#easthavenstart

Rory had only been in town for a few weeks, and she still couldn't figure out how to get around without getting lost. Back home she was a pro at getting around LA, practically able to travel the entire city with her eyes closed. But East Haven? Nope, she got lost going around the corner, trying to find her hotel from each store. It seemed as if the gps on her phone only helped a little. She tried not to rely on it, since she was planning on staying here for a long time and figured it'd be best to get to know her way around. "Damn, didn't I just pass this store?" She asked, probably louder than she anticipated. She was trying to get back to the Silver Moon Hotel, after doing some shopping at Book Haven for some books to read at night. "Excuse me, can you help me by any chance?" She asked to the person beside her.

Asher was finally feeling better than he had the entire night of the wind storm. Part of it was his anxiety was lifted, that was for sure, but mostly it was because of the medication he'd been given for his pain. There was a tube still in his side, draining air and fluid from the space his lung usually filled, and he was vaguely aware of an IV in his hand. He still wasn't moving much, too woozy and sore, but he wasn't in excruciating pain anymore, which was kind of nice. Or, at the very least, the drugs were nice.

"Good morning, gorgeous," he said, grinning at the individual who had walked into his room. "I know I'm not wearing a shirt right now, but if I was, you should know it'd be made of boyfriend material," he added, winking in their direction.

The scent of pine filled the crisp winter air as Gavin wandered through the Christmas tree lot, his breath visible in the chill. The lot was a festive maze of evergreens, each tree adorned with twinkling lights and the promise of holiday joy. Gavin was on a mission—to find the perfect Christmas tree for his home, a tree that would stand tall and proud in the center of his living room.

His eyes roamed over the assortment of trees, each one seemingly more splendid than the last, but none quite meeting his vision of the ideal Christmas centerpiece. Pondering his choices, he found himself standing beside a stranger who seemed to exude an air of tree-picking expertise.

"Excuse me," Gavin began, offering a friendly smile, "I'm on a quest for the ultimate Christmas tree, and I can't seem to make up my mind. Any chance you have a recommendation for the perfect one?"

The low hum of country music filled the air as Romeo stepped into Tequila Cowboy, the familiar scent of trashy bar food instantly bringing a sense of comfort. The weekend had been a whirlwind of grading essays and administering tests at the high school, and the weight of it all lingered in the lines on his forehead.

Heading to the bar, he found a vacant stool and settled in, eager for the prospect of a relaxing evening. "Margarita, please," he requested from the bartender, flashing a tired but appreciative smile. As he waited for his drink, he glanced over the menu, contemplating what would pair well with the promise of a refreshing cocktail. "IF you were looking for something horrible to eat right now what would you choose off this menu?" Looking over to the person seated next to him.

Kat pulls her sweater closer to her body, taking her time as she walks through the streets. It's been a month since she's moved in, but she's barely had any time to explore the town, too busy unpacking and getting used to her new job. She lets out a sigh, relieved to finally be able to take a break.

Reaching for her camera, she lifts it to her eyes and peers through the viewfinder, wanting to take a shot of Founder's Square when she spots something that catches her eye. There's a string of lights set up somewhere down the road, people heading towards it in groups. She lowers her camera, curiously walking towards the lights.

Her face brightens when she realizes it's a food park. After three consecutive nights of instant noodles, she tells herself she deserves a delicious meal that night. As she walks around Food Haven, she can't help but miss her friends in California, as well as her mom and sister. Starting over in a new place isn't new to her, she had to do it when she was younger. But making friends now is different than it was when you were 11.

"Still, you'll have to make new friends eventually."

If only she were more extroverted, like her little sister.

Sully did love his Adventure Center, it was just what he needed to retire. Yes, this was him being retired even know he was living a pretty active life. That didn't really slow down all that much. The biggest change he had was getting himself a house, the first one he really ever bought since he normally was never home long enough to need one. He had been looking online for the last few months he was still sailing to find something for him to do. Googling so many places for sale, arcades, places you rent boats, theme parks he looked at it all. But he landed on the Adventure Center in New Haven. He fell for it and bought it.

It had been over two years now and loved it. He was one to be out and about at the center to see the people. He wasn't one to stick into an office or own it from his home. But here he was at the dock near the rental shop. He had music playing as he was cleaning up and making things neat around the small shop. He was cleaning now the bikes you could rent, the ones good for just a lap around the lake and ones that you could take off-roading. He was into the current song to the point he was singing along and had no idea someone had walked up.

Malik strolled through the charming streets of downtown, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling town. The warm sunlight painted the storefronts in a golden hue as people hurried past, engaged in their daily routines. A small paper bag dangled from his fingertips, the remnants of a quick coffee stop at the local café.

As he meandered, Malik realized he needed to pick up a few groceries. He checked his phone for directions and, with a vague sense of direction, started navigating towards the grocery store. The vibrant energy of the town surrounded him, and he couldn't help but smile as he discovered new corners and storefronts.

Turning a corner, Malik found himself on a quaint street that seemed promising. His eyes scanned the storefronts, searching for the telltale signs of a grocery store. Spotting a few locals engaged in conversation, he decided to ask for directions.

Approaching the person stopped on the sidewalk, he flashed a warm smile. "Hey there, I'm on the hunt for the grocery store. Any chance you could point me in the right direction?" he asked, his tone easygoing.

Now the roads were clearing, Roman had made his way back into town to check on the food truck. He'd heard some rumours that there had been serious damage to one of the trucks, and his heart went out to who it belonged to when he saw it. Thankfully, Sunny Side Up Truck was safe, with only a scattered of small branches across its roof, and some tree debris in the local area.

Roman was armed with winter clothing, thick gloves, a shovel and a sturdy outdoor brush to sweep and clean up as best he could. He didn't mind helping with the clean-up - it gave him something to do, and at times when he felt helpless, he needed something to do. He brought his truck to collect the wood, intending to take it home.

He was inside the truck with the window open, looking over the stock inside and deciding what to throw and if anything could be kept when someone approached the window. "Oh... Hey. Sorry. We're not open. I'm just checking up after the storm."