2019-07-20 - Of Drunken Reporters, Suggestively Named Houseboats, and Stripping While Sober

The (very early) morning after a Girl's Night where Jessica almost hit a giant over the head with a drink's tray, and she is making her way back home. On foot. And not really in a straight line so it's probably best she is not driving. She is definitely singing though. Loudly. 'The Conga' by Miami Sound Machine the song of choice, hips swaying to they rhythm only she can hear - even a few turns in there. It's perfectly safe to be wandering home at night, drunk, in Grey Harbor...right?

Lex... well, who the hell knows why Lex is roaming the streets in the middle of the night. But she does. And she is. The tattooist is dressed in a pair of black cargo pants and a baggy gray tank top that seems intended to drape off her shoulder to reveal the black bra strap below. The silver hair that was so notably pigtailed before has been left loose across her back, likely a bit tangled with the inevitable wind, and whether she's attempted to look presentable or not, tattooed make-up has a way of... forcing that. If one doesn't mind the pallor. Then again, who's sober enough to notice something like that?

"Woah..." she's drawling, more to herself than to Jessica, as a random turn has her coming within a block or so of the weaving journalist. "Christ." That curse is sighed, and jade-green eyes actually close for a moment as she schools herself, before booted steps quicken enough to catch up with the other woman. "Hey... dollface, you remember me?" Should Jessica fail to sidestep or otherwise avoid the nearness, she'd find a tattooed arm sliding around her waist. Supportive, rather than suggestive.

Strange arms suddenly appearing around her waist tend to get a cry of surprise from Jessica. So that's what greets Lex initially. Along with a confused look and a narrowing of eyes. She really has to think where she has seen the tattooed woman before; but that's more the drink than anything else. "Pigtails!" Jessica grins broadly as she makes the realization, even giving Lex a hug. "I remember you" she nods, slurring a little. "You don't have pigtails anymore" she pouts. "They were so pretty."

"I think I may be a teensy bit drunk" Jessica confides in a whisper, holding some fingers close together to illustrate the point. "The music is pretty loud. I should get them to turn it down." She is in jeans and t-shirt, hardly glamorous but she doesn't really do glamorous. "What are you doing out so late? Naughty" she giggles, now leaning into that support.

Pigtails. Yeah, it's probably going to be quite some time before Lex opts toward that hairstyle again. Nonetheless, she's offering in that humoring tone that one tends to use with the drunk, "Yeah, that's right... I had pigtails. Back at Eve's place." A pierced 'brow arches as she gets a hug, but she's hardly pushing the other woman away. If anything, she attempting to use Jessica's acceptance of her closeness to get her arm more properly around the other woman's waist, and hopefully, Jessica's arm around Lex's shoulders. That's the intention, anyway.

"Yeah, just a teensy bit," she agrees dryly, not bothering to conceal the roll of her eyes. "Where you headed, beautiful? 'cause... I think maybe you should show me." Right. That's exactly how it is.

"Those pigtails were so sexy" Jessica sighs as her arm goes around the other woman's shoulder. Thank goodness they are the same height. "I was going home" she grins. "I just came from a club." She says it like Lex should be impressed since Jessica barely goes to them. "I had a great time. Dancing. Drinking. Gosh, I soooo needed to take a break. I almost hit this guy who was bullying another woman there. Erin. Do you know Erin? I don't know Erin...but I know who she is." She taps the side of her nose and winks at Lex.

Jessica points down the road towards the sea. "I live down there." Her brow furrows and she points in a slightly different direction. "Or is it down there? It's a houseboat. How cool is that?" She giggles, "Do you want to come home with me?"

"I... don't know Erin," Lex notes, tipping a sidelong look toward her drunken companion. The nose-tap has her 'brow arching again, but she's not masochistic enough to ask for an elaboration. Instead, she's tightening her arm a bit around Jessica's waist. Judging by her speech, the alcohol-naive woman may go down at any moment. Or so Lex has deduced.

"Fucking houseboat. Yeah. It figures." Someone let the woman who lives on the water wander off on her own. Presumably in the very-likely-to-drown direction of 'home'. "I want to... get you home, yeah." Does verbiage even matter, at this point? "Maybe you'll be able to tell better when we get closer, mm?"

"Yeah...better when closer" Jessica nods solemnly, leading off her companion slowly and a bit waywardly. At least she doesn't stop to throw up. Yet. "You've being very kind, Lex" she smiles warmly as the scent of the sea starts to hit their nostrils. "Did you tell me why you were out so late? Oh...were you on a date?" She looks around as if expecting to see Lex's date following behind them. "I don't want to interrupt your date." A long sigh. "I remember dates. No...that's a lie. I don't remember them."

The scent of the sea, and perhaps the tell-tale scent of coconut shampoo. The stubborn cling of cigarette smoke, and even the hint of something strawberry. So many things to scent, just as she may feel the steady warmth of the artist's body -- a bit hotter than expected, perhaps, but not alarmingly so. The slight bite of her fingertips on the far side of Jessica's waist. Yes, there's much to sense, even if Lex offers little in the way of speech. Genuine speech, anyhow. "Not on a date, sweetheart. Just goin' for a walk." Because that makes sense.

"I'm glad you're not afraid to walk around at night" Jessica states with satisfaction, though she then drifts off a little. A sudden start and she is back. "I'm glad you're not afraid to walk around at night" she repeats, unaware of having said it before. She points to a squat little house floating next to a pier - much more house than boat. "There she is. The U.S.S. Honeybuns." Jessica is very proud of her little home. Particularly how it stays afloat. "Careful boarding. It looks like the sea is rough tonight." It is quite tranquil but to Jessica, it seems to be bobbing up and down all over the place. "Can you smell strawberries?"

"After sixteen years in this place, I don't know if there's much I'm afraid of much anymore," is Lex's dry response to Jessica's first words. And her second words, as it were, though Lex isn't bothering to repeat herself. Her step is slowing somewhat as they near the actual bay, and there's a soft snort from the tattooist as Jessica's announces the name of her 'home'. "Strawberries... would be my vape. Sorry 'bout that." She doesn't sound sorry. "So... how do we get you off the shore and onto... Honeybuns?" Apparently, Lex isn't familiar with this whole... houseboat concept. Houses are supposed to be on ground. Right?

"The pier" Jessica explains, pointing at the wooden structure that leads past her home. 'Honeybuns' is only about five feet off shore. Someone who isn't inebriated could jump the gap. Someone who is inebriated wants to jump the gap. "Or we could jump on!" she grins excitedly. "We should totally do that. I mean, who wants to live forever? Well...I do. Never could understand that saying. The strawberry smells nice. You smell nice" Jessica starts to move a little quicker now, eager to show off her athletic ability as she drags Lex with her. "Permission to come aboard" she grins to the tattooed woman.

"Oh, no, no, no... see, I got enough metal on... me that if I hit water, I'll sink like an anchor. Why don't we try that pier?" In truth, it looks like Lex could make the jump just fine. Or at least take a reasonable stab at it. Her inebriated companion? Not so much. "Thanks, doll," is her drawled response to the comment about her scent, though there's an undertone of amusement now. Her arm hasn't strayed from where she grips Jessica, and regardless of the reporter's drunken intentions to jump aboard her house, Lex is veering rather pointedly toward said pier. "Let's get inside. I'm sure it's gonna rain sooner or later."

"I wouldn't want you to drown" Jessica nods sagely, completely believing that taking the pier is for Lex's benefit. She staggers along, needing the support, before gripping both sides of the gangplank to make it onto Honeybuns. "Here we are" she grins, "Welcome to my home." A deep breath. "Smell that sea air. Warms the cockles of your heart. And really gets the sub-cockle region going too. Come on in."

They board a small entertaining area before Jessica opens up the door to the interior - it takes a couple of goes with the keys. There is an open plan lounge/kitchen/dining room with two doors leading off towards the bow of the boat. "The head is through there" she points to one door. "And the magic doesn't happen in there" she says as she points to the other. "Tea? Coffee?"

Sub-cockle region, eh? Up goes another 'brow, but save the dry amusement that now seems to dominate Lex's typically stoic features, she's not about to leave the drunken woman alone. Even if it does involve sub-cockle regions and a... free-spoken near-stranger. Hell, if given a glimpse of the situation, most would be concerned that Lex was doing the... well, whatever the hell this is. The part that someone just might get blamed for.

"Why don't I start us some coffee?" She suggests as they step onto the boat, glancing around the area for a sitting-type spot that she might settle Jessica into, while still being able to see the kitchen area. "Where do you want to sit?" Hey, what's the harm in asking for a bit of help?

"That's so sweet of you" Jessica beams as Lex offers to make coffee. A general wave of her hand towards the kitchen area of the large room. "Cups in the cupboard to the starboard of the sink. Tea and coffee in the cupboards to the port and up the mast. Umm, fridge...it's in there somewhere." She looks around and collapses onto the sofa in front of the entertainment unit. "I'll just be here. If you need any help, let me know. Okay?" It's in easy view of the kitchen and vice versa. "Hey! We should have some music. What music do you like?"

"Mmhm." Sweet. Lex's eyes are narrowing slightly as the other woman speaks in ship-lingo rather than standard directions, but after opening a few wrong cupboards, she seems to have found the path toward brewing coffee. It may take a bit, but at least it's on the way. And maybe a bit of soberness with it. The silver-haired youth glances back to Jessica at the mention of music, and there's a single huff of laughter. "Put on whatever you like, sweetheart. I got Pandora at the shop, and let the client's pick the stations. God knows I've been submitted to worse shit than anything you got..."

Jessica rolls off the couch and there is a thud as she hits the floor. She immediately leaps to her feet. "I'm okay! Bit of a wave there." There wasn't. She staggers over to the sound system, peering at it as she tries to figure out how it works again. "The tattoo shop? How is business going? I should totally get a tattoo. Tonight would have been a perfect time. Or is it morning. Ah..." Latin music starts to play, Jessica immediately back in dancing mood. And she's not bad; alcohol probably helps.

"A guy asked me to dress up like Princess Leia" Jessica suddenly blurts out as she sambas. "Is that normal? Come dance, Lex."

"Yeah, tattoo shop. Business has been okay. It sure as hell ain't Seattle..." She manages not to smirk when Jessica goes from couch, to ground, to feet. She did, after all, recover quite nicely. Lex herself has turned to prop herself against the edge of the counter, inked arms crossing idly over her chest. It doesn't seem an impatient or distancing gesture -- just somewhere to put said arms. And hands.

"Uh... that'd be normal comin' from a guy, yeah. Damn..." she appreciates after a moment, watching the woman dance solo as she remains firmly against the counter's edge. "You got some moves. I think I'm good just watchin'..."

A little pout at Lex not coming to join the dance but Jessica is soon getting back into it again. No twerking though - they hardly know each other. "What tattoo would you suggest for me?" she asks brightly, dancing her way slowly towards the kitchen. "Maybe Princess Leia?" she laughs before a quick shake of her head. "I'm kidding. So, you've been asked to dress up as Princess Leia too?" As she reaches the kitchen, Jessica stops to lean against the bench at catch her breath. "I love dancing" she grins. "You don't dance?" Jessica holds out her hands towards Lex. "Come on, I'll teach you some moves."

"I don't dance like.. that, no," Lex returns, though the 'that' doesn't sound disparaging. If anything, it sounds more like she's downplaying what dancing she has done. She's drawing a steadying sort of breath as Jessica makes her way closer, as there's a glance toward the still-heating coffee pot, before Jessica wins herself a pair of tattooed hands. Despite the near-constant work with her hands, the gloves and precision of tattoo coils have kept Lex's hands soft. With black painted nails, and a few tattoos extending past the wrist. She allows herself to be pulled away from the counter's edge, but doesn't seem to be doing any mimicry of Jessica's moves. Not yet, anyway. "I wouldn't tattoo you until you were sober enough to choose somethin' you wouldn't regret in the morning," she notes dryly, sounding now as if she has experience in the matter.

"I have dressed up as Princess Leia. My hair ain't always been silver, and my judgment ain't always been stellar." Because she's demonstrating such wise life choices right now...

"Princess Leia. Stellar judgement. I see what you did there" Jessica giggles, moving her hips to the rhythm while keeping hold of Lex's hands. "Just let the music flow through you" she smiles. "You're a beautiful woman with a great body. I am sure you're a great dancer if you just let yourself go. Let the music move you." Her brow furrows. "I think those are song lyrics." Jessica tries swaying the hands she holds to get the movement to flow through to Lex's hips.

"I am sober" Jessica proclaims before she decides she can't justify that statement. "Okay, when I'm sober. But only if you dance."

Lex's lips purse just a bit as she gets credit for the unintended link between stellar and Star Wars, though she's giving herself a slight nod of recognition as she considers the unintended cleverness. Hey, may as well take credit. Her eyes follow Jessica's movement with blatant disregard for decorum, though her 'brows are arching again when the other woman attempts to lure Lex into the movement herself.

"Baby, I'm wearin' too many clothes for the dancing I know how to do." If the reporter managed to suss out 'stellar' and 'Star Wars', certainly the implication is clear enough? "And as fuckin' gorgeous as you may be, I got some personal rules about sobriety and when clothes start comin' off..." Her tone suggests, yet again, that she speaks from some sort of experience. Experiences?

Despite her resistance to swaying, she is capturing Jessica's hand to lift above and around the brunette's head, attempting to twirl her in time with the music.

A twirl Jessica can do; and no throwing up! Rather a laugh as she spins. "Wait...are you saying you were a stripper?" An investigative reporter finds a little clarity when there are interesting titbits in the air. Though there is certainly no judgement in her tone. It is more like curiosity. "That sounds pretty interesting to me. I mean, I could never do it because I'm not the type of woman guys want to see naked. Though, thanks for the compliment. You are a woman with many layers, Lex. All of them interesting."

Jessica slows her dancing to a stop. "I better get some coffee in me. Oh...I never offered you a drink. You know, alcoholic. Would you like one?"

Jessica heads back into the lounge part of the main room but before Lex can even answer, she will hear the slow, regular breathing of a person asleep. The hostess face down on the couch, fast asleep.

"Hey... never said I was a stripper," Lex counters, likely relying on word-parsing when it comes to the drunken reporter. Tattooist and ex-stripper? What would people think. "And yeah... I got layers. What's that movie say? Like an onion. They'll make your fuckin' eyes water."

An eyebrow is quirked yet again at Jessica's offer, and Lex is offering a slow and uncharacteristic shake of her head. "No, baby... I think you've had enough alcohol for the rest of us. Why don't you dance some of that off, then we can get you nice and tucked in?"