Post by Bethany Barone on May 25, 2015 0:59:23 GMT -5
Driving to Washington wasn't so bad now, since Bethany was able to make a few stops along the way. Her life recently had been pretty hectic and she was really ready for a little time away.
She had called Alan to let him know she was going to be in the area, and she was excited to see him. She requested that he meet her at a bar near the hotel she'd be staying at for a few days, but it only just came to her mind that a bar was probably the last place he'd want to go to since he worked at one. Oh well. They didn't have to stay there for long. But really besides shooting things, she didn't know much else about him. Hopefully this would be a good opportunity to get to know him better.
It was late in the evening, but finding a good parking spot was pretty easy. The place didn't seem so crowded as she entered the main room and took a seat where she could easily see the doorway in case Alan came in. Beth ordered her first drink and relaxed.
Post by Alan Jameson on May 25, 2015 14:16:02 GMT -5
Alan had been a little surprised to see the name popping up on his cell, when Beth had called him. He had been so surprised, in fact, that he nearly dropped his phone into the water over which he was standing. His momentary clumsiness totally had nothing to do with being on a moving boat racing along the Washington shore. Nothing at all.
He had, of course, accepted her offer to go out for drinks. It had been quite a while since the last time he had taken the time to sit back and relax, at least without any ulterior motives. Even speeding along the sandy banks was being done to test out the capabilities of his old, recently refurbished boat. This was as good a chance as any, if not better, to take a load off and just hang out.
Of course, thinking about all of this and accelerating along a beach wasn't really the best of all possible plans. It was an excellent way to roll the dice and find out if the old cruiser could ramp off of a sand bank however. Much to the chagrin of Illy, who happened to be quite enjoying a swim in the cool briny waters. Anyone who happened to be nearby would only be able to make out the top of her back and her head at this distance, so there was really no danger of her being seen as anything other than a very brave horse. A fairly large horse, but a horse nonetheless.
When it was nearly time to head out Alan threw his old boat into gear, showered, slapped on some of the nicer articles of clothing he had available, and spent a good few minutes making sure there was at least some sustenance inside of him. He hadn't eaten much for breakfast or lunch, and if he was going to a bar with someone the chances of eating a substantial dinner would be... on the lower end of the spectrum. Getting a cab wasn't a particularly appealing idea to him either.
Finally, and not a moment too soon, he made his entrance into the appointed facility. A brief look around yielded a healthy knowledge of the facilities and layout of the building, and the location of his date for the night. Alan made it over just in time to catch the waiter and order his drink, the bar's special for the night, before sliding into the booth and uttering "Hey, good to see you again Beth! How've you been since we saw one another last? You look great, by the way."
Post by Bethany Barone on May 25, 2015 22:11:23 GMT -5
Alan arrived shortly after she had, and was glad of it. She wouldn't have to sit awkwardly alone.
Beth smiled as he greeted her and took his seat. "Been doing pretty good actually. How about you?" Something seemed a little different about him. Maybe it was just the casual setting? "You aren't looking too bad yourself." Maybe he was working out? Or getting more sunshine. Either way he was really nice to look at.
The bartender came back pretty quickly with their order and Beth thanked them. She hoped Alan wouldn't mind if she got a little carried away. Encountering supernatural on a regular basis lately had been wearing her out. She sorta wanted to drink and forget about it for a little while. Actually, she really wished she could tell Alan about it, but obviously he would think she was insane and send her away to the padded room. Still.. it would have been nice.
Post by Alan Jameson on May 26, 2015 16:24:45 GMT -5
Alan had, in fact, been getting more sun. It was one of the benefits of doing some real work for a living, and of having a boat that required routine maintenance and testing. "Thanks," he would start as he finished settling in to his seat, "Been out and a about a lot recently. Got my old boat refurbished and refitted with some fancy new equipment, got a new job, life is good. Not easy, really, but good."
The man would accept his drink graciously from the beer-bearer, and take a good drink before returning the question with a short "So what have you been doing then? Haven't had any need for the stuff we went over I hope."
On occasion, Alan found that a sharp eye was a useful if not necessary tool to be in possession of. In the current environment it was a good way to spot roaming eyes, and to return the favor without necessarily moving them from one spot. Beth really did look much different from the last time they had seen one another, and the different lighting really had nothing to do with it. She looked good, yes, but there was also a certain air of drowsiness hanging about her.
He knew the feeling. Having to deal with a quickly growing Dragon on a daily basis was fairly exhausting, a thought which brought a silent chuckle to his lungs and a mental scoff from his Illy. It was tiresome to not know whether or not he was the only living being with a dragon stuck to it, or even if there were other such things that existed on the planet. He supposed that generally it wasn't very accepted to walk around with dragons though, and any other non-human species might just as well hide themselves from the world. Certainly the ramifications of revealing their own existence would be immense, and not particularly for the better.
Post by Bethany Barone on May 26, 2015 22:59:24 GMT -5
"That's great to hear." she replied with a smile. "You're going to have to take me out on this boat some time." Alan seemed happier even in the tone of his voice. Beth was happy for him.
"No, not yet." That was complete bullshit. Beth seemed to find trouble wherever she went. She felt bad for telling a lie, especially right in someone's face. She wasn't such a good liar when she was feeling guilty either. "I've actually been looking for a place to settle in. Traveling has been nice but I think it's time to get a more long term job. Maybe I should just stay here." Bethany had actually considered it. Not terribly far from home, well not as far as New York at least. Yet far enough away to still be independent.
Bethany had a little of her drink while she zoned out for a second. "Sorry if I'm a little out there tonight. I haven't been getting much sleep lately. I'm sure I will tonight though with enough alcohol in me." The last thing she needed was to embarrass herself in front of Alan, so she would try to make sure she didn't. Unless of course he wouldn't mind drinking a little more himself. Actually she wondered how he would act if he was drunk.
Last Edit: May 26, 2015 23:05:29 GMT -5 by Bethany Barone
Post by Alan Jameson on May 27, 2015 0:01:58 GMT -5
Alan nodded in agreement at the mention of a boat ride, not being one to shy away from showing off his goods to those who asked. His excitement was dulled however, on hearing her next answer. Bartenders and cops tended to have excellent internal lie detectors,and he had fairly recently been both. The blow was somewhat softened when she expressed her interest in potentially moving to Seattle however, which got him thinking a bit.
"Oh don't worry about it, we all have those days. Or weeks. Or months. But hey, if you're thinking of moving out here I can probably get a hold of a realtor for you. That, or if you're really cheap I happen to have a vacancy in my old apartment. Three bedroom flat outside of the city, sister moved out recently and I haven't been spending much time there. And if you're looking for work, I might have a job offer for you even." He would say, somewhat enthusiastically towards the end. Truthfully, he had been considering reaching out to some friends for help working his old boat. If he could help out his date for the night get a more or less stable job and give her a place to stay at the same time, then it was a win for everyone. He would get some crew and company other than Illy, and she would get some income and a place of residence.
"And don't drink too much now," Alan said after a short deliberation, "Because if you really wanted to see the old tub I could take you to the pier after we finish our drinks. I mean you could just get hammered if you really want to, but I think it would detract from the experience a little bit. It's quite nice to take evening rides a ways out on the water, you see."
Alan took another sip from his drink as he awaited his answer, the taste reminding him of the last time he had gotten drunk somewhere. It had been an odd experience for him from the start, as he didn't make a habit of getting piss faced. From his memory, he could recall something about a party trick with a yo-yo and a pineapple. Unfortunately, or fortunately considering the brief legal situation and the number of phone numbers scrawled on his arms in various colors of ink, he had blacked out and couldn't remember the majority of what had happened.
Post by Bethany Barone on May 27, 2015 0:52:26 GMT -5
It sounded a little too good to be true. "Having some help finding a place to live would be amazing actually." But what kind of job offer did he have for her? Did he mean he knew of a place, or she'd be working for him? Beth would have to ask him later once she knew for sure if she was moving.
Beth smirked at Alan when he warned her about drinking too much. "Actually, I was planning on getting you hammered." she gave her friend a playful wink. "I suppose your idea could be just as fun though." She was having fun teasing the poor guy a little too much. "I'd love that." Leaving the bar early in the night might be a smart thing to do. The last time she got carried away drinking, she ended up in a hotel room with a guy she met only earlier in the night. Though she couldn't really say she regretted it. But she also didn't want to risk ruining a good friendship with Alan. Especially since he was so willing to help her with her possible relocation. Actually, when she went back to think about it, Alan has helped her since the day they met. Somehow she was going to have to repay him someday.
Post by Alan Jameson on May 27, 2015 12:58:31 GMT -5
"Ooh, well I suppose it would hurt to grab a six pack on the way if you're interested." He'd say, taking another sip from the glass in front of him. "Now, I'm not technically supposed to be out on the water at night but... I'm sure I can make an exception for a pretty gal like yourself. I mean, it's not every day I get people interested in an old war relic, much less someone more beautiful than it is. If you'd like I can tell you about the apartment and job too. And I've a fairly high tolerance, it takes a lot to get me off my rocker."
He would listen to what she had to say next, thinking of how the rest of the night might progress. Obviously he was going to be a little late getting home, and Illy was probably going to be a little miffed about that. Depending how drunk he and Beth ended up he might not be home at all that night, considering his boat had a bunk room on it. If they ended up too drunk to do anything, at least they'd be able to hang out on the water for the night. It'd be a relatively pleasant way to deal with the inevitable hangover, really.
Regardless of whether or not they'd be staying out all night, Alan decided that he'd take the initiative. The glass holding his drink was tipped up over his head, his mouth opened, and the mildly alcoholic fluids dunked down his gullet. After chugging away for a few seconds to empty the glass, he would say "So, are you up for a little adventure on the water?"
Post by Bethany Barone on May 27, 2015 23:17:21 GMT -5
"Well as long as it's ok.. I don't want you getting into trouble just to keep me entertained." The way he told her made it seem like he wasn't too worried about it. His complement got a smile out of her too. "I'm sure she's just beautiful. I'm actually really interested in the job and apartment."
"Sounds like you're challenging me." If they were going to continue drinking in private on his boat, was he already planning on staying out all night with her? It sounded pretty exciting. Beth had only been on one before once in her life when she was little.
It seemed like Alan was ready to go, so Beth did the same and finished downing her drink before getting up from her seat. "Yep, ready to go." Tonight was going to be fun, she had a good feeling about it. As long as she doesn't drink too much and vomit on his boat. That would probably be embarrassing.
Post by Alan Jameson on May 28, 2015 1:30:45 GMT -5
"Well I can't very well take an old PT boat out on a date now can I? And besides, a little friendly challenge has never hurt anyone has it?" Alan would say, gracefully sliding out of his seat. He would offer his arm as his friend finished her drink, intending to help her out of the bar's booth. Flirtatious or not, he was still nothing if not a gentleman. "So," he would start as Beth began to exit the booth, "Did you drive here on your own or are we both taking my truck?"
Regardless of her answer, he would say "We can talk about residence and jobs when we get to the pier, after settling in. Before then though, we should make a quick beer stop. I know this guy, see, that sells bulk cases of the stuff. My department bailed him out of some trouble once, so we all get a fairly hefty discount." as they left the building. Not three seconds later did the distinct Bleep Bleep of his truck unlocking ring through the relatively quiet, chilly night air. If Beth so decided to ride along with him he would pick up his pace to reach the aging vehicle just before she did, in order to open the front passenger's side door for her. If not, then he would merely enter his vehicle and wait for her to get her own ready.
The way to the small-scale distributor was short and simple, with a minimal of extra turns and odd maneuvers. Once there, Alan took a moment to heartily greet a man packing his things up for the night. Once upon a time the poor guy had gotten caught up in some legal business with the wrong crowd, and Alan's old department was thankfully there to help him out a little. Alan had been in contact with him recently for picking up a few crates of stuff anyways, so the man was more than happy to help finish the deal quickly so they could all go about with their nightly business. A short fifteen minutes later, maybe less, and Alan's hand-me-down truck was loaded up with more fluids than he could go through in a year. That was the plan, at least.
From the warehouse it was a very short drive down to the pier, the final foreseeable stop of the night by land. The area had a rather sparse population of boats in it at this time of year, whether because the weather was too bad or too good to stay there didn't matter. What mattered was that Alan's old tub was only a short distance away from the entrance. The PT-109 class torpedo boat had been much repaired and improved upon since the day its new owner found it beached inside of a cave, rotting into oblivion with its former crew. The mahogany sides had been fully replaced and sealed, a rich mahogany(Obviously) color reflecting off of them even in the moonlight. The deck was replaced with a high traction plastic, the metal was all repainted, ladders and rusty bits replaced, and much more work had been done under the hood.
The only real problem left was the naming of his vessel, and it was an issue not to be taken lightly.If his boat was going to be known as something, it had to be something good. He was going to be the captain of this vessel, and his crew were going to be it's crew. It couldn't be named something stupid, that wouldn't do at all.
Regardless, Alan presented his vessel with a smile on his face, a crate of beer in his arms, and a twinkle in his eyes. "This," he started as he backed towards the surprisingly elegant craft, "Is my boat. She isn't much to look at I guess, but it's what's on the inside that counts. And she's had quite a makeover since I found her. That's a story for you too, if you wanna hear it later."
The vessel was fairly low, so getting aboard wasn't much of a problem from the docks. Once aboard Alan would quickly find a spot to dump his crate of low-alcohol beverages, and show Beth around the place. The cabins, bunks, kitchen, bathrooms, stations, and ending up in the pilot's room. Uncharacteristically high tech in comparison to the rather rustic exterior. "This is it, where most of the magic happens. Got a great view of the sky from here too, can even poke your head out of the turret well there if you'd like." he would say, gesturing about the small room and to the ladder going up to a hatch in the ceiling. "Now, what'd you like to do first then? We can take her for a spin, hang out, whatever. It's up to you."
Last Edit: May 28, 2015 1:31:08 GMT -5 by Alan Jameson
Post by Bethany Barone on May 31, 2015 23:13:14 GMT -5
Bethany took his arm as he offered it to her and guided her gently out of her seat. Not only did she find him attractive, but he was a gentleman too. She thanked him for the help up. "Well, the hotel I'm staying at is the next block over so I just walked here." He could have her follow if he didn't want to have to come back this way to drop her off when they were done. Either way was fine with her.
He didn't seem to mind either way so she took the ride with him instead of going back to her own car. Alan even went ahead and got the door for her. Why hadn't a woman snatched this guy up yet?
The two first made their stop and Beth was surprised how much Alan was purchasing. She figured he must have gotten a good deal buying in bulk like that which was pretty smart in her opinion.
The rest of the drive wasn't too far, and Alan revealed his prized possession to her. Seeing his face light up so happily was pretty stinkin adorable. Beth noted that he had a really nice smile. "Wow.." she said as she admired the details. "This is really cool." Alan had definitely put work into it which made it so much better than just buying something new. He let her on and took her for the tour, and let her decide what they would get to do next. "I'd love to see you in action Captain." They didn't have to go out too far, just enough to see how the heck me managed to steer this thing. "Then we can do whatever you want afterwards."
Post by Alan Jameson on Jun 1, 2015 14:41:52 GMT -5
"Oh it's captain now is it? I sort of like the sound of that." Alan said, a slight chuckle wafting from his lungs. With that he would turn, sit his ass down into his captain's chair, and say "Better buckle up then, she goes pretty fast."
And he was right. Once the start up routine had been completely, there was little stopping the powerful craft. The sheer acceleration was enough to throw people back into their seats from halfway across the room, to raise the tip of the boat to a thirty degree angle despite the weight spread across its entire length.
Once Alan had motorboated his craft way the hell out of the port, far enough to where the city was just as large as any star in the night sky, he cut the engine and let his baby decelerate, and then drift.
"Alright, this is about far enough out don't you think?" he would say as he stood up, and walked over to the previously mentioned hatch in the room. he would pop it open, and crawl up into the cool ocean air. The occasional wave would rock the vessel ever so slightly, but otherwise the waters were smooth and calm.
Alan would gesture to the sky once they both were on deck, waving to the countless stars and nebulous formations now visible in that vast, mysterious sky. The black waters beneath then reflected the same lights, acting as a giant mirror obscuring the way between heaven and earth. "Quite a view, don't you think?" he said, lowering his gaze to observe Beth.
Post by Bethany Barone on Jun 9, 2015 23:20:04 GMT -5
He wasn't kidding about this thing going fast. It sure was fun though. It was shocking to see how fast they were actually going, and it only felt like seconds before Alan was slowing down and they were at their destination.
"That.. was awesome." Beth followed him back out on deck, and she watched him with a smile, admiring him as he gazed up at the night sky. She replied to Alan "Yeah, quite a view." as he moved his eyes to her direction, and her smile changed to more of a smirk before moving her eyes up towards the stars. Being as naive as Alan was, she wondered if he even realized that she had meant him. Of course the sky was beautiful too. Without all the bright lights from the city, it was so much more amazing. When was the last time she had taken time to appreciate it? When she was younger she actually knew quite a few of the constellations, but as she searched around she couldn't think of more than one or two. "I could probably stay out here forever." she told Alan after being silent for a couple minutes.
Post by Alan Jameson on Jun 11, 2015 14:29:46 GMT -5
"Well that's actually part of the job description, which I'll explain now that we're out here. My pa runs a private security firm with my brother, and it turns out that it's good money. A hell of a lot better than being a cop, or a bartender. I've been planning on scraping a few qualified people together and starting my own small firm, and since you're here, and I know you're at least qualified enough, figured I might as well ask to see if you're interested at all." Alan said, moving over to take a seat up against the exterior of the craft's helm.
"Home base would be here, be operating out of the old boat most of the time. Plenty of living space for a few people, enough room to hold supplies to spare. Good money depending on the contracts." Alan continued, his own eyes rotating between Beth and the stars above.
Post by Bethany Barone on Jul 14, 2015 22:49:11 GMT -5
Security? At first Beth wasn't sure what to think. She wasn't expecting a job offer quite like that. Surely there were more qualified people. But it would be a great opportunity for her and if he had faith that she was capable, then she had no reason to doubt his decision.. right?
Bethany was quiet for only a second while she considered it, but really she had already made up her mind. If Alan was serious about offering her the job, then she was definitely going to take the offer. It would be stupid of her if she didn't. She'd get to travel which is one thing she really wanted to continue doing, and make good money while doing it.
Alan explained that they would be staying out here for long periods of time along with other basics. "So what you're saying is, you want me around more." Beth answered with a smile. Any questions she had would wait until later. She didn't want to bombard him with them when they could be enjoying themselves.
