2019-10-15 - Do I know you?

Not being as stupid as a few days ago, Grace is actually in a jacket today. Workout clothes from the look of it, yoga pants and all. Though she isn't just walking around and calling it training. She comes running in a good pace from where the park is and towards downton. Leaping over some benches and off the wall to avoid some people on the street.

Speaking of people on the street, here's one now: James, barely taller than Grace by an inch (and maybe it's just the boots he's wearing that give him even that), slouching about in a completely unassuming way, the mop of red hair and his rather unkempt beard the only things that might stand out, otherwise, he's in his usual non-descript getup: well-loved if somewhat baggy jeans, and a dark blue hoodie. He's walking around at a far more sedate pace, his eyes somewhat distant, as if seeing this place for the first time... or at least the first time in a long, long while. Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, he jumps back with a slightly undignified yelp when Grace happens to leap over a bench next to him.

Grace does notice the reaction as she leap over the bench. Instead of running off jumping back to sit down next to him. "Sorry." Trying to catch her breath some. Some sweat running down her temple. Though it is quickly brushed aside, trying to be able to look presentable. "Didn't mean to scare you." Tilting her head some, keeping a good distance between them.

James blinks several times, startled for a moment, just... looking at Grace with wide, blue eyes. Not frightened, or even startled, but bemused. "Ah- no, it's ok, you, ah, just surprised me.", he says, blinking again as if trying to clear an afterimage. He smiles politely, if a bit sheepishly. "I'm the one who should probably apologize, I wasn't really watching where I was going. This place-", he says, waving a hand around to encompass the town around them, "-it's got me a bit turned around."

Grace smiles and nods to James, "No no. I came jumping in. And yeah, this town is a bit. Different." She suggests. Not wanting to pry though, so stops herself from asking questions. "I'm Grace." Offering her hand to him. Breath having calmed down some. "Just wanted to get my blood pumping, didn't look where I was going." She admits.

James's smile warms a bit at the dueling apologies, and he reaches out to take her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Grace. I'm James.", he says, then gives a low chuckle as he takes his hand back. "And, yeah... Different is one way of putting it, I suppose." He pauses, and looks around a moment, before adding almost wistfully, "... I guess I'd forgotten how much." He then turns back to her and gives an apologetic smile. "This might sound weird but... do I know you? Like, are you from around here? It's my first time back in town in... jeez, like 15 years, so you probably would have been just a kid, but... err... you look... familiar?", he says, the hesitation in his voice at the end showing that maybe 'familiar' isn't the word he's looking for, but he's not sure which word would actually apply to the strange sensation he got upon first spotting her.

Grace does have a soft touch, even if it is a firm handshake. Raising a brow at him. "Oh, no. Sorry. New Yorker." She explains, "But my grandparents live here, they run the Firehouse BBQ & Burgers." He explains, which they might have done for a while. "I might have visited here back then?" She offers, though a hint of a blush. "Why were you staring at kids?" She teases with a grin. If she have any similar feeling she tries to keep it to herself for now.

James's cheeks momentarily turn the same color as his beard as he looks a bit flustered. "Oh, no, I, uh, don't, I mean I wasn't-", he starts to say, then catches himself, and gives a sheepish, embarrased smile. "Maybe I saw you in NYC sometime, actually, it's where I've been the past decade and a half. Tending bar, writing, y'know, living the life in my tiny apartment and running away from the rats before they mug me for my lunch money.", he explains. "Sorry, again, just.. for a moment I could have sworn maybe I knew you, or.. something.", he adds, then shakes his head. As he does, there's a slight growling sound, and he looks down at his stomach a second. "... err, did you say the Firehouse? That place is still open?"

Grace hmms and looks around some, being a bit serious. "Where's the van?" Oh, she is going for the kill it seems. Nodding about him being in New York as well, "Ah, good save." A smile then. Shrugging some. "I just enjoyed life back in NYC. SoHo." She explains. "But I do..." Seeming nervous then, "Does Jojo Gray say anything?" She asks. She hasn't really competed, but tried some in China and perhaps trained at a wrestling gym back in New York. Oh! Change of conversation, a nod. "Yup, open."

James's expression is blank at the mention of 'Jojo Gray', and he tilts his head. "Nope, never heard of them.", he admits, then gives a slight shrug. That odd feeling, like there's a slight haziness to the air when he looks at her, is still there, but a least now he has a perfectly reasonable explanation: hunger. "Maybe I'm just off-balance because I haven't eaten since yesterday- I just drove down, got back in town a couple of hours ago. Was actually looking for a place to eat." He gives another sheepish smile. "I want to say I'm not usually this awkward, but I just met you and feels like it'd be rude to lie to you already."

If he is staring she will start fidgting some. Rising to lead the way. "Well, perhaps I just have one of those faces. I'll ask my sister, perhaps she knows you." Nope, not explaining how that makes sense. Looking to him then, shaking her head. "You are fine, James." Grace assures him. "Food first. Want tea or coffee with it? Or perhaps after." Rolling her eyes at herself. Walking next to him, watching him occasionally.

James is trying not to stare, but he's an awkward sort. Apparently being a writer didn't leave him with the best social skills. He does at least start walking when she starts leading, probably having to up his pace a bit to keep up with the woman who was just leaping through the scenery a few minutes ago. "Food.", he agrees. "And coffee. Oh, gods, yes, coffee.", he says, his voice going downright reverent at that last bit. A few moments pass in probably awkward silence as they walk, and then he says, "So, uh... parkour, right? That's what you were doing before?"

Grace has no clue why he is staring though! Only because she look familiar, or other reasons? Or is he just a pervert!? Well, she hopes not. So for now, just offering a nervous smile and walking along into the strip mall and towards the Firehouse. "I'll brew you some coffee." She assures him. Blinking at the words, nodding. "Yes. I like it. I used to do gymnastics when I was young." Brushing her hands over her clothing. "Here we are!" She says once they reach their destination.

James is probably a pervert. Most writers are. Despite his lack of social skills, though, somehow he picks up on her nervousness- like one picks up instinctively on the shift in direction in a breeze. This is definitely enough to get him to stop staring, making her nervous is most definitely not on his agenda today. He even takes a half-step away as they walk, just to give her a little more room. "Oh! Cool. I mean that, it's cool, I've never been a very, uh, physical guy. Picked last for the team every time, y'know?" And it's not hard to see why, with how short and slight he is. "So I've always admired people who actually are good at stuff like that.", he explains, smiling, just before they arrive. He looks around, and practically sniffs at the air, his stomach giving another hungry growl. "Oh, hell yes."

It's hard to say if she is pleased or saddened as he stops staring. At least it is a confident booster. Though she seems more at ease at the very least. A bright smile offerd, "I can show you." She offeres, doing a cartwheel before walking along with him again, with a wink. "PErhaps start simpler though." Nodding some as he explain himself some. "Even small people can be fierce." Almost taking offense. Not really, but putting on the air. Gesturing for him to go sit. "Want something special or a surprise?" Offering a menu. She isn't in work clothes, so might get some glances from others, offering apologetic looks to them.

James blinks in surprise at the cartwheel. For a moment, he tries to picture himself doing that, but quickly brushes the thought away when that mental image turns into him crashing right into one of the tables. And then there's blood. He shakes himself a little to dismiss that particular vision, then gives another sheepish smile, holding up his hands in a placating motion. "Hey, never meant to imply you were anything but fierce, trust me!", he replies, chuckling softly as he takes a seat when she motions. He thinks for a second, then shrugs and smiles. "Heck. It's been a weird day, let's keep it up. Surprise me?"

Grace grins, "So can you be." She tells him. Then disappears to tell the chef to get house special made while Grace changes into work clothes. Skirt, and the shirt that does have the logo. "Sorry, had to try and look presentable." Rolling her eyes. In her hands is a special burger as she put it down along with strips and even some onion rings on the side. Grinning then. She might have duped him into getting more than needed. Standing nearby. "Want something to drink, before the coffee?"

"That seems pretty unlikely.", James calls after her when she tells him he could be fierce, but his voice is cheerful and he's smiling as he says it. Does he stare after her as she walks away? Maybe for a moment, sure, but that haze in the air around her hasn't faded. "... maybe I need glasses.", he mutters to himself under his breath, then busies himself with browsing through the menu a bit before she returns, all uniformed up and carrying enough food to feed two people. Or, given the hungry look he's giving the food, maybe just one James. "Just water's fine.", he says, then pulls the onion rings closer. "Oh this smells like heaven on a plate.", he murmurs, and immediately dig in. He was hungry.

Grace might sway a bit, but probably just natural rather than trying to give him something to look at. Feeling a bit at home now that she is back at the Firehouse, safety. Moving away to get him a glass of water. "There you go. I'll start preparing for your coffee. Let me know if you need anything." A bright smile at that.

James is halfway through the onion rings by the time she's back with the water, and he gives her a bright grin, relaxed and happy for the moment now that he's finally getting something more substantial than the bag of cheetos he bought at a 7-11 on his way down to Gray Harbor in his stomach. "You're a goddamn angel, Grace. Thanks!", he says, and then dives back into the food, enjoying every last bite. He thinks to himself, maybe she is an angel. That'd explain it.

Grace snickers a blushes a very tiny hint. Barely visible. "Thank you, and glad that you are enjoying yourself, James." He is eating fast so she works on the brewing.

James doesn't see the blush, but that little vibe of good feelings coming off of her does register on whatever weird emo-radar he's had going on ever since he got into town, and it's like a warm blanket on a cold night. He just relaxes further, feeling more at ease with each moment. And each bite. By the time she gets back with the coffee, he's polishing off the last of the burger. "Please tell me you've got pie."

Grace snickers and nods, "I am quite sure that we have. cherry or apple?" She asks. Once he chooses she spins, making the skirt twirl some before she disappears. Returning soon after with the pie. "There you go."

"Apple, please and thank you!", James calls, blushing faintly at the little skirt twirl, because goddamn that is adorable. He then settles in, taking his time with the coffee, just sipping it and letting the warmth and the caffeine weave their magic along his neurons. "I love you, caffeine. Never leave me.", he murmurs into the cup. When she comes back with the pie, his mood is completely relaxed, content, even. "Yesssss. Apple pie.", he declares, and drags the plate over to himself, taking a bite before he pauses. "Wait, I feel bad. Did I just accidentally make you work?", he asks, and blinks, looking down at the pie, then up at her, then back at the pie, then back to her, and he cautiously moves the pie a bit closer to her. "You want some?"

Grace does brew her own and take a lot of care. So it is most likely better than random people doing it without caring. A smile and nods to him. "You did, but that is why you are also eating extra, so it is worth my time." Winking at that. Though him offering has her smiling softly but shaking her head. "Thank you, it's sweet. But I probably shouldn't. But I can keep you company." She says and sits down, crossing her legs and smiles.

James takes the pie back and smiles as she sits down. "Well, I'm not going to turn down some company.", he agrees, then takes another bite. "Mmm. Dang. I am going to miss this, at least, when I go back.", he decides.

Grace nods, "Are you going back to New York? And what brought you back to Gray Harbor?" She asks curiously. The booted foot rocking a little. The tied shirt does show off her some. But nothing too much. Keeping relatively homely feeling to the attire. Just a bit more southern feeling perhaps.

James's attention is as much on the rapidly dwindling pie as it is on Grace, but he is only human, and she's some kind of tiny burger-and-coffee-providing Greek goddess, so it'd be a lie to say he doesn't stare (just a little bit!) at how she looks in that uniform. Just enough that he blushes faintly as he looks away. "Oh, yeah. My uncle passed away last week. He was my last living family down here, and he left me the old family house in the will. It's nothing fancy or anything, but I had to come down here to sign some papers and whatnot. And I figured while I was here, I may as well clean the old place up. Maybe see if I can get a real estate agent to help me sell it. Money would come in real handy, NYC rent ain't cheap, even when your apartment is a shoebox like mine.", he explains, then tilts his head. "Why'd you move from New York to here?"

Grace can perhaps tell that he is staring. Leaning forward, showing off some more perhaps. "Up here." She teases with a smirk. Though it disappears at his words. "Oh, I'm sorry." Shrugging about herself, "Making our own, me and my sister." She tries to explain. Leaning back some agian. "I hope it goes well. And if you are around longer you can always return for more coffee and pie."

Well, that teasing earns Grace a deeper blush from the man across the table from her, and he quirks his lips in a sheepish half-smile. "Sorry.", he says, then shrugs slightly. "It's alright. We, uh, we weren't really close. He sent me away when I was 17 after my parents died.", he says, then pauses. "Well, 'sent me away' isn't really accurate. I left, he helped. Probably for the best. He had no interest in taking care of a teenager, and I had no interest in being taken care of by the uncle I only ever saw like twice a year anyway.", he explains, finishing off his pie and going back to savoring the coffee. Taking a deep breath of the scent, he smiles once more. "Coffee this good, I might not mind if it takes a little longer to sell the old house, I guess."

Grace rolls her eyes as she see that smile still on his lips. Nodding about his uncle. "I see. At least you got a house then." A giggle, "Such a charmer." She jests. Sitting up a bit more proper, ready to leave with the plates when he finishes.

James chuckles softly, and shakes his head. "Me? Nah. I wouldn't know charm if it came up and bit me." He pauses. "Though I suppose biting isn't terribly charming.", he adds, then blinks. "Unless you're into that, I guess.", he adds, then shakes his head. "Uh, anyway. Yeah- got a house, and a whole mess of old memories to sort through. Hadn't even thought of this town in nearly a decade. Coming back is... weird.", he explains.

Grace blushes about her being into biting. "James! Behave." She tells him, not laughing but a hint of amusement even as she seem uncertain. "I am sure it is. But hopefully something good comes from it." She offers. Rising and taking the things and disappearing. Returning to offer costs. "Or did you want more food and drink?" She asks. Having gathered herself some.

James blinks, surprised, as he's told to behave, looking completely clueless for about three seconds before it hits him that his random ramblings might have been taken as some kind of weird flirting. "... oh. Oh! No, no, I didn't mean to imply, I mean, I, my mouth just sort of has a mind of its own sometimes, listen, I can't be held responsible for the things that come out of it sometimes.", he apologizes. Well, tries to apologize, he's not great at it. But she's off and bringing him back his bill, and he gives an embarrased smile. "No, I think I'm stuffed for now. It was delicious.", he says, glancing at the bill and then pulling out his wallet. He leaves enough to pay the bill and then some, leaving her a nearly 50 percent tip. "For putting up with me for this long.", he says, as he hands her the cash and the bill back.

Grace grins at him. "It's okay." She assures him. As for the tip she grins at him. "I should act more offended, perhaps it goes up higher." She teases. A smile and a hug. "Thank you, it was very nice of you."

James looks a little startled by the hug, but not unpleasantly so, and he grins at her as he rises up to his full 5'4" of unimpressiveness. "Well, I'll try not to give you too much reason to be offended next time I drop by. I mean, no promises, I'm kind of an idiot about this, y'know, interacting with other people thing. But I'll try."

Grace smiles and nods, "Of course, no worries. See you again soon." She offers to James. Herself heading to change back to the workout clothes then. No more work! Woo! Unless he runs off before she is back she will return to wave to him as he leaves.

James does take his time leaving- despite the happy caffeine buzz behind his eyes, his body's starting to demand he go back and get in bed after all that driving, now that he's given it fuel. When she passes by back in her workout clothes, he blinks. "Wait, wait, did you literally just come in here, get in uniform, and do the whole waitress thing, just for me? I thought maybe you were starting your shift or something." He chuckles good-naturedly. "Because if you did, I didn't tip you enough."

Grace grins, "Oh, well. They want me to be in uniform. I also helped some others while you were eating." She assures him. "Tip me better next time then." She offers and winks. "I get a bit of leeway." Being the owners' granddaughter does that.

James laughs, nodding as he walks along with her out of the restaurant. "I will.", he promises, then offers her his hand. "Was cool meeting you, Grace. Maybe it's just 'cause I was starving, but I'd been feeling a little unmoored since I got into town. This was nice. I'm feeling more, y'know, grounded.", he explains. A big smile, then. "I should probably go grab some sleep, though. See you around?"

Grace smiles and nods. Taking the offered hand. "Same. Take care, and see you around." She assures him. A smile and a nod. "Don't go creeping too much on people." She teases him again.

And again James' cheeks go as red as his beard as he walks away, giving a wave. "I was not creeping!", he calls out, maybe too loudly from the looks he gets from a couple of folks walking by. Great, now he's even more mortified. "Well, I wasn't.", he mutters as a passing teen gives him a dirty look. And with that, he's off to drown his considerable regrets before bed.