2019-05-19 - What The Hell Was That

It doesn't take a terribly long time to get from the boats to the apartments. Bay side and all that made them close to the water. Erin stays at his side though until they come to the inevitable junction, her place or his? "Do you need some help inside? I can help you in there." He'd been wounded much worse than her.

How hurt is Christopher, really? Bad enough, but the mimosas did an excellent job of taking the edge off. They'll wear off later. "I. I think I could use some company. Least for a little while."

That's relief, yes it is, plastered right there on her features. Her shoulders even slump just a little as she exhales a sigh and takes a wary glance behind her. "Good. Good, I definitely don't want to be alone either." It's his apartment she walks towards, stopping just outside the door while offering him a tentative smile that falls just short. No, concern is more prominent there. "I could make us some coffee or something, if you have a maker inside."

Christopher has two coffee makers. One works at his office downtown and is named Andy, the other is an off-the-shelf Keurig. "Name your poison," he replies, heading over to it and sliding open a drawer with no two K-cups identical.

Once inside, Erin watches him as he moves to the machine and smiles at all the choices. "French Vanilla would be good, if you have it." She leans a hip against the counter, having followed him. "Nice apartment."

More in his element now, Christopher glances through the selections. Finding two vanilla, he picks the nearest one. "Should be good," he says, handing it to her to double check. "And isn't it the same as yours?" The basic layout, at least.

Taking the cup, Erin checks it over and smiles. "This is good, definitely." Walking to the coffee maker she starts it like she'd been doing it forever. "Mine is a corner apartment with a huge view of the Bay. It's gorgeous. No penthouse, but it suits me for now."

Christopher shakes his head a little. "Touche." He probably /could/ have bought out whoever did rent the top floor first, but hey, priorities. Besides, there are other ways to get a good view. "You'll have to show me some time." Another night, he might follow that up with a move of some sort. Tonight? Nah, still too rattled. He's leaning heavily forward, both hands braced against the countertop.

"I could call my masseuse and have them come over for a visit for you?" It was the first thing Erin could think of to ease his pain. "I could use a shower or five. I have sand all over me I think." A barely contained smile. "I would show you my apartment sometime. I'm sure some of the other floors have corner apartments."

And there it is. Christopher reaches down and brushes a hand against his side, coming up with a bit of stray sand as well. "Erin. What /was/ that? I've heard about people getting dosed before. It didn't sound like that."

Dark eyes lower to his side at the action and all dregs of bravery are gone. Right now Erin just looks weak. "I have never seen anything like it before. It felt so real, but then there was Larry and Fanny.. I don't understand. How could I understand something like that? I was so afraid and when the //Harlem Globetrotters started attacking me I felt so alone. Everyone abandoned me, I felt. I can't fight, but I did. I just don't understand, but I was so afraid."

Christopher was wondering what sort of answer she might give. That answer? No. No, she seemed to have it together more than he did. She was /supposed to have an answer/. "So... so we're both lost, then. Shit. I know what you mean, though, I--" A shrug. "All I knew is, I was /not/ gonna be the guy who gets eaten fifteen minutes into the movie 'cause he stood there with his mouth hanging open." A pause, then: "Glad you were in the same boat. So to speak."

Of course Erin can't help but to smile at his confession even if it does fall short from reaching her eyes. The stark fear seems to be hinting at pushing through but she takes a few deep breaths and composes herself again. "I'm sorry you were hurt. I.." a look of incredulity crosses her features. "Was that Ginger that exploded on you?" Just to make sure. Her coffee finishes and she removes it then places his in before turning to face him again. "I've had dreams before. About someone in town I barely know. It kind of felt like that tonight. Like a dream. But it wasn't. It makes me feel like we should talk to Alexander some more. Maybe he knows more than he is letting on."

"Probably, yeah," he replies, turning and starting to pace. Or, well, start and stop pacing. "Anyone else who was there, some of them might be lost too, but some might not be. You think it's something about the town? 'cause I've been away for a while. But was it that way /before/, and we just weren't in the right place or something?"

Her expression darkens and Erin lifts the cup to take a sip. "Oh there's something about the town, I'm almost for sure about that. Sometimes you can just sense things going on around you. Or I can. Like shadows. And I'm not sure what I was doing out there to fight, but I managed to do something." She shakes ehr head and laughs a little. "Ginger's dress. Just.. wow."

Christopher shakes his head. "'Change things up,' I told myself. 'See if city council would be a good gig.'" Notably, he doesn't follow up by immediately ruling the idea out. "So it's something you get used to, after a while? More or less." Okay, so she knows about /things/, just not today's specific thing, if he's following her correctly.

"Mostly just shadows and dreams. Today was way far beyond anything I've ever experienced before." Erin sips her coffee until his is done then she gets his for him and places it on the counter for him before taking her own up again. "Don't regret coming home. Maybe you were needed here. "I don't know that I'll get used to the weirdness. But I have accepted it."

Christopher adds some milk and sugar, carrying it over to the couch and gesturing for her to join him there. It's a side apartment view, but it's still good. "Fair enough. If this is the exception? Yeah, people got hurt, but people get hurt in car crashes too. Not that I'm not looking forward to self-driving cars, but still."

The invitation is all it takes for Erin to walk over. With a cursory look over her clothing, she assures herself there's no sand going to transfer to his furniture before she seats herself. Then she very visibly relaxes into the seat. "I wrecked my Porsche, got a DUI, but that stuff was all me, all my fault. Today, all of that? I had nothing to do with that."

It's a black leather couch, Christopher will probably get a bit of sand on it himself, but he can get it cleaned easily enough later. "You did? Huh. Glad you made it through that, too." He can't think of anything else to say about The Weirdness right now, so small talk it is.

"You should probably get showered up and some sleep. No matter what happened today, I assume we've still got work tomorrow. The world as we know it didn't end." Erin gives him another tentative smile as she finishes off her coffee. "Will you be okay the rest of the night? Do you need my number? I suppose if you need me, come knocking, and try not to dream."

Christopher peers into his mug, considering. "Yeah, good thinking. Question is, French vanilla or Irish cream?" Or, y'know, both. "Yeah, I think so. I'll let you know, I'm pretty sure I can find your place if it comes to it."

"Irish cream would make a perfect drink before bed. As for me, I have the need for a long, hot soak in a tub. Right after I shower the sand off first. I don't want to bathe in sand. I have a feeling it'd be sandpapery." WIth her cup in hand she returns to the kitchen and rinses it out, leaving it in the sink. "I'll see you soon. Really though, if you need me don't hesitate to come by."

Leaving the rest of his mug for later, Christopher rises to his feet and walks with her toward the door. "Long night ahead of you. Don't use up all my hot water, I might have to complain to the landlord," he teases. Yeah, he's back on solid ground again. For now.

Once at the door and its opened, Erin turns back to face him wearing the most genuine smile she has worn in awhile. "I'll save you some hot water. This time. But only because I think you need it worse than me." With a soft laugh, she leaves, maybe leaving him to wonder if she just said he stank! Or if she was genuinely worried about him since he had gotten hurt.