2020-01-03 - It's called self-preservation, [family member].

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : A little birdie shaped like your father told me to ask you if you need someplace to land until you find someplace to live.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : You know, I was just going to text my favorite uncle about that. I'm sorry I didn't make it over the holidays. Headlines and crazy stuff. But now that I've got business in Gray Harbor, I might be able to drop some of the more...demanding clients I have.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : You don't have to apologize to me. All that you missed were murderous elves-on-shelves and something about a snow globe. We can rehash it later.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Who are you working for in GH? George's answer was "ask her." So I'm asking you.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : City Hall, the Historical Society...Addington House. Dad said he talked to...he didn't say who, but apparently, it's my job to handle the web design for the official Addington House website now.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Nepotism is a beautiful thing, child. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Re: the Historical Society. I have terrific gossip about the chairwoman. Remind me.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Nepotism doesn't bother me any. The rest of the Addingtons have a bit to catch up on anyway.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Re: The Chairwoman - I can't wait to hear all about it.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Your uncle? Cousin? Whatever relation Enzo is to you - he lives next door to me. He'd be DELIGHTED to have you stop in and say hello, I'm sure.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Don't ask me, I've spent 15 years out of the loop. Still can't keep track of the family tree. But I'll make a point of dropping by if you're sure he won't mind a visit.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : I'm absolutely positive he would LOVE if you just popped by. He often leaves the door unlocked. That's how much he likes the random drop-ins.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : If you weren't my favorite uncle, I'd say it's a trap. If he comes at me with a frying pan or a meat clever, it's your fault. LOL

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Just be prepared to duck.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Are you getting an office in town?

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : You're the worst, Uncle Pat. LOL I was thinking working from home, actually. All I need as a desk and a decent rig.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Frugal. You can use my spare room for now, but it lacks whatever a decent rig means.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Frugal isn't necessarily bad. I want to spend money on things I enjoy, not on work related expenses. Is that so wrong? And don't worry about the rig, that's just tech talk for a computer, and I'm bringing mine.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Is there some reason you can't spend money on both? I find it spends the same. Personally or professionally.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Maximum effort for maximum profit. Besides, I don't need a stuffy office. If I needed that kind of a space, you would hook me up with one, right?

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : I think you vastly overestimate the amount of real estate I command.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Wait, so being an Addington doesn't grant any extra real estate in Gray Harbor? Heh. 😛 Well I'm sure you'd find away. I can't possibly be the only one who benefits from nepotism and other Addington perks.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : MY office is on the third floor of Addington House and is the size of a shoebox. But you're welcome to ask Margaret for an office. Please invite me to be a fly on the wall for the conversation.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : No thanks. I would rather not. If I really need an office, I will figure something out when I get there.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Coward.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : It's called self-preservation, Uncle. Besides, I'm one of the Outsider Addingtons. She probably doesn't even know I exist.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Do you really believe that? Or is that just a more comfortable thought?

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Does it make any difference? Dad always said I was better off without. You and I both know the real reason I'm here, and it has nothing to do with Grandmother.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Dear God, don't start calling that woman Grandmother. AUNT Margaret if you must.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : And let's pretend I'm a simple man. Why are you here, Kitty Kat?

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Dad sent me to ... Aunt Margaret to learn more about my Glimmer. And every year since my sophomore year of high school, I've avoided Aunt Margaret. She terrifies me. But I should probably reach out. Now that I'm fully grown adult.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : You can try. She has her hands full with Thomas, from what I can tell. But I'm sure she'll be pleased to know you're here.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : As pleased as that woman gets about anything.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : I hear she's a black hole devoid of emotion, but that's my father's biased opinion

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : He was always prone to hyperbole.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : She always made me nervous. Is she really as terrible as she sounds?

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : No. She's just very set in her ways and has no patience for people who cross her.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Fortunately, I never cross her, so she's given me the keys to the deluxe apartment in the sky. Complete with a spare room. Thus making it very wise of you to have endeared yourself to me, clever child.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : I do what I can for maximum benefit, Uncle. Besides, you're not so bad. Do you want to be a fly on the wall for the Glimmer conversation then? I'm sure you would enjoy seeing your favorite niece squirm.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : No, dear. You play with your little abilities all on your lonesome. I haven't dipped a toe in those waters for a decade, and I don't intend to start.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Hit a sore spot?

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : It's called self-preservation, Niece.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Wow, Uncle. Just turned around and threw my own words back at me. Well played.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : I know. It's remarkable. Almost as if I used to argue professionally.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : We will TALK about this place and your abilities and why you're foolish if you use them, by the way.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : I just want to know more about them. The first time they manifested, I pretty much blew up a window. I just never got around to talking to anyone about them. But hey, if you want to give me that talk, I'd appreciate it.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : Just know that things around this town leave marks. It's better not to call attention to yourself. I'll explain more when I see you.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : All right. Well, I'm driving in and will in there tomorrow. I'll see you then and we'll talk. I promise not to do anything stupid.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : I will make sure the room is ready for you. There is no food at my apartment except oranges, though, so you're on your own for sustenance.

(TXT to Katy) Patrick : I will see you tomorrow.

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : Love you, Uncle. x

(TXT to Patrick) Katy : I'll bring us some takeout and we can talk.