2020-03-03 - Bookstore Society

Marianna had been out of town for a little while and was just getting back. Part of her routine was visiting the places she had liked to come to before. Bookstores of any sort had always been a guilty pleasure of hers. Opening the door the tall Latina woman stepped inside pausing long enough to wipe the snow and mud from her bok and shake her hair out of her coat before starting to idly walk down the rows of books.

The weather was starting to get a little better during the day -still rather cold but the wind chill was lessening. Not that it affected Kip much in any case. This was like a beautiful spring day compared to what she'd be dealing with if she was still in Russia right now. She's browsing the bookstore because she's procrastinating on side-job hunting. Her wandering as led her nearer to the portion of the first level store that deals with science fiction. She's been eyeing the sign for the second level but hasn't made her way up there quite yet. Her attire is simple, as it usually tends to be, a pair of light blue jeans with a lavender long-sleeved shirt and black, fur-lined boots. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail.

Hearing the door open, Kip peeked around the corner and offered up a smile towards the woman she didn't recognized. "Good morning." Her accent is heavy and very Russian.

"Good Morning" she responded even as she turned to face the woman that had spoken, the accent surprising her. She offered up a friendly smile in return, expression curious. She was dressed in scrubs, the tye normall seen in hospitals or other medicals fields, her long back hair was pulled back into a braid to keep it out of her way. She made her way over to the unknown woman holding out a hand. "Marianna."

Kip gave the woman a quick once over and then returned the hand shake. She is a good handful of inches shorter than Marianna which is rather evident now that they are next to each other. An easy smile is flashed. "Kapitsa. Kip if you'd rather." She offers. "What brings you to the bookstore today?"

"Kapista," She tried the first name but managed it a bit, not at all used tot he language or the accent. She gave the young woman a smile. It is nice to meet you, Kip." She looked around, still smiling and lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "I have always had a love of bookstores. I thought I would stop in and see if anything caught my interest before I headed into work. What about you?"

Mud and muck kicked off before entering, Thewlis ducks a little as he steps in. Not for an issue of height, but more for how often looks go to opening doors and the attention that follows it. Turning quickly and moving into the store the handyman's hands are shoved in coat pockets. He doesn't head for any sort of literature like biographies, sci-fi, fantasy, home and lifestyle... No he goes straight for an area with a tab reading 'Cryptozoology'.

Kip smiled at the name attempt - it was a decent one at least! "Nice to meet you too Marianna." Even as her gaze shifted past the woman to spot Thewlis coming in. "Good morning Thewlis!" She called after him rather cheerily - mostly proud that she remembered his name.

Looking back up at Mariana. "Procrastination primarily. But also I am looking for some new books to read to help me with the English reading." Kip explained. "What do you do for work?"

Marianna half-turned as Thewlis came into the bookstore looking at him curiously and lifting a hand in a friendly wave before looking back at Kip. "I work as a Physical Therapist. and yourself?"

It's cold. the local graffiti expressionist not vandal, thankyouverymuch, pushes the door open with a da-ding of the bell. Taking a deep breath the violet haired skater in the knit cap shivers taking the hand off and tapping his shoes against the door frame murmuring "Holy fuckballs it's cold." The back is slid off his shoulder and is about to ask Kip a question before an eyebrow pops up. His hand flaps and he signs to Thewlis rather than speak <<Hey, neighbour>>

Attention, as feared, being called to and looked at, Thewlis's face reddens and he looks down at the floor for a moment, not sure what to do as he shuffles foot to foot. His passage to books on Cryptids halted to go and be polite. Eyes on his feet the whole way, looking up only momentarily "Kapitsa " nodding to her, "Miss." offered to Marianna. His hands move immediately when Grant appears, offer a weak smile while 'speaking' <<Hello, been a while - how have you been?>>

Kip gives a touch of a sympathetic smile, "I hope you are doing well." She looks towards Grant as he enters - another new face! A smile and a, "Good morning," of greeting is given to him as well.

Back up to Marianna, "Physical Therapist? That is an interesting job! I am a paranormal investigator. Though I am also looking for a part time work. Which is what I am procrastinating on." She admits with a chuckle.

She turned her attention tot he door once again as someone entered looking curiously at the violet haired young man. She watched his fingers as they moved and turned her attention to Thewlis to see what he did. She could tell that they were communicating but not what they were saying. When Kip addressed her she turned her attention back tot he young woman. " it is not easy work, but it is rewarding."She smiled. the smile fading a bit, being replaced by a look of curiosity when she explained she was a paranormal investigator. "Paranormal investigator. How does one come to be in that sort of profession?"

Grant pops a look up to Marianna, "Get nosy. Don't die." How to be an investigator:101. The easy smile suggests either he means no harm by it or he woke up not long ago, or hasn't slept yet. The body language back to Thewlis suggests a rough time but he's alive. Whatever his fingers are signing back <<Really? Bad-ish. Right now? Better. I've been getting help. Hade a date by accident. Went alright! How you? How's the Theatre?>> Adjusting his backpack on his shoulder he verbally answers as to not be a total dick, "Been... alright. how's the theatre?"

"I am, thanks." Thew admits and quiets when Marianna and her conversation continues, head tilting to the side, and giving a grimace to how Grant describes one becomes an investigator. I mean... Not wrong. Signing back to Grant in rapid order.

<<How do you have a date by accident? And... I assume bad because of -that- night?>> Thew looks pointedly at Grant. He should know the night. A lot of them should know it.

"Accurate." Kip offered to Grant's answer and then chuckled again - answering Marianna herself. "I have always been interested in the paranormal. I didn't quite want a conventional job so I just..pursued exploring places that were supposed to be haunted." A light shrug of her shoulders. "But as I told someone the other day. Passionate and interesting work does not often pay the bills...so I am looking for interesting and steady." Pick a book up off the shelf that caught her eye. "I am on call for an investigating team based in Seattle. So I need something flexible."

The look she gave Grant was one of brief confusion and then amusement, as both Kip and Thewlis seemed to agree with his answer. "Are all of you paranormal investigators then?" it seemed like a good question as they had all answered her in a similar fashion. She looked at Kip. "Do you have any medical knowledge? I know the hospitals are always looking for volunteers and nurses aides."

Another restless sleep gave Kyle all the reason he needed to visit the book store. He had been up in the air even though it was cold and dressed for it. With a heavy looking black bomber coat and thick gloves, Kyle entered the building.
His eyes followed the signs which told him upstairs was his destination but eyed the small gathering.
"Morning all, hope the weather has been treating you fair."

Grant signs to Thewlis, <<Got possessed. Haven't really slept since... yeah that weird night. not on my own.>> Though the skater admits a smile and says, "Yeah kinda by accident." He blinks and looks to Marianna, "I...do... and you cannot pay me enough to go near the hospital. I have to go by there enough as it is." nopenopenoping on out of that. Arching an eyebrow he signs as he speaks "Don't have to investigate. Just live here long enough." Looking to Kip he asks, "Looking for Elias. " His fingers do the busy work as he talks, "Have some drawings we talked about for him."

<<What the hell possessed you?>> Thew continues to sign to Grant , answering Marianna's question "I run... muh-mo-moo-hoo-mov." he stops and sighs before trying again, "Thu-theater." letting that hang there. When Grant says 'live here long enough' he looks to Marianna and points to the skater kid before he turns to Kyle's greeting, brows raising a little higher.

The door to the book shop is pushed open, admitting cold air and a small woman. Others not seeming so concerned, she was most definitely better dressed for the weather. The look on her face was easily read that she still seemed uncomfortable. Leaving the house was awful. Always.

People? Not as important to her. Briefest glances, no one she knew... Well, maybe the Grant dude gets a longer stare, probably seen him with Sparrow. Also Thewlis, since the Jello event shenanigans. Either way, Abitha's heading on to the front counter to harass the employees about something.

"Mm no. No medical training aside knowing how to put on a band-aid." Kip chuckled. "I will need to look online later maybe. Or the newspaper...or help wanted signs." A light shrug of her shoulders. Her gaze is cast towards Kyle when he enters and in response to his greeting is a very matter-of-fact, "Any weather is better than Russian winter weather."

Her head tilts slightly, looking to Grant. "Is Elias the owner?" Her brow quirks. "I do not believe I have met him. What kind of drawings do you do?" She spots another person coming in now, "The bookstore is a popular place it seems. That is a good thing."

She was really starting to feel far out of her depth in this conversation. She blinked slowly. "I was born and raised here but I have been upstate for a while, just coming home now." Grant's comment about not being paid enough to go near the hospital caught her attention and she looked at him curiously. As Kyle came in she blinked and then for the first time really smiled. Here was someone she was at least peripherally aware of. "Hello, Kyle. Still flying?" Abitha gets a curious look as the woman walks by, but she turned her attention back tot the group she had been talking with.

Grant looks to Thewlis very curiously His hand not signing but rubbing at the back of his neck nervously. Slowly he's clearly asking for something and it's a bit uncomfortable. <<Thewlis, how you know about that night? I need to talk to you about that. Important.>> There's a pause and Marianna gets a full stop pause. He looks at her and asks, "Why?"One hand pulling from his forehead in a 'Y' hand. He looks back to Kyle and upnods and then back to Marianna and Thewlis curiously, definitely cautiously.

Determined not to let this be the mood of his morning he tries best he can to answer Kip. "Yeah he up. Runs... shop. here. Writes on weridness. Town too. Came to see what he knew about... the town turning people into... ghosts actually." This gets the 'movie theatre owner' a long look and an arched eyebrow.

"As often as I can Mari, as often as I can. Back home?" He smiled with a bit of concern mixed in. "Ah my manners, I am Kyle, nice to meet you all." He looks about considering the amount of people.
"Maybe they have a flash sale or something. Either way considering the town I am rarely surprised to find so many people in a book store. At least it is warm in here." He chuckled lightly.

Returning Grant's look, brow knitting <<"Can talk later about it. But I woke up around 2 am.">> Thew manages to keep his eyes off of the floor long enough to look back to Kip. "If yo-yuh-you need. I'm hi-h-h-hiring." long tall and spooky shrugs a little, hands still in his pockets. "It's... attendant... b-b-b-box office. Nu-nu-nothing gl-glamours... But its w-w-wuh-work th-that pays?"

"Why what?" She looked at Grant and blinked her soft brown eyes slowly. "Why did I leave or why did I come back, or why am I asking so many questions, or..." she just sort of dropped the line of questions there. She smiled a bit at Kyle. "No one can avoid home forever, right?"

Grant has his attention between the woman asking the billionty questions, one of which was apparently is more concerning for whatever reason than the others. Looking to Thewlis there's a slow nod. Abitha, showing up to the counter gets the smallest curl of a smile and he greets her <<Hey. What's up?>> It's Marianna he answers though. There's a pause and trying to figure out while signing "Why... did they send you upstate?" The sigh he uses for that , however for those who follow ASL is the sign hospital. "Why wouldn't people in this town be in a book store?"

Kip looks entirely intrigued about there being people turned in to ghosts. "People turning in to ghosts?" She shifts a bit to get a better view of those gathered. "We should talk more about that. I am always happy to assist with strange matters." A smile lights her features at Thewlis' mention of a box office attendant. "Does it come with the perk of discounted or free movie viewings? Well, even if it doesn't - I would be open to doing that if you would have me."

She looks briefly between Grant and Marianna, brow quirked. Surely she had no idea what 'upstate' Washington would be so important. A thoughtful noise is made as she looks over the book she has picked up - some kind of space opera type deal. She was listening closely though - curious if any hints about this 'upstate' thing would be revealed.

"Hero With a Thousand Faces... No, it's nonfiction... No, not Sabbah... Joseph Campbell..." It doesn't seem to be going well for Abitha as the poor clerk can't seem to locate her book and the little gamer was clearly in a mood. At least that's what one would assume from her serious case of RBF and her monotonous tone.

Truthfully, this was just the process, even if it was annoying. She had a brick and mortar business, so she tried to shop local too. Another glance is paid the chatters, maybe wondering why people came to a book store to talk instead of read.

Grant's greeting get a blank look, finally, a slow blink, which she responds, "No ah-bleh..." With some random waves of her hand, the mix of bad Spanish and not knowing shit about ASL probably a little flippant, but no one ever accused Abitha of being proper.

Then her face actually lights up as her book is passed over the counter and all is well. She pays for the purchase with an actual smile on her face.

She started at Grant for a long moment as if she were trying to figure out the significance he was putting in the upstate. she couldn't understand ASL, but it was in his tone, and she eventually caught on to it, resisting the urge to facepalm. "No one sent me upstate I just needed to not be in town for a while. I need to get my mother settled in a care facility in Seattle. I just... I just needed a bit of a vacation I guess. "

Too much going on, too many people talking. Thewlis manages to hold onto himself, and in spite of seeming rude - focuses on Kip. "Yu-yeah... Crew get t-t-t-to see the muh-movies free. Free drink wh-wh-hen you du-do." a half smile, nervous, and he is looking down again, brow knit. "J-just need to get pa-pa-p-hayyy-perwork done... All set eh?" eyes on the floor, brow knitted, taking deep breaths.

"How is your mother doing Mari? Do you still have my number?" He smiles to her before he also replied to Grant. "It is never a surprise to find people in a book store, it's usually a surprise finding a bunch of people chatting in a book store and not reading." He shifted where he was standing to move beside Marianna.

She looked at Kyle as he moved closer to her, giving him more of a smile then she had any of the others. "She is doing okay, all things considered, the stroke was a pretty bad one though, not that any stroke is a good one. Julia, of course, is no help at all, so I ave been trying to handle it on my own." She nodded. "I still have your number, do you still have mine?"

Kip looked up from her book, having still been tuned in to all the talk. "That sounds perfect then Thewlis." Focusing on the man for a moment. " Perhaps I will come by later today if you want? Or whenever you would need me next? I can really start whenever." She offered him another easy smile.

There was a curious look towards Abitha again and the book she got to which she adds, "Which book did you get?"

Grant looks entirely confused by this concept, "Bookstores are for buying books. Libraries are for reading them." He is however getting nosy, idly, with what Abitha is scooping up today. He looks back up to Marianna trying to follow what's going on now that there's a lot of cross talk falling quiet giving the woman a vague nod of 'sure, yeah' but commenting no further.

The skater peels off the front counter to go worm past where Thewlis is to go book hunting on his own. Palm of his hand rubs at one eyebrow trying to focus long enough to find a damn book on ghosts apparently. His hand pats the dude's sleeve while the hunt continues.

"As s-s-s-suh-hoon as you'd like to start. Get e-eh-verything set up." Thewlis bows his head and nods, then looking to Grant when he moves past, backing up to give space. He has his bearings again though. No longer growing more and more flustered with so much less attention on him.

He chuckles as he looks the his fiery friend. "Yes, sadly I missed a bunch of texted from my family, maybe I should keep the thing on." He shook his head. "But in all seriousness if something comes up and you need to get to Sesttle, you have priority seating. Just call. I promise."

She seemed to calm a little as Grant walked away from her, the slight frown and narrowed eyed fading from her features, so by the time she had turned back to kyle she was able to offer him another of those small smiles. "hopefully you are not into too much trouble with your family for missing text messages. "She paused. "And thank you, Kyle. That means a lot. I won't take advantage of the offer."

"Perfect . Then I will stop to get papers today and bring everything tomorrow." Kip.confirmed. "I should get going though. A few things to handle this morning first." Kip flashed a final smile and then headed to the counter to pay for her book.

"I'll have e-eh-heh-everything ready." Thewlis says as Kip moves off, and then he is looking about his general area again. To see who all is still near him, that he was rude to to keep his senses in check. Swallowing hard and actually offering polite apologies to anyone seen.

Grant hunts down finally a book that doesn't seem like it'll be helpful. Curious he looks up and asks Thewlis, "Can you get me into the Cemetery after 6? I think I need to try something. Dunno yet. I mean... I can get in. I got things to do." He signs the part where he takes on <<Rather not be arrested>> There's a shrug and he taps the book in his fingers but in the end puts that one back.

She lifted a hand and gave a polite wave to Thewlis, and then falls silently listening to Grant as she asks about getting into the graveyard and having something to do. from her expression, it is clear she is wondering if she should be hearing this or if she would be better off just being oblivious to whatever the young man is planning. She turned and looks at Kyle ."Were you looking for something in particular?"

Quiet and ignorant. Literally she may have just tuned out all noise around her for a staggering amount of time as she had already dug about twenty pages into her book she had just purchased. Suddenly, her eyes flit up just as she was shifting her weight from one foot to another. It seemed she just realized, by being uncomfortably standing, that this probably wasn't the best place to just stand and read. She looks around a little bewildered, snapping the pages shut, as if wondering if she should go, or... had she offended anyone?

Best not to wonder. She takes slow steps towards the door to the shop. The conversating folk were like T-Rex's. They hunted by movement.

"I was going to look into a book about understanding dreams. You know how it is, at least it's not flash backs this time. I was about to head upstairs but saw you over here." He offered a smile but looked a bit tired. "I am still doing my runs, how about yourself?"

Things quiet around him, Thew signs quickly to Grant as he starts for the door, too much to go book hunting now, <<"We'll talk later, ok?">> Not giving time before he is shuffling towards the door quickly, head down.

"You look exhausted." she hadn't noticed it at first, not with the other people around them, and the purple-haired man asking her about being upstate as if it had been a big deal, but she could see it now, how he looked almost ready to just fall over. her expression was sympathetic when he mentioned that the dreams were at least not flashbacks. "I am still working at the hospital as a physical Therapist." She tilted her head. "I can go upstairs with you, but have you tried massage as a way to sleep better?"

He groaned. "Just the idea of a massage sounds divine. Still I do want to head up and find a book. Did you have anyone you wanted to recommend I call or did you happen to have a cancellation that I can take advantage of?" He laughed and actually apologized for the groan to people nearby.

"I have a cancellation later in the pay, toward the end of my shift. If you like I can call you, or send you a text when my last patient leaves and you can stop by?" She should at some point let her sister know she was back in town too.

Grant looks to Abitha and points, "Chairs upstairs." Helpful!. he comments idly, to Marianna, "Well that's what happens when you can't-" Oh HIIIIM. he shifts his weight to one foot and asks Kyle bluntly, but curious, "What's keeping you up?" He shifts a look to Thewlis, pauses, and nods before looking back.

He nods to Mari's question. "Please, I would truly appreciate it." When he heard Grant call out, his attention shifted to the man still with a warm smile on his face. "Recently I had a dream of a place I have been to before, the feeling of a presence and just generally... that something more is there. I was going to taking a hiking trip but having the same place come to mind over and over gave me a sense of malice. Haven't really been able to shake it."

She fell silent looking between the two men her expression curious.

Called out! Abitha freezes to the spot and slowly turns her head toward Grant. Sheepishly, she answers, "Oh, uh... Ok..." Glancing around, she wonders curiously if she'd ever actually been upstairs. She had been about to just slink off home, but social pressure was a bitch to awkward people, so the game store owner just does her best to find her way- Ooo, spiral staircase... -upstairs and into the lounge area.

Her brows furrow. Occult section. How had she never been up here? This was exactly her interests... Oh right, because she obsessively researched and picked her purchases before ever coming to the shop and only harassed the front desk. She eyes a chair warily, then flops into it with abandon, opening her book back up.

Grant shakes his head and cracks a half grin, tired, but not unfriendly to Kyle, "Well if it's the sound of buzz saws keeping you awake you ... ain't a lone." Looking to Marianna he says, "I hope your ma recovers." As a last ditch effort he pulls a black hardcover sketchbook out of his backpack and gives it to the desk jockey. "For Elias when he gets in. I'll let him know it's here." Looking too Abitha in passing he says, "I have to go see a guy about a ghost. Maybe you, Sparrow and I can do lunch later." This is concluding his needs for the morning stop.

He nods to Grant and lifted his cell phone as a response. "I know what you mean, I'd say it's something in the water but I was out of town and still effected. Got to love having a long standing tie with this town. You look like you could use some rest as well. Hope to see you around." He waves before looking to Mari with a her curious expression. "Oh don't you give me that look... fine I will tell you when I come in for the session. Unless you want to make a house call." He laughs.

"Just come by the shop! I'll cook." Abitha would have commented to Grant's remark about lunch. Yaknow. Polite-like. Honestly, it was probably the easiest place to catch both of them at a time. They'd make Kyle.... The other Kyle... man the desk.

Marianna has deleted their pose: As Grant turned and left she looked at Kyle. I should be going as well. I will call you later, and you can tell me about your dreams." reaching out she gave his shoulder a light squeeze before heading out the door herself.

"I look forward to it. See you soon." He smiled at the touch before bounding up the stairs to locate a book on dreams.