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

[hedgemaze]

[it does because she hasn't slept with him yet]

You'd be surprised if you knew how well I could read other people's emotions.

[winterheart]

I mean
Even if you could tell someone was angry or something
Would you understand why

[Because there are other aspects he doesn't seem to grasp (or even worse, not care), such as taking Lucy's feelings into consideration when her engagement was snatched away, why Devon would find his off handedness strange...

Devon's had plenty of time to think about how off some things were about James. She'd wonder what Ian would have to say about him.]

[hedgemaze]

[That's an odd question. He's not sure what to think of it, or exactly how to respond.]

I would understand as well as the next person.

[Which isn't true, as much as he thinks it is. Basics, yes, he can comprehend. The very confusing complexities of the human heart? A little more difficult for him to always grasp.]

Why are you asking me this, Devon? Are you saying I've done something to anger you?

[winterheart]

Nah, not angry
Genuinely curious
And I just want to know more about you
You haven't asked anything about me so I figured why not




Which probably goes to show that
No offense, but your "reading" skills could probably use work

[hedgemaze]

If you want to know more, then ask away. No point in this beating around the bush business.

[And his reading skills are fine, thank you very much!]

Or would you be more satisfied if I asked you a few questions?

[Don't do it, Devon.]

[winterheart]

Okay
This is a good start

[If they're going to be married in the future, they might as well take this step right? Devon doesn't want to be stuck in an engagement where she's an ornament and nothing more. If it had been her cousin, Lucy would have taken charge, she would have been able to do more than what Devon is doing now.]

How about we do a back and forth?
You ask one, I ask one, we answer as we see fit.

[Let it be said, that Devon, like anyone else, can make questionable decisions.]

[hedgemaze]

[On his end, his smile is turning a little smug.]

Sounds fair. Then I'll start.

Have you ever been in any other serious relationships, or am I your first? Since being engaged counts as serious, never mind whether or not it's arranged.

[winterheart]

[OH BOY.

She stares at her screen, brows furrowed as she stands up to walk out of her studio. She's feeling peckish as the conversation goes on.]

The longest relationship was a year or so?
Other than that, on and off dates
And the guys that WERE interested
Some of them kinda got weird about the biracial thing
So you know
Had better things to focus on

[hedgemaze]

A year isn't bad, in terms of serious relationships. And here I thought to write you off as a proverbial relationship virgin.

[So she has a bit of experience, though not an impressive amount.]

Your turn.

[winterheart]

[She's wrinkling her nose. If she was such a relationship virgin, why is she making the effort here?!]

Favorite snack.

[Look, she's in the kitchen and the cook is preparing her some sliced fruit, salami, and crackers okay, it's relevant.]

[hedgemaze]

[Snack? Is someone hungry?]

A cup of tomato basil soup and crackers.

[Which he could go for, if he had the ingredients in his flat. Sadly, he does not.]

[winterheart]

oh crap that sounds super good
Grilled toast w/ some parm cheese would top it off real well
Mom makes really good soup and toast c:

[hedgemaze]

Nothing quite like the bias directed towards a mother's cooking. It might not be the same, but the cooks can whip up something similar for you.

[winterheart]

Yeah, I'll be sure to ask later
Your turn!

[hedgemaze]

Are you attracted to me?

[Told you not to do it, Devon.]

1/2

[winterheart]

[BOY.

She's silently and angrily munching on some grapes right now. The cook is confused as she prepares a glass of lemon water for Mr. Aubel's fiance who's seriously engrossed in her phone right now, what an odd duck.]

[winterheart]

[WHEN IN DOUBT.

EMOTE.]

¯\_( ◉ 3 ◉ )_/¯

[hedgemaze]

[Now, now, that's cheating.]

Emotes aren't answers.

[winterheart]

It's a shrug
A shrug is a universal IDK

[hedgemaze]

All that's required is a simple yes or no. I find it difficult to believe that you have no opinion whatsoever on the matter.

[winterheart]

I acknowledge you have attractiveness
I also acknowledge that I kinda wanna shove you with my elbow

[Well.]

[hedgemaze]

The former is good to know. The latter I didn't exactly ask about.

[You realize this only makes him want to tease her more, not be offended by any of it. It's difficult to, through text.]

I think you're just embarrassed to admit that you're attracted to me.

[winterheart]

No, the shoving is rather relevant
You'd be absolutely killer if you had a nicer manner about you

[hedgemaze]

That's hardly fair. I've been nothing but "nice" to you.

[winterheart]

Not saying that you aren't (I appreciate it btw)
You're missing a few things.
Anyways my turn

Favorite flowers?