2019-05-25 - Prime Real Estate

While her childhood home made for a good pop up clinic, Chloe had no desire to live there. Plus, working and living in the same place seemed like a terrible idea with the clientele she might end up dealing with. Something secure and private would be far better. So when she heard that Byron owned the Bayside Apartments, Chloe figured it was worth checking out. It had taken a bit of hunting and a brief phone call, but the meeting was set! She and Byron hadn't been too close growing up, but they had a few mutual friends and they had shared a desire of staying out of the house for as long as was possible in a day.

Entering the lobby, Chloe's dark eyes scanned the room with a light smile. She was wearing a hooded windbreaker to help against the chilly rain and a grey t-shirt that had probably seen better days. A pair of faded blue jeans to match. Her hair tossed up in a ponytail with a few flyaway strands framing her face. Not the best attire for this meeting probably - but that's what happens when you get carried away and wanted to be on time. The receptionist, if there is one in the lobby, probably gives her a 'look' like there's no way she can afford this place.

Spotting Byron, Chloe offered a bright smile as she walked towards him. A quick appraisal of his form - seeing how much he's changed since their school days. "Long time no see Byron." Offering out a hand to shake.

The Thorne family were never particular rich. In fact, at one point, they were almost destitute. The Byron Thorne that appears before her was definitely different from the happy-go-lucky, somewhat scrappy child and teenager of their youth. He was far more put-together. Polished to a shine, in fact. He was very meticulous with his wardrobe: A custom-tailored navy business suit, most likely Italian made along with his shoes. A black silk tie with subtle patterns is worn sharply at his collar, while a shiny silver Audemars Piguet watch is slapped across his wrist.

Both the receptionist and the doorman, while they may be quietly judging her, smile courteously to Chloe. Though, in truth, the tenants within this building are an odd mixture of different sorts of individuals. On seeing her, however, Byron graces Chloe with his own warm and inviting smile, stepping towards her to meet with her extended hand with a firm shake. "It's been a long time indeed. I hope that you had no trouble with parking?" He asks, once releasing his hold on her hand. He makes a grand gesture about the lobby, "This, as you may already know, is our lobby. Each of the three buildings has a similar set up. It's to help put our tenants at ease, knowing that they'll be a friendly face greeting them no matter what crazy time of night they've decided to return home."

Giving her a subtle lookover, he comments, "You look great, despite the bedraggling rain." A gesture is then given down the hall, "Let me show you some of our amenities."

It might be like they almost transitioned styles. Chloe had always dressed rather reservedly and sometimes a little too nice (in her opinion) for school. Usually due to her mother's nagging. Now, the more casual it was the better. Except for when business was in session. The handshake is quick and confident, a brief glance towards his watch and then back up to him. "Parking was no trouble at all." She assured him as her arm fell back to her side - following his gesture with another look around. "I think you've got a nice little set up here. Though you always were one for grand ideas." A soft laugh escaping.

She had most certainly been that awkwardly gangly girl in the class. Just a little too tall and maybe a bit clumsy. Chloe seemed to have grown into her own though. Her wiry frame finally suiting her. "As do you." A light little pluck to his suit jacket as the tour began. "You clean up nicely." Hands clasping together then as they head towards the hall. "Sweep me off my feet! Amenities make or break a place." Nodding like she totally knew what she was talking about even though she knew barely anything about the apartment game.

To the complimented graced upon him, Thorne chuckles with a shake of his head, "It really is all about the style, baby. But no. You dress for the profession and I'm usually running off to one meeting or other." In fact, he lifts his wrist to peer down at his watch as he says this, "In a few hours, I have another client flying in that I need to pick up at the airport. But that's for another time." A pause, "How's business?" Byron inquires, taking a casual stride down the hall, this posture tall and professional. "Even if that is a weird question to ask someone in your profession." Turning towards her, he flashes her this playful smile. "The best answer would be that business has been slow. The most profitable answer is that you're up to your elbows in patients."

Coming to a grand looking pair of doors, he pushes them both open to allow entrance into the pool area first. The main area leads off to a His and Hers changing and showering area, lockers can be found there, but most people come here straight from their apartments. The place is well lit, though the setting and atmosphere can be changed, allowing the dimming of the main lights and even a change of color as well, to allow for a sort of ambiance. It's great for parties, OK?

There's comfortable pool seating on one side, while the opposite wall is comprised of floor to ceiling windows, giving a wonderful view of the bay. He then explains, "See those windows?" He gestures towards them, "They are equipped with a sort of privacy glass. It's transparent right now, but if you wanted to block out the sun or anything of that nature, there's a control against that wall," Another gesture, "That makes the glass frosted. Pretty neat, huh? Technology at its finest." He says with a laugh. The pool itself is large and long, perfect for swimming laps.

"Seems to me like you're quite the busy bee." Chloe mused as she followed him down the hallway. "Do you do a lot of travelling? Or do they come to you?" A quirk of an eyebrow and then a shrug. Laughing as he asked her how business was. "And the truth is that I've only been back in town a week so it's currently nonexistant. But don't you worry. I've got enough saved up for your first and last, security if necessary. And some possibly prospects lined up looking for a personal physician." Chloe pushed those flyaway strands of hair out of her eyes as they stepped throguh the doors.

Her eyes widened at the view of the room. "Jesus. This is amazing." Somewhere, her mother probably dropped something breakable. "I love swimming. It's a fantastic room and that's neat. About the glass." She says as she walks towards the wall he pointed out to examine the panel. "Science." Murmured as she turned the dial about halfway and peered towards the windows. Apparently wanting to watch.

"So do you own any other businesses in town, or just this?" A curious question, eyes still intent on the glass. However after it's transitioned - or if her patience runs out - the dial gets turned back to the normal setting and Chloe's attention is fully back on him. "Is there a tennis court?" Out of the blue. So many questions. Hopefully there was enough time for them all.

"I do some traveling. Looking to, maybe, drive into L.A. at some point, but it will be a while until then." Byron admits as he now lingers to watch her wander and take in the breathtaking views from those windows. His stance is wide, hands clasped before him, looking rather proud at her reaction to it all. "When I bought this place, I was lucky that they kept up with renovation throughout the years. It's hard to imagine that the Bayside Apartments, looking like this, as it does now, was here when were still going to school. Of course, I did my own upgrades. Like with the privacy glass and I'm always thinking on ways to improve."

He'll stand beside her as she plays with the buttons on the panel. In fact, there's a button to switch the glass from clear to frosted. Then there are other buttons to dim the lights, change the color from normal to blue, red and so forth. "But yes," he continues on with their conversation, "Sometimes they come to me, mainly if I invite them over to see if they would like a presence in our... quaint little town. As for other businesses? I have an office downtown, but this is the only real business that I've invested in here and if I'm going to be honest, this place didn't come cheap." He's not afraid to admit this.

"We actually do have a tennis court, unfortunately, it's an outdoor tennis court. As that's how it was set up orginally." Byron says with a heavy sigh, "And with the rainy weather we're constantly having, there may not be much of a chance to actually put it to use. That said, I was considering working on a structure to protect the court from the elements. I'll need to speak to a designer and contractor for that as to ensure that it's not an eyesore on the property."

Once it seems like she's investigated everything that there is to investigate, aside from checking the showers and changing rooms and the like, Byron announces, "If you will come along, there's something else I'd like you to see."

Buttons were pressed, switches flipped. Chloe's a curious cat, she has to touch it all. Listening closely to him while the curiositiy is satisfied. "You'd never guess it was the same place." She agreed, clasping her hands together once more. "It was a good investment I'd think. It looks great and I mean...it is pricey but my thinking is you get what you pay for yeah? I could rent at one of those extended stay hotels for cheaper but that's exactly what it is. Cheap. If I'm going to live somewhere - I'd think this is pretty great unless I was ready to buy a house or somethig." Which wasn't happening any time soon.

A thoughtful noise is made about the tennis courts. "I'm awful at tennis." Stated so bluntly, and then Chloe laughed again. "But it's good to know the option is there. It'd likely get more use if it was covered some how." But he knew that, surely. "I'd be interested in hearing what you learn on that end." The showers and changing rooms aren't given a real in depth look. They're all the same really, no matter where you went. She'd look more later. "Lead the way Mr. Thorne." Making a little motion for him to go on and she'd be right behind him!

Leaving the pool room, he continues just a little further down the hall. Not too far, in fact. The doors are very similar to that of the pool and these he swings open as well. "And this is the gym." His voice rings clear, taking steps inside so that she can get a better look at all the equipment.

Unlike the pool, the gym looks pretty normal for a state-of-the art exercise facility. There's a lot of equipment around. Things like weight machines come in pairs, but for more popular exercises like the treadmill, elliptical and so forth, there's multiples of those. All facing several flat screen televisions. Just like with the pool room, there's a changing room here as well. Alongside the pieces of machinery, there's a section for free weights as well. And an aerobics studio with a lot of floor space, the walls covered in mirrors. There's also no fancy lights or grand windows here.

"I thought I did decently at tennis in high school, but I may have been delusional." Byron says with a self-depreciating laugh. "But you are right. It definitely would be put to more use if it were covered." A pause now, to give her time to check things out if she wishes, as he keeps up the conversation, "So what brought you back to town? Just out of curiosity."

Every good place needed a gym! Maybe living above one, Chloe might actually get some use out of it. Not that she looked out of shape, but she could definitely improve on her muscle mass and stamina. She wanders a little, taking a closer look at some of the equipment - but doesn't stray too far from the entrance. "I'm pretty sure I almost gave the gym teacher a black eye once when I tried to hit the ball." She grinned over her shoulder at him. Then fell quiet as she thought about how best to answer his question. "To slow down. The hospital I was working at was running me into the ground. I'm not even an ER doctor - but what they don't tell you is that after the ER doctor, everyone gets assigned a general practioner." She shrugged.

"I barely had time to sleep and eat some days, let alone think about any specialties I might have wanted to pursue, if any. So...here I am. Mom and dad moved into a smaller house a couple years ago but kept the old one. So they said I could use it. Turning it in to a little clinic. Get my footing a little better and then maybe look into doing rotations at the hospital." Chloe finished as she stopped beside him again, apparently done with the tour of the gym. "What brought you back?"

"It's never too late to perfect that swing." Byron says, his grin wide with jest when he makes his comment on tennis. "I enjoy a good workout, but nothing beats going jogging out at 5am in the rain." He almost speaks of this in a fond manner. "If you're ever out for a morning jog, hit me up." Turning on his heels to continue with the rest of the tour, he nods quickly in agreement, "I've heard something similar mentioned before about the medical profession before. It sounds like a highly stressful life. I don't envy you," He starts, turning slowly so that his dark eyes settle upon her, "But I definitely respect what you do."

He follows up with, "Not that I have the best of schedules, but compared to what you've gone through? Mine is very lenient. I just take phone calls at all hours of day because a client is calling from England or Hong Kong when I'd rather be in bed. At least you set your own schedule now, but knowing the history of this town." There's just this light furrowing of his brow as if what he says next is really a serious topic, and more than likely it is, yet there's still a touch of lightness to his tone that doesn't make it sound overly ominous, "I'm pretty sure you're going to have your hands full once you're fully established and up and running. Still, it's good to have you back."

Leading her out of the gym, he continues back down the hallway towards where the elevators are. "As for me?" He keeps his attention forward, this look of chagrin on his features, "I learned that my mother sold our home and was living in the trailer park at some point when I was in California. So I returned. Got her out of Huckleberry and set her up in a nice place of her own." He idly licks his lips int hought, before adding, "It's also been several years since I'd seen some of my closest of friends, besides the ones who'd never left here, like Tobin," Everyone knows Tobin! Or Tobin's mom and her cookies, "There's been quite a few making their return back to time. Just like us."

Pressing the elevator button, he leads the way inside and only presses the number 6 once she joins him. "Now I'm going to show you one of our vacant suites. It's a model really, but we have a few vacancies in all three of the buildings on this property."

"I'll definitely hit you up." Chloe assured the man when he extended the offer of a morning run. Running was good for alleviating stress, as was some fresh air. A light smile on her features. "I appreciate it Byron. I respect what you do too. I'd be telling Hong Kong to fuck off and call me in the evening." A little grin given at that. The grin that fades just a touch when he talks about this town. Grey Harbor and it's weirdness. The weird that's always been there, on the fringes of everyone's lives. Or invading it. "You're probably right. But like you said, being up to my arms in patients is a good thing, yeah?"

Chloe follows him into the elevator, listening to his reasoning for coming home. A small frown fleeting over her face. "I'm sorry to hear that she was living there," because lets be honest - there was a reason people who lived in trailer parks tended to be called trailer trash and it wasn't all hogwash. " But it was good of you to get her out." A laugh then, when he mentioned Tobin. "Jeeze...Tobin. I can't even remember what he looks like. I'll have to try and say hi sometime. Or maybe his mom." Hopefully she had cookies!

"Great. I don't have a preference of which building I'm in, if they all are laid out the same. I'm not picky." Chloe mused. "I just want somewhere I can unwind, relax, and turn off work."

Often, people don't take him up on this jogging business. Especially, not in the early morning hours, so this smile brightens his features when Chloe actually agrees. "I mean, only if you decide to move in here. Now, now, I don't mean that as a pressure tactic or just as an incentive." This last part, Byron quickly adds, laughter heard in his voice, "Though if it sways you? All the better. But I would't want to wake you and drag you all the way here just for a morning run." That light laughter, turns into something more as he grins widely. "If only I could be so bold as you. But Hong Kong might not return my call if I ever uttered those words."

The elevator is of a modern style and rather than having various numbers with lights at the top, there's a digital screen right above the panel that scrolls through numbers for each floor. This is where the conversation turns awkward, when the topic of Tobin's mother comes up. As Byron is watching the numbers run its course, there's this tightness at his jaw at something said. His tone softens a touch now and at first, he doesn't look at her directly but his gaze does drift lower from the digital panel, "Tobin's mother vanished just before our," Well, his and Tobin's, "Graduation." He takes a hard swallow, eyes only now turning towards her, "But, I'm sure he'd love if you visited him. He owns the boat harbor owns the Gray Harbor Boat Tours now."

The ding is heard and he steps forward to reach a hand to physically hold the door open for her, "Go on ahead." Chivalry and all. That lightness returns to his voice. He then steps out once she does. Reaching into his pocket for his keys, his leads her down the hall to one of the doors, swinging it open once it's unlocked. "All of our units are similar to this, but some may have a slightly different floor plan."

These bright, spacious apartments are sleekly modern and updated inside. Pale hardwood floors and lightly-colored walls add to the sense of airiness within. One or two bedrooms with one or one-and-a-half bathrooms, they all follow the same general layout: entering through a window-lit living room, one can see into the small dining room, though most also boast a breakfast bar between the kitchen and the living room; the kitchen has high-end appliances, small but well-ordered to make it functional. A front-facing balcony is accessed through large French doors, the nicest of which look right out onto the ocean, and the less expensive models face toward the road and the city. Down a small hallway, one finds one or two bedrooms and one or two bathrooms. The master bedrooms also have their very own small balconies on the other side of sliding glass doors.

Chloe laughed and nodded in understanding, "Well - maybe I'd meet you halfway or something. If I decided this wasnt' the place for me after all." She mused, a little grin flashed again. "Well - you can always vent to me and tell an imaginary Hong Kong to do things. " She might as well be some kind of therapist too with all the studying she did before shifting gears to regular medicine. The air shifted and she ran her hand over her face, "Ugh, how could I forget that." Easily, probably. She wasn't close with Tobin or his circle. And it might've been something she heard about but all these years later it was a very distant memory. "Well, I'm glad you mentioned it before I made an ass of myself." She murmured, straightening a bit and smiling again. "A boat tour sounds fun. I'll certainly stop in and say hey."

The elevator opens, thankfully, and she steps off into the hallway. Waiting quietly and patiently as he opens up the door and then inside the apartment they go. "I like the hardwood floors." Was the first thing Chloe decided. It meant that any potential messes would be easy to clean up. "And the balconies. It's so nice to sit outside some nights." When it wasn't raining, and it meant that she could smoke in some kind of relative peace. She walked slowly, taking her time and taking in the kitchen, livingroom. Various little facets. "Is there anything else that's gone on since I've been gone that I should be clued in on?"

Of course, Byron's not going to let the conversation dwell too much on Tobin's mother. It was an odd and terrible topic and conversations like that did not rent out fancy apartment suites. In fact, they might even drive potential tenants away. However, Chloe's grown up in town. There's also this moment where Byron is looking at her, as if studying her with quiet contemplation. He honestly doesn't have to look long to see what he wanted to see. A smile now returning to his features to not make her feel as terribly as she might, he nods, "From what I've learned, you forget a lot about what happens in this town the further you are from it." That's an odd thing to say, but it may be something that she'll begin to realize eventually. "Then when you return? It hits you like a ton of bricks."

Once inside the model apartment, Byron moves towards the French Doors to swing them open to allow a purer view of the Harbor. "Take a look at this view. Now, I'm not going to say that every suite has a gorgeous view like this, but there are still some vacancies that do." The sky is still dark and dreary, but that's Gray Harbor for you! He gives the place a good once over, to ensure that everything has been kept orderly and that no one has been sneaking in her to use this model home, but then a question she asks piques his interest. He makes him take pause as he runs fingertips over a shelf, perhaps testing for dust, but there's this look of contemplation on his face. "There was a little scare on one of the most recent boat tours really." There's this moment where he's considering how much he should tell her, "It felt a little like a dream. I guess. If that makes any sense at all." Here, he partially turns to her, though more it's his eyes that seek her out to gauge her reaction to his statement.

"That doesn't surprise me in the slightest." Chloe murmured when Byron spoke of memories. "This town..." She trails off, fingers dancing over the counter tops and then shook her head. "It's special." And not in a good way, hanging off the end of it. Heavy. But anyone who lived here for any decent amount of time could come to that conclusion. She seems lost in thought for a moment, but shakes it off when he brings her attention back to the view and the balconies. Stepping over - but not out, because you know, rain - a smile formed on her lips again. "It is a pretty nice view. I've always loved seascapes. And it would be good inspiration for painting." An idle thought.

When Byron takes pause, Chloe eyed him closely. Obviously there was a little something. Listening as he explained, her gaze drifted back over to the harbor view. "Yeah...I understand what you mean. Well, the general feeling..." Spoken carefully almost as she looked back to him. Scruitizing. "What happened...?". It takes one to know one...faint though it was on Byron. Chloe's expression didn't shift or change though. Simply looking curious to hear more about this little scare.

"You paint? Interesting. Maybe you'll show me some of your works some time." Byron says seemingly impressed by this revelation. "But yes, the views would inspire like a muse. In fact, this whole Gray Harbor just has that sleepy, cozy small town vibe that attract some people." He continues on, stepping away from the shelf he was inspecting, "In fact, the person who I am picking up today has aspirations to write. I thought that he could use this place to help inspire his writing."

It's difficult to tell how much anyone in Gray Harbor knows about particular oddities that happen. Surely, many who live here has this spark, but you can't really say what they know or experienced. Thus Byron started by playing things carefully. No need for those who had not witnessed things to think you were a loon. By now, his attention is drawn elsewhere, most likely staring out at the bay through the open doors. "The skies were sunny and clear for once, which should have been the first warning. Then we were attacked by mad... and volatile seagulls before being swept into a storm and eventually ended up on an island. Full of hostiles. Eventually, we made it back. Safe and sound for the most part." This is when he turns back to Chloe, "It's just something that happens in this town sometimes. Hard to say if it's really a dream or some crazy multi-person shared hallucination." He then says, trying not to start a panic of sorts, "No one was seriously hurt, even if some of us still have the bruises to show for it."

"I picked it up in med school. Something to take the edge off besides the cigarettes and I didn't want to become an alcohol." Chloe laughed, but there was quite a bit of truth even in the lightness. A bit of curiosity when Byron mentioned he was picking up a writer. "How interesting. I'm sure he'll find plenty to write about." Or nothing at all. Depended heavily on what sort of writer he was, she supposed. She was studying him, curious...maybe a little cautious, as he started to describe the encounter.

"It is rather unlikely that it was a share hallucination. Unless you all had taken some drugs before getting on the boat." Is the answer that Chloe finally concludes. "You should be...careful." Wondering what he might be picking up off of her, if anything. Though his shine was dim, she could sense he was particular strong in one area. An area she hadn't spent too much time developing lately. She was tempted to try and get a deeper read on him - but resisted. Rule number one. No frivilous use of abilities.

Chloe shook her head, rubbing the back of her neck and sighing softly. Maybe questioning weather it had been a good idea to come back or not. "Well. I suppose the good news is that if something happens again like that - you've got someone on hand who can patch up any scratches." Flashing a smile and trying to relax. "Who won't ask questions that don't necessarily need answered."

"I'd say that cigarettes were a dirty habit, but from time to time, I cant help but reach for one." Byron says easily, moving towards the balcony again, before he works to close those French Doors, one door at a time, in the case that chilling winds blew some of the rain indoors. This talk of the hallucinations, has him asking, "What do you think of it all?" Here, his focus settles on her again, looking at her directly, though not in a confrontation or intense manner. "Would it be something that you might suggest medication or counseling to help alleviate?" He's testing the waters here, to see what she thinks about the madness.

This mention that as the new doctor in town, that he and the rest had someone to patch them up brings out his winning smile even more. "That is definitely good to know. It's really great to have you back in town." He then goes on to say the things that he ought, as he's making a pitch for this place, "Our units come with either one or two bedrooms and you would have two underground parking spaces and ample guest parking as you may have already seen when you arrived. We also have maid service every week, but you can make your own schedule as well. Pet are allowed of course and with this much space, there should be ample room for most."

"It is a dirty habit. My parents would kill me." Chloe gave a wry smile. Her parents would kill her for many things if she hadn't worked so hard to keep them at arms length. Her dad had been a preacher in town for forever so everyone knew her parents were pretty strict in most everything. Poor girl hadn't even gone to a school dance. Except when she sneaked out of the house for Senior Prom and was somehow back home and in bed before midnight. She meets Byron's eyes, expression conflicted. "Medicine can't fix everything. Counselling would be good if you really feel the need to talk to someone. But it should be someone who would understand. Who's suited for the task. Not just any old therapist out of a yellow pages." Perhaps subtly offering her services in that too. Talking. Maybe.

"I'm not sure if I'm glad to be back yet, but I do know it's been good catching up with you tonight." Chloe chuckled, listening to the rest of his pitch. She took another peek at the bedrooms and kitchen. One more sneak peek through the closed French Doors before they were heading back down to the lobby. "I'll be in touch soon Byron. I really like this place, I think it'll be perfect for me." A brief pause before she turned to leave, "...try not to have any more strange Dreams. But if you do and you have more bruises - like I said, hit me up." Then another smile. "Enjoy the rest of your night."