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]

[The sight causes James to freeze a little in a sharp spike of caution. The larger vines and leaves, perhaps, were to be expected. But when he catches sight of those flowers (glowing, alien, their smell indescribable), that's when James really does feel a strange spike of anxiety.

Because all around himself, he can sense more than just the steady feeling of life that all plants emanate, their very essences. There's something more; it's a sentience. And for some reason, it's almost as if they've stepped right into its maw.

He's glad Ian is keeping close. He points his phone's light at one of the flowers.]

I think I agree with you, Ian.

[He sets his jaw, swallowing.] So, I have a theory. I'm sure it makes me sound mental, but I'll share it with you anyway. There's something decidedly unearthly about this flora, and I mean that quite... literally.

[clearsight]

For real? [Ian replies to James with a disbelieving tone of voice that's only tempered by the fact that for one, he's known for a while that James himself isn't completely normal and that Ian's always been aware of things that were unearthly. But to be face to face and surrounded by it in a physical sense is something else entirely.

The boy gulps and shines his light around, trying not to take in the scent of the flowers. And then he sees...]

VP!!

[The three legged dog is laying inside the biggest blossom that has bloomed in the basement, big enough to be the size of a dog bed even, as if he was going to be enveloped by the petals at any moment. The canine's sleeping face is calm, if sedated. Above him, there's a bigger flower that hangs above on the ceiling like some kind of lamp. Ian wants to run over, but he looks up at James first to let him make the call instead of just being reckless.]

[hedgemaze]

[At the sight of VP lying there in a gigantic blossom, the first thing that James does is clutch at Ian's shoulder so that he doesn't dart off. As concerned as they both are about the poor canine, the last thing they need is either one of them falling face-first into a trap.]

Hold on a moment. Let's be careful; I hate to say it, but I don't trust any of these flowers to not snap us up at a moment's notice.

[But he's not against the both of them walking closer to get a better look, slowly, and he does just that.] He doesn't look hurt. Just sleeping... sedated, almost. [He cranes his neck up, to see the flower on the ceiling not that far away from where they're standing.

He's not sure what to do, but since James senses sentience, he attempts to reach out with his mind once more. He wonders if it'll provoke some sort of reaction.]

(Can you hear me? That's our dog. Release him.)

[Bloody thing probably doesn't even understand me, he thinks to himself.]

[clearsight]

(... ɦŪהɢŔ¥)

[A distorted and mangled voice replies to James. The petals of the gigantic blossom rustles and Ian shudders even though he doesn't hear James or the plant talking. He just feels that it's alive, that it's dangerous, that they're dealing with something that might be out of their league.

Despite not hearing anything, Ian's got enough common sense to figure out the possibilities of why VP was attracted to the smell, why his dog now lies there, barely moving. He whispers to James.]

Is... Is it gonna eat him?

[hedgemaze]

[That settles it, then. This alien plant was certainly not of this world, and definitely didn't plan on treating VP in a very peaceful manner. But the voice is distorted and mangled, barely understandable. James feels as if he comprehends its intent, its emotions, more than the actual words.]

I think it plans on it. But we're not going to let that happen, are we?

[And, naturally, to the plant:] (Then let a rat crawl into your flowery maw, but not this dog. Whatever it is you are.)

[clearsight]

(... ɦŪהɢŔ¥ ... ɦŪהɢŔ¥... ĦЦИǤR￥ĦЦИǤR￥ĦЦИǤR￥ĦЦИǤR￥ĦЦИǤR￥!!!!)

[The alien flower is practically shrieking at James while its leaves and blossoms quiver angrily all around them, giving off more of that hideous odor. Ian coughs and then kneels down to take off his backpack, unzipping it and then rustling around, trying to do some quick thinking. The only thing he has are sharp pencil and pens (what is he gonna do, stab the flower? Bad idea), his papers, empty lunchbox and...

... An extra large cookie he bought for himself from the cafe, studded with poppy seeds, fragrant with the scent of lemon. He rips off the plastic wrap.]

Do you think we can feed it this?

[hedgemaze]

Ugh-! [James clutches at his head while the plant screams at him, gritting his teeth. Looks like this one wasn't a very eloquent alien plant, and with a one-track mind to boot.

He glances over at Ian, and despite himself, scoffs at the cookie.] Why the hell not? Throw it in a flower, maybe it'll distract the blasted thing.

[Meanwhile, James figures he'll do his own sort of distraction. He focuses, flooding the plant with emotion -- negative, just as he had done before with the giant crow creature. He's careful not to let it leak towards Ian, and James rushes forward to attempt to scoop up VP before things become too insane.]

[clearsight]

[After James grabs the dog, Ian throws and lands a perfectly timed toss into the middle of the large blossom. The flowers and vines are practically shaking at this point, as if being affected by an earthquake. It's in pain, but the scent of the treat entices it and in its weakness for some sort of sustenance, the flower above meets with the one below letting out a feral sort of eating noise as it feasts on the cookie. Ian yells when he sees the flower move and eat with such force and he makes for the door.]

We're done here, let's move!

[Soccer training, GO. Ian's a swift runner and he's out the door in a jiffy.]

[hedgemaze]

[What a sight that is, watching the alien plant devour the cookie with such ferocity. James steps back, looking at it with something akin to disgust.]

Bloody hell...

[But you know what? Ian's got a great idea, and James turns and follows him, VP in tow. He runs as fast as he can, trying to remain cognizant of any vines that might trip him up in the dark.]

The faster we're out of here, the better!

[clearsight]

[Ian gets out first and when James and VP are out of the basement, Ian closes the door behind them. But it he doesn't stop there and moves out to the front as well.]

Well, I'm never walking near here again!

[hedgemaze]

Good idea-!

[James is only a few running steps behind the boy, and it's not until he's out of the yard, past the fence, and on the sidewalk does he stop, still holding VP. God, his lungs.]

...ugh. [Give him a sec.] Well... we did it. Bully for us.

[clearsight]

Well... Guess if it's hungry, it's gonna have to starve to death...

[Ian looks towards the house, looking somewhat sad. But he shakes his head.]

... We're never talking about this again are we?

[VP is beginning to stir, barely. It seems it was the scent of the flower that may have sedated him heavily, so his tongue sticks out slightly as his eyes bat in and out of consciousness.]

[hedgemaze]

Unless you want to feed it cookies for the rest of its days and yours, we'll just have to live with a dying alien plant on our consciences. Believe me, it wasn't exactly something you could reason with.

And no, we're not mentioning this again.

[Damn plant. He coughs a little, that odor still in his lungs. But in doing so, he notices VP stirring.]

I think VP's awake. You all right, boy?

[clearsight]

I don't get enough allowance to buy that many cookies... And yeah.

[That's as good as an agreement. Ian perks up when VP starts to wake. He reaches over with both hands, to rub the dog's face as it makes a low whimpering noise.]

... Dumb dog.

[Ian mutters this, but he rubs his forehead against VP's, trying not to tear up from happiness and relief.]

You already lost a leg. Can't lose the rest of you.

[hedgemaze]

[James breathes out a laugh, a wry sounding thing, but sincere enough.]

Especially not to something as dreadfully embarrassing as a plant. [says the man who ran out of the house without looking back

The look on Ian's face makes James feel happy, glad to be able to assist bringing back something that was so precious to him. He revels in the boy's relief, a bit self-indulgently, but hey, he's earned it.

(It reminds him of a time long ago, a lifetime ago, when he helped another young boy of nine years feel glad again, feel something close to happiness, back when he lived in a garden, buried under cool soil.)]

...We should get him back home. I'm sure everyone else will miss him if we don't.

[clearsight]

[He nods, shifting so his backpack sits more solidly around his shoulders.]

Uh huh. Can't let Devon know that we've been getting into trouble.

[hedgemaze]

True. She doesn't need anything else on her plate right now.

[He's ready to carry to VP all the way back to let him rest, and gives Ian a grin.]

Let's be off, then.

[And he'll walk right next to Ian the entire way back home.]