Luke's, Thursday

[betterthanaplan]

"No," Duke said.

"Awww, c'mon." Bobby clutched the yellow Gordon's box to his chest. "It's Halloween! It's a classic!"

"One: it's October 28. Two: I don't care what day it is, we don't serve frozen fish sticks in my diner. You want to do Halloween fish dishes, you use fresh fish."

"But you haven't caught any with fingers!"

Duke just stared at him for a long moment, then slowly shook his head and walked away.

Today's specials
CATCH OF THE DAY!
Wild salmon Halloween chowder

Luke's was open and OCD free.

Comments

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight had been out taking care of a few things around the island most of the afternoon. He hadn't been planning on stopping anywhere to eat but as he passed the diner and saw the sign, everything he had waiting in the fridge in his apartment, pitiful as it was, suddenly didn't seem all that appealing, so of course he had to stop.

"Duke," he said with slight nod as he took a seat. "How've things been?" Dwight asked, trying to keep his tone and expression as neutral as possible.

[betterthanaplan]

"Dwight," Duke responded in kind, but for a faintly amused smirk. "It's been alright. Yourself?"

[alwaysonguard]

"Can't really complain. Things have been surprisingly quiet since the school trip actually." Which he of course knew meant things were bound to start going sideways soon- especially with it being Halloween of all holidays coming up.

[betterthanaplan]

"And now we're doomed for something dramatic," Duke said with a soft laugh. "How was the trip, by the way? I'm not sure I ever went on one of them."

[alwaysonguard]

"Eh, the island would do something wonky regardless" Dwight pointed out.

"The trip was nice. Kids were really well behaved... or very good at hiding what they were doing. But yeah, it was a nice trip to just relax and see the area. Haven't been up that way for a long time so was cool to see how things have changed."

[betterthanaplan]

"Boston's a cute little town, yeah."

Because it was so small compared to Haven, where Duke had grown up?

"Haven't been there in ages, either. Not since Geoff decided he was ready for New York."

And then went back to Haven to help out Bill with the family business, and then died.

[alwaysonguard]

"It's nice. Way too pricey for my taste, but the food was good. Speaking of which... the special today sounds pretty darn good."

[betterthanaplan]

"It's, uh, chowder in a pumpkin," Duke said. "There's no candy or anything added."

You know, just to be sure.

[alwaysonguard]

"Candy-less sounds just fine" Dwight assured him. He paused for a moment before adding "and you can make it to go... in case you'd rather I not hang out here or anything. That's fine."

[betterthanaplan]

"I'd be a pretty shitty restauranteur if I went around kicking out customers," Duke said. "Grab a seat, we'll bring your food right out. You want coffee or something to go with it?"

[alwaysonguard]

Well, after their last run in, Dwight wasn't going to assume anything.

"Sure," he said with a nod as he sat down. "Coffee and a sweet tea. Thanks."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke had long since learned not to hold grudges. If he did, he'd never talk to anyone.

"Coming right up," he promised, and disappeared into the kitchen to prep the order.

[alwaysonguard]

"Thanks" Dwight said simply with a nod. "Appreciate it."

[betterthanaplan]

"Here we go." Duke returned with a small sugar pumpkin, full of steaming chowder, and a couple drinks on his tray. He served it out for Dwight, then hovered for a moment, indecision on his face.

". . . So, uh. . . . Weird question. Have you, uh, heard anything from Haven, lately? Or since you got here?"

[alwaysonguard]

"From Haven?" Dwight asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Ah, no I haven't. I actually didn't even know it was possible to go back or contact anyone back home."

[betterthanaplan]

"Ah." Duke nodded with a small sigh. "Yeah, far as I know it's not. Wasn't sure if that was just my version, though."

[alwaysonguard]

"Yours might be more accessible? I don't have any real reason to go back or to try and get back to Haven. I left Haven with the implicit intent of getting out of there and not going back" Dwight said simply. "Don't know if motive or intent or anything plays into getting back or not. So, unless you can just randomly pop back and forth unintentionally, I'm probably not much help with that. Sorry, Duke" he added seeing the look on his face.

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeeeeeeah," Duke drawled. "Last time I was there, it was because I was basically portal-napped in my sleep when I was supposed to be on the Rouge headed south with Octavia and Lucifer."

Dwight could maybe start getting a real idea of just why those two hated Haven and everything to do with it.

"Ended up in Haven for a good two months or so, but only gone from here for a week. And, uh. Haven wasn't in the best shape when I left. I'd love to at least know if people made it out of that shit alive, but I can't even get a text or email through."

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight gave Duke a somewhat horrified look. "I don't think I'd handle waking up suddenly in Haven all that well" he admitted. "Hopefully that won't happen... cuz Haven might be short a few members of the Guard by the time you make it back" he said grimly.

It wasn't for no reason he had to get out of Haven when he did, and he wasn't quite sure how he felt about the thought of ending up back there now.

"Hopefully things will open up again soon for you and you can get back there and get in touch with them." Dwight hesitated a moment before asking "I'm assuming it's Nathan and Audrey you are worried about?"

[betterthanaplan]

"And Gloria. And Bill and Meg and, hell, even the Teagues. They're giants pains in the ass and I'm pretty sure Vince actively enjoys making me miserable, but no one deserves to get squashed by a meteor."

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight wasn't going to say what was on his mind. Mention of the Teague's, especially Vince, made his brow crease. Most of the Guard could end up under a meteor or taken out by any other Trouble and he wouldn't cry that much. He knew it had been quite a bit longer for Duke wherever he was in the timeline. But for him. It still felt like it had been just over a year since Lizzie had died. At the hands of the Guard. Under orders from Vince. Dwight wasn't ready to forgive and forget.... and he wasn't sure he ever would be.

"Hopefully Gloria and them all are fine. It's not like Haven hasn't dealt with its share of Troubles in the past. They are a stubborn lot, I'm sure they are fine," Dwight said with a slight sigh, trying to sound optimistic.

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeeeeeeah. This was more than a trouble."

Duke sighed and gestured to the seat across from Dwight. "You mind? Might be about time I caught you up on my Haven."

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight nodded, giving Duke a curious look. "Sure. Have things really changed that much?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Well, you're familiar with the Guard, so you might already know some of this. But it was news to us the last time I was up there."

Duke sat, taking a moment to run his hand down his face. "Right, so. You know the whole 27 year cycle? The troubles return, Audrey shows up, or someone with her face, helps people resolve their squishy issues that are causing the troubles to go off, then she disappears. During the night of the Hunter Meteor Storm."

[alwaysonguard]

"Right." Dwight said with a slow nod. "The Chief was always talking about the cycle and about how we had to be on the lookout for the next version of Lucy when she showed up. Audrey hadn't been around all that long by the time I left, but it was known that she was who people had been looking for. Vince and Dave were pretty sure of it at least."