2021-10-31 - A Very HOPE Halloween (And Two Cups of Rice)

Before the HOPE Centre became a community centre (is in the process of becoming a community centre) the three-storey red brick building on Spruce Street housed a derelict butcher's shop, at least a decade abandoned and its windows boarded up. Those windows are exposed once more, and in honour of the season they have been decorated with cheerful cardboard skulls in all kinds of styles; from Mexican sugar skull prints to skulls in top hats that could play lead guitar for Mötley Crüe (the skulls, not the top hats). It's all very provisional and amateurish, but maybe that's the point; everything at the centre is volunteer and donation based, after all, and pointedly not professional.

There aren't any rigidly scheduled plans for the day and the night. As with a lot of things that happen at HOPE, somebody said, "We should like, do something for Halloween", and someone else said, "I'll get the waffle iron going," and someone went, "I could do some face paint for the kids," and the snowball just kept rolling downhill from there.

Now there's people everywhere. Slightly better off people from the Oak and Maple area come down to help out. Boardwalk dwellers come over for the free food. Kids looking for fun activities. One of the bands in the basement desperately trying to sound like Nirvana back from the dead. Regular folks from the Spruce area -- mill workers, lumberyard workers, stopping in for coffee and a chat. If Bayside ends up sending a delegate or two, today might be framed as a still life; Gray Harbor in all its slightly derelict glory.

Of all the insane choices somebody might make, Ravn Abildgaard's been put in charge of the waffle iron. While a statement of confidence, no doubt, this is probably a very bad idea -- some people have no place in a kitchen, and the Dane is definitely one of them. He can't quite manage to turn the store bought waffle mix bad, but he's cheerfully turning out waffles that are a little dark around the edge, or a little too soft in the centre -- and what's worse, he doesn't seem bothered by it at all. (Why would he? As far as he's concerned, these aren't even real waffles, have you seen waffles, look, you Americans wouldn't know a waffle if it snuck up and bit your arse).

He greets people coming over to his table on the hunt for coffee and (not proper) waffles with his usual lopsided smile; anyone who knows him won't be surprised at all to find Ravn in a corner doing something or other like that, because the man does ever hate being the centre of attention. Fortunately, HOPE is the kind of self contained chaos that doesn't really need any one person to be in charge of anything.

Next to him is Denny; a tall, white-haired boardwalk dweller with a crew cut. The two men have hit it off just fine -- and no surprise. Denny talks a lot to anyone who will listen. He always talks about mermaids and things in the mist -- and a substantial part of Gray Harbor's residents don't write him off as crazy because this is indeed Gray Harbor, and Denny's not the only homeless guy around who's seen -- things -- in the fog every now and then.

Currently walking through the doors to the HOPE center is none other than the sassy lassie with the classy chassis, the horror hostess with the mostess, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark... or, at least, Perdita's dressed up like her, with the big bouffant wig, the dramatic eye make up and the ample... personality, all wrapped up in a low cut dress and a pair of stiletto heels.

She has a couple 2 liters of soda, and candy to hand out, in a reusable shopping bag in one hand and is carrying a stack of Hot n Ready Pizzas balanced atop the very convincing prosthetic chest she's wearing, since the dress just doesn't look right without huge... tracts of land.

"Hey Ravn, where do you want these?" she gestures vaguely toward the pizzas with her chin, but, well...

Sweet Retreat had sent ice cream and one of the seasonal wait staff with the portable cooler, it's on wheels, and several flavors of ice cream. The traditional favorites of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are there. Along with rocky road, raspberry sorbet, and mint chocolate chip. The person serving the ice cream is named Lisa and she's in college making her way. Just another Gray Harbor native.

Of course it wouldn't be a HOPE event without Kailey showing up for something. However this is Halloween and the woman is here in style. The dress she wears is black satin with red highlights. It falls down her ankles, but is split up one side to nearly her hip. Gauzy and see-through red fabric falls in billowy sleeves to her wrists where the dress ends in black cuffs with fake gemstones. Her long purple hair is done up in buns with long pigtail wig extensions in pink and purple. Center on her forehead is a painted upside down moon and her other makeup is elegant. The most notable thing being her red contact lenses. (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9b/cd/b6/9bcdb6fd3aa1e7f7a81f0182bef5a850.jpg). Though the image is slightly ruined by the black paint-splattered apron she wears over it.

Because Kailey is painting faces. She has managed to get most of the kids who have shown up, for now, and is sitting back as a little girl runs to show her daddy the rainbow tiger her face has become. They couldn't afford an actual costume this year, but now she had one. Taking a break she makes her way over to Ravn, several inches taller tonight in her heels than is normal. Kailey doesn't exactly like heels, but this is Halloween. "Hey there, chef. How's it going?" She is asking him as Perdita arrives.

Turning around she moves quickly to help the woman with her load. "Food table is over here," She says helpfully as she takes soda and candy bag lest they topple and explode. No one wants to clean up that mess.

Chris pulls up outside the HOPE event in one of the fire department's newer fire trucks. It's done up with Halloween decorations for the kids, featuring an assortment of skeletons, pumpkins, and black cats recently purchased from one of those pop-up holiday decoration stores.

The man himself pops out of the driver's seat with his department blue t-shirt, complete with a badge logo and overcoat, and his completely-unnecessary yellow hardhat. But, you know, it's for the kids. He carries a plastic decorative cauldron full of bags of candy to hand out, with a handy reminder about fire safety for the kids. No firebombing houses with their lights off, please!

Ravn has to do a double take at Perdita's tracts of land. He's not usually prone to measuring women like that but the difference is pronounced; gravity wants a word, too. Kailey's costume is no less extravagant, and really, at this point he's starting to feel like he should have put on blue jeans instead of black and claimed to be dressing up as Steve Jobs.

He grins approvingly at the rainbow tiger kid and then replies, "Any horisontal surface? We're not charging anything for food and treats tonight -- it's all donated, and to be honest, a lot of the people who'll be coming around have enough holes to put money in as it is."

Gray Harbor seems to have decided that when it comes to the community centre, Ravn is the man who knows what's up. He's not entirely comfortable with this idea himself, but what can you do (besides hide in the bathroom, a plan which occurs to him at frequent intervals).

He raises a hand to wave Chris over; another, recent conversation prompts an introduction. "Swanky helmet! Chris, come say hello to Perdita Leontes -- and to Kailey Holt. As it happens, you two might be related." Baxter meets Baxter.

"Hey, thanks! Love the dress, how long did those take?" she gestures to Kailey's odangos with a grin. Somehow, Perdita's even mimicking the voice pretty well. When she notices Ravn doing a double take, she just winks at the man before setting the pizzas down with a look of relief, shuffling the boxes about so that all the cheese pizzas are in one stack, while those for the carnivores are in another, adding the candy to the pile of candy others have already brought, and setting the sodas up so folks can enjoy. It's Halloween, if you're not eating greasy pizza, getting a sugar high from candy and corn syrupy drinks, what's the point, right?

"I wouldn't dream of charging for food and treats. Tricks, on the other hand..." she gives a saucy wink to Ravn.

"So... where do you want me?" she's clearly enjoying her time as the Mistress of the Dark and enjoying the Halloween season, the one time of the year where everyone's encouraged to be as over the top as she is in her day to day life. Chris gets a warm smile, "Pleased to meet you."

With a final check on the ice cream cooler, Everett nods twice to Lisa before he glances at his bare left wrist then returns his gaze from admiring his wrist hairs to the college girl. "I'll be back," he mentions without any sense of irony before the towering brute turns his attention towards the crowd, and from the cooler he wanders, putting his hands into his dark, knee torn jeans as he saunders towards and behind Kailey.
The Beast stalking Beauty.

The image of the tough biker is completed with the front-facing baby carrier strapped to the man's chest, it's various cords and pulleys tangle from beneath his black leather jacket. Additionally, the pale, red-headed baby stuck in the carrier has had the misfortune of being dressed as a pumpkin. Puffy, thin costume spilling from the arm and head holes without bstructing the young boy's vision. Or the suckling action on the pacifier in his mouth which has been made to resemble a pair of big, red, and kissable lips that the boy shows when he turns his head this way and that, looking without understanding.

When he gets behind her, the gorilla looms for a second to up-nod his chin to Ravn. Formal greetings. Then untucks his right hand to use to delicately uplift Kailey's chin, there-by tilting her head back and giving Everett somewhere to bend and lay a chaste kiss. He doesn't withdraw right away, murmuring, "I'll be back at the end. And keep this on, for now." Her chin is released to her own recognicance, his hand instead used to give Kailey a pat on her behind. Which causes Everett to both smirk with amusement, obviously and openly leer at where his hand had just been, and begin to turn away.

Kailey cannot help but beam at Perdita's compliment. Spinning around so the skirt spins out and the draped shawl do fun fluttering things. "It turned out better than I had hoped. I spent a week on it. I had a top that I could use and the rest was super easy. Oh, well, maybe not the hair. This took me about two hours tonight, with help," She says with a laugh.

A presence behind her has her turning towards the gorilla and smirks playfully up at him. "Hello, love," She purrs as his lips dip to meet hers. The kiss being returned in a lingering and sweet little Public Display of Affection. When they part and he comments on her costume she chuckles again. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be happy to help me out of it later," She says before turning to press a quick kiss to Quinten's brow. "Hi Squirt, keep daddy out of trouble okay?"

"MAAAAAaaaaa!" A toddler comes bolting on wobbly feet towards her. Kailey is distracted from Chris for a moment. Shooting him an apologetic smile.

The toddler is on a harness and a teenager is running after her, looking just a little panicked. Kailey's bare leg is grabbed by a sticky Morganna as her babysitter catches up. The mom just looks at the youth with amusement, bending to pick up the precocious one year old. Who is dressed as a black cat. Her face was even painted, but now it is all smudged with chocolate and cheese powder.

"Oh my goodness! Did you escape from Tandy? You goofy girl!" Kailey coos at her daughter, shooting Tandy a warm smile. "I warned you she is an escape artist."

Chris, along with a helpful but tragically nameless colleague, take a few minutes setting up a fun activity around the fire truck, which mostly includes setting up a folding table on the sidewalk in front of it and covering it with a black tablecloth and the candy-dispensing pumpkin. The pièces de résistance is a poster that features tips on avoiding a visit from GHFD on your Halloween and includes a helpful reference on determining a costumed ghost from a real one. As it turns out, Halloween candy falls right through incorporeal entities.

Once his responsibilities are finished, his coworker remains at the booth to pass out goodies to the amassing tots young enough to think that firetrucks are awesome, leaving Chris a few moments free to make introductions.

Chris responds to Ravn's callout with a tip from his wide-brimmed yellow hat, which looks nothing like the one from Curious George. He approaches closer at the beckoning, pleased to make a few more introductions in the crowd of strangers.

Perdita receives the first glance, and he has no idea that her acreage is exaggerated via the costume. "Hi!" he greets her with enthusiasm, with a cheesy smile and glance that lingers for a few beats.

He watches the interactions between Kailey, Everett, and the child with appreciation, offering a friendly wave to not interrupt her more pressing activities. The genealogy geek in him would have to wait a bit to fill in the missing branches on the old tree.

"Looks like the word got out," he offers to Ravn with an appreciative grin.

"We should all be so lucky to have a top we can use," Dita mutters with a wry smile, not wanting little ears to hear and repeat it to their mommies and daddies... and then Everett's standing Kailey, "especially an oversize one, damn, girl." she glances at the baby, and her expression wavers between 'it's cute' and 'ugh not another one of those things', especially when Morganna comes rushing up, though a smile finally wins out... as long as she's not having to change diapers or deal with sticky fingers, they're fine.

She extends a hand to Chris, palm down, perfectly manicured nails curled slightly under, her voice going slightly breathy, in a mimicry of Elvira's once more, "My name's Perdita, but you can call me tonight."

Ravn too is watching the Sweet Retreat family with the appreciative amusement of someone who is not a father -- he appreciates the affection and genuine warmth of the little family, and he sure as hell appreciates not having the responsibility of looking after such a little family for himself. Would you look at Morganna? That child is sticky, and she's not going to get any less sticky now that she's raiding the candy bowl on the sly.

"I think we want to take advantage of the weather and just -- branch out into the parking lot and the street until somebody on the GHPD tells us to stop blocking traffic, or something," he replies, and cheerfully hands the waffle iron over to Denny (which means that every waffle will be handed out with a severe warning against ever swimming in the ocean around here because mermaids).

(The worst part of that is, several people nod knowingly and agree with him).

(A few make mention of that day Kailey went fishing and put a video up on Youtube, of orcas murdering a great white right here in the bay, too).

(Seriously, consider a pool).

A camera flashes; not a cell phone flash this time but a genuine press camera. The Gazette is present, of course, because not a whole lot happens in this town (as far as non-shiny people are concerned, anyhow), and every public something or other must be milked for a page five story. Here's Alice Hampton, newly minted reporter with hope of moving to Seattle and getting a real job any day now, asking questions of anyone who don't manage to dodge her.

Ravn's too busy laughing at Perdita slash Elvira's pickup line tossed to the firefighter to hear the reporter's question the first time. When she repeats herself he replies, "Everything here is volunteer based, yes. We try to be the kind of place that has room for everyone, regardless of what their story is. Also, Holt's fishing story is true, I was there."

He doesn't comment on Denny's mermaids. Mostly because the reporter -- nor most of the newspaper reading audience -- wouldn't believe a story about a tour boat, Pink's Let's Get This Party Started and a cabal of flesh-eating sirens anyhow.

Hampton changes her focus, and approaches the ladies (and their trapped firefighter). "So, girls, how lucky are we that the GHFD is represented and comes with its own expensive ride?"

Yes, she's one of those. Innuendo for page five, please. Every copy sold gets Alice Hampton one step closer to Seattle and escaping suburbian hell.

The flirtatious reply from Kailey causes Everett to pause no less than the wobbly missile that parts from the crowd to cling to her mother. With a quick flick of his long, straight midnight hair over his right shoulder with his hand, he turns back; the pumpkin baby at the biker's chest continues to observe, his blue eyes darting around between Kailey and Morganna then anything else that passes near baby eye-level:
<i>Hfftthhttttt, hfftthhttttt!</i>, his red plastic pacifier twitches with each pronounced suckle. Baby arms flail seconds after the kiss on his brow, Que's smile just peeks out the corners of his fake lushious lips before he rocks forward and throws his toddler weight back, making a dull, hollow thud sound against his Father's chest the few times the baby rocks.

"He's a natural trouble maker," replies Everett with his deep voice, casting a glance over and down to Perdita's cleavage. His gaze returns quickly, before he's caught looking, "just like his old man," the gorilla adds, reaching out with his left hand to tickle Momo's chubby cheek. Then, face paint or not, the roughneck leans forward to blow a raspberry on the girl's cheek until she squirms from the attack, unable to teeter free once she's caught in her Mother's grasp. Once Chris' joined the small group, Everett looks the other man up and down, any hint of his previous good mood vanishing before his head has turned. Chris' greeting is returned with one of Everett's own: an up tilt of his head, and that's it.

Long strains of black hair splay when Everett turns his head back quickly and dives it into Morganna's neck, "AH-NOM, NOM NOM! Eat the baby!" The toodler squeals in delight. When he comes up from delicious baby neck and for air, now sporting smudges of face paint on his square chin, the flash catches his attention. A subtle repositioning follows, incidentially putting his back to the camera while he contines to shower affection on one childwhile absentmindedly taking the hand of the pumpkin at his chest to halt the swaying.

Chris wasn't used to this kind of attention. Was this woman hamming it up for her costumed role? No, clearly she's just showing overt interest because she's really into handsome firemen like him.

He tries his hardest to look suave as he takes her palm in his to press a theatric kiss to the back of her hand; it ends abruptly when he has to repurpose it to prevent his hat from falling down over his eyes. He shares a folksy, 'aww, shucks' smile. "I can always check-in to see if anything's... burning." His eyes glint with the attempt at innuendo, and the sudden interruption by the press and the others give him a moment of relief from his sudden nervousness. Her questions aren't directed at him, at least.

Everett receives a brief glance and a nod of acknowledgment. Tough, but cool dad vibes. With Kailey. Understood. Respect.

On the subject of blocking traffic, Chris speaks up with some authority on the subject. He'd put his truck right in the fire lane because that's what those are for. "I set some cones out. My colleague," He Who Shall Not Be Named, "can make sure everything's according to code."

The young man is favored with an actual, genuinely amused smile from the young woman done up like Elvira, and while he's bending over her hand, she flicks a glance of amusement toward Ravn, as if there's a comment she wants to make but is being on her best behavior. It probably has something to do with the 'burning'. She shoots the camera a sliiight look of concern after the photo's taken, but seems to relax a second or two later. She's basically in full drag, it's not like anyone would recognize her.

With an almost too bright smile, she turns her attention to the nosy reporter cramping her style, "We're lucky for the chance to come together as a community. That's what the HOPE Center is all about, giving back to a community that may have seen some tough times, but is full of amazing people who want to help each other by volunteering their time or donating to the center when they can. The fact that the fire department is participating just goes to show what heroes they are for this town. They put their lives on the line fighting fires and wrangling ghouls, ghosts and goblins!" if her answer was any more polished it'd be as blinding as her smile at the moment. She leans in conspiratorially to the reporter, giving everyone a better look at her ample... hair. "It doesn't hurt that they sent their most handsome fireman and their shiniest truck, though. Something for everyone." there's a wink to the reporter, and a smile up at Chris, which, though less brilliant, is more genuine.

Ravn makes a mental note to buy Perdita a drink later. A stiff one, as many paper umbrellas as she wants -- because being a bloke with social anxiety is less than thrilling when reporters are around, and he vastly appreciates her running interference. He wonders whether she realises or just wants a bit of spotlight for herself -- it would fit the Elvira personality, after all, and who if not he, a fellow grifter, understands full immersion into the character you're pretending to be?

"She likes firemen," the Dane murmurs very quietly to Kailey, with a wink towards Perdita. "Now go say hi to your new cousin Chris."

Alice Hampton, clueless reporter extraordinaire, takes down everything Perdita says (why do the work twice? This Elvira clone already wrote the copy). Then she beams up at Everett; she likes them tall, dark, and -- all right, handsome might not be the word here. Tall, dark, and simian. "Sweet Retreats leads local businesses' efforts to give back to the community again," the reporter says hopefully. "I'm sure you're hoping for a better future for your two lovely sons?"

Sorry, Kailey, you are not judged Interesting by this one. And sorry, Morganna, er, suppose it's Morgan now. It will be in tomorrow's edition at least.

Kailey is surprised by the flash as well. But it caught a great big grin on the mother's face as Everett attacked Morganna with kisses. But her attention turns to the reporter in a moment of surprise. Ravn whispering in her ear is equally distracting and she lets out a huffy little breath as she catches the tail end of Hampton's question. One brow raises and she glances at Everett and then back. Before side stepping over to Chris. Yes, she abandoned Ev to the reporter.

Morganna is given another kiss on her other cheek, more careful of the paint there. Then the child is passed off to the night's babysitter before she holds out a hand to Chris. This one just aiming for the traditional shake. "At least according to Ancestory.com I'm a Baxter. I've been told not to flaunt it about," She says the last in a conspiratorial voice, leaning in slightly over her hand.

Behind her Morganna squirms to be put down and her babysitter gets a firm grip on the leash. But the toddler kitty, not even one and a half, walks up to the reporter and looks up. "KIDDY! GOOF!" She pronounces loudly to the reporter and group, pointing at herself and then her father and grinning toothily upwards. "Tickle teat?" And she then holds out an open hand to the reporter. Kailey? She has broken down trying to supress her laughter behind a hand.

The reporter's interruption was a somewhat welcome relief from his attempt at humor. Chris wears an awkward smile as he spectates the women as they discuss his presence as if he wasn't standing right there. He gives Perdita a nod of approval for her well-crafted statement.

After the exchange between Ravn and Kailey, and the latter's subsequent attention and introduction his way, the fireman receives her with a polite and friendly handshake. "Hi, cousin, Chris Baxter. Good to meet you." The name wasn't familiar to his own work on his tree, which inspires a look of curiosity. "Maybe we can compare notes sometime."

That's roughly when the children become impossible to not pay attention to, causing him to snicker. "Your kids are adorable."

While Everett's bro acknowledgment is returned, the thug returns his gaze in that direction. He looks momentarily amusement. Pained; but amused for having heard the greeting to Perdita. There's a roll of his eyes while he emits a soft sound to further telegraph his pain, "Ughff," then lowers his deep voice for Kailey's ears as his attention turns in that direction. "At least we're not making jokes about poles."

With an equal representation og the sexes present, Alice's focus on Everett causes his head to crane back, his brows to lift with doubt while he listens. At her question, Everett articulates a meaningful, "Uhnn," looking in Kailey's direction: for assistance, for an excuse. Of course, she's of no help. His orbs drift back with his posture relaxing again, bleeding those small moments longer to give the primate brain the longest time to be witty.
"Sweet wha?"
Or not to be witty, that is the question.
"I'm just dressed like Nathan Explosion. Who are you, sexy librarian?" Turning the question back, Everett tucks his thumbs under pumpkin arms, the pumpkin clad baby in the baby carrier someone new to focus on which stills the ginger's wiggling. He's a shy baby and returns to staring at the person occupying his view whom he doesn't know. Mind. Blown. The world has a dozen people in it and now he's met them all. Once the outgoing girl solicits the reporter, Everett's right hand tucks itself into his pocket to withdraw a Ziploc(tm) of Cherrios(tm) shapes, smiling subdudely.

Alice Hampton titters and makes a mental note to indeed be the sexy librarian next year (and hopefully, next year will be in Seattle). "How do you feel about Sweet Retreats taking a leading position in the charity efforts of Gray Harbor?" she asks of Everett, fluttering her eyelids at him in what she hopes is an attractive look. She gets the reference. "Bruuuuuuutal."

A good reporter (Alice believes) does not give her mark time to carefully compose an answer; always be on the offensive. She reaches for the nearest kid and the firefighter with a hand each. "Let's get some good pictures of our local heroes with the future of Gray Harbor! You have Polish ancestry, they said? How do you like America? Do you see yourself as chief of the fire department some day?"

And then, the other kid, attempted nudged Perdita's way. "Miss Leo, how do you like Gray Harbor? Can we get a picture? We take a lot of pride in being the kind of community where a Latino can become chief of police!" Alice Hampton, your systemic racism is showing.

Ravn, the one actual immigrant in the room, winces and really hopes a kid won't be shoved his way next. "We could probably fit another dead body into the basement," he murmurs very quietly to Kailey.

For a second, Dita wants to correct the woman on her surname, but... the extra layer of confusion might not be a bad thing. The attempted offer of someone else's children, however, gets a dubious expression that would make Elvira proud. She would take a bullet for a kid. She would take care of a kid during a zombie apocalypse. But Perdita Leontes does not have a maternal bone in her body, and it shows.

"I think it's a wonderful city with an incredibly welcoming population. While I've only met the chief in passing, I know he's a man of impeccable integrity from his reputation in town, and I know Gray Harbor is extremely lucky to have him. I hope he's able to serve in that role for many years to come, and I hope the people of Gray Harbor know how much their safety means to him."

Why is this girl not working for a PR firm, somewhere?

Pictures and questions! It was all a bit of a dizzying blur to Chris, who was definitely used to slower-paced social situations, barring some kind of fire. "We here at the Fire Department are here to make sure that everyone has a happy and safe holiday," he offers back noncommittally, with a smile that was a bit more deer-in-the-headlights than his usual. He wasn't their press person. Unsurprisingly, he doesn't sound the least bit Polish.

"Sure. Though my notes are limited to ancestor.com's DNA thingamajig," Kailey explains to Chris with a lopsided grin. "But yeah. Having family is...weird. There's a whole story I shall share when it isn't a festive atmosphere," Because that story is very definitely not the happiest right now. Instead her gaze turns onto her daughter, dressed as a kitty and asking for candy, when Chris shares the compliment.

There is a look of pride and deep love on Kailey's face as she watches the little girl with the black ringlets and bright green eyes. When the reported doesn't come up with candy her lower lip pouts out and she scowls at the woman. Turning to Everett she is about to demand he fix it when he already has. Her eyes alight upon the cheerios and the toddler cries out, "CHEE-OH! CHEE-OH!" And grabs the bag greedily out of her father's hands. And proceeds to run off giggling like mad.

Kailey's eyes kind of widen at that even as she casts around for the babysitter. Who is off talking with some friends it would seem. So much for her earning at tip tonight. Ah well. "Thank you, she's a handful. As you can see, excuse me," And she goes moves to the side, picks up her skirts and goes running after the little girl.

"Get back here, you little mink!" Mother shouts.

"KIDDY! MAMA KIDDY!" Is the yelled response as they disappear into the throng.

To the reporters Nathan Explosion reference, Everett pauses offering his oldest what is a pinch of healthy(ish) snack to him, more of cupped hands full for her, then resumes in rewarding his offspring's tickle teet whilst adding with his characteristic deep voice, "Here you go, Princess." Or so he would have intended, had she not snatched the whole bag and made off with it before he could get anything but a few sticking to his fingers.

"He-hey!", when the giant straightens up from bending the knee to the little girl, the few clingy Cherrio(tm)s are rolled to his thick fingertips and offered to the pumpkin strapped to his chest without looking, making a threatening step towards his little clone. His aim assisted by the pumpkin opening his ginger cupid lips and moving his head to help himself to pluck the unsolicited treats, first one unquestioning taken into the mouth, chewed -- well, moistened with toddler drool, then chewed with the few teeth in his pink maw. Then the next couple taken by mouth, the removed by little baby fingers and inquisitively looked over until the baby notices the next one being offered. Then it's taken in the mouth and a Cherrio(tm) queue begins.

Everett replies while Quentin both pushes the food to his lips with his tongue, and half swallows them deeper, letting it just turn into a paste in his mouth. A paste he both delights in by the smile growing on the baby's face while showing off his work. His sloppy, wet work.
"Blacker than the blackest black, times infinity," Dad-ett replies, his tone deadpan. As for the other question, he regards Kailey with a brow lifted. Daring her to answer.

Him, he turns his attention to the fleeing girl. "She's a thief, just like her mother," the big man murmurs as though speaking to himself, reaching the hand free of Cheerio(tm) dust around Kailey's waist. She's pulled in to give her a soft, quick hug. "She'll graduate to hearts soon too." He releases Kailey in time with her excuses to let her give chase, his eyes following. For awhile.
A long while.

Then he suddenly lifts his head, "Hmm? Oh, right, uh." Everett ponders for another second, his green eyes lifting up to show it's a process he's unfamiliar with and they roll back down to the reporter when he's ready to add, with a glance towards his other child, also thiefed, but not inclined to go anywhere just yet but make drool. "Gray Harbor's given a lot. Not just to me, and sometimes not always good. But when it does give, there's always a gold nugget in there somewhere." A glance is tossed where Kailey's vanished before looking back. "I want to give back to a community that's given me and mine so much so that together we can rise."

He steals a pause. Sniffs and then adds, "And two cups of rice," deadpan.