2019-11-07 - Chocolate Chip Cookies

The autumn afternoon is crisp but in that pleasant sort of way, the relief from summer, the promise of winter in the pacific northwest. In the glimpses of sun that show through? It's downright nice, even. It means Yule is set up not just outside, but front and center where he lives in the almost middle of the lot, propped up by an old, beaten up lawn chair. But better still? Is the small, plastic side table next to him that has a big bowl full of freshly made cookies. Cookies!

The medical examiner is dressed for the weather, with a grey sweater that has the tan leather elbow and shoulder patches, a pair of black jeans, and and equally black pair of ankle high boots. Set down beside him? It's a six pack of /something/, though it is difficult to tell what, given he hasn't bothered to pull one out, instead passing the time reading a newspaper, of all things.

Evie sniffs delicately at the air in a vaguely exaggerated way. Following your nose? Perhaps not usually so literally. She is walking with a sweeping gait, dressed in a gray turtleneck, slightly worn blue jeans, and a pair of black and white converse that are carefully maintained and well-loved. Over her shoulders, a denim jacket at least two sizes too large hugs her closely and flutters in the wind.

Eventually, that lackadaiscal way of moving has the petite blonde moving into position a few meters from where the medical examiner has taken up position beside his home. There's a sly smile on that ingenue face, showing off perfect white teeth as she calls out, "I didn't think anyone still read the newspaper. At least judging by the way people keep hocking subscriptions to the Times at the Kroger."

The man is also favoured with a finger wiggling wave of the girl's left hand which quickly turns to grasping at the cuff of her jacket as it falls down over her digits.

Folks coming and going isn't all that odd here in the trailer park, and so it's only when the shadowy presence of another stops, and then speaks, that it gets Yule's full attention. His voice calls out in a warm tone that borders on a touch too sweet, emphasizing the playfulness of those words. "Yeah, well. People don't realize there are just somethings a newspaper gives you that reading on your phone doesn't. Like," Up a finger lifts to tug down the top of the paper just enough to let his brown eyes peer over the top edge.

And then one eyebrow pops up, leaving the rest of his expression masked. "See? Try doing that, even with your iPhone XXX." His fingers sweep over the paper, folding it again, and then it's tucked down next to his thigh so he can better regard the blonde. "Come to set up a lemonade stand next to me? Nah, wait, it's fall. Has to be a hot cider stand."

His mouth blossoms into a faint smile, the hand closest to the cookie bowl lifting up to stick a thumb out, gesturing to it. "Come on. You know you want one. My sister fresh baked them, and if you don't? It means I have to eat them all."

"Oh no!" Evie clasps both of her hands together and then clutches them over her heart, the girl leaning forward in the breeze as if she might tumble to the ground. "You've found me out." Grinning, she crosses the distance between herself and Yule with a couple light steps, those blonde tresses flowing behidn her as another gust sweeps by to catch the denim jacket threatening to swallow her.

"You make a good case for the paper there. I might need to start getting a Sunday copy after all," Evie observes when she is close, reaching up absentmindedly to draw a stray lock of hair away from her mahogany eyes. She reaches into the bowl of warm, arometic cookies and snags one by the edges with small, nimble fingers.

The jacket makes the slender Evelyn look positively tiny, especially as she fights with it to keep her hands from disappearing inside. A brief scowl, a flick of the wrist, and then she's finally able to take a bite from the cookie she's just acquired.

"Victory," the young woman chirps in her soft mezzo soprano voice, one that carries perfectly and teases the ears like liquid smoke. "Evie. ...Evelyn Warner. My name, I mean." She's at least polite enough to speak between bites. "Thanks for the cookie."

Yule is propped up in an old, beat up lawn chair near his trailer, which is in the middle of the trailer park, all so clearly visible. Even better? Is the small plastic side table next to him that has a bowl full of warm, freshly baked cookies! He's dressed in a dark gray sweater, black jeans and black boots.

"I'm not sure. The paper might be as big as you are," His observation is light and playful, a touch of mischief on that tone, "And there is an art to how you fold and read it." Laughter comes from him in a brief burst as the woman struggles with that cookie nabbing and her jacket, and his head dips into a small nod of acknowledgement to that thanks.

"Yule Duchannes. My sister Nat runs the place here. Warner," His gaze narrows, considering, fingers tapping on the metal arm of his chair. "Name sounds familiar, last that is. Used to be a cop that ran around here. Constable Warner. Not that I ever did anything," That draws a brief flash of that charming smile, before he murmurs, "But I have a couple of rather troublesome siblings, you know."

Evie listens intently, that sly smile of hers widening until it teases taking over completely. She watches Yule with warm eyes, nodding thoughtfully as she looks him over briefly from head to toe. "Of course not, no trouble at all. Anyway, that'd be my dad," she continues, squinting slightly. "I think 'Duchannes' probably came up in some of those stories he used to tell me. Don't worry, I didn't ever listen to 'em anyway."

There's another pause then, in order to take another couple quick bites from the cookie. Evie clutches it carefully, as if to ward off any possible mishap now that her jacket is cooperating. When the cookie disappears the crumbs are brushed off using the thigh of her faded blue jeans and dthen Evie takes a deep breath.

"So," Evie begins now, taking up beside the cookie bowl as if she intends it to be a more permanent position. "About that paper. You have to enlighten me as to the art of braving the dangers and wonders of reading from one. I tried once. How do you even figure out where the rest of the articles are in there? I was completely lost. Also, I was 10, but... Still."

There is a low rumble preceding arrival of an old gray and green pick-up into the park. Oversized bed, and big enough even a tall man has to climb up into it. The bed, as ever, laden with a mix of grounds keeping and repair supplies.

Trundling up to a well maintained, if somewhat bland, lot and trail at slip 24, Thewlis is out barely after the engine has stopped, around and digging in the bed of the truck with a furtive expression, looking around himself as if expecting attack at any moment. But for any who live here, and have so for the last five or so years... that's pretty standard for the local handyman.

"You were ten. So what, you tried it about seven years ago?" Yule eyes Evie critically, but there is the barest of smiles on one corner of his mouth, and after a beat he reaches down to pull out his paper. "Probably Noelle. Or Ellis. Those two got into a ton of trouble while I was gone." It's all nice and neatly folded up, and while it's held out to her to take? He'll keep pulling it back until she's finished off that cookie and cleaned her hands so it doesn't make a mess everywhere.

The approach of a truck has his eyes shifting to find the source, watching Thewlis for a long moment with a look of faint recognition, the sort where you've seen someone around, but never talked. Yet. "If you'd like a cookie, Nat made them." Everyone knows Nat, right? Surely. His voice lifts enough to make sure it carries to the man.

"The secret is? To look at what page number it says the story is continued on, and then turn to that page. And you never read the paper fully /open/ ... you always fold it once, and flip it back and fourth." These are the words of wisdom he has for the young blonde in her new hobby of newspaper browsing.

"Eleven years ago," Evie replies to Yule shortly, but despite the venom in her town there's wry amusement on her features as she reaches out toward the paper in question. She again goes throug hthe motion of flicking her wrist to clear the jacket from them and takes a deep breath as she accepts it. "Right, I read the page numbers, I just never..." A beat as the ME continues his explanation.

"OH. You hold it like... Folded? Really? Movies never do anything right." Now that Evie has her instructions she is content to flip through the paper a moment, though she snickers a little as she does. She takes a furtive glance over the top of the paper then, only those mahogany eyes visible as she spots the handyman.

"You're right. You can't do this on an iPhone. Killer."

Drawing a series of boards and drape cloth from the truck, and resting it aside the vehicle, Thewlis blinks when he is addressed - flinching even as he considers the offer, brows knitting.

"Uhm... Cookie? I. Nat? Made by..." worrying his lower lip some, and approaching apparently to be polite, the man's head seems to be on a swivel, on continuous, regular, lookout. The habit to the point that he can barely maintain eye contact, and with Evie mostly behind the paper, the object in her hands is what receives his look.

"Urhuh... thank you... what kind?" looking down and to the side for the moment. He's in someone else's yard. Madness.

"Eleven? Well, isn't that convienent. Next you'll be asking me if I could just slip into the local alcohol store to get a few things for you and your ten closest friends cause you forgot your ID." There isn't an ounce of seriousness in those words that Yule speaks, and this time his smile is a bit broader, and down his head dips in affirmation of the first Question Thewlis asks. "Yeah. She's my sister. Yule Duchannes." He explains, before glancing over towards Evie.

"Learn something new everyday," He quips as she figures out the 'peering over the top' technique, and once more a hand motions towards the bowl. "You should get a cookie to reward yourself with. And what kind? She made chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal ones. Take whichever you'd like."

"Actually, yeah. I really need to get, you know, ten bottles of Hennessy. My dad's real sick and the only thing that treats his liver pain is... Booze," Evelyn replies in a perfect droll deadpan, her voice dropping lower to match the mood. She actually folds down the corner of hte nwspapr with a finger then, careful not to crease it, and fixes Yule with a serious stare for about a half second before bursting into soft, musical laughter.

Then the other man is approaching. Evie looks justa bit more serious as Thewlis approaches, lowering the paper slightly and then taking a deep breath. "Morning. I'm Evie. I'm just here to bug Mr. Duchannes and see how many cookies I can get away with swiping."

The blonde even steps away slightly as Thewlis comes close- ceding the bowl to him rather than out of fear.

Peanut butter, lucky day it seems. A fleeting smile washes across Thewlis's features before it is gone again, swept away at his next bout of visually checking his surroundings. Snagging one of the peanut butter cookies. The conversation about liquor and the purchase of it makes his pinched expression lighten somewhat only to focus inward again as he is spoken to again

"I'm, Moore" he states, blinking when he realizes he's looking at Evie and his head turns this way and that, checking his corners. "I mean, I'm, Thew... I'm Tho." he flinches as if expecting to be struck, "Thewlis... I'm Thewlis.. It's nice to meet... you both I mean. It's nice. Uhm. It... Meeting." going quiet and staring at his shoes... for about two seconds before off he is looking around again.

"Hennessy? A cognac? What's the youth of today coming to." That draws a playful wink from Yule towards Evie, even as his hand drops down to his side, where a six pack of something has been kept. "Good to meet you, Thewlis. Just recently got back into town after... twenty years of being away. New medical examiner here." Well, not in the trailer park, but for the city, of course. It's all offered up conversationally, tossed out to see which, if any, the man seems to grasp onto with interest.

"You drink, Thewlis?" It's a corona that the man produces, the screw top bottle tipped his way to see if he has any interest, before a twitch of his nose comes, eyes lifting up to roll in a playful gesture as he glances back towards the blonde. "Bug me? You can do better than this, then. And why don't you have a cookie in your hands? Don't make me take my paper back." It's all a mock warning from the fellow, chin tucking down to flash her a Far Too Serious look.

"Hey! I said that stuff was for my dad, not me. I drink blackberry lemonade coolers." A beat, then Evie is waving Yule off with the newspaper. "Okay, okay. Jeeze. I'm sorry. I'll eat more of your stupid cookies. God." Evie's grin only brightens as she reaches out to snag a couple more of the confections, stacking u pone of each in her right hand. Then she's pinning the paper and somewhat awkwardly managing to turn a page with a single hand.

After the last of the introductions are said Evie will look up once more. "It's nice to meet you, Thewlis. Don't let me keep you from eating all the peanut butter cookies. I'll only fight you for the oatmeal. Cross my heart," the young woman consides almost conspiratorially.

The bottles with their screw tops draw a brief glance from Evelyn, but it seems she's not too concerned about the alcohol. Whether she can legally drink it or not.

Taking the bottle with a bow of his head, Thewlis nods "From time to time..." screw top or not, the metal cap instinctively sends Thew's hand down to a crescent chisel on his belt, hooking the cap to snap it off in a practiced motion and deposit it in one of his pockets before he takes a sip.

"Only if their rain... raisin... Oatmeal raisin..." Thewlis takes a sip of his beer, the attempt at a smile looking more like he's ill. He does note Evie for a moment, and seems to try and find a way to address both of them.

"I usually deal... clients... Your clients. When you." he sighs and shakes his head, taking another drink before visually scanning the area. "I. THey're..." he looks to Evie, "Know your dad... He was. Came out to deal with... punks, where his." he looks to Yule, "Clients go... when he's done."

"Good. I'd hate to have to rat you out to your dad." About cookies, yeah right! It does win over a warmer, larger and more charming smile from the ME towards the blonde however, and after a heartbeat, he concedes. "Well. I suppose if you are the daughter of a policeman, you go one of two ways. Either all in on the bad side of life, or good and proper. And since you haven't burnt down anything yet..."

It's another one bottle that is pulled out, and after a critical glance towards Evie? She too gets one handed to her without another word of teasing from the fellow if she so wants it. "My clients?" It takes a second for two and two to be put together, and then it dawns on him where he's seen the fellow, and not just around the trailer park. "Cemetary. Right. Yeah, we've got the whole final stage of life here, don't we." It's a touch of dry examiner humor, and only once those two have been offered up his hospitality does he reach out to snag a chocolate chip cookie for himself. "From what I understand, that has to keep you quite busy in this place, Thewlis. Only in the job a month, and it's... well." A creepy rate of issues in this town, that's for sure.

"Real talk though, dad loves Hennessy," Evie replies to Yule, still grinning. She accepts the bottle as well now, and finds herself offering the newspaper back as she murmurs, "Not enough hands. Yours are a lot bigger," she offers by way of explanation. She takes a deep breath then and once more turns toward Thewlis once more.

Cookies are being nibbled and the bottle in question twisted open. The blonde throws that persistently straying lock of blonde hair away from her eyes with a toss of her head, and settles in where she can keep her eyes on both men. "Yeah, my dad mentioned there was trouble out there. People are assholes.

"Things better lately? Dad'd want to know. Not that he's missing the job too much." Evie briefly purses her lip, studying Thewlis's expression, and then returns to sipping her drink.

Cookie gone, beer being nursed, Thewlis keeps his attention focused on the bottle. "It comes and goes - some nights. Late work to keep... Punks and kids that... bored." he shrugs, scanning the area again. "Keeps me working."

At that he looks back at Yule, "Lot of that... here. But it. It." he looks infuriated now, with himself, looking at his drink again "Doesn't seem to stop at my... " a long breath, "Where I tend... does it?"

"Yeah? And what do you love?" That paper is taken in his free hand, folded up further so it can returned to the tucked in position by his thigh, leaving it for another, slower time when there aren't people around. He listens to both, brown eyes studying each in turn as he takes a couple of bites from his own cookie, taking his time to enjoy.

"I can't say myself," He murmurs to Evie, "Just know that in the twenty years I was away? Things round here went from bad to worse. Lots of odd things, for sure." Up one shoulder lifts into a hapless shrug, his mouth pursing for a long moment. "Doesn't, does it?" This gets a curious look from Yule to Thewlis when the man mentions it doesn't end at the cemetary, some thought tucked away.

The trio are all around a bowl of yummy, delicious cookies that have been left out. While Evie and Thewlis are standing around, Yule is seated in an old, beat up lawn chair, apparently the giver of those delicious treats. He's dressed in a dark gray sweater with tanned leather pads on his elbows and shoulders, a dark pair of jeans, and equally black ankle high boots.

Lyric has been a fixture in the 'trailerhood' for almost as long as she can remember. Or longer than that. Until about a month ago when she moved out of the park and into one of the houses on Elm. She may still be a familiar face though! She's never owned a vehicle and she walks everywhere she goes. In fact, she's on foot today, crunching through the gravel with every step. It's towards trailer space 45 she's intending on going, A single mother with a young daughter named Emma live there. But she gets distracted when she notices those gathered and walks towards them.

"Hi." Certainly she looks better than she had last night, if Thewlis was a judge of such things, and as she meanders over, she tucks her thumbs into her back pockets of her jeans. "Hi guys." Evie gets the same general greeting as the others. Everyone is 'guys.' But she wears a smile when she offers it..

The sudden 'Hi!' causes Thewlis to flinch and turn as if getting ready to ward off a blow. A few quick breaths to steady himself as he sees Lyric. "Oh. Hello. Miss." attention turning back to Yule

"Doesn't..." there's something new there now, and after looking to Lyric again Thewlis raises a hand, hustles over to his truck, and returns in short order carrying a small pumpkin bucket. Offering it towards the newest arrival.

"You should." he frowns to Lyric, "This... you. Have it." brow creasing, canyons cut in the skin of his forehead now.

Yule's eyes shift once a new figure makes their way down, but given they appear to be on a mission? He doesn't seek to interrupt, not until Lyric alters course towards them. "Hey. Come on over and have a cookie or three. My sister made it clear what I don't give out to people? I have to eat myself. You don't want me with a horrible tummy ache, do you?" It's too much innocence in that voice to be taken seriously, but his head dips towards that bowl, letting those warm cookis do the talking. Chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter all for the taking!

Its the reaction that their newest arrival has on Thewlis that draws a raised brow from the man, especially when that pumpkin bucket is brought back. His interest and curiosity is clear in that expression, but he lets that exchange happen without his own commentary added on.

The sunny demeanor from the newest arrival clouds over a little but it doesn't stop Lyric from reaching out a hand for the pumpkin bucket automatically and holding it tight against her. She looks stricken for a moment as she cradles the small thing. The whole mood of her approach changed with the offering. "Thank you." The words are almost too softly spoken. There's no explanation from her side at least, but there's another speaking to her and she lifts light blue eyes to Yule.

"Cookies?" Allowing the distraction to try and tug her from the melancholy moment. She reaches into the bowl with another word of thanks and lets luck or fate decide. It's oatmeal she pulls out and she smiles a little brighter. "Thank you. These smell so good." But that pumpkin is still held close.

Bowing his head at that, Thewlis nods, "Sorry... didn't mean." he takes a slug of his beer. "Get you upset. But." he frowns, and goes quiet for the moment, letting Lyric and Yule speak.

No, things most certainly don't end at the graveyard in this town, and it's written all over the caretaker's face as he goes for another peanut butter cookie.

"Your welcome," Replies Yule towards Lyric, offering the woman a reassuring smile, even as he explains, "Natalia made them. Sure you've seen her around at some point on your visits... she runs the place. She gets all the credit." The medical examiner finishes off the rest of that first cookie he's had, quieting for those long moments as Thewlis and Lyric interact, but it is to the man that his gaze shifts.

"Should catch up sometime. I can give you my number, Thewlin, if you like. Just in case you ever have questions, given you tend to my clients once I'm done." It's a rather morbid way of looking at it, but the caretaker had already addressed it that way. Down Yule's hand draws to curl around a bottle of corona, hefting it up to put on the end of the side table, given that the woman is hugging that pumpkin so closely. "If you'd like a drink as well."

The diminutive blonde in the far oversized denim jacket watches all of this without commentary past the veil of a handful of cookies of varying sorts. The wind again sweeps past, sending blonde tresses fowing out behind her and billowing up into her jackt so that she as to clutch at it awkwardly with full hands, using her fingertips to draw it close. She's been listening and watching withotu any real interruption, those brown eyes wide as she studies the peopel in front of her thougthfully for long moments. Ultimately, she takes a deep breath as i to perhaps say something else - and then insted fills the void with yet another of those cookies, and a swig of corona. It's just safer that way.

"You don't gotta be sorry. Thank you for this. I will keep it safe for him." Lyric does continue to hold the pumpkin. A little size for a little Superman. After taking a bite of the oatmeal cookie, she realizes she's the relative unknown in the group. "I'm Lyric. Lyric Bates." She points to one of the trailer slots. "I used to live there but I just moved to Elm recently."

There's a curious look between the men as she hears the one side of Yule, now that she realizes what it is Thewlin does for his job. The cookie is alternately nibbled and bitten as she enjoys it. "Thanks," less somber, she reaches for the beer, if indeed it was offered to her. Twisting off the top, she doesn't toss it to the ground but slides it into her back pocket to discard later. Evie gets a smile, they were close to the same age in school, both locals, likely they had crossed paths before.

Thewlis says, "Thewlis." the caretaker corrects and introduces himself. "Name. Its mine. Thewlis." brow knitting again as he tries to give a polite smile but it looks more like a nervous grimmace. Eyes going from person to person and then around the immediate area once more.

"I just put in the plots. Clean them. The plots. The grounds too. I don't do the. Coffin, putting them in the coffin." his head sinks a little looking into his beer. "Sure, can get... The number, I could." he points to slip twenty four. "I'm there if you need. I. Fix good. I fix things too." The caretaker keeps his head down now."

"Yule Duchannes," Comes the man's offering back towards Lyric, and out his hand holds to her if she can manage to get one free. "Just moved in... well, probably about the time you moved out. Grew up here, but I've been away about twenty years." A soft snort comes from him as he glances towards Evie, but the woman is flashed one of thsoe brief but warn smiles.

"Yeah," Yule acknowledges to THewlin, his mouth parted a bit, but whatever he was going to say? He thinks twice about, and keeps it to himself. "Sure. I'll drop off my contact info sometime. I'm just down here in twenty," It's the vintage airstream right behind them all. "I'm the medical examiner," He finally offers to Lyric, those brown eyes turning to study her for a long moment while he explains his own side of his profession. "And good to have someone around that can fix things besides my sister... she already has way too much going on to need to deal with my little breaks."

When Lyric's attention turns properly to Evie the smaller blonde responds by waving with two fingers in a casually familiar way. "Hey. Looking good, Lyric..." She waves a little bit from where she's propped beside Yule's chair. Crumbs are scattered from the young woman's hands by a quick clapping together and then she takes a deep breath.

"Got a new song for me today?" Apparently, they are familiar with one another. Enough so that Evie offers the unusual woman a quiet smile as she straightens herself up to her full height. Yukle's smile is returned as well. At which point she'll add, "I wouldn't mind helping sometimes. Since there are cookies involved'n all. Just to add to the list of potentials or whatever."

Evie shrugs. She's still nursing her beer, but now her hands are free... to be consumed by the sleeves of her jacket. It's a metaphor for life really.

"Yep... Nat has." Thewlis frowns, "Number... My number. Nat has it." the man has lived in the park for just over half a decade. "She has me." he flinches and ducks for a moment, "She has me fix if I can." he usually can though - lot rent has likely even reduced with the fact it seems that all Thew needs is his tool belt and a little time - always seems able to fix parts or get things running.

Lyric notices the hesitance from Thewlis and sort of moves to stand beside him. "I guess it's kind of hard doing what you do. 'Specially after what happened last night. There's a tightening of her hand on the handle of the plastic pumpkin. She's heard the boy mention forgetting it. "My mama is buries there too. That was seventeen years ago, but I still take her flowers on her birthday every year."

With the introductions fully made, she smiles at them, and finishes the cookie, tucks the beer between her arm and her stomach to reach out to shake the offered hand. "And we're all Gray Harbor survivors in one way or another." Taking in their occupations and all. Sooo, she adds hers. "I work at the Platinum Cabaret." The strip club. "But I'm not a dancer. I'ma DJ there, I love music."

Lyric smiles at Evie. "Park is the song writer. Park and Ico, they're really good at it. I only help when they get stuck on things." Park and Ico and Scott are also locals who graduated about the same time as Evie and Lyric.

"That so, Evie? What is it that you do, or still going to school?" It's actual a sincere question, rather than a tease about her age like before. Out a hand comes, a thumb and finger grabbing onto the cuff of one of those ever so long sleeves, "You either need to grow a bit more, or find a new jacket." The words are delivered with a playful wink, before down his hand drops to pick up a beer for himself.

That bottle is tipped towards Thewlis when he says that Nat has that number, the bit of information tucked away. "Sure she's glad to have you around to help out the others, whenever they need it." It's all of the other names Lyric mentions that clearly don't kindle any bit of reconition from the man, and so instead his focus is planted squarely upon her line of work. "DJ? I remember what was there. Always used to try and get in underaged. Well, not me," It's a touch of that charming innocence, "Others, you know. Haven't checked it out since I've been back in town. What sort of music do you mainly work with?"

Lyric stepping closer to him draws Thewlis's eyebrows skyward and his entire body tightens, as if to get smaller. at the mention of the flowers, "Bates... yes..." not a lot of people bring flowers year after year. Many stop after a few months, so seeing fresh flowers yearly rings a bell" Flinching as if the next comment would get him a slap to the face. "Next time, drop by." his jaw works. "The office. Caretaker office... if you bring, potted. I can... we can. Plant... Root." he sighs and looks infinately frustrated with himself. "Plant them, perennials. So they come back."

He doesn't comment on the cabaret, the fact he's talking is enough - what the hell would he do in a strip club? He'd probably just blue-screen and fall over. He doesn't speak at the question of what Evie does, or the comment about being a DJ. He just listens now, quiet, letting others speak the questions for him.

"Right now? ...Housekeeping, mostly. I clean up for people and help them get them get their homes in shape for inspections and things. Just trying to make enough to get through college, so." Evie shrugs her shoulders then, . SHe's finished her beer, it appears, because she recaps the empty bottle and tucks it beneath her arm. "Ayway, I don't think there's much chance of me growing anymore at this point, so..." She shrugs. "I like this jacket, though."

Then all attention seems to be on Lyric and Evie is nodding along with this agreeably as well. "I know they write the songs, but y ualways had one floating around. I'd catch you humming a few bars of- well, whatever really. You know." Now Evie is fidgeting slightly. She takes another deep breath as she finally steps away from the cookie bowl, leaving it far emptier than when she started.

"I am going to have to come back and harass you every time there's baking going down," Evie observes. "....Thanks." And then, at last, the young woman's gaze comes back to Thewlis.

Evie doesn't appear to be sure wht to say to him, but she's smiling at least. Friendly-like.

"You should go there sometime. The dancers are so good at what they do. I bet you'd love Echo's set. That's her stage name. Mae is great too, and Dahlia. But Dahlia hasn't danced recently that I've seen. I just play mostly what the dancers want for their sets. Other times I fill with beats that inspire dancing, according to the bosses orders. The boss is Antonio."

Evie is given a lopsided smile, "There's always a song, but I don't always share 'em. I'll think about it. You should hear some of Parks, she has some super wild lyrics to hers."

Something Thew says has her looking at him again, a more patient smile on her face at his hesitance in talking. "I will get some potted ones. When she died I went to foster care. I don't know who my dad is. She never told me." A light shrug, that's an old battle she'd never win so she doesn't even try. "But she was a good mom."

"And what are you studying at college? Or are you still in the party and go to random classes hungover phase?" It's a dry quip towards Evie from Yule, watching her for a long moment, before laughter comes from him at her mention of harassing him. "First, how are you going to know when baking is going down? And second, if that's your means of finding me... your going to find Natalia a lot more than me."

It's Lyric's cheerleading for the cabaret that has his eyes narrowing with delight, a look cast her way. "DJ and hype woman, I see. You paint a compelling picture. Let me rephrase, then. What music do you like?'

But then Yule goes quiet for a bit, watching that interplay between Lyric and Tlewis, and something in it all seems to please the man, for whatever reason. It's just a dip of his head, another silent salute of his bottle towards the man that he offers in approval and appreciation, for whatever that is worth.

"That's... good. That is. Moms should." Thewlis takes a breath and finishes his beer. "Good, they should be good. Glad yours was good." looking at Lyric again, for a moment before his eyes are off and at the races again. "Yes, bring those, I'll." biting his lip, "I'll make sure they grow." he pauses again, "Put in ... ground vases for your visits." nodding to himself.

Evie looking at him almost looks painful, really anyone looking at him seems to cause this, but in his head on a swivel scouting of the area he manages to make a second or two of eye contact before the ground regains his attention. "Its ok. I know."

"Mechanical Engineering," Evie supplies with a roll of her eyes for Yule and another of those wry smiles. "I find Natalia and tell her you told me I could take her cookies. Mischief managed." She crosses her heart then, still grinning as she does.

Lyric draws a more serious nod from Evie, thoug her smile is easily returned a quarter second later. "I would like that. Make it happen for me, kay?" And then Evelyn is glancing at Thewlis before quickly avferting her gaze. She seems to be pickign up his attention sharing habits.

"...I'll bring a few flowers too. My mom's not here, but..." Evie shhrugs. "I should pay my respects more often than I do, anyway."

Lyric was never able to afford a fancy headstone, but there'd been a congregation collection once upon a time and she had a proper one at least, now. "Thank you, Thewlis. I will bring something this weekend."

She does get around to answering about music. "I like ballads mostly, pop, rock, even the older things. I guess I like all sorts of music and I like hearing songs I've never heard before. I like songs with surprise endings too."
A sympathetic look is given towards Evie. "It's peaceful there mostly. But I usually can only go once a year and even then it's so overwhelmingly sad. I don't know how he does it." A glance towards the caretaker.

"Good for you," He murmurs about Evie's particular choice of major, his head dipping briefly towards her. A small scoff comes from him, those eyes twinkling in delight. "She's usually more than happy to give them away, so that would hardly be harassing /me/." Yule flashes a charming smile her way, before he begins to get to his feet.

"Ballads and surprise endings. I can see that. Maybe I'll swing by the club sometime and see if the music and performances live up to your praise." Up his bottle is lifted so he can take a swig from it, and once he brings it down, his thumb is slid over that opening. "It is." He concurs to those thoughts about the work Thewlis does, and the gravity of difficulty in dealing with it.

A nod of the head and Thewlis at least manages a faint ghost of a smile as he addresses Evie, "That's... ah." head tilting, "Good line... as long as. Love it. As love... as long... as you... love... it." biting that one out, forcing himself to speak properly. "I can... If you live in the... I know." he sighs, defeated looking, "Help. Can. Help." he looks to the cookies and tucks his empty bottle into a cargo pocket. Something. Anything to distract.

"Then I get cookies, right? Win win," is all the woman has to share with Yule after his pronouncement about Natalia. She returns that smile before shifting her attention firmly back to Thewlis and Lyric. For the most part, her eyes stay on the latter, conceding to Thewlis's anxiety.. So instead she takes a deep breath- and pauses, when the man addresses her.

"WIth my Engineering coursework? That... Would be amazing, actually." Briefly, Evie wets her lips. She looks up reflexively- and then quickly glances away rather than force Thewlis to meet her eyes.

"I'll come by and ask yo uabout it more sometime then. And flowers for, um... Lyric's mom."

Lyric finishes off her beer and glances for one of the trash bins. Her pockets aren't so big for a bottle. "We could all go to the Cabaret on one of my nights off and hang there together, drinking something and listening to music. Love is the best bartender." Spotting a trash bin she holds out a hand for Thew's bottle too, "Want me to throw your bottle away too?" Not sure of he was saving it to recycle or not, but it looked like one of the bins for glass was beside the trash.

A ding comes from Yule's pants, and down his hand lifts, fishing out his phone. Fingers flick through something or another, before a small breath is pushed out. "Duty calls." He murmurs, putting down that barely touched beer by his side. "Pleasure to meet you all. Lyric, Thewlis, Evie." Those names are said once more just to commit them to memory, and a lazy smile touches on the corners of his mouth. "Feel free to finish off whats left, if you like. Or lure other unsuspecting people in. But, I should go get changed and head in."

"For the... Oh the. Yes." Thewlis looks to the cookie collection, he flinches again, as if Lyric was going to strike him, but he blinks and digs out his bottle. "You... than- Thank you." the notion of the Cabaret sets his brows up.

"Never been... couldn't. I. Uhm." blushing crimson now as he thinks about it. "Diner is good." he glances to Evie, "App, erm. Train. I worked with electricians... at the mill. No college. But I learned. Before I." and anyone who has lived in Town in the last decade knows that in the last seven or eight years Thew had suddenly, and inexplicably, left the Addington mill and had been working odd jobs and handyman work until he just started being seen groundskeeping at the cemetery. "Learned on the job. Can help. Happy to."

"...Thanks. I mean it." Evie takes a deep breath and then offers Thewlis another smile. "You're a good guy." She then reaches out to place a hand briefly over one of Lyric's then turns slightly, shifting her weight as she does. "I'll take a few more of these," she relates as her jacket's sleeves are again drawn up and she fills ahand full of cookies. "And then I should probably get going. Supposed to meet someone in a bit." THere's a pause as Evie turns and gives Yule another wave. "Don't do anything too crazy! At least not when I can't get photos!"

Up Yule's hand lifts, flashing the group a smile, though Evie gets a soft scoff, "Yeah, yeah. Color me surprised if you show up without there being cookies here." is quipped back to her in playful banter, before he turns to head towards that vintage airstream.

Lyric accepts the bottle from Thewlis, still with that reassuring look and slow movements. "You're welcome," she tells him gently. Once she has collected the empties, she does put them into the recycling bin for the trailer park before returning back over to the others. "You can go. It'll be a night off for me so I can keep ya company." A smile is given to Evie at hte touch. "Thanks for going to visit my mom. I bet she'd like it." A grin at her teasing of Yule. "Sorry you have to go to work, Yule. I hope it's not anything really bad."

"Dunno... Maybe. Not really" Thewlis chews at his lower lip. "Not my. It's a bit. I don't. " he sighs and the quiet anger is back as he almost kicks one foot into the other. "Could try. No promises." looking to Lyric as she continues to move slow. "I should go. Got to ge... Fix." he looks to his trailer. "Fixing." he nods and apparently has decided that explains it all. "Have a good." lips pursing, "Nice people. Good to meet." he sighs. "Sorry." and he scoots towards his trailer, doing all he can not to break into a flat out sprint.