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

[coalheart]

[A deep and amused voice speaks up.]

If you offer cake that freely, they'll think you're a free ride to the rest of the dessert table.

[He wasn't in the shadows, not exactly. The owner of the voice had seen Elle make a mess of the champagne tower and had silently maneuvered his way through the party crowd to stand near the entrance to see what she did next. Which was, to go outside in the cold with cake. A bearded man dressed in all black appears several feet away from Elle, with a plate of cake in one hand, the other snugly fit in his pocket.

The crows that were cawing fall silent for a few seconds, the only sound coming from the rustling of their feathers. The man pays no heed though and continues casually.]

They're also wondering if they'd still get your cake if you happened to freeze to death out here.

[animalqueen]

Holy shit-

[Comes her exclamation, utterly startled at the voice seemingly appearing from nowhere. She turns her head to see a man with dark hair and dark eyes, and can't help but wonder if he literally melted out from the shadows.]

You scared me.

[God, this is even more embarrassing. Now she's being judged by a stranger while she sits out here with her cake, in the cold. She defiantly tries not to shiver, but probably to no avail.

Her words come quickly to her, at least, so she doesn't look like an idiot, she thinks.]

Well, firstly, that's pretty rude of them. [She thinks this man is joking, as if he was actually able to know what crows were thinking.] Secondly, you're one to talk -- you're out here with your cake, too.

[She nods at his hand which holds his own plate.] So you can freeze to death with me, right?

[coalheart]

[The man lets out a laugh and despite his deep voice, there's something airy about it and it disappears into the night air.]

As they say. Ladies first, although in your case, it's not going to take long.

[Some of the crows leave their perch and drift quietly to the ground standing a few feet away from the bearded man. He kneels down and delicately puts the plate on the ground, out of view of the guests inside so they don't take notice.]

And I'm feeding them cake.

[animalqueen]

[That laugh is very strange — certainly not unpleasant, but oddly ethereal, in a way. Elle thinks to herself that he’d make a great byronic hero in an old novel, someone dark and brooding. Even if she isn’t sure if that’s what this man is actually like.

A fan of crows, though, he certainly was.

She blinks as several immediately fly down and land a few feet away from the both of them. She’s torn between being surprised and slightly offended by his words.]

So, you came all the way out here just to feed the crows?

[But… she wanted to do that. Frowning, she decides to follow suit, setting her own cake down, and whispering at the large crows before her, Hey, try mine instead.]

Also- [She adds, after doing so,] -if you think I’m going to freeze to death in five minutes flat, you’re wrong. I’m from Colorado, you know. I’ve been through much worse than this. [Just… not dressed like this.]

[coalheart]

Mm.

[He lets out a low hum when a few of the crows begin to gravitate towards Elle instead.]

Seems like they prefer your piece.

[His is a bit smaller than Elle's serving, but on the other hand, he raises a brow as if being judgemental towards the birds and not the young woman herself.]

[animalqueen]

[Elle smiles when they drift toward her piece. She lifts her eyes to look up at the stranger, meeting his gaze.] Animals always like me more. Looks like you couldn't break the streak, sorry.

[It's all in good fun though. She straightens, eyes casting over to the estate.]

Why aren't you in there?

[coalheart]

Too loud.

[The man squats down, pinching a piece of cake between two fingers and popping it in his mouth. He pinches off another piece and holds it out to the nearest crow that delicately accepts it.]

Too bright. It's what people seem to call nice though. Wouldn't necessarily disagree with that last part.

[animalqueen]

But at least it's warm... [She mutters, mostly to herself.]

You don't sound like much of a party person. Why did you come? Do you work with James? Er, James Aubel.

[coalheart]

Not really.

[Uhhh...

The crows crowd around his slice of cake now that he isn't really touching it. He stuffs his hands in his pockets, just looking at the birds and not at Elle. What... An odd person.]

I know him. I don't work with him.

[It's... The truth...]

Not hurting for space here though, so I just decided to drop in.

[animalqueen]

Aren't I lucky. [She'd sound more teasing if she wasn't so cold.

What a weird man. Maybe he was one of those anti-social types? Which, really, she sort of was too, in her own way. Still, he seems more interested in the birds than anything else.

Regardless, Elle realizes that she's hogging a perfectly good bench, while he's there crouching in the cold. She pats the empty space on the bench next to her.]

Since Winter is Coming, why don't you sit on the Iron Throne with me?

[coalheart]

I'm not giving you my coat.

[animalqueen]

[what.]

I wasn't asking for your coat.

[coalheart]

[Oh. Well.

And silence. With an occasional caw from the crows in between. The bearded man shrugs.]

Just putting it out there first.

[animalqueen]

[O...kay.]

Okay, Lancelot [she means that in the most ironic and sarcastic way possible], you're lucky that I was just offering you a seat instead.

[She points at the empty spot next to her with a neatly painted nail. Sit, you weirdo.] I have a coat. It's just... inside right now.

[coalheart]

That's not my name.

[The jokes keep hitting a brick bearded wall here... Sorry Elle.]

Too many eyes inside for you to go get it?

[animalqueen]

I know that's not your name... I was joking. You're more of a Mordred anyway. Don't you know about King Arthur and his Knights?

And yes. Too many people saw me knock over expensive champagne. I'm just going to wait it out for a little. Are you sitting or not?

[coalheart]

[FINE he'll sit. He keeps his distance away from Elle though, a good several inches even. The birds remain on the ground, hopping back and forth and rustling their feathers. He continues to watch the guests inside. The future bride happens to pass by the exit with a little boy, her brother. She's smiling. She's the brightest.

His eyes don't follow her, not for long anyways. He closes his eyes.]

She wouldn't be mad at you.

[animalqueen]

[Well, she'll take the small victories; it's not like she expected him to sit right next to her. She looks down at the birds, admiring their plumage in the short silence that follows.

She's taken out of her reverie when he speaks. She looks over at him, then follows his gaze over to the exit, settling on Devon who's passing by.]

Devon? No, she doesn't seem the type. I'm more... embarrassed about myself than worrying that her or James will be mad. [He looks at him again, more curiously this time.] You know her, too? [As well as James, she means. She still needs to clarify that.]

[coalheart]

[He gives a noncommittal shrug. A non-answer. A crow hops onto the bench, right next to him.]

You should get your coat.

And then you can get more cake while you're at it. For them.

[SIR???]

[animalqueen]

[Okay, that was not an answer at all. She frowns. And then-- what?]

Excuse me, but do I look like your local crazy bird lady to you? That's-- [she waggles a finger at him, and then at the crow that's just so casually hopping up next to him] -- more your thing, apparently. Also, this is the part where I ask: what's with the crows anyway?

[coalheart]

They're smart.

[A few of them fly up and return to their perch above them.]

And they like the cake.

[There's three types of asshole this man as been so far and it's asshole, dumb asshole, oblivious asshole, and just doesn't really answer questions well asshole.

So, an asshole.]

The coat retrieval in your case is highly recommended, cake or not.

[animalqueen]

[Elle is definitely getting differing versions of asshole vibes... But it's weird, it's not like he's being particularly rude to her, or even vaguely cross. It's just his manner is... a little distant. Not quite interested. (She tells herself dryly that, yeah, that's a great attribute for a man to have: to not be interested when you talk to him.)]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're telling me that you want me to go get you and your friends here cake.

[coalheart]

[SHRUGS. The crows are looking eagerly at Elle too, DON'T LET THEM DOWN??]

One slice is enough.

[animalqueen]

[don't test your luck, strange crow hobo man]






Fine. But only because I need my coat, not because I feel particularly compelled to run errands for your winged friends here.

[So she gets up and, trying not to shiver, walks back into the house. She comes back a couple of minutes later with her coat on, and two plates of cake. One plate in each hand. Because she's actually pretty nice like that.

Finding him still seated, she walks up to him, standing in front of him.]

I'm holding these slices hostage until you at least tell me your name, since you can't be bothered to answer anything else.

[coalheart]

[Name...

Funny. He doesn't use a name often. With the crows, he never needed one. They all knew he was, they all knew each other. Of course, a name is one of the most significant attributions for the other, the human. And right now, that's what he looks like, so a name it is.

He reaches out for the cake but stops when Elle gives him that ultimatum. There's a long pause as he sets his hands down and clasps his fingers together, thinking.]




Corvus.