Okay, not to be the person who adds Kristin to every dynamic but I am a Kristin enjoyer and I will add her to every dynamic and this is giving me the endorphins so
Kristin as Phil's wife (obvs) who doesn't Understand what happened, but knows enough about her husband to know that was Not a Fucking Bear Attack and treats Phil's new ... Quirks... with the appropriate gravity and matter of factness they deserve.
Kristin who got a call from the hospital hours after Phil should have been home, Phil panicked and asking if she's okay, please say she's okay, please say you're safe sweetheart. Yes, of course she's fine, what's wrong? Why are you at a hospital? What happened??? ... There was a bear attack, he says, slowly, after thirty agonizing seconds. Bullshit, she thinks, but in the way that means she's never gonna ask him again unless he brings it up.
Kristin who only ever forgets to refill the tank Once after Phil has to talk himself down from a panic attack after seeing it less than half a tank.
Kristin who comes down one too many times to Phil staring at their back door with a haunted expression and fiddling with his phone, trying not call someone.
Kristin who greets Techno and Tommy and Wilbur without a qualm whenever any of them, alone or in a group, descend on her and her husband and act like they've been there forever for however long they stay, mostly because it's the only time she sees Phil relax for the first few months at least is when they're in eyesight, even if he starts to rolls his eyes and gently poke fun at how often they all come over. They poke back at him just as gently and Kristin almost cries with relief the first time one of them makes a dark joke about bear attacks. It's been years since it happened and finally, finally, they're starting to heal.
Kristin who helps Wilbur find an apartment in town, who gently suggests Techno is also looking for a place and might like a roommate. Kristin who happily signs Tommy's permission slip to avoid the summer camping trip in the state park when Phil was busy at work. Kristin who starts to think of all of them as "her boys".
Kristin who slowly pieces together the story. Sometimes over hearing, sometimes being told, sometimes by inference.
Kristin who comes home one time to all four men standing before an easel. There's a tarp on the floor and buckets of paint and a big canvas and all her boys are up to their elbows in house paint of different colors. She says hi but otherwise doesn't bother them since they seem to be having an argument. She hears something about art therapy and decides she wants no part of this. It's the next morning when she finally sees the picture and it kind of boggles her mind a bit.
"That's... Is that?" She asks.
"It's a bear," her boys respond, in unison.
Bullshit, she thinks but in a way that's not sure what it is or how she could even quantify it.
"... Yup," she agrees, part of her brain shutting down in fear even from canvas and paint. "That's a bear."
