2020-05-19 - Go Fish: Casino Grand Opening

Byron Thorne has worked hard in recent months with negotiations and approving of contracts on everything from lease agreements to remodeling of some of the storefronts and restaurants to better fit new owners after several who had worked with Foster decided to drop their projects, not wanting to be associated with the murder scandal. Tonight was the night that he and the other investors had been waiting for.

Dressed sharply in a plum hued velvet tuxedo jacket with black slacks and tie, he looks like someone who was the proud owner of a casino. In recent days, his mind was plagued with ghosts from his past and beyond. Tonight, however, he shines brightly with a his signature winning smile. Whether he's distracted by those nightmares or not, one can't tell by looking at the man. At his side, as many would expect, is the ever lovely Lilith Winslow; one of his hands resting at the small of her back as they stand in the lobby to greet guests. All in all, he won't let recent events ruin his evening. Not for this moment. Whose to say if other factors won't try and do the same...

Truth be told Easton Mashall has not worked that hard in recent months. He has been the silent partner of sorts that has been more concerned with getting his life back on track than keeping this casino deal moving forward. He provided money, courtesy of his family trust that helped make the deal possible but had little to do with the actual day to day. He however is actually looking forward to the project opening, having done some work on tracking KPIs and understanding expected cash flows in the gaming and hospitality industry.

Easton is dressed up for the night, but there is still a near complete lack of color in his ensemble, a black tuxedo that fits a little tight. He is out mingling on the floor, occasionally stopping at a craps table to watch the action for a minute. To anyone with glimmer senses, he appears to be slightly dimmed or faded, not at full strength. But to all normal observers, he's full-strength Easton, laughing loudly at jokes (often his own) and slapping backs with gusto. The occasional beer is consumed but nothing harder and there is no gorgeous blond in sight, but anyone watching Easton will see him looking toward the door often, hoping to see her come in.

Joey hasn't worked at all towards this other than answer his phone a hell of a lot more. He's set up his own security in so much to make sure nothing from on shore bleeds offshore. That aside? yeah he's coming to the opening. One of his favourite people's big nights? Yeah this is happening. Somehow in spite of 14 near catastrophes everything's been mostly quiet.

The scrappy yard boss did show, though, in a black and tan pinstripe suit, throwback hat, and hell his shoes even have a shine on them, but not so much as to outshine Nicole who he showed up and is lodging with. For now? For now it's the poker table and watching things from his chair while his girl is socializing and hitting up slots. While the hitman is damn good at reading people, well it's a good way to keep these skills honed. He knows the rules though and doesn't stop Byron longer than he needs to to say Hey man, congrats on the new digs. He will ask Easton "Who let you out from behind the bar?"

Rhys Evans has been on the 'working hard' side of things, dealing with other portions of the many negotiations and arrangements and general paperwork that have needed doing to get the place from abandoned project to active and now bustling one. In the last few weeks more of his focus has been on getting the staffing properly arranged, making sure everything's at a point where it can be confidently left to the various supervisors to get on with it. And so that's what he's doing now, in a midnight blue tuxedo that a practiced eye might identify as less expensive than, say, Byron's, but tailored to fit properly and flatteringly on the redhead's slight frame.

As with the others, there's plenty of smile to go around, or more frequently grin, and he's busily chatting to people here and there, aiming them to check out this or that exciting facet of the place. Usually the gaming, because hey, those fish aren't gonna save themselves. It takes him by the poker table, where he pauses to greet Joey with a cheerful, "Nice suit."

Lilith has been pretty low key and trying to keep herself occupied between bits of GH-style fallout that detract Byron from work. It seems to have worked out fine enough, because here's the Casino's grand opening, finally, and everything seems absolutely glitzy, gambling chic, and to the nines, crowds coming in to the lit building on the water like moths to an entertaining flame of lights and flash.

She's also a bit watchful of Byron on the sly, occasionally slanting him sidelong glances and just touching at his hand or arm here and there between spells where he needs to stop and greet or speak to people. But she's pretty stealthy about being a worried little lady given recent events at the Thorne house, and she's also very mum's word about who else she's afraid might be showing to attend.

In fact, while sipping champagne, she's making the most out of the view while standing there with a pretty smile. Lilith currently looks like a swanky piece of both elegant luxury and sex kitten in the dress and heels she's chosen for the evening. It's a shade of pale blue that makes her dazzling blue eyes stand out, long and slinky and fitted with diagonal open lacing across the body to come together at the thigh split of the skirt. Her black heels are edgy platform and tall, making her look leggy for days, hair curled and arranged with cosmetics on point.

There's a benefit to standing in the lobby. She can see the entry way, or at least the main one. She's as attentive to it as she is Byron while standing and being pleasant arm candy.

"No, that was black jack, man. Here, lemme start over." Why in the world Graham decided to try to teach poker to Andre is anyone's guess, but that's how the night is shaping up for these two. Technically, the big guy is a security guard at the Casino these days, and Graham is 'self-employed' as a driver, but it must be break time or something, because they're at one of the felt-topped tables over yonder. The big guy is all gussied up in a spectacular all white suit except for his tie, which is bubble gum pink. His much paler cohort is in a black suit jacket, white shirt, black slacks; there's probably supposed to be a tie, but it got lost somewhere during the course of the evening.

So that's Graham, trying to teach Andre how to play Texas Hold 'Em. "Twenty one! Hit me!" Andre beams and shows his cards; they are a three and a nine.

Byron seems glad to be graced with Joey's presence for that brief flash of a moment when they exchange words, a handshake, pat on the back and a smile. He even comments on Joey's suit, telling the guy that he's got good taste, when everyone knows who tends to dress Joey Kelly for formal functions. It's not that the townsfolk don't know that Kelly and Thorne are friends, but they both have things to do, elbows to rub and so forth.

As Lilith looks on him, it's difficult to tell what Byron may be thinking. He seems unbothered by anything at all and looks to be in the highest of spirits. "Did I tell you that you look like a goddess this evening?" He has, many a times. "Better watch out before people start mistaking you for Lady Luck and try to get you to blow on, or even worse, kiss their dice for good luck." Drawing near to where Easton is located, he reaches a hand to shake his with friend and fellow business partner, "It's pretty unreal isn't it? The place looks great, whoever designed it did a wonderful job."

The moment she walks through the doors, Dr. Isabella Reede is already making a beeline to those who hold the title to the casino - that she knows about, anyway. Arriving alone and clad in a backless pantsuit with an Armani bolero jacket (quite possibly one of the only designer pieces she has in her closet), green-and-gold eyes sweep the casino floor, before making a quick clip towards where she espies Byron and his fairer half. She pauses now and then to watch the games going on around her with interest, avoiding the slot machines but paying close attention to the other games of risk - blackjack, poker, craps and roulette. The former appears to engage her more than most, though the prospect of throwing dice earns a tilt of her head; she's never had the opportunity to learn the game.

Seeing Joey, Easton gives him a big slap on the shoulder, "Kelly! Glad you could make it." And even happier that he now knows the score about why Joey would be at this event. "They forced me out of the bar so I wouldn't drink it dry." The banal joke that he's probably told a hundred times comes easily off his tongue. "I'm gonna stop by the gym, I'm gonna take you up on part of that offer for help on my moves." Oooh, secret code talk. But he's a Marine so it's not exactly hard to suss out.

Clasping Byron's hand Easton grins and says, "I'm still not sure this is all real." A small joke about the twisting realities they live for sure. Seeing Lilith though he does a small double take, "Wow. Lil." Turning back to Byron he says, "Between your date and the opening you are going to be making a lot of people jealous tonight. Congratulations Thorne."

August arrives in his charcoal grey glen check suit with the red highlights, sans tie and with the top buttons undone, because it's May, damn it, and this is a casino, not an opera house. A casino he's not a huge fan of from an environmental standpoint, but business is business, and August isn't going to slight a fellow business owner. Not in a town this small.

He's otherwise looking better than he has for a few days, though because Gray harbor likes to trade its good for bad, this seems to have come at the price of his Glimmer. It's duller, faded like a burned down candle. This might have something to do with how he's refusing to wear a tie; some form of teenaged rebellion against Gray Harbor's nature. 'You can take my Glimmer, but I'm not putting on a fucking tie tonight.'

Eleanor enters on August's arm, watching her fiance with concerned glances now and then, making sure he's alright. The coffee shop owner is wearing a dramatic black dress, that is sort of a mullet of thing. It is a short minidress in the front, with a sweeping train that trails down the sides and back to the ground. It is off the shoulder, with a sheer black gauzy material over her chest and shoulders. She's wearing strappy black heels and her hair falls in a straight side parted sweep. Silvery dangle earrings complete the look.

Unlike August, Ellie is not diminished because like her fellow conspiracy theorist, Alexander, even if she were given such a choice, she'd be too paranoid to let someone muck about in her head like that. "Well, this looks like a tourist trap, hm?" she murmurs to Roen quietly.

Jessica is here for business and pleasure. Probably more on the business side. Dressed in a black pants suit and t-shirt - she needs the pockets for her recorders and notepad - she mingles quietly. Checking out the games of chance (and family destruction), she is really doing her best not to pass judgement. It's hard! "Just report the facts, Jessica" she mutters to herself.

Bennie is late. And fashionable! Somehow when you combine the two it becomes socially acceptable. When your hot stuff BF is one of the core investors of the property, it gives you the excuse to dress up, and so the blonde EMT Waitress enters from the direction of the elevators wearing a silver floor length gown with a daring slit, plunging neckline and cut outs at the waist to show off her favored features. Her blonde hair has been tamed into a tight french twist with rhinestone accents and she wears a pair of silver ballet flats so she doesn't tower over her marine. Speaking of, where is he!

"It's a casino," August murmurs to Eleanor, his tone implying that's literally its only purpose. (Well, that and money laundering.) He steers the two of them towards Byron and Lilith, gives Easton and Isabella an up-nod as he goes. His gaze lingers on Easton for a half-second, no doubt noticing his still-faded Glimmer. "Not bad, Thorne," he comments once they're close enough.

"You have. But you can keep saying so. I like it." Lilith tells Byron with a little flip of her hair to feign vanity and restrike pose with switching shift of hips next to where he stands. As they wander over to meet with Easton so the two men can shake, she supposes, "If people ask me to blow on their dice or kiss them for luck, I'm taking percentages, never think I don't know how to capitalize. You have to make your money back after buying a whole casino with company some way. Maybe I should jinx them so the House wins instead."

Lilith is totally just kidding, of course, because she actually kind of has the means to do that to be an asshole or angel to someone at a table, but she wouldn't. Probably. There's probably some kind of precaution in place with this establishment located where it is, besides.

Easton's compliment makes her laugh a little, though, and her head tips in ladylike genteel fashion, "Thank you. Where's..." Looking through the crowds, she smiles with flash to August and Ellie when she notes them afar, then Isabella's approach too with a little wave. Then she turns the wave into a point at a lovely looking Bennie, finally, "Think someone's looking for you, speaking of stunners."

Eleanor rubs a hand over August's shoulder lightly with a chuckle at his words. "Maybe they can do some good with the income. Maybe." When they approach Byron and Lilith, she gives the pair a warm smile. "Big night, looks like a great turn out," she notes to the couple. She gives Easton a warm smile as well, and a wave towards Isabella.

You know what this swanky, high society party needs? A grumpy Mexican police captain, who only grudgingly put on a fucking suit (three piece! including waistcoat!) because Rosencrantz threatened him with bodily harm if he went in his jeans and goddamned ballcap.

"I need some tequila," he informs Itzhak as they arrive, Ruiz's black hair fussed into something resembling a style, with.. is that pomade? Does he even own pomade? "You want me to grab you something?" Aside from the tailored charcoal grey-and-black pinstripe suit and tie, he's wearing a pair of exceedingly expensive looking calfskin leather ankle boots with a dramatically pointed toe. Dunhills or Prada, perhaps; high priced footwear tends to be his one concession to style.

Itzhak doesn't wear suits too often, a handful of times a year, but when he does he wears the hell out of 'em. This one is an exquisitely tailored steely blue that makes the most of his lanky frame and long legs. He's wearing it with a white shirt and a tie that's got rose-pink stripes and pinstripes. And a rose-pink pocket square, and instead of gloriously expensive boots he is wearing the same steel toe workboots that he wears every day. Because he does what he wants. Somehow he makes it work. "Whiskey sour, please," he says to Ruiz, kinda smiling at him, his jacket rucked up because he's got his hands in his trouser pockets. Then as he turns to the room at large...the smile goes away, and the eyebrows go up, and he whispers, "What. The. Fuck," to himself, eyes wide. What's he looking at? Oh, only the several people whose shine no longer shines.

Easton misses most of the greetings and even some of the comments from Lilith and Byron when Bennie makes her entrance. "Why did I wait this long to own a casino?" is the first, but not only comment he has upon seeing Bennie in her silver dress. He isn't exactly under-dressed in a tux but still can't help but shake his head at his girlfriends appearance. "Excuse me, I need to go greet the hottest woman I've ever seen." He makes his way over to Bennie, grabbing a flute of champagne for her from a waiter who almost protests before realizing who just snagged his customers drink. Yes, it's an abuse of power, no he doesn't care.

"Please tell me thing has an easy access zipper." Is his greeting of choice, romantic and to the point as always. Kind of. But greeting Bennie with a light kiss on the cheek it gives him the ability survey the room. "You look amazing." He says out of the corner of his mouth while doing so, his eyes sliding back to her. At once giddy that she might be soon be free of her burden of debt, but tempered by the fact that there's a whole other can of issues waiting.

Harper arrives on Geoff's arm wearing a silk cheongsam in burnished colors that follows the lines of her slender body. The heels she wears bring her up equal to the man in the red dress shirt's height. She scans what she can see with an animated, expectant smile and leans in to murmur something beside Geoff's ear. With a mirthful sparkle to her eyes, she looks from him back to the expansive and inviting floor of the casino. "First something to drink," she says, looking around for just that. She lifts a hand to point one black nail to one of the craps tables. "And then that."

Graham makes a face, finishes whatever's in his cocktail glass, and fishes a stack of quarters out of his pocket. "Poker may not be your game."

But Andre's not listening. "Didn't that guy arrest us one time?" He points a finger across the glitter and noise at Ruiz, frowning confusedly. "Those are some nice boots for a cop." Then he hears the jingle of change and sticks his palm out hopefully, rewarded with two bucks in quarters that will last him a surprisingly long time, since he has a system for how he plays the quarter slots, and it involves a lot of moving from machine to machine without necessarily playing any of his money.

Erin is here sans Jack, but she looks comfortable to be flying it solo tonight. Dressed in one of her expensive dresses, a scarlet color with shinies, she carries herself with confidence, stopping only briefly to get a drink to carry around with her. Champagne, if that's a thing tonight for the opening. Several familiar faces, namely Isabella and Lilith who she gives a smile to when she is in either of their vicinity.

There is a low titter of laughter as Easton greets her as only Easton can, Bennie slipping a hand up to his cheek even as he leans in to kiss hers. "Better yet, it just slips right off my shoulders." She murmurs back as an aside, as she plasters on the biggest smile she's ever worn to present as the best darn arm candy ever, but the genuine parts of that smile, the parts just for Easton, are in her eyes. "You clean up pretty well yourself. Speaking of amazing, look at this turn out!"

"I thought the house always wins, anyway? Maybe jinxiing's not required," Isabella wonders when she finally makes her way around the vicinity of Byron and Lilith, watching the be-tuxed Easton Marshall exit the circle to gravitate towards the argent vision that had just walked through the door. If she allows, the archaeologist leans in an effort to press two air kisses on either of Lilith's cheeks. "You look fabulous as always."

Attention turning to Byron, she flattens her hand over her heart, as if she'd been shot. "There. I'm here. Again, thank you for donating to the environmental fund, it makes the hypocrisy of my being here somewhat more palatable." Eyes brimming with amusement, she offers him an embrace. "Congratulations, Ronnie. The place looks fantastic." The appearance of the ever-fashionable Erin Addington, however, rounds her stare with surprise, and she lifts a hand to wave at her.

"Not counting on it," August replies to Eleanor. He returns Lilith's smile, gives Erin an up-nod. He coughs at Isabella's comment about hypocrisy. "It's nice to be altruistic when we can, but we live in reality. Place looks good, at least."

Seeing Ruiz and Itzhak come in, he can't help but notice Itzhak's reaction, and gives him a smile, rueful and apologetic.

Eleanor raises a hand to wave at Ruiz and Itzhak in greeting. She looks to be in good spirits at least. She asks a passing waiter for a glass of champagne. "August, do you want anything to drink?" she asks him while the waiter is still there. She knows this is a crowd, and a mini city all it's own, isolated on the water. She's not sure how comfortable he is tonight.

Geoff eyes the joint as he strolls in alongside Harper, murmuring something to her before breaking away to go grab them drinks and returning not long after, drinks in hand. Bumping lightly against his date he hands her, her drink and looks through the crowd "So we're going to use our mega luck on the craps table first?" With a wolfish grin he teases "It'll be a suitable conquest." Spotting Easton, he raises up a hand to wave to the man in greeting.

"Harper!" Jessica has spotted her PBFF and is making a beeline for the lovely librarian. Hug time! "Wow, you look gorgeous" she grins, looking her over with a nod of 'very impressed'. "Dress like this at the library and you'd have a whole new generation of members. Geoff, looking good yourself. So, what are your ten second impressions of the place? And can I quote you?" A wink for them both but she is here to work as well.

There's no denying that Byron feels like a very lucky guy right about now, but seeing Bennie hanging around near by, he's probably not the only one. He flashes a smile over her way, lifting his chin as a way of greeting. Then he's bombarded by more guests. Those that approach him are mostly local, knowing full well who he is in town. Then there are his business acquaintances from elsewhere who were also drawn to the casino's opening.

Spotting so many familiar faces in the influx of people who either just got off one of the ferries or just dropped off their car, Byron offers grins and a friendly hello. Of course, August and Eleanor catch his eyes as well as as Harper and Geoff and the Captain and Itzhak... Okay, de la Vega's presence does draw his attention. And now Isabella when she actually comes up to him! "Izzy, c'mon." He says with humor in his tone when she brings up environmental stuff. No, he won't counter her need to protect the environment. Not today. That argument can be for another time. "Well, I'm glad that you could make it. Rather than making the drive to the Lighthouse, there's some nice fancy options here now too."

"I'd tell you," Rhys says, catching Isabella's remark about the house winning as he passes by, "but I seem to remember something about never telling you the odds." He gives the little group a grin, and pauses to direct a passing waiter toward one of the tables across the room.

August runs a hand down Eleanor's back reassuringly. "Yeah. Shirley temple for now." He kisses her temple. He's not sure how long they'll stick around, since he's still recovering from literally everything. At the very least, he's not planning on drinking much.

"Ooh, that is better." Easton readily agrees and hands her the flute of champagne after they are done kissing their hellos. He agrees, "I can wear the fuck out of a tux when needed." It helps that it's from his pre-military days and he's bulked up a bit since then so he looks damn fine in it. Seeing Geoff's hand raise Easton upnods his chin, "Oh damn, my husband made it. I need to go warn him that if he tries to glimmer cheat the games I'm gonna have to ban him for life." It's his business, sorry boo. "I give it an hour before that dress overpowers my senses and I need to get you somewhere at least a little more private.." Easton says by way of suggesting that they should mingle and say their hellos now. He belatedly waves to August and Eleanor before steering Bennie towards Itzhak and Ruiz at the bar. "Gentlemen." he greets, briefly.

"Isabella, so wonderful to finally see you again. Last I heard you were abroad. I've been meaning to try and catch up but time seems to be flying and I'm always working it seems like." A light hug for her friend if she is agreeable to it, but she is brief about it before casting a critical eye over August, more to see how his health was than any other reason. Eleanor is given a smile as well. "So good to see everyone. This place looks nicer than I imagined it would."

Itzhak is staring at August. Like. Really staring at him, as if he's thinking about slapping him with a glove. Instead of slapping, though, he signs at him in fast jerky flourishes: fuck happen, while scowling at him. Greeted by Easton, he looks at him blankly like he's not sure who he is--then connections are made and he upnods at him with a hitch of the eyebrows. "Marshall, how's by ya."

Whiskey Sour it is. Ruiz peels away from his date, hitches his chin to the various familiar faces he recognises in passing: August and his redhead, Byron and Lilith. Easton gets a knock of knuckles to his shoulder, and Bennie a kiss to her cheek if she allows. Harper and Erin, too, get a wink apiece as his keen eyes pick them out amongst the crowd. And then he's placing a drink order, hip against the bar, one fingertip hooked into the knot of his tie to try to loosen it slightly while he absently watches Andre and Graham at the craps table. Hey, didn't he arrest that guy, that one time?

And if he seems.. brighter than usual tonight, well, he sort of is.

"August, Ellie." There's a greeting for them, also. "The two of you look smashing, as always. Congratulations on the engagement, by the way." The last to Eleanor, Isabella's eyes glinting with her usual mischief. "I'll happily donate another jamon iberico to the cause wherever the reception ends up being held." Byron's laughter draws out her own, grinning broadly enough to provide an escape route for the normally hidden dimple on her left cheek. "No more than that, I promise," she says with her hand up, as if swearing to sea and sky. "Though I doubt Alexander and I are attempting any other trips to the Lighthouse any time soon after what happened. We'll certainly try a few of these high-end places out since everything looks absolutely fantastic. I hear there's a new piano bar?"

Erin's greeting has her reaching for her friend to embrace her. "I was. Came back a doctor, and then left again for a conference two weeks ago. I'm doing my usual catch up dance. What about you? How have you been?"

Bennie takes the champagne flute gladly, if only to arm herself against all this social obligation now that she's off the pills that keeps her bubbly energy overflowing. "Well consider your tux well-frakked." She says with conviviality, even though the mischief dances in her eyes. "And I'll place my bet on forty-five minutes on the outside." This is a casino, after all. She gives a finger wave against her glass to Byron and the others that have greeted her from afar before she's steered off towards Ruiz and Itzhak, leaning into the cheek kiss from the former which is returned with warmth and reaching out to boop the nose of the latter. "Daaaahlinks."

Ellie passes the drink order to the waiter and gives Byron another smile, then one for Erin. "You look lovely tonight, Miss Addington." There is a slight blush at Isabella's congratulations about the engagement. There is a lovely ring on her finger, not anything traditional because neither her nor August are conventional in most senses. It is a bit of tradition though and she looks down at the ring and its unpolished stone fondly. "Thank you. It wasn't exactly planned the way it happened, but no regrets!"

She blinks at the woman though. "What happened at the lighthouse?" And there is the researcher in all her glory, poking her head out of the fancy dress and manners for the event.

When asked about the Lighthouse, Isabella's expression changes, but only briefly. She reaches out to pluck a whiskey from one of the passing servers (and yes, she definitely just stole someone's drink in her haste to obtain one), and gives it a good swallow before murmuring, slowly. "We were duped by a Dream to try and..." She gestures with a finger, to signify murder without saying it out loud. "The experience did a number on Alexander...he's alright now, but things were rocky for a while."

August ducks his head at the look Itzhak is giving him, thoroughly chastised from afar. He signs back, 'memories for art'. Maybe that'll be enough to keep him from getting yelled at in public. Time will tell.

He lets Erin and the others distract him until the moment when Itzhak inevitably appears to demand answers from the lot of them. "Heya Erin. Isabella. Looking gorgeous, both of you."

He smiles at Isabella's congratulations, bobs his eyebrows at the offering of another jamon iberico. "Thanks." Does he seem a little smug? His girlfriend climbed on a piano to propose in front of god and everyone, so...yes. He looks away, though, at the mention of the Lighthouse. He knows that story, oh yes he does. It's not pretty.

Lilith is partially distracted by watching the main lobby entrance still while wandering around with champagne flute at one hand, Byron at the other. She's glowing with smile in the appropriate greeting places, but that smile notches into something more familiar and slanted for some of the company that knows she's far more fiesty than this hostess presentation is letting on. With Isabella nearby, she leans to whisper, "You're not supposed to say the house always wins. You're supposed to laud the idea that these are the loosest slots on this coast to keep people coming in."

Total lie, but it's a casino lie and they're supposed to say that, right? Lilith flashes a little grin up and aside at Byron after her helpful commentary, and if she has any care where the money is actually being donated (they're creepy GH fish, fuck them) she's not saying so. Letting Isabella talk to others with a more serious air, she sees Erin and makes a little 'mwah' at the air as compliment for the other woman's presence and attire, "Erin, you lovely thing. We'll ah. Probably need to talk soon, you and August together. I've been attending to those scans over time to compare and... you know. Not that it's a hurry or anything, I'm still absolutely feeling fine."

And she looks lovely, so surely she's telling the truth!

Harper has just retrieved a trayful of chips of various denominations by the time Geoff returns with a flute of champagne for her. "Perfect." She clinks her glass to his and murmurs what looks like a toast before taking a sip. Leaning into Geoff, she catches sight of Byron and wiggles fingers at him, mouthing 'Nice digs', then scans some more and sees Easton and Bennie. The attractive couple receive a smile that they likely miss from across the busy space. Turning back to Geoff, she murmurs, "I think the fish are the winners tonight, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. You going to go say hello to Easton?"

And that's when Jessica's voice separates from the energetic murmur of the mingling throngs and Harper looks up. "Jessica!" She swoops in to hug her high school partner in biblio-crime. "You're working? Tell me you're working and then playing. You should be here with a beautiful redhead. A quote?" Harper thinks a moment. "I think the city's reporters don't get enough laud and acclaim and that the fish should stop taking my money." There's a quote. "I expect to see that in tomorrow's paper." She steps back from Jessica to look to Geoff. "It's been awhile since you two have --" Ruiz passes by with a wink and earns himself a longer, mildly perplexed look than could be called a glance. Belatedly she smiles and nods her head rather than try to best the volume of the masses and turns back to Geoff and Jessica. "We should congratulate Byron when he looks less -- mobbed. Easton and Bennie look like they've been cast in the next Ocean's movie. And there's Rosy."

Eleanor gets her champagne and August's non-alcoholic beverage from a waiter and turns to hand the shirley temple to him when she notices the fish incident. "Well, that's not something you see everyday," she states, blinking. "And not something everyone is seeing, clearly. I'm not the only one here seeing fish, right?" she asks the others.

Ruiz ambles back over right around duped by a Dream, and catches that little twiddle of Isabella's finger that's meant to signify murder, but leaves him looking kind of visibly puzzled for a few moments. He watches her with hooded eyes, creased heavily at the corners in consternation. Sips his tequila. And remembers, belatedly, to hand Itzhak's whiskey sour off. "Oh," murmured finally as he clues into what the brunette meant. "You mean murder." He's really not on his game tonight.

It's also right about then, that he spots the elevator doors opening.. and a bunch of ghost trout spilling out. And sort of pauses with his glass at his mouth, watching them flop around on the floor, waiting to see how this'll play out. "Nope," he tells Eleanor.

Without taking his eyes off the fish, August accepts the shirley temple and has a sip. He bobs his eyebrows. Not just you." Is he amused? A little. Thanks, Gray Harbor; August's night is better already.

The poor waiter that Isabella just stole her drink from is of course the same one Easton plagued earlier, who is frazzled beyond belief at trying to learn the new system and keep up with all the guests. He's about to say something to Isabella when Easton catches his eye and shakes his head, warning him off. Easton turns back to Itzhak and smiles, a little sheepishly and assures him, "I'm okay. Really." before looking around and amending, "Better than okay." Of course then an elevator full of ghost fish explodes out over the casino lobby and he turns to see the commotion before shrugging, "Eh. I'm not saying I wanted worse ... but I kind of expected worse?" He looks at the others and gives a shrug of Gray Harbor, whaddyagonnado?

Graham, who has half an eye on Andre and the other half on the black-jack game he's playing, pulls his feet up off the ground real quick when the fish come flooding out of the elevator and swim their way across the lobby to the front door. He gapes, almost as dumb-faced as the fish, and spills his drink everywhere. It's very not cool, made worse because he's watching all the people who don't seem to be seeing the fish, like Andre over there doing his ritual with the one-armed bandit, totally oblivious. Thankfully, a bunch of people get to talking about it (within earshot, lucky that), and he manages not to freak the fuck out. "Least it's not crabs?" Eheh?

Rhys does not see the fish. He does hear some talk about fish, though, and goes off to make sure this isn't some sort of fire he needs to put out.

In the end, it's a very sanitized, socially appropriate summary of the past Valentines' Day horrors, but Isabella seems determined to leave all of that behind. Lilith makes it easy when she whispers her playful chastisement, drawing another laugh from the archaeologist. "My bad," she teases. "Sorry, sorry. It won't happen again." And yes, she's very well aware of Lilith's feelings about marine life.

August's compliment though has her beaming at him, coupled with the effects of Eleanor's blushing. "I'm perpetually allergic to dresses so I'm glad someone thinks I'm pretty," Isabella teases him with a laugh and a dramatic toss of her bound up hair. "You have a keeper, Ellie." With Ruiz and Itzhak approaching, and the former giving her that sloe-eyed look, there's a flash of a smile and a lift of her slender shoulders at him. "I didn't have Alexander with me today to supply the word," she quips, taking another solid swallow of her whiskey. "I think he just wanted to avoid the prospect of dancing no matter how curious he is about the casino."

Bennie is making the same face the dying fish are making, guppying her mouth open and closed as she points wordlessly at the fish tumbling out of the elevator as if she needs to draw Easton's attention to it, despite him already looking in that direction. Because what can you say in a time like this?

That enormous beak of a nose gets booped by Bennie, and Itzhak wrinkles it at her, before realizing about the dress she's wearing. "Damn, girl, you look like a million bucks," he says, appreciatively. He accepts the drink from Ruiz with a flash of a smile for him. "Thanks, handsome." He's sipping at it when he catches what August signs at him--and nope. NOPE.

"You WHAT?!" Itzhak yells at August, across the crowded and sumptuous room. He's mad. He's so mad. And when he's mad he can rival Easton in volume. "Why the FUCK did you DO THAT!" Then fish spill out of the elevator in a glittery scaley waterfall and Itzhak picks one boot up off the floor with an expression of amazed and confused disgust.

"Doctor! Oh congratulations! I'm so proud of you." Erin says with genuine pride in her voice. "I am doing so great, Isabella. Working as a nurse at the hospital, engaged to Jack. You may know him, he graduated here, he's owner and mechanic at his shop. I brought him to Alexander's birthday party back in January."

With a dip of her head, Erin smiles at Ellie and August, a smile full of warmth. "Thank you, and you do too. Congratulations on your engagement. I hadn't heard yet, but I am so happy for you both." Looking between them both. Lilith is given an easy nod of agreement. "Oh definitely. Anytime you'd like just let me know." A meaningful look given to her, it holds a wealth of concern.

The brief distraction from Ruiz gets him a playful wink from the Addington, but her attention goes back to those near her. Except the fish then distract her and she turns more to stand beside Lilith.

Geoff murmurs something back to Harper before slipping away to leave her to deal with Jessica while he strides off to find Easton. Clapping him on the shoulder he gives him a squeeze, and pulls him into a hug should there be no resistance "Man, nice place." as the elevator opens and the ghostfish spill out he adds "Seems a bit fishy though. Someone's going to take a bath and have the weirdest horror movie scene when an impropable amount of fish start to float to the surface."

Eleanor tosses back half her champagne in one gulp, eyes still on the flood of ghost fish. She swallows down the bubbly and nods her head. "All right then. I guess it could be worse, right?" She kisses August's cheek and then Itzhak is hollering. She raises both brows and then barks out a laugh. "You're in for in now Roen. You were worried about me being upset. You were worried about the wrong wife."

Byron knows all too well what happened to Isabella at the Lighthouse and though his friendly smile doesn't vanish completely, it slowly fades, leaving only the faintest of grins. He won't get into that one either right now. "Yes, it's called Sitka actually. A place to drink and be serenaded by whatever sob story the piano man wants to sing that night." This is all said in jest. His eyes light up, "Erin, hey!" Before he catches sight of the little wave given him over yonder by Harper and he flashes her a wink in greeting.

If all was going well earlier, to some, things wern't looking so hot once the elevator door opens and those nasty fish spill out to fill the lobby. If anything, this is what makes his smile fade completely. "I can't beli..." He's about to spit out in an annoyed complaint. Straightening his posture, he releases Lilith from his hold to 'investigate', taking in his surroundings to check on just exactly who is seeing all of this. Not everyone seems to be affected, which is... good. He supposes. Then the fish are gone.

Lilith and Isabella would notice that hint of irritation in his features, the way his jaw tightens just a touch, the tension in his posture as he stares down at where those fish were before they conveniently vanished. He then turns back to Lilith, "Figures, we're going to have to watch out for any of that sort of shenanigans again."

Shaking her head, Bennie blinks back to the conversation, "Now Easton really can say he opened a casino for the Halibut." Get it. Hell of it. Ha! At least she amuses herself. She grins at Itzhak's compliment, even if it was floated right before he started cussing at Roen from across the way. "And you're looking sharp. Now play nice. Don't make Easton frown tonight." Who is also just a tad less shiny himself, of course.

Jessica thought she heard Harper's whispered toast to Geoff. Though her expression of surprise and confusion suggests that she hopes she didn't hear what she thought she heard. "Yes, I am working. A journalist's work is never done. Especially in this place" she smiles warmly, "And I should definitely be with a redhead." A nod to Geoff as he departs before looking concerned at Harper, even screwing up her nose in worry. "Does he not like me?" she whispers to her friend. "Glad everything is still going well with you two." No drink for Jessica yet...damnit! "Maybe I can finally get to talk with Byron tonight?" she shrugs with a glance in his direction before back to Harper. "Seriously, you look incredible. Got a glow and everything. Not that glow, the other one. I think Geoff agrees with you."

And then, a few exclamations happen at once.

One is Itzhak's yell, which prompts Isabella to look in that direction, wide-eyed and curious. She doesn't know what caused it, however. This is followed by the elevator ding, and the spill of fish, her expression slowly flattening in a comical fashion as she watches all of them slither past the guests to flop into the water. "Jesus Christ," she mutters, lifting a hand to rub the side of her face. Her attention returns to Byron almost immediately there; she knows how much he hates it when Gray Harbor gets in the way of his endeavors. "It's okay, B. They're gone," she murmurs in what she hopes is a reassuring fashion, lowering her lifted hand to squeeze his forearm.

Followed, ultimately, by Erin's news. "Wait, as in Mechanic Jack?" she wonders out loud, before engulfing the other woman suddenly in a hug. "You've been holding out-- why didn't you tell me?! Congratulations!"

August winces at the yelling, signs back, 'not permanent'. He jerks his head in a 'get the hell over here' gesture, maybe to have this conversation with their inside voices. "Yeah, yeah," he mumbles to Ellie. "I should've told him so this wouldn't happen."

His expression grows concerned when Lilith mentions scans. He looks this close to just checking her with his Glimmer right here, right now, diminished as it is. "Okay," he says, tone careful. "We can definitely do that. You alright?"

Easton grabs Geoff into a hug of course and agrees, "It is. Thanks to Thorne and pretty much anyone who wasn't me involved in this thing." As for the fish he shakes his head and says, "Look it wasn't like exploding rotting corpses and no one's turned into a werewolf or zombie Easter Bunny so I'm gonna take it as a win." He laughs about the bathtub scene and says, "Yea, I might stick to showers for a bit here?" He then leans his head towards Geoff to 'quietly' ie in a normal volume for most people, tell him, "You cheat and I will have you tossed out on yer ass like yer Affleck and I'm Jennifer Garner working as a pit boss." Yes it's a mixed metaphor, but a beautiful one really.

Itzhak's yelling gets a confused look until he sees the gestures between him and August and he shrugs, "It'll wear off?" Cautiously wading in to try and maybe make it better? Maybe.

Meanwhile, de la Vega is cracking the fuck up at Bennie's joke. Opened a casino for the Halibut. He presses his knuckles to his mouth to try to stifle it, to no avail. Sputtering chortles become deep belly laughs, and then he feels the need to point out, "They're cutthroat trout, actually."

Eventually, once he's cleared his throat and started acting his age again, "Seriously though, Isabella, Roen. Congratulations to both of you." He hoists his drink in salute, dark eyes twinkling.

"Mmmhmmm," Eleanor quips, looking highly amused at the kvetching that is about to be aimed at August. "You should know better than to leave him out of the loop on something like that, love." She glances at Ruiz's congratulations and a brow arches again, wondering what it was for this time.

Itzhak hisses under his breath in Yiddish and lofts a fish away with the toe of his boot, tossing it towards the last of its fellows wriggling for the exit. Ruiz starts laughing and Itzhak turns a narrow-eyed glare on the burly police captain. Looks like Roen's not the only one of his husbands in trouble. But the sight of Ruiz cracking the hell up makes Itzhak start doing it too; he claps a hand over his eyes and laughs until he's red in the face. He might be slightly overwrought. Trying to hiccup to a stop, he tells him, "Gonna go talk to," aka yell at some more, "Roen." He bumps Easton with a shoulder on the way.

"Hello, Byron, really good to see you too." Erin says to him, "This place is incredible." Though she does look back towards the elevator, it's brief before she settles back on Isabella with a bit of a sheepish smile. "Entrepreneur Jack," she grins, throwing that in there since he did own his business. "But yes, mechanic, he keeps my car in top shape, grumbling the whole time about it being foreign and not a Ford." It's said with fondness though. Embraced, she returns it, laughing softly. "Thank you, we've really not made any official announcements or anything. We are rebuilding an old truck together, one like his. Then we're going to race them." Amused, she laughs a little.

Harper holds her champagne glass nearly to her lips as she watches the dramatic arrival of fish. She quickly steps over and hops up onto a stool at the nearest table to avoid wading in a foot or so of smelly, slurpy fish. "Seriously?" she asks of no one in particular. "Are there going to be six more plagues? Because I wore the wrong shoes for this sort of ... opening festivities." Finally she turns back to Jessica, "It's not so much not liking you as being distracted by his husband. It's a marriage thing, I think." Harper shrugs with a laissez-faire sort of smile for the reporter. Seeing Jessica is without a drink, she offers her champagne to the woman. "Take a drink. Looks like you'll need it." She kisses Jessica's cheek. "Someone agrees with someone, that's for sure." Harper retrieves her glass after Jessica does or does not drink. "Write this in your super secret book there: Call Harper tomorrow. Now go interview the hell out of Byron."

So, the next time the elevator dings, it's not a bunch of fish that gets out. Just one bemused sailor, looking down at his feet...as one last trout makes its escape. He's not in a tux, but in a very well tailored suit in smoke gray, in one of those fabrics with a subtle sheen to it. Something deliberately old-fashioned in cut, more 30s or 40s than modern day. No glasses, for once, and the blond hair brushed back from his brow.

Once out of the elevator, he immediately sidesteps, the better to pause and survey the place, seeing who's where.

Bennie raises her glass with Ruiz' toast, echoing a with a, "Here, here!" Before she turns back to Easton. "Really though babe. I think you should SCALE back on the special guests before you get SCHOOLED again." Maybe she's just trying to feed Ruiz laughter, because what's better than seeing that? "Geoff." She greets finally, leaning in to kiss his cheek. So much cheek kissing tonight!

August rubs at an eye. "I didn't want him to worry, is all," he mutters into his drink. This would be why he's having a shirley temple: ginger ale for his stomach.

He tips his head at Ruiz and then Bennie in a thank you for the congratulations, glancing sidelong at Erin to share in it. If they have enough wedding Gray Harbor can screw up all of them, right? (Well they're solving it by getting married Not Here, so there's that.) He raises Eleanor's free hand to gently kiss the knuckles. "I'm the luckiest man alive, that's for sure."

...and here comes Itzhak. Well, Ruiz got him laughing, maybe that'll help.

Geoff nods along and says "You know I'll take it, at least you're not threatening to Chris Brown me after tossing me out. Just don't take the kids, yeah?" his eyes dancing with a dark mischief at that, bringing his glass up for a sip he compliments "You've got something nice here man, real nice. Next thing I know you're going to be telling me your too fancy and well off to go bowling and eating gas station nachos, or getting drunk and watching competitive lawn darts." with a laugh he continues "You'll never believe who called me the other day, Sergei. He managed to get Sasha back after bribing a few officials...You should see if you can get Sasha a home here."

Lilith watches Byron go off to investigate and just stares, then eventually, when he comes back, she says dryly, "This is what happens when you give money to fish. They move in and think they own the place. The ocean sure is uppity about covering a large percentage of the planet, it's coming for land invasion." Then she clicks her tongue at Isabella the fish lover a few times before grinning a bit.

She can also see the man's tension about things briefly running amuck there for a moment, because this is hardly the place and time, hopefully it's not setting a precedent. She finally stops being pre-occupied with partially watching the entry way and finishes her champagne to pass off on a tray before stepping into the dark-haired man. She faces in against his side and loops one arm and hand up to draw him down for a kiss that's outwardly congratulatory looking to company, but he can tell the way she lingers with softness there in brush of lips and nuzzle after, she's doting and kissing the irritating all better for now.

After that interlude, though, she nods to August and Erin with delay before explaining, "Really, I'm okay. I would ignore the whole thing, but... you know. Due diligence." And Byron's general nerves about the 'issue' she's talking about have something to do with her compliance in getting a number of scans done. The pair know she hates that damn hospital, "Anyway, are any of you happy gamblers?"

Eleanor grins at the knuckle kiss from August. "And I'm the luckiest woman alive. Don't think I don't know that." She asides to her silver fox, "Keep that up and we're gonna go find a room, Roen." She watches Itzhak head their way, looking amused.

Jessica happily sips the offered champagne. What else is there to be done with unexpected fish? The flute is handed back. "Glad I didn't wear my good clothes. Not that I have any..." She does indeed write in her super secret book: 'Call hot librarian about wickedness'. "Done, Harpo" she smiles before glancing Byron's way. "He looks a bit busy. And very proud. Pride cometh before the fall...and pride falleth before the come. I'll get to him. You're going to be losing some money tonight, Harpo? Hmm, do you think it's dangerous that most people who will lose money here know where the owners live? Could make for some angry house calls. But I'll leave you to it, Beautiful." A kiss to Harper's cheek before Jessica resumes mingling.

Easton found the halibut joke a little funny, not nearly as funny as Ruiz, and no where near as funny at Itzhak cracking up at Ruiz cracking up. But it's good to laugh and he's glad to have a strong group of supporters around him for an important night, not just fellow investors. Geoff's crack about not taking the kids just gets a, "I keep forgetting, do we have kids?" But he turns slightly more serious when he replies, "Nah. I lived this life once, I'm in no rush to get back to this on a regular basis. Don't worry, I'll still drunk snuggle you on your busted couch in the trailer." The news about Sergei though causes him to light up. "That is great news. Dude, I would totally have a leopard here, especially Sasha."

And just then something about the light reflecting off Bennie's very sparkly dress catches his eye and he slaps Geoff on the shoulder, "Alright, have fun. I need to go christen a suite with a bottle of champagne and very hot blond." He turns to go before turning back, "Shit, almost forgot" He slips Geoff a keycard of his own. He meant to hand those out sooner but he managed to get a few comp rooms to hand out. But now he sidles up to Bennie and whispers in her ear, "You were right, thirty eight minutes and I'm done. I'm a very, very weak man."

More husky, smoke-roughened laughter from the cop at Bennie's continued terrible attempts at humour. Maybe he's just feeling raw and out of his element, in that stifling suit and tie that's choking off his air supply. Maybe finding something to laugh at is as welcome a distraction as he's got right now. He follows Itzhak's departure with a steady gaze, and happens to pick up on the arrival of a be-suited blond. And tenses slightly for a moment, like he half expects another load of fish to come pouring out.

But nope, just a well-dressed Southern gentleman, whom he studies in silence while he sips his tequila and half listens to the conversation funneled around him. Not particularly inclined to join in, his mind looks a million miles away.

Bennie turns away from socializing right back into Easton's arms, and her smile melts into a giant puddle of butter at his words. "You can just put my winnings on my house account." She drains the last of her champagne and sets it on a nearby cocktail table, giving tiny finger waves to their friends and associates as she lets Marshall take her off for a 'site inspection' of one of the suites.

Which regard he must somehow sense, Faded or not, for Joe turns to meet Ruiz's gaze, and smiles. A little better than he was, but still far dimmer than he was when he arrived in town. Otherwise, he seems none the worse for wear, beyond that faint limp.

He heads for the cop without hesitation, eeling his way neatly through the various guests, wholly at ease in the gathering. "Javier," he says, amiably, when he's in range, but nothing else.

Itzhak slices through the crowd and the tables, unafraid to use his height and general asshole demeanor to 'encourage' people from his path. He gets to August and Eleanor, takes a breath--then lets it out on a sigh. "You know what, forget it." Then he digs a little case out of his pocket, which turns out to have earplugs in it, and he fits them in with a grimace. "Way too fuckin' loud in here." He glances at the elevator, only to see Joe come out, faded too. That makes him close his eyes, tip his huge nose up at the lustrous ceiling, and spread his hands in a silent Jewish motion of 'why, God.'

"I planned on winning, actually. The fish are rich and clearly are living here. They can afford to fund my bad habits. Good luck with the story." Harper swivels around at the table and sets down her tray of chips on the felt. Blackjack? Sure. Might as well stay on that stool a bit longer. Itzhak's volume does draw her attention now and again. A glimpse of Joseph tips a smile on the librarian's face.

Despite his annoyance, Byron hears all of these congratulatory statements being shoved around at various people and this, at least, helps to lighten his mood some. Well, that and Lilith's comment. Looking to Isabella, he says with a lazy smile, "Did you hear that, Bella? Maybe we should rescind that donation." He's joking! Most likely. In fact, he gives the room this semi-irritated, semi-cautious look, just in case of the phantom marine life take offense to his words. Lilith's gentleness help some when she nuzzles against his arm. It even brings out a smile to his lips despite everything.

"Anyway, what's this about Jack? One of the best mechanics in town if we're talking about the same guy."

Byron isn't completely swamped with attention, though he will smile and wave at a few people who seem to recognize him from wherever.

"I'm a very enthusiastic gambler," Isabella tells Lilith, deadpanned, because this is coming from a woman who drinks Veil-soup, dives into pools in mysterious labyrinths and runs towards traffic on a good day. She knows this too, given her expression, but she isn't one to hide what she is. "I was actually eyeing some of the tables on my way here. And don't you dare." She points at Byron about the fish, though it's soon followed by a laugh.

To Erin, she nods, grinning at the correction. "Yes, him. But I'm very happy for you, Erin."

Hip against the bar, one hand's pushed into his pants pocket, leaving Ruiz's suit jacket sideswept past his wrist. And the fact that he's not carrying tonight, fairly obvious. That's probably not helping his mood, either. He'd been studying the pattern of light refracting off his glass, when Cavanaugh rolls on up. And there's a slow shift of dark eyes from tequila, to the taller man standing in front of him. "Te ves bien," he informs him evenly, and takes a sip of his drink. Nothing else from him, either.

August winces at the 'forget it', taking it worse than any yelling. He reaches out to take Itzhak by the shoulder, gripping it tight for a moment, signs to him, 'Didn't want to leave something They did in my head. Now I can navigate that place.' He raises his eyebrows. 'I'll be okay.' Another grip of his shoulder, then August lets go.

He looks askance at Byron, rolls his eyes. "Look, just because the fish are making sure you know they've got their eye on you."

And maybe not just the fish do. A spectral young man in a pinstripe sack suit fetches a champagne flute from the bar, carries it over to a spectral young woman in a 20s flapper dress, and the two go wandering off into the crowd.

"Maybe not just the fish," August adds, sipping his drink. He nods at Lilith, murmurs an 'okay' of agreement. "Stop by the shop any time."

Nicole arrived with Joey for the Grand Opening. He even got them a room to stay the night. While he's been busy at the poker tables, Nicole has flitted about in her slinky silver dress; socializing and hitting the various gambling opportunities available to her. Not poker though... that's his jam. She will stick to the slots and roulette, maybe some blackjack, pausing at Joey's game to steal quick smooches for luck. She eventually makes her way towards a group of people she knows and lifts her hand. "Hi guys! Congratulations on the opening! This place is great!"

Not unless Javier's got something small in an ankle rig, like a PPK. There's that conspiratorial little smile making its appearance on the sailor's long face, as he looks into the cop's. Like he's just waiting for Ruiz to get the joke. "Gracias, tú también," he replies, in that absurdly careful schoolboy Spanish. He handles the language like it's made of glass and might break.

Then he's glancing around, gaze landing on Itzhak, and he grins. "Don't give me that look, Rosencrantz," he admonishes the taller man. "I'm getting better."

Erin nods almost imperceptibly as she listens to Lilith, the concern still in her expression as her eyes cut to August. "It would definitely be better for both of us to be there." After a moment she smiles at Byron to reassure him, "You've got the right guy. He's lived here all his life. He's a good guy. I'll tell him you said he was the best, he'll like that."

Her champagne is sipped from, good stuff, all the bubbles that tickle. Lifting it slightly, she tilts it towards Isabella, "Thank you. I'm happier than I can remember being in far too long."

Eleanor leans in to kiss Itzhak's cheek at his arrival. "Itz, good to see you, looking sharp," she notes to the man with a smile. "I think I'm going to go play some slots and see if I can win enough to pay off this dress," she quips, giving August a more robust kiss. "Find me when you're ready to head out?"

Itzhak reads August's hands, sighs again in exasperated resignation. "Fine. Fine. Everything's fucking fine. You both look great by the way." He leans in to kiss Ellie's cheek, then August's. Hey, he even shaved and he smells like some fancy sandalwood something or other, instead of coffee and cigarettes and engine grease.

August lets the kiss from Eleanor linger, unashamed to do so. "Okay. Don't go further into debt, though, you know those things are rigged." He accepts the kiss from Itzhak with a smile, nudges him in the shoulder. "So do you. And you even wrestled de la Vega into a nice suit. And some amazing boots." He tilts his head, eyeing them, gives Joe and Nicole each a smile and a nod when they join the group.

If he does, he certainly isn't advertising it. The smile's basked in for a time, and then Ruiz pushes off the edge of the counter he'd been holding up, and extends a hand toward a few of the well-dressed people nearby. "Cavanaugh, you've met Byron Thorne and Lilith Winslow, yeah?" Hey, he even refrains from introducing the younger man as that rich ass white guy who owns the apartments in town. "Thorne and Marshall are.. you're partial owners of this place now, right?" He turns a glance to Byron with that question, dark eyes narrowing slightly as he tips his drink back for a sip.

"I think Isabella should maybe come too. But I'll explain that later. Some point here soon, we'll have to hit the tables and drink and gamble together in here for a bit of a ladies' night at the blackjack table, then. So crowded in here right now to try and find a place seated next to each other, which is a good thing..." Lilith says to Isabella, then includes Erin with a nod of her head to go with the suggestion after she's giving a little gracious smile to the Addington and Roen both.

With the way Lilith is scanning the people and crowds, at some point she notices Jessica looking over at Byron with journalist eyes or thought, then she lifts on her toes to murmur in confidence next to the man's ear with question, "... do you want to talk to press or do you want me to run interference before it happens?"

It doesn't surprise Jessica that Ruiz is here - (allegedly) corrupt cop in a casino - and she will offer him a polite nod as she passes through the crowd. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, fish notwithstanding, and she will report that. Maybe not so much about the fish. She heads towards Byron and the smallest, though prettiest, blocker in the world.

It seems that the opening of a casino that wouldn't die is the thing that finally brings Clarissa out and into the public eye again, wearing so much silver sequins that she's nearly blinding from the reflection of glittering light when she moves. She's already visited the bar from the glass of champagne in her hand and she's wandering the floor before taking a seat at the roulette table, not so much avoiding people as definitely avoiding certain people. Jessica.

"Boots are all him," Itzhak says to August, a little amused despite his grumpiness over nobody telling him what the fuck is going on. "Okay, Christ I need a smoke break." The casino is loud, and it's not just the loudness, but the piercing sounds of change striking metal cups and the high-pitched shrieks of the slot machines. And visually it's equally overwhelming, light gleaming everywhere from ten thousand polished surfaces. It's an autistic's nightmare in here. He heads back over to Ruiz and Joe, giving Joe another of those narrow looks. Oh so many people are in trouble. He ducks in to whisper to Ruiz, then he's heading for the relative quiet outside.

A grin for August, but then Ruiz is offering introductions. That has Joe looking between Byron and Lilith, eyes bright. "Mr. Thorne I have met, he's my landlord. Miz Winslow....I don't recall a formal introduction." When he's not picking his way catfooted over the contours of textbook Spanish, he's got a ridiculous, languid Southern drawl. Another aspect he has that makes him seem faintly out of time. At least he's not affecting those browline glasses he often wears.

"But then, my memory isn't what it once was," he adds. "So I might well be wrong."

"That sounds great," Isabella replies to Lilith, with a wink to Erin. "Now that I'm back, we can definitely set aside a night to catch up." There's a glance at her whiskey, and then at the tables. With the presence of the press around, there's an inquiring lift of her brows to her and Byron.

"Anyway, that's my cue to go gamble all the money I don't have away," she tells her companions with a grin, another solid swallow of her whiskey before she starts stepping away. "But who knows, maybe beginner's luck will work for me this evening, and then I can spend it all on this road trip Alexander wants us to take." The man actually offered to leave Gray Harbor for some protracted period of time, she's not about to say no to that. With a wiggle of her fingers and a blown kiss to the ladies, she starts moving to where the tables are.

Twenty-one, here we come!

Harper picked up her chips after winning and losing almost equally at the blackjack table. She cashed in just in time to see Itzhak heading outside. With a glance around, she grabs her handbag and follows after him.

Corrupt schmorrupt, Captain de la Vega is the squeakiest of clean cops that there ever was, and everyone knows it. Right? Right. When Itzhak stops by to take his leave, an arm briefly goes around the taller, lankier musician, and something intimated quietly in return before he releases him. And watches him go with that intent stare of his, tongue skimmed along his upper teeth. Then his attention returns to the tall drink of blond with the Southern drawl, and the fact that he's trying to make some actual fucking introductions here.

Waving at August, Nicole steals a glass of champagne from the tray of a cocktail waitress walking by. She sidles up near Lilith and gives the woman a wink. "You look great tonight. I was engrossed in a slot machine... forgive me for not saying hello earlier." She smiles to Isabella as well, and whomever else might be near.

When Ruiz comes to speak to him and Lilith, Byron has that far too friendly smile for the cop as well. "Captain de la Vega. Can't say that I'm surprised to see you here." He gives the room another look over, "Besides the uh... fish thing, so far, so good." Then an introduction is made and he nods in agreement to confirm Joseph's story, "I do, indeed, know Mr. Cavanaugh. I hope that you're able to enjoy your evening as well."

Then the nosy cop... er curious cop has a question that he tries to pry out of Thorne. "We are business partners, yes. Couldn't do this without him."

Throughout all of this, he's keen on listening to various bits of conversation as well. Though he's putting pieces together, especially this thing with between Erin and Jack, the mechanic (or as she called him, the entrepreneur) . And then, Lilith's findings, which makes him give Erin yet another look, because she knows what's going on in Lilith's head.

And that's when he notices Jessica's approach. "Miss Flores, long time no see."

"Please, call me Jessica" the reporter smiles to Byron. "We went to school together, remember? We're both friends with one of the most incredible people in the world..." She looks around for Harper but the librarian has gone. "...who has run off with your money already. You've certainly made much of yourself since then. I wonder if we could chat soon?" She has been trying to get an interview with Byron for over a year, hopefully this will be the time that works.

"I think it would be good to have Isabella there." For whatever reason. Erin immediately agrees to it too. The concern for Lilith is immediate and she remains protectively beside her. Likely for no reason, but the fish thing had been odd. Though the longer nothing else seems to happen, and Erin finishes her champagne, she dips her head to the others. "You've got my number. I'm going to get going for now, but if you want to meet up tomorrow or anytime, I'd really like that. The sooner the better."

"Hello Captain. And yes, I think... well, I didn't look like this at the bonfire, but I believe I ran into Mister Cavanaugh the other night." Lilith takes over the introductions part after briefly leaning aside to nab a one-armed hug from Isabella, then Erin in turns before they both go off to their own business, making the assurance of 'soon' to the other two women. Byron nearby is talking to Jessica now and Lilith detaches herself to step for a passing tray so she can get another glass of champagne.

After taking a drink, the woman gives a little roll of the wrist, telling Joseph, "I suppose since you live in the building, I should tell you that when summer comes, you might be getting invitations to be social with brunch or a pool party or some such posh event for the masses. But mimosas and beer should make all of that tolerable. I know what the captain does, obviously, but what is it you do?"

Obviously something if he lives in Bayside, which has Lilith curious.

Joseph hasn't yet snagged himself a drink, nor does he seem inclined to, for the moment. A far cry from the haunted looking man in old jeans out on the beach the other evening. Polished, groomed, and much better dressed. "That sounds pleasant," he says to her. "I can be something of a social butterfly in summer." A twinkle of amusement at his own expense, perhaps. "And the right kind of beer can make nearly anything tolerable, I'd say. Me? I'm retired Navy." Itzhak isn't within shouting distance to give the exasperated lie to that banal little statement. It is true, though.

And right on schedule, there's a reporter trying to snag some of Byron's time. Ruiz studiously avoids eye contact, just on the off chance that she wants some dirt out of him as well, and pretends to be suddenly interested in his drink. Which isn't hard, because it's tequila. He'll even let Joe answer Lilith's questions on his own; the cop, for now, remains a silent and lurksome presence near the taller aviator's elbow. "Lilith," is all he offers, with a gracile curve of his mouth and accompanying slivering of dark eyes. Though he can't help but point out that, "When he says something of a social butterfly, he means he loves to fucking talk." No comment, however, on retired Navy.

Kim is a bit late to the grand opening. Coming in with her more casual dress of just black jeans and gaymer t-shirt, it's only a casino opening. No need to be fancy for her. After going across the lobby she has a look around the better than the norm for places like this. Trying to decide where to go to first before spotting at least one familiar face. Giving a friendly wave over to Jessica, she starts to head over in her direction. Not knowing the people around her, but maybe she'll get introductions.

It's a very noisy place, and on opening night especially, the casino is crowded. It's not so surprising that even a leggy blonde in a slinky silver dress could be easily missed by others. Lifting her glass of stolen champagne anyway, she lets out a bright, "cheers!" before turning on her very high heels to head towards another area of the gambling floor. "More roulette, I think," she says, pointing towards the wheel as if calling it out. She stops by Joey for another good luck smooch, and goes off to see how her luck will hold out.

Was Byron Thorne trying to avoid Jessica's questions for over a year? Look, there were some murders that happened in his apartment building. He may have had reasons.

Nevertheless, he's all cordial smiles now, laughing when the reporter reminds him that they went to school together. "Don't believe that I forgot that for a moment. You've never changed since then." When she tries to get Harper's, or whoever, she's looking for. By the time Byron's gaze reaches there, Harper is gone! With his money, apparently. "We'll need to do some catching up then. And see if I can get any of that money back." This is followed by another laugh. "But sure, I'd love to chat. I'll check my schedule and get in touch with you." Hopefully, he will this time!

It's at that moment, that his phone goes off, and he lifts a hand, looking apologetically at Flores, "Sorry, I have to take this. We'll talk later." With his phone to his ear, there's a lot of, "Yes. Mm-hmm. Uh-huh. What??" Followed by a quiet muttering of what might sound like 'son of a bitch'. Moving towards Lilith, he leans in close to kiss her on the cheek. "I have to check up on something. But I'll meet you at Sitka in a few?" The restaurant with the piano bar. "I'll text you when I'm heading that way."

To everyone else, that smile returns, "Thank you for showing your support in the casino and I really hope that you all enjoy your time here with gambling, feasting, shopping. There's even a fabulous pool upstairs." And with that, he's off.

He did it again. Jessica does her best to politely smile and nod about setting up an interview in a future time but, yet again, Byron has run off on her. "Sure, we'll do that" she calls after him before offering bland smiles to those who remain. "Great place" she offers without much conviction before warily backing away. Besides, there is Kim to greet. "Hey, Kim, how are you? Nice to see you. Don't suppose you brought Hera?" There doesn't look like there is a redhead nearby.

Clarissa places a rather large bet on seventeen after winning a few smaller bets on roulette. Of course, this time things don't fall her way and she sits back in the seat, annoyed as she sips her champagne. She looks around the crowd, waving off the next bet but not vacating the seat yet.

Lilith lifts a brow a bit at Byron's call and quick exit to handle business, leaning her cheek into the kiss with an 'mmhm' of agreement. Then when his back is turned, she downs all of her champagne glass in a single go and reaches to replace it with swap of another. Then she casts a small, apologetic smile of passing to Jessica after the man has vacated, though she still stands talking with Ruiz and Joseph once he's gone.

She also lowers the hell out of her voice, gesturing with her new glass of bubbly after the impressive takedown of her second glass without her date watching. She indicates Ruiz, then Joseph in turns, explaining, "I'm a social butterfly that actually hates to talk about the things that role entails, but Byron likes it, needs it for work, and I get to play dress up. Sometimes his investors have very dumb girlfriends I can make fun of without them realizing that's what the conversation is all about. For instance, one time, a woman told me she was going to get a mini toy dalmation because she saw them in a movie. You know. The animated dalmation movie. She swore they existed."

She takes another drink and sighs a little with affected air, "Can't complain if all I have to really do is show up and smile, though." Suddenly, she ticks her head at Ruiz's pants, "How naked you feeling down there? Catching a breeze?" She's probably talking about his missing gun.

Kim only catches the tail end of the conversation. Not really sure what it is about. A little shrug as Byron goes off to seemingly take care of a problem. She doesn't know him but offers a wave anyway. Her attention back on Jessica "Hi there Jessica." offering a her signature friendly smile "I'm doing really well. Getting out more and well..." she tries to content her excitement and fails "She said yes. Grace is even wearing the ring now and though it's far off, if you and Hera could take part in wedding I know we'd both love it. Oh no...I thought Hera was probably around since you were. I'm not sure that casino is really her thing. I didn't interrupt your work did I?"

Byron's departure is observed with that characteristically flat stare from the cop. Though to say he's not precisely himself tonight is a slight understatement; his power seems.. augmented. Fraying rapidly around the edges, to those with the Sight. Fraying and rebounding and surging and dark and bright as a sun about to go supernova and collapse in on itself. His eyes flick back to Lilith when he realises she's talking to him, mouth making a bit of a moue as he sucks on a canine.

Then, after a glance to make sure his fly's not undone (it isn't), "I beg your fucking pardon?" He really has no idea what she's talking about. Because that's, like, three times in as many days that someone's made an off-colour remark to him in that vein, and good at innuendo, de la Vega is not.

This time, Joe does grab a flute of champagne for himself, takes a sip. More to have something to do with his hand than any real hard drinking - has Ruiz ever seen him drink wine? Likely not.

A fond look is cast at the cop, he concedes, without any sign of annoyance, "The Captain is right. I can be very fond of the sound of my own voice." A sympathetic one for Lilith, "I can imagine that's tedious. I used to have to do some PR stuff, back when, and it could be really boring as hell, 'specially when I had to deal with politicians who just wanted some military officer to wheel out at a party to prove that they supported the armed forces." AKA his elder brother. The explanation of mini dalmatians makes him snort.

Her question to Ruiz, however, makes his brows climb towards his hairline. "That's kinna a personal question. For once he's probably not going commando." A deliberate misunderstanding? By his grin, he's teasing.

Fish do not appear to have actually shown up and caused any trouble, whatever weird murmurs were going on, and Rhys is faintly relieved about this. Number one, fish smell, and number two, it'd be a pain in the ass for the whole casino/fish relationship rehabilitation PR thing. He passes by the roulette wheel, flashing a grin to Clarissa and Nicole there. The latter seems busy with a bet, so it's Clarissa he asks, "Enjoying things?"

"It's a little flashy for me," The woman in the flashy silver dress replies with a distasteful slip. Clarissa takes another sip of champagne, waving off another bet as she looks at Rhys, "And I'd be happier if I was winning, but I suppose it's not a terrible way to spend an evening. Clarissa Robbins," She says and offers a hand, with a tone that indicates she expects him to already know who she is.

"Never seen you without a gun. Good talk, though. See you're as charming as ever." Lilith tells Ruiz a bit flatly at the return, because while she can generally bounce back and give it as good as she takes it, something seems a little off with her mood for one reason or another too now that the veneer and charm has been barbed and tested. Though, she does take a moment to kind of squint at him with subtle cut and narrow of her mascara thickened lashes before pulling in a breath and looking toward the front exit to parking, "Lovely to meet you properly, Mister Cavanaugh. I'm not sure where that man thinks I'm keeping a phone while wearing this dress, but I should fetch my clutch from the car and amend that."

She drains her whatever number glass of champagne from halfway down (already) so she can drop it off and turn toward the doors leading out at stride with a tiny wave of her hand. She sends an annoyed look at some suited security that tails her and turns to look at the man once in the sliding doors with her hands on her hips, as if silently telling him, 'no stay'. Which he does to make her happy, but eventually, he follows anyway when she's far enough away not to bitch at him about it. Someone's being thorough about keeping her 'safe'. That or she's being stalked. Or both, who knows, people with money just do things and she's living with money now.

Ruiz, making friends and influencing people wherever he goes. "Buenas noches, Miss Winslow," he murmurs in farewell, watching her watch him with that squinted look. Meeting it pound for pound. Then she's departing to find Byron, and he mutters to Joe after downing the last of his drink, "Let's get the fuck out of here." Because god if his tie isn't choking him. He tugs on it for about the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes, sets his empty glass atop the tray of a passing waitress, and prowls off for the elevator with a brisk report of those ridiculous heeled boots.

"Congratulations!" Jessica gives Kim a tight hug in celebration. "Of course we'll be part of it. As long as we don't have to pay for it. I couldn't afford it" she laughs. "No interrupting my work. The person I wanted to talk to has departed for safer pastures and who could blame him? You look great. Very happy. I'll drop by Hera tonight. Are you here to gamble away your wedding money?" Oh look, it's Clarissa. Jessica offers Kim some whispered advice. "Don't marry that woman" is said with a nod towards Clarissa. "Since the ball is calming down, I might head on over to the gallery. Enjoy yourself, Kim."

He's far less obviously grumpy about it than Ruiz - Joe seems quite comfortable in his suit, sleek and amused. But nor is he inclined to linger and risk his money, or more of his time. He drains the flute with a practiced air, offers the departing Lilith a murmured farewell, and then heads after the cop. Not a moment's demurral - it seems Ruiz gives orders in places that aren't merely the police station.

"Rhys Evans," the man in question replies to Clarissa, taking the hand and giving it a friendly shake, along with a grin. "I think we're all happier when we're winning. Anyway, if it were less flashy, the lights wouldn't shimmer off your dress like that, and that'd be a shame. Are you sticking to roulette? Maybe your luck's waiting at another table tonight."

Clarissa gives Rhys an appraising look, swirling her glass a bit, "Perhaps. What would you suggest?" She narrows her eyes just a bit when she overhears Jessica, taking a large sip of champagne, "If it helps, I like holding all the cards."

Kim returns the hug. "Thank you. As well as great. Nah why would I want you to pay for anything. I can more than afford everything...I mean Grace can as well. But anyway it will be wonderful to have you two involved." smiling at the joke. "Oh well...eh that reminds me I have something to talk to you about. That would help you. Another time though. No though I gamble responsibly. Maybe I'll hit the blackjack or poker tables for a bit. Perhaps losing a few hundred. No big thing." she tilts her head at the whisper comment "Why would I marry another someone other than Grace?" trying to keep her voice low. But then it seems that Jessica has to head off. Another hug is offered "Alright. I hope to talk to you soon. Enjoy yourself as well. It was really great to see you Jessica."

Hearing Clarissa return retort "And how would holding cards help in roulette?" not trying to be mean, but curious as to her response.

"Who doesn't?" Rhys gives Clarissa an appraising look in return. "You strike me as a poker player," he decides, "You at least get to hold some of the cards... and more of it depends on your own talent and intelligence. More satisfying to win, I'd say." He leaves it to her to answer Kim, but gives her a bright smile of greeting as well.

Joey actually breaks from the poker table for a while. Damn Kelly can afford a tailored suit these days?? (Blame Byron, really.) The pinstripes strike a killer profile on the boxer really, but this ain't his room to run; just the table and he seems to be in a good mood leaving the assessment that he's pretty flush right now. He wades over where Clarissa and Rhys are as stop number two offering his 'accountant' a hand. "Hey, grats on the place openin again." Looking to Clarissa"Hey you're the lady in charge of fixing all the old haunted shit right? Nice job o the downtown." Way to pin the Historical Society, really.

Clarissa gives Kim a very dismissive look, "It doesn't. Hence needing to change the game," she finally stands up to free up the chair for someone who might want to play roulette, "Poker on the first night of a casino opening?" she clicks her tongue, "Sounds like a good way to fund this enterprise for a long while, so let's avoid that."

"Joey!" Rhys greets the man, shaking his hand also, and giving him a grin as well. He briefly passed by him earlier, but that was in the throes of poker, when there wasn't time for proper greetings. "Thanks. Came out pretty good, didn't it?" he says, adding, "Tell Ms. Robbins here how wrong she is about first night poker. You did all right, I'd bet." Glancing back to Clarissa, "...but even if you lost, it's for the good of the fish tonight, right?" Winning smile, just a bit of teasing in it. "'course, if you're not up to that, there's always blackjack."

Kim really doesn't much about gambling and just shrugs to the look "Sorry if I offended you in way." she offers in apology to Clarissa. Then heading off to the blackjack tables, trying her luck and math skills there.

Joey cracks a wry, cocky grin back to Rhys, "You kiddin? Making people give me their money is what I do best, baby." Usually more in a capacity he's not discussing at present, but it is true. He takes another look around and back. That someone as high class as Clarissa is not acknowledging him neither shocks nor offends. The expectation was never really otherwise. "Someone had to warm up your tables for ya. I was on my way upstairs to celebrate. hope it helps your trout turn out, or whatever, man. how you holdin up? You gonna sleep at all for the rest of the month or is this just your life now?"

Rhys lifts a hand in farewell to Kim, wholly in favour of her testing at least luck and maybe non-excessive math over there, and laughs at Joey's joke. "Point. Probably shouldn't let you in here, you'll break us," he grins back, and looks around the place himself with some small satisfaction. "Holding up okay, so far. And this might just be my life now. But c'mon, who needs sleep when you got slots?" Not, of course, that he can play any of them. As Clarissa moves off, he takes a breath and apparently a brief break, leaning up against the edge of the counter and stealing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray. About time he got some. "It's looking pretty good, I'd say," he says more quietly, "Good start. Even if some of it's gotta go sleep with the fishes."