Pilatus

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

Noon @Cornerstone

Joel smirked a little at Azura’s retort. He had observed her brow momentarily furrow at his comment and was glad to see he had found a button he could push. He liked that he could get a rise out of the girl and liked it even better that she had decided to shoot back as she flicked her hair with a moderate amount of attitude and inflection. Over time he had crafted his own screening process to the point that it was automatic in most of his interactions with the opposite sex. If they couldn’t survive a few verbal jabs right out of the gate then he wasn’t interested. He didn’t have time for the overly sensitive or the egotistical. Life was too short not to be able to take a joke… or at least a few of his jokes.

“Hey, at least I have some pants.” He shot back. He was pleasantly surprised that she didn’t take herself too seriously. The younger girls often hadn’t had enough time to mellow at all. “I’m Joel and yeah, I wear the cargo shorts around here.” He said taking another sip. He purposefully did not answer her question just to see if she’d press the issue and gauge her interest.

@SamaraJayne96
@Indy Cooper

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

I should have a post for Joel up tomorrow.

Please forgive me if this sounds dim, but who exactly is on which side of the time skip at Cornerstone? It looks like we have a late-evening and a midday group kind of running together with about eight hours difference between them. I don't want anyone to feel left out if I don't mention them, but I am trying to close out Joel's midday convos on my next post and maybe place him somewhere else in town after the time skip.

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

@Indy Cooper

No big deal. I figured it was going to catch up with us all at the pace we were setting.

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

Just need to sew up a couple conversations at Cornerstone. We were plugging right along for a couple days and then stopped pretty abruptly lol.

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

This might sound silly, but has has there ever been a map of Shine City? I didn't play any of the past seasons, so just curious for some future writing.

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

Joel caught a glimpse of the female giving him a once over as he took his regular spot at the counter a couple stools down. Not bad… He thought giving her a very faint nod back. However he wasn’t in the mood to flirt. He was in the mood to eat and as soon as possible. Breakfast beckoned from deep in his esophagus and Rowan had the medicine. It looked like the other guy was holding his own for the time being so Joel wasn’t overly concerned with his current level of game unless this girl was attracted to hungry men who just woke up.

He glanced back over his shoulder as a flash shower dumped down buckets outside. The dark-haired girl who he’d just seen outside, he figured was the “might-be” part timer Rowan mentioned, came clamoring back in totally drenched. Glad it wasn’t me… Was the first thought that came to mind as Rowan came to her aid and escorted her away. He could tell she was definitely on the younger side in comparison to the more seasoned appearance of Rowan, like a doll and a statue. He turned back to the bar as they went away.

There was a single cup coffee brewer behind the main counter of the bar and from years of sitting in the same place Joel knew exactly where to reach to turn it on and exactly where the cups and cartridges were to be found. Working blindly with one hand he pressed the brew button while only partially listening to the conversation between the other two guests. It all sounded a little too deep for him at a bar just after midday on a Sunday. The guy seemed to be hung up on his old haunts and aside from Rowan, another woman with golden hair. Not exactly the best opener, but to each his own he thought.

When Rowan came back out Joel had already added cream and sweetner and smirked a little as she approached. He knew how much she loathed coffee. “Anything’s fine” he said answering her question and taking a sip. “You said you had something you wanted to try so let’s have it.”

The younger girl came back out and resumed her spot at the bar as well. With her tousled curls and newly donned hoodie-dress she now looked like a foreign refugee and Joel couldn’t help himself. “Damn, nice outfit.” He said glancing over. He took another sip, feeling more awake and looked back at Rowan, “I probably could have used that as a car cover back at the shop.”

@BubblegumQueen
@Dynamo Frokane
@Indy Cooper
@SamaraJayne96

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

Realized i didn't tag anyone in my post last night and just fixed that.

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

A freight train horn sounded in the distance as Joel strolled up the avenue. The sunlight was refreshing after coming out of his air-conditioned, temporary hibernation. The shop could be extraordinarily dark during the day, particularly his renovated living space and he kept it pretty cool most of the time. Still not totally awake, he mused on what to do with the rest of the day as he walked: Go to the gym, maybe ride out later, or just take a nap- All winners in his book. He normally didn’t do a lot of work on Sundays.

About the time he was to round the corner ahead he remembered that it was actually Sunday and Cornerstone wouldn’t be open for another couple hours. Damn, Damn, Damn… He thought. He really didn’t feel like walking back and having to drive somewhere so his legs continued carried him, guided by his stomach. If Rowan was there, she would take care of him. She was usually good for it. He had known her since she came to work at the bar. She had her regulars, but he considered himself of a higher class of parishioner, a Veteran. He grinned a little at the thought. It had come to him before and was funny every time.

When he turned the corner he was surprised to see someone sitting outside smoking and music playing. He stopped briefly and checked his phone for the time. Just a little after noon. Unsatisfied, he glanced up at the sun position in the sky. Interesting. He walked on a little further as the “OPEN” sign was lit and scanned around the outside of the bar from behind his sunglasses. He gave a slight nod to the girl smoking outside and pushed through the door.

A t-shirt, cargo shorts and sneakers were his essentially his entire wardrobe, most of the shirts displaying some sort of Motorsport or tool brand from a vendor. Today’s choice was an older, white Bridgestone Motorsport tee with a tighter fit that came from multiple washes that he liked. He paused briefly at the door with a sense of pretend drama he knew Rowan would at least find amusing and looked over the group still with his sunglasses on: Rowan and two others that he didn’t recognize.

“You guys drawing up a labor contract or somethin’?” He spoke in way that flew the trench between total sincerity and stark sarcasm. He flipped his sunglasses back on his head and proceeded to a bar stool. “What’s up?” He said. The query was mostly directed at Rowan, but he eased his tone enough for the others to hopefully not take his first question seriously.

@BubblegumQueen
@Dynamo Frokane
@Indy Cooper
@SamaraJayne96

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

I'll try and crank out a post tonight and have him down at the bar. I'm at work as I type this right now. I've had a few ideas the more I've thought about this.

Shine City Zero: Humble Beginnings

@Indy Cooper

That would make sense and they should know each other fairly decently as he's likely been a customer prior to her arrival. He also would probably be familair with the old and the new management. Should be some interesting writing.