2019-10-12 - Meeting by the Sea

There's a storm coming as the afternoon rolls in. Not quite here yet, but the waves crash more violently on the rocks, and in the distance one can hear the thunder and the occasional glimpse from lightning. The random fishermen and families making a quick trip to admire the autumnal beach have smartly retreated - except one. Gina is currently atop a picnic table, wearing black pants and a sleeveless, black-and-grey pinstripe top, buttoned all the way up with gold ribbon serving as a "tie," pinned in place with a... bird beak? Sure, why not. A black hoodie is tied around her waist, and her purple hair has been loosely bunned up while she holds up a camera and takes a few pictures of the sea.

Having been out for a bit of a run, Rick is making his way back in the general direction of his home now. Looking like someone a bit tired, probably from that run, his steps leading him over towards where Gina has placed herself. "Probably a good idea to head inside soon," he offers to her, with a polite nod and a smile. "Any good pictures?"

Taking a break from working at her grandparents restuarant and enjoy the view of the sea, before the storm comes in with full force. Humming a bit to herself. Looking towards Rick and Gina when she hear someone speaking. Raising a brow and watching them as she find somewhere to lean her elbows and look out over the area, taking a deep breath. Occasionally looking to Rick and Gina still. Perhaps curious as to what they are up to.

Gina doesn't bother looking at Rick at first. She's got the camera to her eye, and after a moment, as the wave crashes against some of the rocks, she snaps a picture. Only then does she glance towards Rick, "Stormy weather's the best time to go to the beach." Her eyes return to the camera, checking her photos, "And no, not really. I suck at photography." And yet here she is, camera in hand, raising it up to point at the roiling, shifting sky. "Lemme guess. You've only been in town a couple of years, if that." It's not a question. Gina's saying it as a statement, snapping another photo before she turns to look more fully towards Rick, eyeing him up and down. "Family in the area? Job change? Peaceful retirement?" Ouch.

"Well, at least you're taking photos. That's the most important thing, the effort," Rick replies, before he shrugs a bit at the guessing. "First part is true," he replies. "And I guess it was a job change as well, even if it took some years from the end of the last proper job before I got one here." A brief chuckle, "As for the other two, no, not any family in the area. And I don't believe in such a thing as peaceful retirement."

Grace does let out a soft amused sound as she hear Gina offering the different reasons Rick might be here for. Studying them a bit more, while she starts to stretch some. Trying not to look suspicious where she is, not too far away but enough to offer them the illusion of privacy at least.

Gina shrugs, slightly. "Thought so. I'm Gina Castro. Local. I know the storms. But best time to go to the beach is when it rages. Here especially." There's no particular warning in her voice, she just turns back to look at the sea and continues lightly, "By Committee, there should always be one person watching the sea." A pause. "Not me, by the way. I don't give enough shits." Her eyes travel sidelong, then, towards Grace, before they flick back towards Rick, smile increasing just a bit in a knowing sort of way, and then she looks back out to the sea, camera in hand.

Rick glances around, pausing for a few moments as he notices Grace. His gaze lingers on her for a few moments, before he looks back to Gina, offering her a brief smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Rick Carlson. And I must admit I'm a bit new to this particular ocean. Used to stay on the other side of the country, after all." As for the part about one person always watching the sea, he grins, nodding in Grace's general direction. "Perhaps that's her, then?"

Grace does smile to Gina as she looks her way, but averts her gaze. Looking to the sea. Especially as both Gina and Rick have noticed her. Still within earshot. "Oh, not sure if I am good at that, too restless." She suggests and grins. She does move towards them though. "Sorry, didn't mean to eavesdrop."

"Mmm. Maybe." Gina says, before she snaps off several photos, before she checks the images and deletes the ones she dislikes. She glances towards Grace again, brow rising, but the only thing she says in response is, "Yeah. Sure you are." Her tone is...reassuring, but there's something about that tone that borders on sarcastic without quite tipping over. "Can't really swim in this ocean. Too cold." Thin, sudden drips of rain fall, barely more than a sprinkle, and fade again, as if the sky is flicking water at the beach carelessly.

"I'm sure we'll let it pass this time," Rick replies rather easily at Grace's words, before he looks out to the sea again. "How about fishing?" he offers at Gina's words about the ocean being too cold to swim in here." There's a brief pause at the drips of rain, and he smiles. "There's something nice about such weather, though. As if it's trying to wash things away, leaving better things behind."

Grace does study Gina a bit at that, a curious look as she tries to read into the other girl's words. Rubbing at her arms some, "Dammit, forgot my jacket." Frowning a bit at herself. Though she does look ahead some as she let a smile return as the rain starts to fall. "Can be." She agrees about the weather.

Gina's words are about as easy to read as her expression: that is, pretty difficult. She's just a curious mix of distant, casual, and sharp, and she sounds like there's a hidden meaning to her words. Is there? Who knows. Maybe it's just the excitement of the stormy weather. What IS unambiguous is the eyeroll she gives Rick at his thoughtful commentary. "Seriously? 'Wash away'?" A small snort, before she looks towards Grace, then towards Rick. "If that's how you want to see it, I guess. You two know each other?"

Rick shrugs a little. "Depends on the day, really." That to the 'wash away' part, before he shakes his head. "No, I don't think we do," he replies. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he offers to Grace, realizing she probably overheard him when he spoke his name earlier.

Grace does snicker some at Gina calling Rick out for his attempt at what could be poetic observation. Shaking her head at the question though. "Nope! Just got here a week or so ago, working with my grandparents." She explains. "I'm Grace." She offers with a smile. "Nice to meet you both."

There's another little snort, but she allows the other two to introduce each other. They're both friendly people, after all! And much better at small talk than she is. So she steps a bit to one side, pulling out her phone to check, and then read and send off a text or two. A pause when Grace gives her name, perhaps trying to mentally place her in the Small Town Directory in every person's brain. "Grandparents?"

Rick smiles, "Thanks for making me not the newest person in town of the three of us," Rick offers a bit lightly to Grace, before there's some sound coming from his phone. Looking at it to check a message, he lets out a bit of a sigh. "I'm afraid I'll have to get going. It was a pleasure to meet you both. I hope we will meet again."

Grace nods to Gina's question. "Yeah. They run the Firehouse." She explains. Tilting her head. "Able to get anything nice?" Asked a bit curiously as she looks to the sea. A look given to Rick as well, "Happy to help." Though then the guy is heading out. Giving him a small wave. "Take care." Instead turning back to Gina. "So. I assume you have been around for a long time?" The way she greeted Rick sounded like it at least.

"Not what I wanted. But it wasn't as bad as it could be." Gina says, tone mild as she checks her camera, before she flicks it off and tucks it back into the satchel at her side. "Raised here. Left for school. Came back. I've been around a while. Gina Castro." In case Grace didn't here. The name holds a certain cachet around Teddy High graduates between '07 to '11, herself graduating in '09.

Grace nods and smiles as she listens. Not really knowing a lot about Gina. Having been focused on work and hobbies and just having run into Gina now. Rubbing her arms some to keep warm. "Fun to meet you Gina." Is offered with a bright smile. Stretching a bit more. "Do you often come out here?"

Gina's also not the easiest person to approach. She shades her eyes, looking skyward as the weather cools and the waves continuously splash loudly, a dull steady sound in front of them. The salty air is cold and the occasional breeze strong. "Think the storm might pass us. Her eyes go back to Grace, "I like the beach on storm days. Kind of sucks the rest of the time."

Grace doesn't seem to mind. Watching the sky and the waves as Gina does. "Fair enough. I do enjoy it at both times." A shrug though. "It just depends on what you want to get done." Arms crossed as she looks to Gina in response to her looking to Grace. "You do a lot of stormchasing?"

"Nope. Not really into chasing. Never really leave Gray Harbor for long. I just think the beach isn't worth visiting without a good storm." Gina's words remain casual - apathetically so, almost. "So you're one of the Firehouse Grandkids? Good burgers. Shit crowd. Grams and Pop are nosy as hell." They're not even YOUR grandparents, Gina! "Hear they're busy now. Lots of outside cops and firefighters coming in."

Grace nods and smiles, "Well, to each our own." She offers. As for the Firehouse, she smirks. "Perhaps, though you seem to be coming back there, so burgers must be great. My sis are making them nowadays, so will tell her that you like them." Basically just assuming she will return. "It has been quite busy, yes. Looking forward to when you show up again." Now that she knows who she is. Grinning some.

"I get them to go sometimes. Burgers are pretty good. Not the best. But pretty good. Usually when I get tired of the diner food." Gina doesn't explain what diner. Small towns. She rather assumes people will just learn about her ownership of the Grizzly somehow - because most do. There is, however, a slight smile on her face when Grace says she'll be looking forward to her visit - maybe only mildly tinged with condescension. "Sure you will." She drawls, ebfore she looks back to the ocean, her smile fading slightly when she looks back to Grace. "So how long've you been around Gray Harbor?"

Grace doesn't seem to know or mind. "Well, good. I'll get you some good brew after." She says and nods. Raising a brow though at Gina with that fading smile. "Oh, a few weeks?" Shrugging a bit. "Been looking around for good spots." Not explaining for what. Following her gaze towards the ocean. "So what do you do other than photographing and talking to random people?"

"Work. Chill. Drink. Walk. Not a lot to do in Gray Harbor but enjoy the views. Shit part is how many people are around these days." A point of fact. Gina is possibly, just possibly, not a people person. But she nods slowly at Grace's response, just once. "You've got family here. That's something, at least.'

"Repeat." Grace adds. Rolling her eyes some. "You just need to find a way to enjoy yourself despite it." She suggests. Tilting her head though. "And glad that it is something, at least." Watching Gina for a moment, "Want me to leave you to your own solitude?" Perhaps teasing the other some. But not seeming to mind sticking around.

"Yes. But since there's no storm left, evening is disappointed anyway." Wow. Blunt, Gina, Blunt. She pulls out her phone, sending out another text message. "You're one of those annoying friendly people who enjoy small talk. Not really my thing. I don't like people." And yet she owns a diner. Well, that diner IS the Grizzly. "You do you. If I'm sick of you, I'll leave." As simple as that.

Grace smirks at her. "Not necessarily. Just trying to get a grasp on you." She says and shrugs. An amused look on her face then, but not saying anything. Just standing there for now. Since Gina hasn't left yet she can't be bored with Grace, yet. "You don't have to like people. Though you are still interacting with them." She points out.

A small, amused smirk flits gently over Gina's face. Just a touch of amusement there, wry though it may be. "Not that hard, mini-Spice. I hate people. I enjoy bullshit only when it amuses me. The people I hate the least in town tell me I'm kind of a bitch. I own a business, I don't like being called a goth," Despite her wardrobe being 70-percent black, "And I don't mind the screaming in the quiet places." All this is said like she's reciting a grocery list or her favorite colors. "Oh, and I have two cats."

Grace tilts her head. "Not called you goth, and no clue if you are a bitch. Unless you are actually a female dog in disguise." Shrugging. "But give it time, I might think of you as a bitch." A teasing wink. As for being called mini-spice she just raises a brow. "Neat. I've got Winston, my dog." Is offered in turn. "He likes cats." A nod at that.

"Not really interested in your impression." Gina says with a nod, as Grace breaks down what Gina said. "Figured my good deed for the day would be saving you the trouble. My dad made me promise to listen to my therapist." Which is a convoluted bit of logic but Gina doesn't look like she's going to explain more. "You'll figure out your way around this town in a few more weeks. Hopefully before the Gleam falls."

Grace shrugs and nods. "Fair enough." Not seeming to be running away at least. Perhaps to Gina's dismay. Another nod about town. "Probably will." Cbecking her phone briefly before sending a text and putting it away. "Gleam falls?" Perhaps thinking she missed something.

To be fair, Gina looks... tolerant? Not enthused, but also not scowling or as if she'd like to rip Grace's head off or what have you. There's a small shrug at the query about the Gleam. "You'll learn about it in a few weeks. Days at most." gina says, reaching for her satchel to pull out her camera again, turning it on as she watches some birds circle about the ocean, crying out and swooping towards the sea. "You'll hear it, too. Or see it. You'll know about it if you don't know yet. The little sparkle that makes you want to talk to people like me. Friendliness doesn't have everything to do with it." The camera lifts up, aims carefully. "It's been restless. The town. Lot of new blood."