New Guy [Digs]

[Gabriel James]

It had been a particularly rough night for Gabe. Frankly, any time he talked to his parents he considered it a rough night. He tried to avoid it at all costs, but was also trying to spend more time around his family for the sake of his niece, McKenna. He loved the kid and he was her favorite uncle. Gabe embraced being the favorite anything, so to him it was very significant.

It was raining, and he had forgot an umbrella, but wasn't concerned since the walk from his apartment to the Churchkey wasn't all that far. His black coat was keeping him mostly dry, though his nice black shoes probably weren't appreciating the puddles.

As he walked through the door, the little bell rang, and the smell of smoke and alcohol filled the room. However it was like a breath of fresh air for Gabriel after an hour long fight with his father. He hung up his coat on the coat rack, feeling bad about the small puddle it was leaving by the door, but knowing that it wasn't only him who was coming in dripping wet.

He walked up to the bar and sat in one of the stools. Without looking up he ordered, "Irish Car Bomb and a glass of water." It as then he came face to face with the guy behind the bar. At first he thought it was a regular, but he didn't recognize the man who was wiping down the bar with a rag. "You're new," Gabe noted, not meaning it to sound as offensive as it may have come across. "I mean... sorry... I just thought you were somebody else. But yeah... you're new here." He didn't mean to sound so awkward. He was just still reeling from the conversation he had. Hopefully the first drink would let him slip back into an area of comfortable conversation.

[Eddie Digby]

Rainy days meant patrons that were either a) looking for a pick me up, or b) looking for some sympathy. Eddie could offer both. And he had. Also, booze. In fact, he mostly offered booze. Which was good, considering that was his job.

The night had gone smoothly, considering it was only his fourth night on the job, and he was pretty proud of himself, not gonna lie. He'd said goodbye to a particularly nice girl (who'd given him a hefty tip) just a few minutes ago, and was wiping down her spot at the bar as a new fellow sat down.

Oh, he was definitely the latter of those two groups. The guy looked like he could've been doing a lot better, and the rain hadn't helped.

"Righto," he smiled a grim smile, making it clear that he didn't want to do it, but he had to, because- "You're right. New eyes. Means I need to see your ID, too." He got the water glass right away though, filling it and getting it up on the bar in time to get the kid's ID. 'Kid' being a loose term, since he didn't look much younger than Eddie. And he wasn't, judging by the ID. "Comin' right up."

Guinness, Baileys, Jameson... He put the rest of the bottle up next to the glass of Guinness, and layered the whiskey over the Baileys with a practiced ease he was just getting back into. It didn't look half bad. Sliding the shot and the 3/4 pint closer to the patron, he added. "Eddie Digby, pleased to meet you."

[Gabriel James]

Gabe looked at the bartender, slightly surprised about being ID'd. But then again he was only a year past drinking age. "You'll see the face again," Gabe promised with a slight smile as he showed his ID, and accepted it back after a moment. His fingers tapped on the bar, which some might see as impatience - but it was just a tick of Gabe's. He often tapped on surfaces like he was playing guitar or piano. His figners were constantly moving to the music in his head.

He smiled graciously and accepted the drink when the bartender presented it. "Gabriel James," he noted, introducing himself before casually dropping the shot into his glass and then chugging the mixture. It was a very strong drink. It was exactly what Gabe needed. He downed it quickly - as you have to with Irish Car Bombs - so it didn't curdle before it reached his stomach. "Pleasure is mine," Gabe added, raising his empty glass to the new bartender and the putting it down on the bar, sliding it back to Eddie so it could be cleaned.

He sighed, and laughed at himself, almost immediately feeling the warmth of the alcohol enter his system. "I'm not usually like this," Gabriel promised. What a first impression. It would just be great to tell Eddie that he actually worked here sometimes. Oh hey... this depressed drunk is sort of kind of your co worker. Just on the third Saturday of the month. "I'm usually... well... up there," Gabe said pointing to the stage. "Not feeling it today though."

[Eddie Digby]

Eddie raised an amused eyebrow as the guy chugged - chugging was very entertaining to watch for some reason - and nodded to him as he took back the glasses. The alcohol did him well (as the first drink often did), and Digs noticed the kid loosening up a bit.

He was going to ask what Gabriel meant about the stage (though he could figure close enough), but at his closing words, Digby gave a slight chuckle. "Opening a tab, then?" He (only partially) joked. It sounded like there were more drinks to come. "Shitty day, huh?" He asked, offhandedly, not too nosey but not disinterested, as he moved the dirty glasses to a tray that was headed to the sink.

[Gabriel James]

Gabriel nodded when he was asked to open a tab. He would usually ask for his 'I'm friends with Cecil' discount, but since the guy was new he wasn't going to put him through the trouble of calling the bar owner up. He'd learn in time. "Yeah and I'll take a scotch on the rocks."

He would nurse this next drink though. He just needed to get that first strong kicker in him. "Yeah rough day," Gabe admitted with a sigh. Gabe was such an upbeat person that when things came down, even a little, they came down hard. Others would have probably handled the phone conversation that he just had with his parents with a lot more grace, but Gabe chose to fight them and it only ended worse than he had planned. He pushed his glasses up onto his face as they were beginning to slip down his nose from the water that still dripped from his hair. "Rain doesn't help."

[Eddie Digby]

Scotch on the rocks - coming right up.

Digby didn't feel the need to ask for his card or cash, the kid was good for it if he worked here. And he trusted that he worked here. Cause he was a trusting guy. Plus, Gabriel was having a tough time, he wasn't about to start bugging him about finances - nobody's favorite subject in their 20's.

"Yeah rough day... Rain doesn't help."

On the contrary, rain did help - fruit, that was. But in life.... "It never does." He shook his head as he put the glass in front of Gabe. "Shit just gets shittier with rain. Or, I guess, wetter." The visual made him grimace. "Yeah, forget I said that. You might not want that scotch." His smile was wry.

[Gabriel James]

Gabe couldn't help but laugh as the bartender attempted comfort, only to supply an image of a wet pile of horse crap. "Things aren't quite that bad," Gabe admitted with a smile smile. "I wouldn't compare my life to a pile of feces just yet." He smiled, showing the guy that despite his attempt was a slight swing and a miss, it managed to lighten Gabe's mood. He accepted his drink, and took a sip.

"So Eddie..." Gabe started, swirling the ice and liquor in his glass as he spoke "Got any good news for me? It'd probably do me some good to hear about it." He smiled charmingly as he asked, trying to convince himself it was ok. Which is was. He knew that. It just still hurt. "That or a fun story. Something cool about you. Something positive." When Gabe did get down he always tried to bring himself back up with positive thoughts. Sometimes they had to be somebody else's first.

[Eddie Digby]

Eddie was glad to see his good intentions had come across, even if his words had failed him. It was nice to get the guy to laugh after what had probably been a tough day. Making anyone laugh felt like a bit of an accomplishment. But he didn't want to go around sharing the drama of his own business - it seemed self-centered to assume this guy would sit there as he rambled on about the difficulties of figuring things out.

But Digby could throw him a bone. "Well, I manipulate fruit." Whenever he shared that, it was always spoken in a slightly wry tone, as though he weren't thrilled by the fact. That tended to be a fun little bar trick to pull out, though. It wasn't especially personal, but it made for a great distraction, and usually got a laugh, too. Because, honestly, it was an odd power. He wasn't about to deny that. Just the term 'fruit manipulation' made people either incredulous or entertained. In any case, it could usually pull someone out of their own head for a bit without having to drone on about himself.

[Gabriel James]

Gabe couldn't help but laugh again when the guy told him his 'positive' statement. "You what with what?" Gabe asked trying to comprehend. Of course, when you yourself are a meta human it's pretty easy to tell what somebody means when they reveal their ability to you. Although, Gabe had never heard of fruit manipulation before. Then again, he was the only person he knew with this 'charm' ability.

"No offense man, but that's probably one of the more ridiculous abilities I've heard about... then again I'll probably come across a lot more now that I'm working at Hammel." He took another sip of his scotch. Looking over at Eddie again, he cracked a small smile, still thinking about fruit. "So uh... what exactly do you do to fruit?" Gabe asked, intrigued by the concept. What does one even do when he can 'manipulate' fruit.

[Eddie Digby]

And it had worked again. For at least a little bit, Gabe had his mind on something else. That something being how classically lame Digby's power was. And he didn't mind that little misconception. After all, his power had never caused him any real strife - an easy-going power for an easy-going guy.

As Gabriel mentioned working at Hammel, Eddie grinned, about to make a comment about his old alma mater, but not a fan of drawing attention to himself. But, of course, with that line earlier he'd completely drawn attention to himself, and now Gabriel seemed curious to know more.

He chuckled at the guy's question, and gave a mock scoff. "Head out of the gutter, man!" He joked, followed with a roguish grin. With a shrug, he glanced down, locating the garnish dish in case he felt the need to demonstrate. "You know... Manipulation stuff. Changing the color and texture, the flavor, keeping it especially healthy, or preserving it longer - no joke: I make a mean pie."

[Gabriel James]

"That's really interesting," Gabriel said when Eddie explained his power. Gabriel had heard of some whacky abilities, so it wasn't as if he didn't believe that fruit manipulation was a thing. It was just something he hadn't hear about until today. And the way Digby explained it so casually... Gabriel had to laugh at the concept.

"I'll have to sample your wares sometime," Gabriel noted, making a mental reminder to seek out this guys baked goods. Between Ashton, Everett, and the new bartender, Gabe may never have to cook again. "Thanks for the laugh, man. I definitely needed it."

He sipped at his drink again, and let out a small sigh once the liquid crept down his throat, leaving a slight burning sensation. He twirled the drink around in its glass, becoming entranced by the cyclonic movement for a moment before looking back up at the bartender. "Do you think its crazy to have a dream?" Gabriel asked, seemingly out of nowhere. Though in his minds what he was thinking and what he was saying out loud were already starting to blur together.

[Eddie Digby]

"I'll have to sample your wares sometime."

"I sell at the farmer's market a lot, if you wanna swing by." Eddie mentioned with a shrug. He didn't really expect the guy to show, but the free advertising (if you could call it advertising) for his business (if you could call it a business) was nice.

He nodded at Gabe's thanks, "Not a problem." His power begged to be laughed at. And when people needed a laugh, it was a safe fallback.

As the younger man lapsed into silence, Digby returned to his busywork - or was about to, when the guy spoke up.

"Do you think its crazy to have a dream?"

The thought may have been sudden, but Digby took it in stride, not the least bit shaken. Apparently this guy was a talker. He could deal with that. Talkers made him feel useful. "Like a dream for the future, or like a dream when you're asleep?" He asked, a little intrigued. Either subject was interesting, to be honest. He'd had some very interesting dreams in his sleep, and was currently working toward his own dream for the future, so he was game for discussing things.

[Gabriel James]

Gabriel laughed at Eddie's question. Like a dream for the future, or like a dream when you're asleep?. It was sadly ironic, actually. Dreams in your sleep could be as crazy as possible, and people would think they were funny, or cool, or fascinating. However a real-life dream - a goal, something you're striving for... if it was a bit risky or 'strange' to somebody, then they criticize your choices. Why is it that crazy ideas are only ok when you're sleeping? Why can't you try and live those moments out every day of your life?

"A dream for the future," Gabe said seriously, eyes narrowing a bit in thought. "Life goals. Things you'll probably never accomplish but you're willing to die trying." He took another sip of his drink, before looking up at Eddie, waiting for a response.

[Eddie Digby]

Things you'll probably never accomplish but you're willing to die trying.

Eddie thought seriously. Because his first instinct had been no, it wasn't crazy, but then those last two words had made him hesitate.

Was he willing to die trying? Should anyone be that willing? But what about the people with dreams for equality or justice, or world peace? Those things were worth dying for.

"...Is it crazy to have a dream for the future? ...No." He decided, but his tone was still reserved as he continued. "But some dreams aren't worth dying for. I mean, I'm sure you'd agree that no one should die trying to win the lottery." It wasn't a joke, it was a serious point he was trying to make. "But if you dream of, I don't know... curing cancer. Obviously, try not to die. But that kind of thing... yeah, I'd say you wouldn't be crazy if you were willing to die for that."

[Gabriel James]

"I don't mean like... putting my life in danger," Gabe clarified with a small laugh. He was pretty sure that nothing he did was a direct threat to his life. It wasn't like playing music on the street was going to get him killed, and that was probably the riskiest day to day activity Gabriel participated in.

Gabe put down his glass, and tried to explain... "There's two things I want to and accomplish in the rest of my life. Just two things," Gabriel explained. "I want to make music, and be a better father to my future children than my father was to me. And if I can just do those two things until the day I die, I'll be happy." He sipped at his drink again before continuing. "The fatherhood thing will come in time but it's just so hard to keep at your career goals when your family is continuously tearing your dreams apart, word by word." Even if Gabriel didn't want to be like his father, he would always crave his parents approval - especially since they still actively attempted to 'bring him back down to earth'. If he could just convince them that his dream wasn't crazy - that a career in music could be practical - then maybe he could finally be on decent terms with his parents. "I just want to make music," Gabe repeated, this time with a laugh, realizing he probably sounded nuts, "Is that such a crazy dream?"