2019-10-15 - Vending Machine Needs NyQuil

Roxy caught the flu. She's pretty sure she got it at the Platinum Cabaret's Halloween event, but she can't swear to it. She might have gotten it playing nursemaid to Joey Kelly. Who knows? All she does know is she's feeling awful, run down, and her nose is running like a marathoner. The raven-haired woman slips out of room 10 in a thigh-length bathrobe and slippers, with a wad of tissues pressed to her nose to try and stop the ceaseless river of ick flowing out of it. She has a little wallet in her other hand.

She heads for the vending machine, looking a bit dazed, with red-rims around her bright blue-green eyes. Normally she's a striking woman. Right now, she looks a hot mess. Her hair is wet from a shower, and has gone curly because she's too tired to straighten it into her usual retro bob. There's no makeup on her face because the idea of putting anything near her nose or eyes right now is horrific. She shuffles up to the machine and looks at the offerings.

It seems she might not be the only one. Though Ryan seems to have caught it from his sister, as she has been out and about a lot more than he has since arriving in town. Ryan is still looking relatively healthy, except for coughing some and a bit more tired that he usually is.

A loud sneeze coming from where Ryan stands, outside of room 12. Getting some air. Spotting Roxy heading for the vending machine, "Sorry." Offered in apology. He does watch her for a moment though before letting his gaze wander on, unless stopped.

Roxy pauses at the sneeze and apology, and she looks blearily at the man in front of room 12. "Flu?" she asks, in a strange accent. Scandinavian of some flavor? She wipes her nose with the tissues. "Seems to be everywhere in this town."

There is a chuckle from the irishman. And indeed, Ryan's accent is relatively strong. "Indeed. You too?" Asked. Taking some steps towards her. "So it seems. Not even hiding in my room am I safe." He offers a bit dryly, though perhaps a bit of humor in his voice.

Roxy dips her head in a nod and tucks the tissues into her robe pocket. "I think I got it from work but who knows?" she mutters, with a little pout. "You are not from here either," she states, because of his accent. "How long have you been in Gray Harbor?"

There is an understanding nod, "I see. And no, I'm not. Ireland. You?" He asks in return. "Only been around a few weeks, came to help my sister out." Sighing some at that. "And now I'm sick." Shaking his head and chuckling, which makes him cough, covering his mouth. "Again, you? Seems I am not that good at asking questions."

"Finland," Roxy replies, with a shadow of sadness in her eyes at the mention of her homeland. "But I have lived in this country for two years now. I came to Gray Harbor early last month. It is kind of you to be helping your sister," she points out, with a faint smile. "Will you be staying here? Or going back to Europe?"

"Ah, I've done a lot of business with Finland." Ryan admits. Before adding, " Or well, companies from Finland at least." Nodding some as she explains her situation. "I do hope you are enjoying your stay. And well, someone has to look after her." They tone he uses makes it seem like not many do, perhaps. Or that she is a lot of trouble. "Not decided yet, but am staying here at least for a while. Laying low." He explains. "I'm Ryan by the way." Semi famous if she knows anything about irish tech gurus. Which she might not.

Sadly she knows nothing about that. She was a ballerina most of her life before the Asylum on the other side, and she's only been back out in the world and scraping by for two years. Roxy does think he looks a little familiar, maybe from a magazine cover or newspaper article. "I would shake your hand but, flu," she says with a small sigh. "I am Roxanne but everyone calls me Roxy. Just at the motel until I have enough saved up to rent an apartment." That whole first and last month's rent up front thing has thrown her.

It is quite possible that she has seen him on magazines. Though his current state is far removed from what the cover would be. "No worries, same here. Nice to meet you Roxy. Or what do you prefer." Since she just mentioned what people call her, not what she want people to call her. "I see. I hope it goes fast. If you know your way around town I could offer to pay you to be my guide." He offers with a chuckle.

Roxy chuckles, a strange sound with all the congestion she's battling. "Roxy is fine. And I do not know very much. I have a new friend who has promised to help me learn the town better, but they also have the flu at this time. The Bay is nice, and there is a boardwalk with rides and things. Other than that I've mostly been to and from work."

Chuckles and has to clear his throat, "We need to stop making each other chuckle." Moving to see what she is looking for in the vendor. "I hope you don't mind me prying?" He offers, as he tries to get to know someone in town. "Ah, sounds like a lot of fun. I should check it out." Another nod then, "If you do not mind, what do you work with?"

Roxy gestures at the machine. "Sadly, it does not have Tami-Flu or NyQuil. So I will have to settle for..." she drops some coins in from her wallet. "...peanut butter crackers." At the question about work she blushes ever so slightly. "I, ah..." she takes her crackers when they drop into the bottom of the machine and shoves both hands in her robe pockets. "I am a dancer at the Platinum Cabaret." The strip club on the edge of town.

"I have some, if you want? Though, of course no need to follow. I can just go grab it." He assures her, not a total creep at least. "Ah, dancer. That's nice." He offers, pondering about Platinum Cabaret. "Ah, is that edge of town?" He asks, a smile. "Don't know a lot about it." He admits, a soft smile. "But I've got an idea, and I hope you are enjoying working there." He offers, not judging. Clearing his throat though. Probably not because of the flu this time. "Sorry." Probably hint of a blush, or just flushed from flu.

Roxy shrugs. "The money is good, and I get to dance. I do not do, what do you say, traditional stripping? I try to be a little more creative. Artistic." And the club didn't ask questions or need a lot of paperwork from the illegal alien to work there. "I did burlesque in Oregon, this is just a few more things to take off." She smiles weakly.

Ryan smiles and nods. "Well, I'd be happy to see a performance, if you want customers." Bowing his head some. "Artistic is more interesting." He offers, smiling in return. "I am sure you don't have to take too much off to get people to enjoy the show, if you do not want to." He tries to offer. A smile in return. "And if we weren't both half dead I'd try to be even more reassuring." A bad joke perhaps. Shaking his head.

"Oh I take it all off," Roxy assures him, then blushes and coughs into a handful of tissues. "Sorry. But I also don't do lap dances, just the VIP room private dances. The boss likes to advertise me as the classy one. Expensive. I guess it works when I don't look like," she gestures at her face, "like death rode his pale horse over me."

Ryan blushes a bit as well, perhaps letting eyes roam just a bit. "Ah, well then. " A smile and a nod, "Perhaps I should take you up on a VIP room private dance. If you are a good dancer, and nod just take your clothes off." He offers. A smile at that. "I think you pull off the 'death cometh' look." He teases.

Roxy looks at him a little confused. "You wouldn't want me to take my clothes off? After paying that much money?" She blinks a few times, thinking maybe she just heard him wrong. "If you just want to see me dance, I have a membership at the dance studio in town. Dance Evolution. I practice there a few days a week."

Ryan smiles. "Well, if you can dance and if you are good, and want to. Feel free. But I'd rather see that artistic part. IF you want to strip for me I won't stop you. But you did mention wanting to do the artistic, so no need to have to strip." He assures her. Nodding about the dance studio. "Ah, cool. That also works." Nodding some. Tilting his head. "And of course I won't say no to you stripping ,but you seem fun. No need to only focus on the naked part." He tells her with a chuckle and cough.

Roxy coughs through another chuckle. "The naked part pays the bills," she points out, wise for her years. "I did ballet for a long time. Then I was hospitalized for a bit and couldn't really return to it. This isn't the same but?" she looks at the vending machine as if it's offended her. "It's a living."

Ryan nods as he listens, "Oh, it does. But you are the first real conversation I've had other than cops and sister. I'd prefer not making it weird by showing up to only stare at you naked. And VIP room is an easy way to spend more time talking." He offers and grins. Though noticing her look. "Yeah, it is. And sorry if I'm being weird, or pushy." He offers and shrugs. "Cooped up too long."

"Cold medicine makes us all stupid," Roxy admits, to reassure him. "There is a Masquerade at the Cabaret for the big city-wide event coming up. You should come to that. It will be fancy all around I think."

Smiling and nodding. "Thanks for understanding. And I will try to show up for that." He assures her. "How can I say no at such a suggestion." He offers. Looking to her peanut butter thingie. "Want something better?" He asks and chuckles. "Not sure how tasty that is with a soar throat."

Roxy arches one brow at him with a faint smile. "Better than peanut butter crackers? Is there such a thing?" she jokes. "What did you have in mind? Ramen noodles?" She seems amused.

Ryan chuckles, "Sure, if you want that. Ramen is usually good for flus, no? Or garlic with something. Garlic bread?" He offers and grins.

"Where on earth are you going to get that?" Roxy asks, with a short laugh. "Pizza delivery? We might be able to actually taste garlic."

Ryan nods then, trying to find his phone. "Delivery sounds good. Want to find somewhere to sit?" He asks. Gesturing for her to pick whatever she wants on the app, for the pizza place. Garlic bread and spicy buffalo wings are ordered already. "Pizza place should have some of that at least."

"I think there is a couple small tables in the lobby. My room is a mess from all the flu stuff. I should probably put on more clothing though," Roxy points out. She just orders some garlic bread. She's not sure how much her stomach is willing to handle.

Another grin and nod. "Oh, I think that is for the best. Both rooms are most likely wrecks." He is probably able to keep food down, hopefully. "Up to you, Or I'll lose a shirt and put it equal." He jests. He will wait for her to go grab clothes though, before going to the lobby with her. "15-30 minutes. Is what it says at least."

Roxy nods and she goes back to room 10 to put on some clothing. Simple yoga pants and a tank top with a cardigan sweater. She still has the damn slippers on though, and she's pushed the sides of her hair back in a cloth headband. She normally dresses much nicer, in vintage 40s and 50s style clothing, but she's sick. She's not putting in that much effort, not even for garlic bread. She walks with him to the lobby and then sinks down at a chair at one of the small tables. "I hope I'm over this soon. I hate being sick," she admits.

Ryan is dressed in simples clothes as well. sweatpants instead of any fancy pants. And a regular t-shirt on. "Same. Hard to be productive." Gesturing for her to sit before slipping into a seat of his own.

The former ballerina props her chin in her hand and looks out the window dully. "Hopefully soon I won't be living out of a motel room. I hear there is a nice bed and breakfast in town but that was more expensive and would take me longer to save up for the apartment."

A nod, "There is? Perhaps I should had taken in there." Shrugging. Looking around some. "Hope you can save up fast. And. Well, hence why you should allow me to buy a private VIP room with you, helping you out some." He suggests and shrugs.

"The VIP room isn't all that private. But you get your own private dance up close. If you can afford that, why are you staying in this..." Roxy ponders the American term for it, "...dump?"

Ryan chuckles, "So my sister wouldn't run off. She is a bit of a rebel, at times. So, stayed here so she would be willing to meet up, and afterwards just didn't change." Shrugging some then, "And perhaps there is a weird charm?" He grins though. Shrugging. "Ah, I see." About the VIP room.

"It is good that you take care of your sister. Family should be important," Roxy says sincerely, with a creasing of her brow. Her family was not so caring. "What do you do for a living? I think I forgot to ask you that."

Ryan smiles and nods, "Agreed. Do you have any family that help you?" He asks. Shrugging at her question, "Just tech stuff. Innovations and so on. Engineering." He explains. Not going into his company or any such right now.

"No, no not anymore," Roxy says quietly. "But I can take care of myself." Ok she has a few watchdog-like people who keep her safe. A cop and a criminal, go figure. "I might teach a class at the dance school eventually. But I don't think they would pay me nearly what the strip club does. Maybe after I have some good savings put away." She smiles wanly. "Tech. I know very little about that. I started ballet as a child, and was home schooled while training."

Ryan smiles and nods, "Well, we are neighbors so we will look out for one another, right." He offers with a wink. "Ah, well. IT can be fun with tech, and decent pay." For him it is an understatement. "Ballet is interesting. I could probably never do it." Soon the garlic bread and wings arrive. Paying and gesturing for her to take some. Himself eating very slowly. Perhaps not as hungry, or able to, as he was thinking. But at least down it goes, to his belly.

Roxy nibbles at the garlic bread, willing her stomach not to make her regret it. She saw what others went through with this flu. She knows what is on the horizon. It's not going to be pretty. "Yes. Javier lives here too. He has been very kind." And very scary, but kind too! "I have odd hours because of the club, so I haven't met many of the tennants."

"I've only met you. Went out to buy some stuff but after that got sick." He admits. "Hope to get to meet him-" He offers about the fellow tennant. "Met Shauna?" Is asked.

Roxy shakes her head in the negative. "No, afraid not. There is a lady named Haven I think, very short blonde hair. And...I think I saw a homeless man here once by the bar at the pool." She takes another small bite of her bread. "What is she like? Shauna."

"Troublemaker, outgoing. Rough around the edges. But she is actually sweet, when she behaves." Ryan explains. Sounding a bit bias. "I will keep an eye out for blonde Haven and homeless guy." He offers and grins. Taking a bite of the spicy wings, starting to sweat. "Damn, spicy."

Roxy is starting to look a little paler and greener. "I think maybe I'm getting to the bad part of this flu," she murmurs. "I need to go back to my room. Thank you for the garlic bread though, Ryan. Hope to see you at the Masquerade." She rises, leaving him the rest of the garlic bread because even the thought of it is making her nauseous now. She makes a mad dash back to her room.