eswareinmal | GHB 3: Afternoon [Orb 2]

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GHB 3: Afternoon [Orb 2]

[Lavinia appears seated in front of the orb, wearing an elegant gold and red dress, hood down. In one hand, she holds a glass of wine and takes a small sip, enjoying the flavor and pausing to admire the color before she sets the glass down.]

My regards to the vineyards. I wouldn't have imagined I would be able to find anything good, but well, consider me surprised. I suppose it's true; wherever there is civilization, there is wine and alcohol.

Now the reason I address all of you today is because I am declaring a party in two day's time. No particular reason, though I think some socializing would do us all some good. It's gotten so dready with robberies and kidnappings and visions of fire. [She scoffs lightly and takes another sip.] Yes, so dreadful. So a party then, at the castle, in the evening hour. I'm sure there's a ballroom that can accommodate all the lovely lords, ladies, and heroes of Schnwanheim. Anyone that would like to lend a hand with catering and decorations would be greatly appreciated. Make it fancy and elegant. [Yes, that's right. Lavinia is foisting responsibility onto everyone else. Isn't she wonderful?]

Rupert, darling, I fully expect to see you there. I'd be quite disappointed if you weren't. Also we must talk. I have a present for you.

((ooc; Yep! Party! Mingling! Food! Wine! So this would be the night of GHB the 5th.))

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Is there a particular theme? I could bake a cake and decorate it.

No theme in mind, though I suppose flowers are always elegant. A classic style and all.

I can do flowers.

Excellent! Make it a large cake, enough for several guests.

How many is several? Ten? Twenty?

Given all the lords and ladies in the realm, along with all the heroes? Perhaps two cakes will be needed. Rest assured, if it is too much work, I can put in a request to the castle staff.

I'm happy to do it. I'll make two, and some sweet buns and cookies to be safe.

Wonderful! That should take care of dessert. Thank you, darling.

It's no trouble. Thanks for helping out with the--uh, charms.

By a wine may a culture be truly judged, or so I have been told. Of course, that was from a man who loved pork rinds above any other food in the world.

[She laughed, lightly. Others might fall for your trick, dear, but Selene isn't quite that easy to fool~]

Those colours are striking, if I might say so. The gold looks wonderful on you, lovely with your hair.

While I can agree with the wisdom of his words, ugh, pork rinds. Still, I suppose a person can't be solely judged by one of the things they eat, even if it is is favorite. We all have our guilty pleasures.

[She smiles and flicks back some hair from her shoulder.]

Isn't it? The fabric is quite divine, very soft and comfortable. I'm pleased there are dressmakers with vision and style around here.

[She wrinkles her nose, and laughs.]

He dipped them in curry. The man had no taste. He'd eat just about anything, and I mean that.

[She tips her head to the side a little, pursing her lips.]

Well, who recognize it when it is given to them, at least. Anyone back home would be astounded at the number of corrections I have had to insist upon on the first dress I've had made.

Do tell, are you a dressmaker yourself? Or otherwise quite the purveyor of fashion?

I am nothing but an enthusiastic hobbyist. I much prefer needlework, honestly. Two dimensions are so much easier to manage than three.

Quite a respectable hobby, useful as well.

I do hope you'll be at the party?

When one is actually able in it, I'm sure it's wonderful. I am...enthusiastic.

[She smiles.]

Well, I do have several pressing social engagements conflicting that evening, but I'm sure I can work something out for you, darling.

Pressing social engagements? My, my, aren't you becoming quite the popular princess.

The opening of an art gallery, a children's benefit, and the firefighter gala ball, looking forward to that one.

A girl simply must try to stay busy, lest boredom set in. Tell, when will your little bash begin, and should I bring a dance card?

I dunno, lady. A lot of the parties around here haven't ended...very well.

Really? Do tell. What sort of trouble is there? [Though every good party always has a bit of drama, oh yes.]

Well, there was the one party where everybody got trapped in some kinda otherworld...

...and the one where the townspeople tried to make a bunch of other folks get married. Not that they aren't trying to do that every damn day.

Oh yes, the whole wedding fiasco. Interesting day that was. But I'm sure there are other parties in the history of this kingdom that have not been cursed or otherwise unfortunate.

I'll believe that when I see it.

Then you'll have to come to this one.

_{[James narrows his eyes and thinks about that good and hard.]}

Maybe I will.

Wonderful. Do be sure to wear your finest.

...not that I don't appreciate the effort, Lavinia, but I'm going to have to ask what sort of a gift it is.

[Normally he wouldn't ask but, well, gifts and parties? That just sounds a bit too much like birthdays, and birthdays never go well.]

Any particular reason, um, why you have to give whatever it is to me there?

A useful gift for you and your lover. [Said with a smile. Which is every sign to begin running away now.]

I don't have to give it to you there. In fact, I can give it to you right now. Though I do expect you to attend the party.

[He would run. But, well, running is futile. Lavinia isn't quite terrifying to abandon the orb for any length of time for. Besides, she knows where he lives, and she'd be happy to make herself at home there.]

I'd...rather you gave it to me beforehand, actually. Um, w-when you put it like that.

...have you, um, m-mentioned this gift to Ginia, then?

Ginia? Oh no, this is the sort of surprise best given to her from you. By the way, have you told the dear I'm your [great] auntie or will I have to?

[You will never live the "great" down, Lavinia. It's one of the few things Giles has on you.]

It...hasn't exactly come up, no.

[...] You...haven't spoken with her, have you? [She's been by the ocean for a few days, now, so it's possible that she'll miss this message entirely. Maybe. Hopefully.]

Her? no, we don't talk very often. Which is a true shame, I should get to know her if she's ever to become a Giles. [A small, thoughtful pause.]

Unless this is a more casual relationship.

It isn't.

[In this, at least, there is no chance of Giles answering anything else. Especially after...well. Certain talks.

And then, almost to himself, Giles adds:]

...it, it's not as though I'd require it. [Becoming a Giles, that is. Giles is old fashioned in a lot of ways, and he's still not entirely sure how much has changed in five years. But he'd always gotten the impression that Ginia adored her family, and was proud of what they made of her.

If she doesn't want to take his last name, he wouldn't ask it.]

You really do love her, don't you.

[It's part casual musing, part surprised musing, and part something pleased. Lavinia never had any intention of getting married. Never mind the fuss and mess of marrying someone when she was eternally young, beautiful, and subsequently cursed to boot, but why ruin her fun? Sure, there were engagements, but nothing ever panned out. Truthfully, no one ever caught her attention, not so much in that way.

Did she ever wonder what life would be like? Certainly. Even if Edna shielded Edmund from her, she saw how happy Edna was with her family, her growing son, her later grandchild. It was a good life, a happy life.

But lives like those ended eventually. People grew old, people passed on, and Lavinia wasn't sure if she could see more people fade and know there was nothing she could do to stop it - ah, the rub; there were things she could do, but whether it was her place to do so...

Too many good young boys never came back from the first war. Then the second war claimed good young men.

No. Lavinia had her share of death and sad goodbyes beyond her control.

But she could share in the joy of others. Living vicariously; she prefered to live directly, but some things could be enjoyed secondhand. If Giles was happy, if Giles was in love, and Giles wished to marry, she wouldn't deny him that.

He was dead in one world. If he could live here and find happiness, good for him.]

...I really do.

[Helios knows, of course. Helios had always known. Lavinia, though...she deserves to know, too. She and Sophronia are the only blood relatives Giles has left in the world. For all the good he's done for himself by family he's found...that does carry some weight, still.

In many ways, he's acting a lot like he's imagined the people during the war often did. Living for today, not caring much about the future or its consequences because there might not be a future. He's trying not to, of course - he didn't actually say yes to Ginia's unspoken question. But the temptation is growing stronger by the day.

After all, they both might really be dead tomorrow.]

...well. Then I'll be over at once with your present. Perhaps it'll be helpful after all.

...And don't try to hide, Rupert, I do know where you live. [Not a threat, never a threat, but a simple reminder.]

[Lavinia does not threaten. Lavinia does not need to threaten.

Giles heaves a tired sigh.]

...suppose I should go and make some tea, then, shouldn't I?

[Well. Maybe it will be nice to meet up with her. They've already gotten into some deeply personal territory, and Giles was never the greatest with filters on communication devices.]

Yes, and please have some biscuits ready. Or tea cakes, that would be a delight. I'll be there soon.

[there's no real need to say anything more, so Lavinia closes up the orb and heads out. The castle servants are more than happy to obtain a carriage and driver for her and soon she's setting off on the fairly short distance between the castle and quaint little House Seven.

Once she arrives, she'll daintly step out of the carriage with the help of the driver, and proceed toward the door. If it's open, she'll let herself inside. If not, she'll attempt an unlocking spell to let herself in.]

[Lavinia will find it unlocked, which probably comes as no surprise. The house is quiet, beyond the front door, quiet enough to perhaps at first give the impression of being empty.

But, the smell of biscuits - unburned biscuits, thankfully - should be enough to dispel that notion. Indeed, should she venture just a bit further into the house, she'll find Giles, peering thoughtfully in at something cooking in the oven.]

Smell about right...

[He's so absorbed in the biscuits that he doesn't seem to have noticed her yet. Clearly, Lavinia's shoes need to squeak more.]

[Happy day. Lavinia enters the home, leaving the carriage and driver to wait for her outside. She looks around the living room, and seeing no one, heads toward the kitchen.]

Yes, I must say they do. Did you make them yourself?

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GHB 3: Afternoon [Orb 2]

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I think the only person who gets this icon more than Lavinia is Jack Sparrow

Bwahaha

Re: Bwahaha

You don't know how tempting it is to have Ginia comment to this post

Do you *want* Giles to die? ...don't answer that.

...Um. Sorry for the tl;dr.

*Never* apologize for tl;dr

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Do you want Giles to die? ...don't answer that.

Never apologize for tl;dr