everettellington

[everettellington]

Hearing the other's words warranted a shake of Rhett's head, causing him to take a step back as the other lit the cigarette. "Quite the opposite actually man. I've seen a few of them in my days." he admitted. And while the comment sounded like Rhett was a lot older than he actually was, it was his ex career that really brought the comment forward. "I may not be a fan personally but I know enough to know that you need that lighter a hell of a lot more than I do." he admitted. "Nicotine withdrawals are precisely why I keep them on me." he admitted. "Keep it. Pay it forward or something."

[everettellington]

“Ah.” Rhett nodded, letting his eyes focus on the other as they stated their current situation and lack of space for new things. “Does that mean you have no room because you’re renting and all the available space is taken?” He questioned. “I don’t mean to pry I’m just curious, since you said that you’ll be able to have some stuff from storage once you’re in a house again.” He smiled. “Though I approve of having keeping the store fresh.” He nodded. “At least you have that.”

"No, and what room I've had is already taken up," they explained. "I do have storage unit where some stuff sits until I live in an actual house again, but who knows when that is." They shrugged. "But I do sometimes buy things for my store, just to keep it looking fresh."

[everettellington]

“Sometimes it blows my mind that there are people out there that do things like social media and editing for a living.” He commented, eyes focusing on the other as he spoke. “I don’t blame you for hiring someone else that can do it.” He commented. “I don’t have the talent for that so anything you see me post that looks good was probably done by someone else.” He laughed, eyes focused on the other. He let the subject change, and when she asked about his photo at the fire station, he nodded. “That’s me.” He smiled. “I worked there for years. Since my early twenties.” He commented. “Retired now, but. “Let me hear about your dad. I probably know him. especially if he’s into football and fixing things too.”

"It's not for everyone." She laughed a little. Editing in general was so time consuming. She tried to do it in the beginning for the bakery. "I tried to do social media myself for my bakery, but I ended up hiring someone that was much better with getting that done." She trusted them to bring her vision each month to life. "Social media has changed so much from when Instagram first started." It was crazy just how much the younger generation was sucked into using filters. "I will make sure you least get 10%." She nodded with a soft smile. "Oh please, you are far from old." "Rhett..Rhett. Pretty sure I seen your picture at the fire station right?." She had been to the station plenty over the years just to hang out or volunteer to cook in her youth. Walking those halls felt like a life time ago. "Or I am getting that wrong? Promise not stalking... the name just seems familiar. my dad used to be a firefighter now he just enjoys watching football and building stuff."

[everettellington]

"I don't think I even know which colors to mix and which colors are complimentary." he admitted. "It takes a whole special kind of talent to do this kind of work. But I have to agree, teaching middle schoolers feels like a challenge and a talent in itself." he laughed. "You teach art?" he questioned, eyes fixated on the other for a moment as he stated he was about to make his way that direction. "I wouldn't mind following you. Lead the way."

"I certainly am nowhere close to this level," Oliver said with a soft laugh. He nodded. "I like to think I can match colors here and there, and make things look decent. Luckily in a classroom, you just have to make it look appealing and interesting. But impressing middle schoolers is kind of a challenge," he said thoughtfully. "Not yet, shall we walk in that direction? I heard there's plenty of it and it's all delicious," he offered a smile.

[everettellington]

Once the brunette had stepped away, allowing Rhett the opportunity to take his turn at filling up his water bottle - which had taken much less time then normal since he'd barely had any water during the meeting - he let his gaze meet the other's only once he was finished and the lid was on tightly. He extended his own hand, offering the other a shake as she introduced herself. "Moni, it's great to meet you." he nodded. "Yes, that's correct. Most people call me Rhett though." he admitted, though gave a shrug as if to indicate that he had no personal preference, she could call him whatever she wanted. He let the question resonate with him, and he nodded. "That all depends on what you take from it." he admitted. "It is welcoming, yes. But if you're anything like I was whenever I first started coming here - angry and bitter that I was even having to deal with this to begin with - then no it's not always welcoming and everyone here is just out to get you." he joked. "Honestly, without this place and these people, I don't think I'd have survived those first few months without it." he admitted. "No one wants that for anyone else, but, it's those of us that have been here that understand where you are."

Monique offered a smile in thanks, hand ready to turn off the tap when her bottle was nearing the brim. Even though she’d been sparse with some details, the brunette could tell from the others vocalised experience that if anyone was going to understand how she felt, it quite possibly could be the man currently beside her. Halting the steady stream of water, the brunette secured her drink under her arm after sidestepping away from the basin, before extending a hand to the other. “I’m Monique — my friends call me Moni. It’s… Everett, right?” She asked, narrowing her eyes in thought, but she was hopeful that her memory prevailed in the moment. “Is it always like that? So welcoming, I mean. Probably the least pressured I’ve felt attending one of these things.” She admitted, the words tumbling from her lips before giving his hand a shake. “I’m sorry to hear about your wife, too. It’s — I mean, yeah. It’s something you don’t want anyone to have to face.”

[everettellington]

Despite how rough Rhett's life had been, he was thankful that he had people in his life like Theo who were there for every ounce of the good and the bad. The two had been best friends for most of their lives, and there wasn't a single person in Rhett's life - aside from Isla of course - that Rhett would ever want to share all of the highs and lows with. The true dedication of friendship was shared between the two. As he wrapped his arms around his friend, Rhett smiled, taking a step back whenever he said that it was twins. "You know, Everett's a great name for a baby." he winked, knowing that it had been on the list of names for he and Naomi if Isla had been a boy. "What do the kids think about being big siblings?"

There had been an unspoken understanding between the best friends, beers and cigars were left for only a handful of occasions. Celebrations and venting or talking were the main reasons Theo would show up that way, though he'd share either with Rhett any day of the week. Getting settled onto the couch and stretching out, Theo turned to Rhett, taking the bottle of beer from him and taking a sip. His eyebrows rising with a grin as Rhett spoke, Theo laughed, "we had spoken about kids months ago but we hadn't exactly planned on it happening so soon." Setting down the bottle on the coffee table, Theo stood up and reached out to accept his friend's hug. "I guess I did, and twins too." He shook his head as it was still surreal to him, but he couldn't be happier.

[everettellington]

"I always prefer supporting local small businesses and restaurants over the chain places anyways." he spoke with a small smile. "And I know that they probably appreciate the business; because if it all tastes as good as that smells and looks then these restaurants will be booming with business within the next few weeks I can almost guarantee it." he nodded. "Sure, I'd love to join you. We can make a stop for some drinks on the way and then get some food."

Jamie nodded at him. "Yes, highly recommend," he grinned a bit. "And it's from one of the local places, of course. They didn't just order some generic catering," he chuckled. "So it's even better! Right over there. I may help myself to another, actually," he said. "Care to join me? Might even grab a drink on the way,"

[everettellington]

Despite the fact that Rhett had lived in Maine his entire life, the male usually wanted nothing to do with the winters that came along with living there. Sure, he enjoyed the winter and at one point even enjoyed the activities that came along with it - building snowmen, snow ball fights, hot cocoa as you sat on the porch and watched it fall - it was all things he'd missed about Isla being grown now. But he definitely preferred the warmer months of the year, that was for sure. His attention returned to the other, nodding when he said she was between a few. "I think that's a wise decision. And she'll tell you I'm sure, even if it is just with her body language." he laughed. "Seems like you need one. Balance out those wedding and photos of the kids even if those are the best ways to fill the walls of a home."

"Nah, you're not alone," he laughed, looking over at Everett. "I know of a lot of people who would choose summer over winter. Not me." Cage was a Mainer through and through, had grown up being told by his father that he had been built for harsh winters, could probably fall asleep in the snow if he had to. Maybe that had played into the 'Moose' nickname a little bit that had stuck with him through high school and a little after. That, or he had been a force on the football field. "I guess you'll have to come back around in the summer time and get a beach scene," he joked, pointing to the gallery around them. As he was asked about which pieces Cordelia had been looking at, he see-sawed his head, "a few. I'm just using process of elimination to see which one she ends up stopping by the most times tonight. We've still got a few empty walls in the house that aren't covered in wedding or kid photos, so I figure why not? Charity and all, too, that's a good added bonus."

[everettellington]

"Exactly that!" Rhett spoke, almost more enthusiastically then he necessarily should've been about someone else agreeing with him. But it wasn't every day that he heard someone that said nearly exactly what he was thinking like the other just had. "I mean, I'll admit. There's something about looking at plants and the greenery in the room that does make the room feel brighter and nicer to be in." he started. "But like you said, if I have to give myself extra work to have something that makes me happy, I don't want it. They have plenty of fake options these days that give the same exact feel." he stated, eyes averting to the plant in his hand suddenly second guessing if he really wanted to purchase this that badly. A shrug before he placed it in his basket, ready to surprise his daughter. "I think she'll like it yeah. Mix this with her favorite dinner with ingredients for the market makes for the most dad points, I'd say." he laughed. "You have specifics you get at the market every week or do you just go and let the market tell you what you need?"

"I've had a lot of people tell me that they're supposed to make you happy -- but if I have to add more to my to-do list every single day just to keep the plant alive, then I'm going to be a lot less happy than I was when I took it home." But maybe Rafael was wrong. Maybe there was some sort of science to the whole thing that he just didn't understand, didn't really have a clue about. As Everett conceded that his food mostly came from other people who grew it fresh, he offered him a smile, "still counts, right?" Maybe he wasn't growing it himself, but someone was, it wasn't coming from a factory farm or something of the sort. "I spend far too many Wednesdays at the farmer's market, stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables, so I completely understand you." He did enjoy cooking, and he enjoyed it the most when he had fresh ingredients to work with. "I don't even have any pets," and those could at least let you know what they needed. Plants, not so much, and so he was going to be clueless when it came to taking care of them. "Ah, that'll be a nice surprise! It's something that you know that she'll enjoy, which I would assume automatically wins you dad points, yes?"

[everettellington]

"Yeah, they did make your eyes hurt didn't they?" he recalled, the memory coming to him like he'd looked at one just yesterday. He remembered himself all the straining he felt he'd put on his eyes looking at them. "I kind of miss them but I don't think I could make my eyes focus anymore." he admitted, shaking his head. "I've heard they have quite the way of disguising those these days." he shrugged. At the mention of getting the piece, Rhett shrugged. "I need to wait. See if there's anything else that catches my eye first and if it's still here at the end I'll pick it up." he shrugged. "I guess we'll see won't we?"

"They were fun! Never read one without getting a little bit of a headache, though," he admitted with a laugh. Staring at anything for too long would do that, though, especially if you were trying to make your eyes look at things that were barely there. Maybe that accounted for all of the people with vision problems these days, he was sure that eye doctors hated those books. Were probably grateful for the fact that they weren't 'interesting' anymore, and off the shelves. "That wouldn't surprise me," he glanced up to the ceiling, as though searching out those very cameras, knowing that they could exist. Nothing was off the table. "You should go for it," he grinned, "I like the idea of you having guests over and just waiting for them to bring up the painting, so you can get in some sort of debate with them!"

[everettellington]

"That's a good point." Rhett nodded, eyes glancing at the other again. He had noticed the size, and was even sure that he could find a spot for it, in fact he was sure that he had the perfect spot in his dining room. It was just a matter of whether he wanted to spend the money on it. A shrug as he refocused on the conversation. "That makes sense, yeah. I guess you don't have a ton of room for any kind of decor in a van do you?"

"It's small enough, it might fit," the offered. "Or on a desk in an office or something of the sort." They shook their head. "Unfortunately, I don't have room to display art in my home, given that I live in a converted van, but it's still nice to look at and admire." They could put something in the shop, but that always risked exposure to the general public.

[everettellington]

"I would offer to teach you but I only ever learned one song and I can't even keep up with that anymore." he admitted, eyes looking down at his hands. His fingertips has once been calloused - proof he'd at one time played said one song on repeat -, unable to soften despite how gentle he was with his daughter and wife throughout the years. It was only recently that he'd noticed the change in them. "I feel like if you have a talent you have every reason to be uppity about it and show it off." he admitted. "By all means, I encourage it actually." Though when she mentioned that she didn't think he'd be posted about he laughed. "I can't say I'm upset about that." he admitted. "I want to keep my reputation around here as nice as I can and I'm sure that a post on the times is the last thing that would do that."

"I kind of always wanted to learn an instrument," Noa admitted. Her gaze drifted back to the band. Her mother hadn't had the income to pay for lessons, or the wherewithal to encourage Noa in anything beyond her own interests. "I think I'd be real uppity about it if I had. A terror, honestly." She smiled at him. "It's okay. You don't have to worry about getting laughed at or pasted about in the Times tomorrow morning. I don't think there's a person in Merrock that wouldn't enjoy watching you break it down out there."

[everettellington]

"I've never fully understood how all those editing things - they're all apps right? - work. I mean, I understand the point but." he shrugged, letting his eyes avert from the phone in her hand to her. "It really is neat though, even if it was an accident." he laughed. "I wouldn't say that though. If you decide to sell it or use it for advertising or whatever, you don't even have to give me a profit, but at least tell them it was my idea." he playfully winked. Her compliment made him nod, shrugging again. "I've taken a few of them in my days." he admitted. "I'm not a professional, but, it helps that my daughter is big into camera angles and all of that." he admitted, his smile only widening whenever he talked of his daughter. "I'd love to, sure. As long as you don't mind an old man in your photo." he smiled. "I'm Rhett. It's nice to meet you, Naomi."

“Okay, you might have a point there.” She unfortunately only wanted to come back as ghost if she could still help people. She smiled softly when he mentioned that the effect was cool. “It definitely beats anything you have to add playing with effects for social media.” She agreed. She knew that with the lighting inside the tent, it might be wonky so she had a clip on light attached to her phone just in case. After her photo was taken, her head tilted to examine his work. “Look at you, this is great! Thank you, now it’s only right we get an actual photo together. If you don’t mind, I’m Naomi by the way.”

[everettellington]

"Oh I would without a doubt be that guy that haunts people." Rhett laughed, tossing the other a look to indicate that he had a list of people to haunt. Which was only partially true. He wasn't one that held grudges really and loved most people he'd met throughout the years. "I honestly just think it would be fun to mess with people." a shrug, eyes averting to her phone, eyeballing the photo that he'd photo bombed. "Oh that's actually a really cool effect. Looks neat." he smiled, returning his gaze to her. When she said he didn't have to do that he nodded. "I know, but what if you wish you'd gotten it later?" he laughed, eyes focused on her again as she stood in a pose. "That's perfect. The lighting there makes your dress the appropriate color." he snapped the photo. "Let me know what you think."

"I mean hey long it isn't haunting you, being on the other side kind of sounds cool or maybe it's just my years of watching Charmed." She shrugged her shoulders. It sounded so nerdy to admit she believed in the afterlife , ghosts and all of that. She was just convinced it wasn't just them as humans and animals on earth. "Sure, here you go." She turned up the brightness on her phone and let him see. "Oh please, you don't look old. You look good." Naomi waved her at him. "You don't have to do that, but okay. To be honest, I post more about my business than selfies." She laughed. She understood social media helped tremendously but she was serious about her artistry as a baker. "Thank you though." Standing up, she found a spot to stand that was not in the way of others and fixed her hair. "Okay, is this alright?"

[everettellington]

Another shrug passed over his shoulders as he looked at the other. "I mean that's fair I guess." he shrugged. "I think if I were them I'd still have to play Let It Go, but, I guess that's why they're the band and I can barely play the guitar." he laughed. Though with a small shake of his head at her encouragement, he exhaled. "I don't wanna bother them. Let them play whatever makes them happy and I'll dance to whatever until I get up the courage to act on this bet I just made." he winked.

"I think that's the reason. Big in their art like the painters or something. Maybe it's like asking an actor to slip into character. They don't like being wind-up toys." She laughed at his suggestion, having seen firsthand the flurries outside. There was something innately magical about them falling tonight during the gala. "I think they're sticking pretty close to the old classics but give it a go." She smiled her cheeks a little pink. "I'm pretty sure I have someone here that will leave it all on the dance floor. So you're going down."

[everettellington]

Hearing the other's words warranted a shake of Rhett's head, causing him to take a step back as the other lit the cigarette. "Quite the opposite actually man. I've seen a few of them in my days." he admitted. And while the comment sounded like Rhett was a lot older than he actually was, it was his ex career that really brought the comment forward. "I may not be a fan personally but I know enough to know that you need that lighter a hell of a lot more than I do." he admitted. "Nicotine withdrawals are precisely why I keep them on me." he admitted. "Keep it. Pay it forward or something."

As surprised as he was to actually be handed a lighter by the other, considering their staunch opinions, Aidan just snorted softly, shaking his head while he accepted it. "You've never seen someone go into nicotine withdrawal then," he muttered around his cigarette, sparking the lighter while taking a generous inhale. It was mostly a joke, because going without a cig wasn't a matter of life or death, but it sure did have a way of turning even the sweetest of people into cranky bitches. Any addiction left unattended flipped that switch, didn't it? Sighing a steady stream of smoke, he glanced back to the man, offering the lighter out, "Y'sure you don't want this back?"

[everettellington]

The cigars that his friend brought along didn't go unnoticed but instead of asking he just rose an eyebrow, taking the six pack from his friend and moving towards the kitchen. There, he retrieved two beers - different brand than Theo had brought along - and he handed on over, hand wrapped around the barrel of the bottle as he sat in a chair across from his friend. The beginning of his sentence made Rhett's heart race a bit, only to remember Theo had reassured him it was good news, so he relaxed a bit. Eyes shifted to his friend, only widening at the confession of his friend. "No-" he paused, smile widening as he put two and two together, realizing his joke at the market hadn't been a joke at all. "I was going to say damn man I didn't mean for you to take me seriously but never mind." he smiled, standing as he took a step closer to his friend, arms extending to offer him a hug. "You did the damn thing, come here." he coaxed, patting his best friend on the back as he hugged him. "Congratulations, brother."

As Theo stepped inside, he was almost buzzing with excitement with what he had to tell Rhett. His best friend in the entire world who was an extension of his own family, Theo felt himself giddy with excitement. "Uh," he laughed and shook his head, before handing the six pack over, "neither actually, it's all good news I promise," he held up his free hand for a moment before moving to the couch. Setting the cigars on the coffee table, Theo took a seat. There were only a few occasions where Theo would smoke a cigar and they were always happy and positive occasions such as this. "Uh, so you know how back at the market you were saying something about Tam and I having a baby?" Leaning back with his legs extended and crossing them at the ankle, Theo looked up with a wide grin at Rhett. "Well, you might be psychic after all, though at the time I only knew about one. But evidently it's twins." He felt his cheeks burning from his smile and his heart skipping a beat. "Tam is pregnant, and we're having twins."