2021-11-30 - Circular Conversations

When you are new to town, you just sort of wander from one place to another. That feeling of just getting use to the feel of the place. The vibe. The current. Gabriella thought to herself how she could use a drink. This has led her to turn the corner and 'find' Pourhouse. The young woman has just walked herself into the bar with a swing of hips and intention towards fun.

A few locals are milling around in the local watering hole. There are none that she knows but she gets looks. It's not because she's pretty, it's because she's an outsider. One that the Glimmer inclined sense. This means good, or bad, or both. A few women are sitting at the bar. They are known as the Heathers. Not because of their names (Kitty, Bonnie, and Kate respectively) but because they seem to think they rule the the bar. This could be who to make friends with or who to flirt with. A few of the men are littered around drinking beer. As of yet, it's just a regular night.

Devlin comes in through the front door looking like he's had a long day, his jacket hung over his shoulder. The tee shirt he wears gets a thumbs up from a veteran at the bar. The shirt has jump wings and a combat medic's insignia on it. Over them is a stylized Devil with a rifle and an aide bag slung over a shoulder. Beneath the images can be read, "I'm a Combat Medic. I solve problems you don't know you have, in ways you'll never understand." And below that is scroll work that reads 1/504 Devils in Baggy Pants.

He makes his way towards the bar and notices a familiar face, "Evening.. hope you enjoyed the pie and beer."

Gabriella turns to look at Devlin when he talks as she considers the room at large. Then back to the man, so it's to his side that she moves. "Oh! I did that was so wonderful of you." There are a few bats of her lashes to him as she reaches out to attempt to grasp his arm with her hand. "Where are we sitting? I had just walked in and thought I might need a drink. How was your day?" She didn't really ask if he wanted her to join him.

Erin doesn't frequent bars so often. Anymore. That was her high school and college years. She's more responsible now. Or so she's trying to act anyway. Now that she's a nurse at the hospital, it could just be that she's working too much to go out drinking like she used to. Walking in, she wears a soft pair of khaki colored pants and an oversized beige sweater that looks soft and comfortable. On her feet are deck shoes of sorts, just going for comfort at the moment. Her hair is swept back from her face in a messy bun that looks as if it may be falling out soon. Despite all of this, her clothing positively screams money, the name brands on them from a specialty store on Rodeo Drive. It's not a surprise to anyone who knows the Addington though.

Approaching the bar, Erin first notices a co-worker. Well, kind of a co-worker. "Good evening," she greets Devlin before dark eyes rest on the blonde a moment and she offers a hesitant smile and a nod of greeting. Settling down at the bar, she awaits her turn to order.

Devlin pauses a bit before answering, though not deflecting the attempted grab, "Oh kind of depends.. Just curious, you ever been to South Korea by chance?" He shifts a bit to look at Gabriella, "Your good." He turns his head towards the greeting, "Hi Erin. Other than my burn patient from last night they sent to Tacoma, everything ok?"

Gabriella blinks in an owlish fashion up towards Devlin. Blink. Blink. "No, why?" Then she shakes her head and her eyes open wide and fill with sympathy. "It sounded horrid. The screaming that is." Then she gives a vibrant smile towards Erin. "Greetings. I'm Gabriella Leigh, did you know that Devlin is a hero? Perdita told me the other day. Isn't that amazing?"

Of all the things to do on a day like this, Jonathan decided it was a nice time to do a bar visit. So he opens the door a bit slowly, stepping inside and to the side to look around the room, before he makes his way slowly over towards the bar.

"Modelo," Erin orders the Mexican beer before giving her attention back to Devlin when he greets her in return. "So far so good. I called and checked on him. Looks like he's going to need a small skin graft. Good thing you were there though, it could have been a lot worse without such quick medical attention." The greeting from the blonde is met with a friendly smile of her own, "A pleasure meeting you, Gabriella Leigh. I did hear that about Devlin too. He's one of the good guys." Lips twitch in amusement before she gives her own introduction. "I am Erin." Just that, no last name given over. About that time she hears the door and notices Jonathan and she waits until he is closer before greeting him. "Did you come to get kidnapped?" Stifling a laugh, she makes an attempt to be serious. It fails.

"Good to hear, thanks Erin." Devlin replies. He then gives a bit of a smile to Jonathan followed by continuing to talk with Gabriella. "No reason, just curious." Though perhaps he seems a bit more alert perhaps. "How about we find a place to sit and chat may be over a beer or two? By count.. your turn at a round, hmm?" He leaves that question hanging in the air.

Gabriella looks over at Jonathan with a curious look. "He's here to be kidnapped?" Interesting. "Do you enjoy being taken..." NO. NO, Gabriella! A slight flush fills the tops of her cheeks to that as she looks around the others. Then she clears her throat and smiles. "Erin, are you going to sit with us? I think Devlin said it was his turn to buy a round. I'm pretty sure that's what he said."

Jonathan is unable to hold back the half-grin on his face as he hears Erin's words. "Hey. Wait, did you bring your duct tape and zip ties? I can't see the shovel," he offers rather lightly, before he grins to the others, raising an eyebrow at Gabriella's words. "I'd prefer not getting kidnapped, no. You?" It's offered a bit lightly as he nods to Devlin as well.

"Anytime, Devlin." Erin reassures him. As he invites Gabriella to a table to sit and chat, the invitation from her to join them surprises her and she waves it off with a quick smile and a raise of her bottle of beer. "I'm good, you two go ahead." A look to Devlin so he knows she has his back and won't intrude. "But thank you for the offer, Gabriella." With the final approach of Jonathan, she laughs softly. "I have them here somewhere." Patting a pocket of her pants before head nodding towards the door. "The shovel is in the garden at home." As he declines getting kidnapped, she feigns disappointment. "What a shame. You've never lived until you've been kidnapped by an Addington." Amusement still curving her lips as she regards him. "Can I buy you a drink, Jonathan? It's the least I could do after the issues with my ah.." Cousin. "My family."

A thumbs up is given to Erin as Devlin turns back to Gabriella, "I believe in your enthusiasm, you miss heard what I said.. your turn to buy." He motions towards a small booth, "Will that do?" He moves with Gabriella with a smooth grace to his motions.

Gabriella moves with Devlin but pauses to study Jonathan. "Are you asking me out on a date, because that's a creepy way to do it. I mean asking if your friend has duct tape and then asking if I want to be kidnapped. It's not the worst offer I've had though." She studies Erin for a few moments and can't help but ask. "What's an Addington?" Spoken like a true Outsider. Then a thought occurs and she stops a server and indicates Erin with a hushed conversation. There's a chance she's attempting to add their drinks to her tab. Gabby smiles at Devlin sweetly. "I mean.. I might be able to afford a round. I just need to see if I have some sort of money on me." She pats down her jeans and then comes out with a twenty. Luck is on her side.

"You see, if we look at it a certain way, wasn't I already kidnapped by an Addington?" Jonathan remarks a bit lightly to Erin. That's one way people could look at things, right? He looks about to answer the offer of a drink, before he blinks a bit at Gabriella's words, turning to study her for a few moments. "I didn't really mean it like that... I mean, not that I... Wait..." He takes a few moments of pause, before he offers a brief smile. "Let's just agree that getting kidnapped would be bad, no matter who kidnapped you?" There's a brief pause, before he adds, "Sorry if things sounded creepy." Looking back to Erin again, he smiles. "I think I really could need a drink, yes," he offers.

Another passing smile for Devlin before Erin shifts her attention to Gabriella and Jonathan, laughing at the interaction there. She doesn't bother explaining what an Addington is, likely it would be found out soon enough. "You're pretty funny when you are flustered Jonathan. I mean, if you really need some tape and ties, they are in the second aisle at the hardware store. And it's not a big store so you should be good." Still amused, she doesn't let it drop just yet. "Yeah, it does sound a little creepy, just order a beer and act like it never happend."

That gets a bit of a brow raise from Devlin as she shows that she has some cash. "Ah.. and there we go." He smiles a bit wIth a hint of mirth in his eyes. "I did say you are good." Devlin then chuckles, "I've been on four combat deployments and quite a few peace time ones." He waits to let Gabriella take her seat first. "Seen quite a bit too." His tone hints he has something figured out perhaps.

Gabriella smiles at the other two and gives a sort of longing look. Friends. She needs them. However, she gives a sincerely sweet smile to Devlin. "I usually find things that I'm looking for. It's amazing to get things that way." She sits down and orders a round of bottles for the two of them. "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Her face goes serious. "Is this something you would like to talk about?"

Jonathan pauses, before he offers another grin to Erin. "Flustered, hmmm?" He nods a bit, a glance over to the others again, before turning to the bar to order that beer. "Who is she?" he asks, quietly.

"Her name is Gabriella Leigh and as a side note, you may be happy to know in no way related to me." Erin gives him a wry look as his beer is getting delivered. "That is the limit to what I know about her, except maybe she likes pizza, there was a hint of her being at the Firehouse when a grease fire broke out and burned one of the cooks." She sure can deduce a lot just by listening! And working in the hospital too, of course. "If you're interested," she arches a brow, "You may have to fight Devlin for her." The smile returns, inching up a few degrees before she lifts up her beer and taking a sip from the bottle.

Ok, over hearing Erin that gets a chuckle out of Devlin. To Gabriella, he says, "I've run into a few women like you." He signals for a couple of beers. "And most of them happen to be intelligent and interesting women. There are the few that I would not be surprised to see a tattoo behind the ear that says, Inflate to 40 PSI." He smirks a bit, "I think you are of the former. Hopefully, I'll get to meet the intelligent you. Not the one going Oh your so brave.." Seems the beers come quickly and he takes a pull. His phone beeps and he glances at a text.. "Well, that's interesting." The phone is then put back in his pocket.

Gabriella turns her eyes over to the other duo before she smiles at Devlin. "That is rather sweet of you to say. I mean, to think there is more to me than that. But I mean, you are so very brave. And I really do like having free food and drink presented to me. I also just moved here yesterday." She will attempt to reach over and boop his nose. "So cute. You think there is more to me. It's really adorbs." Her nose scrutches up and she gives the dimple smile. All the dimples. Her eyes fall to his phone and there seems to be some self-annoyance as she realizes her rookie mistake. Her eyes slide over to his left hand, third finger. "Yet, it's only interesting enough to be glanced at. Is that sort of the interest you have in me?" WARNING WILL ROBINSON! "Are you going to take me out, look at me while you think I'm interesting and then tuck me away?"

"Hmmm..." Jonathan replies, taking the beer as it's delivered and taking a long sip. "I see." He pauses once more. "Hey, cursed remember?" he comments, rather lightly before he takes another sip from the beer.

With Devlin being able to overhear her, Erin does the same at the conversation at the booth. Her eyes widen a touch at the words of the Paramedic to the blonde and then she seems eager to give as good as she got. Deliberately, she looks back towards Jonathan, instead of the duo over at the booth, but she does keep an ear out. "Cursed? I think that's all in your head. Your life is what you make it. What are you doing now?"

There is a smile from Devlin, "I have my phone set with specific notices. There is a women's self defence class tonight and the guy that was to be the tackling victim has a sick kid. I am an experienced Martial Artist, so I will be covering for him. If you'd like to come, your welcome too. Though, if you would rather show up for another evening.. I am ok with that." He takes one more pull, "Now.. as you have asked, I'd love to go out with you. See where things go. After all, it isn't just me, it is what you find interesting too." He then snags the waitress and pays for both beers.. "Call it an act of good faith on my part." As he does he passes you his card, "If your interested in going out some evening, give me a call." With that he rises, "Please forgive my departure Gabriella. Hope to see you again soon."

Wait. What? Gabriella gives a lowering of her brows. How did he make it sound like she was asking him out? There is a bit of a headtilt in confusion as she watches Devlin leave her. Hmmm. This one warrants a different tactic, obviously. Then she smiles and takes over the rest of his beer, downing it in a gulp. Then she moves over towards the other couple. "Hi." It's pretty packed but just as she approaches, someone leaves and she gets an empty chair. Strange how that happens.

"Now? Mostly helping people with their workouts. Got a few tips and tricks I picked up along the way, you know," Jonathan replies, shrugging a little bit. "Aside from that, not much..." He goes silent for a few moments as he hears Gabriella's greeting, offering her a nod and a smile. "Hello."

Sort of amused at Devlin's round about way of asking Gabriella out, Erin watches him with a sort of enigmatic smile as he departs before turning a look to the approaching blonde. "I think you just got caught in circle talking. You took it far better than I would have." Just saying. At the information from Jonathan, she headtilts, "You're into personal training? Interesting." A motion is made between the two. "Gabriella, Jonathan, Jonathan, Gabriella." How had she become the mediator here? "Jonathan here was just asking about you, I told him all I know. Like.. your name and that you like pizza. And beer, apparently." Having seen her finish off Devlin's too. She nurses her own Modelo and leaves the two to get acquainted.

Headed in from yet another rainy PNW night, Ruiz shoulders the door open and holds it a moment for the pair of younger men on their way out. His baseball cap's slid off for a moment so he can scruff his knuckles through close-cropped curls as he moseys on up to the bar. Then he takes a lean against it, and tugs the hat back in place while waiting for the 'tender to finish up a conversation. His jacket's spattered with rain, and his tee shirt today has a picture of a carton with soy latte written on it, and a couple of other cartons of milk looking on in confusion.

Spotting a few familiar faces nearby, he manages something vaguely like a smile if he manages to catch their eye. Then promptly becomes interested in a scratch in the bartop.

Gabriella smiles in the most adorable way possible at Jonathan. "Hi. I'm.." Oh wait Erin is on that. There is a look of confusion as she does introductions like a wingman. "How are you and your kidnapping going?" Her lips curve up a bit more. "Yeah, I think I did too. I mean I do it enough to everyone else that I can't hate on someone trying it on me. I just tend to have a knack for getting what I want." Her eyes slide towards Ruiz at just that moment. Surely, nothing implied at all there. She waves a hand to get him to join us. "Hello, Smiles. I was just thinking about you and here you are." This may or may not be the truth. These things also happen in her life. Then back to Jonathan. "What were you asking? I do hope it's not my weight. That's kind of rude."

Jonathan grins momentarily at the words about kidnapping. "See, nobody kidnapped yet," he offers rather lightly, before he adds, "And it's a pleasure to meet you, Gabriella." He then shrugs at Erin's words for a few moments, "I'm not sure if itss's called 'being into personal training', or if it's mostly a way of earning money. Need to use the skills I know I still have, right?" He offers a nod to Ruiz, raising his bottle in greeting. "Ah, I didn't ask much, I promoise," he replies to Gabriella. "Just if she knew who you were."

Champion wingman. Yeah that's Erin. Watching Gabriella for a moment, she notices the eye shift towards the latest arrival and looks over in time to see Ruiz there. Lips twitch as she looks between the two at the greeting from the blonde to Ruiz but she makes no comments on it. Instead, she focuses more on her bottle of beer and gives it a slight swirl before lifting it and taking a drink from the bottle. A nod is offered to what Jonathan says without looking up, but she says nothing directed to him. Instead, she says softly, "It's good to see you, Javier." By the time she gets to his name, dark eyes lift to him and she gives his features a once over. "How are you?"

It's no surprise to anyone, least of all the bartender, what Javier's interested in drinking tonight. "Tequila," is more of a formality than anything else, though Erin's greeting gets him to stop worrying at the gouge in the hardwood, and meet her gaze for a moment. Tonguetip tucked against the inside of his cheek, he watches her a beat, then goes for his wallet to slide out a crumpled bill. Despite the offer of starting a tab, which he's never much been interested in. The money's tossed on the bar, his hands jammed into his jacket's pockets, and, "Okay," is his slightly singsong answer to the brunette's query. "You? Busy?"

Gabriella gets a little chortle for her comment to him. "It's like I'm a fucking mind reader," he replies, with a glance to see how his drink's coming.

Gabriella smiles at Jon as she flashes those adorable green eyes at him. Who needs baby blues? "Well if you want to know anything, you only have to ask. Perhaps if you are free later you can show me your favorite part of the city?" There is a glance towards Erin for a few moments, as if she's if she's cool with that. Her lips curve up. "You too." Then there is our darling Javier. "Can you?" She attempts to meet his gaze right now as she brings the beer bottle to her lips. "What am I thinking?"

Jonathan offers a smile in return. "I'm sure I could be able to do that," he offers, before he looks to Ruiz as wel, nodding a bit at the man's words. "sIs the tequila any good?" he asks, after a few moments of pause.

There's a whole world of difference in a 'You? Busy?' Than in a 'You busy?' Erin notices the difference and laughs softly at it before lifting a shoulder in a small shrug. "Always. Aside from missing things and work things have been relatively calm for awhile now. Alexander seems to think things will all happen at once, that it's building up. It's not an unreasonable thought." It's left deliberately vague though. Feeling the green eyes on her she looks over to the blonde and wears an expression of surprise. A handwave towards her in a 'do what you want' thing. The question directed back to Ruiz earns her a look of approval before she responds to Jonathan. "The tequila is good. You should try it. A lot of it."

"Gracias, lo agradezco," Javier murmurs to the bartender as his drink's set down, and he pushes off his lean with a crunch of leather to collect it. To Jonathan, "I wouldn't call it top shelf, but.. tequila's tequila, yeah?" He chuckles, sips, and ambles in closer to the trio, dark eyes shifting from Erin to the blonde, when she makes her challenge. Slowly, purposefully, like he's got all fucking day.

Those sensitive to glimmer will certainly notice it starting to slough off him; more noticeable the nearer he gets. Like the excess energy shed by high voltage electrical induction lines slung too close to the ground. Can you? she asks, and he simply stares at her like that for a while before cracking a grin. "In your fucking dreams," is murmured low against the rim of his glass, before it's brought to his mouth for another sip.

Gabriella offers a smile. "How about tequila shots? I'm sure someone will pay for it." There is just a strange confidence to her that what she's looking for (a person to pay) will be found. Not even a pause that it shouldn't. Her eyes slide over towards Erin with a bright smile, "What is it you both do?" She's meaning Jon and Erin. Although, the standoff with Javier causes her to smile a bit more. There is a wicked gleam to her eyes as she studies him. Her drink pauses as if something catches her interest and holds there. In fact, she looks intensely interested suddenly in something about him. Maybe it is the glimmer trail. Better than a happy trail. "They can become realities, if you think you can keep up."

"Now that you mention it, tequila sounds good just about now," Jonathan replies to Erin, before he nods again at the others. "Me? Something like personal training, mostly. Although I have a degree in business administration I hope I can do something with one day." He glances between Gabriella and Ruiz, rather carefully at their exchange.

Erin definitely does not look between the two. Instead, she finishes off her bottle of beer and slides it back on the scarred bar top. "I'm a nurse." The response comes without looking away from the bottle she had just finished. "Tequila does sound good. I've got a better bottle at home though." Dipping a hand in a pocket of the pants she's wearing, she offers over her card to the barkeep to pay for her beer. After signing the receipt, she leaves a tip and gets to her feet. There's a smile worn, "See ya." With that, she heads out.

Ruiz's gaze trails after Erin briefly as she makes to depart, expression thoughtful. By the time he thinks to offer something in farewell, she's already gone. To Gabriella, with a flick of his tongue across his teeth that's altogether too wolfish, "I'm way too old for you, niņita." Refusal, or challenge? Who the hell knows. For the time being, though, he's easing away on account of, "My date's here. I'll see you both around." His 'date', by the looks of it, being the dodgy looking guy in the sports coat and slicked back hair in that booth over there.

Gabriella looks up at Ruiz for a moment. "Oh darling... I promise to resurrect you if your heart gives out and you can't keep up." She winks but there is a laugh soon after. Gabriella apparently enjoys the tease and the back and forth. Then she smiles at Jonathan. "I don't know much about personal training. I do have a masters in psychology though." Her lips curve upwards back in that adorable manner of hers. "I find the last time I went for a run, I almost threw up."

"Take care," Jonathan offers after the departing Erin, before he sees Ruiz head off as well. "Have fun," he offers, before he looks to Gabriella again. "Psychology? Does that mean you work as... you know..." He pause for a few moments, before he offers a smile. "I know how that feel. For a long while, I wasn't able to do much phsycial exercise without my head feeling like it would explode."

Nothing more from the cop as he ambles off with his drink, and is greeted by another patron or two who easily recognise him as the Chief of Police. Awful what's happening, and I hope it's all resolved soon, for your sake. He doesn't have an awful lot to say about it, because it's an active investigation, and he has a lawyer, and all of that. And that's probably him right there. And pretty soon, they're getting down to business.

Gabriella pushes her hair back from her face as she leans in closer to Jonathan. If he doesn't move, her hands fall to his arm. "It seems as if you work out now." She flutters her lashes at him a bit. "With psychology, I am versed in clinical with behavior modifications. Is there some modification you would want done to your bod--behaviors?" She chews her lower lip before she takes a drink out of her beer.

Jonathan doesn't move away, although he nods a bit quietly as he hears her words. "I do now, but..." A brief pause, and he grimaces, "Imagine if your career had really just began taking off, then it was suddenly over, and it took you years to actually get back to a working state again." He shrugs, taking another sip of his beer.

Gabriella tips her head. "Did you have a job in business administration? What career did was over?" There is a sigh as if she longs for another beer and look at that, some guy is buying her one. There is an angelic smile to that as she looks back towards Jon. "My thoughts are if the career was over, it was not the career you were meant to have. It is opening the doors for better and greater theings."

"No, the business administration was what I went to college for when the other career was over.Just didn't expect it to happen that fast, and with a few years before I could function well again." Jonathan replies, after a few moments of pause. Pausing as he looks to that guy that buys her a beer, then he adds, "The career was the one thing I had dreamed about since I was a kid. Professional sports."

"Oh!" Gabriella offers. She doesn't really look at the guy again, as if she's use to this sort of thing happening. Her world is a strange one. "Giving up on a dream is a harder thing. Dreams are.." Horrifying. No. No. Wait. ".. hard to release. Maybe it's time to find a new dream. Do you know how lucky you were to even play? To get drafted?" Pause. "They do drafts right? There are so many people out there with that dream and they don't even come close."

Jonathan smiles. "I know I was one of the lucky ones. Back before I got drafted, I thought I'd sacrifice anything to get there. Just didn't think it would be quite as true as it was." He looks to the bartender, gesturing for another drink as well. "And I know there's time for new dreams, just... The next dream... ended abruptly." He glances around the room briefly, then back to Gabriella.

Gabriella touches her hair again to this as she nods her head. "I feel for that. What was the other dream that so abruptly ended? Do you wish to talk about it?" She might be a step away from asking him to lay upon her couch. "Also, I'm just going to be forward here. I appreciate you showing me your favorite place in town, when you have a chance, but um... are you even single? I just ask so I know if a person is going to go all stabby stabby on me for talking with you. I thought maybe you and Erin?"

"Me and Erin?" Jonathan repeats the question, before he shakes his head. "Oh, no. We're just friends. I used to live with her cousin, but..." He lets out a bit of a breath, before he continues. "That dream I talked about, that was life before she left me." A brief grimace, and he takes a sip of the new beer.

Gabriella nods her head. "I see. Now the therapist in me would want to unwrap that and look at all the various forms and such. The person in me, says fuck her." Yes, she's so adorable and tiny that swearing almost seems like a crime coming from her lips. "I mean she left you. You can't control what people do." Well you can. "It was her loss. Did this happen recently?"

Jonathan nods a little as he hears that, offering another momentarily smile, although he can't hold back a brief chuckle at the swearing. "True," he replies, but the question about if it happened recently makes him pause. "About... eight months or so ago? Maybe a little longer." He shakes his head a little.

Gabriella smiles. "I'm horrible at this part of things. I mean, I'm actually really good at the advice part and leading to the life path, but I'm just so use to nothing being stable or around." Her lips curve upwards to him. "You'll find the right person when it's time to find them."

"Nothing being stable?" Jonathan replies with a smile. "I sense an interesting story behind those words," he offers, a bit lightly.

Gabriella smiles to that question. "That is probably saved for a less public place." She comes up to her feet (not that it is much) and will attempt to squeeze hug him. "Call me. I really should get home before granny accuses me of rolling in a vat of tequila and beer."

Jonathan doesn't move away from that attempted squeeze hug, nodding at her words. "Wouldn't want you to be accused of that," he replies, with a smile. "It was nice to meet you."