2019-11-09 - Gray Harbor Paranormal Society Meeting

Shuffling in, early - possibly even ahead of the pack, Thewlis Moore moves in and immediately to the side, where he can put his back in a corner. If he has to stand he stands, if there's a chair he'll sit, but he's managed to get himself out here. He's in public. There's going to be people here. But he's here, to see what these people are all about.

It doesn't keep him calm enough to stop looking around. Eyes scanning repeatedly, looking at every corner, head moving as if expecting to be leapt at, at any moment.

Erin is carrying a large to-go cup of her usual. Half hot chocolate and half french vanilla cappuccino from Espresso Yourself. The snack table catches her attention though and she grabs a couple. Bypassing the celery and vegetable tray she takes a star crunch and an oatmeal cream pie. So much for eating healthy tonight. She's protesting something. Anything. With a groan, she drops the oatmeal cream pie Little Debbie back in the pile and meanders over to find a seat. The star crunch would have to do. Erin is, of course, dressed in expensive tailored things. It seems being disowned hadn't touched her pocketbook. Yet. A smile to Minerva before she finds a seat nearby the woman in black.

Diana has also arrived early, at least 15-25 minutes early in fact, waiting outside if she has to. She's an eager beaver, apparently. She's dressed in high-waisted pants, a black 'ugly Christmas sweater' with bottles, beakers, and the symbol for the atom on it, all paired with black flats. Beneath her pants, one can spot that her ankles (and presumably legs) are covered in rainbow-colored leggings with something printed on them, concealed by her pants legs. She nods politely to her fellow early-goer Thewlis, and is seated in the front row, notepad at the ready. She seems excited rather than anxious, and nods to each new person as they head in.

Eleanor makes her way in with a few boxes of danishes bearing the Espresso Yourself logo in her arms. She gives Minerva a broad smile, as a long-time member of the society, and sets up the pastries for others to gnosh on. "Hope I brought enough," she murmurs to the black-clad woman. She gives the early arrivals a little wave of hello, before finding a seat and pulling her laptop bag into her lap.

Perhaps she doesn't look like the sort that would normally come to a place that specializes in the occult. If one were to make that assumption based on her looks and the clothes that she wears, well.... they would be correct, really. She doesn't. But, she saw an ad and has heard others speak of the Paranormal Society and it has piqued her interest. Nicole walks into the place dressed in black combat boots, jeans in a vintage finished dark wash, her black leather jacket, and a black and white infinity scarf decorated with skulls. A notebook is clutched to her chest with one hand, a nice leatherbound one with a thong and button for securing it closed, no modern technology lap top for her tonight. She has come ready for information and armed with curiosity.

She stops for a coffee first, loading it with sugar and cream before heading to the room where the meeting is to be held. Smiling at Minerva as she enters, she lifts her cup-bearing hand in a toast-wave of greeting. "Hello, Minerva. I hope you don't mind those with morbid curiosity observing tonight." Nodding to Thewlis and Erin with a soft, "hello, good evening," to each, she finds a seat for herself and settles in.

Kelsey slinks in some time after a decent group has filtered in. It was right up her alley, but she was still recovering some from her trip out of town so she decided it would be easier to try and just hang in the background and observer. She finds a free seat and settles down - seeming content to just watch for now instead of socialize. Her attire is a pair of jeans with a buttoned up, blue flannel shirt. Her long blonde hair was down and a little tangled looking like she'd just rolled out of bed maybe.

Arriving, well, about now, Everett ducks under the doorways as a matter of habit while giving the room a once look over with a stoic grimace. Headphone cords dangle, and if not for the army green tight tee-shirt under his leather jacket, would camouflage well with his long hair. He gives a long leering look towards the refreshments, on his way past everyone to take up a leaning position against the back. Diana's nod is returned, albeit with Everett's tongue tip sticking out and a pull of his left eyelid. Nothing like a little evil eye in the afternoon.

Rusty comes in right on time. Thanks Lyft! His face is down in his phone and lips curled into a slight snarl. He's wearing rumpled jeans and a t-shirt with 'The Truth Is Out There' printed across it. Subtle. He pairs this with a black snapback hat and Raybans. He skips the coffee and snacks and it's apparent why as he finds a seat. He's sick, coughing wetly into his elbow before grumbling at his phone. One message and a quick, close selfie later, he puts the phone away and replaces it with a neatly folded stack of tissues and a plastic bag to dispose of them in. He takes off his hat and sunglasses now and he doesn't look like a guy who is getting much sleep. But he's here.

Vyv is, as virtually always, punctual. Vyv is also, as virtually always, looking properly put-together, in one of those perfectly tailored suits. Today's is deep oxblood wool, with a crisp white shirt and a mustard silk tie with a subtle white striped pattern, a simple silver-and-garnet tie bar and cufflinks, brown brogues, and a silk pocket square in a cognac, mustard, oxblood, and white paisley.

The place and those already there get an appraising sweep of a glance as he strolls in, and does not particularly appear to approve for the most part, though it's subtle up until he gets close enough to the coffee, and thus the snack table, to see Little Debbie. For a flicker of a moment he looks as though there might be deep-fried rats on offer there instead, and he seems to change his mind about the coffee as well, instead choosing a seat which gives him a good view of everything and -one, and avoids, for example, people who appear to be doing their best impression of Typhoid Mary. His phone emerges, leather cover flicked open in a practiced move, and he taps something into it, though whether text or note, who knows.

When he is acknowledged by Diana, Thewlis hunches and looks down. Eyes lifting, but as if his irises were lifting ten pound weights. He nods a quick greeting and then hunches back, watching the others filtering in. Trying to be smaller, less noteworthy. The crowd is growing and he keeps pulling out a pack of smokes, opening, closing it and then tucking it in his inside jacket pocket. He's frowning, lines carving into his face deeper by the second.

When she arrives, it's with little fanfare, Isabella slipping in through the doors of Seraphim Acquisitions and taking in the building with appreciative eyes. Dressed in jeans, a black leather jacket, a loose top and a pair of boots, she can pass off for any college student, or thereabouts, in any city, though she's only slightly better dressed than the uber-casual style that most of the PNW favors. Her moonstone pendant swings against her top at every step as she ventures further inside.

There are a few that she knows in the crowd - Eleanor is one she notices quickly, due to the vibrant sunset-corona of her red hair, Erin Addington and Minerva, herself - all three women get a wave. There's also a tilt of her head and a smile towards Vyv.

Biting her lip, Nicole rises from her seat and smiles apologetically to Rusty as she passes him. "Sorry, I just.. I don't want to be sick again..." She all but holds her breath moving past and finds a spot close to Vyv. Settling again, she says, "Hi... remember me? We seem to meet at the most interesting places." She lifts a hand to wave to the evil-eye-giving Everett. She then whispers to Vyv conspiratorily, "you didn't bring any amazing treats from your Patisserie, did you?"

Minerva gives a smile to those that have gathered around and there's a wave to those that have arrived with those scarred hands of hers, "Welcome, welcome, everyone come on in and get something to snack on and something to drink. We've got a pretty easy agenda this evening." she states. "And nah, morbid curiousity is fine, Nicole." she smiles to her. "We'll get started here in a few." she adds.

Ellie returns Isabella's wave and she glances around at everyone filtering in. She knows a few, though there are a lot of new faces, likely new to town. She pulls out a notebook and a pen.

Ignacio is a 27 year old red-blooded adult male with a profound limp. Punctuality and pre-planning are pointedly not in his purview. The ill-solicited advice author arrives a bit late with Tobin (future brother-in-law-in-training, as Iggy how) in tow. He stops in the door and shifts gears back to casual host mode and lifts a hand to Eleanor, "Aww hey, Ellie. Sup?" Regardless of anything else going on the man can remain pleasant. He shuffles in and murmurs a greeting to Diana and Nicole and looks up up up at Everett, "Aw hey, dude from the bar. You're the new neo Eddie Vedder guy. Sup dude." He finds a place for he and Tobin to park and looks to Ellie eyebrow up in a question, "?"

The ginger was sick. Erin watches Rusty a moment, but she doesn't seem too terribly concerned. Maybe she's had it, maybe she's immune, but she doesn't get close to him. Her drink is sipped from though, but mostly, she keeps a distance from all but the very familiar. Nicole gets a smile, Minerva. Everett she sort of just watches a moment with no expression. Vyv is given a nod, as does Diana and Eleanor. Totally not going to name everyone but if their paths have crossed once, they get a nod, if more times, they get a smile and even a friendly wave!

Kelsey winces a little when Rusty coughs. Is that flu thing Garrett mentioned still going around? God she hoped not. Last thing she wanted was to get fucking sick after all she just went through. Kelsey exhaled softly and refocused, gaze flitting to all who were present. Making note of familiar and unfamiliar faces. She subconsciously pulls her sleeves a little over her hands as if that's some kind of shield.

Rusty smiles weakly at Nicole and shrugs. "It's okay. I totally understand. My fever just broke last night so I decided to come. I'm taking precautions." He says softly, only /then/ remembering the surgical mask in his pocket. He slips that over his mouth and nose but he's uncomfortable right away from the look of him.

Eleanor grins at Ignacio and she gestures to some open seats near her in an invitation to sit. The redhead is in jeans and boots and a blue sweater. Nothing fancy, just comfortable. She also gives Rusty a LOOK at his apparent state of illness. She never, ever, wants a flu like she had again. Good Lord was that awful. Add that to the flowers at the recent wedding and the woman is just plain OVER airborne contaminants. The surgical mask seems to make her shoulders unclench a bit.

Diana looks amused rather than insulted by Everett's evil eye, and she even gives him a little wave. Erin is also given a polite wave, since she recognizes the woman. Thewlis's greeting and then hunching down gets her to look away; apparently she's at least polite enough not to linger on someone who doesn't seem to want to be seen. Ignacio is also waved at, as is anyone else she's met before, and then she smiles. Honestly, she doesn't look sick (yet), except for the fact that she's a bit tired? But some of that's counteracted by her excitement, all the same. She's not coughing, but she is front and center, so there's that. Doesn't even know she's a vector for the plague yet. She took a few carrots earlier, along with a star crunch. Gotta love them star crunches. She glances over at Rusty around when the mask is being put on, but quickly looks away politely.

Isabella winks at Erin at her wave, moving so she could take a seat close to her and Eleanor. To the redhead, she leans over, though she pauses when Ignacio greets her, a curious glance angled his way, before she murmurs to her and the nearby ex-heiress: "Thanks a lot for the save, both of you. Alexander and Byron told me about what happened at the Church."

The door kicks open and in trundles a bag-laden Noelle, the blonde struggling under the weight of several bags of food. "Did you guys order a shitload of dumplings?" She grunts and puts four bags down, her wrists red from the overlapping plastic handles. She takes a moment to put her hands in the small of her back, giving it a leaned back stretch like a very old or very pregnant lady (she is neither). "And who ordered the veggie platter with extra crispy pork shreds on top? You sick shit."

No Duchannes wears vintage low-rise jeans, a fitted, deconstructed vintage Nirvana tee, and an old army green jacket that reads DUCHANNES on the embroidered chest patch. She also happens to drive delivery for the local Thai place. So. This whole... thing. She might be in the wrong place.

From his position at the back, Everett crosses his thick arms over his barrel chest then preens a little to keep his hair, or headphones, from being pinned behind his back, or into the crooks of the folds of his leather Brando-style jacket. The drilling gaze he gives pauses over Nicole, to whom he blinks but just his right eye, then up nods his head to before. Being compared to an American musician earns a death glare from Everett, and when those where being issued out, his was the face they used. The glower held until Ignaclo's attention drifts elsewhere.

When the door kicks open, Everett's arms uncross as he lifts from leaning in the back. When it turns out just to be a bag laden person rather than gun-tooting hoodlums, he walks from the back towards Noelle, holding out his hands to silently offer to help.

Coughing, snuffling - and now the man is pulling out a medical mask. Thewlis sighs as he watches this and hunkers deeper in the corner he has placed himself. A kerchief is pulled from his jacket pocket on instinct and he wipes his nose.
He looks towards the snack table, biting his lip. It's across a sea of people from the corner he's claimed, and he decides to sit and be hungry rather than risk being interacted with.
He's completely forgotten there's another chair near him, he's trying to remember why he came out, but then spots Minerva and remembers - paranormal society.

"You scared me so bad, Bella. I thought.." Erin hesitates and looks sheepish. "When my actions were my own again, I thought you were going to be sliced in those wires." She tries to keep her voice low, and she drops it all together at the entrance of Noelle and her noodles. She just looks curious.

Rusty waves at Noelle. "I didn't order shit but I want dumplings. Are they free? I like free dumplings even better." He can see the eyes on him and it's made him shrink a bit and his small, tired eyes downturn. "I can leave..."

Eleanor murmurs quietly to Isabella and Erin, "I'm glad you're all right. That looked pretty scary from where I was standing." She opens her notebook and writes the date in the corner of a fresh page with neat, tidy, handwriting.

Vyv works with food. He's managed to avoid this flu even as several of his employees have caught it. Rusty gets a decidedly sharp glare for even existing in that state of illness, let alone doing it somewhere in his vicinity. "Well, I'm certain we're all thrilled you needn't miss out on a meeting for such a trivial reason as potentially spreading the plague," he says tartly, shaking his head.

Nicole, on the other hand, gets a faint smile as she chooses her new spot, and a nod -- Isabella and Erin get those as well, though it's only Nicole who gets, "Yes, from the reading," and a more softly murmured, "and unfortunately, no, not this time. Perhaps another, if the space isn't too well-filled by 'Little Debbie'." There isn't an actual shudder, but he somehow still gives the impression of one. A hand dips into a pocket and comes up with a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer. Sigh.

Tobin follows Ignacio in and heads over to the seat that Iggy's found for them, glancing around the room to take in the faces that he finds familiar, and the new faces he hasn't met before. He gives a bit of a smile in Erin and Isabella's direction and comments to Isabella, "Glad to see you out and about." Then he settles into his seat comfortably.

Thumping footsteps can be heard approaching the room, the door swung open with exuberance as Jade enters with a bright-eyed expression and a grin on her face. She's dressed down tonight, leather jacket over a flannel that looks far too big for her, a pair of hip-hugging jeans, and some thermal hiking boots that have seen better days. Glancing all around, she flashes a grin and heads directly towards.. Thewlis! Leaning in, she dots a kiss to his cheek and scoots the empty chair next to him in closer while she settles in and looks around excitedly. "I never would have expected so many people, this is great!"

Ignacio just blinks as if not registering the glare and shrugs to him, "Hey I didn't pick out your music for you, man. Fuck you too. Good talk." The sharp-witted Spaniard flashes a too pleasant smile that reaches half his face and slides down in his seat murmuring, "Shit I still need to pack tonight." So damn tired. He sighs pulling out his tablet, "T'hell with it. Eh, todo que empaco, empaco."

Noelle looks up... and up some more... and a little more. The blonde blinks her blue eyes at Everett. "Holy crap. What did they feed you as a kid?" He's over a foot taller than her, after all. "Hey, thanks, man." She hands over two of the hefty food bags. "You're a star. Extra dumplings for you." She elbow waves at Rusty, other two bags in her hands, and elbow-waves at Erin, who she caught looking her way.

Minerva stares at Rusty and a few others that are coughing and there's a frown, "You guys are not going to have fun with what you have." she states cryptically. She already had it. No more!

She then takes a sip of her water and then stands from her chair, "Alright. Most of you know who I am. For those that don't, I'm Doctor Irvriya Kosimar. Though I go by Minerva, which is my middle name. If you ask me about how I lost my eye I will give you the very bloody truth." she states with a hint of amusement. "This is a safe place for the most part, I try to keep things that way at least." she admits. "Plan for the night is to go around, introduce yourselves, state a specialty if you have one or if you're just here for curiousity or needing help with something or wanting to ask about the local weird, feel free to let us know." she smiles to that.

"My specialties are vast, but I specialize in Enochian Magics, Demons, Exorcisms and things of that nature." she dips her head to everyone. "And...go!" she points to the next person.

"It'll take more than that to get rid of me, and it's largely thanks to all of you," Isabella murmurs in quick and confident reassurance to both women, her fingers reaching out to squeeze Erin's own hand if she'll let her. "I'm glad the two of you got out of it mostly unharmed. Especially during Ha-- " With Minerva starting the meeting, she falls quiet and listens - Eleanor's taking notes, and she's curious about the faces that are unfamiliar.

Eleanor stands up and she smiles with a little wave to those gathered. "Eleanor Lake. I own Espresso Yourself and have been a member of this society since near it's beginning. I've been investigating the weird things that go on in Gray Harbor since I was twelve. I specialize in compiling knowledge about incidents and connections between them. Investigative research and such. I also collect artifacts that may either be from Over There or imbued with the same essence some of us are. If you have data you're willing to share, please come see me so I can add copies of it to my files."

Showing up a little late, Devlin makes his way in and does catch what Minerva just said. He quietly takes a seat. His eyes scan the faces of those here appearing to register that he knows a few.

Not like he hasn't heard that before, but Everett smirks softly from the right side of his face while he carefully takes the bags. The smile promptly vanishes with the promise of extra carbs his way, then carries his prizes to the table with the other edibles. While his headphone cords dangle when leaning over to free himself from the bags, the gorilla pulls himself back to the back of the room to resume his leaning. With Minerva standing, Everett takes his smartphone from inside his jacket pocket, fiddles with it for a moment and then wraps the earphone cord around the device without taking the buds from his ears, then stuffs it back inside his jacket. Eyes forward; time to be a quiet coyote.

"Hi neighbor," Erin greets Tobin. "Wonderful to see you." Diana gets another smile as sees Ignacious. She's settled in drinking her drink, but Noelle's wave has her returning one back. "Just a quick reminder," she had noticed Rusty's sickness. "That while there is currently a terrible flu going around, the winter flu will likely make rounds. Doctor Winters office has immediate openings for the flu shot. I highly recommend them." There, civic duty done. Then she falls silent to listen to Minerva.

Rusty may have been contrite and apologetic but Vyv? This whole posture changes as he turns to look at him. "Look, you overdressed, overstuffed brat. When my fever broke, I figured I wasn't contagious. I'm not a doctor. I've covered my mouth, stayed from the food and I'm wearing a mask that is driving me nuts. I'm probably wrong about the contagious part but I came out to make contacts in the local paranormal community and t-t-try to be social after a long time of...not. So fuck you. Fuck your outfit. Fuck your fancy phone case and I hope you get sick and choke on it." The outburst leaves Rusty reeling and then, "Fuck. I'm sorry for being disruptive. I am. I'm...working on not a lot of sleep. Bad dreams plus I work mostly at night." He sniffles and stands up.

"I'm Russell Caldwell Junior but I go by Rusty. I'm a minor internet personality in the occult and paranormal communities. I go by the name Tetani online. I maintain a social media presence along with a Youtube channel TetaniTalks. One word. And I have a monthly podcast. Been doing that about six months now since I came home from upstate." Pause, swallow. "I've studied uh, Glimmer or the Shine, as I call it, for most of my life and the things that surround it and its use. Glimmer and the uh, triad of specialities within use. So...yeah." And he sits then.

Ducking with each thump, and flinching from the latest door opening, Thew looks over and blinks at Jade's appearance. Brows raised, there's a sudden ghost of a smile creeping across his features. The quick movement towards him still causes him to recoil, but it's a movement he tries to restrain. The kiss on his cheek blue-screens him.
Eyes wide, his entire head turns red and he looks down at the floor. The little smile is still there, and once he can get his brain to work he leans towards Jade slightly, bumping his arm against her.
"Lot... people. Lots." one brow goes up. "Shirt... that. Is... Shirt." head tipping, "Mine?"
Then Rusty is being agressive and Thew is damn near balled up on his seat... and then he's moving to try and hide behind Jade.

Hailey's here. She's been here, even. Harvey's been here, too. They showed up together at whatever point was appropriate, and have just been talking amongst themselves since then. Hailey has a tendency to PROBE people to see what their abilities are, so she's been literally sitting on her hands in an effort to NOT just do that all night.

Harvey is absolutely here, though he took a considerable amount of time grabbing snacks from the snack place. He's now chomping on a cookie and offering one over to Hailey, making eyes at the people who are getting up to speak.

Erin does let Isabella take her hand and she keeps holding it as she gets to her feet. "I am Erin Addington. I specialize in healing, both with glimmer and with medicine. I'm learning both so I know the biology of how to put people back together magically." She squeezes her friends hand briefly, but the her eyes go steely. "And I specialize in precise cuts." A slow smile curves her lips. So healing and severing. Depending on who I am working on." A salute with her to-go cup from Espresso Yourself before she takes her seat again.

As soon as Minerva stands from her chair, Diana flips her notebook open, ready to scribble away! And scribble she does, starting with Minerva giving her name. She writes constantly, especially at the bits where people introduce themselves and their specialties, which she seemingly jots down. Each person who introduces themselves is looked at in turn, and she's clearly trying to match names with faces without forgetting who's who. She no doubt makes a note of the flu shot's availability. Two days too late unbeknownst to her, but maybe she can pass that knowledge on. Rusty's words are jotted down-- though she notably isn't writing during what's said to Vyv-- and she nods. Eventually she stands herself, saying, "While I'm technically also a doctor, I'm not a medical doctor and I don't practice anyway, so please just call me Diana. Wilkerson. My specialty is also research, particularly about the Shine, or Glimmer, and the Curtain or Veil between... well, us and everything else that's out there, the vast sea of possibility. I wrote a book about places where that's thin, and the causes thereof, and... well. Of course this place was going to interest me. I used to study the mind and some of the ways it can malfunction-- that's what my doctorate's in, even. I'm trying to look more into ghosts, and particularly how to banish them, but I can't say it's a specialty yet. I um. I guess that's it! Nice to meet you all."

Devlin stands up falling into a position of 'at ease' naturally, "I'm Devlin McCloud. I've seen some unusual things as a combat medic with the 82nd. I have been on two tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Short version, experienced some unusual things. Thought it might be related to combat stress or may be too much meditation." He shrugs, "Slowing coming to the conclusion over the last 18 months, not that simple. So hoping to figure out some answers for myself. Not really sure what I can do." He then sits back down.

Poor Thewlis. He's really not cut out for big groups like this. Jade smiles at him, tucking her arm into his and giving a small squeeze to try and help him calm. Then there's explosive actions and words and he's scooting around behind her. Turning her head, she smiles at him and whispers, "Yeah, its yours. Was. Mine now." Winking, she turns back around then stands up with a grin. "Hi! I'm Jade Rivera. Newly arrived from Seattle. My best friend and I have been running a setup not too disimilar from Rusty's, though I'm mostly behind the scenes. I handle all the research and tech equipment, Liam's the face of the operation though he couldn't be here tonight because he's a dork and got himself hurt so he's laid up for a bit. We run a Twitch channel devoted to creepy pastas, spoopy memes, discussing shows and movies of the horror and sci-fi variety. You can find it under Spookgasm on Twitch and Youtube. No podcast, but we are all over social media. If you ever Tweeted or Facebooked or followed us on Instagram, I'm probably the one you're responding to." She gives a small grin, "Mostly we handle cryptozoology, though everything is fair game!"

"Well, if not," Nicole says to Vyv, "I did promise to swing by sometime. Yes? " Spotting the hand sanitizer, she looks to her left then her right then holds her hand out towards him as if something illicit is about to be exchanged. Clean hands are important. But then she is turning her attention to Minerva, listening closely. Taking a pen out of her pocket, she opens up her notebook, prepared to jot down anything she thinks she might need to remember later. However, when the topic goes towards Enochian magics and demons, she looks a little confused and her jaw drops just enough for her lips to part. Dark eyes look about to see if anyone else understood what some of that meant. Demons and exorcisms? Sure. Enochian magics? Her face reads clearly that she has no clue...

Eleanor is next and Nicole spends half the time she is talking looking at her with wide, blinking eyes. Her brow furrows and she does indeed start jotting down things in her book... possibly to look up what the heck they mean later. Rusty's outburst to Vyv has her eyes going even wider and she looks from her neighbor to her.... neighbor at the meeting. The others are heard in turn, sometimes notes are taken.

"Some of us have actual proper jobs that require us to be out in the real world among actual human people," Vyv snaps back to Rusty, the perfect posture shifting to lean slightly in his direction, "and to occasionally think about what effect our choices might have on other people. But I can certainly see how since there will never be another meeting at any time it was vitally important you come here in your cheap thoughtless rags and make your inability to function socially in normal society our problem. So yes, fuck you very much for making the absolute minimum possible effort to consider others and still get what you want." It's amazing just how crisp that accent can get.

His jaw stays tight for a moment, then loosens again, and there's a slight twist of his head, relaxing the neck. Nicole gets a dollop of sanitizer for her hands before the bottle goes away, and he stands at his turn. "Vyvyan Vydal. Patissier. I don't have a paranormal specialty; I'm simply interested in learning more about-- all this." A vague gesture, encompassing possibly the topic, possibly the town, maybe just the room at large, and he sits again.

Taking the cookie absently, Hailey is in the middle of chewing on the edge of it when she asks Harvey-wards, "So, we just go whenever we want to, or is there some sort of sign up sh--" There was more to that thought, but she winds up doing what a few people are liable to: looking super-confused.

Ignacio doesn't stand up. Too difficult. Why bother. His hand goes up. "Ignacio de Santos. Some know me from my books or the Dear Iggy column in the paper. If.. it was any of you? Well, eh, I hope things are working out for ya." He glances the room and if there is recognition, none is shown or given away. "The truth is I've seen some shit like anyone livin in this town," Drawls the New Yorker, "And I got people I care about and my writers got people they care about who got some problems a pat on the back just ain't gonna fuckin solve. So... I'm here o pass on what I know and try to learn more to help them out. Some of the mail I get makes me more than a lil scared for them ya know?" He nods and says easily enough, "sooo thanks for hosting."

The newly arrived Hailey and Harvey draw Isabella's green eyes towards their direction and she can't help but blink, recognition slipping over her face. There's a smile, wry in its tilt, a nod towards their direction in silent greeting, but otherwise she remains quietly listening to everyone else's specialties, and bits and pieces of their history. There's plenty of new faces around. An absent squeeze of Erin's hand is taken as she goes next and since the healer is not letting go, her fingers remain linked with hers.

Vyv and Rusty's tiff pull her attention thereabouts, brows winging upwards towards her hairline; she's never seen the elegant patissier even come close to losing his temper before and so the sight of it is almost alien to her.

"...Isabella Reede," she says, following the tail-end of Vyv's outburst. "I don't have a paranormal specialty either, but I'm relatively competent when it comes to logistics and approaching weird probl-- " And she falls silent as she watches the man approach Minerva with a blink. She tries to step in, unsure of what the man wants to do to her friend, letting go of Erin as her arms coming up in an effort to stay him. "Easy," she says - she attempts to be reassuring. Eyes flick over to Minerva.

Noelle glances around and slides her hands into her pockets, rocking up to the balls of her feet. When the intro train rolls into her station she ums softly, then winds up with: "I'm No. Local, been here all my life, except that semester at college I thought about doing. So." She rolls back on the heels of her vintage Docs. "So... yeah. Um. Cool, nice to meet you all." She hesitates, then says, "You see weird stuff all the time, especially driving around between 10pm and 2am like I do. Last week I'm pretty sure I saw a werewolf, even if my brother says that's just a hairy homeless guy freebasing." She clears her throat. "So yeah, anyway. That'll be $243.67. For the food." She looks around, for who looks like they have the biggest wallet around here. "That I brought. On my very tiny Vespa." She thumbs over her shoulder. "Parked out there — " She stops when some dude busts in. Speaking of freebasing hobos.

"Uh... Oh, Nicole. Nicole Stein. I uh..... " She's distracted a bit by all sorts of things in the room. "I grew up here, in Gray Harbor, but left town as soon as I could. I came back and, well, here I am. I bought the salon off of Betty recently. Curl Up and Dye. I have no specialty but a curiosity about like, ghosts... and, like I said, I lived here, so, I have seen things. I don't exactly understand all those things, and I want to. So..." She looks around again and gestures with a hand like, 'here I am'.

But then there is someone rushing in and towards her. She presses her back against her chair as if to get away, looking quite alarmed and lifting her pen as if it is indeed a mighty sword! "No! No. I'm not!" Her other hand comes up, ready to defend herself if she needs. She doesn't point out Minerva, she keeps her wherewithal enough to not make her a target of a mad man.

Minerva had missed something with Rusty and Vyv and the one eyed woman moves her gaze from one to the other. Though Vyv's words on 'Proper Jobs' and then tempers are flaring the woman gives a soft sigh, "Gentlemen. Can we be civil for the moment, please?" she asks them. Then there is someone rushing in and the instinct is to tase, but something gives Miss Twitchy a moment of calm, "Whoa, hey, hey, yes, I'm Doctor Kosimar, what's going on?" she asks, there's a look to Isabella and a smile, "I think it's alright. For now." she murmurs to her.

"Tobin Gilford," he introduces himself when it comes to be Tobin's turn. "Have lived here all my life. My mother taught me a lot about the town, the things that happen here, the strangeness, but she wasn't real big on sharing, felt it kept us safer. But then she disappeared when I was 17, and really, I'm not sure keeping things to ourselves really keeps any of us safer. So I'm here to learn, and share, and because Ignacio dragged me along." He grins a little sidelong at Ignacio before taking a seat.

While the exchange between Rusty and Vyv goes mostly unnoticed, Everett can't help but to smirk a private little smirk at the dressing down the stylish confectioner gets, Everett casting his green eyes down while taking secret delight. His attention returns to the back of people's heads when they make their introductions. Vyv's retort makes the thug roll his eyes towards the ceiling and stay there until another disruption. Pushing himself from the back again, Everett's meaty hands curl into fists kept down at his sides, though his attention is kept in the vicinity of the new disturbance and the persons in that area.

While she's making copious amounts of notes, Diana ends up staring between Vyv and Rusty now, saying, "Okay, but," as she rises to standing. "Regardless of whatever reason brought him here, he's here now," she says to Vyv. "So perhaps we could, um, just... not?" And to Rusty, "You're here now, and that's what matters. You can practice your social skills with us. If any damage or infection was going to happen, it'll have already happened already, and you're being very careful, so no need to worry ab--" Famous last words. She breaks off as the man comes in, and she shrinks into herself, literally saying, "Oh dear," before very slowly and carefully walking in that direction, her movements smooth and very telegraphed so as not to cause alarm. "Hey, hey... it's okay. We're not going to hurt you," she assures the man.

Eleanor is busy writing notes down about everyone who has spoken so far, but she blinks owlishly as the kerfluffle happens, and then the crazy man rushes in. She looks up and swallows hard, wishing she'd grabbed a cup of coffee for herself.

Lifting his head slightly, Thewlis looks from behind Jade, brow knitting, unable to do more than look down at the ground. He looks like he has no idea how to move now, he even opens his mouth to speak, and then there's rushing and everyone is talking.
From where Thew is behind Jade he actually whimpers and takes a long stuttering breath. Hands resting on her arms now he rests his forehead against the back of her shoulder and just breathes. The shouting, and the crying, it's making his anxieties scream inside his head and it's wonder he's not sprinting out.

Minerva's face twists a bit when the unknown man shouts and the lights sputter for a moment, "Calm." she states as she watches him. Then...there's a pile of person at her feet and she takes a knee, her hands reaching out. "Where do you need to go bac to? The hospital? We can drive you there. "Who are you?" she asks him. Because she had no idea. "You've got to help us out a little before we can help you." she states.

Noelle pulls out her phone and sends off a few texts. Ping, ping.... ping.

"Ack!" Nicole kind of squeaks as the man grabs her chair and shakes it and her in the process. The man is about to get a not-too-small combat boot up high between his legs but others are trying to calm him and seems to not be nearly as unnerved as she is, so she brandishes her pen with one hand and tries to push him away with her other. "I dunno! I wasn't born to be her?" Her voice is high-pitched but not screaming at least. But then he whirls onto Isabella, then Minerva, and Nicole sighs out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. As Minerva tries to calm the man in order to help him, Nicole takes a few calming breaths for herself.

There's absolutely no hesitation when Isabella reaches out in an attempt to curl her fingers on the man's shoulders - not just an attempt to calm him but to maybe prevent him from lunging at Minerva if he suddenly feels the urge. "Who's her? Who are you looking for? Dr. Kosimar's willing to help but you need to give us something so we know where to start. Okay?"

"Vyvyan Vydal?" Rusty says, eyes on the bepoke man. "Who the fuck do you think you are? Who are you talking to?" Rusty looks wounded. Vyv found his soft spots and jabbed at it a dozen times and now Rusty is apoplectic. "You aren't a specialist even. A spectator to the weird? You would be. Like the whole world is a show for your entertainment, right?" He reaches into the nice ziploc bag he's been depositing his wet tissues into and like a machine gun, he starts chucking them at Vyv. The dampness makes them solid little projectiles. "Like this? I got a great fucking arm you nasty little shit."

Devlin stands up and moves over to where Thewlis is and takes a knee next to him. He quietly says in a reassuring tone to Thew, "Easy now, your ok. You've got Jade there with you and for what its worth.. you have me here to help. I'll just hang loose here. No one will mess with you, I will see to that."

Ignacio flashes a grin to Tobin, "Yoooou're welcome." But then Nicole is all but being assaulted by some dude that looks like he took a literal dirt nap and his eyes get wide. His hand lifts in that same way people try to pacify a bull. "Heeeeey, guy. Look if we can maybe unhand the hairdresser and use more words... Go back where?" Looking back to Rusty he blinks, "Dude he's a respected member of the community and helped get rid of a crazy ass serial killer. This ain't the time for a ghost dick waving contest. Can we please not? The dirty dude's in trouble." Looking back to teh stranger he adds, 'no offense."

Noelle frowns at her phone, glances around, looks up like there's an answer on the ceiling, then quietly makes her way back to the refreshment table. She pulls a box from the bag, a sharpie from her pocket, and writes FOR GIGANTOR BIKER on the top, caps the marker, drops it into her pocket, and gathers up all four bags of Thai food.

The little blonde Duchannes shhs-shhs-shhses her way to the door with her crinkly bags toward the door, where she has every intention of exiting stage right before crazy notices she's here.

Jade stays put. She doesn't move or do anything to attract the attention of the wild-eyed man, she just sits very still, one hand creeping up carefully to find one of Thew's. She slides her hand over his and squeezes gently, tipping her head slightly to the side and murmuring softly, "You let me know when you need to go, Thew, and we'll bounce. Go get some takeout and head home and watch some scary movies. Kay?" She smiles towards Devlin and gives a nod, "Thanks Devlin."

And when the disturbance presses his questioning to Nicole, making her uneasy, Everett takes a step forward, opening his mouth to shout something. But the other man is on towards a new target. His mouth closes, lips press together, before Everett makes a soft whistle, trying to catch the hairdresser's attention so he can curl a finger towards her, beckoning her towards him and, more specifically, way from the crazy. When Rusty starts adding to the confusion, Everett shoots an intimidating glare in that direction.

"Russel!" Minerva hisses at the man that is chucking dirty kleenex at someone. "Guys. Meeting is done for the moment. Feel free to stay if you like." she tells them. She then looks to the man, "I'm just supposed to call some doctor and tell them who exactly has ran away?" she asks him as she reaches out to help him up to his feet and into a chair, "The dark men are after you?" she asks him.

Devlin nods to Jade, he is calm despite all the unfolding chaos. He just quietly says to Thewlis, "He's just very afraid of something. And the others are just being.. annoying. All good.. nothing for you to sweat."

"And I've been in and out of an insane asylum for twenty-seven years! So the fuck what?!" Rusty is livid. "At the end of the day, does it matter how--" Rusty stops cold as someone begins freaking out. His whole demeanor changes on a dime. He digs for hand sanitizer in his pockets, and wipes them before ditching his tissue missiles and beginning a slow approach. "Heey. Hey. I'm sorry." To Minerva, he repeats. "I am truly sorry." He's calm but there is some fear. "No one is going back without a fight now. No one. Can I come closer? I know I'm a trashy germ factory but...I mean well."

Diana still has her hands out and is making slow and careful moves where possible. She's frowning deeply, particularly as she overhears the Tissue Wars, but she has eyes only for the disturbed man. When he bumps into her she practically jumps out of her skin, backing up a few feet. "Won't say you're okay again," she promises nervously. She pauses, looking at the others with a look suggesting she hopes they won't, either. "Where do you need to go back to? We'll be happy to help you get there, but we need to know where we're sending you back to!" She nods at Minerva's words, still appearing fairly anxious ever since the bump. "Can you tell us the doctor's name? Please."

"Min," Isabella murmurs as Doctor Kosimar tries to help him to a chair and he backs away. "I don't think we'll be able to get any answers out of him unless we calm him down a little. Do you have anything in your arsenal that might be able to?"

A vein in Thewlis's temple pulses. Jade's comments and now the approach of Devlin gets the man nodding. "Supposed... meeting. Just a... idea." he rests his forehead against Jade's shoulder and breathes, eyes closed. "Tha-thu-thuhn-than..." there's a moment before he manages to get out, "Thahn... Dehhv'ln." and then he's mumbling again.
"Meeting... jus... was sup. Wanted... Thought I..." he swallows hard, "Help... Thought... I. Hehhlp." and he clams up once more. Hey - he came out at least. He might be hiding out (especially when the Flu hits, thank's Rusty) for a while before he risks one of these types of events again. "Huh-huhm... hoh..." giving Jade's arms a slight squeeze. "Need... huuhh... muh-mov-fuh-fuh-fhiiill..." he sighs and accepts his stutter is out of control.

Eleanor continues scribbling notes, this time about what the mad man is saying. She grimaces.

Hailey sits there, staring at the party-crasher, frowning. Intensely frowning. She's very committed to this frown.

Vyv hasn't precisely made his irritation subtle, but he hasn't raised his voice, and sharp as the words may have been, it was all under control. The guy running in and toward his seat-neighbour has him jerking slightly away, and to his feet when the chair-shaking begins, and then-- then Mr. Plague Rat over there is throwing dirty tissues at him?! There's another step back and if looks could kill getting over the rest of the flu would no longer be an issue for Rusty. Somehow, somehow, Rusty's great aim is apparently not so great today. Maybe it's the flu! But Vyv's hand moves as though to swat them out of the air when they near him and as it turns out they don't get that far, dropping to the floor far closer to the man who threw them than to their intended destination. "I know who I am," he hisses back that direction, but-- but there are bigger things going on right now, and he bites back whatever else he had to say, and OH there was definitely more he had to say, with rather more obvious effort than he'd probably prefer it to be. Another step back, away from everything else going on, and he for the moment, he just watches the newcomer and his interactions. With, okay, about half an eye still on Rusty.

Harvey looks on, frowning as he shifts closer to Hailey and puts his arm around her. There's some quiet whispering.

There's an awful lot going on in the room and Tobin just kind of looks from one person to another, a little unsure, clearly, of what to do in this particular situation. The homeless man is clearly distressed, and the entire exchange between Rusty and Vyv gets a pair of raised eyebrows. But his attention shifts back to the homeless man, "What about going back makes you safe?" he asks, then.

Rusty is startles by being grabbed but that's all. There is recognition and his tone cools even more. "Hey, Steve." Rusty smiles but behind the mask, you can only see his eyes crease. "I don't remember where it is, man. Just...upstate and I'm not calling anyone because we are not going back." Rusty closes his eyes for a moment. Deep breath. "It sucks up there and They...the Dark Men will get to us for sure. Here is much safer. So, hey, just...sit with me? It's good to see you, you know."

Pursing her lips, Diana closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths-- in through the nose, out through the mouth, and repeat. That done, she opens her eyes again and looks to the man, ready to Be Calm. Still, there's something unsettling about the stranger, and her hands are shaking lightly as she holds them out now, more in a warding gesture than a calming gesture, though both are intended. She's watching the interaction with Rusty and the disturbed man, nibbling at her bottom lip, and doesn't speak for the moment.

Knowing Diana as well, Everett makes the c'mere motion to her as well, following another soft whistle. Even if she knows Kung fu. The urgency under his gestures somewhat muted now that it appears the crazy of crazies has pointed fixed his attention on to the Hostess. Though they didn't exactly exchange pleasantries on the way in, the thug tries too to get Erin's attention to join his protectorate. Three women should be enough to keep him safe. Certainly, the Colussus has more pressing issues than to notice Vyv swatting bubonic plaque infested kleenex out of the air ... with his MIND.

Nodding, Jade smiles to Thewlis, returning the squeeze and murmuring, "C'mon sweetie, lets get you outside for some fresh air, kay? We'll skirt the room and just sorta slip out unnoticed. Avoid all the bad mojo that guy's throwing off. Sound good?" She glances to Devlin and lifts a brow, "You coming with, or staying? Either way, I'm gonna get him out of here so he can breathe again. I asked too much, this was.. too much." She shifts slightly, keeping Thewlis covered as she turns, shifting one of his hands from her arm to her hipa nd urging him up to his feet. "C'mon Thew.. I can catch up with Minerva later..."

Minerva looks like she's about to murder something. Or someone. "Meeting is over. We'll get people introduced as we go." the woman states. Then there's a look to Steve and Rusty, "Steve, you want to go back to the Asylum?" she asks him.

Noelle's Vespa cranks over outside and she putters away into the night with her bounty of rapidly cooling Thai food. That was the very likely the wrong address. For so many reasons.

Devlin stands up, "A breath of fresh air will do Thewlis a lot of good, if I am not a 3rd wheel.. I'll come along with you." He keeps near by but will trail the pair while keeping an eye out for motion heading their way.

Thew stands when Jade stands and lets her do the leading, one hand on her hip and the other moving to her shoulder. Head down, eyes closed, mouth clamped tight. He nods at Devlin's words while he continues to 'face' Jade's back.

Rusty gives chase, grabbing Steve. "Steve, bro, listen to me...first of all, stop moving shit with your brain. That's the beacon. So just fucking quit that shit. Second. Two..." Rusty meets Steve's eyes. "Do you really want some of that shit they did to us to happen again? Over and over...and over..." His voice takes on a haunted quality and he begins to tremble. "We can't go back. We have to figure it out here now. Because I can't go back again. We've been up there a long time, you and me. You can forget outside sometimes. But it's nicer here. We can figure things out here. Be safe without being h-hurt."

Tobin glances over at Ignacio and murmurs something quietly to him, "Is that the .. same asylum that you were telling me about?" He's somewhat transfixed now on the man who seems to be so very set on going back to that place, as though it might protect him.

"Nah, you're good, Devlin. We can all three of us go hang and chill. Nice and calm." Jade nods to Devlin then starts to scoot around, keeping herself between between Steve and Thewlis as they try to make as unobtrusive an exit as possible. She keeps one hand over Thew's, giving him a reassuring squeeze every now and then.

After the man leaves her be, Nicole feels a bit surrounded by chaos. Animosity in other attendees, his panic, Thewlis' anxiety, it's all becoming a bit much for her. Her deep breaths to try to calm herself are becoming more and more shallow until she is nearly panting. She closes her eyes, the sounds around her turning into a din as her heartbeat pounds in her ears. She doesn't see or hear Everett, or anyone else in particular for a while, still white-knuckling her pen.

Eventually, she does calm down enough that she is able to open her eyes and breathe almost normally. The hand not holding the pen for dear life reaches up to rub at her face and she slouches a bit forward, though she now begins to look around the room.

Ignacio looks to Eleanor, "I'm a get you one of those recorder apps." Listening to all of this Ignacio folds his arms over his chest, bad leg still out and looks to Eleanor, then Nicole looking frightened, and Tobin, "Yeah, seems it. There's this asylum that's a real bitch to be found that's buried in the veil. Sounds damn near one I told you about." Looking to nicole he asks, "Hey, you ok?"

Eleanor gets up from her seat and moves over to those in the room who look upset and shaken up that aren't Steve and Rusty. "If anyone would like to come to Espresso Yourself now, your first cup of coffee is on me," she offers, to look to defuse things and get people moving.

Devlin continues to follow the pair, placing himself to make sure he will be in the way of any shenanigans.

Again, Diana closes her eyes and breathes in and out slowly. In through the mouth, out through the nose. Longer this time-- and then she jumps a bit as Steve starts to shove things with his mind and his hands both. Still, she's calming down now despite that, and listening to what's going on around her. She doesn't make a single move toward Steve, recoiling at the daggered look. But she's regaining her usual equilibrium, and she calls after Steve, "What's the doctor's name?" She doesn't go after him, however. Not yet.

"Huh?" Nicole looks up towards Ignacio. "Yeah... yeah, I'm... " She is watching Rusty and 'Steve' now. "Fine. I'm okay..."And then the man rushes out the door almost as abruptly as he entered. Her left eye twitches a bit, then she blinks a couple times. "Fuck..." she whispers, shaking her head. "Am I in another one of those weird... dreams?"

Rusty is shook. His eyes stare after Steve at a thousand yards. He's shaking and any color he had left is just gone. He closes his eyes and takes some breaths but it's not helping. He's just getting more and more upset by the look of it. "Sorry Minerva." He says quietly and walks out without another word.

Vyv eyes all this, quiet now. Just... watching. Arguably being that spectator he was accused of being, really. He gives Nicole an extremely light pat on the shoulder, slightly awkward even while it seems somewhat absent. Like an instinct that isn't quite his.

Her offer made, Eleanor picks up her things and heads for the door, squeezing Ignacio's shoulder on the way past and giving him a nod.

Ignacio looks to Eleanor and says quietly, "Appreciated. Looking to Nicole he blinks and sighs looking back to he Steve situation. He murmurs, "Un hospital mas y luego no mas." Looking back up to Tobin and Nicole he shakes his head, "Nah this is just..>Gray Harbor being Gray Harbor. Well, I'm all for coffee."

"Alright," Tobin says to Ignacio, still looking a little befuddled by everything that was going on in the room. "Coffee sounds good," he agrees, as he watches people departing, and things starting to die down. "Are these meetings always like this?" he asks.

Minerva stands where she is and stares at everything. The table that's been sent askew, papers on the floor. She was angry. And it was starting to bleed out. "I'll be upstairs. Have to feed beetlejuice. Knock if I'm needed." she grits out as she turns and heads out of the room.

The major point of her own anxiety now gone and things starting to be more chill, Nicole gives a small smile up to Vyv when he pats her back. Maybe it was a bit awkward for him, but the gesture is appreciated. "I need something way stronger than coffee..." she says, reaching forward to tilt her cup to peek inside the practically unsipped caffeinated concoction. Looking to Ignacio the tilts her head at his non-english words. She scratches at her neck and unzips her leather jacket. "I don't remember Gray Harbor being this... Grayharborness... I just... came for the ghosts."

The meeting's been called.
None of the women he called over to protect him have heeded the call.
With the invitation to flee to a coffee shop and prevail themselves of more coffee after Steve shirks off Rusty's grapple, Everett takes a look around. No windows, nuts. Reaching inside his leather jacket again, Everett withdraws his smartphone again and untwines the cord before putting the earbuds in. A short fiddle with the face of the phone before sliding the device back into his jacket pocket and then he wanders towards the drinks and snacks, his hands stuffed into his front pockets.
Eyeing a box, Everett's hair cants, whoever this Gigantor biker is is going to get himself a treat. But to add to the chaos, when he pulls away from the table, Everett takes his right hand out, and tips a chair over, letting it clatter loudly on the floor, while he heads for the exit.

"Um. Take care, Minerva!" Diana says politely. She definitely looked interested at the free coffee offer, and keeps looking at the door, maybe uncertain if the man is away from it yet. Eventually she makes her way to Everett, regaining more calm as she goes. Unfortunately she's doing so AFTER he turned back toward the drinks and snacks, and she comes up behind him, ready to say something. But then he heads for the exit! So she follows, trying to catch up to him.

Hailey will be among those shuffling out quietly. Not for coffee. She just slips out - well, actually. First, she sticks her hand through the open doorway that Steve used, retracts it, inspects it, then nods, takes a deep breath, walks through it, and doesn't immediately disappear. So yay! She slips out.

So that happened. The Addington gets to her feet after bidding her nearby companions farewell then heads out to her car. Once she is standing beside the Maserati, she turns and looks back towards the building knowing really nothing more now than before her arrival. Erin gives a shake of her head and climbs in the car and drives off after starting it up, maybe burning a little rubber on her way out all mature like.

Isabella doesn't move - because one of the names is familiar, and she is wide-eyed as she watches the man exit the building in the rush, his words echoing in her ears.

"Shit," she mutters, before reaching for her phone and firing off a quick text message, before she starts moving upstairs to check on Minerva.

"Well. That was... a thing," Vyv says, looking after the many departing, particularly the... party crasher. "On the whole I think working on my Netflix queue might have been more productive. But I suppose at least it wasn't boring." He glances at his phone, sending a quick text, then closes it up and slips it away. "Fascinated to see how the next one goes."

"Next one... If I am brave enough to try again, I'll spectate with you." Nicole sends a wink to Vyv then looks towards the door. "I should go..."

Vyv gives Nicole a very small smile in return to the wink, and inclines his head a touch. "So should we all, I think." He rolls his shoulders in a very understated sort of stretch, and begins to pick his way through the chairs toward the door.

Nicole reaches into her pocket for her phone, rising, finally, from her seat. She gathers her notebook and pen in her other hand. Sending off a text, she walks towards the door.