Re: Rifts Dead Man's Hand - Festival Day - Dane

[Chaser1]

He smiles back at her, "Of course, I will always keep you safe." oO(Wait, what did I just say? I hope she doesn't read too much into that. Or maybe I hope that she does)Oo.

Rolling onto his stomach, he pushes himself up and then offers her a hand. When she takes it, he doesn’t let go; he just starts walking with her toward the rides, still trying to figure out whether his pulse is racing from the sprint… or from her.

She follows along with, "Dane, what are you thinking about?"

“Hm?” He blinks, realizing he’s been lost in thought while they walked — trying to tuck everything back into logical little boxes. But the truth is settling in: some things, like emotions, don’t fit neatly anywhere. He’s not happy about that realization. He’s always been good at analyzing things until they make sense. It’s how he coped when his mom died — learning to stash the pain away in some tidy corner of his mind labeled feelings. But now, between Kendal and Meg, it’s like he’s been strapped into an emotional roller coaster: rounding the corner of confused, through the loop of fear, and climbing the heights of exhilaration. He worries that next comes the plummet — disappointment — when Meg realizes he’s just Dane: the geeky, awkward kid from the library.

Pushing his doubts aside for the moment, he exhales and says, “I was thinking about you. And how much I’m enjoying being with you.” He lifts her hand slightly and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Your hand is warm. I like that. It feels… comfortable.” He hesitates, searching for the right word. “No… it feels right.” as if that explains it all.

She smirks back, "So, you know you like me, but this is alien to you, isn't it?" She laughs, "Dane, it does make sense and does feel right. You're my most loyal patron at the library. I was never sure if you liked me or if that computer was your best friend, but I always felt special when you needed me to research something for you. I think we're a match made in heaven."

She pauses, all whilst avoiding festival goers rudely walking in a wide line, blocking the best walking path, then she adds, "Kendal didn't look happy. I think she likes you." She frowns, "But I thought she liked Teddy. That girl needs to make up her mind." They both reach the back of the line for the Ferris Wheel. At this rate, it may take up to fifteen minutes to board the ride. She squeezes Dane's hand back, steps closer to him and leans her head on his shoulder.

Deputy Kickman walks by, nodding to Dane. He almost gives a thumbs up, seeing a beautiful blonde on his shoulder, then he sees that it's Meg. He stifles his thumb and he keeps staring as he walks by. He doesn't look happy.

[jawildey]

She smirks back, "So, you know you like me, but this is alien to you, isn't it?" She laughs, "Dane, it does make sense and does feel right. You're my most loyal patron at the library. I was never sure if you liked me or if that computer was your best friend, but I always felt special when you needed me to research something for you. I think we're a match made in heaven."

"Yeah, that sounds about right." Dane chuckles, then grows more serious. "I've never really had anyone pay attention to me — not beyond helping with homework or something. This… handholding and being close to someone thing — it’s strange, but I like it." He gives her his best grin, a little crooked and marred by his scar, but sincere in the way that matters most.

She pauses, all whilst avoiding festival goers rudely walking in a wide line, blocking the best walking path, then she adds, "Kendal didn't look happy. I think she likes you." She frowns, "But I thought she liked Teddy. That girl needs to make up her mind." They both reach the back of the line for the Ferris Wheel. At this rate, it may take up to fifteen minutes to board the ride. She squeezes Dane's hand back, steps closer to him and leans her head on his shoulder.

Dane’s grin fades into a look of thoughtful concern. "I think Kendal came by my place this morning to either make Teddy jealous or to nudge me toward you — maybe a bit of both. As we talked, she started seeing me less as a tool and more as… someone she actually liked." He blushes in that familiar blotchy way of his. "She’s sweet, but I don’t feel the same connection with her that I do with you." He glances away briefly, rubbing his thumb across her hand. "Hopefully she’s not too mad at me for ditching her to be with you."

Deputy Kickman walks by, nodding to Dane. He almost gives a thumbs up, seeing a beautiful blonde on his shoulder, then he sees that it's Meg. He stifles his thumb and he keeps staring as he walks by. He doesn't look happy.

Dane frowns at the deputy’s retreating back. "What’s that all about? That’s the second or third time today someone’s given us the cold shoulder."

[Chaser1]

"Yeah, that sounds about right." Dane chuckles, then grows more serious. "I've never really had anyone pay attention to me; not beyond helping with homework or something. This… handholding and being close to someone thing; it’s strange, but I like it." He gives her his best grin, a little crooked and marred by his scar, but sincere in the way that matters most.

She pauses, all whilst avoiding festival goers rudely walking in a wide line, blocking the best walking path, then she adds, "Kendal didn't look happy. I think she likes you." She frowns, "But I thought she liked Teddy. That girl needs to make up her mind."

They both reach the back of the line for the Ferris Wheel. At this rate, it may take up to fifteen minutes to board the ride. She squeezes Dane's hand back, steps closer to him and leans her head on his shoulder.

Dane’s grin fades into a look of thoughtful concern. "I think Kendal came by my place this morning to either make Teddy jealous or to nudge me toward you — maybe a bit of both. As we talked, she started seeing me less as a tool and more as… someone she actually liked." He blushes in that familiar blotchy way of his. "She’s sweet, but I don’t feel the same connection with her that I do with you." He glances away briefly, rubbing his thumb across her hand. "Hopefully she’s not too mad at me for ditching her to be with you."

Deputy Kickman walks by, nodding to Dane. He almost gives a thumbs up, seeing a beautiful blonde on his shoulder, then he sees that it's Meg. His thumb goes down and he keeps staring as he walks by. He doesn't look happy.

Dane frowns at the deputy’s retreating back. "What’s that all about? That’s the second or third time today someone’s given us the cold shoulder."

Meg lifts her head and glances back at the deputy, who's talking into his radio with a stern expression. Dane notices that Megana and her guy friend are back there, holding hands, also looking at deputy Kickman. Meg lets go of Dane's hand, then faces him, "Dane, I really really like you, but do you know my past?" Her eyes begin welling up with tears.

[jawildey]

Dane pulls his gaze away from the deputy and looks back at Meg, blinking a couple of times as he tries to process what she just said. “Your past?” he echoes, his brow furrowing slightly. “Um… I mean, I’m guessing you don’t mean the whole ‘you and Teddy’ thing.” He rubs the back of his neck, a little unsure. “I guess I don’t really know much about your life before I met you at the library. Maybe I’ve heard a few vague rumors, but you know me — unless it’s on that computer, I probably wouldn’t notice.”

He tries to make it sound light, hoping a bit of humor might pull her out of whatever dark place she’s drifting toward. Still, the sight of her eyes welling up throws him off. Emotional distress isn’t exactly his comfort zone, and his brain scrambles to find a proper response.

After an awkward half-second pause, he takes both of her hands in his, if she’ll let him. “Hey, um… if you wanna talk about it, I'm happy to listen. I mean—if you don’t, that’s fine too.” He swallows, realizing he’s rambling, and then adds, softer, “I just… really like you, too. And that’s enough for me. Whatever’s in your past, it doesn’t change that.”

[Chaser1]

Dane pulls his gaze away from the deputy, back at Meg, blinking a couple of times as he tries to process what she just said. “Your past?” he echoes, his brow furrowing slightly. “Um… I mean, I’m guessing you don’t mean the whole ‘you and Teddy’ thing.” He rubs the back of his neck, a little unsure. “I guess I don’t really know much about your life before I met you at the library. Maybe I’ve heard a few vague rumors, but you know me — unless it’s on that computer, I probably wouldn’t notice.”

He tries to make it sound light, hoping a bit of humor might pull her out of whatever dark place she’s drifting toward. Still, the sight of her eyes welling up throws him off. Emotional distress isn’t exactly his comfort zone, and his brain scrambles to find a proper response.

"That's exactly what I mean," she looks around half angry, half frustrated, "They're all staring, judging me. Calling me a cradle robber. All because of his pigheaded dad. I wouldn't do what he was asking..." She breaks down and cries, drawing the attention of the nearby crowd.

After an awkward half-second pause, regardless of the nosey audience, he takes both of her hands in his, “Hey, um… if you wanna talk about it, I'm happy to listen. I mean—if you don’t, that’s fine too.” He swallows, realizing he’s rambling, and then adds, softer, “I just… really like you, too. And that’s enough for me. Whatever’s in your past, it doesn’t change that.”

Her teary, mascara smeared eyes meet Danes, "It will if I'm arrested again..."

[jawildey]

Dane’s eyes narrow as her words sink in. Again? “Arrested?” he whispers, leaning in so only she can hear. “They wouldn’t… they wouldn’t actually arrest you just for being with me, would they?”

His gaze flicks around — every glance from the crowd feels like a spotlight. The back of his neck prickles. “Meg, can we… uh, maybe go somewhere else? Somewhere we can talk without half the town staring at us?”

[Chaser1]

Dane’s eyes narrow as her words sink in. Again? “Arrested?” he whispers, leaning in so only she can hear. “They wouldn’t… they wouldn’t actually arrest you just for being with me, would they?” His gaze flicks around — every glance from the crowd feels like a spotlight. The back of his neck prickles. “Meg, can we… uh, maybe go somewhere else? Somewhere we can talk without half the town staring at us?”

She nods, firmly grabs his hand and walks towards the residential district. Her pace is uncomfortably rapid as she weaves between groups, pulling Dane behind her. Eventually, the two reach the front steps to her small humble home. She doesn't bother going in, she just sits on the warm concrete steps. Not many people are around. Those who are don't care what Dane and Meg are doing.

She sniffles and begins, "Things were okay between Teddy and me. You see, his father came from the east before starting his business," her story sounds oddly like his own father. She continues, "So, Marty wasn't accustomed to how things are here, nor did he really care.

"He used to say that I look to young for my age and would call me a D-bee. It means a dimensional being. Why would he call me that? He used to beat up on Teddy. What kind of father does that to his own son?" She wipes more tears away, "Things started to become hard for us. I didn't think the age difference was that big, neither did anyone else. Other people have done it. Look at Dr. Lewis and Ingrid, they were dating when she was 'too young' for him. They got married, but it didn't work out. I guess that's not the point.

"Teddy and I never went past kissing and foreplay, but his father, that disgusting excuse for a man." She stops, her pain stricken face trying to unsuccessfully stifle tears, "I didn't think people would care, Dane! That I'm with you. I thought it was over with! Marty told me that if I didn't sleep with him, he'd turn me in. And that's exactly what he did! I have no freedom and nowhere else I can go. I love my job and I love it when you come see me, even if not specifically to see me. The deputies and the sheriff treat me like such garbage... I didn't do anything wrong! And I'm still doing nothing wrong!"

Meg leans in and buries her face into Dane's neck. He feels her warm tears fall onto his skin. He can almost feel her loneliness and pain. He can almost feel how lost she is, but he doesn't quite understand it.

Eventually, she lifts her head, meets his gaze with a stern expression, "I belong to you. I've always wanted to ask you, for the past several months. I was just too afraid." She looks back toward the festival, "Marty Swenson is a creep and I'm sure that he has the sheriff and his deputies in his pocket. I see how he looks at Kendal, Vi and Megana. He's a creep! He did this to me."

[jawildey]

“Umm… I don’t even know what to say.” Dane’s voice comes out quieter than he expects. He looks overwhelmed—maybe even a little in shock. That was a whole mountain of things to digest.

He doesn’t try to talk right away. Instead, he reaches out and wraps his arms around her, just holding her—offering whatever comfort he can. A small part of him is aware of how close she is, how warm she feels against him, but that thought is quickly drowned out by the part of his brain still scrambling to make sense of everything she said.

When he finally feels her start to relax, he loosens his hold and lets his hands slide down to hers. “You’re a wonderful, beautiful person, Meg. I can’t make up for what the jerks in this town did to you, and I don’t know that I deserve you… but for as long as you’ll have me, I want to be here. I want to really get to know you.”

A sudden, uneasy thought strikes him. His brow furrows. “You said the sheriff and his deputies.” He hesitates, almost afraid to ask. “My dad’s not… like the others, is he? I can’t imagine him believing Swenson or going along with that kind of persecution.”

[Chaser1]

“Umm… I don’t even know what to say.” Dane’s voice comes out quieter than he expects. He looks overwhelmed—maybe even a little in shock. That was a whole mountain of things to digest. He doesn’t try to talk right away. Instead, he reaches out and wraps his arms around her, just holding her offering whatever comfort he can. A small part of him is aware of how close she is, how warm she feels against him, but that thought is quickly drowned out by the part of his brain still scrambling to make sense of everything she said.

"Don't say anything," she whispers.

When he finally feels her start to relax, he loosens his hold and lets his hands slide down to hers. “You’re a wonderful, beautiful person, Meg. I can’t make up for what the jerks in this town did to you, and I don’t know that I deserve you… but for as long as you’ll have me, I want to be here. I want to really get to know you.”

A sudden, uneasy thought strikes him. His brow furrows. “You said the sheriff and his deputies.” He hesitates, almost afraid to ask. “My dad’s not… like the others, is he? I can’t imagine him believing Swenson or going along with that kind of persecution.”

"I don't know. Chala and Suarez were the ones to arrest me." She sighs, "I was never convicted. The sheriff was furious, but Lord Stein made sure that I was safe. I was just told to stay away from Teddy... forever." She glances down the street, where Teddy and his father live. "That's over now. I've had two years to slowly clear my name. It's hard to go out, so I just work and stay home. And help you with the computer..." She tearily grins, squeezing Dane's hand. "I tried to push it all into the past, like a bad dream. But then I saw Deputy Kickman stare at me." She pauses, then asks, "Dane, what did your dad do before he moved here? He's different from the others."

While she asks, Dane notices that she'd painted the top of her porch white, like her house, but some of the paint has worn away, with her leaving and arriving, revealing the letters "R-A-P-I" in red spray paint underneath. Dane is sure there are more letters.

[jawildey]

“Dad doesn’t really talk about his past much—not even to me.” Dane’s voice drops a little as his eyes flick toward the worn paint. He decides not to mention it. He’s pretty sure he knows what the red letters once said, and the thought makes his jaw tighten as he forces the anger down.

“He’s definitely not from here, but I couldn’t tell you where he’s really from, either. Every time I try to ask, he dodges the question or changes the subject.” Dane gives a small, uncertain laugh. “He’s a good guy, though. This morning he even congratulated me on having a ‘love interest.’” The smile he tries for only half makes it to his face before faltering into a frown.

“I don’t know if he realized it was you, though. The sheriff said something to him yesterday after seeing us at Bottom’s Up.” He pauses, thinking out loud as his mind starts connecting dots.

“When I see him tonight, would it be okay if I mentioned that we spent the day together? I’m sure he already knows, but…” He trails off, eyes narrowing a little, his thoughts playing out possible outcomes like moves on a chessboard. “I’d like to see how he reacts.”