2019-05-31 - At Bubba J's Ribshack

Elijah finds himself settling down at one of the picnic tables as he waits for his order of pork belly and mac and cheese to come up. Perhaps a critical flaw or maybe just a vote of extreme confidence, Elijah has worn a suit into a den of barbecues and sauces. As he waits for his food to be delivered he sips quietly from his glass of water.

Stacy makes her way into the barbeque restuarant, she wanted to find out what this raving was all about. She makes her way over towards one of the picnic tables nearby to Elijah and slips into the seat. As she grabs one of the menus she remarks allowed, with her strong but understandable Italian accent, "I wonder if this is any good." Her eyes curiously looking over the menu, perhaps judging it a little. On her form was a pair of jean and a casual floral, sleeveless shirt.

"You know, it's hard to screw up a loaded baked potato, and yet..." Bennie is lamenting as she puts down her red and white checkered paper boat full of more fixings then there is potato, and the ratio of pulled pork to sour cream is just sad. "Mind if I join?" The question is superfluous as the ponytailed blonde slides onto a bench at the table with Stacy and Elijah, setting her beer down after a sip.

Elijah shakes his head, his expression mildly disapproving but then again it's been mildly disapproving the entire time "Not at all, help yourself." And then his meal is being delivered, preparing a knife and fork he pokes at the crisp bit of pork before slicing off a piece to sample. After chewing and swallowing the morsel comes the comment "A bit tough but not the worst I've had, though the cashier was insistent I might want to pair it with wine. I've been trying to figure out what he has against wine."

Stacy hmms softly as she looks over to Bennie's food, her nose wrinkling as she responds, "Apparently one can, and it is rather disturbing." A smile offered as she introduces herself, "I am Anastacia Cantalina. But you can call me Stacy if you prefer. Now.. I implore, does it /always/ look like that when one comes here?" Her fingers gesturing towards the misloaded baked potato. Then she looks curious as she inquires to Elijah, "Wine? With Barbeque? I... may rethink on ordering, I am not too fond of overcooked meat. Especially being a chef myself."

Bennie stabs experimentally at her potato at Stacy proclaiming it's disturbing, a frown forming not only at the corner of her lips but in a little furrow between her eyes that produces a tiny 'x' on the bridge of her nose. "I never thought food could make me feel sad."

But she shrugs it off and Bennie's sunny smile reblooms. "It could be worse! He's had worse. I'm Bennie. Which isn't short for anything, much less anything that exotic. And who are you, Mister Suit?"

"I feel sad every time I watch someone waste perfectly good meat on a salad." Elijah responds with a straight face "The name's Elijah, it's good to meet you two." and then he plops another bite of that slightly tough pork into his mouth, chewing it thoroughly before he decides to just douse the remaining pieces with the barbecue sauce sitting on the table

Stacy looks a bit surprised as she inquires, "My name is exotic? I suppose it is. Never thought of it before. But it is nice to meet you Bennie." The blonde smile contagious, causing for Stacy to also smile. A nod is offered to Elijah as she responds, "Nice to meet you Elijah, I take it you are not a vegetable kinda guy?" The question is a prehaps a bit more of an assumption given the comment of salad.

"That is legit like one of my favorite names, Elijah." Bennie reflects with her chin momentarily propped on a curl of knuckles. "Hey, wait. This isn't a salad!" She defends. "Potato hardly even qualifies as a vegetable. It's a gift from the gods is what it is. Slice it, dice it, fry it, bake it. Mash it." Before she becomes Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue from Forrest Gump, Bennie halts her list. "Anastacia. Anastacia. Second new favorite name."

Elijah shakes his head and says "Life is too short to waste on vegetables, mushrooms are an exception as they go great on steak." The corner of his lips drawing up in a ghost of a smile. But the Bennie has to go and defend the potato which draws a grudging nod from him "True, potatoes are pretty good and have many uses unlike carrots. You know I'm beginning to suspect just about every new name you run into is your new favorite name."

Stacy chuckles at Bennie as she defends the potato and grins as her name is spoken as the second new favorite name. "I feel a bit honored, thank you Bennie," it kindly spoken as she put the menu back, deciding she would rather feast on conversation than possibly bad barbeque. She almost snickers, almost! at the comment about the new favorite name directed at Bennie before she chirps in, "New names can indeed sound pleasing to one's ear though. So nothing wrong with garnering new favorites of things."

"The only thing carrots are good in is cake." Bennie cheers to that with a little raise of her glass of beer, taking a sip off the top which is far too much foam. This is what one gets for not ordering wine. Cheeks pink at the crests of their apples when it comes to names on her favorites list. "Maaaaybe. But even the little things deserve celebration." She nods to Stacy, who is now a new sister in arms.

"Ooh, hey, watch your tie or the ribs won't be the only thing that's drenched in too much sauce." Bennie warns Elijah as she lurches over the table, oblivious to personal space, as she takes his tie and starts tucking it in-between the buttons of his shirt.

Elijah seems a bit taken aback at that lunge to tuck his tie into his shirt, first there is the incredulous look to see if she is serious, but judging by the fact that it just happened, she definitely is. Next comes a clearing of his throat as he says rather dryly "Thank you for the the concern but I think I can handle my tie. This is why god gave us tie bars." and indeed he is wearing one that while it doesn't totally restrain the tie it does reduce the chance of it dipping into the sauce. It now seems he actually has a reason to be levying that look of mild disapproval around.

Stacy a grin given to Bennie as she comments about the little things deserving celebrations. And then her eyes go wide as the blonde enters Elijah's personal space, her jaw dropping a touch in surprise. Her mouth closing when the throat clearing noise is made but she doesn't comment on his words. She soon responds, "So... is it always so rainy here this time of year?" Attempting to change the subject and avoid awkward silence.

Bennie doesn't look the least bit apologetic or cowed by the disapproving look as she sinks back down to the bench seating. In fact, her smile turns up a few watts. "I just hate to see a good garment go to waste. Is that silk? It felt like silk. If you ever need to know how to get a stain out of silk, I'm your girl." At the mention of rain, Bennie's attention pings like a like an ADHD ferret who forgot their Adderal pellets. "Oh my god, yes. Invest in a good pair of galoshes. Or do you call them Wellies? Rain boots. Invest in a good pair of rain boots."

"It definitely is silk." Elijah confirms as he simply goes back to eating his pork belly, the subpar barbecue not too much for his countenance. Jumping back into the conversation at hand he comments "I was told it was rainy most of the year with the sun only coming out rarely. I was also promise this was one of the best towns in the region. I've been house hunting but I've yet to find one that stands up to the Wright standard."

Stacy ahs softly before she responds, "I will definently need to do that soon then. Invest in rain boots. I not wish to ruin my work shoes after all. Would be horrid to slip in my own restaurant." Her attention returning to Elijah as she inquires, "And what is to the Wright standard? You have me immensely curious."

"You have a restaurant! I work in a restaurant! Well, part time. That's not the part to focus on though. You have a restaurant! Where, which one? Is it new?" Bennie pokes at her potato and manages to find a bite that's at least a good ratio of all the contents. "Is that the opposite of the wrong standard?" Bennie asks, in all seriousness.

Elijah gestures to Bennie with his fork and informs her in no uncertain tone "Wrong." before he turns his attention back to Stacy "The Wright standard dictates I aim for excellence in everything. The house I will call my fortress is no exception. While I don't expect anyone else to have taken care of it to my standards." This line seems to draw some amusement from the man as if another might actually hold themselves to the standard he does "I'm looking for an older house from back when craftsmen took pride in their work, and preferably at least a little bit of renovation needed to keep me busy on the weekends. Also a garage or workshop I can work in. After all I need a hobby when not working my cases."

Stacy laughs a bit at Bennie's response before she answers, "It is Pew Pew Pie in Downtown. I am currently hiring if you are seeking a second part time job." A nod given to Bennie's question, she was wondering the same thing more or less. She hmms softly before looks to Bennie as she inquires, "Are you from here? I know little of this area still in terms of where to find the older homes."

"I already have three. Well, four if you count cater waiter. Actually technically one is a full time job. And the other ones just sort of fill in around the cracks." So Bennie gives a mock grimace. "Sorry. Thanks for the offer though, I totally love pie." At least she doesn't tell them where it ranks on her favorites of desserts? "Gray Harbor born and bred. Though you're better off with a realtor? I mean. Yeah, not the best person to ask about real estate. But I hope you find what you're after! Sounds dreamy."

Stacy hmms and laughs a bit before she says, "It is an Italian restaurant and has an arcade on one side of them. Pie as in pizza, though I suppose I could serve normal pies too." She hmms softly beginning to lightly tap her index finger on her lips as she ponders things.

"Pizza is good too, but yeah you should totally capitalize on that name. Cherry is my favorite. Something tells me that Elijah's favorite is apple." Bennie's eyes shine with amusement at the notion. "Do you have any pinball machines? I can totally get down with some pinball. I used to wreck the KISS themed one at the camp I used to work at. I wonder if I still have the high score..."

Stacy nods yes in agreement as she says, "I have a pinball machine, at least one of them. So feel free to come by and try it out. But I did trademark the name to be safe. But.. it would be good to getting some of my baking skills to better use than just the little desserts I make for the restaurant..."

Elijah chimes in "Apple is definitely the best pie, followed closely by cherry then peach." he lists as if they were facts as indisputable as the sky being blue or the grass green." With a dip of his head to stacy he says "I'll have to try your restaurant sometime. Do you have a good barbecue or chicken based pizza?"

"Oooh, and some teeny tiny tiramisu?" Bennie adds to the list of things, if they're making a wish list of Stacy's restaurant. "And that one where they torch the top, whatever that one is called?" Go figure that she's focusing on the sweet side of things while Elijah is focusing on meat.

Stacy responds to Elijah, "I not have barbeque, yet. However I do have a few chicken based pizzas and of course I have a meat lovers and an ultimate meatlovers as well. I am still perfecting my barbeque sauce, it just... doesn't taste right to me yet and I am a perfectionist in my work." She smiles to Bennie as she responds, "I do have tiramisus yes, I make it all from scratch. As for the torch top one, it is called Creme Brulee. I also serve that as well."

Elijah gestures with his fork "You lack dedication, you need the divine meat lovers pizza. Interwoven bacon strips for the crust, with a lining of pepperoni, sauce, cheese and then sausage." nodding he says seriously "It sounds just about perfect, just might need a doctor standing by for the heart attacks afterwards." with a frown at her mentioning she has yet to get the sauce right he asks "I'm assuming you've got the brown sugar ratio right in there. You might want to toy with the vinegars you're using."

Bennie's eyes go a little wide as Elijah describes his perfect pizza. "I'm going to follow you around with a portable defibrillator. Oh. That's my full time job, by the way. I'm an EMT." Which hopefully doesn't strike too much fear into the hearts of those assembled. "So if you have this amazing place with tiny perfect desserts and meat lovers pizzas..." Bennie leans forward, voice pitched dramatically low to the level of conspiracy. "Why are we eating here?"

Stacy hmms softly at Elijah's suggestion before she responds, "I may indeed make one like that and I will try switch the vinegar I am using in the barbeque. I am still learning a lot of American cuisines in truth." She looks to Bennie as she says, "Oh I see, intriguing then." Then she bursts out in laughter as she responds, "I was going to try something here to find what I was missing in my sauce but rethought my choices when I saw what the two of you got in truth."

Elijah nods in agreement with Bennie "The girl has a point, why are we here eating this defiled meat when you have perfectly good pizza." the look he gives the pork belly drowned in barbecue sauce transcends disapproval and disgust as if wishing the meat had never even shared the same world a him. Standing he uses his napkin to wipe at the corner of his lips "What are we waiting for? Let's go."

For all of their interaction, it's only now that Bennie's smile truly has a shadow pass over it. Sheepishly, she announces, "Sadly I blew the last of my weekly budget for eating out on this, so I'm going to finish it with gusto. But absolutely next time I know where I'm going!"

Perhaps as payback for earlier, Elijah reaches over and slaps the potato onto the ground, his voice dry as ever as he proclaims "Oops." despite the nigh monotone expression of surprise it was definitely deliberate "It looks like I owe you a meal now, would you care to go and get pizza now?" he never once looks to see where the potato landed "Besides, you shouldn't be defiling yourself with the food here if you're an emt. If you were to keel over, where would the community be then."

Stacy can't help buy laugh as Elijah slaps the potato onto the ground, her hand reaching up to try and hide it but failing to do so. She tags onto his statement, "He does make a valid point. I am rather obsessive about how the food is prepared in the restaurant and my crew seems to be afraid of when they hear a slew of Italian curses. So I can assure you it will not make you keel over."

For a legitimate moment, it looks like Bennie might cry at the sight of her potato based dinner splayed out all over the floor just short of actual tears welling. It lasts for all of a fraction of a second, quelled by Elijah's offer to buy her pizza instead. Immediately perking back up, she chirps to both of them. "Deal!"

"We'll keep going till we find a good meal tonight." Elijah assures Bennie "No settling for /potato/ or subpar barbecue tonight." Arching an eyebrow at Stacy he queries "I trust that your restaurant is open and we won't be needing a reservation to find a seat tonight." From behind the counter the manager is watching as if no one had actually ever stated the food was terrible out loud before

Stacy shakes her head no before she responds, "It is open and no need for reservation, I promise. It is more of a walk-in family kinda place than anything stuffy. But I vote we leave now however... I may need to hitch a ride, I am still car shopping."

Elijah might just be Bennie's new hero in the wake of becoming her biggest villain. It's an emotional roller coaster to be sure. "Unless you want to ride on my handle bars..." Bennie apparently only has a bicycle to get around town. "I'd totally let you ring the bell though." She starts grabbing paper towel off the roll that ever table is equipped with. "Let me just clean this up real quick..."

Elijah eyes the girls "Well then, it looks like you're both riding with me. I'm not going to wait for you to bike around town when you can just hop into the mercedes. I trust you have your bike locked up outside so nothing happens?" The point that they are riding with him sounds decided as he puts it, though he does seem rather dubious if this ebullient emt has the common sense to lock her bike up.

Stacy laughs a bit as she muses, "On the handlebars could be entertaining, I not done that since I was little one." She begins to get up as she responds, "I am fine with sharing a ride." Her hand holding out to Bennie with a smile.

Bennie makes quick work of scooping up potato smear back into the cardboard boat, gives the floor one last wipe and then tossing the entire mess into a nearby trash can. She makes sure there is nothing left on her hands as she grabs Stacy's and merrily folds it into the crook of her arm. "Sure, locked up. Let's go with that. A mercedes! I feel like Cinderella, only instead of a glass slipper I'm totally being fitted with tasty food. Let's bounce." Her laughter is light an airy as she tugs Stacy out of the BBQ joint to go discover what sort of ride Mister Suit has.