2019-11-03 - Random Encounters Around Thai Food

Big ol truck, parked in front of one of the hardware store on the edge of the strip mall, with the bed hatch down and tool boxes open - Thewlis is next to it, putting a small number of things in, a new size of hammer, some new screwdrivers, small pieces. The rest that can be seen? They look like a grandparent could have owned them, but their maintained to a disturbingly high quality of functionality.
A lunchbox stands open as well, with what looks lie a bit of food from the Pizza Kitchen chucked in, and a thermos next to it. While he works he periodically checks over his shoulders, or looks from side to side, huddling closer to his vehicle if people pass by.

Jade comes out from the Suds'n'Duds with netted bag over her shoulder that holds a bunch of freshly cleaned laundry. She seems to be deciding between the Pizza Kitchen and the Thai Table for lunch when she spots a familiar figure not too far down the way. Smiling brightly, she lifts a hand and waves, "HEY! Thewlis!" Waving her arm back and forth to try and catch his attention before setting up at an easy jog to head towards him. Despite all the clothes she's toting, she seems to handle the bag easily enough, approaching the man with a grin. "Fancy meeting you here. How's it going? Nice toolset!"

Turning like a man accused when his name is called out Thewlis freezes a moment until he sees Jade and then calms - somewhat. "Yeah. I was. Was fixing a few things... nearby. Was about to head back over to work, got some new pieces..." looking to his tools and back to Jade.
"I'm ok, thank you. How are you? How's your friend?" closing up one toolbox and setting to organize the other. Head ever on a swivel, looking around himself and Jade while he sets to his task.

"I'm doing okay. Liam is doing good, too, thanks. He's actually going to talk with Nate's parents right now to find out if they've heard anything from him. Which put me on laundry and lunch duty. Maybe it seems girly or whatever, but I'd rather be doing this than what he's doing. But that's why he's the face. He's way better at talking to people, you know?" Jade rambles a bit before trailing off with a shrug and a sheepish expression. She glances around when he does, perhaps wondering if he's waiting for someone before looking back to him with a smile, "So you're heading back to work.. caretaker, right? Hey so.. I don't kno how long Liam's gonna be. If you don't mind, can I just grab something for me and him for lunch and maybe catch a ride back to your place? I can help you out while I'm waiting for Liam to be done. I can text him ont he way.. it would be better than juts, you know, sitting here and waiting."

There's a moment, and Thewlis's brow knits in consideration. "Yeah. Can do that. Not good to have to carry laundry around." offering a tight smile before pushing hair up out of his face. "If you need there's things in the fridge, or if you want I can help pick up something here?" he pauses and looks around again, brow knitting. "Since you're on roadtrip funds... can help from having some of the food eat into your money." he turns and moves towards her nodding to the bag and holding out a hand, "May I?"

"Aww, thanks! I was gonna grab us some Thai. Do you like thai food? I inherited my dad's cast iron stomach, but Liam, he can't handle the spice that I can so I have to make sure and get him something from the mild menu." Jade responds with a grin and a nod, motioning back towards the Thai Table. When he offers to take the laundry, she smiles agian and gives a nod, "Thank you. I think maybe you're better with people than you think.. just.. not crowds maybe. And I get that, lots of people aren't good with crowds. But you're a nice guy and you don't seem to have any problems tlaking to me."

Lugging the net bag, putting it on some clean burlap and covering it over, Thewlis looks back. "I... I've never had Thai" apparently glossing back on commentary about his being able to people, eyes flicking about a again before focusing on the young lady. "If you want to pick up Thai, that's no problem either. Glad to help." putting his boxes in and latching the tailgate of the truck before scratching at his beard.
"Looks like the map helped too, looks as like. That's good. Find his family easy enough?" Thewlis's eyes on the Thai place now, curious, tight smile now more a concentration line.

"Well then, you're in for a treat. In fact, you're in for my treat! Lunch is on me," Jade offers with a grin as he settles her laundry in his truck, a little crinkle coming to the corners of her eyes at how nicely he's handling the laundry. When he approachees again, she attempt to hook her arm through his to start heading towards the Thai Table. "So there's levels of heat that you can do for thai food. No spice, low spice, medium spice, lotta spice, and Oh-God-Oh-God-What-Have-I-Done spice. Just depends on your comfort level with it. Liam, like a I said, he picks from the low spice stuff. Me? I vary between lotta spice and WHOLE lotta spice. But. My dad is Puerto Rican. We have lots of spicy dishes." She looks up at him and nods, "Oh sure! He texted me to let me know he got there fine and that he isn't sure how long it will take and told me to get him something for lunch."

Entire body going rigid at initial touch, Thewlis swallows and maybe for the sake of polite company lets his arm be taken an then lets himself be lead. "I've no problem with spice. I like spice, as long as there is flavor. If there is none, it's pointless heat for frat-boy bragging." he admits "And good. I should've given a number in case you got lost, my fault. Sorry." eyeing the thai place as they near, brow raising.

Giving his arm a gentle squeeze, possibly to reassure the man that she means him no harm, Jade grins up at him. "Nah, its only us Americans that needlessly add spice. Asian food, if there's heat or spice, its going to go WITH the food, not against it. So tell me. Do you prefer beef, chicken, or pork? Or maybe seafood? Shrimp and fish?" She keeps up the patter of chatter without pause, halting only when he apologizes. Tsking softly at him, she grins easily, "You've been nothing short of amazing to us since we arrived, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. So I usually get the Khao Pad Nam Prik Narok which is like.. fried rice and fish covered in a 'chili paste from hell'. If you want to try something a little less ominous, Pad Prik comes with white rice and you can ask for beef, pork, chicken, or fish with it. Liam always gets a mild Pad Thai. Big flat noodles, veggies, and choice of meat."

"They make a Kuu pad naym prig narogh with pork or beef? I'm actually not much for seafood." apparently not bothering to deal with the embarrassment of being unable to remember how that is pronounced and just going with what he can figure. The arm squeeze at least gets the right, if small, smile back.
"Just trying. Being try..." he sighs, "Just doing the right thing, you're trying to find your friend, haven't done anyone any harm. I can help... if I can." he shrugs, "Surprised you took the offer, but I'm glad I'm helping." once inside the restaurant his eyelids flutter at the assault of scents.

"I don't know, but you can always ask. I don't see why they wouldn't. Might take an extra minute or two but you should be able to," Jade responds with a nod and grin, glossing right over the mis-pronunciation. Thai is not an easy language on the tongue. Wrinkling her nose up at him in that cute fashions girls are known for, she steps inside the restaurant with him. While he takes it all in, Jade inhales deeply and sighs contentedly with a large grin on her face. "Now this is what I'm talking about." She glances up at him and gives his arm another gentle squeeze, "You've been super helpful, Thewlis. So don't think you haven't. And being that we're new here, it was really nice of you to take a chance on us. I mean, for all you knew, we could have been serial killers or something. So I think we both kinda took a chance on each other. And it worked out great!"

There is a blush creeping up his neck at the nose wrinkle that grows with the added squeeze of his arm. "Well... maybe. I can take care of myself, I suppose I'd be fine... So I figured if some college kids from out of town... well needed a place, they'd be fine at mine, if I can take care of myself, I could keep you away from trouble."
Apparently the notion of someone being able to harm him in his own home rings foreign to him but he looks for a table now, assuming there will be waiters or waitresses and menus.

Smiling as one such waitress approaches, Jade asks for a table for two, then follows along after until they're seated. She of course has to let go of Thewlis' arm to do so, but seems to wait until the last minute to do so. Perhaps she's worries he'll try to escape if she doesn't hold onto him? When it comes time for drinks, she requests a glass of unsweetened iced tea with lemon. She also puts in her order for the khao pad nam prik narok... and asks if it can be made with pork or beef instead of fish, so Thewlis doesn't have to. With an affirmative, she asks for one order with fish, one order with beef, and a mild chicken pad thai to go. Once the waitress leaves out, Jade looks back to Thewlis and grins, "You might have your hands full with that order. See, Liam and I run this Twitch stream and Youtube channel? We 'hunt' cryptids and 'expose' hauntings and the like. We also offer modern day urban survival tips and what's needed for a modern bugout bag. Because everyone should have one. Just in case." She flashes a grin, "So we'll probably see if we can't track down some local cryptid myths to chase while we're here."

"You'll have a field day here then..." There is a sudden and uninhibited grin on Thewlis's face at that, ordering peach tea for himself before the waitress goes. "All manner of places here are haunted. Old mills, the woods. Some parts of where I work I'm sure."
Thewlis folds his hands on the table in thought. "And for people like us... weird things show up all the time. Keep in town long enough, you'll see." he frowns, looking around the restaurant now, back to passive paranoia. "This isn't a normal type of town, and it draws certain folk in."

Delighted to see the sudden change come over him, Jade props her chin in both hands and just listens for a few moments. When the joy faces and tha paranoia returns, however, she chuckles and grins at him, "Well then. Looks like we were fated to run into each other then! You can help show us the best places to go 'spook hunting' and I can show you what we do!" She cants her head to the side a bit and glances around, then lifts a brow at him, "So are you offering us space at your place for longer then? Cause if you are then I insist we chip in for like.. bills and stuff. Liam and I aren't moochers. We pay our way. And we'll get some cheap beds to throw in that extra room, that way we aren't camping your living room."

"Oh. Well. Sure I can make space in the spare room. Or you can camp on the couch. It's ok, really. And sure, if you want to stay, you can stay - don't worry about bills. I'm offering so you aren't mooching. I do fine for myself, for where I'm at." blinking a few times Thewlis's head cants to one side, fighting the urge to look around and failing after a few moments.
"I know I have things for putting together some bed frames if you want though, and I know where I can get clean mattresses too. So you can at least feel at home while you look for your friend, or hunt spooks." perking again as he shifts topics. "Like the Murray House... that's... hrmm. Lots of killings have happened there. It has a history. Pamela is still there, has been for... I want to say decades. And the one the kids call Skeletor..." head shaking. "Almost makes me want to check it out myself.

"I mean, whatever is going to less intrusive for you, really. And if we end up sticking around for longer, we'll look at getting an apartment or something so we aren't like.. you know, taking up all your space for months on end." Jade reaches out and pokes him lightly ont he back of one hand, smiling, "Nah, we'll kick in for bills, it wouldn't be right for us to not help out. Besides, the food bill would get nuts real fast. We're both twenty-somethings who lead fairly active lives.. so we eat like.. a lot." She watches as he tries to suppress the urge to looks around, murmuring gently so that only he can hear it, "Have you seen some of these things, Thewlis? You seem way too alert for just.. people." She pauses for a few moments, pulling out her phone while he's talking and tapping at it a bit before grinning. "Murray House... got it in the list of places to check out." She looks to him and lifts a brow, "You could come along. With Liam and me, I mean. That way you aren't by yourself but you can totally stay offscreen. Liam's the one that gets in front of the camera. I just run all the tech and edit the videos to make sure there's nothing inappropriate in them."

The poke to the hand causes a restrained flinch, fighting muscle memory, "I suppose, if you really insist. It's not an argument worth having. I'm fine with it - " he cuts off at the murmuring, brow knitting, Thewlis nods. "I've. Yeah. Some." he opens his mouth for a moment, about being alert, but closes up again. "Yeah I could come with, local guide. Maybe point out a few things."
His brow knits again and he tries to maintain eye contact, though he more looks at his hands or hers. His frown comes back, a mix of shame and anger that wars with itself every time he fights the urge to keep his head on a swivel.

Frowning slightly herself as she watches him withdraw more, she pokes him lightly once more and murmurs, "You don't have to fight it on my account. I don't mind, you know. I just.. noticed it and wondered if it was really people that you have trouble with, or something else." Jade pauses for a moment, then continues, "We've seen something. Liam and me. Only once. Usually its more like.. the occasional shivery feeling or sense of something bad about to happen. But like.. most of th stuff we've looked into are just flat our hoaxes or whatever and we play up the hokey stuff so people who aren't, you know, really aware or whatever, don't go stumbling into it." Leaning forward a touch, she tries a smile for him and offers, "So what's your favorite horror movie of all time, and why?"

A pained sort of grimace comes at the second poke, and he's not here for a moment. For the miles marching across his eyes, it's clearly it's in the past, that somewhere else, and the way he hunches he's younger - wherever he is for that moment.
He doesn't address it, in the flash before he comes back, "Stay in this town long enough... that feeling is a constant." he takes a moment to think on the question posited and his mouth draws out for a long moment. "Alien..." head tipping. "Horror is about tension, not seeing. Knowing something is there, waiting. Hunting. Alien does that amazingly."

Jade wears a faintly worried look as he travels to the past while they sit in the thai restaurant, wondering if she's going to have to try to snap him out of it. Then he comes to on his own and she can't hold back the relieved smile when he refocuses on her. "Welcome back," she offers with a tiny nudge of his hand since hers hasn't really moved at all. His answer has her grinning and giving a nod, "That's actually pretty good. I like that. I think Hellraiser is mine. The original. It focused on how our own desires could quickly lead us down a path of pain and terror punishing us for our own greed and selfishness even as it tempts more to join in. its one of the few movies I've ever seen that made body mutilation sound enticing and its scary to think they could that easily tap into something like that."

When she nudges he blinks and goes red, shoulders hunching, head down. "It may have been the catalyst to modern body modification trends in the US, but the overt sexuality likely became the draw because it heightened attention to forbidden pleasures, especially in the eighties following the clamp-down on inhibitions following the sixties-seventies Age of Aquarius." looking up rapidly when the food is finally delivered. "My close second is the original Puppet Master. Too campy to not enjoy."

"Perhaps so. It certainly took body modifications to extremes and still made it seem.. artistic. But I do love the movie." She murmurs with a sip of her tea. Her hand withdraws as the food arrives and she looks over her spicy dish with a grin, inhaling deeply. "Oh yeah. This is the ticket." Pulling out the fork from her roll of silverware, Jade grins towards him. "I own the entire boxed series of the Puppet Master. All the way through Retro Puppet Master, anyways. They keep making more, its very hard to keep up." She takes a bite and savors the heat, the spice, the flavors the flow across her tongue before swallowing the bite and smiling. "My second would have to be... the Exorcism of Emily Rose. The actress was SO good in the role there were times I forgot that it was actually a movie and not some sad and terrifying documentary."

"Retro Puppet Master was odd, the new Fangoria Puppet Master was interested but the whole trope of all the dolls from all the movies showing up to kill a convention... it's ok."
He looks over the food as he gets his, instinctively going for sticks, digging into it and chewing slowly, nostrils flaring as the spice hits. "Anneliese Michel... she was the inspiration. So in a way it was kind of a documentary...." he frowns a little in thought at that, "Probably would've been better just to document her."

"I largely enjoyed the series, every time I thought they'd reached their limit of camp, they pulled something else out that had me rolling with laughter. Demonic Toys, those mini aliens, Corey Feldman as some mad inventor..." Jade chuckles even as she shakes her head and forks up another bite. The spice starts to make her lips tingle and her sinuses have started to really open up, but she continues at it with gusto, enjoying each bite. "I'm actually glad they didn't. How sad for her to have had the last weeks of her life be filmed and sold for entertainment value. Especially given how much she'd suffered."

"That's true, but a lot of people do it just the same... they photographed her enough to strip any dignity from her last days." he continues to put food down his gullet, stopping for the occasional sip of tea, giving a little grin at the heat. "It's good, I'm regretting not coming in sooner. Like the waffle place." lips thinning into a line. "Truth be told this is the most socializing I've done in a long time too."
He looks down for a moment, at his food. "Well outside of the goth girl who tends a couple graves in the Gardens. But that's more in passing, really." Thewlis sits back a moment, letting his food settle before tucking back in.

"That's true.. which is still a shame. I don't think I'd want to have my last days so exploited," Jade gives a small shake of her head, then smiles towards Thewlis at his comment regarding the thai place. "See? Stick with me and I'll open you up to a world of delicious new foods." She chuckles lightly, then sips from her own iced tea. Lifting a brow towards the altter comment, she offers, "Well I can't help that. You just so happen to be a big fan of at least two of the things I really enjoy. So you're kinda stuck socializing with me. I haven't been able to properly geek out with anyone but Liam in a long time." There's a grin for mention of the goth girl in the Gardens that tends a few graves. "Cool! I'd love to meet her sometime too."

"Hard to miss, she wears an eyepatch. If we run into her I'll introduce you, don't worry." he actually chuckles, though the sound is more like a pleasant cough.
"You can look through my shelf too. I know it was late when we got in, but it's mostly movies and books you'd like." one corner of his mouth turning up. "So I guess it's extra lucky you found crash space eh?" he resumes eating, watching her again, when he can make eye contact, which is rarely.

Perking up, Jade grins, "You mean it? Hey, awesome! I'll have Liam bring in our collection fromt he van when he gets back and we can compare! We couldn't bring everything, obviously, but we weren't about to leave ourselves without anything to entertain ourselves with." She leans forward a little bit more and gives a quick nod, "I'm really glad I ran into you, Thewlis. This has been way better than I expected to find when we hit town." She continues to finish off her food, but when he does glance her way, he'll find her smiling. Sometimes at him, and sometimes just while she eats.

Getting caught looking at her is embarrassing enough, and his blush returns for a moment. Howk war nok... You know he's not going to be able to pronounce it, tucked away he admits after summing up a great deal of courage.
"Good, I'm glad. It's been... very good for me too. I don't really run into many people. I. I tend to." he sighs and looks down at the table. "I tend to keep to drive through or take out and just go back home or to work."
He and Jade are in the Thai restaurant, chatting with one another. Well Jade is chatting, Thewlis is awkwarding and regularly looking around as if checking that the coast is clear.

Devlin shows up to pick up a take out order. His shoulders fall when he is told that they messed up and do not have his order. He takes a breath, "Ok.. how long to prepare it?" He gets an answer... he frowns a little as it appears he will have a wait at the Thai restaurant. Seeing the couple at a table, he gives them a smile, at least they are having a better time than he is.

Jade, for her part, is finishing up a bowl of Khao Pad Nam Prik Narok, smiling in her enjoyment of both food and company. However awkard Thewlis seems, she seems to just blithely ignore it and keeps right on chattering. The most recent topic having been horror movies, its perhaps not much surprise when she dives back into it. "So question. In your opinion, do movies like Paranormal Activity have a place in true horror culture? It seems entirely predicated on its ability to produce a jumpscare every 15 minutes or so." While waiting for an answer from Thewlis, she sees Devlin enter and really can't help but overhear that he'll have to wait awhile for the order to be remade. Grinning, she sits up and looks over at him, "Hey! Gut reaction.. what's your favorite horror movie? Don't think, just answer!"

Eyes on him, and he is aware in moments - looking to Devlin lips pursed and his eyes dropping down to the table. "It would be, you never truly see the entity, at least in the first ones. Yes there are jumpscares at regular interval - but that becomes part of the tension. The horror. You know it's there, it's coming, you know you're going to react, but you can't stop it. It's possibly some of the most intimate forms of horror, because it... well it doesn't let you rest." Thewlis quiets again, not quite looking at Devlin.

"Aliens.. " Is Devlin's reply, "I loved the Marines in it.." He takes a seat near the take out counter. A waiter brings him some tea, "Thank you." As he pours some tea for himself, "Forgive me.. hope I did not interrupt."

"I would counter that and say that after the first or second watching, there's no longer any 'scare' to it. You know exactly what to expect, when to expect it, and it loses effectiveness the more you watch it. I've always felt the mark of a good movie in general is that you see more when you watch it again. There are things that you missed the first time around, the third time around, the fifth time around. But things like Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity have limited re-watch value as they put all their stock into the jumpscares and not into any sort of decent story or mystery," Jade motions with her fork while she reponds to Thewlis before turning towards Devlin with a grin. "Nope! I mean, I did kinda put you on the spot so..." She shrugs, then chuckles, "Good choice. There is very heated debate in the movie lovers community over which Alien film is superior, the first or the second."

"It's a good point, with the first one, and yeah they do have only a one and done sort of quality that's there. It's like American Werewolf in London - it's re-watchablity is measured more in years between viewings as there is not much to re-watch for, other than the transformation. " Thewlis quiets again, and at the comment of the Alien debate, he answers simply. "Original. Scott is far better than Cameron. And Alien is a horror, Aliens is an action horror. Distinct difference."

Devlin nods, "I do like them both. The 3rd and 4th movies I could do without. Now.. I do have to admit I enjoy movies, never got into the break em down bit. Now I did watch a lot of Hitchcock movies thanks to mom growing up. Psycho and Rear Window.. those grab you every time.. you know it is coming but still he draws you in to the terror." He sips on his tea as he looks over to the counter again with that look that anyone in the military would know well.. the annoyed NCO look that can peel paint.. make private's faint and send Lieutenants running for the hills.

"Werewolf with Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer did a much better job at the werewolf horror anyways. Even the transformation... you see a better man to wolf transformation in Michael Jackson's Thriller video. And its infinitely more fun to watch, too." Jade doesn't seem to think much of An American Werewolf in London. Sipping at her tea, she nods towards Thewlis, "That is also a very valid point. What about The Thing? I felt that was very well done for its time, and the practical effects still make me shudder." Looking to Devlin, poor Devlin. Jade was never military, but she grew up with her father int he Seattle PD. So The Look is nothing new to her. She just jumps right back in with a grin. "Vertigo is my favorite Hitchcock film. Hands down."

"You know... remembering the Thing... That unseats all. That's my favorite. It sometimes sneaks to the back of my thoughts, but no... The Thing." Thewlis works at the last bits of his meal, actually smiling as he thinks on it. "You know Childs was the Thing at the end right? He changes coats... before everything starts going insane at the end.

Finally someone tells Devlin, five more minutes.. and he just nods to them. Back to Jades and Thewlis, "That was kind of creepy.. it does have that possession and infiltrator thing going if you think about it. Though the Blob.. just eating or dissolving to gfrow is as bad./

Finally someone tells Devlin, five more minutes.. and he just nods to them. Back to Jades and Thewlis, "That was kind of creepy.. it does have that possession and infiltrator thing going if you think about it. Though the Blob.. just eating or dissolving to grow is as bad. Thanks for the conversation. I'm Devlin, and I hope you do not see my professionally as I will be a part of the EMS team in the future."

"Right? The Thing is a great movie! People forget it all the time and it makes me sad," Jade smacks the table lightly and grins at Thewlis with a nod. Looking back towards Devlin, she gives a nod, "The Blob is good. Phantoms did it better though. it took the Blob, gave it sentience and a rudimentary understanding of religion... and it had better actors." She flashes him a grin and leans across the table to offer a hand towards Devlin, "Jade, new in town. And I make no guarantees, I like to go into falling down old houses to look for ghosts and zombies, so... I've had more tetanus shots than I like to think about." Looking back to Thewlis, she grins, "And this is Thewlis, perhaps the coolest person I have met in the city to date."

Thewlis may be familiar to a townie, or an outsider who's been around a while, the Cemetery caretaker. At the compliment he clearly has no idea what to do with it. Brows knitting and blushing to his ears, the tall man nods to the soldier.
"The novel for Phantoms was better. I know everyone says the book is better... But they actually go into the thought processes of the entity in the town. It's extremely interesting."

Devlin shakes Jade's offered hand, the grip firm and sure. "Well, hope you do not need my help at one of those places." He then offers his hand to Thewlis, "A pleasure"

"You know, I haven't actually read it. Though yes, that is generally true, the book is nearly always better than the movie. But then the book didn't have Liev Schriber in it. So.. you'd have a hard sell for me on that one." Jade offers with a grin and shrug. Finishing off her iced tea, she offers a nod and parting wave to Devlin before turning back to Thewlis, "I may have a thing for guys with that tall, lanky build. But shush, don't tell anyone. Its secret." She winks and grins, then signals to the waitress for the to-go order and the check.

"I'll keep that in mind." If any of that was aimed at Thewlis, well - it clearly went over his head, lips drawing into a line as Devlin moves off. His expression clearly the type where he doesn't expect anything about him, especially if it's something nice. The wink has him red all over again though, and he is able to maintain eye contact for all of a couple seconds before his eyes are scanning the restaurant.
When he looks back, he fidgets and notes "I'll at least get tip, ok?" pulling a tenner out and putting it folded on the table.

Chuckling, Jade just shakes her head and smiles across at Thewlis, "You really are a genuinely nice guy, Thewlis." Rising up, she gives a nod and smiles, "That sounds good. I'll go take care of the check and get the to-go bag. Thanks for coming with me. This was a good lunch. I like being able to talk to you." She steps away from the table to go pay the nice waitress and collect the bag. Smilingg her thanks, she heads back to the table and smiles at him, "Ready? Also.. do you mind if I ask where you got your name from? Its an interesting one, I don't think I've ever heard it before. The only thing that comes to mind is an anagram for 'whistle'."

Up and holding her coat for her, his own already on, Thewlis has had enough time to recuperate from being complimented again. "It's north English. My family came across the pond, settled here. I'm named for my great, great, great on my father's side, who died on the boat..." he frowns, chagrinned, "It's always mispronounced when seen in writing, I get called Theh-louis at the bank..." the man himself pronouncing it theu-less. He tilts his head to one side, "The guy who played Lupin in Harry Potter, or Inan in Dragonheart - he uses it as a surname."

Slipping into her coat, she smiles up at him for his thoughtfulness, picking the bag with Liam's pad thai in it. Listening to him explain his name, she smiles faintly and gives a nod, "Yeah, I think that's why my mom insisted on 'easy' names for us kids. She didn't want us to have to deal with explaining it to anyone." Jade slips her arm into his again, glancing up at him, "I know the one you're talking about. And now I could swear I've seen him in something else, too and I'm trying to remember what." She glances at herself, then at him, and grins, "Shall we? I'll admit, I'm super curious about how one goes about tending a cemetary."

Still a little freeze at the contact and he's far away for a second. Sad, nervous, anger all rushing across his features, but it's only for someone else by the way he looks at his shoes. The look he gives her is apologetic, ashamed of his reaction, tainting the small smile he gives.
"It's mostly lawn mowing, checking for graffiti, and replacing flowers when the ones with headstones have wilted..." he allows a moment of consideration. "Sometimes I try to put some on some of the graves that don't... make sure they know that someone will think of them." all said while leading her to the truck, opening the door and offering to help her up into the big ol' pickup.

Jade glances up at him as they walk, listening, smiling as she gives a nod. "Is there any upkeep for the markers themselves? Do you ever like.. just wash them if they start looking dirty?" She accepts the help up into the truck and gets herself situated and buckled in, waiting for him to join her. She glances at him and lifts a brow at him, "Hey Thewlis? Do you want me to stop doing the random touches and stuff? You always flinch and I know its not because of me, perse, but if its painful or hard for you.. I can stop."

"I wash and polish when they need it." said as Thewlis climbs in and buckles. He pauses at the second question, brow knitting again, worrying at his lower lip. "It's ok. I don't want you to not be you. The engine turns over far smoother than it should for its age... but then the bucket seats are in extremely good, and comfy, condition as well. Frankly everything around him seems to be in extremely good condition, especially for its age.
"We can see if I get used to it, eh?" turning to offer her a thin smile as they pull out.

Jade enjoys sitting up in the truck's seat, the older vehicle making her grin for how well he's taken care of it. She glances over at him again and smiles, "I'm still me if I'm not invading your space, but I think I understand." The smile grows back into a grin at his own smile and she nods, "Sounds like a deal. By the way, this truck is amazing! How do you keep in such good condition? Is it rebuilt or have you just been keeping it really cherry?"

"I maintain it... keep it built up..." He pats the wheel as they drive. "I'm good at fixing things. S'what I do around town, semi-professional. S'how I got the caretaker job." a moment thought on what she said. "And no, you wouldn't be quite you... You touch... Telling you not to would be telling you to not be you. Wouldn't be right." something flickers in his expression, as if the idea of telling someone not to be fully oneself is an issue he's had to contend with for some time.