2019-07-08 - After the Autopsy
During the autopsy, Byron knew that he'd upset Isabella in some way, so he sends her a text message trying to suss things out
IC Date: 2019-07-08
OOC Date: 2019-05-11
Location: Bayside Apt/Penthouse Bedroom
Related Scenes: 2019-07-05 - The Archivist Has No Bones 2019-07-08 - #Justautopsythings
Plot: None
Scene Number: 581
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Hey, Izzy. Look, what I said at the autopsy, I just don't want you to think I'm being flippant about everything. All of it.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: (a long moment of dots) It isn't that, Ronnie. I wasn't angry at you or anything. I mean, anyone who knows you knows about the entire family thing. I was just....
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: (more dots)
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: (even MORE dots)
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: I knew I'd upset you. (Waits to see if dots turn into anything, then continues). I just wasn't sure about what.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: I know how important our families are. Yours especially.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: It's frustration. Believe me, you didn't. It's not about your family, or even mine. ...well, that might be an exaggeration. Maybe a little but that wasn't...
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Ugh I'm so bad at this. I was never good at this. Give me a second.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Take all the time you need. I mean, I thought that this was about your family history. Those bones. They could possibly belong to one of your ancestors if they are William's.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: (after more dots) It's that stupid pink blob dragging all of us in some stupidly dangerous situation. I didn't like the way it talked to Alexander, and I hated the way it talked to you. Like you were some additional piece to the drama and it knew, KNEW that we needed it to talk so it was just...dangling us around like puppets on strings with its stupid pink jelly sphinx bullshit act.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: If I had to do it all over again I would've let Alexander do...whatever. Or maybe do it myself. Just grab it and stomp on it and leave it there, deflated. Part of me wouldn't care. I'll find answers some other way. It didn't have to be...
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: How does Clayton tie into all of this first of all? I mean, I'm not going to lie, the thing rambling off those names? I wasn't keep track of most of it. And despite how it looked, I'm not sure if we would have been able to do anything against it. I mean, probably if we used our abilities, but was that a dream? Was it an actual place that we were teleported to?
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: I'll try and parse it, the family tree. I just need to stop being frustrated to think - it'll pass. As for it being a dream...maybe. Sid had been walking into dreams since we were children, I don't doubt that we can do the same. It's just that...we don't do it deliberately. I think the Archivist pulled us in.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: After all, we wanted to see it. It just decided to answer at a very specific time.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: As for Alexander, I'm not sure but he might not be who he says, or thinks, he is. The Archivist said he knows who he really is.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Yes, I sort of recall that. And looks like the Archivist made him a promise if he brought the bone.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: I don't remember Alexander reacting to that...I wouldn't discount the idea that he's hiding something. But he wouldn't be unusual in that...we all have our own ghosts.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: I guess we'll just have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst when we deliver it. Like I've told him time and time again, no plan survives first contact with the enemy.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: For now, we wait to hear back from Faust. Make sure that these bones belong to William.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Do you feel weirdly about the fact that you are related to this person?
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: I...
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: (dots)
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: When Sid and I were very young, we always felt connected to this place. Deeply...like at any moment we could sink, never to be heard from again. Like we'd just be assimilated somehow and become part of it forever. I never understood it. I never understood why. But that feeling finds some twisted rationality when you take into account that this town started with the Baxters.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: I don't how I feel about that. The idea of just, I dunno, merging with everything that once was. Our dark past. It's not just something that I can wrap my head around, unless Sid were talking about a dream. Or the dream world. It's hard to explain.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: I know precisely how we should feel about it. Like you said earlier: Fuck that.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Your family, this town, did its best to chip away at you so it could get to the heart of you. You came back to it anyway but that was more than it deserved.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: I never really got the chance to ask and it's not a question I felt comfortable asking to begin with, but from what we already know, the Baxters have a very dark past. What will you do if what you learn about your family isn't... I guess you wouldn't have other expectations about your family now. But your mother was a Baxter. And from what I remember, she was nice and kind.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: {No dots, but long pause in text.}
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: The Thornes were once a prominent enough family. But that's history right now. And I came back because I had to.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: You could have just asked me while looking me in the eye. I've never known you to hold back on me. Don't start now. As for the family history....it's all it is, Ronnie. You know what they say about people who don't know it, right? Doomed to repeat it? In the end, I just want to know enough to do...what I need to.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: And I'll be there to help you do just that.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: And yeah...I know, B. If you had a choice, I have no doubt you'd choose differently. But I knew you then, I think I know you, still. Even if the town doesn't deserve you, you can't help but be kind.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: (Follow the bouncing dots)
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Kind isn't the word that I would use. But, it's nice coming from you.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: We haven't seen each other for eleven years and here you are going so far as to diving into that much weirdness with me, knowing it could get deadly. Going so far as keeping my teeth in my mouth. Kind is the word I'd use, even if it wouldn't be what you would.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Big surprise right? Us not agreeing on something. ::winky face::
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Here I am thinking that I'd hate my family even more the more I learned about them. Of course, there's hope that I'd find something interesting. Something other than the fact that a great grand aunt married into the Addingtons. Then I think of you and we already know so much about the Baxters. I suppose, that some of it could be a bad rep. I'm hoping that's what you find.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: You really made Clayton and I look bad. Offering up 3 of your teeth that way. But, like you always say about me, I wouldn't have expected anything different. 😉
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: We'll figure it out. The Archivist said you were interesting...in that voice. That way. I hated it, B, because it could mean that you're tied into all this mess also, and I don't want that for you. I'd give almost anything, maybe even four teeth.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Uh oh, you ought to be careful Mr. Thorne, for about five seconds you almost sounded like you admired me. Where was that when we were in high school?!
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Do you know how difficult is it to compete and be one-upped by someone you admired?
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Not all that difficult really.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: He said that I was interesting, probably because I'm related to the Addingtons.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Actually yes. Yes, I do know what it's like to compete and be one-upped by a person I admired.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: And maybe. I don't know, Ronnie...I can't shake the feeling that there's something else there.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Between the two of us, for your sake, I hope I'm wrong.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: It can't be worse that what I already know about my family.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Don't say that. You know that around here, it always could be. Whatever it is though, I've got your six.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: And for your sake Izzy, I hope you find what you're looking for. The information that can help you. No matter what it is.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Well...even if I don't, there's nothing for it than to just wing it. I just can't...
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: (dots)
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Well, you know me. Nothing can stop me once I decide.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: You've always been a force to be reckoned with. Always. Glad to have you back, Iz. Though, just as you'd want to me to be anywhere but here, I feel the same way towards you. Let's get that bone to the slime monster, then let's hope that what work you have to do here, that it will be accomplished in a quick and threat-free timely manner.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Hah hah, well, so are you. There's a reason why we were rivals, after all. 😉 I'm glad that we met again also, B. I hope you know I mean that.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: We still need to talk about legitimate treasure hunting once I receive permission to discuss it to a potential investor though.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: I'm definitely looking forward to that. Oh, by the way, I hope you don't mind that I mentioned possibly investing in your project to Lilith. She has an interest in investing in it as well.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: But one thing at a time. First we have to go slap some answers out of the Archivist's gross, too-wide mouth. And nah, I don't mind...this is the sort of industry that's always looking for people willing to finance an undertaking. I'll tell you all about that later, you'll probably find the numbers involved pretty interesting.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: I love it when people talk numbers.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: ::laugh:: Oh, I know. I hate them, you love them. It's practically destiny.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: You hate them, yet you refused my help on your math homework.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: It's going to be another long day tomorrow, but remember: If something strange starts to happen because of the bones, let me know right away.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Well naturally, it's like how you wouldn't let me tutor you on history. It was honestly for our own good in the end...if we studied together we'd never get anything done. We would never have gotten the grades, and we wouldn't have been able to go off to college. Things happen for a reason!
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: And yeah, you too. You know that, right? Or just anything really. I have a lot to make up for, the last decade.
(TXT to Isabella) Byron: Just anything really? That's an open invitation for disaster. If I were a chattier person, that is. Hey, at least I'm not threatening to send you autopsy pho-- Nevermind. I'll talk to you later. Goodnight.
(TXT to Byron) Isabella: Ronnie, our entire lives you were always a welcome disaster. You know where to find me, and if you ever did send me autopsy photos, you're going to end up in one of them. Anyway yeah, talk soon. Goodnight!
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