2022-04-24 - Busy Night at the Hardware Store

It's a little bit late for most folks to be hitting the hardware store; most DIYers seem to like to make hay while the sun is shining, or something, but sometimes you just need to buy a wrench 20 minutes before the store closes. At least this might be what has brought Nicasia out to this particular venue, as she's very slowly working her way down the plumbing aisle looking only slightly like she took a wrong turn someplace and isn't quite sure how she ended up here. Maybe in Gray Harbor that look strikes ominous chords in some people, but she also has her cell phone out, so she can alternately take pictures and text with whoever she's sending them to, so it could very well just be a really elaborate scavenger hunt, or maybe somewhere there's someone trying to keep a bathroom from flooding while she's judging washer sizes.

And then there are those that need to drop by the store late because their shift at work just ended a little while ago, and they need to pick up something on their way home. Rick is in that last category, moving to pick up various things from around the store. He's absently whistling a tune to himself as he looks around for something, his steps taking him to that plumbing aisle. Not because he needs anything there, but it's the shortcut between point A and B.

And then there are those who seem to have no reason to be in a hardware store except... tourism, perhaps? A bicycle pulls up in front of the store, and there's a bit of fiddling with a bike lock before Robin makes his way inside. He lingers near the entrance for several moments, looking aimlessly around. He takes a step or two in one direction, hesitates, then turns and picks a different path. He continues meandering like this, casting through the aisles with only vague interest in the wares on display. He passes Nicasia, offers her a friendly smile, then continues on his way. A few moments later, he passes Rick, and offers a similar smile before wandering on.

And then there are those that just came from murdering a person and broke their lucky shovel and have to pick up another.
After a throaty rumble of a vehicle parking and some time passing, the front door opens again. Ducking under the door jamb to prevent being brained Everett pauses at the doorway, a large lump at his chest. After a moment of forking his fingers through his long, now wet dark hair, he exhales as though he's been put upon and proceeds towards the aisles, his paws moving to comfortably hold the bulge at his chest, under his leather jacket.

It's fine. At least it would be fine if it were not about this moment when Nicasia's phone's battery dies. It's pretty obvious because her reaction is pretty common: the inarticulate noise of rate, the nail on glass tap of the screen like if she stabs it a few times it'll come back to life, a muttered bit of profanity, which tapers off when she realizes there are people around. The phone goes into a jacket pocket and then her hands follow, though her fingers slide into the back pockets of her jeans. "At the risk of being the worst trope that ever wandered into a cliche, I don't suppose you happen to be a professional plumber." The question is probably for Rick, but there's a vague hopefulness in the way her gaze trails after Robin. Something something beggars choosers.

A nod is offered to Robin as the man passes, before Rick pauses as he hears Nicasia's words, looking up. "Me? Unfortunately not. What kind of problem are you trying to find a solution for?" He glances around again, then back to the woman.

Robin peers into a shelf, looking intently at something there. He reaches in, and pulls out a wallet. "Huh. There we go." He flips it open to examine the contents, then tucks it into his pocket, just in time to hear Nicasia's question. He glances over, but after Rick's answer, he kind of lifts a finger with a tentative crooked smile, and volunteers, "I know a little about plumbing? I'm not a professional, exactly..."

Heading for the hand tools, Everett does a double-take and pauses alone in his aisle, glancing down. There's a brief lift of his head as the conversation starts, but he's quick to dismiss it. Picking up a cracking hammer, Everett gives the small sledgehammer-looking tool a few practice swings before putting it back down. His attention drifts somewhere else, and not long after, he lifts a claw hammer to give it a few practice swings with his right hand. As he puts this backdown, he starts to sway, then gently bob up and down after a quick glance down, his chin pressing to his chest and army green t-shirt.

"Damn." This is Nicasia's takeaway. She looks at the long row of plumbing-related nonsense again like it has just transmuted into a wall of hieroglyphics and then takes a small step back from it, but the shelves and rows of things hanging behind her aren't really any more hospitable. Robin is the one who gets the little lift of her chin in passible greeting, but in looking at him she catches sight of Everett and his hammer-swinging and for five or six seconds she eyes him with the most particular sort of dubiousness. Then shakes her head. "Uh. Old house, awful plumbing. And by awful I mean when somebody turns the shower on, water sprays everywhere. Out of both of the temperature knobs, out of the bath faucet, out of the sink. Possibly out of the toilet but I didn't actually ask."

"But does it stop if you turn it off?" Rick asks, after a few moments, before he glances around again, noticing Everett and his hammer swinging. Keeping his gaze on the man for a few moments, before he looks back to Nicasia and Robin. "It does sound like it could be something you'd need one of those professional plumbers for, though. I mean, it's very easy to get things like that wrong if you do it yourself."

Robin looks a bit round-eyed at that description, but he recovers pretty quickly. "That's a good point," he seconds Rick's question. "Is it coming from both the hot and cold, or just the hot? And from the /sink/, too, you said? Huh... Maybe water pressure issue, but you'll have damage to the valves. Probably gaskets and stuff, too. It's hard to say without seeing it, though." He scratches the back of his neck, then realizes that both Nicasia and Rick are looking behind him. He turns to see Everett bobbing and swaying. He gives a somewhat uncomfortable smile, then looks back to Nicasia. "Do you know what kind of fixtures you have, at least? Are they vintage ones? You're not going to find those in here."

Hardware stores may only have a small amount of planting supplies, but it's certainly better than nothing. When it's late night and you need something right now, you make do with what you have. Which seems to be exactly what Ava is doing here at this hour. There's a few face she recognizes here, but heads above the rest is Everett, quite literally, and that gives her pause as she watches him swinging the hammer and then put it back down. "Kids getting on your nerves?" she wonders teasingly.

Small side-steps move the ape over a few items, his gaze down at the rows of implements before him while he continues to lightly sway ever since picking up the first instrument of destruction home improvement.

Next, now that Robin's not seen the hammer swinging, Everett picks up a long hand saw with a wooden handle, the hole of which he's managed to stuff his mitt into. Rising it overhead and squinting an eye, Everett holds his other hand on the saw's teeth while eyeing down the steel, checking for how straight the blade is. When he pulls the saw down again, he looks around him as though looking for something to saw. Swinging a saw would be weird.

Even still, before returning the tool he wobbles his hand, making the saw create that thunder and lightning sound for just a second before Everett begins to move on to the next item, his time with the tool cut short with Ava's intervention, giving her a brief glance. First not placing her, and then his head nods up when he does. His lips purse, his oscillations increasing, as he steals a look down and back across to Ava, this time brandishing a hand pick like Norman Bates brandishes a knife. "What few of them remain," he murmurs with his bassy tone of a voice kept soft, above a whisper, for the other three people in the room or for another reason still his own.

The destructive implement tour down yonder is maybe a little bit distracting. More than Nicasia's plumbing problem, anyway, because she keeps glancing in that direction, not really comforted by his switch from hammers to saws to whatever else. "Yes," she says slowly, eventually. "Thankfully, the water only sprays when the shower is turned on; doesn't work the other way if it's the sink." That answers Rick's question. Robin's is a little bit harder. "I wouldn't say it's vintage, unless 30+ years qualifies. I don't think it's original to the house, but it maybe hasn't been touched by a professional in my lifetime. Might actually have to call a professional, unless they rent those here, too." Alas.

It's in one of these sidelong looks toward Everett that she spots Ava, and, after a few more seconds of wary consideration, offers her a little two-fingered wave.

Rick nods a little as he hears that, his gaze going back to Everett again, and now also Ava as he notices her, offering them both a bit of a nod. Turning his gaze back to Nicasia and Robin, he listens to the conversation for now.

Robin shrugs apologetically. "Yeah, probably," he admits. "It sounds like a big job for someone without-- With only a little experience. Sorry." He glances back to catch a brief glimpse of creepy saw-and-hammer dude, then clears his throat. "Anyway. I bet they're about to close here anyway." Another glance to Everett. "Should probably be going, I guess."

Ava smirks at the whisper, clearly assuming that Everett is joking. If he's possessed, they're all in trouble. "Well, as long as Morganna is still good, we're fine. She's my favorite," is whispered back. "Though, I think you'll have a bigger fight with Kailey on your hands and she'll whoop anyone's ass." There's an affectionate chuckle following that before the wiggling fingers are noticed and a hand lifts in Nicasia's direction. "Evening!" Rick and Robin also get a quick greeting by way of quick wave of the hand.

"Oh hey. Did Dita ever come by to talk to you about liquor ice cream idea for the shop?"

Yeah. Joking. ... sureee.

All the same, Everett returns the pick to its display, oblivious of the looks he's starting to attract almost like it's not an uncommon occurrence. Now with his empty hands, Everett approaches Ava, those paws rising up to peel his black leather jacket zipper down behind his aisle, "I just tell her it's chicken," he murmurs before showing her the secret the bump at his chest is.

A smuggled bear, a kidnapped beer keg. In a technicolored front baby snuggie, a smaller version of Morganna resides. Unlike her half-sister, this baby has a resting cranky face, the one-year-old turning her head to look with squinting eyes at the sudden brightness. And quickly, turns her diminutive head back, raising a small hand up to stretch, or hit Everett in his chest as punishment.
Or both.

His secret shared, Everett zips back up and speaking with the same attempt to speak with a hushed tone, his whisper like a normal person's volume, he adds, "I'm just getting a new shovel. Last year it snowed and I didn't have a shovel for it."

He resettles, rolling his shoulders, the baby sling while following Ava's glance and then back, Rick's upnod returned, "Naw," Everett adds, mulling the question over, his green eyes looking to his left. "But it would require getting a liquor license."

Nuh uh. Not so fast. Nicasia's plumbing problem is just going to have to wait for another day or another dollar because it's not getting solved now. She's not really close enough to overhear any of the conversation between Ava and Everett, but that doesn't matter so much because she watches without much in the way of subterfuge, takes no pains to hide very critical interest that waxes... and then flicks to Robin when he makes like he's going to run for safety. To Robin, then Rick, who gets a real look, and down and up again, but he's not moving quite so fast. Still, she's almost conversational when she says, "I'm sure he's totally harmless." If only she sounded like she meant it. "So you're what, not quite Jonestown-ready with the weirdo kool-aid yet?"

Nodding a little again as he listens to the others, Rick offers a brief grin to Nicasia and Robin. "Fairly certain he's mostly harmless," he offers, words kept a bit quiet, before he nods a bit at the question offered to Robin. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it soon," he adds. Get used to it, or run from town, right?

Robin glances back and forth between Nicasia and Rick. He gives half a chuckle, glances at his feet and back up at the ceiling. "Look, I grew up on a bus. I'm a big fan of weird. I just don't make a habit of biking home in the dark, especially around here." He reaches into his pocket and produces what appears to be a handmade business card, which he passes to Nicasia. "I'm not a real plumber or anything, but I'm a lot cheaper, and I can probably get your shower working again." The card actually lists his profession simply as 'Finder.' Whatever that means. He passes a second card to Rick for good measure. "Or if you ever lose something and want it found, I'm pretty good at that, too."

Whatever it is that Everett just flashed Ava in that coat of his has her covering her mouth and squealing at a pitch that it's likely to make dog's heads turn. "Hi there sweetheart," she offers softly before grinning way up towards her dad. "Uggh. She's darling. But she didn't give me the opportunity to pet a dinosaur and treat its owies. So Morganna's still my fave. I told Kailey before, but just so you know, I'm always down to babysit if you guys need a night off, or something. I'm a sucker for kids."

"Are you opposed to getting a liquor license? I can help with the paperwork for it if that's the only issue with the idea. I have a few bureaucratic ties that I can tug at to smooth things along. All legit, it'll just make the process smoother and faster. If that's an angle you guys are ever interested in going, that is." She lifts her hands, palm up. "I don't know how well that's work with the kiddos being there."

And then there are those who ran out of paint trays and cans of paint and are just a little spackled by it still.

Lo and behold, the front door of the store opens to admit one Ariadne, somewhat-local (honorary by title) and barista at Espresso Yourself. Her deeply-auburn hair in its usual messy bun sports a new underpanel of dye in colors of cobalt-blue faded to an iris-purple. Her black sweatshirt, sporting a bold and gold 'UW' on the front, is speckled by what appears to be lavender-purple paint. Only her jeans and sneakers appear free of tarnish. She's in a bit of a world of her own as she walks, looking a touch dreamy, but manages to spot at least one familiar face in the cluster of other locals.

Granted, the store isn't too big, so it's not too difficult.

"Oh hey, Ava." Friendly wave for the other woman and a veer towards the group, her hands comfortably in the kangaroo-pocket of her sweatshirt. "I was hoping they have paint here. Has anyone seen any? Need to finish painting the guest bathroom 'mint-green'. Ish. It was a mint green color, I'll know if I see the swatch," the barista explains as she comes to a comfortable stop near to the group. "Or am I out of luck and need to go to the other bigger place tomorrow?"

Offering Ava a single shoulder shrug, Everett finally cracks a small smile of pride under his beard at Ava's attention. "Hopefully she won't. She's spending all her time sleeping for the most part, while Momo is a bright, happy baby. This one," he cups the bottom of the bundle of his biker's jacket, "is more like me than her mother. But I'll take you up on that offer some time, Doc. Especially now that our live-in babysitter's a little," he pauses and rolls his eyes slightly. Settling on the word, Everett rolls on his toe and heels, "OCCupied lately."

As for the inquiry about the license, Everett cants his head to his left causing his wet hair to hang which he uses his left hand to comb through a few times whilst stealing a look ebbed of his previous good-humor, towards the three still speaking amongst themselves. If only for a second before he lifts his head back up, "I just, uh," Everett starts hesitantly, "don't like big brother looking into my things. You know?" He doesn't wait for an answer, instead, pointing a finger-gun to Ava, "You know. If Dita convinced Kailey, I wouldn't be able to say no, right?" he asks with a sheepish smirk.

"Not a real plumber is still probably more of a plumber than I am," else Nicasia wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. She eyes Robin for another moment before taking the card, and a moment after taking the card, brow lifting slightly. Probably at the profession so listed. "Might possibly have one of those already, but you never know when you're going to need another one, huh?" The card goes into a pocket too. Probably the same one the phone went into. There's another glance at Rick, this time with a more delicate arch of her eyebrows. "You make it sound easy."

This might be an easier conversation if she weren't patently nosy and didn't keep looking at the other conversation, at whatever Everett has smuggled in in the front of his coat, though it's over there. For now. When Ariadne with the colorful hair appears she also gets a measured little look, up and down, but reasonably brief. "Sorry," she says then. "Didn't mean to distract you from your errands."

Looking like he's about to reply to something, Rick pauses as his phone rings. Fishing it out of his pocket, he sighs, "I should get going. It was nice meeting you both." Robin's card is tucked away, before he moves to answer the phone, and get hold of the last few items on his shopping list.

Robin glances over at Everett, following Nicasia's gaze. "Oh, my errands are done," he replies, patting the pocket with the wallet. "Just on a job. Hey, you have a good day, huh? Good luck with the pipes." He gives her a bit of a grin, and heads toward the front of the store. Various others get friendly little nods on his way past, headed toward the exit.

Not long after Ariadne enters, a very large man enters. Wearing a baggy hoodie and baggie jeans. Sunglasses are pulled off tersely and his whole gait just seems sort of angry. Phone is pulled out and he's smashing something into a text as Myles makes his way into the hardware store. The woman walking in front of him calls out Ava's name which has him glancing up. His hardened features soften a touch, but not fully. He looks back down to his phone then around the store as if trying to find someone.

"Once Kailey's convinced of something, I don't think anyone can fight her on it. Not even you." Ava laughs. "What's her name?" she wonders of the bundle in the jacket. "I could tell she takes after you by the little grumpy face she gave, it was too cute! Such a sourpuss. Hopefully the illusion summoning will waiting until she's atleast got a few more years on her." There's a knowing head bob at the mention of big brother. "Well, I can help less legally as well, if that becomes needed. But that stays between us." That part is whispered just before Ariadne shows up.

"Hey there! They have a small selection of paints over there. I don't know if they'll have mint, but it's worth a shot to check," she suggests. Eyes drift to the door as Myles walks in. He gets a wave as well as a grin of greeting.

Ariadne watches two of the other locals drift off on their own errands and lingers by Ava. Nicasia gets an upnod of greeting and a polite smile.

"Yeah, worth taking a look, even if it's only the small cans. I don't need a ton more at this point," she explains to Ava. Hearing the door open yet again, she glances that way. Myles is a new face she hasn't seen yet, but he too gets a polite smile and upnod. Her attention returns then to Everett and she eyes both him and the bundling within his jacket.

"...not going to lie, I am curious now," she says a little hesitantly, her gaze returning to Everett's face. "Little one?" A nonchalant gesture towards him where the curious lump sits. She'd been too late to hear this part of the conversation, apparently.

Something, something, curiosity, cat; Nicasia abandons the plumbing aisle completely and drifts in the direction of the familiar and the bemusing and she's not especially subtle about it. She gets to the edge of the row and then spots Myles down the way, hesitates for a moment, then rolls her eyes, but it is not without the barest little twist of a smile that pretty much vanishes as quickly as it crops up. "I can't help but sense that there is one hell of a story over here, and I can't decide if it starts with whatever's under the jacket, or whatever it was that maybe needed a sledgehammer."

Ava gets an up nod though he doesn't seem to be in the greatest of moods and doesn't really dwell on more of a greeting than that. Poor Ariadne's smile just gets a small dip of his head and perhaps a little squint. But he's barreling on. He's here with purpose. And he likely seems. More than a little angry. Just the way he walks. Anyone who is at least a little familiar with him could probably tell as he stalks down towards the group joining Nicasia and the rest of them.

Nicasia is the one he's moving over to, though Myles pauses, squinting once more as he looks around to the others as if trying to figure out what's going on. He sends a look down to Nicasia with an inquisitive furrow of his brow.

"Well," starts Everett, in an off-handed manner, "I might have a little bit of an 'in' with her, but that's cheating, I suppose." As before, his standing becomes gentle bouncing, like slow nervous energy after a diminutive whimper escapes from under his jacket. At the inquiry, Everett offers "Evelyn Grace. Or Evvie." This time, with the hand not cradling the bottom of the bundle, Everett pulls the zipper down again while looking down. Tucking his mouth into the widened hole the zipper's made, he makes a couple of kissy sounds before the short pause and pulls the zipper down a little more to show off the cranky looking infant wearing a pink beanie and onesie.

As before, Evvie complains about the sudden light, with a whimper, giving a crumby look up and then behind her. The baby's mouth opens exposing a soft pink drooly mouth in a wide yawn.

" She's got all my fucks," Everett adds, watching his youngest trying not to wake, "zero. I'm sure this one will grow up to live at home professionally." With the tease, Everett tickles her chin with a thick finger. Baby Evvie drops her head back against his head and closes her eyes, while his tickles turn to stroke her cheek.

As for big brother, Everett looks unconvinced again, smirking. "Ask Kailey. She works there sometimes too. If she thinks it's a good idea then I guess we could. It seems like it would go against the family image though." Everett says nothing further at Ava's greeting to Ariadne or the glance to Nicasia that turns his torso to show off his prize. However, his demeanor changes the moment another predator enters. It's like he can sense the other's presence. Everett's soft smile falters and fades while he keeps watching Myles.

Ava laughs. "Is it cheating, though? Or earned, fair and square?" The little whimper has her face positively melting. "Oh! She's even named after you, that's the sweetest." Leaning in to get a better look at the cute, puffy, baby cheeks, Ava offers a finger towards Evvie. "Hello Evelyn Grace. I'm Ava. I may watch get to watch over you sometimes. But I'm gonna go ahead and ask now that you not be like your big sister and summon dinosaurs, okay? I don't think my homeowner's insurance covers that. Yeah? We got a deal? If we've got a deal, just drool a little for me, huh?" She grins up at Everett, beaming. "I think it's a deal."

Ariadne and Nicasia are getting warm smiles, but Myles is getting a look of concern. "Something happen? You look upset."

Oh, a small whimper? Ariadne can't help but tilt her head a little at the sound and moreso when the jacket parts to reveal its source. It escapes her mouth without thought: "Aw...lookit you," she says softly, also unable to help twiddling fingers in a ridiculous wave at the wee Evvie. "Adorable little bean," Everett is informed along with a grin, "Even if she gives zero fucks. You go, girl. Ariadne Scullin, I work over at Espresso Yourself. Drop in if you ever need a pick-me-up."

Ava gets a glance and crooked grin. "...oh my god, that's right, the dinosaurs. Ravn mentioned that." Her attention returns to little Evvie. "You hear that, little one? No dinos. No mummies either. Or dragons." Ava's question, however, has her glancing over at Myles with lifted brows. Nicasia, being nearby, gets strafed by the curious if quiet look as well.

Nicasia probably ought to be a little more concerned about Myles rolling up behind her like he's got his own personal little black raincloud attached; she's a lot more interested in this mysterious thing under Everett's jacket.

Right up until she isn't.

There's some profound level of cognitive dissonance that hits, apparently, when the tiny human wrapped all in pink is revealed, displayed, even introduced, such that leaves her staring at the baby and the man wearing the baby with a certain stark bewilderment that means at very least the dinosaur thing just rolls right on off, water off an already soaked duck. Like really, of all the things she could have braced herself for, this just was not it.

She takes a half step backward and almost runs into Myles; half-turns and realizes he's standing there and stares at him for a second before recovery hits. "..the hell? I thought you were going home." Like none of that happened.

Myles eyes first catch the the look from Everett. At his faltering smile. That watchful eye. Myles' features immediately twist into a muted scowl. His mouth opens as if he is about to Say Things but his eyes flick down. To the child. In his jacket. Those narrowed eyes widen and for a moment his irritation is completed subdued. Confused and taken off guard by the baby-in-a-coat. Myles opens hi mouth and just lets out a quiet grunt.

Ava steals his attention and he looks over to her. "Oh. No. I'm fine. Thanks for asking." He summons up a little smile to make it True.

Then he's stepping slightly to the side so he can lower his voice to mutter at Nicasia while she almost runs into him. "I was getting our weed. Some punk ass little bitch tryna start some shit outside the dispensary. White boy little shit sayin he's gonna replace Chris Tucker or some shit. Yelled out said I was poor and somethin about the cops and me and-- We need to go ham on that fuckin' weed right now. I never thought I'd feel like I need to defend Chris fuckin Tucker's honor. Fuck." He lowered his voice a little but if anyone wanted to hear him. They probably could.

He's then turning to face the rest of the group and pulling up a small smile. "How you folks doin?" Smile is forced up a little higher. To Ariadne and Everett, "Myles Webber. Pleasure." SMILE.

"A little bit of cheating, using my significant another card, I guess," Everett replies after a hesitation, still keeping his expression and tone flat. But the fawning women over his latest is distracting and his attention returns down. Try as Evvie can, she can't seem to get back to sleep and with her right hand, she grabs a tiny handful of army green t-shirt and pulls while giving another small yawn. Unlike her older sister, this one doesn't Glimmer.
Yet. Hopefully.

After the yawn she starts suckling her little cheeks wiggling and shifting while dreaming the dreams that babies do. "I'm not sure she was named after me exactly. But it's the one we settled on," offers Everett, lifting his head and nodding to Ariadne, "She works as a vet tech. It's some Dad and Daughter time, so I thought we'd get some chores done. Look at some baby clubbing implements and shovels." He pauses and then offers, "You know. But, yeah, I'm hoping the boy doesn't do that fu-- uh, freakin' finger-wiggling thing that their older half-sister does. Including that dinosaur thing I heard about," Everett offers after self-correcting.

With a small wave of his left hand, Everett offers, "Laden Father of three, I may take you up on that coffee. Kailey usually does it through -- the coffee at my store's usually good enough for me." He looks down again, and adjusts her little beanie, "You hear that? No dinosaurs. Or any magic stuff if possible. Just. Be. Normal. ... and healthy, please. If you're taking, you know, orders." His glance takes him lastly down the aisle. He'll wait for Ariadne's introduction first before offering his own while he covers the tiny child with his right hand like Myles is about to steal it, "Everett." Short, sweet. All the things he isn't.

Ava laughs softly, covering her mouth at the mention of dragons by Ariadne. "Definitely no dragons. Your mommy already had to deal with one of those, little peanut. I think she'll be upset if she has to deal with another one." Ava straightens and glances from Everett to Ariadne. "Did Ravn tell you about that one? Kailey literally scolded it. I wish I'd been here to see that. Partly because, well, dragon." Just be normal? "Good luck on the normal wish," she offers Everett with a squeeze to his upper arm and a little smile. Myles an Nicasia get a little held tilt at the whispering that isn't really all that quiet.

Ava isn't trying to eavesdrop, really. But... okay, maybe a little bit. She grins a little, trying not to laugh. "Sure you're okay, then?"

"Everett. Nice to meet you." A glance from the Laden Father and over to the other man in turn. "And Myles, nice to meet you too." She can hear the whispering as well, but refrains from asking after it. Ava's got the questioning covered. She has half an ear on any answers from Nicasia and Myles as is.

Her attention returns to Everett briefly. "I've met Kailey in passing, I think. Colorful hair, right? More colorful than mine. She seems like fun, from what I can tell." Another grin. "I'll have to ask her about the store you've mentioned. I think I've heard about it before too. I'm still new to the city," the barista adds, shrugging good-naturedly about this fact in turn.

"Yeah, right," Everett murmurs to Ava, and nodding to Ariadne about Kailey's hair, "She's a bundle of fun." "With me as a parent, she'll likely be far from normal. "Look, uh," a stolen look to the only other big man in the room, and Everett zips up his jacket once more before shifting his weight around, to make the extra bundle comfortable for him, "I oughta go. I'll pick up the shovel some other time before I have to bury another body."

Nicasia finishes mostly turning so that she can listen to everything Myles spills out, that rapid, angry torrent of words recounting his day, which maybe helps ground her, banishing whatever the appearance of the baby triggered. At the end of it she nods, just a little. "I maybe found a guy who can help with the plumbing. We can head out."

And that would probably normally be that, but then there's some introducing going on and she remembers herself and turns back around to face the others again. "Nicasia Aldrich," she offers. But there's no smile. Myles has the lock on that, big and broad and practiced and arguably a landslide more friendly than her own expression, which sharpens up as her eyes narrow at Everett. "So what's your deal, exactly? You uncomfortable because he's as big as you? Or because he's black? Because of the two of you I'm pretty sure I can guess who's actually got the rap sheet. Cute kid. Nice to meet you, Ariadne. Doc." She's met Ava so there's just a touch of familiarity there. "If you'll excuse us."

"It's fine." Myles dismisses to Ava. "Sometimes you get pulled over for no reason. Sometimes people call you poor in a parking lot. Sometimes people protect their babies like you're gonna snatch em in a store. All part of the deal." He growls motioning to himself as if they're just things he's come to expect. Being him. He looks down to Ariadne. "Sorry. Missed your--" But his words falter as Nicasia starts in. Talking to Everett. There's a mixture of emotions on his face. His eyes widening somewhat in surprise before his lips curl up just slightly.

"Nice to meet you Ariadne." Myles repeats after Nicasia announces her name. "Ava." He bows his head with a warm smile. Finally there's an up-nod to Everett. "You all have a nice night." He murmurs with that still easy smile before he turns to follow Nicasia out of the store.

As Nicasia rants and Myles interjects his own comments, it clicks what made them upset. Like a lightbulb. "Oh." It's flat, like Ava's only just realizing that some people would make an issue out of it, and it bothers her. "For what it's worth, with Everett, it's a size thing. I think he's used to being the biggest guy in the room." She waves after them as they go, frowning softly before she turns towards Ariadne. "Want me to show you where that paint is?"

"Nicasia." An echo of the woman's name before she departs, as if the barista were making a point to match names to faces. Myles' smile is returned. "And you take it easy," she bids those departing all. A slow sigh leaves her and she glances over at Ava now with brows lifted.

"Hell, why not. I'll even take opinions on whether or not you think the green is actually 'mint green' or if whomever named the paint was out of their depth or hounded by the sales crew," she replies to the doctor before gesturing in the vague direction of where the paint cans are supposed to be. "What brings you to the store so late tonight? I'm assuming you're not painting your guest bathroom. Weirdly busy here tonight." Another glance towards the front door, as if she were half-expecting another familiar face to show up at any second.

"I shall endeavor to do my best to tell you which is the closest to mint. But, are we talking mint leaf shade. Or like pastel mint? Because those are very different shades of mint," Ava points out as she leads Ariadne towards the shelves that holds all the swatches of paint offerings. "I actually came because I needed some gardening supplies for the green house. I'm working on some special fertilizer. I really didn't expect to see so many people here tonight, but it was jam packed."

"Myles and Nicasia are nice, by the way. They went to school with me way back, but just got back to town. Worth getting to know if you get a chance to get to know them. But they're new to the whole Veil thing. In that, they only just learned that they had powers about three days ago."

"Point," the barista easily admits as to the shades of mint in question. "Pastel mint." She travels alongside Ava with a nonchalant ease, glancing over at the woman again as they walk. "Wow, that new in their powers? I bet that was a shock to them both, but...at the same time, if they went to school with you, I guess I'm not too surprised that they spawned the powers? Spawned. What a weird word. Developed them, that sounds better," comes the amending.

A tilt of her head as she studies the doctor with her kohl-lined golden-hazel eyes. "Special fertilizer for those Veil bulbs then...?" she asks more quietly now, knowing full well that shouting about this endeavor isn't going to bring anything good down on anyone's head. "Or dead bodies." Since Ava had looked like she was busily digging graves in the forest that one evening.

"Pastel mint! Somehow harder to place than actual mint, I would say. But let's see what we can do." Ava's hands rub together with a big grin as she starts to poke around at the swatches to see what she can find. "They aren't new to their powers, per say. It's more that they were rationalizing what they were doing so well that they didn't realize that they had powers. Until there was a backlash so bad that they couldn't ignore was odd. That's when they called me, and I had to break the news to them about what was happening. Nic took it pretty well. Myles threw up. Poor thing."

"Developed sounds better," she agrees with a tilt of her head in the red head's direction.

"Excuse me! The morticians handle the disposal of the dead bodies, ma'am!" There's a shoulder nudge given at that. "Though, I do know many ways to dispose of a body if you need it. It's for the Veil bulbs. I have some cryptid blood, too. Going to mix it in the fertilizer and see what becomes of the bulb." Ava. No.

Hardware store's busy this evening. Y'know, for a hardware store. Which isn't generally where folks come to congregate on a Saturday night, unless their kitchen light's blown or their toilet's backed up and it's an emergency.

The guy who steps in just as a few others are leaving isn't too hard to recognise under the battered leather jacket, dark jeans and faded baseball cap. If it looks like the Police Chief and scowls like the Police Chief, it probably is the Police Chief. He hunts for someone who looks like they work here, and angles toward them, hands shoved into his jacket's pockets, to ask about where they keep the bolt cutters.

There's a tiny pleased wiggle at the display of swatches. It's enough, Ariadne decides as she steps up to the display, and starts picking through the offerings of green swatches in particular. She glances over at Ava, paused in plucking squares to listen. A nod -- poor Myles indeed, losing his lunch at backlashes. The redhead remembers the headaches she's had so far very well, thank you very much.

The shoulder nudge makes the barista snort to herself. "Right. Have you laid down a perimeter of salt and mermaid tears and maybe a few landmines to deal with whatever grows out of those things? This sounds like a mad scientist's project, Ava. I have no bodies to dispose, but I sure hope you won't when your bulbs sprout." Her expression is quite, quite dubious. "I have a sense of adventure too, before you ask, but that's even a bit bold for me. I'd just use coffee grounds if it were me. For my hyacinth bulbs. If I grew normal plants." The sentiment is drily broken up in pieces and Ariadne can't help the half-smirk regardless.

Hearing the front door open, Ariadne glances towards it. Oh, hey, a familiar face after all. That's the...Chief of Police, right. She vaguely remembers his face from a snowball fight a month or two back. "Why do you think he needs bolt cutters...?" she asks Ava under her breath as nonchalantly as she can manage, flipping through the selection of paint swatches. Spring green? No. Malibu green? NO.

"You're adorable." It's offered as a statement with a tiny shake of her head as Ariadne wiggles at the sight of the swatches. "Ah yes. Blood and coffee. It makes sense. These are also the two things that run through my veins. Shouldn't they also be the two things running through the soil of my plants?" Ava wonders with a lopsided smile. "It's less a sense of adventure as much as scientific curiosity. Also, I'm trying to fill out a bestiary. I can hardly do that without beasts, now can I."

They're all very good excuses from someone who clearly, from the expression on her face, knows Ari is right. "I have motion sensors set up, and cameras, so I can see when they start to bloom. I'll be there. I'm working on other preventative measures in the meantime." Her eyes drift towards the door, head tilting. "There's only one way to find out," she murmurs back. "Hey Chief!" Ava lifts a hand in greeting. "Need help breaking in somewhere?" The cheeky smile is hard to miss in both tone and on her face.

The poor kid doesn't quite know what to make of the query, either. Guy who looks like de la Vega asks you where you keep the bolt cutters, and your mind goes to a few places. None of them particularly good.

"Uh..." He fumbles his armload of lightbulbs, nearly drops one, and the cop blows an exasperated breath out his nose. "Never mind." He starts slouching off, in the general direction of the hand tools, when he spots Ava and her chipper greeting. How could he not? Pausing mid-step, he detours to stop by the pair discussing plants. Or fertiliser. Or whatever the hell it is they're talking about. "Hola." He digs his hand out of his jacket pocket for an awkward wave, and tries to smile. It looks more like a wolf baring its teeth. "Breaking in somewhere? What?"

"A bestiary." Ariadne apparently can't decide whether to be impressed or even more dubious at this revelation. Neither can her eyebrows, apparently. "I mean, yeah, only one way to find out, but...maybe a laser grid along with those motion sensors and some holy water sprinklers," she murmurs back to the doctor.

Does 'Venetian green' work? No, it's not...minty enough.

Ariadne glances up from the paint swatches and returns de la Vega's greeting with a little vertical wave of a swatch pinched between fore- and middle finger. "Bolt cutters. It's hard not to think of nefarious things where bolt cutters are involved," she admits with a shrug and half-smile.

Ava holds up a swatch that's more of a baby green than a minty green. Her brows lift. Yes, no? Probably no. But perhaps it's getting closer. "A laser grid? I'm not trying to lop their poor legs off. For the ones that will have legs. Some might have wings, we don't know yet. Besides, I'm not trying to hurt them. Just study them, the darlings." Yes, sweet, violent darlings that have no business on this side of the Veil. "Does holy water work on Veil creatures?" Her eyes drift a moment.

They're quick to refocus on Ruiz, smile widening at Ariadne's explanation of his nefarious sounding needs. "Exactly! So if you are being dastardly on the side, you might just need help." Her hands fold out to either side of herself, palms up in a tada gestures, indicating herself. The teasing smile brightens.

Veil creatures? Holy water? Javier chuckles as he starts to get the gist of the conversation. "No. It doesn't. Trust me." He's scanning the aisles for a sign that reads bolt cutters while he's talking, and scowls as he comes up empty.

"Huh?" His dark eyes rove back to the pair, crow's feet springing up at the corners when he squints slightly at Ariadne's question. "Nefarious? What the fuck's nefarious about bolt cutters? Maybe I need to cut some fucking bolts. You think of that?" A glance is sent Ava's way, and he snorts in amusement. "Anyway, I'm not going to break in to anywhere. I'm a cop." Like he needed to remind her.

His baseball cap's tugged off briefly, and a heavily tattooed hand is run through his scruffy curls before the hat's pulled back on again. "You two should talk to, uh, Roen. August Roen."

Ariadne thumbs at Ava with her free hand. "Bolt cutters are dastardly and you're not convincing me otherwise," she informs the Chief of Police mostly drily. "Though it's kind of boring if you're just cutting through bolts that are rusted shut somewhere, like the door to a shed. Unless there's something in the shed, I dunno."

The barista shrugs. "I'm also not a part of any endeavor involving whatever needs holy water, just by the by. Merely a sounding board." Ava is given a significant glance. Sounding board of common sense, m'am. "Who's trying to figure out what shade to paint the guest bathroom. 'Mint green' is apparently hard to find." She showcases one of the swatches. It's definitely green, but not mint green.

"They are dastardly. The media says so. Don't you believe everything the media tells you?" There's a little scoff noise. A hand presses to her chest at Ariadne's pointed look, feigned innocence washing over Ava's features. "You are a lovely sounding board, but a terrible speed bump letting just me take the wheels of the bus like that." The smile doesn't falter much as she starts to drift away from the paint swatches for a minute and vanish into another part of the store. The place is small, so they can see her the whole time as she swoops down an aisle and reaches forward to grab something.

Her triumphant return is made a moment later with a medium sized pair of bolt cutters which is promptly handed out towards Ruiz. "You could be breaking into somewhere with a warrant and needing to replace the department's bolt cutters quickly," she offers. "Though it's a lot more fun to imagine you sneaking into somewhere all dastardly. Maybe with a handlebar mustache."

The mention of August makes her grin. "Who do you think I got the bulbs from?"

Javier's phone goes off while Ava's skulking about, and he digs it out of his pocket to see who's pestering him. By the smirk on his face, it can't be someone unwelcome. By the time he's finished composing a reply, she's back. With the requested bolt cutters. He watches her a beat. Two. Then shoves his phone away, and accepts them. That is a lotta ink. Looks gang related, if either of them are paying attention. Though why a cop, of all people, would have marked himself like that..

"Gracias," he tells her with a little cluck of his tongue. The handle of the tool is grasped, and he uses it to punctuate his next words, "I owe you." He starts digging for his wallet. "So long as you wipe the image of me tiptoeing around in a fucking handlebar mustache from your mind immediately."

"You know me, total speed bump." Ariadne grins faintly to herself and flicks brows at Ava before returning her attention to the paint swatches. She does have a curious look for both the other woman's brief departure and the phone call de la Vega takes, but then simply goes back to comparing options. A sigh. It must not be working out, the color selection.

Ava returns with the bolt cutters and the redhead can't help her faint laugh. The paint swatches she's holding go back into their respective nooks in the display. "No handlebar mustaches, agreed. I appreciate the help, Ava, but no-go. I'll need to check out the other place tomorrow when they're open. For now, gotta get back to the dog. You both have a nice night with your nefarious deeds." A dry smirk and flick of brows for both of the other locals. "Take it easy, Ava, Chief." With that, the barista excuses herself from the premises.

"You owe me regardless," Ava retorts with a smug little shimmy back towards the paint swabs to try to continue trying to find the elusive mint green. "The tiptoeing, handlebar mustachioed you will live forever in my mind and there's nothing you can do about it. Should you continue to complain, I shall add costumes!" The warning comes with a soft laugh. "Et tu, Ariadne? No taste, the either of you. It's dashing in my head. Alright, it's ridiculous. But still."

As Ari calls it quits, she offers a sad look. "Sorry I couldn't be more help, dear. Good luck with the other place!"

"See you later," mumbles the cop in parting as Ariadne bids them both farewell. While he's got his wallet out, he digs a little folded slip of paper out with a handwritten list on it, and consults it briefly. A flick of his eyes to Ava when she mentions costumes, and a brow goes up, speculatively. "You want to pollute your brain with that shit, it's your fucking funeral," he tells her.

Then the list is tucked away again, the bolt cutters are rapped against a jeans-clad thigh, and he starts off in the direction of the pipe and pipe fittings. "I'm, uh, I've got a few more things to pick up. I'm sure I'll see you around, yeah?" Because the guy has the social skills of a wet paper bag.

"It'll take a lot more than that to kill me, I assure you. I have a strong constitution." It's a firm assurance as Ava drifts out from behind the paint swatches again and starts to drift over towards the gardening section. It's vaguely in the same direction, but veers off halfway in the middle. "Unless crime suddenly ceases to be, I imagine we'll be running into each other again soon, Chief. You can count on it."