Knowledge/Power

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Theo nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! Exactly! Can you imagine how small our world would be if we were intimated by subtitles? How many movies would be out of reach? People miss out on so much just ‘cause they don’t wanna read a few lines.” 

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ When Javed began talking about art, Theo found himself smiling again. The passion in his voice was familiar–comforting, even–and when the man caught himself and apologized, Theo waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t worry about that. I get it. I spent a lot of time back home wandering through galleries too.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His mind flickered, unbidden, to other paintings, and for a brief moment his smile faltered. A certain painter came to mind, and Theo let out a soft huff, half amusement and half exasperation. How could one person take up so much space in his head?

he gives a soft smile when the man comments on his own time spent in galleries, javed finds that oftentimes art seems to be what connects seemingly different people. he's always happy to hear about what someone enjoys about art or their favorite artists. to him, it feels a bit like javed is experiencing the world through their eyes, if only for a moment. maybe that's what he likes about being a gallery curator.

"oh! absolutely! are there any pens around here? " he immediately starts looking around for a writing utensil, putting his own stack of vhs films down in order to pat his pockets. he gives a short laugh upon realizing he has nothing to write with on his person. "i really need to start keeping one on me. they have to have some by the register, right?"

As they continued to peruse the shelves, Griffin replied, "I get what you're saying, but I don't know if I totally agree. I think there are a finite number of ideas that the industry has, and eventually they just start churning out the same movies with different names. And they think we won't notice, which I guess a lot of people don't." Realizing this was a fairly cynical answer, Griffin apologized, "Sorry. I know that makes me sound like a movie snob, but I'm really not. Sometimes ideas are reused because they're good, you know?" He hoped Javed would know what he meant.

Once they were at the candy, Griffin knew immediately what he wanted. "Well when it comes to movie candy, there's really only one viable option." He grabbed a yellow box off of the shelf, showing it to Javed. "Raisinettes are the only way to go," Griffin explained. "All other movie candy pales in comparison."

"you could say the same about books, no? i feel like there's a dozen retellings of the same stories, just look at the hero's journey. the vast majority of humanity's movies or books follow that structure, yet we consume it time and time again...it's fascinating, in my opinion." his tangent is longer than intended, bringing in the monomyth just as an example. "i see what you mean though, certain ones begin to feel tired after a while."

he gives the man a look with a raised eyebrow at the raisinettes, but grabs a box for himself as well. "chocolate covered raisin, hm? not quite what we’d call cinema snacks back home, but i did say i wanted something american"

Laughing, Griffin nodded. “Yeah, it doesn’t sound like it would be a horror movie,” he admitted. “It’s about a killer doll though, so I guess that’s where the title comes from. “I won’t lie, it’s kind of terrible, but it’s in that way where if you don’t take it too seriously, you’ll enjoy it. I guess that’s true of a lot of horror movies though.” A lot of them were silly, but that was part of the fun.

When Griffin asked Javed about wanting to watch the movies together, he had been nervous. This shouldn’t be so hard, but it really felt like it was. So when he man agreed, he smiled brightly at him. “That sounds great. We can make a night of it, just hang out. You don’t have to look at my art tonight either if you don’t want to.” He thought maybe Javed wouldn’t want this to feel like work. “That’s genuinely not why I’m asking you to do this,” Griffin told the other man sincerely. Nodding, he agreed, “Yes, let’s.” After getting their movies, the pair made their way to the front, Griffin perusing the various candy. “Should we order some pizza for tonight too? Pizza and beer would be great for a movie night.” He already had the beer, but pizza sounded good.

"with the sort of films hollywood churns out these days, i'm inclined to believe they'd make anything into a movie." he returns, grateful to have moved on from the subject of the art gallery. "you know that old saying, "there's plenty of fish in the sea"? sometimes i wonder if the same applies to movies."

"lovely! what do you say we have the clerk ring us up?" he moves toward the register, giving a glance at all the different varieties of candy. "you know, i've never really tried any of the american cinema sweets, do you have an affinity for any of them? we didn't really have many american sweets in britain."

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “It is, yeah, but if you don’t mind the subtitles, it’s a good movie. I really like it. Though I’m not 100% sure a small-town would have it, but it's worth a look. At least I think so.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Nice to meet you, Javed,” he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You know, most people hear ‘toy maker’ and picture someone in an apron hammering together wooden trains in a workshop full of elves,” he added with a light laugh, glancing down at the VHS case still tucked under his arm. “Which is… not entirely inaccurate, I guess, but it’s nice to hear someone put it in terms of… art. And joy.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His gaze flicked back to Javed, curious. “An art gallery, huh?” He told himself that no, he wouldn't start dreaming about his ex again and how they met. Trying to push the invasive thought out of his mind, he instead asked, “What kind of work do you show there? Contemporary? Classic?”

"i choose to believe there's artistry in the little things of life, not just the grandeur of paintings in a gallery or dancers on a stage. even if your work isn't displayed in grand halls, it certainly means something to someone. and that, in and of itself, is beautiful. at least to me." javed stares off in the distance for a moment, lost in his own thoughts, before snapping back to reality. "anyway, i think you understand my point. no need for me to give a lecture on it, do forgive me."

"well, with a town as small as cardinal hill, we mostly display what's available at the time. we do occasionally have themed collections or events, but most of what's displayed is local." he glances at theo, giving the man a thoughtful look. "currently, we have a collection of autumn landscapes, if you're interested in that sort of thing. maybe you should give it a look."

"See you then."

The librarian had stood outside the ceramic cup for a good twenty minutes, mind racing through all the possibilities of how the talk could go. Part of them wanted to run, but they had told Javed they would make the effort of listening and Noelle did want to know his side, perhaps it would help with the hurt they had been carrying.

Taking a deep breath Noelle stepped inside the shop, it didn't take them long to noticed Javed, heart racing. Before joining him Noelle order himself a mocha, they would need the comfort of the warmth the drink provided.

They step closer to the table." I did say that I would come." Noelle takes a sit in front of Javed, nodding." It isn't.. I thought-" They sigh." I thought we wouldn't see each other again, this came as a shook." The librarian confessed, resting their hands on the table." So, tell me then. I want to hear your side Javed."

"my family...they never really took our relationship seriously. i never brought you around them, it would have broken my heart if you ever heard them talk about how i was galivanting around with a 'silly witch'. they were relieved when our relationship ended, i can still hear them saying how it was about time i stopped playing around." he looks back to noelle, overwhelmed with the intensity of his emotions. "i never meant to hurt you noelle, and i'm deeply sorry that my actions cut so deeply. i've regretted it ever since that day, i never forgot about you."

he swallows, exhaling slowly. “I’m not asking you for anything, not now, not ever. I just… I needed you to know the truth, because you deserved it then, and you deserve it now.”

Nodding, Griffin replied, "Yeah, I saw that back in New York, but....I don't think it's on VHS yet. Probably later this year. Honestly though, I think I'd start with something a little...what's the work I'm looking for." It wasn't "tamer" even though that was what Griffin had been about to say. But he didn't think The Silence of the Lambs would be the easiest introduction to horror. "Maybe one of the Child's Play movies," Griffin suggested. "The second one came out this past November, and there's already a third one coming out at the end of this month, so it's probably going to suck. But then again, a movie about a killer doll isn't exactly high class cinema, so I think expectations are pretty low." Those would probably be easier to get into for someone who wasn't very familiar with horror.

So it seemed that Griffin and Javed were in the same situation. "It's really not easy at all," he agreed. "This felt so much easier back in the city, meeting people and getting to know them. I think that's partially because there were just more people to meet, so you were more likely to meet someone you vibed with. But...I don't know. It's like my confidence has been shaken, and I don't really remember how to do this. How easily we forget I guess." He sighed, looking at the copy of The Terminator in his hand, his cheeks pinking a little. "This is how I felt when I first moved to Rhode Island though," he said, finally meeting Javed's eyes again. "That's where I went to college, and it was a transition too. So maybe I'll figure it out." Then a thought came to him, and Griffin asked, "Hey, you wouldn't want to maybe watch these movies together, would you? We can order food and make some popcorn maybe. It's okay if you're busy or, you know, don't want to go home with a stranger. But if you want to, it could be fun."

"child's play?" he echoes, somewhat perplexed by the title. "that's...not the sort of name i would have expected for a horror movie, if i'm being honest." his eyes wander the nearby shelves, searching for the aforementioned movie. he locates it within a few seconds, plucking the vhs up and turning it over to read the synopsis. "serial killer reincarnated into doll...detective trying to stop him? oh good grief, how would one even begin to track a doll of all things..." he trails off, reading the rest of the plot summary in silence. once he's done, he looks back at the man who had recommended it, tucking the film under his arm. "it seems interesting enough, i'll give it a fighting chance."

"if i can figure it out, i'm certain you can too." he replies, tone earnest and genuine. "life throws changes our way all the time, this one is just a bit different, no? you had the privilege of having lived here before, while i came from a completely different continent. i didn't know anyone here, but i've managed to make it just fine. stick with it for a while." when he hears the man's offer, he smiles again, this time a bit brighter. "i can't think of a better way to spend my evening, genuinely. i know we haven't spoken for long but you seem like someone worth getting to know. what do you say we head to the checkout and make our way out? who knows, they might even have some candy for our movie night by the register."

They look down at the card, feeling their resolve slowly dissolve." Fine." Noelle breaths in." You're right, I never did give you the opportunity to explain yourself, I guess I could extend you that courtesy."

~~timeskip~~

he sits at a table in the ceramic cup, fingers drumming anxiously against a mug of a drink he bought. when he sees noelle, he hears himself exhale a breath that he didn't realize he'd been holding.

"i wasn't sure you'd actually come." he admits, gaze turning down to face his drink. "i know seeing me isn't easy for you, but i appreciate that you're giving me a chance."

"Alright, so not comedy," Griffin said, suddenly very invested in helping Javed find the right movie. "Do you like horror?" he asked. "Drama? Probably not a musical since they're sort of comedy adjacent. Maybe action?" This was probably not nearly as difficult as Griffin was making out to be, but he felt a little overwhelmed by the choices. "I was going to rent the original Terminator," Griffin told Javed, "since the sequel just came out, and it's apparently really good. I've never seen the original, so I thought I should start with that." It seemed as good a choice as any, so Griffin walked toward the action section. "This is not what I expected to be doing with my Friday nights when I moved back here," Griffin confessed. "I mean...I knew I'd have to rebuild my social circle, but it hasn't been as easy as I thought it would be."

when the conversation moves back to movies, he feels somewhat relieved. while javed doesn't mind talking about his past most of the time, he had begun to feel like he was talking too much about himself. "i haven't seen very many horror movies, but i'm willing to give them a shot. i think i remember hearing about one called silence of the lambs... about a cannibal serial killer?" he knew the movie was a recent release, it was a name he'd heard from one of his colleagues. "dramas are good too, but i find that sometimes they can be boring. i guess that's the risk you take with watching any film though."

his expression softens when griffin mentions how socializing has been difficult for him. "i understand where you're coming from...i feel similarly. i moved here to get away from a few things myself. putting yourself out there...it's not always easy."

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Theo’s brows lifted slightly at poignant, the corner of his mouth twitching up like he appreciated the word choice. His entire life felt poignant lately. “That makes sense, don’t worry. There’s something nice about a film that leaves you sitting in your feelings for a minute.” What he didn’t say was how he had just recently watched Kiki’s Delivery Service in his room at the inn and cried into his blanket. How could a little girl be that much braver than him?

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He shifted again, his cane clinking against the floor as he resettled. “‘All Dogs Go To Heaven’ is a good choice. Very poignant. You know, I like how animation captures emotions in a way that other films might not. You might think animation is for children, but that’s not necessarily the case.” After a moment, he added, “Not that liking things for children is a bad thing. I mean, I make toys for a living.” He laughed, shrugging. “But maybe that makes me biased.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The Witch shoved the VHS case under his armpit to free a hand and offered it toward the other. “I’m Theo, by the way.”

"i can understand that and no, i don't think that animation is for children. you see, i work for an art gallery. i see the value in art, no matter who it's meant for. take yourself for example, you create toys, but doesn't that bring happiness to children and adults alike? that sounds pretty important to me." his tone is sincere as he speaks, expression soft with a gentle kindness.

"i'm javed." he returns, reaching out to take the man's offered hand and shake it.

as he meandered through the aisles, he completed the holy trinity — his formula for a productive night of viewing. this trinity consisted of three tapes: a new release, a hidden gem, and a classic re-watch. with his chosen three under his arm, an array of snacks procured ( pop rocks, fun dip, and beef jerky ), his mission was complete.

but fate had other threads at play.

jett had just turned on his heel to make for the register when he was cut-off by a genuinely confused man. the question proposed was ...amusing, and the projectionist's countenance reflected that. ❝ so, you're telling me, after living under a rock, the first stop you make is a video rental store? ❞ his voice was low and gravelly like a dirt road through a valley, thick with an australian twang. ❝ that's admirable. there's hope for you, my man. let me tell you, you're in good company.❞

"i was looking for something to keep me occupied this evening and it was either this or the laundromat." he responds, dry humor tinged with amusement in his voice. "and for once, i decided to engage in modern media."

"to be fair, you seem far better equipped for this task than i am. i see no less than 3 tapes in your hands, so that must mean you have some taste when it comes to media." he gestures to the man's already selected films. he trails after the man as he walks away, fully ready to embark on his mission.

"well, i've spent most of my life with my nose in a book, to be completely honest. i work for the local art gallery, but i used to teach collegiate art history in britain. i'm trying to branch out from my comfort zone, hence why i'm here."

Zoe looks around, a couple of VHS boxes already tucked under her arm. She smiles. “Well, how much of a rock are we talking about here?” she says. “I mean, have you seen Sound of Music? Or Citizen Kane?” She grins again. “Or It’s a Wonderful Life? The fact that it’s July has absolutely no bearing on that question, by the way. I’m just trying to get a gauge.” She considers for a minute. “Really, I guess it depends on what you like,” she says. “Dead Poets Society is excellent, but a real tear-jerker. There’s Batman, with Jack Nicholson as the Joker -- stellar performance. If you’re a fan of baseball and/or Kevin Costner, there’s Field of Dreams.” She flashes another smile. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation -- again, don’t let the season scare you off that one, either. Ooh, Twister is a good one. Oh my god, I almost forgot about Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. My daughter and I love that movie.”

"it's moreso modern films i'm not terribly familiar with, i have seen citizen kane and the sound of music." he offers, trying to give her a bit more of a foundation to work with. "i have seen dead poets society, actually! it was rather good, i liked the overall message and plot of it." he gives a small smile as he's able to recall at least one semi-recent film he's seen, feeling like this at least gives him a leg to stand on in this conversation. "i'm not very into comedy, i've found. witty humor is fine, but it's the dumb comedy i don't like. i don't know, i guess part of me finds it hard to turn my brain off and enjoy things like that when all i can think of is how these situations could be avoided if people didn't make stupid decisions."