2019-10-05 - Cheer Infection

Kailey sits at the bar with a root beer float and plate of mozzarella sticks. In front of her is her phone. Looks like she is listening and watching to a music video. Something catchy and probably in the Alternative Rock genre. She has the volume low and it isn't super busy right now. Currently Kailey's brightly colored hair is done in twin pigtails that sway as she head-bobs. Curling a very cheesy bite from her mozzy stick around a finger. Yes, she is playing with her food.

Erin comes in and stands in line, not exactly sure what she wants to eat. Everything looks appetizing and she wanted something sweet. Opting to get out of her house, she'd driven her Maserati over and left it parked out front. It wasn't too far from her place near the Rocky Beach, but hey, she liked her car. "I want a small strawberry and banana shake." That was a simple enough order she gives to the person working. "Extra thick." Sliding down to the register, she pays and leaves a tip in the jar before looking around.

Kailey looks up as the door dings. Sitting at the counter as she is. A loud slurp comes from her drink as straws do. Letting it go she stabs it into her frothy drink. "Hello!" She says cheerfully, smiling at Erin. Taking a big bite of her mozzy she chews a second before saying, "Gotta love the PNW fall weather, eh?" She wrinkles her nose at the drizzling gray outside.

"I guess it grows on you over time. I miss the summer though it seems like it cruised by without me going to do the things I wanted. I'll have to hit the boardwalk this fall before the winter." Erin walks over with her shake and has a seat nearby, an empty seat between them at least, "Those look good," a motion towards the mozzarella sticks. A smile offered. "I haven't been here in awhile. I missed it."

"I maaaaaay have a sweet habit. And this is one of the first places I found. It irritates Everett too which I find amusing. So bonus?" Kailey giggles as she scoops a spoonful of ice cream from her float. "I got here too late for the bulk of summer traffic. And weather. Hey, are you local? Know any galleries or cafes that take'd do commission artwork pieces?" She takes another bite of her cheese stick and nods in enthusiasm, "Best fried thing ever is cheese!"

"Everett yeah, the man, with the hair. Brooding. Runs away every time our paths cross." Erin remembers him from twice before. "It could be because I tried to punch him once though. I feel bad about that." Considering the question, she draws a blank at first. "You may want to try Hyacinth Addington at the Addington House in the square. She's more likely to know than I. I do furnish my house with paintings from local artist, so if you have canvas pieces for sale, I'd be interested if you ever have a show or anything."

Kailey perks up at that and grins. "I do spray paint pieces on canvas, actually! That and henna, but those are smaller pieces. Except when I occasionally get hired to do a mural. I like doing murals, they're very zen and hypnotic. Following the flowers and patterns and stuff. Did you know zentangle came from Henna designs?" She somehow manages to get that all out without apparently taking a breath. Chattering on as she goes. When she does pause it is to drink more of her float.

"You know what you should do?" Erin points her spoon at her and leans in a little, "You should make one piece that represents you and tag it all over town in suitable places. Not all at once, but here and there. I mean if the cops can't catch a murderer, how likely are they to catch a graffiti artist?" Settling back, she shakes her head. "I didn't know that, but that's cool."

Kailey quirks a brow at that and tilts her head. "There's a murderer?" She is so new to town it hurts. "That's...not a bad idea. I could do that. That'd even be fun!" And as she thinks it over she grins more. "It would have to be careful. And do it overnight obviously...the wet would make it a little harder is the only thing," She says with a sigh, wrinkling her nose. "I'm Kailey, by the way!" And she holds out one hand. Then pulls it back to wipe oil and crumbs from mozzy sticks off on her jeans and holds it out again. A big and toothy smile given at the same time.

"I could go as lookout." Oh dear, what is she agreeing to? Doesn't matter, it was exciting and Erin could use a little excitement in her life. "Then we go on dry nights before the dew." Slipping her hand in the offered one, she smiles. "I'm Erin, and yes, I've lived here all my life. Where'd you come here from?" A shake of the hand and then she releases it to go back to taking a bite of her shake.

Kailey gives a squeeze and a shake, eyes bright with the potential. "Oh, that's an idea! Hehehe." A pause to eat that last mozzy stick as she assembles her story, apparently? "Mmmm, so I'm a travelling artist. Got my van, my art supplies. I drive up and down the coast, stopping at tourist spots for a week or two usually. Longer if it's lucrative like in SoCal and the like. This year I decided to drive north and see different places. I made it this far before the weather turned. So...looks like I'm wintering here. I could drive back south, but...I dunno..." She looks around and then at Erin with a smile. "Everyone is so shiney!"

"Everyone is so shiny here, it's a great place for that. If you like colder wetter weather then you're definitely in the right place. The only time I go south to Cali is to Beverly Hills to go shopping." Erin dips up a piece of strawberry and eats it as she listens to the rest. "So you live in your van?"

Kailey lifts a hand to wiggle it back and forth, mouthful of the last bit of fried cheese. "Mmmm...Mmmhmmm." She swallows and licks her lips as she says, "It's a camper van. I get a motel now and then, but mostly stay at RV places. Most of them have hookups and services and stuff."

"You should rent a room in a house or something for the winter. Hunker down and get comfortable." And Warm! But she doesn't say that part out loud. "There's college students around that do that. Split the bills and all. It's not a bad gig."

Kailey tilts her head and looks thoughtful. "Yeah? Hummm...it'll be colder up here for sure. I just have some weird...ah...quirks ya? I'll have to check my stash and see what I can manage. Cause I still gotta get my sweet fix." And cue her slurping the last of her root beer float.

"Weird quirks? Do you drink blood? Eat raw meat?" Obviously from her smile, Erin doesn't think either of those are true. "Smoke pot? It's legal in this state. Sleep without anything on?" A quick grin and she shakes her head. "I can't imagine anything would be bothered if you were renting your own room. What you do in the privacy of your own room and all.."

Kailey rubs the back of her head and looks embarassed, "I sleep walk and sometimes do things when I'm not awake that I don't remember and, uh, well...it gets awkward," She looks down at her empty treat and pouts. "I'll have another please!" The glass is pushed towards the waitress. "Usually in just my van I don't go far if I do. And parking in remote places of the RV parks helps." Her cheeks pink up as she hangs her head. "Like I said...it's weird."

"What's so embarrassing about sleep walking?" Erin looks confused. "Like what sort of things do you do that gets awkward and you don't remember it?" Mostly just trying to imagine what would make it so uncomfortable. "Why is that weird? Are there precautions you can take before sleeping to make sure that doesn't happen?"

Kailey traces random swirls on the counter. "Eeeehhh....Well...ummm...I have meds. But I've a condition and the meds don't help fully and stuff. I lose time. I once went to sleep and woke up the next night in some dudes bed a state away...That's an extreme case of course." There is a pause. "Do you believe in magic?" She says it just as normally as the rest and doesn't look up from the counter.

"Oh.. Ohhh." Erin mulls that over a bit, even her spoon stills in her ice cream. "Is there any way hypnosis or something would work? I've heard of some cases like that. Maybe?" The last question just has her looking at the girl closer, trying to find what to say and how to say it not to scare her off. Finally, she asks softly, "You feel it here in this town stronger don't you? That pull of your magic? You have it, I can see it in you, but you can feel it stronger can't you?"

Kailey gets her new drinks and smile her thanks. Stirring it quickly and taking a quick sip from it before she answers. "I...I've done that. It's only so helpful." She admits with a rough chuckle and shrug of her shoulders. As Erin drops her voice she does look up and her green eyes are wide. "Yeah...I have to...be extra careful. Emotions, ya know, they can be like a wave. Tempting to ride, but will just as quickly toss you into the sea." There is a pause and she asks, "I'm a little worried about staying here to be honest...this place wakes me up.

Kailey beams suddenly though, "But it's worth it I think! I'm happier than I've been in awhile. And I found this place! And everyone's so nice."

"It's the town. There's probably safety in numbers though, so you're probably better off hanging out with people who know what you're going through and protecting you when we can." Erin reaches in her pants pocket and pulls out her phone, placing it on the counter beside her ice cream. "When you do your magic, what can you do? I know there's different types. What type is yours? I can try and help you find someone to train you to control it depending on what yours is."

"I've never been around this many before..." Kailey admits as she stirs her float. Taking another bite. "Mmm...I can, well..." She trails off and begins to drink and dig in to her float. ~My mind is expansive. I can feel people, their emotions, and make images.~ Kailey's voice floats in Erin's mind. The phone suddenly has a butterfly sitting on their. A monarch specifically. It doesn't move.

Erin is a very strong and independent woman. Sometimes. Recently there have been a few issues. One is serving as a horcrux to a serial killer. We'll ignore that for now though, since she seems so composed. Casually eating her ice cream and eyeing her phone, she hears the voice in her head as if she were actually talking outright to her and the ice cream drops to the floor sending the contents straight to the ceiling and splattering there, only to drip down to the counter in splotches over the surface. Never had anyone invaded her mind before. Her hea turns abruptly and she opens her mouth as she regards the girl.. and the butterfly. "How?" Obviously it's different magic than hers.

Kailey jumps n surprise at Erin's own reaction. Then she coughs on wipes some ice cream from her lips. Looking guilty. "I...I dunno. I've always felt people. And after my mom...well...she died and I was on my own so it helped me survive." The butterfly disappears in a flicker of faerie dust as she drops her concentration on it. "It's easy with other people whose minds are open...able to...to...well...think at?" She speaks quietly. Not that many would really overhear. Right?

Erin reaches for the napkin dispenser and piles them up for the mess she made that's now dripping on the counter. "I'm sorry that's never happened to me before." There's a flash of sympathy in her eyes at the mention of losing her mother and being on her own. "How long have you been on your own?" Her phone makes a sound for the incoming text message and after reaching for it, she gives it a read then hits the screen off button again as she continues to hold it in her hand.

Kailey grabs napkins to help clean it up too. "I could tell your mind was awake...I shoulda known better," She sheepishly helps clean. "Well, I wasn't on my own exactly...but no family. Foster homes and institutions," She says with a shrug of her shoulder. "Which is about as bad unless you got tricks." She flashes a lopsided smile. "Everything ok?" Her eyes flick to the phone and back.

"Thanks," Erin offers about the napkins and help cleaning it up. "I am more the healer type. That's my go to." Of course she doesn't mention she can turn the healing around and hurt people with it as well, but it might be assumed. "I understand not being around your mother when you need her most. It's not easy is it?" The question is more rhetorical though. Her hand tightens on the phone as she's asked about it and she gives a sad little smile. "Yeah, everything is good." The phone is slipped back onto the counter for now, in a clean spot. "I have some friends who could maybe help train you in how to control your gift if you're interested?"

Through yon front window passes a dark shadow.
It peers inside, nearing the front door, the way one does to make sure they aren't around to pull the door from someone's grasp when entering and the shadow... pauses, with the large arm resting on the door. Malachite colored eyes peer inside and sees one long slender form and another with a particularly uniquely shaded hair.

Evil quakes in its boots.

Turning head down one side of the boardwalk and then the other, long black strands swaying, an exit is looked for. Then the shape bends, crouches down and peers up at the ceiling, mouth slowly gaping.

"Really? I...I would! I never really ran into anyone since mom. A few people, but I kind of avoided them. And they were faint..." Kailey babbles a bit as she piles up dirty napkins for the waitress to take. "I...didn't know you could heal. Didn't even know that was a thing! I can also move things a little bit. Useful when a guy doesn't take 'No' for an answer, right?" She hasn't noticed the shadow outside.

"I have a few friends. I'm not sure what all that they can do but they can do things like us." Erin picks up her phone again and unlocks the screen and goes through her contacts. She finds one and taps out a message before hitting send. She's not seen the shadow either as of yet, since she's texting, but she does finally offer a smile to Kailey. "I'll see what I can do."

Looking down to his feet. Looking left. Looking right.
As much of a delay as Everett can manage before summoning up the courage to pull that door open. To pull. That door. Open. One more moment. A long, put-upon sigh before he tugs.

The bell over the front door jiggles again, and Everett ducks his head under the door jam, passing through. And in that space of time, his expression turns contemptuous, while shooting the women a sideways look. Long, hurried strides propel the giant quickly towards the back of the shop, his right hand pushing into his front pocket.

Kailey digs out her own phone and pulls up the contacts section. "Here, lemme give ya my number too, kay?" And she reads off the ten digits. "This is...I mean...I didn't...wow," She sits down with a giggle and shakes her head, grinning in a goofy manner.

Alas for Everett the cheery chime of the bell has her turning. And her green eyes widen with delight. "Everett! Hieee!" She says with an extra dollop of cheerfulness, waving at the dour and dark man. A little more quietly to Erin she whispers, "Wanna see something neat?"

While waiting for a return text, Erin adds new contact under the name Kailey. As soon as she hits save, she puts the phone away to keep waiting. The man was a busy one so she may not hear back for awhile. The phone goes in her pocket.

Hearing the bell, Erin glances over also and catches the contemptuous look. Brows both rise but she doesn't interrupt his progress. Beside the mess is mostly cleaned up. Even if the ceiling is stained with ice cream and it's dripping down on a pile of napkins on the bar.

The question comes and Erin looks curious to Kailey, "Sure, what is it?"

At the mention of his name, Everett ignores. But there are clues that he's heard. Subtle clues. Like the deep wince that trips his stride causing his boots to shuffle out of order. When his hand comes out of his pocket, it's with a ring of keys. Those strides were fast; so it's with a final glance to the occupants of the counter before he pushes past the swinning door into the back.

Kailey bites her lip and looks horribly mischevious. Those green eyes growing a brighter green. "Just...give it a second," As she happily takes her own joy and cheerful friendliness and flings it at Everett's retreating back. And then she just waits and watches.

"Sure." And Erin will too, she'll give it all the time it needs. While she waits though, she asks. "So we're on for the tagging right? I'll give you my number too." And she does whenever Kailey is ready to input it.

Kailey inserts Erin into her phone as well. But she mostly keeps her eyes on the goth tough. "Of definitely down. Got any place in mind? Shouldn't be on the main drag, exactly," She says with a bob of her head. Then she sends a verification text to Erin's phone, checking all is well in the cellular world between them.

"Definitely not the main drag. I'm thinking more along the side of one of the buildings around the down town area. Nothing that will get us caught, but something that will get attention." Her phone chirps again and Erin checks it, smiling. "All set."

Everett doesn't return right away.
Rather the sound of plumming begins a few minutes after he's disappeared, starting from down in the kitchen to but pushed upstairs and heated. The flooring is particularly thick, without him practicing his dance manuevers, or flops, not even the large man's footfalls are heard from the loft up above. It's several minutes at least before there's a sign of Everett's return. The cook in the back, the one that makes the hot finger food, looks to his right and immediately double takes, his eyes large while he tracks something while it makes its way towards the swinging door.

And out pops Everett.
But first, he's heard. Hmming a song under his breath, it's got the former goth's head bobbing. The door swings behind him while Everett puts his keys back in the front pocket of his navy blue slacks. He's stopped far even away from the swinning door for it not to hit him while he pulls the tan jacket over his shoulders to cover his light blue polo shirt. While he figetts with his jacket, he nods towards the counter and smiles, "Ladies."

Kailey nods her head quickly in agreement. "Awesome, yeah. I can even leave something on the sidewalk to draw attention that way. People are always lookin' down now you know? At their phones? And so they see stuff at foot level more. I've taken to laying some of my canvases down and around my table to get attention," She babbles and then, thinking, orders Erin another shake to replace the one she made her spill.

Then it arrives. Kailey sits up and stares past Erin at the sight. And her smile just turns into a broad and devilish grin. "Hiiiiiii," She says after a seconds pause. Bringing up a hand and wiggling her fingers. "You look good with a bit of color," And she actually means it, eyes going up and down the normally gruff grump. "What song is that?"

"Oh no, no thank you. I don't need more ice cream. I'll take a chocolate milk though, that sounds good." Erin considers about leaving a painting on something on the sidewalk and she smiles her approval. "Great idea. Maximum exposure."

The humming catches her attention but the interest Kailey takes in watching, Erin looks also. She has to do a double take, really. "Wait.." A look between the two. "Is that of his own free will?"

When Everett comes over and invites himself to their conversation, he glances at the mess; first at the counter and then up at the ceiling. While evaluating the chaos, Everett pulls his hair out of the rain jacket, the hair wet and already bound into a thick ponytail that partially lays into the jacket's hood before falling out.

"Well, that's a shame." The big sweet-heart looks towards the single waitress on duty, 'Susie', who's more interested in spending time on her own smartphone just below taking and filling orders. "Susie? Be a doll, would you?" He points a thick, sausage finger up. "Could you get the mop and see how much of that you can clean up? Otherwise, I'll have to replace the tile, that that'll just be a shame, really." He glances towards Erin, then what remains of her iced treat before he continues, "Then give Miss Addington here anything else she'd like." He glances towards Kailey, and nods in acknowledgment, "And her friend too."
Everett looks back at 'Susie', his brows uplifted, a soft smile on his thin lips, "Ok? That'd be just perfect. Thanks."

To Kailey's compliment, Everett grabs the labels of his jacket, "THANK you," he says earnestly and looks down at himself. "I just felt like putting on something I hadn't worn in a while. Oh, that was Cherry Pie. You know it?" While Susie grumbles, putting her phone away, because bad moods have to find an equilibrium, and stalks off to find the mop. Everett rises on his toes of his sneakers, "Thank you!" he shouts after her.

Kailey glances at Erin and nods her head, smiling. "Cheerfulness is infectious is all!" She says with a twinkle of mischief. Then she turns to slurp from her float while trying not to giggle. "Making people do things is borish. But spreading happiness? That's my style. How it manifests..." She says to Erin, glancing at Everett to see what he makes of their conversation. Then she shrugs and absently is swiping to the camera on her phone.

"Cherry Pie? It sounds really familiar. I probably heard it on the radio though!" Kailey replies as she eyes the offerings. "Chocolate covered marshmallows, have you tried them Erin? They're -really- good. But so are the chocolate covered orange peels," Someone did confess to being a sweet freak.

"I don't want.. How did you know my last name, Everett?" Erin ponders that a moment, because he hadn't known who she was when she threw the punch at him. Which meant he hadn't known why she'd thrown it. "I'm sorry for the mess. Kailey surprised me is all."

A glamce over to Kailey though and she laughs. "Infectious. I get it." Checking the time though, she gets to her feet. "I have to go for now though. I'll give you a call, K. Or you call me when you have a chance. Either works. I have to get home."

The conversation seems to go right over his head, but rather than a grimace, or looking on with confusion, Everett smiles blithely, glancing from one to the other, but he doesn't miss an opportunity to return the compliment. Bobbing his head, Everett glances to Kailey, "I never said it before but you have wonderfully nice color hair. It's certainly attention getting."

Everett starts to make his way from behind the counter then, likely to give the waitress enough room to wield the moist mop when she's going to return with it, though, knowing Susie, she'll procrastinate a moment longer before. Not waiting to get mop water on customers.

It's from the floor, Everett answers Erin, pulling a chrome chair from a table and sitting on it backwards and holding the back even while he lays his broad chest against it. A nod towards the open window to the kitchen starts his reply, "The day we had our," he causes, and looks regretful, "misunderstanding. One of my cooks told me a couple of days later who you were. And about your family. I'm sorry about that too." He pauses, an inclination to be remorseful warring with his cheerful mood results in his looking bashfully down for a moment. "But when I asked you that question, I didn't know who you were or who you'd lost. I was referring to what I had lost."

Kailey beams at Erin and bobs her head. "Yeah! Sounds good. I'll check the weather and get back to you. Oh hey, say cheese?" And she flicks up her phone and takes a picture of Erin with Everett in the background. "Need a photo for your contact!"

As Erin takes off she glances at the time on her phone and wrinkles her nose. "Awww, yeah. I gotta run too. Therapy day! All the sugar to make it through Doctor Drone," She slurps the rest of her melted float and pockets her phone. "Hey Everett, you have an awesome day okay?" She says to the man as she readies to go. Gleefully taking the sweets that Susie brings her in their little white to-go box. A hand goes up to tug and then twirl one pig-tail. "Thanks! Catch ya later, Ev!" And she moves to scoot out the door.

The admission from Everett surprises Erin and she watches him a moment. "I'm sorry you lost someone too. And that I intruded on your space that night. It was a bad night. My parents accident was so recent and my cousin wanted me to get out to feel better. I apologize for trying to punch you." A smile is given to Kailey at her delight, but she waves to the two. "I need to go now. I'll see you both later, likely."

Double finger-guns. That's what Kailey gets along with a toothful grin, "Hey, you know it. Something about today, inspire of the weather, that just seems like everything's going to turn out just." He takes a deep, noisy inhalation, and exhales it with a contented sigh, "perfect!"

In the back, the morning cook, Lee, stares on with disbelief.

A massive shoulder shrugs as he looks towards Erin, "Ah. Like I said, it was a misunderstanding. A booze fueled one." Everett stands, pushing the chair back under the table and then opens his arms towards Erin. "Hugs?" he asks, grinning broadly.

Erin stills and watches the big man approaching her with his arms open. Wait, what was he... Oh. My. God. His intent was clear with that question and when he is there.. and if he does follow through, she hugs Everett. Erin actually hugs him. Why? Who the hell knows. But suddenly she realizes she'd not had a real hug, especially one like this, a hug for hugs sake, in.. ever.

The hug is tight and strong, but not to strong. The man is well aware that he's muscles with muscles and an extrra side of muscles on top. But still, he grunts as though he is attempting to bear hug before the hand underneath his other sweeps over her back, double pats and then just as oddly as it started, the weirdly dressed biker-emo releases Erin and grins broadly enough that it squints his eyes. "There you. One hug, on the house. No charge. Now get out of here, you crazy cat. And you have yourself a great day and don't be a stranger."

Erin is suddenly released and when she is, she tilts her chin up.. way up, to look at him. The surprise registers in her eyes and she gives him a smile. "Thank you," she tells him softly, patting a hand gently on his chest once. "I'll see you later." And with that, she does finally go!

From the back, he's had enough. A male voice, Lee the cook, shouts once the last customer leaves, taking off his hat and throwing it out the window towards Everett. "WHAT THE EVER LOVING FUCK ARE YOU ON!?"