Some Similarities

[Richard Maddox]

It was a good day. The sun was out. It was warm, not hot. A little breezier than normal, but not much of a bother. Which was why Richard sat in the park. Despite the larger crowd at this time of day. Most would avoid him. Bent over his notebook, he was still a tad foreboding. It was an advantage. Richard could watch. Observe. Find inspiration in peace.

There was noise but Richard ignored it. He was too involved with his world. Too distant from reality. He had no idea how much time had passed. It didn't matter. He didn't care. The only mark of time was the sandwich beside him on the bench. Idly he took another bite from it before setting it back down. There was roughly half, but he wasn't eating that fast. He was too caught up in his thoughts.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Normally, Levi would have brought Luna and Axel to the park for company, especially on a beautiful day like today. He opted to leave them back at his apartment. Why? Because he didn’t want to deal with them and the people they tended to attract. No, he wasn’t in the mood for the constant attention and small talk that he was force to suffer through thanks to his dogs. He loved them, of course. They were the only important things in his life right now. But all he needed to day was to clear his mind.

The off duty officer made his way through the overly familiar park. He spotted the tree her normally sat under. It was already being occupied by a group of teenagers. Maybe the park was a bad idea today. It was more crowded than he was used to. He scanned the area, trying to find some spot where he could be in peace, but there was nothing.

He found himself craving the pungent taste of his beloved whiskey. He wasn’t proud of it, but he had seemed to revert back to his old ways. It was the only way to stop his mind and himself from reading that stupid letter (well, that’s what he assumed was in the envelope under his bed). Frustrated, he spotted a bench with someone on it, but there was enough space next to him to take a seat. Sighing, he made his way over and took a seat next to the man who was occupied with whatever was in his notebook, and his sandwich.

Levi threw his head back and rubbed his face before running his hands through his hair. He felt his flask pressing against his backside from the pressure of the bench. Why he brought temptation with him he did not know.

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Tag: Richard Maddox

[Richard Maddox]

Someone sat down next to him. It was enough to drag Richard back into reality. He observed the man beside him. Most would sit elsewhere. Most would avoid Richard. He wasn't the most friendly looking figure. yet here this man was. Richard looked around. Maybe it was due to the sheer amount of people in the park. It was very crowded. more crowded than he was used to.

His eyes returned to the man. Even from him, it was obvious to read the frustration. Something was bothering him. Richard didn't know what. The difference of emotion between this man and the numerous other happy park-goers was stark. Enough to pique Richard's interest. Enough for him to eventually ask. "Are you alright?"

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi was in a battle with himself, so much so that he felt a headache coming on. He was beginning to miss his care free life before coming back to Kalispell. Every so often he tried to snap his mind back to what was going on around him. All the people in the park, the joggers, the couples, the kids, everyone had seemed so happy, doing their own things, and here Levi was, bringing a dark cloud of misery with him.

It was pathetic really. His dependency, his dilemma. They were stupid, minuscule problems that to any normal would find humorous, and yet here he was and he couldn’t shake them. He needed to get over himself, he knew that. Or was it the years of emotional and mental abuse that have finally caught up to him. He wasn’t sure.

The man beside him spoke. He was a bit taken aback by it. He didn’t chose to sit there because he wanted to strike up a conversation with a stranger. He sat there because there was really no other place to sit at the moment. He kept his gaze trained ahead. “As good as I can be.” He wished the man would just tend his book or whatever it was he was doing before.

Levi shifted, allowing him to pull the flask out from underneath him. He held it in his lap, starred at it for a while. He felt his mouth starting to go dry.

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Tag: Richard Maddox

[Richard Maddox]

The man replied. By his tone, he didn't want to. Richard could take a hint. Or at least one so obvious as that. He only nodded. Then went back to his book. Yet at the same time he watched. Out of the corner of his eye. Something was wrong, and making the man bitter. Some dilemma. An inner struggle Richard could only guess at. It was slightly fascinating to watch.

Finally he moved. Pulled out a flask, then held it in his lap. Richard scrutinized it all, flipping to a new page and keeping his eyes locked there. Something about the hesitancy in the other man's actions spoke volumes. This had to be the source. Addiction. It was a subject he hadn't written about. Suddenly there was potential, and Richard grew more curious. But he held his tongue and wrote, waiting for the man to do something else.

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi played with the flask in his hand. He kept his eyes ahead, not really wanting to stare temptation in the face, feeling it was bad enough. He felt a bit relieved when the man next to him didn’t continue with pointless conversation. He pulled out his phone and after pressing a few buttons his living room came into view. Luna and Axel were in their beds, sleeping. He should have brought them, he felt bad. He looked at his bookshelf that hadn’t grown in quite some time. Was he losing himself?

He put his phone back in his pocket and started to play with the flask again. He’d unscrew and screw the top over and over, never taking the top off completely. His focus was on a family ahead playing a game of tag. Must be nice. Having a family that cares.

Out of the corner of his eye Levi saw the book the guy had. He was keeping to it. It had been a while since Levi had read anything. “What are you reading?” He asked. Now he was responsible for the mindless small talk. Great.

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Tag: Richard Maddox

[Richard Maddox]

He didn't drink from the flask. As far as Ricard observed, he only toyed with it. Opening and closing it. Never looking at it directly. He didn't seem to want to. Maybe to resist? His eyes stayed ahead. Although he pulled out a phone at one point. Richard couldn't see what was there. He didn't try to look. He didn't care.

He put the phone away. Richard kept writing. Observing subtly. The silence stretched on. Until he broke it. Not Richard. What was he reading? Richard glanced at him for a moment. Then back to his work. "Writing, actually." He corrected, but not unkindly. Richard was surprised the other man had struck up a conversation. He didn't know if he should continue or stop. "You read much?"

[Levi Alexander Wolfe]

Levi kept his hands busy with the flask. The smart thing to do would to be get rid of it. What would have been smarter than that? Not to have filled it. He knew better, especially with his profession. He could lose his job. It was a shame really. He felt as though he was heading down a self-destructive path and the worst part of it all was the simple fact that he didn’t care.

Levi nodded his head slight, “Oh.” He said after realizing the mistake he had made. He didn’t really care enough to have notice in the first place. Reading, writing, same thing really. Levi wasn’t much of a writer, but reading, well that was something he could do for hours.

When the stranger asked a question, Levi adjusted himself on the bench before answering. “I used to.” He said, disappointment evident in his voice. He wasn’t one for details, or one for talking about himself, but he felt confident in his answer. “What are you writing?”

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Tag: Richard Maddox

[Richard Maddox]

He was keeping his hands busy. Constantly fiddling with the flask. Distracted. Guilty? There was something haunting his face. Richard couldn't keep track of it. Levi gave him a nod. He didn't seem to care too much. Richard didn't take offense. He didn't care too much either. He corrected more from instinct. He didn't really want any attention.

The man adjusted himself. Then answered. He used to. Curious. Richard wondered why he didn't so much now. There was disappointment in the other man's voice. Clearly there was a reason. A story. one Richard found himself wondering for. Yet he didn't ask. He asked a question instead. What was he writing? Richard froze. But only for a moment. "A story about a boy going on an adventure." It sounded so simple, didn't it? Dull and boring, yet that was essentially the basis. "He's trying to save his sister from a family he never knew's past mistakes." Again, it sounded plain. But it was the details within that made it complex.