2019-09-06 - Anything Weird?

One might ask themselves WHY, oh GOD WHY someone might be out and about at dawn. There are, in fact, any number of reasons this might be a think that is happening. One, they are crazy and get up early. Two, they maybe work late and are getting home...or from a date, or just couldn't sleep.

That final reason seems to be the one that calls to Ash the most, because she's been texting Corey for about ten minutes...random things, not even requiring things like answers. But at the end is a single invitation. Meet me outside.

Sleep patterns are for people who aren't Corey. He's awake at dawn and texting random things back, pulling on his pyjama bottoms and stuffing his feet into flip-flops, before coming downstairs, stepping out of #7, and into the front yard of #9. His hair is a mess - though that's pretty par for the course - and he's got sleepy-looking eyes.

Ash might have not slept, or she's consumed a whole lot of coffee already and is going at an eleven on the scale. She's outside in the yard, wearing a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top, no shoes, but she's got her phone, car keys and....a rather greasy looking paper bag. While she's waited for him to make the quick trip out to the front lawn she has started humming to herself, watching the changing in the sky from deep indigo to the warm tones of dawn. When she senses his presence she glances over, flashing a smile, "Hey, Stud." She moves over to give him a quick kiss hello before presenting the bag to him. "Brought you something."

"Hey babe," Corey murmurs in response, leaning in and curling an arm around Ash when she delivers that quick greeting kiss, squeezing briefly then letting his eyes drop to the bag. "Yeah?" he prompts, sounding curious, taking the bag and peeking inside.

Donuts. Not fancy ones, but cheap ones from a place that their only name is: Donut.

Or similar enough. "Mmmhmm. I was awake, so thought that I'd just grab breakfast. We didn't get to have breakfast that one time." When his sister and Alfie convinced her to touch his pans. "So thought I could maybe make up for that." She raises a hand up, sliding her fingers into his hair to comb it back from his face as she continues to over explain something as simple as donuts. "Wasn't sure which ones were your favorite, so I got like...all the usuals. Chocolate, glazed, Bavarian cream, bearclaw...I think there's even apple fritter in there."

God bless the twentysomething metabolism. Corey doesn't think twice about reaching into the bag, snagging the bearclaw and then offering the bag back for Ash to take one, then dropping down to sit on the steps up to her porch, biting into the sugary-flaky-fruity goodness. "Mmmfh. Awesome idea," he agrees between mouthfuls, clearly enjoying the pastry even if it's from a cheapass bakery. Sugar is sugar! "Thanks babe. Best breakfast."

"Welcome." Ash replies, digging out the chocolate before she closes the bag, setting it down as she drops herself down next to him. She starts to tug at the donut, breaking it up into smaller bites so that she can then tuck those bites into her mouth, happy to eat the donut in silence for a little while.

But only a little while. By the time she's gotten 3/4ths of the way there she seems more inclined to break the silence with a curious, "So you ever seen anything weird in this town?"

Just having finished his bearclaw, licking sugar glaze from his fingertips and then wiping them on the hem of his pyjama pants - classy! - Corey looks over to Ash at her question. Brows raise slightly. "Maybe." Noncommittal, easy to dismiss, but it's not a no.

"Like strange dreams..." Ash tucks the final bite of the donut into her mouth, then she leans forward to brush her hands off away from where they are sitting. It's mildly ineffective as far as things go, and the hand that reaches for his is still slightly sticky. Because sticky hand holding makes this strange conversation that much better, right?

Not seeming to mind that Ash's hand is still a little sugar-sticky, Corey shifts slightly so he can look at her more directly. "Yeah," he acknowledges quietly. Strange dreams indeed. "And things happening outside of dreams." Things, he doesn't elaborate on immediately, maybe wanting to see if Ash has anything to volunteer on that front first.

More? She doesn't seem to have anything at all to volunteer one that front, except for the slightly horrified expression that washes over her face. "You mean..." She closes her eyes for a moment, then leans forward until her forehead is able to drop against his shoulder with a groan, "So my staying awake isn't going to stop things from happening?"

"I don't know," is Corey's quiet but honest answer, releasing her hand so he can loop that arm around her instead, trying to be comforting. "I don't think so." So, not very comforting. "At least if you've slept, you're better equipped to deal, right?" Except those dreams leave very real consequences. Wounds that are real. "I know someone who knows some stuff. I'll ask advice, if you like."

"Maybe.." Ash replies, scooting herself over a little closer, "I guess advice isn't a bad thing." It's almost reluctant though, probably because it's all very, very, very crazy. Either way she seems to accept the arm around her as comfort, then again it might just be an excuse to lift her head and catch his ear between her teeth. Maybe both. "Maybe I can come over and spend the night tonight...You can tell me whatever advice you get then."

There's a slight nod at that. "Sure. Though I've got to be up at five during the week, to go to work," Corey cautions, smiling slightly at that tug on his earlobe. "How're your classes going?" he then asks, letting the subject change to something less creepy, with the semester having started just over a week ago.

"Mmm, classes?" Ash blinks at that sudden change, laughing, "Fine, really...Managing to get in as many as I can before going to work most evenings. But not closing right now." Which might be code for: I-won't-be-crawling-in-super-late. She gives his ear one final nip before settling her head one his shoulder, arms curling around him, "How're your classes going?"

Resting his cheek against Ash's hair, Corey allows, "Yeah, going okay. Not getting a lot of time to chill between working the mornings and classes in the afternoons, but it's all good." He sounds content, satisfied even, with the way his schedule is set out. All cooking all the time. "I'll need to rope you in as a taste-tester for some experimental stuff next week."

"Experimental, huh? Sounds amazing and terrifying all at the same time." Ash points out, one hand absently rubbing against his back, "But I'm totally down to try whatever things your want to put into my mouth." He can't see her expression, but if he could, she might actually waggle her brows at him. "I've got like...so many classes that demand hours and hours of research a week. Thankfully my boss is alright with me reading when we're slow."

That comment does get a low 'heh' of amusement from Corey, and he lifts his head and one hand, to tip her chin up so he can press a light kiss to her lips. "Good to hear," he murmurs regarding reading during worktime lulls. "Get some sleep, babe. I need to do that too," he then suggests quietly. "And try not to dream the bad dreams, ok?"

"I'll try.." Ash makes no promises though, and that is clear in her expression before she gives him another kiss before adding, "I'll come by soon as I'm off work tonight, shouldn't be too late. I'll bring a change of clothes for tomorrow." She starts to get to her feet, then pauses to give him another kiss, this one a little harder than the previous ones.

Nodding, Corey accepts the 'try' part, not really knowing if there's any way of avoiding the bad dreams when they come. But we can be optimistic. He leans up into those kisses, hands lifting to first cup Ash's cheeks and slide back into her hair for the last one, firm and lingering and hopefully enough fodder for nicer dreams. "Sleep well, Ash. I'll see you this evening." Then he's standing, preparing to meander back around the fence.

"You too, Corey." Ash calls, lingering on the steps to watch him head back home, an amused, sort of dopey smile appearing for a split second before she gives herself a shake. Then she leans down to scoop up the bag of the left over donuts before heading back into the house, moving quietly so that she doesn't wake anyone else in the house up yet.