2019-05-16 - Friday Night Means Shots

Mariah's at her usual station...which is behind the bar trying to field drink orders while the other bartenders are also doing this. There's a ringing of a phone somewhere, but it turns out to be a customers and not her own. Which is a relief. There's a lull in the ordering though. Which usual heralds a second or third rush in no time.

Having finished a day of giving tours out on the Harbor, Tobin has retired to a seat up at the bar and already has a beer in front of him, and a shot next to that, and seems ready to enjoy a bit of relaxation before heading home. Having grown up in Gray Harbor, he has seen most folks, even if he doesn't know all of them, and so there are greetings exchanged with those nearby, before he takes a swig from his beer and gives a smile of thanks to one of the bartenders.

Its Friday night, and Nate really has a HUGE pile of papers back at his little desk that need liberal application with the Fateful Red Pen, but...its FRIDAY. And he could use a shot or three of good bourbon before he has to deal with tests given to students that clearly slept through class. He pauses for a moment in the doorway to glance around at the faces already present, and decides the bar is the best destination for now, aiming for an empty stool that looks sturdy enough, even offering a small nod to Tobin on the way.

Geoff strolls right on into the bar with the cocky swagger of someone whose been through shit and come through the other side by his own power. Making his way up to the bar he leans up against it and flashes Mariah a broad grin "How about we get friday started out right, you got any one fifty one back there? Then a boiler maker /with/ one fifty one?" Tonight Geoff is playing for keeps and is no doubt going to have to call an uber

Teresa is some ways down the bar from Mariah, pouring drinks and gathering orders in the brisk rhythm of the busy night. She pivots, she pours, she pivots, she pours. Only distantly can she get a sense of individuals in the crowd.

Wherever the crowd is, there will Erin Addington be also. Especially if there's a party or flowing drinks. Dressed in an expensive summery dress in the latest style with delicate buttons tugging the fabric together across her chest and the skirt of it that ends at her upper thighs in a whisper of a flare that dances around her legs with every movement. Pricey cowboy boots decorate her feet, bought more for the name brand and style than anything else. Her hair is frames her features as she strolls in and towards the bar and she takes a seat, leaning forward just a touch, she awaits her turn to place an order as she checks out the others present.

"So you're going to be dead drunk by the end of the evening I see, Geoff." Mariah states with a laugh to him. "Yeah, I've got that back here. Just be a sec." she tells him. There's a smile down the way to Teresa and then a look back to see who else is in need of a drink. There's a smile to Nathaniel, "Well if it isn't my favorite Chemist. What can we get you?" she asks him. She gives waves of greeting and smiles to the others that she knows as well.

Because it's far too crowded to talk, when Sutton's phone begins to go off, she jabs the call decline button and immediately begins texting while she leans against the wall yonder, standing in the line for the loo. The brunette wears a clingy grey dress that hits at mid-thigh. Short sleeves reveal a single full sleeve tattoo on her left arm.

Tobin never went to college, but he recognizes Nathaniel when he sits down nearby and lifts his beer in salute. "Hey, Prof," he says with a friendly grin. "Students driving you to drink again?"

Teresa turns to Erin, her eyebrows lifted, her expression open. "Evening. What will you be drinking?"

Nathaniel smiles a little at Mariah's greeting, "I, uh, yeah. I think I want to start tonight off with some bourbon and a cider? Thank you." He shoots Geoff a curious look at the man's order, but doesn't ask. Instead, he shakes his head at Tobin and sighs, "If I let most of them close to the acids, we'd have lost someone'd fingers by now."

Time for someone else to enter! From... the toilets? Carver must have gotten here earlier. Yeah. That'd be it. The gents door swings open, free of a line compared to that of the ladies', the man re-rolling the sleeves of his shirt up and along his arms to the elbow. "I'd uh... give that a few minutes, mate. Or consider your life choices." he mutters to someone crossing his path to catch the door before it swings closed. His coat? Nowhere to be seen. Shirt? Still showing patches of grass stains.

"Oh thanks," Erin smiles in response to Teresa and he quick way she comes to take her order. "I want rum and coke this time." Sliding over her credit card, she adds, "Start a tab for me would you?" Once the order is placed, she glances around at the somewhat familiar faces, but doesn't interrupt any conversations for the moment.

"No, I don't think I will take your shift tonight, Heather." Sutton narrates her own texts as she types them, thumbs moving over the screen of her phone. She shifts forward one person, as the line steps forward. She glances up as Carver wanders by, and she catches what he says. Yes, she does stare at him. "Did you destroy the public toilet on a Friday night?" Judgmental. Tone.

Teresa takes the order and takes the credit card. She slides the credit card back almost immediately, but a rum and coke isn't quite so instantaneous. She mixes and merges, and Erin has her drink in a few breaths. Asks she of Erin, "Exciting weekend planned?"

Geoff gives a dismissive gesture "I wouldn't say I'm dead set on being dead drunk, I'm just planning on enjoying my Friday night." As he looks about he spots Erin and offers her a wave and a cocky grin "Planning on trying line dancing with those boots, cowgirl?" and then he spots Teresa and is offering a small salute to her

"A bourbon and a cider, coming right up hon." Mariah tells Nate as she gets Geoff's drink finished finally. She settles it down in front of him and there's a smile to him. She does get distracted by someone with grass stains though and there's a bewildered look. Then she's going about getting peoples drink orders filled. "No dying in the bar, please and thank you." she teases Geoff.

Tobin winces a little and gives Nathaniel a sympathetic look. "But think of the stories," he offers with a little bit of a grin. He then turns to do a bit of people-watching, taking in those that he knows and those that he doesn't with seemingly equal interest.

It's late enough that Fried Fish has closed for the night, and Julia was able to go home, get the smell of cod and fries out of her hair and skin, and actually doll up for the evening. So in she strolls, and this is either the first stop or the last stop for a night on the town. Clothes? Tight. Lipstick? Scarlet. Heels? High. She actually seems upbeat for a change as she heads for the bar.

"Only if it means there's a party somewhere and I get to be there." Erin tells Teresa with an enigmatic smile. Taking the credit card, she tucks that right away wherever it is a woman in a dress without a purse keeps things like that. Mhm, there. In that secret pocket of her dress. The smile widens. "It's a nice weekend, I hope you don't have to work the entire time." Hearing Geoff she leans back enough to see him through the crowd. "Only f you're dancing too." With a smile, she looks back at Teresa in time to get her drink. "Thank you, you are a life saver."

"Pretty sure I'd be rolling my sleeves back down, were that the case." Carver throws in Sutton's direction, checking the bundle of sleeve that sits high around his comparatively inkless forearms as he does so. And then there's a second. The voice hits home, and he looks up. Were he a better man, it'd be to her face. It's not. Well, it is. Eventually. At least he looks a lot better than he did earlier today. Physically, that is. The clothes and hair are still screwed. "Everly, right? Christ." That's probably a compliment.

Nathaniel mmms and murmurs to Mariah when the drinks are slid over, "Thank you!" and trades over a credit card for the tab, then offers a more rueful smile at Tobin, "Followed quickly with a helicoptor parent wailing that I let their baby hur themselves. I just keep the fun stuff under the vent hood. Tends to keep them entertained and noone gets bored with the dangerous stuff. Also keeps the vice principal concerned."

Teresa lightly returns Geoff's salute, two fingers, and turns her attention back to Erin. "Always a party somewhere. Just need to look the right places, know the right people." She taps the bar once. "I like my job," says she. "It's like a party I'm paid to be at, yes? You're welcome. For the drink. Let me know when you're feeling thirsty again."

Geoff snorts softly at that teasing comment from Mariah "Hey have some faith in me, I'm not going to die tonight. I've gotten myself into worse scrapes before then high proof alcohol served by pretty women." And with that he first grabs the shot, downing it before he grabs the glass to more slowly tend to. Leaning out to respond to Erin he says "Hey you find me that dance floor and I'll be right there with you." after a quick glance about as if to confirm there is no country music liable to happen imminently he says with faux disappointment "Looks like we'll have to save that date for another night."

"I wouldn't know." Sutton says, regarding Carver's sleeves. She probably noticed his gaze getting stuck somewhere not-her-face, but she doesn't say anything about it. "You seem to have survived the day." She lifts a hand and gestures, "Bit of a muddle, though." She mhms. "No one calls me Everly. Everyone calls me Sutton. My mother calls me Sutton." The English-around-the-edges accent increases in strength when she talks to Carver. It's like it's catching.

"No problem, Nate." Mariah states as she takes the card and then sets up his tab. There's a look over her shoulder to Geoff and there's a chuckle. Though she's not really sure she should be encouraging him. "Anyone else need a drink at the moment?" she asks as she turns back to the bar.

"Teresa!" Julia lifts a hand, waves it to get the batender's attention. "Whatever's on tap and isn't pisswater, yeah? Thanks, chica." Turning profile to the bar, she leans against it and takes a moment to consider the crowd.

"Let me buy you a drink. I have it on good authority the boss allows the employees to drink on the job now and again. Just add it to my tab." Erin swirls her glass a moment before lifting it and taking a drink from it only to feel the burn of the rum as she swallows. "Mmm.. made perfect. I suppose another just like this one as soon as this one is empty. It's Friday, that's reason enough to party." Another look to Geoff and she shrugs with a brow waggle. "Who needs music to dance? Just need a body or two with a good imagination and a little rhythm. But if you're not up to it I totally get it." A cheesy smile is thrown in for good measure.

Tobin takes up his shot and tosses it back before setting it down, then motions to Mariah, "I'll take another." He then goes back to nursing his beer. The accents not far away catch his attention and he glances in that direction, curious, but not lingering impolitely.

Carver's had a history about being contagious, but that was back in his 20's. "I usually do, pet. Little touch and go sometimes." He replies when the gaze finally falls on her face. That took far too long for a gentleman. There's a moment of appraisal, his hand dropping into the pocket of his waistcoat to pull out a watch stored within, slipping it on his wrist as he talks. "Alright, Sutton. What's she call your old man, then? Or is your household just a bundle of confusion?"

Teresa gives Erin a small smile and a small shake of her head, "Not for me, thanks. Perhaps later in the night. Meantime, another rum and coke for you when you're done." With this, Teresa glances over at Julia and laughs. "We have no pisswater on tap! How dare you?" She pours Julia a pale ale, amber through the glass, and slides it across the bar.

"I'm just saying, there's people who can handle a fine beer, and then there's eveybody else." Julia advises Teresa with a grin, saluting her with the glass before taking a sip.

Nathaniel takes a moment to toss the bourbon back and winces a little at the burn, closing his eyes and setting the glass down. With a muttered, "That's a little better...", he settles down and picks up the cider, glancing over at some of the other faces, offering a faint smile towards Julia before taking a drink.

With the refusal, Erin offers a thumbs up to Teresa. "Later in the night then. Remind me!" She settles in to drink on that liquor with the coke, savoring that burn as she watches Julia take a place nearby. A tentative smile is offered the woman before she takes another drink of her own. "The rum is good here," offering the advice to Julia. Just in case she hadn't tried it before.

"Whoa." That's Emily, stepping in on a Friday night like she didn't expect it to be a Friday night in here. Whatever she had been doing on her phone ends once her foot's in the door, and she stuffs it into the pocket of her 'casual Friday' jeans, rolling up onto her toes to see around or through a couple folks who are likewise stalled just inside. These folks are debating whether or not to just turn around and leave. She has no such debate, and just sort of elbows through them with a tightly smiled, "Guys. Move." And an eye-roll.

Geoff rolls his eyes and takes a deep chug from his drink "I didn't know you were so set on dancing tonight, I think I can manage to keep up with you if y want to hit the dance floor." And then he is back to sipping his drink waiting to see if Erin will call his bluff there. Leaning in closer to the bar he murmurs to Mariah "For the love of god don't put on country music."

Sutton glances up from her phone as she finishes another text, then watches Carver for a beat as he asks his question. The corner of her mouth twitches and she says, "Mum usually goes with Master Sergeant. Husband when he's in trouble, which is pretty often." She watches the path of Carver's hand, the watch fetching, putting it on too. That's a bit odd.

Teresa gives Julia that same two-fingered salute. To Erin, light, "Sure, I'll remind you. Drink up, ladies." And she drifts down the bar to check on another couple customers.

Mariah gives a chuckle to Geoff and then nods, "No country music, got it." she tells him. "I'll put on something catchy." she laughs. Then she's trying to find that music button behind the bar. Aha! He it is! The muzak is turned on and then she shoos Geoff, "Go have fun." she tells him. It's something that's not going to make the locals riot. Then she slides down the bar to lean in front of Nathaniel, "So how have you been?" she asks him.

"Oof. Husband." Carver gives a wince in empathy for Sutton's father, it lingering a little longer on one eye than the other. He notices the look at his little watch motion. Actually, that's not accurate. He recognizes it. "Things are a lot easier when you don't question them so much, love." Is about all the explanation she gets for now. Time for a topic change. "You want a drink when you're done queuing, or you just hanging around for the atmosphere?"

"Hey, Nathaniel." Julis offers cheerfully before flashing a scarlet smle at Erin. "Yeah, that's true. You drinkin' a Cuba Libre? Teresa's really good at those."

Mariah then notices that she missed Tobin's request for a refill and she hops to get him one, "Really sorry about that." she states with a bit of an apologetic look.

"Let me drink more first, otherwise what excuse could I possibly give to be dancing with you so early in the night?" Erin gives him a sly look, before a wink is tossed in his direction. Ball tossed back in his court. Finishing off her glass, she slides it across the bar for the refill, "Cuba Libre?" Julia effectively distracts her. "Just a rum and coke. Are they similar or the same thing?"

Nathaniel blinks when Mariah scoots over and asks him a question, caught off guard for a moment with the bottle to his lips. He finishes taking a drink and clears his throat, remembering to smile a little, "Still havent blown the school up, which I think disappoints half of my classes. Every time I have a demonstration, they all look like they're bracing for impact. And then I have to really keep myself from cracking up." He pauses and glances over, then back to her, "Havent pulled your hair out yet?"

Sutton finishes screwing around with her phone for the moment, and loosely crosses her arms, moving forward another few steps when the line finally picks up again, phone loosely clasped in one hand. She continues her conversation with Carver just the same. "Of course I'm drinking. I'm drinking a lot. I'm going to start with a Buttery Nipple and go from there." Her brows rise. "You're here to drink, aren't you? Not just fiddle with time pieces."

Tobin shakes his head at Mariah with a grin and says, "No worries. It's busy.. and that's a good thing." He offers a "Thanks," when she brings over his refill, letting the shot glass sit for a moment as he takes another swig of his beer. Seeing Emily coming in, he lifts a hand to wave to her, nodding toward one of the empty seats nearby, "Hey Em, how's it going?"

Julia takes a sip of her beer, leaving a red stain on the edge of the glass. She'll have to touch up before she heads out whenever. "Exactly that." she affirms to Erin. "I'm Julia. Teresa makes mean cocktails, you're in good hands."

Teresa drifts briefly near Julia and Erin again. "Of course, the meanest. If you're comfortable with run and cokes or gin and tonics whole night, that's fine, too."

Emily clearly has no qualms about just elbowing her way into stuff, so she'll just elbow her way into a space at the bar near Tobin, too, passing a sorry-not-sorry smile to whoever she bumps into along the way. "Hey, man. It's going. It's fucking packed in here. What're we doing? Shots?" She eyes his, eek-face, and reaches across or down or whatever to tap-tap Nathaniel on the shoulder, just a quick 'yo hi colleague,' not meant to drag him from his whole conversation.

Geoff hops up from his position and makes his way down to take up residence closer to Erin, gesturing to her with his drink "Well the truth that you have thing for guys with tats and a bike isn't going to do it here obviously." he says with a shake of his head as if this much should be apparent "It looks like I'll have to at least buy your next drink now to keep up appearances."

Mariah gives a smile to Emily when she gets up to the bar, "What can I get you? Shots are popular this evening, but whatever you like." she tells her. Then there's a look to Nathaniel and there's a smile, "Glad you've not blown up the place yet." she teases him gently. Then she leans over to whisper something to him.

Julia lolls her head back and to the side to address the bartender. "Oye, Teresa, �puedes mezclarme un mojito? Gracias." She turns back to Erin, noting slyly, "I think this guy here is trying to flirt with you, chica."

"A pleasure meeting you, Julia. I'm Erin Addington." Always adding that last name in there all importantly or something. "What sort of cocktails do you favor? I'm not too up on gin. It tastes like the smell of some of my perfumes. I will take that refill now though." With the approach of Geoff, she raises both brows, "Do I or is it wishful thinking on your part?" Cutting a look to Julia she grins, "He flirts with everyone," before looking back at Geoff. "I'll definitely take that drink though."

"Nipple for the lady." Carver mentally notes with a short nod, silently thanking some unseen force that it's buttery and not hairy. He also notes the crossing of her arms, tucking his hands into his pockets as a response. Body language is fun, guys. "Really." Eyebrows count as body language, and his go up at the question. A little incredulous. "You've known me for fifteen minutes. That's long enough to know I probably visit local parks to drink."

"We are doing shots," Tobin says, lifting his in demonstration, but saving it for the moment. He takes another swig of his beer instead. "And debating how many shots I want to do, since I have to work tomorrow. Hungover tours are painful tours." He smiles a bit faintly.

"Si," says Teresa, mildly, as she reaches for the rum. Gonna be a rum night. The mojito she prepares first, muddling mint, before pouring in rum, lime, syrup. Adding ice. Straining into a glass. This for Julia. Then ice in a glass. One part rum, three parts Coke. This for Erin. "It's a night to flirt," she says. "To see and be seen."

Nathaniel glances over at Emily's order, taking another drink from his cider, but snaps his attention back when Mariah asks a question under the roar of the crowd. He hesitates for a moment, then nods once, a little surprised, "Yeah. I can do that." He finds his smile again and glances down at the bar, pausing again to upend that bottle of cider.

Geoff wobbles his hand in a thoughtful manner "You know it's a little of column A, a little of column B." with a chuckle he says "I've never known you to turn down a free drink." turning his grin on Teresa he dips his head "Hey there neighbor, put the lady's next drink on my tab." with a snort he mentions wryly "Always amusing when I end up buying an Addington a drink."

"I knew that as soon as you put your head down on the counter at the diner, Carver," Sutton replies, a smirk on her lips. "I'm charmed by your accent." She lifts one shoulder in a shrug. "Reminds me of home. With a little gutter thrown in -- like a night out." Is that a compliment or an insult? Probably... both. She shifts her posture, and sighs. "I should not have worn heels." That last is muttered under her breath. She steps forward one more time as the line moves along. Only two from the promised land now! She's yet to do a dance, so she's probably fine waiting.

Shots - "Of...?" Emily peers at Tobin's shot-glass, then turns an 'appropriate for a bar-patron to a bartender' smile upon Mariah. "Let's go with - whatever my friend here's having. Surprise me." Leaning on her elbows briefly, she peers down the bar at more familiar faces, then drops back down onto her seat with a surprised glance aside. "Is that Geoff down there talking to Erin fucking Addington?" She shouldn't look so amused, but she does it anyway.

Julia knows the Addington name because most people in this town do, but she's content to remain amicable and social instead of all wong side of the tracks tough. Besides, if Erin decides she likes her, Julia might score some VIP treatment as part of an entourage. "Thanks, Teresa!" she calls out, reiterating her gratefulness in English. She looks over at Geoff musingly, and then back Erin. "Well, he's kinda cute." Objectively speaking. "Not my type, but you do you. Or him. Free country, you know?" She lifts her mojito. "Salud!" she crows, adding, "I like the drinks I grew up watching family drink. Mojitos, El Presidente, Cuba Libre, saoco, that kind of thing." So most of her personal cocktail vocabulary is rum, it would seem.

Everybody knows waiting in line for the loo can use a little company. That's why Carver's not doing the smart thing and pre-getting the drinks. Well, that and, c'mon, don't take drinks from strangers you met in a diner that morning. Especially when they look like he does. "I've been called worse." A hand slips from his pocket to scratch at the side of his head, tucking a cigarette that came from somewhere behind the ear as he causes a small tufting of the hair. Honestly, it kinda blends in with the rest of the nonsense his hair's doing. "Scratching that homesickness itch, am I? I do like being useful."

Mariah gives a smile that could light up a room if needed, "Alright." she states with a nod. Then there's a moment taken to get beers, drinks and things for those that she was helping. There's a look to Emily, "I'll get the surprise for ya." she grins to that. Then she's making exactly what she made for Tobin, just for Emily. Once that's done she gives a smile, "Alright. I'll be back in a few. Stepping out for some air!" she calls down the bar.

"Thank you again," Erin offers to Teresa for the second drink. Turning more to face Geoff for the moment, since he was buying her drink anyway. Overhearing Emily down the bar a little she laughs softly. "My fan club or yours?" The words murmured to Geoff. Maybe they both had haters. She recognizes Emily from high school years and tilts her head back a touch in a reverse nod to the woman. Allowing herself to be drawn back into the more immediate conversation, she pretends to look over Geoff appraisingly. "Maybe it's the tattoos and bad boy look. Or maybe it's knowing how much my family would absolutely hate it." Confiding to Julia right in front of Geoff and Teresa.

"The drink will be on your tab," Teresa says, waggling fingers at Geoff as if she were transferring funds with her mind. Or some such.

Tobin glances down the bar in Geoff and Erin's direction and says, "Appears so," to Emily, chuckling a little bit when the question is noticed by Erin. He lifts his bottle in their direction in salute/greeting and then shrugs his shoulders, "It's Friday at the Pourhouse, where everybody knows your name... being glad you came? Mileage may vary."

Nathaniel eyes his cider bottle and slides the empty back on the bar, rumbling to himself for a moment. When Mariah talks about taking a break, he considers for a moment, then slides off of his bar stool and nudges Tobin, lowering his voice, "Dont go crazy, man. My house is right over on Elm if your head starts spinning." And with that said, he starts for the front door.

Emily calls after Nathaniel, "Don't blow anything up on your way home!" People who don't know the chemistry teacher blink, like people do, though it's as much at her (for shouting that) as at him (for receiving it). There's a, "Thanks," for Mariah, and some money on the bar while she drags her drinks over to her little designated piece of bar-top. "All right, so what am about to drink?" Beat. "Please don't say bourbon." Her teeth are so ready to be on edge.

That's the god's honest truth. There's really little chance Sutton would take a drink handed to her by a dude she's just met, particularly in a bar, particularly when she's wearing a dress like this and not very obviously armed. The twigs in the hair, moderately shifty demeanor, and general grass-stained rumpled-ness have little to do with it. The fact that he hasn't offered to have a drink ready really does suggest Carver's far smarter than average. "Why am I not surprised you enjoy being used?" Her brows go up at that. She hms. There are several comments that go sailing by which she could make, about scratching itches and the like. Instead, she says, "It's nice to hear something familiar. Or maybe not. I don't know why you left."

Geoff winks to Teresa two can play at that talking as if the other weren't in front of them gig "See, normally I don't go buying drinks for pretty pretty princesses, but no reason not to make a tonight an exception." With a roguish grin turned back to Erin he says "When you've got enough drinks for plausible deniability and want to dance, let me know." And just like that heslips away from the small cluster of women to head back towards where he was standing previously. Not only having thrown the ball back into the Addinton's court, but actually left on his own terms.

Tobin chuckles at Nathaniel and nods, lifting his bottle in farewell when the Professor heads off toward the door. "I'll keep that in mind." Though it's unlikely that he will go that crazy. Tobin isn't known for getting drunk in bars. Instead, he pulls out some cash to pay for the drinks that he has, and tucks a tip by the empty shot-glass. It appears that he won't be ordering more than his one refill for the night.

Julia watches Geoff swan away, then looks back to Erin. "Rude, though." she remarks. "Some ladies find that attractive, so who knows?" There's a shrug as she daintily sips her mojito. Citing a friend's departure, she calls out, "Later, Nathaniel!" She notes then to Erin, "I'm probably going to hang out here another hour or so, and then head for Firefly unless something really interesting falls into my lap. Wanna come?"

Teresa sneaks out in a quiet moment. Breaks are breaks. And even bartenders need them.

Carver's definitely smarter than he looks, at least. And it was only the one twig. Everything else is completely accurate. He offers Sutton a shrug at rhetorical question. It's okay, it's a rhetorical shrug. "Because you're obviously very good at forming first impressions." He idly mutters, watching those comments go sailing by as the line shuffles forward once more, and he actually has to take a step back to let the departing patrons through. "Why does everyone seem to assume I left due to some horrible misdeed?" She might not. He assumes his own things. "Someone asked me to come here, so I'm here. That's all there is to it."

Whatever, Emily will just horn in on conversations. It's Friday. It's a bar. There are no rules. She tacks on after Julia's comment, "Firefly - the club? Or the woods? 'Cause on a Friday night? You're pretty much taking your chances either way." And that's when she knocks back that shot. Which is, of course, bourbon, 'cause that's how the world works. She exhales, waving her hand in front of her face. "I guess I deserved that."

Sutton moves up to first place in line. She turns her back to the loo door and resumes her conversation with Carver, her line-waiting buddy. "If I don't form a first impression I get shanked in the back while a junkie tries to roll my rig for morphine." That pops out of her mouth with almost no consideration. She smiles at his question about misdeeds. "You look the sort, honestly." She smiles and glances back as the loo door remains closed. She shifts her weight again. "Who asked you to come here?"

A wave is offered to Tobin when he gives a greeting of his own, but Erin was more focused on those nearest her. Her drink delivered from Teresa, she takes a long drink. Eyes lift and follow Geoff as he walks back down to where he'd been standing before after effectively serving the ball directly front and center. Either she swings and nails it, or it smacks her in the face. The glass goes to the bartop and she gets to her feet with a flash of a grin to both Teresa and Julia, "Firefly? How about tomorrow night.." Tilting her head in the direction of Geoff. "He may be rude, but I suddenly feel like dancing." With that, she moves out to an open bit of space on the floor and puts her fingers to her lips to whistle before crooking her finger towards Geoff. Now the challenge was openly given, in front of everyone. Ball? Lobbed directly towards him.

Julia snickers. "Honey, does it look like I'm dressed for the woods?" she says to Emily, and well, looks like Erin took the main-bait. With a chuckle, she turns back to the bar, content to go back to people watching and chatting with fellow bar-hoppers.

Tobin watches as Emily downs the bourbon shot and his eyes sparkle a bit with amusement ather face when she discovers that it is, in fact, bourbon. "You kind of did," he says, fully expecting to get smacked for it. He does finally down his own shot, then, and chases it with the last of the beer in his bottle before setting both aside. "Though, I think I should probably head out. Working weekends takes some of the fun out of Friday nights."

Geoff is just reaching where he'd been heading when he hears that whistle, a broad grin pulling at his lips as he turns to find that he's once again up to bat. Grinning over to Tobin he claps the man on his shoulder and utters the words the proceed every great decision in life "Hold my beer." setting the glass down on the bar top he walks out to join Erin on the dance floor "Fancy seeing you here."

"An old friend." Carver answers immediately, then backs up a little to give a secondary appraisal of the woman. "Huh, so you are a-" Doc. He nearly said Doc. He catches himself this time, though. Lack of a hangover reduces his bastard-quotient by at least thirty percent. "I've never ransacked an ambulance for morphine." He promises, crossing his heart and everything. Oddly specific.

"All right, you gotta point. But." Emily needs something to get that bourbon out of her mouth, and the beer seems to be the only thing in evidence, so she takes a good swig off that pony-neck. "Weirder shit has happened in those woods on a Friday night than people showing up overdressed." She doesn't actually smack Tobin, but he definitely gets an elbow in the meaty part of his bicep. "Give a girl a little warning next time maybe." She means about the drink. "That sucks. But, hey, school's almost out, I'm off all summer, I'll come ride the boat soon?"

"Hold that thought," Sutton calls to Carver as the ladies room door opens. She shuffles forward on her heels and catches it before it closes, slipping into the loo. She peeps back out, "If you ever ransack my ambulance I'll take your fucking hand with a rusty saw." Boy, that was specific too. "Paramedic." She says it with a grin, then clunks the ladies bathroom door closed.

Tobin snickers when he gets that elbow in his bicep and then says, at least a little apologetically, "Sorry, Em. And sure, you know you're welcome any time. We're doing a three hour tour on Sunday, should be fun." He is just sliding off his stool when Geoff hands him his beer. He shakes his head with a grin and says, "Don't break her toes, Geoff." He sets Geoff's beer down on the bar and pays up his tab.

The music wasn't country, but then again neither was Erin. It was suitable, had a decent beat that wouldn't really allow for any two stepping so much. At his approach, she deliberately circles him, giving him a once over the entire distance around him before offering her hand over to him. "It looks like neither one of us can resist a challenge." The words are more murmured to him, "Question, who will lead and who will follow?" Another sly smile is given to him and she does a quick twist that has the short skirt of her dress twisting around her thighs back and forth a few times.

With the door slamming closed on him, Carver takes a few steps away. There's a little something muttered to nobody in particular as he heads up towards the bar, even going so far as to give the 'dancefloor' headed Geoff a nod of recognition. He won't get Sutton her drink in advance, but that doesn't mean he can't start trying to find somewhere to order from. He checks his watch at least once. Timely.

Emily, squinting thoughtfully, "Does that make you Gilligan or the Skipper?" That's her last line for the night. She winds up quitting the beer halfway through, rummaging around in her purse and stuffing, like, five pieces of gum in her mouth when she's on her way out, making noises about how it just had to be fucking bourbon, ew.

"Life wouldn't be fun if you didn't love a good challenge." Geoff replies with his typical cocky grin, getting more into the beat as he draws near. With her hand offered he takes it and drops his voice so that it doesn't carry beyond the two of them "It's been a back and forth all night, I don't see why either of us would settle for one or the other now that we're finally here." And with that he begins to dance, or at least let the music wash through him to move with the beat.

Sutton wanders out of the ladies room moments later, looking refreshed and, well, much the same as before. She crosses the room toward the bar, wending between people, nearly bumping through the impromptu dance floor. She touches someone's shoulders as they groove, and makes her way to the bar to find a seat before wearing these heels really takes a toll on her mood and her body.

Suddenly the brakes come on, the music changes as if by design and the song turns into a slow one. A narrow eyed suspicious look is tossed towards the back but Erin takes it all in stride. The soft talking is returned and she moves in closer, hands going to either his shoulders or around the back of his neck loosely. Whatever he seemed more comfortable with, and she sways her body with his, brushing a little intimately now and again, but she's not backing down. The slow song seemed more of a challenge to her than the faster one, and she tilts her head back enough to try and read his expression.

Drinks. Drinks for Carver. Unfortunately for future historians of what the night could have turned in to on his part, it's in a tall glass. The man stays away from shots in a new town. It's also paid for entirely in cash, pulled from some pocket on his waistcoat without even sign of a wallet. The best bonus? Sutton even gets a Buttery Nipple planted next to her, ordered, made and placed down without the man with twigs once in his hair even touching it. Is he the picture of the person that springs to mind when you think of the words 'Socially conscious?' Hell no, but by god if he doesn't try.

Geoff 's voice is low as he continues to murmur back to her through there dance, with his hands coming to rest gently against the small of her waist. He seems to slide into this slower paced dance all too easily, a soft laugh escaping him at something she says before his own quiet retort comes. For what it's worth he seems to do a marvelous job not stepping on her feet as doubtless some might have been betting on when the man took to the the dance floor to join the far more graceful woman.

Sutton looks up as a drink's put down in front of her. She puts her phone down on the bar just in front of her, one hand resting atop it. Seated on the stool, she nudges her shoes off to the floor to give her feet a break. "Thank you, Carver." She picks up the shot glass, raises it to the Englishman, and lifts her chin to throw the shot back in one go. She swallows, licks out the glass, and turns it upside down on a napkin on the bar with a thunk. "Excellent."

The song wasn't a super long one, the music Gods having mercy on the two and soon enough after it begins, the last few notes drift off and the song ends. There's brief talking after that and she drops her hands from behind his neck but leaves them on his shoulders. "Thank you for the dance." A genuine smile is given over and she glances back towards the bar. "I think I have a drink to finish. That was exciting. If you ever have any desire to dance again, just let me know." For good measure, she even winks and trails her fingers down one of his arms before completely releasing him.

Geoff clicks his tongue as if considering that offer, his hands lingering on her waist a moment more before letting go as her fingertips trail down his arms "You know I might just have to take you up on that again. The odd dance sounds like it could be nice." his smile is slight but entirely genuine. Rolling his shoulders he looks back towards the bar "I gotta go play drink roulette and see if anyone slipped something fun in there or not." winking back to Erin he says as he begins to head back to the bar "I'm sure our paths will cross again soon at the rate at which we've been bumping into each other recently."

Whatever's in Carver's drink looks pretty damn dark, but it's raised in reply to the lift of Sutton's. It's not downed nearly as quickly, though. There's a bit of a size disparity. The man doesn't sit, choosing instead to lean up against the bar, facing forward, but having given a little look down and to his side at the somehow-heard sound of shoes being discarded. "You're very welcome, love." he offers, taking a moment to get rid of a small, stouty moustache from his upper lip once the glass is placed back down. "The heels were brave, but I think they've beaten you."

"The heels kicked my ass," Sutton agrees, crossing her legs as she sits there at the bar, her bare feet dangling over the bar floor. Hopefully the floor's not sticky, because her feet just might end up hitting it when she gets up. If she gets up. This is where all the liquor is, so it seems like the place to be. "Should have worn flats." She lifts her hand and taps her glass, holding up two fingers to ask for another shot from the bartender. "Where are you from, Carver?"

When he walks towards his place, Erin walks towards hers, a soft laugh giving away the fact that she'd genuinely had fun with the back and forth. "I'm sure they will. I look forward to it." And so she slips back into her seat and reaches for her drink that had hopefully been watched by someone for her. Lifting it, she downs the contents and orders another one.

The music changes again to something that seems to please the crowd in the tables around the bar and a few others get up to try that dancing thing, offering entertainment for the rest of the room.

Geoff returns to what is probably his drink, or at least is where he'd previously left his drink pseudo attended and picks it up to down what's left of it in several deep gulps. Clinking the empty glass down against the bar top he grins broadly as he looks about to see if there are any promising candidates with whom to strike up a conversation

"Well, you've both learned a valuable lesson and why I don't wear heels." Carver replies, hand grasping around the drink as it acts like something of a support buoy. At least mentally. It's probably the accent thing again. What's reassuring to her might just be a little bit unsettling to him. That, or he's a few more sheets to the wind than he looks. A toss up, really. "London, originally. Herne Hill. Then we ended up in Wrexham when I was roundabout eight or so." He got a little wistful in expression, there, but recovers in time to throw a relatively normal glance Sutton's way. "Howsbout you? There's such a glaze over it, I can't tell worth a damn." Oh look, the glance gets a Geoff in his peripherals. Nothing said. 'I think you're in there, lad.' totally mouthed.

Sutton rests her folded arms on the bar top, leaning forward a bit. "You should try heels sometime. They do wonders for your butt." She arches her back slowly, stretching without sitting up. There's a faint tension in her jaw when she does so. Seems like she maybe wasn't kidding about those heels. "It's not even mine. It's my mother's. She grew up in Hampstead. I've only been a few times. I was born in Seattle." The brunette laughs. "Sorry, I'm having trouble sorting it out when we speak. Normally it's only a few words that come out a bit..." She waves her hand over the bar. "Else. Though some recent griping says I sound way more English than I think I do. Stuck in the middle." She follows Carver's gaze to Geoff and grins a bit. "Fancy meeting you here again."

Mariah wanders back in, because someone has to close the place down when it's time!

Holding up a hand, Erin cancels out that last drink order and gets to her feet. The last one had packed a whopper on her, a little stronger than the others, and she lifts a hand to get her hair out of her face before waving a farewell to Geoff. To the door she walks, the night had gotten quieter and she was tuning out now that the loud party vibe had gone to a dull roar. At the door, she turns and finger waggles a goodbye to those remaining before making her way out to the parking lot.

Geoff leans back against the bar, as he chats with Sutton and Carver "Yep, made it back in one piece after the dance with the princess." The man offering a small wave as the aforementioned princess sets out for the night, and he watches her walk away with a certain amount of appreciation "So how are you guys enjoying your first taste of a Gray Harbor friday? We might pull off the twin peaks small town vibe during the week but we do love to cut loose and party when it comes to it.

"I said I don't wear heels, Sutton." Carver is very pointed about that. There's a raised finger and everything. Contrary to habit, it's his index finger. "Not that I've never tried. My calves looked amazing. The walk?" A click of the tongue and a sharp intake of air goes through the side of his mouth. "A fucking travesty." He seems pretty sympathetic about the whole accent thing, though. Even with what he probably considers a true butchering of some pronunciations. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, you're screwing me over, too. I'm about half a drink and thirty minutes conversation from saying 'Windshield' and 'Elevator.'" Nurse the drink, Carver. Nurse it. Even when Geoff is talking. "Not bad, lad. Seen far worse in my time." Even Erin gets a glass raised in her direction at the wave she gives. It's only polite.

Mariah goes back to her spot behind the bar and there's a smile to those there, "Sutton, how're you doing? Did you check out those apartments?" she asks her as she starts gathering up glasses.

"Is dancing with princesses dangerous?" Sutton asks. She looks to Geoff, then turns to look after the woman in question. She waves back, then raises her brows briefly, regarding Geoff for a moment before she smiles, and reaches for the last shot placed for her. She glances over to Carver, and this time she does smirk. His walk in heels, no doubt the inspiration for that. "Windshield." She chuckles. "Don't, it's... terrifying." She shakes her head. "Elevator." When Mariah returns and speaks up, she grins. "I did, thank you, Mariah. They view is amazing from there. Thank you so much for the suggestion." She holds up a finger, throws back her second Buttery Nipple, and then drops her chin to lick out the glass, and turn it upside down on the bar next to the other. Both on a napkin. She mms. "So good."

Geoff stands and stretches, "Oh it can be, but sometimes, just sometimes its worth" cracking his knuckles he lets out a lazy yawn "I should really be getting going though. I'll be seeing you two around again I'm sure, and if I don't? Enjoy your time in town." with a smile offered to Mariah he says "I'll catch you soon, you take care of yourself you hear and if you ever have troublesome customers you can't quite get rid of, just hit me up." With that he turns and heads for the exit, raising his hand in farewell

"Appreciate the warm welcome, Geoff. Safe journey, now." It takes Carver a little while to respond to the departing man, considering he's about two thirds of the way through his drink by the time Geoff's moving to leave. It does mean Sutton's got the time to reply to various statements that shockingly don't involve him, though. "Zucchini. Apartment. Blinker. Aluminum." He mutters, only once Geoff is well on his way. And then a pause. "Hm. Shit. Oh!" His fingers snap together. "Sidewalk."

He actually gave a little impressed look at the deftness with her second shot, but let's not be too blatant with the compliments just yet. They barely know one another.

"Looks like we're closing it down." Sutton slides her glasses across the bar, along with a little cash fished out of the back of her phone case. She tosses that onto the bar as well, then closes it and slides to the edge of her stool, fishing with her toes for her shoes on the floor. She moves to stand, holding onto the bar. "Goodnight," she says, as the tattoo artist leaves.

"Dear god, stop." Sutton laughs, standing there in her heels, tucking her shoes into her heels. There's a moment of silence, and then she says, "You forgot crosswalk and flashlight." She straightens, leans briefly against the bar, then says, "I'm going home to think about unpacking a box before I leave it and have half a bottle of wine in my pajamas. Carver. Stay English. Americanisms do not suit you."

Carver's smile is remarkably easy coming the second Sutton laughs. His face isn't naturally dour, but there's definitely the suggestion at most hours of the day that the edges of his mouth have forgotten how to curl upwards. Whether it's the drink or not remains to be seen. At her motions to leave, done in a decidedly un-English way, (Seriously, there should be at least two hours of conversation before patting your thighs and going 'Well, I should be thinking about going.' She breaks all the rules) the man gives her a nod, downs the rest of his drink, then waits patiently for her to move fully away from the stool so he can steal it. Until then? Easy bar lean. "Well, I didn't want to make you completely hate me on arrival. I've got to leave something for later, Sutton." She's given a nod, as easy-going as the smile, and then a quirk of his brow. "Your pajamas are a terrible place to store a bottle of wine. You should try drinking it instead, pet."

And that's why he's not allowed to talk to people.

"Why not both? Maybe I like warm wine." Sutton's reply comes without missing a beat. She nods to the bar. She picks up her phone and taps through to an app, perhaps checking the time. Maybe ordering a Lyft. "I don't. I like chilled wine." She steps away from the bar, perhaps to test her legs on the heels without something to hold onto. "Hate is a spectrum, Carver. Mine leans heavily into animosity, distrust, and occasional neglect." She seems to be fine on her feet, and she brushes her hands over her arms. She watches him for a moment, like she's thinking something she might say. Might not, though. Looks like not. "Goodnight, Carver." She hesitates, and then she moves to turn.

"I'm really glad you clarified, there." Warm wine is for days when you've given up, in Carver's opinion. Is he used to warm wine? maybe. That's not the point. He's half got his hand out to signal for his second drink, a repeat of the first, when Sutton's listing off spectrum levels. Oh. He looks pleased. Especially when the final two are uttered. It's not easy for his eyes to catch light, but by god do they give it a good ol' college try at distrust and occasional neglect. "Sutton. I think I'm going to like knowing you." Terrifying praise. "You have a safe nigh-oop" He starts, letting her ponderous moment of pause pass without comment as she turns, but cutting himself off short as she does so to quite rudely brush something from her shoulder. It's a little rough, but it covers the card falling through one of the shoulder slits of her dress pretty well, all told.

That raises the question of where the feather he holds up in his hand came from, but those are always questions for later. "I'm pretty sure that's good luck, especially in a bar." He murmurs, looking probably about as confused as she does. A shrug, and a beaming, innocent smile follows. "Goodnight, Sutton. See you around."