2019-12-23 - Trailer Park Pig Roast

Being a man who fixes anything and everything anyone brings to his home, and only charging what people think is fair (Thewlis has a lot of fudge, cookies, candy and brownies... and hot dish.) the area near Lot 24 has parking space, plowed by Thew, and... well food. There are people from around the park coming and going, and then there are the Rivera's, arguing in English and Spanish, near the cooking pig. Women of Caribbean and central American descent are managing the kitchen inside the house, chasing away any menfolk who aren't Thewlis with a vengeance.

Outside, jammed into the snow are bottles of liquor, and wine, with glasses, tumbler, shots, and goblets set out for people to get their drinky poo on.

Thewlis? He's near the pig, hands in his pockets, head down... but he's smiling - which is a wonder in and of itself. He's greeting people as they come, with candy bags. Because candy is louder than words.

Ambling on over from #50, Juniper is wrapped up in a battered and slightly grubby green wool coat, a bright pink scarf and blue denim jeans also visible, the latter tucked into very sturdy workboots. She's not come empty handed either, a large and flat cardboard box contains a selection of blue corn donuts. "Hey!" she greets as she reaches #24, her free hand lifted to wave. "Pig smells good, man. This was an awesome idea of yours, and thanks so much for the invitation."

Flick, flick, flick. The clicking sound of a lighter, too quiet to be heard all the way over at #24, but it clicks nonetheless over at #22. Alison'd stepped out her front door to light up a joint, which she does, but the bacony smell of the pig roasting catches her attention pretty quick. She swaps out her sneakers for a pair of boots and a thicker jacket, and trudges her way over towards #24, following her nose.

The young waitress sticks her head around the corner at first, firey hair surrounding her head, lit joint between her lips, eyeing the scene. What's that smell? After assessing the situation, she'll mosey on in a little closer.

The perfume of that roasting pig has floated all the way down Elm and lured over a curious musician. Tall, beaky, curly black hair, looking way too Jewish to be in the vicinity of an enormous amount of pork, Itzhak strolls over. His boots go crunch in the snow. There's booze poking up like snowdrops; Itzhak pours himself a very chilly couple of fingers of bourbon, don't mind if he do. Then he's coming over to Thewlis, looking at him with appraising interest. "Hey, I seen you around. Ain't caught your name."

Looking up at Juniper, offering her the candy bag and towards the approaching redhead, Thewlis keeps his eyes on the ground, "Juh-ja-jaayhhh... Jahhhyy..." he jerks his heads the people are clearly not his blood kin. "Jade's family. They... It's. I like it. Have fun, there's... all... food. All day. Merry Christmas." one of Jade's brothers comes by, putting some sort of hard mix in Thew's hand, careful not to slap him on the back and speaking to him in a low voice in passing, with voices shouting to Juniper, the approaching beaky man, and the red head - asking what they're drinking as Thew turns to the lanky man.
"OH! I... Hello. I... Thewlis. I'm... My name... Thewlis." eyes back down, breathing slowly. "Have fun... Hi. Free to anyone. Have... drink... food inside... and out."

"Hey man," Juniper greets Itzhak, remembering his face (schnoz) at least from their brief meeting in the park while she was setting up the Venetian Gardens, before she offers the box of donuts towards one of the many helpers, not wanting to presume where it might fit. "Mine's a double whiskey please," she answers the question about her drink of choice. "The blue corn donuts are for everyone, though fair warning if you've never had 'em, they're sort of a savory-and-sweet double-whammy."

Itzhak, recognizing the signs, promptly backs off from Thew. "'m Rosencrantz. Nice ta meetcha." A few mouthed ritual words of greeting and they can both rest securely knowing that an attempt was made. "Hey, Juniper!" Itzhak offers over inked knuckles for Juniper to dap. "Blue corn donuts, ya say? Never had 'em." So of course he makes for that ish, new food has to go in his face.

Alison plucks her joint from her lips, a faint smile on her face, offering it to anyone around so inclined, but also using it as an answer to what she's drinking - or rather, isn't, at the moment. She peers at the roasted animal on the spit, slightly entranced by the way the lick of the flames dance across its skin. "Hi. Is that a pig?" The man being uncomfortable gives her cause enough to keep a distance of a few steps away.

"Its... It. Nice to meet you, Rosencrantz..." his eyes go a little distant before he says aloud, "We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.”
The question from Alison drawing his attention and after a moment getting his head together. "Yes. Come. Eat. Anyone and everyone... all welcome. Merry Christmas..." holding a candy bag towards Alison as one of the Rivera brothers deposits the double whiskey in Juniper's hand, informing her, "Doubled up, Jack and Makers's. Enjoy!"

"Then honey, you've never lived," Juniper tells Itzhak with a laugh, taking the drink placed in her hand and lifting it to sip, with a brief, "Thanks babe," to the Rivera brother who delivered it. Then she's finding herself a place to sit, out of the way, where she can drink and people-watch and talk without hindering the cooking of the pig. Patting her pockets down, she fishes out a pack of smokes and lights one up. Ahh.

Itzhak squints at Thewlis, not sure why he's suddenly spouting poetry at him. At least, Itzhak is pretty sure that's poetry. Might be literature or something else he has no experience with. "Yeah, well, same to you, pal," he says anyway, to show willing. Alison's joint smells as delicious as the pig, and he accepts a drag from it before passing it back to her, holding on to a lungful of thick fragrant smoke. When he lets it out he smiles lazily at her. "Hey, Ali, what's shakin. Merry happy and all that, yeah?"

Jade comes out from the trailer bearing a wide tray full of tasty finger foods with a Puerto Rican bent. A broad smile on her face, she seems to be festive, though any that know it well enough will recognize that the red and green sweater paired with the brown slacks are actually a nod to Freddy Kreuger as well as the holidays. "We have tostones with mayo ketchup, alcapurrias, empanadillas, and pasteles! Eat up everyone, there's plenty more where this came from!" She starts circling around with it, ducking and dodging her brothers' attempts to greedy up the platter, laughing as she moves away towards the guests, offering up the platter with a grin. She stops by where her father is roasting the pig, dotting a kiss to his cheek and letting him snitch some of the finger foods before sliding away to circle towards Thewlis and co.

Alison blinks a few times at Thewlis's little soliloquy there. The hand extending to offer a bag of candy makes her grin, and she thanks him upon receipt of it. Juniper and Itzhak both get glances from her, having met them both briefly previously, but it's Itzhak who gets the longer of the glances. There's a few things that come to her mind in terms of things she'd like to discuss with the schnoz bearer at hand, but the first thing she gets out is, "Hey, Itzh-ak, was it?" Mostly right. Syllables a little off, but she's getting there. "Merry thing to you too. That song you played on your, uh." She pauses, briefly lost for words. Or one word, at least, since she doesn't seem to know what instrument the man had been rocking at the recent open mic night. "y'know, it was pretty great!"

Juniper's donuts get a long glance, intrigued initially, but the mention of savory and sweet remove any of her inclination to think twice about them. This is a girl who loves pineapple on her pizza, after all. She scoops one up, and then takes a bite, giggling at the unexpected tastes. "Wow." And then there's more food circling around. Jeez!

"Rosencrantz... It's... line... Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead..." Thew's brow furrows and he looks down at the ground. "Sorry... I..." he frowns apologetically at Itzhak before Thew is looking down at the ground a hand raised to scratch at the back of his neck. "I..." one of Jade's brothers pats the man on the shoulder, whispering to him and even raising the hand Thew has a drink in, laughing as he gets the gravedigger to take a drink and moving on.

Taking another sip from her very chilled whiskey, Juniper grins up at Alison. "They are pretty wow, right? I can't take any credit; I got one of my cousins to ship a bunch to me from a place we used to buy them back home," she admits, drawing on her cigarette and exhaling into the cold winter air. "Merry whatever, people. This is what it's all about." A gesture to the people, and then to the food.

"Mandolin!" Itzhak says, overly dramatically pointing at Alison with two fingers, the others clamped around his glass. Jade comes around and he claims something tasty from her tray with a nod of thanks, grinning lopsidedly at her, and continuing to expound upon his instrument. "That's a mandolin. Paired eight strings, tuned the same as a violin in G D A E. You know violin, you kinda get mandolin too, as a bonus. Thanks, appreciate it. Pass that shit back over." He doesn't have enough hands, food in one and booze in the other, how is he going to take the joint? Itzhak has to think about this technical challenge. Then, distracted, he looks at Thew, and then snorts, amused. "Okay, that's the classiest Rosencrantz and Guildenstern joke anyone's ever made about my name, ten points."

Jade makes another circle with the platter before stealing the beer her eldest brother has and passes off her tray to him with a grin. She rejoins the group, snuggling up at Thewlis' side and stretching up to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth and smile. "Hey there big guy. Holding up alright? I came to rescue you." She looks back to the group with a bright smile, "Hi! I'm Jade Rivera, the reason all these crazy people are cooking Caribbean food in the front yard and keep pestering poot Thew. Good to meet you all." She shifts her free hand out to offer towards folk even as she tilts her head back against his shoulder.

The news of a pig roast is something that likely spreads far and wide in a small town community. As such, Hera decides to stop by for a bit of a visit. This time she is wearing something more casual, jeans and a shirt appear to be her clothes and there's a jacket around her shoulders to keep her warm. (Visual https://st.depositphotos.com/1814084/1730/i/950/depositphotos_17308787-stock-photo-jaime-ray-newman.jpg ) She also brings a bag with her and in that bag are a few bottles of wine. One red, one white, and one rose, they might add something unique to the party. However, a lady shouldn't come alone and since this isn't a 'no pets allowed' area, her German Shephard walks by her side. He isn't officially on guard duty so maybe he's more relaxed than normal. Whatever the case he follows his alpha as needed. Spotting the host and hostess, she waves a bit and comes closer to the group.

Alison grins widely. "Mandolin!" The rest of his explanation doesn't really mean anything to her, but she's willing to pretend that it does. "Cool." She eyes Itz's occupied hands, and with a soft little shrug, lifts the joint towards his face so that he can grab the thing with his lips if he so chooses. She has to get on her tippy toes to do it, though, the 5'2" woman at about the edge of her reasonable reach to the taller man.

To Jade, she grins. "Yeah, these are wild. I've never been outside of the area. I mean, there are tons of little hipster donut places in Seattle, but I've never had anything like this."

Hera's approach gets her a wave from a donut holding hand, but the dog gets her attention pretty quick. OMG dog. Alison grin goes wiiide. "Awww puppy!!"

Thew actually turns his head to catch the kiss from Jade, and when she snuggles in he leans against her and nods Itzhak "It's... good movie. To. Glad you're... that you. Not mad." the sight of Hera approaching, with Hans, Thew raises his drink hand in greeting. "Hi. It's... Plenty to eat. Jade's family... They're... They're. I think. It's good. They're great"

A young man with a resemblance to Jade taking the wine from Hera, and giving her a saucy wink as another comes with a goblet of a nice red to put in her hand, chilled by the Snow-Bank Bar that has been built near the back of the yard, manned by The Rivera brothers... bottles jammed directly into the snow to chill, as are the beer kegs.

It's a party. Better than anything the Addingtons have! Know why! We got heart, and Caribbean food.

Caribbean

A car pulls up in the trailer park's lot with a crunch of tires on hard pack snow. A truck, to be precise, ignition killed, doors shoved open, and the low burble of conversation filtering out. "I just want to know this: how the fuck does he get through the chimney? He is not exactly svelte." That's de la Vega. Who mispronounces svelte. He's got a bottle of tequila under his arm as he waits for his passenger to join him on the walk over to the trailer park proper.

This is not someplace one would expect to see Rebecca Carr. But Itzhak texted her an invitation and Ruiz picked her up, so here she is, climbing out of De la Vega's truck. She's bundled up in a pink puffer jacket, jeans, snow boots, earmuffs, and gloves. Beneath the jacket is a thick turtleneck sweater. She stares at the man incredulously. "You live in Gray Harbor. You have literally turned into a dream wolf and chased down hunters. And you wonder how the fuck Santa gets down the chimney, Javier? Magic!" She chuckles.

Not too far away something falls from a neighboring roof, rolls and...yup, gets up and dusts himself off. Off with you snow! Hey, you live in this trailer park there's noa ccounting for the neighbors, yo. Maybe that answers the chimney question. He zips his army jacket over his hoodie and walks towards Thewlis' place...about faces... walks back with a hand in the air, and turns back around as a piece of a shrub stays stuck to him. There's the deep breath and the rally. With another attempt at the cool approach he knocks on the nearest thing. "Yo, man, I think my homies are stuck out soooo trade you the good brownies for a sammich man?"

Hera blushes just slightly at the wink, but she doesn't think too much of it. With the drink offered she says, "Thank you." Then she sips at the offered libation, "Nice, quite nice, and as my work continues I obviously love me some wine." She seems content and more relaxed. Also, she looks around and takes in Thewlis' place. "This is nice too." She sincerely means it, which is different because this area is totally different from her business, but she is happy to see a nice gathering, and a pig roast. "It's been such a long time since I've been to something like this I, well, it's a wonderful turnout!" Eyeing the host and hostess again she asks, "Can I help with anything?"

But Hans can figure somethings out. When Alison says puppy that word begins to put him into a good movie. He notices the woman and wags his tail. Since he's 'off duty' maybe someone will toss him a ball or, better yet, give him treat!

Itzhak bends down, drags deep off the joint Alison is so helpfully holding for him, straightens up and almost keeps straightening all the way back to the damn ground. He takes a graceful half-step back, exhales a plume of pot smoke. "Thanks, mami. Hey, Jade! 'm Rosencrantz. Itzhak." You leave him alone for five minutes and he finds a party, booze, and a high. The guy really is a musician. He glances over at the arriving truck with hooded eyes--and breaks into a grin that's all sunshine and THC. "Hey! You guys made it!" Like it's his party. "Nah, I ain't mad," he adds to Thewlis, eyebrows drifting up happily. "How can I be mad when you're feeding me and getting me drunk? I got manners."

When Grant falls off the roof, Itzhak greets him with a gleeful shout of "CROTCHBITER!" Then he's striding a little wobbily to Ruiz and Rebecca, smiling that brilliant megawatt smile that's so rare on him.

"So, leading question here," Juniper addresses the crowd of assembled trailer park residents and assorted others. "Will there be singing, and if so what songs?" This seems to be open to public poll, she's certainly not going to suggest any, though she does add, "Anyone here not celebrate Christmas? We can do other songs." She's not wanting to assume, after all.

Ruiz waits for the blonde in the puffer jacket to fall into step with him, then starts off with a crunch of boots in the snow. He looks bemused by her reply, and the smile transforms his face into a tapestry of dimples, and soft lines spidering out from the corners of his eyes. The cop is in a warm looking wool coat, dark jeans and a dark turtleneck sweater underneath. Gloves too, because it's fucking cold, though he hasn't bothered pulling on a hat or scarf, and his ears are getting red as they pull up to where the others are gathered. "This was BYOB, right?" he asks.. well, whomever's willing to answer.

As Itzhak strides over, the bundled-up Mexican throws an arm around him and slaps his back, then releases him to go greet Rebecca.

Rebecca gives Ruiz a shoulder bump and tips her chin towards Itzhak at the bellow of Crotchbiter. "I think he's already into the booze and maybe more," she notes with a grin. "Rock paper scissors for who gets to be designated driver and Rosencrantz wrangler? Or do we say screw it and all Uber home after?" Then the lanky mechanic is there and she gives him a hug and a kiss in greeting.

With the arrival of Ruiz, there's a spatter of rapid and loud Spanish and the man at the roast is walking towards him, wiping his hands on a towel thet gets tossed over his shoulder. He doesn't even hesitate, going in for the one-armed hug on the Captain, pounding his back and grinning "'Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyy. Ruiz, man! Didn't expect to see you here! Its been years! How you been, man?"

Jade glances over as her father leaves the roasting pig, brow lifting until she notes his greeting for Ruiz. Then she grins and turns back to the group, "Hi Rosencrantz, its great to meet you. Hope you're enjoying yourself, this pig is going to be amazing. My dad's been the roastmaster for the family for over twenty years, he's got it down to an art." Hera's appearance has her grinning and waving towards the woman before smiling up at Thew, leaning in to murmur something in his ear before pulling back and offering a grin towards Ruiz. Rebecca gets the big smile, "Hi! Jade Rivera, welcome to the family dinner, pull up a patch of whatever and have a drink!"

"We have... Army helping. Relax... Fun. Have fun... Plenty of food... inside and out." Thewlis finishes his current drink, and Jade's family are apparently intent on loosening him up because he's already getting refilled. The falling man called Crotchbiter draws raised brows, and the question of a sandwich is answered with a plate full of spit roasted pig, some of the cracklins, tostones, and empanadas...

Thew does his best to greet the newcomers, lifting up candy bags to offer to everyone who is arriving, and he manages to get out "Welcome. Thanks... Coming. Food. Delicious! Eat call you can..." to Juniper he blinks and tilts his head at the idea of singing, clamming back up.

The Brothers Rivera? They hear Ruiz say BYOB, laugh among themselves - seeing his tequila, and bring him a platter with 3 Amigos lined up in a matter of moments. One of them is taking drink orders from people, and the booze flows. A river of liquor is built here, maintained by Jade's siblings.

Grant might be nervous, tweaking, or just plain off his meds and working on equilibrium here. He's definiately off his roof, which if that is a problem, is now solved. Look at that! Mazel tov it's a miracle. Looking to Itzhak his expression shifts lighting up at the address holding his hands in the air. "Uni-guy...Itzel? Unitzil! What up man?" Looking to Juniper he shrugs with a smile, "I celebrate my friends. Whatever you wanna sing I'll sing with you. The down side? I will totally sing with you, gal."

Alison blinks at the dude jumping, or maybe falling off the roof, just as she takes her joint back to take another hit for herself. She hadn't quite considered traversing the rooftops of the trailer park, but maybe it's not the worst idea. Maybe not when there's so much snow around, though.

The doggo's seemingly positive reaction to her attention makes her look to Hera, perhaps seeking permission? Alison tears a small piece of the blue corn donut that she was working on off, holding it out towards the little adorable beast on four paws. "He's SO cute. I love dogs!" Unless Hera tells her not to, she'll hand it over and give his ears and head a good ol' fashioned scritching.

Ruiz's appearance draws her attention, and then sends her mood plummeting. Alison's been feeling pretty wary of him since the whole thing with Bennie getting arrested and Alison planting a foot on the door of his squad car. If there was going to be consequences for that little incident, though, she'd expect to have already been hauled in herself. Back to Hera's dog, though. And his tail's waggling and everything and OMG. Heart eyes on her freckled face.

Hera hears Juniper's question and turns in her direction, "Sounds good to me. The performances in the coffee shop last night were amazing, really good. I'm up for it." She sips at the glass a bit and says, "The wine is definitely good, but I think." she chuckles, "Many things are offered."

Then does someone mention crotchbiter? For whatever reason, that gets Hans' attention and he has a bit of a blank look on his face. Is that a request? Is something unusual about to go down? Maybe the German Shepherd has been called that before? Either way, he's distracted by other things and perhaps someone will offer him a treat? The dog is actually not working at the moment so, no telling what he might get into. Maybe it involves snuggles?

Yes! It does, oh yes! There's a treat given and he begins to go into puppy mode. At Alison's attentions, he yups playfull a bit and goes into to nuzzle her hand. Donuts! More of them! Happily, Hans wonders if he might have found a new friend?

His alpha just watches the interaction and smiles.

There's a startled sound from Juniper; sounds like it might be an expletive, but not in English. Or Spanish, either. "You okay, honey?" she asks in Grant's direction, though he seems to be fine, and she offers him a grin. "Everyone sounds good in a chorus, babe. It'll be fine." She lifts her glass in a toast to that fact, and then knocks back the remainder of her whiskey before looking around for a bottle to refill from.

Itzhak graces Ruiz with a rough one-armed hug and a quick murmur, grinning slyly at him. Then he kisses Rebecca, effusive like he only gets when he's drunk and/or high. "You guys look great. Aww, you're both here." Yeeeep he's into the good stuff. "That's Jade and that's Thewlis, he has the GOOD jokes, that's Ali and, aww you're HERE." He loses track of his random introductions and just leans happily on Ruiz. "This is the BEST goyische party."

Ruiz is just turning away to hand off his bottle of Patron, when he catches sight of a familiar face. With a very recognisable voice attached. "Rivera? Javier?" Wait, what? A grin spreads across his face, and he returns the one-armed hug, thumps the guy solidly on the shoulder. "The fuck are you doing here in this shithole town?" It's probably safe to assume he hasn't spotted Alison yet. Also, he's very not on duty.

"Hey, Crotchbiter," he greets Grant casually. Then to Javier - the other Javier - "Not dead yet." Which is a feat, around here. Something Itzhak says to him has him smiling in that way he has, when startled out of his grumpiness.

Yep, Itzhak is deep into his cups already, clearly. Rebecca looks amused. She stays close to the mechanic for warmth because she is as yet not inebriated. "I'm gonna need a lot of booze to feel my toes again," she notes with a smile. She nods and greets everyone warmly. "Thank you for the invitation." Well it was an Itzhak-tation.

Jade leans up and plants a kiss to Thewlis' cheek then ducks out from under his arm, turning and running lightly towards the Javier's. "Tio Ruiz!! What are you doing here?!" She doesn't even hesitate, just flings herself into a hug around Ruiz, kissing his cheek like a little girl with a favored relative, then jumps back to grin up at him, "They're here cause I'm here! They came to share Christmas with Thewlis and I." She looks back to Thewlis and grins, then looks back to Ruiz.

Javier (Rivera) offers a chuckle and hooks his thumb towards Jade, "Mi pequena nina here fell for a gringo and said she wasn't coming home. When I came up here to rescue her, I found out they'd set up a pit and everything for us... so now we're havin' pernil on the spit, mi corazon is whippin' up batches of tostones and empadanillas and all kindsa shit with mi madre in the kitchen. Got my boys there tendin' bar.. Abran joined me in the force, made detective three years back." His chest puffs out, the sergeant couldn't be prouder.

Alison gives Hera's dog a few more scritches and rubbins. "You're such a good boy, yes you ARE." And then she stops once she's had enough, standing back up, taking the final hit from her joint, then tucking it away into the foil package that she draws from her pocket.

To Hera, she grins. "He's so cute. What's his name?" Alison chews on her donut, not wanting to give TOO much of the special treat away. It's not like she's gonna be getting more of these anytime soon.

Smiling when people are having a good time, Thewlis's head comes up a little, opening his mouth when she kisses his cheek and is off... but then one of Jade's aunts come by to put some empanada in his mouth "Come, gringo" is said and a pinch is given to the man's cheek and sending him into a blush as she continues "Eres demasiado flaco." she actually adjusts how his hat sits and kisses him on the cheek, which clearly blue screens Thewlis... getting this sort of affection from anyone but Jade. "Será mejor que aprendas español o voy a meter los pimientos picantes en toda tu comida."

Thew just nods and smiles, looking up and for escape "Hera... Hi. I think I said... Hi. It's … I'm happy you came." a 'save me' look on his face.

Uncles and aunts come out into the yard and a series of shots are passed towards everyone present, many voices calling out "Merry Christmas!" "Felices Fiestas!" and even a "Feliz Hanukkah!!" even Thewlis gets in on the shots.

Grant has his eggs a bit more scrambled than usual. he's working on having a good time, or jsut not starving. He produces a giant fucking pot brownie with smiley face m&ms baked into it and opens the tin foil like a plate and sets that out with a smile for THewlis, "I, uh..." He signs Thank you. His hand is not quite tucking holiday blue hair behind his ear, but itching? Adjusting something. This stops when Ruiz too calls him 'Crotchbiter' too. He snickers and murmmurs to Juniper who is nearest to him, "I'm never living that one down.' THen in one gesture his left hand points to her dog and turns it over with a pat of his hip and making like he's calling it over only not, and points again quizically, "Your dog? Her doggo?" He pauses and grins to bex amused, "Suuuup Cuz."

Thewlis actually looks surprised when he spots the hand gesture, and flashes back, quickly in sign You're most welcome sir, please help yourself. Eat as much as you like.

Times like this, Ruiz almost forgets he's got a mountain of paperwork on his desk, a domestic last night that ended in someone dead and someone in jail, and Them; intent on making all of their lives miserable. He manages to catch Jade just in time, and gives her a rough squeeze and a dimpled grin when she pulls back. Dark eyes traveling back to her father, he chuckles. "Bueno, eso sucederá. Ella se ve feliz, sin embargo. Usted también." His brows raise slightly at the news of Abran joining the force. "Felicidades." He claps him across the shoulder again, then gives it a little jostle. "I'll have to stop by and pay my respects, next time I'm over there."

Itzhak is all too happy to wrap Rebecca up in dem long arms and buffer her against the cold. He's warm and fluid with weed and booze, and sways her, half-dancing. "You're gorgeous," he's saying to her, grinning crookedly, "you come here with someone? I'm gonna steal ya from the lucky sumbitch." Ruiz greeted by the family makes him look over at him, amused and confused. "Ru-IZ? Who's this RUIZ guy? ...Is he as hot as you?" Sorry Rebecca and Ruiz, Itzhak is firmly in the stage of thinking he's hilarious. "Feliz Hanukkah!!" He scoops up a shot to toast that. "L'chaim!"

Hera turns over to look at Alison's question, "Hans." she says, "Quite a good companion too." Naturally the large pile of hair wags his tail and barks a bit, but it's a playful bark. "I think he likes you. He's really starting to look people. Not many come in and give us trouble in the gallery." Probably due to Hans on duty. For anyone else who likes to give petting, he eats it all up, but not literally.

In the meantime Hera has finished most of her glass and looks toward Thewlis, "Hi! Glad to see you are doing well. Are you sure you don't need help?"

Rebecca gives Grant a smile. "Hello cousin. Good to see you again." She grabs a shot and tosses it back. She's not usually a hard liquor girl but it's fucking cold out here and she will make an exception. She sways in Itzhak's arms and snorts at him. "I came here with De La Vega. My Lexus isn't ready for this snow yet," she notes, kissing his cheek. "You are absolutely sauced, aren't you?' she asks with a grin.

Rivera grins broadly at Ruiz's response, lifting a shrug and motioning around him to the proliferation of people, "Estoy bendecido con la gran fortuna de la buena familia, mi amigo. ¿Como has estado?" He draws Jade in for a hug, one that she returns with a broad smile and an expression full of warmth. When the aunts and uncles start pouring out, there's music that starts up and the party atmosphere ramps up by a factor of ten. This Javier takes one of the shots and knocks it back, qiping his mouth with the back of his hand and motioning Ruiz towards the group, "C'mon.. you can introduce me to your people. I think you already know most of mine."

Jade grins up at Ruiz and asks, "Can we go to the range before the familia has to head back, Tio Ruiz? I got better with the .380 caliber, I want my rematch!" Then she's heading back towards Thewlis to slide both arms around his waist and grinning, "Tio Ruiz has been familia forever. He left out of Seattle but I didn't know where. So this is great!" Looking towards Itzhak, she lets out a laugh, "Man, you should go have some pernil and tostones, Rosencrantz. Its the best when you're on your level. Like.. mind-blowing good food."

"So why, exactly, are you called 'crotchbiter', honey?" Juniper asks Grant after she's finished filling her glass, then looks over towards Ruiz/Rebecca/Itzhak with open curiosity and amusement, watching antics and faux-flirting. People seem to be in a good mood, and so is she.

"I'm... candy. Handing out. It's... good you got a drink." Thewlis takes a sip of his, setting his glass on a hump of snow to keep it cool as a plate of food is handed to him, and another is offered to Hera. The aunt whom had accosted Thew grins at Hera, shaking a finger and saying

"Ni siquiera pienses en sacudirle las caderas, Red, ese es el gringo de mi sobrina." and then she is off on her way, slipping past Ruiz and pinching his cheek... but not his face, calling behind her to the man "Todavía sexy papi y estoy soltero de nuevo!"

Thewlis watches the chaos and looks back to Hera, and then Alison, who is being offered food by a Rivera. "Hi... I'm... I... Thewlis. I'm... Thewlis. Neighbors? We? Are we? Neighbors?" he motions to Hera, "This... Hera... Vivid Dreams. She owns. Dream. Vivid dreams. Really nice. Art place."

Hans' ears again pop up at the mention of crotchbiter. Maybe some questions are better not left asked. When the food is offered he takes it and says, "Wow, scrumptuous." Then, as if on cue, Hans assumed the 'sit pretty' position and goes to begging from the alpha. "I have to watch what I feed you!" she tells her furry companion, "If I don't I'll be stepping in something I regret."

Alison grins at the pup and his little wagging tail some more, then looks around the growing crowd. Especially over at Itzhak, who seems to have perhaps hit the joint a little too hard, in combination with everything else he's imbibed. The redhead pops a piece of the candy from the bag given from Thewlis without so much as a glance of what it is, then raises her hand to him in thanks. "Thanks for the food, I'm gonna head back to mine."

With a shrug of the shoulders, she uses her weird mental.. thing to fade out into the distance, causing a sensory illusion to those in the area that makes her appear as if she'd walked back over to her own trailer a few spots over. In truth, what she'd done is hopped up onto the roof of one of the adjacent trailers, climbing up from whatever handhold or ladders can be found, and then plopping her butt down after clearing some snow away. A bit wet against her jeans, but she can cope. She just.. watches the crowd, not staring at anyone too long.

Grant looks to teh dog but up to Hera when she tries to explain the puppy situation leaning slighly with a faint, wry grin trying to catch as much as he can to add all his contextual infromation together. Shaking his head he answers honestly, "Project kinda went totes wrong. So either... yes, ooor I ain't done yet."

When Thewlis responds like for like there's an immediate ease that drops onto the sate punk, Coooool party man. Very cool. I appreciate it. Grant (name sign combination of 'G' and 'Run'). Live next door, there. me. Justding by the fluidity and shorthand this may very well be his first language or its at home at the very least.

Juniper's question almost sneaks up on him and he points to Ruiz then Rebecca and Itzhak, "Aww well they'll tell it better than I do but I was helping this guy (Ruiz) hide from cops for us crashing some fancy party in teh garden thing."

"He estado lo suficientemente bien. Este pueblo me mantiene ocupado. No he logrado irme todavía." Ruiz slants a wry smile Rivera's way, and snags a bottle of something that looks like beer from one of Jade's relatives when it's offered, with a murmured thanks. Introductions he can do: "The guy over there with the big nose is Itzhak Rosencrantz. And that's his girl, Rebecca Carr." Jade gets a little nudge of his elbow and a smile when she suggests the range. "Still got that little Browning? Sure, I'll give you my number, and we'll head out some time." He digs in his pants pocket, presumably for his wallet, in which he no doubt carries a few business cards. One with the GHPD's logo is handed over, and he's listed on the back as Captain J. R. de la Vega.

Then someone he vaguely recognises as one of Jade's.. cousins? Her aunt? Wanders by and pinches his cheek and tells him she's single, which nearly makes him choke on his beer. An awkward salute with the bottle suffices as greeting, though he doesn't comment on his relationship status.

Hera eats a bit more of the offered plate and then feels something buzzzz on her wrist, "Yeah, never ends." she grumps but she pulls something out of her bag and begins to head in Jade's direction, "Hi!" she says as she tries to get the woman's attention, "I gotta go, but I wanted to give you and Thewlis this. I hope you will enjoy it." She says with a bit of an optimistic tone to her voice. "But, business calls, I'll see you soon ok?"

Pleasure. I'm Thewlis. Good to meet you Thewlis actually looks pleased while signing but then his stutter doesn't come into play now. Alison disappearing draws a raised brow, he opens his mouth, frowns, closes it and offers Hans a big hunk of pork, with the skin on it, the crispy part. Because he loves that dog. If the dog doesn't know that now, he better. Fire crisped pork skin man.

And then Hera is moving off... and no one is by him... so he eats, and takes a -long- breath.

"Nnnnnah," Itzhak says to Rebecca, denying that he's sauced, even though he's now no longer half-dancing with her but just plain out dancing. He's a lot better at it than you'd think to look at him, waltzing her around in the snow to whatever awesome beat is playing on the sound system. Being sauced (which he totally is) just makes him dance better, getting rid of all the anxiety he carries around. "I dunno what any of that is," he declares to Jade, over Rebecca's head, "but I'm gonna eat ALL of it." ...Then he loses all composure laughing at Ruiz getting his cheek pinched by an auntie.

Jade takes the card with a glance, letting out a low whistle at the title before tucking it into a back pocket and grinning at Ruiz. "¡Tengo una colección creciente en estos días!" She pauses then adds, "You should come over for dinner some night, yeah? Thew's a good man, you can meet him, let papá know that he's treating me good." Then she's turning back towards Thewlis again and gives him that tight squeeze and smiles up at him. "You doing okay, Thew? Need a breather?"

Rivera grins and lets out a laugh as one of his sisters? wanders by and gives Ruiz a pinch and calls him 'sexy'. Sipping on his beer, he leans in ever so slightly and says in low, conspiratorial tones, "Esa es Teresa. Ella está buscando al marido número tres. Yo correría si fuera tú." Then he's laughing again and moving off to go find his wife to kiss her and drag her away from the kitchen for a few.

Rebecca is danced around in the snow and she's laughing lightly, because Itzhak drunk and high is one of the greatest pleasures in life. There is such joy in him when he's not plagued by his anxieties. She watches, amused, as Ruiz is accosted by an Auntie. He's never living that down. "You may need to rescue Javier from an amorous Auntie."

Laughter from the police captain, smoke-roughened and throaty. "Lamentablemente para ella, no soy del tipo que se casa," he confides to Rivera, then slides Jade a long look, and a smile. "Si. I would love to. Or, if you don't mind making the trip out, you can come see the new house. I'll cook for you both." Half an eye is kept on Itzhak and Rebecca, and the oft-cranky Mexican is positively glowing as he watches them dance and laugh. Genuine, unadulterated pleasure.

Grant looks around and that he doesn't speak a lick of Spanish? Eeeh it don't bother him so much as he misses half the English too. He pulls up a seat near Thewlis and waves to Jade signing back to him, These people seem really cool. How you meet em, yo, Thewlis? There's some shorthand in there and the speed off the sign is slow as to not assume and work on what seems to work and now. He gets himself a plate of food and a chunk of that brownie. ??I met them felling through a hole in the world. Really was a hell of a drawing. Maybe too good I think.//

"Okay then. Can you tell me why he's called crotchbiter?" Juniper directs that question to Ruiz and Rebecca and Itzhak, before her attention is drawn towards where Alison is - or was. Brows furrow, and she frowns somewhat in that direction, though she doesn't call it out. Just broods on it a bit.

"Ya think I should?" Itzhak asks Bex, eyebrows popping up in something like anxiety for the first time. "Ah, I dunno, he might not want me to, you know," act gay, "in front of his familia an' all." He whirls her on over to Ruiz, though, and forgets to be anxious again. "Hey! We call him Crotchbiter because he bites crotches!" he says to Juniper, cheerfully, like, duh, obviously. "There was this big mean hunter lady, this guy right here," pointing to Grant, "wasn't gonna take that shit from her! I had to step on his tail." ...Okay, so, apparently he's on something more than pot or booze? (He's not. He's telling God's own truth, because this is Gray Harbor." To Grant he signs, Drink! To life!

Jade flashes a delighted grin and gives a nod, "Esa es una cita, tío. Te llamaré por un día." She chuckles, "I'll hold you to it!" She chuckles at the conversation between the Javier's and turns back to her own, flashing a grin towards Grant. "Hi there. Jade Rivera, its good to meet you. Anyone that can put Thew at ease is always welcome here. Also, take food. Lots of it. There's gonna be so much leftovers." Thewlis gets that warm smile as she snuggles in at his side, apparently quite content to just remain there for the rest of the evening. Well. As soon as the plate of food is shoved on her by a surprise appearance of ABUELA.

The older woman with her snow white hair and crow's feet and deep grooves around her mouth totters over towards Ruiz with her cane, giving him a light rap on the shin and pointing to her weathered cheek with a chatter of rapid Spanish. "Javier Ruiz de la Vega! ¿Cómo te atreves a venir a nuestra cena familiar y no me saludas? No me hagas tener cosas malas que decirle a tu madre, joven." She looks expectantly towards Ruiz with a genuine affection in those still-bright dark eyes.

Rebecca is danced over to the general vicinity of Ruiz. "He was a fennec at the time," she adds to the Story of Crotchbiter the Wee but Mighty TM.

Jade. They're her family. They're very happy. I don't know what to do. I am not used to this much happy... Oh! I am Thewlis Jade's named signed quickly as 'pretty green stone' Thewlis responds to Grant, taking a moment to look across the distance to where Alison hopped up, nodding slightly and jerking his head towards his house and mouths the words 'cookies' and 'fudge'. before he leans against Jade, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple. "I'm... I'll be... It's... I'm ok. I was told 'Abuela is Coming..." he looks embarrassed "What's Abuela?" and then he looks at the older lady whacking people with her cane. Thewlis's eyes get big, as do his pupils... Someone is hitting... nostrils flaring rapidly.

Ruiz doesn't even notice Itzhak and Rebecca headed his way. Not yet, at least. Why? Because Abuela is descending on him, and he daren't deny her. Arm around the little old woman's waist, he leans in and dutifully kisses one cheek, then the other, and chuckles at her admonishment of him. He doesn't even bother correcting her on the impossibility of telling his mother. That she died not too long ago is kept, for now, to himself. Instead, "Lo siento mucho. Mis maridos ya no son lo que solían ser, con usted y sus hijos manteniéndome en línea."

Finally, the lanky Jew and the blonde he arrived with are spotted to one side, and he flashes them both an unfettered grin.

"..of course he was," Juniper responds to Rebecca's comment first, a wry smile on her lips. No, she doesn't seem to disbelieve exactly, it's more of an accepting 'because this is Gray Harbor' sort of reply. "I imagine you'd make a cute fox honey, though - does the hair colour translate over?" she wonders of Grant, her smile lingering as she sips more whiskey. Then, looking to the assorted people cooking she asks aloud, "How long until pig, guys?"

"Ooohhhhh, you got fullnamed," Itzhak says to Ruiz, impressed that someone dare fullname him, but if anybody could do it, it'd be a tiny abuela. He stays out of her way, humming along with the music and turning around in a circle in place with Bex. Dancing is still happening. Dancing will continue! He can show these nice goyim how to party. "He was a cute fox, a real little one with great big ears," he explains helpfully to Juniper, too smashed to realize how cozily insane that sounds.

Beaming with total pleasure, Abuela looks up at Ruiz, appeased. "Asegúrate de comer bien, querida. Te ves un poco delgado en estos días." The caring admonishment is spoken gently before Abuela turns to leave the 'young people' to their party, tottering back towards the trailer to finish up the desserts. YES. THERE ARE STILL DESSERTS TO APPEAR. Abuela pauses near Jade, Thewlis, and Grant to press a kiss to Jade's cheek and smile at Thewlis. There's a few moments of silence, then Abuela turns and totters back into the kitchen to get those desserts finished up.

Jade keeps an arm around Thewlis and hugs him tightly, pressing a kiss to his jaw to help bring him back around to the now. She looks back to Ruiz and grins, "Nobody is safe from Abuela!"

Javier (Rivera) grins unabashedly from his palce in the doorway, with his arm around his wife as he watches over the large group of family and friends gathered for the festivities. Its a good holiday.

Slowly turning to look at Jade when Abuela smiles... and ominously walks away... Thewlis stares, brows knit, mouth pulling into a frown once she's gone.

"She... I bet... She... She only smiled. I'm... She's going to... Oh.. I'm... I'm in... It's. I'm in trouble, aren't I?" bouncing on the balls of his feet now, counting minutes remaining before death. Horrible, cane whacked, spicy, adorable, white haired death...

Grant looks up from Thewlis to Juniper with that grin of pride. Sure let others tell teh storyit's always better that way! "Heeey look these cats was tryin to smash all the plants and kick this... guys' ass. He was there goin stag. I dunno. Also t'be fair I did not know our dudde weren't a dude or I'd apologize." It's Thewlis he fills in the gaps for Tall lady punched me and threw me. I was only eeeeeh, his hands are held out about yay the size of a softball so big. Not too bad. me? OH SURE! to Thewlis this might not seem this way but to the rest of the non-ASL signing world little bunny foofoo just got his fluffy butt kicked and wheeeee! boom! like a home run.

Ruiz is pulled away when his phone goes off. He answers in clipped cop tones, head bowed as he shoulders his way past the smattering of people still lingering.

Rebecca leans up to kiss Itzhak's cheek. I'm going to go get a plate of food and sit by the fire."

Laughing lightly, Jade shakes her head at Thewlis, "No baby. I made sure to tell Abuela that you don't always like surprise affection when its coming from people you don't know. She understands. Now if you want to go give Abuela a hug and kiss, she will cackle and pinch your cheek... the one on your face.. and call you something sweet." Then she's looking back to Grant and chuckling. SHe doesn't understand a lick of the ASL, but he's being pretty funny and she offers her plate out towards him. "Here. Try some of this. There's pork and fried plantains and all kinds of good foods in here. Abuela is finishing the desserts now. She made her famous guava pastelitos! The french don't have anything on flaky layered pastries when it comes to Abuela!"

Thew nods to the plate and back to Grant, It's all very good, really. And if you want to take a bunch with you I won't begrudge you We've cooked enough to make sure everyone who comes gets what they need to be full and then some. signing quickly and looking to the other park residents coming in, getting plates, a drink, and to go bags too. It's a hallmark special here, brought together by food and a roasted pig.
"Oh... OH!" realizing what Jade says, blinking. "I... I. I'll... I'll make sure... I wouldn't... Hurt feelings. That's nice of her" he pauses and almost -sounds- like he's drooling. "Guava..."