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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

[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.