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

[winterheart]

[Devon nods, giving Elle a smile that's nothing, but friendly. The young woman before her seems to be troubled for some reason, but Devon's in high spirits and doesn't seem to think too much of it.]

The one and only! Find the champagne okay? I definitely could use some myself.

[She giggles slightly and shakes her head.]

But I should have your name first!

[animalqueen]

[So even if Elle was the type to feel ill-will towards Devon (she’s not at all that type, thankfully), it would be hard to do with a friendly smile like that. Devon’s energy might as well be the life of the party, somehow not getting lost even in the flow of people around her. Even if it’s awkward for her, Elle can be glad that James’ fiance looks so happy. That’s… good, at least.]

Already found my glass. [She lifts her glass up a few inches, to accentuate her point.]

My name’s Elle. Elle Grayson. I… knew James from a few years ago.

[I mean, she still knows him, but—

Should she say they used to date? To start with that seems so weird, but at the same time, the more she waits to mention it, the more it seems like she’s trying to hide something. Which she really isn’t, she just doesn’t know how approach this.]

[winterheart]

[Despite her relatively limited experience with relationships, Devon isn't so oblivious that it doesn't click immediately. When Elle mentions that she knew James, Devon blinks and then tilts her head at Elle curiously. The silence is a bit unsettling, but not because there's any negative feeling rising in Devon. Rather, she glances around the room where James, although covered up by some people, can be seen on the far side of the room. Her incredulity is all directed at him.

Devon's pursing her lips in deep thought before she turns back to Elle, putting her hands together and bringing them up to her lips as a contemplative gesture.]

There's his alien sense towards human relationships at work again...

[Devon?!]

That being said, you are very welcome here Elle. If James invited you, I'm gonna give you all the welcomes you deserve.

[animalqueen]

[She blinks at Devon, surprised by her reaction. Surprised by her assessment of James’ “alien” regard towards human relationships — but not completely disagreeing with it, in retrospect.

A stiffness evaporates in her shoulders.]

Thanks. To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure if I should have come here. I think James is the only person I know; everyone else is just fancy dresses and expensive suits.

[winterheart]

Well, to start with, most of these people are probably my family, some of James' family and business friends...

But hey. [Devon gives her a friendly shrug and holds out her hand for a shake.]

I can be the second person you know at this party and no one can question you for it. Sound good?

[animalqueen]

That sounds great. [She smiles, and realizes that for once, it’s nice to hear an American accent that isn’t coming from a tourist.

She has to wonder, though, just what happened to the other fiance, the one that James had broken up with her for. She knew it was arranged, and she knew that her name was also Lucy. Beyond that, she knew little else.

However, she doesn’t want to bring it up. It’s weird enough dealing with one old relationship, much less talking about another. So, she subtly edges her way around it with:]

So how did you two meet?

[winterheart]

[I sent him a shitty text while playing Candy Crush at a club with my cousins before the engagement was switched...

... Is what Devon COULD say, but has the decency of mind to not word it that way. Or even tell that story first because James hasn't even realized that it was her a year ago that night. So she gives Elle the next best explanation.]

We actually never met face to face before. My cousin... Lucy, the one he was engaged to at first showed us a lot of pictures, but beyond that...

[Devon shrugs and gestures all around them.]

Never thought I'd be flying out here a year later to stay with him and his dad. It's been an interesting few months to say the least.

[animalqueen]

[Ah, well, since she gave her the opening, she can't help but ask now:]

Can I ask what happened to the... other engagement?

[winterheart]

[It wasn't the first time in the evening she was asked the question from the people who still haven't had it clarified, so Devon answers easily.]

Our grandfather changed his mind and wanted me to be engaged instead. Neither Lucy and I really had a say in it even though there was definitely parental protesting.

[animalqueen]

Wow, really?

[Crazy how arranged marriages work, she thinks.]

Talk about stirring the pot. What did James think of the switch?

[winterheart]

Sounds crazy, I know. And I was living out in Portland so not for one second did I ever imagine that I'd be involved or move overseas.

As for James... Well. He was. Going with the flow.

[Devon makes a face when she remembers how it didn't seem to matter to James that one party had to be hurt, while the other was uprooted from her longtime home to only now meet him back then.]

His unattached ways were rather apparent to me right from the beginning.

[animalqueen]

[She arches a brow.]

So... basically he didn't care.

[What a familiar sounding story!]

[winterheart]

[Devon feels like she should apologize, but it wouldn't help since there's no one real fault to the whole situation. And it would make it seem like she's covering up for James' flaws which is not a habit she wants to start despite having warmed up to him.]

It made for a hell of an impression, I'll give you that.

[animalqueen]

[She seems to consider Devon for a second, then just shakes her head, chuckling.]

Yeah, I bet that was fun. You seem to have warmed up to him, though. If you don't mind me saying.

[winterheart]

That's fine. Everyone's been saying I'm giving off some sort of... Well, you know. I can't hide how I feel very well.

[There were aspects of her that she CAN conceal such as how blunt and straightforward she can be, but in this case of genuine happiness, there's no reason to hide anything.]

Believe it or not, it took me a month to really decide to put an effort into communicating with him. Kind of sad on my part really.

[animalqueen]

Well, can anyone blame you? You had to move across seas without any notice. Without any choice, it sounds like. If I were you, I would have been pissed.

Makes sense you waited that long. At least you had some time to readjust?

[winterheart]

Well, I was able to make about 10 paintings during that one month.

That probably counts for something.

[animalqueen]

You paint? There's a studio in the house?

[winterheart]

I asked for an unused room and made it my studio to be specific. That's where I spend a lot of the weekdays unless I get someone to drive me out to the city.

I don't mind it really. Gotta say, I've been super productive.

[animalqueen]

It sounds like it.

[Anyone would be productive if they were stuck at home almost all week, but she decides not to say that much.]

You really have to rely on someone else to drive you, though? I'd go stir crazy.

[winterheart]

I'll look into getting my own UK driver's license. Wouldn't hurt to have even though it's barely been a year since I've moved here.

[Devon remembers that she has a stomach and needs to eat and gestures Elle to follow her.]

C'mon, let's get a bite to eat. I don't want to keep you stuck here talking with me.

[animalqueen]

[She hesitates.]

I'm sure you have plenty of people who want your attention without me hanging around.

[winterheart]

There's a macaron table if that'll tempt you?

[She doesn't want Elle to feel left out and so far? Devon genuinely likes talking to her. The fact that Elle's an ex doesn't seem to bother her in the slightest.]

[animalqueen]

[Fuck, macarons...]

Well... I guess it wouldn't hurt to hang around for a little bit longer.

[winterheart]

Yeah, and you're free to take any treats and food home if you feel like jetting early. We ordered some nice takeout boxes for guests just for that.

[The macaron table is soon approached! They're mostly seasonal flavors such as cinnamon sugar, gingerbread, chocolate peppermint, and a special spiced apple macaron. Devon grabs all three on a plate and passes it to Elle first. She's gonna be the best goddamn hostess in the world.]

So Elle, what is it you do? Have you been living in England long?