2020-02-25 - OG Flash Gordon Only

This late February afternoon finds August in the hardware store, picking up a load of fencing, a selection of hammers, fasteners, and screws, and several tarps. More than a few of the allotment gardeners have put in requests for supplies to make shelters, and after pooling some money together, August is getting the shopping done. He's moving a bit stiff, and looks scratches up; he seems to be recovering from a hell of a beating of some sort of another. He's got his phone out and is consulting a shopping app, and is dressed in a flannel, black, turtleneck sweater, denim jeans, and his heavy hiking boots.

A Tuesday afternoon, then, in late February. Harper enters the hardware store from the overcast afternoon with a little bell ringing when the door is opened. She's dressed in a pair of olive green cargo pants, a navy hoodie with a New York Rangers logo, and a fluffy coil of green and orange scarf wound loosely around her neck. She waves a friendly greeting to whoever is behind the counter and starts wandering the aisles with dogged determination to complete the task at hand with a certain autonomy.

Thew arrives, head down, hands in his pockets, leaning to hold the door with his shoulder to hold it open for Jade, giving her a small smile as he does so. His eyes are down otherwise, not looking around just yet until they're in and moving in the aisles

Jade passes Thewlis with a return smile, reaching up to give his forearm a small squeeze before stepping inside and moving towards the aisle that holds the screwdriver sets. She's perusing the sets of tiny screwdrivers, looking from one to another, calling out, "Hey Thew! What all did we need today?"

August glances up from contemplating his shopping list when he sees Harper, gives her a smile and an up-nod. He's been in the library a time or two, usually requesting something esoteric on interlibrary loan. He hears Jade, and as she calls out to Thewlis, sees Thewlis as a result, makes his way over towards him, pushing the small shopping cart in front of him. "Hey," he says, signing as he speaks. "How's it going?"

Harper smiles at August as she moves past him while he checks his phone. It's safe to say that the librarian is at least visually familiar with the demographic of Gray Harbor that makes use of borrowed books, reference materials, and the town's slowest computers. She turns down an aisle that has a variety of fasteners and binders for small items like, say, bunches of cords.

Blinking at the sign of August, Thew gives a half-grin before signing back, 'It's going well, need to grab a few things for the Theater and home. How are you?' watching his hands as he calls out after Jade.

Thewlis says, "Stu-st-st-string luh-luh-lighting cord, tuh-ten pennies, brads, du-huh-huct tape..." he frowns in thought, "Suh-Sander disks..." he pulls out a pair of reading glasses and a note-pad list, lips drawing into a line."

"Okay! I'll start with the nails and brads if you want to get the cord and duct tape, we can meet at the sander disks and I need to get some copper wiring and insulation cord!" Jade calls back with a smile towards Thewlis, pausing to wave towards August before she ducks back into the aisles to start hunting ten-penny nails and brads. Slipping past Harper with a smile and a murmured, "Afternoon."

Stefhan comes in wearing a dark coat to help shield him from the winter weather. Yes, it's that annoying time of the year and maybe even more annoying that the computer businessman needs more and more supplies. Fortunately, he remembered to check things out during business hours. When he comes inside though, most people are not familiar to him though he offers a wave to Thewlis. He waits to be served though, already there might be a bit of a line.

This one. No, that one. Or maybe this other one. Harper inspects the packaging of some plastic zipties to tame her jungle of computer-related cords. She makes her choice and then moves further down the aisle to regard the rainbow colors of available electrical tape. Looking up as Jade passes by, she offers an amiable, "Good afternoon." She watches after the other woman for a few moments: there's something admirable about someone moving purposefully about a hardware store with a list of impressive sounding items. Maybe she should have brought someone to meet up with at the sander disks. The librarian sighs and picks out five colors of tape and slides them up one sweatshirt clad arm like clunky bracelets. Surely there was something else she intended to pick up. She meanders a bit. Hammers. Paintbrushes. Keys. And a mindboggling assortment of bolts and washers. It's enough to make a person wish they were more handy.

"Eh," August says, shrugging as he signs, then promptly wincing because that aggravates something. He waves a hand in a so-so motion. "It's been a rough couple of weeks." Indeed, he looks like he use a vacation somewhere sunny, mild, and warm, even though he might not like it all that much (PNW native that he is).

Spying a length of extension cord he needs, he leans over, tosses it into the little shopping cart. He watches Stefhan come in, looks askance at Thewlis and signs, 'He owns <pause> the computer shop?'

'Yes, I went into his shop once... Lot of tech talk, I don't understand a lot of it I admit.' Thew signs back, keeping an eye out for some of the items he was to be looking for. Something causes his brow to knit and his head ducks slightly, frowning. He pauses, looking around and then back to August, signing again, 'Sorry. Headache.'

Stefhan purses his lips for a bit and asks whoever is close, hopefully a staffer of some sort, for the items he's noted. "Do you happen to have any O-Ring Switch Dampeners 50A - 0.4mm Reduction? A client of mine seems to hate the extra noise in the more expensive keyboards. Oh yes, then velcro type cable ties? I just can't stand it when my wires get crossed more than I would like and, clorox wipes are always helpful. A messy place is a horrible place." But that's just the top of the list as he continues, "And air conditioning filters, yes I need some of those, pentair union o-rings too, I need a new pack of mini screwdrivers." Hopefully the employee or whoever is taking pity on him hasn't walked away in fear yet.

Skirting around down the end of an aisle back toward the front counter and somewhere near where Stefhan is making his inquiries and August and Thewlis are having a fascinating signed conversation, Harper slows her steps and flickers her gaze from the pair to the computer expert and back again. Unabashedly watching.

Gathering up the nails and brads, Jade glances towards the front of the store every so often, generally with a warm smile for the man at the front, with his list and his glasses still perched on his nose. Once her items are collected, she starts getting the others since Thewlis is chatting with August. She gathers up the cords and tape, staying a moment to ponder over color before picking out a few different types. Then she's moving back towards the front to get a basket to put everything into since her arms are getting full. On her way, she calls over to Stefan, "O rings and dampeners are Aisle 4, cable ties of all kind are aisle 1 next to the duct tape. Mini screwdrivers are aisle 2. Can't help you with the filters though." Then she's dumping everything into a backet and hefting it up, moving towards Thewlis to dot a kiss to his cheek and offers a smile and nod towards August. "Hello." And then she's off again! Braving the hardware store for supplies.

Fortunately the hardware employees are more than happy to help fill out random lists of odds and ends. Really, it's what Munroe Sisters' specializes in. A young man nods at Stefhan and guides him to the AC and heating filters. The velcro ties (along with good old zipties and cable sleeves, the later of which have a small, handmade sign that reads GREAT FOR DETERRING BAD CATS!!) are in the same aisle August and Thewlis are currently occupying, along with various kinds of electrical cords, and so on.

"Yeah I wouldn't understand it either," August asides to Thewlis. He shrugs about that. "I had to learn a little programming to do some of my work, but I'm no computer person."

Stefhan looks a bit relieved as both Jade and the employees offer assistance. "Always a need to find more supplies, and the Clorox wipes." he stresses, "I need many many Clorox wipes." Hopefully there's a buggy or something and he starts to walk in the direction of the various items he needs. Yes, the basket will likely fill up quick. "Oh!" he says, "Lightbulbs, many many lightbulbs. You can't fix a motherboard in the dark."

'I can work a PC but' Thew stops signing when Jade approaches to kiss his cheek, head ducking and blushing crimson for it, but with a grin on his face. 'But I'm all handiwork, really... can't build one of them or program. That would be Jade.' he turns to Harper next, managing to actually look at her before nodding, "H-hello muh-miss... Y'lo-luh-look lost?"

Harper is headed up toward the register with two handfuls of cord-ties and an armful of tape bracelets. She stops short when Thewlis addresses her and offers him an affable smile. "Thank you. I think I have what I need. But really, who knows? All those cords in my workspace need to be domesticated and taught to behave." She offers up a look at the particular items she has picked up. "Do you think these will show them?"

Jade moves back towards the sander disks, looking over the sizes and grains before picking out a few likely suspects. Moving along towards the wires, she starts pricing the larger spools, looking at thickness, lips pursing up. Deeply involved in this choice. She takes a few moments before finally selecting her wire and some accompanying insulating sleeves. "If you're looking for cord management you want zipties and a strong double-sided tape or adhesive to keep them place. The zipties will only do part of the job, if the cords are still swinging free there's still an issue." Jade pokes her head up at the talk of cable management, grinning. "I can work up some nice cable porn for you if you want."

Indeed, the young man, name of Brett, has already fetched a cart and is trailing behind Stefhan, ready for him to need to empty his basket into it. August smiles at the kiss, unabashedly enjoying the sight of Thewlis blushing. He likes blushers, it's true. He nods at Jade, adds for Harper, "We don't have much of an office at the shop, but the sleeves work really well for keeping things tidy." He raises his eyebrows. "How's the library doing lately? You guys doing alright for donations?"

Stefhan seems relieved that someone is following him and offering assistance. Yup, big spender here, but that's what life is like when you are starting a business. "And ah yes, here are the Clorox wipes!" Neatness must be a sin, "Ok now, I know this isn't a place for office supplies per se." He asks Brett, "But there aren't any reams of paper for sale are there? It's hard to get through the weekend without it but actually." he says, "I think I may need to install a fan in one of the back rooms, do you have any of those? It's not summer, no, but I think it would give a certain area of the office a nice look and some of those computers run hott."

"Wh-whu-wuh-wuuuhhh..." Thewlis's brow knits, "Wuh... whuuhh..." a grunt now, "C-c-could tuh-try t-to... Desk, cu-cord channels..." that's all he gets out before his hand is resting on the back of his neck, frustrated and trying to hold all that in while the others talk freely.

"Sleeves," Harper echoes. "I think I missed the sleeves." She looks down at the cord ties in her hands and frowns. But August asks about the library, and talk about the library always improves the moment. "Things at the library are startlingly literary. With some forays into exposition. And of course, the occasional upsurge in research." She smiles at August. "You should come for another visit. My colleague is a fan." Of just what, Harper doesn't elaborate. "But you didn't hear that from me." She offers a tape-roll-braceleted hand. "Harper Price." Then she's distracted by Jade's input. "You would be particularly welcome into my secret lair if you felt like bringing that sort of porn to the basement of the library," she replies unapologetically. Donations. Back to August. "Donations are always welcome and there are a dozen different initiatives they could be applied to, depending on the donor's inclinations." Harper stops herself. She could elaborate on the library's mission statement and half-funded plans, but this is a hardware store and it's likely that people are being polite. She smiles a smile that sparkles behind her brown eyes. "Thanks for asking."

Moving back towards the aisle Thewlis and August are standing in, Jade sidles up to the cemetary caretaker and reaches up, pulling his hand away from his neck and giving it a squeeze. She smiles up at him and holds up the basket, "Did I miss anything? I know you had a pretty extensive list." There's a glance towards Stefhan and Brett, chuckling as the man continues to add to the list. "Sounds like you need a contractor at this point." Jade looks back up Thewlis, then over to Harper, smiling, "I'd be happy to. My mother is a librarian, I fully understand the need for cable management in such a situation. Especially when your equipment is old enough that too much movement can end in expensive repairs or replacements. A pause and then, "What sort of upgrades are you looking to make? I'm a fully registered electrical engineer. I would be happy to donate my time to making sure any upgrades to the wiring or computers is taken care of."

"Fans we have," Brett confirms. "Everything from little USB desk fans to big Vornado floor fans, and some wall-mount ones if that's what you need. Clorox wipes are," he dips down, grabs a container, "right here. Paper, unfortunately, we don't carry." He winces an apology. "We will in September, when school fires back up for the younger crew. I think someone mentioned the Hoquaim campus bookstore's a good place for office supplies."

Hearing Thewlis' struggle, August keeps signing anything he says. He blinks at Harper, tilts his head. "Yeah?" He seems surprised to hear that, nods. "Will do. I've got a few papers I wanted to have you request. Being an alumnus only gets me so much. And, you're welcome." He gives Jade a sidelong look, like he's stowing that tidbit of information away for future use.

Stefhan pulls out his list and surveys it. "Ah yes, very well." He says, "I think we are to the end of this for the most part. Sometimes I think I should get out more. I didn't necessarily realize that there is a hardware store in this city. Then again, I just realized that there is a theater here. All work and no play." He hears the mention of contractor and says, "Yes, those come, and then they go. Some I trust, some I'd rather not know."

"That's just it," Harper agrees with Jade. "Some of the equipment is older and the cords have taken on a sentient personality that is plotting my inevitable demise if I don't do something quite soon. I need to untangle it all and make it behave. And it would be helpful knowing which cord was attached to which piece of technology." Harper juggles the packages in her arms and pulls a business card from her purse to offer to Jade. "If you don't regret the offer later, give me a call." She casts a glance to the murmuring Tech-Guru, her smile lingering. The ongoing signing draws the librarian's fascinated attention once more, so she has to drag her gaze back up to August's face. "For now I'll get these things as a tide-over. I'll look forward to your next visit then, ... what was your name?"

'Can you tell her I don't mind donating some time, and I could help with some space management if she needs shelving or the like put in?' Thew signs to August, still looking embarrassed, chewing at his lower lip. His head goes back down when not speaking at first before looking to Jade, "Suh-so..sorry. I... Got caught up.. t-t-t-t-talking."

August blinks at Harper, shakes his head. "Sorry, ah, August." He offers his hand this time, looking abashed. "August Roen, I run the garden shop just outside of town." And the arborist business, but hopefully trees aren't a problem Harper runs into at the library much.

He nods to Thewlis, tips his head at him and says to Harper, "Thewlis here says he's happy to donate--time especially, if you need any work." A flick of his eyes to Stefhan. "Like he says, contractors can be iffy. Thew's a stand-up guy, though, I'll vouch for his work."

Shifting her own load around, Jade reaches out to take the business card with a smile, tucking it away and nodding to Harper, "I'll do that. I could stand to have a project to help with. Thewlis does most of the handymanning at the house so I really don't have to do much at all for the most part. And I'm happy to help out." She glances around and leans in with a stage whisper, "And my mom would stripe my hide if she found out I could have helped out a library and didn't." Smiling up at Thewlis, she shakes her head, "Its good that you did. I'm always happy to see you talking to other people, babe."

Stefhan pauses from looking over at his buggy of 'goodies' and catches the conversation his way, "Oh yes, the nice gentleman there definitely is. I've seen him at The Hub a time or two. The contractors I hired before well, some of them were good, some, I just don't know. Nothing has fallen apart yet, but that doesn't mean I'm not expecting it too." He then mutters a bit as if to ask himself, "This can't be it, yes? What else do I need?"

With a little creative juggling, Harper is able to hold out her hand to shake August's. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Roen." The garden shop just outside of town. Her eyes light up with recognition and her warm smile tips to something more curious. August translates for Thewlis and Harper turns her gaze to the man. "Nice to meet you, too, Thewlis. What an interesting name. And a generous offer." August can vouch. "And you have fans. I'll be happy to put you to work anytime you like. You and ... the lovely electrical engineer, here." Harper smiles, "Not to worry. I'll put a good word in for you with your mother through the super-secret librarian network, ..." She trails off, hoping for Jade's name as well.

"Jade Rivera." Jade offers with a grin before tilting her head towards Thewlis, "Thewlis Moore. He really is the best handyman. He also owns the Starlight Theater, and I get to be the projectionist!" She offers a hand out towards Harper with a chuckle, "I keep having to introduce myself and I keep forgetting that I have to do it. I've done it so much at this point I forget that people haven't met me yet! And I really appreciate that. She's in Seattle, shouldn't be too far to reach out." Chuckling, she smiles up at Thewlis, "You're so popular, Thew. I'm almost jealous." Winking, she looks back to August, "If you need any help with your computer, feel free to give me a holler. I overheard bits and pieces. I'm pretty good with them."

Thewlis blinks and blushes at the compliments and the interest, stepping behind Jade, looping his arms around her. "Its... English." leaning to kiss the top of Jade's head, "Nuh-named after... gr-g-great great" clamming up and using her a shield it seems

"Jade Rivera, Thewlis Moore, and August Roen. Who knew the hardware store was such an interesting place?" Harper listens to Jade tell of the theater. "Well, aren't you two quite the entrepreneurs. Cheers to that undertaking." Harper shakes Jade's hand as well and then just barely catches the packages between her hand and her body before they can topple to the floor; she nods. "The network is sometimes remarkably immediate, and at other times I swear it travels back in time to be conducted through the Library at Alexandria itself. Your mother will hear eventually, one way or the other." She straightens, "Well, I'd better buy these things and get going before it starts to rain again. Have a lovely afternoon, all of you." She pivots and heads for the register to pay for the items she picked up. Pleasantries are exchanged with the kid running the register.

"Well if you forgot something, we're not going anywhere," Brett assures Stefhan. "And you can always call to see if we've got it in stock."

August grunts in agreement with Stefhan. "Have to do a lot of our own work around the shop, when we can; this far from a major city, we're a little short for contractors to choose from." Though he's giving Thewlis and Jade looks like they might be getting some calls.

He cuts an amused look at Thewlis for his rising popularity, raises a hand in farewell to Harper. "Take care," he says.

Stefhan offers a polite smile to Brett and says, "Thank you Sir." he seems happy at the service then notes August's comment, "I believe that is the case. I also could have had worse but, there are better." When he hears the theater he shows a growing interest, "Ah yes, I was talking to a friend the other day who mentioned something about a cinema. I wonder what movies are playing lately. I'd love to see a nice show."

"Flash Gordon, Blade Runner... Grease on the Drive-In..." Thew manages without stuttering now, apparently able to manage talking movies it seems, he remains behind Jade, smiling down at her hair. "Some nuh-newer in a few wuh-wuh-wh-weeks."

Jade smiles at she listens to Thewlis talking about the movies playing at the theater currently. She looks towards Stefhan and grins, "Next up is Leprechaun in the drive-in, in honor of St. Patty's Day. Also Grabbers. And The Matchmaker for couples." She flashes a grin at Thew and looks back to Stefhan with a nod before looking to August. "What sort of contractor work are you looking to have done? I'm betting we can help out."

"It's a fantastic cinema," August adds, nodding at Thewlis. "He's done a great job, and anyways, Hollywood doesn't put out that much worth seeing anymore. Just as good watching an older film as a newer one." A flicker of something crosses his face, but he shakes his head to dispel it. He asides to Thewlis, signing only, 'You should show Screamers. Great little horror scifi flick, very underappreciated.'

'Very much so, the Sequel was garbage, but the suspense of the first, especially with the twist end, was good. Not easy to spy on the first viewing.' Thew sends back, blushing darker when he is complimented on how the movie house looks. "I... it... I th-thought it sh-sh-should look good... like the cl-c-classics"

Stefhan smiles at the mention of unique flicks and says, "Interesting. I don't think I have seen screamers. I will need to check that out at some point. Though, some of the classics are still worth mentioning. I wonder if they will ever do a new Flash Gordon?"

August swaps back to signing and speaking, shakes his head. "Yeah I never bother with sequels of nice little one-offs like that. The likelihood they'll be any good is," he pulls a face, lets that speak for itself. He grins, nods his approval. "You did a fantastic job. Ellie and I go all the time." He shrugs about the possibility of a new Flash Gordon, but says, "It's a nice little scifi piece about cyborgs, basically. It has a lot of the usual 'travel to a spot where we can get off of a fucked planet' tropes, but it's really much better written and acted than I'd have ever expected."

'I like the Flash Gordon myself, the Max Von Sydow with Brian Blessed. The new stuff that has been out has been hot garbage.' Thewlis signs back, not thinking if other people can follow his hand gestures... But you can't stutter when signing!

"The Timothy Dalton, Max Von Sydow version is the only version. Anything else is just a cheap knockoff." Jade tosses her own two cents in on the movie before looking up at Thewlis, "Hey babe, I'm gonna run to the thai place and get some food, you want your usual? I can meet you at the truck and we can cart everything off to the theater?"

August nods in agreement with Thewlis and Jade. "Sometimes films don't need a fancy coat of paint. Sometimes they do, and it's fine. But other times..." He shrugs, shakes his head. A glance at his phone for the time, and he says, "Should get back to the shop. Good to see you guys. If you want an allotment garden, let me know--I still have some left." A smile for a the gathered group, then August is off to the checkout counter with his shopping cart.

Stefhan has had all of this supplies checked out by now and everything seems organized. "Thank you again." He says and seems to be in the process of getting back to business as usual. "I do look forward to visiting the theater but, I need to check on the computers. Be well." He continues on with enough things to keep him busy for a while. Off to The Hub he goes!