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]

[James takes off his sunglasses, slipping them into his blazer pocket as he enters the cafe. The smell is what he takes in first -- (sweet!) pastries and coffee. The atmosphere, which feels warm and cozy, is second.

The third thing, obviously, is the barista ogling at him.

He gives her a congenial sort of smug smile, mild by his standards. To be honest, he's rather used to this sort of thing by now, to the point where it hardly bothers him. (If it ever truly did at all.)]

Hello. [Oh, and he has a British accent, too. Watch out ladies (and gentlemen).] I'm James. Ian here is showing me around town, aren't you, Ian?

[clearsight]

Just my luck.

[Ian gives an animated sigh at everyone's reaction to James and shakes his head. He gestures at James with his thumb and says quite seriously.]

He's gonna be my brother-in-law.

[The look on Lizzy's face is basically a flat, "WHAT." Because if that's going to be the little boy's new in-law, than that means he's taken by the older sister, this is terrible.]

C'mon James, want me to recommend you something before they start asking if you're still free?

[hedgemaze]

[James just laughs and shrugs, as if all of this is absolutely nothing. And it really is, to him, just some vague passing amusement. In comparison, it should make one a bit more appreciative how head over heels he is over Devon.]

I'd like something sweet. But other than that, I'm all ears. Suggest away.

[clearsight]

You can share a pot of tea with me. It's really good. And if you want something sweet, the strawberry cheesecake might suit you.

[Their order is taken and while the cafe workers look wistfully after James, Ian leads them to the free sofa chairs, sinking into one himself and setting his backpack next to him.]

Nice place, huh? Even if you aren't good looking, they always treat you right.

[hedgemaze]

[He follows, flashing the barista a friendly smile, as he often does, before following Ian. He sinks into the couch soon after the boy, propping his elbow up on the armrest.]

Well, as they should, good-looking or otherwise.

[He chuckles, glancing around.] But yes, this place is nice. And I could nap in this couch, honestly.

[clearsight]

[SHOT THROUGH THE HEART AND JAMES IS TO BLAME... Anyways, Ian nod in agreement with his statement.]

Sometimes when Mom and Dad were too busy, Devon would bring me here. I think I was about five when she first brought me inside. I only drank apple juice, but then she got me to try tea when I got a little older.

[hedgemaze]

I can see why you would enjoy being here.

[He leans back into the couch, exhaling in satisfaction.]

And after tea, the next step up is coffee, isn't it? At least for you Americans.

[clearsight]

I dunno... Coffee's gonna take me a while. I like coffee flavored ice cream though, it's alright.

[Their pot of tea is served along with their sweet treats. Ian watches for their server to be out of earshot before turning to James, pursing his lips and then leaning in to whisper.]

James? I actually have a favor to ask you. It's actually not about wedding stuff or stuff about Devon.

[hedgemaze]

[He graciously takes his cheesecake, but he sets the plate down for now, first pouring himself and Ian a cup of tea from the pot.]

Hm? [He glances over at Ian curiously, raising a brow.] And what's that?

[clearsight]

[Ian finally allows himself to look worried and troubled. He clenches his hands as they lay on top of his legs, scrunching up his jeans.]

Everyone's been too busy to notice today, but... This morning, I lost VP while we walked to the bus.

[hedgemaze]

[And that makes James frown. He sets the tea pot down and rubs at his chin; he doesn't need empathy to tell that Ian is worried, but it radiates from the boy regardless.]

You lost him? What happened, did he run off?

[clearsight]

Kinda.

[Ian takes the cup of tea and blows the steam off the surface before continuing.]

... There's this house that's kind of in the far back of the neighborhood. No one lives there and it's overgrown with weeds and stuff. I try to avoid it when I can. It's got bad news and you know I can feel bad news when I see it. VP got distracted by something and ran inside and... And I was too scared to go get him by myself.

[He looks ashamed, poor kid.]

So I was wondering if you could go inside with me. I'm worried about VP. We only got him last month because... Well, you know, I'm by myself now.

[hedgemaze]

[James takes a sip of his tea while Ian explaining, furrowing his brows. A house overgrown with weeds? Abandoned houses were often feared by children, even if there was no legitimate reason to be, other than the fact that they were empty; however, James knows that if Ian senses something off about it, this may be an exception to the rule.

He doesn't know how to feel about it, though, not knowing what to expect. But he's already decided that he would help.]

Of course I will. What kind of brother-in-law would I be, if I let you go in all by yourself?

What do you mean when you say it's "bad news"? Anything specific I should know?

[clearsight]

It's kind of hard to explain.

[He takes a sip of tea and then a bite of his cookie.]

Like... Whenever I walk by it, it's like there's something or someone trying to call you. Something wants to make you go in.

[hedgemaze]

Well. That's comforting.

[Yeah, he's definitely not going to let Ian go in alone after hearing that.]

Like, speaking through your mind?

[clearsight]

Just a little. But the place smells funny so of course no one's gonna go inside, much less me.

[Ian pauses to think a little more, outlining the morning he had with their dog to go over other details he might have missed.]

VP was sniffing the ground a lot though. Maybe he liked what the scent?

[hedgemaze]

Maybe so. A dog's nose is far more impressive than a human's, after all.

[He sighs, grabbing his plate and using his fork to take a bite of cheesecake.]

Eat up, and we'll go straight after.

[clearsight]

[Looking more determined and encouraged, Ian takes a hearty bite of his cookie, answering with a nod.]

Yeah. We're gonna do this.

... I was actually gonna ask Devon too, but I guess weddings even before it happens is super serious business. And I'd feel bad. She'd drop everything to help me out sometimes.

[hedgemaze]

[He shakes his head, downing his cheesecake with impressive efficiency.]

Don't feel bad about it. You're family. Dropping everything to help each other comes with the territory; otherwise, you're family by name only, and little else.

[He thinks briefly back on his own childhood, his own experiences with his family that weren't always very positive. But the thought is shrugged away in favor of continuing.]

Though I do think that Devon is a bit difficult to... ah, pull away from her current responsibilities at the moment. A wedding is a very difficult thing to plan. Women fuss over all the little details, all the time. Best to stay out of their paths, that's my thinking.

[clearsight]

Yeah.

Before you know it, the both of us are gonna fall into the dark abyss ourselves...

[ian please don't sound like you have no hope anymore you're nine]

[hedgemaze]

...You're a bit far from the edge of the "abyss".

[He reaches over to lightly nudge him on the shoulder.]

You're nine.

[clearsight]

[Ian manages a grin at that.]

Well. We'll see after we go rescue the dog, right?

* * *

[After they're done with their pick-me-up at the cafe, Ian leads James back to their neighborhood, past the Winters household and farther back in a more neglected corner of the area. It's hard to miss the overgrown house, stuffed with leaves, branches and a looming tree that hovers over the rooftop, it's branches going through the windows. Its roots are so thick that it cracks and peeks through the concrete of the asphalt they walk on.

Ian looks at the house from outside the fence, gripping the straps of his backpack.]

... I tried calling VP out before I had to go and catch my bus. I'm really worried. He didn't reply with any barking.

[hedgemaze]

[Well, this is a lovely sight, he thinks to himself wryly, looking up at the house before them. The branches of the large tree casts strange shadows that flicker across the structure, and James crosses his arms.]

We'll find him regardless. Maybe he's just found himself stuck in a closet with a broken latch.

[Might as well remain optimistic for Ian's sake, despite a strange sense of... what was it? A feeling of ominousness?

Frowning, James reaches out with his mind, projecting towards the house, seeing what he can pick up. He even offers a quiet little (Hello?), as if expecting a response of some sort. He doesn't know what they're dealing with, after all. Better safe than sorry.]

[clearsight]

[The sound that meets with James mental probing, is something akin to a growl that may not be heard outwardly, but inwardly, it reverberates their very beings. It seems to be so effective that even Ian begins to tremble and then looks up at James.]

Did... Did you hear that?

[hedgemaze]

[James grimaces a little, severing the connection almost immediately. Alright, so not a very friendly sort of... whatever it was, lurking around in there.]

I did. Sounds like someone is having a bad day.

[Only one thing to do, then. He opens the small wooden gate connected to the fence (one that's barely holding on by its hinges) and takes the first step onto the property. The lawn is overgrown and the grass bends under James' shoes.]

We won't find VP by just standing around. Stay close behind me.