2019-12-11 - There's Always a Lighthouse

There's no rest for the weary, but fortunately Hera isn't one who is too tired. Yesterday was a 'chill out' day so today is the day to get things organized. First, the dog had to be taken out and the place had to be inspected for any 'animal' issues. No telling when the cat or dog might not be as civlized as they should be. Then, the litter boxes needed to be cleaned. That was easy enough for Tidy Cat brand! Then goes over to clean the legs of the easels beause they are totally covered in 'off white' colored cat fur. Just as soon as she does though, the gallery cat goes back to brush against them. They ARE his easels so the stupid hooman should know better.

The canvases on the easels are checked and an empty one is brought out as well. It might be time to start a new project or two but, there's other things to check off. Speaking of checking this off she looks over at a list, "Need to find a cheaper brand of Shiraz." she says, "Think the Spanish wines are off the list though." But, she did have a few left over bottles of cider and she puts them on the main counter for now. Tis the season for cider anyway.

It had been several attempts on Maggi's behalf to actually get Leon to come to Hera' s place of business, this having much less to do with her and everything to do with him. As far as places went the detail to invitational space was almost painstakingly welcoming here. Part of Maggi felt Hera should offer hospitality courses. They had gotten halfway here on several days based on Maggi's raving reviews in fact. Pushing into the door of the ruby establishment, Maggi's slender fingers tug at Leon's sleeve. Almost a foot shorter than her cohort, this may be a comical view, but Maggi was going to see that cat today and Leon was going to talk about his art even if it killed them both. Maggi gives a genuine grin seeing Hera when the two enter. She is sporting a gray beanie, plain black tee, skinny jeans, Doc Martin's, and her leather jacket. "Hey Hera!" She greets warmly. "This is Leon," she tilts her head back toward the large man.

Hans takes in a deep breath and doesn't make a move as he sees Maggi. However, when Mr. Large comes in the overworked and underpaid German Sheppard stands up at attention. This is a new person and he immediately goes into guard duty. Somewhere, somehow, Hera or other trainers have worked with the animal to where he's always on edge when someone new comes in. Then Hera shows her dog a certain gesture and, it still stands, but it seems to be less tense. There's not many things more intimidating than a German Sheppard ready to defend its home.

The cat is chill though and wonders if Maggi brought snacks. Seems that Hera isn't giving Queso the "Temptations" that he wants so he's trying to 'make the move of cuteness' to get one of these hoomans to take pity on him. No one can train a cat, right? Well if someone brought the right treat, maybe Queso would talk, or at least meow. He does go up to Maggi and begin to brush against her leg.

The gallery owner does take all of this in though. She can't help but do a bit of a double take at the man's size but she doesn't focus on it long. Maggi is small, her friend, notsomuch. 😉 But the redhead is hospitable and she goes over to extend her hand, "Welcome to Vivid Dreams. I appreciate you coming in. Would either of you like something to drink? Wine, cider, coffee, water? It's complimentary."

Yeah, sure, Leon felt a little tall next to Maggi. He was a big guy, and getting visibly dragged into the store was a funny enough image to him to be grinning just a bit. Thankfully he wasn't wearing the slightly tacky self-branded parka today, in a neat woolen jacket and jeans, boot-cut fallen over some Red Wings. As he sees Her a and Maggi speaks to her, he pipes up jokingly.

"Uh, yes, ma'am?" even being a townie, there was the faint bit of American drawl every soldier seemed to take on from long service. "Could you call the police to report a kidnapping? Possible blackmail, or copyright issue? I'm not sure." He was still grinning, so hopefully this was a joke.

Hans gets a... Look. Something that was equal parts attention, wariness, and respect. There were plenty of German Sheppards in service for bomb sniffing and other duties. It was a reminder of things for Leon, but he contains any true reaction.

Maggi nods, letting go of Leon's jacket sleeve. "Please, whatever you recommend!" The wine last time had been so delightful, Hera was one of the few people Maggi would let pick a drink for her anytime. She gives a small smile to Hans, and then her eyes go straight to Queso. While the cat may not be able to be trained properly, Queso could probably train Maggi. While not having any treats this time, she could certainly bring some in the future. Wild excitement thaws a typically icy gaze! "Queso cat!" She exclaims, kneeling down to pet him. This was everything she ever wanted.

Queso sits on his fuzzy butt and Maggi kneels down. When she does, he begins to bat a soft paw in her direction. But, she might not have hit the exact right 'petting' spot to activate the purrrrr button just yet. "It looks like he missed you." Hera smiles as she watches the interaction. "He's getting more and more picky about his foods. I've changed Hans' food though."

Though if you ask the dog he might still feel underappreciated, even if he is ALWAYS working. Regardless, the German Sheppard senses the respect that the larger man offers and, soldier to soldier to soldier, the two might even be able to connect on some level, even if all the dog could say is 'wuff.'

Hera goes to get a bottle of spiced cider though and says, "I ordered some extra bottles for the season. Tomorrow I should be getting in some Gluwine. Now that's perfect for the holidays." she goes to pour a few cups and she asks of Leon, "So, you are interested in art Sir?"

Ok, so neither woman is going to pay his flagrant bullshitery any mind. He utters a soft, suffering sigh, but smiles at Hera good-naturedly. "Sorry, uh... Honestly? That's kind of a weird question for me to try to answer?" His eyes follow the drink she was serving, nonverbally pointing to it and giving the thumbs-up. He was fine with literally anything to make this a less awkward proposition.

"See, I keep saying I'm not really an artist, I just take pictures. Others argue that." A shrug is offered while the emphasized word accompanies a glance in Maggi's direction. "I like doing it, bit I've never really... had any..." No, Leon, you've had plenty of training, find the right word. "I've never taken classes or anything..."

Maggi grins at Hera. "It's because he knows how cute he is!" She giggles, placing a palm beneath the paw and letting the tiny pads push down on her hand. Queso could be as much of a diva as he desired, Maggi would love every minute. If the spiced cider is good enough she may even be able to convince Mariah to stock it at the Pourhouse. Eyes still on the cat she replies to Leon's negativity.

"I showed Hera your work and she said you weren't trash and space could be worked out, don't insult the artists sense of art." Maggi herself was no artist, she only liked looking. Knowing something about the way people worked though, she knew when something conveyed emotion. "Spiced Cider sounds great Hera!" This was possibly the happiest Leon had seen Maggi outside of her interactions with him, Queso may even be liked better.

There's nothing like a gallery cat to break the ice and take care of the awkwardness of the situation. What happens next even surprises Hera. Queso suddenly makes a move to jump up on Maggi's shoulder. Hopefully it turns out to be a smooth move and the cat doesn't wind up clawing her or her shirt. Claws are definitely going to be used in this situation of course but, if all goes well, Maggi should have a new parrot with no feathers for a bit. Given the woman's smaller size, things could get interesting.

"Wow" Hera even remarks as she sees that, "Rarely does he do that." She makes sure that the two have their ciders as she goes on, "Art is often subjective and you don't have to have formal training to be a good artist." Then comes the offer, "If you are willing, I'd love to show some of your work in display for others to come in and view. It's always good to have a variety."

Leon didn't miss Maggi's energy and delight. The cat is given a narrow look, measuring, the assessment of a rival. Then Leon's back to nervous grousing, an almost comical affectation for a large man you would expect confidence from. There was actually a small strap over his shoulder, and when he pulls on it, a camera case is brought round into view. When he unzips it, he pulls out some things. There are a few negative cuts, as well as a cased SD card. A small stack of a few photographs are retrieved as well, "I uh... Well she mentioned you wanted to know what medium, so I brought a couple.." Of course there was the actual photographs of the child watching the sunset, or sunrise, whichever you percieved, and the campfire with the shadowed boots, but also a few more. Long exposure pictures of the empty streets of Gray Harbor on Thanksgiving. A dark and stormy picture of one of the lighthouses off the coast. One of the quirks of his sets were they included the shots that were out of focus or with different exposure, as if showing it took work to actually get the right shot.

For the newcomer who may be interested in wandering into Vivid Dreams, it's not that much of a busy scene. Maggi appears to be dealing with Queso, the cute gallery cat, as he tries to imitate a parrot and climb up on her shoulder. Hans, the dutiful German Sheppard, watches it all but he doesn't seem all that tense. People come and go here all the time and as long as no one is a threat, the dog doesn't seem to tense too much, even if he is under appreciated. Hera appears to be having a pleasant conversation with the large man here and as he mentions some of his pictures. The gallery owner is happy to hear as much and, even more so, is happy that the easels begin to look like easels since Queso is occupied with Maggi.

The redheaded woman does take the time to examine the pictures with interest. "Very nice." she says, "I can tell you took a lot of time and effort to work on these. In particular, I really think I like the one with the lighthouses, very nice. But, do you have any preference?" She asks of the photographer.

When she got a moment Grace has decided to take Hera up on dropping by. Thus she walks in, wearing a simple black top and black jeans for now. Stepping inside and taking a moment to look around. Spotting Maggi as she is over by the cat. But the only one she really recoginzes is Hera. Offering a wave. Anyone else will get a smile and wave as well, if they look her way.

Given the thickness of the jackets leather, Queso would find easy and pain free holds on her shoulders. Maggi gives a little start and then giggle of surprise as he climbs up. Golden hair rests against Queso's fur, Maggi's eyes closed in contentment. She was listening to the conversation ping pong back and forth, very pleased that one of Hera's favorites was from the day she and Leon had met.

One hand reaches up behind her head to stroke off-white fur in slow motions until such time as spiced cider is received. While she had been rather pushy over the process, decisions on actual art were between those two, unless Leon considered any of the displayed pieces of other artists for his own baron walls, which were in desperate need of decoration. It was decided, Maggi was officially going to get a cat. Every animal forever was going to be compared to Queso though and she doubted many were near as cool. Her eyes open with the door and she nods at the new arrival, still under the feline's spell.

Leon offers a very large shrug at the possibility of a favorite. "I really just take a lot of pictures. Usually others decided what was useful or not." As the intelligence community is apt to do. "Uh, sorry..." He really does apologize a lot. He sees Grace enter and cocks a head, giving her a brief smile as she waves, "You can ignore me a few if you need to. I'll try to pick some."

Hera looks over at the door when there's a newcomer and smiles as she sees the heroine of important shoes! "Hi!" she says and she goes over to offer Grace a hug. "It's good to see you, I'm glad you came by." She remembers Grace from the 'ladies night' and chuckles after offering the hug, "You're safe though, I'm wearing flats." Hans looks over just to make sure the new lady is 'safe' and noting the hug, he assumes she is. "Can I get you some cider? I'm just discussing these nice pictures with this gentleman. You'll need to see them." Then she looks from Maggi and Leon to Grace, "Has everyone here met? If you don't like cider I have wine and coffee, nothing too harsh though."

And yeah, Queso has Maggi totally under his spell, totally. He does those 'slow blinks' to show he's happy perched on her shoulder. Then, he just starts purrrring. There's not too many shoulders that the cat likes, but this is one of them.

Grace smiles to Hera, "Hi!" If offered in return. Hugging her in turn. "Happy to drop by. Looks interesting as well. Besides, I am close by." Gesturing towards the general direction of where Firehouse is. Snickering about Hera's shoes, even looking down. Herself wearing running shoes. "I'm happy to help with shoes. They looked expensive. So happy to be able to save them." Is offered with a bright smile. Spotting Hans looking her way she does kneel down. Hand reached out but attention towards the other people, letting the dog come over if he wants. "I am sure he would like Winston." Reaching for her phone to show a picture. (https://gray-harbor.com/file/grace/grace-winston.jpg). "Cider sounds nice. Thank you." Rising to her feet proper then. "Sorry. Hi, it's nice to meet you." Offered to both Maggi and Leon. A small curtsey of sorts, as she wasn't sure how they all wanted to greet one another, "Hi, I'm Grace." Smiling up at the cat as well. Glancing to her phone again, as it is still in her hand. Reading it and making a small face, a bit amused, before sending off a message and putting the phone away. Taking a moment to look around the gallery from where she stands.

Hera pours a medium sized glass of cider and makes her way over to Grace. She does take a moment to look at the image, because, she knows how important pets are. "We could arrange play dates." she offers, "Supervised though. When Hans knows someone all is well, but first meetings can be awkward for him. So, you enjoyed the night?" Speaking of pictures, she takes the intiative and shows Grace a few more of Leon's images, "I think these pictures would look good on display. What do you think? Never hurts to have something else showcased. Kincaid portraits are great but with the right jazz, photos could really look good around here too."

"Leon." He says, trying to put away the nervousness that vomes from art being judged, even if that was counter to what he just said. Being personable, he could do. "Gyre." He adds, a last name, probably inconsequential, even townies dodnt know him well. He steps forward briefly to offer a hand to shake.

Leon pics out one of the lighthouse with the sun in the background, a great mix of golden light and darkness. Seems a lot of his pictures were at least a tad in the broody side. Kinda perfect for this town, though. He shows Hera the print of it. There were connected negatives. "How bout this?"

Grace smiles and nods to Hera, "Playdate could be fun. Winston is usually calm, but cocky. So giving it some time would be wise." Nodding about the night, while moving to look at the images. "Was quite fun. Got to talk some with Isabella as well, before I had to run." Looking over the images, "I like it. The framing of the woods and such is interesting." She offers and looks to Leon. "They are good. And it is nice to meet you Leon." Taking the offered hand and shaking it. Returning it to her side and taking a sip before looking to Hera, "I think pictures belong here as well. A mix is always nice. It's so different, and variety is nice."

Hera winks to Grace in a friendly manner and says, "It's a date then." A date for the dogs! It wouldn't hurt Hans to have some canine interaction after all. "I really really like this lighthouse. It's alive, but also partially abstract. If you're ok with it, I'll get a framed reproduction done ASAP and have it displayed. Ah, the sheer beauty of photography." That's a task, but something she might want to get to working on now. "Actually, there's some calls I need to make so, going to get started on that when when I get the specifics I'll come back. Please, everyone make yourself at home. I'll go tend to somethings now."

Leon's eyes flick downward briefly as he shakes Grace's hand, showing maybe a hint of surprise. This girl had a good damn handshake. Appearances being deceiving gave him a bit of a pleased smirk. He nods to Hera, "I'm gonna grab one of your cards and send some other stuff, as well. Theres a few more I uh... Forgot..." His hand moves to the back of his head to rub closely shorn hair, that typical nervous man reaction.

"Ok, seriously, I can't take all these compliments," he skillfully deflects, though really kinda curious as his eyes turn back to Grace. "What do you do, Grace?" He briefly glances Maggi's way to see hownshebwas doing with the feline conquerer.

Grace only smiles brightly after the handshake, perhaps used to the reaction, or not having noticed. Looking between the two before waving to Hera as she leaves, "See you later." Grinning about the date, nodding. Then looking to Leon. "You deserve it, from what I'm seeing." She assures him. "Waitress at the moment." She admits. "But I do a lot of other stuff as well." Shrugging. Not having got all her ideas off the ground yet. Glancing to Maggi, but letting her enjoy the gallery and the cat for now. Glancing to her phone, sending away a few more meesages. "Sorry." She apologizes to Leon. "Do you photograph professionally, or just a hobby?" She asks, you never know after all.

Leon's eyes lift skyward as Grace lays more flattery at his feet, rocking backward, a palm held up in faux surrender. All he needed was a white flag. He punctuates by giving her a slightly narrow-eyed look, but the grin makes it more joke than threat.

"Absolute hobbyist." He gladly confesses, "I'm actually a locksmith." He holds up his phone briefly, "And I know the drill. I don't pick up my phone, I don't work." He was the only one in town, with the least creative name possible. He jerks a thumb at the biker/student/valkyrie, "But my therapist says focusing on normalcy and hobbies would be good for me." He adds in that inquisitive squint again, "You're not waitressing at the Grizzley are you? They're gruff enough. Actual physical threat would only make the service scarier."

Grace smiles and nods, "Nothing against hobbies. And it can always become a full time thing." Perhaps in a similar boat. "Locksmith sound interesting though. Do you enjoy it?" A nod about what the therapist has said. "Her?" Is asked. Then Smirking about herself. "I like the Grizzly, but no. I'm over att Firehouse Burgers and BBQ." She explains. "Perhaps I should ask Gina if she need help though." Raising a brow though at the last words, "I'm intimidating?" She asks, with a look of surprise and innocence.

Leon nods as Maggi is indicated, "In a form." He answers vaguely, knowing Maggi's credentials didn't always sound as good as she was effective. "And yeah, I love it. Really interesting trade. You put your hand on probably twenty a day, and most people have no idea how they work." Then his chin is raised, looking down from on her from his height and just feeling... Nothing. His Lie Detector gave him nothing. "Just asking that, with that tone off voice... I sense danger." He intones dramatically.

Grace nods a bit, not pushing it. Only offering a brief glance to Maggi again. As for Leon reading her, and the use of glimmer has her a bit more reserved. "Well, I try and be nice. I do work out though. So you are a bit right." Though her smile falters a bit. Not saying anything but giving him a look. Perhaps more trying to get him to interact instead of skipping that aprt and going to the learning part. "If you want to know more we can probably talk over coffee or tea." Is offered after a moment of silence.

Well shit, Leon, you tipped your hand. And literally the day after you find out more people could be just like you. His lips lengthen into a grimace, eyes dropping as his hand lifts to the back of his head again, scratching. He briefly looks at Maggi a little nervously, too. Old, distrustful habits die hard. "Oh, yeah, Sorry if I'm keeping you. I'll uh... I'm sure I'll see you around sometime. Small town." Not an outright refusal or acceptance. It's all very sitcom, what with Maggi right over there.

Grace doesn't seem too upset, shaking her head. "It's ok. But talking is more fun." She suggests and smiles to him. "Not keeping me." She assures him. "I do want to do some wrestling." She offers. Glancing to Maggi before looking back to Leon as well.

He looks appropriately chagrined at what he viewed as a veiled rebuke, holding up a palm silently and nodding hisnhead to show he understood her meaning. When she says the last bit, though, he smacks a fiat in a palm, snaps a finger and points at her, "I friggin knew i-..." Then he cuts off as he follows her look, eyebrow raised. Was that a hint at something?

Grace smiles and nods, "Oh?" Asked, at his words. The look probably just her checking the other people in the room, and the animals. "I mean, more like it's a hobby. Done some self-defense." Shrugging. "So I guess you weren't too far off. But not many think I'm intimidating when they meet me."

"No offense, but you're head and shoulders shorter than me with a handshake like that?" He shakes his head, a negative sounding 'mm mmm' from his closed lips before he looks back to her and smirks, "If I can say I learned anything in the last ten years, its that you never underestimate anyone. Ever. You'd probably judo me over a shoulder like my old staff sergeant."

Grace let out a giggle. "I see. and no clue." Raising a brow, "Veteran?" She asks him. Briefly looking at her phone writing something and taking a deep breath before looking to Leon again. "How was it?" She adds. Curious, but wanting his side rather than just thanking and not daring to talk. Letting him take command of the subject.

Leon's phone goes off just when he opens his mouth to respond. His lips clap shut again as he pulls it out and looks. "Sure enough. Welp." He looks sideways to Maggi, noticing how she was so enthralled with the cat. "I gotta take this. Sorry. It was really nice to meet you." He offers a short wave and picks it up, pushing out the door to not be rude to the galleries' inhabitants.

Grace finally finishes the cider. "Take care". Letting Leon run off. Looking at her phone and biting her lip before waving to Maggi before having to run off as well.