That was a loaded question that caused him to hesitate, but then it was also a simple courtesy-question; he decided to answer it truthfully while keeping lots back, but everyone did that. "Well," he told her, as he continued to wipe down the bar, "All things considered, doing okay. Congratulations on the job, seems like lots of people are coming back." It'd been so long that he wasn't sure he wanted to go into the career he had and the way politics cut into it, so he dropped the whole law enforcement career thing entirely. He'd been put into that category of people that left the cities and came back -- Sheriff Mark might was keeping things under control around here, still reasoning with people, but that wasn't always the case in places. Towns like Haye were relatively sane, if fearful, whereas larger cities had much bigger problems that came with the Emergence. Other places, depending on the local government, became downright dangerous for outsiders. It's probably why people were coming back; known faces, vouched for. 

Of course, a few Emergents slipped right in, because the reasoning was, "Well, I know that person!" and they couldn't necessarily believe that they were emerging. To just about everyone, the Emergent was a faceless terror, an inhuman force that rampaged maliciously. Other.

"What about you?" Another loaded question, of course. He glanced over the bar just to make sure no one was ordering more drinks, but the way Haye was these days, people seemed to be wrapping it up to get home indoors. It was like a return to 17th century New England of Hawthorne's writing, where the puritans feared the wildness and unpredictability of the forest. Maybe things emerged back then, or perhaps the natives had magic to use and it actually worked, though he couldn't be sure -- there might be studies underway, but what the government and science knew of the emergence was severely limited. Meanwhile, out on main street, which was a charming array of businesses and places to eat, a 'town center' development intended to help Haye create jobs and attract a more upscale sort of home buyer, there was a similar rush everywhere to get to wrap up the day's work and get out of there. These days, the activity was all daytime, and the nightlife severely curtailed. 

"Looks like business will be slowing up real good soon; hope you're ready for it, we only have a few people who are willing to brave the dark to drink, and then some cops looking to be fed. Johnny had to cut back the menu to save on food cost." Alcohol, thankfully, wasn't perishable. 

[@AmazinglyVivid]