Who: Alexis & David What: David's arrival and Q/A Session with coffee When: Baby's First Day in Vallo Where: Alexis' housing/Starbucks Warnings: Overreacting Status: Complete
The palpitations and the regrettable sweating had begun—emotionally skyrocketing David into another one of those god awful panic attacks. “This isn’t working for me. I can’t do this, again.”
Everyone on the network seemed so calm. Alarmingly calm as if appearing in a new world was normal.
If Alexis wasn’t here David most likely would have crawled into a dark place indefinitely. But he had to hold it together for her. That’s right, he’d save face and keep extra alert by her side and was ready to push her in front to handle the first problem that came along like the loving brother he was. But really. He’d be a pile of ash without her.
“How long have you been here? And why is this ok with you?”
Okay, so - yeah, Alexis felt a little bad that her brother was in crisis meltdown mode. He was riddled with anxiety on his best days, mostly comprised of bones and nerves and some muscle and like, firing synapses - but here, after being spirited away into a new universe, he was about to fall apart. Cute that he was trying to hold it together for her, but she’d do the same for him.
Maybe find a way for him to get back home - because he actually had things to do there. He and Patrick were going to get married and co-exist happily ever after, living that small town life.
“I don’t know, David, I just - Ted and I broke up,” she blurted, brushing bangs away from her forehead. She’d gotten some new clothes at that store Klaus worked at - a red floral minidress and thigh-high boots comprised today’s ensemble; she felt okay, mostly, even if she had no idea what she was supposed to do here. “And - I don’t think our current town is right for me anyway, so. I decided to make my own way because it’s really hard to make a profit on your own public relations business with only one client but anyway, I just - didn’t expect branching out to be like this but overall, it’s okay. I think.”
She stopped in front of a familiar green mermaid logo. “And there’s a Starbucks. Come in, let’s get a tea or something and talk about this.”
With each word Alexis spoke, David could feel his jaw pulling tighter, teeth grinding—very bad habit they were very high maintenance and he couldn’t afford chipping them. Breaking up with Ted, not a shock, though he’d seen an incredulously huge change from his sister once she actually had, y’know. Experienced love or whatever. He personally had that talk with Ted—you’re welcome— who was unsure about them getting back together in the first place…
But what really made his favorite Rick Owens SS14 Ramones High-Top’s screech to a stop was all this clamoring about her leaving. The tension fell and David felt a range of emotion he wasn’t quite sure how to describe.
One he could identify as betrayal. “What, excuse me, what do you mean your own way? You left us?!?” His voice reached an octave that was enough to make some passerby’s glance in his direction, but David was already covering his face and shaking his head. The word “Starbucks” perked him ever the slightest.
Lifting his head in indignation. “Yes, let’s get a happy little tea and talk about us not being good enough for you anymore.” He did not hold open the door for his sister but he did march his way right up to the line, reaching for the protein boxes to discern one that was edible.
“That’s not what it’s like, David!” Alexis blew out a huffy breath, sending strands of hair flying. She went behind her brother in line, not even needing to look at the menu - she knew what she wanted to drink, an iced golden ginger (turmeric and coconut milk, it was divine) and couldn’t fathom eating right now, so. The treats and the protein boxes were passed up in favor of the largest size cup, filled with goodness.
She had some cash, so she paid for them both. “But you and Patrick - you’re like, serious and mom and dad are finally finding other stuff and it’s just...it’s time. Time for me to go but it wouldn’t be like it was before. Not like when...we weren’t a part of each other’s lives. When we didn’t even know what the other person was doing or if they were alive. I don’t want that again.”
The realization that she actually loved her family was a wild one, but it was a slow realization well-earned.
Being in what should have been a familiar place in a less than familiar “world” was just as aggravating as it was confusing. Starbucks, yes, sure it was. If he were lucky they’d slip some arsenic or Xanax into his veinte double caramel soy latte. One or the other, David would be fine with.
He waited eagerly with his lips curling in as Alexis went about explaining herself. The strain in his face seemed to wear down once she dawned on the fact that the Rose’s had officially become accustomed to that..town. Without saying it and taking it to the grave, maybe. For now. Just for conversation's sake. But there was one little trigger that pulled in the corner of David’s eye and he lifted his finger to proclaim that, “No, that was you, Alexis.”
Whether he wanted to or not David was worried about the shenanigans his sister would get herself into all the while their parents thought she was still in the same country. While that was done and over with—David had grown very accustomed to the close and very invasive lifestyle the family had forced to get used to.
But he couldn’t exactly give her a good reason to stay in the place when she had gone to college and...felt so strongly. He took his order when it was made and checked it for quality before finding them in the secluded corner of the shop to sit.
David realized he was still touching his face too much and let out the air he’d been holding in far too long. “So you were planning on doing what? Moving and calling in every five years? Or I’m probably going to be the one doing that, given you keep your phone number.” It was selfish of him to want to keep his sister close now that the family had a closer, more natural relationship and his lifelong friend had been… Alexis. She was not the best friend but David loved her and had gotten used to their little adult life together, growing and going through “things”. He’d seen her fall in love, get a degree and apply herself like he’d never seen before. Alexis was incredibly smart, resourceful and could flourish wherever she went — but David still had lingering trust issues.
If Alexis up and left…that might be it. And he wouldn’t get to lie to their parents about a charity in Bosnia for Alexis’ name to get her ransom money so they could get her home. “Have you considered online work? Remote things?” Hmm. Gulping realization and thick emotion down with the caramel.
“Oh my god, David.” Alexis sipped her drink - it was kind of a smoothie but not? The pineapple part was her favorite. Made her feel like she was on some deserted, beachy island and not a weird magical island with unicorns and fairies. Like, palm trees and breeze and margaritas in the sunshine type of beachy. “I know you don’t hate me enough to give me a guilt complex about staying in a place where I can’t build the career I want to build.”
No, her brother loved her - she knew that. He just had his own way of showing it sometimes. Just like she had her own way of showing it for him. Like agreeing to walk him down the aisle - no doubt she’d tear up, and would need extra run-proof mascara for that day.
“Besides, we’re here now, you and me, so let’s focus on that?” she suggested. “It’s going to be okay.”
David’s jaw was set so hard he had to mentally take note to exhale and release it. Of course he didn’t hate her. He didn’t want her to leave again because—well she was right. They were here in this place, this new “world”. Where everyone seemed too content with what was going on. Kind of like the people who lived in Schitt’s Creek…
A huff and a sip from his sweet caffeinated beverage and he resigned. For now.
Rolling his arms the eldest Rose sibling fixed his usually perfect posture, David rested an arm on the table. “It’s going to be ok…” he repeated, if a bit sarcastic but he couldn’t help it. “So, what exactly do we do? I may have given them a fake name in exchange for a quick entry and that money they were giving out….”
It didn’t surprise her that David had given a fake name. He was a lot more cautious and paranoid than Alexis, which may be why she had gotten into so many weird situations over the years and he just...didn’t. Aw, big brother. So cute though. “I’m not sure, I think we just - try to make the best of it?” she suggested, slender fingers holding her straw in place so she could take more soothing gulps - er, sips.
“That’s all in the meantime. If there’s a way to get out of here, we’ll go together - okay? You won’t leave me and I won’t leave you.” Alexis kind of wanted to stay, to see if she could actually make it after being forced to start over, but if David didn’t want to she’d default to him.
The best of it? That sounded like something their father would say and it gave David pause. He didn’t like how calm Alexis was but at the same time it kept him grounded for now. Maybe it was better if at least one of them always was. As much as he hated to admit it, the dad advice was probably their best option. Their only option.
Until an opportunity rose up. There had to be. Poor Patrick...and their parents..
“You’re damn right you won’t leave me.” He humph’d into his coffee. Rude, but if you had known David it hadn’t been directed at Alexis so much as the thought itself. Again, he recomposed himself for the umpteenth time and nodded. This was much different then when she was going to leave the whole family the second they got into Schitt’s Creek.
Alexis wouldn’t do that now. “Right. So do you think we can get a two bedroom situation going on? For like..safety and all that. And to con….conserve…” Ugh, it was so hard say, the thought burned even more in his mind. “To conserve our...money.”
“My apartment is a two bedroom. You can have the second,” Alexis offered. There wasn’t any question about that - her and David had been sharing a living space for awhile now, and having separate rooms was even an upgrade from being in each other’s hair all the time in the same room.
She nudged David under the table, pedicured toes encased in her usual style of killer heels. “I love you, idiot.”
Maybe he needed to hear it. Maybe she needed to say it. To help convince him that she meant what she said.
Although the years in Schitt’s Creek and Patrick had opened up David to become more accessible to being vulnerable, he still kept a thick and well crafted guard up out of habit. “I guess that would be an upgrade from our previous situation. Unless of course instead of mites we have to deal with pixies..or whatever.” Believe it or not, that was not something that he needed to wrap his head around. Magic, whatever. Mythological creatures, saw them all the time in Town Square.
The corners of his lips twitched slightly when Alexis said the ‘L’ word. A childish concept that the family had a hard time really putting time into.
But with that look on her face, the perhaps too enthusiastic nudge, the elder brother crumbled ever so slightly. It was still hard but he could return the sentiment, in his own way. Lips curling inward as they usually did while David fought emotion he shook his head quickly before giving a quick, “You too.”
The lovely exchange that probably should have been more comfortable and regular still made David dive deep once more into his coffee to hide. He’d need another one of these if he was going to make it through the rest of the day.