Alex: Hey, can I order flowers over text?

Eleanor: Normally, no, but for you I’ll make an exception. What kind of arrangement do you want?

Alex: … something nice?

Eleanor: You don’t know anything about flowers, do you?

Alex: Less than nothing.

Eleanor: Can I assume that they’re for Steph?

Alex: Our one-month anniversary is in ten days.

Eleanor: Oh, that’s so sweet!

Alex: Thanks. I just want something nice that doesn’t make me look like an idiot.

Eleanor: Well, you can’t go wrong with roses.

Alex: That seems… clichéd.

Eleanor: If you want something with a bit more meaning, lilacs are the flowers that symbolize new love. I can sprinkle a few of them in there, the purple color will really make it pop.

Alex: That sounds good. How long will it take?

Eleanor: I have to order the lilacs, since I don’t have any here at the moment, but it won’t take that long. They can definitely be ready in ten days. Are you guys doing something special?

Alex: I was thinking about cooking her dinner.

Eleanor: Good for you, dear. I hear heavy petting burns lots of calories.

Alex: … I’m gonna go jump off a bridge now.

Eleanor: 😉

Charlotte: Ladies Night at Black Lantern tomorrow! Who’s in?

Steph: … you mean the bar we hang out at all the time?

Riley: The one where I go for lunch three days a week?

Alex: And the one where I’m currently employed?

Charlotte: Yes, except we’re all going to go there to get drunk.

Alex: We can do that whenever.

Charlotte: We’re going to do it TOGETHER.

Alex: Does it have to be at the Black Lantern? I literally hang out here all day.

Riley: As opposed the other bar in town?

Steph: There is no other bar in town.

Alex: … woosh.

Steph: Ah, dammit.

Charlotte: Come on! Are you guys in or what?

Riley: I don’t know. This new class is kicking my butt.

Alex: I might have to work.

Steph: I’m with Alex whether she’s working or not.

Charlotte: I forgot to mention that I have a couple of new flavors of gummies that just came in. I need taste testers.

Alex: I’m in.

Riley: Same.

Steph: See you guys there!

Steph: Random thought. I know Jed’s been transferred to Denver; is Diane still here?

Pike: No. She followed him a week later.

Steph: Are they in the same jail?

Pike: I’m not sure, but most prisons are segregated by gender, so probably not.

Pike: Why the question?

Steph: I’m just worried about her getting out and coming back to Haven Springs.

Pike: It won’t be an issue. She’s being charged as an accessory to Gabe’s death, and the FBI has possession of her laptop and flash drive.

Steph: So she’s going away for a while.

Pike: She’ll get a few years knocked off for cooperating, but yes.

Steph: Cooperating?

Pike: The feds are still investigating Typhon at their level. My understanding is that they’re uncovering a LOT of shady business. Diane and Jed will wind up testifying at some point.

Steph: So they might duck jail??

Pike: No. Jed still confessed to getting all those miners killed, on top of trying to kill Alex. Best he can hope for is a chance for probation when he’s geriatric.

Pike: And Diane’s already arranged for a deal that includes prison time, though with a reduced sentence. She’ll get out sooner than Jed, but I can’t imagine that she’d want to come back here.

Steph: Yea, that sounds like a great way to get lynched.

Pike: … you remember that I’m a cop, right?

Steph: I remember what the first amendment says, too.

Pike: Fair enough.

Alex: Okay, I’ve been thinking about it, and I have a few suggestions for the bar.

Ryan: I’m listening.

Alex: Charlotte got me thinking about a formal Ladies Nights. How do you feel about women getting half-off beer and their first appetizer every other Thursday?

Ryan: How does that help the bar?

Alex: Because men tend to follow women, dope. And if we can get more eligible bachelorettes in the bar…

Ryan: Okay, that’s true. Will we still make money on the drinks and food?

Alex: Not as much, but yes, and I think the men coming in behind them will make up for it.

Ryan: We can probably do that. What’s your next idea?

Alex: Duck fries.

Ryan: … what the hell are duck fries?

Alex: Fries cooked in duck fat oil. We can order it online.

Ryan: Is that actually good?

Alex: I had some back in Oregon. They’re still the best damn fries I’ve ever had. They’ll cost a little more, but we can make up for it on the price. And I guarantee you that they will sell.

Ryan: I don’t know about that one.

Alex: The place that made them in Oregon had people lined up for them. I had to pay $10 for a serving.

Ryan: Did that include a burger? Or drink?

Alex: No. And people were happy to pay it.

Ryan: All right, I’ll look into it. What else?

Alex: Trivia nights. We can run them easily; it’s just making lists of questions and coming up with prizes for the winners.

Ryan: Sounds like fun. I could totally get behind that.

Ryan: What’s making you come up with all this anyway? Are you bored?

Alex: Is me trying to help you out so terrible?

Ryan: I’m just checking for ulterior motives.

Alex: … it’s the fries. I haven’t had them since I left Oregon, and I’m totally jonesing.

Ryan: Are they really that good?

Alex: I had to ride the bus for two days to get here, and I would take it BACK for another serving right now.

Steph: You touched my drums again.

Alex: Okay, how could you POSSIBLY have known that?

Steph: I know everything.

Steph: I see all.

Steph: Also, I leave the sticks a certain way when I finish. They were different when I left the booth, and you’re the only one brave enough to touch them.

Alex: … I just wanted to hammer on them like a little kid.

Alex: And your little “Touch and die” sign makes me feel like I’m living life on the edge.

Steph: You didn’t ACTUALLY hammer on them like a little kid, right?

Alex: No, I just hit them a few times.

Steph: Do you want to learn how to play?

Alex: I’m still struggling with the guitar.

Steph: You are a badass with the guitar. Do you not remember all the applause we got at the Spring Festival?

Alex: Where everyone was wasted?

Steph: I know you may not have seen a lot of music shows, but most people who go to them are wasted.

Steph: Have you guys considered getting a web site?

Riley: I mentioned it to Nana once, but she doesn’t think it’s worth the money. Why?

Steph: It’d be handy to place an order for flowers without having to go down to your store.

Riley: We’re literally across the street from you.

Steph: I know, but I’m lazy.

Riley: Why don’t you just tell me what you want. I’m guessing flowers for Alex?

Steph: Yes please.

Riley: What kind? And when do you need them?

Steph: Something pretty. And tomorrow.

Riley: Okay, that’s short notice but we can totally do it.

Steph: I just realized, like, five minutes ago that tomorrow’s our one-month anniversary. And only because Alex said she wanted to celebrate by cooking me dinner.

Steph: So I’m kind of scrambling.

Riley: Aww. Also, way to stay on top of things.

Steph: I know, I know. What can you do for me?

Riley: We’ve got plenty of roses, those are always good for significant others.

Steph: That’s a good start. Can we mix in something else so they’re less plain?

Riley: Let me look around. Hang on.

Riley: Alright, we’ve got a few options. Tulips are a common choice, they’re flower-speak for deep love.

Riley: We also have lilies, which symbolize purity. They’ll look great with the red on the roses.

Riley: There’s some lilacs, too, we just got those in. They represent new love.

Riley: And peonies, which are usually for joyous occasions, but I only have a few left.

Steph: Hmm. Well, we’ve only been together for a month, so lilacs seem the best option so far.

Riley: True. And they’re a really nice shade of purple, which will make the roses look gorgeous.

Steph: That sounds perfect. Can you put some together for me?

Riley: Let me talk to Nana, see what she can do.

Riley: Okay, she says she’ll put it together for you for tomorrow.

Riley: Also, she says you and Alex are adorable. And won’t stop snickering.

Steph: Why?

Riley: She refuses to say.