2019-12-06 - A Walk in the Rain

Today was one of the rare times that Kelsey was at the park sans Wishbone and/or Edgar. She was still a bit sketchy about it after the whole ear worm debacle so was leery of really going near it. However, the cool air and even the added mist were kind of nice in the late afternoon light. Besides, she needed to get out of the house some more, lest even the dogs get tired of her. She was walking back home, presumably from the Safeway if the bag in her left hand was any indication. Her long blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail and she wore a pair of dark jeans with a long-sleeved KISS shirt. She was currently taking a brief pause near the Carousel, eyeing it. Maybe as if searching for something.

Through the park comes wandering a young man. He looks lost, a rucksack that's clearly seen better days slung over one shoulder, the man muttering to himself as he goes. "Oh come on, how did you end up in some park in the rain?" he grumbles, glancing around. The woman by the Carousel catches his attention and he hurries in that direction. "Hey!" greets Zach, his accent placing a little south of the area. "Could you tell me where I am?"

Kelsey looks over sharply as a new voice appears. Dark blue eyes ever so slightly narrowed as she studied the new face, bringing a hand up to push some loose strands of hair back. "Shittiest place in the state. You should get out while you can." There wasn't much trace of joking in the comment, even though a wry smile played upon her lips. She didn't even seem to think it strange that he wanted to know where he was. Mostly just curious, and a hint wary. "Gray Harbor. Washington. Where are you supposed to be?"

"Well, I'm in the right place, at least," Zach says with a relieved smile to the woman. He does look perhaps a bit taken aback. "can't be the worst, can it?" he sighs. "I hope not. Nah, I just mean where in the town I am," he says with a wave around them. "Got a bit turned around in the dark and the rain and really I'm just looking for somewhere cheap to stay."

"Oh, well that's a relief." Kelsey laughed suddenly, briefly. "Last thing I need today is some random time traveler or space hopper." Kelsey paused a beat, eyeing him again. "Unless you really are a time traveler because I got some decades I'd like to visit." Here she was teasing a little. "We're in Addington Park. Only real places to stay around here are the murder motel on the Boardwalk and the Bed and Breakfast on..." She looked around, then back to the man, "Somewhere 'round here. Maybe on Spruce or something. I dunno." She offered up her right hand to him, "Name's Kelsey. Guessing you're new in town?"

"Zach," the man of the same name takes the hand to shake with a hopeful smile. "Guessing that the murder motel is not worth the lowered price. I'll go in search of that Bed and Breakfast in a bit I guess." He offers a shrug, tilting his head to the side as he observes Kelsey. "Forwards or backwards in time? Either way, I'm not really the man for that. Assuming it's 2019, else I got real turned around back there," he says, slinging a thumb over his shoulder.

"I mean, there hasn't been a murder recently...it was like...a few months back? But you never know in this place. Nice to meetcha." Though it's dark, he could likely feel in that brief moment that she was missing a couple fingers. Her hand fell back to her side, "2019?! You mean the world doesn't end in just a few more weeks??" Kelsey feigned shock, but it only lasted a few seconds before she laughed again. "Nah you're good. Backwards would have been my preference though. If you ever do stumble upon some time traveling machinations." Kelsey offered up. "I'll help you look if you want. I'd offer you could crash at my place for the night, but all I've got is a couch and I dunno if you're an axe murderer or not."

"A few months is pretty recent," Zach says doubtfully, glancing towards wherever he thinks the Boardwalk might be. He's probably wrong. Kelsey almost has him going for a moment, frozen in shock before she laughs. He laughs as well, though perhaps it comes across as a bit forced. "An axe murderer?" he wonders, looking at his bag. "Not sure I'd fit one in there," he ponders but waves it off. "Nah, I get it, no offence taken or anything. Is the place on Google?" he wonders.

Kelsey peeked over at his bag and made a thoughtful noise. "Not unless it's one of those fancy collapsible ones....are collapsible axes even a thing?" She pondered. "Probably. You'd think I know where it is by now after living here for almost two years now but, eh." She fished out her phone with her free hand. "So what brings you to town?" Navigating that thing one-handed like a pro! And a couple moments later, "Oh, duh, yeah. It's on Oak, right over this a ways. On my way home actually. So I could walk you there at least if you want. So you don't get all turned around again."

"Aw that would be amazing," Zach says enthusiastically. "Oak. Got it," he says with a nod. "I left my car somewhere back there but I'm pretty sure I can find it in the morning," he says hopefully. There's a shrug to her first question. "I mean, there probably is a collapsible axe, sure, why not?" The second question gets a wry smile. "Oh you know, just passing through. Figured I'd stop and see if there was any work going for a few months before I move on again, y'know?"

"Yeah probably. For like, camping and stuff maybe." Kelsey mused, motioning for him to walk with her. "I'm positive your car will be fine. The murder rate is high but the car jacking rate is extremely low." She assured him - like that was a good thing. His wry smile is met with her own. "Good luck with that. This town's got a way of making people stay. But, I'm in the business of doing a little bit of everything - what kinda work you do? I could maybe point ya in the right direction."

Zach wanders along with Kelsey, hiking the rucksack up onto his shoulders. "That's... not very reassuring," he admits wryly. "I'd rather be alive than have my car in one piece." He tilts his head at her assertion about the town, but shrugs. "Service mostly. Prefer bartending but I've been a waiter, and a kitchen runner. Whatever's going, you know? Don't feel I've really got the right to be picky if I'm not going to stick long in places, huh?"

"Well, I don't think the B&B has had any murders! So, you know, there's a bright spot?" Kelsey chuckled softly. "Hrm, well, I know Pourhouse is hiring for a bartender. Could probably get a gig at the Grizzly Diner, or Firefly Club,probably even Waffle House. There's Two if by Sea as well, but I dunno if they're looking for another bartender." Kelsey rattled off potential options, "And of course, with the holiday season right around the corner, no shortage of people needing help with putting up decorations."

As Kelsey starts giving options, Zach pulls his phone out, rapidly typing in the names of places. "Damn, am I glad I ran into you! Would probably have ended up sleeping in the park and have no idea where to start a job search and that would have been miserable all round, don't you think?" he wonders. "Will have to look them up in the morning."

"Yeah no problem man. Glad I could help out, yeah? Lucky for you I'm trying not to be such a hermit." Kelsey chuckled. "Sleeping in the park in this weather would be pretty damn terrible, yeah." The blonde agreed. "If you happen to go to the diner - fair warning. Don't order the omelettes." Is the next warning given about this charming little town. "Where were you before this? Working your way across the country or something? Or just going where the wind takes you?"

"Don't order the omelette," echoes Zach thoughtfully, rubbing at his chin. "Damn, well, thanks for the advice. And the directions. And the rest," he laughs, shrugging. "Before this? Yeah, just... wandering across the state. From Portland originally, so slowly making my way across Washington. Who knows where next, huh?"

"Nice. Haven't made my way to Portland yet. Moved here from Nebraska. Still not sure if I like it, but I don't have anywhere else I really wanna go. So for now I'm staying." Kelsey mused. "I figure, something may come along eventually. Or maybe it won't. For as dismal as this town can be sometimes, it's got it's fair share of interesting things go on. You know, besides the killing."

"You're really rather focussed on that killing," Zach says, glancing around worriedly. "You're definitely taking me to the B&B and not to some random dark alley now, are you?" he asks. He tries to play it off as a joke, but his hand tightens a little on his backpack strap.

Kelsey laughed. "Sorry. Can't help it. I've got an oddity of interests." She points up ahead. It's a little foggy, but a pretty large brick house is starting to come into view. "Promise I'm taking you to the B&B. It's right up there." She gave the man a quick once over and then focused on a head. "So, what are you into? Besides wandering and bartending."

Zach grins at little as the house comes into view. "Just checking," he says helpfully. "Me? I get up at filthily early to go running, and if I need a little extra cash I play guitar and gig around a bit. Whatever works, huh?" he laughs easily. "What about you? What kind of things interest you?"

"I can appreciate some good music. My best friend is in a local band actually. They're still working on getting stuff together I think. Haven't been invited to hear 'em yet or anything." Kelsey shrugged. "I mostly like weird things. Cryptids, mythology, local legends and the like. But I've learned to enjoy running around more recently. I've got one and a half dogs." There's a beat of pause. "Well. One dog, my friend and I share custody of the second one cause he was two damn cute for us to just leave him when my friend was getting his first dog." She laughed. "They keep me pretty active."

"Ah I love dogs. But, not sure it'd be fair to have one while I'm drifting so much, you know? Wouldn't be able to guarantee I could keep it in every two-bit place I stayed at," Zach explains with a sigh. "Weird things, huh?" he says, eyebrows rising. "That uh.. a problem here?" he wonders.

"Yeah I get that." Kelsey agreed about the dog. "Well you're welcome to play around with mine if you see me with them, out and about. I usually bring them out there to the dog park, part of the park." She explained and then shrugged, wobbling her free hand side to side. "Depends on your definition of weird, yeah?" Eyeing him curiously for a beat.

Zach gives Kelsey a long look in response. "Ah, you know. Big Foot. Loch Ness monster, that sort of thing," he says unconvincingly, the set of his shoulders suggesting he's unsettled by the question.#

"No Big Foots or Loch Ness around here. Least not that I've seen." Kelsey promised as they came to a stop in front of the B&B "Listen, Zach right? This town is a lot more than it seems on the surface. You're not here for forever, but - I suggest you keep an open mind while you are here." Kelsey offered with a touch of a smile. "Oh, and I like video games too." See, something normal! "Have a good night, I'm sure I'll see you around." And she'd wait until he was inside the B&B before heading off to her own home.

Zach quirks a smile at Kelsey. "Yeah? I'll try and do that," he says with a nod. "Video games, huh? Always time for a bit of that, yeah. Thanks for the walk, Kelsey. I'll catch you around, I'm sure." He offers a sloppy salute and heads into the B&B, whistling to himself.