Welcome Home, Dave (Open)

[David Reed]

It was 10am on a Saturday, the cool spring morning just now beginning to open up to the warmth of the coming day. A sunny one it looked to be at that as Dave squinted up into the warm light. There was barely a cloud in the sky, pushed on by a lazy breeze. What a perfect day it would have been if not for the gloom in his heart.

Dave gave a small sigh as he lifted the cigarette back to his lips. He took a drag and slowly let the smoke out. Looking back down, he leafed through the thick text in his lap. “The Small Business Owner’s Manual.” Four more books sat at his side. It wasn’t the ideal Saturday morning read, but Dave figured now was as good a time as any to begin his research. He wasn’t officially in charge of the auto shop yet, but it would happen soon enough. When that happened he needed to have at least some idea of what he was doing.

Dave’s father hadn’t been educated as a businessman, but James had made it work. Of course, he’d had the benefit of knowing the trade; something Dave had previously made a point to avoid. It had seemed the best way to escape the auto shop.

Now he sat on the marble steps of the public library with a random assortment of books, preparing to take over the family business.

“Funny how things work out, huh FI?”

“I do not understand the meaning of your phrase,” the feminine robotic voice sounded in his head.

Of course she didn’t understand. FI had no context for the statement. All she knew was that they wouldn’t be leaving Pilot Ridge for some time. He glanced at the beaten up GPS unit. The death of one’s father and family obligation was a little beyond her comprehension… although, maybe Dave would try to teach her later…

Taking in another lung-full’s worth of smoke in spite of the no smoking sign posted on library, Dave returned to the book in his lap. At least it was a nice day.

[Delilah Pryce]

Delilah's life had never been normal, not by any means, even for a meta human. Now, after what Sean had done to her, Delilah wasn't exactly sure who or what she was. Mind you Sean had done nothing without Delilah's full consent, in fact, it had been her who had come to him for his help. Sean had explained to the best of his abilities that she might be different after their session, but Delilah had counted on feeling like this. She wasn't sure who or what she was anymore. All those memories which had made her the person she had been her whole life were now gone, locked away hopefully forever. With that being said, her mind wasn't sure just how to handle itself. Without the things that make up our personality and our ideas, the mind sort of freaks out. Delilah knew she had been a very bad person, but now, she felt like she wasn't. She had a very long skill set devoted it seemed to nothing more than hurting people. Once she might have enjoyed doing the jobs she was hired to perform, but not now. Without all that dark floating about her mind, Delilah was free to choose a different path in life. She still had memories of everything from the time she arrived at Hammel as a kid and everything after, but none of those memories made up a personality. She needed new stimulation in life, and this time it was going to be far more positive.

Delilah had come to the library to do some reading, to try and fill her mind with new more productive skills. Just as her body could mimic any physical movement, Delilah's brain could remember anything she read or heard. That wasn't really a meta ability but it seemed to be a by product of her main meta skills. Unfortunately, Delilah had struck out in finding anything worth reading as she had almost read every book in this blasted place. So, setting out of the building, Delilah sighed and shook her head. Her body felt sluggish and her hands shook, a side effect of coming off all those pain pills she was addicted to and enjoyed so much. It had been a big step for Delilah to decided to sober herself up, but she had been given an opportunity at a new life and being a drug addict was something she wanted to change. It hadn't been easy and she had slipped more than once, but she was trying hard. Delilah closed her eyes and took several deep breaths as she clenched her fists, standing still just outside the library doors. After a moment or two, Delilah opened her eyes and reached in the pocket of her torn and faded blue jeans, pulling out an empty pack of cigarettes. "Perfect," she muttered under her breath as she crumpled up the empty pack and tossed it aside, littering without a care. Thankfully, her nose caught wind of a very familiar smell, cigarette smoke and quite eagerly, Delilah began looking around. "Bingo," she said as she eyed a young man sitting on the library steps smoking.

Normally, approaching men was something Delilah had avoided given her past, but seeing how she no longer remembered her past, Delilah approached the young man, although her body did so slowly. "Got an extra?," she asked rather nervously as she wrung her hands together. Most people didn't mind offering up a smoke if they had an extra and Delilah just hoped this guy was feeling generous. Maybe her rather haggard and nervous appearance might spark some generosity in him and if not, well, Delilah just hoped that she had enough cash in her bank account to cover a pack of smokes.

[David Reed]

Off in his own world, Dave hadn’t noticed the woman come out of the library. When he caught her voice he jumped a little. His hand went automatically to the GPS, pulling his dear friend close. Dave couldn’t prove anything, but he was sure he felt her thank him for the protection. FI had been abandoned before and had nearly been sold for parts. There was no way he would risk any harm to her. Ever.

Looking up, Dave could see that the woman was nervous though there was no apparent reason why.

“Yeah, sure.” He said, reaching his hand into his jacket pocket to pull out a half pack. Next he pulled out a lighter. Dave was no stranger to bumming one so he had no problem sharing. Cigarettes were one of those courtesy things. What goes around comes around. The only rude thing would be for her to later turn down someone else’s request. But that was her business and Dave really didn’t care.

Dave held open the pack for her to take one herself but made no move to get up. “Care to sit?” he asked. He could use the distraction. Even as he closed the book on his lap it had already been clear he wouldn’t get much reading done just yet. Sitting around relaxing was much more his style than research and business. Of course he would get around to it eventually. There was simply no choice. But for now…. it was a nice day and the last thing he wanted was to be thinking about taking over his father’s business.

Maybe the lady wouldn’t mind sitting for a small chat. Price of a smoke, eh? Not a terrible taxation but Dave wasn’t about to say it out loud for fear of scaring her off.

[Delilah Pryce]

Delilah gave a slight sigh of relief when David pulled out the half pack of smokes he had tucked away and took the offered cigarette with a still shaky hand, "Thanks," she said taking the lighter as well. It was sort of a unspoken rule among smokers to offer a cigarette when someone asked to bum one. Delilah would remember this if she ever ran into David again and he needed one. Her usual uneasiness around men had subsided somewhat since her session with Sean, but the primitive fear was still there and would probably always be, even if she really couldn't remember why. David seemed like a nice enough guy though and Delilah felt a bit easy around him. Perhaps it was his smile or just the tone of his voice which radiated calm, either way, Delilah enjoyed it. She put the cigarette to her lips and lit it, taking a long slow draw, enjoying the sensation of smoke filling her mouth and throat. "I needed that," she said, offering David's lighter back to him with a nervous smile. Social interaction, not something Delilah excelled at, but she was trying to be a new woman now and this was one of the aspects of her new personality she was working on. It was nice being sort of normal for a change, just being a woman chatting it up with a total stranger over nothing.

Delilah sat down on the steps with David, not close to him mind you, but still sitting with him. This was a big change from the woman she used to be and to be honest it wasn't that bad. Taking another draw of the cigarette, Delilah glanced at David a moment, taking in his facial features and then letting her eyes drift to the collection of books he had with him. "The great American dream eh?," she asked, nodding to the book he had in his lap, the one about small business or something. "Its nice being your own boss," she said, as if she had any real experience at such a thing. It was just small talk, horrible small talk at that but at least it was something. Delilah flicked her cigarette, dropping its ashes to the ground as she brushed her long black hair from her face with her free hand. "Got any particular business in mind or just trying to find yourself some dry ground in the storm of life?," she asked with another nervous smile, the cigarette in her hand shaking slightly along with her hands. Delilah tried to hide it, but no doubt David already noticed so she she just gave up on the whole normal girl routine, after all, everybody had their faults.

"I'm Delilah by the way," she said laughing lightly and nervously, "Sorry if I'm rambling, I tend to do that from time to time," she added looking down at her feet, wondering just what David was thinking about her. She hoped he wasn't staring, man how she hated the stared people gave her. "Oh and sorry if I bothered your studies," she blurted out, sighing this time and quickly taking another draw from her cigarette to stop her babbling mouth.

[David Reed]

Dave returned her smile with a light one of his own, taking the lighter back and returning it and the pack to his pocket. He slid over a bit to give her some space as she sat. It wasn’t because of her apparent nervousness. It was just natural to give space to someone as they joined you. Although there was more than enough space where they sat. As he moved over, Dave made sure to keep FI close, tucked practically under his thigh.

He leaned back propping himself up with his elbow on the stop behind them and letting out another lung full of smoke. Catching her note, Dave glanced down at his pile of books as well.

“Ehh…” His face wrinkled slightly as he contemplated how to reply. It wasn’t that he minded the topic really. Dave wasn’t avoiding the issue directly. Just not actively addressing it either. Besides, he didn’t want to sound dramatic about his life. “You could say that I guess, but it’s more just something that I fell into. Family business and all that.”

Honestly it wasn’t really the American dream for him at all and the last thing he wanted was to be tied down to a business. There were other ways of being your own boss.

“Dave,” he said, taking the cigarette in one hand and extending the other toward her. He gave a small chuckle at her comment and shook his head. She wasn’t rambling at all and he certainly didn’t mind. As a matter of fact he enjoyed a little light conversation.

Luckily for Delilah, Dave wasn’t the kind of guy to stare. He might glance at her a little from time to time but his focus drifted more and he had a tendency to stare absentmindedly into space.

“Nah, you didn’t interrupt at all. I wasn’t really all that into it anyways.” He paused, glancing at her a moment. “How about you? No offense or anything but you seem kinda stressed.” The day was far too nice for stress.

[Delilah Pryce]

"Family business," Delilah said, flicking her cigarette with her thumb, the ashes falling around her feet as she ignored David's extended hand. She didn't say it in a mocking way, just in a lost sense of the way. Something tickled in the back of Delilah's fragile mind, something where Sean had done whatever it was he did. The matter of remembering family or talking about it made Delilah's mind want to run in a different direction. She felt her chest tighten a bit more and she tried to remember to breath deep and slow. It was a panic attack, or the beginnings of one. This wasn't new, no, the panic was an old friend who just wouldn't curl up and die. Delilah dropped her head a bit pulled her cigarette closer to her lips, debating whether to take a draw or not......She finally did.

David seemed to pick up on Delilah's stressed out behavior rather quickly and she forced a fake smile, raising her head to get a better look at him. Her hair fell over her shoulders a bit more and Delilah just sat there silent for a moment, smoking her borrowed cigarette. With one last exhale of the sweet smoke, Delilah flicked her cigarette away and turned to face David head on now. "Stress is my middle name. Doctors think I'm bipolar or some shit like that," Delilah said with a shrug of her shoulders, "Who knows, maybe they might be right?," she added with a smaller tone in her voice this time. Then as if someone had flicked a switch in her personality, Delilah laughed a little, a genuine laugh. "Drama bomb eh?," she asked David, leaning back a bit against the steps they both occupied at the moment. "Didn't mean to set that mother off, just kind of happened. Sorry about that," she said, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. "My shrink thinks being able to admit my problems openly will help me, but I think she's a quack," Delilah went on randomly.

"Anyhow, enough of that crap for now," she said looking back to David once again, "I owe you a handshake small town," Delilah said, smiling at the nickname she gave David, "Maybe some other time, when I get to know you better. I kinda have this thing about men.......about touching them or them touching me, so please forgive my rudeness," she said, feeling she owed David something. "Tell you what though, I don't have anything against drinking with men I guess. You want to grab a beer?," Delilah asked with a crooked little smile, a smile not seen since she was a little girl.