in one ear (Chris)

[Percie Hobbes]

There were definitely times where Percie preferred to be out by herself and enjoy a drink or two. The idea of meeting someone new and interesting was always a good motivation for this and she'd already accumulated far too many stories about the interesting and mostly strange bar patrons she'd met randomly over the years. Tonight she had dressed up, though not as up as she would for a work outing or night with Derek, still managing to somehow look her age and young all at the same time. She supposed it was the vest; they tended to make everything look credible. She had set a bowler hat on her head with her hair pulled into a low bun at the base of her head and enjoyed the jaunty way she looked. She slipped her watch on and then her shoes before walking out her front door and locking it. Because of where she lived she could walk to pretty much any drinking establishment she fancied which was hella useful, especially when she drank a bit too much. She wasn't expecting tonight to be one of those nights though.

About ten minutes of walking later, she heard a strain of music coming from The Churchkey, and since she hadn't frequented that bar in quite some time she decided to check it out. She walked in with the confidence befitting someone used to being confident and sat down at a recently vacated table; so recent in fact that a waitress came by to wipe it down just after she sat. She placed an order for a beer and some cheap bar chicken wings before turning her attention to the man performing. She smiled as she realized it was Christopher, she'd been surprised to see him bald when they'd met again after she moved back but contended that the look suited him. Thanks to the small-town grapevine and her parents being rather in-tune with it, she'd heard about his divorce and the fact that his wife had left him to care for their daughter. She thought he was quite selfless, but Percie could easily understand that feeling. She also wanted to be a parent.

As she sipped her beer and enjoyed his set she made a mental note to invite him to sit down with her when he was finished. An opportunity she got not ten minutes later when he apparently finished. She clapped politely with everyone else and then flagged him down. Since the bar was small she had to do little more than yell his name to get his attention and motion for him to sit in the chair across from her. "Hey! Good to see you! Nice performance by the way," she praised as she looked around to get the waitress' attention. "Can I get something to drink for my friend here?" she asked with a smile before returning her attention to Chris. "My treat, for the music," she explained. “So what else have you been up to these days? It’s good to see you with your guitar out I must say,” she nodded more in agreement to herself.

[Christopher Flint]

Chris was pretty pleased that the last of the songs in the set had been a bit smoother and softer. A good way to wind down, and while the dimmer lights may have hid the sheen of sweat that was appearing on him, it didn’t make it less tiring and hot. When they had finished there was a fairly nice thank you. Mild claps from most, thought he more drunk patrons offered a harder or faster clap, or a whistle. He smiled to them and waved his thanks. It wasn’t the sea of roaring crowds he had always hoped for, and it never was, but it was still nice. Any form of appreciation wasn’t looked down upon by the metal molding mechanic.

The hand jutting up and the small holler of his attention had the larger performer look over. When he saw who it was, with a small squint to help see past the light, he smiled brightly. Percie. The creases in his face showed a bit, but they seemed distinct enough. It had been some time since they socialized, and while he recognized most of the faces in the bar, he didn’t generally talk to them. This was feeling like a special night though.

Chris came over to the table and sat down where she had directed, pulling the seat out so that it was diagnal with the table. He sat in it sideways and leaned against the back of it while smiling brightly over to Percie. “Percie Hobbes! I know most every face in here these days, but haven’t seen yours around in a while. Thanks, it was a good set. Though the guitarist wasn’t on his game.” He looked to the waitress as Percie offered the drink. He wasn’t really one to take a drink from a woman. It didn’t sit right… but he was one to take a drink from a fan and a friend. “I’ve got to drive back, so I can’t think anything too strong...Eh… a Newcastle?” He nodded towards the waitress before turning back to her.

He looked up to the clock on the back wall and made out the large hands position. It was late. Axelle would probably be shutting the house down if she wasn’t asleep already. He had a bit of time, he figured he had some time.

“What else? Well… it’s getting towards winter which means business is going to hike up. A lot of people ding up their cars. I’ve taken over for Pa’s shop, but my daughter’s taken a nack to it. She’s handling it right now so I could get out here.” He looked over Percie. She looked good. She always had though, but the hat was a damned nice touch. It made him adjust his own on his head.

“How about you, Hobbes? Still Hobbes, right?”

[Percie Hobbes]

"Oh yeah, still Hobbes," she smiled as she took a drink of her beer. She swallowed and started again. "I've been fine, I've been back for a while but I'm usually out and about whenever I seem to need my car looked at, I have a guy in Burlington that takes a look for me now and then. I'll have to stop by though and say hi sometime. I have a house like ten minutes from here, you can't miss it, it says "Hobbes Investigations" on the front of it," she winked.

"How is your daughter by the way? She's a student yeah? Up at the school?" she questioned. She was sure her mother had mentioned it because her mother knew everything. She sat and waited for his answer, enjoying the fact that she could sit here and have a conversation with another adult. She was proud that she had been holding herself to that better these days. Hang out with other adults, not with teenagers and just Derek. Hm, thinking about Derek was a little dangerous as it usually derailed her from the matters at hand. She instead focused on her younger sister's upcoming visit home.

[Christopher Flint]

“Burlington?” Chris said as if he took offense to the idea of someone getting their car serviced elsewhere. “Nah, nah… Come over to the shop and let me look at it. Make sure everything is running alright for the area, and such.” He thought about Hobbes Investigations. He couldn’t remember coming across it, but he may have just gotten used to the area and hadn’t paid much attention. He gave her a quirked smile and leaned back some. “Well maybe I’ll have to stop by there sometime and check it out then, or will stop by when I noticed it.”

When she mentioned his daughter he smiled a little brighter. He looked up to the clock set up near the bar and considered the time. The shop was shut down by now, so Axelle was probably doing some cleaning up or, hopefully, already in bed. She moved so slowly, though, when she was trying to be careful and it could take her some time to put away all of the tools and such.

“She’s amazing. Eighteen years old now, though. A hand full… you know. Probably like you when you were young. A heartbreaker, cute as can be, but the sweetest thing out there. Super Strength.” He let out a loud laugh and shook his head. He leaned forward and took his drink when the waitress brought it over. “She’s ripped off more doors than the Jaws of life… Poor thing used to break everything she touches, but she’s gotten so much better now. You should meet her, though. Doesn’t really help deal with high school.”

[Percie Hobbes]

"When you stop by we'll have to have a drink or something," she added conversationally as she took a drink of her ridiculously satisfying beer. "And I'll bring the car by next week then, the oil needs to be changed anyway, I'm a few weeks overdue," she allowed, thinking of the reminder sticker hanging up in her windshield.

She laughed when Christopher tried to compare his daughter to Percie. She could certainly get behind cute and potentially heartbreaker, but she hadn't really been all that sweet. More like a smartass with a distinct sense of right and wrong and a lack of foresight, still it was more than obvious that Chris adored his daughter and that was heartwarming enough. "Hm, well maybe if she's around when I bring my car in you can introduce us. I can be "that chick you went to high school with" and I'll tell her all about the days you used to have hair," she laughed. “But damn that sounds like one hell of a power, gotta make sex interesting for her for sure,” Percie said offhandedly, not really thinking about it.