Beginnings [OPEN]

[jasonwright]

It's a shitty way to start your day--waking up stiff, cold, and wet from a morning drizzle. Jason blinks, groans, and rubs his eyes, trying to quickly adjust to the blinding sun. As soon as he's awake, Alfredo is on his lap, soaking wet but happy all the same. The dog licks some dirt off his face while Jason chuckles. "No, Alfredo. I'm not food." 

He sits up, stripping off his jacket and stuffing it into his backpack as he speaks to Alfredo. "Think we could spring for some coffee today? It'd be nice to have something hot." He reaches down to pat the dog's head as he wags his tail, a gesture Jason takes as a push toward coffee. He double checks his wallet and grins. "Coffee it is then."

The new town is easy enough to navigate and pretty soon, he's found what appears to be a coffee shop. Quill. Looks like any other small town coffee shop he's visited, but he's pleasantly surprised when he steps inside after tethering Alfredo to a bike rack outside. It looks like a nice place he can stow away during a rainy day. 

He orders coffee, black, and a muffin, going back outside to sit on the curb next to Alfredo. As he sips the coffee, humming happily, he holds out the muffin for the dog to nibble on. 

Comments

[elidixon]

Eli has learned that direct, clear instructions often works best to get him what he needs, so he doesn't hesitate with Jason. "You need work?" He asks. "Can't pay you, but I need some help rebuilding a garden. The crop that was there got pretty beat up, but there are still vegetables."

He smiles again, charm works sometimes.

[jasonwright]

Jason frowns, thinking about it. The best fishing is in the morning, so he knows he'll have the rest of the afternoons free, and, truth be told, he gets bored easily. "Sure. I've been in construction so, I know a bit about building. Can't say I have much experience gardening though."

[elidixon]

Construction? Eli's brain lights up, and gee, Jason is perfect, right out of the volunteer playbook. Eli has good intentions, good ideas, knows all the problems, but he needs people around him to execute them. He doesn't think he's ever heard sweeter words. I've been in construction. "Jason, you just found yourself a friend," Eli says, laughing.

"It isn't really my garden," Eli explains. "It's a community garden. You saw that hydra, dude? Took down all our fences and flower beds. We were building chicken coops, but those got wiped too.

He pulls out his phone flipping through his phone gallery until he comes to the right picture, showing it to Jason. "Anyway, it's downtown, near the library. There's a tiny cabin out there that we got donated a few months ago. We use it as an office and to make meals when the kids come for weekend camps, but it has running water, a shower."

He shrugs at Jason. "It's up to you. I won't turn down an extra set of hands."

[jasonwright]

"No one ever told me making friends is this easy," he laughs. He leans over, looking at the picture Eli shows him. He can definitely fix up that place wonderfully. And at the mention of kids, Jason's even more determined to lend a helping hand.

A cabin? He looks down at Alfredo who looks like he could definitely use a bath and a roof over his head for a night or two and nods at Eli. "You got a deal. Let me know what you want and I'll build it."

[elidixon]

"Hey, and no one told me I could find builders just sitting outside of Quill. I would be hanging out here every morning if that's the case," Eli says, pumped to hear that Jason is on board. Even if it only works out for a week or two, it's more help than Eli had two minutes ago. He'll take it.

Eli looks down at the shaggy haired dog when Jason does. Poor guy is in a bit of state, but a good bath would do him and Jason some good. "Awesome man," he says, rubbing his hands together. "You got a minute? I can take you over there. I'll show you how to get in?"

[jasonwright]

Jason laughs. "Do I got a minute? Ya got jokes, Eli. Come on, Alfredo." he beckons to the dog who runs to Eli's side. "I knew construction would get me somewhere in life," he jokes.

[elidixon]

"I got plenty of 'em. Just wait." Eli waits for Jason to catch up with him before they cross the street together, walking in the direction of the library. His garden was in the lot beside it. "So how'd you end up here?" he asks.

[jasonwright]

Jason keeps pace easily with Eli, his dog trailing a bit behind them as he sniffs out his new surroundings. "Just passing through, really. I go where work takes me."

[elidixon]

"I gotcha," Eli nods along as he rounds the corner to the next block. "Siren Cove's not a bad place. Little strange if you haven't figured out yet."

[jasonwright]

"How's that?" He asks, looking around. He hadn't been to this side of town yet. "Oh right, you mentioned a hydra? Missed that one." Even though James was only with his family the first ten years of his life, it was enough to realize something attacking a town--hydra or not--was a real possibility. "Does that happen a lot here?"

[elidixon]

As they approach the gate that leads into the garden, Eli tosses a look over his shoulder at Jason, smiling. "Surprisingly not." He leads them further into lot. "This is the place," he says, leaning over to pick up a stray water bucket.

[jasonwright]

"Well that's good news." Jason steps into the garden, looking around. Thankfully it looks as if most of the vegetables survived but Eli was right, he needs someone to rebuild. He runs a hand along the wood of what's left of the little shed, frowning when he sees singed markings. "You wanna rebuild this or you got ideas for something different?"

[elidixon]

Eli peers around the garden at all his hard work, well not just his, but it was his idea really, something that helped out this town. It was doing good for the people who lives here. People like Jason that just needed help every now and then. He watches the guy as he eyes the broken shed, actually wondering for the first time what his real story was, and nods when he turns around. "Ideas---" He laughs, furrowing his brow. "If you only knew."

[jasonwright]

It's only after seeing the garden that Jason realizes how bad this whole hydra thing actually was. The rest of the town seemed to have already started repairs, but this garden was just...a disaster zone. He's now more determined than ever to help rebuild it.

He turns and smiles at the man that brought him here. "You look like a man who's got plenty of ideas, Eli."

[elidixon]

"I do!" Eli is suddenly very excited. There are times when you meet people and just have a good vibe, and he has one about Jason. "Look, let me show you around the place. Lucky for you our office went untouched. You just, you know, whatever you need. Let me know," Eli gestures for Jason to follow him, ready to give him the grand tour.

OOC: If you want to wrap up, feel free. I will make a garden post. :)

[jasonwright]

"Lead the way," he nods, following Eli.

ooc: I guess I'll mosey my shirtless self over there~