“It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do

His gaze flicked briefly over the exhibit again, then back to the warden, his smirk fading. “Comfortable, huh?” He exhaled through his nose. “Yeah… suppose I am.”

There was a pause, just long enough to feel like he was debating whether to say more before he settled on keeping it simple. “Guess some places make it easy to forget the clock.” His tone was light but there was something else beneath it... something thoughtful maybe even a little distant.

He tilted his head slightly, studying the ladies features now. “So, do I get a final reprieve for good behavior or am I being officially escorted out the door?” Ethan knew he should just leave. It was late. The museum was closed and he wasn’t the type to push boundaries for the sake of it. And yet, here he was… lingering past closing time, subtly testing the patience of the woman in front of him. In that moment, he couldn’t ignore the contrast to his recent interactions with Senna... how different yet familiar this quiet push and pull felt.

She should be physically pushing this man out of the door. But finds herself also lingering. “Well, it depends on your intent for staying here. Nothing in this room would get you any decent monetary gain unless you know who to sell it to, so I doubt you're here on heist business.” She comments, though there’s something light in her tone that gives away she is teasing, slightly. “Some reprieve.” Haley decides after a moment. “But I’m staying here the entire time, and I want a name.”

     Upon seeing one of her favorite regulars, a woman who's mind was even more beautiful than her face, she made her pleasantries with the patrons at the table she was currently visiting and noted the sulk on Haley's expression. It brought her over to hover sooner rather than later. "Want something a little stronger than the wine tonight? The bar has a selection of amazing cocktails that could likely burn off pesky thoughts faster than the wine you're glaring into." There was something light in her tone, a soft tease.

     "Or," India took it upon herself to take up the seat across from Haley, "maybe it would help to get those thoughts out of your head. Too often we trap these negative things inside of us and they fester and grow."  India lifted a finger signaling to her bartender to send a glass over to the table for her. "Plus it goes without saying—anything shared over wine stays with the wine."

“My husband is doing his surgical fellowship in Detroit, which obviously is not far from Woodside, I know a lot of other spouses of doctors who have worse deals,” She quickly inputs, because the issue isn’t distance. At least, physical distance. “He just came to mind when I was sitting here, because I know he’d like it here.” Not just the bar, but the town as a whole. Hank would uproot his entire life to make Haley happy, and that within itself was the problem. 

She stares at the remnants of her glass, downing it before the bartender comes back with a fresh one, offering India a shrug. “I think I just feel a tad guilty, I suppose.” Which was a massive understatement, even if she doesn’t know quite how to expand further.

While she'd been stuck on this one particular piece, Hazal was sure that she'd need to come back another day, preferably earlier, to get a look at everything now that she was so intrigued. "You should always have a favorite, or two, and I get it. This one is amazing." She stated with a nod. When Haley said she was a native but had just returned, she figured that explained her keeping to herself lately. "I'm sure some things have changed, and new faces have surfaced, so you've gotta get out more. That's what I'm trying to do, at least." She offered with a small smile. "I haven't met the boss yet, but I should probably get to know everyone who works here, and then vice versa. Us museum workers should be better acquainted."

Her eyes follow Hazal’s nod, and nods in both appreciation and agreement. “Yes, you should see this hall during peak hours, a lot of crowds around this part.” A piece that truly spoke to the people, she figures. “Yeah, it’s strange, when your childhood home just…grows up without you here. But you’re right, I absolutely need to get out more. What about you? Has Woodside always been your home? And if we can, we’ll arrange some sort of…museum playdate, so to speak.”

But when the other woman responded and didn't seem spooked, she smiled at her, figuring meeting a random neighbor at the end of a long day probably wasn't the worst thing in the world. "Oh, don't worry. I've just been more observant lately since I'm trying to mingle a bit more." Hazal explained. After all, she hadn't befriended hardly anyone her first time in Woodside, so she was attempting to do better this go round. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Haley. I'm Hazal, current creative director over at the city museum. I'm definitely more into the other kind of art, but this is really intriguing too. I don't know why this is the first time I've ever been here, but..it's pretty amazing." She beamed. "And I'm so sorry, I know what it's like not being able to wrap up when it's time to close, but I just got...mesmerized, I suppose. Are you the boss around here too?"

“Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m sure they’d hold the same sentiments of welcoming you. I haven’t ventured to the other museum in a hot minute, maybe I’ll head over to your neck of the woods sometime.” Might have a valid reason now, if she’s one step toward making a new friend. “Yeah, this hall is one of my favorites, but I suppose I can’t show preference. Oh, no  —,” She shakes her head at the assumption. “I’ve only been here a few months. Well, back. I grew up here.” She further elaborates. “But the boss around here seems like a pretty nice guy, from the few times I’ve met him.”

At the offer, she blinks in surprise, pausing for a second, before nodding. She’s not entirely sure she has anything in her fridge — substantial enough to make a meal out of anyway — and it’s not like her parents have been the best hosts, all things considered (not that she blames them, she never would) so really, her options of a nutritious, filling, and delicious meal are awfully low tonight, might as well have an enjoyable dinner with company. “That’d be lovely, thank you. I, uh, just need to finish something up.” The recent delivery is a quick afterthought, but she’s sure it can wait until morning, or someone else is willing to spend their evenings among the renowned company of fossils and ancient trinkets. “But I shouldn’t be long, it’s probably good to break me out of my habit of staying out too late.”

His eyes finally shifted toward her, taking in the polite but firm posture, the professionalism wrapped around something softr.... maybe an apology for having to be the one to usher him out.

“Three minutes, huh?” His voice was even and edged with quiet amusement. “Guess that means I’m officially loitering.”

He didn’t move just yet, casting one last glance at the display before exhaling and. shifting his weight slightly. “Didn’t mean to overstay my welcome.” A pause. and the faintest trace of a smirk ghosting his lips. “Unless you’re secretly hoping I put up a fight about it," he joked.

"Trespassing is what some people would call it.” She responds in jest, raising an eyebrow at the other comment made. “Got me. This is how I want to spend my time, clearly.”

Though, he’s not exactly wrong. Whilst she’s sure she can waste her time with a multitude of activities and not necessarily needing to fight over something as mundane as closing hours, Haley does have a habit of filling her time with monotonous errands. Any excuse not to return home… “You seem quite comfortable here, I will say that,” She comments, nodding to the exhibit surrounding them. “So I do feel slightly bad, but then again, you got three extra minutes no one else got today.”

Even with this frigid weather, she needed something to help her unwind before she headed home, so she'd decided to venture over to one of the other museums in town just to have a look around. She needed to see someone else's creativity at work to distract her from her own whirlwind, so this was perfect. She knew she was cutting it close to closing, yet she didn't seem to care as she sauntered around. While science had only been something she admired in the realm of trying to explain witchcraft and whatnot, history had always been a crucial part of her life so she was quite fascinated with the collections. She was so busy ogling over one that she hadn't noticed the other patrons starting to leave as it was that time.

It wasn't until she heard the voice behind her that Hazal snapped back to reality, blushing just slightly as she spun around to face the woman. "Sorry, I spaced out for a minute there." She explained, giving the woman a sheepish smile. "This is my first time coming in here to check the place out, so I guess I underestimated how much time I had, and how much I'd find myself gawking." Why was she rambling to a woman who was clearly trying to close up? She didn't know, but as she studied the woman's features, she found herself quirking a brow. "I've seen you before, right? In the Heights? I believe that we're neighbors, or live somewhat close to one another?"

It’s not surprising that a lot of people don’t visit museums for the first time until adulthood. Haley wonders if she’s a tourist, or just visiting family or something, and is about to ask the question in the most innocuous way until their seemingly shared neighborhood is brought into conversation. She’s surprised, because she never seems to be in her own apartment long enough to be recognized, and wonders how many people passed through today that she could have been sharing a wall with, or at least a street.

“Oh! Maybe!” Now that she’s brought it up, the woman standing before her does look familiar, but Haley is so scarcely at home the people milling about Woodside Heights blur together on her commute to work, or to see her parents. “I apologize if I haven’t been a good neighbor. Barely home enough to even contend, I don’t think.” She jokes again, stepping closer into the room, and extending her hand, deciding they were both owed a proper introduction. “Haley Liu.”

Sometimes Isaiah's head could become too clouded with all the information he poured into it on a daily basis. He wasn't just an information and knowledge seeker, the man was passionate about the work he was doing, and much of it was filed and sorted away in that brain of his. On days where it all became too much and his thoughts felt strained or jumbled he headed out of the house and his work space to ease the pressure of it all. One of the best things about this clearing was also how with shifting his focus often times the ideas he needed would break through.

Rather than head to the museum aimlessly, Isaiah had sent an email to an anthropologist he'd been needing to speak to and hoped that he'd catch the doctor there. He brought his iPad with him — in it he had his notes and files stored that he'd reference and bring to the attention of the doctor. When he'd gotten to the museum of history and science the place seemed to be emptying out, and there was no one there at the front desk. He wandered in hopes to encounter a staff member and ended up letting the exhibits steal his focus.

"Hello," he greeted and turned slightly to the voice only to recognize Haley Liu. They were neighbors now and growing up, if he remembered correctly, was one of his older sister's friends. The smile that had appeared faded some as she informed him he'd stayed past closing time and essentially said he shouldn't still be there. "Oh, sorry about that, uhh —" Zey glanced in the direction of the exit before meeting her gaze once more, "I was actually supposed to be meeting with Dr Segura. There wasn't anyone at the front desk when I came in. Do you know if Segura is still here?"

“Hi.” She responds softly, brow furrowing in concern as Isaiah glances around the room as if he’s just realised he’s there, or if he’s lost his way or something. She’s about to offer to walk him back to the exit when Segura’s name falls from his lips, and all she can do is offer him an uninspiring hum. “I don’t,” Haley admits, almost sheepishly, smiling dropping from her face again. “But I can find out for you! Why don’t you come with me? My office is probably more of a comfy place to wait than in here.” One of the cons about museums, it sometimes felt too cold and clinical depending on the exhibit or theme. 

She swivels back in the direction of the hall she’s just walked down on, glancing back to see if Isaiah isn’t too far behind, and offers him yet another smile; all reassurances and smiles. “I’m sure we can get you exactly where you need to be asap! So…how have you been?” It’s small-talk — she hates engaging in small talk — but Haley was never one to just pretend people didn’t exist, even if she had lost touch over the years.