2019-11-02 - Waffles And Catching Up

Minerva was a known face to a few in Gray Harbor. It was one eye that usually got people to recognize her. The pale woman is seated at a booth looking through the menu. She's dressed in her usual black dress, but she doesn't have her hat. The waitress is standing up at the counter and looking out at the drizzle that's been falling. It seemed like it was a good night for comfort food and something hot to drink. You could get both at the Waffleshop!

Drizzly day, quiet afternoon, not much more that he could want as Thewlis decides to stop at restaurant for a change. All these years and he's rarely been in... but no time like the present. Pulling a flannel jacket off to reveal more flannel.
A turtle beak frown set on his features, the cemetery caretaker walks head down, trying to give others their space, stopping at the counter and then looking at a table. There's a moment and he slumps down into a seat, heaving a sight and wiping wet hair out of his face and offering a polite, if brief, nod and smile when the waitress comes by and plunks a menu down as he requests coffee.

Minerva gives a look up when someone comes in and there's a bit of a smile as the eye that's not covered recognizes who the man is. But she doesn't immediately bug him when he arrives. She watches him ditch the flannel jacket to reveal...more flannel underneath. It's matroishka flannel! She lets him settle in and get a menu, but if he looks up she gives a wiggle of fingers and a small smile in greeting to the man.

That sensation of eyes on you, hard to miss - some people are extremely sensitive to it and as his head comes up and around, there is not an unkind tightening around the eyes and a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth when she waggles her fingers.
"I thought you only existed decorating those graves. I made sure to straighten thing before the rain fell eh?" turning almost before the waitress returns with his coffee, giving a polite smile and thank you as he takes the cup, pouring in too much sugar once he has it.

Stepping in from the outside rather slowly, Jonathan stops just inside the room to look around. After a few moments he starts moving over to find himself a seat as well. Like others being out and about at this time, he looks rather wet, thanks to the rain, but it doesn't look like he's paying much attention to that fact for now.

"Yeah, but I have to leave to get waffles sometimes." Minerva answers in response to her existence outside of the cemetery. "It's been drizzlng a lot. The little pumpkins will be gone in no time really. Biodegradeable decorations are really great in cemeteries." she nods to this. "How have you been? Keeping up with all the town gossip? Any kids sneaking in after dark?" Besides her! Then she takes a sip of her hot chocolate. There's a happy smile at the taste as she settles the cup down. "This fog is something else though." she murmurs. Then there's a look to the door again and there's a smile at Jonathan's familiar face, "Hello, Stranger." she waves at him.

"I don't put much in town gossip. So I'm out of the loop." eyes closing as he takes a sip of over-sugared, too strong, coffee. "Oh... oh that's perfect." Thewlis quiets, when the door opens, eyes on the man for a moment, as if to gauge if he should keep talking or not.
"There's at least one who keeps sneaking in, probably because I've let the gate stay open for a little longer than I should. Those who come in are just visiting, no hijinks... Had a few ask me about seances..." he goes quiet again, blinking several times. There's a thought running through his eyes, perhaps he's speaking to much. Head ducking a little he takes advantage of the waitress returning to place an order and sip his coffee again.

"Hello," Jonathan replies, offering a brief smile. "I hope everything is well, for both of you, of course." Taking a nearby seat, he pauses for a few moments before he places an order as soon as the waitress steps over, without really looking at the menu. Seems he's gotten some favorites here. Nodding to Thewlis, he offers the man a smile., "Jonathan Wallgren," he introduces himself.

Minerva gives a smile, "I haven't climbed over the fence in awhile, but I also don't mess with stuff. Just try to help." she states as she talks. She doesn't have a problem with talking it seems. Though her eyebrow quirks curiously, "Seances? What about them?" she asks him. She was one of the local Occultists. Then she looks to Jonathan and there's a smile, "Everythings been fine, yeah. Did you find a job in the area you were looking?" she asks him.

Blinking as he is greeted, Thewlis bobs his head again, "Thewlis Moore, sir." hands wrapped around his coffee, shoulders hunching a little he offers another small smile,
"You know, kids coming in - trying to talk to the dead, those types." eyes back on Minerva, hovering there a moment. "Some come and pester me at the caretaker office, blathering about auras and all that. Then I have to shoo them out before they light candles and melt them all over the graves."

Jonathan shakes his head a little. "Not yet. Trying to get some things worked out, but no success yet." A smile is offered to Minerva, before he smiles at Thewlis. "A pleasure to meet you," he offers. Listening to what's being said for now, as he waits for his order.

"Running around the cemetery isn't going to get them anywhere with seances." Minerva shakes her head to that. "But, they'll learn as they get older." she muses. "Did they at least bring you any Halloween candy?" she asks Thewlis. Then there's a look to Jonathan and a nod to him, "I understand straightening things out. But I hope something finds you." she admits. "How has everything been going?" she asks.

There's a brief shake of his head before Thewlis admits, "Eggs and toilet paper." the faint smile flickers and he nods when a plate with a Belgian soaked in strawberry sauce is plunked down before him... and is there peanut butter on the side?
He lets them talk, cutting off a bit, dunking it in peanut butter, and forks in, shoulders rising in a very long sigh. Just out of the desert, fresh cold water, no more filtering and boiling, hiding under mesquite trees to keep warm at night, crawled into town on hands and knees... god damn that's good; sigh.

Jonathan smiles, "Hopefully, things will work out soon," he replies, before he adds, "And all in all, things have been going well. Far more good days than the bad ones, lately. Hopefully that means all the trouble with the brain is gone, right?" Only sounding partially like he believes the trouble is gone, though.

Minerva had already eaten, so she wasn't waiting on any food. She gives a chuckle to what Thewlis says, "That's not a good present. I'll bring you some candy tomorrow, how does that sound?" she asks the man. Then there's a smile and she quiets when he starts to eat. She then gives a look to Jonathan and there's a sigh, "Things are never gone. Just lying dormant. Like bugs in the fall and winter." she tells him. "But we'll get through it." she adds with a nod to that.

"That's why there are no happy endings, because nothing ends... Schmendrick the Magician." Thewlis quotes looking back to the pair briefly, focusing on Jonathan, "All brain troube is gone?" brow knitting, confused and curious now. "Uhrm... If you don't mind me snooping. I'm sorry, really." taking another healthy sip of coffee, blinking when he holds out the mug and the waitress tops him off without stopping.

"So I guess that mean I shouldn't go for a career in boxing?" Jonathan's comment is offered with a grin, before he adds, "But what I meant was that I hope things are gone enough for daily life to be relatively normal." He nods at Thewlis as well, offering him a brief smile. "It's okay. I've just dealt with the after effects of some concussions. As long as the worst das don't come too often now, I'd say things are starting to get a bit better, at least."

Minerva doesn't make a fuss over the question that is unanswered, she just gives a look between Thewlis and Jonathan and there's an oh sound, "I thought you were talking about the town weirdness." she admits. She wasn't shy about the town weirdness, but she wasn't sure who all knew and who didn't. She finishes up her hot chocolate and then lays some money on the table. "I've got to get going, but it was nice to see you guys. Hopefully we'll see you at some of the Masquerade events tomorrow." she offers as she stands.

Blinking at so much going around, back and forth, lips in a line, shoveling in more Belgian before he looks back to Minerva, "I'm sorry I missed something there, I was... uhm... Good pancakes." Thewlis's head ducks down, worrying at his lower lip. "Ask me again sometime? I'll leave the gate for you again, also, miss... and er... Masquerade. Maybe?" his smile fades back to the frown he was wearing when he came in, looking next to Jon, "Sorry to hear that... I've." brow knitting in thought, "I had a few. When I was younger."

"Well, unlike that weird thing inside my head, it's not likely that the town weirdness ever stops," Jonathan replies, rather lightly. Nodding with a smile to Minerva. "It was nice to see you again." He then nods at Thewlis. "They're never good, but they tend to happen to people in the line of work I was in," he replies.

Minerva gives a bit of a smile to Thewlis and she dips her head, "I will." she tells him. Then there's a thoughtful look to Jonathan before she buttons up her coat, "You both stay safe out there. My number is listed should you need anything." she states as she heads for the door and then out into the drizzle to walk home.

When Minerva goes he looks after her a long while in her absence, then looking to Jon, "I'm sorry, I don't ah... get out much. What was your line of work? Football? Hockey? Wrestling" Thewlis's brow knits. He and Jonathan are are at different tables, but close enough to talk, a big ol' belgian waffle covered in strawberry sauce... and peanut butter. Enjoyable judging by how much he's already eaten.

Jonathan smiles, "Hockey," he replies, before he eats and drinks some of his food and drink. There's a pause as his phone makes a sound, and he frowns as he looks to it. "Ah, I should be going. Promised my sister that I'd meet her. It was nice to meet you." Finishing off his food and drink quickly, he gets up to head out.

Jade does the awkward coming in/going out door dance with Jonathan as she's entering while he's on his way out. In the end, she steps aside to let him pass, then slips in before the door can close behind him. Reaching up one hand, she rubs it at the back of her neck and give a groan, "This is the last time I let Liam 'take a break' from driving. He gets to sleep while I do all the driving. That's gotta change." She glances up towards the counter, then seems to perk up, "Oo, waffles!" Looking much happier, the young woman saunters over to the counter and takess a seat. As soon as the waitress meanders over her way, she asks, "Stack of waffles, cup of black coffee. Please." When the waitress departs, she wings around and props her elbows on the bar to glance over the rest of the room, unashamedly people-watching.

"Yes... nice to meet you." brow knitting, Thewlis tries to look friendly, but he's tucking into himself and knows his tone is faltering. Then the new figure comes in, groans and makes for the counter. A thin frown on his features when he realizes he's staring... at something, but as soon as he checks himself he nods a little should her gaze drifts his way. "Try them with peanutbutter..." said lamely before he takes another bite, chewing... Chew for your life.

"Hi. Peanut butter, you say? With honey? Maybe some crumbled bacon? I could do that.. actually.. that sounds tasty as Hell right now." She half-turns and smiles towards the waitress, "Can I get peanut butter and honey and bacon on those waffles? Thanks!" Swinging back around, she offers a tired-but-wired sort of smile towards Thewlis and offers, "Thanks! I'm still not quite sure how much further we have to drive to get where we're going. Is there a motel or something around here? Maybe a B&B or kindly person that could rent a room for a night?" The coffee gets set down and she mutters a silent thanks to whichever God is responsible for this mana from the heavens.

"Driving... you just moving into the area?" the attention seems to make his jaw tighten, eyes moving from point to point and only able to make brief contact before he -has- to look around again.
"Not to sound like the creep wierdo. But if you and your boyfriend, or husband or brother or whatever neeed a place to sleep. I have a couch with a hide-a-bed. You can crash if you need. My name is Thewlis..." he frowns in thought, "All sounds... like a setup. It's not. I mean." cutting more, peanutbutter dunking and eating,

Watching Thewlis with no small amount of amusement, she props her cheek on one fist and smiles easily. Watching him stammer his way through the offer before maybe recanting it? Jade just lifts a hand and smiles at him. "My name's Jade. I'm traveling with my best friend, Liam. We're from Seattle, and if you've got an extra space that would be great, thanks. Liam's still napping in the van, but I'll kick him awake if you want to meet him before I follow you back." She flashes a grin before reaching for the coffee cup, lifting it to take a drink. "We're actually here to see if we can find a friend of ours. Nathan Grant? Don't suppose you know him? He'd be about my age, grew up here.."

"I'm... not sure, I maybe do - but probably not. I'm just the caretaker... over at... behind the church." Thewlis takes another long swallow of coffee,
"I don't really get out much... deal with people. But." he actually looks like he's trying to force speech that can be understood out. "But you can come crash, I don't know how to make you certain I'm not some creep, but I know it's rough when you don't have a decent place to stay."
"So up from Seattle to see a friend eh? This Nathan a longtime resident? Out of towner?"

"Its cool, whatever you want to do, Thewlis. You're being really nice right now and giving us a roof, I'm not gonna try to force an introduction. Liam's probably gonna sleep all night anyways," Jade offers with a bright smile towards Thewlis. She might sound a touch too trusting, but there's a level of confidence in the woman that suggests she knows how to take care of herself. Lifting a hand, Jade offers a smile, "Its cool. I'm not much of a 'face' person myself. More a behind-the-scenes kinda girl. Liam's the face. He's always gladhanding and kissing babies and whatnot. I'm just as happy staying behind the camera, you know?" Jade takes a hefty gulp of the coffee, then gives a quick nod. "Yeah, at least he said he was. Born and raised. We all went to college together, but he disappeared over Spring Break and we never heard from him. So we collected our diplomas and came to find him."

Head coming up at that, Thewlis's head tilts to one side. "How long ago did he disappear?" His thoughts now going through lists, new grave markers, does the name sound familiar?
Shaking his head, he purses his lips, "I can try to ask around. Nathan Grant - went to college in Seattle then?" he sets his coffee down and flinches when the waitress passes him from behind, refilling it.

"Just this past spring. He went home to visit his folks and just.. never came back. He was like.. three months away from his degree, no reason to not come back and at least finish out the year to get his degree." Jade offers up the information readily, now suddenly vastly more interested by the caretaker than a moment ago. She gives a quick nod and offers, "University of Washington, Seattle campus. He was about 5'10", that sorta haircolor that's right between blonde and brown so you never know which to call it, green eyes, lanky build. His parents still live here. We were gonna check in with them in the morning."

"Sounds bad... but I don't recall any new graves for... someone that young, but I can check the records." head ducking again, looking down for a moment. "I caretake and sometimes dig out at the cemetery. Unless someone is cremated they likely have had me walk past them eh?" he shudders, "I head people saying 'they're coming to get you Barbara' all the time..." fork in more food. Delicious. Less awkward talk.

"No, he isn't dead. They would have told the school if he had died. His parents, I mean. The school doesn't know what happened to him either." She shakes her head and takes another swallow of the coffee. When the waitress comes through with her order, she beams. "Oh this is GREAT. Thank you!" Spending a few moments of silence to just inhale some salty, sweet, peanut-buttery waffles. Her coffee gets refreshed, to which she nods, wipes her mouth, slugs down some coffee, then looks back to Thewlis with a grin, "Night of the dead, Romero zombies. Classic. You know, John Russo complained about getting muscled out of the Living Dead franchise by Romero.. but he went on to make those Return of the Night of the Living Dead movies? They were just horrible. Like.. all cheese. Not even good cheese, we're talking like.. cheese in a can cheese."

"Not even Linnea Quigley getting naked could save the first... The split between Russo and Romero is why all of Russo's movies were The Living Dead, and Romero's became The Dead... it was part of the suit between them." It all comes rushing out of Thewlis as its brought up. "Russo understood comedy, and terror. He didn't understand horror, that's why his ended up goofy and campy."

"I don't know.. I could have stood to see her get naked. Or either of the main characters, really. Might have made it more interesting." Jade offers with a quick shrug before flashing him a grin. "Ahhhhhh, I see someone else absorbs trivia! We'll have to sit down sometime, nerd out. Liam will want in, though. He's a HUGE horror buff too. Me? I'm more of an 80's slasher flick kinda girl. And the Romero movies. Romero makes a damn fine zombie movie. OH! Did you see Train to Busan? Maaaaaaaaaaan, that was one freaky-deeky zombie flick." She rambles on between bites, cheerfully talking horror movies with the strange graveyard caretaker.

"She did get naked. She was Trash. The girl who danced naked and then got eaten." Thewlis downs coffee, half smiling now "Busan was good yeah, but everything Romero has done after Land of the Dead has been... questionable. I mean Survival of the Dead? Hatfields and McCoys on an island? I mean... I get the social commentary about how not even the apocalypse can stop pointless feuding... but it was kinda hacky." loosening up, the talk on something he knows, something he can go into his own head for and not realize where he is, who he is.

"Ohhhhhhhhh! You were talking about Return of the Night of the Living Dead, okay, that makes WAY more sense now!" Jade blinks and shakes her head with a laugh. "Don't mind me. Its been a long day of driving, knocked me off my game a little." SHe chuckles softly and takes another slug of the coffee. She lifts a ahnd and wobbles it back and forth, "I'll give you Survival. It was certainly more schlock than Romero was really known for. Diary was alright, though. Maybe not his BEST work, but it was pretty decent." Finishing off her stack of waffles like only a young person can, she takes her mug and slides down a few stools, edging in a little closer to Thewlis, "Okay. So we've covered Romero. What about Stephen King? Favorite King book, then movie. Go!"

There is virtually no hesitation at that point, "Wizard and Glass, and the Steven Webber, Rebecca De Mornay TV production of The Shining." he slugs back more coffee, his own waffle slowly nearing its delicious end. "Kubrick tied too hard for horror and tension and just made it slow... too many changes too. The nineties made for TV was more true to the original vision, and even acknowledged the last moment redemption of Jack Torrence - even if neither movie could utilize the self mutilation of the house trying to eliminate Jack from his own body entirely." Thewlis nods to himself and chews.

"Nicely chosen. IT is my favorite book, Misery is my favorite movie. But I did really enjoy the remake of The Shining. It was nice that he was finally able to make the one that he wanted after all those years." Jade responds with a grin. She sips on her coffee now, watching eat, chatting with him. "Eh, I can understand why that would be really hard to portray in cinema, whether tv or movie. That sort of thing is defined better through a text medium." She lifts her cup for another sip then smiles at him. "But when I want just mindless fun.. Maximum Overdrive. You can't go wrong with a full AC/DC soundtrack and a young Emilio Estevez."

"You know, I can't recall the name right now, but I want to say it was the director had to flee the screening room to vomit at the kid being run over by the steam roller." Thewlis nods, "I like Wizard and Glass because it proves that King can right something deep... When Susannah dies..." he gives a little shiver.

"Actually, that was George Romero. He was invited to the test screening, and it was just a rumor. And the scene that caused it was cut from the final edit." Jade spouts it off with a grin before finishing off her cup of coffee. She gives a nod to the Wizard and the Glass. "I'm not old enough to remember the whole series as it came out... but that was a damn fine series of books. Really showed his evolution as a writer." She pauses, then looks at him, "So am I just following you back, then? Unless Liam wakes up on the rip over, he's probably gonna stay crashed on the air mattress in back of the van."

"Romero you're right. Part of me wanted to say Savini, but I doubt you could make Tom Savini even flinch." he pauses in thought "Well, I know what that's like. I can drive back, you can take your van, follow in. We can get him woken up. One of you can decide who gets what... or however you sleep - I'm not" and then he's back to earlier, "Like I don't know if... well I don't want to make assumptions..." finishing off his waffle, finally.
"I have an extra room, I can set up something of my own in there, if you two need separate beds you can fight over who gets the master bedroom, and who gets the couch, or if you'd both be sleeping on the couch... bed. Hide-a-Cou--" he pauses "Hide-a-bed... that's fine. No judgement... I can dig through my stuff, find a town map. Gas station will try to charge an arm and a leg." a turtle beaked frown creasing his expression. May-Day! May-day! He's cratering!

"Yeah, not with as long as that man has been doing practical effects and stunt work." She agrees with him on the matter of Tom Savini, that man has been around too long and done too much to be easily affected. Jade smiles at him, just listening while he makes his way through the explanation, then chuckles. "No need to go through all that. He'll sleep just fine in the van and I can rouse him up first thing in the morning. He's a real bear if he's woken up before he's done sleeping. I can crash on the hide-a-bed, and you can keep your room. And thank you again. For the place to crash, the map, everything. I think this is the first time I've been able to smile without forcing it since Nate disappeared. So that.. means something. To me." Rising up from her seat, she finishes the coffee and pays the waitress, for her meal and his, leaving her a good tip too. Turning back towards Thewlis, she smiles, "You about ready? Not sure I could find the way after dark without a guide."

Gulping down the rest of his coffee, Thewlis nods. "Right, ok. As long as he'll be ok back there. It's getting cold... will he have enough blankets?" a flannel coat with a fleece liner is pulled on as he stands. "Are his boots or shoes off? Circulation gets cut off if you sleep in those." frowning a little tighter. "And your welcome. Sorry if I'm. I'm not good at people. Sorry." head ducking down again, brow knitting.

"Oh yeah. He's rolled up in a sleeping bag meant for use in a tent in Alaska in December. Plus he's got a comforter on top of that." Jade tucks her heads into her pockets and moves in an ambling way towards the door while he gets his coat. Grinning, she nods, "He had on a pair of loafers. They're still in the passenger side of the van." Shuffling over towards him, she gives his elbow a little nudge with hers, "You're doing just fine, Thewlis. C'mon, you and me can have a cup of coffee or something and we'll talk horror movies til we're sleepy. Sound good?"

"Sounds good, yeah. And good, he's properly prepped. Good..." Thewlis's lips pull into a line and there is a notable bit of control to keep from flinching when the elbow comes his way, and then his head ducks and he hunches again. "I'm easy to follow too. Truck, extended bed. No..." he sighs and shakes his head, heading for the door and at least having enough thought to hold it open for her. "You'll see, of course you will."