2020-02-03 - Glow little glowworm

Going to and from the hospital can always be taxing, and this time is one of those cases. Hera is doing much better, but being poked and prodded is enough to be exhausting. "It's been a long time since I've been admitted" she says as Grace and Kim help her get settled, "But, I thank you. I know with friends well, if things were different back then" she shakes her head and says, "Nevermind I, do need to let that go." Looking over to where the wine is stored she manages to smile and says, "I think I will avoid the bottle for at least a day or two, what do you think about that?" Faith has been keeping the place spic and span and Hans goes over to greet the two ladies as Hera enters.

Kim is certainly glad that her friend is do much better than before and happy to help her get settled back in. In fact Kim seems really happy in general, laughing a bit more and probably giving Grace a light touch on the arm every now and then. "For you and me both. Granted I've only ever been a few times. When was the last time you got admitted?" she is naturally curious. It is more of a polite inquiry then anything less. "Your welcome and really it's no big deal. I know I'm just glad to be there for you...back then though? You really don't talk too much about the past and...okay Kim just let it go. Right you are getting past that." Kim is really tempted to hide the wine, but Hera's a adult and it wasn't like she did it purpose. "I do think it would be a really good idea. No more shocks to your system and if I can avoid drinking for awhile I'm sure you can too." she says lightheartedly. She does give Hans a few pets, poor pupper was likely worried about his Alpha.

Hera shrugs and says, "When I had my miscarriage." she replies. "I had so much hope for it all, even though Theo didn't. Ironically I might have wound up dead or still in slavery if it wouldn't have been for him." She goes to scratch her dog behind the ears and says, "Human trafficking, it's real. I was in that world not by choice. Explains why the small town closeness really grew on me. I don't see that happened here and if it does, the first thing I am going to do is stop it."

Kim hearing about her friends experience she goes over to hug Hera "Oh Hera I am so very sorry. I can see why you don't talk about it much." adding words of sympathy to her actions. "That is all awful. I do know that human trafficking is very real. Still knowing about it and then having a friend that went through are two different things." she says her friend's past does dampen her happy mood. "I wouldn't think something like that would happen here. If it is well...I didn't exactly get my skills from reputable places and it exposed me to that sort of world. I've help indirectly bring rings to a end before...anonymously that is. I can help you if you ever find out something like that is going on in town."

Hera wraps her arms around herself as she admits more to Kim. "I, would probably be dead by now and, death, my parents were murdered when I was eight so, yeah." It can't help but make her shiver just a bit but considering the situation of her past, she appears to handle it well. "Honestly, now that I've gotten closer to some of the people here, I've had, nightmares of a few, strange things. Yes, there were people I had to leave behind, those who well, I doubt they got away from it all and, do you want to know one of my greatest fears?"

As Hera goes on Kim with hug her tighter "I'm here for you." she says as the story gets even worse "Oh Hera you poor dear." giving her sympathy as she keeps listening. "What sort of nightmares? This town seems like it bring up strange things. You had to keep yourself safe and I don't think you would have been in a position to help." she says softly trying to add more words of comfort. "What is it that you afraid of?"

Hera smiles a little as her friend hugs her and she says, "Thank you, I appreciate it. I, I am too old. Jessica tells me all the time how beautiful I am and I am thankful for that, it means the world to me but, in trafficking, the younger the better, I know that much. I've had a few nightmares of Grace being kidnapped, emotionally and mentally broken down, and kept prisoner for those who used to torment me. She's, quite younger than I am, and, trust me, she has the look they want. She would have the body they want, and if she would put up a fight, they would take it as a challenge to beat her down. I see such youth and beauty in her, promise me, we won't ever let anyone who got me, get to her, no matter what ok?"

Kim is about to say something about Hera being too old. The rest of what she says makes it clear to Kim she is talking being taken. Worse now nightmares about Grace being taken and in this town who knows if they are just dreams or not. She bites her lip as she listens before letting of a breath she wasn't even aware she was holding in. "Hera you are beautiful. I know it isn't really what you are speaking of but it's true. I would not let that sort of thing happen to my Grace-kun!" before she makes the easiest promise of her life "At any cost I'll keep that from happening. You have my promise on that. And I know she would fight...I am not much of a fighter. I do have my ways though and I guess now a few extra skills."

Having an open scene in the Gallery is like a Batman signal up in the sky.
Except, the signal is for the worse sort of Dark Knight.

Bouncing past with long strides, Everett has on his work-out clothes. It's not his fault the gallery is between his place and the gymnasium. With long black hair flying behind him, the thug passes by the windows while keeping his gaze forward, and as is his custom, a black cord connecting his smartphone to his ears while he jogs on by.

To the last window where he lifts a meaty paw and gives a wave to those within before looking. A brief turn of his head, scarcely more than a glimpse.
And he's gone.

For a second; then Everett's walking backward into view again, his usual brooding exterior painted with confusion, heavy puffs of condensation makes it look like he's vaping. Not a breath goes by before he turns around, pauses to catch his breath a little, and then resume for the doors. Assuming no body's wised up and locked them by now, Everett enters and looking right at Hera, oblivious of the conversation he's interrupted, "Hey, Glowworm. Wha-" his breath skips, "what's happening?"

Kim does notice Everett when he comes in. It's nearly impossible not to. When moves to come over to Hera she steps between him and her friend. Arms folded under her chest she looks up to the giant of a man. "You! I don't know your name, but if you've come to bother or harass my friend you've ssoooo come at the wrong time. So you can turn around and leave if that is your intent." the small woman doing her best to look intimidating and likely comes out as comedic when compared to Everett.

Noticing Hera and he isn't alone when the wee one steps between them, Everett stops his forward stride while the right corner of his mouth rises with an amused half-smile. His backpack slides off his shoulder and he kneels to follow it to the ground, unzipping and removing an opaque water bottle from it. A slow drink is taken, while his green eyes remain on the Great Asian Wall between him and Hera while he draws the drink out longer than necessary.

"Ah." A gasp for breath, before popping the lid back in, and only then does Everett break his gaze to look down while stuffing the water bottle back, zipping the backpack up and leaving it there while he stands, stroking his upper lip a couple of times. His mouth opens; he's given himself a lot of time to think of a reply, and to scrap just about as many. Drawing a short breath, he lets it out with a chuckle, "You're damn cute. My dick is bigger than you." He fishes Hera an amused look, maybe asking her to call off her bodyguard, before looking back down, down, so much down at Kim to whom he smiles wider. "Look, I just noticed something different with Glowstick over there when I was joggin' past," Everett uses the first two sausage thick fingers of his right hand to mimic the action of walking at his hip height, "and I wanted to make sure she was ok." And then he adds, with his deep voice, "If that's ok with you, I mean."

Kim purses her lips as he just stands there taking a drink. When he finally does speak up her eyes widen "Nan to iimashita ka?" immediately recognizing she changed languages "What did you just say?" repeating in English "Look I may be small but I'm not that small!" she quips back. Wait he is talking about glowstick and she has to take another look over him, probably too pissed to have recognized it before "Great just great." she starts off and has to strain her neck to look him in the eyes, though her eyes do dip down to look at his little gesture "Eh alright. Just the few times I've seen you would lead me to doubt you are concerned with her well being. So you can't blame me for being suspicious at all. She is fine but don't try any of that other shit." yeah it's even cuter when she tries to be tough. It isn't something she tries to do very much and isn't very good at it.

The return quip doesn't make a dent in the brick wall's demeanor. Though he'll use it as an excuse later. With the half-smile still, Everett continues to listen. his mood may diminish a little here or there, and he bobs his head once in agreement with her, Hera's security detail, being suspicious. Guy's with knuckle tattoos are used to that aspect.

For some reason though, it's her last word that has his composure cracking. A snorted exhale, a held in laugh. His shoulders tremble; clearly with freight -- what other reason could there be? "Actually," he holds up one of those thick fingers, "I'll be right back." Dismissing himself he runs, not walks to the bathroom, so the sounds of his laughter can be muffled, if not unheard.

Grace did have to disappear for a bit, but she is about now. Probably having had to go out with Winston, or just helping out at the restaurant some. "Sorry!" Is called out as she returns. Winston running in before flopping in the middle of the room, sliding on his back and waiting for scrathes. "Silly." Called out before looking to those around with a small smile on her lips.

Hera coughs a little as she's a bit dazed. That's not too unusual for someone in her state of mine. When he mentions glowstick she groans loudly, "Oh crap." she says, "Him too?!" Ev's unique remarks are almost a necessary ritual at this point. She does chuckle a little as she is able to catch Kim's retort, "Now that's a good one." She claims but she does to take a seat. "Whoa, getting out of the hospital and all it's, certainly something to get used to. Speaking of which, I'm hungry. What do you two want to eat? I'll order, you know I can't cook."

"Baka!" Kim says as the giant retreats and bathroom is probably far enough away she doesn't hear a any laughter. Uncrossing her arms when Grace comes back in and what with Hera's earlier comments about the dreams of the wrestler being taken, because you never know in this town. Kim rushes over to her trying to give her a pouncing tight hug to reassure herself that Grace is okay. "Grace-kun!" if allowed just holding her tightly for a bit. She did hear Hera and after looks over to her "Yeah I think him as well. Oh thanks if I had more time I would have thought of a better one." still a concerned look for Hera as she sits "I do hope you never have to get used to it. Eat? Eh...well pizza is good or BB...you know pizza sounds fanastic if that's what everyone else wants."

Grace does seem a bit lost as she look between the others, having just missed Ev. Smiling as Kim does hug her, offering a hug in return. Along with a snicker. "Are you okay?" Is asked as she studies her some. Looking to Hera. "That works." Want me to help with anything? Is asked and giving Kim a soft squeeze in the hug before letting go. Though if Kim stay there she does not seem to mind.

Hera looks over at the two and only assumes the kun is a bit of a term of endearment. "Well that's good, and I think we know what kind of pizza we prefer by now." She reaches for her phone and begins to scroll through a few things. "Oh!" she says, "I think I'm going to plan on doing an evening pottery class. If people come, great, but if they don't, no biggie."

Kim happily accepts the return hug. Eventually Kim does break the hug, though she most certainly doesn't want to. Grace is okay and sometimes a dream is just a dream. "I'm much better now. You are safe and sound that is all that matters. Just some things Hera said...well you know. Also I missed you." something in the look she gets from Grace makes her twirl her the ends of her hair. "You looks so great today. So radiant and..." she is about to gush as her cheeks redden. She just stops herself. She leans up to whisper something into Grace's ear. Hera is right it is a term of endearment one that Kim uses for only a handful of people "Yeah just plain is good or whatever. Are you sure that's a good idea? I just mean that if you feeling up to it? I'm not trying to tell you what to do."

Grace smiles and nods, "I might check it out." Grace offers. Seemingly growing fond of the added 'kun' and for now smile at them both. "I can try something with shrimps." Offered about pizza. "We had bbq last night." She offers before blushing some. Perhaps at something said by Kim. "Oh? Of course I am." A bit confused. Though studying Kim some at the whisper. "Interesting." She says and snickers. Whispering in turn and then moving away for a moment to hug Hera, "Feel good to be home?" Then moving back to where she was, near to Kim.

Hera grins as she watches her two friends, "Grace always, and I mean always, looks radiant. It's hard to see her any other way and that was /before/ I got my eyes fixed ya know?" It might be hard to understand what she means by having her eyes fixed but she assumes the two know what she means. Queso, the tabby gallery cat, hasn't come out yet but Hans, the dedicated German Shephard sits near his alpha. She pets him behind the ears again and asks, "Shrimp? On pizza?"

Kim considers the suggestion for pizza "You know I've never shrimp on pizza. Could be interesting yeah let's go ahead." the comment on bbq gets a deeper blush from Kim. Not commenting nope. Seeing the confusion "Well Hera had some nightmares about you being kidnapped by awful people. I know it's silly I just got worried. Whatever is whispered to her has Kim smiling brightly. Waiting until Grace is back whispering back and ending with a kiss on the cheek. "Oh of course she always looks radiant...you know sometimes you just have remind people and...right the eye adjustment. No I didn't mean that way. Hai getting used to all this takes time huh?"

Grace giggles some and does do a bit of a pose before laughing more. "Thank you. So have you both been." About being radiant. Nodding about shrimp. "Indeed. Shrimp or prawn." Winston is also nearby. Slowly making his way into the shade. Or rather, hiding under the larger dog. Glancing around some as well. Starting to feel a bit too at home here perhaps. Nodding about the dream. "I am ok." She assures them both and does smile a bit.

There's a reason for gentle-natured Meredith Hartwell to be here. Honest. Word-of-mouth travels far and whether through her home daycare patrons or parents at the elementary school in which Merry works.. she has heard about this gallery. Tie in the fact that she is a peaceful creature with refined interests and... cripes, who could blame her? But why is she here?

Merry resembles someone from another era as she steps forth into the art gallery, her purse held taut and politely in front of her peacoat. Hair perfectly styled (but not in a snooty way), falling in a tidy, thick coil of braid well past her waist (must be a bitch to wash and dry), her slight application of makeup as polite and clean as her nature. Anyone who Glimmers may feel her before seeing her: a mental sense of calm and peace, as innocuous as a feather. (OOC: I am not used to +rolling yet, re: this. In a freeform approach I leave it entirely up to those who can sense/feel this to do so at their own discretion or pref. 🙂 .. no pressure.)

As the friends talk, Merry is That Person who walks into the gallery, to disrupt the flow! She blushes despite herself.. maybe it's the beauty of the art~

Hera gives a bit of an awkward look at the mention of shrimp or prawn. It's not a disgusted one but a glance that shows shrimp on pizza will definitely be new territory for the redhead. "Well, you only live once that you're aware of." She says, "So, either one." Hans just snuggles against his buddy and after a moment, he playfully licks at the little dog's hair. Grace obviously keeps the doggie well groomed.

Speaking of animals, Queso finally comes out from hiding. He looks in the direction of the newcomer and twitches his tail a bit. This causes Hera to look over and she says, "Oh hello, welcome. Please, walk around and enjoy yourself." She tries not to stare though. Just beginning to see a new 'glow' to life she smiles at the woman's peaceful aura. "Wow" she says. She then blinks and wonders if wow was the right thing to say. "Lovely hair style." She says, trying not to sound obvious.

Kim gives a deep and thoughtful sigh at the bit of posing by Grace. On reflex she leans her head against Grace's shoulder "That once you eat it, your hungry for more two hours later." she realizes she said that way louder than she meant to. Quickly covering her mouth with her hands and going crimson red. Taking a deep breathe through her hands and hey there is a distraction and maybe no one noticed. Taking her hand away from her mouth she gives a wave to Merry "I really love your peacoat. Super crisp!" yeah good recovery...not. And this person has that special shine...does everyone in town have it? "Hi I'm Kim." introducing herself despite her embarrassment.

Wow, he was in the bathroom guffawing for awhile. Don't ask.
'Cuz I'm not telling. Prolly steroids.

Remember that time the gigantic brick wall went into the bathroom to keep from laughing right in Kim's face and everybody forgot he was there?

The door's hip-checked open, Everett shaking his thick fingers while he re-enters the conversation, once again, already in progress. After the space of two steps he stops, the half-smile on his lips drops like a bad habit while his eyes focus on the body language between Kim and Grace. Handshaking resumes, his attention given down to the ground, while he heads towards the backpack he left on the ground and wipes his hands on his behind.

Upon being discovered in her super not-so-secret perusal of a gallery for 'Reasons', Merry freezes and turns toward the voice that greets her. Re: Merry, peaceful is right; not to be redundant, but that's the honest truth. There is not an ounce of threat or malice to her. But again, yes: Merry is but one of many lights in this strange place. Nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to the sketchiness of Gray Harbor. But now she's been acknowledged and the woman turns toward the voices that greet her so kindly. The compliment results in the sliding of her thumbs into the pockets of the dark gray coat, her lips curling up at their corners. "Ah, thank you," A little blush. She bought the heckin' thing from Amazon.

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, but-" How can she not overlook Everett's entrance?! She silences, waits.. she is in no rush.

Hera watches Queso for a moment and then turns her attention back to Meredity, "Interupt?" she asks, "I don't see how you are interupting anything Miss. Would you like something to drink? There's coffee, water, wine, things of that nature."

Kim breathes a deep sigh of relief no one seemed to notice, or they are being too polite. Well maybe Everett...oh yeah he is back and she didn't forget she just wished he melted into the wall. Her gaze shifts to the man giving him the sternest look she can muster. Which is to say not at all. Still he isn't harassing Hera yet and no one has bothered to tell her about Grace and Everett. Likely to Merry Kim glows, shimmers, or however she sees it. "You are very welcome. I do like old looks...but I guess you haven't seen it when I dress up. Oh you aren't interrupting anything." Hera is then playing hostess "I can get it if she wants anything." she is not about to let Hera overdo herself in anyway.

ANOTHER person's voice. It's so easy for Everett's brain to be a sudden thought, and then to have that thought expressed, in one way or another. "Jesus, this place is a chick magnet," he murmurs both deeply as is his voice, and darkly, as is his mood while giving a glance to a new, bright, face. Crouching down, Everett picks up the backpack and shoulders it with a practiced move and then his attention's on Kim.

Whatever humor he found in her is difficult to recover, his lips pursing towards his right, sizing the little woman down like. Like a Dyslexic starting at an English surprise test. A labored breath, a pained exhale, then Everett turns his attention on Hera. Before he comments he pulls his long hair from under the backpack's strap, the combs his hair over his shoulders with both hands. "Hey, glowfly," Everett forces a smile on his lips. "Something new about you. You freak out yet?"

Hera groans as Everett's classy rhetoric. After a long groan she rolls her eyes, "Your word choice could be better. I'm not a glowfly. Also, whether I freak out or not makes it absolutely none of your business." There's something about the man that irritates her, "Pizza will be up soon, I take it?"

Coffee... water... wait, wine? Meredith pauses as she worries at the bottommost buttons of her coat. Wine! Her blue eyes soften, "Oh, but you will have to put up with me for a much longer duration... I drove here. I can't be drinking and driving but..." Merry's old soul gaze roves her immediate surroundings, "A place like this calls for wine... so classy, so much to see...."
She reads between the lines though... there is something about the lovely Hera that speaks along the lines of 'take care'. She has no way of knowing of the proprietor's plight; of how her friends take such good care of her. Merry treads carefully. "A-ah... please, don't dote over me... I could do with a glass of wine but..." She knits her fingers around the strap of her purse. "My name is Meredith Hartwell.. it's a pleasure..." She trails off, watches Everett for a moment. As he speaks to Hera, Merry's soft eyes slide toard Kim, "Why not... I could do with a glass of wine... it's nice to meet you, Kim."

Kim sizes Everett right back. He is certainly bigger and stronger than her. More than likely more skilled in the strange stuff. Still it doesn't matter she has people she cares about to defend here. Not that he has been anything but polite, in his own way. She still keeps her eyes on him. "Everything about him could be better." she comments to Hera. At Meredith's seemingly sometimes similar awkwardness that mirror her own she does a slow shake of her head. "Alright one glass of wine is on it's way. When pizza gets here you are welcome to some as well...eh sorry I'm assuming that is okay. I hope you like shrimp on pizza it's a experiment for most of us." she goes to the bottles, finding a glass and returning with the weaker of the wines. Meredith did say she has to drive after all.

Good. She didn't hear him call her a worm.

From the right corner of his mouth, Everett smiles softly if fleetingly, "Would glowstick be better? But by any other name, would a rose smell as sweet?" He offers a shrug of his large shoulder on which the backpack is on. With a glance from Hera to Kim to catch her making love-eyes (not so much) at him and back again. "Fine," his army green eyes don't roll as they do lift skywards and he abruptly turns around. His attempts to reach out, again, have been rebuffed and he has somewhere to be. And a brooding espy of Meredith on his way to do exactly that.

Hera shakes her head ad says, "You have much to learn in the ways of charming words." But, she's sleepy and she looks over at the door leading to her apartment. "I, think I need to go rest, tons of excitement, definitely tons. Please, just stay here and enjoy yourselves. There's white, red, and rose wines as you need." She pets Hans before moving to go on up, "You can stay down here boy." With that, she's up and getting ready for sleep

The young teacher watches Everett as he passes her by, blue eyes not leaving his person as he in-turn gives her a glance. Is he brooding? Is he? Hard to tell what Merry discerns, but her slender arms shift that tiny bit more to further enmesh her fingertips into her pockets. Hera's departure from the gathering is noted immediately and Merry watches her go, brow furrowing. She is just about to bid Kim to not worry about her but then she can't help herself. "Is.. everything alright? She seemed strained.. I was going to inquire on some pieces here, but that can wait..." No opinion re: shrimp on pizza. That is an.. in the moment experience. "I can come back."

Kim sighs she isn't being fair to Everett. She gives other people chances and tries to be open minded. The SJW in her wouldn't allow it. She looks up to him "I am sorry. Just I don't know your reasons for harassing Hera. I mean the second time I saw you I only saw your ass. Which if I wasn't gay before I could be after..." she winces at her own words "Sorry, sorry am I not giving you a fair chance. I am Kim Nakamura." she extends her hand to the tall man, in peace offering." tilting her head to address Meredith "Hera has had a hard time lately. I am sure you can appreciate it from whenever you first got that glow." Kim really has no other to explain it being very new to this. "Sorry if I am breaking Etiquette with that comment. But can't you feel the power here?"

Therefore.. why Merry is blushing so readily, despite herself: "Of course.." Spoken in a near-whisper. Meredith does not elaborate but her eyes say it all. Power. It's everywhere, all those different 'types'. It's an intoxicating combination, paired with art. "Please, there is no need to worry about etiquette.. not here, not with me-" She smiles openly to Kim and also to Everett, her eyes kind. "Listen, let Hera rest," The woman's name rolls easily off of her tongue. "I can return another day when she is well. I am local, and close," Obvs. "... and it would be a pleasure to return here when things are in better sorts. Raincheque on the wine."

She wants to offer to help in whatever way she can.. even if she does not know these people. THIS comes from the place, deep in her mind that glows. "Take good care of your friend." Another gentle smile to Kim as she buttons her coat, and a bowing of her head to Everett -- so old-fashioned but it suits her -- "... take care." And turning on a heel, she is off.