2019-08-19 - Those Addington Men

Having summoned Hyacinth Addington up to his penthouse office, Byron gestures to one of his guest chairs near his desk, opposite his own. Not that he's seated, in fact, he's lingering at the doorway as he asks, "Can I get you something to drink? A glass of wine? Something stronger? I can even offer espresso or tea if you prefer."

He's dressed sharply in a dark suit and tie outfit. Always trying to impress, especially in the company of an Addington. He looks mostly well-rested, despite everything that has been going on around town whether they relate to him or not. "I just want to get this straight, I do want your grandmother's sponsorship for my festival." The one he'd told her about a while back in order to get the permit from City Hall regarding it. "But, we were tipped off by someone from 'The Other Side' that the way to stop this Killer is to speak to Thomas Addington." He quickly says, "In my mind, I'm hoping to accomplish both. Addington sponsorship as well as getting whatever information we need from Thomas."

Hyacinth turns every appearance in public into a statement. It's no wonder she and Vyv get along so well. Grief or not she's never one to let the world know when it's gotten the best of her and prepares for this meeting as she has any other, though there's less oomph in running her projects like her sole focus. Her' heart's just not been into it with the general imperial focus she's known for. Feelings are stupidly inconvenient.

Byron, though, gets the green-light on the drink. One sparkle nail swishes in a circle, "If you can make a martini happen I will promote you to favourite cousin through the weekend." Prestigious honour. Ask her! Her laptop attache is set down in the chair nodding to him, "Which, certainly you have." Those hazel green eyes flick up to him and lock on. Oh god! He either has her interest or lint on him. "Back up. What have you found out about the death of the family?"

Byron's lips tug into a grin, though his brow quirks when she calls him cousin. Not many people know that part, not even him! Until recently. But it's always been a part of the Addington family tree. "I can handle a martini." The bar isn't really too far from his office door, so he doesn't care to stop the conversation just because he's stepped outside. "I see someone knows of their family history." A pause, before adding, "All this time, I thought that the Thornes were just one of the Addington families long and forgotten secrets."

She can hear the sound of bottle being set down, followed by another. Then comes to the sound of ice being sprinkled within. The canister being shakes is clearly heard, but he continues on, "My father used to mention it, usually after he's had a few drinks. But I didn't believe it at the time." Because Stephen Thorne, despite being a police detective, was also an angry drunk.

The tinkling sound of ice is heard once more once hitting against the strainer when the contents are poured out. "The glass might not be as chilled as you'd want. But I hope that this is adequate enough." He doesn't keep chilled glasses on hand! With a squeeze of lemon and a garnish of olive, which he does keep on hand, he finally rejoins her within the walls of his office, extending the glass in her direction.

"I found out that the murderer is someone named William Gohl. Others may know him as Billy the Ghoul. A serial killer from the past." He pauses, "When I say the murderer, I am not completely sure /how/ a long deceased serial killer is doing all of this, but it all started, I /think/ when a few others crossed through the other side and brought his bones back to ours."

It probably would have helped if someone asked her or one of the other family historians. She'd be the first to point out it's all RIGHT THERE and they need to stop slacking. Turning the Addington family into the ari*slackc*racy. but no one had asked and she never offered to inform them. Her hand gets played admitting, "You don't get to dig through that many records and historic records without knowing the minutiae crawling around this town. To be perfectly honest I didn't know so many didn't know. But, all the same, thank you." She sips the martini. Ah, bliss! and takes a deep breath adding sardonically, "What I didn't know is that I had a sister and my father had been such a right shit about it."

Her glass is given a light swish and he ears the rare and elusive, "Thank you." And then a pause. Full Stop! "Wait are these the same goddamned bones that Vyv was speaking of?" Oh, I'm sorry Byron, did you want her full attention? Now complete with battle alarms and laser vision accessories? You win. "Why the hell are they bringing relics of the dead back here? Is this amateur hour?" He pauses musing, "I wonder if this is what was affecting the ballroom..." Offhandedly she sighs reluctantly, "It's haunted." Scared? No. Terribly put out by this? Oh, do let her go on. For now a nail taps on teh side of the glass awaiting more info on this William. "What's Thomas know?"

There's so many things that Byron could say about the Addington family in regards to his own, especially after the Thornes seemed to have fallen out of favor, their prominence within the community dwindling at some point. Instead, he observes Hyacinth with a thoughtful look, an ever present faint smile on his lips. "That was generations ago, but you're right. Not many are really interested in family history. Until recently anyway." Rather than having made a martini or pouring himself a glass of any sort of spirit, an iced machiato is already waiting for him at his desk when he finally circles his table and takes a seat.

"A sister?" If it's Hyacinth's sister, that means someone else with just a hint of that Thorne bloodline. A bloodline that plagues that branch of the Addington family! "I suppose, I can't be completely surprised by the news. These things happen." He's talking children out of wedlock obviously. "Especially when powerful men are involved." A pause, "Are you going to reach out to this sister?" He knows full well of the tragedy of it all. "I'm sorry. About your father. I wish... that there was more that I could do, but we're only now putting the pieces together."

That said, he nods slowly when she mentions Vyv and these bones. "Yes. I know that they wanted the bones burned, but there came a point where some of them were burned. A few. And that in turn had a really bad effect on someone in town. He felt himself burning up as well. The parts, the bones that were being 'cremated'." He hurriedly adds, "If all of the bones were burned in full at one time, I don't know if he would've survived the shock and pain of it all."

He remembers the ballroom incident, but he has no idea if it's related. So he moves on, "In City Hall," That's where she probably sometime works! "There's this place on the other side, you can't find it unless it wants you to, I think. Anyway, we went there searching for information before we realized who this William was. There was a point where the whole town heard a voice croaking out, searching for William or Billy. I believe that was Gohl himself, looking for his own bones. Anyway," he goes on.. "There's this... creature, called the Archivist who works?" He's not sure, "In his own room in City Hall. He told us that he'd give us information in exchange for one of Gohl's bones. We gave him several, which we were told, would go to someone... or something called the Collector. But, that's not the point of all of this. The point is, we asked him if he know how we could stop these murders. He said that the Addingtons put a stop to William Gohl before and told me to speak to Thomas Addington specifically to learn more."

Leaning back in his seat, arm extended so that his hand rests beside his cool drink, he says, "That's why we are here today."

Hyacinth rolls her hand confirming only, "A sister. And you're not allowed to wine and dine her. I think it'd rather put her off and I like liking you, Byron." The glance is brief; sharp, but brief. She sips her martini and moves on after the requisite warning is delivered. "Her name is Frankie DuBois... I don't know what to make of all of this but it's hardly her fault and now? I'm concerned because a maniac is on the damn loose she might be allergic to." Oh, it's enough to etch Hya's static, cool demeanor. Dryly she says, "My father's legacy."

Long eyelashes flutter into a squint listening. "We're here today because my office is haunted and we're just thinking of informing me this?" Eyebrow arches. "Alright. Well you know my Great Aunt is never going to just let that happen." She sighs stirring her olive with a shake of her head, "If only because it isn't her idea perhaps. It's hard to tell."

Byron can't help but wear this grin when warned against hitting on this newly found Addington. Hey, if she's Hyacinth's sister, that means she's of Thorne blood too! No matter how diluted by now. Then the name is revealed and he blinks, that smile lingering still. "Frankie is your half-sister? I went to school with her. She's into some mystical stuff down on the boardwalk." His posture relaxes in full within the comfort of his chair, looking terribly amused, "Huh. Small world."

Ah fuck, now that Disneyland song comes to mind and he does his best to shake it off. The amusement slowly falters, his brow furrowing in displeasure. But that's his problem to deal with.

"Does Margaret Addington know about Frankie? I mean, I'll assume that she should, seeing as you do. And she's the family matriarch." A nod quickly follows, "You have a right to be concerned about your newly found sister's well-being. Especially in light of everything that's happened. A pause, "Do you know why your grandmother keeps Thomas Addington on such a short leash? Just curious. If she didn't then we wouldn't have to do this song and dance. But yes. Supposedly, Thomas Addington knows how to stop this killer. Would Margaret Addington know as well? I'm not sure, but I wasn't sent to speak to her."

OH those eyes get WIDE! And she squints at him so hard. If he wanted to get her goat her goat was just got. "I like her. I dunno anything much about her but I like her and my father's a goddamn idiot."Oh, she has the energy to be opinionated and angry for the world. It's not Byron's fault and he's certainly not the source nor recipient of her ire.

At the question of her mother Hya slouches back at ease and her hand rolls in rotation. "Yes, yes she apparently does. I'd say don't say anything but this whole town is one god damned hen house. As for why Thomas is kept on a short leash? Have you met the men of this family? They talk a good game but I truly question their commitment to competency. Some day though, we can fix this."

"Frankie's interesting, I'll give her that. Used to hang out with her some as kids." Byron says, taking a sip at his iced machiato. As he did with many other children who came from broken homes. "So you've met her already? That's good. What was her reaction to finding out that she's an Addington now? Well, Addington blooded. Unless.." A pause, "Margaret is planning to pull her into the fold?"

Speaking of Margaret Addington, "So your grandaunt does know?" How interesting! "And she hasn't said anything to you about it? That very well could be good news for Frankie then. But I can't say that I know how Margaret Addington operates." That look of amusement brightens his face and here he has to laugh, "The men in the Addington family? One of them did become the Mayor." He says, still smiling, "There were many an Addington Mayor in the past."

Setting his cup down, he then asks, "So how do you propose we do this? I mean, I /am/ hoping for Addington backing for my festival. That much is true. Unfortunately, she wants to conduct business at the Addington House, so that makes things a little bit..." His shoulders lift on that one, "It means that keeping her away from Thomas is going to prove tricky. But in truth, if it comes down to it, I don't mind pitching my festival idea to the both of them." He'll say that much about it.

Hyacinth flaps her hand, "I assume she knows everything and if she doesn't I have plans to inform her where my mother hid in the dirt." When he brings up her cousin she sighs and looks to his ceiling, momentarily distracted with analyzing the composure of the room. In this instance at least there's a gentle Hmmm. which may pass for agreement. Yes, there is that and he lets her do as she damn well pleases; not that she's not competent at her job but he keeps backing the proposals she pushes so complaints are shelved. That... she can't argue. "Singular is not plural. I'm just pointing out there's been a decline in really understanding our purpose here and- for the love of you and your suit, Byron Thorne, do not follow their example. Please."

She blinks and adds idly, "I only pull that word out for special occasions so you have to comply." At least it's a good request.

"Your festival is forcibly inspiring people to stop treating this town like a backwoods hobo ski camp." Yup, there's them feelings again! Shit, she might have more at stake in this than he does. "We've been needing and waiting for something like this to occur, and I've put together proposals and suggestions so that it can be annual. I'm almost inclined to say to hell with this Bloody William fellow and that this might marginally be more important."

Hya logic: If you can't decorate it, is it really super important? "Besides, I can keep her informed of what father's done. We have enough dirt to keep her informed of the things she needs to. And we're not doing anything we wouldn't anyways."

Of course they've had some history in the past. Teenage Byron was always looking for investors for his projects before he left for university. But there's rarely a chance to hang out with any Addington when you're just a...Thorne. Despite the bloodline. He does find her quite entertaining in that witty way. He shows his appreciation with a broad smile. "I'll make certain that you have not wasted that word on me." Though, to be honest, that's a difficult promise to make!

Then William is brought up. He knows that they've both experienced a lot in this town, so he has to confide, "I wasn't sure if City Hall would be interested in my plans. Especially those in the know..." Those who Glimmer. "Some who have heard of my proposal warned me of the dangers. I understand them. I've even informed the GHPD that we may need to amp up security, especially around Firefly Forest because of the festivities. The costumes. The visitors." A pause, "What do you think?"

Hyacinth drinks her martini slowly and considers his question about what she thinks. "Apart from needing to take warning labels off of things? I think it's dangerous to willfully live in the dark. I think it should be publicized as an increase in security due to reinforcing the city's love for the wellbeing of her citizens and the City Council's commitment to allowing people to enjoy this time free of hastle... and don't be stupid." Her nail traces the rim of the glass isly as she thinks. "It'll also leave assets in case there's a problem and if anything goes...weird it can be leveraged as entertainment. Or we find a scapegoat, blah blah blah community togetherness. Kumbaya and all that lovey shit. Really though?" She shakes her head musing, "I really like your idea and I think it needs to happen."

"A scapegoat?" Byron has to laugh at that, "I'm hoping that the festival won't go that badly. We'll definitely put up warnings for our guests, but I'm not doing this to lure trouble to our town. I'm doing this to help boost the economy, bring in new tourists. New blood. I have vacancies in my apartment building to fill." That's not a joke, even if he makes it sound like one. "But I'm glad that you like the idea. It could be anything, but I thought, why not play off the mysteries of Gray Harbor by throwing together a weekend long Mardi Gras style event. Around Halloween."

With all of that said, he then adds, "Now that you understand why we need to speak to your grandfather, I hope that things work out tomorrow. Maybe we can put an end to the murders." There's a passing thought, something that Isabella had mentioned before, "If it comes down to it and Margaret Addington bars access to Thomas, it might be best that she knows that with the Addington deaths so far, this may be saving not only the lives of her family, but that of her own."