#rivervale_lodge

Adam and Greely open the store together today, and while Greely counts the cash and sets up the register, Adam gets to stocking and learning the inventory better.

Sam enters the store, wearing a Rutgers basketball jersey over a long-sleeved t-shirt. Tove undid her braids last night, resulting in an extra-fluffy mane of honey colored curls.

New guy stocking the aisles. Tall, fine, angular features. Short curly brown hair and green eyes. Wearing the store jersey uniform. Handsome guy, really.

She takes him in, somewhat critically - sizing him up as if determining a threat.

Not hostile, per se - more wary.

Not preternatural. Just a teen guy, it seems.

A slight grunt and an upnod, but mostly browsing.

A brilliant smile. "Hi! Need any help?"

Shrug. "Just looking." A pause. "You're new."

"Yeah, just moved here."

"Yeah? From where?"

"New York, South of West point."

"Hunh. Well, welcome."

"Thanks! Hey, do you know where the lake is?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you give me direction? Heard people hang out there sometimes."

"You looking to go necking or some shit?"

"You offering?" A cocky grin.

A scowl.

Still grinning.

A voice, Mr. Greely, a mortal who works here and Sam knows calls out, "Let me know if you need help there, Sam." The middle aged no nonsense man is not one to push himself on customers. He sells good stuff and he knows it.

"I'm good, Mr. Greely."

A grunt nod. Probably why Mr. Greely and her dad get along.

Another grunt, and she takes a blue mouthguard off the shelf to examine it. "Lake ain't hard to find. It's just up Apple St."

The door swings open, and a big man strides in. Tall, blonde, nordic looking but his features are more rugged than refined... those who knew Frank King might see a resemblance here, but James King is a bit more stand offish than his brother normally.

"I mean, you can walk other ways. But that's where the parking lot is. There's a bike trail along it."

The kid nods. "Good to know.... wait, you're on of the Esses!"

(Plural S)

"Huh?"

"Sam. You're Sam." A pleased grin. "I've heard about you."

She bristles. "Heard what?"

"Hey, easy..." He holds his hands up. "Just, like, your name. Uh. Oh, you go to school here. Zane knows you."

"Oh. Zane."

"Yeah, seems like a good guy. I'm starting school in the fall here."

Still wary. "Yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Jaymes waits patiently nearby.

Sam doesn't seem to have noticed him yet - she's bristled and defensive, focused on the stranger.

"Yeah, well, I am Sam. Like Mr. Greely said."

"I'm Adam." He offers a hand.

She eyes the hand, gauging threat level again before taking it for a shake. She has a FIRM grip.

"Jeeze... got something to prove?"

Scowl. "No."

"Ok then."

Grunt.

"People go to the lake to, you know...." He drops his voice "... fool around?"

Her jaw juts out and she shoots him a glare. "Don't you have work to do?"

"Jeeze, sorry.... forget I asked." And he does, indeed, turn back to stocking.

As he turns, a shadow looms past his... giant, and carrying a pole arm, or at least, the silhouette of one

At least, that's what he THINKS it looks like