2022-04-24 - Buying Weed Should Be Easy

Jules rolls into the pot shop with the kind of look that suggests she’s a little out of place. She pauses near the entrance to get her bearings instead of beelining one way or another. She waves off the friendly employee’s offer of help. Just browsing, thanks.

Bayin slinks down the streets, looking shady on this dark and gloomy day. He's dressed all in black, including a longcoat and dark sunglasses. It would have been an inconspicuous look back in the 1950s, but it's a bit stand-outy. Especially considering the shiny gold mandarin frog style buttons on the front of his coat. He brings down his black mirrored shades as he looks around a bit. And then spots Jules through the window of the store. He shiftily makes his way inside, pretending to browse the merchandise a bit before leaning back against a wall by one of the counters, about a meter off of Jules' left. "Hey. Uh, you're the girl from the Lobster thing! Hope you're not still mad about that?" He asks, flashing her a smile, wondering if she still remembers him? He probably didn't even make that big of an impression.

The door opens once more. Stepping in right behind Jules is a much, much larger figure. Stepping right in behind her, the large dark skinned man glances down at Jules. He accidentally enters so fresh on her heels he's nearly running her over. It takes him leaning forward on his toes, his large hands leaping up to take her by the shoulders. He pushes her forward. Gently. That little push you do on someone's shoulders when you're trying not to throw them on the ground.

The big man releases her shoulders and quickly steps to the side raising an apologetic hand up to her. "Fuck. My bad." Myles quickly rumbles down to her. His eyes flicking up to a man talking about Red Lobster or something. The big man shoves his hands into his hoodie pockets and gives Jules another nod. "Sorry." Before taking a step away.

Jules startles in the way of someone who isn’t used to being touched unexpectedly and who likely expects the worst. Those shoulders immediately stiffen, and after she takes a step forward, she spins to face Myles. Her guarded expression relaxes a bit with the apology, along with her shoulders. “It’s alright,” she says before Bayin claims her attention.

“Yes, I am the woman from the lobster thing,” she replies, none too friendly. “And if by that do you mean do I still think what you did was idiotic, then yes.”

She glances back at Myles, then. There’s only so many people in town who have that feel, that sense of presence some call the shine, and now she’s eying him up while she tries to work it out.

Bayin eyes the newcomer warily, since it seems like this guy might be here to eavesdrop on strangers. But then again, it's a dispensary. Any strangeness overheard can be chalked up to some good shit. He turns back to Jules. "I was literally out of my mind. And I think you know that. Ever since I returned to Gray Harbor, things have been different than I remember. People here act strange, like there's some reason to be afraid. And they talk about things that don't make any sense. At first I thought it was some kind of joke, but..."

He shrugs, "Nevermind. Look, I know I almost did a lot of damage to the environment. Is there any way I can make it up to you? I have a lot of connections. Want me to help you save the whales? I can help you save the whales!"

The wary gaze is returned with a sharp glance. The large man standing up at his full height, broadening his chest, narrowing his eyes briefly at the other man. A 'back off' without verbalizing it. Though he can't help but hear what's being said as he moves away from the other two, looking over one broad shoulder to Bayin at his declaration to save the whales. Myles reaches up to pull up his hood, waving one hand in a vague little gesture as she forgives his trespass.

His phone slides out into his hand as he's looking at the wares. It looks like he may be texting about whatever he's looking at. Perhaps getting some feedback from an associate elsewhere.

There it is: a moment of concentration, one where the dark-haired woman in hiking pants and a fleece looks at Myles otherwise, her gaze a little unfocused. She looks through him, or maybe into him; either way, it might not be so welcome a stare. Then she looks away, blinking, and down at her own hands. Her fingers flex and she shakes out both her wrists.

She hasn’t been ignoring Bayin, even when her attention lies elsewhere. Jules can’t help it. A little smile forms against her will. “Work on saving the salmon first,” she tells Bayin. “That’s what the orcas eat.” More finger flexing, hands forming into fists and then relaxing again. “Look, you don’t have to do anything. Just don’t do stuff without thinking first. Maybe asking someone. Not around here.”

There she goes with her own vague, slightly eerie warning.

Bayin nods eagerly. "Oh, I will! You think I won't, but my mind's already abuzz with ideas. Does #ThickFrysSaveLives have a ring to it?"

Noticing Jules attention still on the foreboding newcomer, he himself glances aside again at Myles and then at Jules, and then at Myles again. "So like. Some people around here - usually the ones that talk about weird stuff have like a - quality, that you can kinda see huh? It's so fascinating, it's like, I was always able to see it, but I never noticed until I got fried by a lobster. Speaking of which, what did you do with Ms. Pinkett?" He asks, quirking his head a bit in interest.

Ever since stumbling back out of the Veil a few months ago and realizing a whole year and change had passed, Kelsey has been very much keeping to herself. She got her dog back, found a new place to crash and was working on rebuilding, well, everything that had kind of fallen apart in her mundane life with her vanishing. She slipped into the dispensary, intent on being quick. In, out, no eye contact - no talking beyond what was necessary. Except as she's starting to search for a specific strain she likes, she hears someone in that tiny gathered group talking about the Weird Stuff and the blonde can't help but pause in her search to look their way. Or stare. However someone might interpret it. Her hair is left down and she's wearing a pair of well-worn jeans with a black tank top and an unbuttoned white and blue flannel over top.

Myles is looking up again. Just for a second while he is inspecting some Purple Gorilla. He looks up just in time to see Jules staring at him now. And Bayin again. The large man looks around the shop, bristling somewhat. His lips curl back for a moment. But he clearly decides to actively ignore it. Though there is a look of vague irritation on his features now. He's looking back down at the weed, shaking his head. Myles turns his back so its pointedly directed at the two and is very clear that he is reading this label VERY CAREFULLY. While still texting.

“Oh Jesus,” Jules mutters under her breath. Louder, “Sure, whatever floats your boat.” She rather deliberately stops looking Myles’ way. Not staring, not staring. In fact, she’s closing her eyes like something’s giving her a headache. Likely Bayin. “Yeah,” she tells him. She’s got it herself, whatever it is, like a pulse of energy. “I gave her back to the lady she came with.”

She turns towards one of the glass-fronted cabinets that line the walls, though not without a glance at Kelsey, along with a little quirk of her brow.

Bayin and Jules are unfortunately standing RIGHT in front of the strain Kelsey's looking for, meaning she'll have to break her self promise not to engage with random people. Bayin shudders at the thought of Ms. Pinkett. "That thing gives me the creeps. It'll be too soon if I never see her again." He sighs, his own glimmer looks like a weak bit of bright orange spectral light emitting from him. But when he gets excitable, occasionally a spark flies off which resembles a tiny solar flare. "Was anyone at least impressed by my kung fu moves? Did they say anything about me after I left? You know, that move I used on her was an actual crab claw technique. Too bad she played dirty." He says, flexing his arms and striking a brief but elaborate Bruce Lee style asskicking pose.

Kelsey shines just like the rest of them do. Like a soft, spotty beacon of light. Jules look her way and she nearly drops small box of pre-rolls she had picked up. She made a soft sound of surprise as she fumbled with the box, managing to get it together and reaffirm her grasp on it before the box fell to the floor. She cleared her throat and put the box back on the shelf a little forcefully. She's noticed that they're standing where she needs to be and this is not the kind of thing she wants to be dealing with right now.

She draws in a breath. She has to get by them to get what she wants. "I, uh, excuse me." She mumbles, trying to skirt around them so she can look at the cabinet that has what she wants in it. She could choose to ignore their talk but the Hunter in her. The researcher. She's curious. "You, uh. There was a fight? On the-uh-docks?" Mostly asked towards Bayin since he mentioned kung fu - but Jules seemed to know what he was talking about too.

Satisfied that he's not getting mad dogged, Myles continues with his shopping quietly. Going so far as to pay, getting his little baggie, handing his card over. Though when he does pull his wallet out, his hoodie is lifted for just a moment. A moment long enough to reveal a gun on his hip, and a pair of handcuffs stuck into a container attached to his belt. The hoodie is lowered back down, covering both items quickly as Myles makes his purchase.

Jules’ tone is growing more clipped. “I honestly don’t know. You’ll have to ask them.” She’s still flexing her fingers, trying to work out some numbness, but chances are those fists she’s forming are also attempts at self-control. She is not looking at Bayin’s pose, though she catches it in the reflection of the glass.

She slips to the side, leaving it to Bayin to answer Kelsey’s question with a quick, “Sorry, let me get out of your way.” She’s just moved, headed for the display Myles has vacated, when in passing she sees it: the gun. Alarm races across her face, and her direction abruptly changes, without her saying a word. She’s silently making her way to the exit, out.

Bayin playfully rolls his eyes at Kelsey, "Yup. Lobster Fight Club. They had some rules they mentioned at the beginning, but I missed those." He snickers at his own joke, hoping she gets it to. Or at least hoping to make this poor shy girl less nervous. "I'm surprised you didn't at least hear about it. You look like you're on the up and up. But then again, I think the up and up might be some Alice in Wonderland." He says with another dismissive shrug as he moves aside. "An infestation of crustaceans were dealt with in a deathmatch. Some really bad ones too." He notices Jules suddenly making a go for it. "W-wait. Where are you going? I hope I didn't upset you!" He starts as if to grab her shoulder, then realizes that would be a huge mistake and stops. But he takes after her, seemingly worried that he might have angered the woman.

There is a snicker at the Fight Club reference but Kelsey quickly quells it. "Been keeping to myself ." She offered, though looks confused when Jules starts to book it and Bayin goes after her. She idly scratches the back of her neck and then shakes her head. She came here for one thing and that this was more weed. She turns and opens up the cabinet, picking out the strain she was searching for and made her way over towards the register where Myles is. "Wonder what happened." She glanced towards the door again - mostly thinking out loud than actually directing the statement at the other man.

Completely unaware of the spook he just gave, Myles is turning when Kelsey is heading over towards the register. "Dude's tryin' way too hard." He explains to her, even if she wasn't asking him. There's a little shake of his head as he watches the two go for the door. "Bein' fuckin' loud too." He looks down to Kelsey. Frowning lightly. "You're a part of all this..." He eyes the cashier, lowers his voice. "Shit?" Beat. He offers his hand out to her in introduction. "Myles Webber."

“Dude, leave me alone!” It’s a good thing Bayin doesn’t grab her, because Jules is wound tight, on the verge of losing her cool. It’s registering in her voice now, which is pitched louder and headed towards panic. She’s not stopping until she’s outside, where she can lean against a car in the lot, bend over at the waist with her hands on her knees, and just breathe.

Bayin pauses for a bit, giving her a bit of berth. He does slowly follow her after she's stopped by the car, with his hands up in a 'dont shoot' gesture. "Hey, I'm sorry - was it something I said?" He turns back and looks in through the window at Myles. "Was it him? Does he need a crab claw upside the head?" Bayin says with a pained smile, clearly not used to consoling upset women. He smacks a crabclaw fist into his open palm for effect.

"Maybe." Kelsey isn't sure. After all, the woman had just seemed to turn randomly and start leaving. She's not going to get involved - whatever it is, she knows sometimes people just need their space. She looks back to Myles and gives a nod, setting her things on the counter to be rung up. "Yeah." She gives a resigned, wry sort of smile. "Not much of a choice in this place." She fishes out a few bills from her wallet to slide over to the cashier, giving a half turn to shakes Myles' hand. Despite her skittish demeanor, the handshake is rather confident. "Kesley. Uh, Wade." She tacks on to the end. After all, he'd given his last name too. She figures it's only fair.

There's another pause as she gives a quiet thank you to the cashier and takes her change. "Wait a sec. Were you the dude looking for a lawn mower?"

"Kelsey." Myles repeats, nodding his head to her. "Nice to meet you." He makes his way towards the door. Holding back for a minute to wait for her. "Yeah. I was. Got one." His shoulders pull up into a shrug. He goes to hold the door open for Kelsey as they make their way out. Stepping out he lets the door close, looking over to Jules and Bayin. Jules still looking a little like she's still in the midst of a trial. Myles is reaching into the top part of his hoodie (far away from the gun!) and pulling out what seems to be a flask.

The large man holds it over in the general direction of Jules, offering it towards her while not fully approaching. "Ay. You good?"

“Just back off.” It comes out low, between the quick inhales. Jules is still bent over, but she lifts her head to look at Bayin, black hair falling around her face. “The guy in there has a gun,” she says, even quieter.

Does Myles hear it, when he ambles out? Jules still like she’s warding off a panic attack when he addresses her. “I’m good,” she says far too quickly, straightening up. She eyes the flask for a few seconds, then makes up her mind and gives a quick nod, holding out her hand. Warily, she says, “Thanks.”

Bayin's seen this before - phobia of guns. Some people have it so bad that they can't even handle prop guns without having a melt down. "Hey, don't worry. He's not gonna do anything. Lots of people have guns, that doesn't mean they have some special power." He speaks low to her before backing up to give her a bit of space. He raises a brow when Jules takes the flask. "Oh, you're not gonna offer me any?" He says to Myles with a playful tone, "You're like one of those search and rescue St. Bernards with the tiny little jug of booze! That's so cool!"

"Nice too meet you too." Kelsey steps out with him, offering him a thanks as well when he holds the door. Looking towards the pair by the car, her brow furrows with a touch of concern. She stays a couple steps behind Myles and to the left. Maybe she just wants to make sure the woman is actually okay (or okay enough) before she leaves. Bayin doesn't seem overly concerned so perhaps that's a good sign. Kelsey stays quiet for now, though a touch of a smile quirks on the corner of her lips as Bayin compares Myles to a St. Bernard.

There's a little frown on Myles' lips. "It's alright." He rumbles over to Jules. "I'm a Bail Bondsman. Bounty Hunter. Whatever the fuck you want to call it." He pulls his hoodie back a tick to show the front of his belt where there's a little badge clipped. "I'm licensed and everything. No worries. Sorry if I gave you a fright." He doesn't put the flask down just yet and instead offers it to Jules once more. "You sure, you good?" Holding it up in case she changes her mind.

His eyes flick over to Bayin, a moment of irritation flashing in his eyes. But he makes no verbal response immediately to being compared to a dog.

Jules just glares at Bayin in response; Myles is too close now for her to reply aloud. Some of the panic starts to recede, slowly, when Myles shows his badge. The liquor in the flask helps too, once she’s taken it from him and had a swallow.

“Yeah,” she says when she’s ready to pass it back. “I just— I had a shotgun pointed at me four months ago. When I was out shopping.”

Her hands are still shaking.

Bayin lights up as Myles explains himself, "Oh really? I played a guy kinda like you in Rush Hour 4. I was gonna be the Chris Tucker of the movie. But it got stuck in development hell. What can you do?"

He drops his jaw in shock at Jules in shock as she reveals the cause of her trauma. "Oh, Jules. I'm sorry. I thought this was a safe town. Is he still on the loose or did they catch him?" He asks, glancing aside at Myles with a hand on his chin as if an idea were forming.

"This town is anything but safe." Kelsey proclaims nearly on autopilot. "You must be very new here." She seems to have gotten over her earlier initial anxieties and hesitations for the moment. A mental note is made of Myles' job. Good to know. Always handy to know someone like that really. Never know when it might be useful. "I..am sorry that happened to you though." She offers to Jules with a ghost of a frown. Then Bayin asks the questions she herself was wondering, so she falls quiet again.

"Can be traumatizing." Myles rumbles with a little frown. "Lord knows I've had my fair share of guns pointed at me. More than once by Grey Harbor's finest." The word finest is very acidic and quite clearly bitter sarcasm. "Hard to get over that shit. I get it. Sorry that happened to you." The big man murmurs with that persistent frown, reaching up to take his flask back from her.

When Bayin talks to him again. Myles slowly looks over to Bayin with a very flat look. "My man. How many times does someone have to tell you to leave them alone before you listen?" There's a huff of a breath let out as his flask is slid away. He's making his way towards his jeep. "Kelsey. Nice to meet you." His eyes go over to Jules. "If you need a ride away from Chris Tucker over here, I can give you one." But he doesn't seem to be waiting, throwing his little package in as he opens the door and loads in.

Another day, Jules would ask Bayin how she knows her name. Today, though, she just nods. “The police turned up.” She must be recovering, because she finds enough humor to dryly say to Kelsey, “I don’t recommend it.”

Once her hands are free of the flask, Jules clenches her hands into fists again and takes a deep breath. It comes out slowly. “I’ll be okay.” She’s telling herself that as much as she’s telling them all. She manages a little smile for Myles with his offer. “Thanks. Appreciate it. Think I can handle it, though. Gotta go back in and buy my stuff, anyway.”

Bayin snickers as Myles talks about the police, "Really? That can't be too good for the job!" He nods as Jules mentions the outcome of her tale. "Well, let's hope it doesn't happen again. Would be tragic." He tosses a thumbs up to Myles, "Yeah, we're good. Still got stuff to do. But if you ever need enough money to afford a lawn mower of your own, I can set you up with my agent!"

He tosses his head toward the door, gesturing for Jules to follow. "I just uh, wanted to ask you a couple of things before you leave."

Kelsey just gives a little nod to Jules' comment. She doesn't recommend it either! "Hope you all have a...better rest of your day." She gets out now that things seem to be settles. "Maybe I'll see you around." There's a little shake of her head as Bayin seems to continue following Jules but she starts to make her way out of the parking lot.

"Sure you can." Myles is rumbling to Jules as he gets in the jeep. But he pauses. Listening to Bayin. His jaw flexes. Tightens. His knuckles squeeze around the steering wheel. He takes a deep breath. His chest rises and falls. Keep it together, Myles. Keep it together. His hand wanders into his hoodie. And before he knows it he's taking a pull from his flask. A long one. Screwing the cap back on he takes a few more breaths. Keep it---together--

"Little bitch." Myles barks at his steering wheel as he's up and out of the car, slamming the door behind him. He takes a few steps towards the back of the jeep as if going to confront Bayin and Jules. Then stops himself again. "Motherfucking little bitch ass---" He turns himself back towards the drivers side, brows kept together. A few deep breaths are taken, as he stands next to his jeep. Calm down. Caalm down.

Finally he breaks out from behind the jeep. In his hand is a card. The card is handed to Jules. "It's old. But that's my cell. If this stalker ass follows you home I'd be happy to help." One last look is given to Bayin before Myles is headed back for the jeep, letting out a huff of a breath. The card has a Las Vegas address. Myles Webber. Bail Bondsman.

Jules stops altogether, right before she reaches the door. She whirls to face Bayin, fists at her sides. “This is not the time,” she tells him frostily. She’s not a tall woman, but she draws herself upright as she looks him square in the eye. “I am going to go in there, and I am going to buy some weed, and then I am going to go home and smoke it. And you are not going to follow me. Not inside, and definitely not home. And I swear to God, I will fucking call the cops and tell them you’re stalking me if you do. Don’t fucking test me. Do you understand?”

Then, and only then, does she break off her death glare to look at Myles and take his card with one short, sharp nod.

Bayin looks a bit hurt at Jules's outburst at him. For whatever reason he seemed to think he was managing to comfort her. "Alright, I'll go. You've got me all wrong though, you're the only person I've met in town so far that gets what's going on." He digs into his own pocket and pulls out a little shiny gold rectangle, handing it to Jules. "Here's my card with my info. Text me about the save the fish campaign at least? I'm very serious about that." His moment of sulking seems to pass as he starts thinking of various things he can do to raise salmon awareness. He waves at her and shakes his head judgmentally at Myles as he takes off through the nearby park.

As Bayin turns around, Myles is scowling at his back. Looking over to Jules then to Bayin's back. "If that man replaces Chris Tucker in anything it's time to burn down Hollywood and start over." Myles growls before giving Jules an up nod. "Sorry for the spook. Take care of yourself." And with that he's headed to the jeep to drive off, really revving up.

Jules takes Bayin’s card wordlessly. It’s either to make him go away or because she does in fact want that number in order to block it. She stands there without saying anything more, with just her own nod for Myles, waiting to make sure Bayin really has turned heel without changing his mind and returning. Only then does she go into the shop again to make a quick purchase, and then she’s getting into her old Camry and getting out of there, fast.