2019-05-28 - Drinking Dreams Away

Stacy already has a rough morning if she left her head waitress in charge at Pew Pew Pie, but here she is in her jeans, a sleeveless v-neck t-shirt, her hair apron, and a pair of no slip work boots. At the stool next to her is her work shirt, but it is inside out. Her hair is drawn up into a messy bun as she is signalling to the bartender, "Hey... just leave the bottle of Disaronno. I need it, badly." Her strong Italian accent is present but thankfully not hard to make out what she is saying. One of her hands moving to rub on the back of her neck, a look in her eyes echoing she is wondering if she might be going crazy or not.

Even the terminally awkward need socialization, despite it usually being an occasion for mild disaster. Bars are good for that, right? Right? Sure they are. The door creaks open, creaks closed again. The thin woman that emerges from the hall and threads her way toward the bar looks deeply uncomfortable, as though being in public is new and frightening. She slithers up onto a barstool, presses her hands flat onto the wooden bar, and does her very best to try to attact the bartender's attention without actually drawing attention to herself, which will be a hell of a trick if she can pull it off. Mostly it just makes her look paranoid and slightly constipated. She doesn't look at anybody else who might be sharing space with her. An actual conversation might make her spontaneously combust.

Stacy looks up as she hears the door creak, a local who she has yet to meet enters. This is a welcomed distraction for what is going through Stacy's mind in this moment. As the bottle of Disaronno is brought, she grabs it and the glass before she makes her way to sit /right/ next to Cressida as she muses, "You know, it isn't fun to drink alone. And I could use a bit of distracting conversation. Why not tell me about yourself?" The bottle is opened and the almond liquir of pretty amber color is poured into the glass as she offers, "Could get you a glass if you desire to try some, it is a rather delicious Italian liquor." Sometimes Stacy is just too outgoing for her own good, or other's nerves.

Cressida is intensely focused on trying to attract the bartender solely through myopically staring. When Stacy materializes beside her, the thin woman jumps, letting out a muffled scream, and falls off her barstool in a heap of limbs and tangled cardigan.

It takes Cressida a moment to scramble back up, and she is flushed and breathing hard when she does. She fights a moment with her long hair to get it shoved back out of her face, and blinks down at the bottle Stacy has offered. "Disaronno.. ooh, that's the- the almond-flavored one! Yes? Perfect for poisoning, back in the day. Cyanide." She gives Stacy a bright flash of a smile that's a little too big, a little too manic. "Of course, you couldn't get away with it now. They test for that sort of thing. Is it good? I've never had it."

Geoff is only just then slipping up to the bar to wave down the bartender and order a drink, however he pauses when he hears Cressida suddenly speak of poisoning people. With a rakish grin he says over towards the two women "I hope poison isn't on tap this evening I was planning on having a full day tomorrow." Once again turning back to the bartender he raises a hand to get their attention "Yeah I'll go with a whiskey sour, thanks."

Chloe has been slowly making her way through the town over this first week being back. Checking out old and new places. Seeing new and old faces. She quietly slips into the Pourhouse, doing a quick scan to see who all was about. If she recognized anyone. Pushing a hand through her hair, she finally made her way up to the bar. Attire a pair of dark jeans with an old t-shirt sporting some paint stains, and a pair of beat up sneakers. As she walked up, she recognized Geoff from their school days. Not running with his circle but knowing a couple people within it. "Evening everyone." She offered, giving a little wave to the trio, looking over the various bottles of alcohol behind the bar as she decided what she wanted.

Stacy manages to not laugh as she makes poor Cressida jump at her surprise joining. A friendly and welcoming smile still on her lips before she sips on her Italian liquior. She looks amused at the random factoid spoken by the musuem curator as she repsonds in her Italian accent, "I like it a lot, you can try my glass if you like," the sipped on glass offered. "And since I already sipped from it, you know it isn't poisoned at least." A playful wink given as she signals to the bartender to bring another glass over so Cressida can help Stacy kill this whole bottle of Disaronno. Her gaze looks to Geoff as she responds, "I do doubt that it is. And what sort of full day do you have planned?" Then her attention looks to the door once more, offering a wave hello to Chloe as she says, "Buonasera."

Cressida watches Geoff call attention to himself and then order a drink! all without dying of embarassment. My God, how novel. The bartender brings a glass and she, after a moment, pours herself a sample. "Thank you," she remembers to tell Stacy, and bottoms-up the entire contents of what she poured. It's a pretty hefty shot. Someone never learned about sippin' drinks.

And oooh there are more people. Oh. Oh, dear. Small talk small talk small talk what do people talk about what-

"Once, I built a working replica of the guillotine they used at the Place de la Bastille, one-sixteenth the size."

Honey, no. No, that's not how this is done.

Geoff cracks a grin to Stacy "Oh you know the usual, planning a bonfire, copious amounts of liquor and maybe going out for a ride on my bike if the rain broke by some miracle." as his drink is delivered he offers a polite nod to the bartender before lifting the drink to take a sip from it, and then he hears Cressida's attept and small talk and he sloooowly leans away, disengaging slightly so he can check to see just how odd this conversation is going to get before jumping back in

"Scotch on the rocks. Why not." Chloe finally decides, giving the bartender a smile. Has she ever even had Scotch before? She couldn't recall, but at least she could say she's tried it now. Shifting a bit to settle in one of the stools. She looked a mix of amused and curious as Cressida spoke of her replica. "Did you use it to slice Strawberries and the like?" She asked, completely straightfaced and seemingly serious. Because it was either that or mouse heads and Chloe would rather believe the fruit slicing option.

Stacy is unable to hide the fact she is impressed with how Cressida downs the entire glass of the Disaronno, allowing a hint of a smirk to peak out. Though the new factoid makes her raise her eyebrows in surprise as she inquires, "Where did you built this replica and why? Was it for work or something? Did you test it out on anything fun to see if it actually worked?" The obvious outsider to the city seemed to be willing to enjoy Cressida to talk more, even if about weird things. Her attention back to Geoff as she listens, hmming softly before she responds, "A bonfire? Never been to one. Is it invite only? I could bring some things from my shop to munch of if that will get me said invite." She will let Geoff slip from answering said inquiry for now, given she is encouraging Cressida to talk about more weird things. She looks intrigued as her eyes fall on Chloe while remarking, "Depending on the size of it, that could be very doable without harming yourself and make for an amusing entertainment at parties." Now the wheels in her mind churning about getting possible props for if she happens to get some sort of catering job.

And now everyone is looking at her and Cressida is reconsidering the wisdom of small talk. She blinks owlishly at the gathered group and reaches with a slightly trembling hand to pour another glass of liquor. "Um. It... was on my patio," she explains, "in eleventh grade. It was for my world history class, we were studying the reign of terror and Robespierre and I thought I could get extra credit if I did a project although-" And here she pauses, reflecting, and knocks back another healthy swallow of booze, absently dragging limp, loose hair back out of her face. "-although in hindsight I should have probably asked first. That demonstration got a little out of hand."

"Did someone lose a finger?" Chloe thanked the bartender as she accepted her Scotch. A curious look to Cressida as she relaxed against the bar slightly. Taking a careful sip, her nose wrinkled and then swallowed. Not bad, but may she wasn't a Scotch girl. Chloe was sitting up at the bar near Stacy, Cressida and Geoff. Seemingly listening to whatever Cressida was saying.

Stacy snaps back from her daydreaming of possible catering tricks and looks back to Cressida as she explains it begins a project and looking even more intrigued as she asks, "Just... how did it get out of hand? I would like to hear this." Then Chloe stoles the next question she was going to ask, right out of her mouth. Stacy's fault for taking that sip instead of continuing with her questioning. Her hand grabbing the bottle of Disaronno to top off her glass.

Climbing out of an.. Wait was that an Uber? Erin Addington for once isn't in her Maserati and after she gets out she jogs directly for the door, whisking herself inside. The umbrella is parked by the door as is the overcoat, on the coat rack there if there's such a thing. Approaching the bar, she slips into a seat, whatever is available nearby the others talking and she smiles to the more familiar Geoff, taking a glance at his drink. "Whatever he's having." Erin smiles at the other ladies, a curious sort of look at the group.

Cressida stares wide-eyed at Chloe. The effect is akin to a doe in the headlights. "Who told you? I mean just the tip, didn't even nick bone or anything but it bled for a VERY long time and wound up needing stitches and there's still a scar apparently although I don't know for sure. Janetta hasn't talked to me since then." Another sip of her liquor goes down the hatch, and Cressida coughs delicately at the tail end of this one. "Her parents didn't sue though, so THAT's good. Her father said it was her own fault for putting her finger on the block after I told her not to. She WATCHED the carrot get sliced, I mean I don't know what she expected." Her wide-eyed gaze slips up to Erin as she approaches, and she gives a little wave of recognition.

Geoff flashes Erin a broad grin when he spots her sitting down and raises his glass in a salute "Hey babe, glad you could make it." With a chuckle he agrees with Cressida "Really if she watched the carrot get sliced then it was natural selection at that point. Can't get too angry over your bad life decisions." to Stay he mentions "I'd throw you an invite but it's a bunch of us who went to school together getting drunk and seeing if we can still stand each other now that we're adults. Definitely not the kind of thing you just want to throw yourself into."

Chloe gave a little grin to Cressida. "I just had a feeling is all." A subtle shrug of her shoulders and then another tiny sip of the Scotch. She watched Erin walk in, taking a moment to recognize her - but recognize her nonetheless, Chloe did. From school, of course. Though they certainly hadn't run in the same circles. However, she does offer a smile when Erin looks towards her and the other women and then focuses back. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself," She offered to Stacy as Cressida slipped off. "Dr. Chloe Rose."

Stacy almost drops her glass, a party fowl would have been bad in this moment of the Cressida explaining only the tip of a finger being part of the incident. Now drinking down a good bit more of her liquor, at least half of it as she processes that imagery. A gentle shaking of her head as she sets the glass down before she responds, "Wait... you are telling me that a girl watched a carrot get chopped and /still/ thought it was a good idea to put her finger there?" Her hand shakes in disbelief as she softly mutters something in Italian to herself. At Geoff's words, she offers a nod, not being one to pry her into things. Her attention then looks to Chloe as she says, "Oh I am Anastacia Cantalina, but you can just call me Stacy. I own the Pew Pew Pie that recently opened up in downtown. It is nice to make your acquaintance Doctor Rose."

"Figured I'd ride with you from here, if that's okay?" Erin takes the drink once it's made and swirls the glass a little to stir it, a brow arched at the carrot incident her cousin had mentioned. "Hey Cressida. It's good to see you." Tolerant of her family, no matter where they fit in the family tree, she seems to hold a genuine friendliness towards this cousin. Of course Geoff mentions some sort of invite to something she knows nothing about and the arched brow goes his way. "If there's ever a question of getting along better in adulthood than childhood, I have to say I think I'm far different than I was in high school. Maybe." A grin to Chloe recognizing her too. Definitely not the same circles. But that was then. Since there was an introduction on the table, she tosses out her own name. "Erin Addington." Inputting it smoothly, never missing the opportunity to sort of flaunt her last name.

The door pops open again with a bit of a breeze blowing in after it. A bulky short man who is damp from the rain shakes off in the doorway a bit dog-like actually. He stops to look around the bar from the entrance before seeing Geoff and Erin and making his way directly to them. He calls out a "A shot of jack and a beer, please!" with a wink to the bartender. He then takes a seat right next to Geoff, bumps his shoulder into his unnecessarily roughly and leans around him to say, "Hey Erin." Something in his tone evidently stressing that Geoff has made it clear that they do in fact know each other. Even if that was a very, very long time ago.

Chloe looked slightly intrigued at the notion of the bonfire, but it likely wasn't her scene even if she'd recognize most of the people there. "Pleasure to meet you Stacy." She smiled. "I'll have to check it out some time." Looking towards Erin again, "How have you been Erin? It's been a long time." It was always good to be polite. And it's not like she had anything against the woman anyway.

A nod of greeting is given to Erin as Stacy responds, "Nice to make your acquaintance as well Erin." Her attention back to Chloe as she responds, "Please do." Her glass brought to her lips once more, now leaving a fourth of the contents left. The amber liquior within gently swirled about before setting it on the bar to top it off once more.

"The prettiest of the Addingtons." Geoff tacks on shamelessly after Erin's introduction "And I'm Geoff in case I didn't introduce myself earlier." Bumping his shoulder right back against Easton's he give the other man's rear a playful swat, as men are wont to do "You know when you said we were going to be drinking together soon I wasn't expecting for you to show up right here man. Not complaining since it's been too long since we last had drinks." It had in fact been a little over a day and a half since the two had met and drunk

The stressing on her name just brings Geoff a sort of withering look that turns into a grin as she shoulder checks him from the other side. "I suppose it was bound to get out." Leaning forward onto her forearms on the bar, she peers over at Easton. "Hey Easton. Stressing it just like he had. "It's been a very, very long time. If you don't include the other bar a few days ago. It looks like we're both doing better." Of course the claim by Geoff earns him a grin, "A bit of favoritism maybe." While Easton and Geoff catch up she focuses on Chloe, "I've been doing good. Working for my grandmother now mostly. How about you? It's good to see you again, really." A nod towards Stacy then, "A pleasure meeting you too. Welcome to Gray Harbor."

"I've been doing well. All done with schooling so I've found my way back here. It's good to see you too." Chloe glanced down at her watch, seeming to debate something before flashing another smile to the group. "I need to be going. I have someone to drop in on before I head home. But it was nice to chat, brief as it was. I'm sure I'll be seeing you all around." Shifting to stand, setting some cash down for the bartender and leaving the rest of her Scotch untouched. Lesson learned. Not a Scotch person. One final wave given and then she would head back out into the night!

"Yes, well drinking is serious business, I'm sorry to inform you that it couldn't wait." Easton easily answers Geoff's remarks about drinking sooner than he imagined. He laughs back at Erin and says, "I will deny any and all details to my dying day Erin." He smirks and says, "Oh, yea and sorry about stealing your man the other night. I'd say it won't happen again, but that's a lie." He gets his drinks and downs the shot without delay. He looks down the bar at who Erin is speaking with but doesn't recognize her at all, so he just offers a friendly smile to Chloe.

Stacy gives a gentle smile to Geoff as she responds, "Thank you, this place is... interesting to say the least." Once more sipping on her Disaronno as she listens, not having much to input give she definently isn't from around here.

Geoff just looks innocently at Erin just letting that withering look slide off him before commenting "It is definitely a bit of favoritism there, but I think I can also objectively say definitely the prettiest." downing the rest of his drink he gestures to the bartender "Hey could I get another one, thanks." Elbowing Easton lightly he says "Not going to lie, I'm going to definitely end up interrupting your plans one of these nights by dragging you to go drink with me. Really it's just the circle of life right there."

"Well you know what they say. Bros before.. well we'll just leave it at that. Bros before." Cue cheesy grin from Erin. "I've got no issues with your kinky guy time, I like when he's not left alone so we're good." Affectionately she lifts a hand to rub his shoulder briefly. Geoff's that is. Not Eastons. Her drink is lifted and she has a good long drink of it flinching only at the first bite of it. "Then thank you, Geoff. I appreciate the compliment." While the guys go on she looks at Stacy once more to try and engage her further. "What brings you to this crazy place? Not the Pourhouse, but to Gray Harbor?"

"I can't imagine any plans so sacred they couldn't be dropped for something as important as us boozing." Easton answers Geoff with mock sincerity. Taking a big swig of his beer he laughs at Erin and says, "Everything. I believe the end of that phrase is everything. Which sadly for you means beautiful women included." Looking to whom Erin is speaking he lifts a beer towards Stacy and offers. "Oh hey. Easton." Not wanting to interrupt her answer, but it's good to be friendly.

Stacy gives a thankful look to Erin before she responds, "Well... when my parents died and our shop was nothing but rubble, I threw a dart at a map and it landed here. I felt a fresh start was much needed. It is... different than I thought it would be." A smile given to Easton as she lifts her glass of Disaronno to toast him.

Geoff catches that look Easton gives Stacy and completely misinterprets it, asking the bro "So man when you were talking about serving overseas you mentioned /something/ about carrying an injured kid through enemy territory to get them to a hospital?" Since Geoff's back is to the women so he can face Easton he gives him a definitely covert wink and a thumbs up

"That's a mean dart." Easton says offhandedly not meant exactly for Stacy's ears more likely Erin or Geoff. Easton to his credit, doesn't skip a beat as Geoff starts in on the story. But his face twists into a particularly dark smile. He explains, a little overly loud to counteract, "No. I was saying how I left him there to die, because his chances of survival were actually greater outside of the hospital which was hotbed of disease and constantly raided by haji for their supplies and nurses. You need to listen better bro." With that cheery story, he lifts his beer and takes a good long drink.

Cressida reemerges from the recesses of the restrooms. She'd been in there a while- maybe she got lost? Who can say. She trails spindly fingers along the wall as she heads back toward the bar. The liquor Stacy had so generously shared has evidently well and truly kicked in; Cressida looks faintly unsteady. "Oooh. Did you know," she says to nobody in particular as she reclaimns a barstool, "that the mirror in the ladies' room has a crack in it exactly in the shape of a Hand of Glory?"

"Everything." Pointing to Easton with her glass. "That's the answer I was looking for. Everything." Erin grins in return but then gives the bulk of her focus to Stacy. "A dart on a map. I've never considered that, but then my family is here. All the family I care about. Either you're really lucky or very unlucky. I do hope you like the town. If you need a friend or anything, I'll be here probably forever."

Stacy smiles at Erin's words as she responds, "I would like that very much. I am still rather new to town, so I don't know many yet." She looks to Cressida as she inquires, "Really? That is quite curious. I wonder how that managed to occur."

Geoff shakes his head at Easton's response, you can offer a man an alley oop but you can't make him duk "Yeah...Yeah that was definitely what I was going for there, why not." Turning he joins back in on the other conversation going "You might not want to be talking about glory hands being found in the bathroom, people might go getting the wrong idea." As his second drink is delivered he decides to take care of payment and hands the bartender his card "Yeah I've been here my whole life more or less, figure I'm not ever going to want to take off. No real substitute for home."

Sliding his eyes over Geoff with a look of 'really?' It's probably quite clear that he's got a reason for ignoring the setup altogether. He smirks at Geoff's comment and says "And I don't see how that's possible when we're both out here anyway." Look if anyone's going to get glory hands, whatever that is, it's these two, let's be honest. He looks at the card asks, "Oh are we being responsible tonight? That doesn't seem right." He's settling in for the long haul.

Cressida turns the full weight of her attention to Geoff, swinging her head around to do so. The faint glaze over her expression is a sure indication that she's already started the night's drinking. She nods somber agreement to his assertion. "Yes," she confirms. "I don't think it would work anyway, we don't hang people for murder anymore." Aaaaand right up and over Cressida's head, Geoff's insinuation went. Whoosh. She shifts her attention to Stacy, focusing with effort. "I imagine," she says slowly, "that someone hit the glass. With something." A nod. That's usually how mirrors break, right?

"I guess I've never been to the restroom in here." Erin nose crinkles at the thought of using a public restroom, though the contents in this one seem peculiar. A wary look is given in the direction of the offending mirror and she makes absolutely no move to go check it out either. "Sounds like about seven years of bad luck or something. If anyone puts stock into that stuff anymore." Her drink is finished and Erin orders another, switching it up a little. "Crown and Coke." She's not driving. What are you drinking, Stacy?"

Stacy laughs a bit at Cressida's responnse before she remarks, "Of course but what exactly was it that hit it and at what angle to cause it." The comment of glory hands from Geoff causes a hint of confusion to appear before her attention returns to Erin as she inquires, "What do you like to do for fun around here? Haven't had much of a chance to explore just yet." A brief pause before she responds, "Disaronno. I bought a bottle since I am very fond of it." The bottle has about 5 glasses worth out of it at this point.

Geoff gestures to Easton with his glass at that comment "You know that's true, if we're out here then there's none of that going on." Erin's comment prompts him to laugh "Trust me you're not missing anything by not using the facilities here. It's exactly what you'd expect if the men's restroom is anything to on." sipping from the whiskey sour he muses to Cressida "That's a good point we're just not hanging people like we used to, probably a good thing because dancing from the end of a rope seems like a pretty bad way to go."

Cressida is responsible for two of those glasses of Disaronno, and appears to be looking around for the glass they'd been poured into. "Oh! That." She shrugs in Stacy's general direction. "I don't know. Maybe we could get one of those TV psychics in here. You know, touch the glass, go all weird in the eyes and talk about all the dead people that looked at themselves in it in years gone by." Is she serious? Hard to tell. Maybe she's a troll, deep undercover. She manages to get onto a barstool on the second try, the first one nearly tipping it over, and takes a moment to steady herself on the bar. She brightens at Geoff's comment. "Oh! If you want a better way to go," she says cheerfully, "I can build you a guillotine. I still have the model. The restroom is awful." This, apparently, to Erin. "Someone put a whole roll of tissue paper down one of the toilets."

"Truth. Hanging would be one of my last choices. I think I'd go firing squad. One last smoke, blindfolds a nice touch and then yer done." He downs his first beer and asks Geoff, "We knocking down more here or you got other plans I can usurp for some serious drinking?" He leans over to blink at Cressida. He smirks and says, "I actually know a decent psychic if you want.. she's a local, I think." And yes, he's still skeptical but it would be amusing at the very least. "Off hard pass on the guillotine. Thanks for the offer though."

"Fun?" Erin muses on that one a moment. "Well, when the weather is warmer there's the Bay. Fun in the sun and all that. Seattle is an hour away and there's plenty of things you can do there to get into trouble. The Firefly is the dance club and I've been known to dance it up in there a time or two. Not my favorite place but for Gray Harbor it's fine. Take a walk on the boardwalk or in the woods. No, better not take a walk in the woods. Not alone anyway." That's the short list and she glances over at the bottle the other woman had ordered. "Looks like a one woman party. I approve of this." Geoff is given a grin and she definitely stays away from the restroom. Her cousin though? She gets a slightly odd look at her confession. "Or for a lot of fun you can hang around my cousin." With a nod to Easton, it's decided. "Then a psychic it is. I'd be interested to know more about the Hand of Glory."

Stacy offers a soft shrug as she comments, "I never really believed much in that sort of thing. The whole psychic thing." She looks back to Erin as she asks, "Normal, it isn't safe to walk alone in the wilderness, but is that a particulaar reason why not for here?" A brief pause before the flitting back to the broken mirror and psychics as she asks, "Do we just dial one eight hundred psychics?"

Geoff finally responds to Stacy "Honestly when it's dry I like to ride my bike down the roads through the woods and along the coast. Which that comes out to about two days a year." clapping Easton on the shoulder he says "Sorry bro, I've got a date with the pretty lady over there for tonight." with a click of his tongue he offers "I got that psychic's number if you want, she's pretty good at what she does from what I've heard. I don't usually visit psychics, I've got my own source for mystical guidance."

Cressida beams, beams at Erin, at the word 'cousin', despite its vaguely disparaging context. "You claimed me!" This is a point of supreme pleasure, it seems. "I didn't want to say anything. I mean. Some of the family... well. You know." She waves a dismissive hand at all the psychic talk, for all that she's the one that brought it up. "I mean I could bring in a Ouija board. Although it's interesting, that was actually a parlor game, it wasn't intended for ghosts and all that. Mr. Bond would be horrified."

Nodding up at Geoff he says, "It feels like a sad form of torture to walk past my bike everyday, waiting." How has he not been out riding once since he's been here? Well, besides the ridiculous amount of rain. He ahs, and says "Alright well, I'll work out custody with Erin next time." He raises two fingers at the bartender for another of the same. "I can vouch that Frankie, the psychic, is better than I expected. Don't know if that's saying much." He pulls out his phone and taps away a bit at it, downing his second shot when it comes.

"Oh yeah normal woman walking alone in the woods sort of thing. Haven't you watched Forensic Files or Criminal Minds? Walking trails are deadly for women." Though her voice has a bit of seriousness to it, Erin appears to be making light on the whole normal aspect of it. With a nod to Geoff about his preferences on riding down the road, she smiles more fully. "Nothing like the view from a bike? Or so I hear." Cressida's excitement takes her slightly aback, but in a more bemused sort of way. "The closest immediate family abandoned me here years ago. My Grandmother stepped in and took over or I wouldn't have anyone here." With an encouraging smile to Cressida she offers. "You're more than welcome to call me cousin. Or just call me at all. I'd like to catch up and all it's been awhile." Of course Easton and the whole custody thing brings a laugh. "Oh, well you could be invited too, but as the center, Geoff would have to approve being sandwiched between us all night." Mischief alllll over her features she's probably joking. Maybe.

"It's the worst seeing my baby sad and alone while the rain beats down." Geoff laments with Easton, this sad admittance prompting him to down the rest of his drink in one go. Clinking the glass down with a sigh he listens over Erin's point about being sandwiched between the two of them and swivels to tell Easton "Hey look buddy we gotta have a talk, she has dibs on being little spoon and well.....You're too much of a little spoon to play big spoon in this instance. It'd just throw off the whole dynamic."

The atmospheric mischief goes right over Cressida's head, too, but she is no less pleased - if also, by her expression, vaguely terrified - by Erin's enthusiasm for catching up as family. "I, well. I. I curate the museum, you see, all kinds of historical information about the family there, you're more than welcome, of course, anytime. And tea! I can make tea. Do you like tea? I'll make tea." She blinks a touch myopically at Geoff and Easton, expression slightly confused. "What... what do spoons... what?"

Pointing at Erin, with his beer hand Easton says with a laugh, "See? I knew I liked her. And we both know as much as she might think she's ready, she'd only end up jealous." He asides to Erin, "But I appreciate you trying to understand our love." At Geoff's crack about him being too much of a little spoon, he just cryptically repeats "Bulldog and a Great Dane. I get it." Oh goodness poor Cressida, if she's lost at spoons, she has no shot at dogs. But considering he's referencing an old text conversation, few would follow anyway. He goes back to his phone momentarily though, apparently answering some texts that ping away softly.

Stacy looks to Easton as she responds, "Frankie? I not met yet. But they are good you say?" To Erin she responds, "Valid point, wasn't sure if some legends linger here or not is all." The talking of spoons causes her to look intrigued between Erin, Geoff and Easton for a moment. She looks to Cressida as she shrugs before she aasks, "Curate at a musuem, I may need to come by on my day off. My manager seems to be able to handle herself, given I have not gotten a phone call about all the lights going out or something."

The look was almost comical from Cressida but Erin has sympathy and mercy on her and quietly inputs, "I do like tea, very much. All sorts. Hot, cold, sweet, unsweet. Whatever you make will be perfectly fine." Of course she's distracted by spoons and all that goes with it, a smile going Geoff's way. "Mostly, I'm not the jealous type. He's had friends before me, a whole entire past. The only thing that has changed is I get to be included sometimes in some of his present." Winking to Easton, just to try and get her point across in return. While he goes back to his texting she responds to Stacy. "You know, we could make a girls day out of it. The museum, lunch, maybe some shopping or something? It's something to do."

Geoff grins mischievously at Stacy "With your lights not mysteriously going out it means you're probably ghost free for now. Though according to a local tour guide I talked to once, we're chalk full of poltergeists." checking his phone he responds to a quick text, telling Erin as he types "When you're ready to head out, just let me know babe. Also was it just my imagination or did I catch you getting out of an uber?"

Oh, yes, take Cressida SHOPPING, do. How could that possibly go wrong? She looks between her cousin and Stacy, floundering in the turbulent waves of conversation outside her frame of reference. This is a woman, it's clear, to whom 'girls day out' has not only never happened but never occurred. "I- I, I,I,IIIII yes let's, let's do that, um let's just um." There doesn't seem to be any more to say.

Stacy side comments to Geoff, "Oh no, my place is haunted. Happened earlier today, still trying to make heads or tails of it." Her attention looking back to Erin as she responds, "I would like that. I could use some none work things. But it sounds like a fun girl's day." She playfully bumps against Cressida as she says, "It will be fun, you just need to let your hair down and let loose a little."

If there was ever anyone who probably needed to be on an IV drip of liquor just as a general kindness to both himself and the universe, it's Alexander. Tonight isn't really any exception; he's rattier than usual, even. Or maybe all his shirts look like that once he's not wearing the battered old jacket. He slouches his way in, giving a wary look to the interior, and starts to head towards the bar. His eyes dart this way and that, lingering briefly on a few familiar forms.

Looking up from his phone he catches Erin's comment and wink. He nods and says, "I can work with that." He glances between her and Geoff again before chuckling at something and going back to his phone. To Stacy he adds, "She. Frankie's great. I think I have her card, she has a little shop on the boardwalk near the bar I work at. She's good people." He seems almost a little surprised to say it outloud as if he hadn't thought much about it, until he's saying it.

Catching sight of Alexander he waves him over, "Hey!" is said in a friendly but loud voice.

Cressida slides gently sideways off the barstool at the friendly bump from Stacy, and is saved only because the bar is right next to her to catch her. She re-establishes her balance and peers at Stacy in confusion. One spindly hand rises to touch her own hair, hanging limp around her face. "It's... it's down..." After a moment, the light dawns. "OH. Oh. Um. Yes." The door has opened, someone else has come in, and Cressida pays it no mind, focused for the moment on navigating the baffling social currents of talking to actual Other People.

"Oh of course, as soon as I finish this drink." The Crown and Coke she'd ordered, Erin takes a sip then thinks better of it, placing it on the bar and sliding it towards the other side, finished with it after all. "I came in an Uber, figured I'd ride with you and leave my car at my place since that's where we're headed." At the agreement from Cressida, however shocked she seemed from it, Erin offers an encouraging smile. "We'll meet up and have fun." Including Stacy in it too. "For tonight though, I've got this spoon.." A grin as she gets to her feet, "Ready when you are." A wave to Easton and a hesitation as Alexander joins, offering him a once over since this is the first she'd seen him since that day. "See you later, Alexander." Keeping it brief.

Geoff slips down from his stool and offers a lazy salute to those at the bar "It was nice meeting you all." with a grin flashed to Easton he reassures "We'll have a beer and nachos night soon, or maybe I drag you out at the break of dawn to go fishing with me sometime." turning to leave he finally spots Alexander "Hey there Alexander, still waiting on you to swing by the shop so we can get our friendship tattoos and rfid chips together. It'll be a blast, but until then try not to run yourself too hard, yeah?" Finishing up there he offers Erin his arm "Let's get going."

Alexander freezes at the 'hey'. He doesn't turn around to see if Easton is actually shouting to someone behind him, but he's got that sort of air about him. But, after a moment's hesitation, he starts moving in that direction, frowning at the gathered people. "I don't--" And then he stops, taking a moment to shake his head. "I know some of you," he says, carefully and less defensively. "Hello, Easton. Hello and goodbye, Miss Addington. Mister Turner. I am not getting a tattoo. Or a chip." Because that's important to establish! He stares at Cressida, brow furrowed. "Another Miss Addington. From high school. You were a freshman. And the museum. I remember you." Alexander is a semi-frequent visitor at the museum, although he rarely talks to anyone. Just stares at the old things, like a creeper.

Stacy smiles to Erin as she says, "Look forward to it, have fun with your spoon." Seeming to catch onto that one at least now, a wave of goodbye offered to Geoff before she looks towards Alexander as he enters and is called over by Easton. She offers to the tattered man, "I am Anastacia Cantalina, but you can just call me Stacy. Alexander was it?" She is not a familar face, nor is that Italian accent more than likely. If allowed, she will help Cressida back up onto her stool, saying even if not allowed to help, "Sorry about that, I forget I am stronger than I look sometimes." Or blame it on the Disaronno, it is totally at fault.

"Beers yes. Fishing?" Easton looks less sure about this. But he'd easily be convinced. He looks up from his phone which is still pinging as Alexander makes his way over. He smirks at the awkwardness of the greetings, something he's getting used to. He laughs as Geoff tries to goad Alexander a bit and he feels the need to reassure him, "He knows. He's messing with you. In a.. a good way. It's a good thing." He feels the need to translate. "What are you drinking, it's on me."

Cressida stares right back at Alexander, even as she is helped back up onto her barstool, in much the same way as he stares at her carefully-curated exhibits. Like a creeper. "You come to the lumber accidents display," she finally points out to him, helpfully, in case he isn't aware. "You were there four times last month." WHY does she KNOW this? "Anastacia. That was a good movie."

Alexander gives Easton a long look. There's the slightest uptwitch of the corners of his mouth. "I know what teasing is. But thank you." The smile fades at the offer, and his shoulders stiffen. "Just a beer, but I can pay for a drink." His voice also stiffens, stung pride written all over his features. "But if someone happens to turn in a tablet to your bar, please let me know? Mine was buried under a sand castle outside." He looks at Stacy, frowns. "A proper name, ruined by a nickname. I am Alexander Clayton, Miss Cantalina. You're not from around here." It's abrupt, even dismissive. Then he very visibly grimaces at himself, ducks his head, and tries to soften it. "Nice to meet you." His gaze darts back to Cressida, and he jerks his head in a nod. "It's a well-researched display," he mumbles.

Stacy offers a smile to Cressida as she says, "Indeed it is a good movie, though she and I are vastly different, I would like to think anyway." Her attention looking a bit surprised at Alexander's words, though it softens when his words do, seeming to curiously study over him before she responds, "I am from Italy, yes. Not a local. I take it that may... be perhaps off putting for some?"

"Fair enough." Easton laughs easily and doesn't press the issue on trying to buy Alexander a drink. He looks down at his phone again and sees something apparently that requires taking care of. He knocks on the bar and says, "I gotta run actually, but stop by the Deuce." Yes, he's taken to calling the Two if by Sea the Deuce. No he has no regrets about it. He does a small half-wave to Cressida and Stacy, "Nice meeting you." And then he's dropping some bills for his drink and heading for the door.

Oh, no. Alexander's social support bartender has left. For a moment, Alexander looks like he is absolutely going to flee as well, never mind the beer he just ordered. But he sort of grits his teeth, before sidling to one of the seats just abandoned and sitting down. "It's not. Offputting, Miss Cantalina. Just unexpected. Why did you come here?" He probably doesn't mean that to sound vaguely accusatory, but it does. He gives Cressida another sidelong look, as if trying to figure out if visiting the same display four times in a month is an actual crime, or just something that Addingtons take note of.

Stacy offers a shrug, picking up her bottle and glass to walk over to join Alexander at his table. She takes a seat across from him as she responds, "Find by me. And I suppose it is unexpected. But a lot in this town seems to be to me so far." The comment of the display doesn't cause alarm for Stacy though, some people just love the same exhibits, in her mind anyway.

Most Addingtons probably couldn't give two putrid shits about who visits the exhibits or not, but Cressida is a different breed of Addington. She stays put on her stool, declining for the moment to move closer to Stacy and Alexander. "I came to get fresh air," she answers the question that was asked of someone that was not her; the response itself flies in the face of all reason in the elderly bar. Fresh air probably hasn't been able to even get a look in in decades.

"Are you staying long?" Alexander asks Stacy, with a frown. But he doesn't seem to object to her sitting at the table with him. He does, perhaps, look /surprised/, but not hostile. His beer arrives, and he drains a good piece of it in one go, then settles down to nurse it. "It's an unexpected sort of place," he mutters in agreement. His gaze twitches back to Cressida. "It's...a nice bar. For a place to go." He offers this answer like a child guessing on a multiple choice quiz.

Stacy realizes she misheard Alex before she responds, "Ah you said did. I came to Gray Harbor by chance. Nothing else really. And... I plan to be around for a while, did invest in a building in downtown. Not sure if you are a fan of Italian." She gestures for Crerssida to come and join them.

After a moment, Cressida oozes off the barstool and slopes over to sit uneasily at the table with the other two. She has been invited to sit with other people. Like. The cool kids in the lunch room. This is desperately unfamiliar territory. She picks at the hem of her cardigan and contributes further to the stream-of-consciousness multiple choice. "It's a nice bar," she agrees. "Three murders happened here before it was a bar, you know; one of the mill workers heard his wife was cheating on him and killed her, and their daughter, and the man he found in the house with them." She gives a ghastly smile to her companions. She's getting good at this small talk thing! "Turns out the man was her brother, visiting from Chicago."

"I like Italian. Restaurant?" Alexander pauses when Stacy issues the invitation, but he again doesn't object. Just stares at Cressida as she sits down. Until she starts talking. Then, he visibly brightens, an actual smile appearing as he sits up straighter. "The Windham killings, yes. There's an excellent account of it in John Marke's Crimes of Passion in the Pacific Northwest. He was actually able to interview the first police officers on the scene. If you haven't read it." There's a pause, before he adds. "I live at 13 Elm Street." For poor Stacy, this is a meaningless non-sequitur, or perhaps a /far/ too fast invitation. But a local probably recognizes it as the site of a rather famous at the time historical invasion-murder of a family.

Stacy blinks a bit at the local info that Cressida drops, taking a few moments to process that before she responds, "Three murders? That is just... wow." It is really all she can respond to, she looks back to Alexander as she responds, "Yes, everything is a family recipe and I have a little arcade in there too. And I live above the restuarant. I also have a delivery service but could always swing by and bring something by if you like?" She misreads the address giving as either an invitation to come over or more seeing if she delivers.

Cressida sighs happily. "SUCH a good book," she agrees with Alexander. And THEN... he gives his ADDRESS. And he may as well be a celbrity. Cressida stares at him wide eyed, open mouthed, and breathes, "ooooh you live THERE! Tell me true-" She leans over the table and lowers her voice. "Did they really leave the writing on the wall under the wallpaper?" She takes it for granted that anybody living there would check. To Stacy, she breathes, "One of the most well-documented murders in this area. Septmber 3rd, 1927... all the doors and windows were locked except for one second-floor bedroom. The whole family was dressed like they were going to church, and they had been tucked into their beds, and every picture in the house was face down on the kitchen table and someone wrote I MAKE NO SOUND I LEAVE NO TRACK on the wall in the sitting room and I COME TO BRING MY BROTHER BACK on the ceiling in the foyer." She pauses for breath, eyes sparkling, and says with considerable relish, "Nobody was ever brought to trial for it. Technically it's still an open case, although of course it's very very cold. Do you have cannoli?"

"Gray Harbor has a lot of murders," Alexander tells Stacy, with entirely inappropriate cheer. It's seriously the warmest and friendliest he's been all evening. "And suicides. And disappearances. And accidents. Have you been to the boardwalk? The first Ferris Wheel there fell while a large group of children were on it; over twenty deaths. There's a good fish place, there - one body ended up scattered all over that particular site." He takes a sip of his beer. "Arcade? I like arcade games. I'll have to stop by." God help her. He grimaces a bit at Cressida. Not at her baring the knowledge of the crime, but, "The wallpaper and even drywall beneath had been replaced before I arrived. It's impossible to tell, really. It went through a lot of remodeling as they tried to rent it over the decades. The rent rate is very reasonable, though." Can't imagine why.

Stacy was about to take a sip when Cressida gives the recount of Alexander's home, just blinking a bit as she listens. It takes her a while before she realizes that a question was asked and eventually responds, "Oh yes, I make everything from scratch. Even the cannoli cream. I am a bit of a perfectionist in those regards." Another pause, "But they... never found who actually committed that murder?" Stacy picks up on the cheeriness of Alexander but she knows people have odd hobbies, she is just chalking it up to the fact that happens to be his, the creepy stories of Gray Harbor. A smile given as she says, "I would like the company, even if just to play on the arcade for a bit, not often I get someone I can play against. I am decent at it. I do wonder if my building has any history. Perhaps I will ask Frankie about it. Easton?," she seems unsure of the name, "spoke well of her."

"What is your address? I can probably tell you," Cressida replies to Stacy. It's... distressingly, it's probably true. History appears to be the odd woman's bailiwick. She seems to be as chipper about the murders (and suicides, and disappearances, and accidents) as Alexander, and in fact flashes him a conspiratorial grin. "Part of that Ferris wheel is in the museum. It's not on display right now, it needs some work before it's ready to present."

Alexander shakes his head at Stacy, growing sober again. "They often don't, Miss Cantalina. It's a small police force, and we're statistically above average for crime in our demographic cohort. A lot falls through the cracks." He finishes off his drink, and doesn't order another. "I like video games. I can't guarantee being a worthy opponent, but I'll give it a shot." Interest flares bright as he peers at Cressida. "I would like to see it, if it is ever in a shape for public display, Miss Addington. I'll keep an eye out." With that, though, he rises. "I should be going." He turns and starts to leave, after putting some bills down for the drink. No goodbye, no 'hope we meet again'.

Stacy offers a nod to Alexander as she responds, "I look forward to it either way Alexander, without practice, one can not get better, right?" A smile curling her lips. Her attention returning to Cressida as she spouts out the address fo the Pew Pew Pie shop in downtown Gray Harbor. Taking a moment to sip on her drink before she migh become shell-shocked once more.

"No murders there, I'm afraid," Cressida tells her, seeming a bit disappointed about this unseemly lack of violence. "It's unconfirmed, but there were rumors that Edmund Bailey held his first meetings there, though, sometime in the fifties." She reaches up, tucks loose hair behind her ears, and explains, "He founded a cult in 1962 in Vancouver that was eventually exposed as a human trafficking ring."

Stacy wows silently before she says, "Well.. that is a bit amusing, doubt I will be putting that on the placemats though." SHe laughs a bit, beginning to stand up as she asks, "I already sent for an Uber and they are almost here, would you like to ride with me? I rather make sure you get home safely, else we might never have a girl's day out." She offers her arm for Cressida to hold onto and steady herself if it is needed.

Cressida does steady herself on Stacy's arm as she stands, but shakes her head (narrowly avoiding tipping over in doing so). "I will walk," she says, "it's not far." And after a slightly too-long pause, she remembers to add, "but thank you!"

Stacy offers a nod as she takes the bottle of what is left home with her. "Alright, just be careful, please. I rather not see what the wrath of Gray Harbor looks like just yet." Soon she slips out the door and gets into her Uber.