2020-02-18 - Addington family field trip

Turns out, it's a lot harder to get the Addingtons under one roof than one might have anticipated. Between people being charged with talking to Margaret and Thomas, people going off on adventures through the Veil, Valentine's Day doing whatever it does to people, people who apparently have to deal with issues downtown and sawmill issues and... Look. The point is: there were a lot of reasons that a brunch didn't immediately follow the changes.

By now, it's been a bit more than a week since people got all rattled, but there's finally a chance on a random Thursday morning when everyone gets one of those family texts from Patrick to the tune of Addington House having no tours booked this morning, so he's given the staff something to occupy them, and there's breakfast in the downstairs foyer if people would like to come by and eat and... whatever. He'll be in-and-out throughout the morning, just now stopping to make himself a much-needed cup of coffee.

Katy steps into Addington House, dressed as if ready for a meeting, pink slacks and a gray blouse under a nice linen jacket, her black winter pea coat draped over her arm holding her pink purse. She had been gone a couple of days around Valentine’s Day but was back and everything was business as usual.

When Patrick had sent the family wide message, she decided it would be wise to see if anyone had managed to get answers from Aunt Margaret. She hoped Enzo and Hyacinth had things to report.

When she finds the breakfast spread, Katy does not hesitate to go for pancakes. She also grabs some fruit to have something considered healthy on her plate. She also grabs some coffee and sits on the nearby steps to eat.

There's a nice little nod from Patrick to Katy over the rim of the coffee cup that he's holding to himself like it's the crucifix that will ward away all evil spirits and/or whatever weird shit his family decided to drag in with them. "Morning." There's a quick watch-check, just to confirm that it is, indeed, still morning, and then he's leaning against the rail for the staircase, watching the door idly. "I'm not sure Enzo's going to make it. Something about gnomes and the hospital and pustules." He sips. "But we can always hold on to hope."

Katy raises an eyebrow at Patrick’s comment about Enzo. “The last time I got into that kind of trouble, I literally fought myself, a doppelgänger, out of self defense. And won.” She pauses and adds quietly, “Don’t worry, I’m not running around flaunting my mind tricks or anything. It’s just been crazy lately. Memories I didn’t remember having are coming back...”

She shrugs as she finishes off the food on her place.

"He's not dying." The sharp, definitive tone of Hyacinth carries across the doorframe with the echo of her unique cadence. Her hand rolls skipping past the good mornings as they aren't good and if she didn't deign to grace them with her presence as worthwhile company she'd not have showed. At the sake of not repeating the obvious her hand rolls with a sigh and update setting her purse strap and then coat across the back of the chair. "It turns out he's not contagious thank God, and Alexander is picking him up from the hospital to take to Enzo's apartment until he's" not gooey? Her nose wrinkles, "Better."

There are things that Enzo misses and things that Enzo does not miss. Something Enzo does not miss? Food. He comes waltzing (limping) in some time after Hyacinth, looking fresh and clean if incredibly beat up. The gnomes were gracious enough to not rip out any of his hair, unlike CERTAIN DOLLS, so he looks pretty good. Mostly. Anything terribly injured his covered up with bandages, he drops down into one of the chairs and winces in pain. "Where are the drinks? Hello everyone."

Katy raises an eyebrow at Hyacinth’s update on Enzo’s condition from her position on the staircase, not bothering to move, she was close enough but still kept a comfortable distance between herself and everyone else nearby. “Good to know he’s not dead,” he says to Patrick and her in a casual tone as she clears her plate, and when she hears Enzo ask about drinks, she adds, “Speak of the devil.”

After a soft chuckle at Katy's laments, Patrick starts to say something - "And he shall appear. They shall appear." He blows air-kisses at Hyacinth, lifting his coffee as if to explain why he's not coming all the way over for the real thing, and then tilting that cup toward the spread over there. Coffee. Orange juice. Orange juice as a mixer. Get crazy. "Morning. How are things?" he asks of either of them, both of them.

Who even drove Enzo here? It probably wasn't Alexander, who likely dropped him off at the apartment after he released his guest into the woods, expecting him to STAY there. Probably some hapless soul. He smiles across the table to his relatives. "Oh, my day is going really, really well. How is everyone elses?"

Patrick gives Enzo a once-over, amused, and asks quickly, "Escaped again?"

"Well, technically they evacuated the wing I was in. So I evacuated to my apartment," Enzo replies easily. Because it's the truth.

“As back to normal as things are going to get in Gray Harbor, I’m at least back to the daily grind.” That’s all Katy offers to the group in response to Enzo’s question, then she watched Patrick and Enzo with interest.

With an ahhhh and a nod, Patrick agrees, "Well, that was probably very wise of you." This coffee is really good. Before he commits himself to it entirely, he continues, "So, do you two want to tell us about your visit? Or should we start with the other nightmare going around town?"

"I suppose that we could," Enzo says after a moment. Then he struggles to his feet and goes to mix himself a drink, which he does with a considerable amounts of struggle because he should really be resting. Then he sort of gestures to Hyacinth and says, "I think my sister has a good idea of how to summarize that encounter. It was interesting alright."

In a white vee neck tee and a pair of cuffed boyfriend jeans, Atli enters the room, surprised to see anyone else. She has a pack of piano strings in her hand and blonde curls are pinned backwards in a focused manner.

“Was there some sort of meeting today? I really would have dressed up.” She looks rather embarrassed, color rouging her cheeks. “The disappearance has had Mom rather upset considering Dads...passing a few months ago...” She bites the inside of one lip trying not to think of the rate at which Addingtons were dwindling. She was usually more put together than this, trying to find time between dealing with her out of sorts remaining parent to come into work.
“Uh, hello everyone!” She pageant waves with fake cheer.

This was comical. The idea of stopping for coffee before heading out is why Kyle pulled into the family driveway. Finding it packed had him curious though so he entered the home. Standing tall and proud in his forest camo, the appearance of the others had him surprised. He pulled his phone to see if he missed any texts.
"So I am either really late or really early. Hi guys... do we have any coffee?" He grinned and tried to play it cool.

Patrick's brows climb upward while he soundlessly repeats the word 'interesting,' aiming a curious look Enzo's way. Any comments he might have had get waylaid when Atli enters, in her t-shirt and jeans, and he reflexively smooths a hand down the tie under his suit-jacket. It's a super passive-aggressive move. But at least he smiles as if pleasantly while he does it. And then Kyle enters a moment later, and he just winds up shaking his head and looking to the ceiling for inspiration. He also points to the coffee and what-not; it's over there.

Hyacinth isn't without empathy, it's just very... other. Hearing Enzo's voice she pauses and turns on peg and heel lifting a hand like she wants to pat his shoulder in some comfort but it hovers.

Is he contagious? Is he gooey? Will it ruin him like the freaky nightmare from the other night? Yeah. Well, eew... In case the gesture turns into a vague wave of her hand to usher him in. There there. Eyebrow goes up and narrows slightly before turning back to the family. "Morning, Atli. Not formal, no." Sparkle nails flap in the direction of the carafe which means either It's there, Kyle or possibly Ooh me too.

Sitting she draws a napkin across her lap pausing, "Grandfather's not there and Margaret is... now able to have, by some means, the ability to lock down her home from the strange and unusual." Looking to Patrick she notes, "This was not previously so, but the range was oddly impressive. She claims she doesn't know where he is, but my next stop after this is to go investigate the cemetery." She pauses and flips her coffee cup over on the saucer and nudges it towards Kyle.

"When... we were at father's funeral and Ghol's he acted... odd. Very odd? Regretful." She pauses and says in a casually detached manner to keep things professional and manageable, "I mean he is responsible for the death of his own child. He should, but..." Her jaw shifts a bit drawing a deep breath turning the handle of her cup so it is a slight bit closer to perfectly aligned.. Quieter he offers, "He was particularly tired and affected when we removed the parasite from him, so we'll see." Taking a deep breath she says, "I think moving forward it will be up to us to keep the responsibilities of the family moving forward. There is more than a small bit to discuss, but it looks as if grandfather has officially...retired."

Atli does her best not to wince at the mention of her fathers murderer, remaining outwardly perky. In fact she returns Patrick’s slight with a winning grin. One didn’t make repairs in a ball gown, and that was simply the way it was. She was convinced the piano had not sounded entirely right since the snow globing. Atli tried to avoid the uncomfortable ‘other aspects’ of family affairs whenever possible, they had always given here nightmares and recently was no exception.

Smoothing her jeans as she pockets the strings, she stands perfectly straight backed. Her hands are clasped before her, which she attempts not to wring. Today’s change of agenda was not a choice on her part, but she would certainly listen and help however she was expected. A nod is given to Hyacinth in comprehension.

Immediately after that look comes his way, Patrick answers Hyacinth with a prompt, "Don't look at me. That would be entirely your purview, darling." Not that he doesn't sound a little envious, but he is then quick to hold up a finger and shake it at the mention of the cemetery, no no no. He's quiet while she finishes, then chimes in, "There's nothing at the cemetery. Don't bother. Anne, Clayton, and Isabella Reede went meddling with all that already." His tone is now exactly as peeved as a person using a word like 'meddling' is meant to sound: irritated at idiot children. "All that it got them was locked in some kind of bizarre shrine on the Other Side."

To sum up: "The grave is empty."

Enzo isn't gooey or delicate, though he is a bit sore, so he's happy to not be clapped about on the shoulders or anything. He appreciates his sister's concern from afar. Meanwhile, a full explanation of what transpired at Margaret's is provided and he's blessedly quiet for its delivery. Atli and Kyle's arrival is met with a thin-pressed lipped smile of greeting. Then he slowly lowers himself onto a chair, cradling his drink as he turns to regard Patrick and the news of the cemetery. He looks at him for a long moment before just going, "Huh." Then he takes a sip and leans back. "What's the next step after the cemetery?"

There is a quiet moment from Katy as she listens to everyone speaking, sipping on the coffee she has, now cold but she doesn’t care.

Hyacinth’s words were all a blur in her mind as she is feeling quiet disconnected from everything. Her grand-uncle’s untimely demise and her grand-aunt’s special gift seem to be of little interest to her. She is not even a cousin, but a cousin’s child, and she starts to wonder why she is here until she realizes she still has questions.

She raises an eyebrow at Patrick when he mentions the empty grave and outsiders, non Addingtons, meddling. She crosses her arms and listens as Enzo speaks, asking a question she wanted the answer to. She is irritated but then she says, “I suspect the sawmill I saw in my dream previously is where we go next?” Katy shrugs.

Kyle heads over to make himself a cup of coffee then pours a second for Hyacith leaving black. Listening to the conversation he looked at Katy when she mentioned the Mill.
"That was actually where I was going to head up to. Figured a little bow hunting and exploring around the Sawmill might be just the thing I need to sleep better at night. Was just stopping in for some coffee. Woke up at dumb o clock and around find the first cup fading."

To that 'huh,' Patrick adds, "Anne seemed to think it shouldn't have happened that way. That if she was leaving from the cemetery at Saint Mary's, she ought to have arrived on the Other Side in roughly the same place?" The uncertain tone invites Enzo's expertise, 'cause Patrick is (happily) clueless about all this door opening BS. "But the two places don't seem to work properly." So insightful.

Katy and Kyle start talking about the sawmill, and he just shuts up and pretends to sip coffee. That cup is empty, but he commits to the moment.

"Huh," Enzo repeats and he drinks from his (actually not empty cup). "They mentioned something about having a bad trip. Actually," he thumbs at his lower lip, pausing to listen to discussion of the sawmill with a grimace. "Anne asked me if I had any trouble getting through the last time I opened one. But it didn't, it was fine. More than fine." Then he makes with one painful shrug, "Could be a coincidence."

"Could be." Patrick says this with such dullness as to make it plain that he, in no way, believes this could possibly be a coincidence. "You could always tag along with the dynamic duo," he nods toward Katy and Kyle in turn, "to the sawmill. Knock on that particular door." He drops his eyes briefly to the shoulder that was so painful for Enzo to shrug, then smiles into his cousin's eyes. "See what answers."

Enzo sinks down in his seat and then casts a look over at Kyle and Katy, Double K Duo, as it were and thinks for a second. "I'll do it. But I'm not doing it this week, mostly because I only just- I was only just discharged today." He drinks from the glass. DRINKS. He needs to recover before he goes banging on any 'doors' around the sawmill.

Patrick leeeeeans forward into that tiny hiccough in the middle of Enzo's statement. He was only just...? And then there's course-correction, and he sniffs into his (long-since) empty coffee cup, letting his forward lean become the step that takes him over to all the crap arranged for breakfast. "If you find any skeletons on the other side, do us all a favor?" He looks up briefly from pouring coffee, including all the cousins - or however all these people are related, it's fucking confusing - in the 'us' that need the favor. "Just leave them alone. They're probably Margaret's. And skeletons from the Other Side always mean Bad News." Can everyone hear the Title Caps in that sentence?

Seeing the pain in Enzo’s reactions, Atli’s brow bows. From what she could recall Isabella, whom had been mentioned worked at a hospital. This made her unsure as to why Enzo was in any pain at all. The sawmill was creepy and mysterious in its importance or whatever, but surely the stationary building could wait.

“Vincenzo, I could try to do something about the injures if you like? You don’t have to just sit in pain.” It was the least she could do given her absence at the initial crisis and the work he had done. She may also simply be avoiding the topic of the sawmill in her remark. If she didn’t bring more attention, perhaps someone may come up with a plan involving anything else. Unlike Patrick, she did not have pretend coffee to sip in avoidance, so she was making do with what she could.

"I'm not bringing back any damn skeletons," Enzo confirms, like he can't believe Patrick would even suggest that he might do something like that. Which is really pretty ballsy of him considering his month has involved doll and gnome attacks and he's drinking alcohol at brunch while hunched over in pain. It's fine, this is fine. Ideal even. To Atli, he idly corrects, "Enzo." Then there's a curious look tilted at her and he looks briefly conflicted before sighing. "No, unless it's drugs. Or basic first aid."

"You say that..." Patrick's brain rolled through all that meta, Enzo, about the doll attacks and gnome attacks. Not the part about the alcohol, though. He's too busy putting a little Irish in his coffee to be judging Enzo for imbibing before lunch. Now that his coffee is drinkable, he does that whole 'sip and eyeball people' thing again, this time eyeballing Atli's offer - only to sputter at Enzo's refusal. "Excuse me." Napkin, dab face, ah better.

"Are you having a stroke? Do you need me to call 911?" Enzo asks, struggling to reach his phone in his pocket. Why is life so hard??

The napkin catches a couple extra drops of coffee off Patrick's chin - it was quite a sputter - then gets waved at Enzo. "No," he answers in a 'don't be a crazy person' tone. (To a very probably crazy person, so - really - it's on Patrick for being stupid this time.) "Constantly at death's door is your thing, Vicenzo, and I wouldn't dream of infringing on your right to be the closest Addington to expiring at any given moment." There, he found a more appropriate tone: a pat on the head tone. He sticks a pat-on-the-head smile on his face to match it.

"It's interesting to know where your line in the sand is drawn, that's all."

"Enzo," he corrects again, this time for Patrick's sake. Then he drinks and frowns (GLOWERS) at him from across the room, but doesn't comment further on his lines. He'll have his revenge, Patrick. You'll see. Instead, "So, Kyle and Katy and who else wants to go on this entirely dubious trip that will probably result in my ass getting kicked by something?" He raises his hand. Despite the inevitable ass kicking to come.

Patrick totally got corrected. Look at him over here, being all corrected. He makes sure to lower his cup, so it won't somehow look like he's raising his hand.

Because he definitely won't be doing that.

A look skates its way around the room, in case anyone else is signing up for this suicide mission totally awesome plan.

Katy raises her hand quietly at Enzo's question, her name already been mentioned but her hand is still raised. She is quietly internalising and taking everything in that has been talked about, though she avoids whatever disapproving look her Uncle Patrick might have.

The corners of Atli’s mouth tilt downward, wilting petals on a flower. So there was no glossing the sawmill then. She flattens nonexistent wrinkles on her jeans again as though it would do the same for her thoughts. It seemed silly to her that Enzo declined her offer, but his body, his rights.

“Perhaps there is a way to put a bit more planning into it than ‘let’s just go into the creepy sawmill we all had a conjoined night terror about’, especially if there are to be restrictions on how people can or cannot help in cases of possibly emergency situations.” Her tone is chipper and her words on the kinder side of her opinions, but they do convey her disdain for a wait and see philosophy. For all they knew it was some sort of trap laid by someone playing a game with their lives that they had never met. Just going in sounded a fair bit like ‘Addington Roulette’ to her.

“I don’t disagree steps need to be taken, I would just prefer some more concrete information prior to jumping down this particular rabbit hole.” The statement wasn’t a hand raise, but it also wasn’t a no. Enzo’s damaged state wasn’t entirely a selling point for the mission he proposed. Atli does smugly note that she is not the only person who felt proper family names should be stated as given.

"And where do you suppose we get this information?"

Katy hadn't spoken up much but this was an important speaking point. Nothing Hyacinth had provided seemed to be helpful here, with the shared dream being out in the open, at least with her speaking up, she was going to say something, because she was genuinely interested in learning more, but it seemed like the aforementioned non-Addingtons have more information than they did.

Her eyes turned to Patrick. "How about those people you mentioned before...Anne, Isabella, Clayton, any one of them have anything useful we could use? Because I'm sick and tired of being careful, of sitting around, just waiting for the next thing to happen. I can feel my mind shift, like something is changing. And I want to know why. If the sawmill is where I can start looking for answers, that is where I am going, whether anyone helps me or not, whether there is information or not. The point is to investigate and learn more."

Whatever questions, comments, concerns there may be about the family field trip to the abandoned sawmill will have to be answered another time. Family hour is over. The skeleton crew of staff that work the House interrupt regretfully to inform that a tour bus full of ghost-hunters from Decatur have just pulled up, apparently having crossed some wires on their dates, and would like to know if they could take a tour this morning, pretty please?

"Well, that's awkward," is Patrick's closing line, then he's off to solve this little conundrum, and the staff start cleaning up this breakfast spread. Since no Addington would discuss important matters in front of the help...

...everyone will have to disperse.