2020-05-12 - The Sound of the Can of Worms Opening over Dinner

By the time their guests arrive, Byron and Lilith are almost finished with dinner. The tedious work all done, they are just waiting for the eggplant parmigiana to finish baking. It's really a dish for those with patience, something which Byron Thorne sometimes lacks! So some of the slices of eggplant come in varying thickness. I mean, it's all going to be covered in cheese and sauce right? Who is gonna notice? There's also some soup being kept warm on the stove.

The dining area is situated near the terrace where several bottles of wine and some empty glasses are already placed. The stereo system plays some soft jazz for background music (and because Isabella likes that sort of fare).

With the bulk of the cooking done and with Byron having just finished setting the table on Lilith's insistence, he's there to greet the guests dressed in a white button down, the top two buttons undone, with a navy blazer thrown over it. He's also sporting a pair of jeans and some comfortable black boots. Like always, he's all smiles as he gestures his guests in. "Long time no see." He says to the pair of Alexander and Isabella. They've all been busy as of late. Byron especially.

Here is where introductions are made, but he'd told the separate parties ahead of time who the other guests would be. "I don't know if either of you have had a run in yet, but this is Katherine Kennedy. She's new-ish to Gray Harbor, but has been here for a time still. And this is Alexander Clayton and Isabella Reede. Please, come in. Have a seat." Wandering kitchenward, he wraps an arm around Lilith's waist, leaning in close to kiss her at the top of her head in greeting. "And this is my better half, Lilith Winslow." His brow raises as he looks at the mess in the sink. "Without her, we'd be ordering takeout by now, I suspect. Anyway, settle down, I'll pour the wine... and water if you prefer." That last part is to Alexander.

Alexander and Isabella arrive, but Isabella immediately has to take a phone call, so it's left to Alexander to do the initial meet and greet of the hosts - gods help us all. At least he's tried to tidy up; he's wearing a blue button down shirt and charcoal slacks, although his hair is in damp disarray, and he - as always - looks like he's afraid someone's going to accuse him of pocketing the silverware. Still, there's a faint smile for Byron and Lilith as he sidles inside, and looks around. "It's been a while. Sorry about it. Isabella was out of town, and I," a pause, "I had some things going on. I hope you're well."

At the introduction, he turns and stares at Katherine for a while, face expressionless. "Katherine Kennedy. You're a lawyer. I remember that. And Easton's ex-fiance." Just layin' it out there. Although, after some thought, he does add, "Nice to meet you." And then, to Byron and Lilith, "Something smells very good. And water is fine, thanks."

Katherine's dressed to impress, in a one shoulder pantsuit, her dark hair up in a high ponytail. She's come in straight from meetings in Seattle to finally have this meeting with the people Byron has assembled. She's projecting an air of confidence and friendliness. Or at least she's trying to, there might be some underlying anxiety somewhere, if anyone intuitive enough can sense that sort of thing.

She's arrived slightly before Alexander and Isabella, and is taking in the introductions, first nodding to Isabella as she walks out to take her call, then to Alexander, whose rather blunt observation of who she is has her biting the inside of her lower lip for a moment before she offers her hand for a handshake and replies in a very controlled quiet voice, "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Clayton."

When Lilith is introduced, Katherine makes an attempt at a warmer smile. She may be a little bit thrown off kilter at the mention of Easton but she still has her social graces. "Lilith, Byron speaks so highly of you," she comments, "It's so nice to finally meet you in person." When wine is mentioned, Katherine says, "I'd like some white, if you've got it."

It's Italian wedding soup on the stove, which apparently is something Lilith looked up to go as a starter with salad to the Eggplant Parmesan. It turned out okay, but honestly, while everything looks just so and darling, the picture of money and presentation in the penthouse with smells to match... she's kind of in the mindset that when something is tasty enough and edible, that's fine enough and she avoids ribbing Byron over his hustle chunk up job with the eggplant, she just leaves it in longer to cook to account for the slab pieces as base. Plus it's all cheese and sauce to hide that, they're fine with it, and she makes sure it doesn't burn! Go team lovebirds!

"We're entirely overdue for time, nice to see you and my favorite pretty lady." The first greeting is for Alexander with flash of glowing, familiar smile for him and especially Isabella, who the brunette leaves be to go tend to the phone, instead of hug ambushing her. For Lilith, that's a bit of restraint, because very few people in her life get hugs, but when they come, they come with rampant enthusiasm and they work entirely on her personal timing! It probably helps she's finishing up something at the kitchen counter as Byron comes to wrap the arm around her and make proper introductions.

Wearing a fit and flare ruffled blue skirt with greenish tinge like the vivid hues of the Mediterranean, it's coupled with a tucked and draped ivory camisole once she's untied her apron, heels and wide high belt patent leather black. Her hair is clipped up and away while cooking, though as they wander out of the kitchen together, she takes it down and shakes out some curls before flashing her smile on Katherine. This one is less familiar and more socially acceptable with genteel subdue, though she does take a beat to really look at the woman instead of giving passing fancy of glance and comment in flippant social manner, "Hello, Katherine. Nice to meet you." Her smile softens as she looks up and aside at Byron, "He's a flatterer, honestly, I'm secretly a handful. But it's kind of like having a naughty cat that gets into things, I guess, so I could be worse."

Speaking of cats... there's one walking the perimeter of the room in pale flashes of fur, trying to apparently decide if he wants to be seen or not.

Still somewhat amused by Alexander's preference for water over just about anything that's not coffee, Byron obliges with a smile. First, he'll offer up the two types of wine, before filling up those glasses at the table. Then he moseys on back to the kitchen to fetch a pitcher of cool water. "Do you want it infused with any fruit flavors? A lemon, perhaps?" He has his doubts, but he thought he'd ask anyway. "There's also coffee, of course. Perhaps to go with the pastries," Vyv's, obviously, "for some after dinner treats."

He just smiles broadly at the banter between Katherine and Lilith, making a quick comment, "But instead of knocking things off tables, I feel like I'm always putting out various fires here and there." Perhaps that's literal some times too. "Alexander once told me that he was looking to gain some knowledge in white collar crimes." This is said to Katherine, his gaze lifted in her direction, the container of water still in hand. "And Katherine was hoping to learn more about Gray Harbor." That last thing that he says, Gray Harbor, and the way that he says it more than relays what he means to Alexander and Isabella.

"It's Eggplant Parmigiana if you were curious." He says to Clayton. "Good ole healthy Italian. As healthy as you'll get away with with all that cheese."

"Infused?" Alexander looks bemused by the thought, but he cautiously nods. "I...if it's not too much trouble. Thank you." He's staring at Katherine's outstretched hand. Not /taking/ it, just staring at it. "I don't," he tells her, at last, apologetically. "I don't really touch strangers a lot. Sorry." He backs carefully away, like she might explode, and moves over to haunt near the table. A quick flash of a smile at Byron. "I tried to make that the other night. I failed. This smells better." He notices the cat out of the corner of his eye, but doesn't try to approach the grumpy looking creature. His face softens instead. "That's the cat you two rescued, isn't it? That was a good thing to have done. He seems happy here."

Oh yeah, Katherine is definitely put off, mostly because she's been put in a situation where she now feels awkward and she strongly dislikes that. If she's not coming at a new situation from a position of strength, it often frustrates her and angers her. But she doesn't explode, despite the abrupt way she moves her hand away after being left hanging and basically rudely abandoned during the social interaction. When Byron begins to explain Alexander's desire to learn more about white collar crime, Katherine raises an eyebrow her employer and friend. "I can't guarantee how much I can help. Criminal Law is a bit of a stretch from Corporate Law, but I do have the basics down. I'm sure if Alexander has questions, he'll ask them." She doesn't really make eye contact with Alexander as she speaks, but then when Byron mentions her purpose in this gathering, her eyes scan the room as she says, "I understand that operating as a lone wolf in this place can be dangerous. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's learning, and studying."

What starts as a muffled conversation becomes a foggy squabble with Isabella occasionally glimpsed through the terrace doors, gesturing with one hand while the other cradles the phone against her ear. Thankfully whatever tizzy she's been spurred into seems to be at an end when she ends the call, composes her huffy features and opens one of the terrace doors to let herself in. The archaeologist isn't one to fuss over her appearance, but considering the venue, she's wearing a pair of black slacks that hug her narrow waist and the flare of her hips, and a soft cashmere sweater that bares both shoulders. Isidore's pendant glints an iridescent blue on the front, and on her left wrist is the dandelion charm bracelet she has taken to wearing since last year's Christmas. With the warmer months approaching, her dark hair is pulled up in its usual fetching disarray.

"Am I a favorite?" she wonders, now that she has room to greet people properly, grinning broadly at Lilith before moving over so she could hug the hostess tightly, planting a kiss on the air by her cheek, if she permits. "Beautiful as always. Hey, B, keeping busy? I heard rumors that the casino's opening coincides with the one hundred and thirtieth anniversary of the town." There's a friendly smile towards Katherine, extending a hand for a shake. "Dr. Isabella Reede, nice to meet you at last, Miss Kennedy."

Forgive her, the shine of the title she had slaved over for the last decade has yet to wear off. But whenever handshakes are delivered, she gravitates back towards where Alexander is, nuzzling her lips gently against his cheek. Everyone else got a greeting, it doesn't seem fair that Alexander gets left out, nevermind the fact that she lives with the guy.

Lilith watches Katherine with Alexander a beat, then takes a moment where she starts to help Byron with drinks, chuckling a little with true humor at the irony of his 'fires' comment, considering. She certainly doesn't try to defend herself, though, she just says, "Byron gets his fair dose of mudded up too. You wouldn't believe the tailor and suit replacement bills. If I fixed them all, I'd fall down a shadow hole on principle with a whole lot of tit for tat payment." She does fix her own dresses where it matters, but that's a different frivolous use of glimmer story she's not divulging. And she doesn't have to because here's Isabella coming inside.

"As do you. I'm glad you're back, I don't even know where to start with all the things to say. Catchup is far overdue. That and... well, important things too that have little to do with personal bits and more to do with... you know what, we'll save that." On drawing back, though, she takes a moment to adjust Isabella's hair and really look at the other familiar woman with study before she lets loose entirely so the greeting can be made with Katherine.

The lone wolf comment from Katherine draws a vague lift of brows from Lilith, but after a moment, she speaks with weighing, delivering glasses to each person as Byron gets them ready to cater to tastebuds (or buzz), "Sometimes being affiliated with certain people in town can actually nip you in the butt as much as help you. Exposure is a double edge. But I don't recommend denial or trying to go it alone, still. This may be good for you."

Seeing that Alexander is more adventurous today, Byron laughs, returning the pitcher of water back to the fridge. "Not a problem at all. In fact, it's prepped ahead of time so that the flavors can full absorb into the water." Rummaging through the refrigerator, his attentive gaze catches sight of Alexander's reaction to Katherine's hand shake. "You'll get used to him, Katherine." He says, attention returned to the fridge interior, when he murmurs, "Hopefully." In a much louder voice, he calls out, "I have some strawberry and thyme water prepped already. It's said to help with mood." Rather than a fancy contraption to infuse water, he did it the more hipster way. In a mason jar, probably. (https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Strawberry-Thyme.png)

Returning to join the others at the table, he grins over at Isabella, "Izzy. Looks like we've all really been kept busy for the past... how long has it been?" He fills up Alexander's wine glass of this fancy water. "And... I hadn't heard? Is that so?" He feigns ignorance over the decision to hold the Grand Opening on that particular day. He more than likely knows. "This was just the most opportune time to open." A pause, "Are you pleased that we're donating to the fish fund?"

Heading back towards the kitchen, Byron calls out, "Anyway, I'll start serving the soup and we can get started. This will be some fascinating dinner conversations."

Alexander makes eye contact with Katherine. In fact, he has a tendency to stare like he's trying to pry open a person's skull with just will alone. "It's alright," he says, hastily, his voice low. "I don't want to be any trouble. I didn't--" he breaks off, glances at Byron's back for a moment, then sighs. "I didn't have any specific questions." Relief, stark and unfiltered, crosses his features when Isabella returns, and he greets her with an enthusiastic kiss back on the cheek, resting his cheek against hers for a moment, and taking a deep breath before stepping back. "Everything okay on the phone?"

"It's dangerous in Gray Harbor," he agrees, quietly. "Together or alone. But together is...better. At least then you know it's real. Or a shared not-real, which is almost as good." He falls silent as Byron returns, watching the filling of his wine glass with fixed attention. He murmurs, "Thanks," and moves to pull out a chair for Isabella. "I'm sure it will be nice. I am unlikely to punch anyone unless they try and hug me."

"Trust me, Lilith, Byron's made sure I understand that, but in the end, we both came up to the same conclusion, that going at it alone is the worst of the bad ideas." Katherine's tone is neutral and calm, her voice, quiet. And nothing else is said when Isabella returns to the gathering from her call, and Katherine shakes the young doctor's hand. "The pleasure is all mine, Dr. Reede," she replies with an assuring tone.

When it's the appropriate time to take a seat, Katherine falters for a second. And it seems like her earlier confidence and strength is starting to fade a little, without having her other half with her. But such is life. She's still a strong independent woman, after all, right? It's never easy for her to be on her own while others are coupled up, even now when she's starting to pick up the pieces of her life. She waits to see where everyone else is seated before she sits down herself. She decides to just take everything and speak when she is spoken to.

She tries not to be unnerved when Alexander stares and addresses her. "If you change your mind, feel free to ask." Her tone remains unreadable at this point, very plain and neutral. Katherine has officially done the social version of turtling. She's hidden herself behind her wall, the one Byron recognises as her 'business mode'.

"We'll save it, yeah," Isabella says with a smile, though there's a hint of apology there - not just for being absent, but bearing up under her lovely friend's scrutiny and her near-violet eyes, Lilith would find a difference almost immediately. The archaeologist looks faded, nothing like the corona that she normally exudes - when there was once a light that is comparable to her own, or Alexander's, hers looks more like Byron's today. A discussion that she is determined to table for another time if not just to keep dinner at a casual and relatively easy note. "I think dinner comes with consultation."

She bears up the adjustment with a fonder look; when it comes to fashion and aesthetics, she defers to Lilith's judgment than her own, and so she has free reign with hair-fussing before she's set loose upon the penthouse again, striding and moving with her usual restless spirit. Byron's grin gets a returned one. "I was about to bring that up next," she says with a laugh, shooting him a look. "Now I can feel less guilty for attending the opening because I have to support one of my closest friends in the city and his new investment."

Alexander's affection never goes unanswered, closing her eyes when his cheek presses against hers, light fingertips moving to touch the opposite side of his face. "Max," the archaeologist mutters, a thread of irritation curling over her sunkissed mien. "Dr. Langston pulled him in on the project, so you can imagine how well we're coming to a consensus on the work." There's exasperation, but nothing too cutting, as always whenever she speaks of her Oxford rival. It's a look that fades away when Alexander pulls out a chair for her, however, brushing her hand lightly on the man's knuckles before she settles in. "Everything smells great, Lil, Byron."

To Katherine and the growing thread of tension between her and the investigator, she gently, delicately, sticks a toe into those waters by posing: "Byron said you had questions," she interjects. "What about, exactly? Is there anything specific about the city's weirdness that you want to know? There's a lot, definitely not something that can be covered in a single dinner, but if there's an experience that you're wondering about, maybe we can use that to focus the conversation."

"Well, it's good that Byron warned you. Truth of the matter is, you're sometimes 'invested' in the strange nature of this town, whether you want to be or not. But as long as you don't overuse abilities, it should be limited to wrong-place-wrong-time or happenstance, which is ah. Better? I won't say good. The best thing you can do, honestly, is develop a very dark sense of humor about all of it, which is easier said than done-- the first few times it'll feel pretty personal. It's a bit like learning your safety net has been yanked, one you thought existed all your life. Now you see it doesn't and everything is off kilter, no? You're waiting for a wicked breeze to make you free fall."

Lilith carries on after looking at Isabella once she's addressed Katherine with a bit of prelude, because the other female is right, it's very hard to give people a 'rundown' or familiarization when it comes to these things. It's complicated, hard to explain, maybe even inexplicable in a lot of ways, but so broad and everpresent as a part of their lives, "Isabella is right, though. We need to know what feels like 'the beginning' to you and some narrowing to specific inquiries. It will branch into the things you want to know, even if you aren't sure what to ask at first."

While talking, Lilith bylines to press a kiss on Byron's cheek with lift on her heeled toes, dropping off some garlic bread knots to go with the soup being delivered for layout while people get seated. There's little dinner salads with romaine and ceasar dressing already on the table to make a soup and salad and bread starter out of the meal while people converse. Of course, smelling food and having people seated instead of wandering around standing brings out the cat little by little and soon, he's out in full with dart to try and trip the brunette. The almost-painful-collision steals all of her social graces so she can catch herself on the way back to the kitchen, en route to get parmesan cheese shreds for topping with the pepper mill once all is delivered.

"... you asshat cat. Stop trying to kill me. There are witnesses."

If Byron notices Isabella's dimmed state, he doesn't bring it up immediately. He'll watch from a distance, but he has dinner to serve. Any concern he may be feeling seems to be forgotten because he's all smiles when he's back and setting down the bowls of soup for each table placement. His grin broadens when Lilith sneaks a kiss to his cheek, leaning into it slightly. "Look," This is spoken to Isabella, "You know that those protests were bullshit and the fish, whatever the protesters wanted to say, were in no real danger? It was just a way for rivals to get back at rivals plain and simple."

Right after this is said does he hear Lilith yell at the angry looking cat. He didn't catch exactly what had happened or whether the feline had truly tried to trip Lilith and make her drop what she's carrying. He has to shake his head to all of this though, "Smog. Behave." Like you can tell a cat to do anything. "Looks like that's a hint that he wants to be fed. I'll handle that, you settle down, hon."

And Byron does as he said he would, kneeling down before the cat dish to fork out some expensive kibble before rising to wash his hands at the sink.

Only once the appetizer course is all set does he take his seat, making note of Katherine's discomfort in the process. "Right. Katherine's been in at least one Dream. The one that I was in... with the werewolves. That reminds me," Here, he gives those at the table a casual glance, "Lately, They... The Dark Men seem to be trying to pit us against one another. There was Valentine's Day.." Something which he would like to forget happened, "And during the werewolf Dream, where some of us were battling werewolves, in the end they transformed into Gray Harbor citizens. Easton was one of them."

Alexander actually smiles, briefly, at Katherine. "I will. Thank you for the offer. It actually is appreciated." He takes a seat by Isabella, moving without any grace. He slants a smile, still slight but warmer, towards Isabella. "And his suggestions are bringing you down because they're not insanely dangerous?" It's low and teasing; while he knows whose side he's on, it's clear that Alexander has developed a certain sympathy for her unseen rival, after long association.

There's a wince, and he half rises, when Smog attempts to trip Lilith, but he sits down when she catches herself. "This all looks very nice," he says. His eyes dart here and there, bouncing around the various threads. "He's right," he says of Byron. "The fish aren't really in danger." A pause. "Gray Harbor has been logging port for over a hundred years. The Harbor is horrific by this point." He brightens. "Did you know, once, so many people would die here and get dumped into the water that people would write of 'shoals of floaters' - all the dead just bobbing in the water." Alexander knows good dinner conversation.

Byron's contribution about Dreams dim his enthusiasm. "Dreams do that," he says. "They're after pain, suffering, anger, guilt. Making you doubt people you like, or love, that's part of it. Not only does it hurt in the moment, but it's hard to forget, when you're out. It's easy to get confused, or suspicious." A glance to Katherine. "We don't know how, exactly, but the Dreams often know what's gonna hurt you the worst. And that's what they'll use against you."

When Byron mentions The Werewolf Dream, Katherine's anxiety rises even further to the surface and she visibly tenses up and bites her lower lip. Her reasons are personal for her drive to learn more about Gray Harbor and its particular eccentricities. Looking around at the group of people Byron assembled for her to meet, she now has to figure out how to approach the subject with relative strangers. She sighs. "I'm curious about the nature of Dreams, actually. I know overuse of abilities is a primary trigger for events like that. But I'm curious about why we get pulled into them, who is there with us, is it all random or do our relationships affect it? I suppose the connections I have here are limited, but I'm still concerned about them." All two of them? Three if the burgeoning friendship and current working relationship with Byron counts. "I guess more than anything, I'm looking to research and understand whatever I can when it comes to Dreams. Especially how my relationships might affect them. I want to learn everything I can. I don't fight. I barely know what my abilities do. But I want to know. I want to learn. And I want to do it without pissing off some Dark Men or whatever evil entity decided I was worthy of being dragged into a Dream to be forced to hurt my ex-fiance."

Her eyes widen as she comes to realization that she'd blurted out the end of her response as a bit of an overshare. Her eyes travel to Byron, and then to Alexander, who mentions that they know how to her hurt the worst. She doesn't say it out loud but her lips move and mouth the word 'fuck'. She barely has an appetite to eat but she attempts to enjoy the soup. It's the least she can do.

There's a quick grin towards Alexander. "His suggestions are pulling me down because they're wrong," she huffs. She's an expert in her field, damn it. Sure, she's squabbling with another expert, but that's when true innovations happen. Her hand drops down underneath the table to give his knee a warm squeeze.

"The ecological conclusions are legitimate even if the way they were brought to light was inspired by less benevolent motives," Isabella says, leaning forward to mirror Byron's gesture. "But we're friends, we can agree to disagree and toast to your success, regardless." She winks at the investor, and lifts her glass in a salute from her side of the table. It's empty, but she'll wait for wine to be poured before imbibing. No scotch for her tonight, it seems. For a few days, her mind needs to be clear.

There's a glance at the cat, reminded of the rescue, and attempts to smother a yelp that she can't quite hide at her friend's near-accident. With Lilith and Byron's own contributions in the matter, there's a pursing of her lips in thought, nodding to the latter first. "E told me about the werewolf dream," she says, leaning back so she can unfold a napkin and place it on her lap in preparedness for the first course. "As Alexander says, nobody really knows how Dreams pull people in, or how they seem to always know how to hurt you. If we knew more about how Dreams are actually constructed, we might have at least some working theories there. Alexander has one that posits that it's a malleable space, and we bring our baggage inside it, and it evolves based on those parameters. I honestly think that there's some credence to it, but considering nobody's actually explored the Dreamscape - that is, the area beyond the known reaches of the Veil as we know it, there's really no way of knowing....and more often than not, it's dangerous to do that, even when accompanied with people with considerable experience with its intricacies."

"The fish in Gray Harbor's waters are honestly probably being terrorized by weird sea monsters and screaming for someone to kill them. I doubt I'd eat anything I catch because of that. Also there was that thing with the-- mm. We should all go fishing. Screw fish. And shrimp. And especially screw seals." Lilith grins a little at Isabella's yelp and shrugs minutely, like the cat tries to kill her all the time (IT DOES). She also seems to have absolutely no ecological concerns for fish or otherwise and it sounds like she has the impression it's all out to kill her at some point. There's probably reasons for that, other than the fact that she's not a freakin' hippie and has far greater concerns when it comes to the bigger picture of the world.

Alexander's comment about the body dumping piques her interest though, settling down at Byron's urging to drop her napkin in her colorful skirted lap. She takes up a glass of red wine to drink long from while considering or trying to visualize this, perhaps, then says, "Neat." Is it neat, though? At least two people at this table seem to think so now, so that's kind of a win for the man's contribution where glimmer and Dreams aren't concerned, "You can be snared at random with people you don't even know. But you're more likely to catch flak if the Shadowmen can 'use' you to greater effect in a setting, I guess? Seems that way to a degree, anyway. There's no real statistical science to this."

After another drink, Lilith puts her glass down and reaches for Byron's hand to give it a squeeze in passing when he brings his own self to settle down once the cat is fed, "I will tell you that you don't want to stay in there and ask questions. As soon as you're in, you look for a way out to ensure you GET out. The idea of being 'lost' on the other side, Dream or Veil-Reality, it's a threat. You find a door, you solve a puzzle, you do whatever you need to do to get out before it twists you and hurts you. Or kills you. It can entirely pop you out dead or bleeding to death just fine, it's not all about mental trauma. That's what we survive with. I like to call it their long game on us."

The brunette woman gives a little click of her tongue before picking up a soup spoon. And while she's talking, occasionally her eyes flick toward Isabella, though she's mostly making it seem as if it's casual. All told, though, it's more like something is nagging her and after a moment of focus while others are talking, she pushes her tongue against the back of her teeth. Then she grabs for bread and pretends like she's not doing a damn thing but eating.

No matter what Isabella might say in challenge to Byron's statement regarding the cutthroat trout or whatever they are called, Alexander's backing him up brings this hint of a smug grin on Thorne's lips. That is... until the man also mentions these shoals of floaters, "Was that necessary?" His dark eyes even look at Alexander directly now. Nevermind that Lilith voices some form of approval of this. What Lilith says about the sea life, however, reminds him that he has unfinished business to do. Still, he sets that away in the back of his mind when he feels her squeeze at his hand when he settles himself down.

To this discussion on Dreams and how they work, he brings up, "I've given this some thought and while some Dreams, perhaps ones personalized to an individual or other, they tend to allow for the dragging of friends and loved ones. Those are the Dreams where we come together more frequently on a near consistent level. Then the other Dreams. The random ones that doesn't care who is there. Normally, those would just scoop up anyone in the vicinity if it could."

Setting his spoon now as he reaches for his wine glass, he adds in, "Marshall and I weren't close friends when I was dragged into one of his Dreams. Not at the time. We have a past but..." His shoulders lift in a shrug, "And yet it chose me out of anyone else. Things like that baffle me. It's almost as if certain Dreams try to bring people together." This is said with a half-shrug, his brow lifting right before he goes in for a taste of wine.

Alexander favors Lilith with a sudden, bright smile. "It really is. The early history of crime in Gray Harbor - and really, all the Pacific Southwest, is fascinating. Portland was a terribly rough city, and it wasn't far away from here that a man hid in the woods for several years with a rifle, killing anyone who came near. Including his children. When they finally brought him down--" And then Byron is giving him that dark-eyed look, and his mouth closes with a snap. He looks down. "Sorry." He starts eating the soup and salad rather than talk. That only lasts for so long when the subject is Dreams, though. "Proximity, emotional resonance, pain," he says, quietly. "Sometimes you'll just get pulled in because other people are. Sometimes you have a resonance with someone - I think, I think it doesn't have to be positive or negative. It can be a certain similarity in trauma or coping, as well." A longer pause. "And then, pain. Sometimes it hurts more to have a particular person there, for whatever reason, so it works out that they're there."

He glances back to Katherine. "Just assume the Dreams are always out to fuck you somehow, and you're probably okay."

Katherine is taking all of the information in, and none of it is particularly surprising, and it happens to be Alexander who actually says something that registers in her mind, something that connects. Proximity. Emotional resonance. Pain. That all makes all makes sense. And at least two of those things connects her to both of the people that matter to her. She exhales sharply, swirling her spoon around in the bowl of soup in front of her. She doesn't say anything further about Dreams.

"Has anyone ever found anything in regards to the abilities themselves? Are they genetic? Is the source connected to some sort of darkness that ties us to the Dark Men or whoever seems to want to torment us?" she asks, "I'm not suggesting we make some sort of field trip to the Veil or anything like that, but...have people tried to record things like that? Can we at least arm ourselves with knowledge?"

As Lilith pokes at her psychically, the dimness continues to resonate - as if Isabella had been drained in some fashion or another. It doesn't seem to have affected her physically, however, because she's still eating with her usual appetite, though she pauses that when Alexander's soft apology registers. Her hand lifts to squeeze his forearm gently, smiling as he and Lilith talk about the shoals for a while - she would rein him in, more, if this was a function outside of the penthouse, but considering they were talking about dark things already, to sanitize it now is somewhat moot - at least from her perspective.

Still, it's Byron's table.

"The soup's delicious, Lil," is what she says first, before addressing Katherine's next question. "A fellow researcher and I actually tried to look into whether there are genetic markers that would pinpoint the existence of...this...what we can do, in others. Our first set of samples were inconclusive, because a Veil-based corporation has somehow been commandeering our samples before it can be sent to any genetics lab in the country. You have to remember that the Veil protects itself, and that extends to those efforts. When Yule finally managed to obtain another machine on his own and tested our blood, no markers either. I was of two minds of the matter - it could be genetic, or it might be that we're all capable of manifesting these gifts as a whole, and it takes a specific set of circumstances to be able to catalyze it, but that doesn't explain why whole bloodlines like the Baxters and Addingtons, the two oldest families in Gray Harbor, consistently generate people like us. So it can't just be blood or circumstance."

There's a glance to Alexander, sweeping her eyes to the rest, before she sighs. "We're only starting to record data. There's a small group of us that's collecting findings whenever we venture to the other side, or experiment with our gifts. But we've only started scratching the surface."

Lilith presses her lips against her napkin with small blotting while listening to the talk around the table, though she doesn't seem to have much more to add, save for a tidbit when the topic is still on Dreams, "Some are terribly, terribly specific about who they want you to suffer with." A delicate pause and a look sidelong at Byron before she drops her napkin back against her lap, "Those pinpointed ones feel like... I don't know. Punishment. They can take you alone, too."

The woman mercifully doesn't mention the time she was 'missing' from prolonged time 'elsewhere' while alone. Instead, she listens and expects that Isabella will answer on actual research and data that's been done to varied result or obstacle. And at some point, she rises up to collect soup and salad bowls to start making room for plating the parmigiana that's been cooling to manageable. She also has to dodge the cat again, this seems to be a rude game the animal delights in. That or he's trying to get more food. Or kill her. Either way, it happens and she's wary enough to dodge this time.

While moving around playing hostess, she takes time to lean and refill wine and otherwise for people too, getting her own bout of curiosity, "You're not local, are you, Katherine? How long have you been in town? And had you ever been here before recently?"

If Byron weren't about to eat, he might not mind talks of shoals! Right now, he might just lose his appetite. So he starts picking at his salad as he listens to the talk around the table. He knows most of this, so doesn't bring them up when they are said, however something Lilith mentions brings his attention to her, watching her for a thoughtful quiet moment. It was when she mentioned the Dreams that are specific about who They want you to suffer with. However, when she brings up the solo Dreams, it's enough to drag his thoughts to last Halloween when Lilith was missing for close to a week.

Once the soup and salad are done, he helps her remove the used dishes, but more so, he helps to carry the plates of parmigiana to the table now. Unlike Lilith, the Smog doesn't get in his way. "If you need any help with your research," He probably means capital or information, though as Isabella is dating a P.I., it's probably not worth Byron to hire Magnolia for the task. It troubles him to know that people just wander into the Veil willy-nilly and this is something he brings up now, "I'm still... I don't know, baffled that people would /willingly/ venture into the Veil." He goes on, "Magnolia's father and his partner went into the Veil to escape a killer." He then turns to Katherine, "This was years ago, when we were still kids." The same year that his own father died. "And they never got out of there." It's a lot grimmer than that, but this is as much as he's willing to say.

With the plates of cheese eggplant goodness in hand, he starts to set each one down before his guests. His gaze falls on Katherine briefly at Lilith's question. He knows the answer to this, but it's polite to let their guest respond on their own.

Alexander doesn't look up from the meal, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on his plate, but he does smile and lean into Isabella's touch when she gives it. "I'd say there's a genetic component, but that it is mediated by a number of personality and environmental factors. Trauma seems to bring on stronger abilities, or abilities at all. A lot of people manifest when they're feeling an extreme emotion, although manifesting as a small child is rare. But not unheard of. It's not straight inheritance, though. Just because your parent had an ability, doesn't mean you'll have the same one. Or any. "

A faint smile flickers when Byron expresses his disbelief about the Veil excursions. "You're not wrong," he mutters. But what he continues to say is what brings Alexander's head up. He stares that unblinking stare at Byron. "She found out what happened to her father and his partner?"

"I'm interested in research, experimenting, data collection, if only to gain some sort of understanding in all of this. I have no idea what's happening and I hate that. If I can help it, I want to learn, and Byron says that you're all worth learning from."

Katherine's mind is going a mile a minute. Data collection and research are the tools she tends to fight her battles with. She thrives on collecting information. And every piece of information, every story, every detail is being soaked up, because knowledge is power, and if anyone enjoys having that kind of power, it's Katherine. Dr. Reede is fascinating with the way she delivers the information and she likes that. Lilith seems to be keen on injecting reality into the conversation which is important. Alexander seems to be the one whose delivery of information is the most digestible for her but it's all being taken in. Byron already knows where she's at and she has had the opportunity to pick his brain a little.

"No I'm not from around here, I'm actually from New York City. Work brought me here in the fall, around late October. I just decided to stick around after meeting Byron and being asked to represent him and his interests. I...I felt something strange a couple of years back. Something really faint and unnoticeable at first. What I thought was just intimate closeness with someone was actually me reading their emotions off of a letter they sent, which I figured out recently when I tried to do it intentionally. I'm guessing something about this place makes those types of abilities stronger."

"This is why I wanted to talk to you, Byron, and then also meet other people with knowledge. Expand the network. I don't take any of this lightly, especially not after what happened with Easton. But I need to do something. I hate feeling so...uninformed. If I can help with anything you guys are doing..." She's expecting them to refuse her help and talk about how it's too dangerous but she wants to put the offer on the table anyway.

She is always eager for more food; the archaeologist eats like a horse most days, and plenty of the calories go into the brain (or so she would like to claim), so there's a visible perking up when Lilith brings out the main course. As Alexander leans towards her, she turns her head and presses her lips lightly on his cheek, never one to shy or hold back from her public displays of affection, especially where the investigator is concerned.

"Thanks, B," Isabella says with a hint of a smile. "You're tied up with the casino but in the event we need actual diagnostic equipment, maybe we can see what we can hash out. I'd have to rely on Yule to make an accounting as to what he still needs building his lab space, as it is, it's a work in progress. As for Veil exploration...we didn't really start mobilizing those efforts until recently, and it was Anne who spearheaded the effort. She's pulled back some now, though, so the rest will probably fall on me and August. Alexander comes with us, sometimes, but he doesn't prefer it because he's a hundred times more sensible than me when it comes to poking and prodding at things there."

Alexander's query about Magnolia's father and his partner earns him a quiet nod. "Magnolia only found out recently that her father was a mover," she supplies, but leaves Byron to fill in the details as to Magnolia's discovery.

With Katherine's assertion that she wants to be educated and assist if need be, she nods. "If you're going to be around for a while, maybe you should consider joining the Historical Society. You'll have access to some historical records that way and we turn to those more often than not whenever we attempt to parse the city's more difficult puzzles. The strangeness here emanates from the bones of Gray Harbor, and they're very old bones." She sinks her fork in her portion of eggplant parmigiana. "Anne and I are members of the Society, and Hyacinth Addington is chairwoman of the restoration committee, you'll at least be part of an existing network that way. Clarissa Robbins is in charge and she accounts for memberships, I think the two of you will get along."

While listening to Katherine, there's a pensive mien to Lilith's fine made up features, busily working her way around the table with Byron's help. She's either holding in another question or comment, or forming one, perhaps, with such a look on her face. But she leaves the table to other topics of conversation instead of her own curiosities, especially once Isabella is advising how the lawyer can involve herself with others in pursuit of certain knowledges. Then she's distracted anew by a stopping drink from her own wine glass to drain it before refill, surveying the table as a whole to make sure everyone is settled with food and drinks as they should be.

All that thought loses momentum eventually, though, and Lilith can't help but smile a bit at the enthusiasm with which Isabella is attacking the food. Her eyes still kind of catch here and there on the woman with a bit of a distant expression, a form of looking beyond and through, into the other woman in that 'way' of hers. But she caught Byron's eyes on her own person there for a spell, no doubt thinking about what she isn't saying when dropping the forewarnings for Katherine during the infosharing dinner. Once all the plates are settled and they're shifting around to take their own seats again, she waits for him to be seated first before draping her arms about the man of the house at neck and shoulders from behind, "Handsome and helpful, how'd I get so lucky?"

Once a kiss is laid at the man's bristled cheek, Lilith finally settles down herself to re-napkin and eat, content to have at the food and listen for a while.

Byron sets Alexander's plate down before the man just as he feels (and sees) Clayton's uncanny stare on him in regards to Magnolia's father. "It's unclear what happened to them." It's a dour topic, he knows, but without getting into detail, he states, "But we believe that they are gone." And when he says gone, the way that he says it, eyes diverted so that he can set down Isabella's plate, is telling that gone means dead. Probably.

It's Isabella who he speaks to next, "I've been meaning to talk to you about something. At your leisure, of course, Bella." After Katherine's plate is placed, he finishes off with Lilith's and his own before resettling in and reaching for his wine glass now Lilith was kind enough to refill them all. It's then that as a surprise, he feels her arms around him and a kiss to his cheek, all which brings a beaming smile to his face. "Handsome, sure." No one said that Byron Thorne was modest... "Helpful, I'll take that. But it still means you have to put up with me." He half-turns to push his cheek into her kiss as he gives her a quick, fleeting peck of his own before she has time to escape.

"The historical society. I always donate. Never join... " He know of another member of the Society that wasn't mentioned and his thoughts go back to his old family home with a furrow at his brow. "I'll say one thing, Katherine. I'm not going to tell you that you should just pack up and move. /I/ know that it's no use and no one listens to good advice. Not to mention that you actually have work here. But if you want to help, ask all the questions that come to mind and if you find yourself in trouble, if you're being drawn into your own Dream, think of us. Hopefully, and I'm not sure if this is how it works, we'll be pulled in with you."

Katherine nods to those present and specifically to Byron. "I would be willing to try that out," she responds to his suggestion about thinking about the group, just in case she gets pulled into her own Dream. "We won't know if we don't try. If They try anything with me, I'll make sure to keep you all in mind." As the food arrives in front of her, she forces herself to eat and contemplate joining the Historical Society, keeping an ear out for the rest of the conversation.