The Magpie Emporium, Thursday (6/8)

[drumsticksandd20s]

It probably went without saying that Steph was, at this point in the month, up to her ears in planning for Pride. There were vendor agreements to finalize, a parade route to draw up, a layout plan for the festival setup to make, and any number of other things -- on a whim, she'd sent off a quick email to Pixie just to see if the High Seas might be free to play a gig, but there was no reply yet.

She'd be spending the majority of her day going over one or another of a half dozen notebooks spread out on the counter, scribbling frantically, then glancing at her phone or her laptop to see if she had any new email, text, or chat notifications.

She would still be happy to set things aside for a few minutes if anyone needed help, though.

[OOC: Open! Will definitely be slow all day, though.]

Comments

[pocketpretzels]

Watts was mostly here for the company, as evident from the iced mochas (from the Perk) and cinnamon rolls (from his oven) that he had with him.

“Afternoon, Steph,” he said, going to put his hat in its usual spot on the beholder standee only to be stymied by the fact that it was already clutching a flag of some sort.

It was then that he took a really good look around the store and noted the sudden prevalence of rainbow everything. “… Oh.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Hey, Llewellyn." Steph grinned. "Welcome to rainbow central, I guess."

[pocketpretzels]

“I can- see that, yes,” his hat was now awkwardly tucked under one arm and he made his way to the counter to set the drinks down, unpacking the container that held the cinnamon rolls from his tote bag as well. “How are you?”

[drumsticksandd20s]

In the process of making room for the drinks, Steph discreetly slid an aerosol spray can of primer paint across the counter to serve as a makeshift hat stand in lieu of the beholder eyestalk.

Oooh. Real smooth, Gingrich.

"I'm good. Busy, but I like it that way," she replied. "How's it going with you?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Quite well,” Watts said, settling his hat on the can. “Finalizing plans for Steven and I to go on a trip at the end of the month- the very end, we shan’t be missing your- Pride event.” Though there was a flicker of something approaching but not quite apprehensive at the mention of Pride.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Steph tilted her head slightly. "Something worrying you?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Not- not exactly,” Watts said, picking up a few dice and curling his fingers around them, squeezing tight.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Steph tracked the movement of his hand, her expression mostly unreadable except for a touch of sympathetic concern in her eyes.

"Little jumpy still?"

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded, relieved that she understood. “Last year was- I enjoyed it. Mostly. And it was where I made your acquaintance. But it was also…” he trailed off, not sure how to continue.

[drumsticksandd20s]

"The first time I went to Pride, it was in Portland with my older cousin Cody," Steph offered with a smile. "I was thirteen, and I felt like I didn't belong there with all these people who looked so confident and cool and comfortable with who they were. It was just... so much bigger than Arcadia Bay, and it felt like a completely different world, and it was a lot. And a little bit terrifying. It took me forever to really process all of that."

[pocketpretzels]

Watts nodded.

“There is- a part of me that still feels… guilty. For being here,” he admitted after a moment of silence.

[drumsticksandd20s]

Steph's voice was soft and husky with feeling. "Why did you get to be here, where we can do things like Pride, when other people aren't so lucky?"

[pocketpretzels]

“Precisely,” Watts confirmed, relieved that she understood. “I am so happy here. Happier than I sometimes think I have any right to be. What did I do to deserve getting to experience the life I wanted but thought was out of my reach?”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"We all deserve that," Steph said with no small amount of slightly vehement feeling. "It's absolute bullshit that there are people who don't think we do and will do anything to try and keep things that way, but none of that is on you."

She picked up a d20 and rolled it on the counter. 6.

"Yeah, you got a lucky break courtesy of the randomness that is life, but you didn't get it by tripping anybody else up to get them out of the way, right? Assholes like that have made us feel so much like shit already. Don't let them saddle you with that too."

Was this maybe a bit hypocritical from the girl who still had Arcadia Bay survivor's guilt? Sure, but she still felt she had a point.

[pocketpretzels]

“Intellectually, of course, I know you are correct,” Watts said, taking a sip of his own drink. “It is just reminding myself of those facts that is the issue.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Believe me, I get that," Steph told him. "That shit sneaks up on me in the middle of the night all the time, too. Sometimes it just helps to hear someone else tell you the same thing, even for a little while."

[pocketpretzels]

“Insightful as always,” Watts said with a hint of a smile. “I am quite lucky to be able to call you a friend.”

[drumsticksandd20s]

"I can't exactly take credit for that one. A friend said that to me once," Steph said with a wry smile. "Or a few times, honestly. Just paying it forward, that's all."

[pocketpretzels]

"That does not make either part of my statement any less true," Watts replied.

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Well, thanks," Steph said, inclining her head in a brief, slightly awkward nod. "It's mutual, for the record."

[pocketpretzels]

Awww, Steph, you've gone and made him blush!

"It is?" Watts, stop being surprised that people consider you a friend.

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Shocking, right?" Steph grinned at him. "I don't go around just telling random-ass people about all my trauma and shit, you know."

[pocketpretzels]

"No, that doesn't seem like you," Watts agreed. Like recognised like, apparently.

[drumsticksandd20s]

"Exactly." Steph picked up her coffee and raised it at him in a toast. "So there, you're my friend. Deal with it."