2019-06-06 - 75% Chance of Rain

Behind the bar in the center of the main dining room of the bar, Easton is currently texting away on his phone. And while that sounds like he's avoiding doing work, it's kind of understandable considering how empty the place is. There are a few tables occupied, but the waitress is handling most of the service there. Easton is currently sitting on a stool, dressed for work in a black dress shirt over dark jeans. Apparently something on his phone is particularly funny as he chuckles to himself and texts back before putting the phone away behind the counter and looking around to make sure no one is waiting on him.

May makes her way into Two If By Sea, pausing at the door to close her umbrella and try to chat the water off of her black rain slickers. On her today was her usual choice of gothic styled clothing, a black and red satin and lace dress with black tights on underneathe with an oversized black button up sweater worn unbuttoned. Her hands grab her sweater to wrap it around herself as she makes her way to the bar. Soon within his earshot she says, "Hey... slow day?" Soon slipping onto on of the seats at the bar and resting her arms atop of it.

Out of habit, Easton has a bar mop in hand and is literally polishing a glass. Turning as May addresses him he opens his hands, towel in one, glass in the other and nods. "Yea, storms aren't great for the lunch crowd." Of course most people don't mind a little rain around here, but actual thunderstorms do slow things down. He gives her outfit a once over but says nothing about it, instead asking "What can I get for you?"

May hmms softly before she responds, "Rum and Cherry Coke. I think it is called a... Jolly Roger? But I might be misremembering. I... don't think I have seen you before in here... but I have been in her for a drink in... maybe two months so... could be why." A brief pause before she introduces, "I'm May."

"Sure." Easton is quick to get about making the drink, though he gives a bit of skeptical look about the 'Jolly Roger' name. He adds, "Pretty sure that's banana liquor, rum and tequila." No. It's not. But he can ably enough mix rum and cherry coke from the soda gun at least. He slides the drink on down and says, "Nice to meet you May. I'm Easton and yea, I'm still the new guy here."

May offers a nod as she takes her drink, "Banana liqour, rum and tequila... that... sounds horrid." Her nose wrinkles as she laughs a bit at the idea of those things mixed. "It is nice to meet you Easton, So... how long have you been in town? And what even brings you here? Family?"

Easton doesn't seem to offended that she likes her version of a Jolly Roger better, he just shrugs and says, "There are some truly terrible cocktails in this world. I find it best to remain diplomatically neutral on it." As she shift subjects back to him, he leans back against the opposite side of the bar. "Only a couple weeks." Which feels like a lot longer actually considering all the nonsense he's been through in that time. "I actually used to come here as a kid. This is my fresh start." Because he's awesome at picking places to start over, the marines, haunted seaside towns, etc.

Declan ascends the steps a few at a time. When he hits the top one, he glances around the deck and pulls his leather jacket a little tighter. Glancing out towards some seats, he doesn't find what he's looking for. Wandering, his interest perks while focusing on the bar. Declan grins and moves closer, eventually stopping a few paces from May. "Hey lady." Easton's given a nod.

May offers a nod of agreence as she says, "Indeed there are some terrible ones. I just stick to what I know. It's safer that way." She ohs softly and responds, "I was born and raised here. So... why did you come here when you were a kid?" A soft smile is offered to Declan as she responds, "Hey Declan, seems our picnic idea got rained out. This is why I never try to have outdoor plans. Have you met Easton?" Her hand gesturing to Easton, the barkeep.

Watching Declan enter, he registers a little surprise as the two interact. He's not really sure why that surprised him, but his face remains impassive at least. He shrugs and says "I've tried some of the more outlandish ones, but I'm game for most anything." He nods as she mentions being a local, that seems about right to him. He shrugs a bit at the question, "Parents loved it?" Did they? He can't really recall why this was a spot they frequented. It just was something they did. "I don't think we have, what can I get for you?" Easton says to Declan, and in answer to May's question.

Declan slides one arm around May's waist for a brief and somewhat lame side hug. He kisses her temple and says, "That makes you smarter than me, then," with a small laugh. His arm slides away while he looks back to the bartender. "Nah, never met. I'll take a gin and tonic, and whatever she wants." Declan nods to May, but waits before saying more until he can catch up with the conversation.

May offers a nod to Easton before she responds, "It can be nice sometimes, but that is just usually around tourist season. Like this weather today... could be worse though, not like it is a monsoon heading out way or anything." May returns a gentle hug to Delcan after he gives her the side hug and the kiss to the temple, though it still looks a bit awkward for her. She sips on her rum and coke before she responds, "We were just talking about the city, nothing to fantastic." A brief pause before she asks them both, "Were either of you at the theater?"

"Comin' up" Easton steps away for just a moment to fix the drink and then sets it down on a coaster in front of Declan. He looks around the nearly empty bar and says, "Yea, I'm hopin' tourist season kicks in soon." He seems ready to shove off and let the two of them talk amongst themselves when May asks about the theater. He cocks his head just slightly at her and then looks to Declan before answering in a low voice, "No, but I heard that was some shiiit. Were you there?"

"Great city," Declan chimes in. "If you're into rain and some..." his eyebrows raise, "history." He finds a seat and leans an elbow on the counter. "It will," he tells Easton, regarding tourist season. "Give it two, three weeks." The counter gets lightly smacked. "Boom." May receives a shake of his head.

As May has to step out for a minute, Easton smirks a bit wondering if perhaps he was supposed to be a little more demure about the theater incident. He's still learning the thousands of rules spoken and unspoken here in this town. Looking back up to Declan he asks, "Yea? What is it you do?" In regards to the tourist season, it sounds like he's also impacted by it. The comment about rain and 'history' causes a wry smirk on Easton's face, "And yea, I've gathered there's a bit more of both than I remember as a kid."

"I do what you do, bud," Declan replies with a nod. "During the winter I focused on a handyman service, though. Made a killing on some busted pipes out east, broken heaters, that kinda thing. Terrible to talk about people's bad days that way, but that's my work." He takes a sip of his drink, nods a few times, then sets it down. "Just lined up a job at the Pourhouse, though. At least, I hope. Handyman stuff tapers off in the spring."

Declan adds: "How long you been out this way, then?" He focuses on Easton after his question, perhaps ready to make a judgment.

"Nice." Easton answers in reply about Declan being a bartender as well. He makes a half shrug with open arms gesture at the broken pipes and says, "Hey, someone's gotta fix 'em. And so long as yer not out actively installing shitty plumbing to later fix it? I think yer in the clear." He chuckles a bit at the thought that maybe he is out actively sabotaging people's pipes. He huhs, at The Pourhouse. He says, "Mariah's good people. But if you ever need extra shifts, we always could use someone to fill in here or there." Usually it's one of the waitstaff right now, and that's not great.

"I'm fresh meat out here. I've only been in town a couple weeks or so." Yes, fresh meat. The fact that he's slotting himself as possible prey is purposeful. "How about you? Another lifer?"

"Nah, only good pipes. They got this new stuff now. It's plastic and can expand up to the size of a softball and not crack. Ten times better than copper, and ten times cheaper. Well, maybe four times. Been using it for about a year now. Stuff's the best." Declan finishes about half his drink. "Yeah? Cool. Here." Declan pulls out his wallet, takes out a card, and hands it to Easton. "I've done just about everything there is to do service wise in this industry. I prefer bartending, but. You need a hand for a couple shifts or whatever, shoot me a text. Always looking for extra hours." Declan leans back, listening, quiet for several moments. "Yeah. Whole life." It looks like he might continue, but he doesn't.

"Pex. Sure." Easton didn't exactly grow up in a blue collar environment but his time in the corps and more importantly on leave with those guys opened up a lot of trade work and conversations. He nods at Declan and takes the card, "Sweet. I'm the only full-timer so I will definitely text if I need a weekend night off. There's plenty of other day shifts and stuff to pickup here or there too. And we'll be looking for more full-time people for the summer but I won't steal you away." He's not in hurry to piss off Mariah.

"So if I'm not interested in the rain, where might I pick up some more of the local history?" It's something that he keeps meaning to read up on, but the town seems to be actively getting in the way of that somehow.

"You know your pipes," Declan says with a smirk. His teeth are long and pearly white, but the smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Yep, you nailed it, bud. And yeah, sure. I'll keep an eye on my phone." Declan spins his straw, thinking for a moment. "Tough question. Mostly you find it in the rough places around town. Old men willing to tell a story or two. This town has its legends, I can tell you that." Declan thinks, eyes narrowing for a moment. "Sorry. Trying to think of a place where no one's likely to get stabbed." It's said as a joke. But... is it?

Making sure to park as close to the actual building as possible, there's still the rain to contend with within that short distance of walk. Thus, Byron steps into the bar with his umbrella up, a shield against Gray Harbor's constant rain to protect not only himself, but his female companion as well. As he's here on partial business, he's back to wearing his suit and tie again, that heavy coat worn over the ensemble to further keep the rain and chill out.

He's brought Vivian here on her first evening into town.. and the weather hasn't gotten better since then! Tapping out the excess wetness from his umbrella, with his arm around her waist, he guides her into the establishment towards the bar. In his arm, the one toting the umbrella, he's clasping his briefcase against him. "Any day now we're going to be blessed with the perfect picturesque spring weather that you see on brochures." He says mostly to Vivian, given her brief experience in this town as it is, but also he's talking to those at the bar as well.

"I'll have a glass of scotch." He turns to his companion now to see what she'd like to order.

"Yea, well don't ask me to actually do anything with 'em." He's handy enough to handle changing a light bulb. It's not a good look. He nods at the part about having to listen to stories and he's already started down that path a bit with Alexander. He hehs and says, "Yea, I've heard some." He hehs at the getting stabbed part, a bit late, but do Easter Bunnies count? He says, "I don't mind 'em on the rougher side, unless they aren't going to talk to outsiders, that just be a waste of time."

Easton is behind the bar, dressed in a black dress shirt, open at the collar and a pair of dark jeans. He pushes up from the counter when Byron and Vivian come in. He approaches and gives Byron a small nod of recognition and then nods again at his order. "Sure thing.." He gets to fixing that drink and Vivian's as well if she orders.

This is not a business trip for Vivian, but any night on the town requires a certain level of dressing up. For this foray out on the town she's opted for a black dress and matching heels, topped off with a bright red swing coat. "Will we?"

This is said with all the hopefulness of someone new to town, and the weather patterns. "Vodka martini, extra dirty." That is tacked onto the heels of Byron's order, a bright smile offered to Easton as well before she lets her attention drift towards others in the bar.

Declan chuckles after Easton speaks. As others arrive, he abandons their conversation for a moment and finishes his drink. There's not much left, and it's gone pretty fast. While Easton takes orders and makes drinks, he pulls his wallet and pays for his and May's, plus tip. As Vivian glances down the bar, he gives her a brief smile. Neither it or his attention linger.

To Vivian's question about the town's good weather, Byron just says uncertain himself, with that lift of his brows, "Let's just say that before I set an official date for the festival, that I consult a meteorologist for a weather report." This is then quickly tacked on, "Which will probably mean that there's still a good chance of rain still. I'm thinking the end of summer or at the start of fall. Definitely the latter for better atmosphere, but the last thing I need is for it to rain."

Declan gets a look from him as well and a subtle nod of acknowledgement, possibly knowing the guy from somewhere or other. This is a small town after all! Leaning over to set the umbrella down to allow it to dry off, he brings the briefcase to rest on the counter.

Setting down the scotch and extra dirty martini, Easton nods to Byron and Vivian. His eyebrow does cock up at the part about scheduling the festival though. He asks, "Please tell me this is some massive tourist thing." He indicates the nearly empty bar and says, "Rain, rain, rain and .. gloom." It takes him a while to find an appropriately normal word to use there. "Isn't exactly turning on the tourist taps."
Vivian gets a second look from Easton as he tries to see if he can place her as well from his childhood trips here. But nope, she doesn't look familiar to him as far as he can tell at least.

"Shoot me a text and I'll take you by someplace cool," Declan offers Easton when there's a lull in conversation. "It'll be real. I'm going to go see about my date." Byron's given a short. A moment later, he hikes the collar of his leather jacket up and ventures out into the rain in the direction May went.

"Doesn't it begin raining in fall again?" Vivian wonders, reaching for her glass when Easton sets it down in front of her. The question of tourism and business gets a very amused smile before she reaches for her drink. Its very clear that this might not be the first time that she's littered around while Byron attended to some business or other.

One hand lightly touches his arm before she turns around to lean back against the bar, letting him do his thing while she sips carefully at her drink and watches the mostly empty bar.

Alexander enters shortly after Declan leaves. He's dressed in an oversized dark blue sweater that hangs down almost to his knees (yes, despite it being June), and jeans, and old workboots. He's also carrying a carefully wrapped gift box. He frowns at the interior, and moves towards the bar, and Easton. He stops, for a moment, when he sees Byron and the unfamiliar woman. "Mister Thorne," he murmurs. "Easton." A look at Vivian. "I don't know you." It's suspicious and a little defensive.

"Funny that you should say," Byron says, looking slightly amused towards Easton when the bartender mentions 'tourists'. "I'd sent in a proposal to Mayor Addington for a weekend long festival and I just received the permits. This is a way for Gray Harbor to make a name for itself if it's successful. It could be an annual tradition." When his drink is set down before him, that smile broadens as he takes a sip, "Thanks." He then continues once his glass is set down and he reaches into his briefcase to pull out some papers which he slides over to Easton. "The theme? Carnival. Like in Venice. We'd like the whole town to get into the act, decorations, special menu items and what not. It /is/ an attempt to bolster tourism in town. Or to help gain some interest." The last part is murmured.

As he's going through the motions of this explanation to turn Gray Harbor into the Carnival of Venice for one weekend a year, he spots Alexander from out of the corner of his eyes right before the man utters his name in greeting. "Clayton." Then the man gets all weird around Vivian, so Byron is quick to respond, "This is Miss Vivian Glass, newly arrived from L.A."

"It never stops as far as I can tell.." Easton manages to say this out of the corner of his mouth to Vivian, but quietly as if he doesn't want someone or something to hear. It's not that he thinks the town itself will be angry if he badmouths it, it's just that it might be a very real possibility that he'd like to avoid. Looking up at Declan he declares "Absolutely!" about going out to a rougher bar. He's all for places he might get stabbed, so long as he has at least a 50/50 shot at also not being stabbed.

"Alexander." Easton nods at the newest arrival and asks, "A beer? Or something else?" He smirks at the rather abrupt, fine rude, greeting to Vivian that he's come to expect over the last few weeks.

"Nice to meet you ma'am." Easton provides just in case Alexander doesn't think so.

"Pleased to meet you." Vivian offers when she's introduced, her hand being offered towards Alexander first, then she glances at Easton at the ma'am, including him in her greeting as well. A quick sip is taken from her glass before she sets it back down on the bar behind her.

There is a look between Byron and Easton, then she turns the full force of her attention to Alexander so the other two can talk business. "I'm conducting a survey, does it always rain here?"

"Miss Vivian Glass." Alexander stares at Vivian for a long moment. Then jerks his head in a nod. "I'll remember that." Her outstretched hand is ignored as he continues to the bar, putting the box on the counter near Easton. "This is for you. Thank you. And a beer would be nice." His attention turns to Byron with a frown. "A festival. Lots of people we don't know. Wandering around. Getting lost. Is that a good idea, Mister Thorne?" His eyes flicker back to Vivian. "No, Miss Glass." A pause. "Only about seventy-five percent of the time, if I had to make a guess. It is very different from Los Angeles. Be careful."

"There's a good opening for decent weather." Byron says with a slight roll of his eyes at Easton's assessment of the town's propensity towards rain. The glass lifted to his lips, he says in a murmur before taking a sip, "I'm hoping to get the scheduling of this weekend just right."

Then Alexander brings up the fact that tourists might get lost, "I'll be speaking to the GHPD soon enough. The police force are on my list. As well as every and all businesses within town in the hopes to get sponsorship and their cooperation when it comes to festival time. I'm hoping to give Gray Harbor this mysterious allure associated with Carnival." He takes a deeper drink, then sets the glass down before him, "The mysteries surrounding our town could even help with that draw. But yes, costumes and masks galore. I've even talked Tobin into decorating his dinner cruise ship for the occasion."

"I love the idea." Easton is all smiles and positivity about the festival. Until Alexander talks and the reality of this town reasserts itself in his mind. He looks at Alexander and slowly, carefully asks, "Do strangers often get.. lost?" The look on his face shows that clearly he strained over that odd question as if trying to navigate something, with mild success.

He turns to Byron and gives him an openly appraising look when he talks about getting the GHPD involved as if Easton thinks Byron maybe missed the question. Especially when he talks about using the mysteries of the town as an allure. Easton's face remains composed as always, with just the slightest arching of the brow.

The gift from Alexander is picked up but not opened yet, he says, "Thanks, but at least let me buy you a beer to make up for 'my help' the other night." He's already pouring so Alexander's getting a beer one way or another.

Alexander's worry causes Vivian to look faintly suspicious, a glance briefly cast towards Byron before a hand slips into the pocket of her coat, "I've noticed that it is quite different than home. But so far, even with the rain, its been rather lovely here. I'm glad that I chose to move."

That comment does get a very obvious look towards Byron, as well as bla briefly fond look before she pulls out a slim case from her pocket, popping it open to draw out a slim business card that she then holds out to Alexander, "Doctor Glass, I'm looking to set up a practice here. That's my cell if you ever need to talk to someone."

Alexander stares at Byron. His eyes narrow to dark slits in his face. But rather than say the things that are /clearly/ percolating behind his eyes, he glances at the gift, takes a deep breath, and lets it out, slowly. "Be careful. Talk to Captain de la Vega. For security, if you think the police will be any help at all. Gray Harbor, statistically, has a much lower rate of tourism than one would expect, geographically and culturally. There are reasons for that, Mister Thorne, that have nothing to do with a lack of clever ideas." His voice remains soft, almost toneless. He nods, briefly, at Easton, and even accepts the beer without going all bristly! Progress? On the other hand, the offered card is looked at with deep suspicion, even as he takes it. "What kind of doctor?"

Easton doesn't hide the fact that he regards the card with interest, particularly as she mentions someone to talk to. Technically he's required to be seeing a therapist and it's been on his list of things to do alongside 'Not being stabbed' and 'Stop seeing dead people' but like those things he just hasn't marked it off yet.

He forces down a smile when Alexander actually accepts the beer. It's like the slightly mangey alley cat that he's managed to get close to without getting scratched! (sorry for the analogy Alexander).

"Let me grab the GM and she can get some details about this festival Byron. I think she'll be into it." Because making money is a good thing. Especially when the restaurant might be a cover for other activities and needs to have a good set of books to explain some other things. But shhh.

Oh, Byron had heard the mention of 'Lost', but he's not about to address it outright, especially in Vivian's company, even if he's sure Alexander will. So he took the most practical route for that particular question. He doesn't look over fussed when Alexander brings up just how terrible an idea this is. Instead, he casually tips his glass to his lips, downing the remainder of the content. "I'll make sure to contact him then. Thanks." Once the glass is set back onto the counter, he pulls out his phone to jot that little note down. "Don't get me wrong, Mr. Clayton, I know the stories told of this place," Even if he knows that not all of these are mere stories. "And I'll be looking to take any and every precaution necessary."

What kind, indeed. "Psychiatrist."

It's probably the most awkward thing a person can say, right?

"I'm looking to get a feel for the town, and you look like someone that might have a unique perspective on how this place works." Vivian glances towards Byron for a moment before she leans in Alexander's direction. "As much as I'd love to take all his time, I'm pretty sure that eventually he's going to have to release me into the wild to make my own friends. May as well start now, right?"

"Dr. Vivian Glass. Psychiatrist." Alexander repeats this tonelessly, although not without an accusing look in Byron's direction. VITAL information was left out of that initial introduction, sir! Then Vivian is leaning closer and he perceptibly leans back. "I don't have money for a psychiatrist, and you can't help me." So much for tact. He keeps the card, though, tucking it haphazardly in his pocket. At least there's a free beer, and he takes it, cradling his hands around the mug protectively, as he glances from Vivian, to Byron, and back again. "You can make better friends than me, Dr. Glass." A pause. "Did you come here for Mister Thorne? Seems serious." Is that a /smile/? It might be the ghost of one, at least, just at the very corners of his mouth.

Setting his phone down next to his now empty glass, Byron only then returns his attention back to his companion and Alexander's conversation, catching the look that the latter shoots at him and only returning something resembling a grin. "Vivian could have gone anywhere, to New York City, stayed in L.A. to open up her practice. But no, her kind heart and desire to help brought her here, of all places. I did bring up at some point after she'd already arrived that she'll have her hands full."

Byron taps at the counter for the backup bartender to go ahead and refill both his and Vivian's glasses. "A Scotch and Extra Dirty Vodka Martini."

"Do you need a psychiatrist?" Vivian wonders when Alexander is quick to point out that he can't afford one. The follow-up questions and Byron's comment about her being able to go anywhere brings an amused smile to her lips, "Byron had mentioned his home a few times in the past, and it's never been a good time to visit. So when I began looking for where to open a practice this jumped to the top of the list."

Vivian turns herself back around to face the bar, fingers lacing together, "So in a way I came here because of Mister Thorne." No comment on how serious or not serious that might be, though.

"New York City would have been better," Alexander says, bluntly. He takes a sip of his beer, his attention flicking back and forth between them like it's vitally important to keep an eye on them both. A close eye. He finally focuses on Vivian. "Probably," he says, after a moment. "Dr. Glass. Do you have something in particular you are looking for here in Gray Harbor? A Seattle practice would be more lucrative, and still be within visiting range. Crime is unusually high in the area, and unfortunate things happen to people here." He's the cheerful welcoming committee that Gray Harbor deserves.

With his newly refilled glass in hand, Byron echoes some of what Alexander just said, "I'd mentioned Seattle to her as well. Even told her that I actually enjoy the trip down to the L.A. to visit. At least I get to experience pure sunshine at some point in my life." The last part , spoken with dry humor. He won't answer for Vivian, but when he does turn to look upon her, curious as to what she thinks of Alexander Clayton, there's this fondness in his eyes when he smiles quietly at her, though his own thoughts go to these unfortunate things. Facing forward once more, he won't dismiss Alexander's dramatics, "Unfortunate things do happen, as they do anywhere," Okay, he doesn't completely dismiss it. "And I'm sure that there's a need for some to talk about it."

"What if I say that I'm not in it for the money? That I want to just help people." Vivian reaches for her fresh glass, looking over at Byron to smile at him, "Plus I really love being able to surprise Byron. Which moving here was a huge surprise." She assumes, at least. "But I'm not worried about the crime rate, and like Byron said, unfortunate things happen every where in the world."

Alexander looks at Byron. Voice as dry as the desert, he says, "There will be a point in the future, Mister Thorne, where this conversation will be remembered. The words 'I did warn you' may be involved. But," there's a heavy shrug, "Dr. Glass seems like an adult, who can make her own poor decisions. I wish you luck." He drains a good portion of his beer, before giving the doctor in question a skeptical look. "Medical school plus additional psychiatric residency are a long road to travel to just help people. Average psychiatrist salary is over two hundred thousand dollars a year." One corner of his mouth ticks upward. "Then again, that gets you a mansion in Gray Harbor, and half a studio apartment in New York City."

"Oh, I was terribly surprised." Byron says, swiveling in his seat for a half-turn to better face Vivian when he speaks, "After you pretended to be back in L.A., deciding on whether you should look into a job offer in New York? And then showing up at the Apartments just a minute later? You bet I was surprised." He'll make sure to add, "Not unpleasantly so."

"Mister Clayton," He says after an exasperated sigh and a sip from his glass, "I'm trying to help bolster the town's economy. People here are struggling and if this little venture helps alleviate some of those concerns, that's what I'm working on doing." He turns his chair back slightly, speaking to Alexander, "I understand your concerns. It's not something I'd forgotten." Even if he does feel some weight has lifted off his shoulders.

"Yeah, but mansions are empty and lonely if you're the only one living in them." Vivian points out, lifting her drink up for a sip from it before she sets it down, only to pick up the pick that the olives are skewered on. "You seem to know a lot about the average salary of a psychiatrist, Mister Clayton. "

There is undeniable pleasure that crosses her face when Byron points out that it was a good surprise. Bordering briefly on smug satisfaction that she'd pulled the whole thing off flawlessly. "Just wait until my next surprise. You'll remember why I'm the best." She has zero to add for the dangers of the town, but can add, "I think it'll be a great festival."

Alexander stares down into his beer. "I don't fault your intention, Mister Thorne," he says, tonelessly. "I hope it goes how you want." He turns to Vivian, studying her with a tilt of his head. "I read a lot, Dr. Glass." Another of those very faint smiles. "Don't worry. I'm not going to compete for your job." He finishes off his beer, pushes the mug away. "I hope that you are able to help people here, Dr." He stands, and walks away, without any sort of goodbye.