smell of home

"I can't leave my brothers behind." DJ Anderson he/him | 30 years old | owner of little goat diner

[dougie-anderson]

Basic Info:

full name: Dougie-James ‘DJ’ Anderson gender & pronouns: cismale he/him age & date of birth: 30, March 12th 1992 where do they live: Southside time living in bradford springs: 30 years occupation: Owner of Little Goat Diner positive traits: Clear-headed, Considerate, Alert negative traits: Ritualistic, Cautious, Complacent  

About:

violence, illness tw

The youngest and last (thankfully) Anderson brother. DJ is laid back and cautious of everything and despite their father no longer in their life he still flinches at raised voices or aggression. 

Bottles up his emotions which he knows isn’t healthy but he doesn’t know any other way.

Used to skip school to go to the little goat diner and learn how to cook. The owner took him under her wing. He didn’t tell anyone because he was ashamed but now he laughs about it.

Two years ago, the previous owner was taken ill and with no other family she gave the diner to DJ. He lacks the skill to manage a business and he needs so much help but he sees the diner as a ticket out of Southside. He doesn’t want to give up. 

Is the quieter brother but still troublesome in his own way. He’s usually in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Seems timid and relaxed but can be unpredictable sometimes. His brothers joke that he’s the chihuahua with a rottweiler bite. 

Enjoys being a caregiver and cooking for people. 

Can’t control himself if he sees someone being wronged, he will stand up for them.

Always laughs at jokes about his name as if it’s the first time he’s heard them. 

Happy to be the person who gets the most stick if it means the attention is off somebody who can’t handle it as well.

Water off a duck’s back is his motto, meanwhile internally screaming.

[dougie-anderson]

[hournited]

#relatable

[dougie-anderson]

elise:

Elise shrugs slightly, giving a polite laugh at the joke. “Well yeah but I guess you don’t want to wait in, like, the middle of the road. I just meant there are better places to wait…” Why was she still talking about this? It’s like getting stuck on a road that doesn’t have any off ramps for miles. “Oh I would I just want to – uh…my dad. He’s gonna meet me.” And she wants to make sure he’s okay, constant worry over his health plaguing her. The other day he seemed tired going up the few steps to their small home but she doesn’t say this and instead gestures at DJ. “I’m sure he’d like to say hi…if you have a second. No worries though. I’m sure this is like the only five minutes you take,” she half jokes, knowing how he’s prone to get consumed by work. Possibly overwhelmed. He looks it but she doesn’t feel at liberty to say as much. Brows furrow at his comment and she nods. 

“His loss, your gain I guess…” Elise ventures with a slight smile, raising her brows. “The usual being oh shit I own a diner?” It’s an attempt to interject some levity into their conversation, maybe alleviate the awkwardness that seems to plague them at every turn. She thinks it works until he ostensibly returns her question and she falters slightly. “Oh no. I mean…I don’t mind if you do but you also don’t have to. Like to be polite or whatever.” Elise grimaces slightly before letting out a puff of air, shoulders slumping a bit as she glances from her shoes to him.  “This,” them “is awkward, right?” Might as well call a spade a spade. Though she’s not sure if calling it out makes it worse. Too late now. 

“Right yeah, you’re not a dumbass. That’s a Dusty thing to do.” he laughs slightly. God, DJ wonders if this is the worst interaction he’s had to date. And it’s not because of Elise, he’s convinced it’s himself. Holding onto resentment but then not actually doing anything with it, trying to force a smile at her when there’s a few choice words rolling around on his tongue. The mention of her father makes him nod, although he’s not sure why Elise can’t wait inside for him... “Right...yeah, I can wait too. I think. I mean, not officially but what’s the point in owning a place if you can’t do what you want?” he laughs, finally lighting the cigarette he’s been holding onto and almost pulled apart from tension. 

“Is it that obvious?” he grins but DJ is the first to know he wasn’t cut out for any of this. He enjoys flipping a few burgers but he always thought that’d be at a drive-thru, not a fucking diner he has to keep ontop of. “I mean...I wanna ask...y’know, it feels weird to not ask.” DJ’s brows furrow, hearing the stagnating words coming from his mouth but not being able to stop it, or hurry them along. Elise’s statement doesn’t do much to ease the pressure either, because it opens up the resentment DJ has carried for years. He laughs, though. Trying to push it away, contain it all again. “I mean, I don’t know what I’m supposed to talk about if I’m honest.” he admits, raking fingers through his messy hair. “Being dumped at an airport isn’t exactly one of those things that makes you wanna be friends with someone.” Shit...harsh? Fuck. “Sorry that er...that came out kinda...intense.”

[dougie-anderson]

kas:

at: little goat diner @dougie-anderson​

-

As soon as DJ became the proud owner of the diner, suddenly Kas was his new best friend. It meant cheaper food. He sat himself up at the counter, watching DJ behind it. “Where’s that cute waitress at?” he asked, waving a finger. Pop? “You know, with all the colors.” he specified as he looked over the menu. He always ordered the same thing, though but today he felt like taking his time. Probably because of the red haired sisters at the corner booth. “Hamburger, fries. Coke.” he stated quietly, putting the menu down as he glanced over to Tovi. Kas smirked as soon as their eyes met and he shot a quick wink her way. “I met your girl the other night, Deej. You messed up there, bud.” Kas spoke to DJ, fetching his wallet slowly. “Knock the tax off will ya? Been slow on fights.”

“Oh, Pip?” DJ takes a sharp look over his shoulder at Kas’ question before getting back to work at the counter. “She er, broke a nail. I had no clue it was like super painful when that happens so she asked for the day off.” DJ says with equal care and confusion. “So, I’m jumping out here and back to the kitchen as much as I can so Andy isn’t like...burning shit.” he laughs awkwardly, but it’s nothing but pure stress that comes out. He has already punched in Kas’ order, knowing it will never change no matter how long he takes to look at a menu. Girl? He shoots a look to him then over his shoulder and then back again, like an owl constantly on lookout. “Think you’re getting me confused with Danny, I haven’t dated anyone since...oh, Elise?” it clicks at the final moment and now DJ is awkward all over again. “I can’t do that, Kas. I’ll go to jail.” DJ whispers. “Just fucking pay, man. It’s not even expensive.”

[dougie-anderson]

bobby

‘hm? and what’s your guess?’ bobby returns to his son, discarding the half finished cigarette to the ground carelessly. ‘did i give ‘em a little fright? made ‘em feel bad for not having a food spread ready to welcome me home?’ he laughs coarsely as he slowly moves to his feet and places his hand to dj’s shoulder with a firm grab. ‘i don’t know why you think i’d want something, kid. just in the neighborhood.’ he shrugs, sniffing the cold from his nose and then looking at the door. ‘you gonna go inside or what? this a snowman party?’

“I dunno.” DJ’s head hangs, listening to his father’s delusions that he knows are placed there purposely. He had almost forgotten what it was like to live in Bobby’s shadow and the dense atmosphere the man carried with him. “This hasn’t been your home, ever. Not once.” he points to the home that he and his brothers managed to scramble for themselves when they fled the murky trailer. He wants to add insult to injury but instead falls quiet and helpless when Bobby reaches for him. An involuntary and subtle wince follows, because despite time being a good healer, the body always remembers. “I’ll go inside when you get out of here.” DJ remains firm, but there’s no threats he can think of that would ever work on the man.

[dougie-anderson]

elise

Elise had been watching the parking lot for her dad’s car to pull in. Sunan insisted on going to his appointment by himself so she wouldn’t reschedule a work call. She’d offered to pick him up but he just told her to meet him at Little Goat as usual. She tells herself he’ll be fine but she can’t help but worry her lower lip as eyes scan each Toyota Camry that drives by. When someone suddenly knocks into her, Elise yelps, grabbing the individual’s arm for support before realizing it’s DJ (of course) and shaking her head. “Oh, no…you’re good. This is probably a bad place to wait.” She gives a haphazard laugh, slight grimace crossing her lips at the recollection of their New Year’s Eve run-in. “Still so sorry about that…” God. Why does talking to DJ always feel like she’s tongue tied? Like there’s no right thing to say when, before, she’d always known just what to say and when. “But uh…hey, your,” she gestures at his face, “looks a lot better.” Considering the last time they’d run into each other he’d been bruised and bleeding a bit, he looks leaps and bounds better…though something in his demeanor seems off to her still. Like he’s not quite himself. “Are you okay?” The question is let loose before she even realizes she’s asking it, an impulse to find out what’s the matter. “Shoot. Sorry, that was nosey. You don’t have to answer that.” He jus seems somewhere else entirely and Elise knows what that’s like. 

“Hey, it’s a free country. Can wait where you want.” DJ laughs, instantly hearing how stupid his words are as he tries to hold his smile so he doesn’t cringe right in her view. “I mean like, it’s not a weird place to wait, obviously. You could wait inside though?” he points with his thumb at the diner, now wondering if it’s weird that he’s thinking about her comfort. She might be meeting someone who’s never met her before, idiot. “Or like...don’t have to.” Shut the fuck up. DJ is still idly twirling the cigarette he was ready to take from the pack, laughing slightly about New Years Eve and his less than desirable injuries he sustained from Noah’s gorilla sized fists. “Yeah, I guess the dumb asshole doesn’t know how to make it count.” It was meant to sound like a confident comment but DJ instantly thinks he sounds like Danny, except DJ has enough self awareness to know there’s nothing remotely attractive about fighting. “I mean obviously it hurt like a bitch, I’m not...trying to...” he sighs, finally taking the cigarette and putting it to his mouth to light. He needed to just stop running into her, that was the easiest way to prevent this. “Oh? Me? Yeah, I’m...good, I think. Just the usual, you know? Think I need more sleep. I don’t think it’s weird to ask, unless you don’t want me to ask it back?”

[dougie-anderson]

bobby

closed with @dougie-anderson​ outside the anderson home -

his old back can’t take the solid mattresses at the motel any longer and within bobby’s black soul is a bitterness that his boys have done well for themselves. enough to get a proper roof over their heads and not even have the decency to give him their couch. after a night of drinking, spending money he should be filtering into the ‘business’ he promised, bobby wanders back to southside and lingers near the home. all the lights are out, and there’s no sign of life as he waits and waits…until he hears a shuffle of footsteps and glances to see young dj. ‘about fucking time.’ he groans, not moving an inch from the doorstep to allow his son through. ‘where’s the other two? freezing my nuts off waiting for someone.’ 

It’s ironic that DJ has spent years wondering what it would feel like to have peace from Danny and Dusty, but whenever his two brothers go through their phases of avoiding the small home, he misses them. He knows within two seconds of them returning he will regret this, though. He’s ready to get home to silence, wondering where else he can try and catch up to either of them but at least he knows they’ve not left the city entirely. The youngest Anderson pauses at the familiar figure and voice, frozen in place for a moment or two. “Your guess is as good as mine.” he offers coldly, hesitant to try and step to the door and instead his arm hovers in the air while holding the keys. “What the fuck do you want?” there’s no bite to his tone, he’s defeated and already feeling the lack of brotherly support.

[dougie-anderson]

odessa

-

As DJ looked every which way than at her, Odessa continued to stare intensely and unmoved. She rolled her eyes slightly at his comment but she said nothing, only wishing people would try to go to a country where they couldn’t speak it’s language and see how well they did. Odessa didn’t speak until the money was placed in her hand. “Danny you’re looking for, hm?” she checked first before her eyes moved to the bar in gesture and then back to DJ. “He was here two nights ago, had some friend with him. Drunk. And then he ran out of money so he stopped being interesting.” she shrugged a shoulder, and she still hadn’t blinked. “He asked for a phone charger too, like we are some internet cafe.” she huffed a small laugh and then used a slight raise of her brow to signal the end of her information. It was all she had to give, anyways. “Can’t help you any more, so buy a dance or a drink or leave.”

“Yeah...tattoos, and like...weird clothes.” DJ listens while simultaneously wondering why both of his brothers retreat into shadow people whenever something happens. He remembers that they’ve both been this way, Dusty more consistent with the disappearances but Danny’s was always a slow build up to a sudden end. He’s not surprised that every time he’s finished work, the house is empty. He’s not surprised that sometimes he can hear his brother in his bedroom but then a few hours later, the light is off and he’s gone again. “Do...did you see what the friend looked like?” DJ asks, hopeful it’s some Southsider he hasn’t already asked Danny about. He then nods, feeling better that Danny’s phone has died and he isn’t just ignoring texts to be a dickhead although that is still a possible reason why he let it die in the first place. At the offer of a dance, DJ stands upright to attention and politely shakes his head. “Oh shit...sorry, I er...that was my last twenty.” he sighs hopelessly, enticed by the dancer’s aura nonetheless but he didn’t retrieve the Anderson’s entitlement gene to even dare want any more of her time.

[dougie-anderson]

closed starter, little goat diner with @elisexrueng​

It doesn’t matter if the world seems to be getting crazier around him, DJ still shows his face at every single shift even if now he’s more prone to careless mistakes from his tiredness. His mind is occupied by several things, the most obvious being the way his two brothers have spiraled at the exact same time and he knows the reason why. He wishes he had the luxury of being able to shut out problems and pretend they didn’t exist. The most he can do is scurry out of the kitchen and go for a smoke for a few minutes, which he does so at any chance he can grab. He rounds the corner near the diner quickly, not looking at his own path as he’s grabbing the packet of smokes and of course he wanders straight into somebody else. Why wouldn’t he? “Ah, fuck. My bad, not even looking where I was going like an asshole.” he says, reaching an arm out to steady the other person...Elise. Why wouldn’t it be? “Jeez, I guess I got you back for ruining my white shirt.” he laughed, awkwardly removing his arm and then having no idea what to do with it as it hovers in the air slightly. “Er..kidding by the way. I got like a million of ‘em.”

[dougie-anderson]

odessa​:

-

There was something endearing about awkward men, even though they were the last thing that Odessa was attracted to. They simply were nicer to deal with than the arrogant, overly-confident ones. Hence why Odessa seemed to circle the strangely familiar face from a distance and only decided to approach once he noticed her. An apology as a greeting was a sure way to make her laugh, which only appeared as a little grin. “We don’t give names.” she shrugged, her eyes following him closely. “Because of crazy wives and girlfriends, who probably aren’t crazy at all and are just sick of secrets and wandering eyes.” Odessa added pointedly. She actually knew exactly who he was asking for, remembering many conversations with Finn about how hopeless Danny Anderson was. “I could maybe be convinced to think a little harder?” she proposed, tilting her head sweetly as her hand raised palm up. Nothing for free.

It’s quite obvious that DJ doesn’t know what to do with his eyes, or hands. While he maintains eye contact with all his focus, he starts to believe he’s staring at her gaze with more intensity than someone should. He almost doesn’t hear her reply. “Oh I...well, I know his name already so...” he laughs awkwardly, looking away from her to the crowd. He’s one step away from having to count how long he looks at her and then away and then back again, to make it seem more natural. “For the record, I don’t have a girlfriend or wife and I’m only here to see if my brother is actually alive or something. Or even still in the city.” DJ rambles, seeing the movement of her hand from the corner of his eye and glancing back to her hurriedly. “Oh, yeah. Sorry.” It seems normal to need to pay her for any of her time, he thinks as he grabs his wallet. Hardly an impressive show of cash within it as he passes over a twenty that’s definitely seen better days.

[dougie-anderson]

closed starter, restricted access with @odessa-kashirsky​

DJ remembers when his brothers were able to drag him to Restricted Access once before. The prospect seemed exciting but DJ quickly learned that the reality of half naked dancers was actually quite awkward. He’s never been back since but considering Danny is showing all the signs of a downward spiral...again, DJ has no choice. Because somewhere housing half naked dancers is a good spot to find either of his brothers in. So here he is, trying to avoid all eye contact with anybody, even awkwardly ignoring Angel behind the bar as he searches for the middle Anderson. As soon as his eyes connect to who he assumes is a dancer, DJ’s head turns in an instant to look away. No, shit. Don’t come over. How do you reject a dancer? It feels rude, this is her livelihood. But before he knows it, he can feel her presence and he tries desperately to look her straight in the eye. “Sorry.” Why is he sorry? “Err...I’m actually looking for someone. I don’t know if you know him. You probably do, he’s er...tattoos everywhere and usually got a t-shirt that says something like the sun is gay. Have you...seen him?”

[dougie-anderson]

[dougie-anderson]

the brothers​:

Dusty’s erratic anger had turned into calmly stoked flames. A scarier prospect than him being loud with it. His blue eyes glazed over, like something else was directing him. This was when he needed a fix, to empty out all the thoughts and feelings. He just wanted to be collapsed somewhere, and his veins were itching for it. Knowing that it wasn’t possible, all of the venom had nowhere else to go but towards his brothers. “Just leave him to it, DJ. It’s all he knows how to do.” Dusty said, loud enough for Danny to hear them. “He’s going to pretend to be all high and mighty and say he chooses peace because of Koda.” Dusty laughed maliciously. He was starting to feel a building resentment to Danny, as if his brother had chosen the side of their father. Irrational to rational thinkers, but that had never been Dusty. “Which is fucking crazy considering he doesn’t even wanna be a fucking dad. Because he’s scared he’ll be like Bobby, but is too pussy to do anything about Bobby. Crazy!” Dusty yelled loudly, waiting for Danny to turn back around. He knew he would, and he laughed again. “I’m right, aren’t I? You hate that kid, like Bobby hated us.”

-

Danny hoped with the more distance between his brothers, the more clarity would come to him. They always seemed to get tangled in their own emotions, seeing one another as the culprits. He just needed silence and to sit. Alone. For some reason nobody ever granted him that. It felt as if the whole world was on his case, chasing down some kind of responsibility or acknowledgment that he cared. It only pushed him further away. It was the trail end of Dusty’s words that pulled Danny back in, despite being well aware that it was his older brother’s intentions. “Fine, I’ll bite.” Danny said as soon as turned to march back towards him. Nose to nose with his brother, Danny’s fingers came to harshly prod into Dusty’s chest. “I am not going inside because of that old fuck.” his other hand pointed in the direction their father disappeared in. “If you wanna spiral, do it. I don’t give a fuck. You spiral just because you gotta work overtime or pay rent. Fuck, you spiral for no fucking reason. You want any god damn excuse to get high.” he wasn’t yelling, but the shout was resting right there in the back of his throat. “If both of you just fucking relaxed, we’d be able to do something. But I’m not doing shit when you’re both hysterical. So go cook, or make pancakes.” he mocked his youngest brother’s coping mechanism, and looked back to Dusty. “Go fucking poison yourself. Do whatever. I’m not talking to either of you ‘til we’re out of here. So stay away from me until you’re both done being little bitches.”

DJ isn’t certain if it counts as a gift, or if it’s residule traits from their childhood. But his whole body throws itself to high alert, predicting an inevitable outcome between his brothers. From the moment Dusty mentions Koda, DJ is shaking his head. “C’mon man, don’t.” he demands, albeit without much urgency. It’s more of a silent plea, to prevent the outburst that will follow. His eldest brother, of course, knows no bounds and even worse words are thrown into the air. “Dusty, stop.” DJ’s voice raises but Danny is already making his way back. “Why the fuck would you say that? Danny, don’t. He’s just being an asshole.” DJ sighs, trying to get between his brothers but it’s too late. Words are worst than fists, he thinks. Bruises heal but words can usually take a lifetime to undo. “Okay, everyone just fucking avoid each other.” he nods in agreement to Danny, even if he’s also been insulted. He sighs when Danny walks away again, not looking to Dusty as he does the same but in the opposite direction. They just need to calm down. It’ll be okay.

[dougie-anderson]

danny:

- 

“He’s always a fucking asshole.” Danny responded, stopping his pacing so he could step back towards DJ and take a seat beside him. His elbows rested on his knees as he ducked his head down. Maybe they’d be able to have a normal conversation about Bobby, or maybe their father’s reappearance was going to be a topic they avoided for some time. Danny just nodded to DJ’s last comment because even he didn’t think there was a way to escape turning into the inevitable. “Did you at least get one punch in? Like a solid one, none of this hair pulling shit.” he asked, because that was an Anderson way of showing care.

DJ is revisiting the confrontation, how all sense of rationality between himself and Noah evaporated into nothing so quickly. “So you and Dust get to do whatever you want but I have to just accept people are assholes?” he sulks in self pity and to the unjust ways of his older brothers. Danny’s question isn’t surprising and DJ lets out a shaky sigh, throwing his head down slightly. “Jesus. Yeah, I don’t know.” he stutters for a moment, not caring if he did manage to hold his own. It sure as hell doesn’t feel like he did. “Maybe. I just went off and hoped for the fucking best. Didn’t do a freaking military tactic on it, Danny.”

[dougie-anderson]

the brothers:

It would be easy to say that the brothers were close, considering how often they were glued together or had one another’s back. But the truth was more sinister, they had to protect one another but when the anger had nowhere else to go it always turned between them. They’d flip between sides, point fingers, place blame, when all of it belonged somewhere else. “I’m sorry, is Danny Anderson being a fucking pussy again?” Dusty mocked his younger brother. “I’ve never understood this, you always want a fucking easy way out. All the god damn time.” he bit, and then put his best Danny impressionist voice to use. Which sounded just like him, if you asked Dusty. “Forget about it, it’s not a big deal.” he huffed and slouched his shoulders to really put the cherry ontop. “I’m just a pussy boy who doesn’t ever want to do anything but I’ll complain about it. Whine, whine, moan, whine.” Dustin dropped the act to turn his attention to DJ, who wasn’t going to get away without his own mini-roast. “And you, pip-squeak, forget your fuckin’ self real easy. The plan was my plan, Danny didn’t do jack shit. It was my idea and it worked for ten fucking years so how about you shut your mouth and we all listen to me, for once?”

-

Danny just scoffed at Dusty, shaking his head slowly as the impression was unraveled like a fucking red carpet. He only laughed because it was the only way to stop the anger. Danny had always been this way, retreating in on himself to stop an explosion. They all did it in their own ways, but Dusty was always the one with less of an inner voice. “Oh fuck you.” Danny ended up retaliating, squinting at the eldest with disdain. “What the fuck can we do in a fucking school, moron?” he then asked rhetorically, not caring for an answer as he continued. “Sit down, man. You look fucking dumb and both of you crowding me isn’t gonna fucking help.” he wanted to just leave the situation. Hell, even trying the storm out for size seemed like a better idea. “I’m going to smoke, don’t know about you guys but fuck the two of you.” he announced, waving in the direction he was walking in. “Figure it out yourselves. If you’re both so damn smart.”

As the youngest, DJ is often stood watching Dusty and Danny screech at one another like feuding cats. That’s how they appear to him, even if he knows his brothers would prefer to compare to something more ferocious. DJ is always faced with seeing two sides of a coin, and how he can easily flip to either side. He can be as head strong as Dusty, ready to jump in at the drop of a hat. He can be as steadfast as Danny, taking a step back to analyze and prepare. What happens instead is an internal conflict, which twists into panic. “I don’t care who’s fucking plan it was. It sucked.” DJ stands his ground, growing irritated by the conversation. Bobby is here and they’re stood around arguing. “Crowding you?” DJ takes offence to the accusation, looking around in shock before staring back at Danny. “We’re in a fucking school with the whole town. Sorry, ‘bout that.” he snaps, stretching out his arms in a mocking movement. He then laughs sardonically, blanking out Dusty’s existence entirely as Danny begins to depart. “Oh that’s new, Danny running away again. Good fucking job, man. You just take a moment, bro. Just breathe and decompress, we’ll do everything on your timeline, don’t you worry about it.”

[dougie-anderson]

elise:

•

Elise frowns but doesn’t press it. Things are different now, after all. Instead, she clears her throat and nods. “Right…okay…well, I’m sorry it happened. And I hope it doesn’t hurt too bad.” She ducks her head in turn, a bit embarrassed at the comment before laughing lightly. “Bunny doesn’t think so.” Elise bites the inside of her cheek the moment the words escape. Why had she said that? Maybe it’s because she’s tired of being the bad guy for trying to care for their dad. And she’s tired of it always being used against her. It’s not like she says any of those words, nodding at DJ to pivot the conversation. “He’d love that. He’s been…he’s dealing with some things,” because even thinking of the word cancer forms a lump in her throat – she’d have no hope of saying it aloud if she wanted to. “But he’d welcome a friendly face for sure.” Sunan had always liked DJ.

His question gives her only a brief pause as she slips in past him, casting a glance over her shoulder at him, “First of all…not a weird question.” Elise opens the first cabinet she sees, grabbing one of the red first aid kits. She gestures at the swivel chair by the desk for him to sit. “Second of all…I’d take anything Bunny says with a grain of salt.” Unzipping the kit, she shrugs, “she has a way of…you know. Saying things that make you second guess yourself. But, for what it’s worth, Little Goat is a town staple,” Elise offers sincerely, opening a disinfectant wipe packet.  

“And people like that it’s kinda retro. I do. My dad does. Bunny’s spent the past however long in LA. Everything’s shiny and fake there.” She doesn’t ask (and doesn’t overthink for once) before tipping DJ’s head back a bit so she can see the cut on his cheek first. “This will probably sting, sorry,” she preemptively apologizes before swiping the wipe across it. “At least it doesn’t look broken?” Elise isn’t sure if that’s an encouragement or not but it’s all she can think to say given the general awkwardness that hangs thick in the air as she swipes some disinfectant over the cut before inspecting his nose. “But to answer your question…no,” she shakes her head for emphasis, “it’s not shitty at all. I haven’t been much since moving back but…my dad really likes it so I try to take him.”  

“Ah, had worse.” DJ grumbles but right now he can’t remember another time that his body ached so much. Noah was like trying to fight a fucking oak tree. However, DJ isn’t exactly going to whine about it when Elise is here. Their relationship might have been over a long time ago but...pride existed. Plus, DJ always feels as if his brothers are only two steps away at any given time. Ready to pop their head through a door and point and laugh. “Oh? Sounds like siblings being siblings.” DJ pauses for a moment at the mention of Bunny, and he laughs awkwardly since he’s clueless to the context. He’s also clueless to what Elise means about her father’s sudden dealings of things, and DJ’s mind automatically moves to finances. “I mean, if there’s anything I can do, I’ll be happy to help out.” he offers with a shrug.

At first, DJ is standing around awkwardly in the office space before Elise points out the chair. He nods as she talks, taking a seat stiffly as if he’s awaiting an appointment. “Yeah, I guess she does. She’s always been good at that.” DJ mumbles, and then makes an apologetic expression. “Sorry, that’s not my place to...” he waves his hand around. “Y’know. It’s fine when you say it but not when other people do type of thing.” he adds, speaking from experience. Yes, Dusty and Danny were annoying idiots who made everybody cringe with second hand embarrassment. But under no circumstances could anybody say that apart from DJ. He’s about to reply about Little Goat being a staple, and his mouth opens to agree except the sting from the wipe makes a strange noise muddle into his words. “Yeah I..GUESS. Shit, sorry...” he shifts his weight on the seat and sighs. “My bad. Didn’t mean to yell in your face.” DJ finally laughs about it, pulling his lips into a downward smile. “I don’t think my nose is broken but probably my ribs. Or spine.” he laughs again, beginning to feel a little sorry for himself. Which is as embarrassing as it is to yell into Elise’s face suddenly. “You should come over sometime.” DJ mumbles, his ear catching his words. “To the diner I mean. Like you and your dad...not like a date thing.” Just kill him at this point.