seeker

Detectives have case files on Hana Wilson. It reads that they are a 35 year old cis-female. They had not met Maddison Halles and they were a stranger / pen-pal. She/her is moving into Marina Apartments and works as a journalist. She can be considered smart but also noisy. Hana couldn’t have possibly had anything to do with the disappearances…. could she?

Ella continued to smile, tilting her head at the questioning of the woman. She knew it would come and she secretly loved talking about herself. So she was happy to give more details. “Call it more of a funeral, it’s healthy to mourn right… and it’s healthy to celebrate the life or something. I don’t know, I want to party and I have an excuse.” She grinned. “Yes. You. You should come and that’s excellent, I am all about the single lady life.”

Hana’s eyebrows shot up. For a moment she wondered if the woman was still talking about her relationship in general or her ex. Who’s funeral was this? “After all that has happened I am kinda not in the mood for funerals”, she bit her lip, not wanting to appear rude. She knew what Astrid would say. Getting out there, meeting people, enjoying life for a while... It might have been a good idea. “All right, I will come to your party, in honor of all of the single ladies”, Hana nodded but her smile stayed small, “I cannot promise I will be the most cheerful though, especially if I don’t know anyone. I can get weird when I am trying to make conversation.”

After her friend’s disappereance Hana had stayed away from the Lake for days, kept hiding within her apartment to such an extent that she feared Astrid would recruit Belle for a rescue mission. She went over her notes again and again, the dates, the time frames and who had been aware of the secret within the lifeguard tower... It made no sense. She was missing a crucial piece and she longed, now more than ever to finally solve this mystery. Maybe even save who could be saved. 

So it was back to home base for her, back to shaking some trees. She could finally no longer endure her own four walls and so Hana stepped onto the streets of Claybourne again, notebook in hand, determined to find something. anything. As soon as she reached the park, Hana looked for someone she had not interviewed before. “Excuse me?”, she reached out her hand, stepping towards the first stranger she saw, “I know this is kinda weird, but do you have a minute? Only because I have some questions, not because I want to see you some insurance or something. It’s all right if not, but I would really appreciate your help.”

“It turns out it’s been a whole year since my break up.” Ella clicked her tongue, looking around the room. “So… i’m going to do what any sane person would do and have a party to celebrate. Should i put you down as a single or do you need a plus one?” She raised a brow, grinning slightly. 

@claystarters​

“Excuse me... what?” This city was unbelievable. Every time Hana thought that she had seen the strangest thing Claybourne had to offer - ghosts and knights included - someone set out to prove her wrong. But this only underlined the theory she had voiced towards Astrid the other day. The people of Claybourne just love a party. “I am not sure I can follow you completely. You are celebrating that you broke up with someone and you want me to come?”, she raised an eyebrow while holding on to her coffe to go cup, “That person must have been a real charmer. But thanks for the invite, I guess? I’d come on my own. If you are sure you’re talking to the right person and this is not some mix up?”

Astrid smiled, glancing at her friend and leaning on her for a moment. She was glad to see Hana still in Claybourne, although had worried about her with the recent news. She knew that she wanted to solve the mysteries of Claybourne… it just seemed like somebody else was set on avoiding that from happening. “Ha ha. Parker and I… have been seeing each other quite often. And i’m sure the booster club will find me another reason sometime soon… just hopefully not quite as dramatic as this time.” 

Hana made an Ohhh sound, as soon as Astrid admitted that she and Parker were still a regular thing. She adored the both of them and new that this connection could bring them happiness. It was a good thing, some not so dire news amidst the sea of chaos that her life had become. “Ah yes, the famous Booster club. Did you know that I never got the chance to lay eyes on them while I was at the fair? It is sad, really, I would have liked to ask them some questions.” Hana tilted her head to the side, again looking at the dress in front of them. After the lifeguard had disappeared she had considered stopping with the shaking of trees. But they had promised each other a happy ending to all this drama, and she was still determined to see that through. “But yes, from what I have seen of Claybourne there is probably going to be some masquerade ball or fancy dinner around the next corner. This city sure loves its festivals. And who knows?”, Hana looked at Astrid and winkled her eyebrows, “Maybe next time the only drama will be that I find a date, too.” It was a weird thought, but she hoped it would reassure the friend beside her, that way too often worried about Hana’s work.

Asher wasn’t as dumb as he looked. He liked to listen, to watch and occasionally he would learn a thing or two. When he saw the girl frantically talking to her phone… he couldn’t resist but interject. He sped up his pace, walking beside her with his arms casually behind his back. “Bad boyfriend?” he joked, giving her a famous Brooke grin. “Sorry, i couldn’t help but notice you seemed a bit out of it… you okay? It’s a tough time for everybody right now.” 

Hana jumped back as she heard the male’s voice. She had been so lost in her thoughts and her panic she had not seen him approach at all. Hana scolded herself for that moment of abstraction. It was the last thing she should be doing, if she did not wish to end up on the bottom of the lake herself. “Yeah, you could say that..:”, she quickly hid her phone in the backpocket of her jeans, “Boy-trouble but not really boyfriend trouble, if that makes sense? I would not say I am okay, if I am honest. But thanks, I guess. It’s been tough for many lately. I knew the guy who went missing and, it’s sad to think something might have happened to him”

"Brand new day," Ximena whispered to herself as she flipped the sign on the door to her cafe so it read 'OPEN'. She turned and made herself a cappuccino, knowing the shop would be empty for some time. Taking her finished drink over to her spot in the corner of Coral Brews, she took a small sip of the boiling drink and opened up her laptop to update her inventory. Busy, typing away, she failed to notice there was somebody approaching her just as she was about to take another hot sip. Startled, she spilled her drink onto her laptop, "Jesus, fu-, my laptop!" she exclaimed, picking it up and turning it on it's side, "Tissues, tissues, grab me the tissues, it's right there!" she demanded, pointing to the tissues on the counter, huffing with frustration.

Hana usually got her morning tea at Belle’s place, but after the recent incidents her insomnia had become so bad that she knew it was showing on her face, in her demeanor. Anyone who knew her could probably tell in what a bad shape she was and since she knew that a break was not an option - after all she owned Maddison and that poor lifeguard to keep on trying - she had vowed to stay away from her friends. At least until she had collected herself more, started to look as if she belonged to the land of the living still. A lecture from Belle or Astrid was the last thing she needed. 

And so Hana went into Coral Brews instead of the Wildflower, hoping to fuel her theine addiction. She had been lost in thought, approaching the first person she saw without hesitation. It had not occured to her that she could startle the other until it happened. “Oh my god”, Hana exclaimed, reaching forward as if she was able to catch the hot liquid with her hands. “Tissue, yes of course”, she turned, her tired eyes scanning the room until she found what the woman had been pointing at. Adrenaline spiked and Hana grabbed the tissue before literaly running towards the table and the sizzling laptop. “I am so sorry”, she handed over some of the tissues, already trying to save the situation with the rest, “Honestly, I am so so sorry.”

Belle looked up, feeling embarrassed. “Sorry, I don’t even care about the charger. I guess, I am just rambling. Thank you, that’s exactly my head right now. The whole town is a little shaken… I’m rambling,” she nodded, glad Hana seemed to understand. “Just thank you,” she gave a grateful smile. “It’s just weird, it’s so easy to start thinking the worst, isn’t it?” She gave Hana’s side a small hug. 

Hana knew how easy it was to think the worst, and she probably knew it better than the rest of the town. First Maddison Halles had been suspicious of the lake and then disappeared. Now a lifeguard, someone who had found actually evidence at the lake had disappeared, too. And it might even be Hana’s fault for keeping quiet so long. “It really is quite easy. And I am trying not to but...”, Hana bit her lip. She did not want to say too much lest Belle could be next. “I think I have just been on edge lately, so my mind immediately goes there. You know, with the figure on the beach... Has someone heard about that since the festival?”

Astrid smiled, holding her shopping bags in both hands. Spring Break meant that she finally got a little time off. She tilted her head, looking at a rather glamorously dressed mannequin. “Do you think i could pull that off? Would i ever need to pull that off? Does it even matter?” 

Hana looked at the mannequin for a moment, wondering about that question herself. She enjoyed fancy dresses as much as the next one, but with her moving around so much she never truly found the occasion. “I am pretty sure you would look very good in that”, she finally turned to Astrid, a smile on her lips but her eyes still tired. “I mean, if you don’t have a reason to pull it off, why not make a reason? I am pretty sure a certain blonde man would love to take you to a fancy place.”

location: North Ave status: open

The blonde couldn’t believe it. “Gram”, she called as she tried to rattle the door open. “Grandma! Gram, open the door. Please open the door!” Leaving her keys in the lock, Elise ran her hands though her darkened waves and tried to not cry. Anything could be awaiting her on the other side of the of the thick wooden door, and there was a quiet which filled her heart with dread. She turned the handle, back and forth but when the door wouldn’t budge the girl resorted to banging on it again. “Grandma! Grandma its Elise!”

It had taken Parker a few days to process everything that Hana had told him. And he was still trying to make sense of it all. 

Hana had seen his sister, she had been sneaking around the lake where she had met JC and saw some book… some book of Maddi’s. Hana had told him about the pages and that she and JC decided to keep it a secret… and now JC had gone missing. 

His brown eyes looked up at the girl with concern. “Still nothing from him?” he asked as he approached her. “How are you holding up?”

Parker had been nice to her right from the start and she had felt at ease with him. Astrid liked him, a person who’s judgement Hana trusted. Parker was a good guy. Something she reminded herself of as she stood there now, facing him. For he was also the only person she had told about the logbook. A secret that had potentially caused JC’s... She could not even finish that thought. 

“Can I be honest with you?”, Hana looked around making sure no one could overhear their conversation, “I am scared. Really truly scared.”

Another glance at the screen of her phone, then she let it slip back into her bag. “No, I have not been able to reach him. I keep telling myself that this is all a misunderstanding, that there are a million reasons for him not replying to me, not replying to anyone...” Hana shook her head, crossing her arms in front of her chest in a protective gesture. “What if this has something to do with... You know. What we found. I haven’t told anyone, except for you.” 

@claystarter​

“Does anyone else not feel weird about being here right now? It’s hard to have fun… when…” She let out a breath. “Is it bad it crossed my mind that I once gave him my portable charger?”

Hana would have given a lot to be in a position where all her worries revolved a charger. But she knew Belle enough to know that her words did not come from a place of malignity. “I think it’s normal, for your brain to react with familiarity to a situation that seems so... so strange and terrible. We look for something that can bring us comfort when faced with a tragedy, so it only makes sense that your mind prefers to think about the charger than... you know”, she took a deep breath, arms crossed in front of her chest and teeth gnawing at her lips. Hana knew that this had something to do with the promise they had made each other. “I know that my mind does not want to think about any of this at all, to be honest.”

“I didn’t win spring sovereign but I figured I’d bring my own knock off crown to the festival anyway, do you think I’ll get kicked out for fraud or something?” Nate joked as he pointed at the crown on his head with a smile. The man was sporting as much light material as he could with the weather starting to warm up now. “You look great though you did really well.” @claystarters·

She looked at his crown and bit her lip, but still the smile spread across her face. From what Hana had gathered about the people behind these festivals Nate’s decision was sure to turn some heads. “I do not know if they will go as far as kicking you out, but I can imagine that this might cause some... drama? Might if I take a snap?”, she held up her camera, still smiling. “I thought while I am in town I can write up a piece or two about Claybourne’s many traditions. And thank you”, her cheeks turned red as she let her dress sway from side to side. “A friend gave it to me, I was not expecting that being able to go back a few centuries was a requirement in this town. Are you here each year?”

“You know this food really is good.. I might take stock up on some of these samples so I can have it for weeks. Well, that’s if it lasts that long. I have no idea.” Elliot before taking another bite out of this food. “Also these tights are very uncomfortable, I’m unsure how people wear this voluntarily every day.” @claystarters·

In all honesty, Hana had been distracted by the swishing of her dress - one that she bought exactly for this occassion - and only looked up after a moment, “Hu?” She blinked, once, twice, and then smiled. “I cannot believe everyone dressed up though. It’s so amazing that the entire town is playing along, don’t you think?” She looked from him to the food in front of them and realised that she hadn’t eaten all day. “I have been so busy staring at everyone I don’t think I had time for food just yet.”

Belle made herself a coffee before leaning on the counter as she spoke to Hana. She really did wonder what the woman though of their town looking in from the outside. But she liked to believe people saw the good parts of Claybourne too. “How so? If I can ask?” she said gently. “I had a lot… of things happen. Well, one thing. In New York. And I just… I don’t know. I got some family money when I was 21 and I just decided to open my store here. I have my family. My friends. But yeah I do and I like that, talking to people in my cafe every day.”

“Well, it’s not like I had a bad home or anything”, Hana shrugged, “There is no dark secret lurking behind my eyes, no tragic past. It’s just... it is hard to explain, but back where my parents live... It never felt like I belonged? It was a good place, but it was never mine?” She had tried to find words for her restlessness in countless nights of writing, but in the end it was a feeling Hana never truly understood, like something calling her, dragging her away whenever she thought about settling. “I don’t know, maybe I will one day walk into a pretty little town like this and think to myself, yes. This is it” She took another sip of her chocolate and found herself nodding along with Belle’s words. “New York is surely... something. A good place for change, if you ask me. But yes, this sounds like the right place for someone who’s good with people. I think a town needs that, a place to connect I mean.”

Astrid at least smiled when Hanna seemed to change the topic and leave the book for a moment. Although her eyes were scanning the upside down writing, wondering whether she could read it. “Sort of… he says he likes me and wants to take me out on a date.” She took a deep breath. “It’s been so long since i’ve been on a date. I was married. Before… and it ended badly. I guess i’ve been off the market for a while.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Parker Halles? he’s a photographer.”

“Oh, juicy”, Hana admitted. It had been a long time since she herself had been on any dates. With her constant moving around and her workaholic like attitude it had always been hard to find a girl that liked her, or to stay long enough in one place for it to actually become something serious. “Married? I wasn’t aware of that. And I am sorry it ended badly”, the part of herself that was always too nosy wanted to know more but she kept herself from asking. If Astrid wanted to share she would, if not there was no reason on pressing her. “You do deserve to be happy though, and I think there’s no partner needed for that. But I am glad to hear you might have found someone and -” Hana stopped, eyes wide open, as she heard that name. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation but she did a little jump in her seat and said “Parker?”, a little too loud. “That’s amazing. He’s like such a great guy” Hana looked around, trying to tone herself down before the entire coffee shop knew all the details of their conversation. But happiness radiated from her face. “Gosh, I am sure you two work great together”