2019-12-30 - A Star Cinema is Born

Thew Moore has no idea how to do this other than things he's been studying online - but he knows well enough to make appointments, and enough to bring a little extra in the briefcase he's restored for the appointment. Head down when he approaches the... door person? Secretary? But they're a little unnerved to see the town gravedigger, and amused to send him to his appointment with Hyacinth.

That unnerved might be either because of Thewlis or for him having to go deal with the imperious perfectionist who is wearing her fitted black slacks and almost-off-the shoulder chocolate brown fuzzy sweater. Everything in her office is dust free. There's everything in order and a neat little in/out/pending box on the corner of the table behind her desk that has one plant that dares not wilt on her for the life of it. Sharp green eyes snap up to the gravedigger and one hand rests flat to the writing mat atop her red mahogany desk, other one folded over the top of it. As he comes closer to the two chairs opposite her and her coffee cup she foes stand and offer a hand in a gesture to sit. "Mister Moore? I see we meet proper. I understand you have a proposal you wish for review?" She checks her memo. Yes. That's what it says, though she may already assume this is for a waterline extension or a gas line for the cemetery or a new chapel for on property or some such. "How can we help you today?" She really does love enunciating every syllable doesn't she? This will be fun.

Observance has been Thew's watchword, all his life. How to avoid Maggie, when she was in the best mood to slip past, how to react to people at the graveyard, how to avoid others in public. When she offers a seat he takes it, but he stands until she sits down, and only then does he settle in, resting his briefcase on his lap, opening it and reaching in.

He's taking long breaths, trying to not stare at his hands or his knees, making occasional eye contact but it's clear that he is fighting severe social anxieties right now. There is another moment, eyes closing for just a moment and a noticeable pause before he gets out.

"Th-thu-thank you f-f-f-oo-fhoo--or seeing muh-me. Miss Addington. Pu-pluh-plhee-please forgive muh-my stutter... I will endehh-end-Try to kuh-keep it unduh-under control..." a small box marked with the logo for Patisserie Vydal and a soft brown ribbon tied about it is removed from the case, set on her desk length side to the front and back - and with a long time handy-man's eye for leveling to exacts. "Puh-puh-luh-lease accept these as... an apo-ho-hohlogy fuh-for inconvenience and th-thanks fo-ohh-ohr your patience."

If this a test? Is that being tacked on a tally list in her head somewhere? Oh, she's patient and calculating and to many? Well she's frightening. If one is looking for warm fuzzy assurance that everything will be fine it does not come. What does hold is a stoic, pleasant professionalism. Her eyes though, not one to miss a detail, goes to the box. She knows that box. She knows where that comes from and who folded that box and knows, without looking, there is victory over mediocrity in that box courtesy of...her BFF. While she nods and mentions it not beyond a "That is very generous of you." her thumbs tap together. Somehow she doesn't cradle the box off her desk like a Heiserman trophy and yes YES IT"S MINE! MWA HA HAA!

Somehow she manages. The smile does seem genuine though.

Do. Not. Rush through the meeting, Hyacinth. "Good things take time and rushing invites error, Mr. Moore. Please take all the time you need." but let us all get home today might be buried in that whirling brain of hers. Eyes go to the briefcase with a genuine interest, "You have a blueprint draft or a concept idea for us?"

Several folders are pulled out and placed on the desk with the same care. Green, Manilla, and Burgundy - labeled and even the items inside have color coded tabs on them. Some things are learned when you have to keep track of a whole lot of acreage of dead people. Or if you build models. Or you free-lance do electrical engineering learned on the job in the mill owned by the lady who is sitting across from you.

"Th-theres a... B-b-b-building in the muh-Maple area. The oh-ohhld Audito-hor-horium halls." he frowns and motions to the manila folder with public record info of the blueprints, and roughed in concept work for how the two auditorium halls could be modified for theaters, and an outdoor drive-in kept out of the way of the public at large.

"I ha-hahhhve p-p-p-projected c-cost and p--p-oh-hoh-potential revenue d-during tourist and ah-ahhh-off season" pointing to the green folder, "Ah-han-hahh-and of course... a luh-list of deh-dhehh-dedications that can buh-be placed on sight, and fuh-film fuh-feh-fehhh-festivals should you require" the burgondy.

That same mill that ate her leg. Craziness. The folders are taken one by one and the slight tension in her shoulders fades with the OCD care of someone that knows how to organize and not one of those moments that feels as if she's being handed someone's high school scrap book. Small mighty mercies!

She lays the project out carefully and meticulously so things are kept in order. Photographs are handled by the edge. He might stutter and look like a runaway hobo on bad days, but Alexander Clayton does too and they all seem to endure that. The amount of care though he's put into it seems to be matched for with detail so it is not taken out of order either. There is a respect and passion for something taken care of rather than aversion to touching a 'thing' and judging net value.

The folders are set down as wheels under her low-back white rolling chair spin with bringing her to a book shelf and let her nails, still a gloss dark brown and gold metallic french manicure thwip thwip thwip across the spines of the folios until she pulls one labeled by street. It's 1.5" thick and might weigh a pound. It hits the corner of her desk with a thud. "When it was first built..." Her nail circles one of the folders in a move this gesture. "It was not entirely in contemporary with the rest of the town which means to revitalize it... we have some options. Let me find the original photographs of it. While I do this tell me are you thinking tiny Cannes festival or what are your thoughts here?"

"An ah-hah-hactual movie th-th-thuhh-theater to suh-start. Puh-p-private screen ah-ah-ahhh-hoptions, r-r-regular releases..." Thewlis keeps his breathing controlled, watching her retrieve things and look through her folders, politely quiet when there might be noise that may risk her asking him to repeat himself.

"Fuh-fih-film festivals c-c-could help ih-hin the off seasons." head tipping to the side. "Make ah-ah-hall seasons the on suh-season. C-c-could help raise p-p-property value as wuh-whe-wh-well." chewing at his lower lip.

"B-b-buht... Regardless of t-t-tourists, most p-p-p-eople love muh-movies. Give puh-people more outlets."

Hyacinth holds her hand up in the gesture of stop. Stop talking. Her finger holds with a wiggle in the One moment gesture. Abrupt isn't she? And no with the slow hand flapping as her eyes scan the content of his proposal vs. the original concept. Well the hold right there gesture of her hand is promising.

"Okay according to record that I see here the lot next to it that you'll want was zoned..." Her fingers move to her touch screen on her monitor and she says thoughtfully, "For parking so if,"Her finger goes up, "We call this parking for the drive through... in. Drive in? we actually don't have to re zone it so much as I would advise keep these two separate properties on paper. It'll be two addresses and two mailboxes but then you won't have to actually pay for a rezoning fee to make that lot commercial which it'd technically have to be because the theatre proper is a business. So!"

Her fingers come to rest folding in front of her, "I thin you have a promising plan and I can tell you City Hall will be pleased at giving residents one less reason to go to Auberdeen to watch heroes Avenging things." The smile for all purposes, doesn't seem bent on consuming his soul today. Convenient that. "We'll need a copy of your build plan, and what not, and then we can Get the inspection run through for fire, electric, infrastructure, etcetera." Pausing she asks curiously interested, "Have you a contractor, Mr. Moore?"

"Mah-mahn-Manilla folder." Thew points to the folder in question. "One I th-th-think connected t-t-t-o y-y-our fuh-family's... a-haahhhctually." Thew manages a very small smile, though it's clear that he's forcing it through his social anxieties, even if it is genuine. "Ca-ah-cah-Carter M-m-Monroe. F-f-uhll plans inside, gh-g-gh-green folder."

A man with the social problems of Thew Moore comes fully prepared, even if he pays for draw-ups that could be for nothing. A person with even a passing knowledge of the caretaker knows he rarely goes into public - so would it be particular that he'd be prepared to acceptance, even if it might get denied?

Hyacinth slides the folder over and reviews it. "This, Mr. Moore, gives me hope for this town to not turn into a run down skate park. This is what I can do for you, Can you leave these copies with me so that I can get the paperwork started and things filed. You should hear back in, hmmm within a business week so I can have the weekly review board stamp off on it and get copies filed with the city. This is your contact information in the inside of the green folder?" Her hand and one index finger exteeeeeends and sliiiiides that Vydal box over.

Yeeeees...

"I think you have a really well thought out business model and I'll be happy to work with you through the inspections, Mr. Moore." She reaches over and pulls a business card, hers from the holder. "I'd be happy to put in a word with Preservation to see what we can do to assist you if you are looking to restore back to vintage upholstery and wallpaper and whatnot. We have printers that might be able to help you out."

"V-vi-vhi-Vintage designs, yuh-yehs." he nods as he accepts the card. "Muh-m-my contact... in ah-ahll three. On the cards. " efficiency. "I w-w-would appreciate th-the printers info... d'd'you think th-they will opp-p-p-pose more m-muh-modern seats wh-wh-with classic upholstery?"

He watches how she reacts to the chocolates, eyes in a flickering movement, but he makes no comments on it, but a corner of his mouth is raised.

"And yes, th-those copies w-wh-where for you."

Oh what a question to ask her. Half of her wants to scream yes we will mind! and the other half wins assuring, "Not all of the historic seating had ADA compliance, nor comfort in mind with what we can afford with more modern materials. I'm sure we can reach a compromise." She pauses wrinkling her nose, "They're on their own to buy their own cars though."

Noting the wrinkle of the nose, Thew offers a frown. "I like... classic too. B-b-buht uncomfortable seats... th-th-they kill theaters. Th-then you ha-haaahhh-haaaahhhh-ve another rotting duh-deh-derelict. " Thew stands up with a nod. "I ha-haa-have a number of muh-minimal ch-ch-changes th-that can buh-be hidden... Buh-buht only if the-they're needed fuh-fo-fore code r-r-r-requirements." He takes a moment, thinking.

"I wuh-want as mmmmuch kept... as it s-s-should be. Bu-b-bb-but c-c-compromises... for c-c-code and sur-suh-survivability?" He nods to himself, and then juts his chin at the box. "Tt-t-truffles an-ahn-and mouses… Hope that balms... any nuh-ne-neh-needs for updates."