2019-05-17 - Don't Wander Off Alone

Suriel drives an old model of Jeep. It has stickers on the back of it for the zoo and the local state parks. Apparently she likes to go do stuff in the woods. Who would have thought? She seems to be a pretty decent driver and she's definitely not on drugs! The drive to the Grizzly Den is uneventful, unless you count her cell phone ringing. Once at the place she parks and gets out of the jeep, bringing her leather jacket with her this time.

Alexander is a quiet passenger, for the most part. Small talk seems to be one of the many social skills that Alexander is missing or chooses not to employ. When he does speak, it's odd, staccato bursts of information - in 1973, a man was gunned down at that corner and the perpetrators were never found, that building replaces one that was burned in a curious case in the 1930s, never solved. He quiets when her cell phone rings, although he does stare to see if she answers it, and /shamelessly/ eavesdrops if she does. When they arrive, he also leaves the jeep, although without a jacket despite the icy chill of the early spring air. He does hold the door open for her if she allows.

Suriel listens to the information, writing it down mentally. She really was fascinated by how much he knew really. The phone call was her mother, but she didn't answer it. She gives a smile when he holds the door for her, "Thank you." she dips her head to that. The sign says seat yourself so she hangs a right and takes one of the booths. "So do you know a lot of the town history?" she asks him.

Alexander slides in across from her. His lips are still set, his expression suspicious and defensive, like at any moment, a camera crew is going to jump out from behind one of the many, many bear decorations and start chanting about pranks. "Some. Mostly the bloody parts. My degree was in history, but I did most of my research projects on famous crimes. Gray Harbor doesn't have many famous crimes - very little of what happens here becomes famous - but it has many interesting crimes." He puts his hands on the table, then puts them under the table. Then moves them back to the top of the table. "And you, Dr....Suriel? Why become a zoo keeper?"

Suriel doesn't look like she's waiting for anyone to jump out and if they did, she'd probably punch someone. She gives a look across the table to see him looking suspicious. There's a breath taken, realizing it's just going to have to settle. "What's your favorite part of history?" she asks him as she looks over the menu. Then there's a look over the menu at him, a smile behind it, "Animals were always easier than people. Their actions, manners. I can tell when an animal is getting ready to charge me. Not so much with humans." she points out.

"The past is immutable. We may not remember all of it, or be able to write down what it was, or understand what artifacts remain, but it is a mystery that has a definitive answer, whether it is solved or not. History is reality. Memory is important." Alexander stops when the server approaches, orders a cup of coffee with cream and no sugar. He eats here enough that he doesn't seem to need to look at the menu at all. One corner of his mouth lifts. "Also, I was in a cult at the time, and most of them were history or Classics students. It seemed like a good fit."

Suriel gives a look to the server and there's a smile, "Coffee with cream and sugar and an ice water please." she asks her. She then sits the menu down and there's a look to Alexander. "You were in a cult? I think that's the least surprising thing I've learned today." she grins at that. "Are we talking like...Heaven's Gate Cult stuff or something else?" she asks him quietly.

"I was in three, actually." Alexander's lips twitch upwards in something approximating a smile. It sits oddly and misshapen on his features. "Although college barely counted, on the scale of cults. Mostly an excuse for everyone to get high and naked and chant in Latin. There really aren't a lot of uses for Latin in the modern world, so I suspect having the opportunity to use it was the biggest draw." He looks down at the table. "Well. No. The nakedness was probably the largest draw. But Latin in the top five." His gaze jerks back up. "There were some useful things, there, nonetheless. No ritual suicide, obviously." He gestures at himself. "Not a ghost. I think. I'm reasonably certain." His gaze moves to her shoulder. "You had an injury."

Suri just looks at him for a moment, her eyes trying to figure out if he's joking or not. He's not. She just shakes her head, "Latin is a dead language for a reason. So people don't accidentally summon demons." she muses. "I mean, hopefully you're not a ghost and if you are you're an extremely intelligent one." she points out. Then there's a moment her hand comes up to her shoulder, "Yeah, someone visiting the zoo I was an intern at in my younger days decided to ignore signs. They got into the enclosure with my favorite Mountain Lion and I put myself between the idiot and the animal." she smiles. "And that's how I found out I had...whatever it's called." she mutters.

"As far as I know, we never summoned any demons. Although I believe there were some spirited attempts - if you'll pardon the pun." Alexander gives that odd little smile again. The rest, he listens to, face impassive. "You were lucky to survive. And...you didn't know? Before that?" A twitch of his mouth downward. "That must have been difficult." When the drinks are delivered, he reaches for his coffee, and blows gently on the top before taking a sip.

Suriel laughs, "Spirited attempts. That's a good one." she tells him. Then she nods, "I still have days where I think I taste my own blood in my mouth and down my throat." she admits quietly. "It sucked not being able to use my arm, but got it back in shape." she smiles faintly. "They wanted to put the mountain lion down, but I wouldn't let them. It finally got transferred to a big cat sanctuary." she tells him. "And I didn't know, so it was weird suddenly being able to hear all the animals. The dolphins talked so much. And then there's that god damn peacock here." she muses.

Alexander's eyes narrow slightly at the laughter, his shoulders tensing visibly. After a moment, though, they relax. "Many people would not be able to continue to work around animals as you do after such an experience, Suriel. And they would have been happy to see the cat put down. With those memories. But you chose differently." His tone continues to be flat, with no sign of approval or anything else except the words themselves. He takes another sip of his coffee, jerks his head as he swallows. "It's difficult. Being bombarded with sensory data no one else hears or believes. It's stronger here."

"I know that most wouldn't be able to continue, but I'm not most." Suri states as she looks to him. "Maybe it's because of...whatever is up here." she taps the side of her head. "But I just couldn't let the animal die for a humans mistake. I'm not easily scared away from things. Which is probably why I'm working in a zoo still. If I get bitten again...hopefully its from a smaller, fluffier, less toothy animal." she sighs softly. Then she looks to him, "When did it start for you?" she asks him quietly.

"Maybe some things you should be scared of, Suriel," Alexander says flatly. "But I am glad you continue to work with animals. And the Gray Harbor zoo's most dangerous animals are the monkeys, so I believe you are guaranteed any future attacks to meet those criteria." He takes a sip of his coffee, considering the question. "I assume it did start, but I don't remember that. Maybe a faerie was offended at my christening, or God simply looked down from His Heaven and said, 'ah, yes, I have a good idea for a joke'."

Suri gives a look to him, "I'm scared of a good amount of things." she tells him. She'd probably find more things to be scared of in time as well. Then she smiles a touch, "The monkeys just like pulling my hair." she muses. Then she sobers up at his words, "All your life?" she asks him. "I can see how that would be disconcerting." she admits. "Wait, do I need to look out for fairy rings?" she asks him.

"Monkeys are assholes," Alexander responds, firmly. He lets out a rusty sound that can eventually be identified as a laugh. "Yes. Disconcerting. And you can look out for fairy rings if you like. I don't know that it would help. Probably wouldn't hurt if you have the opportunity. I don't know that there are...fairies. In the real world. But the real world isn't always real, so I don't rule it out." He frowns. "Don't wander alone too far."

"They are and their bites are gross." Suri agrees with him. Did he laugh?! There's a tiny bit of progress. "There's all sorts of dark things in this world, I doubt fairies are far fetched, but I've not come across one either." she nods to that. Then there's a look to him, but she's quiet as she tries to think of something to say. "I won't wander out too far on my own. I promise." she tells him. "The woods always feel weird to me as it is." she states.

"I have never been bitten by one. I will assume that you're telling the truth, however. Not all facts need to be tested empirically, especially when they involve being bitten by monkeys." Alexander looks down at his cup, turning it around in his hands. "Good. The woods are weird. Everywhere is weird, but some places are more weird than others." He takes a swallow, nearly emptying the coffee cup, then adds, "I'm sorry. This is not typical coffee conversation. I should ask you about if you are going to watch Game of Thrones or a superhero movie."

Suri gives him a look and there's a bit of a smile, "I've not been bitten by one, I've just seen the aftermath. Plus...zombie movies." she admits. There's a nod when he talks on the woods being weird, she didn't really like going in them alone. Then she chuckles softly, "I wasn't complaining about the conversation, Alexander." she tells him. "But I'm not going to see any superhero movies anytime soon and I'm on the fence about Game of Thrones. What do you like to watch?" she asks him.

"Zombie monkeys would truly be one of the first signs of the looming apocalypse." Alexander says. He drains the rest of his cup. "I like documentaries. And other things, sometimes. I read more than I watch. Or play video games. I am very fond of puzzle games." He frowns down at the empty cup and stands, abruptly. "I should be going, Suriel. This was enjoyable." Despite the whole 'treat you to coffee' thing, he's pulling a battered wallet out of his sweats pocket and putting cash and tip down. "Thank you for the invitation."