ext. willow peak theater guild ― late evening / early morning. ( closed starter for @pastghcsts )

Charlie feels, on occasion, quite lucky that there isn’t a curfew in place in Willow Peak. Granted, whenever he’s known there to be one it’s always for kids or teenagers who are more liable to get into trouble than not without one; still, he feels lucky just the same considering how often his two AM walks seem to happen. His insomnia is more or less as bad as it’s ever been these days and for as much as he tries to do everything in his power to make sleeping a bit easier, it seems not to be in the cards. He invariably wanders the length and breadth of the suburb with no real destination in mind and jumps out of his skin whenever he runs into people on his walk― folks trooping home after a party or leaving for work in some far flung corner of Chicago or simply equally likely to wander when they were restless. 

He sees a familiar face as he notices he’s wound up in the vicinity of the theater and wonders what the closest diner that would be open at this hour might be as he approaches Everett and sincerely considers not saying anything at all. It doesn’t take much to notice that the man isn’t the biggest fan of people and Charlie’s never been thrilled by the idea of inserting himself into situations where he’s clearly not going to be wanted but Everett’s mostly pleasant whenever they speak― maybe it’s the late hour or maybe it’s the fact that when it’s just the two of them and the dark and the stars, things aren’t really all that dire.

He manages a tired smile as he finally pauses near the other man and raises a hand in a wave. “Hey, man― how’s it goin’?” It’s a little lame and a little less than he’d intended to say but he isn’t quite sure how to start the conversation and he doesn’t really want to get on Everett’s bad side before they’ve even had a proper conversation. “I’m starting to think running into you when I can’t sleep is gettin’ a little far afield of coincidence,” Charlie continues, something teasing in his tone that he hopes will be more endearing than annoying. Though he really doesn’t know how he’d endear himself to the older man even on a good day.