2020-02-28 - Dancer, Dancer, Revolutionist

Its an age-old exchange. Every sibling knows it:

"Waffles?"
"Race you."

Except these siblings are probably two of the most dangerous to make that challenge to eachother. It doesn't help Rekani is slower on his feet just getting to his car, Nova is also a better driver than him, proven over and over again through their years together. Screaming tires and whistling turbos run by nitrous sing their songs of competition as the two come invariably to their expected results, pulling into the Waffle Shoppe parking lot with Rekani's E60 in hot pursuit, but clearly trailing his sister's car. He would get out, hardly dressed for the weather, but seeming uncaring. He throws his arm up in the air in frustration, chattering something in Spanish across the parking lot to her, making hand motions to represent how she had drifted to cut him off during one of the turns.

Regardless, he'd still open the door to the Shoppe, holding it for her to get in. "One of these days, dammit..."

In Nova's opinion, Rekani drove just too nice a car with too much speed and not enough precision. If his drifts were a bit less drunk he may just beat her based on horse power. Her Nissan 350Z was more careful, and far more colorful. The dreamscape art that covered the body was hard to miss, a galaxy mixed with white mandala line work.

She ignored whatever degree of cold the weather was in activewear with a plaid shirt, and delicate gold necklace. Flipping her hair back she is grinning at her brothers parking lot tantrum, she had cut him off, but only because of his sloppy turns. One hand goes to her hip.

"There were no rules other than loser pays, so hermano la comida is on you" She did move to the door and open it for him, despite her snarky tone, she is giggling ever so slightly. He was so dramatic.

"You're forgetting the rule Mom put in place." Rekani grouses as he follows her from outside door to move through the interior one she was holding, "Try not to kill eachother." Sure, he was drama, but he was quick to throw a friendly grin to the wait staff as he leads the way to a booth, grabbing menus on the way to save them a trip. He slides into a seat.

"You're lucky I already got paid. Dude seems real lax with his club, tho." Coffee would be the first order, of course, and his phone is checked before being tossed in the table.

A smirk crosses Nova's full lips upon hearing the archaic rule, that was like invoking Hamarabi's code. She slides easily into the booth across from Rek, snatching a menu from his hand. Nova orders water with their shared pot of coffee, having worked a rough shift the day before. Sometimes she thought she might be part fish with the way her muscles screamed if she forwent water.

"That rule is for bambino's," she teases, hazel eyes on the menu. Protein was what she wanted and they had it. She wanted part of a chocolate chip waffle, but Rek would probably add that to his order anyway. "Also ya, real lax. But we are getting payed alright anyway..." The egg and sausage combo looked pretty banging.

While Dahlia loved waffles, she was not in the habit of coming too often to the Shoppe. Least of all twice in one day. Despite the fact she had literally just been here less than half an hour ago - the raven haired woman was rushing back in and over to a booth that was near where Nova and Rekani had sat themselves. Muttering under her breath as she looked over the table that still needed cleared off. "Ah ha!" She slid into one of the booth seats and grabbed something. A wallet by the looks of it. That was important.

Tucking the wallet in her back pocket she turned around, ready to walk back out - however the sibling pair made her take pause. "Oh, hey! I know you guys." Flashing a cheerful smile. "Well. I've seen you. My name is Dahlia. I work at Platinum and Firefly." So - even if they hadn't quite been formally introduced yet, they've probably seen her.

Rekani was mid eye roll at Nova's dismissal of the childhood rule, the phrase, "First of all, how dare you..." out of his mouth for even questioning theor mother's rules. That was the swiftest way to get a shoe thrown at you. Then Dahlia's entrance distracts him.

"Oh hey, bartender!" Yes, Rekani recognized her from the bar, probably from his seeming confusion on his first night DJing. Sure, he'd gotten the job, but no one was really handling shit when he got there, so he just... did it himself. He does feel the need to glance in Nova's direction as he realizes the reference he inadvertently made, "Terrible song." He breaks in a grin after, however, "Rekani," he says as he's tapping his chest, then uses his other hand to wave to his boothmate, "Mi hermana, Nova." His interest is further distracted, his arm is thrown up on the back of the booth as he had partially turned his body outward. "Wait, yeah, Firefly. Who's the manager over there?"

Nova looks up from her menu, with a waggle of her finger towards Rekani. "Dancer," she corrects catching Dahlia out of the corner of her eye. Her expression brightens as she turns towards the dark haired woman. "Come chill out chica, we have plenty of coffee."

If there was anything to learn in the dancing business, it was that you couldn't get by without friends, and she had definitely seen Dahlia dance, even if she had not known her name. Turning back to Rekani she scowls. "You can't just ask people about work connections when they have time to themselves! You are so rude." His obsession with venue versatility sometimes irked her, and today was one of those days. Could they not just enjoy their food? Sighing, she leans back in the booth. Nova had already been introduced so she just waited for the chips to fall where they may.

"Both! I dance at Platinum, and bartend at Firefly." Dahlia clarified for the pair with a laugh. "Thanks, yeah I can chill out for a bit. I was actually just here with my brother, catching up. Dunno how I forgot my wallet BUT seems to have all worked out." She snags a free seat next to Nova, looking between the pair. "Rekani and Nova, nice to officially meetcha." Dahlia leaned on the table a bit and grinned again. "Ah it's alright, really. I don't mind," to Nova and then to Rek, "Graham's probably the one you wanna talk to. Felix owns the place but I'd say Graham is the general manager so to speak. You tryna get a gig there? I could put a word in with Graham if you want?" She offered.

If he was spinning at Platinum then she'd at least heard of him play even if they hadn't met at the club yet. "You're the newest girl yeah?" Dahlia asked Nova. "It's always great having new people around. Honestly - I've been gone so long cause of some shit that happened to me - I feel new too."

Clapping his hands together, Rekani bows his head behind them, a prayer for the prayer that had just been pre-answered for him. "Por favor, Bonita, please. I'd really appreciate that." He picks hisnphone out to jot a note after opening the same spreadsheet hed been hammering the taste on earlier. He drops it again.

"But yeah, nice to meet you officially, too." He grins, giving Nova superior look as it had inadvertently worked despite her chiding, "Networking is everything in music, you know that."

A hand is raised to finally place orders. Rekani gets himself a pretty full breakfast: eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and, of course, a side of chocolate chip waffles.

Nova nods in understanding, it had been a fair couple years since she and Rekani had been home, who knows if anything was still the same. The thing about people with stories, is that they would tell you if they wanted to, best not to pry. She grins at Dahlia. "Yes, we needed some extra cash after Seattle. I'm impressed two jobs is a lot of work for one person."

She orders two eggs and some sausage, knowing that at least half a waffle was hers, even if Rekani did not. She all but ignores his comments, finding if she just ignored topics she didn't like, they were moved on from faster. Besides, it's not like she was going to tell him he was right. Both menu's are handed to the waitress after Nova notices that Dahlia seemed to have been there recently, Rek was 'busy' on his phone anyhow and seemed to have forgotten about them.

Dahlia does ask the waitress for a cup of hot cocoa with extra whipped cream. Hey, if she was going to be hanging out she might as well indulge some more right? "Knowing people is important in everything I think. I lived in LA for a while, trying to break in to acting. It's all about who you know." She gives a bit of a wave with her hand.

"Why'd you guys move from Seattle?" SInce Gray Harbor was such a nothing town. "How are you liking it? In town - at Platinum? I'd never danced professionally before but I fell in love with it pretty quick." Dahlia paused a beat. "I had to move back up from LA to take care of my mom so two jobs to make ends meet and all. She's passed away now but I lik both my jobs so I figured I'd keep 'em both."

"Dinero." Rekani answers the easiet question, rubbing his thumb against the tips of his fingers in the universal sign language of money. "Seattle was so expensive for everything. I mean, you know if you lived in LA." He speaks with his hands, gesticulating, waving to Dahlia to imply her in the inference, "Like, yeah, city was cool and all, but we like to move around, couldn't save crap while there, had to find something a little cheaper in range we could move." He shrugs, waves a hand in Nova's direction, "We saw the opening for a dancer out here, figured as good as any."

His right hand lifts to absently rub at his chest, as he remembers and comments, "I mean, playing for Platinum is cool. Getting shot wasn't a picnic, tho. This town's kinda crazy." He looks meaningfully across at Nova for a moment before looking to gauge Dahlia's reaction.

The water in from of Nova has been half chugged at this point, a reminder that she was probably dehydrated. The drinking stops at the mention of Dahlia's mother, part of her feeling guilty for abandoning her own. It just wasn't really safe around the two of them, not for normal people at least. This town was as bright as Vegas though, the people shown like neon signs.

"Lo siento about your Mom." For a flickering moment she wondered if their madre even knew where they were. Rekani updated her sometimes, not with too much detail as there were always things that they were trying to avoid or outrun. Watching her brother she laughs again. "We would have had more if you didn't need new equipment," she snaps, though she knew this is where he would equally blame her for the shoes she bought. "Also how do you get shot in a small town anyway with no huge wound?" He still had yet to explain this portion to her. Part of her thought he may have made it up.

Dahlia eyes Rekani a moment. "When'd you get shot?" She didn't recall hearing anything about a shooting recently. "Yeah," She said finally - after another moment of consideration. "This town is a nightmare sometimes." Literally. Though she doesn't add in that key word. "And despite all my efforts to stay out of it- here I am, and with roots now no less. So I can't just pick up and leave." She laughs, not entirely broken up about that it would seem.

A smile is offered to Nova, "Thanks. It was rough but...well, I like to think she's better off wherever she is now." She nods. When her hot chocolate comes, she thanks the waitress and passed over a five for her to keep to pay for the drink and to tip. Though she is looking at Rekani expectantly again - wanting details about this apparent shooting.

Rekani pulls his collar back on his tshirt, nary a scar where he'd been through-and-throughed the week or so prior. He taps the spot. "I'm not talking about this side. I'm talking some weird elsewhere." He gives Nova amithrr roll of the eyes, sure he'd explained it. Maybe he hadn't. Hed been high a whole bunch since. "And I'm fine cause Lumberjack Jesus and his pals did some healy thing on me. I still owe that guy a drink when I see him." His eyes flit to Dahlia, suddenly wary.

"I'm not crazy," he says, eying her, "I swear. And I'm not even that high." Which the slightly sweet herbal scent to him wasn't quite backing up. He settles back to mundane matters, however, ideas and thoughts flitting through him esily while he was hungry.

"And I needed a new deck, I literally wore the old buttons off. You know what its like to go to his a bass line cue and nothing comes out?" He looks between them both incredulously, as if horrified at the idea. "Just imagining listening to some building up dubstep, waiting for the bass to drop, but it never comes." He actually shivers at the idea.

Nova holds up a hand at his reveal, choosing to look away towards Dahlia, rather than that. "Ay! If you want to strip get hired for a different position at the Cabaret!" The hand to her face, shields her averted eyes. "You already showed me, I just don't believe you found Jesus this week. Also if you are stripping, warn me so that I can go do a bunch of shots."

Her reaction may be considered humorous considering he DJ'd most of her sets. She knew for a fact he didn't watch past the first new performance for music adjustments, and most were fairly clothed rehearsals. Plus, he had seen her for years now and she preferred to keep the reverse a mystery. "Or in this case so I can enjoy my huevos" This last portion is added as a confused waitress brings plates. In the waitresses mind, the man had only moved the collar of his shirt.

In Nova's mind, she was scarred just like his chest. Despite her remarks she reaches for one of his waffles, dropping from her eyes. Maybe they had both been raised a bit on the dramatic side.

Dahlia couldn't help but laugh again at Nova's reaction to just a collar being pulled. They did have a flair for the dramatic but it was amusing to the woman. "You guys remind me of of me and my brothers." She giggled a bit again, taking a sip of her cocoa. Those her expression resumed to looking more serious after a moment or two.

"I know you aren't crazy. I've had...some weird ass things happen to me since I've been here. I dunno why it never happened when I was a kid. But ever since I've been back. Right around the time my mom died actually." She shook her head. "You guys picked a helluva place to settle. Also...Lumberjack Jesus sounds like a dude I wanna meet. Trying to picture it...I definitely need to see him in person."

"Dude's gotta live around here somewhere, I know I seen him at one of the bars." Rekani points a fork he'd already picked up at Dahlia as he explains. To Nova's drama, he continues to pull the neck of his shirt, angling his back, making his bulk gyrate in his seat as if he were imitating stripper moves, which probably would be pretty embarrassing to two actual strippers. He was a ham.

"Ok, so, you're like the third person to say that. You're actually originally from here? Is this just recent? Cause like, I knew I felt somethin' weird when we first moved here, but like, y'all just dealin' with this shit on the regular?" Rekani proceeds to tuck into his food, though a brief glance sideways tells him the shop lacks his favorite hot sauce at this table. He goves a brief look around, then unzips the fanny pack, pulling a bottle of Cholula out that had no business fitting inside the small pouch.

The unwelcome gyrations cause Nova's other hand to cover her eyes as she starts eating the 'borrowed' waffle. "You are loco" is said under her breath, her head shaking in disappointment. He if anything, her performances should have at least taught him better than whatever the heck this display was. Glancing toward Dahlia, she raises a brow. "You weren't born that way?" Nova clarifies despite the answer, not having actually seen anyone in town do things like the two of them herself.

When the hot sauce appears she waits for her turn and smothers her eggs, grateful the Rekani showcase was over. Waiting for Dahlia's answer she remarks to Rekani. "I asked you for a pen last week and you told me you didn't have one, but you have Cholula in there?" The disbelief in her tone does not lessen the liberal use on her plate, he probably had another bottle anyway...

"What does he look like?" Dahlia asked, raising a brow. She snickers a bit at Rekani's dance move attempt. "Careful there, you're gonna give your sister an aneurysm." She teased. When he mentions she's the third person to say that, Dahl looks curious again ."Yeah, born and raised. got the hell outta dodge first chance I got after high school. Never came back until I literally had no choice." She shook her head. "Nah...it's not recent. This town has been hella weird for a really long time apparently. I don't know much but I know that." A beat of pause. "I've heard an Alexander Clayton is knowledgeable on the subject? Might wanna talk to him if you wanna know more."

She shakes her head to Nova. “Nope. I have three older brothers, I know the youngest one - the one I had lunch with today...he’s known about all this from a young age. I just found that out. Not sure about the other two. But...no I haven’t had any idea. I can...feel it inside you know? Like there’s something I can do, am capable of? But I haven’t tried to tap it. I don’t even know how I would begin to try. Or if I want to. “

"Didn't have room." Rekani states matter of factly, regardless of how absolutely bananacakes bonkers that sounded. "Besides, what would I keep a pen for, I'm not your secretary."

"Uh, he was about my height," Rekani begins after a brief chew, lifting a hand to guard his mouth as he looks to the ceiling and chews. "Salt and pepper beard, built like a lumberjack, wearing flannel." Rekani gives a final shrig, knowing he wasnt that great at describing people, "Honestly, his face just kinda looks like he's done with my shit." He levels a fork at Nova, "You know the look I'm talking about, like Dad when he found that bike I hid in my backpack." More damning evidence in the case of the pen. He turns his attentiom back to Dahlia,

"What, you never just like..." He opens his hand, and the salt shaker slides across the table into it, "...wanted some salt?" He salts his hash browns easy as you please, like nothing weird happened, glancing back up at Dahlia. "Who's Clayton?"

Stopping and looking dead serious she chimes in after the aneurysm comment "I might." There is polite nodding between bites as Dahlia explains. The two of them had been born this way, so it was interesting to hear how stuff was different between families. Nova tries not to snort, given the amount of hot sauce she is consuming. This was both from imaging there fathers face looking on in disappointment, the mention of the bike, and the fact Rekani had just passed Dahlia salt for her hot chocolate.

"Pretty sure he's the villain in Tarzan." Is what she manages. The two arguing about the fact that there may be food from five years ago in the pouch rather than a pen could wait, an argument as old as time. Regardless, Rekani glowing was normal for her. Nova had been through two decades of it so the salt was unimpressive.

Dahlia narrowed her eyes in thought at the vague description given. "....I might know who you're talkin' about actually." Taking another sip of cocoa. "But damn if I don't know his name either." This thought makes her laugh. "I think I just saw him last night."

There was a bit of a jump from Dahlia when the salt shaker just...moved into Rekani's hand. What kind of sorcery was that?? Bright green eyes move from him to the salt shaker a couple times. Though there is a snicker at Nova’s comment. "I don't know him really. Never talked to him, vaguely remember him from growing up. He's older than me though. Way older." Dahlia was still eyeing that salt shaker. "Kinda dubbed the town crazy? But a friend a mine said I should talk to him if I wanted to know more stuff. But I never really decided I wanted to learn more, you know?"

Once the salt shaker was set down, Dahlia released one hand from her cocoa mug and tried to concentrate on the salt shaker and wanting it to come to her. She even wiggled her fingers in a little 'come here' motion. She felt kinda ridiculous to be honest. Until...the salt shaker moved. Not all the way towards her mind you, but it definitely moved closer. Which, in turn, made her make a surprised noise and startle again. Eyes wide. Clearly she'd never been able to do that before.

“Well, shit.” Is all she manages to muster before clasping her hands around her mug again. “That’s new. I think my friend Justin can do stuff like that but...didn’t think I could.”

"Ayyyyyy!" Rekani lets out a little noise of congratulations, clapping fingers to palm briefly before moving to finish off his food. "Now you don't have to ask any annoying siblings to pass you condiments anymore!" He was grinning as his eyes briefly flicked to Nova, then back again, clearly a joking dig.

"Yeah, he was definitely older, prob'ly around my Pops' age." Nova's comment gets a scrunching of his face and a tongue stuck out at her, food still on it, the most juvenile retort he could manage. "And yeah, there seems like a bunch of people might do stuff. Weirdest thing..." Food is devoured, plates pushed to the side after a quick, mindful stack, his coffee taken up to take a sip, "I'll try asking around then, cause like... We always been this way, but we never been in a town like this."

He leans on a elbow as he contemplates Dahlia, seeming to be thinking about something, actually thinking real hard... But nothing happening. He sits back and puts his arm over the back of the booth again, shaking his head, glancing to Nova, bwfore training his eyes wistfully out the window, "Can't think at her, neither, hermana. Fucking weird."

Nova has finished her plate. It sits before her, pushed away. She likely wouldn't have noticed Dahlia's neon pulse, if it were not for the dark haired woman's own surprise. Finishing the bite in her mouth she claps happily in congratulations. Nova is less surprised by the news of others and more relieved. She had suspected some people here or there in crossing, but it could be dangerous to show what you could do.

"Magnífica" She offers to Dhalia. She moves the pushed plate atop her brothers and looks back at Rekani. "You are never very good at thinking, she has some, she's just surprised." It wasn't an attempt to be rude to the beautiful woman, more that it was second nature to feel people around her without even trying. Rekani had poor abilities when it came to what she could do, it was not surprise he couldn't feel Dahlia. "You feel nice." she says to Dahlia with a grin, though she had not touched her.

Dahlia gave a sheepish smile at the congratulations and a bit of an odd look to Rekani as he stared. Then it clicked in to place when he spoke up again. "It was surprising yeah." She shakes her head as she finishes off the cocoa. "I can sometimes pick up on people's feelings but not really often at all." She turned in her seat some to face the siblings better. "What do I feel like?" Is directed towards Nova. Intrigued.

Not long after Nova's response, Dahlia's phone would chime and she checked it. "Ahh crap. I gotta get going so I can get some things ready before work." She started to stand up. "Firefly tonight, but we," she motions between herself and Nova. "Should definitely do a duo dance soon with Rekani here doing the music." And then she would depart shortly after!

"Ah, adios, Bonita!" Rekani calls after the departing Dahlia, reaching into his fanny pack again for his wallet, starting to count out some cash, making sure to add Dahlia's Hot Chocolate to it without her having to ask. They asked her to join, only natural.

"Nah, you don't get what I'm saying, hermana." Rekani says with frustration, tossing the money on the table, they putting his hands up in exhasperation. He taps his temple, "I can't talk to you, just like when we were kids? In school? I can't talk to her, I can't talk to anyone without my mouth anymore! I'm telling you something is different. It's weird." He downs the rest of the coffee and sets that aside as well, following with a swallow of water, shifting his weight and starting to lever himself up and out of the booth.

"Now c'mon, I want a rematch home, this time with a real start."