2019-09-10 - Birch, Please!

Joey is everything people ever expected him to be: up to no good, not very refined, and still living in the same damn place with a 3 year detour at County for a penitentiary B&B. He is, however, also good to his word. Usually almost all his words are angry words, and to be fair he's pretty fucking good to those too.

The sound of the HD 880 Iron pulls up in the lot outside and the engine cuts. How the hell he manages to drive a carry out container and two coffees in hand in one of them carry containers and drive a bike is fucking wizard bullshit. He does, show up as promised: shiny, and with his t-shirt slung through the back of his belt rather than on. The promise was breakfast and a show.

As we said, he's good to his word.

Calloused knuckles rap against the door frame peering side now that he's returned seeing if she's managed to move from her spot where she was left last. To that extent he just lets himself in since she said it was unlocked. That translates to don't be an inconsiderate fuck and make me get up twice in Joey language. "Nicole?"

"Yeah, hey, I'm here." Nicole is sitting on the couch in her living room. The trailer park is home to a wide variety of trailers, and Nicole's is one of the unique ones, being a restored and renovated 1953 Vagabond. It's like a tiny home in space it offers, but it's cozy and Nicole is a bit attached to it, having done some of the work herself. Outside, dark blue is the dominant color, with white accents about. She has a small garden in her 'yard' and plants hanging from a pergola that provides shade and gives her a bit of outdoor living space. Inside, there is wood nearly everywhere, with more blue, gray, and white accents in furniture and such. The couch she sits on is a plush smokey grey, accented with various pillows in grays and blues, and despite its small size, looks comfortable.

She had time to fix herself up a bit after texting with Joey. She didn't go all out, but managed to wash up, brush her teeth and toss her hair up in a ponytail. She wears a seafoam green ribbed tank and a loose fitting pair of white cotton pajama pants, wide legged (as much of her clothing is) with pale grey stripes. No shoes upon her feet. The ponytail and the fact her feet are bare show off a couple of tattoos, subtle and feminine in style. They almost seem to match, both consisting of a curving vine-like structure from which bloom star-shaped flowers, though the one behind her ear is, of course, smaller and done in a henna style. Still hungover, she looks tired but smiles when he walks in.

The smile only grows when she sees that he is indeed sans shirt and with what appears to be baby oil on, making his skin a bit shiny and his muscle tone stand out. "Wow... you weren't kidding." She laughs, but the look in her brown eyes as she stares just a little bit is proof that she appreciates what she sees. "You're awfully sweet for bringing me food and stuff. Come in, get comfortable."

Joey gives her her own dance in the most unnecessary of ways and turns the cup carrier around to let one coffee cup face her. "That one... is yours." Life is entirely about getting what you pay for, and the entertainment. He murmurs dismissivly at teh notion that it's sweet "Don't let that get out. They might try to commit you." He hits the other end of the space to grab her a damn plate and get things out of the box and free up his drink from its cardboard prison.

He hands it to her and pulls his shirt from his belt and sets it unceremoniously on the table and has a seat on the couch. Behold, pancakes and bacon procured. "I'd ask how in and how comfortable, but eat your pancakes." That faint smart-ass grin has not changed like he's vetoed aging or something. He drinks his coffee and watches her take happiness from 20 min of work and a simple effort. "I know you had a long night so I'll take a rain check or like a no. That's cool. I was thinking for serious taking a ride and thought you might wanna go."

Gratefully taking the cup he directs her way, Nicole brings her legs up to sit cross-legged in the corner of the couch. "I promise, it will be our little secret. I have evaded being locked up for one reason or another this long, I hope to remain free for a while more yet." The kitchen is -right there- which makes it easy to hold a conversation between the two areas. The cupboard doors have been replaced with glass fronts, making finding a plate challenge-free. When he returns, she takes the plate, setting the coffee on a small table nearby. Settling the plate upon her lap, she lifts up a piece of bacon with her fingers and takes a bite. "Oh god..." she murmurs while chewing. "This is exactly what I need. Thank you." With a lopsided grin she sends a wink his way. "Might want to pull down the blinds for more comfort." Stuffing a bite of pancake in her mouth, she stares at him a moment before she remembers to chew and swallow. "Raincheck? Fuck no! I'd love a ride! It's a gorgeous day out." Shaking her head she murmurs, "raincheck, my ass. No way... you offered, I'm going."

Joey retorts with amusement at her abundant joy, "Shit. Been called worse." Totally stealing a god compliment. He slouches to lean sideways against the back of the couch, coffee in hand. "What can I say I'm a regular people pleaser." Yeah. Sounds all the world like it. Those words may not mean what he thinks they mean. Still he gets up and puts the blinds down on... no... the second try. Amused he corrects, "After the last 14 hours I dunno I know how that was intended but I'm kidna dyin to find out either way." He does return back and counter, "I offer a lot of things and 2% tend to actually get called out so I ain't assuming. But. I thought maybe cause you were in Arizona or a pretty fuckin long while living in a yurt laying low from the cops for stealing an armored milk truck or whatever," He waves his hand like that isn't the important part of that sentence, "I thought you might like to head down 101 with me on teh bike and go see all them leaves you been missin out on. We're at peak right now."

Her grin is sardonic after studying him a moment. "Oh, you want me to call you God? We're not quite to that yet, but... this certainly brings you one step closer." She takes another bite, continuing to eat the breakfast he brought her while they talk. With amusement, Nicole watches him with the blinds, not at all offering to help him. The tip of her tongue pokes out to tease the top corner of her lip as she smiles, intrigued. "The last 14 hours have been something, for sure... You kinda saw me at my worst, and yet, you bring me pancakes. I suppose you could say I am curious to find out myself." After finishing almost everything on her plate, she sets it aside and reaches for the coffee again. "Wait... don't tell me you've offered to personally delivery pancakes, coffee, and bacon -while half naked and rubbed down with baby oil and people have not taken you up on the offer. I am not sure I can believe that." She unfolds a leg, pushing at his gently with her toes. His words about Arizona though cause her to freeze for just a moment. "Something like that..." she murmurs before her eyes grow big. "Oh damn... really? See the colors on your bike? Where do I sign up?"

Joey holds up a finger, "I didn't say it. I'm just stealing it. I'm willing to work with yet." Hey he is very willing to work with 'yet'. She doesn't believe someone would turn him down like that and his only counter to that becomes agreement in the disbelief, both hands in the air, "I know, but the judge wouldn't go for it and went on about something having to do with escaping and parole violation, blah blah blah." Seems he does have a sense of humor hidden away somewhere.

When she freezes about armored milk truck theft he pauses and admits, "Hey, Geoff and I both did just short of a nickel for some shit that needed to get done. Whatever your shit is I'm the last god damn person that gets to judge you." If anyone is looking for someone entirely ambivalent to these things look no further!

He's watching as her eyes freeze and go wide. Disco. Hey even he likes surprising people in not the bad way. Casually he plays it of with a small bounce of a nod. "Eeeeh they look real pretty and shit. Thought it might, in light of things, be kinda a nice welcome back to Grey fucking Harbor. I mean... it's got its moments. I thought you might like one of em."

"Yet is one of my favorite words, because, good or bad, it keeps your mind on potential. It hasn't happened yet, but it could. Of course, other factors can come in, making the 'yet' disappear.." Nicole philosophizes. "But, in this case, the good side of yet is still there." When he speaks about the judge not going for Joey's promises, she laughs, turning to sit more sideways towards him with her cup in hand. "Okay... okay. You've proven your point. Maybe not everyone will take you up on your ideas, but so far, I am not regretting that I have." She is a subtle flirt, but maybe with the way she smiles at him as she says it clues him in.

"Ah, yeah.. Geoff." It's said with a slight scrunch of her nose. "He seems to have changed a lot. Says prison made him realize how much of an asshole he used to be." She shrugs but then looks at Joey. "Were you guys in for the same reason?" She takes a sip of her coffee then sets it on that table beside her plate, folding her hands in her lap as she looks at him. "I appreciate you not judging me for my crimes. Sometimes... sometimes... a girl just needs some milk for her milkshake."

She flexes her arms, straightening them as she smiles with some excitement. "I haven't been out to see the colors, like, just for the sole purpose of enjoying the day in forever. Once. I think I did it once. Joey?" She smiles and leans closer, which, granted, in this small space of the couch is not that far. Her lips brush against his cheek softly before starting to settle back again. "If you are my Gray Harbor welcome wagon... well..." Her eyes travel over his still shirtless chest before she finds his green eyes once more. "I am a lucky woman to have returned when I did."

He's still stuck on the yet which is not a no or even Get off my porch, I'm calling the cops. Baller. The coffee gets set down and he leans over arching an eyebrow picking up what she's putting out there. It takes a minute as Joey is not a subtle creature by any appreciable stretch. That offer hangs there unspoken, but that hint of a smile is already up to no good.

"You want me to sit here talking, and f'that matter thinking about Geoff." That she's digging taking a fucking ride ripping through the wooded coast seems to score major points. "Or you want me to not talk, and just think about you?" His eyes follow her back, letting her take all the damn time to look she wants. He ain't shy and this is her breakfast show after all. "Cause lemme tell ya, I can do that all god damn morning easy." And likely would have offered to have started earlier when he brought her home in a regrettably non-human colour. If only. And instead of beating around the bush he opts to hack it down as he closes the distance to kiss her keeping that ear out for the decline, but barrels forward as if the Apocalypse might hit in the next hour.

It's Gray Harbor. It very well could be!

Funny thing about the word 'yet'. It is one letter off from 'yes'. Nicole smiles at Joey as he talks, shaking her head in reference to if she wants him talking and thinking about Geoff (or anyone else for that matter in the moment). That smile grows wider when he asks his next question. Seems Nicole's 'yet' is definitely turning into a 'yes', which becomes plainly obvious when the less subtle Joey leans in for that kiss. Objections, declinations, any signs of 'no' or 'stop' are completely absent. His lips meet hers and she slides an arm around his nicely oiled self, pulling him towards her as she leans back a bit as her lips part to invite a deeper kiss.

Given the lives they have lived and the fact this is Gray Harbor, they both know better than to squander moments away that could bring some level of joy. And the way Nicole shifts and begins to curl one pajama-covered leg around his means she is not letting this moment pass by without savoring what it offers.

So...

Pancakes...

Sure pancakes happened.

What also happened is the sun eventually hits about 12:30 in the sky and there's still a whole damn day is ahead. Coffee complete though he does advise, "Wear a jacket. It's September and it'll get cold once we hit the 101." Stepping out onto the porch he gets a good look around and asks her, "So you said somethin about Curl Up & Dye... the shop not, like Bitch, I'm a cut you if you don't get off my damn porch. You own it now?"

And delicious pancakes they were.

Now freshly showered, still-wet hair pulled back into a braid to make for hopefully not Witch Hazel-like riding hair, Nicole is dressed and ready to go, wearing a faded black pair of not-too-tight jeans, black combat boots that look well worn, and a heather gray tee bearing a skull made of black lace on the front. "Jacket, right..." She steps back inside for a moment, coming out while slipping her arms into the sleeves of a black leather jacket. "I think if I were to cut a bitch, that would have happened earlier." She winks at him then continues. "But, yeah, Betty wanted to retire and well, she took a liking to me I guess. I offered her a chunk up front, my savings, and pay her every month until it is all paid off. Sort of lease to own I guess. Won't take me too long, way business is going, and now I can start working on fixing it up a bit more... modern. I plan to do as much of the work myself that I can." She's seen his bike before, but, she wasn't fully sober (not even a little bit) last time she saw it. "This is yours? Bad ass bike!"

He's got little but he's proud of what he's got., and this bike is easily the nicest thing he owns. Sure he's got the car but it's in need of some body work ad parts which will take some time. The Harley 880 Iron though is his pride and joy. Not expensive but the machine shows well and Zoe's taken damn good care of it for him. Black and chrome with that yellow body like an angry hornet or the world's pissiest Huffelpuff. The comment about violence on the porch earns an amused grin. "Yeah looks a little different in daylight. Soon it'll probably be too cold and wet to ride it buuuuut that day,"

"Got it on trade helping out one of Felix's friends." Joey's one of the few people who likely thinks of those requests fondly, but he's got a skewed view of the situation. "Old lady lost her son like 38 or somethin and needed help. It was sitting in her garage a while so I did some work for her and she paid me in this since my car was dead at the time and it wasn't doin her much good. Sweet gal."
Flicking his fingers in an invite he climbs on and lets her get a look and get comfortable. "You know Jaime does some fuckin good finishing work. Shop Class hero and everything but if you can use a couple extra hands lemme know. I got people with too much damn time who might... be able to help you out with that when your'e ready."

Nicole runs a hand over the sleek yellow gas tank, fingers grazing it in a caress before Joey hops on. "That day," she says, "is not today." Smiling, she watches the boxer get on. She cannot keep the flirtatious look off her face as her eyes scan up from boot to green eyes. "Sounds like you helped each other out," she says about the story of the lady who lost her son. "You did work for her, and she provided transportation to you. Not only that, but, I bet she had some sense that she was giving something her son loved to someone who would appreciate it as well."

At the finger flicked invite, Nicole sets one hand on Joey's waist while swinging her leg over the machine as her other hand seeks out the opposite side of him. It is not the first time she has ridden, but it's been awhile. She gets her feet set, legs on either side of him and slides her arms around him a bit more, resting her chin on his shoulder for the time being. "I might have to take you up on that and talk to Jaime. I like doing shit myself, but... help is also good too."

Joey grins with a wink back at her promising, "Is not today." He keeps the heavy bike still as she gets situated, those sharp eyes watching her , and taking his damn time enjoying doing just that too. Life is good some days, even in Gray Harbor. "Eh I'm a sunnovabitch but turns out an alright neighbor." The wink gets a bit of a grin and a lot of amusement . He glances over his shoulder on the sly. She's pleased. life win #2 for the damn day. "You good?" Because telling someone to hold in is not only moot it's arrogant to think they ain't figured that shit out yet. Likewise as an agent of Natural Selection it's just not a habit.

The bike starts and boots to dirt get them turned around. With little ceremony to it he heads out around the downtown the long way. Frommer's Fun Fact: Trees are not where buildings are. It's scenic dammit. That's the point to go look at some fucking pretty leaves and shit. Fuck yeah, Nature! It's a good thing the ride came with a warning because under 80* the air likes to cool off damn fast. Is that a ploy? Give her a reason to huddle up with him? Maybe, but PNW can be rarely beat as the sky explodes in reds, orange, purples, greens and golds through the trees. "So this shop, tell me what you wanna do with it."

Life has its moments of good, indeed. "Too bad we're not neighbors," Nicole says with a grin. "But you're still alright in my book, you sunnovabitch." Giving Joey a nod, Nicole indicates, "pretty damn good. Amazing, really." She laughs then amends, "Yeah, I'm good." Her arms squeeze just a little tighter, hands pressing to his core for extra... let's call it precaution.

When the book starts, that unmistakable thrumming sound of a Harley's engine, Nicole's eyes grow as big and bright as her smile. Who doesn't like riding on a bike? Okay, perhaps some people don't like riding bitch, but she is not one of those people that minds. Besides, it gives her an opportunity to hold him close. Let's be honest, that's what she is looking for at this point, opportunity, not reason. She watches the scenery go by; from trailers to buildings, and into the wide open, tree-lined roads. It does get cold at this speed, and her fingers curl against him to keep a bit warmer. "Gorgeous..." she whispers as they colors start to take over their view. "We'll have to stop at some point so I can snap some photos for my insta." Shop talk! "Oh... just, it's old and dingy now.. just, really outdated. I want to bring it more modern, but with a kind of industrial feel. Something that will appeal to male and female clients. Raw brick, wood, black accents... But in a way that is not cold, but warm and inviting."

Joey answers easily, "Well I ain't against visiting if that helps?" The eyebrow goes up but as charming as his company is his eyes stay on the damn road. Hell, opportunity there is a plenty; uncontested and thoroughly enjoyed opportunity. With the request to stop at some point he offers, "Shit there is a ton of road and no quota. You tell me when to stop and we'll do it, lady." He might be a lot of things, but sometimes, just sometimes, he can be damn decent company. "This is your welcome home. I mean you want to look at stuff I'll turn around and tell the trees to pick that shit up if the leaves hit the ground before we get there." For her he'll fight nature. Why the fuck not.

The compliment gets a laugh, "Aww ya noticed?" Yeah he'll steal that too because it's funny. Up ahead there's a nice wide shoulder and an exit ramp. He opts for the exit ramp and gets off the interstate to take some of the back roads through the hills. "Well I know a couple scrapers. I'll see if they got some stuff that might fit to give you first crack at." Not a gift, but a favor of convenience which isn't too great an effort. "I mean I know you want to do everything yourself, but that doesn't mean you can't delegate some stuff too for the sake of timeliness and less downtime on your shop." As a fellow business owner he can assure uptime is key. On the other hand he doesn't have to offer her possibly useful connections at all, but he is. Consider him motivated.

As the road hits the edge of the hills he stops on the side shoulder and parks the bike so she can get her Instagram pics of the whole valley there. He holds the bike steady while she climbs off to go look and follows. "Maaan it's like a bowl of fruity pebbles from here isn't it?"

"Then visit," the hairdresser says. "Often. Let me run my fingers through your hair." She smiles, peeking over his shoulder at him. It's not enough to distract him from the road, but enough of a gesture to make him know she did it. Joey's willingness to fight nature to make her happy only gains him more points and a brighter smile as she lays her cheek against his shoulder to watch the trees speed by; her arms only squeezing him tighter.

Laughter bubbles up from Nicole as he steals her own self-compliment. "I mean, yes, you are too. best damn pancakes I have ever had. Ever." Once on the back roads, the trees sneak in closer to them. Peeking over his shoulder then to better see the scene. "Thanks," she says at the promise to have his people give her first crack at some things. "Yeah. I am hoping for as little downtime as possible. That's why I planned to do bit by bit instead of one fell swoop. Business has been pretty good, but, since I gave up my savings in order to have the place... yeah." He can't see it, but her expression is one of being grateful.

It doesn't compare though to the look on her face when they eventually stop at the top of a hill. She sits there for a moment, arms still around him and looking around at the beauty of nature in the Pacific North West. Another laugh, followed by a nod as she does start to dismount, booted feet landing in the dirt. "It kind of does. I'll make that one of my captions in your honor." Her braid has kept most of her hair contained but of course, there are wisps that the wind from the ride has worked free. They blow across her face now in the breeze and she tucks one bit back behind her ear as she studies him on his bike. She's no professional, and as mentioned, most of her money has gone towards the shop these days, so her camera at the moment is merely her phone. Her first shot is of him upon that hornet of a bike with the colorful trees and valley in the background. "That one," she says, "is for me." Smiling, she swivels on a boot heel and starts to take pictures of the colors, and on a piece or two of something interesting on the side of the road.

"Visit?" He asks and considers the rest, "Well you can mess with it all you want but not while i'm driving. I don't want to hit a tree." He's not so proud to admit that it may result in accidents and loss of much needed limbs.

Parked. Stretching and amused he admits, "Yeah, best damn pancaked in a while. You think I should close the gym and work for GrubHub or hold off?" Oh, someone has a sense of humor buried under the leather and aggression. Who knew? But then she's turning her camera on him and he looks away and back with an incredulous look like really?? but asks, "For you huh? Then I'll have to do my Jaime impression. How's it look?" Yup. Still a smart ass.

Still her joy is palpable and curiosity brings him over to rest his chin on her shoulder and look, his hands getting stuffed in her jacket pockets. "Those are coming out real good. You' photographer?" Eyes shift back to teh leafy valley of fruity pebbles appreciating that too, but not moving. It's a good spot. "So if that one's for you who are the rest for?"