The deck of the Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Friday afternoon

[betterthanaplan]

So. Duke had been in Fandom for two weeks now. And while he'd absolutely never say out loud that he felt like he had a handle on things . . . he felt a bit like he had a handle on things.

Case in point: he was lounging on the deck of his boat, sipping bourbon and pondering whether or not he could sail to 2008 Baltimore, stash an inexpensive bottle somewhere, then walk across the causeway to 2019 Baltimore, pick it up, and sell it all nicely aged. He was pretty sure he could get away with something like that without breaking time. So long as he didn't manage to run into his older self or something. But wouldn't his older self know to just avoid Baltimore in 2019?

He was not so lost in such thoughts as to not notice the small green thing creeping around his crates, though. He dropped his hand down to the butt of the gun taped under his chair.

"Pretty sure biting your subjects is a big reporter no-no."

The gremlin made a sort of grumbling, snarling noise, and scuttled off. Duke nodded to himself and sipped his bourbon.

Yeah. He was getting a handle on things.

[open boat deck is open!]

Comments

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando was taking a brief walk before he caught the portal to Toronto for his evening lecture at the University. The boat was new and he smiled to see it, finally a boat in the port. There was someone up there, so he called up, "Hello, the boat."

[He hasn't met all three of my nerds yet.]

[thatwaslucky]

Rey was just passing by after the park, but she did have to slow down to see if he was there to say hi.

[*stalks stalks stalks*]

[betterthanaplan]

"Finally, someone who understands etiquette." Duke waved back. "Ahoy. Permission to come aboard or whatever."

[betterthanaplan]

"Rey," Duke greeted. "How's it going?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando made his way up to the deck. "I've no idea of boat etiquette," he admitted with a smile, "There didn't seem to be a good way to knock from the dock. Welcome to the island," Hernando extended a hand, "Hernando Fuentes, I run the tea shop down on the lighthouse side of the island."

[thatwaslucky]

"About the usual." Which wasn't a complaint. "I see you're incredibly busy."

[betterthanaplan]

"Calling works fine," Duke said. "I'll usually see you coming if I'm on deck, though." It tended to behoove a smuggler to stay aware of his surroundings, after all. "Duke Crocker. Tea shop, huh? Wouldn't have thought a town this size would support something like that."

On the other hand, he had already offered to supply tea to two different people since getting here, so.

[betterthanaplan]

"Oh, absolutely." Duke spread his hands with a grin. "Relaxation is a chore that's best handled daily."

[thatwaslucky]

"Especially in a town without much to do?"

Seriously, Fandom, you were tiny.

[betterthanaplan]

"Been noticing that. I'm actually surprised there aren't more bars around here."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando laughed a little, "You'd be surprised. There's my tea shop and the Perk, a coffee shop. While I sell coffee, I couldn't in good conscience recommend anyone drink it. The shop tries but I don't think it understands coffee. The Perk is terrific for people watching and their coffee is very good. My shop has a much better selection, and quality of,tea and is a nice place to enjoy a view of the beach." He smiled, "I am also an art professor and the tea shop has a gallery wall, usually curated fine arts but sometimes local photography or paintings."

He glanced around curious, "A shipping vessel, no? Will you be supplying the island with anything in specific?"

[thatwaslucky]

"Two aren't enough?"

She only went to one, and that was because of the Wednesday bartender. Once Summer left, that'd probably be it.

[betterthanaplan]

"You mean other than my charm and good looks?" Duke shrugged. "I work more based on demand. There something in particular you're looking for?"

[betterthanaplan]

"People tend to want to get drunk when they're bored," Duke said. ". . . Hence the 'Drunk and Bored Club', I guess." He shook his head. "The type of drunk they want to get tends to vary, though. So you've got Caritas, with its lounge-y, cocktail vibe, and Devil's Nest for those who want something darker and more exclusive, but there is not a single dive bar to be seen. Where do people go when they want to drink in a place as messy as their own lives? Or pretend they know how to hustle pool?"

[hernando_fuentes]

"This island is certainly blessed with a population of good-looking people," Hernando agreed readily, "I've only met one ugly one though that is more a cancer of the soul than appearance. At the moment, I have no current needs, although that could change if someone wanted a particular import of tea or treat that I don't currently stock. Do you have a quantity requirement?"

He was more making conversation than anything. The shop supplied anything people asked for in a manner that still surprised Hernando. It was a very good shop and he adored it.

[thatwaslucky]

"I think there's supposed to be pool at the bowling alley?" Rey tried.

[magnusrushesin]

"Hey, man. Nice boat!" Look, Magnus found the place. Eventually.

[betterthanaplan]

"Wow." Duke nodded. "'Cancer of the soul.' Judgey." He shrugged. "No quantity requirements, so long as the price is right. We'd have to work around my class schedule, though."

Which was weird. Duke had never been the type of person who worried about showing up on time for school.

[betterthanaplan]

"But is there booze?" Duke asked, then shrugged. "Actually, either way, 'bowling alley' still isn't the same as 'dive bar'. I guess maybe folks have to aim for the mainland for that."

[betterthanaplan]

Better late than never?

"Magnus," Duke greeted. "Glad you approve."

[thatwaslucky]

"Probably. I'm afraid I'm not much help there," Rey admitted. "I did not get out much before."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke shook his head sadly. "All work and no play, Rey. You should learn to cut loose a little."

[thatwaslucky]

"Cut loose how?" she had to ask.

[betterthanaplan]

"Well, that's entirely up to you," Duke said. "Personally, I'm a fan of liquor." He raised his glass. "Or swimming. Not big on mixing the two though. That's just asking to drown. Which is not relaxing."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando inclined his head a little, accepting the - heh - judgment. "In this particular instance, yes; my charity for the person is very small. Though it also says something of the general population of the place that there has been only one person to be even the slightest bit unpleasant. For the most part, people here are pleasant."

He lifted a palm in a shrug, "I have no requirements at this time nor would any likely be immediate. The only demand I've had lately has been from my partner demanding Canadian junk food, which I can readily supply him with." Smiling, he tilted his head a little, "Ah, one of the new teachers? How are you finding it? I've considered submitting a proposal for an art class but it will have to wait until my lecture series is over."

Until Sparkle's legal issues were settled, one way or the other.