2019-11-15 - Costumes and Questions

Alexander hasn't entirely stopped going to Kelly's Gym since he got something like an answer regarding a certain body in a certain dumpster, but he's definitely fallen off for a while. So he's not exactly a regular sight when he steps in, and certainly not with a scavenged cardboard box in his hands. He's chosen a time when the Gym doesn't usually have a lot of people, and he slouches in, clad in an old pair of sweats, frayed at the edges. He stops a little uncomfortably just inside the door, scanning the interior with a frown, shoulders hunched.

Joey hasn't changed up his role but to take the tater tot out to one of her two trick or treating events, or, you know, the occasional stealing with ghosts' dramatic asses, or sometimes just a kid afraid in the street or digging holes because of Byron's fancy dramatic ass. Whichever. Really he's mostly been keeping things going into the fall as the temp drops, though the door is still open because when is it not like a sauna?

Looking up Joey is rehanging the bags from being taken down for open floor or maintenance and is hefting it back up. Catching Alexander he grunts, "Ah hey." Whatever Joey's position is on the copbotherer it seems to be presently in a 'these are the people in your neighborhood' category. "Been a minute."

"Kelly. Hello." Alexander watches him, with a dead-eyed sort of expression, for a bit, before he comes further inside and places the box carefully to one side. He doesn't move like it's heavy, and it lands with a softer thump; whatever's inside doesn't seem to weigh all that much. He nods towards the bags. "Need help rehanging any of those?" he asks, in the same toneless manner, although the offer appears sincere, and he's moving a little bit closer in his wary, paranoid sort of way, to be on hand if Joey agrees.

There's a pause. "It's been more than a minute. Are you well?"

Joey reviews and assesses and nods finally, "Yeah a hand' be good. Grab the ladder, i'll lift. Drop the carabeener on the ring." He sets it down and waits for him to bring the ladder over, dark green eyes drifting to the box, and one eyebrow arching curiously, "Shit that what I think it is?" Dino stompy goodness?? He considers the rest and frowns, "Yeaaaaah, I mean... Everything's been good just trying to sort some things out. Since Halloween ma's been worked up and I'm trying to figure some stuff out before people get hurt. So ya know, it's a Tuesday. You?"

There's a curt nod, and Alexander grabs the ladder, hauling it over to where Joey directs him to put it. "Yes," he says, to the question. "I wasn't sure of the sizing, so I made my best guess based on the average height, weight, and dimensions of four and five year olds. If it's off, let me know where; I left room to be able to adjust the stitching here and there." He grimaces. "It's not as tidy as I would like; I don't have a machine, and it's been a while since I've done anything more than a bit of repair work. If you don't want it, that's fine." He steadies the ladder, stands there and stares at Joey. "Does your...mother get agitated often?"

A shrug. "I'm okay. Halloween was filled with...unpleasant events. But no one died."

Joey lifts that heavy bag like he's boosting his brother over a fence. He waits. Patiently. When Alexander gets things close enough he takes a deep breath and hoists letting the bag use his body for support. Given this the answer comes in grunts. "Sometimes. Kid... had her riled up. Now... other things. Usually no." Deep breath; hold it steady. "Lil lost kid. Ghost. Fuckin shame man. GOt him sorted." Looking up he watches to see where progress is and asks, "She ok?" Small town. Words gets around and sometimes he takes note even if he doesn't get involved, but he does pay attention. Sometimes.

Alexander spots for Joey, and keeps the ladder steady as he lifts the heavy bag. "Hm," he says, quietly. "I don't know much about ghosts. But I hope that she settles down, soon. And the child was a ghost, too?" He winces. "That's a shame. It's hard, when it's children. Dealing with one for a job right now, actually. Little girl. Might have been locked up in a room to die. Not quite sure, just yet. Not entirely sure what to do when I do figure out what's going on, but I'm damned well hoping it doesn't involve another funeral." There's a longer silence. "Isabella, you mean? Yeah. She's doing better. Thanks." He studies Joey's movements on the ladder, like the man might stumble. "How's the family?"

Joey nods quietly in assembly with Alexander. Joe Kelly has one hard rule: never kids. Hell even a gal he'll fight in a ring, but never kids. He waits though and listens for the answer, face twisting faintly in maybe confusion but the utterance is "The fuck is wrong with people? I guess you need help bustin somone out lemme know." UP! goes the bag for Alexander to connect and he holds up there there there until he's done and then brings it down to hang gently. Both hands steady it . He gives it a push a couple times to make sure it's not catching and hangs properly. Satisfied he lets go.

"Eh they're good. Jaime's still doin stuff with the band. Everly got me something nice for my birthday. Gotta thank her for that. Holidays are comin up so I was gonna grab Poe and try to get some shopping done. Just... a little different this year." Looking up he asks curiously, "You know if things come up and you and your girl wanna drop by for turkey day you're welcome to. It's crazy as hell but we'll feed an army."

"Money's involved, I suspect," Alexander says with a shrug. "Enough money in play, and a lot of people don't care who gets hurt." His voice is dry, although a smile flickers to life at the offer. "Thanks. But just about everyone involved, including the kid, is dead, so I don't know that there's anyone to rescue. Just a truth to be uncovered." He reaches to connect the bag, lifting it with a grunt of effort, but holding it steady. When it's good, he pats lightly on the side of it.

His eyebrows go up. "It was your birthday? I didn't know." Whatever file he has on Joey clearly didn't consider that particular information of note. "Happy birthday." Another hesitation, at the invitation. "Ah. You want to invite me to your family dinner?" Amusement settles on his features. "...do you know, I think that's the first time anyone ever has. I wasn't expecting it to be you." He rolls his shoulders, a little awkwardly. Okay. A lot awkwardly. "Thanks. I'm taking Isabella to my parents' for dinner there, though. But we'll see. I do appreciate the invite, though."

Joey murmurs, "Yeaaah I turned thirty. Jaim too." They're wins but, he wasn't going to claim it alone, or he's got a dry sense of humor. "You need help lookin I got a knack for it. I just... I dunno. Feel bad when it's kids. Just ain't been sittin alright if that makes any fucking sense. You're not my therapist though so, it is what it is." An eyebrow arches and there's a genuine, "Thanks." He listens and the curiosity isn't lost on him. Shoulders rise and fall as he admits, "Eeeeh, growing up we got left out of a lot of shit. Just cause I got my own people now don't mean I don't fucking get it man. Sides, you're a'ight. but if you head back we usually go to like 3am and some folks are just up to go do the 5am black Friday deal hunt thing. Sometimes we get competitive about it. My cousin's got a map of the city and times to be where. It's crazy."

"I'll keep that in mind," Alexander says. He climbs down the ladder. "And it says good things about you that it doesn't, Kelly. No one should be okay with kids getting hurt or killed." He grimaces. "I guess it comes off sometimes like I am. To people. Because I can look at the photos and the cases and all of that, and talk about it without getting choked up. But it's not easy. Sounds like you helped the ghost kid, though. That's good." He moves over to the box. "Here." He opens it up, and pulls out a costume. "Based on a Utahraptor, but the raptors mostly have very small feet, so I exaggerated that, and added some padding, so that she can do proper stomping." He demonstrates by holding up one of the oversized feet. "Sort of like snowshoes. Might take a little practice."

The costume's creation is meticulous - there are marks where seams went awry, had to be picked out, and resewn, but you only see them if you look. It has a pebbled fabric hide, a removable crest of red feathers, and hands with snap-on gloved with big, plastic claws. Or they can be snapped off to let her use her hands. A long tail, supported by a poseable wire, trails around. He carefully folds the costume back up, stores it away. "Hope she likes it." Then he frowns at Joey, thoughtfully.

Joey corrects, "Well the kid got help. I just kept things off the porch. I ain't claiming that." A rough hand rubs that beard growing in. It's November and that means the great winter ritual of morphing into a lumberjack. "Well you can get emotional or you can get shit done. That's what closed doors are for."

It's the suit though that he goes over to look at. He doesn't know shit about costuming, but he can appreciate attention to detail. He can definitely appreciate there's a ton more creativity and ability in this than he's capable of creating in his whole body. To say he's impressed might be selling it short even if he's not one to emote, "Shit, man. She's gonna fucking love this." Looking up to Alexander he boggles and looks back and looks up and says without rancor and all sincerity. "We even." Becuase he has a feeling Alexander may carry that around forever unless declared. Curious he asks, "How you doin with that whole... thing... anyways? YOU okay?"

"Something like that," Alexander agrees. He eyes the beard for a long moment, makes a noise of consideration. Like he hasn't decided how he feels about it. When Joey steps forward to inspect the costume, he's very quiet, watching the other man. When he gives approval, a brief grin lights up his features. Then the grin shuts off again, and he looks away as he closes up the box. "That's not why I did it. I just thought she might like it. I really just copied a pattern. Added the feathers. Dinosaurs should have feathers."

There's a blink as Joey asks. His brow furrows. "Uh. Which thing? There are many things. I'm alive and walking around, and I haven't killed anyone."

Joey tilts his head to the side and gives him, "Well that's the better reason." He's not even holding a damn grudge about the gym. Insurance and the boys got it sorted fine. His niece is going to be ecstatic for her birthday and that's the big payoff here. There's a curious look on him that's got zero to do with running his yard and might be- well he's no mentalist so who really knows. There's a moment though where he's 5 and just imagining what all one can DO in something like this and it is...pretty fucking magnificent. The question entirely snaps his head out of that moment and back to now. He blinks, eyebrow arched and registers, "Oh shit you said that ghost thing was trying to make you do shit before. Ya know having people make you... do things can have a lasting... ya know." No he's not good with words but hopes Alexander is good with contextual clues. "Look having yoru hand forced sucks. Can mess ya up. Just cuase it's over doesn't mean everything's fine. Just asking."

"Gohl?" Alexander thinks about it. "That's over. It's not..." there's a huff of exasperation, "It wasn't making me do things. It was making things easier to do. If you get the distinction." He shrugs. "It's a thing that happened. A lot of shit has happened, Kelly. It's," a long pause, "nice of you to ask about it, though. I appreciate it. Especially considering the circumstances. But what was it you said? You can get emotional or you can get shit done?" He shrugs. "I've got shit to do, so I'll focus on that."

That seems to remind him of something, and he turns to give Joey a once over. "Can I ask a couple of questions you're gonna hate? Off the record, and with the understanding that I'm not here to bust your chops? But I need to confirm something, and I think you might be able to."

Joey considers, "Like drinking a lot and running your mouth becuase the off part of your brain is taking a smoke break?" So simplified. He pauses and considers this and looks around nad back to him. He was really liking this conversation too. His eye squints and his head tilts, "Nothin stoppin you." Meaning he's not going to tell him no, but at least isn't taking the questions personal. He isn't agreeing so much to answer them, but he is letting him ask.

Alexander blinks. "Yeah. Actually. Exactly like that." He smiles, pleased. "It's not that the stupid shit you do while drunk or high isn't you, it just tends to be the parts of you that you keep under lock and key. For good reasons." He clears his throat at Joey's response to the other. "Right. I'm not tactful. Sorry." He looks around, just to make sure no one is around, and his voice drops. "You said you got shot. Would that have something to do with a pharmaceutical robbery? A shootout there?" He holds up a hand. "Again, I'm not trying to turn you in. But I've heard the name Foster associated with the thing, and that, I want to hear more about. Your name doesn't have to come into it."

Joey shrugs and squints one eye. "I'm a blunt guy. No offense taken." And then the question comes and Joey stares at him and his face holds passive. He nods though. "I had to go get someone up off the ground. Doesn't much matter who. Yes it had to do with that. No I'm not going to name names and I legit do not know anyone named Foster." He sucks on one of his eye teeth and shakes his head. "Who is Foster? Talk to me. Maybe I can help."

Alexander shrugs. "I don't need the names of your compatriots, Kelly." He rubs at his face. "Joshua Foster is an entrepreneur, of sorts. Built a casino out in reservation land, built another one here in the Harbor. It's been stalled for opening, but," he shrugs, "for some reason, someone working for him executed the Krugers. Them, I imagine you know," he adds, voice dry, considering Joey's function in Felix's organization. "I still don't know why. But I do intend to find out. I know what they were involved in, but ultimately, they were a couple of old people who didn't deserve to die like that." There's a brief, haunted flicker of emotion that crosses his face, but he shakes his head, clears it, takes a breath. "Foster deals drugs through his other casino. I don't know if we'll ever get him for the murders - guys like that have insulation, and plenty of guys willing to take the fall." He remains dry, and even refrains from saying as you know. "But, if we can link an intent to distribute to the casino? Makes his life painful. And I'm okay with that right now."

I honestly can't believe he just told him the damn truth tbh but ya know, he respects what he does and he's not admitted being adjacent to a crime, just being shot. He listens though. There's a dip of a not with a frown. NOW he's seeing where Alexander's going with this. "Yeah. Heard about them. But naw, the casino had jack and shit to do with the pharma run. That had nothing to do with anyone's name starts with an F, how's that?" He considers this casino business, He considers that for a long fucking moment. "They dealing out of the other one? Gonna make some cats very unhappy if the status quo gets moved." He can think of one squirley dude in particular. "You know they got that they're running some things elsewise." When he talks about insulation there's a small nod. Yes. He is taht insulation. He's well aware but sees no need to be a dick abotu it apparently. "Well what I can do is put my ear to the ground and toss anyhting mutually beneficial your way." There's a pause, "Clayton?"

"Should have figured." Alexander's face twists with frustration - not directed at Joey, particularly. It's more like the face of a man who just walked into a wall, and doesn't like the sensation. He scrubs at his face with both hands. "Fuck. Okay. Thanks." He offers a shrug. "I haven't looked at their five year business plan or anything, but he's dealing out of his other casino. Makes sense he'd try to do the same here. Casino hasn't opened yet, so nothing's active. But once it's up and running?" Another grimace of irritation. "But...I appreciate it. Anything you hear that you can share would be nice." He starts to turn away, but stops. "What is it, Kelly?"

There's a subtle bracing as he waits for the response.

Joey tilts his head with some regret but offers in earnest, "Don't get your ass planted like a daisy." There's a vague look of distaste and he doesn't even take the look personally. That's the look of a hot lead gone ice cold. Still it keeps the bloodhound off rabbits that ain't there and he was damn certain Greg is not the bunny the boy is bounding for. "But, ya know, thanks for asking and being direct."

Alexander looks at Joey for a long moment, expression blank. Then he ducks his head and laughs, softly. "Yeah. It's not part of the plan, but we'll see what happens. And asking nosy questions in a distressingly direct manner is one of my few talents, Kelly." He shrugs. "Anyway, nice talk. Hope, uh, Jessie? Hope she likes the costume and has a good birthday. You've got my number, if you hear anything, or run into any other lost kids." With that, he turns and slouches his way out.

Joey cracks a grin, "Eh, we're not built for diplomacy, that's for damn sure." The well wished for the tater tot get a solemn nod. That he can do. "You do the same man. You need help with the house or somethin holler. God knows my evenings are about to open up." He leaves and Joey? Well he's got work to do.