#charles brackner

[fycourtera]

{libation: chapter one/1} samuel & jasper

Jasper: Now, whut’s a boy like you doing out alone in the woods? *his hand comes up at leisure, resting crooked against the tree branch.*  Samuel: I’m not alone. *spinning around so his belt clacked against the wooden playsword, he held it up in a defensivd stance Leah had taught him. He couldn’t show fear, he told himself. He was a Brackner.* My brothers are with me. Jasper: *Making a show of looking both ways, he exudes light amusement with every careless gesture.* What. *The shrug was exaggerated.* You got invisible brothers? Samuel: *snaps* They’re stalking a deer. If you lay a hand on me— Jasper: They’ll stalk me instead? *He chortles to himself, shoving off the tree. Dry leaves smashed beneath his feet as he walked in mockery of stocking, he thought, the forest is dying. Dry leaves, cracking twigs, vibrant sunbeams, the air itself thirsted for water. Not good. He hated fire.* Samuel: Stop that. *annoyed* My brothers don’t strut with their hand flicked. You look like a girl. Jasper: A girl? *This boy was amusing. He lowered his hands.* And that’s an insult? You can tell its brothers you got, not sisters.  Samuel: *stubbornly* I have three sisters. Jasper: *Three sisters and plural brothers? Did his parents ever leave the house?* And they let you talk about them like that? *whistles through clenched teeth* If I’d had a sister she’d have smacked me. Samuel: *He wrinkles his nose, caught. Leah wouldn’t hit him. But she probably wouldn’t have liked the comment either.* Do you have a sister? Jasper: Yup, an invisible one. *He surveyed the child curiously: he wore a light tunic, but the shoes….the shoes were too nice.* Whut’s your name, boy? Samuel: I’m not a boy! Jasper: Bit short for a man. *fairly, reaches into his tunic. He stops suddenly, seeing the boy tense. A sad look crossed his face before he held both hands up, palms facing him, friendly like.* Easy boy, I’m not gonna hurt you. Samuel: That’s what you’d say if you wanted to hurt me. *wrinkles his nose* Jasper: Smart boy. *he wiggles his fingers to show his innocence*  Samuel: *snappishly* What are -you- doing in the woods alone ?  Jasper: Hunting. *And he wiggles his fingers again.* Samuel: Without a bow? *warily, eyes transfixed by the wiggling fingers* Jasper: Don’t need a bow.  Samuel: Hunting what? Jasper: Oh, a very smart boy. *He dropped one hand, patting his chest, keeping the other one up—honestly, he could cast easier with it out anyways. But he didn’t think he would have to.* Here, let me start then. Jasper, at your service. *The head nod was a mockery of a bow.* Samuel: *The words ‘Samuel Brackner, and my father is Lord’, in a haughty, intimidating were bit back as he saw the jape of a bow. This Jasper was too at ease—he clearly was muggleborn. And he wasn’t convinced Jasper didn’t mean him ill.* Samuel. *Shifting his feed in the leaves, his addition is sudden as a bullet and so weighted.* And I don’t need a bow either.  Jasper: *At that, he outright laughs, patting his chest once more. An apple appears to leap to his hand. Messily biting into the scarlet flesh, juice dribbled down his chin.* All right then, Sammie. *Another apple appears in hand, and he tosses it to him.* Here. Samuel: *Catching it on reflex, his mouth waters just at the scent. Nicholas had stolen his snack. Hesitantly looking back at Jasper, he squeezes it between sweaty fingers.* I don’t trust you. Jasper: *With another laugh, he nods in approval as he lounges back against the tree. Head tilted in jovial amusement, he crosses his legs and pops his knee unconcernedly.* You shouldn’t. But do I look like an Evil Queen, Sammie? Samuel: *bristling* Samuel. *He eyes the apple again. Stomach crying out for it, he’s still half tempted to chuck it at Jasper.* And I’m not some dumb princess either. Jasper. Aye, Sam-u-el, there you go then. *Crunching as he bites, he wipes his chin with the back of a hand. He gestures with his own apple.* Must be safe to eat then. Samuel: *Three glances between the apple in his hot hand and the smirking Jasper — and his grumbling, eager stomach — convinced him really, if Jasper wanted to hurt him, he only had to cast a spell. He could try, Samuel thought in determination as he bit into the apple, he had two years under his belt now with proper training. What training could Jasper have? He devoured the apple, rubbing his lips and asking,* Don’t suppose you have any strawberries? Jasper: *Watching Sammie inhale the apple, he’s wide-eyed and puffed up cheeks.* Oi, slow down there. Geesh, half-starved are ya? Strawberries too? Greedy… Samuel: No— *Now he just had a core. The he could throw without regret. No problem.* It’s just, my brothers ate the snack I brought. And I skipped breakfast. *He added as an afterthought, hurriedly* We all did, cause well, the girls needed it more. Jasper: Ah, the invisible brothers. *Nodding, a look of knowledge crosses his expression. He lifts his chin.* Admirable of ya. Suppose it wouldn’t be gentlemenly to eat before ‘em. *Arching an eyebrow, he leans down to pat apple bits off his chest. What a gentlemen I am. Casually, as his hand swiped, he added easily,* You’re not a bad liar, Sammie, but honestly—obviously you’re some noblemen’s son. If’ya gonna lie, might not want to insist on the posh proper pronunciation like that. *He chucks his apple core at the ground. As it rolls in the dirt, he adds cheerily,* Hey, maybe a new apple tree’ll pop up. Then you can eat them all and your brothers will never know about it. Samuel: *stiffening his back, he clenches the core in his hand. One good throw and maybe he could distract him long enough to run. The last statement confused him. Hesitant, his words had sudden reservation,* All right. Yes. It’s Samuel Brackner. And you’re muggleborn. *Breath quick, his brows furrow as he puzzles,* You don’t seem dangerous. Jasper: *An ugly look crosses his jovial face. Oh, Brackner, well then, there was a name he knew well enough and had no love for. The last statement made him laugh again, reminded him the boy couldn’t be older than thirteen. He’s sad a moment. Stuck between his smirk and a tone of gravity, his words were weary* Oh, stick with not trusting me, Sammie. Believe me. Samuel: *Goodness, how many colors could a man turn in thirty seconds? He was purple, then red, and then the only color that came to Samuel’s mind was ‘blue’, though it wasn’t like he turned into a blueberry or anything. He’d have laughed then. That would be almost as good as when Nicholas accidentally transfigured his gerbil into a kiwi. Smiling at the memory, he spoke with odd sureness.* How could I believe you and not trust you at the same time? And I prefer Samuel. There’s lots of Sams and Sammies, but I’m not so common. Jasper: *His smile returns, chin lifting to eye the little lordling with the clever questions: too smart, he truly was.* No…I suppose you ain’t at that, Samuel. And I don’t mean your noble birth, that don’t mean horse manure. Samuel: *He giggles at the phrase, smirk lifting with smug pride.* It wasn’t what I meant either. I just meant it like unique. Jasper: *An honest smile lifts his own lips, even as he hears a shout behind him.* Aye. Samuel: *turning at the shout, he says hurriedly,* My brothers. *He was warning him now? Why would he do that? He might be one of Mitchell’s…but he didn’t think he wanted to hurt him either.* Jasper: *amused, even as he shoves himself forward* Not so invisible after all. Samuel: *Looking back to him he says hesitantly,* You should go. If they see you… Jasper: Kind of you to worry. *tiny chuckle* You don’t want us all rounded up and beheaded then? Best not tell your father that I reckon. Samuel: *nose wrinkling again, he speaks firmly* Talking to me isn’t a crime worth dying for. Jasper: *quieter* If you heard my true crimes you might think different. Samuel: *Under another, louder whoop of joy he recognized as Charles.* I don’t care, cause they’ll just assume you were threatening me. Jasper: Brothers are wont to do that. *Sadness covers his expression again despite his smile. He stuck his hand in his pocket.* Samuel: You have them? *hurriedly glancing at the trees, wrinkling his nose, not understanding why he didn’t just go.* Jasper: I had one. *He doesn’t see Samuel now. Everything turns dark, then the world is sparks and flames, and Ralph is in the middle of an inferno. Shouting, screaming at him, yelling madness of the bloody nobles, telling him to fight it, fight them, keep using magic however available to him to strenghten it, strengthen himself. It had been madness then; now he understood his brothers words. He breathed out, the small, confused face of Samuel floating in front of him. He was a lord-to-be, those bloody responsible for all of it. But Jasper only softened his expression, afraid he’d scared the boy.* I get it, you’d do anything for them. Still do, I guess. He’s just invisible now.  Samuel: *He’s breathing heavy, but he nods as Jasper finally finishes his thought.* Yeah. Exactly. *Before he said another word, the man was gone. He sighed. Why did he have to wait til he was seventeen to learn the cool spells!?* Nicholas: *laughing* You have to see the catch I made, Samuel—you should have seen my shot!?- it wa— Charles: *holds his hand up, asking hurriedly* Samuel, who was that!? Samuel: *Grinning at Nicholas, he exclaims* How big!? *Waving Charles off.* I don’t know really—he was kinda odd. Said his name was Jasper? Charles: *stilling, voice deathly quiet* Jasper!? Jaspet Dayne!? Samuel: I dunno, maybe. Nickkk, how big!? Can I try the bow next? Nicholas: No. *grinning* Huge though, come on— Samuel: But it’s my turn!! Nicholas: It’s my bow! Charles: Oh for the—Samuel. What did he say exactly? Samuel: Nothing. Talked about brothers mostly.  Charles: Samuel. Jasper Dayne—he’s one of the ones—attacked—*breathing very harshly* Samuel: *He goes still for a moment and then says pointedly,* Then I don’t think it was him, cause he didn’t want to hurt me. I just think he wanted to talk.  Charles: *he exhales, rubbing his chest, asking quieter* You all right? Samuel: *stubbornly* Fine. *tiny pause* ..seriously, Charles, I’m okay. Nothing happened. *quieter* Thanks, though. Charles: *slow nod* …all right, you stick with us though now okay? Samuel: You ran ahead! Nicholas: *chuckles, covering his own nervousness* Here—you can try the bow. Samuel: *beams* Really!? *takes it, surprised by how heavy it was and holding it up stubbornly* Charles: *smirk* Don’t drop it, now. Samuel: *lifts his arm and chucks the apple at his head*

[fycourtera]

{chapter twenty-two: 5} frederick & charles

Frederick: *Life in town was a busy one. There was always something to be doing, whether it be a chore or a job or an errand. Activities that Rick had never done in his life, like make the bed and clean the dishes and cook, he now had to do on a daily basis. Rick had never been more tired in his life. How were these people not falling over dead from exhaustion? Stifling a yawn, Rick moved through the town market, intending to buy some sort of...string. The stitching on one of the cushions had broken and they needed to fix it. He hadn't offered an explanation of how it had ripped, and Thomas hadn't asked for one. It was for the best. Rick did offer to fix it though...somehow. Otherwise ignoring most of everyone else (a few people actually acknowledged him with a smile and a wave that he returned), he did a double take as he thought he saw his cousin here in town as well. Sure enough, Charles was there.* Charles. *he spoke out, nearly having to shout in the bustle of the market, and started walking over to the younger man. Whether Rick was glad to see him or not, he'd find out soon.* Charles: *Mothers had an extra sense, he was convinced, to alert them to their children's innermost thoughts and desires. Or at least his did. That afternoon he had been staring aimlessly at the parchment he was meant to read (bothering Jane, who was trying to concentrate on writing) and consistently found himself thinking about Rick instead. Jane kicked him out of the library. He couldn't see him--he just, couldn't, he was working, busy, according to Jane didn't need reminders of court. He knew he couldn't. Blast, did he need a reason to want to see him? And just as he'd thought that, his mother had shown up, asking him to please-please pick up some lavender oil and essence of something-or-other at the town market. He hadn't had time to blink twice before she added "now please," kissed his cheek, and slipped silver into his palm. He was in the market in a heartbeat, cursing mother's who knew everything, ignoring stares, and in no time at all heard his name. Biting down on his lip as he was seized with a need to examine the incorrect herb in his hand, just to make sure it was the one he definitely did not need, he squashed the urge down by the time his cousin was beside him. And squashed the herb. Ah well, wrong one anyway. It wasn't until their eyes met that Charles realized: he was truly glad to see him. Smiling small, his words were genial.* Afternoon, Rick. Do you...have any idea what Salvia Officinalis looks like once before it's ground up? *He gestured at the many unlabeled bottles, adding lightly,* The shopkeep imagined himself an artist great as Michelangelo, but I'm afraid I just see squiggly leafs for labels. *Oh...oops. Did Rick know the man now? ...was he not supposed to insult them? Bother.* Frederick: *He almost laughed to hear his cousin, as unchanged as ever. When Etta and Lorraine had come to visit him, they were distinctively not themselves, but Charles was...Charles, he supposed. As long as Rick didnt focus on the fact that his wardrobe and state were now obviously less lavish then it could pass off as a visit, hopefully. Lips twitching, he looked at the different herbs for a few moments before picking up the bottle of sage and tossed it to Charles* Fell asleep during potions class all these years, Charles? *he smirked, and shook his head before adding* The shopkeeper has the shaking sickness, Lucy told me. *Poor sot could barely pick up a pencil most days, but the townspeople didn't even notice the shaking hands. Rick did, it was still odd and uncomfortable to behold but he gathered not as odd and uncomfortable as actually having it. But that wasn't the greatest conversation topic.* How are things? *That wasn't such a great topic either.* Charles: Same as you, I had better ways to spend my time. *Catching the bottle while he smirked and shrugged, Charles barely looked at it. He was too fascinated by Rick. Rather, what was different. The clothes were shoddy and spare, and he didn't remember his hair poking out that way but Charles didn't think it was either.* In a manner of speaking. Suppose that depends on your definition of sleeping. *He winked, fidgeting with the bottle stopper only to still as Rick explained. Oh. Well...poor shopkeep then. A bit wrong footed, it was just as odd to him that Rick would know.* Ah, right. Shame.*What else could he say? More uncomfortable at the question, Charles paused a moment. Then he shrugged.* Jane has her pending book deal and is being a pain. Kitty is in a constant state of bluster as she plans the wedding, and I think I will vomit flowers by the time she's wed, they're everywhere. Leah keeps somehow losing the ribbons for them. *His lips flick, adding as an afterthought,* Oh, and there's a cartographer in town--Angela, who...well, wish I'd met her in Potion's class. *He chuckled once, paused, and added after a brief pause,* How are you? Frederick: *At that he really did laugh, and nodded his head in what he couldn't deny was approval even if Charles was wrong about one point: Rick had actually paid a lot of attention in Potions. Well more attention than he paid most subjects. Lips flicking as Charles recounted the state of things back at court, he noticed only a few moments later that not referring to it as home was becoming second nature, Rick chuckled* Sounds rather normal then, cartographer aside. *His lips twitched before he smiled and answered truthfully* Tired. I wish I could be resting right now actually before I head to the tavern -*his eyes searched Charles as he spoke, curious and wary about his reaction*- but I have to fix a cushion. Lucy ripped it. *He was tried not to smirk. He tried his very best.* Charles: *As his cousin laughed, he got it, what was so odd, what was so changed. Rick was happy.* Fairly. Well. There's...Bridges, but I've kept out of that. *He honestly had; the man was not his responsibility. It was for the best that their Lord and council handed it, God knew. So instead, he continued lighter,* Though you're right, *his smirk lifted,* Angela is anything but common. *The easy smirk faded as Rick continued, slowly nodding once with a smaller smile, only realizing after a few seconds he hadn't spoken. The tavern. Working. God, he couldn't imagine. Strange, uncomfortable...but. Rick was happy; he could see it, and part of the reason...he was reminded of with the lighter remark and a smirk.* Oh did she? *The remark left his lips before he'd thought about it.* However did that happen? Frederick: *It took Rick a couple of seconds to figure out that Charles wasn't talking about Karyn, but rather her outlawed brother, the one that had been caught. Lucy and Thomas were upset, an understatement really, but Rick mostly remained silent on that matter. After all this time, he still found he was rather confused about him and the others' guilt or innocence. So instead he focused on his cousin's description of the cartographer, as it was amusing and curious given that Charles' interest in muggle women, no matter how attractive they might have been, was...oh, almost non-existent. Now truly unable to hide his smirk, he shrugged a bit exaggeratedly before answering* Well, I didn't actually see, I was distracted. Charles: *Glad that Rick didn't press further, the matter of the prisoner was put clean from his mind with his own sudden laugh.* Must have been quite the sight, *his brow wiggled, smirk lifting,* to distract you so utterly. *He was amused, and that was much easier to focus on than...well, the fact that Rick said he was going to mend it. Rubbing his bottom lip -- and sticking his tongue out briefly as he tasted the remains of the squished herb--he tilted his head. His words were dry.* I do hope Lucy isn't blaming herself for distracting you too heartily. *Then he bit his bottom lip, suddenly hearing his own statement in a different context. Ah, damn, whoops. Pausing, he added just as honestly,* She does guilt herself fairly easily. *See? He knew her...somewhat.* Frederick: Wrong sense. *he remarked easily with another smirk. Actually if he were being truthful, it was a combination of them but that was information he kept to himself for obvious reasons. Pausing a moment at the dry addition by his cousin, he pursed his lips and nodded* Yes, that sounds like her. *he looked at Charles again* Though I've told her plenty of times that being with her isn't a distraction. Being without her was, but not this. *he bit his  lip for a moment before he added with a smirk* So it's true then, you have been talking to her? *he raises his eyebrows* Should I be worried? *he paused and then smirked again* Never mind, I'm not. Charles: Wrong se--*he chuckled, earnest and honest at once. It was a familiar type of statement - type, for Rick never repeated his lines anymore than he did. So it took him a moment to remember they weren't just in one of each other's basements on a tear. Swallowing back a comment, it faded from his mind as Rick continued and then nodded once. He wasn't frowning, not exactly, but he did not know what to say. He didn't know what to feel anymore either; all he knew was he was tired of feeling like this. With a slow nod, he folded his arms on his chest and answered hesitantly,* Some..*Oh, for goodness sakes. With a small smirk, he added,* And I'm supposed to point out to you that I like her. Apparently it wouldn't hurt. *His lips quirked up, but he added honestly enough, feeling something akin to shame,* Truthfully Rick, I think I'm the worried one, wondering what she's...said to you about it. Frederick: *Of course he had no problem letting a subject slide, how many of them had they already let fall in this conversation alone?, so he continued and chuckled as Charles replied.* Oh, no it could hurt -you- depending on what you decide to say but. *While Frederick was joking however, Charles seemed to cease, at his next words were, as his cousin had already spoken, sincere. Rick shrugged* That you're a stubborn, annoying, cocky prat. *he paused for a moment and lifted a finger before he added* Apologies, that's what I said about you. *Wiggling his eyebrows, he laughed once and shook his head* She hasn't said one negative thing about you...to me, at least. *he shrugged* Lucy's not like that. Charles: *Each trait in the list widened his smile a fraction, each clenched finger popping off his forearm until he let out a short, bark of a laugh. He raised a hand to feign surrender, shaking his head,* Hey mate, long as you didn't say ugly. Then -I'd- have to hurt you. *He dropped his hand after playfully making a fist, wiggling his stretched fingers as he listens more seriously, brows wrinkling with honest amusement* No? You know, she does have a knack for insults too--least for speaking her mind, anyway. *He pauses, then says--almost in surprise at himself,* I guess I do like that. Frederick: No, your looks are your only redeeming quality, I wouldn't hurt you that badly. *Chuckling, he smiled in pride as Charles spoke of Lucy, nodding along* She's as blunt and honest with the truth as anyone in our family. *Could he still say that? Were they still his family? Cyrus didn't seem to think so. Shaking off that train of thought, he added easy again* I loved that about her instantly- well, besides the obvious. *Another smirk* Charles: I appreciate that, my ego is just oh so easily bruised. *It was an immediate quip, his chin jerking up with his 'as if' shrug. His nose wrinkled an inch as Rick went on. That was a bit like saying she was his family, a bit close for comfort--only then he blinked. Of course that was how Rick would put it; he was living with her now, wasn't he? Well, with Thomas, the man who was his sister's brother, but it was close enough. So he just nodded, still smiling small.* Well, it definitely was the first thing I noticed, considering when I met her she was snapping at me to let her shoe my horse. *He shrugged a shoulder without regret for the occasion. Then he furrowed his brow.* How -did- you meet her, anyway? Frederick: *Rick snorted, knowing fully well how much of a lie that statement was, but it was funny nonetheless. As Charles reminded him of the first time he met Lucy, Rick nodded and then 'ahh-ed' silently* Yes, I saw that, actually, thank you for reminding me- *he whacked Charles in the back of the head, trying not to appear as amused as he felt. He offered no further explanation merely continued, laughing silently before he added* Oh, I will tell you if only because then Jane won't have been the one to get it out of me. *Wiggling his eyebrows, he chuckled before gesturing to the herbs* Should probably pay for that soon though. Charles: *Brows furrowing in surprise, he ducked a half second too late--damn, his reflexes were slow, and laughed through his protest even as he hit his hand away,* Hey! Excuse me, what was that for? *Blinking in rapid confusion, brows screwing up again, suddenly his hand paused over the sore spot beneath a curl.* Did you say you saw it? *His hand dropped again, eyes widening, expression clearing and lifting with amusement.* You were spying on her? Oh, you are properly sunk. *He nodded importantly--and then stepped back out of range, lest he get hit again.* Right, good point. Gesturing to the back of the shop, his gaze paused as he realized just how bad the man's left hand was shaking at the moment. Poor bloke. Without any guilt for his earlier insensitivity - how was he supposed to have known anyways? - he took a few steps forward to show what he had, then flicked silver across the table with a pop of his thumb without care. Well, he took care to have his back to Rick. It felt odd to have more than him, to be even aware of the silver, for it felt heavy in his hand. It was a lot more than he owed he was sure, so call it penance for his comment. Saying 'thank you' with a wave and turning back to Rick, he  gestured he'd follow Rick to wherever he was...going to get whatever he needed to fix a cushion, and found himself grinning again.* I'm getting the story before Jane? Oh, excellent, do tell. Frederick: For being a prat. *He shrugged, thinking that was explanation enough, especially given that he only said it as a favor to his cousin, because he wouldn't have offered one otherwise. Rolling his eyes, he corrected* I was observing- one day you'll be the one spying and I will laugh at your face and say 'see?' *Whenever that day was...if Rick was still even near court for whenever that was. He didn't want to think about that at the moment anyways. Frederick waited a few moments for Charles to pay. He wanted to tell his cousin he was paying too much, as Rick was a bit proud to have learned the base prices for most of the goods in town by now, before he realized two things: Charles obviously knew he was paying too much, and two: he wouldn't care. Only a few weeks ago they had wagered galleons on a stupid bet. So rather Frederick said nothing and started walking out of the shop to the...well, he forgot exactly the name of the shop were they sold the string and needles (honestly he only knew what a needle was because he spent his entire childhood making fun of Etta and Leah for despising sewing), but he knew where to go.)* It was just a normal day of the week. I finished some reports, went to the training fields, quarralled with one of my sisters about something or another *he waved his hand dismissively* And mother sent me to run an errand for her and ensured I didn't send a servant instead like I had been doing for...years. *he shrugged* And I saw her. Just walking in the market, talking with one of her friends. She was...*he paused before admitting in an exhale* enchanting. And this little side glance she threw me? *He groaned under his breath before chuckling* Charles: Oh, all right then. *Well, if he was gonna hit him for something that fairly covered it. All things considered they probably each owed the other dozens of like hits over the years - by that point they were usually drinking. After exaggeratedly beaming at him, as if to say 'I'll believe it when I see it', he stuck both hands in the side of his trousers and tried not to pay attention to the fact that people were watching them. Well...him, they seemed to look right over Rick - or even acknowledge him without having to glare - so Charles just kept his gaze stuck on Rick's instead. He was wondering briefly when it was he stopped wanting them to be alert to his presence and would prefer they just turn around and ignore him, when Rick started explaining---and he laughed. It was appreciative.* A side glance before any sort of introductions? *He whistled, low, under his breath.* Is this the part where you make an arse of yourself? *He chuckles.* Frederick: No. *The immediate response was almost a reflex, no it was a reflex, that made him laugh again before smirking and admitting* Maybe I was a little...imposing. *he shrugged* But she held her own, brilliantly really, as well as any other woman from court...better. *He paused deliberately for a moment, knowing how awkward that would be for Charles to hear, but he felt no shame or inadequacy in saying it and if he did, it was only in ever thinking that it ever mattered.* After that I just kept...finding excuses to 'run into her', to try and woo her every day- I only wanted into her skirts in the beginning, I thought I was charming her but it was the other way around. *He shook his head, a small smile on his face as he recalled the memories. Stopping suddenly, he held his hand up and then pointed to the shop before walking in, acknowledging the shopkeep with a small wave. Rick kept having to come find her to take her husband out of the tavern at closing time, usually forcibly by the ear. Now to buy the string...there was a lot of string. Clearing his throat after a moment he turned back to Charles* Not much more to say really. Charles: Defensive. *He teased it instead of the Shakespeare quote they both knew too well in the offing. Nodding slowly as Rick continued, he chuckled once under his breath.* Ah, only a little, no harm with that. *Had he not been experiencing the fact that Lucy could be as brilliantly manipulative and stubborn as any of those at court, he wouldn't have believed it. And even...thinking that was odd. He averted his eyes, looking over Rick's shoulder, half expecting Lucy to materialize with the details coming out before forced to stop suddenly to head into the store. Blinking at the amount of string, cloth, fabric...he didn't even know the name for most in this store really, he just met Rick's gaze again with a tiny chuckle.* Right, yeah. *There was a pause. Then, screw it.* Except you left out the part where it started making sense for you to give up your title...? *He trailed off with a hand an eyebrow raised, neither frowning nor smiling. Voice similarly - and oddly, for Charles, gentle - he added as an afterthought.* I'm not saying you should not have, it's your life, I just...Rick, I had no idea, and I...honestly, can't say I understand it yet. Frederick: *His hand paused over a bit of string as he heard Charles' words, his gaze dropping for a moment before he started chuckling, and licked his lips* Ah, yes...that. *He was wondering when he'd get to that.* Well...at least you're asking. Lorraine demanded I come home. *He paused for another moment and then exhaled, shrugging* Honestly Charles, I could spend days reciting every single detail of the hell I went through, and you still wouldn't be able to understand. It's just something...it's just something you feel, like a candle flickering on except I kept trying to blow mine out and the flame ended up burning down the room. *God, did he really just say that? He shook his head again and then exhaled* Honestly after getting to know her, the kind of person she was, her values and hopes and dreams and fears, I just realized she was just...another person. A person that I was...completely taken with. And at court I was living a lie, most of the time. I didn't want that, I wanted to be more than just a shell of a man trying to please everyone and win father's approval. I was tired of pretending and I made a decision. I would have done it from court if Cyrus hadn't made me choose, if the security measures weren't in place, I would have brought her there and fuck what everyone else said. *He swallowed a lump in his throat but that was the only acknowledgement he ever gave of it's existence.* I've always wanted to be Lord, I always knew I was going to be, I was educated for it, I was proud...but the title and the life would mean absolutely nothing without her. Charles: As well demand the sky turn green, honestly. *Not that he blamed Lorraine for wanting him home; she was not alone in that. But seeing and hearing Rick now, Charles couldn't shake the feeling he was missing something. He hated being this confused, honestly. Certainty had a comfort inherent, and now...he didn't know what this was. He just knew he didn't like it. Listening closely, half wishing there was a magical epiphany wrapped up in his words, he nodded once.* Well, apparently. Who else is going to inspire such brilliant poetry? I think you're rivaling Byron. *It was easier to make a lark. Especially when he thought of Lucy at court, and what his father would say of that, his own internal twist of distaste,  the approval from his father sure to come at his thought, that Rick just insinuated was worthless, and--oh for fucks sakes. He needed a drink. Rick made a kind of sense though - though a question slipped out before he'd noticed he'd spoken,* ...did you lie to me? Frederick: *Jokes, it wasn't surprising to him at all. If it weren't so familiar to him, he might have been annoyed or bothered. What did bother him though was the look on Charles' face, because he had been so familiar with it for so long. Frowning, he looked at Charles before he nodded reluctantly* Yes. I've lied to everyone in the recent months about this, lied to myself...*he pursed his lips before asking a question himself* Are you ashamed of me? Charles: *There was a breathless pause.* I wish you hadn't. *It was true that he might not have reacted well -- probably would have make jokes and laughed as he was now -- but he wanted a little credit too. Had he ever really cared who his cousin slept with anyway? So, he wanted...at least acknowledgment that he wasn't just his little cousin...who abruptly was technically above him now. His head spun at the thought; it felt even less true than it had when he was at court. He was still learning from Rick, right now. Calmly, he just shrugged his shoulders, echoing himself softer,* I just..I wish you hadn't. *But as Rick pursed his lips and asked with as much weight as he had, Charles' only shook his head.* No. I wish you had told me the truth, I wish you didn't leave, I wish Lucy wasn't muggleborn, and I wish this wasn't all so hard--but no, Rick. I don't think having convictions and morals is shameful. And I think telling your father he can be an ass was courageous, because well, no offense, but he really can be an ass. If I'm ashamed of anything right now it's the fact that this entire fucked up family agrees we ought to be united and does nothing to fix it at the same time. But -- *he shrugs his shoulder* honestly it seems to me, if someone really is ashamed and threatened by who you choose to be with, it says a lot more about that person than about you Rick. Nothing complimentary, either. *He sighs, rubs his forehead, and then clears his throat awkwardly. Waiting a long moment he finally met his gaze again and added,* I mean, Christ Rick, you look a hell of a lot happier than I feel. Frederick: *He nodded softly, understanding that at least. Rick hadn't kept the truth from him or anyone as an insult, it was a method of...self-preservation, in his eyes at that moment at least. Now, he knew it had just been act of cowardice. Well, not that he'd ever admit that out loud, or if he did ever use that word again. Charles' answer to his question put him at ease, almost visibly. Rick agreed, he wished it didn't have to be this hard either, he wanted nothing more than to just...have it all, have everything he's ever wanted. Nothing was ever easy, and Rick only learned that recently because to him...life had been easy for a while. Nodding slowly after grabbing a roll of string (he was getting that one and if it didn't work then tough, he'd find a way) he turned back to Charles and chuckled a moment, clapping his cousin's shoulder* I wasn't going to say anything, mate but you do look awful.* Charles: *The visible relaxation made Charles feel better: at least he had been able to do something good, something right.* Yes, well,  I'm getting no sleep because Jane won't shush. *With an instant smile, he lifted his hand to push his shoulder free muttering,* Oh shove off, Rick. At least I don't have a hole in my jacket. *He nodded at it, and then at the string in the barrel he'd already grabbed, scooping more out, cutting it magically from habit (but it was in the barrel, no one could have seen) and tossed it at him.* That ought fix it though. Patch it right up. *Both his eyebrows were wiggling again with a smirk.* Frederick: Aren't you used to that by now, though? *He could almost hear Jane's retort from here.* Hey!- *Oh, he did. He stretched it out to see it better and then just laughed and shook his head, looking up again only to catch the scoop of string that Charles had thrown at him. He scoffed, rolling his eyes before replying easily* Tosser. *A smirk played on his lips before an actual smile took over as he grabbed inside his pockets to pull out the exact change he needed to pay for the string. When they were exiting the shop again, he looked back at Charles* I'm sorry I lied to you. Charles: Well yes but -- *He paused, realizing that the difference was that Jane was ranting and rambling now to try and just get along with everyone, and the toll their previously united family being splintered had taken. So instead, he pointed out,* Can you get used to shrill? *Smirking, he lifted his index finger to point in agreement with the insult, he paused and then looked away politely, not wanting to stare while he dug the right coins out. After giving a polite nod to the shopkeeper herself (she looked a bit irritated at him), he said nothing until Rick had spoken again. Smirk softening into a smile, he just nodded at him.* Sorry I wasn't paying closer attention. *Tilting his head, he asked offhand,* Do you wa--have time for a drink? *He fished out of his pocket the flask and lifted it, though he wasn't quite smirking yet as he added,* If you want to ask Lucy too... Frederick: *He chuckled, smirking briefly* No, I suppose I can't. *Smiling himself as his apology was answered with another one, he simply nodded before chuckling at the other question, smirking immediately* Of course, I'll always make time. *Pleasantly surprised as Charles offered to invite Lucy along as well, he nodded* Yeah, she should be finishing helping her mother with their chores soon...she'll probably be in need of that drink.

[fycourtera]

{chapter twenty two: 2} charles & lucy

Narrowly avoiding a splinter, she braced herself against hard wood and folded her arms behind her back. Gripping her elbows, she tilted her chin to the sky, squinting at the clouds. Lucy marveled that the sun could shine so bright on such a terrible day. Her mother would say something about God’s beauty in everything, but Lucy had never felt further from the Church than she did that day. Telling herself ‘God works in mysterious ways’ as a mantra didn’t free Arthur from prison, or shackle those who beat at him. It didn’t find Karyn, who no one seemed to have seen. She could also tell herself that meant she had escaped the Sheriff’s men, pray for her deliverance, but it didn’t make a difference. Her heart was sick.

Frederick, God bless him, was trying to ease her worry - and it did help, it did, to have his arms around her tight as his nose buried in her neck, breathing out a promise to protect her with his life. It helped and it scared her. Lucy knew he meant it. She’d seen it at that God forsaken ball. Twice, actually. First he’d pushed her to the ground and fallen on top of her, shielding her with his own body despite the fact she knew moments before he had been resisting touching her with every fiber of his being. Then he stepped in front of her and Karyn, snapped his wrist, and across the room snapped the neck of a murderer—her attempted murderer—before his knees buckled and he collapsed dead. Rick hadn’t wanted her to see that. Rick hadn’t wanted to do that. But he had. For her. She could say ‘praise the Lord’ as her mother had a hundred times that night, but she’d thought then and still felt now that it was Rick she wanted to praise, Rick who she believed in and who she wanted to believe in himself. Now, well, if she praised him as the Lord she could only imagine the smirk.

The thought brought her own to her lips. A second later, she looked down, guilty for being so happy when everything was so wrong. Rick had saved Karyn too that night, she remembered, rubbing at her eye. Despite how the two clearly felt about each other he had, just as despite his misgivings — here defined politely as outright dislike and disdain with a hint of jealousy she didn’t know how to quash — of Thomas, he now lived with him.

She rubbed her eyes harder. Karyn was missing. Arthur was being tortured. Another noble was dead, but this time it seemed — well, no one was saying Mitchell was framed this time. Maybe it was worth a prayer or too.

So maybe it was God sending her a sign, when she dropped her hand to see it, telling her to keep her chin up and faith resolute. Coated in white, the steed shone though it was hooded by the green leaves and falling petals. Blue eyes met blue eyes as Lucy looked at the magnificent creature, cloaked in the sun. An honest smile crossed her lips as it regarded her from a distance. Yellow beaked, the hippogriff snapped it open to caw something, extended a wing, covered it’s face. It seemed to trot gingerly for all the power obvious in it’s strong legs. It was only a baby, she realized, short for all it’s glory and with a proud catch swinging around it’s neck. Lucy giggled at the look in their blue eyes; it reminded her of a cat with a mouse.

It was only after breath returned to her - only after she took another look - that she realized if this was a sign, it left a lot to be desired. They were limping, and fresh blood fell as it shook the wing, splattering scarlet onto ivory feathers.

Shoving off the wood to hurry forward, a stick’s loud crack signaled her abrupt stop. The steed was lowering a wing to pierce her with an unmistakeably haughty look. Knowing the danger of affronting one, Lucy lifted both hands gingerly. It didn’t occur to her it couldn’t understand that gesture, nor her words.

“No, wait. I’m a friend.” Eyes prickling in protest of her lack of blinking, she lowered herself in a curtsy without breaking eye contact. The young creature only stared at her, wariness evidenced in his gaze. Breathless moments passed, a flicker of fear coursing through her spine as she realized: they weren’t bowing. The fear wasn’t for herself, though she knew if she proceeded forward she would be mauled, but rather the frightened, injured creature that refused to trust her.

“Please.” Her voice broke in honest need, curtsying again. “I just want to help.”

“You have to bow, Lucy.”

The voice was familiar, but astonished her all the same, and she couldn’t help it. She blinked. The hippogriff gave another caw, this time louder, menacing for all it’s injuries and smaller stature. Her breath caught, hand lifting to cover her mouth. Her retreat was only hurried with a louder cry. Eyes still wide, she was blinking once as she spun, and then rapidly to recover moisture she had denied them for what felt like years. Vision clouded with her tears, she barely made out his outline before he was in front of her.

And Charles was sunk to the floor in a lower bow than she’d seen him ever offer in his life.

A decade passed. The cawing stopped. Rubbing her eyes clear, Lucy stood dumbfounded in awe as she watched the creature bend forward in response. Bowing it’s head low, the steed held it’s injured wing to it’s body, closely guarding the leg on which they limped. Charles held both hands up as he rose once more. Impressed against her will, she realized she was touched. Charles was moving slowly, graceful even, and she saw in his eyes the same adoration she had felt as it came into view.

The creature regarded him only a moment before resuming it’s meal. He spoke to her, but he didn’t turn around. That didn’t matter. She could feel the smirk from here.

“What were you thinking? Continuing to approach?”

Lucy drew herself up, aggravated and embarrassed he’d stepped between them now. Forced to take a moment to insure her tone remained even, she muttered bitterly at his back,

“I was thinking that they’re injured!”

“He still could take a sizable chunk out of your arm-“

“I didn’t realize you cared, milord.”

“Rick would.”

That shut her up. Now Charles met her gaze, eyes blazing with the intensity of the sun still lighting the hippogriff. Pressing her lips together, she was hit suddenly with the resemblance between him and Rick despite their differing fathers. Quieting, she folded her hands over her skirt and nodded at him. Tone now easily free of bitterness, she nodded and said softer, “Thanks, Charles.”

Only Charles waved it off, looking worriedly back at the hippogriff. Her heart somersaulting as she took in the still-bleeding wing, their leg now bent under them. Yet still it stood proud, made luminescent in the sun. The sad sight captivated her, and she thought briefly perhaps it was a sign after all before realizing Charles had asked her something.

“What?”

“Are you done daydreaming?” He sounded irritated, but there was a caution in his gaze as he held hers. It occurred to her he had looked her in the eyes for so long. So instead of biting back, she only nodded.

Charles’ mouth dropped open, then pressed shut again. He seemed to regard her with the intensity he had looked at the hippogriff with a moment, clearly surprised by her lack of rebuttal. Then he smiled, consequently throwing her off more.

“I asked-” And his voice was oddly polite for him, “If you had a saline solution, or better yet Betadine -“

“Yes.” Lucy responded immediately, standing straighter and dropping her hands. Torn between casting worried glances at the creature and confused glances at Charles, she decidedly focused on the first. It appeared he did the same. She continued, “And a splint for the leg, back at the —”

“Fetch them.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow. Charles waited a moment, and then astonishingly he appeared amused.

“Please.” His addition was much more polite, despite his finding it obviously hilarious that he should include the word. “And a needle and thread. The laceration looks nasty.”

Not needing to be asked - ‘asked’ - twice, Lucy spun on her heel and darted back down the twisting trail. Whatever her confusion, whatever her frustration and guilt whenever she looked at Charles, in this they had the same goal. Her skirt flew up as she ran with it gripped in only one hand, pounding dirt. She hadn’t gone far from the stables- she dare not, truly. Breaking as they did in the afternoon heat for food and rest, Lucy avoided going with the others to the servant’s quarters. Servants were treated poorly enough, but muggleborns?

No, it was best she not go near the manor itself if she could help it. A guilty twinge in her stomach as she vaulted over the fence and wrench the stable door open admitted it also had something to do with the fact she had no desire to ever lay eyes on Cyrus Brackner again. The thought was free of fear, oddly enough even to her. Yet still, she had decided to walk down one of the many hunting trails with her own lunch, now long devoured.

Now her basket she filled with the three ointments, the splint, the bandages, needle and thread - adding to the top of it a numbing potion, wanting to aid the hippogriff in as many ways as she could. While she tied it up - checking as she went the feed for the horses still in the stables and patting one on the nose fondly - she realized she was finding it hard to get past Charles standing in front of her, bowing so low. The image was stuck in her mind, a memory that already seemed dazed. Even as she ran back to him.

He was kneeling beside the hippogriff when she returned, patting lazily on their good wing, fluffing feathers. The smile - no, smile was an inadequate word - the beam on his lips lit up his expression honestly, his murmurs obvious affectionate and warm even as she stayed back. The hippogriff did not look at her as she approached, but Charles did - his expression tightening only in clear worry. He leaned forward, whispering something in the baby animal’s ear. An odd, low hum escaped the throat of the steed and it took Lucy a moment to understand: it was acquiescing.

Then Charles beckoned to her, eyes on her laden basket.

“It’s all right. You can approach.” The creature thrummed again, nodding while it shut it’s eyes and laid down their head across crossed forearms. Lucy approached warily, ready to turn, but it proved unnecessary. Charles didn’t wait for her to speak or offer him the basket; he just took it while she breathed out,

“What did you do?”

For such a nonchalant shrug, she was certain she detected a blush in his cheeks. It was gone when he met her gaze, heavy tube of ointment weighing his hand down as low as it seemed her heart was. His hand was jittery too; it lifted and shook in time.

“Nothing,” was his oh so helpful response, wary of his own embarrassment. “He’s seen me before.”

And from where Lucy was sitting, she promptly informed him with a little smirk of her own, “She.”

“What?” His hand paused uncapping the tube, a sudden squirt painting the grass white as the feathers beside him. Lucy tilted her head again, a look of critical amusement lifting her lips, then nodded again. “She.”

“But…”

“Do you want to look yourself?”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Charles rolled his eyes and looked away from her, but she heard no malice in his tone. Only another twinge of embarrassment and disgruntled acknowledgment; it was, she thought, the closest a Brackner would get to the words ‘you’re right.’ The thought only made her smile widen. Charles leaned forward, speaking again to the creature, and she definitely heard a muttered apology ‘sorry girl.’ Now she was smirking, she was sure of it.

The amusement only half fell as he looked at her again. His expression was odd. It wasn’t until he spoke that she understood his clear discomfort.

“Can you..” His throat evidently dry, Lucy waited patiently and politely for him to recover. The moment he’d said the first word she understood, but she wanted to hear him ask. So Lucy said nothing. He cleared his throat, voice stronger now after a glance at the creature laying lazy and injured beside them both.

“H—She, threw a shoe too, so, could you…?”

“Could I what?” Lucy asked plainly, though she had already scooted closer to the hoof in question. Her back stiffened as the creature jarred with her movement. It settled back down, but not before she had dug red half-moons into her thigh.

“Could you do that spell?” Charles’ was clearly not amused, but he asked. That had to count for something, Lucy thought as she nodded and lifted her hands. The feathers were warm beneath her fingers as she slid down to hair, coaxing gently the leg out straight. Charles watched warily, and she noticed abruptly, with his hand on his wand.

Her spine stiffened again, hand stilling in white fluff. It wasn’t to curse her if she used magic, she thought only a moment later, but to protect her should the deadly baby rise up between them. Lucy spared a brief moment for the truth: that it was even odder to her he would protect her after clearly asking her to use magic, before she returned to the task. It was a simple spell, but by the time she had it sorted and the baby calm once more she realized Charles had already covered the lacerations and injuries with the ointments for treatment. They looked at each other, and then nodded.

Without another word, Lucy handed him the saline solution, letting him clean the injuries while she held and stroked the head of the mewling baby, subdued by the first ointment and pain. Charles worked steady and smooth to her continual astonishment, never having seen him be so…tender. When they would be finished, the pair only shared one awkward look before agreeing to return the following day to this same spot to reapply the same medicine. They would lead the hippogriff back with them to the woods, casting a spell to keep it in the same area, making an invisible enclosure, then leave it to rest, and quickly depart each others company. They had no words of good-bye anymore than they’d had of hello: she could see the shame quickly returning to his expression and was eager to return to town, resume looking for Karyn.

But Lucy walking home, returning a bit happier, a bit more relaxed despite her pressing worries, could not throw the image from her mind of Charles working. There was a vulnerability in his gaze, in his gentle movements, a vulnerability she had never thought to see and which clearly, he hadn’t thought to share. It brought a smile to her lips though. He was unafraid as his hands were painted red, slowing the bleeding with a spell he murmured under his breath, closing the wound and then reaching for the needle. The first prick made the creature jump, snap it’s beak at her, narrowly avoiding her forearm.

It was the only time Charles looked up, to repeat himself to her.

“Seriously, Rick would have my head.”

Even stranger, Lucy replied at once, “I wouldn’t let him.”

[fycourtera]

{chapter eighteen: 2} charles, malcolm, kitty, leah, jane, vlad

Leah: ...for merlinsakes, Jane. Jane: No? *tilts her head* Too much? Charles: That depends: were you trying to look like a Christmas tree? Jane: *points at him* You're on my list now. Charles: I've been on your list for nine years. Leah: *giggles, leans over to high five Charles and then resumes tying ribbons on Kitty's baskets.* Kitty: *politely* The diamonds are the only bit that's -too- much in my opinion. Jane: *frowns, looking at herself in the mirror* What if I just leave the earrings? Charles: *nudged by Leah to help* How did I get roped into this anyway? Kitty: You love your sister. And Malcolm and Vlad should be here soon. Charles: ...I need another drink. Jane: I need opinions here! *spinning around in front of the mirror* Leah: Shouldn't you let your writing speak for itself anyways? Kitty: Oh, the outfit is still important regardless. Charles: Yeah, but's just a first chapter - and you're basically a shoe in, considering Malcolm threw mone--*finds himself suddenly with a wad of ribbons in his mouth* Kitty: Jane. ..wait where did yo--Leah. The ribbons are supposed to stay -on- the basket. Leah: *having just pulled ones off* Oh. Malcolm: It was a draw--* as they're walking* Who invited you exactly? Vlad: If Virgil hadn't intervened to save your arse, you would have been on the flat of your back. *smirk* Malcolm: He clearly was trying to keep his future reigning Lord from embarrassing himself in front of his knights. *mock bows* Vlad: *scoffs* I could beat both you and Virgil with one hand tied behind my back. Malcolm: Alright your majesty. *lips twitch* Prove it. Vlad: And miss this enchanting evening? Never. Malcolm: Who -did- invite you? Vlad: You mean apart from them actually being my cousins? *he smirks and replies smugly* I'm the future lord and invite myself anywhere I please. Malcolm: *he snorts and shakes his head before mockingly bowing low* My king, my liege, my God- Vlad: Oh, that one I do like after all- Malcolm: Oh shut it, Vlad. *he rolls his eyes and then opens the door* Stop everything everyone, -I- have arrived. Vlad: You could knock. Malcolm: I could. Vlad: *knocks for him* Good afternoon- ribbons? *tilts his head as he sees Charles spitting them out* Malcolm: Leah's archnemesis! The fiends! *lips twitch and after waving to everyone, stops in front of the mirror with Jane* Don't you look stunning. Charles: *doesn't even look up as he hears them, still sticking out his tongue and wiping at his mouth to erase the taste* Kitty: *a bit worriedly* Breathe, Charles-- Leah: *brightly dropping the ribbon she'd been trying to fix and miserably failing; she looks up as Malcolm says to stop and says with a perfectly straight, blank face* Who are you? Jane: *had brightened just hearing his voice, clapping her hands together, but she doesn't spin around as he joins her, a smirk on her lips* Don't I? Charles: *drily* You better watch out Vlad, it looks like there's a Goddess giving you a run for your money - oi, Jane. Jane: Shove off, Charles. *had leaned in to kiss Malcolm happily -- unbelievably chaste for them, she thought. Charles was being unfair.* Kitty: *used to this, she hops over to hug first Vlad and then gives up on the idea that Malcolm is going to tear his eyes from Jane so she nods, beaming* Yes, ribbons -- I had no idea how many people I would have to invite to this-- Jane: *amused* Oh go on Kit, say 'my wedding', we know you want to-- Kitty: *with a tiny blush*-- and you both are so great for volunteering to help out. Leah: I don't remember volunteering. Charles: Curse of having siblings? Leah: *smiling sweetly* I love you, Katharine.  Kitty: I love you too. Sit back down. Charles: And the claws come out. Malcolm: A God in human form *answering without pause or falter* Vlad: *he snorts, shaking his head* I thought I was the God? Malcolm: How blasphemous of you Vlad! *smirks though his eyes haven't quite left Jane since the moment he walked in and kisses her, however* Vlad: No, you volunteered. *After hugging Kitty he chuckles and then comments* I know it will shock Jane to find out the world doesn't revolve around her but *he smirks, letting a "because it naturally revolved around him", remain unspoken and then more on point, asks Kitty* So what exactly are we doing for prepare for your wedding? Malcolm: *Confused* Did I really volunteer? *Half glares at Jane, figuring she must have skimmed over that technicality while he had been...attentive elsewhere* Vlad: and you were asking how -I- got invited? Leah: Oh, of course. And why precisely have you chosen that puny form?  *equally without pause, though her lips are twitching in amusement* Jane: He's not puny! *shaking her head while mouthing 'well...'* Leah: *looks at Vlad, teasing* And your excuse is? Charles: Don't finish that thought Jane, I have no desire for a demonstration. Jane: *winks at Malcolm* Charles: *groans and spins back to Kitty* Of course I volunteered, I wanted to help my dear, sweet, sister. *leans over to kiss her cheek* Kitty: Uh huhhh uhhuh. *reaching to take Vlad's hand and tugs him to wear Leah is* It's the invitations. Jane's addressing the envelopes whenever she pulls away from her reflection - but I just need extra hands to put these things here in all the baskets and...well I'm going to need your help tying them to the owls. *shows the bite she already had from one they'd sent* Jane: *grin widens, still looking at Malcolm and says in her best innocent, sweet voice* Oh you did...enthusiastically, avidly, actually. Charles: *eyes narrow at Malcolm even though it was Jane and says pointedly* I'll let that -one- slide. *raises hand to mouth 'one warning' Kitty:  *sees Leah failing to tie the ribbon and takes the basket from her* ... I'll tie the ribbons, can you just fill the basket? Leah: *nodding exuberantly* Remind me why you're sending food with the invitations? Kitty: Chocolates, and because it's polite, it's all the presentation of things. *sees the wrappers* Charles, have you been eating the chocolates? Charles: ...you over ordered them. Leah: Oh, no wonder you wanted to help out. *scoffs* Malcolm: It would seem puny in the eyes of a freakish giant, you're right, but rest assured, you are wrong. Vlad: I'm going to lock you in the dungeons and let the rats have at you. Malcolm: I thought Wilson got rid of them all? Vlad: That would assume that Wilson did his job correctly and accurately and without delay, which is rather like hoping for modesty from you or silence from Jane. Malcolm: *Ignores this completely to instead poke Jane's side at the silent "well" comment* Vlad: *he shrugs and then smirks* Excuse for what? *He was trying to pass it off as acting clueless but...he honestly was a bit lost about that so he was more than gladly to focus on...wedding invitations? No, never mind, he honestly wasn't. The things he did for family* Owls. I can do that *he nods and then pauses* Lysa's better with animals though...*says in what he believes is a casual tone* I thought she would be helping you. Malcolm: *primly* Yes well obviously she isn't so. *he nods once and then pauses, the beginnings of a smirk beginning on his face before he clears his throat in false reprimand only to wiggle his eyebrows at Jane* I remember- *he holds his hands up in innocence more for amusement than anything else. He had to appear intimidated by Charles, after all* Vlad: So how exactly do I go about filling the baskets? *having slipped a few chocolates in his pockets* Leah: *amused, her hand pauses floating over the basket* ...did you just call me a freakish giant? Charles: *eye rolls* You know exactly what for- Leah: Oh lay off Wilson. *sighs, popping a chocolate in her mouth* Charles: *unsurprised by the defense, he's about to say he'd seen a rat before he pauses seeing her eat the chocolate and points open handed to Leah while looking at Kitty* Oi! Kitty: *engrossed in fixing the ribbon and then looks up primly, ignoring Charles with a tiny smirk to say instead looking at Vlad* Lysa is helping, she is in the garden picking the flowers. Charles: *mutters under his breath* Unfair. Jane: Okay, sweetheart, I think -we- should talk about what might be a little much-- Charles: Oh that's rich. Leah: *eyebrow wiggle, though she's watching the exchange between Malcolm & Jane with amusement too* Jane: *distracted by the poke and prods him with her shoulder back grinning and wiggling her eyebrows, murmuring under her breath* Be-haaave. Leah: *talking over them* Oh, this is nothing. *shakes her head* When Mum married our father, I thought we were outside for half of it. Kitty: *smile widens* I just remember a lot of flowers. And my pink silk dress. Jane: *teasingly to Malcolm* Do you remember anything? Charles: You're not about to say you were there too are you? Jane: *stubbornly* I was, Charles. Charles: But you-- Kitty: *while they bicker, she looks promptly at Vlad again* Cloth at the bottom, then the invite here - then enough chocolates for whatever family it is around it, with the chocolate roses on top, along with the little perfumes for the girls and cigars for the men, and then give it to me and I'll tie off the ribbon, whenever Lysa gets back -  we get the flower to go through the handle and then we...attach it to them. *points at the owls, leaning in to mutter at him under her breath while Malcolm's distracted,* Iiii wanted to talk to you about that you know. Malcolm: *grins* I implied it, there's a difference. Vlad: *He really wished they would just tell him what he was supposed to be making an excuse for, instead he just ignored it and scoffed at Leah's defense for his manservant.* There would be no need to "lay off him" if he did his job right. Malcolm: *he smirks and points out* But you've never even thought of sacking him. Vlad: Oh I've thought about it. *he shrugs* too much of a hassle. *He pauses at Kitty's explanation and replies with a simple-* Oh. Malcolm: *He scoffed, shaking his head in minor annoyance before commenting* Why not hire a florist? Vlad: *He laughs once* What better flowers to use than ones from the Faye garden? Malcolm: Anyone else's. *turning back to Jane, he grins and then comments easily* There's no such thing as too much. Vlad: *And -he- was supposed to be annoying? Shaking his head, he was starting to doze on the talk of wedding decorations and his thoughts when to Lysa, wondering if she'd be back soon.* Malcolm: Jane, I know you think I'm brilliant *a pause to smirk* but some thng invitation. Though I suppose at least it wasn't spelled to sing and dance.* Alright then sounds good. *Though he wasn't entirely convinced this couldn't be done with a spell. Looking up at Kitty again, his lips twitched a moment, not chancing a glance over at Malcolm* Oh? Jane: *Her eyebrows wiggle.* Too bad. Charles: Jane, you don't remember it either. Jane: *sweet* If I can prove otherwise? Charles: *hand goes up pointlessly* Be my guest. Jane: I was on the altar. *nodding* Charles: Obviousl--*groans* Leah: *looks at Charles with a little, permanent grin* Your own fault for encouraging her. Charles: *nodding, grumbling 'I know' under his breath, suddenly very invested in his task of filling the basket* Jane: *promptly looks back at Malcolm, smirking and gestures at  herself* What do you think about this outfit for the interview? Leah: *at once* Too much, right? Jane: Ignore Leah. Leah: Love you too, sweet sister. *closing a basket with a snap and passing it to Kitty for ribbons. Blasted confounding things.* Jane: Leah, you think a corset is too much. Leah: Forgive me for breathing. Jane: For that matter, you think skirts are. Leah: A hoop skirt is too much! *throwing a hand up* Yes, lets stuff our women in metal cages and anti-breathing contraptions and then cover it all up with ribbons and silk and somehow this,is considered beautiful by society's men. While they pretend it has nothing to do with the ample view provided of these. *gestures to her chest* Charles: *tiny brotherly protective glare* Leah. Kitty: *giggling* Leah, you just never could walk in them. Leah: *sees that Kitty is wearing a hoop skirt where she's sitting, and blinks* How are you even sitting!? Jane: *gesturing back to herself looking at Malcolm* Like I said, ignore Leah, focus on me. Charles: *lips flick* Was that an instruction? Kitty: *taking their distraction, she mutters back to Vlad primly, tying the ribbons tightly* Yes, because see, she volunteered to get the flowers when I mentioned you were coming. *arching brow at him sideways* And so it occurs to me she's either annoyed at you for not bringing up kissing her yet at all, or she's touching up her rouge and putting on a corset for your benefit herself. *eyes him critically* Knowing Lysa, probably both. Malcolm: *chuckling at the interaction, he was pleased for a valid reason to look Jane up and down.* I think- *apparently it didn't matter what he thought because he was being spoken over by Leah. Had this been an uncommon occurrence, he might have been annoyed by it, but that had ceased occurring quite long ago.* Vlad: *he laughed and shrugged. He certainly wasn't going to complain about something he enjoyed.* Would you rather have the muggle fashion of big hats, long sleeves, dressed to the neck? Malcolm: *Laughing once at Jane's suggestion, which was more of a demand as it always tended to be, he nodded once and smirked* Oh, will do. Like I was trying to say, you look exquisite and they're "too much" to begin with, so you'll fit right in. Vlad: *Seeming very interested in the preparation of the wedding basket, he shrugged* I've been meaning to. After the ball though, things have been hectic. I'm Damocles' son, I have duties and responsibilities, and she's been helping at the infirmary and traveling back and forth. *he shrugs again* I've been waiting for the right time.  Leah: No, I'd prefer-- Jane&Charles: Armor. Leah: tr--well yes, armor, obviously, but I was going to say trousers. *Eye rolls* Charles: You wear those too. Leah: *nose wrinkles* Whenever Mum lets me get away with it. Which *she raises her hand* used to be over here, all the time, when she was still saying I should follow my heart, and as time goes on. *zooms it down* Kitty: *her nose wrinkles in the same way Leah's did* I think you're being a bit unfair. Leah: *amusedly* Cause no one in this family is ever demanding about what they want. Charles: *brisk nod* Sure. Jane: *smirk widening with his appreciative gaze, she lifts a hand to delicately bite her index finger.* Exquisite in a I-will-publish-my-book-even-though-it-is-on-a-ripely-controversial-and-inflammatory-topic kind of way? Charles: *blinks* I thought it was fiction. Jane: It's memoir. Charles: You're seventeen. Wouldn't it be like three chapters long? Jane: Not a memoir of -my- life, Charles. *says all of this without looking away from Malcolm, still with her hands up simply so he could continue to inspect her dress* Kitty: Mm. *She props her hand up under her chin as she hears Vlad, musing under her breath* Right, of course, the right time. Shall I tell you what I just heard? *ticking off on her fingers* Excuse, self-aggrandizing statement used as an excuse, a fact that was true before it too, and a description of her work schedule that would seem to insinuate that if you know when she's busy, you know when she is not as well. *Tilts her head at him for a moment with an eyebrow popped up, shoulder shrugging innocently.*

[fycourtera]

{chapter seventeen: 14} rick/lucy, jane, charles, leah, kitty

Leah: For heaven's sakes, Charles- Charles: Okay, I didn't say a word. Leah: Your eyes did. Charles: I didn't realize my eyes were so talented. Jane: Really, Charles? Leah: When you looked at the house- Jane: That's the line you're going with? Charles: It's just a house! Kitty: Would all three of you be quiet? *She turns around, holding under her arm a basket of bread, ham, cheese, and even a few chocolate covered strawberries, which both Jane and Charles had attempted to steal before being rightly reprimanded by herself. Both eyebrows raise as she looks at them, saying sweetly,* You are going to insult Lucy at this rate. Leah: *offended* I would not- Charles: Katharine- Kitty: And Rick. *looking at Charles* And potentially her parents if they're there too. So just shut up. Jane: *Her lips twitch.* And people say you're the nice one of us. Kitty: I am being nice, dear sister, I'm reminding you all to be nice. Leah: I was reminding Charles of the same thing- Charles: Because she can read my mind now, didn't you know? *eye rolls; he's clutching the bottle of scotch too* Leah: Did you know three-quarters of communication is non-verbal, Charles? Charles: *looks at her with an eyebrow arch* Leah: ...according to Kitty. *defensively* Charles: See, I knew you hadn't read that on your own- Kitty: Seriously. *stops walking* Is all of us behaving too much to ask for? Jane: *answering for all three of them* Yes. Charles: *shoots her a look* Jane: *sticks her tongue out at him* Leah: See! Non verbal. Kitty: Oh, for Gods sakes! *Lets out a frustrated growl and spins around, and she speeds up to walk in front of them up to the door* Leah: *Exhales, looking at Lucy's house and just shakes her head before looking at Charles sideways, holding Frederick's sword in a loose grip at her side as Kitty walks up to it.* Charles, if you say one rude word about her being muggleborn- Charles: I wouldn't be so impolite, Leah. Jane: *quietly* It isn't like it'd be new, Charles. Charles: *frustrated* For your information, Jane, I know Lucy better than you do. Jane: *both eyebrows arch, clutching the little bag of clothes tighter as she looks at him* So...now you know her, do you, when before it was 'just two conversations' and- Leah: *surprised, looking at her brother, wondering exactly how much she had been missing in her own family. And she'd spent time with Lucy and Thomas too--she would never have imagined that Lucy could lie so well.* Charles? Charles: Can we drop it? Kitty's right. *He moves forward too, standing outside as Kitty knocks.* Lucy: *curled within his arms in bed, her hair was tucked beneath his chin in part, one arm laying flat on his chest. She was feeling satisfied and happier than she had been in more than a month, a look of adoration replacing words as she re-caught her breath when there came suddenly a series of voices and knocks at the door. Lifting her chin from his chest she furrowed her brows in surprise.* Who... Leah: *over Kitty's shoulder*  Mrs. Harte? It's Leah Weston. And uh...company. *Shook her head with a 'what?' silently, shrugging at Jane's indignation. When there's no response, she alters hesitantly,* Luce? Lucy: *Hearing Leah's voice she'd looked up at Rick warily for only an instant. Leaning up, she kisses him once, and then frees herself, reaching for a hair brush in hand, her dress in the other and frankly, throwing it back over her slip. She called out,* Just--one minute! Jane: *calls back, a tiny grin on her face,* Okay! Lucy: *And company. Right. Leah and company--she recognized Jane's voice. With a tiny flicker of fear, she looked back at Rick, with an eyebrow arch, adding under her breath,* Did I tell you Jane came to see me? Frederick: *With his arms around Lucy, he traced his thumb in circles on her bare arm, just relishing in how happy he was, how much he had missed it and her. He also realized he was never going to do this in the woods ever again, not if he could help it. Looking down at Lucy, his gaze soft and adoring, he licked his lips, about to share how much he truly did care for her, when instead he heard voices. Very familiar voices. He groaned under his breath and threw his head back, closing his eyes* Oh no...*he sighed, now plainly hearing Leah's voice, and having an idea of who the 'company' entailed. He opened his eyes again in time to see Lucy lean in to kiss him and get up, before he sighed again* Could have just ignored them, they'd have gone away. *he smirked a bit, reluctantly sitting up himself and reaching for his trousers and shirt, dressing himself at a comfortable pace. If "Leah and company" were so keen to interrupt, they could be keen to wait. That and he honestly didn't...he didn't think they would have come so soon at least. And if they thought that they were going to drag him back, they were sorely mistaken. Slipping the shirt over his head after lacing up his trousers, he looked towards Luce* You didn't, but that doesn't surprise me. *Oh Jane.* Lucy: *with a tiny chuckle at his groan, she shook her head. Her fingers were moving down the side of her hair, braiding quickly and slipping a ribbon around the end to tie it off. As she looked at herself in the tiny mirror just to insure there was nothing grotesquely obvious, she smiled suddenly just at her reflection. There was a glow there, she realized, and it didn't surprise her. Every nerve-ending in her body was still singing, for he had taken such time to plainly love her and not just take her, that she hummed with pleasure. Turning back to him, her lips twitched and she shook her head him.*It would have been rude. And besides...would they really have gone? *She didn't know Jane very well, but Leah was particularly...adamant. Walking across the room to kiss him again briefly, she pulled away before she got lost in the embrace and walked towards the door, pulling it open with a determined little smile on her face. She wasn't going to show her fear. Shock colored her expression as she realized it was actually four on her doorstep and she blinked.* Hello? *What was Charles doing there? She didn't think she'd ever seen Charles in the village before, and Kitty she had maybe spoken to once visiting Thomas...* Jane: *Waiting impatiently, and swinging the bag of clothes, she was bickering under her breath with Charles when the door opened and she brightened.* Hello, Lucy. *She looked over her shoulder to spy Rick, and her face broke into a smile.* You. *Promptly not waiting for an invitation-- Leah: Jane- Jane: *--she heard Lucy's halting 'yes' as she walked past her, put the bag of clothes down on whatever hard surface was nearest, and launched her arms around Frederick. Who was sweaty, she realized, lips twitching. Oh Rick. Hugging him tightly, she shook her head and refused to pull back for an extended breath before muttering,* Took you long enough. Leah: *She'd turned to Lucy to shake her head, saying plainly* I'm sorry. Lucy: *astonished by Jane, she's still looking at her with a sudden small smile on her lips, and she shakes her head* No, no, it's fine-- Kitty: *politely as ever* May we come in? Lucy: *standing back from the door, she nods once, eyes on Charles.* Charles: *His words were small, but calm and with an honest smile seeing Rick's expression.* Thanks, Lucy. Lucy: *She nods absently, closing the door behind them and blinks.* Yeah- Charles: Jane, would you let him breathe? Jane: *Releasing him reluctantly* My point stands though, about time. Kitty: *amused, but she looks at Lucy, saying politely,* Is there a place I can...keep a few things cold? *Opening the basket to show her.* Lucy: *Surprised, she nods and points.* Yeah, there's an ice box there. *That she kept going by magic honestly, but no need to tell her parents that.* Kitty: *smiling sweetly* Thanks. Charles: *grinning now, he shakes his head.* Mate, I didn't believe it, but... Leah: *nodding in agreement, seeing the expressions between them and finding herself smiling too, mostly at her ridiculously family.* It's good to see you. Jane: Yes. And to ask for details. Leah: Jane. Jane: How many times are you all going to say my name anyway? Lucy: *giggles into her hand as she helps Kitty put the food in* Frederick: *No, not they wouldn't have. But they wouldn't have come in the house either, that would be breaking in...well, he hoped they wouldn't just barge in but he guessed now he'd never know. He kissed Lucy again for that brief moment, really, honestly, disliking his family right at that moment. He walked out of her room and into the main room, following Lucy as she opened the door and was surprised to see a lot more than just Leah and Jane. He peered around Lucy, exasperated as he saw move past Lucy without invitation.* Yes, me- *Oh bollocks, he should have expected that. He rolled his eyes but hugged her back nonetheless, his lips twitching in amusement at her choice of words* Better late than never. *He smiled, squeezing her tightly once before trying to pry her off. Thankfully, Charles noticed his asphyxiation- wait, Charles? He looked at the entirety of his cousins, growing a little nervous. Why were they all here?* Is this a party? *he asked dryly* Should I be expecting my siblings to arrive at any moment? *No, probably not. Lorraine hadn't stepped foot in town in her 19 years, Virgil would most probably be with their father, talking about how he needs to step up for the lordship now (the thought made his throat dry, so he moved on from it) and Etta was more likely to send a encrypted message than to visit, at least right now. He looked at Charles again as he spoke, curious for his reaction. Honestly, it was probably him who was making Rick more nervous. Their disdain for muggleborns and outright mocking of them used to be one of the things they shared. He was surprised to see him grinning. Actually, Frederick was surprised to see him there at all. He cleared his throat and then shrugged* Yes, well...*he couldn't help but smile, he was happy, everything aside. He nodded and then rolled his eyes at Jane* You just get right down to it, huh? *he smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest and then looking at Lucy with Kitty. Of course Kitty had brought food. The thought made him chuckle and he looked back at his other cousins, stating simply* This could have waited you know. We were busy. Jane: *Pausing with her finger on her lips, she exhales in an 'oooh' as she looks at Leah, whose shaking her head* We should have invited them. *Of course they wouldn't, probably, have come- so instead she covers simply, and lays her hand over her heart to look at her cousin and swearing,* Blame our impatience. Leah: *amused* Her impatience. Jane: You were the one who suggested- Leah: I was just going to--well.*she pauses and then sighs, shaking her hand and reaches to free his sword from her belt - leaning over to hand it to her cousin wordlessly. For a moment she just looked at him, wondering how long this had been true, how long he had been hiding it, unable to help feeling now that he understood at least part of what she was going through then. And if Charles wasn't there, she might even have brought it up in the past tense, but instead she just smiled wordlessly, and drew back to help Kitty and Lucy.* Jane: Still, your idea. Oh, strawberries! *She moves to grab one, and then sets the plate on the counter rather than in the ice box, licking her fingers and asking knowingly* Busy? Lucy: *Looking up, with a blush in her cheeks and playfully narrowed eyes, she shakes her head at him.* Rick. Charles: *snorts, though he too had moved to take a strawberry, popping it into his mouth. He had questions for Frederick, but he wasn't going to honestly ask them right now, surrounded by all of them, and he was...well, he was surprised, to see how happy he honestly seemed. Mind awhirl with confusion, he just lifted the scotch to Rick too and said pointedly,* I swear it wasn't me, the girls decided on a care package. *amused* So. *He nods at the alcohol.* Leah: Yes, so Jane brought clothes and Kitty food, and Charles- Charles: The important thing. *nods* Jane: You brought a sword, Leah. Leah: Not a sword, *eye rolls* his sword- don't tell me you can't tell the- Kitty: All those surprised Leah brought a sword? Lucy: *looks at Leah apologetically as she shakes her head* Leah: Luce, you traitor. *lips twitching, she shrugs and moves to sit, looking back at Rick.* We only came to...well, see you. Charles: *adding, his eyes narrowing the tiniest bit* Make sure you were all right. Kitty: *sweetly* Jane said you may be here. She is not the only one looking for details, by the way, just the only one being rude about it. Jane: *Holding her hand, with another strawberry in it up, she shakes her head* I was promised another detail after 24 hours, and never got them, so by my count I'm owed 15 details now. Charles: Oh good grief. Lucy: *Her smile broadens, as she looks at them all, realizing they weren't there to just drag him out or try and talk him back out of it -- they were there in support: some more reluctantly than others, she could see Charles expressions, but all truthfully and genuinely. She was delighted to see his family in such numbers caring for him like this, and just moved towards his side, blushing again at Jane's comment and saying primly* Fifteen details? Jane: Yes. *Her lips flick.* Beyond- *looks at Rick* your favorite color being lavender. *mouthing 'and Honey-and-cinnamon'* Charles: Oh good God- Kitty: *smiling with an 'aww'* Favorite color? Leah: *Lips flick, as she too eats a strawberry, before Charles and Jane each all of them.* Lucy: *turning to Rick in surprise, she says softer* I didn't know you knew that. Frederick: *he snorts, unsurprised, having already realized they wouldn't have come, but he was grateful to know that at least they hadn't invited them and thereby not giving them an opportunity to outright refuse. Looking up at Leah, he brightened to see his sword in her hand and then took it from her just as wordlessly, nodding at his cousin gratitude before tying it on his own belt, a hand passing over the hilt comfortably, relieved to have it back on his person. Leah understood that. He looked back as Jane moved to the strawberries, shrugging. 'Busy' had been clear enough, though he smirked briefly as Luce looked up to reprimand him. Turning back, he now took the scotch with a chuckle* Good man. *He placed the bottle on the counter too, intending on leaving it for later. He pursed his lips together as he looked back up at all his cousins, nodding* I am alright. Better than that, really. *He wrinkled his nose, not really looking forward to sharing 'details'. They could have just easily have asked Jane, at least she'd give them the important parts.* You've been counting? *Only Jane. He narrowed his eyes at her as she got dangerously close to revealing some embarrassing alcoholically provided information. Thankfully, she only mouthed the other part. He sighed, turning to Lucy again, smiling again just to look at her and he answered* I pay attention. *He turned to look as almost all of his cousins seem to have a strawberry in their mouth now, and remarked dryly* Forgive me, I was under the impression that those were my strawberries. *So much for the care package, he shook his head and then he asked* What do you want to know? And not those fifteen details, Jane. *At least he wasn't revealing them right then.* It's pretty obvious by now what happened. Charles: *he had winked as he took the bottle, saying drily* Well, I figured you'd have the flask, but seeing how it doesn't refill. *He shrugged a shoulder, wondering briefly about that now: how Rick would even actually...get more, of anything actually...he didn't have to work did he? His nose wrinkles, but he just gets another strawberry, still confused by how happy Rick looks, simply. Well, not as confused - if they'd been 'busy' naturally - but still.* Kitty: *small smile* You look it, actually. *But she was cut off from saying anything more by Jane, per-usual* Jane: Of course I've been counting. *sweetly* You haven't learned not to give me deals like that? Leah: She has a point. *drily, tucking her feet beneath her skirt on the bench, restless at sitting still* Lucy: *A soft smile flits across her lips and before she'd thought about it, she'd leaned in to kiss his cheek, happily and then chuckles at his words. She takes his hand, lacing their fingers together and tugging him towards the table to sit too - oh, they needed more chairs, and she should get napkins out, shouldn't she? There weren't any mats or anything, but that, at least...* Before they eat all of them, then. *She winks at him, and then moves to conjure more chairs.* Kitty: *with a sigh* I'll bring more. *promising* And won't let them get into them. Jane: *taking one of the chairs with a 'thanks' she turned right back to open her mouth, only to be shut back down. She sighs, glaring at her cousin playfully.* I just was going to ask how you two met. Charles: ...you got favorite color, but not how they met? Jane: *shrugs a shoulder* I'm talented. Kitty: You're something. Jane: You love me, sister. *kisses her cheek* Leah: *calmly* I, actually, was wondering more--*turns to Rick, asking hesitantly*--you left on your own? Charles: *immediately looks up to Rick too, a bit hesitant for the answer* Frederick: *He did have the flask, but it was currently empty anyways as Etta had kept her promise- she returned it in the morning with pumpkin juice. And now anything that he put in it did turn to pumpkin juice. He looked on, amused at his cousins, at how they were behaving as they normally would under any other circumstance, well, mostly at least. Squeezing Lucy's hands as she took it, he followed her to sit down, taking her advice and grabbing a strawberry, taking a bite out of it and turned to Kitty after he was done chewing* You don't have to. In fact, you really shouldn't...*he shook his head. He meant that they really shouldn't visit him at all. He was happy to see them, but not longer being a lord was proving difficult enough to sink in without them being there. Then again it had only been just a couple of hours, maybe less. He promptly ignored Jane's request, giving that she didn't actually voice it into a question and turned to Leah instead, that being a question he was much more comfortable answering.* Cyrus forbade me from seeing Lucy again, I refused and he said that if I walked out of there I wouldn't be allowed back in. I walked out. So, yes, I suppose I did. *he paused and then he exhaled* I just couldn't live like that anymore. Kitty: *looking sideways at Rick, she shakes her head and says softly* I want to. Jane: And bollocks to the law, really. Charles: *snorts* Leah: *her lips twitched at that, considering she knew Jane had been a bit more conflicted than that, but was truthfully very glad to hear her say it* Here here. *Takes another strawberry, peeling the green leaves off the top of it and carefully leaving them in a little pile on the table so she could clean up easily* Jane: *teasingly looking at her brother* You don't think Charles could survive without you do you? Charles: *wrinkles his nose, saying pointedly* Nor could Jane. Jane: I admit that freely. *nods, leaning back and getting up to find a glass of water--that scotch was tempting her on the counter, but that was Ricks, she told herself sternly, listening hard to the brief story* Lucy: *As he explains again, she reaches for his hand again, sitting beside him on the little bench she'd conjured. Laying her head on his arm a moment, she says softly,* I couldn't either. Charles: *His face is still furrowed with confusion, but he nods, realizing briefly that he wasn't going to be able to understand until he felt that way about someone--now wondering if he wanted to, considering how...well, how much Rick was giving up. But he said nothing, because it would be rude and--well because his sisters may massacre him.* Leah: *surprised at hearing Uncle Cyrus' first name from his lips, she looks at him and nods once, understanding. She'd winced internally, praying she never came to such a moment with her own father and Mitchell, praying there would be some compromise, and saying softer* I get it. Kitty: *seeing Leah's expression, she realized in an instant what Leah was thinking about - she imagined Jane did too, judging by Jane's look to her - but she didn't know what to tell her sister to ease her fear. So she focused on Rick, saying annoyed,* There was no reason for him to do that. Lucy: *blushes, but she mutters half into his elbow* Don't get me started. Charles: *Presses his lips together, and then says slowly, trying to look for something helpful* Well...this way it's not, illegal, right?  Jane: That's bollocks too. Lucy: *surprised to hear and see so many of the nobility-of Rick's family, nonetheless, though Leah she already had known, and Charles was staying silent now -- agree with her on the law, she smiles slightly and just nods.* Frederick: *He pursed his lips, knowing there was nothing that he could say to convince them otherwise. He would have to speak to them about it privately, without Lucy in the room. Not that he would keep secrets from her, never again, but he also didn't want her to feel guilty it had been choice after all.* Of course you both can survive without me. *he snorts* It's not like I've been much of a good influence these past months, drunk off my mind. *He felt a tad embarrassed to admit it so freely, but it was the truth of it. He turned to look at Lucy again as she lies her head on his arm, feeling relieved and comforted, and he nodded. He turned to look at Leah, more curious than confused until he promptly decided he didn't need to know.* There's reason enough if you think about it. If he hadn't, I'd expect the sheriff or someone else would've come for me, for breaking the law. That would not stop, I would keep doing it, defying the law, and Cyrus is nothing if not a lawful man. *he grit his teeth and just shrugged, almost about to ask about his mother and siblings when he realized that if they had come here on a whim, impatiently, then they probably didn't know much about that* Jane: Primary example of what not to do is a Brackner tradition. *She shrugs her shoulder, having said it purposefully while looking at him to make it clear with her gaze: just because his father said he wasn't one, didn't make him any less a Brackner to her.* Charles: *snorts, but nods in agreement* ...that's true. Kitty: *sweetly* All three of you are such remarkable influences. Charles: *eyes narrow at her, lips twitching* Sister, we share- Kitty: The Faye side. *winks at him* Lucy: *drily* Yes, because that's so much better. Jane: Lucy has a point. Leah: *groans in frustration, she rubs her hands over her face and points out* The law only says you can't...at court--*looking at Lucy apologetically, opens her mouth again* Lucy: *calmly* I'm well aware what it says, Leah, and I know you disagree, so there's no need to apologize. Leah: *smiles briefly and nods at her* Well, in any case, it's not like we're not allowed to see you. George and Adelina...they still share a house...*frustratedly rubs her forehead and mutters* This is bollocks, all of it. Lucy: *nods against his shoulder, hearing the sudden strain in his voice, wishing this was easier, wishing they could focus on the fact that they were together, saying softer, a bit hesitant* Well, not all of it. Kitty: No, not all of it. *instantly, looking at how absolutely adorable the pair of them are with each other with a soft, 'aww' in her smile and demeanor* You two are adorable. Lucy: *chuckles* Frederick: *He chuckled in amusement at his cousins but not for long, for soon the conversation turned dire and he frowned to think of his father, Cyrus now as he knew perfectly well he would no longer refer to Frederick as son. He nodded, knowing all about that damn law. He couldn't think about it for too long, in fear of letting his thoughts float away from him and he would think about what could have happened without it. More specifically, if he could have just -brought- Lucy to court...he knew she would have liked it. But that was far from his reach now and he needed to stop thinking about it. Work and money, two things he'd never have to worry about before, now they were one of the most vital concerns. He was brought back from his thoughts at Lucy's soft words, and he nodded a small smile on his face to show her he thought the same. Quickly reminded that they weren't alone in the room by Kitty sharing her input, he sighed and turned back to them* I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing. Jane: *nodding in agreement with Rick's assessment, she couldn't help from interjecting* Now. Lucy: *tiniest chuckle under her breath, saying very quietly, for it felt odd to refer to her simply as such,* Jane. Leah: *lips twitch in approval first at Rick, and now nodding at Lucy. * Jane: I'm just saying, a day or two longer and I would have hit you with that scotch bottle. Kitty: *reprovingly* No you wouldn't have. Jane: Oh, yes I would have. *nodding, grinning at both Lucy and Rick now* Leah: Well, where can we come see you, then? Are you...staying at the tavern? *She was just confused, wondering where Rick was going to sleep, get money, live--but of course, Jane and Charles had more important things on their mind.* Charles: That would be a waste of scotch. Jane: That depends entirely on your definition of 'waste.' Charles: The same as anyone else's actually, anything that should have been used one way but was used a useless way- Jane: It wouldn't have been useless-- Charles: Use a bottle of wine. Kitty: *with her hand out* Or, don't hit our cousin. Jane: I like wine! Charles: So it would waste wine, but not waste scotch? Kitty: Oh good grief. *mutters under her breath* Lucy: *Just shakes her head and tightens her hold on Rick's arm, amused at the siblings and mutters in Rick's ear* Are they always like this? Frederick: *he rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Jane* If you insist on dwelling on past mistakes I've already admitted to- *he stopped, not bothering as Jane Charles kept talking, utterly ignoring him anyways. He shook his head, turning to look at Lucy and then answered simply* Yes. Always. *Annoying and amusing, but right at that moment annoying. Turning to Leah, he answered after clearing his throat* No, Lucy believes she can ask Thomas to allow me to live under his roof. *It felt odd, phrasing it that way. Humility was going to be a right down bugger wasn't it?* At least until I can afford *his brows furrow, shifting in his seat, avoiding Charles' eye now* a place of my own. Charles: *wrinkles his nose and glares sideways at Jane* Jane: *as she walks back to the table, she sticks a strawberry in Charles mouth* Charles: *surprised, his hand lifts to his mouth so as not to choke on the fruit, and then laughs, shaking his head at her* Why thank you sister. Jane: *folds her arms on the table, looking forward again aggravated, and then mutters* ...that was a waste of a strawberry. Wri: *facepalms* Kitty: *hastily turns her chuckle into a cough* Leah: *decidedly ignoring all three of them, she keeps her gaze on Frederick, surprised by that but nodding.* Oh. *With Thomas, really? She didn't imagine her brother would say no either, but she still found it a bit...well, okay, incredibly odd to think that they would be living together.* Right. *She looked warily at Lucy for a moment, wondering how she could phrase it without being rude, and then just says instead with a nod, confused but with a proud little smile on her lips* So you're....getting a job? Charles: *He bites into the strawberry, keeping his gaze down: he doesn't want to make his cousin feel bad, especially since he'd made his choice, but he couldn't fathom the idea of working or even of Rick working. It just..it didn't process, the image seemed incongruent with everything he knew. His gaze flutters to Lucy for a moment.* Jane: *All right, she hadn't thought that far ahead, really, besides seeing him and Lucy reunited she didn't know exactly what to think about that. But she kept a smile on her lips as she looked at Rick, proud of him suddenly, saying calmly,* That's great, honestly....I'm glad you'll be close. *The momentary wariness when her mother had told them hadn't been nearly as momentary as Jane would have liked. It would be strange not having Rick at the court, and the thought of him near was a comfort.* Kitty: *easily sliding in* So that's where I'll bring the strawberries. And. *she points to Rick, before dropping her finger - surprised at how rude she'd been to do so* It's not like we can't visit our brother, so there's no real...trouble anyways. Lucy: *She had kept silent waiting, feeling Rick's discomfort both literally and she thought emotionally. As he looked at her, she thought she saw something of judgment, confusion, and wonder in his eyes all at once and she blinked. It wasn't her: Rick had grown on his own, she'd swear that to her dying day. But she nodded at the look. Work was a strange concept to all of them, she knew. Leah was working as a knight, she thought Jane was writing a book, but Kitty and Charles...well Kitty was getting married, and Charles was the heir. Her lips pressed together at that last thought, thinking that until a few hours ago that had been Rick too and nestling herself a little closer, trying to remind him that she'd be there to help. And kick anyone who was rude to him in town. Nodding at Kitty, she added softly,* That's true too. Leah: *in a small, happier voice looking at Rick* I just can't believe you've....*she exhales, lips twitching* All this time, and you're a sympathizer too. Lucy: *Her brows arch, not particularly wanting to think about all that he'd said or acted like at court, but she nods stubbornly against him, saying very gently,* Well, people can change their minds. Leah: *nodding instantly, also not looking at Charles now (unlike Jane, who was narrow-eyed looking at her brother hesitantly) she says softly* No no, I'm glad. It's great. I wish I'd known.  Frederick: *He cleared his throat, looking back up, relieved to see that at least Leah didn't seem to be judging. Well, he supposed she'd be a real hypocrite if she was. He licked his lips and he nods* Yes...I don't know where- well, Lucy mentioned a position at the tavern...and I must admit, it's probably the only thing I'd be able to manage. *He wasn't qualified to do anything else. He hadn't worked a day in his life, and now he had to work, buy food, cook...food...he didn't know how to cook. Alright, it was a very good thing Kitty was being so insistent on visiting then. He shrugged at Jane's comment* Well, I wouldn't mind leaving either but...*The reason for his hesitance was clear as he took Lucy's hand again, squeezing it. Clearing his throat, he shook his head a bit* Well, not "all this time"...it took me a long time. And it was...a very ugly process. *He shrugged immediately, waving it off, not wanting to dwell on it. And he didn't know how well "great" was as a description anyways. There was nothing great about giving up his family or title, but in direct contrast there was everything great and right about being Lucy. He just wished he could have both, but there was one he simply couldn't live without* Kitty: The tavern? *her brows arch in surprise and amusement* Jane: *with a sly little smirk* Serving alcohol? Leah: *Mitchell's old position. Feeling something seize the center of her chest, she nodded and looked away a moment, trying to swallow back a world of sudden emotion, thinking to herself how different her life had been.* Charles: Leave? Lucy: *Surprised by that, she realizes a moment later she shouldn't be and sits up a bit to look at him, curling her hand within his grasp and saying softly* Rick...*but she can't think what else to say: if he wanted to leave, she wanted to go with him. Her friends and family were here though, and while she couldn't help but think it was hypocritical to not be willing to do what he had done for her - she also knew there was a support system here, people that could help them, people she knew. So she just leans up and kisses his cheek again briefly, before reaching with her free hand for her own strawberry, though most of the little basket of them was empty* Jane: *Brow arching at him, she says pointedly and unconcernedly* It's usually an ugly process - Charles: Jane, that was my foot. Jane: Was it? *Without looking at her brother, who had been simply looking at the ground, eager to not partake in that conversation ,and now was glaring at her* It's the end that matters. No point staying on it though. Leah: *looks back and nods in agreement* I just meant it's great you changed your mind, that's all, it...*she chuckles under her breath and shrugs her shoulder* I like not being in the minority, what can I say? Kitty: An understatement. *amused* Even if you are lying to the whole court. Charles: *arching his brow at his sister, as Leah waves this off* Leah: Shush, Kit, not the point right now. Charles: *clears his throat and stands, looking at the expressions between Lucy and Rick and saying simply* We should be going though... Jane: What? Kitty: *nodding in agreement* We don't want to intrude. Lucy: No, no, you're not-- Leah: *shrugs a shoulder* Oh, we interrupted you when you were busy didn't we? Jane: But-*sudden wince* That was my foot, Charles. Charles: Was it? Jane: You guys can go then. I'll catch up with you. Leah: *she laughs and shakes her head at her sister* Jane- Lucy: It's fine, really. *laughing as she just looks at all of them*

[fycourtera]

{chapter seventeen: 12} evelyn, leah, jane, charles, kitty

Evelyn: Leah! Leah, wait!

Leah: *Freezes, the copied pages from Benjamin’s book curling suddenly in her hand as she mentally wipes them again and spins back, smiling sweetly* Hello, mother. I’m sorry- I need to go see Derrick -

Evelyn: *tiniest bit of confusion* You mean-

Leah: My Lord Commander, yeah. *Her lips twitch as she corrects the title.*

Evelyn: *coming up to her, her face crumpled in concern and saying softly* It’s important, Leah.

Leah: *Feeling a bit guilty about lying, seeing as how she really was looking for a way to go see Mitchell, she swallows tightly, warily at the look on her mother’s face. Then she nods, saying quickly, with obvious fear* What is it?

Evelyn: Could you please get your brother and sisters? I would like to tell you together.

Leah: Mother-

Evelyn: No one’s died. *Immediately, seeing the fear on her daughters’ face* No one’s hurt. Just…I want to tell you together. In the study?

Leah: *Realizing this was absolutely no joke, she nods and leans in to kiss her mother’s cheek* Of course. *She spins around, thinking hard about where they’d be.*

Evelyn: *Watching her daughter walk off troubled, she shakes her head to herself. No one was hurt? That was a bit of wishful thinking, wasn’t it? Ara was. Her sister was appalled. Evelyn herself was hurt. She imagined that her children would be hurt- how could she put this in a letter and tell Nicholas and Samuel either? They looked up to him so much…These thoughts circulated around while she fetched herself a glass of water, breathing out and pacing in the study. She looked up as her children entered, she said with a tight-lipped smile,* Thank you.

Kitty: *immediately* Mother—you look pale. *Hurrying towards her mother, she puts one hand on her shoulder*

Evelyn: *Waving off her concern gratefully, she shakes her head and says calmer* I’m well, Kitty.

Jane: *She had been in the middle of attempting to coax Charles into wearing a flower as a groomsmen for Kitty, and was still disgruntled about being interrupted considering she was so close and Charles hadn’t even realized he was being manipulated. Well, he hadn’t realized until Leah appeared. On the way to the study, he’d leaned in and pointed out to her he wasn’t ‘that gullible’, which of course he was but — seeing her mother’s expression, the thought was thrown out.* What happened?

Charles: *he asks simultaneously with Jane,* Where’s Father? *He had assumed, if there was such important news, they would have been told by both parents at once. Whatever Leah had said about ‘no one being hurt’, Father’s absence seemed conspicuous to him—a worry he saw reflected on all his siblings faces*

Leah: *closing the door behind them, she nods at her mother a ‘your welcome’ for having fetched them. Benjamin’s papers in her pocket were curled up now, out of the way. She looked at her mother evenly, as wary as all of them, but trying to keep her expression neutral.*

Evelyn: He’s with his brother. *She bites her bottom lip.* I wanted to let you know…Frederick…

Jane: *instantly* Is he all right?

Evelyn: He’s fine. *hesitantly.* He’s…*she raises her hand to her forehead, wishing she had her husband with her, though judging on reactions and their faces..maybe not.* Frederick decided he would…rather not, stay at court. He…left, he walked out.

Leah: *She grasps it instantly and her eyes shut, holding in a sudden breath of air, wondering bitterly, if Frederick could be disowned, then what the hell was going to keep her in this family if anyone ever found out what she was doing. A moment later, she felt sick: here she was worried about herself, and Frederick was out there, just as Mitchell was. Dear God, was no family safe anymore?*

Charles: *confusedly, his jawline hardening* Where did he go?

Jane: The country? *Tilting her head, wondering why if Frederick had wanted to leave he wouldn’t have told her.*

Kitty: But….why?

Evelyn: No, not to the country. *She set the glass down on the cart and said quietly,* He abdicated the responsibilities of his title, he—

Kitty: What?

Charles: Is this some kind of joke? *his face in a smirk, not understanding* Frederick? He wouldn’t just leave,

Leah: *Staring at her mother, she said instantly,* He wouldn’t if he had any choice, no.

Evelyn: *quietly* Leah.

Leah: No, mother, we’re talking about him being disowned, aren’t we?

Kitty: *stifles a squeak as her palm leaps to her mouth*

Charles: *eyes go wide* Why would Frederick-

Jane: Oh, God. *she turns away, shaking her head to herself and screwing up her eyes*

Evelyn: *just as steadily as Leah’s voice* He chose to walk out.

Leah: How much choice did he have?

Charles: And Father’s with Uncle Cyrus?

Kitty: I don’t understand.

Charles: Frederick wouldn’t just…leave, he…but no.

Evelyn: *her bottom lip quivers for a second and then she says softly* I don’t know the whole story, Leah, I’m as stunned as you are.

Kitty: *Reaching for her own water, she takes a steadying sip.* But where would he— where would he go? Can we see him?

Evelyn: I do—

Jane: I do. *quietly, and then everyone turns to look at her stunned. She waits a few seconds and then shakes her head stubbornly.* I’m sorry, he swore me to secrecy.

Evelyn: *instant* Is he hurt?

Jane: No.

Evelyn: Is he in danger?

Jane: *a thin-lipped smile* Only of being happy.

Charles: *frowns* Happy? When he’s been-

Kitty: *quiet* But Jane, he’s okay?

Jane: I imagine he would be now, yes.

Evelyn: *she waits a moment looking between them, and then says very courteously—after hugging Kitty back, for she’d leaned in to hug her* — well, I won’t pry into his life, then. I’m going to find your father. But I wanted you to…hear it from me, and know that your father and I love all of you very much. *There’s murmurs of ascension, she waits for her children to all kiss her on the cheek before she leaves.*

Leah: *instantly as the door closes spinning back to Jane* Well, I will pry. Jane, what’s going on?!

Jane: *snorts, she tilts her head at Leah to say ‘really?’ with her eyes*

Kitty: *sitting down, appearing shaky still* I just hope he’s…

Charles: Jane. Either tell us, or -

Jane: All right! *she holds up her hand* No need to threaten me, geesh. He’ll be in the town. *she rubs her forehead, a smile still on her lips.*

Charles: *confusedly* Why on Earth would he be in the village?

Leah: *rolling her eyes, saying incredulously* Frederick?

Jane: Yes, Frederick. And…because, Charles, that’s where Lucy Harte lives.

-silence-

Leah: Luce?

Kitty: *confused* Thomas’s Lucy?

Charles: From the stables? *his eyebrows skyrocketing*

Jane: Yes, from the stables, Thomas’s friend.

Kitty: I thought they were more than friends.

Charles: Why on Earth would you know that Kitty?

Jane: They’re not. They just want people to think that.

Kitty: *eye rolls* Because he’s my brother as much as you, Charles?

Charles: Still. *shrugs a shoulder*

Leah: *eyes still on Jane, her brows in her hair* Jane, I’m sorry, I don’t get the joke.

Jane: This is no joke. *Quietly* I would bet money, that if Rick walked out of here, it was to go see her.

Leah: You aren’t seriously expecting me to believe that Frederick would have-*apparently can’t get the words out, her voice leaps with incredulity* —with a muggleborn?!

Charles: *slowly* When he said he was upset about Lucille…

Jane: *drily* Yeah, he didn’t mean Estbury. You might have, but he didn’t.

Kitty: *With a slow smile spreading across his lips* Frederick’s in love?

Charles: With Lucy Harte?

Leah: *swiveling on Charles* What’s that tone?

Charles: You’re as shocked as I am, Leah!

Leah: Well, yes, I’m shocked, that doesn’t mean I say her name with disdain - Lucy’s a wonderful person, Charles!

Charles: I wasn’t insinuating she wasn’t!

Leah: Just not good enough for Rick, right?

Charles: Stop putting words in my mouth, sister!

Leah: I’m just reading in to your tone, brother!

Kitty:*ignoring their bickering, she looks at Jane’s smile, with her own spreading softly across her lips as they go, she asks softly* …you think he left to be with her?

Jane: *quiet* Whatever it was that went down, yes. And I must say, it’s about time. He was miserable, and wouldn’t stop drinking, and it was driving me mad.

Kitty: *her lips twitch* You and Malcolm were just as aggravating.

Jane: Shhh, not the point.

Leah:*swivels back to Jane, apparently done with Charles* When did this happen?

Jane: *shrugs a shoulder* A while ago.

Charles: *a little bit hurt, and clearly confused still, he asks softer* And he just told you?

Jane: *She pauses at that and then says fairly,* I guessed. And dragged it out of him.

Charles: *drily* Imagine that.

Leah: *wiggles her nose and lips* …so if we went to see him, would it be interrupting him and Luce?

Jane: *she laughs aloud at that and shrugs a shoulder* I wouldn’t know actually, she was pretty angry with him. Though she absolutely had a right to be. And at the same time, when I spoke to her, she clearly loves him too.

Charles: This was what took so long that day in the stables, wasn’t it?

Jane: I gave Alisea a sugar cube too.

Leah: Right, well, I’m still going to see him. *decidedly, she turns; she’s mind-blown, but if her cousin needed help of any kind, then she was going to give it to him.*

Jane: I’ll come. *immediately* He probably needs some clothes, depending….

Kitty: *instantly adding* Wait, let me get together some food for him—

Charles: *snorts* Oh, you three are amazing. A care package?

Kitty: Why not?

Charles: For being disowned? There’s a care package for being disowned?

Kitty: For love!

Charles: *snorts and shakes his head, arms on his waist, his own expression caught between amusement and sadness, and he shakes his head with a little smirk before saying calmly* Fine. I know where there’s an extra bottle of scotch too.

Jane: Charles!

[fycourtera]

{chapter seventeen: 4} jane/charles/lucy

Jane: You haven’t beaten me in a month, Charles, but if you’re up for the humiliation— Charles: *scoffs* It has not been an entire month— Jane: It absolutely has. *nodding, her lips flick, refusing to admit defeat in the matter as they walk down the field towards the stables, enjoying the brighter day, finally free of rain.* I remember—it was just before the ball- Charles: Which was two weeks ago. Jane: …God was it only two weeks? Charles: *nod, looking over her shoulder an instant, his words suddenly more serious* I know it..seems a lifetime ago. Jane: *quietly* It does. How is, Emmett? Charles: *bitter* How do you think? Anyway, you’d know better than me, you went to see them. Jane: *quiet* Well, I spent most of my time with Isolde. *Her face is sad, remembering just holding on to her young cousin, trying to play a game of Exploding Snap to cheer her up, like they always had. It was a hard image to get out of her mind. She clears her throat, looking forward as they walk in silence for a moment—a tribute, she thought. Startled to realize Charles had put his hand on her shoulder and was squeezing, she smiled sideways, grateful for his quiet reassurance. Then she grins brighter.* Fine, two weeks then, and you were cheating. Charles: I was not cheating! *scoffing again, and he leans to push his shoulder against hers* Jane: *pushes him right back* You were! You rode right by the knights training! Charles: It isn’t my fault you can’t pay attention! Jane: You know perfectly well Malcolm doesn’t practice with his shirt on half the time- Charles: *groans* Don’t remind me, I shall have to go give him a thrashing- Jane: Oh you shall, shall you? *entering the stables backwards now so she could continue looking at him* Charles: Yes, I shall. *nods fervently, as they enter the barn, his lips flicking* It is only a brother’s duty. Jane: You don’t think a brother’s duty might involve respecting his sisters wishes? Charles: Not in this particular area— Jane: Charles Merwyn Brackner- Charles: Have I offended you somehow? *He holds up his hand, looking over her shoulder and saying courteously—or more courteously than she had ever heard him be,* Good afternoon, Lucy. *tiny head nod, with a smile* Two full tacks. Lucy: *Had darted off the bench as soon as she heard them coming in, pressing her lips together as she saw the back of Jane and the front of Charles, nodding an equally brief* Afternoon, m’lord. *He was preoccupied with his sister anyways, so she just spun around to go fetch the equipment without another word.* Charles: *Looking back to Jane* The fact that he cannot make it through a practice without a shirt should have had no bearing on —- *He kept talking, but Jane didn’t hear him.* Jane: *Lucy? Lucy, blond, in the stables? So this was Rick’s Lucy, yes? She swiveled to watch her walk off, a small smile instantly crossing her lips. The look in her eyes was nothing short of astonishment.* Charles: —will you at least admit that? Jane: Hm? *looks at him* Charles: *Non-deterred* Will you at least admit I am not responsible for your reactions to a route? Jane: No. *Her lips flick.* When you already know perfectly well how I do react and use it to your advantage. *pause, gesturing with a head nod towards the back of the stables, where Lucy is saddling the horses* You know her? Charles: Know who? *confused* Jane: *tiniest eye roll* Lucy. Charles: *still confused* Lucy? *looking over his shoulder towards the manor, and then suddenly gets it, and looks back at her, the smallest frown on his lips and he shrugs* Oh, yes. Well, I would not exactly call it ‘knowing’… Jane: I just was surprised to hear you say her first name. *With every appearance of casualness, no quick response to give her surprise and thoughts away.* Charles: *A bit uncomfortable.* I thought it would be rude to act as if I couldn’t remember it. But we’ve only talked twice, Jane. Jane: *Her lips flick up, happily.* Well yes it would have been rude, but you’ve never particularly cared. Charles: *eye rolls* Jane: *still sweetly* Two conversations about…? Charles: She’s muggleborn. *as if that explains it all, clearly keen to let the subject drop.* Jane: *her eyes narrow, thinking to herself she was very much aware of that and it wasn’t exactly an end-all statement, not the way it was for Charles, saying calmly.* So? Charles: So that’s what we talked about. Jane: *drily* You mean that’s what you yelled at her about. Charles: *just shrugs a shoulder, still uncomfortable* Then I saw her at the- Jane: Right. But you were concerned about not being rude. Charles: *a bit chilled* There is no reason I should be discourteous to those serving me. Jane: *Has absolutely plenty to say to that, annoyed at her brother but Lucy was walking one of the horses over for Charles and so she swivels to look at her, herself. Rick hadn’t lied: she was gorgeous.*  Thanks. I’m sorry — it was Lucy, right? Charles: *shoots her a glare, as he’s taking the reins from her* Lucy: *seemingly wary of looking her in the eyes, she just nods distractedly, focused on giving the horse to Charles.* Yes, milady, Lucy. Jane: *grinning broadly as she’s unable to help it, she wants instantly to wave the title off and pull her aside: this girl who had so captured Frederick Brackner’s heart, but seeing as how her very surly brother was beside her, she bit her lip and said instead.* Lucy, are there any sugar cubes? Lucy: *Now she meets her eyes, and Jane could see gears turning behind them. She releases the other horse and says calmly.* Yes, milady. Charles: *instantly* Jane, you spoil her. Jane: Alisea can have a sugar cube or two. *snorts, looking sideways at her brother* You have no patience, brother. Charles: It isn’t my strong suit. *wrinkles his nose annoyed* Jane: Then I shall meet you out there. Go warm up. *Her lips twitch and she winks at him* You still won’t beat me without cheating. Lucy: *at that she suppresses a sudden smile and instead says calmly* Should I go get the- Jane: Oh, no, I’ll come with you—I should learn where they’re kept. *eyes still on her brother* In case I want to spoil my horse at night. Charles: *rolling his eyes, he just says with a thin-lipped smile, eyes also on Jane* It’s usually just best to go along with her, Lucy, when my sister gets an idea she won’t let it go. Lucy: *looks between them considering they aren’t looking at her anyways, biting her bottom lip but she nods.* It seems something you have in common. Jane: *her lips flick* Charles: *Looks to her annoyed, and then decides she had just agreed to him and nods, turning.* Don’t take too long, sister, or I’ll be over the bend without you. Jane: …too many comments that I could make to that. Enjoy yourself, brother. *She looks back, wide beam back in place as she looks at the clearly-uncomfortable Lucy and says gently, brightly* So, Lucy….*she couldn’t help it, she grinned at the name* …sugar cubes are where? Lucy: *Waiting until Charles is far out of sight, wary, she turns back and holds Jane’s gaze, wondering if she dared. Yet it had been two weeks, and dammit it probably didn’t matter anyways, he clearly wasn’t coming. If Jane was smiling at her she wanted to take it as a good thing. Even if it was far more likely that  Jane was only amused at seeing who she was, as if it was a private joke. So, she dared.* He told you. Jane: *Oh, good, that made things easier. Brightening as if to chase off her pangs of concern, seeing Lucy wary was confusing her. Then she thought a moment, and realized it made perfect sense: Rick had refused to introduce her to his family the same he had refused to introduce her to them. She had been wary meeting Malcolm’s family after she started seeing him — and they already knew her, they already had liked her. Lucy had no such insight, in fact it was the opposite. She was more likely to think them all bigoted. So she spoke gently, as she nodded.* Yes, he did. Lucy: *She eyes her for a moment with deliberation, a world of emotion passing behind her blue eyes in an instant and then she looks away, saying calmly,* The sugar cubes are- Jane: I don’t care. *Her lips twitch.* I knew my brother wouldn’t wait. Lucy: *Tiniest chuckle escapes her lips, and she says softer, not sure how frankly she should speak—but honestly, she was exhausted of being careful* Either way, if you don’t do it, won’t he be suspicious? Jane: *Her lips flick up and she nods, saying easily,* Ah, good point. Lead the way then, Lucy. Lucy: *Glad to start walking, even if it was just across the stables, a silence stretched before she said softly,* I’m not sure I should be talking to you, Jane. Jane: *Slightly surprised to hear her name instead of title, her surprise was more due to seeing the whole attitude of subservience fall off her shoulders than the fact she actually cared. Her gaze softened as she admitted,* That is fair. I’m not sure I should be talking to you either. Lucy: *She presses her lips together, positively dying to ask after Rick, ask what he said, but not even sure how to start when it felt like they were going behind his back some how. So she stayed silent.* Jane: *Her lips flick and she says drily,* I hadn’t meant to—well okay, when Rick told me I definitely instantly wanted to find you, meet you, but I knew he wouldn’t want me to- Lucy: *softly* No, he wouldn’t. Jane: *looks to her sideways and adds gentler* But this was a coincidence. Lucy: *Looks back at her only after fetching the box, handing it to her and opening the lid to get a cube out. Her head tilts, and then she seizes that: it was a coincidence, and she was so dying for news—* How is he? *it was breathless, and quick* Is he just..is he okay? Jane: *She pauses, taking the cube and then eyes her closely,* He…hasn’t come to see you, has he? Lucy: *Her voice jumps up, bitter, defensive* How could he, when the law actually forbids it? Jane: *Swallowing down a noise of ‘oh’ at the defense, she mutters in annoyance* Oh Frederick. I’m going to strangle him. *She rolls her eyes and lays the cube on her palm, moving towards the stables.* Lucy: *Surprised and confused at that, she stands still watching her instead of following her, pressing her lips together.* Milady? Jane: *Drily, without looking over her shoulder, letting Alisea take the cube from her.* It’s been two weeks. More moronic behavior. *She bites down on her bottom lip, allowing.* Okay, so, yes the law makes it a little more difficult, but—*she turns, wiping her hand off on her skirt and then rubbing Alisea’s neck* You’re here, aren’t you? Lucy: *licks her bottom lip, completely confused and says slowly* I just started helping my father full time three days ago, in hope that…well… Jane: He would come. Yes. *She sighs, thinking that he probably avoided the stables out of fear of memories: if previously Lucy had not worked there all the time, then it wasn’t where they had met up, and as anything that seemed to remind him of her was making him drink right now…she rolls her eyes to the ceiling and pats her neck again, trying to put her annoyance and sadness for the situation aside. She was happy to meet her, at any rate.* Lucy: *softly* It’s all right, I understand. *she looks at the ground, breathing out.* I always knew it… Jane: *her face softens in sadness for her: she could see the misery in her as clearly as she could see it in Rick. For the love of God, if she had to personally orchestrate the situation to put them in the same room, she would: if only so her cousin would smile again.* Lucy: *She breathes out, unable to finish the sentence and looked up, repeating quietly.* Is he okay? Jane: *hesitates, wanting to protect her cousin’s privacy. She presses her lips together and says first,* He’s sober. …now. *She bites her lip, adding under her breath, ‘mostly’ and sighing.* Lucy: *An odd expression passes across her lips. She was glad to hear that, but it wasn’t honestly an answer, and she was torn between what she even wanted the answer to be. She wanted him to be happy…she just also wanted him to be with her, to be miserable without her. The dual desires gave her a headache, so she moved to start preparing Jane’s horse as well. So instead, she said softly,* Thank you. Jane: *Exhaling, she realized she wanted to add something, anything to make Lucy feel better — make either of them, feel better, without betraying some great secret, so she compromised: instead of repeating anything he’d said, she just paraphrased what she genuinely felt to be true.* I know he wants to see you, Lucy. Lucy: *She holds Jane’s gaze steadily, keeping sudden tears at bay for a moment and then nods stiff, her words heavy.* Then he should just come. Jane: *Well, on that fact they agreed, but she couldn’t help but want to defend him too—though she had the feeling it was an instinct they both had, clearly.* It isn’t… Lucy: That simple. *Still steady, she shrugs a shoulder.* Except…it is. I know his father…*She pauses, realizing it was Jane’s uncle and looks away, not wanting to say anything against him, not wanting to offend her, particularly not as it didn’t seem Jane was unsupportive of them.* Jane: *easily* Uncle Cyrus is a stubborn mule. *Nodding, and she smiles as Lucy looks back at her smiling herself, surprised clearly by her words.* But it’s still Rick’s decision. You sure you don’t want me to strangle him for you? Lucy: *Her lips twitch and she finally just lets it burst out from her,* You don’t care that I’m muggleborn? Jane: *Honestly, she thought that question would have been first. Instantly, she shakes her head.* Not nearly as much as I care about my cousin’s happiness, no. And though you already did, long as we’re, not around others where we’d reveal…well: please just call me Jane. Lucy: *Her smile widens a bit, and she nods.* Thank you, Jane. Jane: *calmly* Not the answer you were expecting, I take it. Lucy: Not exactly. Jane: *She sighs, and tilts her head.* The man I’m in love with, Lucy? His mother is muggleborn too. Lucy: *she pauses in confusion and then straightens in surprise, realizing she knew her* Adelina? Jane: *happily, nodding* Yes. Lucy: *brighter, having never put it together before* You’re Malcolm’s Jane? Jane: …Oh, I do like the way that sounds. *Her lips twitch, winking.* But do tell him he’s Jane’s Malcolm. Lucy: *Laughing honestly, surprised she could feel so at ease with Rick’s cousin, but delighted by it,* I don’t know him all that well, but. *Her lips flick.* I will. Jane: Excellent. *She starts walking Alisea out, brushing a hand through her hair.* I honestly am really glad to have met you, Lucy. I wish I could stay and talk longer, but… Lucy: Charles. *easily, she smiles as she says his name, feeling buoyant all of a sudden, better than she had in days.* I am truly glad to have met you too. *She pauses and answers suddenly, arms crossed over her chest* Don’t strangle him. Please. Jane: *teasingly* I should leave that to you? Lucy: *softer* I think he does it to himself enough. Jane: *She pauses, surprised by the insight in response to a joke and lifts her chin, seeing the adoration and confusion in Lucy’s eyes and smiling slightly.* Well…you’re not wrong. Lucy:  I just…don’t want him to be hurt anymore. *quietly, breathlessly, eyes back on Jane.* I just want him to be happy. Jane: *Realizing softly that it wasn’t just misery the pair of them shared, her smile widened: Lucy was clearly in love with him too. And both were being morons then, as she should just walk into the house and inform Rick as much, but she wasn’t going to do that if it meant hurting his family. Jane sighed, wondering if others had been this frustrated watching her and Malcolm dance around each other. She mounts her horse and looks down speaking softly,* It’s a goal we share, Lucy. My cousin is one of my favorite people in the world. Mind-boggling to me he doesn’t realize that. Lucy: *She smiles in relief and nods, pulling back from the horse.* I’m glad to hear it, in any case. He’s….*There was absolutely no word in the world that could sum up the depth of emotion she felt towards the man they were discussion. None. As emotion swelled in her chest, she said firmly instead,* Indescribably wonderful. I wish he saw it. Jane: *She nods, saying softly in agreement,* Well, I am equally glad to know you see it too. He’ll come, Lucy, I believe that. Lucy: *She swallows, thinking to herself she had believed it too, and says softer, but breathlessly as the horse is starting to move* Tell him I’m in the stables then, working, tell him—-tell him, I miss him too. Jane: *Nudging Alisea to chase after her brother, she finds she has no words, and simply nods at her as she leaves instead, a soft smile still on her lips.* Lucy: *Watching her go with a smile still on her lips, she realizes she’s happier in that instant than she had been in a month, to know at least one family member approved, one who seemed pretty great on her own, and that she did so after Rick had spoken to her. The evidence that Rick thought about her made her beam, but not as much as the the thought that he was talking about her to his family. At that, she suppressed a squeal of relief and confusion. If he was, why hadn’t he come see her? Where was he? Goddammit, she just wanted to see him again herself. Still…at least Jane, appeared supportive, and friendly. She realized she’d liked her, even enjoyed the way she and Charles bantered with each other. Luce smiled.*

[fycourtera]

{chapter fourteen: 2} lucy & charles

Lucy: *She didn’t imagine she had ever held so expensive a wine glass in her life as she would when Thomas returned. And contemplating on the prices of things around her was a lot easier than letting her mind wander. Unless she thought of the price of the bracelet on her wrist…but no. She was less masterful at training her gaze. Constantly, without fail, she caught her gaze lingering in his direction. Dear God, was he magnetic? That made him the opposite pole to hers…no, science was out as a reasonable internal thought process. Even when she didn’t look at him—and she did try to keep her gaze away—she seemed to have a simple awareness of where he was in the room, despite it’s grandiose size. This was an awareness she evidently lacked in her own vicinity, for as she turned around she was suddenly face to face with Charles.* Oh! *He appeared waiting, so she pressed her lips together and decidedly didn’t move, saying only* Sorry, I didn’t see you.

Charles: *Truth be told, Charles thought, a bit amused by her obstinate refusal budge, he hadn’t seen her either. His gaze was trained over her shoulder on—well. For the briefest moment he was curious as to what had distracted her before deciding truly, he did not care, and shook his head at the apology* No matter, do not concern yourself. *As she still didn’t move, he chuckled under his breath and moved to walk past her himself*

Lucy:*As he passes her, her gaze flicks over her bare shoulder and her lips flick up. Deciding it was only polite, she stopped him by simply uttering his name.* Charles.

Charles: *Not at all pleased to hear the name instead of his title—but then, what else did he expect tonight?—he turned around slowly with an eyebrow arch* It’s—

Lucy:My lord. *Of course. Her gaze stayed on his fierce.*

Charles: Well, no need for false courtesy.

Lucy: *ignoring his expression and the statement she nodded before adding politely, not noticing that she was toying with her bracelet idly* I just wanted to inform you, that girl—*she gestured with an unobtrusive head nod*—sorry, I don’t know her name…she was just talking to her friend about a love potion. *See, who said listening very hard to the surrounding conversations to take her mind off things wasn’t fruitful?*

Charles: *His chin comes up, eyes going wide. For several moments he says nothing, just regarding her in surprise and not the least bit of suspicion followed by confusion. She had nothing to gain from lying to him, he thought, but why tell him? What concern of it was hers? Unused to statements not having a double meaning, he was simply speechless a moment longer before asking hesitantly with a head tilt* It’s…Lucy, right?

Lucy: *Her lips press together as he looked at her, suddenly feeling it was important to hold his gaze steadily. The silence was disarming; did he imagine he was frightening her? Was he just trying to make her uncomfortable? In a ballroom filled with people who loathed her and one who—no, stop that. At his hesitant question she exhaled, saying off-hand, bothered* Oh, you do remember me. *With an exhale as he suppresses a chuckle* Are you going to call me impudent for warning you?

Charles: No, I only meant to insure I thanked the right person. *While her attitude made him bristle and scowl for a moment, he reluctantly realized he’d called for it by having stared at her rudely in his confusion and he shook his head with his instant words.*

Lucy: *Fantastic, she’d put her foot in her mouth yet again. Biting her bottom lip, admitting to herself her attitude probably had very little to do with him—eyes forward—she relaxed, however wrong-footed* Oh. Sorry. It is Lucy.

Charles: *He waved her off with the air of one not quite ready to admit to guilt, but was reluctant anyway.*

Lucy: *Licking her bottom lip in a quick, nervous flick, she added softer* And you're welcome.

Charles: *He turns around to keep walking, before stalling himself this time to turn back and ask — hoping he sounded offhand* Lucy, may I ask why you chose to warn me?

Lucy: *She had turned around as well, hoping to spy Thomas returning with drinks—realizing she didn’t see him in the ballroom, she imagined he had gone in exploration of the cellar to fetch it and pinked at the thought—turning back in surprise as he addressed her again.* What? *With her cheeks still pink, her brows furrowed in confusion and she added after a moment* Oh. Well. …it seemed the right thing to do.

Charles:*Such a simple response, and if anything, that confused him more. Awkward a second he nodded at her, and then said softer* …Right.

Lucy: *Holding his gaze again, saddened by the way the simple act of kindness did seem to have thrown him off, she said softer herself* After all, isn’t that what tonight is suppose to be about? Fostering friendship and civility?

Charles: *Her point was valid, but he thought naive. With a wry little lip twitch he shrugged.* Is it?

Lucy: Well, I suppose that is the idealistic reason. If five people here are actually open-minded and interested in making friends, I would be impressed. Most are either marking territory, or here to spite that.

Charles: *An amusing thought. His lips flick.* And which are you, Lucy?

Lucy:*Her expression clouded over for a second and her gaze darted over his shoulder. There was a quiet, pregnant pause before she spoke, in a voice that seemed at once too truthful, and as covering the truth at the same time* I am here because my friend asked me to come with her.

Charles:Ah. *He nodded: that was fair. Most actually were there because someone else made them go, he imagined.*

Lucy: *Her eyes lifted from the floor to meet his gaze again as she added* And because I think it is important that you see I am not a monster, my lord, but human the same as you.

Charles: *To that, he couldn’t think of a reply, though he bit his bottom lip and swallowed on a tight throat. Another silence stretched between them before he just inclined his head, deciding he didn’t want to hear more and said cordially* Lucy. *He turned a half inch with his shallow head nod to depart*

Lucy: My lord. *She actually meant the respect that time, or at least to be courteous, for she could not summon any kind of malice with which to mock the title: that was too vivid a memory for her. She’s startled as he turns back, and even more startled by his words.*

Charles: By the way, Lucy. *He nodded at her.* You look very pretty tonight.

Lucy: *Her eyebrow arches and her throat goes dry. He leaves her standing there gaping for words, hand curling into the grey silk at her side, blue eyes wide.* Thank you… *Why he would have said that she had no idea, and she thought a moment later it was most likely his offering to level the score between them: She warned him of a love potion induced mistake, he complimented her outfit, things were even. Yet another voice in her mind reminded her if they were even for that, then his remark had been genuine, and she was warmed by the compliment all the same. A small smile crossed her lips for a moment as she watched him disappear—her gaze darted sideways to Rick, and she swallowed a lump in her throat, before her smile widened as she saw Thomas reappearing, holding two glasses.*