STACCATO

𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐆

full name: Elise Rueng

gender & pronouns: Cis woman & she/her

age & date of birth: 29, October 22, 1993

where do they live: Southside

time living in bradford springs: 20 years & return a year ago (back and forth between CO & TN before settling in over the summer).

occupation: sound engineer & foley artist

positive traits: determined, disciplined, thoughtful

negative traits: abrasive, jaded, reticent

faceclaim: Davika Hoorne

sister to @bunny-rueng

inspo: pinterest

Odessa nodded, giving Elise a sympathetic smile. Sisterhood wasn’t easy and she knew she was lucky that hardship brought her and Annika closer rather than apart. “I hope it all works out. I know it will, maybe when you least expect it to.” she said softly before nudging back into Elise with a laugh. “I know you’d do the same for me but for now we can just have fun, and worry about things another time.” she chuckled and moved to her feet, making a friendly grabby hand for Elise to follow. “Oh yes, we pick our days when we want.” she explained, waiting until Elise was up so she could take the other woman’s hand and bring her arm under hers. “I have the perfect routine before I go somewhere too, you will love it. And I have plenty of dresses too, and shoes.” It was where most of her money got to now she actually had freedom over her own finances. “Do you think a black dress will make you feel better? Black dresses are good for that.”

•

“Maybe,” Elise nods, trying to think more positive thoughts as she finishes her coffee and moves to follow her friend. “Okay, if you’re sure. Thanks, Des...you don’t have to do this so...” she smiles weakly, not realizing how much she’s missed having friends. She’d left most of hers back in Nashville and life had gotten in the way of her trying to reach out and connect with them. But Odessa had become a fast friend, unexpectedly so, but she’s more grateful for the other woman’s kinship than she likely realizes. “Oh gosh, I feel like I’m going behind the curtain or something,” Elise laughs now, falling in step with Odessa as they head to her place. 

“Well...I haven’t gone out in like a year so I guess a black dress is as a good staple to start with. I could always run home and grab something...” she offers, not wanting to put her friend out of clothes. Elise is used to Bunny taking any of the few things she likes in her closet and never returning them, but she doesn’t plan on doing the same to Odessa. “I think I have a black dress. Could be in a box,” some of which she still hasn’t unpacked. Between her dad and work, there’s hardly any time. 

“Aw shit, no. Always thought you two seemed the type to do the whole little house on the prairie thing.” Kas forced a tone of disappointment, as if he didn’t already know DJ and Elise were over long ago. She just left, right? Like the younger one. That must suck, if Kas could imagine caring enough about someone and that happening. One thing he could relate to was the loss of a sister, though. That story traveled through Southside for a while and Kas knew better than to mention it now. “You’ll get it.” he then said when she didn’t know who he was, tilting his head slightly. “Go through the alphabet if it helps.” Kas smiled, moving up one seat so they could talk easily. He glanced where she gestured to, nodding in pretend interest before fetching the cash for her drink and passing it to the bartender. “Well, you look good. You were the little uh…” he tried to mime a cello. “Little orchestra geek. It was cute. Still play?”

•

Elise gives an awkward laugh at his words and shrugs. “Uh...I guess everything’s gotta end?” Which sounds more depressing than she intends it to but doesn’t correct herself. She pauses, studying his face briefly in an attempt to recollect his name amidst a slightly imbibed brain. “Mmm...Luke? No uh...Liam? Wait,” Elise brightens because there’s always a thrill in guessing the right answer. “Kyle! Oh. No...Karl?” No, definitely not... “Oh, wait. Kas.” She quirks a brow expectantly, as if waiting for him to confirm or deny. “Kas Montgomery. Or something like that, right?” She doesn’t know why she’s trying to get the answer right but she hears Odessa’s voice in her ear about having a good night and not overthinking things. A friendly guessing game isn’t overthinking, is it? 

Before Elise can pay for her drink, he’s already done so and she shakes her head. “Oh no, that’s okay. I can pay –” but the bartender’s already walking away and Elise is frowning as she brings the small straw to her lips. Taking a sip, she glances at him, a slight flush coloring her cheeks at his compliments. “I’ll get your next drink then.” Because that was the polite thing to do. Though something at the back of her mind tells her he’s not very concerned with manners. Elise pushes the thought away before she can blush even more and shakes her head. “Okay well, geek is a bit harsh. Maybe uh...wanna-be-Mozarts is better?” Her smile falters only fractionally at his question and she waves a hand, taking another long sip of her drink. “uh, not really. It’s kinda just a hobby now.” Because any chances of it being more ended nearly ten years ago. “What about you? How is uh...what do you do?” Maybe she should’ve asked sooner, or maybe this is just what flirting was these days. And flirting is a very loose term for whatever the hell Elise is doing, awkward to the bone and unused to anyone’s overt attention.

Her sister was right, she could have said hi, but then be the third wheel? No thanks. Bunny was always the first wheel. “Obviously I could’ve but then it would’ve been weird because clearly you didn’t invite me.” she gestured before her arms crossed and she frowned. She could’ve invited Elise but that was beside the point, still she needed to explain before Elise could. “How was I supposed to know you suddenly have fun?” After quick daggers to the other woman needing the sink, Bunny leaned against the wall so Elise could use the other. But she didn’t do anything for her sister, right? “That blond chick who’s like spinning around everywhere.” Bunny jutted out her bottom lip but then composed herself, because being accused of jealousy was the last thing she needed right now. 

•

“Right yeah, you’re not a dumbass. That’s a Dusty thing to do.” he laughs slightly. God, DJ wonders if this is the worst interaction he’s had to date. And it’s not because of Elise, he’s convinced it’s himself. Holding onto resentment but then not actually doing anything with it, trying to force a smile at her when there’s a few choice words rolling around on his tongue. The mention of her father makes him nod, although he’s not sure why Elise can’t wait inside for him… “Right…yeah, I can wait too. I think. I mean, not officially but what’s the point in owning a place if you can’t do what you want?” he laughs, finally lighting the cigarette he’s been holding onto and almost pulled apart from tension. 

“Is it that obvious?” he grins but DJ is the first to know he wasn’t cut out for any of this. He enjoys flipping a few burgers but he always thought that’d be at a drive-thru, not a fucking diner he has to keep ontop of. “I mean…I wanna ask…y’know, it feels weird to not ask.” DJ’s brows furrow, hearing the stagnating words coming from his mouth but not being able to stop it, or hurry them along. Elise’s statement doesn’t do much to ease the pressure either, because it opens up the resentment DJ has carried for years. He laughs, though. Trying to push it away, contain it all again. “I mean, I don’t know what I’m supposed to talk about if I’m honest.” he admits, raking fingers through his messy hair. “Being dumped at an airport isn’t exactly one of those things that makes you wanna be friends with someone.” Shit…harsh? Fuck. “Sorry that er…that came out kinda…intense.”

•

Elise laughs slightly at the mention of his oldest brother. Dusty’s always been a character and she’s glad that despite all odds it seems like both of his brothers are in one piece? “I mean, if you want. It’s okay if you’re busy with,” she gestures broadly, indicating everything. He seems tense but she isn’t exactly relaxing on the beach either, shifting from one foot to the other, feeling like today is colder than April should be. Or maybe it’s just her discomfort with this entire conversation. It’s like she’s exercising a muscle she’s not used in years, joins creaking around it with each slight movement. She watches as he seems to wrestle with himself, eyes bouncing from him to the road and then back when he starts speaking and...well, she hadn’t expected that.  

“Oh.” It’s the only sound she makes at first. Maybe it’s naive of her. It’s not like they were a flash in the pan, right? They’d been together more than three years and he’d seen her through the worst of it only to get a... I don’t think we should be together anymore as he dropped her off to start the next chapter of her life. “No...it’s okay,” she shakes her head. “You’re...I mean...that’s fair.” Oh God, what is she supposed to say now? Elise clears her throat, fiddling with the zipper of her jacket and focused on her faded white shoes against the pavement. “That was really unkind of me.” She looks up at him, trying to stave off the desire to bolt in the opposite direction. “I just thought...” Elise sighs, having wrestled with guilt for years. “I thought you’d be better off...” It sounds empty saying it aloud now, but she’d really thought so at the time. “I didn’t want to hold you back with...you know...all my stuff.” She didn’t want to be a burden in their relationship, grief and pain turning her in on herself. It wouldn’t have been fair to him but she knows she should’ve done it better. Sooner. Elise presses her lips together and lifts her shoulders helplessly.

Odessa followed Elise’s words, nodding with understanding. She couldn’t imagine not being close to a sister, Annika was everything to her and always had been. Sometimes she assumed all sisters were the same, so her heart broke that there were sisters who weren’t. Elise seemed like she wanted a closeness while Bunny had cased herself out of fear. “A note.” Odessa nodded firmly, her accent making her sound far harsher than she intended. “If talking doesn’t get anywhere, slip a note under her door. Tell her everything how you feel, that you miss her. That she doesn’t need to be scared if you do this together.” Odessa shrugged, thinking it seemed like a nice idea. “Maybe put some photographs in the note from when you were children, she might have forgotten what it felt like to be your sister.” she continued but really, she knew nothing could force things either. “Decades is good, it has a floor of all music.” Odessa chuckled. “When are you free? I’ll take the night off work and we can dance so we forget.”

•

“Hey, it’s a free country. Can wait where you want.” DJ laughs, instantly hearing how stupid his words are as he tries to hold his smile so he doesn’t cringe right in her view. “I mean like, it’s not a weird place to wait, obviously. You could wait inside though?” he points with his thumb at the diner, now wondering if it’s weird that he’s thinking about her comfort. She might be meeting someone who’s never met her before, idiot. “Or like…don’t have to.” Shut the fuck up. DJ is still idly twirling the cigarette he was ready to take from the pack, laughing slightly about New Years Eve and his less than desirable injuries he sustained from Noah’s gorilla sized fists. “Yeah, I guess the dumb asshole doesn’t know how to make it count.” It was meant to sound like a confident comment but DJ instantly thinks he sounds like Danny, except DJ has enough self awareness to know there’s nothing remotely attractive about fighting. “I mean obviously it hurt like a bitch, I’m not…trying to…” he sighs, finally taking the cigarette and putting it to his mouth to light. He needed to just stop running into her, that was the easiest way to prevent this. “Oh? Me? Yeah, I’m…good, I think. Just the usual, you know? Think I need more sleep. I don’t think it’s weird to ask, unless you don’t want me to ask it back?”

•

Elise shrugs slightly, giving a polite laugh at the joke. “Well yeah but I guess you don’t want to wait in, like, the middle of the road. I just meant there are better places to wait...” Why was she still talking about this? It’s like getting stuck on a road that doesn’t have any off ramps for miles. “Oh I would I just want to – uh...my dad. He’s gonna meet me.” And she wants to make sure he’s okay, constant worry over his health plaguing her. The other day he seemed tired going up the few steps to their small home but she doesn’t say this and instead gestures at DJ. “I’m sure he’d like to say hi...if you have a second. No worries though. I’m sure this is like the only five minutes you take,” she half jokes, knowing how he’s prone to get consumed by work. Possibly overwhelmed. He looks it but she doesn’t feel at liberty to say as much. Brows furrow at his comment and she nods. 

“His loss, your gain I guess...” Elise ventures with a slight smile, raising her brows. “The usual being oh shit I own a diner?” It’s an attempt to interject some levity into their conversation, maybe alleviate the awkwardness that seems to plague them at every turn. She thinks it works until he ostensibly returns her question and she falters slightly. “Oh no. I mean...I don’t mind if you do but you also don’t have to. Like to be polite or whatever.” Elise grimaces slightly before letting out a puff of air, shoulders slumping a bit as she glances from her shoes to him.  “This,” them “is awkward, right?” Might as well call a spade a spade. Though she’s not sure if calling it out makes it worse. Too late now. 

She nodded with a sympathetic smile, only able to imagine what it must feel like for Elise. She supposed she was feeling as if the weight was there for only herself to carry, but even then she was able to sympathize with her sister. “True, I don’t know what can make somebody show they care if they’re scared.” Odessa thought out loud, sipping her coffee again. “I like to think everybody…” she waved her free hand as she considered the word. “Realizes things before it’s too late. Sometimes a wake up call won’t work because she will think you’re…nagging.” The English language was annoying sometimes, with loads of different words for the same thing. “Maybe if you say you have to stay somewhere for a few days, she has to do it alone and will see how much she’s missed and not helped with? It might change.” she shrugged before she laughed slightly. “We don’t have to go out, but sometimes loud music and a busy place feels good to get lost in. But we can stay at my place, have wine and food and fun. I think you’d feel refreshed after, I have a big tub too. I can get cucumber for our eyes.” she chuckled.

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