2019-11-12 - What the hell is up with Grizzlies

Big, old, grey and green pick-up outside... hunched up caretaker inside. Locals know Thewlis, the cemetery caretaker, generally ignored, sometimes antagonized - usually only pestered by local punks. It's why he's in the Grizzly. The punks typically swing clear.

He's in a corner, back to the wall, eatting lunch while periodically looking around the restaraunt as if expecting to be attacked. Most of the other regulars peek at him as well, which only makes him duck more, and become more nervous.

At least the restaurant itself is quiet, except for the bad music.

Another pick-up pulls up, this one elderly but very well cared for. The man who hops out is a local, just moved back to town. His clothes speak to a recent amount of repairs, mostly involving oil and paint it seems. He considers the Grizzly, before he heads in, glancing around. There is an easy manner to the man, his good nature showing in the smile lines around his eyes. He hesitates before approaching the caretaker, lifting a hand, "Thewlis?" The name is a question, checking if he has the right man, spoken with an easy, lopsided smile.

The approaching figure, gets notice and the raised hand causes Thew to flinch back a little - despite the intent. Having his named asked draws his mouth down into a frown.
"Huh? I... Uhm. I'm... me." he blinks and looks back down at the table, brows knitting before he manages to look up at make eye contact for all of a half second before looking around the restaraunt again. "Thewlis. Am him. Yes I'm Thew-uh." he looks down at his sandwhich, shoulders hunched.

The warm manner doesn't change, as Matt returns the eye contact, the skin creasing around the corners of his eyes. "I'm Matt. I heard you do some repairs and all in town. I'm looking to build a bit of a job doing that too, but I'm not wanting to stand on your toes." He gestures towards the menus, adding lightly, "Buy you a coffee or something? I'm starving, so I might as well get you something while we talk." He hesitates before he adds lightly, "If you don't mind."

Kelsey isn't a local by any means. Even though she's been in Gray Harbor for a year -well almost two now - she's often been on the fringes of everything. Observing more than participating. Lately she's become more of an unwitting participant than she'd like but, such is life. She is pretty damn sure that someone got her sick.

Outwardly, she looks fine. Inwardly - she can just feel it. That tickle in the back of her throat. That warmth to her skin. Which is why she's here at the Diner. Hoping one of there milkshakes or soups is hiding a miracle cure in it. She ventures in, gaze flitting briefly to Matthew and Thewlis. Recognizing the latter from the Paranormal Society and also that weird thing on Halloween with the kid. The former, Kelsey isn't sure she recognizes at all.

She slides up to the counter, leaning against it. "Lemme get a chocolate shake and a...I dunno. Whatever the house soup thing is." If it's even a thing. Kelsey doesn't know and doesn't particularly care. They'll give her something. Be it soup or not. Her attire is simple. A pair of jeans that have seen better days and a black tank top with a longsleeved blue flannel over top the top few buttons undone. Her hair is down, falling to her mid-back and nearly half hiding her face.

Rather than say the punks swing clear of the Grizzly, it's more accurate to say the Grizzly tends to either hire the punks, or those hired are their own special brand of... difficult to mess with. For example, walking in from the kitchen? A purple-haired woman dressed like a time-traveler from a goth version of the 1960s, purple hair tied back with a black bandana, a black-grey-red paisley top that falls to the thigh and cinches at the waist thanks to a cloth belt, and a pair of black bell bottoms. She replaces the androgynous blond who takes Kelsey's order, collecting the order form easily while the blond goes to help out on the floor. The other wandering waitress? A mousy girl who rarely looks up and dresses like a modern day Velma, except with more layers and hair Sadako would be jealous of. Neither is particularly chatty, and this isn't a diner where you're greeted with smiles and 'Welcomes!'

With only a glance at those at the counter - lingering on Thewlis a half-second longer than the rest - Gina checks the slip of paper she's been handed, starting on the milkshake. "You allergic to shellfish? Soup of the day's this thai soup shit the cook wanted to try out that has a bunch of shrimp in it." Gina notes, scooping up chocolate ice cream for the shake.

"Me? No... I. Lunch. I." Thewlis looks down at his meal. "Don't need. I'm." he looks down again, sighing. "I huh... have lunch. Thanks. It's. I'm." he motions to another chair at the table, though it looks like it takes everything in his being to do so. The new arrival watching her across to the counter to make her order. Convinced she's not going to attack, and after another set of glances around, including a brief glance back to Matt before he looks down again.
"Sure... appreciate you... telling. Don't worry... Stepping. Busine-..." he looks down again, sipping his own coffee. "Place, working... job. Fixing. I'll... mad, I won't be... Not mad. Don't worry." and he shuts up again, filling his mouth with sandwich

Matt turns, catching the wandering mousy girl's eye, giving her that easy grin, "Can I get the soup and a sandwich? Cheese and ham? And a mug of coffee." The crinkling at the corner of his eyes matches the grin, before he turns to tak that seat, with a quick look over the purple-haired woman and the lady she is serving. He listens to Thewlis' words, paying close attention before he replies quietly, "Well, I appreciate that. If it does get real busy, maybe I could give you a call, get you to do some subcontracting? And you me?" He grins again, his eyes twinkling, "A workers cooperative?"

"If I am allergic I'll find out when I eat the soup." Kelsey mused, watching Gina put together the shake. "If it's my time, it's my time or some shit like that." She laughs, finally claiming a seat on the stool. "Ask the cook if he's trying to compete with that Thai place at the strip mall." Kelsey digs in the pocket of her flannel a moment to produce a hair tie. Tilting her head to gather up all that hair and pull back in to some kind of excuse for a ponytail. This, of course, causes her attention to also briefly be back on the men at the table not too far off. Something about handy work? Kelsey made a light mental note and then look back to Gina as the Velma waitress came to put in the order. "Ohh. cheese. Let me get a grilled cheese too." This was either all going to go well together or someone was going to be sick later.

The chocolate shake is an old, easy standard, and easily whipped up, poured in a tall glass with a straw, drizzled with some chocolate syrup and set in front of Kelsey. "Probably not. Cook's just got an itch about what he wants to make. Menu's not changing anyway." The basic menu is standard diner fare-- supposedly. In practice, some weird things get thrown into daily specials. Moving on, Gina proceeds to pour a cup of coffee, adding caramel syrup and having a taste before she pours a second cup and sets it in front of Matthew. "Creamer's over there." She points a little down a ways, clearly not about to bother grabbing them for him, before she takes her coffee and goes to lean against the counter near Thewlis: maybe just to give the mousy girl a chance to pass by her and put in the rest of Matthew's order.

"You should consider it. Business is probably booming lately." She mentions offhand to Thewlis. Which is a greaaat thing to say, considering his occupation.

Blinking and closing his eyes, flinching and looking about the restaurant. "I mean... I suppose. It could. Cooperate. It's ok." Thewlis nods, lips in a thin line. "Can see... need to pay... Bills, have. I understand." The caretaker's head dips down and he is taking a hefty bite of his sandwich now. Anxiety is ramping up, and with it his shoulders while he takes a few short breaths.
"Could... yes, could work. I have... regulars..." he blinks when Gina comes over. "Hi... uhm... hello." head down again.

Kelsey's glance is noted, and returned with a brief grin and a nod. But the coffee, that takes his notice away, back to his table and Gina. "Black is just fine." He lifts the mug, toasting her with it. He turns back to Thewlis, speaking more gently with him, "That'll work then." He hesitates, lowering his voice slightly, "Would you rather eat alone? I don't want to make you uncomfortable." The direct words are spoken in a tone that is gentle almost, with a small smile.

Jade enters the diner with a jingle of the overhead bell and a smile. Dressed down for the day, she heads straight to the counter to slip her arms around Thewlis from behind, giving a small squeeze and whispering a greeting into his ear. Shooting him a smile as she gives his arm a squeeze, dark eyes turn up to Gina and she offers a nod. "Hi again. Can I haaaaaave.. a turkey club and some potato skins? Aaaaaaaaand a Pepsi?" Shifting slightly, she offers a nod towards Matthew and Kelsey, flashing a smile, "Hi!"

Kelsey almost visibly flinches at the cheeriness that is seemingly Jade. But she's a good girl and takes a long sip of the milkshake in front of her instead! Which of course doesn't result in much and she really just needs to pick up a spoon. Which she does. Eventually. "'Sup?" She offers Jade in a greeting since the woman had greeted her. She's more curious to see Thewlis' reaction to Jade's hug though, if she's being honest with herself.

Truth be told, Thew's initial reaction to being grabbed from behind is a high pitched whimper that cuts off once there is familiarity. The shrinking flinch and horrified look on his face smoothing out. The voice in his ear relaxes him further, though a blush creeps up his neck to his forehead and... well. Thewlis gives a little smile, head down before he looks at her and holds his attention for a solid three seconds before he looks back to Matthew.

"Its... I'm. Its ok. If you. I'm. I can. If you need." Thewlis bobs his head. "Enough work in.... two people who. People need things. We can... Won't step on... toes. One another's."

Gina doesn't flinch in the face of Jade. She just watches on as Jade arrives and hugs Thewlis from behind, watching as if it's some sort of nature documentary or fish in an aquarium. Siiiiiip. Coffee is also surprisingly good, for diner fare. She watches for maybe a heartbeat too long, noting the reactions before she looks back at Jade and responds, "Yeah, whatever. Plain skins or loaded?" Does Gina actually care? Nope, she's already walking away, to take the money of some customers who've decided to go.

Jade's hug of Thewlis is met with a glance from Matthew, and a nod, the man considering Thewlis' response thoughtfully. He nods slowly, his grin widening with almost relief that the other man is fine with being hugged. "Great." The word is equally relief-filled. "Nice to meet you." He offers Jade a smile, and then turns back to his coffee, taking a long swig before he speaks again, "Alright then." He calls over to Gina, "Any chance of that soup and sandwich to go?" He rises to his feet, bringing his mug with him to the counter. As he approaches, he coughs, clearing his throat, a small frown crossing his face.

"Loaded, please!" Jade calls back after Gina with a grin. Looking back towards the small table, she chuckles, "I like her." Without a chair to sit in, she takes up the nearest stool at the counter, leaning back against it with her elbows propped up on the edge. She flashes a smile towards Matthew and nods, "Nice to meet you too. I'm Jade. You a friend of Thew's?" But then Matt is standing, letting her slip over to take over his seat, which she does without hesitation.

Kelsey lifts a brow. There's a lot of questions there. A. Lot. But, in the end, she knows it's not her business and certainly doesn't care enough to go prying. She spoons up some of the shake and eats it. The cool concoction feeling better on her itchy throat. If she ever found out who it was that got her sick - if she did get sick - there was going to be hell to pay. Those blue eyes cut a glance to Matthew when he coughs. "Cross your fingers that you ain't coming down with the shit that's been going around this town." She offers to him when he comes to the counter.

"Kelsey." She offers to the group. Since, well, names are getting thrown around and all. And then her soup comes out! And a grilled cheese. Sweet. She moved the Milkshake off to the side a bit so she could pull the bowl and plate closer. Here's hoping for that miracle cure.

Gina doesn't immediately answer-- but it doesn't matter, because there is a ding! and two bowls and a sandwich are there waiting for customers! Gina finishes assisting the other customers, before she literally just... crouches down to open a cupboard and remove some take-out containers, takes one of the bowls, pours its contents into a waiting container, then slides the sandwich into the other, before it all goes into a paper bag. The same is done to Kelsey's order, so the two can be on their way. The blond also returns as the food does, tapping Gina on the shoulder- so Gina simply leaves through the back, letting Tal be back in charge.

Thew nods to Matt as he rises. "It... Meet. I. Meeting you." he fumbles over himself again and lifts his own soup mug to take a drink of it. "Easy to find. At cemetery... I... Need. If you need." he manages to get out before he just goes back to eatting. Head down, looking around again and again in between bites and sips of his soup.

"Not yet, but I hope to be." The warm words from Matthew answer Jade, and are given with his easy grin, lopsided and faintly dimpled. "Flu going around?" He asks the question with a faintly rueful air, "I hope not." The man gives Gina a relieved look as she serves the meal and he drops a note that covers it and a bit more on the counter. "Cheers. Nice to meet you, Thewlis. Leave a message at the Carousel if you need me." The warmth is shown in his eyes, the creasing of the skin around them, and a grin that is easy to rouse.

Jade reaches out to brush her thumb across Thew's knuckles, offering him a smimle before looking back to Matt. "Then you have excellent taste in friends. I'll try to draw Thew out to the boardwalk, see if he'll ride some rides with me and help me pig out on hot dogs and cotton candy. maybe we'll see you there!" She lifts a hand towards Matthew as he seems to be on his way out, looking back towards Thewlis and smiling, "That actually sounds like a fun evening, if you're up for it?"

Looking to the hand on his knuckles, gooseflesh rising on the back of his hand, Thewlis looks to Jade, brow knitting for a moment. "I... Ride. Rides. I suppose..." his breathing quickens suddenly. "Lot of people... but... us? I mean... Won't... not... apart. Keep by, you stay... you will. Close?" setting his empty soup cup aside, head tilting to the other side now.

Jade's comment earns her a grin over his shoulder as Matthew balances his food, nudging the door open, "Nice to meet you, folks." Then he is gone. Poof. In a puff of exhaust fumes from his truck.

"Lots of people, but nobody that you have to interact with. And I'll be right there, at your side, the whole time. We can eat some fried foods, play a few rigged games, ride a few cozy rides... and just ignore everyone else. Maybe walk on the beach after? Sound good?" Jade offers to Thewlis, flashing him a sweet smile as she takes his hand in hers and gives a small squeeze. "We can say hi to your new friend, he seems like a good sort."

"I... We, yes. We could. I could. Try some." Thew bobs his head. "Some rides." looking back to Jade after a moment. "Can give you... find it. Other... warmer coat." his mouth curls in a lopsided grin and he tilts his head to the side. "Decent fellow, yeah. Polite." he ducks his head, eyes half closing. "Does. Good, sound. Yes. We should."

"Great! I'm excited now, this is going to be fun. Like a real date night kinda thing. Just you, me, and boardwalk." Jade flashes him a smile, leaning in to swipe a kiss across his cheek. When she pulls back, she finds her food arriving, turning her smile to a grin. His offer of a coat has her chuckling and giving his hand a squeeze. "If you can't find it, its no big, I've got my leather coat and you to keep me warm. Any excuse to snuggle is a good excuse in my book." She flicks a glance towards the door where he'd left out and gives a nod, "Good. I'll grab a six pack, we can sit int he back of the truck and chat and have a few beers after it all, maybe offer one to Matt when he's off duty, we can all talk a bit, then you and me can head home."

He's red again at the kiss on his cheek, Thewlis ducking and flashing her a quick smile that fades when he remembers he's in public. "Yeah... six pack. Pack of. Six." he starts to reach over, but the action dies when he looks around the diner again, and then back to the table before him. "Kay... won't... No. Won't worry. Coat." that apparently being his answer to her mention of snuggling up.

When his reach stalls, she closes the gap, reaching out to him and lacing her fingers through his. Smiling gently across at him while she uses the other to pick up her sandwich and take a bite. Squeezing his fingers lightly and offering, "So how has work been today? Quiet? No uprising of the dead come to consume our flesh and brains?" Her grin flashes once more before adding in, "I was able to get a new video posted up today with Liam. Then he did a short stream and we took some questions that I'll research up so we can answer them the next time." She chats easily, just letting him know how her day has been going and what she's been up to, asking him about his.

There is a moment where its almost like something electric pulses at the touch and Thewlis is frozen when she has his hand. Swallowing, Thewlis's mouth turns up again in a small smile. Her comment of the dead rising causes a blink.
"You... yuh... surprise. Would. You. This town." listening to her own description of her day. "Three... dug." mouth tightening a little.

"Hey, I'm fine with the dead rising, as long as they're going to be peaceful about the whole thing. I just don't agree with the whole 'ruthlessly slaughter the world' agenda," Jade responds with a shrug and grin. That pause as she takes his hand has her watching him closely, and when he smiles, she does too. It fades a touch at mention of three graves dug and she squeezes his hand lightly. "Then you definitely deserve a night of fun. Are there any rides in particular you like? I insist on the Ferris Wheel, its hands down the best place to snuggle, but if there's anything in particualr you want to try?"

"Never... I've." his head tips to the side and he gives her hand a long squeeze, head ducking down slightly as he tries to speak again. "I. Been. I've not. Ever. Too many people." looking back at her. "Never been." he admits before finishing off his sandwich. "I don't mind. Digging. I. It's ok. It's cold weather. Warm, because... Lots of work."

Jade looks at him, her brows slowly rising up, a grin sloooooooooowly spreading across her face. "Does that mean.. I'm your first?" He did kind of leave himself open for that age-old joke... and she's hard-pressed to keep from laughing over it. Its there, dancing in her dark eyes as she watches him. Waiting to see if he catches it.

Brow up, head to the side, Thew watches her for a moment with his lips purse. He did leave it open, and didn't realize it, until she made that joke. Something wars behind his eyes and there is a little flicker before he says.

Thewlis says, "Yep... cherry. Popping... Boardwalk popping... cherry." looking a little annoyed he cannot get the joke out properly. But he tried? Points for tryng?"

Her smile blooms further when he rolls with the joke, nodding quickly as she impulsively leans across to kiss him square on the lips. Its meant to be short, but she does enjoy kissing him, so it lingers for a second or three before she withdraws. And this time its Jade that's blushing, glancing down even as she squeezes his hand. "We're gonna have a lot of firsts, you and me." She glances up at him and murmurs, "You're getting better, you know.. things are coming through easier."

Kissed. Right in public. Thewlis is blinking, wide eyed, red faced and he keeps swallowing. Staring at Jade for a moment as his brain resets. "I. I... I... I... I... I... I... I... " jaw working, he twitches once, and then convulses slightly, his entire body trying to pull into itself as he 'resets'.
"Uhm. First. Yes. Lot. First. That. First. In. Here. Out... people. Pubic... I'm."

Gina opens up just as that smooch lands on Thewlis's lip. Almost immediately there is a pronounced eyeroll and a look of-- disdain? Disgust? Or just plain 'ugh' that accompanies said eyeroll. She says nothing, though. Just noisily drops Jade's food in front of her. Except the can of pepsi. It's unopened. And for a moment, she holds it in her hand-- thoughtfully. SO THOUGHTFULLY. Before something has her stifling a sigh and setting it down with the rest.

As usual, the food looks amazingly good. Crisp potato skins, with soft bits of potato sticking to them still, all covered in onion, cheese, bacon and all kinds of goodness and dotted with sour cream. The turkey club is lightly toasted, fresh lettuce and tomato, homemade mayo with a touch of zing to it, kept together with little toothpicks.

Jade looks up as Gina slams her food down, flashing an unrepentant grin even as her cheeks flush from having been caught kissing in public. "Thanks, this looks amazing!" Then she's looking to Thewlis and can't help the soft smile for his 'reset'. Squeezing his hand gently, Jade murmurs, "Want a potato skin, Thew?" It might help him with the realization that he got caught kissing a GIRL in PUBLIC. On the MOUTH, even! She turns the plate so the skins are facing him, squeezes his hand, then withdraws it so she can dig into the food! Lifting the club sandwich, she crunches throught he lightly toasted bread to chew thoughtfully on the bite, eyebrows jumping up at the unexpected but welcome zing in the mayo. Then she turns her head and looks at Gina. A serious expression crossing her face. "I have perhaps the most important question to ask you... how do you make a french dip sandwich?"

The eye roll. It's seen and Thew doesn't hear the offer of a skin, doesn't notice things turned at him. His head is down, his shoulders hunch and his hands wrap around his half empty coffee cup.
His eyes look to his empty plate, the soup cup and he resigns himself to the coffee cup, still clapped in both hands he lifts it to take a long drink, before the mug is set down, he's looking over his shoulders again, around the diner, and his head is ducking at points. Little silent shouts.

"Depends." Gina says, clearing a few plates and setting them to go to the kitchen, before she...pours some coffee into the blender? No no, it's fine. She then adds a few scoops of coffee ice cream. Then chocolate, then coconut shavings, chocolate sauce, a few fresh cherries, chocolate chips-- it's all done rather efficiently, really. "Usually, I just yell at the cook till I get one. If I'm at home, I pick up the phone." ZRRRRRR. On with the blending of Gina's milkshake! Which she pours into a glass, tops with more chocolate syrup before taking a sip, thoughtfully... deciding it's good, and having another. Her eyes wander towards poor Thewlis, "If you want to order seconds so you've got something to do with that mouth while your girl's occupied, menu's still available, Digs." She notes in a bland, dry tone-- so dry.

"So how does the cook make them here, then? This is vitally important. The french dip sandwich and the monte cristo can make or break a place." Jade calls back, lifting her voice up above the blender before she's looking towards Thewlis. There's a small wince when she realizes he's fully retreated, head ducking as she murmurs a soft, "Sorry, Thew... I won't do it again." She falls quiet and reaches for her sandwich, starting to work through it rather quickly for a young woman. Pausing only for sips of the Pepsi, she tries to hurry through the food so he isn't just sitting there with an empty plate and nothing to do with himself.

"It... I... its. You didn't. You. I'm. You're..." his head tucks to the side and his mouth is down in a savage frown, then the blender starts and in this state he is practically out of his seat, arms up then back down. His face is deathly pale and his hands grip the sides of the table as if he were going to snap it in half with raw strength.
When the noise stops he takes a long breath and looks directly "I'm. I didn't. Sorry. I'm so. I just didn't. I'm sorry." he sets his cup down, and his head hunches down again, breathing in sharp puffs.

Gina doesn't even say anything. Noooope. She's going to stand there and drink at her milkshake, arm crossed over her chest, the picture of the late 1960s proto-hippie of the night. She looks from Thewlis's panic attack to Jade and back again... waiting. Watching.

Jade finishes up her sandwich and shakes her head slowly, "But I did, though. You have triggers, and I need to be more careful of them." She glances up at him, a quick flick of her eyes towards Gina, considering, then shrugging and looking back to Thewlis. "You're different, Thew. I like that about you. I like that you aren't every other guy out there. It just means I have to adjust some of my attitudes and expectations because you aren't ever other guy out there. Its fine, I don't mind doing it." Reaching out, her fingers touch his wrist lightly, "You've been doing so good and I pushed too hard, that's all. I wasn't upset at you, just made at myself for not being more aware."

"Not ... no. It's." Thew shivers and looks to Jade's hand when she touches him, and after a brief shiver, he does calm at it. "You. No. You didn't. You're fine. You're." he ducks again. "People, look." he looks to Gina for a half a moment and then he's looking from staff to patron in turn, "See you... with..." he's clammed up again, eyes closed, head ducking, face screwing up.

Gina can't take it anymore. She gives an exasperated huff, purposefully reaching for a fuck to give from the pile of fucks she usually burns to ashes. Thewlis may feel it then, however he does, a pulse in Gina's odd otherness, the strangeness he'll sense sometimes, that glimmer and shine. And then something very much like Gina's voice in his mind, softer and more... concentrated, almost, though Gina just looks at the duo with irritation-- drinking her milkshake slowly.. <<Try not to freak out too bad, Digs. But you and I need to have some words.>> Not ominous at all, except it totally is, and Gina intends for it to be so. <<Now or later, but you can't stop it.>> Aloud, after that long sip, Gina says, "Hey, don't drag me into your bullshit trauma. /She's/ fine? But you have a problem with ME using my eyes." So dry, that voice. "Tough break, man. But personally, I question your taste hanging out with Little Miss Chipper more than I do her for sucking at your face." A dismissive little gesture of disgust, "Take it to a booth and make out where i can't see you. It'll keep her good cheer contained, quiet, and focused on not me."

"Okay. Okay, that's IT." Jade slams her hands down on the table at the same time as standing suddenly, sending the chair skittering back and down to the floor. Straightening up, she levels an angry glare in Gina's direction, "I smile because sometimes it makes him smile. I'm sorry you're such a sour bitch that you have to shit over other peoples' happiness, I genuinely hope that whoever or whatever turned you into such a raging cunt gets what's coming to them. But it is NOT. MY. FAULT. You want my money, you can suck it the fuck up for the twenty damn minutes that I'm in here or just tell me to get the fuck out. But I am not dimming MY light because YOU want to live in the shadows." Leaning across the table, Jade lays a searing, openly passioante kiss on Thewlis while simultaneously swiping his cigarettes and flipping Gina the bird. When she pulls away, she murmurs, "I'll be outside when you're ready." The middle finger staying flipped in Gina's general direction in a rude 'talk to the hand' sort of gesture while she stalks towards the door, her arm even bending around to keep the finger loud and proud against her back as she shoves the door open with an angry rattling of the bell overhead to go have a smoke. Conveniently, this gives Thewlis and Gina some time to have that chat! Totally coincidental!

Normally he's used to a different voice in his head, tearing him down, yelling. Now it's Gina's and Thew goes completely still. Staring at the table, something causing him to shake. He twithes, then his entire body convulses like someone put a feather up his back. He looks up as if he's ready to say something when Jade grabs him and lays one on him. He sits, eyes wide, face red. His tone is soft, taking some of the impact from his words.

"Dohnn... Don'... Mean. Not." frown twisting his face.

Thewlis says, "Not her. Donnn' Not." brow knitting. "Me... fine. Not... I'm..." he sighs, "I'm... I..." Thew changes gears, takes a long breath and says, "Don't... be... mean... to... her." a note of finality in his tone, and for a solid two seconds he keeps his eyes focused on Gina before he can't help but start scanning the room again."

Gina watches the explosion of JADE RAGE. And blinks, putting her hand over her heart-- but she says nothing until Jade's fully stormed out. "Well. There wasn't a call for that kind of fucking language." Gina remarks, in a a casual, dry way without much of a change in expression.... except. Except maybe the smallest little tug at the corner of her lips, a small little humorless kind of smile. One might also notice that the mousy young girl is being given cash by the androgynous blond waitress, too-- but who is paying attention to that? No no, look back to Gina, currently turning to meet Thew's eyes as he stutters his way through the language. "Sorry, Cryptkeeper. Not sure I understand the concept of not being a sour bitch-- I'm not even nice to people I'll call friends." There's a shrug along with that-- and unlike most of Gina's words, these don't have that ambiguous edge to them, that hints at secrets and things unsaid. Just a fact. "Anyway. So about the voices." Yes, let's be casual about this. Siiiiip of milkshake.

There's a sudden bit of panic in the kitchens when the grease trap erupts into flames. "Don't." Thewlis says. "Not... her." setting his coffee cup to the side. All of the voices Gina might have heard in his head were all townie voices, kids, older people, much of it things people don't realize others can here. But all of them buried under decades of a shrieking angry voice spewing hatred at Thew. Calling him names, demanding repayment for his wasting her life, names, insults being shrieked and screamed over and over. It was non stop, even when she was 'talking' to him. Years of self loathing on loop.

Gina looks back towards the kitchen, but luckily-- Gina doesn't play when it comes to safety. Especially not about fire. Especially not /here/, in Gray Harbor, where mysterious fires are as common as floods on the FLorida coastline. She doesn't say anything-- not out loud. <<You need to figure your shit out, or I am going to seem like a fucking adorable fluffy puppy compared to what's in store for you. And her.>> The mental voice doesn't lie. Softer, more concentrated, it also.... carries more inflection, than Gina's normal dry tone. <<We'll get back to her later. You first. Because you're a hot fucking mess. And if you try hard enough, you might have the power to talk to most of us who glitter and gleam if they talk first. Don't know. Don't care. What will it take for you to stop fucking caring about the people in this diner?>>

Thewlis looks down at the floor, face twisted into a mask, <<Leave her alone... she's not bad... I can protect me, and her. Just. Don't pick on her.>> his eyes never leave the floor. He's still twitching, flinching and tucking into himself. <<Pick on me. You can pick on me. It's fine. I deserve it. She doesn't. I'm the one you pick on. I'm the bad one.>> His head bobs as he thinks the negativity about himself, as if someone was yelling it at him.

<<You're not listening to me.>> Rolling her eyes, Gina moves away, disappearing behind the door in order to check on what the damage might be in the back. But her voice is still there, no weaker. << I wasn't picking on her. Or you, if you got your head out of your self-involved ass long enough to see that.>> Ahh, Gina. The best sort of person. <<Can we move on from that conversation into one that's actually relevant? Because I am about to do something so fucking rare no one will actually believe you if you tell them.>> Because mind-speak isn't weird enough.

<<What? I don't know? I'm confused. What do you want? I don't know what you want.>> remaining where he is Thew looks to the kitchen. <<I can fix it. I shouldn't have. Stupid. Stupid. I shouldn't have done that. I'm stupid. I'm wasting your money if I don't fix it. Just a leech...>> echoing another voice only he can hear, head ducking lower, hands reflexively half raised as if to ward off a blow.

<< The more you hate yourself, the more they'll come for you. You're a buffet. The more you use that glitter and shimmer you have, however it happens - fires or floating knives or putting feelings on other people? The more you call them. When you're around your Little Miss Sunshine, stop fucking caring about other people. When you're in here, stop fucking caring about other people.>> Gina's mental voice is crisp and clear, even somewhat... over enunciated? Or the mental equivalent. <<I get that you don't want to cause her problems. Or get your trauma all up in her deluded sunshine self. But anybody who comes into MY place? They're not wasting their time on other people except the people they came with. You're air when you're in here. Nobody comes to the Grizzly to bother with other people. Do you understand? So stop self-basting.>> Basting? Did she mean to say hating?

<<You don't know anything about me. How much I know about Them. How long I've been able to do things.>> Thewlis stands up, closing out his mind before he he starts hearing it all over again. His voice masked in, and repeating, decades of others. He still drops the cost of the meal... and tip on the table. He looks to the kitchen, brow knit. "I knew... know... I knew what... I was... doing." head down, "Leave her alone." and then he starts for the door, pulling on his jacket as he goes.

<<Oh, you're wrong.>> Gina's still over in the kitchen, but as Thewlis turns to walk away, she appears in the doorway to the kitchen, leaning against the frame, arms crossed over her chest like the 1960s mod girl she is. Smiling, ever so slightly, eyes hard to distinguish. <<I know you're smart enough to stay alive this long as delicious as you are. I respect that. But that only extends to you. Her? Her I'll treat like anybody else. But it's not like I hate her any more than anybody else.>> A little finger-waggle in Thewlis's direction.