2019-12-09 - Make Me A Time Machine

The mid afternoon lull at the bar is legendary. The lunch crowd is gone. The happy hour crowd isn't there yet. The waitresses are wish they weren't there. And Easton is not behind the bar right now to server the complete lack of people either. He's holed up in the office actually going through some numbers and trying like hell to get rid of his hangover. There are a few employees floating about though, and all easily recognizable by their black shirts with the logo on the back.

The door swings open, Zach wandering in. He's dressed a little smarter than he might normally be, wearing a plain button-down shirt under his jacket. He takes a moment to get the lay of the land before he angles towards the bar, looking for the nearest employee. He starts as he means to go on, with an earnest, hopeful smile, and a direct tone. "Hey!" he greets whoever he can get the attention of. "Zach Morgan," he introduces himself. "I'm new in town, and was wondering if you had any open positions at the moment?"

Right behind him is someone also new in town....though Joe doesn't look as if he's angling for work. The sailor's in peacoat and jeans, white scarf knotted around his neck, and gray half-finger gloves. He also heads for the bar, moving as if his joints hurt him, and claims a stool, before removing peacoat, scarf, and gloves, leaving him in plain white t-shirt. Not in the least self-conscious of scars or ink, it seems. He's patient waiting for the bartender's attention, since it looks like Zach is there on a mission.

The waitress, sporting a fierce fried blond 'I-Want-To-Speak-To-Your-Manager' haircut looks Zach up and down first and then shrugs, "Nice t'meet you Zach Morgan, I'm Tracy. Let me find someone for you honey." She wanders off towards the office and takes much glee in knocking loudly and calling "Hey Marshall. Guy out here about a job!" Normally she'd be more discrete or polite, but she knows he's hungover and the place is nearly empty so she enjoys her little bit of fun.

Coming out of the office, Easton looks every bit as hungover as he feels. He gives Tracy a tight, very fake smile and thanks her. His own voice loud enough to carry through the room at all times makes him wince. He takes Tracy's pointing in Zach's direction and noticing the other patron entering, Easton takes his place behind the bar. He lifts a finger to Zach and asks Joe, "What can I get ya?"

Zach turns as Joe comes in behind him, offering the man a friendly nod as he perches himself on a seat. There's a bit of a wince at the gleeful way at which Tracy is knocking on the door, the man tilting his head curiously, nodding in understanding as Easton comes out. Zach just offers a polite smile in return to Easton as he's wordlessly asked to wait, taking the time to look around the bar, curious.

"Burger and coke, please," says Joe, quietly. He recognizes the signs of one of those 'there is a gnome in my head banging on a pot with a hammer' hangovers, and there's sympathy enough for a fellow sufferer that he's softer than usual. Modulating things down from that half-deaf, slightly too loud voice.

"You got it." Easton taps that into the screen and then heads over to Zach. "What kind of work you lookin' for? We're full up on kitchen staff right now, servers are always ..." He looks dead at Tracy when saying, "Rotating out." She doesn't seem to take the 'threat' of being fired all that seriously as she blithely cleans tables.

Handing Joseph his coke he looks him over for a bit before asking, "You new in town or just visiting?" It's rare that Easton wouldn't recognize a customer, even with his booze addled mind.

Zach turns back to Easton, likewise softening his voice a little. "Zach Morgan," he introduces himself. "And I'm not picky. I can work in a kitchen, serving, behind a bar, whatever, wherever." His accent places him in the PNW, though not quite from around here. "Dunno how long I'm going to be in town," he admits. "So I don't think I can afford to be picky, y'know?"

Now that's the question, and Joe hesitates for a beat or two. "I am new - I think I'm likely gonna stick it out at least until spring. Solo sailing north in a Pacific winter ain't no joke...." Another beat, and he offers a hand. "I'm Joe. I 'spect you'll find me propping up one end of the bar here pretty often 'fore spring gets here." His accent's a slow Georgia drawl, vastly out of place - the signature of a warmer, flatter coast than this one. He does look tired, the blue eyes are sunken and shadowed.

Easton reaches over the bar to shake Zach's hand, saying "Easton Marshall, I run the place.." He catches the look from Tracy and ammends, "Mostly." Because there is a GM that does more of the general business things that Easton finds miserably boring. He raises an eyebrow and says, "You tend bar? Great." he motions with his head, "Make me a Tom Collins. We'll consider that your interview."

He heads back to Joseph, openly leaning on the bar for support or at least to take weight off his leg. "Wow, solo sailing the Pacific? That's adventurous. You might want to look into making it a little farther North though? Town's pretty garbage in the winter, or so I'm told. There's better places to stay." Safer places too.

Zach looks a little caught out at the immediate request, but recovers quickly. There's a moment, a very brief moment, where he might be about to ask if Easton is sure, but discretion wins out and he slides behind the bar. It takes a few moments to orient himself to the layout of the bar before he starts grabbing the things he needs. The ice goes in to the tall glass first, followed by gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and topped off with soda. As he makes it he chats companionably. "It was suggested I stay at the murder motel, or perhaps the B&B over on.. Oak? Spruce? Anyway, I chose the latter. For probably obvious reasons."

Joe's handshake is firm, callused....though he isn't one of those that makes a handshake into a competition. "Pleasure, Mr. Marshall," he says, mildly. "And, well, got to do something with my time, now that I'm retired." A beat, as he looks into Easton's face, trying to gauge something there. "Mo' expensive, too. Seattle's nice, but I try and berth there for the rest of the winter, I won't have a boat come spring." Then there's a slow grin, "'sides, I ain't picky. I'm by the sea and near the forest, 's all the entertainment I need." A look at Zach. "That motel isn't so bad. I've slept in plenty worse." But then, it has privacy and a door that can lock - better than sharing a stateroom the size of a closet with two snoring fellow officers.

"Yea oh fuck no. Do not stay at the murder motel." Easton looks a little askance that it was even an option. "Who did you piss off enough that they suggested you stay there?" He glances to Joe as he mentions staying there and he smirks, "It's not so bad. Until it is." He takes the drink from Zach and tastes it with a shrug and says, "Not bad." Really how bad would it have to be for Easton to not drink it though. He says, "I'll have you fill out an application, grab your info and get you on the schedule." He puts a hand on his shoulder and pushes him gently "Now get back on the other side of the bar."

Zach dips his head with a pleased smile at the comment from Easton. "Yes boss," he says with a shit-eating grin, not resisting the push and moving back to the other side of the bar as he's told, sitting next to Joe. "Hey, uh, there any problems with taking shifts elsewhere as well, long as they don't clash?" he asks Easton. There's a slight grimace. "Car needs some work and uh..." he shrugs, making the universal symbol for 'I'm broke'. He gives Joe a smile. "Yeah? Apparently a 'few months since the last murder' isn't much to worry about, so I'm told. Still went for the B&B. I don't like mixing sleep and death."

Witness Joe consider trying to be perturbed and failing. He shrugs. "Well, if I'm stickin' around, s'pose I might as well look for somethin' longer term. Even the Bates Motel isn't cheap beyond a day or two." There's something abstracted in his look, like he's half-listening to another thread of conversation entirely.

Erin doesn't look like she's here much to linger for very long. Missing are her fashionably expensive clothing and in the place of the dress and heels are fitness gear from the local boutique. A black pair of yoga style pants, plain white tennis shoes, a black sports bra beneath a racer back style tank top. It's kind of cold out, so she's just pulling on a hoodie over it. Her hair is back in a pony tail. It's directly towards the bar she looks and something she sees there has her walking that way. Luckily, she doesn't even look hungover, Like an Addington would dare walk around with something so common as a hangover. Once at the bar, she doesn't necessarily spare the others even a glance, but looks directly to Easton. "Hey," she says for a greeting.

The 'Yes boss' gets a smirk and a shake of his head. "No, that's fine. Take what you can get, go dance at Platinum for all I care." He realizes that Zach being new may not realize that's the local strip club but that's part of the fun in suggesting it. He nods about the car, "Well text if you need a ride. It's a small town, you can probably find one of the cooks or servers to hop in with." The staff is tight knit, even if they all bust each others chops (like any good restaurant/bar staff).

Erin's appearance causes Easton's hungover and very long face to somehow get even longer. He sucks in a breath and puts on his cheeriest fake serving people smile and says, "Hey. Can I get you somethin?" He gives her a bit of a narrowed eyes look at the end, as she's not exactly dressed to grab a bite to eat or a drink.

"There are plenty of places in town to rent." On account of so many people being brutally murdered, he doesn't add to Joe. "You can probably find something cheap."

"Yeah?" Zach muses to Easton, glancing down at himself. "I'm not much of a dancer," he admits with an amused smile. "But I might be able to make up for it," he ponders, crossing his arms. He shrugs after a moment. "Thanks though, I'll keep the offer of rides in a mind." He tilts his head in greeting to Erin as she makes her way in, but since she doesn't look all that interested in anyone other than Easton, the young man turns his attention to Joe instead. "Yeah. I thought I'd see if I could find work before I started looking for some place to rent, y'know? Don't wanna get stuck somewhere and have no way to pay for it."

Erin doesn't look like she's here for drinks. Not in the least. So there's mild curiosity as he regards her for a long moment. Then he's nodding to Addington, idly. "Anywhere else I should know not to stay 'cause of a bad rep?" He might even be serious. Zach gets a lazy, "What brought you here? This seems like a town that a lot of people kind of blow in to."

Erin does contemplate a drink but ends up not ordering anything. What she does do is study Easton for a moment, taking in the narrowed eyes and all. "You knew I would come, eventually. I want to talk to you in private sometime, not here and now, but I figured stopping by would be more effective in nailing down a time and place than trying to text." The movement from the man at the bar catches her eye and she turns enough to greet him with an unhurried nod, though no other accompanied gestures or words for now. Damned if the question asked by the other patron doesn't draw her in though. "There are plenty of places around with a bad rep. I hope you didn't choose the Murder Motel." It's only brief, but then her attention is back on Easton.

You knew I would come Easton lets out a slightly deflating sigh and nods at her. "Yea. You got plans later? Come by for a drink around close?" That does seem to be when he meets people the most as of late. It's convenient and there's booze. He undoes the top button on his black collared dress shirt, apparently needing to get a little more air. He suppresses a chuckle as Erin warns the men off the place as well. "Honestly?" Fuck this whole town is what Easton would very much like to tell Joe. "Probably doesn't matter. I mean, it's a quiet little town." He looks at Erin, as if to shrug and express that it's too complicated to explain the truth sometimes, the raise of his eyebrows though does invite her to try if she wants to.

Zach snickers a little as Erin also passes judgement on the Murder Motel. "See, man, you never stay in a place with Murder in the name!" he tells Joe. "Me? Just drifting through," he says with a shrug. "Seemed as good a place as any to stop for a while." Eyes flick over to Easton as he unbuttons his shirt, then over to Erin, and then back to his temporary companion. "How about you, what brings you here?"

He's gone faintly pokerfaced, has the sailor. A fractional spreading of Joe's hands in response to Erin deigning to comment. Yep, got it in one.

Easton gets a wry upnod. Cut the lack of enthusiasm with a knife. "Me? Just drifted in myself - literally." He nods towards the windows veiled with rain, towards where the boats bob at their moorings. "Gotta little boat down there, the Surprise. Sailing around the Pacific. I think I'mma end up stopping here for the winter, though. This coast is no joke in this season, and I could use the rest." Something almost resigned about it - this is where his internal compass has brought him to, even if it gets less and less prepossessing.

"I'm headed to Kelly's Gym. Joey is doing his fundraiser thing tonight. For kids and Christmas, I think. Or something similar. You should leave a bartender to close up and show up. Get out at least. The more you show your face, the sooner the talk will die down." Erin offers a tentative smile though, it's only a suggestion. "Quiet little town?" Echoing his comment, she looks more than skeptical. "Some days are better than others," she carefully cedes, opting against the complicated truth and going for vague. Dark eyes drift to the window, looking at the rain spattered glass and the water beyond, proof positive she was listening to the conversation. "Nothing wrong with surviving a winter in Gray Harbor. You could park your boat with the houseboats and live there for the winter. It may get cold and lonely though. Advertise for roommates. I'd offer my spare room to rent, but I've got no clue who you are." An arched brow in his direction. "Who are you anyway?" She had no idea of the names. "I'm Erin."

"Fuck the talk. I don't care." His voice is not any louder than his usual volume and there's no heat behind the words. Easton takes a big drink of his Tom Collins, wishing it were something stronger and less fruity all of the sudden. He shakes his head at Erin, suddenly realizing that okay, maybe he does care a little about the talk. He didn't realize quite how small this town way. "But, thanks for the advice." He at least begrudgingly admits that she is trying to help. Maybe.

"Addington." He smiles and feels the need to add Erin's last name. "Erin Addington." He looks at Joe and Zach as if that's important or at least like he takes pleasure in correcting Erin's lack of mentioning it.

"Zach Morgan," the man of the same name introduces himself, offering a hand to Erin. Her surname gets a blank look. "Hey, I'm going to take no offense that you don't just want random people living out of your house. Specially not considering you have a literal murder motel here," he says, like it's just comment sense. He tilts his head at Easton. "You want me to make something else, boss?" he asks, a crooked half-grin shot to the man.

"That's what I'm thinkin' so far," Joe agrees, mildly. "I'm Joe Cavanaugh." Going by his middle name, these days - less likely that the fading ghost of public celebrity will catch up with him. "And I'm not lookin' for a roommate situation, I don't think. Too many years spent livin' in very close quarters." The mention of Erin's surname doesn't seem to ring any bells yet....but then, he's a very new arrival. Then he jerks a thumb at Zach. "What he said - not like you know me from a hole in the ground," he agrees. Ignoring Easton and Erin's conversation. It's not for a newcomer to pry.

Erin doesn't take offense in Easton's come back. "Hey. we're friends by default and I kind of look out for my friends." She doesn't say Bennie's name, she doesn't have to. "Trust me, I've felt the same since Gohl's funeral. About the talk and all." Then Easton goes and mentions her last name, just inviting the talk or the stupid guilty looks or the pitying ones. Those were the worst. Both were equally bad. She tilts her chin up and her more guarded mannerisms return. "Only in name. An Addington only in name. I've been disowned and disinherited." A careless shrug is given even at the pleasure Easton seems to take in giving it. Her hand is given over to Zach, "A pleasure meeting you." Now she's just being proper for propriety's sake. "And you as well," replying to Joe's introduction.

"I'm going to the Gym, I had no intention on staying this long. See you around E." A nod to the others. "Welcome to the town. You'll both be regulars before too long." Pushing away from the bar, she heads for the door, chin tilted up just a little. Foolish damn pride.

Easton looks over at Zach's offer to make him something else. "Yea, make me fuckin' time machine. Can you do that for me?" He says it just angrily enough to make it uncomfortable possibly. But then he shakes his head and says, "Nah. You want a drink or something tho?"

Erin's talk of the funeral just gets a nod from Easton. He's not the only one who's had it rough since then, and for some people it's not even self-inflicted. He shakes his head and says, "I'll try and make it Kelly's. Thanks for stoppin' in Erin." He does not comment on her last name or what it does or doesn't mean.

He looks at the two men and then decides, screw it, he needs a smoke. He nods at them and says, "Someone will be back out shortly.." and he heads out into the rain out on the big deck to smoke a cigarette. He might come back in, or maybe just stay out there getting soaked for a while.