Parlour Games (4th of May, late afternoon, DeLaunceys)

Gaius DeLauncey · 12-23-2011, 12:40 PM

It was the afternoon, and Gaius had done his fucking paperwork. In his study, it lay piled up and finished, waiting for a wispy attendant to take it away, file it, secure the orders, spread through the ever-turning machine that was the Department of Welfare. It comforted Gaius, though he needed a grand total of fuck all comfort these days. He was a stoney man, and he had his children with him, for the first time in too long. But he still needed to organise a meeting. Maybe get some strategy up and running besides 'fuck the Fitzwulfs'. His own family needed to sit and speak with him. Discuss. Do something, for the love of...

He calmed himself, by simply biting his nails. That was a habit he needed to get over. Gaius The Quiet biting his nails. The Elder DeLauncey, nervous. Pathetic. But he wasn't, he realised. Just letting that old temper creep up on him.

As he sat in his chair, he clicked his fingers, and his hound, Maximus, padded up to him. Maximus was fourteen, and the only dog allowed inside the parlour, where his master now sat, waiting for his family. Leaning forward, the Lord patted the shoulders of his friend, allowing a little smile to crease his face. Good dog. Loyal, stout, calm. The beast, with it's jet-black fur and loose jowls, gazed up at his master with the unconditional affection of an old dog.
"My wondrous friend is not my brethren, but my dog."

Isabelle DeLauncey · 12-24-2011, 11:00 AM

The archery finals would be over soon. Isabelle had already left the tourney and headed for the comfort of her home. Gaius was there, working like always, and she expected that at any time the children would roll in to change out of their dusty dresses into something for dinner. It felt better than sunny day to have her children back with her. Better than wine or chocolate even. She’d missed them more than she could imagine, even though she’d been strapped with that emotion for years.

She stepped into the parlor and smiled as she watched her husband with their dog. “Ah, yes, but the family is even better than the dog. Are you enjoying having them home?” She moved to take a seat near him, close enough that she could reach over and rest her hand lightly upon his arm. “It brings me joy to see how much they’ve grown. And to have the twins in the King’s box speaks highly of our family. I don’t expect him to wed either of them, but having the kingdom see them as prominent will help when it’s time.” And it would be time so soon enough.

“But then, we should focus on Peregrine and Warrine as well. The gods know it is time. The plague has done more than just stunted travel and trade. Even marriages, alliances, all have suffered.”

She paused, “How is your work, Gaius?” He’d want to talk about that, and she was used to listening.

Marcheline Forthwind · 12-24-2011, 10:43 PM

Marcheline had left the tourney not long after her mother. She had gotten a little bored. She wasn't in the royal box although she was a little glad she wasn't today. Aurora was horrible. She needed to talk to her mother about what happened yesterday. She was scared to tell her father but he'd probably disregard it. So it was there she came across her parents, a smile upon her face.

“Mother! Father!” She promptly moved to give her father a hug and her mother a kiss. “Are we to eat dinner soon?”

Gaius DeLauncey · 01-02-2012, 12:16 PM

Gaius gave a loud and audible snort in response to his Wife's words. She was a fine creature, whom he'd defend to the death, but the assumption that he actually liked his family was far, far from the truth. His brother was a prig, his nephew a snake, and the rest of their brood political animals just waiting to leech away his life and shuffle their unsuitable arses into his position. But they were the closest thing he had to a support group, beyond his Wife and Daughters and Sons, and as such they did not deserve his remarks. Patting Maximus on the shoulder in order to move him, the Councillor looked up at his Wife, then down at her arm, before leaning forward to kiss her softly on the lips. Touch. The touch was good, for it calmed him, kept his temper at bay, and thanks was needed for that. Also by way of apology.

"I don't trust anything that Marcus brought into the world, Julius is too cunning. Anything that isn't mine own product I think is too coy. I haven't even spoken to Demetrius or Titus except by letters. Peregrine cries out for a husband, and I need your guidance in this..." He shook his head; what was a man as he to do? Where were his scrolls, things he could alter and effect? Damn them...

Work. That he could report on. The moment his Wife spoke of it, the bitter old man perked up alittle.
"Things are better. Grain harvests are recovering, and the death rates in the major settlements have halved. The outlying regions haven't reported in months, but I suspect the Plague will have died down there, aswell. Things are better." He summarised, the very instant Marcheline came barreling into the room.

The sudden hug brought on a shock, and the aging duellist descended into a quiet coughing fit, giving his wife time to answer.

Peregrine Tempest DeLauncey · 01-08-2012, 06:17 PM

Tempest had not gotten to speak to her father as much as she wanted to. He was her favorite family member by far, and she had not yet gotten to spend much time with him. The archery had been boring, and so Tempest had barely attended it… Just enough in the beginning to get a vague feel of what had happened. After that, Tempest had wandered a bit before heading back to her father’s manor.

When Tempest entered the parlor, she noticed that Marcheline was already there as well as her mother. She frowned, for a brief moment, and then went and sat down in one of the available chairs. “Mother. Marchie,” Tempest’s voice was soft, calm. “Dad,” she finally said, acknowledging him, her voice brighter than when she had greeted the others.

Isabelle DeLauncey · 01-08-2012, 10:49 PM

Isabelle listened to her husband speak, and nodded her agreement. She had no love for the rest of his family either. She did her duty, if needed, but in her heart she was a Fontenot. The name DeLauncey only indicated she’d wed one of their men. Before she could reply, however, two of her daughters came through the door. She could not help but smiling at the site of them either.

“Marchie, Tempest,” she greeted both warmly, reaching to give each a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Seeing Tempest again reminded her of just how older her daughter was getting, and that her husband’s comment on the marriage was so very true. The three would need to sit down and talk about it very soon. Perhaps the next day if possible.

Yes, the next day would be fine.

“Have you two been enjoying the tourney?”

Marcheline Forthwind · 01-11-2012, 01:07 AM

Marchie gave her father a hug before she moved to give her mother one as well. It was good to be around them again. “Where is Josie? I thought she'd be here by now.” She replied and then smiled at her sister. “Hello Peregrine.” She moved to give her sister a hug as well.

“The tourney is so delighting! I've had two knights ask for my favors but other than the Princess being wretched to me on the first day...I don't understand it! I don't want to be around the King if the Princess is going to be around. She is horrible.” Marcheline firmly concluded.

Gaius DeLauncey · 01-16-2012, 03:28 PM

Gaius gave a very restrained chuckle as Marcheline's arms pulled around him, and this was reflected in his eyes. His eyes smiled, the brows lifted, even as he turned to Peregrine. It had been too long.
"Tempy."
Last times he'd said those words, he'd hugged his daughter and watched her sail away, yet again. Had he been a more sentimental man, he might have rushed to hug her, or wept for joy. But, as he was, he simply smiled slightly with his mouth, but widely with his eyes. He loved her. By The Gods, he loved everyone of them from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. It was only this that kept his arms open, demanding a hug from his quiet little bird.

Peregrine Tempest DeLauncey · 01-18-2012, 06:20 PM

Tempest returned the affection for her mother, reciprocating the hug. Even if they had a strained relationship, she still truly loved her. Instead of answering her mother, Tempest let Marcheline speak, as she didn’t have much to say besides they were tournaments and mostly boring. She was not a fan, but she didn’t loathe them either. They were just another necessary social event at court.

All thoughts of the tourney dissipated as she embraced her father, burying herself in his open arms. It had been far, far too long since they had seen each other, and no one called her Tempy, besides him. “I’ve missed you,” she said, to both her parents, but mostly to him. Withdraw from her father, Tempest turned to Marcheline, giving her sweet younger sister a smile.

However, her eyes did narrow in annoyance at Marcheline’s use of the name Peregrine. Normally her parents only used it if she was in trouble, and Tempest was certainly not fond of her first name herself. It didn’t feel like her… It was so seldom used. Now she just introduced herself to everyone as Tempest, something that Cassius nor her parents had ever seemed to object to. She wondered if Marcheline was purposely being annoying.

“What happened with the princess?” Tempest asked, concern in her voice. She didn’t like to hear her little sister upset, though she did for a brief moment think that she should chose her words more carefully. Of course, if something had happened in the booth, Josephine likely would have witnessed it… Josephine tended to be more rational and impartial. Perhaps it was best to ask her.

Isabelle DeLauncey · 01-22-2012, 11:12 PM

Isabelle turned to look at Marchie. “What about the princess? Aurora?” The princess was colder than most, and not likely to enjoy Marcheline’s company, if Isabelle was honest. She loved her daughters dearly, but they were night and day in personality. But raising the ire of Aurora did matter. Adrien loved and adored his sister, something that both pleased Isabelle and worried her. That they were closed made sense, given their relationship and twins and all they had lost over the years.

But Adrien needed to make decisions without the influence of his sister as well, because while Isabelle loved Aurora, Aurora had no care for what was right for the kingdom. She was far more about self-preservation and hardly close to anyway.

“Tell me what happened, Marchie.”

Marcheline Forthwind · 01-29-2012, 12:29 AM

Marcheline had firmly decided she didn't like the Princess. She was so rude to her! It had merely been a seat.... “You remember the tourney yesterday? Well, when Lady Elanor came to sit in the King's box I wanted Elanor to sit closer to me but then Aurora told her to sit near the King. I of course told her that this was the King's box and it was only he who could tell anyone where to sit, not her. But then she said Elanor had a better view in the seat she was told to sit in and I told her she wasn't acting like a lady. She wasn't!” Marcheline firmly stated. “But by then I already left. How can the King have a sister like that? She isn't fit to be a Princess at all!”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “How is that fair! It isn't fair, isn't it mother? You're way more of a lady than she is! Even Tempest! I don't like her and I would hate to be married to a King if I had to have that harpy for a sister!” She exclaimed suddenly. “If she had been raised around our family she probably wouldn't have turned out that way...it...it isn't really her fault is it? But really she shouldn't have acted like that in front of her lord. What kind of a lady disobeys their lord?”

Peregrine Tempest DeLauncey · 03-20-2012, 02:00 PM

Tempest was quiet for Marcheline’s entire story, taking in her sister’s frantic exclamations. It all seemed rather ridiculous… Tempest did not understand why her sister felt the need to get involved in such drama. And with the princess of all people! That was just poor decision making, and to Tempest… it seemed as if Marcheline was in the wrong.

“Did the King actually say anything to Lady Elanor?” Tempest questioned, curious about the situation. To her, it would seem that the princess had been in the right if she had issued a command, and surely the King would have denied her if he had cared… Marcheline nor any of them were above the princess, sadly. Tempest frowned, disappointed about the situation. She was also annoyed that Marcheline’s proclamation of, “even Tempest!” but decided not to comment on that.

Beyond that, Tempest would let her mother answer the questions of Aurora’s raising. Tempest knew nothing of that besides the death of most of the royal family, and it wasn’t her place to speak about it.

12-23-2011, 12:40 PM	#1
Gaius DeLauncey Food For Thought Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 170 Mentioned: 8 Post(s)	Parlour Games (4th of May, late afternoon, DeLaunceys) It was the afternoon, and Gaius had done his fucking paperwork. In his study, it lay piled up and finished, waiting for a wispy attendant to take it away, file it, secure the orders, spread through the ever-turning machine that was the Department of Welfare. It comforted Gaius, though he needed a grand total of fuck all comfort these days. He was a stoney man, and he had his children with him, for the first time in too long. But he still needed to organise a meeting. Maybe get some strategy up and running besides 'fuck the Fitzwulfs'. His own family needed to sit and speak with him. Discuss. Do something, for the love of... He calmed himself, by simply biting his nails. That was a habit he needed to get over. Gaius The Quiet biting his nails. The Elder DeLauncey, nervous. Pathetic. But he wasn't, he realised. Just letting that old temper creep up on him. As he sat in his chair, he clicked his fingers, and his hound, Maximus, padded up to him. Maximus was fourteen, and the only dog allowed inside the parlour, where his master now sat, waiting for his family. Leaning forward, the Lord patted the shoulders of his friend, allowing a little smile to crease his face. Good dog. Loyal, stout, calm. The beast, with it's jet-black fur and loose jowls, gazed up at his master with the unconditional affection of an old dog. "My wondrous friend is not my brethren, but my dog."

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12-24-2011, 11:00 AM	#2
Isabelle DeLauncey Princess of Old Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 123 Player: Jenn Profile Plot Page Mentioned: 3 Post(s)	The archery finals would be over soon. Isabelle had already left the tourney and headed for the comfort of her home. Gaius was there, working like always, and she expected that at any time the children would roll in to change out of their dusty dresses into something for dinner. It felt better than sunny day to have her children back with her. Better than wine or chocolate even. She’d missed them more than she could imagine, even though she’d been strapped with that emotion for years. She stepped into the parlor and smiled as she watched her husband with their dog. “Ah, yes, but the family is even better than the dog. Are you enjoying having them home?” She moved to take a seat near him, close enough that she could reach over and rest her hand lightly upon his arm. “It brings me joy to see how much they’ve grown. And to have the twins in the King’s box speaks highly of our family. I don’t expect him to wed either of them, but having the kingdom see them as prominent will help when it’s time.” And it would be time so soon enough. “But then, we should focus on Peregrine and Warrine as well. The gods know it is time. The plague has done more than just stunted travel and trade. Even marriages, alliances, all have suffered.” She paused, “How is your work, Gaius?” He’d want to talk about that, and she was used to listening.

12-24-2011, 10:43 PM	#3
Marcheline Forthwind The Fashion Wolf Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 171 Player: Tink Profile Mentioned: 2 Post(s)	Marcheline had left the tourney not long after her mother. She had gotten a little bored. She wasn't in the royal box although she was a little glad she wasn't today. Aurora was horrible. She needed to talk to her mother about what happened yesterday. She was scared to tell her father but he'd probably disregard it. So it was there she came across her parents, a smile upon her face. “Mother! Father!” She promptly moved to give her father a hug and her mother a kiss. “Are we to eat dinner soon?”

01-02-2012, 12:16 PM	#4
Gaius DeLauncey Food For Thought Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 170 Mentioned: 8 Post(s)	Gaius gave a loud and audible snort in response to his Wife's words. She was a fine creature, whom he'd defend to the death, but the assumption that he actually liked his family was far, far from the truth. His brother was a prig, his nephew a snake, and the rest of their brood political animals just waiting to leech away his life and shuffle their unsuitable arses into his position. But they were the closest thing he had to a support group, beyond his Wife and Daughters and Sons, and as such they did not deserve his remarks. Patting Maximus on the shoulder in order to move him, the Councillor looked up at his Wife, then down at her arm, before leaning forward to kiss her softly on the lips. Touch. The touch was good, for it calmed him, kept his temper at bay, and thanks was needed for that. Also by way of apology. "I don't trust anything that Marcus brought into the world, Julius is too cunning. Anything that isn't mine own product I think is too coy. I haven't even spoken to Demetrius or Titus except by letters. Peregrine cries out for a husband, and I need your guidance in this..." He shook his head; what was a man as he to do? Where were his scrolls, things he could alter and effect? Damn them... Work. That he could report on. The moment his Wife spoke of it, the bitter old man perked up alittle. "Things are better. Grain harvests are recovering, and the death rates in the major settlements have halved. The outlying regions haven't reported in months, but I suspect the Plague will have died down there, aswell. Things are better." He summarised, the very instant Marcheline came barreling into the room. The sudden hug brought on a shock, and the aging duellist descended into a quiet coughing fit, giving his wife time to answer.

01-08-2012, 06:17 PM	#5
Peregrine Tempest DeLauncey Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 42 Mentioned: 1 Post(s)	Tempest had not gotten to speak to her father as much as she wanted to. He was her favorite family member by far, and she had not yet gotten to spend much time with him. The archery had been boring, and so Tempest had barely attended it… Just enough in the beginning to get a vague feel of what had happened. After that, Tempest had wandered a bit before heading back to her father’s manor. When Tempest entered the parlor, she noticed that Marcheline was already there as well as her mother. She frowned, for a brief moment, and then went and sat down in one of the available chairs. “Mother. Marchie,” Tempest’s voice was soft, calm. “Dad,” she finally said, acknowledging him, her voice brighter than when she had greeted the others.

01-08-2012, 10:49 PM	#6
Isabelle DeLauncey Princess of Old Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 123 Player: Jenn Profile Plot Page Mentioned: 3 Post(s)	Isabelle listened to her husband speak, and nodded her agreement. She had no love for the rest of his family either. She did her duty, if needed, but in her heart she was a Fontenot. The name DeLauncey only indicated she’d wed one of their men. Before she could reply, however, two of her daughters came through the door. She could not help but smiling at the site of them either. “Marchie, Tempest,” she greeted both warmly, reaching to give each a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Seeing Tempest again reminded her of just how older her daughter was getting, and that her husband’s comment on the marriage was so very true. The three would need to sit down and talk about it very soon. Perhaps the next day if possible. Yes, the next day would be fine. “Have you two been enjoying the tourney?”

01-11-2012, 01:07 AM	#7
Marcheline Forthwind The Fashion Wolf Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 171 Player: Tink Profile Mentioned: 2 Post(s)	Marchie gave her father a hug before she moved to give her mother one as well. It was good to be around them again. “Where is Josie? I thought she'd be here by now.” She replied and then smiled at her sister. “Hello Peregrine.” She moved to give her sister a hug as well. “The tourney is so delighting! I've had two knights ask for my favors but other than the Princess being wretched to me on the first day...I don't understand it! I don't want to be around the King if the Princess is going to be around. She is horrible.” Marcheline firmly concluded.

01-16-2012, 03:28 PM	#8
Gaius DeLauncey Food For Thought Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 170 Mentioned: 8 Post(s)	Gaius gave a very restrained chuckle as Marcheline's arms pulled around him, and this was reflected in his eyes. His eyes smiled, the brows lifted, even as he turned to Peregrine. It had been too long. "Tempy." Last times he'd said those words, he'd hugged his daughter and watched her sail away, yet again. Had he been a more sentimental man, he might have rushed to hug her, or wept for joy. But, as he was, he simply smiled slightly with his mouth, but widely with his eyes. He loved her. By The Gods, he loved everyone of them from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. It was only this that kept his arms open, demanding a hug from his quiet little bird.

01-18-2012, 06:20 PM	#9
Peregrine Tempest DeLauncey Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 42 Mentioned: 1 Post(s)	Tempest returned the affection for her mother, reciprocating the hug. Even if they had a strained relationship, she still truly loved her. Instead of answering her mother, Tempest let Marcheline speak, as she didn’t have much to say besides they were tournaments and mostly boring. She was not a fan, but she didn’t loathe them either. They were just another necessary social event at court. All thoughts of the tourney dissipated as she embraced her father, burying herself in his open arms. It had been far, far too long since they had seen each other, and no one called her Tempy, besides him. “I’ve missed you,” she said, to both her parents, but mostly to him. Withdraw from her father, Tempest turned to Marcheline, giving her sweet younger sister a smile. However, her eyes did narrow in annoyance at Marcheline’s use of the name Peregrine. Normally her parents only used it if she was in trouble, and Tempest was certainly not fond of her first name herself. It didn’t feel like her… It was so seldom used. Now she just introduced herself to everyone as Tempest, something that Cassius nor her parents had ever seemed to object to. She wondered if Marcheline was purposely being annoying. “What happened with the princess?” Tempest asked, concern in her voice. She didn’t like to hear her little sister upset, though she did for a brief moment think that she should chose her words more carefully. Of course, if something had happened in the booth, Josephine likely would have witnessed it… Josephine tended to be more rational and impartial. Perhaps it was best to ask her.

01-22-2012, 11:12 PM	#10
Isabelle DeLauncey Princess of Old Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 123 Player: Jenn Profile Plot Page Mentioned: 3 Post(s)	Isabelle turned to look at Marchie. “What about the princess? Aurora?” The princess was colder than most, and not likely to enjoy Marcheline’s company, if Isabelle was honest. She loved her daughters dearly, but they were night and day in personality. But raising the ire of Aurora did matter. Adrien loved and adored his sister, something that both pleased Isabelle and worried her. That they were closed made sense, given their relationship and twins and all they had lost over the years. But Adrien needed to make decisions without the influence of his sister as well, because while Isabelle loved Aurora, Aurora had no care for what was right for the kingdom. She was far more about self-preservation and hardly close to anyway. “Tell me what happened, Marchie.”

01-29-2012, 12:29 AM	#11
Marcheline Forthwind The Fashion Wolf Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 171 Player: Tink Profile Mentioned: 2 Post(s)	Marcheline had firmly decided she didn't like the Princess. She was so rude to her! It had merely been a seat.... “You remember the tourney yesterday? Well, when Lady Elanor came to sit in the King's box I wanted Elanor to sit closer to me but then Aurora told her to sit near the King. I of course told her that this was the King's box and it was only he who could tell anyone where to sit, not her. But then she said Elanor had a better view in the seat she was told to sit in and I told her she wasn't acting like a lady. She wasn't!” Marcheline firmly stated. “But by then I already left. How can the King have a sister like that? She isn't fit to be a Princess at all!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “How is that fair! It isn't fair, isn't it mother? You're way more of a lady than she is! Even Tempest! I don't like her and I would hate to be married to a King if I had to have that harpy for a sister!” She exclaimed suddenly. “If she had been raised around our family she probably wouldn't have turned out that way...it...it isn't really her fault is it? But really she shouldn't have acted like that in front of her lord. What kind of a lady disobeys their lord?”

03-20-2012, 02:00 PM	#12
Peregrine Tempest DeLauncey Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 42 Mentioned: 1 Post(s)	Tempest was quiet for Marcheline’s entire story, taking in her sister’s frantic exclamations. It all seemed rather ridiculous… Tempest did not understand why her sister felt the need to get involved in such drama. And with the princess of all people! That was just poor decision making, and to Tempest… it seemed as if Marcheline was in the wrong. “Did the King actually say anything to Lady Elanor?” Tempest questioned, curious about the situation. To her, it would seem that the princess had been in the right if she had issued a command, and surely the King would have denied her if he had cared… Marcheline nor any of them were above the princess, sadly. Tempest frowned, disappointed about the situation. She was also annoyed that Marcheline’s proclamation of, “even Tempest!” but decided not to comment on that. Beyond that, Tempest would let her mother answer the questions of Aurora’s raising. Tempest knew nothing of that besides the death of most of the royal family, and it wasn’t her place to speak about it.