2021-05-23 - When You Assume

For a town this small, Gray Harbor has a surprisingly large community of writers -- large enough that you'd honestly expect the town to have at least one Starbucks in a central location, seeing to the needs of these sugar and caffeine fuelled creatives. It doesn't, though; what it has is Espresso Yourself. Here, there's nothing unusual in seeing some guy or woman wander in, laptop under one arm, to order a hot beverage and settle somewhere to take advantage of the wifi. If anything, the air is less pretentious, maybe -- no one stays in Gray Harbor and stays relevant for long, so there's perhaps not as much ego involved for most of these writers. They either established their brand before they came to town, or they won't be establishing it while they're sticking around.

One of these writers appears to be Ravn Abildgaard. Dressed in his usual black blazer and turtleneck combination, the Dane wanders in, laptop under one arm indeed, and engages in his usual pre-blogging ritual: Arguing with Della the day manager.

As it turns out, coffee, black, is an order anyone else can place here -- but not Ravn. No one remembers why. As usual, the argument lasts about ten minutes and ends with Ravn settling for a hazelnut roast, looking defeated. He hasn't managed to buy a cup of regular black coffee in this place in nine months, and his luck is clearly not about to change.

When it comes to placing orders, Isi is very very easy. She places her order right from the menu and doesn't bother to check that she actually gets what she ordered. If it's edible she'll take it. The unwritten rule of coffee shops is that you leave other people alone - but this courtesy doesn't extend to Ravn, so she and her drink will just go invade his space. "Hey Ravn,what was up with all the noise?" She tilts her head at the counter and RAvn's cup.

Thank God for mobile tech and pre-order apps because few could withstand the nuclear aftershock if Cassidy had to wait in line behind an entitled Dane arguing with the manager.

The diminutive-in-stature-only woman breezes into the place (more like gales) with her over-sized, bug-eyed sun glasses perched on her nose, phone in hand and a way too big for what she needs to carry purse on her arm. She goes straight to the 'pick-up' station and grabs a huge iced coffee. (She doesn't have the patience to sip her caffeine - it is needed in the blood immediately tyvm). Then she's to the adjacent counter to dump a veritable load of 1/2&1/2 into it.

"Oh, that's an old argument," Ravn murmurs with a glance to Della, and then to the diminutive hurricane that brushes past. "I made the mistake of saying that polluting coffee with anything but coffee is a sin. Back in August."

He plops his laptop down on the table and settles next to it, without actually opening the lid and then glances after Cassidy. "That's Bennett, by the way. The lady we talked about on the boat? I think I promised to introduce you. Hey, Cassidy, got a moment?"

"Ha," Isi says, with real amusemnt. She settles herself at RAvn's table - whatever he'd INTENDED to do with that laptop is just going to have to wait. She turns about when the name is mentioned to look towards Cassidy, and eyebrow arched upwards. "The blond one, right?"

On hearing her name and a request for her time Cassidy's free hand slowly curls into the shape of a claw. The cream container goes down and Cassidy turns to see who dares summon her....oh! It's Ravn!

Cassidy's hand immediately uncurls. The features of her face are hard to define (because of the huge glasses) but the corners of her mouth are upturned in a restful smile. She even answers in a softer than usual voice, "Yeah Rav, what's up?" and steps forward toward his table.

"Yup." Ravn raises a gloved hand in a lazy wave to Cassidy. "Nothing worth a court order. Promised Isi I'd break some ice, help her meet some people in town. Isi, Cassidy. City hall meets DA's office. Ex-crooks like me run for cover." Not that he looks like he's about to run anywhere.

"He keeps talking about his criminal element ties," Isi replies scooting over to make mroe room for Cassidy as she comes over, "But I feel like he can't be in that deep and talk about it. Nice to meet you, Ravn was talking you up the other day."

"Oh I'm sure he does a lot of talking about me," Cassidy says with a pat, pat to Ravn's shoulder as she sits down.

Cassidy takes the first long sip of iced coffee. Soo good. Mmm. Her huge sunglasses come off and bright blue eyes quietly assess the value of the new face. "What do you do for City Hall, Isi?"

"The 'ex' part of 'ex-crook' sort of suggests that I'm not in with anything criminal, deep or shallow," Ravn points out, amused -- before his features stiffen somewhat at Cassidy's patting his shoulder. He tolerates it without moving away -- but there's an awkwardness there as if he's not quite comfortable with the idea. Schooling his features back into his usual laid back smile the Dane quickly rushes to add, "Isi's new in town -- and looking to get to know folks."

Roxy is finally getting her feet back under her since her return to Gray Harbor. She'd spent nearly a year in New York choreographing an off-Broadway show before the pull of the Veil became too strong and she had to come back here. The ballerina is like a blast from the past, the 40s or 50s perhaps, as she walks into Espresso Yourself, wrapped up in a cheerful, melon-colored vintage-style dress that screams "It's Spring!". Her coal-black hair is in a sleek bob, with a matching melon colored headband making her look younger than her years. She moves to the counter line to order a latte.

She looks like a damned Disney Princess, if said princess had one hell of a headache, her eyes squinting even behind dark sunglasses.

The three of them are sitting at a table with their coffee, Ravn's laptop closed in favor of the talking that a thing. "City Hall - auditing department. You're the district attorney, right? I'm sure we'll end up working together professionally at some point. I recall getting quite a few records requests when I worked in Seattle."

"Oh! No wonder he's stressing his /ex/ criminal background. He must not want you asking questions about his non profit receipts." Cassidy reaches for her iced coffee as her eyes slide to Ravn and the blue pools say 'isn't that right?' as she takes a sip.

Ravn cracks a lopsided smile at that. "I'd say yes, except, Isi already went over at last twenty percent of them in a pique of boredom combined with our general curiosity as to why that shop was abandoned in the first place. I'm sorry to say, we found nothing exciting unless you count a few customer complaints about meat being off -- nothing more than you'd expect from a butcher, though, there's always going to be somebody complaining when it's retail."

He looks up as the dark-haired woman in the vintage dress walks past; maybe because he's seen her somewhere before but can't quite recall -- or possibly just because like Isi (and to some extent, himself) she has that special shine, too. A nod goes her way; no harm in being polite when you're staring at people.

Roxy pays for her drink and turns around, catching Ravn's nod. She looks at him a long moment, curiously, perhaps placing him from the newspapers and his photo with, ah, the ADA right there. She smiles then and comes over to the table, nodding to each of the trio. "Pardon me," she says, in an accent Ravn might be able to place as Finnish, as her attention goes back to the man. "You are in charge of the charity center opening up?" she asks. "I would like to volunteer some time there, and offer some jobs for handymen or janitorial staff for those needing work."

"Honestly, they were terribly tax compliant." Isi replies on the state of RAvn's former-place-owners and himself. "The fun really only happens when they mess up their numbers." She actually doesn't sound too excited about the 'fun' - just resigned. She shifts slightly and pushes another chair out with her foot in a quiet invitation to Roxy to join them since she's come over.

Cassidy rolls her shineless eyes and they stay wide as she bobbles her shineless head in a look of mock boredom as Ravn goes into his innocence spiel. She snatches up her phone and squints at it, then starts shooting off a text.

While typing, "Relax Rav, I'm not interested in your fucking HOPE Center..." she sighs and looks up with a hand lifted from her phone, "...I mean I am, just not in the way that...in the sense of..." she shakes her head, "You know what I fucking mean." And she huffs as if Ravn was an essentially annoying part of that whole one-sided convo. The phone is tossed back into her purse with a single flick of her wrist. Text sent.

She looks to Roxy and only smiles once a look-over is completed. She's clean. "Have a seat," the blond offers with a smile.

She catches Isi's drift, "Uh oh. Hate the job? Why not apply to work for the State? Much more exciting. Less building permits more intrigue."

"I'm not in charge -- it's volunteer driven. But I guess I am the guy doing most of the coordination? Hello -- Ravn Abildgaard, pleased to meet you. Heaven knows we can use more hands, the place is one citation short of being demolished." He chuckles, speaking with an accent that most decidedly is also Scandinavian -- just a tad more southern. "And this is Isi and Cassidy. Are you new in town as well, then, or have we just happened to not occupy the same general space previously?"

Cassidy's little tirade prompts a small, amused smile, though. "I didn't realise I wasn't relaxing. Anyone wants to go over the rest of our paperwork are welcome to join Isi in doing so -- I'll even buy 'em coffee to help 'em stay awake. We did find out what the smell was, at least -- turns out there were some hygiene issues in the basement."

Like, six or seven undead entities with weapons and grudges, but that might be hard to explain to the ADA.

Cassidy may not think Roxy so clean after her next words. "Pleased to meet you. I am Roxy Kivela, the co-owner of Dance Evolution here in the plaza," she notes to the Dane. Ah, the place co-owned by Joey Kelly. JOEY KELLY. "I would like to give part time jobs to those struggling to find work. I was treated with great kindness when I first came here, and had nothing to my name, and I wish to pay that forward to others in need."

She shakes her head with a chuckle. "No, not new, but newly returned. I was in New York for almost a year doing some choreography." She peers at him. "Danish?" she asks, curiously. She smiles to the two women and settles into the offered seat. "It's nice to feel Spring trying to arrive, isn't it?" She winces a little as she sips her coffee, taking off her sunglasses. She looks tired, headachy. She probably should not have 'read' her stone from the Baba Yaga.

Isi shrugs a shoulder at Cassidy's question. "I worked in Seattle for a while, but the city just wasn't for me. And auditing isn't too bad. I like the numbers, but it's tedius when people actually get them right." She quirks a half smile before arching an eyebrow upwards while listen to the other conversational threads.

And there Ravn goes again expressing his innocence and Cassidy hangs her head to wait through it. "No one's investigating your stupid charity can you shut up about how clean it is already?!"

She huffs and snatches her phone and takes a picture of Roxy. It makes her feel better, "I love your dress and it looks fantastic on you." There. That makes the blond feel better. "What do you think Isi, isn't it the cutest?" and Cassidy shows Isi the picture of the dress she just took even though Roxy is, like, right there. You know? Wearing it.

"Southern Jutland, yes." Because Scandinavian geography might actually mean something to, well, Scandinavians. He smiles at the mention of Joey Kelly and nods. "Haven't seen Kelly in a while -- I take lessons in self defence at his gym. Not very successfully, but you need to start somewhere. He makes me drag his big mastiff around town for exercise sometimes -- literally, because the damn thing refuses to walk half the time." The man either has no idea that Joey Kelly is involved with Gray Harbor's criminal element (read: in charge of it) or he doesn't care.

He glances at Cassidy, amused. "If no one cares, why do you keep telling me? The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

Roxy seems a little startled at having her photo taken and she grimaces a bit. "Please, can you crop that to take my face out? I dislike having my picture taken." Surely nothing to do with actually being a missing person who poofed from existence some years back for a stay at The Asylum. Mostly, because she doesn't want her parents to ever find her again. Ever. Horrible people.

"I never expected to find anyone else from Scandiavia here!" she exclaims to Ravn, looking delighted. "I am still trying to understand some of the strange holidays they have here."

As populous as writers are, you could fill the Teddy S. Addington high school gymnasium (go Loggers!) with people with parental problems. And here's another now.

Opening the door, Everett ducks under the doorframe, more by habit than a necessity. Once inside, combing the fingers of his left hand through his long black wet hair before shaking his leather jacket. Once he's done shaking the drizzle off of him he heads for the counter, extracting a wallet on a chain as he walks, keeping his right hand in his jacket pocket. A glance towards the other patrons and he up nods once, or twice if Cassidy and Ravn aren't seated close together.
Obligatory joke about the photo in the paper.

Blllliiinnnkkkk - Isi doesn't respond right away because she is just as surprised as the sudden picture taking happening. "Ravn described you exactly as you are." Whatever that comment means.

She leans forward and settles her forearms on the table with a more real smile tugging on her lips. "Yeah, she looks good. What are you into Cassidy? Beyond telling Ravn' to shove it?"

They are all together over at that table, just chilling.

Cassidy laughs once! at Ravn. "Trust me Rav. If I was investigating you it wouldn't be this cute little cat and mouse tease. It would feel like I had my fist up your ass making sure you weren't hiding anything in the folds of your colon."

Then she looks immediately to Roxy and smiles brightly, "Sure thing babe." Swoosh. Pic deleted. Gone. Poof.

To Isi, "Oh typical shit. I'm a real basic bit..." Then it's eyes on the big man. A study. And then the point of a perfect, slender, well manicured finger, "You're the asshole who nearly hit me with a plate!"

Ravn upnods at Everett as he arrives; maybe he has forgotten the plate incident at least. "Congratulations," he tells the big man instead, with a grin. "Not sure what made Kailey's day the most there -- the great white, or you proposing to her."

Then he pauses and blinks at Cassidy. That was -- graphic. Right. Uh. Yes. Moving on. Quick look to Roxy. "You're not wrong. Thanksgiving I get. Black Friday, though? Seems like Hell's special invention for torturing retail workers extra."

Roxy seems very relieved when the photo is deleted and she lets out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She smiles to Ravn again but looks utterly flummoxed at Cassidy's...descriptive words. "I will stop by the HOPE center soon with some paperwork and to help out. I must go teach a ballet class now though!" She raises her latte to-go cup to the table, and heads back out, nodding to Everett in passing.

In the midst of looking at the menu while having the barista's attention and trying to decide just what size and just what kind of coffee does he mean when the gorilla said coffee, Everett hears Ravn, fist and colon. His head quirks, tilting to the side, before slowly turning to look at that table his expression hasn't changed at all from it's resting brooding face. Lips part. His breath held. Then his focus returns to the barista while he points over his shoulder, "I'll have what she's having," he supplies.

"Nice to meet you," gets called out after Roxy - they totally did meet? She's already forgotten the woman's name. That's normal, it's fine. Sipping at her cup Isi refuses to be shaken, "There's nothing wrong with basic. People like that shit because it's nice."

The elephant is in the room now so she'll ask, "Plate...?"

"Yeah!" Cassidy bounces upright in her chair and leans forward a bit to give Isi the hot gossip.

"Rav and I were on the boardwalk - and he totally didn't kiss me, like a fucking loser -" her hand flaps back to give a back-handed slap on Ravn's shoulder. Don't worry. It was gentle.

"Then out of fucking no where this plate," Cassidy puts her hand up with fingers pointing vertical, "....comes flying and cuts right between us and this close..." she pinches her fingers together in a very gross exaggeration of how close the plate actually was "...to my face and then explodes into a million pieces."

"And then this guy..." points at Everett, "...tries to sink into a shadowy doorway like he isn't easier to pick out in a police line-up than a giraffe would be."

Ravn chuckles into his hazelnut roast and shakes his head slightly. Why do most conversations in this town turn weird?

Talk about questions that come with their own answer. Because it's Gray Harbor, that's why. Weird doesn't just come through on the Greyhound every so often, weird has been in permanent residence since about 1850.

"I, what?" Ravn blinks at Cassidy, in genuine surprise -- and edges a bit away from her because clearly, touching is a thing and he is definitely not entirely comfortable with this. "Why the everloving fuck would I do something like that?"

Eventually settling on his order of two chai teas and a coffee, just a coffee of their largest size in a car tray, Everett murmurs a thank you, and pays in cash, slotting the change into the tip jar before he returns his wallet back to his pocket. While waiting on that, he turns around again, this time his expression is a little sheepish, "I. Don't. Know. What you're talking about," he says haltingly with his low, gravely voice. "I was never in that alley. I was never throwing plates into the garbage bin, and nothing slipped outta my hand, and I have the alibi to prove it," though protesting, he wears a slight smirk.

From Cassidy, he moves on to Ravn, "She showed me the pictures. So you were the guy she was on a date with? I know a gentleman never tells, but," since Cassidy brought it up, "was there any smoochin'?" His little smirk might have grown a tad wider. It's pretty difficult to tell, what with him making air kisses in Ravn's general direction. "Mmmuahmuahmuah," and now he's grinning with the addition of a small chuckle. Yay, let's pick on Ravn day!

".... so ....."

Isi leans back in her chair and then scoooooots back half a touch. Leaning over to Ravn she stage-whispers, "You implied she swung for the other team! Either she's making a liar of you or you've got the perception of a rock."

Yep, pick on Ravn day.

Cassidy 's mouth hangs open and her eyes go wide. Her expression at Ravn is one of those both offended and amused looks that really confuses the fuck out of most men (ladies know what I'm talking about!) "You think I'm a lesbian?!" she states/asks loudly with her voice squeaking on the word 'think'. Her very very large 32 oz coffee cup is in her hand and the next words might decide where its content ends up.

Ravn looks from one, to the other, to the third in utter disbelief. He's clearly trying to decide if they're collectively taking the piss, or he somehow slipped into Dream territory. This, after all, is pretty much his personal nightmare: Being the centre of everyone's attention.

"I don't imply anything," the Dane says calmly. "I don't think anything. Unless somebody intends to proposition me, it's none of my business who people are attracted to, or who they're sleeping with."

Waiting on coffee, and tea bags to be put in hot water takes a while, so Everett's got time to wander from the counter. A glance towards Cassidy and he extends his left hand to Isi, "Hi, I'm Everett. I'm a fan of your work." The ape's focus turns then to watch Ravn going on full defense mode and Everett, Everett's enjoying every bleeding second of it. You can tell; he sighs happily.

"Look, I need to know if I should hit on her, or just talk about basic shit." Isi says because THINGS NEED TO GET CLEARED UP OKAY?

"How could you think---" Cassidy's mouth goes wider and she inhales a gasp. Her eyes gaze over at Isi and she points, then looks back at Ravn, "You're trying to hook us up!"

Her hand comes slowly to cover her mouth. Her eyes say 'I'm soo sorry' to Isi but they say 'you're going to be sorry' when they go back to Ravn.

Ravn blinks at Isi. A couple of answers flit through his mind before he picks the one that seems obvious to him: "Ask her?"

Then Cassidy is in the man's face next and he leans back on his chair a little with an utterly exasperated expression. "Do I look like a dating agency? Unless either of you are applying to fight my cat for the other bunk on my boat, none of this is any of my business."

Pulling his hand back, Everett gives it a glance, and then another one at Ravn. Looks like his work here is done. Retreating back to the counter, Everett keeps his back to the barista up until his order is called. Accepting the tray, there's a nod of thanks, an interesting look at Ravn and his table while the thug carries himself back the way he came in while the attention is on Ravn, all on Ravn. The only change from when he walked in, is the giant is in a much happier mood.

"I don't have to ask, that looks says everything." Isi holds up a hand in defeat. "Talking about basic shit is it. Vanilla candles, am I right?" Isi says lightly, still smirking at Ravn's fate.

"Honestly," taking some of the flame off Ravn, "He didn't come out and say it. Just made it clear you weren't interested in him, and so I jumped to a conclusion. My bad."

Cassidy is so very disappointed in Ravn. She shakes her head. "Okay. Don't defend him." What? "Vanilla candles?" Nevermind. The blond slides out of her chair to stand. She searches through her bag and then plops a business card in front of Isi, "I'm not gay but we can hang. Call me."

Cassidy looks at Ravn again. Disappointed. She shakes her head. The bug-eye sunglasses go back on. She grabs her drink. Now she's leaving.

"And this is the moment I give up on talking to women," Ravn murmurs and reaches for his laptop. "This is too fucked up for me, sorry. Make a point out of stressing repeatedly that I definitely shouldn't get ideas, then get pissed off I don't hit on you. Nope, I'm out. This is the exact reason I don't date. Sorry about that."

"Yeah! Sure..." The card is taken and tucked away before.

"Well."

Isi sits back and rubs at the back of her head.

"I manage to clear even a coffee shop. Wow. Okay. Sorry Ravn - seriously, I picked up on a vibe that wasn't there."

Ravn's gloved hand rests on the laptop as he takes a deep breath, and then shakes his head. "No, I should apologise. Shouldn't snap at you. I have no idea what Cassidy Bennett's orientation is. Didn't occur to me ask, or speculate about it. Thought you two might hit it off, sounds like you still might. Just, do me a favour and don't get me involved? I'm not a match-maker. I don't really do this whole -- dating thing."

@emit "Honest, I'm sorry. I'll totally leave you out of it, that really wasn't what I meant to do. Before you go - What was up with the tall guy?" Isi glances over to where Everett last was.

"No, I'll... I mean, there's no point in rushing out, Bennett's already stormed out." Ravn sighs a little, perhaps at himself; this is hardly keeping up appearances, is it? Then he looks back at the door. "Oh, that was Everett Woods. He is -- oh Lord, my life is a farce."

He can't help laugh. "He probably thinks I'm dating his fiancee. Sorry, this is apparently my life now."

"... Cassidy is his fiance?"

Isi hasn't kept up with things very well right now and is blinking slowly and with SO MUCH CONFUSION.

Ravn shakes his head. "No, her name is Kailey Holt. Purple haired artist -- they have a little girl together. No, I don't know either. Last week, Bennett had that photographer take that picture with us both in it, and since then, apparently I am sleeping with or dating anyone of the female persuasion in this town that isn't holding me at bay with a pitchfork. Come next week, I'll probably manage most of the men too. Honestly, have no damn idea what's going on anymore, but Woods did literally throw a plate at us the other night so I figure he's upset about Kailey Holt and I going fishing."

Beat. "We did catch a crapton of fish though. And saw a great white. Was a pretty neat trip."

Yawning a bit as he enters the coffee shop, Devlin makes his way to the counter. "Hi Ravn,.. uh.. Isi? Right" greeting as a semi-fuzzy brain tries to put name and face together where the young woman is concerned. It appears that one of the barista's is about to make tea for him when he shakes his head, "Need the caffeine hit. Coffee Black and if you have some of that good Kona, I'll go for that." He gets a nod as he gets to the counter, "And 2 of those Bear Claws.."

"Got it. Kaily Holt. - I'm sorry about that." Again. Man Isi is sticking her foot in it EVERYWHERE.

"Ah, Hi. D.... It starts with a D, right?"

"Heya, McCloud." Ravn raises a gloved hand to wave at Devlin. "Pull up a chair. If you just got nearly trampled to death by the ADA I apologise. I managed to piss her off quite severely, it seems."

He chuckles and sips his coffee, ruffled feathers somewhat settled, and then looks back at Isi, shaking his head. "Honestly? It's twenty-twenty-one. A couple of people can go fishing without a romantic context. You'd think. And when a woman tells you 'I'm not interested in dating you', what the hell would you think but -- she's not interested in dating you? No offence to you personally, but, women are fucking confusing."

Devlin gets his coffee and bear claw, before heading over. "Or an M.. if you call me by my last name." He smirks a bit with Ravn's comment about women being confusing. "Yeah.. best we can do is be a riddle.." He winks to Isi, "Women get to be an encrypted riddle wrapped in an enigma that has a random half-life." He moves over to the table to settle. "Devlin is whom I am when not in uniform.. McCloud or Staff Sergeant McCloud when I'm wearing a military uniform

"Devin- DevLIN," Isi catches herself and repeats the name more correctly. "Sorry about that. And the riddle is okay - as long as you' are dragging others into it too. I kinda got Ravn into a hot spot implying that our DA might be gay. She isn't. By the way."

Isi drinks her coffee like it's a life line to the real world.

"Just so we all know."

"Devlin it is, I'll try to remember," Ravn promises. "You Americans have very complicated rules about when to use first or last names -- and if you get 'son' or 'sir' into it, I flat out give up. I kind of got into the habit of just going with last names because at least that way, I don't end up disrespecting anyone."

He laughs and shakes his head at Isi's comment. "No, apparently I got myself into a hot spot by not kissing her after she told me she was definitely not interested in me, not that I was aware at the time that this was even being negotiated. I don't really do this kind of thing. I should probably apologise to her for the -- humiliation? But at the same time -- look, if you want a guy to consider you that way, maybe it's a good idea to tell him that, and not that you're absolutely not interested? I don't know. Women are strange sometimes."

Devlin chuckles a bit after a few sips of coffee and a couple bites of his pastry. "Well, I think Jim Morrison got it right.. People are strange. Not exclusive to either sex." He smiles some. "The ADA as gay.. didn't think I'd hear that one about her. Heard other choice words about her from patients that would be facing her to be charged later.. just to qualify that statement."

"Is an ADA even any good if they're not getting insulted by criminals? " Isis replies, shaking her head slowly. Her coffee is almost totally drained and she sighs at it.

"Does the end of coffee mean that I have to actually go be productive?"

"Nah. Order another. Heaven knows I need one after that show." Ravn grimaces. "Honestly? The only way I have any idea what people's orientation are is if for some reason they decide to tell me, or kiss their significant other in front of me. I have this general idea that unless it's me they want to get up and personal with, it's no concern of mine? Ugh. I probably do need to go and apologise -- if for nothing else, then at least for peace and quiet."

Devlin chuckles, "Define productive?" He grins again as he takes another sip. There is a shrug at the idea of apologizing to the ADA, "Kind of your call on the apology there." He hmms, "Refils are of course an option, Isi."

"I like how you think officer." Isi says, popping herself up and going to do JUST THAT. One can't fault Isi for being late if she's drinking coffee with an officer of the law, right?

Maybe another barista would have taken pity on Ravn after that show-down. Not Della, though. Hazelnut roast is the compromise. He's not getting his coffee black, nope, not now either.

But at least he does get that hazelnut roast. Curling gloved fingers around the cup he shrugs. "No offence to the lady present intended but -- in my experience? Apologise or suffer. Easier to just apologise for unintentionally upsetting someone, get on with your life, than hearing about it for six months ahead because somebody's feelings got hurt."

Devlin chuckles, "Oh.. Paramedic.. not a cop or deputy. Been accused of being a law officer more than once." He then winks, "But if someone asks, you were inquiring about understanding the audit reports for the drugs we carry on the truck. After all, they can be complex, right?"

Isi ponders this compromise that Devlin offers, turning her cup in her hands slowly as she ponders. "Hum, auditing for drugs huh? I wonder if that HAS happened recently. I should look up that report." It's said with a flash of a smile at Devlin.

"Hopefully she lets you off the hook easily enough. And honestly, it's a shame, I would have enjoyed flirting with her."

"Myeah, small town -- better to not make enemies when you don't need to." Ravn nods and sips his coffee, somewhat more composed now. "Bennett doesn't shine -- but she's in a position where it's kind of hard to avoid her altogether. With all the crazy that happens around us, you can't really afford to make enemies of the cops -- or for that matter, the paramedics. Right, Best Friend Devlin? Never piss off the paramedics."

He chuckles. "It's fine. And, who's stopping you? She didn't say she wasn't interested as such. She was just busy being mad at me for not doing the opposite of what she was telling me to do. If that sort of thing gets you interested? Give it a shot. To me it says stay ten miles away from, do not even think about it, handle with extreme caution. But maybe that's why I generally don't do the whole dating thing in the first place."

Continuing to sip his coffee, Devlin nods. "Got to keep those inventories accurate." He then takes a couple bites more of the pastries. "Well, an ADA that doesn't shine.. does make for some difficulty. But nice to know it now. Caught me off guard the other day. She is a tough one. And rare.. not shinning like most here. Hope she survives it."

"So... that reminds me, the shine thing." As the pair of them steer the conversation in that direction. Isi leans forward, elbows on the edge of the table. "What happens if she DOES come in contact with the weird stuff. Can it do something to her still, and she'll just... imagine something else?"

"It can, and it will, but she will rationalise it away. She will not remember anything strange. The Veil protects itself that way -- it edits memories. Rewrites reality until things make sense." Ravn pauses.

Then laughs. "You know, if I was a bit more of an asshole? I could have saved this whole mess just by floating her drink across the room or something, make the Veil edit the last hour right out of her memory."

"Now that is an angle I never considered before.." Devlin chuckles. "Down right dirty pool. I may have to try that with this one cop that loves to mess with me." The grin on his face touching into purely evil expression for a moment. "Oh.. the fun."

"Huh." Isi says, scratching at the back of her next thoughtfully. "That's a little evil. But yeah - you should have done that. Saved yourself a shit-ton of problems."

"Maybe next time." Ravn upends his cup. "Honestly? I'm not that much of a dick. But I'm not going to pretend that the idea doesn't strike me as funny right now. Bit of payback, maybe. I'll leave it at the fantasy -- screwing with people's head is a bad idea, the Veil does enough of that already."

He stands and picks up the laptop that he never did get around to open and get anything done on. "I should call it a day. Don't think I'll get a lot of work done after that little show today? Think I'm going to go home, have a beer, and laugh at the absurdity of it all. Woods bloody well nearly did brain me with a plate a few nights back, and now Bennett is pissed off I didn't pick up her hints. I swear to God, I'll actually date the woman to just walk up to me and say, look, dude, let's go for tacos and a romantic sunset."

The Dane shakes his head and wanders off, chuckling. Because life in Gray Harbor is nothing if not absurd, and sometimes, the Veil doesn't need to raise a proverbial finger to make it so.

"Take it easy, Ravn." Devlin says as the man leaves, "City Auditor.. how did you become one? And why here in Gray Harbor?"

Isi lifts a hand as Ravn leaves, still looking apologetic for the mess she got him into. But Devlin's talking so she turns towards him. "I always like numbers, so auditing gave me a solid use, and I loved the public policy thought.... in theory." That's the smile of someone who regrets their degrees. "Worked in Seattle for a while , but realized pretty quick that the city wasn't for me, but with debt hanging over me I couldn't really just not work. I wanted something in a smaller town and I found an ad for Gray Harbor popped up. Now," a vague gesture of her hand like it's magic she's here.

"So honestly, not super exciting. How about you? I've got a feeling from what people say that being a paramedic might be.... exciting here."

There is a nod from Devlin, "Sometimes I wonder if Iraq or Afghanistan might be a bit safer." He chuckles some. "I do admit that a lot of the people around here love to test Darwin. More than a few loose to him one way or another." He sips his coffee. "Makes a relationship challenging at times.. we have a lot of EMTs.. but not many full paramedics; so a lot of over time that makes having personal time difficult." He sighs, "I even applied for the Paramedic in Charge position.. still goes unfilled."

Curiosity peaked Isi tilts her head just a bit thoughtfully, "I'm not sure I ever thought about the difference between a paramedic and an EMT - what is the difference? Hopefully that isn't offensive - I honestly don't know."

"An EMT is a lower skill level, about a hundred twenty to One fifty hours of training." Devlin starts off as he sips his coffee, "A solid foundation of basic life saving skills. The range of skills for an EMT include CPR, giving patients oxygen, administering glucose for diabetics, and helping others with treatments for asthma attacks or allergic reactions. With very few exceptions, such as in the case of auto-injectors for allergic reactions, EMTs are not allowed to provide treatments that requiring breaking the skin: that means no needles." Devlin takes another sip of his coffee. "Now for a paramedic, if you even saw that old seventies show, Emergency.. those are paramedics. We have anywhere from 1200 to 1800 hours of training, over 1600 for me. Means I can administer medications, starting intravenous lines, providing advanced airway management for patients, and learning to resuscitate and support patients with significant problems such as heart attacks and traumas." He smiles, "And both have skills like emergency care and transport of patients too. I have also passed the basic rescue swimmer course and air ambulance certifications too. Learned a lot in the Army and never stopped."

"Well damn." Isi breathes out at his series of qualifications, shaking her head at her own ignorance. "Do you carry a card? Cuz if shit is going to go down I'd rather have one of you than whomever is on the other end of 9-1-1. " That's honest to god admiration there.

His parting line conjures up another question. "The army? You'll have to forgive my ignorance on that part too."

"I am a combat medic. Stationed at Ft. Bragg with the Eighty Second Airborne. Twelve years active duty on my fifth in the reserves. Learned my basic EMT skills and never stopped learning while serving. I'm a staff sergeant and I have a slot over with a National Guard Medivac section." Devlin sips his coffee. "I served four tours over seas between Iraq and Afghanistan."

"That's quite a record - I guess after seeing that kind of things,Gray Harbor probably isn't nearly as weird as it is to others?"

She sits back thoughtfully and looks Devlin over from top to bottom (well, as much as a table allows) "So are you from Gray Harbor and now have returned, or are you a transplant too? If so, why are you here in Gray Harbor?"

Devlin chuckles, "Army brat.. it is a long story about how I got here. Never heard of Gray Harbor till recently. I take it your a local then?"

Isi shakes her head in return. "Nah, grew up in Washinton though, on the Yakama reservation. Seattle for a bit, then took a job here to get away from the city. Is your paramedic work what has you here in this freakshow of a town?"

Devlin nods, "Yes. Long story short.. after twelve years, I was not looking forward to being promoted to Sergeant First Class.. would have taken me out of the field. So I let my contract expire. A friend I knew over in Special Forces hooked me up with a program to become a SWAT medic over in LA. It was working out too. But at an accident, I made the right call but without politics. Turns out the patient in the worse shape had a powerful state senator for a father. Dear ol'e daddy did not like that his son died even though I did everything right to give the fool the best chance at survival. He got to the table, but died on it. So Dear ol'e daddy did everything in his power to get me kicked out of the program and unable to serve in the state of California as a paramedic let alone as an EMT. He used review boards and anything else he could influence in the pursuit of his goal. About the time I was leaving LA, a Major I served with found out what was going on. He reached out to me to come up to Tacoma to transfer in the Guard to up there. One of my medics knew that Gray Harbor was looking for an experienced paramedic. So, that is how I got here."

Isi winces as he unspools the tale of how he ended up here. "Man, politics are a bitch. Your next cup's on me if you'll take it?" A friendly offer made, before Isi sits back and looks carefully at Devlin like she's trying to see something more than just his face. "You do have the shine thing, don't you? You'll have to forgive me - I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it all."

Devlin nods slowly, "Sure, don't mind at all. Bastard even tried messing with things up here. When I hired in, it was with the condition that I would see a shrink weekly. I relented.. I like to work. And frankly, if I stopped being a paramedic, to me.. that is the same as letting that bastard beat me." He winks. "Paratroopers do not quit. "

There's a tilt of Isi's head that hints she doesn't quite understand that kind of passion, and her next words solidify it. "Numbers are more clear cut - either they're right, or they're wrong. It leaves less room for ambiguity unless you're up to something hinky. Can't say that I'd stick with my job through that kind of nonsense. I'd probably nope out and head back to the reservation."

Devlin says, "Well, I come from a family that has served in the Army since around 1812. I am embarrassed to admit, yes.. some of my ancestors were involved during the so called Indian Wars. Family history and heritage carries some dark times with it. I figured it was about time someone in my family served as a medic rather than in combat arms. I've served with a couple of Lakota and Cheyenne, good men. As to hinky.. I'd agree people get hinky over all sorts of things. I can see your point with numbers."

Isi winces at the mention of history and waves her hand up and tries to brush it away. "That kind of history and the systemic issues that follow are not something for a coffee house - I'm off the reservation now. So." Ther'es an implied 'and left some of that behind me also' in her words, though her expression hints it's not as left behind as she might hope.

"So far on the numbers front Gray Harbor seems fairly quiet. I guess the spirit world and our modern tax system don't have much cross over." That's a lighter topic, right?

Devlin nods, "I can understand that. As to the spirit world world and taxes.. not at all sure how'd that would square up. Oh yeah, anyone warn you about the dark men. They don't like it when we use our abilities or talk about the strangeness. Sometimes they come after us. Kind of a boogy man or may be even a Baba Yaga sort of thing."

"Yeah - so far I've gotten lucky? Nothing bad." The mention of Baba Yaga has her looking skyward and shaking her head. "Met the old woman too, and she read my cards. she said,,, oh..." There's a long pause as Isi tries to remember the three things. "I should try to insert myself into the community more, something about wealth I couldn't quite make heads or tails of, and strife something with rotted and non-rotted apples?" She's smiling when she finally looks back at Devlin and shrugs a shoulder. "I was pretty convinced everyone here was just insane so I didn't pay as close attention as I probably should have."

Devlin nods, "I can understand that. The old woman in the park with the cards?" He hmms, "I was more thinking along the lines of the old Russian Mythology.. but yeah, bad news. I am still figuring out this wacky town." He then winks, "Well with me you know sanity is an issue, jumped out of perfectly good aircraft while in flight, in the middle of the night with the intent to fight an enemy and save lives... "

Isi was in the middle of taking a large drink of her much cooled coffee (because talking > sipping) right when he makes the quip about jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft.

Excuse her, she's just going to laugh and choke at the same time.

Devlin starts to rise, "You ok?" clearly ready to help out if needed.

Isi raises a hand as the paramedic gets ready to do his thing and just waves him back, "Yeah, yeah, wrong tube, it's fine." She coughs a bit more - but keeps laughing as she does so. A napkin gets groped for so she can put it across her face. There ain't anything attractive about coffee being spit up.

"Sorry - that just struck me as the best way to explain this place is just bat shit crazy."

Devlin sits back down, "Just take it easy. And yeah.. crazy, guess that is why I fit in." He grins as he finishes his coffee. "I'll say this, you are smart, witty, and fun to be around. Those the coffee tricks, I think those are not needed.." He inquires, "You doing ok otherwise?"

The compliments catch her off guard and Isi looks away from him as she finishes wiping her mouth. "That was unexpectedly kind of you to say - thank you?" The tone of one who isn't quite sure how to accept a compliment, but knows it is rude to not do so. "Ah, yeah. Mostly. Still looking for someone down to go out hiking or other such activities - it 's just stupid to take an unknown area alone. "

Devlin nods, "I happen to do things like that. I am a bow hunter among other activities." He smiles, "I know how to get around in the woods. I even play guitar, good way to relax with a few friends."

"Bow, huh?" Isi considers him, "I was never much for hunting, but I took lessons when I was a kid. IT wasn't a bad way to pass time. I generally prefer the more active activities. So, when can I steal some of your time to head out of town?"

Devlin nods, "I'm pretty successful. Its a great way to get away. Not in it for trophies and yes, I have a pretty full freezer. But as to when, my schedule does a lot of bouncing. If I got the promotion, I would have more power to set a schedule. So most times I wing it. But if your looking for a hiking partner or just someone to enjoy the wilderness with, sure. I take it you are not interested in hunting."

"See, that is one of the few benefits of a government desk job. I know my hours and they're pretty generous with time off."

She shakes her head at the thing about hunting. "I live in a crappy little place right now - I swear my freezer would probably just give up the ghost if asked to actually keep anything cold. And I have to admit, I never particularly enjoyed the drag-the-carcass-and-hang-it-in-your-garage part of the experience. The hunt, the walk the search, yeah. But after? " Isi shakes her head again at that.

"How's this - here's my number," hello coffee shop napkin, and she writes the number down and shoves it over to him. Hello cliche! "When you're free, ring me up? I'll call in sick or whatever. Get a note from a local paramedic to the effect if I have to."

Devlin chuckles and shares his number with you, "Here's my number. A friend of mine lets me use his place for that and he's a damn good butcher. We have a deal for that. I live in an apartment, so I get the space issue. Mac takes trade in hides, meat, and other things. He's also into Taxidermy. And we'll see what we can do.." He laughs a bit, "May be you can do a report to suggest getting me promoted so my time is more nine to fivish as a it is a supervisory role."

"Man, if only I had that kind of reach - but I'm afraid I'm nothing more than a low level paeon. Collecting a paycheck and nothing more." Isi picks up the number he slides over and gives it a once over before tucking it into her pocket. The entering-it-in-the-phone dance can be done later.

"Mac, what does he do with the rest of it? Beyond stuffing it?"

Devlin says, "A variety of things, he does his best not to let anything go to waste." He looks at his watch, "I will have to head home soon. I need to practice in the studio before I crash."

"I'll ask you about the studio another time," Isi says, rising as he mentions the time. "Thanks for the excuse to delay getting it. Nice to actually talk to this time." And with that they'llpart.