2020-01-23 - Manifest Destiny

Art galleries? Not really a place Thewlis would frequent. Not that he doesn't like art - he likes it fine. But people try to talk while you're looking. What's he doing instead? He's knelt down by a wall, patching drywall, with a contractor bag full of electrical wiring he'd pulled and replaced. The area being patched looking as if the drywall hadn't even been pulled either for the level of craftsmanship. He's humming, eighties music by the sound of it... The Outfield. Queso is by him, periodically bunting his lower back and getting scritches for the effort.

Kim comes in after the last night she left some very less legal gear here after taking a high girl home. She pauses as she sees someone else messing with the wiring. "Jodandesho?" she says mostly to herself. "Oh hi are you Leon? Hera told me that maybe he'd be doing something with the electronics." Sjhe addresses Thewlis. Queso well Kim doesn't care for him and the feeling is mutual with the popper. Now the kitty and her have a understanding.

Jerking and almost crying out as he is spoken with, Thew looks over his shoulder, eyes wide. "I! Oh. I... I'm..." He curls back, trying to be smaller while looking up at the woman, "I'm. I. I'm... Th-th-Thewlis... I... I'm. I help from t-t-t-tuh-time to time..." chewing at his lower lip, eyes flicking around as if checking for where to run should he need to.

Kim instantly can get a social awkward person, a few of her friend are like that. Well not in Gray Harbor but Portland. "Happy to meet you Thewlis. If you are helping then would you mind a extra hand? I mean hardware really isn't my thing, but I know my way around wiring." and it's so not to keep him away from the high tech equipment she 'borrowed' from her company. "I am sure if Hera didn't want you here you wouldn't be. So it's all good yeah?" she says very calmly.

Hera yawns as she begins to wake up from the apartment area. Seems as if running a business does manage to keep her busy. There she is, dressed in pink pajamas and bleary eyed. Whoops, there's a door there, after fiddling a bit, she opens it into the gallery. Whoops, there's a table there, she bumps into it and as she does a piece of pottery wobbles a little. "Huh?" she asks as she's still in zombie mode. "That doesn't smell like coffee." Maybe she needs to get a cup?

"I... I mean. If you. I. If y-y-u-yuh-you n-n-n-n-no-know drywall?" Queso moves around to his other leg, keeping Thew between him and Kim, purring against the handyman's hands. "And... yeah. No. I.. Huh-Hera's muh-my f-f-ffr-fri-hend." he sighs and looks down as his stutter worsens, looking to Hera when she appears in PJs, brow raised and despite the coverage - she doesn't look as she normally does so he doesn't look, that could be bare leg! Eyes on his work, head down. "Muh-Mor-horning He-e-era."

Kim gives a wave to Hera as comes down. Obviously the small Japanese American survived the high girl. "I didn't have time to start coffee. Anything that is left will be stale." she calls out in response to her friend. Oh damnit that could make things worse for the handyman. "Eh drywall. Probably best I don't. There really isn't anything I know with it. Well any friend of Hera's is good by me. I'm Kim."

Hera yawns and yawns and then rubs her eyes. "Oh, Thewlis." She says as she looks over and watches him at work. "It's too early in the morning for work, too early. Students didn't want to come in anyway but." she grins, "I still cashed the checks." Business is business regardless and she tells the handyman, "Don't stress though, no need to and." Her gaze goes over to Kim who seems to be wide awake, "Apparently I sleep too much so, you have met him and he has met you and, I'm about to meet coffee I suppose. Then, I need to meet my new curling tool for my date. My hair, has to be perfect." Then she blinks as she realizes this much, "I know it can't be perfect now."

"Already puh-pre-pre-re-hetty, Hera. D-d-d-don't stress y-self out..." Thewlis looks up, to Kim as she moves a little and back to Hera now that he's sure she's decent. "And n-n-no-ought too early. I ha-a-ve... Two graves, then theater work." lot on his plate. A lot of his savings went into the theater, having spent years doing next to nothing with the money he'd made other than trying to keep his mother away from it.

Kim is indeed wide awake and looking very happy, granted it could be because she hasn't slept yet or something else. "Well yeah we got done with introductions. Seriously though I can help you with makeup, not that you need help. But that little extra will things so much better. And I do your hair up as well." wheter or not Hera wants to get help from the green haired girl is entirely up to her. She pauses in her movement "Graves?" and turns back to look over Thewlis again. Nope he isn't in all black or wearing make-up. "Wait you said theater as well. You seem to be very skilled to go between those places." she says meaning it to be compliment.

Hera doesn't think she's THAT tired, when in reality she likely still is. "Thank you, you're so sweet Thewlis. I am excited though. I even got this new curling machine for my hair. I think it's over there." Yes, it is, and it's one of those strange devices that women use to do untold horrid things to their locks, but, it all turns out pretty if things go as planned. She plugs it in, or manages too. After just a few seconds or so a BEEP is heard to indicate it is ready. "This should, do the trick, it really should but, let's see."

Hera is normally pretty smart, but maybe she's still half asleep or still worried about the date with Jessica. She is far from her A game it seems so, she does the only logical thing a senseless person would do and it's put a thick strand of her hair into the curling machine. Well there's a whirrrrr sound, which is good, then the whirrrrr sound turns into a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and she screams. "Crap!" she yelps, "My hair, my hair is stuck in this thing!" Yes yes, the sleepy redhead has turned into a damsel in distress. A damsel with a hungry curling machine on her head.

She should have listened to Kim, she definitely should have listened to Kim. Kim would probably be better at doing her hair then this.

Thewlis is up and moving when there is the odd sound and the sudden call out of being stuck. "T-tu-hurn it off!" called out as he moves at speed, Kim's question forgotten for now as he tries to spot where the off switch is, unless he needs to tank the power cord.

Hair in distress? Kim runs over to Hera jumping over the counter like a little ninja. Hey no cultural stereotypes need apply. Taking a hold of the rogue curling iron "Kanojo no akuma no mashin o oroshite kudasai." she says to iron before she wrestles the device off Hera. "Are you okay Hera?" she asks holding the demon machine in her hand "This isn't something you should do so early. Your hair wouldn't last the day anyway. Will you let me help now?"

Speak of the devil, and so he appears. A big hulk of a man pushes his way through the door, though probably thankfully for Hera, he did not have long hair. A cardboard box under one arm and a short A-frame ladder in the other, he seems to handle the load like they were made of foam. A toolbag is carried over one shoulder, and a pouch at his hip seems to have a bunch of screwdriver and plier handles jutting out of it. Leon gives the occupants of the gallery a lift of his chin in greeting... At least until he sees what's going on and begins putting stuff down quickly... "Shit!"

With help the miracurl device is taken off of her but her hair is still wrapped in the device itself. Yup, a long lock is clearly wrapped around the device so it isn't easily wrestled. Likely it will take someone who is good with tools, probably Leon and Thewlis and maybe also Kim, to disassemble to device so she can really be freed. "Hair!" she yelps in response to Leon and then whe Kim tries to 'rescue' her she pulls along the redhead with her ninja skills. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" she shrieks. Hair is tough ya know? "Get...get this thing off of me! OFF OFF!" she shrieks, "Yes yes, I'll let you fix my hair for my date just quit pulling my hair around. I got it! This hurts like a." She doesn't say the "MFER" word but she clearly screams.

A woman screaming, chaos, panic - major triggers for Thewlis and he goes stock still, almost raises his hands to protect his head, but he is completely immobile, eyes wide, back from the main madness even as his mind picks up those little prickles and tickles. It's a lot of stimulation, sound, noise chaos and instead of flying into a panic he closes his eyes, puts his head down, and breathes while his fists clench and open at his sides.

Not exactly the man in the room you'd expect to flinch from screaming, Leon does, reacting instinctively to the shrill sound by shoving calm outward from himself in a wave of mental force. Maybe people would decide it wasn't that bad. Everything was fixable. No one needed to panic. Fear was the mind-killer. Leon stops in his tracks as he realizes what he did, eyes immediately flicking to Thewlis as he feels the one in the room that resists him, the one in the room that actually also had gifts. Or curses, depending on who you asked.

Kim quickly takes apart the curling iron. Yeah she is good at doing that, putting it back together maybe not so much. Still does that help with hair? Well she is trying at least. Her whole focus is saving Hera's hair from being burned. Whatever happens she'll assume it was her skill only. "This thing is awful." she comments as she is pulling apart the components. "Must be made in Korea. They always make things too complex." she quips more to keep herself calm while she works.

Hera winces as she leans over to let Kim do her magic. "Owwww, owwwww." She says, "I swear for 200 dollars." But maybe it was user error? "I don't care where it was made but if it was in Korea, damnit, they could make a car why couldn't they make a curling device?!" Hans notices the distress though and pads over and starts barking. It took him long enough. The dog knows his alpha is in distress, but not from another two legger. Part of her hair is burned, but most of it is ok. "What a way to impress Jessica, eh?" She grunts.

Pressure on the mind, yelling, and now a dog barking? Thewlis turns and speeds across the gallery like a bullet from a gun, weaving past easels and other obstacles, head down, arms wrapped around his head, slamming into the wall next to the door, falling, and then scuttling on the ground for a corner with something in front of it - full panic mode.

Leon steps forward after a moment to assist after taking a beat to breath himself. He just offers tools for Kim to use, the locksmith's smaller, task oriented picks and tiny screwdrivers pretty well suited to help Kim take the weird machine apart. He watches Thewlis, but looks at a loss on how to help the man. Maggi would know. Hans' bark draws his immediate attention, however.

"Hans. Sit." Leon issues the command, verbally and mentally. He was edgy. This was close to too many loud noises for him as well, but thankfully he had at least some coping tools.

"Hold still dear. This is hard enough as is." Kim say bluntly "I didn't mean that comment for you. I'm just trying to keep calm and get this thing off of your hair." Kim gives brief look to Leon and the offering of extra tools that will make this so much easier. "Thank you." she says quickly. She would express her thanks further is she wasn't trying to save Hera's hair. Okay it could be too late and she'll have to do a combover. No Kim that is loser talk you will save the hair! With tools this much easier to untangle.

Hans is an obedient dog, and there's a certain level of respect between him and Leon. He obeys and hushes up rather quickly. The dog is good at taking orders, but the miracurl is not. Nope, the hair will not be obedient if it's being tormented. Maybe Leon can simply tell the device, "Curl." and it would.

No no, it wouldn't.

"Ok ok, deep breath, I've been through worse than this, much much worse, though I never expected anything like THIS to happen." At least she isn't screaming anymore but she looks down at the ground and tries to be still. "So...so...it is off now? Is my hair free?" She can't even look up at poor Thewlis at the moment.

Thewlis just sits there, in the corner, breathing heavily, hands on his head, watching and waiting while he tries to get his bearings again...

And then Queso is at his side, pawing at his him, demanding snuggles before climbing into the nervous wrecks lap and starts purring.

Kim is determined. The curler will come apart, she must do this. Throwing the tools aside she opens her hands and the curler just breaks apart releasing Hera's hair. Kim is shocked "What the fuck? What happened I didn't even touch it. What is happening? Watashi wa muchu ni narimasu." it isn't a comment to anyone in particular she is going into deep shock and yet that part of her that she always felt was missing isn't anymore. She doesn't have time to think about it, what occurred shouldn't have. It's impossible right? Hobbies aside she is woman of science and this just doesn't make sense. She looks at her hands like they are deadly serpents.

As it starts to calm for at least some of the people in the room, Leon pulls his mental influence back. He wasnt great at hiding his emotions, so he looked pretty guilty every time he sent a look in Thewlis's direction. Still, he tries to be encouraging, "Everything is fine, Hera. Your friend here looks pretty good with her hands..." He was completely at a loss to help figure things out and then, it just... His eyes flick to Kim. They widen. "Did you just..." He knew. He saw it. He saw her. Literally, standing in front of him, she was different. She had the shine. He was utterly flabbergasted. This, he'd never seen. He simply stares at the little asian, mouth agogg.

Breath hitching several times, Thew stands, holding the cat as if the fuzzball was some sort of ward against harm, petting him slowly as he looks to the others, and Kim who suddenly manifested. Slow steps are taken, head down, and once close enough to speak it's more of a mumble as he gets out, "Condolences..." to the smaller woman.

Did someone just address Kim? It takes some effort and she doesn't take her eyes off of her hands she answers Leon "I didn't do anything!" she may have that special glow now, but she doesn't know it. "I did nothing." basically repeating herself. "Is this what Grandma meant about a sacred duty. Why my parents should have never left Aokigahara? No that's insane. Nothing occurred." yep she isn't dealing with this well. Then another voice offering a word of comfort. "No this isn't happening. I need a drink...so many drinks.

<<Hey. Calm down. Hera isn't like us.>> is put directly into Kim's mind, <<You are only going to confuse her.>> The feeling of Leon's own attempt to comfort the tiny woman comes through, not a push, but letting her know his emotion was there and genuine. Then he was withdrawing again. "Didn't do what? You saved the daybis what you did. If you need a drink in thanks, you ever been to the Pourhouse?" Leon asks, attempting to bluff his way out of how awkward and surprising this was. Thewlis gets a wide-eyed look, equal parts 'What the fuck!' and 'Youre not helping!'

Thewlis just ducks, mouth cut into a frown, brow knitting when he's goggled at. "I. I. Uh. I. Uhm. I'm Eh. I." stammering rapid fire while he stands there, holding Queso, petting the furball and now staring at the floor.

Art galleries. Also not the type of place that Kelsey frequents. However, she'd been eyeing Vivid Dreams now and again when she would be out walking and finally decided to peek inside. She seems to have picked the worst perfect time to drop in, because she can feel the..not quite tension? That is lingering in the space. She eyes those present with a dubious look - giving an upnod to Leon and Thewlis since they are vaguely familiar to her. "Hey everyone." She's wearing a thick, buttoned up, green flannel and a pair of jeans with her hiking boots.

Hera is somewhat oblivious to all of the 'hidden' things going on. What she is certain about though is that her hair is freed, like really freed. "Oh thank God!" she exclaims, "My dress is dry cleaned, so no worries there, I got the right type of makeup but, but this. I didn't expect the hair tools to take on vengeance. Yeah, make me look good Kim, seriously. I can't trust myself with these things."

She's calmer but poor Hans is even more calm. He's been sitting on his rump and watching Leon since everything went to chaos. Now, the moment has come. He licks his lips as he wants one thing now, a doggie treat.

And now there are voices in Kim's head. She is truly going crazy, but the voice makes sense. She doesn't want to worry Hera about anything is wrong with her. She does look around for the source but it's futile it was in her mind. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. Right others are talking to her and not in head "I just saved a hair from a terrible fate. O

And now there are voices in Kim's head. She is truly going crazy, but the voice makes sense. She doesn't want to worry Hera about anything is wrong with her. She does look around for the source but it's futile it was in her mind though it did sound like Leon. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. Right others are talking to her and not in her head "I just saved the hair from a terrible fate. I'll have put more work into getting you ready for your date. You flatter me Hera. I just did my best." she is managing to keep her cool. Later she'll probably freak out, oh how she wishes she had someone here to hold her. "Ah I haven't been to Pourhouse. I went to bar for the LGBT thing. I don't know the name so maybe the pourhouse." then someone comes in she doesn't know but Kelsey gave a friendly greeting so she waves "Hi. I don't think we have meet. I'm Kim." yeah maintain a sense of normality.

Thewlis maintains plenty of normalcy. Totes. He's just a MASSIVE GLOWING BEACON now that Kim is manifesting. He kneels back down, letting Queso move off to do cat things, likely to be a little emperor of a corner. Summoning Hans with a pat and a handful of treats from his pocket. Patting the big shepherd on the head and taking comfort. "N-n-not y-yo-ho-hour fault... s'okay." feeding the pup and getting himself reset to normal.

Leon gives Kelsey a returned up-nod, recpgnizing her as well. From his back pocket, he retrieves a card and hands it to Kim. "Yeah, that definitely didn't happen at the Pourhouse. Maggi had a fit. Text me, I'll introduce you." Real subtle, Leon. Everything's normal, right? "Crisis averted, I'm gonna go get to work?" He vocks his head toward a back room. He had been here to install some parts to Hera's security system after all. "Good to see ya!" He calls to Kelsey, making an apologetic dip of his head as he turns to make his way back. Thewlis gets another look, but its more a resigned one. He'd have to try a conversation with the gravedigger soon. He makes his way off.

"Kelsey, nice to meet you." Her hands had been in the side pockets of her flannel but she lifts her left hand out to give a wave to Kim. "Not interrupting anything, am I?" Quirking a brow as her dark blue eyes swept the area again before settling on the group. Kelsey, while she doesn't glow quite as brightly as Thewlis, definitely gives off a strong Glimmery sort of vibe. A fleeting smile flashed to Leon, "You too, I'm sure I'll see ya 'round." She offers as he heads off and then turns her attention just a little on to some of the display pieces.

Hera is now really really really worried about....her hair. "Oh crap." She says as she tries to scurry around and find a brush. She then brushes her hair and winces, "I don't know what I'm going to do about this, I got over my nervousness, now, I have a reason to be nervous." Yeah she's the only 'normal' person in a room full of not normal folks, as if the miracurl going bonkers wasn't enough. But, there's a new person and instead of being the awesome hostess she often is she just looks at Kelsey and says, "Oh, hi." For a change, she doesn't even ask if everyone is ok. After all, it was /her/ hair was was under attack.

Hans hasn't forgotten about Thewlis though and, while the German Shepherd can't talk, he wags his tail and lips his licks in response to the treat. Then he gives the handyman a bit of a 'wuff' hoping to get another snack or two. At least Thew appreciates his canine nature!

Kim take the card with a nod "Maggi? Oh yeah Mac's friend. I really wish Mac was here right now. I really want her to be. But yeah I'll text you later. Oh hey I have parts for camera's for the front it isn't street 'legal' gear. Top of the line corp security. So if you need help just give a shout to me okay?" and there is Thewlis glowing like beacon she shakes her head trying to make the glow go away. It doesn't. Why won't it go away? Shaking her head to Kelsey "No just a friendly gathering." and she is glowing as well just no. This is all so much. "Happy to meet you." then there is Hera "Hera don't let me do it." she moves over to take the brush. "You really need to learn how to let other's help you."

Thewlis stands back up, giving Hans a last few treats as he looks to Kim, Hera, and then the new face. Looking between them all he offers out, "I kn-kn-nuh-know Maggi... I've been..." he looks to Kim, pointedly, "Y-hu-hu-you two have a luh-loh-hot in common..." lips drawing in a line before he turns towards Kelsey, "Whu-Wh-while Hera is b-b-b-usy... do y-you wa-hant coffee? Wuh-wine?" Helpful Thew... now beat red from trying to be helpful, eyes to Hera and then Kelsey again, hands jammed into his pants pockets.

Hera still remains somewhat oblivious to a lot of the events. "Yeah, seems like after I come out of hell to heaven of sorts, the worse person that is going to do me harm is myself. Fortunately, my dress is fine. Does anyone want some coffee or some wine? Speaking of coffee, was that strange woman who was here well, did she still want to talk to my pottery? I don't think it would help her much."

Kelsey barely knows how to take care of her own hair. So she definitely is going to let Kim handle Hera and her hair troubles. Looking up at Thewlis when he spoke to her. "Coffee would be awesome." She nodded to him. "It's freezing out there."

Kim starts to comb Hera's hair gently and not going to where the evil curler burned her hair. That will come later and there will be pain "Giada? I drove her to her girlfriend's place after a calming talk. She got there okay. I wish I could have helped her more." glancing over to Thewlis "With Maggi? Maybe she is psych student right? That is what Mac told me at anyrate. I meet her once...Maggi I mean." someone getting coffee other than her that is small miracle.

Thewlis bobs his head and heads over to the machine to set about getting people hot cups, "Cuh-cr-cream? Su-sh-shh-hooger?" is called out, and then he ducks, forgetting himself and speaking up now, chewing at his lower lip.

Hera looks at least a little relieved as Kim brushes her hair. "I'm glad you saved me Kim, I really really am. Maggi, she's a darling. Queso is madly in love with her. She's his favorite human." But, a bit of a yawn still and she says, "Sheesh ok, I'm going to go get the really high caffeine coffee. I need to do something about all this. I'll be right back."