2019-06-01 - Now To Better Eats

It was a lovely drive to Pew Pew Pie in Elijah's Merecedes. Stacy didn't really mind where she sat, it was a nice ride either way. Once she arrives, the staff is scurrying to make sure everything is to their boss's specifications and offering greetings of hellos. She looks to Elijah and Bennie as they arrive with her, proudly saying, "Welcome to Pew Pew Pie, I am sure this will be far more tasty than that poor excuse of a barbeque place we were just at. Feel free to sit whereever it is you please. I will make sure everything if up to my code in the back. Be right back." She does slip off into the kitchen, she has to make sure things are ran the way she prefers in her absence after all.

Elijah 's car was nice, real nice, Mercedes S class nice, also immaculately clean and having the ever so faint smell of freshly shaven pine. He follows Stacy's instructions to the shop, his driving is entirely boring and follows the letter of the law, not going even a single mile per hour over the speed limit. Eventually they arrive and pour out to get into the restaurant, the man proclaiming to the first hostess he sees "I will take the ultimate meat lover's pizza."

Bennie made a quick side track to where she had her bike stowed underneath an overhang. She was more concerned with her purse getting wet where it was sitting plain as day in the basket than locking either of them up. In the ride over, she fired off a couple of texts but was mostly touching any and every button in Elijah's car that was in reach.

"You don't even wait until we sit down?" Bennie's laughter is more in her words this time, as she weaves into the restaurant and gives a merry, "Thanks!" To Stacy as the owner wanders off. "We need at least a four top, a friend of mine is joining us." Which, she probably should have asked about seeming how Elijah's paying for her meal.

Sitting in his apartment after a particularly drained night, Easton picks up his phone and taps out a message. He would deny to any and all sundry that he grins like an idiot when she texts back. And when he's asked to join he hesitates, looks around at his apartment and decides it would be good to make himself get out. It's clear outside and that means he finally gets to take out his bike for once, which seals the deal. His cafe roadster happily roars out of the parking lot and down the road, and while it might be a bit silly to call a motorcycle happy, Easton still thinks it sounds that way.

Entering the place, which frankly he's been meaning to try anyway he spots Bennie and the older guy she's with, and it gives him pause. Not that he had a picture in mind of exactly what he was expecting her 'friends' to look like, but uhhh, not that?

Stacy returns from the kitchen looking pleased as she responds, "Everything is in order." She begins to grab menus and leads them over to what she considers to be the perfect table. It isn't too hot or too cold in this one spot in the restaurant. She responds, "The more the merrying right?" Indeed two menus grabbed, she knows it like the back of her hand, and Elijah already placed his order. The hostess is scurrying to put the order in, not wishing to delay anything in front of her new boss. As she sees the new face she responds, "You must be Bennie's friend, I am Anastacia Cantalina, but you can call me Stacy if you like. Please do sit." Her hand gesturing to the booth that was selected.

Elijah takes a seat at a table rather then a booth and settles in, telling Bennie "Go ahead and order whatever you want, I owe you for that potato. Any other time I'd say you owed me for saving you from it." Yes, it appears that he just ordered a pizza for himself. Also it doesn't seem he is asking about the friend, simply looking back towards the kitchen as if he might unravel the secret to what sort of meats would be on his pizza.

As Stacy draws her attention to Easton's arrival, she turns all thousand watts of her smile in his direction and gives him a little 'c'mere' gesture in case he hesitates. "Everyone, this is Easton." She introduces him to the others before leaning in to give his cheek a little chaste kiss in greeting. "You're shorter standing up." She teases Easton without a hint of malice. "Anastacia owns this fine establishment, and this is Elijah who wears suits and has cases and is looking for a right house that is not wrong." Unslinging the large hobo bag that looks more like a piece of luggage than a purse, Bennie flops down into a chair at the table with Elijah, despite the fact that Stacy offered them a booth.

Walking into the place, Easton is distracted by the pinball machines and video games, which now that he thinks about it explains the name. What? He never questioned it. He strides on over and looks at Stacy a little confused before placing her, Disaronno-Stacy from the Pour House, his bartender's memory tying names and faces. "Right, from the other night, sorry I don't know that we ever got introduced." Bennie's kiss draws a smile which turns into a full fledge laugh when she notices his height. "Well just be glad I have my leg on, otherwise I'm basically a dwarf." He doesn't seem put out in the least by it.

He extends a hand to Elijah and says, "Suit and cases? I.." He looks back at Bennie as if that is supposed to mean something and decides it's probably not super important right now. "Nice to meet you." He takes a seat at the table and one of the offered menus.

It takes Stacy a moment to remember she briefly met Easton at the Pourhouse. She makes her way over to the table, placing the menus there instead and slipping into her own seat. She looks to the waitress as she requests, "Some of the Disaronno in a glass on the rocks for me, thank you." Her attention to the others as she inquires, "Would you guys care for anything to drink?" The waitress is already writing down Stacy's order and looks to the others to see what they may like. She comments to Easton, "I think we were both caught up in conversations. But it is nice to know your name."

Currently the four are seated at one of the tables in Stacy's establishment with the staff scurrying around making sure all is going smoothly in front of their boss with other customers.

"Whiskey, neat. Or failing that, just water." Elijah says as he puts in his order. Taking Easton's hand in a firm handshake he pumps it twice in a brisk motion "Good to meet you. District Attorney." Well at least that probably solves the mystery of what he does, that or he's just been watching a bit too much law and order as of late. With a tilt of his head he asks Stacy "So how long have you had this establishment?"

No nice car is left outside for Alex. He does have a pretty sweet bike, though, and he leans it out in front of the restaurant, briefly contemplating its security out there by itself, taking two steps away from it... only to circle back around and lock it, on second thought. Nodding, straightening, he smooths a hand down his tie - for Alex, you see, is perpetually overdressed - and then stepping in with a contemplative look around the interior. His brows climb, but he says nothing, just heads toward something that looks official: a register? A counter?

Clearly, Alex is a novice to this particular pizzeria.

"A light beer, please?" Bennie kindly asks the waitress. Her eyes sparkle with mirth at Easton's response. "I'll remember to wear flats." Which technically she's doing now, in a grey pair of cowboy boots matched with a denim skirt that edges on the side of 'mini', a white t-shirt and what might have once been a robe with an asian theme that she wears like a long vest.

As Elijah talks to Stacy about the restaurant, Bennie leans over to Easton a little. "I'd order a veggie pizza just to see Elijah's eyes twitch, but do you wanna go halfsies on one of these chicken white pizzas with extra bacon?" She asks, while pointing to the appropriate section of the menu Stacy handed her.

And then Bennie notices Alex's arrival, and despite not knowing him in the slightest, she raises a hand, "Hey you! Come join us! Pizza is not a solo sport."

"Same. Except a beer if you don't normally serve liquor" Stacy owns the place so maybe the Disaronno is just for her. He returns the firm, but friendly handshake "Uh. Bartender?" Is that a thing people do? Say their profession when being introduced? Oh wait, the suit and cases crack, derp. Easton decides to just roll with his awkward profession statement as he sets down the menu held in the other hand.

"You can wear stilts and I'd be just fine with it. A little weirded out, a touch impressed, but just fine." He had other ideas in mind, but when Bennie offers, "Sure. I'll eat just about anything. Super refined palate that way."

Looking up as Bennie calls Alex over he quirks an eyebrow and then looks back at her. He's only seen the guy a few times but usually it's in the midst of throwing what sounds like Spanish threats back and forth with the woman from the fish place. But he gives him a friendly nod, because why not.

Stacy responds to Elijah, "I have had it about two or three weeks now. I am still very new to Gray Harbor." The waitress ended up writing down the water and the whiskey for the district attorney, soon those looking onto the next person placing their drink order. Eagerly the waitress is writing down the order for the light beer. A hostess was about to intercept Alex before Bennie calls out to him, the young woman offering a smile and a menu to the man. Stacy curiously looks to Bennie as she inquires, "Another friend?" She stage whispers to Bennie, "Also good joke about the pizza."

Elijah 's look of disapproval intensifies as he hears that whisper about veggie pizza "I said I'd buy you dinner, not animal feed." To Stacy he says "Not that your pizza is animal, rather it is the vegetables that end up on it that are. I've also been in town a few weeks, but I've had to spend far too much time getting settled at the office to do anything."

It's true. Alex is often to be found in the middle of shouting matches en espanol. But not right now. Right now, he leans back a step from the hostess, like he wasn't prepared for that sort of service, and passes a similarly bemused glance to Bennie, like he also wasn't prepared for that sort of greeting. "It's Oakes, right?" he guesses, fading a few steps that way. "I was hoping to get something to go. Is that not a thing this restaurant does?" He's prepared to be confused, it shows in the way he cocks his head and looks around, searching for cues about this joint.

"Isn't everyone a potential friend?" Bennie grins up at Stacy and scoots her chair closer to Easton's in order to make room at the table. Sure, that's why. At least it's a good excuse not that Bennie ever needs one, the way she operates. "Once everyone settles, we can sneak off to the bathroom." Which. She probably should put in context for others other than Easton, but she doesn't.

To Alex, the blonde bubbles, "Oh right! Doctor..." Bennie's hands drum on the table until she can pull up his name from the recesses of her mind. "Reyes! Sure, pizza is totally to-go-able, but if you want the company, you're welcome." She points around the table, "Elijah, Stacy, Easton, and you can call me Bennie. And don't worry, I'm totally a carnivore. Not big on single use plastics, but I will totally chow down on a mammal." The last bit, of course, to Elijah.

Soon Elijah's pizza arrives to reveal just why it is called the Ultimate Meat Lovers Pizza. It is covered with: Chopped Italian seasoned and grilled chicken, chopped up bacon, ground beef, ham, sausage, and last but not least slices of juicy steak.

Stacy laughs a bit as she comments, "I know you not think my pizza is an animal and I can understand you opinion on such things. And it can be a bit hectic getting things just set up at the office, mine in the back still looks like a hurricane went through there or a monsoon. Without the water though, so perhaps more like a tornado." She gets up from her seat to handle Alex as she responds, "We do yes. It is my place. What is it you were wanting to get to go? I have more than just pizza, also have pasta dishes, stromboli and calzones, salads, subs, I mean... I should just let you look at the menu really." SHe laughs at herself as she possibly overloads Alex with infotrmation. A nod was given in agreeance to Bennie's words about everyone being a potential friend and the comment about sneaking off to the bathroom caused her to look amused.

Easton blinks at Bennie and her explanation and can't help laugh and add, "And a potential rapist." He's obviously less of a glass half-full kinda guy. He laughs though and calls out, "Not you dude. Just like uh, in general." He also doesn't seem too worried about that either. He does look to Elijah though and say, "Like as a DA, back me up. People are terrible." He seems at least a little relieved that she knows his name though, so maybe she's not just randomly calling out to strangers, though even he can't help but admit it's a little endearing how friendly she is.

He blinks at Stacy rattles of the menu and then says back to Bennie, "I'm good with that plan." Not elaborating either on the reason for such a plan.

"Reyes." Alex says this at exactly the same time that Bennie gets there on her own, which prompts the sort of 'haha conversationally awkward' smile that twitches into place momentarily. "Elijah, Stacy, Easton, Bennie. Hello, I'm Alex. And a menu really isn't necessary, but thank you. Do you have a counter or...?" Again, he's struggling with this whole notion of this pizza place turning out to be a proper restaurant, and so stands with his hands clasped behind his back, holding a nebulous post somewhere adjacent to wherever all these people are sitting.

"Alex. Great name! Definitely top ten." Bennie chirps. "Man, that pizza came out ridiculously fast!" Bennie praises, but also partially laments. "Alright, big guy. Let's go, because if you stand between and food, I can't promise the safety of your other limbs. Will you all excuse me and Easton? I have a professional matter to attend to."

Easton considers clarifying that her 'profession' is not prostitute, but figures that's probably not going to help anyone in this situation. So he simply agrees, "Sounds good. And just a heads up, I'd recommend keeping your hands and other extremities away from my plate. I'm not saying I'm a bit of a loose cannon when I'm eating but there have been reports of bitings. I can neither confirm nor deny those." He stands and says to the others, "Scuse us." And makes his way after Bennie.

Stacy laughs a bit before she responds to Alex, "I can take the order for you and put in it. Easy peasy as they say yes?" Her hands taking one of the writing pads and a pen from the cup by her register near the kitchen before walking back towards Alex as she asks, "So, what would you like to order?" Stacy also writes down Bennie and Easton's order for their chicken white pizza with extra bacon and puts that into the order screen now so the staff can start working on making it.

Alex, as graciously as a person can when they weren't anticipating a name-compliment, "Thank you, I'm partial to it, personally. Nice to meet you, Easton. I'm sure I'll see you at work, Oates. Enjoy your night." Because manners for days, even if he's clearly a little off his game at the moment. But there's Stacy, being a proprietor, so sure. He'll smile pleasantly at her and pretend this is all perfectly normal. "Just a medium pepperoni, please." Also, head-tilted again, he tacks on like this is just a thing people blurt out, "Where are you from?"

Stacy puts in Alex's order for a medium pepperoni pizza as she responds, "Oh I am from Venice, Italy. Only been her about three weeks to a month. So far it is a very interesting town, to say the least." A brief pause before she responds, "Are you from here Doctor Alex?" Her attention glancing to Elijah, making sure he seems to be enjoying his Ultimate meat lovers pizza before looking back to Alex. All while Bennie and Easton are checking out the facilities.

Oh is he enjoying his pizza, and his ability to put it away demonstrates no small amount of skill as not a spec gets on his suit. Leveraging a finger at Stacy he says "Your shop makes a good pizza, you should be proud. If you deliver I know what I'll be ordering when I'm stuck working through lunch." once again an elusive ghost of a smile pulls at the corner of his lips

"Reyes." Alex shakes his head briefly, clarifying, "Doctor Alex Reyes." And then he lifts a hand, shaking his head and waving away what he just said, "Just Alex." There, that's the point he was trying to make with all those other unnecessary words. Which brings him back around to, "As in, you've only been here from Italy?" (Listen, his player's too lazy to go look this up on Google translate.) After a momentary hmmm to order this in his mind, he totally says, "Welcome to the United States?" In tourist-quality Italian, then thinks back through it and nods; yes, that's what he meant to say. Then shuts up, because Elijah is praising the food.

Stacy nods as she responds, "Just Alex then," a bit of teasing in her tone. "Yes only here in the United States, besides a cross over in New York. Well I also lived a bit in Paris growing up as a child. And thank you for the welcome Alex." She pauses before she inquires, "Have you ever been to Europe? It is truly quite lovely there." She looks to Elijah at the compliment, almost beaming as she responds, "I do have a delivery service actually so you are more than welcome to order for lunch anytime your heart desires Elijah. I'll even put extra meat if I know if it for you."

Elijah levies a /look/ at Stacy "Careful now, don't go making promises like that. That's how you win a man, through his stomach." then his phone begins to buzz within his pocket. Digging it out he answers "Wright.. ... ... Got it I'll head in now." And with that he hangs up and slides the phone back into his pocket Drawing out a roll of bills he sets a fifty on the table "I've got to run, got a situation."

In the back, the door to the Ladies' Room practically bursts back open and Bennie spills out with a raucous round of laughter that sounds just a little too cheery and a little too sharp. When she notices that Elijah is leaving as she returns to the table, a pout forms a pronounced jut of her bottom lip. "Aw, so soon? Well, thanks for dinner! Even if there was a potato casualty that prompted it. You're my new best friend, Elijah." Which shouldn't sound like a threat. But if one dislikes chipper blondes, maybe it is.

Alex eyes the bill that Elijah puts down, brows climbing upward and getting stuck there, and the thoughts are damn near printed on his face for a second: HOLY SHIT IS THIS PIZZA GOING TO COST ME FIFTY DOLLARS?! But what he says is a very polite, "Good luck with your situation." And then to Stacy, while he continues to just stand there with his hands clasped behind him, "I have." Been to Europe, he means. There might have been more to that story, but out comes Bennie, and he asks, just ever-so-casually, "Everything all right?"

Likewise in a good mood, though unsure that he's ever been in a mood as good as Bennie, ever, Easton exists the bathroom. He follows her out and ohs, when he sees Elijah leaving. He had meant to get to know the guy, but now that he realizes just how far Bennie's "friend" label might extend he's not quite as eager. He just nods at the man and says, "Good meeting you sir." He retakes his seat and is not sad at the beer at his setting. The doctor's question is met with a simple, "Yup!" with just a touch more cheeriness than he thought he could muster just now.

Stacy laughs at Elijah's words before she comments, "If that were such a case, I think I'd be married already but I tend to keep my promises nonetheless." She offers a nod to him saying he needs to head out and quickly moves to grab a to go pizza box, putting what remains of his into it and offering as she says, "Take it with you. Would hate to see it go to waste." She looks back to Bennie and Easton as they return from the bathroom and offers a nod before her attention returns to Alex as she inquires, "And where is it you went. I am rather curious."

Bennie plunks herself back in her previous chair, hooking her bag on the back of it and then settling in with a tuck of one of her feet beneath the opposing thigh. Her beer gets taken up with both hands, and it's not until she's gulped the first third of it down that she likewise answers Alex. "Just peachy keen, jelly bean." At Stacy's question, there is an adjustment of her pony tail, Bennie tightening the elastic. "We thought we'd spare the group from our tonsil hockey. Home team won."

Lifting a beer and likewise draining it, as apparently bathroom makeouts are thirsty work, Easton swallows hard at Stacy's question. He is about to answer when Bennie chimes in. He just nods and says, "It was a well contested game though." as if in his defense. He looks around and says, "Where did you get the idea for this place? I dig it. Feels like a place I would have spent ridiculous amounts of time in as a kid." Okay fine, and maybe as an adult too. What, it has pizza, beer and video games and he's not a terribly complex man.

"My grandparents live near Naples. And then I've been to Rome, of course." Alex tacks that on like it's some sort of given, as though he shouldn't even need to say it, but he's said it, so. There might have been more to this chat about Europe, but then Bennie is saying things about tonsil hockey, and Alex will just make sure his tie is looking very straight right now, tyvm, and say a very well-composed, "Interesting." His fault for asking. 🙁

Stacy snickers at Bennie's response about the make out session before she looks to Easton as she responds, "Oh well... video games are a wonderful distraction and something I love. And adore cooking, so I thought why not combine the two into a lovely place. And I thought it might be nice for the kids since sometimes they get bored with meals. Though after certain hours children aren't allowed in since I generally cater to the more adult crowd." She looks to Alex as she responds, "Naples is lovely and Rome is as well. I have seen all of Italy and some of Sicily too."

"You know, I think I'm going to take my half of the pizza to go as well, I still have to get back across town to pick up my ride." Bennie guzzles the last of her beer, wiping her mouth on the back of her arm. Whatever happened in the restroom, it's like she's forcing her normal smile to return to its full force. "But this has been totally fun!"

Easton raises his eyebrows as Bennie suddenly decides to cut things short after inviting him out. He doesn't let the smile falter off his face though as he says, "Alright." He however doesn't appear to being going anywhere, settling right in and waiting for this pizza that he can't even remember exactly what she ordered for them to split. Oh well. He'll order a few more beers and make the best of it.

Presumably, Alex gets his pizza. Likely, he spends the intervening few minutes making idle chit-chat with Stacy about the loveliness of various parts of Italy - or, well, the two places there that he's been. Also presumably, this pizza doesn't cost him fifty dollars, so he is quietly relieved to hand over a more appropriate bill. He takes his pizza on out the door at the appropriate time, and possibly manages to balance his pizza box on the handlebars of his bicycle to unlock the latter (yes, he rides his bike in a tie; leave him alone).

Yep. He manages to balance it. 😃 Then he walks his bike and his pizza on over toward the antique store and disappears inside it.