meet me in the afterglow

Adam laughs as well, also enjoying this more relaxed Dr. Pavo than the usual woman. He sees business minded people all the time, city council members included. Sometimes, even their "relaxed" is still in business mode which is tiresome and aggravating. But here Harriet isn't in work mode. She's clearly having fun.

"Oh haven't you heard, doctor? Open marriages are all the rage now. Cheating without the consequences."

He laughs again and shakes his head. Adam hasn't considered himself a monogamy type in a while though how much of that is him not getting into actual relationships, he doesn't have the mental capacity to investigate in himself. Dealing with his anger issues takes enough time and energy, that he would need to break down his views on relationships.

"I don't need to go backstage. Though watching you try to get us there would probably be just as entertaining as the music."

His second comment is interesting though - not the sort of come-on she had grown to expect from Adam. He's still too young for her, but it's her night off and she's not drunk enough to make mistakes. Might as well have fun with him, "Are you entertained by me?"

There are many parts of this conversation that she could respond to. She could say that situationships have been happening forever, just by different names. She could say that she's not at all offended by Harriet's refusal to engage in her, because Antonia's ego was not so fragile. She could say that Harriet certainly didn't seem too old and too tired.

But no, she has something much juicier to sink her teeth into.

"And how exactly would you 'help' me with that?" Hariet replied with a raised eyebrow before she could think better of it.

As if she even needed help. Zander had respectfully put the offer out on the table a handful of times, but Harriet first and foremost had her daughters to think of these days and was not going to be caught sleeping with a coworker when her reputation was still in the works, "I did not say I planned to."

Adam nods. Harriet's love for her kids is well-known in town. It is interesting to see her without them. Relaxed clothes as well as posture.

"Ah well, you see, as someone with a lot of money and influence, sometimes I'm offered free things. And sometimes I accept them and actually use them. Usually when I'm feeling too cooped up in town."

He tries to sound self-deprecating about it but no matter how he says it, it sounds pretentious. He can easily pay for tickets but he's using the free ones. He wouldn't have known about the band if he hadn't been offered them. He glances to the guitarist and nods, impressed.

"Hoping to make him the next Mr. Pavo?"

"Ha! That's a good one," Harriet let out a surprised laugh, "As much as I would love a man to take my name, I'm not interested in that man traveling all around the country sleeping with groupies. And he's probably not interested in a fuddy-duddy like me. I could get us backstage to rub elbows maybe, unless your free tickets already included a backstage pass?"

“Naturally,” he agrees, his voice almost playful as he gently lowers his cup back onto the table, amused by her choice to try and bring a semblance of levity back to the conversation after having initially spoiled the easy atmosphere of their encounter, only for that same levity to be quickly dispelled once more as she insists upon questioning him further about his past.

Why? What does she aim to gain from this, really? What does she expect of him? Knowledge can be a curse as much as it can be a blessing and, try as he may, he cannot think of what good could ever possibly come from her unearthing the truth of what his involvement with his wife may or may not have been more than two decades ago, before the birth of his son. All knowing about it would do would be to hurt her — to break her heart, mortify her pride and risk shattering the idealized view of what their past had been together he knows she holds, so why not simply let the sand at the bottom of the river lie rather than stirring it up and live in the blissful ignorance he had afforded her by keeping his affairs to himself?

“I know you don’t. I never intended for you to.” This admission, now, is one that comes easily to him. There is no need, he feels, to play coy around that. If he had meant for her to know any more than what she does, he would have told her so himself.

Still, he has to give her something. Zander can’t not give her something.

Crossing one leg over the other, he pretends at struggling to recall the exact timeline before continuing.

“My eldest was born in the spring of the year you and I graduated and moved away to pursue our education.”

What he leaves unsaid, of course, is that for his first son to have been born then, whatever had happened between himself and his mother had to have taken place in the year preceding that, their final year of high-school — but he trusts in her intellect enough to know she would surmise that much for herself.

It’s a concession, small as it may be so as to not further incriminate himself. Only just enough to give her a semblance of this timeline she seems so intent on determining — for the better or for the worse.

@theafterglcw

She can't give Zander the "win" of knowing that he ever had her heart long enough to hurt her, though.

Cheating is always reprehensible, but in the grand scheme of things, Harriet supposed she wouldn't hold this transgression as harshly against Zander as she did her cheater ex-husband, remarried to his 22 year old mistress and leaving her with two kids to provide for. It's apples and oranges, really. But that didn't mean that some ravenous part of Harriet wouldn't want to devour them either way.

"Thank you for being honest with me," That's really what this is about, isn't it? Harriet does like to reward honesty, though unfortunately she doubted she could Pavlov-train Zander into partaking in the habit more frequently.

"The intentions are interesting to me though. I thought we'd agreed to stay in touch after we moved. You thought I'd never ever question it?" Harriet loves pointing out where there is an obvious inconsistency between what a person says they want paralleled with the direct consequences of their actions. Teenagers saying they don't want to argue with their parents, then doing things like sneaking out late or skipping school. Exes saying they didn't mean to hurt anyone when they are committing obviously hurtful actions.

Again, at least Zander's honest. Not as honest as he could be, though. If they're going to move forward at all, he'll need to loosen up the reigns on that tightly controlled image of his. Isn't it about time they really saw each other as they are?

Which is exactly why she is entirely serious when she flutters her lashes, tilts her head, and leans a little closer to her across the table.

"What if you don't bring home a stranger at all? And who says you have to go home? I've got rooms for you, if you're up for a tryst or two. Or three, I don't judge. I'm open too, you know, if you ever feel like revisiting your days of experimentation." She practically purrs out, more than happy to be doing what she does best: meddle and cajole.

"You're a big commitment kind of woman. Anyone I set you up with will have to be ready and willing to marry, or ready and willing to experience a very prolonged, very personal, but very pretend impersonal, sort of affair. Marriage is hard to come by in todays market. But a... what was it called again? A situationship is a little more attainable. That I can get you."

She squints at her slightly, bringing her hands together in front of her to observe Harriet closely.

"Unless you have something new to tell me?"

"A situation-ship? Do I look 14?" Harriet had heard a few of her 20-something year old clients chat about their trashy "boyfriends who didn't want to be called boyfriends". Of course, as a impartial third party, Harriet's job was simply to guide them into the decisions that felt best for them. But most of the time that just meant breaking up with the man child who wouldn't commit to them.

"You presume that I would be anywhere near getting married again even if I did choose to date. I haven't even slept with Zander yet. I'm just not interested in 'experimentation'. I'm too old for it, and far too tired," She gives a sideways glance to Antonia, "Not that you're not still youthful and vivacious in your own way."

Zander knows better than to ask what is bothering her now, as he returns to his seat in the aftermath of stepping away momentarily to answer a sudden and urgent phone call. Whatever Harriet means to say to him, she will always say it — all he needs to do about it is to lean back upon his chair, an eyebrow absently raised in expectation, and wait.

When she finally does ask him what had been so visibly eating away at her in his absence, he almost smiles. Almost.

To him, the memory of their youth and of the relationship they had once had, if he can even call what they had a relationship at all, is colored by the perception he has of that time in his life — a time where he had been held back and constrained by his father’s authority, his wings clipped and the thought of his freedom still a distant ambition. It had always been their families’ intentions to set them up with one another as an advantageous match and, regardless of how they may have felt about one another in their hearts, it was one thing to choose to be together, and another thing entirely to have that choice foisted upon them.

In all honesty, when she had informed him of her decision to put an end to their relationship shortly after they had moved in pursuit of higher education, it had come to him as a relief, which is why he had accepted the break-up so readily. Why wouldn’t he? Their lives clearly appeared to be heading in opposing directions, and they were no longer beholden to the wishes and plans of their parents. By the time he heard, years later, that she had married someone else in sunny California, he was not surprised in the least to find how little the news bothered him, being already married himself at that point, with two young children of his own — the eldest of which had been conceived during the early years of his involvement with Harriet, with the woman who would go on to become his wife of more than a decade.

But had it been a relationship, really, or an obligation?

Slowly, he crosses one leg over the other as he thinks and reaches for his cup, bringing it to his lips and taking a long, deliberate sip.

Even if his wife had already moved back to New York City with their children by the time Harriet returned to his town, there was no doubt in his mind that she had heard much about them. They had been the ruling family of Godscobh for so many years, after all — The mayor, his first lady, and their four children. Surely she has done the math, by now, on their ages. Her question is, then, nothing more than an attempt to get him to admit it.

...Did she really think it was going to be that easy?

"Why ask me a question you already know the answer to?"

@theafterglcw

Despite it all, Harriet smiles. Goddamn him.

"Because I love ruining dates so much, of course," Harriet raises her own coffee to her lips, mirroring him.

It does hurt, truly, to know his eldest was conceived ( or perhaps born? She's fuzzy on the details ) somewhere in the same timeframe a young Harriet was excitedly dating her first real boyfriend, having her first real relationship. It was an ancient history now, however time hadn't so much "healed" the wound as it had smoothed it over, like a rock that has been beaten over by waves and slowly eroded into a new shape. Technically speaking, perhaps there was no physical cheating at all depending on the exact times and places conversations, commitments, kisses, and other actions took place. But who could even remember the exact dates those took place on years after the fact?

And even if they could, Zander wouldn't be the one to own up to it all. That ambiguity brings up a more nebulous side of infidelity then, of omissions and emotions. Things that can't be tracked on an exact schedule like birth dates and first times. Moreso than knowing precisely when his first child was conceived, Harriet finds herself curious about the omission aspect of it all, the hiding and secrecy, and how much of it Zander knew it would hurt her. Well, would've hurt her, back when it mattered.

In little ways, it does matter now too, though. If he wants to have a pleasant brunch, that is. They'll have to play the honesty game a little longer.

"Fine," Her cup clicks back onto the table, "I don't know the exact answer though." And wouldn't he give her anything her heart desired?

Call it naivety or whatever you’d like but this seemed like a pretty important place to start. Something that helped everyday travel, something everyone had to do to some degree. Part of the reason ae’d asked for Harriet in particular, she had a better sense for everyone’s everyday struggles after all.

Ae hummed. “That’d be a good place to start, cleaning up the debris and clearing out the rubbish.” An overhaul wasn’t in the agenda, mostly because of aer inexperience. That was fine, Mercury could work with this.

"It's tough to say, I feel like we make minor patches every year, but then the forest throws half of itself back at us," Almost like the earth here had a mind of it's own, entirely rebellious of their efforts, "We had a construction effort to build more roads and business areas a few miles away, but that was debated heavily because the construction would disturb so much wildlife and the coastline. For every bit we gain in terms of walkability, we lose a lot of land that's being paved away, and it's not always well received. But if you think you can find an angle for the proposal, I don't see why we couldn't make the case."

"Oh, Harriet, if I thought like that, I'd be too pretty for anybody." She responds, confident and self-assured. Yes, perhaps that blond man had been a little doofy looking, a little dopey and cow-eyed. But no one was every going to be as beautiful as herself, and that was just a simple fact. There were other beautiful things about people that could be uncovered, though. Which is exactly what she'd been after.

"Besides, he was incredibly well-equipped, if you get my meaning. And that's also very important, you know. He's a butter face but that's alright, not everyone is as blessed as I am. When was the last time you had something that tasty making you see stars?" She pokes and prods, a wicked grin on her face. She so loves these chats of theirs. The chats where Antonia pushes all the wrong buttons and Harriet pretends to have patience.

"Wouldn't it be a 'butt-his face'?" Harriet chuckled; she did find quite a bit of amusement in ragging on the man. It was a little like watching a soap opera or reality television whenever she checked in on Antonia's flings, "You know I don't have time for that sort of thing. As if I'm going to bring home a stranger just for an evening of meaningless 'fun'?"

It's not even really what Harriet thought of as fun anyways, though she had had good sex in her life. She just preferred to be be with someone she was very, very committed and safe with. And it had been quite a long time since she'd felt that safety with anyone.

"You could set me up with someone if you're so set on it, but I can't promise I'll like their company."

"Alone," he replies, hoping not to get interrogated about the lie about his drinking habits. "To the annoyance of my staff and shock to my competitors, I'm not one for security. And I don't have an entourage. I'm too intimidating for that."

He puffs out his chest and scowls even though most of the expression is hidden by his sunglasses. He can't hold it long though before he's chuckling to himself.

"And what about you, doctor?"

"Well, my entourage couldn't make it because they have a playdate with Bluey this afternoon," She loosens up when he laughs too, spotting the cracks in that usual grizzled exterior, "And contrary to the popular belief, I do have a life outside of my children and work. I've followed this guitarist since he was in a college band, and I was really happy when he showed up on the East coast. How'd you find out about this band?"

"If anything, the lesson people should be learning is how important Nauticus is to the betterment of the town you claim to care so much about. Then again, you haven't been here long, have you, doctor? You don't remember what it was like before we had our tourism and ports."

They're the same age, but James likes playing the superiority card.

"It's only reasonable that I should want those rats prosecuted for the damage to my property," And once they're out on probation, the names of who he should dole out his own punishment to.

"You know what they say about making assumptions, James," She had actually visited Godscobh many times in her youth, in contact with Zander's family. That was personal though, and not something she cared to discuss with the man who could use information against anybody, "Are you worried about an insurance payout, is that it? I'm certain as long as you document all the damaged products, you'll be well taken care of."

Her bashful smile at Harriet's compliment turned into a surprised bout of laughter, more full-bodied than usual thanks to her inebriated state. She waved her hand. "Eh, every time I get online, there's someone suggesting a round of Botox. Par for the course in a world terrified of women aging."

She smiled at Harriet over the rim of her glass as she took another sip. "You know, I wasn't serious, but now you're starting to convince me. Maybe we should just book a flight. Let the people here sort out their own messes for once."

"Oh, but I do so love sorting out messes. Not the physical ones my girls leave on the floor, but the gossip? The infighting? My favorite thing about being a couples counselor," It's just a joke, but a very true one at that. No one became a therapist because they had a completely normal interest in other people's lives, "Besides seeing happy couples, of course. I thought you liked them too, Odette? Isn't that why you keep me around?"

The redhead stuck out her bottom lip in a juvenile pout, but breaks face quickly. She just wants to see how Odette would react at this point.

Adam had been sure he'd be incognito here. Dressed down and sunglasses covering a considerable amount of his face, not to mention not in Godscobh. Surely, he wouldn't be recognized.

Except it seems he's not the only Godscobh resident to crave an event like this.

He does nearly spit out his drink when she catches him but thankfully he just swallows weird and has to cough before he can respond.

"Dr. Pavo," he greets, catching his breath. "How do we keep meeting like this?"

He looks down at his drink.

"I can hold my liquor pretty well. I just try to moderate how much these days."

Well, not quiet, per se. The opening act was starting to strum and plenty of party groups were already singing along off-key, "You here alone, or did you just now escape the entourage? If you want, I can pretend I didn't notice a thing."

"Yes, we'll rebuild. We always come back stronger," James replied through gritted teeth. No matter who was sheriff and no matter how many times the council claimed to be investigating him, he always came out on top.

"Speaking of that draw, have you found any more of the hoodlums who destroyed my property? Your force has been working very hard to make sure it'll be weeks until Nauticus can reopen again. I'd hate to think stopping the primary shipping company in Godscobh has been all for naught."

"Funny, I find that Godscobh is the sum of it's parts. We all come back stronger," The redhead nodded along kindly with the not-so veiled threat. Her vision had narrowed, thankfully, to only James standing in a rickety, empty shipping vessel. And thankfully nothing red and violent in her periphery, "Whenever you're up and running again, I would hope everyone involved will have learned their lessons about hubris and audacity."