psl; [a marriage of inconvenience]

[hedgemaze]

THE AUBEL ESTATE is located in Derbyshire, England, a stately old home reminiscent of centuries long past. Long ago, it had fallen into disrepair and abandoned until previous generations of the Aubel family purchased the land for themselves, having found their fortunes in matters of real estate. Since that time, the outside has been restored and the inside has been renovated at least three times. Four, if you ask the uncle who remembers the one summer where the chandelier fell from the dining hall, taking a large portion of the ceiling with it. How embarrassing, if such a thing is true.

In its present state, it straddles the line between the old and new. The large, prominent rooms are ostentatious as they are filled to the brim with austere English culture; the smaller quarters, traditionally used by the servants and staff, are far more modest, and over time have allowed the tendrils of modernity to creep in as a result. Regardless, the home is impressive no matter how you look at it, and there are few who do not cast an envious glance at the estate as they pass by Derbyshire on their way to town, or perhaps northwest to Manchester, if they've even farther to go.

PHILIP AND JAMES AUBEL, father and son respectively, are the owners of the home, though only the father remains for any extended period of time. And even then, he only stays perhaps one or two seasons at a time, until he returns to his home in London, spending one or two seasons there, before returning again, living out his life of retirement to the fullest. James visits nearly every week (driving in from Manchester, and back) in the Spring, until the first freeze of Winter, when nothing will grow. Though they have a staff of two dozen -- give or take, depending upon the time of year -- taking care of the estate and its grounds, James is more diligent about keeping up appearances of the house, showing a special interest in maintaining the complex hedge maze on the land directly behind them. Only he keeps access to its center, a literal walled garden of seasonal flora.

AS RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WOULD HAVE IT, James has been drawn into an arranged marriage by his father and an old business acquaintance. She is scheduled for an extended visit soon, and the staff have done a meticulous job of preparing the hall for her arrival -- and the rest of the rooms, as well, if she is expected to make her living here permanent, one day. Today, the weather is clear and the help is eager to aid her in unpacking. The grounds are green and the family dog, an old greyhound with cataracts in one eye, bounds up to her with a slow wagging tail. The father will greet her, of course, with all the usual formalities, and though he doesn't know her all that well at all, she at least seems nice enough. He disappears soon after, leaving her to her own devices as she sees fit. James himself is nowhere to be found.

Somewhere, sooner rather than later, a collision course of first impressions will take place.

----------

D I R E C T O R Y;

➤ shitpost.
➤ first impressions.
➤ diamonds.
➤ text her, texter.
➤ saviour.
➤ flirt.
➤ closer.
➤ cross-examine.
➤ PARTY CRASHERS.
✶ elle + devon
✶ elle + corvus
✶ ian + james + corvus
✶ devon + james
➤ alien abduction.
➤ sleep now.
➤ bathe.
➤ remember.
➤ drink.
➤ welcome home.

Comments

[clearsight]

[Ian nods and goes back to looking out the window.]

... Are you guys gonna go back to Portland? Ever?

[hedgemaze]

[James and his empathy -- so easily read from children -- can feel the true weight behind that question. He considers his words carefully; not because Ian is young, but because he hadn't given it proper thought, himself.]

I'm sure she'd want to visit her family back in America, Ian. So yes, when things have settled down, a trip may be in order. Besides, she told me about the roses. How can I not be curious about Portland?

[clearsight]

[And for the first time since he arrived in England, Ian smiles, a bright happy one, that's similar to Devon's.]

Yeah! There's a ton of roses. And blackberry bushes. Oh and I know the BEST doughnut place.

I'll show you around so you get to see all the cool places.

[hedgemaze]

[The smile means that his answer was satisfactory, and James feels glad that he's made Ian happy. Such a bright, excited smile. It must be a Winters family trait.]

I'm going to hold you to that, you know.

[clearsight]

I won't forget. I've got the best memory.

[And he means it too. He's about to go off and go to his parent's room to take a nap there since he's feeling tired. Before he starts off though, he looks up at James thoughtfully.]

... I got one more question and then you can rest easy. Is that okay?

[hedgemaze]

[The slightest arch of his brow.] I think I can handle on more question. Go ahead.

[clearsight]

[Ian is too young to have a lot of options on being subtle. He can be in some ways. But with this question, it's both subtle and direct at the same time. He needs to ask this. It's for his sister's sake.]

What are you?

[hedgemaze]

[And then James looks like he’s just had a bomb dropped on him.

When Devon said that her younger brother was sensitive, he couldn’t think that it possibly meant that Ian could sense that James was not… completely human. His mind rushes in circles; is that what he was asking? Or was he misinterpreting? But how difficult was it to misinterpret such a simple question, and from such a direct child?

He sets his jaw, swallowing. He looks down at Ian, almost disbelieving that he just asked him that. He’s James Aubel, he’s a who, not a what, not just-

(not just some Creature that fell from the cold and the dark, and made warmth withiin an Earthen home)

-not just some thing. He is what stands before the boy, nothing more, nothing less. He gave up what he was a long, long time ago.

James doesn’t know how to answer, a conflict rising in him.]

I… I’m a man, just as complex and frustrating as the next.

[He says it without his usual flippancy, just looking down at the boy.]

Other than that, you really shouldn’t worry yourself about it.

[clearsight]

[At least he answered, Ian will give him that much.]

I'm worrying because you're gonna marry my sister.

[He continues, looking down at his feet.]

I know I'm too young. I can't do a lot and now that she's gonna stay with you, I can't do anything at all. If something happens...

[Ian was the one who knew who to trust when they met strangers. He noticed the crows that always followed her. He woke her up whenever she sleepwalked. But distance was going to tear them apart and it feels heavier for a 9 year old than it would any other adult who at least had the resources and strengths to overcome such lengths.]

You're okay, you know. And Devon thinks so too. She keeps smiling at you. So whatever it is, you're fine for now.

[Whatever James Aubel is, Ian has to concede that this man would be Devon's priority and not him. It's a hard thing to admit and he may not always give in to it, but it's a truth he's been swallowing the past few months.]

[hedgemaze]

[He feels a sorrow overcome him, and James can't tell if it's Ian's or his own. Suddenly his own concerns about what Ian thinks he is seem far away -- he's compelled to crouch down a little to where his gaze is level with the boy's. He even reaches out to put a hand on his shoulder, lightly.]

I won't let any harm come to your sister. I promise you I'd die before I'd let that happen.

[James means it.]

[clearsight]

[Ian looks reassured by his answer and looks at James eye to eye when he crouches down to his level. It means a lot to him that gesture because Dad does the same thing when he's being serious. The feeling James gives him is unfamiliar, but there's something else that compels the young boy to trust him. He's not lying when it comes to Devon.]

... Alright.

But don't do that. The dying thing I mean. You gotta have a plan, man.

[hedgemaze]

[He grins, and he allows a bit of that smugness of his to filter into it.]

Well, dying is last resort. As it should be.

[He straightens.] But I mean what I said.