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@lordxfrederick
just a little peace and quiet
SHADOW AND BONE Luke Pasqualino as David Kostyk in S1E5-7
D'Artagnan and Constance
The Musketeers BBC — Death of a Hero | 3.06
On the Road, Sept. 1799 @grahamxsahi
The carriage clattered against the dirt path. He’d packed their seats with as many cushions as he could find between his own townhouse and Cheyne Walk. Still he worried. Frederick is not altogether sure how the duke have survived the party at Cliveden other than sheer willpower, and surely that couldn’t last forever.
Then again, he had been certain that Euphemia’s unwavering gaze could not last forever either, and here they were well past the first bend in the road, still staring each other down from across the seats. She looked like a wildcat stalking through the brush. They resembled each other in the similar way they tilted their heads, wrinkled their nose, each minute gesture speaking volumes between them.
“I heard you lost a card case,” she said, turning to the duke.
“No she didn’t,” Freddie quickly interjected, “Drink?”
He pried open the center section the seat to reveal a bottle. Built to hold drinks just as he’d promised. Hopefully enough to see them to Effingham.
ixnay-on-the-ipshay:
grahamxsahi:
-
It was a strange line of questioning. Not one Graham had the head for in his current state either. Rude and intrusive. None of the Captain’s business. Among other things.
Graham felt far too feverish to do much about it, which might have been to the benefit of Archie. Poor Freddie had somehow ended in the middle of whatever this was too– yet when he spoke to Graham, the duke could not help but smile fondly.
His expression changed when addressing the Captain. “I find this line of questioning to be not only offensive, but much like an Inquisition. My personal life is my own business. However, I would just as soon hurt myself than to hurt Frederick. I also wish to not speak in front of him as if he isn’t here and cannot speak up for himself.”
“And should you not know in complete and thoroughly who you are to marry?” Well. They were speaking about Victoria. A woman of vast secrets and hidden eccentricities. But, still.
“Additionally,” he continued after a breath and a deep drink from his glass. “I shall say the same in the way of Miss Hale. She has become a dear friend of mine. If you intend to make such a solemn promise to her, as to be your wife, I do expect the promise to be kept and she live out the rest of her days happily fulfilled and sustained by you.”
@ixnay-on-the-ipshay
-
The past is the past? He turned, incredulous, to stare at his cousin – mouth open and about to let Freddie just what he thought about that – why, the damme past was the problem this entire past Season!
Only to find whatever retort and accompanying thought interrupted – Sussex stirring himself from his indolent, careless slouch to respond. It occurred to him then how this conversation – no, confrontation – had gone: sandwiched between Freddie’s placating fluff and the duke’s drawl – him buffeted along as if on a stronger current. A dance, between two clearly very, hrm, conversant with each other – but in words.
Still – “You are mistaken on that front, sir; not an inquisition – a statement of intent, my intent, mind you – on my own behalf – should anything untoward happen. Only –” he faltered, suddenly feeling very much the interloper in a conversation he had initiated. “Well. Do have a care in maintain Freddie’s happiness then; that is a goal towards which we can both strive.”
And should you not know in complete and thoroughly who you are to marry?
That stopped him cold.
His initial reaction was – was that seen all too often in the club; the expected scoff, if not the guffaw – the Oh, this poor lovelorn fool! – for what was marriage but the expected and socially meet arrangement? No knowing was required; it was, perhaps, easier for both parties not knowing –
He wished he hadn’t known half of what he now suspected; nowhere in Sussex’s whiplash retorts had there been a-a denial of any such – such intimate arrangement between himself and Miss Hale.
Mistake upon mistake – was this the natural consequence of a betrayal? No, no – if the engagement was a mistake, his inquiry further about Miss Hale’s affairs was simply adding fuel to that fire – better to let it all die out.
“I intend,” he said stiffly, “to treat her with all the-the respect due the Countess of Effingham; any more than that, sir, would imply you having a-a greater claim on the lady than Society would properly allow –”
Let it die.
His mouth closed with a snap – he bowed instead. “But I see I have intruded; I leave you to your-your tiger-watching – bid you good-day.”
@lordxfrederick
-
This confrontation had gone better than he’d anticipated. In some ways. Frederick sighed. Pinched the bridge of his nose, and debated whether to call his cousin back or let the man blow off some steam first. His hesitation made the decision for him. He watched Archie’s retreat for a few seconds more before collapsing next to the duke on the cushions.
“Are you feeling all right?” he asked, in lieu of what he really wanted to say - was Graham ready to go home, or inside, or have the doctor called. He fiddled with the fringe along the edge of one of the cushions, unintentionally pulling the thread free. He cast it off into the grass.
“Don’t be angry with him.”
He never thought to find himself in the middle. If it was the choice of the mums vs. Archie, Effie vs. Archie, or any else... his cousin came first. Now in the less than an hour he had threatened to punch his own relation in the face, and was not sure what to expect from his cousin when he returned to the townhouse after all this.
“He’s just... this must stay between you and I, but he has been backed into a corner by this engagement. His hand is being forced, you see, and I am not sure I can save him.” Frederick paused. Recalled Graham’s words of a few moment’s prior - of being good friends with the woman - and turned his head to where he could see the duke better.
“May we speak further about your friend, Miss Hale, in private?” he ventured to asked, searching the duke’s face for the same righteous anger shown to this cousin, “Although if you are feeling poorly, I would rather you rest.”
@grahamxsahi
GENYA SAFIN & DAVID KOSTYK | 1.05 - Show Me Who You Are
grahamxsahi:
-
His gaze drifted to his bedroom door. Jaw set tighter than before. “Now that the season is ending, Mr. Fernandes is returning to Brighton. However, I’ll have a word about my outgoing correspondence, or the lack of it reaching you.”
In truth, going swimming in the Serpentine with a cut from a thief’s blade still present probably wasn’t the best idea. Pain had been ignored, downplayed, and eventually blotted out by late nights and drinks. But then. “It is only a summer fever. I am not suffering from consumption or anything contagious, my doctor assured me.”
And there was Cliveden. “Of course I’m sure we are going. We’ve been preparing for the final grand entrance for… well, I don’t know how long. My doctor has provided me with a number of tinctures that I shall take on the trip.”
He frowned. A comb? Graham checked his reflection once more. He didn’t look that bad. “It’s nothing spirits and your company cannot cure.” Graham turned, a grin faint but present.
He fumbled with the comb for a moment. While bleary earlier, Graham hoarsely ordered a valet to pack his bags and load them into the carriage. A traveling outfit had been chosen in blues and grays and left out, however Graham decided the coat would be enough for the journey. He spent only a few seconds choosing one from one of his wardrobes before returning to Frederick.
“Freddie… do you know what I would like to do? It has been too long since we spent time in the hidden room. Behind the bookcase.” Freddie’s bookcase, of course. “And… damn it. I wanted to take you to the Royal Institution before the season was over.” So many things they did not have the chance to do. “And so… no, I won’t allow us to miss this final time, the last event.”
Rambling. He did not pause because he wanted, but instead Graham ran out of steam. “We must get to the carriage. Quickly.”
-
“I barely fit anymore.”
Perhaps the time had come to expand the hidden room. There was no reason it should remain so cramped just because the Howard St. John children had outgrown it, particularly when two of them were so mechanically minded.
Freddie sat down on the duke’s bed. Watched the sort of half-hearted frenzy as the duke flitted from one topic to the next while looking like he needed several more hours of sleep. Knowing Graham, if the man had slept at all that would have been a miracle. Freddie frowned.
“One last event sounds...” Morbid. Vaguely threatening.
Those were all things he wanted to do as well, but he did not feel the same sense of urgency. Even as the duke insisted they hurry. His fingers plucked at the comfortable. He glanced back at the window he had just climbed through.
“We have all the time in the world. For all of it.”
He rose from his seat.
“Provided you don’t take a turn for the worse on the carriage ride over,” he added, dryly. “Come on then, lean on me. We’ll take the servants’ stairs. I won’t be fighting your solicitor if it comes to that.”
damien-keyes:
-
Beautiful home. Spectacular looking family, such a stunning mix of strong and delicate features on what he assumed to be siblings. No further removed than cousins. Damien took it all in as he followed. A smile here and a nod there.
Whatever the earl was having would suit Keyes just fine, however an interruption occurred. A huge, hulking, frozen in time creature looked ready to charge at him. He took a step backwards as two reptilian glass eyes stared, a fixed gaze on Damien. Holy hell, what was the monstrosity?
“Is it… what is it, exactly?” From the colonies? From the Far East? Good heavens. “Did you kill it yourself?” Damien could not fathom why cash was so easily thrown away on eccentricities. Such as giant lizards.
He smiled brightly as the lord turned towards him again. “No apology is necessary. Whatever you are having will suit me fine, thank you.”
Down to business. He fetched the necklace, wrapped in red lace supplied by Lady Pallenberg, out of a pocket. Damien was quickly interrupted again. What was it with the bloody card case? Damien wondered. A small item could not hold coins but certainly held a value. Maybe more than the kitchey little necklace “No. No case, sir.”
Without ceremony he unfolded the lace. Fingers pinched the leather string that held the prize, and Damien lifted it. Sunlight caught, a hint of colors reflected back. Not terribly impressive. The payment for it better be. “Will you confirm this is the piece in question?”
-
“Yes. I was a boy of six. My cousin and I slayed the beast with our bare hands,” he said, absentmindedly, waving away someone near the door to fetch some tea. It was a story that had started off exaggerated by the imagination - and utter terror - of a child, and had only grown in the years since. But his attention jumped from the trauma of youth to the disappointment of no case, and finally his gaze landed on red lace.
“Why not have a new case made? Was the duke really so attached to the old one?” called Effie, who could not mind her own business, from the far side of the room. Frederick stifled a sigh. Really. How could he have expected anything else when she had gone to all the trouble of following him into the room in the first place.
“That’s not the point, Euphemia.”
No, indeed. They had been striped of their belongings in the most vulnerable state of sleeping. They deserved recompense. Beyond that, what Freddie dared not admit to even himself, was how much he wanted to see the duke’s face when the card case returned. To be the person who placed it in his hands.
He shook his head.
“Sisters,” he muttered, “Do you have any siblings, Mr, Keyes, or - ” His words cut off with a sharp gasp. He stretched a hand toward the pendant. Took a moment to look it over as if he was not sure, but truthfully he would have recognized if from two streets away. How could he not? He had only worn it every single day for over a decade.
“This is my necklace.”
A swell of emotion. Wait until he showed Graham.
“You would not believe what I have been through looking for this. It was stripped from my very neck the morning after a party, have you ever been to one of the Doctor’s parties over on Charles Street?” he lowered his voice, "Forget the opium dens, I’d be happy to introduce you.”
Cliveden House Party, 1799 (Season Finale)
“A fanfare of dancers, fire eaters, an elephant, and two tigers led the procession onto the grounds of Cliveden. Porters carried a golden palanquin through the crowd of onlookers, setting the vehicle down in front of the steps of the main house. The Earl of Effingham & Duke of Sussex stepped out– one final grand entrance of the season.”
ixnay-on-the-ipshay:
grahamxsahi:
-
Both of them spilled a jumble of thoughts and questions at the Duke’s feet. An attempt at sitting up to properly address the men failed. Graham could not muster the strength in his current state. “First of all, that tiger of which you speak is an entirely different thing altogether.” A macabre act of deviant art, a delightful musical oddity– whichever side one stood on didn’t seem to be what the Captain wished to discuss.
Through the fog of a headache and fever, Graham repeated key pieces in his head to ensure he had heard them both correctly. Engaged? Victoria? Prior or currently– what?
“Miss Hale and myself spent a great deal of time together last season. However, we were never engaged. To each other.” A fact which seemed as necessary to explain as the lack of Graham’s shirt.
He looked shrewdly at the Captain. The Victoria of last season might stir up drama for the sake of getting what she wanted, yet they had built a fine truce between them during the current spring and summer.
“Now, I have been with her recently.” The Captain deserved a little toying with the words, with the way he charged over and interrupted the afternoon aperitif. He paused a bit longer than usual in completing the sentence. “At a picnic. Where she made mention of your impending nuptials– which I am so sorry I have been unable to congratulate you. So… congratulations.”
The slow rolling train of thought began to pick up speed. Why was he being asked such inane questions? Had Frederick even told Archie? “Freddie knows well and good who my current entanglement is with. Although I would not refer to being in love with such temporary, sticky terms.”
@ixnay-on-the-ipshay
-
Not even the exotic lure of a-a tiger on English shores could stop him from turning an incredulous stare on his cousin. “F-freedom? Pursuit of-of happiness? By Jove, Freddie – why, you sound practically like those former colonies of ours. You know well that-that marriage, like matters of state, is about – about family, and-and duty, and –”
Whatever he might have said next (none of it should have been new to Freddie, he thought repressively) was overridden by Sussex’s long-awaited answer.
Not engaged – “Yes, yes – it is, indeed, quite obvious there was no engagement – it is the matter of this spending time – and-and no dancing around this, sir –”
For a moment, his heart sank – something bitter at the back of his throat at the duke’s casual acknowledgment: I have been with her recently. Recently – how recently – with her how; he was torn between the desire to demand all the details, and simultaneously flinching from hearing any more (a picnic? in public? good God –)
He was already bowing, stiff and automatic at the congratulations; mind still trying to catch up – how did one respond to something like that?
“Your – hrm, current entanglements are – in love?” He stared, once again shocked into temporary silence at the revelation – less at the-the connexion between Freddie and the duke, but more that Sussex saw fit to so – so boldly declare it.
In love.
“I say,” he said slowly, looking between the two of them, “Why, you are serious about this – whatever it is between the two of you.” Then, eyes hardening – he drew himself up. “Sir, I would have you know – pursuit of-of happiness notwithstanding – should your pursuits cause my cousin any pain, why – he is not without those who would stand with him, mark my words!”
@lordxfrederick
-
Freddie’s expression clouded over when Archie all but accused him of speaking a treasonous line of thought. The hypocrisy was palpable. He was only overlooking it this one time, because his cousin was in a right state. All worked up over a blackmail induced engagement. Oh, but it still stung. He would have words to say later, when they were back in the privacy of their townhome.
Provided he remembered. For once the duke began to speak, everything else in the world melted away. Even the insult of being likened to those who had forsaken their duty to King and country. He could only stand there, hands awkwardly by his sides - he felt like he ought to be doing something with them, but he could not for the life of him think of what - as a prickly feeling crept up the back of his neck.
Love.
That word was new. They had said everything but when they’d taken a swim in the Serpentine. Freddie’s grin stretched wide across his face while a giddiness rattled around within his chest. Should he say it also? No, that would be a bit much. Although -
“Archie, please.” He suspected his cousin would never understand. What made the duke happy, made him happy also. How was it that explaining one concept could be both so easy and so difficult? He looked directly at Graham.
“I would not refer to it as an entanglement either.”
Any pain would be his own burden to bear.
“Well you have your answer,” he said to his cousin, “The past is the past. Does this not please you, cousin? Perhaps we should all have a drink.”
@grahamxsahi
grahamxsahi:
-
A dramatically teasing scowl crossed his expression. If Frederick wanted to use his brain to outwit and outmatch Graham in a challenge that had already been put off for hours… well, the Duke grew all the more interested to see what the other might create on the fly to do so.
A frown appeared as they reached the terrace doors with the settee. A soft suggestion of tilt it more to the right and then the doors were cleared. “Repair? Why don’t I buy another?” Bigger, better. Graham had not thrown as much money around in the last 72 hours as he’d have liked.
Once the sunrise situation had been confirmed on the balcony (the view perfect, the sun to come up just over the treeline they almost met their end in), his attention returned to Freddie. And a hidden passageway.
– In the bedroom…
With the effects of the tincture shared with Basti faded, Graham looked around the room. He wondered if he hadn’t oversold it. Still. It was one hell of a bed. But he began circling the edge of the room, eyes in a scrutinizing squint. A tap on a wall here. Discovery and investigation of a seam in the wallpaper there. “Well then? What do you think?” A pause. “I must be honest– it seemed larger when I was in here earlier. More impressive. But comfortable nonetheless.” Another pause. “Where would you think the most likely place for the secret passage to be? Oh, and– fifty-seven. I haven’t forgotten yet.” Which was also impressive enough.
-
“It’s the biggest bed I’ve seen,” said Frederick. He spoke truthfully, but would have answered the same were it not. He didn’t want to disappoint. It had been a long day of hauling sofas around, and what have a person. He dropped down to sit on the edge of the bed, watching the duke poke at the wallpaper.
“I think it could fit all of us. Or most.”
Frederick held out his hand for reference. Attempted a quick, inexact measurement from one corner of the bed to the other. His mind was so filled with number, it didn’t occur to him what strange bedfellows the lot of them might make altogether. Particularly after the events of the afternoon.
“There’s not room on the floor for a trap door,” he began, rising from his seat to join Graham over by the wall, “Not without moving the bed to reach it, which would render it useless. I suppose that doesn’t mean there isn’t one, but unless you can squeeze underneath...”
He let his shoulder brush against the duke’s. Freddie raised his hand to run it along the wall as well, feeling nothing but wallpaper. There would need to be some kind of trigger, something that would undo the latch.
“Any wall that isn’t an outside wall should do,” he said, “I wonder if the staff would know.”
grahamxsahi:
-
Medical orders be damned– the Duke would not miss out on the biggest party to mark the end of the season. Especially not when himself and Freddie had so meticulously planned their entrance. As soon as the doctor left the room, Graham began the uncomfortable process of peeling leeches from his chest.
He paused as another round of chills gripped him in a heavy shiver. Pulled the last leech from his chest to toss into a small porcelain bucket. A knock at the window startled Graham and he checked his appearance in a mirror. Normally tawny skin was covered in a sheen of sweat and feverishly pale cast. Red marks dotted his chest, left over from the latest ‘’treatment’’. The healing wound from a slice of the thief’s knife blade stared back angrily.
Hair wet. Eyes tired. The Duke looked a mess, but it was nothing a little drink and company couldn’t fix. He quickly tossed a dressing gown over his shoulders and opened the window, and a hand jutted out to help the other through the window frame. “Oh my… Frederick, here. Allow me to help! I will not have you falling to your death from a trellis.”
Of course, it wasn’t the first time Freddie had chosen that type of entrance. “I overheard Mr. Fernandes, and I apologize for his rudeness in speaking to you. But I am fine. We are going to Cliveden. I only need to find my coat and we shall be departing. Out of the front door, this time.”
-
His hand clasped around the duke’s wrist. One... two... Freddie swung his leg over the windowsill, and pulled himself inside the room. He was about to remark on the fact that it was a lot easier climbing down as opposed to climbing up, when he got his first good look at the man. Sickly was more accurate than he wanted to admit. The long-winded rant he’d prepared about Fernandes fell by the wayside, immediately forgotten.
“I should have been informed you were unwell,” he said, carefully. No one wanted to hear they looked like something the cat had dragged in. A moment passed before Freddie realized he had been informed. Downstairs. While he stood at the front door.
“Before this morning.”
His expression hardened. Before Graham even had a chance to answer, he suspected there had been a message. One ignored by a disgruntled solicitor. Such a thing would not surprise him in the least. Someone should have told him something.
“Are you sure about Cliveden?”
He paused.
“You’ll need more than a coat. Where’s your comb?”
ixnay-on-the-ipshay:
grahamxsahi:
-
Graham lounged under a tree in the shade. He had a view of the menagerie, to call out instructions for the Bengal tiger gifted to Cliveden. While he had removed his shirt for comfort, he kept a coat on to prevent a chill. Aperitifs had given him enough stamina to carry on a conversation. One of his doctor’s tinctures helped with his previous aches.
Lady Harvey had only just bid him goodbye as Graham caught sight of the Effinghams and their approach. One looked more rigid and determined in their walk, but the Duke did not think much of it as he peered over a pair of glasses. “Gentlemen… does the tiger enclosure seem… secure enough? I am having my doubts. What do you two think?”
@ixnay-on-the-ipshay
-
Target spotted and acquired, he found himself within the duke’s presence within a few strides – the questions – accusations – nay, assertions already spilling off his tongue before he had quite finished the requisite social greetings.
“Sussex – oh, so you are here – look here, we have business, you and I – matters of import and-and of a-a rather delicate nature, if you wouldn’t mind –” He stopped, attention suddenly diverted by the beast in the enclosure just before them at the duke’s question. “I say! Is that a-a tiger? My word – did not realize there were any yet in England; last I heard, such beasts were out in some-some rajah’s estate out in-in Mysore – how the devil did you –”
Focus, Archibald, he sternly reprimanded himself; coughed and resumed his attentions to the duke himself.
“That-that is to say – sir, is it true that you and-and Miss Hale are – were – are still engaged in-in –”
Stopped again, now that he was looking at Sussex; the duke, usually the man to ape in terms of being in the stare of fashion, looked oddly underdressed.
“– why, the devil happened to your shirt?” Then, recalling the last time his own outfit had been in, hrm, significant danger, flushed. “Have you been with Miss Hale, sir?”
@lordxfrederick
-
“Prior or currently,” interjected Freddie, glancing toward the tiger pen. One of the sides was bending outward rather precariously. If they added a few supports along the ground, and then a taller one, centered down the middle, it would probably be -
Freddie caught himself mid-thought, not realizing he and his cousin shared a wandering attention. Although who wouldn’t in the presence of such exotic pets? He turned back quickly, and continued to explain.
“Miss Hale has elicited an engagement from my cousin some weeks back, and he wishes to go into the marriage knowing the full truth of the matter. I said I did not believe you were currently entangled, but previously - ” His voice trailed off.
His aunt had said it had happened at some point. For all their flaws (and no matter how much Archie protested), the mums were rather astute about these things.
“As I was trying to say before, Archie, I really think there is something to be said for a bit of freedom and letting others, particularly a partner, pursue what makes them happy.”
@grahamxsahi
FREDDIEGRAHAM
Freddie & Graham { @grahamxsahi }
Welcome to Meme Friday at The Season! 🌸 Each Friday (usually), we’ll post one or two memes for characters to reblog on their accounts. Reblogging the meme indicates that you are accepting asks from it, and that you’re also sending asks out to others. Enjoy!
Send me a ship and I’ll fill out the questionnaire.
— SHIP QUESTIONS
PRE-RELATIONSHIP
How did they first meet?
What was their first impression of each other?
Did any of their friends or family want them to get together?
Who felt romantic feelings first?
Did either of them try to resist their feelings?
If you had told one of them that the other would be their soulmate, what would they think?
What would their lives be like if they had never met?
GENERAL
Who initiated the relationship, and how did it go?
Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like?
What was their first kiss like?
Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?
What’s their height difference? Age difference?
What’s their relationship with each other’s families?
Who takes the lead in social situations?
Who gets jealous easier?
Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear?
LOVE
Who said “I love you” first?
What are their primary love languages?
Who uses cheesy pick-up lines?
How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?
Who initiates kisses?
Who’s the big and little spoon?
What are their favorite things to do together?
Who’s better at comforting the other?
Who’s more protective?
Do they prefer verbal or physical affection?
What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?
What kind of nicknames do they call each other?
Who remembers the little things?
DOMESTIC LIFE
If they get married, who proposes?
What’s the wedding like? Who attends?
How many kids do they have, if any? What are they like?
Do they have any pets?
Who’s the stricter parent?
Who worries the most?
Who kills the bugs in the house?
How do they celebrate holidays?
Who’s more likely to convince the other to come back to sleep in the morning?
Who’s the better cook?
Who likes to dance?