2020-09-10 - Date Night

Lunch for the paramedic and the doctor at the hospital went ok and somewhere in all that Devlin asked Zara to dinnner. Tonight found Devlin picking up Zara in his Rubicon and driving them to Sitka. Devlin is nicely dressed but still to the casual side. Worn under his very nice leather jacket, he is wearing a nice pastel blue short sleeved shirt with a nice gold and navy blue stripe pattern. Dark blue trousers are well fitted on him. A well polished brown belt and near mirror shined brown shoes complete his attire. Walking up to the restaurant, Devlin offers his arm to you. "I hope you enjoy this, one of the nicer places in town that isn't fast food."

A date! Zara doesn't go on many dates, so trying to find something to wear was as exasperating as a full moon night at Emergency. She soon discovered that her wanderings around the world and the need for minimum luggage had reduced her to one dress that could be presentable at a date. She greets Devlin in a body-hugging black cocktail dress that ends just above her knees in pencil skirt fashion; she may have to tug at it every now and then while getting used to wearing such clothes again. Not to mention the hobbling around in high heels for the first time in decades. And clambering into jeep takes a bit of skill. Zara offers a quick kiss to his cheek before off to the restaurant they go. "I like the jeep" she notes with a grin, checking out the rear to see plenty of medical gear and even a litter. "Prepared for everything, or do you want to make drugging and kidnapping women easier" she teases. "Do you go camping in this?" Her tone suggests she is hopeful it is a 'yes', but they can leave further conversation until they are dining. Happily she takes his arm, snickering at his comments. "You have to admire a town where the fast food places are the nice places." This does look like a classy restaurant and Zara makes a mental note that she needs nicer clothes if she's going to places like this.

"Beats VD drive outside of Fort Beginning," Devlin kids. "For the real fancy places have to drive to Tacoma or Seattle. You look amazing Zara." He holds the door for you to come in and it appears the place is busy to judge by those waiting for tables. His confidence hints at having reservations or an in. "I do go camping with the Beast, hunting too. She's pretty nimble on the fire roads. As to kidnapping, never saw the appeal in that." a hint of a grin suggesting teasing or joking there.

"Thank you" Zara blushes at the compliment. "And you look quite handsome too." She steps inside, managing not to wobble on her heels, with a nod of thanks to his chivalry. A momentary look of apprehension at the queue for tables but she will trust her date. "I go camping too. Usually by myself. Are you a member of the local camping group...whose name escapes me at the moment." A shrug, it'll come to her. A wry smile at the lack of appeal in kidnapping. "I am quite pleased to hear that."

At the hostess station, Devlin answers the hostess after being greated, "McCloud, table for two." The delay is only a couple a minutes before the pair are led to a table. Devlin comments en route to the table, "I called a head to make sure about timing. They know me.. sadly, due to a few runs I handled as non-dramatically as I could." At the table, Devlin offers to help you get seated, "The beef here is great and the sea food is always fresh."

"I hope they weren't food poisoning call-outs" Zara half jokes as she settles into her seat with the help of Devlin. "Thank you" she smiles warmly, placing her purse on the floor next to her chair. "Sea food would seem appropriate for a town with Harbor in its name. I should warn you, Devlin. I haven't been on a date for a long time, so forgive me if I get the 'formalities' wrong" she smirks. "But...umm...thank you for inviting me out. This place is lovely."

Devlin takes his seat, "I totally get it. Turned off more than a few dates when I was in LA due to still talking like I was in the field. Cool when you are in the firehouse or with cops.. not so nice in a lady's company." He chuckles a little, "I nearly got sited for contempt of court once for my language." He then settles in his seat. "Good thing, is that I've mellowed a bit.. I think they can move to the 64 grit sand paper now for my rough edges.."

Zara laughs at Devlin's words. "Oooh, are we gonna talk in barracks language? Well, that could certainly be exciting" she grins with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "Might frighten some of the other diners though. Talking like a soldier wasn't my problem. Working too much and never staying in one place was. If you like to think of those things as problems. I can understand being in a warzone is a hard thing to shake." A brief frown before picking up the menu to glance through it. "Don't worry" she half whispers to Devlin, "I'm not a lady."

Devlin smiles warmly, "Still allow me to be my better self.. it can take practice." He picks up the menu to look it over, "I don't live in a barracks, so shouldn't act like it. So far my cousin has not complained." He then adds, "Fingers crossed. Oh.. that looks like a nice Amber Lager.." He then looks up and inquires, "What happened on your journey to bring you out to Gray Harbor?"

"Two lagers then" Zara nods. "Or do we want a jug? Mind if I have the lobster?" Again, the dating protocols are hard to remember. "I guess coming here is close to coming home, but not quite. It's strange. I just felt a...need...to come back here." She frowns a little. "That is a terrible explanation" she snorts in amusement. "What about you? Why here?"

"Sounds like a plan then, two lagers, and sure.. no problem with the lobster. At least here it is pretty fresh." Devlin nods, "Long story for me. Short version, was picking up the pieces of my civilian career. An old friend needed someone with my qualifications to take a slot in his unit. I came up and one of the guys the unit knew someone here and the need for experienced paramedics. I applied, jumped through a few hoops and here I am." He then catches the waitress, "Pitcher of the Amber Lager and a couple of mugs." He then smiles to you to allow you to order.

Zara quickly orders the lobster and a salad, since she is much more interested in talking with Devlin than the waitress. "Picking up the pieces? That sounds like there was something that shattered it." She holds up an apologetic hand. "Sorry, none of my business. Unless you do want to talk about it. Anyway, are you enjoying the job? I bet you thought a little town like Gray Harbor would be a lot quieter than it is. At least it keeps you fit." A little blush. "Umm, not that I mean you have a great body. I mean, you do, but I was just talking about an active lifestyle in general keeping you fit. Not...umm..." She quickly pours herself some table water to hide behind the glass while sipping at it.

Devlin says, "It's all good. What happened got dragged through the papers." He takes a breath, "Never mix politics and triage. Not that I did, but the politics jumped in to the mix." He then orders surf and turf, medium well before going on. "After twelve years of active duty, I decided to make a change. So I went to LA and got into their program to become a SWAT Medic. Part of the process was to be a part of the LA Rescue squads. It was on one of those runs my trouble started." He then gets that rueful kind of I was me and did something stupid expressions, "I was not even supposed to be on shift that night. One of the guys in the program, his wife just started into labor, so I covered for him."

"Ah, politics, the bane of anyone trying to do good. And the reason so many do bad" Zara sighs, placing her glass down again since the whole 'good body' incident has been glossed over by her date - such a polite man. She listens with interest to the tale. "Go on...if you want to."

Devlin nods, "Yeah. It was towards the end of the shift when we got the call. Car accident high speed, four victims. I won't bore you with the details other than one car was a 18' Mustang tricked out with all the speed in the world." He pours the beer when it is brought over, passing a mug to you before he pours for himself. He manages a decent head on the beers. "Two victims had minor injuries considering. The other two were in very bad shape." He takes a breath, "I could feel death waiting for a mistake.. you know?"

A smile of thanks upon receipt of the beer before nodding sadly about Death. "Yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about. Let me guess, the culprits responsible had barely a scratch. It happens way too often." Still, it is your story to tell, so she won't interrupt. She also holds off drinking her beer until they can make a cheerier toast.

"Nope.. the culprit did pay for his E-ticket." Devlin goes on, "Air evac for everyone, that bad. Unfortunately, first bird to arrive was nothing more than a slick, good for moving stable patients in a hurry. The good bird with a doctor and equipment on board was still 20 minutes out. So I made the call, put minor injuries on the first bird. My partner and I busted our asses getting the other two stable for the second bird. Once it arrived, got them on board and I rode in to help the doc. One of those two.. the driver of the Mustang died on the table. But we saved three. I was feeling pretty good about it when I went back to the apartment."

"As senior medical officer on the scene, it was your call to make. You use your training and experience to determine the best way to deal with the situation that you have found yourself in. Did anyone who counted, including yourself, think you made an error of judgement? Sure, it was terrible that person died, even if they caused the accident. But would they have still died if they'd gone on the unprepared chopper?" Zara replies, studying you to discern how you feel about your own actions.

Devlin nods, "I'd make the same calls again and more than one colleague said the same. The other way, two would be dead even if I rode in." He then takes a pull on his beer. "Problem was the father, a state senator. He made it his purpose in life to make it my fault. There was an investigation over my actions. Man had more strings he could pull than Geppetto could ever dream of. When it was all said and done.. I was out of the program, my California certifications pulled. No one in California would touch me out of fear over the Senator. So I left.."

Zara looks shocked to hear of such rampant corruption. "Seriously? That's...terrible." A sigh and shake of her head. "Though I don't know why I'm surprised. That he blames you is the understandable action of a grief-stricken father - at least to begin with. To ruin another person's life with an invalid use of his emotional response - that's reprehensible. That this kind of thing could happen in this day and age, and in this country..." She frowns. "It seems we are going backwards socially and culturally. I am sorry you had to go through that, Devlin. I'm hope that things are better here."

Devlin takes another pull of his beer, "Well, he had a few friends in the state house up here. I had to recertify for them, even though my NPR was still good and through the National Guard I should have been ok. Plus for about six months, I had to see a shrink to make sure I was not suffering from PTSD." He smirks a bit, "The funny thing is.. over in LA, there are more than a few Paramedics that might not do their best for him, if he needed them. Me, he shows up here and hurt.. he gets my A game regardless. I'd still bet a month's pay he'd refuse treatment from me even if bleeding out. I'd just wait till he passed out in that case."

"He's evil, not stupid. I'm sure he'd be happy to take your assistance and then sue you for scars" Zara replies as she lifts her mug for a toast. "To doing the best we can, irrespective of obstacles." She will finally have some beer after mugs are touched. "That's not too bad" she muses. "Psychiatrists aren't all bad. I used to work at an asylum after all. Though...some are very bad indeed." Another sip of her beer. "He couldn't stop you recertifying, even with his friends here, that shows you're damn good at your job. Be proud of that. Be proud of your ethics. I wish more people were."

Devlin chuckles and toasts, "To saving fools from themselves." He then goes on, "I once seriously pissed off a surgeon at a field hospital. Accused me of trying to kill a patient.. problem was.. he was right." There is a slight smirk, "Enemy combatant.. he shot at me and my patients. I shot him back, hit him too. Center mass to boot. Then the grunts with me brought him over and I started treating him along with the others till we could evac."

"I don't think that counts as trying to kill your patient" Zara notes about the situation. "Sounds like you tried to save him. We've all been accused of such things though. All of us been blamed for the deaths of others. As I say, it's a reaction to a traumatic situation. A desperate attempt to find meaning and reassert control over the world. Control that never really existed in the first place." Another sip of her beer, leaving foam above her upper lip she seems unaware of. "What do you do for fun, Devlin? Hunting? Camping? Anything else?"

Devlin says, "I practice both Kung Fu and Tai Chi. I have a black sash, just not yet qualified to teach yet. As to other things, yes, I do play games. I also enjoy camping and bow hunting." He takes a pulls on his beer as he smiles looking at you. "Nice to talk to someone that gets it. I do other things too, been plucking at guitar strings again. How about you, what do you enjoy doing when your not dealing with ER drama?"

"There are times when I'm not in the E.R.?" Zara replies with mock incredulity. "Let me know when you're able to teach. I'd like to learn. What games do you play?" Their food arrives, Zara sitting back in her seat for a moment as plates are placed on the table. A nod of thanks to the waitress before she resumes the conversation. "I also do the camping and the bow hunting. I also have a bit of a green thumb. I like to grow my own vegetables, herbs, flowers...if only I had a place with a yard. Stuck in an apartment near the hospital for now and don't spend a lot of time there. A guitarist as well? Wow, soon you'll be serenading ladies below their window" she smiles.

Devlin chuckles a bit to your mock incredulity, "Same boat.. apartment. Sadly, rather Spartan.. Hera.. she is my second cousin, says I need art and color at my place." He hmms, "I still have some Venison from last season. Got some rabbit and groose." He grins, "More of a karaoke and camp fires type myself. And I need to get a guitar, been borrowing. My last guitar was the victim of an RPG fired by Taliban fighters."

"Was your playing that bad?" Zara deadpans about the Taliban's reaction. "Venison? Nice. Nothing wrong with Spartan apartments. Less distractions. Or, at least, that's what I tell myself" she laughs. "Hera is here too? In town, I mean, not at dinner." She glances around at the other patrons. "Or is she..." She rips off a lobster claws and cracks the shell to get to the meat inside. "I'd love to see you do karaoke. They have nights in town somewhere. Never been."

Devlin laughs, "May be.. critics, go figure." He eats his steak and pauses. "Hera has an art gallery in town. Over at the Foggybottom strip mall. The coffee shop there does karaoke at times. Gone a couple times." He rubs his chin for a moment, "One or two of the bars, might."

Zara laughs and shakes her head. "Foggybottom. Seriously, who thought that was a good name for a mall. How many people what to pick up goods from a foggybottom?" She dips the lobster meat in the sauce and tries it. "Mmm...that's nice. Would you like to try it, Devlin? Well, if tonight goes well, maybe you can invite me to a karaoke night?" Another blush. "Don't want to get ahead of myself or anything." Change subject. "I should pick up some art for my place too."

Devlin hmms with the blush, "Yes..I would enjoy karaoke with a date. Another reason to find a guitar.. suddenly I miss the Fayetteville pawnshops. I'll figure something out." He cracks his lobster tail open, "I'm good and thank you. It has been sometime since I have enjoyed myself with food that didn't come out of the crock pot. Hera has a lot of local artist's showing various pictures and other things at her gallery."

"I've noticed a couple of local art fairs this year. It seems Gray Harbor has quite the creative population, though I suppose that makes sense with...everything." No need to bring up the Veil and Dark Men at a pleasant dinner. "They have pawnshops here, I'm sure you'd find a guitar. Lots of local bands too, I've noticed." Zara chews on some more of her food, swallowing before talking again - she has some manners. "What kind of songs do you play? The cliche would be that you're a hard rock kind of guy? That true?" she winks.

Devlin smiles a bit, "I enjoy all sorts of music. But you'd be right, played a lot of rock when I did play in country. I know some Beatles, Kansas, Queensryche, REO, Skynyrd, and Seger to name a few. So you mentioned working at an Asylum before, tough gig?" He then pauses to get a couple bites of steak and lobster. Followed by refilling of beer mugs.

"Very tough" Zara replies softly, mind drifting off to things she doesn't want to remember. A subtle shiver through her body before her smile returns. "Maybe that's one of the reasons I'm here? Now that I'm more worldly and experienced, I might be able to help people better. My original time there was one of the catalysts for my nomad years. I had to get far away from that place." A little laugh. "Warzones became more appealing." The new beer is gratefully drunk. "Not bad musical taste" she allows magnanimously. "You put on shows for the other troops?"

Devlin nods as he eats and then answers, "Mostly it was us at a forward base, no computers or other devices really. Not like you got any good radio stations. So we played for ourselves. Two or three of us and depending on whom was there.. there may be singing. The real shows happened when we were in the rear and the USO shows.. those were shows." He smiles, "In the rear, had my play station and laptop. I'd skype with family." He smiles but there is that moment when something unpleasant slides through his expression quickly. "What music do you enjoy?"

"Did the Taliban feel the need to blow up anyone else's instruments?" Zara teases. "If you weren't in a warzone, it sounds like a tourist resort. Can't say I ever had the same 'luxury' in the refugee camps." More yummy food and beer are consumed. "I like what you like. And other things on a more...how do the kids say it...pop tip?" They may have said it twenty years ago. "And, just to live up to the stereotype, folk music." She can't help but catch that moment on your face. "Bad memory?"

Devlin nods, "Yeah.. sometimes all you can do is be a spectator from afar." He then answers the other question, "Yeah.. they killed a few guitars that day. The truck got hit by three rockets.. one of them hit the case mine was in directly. Not something they are built to take." He shrugs, "Critics.. if they can't take it out on you, they take it out on other things.. people." He pauses as he eats, and then speaks, "Refugee camps, went to a couple to help here and there. Misery on misery from what I could see. Only so much we could do.. we did what we could, even sponsored a couple of families once to immigrate."

"I was in Doctors Without Frontiers for about a decade. I saw a lot of camps. A lot of poverty. A lot of hunger. A lot of guns. But, as we say, you have to the best you can no matter the circumstances. That was nice of you...with the families." Zara picks at her salad while they both remember more trying times. "Okay, enough of our sordid pasts" she smiles. "How is a handsome, educated, fit, musical man such as yourself, single?"

That earns you a chuckle, "Paratrooper.. 82nd Airborne. Between training, field problems, and deployments, makes having a relationship and building it difficult." Devlin sighs, "Only Drill Sergeants have a higher divorce rate than the Airborne community. I'd date but she'd get mad about my being away at some point. I wasn't around enough. LA.. well, when your being declined at clubs and restaurants plus people trying to pick a fight at clubs." He takes a breath, "Not a lot of ladies are willing to look past that. Here.. well, got a little boomerang. She took a rescue swimmer position with the Coast Guard..she's good. Saving lives.."

"Oh...you have a girlfriend?" Zara looks confused for a moment - she must assume it is a local position and they're still seeing each other. "Oh...okay...that's great." She summons a smile even though she feels she completely got the wrong idea about tonight...or they could be into threesomes. "I find it incredible that you had to come all this way to find someone. You seem perfectly charming to me."

Devlin shakes his head, "Nope.. no girlfriend these days. She got sent to Diego and seems uninterested in long distance." He smiles at you while he reaches to touch your hand with his, "Sometimes life sends you on a journey and you never know where it will take you. Some ships pass in the night and others find a common port." There is a gentle squeeze of your hand, "I am enjoying being with you, Zara. And to be honest, hoping perhaps " He gives you a questioning look

A look of relief on Zara's face as she learns that the other woman has moved on. Then a wince as she imagines how that must look to you. "Sorry to hear that it..." She glances down at the touch to her hand, squeezing in return. "And I enjoy your company" she replies before a quirk of her brow at his words and look. "Hoping? To get into my port?" she teases before another wince; she did warn she wasn't good at this dating thing. "Sorry, what are you hoping for?"

Devlin hmms, "Well to find a strong, smart woman for a girlfriend.. other attributes.. are bonuses in my book." He tease back, "Bold.. harbor.. I kind of like that." He flushes a little, "big bonus in my book that the lady I am with is very attractive.. and sexy.

"I'd recommend you get your eyes tested but I like what you're saying" Zara laughs before biting on her lower lip. "There's...umm...something else I haven't done in a while. If you want to skip dessert, I'd like to change that." Innocent eyes look over beneath fluttering eyelashes.

Devlin says, "I am not one to argue with a lady." He smiles with a hint of a flush, "We can always order it.. later. Grub hub is handy.. I have a chariot one each... up to the lady where it goes."

"My place" Zara decides quickly before wiping her lips of her meal. It seems she's in a hurry to leave.

Devlin says, "As you wish..."