"Dang it man. Why do you call me this late."
"Because You're up this late anyway."
"True, but besides the point. I'm up this late because I want my own time."
Ryker tied his thin long black hair into a ponytail, and leaned back in the cracked vinyl booth of the interstate diner. If Huddle House had an off brand look-alike, and that off brand, also had an off brand, Rich's Rest stop, Rich's Rathole, or more frequently just, "The Rathole", was it. Nobody, except maybe Vanessa, Rich's second wife and widow, and current owner of the dive, knew what the original building was, but it certainly wasn't intended to be a restaurant.
The front third was part convenience store part electronic "skill games" bazaar, while the back was the familiar greasy spoon, which curiously gave way to a large empty open space storing old metal equipment that hadn't seen use in at least a decade. The popcorn popper was recognizable enough, but the other metal monsters may as well have been medieval torture devices as far as the guests were concerned. The Rathole was one of about three social nexus in Woodpine Valley, mostly because there weren't any other places to go, but it was the only one that was open 24/7, and the bitter coffee was perfect for the pairs adventure debrief.
"Stop your whining, I've got something to show you." Brayden quipped. he flipped his smart phone around, showing a photo of the modified P&R sign.
Ryker's jaw dropped. "No Fricken' wayyyy." Ryker punched Brayden on the arm. "You did it. You finally did it."
Brayden just settled into his seat, a smirk plastered on his face.
"Dude, that's so perfect. Screw these P&R assholes. It's been like the Invasion of the Body Snatchers ever since they showed up."
Brayden nodded at the antiquated metaphor, but wouldn't be surprised if Ryker actually had the original on VHS at his home. Ryker was named for the exact television figure one would suspect. His dad, owner of the local movie rental store, turned hobby store, turned pawn shop, was a dedicated trecky, and Ryker did not fall far from that tree.
"People here have always been zombies, it's their security that freaks me out." Brayden admitted.
"With all of that private security around, I'm surprised you did it, honestly." Ryker threw up his hands. "Hell, I'm surprised those goons didn't throw you off the roof."
"They almost didn't need to." Brayden confessed, before breaking into a dramatic retelling of his ascent.
