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[Donald Lucas Downs]

I CAN'T ESCAPE THIS HELL, SO MANY TIMES I'VE TRIED

HELP ME BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE REAL ME

Donnie hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. A few minutes here and there but mostly he’d lain in bed staring at the moon. It fascinated him really. Not that he had ever really paid much attention to it before. Lately though…lately it was like the swollen curve was trying to tell him something. The feeling it gave him was similar to the one he got when he knew he was forgetting something important. Something he just knew would get him into trouble later.

Once, Donnie remembered dozing off entranced by the silver-white glow. He had been trying to make out shapes from the craters visible on the lit-up side of the rock. It seemed only seconds had passed when his eyes shot open again. He could have sworn that it was closer. Almost like it taunted him, dancing nearer while he looked away. Testing his delusional theory, Donnie looked away from the window and pretended to be interested by the mysterious stain on the ceiling. Waiting…waiting…before hurrying to zoom his focus back to the sky outside. Nothing. No closer…no farther away.

Huffing and mumbling to himself the man rolled over onto his stomach and pulled the bed sheet up and over his head. He was almost asleep again when suddenly he got a familiar feeling. You know the one. It is when you’re almost positive someone is staring at you. The hairs on your neck feel all tingly and you get that paranoid heavy breathing…maybe that’s just Donnie. The man worked himself up to near panic before he flung himself off the bed to face the window.

His chest rose and fell as he caught his breath, staring accusingly at the immovable moon. His throat stung slightly as he swallowed hard, thirst he supposed. With a shake of his head, Donnie attempted to toss the crazed thoughts from his mind. After forcing himself out of the bedroom and into the living room he managed to catch a couple hours of shut eye.

He barely was able to drag himself from the recliner in the morning. He knew he needed to though. Work was waiting and nothing was better for a troubled mind than work. Plus he needed to ask his good friend, Vincent Carlisle, what he thought about a late night fishing trip. Donnie was already planning one for Saturday but it was always nice to bring Vincent along. Actually, Donnie couldn’t really call it fishin’ if he couldn’t clink a few beer bottles with the man.

His steel-toed work boots seemed about ten times heavier than usual as he lugged himself into the garage. With droopy lidded eyes, Donald scanned the shop for the other man. Spotting Vincent exiting the back office Donnie rose his arm and waved. “Hey. How’s it been?”

TAGGED FOR VINCENT/FREYR / 469 WORDS / I WUVZ YEW!

NICK @ ATF & CAUTION 2.0

[Vincent Gavin Carlisle]

beth/donald the garage jeans and a black button up "I've Got All This Ringing In Ears And None On My Fingers" (FOB)

Vincent wasn't having a very good week. Not when the subject was sleep. Normally he was out like a light when it came to about one, if not before. The time really depended on whether he was with Lia or a man, or if he just went home on his own - which only happened when he was tired enough to just pass out.

However, all week, Vincent had been tossing and turning and he definitely didn't like being up in his house by himself. It was uncomfortable and he had the eeriest feeling that is was haunted. The idea of ghosts were probably the only thing that really gave him the creeps.

Last night, he ended up falling asleep in the back office at the garage. He'd even organized the entire room to get him tired, which didn't manage to work until about three in the morning. So when he woke up with the sun in his face, his eyes were circled by dark bags, and all he could feel was his mouth, completely dried up. Clearing his throat, he fumbled out of the chair he was in and headed out of the office to find something cold to drink. Vincent almost didn't react to the sound of Donald Downs calling out to him.

Glancing over, drowsy and slow, Vincent forced a smile on to his face. It was genuine, just not easy to create at that particular moment. He turned on his heel and made his way to his friend, instead of wherever it had been he was going.

"Fantastic," he drawled, grinning as he gave the man a thumb up. "How about you, Donnie-boy? Get a good night's rest? Hopefully we'll be busy around here today, so I'll need you alert and ready." Vincent was lying through his teeth, and it was obvious by the equally tired look on his face. He just preferred to show off some sort of awesome leadership quality, even when he planned to take a nap after he got that drink.

the code was made by: mayu aka preparethe;sky! @ caution

[Donald Lucas Downs]

I CAN'T ESCAPE THIS HELL, SO MANY TIMES I'VE TRIED

HELP ME BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE REAL ME

Donnie snorted at his friend’s reply. “Fantastic, huh? It looks like you got about as much sleep as I did last night,” he gestured toward his own dark bags before chuckling quietly. “I don’t know what it is lately…just can’t sleep.” He left it at that. There was no way in hell he was about to explain to his best friend that he was losing it. Heck, he could barely admit it to himself.

Donnie had noticed the direction Vincent had been heading in before readjusting his path toward Donnie. “Grab me one, too? My mouth’s drier than a popcorn’s fart.” He turned away momentarily to sign-in on the clipboard hanging on the wall. It took a glance at the clock to realize what an ungodly hour it was. “I swear you’re gonna kill me, Vinnie.” It was the usual time to start work (and Donnie was normally early) but today it was torturous.

Turning back to his friend, he slumped a little. “I see Charles is late…again.” The newer guy, Charles Darwin, was young and reckless. Vincent had gotten more than a couple complaints about the kid. Donnie wouldn’t guess that the guy would be around much longer. Vinnie was a nice man but he was serious when it came to running the shop. “Guess I’ll start on that Dodge on my own. Blown head gasket, right?”

It wasn’t bad that Charles was around. It was actually more of a relief; he always managed to get in Donnie’s way.

“Oh, man. What are you doing Saturday night? I have a hankerin’ for a late night fishing trip. I’ve been wanting to try out my new gear.” Donald ruffled his hair as he spoke. He didn’t really expect Vincent to decline. He hardly ever turned down an invite. Occasionally, but only every few weeks. Donnie didn’t think much about it. The guy kept pretty busy so it was normal for him to take a break for alone time every now and then. Once a month wasn’t really a big deal.

TAGGED FOR VINCENT/FREYR / 344 WORDS / I STILL WUVZ YEW!

NICK @ ATF & CAUTION 2.0

[Vincent Gavin Carlisle]

beth/donald the garage jeans and a black button up "I've Got All This Ringing In Ears And None On My Fingers" (FOB)

Vincent smiled a little at the comment. He hadn't gotten a look at himself yet, but if he looked as tired as Donald did, people might not trust them to work on their automobiles. However, the following comment also gave him a sinking feeling in his stomach. Vincent knew exactly why his friend wasn't sleeping, but like hell if he could explain it without sounding like a loon.

That's why he was glad for the subject change, especially since it allowed him to return to his mission for liquid. He headed over to the color and opened it, grabbing them both something. "Lovely word-choice, Donnie, thanks," he said, shaking his head and smiling as he walked back over, holding out one of the water bottles.

"I'm not going to kill you, promise," Vincent said, the man's phrase of choice striking a chord - killing him was something he had been afraid of doing for an entire week. The meaning to him went completely over Donald's head, of course, and he just had to shake it off and continue to grin. Except, then he mentioned Charles. Vincent loathed that boy these days.

"That brat better not show the fuck up, either. I told him if he's late again, to assume he's fired," Vincent growled, followed by a sudden wave awareness of how tired he still was. "Yeah, you do that," he said, motioning at the garage. "And I'll take a nap. Wake me when you're done and I'll do some work while you sleep. Deal?"

Vincent had been about to do exactly what he'd planned, half turned on his heel, water bottle in his mouth, when he was stopped again. He titled his head a little, questioning as he listened. "Drinking the night away in a bar, like usual. But out on the water with you would be much more fun. Count me in." There were only going to be so many chances left to hang out so casually before Donald possibly broke off their friendship and possibly shot him in the face. So why not take the opportunity while it was still there?

the code was made by: mayu aka preparethe;sky! @ caution

[Donald Lucas Downs]

I CAN'T ESCAPE THIS HELL, SO MANY TIMES I'VE TRIED

HELP ME BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE REAL ME

Donnie had reached the vehicle and lifted its hood as Vinnie began answering his question. The man only grinned as he stared down the bits under the hood. “Alright. Saturday night it is.” He could tell Vincent really wanted to go back into the office to grab a few hours of sleep. Donnie had no doubts that he’d been totally serious about the ‘nap deal’. “Go on. I’ll wake you up if anyone asks for you.” He turned his head to give his friend a smile. “Or if I get tired enough to actually go to sleep.”

For the next couple hours all Donnie was thinking about was what needed to be unscrewed, what part went where and other mechanical thoughts of the like. That is the reason the man loved work so damn much. It kept his thoughts off things he would rather not think about. Just for example, a looming, murderous moon.

It wasn’t until his stomach growled that he realized how hungry he was. He finished tightening what he was working on and straightened up to take a look at the clock on the wall. It was half past twelve and Donnie was definitely feeling it. The red cloth rag didn’t do much for his hands but he continued to wipe at the oil as he walked toward Vinnie’s office. The door always stuck and it took a good yank to pull it open. He would’ve figured the groan of the office door would have been enough to wake his friend. “Hey, Vinnie.” His voice boomed in the small room and he grinned crookedly at the odd position his boss has fallen asleep in. “I’m hungrier than a bus load o’ hippies. You want me to go run grab something for us or you wanna do it? Either way’ll do. ‘Cause if we don’t get food soon I might start thinkin’ the Donner Party had a pretty good idea.”

TAGGED FOR VINCENT/FREYR / 324 WORDS / SORRY IT'S CRUMBY.

NICK @ ATF & CAUTION 2.0

[Vincent Gavin Carlisle]

beth/donald the garage jeans and a black button up "I've Got All This Ringing In Ears And None On My Fingers" (FOB)

"Definitely wake me if someone asks for me - because I'd like to know who the hell would," he retorted with a small chuckle. "But thanks, Don; see you in a few hours, then."

Vincent half fell back into his chair, and dropped his head on the desk. There wasn't anything more comfortable than a stack of papers as a pillow and a torn up cushion for a seat when one was this tired. It was only moments after he closed his eyes that he was out, sleeping just as soundly as before the sun's interruption.

He dreamed, but not quite as pleasant as he had been. This time it was all blood and fur around mangled bodies, with the moon as a background and howling and screams as the soundtrack. While the imagery didn't convey this, the body was certainly his friend Donald, and the screams where coming from someone unidentified. The words evil and monster were being spoken to him in the voice of his mother when he woke up with a start at the sound of his now only employee's voice.

Sitting up straight, Vincent looked to the door with wide, tired eyes. It took a moment for the shock to wear off and the words to sink in before he could respond.

"Oh...Um. Here..." Vincent said, as he grabbed a marker and scribbled a large note on the back of the first useless document he caught sight of. It read, we're out. coming back eventually. patience is a virtue. Then finished with a smiley face. "Stick this on the front door, and we'll both head out. Because I'm feelin' you on that cannibalism thing, if I don't get something in my stomach, and you just don't look all that tasty."

Vincent hopped up and shoved the sign at Donald, then turned back around to snatch up his wallet from...wherever the hell he put it down.

the code was made by: mayu aka preparethe;sky! @ caution

[Donald Lucas Downs]

I CAN'T ESCAPE THIS HELL, SO MANY TIMES I'VE TRIED

HELP ME BELIEVE IT'S NOT THE REAL ME

Donnie chuckled to himself as he watched his friend scribble a message down. It was just like him to be able to get away with something like that. Nobody could get frustrated with the man, at least not that Donnie could ever tell. Not employees and certainly not customers. Vinnie’s smooth talking and soft charm were surely the secrets behind it all. Definitely not something Donald Downs would ever be able to master. He always managed to stumble over words when conversing with strangers. Oh, well.

The grease covered man fished around in his pocket for the keys to his truck. ”I’ll drive.” He grabbed at the slip of paper holding the Be Back Soon message to attach it to the front door.

The truck rumbled to life and Donnie threw it into reverse. “I got those new poles and I’m trying to decide whether to fish dry or wet.” That was always a hard decision for him to make. Whether to bait his line with live lore or not. It didn’t really matter much either way.

They were nearing the fast food joints then. He could make out the Wendy’s logo poking up over the roofs of slightly shorter buildings. Further down was Burger King, MacDonald’s and more. Shoot! Maybe Vincent was in the mood for Chinese food. The thought of just cooked stir fried beef and broccoli made Donnie groan hungrily.

TAGGED FOR VINCENT/FREYR / TOO SHORT! / I WUVZ YEW!

NICK @ ATF & CAUTION 2.0