2021-03-24 - A Cozy Night In

The fog has a way of creating a feeling of isolation and loneliness. The creepy things that shift in and out of it don't exactly do great things for the heart, mind, or soul.

It's a measure of how much Conner has started changing, in a short period of time, that after some thoughtful consideration, bouyed by the good feelings brought on by successfully changing out a garbage disposal the fortune teller warned him about, he actually got on the phone and invited Turner and Xavier over.

His apartment is cozy but cluttered, full of books and paperbacks of every sort. If there was wall space, Conner found a way to put a bookshelf into it. There's an old couch that's got faded green plaid...ugly as sin, but so comfortable, and a worn coffee table that is one of those things that preserved the shape of a piece of large wood rather than carving it and taming it into submission. On this, a chessboard, carved from marble. Overstuffed, eclectic chairs, one dark blue, one dark green, settle around that. There's a dining table too, though this is more modern, a thing that came from Ikea. Lanterns that are just electric lamps made to look like hurricane lamps have been swapped out to replace modern light fixtures, including the overhead, which now has a hanging lantern. He's pretty liberal about his residents modifying their apartments if they want to, and he seems to have a slightly anachronistic soul.

He has a laptop, also visible, but it's tucked away on a shelf on top of a bunch of books. The door to his bedroom is closed, but if one were to peek into his bathroom they'd find it's got an bronze clawfoot tub in there instead of a standard apartment complex basic white in-the-ground tub. The anachronisms continue in there, as well.

The place smells of baking bread. Conner has created a barbeque chicken flatbread, covered in chicken, cheese, and peach pickled onions. The crust is home made, and if it's not quite restaurant quality it's pretty good. He's made maybe more than was strictly necessary, clearly concerned someone will go hungry. He's got a pretty decent selection of stuff to drink: bottled water, iced tea, beer, take your pick.

Xavier is getting a social life and he did not expect it to happen in the least bit! Still he is happy to take the invite, he needs to make more friends if he intends on staying here. Either that or he's going to get run over by a giant wheel, either way he's happy to get out of the house. He swung by Turner's place to pick him up on the way and follows the directions to the apartment building. "I smell carbs." He smirks to Turner as he knocks on the door. He's in his wool coat and a deep blue sweater and jeans and his hair is a rumpled mess as he keeps playing with it.

"I like carbs, carbs are good." Turner murmurs in response. He's dressed in a slightly oversize charcoal gray knit jumper, fitted but not tight jeans, his longish hair falling loose and curly around him, freshly washed and tamed just enough that he doesn't look like he has bed head, but no coat. It's not really COLD after all, and the chill in the air is pleasant after the extraordinarily long winter.

Conner opens the door for them both, and says, "Hey, come on in."

He's dressed about as he ever is, in jeans, waterproof hiking boots, and a collared shirt over a t-shirt. This is all in shades of blue and grey today, but he at least pulled something less rumpled than usual out of his closet for guests. The slight smell of Pine-Sol is also in the air, hinting that the place may be cleaner than is, strictly speaking, usual for him. Every light in the visible space is burning, and black-out curtains have been pulled against the fog outside. "Glad to see you two got over here safely," he says, stepping aside to let them in. "I almost didn't issue the invite just because of the danger of traveling right now."

"Who doesn't like carbs?" Well he knows a lot of people who have sworn them off but he was never one of them. Bread always win. When Conner opens the door he smiles and slides into the apartment, nodding at all of the books lying around. "Well we can't let the fog win by staying in our homes, but I've been smart about only going places I really needed to go." Not that there hasn't been weirdness, but he's getting his footing on weirdness. "Anymore weird dreams for you?"

"One of my patrons swears carbs are a tool of the Devil to gain access to your soul." Turner murmurs as he steps in, smiling at Xavier and actually making eye contact with the man, something fairly rare in general for him.

"I've mostly just been going to work and home, but the HOPE project needs volunteers, I was thinking about swinging by sometime soon to check in and see what I can do to help." Turner smilesat Conner, as well, "Thanks for inviting us, it smells amazing in here!" and not just because of the power of Pine-Sol, baby.

"Make yourselves comfortable," Conner says, waving a vague hand at all of the accessible areas, in a way that says he's truly happy for them to sit anywhere at all. He closes the door behind them, and, after a moment's thought, slides the chain into place for just a little bit of extra security for them all. It's that kind of night.

He nods about the dreams and says, "I haven't sustained an injury in any of them though, not since that last one. So that's good. And I guess I've picked up a new interest? Hobby? As the result of one. How about you two?"

"I guess I'm damned to hell then." Xavier smirks as he finds a couch to settle on and nods. "Yes I need to do more than just work and bother Tuner in his lovely home. After all the longer I linger with my aunt the more her friends start eyeing me for odd jobs." He smirks and does not look the sort who would do manual labor. "Great, that book dream laid me out for a while it was unpleasant. So, what's the new hobby?"

"You don't want to paint Mrs. Morrison's fence for her, then fix Mrs. Gebhardt's router problem?" Turner asks, sitting next to Xavier, a little gingerly. The distance is odd, close, but not as close as Turner might like. Plausible deniability distance, clearly. "Mostly just work. I haven't had any Dreams since the one with no pants, but I did meet Baba Yaga..."

"Ahh...horticulture, I guess," Conner says sheepishly. "So if you get any weird mysterious seeds, send them my way. I met with that guy August and we're going to grow some. Because I had a weird dream, and woke up with something that was Definitely Not a Fig in my hand. It didn't even get squished cause you can only cut the thing open with Shine in the first place. Or put it back together. Apparently."

On the matter of Baba Yaga, he tilts his head. "I did too. She gave me a good fortune. And told me to fix a garbage disposal that was definitely rusted. What did she say to you, Turner?"

"I will keep an eye out for weird seeds then." Xavier says though he sounds a touch warded out by it, who brings back seeds from a dream! Either way though the conversation turns to Baba Yaga and he furrows his brows. "Wait. Like is that the name she was going by just to be cute or... do I need to ask this because I'm afraid the answer will be, of course it was her this is Gray Harbor." He says flatly. "I did not enjoy my fortune."

"Oh, are you good with plants?" Turner asks, his eyes lighting up. It's not like his home is teeming with plantlife or anything... "It... was about my sister. She ran away a while ago. She said she's okay, but may need help in the future." Turner looks down at his hands, but doesn't, notably, begin twisting his clothing. "She... might be the real thing. I'm not certain. It's best not to worry about the distinction in my limited experience. If she is the real Baba Yaga, questioning her could be bad... and if she isn't... questioning her could be bad."

"Well, I mean no, but August is," Conner says, waving a hand out the window as if to conjure a vision of the nursery in the blinds. He stops that immediately though...with the fog out there there's no telling what doing such a thing might do. "I'm just bringing them to him, but he wants to see what's going to happen too, and so does that guy Devlin. He's building like...a concrete reinforced thing to try to limit any damage that might happen."

Still, his brow furrows in concern. "I found her pleasant, and not at all frightening like the Baba Yaga of the stories," he admits. "And everything she told me was...very specific, and all checked out. I'd pay attention to what she has to say. What was your fortune, Xavier? Why did it upset you? And...we'll just have to be ready to help your sister then, Turner."

He clears his throat, and adds, "assuming you would want my help in the event of some trouble with your sister."

"I don't think I want to question her about anything, the lady knew my name before I gave it." Xavier frowns and shakes his head. Looking toward Conner he frowns. "Something about how the smidgen of control I believe I have is fleeting and I'm going to be ran over by the wheel of fortune. She also used these really creepy cards for me, it was unsettling." He gestures to Turner and smirks. "He got the nice cards." Hearing about August he frowns, this is someone he's yet to meet but he figures it'll happen sooner or later. "Oh okay so it's a fetch quest then right?" He smirks before he nods his head. "Why wouldn't anyone want your help? You're a smart man Conner."

"I'll... take anyone's help who's willing to offer it, when it comes to Kenzie. She's all the blood family I have left... but I don't know where to even begin looking for her. I just... want her to be safe and happy." Even if it's not back home, with him. "I don't know if I'd call Mr. Roen an NPC to his face. He's pretty tall." Turner tells Xavier, with a shy smile. "And yes... you're very smart, and kind. I'd be happy to fight a hundred Wonderland creatures for you!"

"Well, maybe not happy. But I'd do it."

Conner smiles at the compliment and ducks his head in thanks, but his brow furrows at the call Mr. Roen an NPC comment. Clearly he doesn't get the reference there, but he also looks like he's not about to ask. Instead he brings the flatbread over. It's already cut into squares, making it easy to dig in. It seems to have a bit of honey to it as well, once one is close. He also brings forth small bowls of really good olive oil for dipping. This man is a very tall hobbit. One who likes his customs.

"Well, I'll be happy to," he says, on the matter of Kenzie. "Just let me know when you know you need to leap into action, and...I guess that's what I'll do. Maybe more action, less leaping, but still."

"Same honestly, though I would be keen to not have to fight wonderland creatures, they are very painful after all." Xavier replies and as the food arrives he leans forward to grab himself a piece and nibble on it. He will not turn down free carbs. "Oh, no I wouldn't call anyone that, especially a tall person that would be rude." He smirks as he digs into the flatbread. "This is very good, do you cook like this often? I might have to stop by more."

"Carrrbs." Turner murmurs as the flatbread arrives, brown eyes watching Conner as he puts the food down. "I'll let you know... hopefully, she won't need help, but... I'll let you know."

After Xavier reaches and takes a piece, Turner does as well, dipping his very briefly in the olive oil before he brings it to his lips with one hand under the bread to catch any drips. He takes a small bite, then lets out a borderline inappropriate sound as he gets a taste, clearly appreciating the food, eyes closed in pleasure.

"Ahh, yeah, yeah it is, it's kind of a hobby of mine," Conner says, smiling. "I like to dig up recipes from around the world, too. Because I don't travel, but...I can travel the cuisine."

He gestures to one of the book walls, and one is, indeed, covered in cookbooks. Turner, librarian that he is, might even appreciate the fact that there is a sense of organization to all the books. They're roughly grouped, and the authors are in alphabetical order for fiction. For non-fiction, it's all about grouping topics. The three Thai cookbooks, for example, are all neatly marching together on the shelves. Of course, the part where books are jammed in horizontally because he ran out of space is nothing ever taught in any library science program.

"You two are welcome to come over more," he says. "I think I like having people in the apartment."

"I approve of this hobby, though I also approve of traveling." Xavier smirks but he understands that it might not be as easy for Conner being the property manager of a complex like this. "Still I am more than happy to test out recipes,I do have a refined palette." He is mostly joking.

"Oh did I tell you I got a new job? I'm at Likely Stories now, and it's a relaxed environment. My boss is a little grumpy but I'm sure he has his reasons." Xavier smirks. "You should come by sometimes, Wednesdays are particularly slow."

"I understand that... not traveling, I mean. I got to go to the Faroe Islands last year and it was really nice, but by the end of the trip I was missing Gray Harbor so much..." Turner shrugs a little, looking around a bit at the various books. He doesn't comment on the organization, but he obviously approves! "I'd love to come over, or have you come over to the house sometime. I don't get out a lot except for work." Turner admits.

"Why are Wednesdays slow?"

"Yeah, why? And I'd love to visit either of you. I should have gotten out more, well. Years ago, I guess," Conner says, with a quirk of a smile. "Now that I'm doing that it seems stupid that I waited so long. Inertia is a thing, I guess."

But he turns his attention to Xavier now, because he wants to hear the answer to Turner's question. He leans back in the seat he's chosen, enjoying the bubble of normalcy. Though just as quickly he says, "I forgot to offer drinks. Do either of you want anything? Water? Tea? Beer?"

"His house is lovely." Xavier says honestly. "I like a house with history and character and it is full of it. Though way too big for a single person on their own." It's obviously why he doesn't mind invading Turner's place either. "I have absolutely no idea why it's slow. It's a bookshop, and it was closed for several months so that likely didn't help. Still Elias lets me write when we're slow so that makes me quite happy." He laughs to both men and shakes his head. "I'd return the gesture and invite you over but my aunt is an experience."

"Well, you're both welcome at the Addison house whenever you like." isn't... his last name Quinn? "It's easy to... get into the habit of staying in and not trying to get out in the world. It's something I've done a lot, myself." Turner admits, with a little headtilt. "I'd love some tea." he admits, before taking another bite of the flatbread, though this time not accompanied by the sounds. Must have been hungry. "It's... not that big." Turner objects, absently. "There's just the four bedrooms, and the... formal dining room... and the tv room..." Turner trails off, realizing, perhaps for the first time, the relative privilege he's lived in. "I'd love to meet your aunt sometime, she makes amazing macarons."

Conner gets up to grab Turner's tea for him. "What kind do you want? I've got iced tea, and I've got black tea and green tea if you want hot."

The kitchen just has an open bar that looks right out over the living area, so it's not like he's gone far. His lips twitch as Turner trails off, but he can't talk. He owns a whole building and he putters and essentially makes his living working part-part-part time. It's just that his property is all divided up, and people live in it. "What's your novel about, Xavier? I don't think I got the chance to ask you when we talked before."

He's honestly not sure if Xavier's status as a writer came up before, and he suddenly isn't super sure it is a book at all. "Or is it a novel?"

There are lots of ways to write, after all.

"Oh yes, sorry, iced tea for me will be fine." Xavier replies as he completely flakes on Conner's question. "I guess I was forced into being an extrovert but hiding away in my house has always been more appealing honestly." He says with a wink. "A good book, and a fireplace sounds amazing." He gives a side glance to Turner. Perhaps that's a hint. "Oh my novel? It's not much of anything yet. Just a few vague ideas and short blurbs of a story that I hope to slap together one day."

Looking at Turner again he quirks his brow. "Are you sure about that, shes, exuberant. Baking skills aside she can be a bit much."

"Iced tea will be fine for me, too, thank you. That sounds lovely." And indeed, with the warmer weather, one can finally enjoy cool drinks again! Xavier's comment about a fireplace and a good book has Turner turning scarlet and smiling, shyly, at the other man, before ducking his head in embarrassment. Yeah, he's trying to be discreet. Xavier isn't making it easy.

"I'd still like to meet her. I mean... if I haven't, already. If she comes to the library I might know of her at least." Turner admits. It's not a huge town, but there's a decent population of people to keep track of all the same.

Conner pours the iced tea and comes back with glasses for both of them, then returns to the kitchen to grab one of his own. His lips twitch, and he opens his mouth. Only to think better of it. Still, those warm brown eyes of his are twinkling as he continues to just go right on biting his tongue. He instead gets comfortable, filling his mouth with a bit of flatbread while they discuss whether or not Meeting the Formidable Aunt is a good course of action.

Discrete isn't happening, guys.

As it is, after the conversation has wound on for awhile, and, ultimately, down, he walks to the window and twitches open the curtains. He frowns at the thick fog, and the shapes he sees hovering in the air outside, for they are up on the third floor. He offers to make up the sofa bed for them.

He doesn't seem to think there's anything strange about this offer.

For. You know.

Reasons.