There are people out in the main bar, but Paige isn't one of them! She had been, but wandered back here shortly to get away from the crowd and take a few minutes with no humans about. She's stretched out on the couch, legs crossed at the ankles, wearing jeans and a tee-shirt. There's a falcon perched on one of her feet, not seeming to mind that she's absently bouncing that foot a little while she looks through a magazine.
Lucky manages to make his way through the people out front, grabbing a beer on his way toward the back. But it's definitely the back room that he's heading towards. Rumor manages to spread in smaller towns, after all, and the whispers through the grapevine say that it's Lost-friendly. And if it's not, what's the worst that could happen? He gets scolded, or gets his ass beat. Either way, lesson learned. Pushing in through the door, he looks around the room, spotting the woman with the bird balanced on her foot as he raises his beer in her direction. "Heya," he greets, offering a little smile.
Paige turns her head when the door opens and she smiles. "Hi! C'mon in, have a seat. I'm Paige," she offers, while the bird mostly just watches Lucky. "You new in town?" she asks, sitting up and twisting around so she's sitting properly, and the bird hops up onto the back of the couch where it's safe.
Lucky watches the bird fly back up onto the couch, looking amused. "Huh. That's... kind of better than a pit bull," he says in reponse, eyeing the flying mass of beak and talons. "And yeah, sorry. I have this thing, easily distracted. Just got here a few days ago," he explains. "Still trying to get a feel for the place. But I was told over coffee that this was a good spot to get Lost in." He takes the offer of a seat, sitting forward a bit as he rests his forearms on his knees, letting the beer hang a bit. "Seems like a nice place."
Paige glances to the falcon, grins, then looks to Lucky. "I dunno. That's comparing apples and oranges. Though since I'm partial to birds...I won't argue," she tells him. "And I'm used to easily distracted. Bird," she says, grin going impish as she points to the bird, who nips at her finger. "And I like to think this is a good spot, but then, again, I'm kinda biased. This is my place."
"Apples and Oranges will both keep you alive when you need them to," he counters, offering a playful wink. "Flavor is just a matter of taste." Though he does look a little surprised when she says that the place is hers. "Your place? Well. Here's hoping I don't manage to put my foot -too- far down my throat. That'd be just my luck." Offering a hand, he introduces him. "I'm Lucky. Eden told me to come check the place out. Turns out, she has pretty good taste, even if she wasn't exactly sober."
"Very true," Paige says cheerfully. "And nope, you haven't put your foot down your throat. Don't think you've even tasted your toes yet. Which is a gross thought. Forgot I ever said that," she says, nose wrinkling. But she does take his hand. "Eden's a good person. I like her. Glad she pointed you here, though I'm sad she got drunk somewhere else," she says with a quick grin.
"Let's hope I can keep the taste of feet off my tongue for as long as possible," he agrees, nodding. "And yeah, she's... definitely interesting," he laughs. "Helpful, in that very direct way. I'm still not sure if she was meant to be the Welcome Wagon or the Muscle. She managed to slide back and forth between the two so easily, you'd think she's been practicing how to be vague."
Paige cocks her head, smiling but with a hint of confusion. "I haven't known her to be too vague. Did she help you join the freehold, though?" she asks, getting to her feet and moving over to the fridge, grabbing a beer out and heading back for the couch. "And why here? Got family here or something?"
"Not so much, no," Lucky tells her in turn when she asks if Eden helped him join the Freehold. "She was helpful in her own way, though. Got me pointed in the right direction, at least. Then the other guy, Oberon? He seemed pretty interested in the freehold stuff. Still gotta meet some people, apparently. But we're getting there. Slowly."
Paige just mms softly when he mentions Oberon. "I'm glad you're settling in. And joining the freehold isn't too bad. Just gotta talk to a Wayperson and get pledged up. It's a good freehold, though."
Lucky nods. "Good, yeah. The people here seem... nice. If incautiously open about things," he adds, carefully. "Too many obvious references dropped in too many ways in places they shouldn't really be dropped. So I guess I'm still a little cautious about maybe signing up for that. I've seen terrible things happen when people start to get lax. And it's never the lax people that the terrible things happen to."
Paige cocks her head. "Incautiously open?" She goes quiet for a moment, her nose wrinkling again. "Yeah...some are. And they shouldn't be. But most people aren't that way. It's why I have this place. So we can speak openly without worrying about humans hearing."
Lucky nods. "Introducin yourself as a member of the Spring Court in the middle of a crowded diner, when you're not in the private area, probably not as subtle as you should be." Or subtle at all, really. "Some of them, though, seem pretty sensible. So I think I'll probably stick around. Depends." Though he does ask, "You've been here awhile, yeah? You know the people around here?"
Paige closes her eyes, sighing softly. "Who did it? I'll have a talk with them." Maybe more. Her eyes open after a moment. "I was born here. Been back for a little while, yeah. So I like to think I know people, yeah. Maybe not everyone, but a good chunk. Is there someone you're looking for?"
"Guy named Oberon," he tells her in turn, as to the 'who done it' part. "Seems nice enough. But I think the guy might be a little lost in himself, and not the way some of us can get. Very Spring. But also incautious. So, you know. Maybe be gentle?" He offers her a smile. "He at least offered to move someplace more private when I got a little jumpy. So that's a plus." Though at the second part of the question, he sits forward a little more. "Looking for a Judge," he tells the woman. "By the name of Luna, I think. Ring any bells?"
Paige makes another soft noise and nods. "He...yeah, I'll be gentle. I'm not a mean person. I try to be nice to everyone unless I have no other option. Can't say I've ever heard of someone named Luna, though. I'll keep an eye out for her. Or an ear. Whichever works."
Lucky laughs. "Well, technically -I'm- the one that's supposed to be keeping an eye and such out for her. But this place... it's easy to get lost in, I think. A lot of ground to cover, and I've only had a few days to do it. Still trying to get my bearings," he admits. "But if you hear anything that could narrow down the search, I'd be grateful." Though he does ask, "So. What are the ground rules around here? Beyond the usual," he adds. "Every Freehold has the same basics. Those are easy. It's the quirks you have to watch out for. The unspoken, unwritten expectations that can snag you all up and leave you in a bad way. Anything I should be aware of, while I'm stumbling out there in the dark?'
"How do you mean? Is she a family member or something?" Paige asks, and yeah, she's curious. Maybe even nosy! "And basically it is just the usual laws. I can't think of any weirdness offhand though that you should be aware of. And you'll get a copy of the laws, too, so you don't accidentally do something wrong," she says helpfully, opening her beer and taking a drink.
"Family, of a sort," he nods. "More like... adopted cousin than blood relation. Heard she was here. She might not still be here. I'm not sure. But this is where the trail went cold, so this is where I am." He's reserved about it all. "Though knowing the laws could be ... handy. Makes it harder to stumble over yourself. Always a bonus." He's still got his own beer, mostly untouched. It's in his right hand, the one with that pristine glove on it, rolling the bottle over the tattered and ragged looking left glove -- an odd mismatch. "Who would one talk to about that? Should I decide I wanna join the ranks?"
Paige smiles and shakes her head. "Family is family. More important if it's not blood because it means you chose to be family," she says, shrugging. "But you should talk to a Wayperson. I can point you to one of them. They help you out, can tell you more information than I can, and then can get you pledged. And you should seriously consider it!"
Lucky and Paige are in the back room of the Cyclone, the two of them on a couch with a bird looming over them from the back of the thing, watching like a silent, feathered guardian. "I'll do that. Gotta go find the Dawn first, though," he tells the woman. "See what the local situation looks like. Where we stand on Freehold matters." Because Dawns, traditionally, are a danerous element, and not always welcomed within the ranks. "But it's starting to look like I'll be here a bit."
It's not a big bird though, just a falcon. A hedge falcon, but still. Same size. Paige smiles and takes a sip of her beer before she speaks again. "I'm sure the freehold will be lucky to have you. And I hope you manage to find your sort of adopted cousin. What's she look like? It'll help me keep an eye out. I get a lot of people coming in here, after all."
Max has had a rough few days for various reasons, so she comes to her favorite bar for a few drinks. Upon spotting that there's not anyone familiar she sees in the front part of the bar, she decides to head to the back. Once she's got not one but two drinks in hand, each looking rather colorful and fruity, she wanders to the back. There's a pause when she sees the bird, blinking a few times. Obviously, she assumes it's associated with Paige. "Uh, friend of yours?" she wonders with a raised brow. "It's not going to like, swoop at me, is it?" The young woman is dressed casually, flannel shirt with a tank top underneath, denim jeans, and sneakers, her hair worn down in loose curls.
"Eyes like mine," he tells her, indicating the heterochromia -- the right eye a bright blue, the left a pale, washed-out green that looks like it's been faded in the sun. "Probably has gloves like these, too," he tells the woman in turn, holding up his hands. The right is pristine, looking like it just came out of the package, think black leather that even has the new-leather smell. The left is that ragged, cracked stuff that looks like it's seen better centuries. "And also probably nosy. Likes to keep up on local affairs. Shouldn't be teribly hard to spot." Though as Max comes in, staring at the bird and asking about swooping, he just says, "Swooping would be bad."
Paige looks over when the door opens and blinks when Max steps in. "He is, and it's not but...can I ask what you're doing back here?" she asks, clearly unaware of the woman's freehold membership. Someone should put out a newsletter! She flicks her gaze back to Lucky, nodding once. "I'll keep an eye out for her then. She doesn't sound hard to find."
"I've been back here a few times? Am I not welcome back here anymore?" Max wonders with furrowed brows, a small frown forming on her lips. She pauses at the entryway, though the door has closed behind her. There's a glance to Lucky briefly, then back to Paige.
Lucky laughs. "Yeah. We don't tend to be the subtle sort, even when we're trying really hard to be." He just kind of has to shrug at that. Though he does give Max a bit of an upnod, raising his beer in greeting as he lets Paige field the question as to whether she should be back there or not. It's har place, after all.
Paige cocks her head at Max's first comment. "You have?" she asks, blinking. "Did you come back here with someone?" she asks, looking confused. Not mad or unwelcoming, just baffled. "Or did they say why they brought you back here? Not saying you're not welcome, just...I think I missed something."
The upnod is returned to Lucky, though Max is a bit distracted with Paige to say anything further to him at the moment. She steps in further just enough to be able to set her drinks down and free up her hands. "Well, I don't hang out back here by myself," she answers with a bit of a chuckle. There's a glance between the two before she settles on her gaze on Paige. "I was under the impression this was a place for Freehold people to chill," she states, raising her brow lightly.
Lucky's eyes go a little wider as the girl mentions the Freehold. But he's not actually a member of the Freehold. So instead, he turns to Paige and shrugs. "Don't look at me," he tells the woman. "All I did was play darts with her. But, you know -- case study number one," he adds with a smile. As if that were somehow relevent to something they were discussing.
Paige blinks again, slowly. "I didn't know you were freehold." And she takes a moment to try and absorb that. "Huh. I almost want a guest book back here, or roster or something. it'd be easier, if totally a bad idea," she says with a grin. "And I don't know that it's the same thing as what we were talking about earlier," she asides to Lucky.
"Yeah, for about a month now." There's a pause as Max does some calculations, then she chuckles a bit with brief amusement. "Exactly a month, actually. I was told Byron put out the word about it when I first pledged to the Freehold," she explains. There's a light shrug of her shoulders about the brief miscommunication, no harm, no foul. "What were you guys talking about earlier?" she can't help but wonder as she relaxes and moves further into the room. Picking up her drinks again, she picks a spot closer to the pair before she settles in to a seat. Only one of her drinks is put back down and she takes a few sips from the other that remains in her hand.
Lucky just shrugs. "If she's cool by you, she's cool by me. And you could get people, like, VIP passes and stuff," he tells the other woman. "On the obvious threat of death if they fall into the wrong hands. Might be easier to just show your card or chip or star stamp or whatever than just having people walk in and try to suss out if they belong. And safer than keeping a running record." Though he does look at Max, smiling. "Though now I see why you wanted to change the terms of the bet."
Paige's brow furrows for a moment, then perks up. "Oh!" Pauses, blushes, looks sheepish. "Ooooh. Yeah, I remember now. I'm sorry, Max. Want a beer?" she asks, smiling hopefully. "And I honestly don't remember. His cousin, maybe?" She shrugs and looks to Lucky. "And that'd work, except there's a lot of us. I haven't met every one, so can't really give 'em all a...whatever."
"Just keeping this place available by word of mouth seems to be working out so far. Right?" Max points out as she relaxes in her seat. At the offer of beer, she lifts up her drink to indicate that she's already set in regards to booze. Though, she does seem appreciative of the offer as she flashes a smile at Paige. Then she looks over to Lucky and grins a bit more. "Well, good to know that you're one of the 'good' ones. It would suck if we couldn't hang out because you were one of those Loyalist folks," she says, taking a few sips from her drinks.
"Just because I'm not a loyalist doesn't mean I'm one of the 'good' ones," Lucky reminds Max in turn. "'Good' is mostly a matter of perception. What's good for some is bad for others. There's potential in everything to be good or bad." He shrugs, done waxing philoosphical for the moment. Though to Paige, he says, "Could make a token or something, maybe. Little flashy siren light if the wrong kind of people come in."
"So far," Paige tells Max with a smile. "I'm glad people are liking the place. Makes me happy." She grins at Lucky. "Maybe. Though haven't really had a problem so far. Sometimes if I'm not here Hunter watches the place for me," she says, motioning to the falcon. There's a sequenced knock on the door. "Oh! Work calls. You guys hang out as long as you like. And Lucky? Leave your number, will you? In case I see your cousin?" she asks, beaming at them both as she gets up then heads for the door to go do boss things.
"If you're part of the Freehold, that's 'good' enough for me," Max tells Lucky with a bit of a mischievous grin on her lips. Then a playful wink is given to him before she looks back to Paige. "Take care until next time. There's a killer on the loose, after all." There's a bit of seriousness to her tone at that. She isn't quite sure that Paige fits the killer's MO but she seems close enough in Max's opinion. Then she glances to the hawk that lingers there, a moment of thought as she considers something.
Lucky looks at Max, then, smiling. "Except I'm not actually a member of the Freehold," he tells the woman in turn. "So your metric for judging my worth seems to be a little off." He sips at his beer casually, though there's a tiny smile there. Amusement. Though as Paige goes to leave, he says, "But I don't have a... phone." The woman seems to already be off doing her own thing, though, distracted by work needs, so mayshe she doesn't hear.
"If you're not part of the Freehold, are you planning on joining it?" Max wonders with a small tilt of her head. The first drink is finished off, set down on the table, then she starts drinking the other one she had brought with her. There's a glance in the direction that Paige disappeared in, then to the falcon, then back to Lucky where her gaze settles for now. Those bright blue eyes of hers watching curiously. "And you're on the look out for a cousin?"
"I don't know," Lucky tells her in regards to his joining the freehold. "Kind of depends on a lot of things, I guess. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Or, you know. Burn it. Time will tell." Though at the mention of a cousin, he nods. "Adopted cousin. Sort of. Kind of has similar features to me. Eyes. Clothes. Stuff like that. Shoudn't be too hard to spot. She'd stand out, appearance wise, even if she's not trying to."
Mental notes are made as Lucky explains the appearance of his cousin, giving a small nod as she listens. "Is she one of you guys, too?" she wonders, curious of just how much like him she is. "I'll keep a look out, anyways. Nobody should be separated from their loved ones for too long," she states, sipping at her drink. "What sort of things are dependant on you joining the Freehold? I'm just curious. You're still cool enough to hang out with in my book. So far," she says, smirking.
"Depends on the rules. The rulers. The ruled. Pretty much all the things you normally take into consideration," Lucky tells her. "I mean, that's the rub of it. The plan can be great, but the people could suck. Or the other way around. Or both. If it has a decent plan and decent people, that's the one you sign up for. And as far as the cousin goes, yeah, she'll be a lot like me," he explains. "Though with her own quirks." Because vagueness is vague.
"I had less of a choice in joining it than you guys do. Though, still mostly willingly," Max tells him, lightly shrugging her shoulders. Another sip from the colorful drink. "People are decent enough around here. I can't say whether they fit your ideals or not, but, they're good people for the most part. Some assholes here and there but you can't avoid those no matter where you go," she points out, faintly chuckling and shaking her head.
"I don't mind the assholes," Lucky tells her with a grin. "They tend to make life a little more interesting. But it's good to know that there are good people out there," he agrees. "They're the ones that are worth knowing. Some of us... well, we fall somewhere in between there," he muses. "Guess it just depends on what you're looking for out of us." Still, he finishes his beer, standing up. "I need to go talk to a Wayfarer, apparently," he tells her. "So I'll catch you later. And I'm still working on that phone," he promises.
"If for some reason you need or want to see me before chance brings up together again, I can usually be found around here or the Crossroads Cafe. Or sometimes the library across the street," she tells him before gulping down the rest of her drink. Then she moves to her feet as well, apparently not intending to hang out in the back room by herself. Especially not with that creepy falcon still lingering about. "If not, I'll see you when I see you, yeah?" The enchanted mortal grins at him.
Lucky nods, smiling back at her. "Yeah," he agrees. "Crossroads for breakfast sounds like a thing we can do." And with that, he's back out into the throng of people, heading for the exit.
|
