chimaeras_lair: Welcome to Collinsport
It was a cold gray winter evening in early January. The pine trees that lined the road at several points wore a seasonal mantle of white. Spike drove his black 1958 Dodge Desoto Fireflite towards the small fishing village some 50 miles from Bangor, Maine where him and Dru had spent the previous night. A heavy snow storm had forced them to take lodging at the Bangor Pine Hotel. But now that the weather had improved they were continuing on their way. A slippery covering of packed snow made driving on the surface of the old road a bit more tedious. Spike had always hated the cold weather and especially driving in the snow. The song California Dreamin' playing on the car radio was'nt helping. Spike was actually missing Sunnydale. Regardless of how troublesome it could be at times, at least it was always warm and more comfortable all year round. Yet he really didn't need to be thinking about the warm breeze blowing off the Pacific at the moment. Needed to focus on the winding road and getting to the obscure Maine village... which much like Sunnydale was not even listed on any bloody maps.
The road swung outward and veered along the cliffs about the rocky beach there were few trees. After driving from one side of America to the other, Spike was relieved when he drove past an old worn sign that bore the town's name: Collinsport. He gazed over at his beautiful passenger. Dru had been quiet for the last several hours. Her mind seemed to be some where else. Perhaps seeing the stars, while everyone else could only see dark cloudy gloominess. He really didn't want to disturb her moment of serenity, but knew she'd wanna know that the fun is about to begin. So leans over and whispers in her ear. "We are here baby. And remember our cover story, pet. I'm William Wentworth... a Professor on sabbatical from Boston College. Your my poor ailing sister. Are lookin' for a nice quiet hamlet for you to recover from recent health problems."
He drove slowly down the street past the old train station. Noticing a crumbling block of quaint New England village. The small buildings were mostly weathered shanties, but farther up the road he could see a line of colonial houses that appeared to have been made into offices of some sort. From somewhere far behind him, he could hear the horns of a few distant boats. The main part of town lay several blocks up this avenue, but off to the right Spike saw two very welcoming sights.
A large wooden building with white panel siding, well-kept for its age, and brightly lit, displayed an oval hand-painted sign. It read Collinsport Inn. Til they could make other arrangements, it would be as good a place as any to secure reasonably private quarters in which to spend the daylight hours. He parked by the the Inn and him and Dru entered it together. But reminded her not to say anything and to act ill. Since it was the dead of winter, the Inn had plenty of rooms. He took one on the third floor. It was rustic and somewhat bland, but would do. Spike escorts Dru to the room to rest, and asks her to wait an hour or so before following. First he'd chat it up some, then she could come and join him at the local tavern down the street for some fun.
After having a glass of coffee at the Inn's coffee shop. And mentioning about being a Professor from Boston, and about his poor sickly sister needing such a peaceful and serene place to recover. Spike leaves the Inn, and heads down the street from it on a small lane that apparently lead to the waterfront. He see's a low building with a barely visible sign identifying it as the Blue Whale Tavern. Where there are taverns, there are drunken mortals, and gossip about all the local goings on. And by the looks of the town, appears to be the only such establishment around. So that is where he will go. Get a few drinks, and make friendly with the locals. He walks down the street to the tavern. He's sure that Dru will get impatient and follow him soon enough. But least until she arrives, will be able too pretend to be alone, and perhaps get a more friendly response than if the locals think he is unavailable to hook up.
He enters the Blue Whale and looks around, taking in the scents and atmosphere of the place. It's nothing like Willy's or the Fish Tank. For one thing, it doesn't appear to have any demons as customers. But does smell a bit like the Fish Tank, due to all the men who by their dress and smell appear to be from the a local cannery he noticed or some other fishing related profession. Compared to the freezing temperatures outside, the air inside the Blue Whale felt very warm and thick with the smells of fried fish and beer. Pipe and cigar smoke clung to the beamed ceiling. The patrons sat on stools along the bar. They were toasting each other and laughing. Two older scraggly-bearded fishermen were at the dartboard, trying to hold each other up while aiming the darts in the general direction of the board. A warm fire roared in a stone fire-place on the far side of the room. It reflected sparks of light off the shiny and polished surfaces of the many large fish that had been mounted for decoration on the dark worn walls...a blue marlin, a swordfish, among others, their eyes wide, button like, and very dead.
Spike noticed immediately that other than the waitress and two lovely girls at a table to the back, everyone else seemed to be men. Perhaps the cold and snowy weather had kept most of the local females away that night. In any case he wasn't there to hook up with any girls, so it didn't matter much. Although he will make it a point to introduce himself to those two girls before the night is over. But first he needs a drink. Well not the kind of drink he really wants, but for now a beer will do.
The road swung outward and veered along the cliffs about the rocky beach there were few trees. After driving from one side of America to the other, Spike was relieved when he drove past an old worn sign that bore the town's name: Collinsport. He gazed over at his beautiful passenger. Dru had been quiet for the last several hours. Her mind seemed to be some where else. Perhaps seeing the stars, while everyone else could only see dark cloudy gloominess. He really didn't want to disturb her moment of serenity, but knew she'd wanna know that the fun is about to begin. So leans over and whispers in her ear. "We are here baby. And remember our cover story, pet. I'm William Wentworth... a Professor on sabbatical from Boston College. Your my poor ailing sister. Are lookin' for a nice quiet hamlet for you to recover from recent health problems."
He drove slowly down the street past the old train station. Noticing a crumbling block of quaint New England village. The small buildings were mostly weathered shanties, but farther up the road he could see a line of colonial houses that appeared to have been made into offices of some sort. From somewhere far behind him, he could hear the horns of a few distant boats. The main part of town lay several blocks up this avenue, but off to the right Spike saw two very welcoming sights.
A large wooden building with white panel siding, well-kept for its age, and brightly lit, displayed an oval hand-painted sign. It read Collinsport Inn. Til they could make other arrangements, it would be as good a place as any to secure reasonably private quarters in which to spend the daylight hours. He parked by the the Inn and him and Dru entered it together. But reminded her not to say anything and to act ill. Since it was the dead of winter, the Inn had plenty of rooms. He took one on the third floor. It was rustic and somewhat bland, but would do. Spike escorts Dru to the room to rest, and asks her to wait an hour or so before following. First he'd chat it up some, then she could come and join him at the local tavern down the street for some fun.
After having a glass of coffee at the Inn's coffee shop. And mentioning about being a Professor from Boston, and about his poor sickly sister needing such a peaceful and serene place to recover. Spike leaves the Inn, and heads down the street from it on a small lane that apparently lead to the waterfront. He see's a low building with a barely visible sign identifying it as the Blue Whale Tavern. Where there are taverns, there are drunken mortals, and gossip about all the local goings on. And by the looks of the town, appears to be the only such establishment around. So that is where he will go. Get a few drinks, and make friendly with the locals. He walks down the street to the tavern. He's sure that Dru will get impatient and follow him soon enough. But least until she arrives, will be able too pretend to be alone, and perhaps get a more friendly response than if the locals think he is unavailable to hook up.
He enters the Blue Whale and looks around, taking in the scents and atmosphere of the place. It's nothing like Willy's or the Fish Tank. For one thing, it doesn't appear to have any demons as customers. But does smell a bit like the Fish Tank, due to all the men who by their dress and smell appear to be from the a local cannery he noticed or some other fishing related profession. Compared to the freezing temperatures outside, the air inside the Blue Whale felt very warm and thick with the smells of fried fish and beer. Pipe and cigar smoke clung to the beamed ceiling. The patrons sat on stools along the bar. They were toasting each other and laughing. Two older scraggly-bearded fishermen were at the dartboard, trying to hold each other up while aiming the darts in the general direction of the board. A warm fire roared in a stone fire-place on the far side of the room. It reflected sparks of light off the shiny and polished surfaces of the many large fish that had been mounted for decoration on the dark worn walls...a blue marlin, a swordfish, among others, their eyes wide, button like, and very dead.
Spike noticed immediately that other than the waitress and two lovely girls at a table to the back, everyone else seemed to be men. Perhaps the cold and snowy weather had kept most of the local females away that night. In any case he wasn't there to hook up with any girls, so it didn't matter much. Although he will make it a point to introduce himself to those two girls before the night is over. But first he needs a drink. Well not the kind of drink he really wants, but for now a beer will do.