2019-10-06 - Inn Mates

It's not exactly a beautiful day outside here in Gray Harbor. But Easton's been couped up in the hotel room for nearly two days now and he can only take so much before that makes him even angrier so he's convinced Aidan and Baylee to at least let him go outside if he leaves his phone, keys and leg in the room with them. He did not say anything about his flask though. And that is what brings Easton to be sitting on the side of the jacuzzi, wearing tiny green PT shorts, his feet in the water. He's wearing a tank top that shows off a wide array of bandages around his shoulder and his chest. A lit cigarette in his mouth and a flask sitting on the edge next to him he's a picture of good habits and life choices sitting outside in a light drizzle in October. His crutches are leaning against the side of the jacuzzi, which is warm not exactly hot but good enough to keep him warm in the light rain.

Easton's joined a few minutes later by a man who's made some equally poor life choices in opting to be outside tonight. Rather than slide into the jacuzzi, he opts to crouch at the edge of it, next to where Easton's perched. Smoke from his cigarette trails into the chill air, dark eyes squinted a bit as if to keep the rain out of them. He's dressed in a tee shirt and jeans, inked arms draped over his knees as he settles into that crouch. "What the fuck are you doing here, Marshall?" is what passes for an abrupt greeting.

The approach of someone over his shoulder is noted but willfully ignored. Easton is here to heal, to be alone and to not murder anyone. That last one is really the crux of the matter which normally isn't a problem. However when someone comes into his space and crouches down, he's already annoyed. He turns at the voice, but instead of barking back and telling whoever it is to fuck off he actually breaks into a grin. "Gunny! What did Sutton do a poor job of hiding the keys?" Yes, he was aware of his fellow guarded would-be-murder-buddy. "Me? I'm just living the fuckin' dream." The sarcastic response comes out at his usual bellowing volume before he lowers his voice to admit more honestly, "I'm laying low until we can put this bastard to rest and not feel like cutting open throats and making designs with the arterial spray sound like a fun arts and crafts activity."

Ruiz answers the grin with a considerably more subdued smile; slight and fleeting, though the memory of it lingers in the spidery lines that fan out from the corners of his eyes. "She's swinging by the club after work. I've been stuck in-" He grunts as he takes a more proper seat at the edge of the jacuzzi, knees bent and boot heels hooked on the lip of the tile. "-that fucking room for a week. Which is enough for anyone to start contemplating murder. Where's Bennie?"

Easton takes a long drag off the cigarette and grunts in agreement about being stuck in the motel room. "Seriously. I've only been here two days and I'm ready to tear it to the ground and murder whoever is watching fuckin' disney movies at two am." To his credit he doesn't actually sound like he's going to go through with that. He just has maybe thought about it a bit. Okay a lot. The question about Bennie, gets him to look at Ruiz with as blank an expression as he can manage. "Somewhere else?" He opens the flask and takes a drink before offering it towards Ruiz. "She caught the brunt of murderghost, I .. " He decides he needs another drink and doesn't finish that sentence yet.

Ruiz should probably affect some sort of disapproval when Easton implies that he assaulted his girlfriend. He's a cop, after all. But the only emotion that flits across his eyes is shame. His brows furrow, and he reaches for the flask that's offered. A pause, a sniff, and a tentative sip. In case it's something disgusting like bourbon. "I hurt Sutton." The admission's made quietly, tension snaking into his shoulders, and eye contact eschewed as he hands the flask back and chases the sip with a drag off his cigarette. "We need to get that fuckface in the ground."

Nooo it's not bourbon, that'd be ridiculous. It's whiskey. Totally different. Except to those who don't like bourbon in which case there is likely very little difference. He knows that Ruiz was locked up because he attacked her, or something to that effect so he's not exactly surprised by the admission. He doesn't look at Ruiz, just stares off and nods, "I heard." There is obviously no judgement there, just sadness. He used to joke and laugh about how screwed up this town was, not so much right now. "Agreed. Isabella found a place to bury him. We just need the coffin and the sacrifices. And to not get so damned pissed off we light the fucker's body on fire or something stupid." He takes a drag off his cigarette before looking at Ruiz and saying, "And by we, I mean me. In case that wasn't clear."

There's a soft snort from the captain when lighting bodies on fire is mentioned. "I've entertained thoughts of a whole hell of a lot worse than that," he murmurs, flicking some ash from his cigarette behind him, so it doesn't pepper the water in the jacuzzi. "I believe Roen and that Addington woman were working on a coffin. Someone should find out how that's coming along." He pauses, glances up at Easton. "Is Bennie..?" Hard to say what he's getting at with that one. Is she all right? Has she left town? Broken up with him? Hard to say.

"Believe me, I wish to hell he'd show up again like he did in the bar. I would love nothing more than to break every single one of his bones with my fists, then show him how to use a proper knife." Easton doesn't need much encouragement right about now to talk about the joy he would take in hurting Ghoul. He's well aware that it's skating a thin line but he doesn't care. "It's a fucking box? How long can it take?" Easton, who has never built anything in his entire life, has lots of thoughts on this.

The pause and the glance at least give him some warning. The question doesn't take him entirely off guard. "She's okay. Just bruised and scared shitless and hurt, once the fuck again." He takes another drink before admitting, "We haven't talked since. I can't." Can't? Won't? Doesn't trust himself? Is to freaked out about the possibility of hurting her more? There's a lot wrapped up in I can't.

"No disagreement here," opines the captain with a bit of a scowl, then pulls smoke into his lungs with a vengeance, tumbling the stuff on his tongue for a moment or two before exhaling steadily. They've been parked out here in the rain for a little while now, and his hair and eyelashes are dark with it. "I'll get Sutton to give her a call. Si?" His hand closes over Easton's shoulder, warm and solid. Gives it a bit of a shove before he pushes back to his feet slowly. "Time," he murmurs. "Give it some time." No pithy promises about it fixing anything. No it's going to be all right. Just that. Give it time.

Easton blows out an exhale through his nose, in agreement at how much they would enjoy a chance to inflict back some pain on Ghoul. Easton's likewise gotten quite damp out in the rain, his shirt and bandages lapping up the moisture. "I already had Sutton check in. And others. But she's insisting it's fine, that she's fine and it's bullshit." He looks at the hand on the shoulder and a half smile turns up one side of his mouth. "Yea." Time. It's not the worst advice. At least it's honest. When the other man stands Easton asks, "You doin' okay? I mean, I know about.. but, otherwise?"

Ruiz is already tugging his phone out of his jeans pocket, and swipes his thumb over the screen to clear it of drizzle before composing a message. "Then she can check in again. No man left behind, si?" His dark eyes flick to Easton's, like he's daring the man to challenge him on that one. Then away again when he asks his question. His lips twitch like he almost wanted to say one thing, then changed his mind. "No," is what he offers eventually. "I'm not." Fading bruises decorate his cheek and arm, deep gouges in the latter that are well on their way to healing. But it's the weariness in his eyes and slouch to his shoulders that's most telling. "You message me if you need anything, all right?" The phone's shoved back into his pocket.

"No man left behind." There's a gratitude that Easton manages to convey in repeating it back. Thankful that if he can't check in on Bennie directly that others are more than willing to do so. He gauges the police captain as he considers his answer. The overall effect between them is pretty similar overall, both in rough shape, both pretty beaten down. Though Ruiz is always more lowkey than Easton so it might be slightly harder to tell, Easton knows him well enough. "Same, I'm right here if you need anything Gunny. I ain't going anywhere until this is over and we can move the fuck on."

The older man regards his fellow ex-Marine steadily, eyes slightly squinted against the rain. He waits until he gets confirmation of that bottom line before backing up a step. "Neither am I." Going anywhere. He works his jaw slightly. "We'll get through this. Nos vemos luego, capitan." Two fingers ticked off his temple, a slight smile, and then he turns to make his way back toward the hotel proper.

The rain makes looking up at Ruiz kind of awkward but Easton squints through it. He nods at the sentiments and sticks the cigarette in his mouth to return the salute.