2019-12-29 - Snowy Drinks and Talks

It's a slow evening at the bar; it's still the holidays, and a lot of the 'usual' crowd is home for the holidays, or drinking somewhere quieter and alone. There's canned music playing overhead, and the interior of the bar has only a couple of patrons scattered at various tables. Alexander is sitting at the bar, as close to a heating vent as he can get. He's still bundled up like he's out in the dead winter, his fingers wrapped around his drink like he's a hobo trying to warm up for the cold winter's night.

The holidays aren't as important when you've sort of left what remains of family behind. Rick spent some of it working, trying to let his co-workers get to spend time with their loved ones. Aside from that, and whatever moments people has dragged him somewhere to be social, he's just been doing nothing, more or less. Making his way into the bar, he looks around at the various people present before he moves over to get himself something to drink.

Alexander looks up and over at the door, as he often does, keeping an eye on anyone who comes in or out of the bar. At least tonight, it's not hard. When he notices Rick, his eyes remain on the man. And, after a moment, he lifts a hand. "Officer Carlson. Good evening." A gesture invites him to take a seat at the bar with him, although his expression suggests he expects to be turned down.

Rick smiles as he hears his name, offering a nod and a smile in return. "Mister Clayton. Good evening." Getting his drink, he moves over to join the man. "I hope everything is well, and that the holidays are going well for you." There's a brief pause as he sees how the man is bundled up, but he doesn't ask for now. After all, some people feel temperature different than others.

"Surprisingly enough, they're going all right," Alexander says, with a faint smile. "Bit of frostbite and almost being eaten alive by snow demons was the worst of it. I survived dinner with my girlfriend's family, though, so that's all I really asked of the holiday." He raises his glass from where he's bundled up like a snowman. "What about you, Officer Carlson. How are the holidays treating you?"

"Work, mostly. Someone needs to make sure those that has the chance to go to dinners with their families and such things are actually available to do that, right?" Rick replies, with a smile. There's just a few seconds of something distant in his expression as he says that. There's another brief pause, before he nods a bit. "Snow demons? Is that why you look like you have just gotten inside a warm building after having slept outside the night before?" It's offered a bit quietly.

Between the snowstorm and the holidays generally making people MIA, Dante has been going a bit shack-wacky. Which is why he shoulders open the door of the bar and does the stomp-dance to get off any snow or slush that lingers. He's wearing a full length black wool coat and he's carrying a laptop bag. There's a dusting of white on his dark hair, like coconut on chocolate - but it only lasts a moment before it just makes his hair all wet. "I thought it wasn't supposed to snow very much around these parts," he says to no one in particular.

"It's kind of you to do that. Any interesting crimes?" Alexander says, a little hopefully. And then nods. "Yes. Some fairly mild hypothermia, a damaged eardrum, but it's healing. I just can't get warm. At all." He shakes his head. "I thought maybe alcohol might help. It hasn't." Another glance towards the door, and seeing Dante, his hand comes up in a gesture of greeting. "It's rare, but not unheard of," he says, if the author comes into speaking distance.

"Not as interesting as many of the other things happening around here," Rick replies, before he frowns as he nods at Alexander's words. "Hopefully it will pass soon," he offers to the part about the man not being able to get warm. Sipping his own drink, he offers a nod and a smile to Dante as well. "Could be worse, right?" he offers, after a few brief moments.

"I don't know, saying 'it could be worse' in this town seems like it's tempting some fate goblins." Dante pats leather gloved hands together, then tugs them off. The heavy coat follows, revealing his usual overdressed state. Today he's practically in pajamas. It's a black suit with a soft sheen, a white shirt and a white pocket square. Positively bland for him.

Alexander grins. "I guess it could be, yes. But it is rather a challenge to the horrors that be." He takes a drink of the vodka in his glass, before considering Dante. "You're looking more sober than usual, Mister Taylor. Is everything alright? Have you had a chance to spend some time with friends, if not family?"

Minerva was in need of fresh air and a drink. And she didn't want to go to the Pourhouse. So she decided to make her way over to where Easton is usually posted up. She's dressed in her usual black dress with a pair of black flat soled boots. A wool overcoat is over that and her new hat is perched upon her head. Her eyepatch is fit snuggly over her left eye. She gives a look around and then makes her way quietly towards the bar, taking a seat at the counter with a dip of her head to the others in greeting.

Rick was about to take another sip as he hears Dante's words, and he nods a bit quietly. "I guess that's right," he offers, before he smiles as he listens to the question from Alexander, waiting to hear how the other man replies. He glances around, offering Minerva a smile and a nod in greeting, before finally taking that sip of his drink.

"Ooh, ouch, Alexander. You wound me," says Dante with a chuckle. He taps on the bar, "Working on it. And no, not particularly. A little. But I hate driving in the snow, so I've mostly been holed up at my place except for the occasional foray when someone else drove. I had planned on going to Seattle for Christmas, but the storm scuttled those plans. Yourself?" He nods in greeting to the other two, and says a cheerful, "Happy Christmas."

Alexander blinks a couple of times at Dante, then his eyes widen. "Oh. I meant...color wise. Fashionably sober. Not sober in the sense of not-drunk. Although you seem to be that, too. I'd guess? I don't really have a sense of how sober you are in most times. I assume fairly?" He seems to realize that he's rambling and it's not helping, so he just winces. "Sorry. Um." His eyes skitter aside to Minerva. "Hello, Minerva. How are you doing?" Save me from myself his dark eyes beg.

"Dark and Stormy please." Minerva orders a drink as the bartender stops by. She gives a look to Rick and there's a red lipped smile, "Hello." she greets. Then to Dante's cheerful greeting there's a smile, "Happy Hanukkah." she replies. Then she looks to Alexander and there's a bit of a chuckle, "Heya, Alexander. I'm...here." she admits. "You doing okay?" she asks him. Being a Mentalist she knew he probably wasn't. But better to ask!

Rick is unable to hold back a brief grin as he listens, draining the rest of his drink. He pauses as he hears Minerva's drink order. "That sounds like an interesting drink name," he offers, before ordering himself another drink. "Driving in snow can be a bit rough," he offers, before he adds, "Ever tried doing so on two wheels?"

"Oh!" says Dante as he looks down at his suit. He flicks the edges and undoes the button before sitting at the bar. "I suppose I am. I went through many of my brighter suits over the holidays and haven't had a chance to make a trip to the dry cleaners. Aforementioned poor roads." He orders a glass of red wine, not his usual gin and tonic. "On two wheels? A bicycle? No, no." Then, "I believe a Dark and Stormy is rum and ginger beer, yes?"

"I'm doing okay," Alexander says. "Just cold and recovering. But the holidays have been lovely. Happy Hanukkah." A lift of his drink to her. Then he gives Rick a bemused look. "Are you trying to make more work for the paramedics? Riding a bike in snow seems like a terrible idea." His gaze flicks to Dante, and a sudden grin appears. "You ought to try the leather again. That looked fairly good on you." His voice is light and teasing. "Thanks. By the way. For checking up on things, after that. Mister Cruz was well?"

"It's similar to a Moscow Mule. Rum, ginger beer, slice of lime." Minerva tells Rick with a bit of a smile. Then to Dante's words there's a nod, "What he said as well." she smiles to that. She takes her hat off and settles it on the stool to her left, she brushes out her bangs with her fingers after that and looks back to Alexander and the others. "There will be people trying to bury someone on a bike in snow if they don't get hit." she muses. "The holiday has been thankfully quiet on my end." she admits. "How is Isabella doing?" she asks Alexander.

"Motorcycle, but yes. It's not as bad as it looks, really. Just need to go a bit more carefully than in the summer," Rick replies, before he nods at the description of the drink. "That sounds rather nice," he offers with a smile. He nods to the part about the holiday having been quiet. "The best holidays, I think," he offers.

"Not outside the bedroom," says Dante to Alexander's comment about leather. "Or in our Dreams, apparently. Ah, cheers," he says to the bartender as the glass is deposited. "And yes, he was all right." There's something...slightly caged about his words, but he doesn't elaborate. "As nice as my flat is, I'm tired of being in it. I'll be happy when this snow melts."

Alexander makes a sound. "She got more of it than I did, this last time getting lost. Her foot is damaged, although I've tended it as best I could, and she's going to see a doctor. And her eardrums were more severely damaged." The words might sound clinical, but the man's face is dark with worry. "But she'll be alright. She'll heal." He doesn't miss Dante's odd cageyness, though, and narrows his eyes at the man. "I don't have much contact with Mister Cruz," he admits. "But..." and there he stops, shakes his head. A glance back at Rick. "Quiet is nice. I could stand to be bored more often."

"Honestly in this town if you die on a motorcycle you're lucky." Minerva states in a sober tone. Given she's missing one eye already maybe she's had experience. Though the talk of leather and bedrooms make her give a bit of a look between Dante and Alexander and there's an amused look, but she says nothing. Though her eyes squint at Alexander and his answer, "I'm guessing I missed out on something." she frowns. "Hopefully she will heal up. I should ask her if she needs some puppy therapy to help." she smiles.

"The motorcycle hasn't let me down yet," Rick replies, before he pauses as he listens to the talk for now. Frowning as he sees Alexander's expression. "Let's hope she heals quickly," he offers, before he shrugs again as he listens for now.

The fact that they're talking about what sounds like terrible injuries is not lost on Dante. He furrows his brow. "Stumble into a spot of trouble?" asks Dante. He's never sure how open he can be about things in this town. Some seem to talk openly, but he's also been confronted with odd looks when he tried that. And he's also, from the looks of things, happy to be veering away from the topic of Cristobal.

"I wouldn't say missed out," Alexander tells Minerva, dryly. "None of us were happy to be there. Some sort of weird...hunting game. We were all spokes on a wheel, essentially, trying to make it to the center before we either froze to death or some horrible monster ate us. Any use of our abilities was penalized with punishment." He huffs. "Which did not stop Isabella. Of course." He looks angry...but also a little proud. And his expression softens. "I think she would love puppy therapy." A smile and nod to Rick. "Thanks." He doesn't miss that Dante's happy to see the subject change - that much is clear by his direct and thoughtful stare. But, in the end, he lets it go. "How goes the writing, Mister Taylor? Surely the Harbor has provided inspiration?"

Minerva gives a bit of a smile to Rick, "I'm Minerva by the way, sorry for the lack of manners." she tells the man. The woman doesn't seem to mind talking about the towns weirdness. She's one of the overpowered weirdos. "I'll take Azrael and Dumah over to see her sometime then. Or take her out for a walk in the park and let her get some time in with them." she smiles. "And yeah...the women in this town due seem to be stubborn when it comes to our powers. Though...I've had to dial things back. Niece is starting to display them and well, we're freaking out internally." she frowns. Though talk of writing makes her look to Dante for the moment to see what he says.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Minerva," Rick replies, before he adds, "I'm Rick." There's a brief pause as he listens to the rest of it. Taking a few sips from his drink, before he nods a bit as he listens to the part about the powers.

"Sounds dreadful," Dante murmurs. "I prefer the leather and tree-dwelling creatures." He tries to smile a little, but it doesn't feel right, so he lets the expression fade. "Give her my best, will you?" And then he's taking an overlarge sip of his wine. As for writing? "Ah, well, I have a collection of...things. Time will tell what it turns into, if anything."

"It wasn't what I'd call a good time, no." Alexander's voice is dry. A glance to Minerva, as he says, a bit apologetically, "I have a cat and a bird, so meeting elsewhere might be better. Just to keep me from getting pecked to death when I return home." A quick grin, that fades into concern as she continues. "That's rough. But...she has people who understand what she's going through. That matters a lot." With that, he settles some cash on the counter, and stands. "But I should be heading home. It's a long, cold walk. Close out the rest of the year in style." He smiles, briefly, and that stands as his parting as he makes his way out.

Minerva gives a smile, "Nice to meet you, Rick." she tells him. Then there's a listening to what Alexander and Dante are talking on and there's a bit of a look to Alexander, "I'll take her out then." she states. After he leaves there's a look to Dante and Rick, "Do you all have big plans for New Years?" she asks. "Also...I apologize if powers makes us sound crazy. I don't know who all talks about them." she admits.

Rick smiles, "Take care." That is offered to Alexander, before he shhrugs a bit at Minerva's question. "Unless I need to be at work, I have no plans at all, really." He shrugs briefly, before he adds, "I'm not really much of a holiday person."

"Not at all," says Dante with a smile to the pair of them. "Enjoy your evening. I'm going to hole myself up in a corner and try and get a little work done." He motions to his laptop bag. Then he spots an empty table and gathers up his things to take everything that-a-way. "Have a pleasant evening."

Minerva takes a sip of her drink while she's sitting there and there's a smile to Rick, "Not much for the holidays either. Sent out some gifts, but don't have New Years plans, never really have them." she shrugs. Then there's a look to Dante, "Happy writing." she tells him with a smile.

Rick nods a bit as he listens, offering a grin to Dante. "Good luck with the work," he offers, before he smiles momentarily at Minerva's words. "Been a number of years since last I had plans for these holidays were back before I left New York. Was about... three or four years ago, I think."

"Feel like I'm chasing people off." Minerva murmurs as she looks back to the door and then Dante heading to the corner. Then she looks back to Rick and there's a bit of a nod, "About the same for me. Mainly because I don't know what to go out and do and New Years kind of sucks without someone to share it with." she tells him. "You're from New York originally?" she asks.

"I'm sure you're not chasing people off," Rick offers, before he nods a little at what's said. "I'm from New York, yes. Grew up there, worked there for some years before my years of drifting around. How about you? Are you from here, or somewhere else?"

Minerva gives a chuckle, "Mainly joking, but thank you." she tells him. She listens to him though and there's a smile, "Never been to New York, but we have a lot of people that are from there originally." she admits. "And yeah, I'm a local. So sort of used to all the weirdness that happens." she tells him. "What do you do for work? If you don't mind me asking?" she looks to him curiously.

Rick smiles. "Law enforcement. Police." A brief pause, before he shrugs a bit. "While I was making my way around a bit aimlessly, I did some odd security jobs when I needed the money. But when I got here, there was a place in the police force, and so I stayed around."

Minerva gives a look to him and there's a smile, "I won't make any handcuff jokes, I promise." she tells him as she absent mindedly crosses her heart. "Nothing wrong with that line of work. I was engaged to a guy that was a cop and then went into the FBI. So it could get you other places." she admits.

Rick nods as he hears that. "If I want to go anywhere else, work can probably take me there at some point, that's true," he replies before he raises an eyebrow a little. "You were engaged to a cop?"

Minerva nods to that as she listens to him, "Probably a good mindset to have." she admits. Then there's a moment she looks to him and there's a soft nod, "Yeah, he went from cop to FBI agent and about four years ago he got shot to death in Boston." she tells him with a sober look. "The time around the New Year always makes me think about it." she chuckles softly.

Rick nods as he hears that. "I'm sorry," he offers a bit quietly. "I didn't mean to bring back old memories." There's a brief pause, before he adds, "Never a good thing when someone you care about is shot to death."

Minerva shakes her head and lifts a hand gently, "Absolutely no need for apologies. It's easier to talk about four years later than it was when it first happened. So no harm done." she states. "And no, it wasn't. No idea what happened to cause it besides wrong place and wrong time." she tells him. "His mom gives me shit for not having a boyfriend after all this time. Like she's my mother hen." she chuckles. "Anyways...enough of the dreary stuff." she smiles to him.

"I know the feeling," Rick replies to the part about it being easier to talk about four years later. He smiles as he listens to the rest, nodding a bit. "Sounds like a good person, his mom," he offers, before he nods a bit again.

Minerva gives a soft smile to that, "I'm not going to ask right now." she tells him. Then her phone chimes and she gives a bit of a sigh as she looks at the number, "I need to take this. It was nice to meet you, Rick. If you ever need something, you can call me here." she tells him as she slides him her business card. She then leaves cash for her drink and a hefty tip. "Have a good night." she waves to him as she heads out.