Hollis Jones

[nancysandoval]

She shrugged, the offer very real and hardly something that'd take any effort on her part. It was an old schtick that she'd been rocking since a preteen; pouting and widening her eyes to get away with murder. Nancy snapped her fingers while stepping closer. "Gimme," she said, reaching out for the greasy wrapper to take with her. "Be back in two shakes." She winked, already turning to march into the nearby Wonder Bar.

And it worked, of course. Nancy pushed up her tits and leaned heavily on the counter, regaling her tragic tale of tripping on the boardwalk and so totally embarrassing herself. She threw in a couple empathetic 'I know it's really close to closing…' and 'You're such a lifesaver!' claims with a beaming smile and walked out of the bar with a warm takeout box. As she made her way back to the scene of the fry-spill crime, she hadn't been totally sure that the man would still be there, but when she spotted him, she moved to drop down on the curb beside him. "I'm a miracle worker," Nancy claimed boldly, popping the lid of the takeout box to reveal both fries and onion rings. She grabbed a ring and pushed the container into the other's hands for him to deal with, getting comfortable and stretching out her legs, feet crossed at the ankles.

[hollisjones]

Hollis watched Nancy stroll away, half expecting her to vanish into the night. People didn't usually go out of their way for him, especially not strangers. He wasn't used to this kind of thing. When she came back with the takeout box and offered it over to him, his eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Well, damn." he muttered, taking the box from her. "You really are a miracle worker." He looked down at the fries and onion rings, the warmth of the food, seeping through the box and into his cold, grubby hands. It was strange how something so simple felt like a life-changing victory. "I don't even know what to say, honestly." he admitted, plucking an onion ring and taking a bite. "Thanks. Really. This might be the best meal I've had in....Well, in a while." he glanced at her, still trying to figure her out. She seemed like she had it all figured out, and people like that intrigued him. Mostly because he wished he could live in the world they did. "So, you make a habit of feeding strays, or am I just a special case?" he scoffed playfully, trying to stop her from saying anything that might hurt his feelings, by suggesting it himself. "Don't tell me you felt sorry for me."

[goldiemills]

Goldie wondered about the guy; took in his appearance, his clothes. Was he hungry? She felt bad for him. "It's alright," she shook her head when he apologized for scaring her, like it was nothing. "I was in my head about something and forgot I wasn't alone in the world," she let out a soft laugh. "Probably not the best thing to do walking home alone at night." Asbury felt safe, having grown up here all her life, but still. Things happened. "It really is," she agreed about it being a different world. "Especially when the fog rolls in and it feels like a ghost town." She kind of liked that part, liked the change to the place such a transformation brought on.

"I live in Asbury," Goldie nodded, not exactly specifying whether she lived nearby or not. It wasn't like she'd give her home address, she didn't do that with strangers. But he didn't seem like a threat, so she wasn't worried, lowered her guard down some. She gave a kind smile and curiosity prompted her to return the question. "Do you live nearby?"

[hollisjones]

Hollis noticed the way Goldie glanced at him, maybe wondering what kind of person he was. He couldn't blame her, people usually pegged him as trouble. "Yeah, I know that feeling," he agreed, his playful smirk fading into something more solitary and thoughtful. "Being in your head like that, I mean. It's easy to forget there's a whole world out there when you're all stuck up in your own stuff." He shifted his weight, flicking another fry into his mouth as he nodded along to show he was listening as she spoke. "Ghost town vibe's the best, though. It's like everything goes quiet, and you can just breathe. No one is around to bother you." When she asked if he lived nearby, Hollis hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "I live in Asbury." he parroted her own choice of words, choosing to do no more than his appointed task. "I'm out here a lot, though. Feels better than being cooped up. The indoors kinda weirds me out, you know what I mean? Like, it's trying to box you into one place or whatever."

[felipe-feliz-deactivated2024111]

“I guess I can deal with that. But if you were out here taking stuff just for fun? Might be a different story," He chuckled to himself. While Felipe was no stranger to holding animosity, he didn't feel Hollis warranted it. It was a no harm no foul situation as far as he was concerned. He twisted the plastic bag handle around his finger, winding it and unwinding it, "Fair warning though? My neighbor might have it out for you. She got pretty pissed I didn't press charges. I'd stay out of her way if I were you."

[hollisjones]

Hollis let out a sigh of relief, tension he hadn't realised he was holding slowly easing from his frame. "Yeah, well, I'll make sure to avoid her. Last thing I need is someone else gunning for me. People will think I'm running some sort of gang at this point." His voice was quieter, despite his joke. He appreciated that Felipe wasn't rubbing salt in the wound, but, it still stung that he'd let himself get. into this mess in the first place. "Guess I owe you, though." he added, finally looking up. "You could've made it a whole mess. Most people would've, honestly." he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, feeling unsure what to do It wasn't like he had anything worth offering the other. "I don't know what to say, except, thanks? Not a lot of people out there willing to let things go like that."

[chiadeyemiis]

“Seriously? I always liked white vanilla more. Yellow vanilla has this weird tang that's always hard to describe for some reason.” If it's with another flavor, she'll ignore it, but by itself? It always makes her face scrunch kind of funny, combined with some noise that sounds like “Mrnnnnn.” “I kinda dig the chocolate chips though. You gotta like…swirl it around your mouth. It'll melt. But I like it more when it's the funny looking chunks. Ben & Jerry's does it well." And now she's craving a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough. 

Chi immediately snickered at her accidental judgement on the fries, putting her hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. No shame for the bits. I'm biting my chef tongue.” Does she even qualify as a chef? She just does cooking on the side. She's no Anthony Bourdain. “It depends on what counts as stuffy. I think in terms of food, some fine dining plates fall under the same amount as bits…but it's about the experience and they give you like—nine plates.” She then pulled out her phone, clicking for a moment before pulling up a youtube video she was watching about one restaurant. Although the plates were tiny, they were decorated with things like butterflies. “Like that.”

She then grimaced when she remembered the prices. “It is really fucking expensive though. 1K. So, I'll take your way over making my wallet scream.”

[hollisjones]

Hollis raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued by Chi's take on vanilla. "Weird tang?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess I never really gave it that much thought. Maybe it's just one of those things, like cilantro, you either taste soap, or you don't. Except, y'know, with vanilla..." He shifted, popping another fry into his mouth with a half smirk. "Ben & Jerry's, though. We were never allowed that stuff.Is it really worth the hype?

Hollis squinted at the phone screen, trying to make sense of the bizarre eatery that she was showing him. "A thousand dollars for that? I'm in the wrong business. I could make that stuff. Just put a random bug on a chicken's foot and call it art. Hell, I could probably even throw in the ball pit." he grinned, though he was still in genuine disbelief at the state of some of the dishes she'd shown him. "I don't know if I could eat a picture of my own face. It feels like betrayal."

He leaned back, sighing with mock relief. "Yeah, no thanks, man. I'll stick to the bargain fries. At least here, I don't have to worry about accidentally eating a butterfly. Though, there was an old key stuck to a hotdog bun once, but, I saw it before it broke my teeth." He screwed his face up in playful disgust of the memory. "So, what's your deal with food? You seem like you've got a thing for it. Don't tell me you're a secret health inspector or something. 'Cause if you are, I bought these fries with my money that I got at my job. And anything else you heard, was slander."

[ariyasnakhon]

Nothing could get Eliana going like a culinary conundrum and she'd found herself right in the middle of one, possible recipes and measurements bouncing around in her head. Revved up and unable to sit still, she decided a walk was in order. She thought she was just taking a lap or two around the private beach outside her home. Instead, she took a few turns she hadn't anticipated. Without even being conscious of it, she wound up on the boardwalk, fully interrupting someone's grub session. Oops.

"Huh?" She questioned, not even fully understanding what was going on. But, once the realization hit her, Eliana shook her head, waving the comments off. "Nah, man, you're good. No explanation needed. This," she pointed to her visage, "is my thinking face. I look a lot bitchier when I'm judging," she assured him with a shrug. "Do your thing. Reduce, reuse, recycle. I'm all for it." Even though she'd have to pass on his offer. "I'm good on the fries. They're all yours."

"But speaking of food..." Eliana couldn't help herself. She had an audience and a battle going on in her head. "Do you think candy corn cupcakes should be attempted or would that just, like, be a total crime against humanity?"

[hollisjones]

Hollis blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift to discussing baking. He had expected either indifference or disapproval, but, not this. "Candy corn cupcakes?" he repeated, tilting his head to one side as he tried to make sure he'd even heard her right in the first place. "That sounds...interesting, I guess? Like, are you trying to make something people want to eat, or just testing the limits of edible craziness?" He sat down onto the ground, feeling his knees start to ache from staying crouched. "You know, I'm maybe not the best person to ask. I didn't really do the whole 'Halloween' thing growing up. I mean, a couple of sad arts and crafts at a group home was about the height of it, but, is that really celebrating? I never ever tried candy corn until a few years ago...and honestly? You do not want to know what it was stuck to."

He smirked, trying to keep the tone lighthearted despite his confession, and so he turned the topic back onto her. "So, what's your deal, then? Are you a baker or just a mad scientist? And for the record, regardless of which one it is? If you need a taste tester, I am available basically anytime."

[chiadeyemiis]

In scenarios like this, it's good that Chi can easily wiggle herself into a comfortable conversation space. In other scenarios? She kind of falls for those guys who try to stop you in the middle of sidewalk to yap about something that she's definitely not gonna sign up for. She's a little thankful that this conversation isn't one of those, or a weird what would you do? scenario. She'll shit her pants if that fucker John Quiñones comes out after this. She isn't wearing her best outfit right now!

“Hollis. Cool. I'll think of a nickname later…” She said, glancing down at the “bits” again. There's a grimace at it (because again, worst part of the fries.) before she's sitting down next to him, arms wrapped around her knees as she fully took off her headphones to relax around her neck. Honestly though, she'd like this more if she wasn't wearing a pair of Nike flip flops with long ass socks. Mostly because the socks have smiley faces at the heels, and now she felt embarrassed by the concept of someone fully being able to digest it.

There's a small huff of amusement at the mention of ice cream, with Chi immediately following up on it. “Okay, but only if it's soft serve. Scooped is so sad, man. You can't get the same momentum when you're eating it compared to soft serve. Plus I accidentally bite more with scooped, and that's a no-no.” That's gonna make her cringe just thinking about recreating it.

[hollisjones]

Hollis couldn't help but chuckle at her response. "Soft serve it is, then. But, the yellow vanilla. White vanilla doesn't have the same flavour." He added, corners of his mouth lifting into a playful grin. It was comforting to debate something so trivial, especially in comparison to the heavier stuff that tended to loom around in his mind. It was nice to open the curtains and let some light in. "People always want to add chocolate chips, but why? It's frozen, you can't taste it. One of those houses I grew up in, they put melted fudge over it once for their kids birthday. Oh, man. I can still kinda taste it. Complete game changer."

He leaned back a little, relaxing and enjoying her company. "Stop looking at my dinner like that!" he chuckled, twisting his body as if to shield his fries from her judgemental glare. "I'm eating it, not you." He quickly put a few more bits of, essentially, fried nothing, into his mouth, trying to ignore the fact they were likely ripping his gums to shreds. "But hey, this has got to beat some stuffy diner, right? This is way better." He looked around, taking in the night as it went into that muddled dusk where it wasn't really night but it was too dark to be anything else.

"You've got dinner, and if you wait a little longer until the bars start to fill up, you'll get a show. People pay a lot of money for those things, you know."

[felipe-feliz-deactivated2024111]

He had a point. Seeing as how there were some items that had turned up missing after that whole ordeal. For all Felipe knew, he could've swiped a couple of things before and just got caught this time. Or it could've been someone else. His tendency to leave the garage door open certainly invited it. "I can be a dick to you if that's what you want."

He was kidding of course. So far none of his jokes had put the other at ease but that didn't stop him from trying. Felipe pulled out the soda again, holding it up as he walked over to place it on the bench next to where the other man had been having his boardwalk snack. "By the way, I didn't catch your name..last time." Felipe walked a couple of steps over to the next bench, relaxing into the seat, "I get it though. Awkward time to swap introductions."

[hollisjones]

Hollis' brow furrowed slightly at Felipe's response. He almost felt like it would be easier if he was rude to him. He was better versed in those scenarios. He knew he was trying to joke with him, but, it just felt like a reminder of how messed up their last encounter had been. Still, he tried to offer a faint smile by way of politeness. "A dick? Nah, I think that's my role. I'm normally...y'know...better at it." He tutted, shaking his head and looking down at the ground, unable to bring himself to make any meaningful eye contact. "It's Hollis." He answered, knowing better than to hand out his full name. "Look, I'm sorry about...y'know...all that. Alright? You had a lot of good stuff just laying around and I know that's not an excuse but-" he cut himself off. "It wasn't for nothin'. I needed quick cash. I didn't think you'd miss it."

[felipe-feliz-deactivated2024111]

"Whoa, whoa--there's no deal here, it's just a soda," Felipe held his hands up defensively as best he could considering they were full. "I'm probably not even going to drink it, just grabbed it out of habit. Y'know, soda, water, beer, snack--the usuals? And I already drank the water. Chocolate makes me thirsty."

Unnecessary over-explanation aside, it hadn't been his intention to put the other man on edge. Felipe huffed, putting the soda back inside the bag, "Whatever you say. But I'm not trying to start any trouble with you, alright?"

[hollisjones]

Hollis studied Felipe for a few moments longer, still half expecting...well, something. He just wasn't quite sure what. He sighed, giving in a little. "Alright, alright. No deal." He nodded, still keeping a small distance between them, but relaxing enough to let the tension ease off a little. "If you really don't want it, I guess you can leave it here." He didn't make any moves, still more ready to run than actually engage with the other in any meaningful way. "It still don't make sense, though. I mean...y'know...the last time...You should be avoiding me like...Well, like everybody else."

[chiadeyemiis]

Oh yeah—if someone could narrate this right now, they'd probably be screaming about warning! This girl's a big fucking rambler. If Chi spoke in one word or sentence, honestly, that'd be more worrying than anything else. “If I notice it, I'll let you know. I don't think everyone would have the same response we're having to bitchy stares.” She knows, New York was full of people who were incredibly different than her right now.

“Yeah, yeah. What I tell you?” Chi always knew how to spot those fuckers: Blocky, a little too crunchy—you'd have to eat them like peanuts and cram a bunch into your mouth to even come close to the quality of one full fry. It's like a crime against fry-manity. “Worst thing to ever go through, I don't even know why people put them in the bag…"

She then shimmied a little before putting one last gummy worm in her mouth for the road, then (albiet, awkwardly.) placed the bag in his hands. “I get it. I do that sometimes too. But, I like, you know…mask it. ‘Where’d you get that from? What did you order?' then bam, taste test right there.” Does that come off as manipulative? She'd hope not. “To answer your question, though? Nah. One of those things where I bought the bag while I was out and got impatient.” She felt like she'd regret that later.

“But I can still give you a name so I'm not some like…gummy worm urban legend. It's Uzochi, or Chi. Whatever works for you."

[hollisjones]

Hollis smiled as she handed over the gummy worms, taking them carefully without making direct contact. He wasn't used to people being so casual and down to earth about things. Most days, he was lucky if strangers even bothered to look at him, let alone talk to him like an equal.

He couldn't wait and instantly put one of the worms into his mouth, chewing slowly so he could listen to her better. "Chi. Alright, I'll roll with that." He nodded in approval. "Name's Hollis. Can't say I'm packin' snacks like you, but.." He glanced down at the fries. "You're welcome to sit, if you want. Share in...all of...this." He exhaled sharply out of his nose by way of a laugh and bowed his head, finding a ridiculousness in the shame.

He gestured to the space next to him, scooting over to make more room. "Could use the company. And who knows, maybe we'll luck out and someone will drop a couple ice-cream cones right into our laps." He was half-joking, but mostly just hopefully that maybe he could string out this interaction just a little longer before he'd have to go back to silence.

[felipe-feliz-deactivated2024111]

As soon as the other man turned to look at him, Felipe managed to place where he had seen him before, though he couldn't remember if he'd gotten a name. He drummed his fingers on his leg, wondering if the man would recognize him back. "Nah, my doctor says I have to cut back on sodium. And dirt," Felipe added jokingly. What do you even say to someone who broke into your house with the intent to steal? A neighbor had spotted the unkempt man prowling around Felipe's house and called the police, who had him detained just as he arrived home. With what the man attempted to take, he was probably doing him a favor taking some of the scrap metal he had laying around the garage and backyard but he'd disappeared as soon as Felipe told the police he wouldn't press charges.

Felipe looked down at the black plastic bag he'd been holding, having come from a 7-11 run, he decided to have a late night drink on the boardwalk. "You want a coke to wash that down?" he opened the bag, pulling out the soda. "I'd offer you the Pacifico, but I was hoping to enjoy that myself."

[hollisjones]

Hollis recognised Felipe instantly, at least, he was pretty sure he had the right guy. His stomach twisted with a skittish concern. He'd let him off the hook, sure, but, Hollis wasn't naive enough to think that it meant all was forgotten. His eyes darted to the offer, but, suspicion hit him like a gut punch. "I'm - uh - Nah, I'm good." He shook his head, keeping his voice casual, but stepping back, eyes darting around everywhere except who he was actually addressing. "What's the deal here?" He chuckled dryly, though his guard was up. "These weren't yours were they? 'Cause, I swear they looked like trash. Seagulls were...all up in them." It almost made it worse that Felipe seemed so friendly, he couldn't help but feel like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. "Look, man. I ain't gonna take your beer, or anything else. I'm not...It's not like that."

[holyinruins]

Ricardo chuckles, " I mean, I can't argue that. I also will have a great excuse to call off work and lay in bed all day watching horror movies. Win-win if you ask me," He grinned, " Oh, I'm dead serious. I never joke about burgers and fries. There's a diner just up ahead here that we can head to." Hearing the other ask about the catch, he shook his head, one of his hands comes up to attempt to wave away any concern, "Ah, there's no catch. Sometimes the universe just wants to bestow upon you some burgers and fries, ya know?" He motions for the other to follow and then begins walking towards the diner. This was the way Ricardo was, always offering a little kindness to the world around him, and he enjoyed the adventures that came out of it. "I'm Ricardo, Ric if you prefer that. It's nice to meet you."

[hollisjones]

Hollis couldn't help but grin, surprised by Ricardo's casual generosity. Most people these days only had themselves on their mind. Especially as the days got shorter and colder. "Horror movies and a day off? Sounds like you've got this all figured out." He gave a small laugh, still trying to believe his luck and relax. It felt almost too good to be true. "No catch." he repeated slowly, relenting and stuffing his hands into his pockets as he got up to follow the other. "I guess the universe is feeling extra generous tonight. I wonder what the occasion is." He follows him, still a little wary. "Ricardo. Ric. Hollis." he replied, giving his own name in return. "Nice to meet you, man. If this is all as good as you say, I might even start to believe in that whole universe thing you got going on."

[nancysandoval]

Nancy laughed, loud and abrupt, almost like a bark that bounced all around them, filling up the quickly cooling night air. "That's fucking disgusting," she said with a grin, shaking her head as she stared at the offered fry. Mop it up, her mind echoed in his voice, another bubbly scoff erupting from her lips, feeling like she had wandered into some ass-backwards adaptation of Carrie. She was still trying to put two and two together and make some sense of what he was talking about. Was he a frequent dine-and-dasher? Or a shoplifter? Nancy could relate on both accounts. What she knew for sure now, though, was that he definitely did not work somewhere along the boardwalk like she'd assumed before.

"I hope you don't have a thing for feet," she said, eyes narrowing in jest as she pointedly dragged her heel across the pavement, leaving a smear of ketchup behind. More relaxed, Nancy stepped closer and offered, "Do you want me to take the wrapper in and get a fresh basket? I could sweet talk 'em into it." She was feeling generous. And a little snacky for food that hadn't touched the ground.

[hollisjones]

Hollis let out a short chuckle as she laughed, finding the absurdity of it all amusing, even if he'd meant what he'd said. "Yeah, probably not the best sales pitch I've ever made." He admitted, shrugging and tossing a fry into the air before catching it in his mouth. "I'm not picky, though. Got used to...y'know, whatever 'fate' sends my way." He watched her smear the ketchup along the ground, smiling. "Nah, no foot thing. That's a bit much, even for me." He shifted his weight, part of him feeling an urge to use the ketchup smear before it was destroyed, but, her offer surprised him. "You'd do that? I mean, you don't gotta or nothin'." Hollis hesitated, squinting as if he wasn't sure just yet how serious to even take her. "But, if you're for real? I wouldn't say no. Been a while since I had food that didn't taste like sidewalk." He scratched his stubble, a faint smile of gratitude tugging at the very corner of his lips.

[cj-emhoff]

Well one thing was true, the fry wasn't half bad. A little soggy for his liking, nothing to write home about. He nodded though in agreement, until the pondering on his expression said otherwise, "Unless the pigeons have something to say about it I guess." He laughed a little, having lost a dog or two to the birds. "In there? Oh, uh. Yeah, sometimes. Not really like work-work in there— I'm the eyes right now in case there's you know, some kids lookin' to snag some gear...but uh, yeah, just checkin' in. No harm in snack time...just uh, I don't know man, I don't wanna sound like a dick but uh, what about moving down? There's camera's up there and I really don't wanna deal with that wrath, you know?"

[hollisjones]

Hollis paused mid-chew, glancing up with a raised brow. "Pigeons? Hell, guess I better eat faster, then." He muttered, smiling and shaking his head. Though, his smile faded as quickly as it appeared at the mention of cameras, eyes darting up to where they might be hidden. "Yeah, I get it. Don't wanna get you in trouble or anything, man." He wiped his hands on his jeans and stood up, grabbing the half-empty bag of fries. "I'll move down a bit. Don't want to cramp your style or nothing." He gave a half-hearted smile. "Didn't mean to make your job harder. Though I'm willing to be I ain't nowhere near as stressful as a handful of kids. Them things can be ruthless."

[goldiemills]

Most days after work, Goldie would get straight home. Shifts could run long and she'd be tired, the only thing she wanted to get into her cozy pyjama pants and wash her face up and curl up on the couch (after checking up on her mom). But some nights, when the night air was still warm and smelled faintly of sea-breeze, even all the way downtown, Goldie would detour to the boardwalk. She loved it best at night, after all the shops were shuttered and the tourists gone home for the night. It was at its best then, in her mind, without noisy distractions. She didn't really expect to run into anybody, and jumped a little at the surprise of a person. Sometimes she could get so distracted and in her head with thoughts, she didn't notice people right in front of her. "No, thank you, I'm good," she politely shook the request. Even if the offer didn't gross her out slightly, she wasn't big on taking food from people. Plus, he seemed hungry.

[hollisjones]

Hollis blinked, noticing how she jumped, like she wasn't used to people like him scuttling around the boardwalk. He shrugged, stuffing another fry in his mouth. "Yeah, didn't think so," he said, smirking a little. "Can't blame you. Not exactly gourmet, is it?" He glanced at her again, feeling like they were from two completely different worlds. He almost admired her. Wished his walks could be so peaceful. "Guess I scared you a bit there. Boardwalk's nice this time of night, huh? Kinda feels like a different world when no one's around." He shifted on his heels, sensing she wasn't there to chat, but, he hadn't spoken to anybody all day and could use the release. "You live nearby? I come here all the time. And not just for the free fries. They are good, though. Aren't they?"

[nancysandoval]

Rocking a comfortable buzz, Nancy was paying more attention to her phone than her surroundings, trying to figure out if she had any credits left for a quick Uber back to Meadowlark. She would've kept right on walking, wobbling along in her heels, if it hadn't been for a slippery step directly into… a puddle of ketchup? "Ew." She grimaced as she caught her balance and examined her shoe, a notable trail of fries leading her gaze to the stranger who was making an offer she did not care for.

"Uh." Nancy continued to frown, remaining a few feet away from the man. "Are you fucking with me? 'Cause its not funny." She gripped her phone a little tighter, arms raising to cross over her chest. Something pinged as familiar, though, the longer she stared down at him. She'd seen him around the boardwalk before, hadn't she? On these pathetic, post-Stone Pony walks home at night. It made her hesitate. "Did you get that at Wonder Bar?" Nancy asked, nodding at his spilled food. "If you take the wrapper in and explain you tripped our whatever, they'll get you a fresh basket. I do it all the time."

[hollisjones]

Hollis squinted up at her, caught somewhere between amusement and concern as she wobbled on her heels, ketchup only serving to make things more on the amusing side. His greasy fingers lifted to scratch an itch in his stubble, rest of him unsure whether to laugh of apologise. "Nah, I'm not messing with you. This..." He held up what remained of the fries. "It ain't exactly part of some grand scheme." Her suggestion about Wonder Bar did get him thinking, though. "I'd try that, but, I'm not exactly a regular they'd wanna help out, y'know? I mean, not officially anyway. Their foods great, don't get me wrong, but, I've never actually...chosen...what I get from there. It's more sort of 'fate' whenever I eat there." He shrugged, holding out a fry and pointing it towards her shoes. "Looks like you had a rough step. Don't let it go to waste though. Mop it up." He offered the fry out, even if she wasn't going to eat it, he certainly would.

[holyinruins]

Ricardo was exploring a bit, trying to find some place that looked like it could be filled with paranormal activity. He takes pause in his adventure when he notices someone crouched on the sideway under a streetlight. His first thought was that perhaps the person was sick, hunched over to throw up, but he quickly realized they were picking something up off the ground. "What?" He repeats, zoning back in. His eyes look from the man speaking to the fries in his hand. "Oh, yeah. I didn't mean to stare. I was just not sure if you were trying to throw up and then realized that wasn't the case shortly before you noticed me." He chuckled, shrugging. When offered one of the fries, Ricardo reaches for a dirt covered one and plops it into his mout, "Mmm. Earthy, just like a potato is meant to be. Thanks for sharing." He glanced back to the floor, scanning to see if there were more fries around. "Hmm. Would you like more fries? Perhaps a burger to go with it?"

[hollisjones]

Hollis only smiled as Ricardo willingly ate one of the dirt-covered fries without any hesitation. It was a good litmus test for who he was and wasn't likely to get along with. "Well, we both might puke yet, depending on who got to these before me, but hey, at least we'll be in good company." He chuckled, throwing a couple more into his mouth to chew on while the other spoke. "More fries and a burger? You serious?" he raised an eyebrow, waiting for more information. "I mean, I ain't exactly picky, but, I wasn't expecting someone to come along and make a night of it. What's the catch?" He smiled, trying to keep things playful, but, there was a hint of doubt and insecurity creeping in.

[cj-emhoff]

He was the only one somehow in Neptune's, the store not his territory, he was merely the surf instructor. "Watching the merch a couple hours while he reaches zen" as it was put by Brodie, the manager on duty with the ring camera on at all times— zen master with the eagle eye that also told him to check out the dude crouched outside the front door— when he did, there was a a tinge of guilt at the sight, CJ stuffing his hands in his pockets in a bit of an awkward stance, brows raising at the response, "Ten second rule, amiright?"

"Uh...yeah, yeah..." CJ took a hesitant step closer, a once pocketed hand reaching out for a single fry. "Don't mind if I do."

[hollisjones]

Hollis let out a small, dry laugh, nodding in agreement as he shoved another wet, dirty fry into his mouth. "Yeah, somethin' like that. Maybe more like a ten-minute rule these days, am I right?" He smirked, glancing back up at CJ before over to the door of the store behind him. "What's the deal, you work in there? Didn't think I'd get an audience for snack time." His tone was casual, but, there was still a flicker of nervousness in the way he shifted his weight, as if he was ready to bolt at a moment's notice if the other turned out to be any kind of threat.