whitetwoguns | But I ain't no madman.

Yeah. I mean, I was...

[He's already off shift, not on a break or anything. Shit Newendyke don't sound eager.]

You uh you eaten yet?

[Casual, cool and it's no thing as he can muster.]

Naw...kinda hungry though.

[Super cool, super casual. Nothing doing.]

Yeah. Me too. I'm thinking about heading over to get something to eat. Somebody said there was a good buffet around building 7. You wanna meet there?

Sure. I ain't had a buffet in a while.

[In fact the last time was with you, Mr. White.] Casual place?

Yeah. From what I hear, it is a casual place.

[Casino clients. No one special. He's been actually rather tight fisted with money and eating out as of late.]

Cool. I'll be there.

[He's got himself a table, it is on the busy side so he hasn't gone to fill a plate. There are glasses of water in the booth though. The old man's shaved, dyed and looking put together for the most part.]

[Here comes a Freddy Newendyke, also shaved and looking cleaner than he has in a week's time. The kid wanders in looking over the crowd for a familiar old man. He won't spot the dark glossy head of freshly colored hair just yet.]

[The old man sees him first and for a moment is struck dumb. There's Mr. Orange. Looking like he first saw him more than a year ago. It's gonna be two years they've been here in August. He doesn't wave t the kid, instead he just stands up. Maybe that'd do the trick.]

[It sure does and because of that a split second shows the kid looking mildly dumbfounded for how sharp Mr. White looks. Almost like he did over a year and a half ago. Wait was he dying back then? And well, this isn't the same as that funny looking shirt he had on at Smokey Pete's. Still, he looks fucking good. Oh shit it's only been days since they last saw each other. Don't wag.]

Hey.

[Freddy says once he nears Larry then helps himself to a seat.]

[Funny looking shirt? It was a classic button down Hawaiian. Right now he is wearing a green shirt with his favorite small alligator at his chest. It compliments his jeans.]

Hey to you too. I hope you worked up an appetite. The plates are pretty big.

[Except he didn't come on over to talk about the plates. Is it his imagination or can he smell Freddy's cigarettes already? Man. How long has it been without that?]

I had a twinkie today. That's it. [True story.] You wanna go first or...?

[Just like friends, maybe more, maybe less. He notices Larry's favorite gator.]

A twinkie?

[His smile stays even though he scrunches his eyes shut at the thought.]

You go first before you look like one of those starved kids in Africa. I got my water.

[Holds it up to prove it.]

Alright. Hey get me a coke will you?

[Freddy asks like it's no thing as he gets up again, plate in hand to pile on the food. Oh god he's wagging isn't he? Yes he is. Can Larry tell?]

[Happier? Yeah. That he can see. His eyes don't seem so lidded. And there have been a few short and easy smiles to his face. It fills the old man up with hope. Still, he keeps telling himself to calm down. He knows better. By the time Freddy gets back, he has a coke with a straw, easy on the ice.

Larry's got himself his own too.]

Hey.

[He greets again, more to the coke than the old man. Look at this fucking plate of buffalo wings, macaroni and cheese, bacon, ribs, and other heavy foods.]

Keep clear of the mashed potatoes. Just trust me on this one.

Well. Okay.

[Scoot up onto his feet.]

You're not gonna tell me why?

[For a moment he thinks over snagging a wing. Nope. They're not there. (Yet.) And yes, he's lingering to get an answer.]

I saw a kid dig for gold then put the nugget in the tray.

[Freddy offers around a mouth full of said wing.]

[Lips clench because they'll grimace otherwise. Larry just nods.]

Okay then. Be back in a second.

[A real friend gives a warning. Yep. That's how it feels right now. They're not quite so raw as they were walking around the square. He doesn't expect as much anyway. They have so much ground to cover as it is. Larry's own plate comes back pretty full and missing those tainted potatoes.]

Winter was over a month ago.

[He jokes. Bear joke. Hah. Note how little of his own plate has been emptied while waiting for Larry. The kid doesn't want to rush a nice dinner. He can have manners contrary to popular belief. Also maybe time with the old man isn't so bad.]

Yeah, well, I'm not getting any less hungry right now.

[Modest take out has been enough. Right now he's plain starved. And it isn't because of the waiting around at all. He's gonna start with his own ribs. They're wedged next to the scoop full of shrimp cocktail.]

Then again, I'm not the guy who goes around having a twinkie for breakfast.

It's what I had for lunch.

[The kid clarifies with his mouth partially full.] How about you? Whatchu do?

[How was your day? Anything cool happen? Is this just like it always was?]

Oh. Excuse me.

[Already he's licking of barbecue sauce from his mouth. No need to worry too much about cleanliness or manners. Much manners anyway.]

I worked a little bit. Kinda calm until about an hour before leaving, I broke up a fight.

[He shrugs.]

The usual. I think we'll pick up some Sunday.

[It's a holiday, for people who don't give a fuck about religious holidays it's just another one so.]

What kinda fight?

[Curiosity getting the best of him. The kid does love a good story, especially when it's coming from the old man.]

RING RING

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