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[jamesthorn]

If there's one thing James doesn't do much, it's drink. He good at cocktail hour, sipping through a couple of bourbons or whiskey to carry him through the mindless chatter, or he'll have a glass of wine with dinner. He isn't someone that ever got wasted in college or snuck out with a pack of beer when he was a teenager. When he was still on the police force, he would join Grant and Alex and the other guys at the bars to wash away the harsh days work, but even then he was usually a couple drinks then calling it a night. 

He can't even remember the last time he was what someone would call drunk. Maybe years, maybe some thoughtless time he was angry with William or stuck in a cabin with Demetri or Daniel on a camping trip, which was always just an excuse to defy their father in every way possible. 

Tonight, though, he is camped out in a booth at Coombs Tavern, a place he hardly ever goes, but tonight it seems like the right place to be. It's the last place he's expected, and the last place most people he'd know that would care, would be to find him. He has a lot on his mind. Too much. Bad relationships. Bad business deals. Bad people trying to attack him in his own house. He orders a beer and something to eat, and he doesn't plan to leave here until his mind stops focusing on everything falling apart. 

Comments

[davin]

Coombs Taveren is far from his usual haunt, but Davin isn't in the mood for Watersong tonight. He just wants a quiet drink somewhere that isn't the sad, empty confines of his apartment. He also doesn't want to deal with any sort of fuss over Edan, who is trotting along at his side. Most people in town are fine with the fox, but some don't really want him in their business.

He rounds a corner and sees the tavern, and figures that would be the place least likely to care about a witch deeply in need of some good whiskey bringing his familiar with him.

Once they're inside Edan yips and takes off, fluffy tail bouncing as he winds through the tables and hops up into a booth. Davin is confused by the behavior, but it makes more sense when he sees that the other occupant of the booth is none other than James.

It's like they're magnets, and they'll constantly keep being draw together. Davin sighs and steps up to the table, reaching out to pet Edan's head. "Hey, sorry 'bout him. Is he botherin' ya?"

[jamesthorn]

There's only so much fun one can have sitting alone in a bar, but he's doing okay three beers later. And he's definitely minding his own business when he suddenly has a lap full of happy fox. Even if this was a bar frequently patronized by forest animals, he recognizes this particular one. Sure enough, a few seconds later Davin trails up behind with a look on his face that reads like an apology. This isn't what James planned. Running into Davin. He just wanted some time to think on his own, but maybe this town is too small for them both.

The good thing is his drinks have put him in a laissez faire type of mood for the evening, and even though he came here to get away from everything, it doesn't feel like he has any control over his life anymore so what's one more thing? He shakes his head and offers Edan the leftover food on his plate. "No, it's alright," he says with a soft smile. "He's happier to see me than last time so I can't kick him out. I didn't really expect company, but you can stay if you want."

[davin]

Edan lets out a happy chitter and snatches up the remains of James' sandwich, retreating under the table with his prize. Davin isn't sure how to read James' tone and hovers indecisively for a moment. You can stay if you want isn't exactly the most welcoming of invitations, but it would probably be more awkward to turn around and leave so he slides into the booth opposite James.

A waitress comes over and Davin orders a double whiskey neat and a refill of whatever James is drinking, and he laces his hands together on the tabletop as he looks at James and searches for something to say. It's obvious that he isn't doing very well, and it makes Davin's heart hurt to know that he can think of several reasons as to why that might be off of the top of his head.

"The wards holdin' okay?" Davin asks after a moment. "I hope ya know that ya can call me if ya need anythin'."

[jamesthorn]

He's thoughtful for a moment, looking at the bottle in his hands, until he picks it up and drinks the remaining swallow. Nodding, he places the empty bottle near the edge of the table for the waitress to come retrieve and hopefully supply him with another one. There's a part of him that knows he's wallowing a little, that he should be able to move past all of this.

"I know I can," he says looking up. "I'm thankful for what you did, Davin, trying to protect me. But I just really don't want to talk about any of that, or my father, or..." He's going to say 'or us' but he shrugs instead. "Not right now. I just wanted a break tonight. That's all."

The waitress thankfully returns with the new drink Davin ordered for him. "Can we do that?"

[davin]

Davin's throat goes dry at the words, and he blinks rapidly a few times as he swallows. It hurts, but it's understandable. He opens his mouth and then closes it, and Edan hops up onto the booth with a concerned sounding yip. Davin slides his hand down his back and nods, smiling thinly.

"Yeah, o' course," he says, sliding out of the booth and picking up his glass. "Sorry we bothered ya."

[jamesthorn]

Before Davin can move away, James reaches out to stop him, grabbing him by the wrist confused by the hurt expression on his face "Together. Davin, I meant together." He releases his grip because he's not going to stop Davin from leaving, but he didn't mean that he wanted to be alone. All he wants tonight is something else to talk about rather than his problems.

"You're not bothering me. I'm not exactly saving the world here," he says holding up his drink. "Like I said, I just wanted a break."

[davin]

He isn't expecting James to stop him and he turns to face him with a wrinkle in his brow that softens when James explains. Davin must have just understood, and he feels relief sweep through him as his expression softens.

"Oh, okay." He sits back down and clears his throat, taking a sip of whiskey and wincing the slightest bit at the burn before setting the glass down. "Well, if ya need someone t'drown your sorrows with, I'm your man."

[jamesthorn]

Glad that Davin decides to stay, James leans back in the booth, relaxing a little. When he left his house tonight, he had no clue what he was doing. He just ended up turning into the lot behind Coombs Tavern and walking inside. It isn't the best way to deal with everything happening to him, he knows that, but so far, it's the only way that will probably make things better for a while at least.

"Good," he says, nodding, sipping at his drink. "You'll be happy to know my car is running better than ever. You just fixed the transmission didn't you? No joy rides while you had it, right?"

[davin]

"Well, I mean. I took the long way t'your house, if that's what you're askin'," Davin admits a bit sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders. "But I'm glad that it's runnin' well."

He takes a sip of his own whiskey and wonders what they could possibly talk about that would still fall into the taking a break category. Their relationship is surely off the table, as is James' father.

"Are ya excited for spring?" Davin asks lamely, and Edan flops onto his back in the booth next to him with a huff.

[jamesthorn]

"Uh, I guess I'll be glad for it to stop snowing," he answers the lame question with a lame response, and they are kind of talking about the weather but he guesses it's better than the other stuff. Only just barely though.

Edan is resting beside Davin in booth even looked bored with them, as James sips at his drink for a second. When they were dating they never had a problem talking to each other, so it can't be that hard now, can it? He sees Davin's hand resting on the table and reaches out for his wrist turning his arm over. Someone you know comes back with a tattoo, one does wonder. "So I've been curious about this," he admits taking his hand back.

[louise_abasi]

Louise had stuck to her promise, communicating with James more in the past days than in the entire year. It had ranged from small talk to the company's future, and especially the last subject had surprised her with how much she had enjoyed the work on it. Law, justice, rights.

So, on his night off, she wasn't sure if she should be in his space again.

[jamesthorn]

James spots Lou enter Coombs Tavern right away. Even though this isn't his normal haunt, it's not a big place so she sticks out when she walks inside. They've been working together, close the past month to iron out the mess his father left of the family business. She's been essential, but James also kind of came tonight to get away from all that.

He finds himself waving her over anyway when she turns in his direction. "Care for a drink?"

[louise_abasi]

"Hi." She accepts his invitation, but stays standing all the same. "I didn't know if you felt like seeing my face again, especially in such unfamiliar surroundings. I just felt like leaving the flat for a moment Walls were coming at me."

[jamesthorn]

"Then you have to sit. Because that's exactly why I'm here myself. Just needed a break," he told her. Out of the walls of his own house and into something where thinking was definitely not required.

[louise_abasi]

"Are you sure?" She sat down anyway. "Okay. Want to discuss the weather or are we just going to stare into the distance in amicable silence?"

[jamesthorn]

"Who needs to talk about winter in Maine? It's just snow," James says, drinking from his beer. He'd be glad when spring arrived, the gloom added to his mood. "My sister is trying to talk me into a vacation some place warm. She thinks I need it. But I'm still here."

[louise_abasi]

"All-right." Sometimes Louise had to remind herself that James just was clear-cut, not out to cut.
"If you don't want it, needing it won't necessarily make things better. Maybe a weekend away would help, though. I'd accept it."

[jamesthorn]

James realizes he invited Louise to join him, and he probably isn't going to make for very good company. He hates to think that his...mood? Depression? Whatever this funk he's in can last much longer. Something just doesn't feel right, and he doesn't know how to snap back into the life he had before his father passed. "I just don't know if a weekend out of town is worth the trouble," he says.

[louise_abasi]

"What trouble? Gathering a set of clean underwear and leaving? Because that sounds like an ordinary day to me." She adds a wink to assure him that he doesn't needs to follow up on that.
"You're not the only thing between the company and the wolves, James. If you need space for yourself, you need to take it."

[eddysangster]

Since coming here, Edmund has been losing track of the days. He can't remember if he's been here two weeks or two months, but he makes due with the time he has. It's as if he's in prison. As he's been indoors straining his back over his computer in order to finish his novel and meet the deadlines for novels he has been editing, he had began to follow the sun's patterns. Wake up when the warmth creeps over his face, cozying up beside a window in his home and typing away until the warmth faded away. He's sure that's what prison must've felt like. Although, he was above that type of stuff, anyway.

After being indoors for what seems like years, Edmund took it upon himself to venture around the city -- something he typically wouldn't do unless Luke was beside him, leading him through with the attitude that seemed to have cropped up once they stepped foot in this eerie place. It was so... slow. So small. So... not his scene. New York was something. There was always something going on. However, he seems to be at a loss in this town. Edmund was all for new experiences, but this was something he was slowly starting to regret.

He came upon a tavern. At least, what he assumed to be a tavern. His cane clicked against the frame of the door, and his hand feeling the frame before entering the establishment. The vibe was certainly there. It seemed as if he was stepping into a place back home. Or at least, as close as he could get to that feeling in this town. His cane began to tap once more as he made his way around, his hands finding the tabletop of a booth, fingers tapping against the cool surface.

"Is anyone sitting here?"

[jamesthorn]

James isn't expecting company tonight so when Edmund approaches his booth he's startled out of his thoughts, lowering his bottle when he catches sight of the tall lanky fellow standing near his table. He may be on an extended leave of absence from his job, but being a cop he still knows nearly everyone in this town. The man standing beside him asking to sit down is a complete stranger. He also recognizes the man to be blind, and surely he would know him in such a small place.

Ordinarily, James prefers his own solitude. There's a reason his house is built surrounded by nothing but woods versus friendly neighbors with cups of flour and casseroles. He likes his peace in quiet. But tonight, as he sits in this bar, in this place he hardly ever comes, drinking away his own problems, he's doing many things he wouldn't normally do.

"No, it's all yours," he tells him. "There's a bunch of empty tables around though if you don't want to sit with me."

[eddysangster]

His face fell with a mixture of relief and nervousness. It has been so long since he's heard another voice. At least, a voice speaking in his direction. He missed it. Especially hearing a voice that wasn't Luke's.

Shaking his head slightly, he replied back with a "I'd rather sit with someone if that's alright," before sliding into the booth and collapsing his cane.

"I take it you've lived here for a while like everyone else here..." He trailed off. "I'm Edmund."

[jamesthorn]

For a moment, on a night where he's trying to get away from everything, it's nice to meet someone who knows nothing. That doesn't know his family has lived here for two centuries. He could just lie and say he's not like everyone else. That he's new or just passing through town. Yet, that wouldn't do him much good. Some people think his family is partly responsible for the so-called town curse.

"You could say that. Yeah," he says, nodding. He holds out his hand in response in greeting. "James. You must be new here. Small town, it's easy to recognize new faces."

That and he used to be a cop. He knows even more faces than most people, he suspects.

[eddysangster]

There was a pause before he realized the male before him was offering his hand. He usually wasn't met with a hand when he introduced himself to another, but it happened on occasion. Edmund raised his hand and searched for the other, shaking it.

"Coupla months." He replied with a smile. "I'm still adjusting to this place, though. It's new." He kind of let it rest for a moment, thinking about the town and how he had yet to explore it more thoroughly. Most days he didn't want to, which was out of character for him, but the man had figured it was the weird adjustment period people tend to get when they moved.

"So," he started again, "do you want me to buy you a drink?"

[jamesthorn]

The question catches him completely off guard. Edmund asking to join him had already been an unexpected occasion since he mostly expected to sit here all night by himself. He's not sure if the offer is just to to be friendly or whatever, but it does make him smile after the surprise washes away. "Oh, uh..." He looks down at the beer he already has chuckling softly. "You can, you don't have too..."

He pauses for a moment, thinking at least the guy was friendly. "Should I buy you a drink?" he offers.