Ryce Andrews met the clerk behind the counter with the medical mask, as she wrote down the information and he spent the last fifteen minutes filling out the paperwork before handing her the clipboard. The facility last year had been quiet in the last few months no thanks to the pandemic on a global level, however whispers of riots and unsettled circumstances made him thankful in a sense he was no longer a law enforcement officer. The year into the facility really helped the former officer, and the prescription in the bag, Ryce knew he would have to pick up the prescription Friday when the local pharmacy opened bag up on 3rd street part of the older historic community.
The dark circles under his eyes, Ryce felt his hand instinctively clasp onto the cold metal of the double entrance doors, as he was met with the bright intense rays of sunshine. Ryce Andrews felt his dark eyes squint, as he used his free hand to shield his eyes in response, before allowing his eyes to adjust to the outside world. The mix of unsettling orange-red skies from the recent wildfires stretched across the skies from the massive west coast fires, but thankfully just residual smog from the smoke. Ryce felt uncomfortable looking at the halfway house across the bad part of Forks, but it was an unfortunate circumstance of his situation literally jobless, no residence, and a small scrap of papers and discharge packets in a plastic bag from the facility. The hospital unfortunately didn't have his clothes because the station with the investigation closed, never returned his attire due to the investigation, however, he doubted he'd get his other belongings.
Exclaiming a heavy sigh, Ryce looked at the scrap piece of a paper with the tiny address once again, as he made his direction of the bus station a short walk, until a the friendly muffled voice got his attention, "Wondering when you was going to be released from the facility." The familiar welcoming voice of Jamie Locklear grabbed his attention, as he turned to meet the native la push residence and former union rep, until circumstances when he was let go from the force, as he smiled trying to put his thin disposable mask struggling to loop the last elastic band over his right ear, when the older man gripped him in a bear hug, "hell with the formalities," as Ryce grappled with his stuff in his arms he hugged the long family friend and a beam of excitement swept him, as they released after a moment and Ryce happily began, "what are you doing here?" The old family friend was in truth a welcoming sight, and almost made the bad situation dissolve into the void, however circumstances willing it was a surprise.
The legal representative nonchalantly shrugged, as Locklear held a clear shopping bag and handed the white shopping bag to Ryce. Peering into the contents of the bag, he found they were gently used clothes, and hugging his friend once more thanking him for the folded clothes. Jamie Locklear cleared his throat a moment as he began, "your family always helped us, so the tribe wanted to help you get back on your feet since you lost the family home." The older man even with the colorful facemask Ryce could tell the old family friend was smiling, as the young man removed the coat from the bag over his facility scrubs, as Ryce turned to the man and began, "guess with the current events things have you pretty busy?" The older La Push residence scoffed, as he began, "Since Chief Swan's retirement, a lot of things have changed, however with the current world events it's also gave me some free time." The two stood a moment, Ryce nodded his head understandingly, as the small breeze past the two men on the sidewalk, before Jamie Locklear began, "you hungry by chance?" Ryce was about to protest, but his stomach churned an audible quip and bashfully looked to the pavement, before Locklear finished, "I'll take that as a yes…" As older male smiled he climbed into the cab of the driver seat starting the truck before Ryce followed hopping into the passenger seat of the cab.
The drive uptown was uneventful, as the two men made small and caught up on current events. Jamie had filled him in the government and the position had made the La Push Residence more resentful to the government, but wanted to retain a bit of peace on the spiritual lands. The beaches were majority close, and the few things around Forks along with the rest of the state had slowly recently opened so pulling up to the diner the parking lot a lot grimmer, as the two vehicles out the front seemed to keep the front lot company, as Jamie and Ryce parted ways for the moment for him to get dressed into normal clothes in the restrooms while he grabbed a booth. The repeated diner was a welcome and sometimes during his terrible time, made him think back to his training days with Maggie when she would bring them there on their late shifts for a quick bite, but eating in the parking lot out front.
Making his way into the small restroom; Ryce Andrews motioned to the farthest largest stall as he immediately locked the graffiti pencil and sharpie covered door shut. The usual rhetoric 'call so and so for a good time' or genitalia of the sort, where the attempt of unmatching paint would be scrubbed out to the point, the staff seemed less concerned. Slowly he undressed from the scrub top and pulled on the t-shirt and followed by the acid wash jeans, which lingered with the smell of peppermint which he guessed where clothes of Jamie's nephew left behind after his hunting accident many years ago. The young man hesitated as he finished buttoning the jeans before slipping on his jacket, before tossing the scrubs into the rubbish bin in the corner of the open stall, before proceeding to walk out of the stall to make his way back into the diner area.