DSSS [Page 57] (Patreon)

Despite both wanting the best for each other, Cliff and Elliot had grown apart in recent years due to a mixture of stress on Cliff's part and confusion on Elliot's. While Cliff was struggling with the loss of his job and him and his wife Joelle's mutual desire to put their marriage on hold while she pursued her career more intensely, Elliot struggled with his newfound feelings for his dad, which he fully expected would never be reciprocated and could potentially ruin their relationship if they ever came to light. Elliot was never particularly close with his mom, so her absence didn't hurt him as much as it did his dad, but the visible change in Cliff's demeanor once she was gone pained Elliot- a secret admirer of his.

A few weeks after Cliff and Joelle discussed their indefinite split and she began travelling abroad for her job, Cliff spontaneously announced the plans he made to book a small cabin out at a nearby lake for the weekend to Elliot. It caught him by surprise, as he'd only ever went hiking once or twice in the past and it seemed an odd decision for his dad to make plans for a vacation like this without asking him in advance. What Cliff didn't tell him was that it was a last ditch effort to reconnect with his son, as the tension between them was growing by the day and he didn't want to risk losing Elliot next... he'd have nothing and no one left otherwise. Cliff's mood hadn't been particularly great in the time between the split and the vacation, but rather than try to comfort him Elliot opted to keep his distance and stay out of the way lest he make things worse between them somehow. 

Flash forward to the present day, where after a series of bizarre, hectic, embarrassing, and undoubtedly "exciting" events, Elliot finally confessed how he felt to Cliff and risked their shaky relationship altogether. And though he'd never imagined he'd make it this far... Elliot is determined not to squander this opportunity to show his dad how much he truly means to him.