile still on his lips. "That's good. It's hard to be optimistic around here, but I'm as aware as anyone right now how much it helps to have people that are on the same page as you. I hope it keeps working for you. I've enjoyed getting to know both of you. I know I'm a bit awkward when it comes to people and maybe don't express that very well, but it's true. And maybe with a bit of practice it will feel normal to just hang out with friends." He tips back his coffee and drinks down the rest of it. "Thanks for checking up, Dahlia. You've got my number if you ever need anything - and you don't have to pretend it's about language lessons."

Dahlia gave a little grin. 'Well, I still do want the language lessons." She laughed. "We should get together properly for that soon." Nodding. "I'm not really used to having proper friends either but I'm glad I've met all of you and am getting to know you. You be safe okay? You and Eve both. And you call me too - if you ever need anything."