coopdetat | animal adoption day [open to all]

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animal adoption day [open to all]

SIREN COVE ANIMAL SHELTER PROUDLY PRESENTS
ANIMAL ADOPTION DAY
ALL ADOPTIONS FREE FROM 10AM-4PM. FIRST VET VISIT FREE WITH SHEA COOPER, DVM.
BOOTHS, FOOD, PRIZES, AND MORE! SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014 AT SIREN COVE BEACH PARK.

Coop's satisfied with the turnout today. He's been working on this event with Dylan for weeks and now that he's had the chance to talk to Les about what's going on with Joel, he feels a little more at ease. Not by a lot, friend-devouring demon on the loose and what not, but still, knowing they have some extra help has proven to be better for his sleeping patterns.

Besides, it's kind of hard to let his mind wander to darker things like that when he's watching kids points out their favorite puppies and kitties and bunnies and begging their parents for the chance to take them home. He's seen familiar faces and met brand new ones, a majority of them eager to get his advice on what's best to feed their new family addition, what the best heartworm medication is, what the best grooming tips are, all sorts of shit that he answers with ease with a giant grin on his face because this is what he loves doing. Watching little fluffballs bring joy to people's faces, it never gets old.

He can see Dylan assisting a couple with one of their older gals, a four-year-old Basset called Hettie who's the sweetest thing but hasn't had much luck in finding a forever home. Coop watches with a faint smile, pleased at the attention the dog's so deservedly getting, and doesn't really register that someone's tapping on his shoulder until it starts to feel more like they're jabbing him. He turns with a raised eyebrow, smile still intact because he's nice like that.

"Hi, yeah, what can I do ya for?"

[OOC: Feel free to use this as a gathering. Or an excuse to come harass this dumdum.]

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His grin widens at that, maybe stretches a little too wide just for the cheese factor, but he shrugs. "I mean, I'm not going to argue when I'm given a compliment, that would just be rude." If Coop's honest, he's glad that they can chat like this. He knows a big part of it is that they haven't seen much of each other except for a quick hello here and there, but he'd been worried for a little bit that maybe he'd fucked things when he'd kissed her. He hadn't expected her to suddenly want him to change the way he lives his life or anything like that, but it's been his experience more often than not that people he's friends with first--the ones who say they're completely fine with no strings attached--are the ones who end up hurt the most.

He hadn't wanted that for her, it's why he'd been so hesitant to do anything for such a long time, but here she is. She's still standing here next to him, still smiling and joking with him and asking him how he is, and he's grateful for it because he really does care so much about her. He'd never want to hurt her in any way and that just makes him think back to what he'd seen in Joel's nightmare, the image of her leg ripped from her body and in Joel's hand as he used it to paint symbols he hadn't recognized. He takes a sharp intake of breath, clearing his throat to try and cover it up.

"I'm good, yeah, same old. Been busy with the clinic and the shelter, doing favors for friends and stuff like that." Trying to figure out a way to banish a demon can't really be considered same old but whatever, if she knows then she knows and if she doesn't, he's sure Joel has a good reason for keeping it quiet. The less people involved, the better, at least as far as who the demon will touch. "I think I'm ready to take another vacation, actually, except this time minus the cruise from hell."

His smile makes her light up, too. Mostly because-- she's been sort of worried about the same thing. Not that he's screwed it up, but that she had, that telling him what happened to her, that kissing him on the back deck when he'd initially said they shouldn't. She figures that's the reason nothing else has happened - that she possibly sort of pushed him into it in the first place, and they don't really talk about it - and she tries not to think about it, either, because she doesn't want to feel guilty around someone who even now she'd say was one of her close friends. She still thinks that she'd be alright with no string attached, sort of - the sort of because her feelings about Coop have always been complicated, and she's tried to explain once, but since then she just sort of... holds onto it, because she honestly thinks that talking about it would just make it worse.

But if she ignores the part that involves her kissing him? They seem to get along great, and her smile's absolutely genuine. "If all it takes is me complimenting you to get you to smile like that? I mean, I could go on for days." She beams up at him, but he just sort of... something happens with his face, and he pulls in a breath and if she hadn't been a foot away from him and looking up at him, she probably wouldn't have noticed, but her smile fades and her brows furrow. "Hey," She says after he talks about the clinic, about needing another vacation. She doesn't ask him if he's okay, because she just did, and he said he was good - but instead, she just... goes with her gut. "Coop? You know if you ever need anything - like... just some time away, or like... someone to listen- I've got you. The way you did for me. No matter what it is." She means it, her eyes searching his.

He does know that, and he nods absently as he rubs his palm over his mild stubble. "Thing is, what I need listening to isn't my problem to tell, you know what I mean?" It's not all that clear, he knows that, but Coop doesn't want to betray anything Joel wouldn't want Raleigh to know, even if it's just a minor slip because Raleigh's smart and she'd figure it out sooner than later. If he hadn't told her, Coop can only guess it's because he wants to make sure she's out of harm's way when push comes to shove. Joel maybe wouldn't have told Spencer the dirty details if he'd any real choice in the matter but they're fucking married, they work together and live together, and Spencer would have been able to tell in a second that something's wrong. It wouldn't have made sense to keep it from him, especially because in the end, Coop's pretty goddamn sure Spencer would die for him if that's what it took to keep Joel safe.

It's not going to come to that, though, it's just not because Coop's got it in his head that there's no way in hell that anything's going to do any lasting damage on his friends. Even more fucked up is that this isn't even the only thing that's weighing down on his mind. He hasn't had so much heavy shit on his shoulders in forever, not since Sylvie had left, really, and now she's back. He'd asked her for space the first time they'd seen each other again, and she'd delivered; Coop just has no idea what things between them are supposed to be like anymore.

"There is this one thing," he says, and he says it because he has to tell someone. He hasn't even really discussed it with Owen, if only because he'd drunkenly spilled the entire Sylvie saga to his best friend after he'd come from Paris very thoroughly heartbroken. He can't remember if he'd mentioned Sylvie to Raleigh, or even that he'd been engaged, but he does know that Raleigh's being totally genuine when she says she's got his back. "Someone that I know really well is back in town, and she's-- Christ, I don't know. I'm just really fucking confused about it because she's my ex-fiancee and she walked out on me. I asked her to marry me, she said yes, and the next morning, she was gone. It's been over four years and she's in town and she came looking for me, so it's just one big mess. I don't really know what the hell to do about it."

"Okay, well," she paused, and then- "If you ever just need to chill somewhere that's totally away from whatever that thing is? I have a bakery, we'll sit you down and I'll make you Napoleons, and you can think about nothing. Alright?" Her brows are furrowed in worry, but she's not pushing on what it is - he's got his own stuff, and she totally gets how that all works, especially the not-your-problem-to-tell mess, so that's all she's got to offer. A place away, because that's all she's got.

But then he says there's one thing, and her brows shoot up as she listens, and.... "Holy shit, that's a mess." That's all she has to say first, and then- "You got a minute? I want to buy you a drink." Because she's got a couple of questions so she can say something in response, even though her mind's whirling a mile a minute. Four years. Four years, god, that has to be insane, to have somebody vanish on you for four years and then just show up again - but she doesn't want to ask him the questions she's got unless he's okay with them, and she thinks a drink could help.

The thing about Raleigh is that once she thinks her people need help, she doesn't stop trying to give it. Coop appreciates that about her, he knows that Joel and Spencer and Les and hell, half the goddamn town all appreciate that about her; but some things just can't be fixed with food, no matter how fan-fucking-tastic it would be if they could. Things aren't going to clear up any quicker with Sylvie just because he has a Napoleon, Joel's not going to be any less demon-possessed or whatever just because Coop has a glass of wine in his hand.

But goddamn it, does Raleigh try. They'd all do the same for her, if she was in trouble, if she actually went out of her way to ask for help because that's when Coop will know things are bad. His eyes flicker down to the grass as he toes the ground for a minute, wondering if maybe it's his turn now. He doesn't need help, not really, not for the situation with Sylvie because it's complicated but it's theirs. It's not a decision anyone can make for him, how he wants to approach his ex-fiancee showing up in his hometown.

Having someone to talk about it to, though, maybe that'll be a good thing. Maybe it'll help him figure some shit out because maybe all he needs it to get the hell out of his head. "I hope lemonade counts," he says with small smile, nodding toward the booth selling it a yard away. "I had one of those half cups of wine earlier, don't want to get my ass wasted while I'm like, you know, working. But breaking for a minute might be good."

The whole thing with her and food isn't that the food helps make people feel better - it's an excuse, it's an excuse that helps grease the wheels so that they can talk. For her, it's a natural thing - she talks while she cooks, and she's run into a lot of people who, when you offer to talk about something, they turn you down because they don't want to take up time. The food thing? It's a little bit of a comfort, but it makes people way more likely to actually sit down and relax.

She's just trying to give him a place away from whatever is the matter he can't get away from, so he knows he has a place to take a break if he needs one. Same with the drink - it's not about the drink itself, it's- it's the kind of thing that means he can take a step back from things like Dottie, and if he wants to talk about it... they can.

"Lemonade it is - and if you get wasted from two half-cups of wine, there's something in it." She's teasing him - just a little, trying to get that smile a little more genuine if he's got it in him, but all of it isn't really like him - the way he looks down, the way he sort of fidgeted before answering. "If nothing else, it'll make it so you don't get super dehydrated or something. Corralling a bazillion puppies has to be hard work."

She tugs out her wallet and buys them both a lemonade, passing him the plastic cup. "So, uh- if you don't mind me asking... I mean, do you know why she showed up? Yeah, for you, but- Just... because she wants to see you? Or- It's a nosy question, but god, four years is a hell of a long time." She does want to help, if she can - but she doesn't know enough to even know if it's possible. If nothing else, maybe talking about it would help him sort out his own thoughts.

"It's not really the buzz that I'm worried about, more that people are gonna be wondering why the hell they should bring their animals to the vet who can't keep himself away from the booze longer than five minutes at a time," he tells her, winking so Raleigh knows he's just being playful. It's been a long time since he'd been worried about any sort of reputation he might earn in this town, especially because for the most part, the one he does have really isn't so bad at all. There's no real secret to coming off as a decent guy, he just tries his best to actually be one. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he doesn't, but Coop's policy is to not worry all that much about it because worry leads to being too self-aware and he thinks he'd hate to be that.

He takes the cup of lemonade from Raleigh without protest because he knows that offering to pay is futile so he holds his cup up as a cheers then takes a sip. It's near perfect, not too sweet and not too tart, and he smiles around the rip of his cup as he relishes the taste of it. "Damn, I think that might actually be better than booze," he says, smacking his lips with a laugh.

Coop says it because it's easier than getting right into the subject of Sylvie, it's a quickfire way to stall, and he could just say that he doesn't want to talk about it but Raleigh's looking at him with those big, earnest eyes of hers and she always means so well that it's hard to turn his back on that. She's always willing to help, and he hopes that she knows he'd do the same for her; this is just something he doesn't have a whole lot of practice actually dealing with, so he's not even sure where to fucking begin.

"She said she wanted to explain," he finally answers, nodding toward one of the nearby empty park benches and heading in that direction, making an effort--though it seems to come naturally when he's with her now--not to make his strides too long or walk too fast. "Why she left, I mean. And you're right, four years is a long time, I just... I didn't have any real kind of closure, I guess, but I don't know if this is what that's supposed to be." He doesn't know whether he wants her to say or what he'll do if she decides to go.

She nodded - he was right, although honestly, she thought that there wasn't all that much Coop could do to push away his customers. He's just a all-around nice guy; she's thought that for as long as she's known him, and she's never heard anyone say anything different. He actually lets her pay, and it's a good change usual; he's rushed to pay more than once, and now she actually can pay for herself, some, and get him a lemonade, too (plus, it's only four dollars for the two of them.) "Well, then, I'm glad you made the right choice."

She walks with him, and she notices the way that he's slowed how he walks. She's seen him - around his own house, when he's running, and Coop's not the kind of guy to waste time moseying unless he's got a reason, but he's at her pace and she's thankful. She knows all too well what it's like when people don't, and there's no issue about it on her end; she just goes at her own pace and nevermind if she's embarrassed, but Coop's always just.... he's not been that person. He's thoughtful, with her.

Maybe that's one of the (many) reasons she likes him as much as she does. Because he cares, and it means something to her.

She settles herself on the bench when he does, and she's grateful to get off her feet. Puppies were one thing - they made it worth it, but that still didn't mean it was easy for her to be on her feet quite as much as she had been.

Listening, Raleigh nods slowly, holding the lemonade in both hands as she looks down at the cup, before she looks back up at his face. "Did she? Explain, I mean." It's clear he's warring with himself over it - if it's a good thing that she's back, if this is something he wants, or not.

"It's complicated," he answers, offering her a small smile because it's a lame as hell thing to say and he knows it, but it's also the truth. "And you know know me, I don't like when things complicated."

Simplicity, that's what he enjoys because when things are simple, people don't get hurt. It's easier to tell someone upfront that he's not into relationships that go beyond bedroom--or otherwise--activities, that he's never going to be in it for the long haul and to be fair, never say never, but it's been years since Sylvie had left and Coop still isn't interested in finding more with someone else. The ship has sailed, at least that what he keeps telling himself. There are plenty of fishes in the sea and all that jazzed up bullshit, sure, but Coop's got a big net. It doesn't really seem to make sense to just find the one fish because really, how long could it possibly last?

Painless, that's what how he wants to stay, and it's getting progressively harder every fucking day with Sylvie being back in town. Besides that, there's Owen, and Coop doesn't even really want to start going down that path right now because there's too much history between them and talk about complicated. They're best friends, that's what Owen wants to be and that's the way that should stay, nothing else matters. Coop isn't pining, it's not an actual problem, but if there was ever just going to be one fish then...

He shakes his head to clear his thoughts, taking a sip of his lemonade before turning his head to look at Raleigh again. He can either tell her the footnotes version or not tell her at all, and he's not sure which is the right decision because part of it is Sylvie's life, Sylvie's choices, and it's not his story to tell. But he can tell his side, there's no real harm in that. "I didn't tell her I was a witch until the night I proposed. We had friends over for dinner, it was this big thing, we popped open a bottle of champagne after we said yes. But then they left, and I had to tell the truth, you know? I had to. She was surprised, to say the least, but I didn't think-- I don't know. I didn't think it would make her fucking leave, not after everything."

He has a slightly better idea of why she'd done it now, though hearing that she'd had a less than positive experience with witches in the past hadn't exactly given him any relief. Coop doesn't know the whole story yet, he's maybe been a little afraid to ask; but he guesses that it's better than thinking that she'd suddenly just decided she didn't love him enough to marry him anymore. He'd had no choice but to believe that all this time.

"Anyway, I'm trying. We both are, and I don't know what's going to happen but if she's going to be here, I just have to accept that."

Raleigh nods when he says it's complicated - of course it is, anytime you talk about almost married her four years ago, it's going to be complicated, and he's right. He's direct and forthright and it's one of the things she respects about him, even though.... sometimes, things are just... complicated. No matter what you want them to be.

Like this, maybe. This is complicated, this mess with Sylvie.

He explains, a little - and Raleigh doesn't have experience in any of it; not with relationships, not with telling people you're a witch, not with any of it, but her brows furrow. She has one thing she actually does have experience with - being someone without powers, and finding out the people around you all have them.

However, especially since she wasn't there, and she's got no idea what else might have been going on, Raleigh bites her lower lip. "I think that's a good attitude. It doesn't make it easier, but you're right, that if she's going to be here, there's nothing else you can do." She pauses, and wonders if there was anything she -could- say. "Have you really... talked about it? Or not yet?"

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animal adoption day [open to all]

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