The Island to Various Rifts, Friday Through Sunday

[spin_kick_snap]

This is what happens when you stopped listening to the radio for the island; you were taken by surprise when you stepped on the island and saw that half of it looked like it belonged somewhere and somewhen else. Like, even moreso than usual.

Even with all the differences in the island, the first rift took Kathy by surprise as it opened up under her feet, too wide for her to bounce out. It reminded her a little too much of that column of light that had grabbed her to bring her to LA. Only this time it was down instead of up and when she looked around...

"Okay, I am not in Kansas anymore."

[For thems what are there with her.]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

"You gonna be okay going there?" she asked. "It's the same diner that..." She trailed off and shrugged. "That you found me in. That day."

[rebelseekspizza]

"I know."

He shrugged. Tried to be casual about it. "It'll be fine. Whatever, it was years ago."

[spin_kick_snap]

"If you're sure...?" Kathy said. "I mean, pizza's fine, too."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Kathy," Dante said, beginning to sound fondly exasperated, "Let's fuckin' go."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Okay okay!" Kathy said. "I just..." She trailed off again. "Okay, we're going."

It was a short walk to get into the city proper and then they hailed a cab - green and running on some kind of weird Tesla engine. Kathy didn't say anything, just noted the differences and gave the address of the diner.

The Pickle Hut was pretty much exactly the same, right down to the decor, she was pleased to see. Even the garish neon pickle sign was correct, blinking out every handful of seconds. And the smell - hot oil, salt, and brine hit them like a cloud when they walked through the door. "Oh," Kathy said, with a happy little smile as they were shown to their table. "I've missed this place."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante's mouth quirked a little. "Maybe you can tell me a couple of stories of how you used to hang out here," he said. "You know. Before."

Might take the edge off.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Nick took me here the first time," Kathy said, scanning through the menu. "It's funny, cause it was so at odds with his Mr. Hollywood persona. But the woman that runs this place - Mona - she knew him from when he was a kid. She'd come back and yell at him for being too skinny and demand to know when the last time he called his mom. Yelled at him for wearing the sunglasses indoors, but he told her that the neon lights gave him headaches now and she backed off."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante snorted softly as he sank down into a booth. "What did you think?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"I loved this place," Kathy said, looking around fondly. "Huge portions. Their kimchi is the best I've had outside of K-Town. It's just...it's everything a diner should be, but with a pickle bent."

Thus making it better.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Never took you for a huge fuckin' fan of pickles," Dante teased, "Gonna have to work that into the menu at home..."

[spin_kick_snap]

"You know how I always take my pickles off my Mooby sandwiches?" she asked. "It's so I can eat them last, save 'em for the end."

[rebelseekspizza]

"I mean, I saw that," Dante said, laughing a little bit. "'s cute."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Much better than thinking I'm a weirdo for doing it that way. Sarah always said it was."

Sarah...still brought a pang, but for once, Kathy's smile didn't slip, her expression didn't sadden.

[rebelseekspizza]

"She was your sister," Dante said, smiling a little. "Think thinking your shit is weird is part of the contract."

Don't think about Vergil.

[spin_kick_snap]

Don't remind him of Vergil.

"Well, these pickles are good enough you might end up doing it, too," she told him. "They make 'em in big vats in the back and I'm pretty sure crack is a key ingredient. Only thing that explains how good they are."

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante grinned. "I'll try to pay attention to the pickles this time," he promised.

[spin_kick_snap]

"This just means you'll let me steal yours, right?" Kathy asked, fluttering her lashes at him.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Who says I don't like pickles?" Dante retorted. "Thief."

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"But you like me better than you like pickles, right?" Kathy said, fluttering harder.

[rebelseekspizza]

"Which is why you can get an extra order of pickles," Dante said patiently, "And I won't touch any of 'em."

[spin_kick_snap]

Now she was pouting up at him. "But giving me yours is a sign of devotion."

[rebelseekspizza]

"It's a sign you like taking my shit," Dante informed her.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I frequently take your shit," Kathy sassed. "This time it just comes with a benefit."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Just order us some damn food, Kat."

[spin_kick_snap]

Her grin faded as she wondered if she'd pushed the joke too far, but nodded, waving over one of the staff to order a kimchi burger for herself, a double All-American Bacon Cheeseburger for Dante, fries, and shakes for them both. Strawberry for him, caramel Oreo for her.

And an extra side of pickles, of course.