2020-02-28 - Reunion Part 2

Dahlia had not been expecting the call from Wayne to tell her he was coming back to town. It was a mixed bag of feelings because they had been super close a majority of their lives but that bond had weakened between her moving to LA and this business with their mom. So she suggested they meet over waffles at the Waffle Shoppe. She and Clifford did their catch up there so why not make it a family tradition?

Dahlia was seated at a booth by a window, keeping an eye out for Wayne, and feeling ever so slightly anxious. She wore a pair of dark jeans with a black sweater and matching boots, hair pulled back into a ponytail. There was a menu on his side of the table only since Dahlia already knew what she wanted.

When Wayne pulled in he parked with a view of the front door. He had travelled a lot so time between him and Dahlia had done a number on their closeness. One thing he told himself "She is not a kid, I can always offer help love and support but she has her own life."
With that said he slide from the car and locked up zipping his winter trenchcoat up to keep the worst of the cold out. Making his way inside, he looked around to and think he spot Dahlia. He walks quickly, that still walking and not running right?
"Hey there Dee Dee." He smiled warmly at her.

Dahlia spotted Wayne getting out of the car, emerald green eyes tracking him all the way inside. A grim blossomed on her features as she stood up to meet him. "Wayne," Giving him a tight hug. "It's so good to see you." It really, really was. She finally let him go and dropped back down in to her seat. "How have you been? How has travelling been?"

"Traveling was fun but it's nice to be home and have a place to hide." He laughs. "Seriously I might claim to still be on the road until the end of the month just to catch up on chores and sleep."
He picks up his menu and starts to read. "What do you recommend and how have you been?" He looks up from his menu.

Dahlia chuckled softly. "Where are you staying? I don't think Cliff's touched the trailer yet so you're welcome to stay there if you need a place to crash. Maybe check with him first so he doesn't bulldoze the place with you still inside it." Only a partial joke. She wasn't really sure what Clifford intended to do with the place - all Dahlia knew was that she didn't want to deal with it anymore.

"I'm getting the banana nut waffles, can't ever go wrong with them." A smile flashed. "I've been...alright. Doing better now than I was last year. Just officially moved in with my boyfriend a few months ago."

"Congratulations. I hope to meet him at some point and I'll stick with your choice on waffles." He grinned then took a quiet moment. "I think I'll let Cliff handle the trailer. I'm sure it's his by right and I have zero memories I want to go back down and explore. You know my favorite memories are us anyway. I think I'll try to find a quiet place to work on my writing and maybe see if I can get in touch with inspiration."

"I'm sure you will. I think you'll like him. Cliff seemed to give him a kind of stamp of approval? And Justin likes him a lot." Justin having been Dahlia's best friend ever since they were little. "Yeah that's how I feel about it. I couldn't keep staying there after mom...you know...so I moved in with Justin and I've just kinda let it sit there. There's still a lot of stuff in there - I didn't know if any of you boys would want to look through it. I took the only thing I wanted." Dahl explained and brightened a bit again. "How is your writing going anyway? I admit I haven't been able to stay up to date with it but now that you're here I'll have to try and read some."

"I think it's going well. It has been enough that I can afford the travel so I am happy with it. What about you, any stories to share?" He grins and signals for coffee.

The waitress comes by to take their drink orders and also food orders since Dahlia orders the banana waffles for them both. Her drink of choice is hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream. Once they are left again, "Eh...none that you would probably believe." She admits. "Though I did come down with this wicked flu...though I was gonna kick the bucket but- here I am! Still working on getting back out and socializing though."

"You nut bar! You are suppose to call me when you're sick like that. If I came back to town and you were gone..." He shook his head. "And don't sell me short on what I might believe, especially when you go back and read my comics." He shakes his head with a grin and dumps large amounts of sugar into his coffee. "See I can at least pretend to drive adult beverages."

Dahlia looked a little sheepish, "I mean, if it makes you feel better I didn't reach out to Cliff or Eddie either. There was...just a lot going on. But Declan, my boyfriend, he nursed me right back to health, even when he got sick. And then I helped nurse him back to health too." She studied Wayne for a beat. "...well. I had this dream...that mom was a zombie and she bit my shoulder while I was fighting her off. And I ended up blowing her head off with that shotgun she kept in her room. When I...woke up? I had an actual bite mark on my shoulder and...mom was dead."Dahlia lowered her gaze briefly, studying her cocoa before licking a bit of the whipped cream off. "I still have the scar on my shoulder, though it's covered up with a tattoo now."

"Sometimes our mind takes us places, it could be a fear or something tied to a darkness. There are so many unexplainable things within our world. As if there is only one world. But hey I have to have a good imagination right." He reached out and squeezed her hand. "Sometimes things want us to see people close to us only to get close."

Dahlia returned the hand squeeze and sighed. "Yeah...I've had some other experiences like that though...only one was really scary. The other one was just....weird. Like an acid trip or something." She shook her head. "I'm interested to read your comics now...what kind of stuff are your stories about?"

"Characters who find a way through the thin veil between places, and what they experience. I do my own art as well." He smiled before retracting his hand since the plates were coming. "Part of the reason for all the travel was to gather ideas from famous locations and collect local stories." He unwraps his silverware and reaches for the syrup.

Dahlia studied Wayne for a moment, sitting up straighter when their food came. She didn't speak up again until the waitress left them. "So..you know about this place then? About the weird stuff?" Picking up her own fork and taking a bite of one of the waffles.

He chuckles at that and looks to Dahlia with a grin. "We were always close for a reason, not just because of age."

"How long have you known? I didn't really...start seeing it until the zombie thing. Then...stuff just seemed to happen a lot. Weird stuff. And I-" Dahlia paused and then continued. "...I think I can do some things..." Voice soft. "I don't really know what but I can...like...feel it..." A careful sip of cocoa. "Declan doesn't really like the subject so I don't talk about it much."

"My first experience was just before my first story, I had a dream that felt so real and I woke up with a clear image of what happened in the dream. I was driven because it felt like I just knew the place. So i wrote, i drew then i took a walk. I came home with an idea for the next issue." He cuts a bite and chews slowly before taking a sip of coffee letting it all set in. "I have seen things move when I concentrate on them." He coughed lightly then cut another piece.

Dahlia listened with interest. "I guess this place has been wrong for a really long time, huh?" She ate a couple more bites and then quirked her brow. "...You can move things?" Keeping her voice a little hushed though. "I...sometimes I can sense people's emotions a bit. There's something more - bigger - but I haven't tried to tap in to it or anything yet. Not really sure how i would try."

"Well when I fond a house I will be sure it has a big back yard. You guys can come over or if you want feel free to come on by and we can sit out back." He nods. "I even have gotten halfway decent at barbeque." He laughs.

"Sounds like a plan." Dahlia chuckled. "I've got a lot of mom's old recipes. So I'll make her macaroni salad. We can do a little housewarming thing even if you want."

"Sounds like a plan!." He grins and focuses on eating the rest of the meal before him.

They ate in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Dahlia broke it again. "So, are you thinking you'e going to stick around for a while this time?"

He chuckles. "Yes little sister I should be home for a while this time. That's why I am thinking about buying someplace. I mean I could get an apartment but you never know when inspiration will hit and I doubt neighbors would be too cool with noise at like three am."

Dahlia smirked just a touch. "What kinda noise you making at 3AM to write and draw?" taking another drink of her cocoa. "There's lots of places to sale around here, I'm sure you could find a good deal on something. Buying or renting." She nodded. "And if you need anything fixed up - Declan has his own handyman and construction business."

"Even better. Not that I was looking for a fixer up, saw Moneypit too many times." He laughed. "Oh I have gotten to drawing and sticking things on the walls at all hours. Once I get through a dream no matter how good it is, I am up for hours. Sometimes with the lights on if you know what I mean." He chuckled at that.

"Ahh I getcha." Dahlia agreed. "And the apartment probably wouldn't enjoy you putting tons of things on the walls." She mused. "Well if you want some help house hunting, my schedule is pretty flexible so I'm sure I could get away for a bit to help."

"Let's see how the week works out. I promised myself I would not be a major disruption to your life, you've been working hard sis. I can see what's available and then if I need help narrowing them down I'll call to bug you. Deal?" He actually said it. He smiles.

"Pfft, house hunting is totally not a major disruption. But yeah, you got a deal." Dahlia smiled to him again. "And if I happen to see anything you might like while I'm out and about, I'll send it your way to consider."

"Deal. This way I can say "Good god you actually like that!" And not need to be close enough for you to kick me." He smirks while signaling for the check. "No, you are not paying." He stuck his tongue out at her.

Dahlia laughed again, having been already reaching for her wallet. She sets it down in the seat beside her for now. "Fine, this time. I've got the next one." Finishing off her cocoa.

"You can try. Just remember do not argue with your elders little D." He laughed and slide out of the booth. "I'm so glad we got to reconnect. " He reaches out to hug her once more.

Dahlia got up with him, "but arguing is half the fun." She teased, returning the hug. "Don't be a stranger, and I'll try not to be either. You, Cliff and I should get together sometime soon."

"That almost sounds like you need my help in handling him." He laughs "Just remember that People are strange, when you're a stranger."

"Nah, I mean. We survived a brunch together and my birthday dinner without getting into it too bad. We just need to wrangle Eddie back home and then we'll be all set." Dahlia mused. "Anyhow. I gotta take care of some stuff before work tonight. I'm glad we did this. I'll hit you up later on."

"Stay safe Dahlia and we need to stay in touch. Maybe after I get a place we can work on what recipe won't poison Cliff." He laughed and waves as they both head out.