#stavid

As the four of you approach the new town you notice that theyre setting up for the solar festival tomorrow

Oh how convenient

Hush

Jay shot a look in David's direction

It's my story, and if you would prefer to wait around this town uselessly for three days than be my guest or you can suspend your disbelief, Davian.

This was the weekly ritual. Every Thursday night was Dungeon and Dragons night playing through Jay's campaign. They hosted it at Visionary Games since the store was a convenient location between their places. RE. The rich area the other four lived in and the poor ler area David rented a flat in.

Frymri is going to find the nearest town person and ask them what the Solar Festival is.

Thank you Nicholas, you see a young woman on a ladder stringing banners across the street lamps. She acknowledges you but says she's far to busy for idle chatter.

Oh oh oh! Can Hemlock use Mage Hand to string up the banner for her and give her time to talk.

Ross interrupted. His Human Druid running up next to Nick's Dragonborn Warlock to help out in the conversation.

What are the two of you doing?

Elbain the Valiant will look for a nearby shop where he can restock on the party's supplies. I think we used up all our rope in that last dungeon, right?

Gill looked around the table for confirmation as the players glanced to their character sheets and nodded.

Hemlock needs more rations for his familiar while you're at it

Would Elbain know that?

He looks to Jay, the DM shrugs.

Why not. Let's say you saw Hemlock use his last ration to feed his familiar last time and remember it. It would not be fun to spend all day shopping when it can be done in one trip.

I'm going to give Elbain 5 gold pieces before he splits off to cover anything that's for the group. And then tell him "And remember, if you come across an axe with this marking, I'll pay any price for it" while pointing to the tattoo on his arm.

Elbain nods, but obviously we all know about Davian's family axe by now.

It's his thing. I commit to the bit.

And what else will Davian do while the rest of the party moves the plot along.

David leans back in his chair arms crossed in casual challenge. Yes Jay's nickname for him also became his character name because he couldn't bother to think of one.

Maybe he's waiting for an actually interesting plot hook instead of just another sec festival.

How dare you! The solar festival is not a sex festival.

It's not?

Nicholas almost sounded disappointed.

The woman tells Frymri and Hemlock that the Solar festival is a day of celebration in order to appease the sun god so he returns after the winter.

Could sex appease the sun god? Elbain and Hemlock have some growing tension between them

Oh Elbain had other things what grow around Hemlock

Ross lightly slapped Gill on the arm

Aaah. Gill!

Yes. Sex is one way-

Knew it.

But so can other things. Have a little faith in me Davian. I'm sure I can find something to catch you interest.

Just as he said that another patron entered Visionary game store. Due to the position at the table the front door was behind David but right in Jay's eyeline. He smirked and kept an eye and ear out for a way to pull the guy into the game.

Stewart heads to the ward and checks his pager. It’s not David who’s calling, but another patient.

He goes in and tends to them, checking to see if show the surgery went. Even after the mishap, all seems to be well. Aside from the pain, but that’s a given.

“You’re healing nicely.”

He smiles and checks everything before leaving as the family arrives for a visit.

He closes the door and looks over at David’s. David who has no family to visit him, only the staff here. Only him and Steph and a few others.

He wonders about David’s ex, would he want to know that David was in a crash? What about David’s football friends?

He keeps these thoughts to himself, perhaps he’ll ask David later, what he won’t do, is go behind his patients back.

He turns to head back to his office only to be stopped by John.

“Doctor Miller.”

“Hey Stewart, so, Andrew and David are down for the count, and Visionary have borrowed some of ours, looks like I’m helping g you for a bit.”

“Oh.”

Stewart said, a little surprised.

“Um, sure. Thank you.”

They head to the next patient and John does what he says and helps, rather than take over.

“Left handed right?”

“Yeah…”

Stewart says as he nods. This was so different. Not what he was used to at all. It’s a completely different dynamic to the students, and completely opposite to David. He wonders why he finds himself missing David as they work.

“Keeping busy then? I de you’ve picked up an extra shift.”

“Yeah, with two nurses being down, I thought it best to do a sleep shift here, just incase.”

“You speaking up for Andrew earlier, that don’t go unnoticed.”

Stewart glanced back at John.

“He didn’t deserve that. It wasn’t his fault. She…no one was listening to him. I saw the pin prick, it’s unmistakable.”

John nods as he works.

“You know, it’s good you have his back. Just know…if anything wasn’t right or you had something on your mind, you can come to me right? Like the students come to you and Steph, and even David.”

Stewart pauses. John notices. He sees there’s something on the tip of Stewart’s tongue, but a bigger force is causing him to stay silent. John takes him in, his tired form, his hard expression, the way he carries himself protectively…it’s not unlike…no he can’t make assumptions. But what he can do is report back to Stephanie.

“Thank you.”

Stewart manages.

“Genuinely.”

They finis their task and part ways for the rest of their shift.

Stewart heads to the sleep quarters. Completely forgetting about dinner, just focusing on getting some sleep before the night shift.

Stan rolled into Nueva Familia at a quarter past two am, on the dot. His appearance left something to be desired; dark, wild hair shoved into a well-worn beanie, under eye circles deep enough to look like 2008-era eyeliner, mismatched jacket buttons, and a sour expression. Overall, he just looked kind of depressed, which was an accurate assumption. Smelling vaguely of alcohol and lacking immensely in optimism, it was difficult for him to not be consumed with the state of his world at times like this. Times when he didn’t know if he was going to go crazy before he calm any part of the storm swirling around in the darkest part of his heart. 

Upon arrival, the brunet snuck through the Rodriguez’ restaurant doors as quietly as possible. David had said he was alone, but there was still something to be said for subtlety when to any passerby he looked like a common criminal. As promised, there was indeed a very handsome bartender situated behind the counter, polishing what looked like the last of the glasses for the evening. It was strange to see everything in the restaurant so neat, clean and organized-- it put Stan’s teeth on edge. It didn’t feel normal. 

Pushing down any negative feelings as far down as one could in a three second span, Stan put on his best happy face and took a seat directly across from his classmate. 

David stood outside Dark Side Pub, arms crossed with a permanent neutral expression bordering on a frown. As the bouncer of the joint, he didn't have much to do as the night came to an end, except act as security if some drunk refused to leave once they closed.

Then 3 a.m. like clockwork he shows up across the street. David doesn't know his name, but that didn't stop him from recognizing the shop owner. He always waved first, friendly smile big enough to see from this distance, and David nodded back lifting a hand in greeting. His tight-lipped expression pulling up at the corners ever so slightly. This was their ritual. Nothing more nothing less. A simple greeting when good morning and good night mixed together so much there weren't any words to say.

The light flicked on in the bookstore/coffee shop casting a warm glow throw the windows across all of the usually drab surroundings of Visionary street. David let his shoulders relax slightly as he watched the nerdy store owner go through his usual setup routine. He didn't know what it was about seeing the guy across the street that put him at ease, maybe it was just the routine of it all, no two days of work were ever going to be the same except for the fact that at 3am the guy across the street would set up. That was a grounding constant.

He watches the man potter around his shop for a good while. Brewing coffee, dusting shelves, sweeping the floor, and opening packages of takeout cups. The two large front windows on either side of the door gives him a god view of almost the whole place.

David turned his head and yawned only covering his mouth at the last minute. He wasn't going to stay awake long enough to get back to his flat at this rate. He might crash as soon as he clocks out, maybe lay down on the booth at the back that's permanently sticky from split drinks. Damn football matches turning his long nights into even longer days. When he looked back over he saw the shop keep pulling the outdoor chairs off the tables, except he'd paused for a moment and was staring back at David.

His thoughts were lethargic, too tired to think anything of being watched right back, and for a moment they simply looked at each other. David's watch beeped faintly stopping him from dozing off where he stood.

'3:45 time to get everybody out'

He turns to go back inside the pub, throwing one last glance across the street, but the guys already gone. Not even visible from the windows. It's fine he'll see him again tomorrow.

"Okay, we're closing up! Settle your tabs. You got 15 minutes."

And luckily for David the patrons complied without much hassle. He helped a drunk guy call one of his mates to pick him up when he overheard him say he was going to drive, but otherwise nothing major. The buzzing in his mind couldn't take anything with more mental effort than that.

While the rest of the employees cleaned up, mopping floors and flipping chair on top of tables David sat down at the bar just to get off his feet for a second.

Can I get you anything? Bar's for paying customers only.

Stephanie joked. She was one of the better bartenders here and David got along with her because he was as she called him her "scary dog privilege" on the bus at the end of the night since they commuted in the same direction.

Got anything that will wake me up?

Ice. I could put it down the back of your shirt.

They also shared a sense of humor. David grumbled and didn't even realize his head had almost fallen into his arms as he crossed them on top of the bar.

....Whatever.

Woah you'd actually let me?

Maybe.

Well shit I already dumped all the ice out. Missed my chance to mess with you.

Then she looked at him sympathetically.

David, you look dead tired. Just head on home you don't need to stick around.

I don't even know if I can do that.

At least go across the street then.

David blinks slowly.

What's across the street?

'Besides him'

uh coffee. You know the drink not served at a bar that actually does wake you up.

Yeah coffee.

Stephanie shoves a fiver she'd gotten as a tip into his hand.

Go. Coffee. Now. And no pay backs.

So, David begrudgingly stands up and hauls himself off of her bar. Steph immediately starts cleaning the spot he'd just vacated, that explains why she needed him gone. The cold night air wakes him up enough to properly look booths ways as he crosses the street.

When David approaches the door the menu sign is outside but the little flip sign at the door still says closed. He looks down at his watch just for it to read 3:59 am. A minute before the place opens.

He looks back up and through the glass makes eye contact with the man from across the street.

The sound of the door slamming behind him, caused him to jolt. He sighed deeply and leaned back against it, letting his head bump gently into it, before he pushed himself off to walk down the old stone steps into the early evening. He was grateful it was overcast.

He pulled his ripped shirt over his shoulders as he walked down the old streets. The air was cooling and it was darker by the second. This, he could work with.

As he walked further away from the terraced houses, he let his shoulders drop as he took in a large breath of the cool evening air. As much as he tried to put it out of his mind, the pangs of hunger grew stronger. He hadn’t realised how hungry he was until he heard his stomach gurgle, it was only then he realised how much he was hurting from the hunger.

A deep ache from within his belly. He groaned c he didn’t want to double back and go back into the town, nor did he want to just go home and ignore it.

“Damn it.”

He muttered aloud as he took a diversion home. He turned left and walked down a narrow path that lead him by a brook that filtered down into the forest.

Once under the canopy of the trees above, he took another breath. Using what little strength he had to concentrate on his surroundings, what he could hear, see or smell. He slowly made his was through the thick brush, he could hear it, getting louder, pumping faster. Something was frightened. Something, was injured.

He made his way closer to see a deer lying on the ground, still alive, but wounded. He looked around to see what had injured it, the coursing blood was too loud though, and his hunger was taking over.

He slowly made his way by the animal and crouched down. He put a hand on its neck and looked it in the eye.

“It’s alright.”

He let his voice lilt as he spoke.

“This won’t hurt you. It might help actually.”

He feels for a vein and goes to move in when he hears a loud snap of a branch behind him.

She's likely trying to avoid bad press and extra work.

It'll be bad press for one of their nurses to be accused of causing an accident, and the hospital accused of malpractice.

Harding doesn't want to be personally accused though.

So she'd rather I take the tampering fall if they decide to continue with that line.

David had only been back at work 3 days and still couldn't escape the stress of the accident. For one the case was going nowhere, or at least nowhere in his favor Suffix and Essex were just as ruthless as Stewart had made them sound and his lawyers were barely capable. David had done most of the work, collection receipts, contacting the shop, trying to remember the event, but he relied on the o'hands brothers for the more technical stuff that required a stricter documentation like medical files and getting the CCTV from the streetlights.

Not to mention he's not been feeling exactly at his best while in recovery so it would have been good if they handled this all without him.

They got your statement removed by the way.

Those motherfuckers!

Our working friendship can be proven, and so you're "biased" towards me.

Steph rolled her eyes and hiked her bag higher on her shoulder. Readying to leave at her shift end.

Sorry I couldn't help more.

You helped plenty, with the rides too and from, asking John to release the files, making your statement in the first place

But the second two haven't done anything.

And on the first, you're going to leave me stranded here. So look how that turned out. Wow really you are no help.

David joked.

You'll find someone here to give you a lift, you're friends with most of the staff and they know your situation.

True. Embarrassing but true.

Greg's back today by the way he comes in, in an hour.

I'm not asking Greg

Unrelated statements

Stephanie placates, despite wanting to comment on a different employees schedule which would line up even better, and cause most likely the same reaction.

Sure.

He already knew the schedule, and Greg wouldn't even get off the same time he did. Only a few people would.

They part with goodbyes and David gets back to work trying to put the case out of his mind for the remainder of the shift. Who else was he going to ask for a statement? How was he going to make the medical files accessible to his lawyers without tampering accusations? What was he going to do to get home?

The interloper having been dealt with, The Visionary always quick to remove a threat, left only one more loose end. David was shocked to find out that it had been Leila of all people who started to give so much information away to the newcomer with only the slightest prompting. She was the second in command after Thomas escaped left had been taken from them. This man was probably trying to take Leila for them too.

She was placed in the cellar for mostly her own protection. Whatever promises the trespasser made, whatever manipulation he'd done, she wasn't safe to roam freely until her loyalty could be proven once more. That's what the High Visionary told him when he'd gotten David from the library and had him carry the intruder out, and take Leila to the cellar.

Leila had cried, but that was easily ignored when she kept calling out what was presumably the name of the guy they'd just dealt with. He'd locked the door to the cellar, but could still hear her trying fruitlessly to break free from the other side. They could hear each others voice clearly.

ENOUGH LEILA!

He yelled. If she cried any more she'd dehydrate herself faster and he hadn't been permitted to give her water or anything for the foreseeable future. It wasn't making it any easier for him to do as the Visionary said if she was going to be unreasonable. He respected her. Not only for her position in the Visionary Force, but as a person. What happened? Did she have no shame? No regret for violating the Visionary's trust? No remorse for the danger they could be placed in because of her? Did she not realize her betrayal not only to the Visionary but to all of them?

She'd realize it soon enough with time to reflect in the cellar, and it was David's responsibility to ensure the door was watched. For how long he didn't know. Fuck he'd just gotten to see Stewart after a long day of rituals, chores, and responsibilities. In theory Stewart could come here and they could talk, but he didn't want Stewart to be accused of distracting him or either of them of impeding Leila's reflection.