2020-04-14 - Waffles and Twue Wuv

Evening time is the right time... for Waffles. At least that's what James always says. He also says that about mornings and afternoons, though, so perhaps the problem is him. In any case, he's just arriving at the Waffle House, holding the door open for Diana like the goshdarn gentleman he is. His expression, however, is a little down. "... it's just frustrating. I basically blew up at a stranger at a cafe this morning, for no reason, really. Just all this... negativity building up and suddenly... pop.", he's murmuring, as they walk in. "I think it's that damn house. Hopefully Lilith and the others will be able to help properly tomorrow. I'm going insane." A pause. "More insane."

Diana smiles faintly at 'more' insane, but mostly she's looking sympathetic as she walks in past the held-open door. She pauses before saying, "Negativity will do that to a person. And I think, to some extent, it's pretty normal. I mean, if you see the person again, do apologize, but I think it's worth focusing on how to prevent it from happening again, rather than looking back at what's already past." And she kisses his cheek, just because. "The house is a big issue for you, and I'm really not surprised it's bringing its own little dark cloud raining on your admittedly very cute head. The only thing I can say is... try to remember that while progress is sometimes slow, that in the end, it is progress. Your uncle isn't there anymore to add to the mess, so no matter how small a part we hack away at-- that's real, true progress, as we don't have to clear those same things out again or new ones in their place." She reaches out to squeeze his hand. "As long as you're careful to throw away your own trash, it's 100% improvement."

James blushes faintly at that little kiss. Funny how just a peck from the right person makes everything better. "Yeah... I'll apologize to the dude if I see him again. I was going on about using flamethrowers on the house and forgot that not everyone shares my deep-seated hatred for that place, so, things got weird and I overreacted." He sighs, listening as Diana talks, and reaches to take her hand as they walk to a booth. "I know, I know.", he says, but without rancor. "If it was just trash, though, I'd be ok. You've seen my room, I'm pretty much the opposite of a hoarder, whatever that is. It's the... feelings in all that trash. The emotions and nightmares. I mean... what the hell was my uncle doing? It just doesn't seem like it's a coincidence that every damn thing in there is, like, a gateway to hell."

Diana nods her head to him, seating herself in the booth next to him this time. Cozy! She kisses his shoulder, thoughtful for a moment before she replies, "I don't think it's a coincidence, either. I don't suppose he left any notes or writing around, a journal, anything like that? Or I suppose if you're ever up for it, we could try to contact him and ask. I mean, there's got to be some benefits to living in the Hellmouth, right?" Another faint smile. "No matter how long it takes, I'll be helping to free the house of all those gateways... and if nothing else, we'll whittle them down one by one. It's not going to be fun for you, and I would never minimize how rough it can be. But the future looks bright, if we can just lessen, and eventually entirely remove, the results of his hoarding. Think of it like-- like being on a really awful diet. You can only eat clear things for awhile, you're ready to stab whoever invented broth, but when it's over you're healed up some, and ready to chow down on a massive steak and-- okay, I'm just hungry, so that metaphor fell apart, but hopefully I'm making any sense at all. I mean, you're the writer, not me." This time, the smile is a full one.

"Not so far.", James replies to her question about notes. "... maybe in the attic when we go up there? If I can even bring myself to go up there... that place feels so bad to me I haven't gone up there since I got to town." He winces at the idea of 'contacting' his uncle. "I dunno. Last time I saw him alive he was kicking me out of the house, and last time I saw him dead he was kind of a dick to me." As she goes on with her metaphor, he can't help but smile, though. "You're the only thing in this town that does make sense. THanks.", he says, and leans in to steal a soft kiss from those smiling lips.

"Oh, he was definitely a dick, for sure," Diana says, nodding her head. "It's part of why I went and talked to you, though. I could relate." She smiles softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "That said, I'm kind of wondering if we confronted him directly and asked about the items, if we could get an answer out of him. That said, I respect any decision you make on that one. We don't have to talk to him at all. Let it be a mystery." Another squeeze of his hand. She can't help but smile when he says she makes sense, and returns that kiss in spades, her forehead resting against his. Which makes it rather awkward when the waiter arrives, and has to clear his throat.

James raises a finger in a 'just a moment' motion at the waiter, and lets the kiss linger the correct amount of time. Finally breaking the kiss, he smiles up at the waiter. "Right. I'd apologize, but, I mean... I won't." He grins. "Waffles. One stack of chocolate chip with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Another with bacon and syrup. And a chocolate shake?" Then he looks back to Diana to see what she'd like.

Diana was just about to break that kiss when the waiter cleared his throat, but James' raised finger has her trying not to laugh mid-kiss, which mainly means a huff of laughter here or there as they finish up. She's blushing by the time the kiss breaks, and quickly smoothes out her hair, followed by the wrinkles in her Mario-bedecked top. Yup. Not nervous, just basic grooming, honest! She smiles warmly at him as he orders, and it's a few moments after the poor waiter asks, "And you?" before she even realizes it's her turn. "Oh! Um. Uh." She points at an entry on the menu without really looking, though then she reads it and looks pleased. It's a plate with two pieces of sausage, two of bacon, two pancakes, and two eggs. She does ask, "Can the eggs be scrambled, please?" At least the waiter gets an apologetic smile for his troubles. "Oh! And a hot chocolate, please."

James grins as Diana tries not to laugh, knowing he's got her so amused making him quite happy. Once the order is placed and the waiter is on his way, James turns back to her, grinning impishly. "Sorry about that, couldn't help myself."

Diana grins at him, for a moment, but then says airily, "I shall never forgive you. You will rue the day you chose to kiss one Diana Wilkerson, Mr. Hecker. Rue!" She even thrusts a finger to point at him. You know, in case he forgot he was a Hecker or something. She smiles then, adding, "Then again. I mean, I suppose it was mostly harmless." She grins broadly before leaning in for another kiss.

James mock-gasps as she tells him he will rue the kiss, and ducks his head before she tells him it was harmless and kisses him once more. He of course returns it with happy, gentle enthusiasm, sliding himself a little closer. "... I think I love you, Ms. Wilkerson.", he murmurs against her lips when that one breaks after several long moments.

When he scoots closer to her, Diana tries to scoot yet further. It's physically impossible, but one can't blame her for trying. That kiss is allowed to happily linger on as long as it will, and she has her eyes still closed after it breaks, a contented little smile on her face. Still, it turns into a look of surprise at his words, her eyes opening to look straight at him for a moment or two. She lifts a hand to his cheek, gently running her fingertips over his skin. "I know I love you, Mr. Hecker." And kissing is immediately resumed.

James may not have immediately realized what he actually said, so it takes him a moment to figure out why Diana looks so surprised. He tilts his head into her touch, watching her with a curious smile, until she returns the word to him, and his own eyes widen a little- before she's smooching him again and he most certainly does not resist, overwhelmed all of a sudden with everything that little 4-letter word implies.

Diana leans into that kiss, and is SO beyond caring what the poor waiter will think if he returns right then. She reaches out to take his hand, entwining their fingers together. When the kiss does eventually break, she blushes and kisses their mingled hands, leaning up against him. She looks happy and contented, not saying anything for the moment.

James gently squeezes those fingers in his, leaving his hand in hers as she brings them up for that kiss. He himself is blushing rather fiercely, but his smile is soft and shy. "... I mean it. I think I've been in love with you for a while now. Heck, I think I was already a little in love with you the night we met. You're... the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't even want to know where I'd be if I hadn't met you."

Diana gives him a soft, pleased smile, resting her free hand over their fingers. "I mean it, too. And I know what you mean. I think you'd be right here if you hadn't met me-- and so would I-- but I know I'd be a lot less happy. I wouldn't even know what I was missing, but I'd be missing it all the same." She leans in to kiss his cheek. "I don't know when exactly I started loving you-- but I do know it was very early in. That first night... it was luck, really, but it was... kinda nice seeing that I wasn't alone in meeting up with a relative I wasn't exactly pleased to see. And so I had to talk to you. Had to. And then... well, it was autopilot from then. I can't not love you. It's simply impossible." She rests her head up against his shoulder.

"Then I guess we're both lucky.", James says, then gives a soft chuckle. "I'm not used to thinking of myself as lucky, y'know. But... all the horror this town throws at me, all I gotta do is look at you and it's all worth it, because... well... you."

Was Diana blushing before? Maybe, but not nearly so much as she does as he speaks. She wraps an arm around him, looking touched, and softly shakes her head. "If anyone's lucky, it's me. I'm just glad we can be lucky together. Definitely beats lucky apart." She smiles, gently bonking her head against his.

James leans in as she slips her arm around him, and gives a happy sigh. "Definitely. And the food should be-", he begins to say, then finally looks away from the woman he loves and towards the table... and finds their food's already been served. "... huh. Guess we were more distracted than I thought."

With a chuckle, Diana says, "He seemed pretty annoyed last time. Makes sense he'd duck in, drop the goods off, and skedaddle." A smirk, and then she 'boops' poor James' nose before separating enough to start tending to her food. "I love you, James Hecker," she repeats softly.

James gives a goofy little grin as she boops him, and chuckles. "Well, I'm just glad someone else is annoyed instead of me for once.", he quips, and shifts so he can do some damage to his food as well. Her words do cause him to pause, and he leans over to kiss her cheek. "I love you too, Diana Wilkerson."

Diana gets her own version of James' goofy grin on her face at his reply, and she nods, looking immensely pleased. "I told you breakfast food is the cure for a crappy day," she teases, and takes a bite of her sausage link.

James grins, and bumps his shoulder with hers. "I think it's the company more than the food...", he replies, then takes a big bite of his waffles. "... but the food certainly helps." Another bite, and his smile softens. "And.. thank you. For... being patient with me. I know I'm not easy."

"Tch," Diana says, shaking her head. "You are easy. You're easy to know, you're easy to listen to, you're easy to spend time with, and you're easy to love. Nobody is easy 24/7, not a single person in this universe. But in general? Yeah, you're easy. Admit it." She grins, digging into her eggs. "Besides, it's not as if I'm extra-easy, either. You even came and took care of me when I was sick with the flu!"

"How could I not?", James replies. "You were the most adorable patient I've ever had." He pauses. "Granted, you're the only patient I've ever had and I'm pretty sure you got better despite my efforts rather than because of them, but still." He grins and takes a bit of his waffles, sighing happily. "Well... as long as you want me, til the end of the world. Yours."

Diana grins, blushing nonetheless, and then reaches over to half-hug him. "Yours," she echoes, in a soft, contented fashion. "'til next Tuesday at least, unless the end of the world turns out to be a Wednesday instead." She gets a wicked smile, and crunches off the end of a piece of bacon. "Or as long as you want me, whichever comes last."