RP:Whatever Happened To Sterling Townsend

Part of the Through A Glass, Darkly Arc

Summary: Hudson as well as his and Alvina's bodyguard, Milo, pay a visit to Meri at her art gallery to follow up on a theory Meri had mentioned the last time they'd met - that perhaps the strange moves against the Landons were acts of revenge responding to the election of Mayor Uma Abelin. Hudson and Meri revisit their recollections of how they had been instrumental in leaking unsavory news about Mayor Uma's opponent - Sterling Townsend - regarding a pregnant mistress he had in Rynvale, a famous actress by the name of Candice Snow. As both she and Sterling Townsend have since disappeared from the public eye, everyone agrees this theory is worth a closer look ...

Meri's Art Gallery, Cenril

It's just after lunch on a weekday and Hudson is dropping in on Meri's art gallery. He knocks at the door and waits, family bodyguard Milo assuming a post just beside it. One could never be too cautious nowadays. Hudson hadn't sent word in advance that he'd be popping in, because he hadn't thought to do so until halfway through his burger. It had been like this: he'd been trying to keep his toppings from leaking out the back of the bun when Milo had brought up seeing Sterling Townsend's now ex-wife at the grocery store. Hudson had licked mustard off of his fingers, and then paused mid-bite into his burger, his prior conversation with Meri suddenly looming large in his memory. "You OK, boss?" Milo had asked, as Hudson had nodded in the affirmative, and chewed, slowly, before swallowing. "Let's pay a visit to Meri."

Someone is knocking on the door to her gallery, which is not something that Meri finds overly surprising. Until she opens the door and finds it to be Hudson standing outside. Last time he had barged in and started shouting, so she is taking his knocking as a sign that this his temper is in check this time. He's also brought Milo. It has been hit or miss as to if Meri has a negative reaction to the presence of the bodyguard, but Meri has come to the conclusion that Milo is alright. He's finally given a pass on having to deal with Meri's bad attitude. Both werewolves are greeted with a nod, "Hudson. Milo. What brings the two of you here today?" The blonde does not stand in the doorway blocking either of them from entering, she steps out of the way so that they can both meander inside if they so choose to. Or Milo can stand outside on guard, Meri gets it. It's his job. For a change, it does not sound as though there is a child inside of the gallery. That or Fleur was asleep again and Hudson just has the worst timing in the world. Spoilers: Hudson's timing is just fine.

Usually Milo has to hang around Alvina and shadow her during her shopping. This is less interesting to him for obvious reasons, so he gives Meri a big old grin when she opens the door. Hudson's grinning too. "Yo," he greets Meri, as both he and Milo file inside. "Hey Meri," echoes Milo, drinking in the interior of the place. Milo is a good guy, and a beta wolf through and through. He recognizes in Meri the same energy that Hudson has, and wants to soak it all in. They follow Meri presumably to an area better suited for loitering. "How's Fleur, she growing like a weed?" Hudson wants to know, glancing about the place. Just small talk. If Meri asks about his kids, he'll tell her that everyone's good, Alvina's pregnant with their fourth. It happens. "Listen," Hudson could engage in small talk for a bit more, but they both know that's not why he's here. He cocks his head at Meri. "Milo reminded me at lunch that you were wondering the uh, other day," when he was losing his mind, "what Sterling Townsend was up to these days. You know what, it got me wondering too." He holds Meri's gaze. "Because what has that guy done since we destroyed him in the election? Nothing. He's completely vanished from the public eye and all this weird stuff is happening."

Three alpha-type personalities in the same room would probably be disastrous, two could be handful enough when on the wrong terms. Thankfully, everyone is all smiles today. It's probably good that Milo is more of the beta type.The area that Meri leads them to loiter in is not the gallery portion of the warehouse but directly into her flat..where there are turquoise couches and chairs. Hudson and Milo are familiar with the set up already, it has not changed since the last time they were all here. It will become quickly apparent that Fleur is not present today and all three of Meri's dogs are easily sequestered into her bedroom so that they don't cause a ruckus. The small talk ensues as everyone gets comfortable. Meri is only mildly surprised to hear that Alvina is pregnant again. It does indeed happen. Things happen when you party naked. Meri also goes on to explain that the weed, suggesting that she is indeed growing fast, is currently staying with her father for a few days. "People don't just vanish from the public eye. I mean...I guess there might be rare instances, but the point is that...it's rare. I don't know though. I feel we need to start sticking our noses in places they don't belong to try and sniff him out." Dog jokes intentional.

Hudson had gathered that Meri and Callum are perhaps no longer a going concern - they don't live together but have a child being a clue - but out of respect for the situation (which he had been in himself when he and Alvina were having difficulties) he doesn't pry. However he is happy to hear that Callum is spending one on one time with Fleur. Having been raised by a single mother, Hudson has strong views about fathers staying involved and knowing their children. He also has empathy for Meri. "I don't know what your childcare arrangements are but if you ever need coverage with watching her, we can help, we have a great staff and Alvina isn't working much right now either. I think she's probably closer to Bryce's age." Though Hudson is not sure Bryce would be the greatest buddy for wee Fleur. Bryce ... has behavioral issues and gets in trouble for biting other children. Though perhaps not a stretch to imagine Fleur takes after her mother and would have no qualms in setting him straight rather quickly. In any event, no need to speculate about the interpersonal dynamics of three-ish? year olds, the conversation has moved away to Sterling Townsend. Hudson is here for Meri's dog joke and laughs, so does Milo. "Yep," he agrees. "Because someone politically connected has me and my wife in the crosshairs. Maybe there's a connection to the weird anti-witch stuff that's happening, or maybe there's not, honestly stuff with Larket has not been a hundred percent, even though everyone 'gets along.'" Scare quotes. He and Alvina could be friendly with King Macon and Queen Josleen but they sure didn't see eye to eye politically. And Mayor Uma certainly was only tolerated because of her association with them. Could it be that Larket had an idea to make relations between Cenril and Larket a little warmer through a stealth regime change? Nothing would surprise him, but it still seemed a step too far to go after Alvina. Josleen would never. "Didn't Sterling have a girlfriend?" Hudson is recalling outloud. "Was she in Rynvale? He's certainly not with his wife anymore."

Hudson does not pry and Meri does not offer up the information willingly, which is meant to be no offense. Who really wants to have in depth conversations about these things? "Well, it is usually not a problem but it would be good for Fleur to try and make some new friends." Meri does not seem overly concerned about any behavioral issues Bryce may have. Kids have to learn somehow, and they won't do it by keeping them away from other kids. Plus you know...Fleur is a werewolf. She might bite back. Or mommy is also a psion. Or daddy is a witch. Biting could be the least of her parental concerns. While family life is something both Meri and Hudson have in common now, the blonde is eager to let the conversation stray away from kids. wives and exes. "Yeah? He's not with his wife anymore? Are we certain about that? No communications at all? Not even like uhh...some sort of alimony or something? I mean he did cheat...." But maybe his wife was not so lucky. "But yeah...She was out in Rynvale. What was her name again..." Meri squints hard as she tries to recall. "Well she was out in Rynvale. An actress I thought?" Meri is looking to Hudson, he was the one who had Meri ho dig up this dirt to begin with. "So are we going out to Rynvale and staking the girlfriend out? Seeing if they're still a thing and if we can track him down that way? Going in too strong with too many questions about her maybe-still-beau may not be the best approach?"

Meri asks about Sterling's marital woes, reminding them all of the collective action taken last election cycle that resulted in said woes. (Although in fairness to the group, Sterling had made his bed.) Hudson gestures at Milo, who grins, sensing that now is the time for him to make his contribution. "I overheard the guy's ex wife at the market complaining about how she wasn't able to get in touch with him," he offers. "She seemed really desperate, like it's been going on for awhile now."

Hudson nods, stirring the air with his hand when Meri tries to recall the name of the Rynvalian actress. He likewise is of the mind to avoid causing too much of a disturbance, lest Sterling be tipped off and go deeper into hiding. "Yeah, I agree, gotta play it carefully. She was for sure an actress, what WAS her name ..." Now the pair of them are locked in the situation of trying to remember a name that's just on the tip of the tongue but somehow elusive.

Milo cracks his knuckles in the silence that follows, and fills in the blank: "Candice Snow." Hudson's face registers immediate recognition, and he glances at the bodyguard, who grins sheepishly. "I was a huge fan," he explains. "But after the baby, she stopped acting. Sorta disappeared from the public eye. I can get some leads on her old address, if that's a good starting point."

Hudson's looking at Meri to see if she's thinking what he's thinking. No doubt she is. The infamous pair may have some sort of love nest. Question is whether they're hatching a revenge of sorts from there. A realization is nagging at Hudson, who chews the inside of his lip. The fact pattern - a fall from grace because of an outed mistress - is reminding him of the oily journalist who'd confronted Alvina in the market, asking about Valrae. No, there are too many coincidences ... And now this feels even more personal than before. "Yeah, some leads on where she used to live and go would be helpful, Milo," he says, still steadily regarding Meri, "good old fashioned stakeout. Should be fun. You're in?"

The way that Milo seems to be gushing over Candice Snow has Meri rolling her eyes, but more in a good-natured fashion than an overly snarky way. Males. "It feels even more off to me...that the actress is also not really in the public eye anymore. I can see a scandal severely hurting a politician....but not nearly as much people care if actors are involved in cheating scandals? I thought they came up with fake scandals left and right just to keep the public talking about about them?" I mean obviously nothing too over the top. No one wants a story about say...a voyeurism scandal hitting the prints. But you know, an affair is not on the same level as that. Meri's blue eyes flit between Milo and Hudson, trying to see if they seem to agree with her logic or not...but she does not dwell on it for long. They could sit here and speculate for hours but that would not really bring them any clarity to the issue. "Well, I guess we'll leave it to Milo to get some sort of leads on an address? Or at least if they are even still residing in Rynvale? And then we'll start our stake out from there?" Another look is cast between the two men, this time to see if they were accepting of this plan of action. They did not need an exact address, but at least a general starting point. A city, as they could not possibly stake them all out. Which means yes, Meri is indeed in.

"It's a weird fact pattern," Hudson agrees with Meri on the matter of Candice Snow vanishing from the public eye. He glances at Milo for confirmation.

"Broke my heart, boss."

It's Hudson's turn to roll his eyes. He looks at Meri and grunts in the base of his throat, as if to say, You hear this guy? "Well, get the addresses," he tells Milo. He rises from the sofa.

"Will do." Milo is on his feet as well.

"We'll send word on the where and when. Meri, been a pleasure," Hudson extends his fist to her for a friendly goodbye bump, following it with a quick hug and clap on the back combo.

Milo only goes in for the fist bump. "See you soon," he says, before peeling away. He can be heard saying, while trailing after Hudson toward the exit, "Come on, man, you're too good for C-Snow? Yeah, right."