2020-10-03 - Just Another Day in the Park

It’s a lovely mid afternoon with light breeze. Atli enjoys the mild weather in a light blue floral wrap dress and pair of white wedge heels. She is sitting on a bench devoted to someone both dead and at some point important, going over a list in an open planner. Perfect curls swing in time with the zephyrs.

The black cloud that walks into the park is probably human -- a human in a very bad mood. The fact that Ravn Abildgaard is wearing black from top to toe doesn't exactly brighten the composition, and carrying his own personal cartoon thunder cloud makes sense -- allegorically, because there is no actual cloud, he just looks like there should be one. Strolling down the path at random he has the distinctive air of somebody who really wanted to punch someone else's teeth out, but decided that now was probably a really good time for a walk instead. Whoever the tall copper blond is, somebody pissed him off. Maybe he got a parking ticket.

Kailey is sitting on her own bench. She has her eyes closed for the moment, hands in her lap, face relaxed. It's probably why she doesn't see Ravn storming along until he is nearly at her bench. A brow raises and she says in a cautious voice, "Hey Ravn...you ok?"

Breathing heavily after his daily run, Murphy slows to a casual stroll. His hands held up behind his head, his shirt wet from sweat. A look on his face as if deep in thought, oblivious to his surroundings.

For her part the very blonde Atli somehow misses the cloud polluting an otherwise ideal day. One of the perks to being absorbed with ones own life was a low level of negative impact from others. The list she continues on in perfect looping cursive. Not in pencil, but ballpoint pen. This is a statement of perfection in and of itself. No mistake was to be made. Perhaps a bird sings sweetly nearby, or simply music plays from her own mind. We all have shortcomings even in a lack of admission.

Ravn's internal session of cursing out the powers that be grinds to a halt when soeme actually talks to him. He stops flat and looks at Kailey a moment as if trying to place her -- in the fashion of someone who was having a really good shouting match in which he got to deliver all the scorching one-liners, but unfortunately, the other guy left ten minutes ago. Staircase delivery, there's a French word for it. The things you only thought of snarling after the argument was over.

"Oh. Hello there," the Dane replies and wipes the anger off his face with a conscious effort. "I'm fine, just really annoyed with someone. How's the kid?"

"At home. With her daddy. I am wonderfully, blissfully, alone," Kailey says with a wan smile. "Avoid the Noid, my friend," That sounds like a quote from something. "Is it the lobster thing? I...is that a thing or did I dream it you were hosting lobster battles?" She blinks up at him in mild befuddlement. There is the faintest smell of weed hanging in the air about her. Her smile and posture are very relaxed now though.

It's peaceful here, at least since he's been here. It's nothing like the busy streets of New York. He finds himself coming to a park bench and taking a seat, taking in the gentle breeze, the lush trees that speckle the park, the sounds of birds chirping around him. "Why here?" he softly says to himself, before he realizes the blonde woman sitting farther down on the bench. "Oh. Uhh.. Hi." He nervously gets out, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Emmie, meanie, miney, whoa! There are people near where Atli is currently basking. The midnight draped man was in fact the writer she had run in to. There was also the woman Atli had met at the hospital visiting Lucas. Shutting her planner once ink is dry, the very prim woman does her best not to startle at the seated stranger.

“Oh! Why hello! I didn’t see you have a seat. I can usually place those from town, but you aren’t, are you?” She twists a single ringlet in interest of new information.

"... Lobster battles?" The Dane looks perfectly blank. "That sounds like a novelty restaurant concept that might sell some interesting t-shirts."

He shakes his head and heads towards Kailey's bench. "Mind if I join you? I could use some company that's not bragging about how it's great if everyone else dies in one of those... dream things. Finally ran into some genuine assholes here. Took me five weeks to find them, though, so I suppose the track record is pretty good."

Kailey waves a hand to the bench beside her. Then pulls from her pocket a vape pen. It smells of blackberties for a second. "Please! Would some green soothe your soul?" She asks with a lopsided smile. The slim, pink cylinder isn't any longer than a finger. "It's a cbd half n' half if you're worried. Helps me with...stuff." Assholes probably in this case.

A slight chuckle his lips as they curl into a smile, "Definitely not from around here. " His eyes scan over the park's scenery, "a lot more color here than New York, even in their parks." The look of deep thought returns to his face. His eyes locked on seemingly nothing. Different indeed, but nothing that has answered the many questions that rattle through his head.

In an attempt not to be rude, because that was not acceptable she gives a sunshine filled smile to Murphy. “I’m just going to call out some pleasantries to our bench neighbors! I am still very much engaged by your given statements!”

“Good afternoon Mr. Abildgaard!” She waves politely only from elbow on. “Ms.Holt! You would never know you had a child by looking at you!” Atli does hear the tail end of Kailey’s previous inquiry and raises an eyebrow. Quietly in judgement: “I was not aware we had lobsters locally.” The more pleasant comments are called out from her own bench before she swivels crystal eyes to Murphy.

“What other differences render such a pensive expression?” Her tone is kind, curious, and has a background of expectation as though skating the question was not to be taken well.

"I'm more of a straight up Scotch and then kicking something hard for stress relief kind of guy," Ravn murmurs and settles on the bench next to the artist. "But thanks for offering. CBD is probably a better coping mechanism than the one a few other people suggested -- get drunk and screw everyone in sight. Anyhow, yeah. Had to bump into Gray Harbor's resident jackass eventually, not a big deal. Now what's this about lobsters?"

He glances across the path to the people on the other bench. Blond head over there is familiar. "Miss Addington, hello. Person I don't know yet, hello. Please, Ravn is fine. The only people who call me Mr Abildgaard are my lawyer and people demanding to see if I have a green card or came in illegally from Tijuana."

He does have an accent, no argument about that. Hispanic it's certainly not, though. More likely from some European country in which they try to teach kids to sound like Oxbridge.

Kailey turns her head slowly towards Atli and gives her a big grin. "Hello! Oh do call me Kailey. And thank you. Apparently nursing is amazing for losing the pounds," She says to the blond Addington. "How are you doing? It's been a spell for sure." She takes another drag before tucking the pen into her leather jacket pocket.

There's a bit of uncertainty that crosses Kailey's face at Ravn's question. "Ummm...well I was down on the beach and someone was crabbing. And they were goofing around. Saying something about crabs versus lobster would be more entertaining at your lobster pit fights. I was confused and asked because...lobster pit fights." She shrugs and rubs the back of her head awkwardly.

Atli's words snap Murphy out of his head. "Well, in New York, the streets are always crowded with passer-byes, just going on with their daily routines. Oblivious to.." He stops himself, his eye shift to Atli, for him it's obvious. She shines like a beacon to him. "those like us. Unable to see the capabilities of some. Here?" He pauses again, "It's all I've seen. This town flourishes with people who know. It draws us in, but for what." His words grew quieter as he spoke. He looks over to the others and smiles slightly before speaking up again, "Looks like I'm the odd one out, huh? Names Murphy!"

Ravn’s response garners the twinge of a frown from the corner of Atli’s rose colored lips. “I’m afraid you’ll have to add me to the list Mr. Abildgaard , one’s family name is a quite important thing!” She manages to erase any evidence of undesirable emotion with the thought of familial belonging. “As with you Ms. Holt, I am well! Thank you so much for asking! I hope to put such useful advice to practice one day!”

Atli smoothes her dress and places her planner beside her on the wooden slats. “I have to go For the time. My mother expects me to help her choose a new bed. As for the shine, remember the light can attract darkness.” She gets to her feet and gives almost a curtesy to those present.

“Have a pleasant day all!” She exclaims before being on her way.

"Well, hello, Murphy. Trust me, you're not the only person around here who has no idea what's going on. I came into town five weeks ago and I'm still just staring blankly most of the time." Ravn nods to the other man and offers a small smile. "Except when some jackass is mouthing off about how it's all just a matter of making sure the other guys die. Bad case of feeling insecure about his girlfriend, I suspect. Which made the situation even more ridiculous because I am absolutely not a threat to anyone's girlfriends."

Kailey nods towards Atli and lifts her hand in a lazy wave. "See ya around," She says cheerfully before her eyes flick to Murphy. He gets a smile and nods too, "Hey. You can call me Kailey. Nice ta meet ya," Her voice bright and friendly.

Ravn's comment earns him a thoughtful and curious gaze. "From what I heard lobsters have more to fear than insecure boys. So -do- you have lobster fights? Is it a thing in Denmark?"

"Does have a insecurity ring to it, " Murphy chuckles as he stood from his spot on the bench and begins to stretch his legs a bit. "I overheard you were more of a scotch guy, but if you are looking for anything more, my shop just opened over on Maple. It's categorized as a dispensary, but I tend to have something of use to whoever needs it." His gaze shifts over to Kailey, "Especially e-liquids." He smiles.

"I'm pretty sure that lobster fighting is not a thing in Denmark," Ravn murmurs. "Although the mental imagery is kind of amusing. Do you think they'd be wearing little costumes, or...?"

He shakes his head, stopping his mind from wandering gleefully off in the direction of designing Pokemon costumes for crayfish, and offers Murphy a hand gloved in black kidskin. "Still getting used to the idea of all that being legal. It's a pretty big deal back home -- lots of people use cannabis in some fashion or other, but it's still illegal so the market is kind of a feeding frenzy for scam artists and conmen. Pretty sure the US made the better choice in just legalising the whole affair and getting on with life."

Kailey's brows go up and her eyes widen with excitement. "Ooohhh? The new place? I drove by it on my way here. Awesome, definitely will check that out," She says with some eager nods. "I'm trying to find Harlequin in vape. Not always easy,, but I can't imagine not having access to cbd. It's done wonders for me. My worst side effect is a nap and munchies." She tells the men cheerfully.

There is a pause and Kailey says with less enthusiasm, "I've been here almost a year and it doesn't get less weird. But Atli was right, be careful not to shine too bright too often. They," The word implies an ominous someone or someones, "Can and will try to kill you. Or those close to you." She wrinkles her nose and out comes the vape for another pull.

Murphy take's Ravn's hand in firm handshake. "That they did, though it took them awhile." Murphy racks his brain for a moment, "Not sure if I have Harlequin, but I can always see about bringing it in. Though, I do have a wide assortments of both THC and CBD liquids, amongst other goodies." He begins to turn, ready to continue his jog through the park before suddenly stopping. "What.. what was that? Kill me?" The visions of his nightmares sprout through his mind once more, the first time since leaving New York. The black silhouettes that once surrounded him in dreams, always looming over him at the edge of his vision. "Who.. Are they?"

Ravn glances at Kailey as well, and then at Murphy. "Goodness. You're as clueless as I am, aren't you. Heavens."

He takes a breath. "Gray Harbor is... You want the very short new kid on the block speech, I guess. Basically, this town -- screws with you. It draws people with certain talents, and it screws them over sideways in as many ways it can. Objective is to make us suffer. It's pretty good at it. Everyone's going to tell you to get out of town while you can. You're not going to do that. Next thing they'll tell you is to make friends. That's the part I'm still working on."

Kailey takes a long pull from her pen and her eyes drop from Murphy to the carousel off in the distance. Her lips thin as the vape is pulled away and smoke pillows from between her lips. "Mmmmm....They are called many names. I...They're the sentience behind your nightmares is my best guess. I don't know much really...just that my mom was always running from 'em until she died by them," She says it in a muted tone with her eyes distant. Taking another draw. "More likely they'll hurt or kill people around you...the more to make you suffer. But like Ravn said...make friends. Usually anyone with the Glimmer you can talk too safely if you're in a bind. Luck is good you might end up in a waking dream or nightmare. Not...all the things that happen here are bad. Some are just...weird." She takes another long and thoughtful draw. "Like the sugar and candy race track with exotic chocolate birds as your vehicles."

Murphy's head hangs for a moment. He knew the nightmares that guided him here weren't of good intent, but this? Cattle lead to the slaughter? Murphy shakes his head. "I'm not going to let them control who I am. I heal people. I provide them a safe place from their troubles." He brings his hand to his mouth, nibbling on the nail of his thumb. His other hand on his hip. "I'm not a fighter, but I can do what I can for those who are." He lowers has hand, his gaze switching between the two. "I greatly appreciate the heads up, but I have some things to think over." He begins to turn away, his leg's shaking. "Count me a friend, if either of you need anything at all, you know where to find me. Don't be a stranger." And he begins his walk back to his shop, or more over, his home above it.

Ravn looks after the man walking away. "Suddenly understanding why people would go 'poor guy' at me, a month ago. He's in for a rough couple of weeks." He shakes his head. "Let's keep an eye on him, look in on his shop, something? I could go for a few joints sometime."

Kailey smiles at Murphy and nods her head. "Sure. I'm not much help to be fair. The guy you wanna talk to is August. Botanist. Own a plant shop. He knows a lot and is a healer too I hear," She says with a nod to both Ravn and Murphy. It is then when her phone dweedles and she makes another face. Taking out her phone and answering it. "Hi babe, yeah I'll be home soon. I know she's hungry. My boobs hurt," There's something lewd said on the other side that makes her smirk as she gets up. Waving to the other two as she heads off towards parking.