2024-12-17 - Midafternoon Diner Doodles

The lunch rush is over and at one far end of the counter Robin and his little project remains. There's a small chewed on plate of bacon, a half cup of coffee that is beige right now, and a couple of water glasses with ornaments drying on them. Clearly the water glasses are so they do not roll away and smudge. or break. Oooor paint the counter. This is really a least ideal locale to be doing this but he's keeping his clutter together and he's using his own mug to rinse with. Finally.

On the radio there's some holiday music interspersed with whatever the island DJ is kicking out this afternoon which seems to be some 90's schedule perhaps inspired by the karaoke night. Bangs hanging forward like a curtain his head sways with the music as he works on the pirate bulbs now- the boo'dwalk sets being completed and in the shop already.

Gabriel, blessedly, has the afternoon shift today. They got to miss the hustle and bustle of the lunch rush, which helps when it's only week two of one's new employment. Baby steps and all that. They arrived through the side door and slipped on their uniform which is really just a white apron with Nora's embroidered on the left side. Underneath it they're wearing a baggy long sleeved black shirt and skinny jeans with suede Chelsea boots. There's a little name tag clipped to the apron that reads: GABE. A smaller THEY/THEM sits right under it.

And now they are walking towards the art project (and artist) with a metal carafe of freshly brewed coffee.

"Hi. Refill?" They give the carafe a little wiggle.

Robin's head sways back and forth to the dulcet holiday tones of Greenday's You're Gonna Go Far, Kid familiar and into it. There's a pause as he's addressed. He looks up and through a thin curtain of hair blinks and then looks to the coffee and back to Gabe. There's a nod of both his head and fist before signing a gesture of 'thanks' without getting paint on himself from the brush. Talent.

He takes the little paper napkin and wets the brush with some of the maroon paint to write on the napkin 'hi. : ) thx.' He flips it aorund with a small smile before adding to the note 'new new?'

Gabriel recognizes the sign for thank you not because they actually know ASL, but solely for watching TV and movies. They dip their head in understanding and lift the carafe to refill the cup. It had been beige, so that means more creamer cups. There's a little dig into their center apron pocket, then they produce a couple of the little plastic containers and drop them next to the cup.

Their eyes flick to the paper once Robin starts writing and they have to tilt their head a bit more to read it. A tiny smile tugs at their lips when they see the happy face. Then they look back up at him. "Yes yes."

Seeing the tiny creamer cups there's a wider grin that brings the brush to get swished and rinsed and set aside and then makes a <3 with index and middle fingers. The coffee solution has a solution to maintain which gets a brief but even toothy grin as the dark void of caffeine becomes french vanilla'd again. His fingers lift to sign but there's a concern and he looks back to the vestibule entrance and back.

Thinking better of something he fishes out his phone from his back pocket with his left hand to thumbprint it open and then rather quickly spin out a longer message for Gabe that reads:
>robin from de gallery. hi. how you liking it?

The finger heart gets a slightly wider smile, which just makes it a half-smile in general. Gabriel's face tends to stay on the neutral side of things usually but Robin's antics are bringing out lighter expressions. "I know," they tease in a relative monotone. "I'm good at my job." Or at the very least, are observant.

This time, they shift closer and brush their hair back and out of their eyes with their fingertips in order to read the text as it's written. They end up with most of their blonde locks piled over one side of their head. "Gabe. Hi. It's...uh, well it has been interesting? Shared a lucid dream with a bunch of folks. Is that a normal occurrence...or?"

As Gabe claims being good at their job Robin stops stirring and gives a tiny, quiet clap. Robin can, apparently pick up their communication. The mug is piced up, spoon held back with one finger with flecks of dried paint on it. The steam is blown off the top for a moment but the question brings curiosity and pause. With a slow shae of his head 'no' he finishes blowing the steam off the cup to sip it while rolling his hand a bit in a request for details for a 'and then what happened?' Whatever this is it's new to him and is now invested in their journey there.

The quiet clap gets a little wave of Gabe's hand, like a salute mixed with a royal greeting. They aim to please of course. Taking two steps back so as not to crowd Robin, they place the carafe onto the counter and chew over the correct words necessary to describe what they're talking about. "It's just. I mean." They let out a clipped exhale through their nose. "I thought the magic they talked about in orientation was like a metaphor for family or whatever. You know how some companies do that? I was very surprised to find out it wasn't. But also...I dunno, I ran into this guy, Trace. He said he does dream magic stuff so I'm assuming everyone can just bop around into everyone's dreams. Now I'm worried someone's going to see my fear of clowns up front."

Robin listens and then takes a moment to typpy type on his phone back, though gives a nod following along. The curious concern holds looking back and passing the phone to Gabe again.
>Like the Mouse House? Yes. ✨ has been getting more ✨ ✨ ✨ lately

He listens though and tries to see if "Trace' rings a bell. There's no nod but that is a footnote for later. New waitstaff is spilling the tea. There's a pause before there's a shake of his head. A finger nudges the previously written 'new new?' note back. A small smile follows and he takes the phone back to type out a message back to Gabe.
>Not usual no. I did mime school I can fight a clown and win lmk we got ya

In the least convincing effort his bony fists forma little ball trying not to snicker while 'looking threatening'. Ruse over he waves his fingers in a general gesture of assurance to Gabe. The secret safe for now.

"Hmm," Gabe intones when it comes to magic being more magic-y lately. "Unsettling. But okay. I guess I just have bad timing?" They seem to infer that Robin doesn't know Trace and easily shrug it off, then lean in to look at the phone again.

Mime school. Clown fighting.

They let out a soft huff of laughter, lips twitching into a smile. "Good to know. I can't say if I'm scared of mimes too but just don't come at me in the full outfit okay?" Then there's a gesture with their chin at the art project. "What have you got going on here?"

When Gabe says unsettling there is a moment that happens on reflex wherein Robin points to himself worried that they mean him. When it's not there's relief and he wiggles his fingers like casting a spell. Maybe thankfully there is no effect to him doing that, but the message is received. Deep breath!

When Gabriel says not to come at him with the full outfit there's a snort of a soundless laugh and he digs through his phone until he finds a pic that does not look all painted face and gaunt. His hand makes a pinchy gesture, fingers just an inch apart and a hand wobble. Lil bit not scary? Still there's a nod and with his hand on his chest he makes a scout sign with the other before trying to look around his own bangs to see if that'll do.

When asked about the project his palms come together in an 'ah yes' clap. He points to the poster that got replaced from where Esme got excited and tore the last one off the wall talking of a charity auction and fundraiser. While Gabe gets familiar with the poster he types out on the phone, for them.

>props let me take old bulbs. making sets on park themes to buy and for auction. Did boodwalk shops, then boodwalk characters, now on adventure cove so pirates/mermaids, next medieval times. Been fun to fit concepts into sets of 4-5 things. people love the park. cannot take magic home but can take bulbs. you go through the park yet?

He passes the phone back to let Gabe catch up before gesturing to the grouping of bulbs and then the general 'out there.'

"No, no," Gabe adds quickly when Robin points to himself. The confusion is cleared up soon enough though with those wiggling fingers and another twitch of a smile from Gabriel.

The soundless laugh manages to put a proper crooked smile on their face, as if they're pleased they were able to draw out that kind of reaction. Their gaze drifts down to look at the phone and while their initial reaction is a slight upcurl of their lip, they hum out an ehhhhhhh. "A little, yeah. Like it's tickling the same part that usually screams but not as bad? Nothing against you, though, I'm sure you're..." they look back over to Robin, grasping for a mime appropriate compliment. "Super...good at charades?" BEST THEY CAN DO.

The point to the poster has their attention shifting. A nod. "Oh yeah, that." Then they take his phone to read it, mumbling some words aloud a bit. "Bulbs, woah, wouldn't have thought of that. I'm impressed." Gabe hands the phone back, then sneaks a look at said bulbs on the drying rack (cups) over there. "I haven't, no. Just been working here pretty much all week though I have a day off coming up. I'll get to it." They go quiet for a moment, perhaps thinking over how much they should share. "I'm from New York. I did art too. Or I guess. I was an artist too. Am. Maybe."

Robin watches doing his best skeptical expression. With a small hit of pride he points to himself and signs something nodding in agreement to the compliment of probably being good at charades. Finally the familiar gesture of 'a little'. Maybe being very used to this situation trying in earnest gets one off the hook there for not having the words to try for good intent.

The compliment to the idea though lands on someone that really doesn't know what to do with them. The scarred hand rubbing at the back of his neck the sign for 'thanks' with actual gratitude follows. He turns the cup to show the one with the mermaid lagoon with the bottom painted like sand, then half full of water, and peppermint striped fish tail splashing out of the water.

The compliment though gets a dip nod of thanks. To absolutely no help at all Robin points sideways in no actual map direction when Gabe says 'New York'. it is now, officially, over thereish. Is that even East? Does not matter! It's that way now for the sake of convenience. he signs a D-E-T and then types it out on the phone for Gabe curious about other things for their new fry herald.

>detroit. been to nyc 1x solid concert. the magic found you yet? not all of it is scary. sometimes it's like mary poppins

For not being to understand sign, Gabriel seems to be understanding well enough. Maybe they're the one who is good at charades?! Or maybe one observant person is good at observing.

They huff out a breath when Robin rubs at his neck. "Don't be humble," they deadpan with a bit of amusement at the edges. "That's fantastic. People will love it." They gesture to the painted mermaid.

Is that even East? It can be. Gabe just nods anyway and looks from the D-E-T to the phone. "Ah yeah. So not very far at all." As for if the magic has found them, they shake their head no. "Also speak for yourself, those chimney sweeps gave me nightmares as a kid." One side of their mouth curves up into a half-smile. That was a joke.

Well if you have asthema sure

Robin types and then does a fair sweeping up a chimney, dust cloud, and vaudevillian fake hacking cough/asthma attack. Though he questions and slides the written on napkin over, pretends to paint on it and then follows that with a motion of 'jumping into it' like a puddle with his hands. The eyebrow goes up questioning how scary the art in the park part was for Gabriel really.

The small smile is returned, which turns to him hanging his head with a wider grin which might be, for him, a laugh, and then gestures at the stand in example awaiting an answer on that. He types something for Gabe on his phone with some amusement staying put.

>dumbo freaked me out. elephants should not split in two. swore i'd never drink. that did not keep true but still weirds me out. also thx i hope people do. i wanted to find a way to help and its actually fun. you said you are a dormant artist. wht medium?

That whole fake asthma attack gets a playful roll of Gabriel's eyes, thoroughly amused. "Okay now imagine being a kid and worrying about a stranger shooting down your chimney at will? And before you mention Santa..." They're quick to add that last part. "Santa never counted. Everyone likes Santa." As for the jumping into the art part-- "Well, sure," Gabriel admits with a little laugh, "the 2D part was great. That made the rest of the movie worth it."

They look back at the phone again and nod. "Also a trauma movie. I'm with you there." A glance goes out to the rest of the diner, just keeping an eye out if anyone's trying to get their attention. Thankfully it's relatively quiet right now.

"A lot of mediums honestly, there's nothing I didn't like. But I enjoyed painting murals the most. That was a while ago now. You? Mostly this or what else?"

Robin thinks about Gabriel's question and the marred hand comes to rub at his jaw thoughtfully. While he could whip out a bag of tricks he smiles and types to his phone instead watching Gabriel's face curiously for a different reaction instead.
>sounds dumb but there's a workshop in the tunnels. small studio there to mess around with. could check it out if you want. find something you like to work with, everyone takes a break but when you wanna we have you check that out. island is a lot i know but good for getting creative i think.

A for what he's done he finds a folder that's actual stuff he's working on and nothing weird like the picture of the receipt or people who are not the answer to Gabe's question. There's a variety with a lot of acrylics and some mixed media to the gouache boards he's been working on that have a surreal landscape quality to them but are parts of the park. A large chunk of things also seem to use a lot of spraypaint. There's some signs and backdrops and there's just no one thing. In this folder most everything ties back to the park in some way; some more subtly than others.

Curious he points to Gabriel and holds up both hands in [ brackets ] making like he's snapping a camera curious about any forays into photography.

Blue eyes stay fixed to the phone for a longer moment, rereading what Robin typed. Gabe's gaze flicks up to look at him, one hand sifting into blonde locks again to comb them out of their face. "It's not dumb." A tap of a finger at Robin's phone screen. "Maybe. Not a no."

Once Robin starts to swipe through the folder, Gabriel leans an elbow on the counter to more comfortably peep it. "I like this one," they say then the spray paint comes up. "You can have a lot of fun with a few cans." After a moment they seem to catch on how most of it ties back to the park. They look over at Robin curiously. "How long have you been here?"

To the [ photography ], "Nah, I just haunt pictures. I don't take any."

Robin waits and nods accepting the maybe not a no with maybe the ability to appreciate coming out of 'retirement' or dormancy can take some courage. There's a thumbs up with a little pinky finger flashed out. The grin gets sharp when Gabriel talks about the joys of graffiti art. The texting on the phone goes Fast and while Robin's sat there within 4 little walls sponsored by earbuds being in so he can concentrate this looks like it's a welcome social break for this introvert.

>no lie when i was younger i really wanted to be miles morales. also 1.3 yrs ish? used to paint rides and sets here. after developing some weird skills got an offer to help work gallery which is less cold and has good cocoa. was not going 2 say no

He doesn't elaborate on things leaving the answers as mundane as he can still being truthful. He looks as someone else comes in and he watches them. It isn't any gregarious greeting but the smallest upnod to be polite and then looks to Gabe pointing to himself and tapping the counter taking a drink of his coffee. He'll be right there if they need to do their thing a minute.

Gabe squints down at the phone as they read this next bit. "Miles Morales? Like Spider-Man?" That gets a crooked smile in return. "Cute. I think I wanted to be an astronaut? I think? But as someone who has been here longer than a week...do you have any advice for me?"

They look off towards the door when the customer walks in, nod at little at Robin. Grabbing a menu, they scoot off to get the person situated and take down the order, then cart it off to the kitchen. It's not long, maybe five minutes, before they return to Robin's side.

Without saying anything, they pull out their phone and open up a new contact page, then slide it over to him to fill in.

Robin makes a little Spider-Man fwip fwip! with his hands at Gabe with a wry smile. The mention of space gets him to glance upward, maybe in thought only as it is the middle of the day indoors. Glancing to the table the warmth stays in the expression with a side nod to scoot.

He pulls out a small spiral ring 'folder' of blank 3x5 cards- the kind one can tear off and use but otherwise keep together. While Gabe is gone the micron pens come out and start to doodle. Pulling out a separate little pre-packed watercolour wheel he gets to swishing the brush around and gets to work adding colour on the card imperfectly.

When Gabe returns he looks at the phone curious then nods, ah! sure sure. He takes the phone and slides it to him dragging with one finger but slides back an index card with a tiny line and watercolour astronaut balancing on a moon to Gabe signed RH. He points to it then Gabe. He starts typpy typing on the phone with contact info that's short that's got a 313 number in it and FR 105 in it. Physical addresses are a super easy barely inconvenient feature here.. He issues a message on his phone that reads:

advice is don't take advice from us. we don't know what is going on either. explore. think of it as astronauting on a new planet. text if you need to.

The index card gets a curious lift of Gabe's brows, followed by a full head tilt that gets their hair flopping over to the other side of their head. "Did you just..." A real, genuine smile lights up their face. It's a rare sight, and one they are usually quick to tuck away again, but this one seems to last for a good minute. "This is great. Seriously." And now they seem to take notice of how much they're smiling and quickly cover their face with a hand. "It's really great," now comes out muffled.

Eventually they DO bring their hand back down, and bite down on the corner of their lip to stifle the smile. Once Robin's done inputting his contact info, Gabriel takes the phone back and quickly shoots out a text of:

" 🌕 🚀 "

Now Robin has their number as well.

"I should, um, get back to work." Oh look at that. They're a tiny bit flustered. They scoop up the card with the doodle on it, lightly tap it against Robin's shoulder as they take a step back. Then there's a lift of their free hand to their chin-- a signed thank you.