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]

[She plops into her seat with a bounce.]

Ready as I'll ever be.

An hour and a half is it? Think we'll find ways to annoy each other during the ride?

[god why devon]

[hedgemaze]

Is that a challenge?

[He scoffs, and when they're both properly settled, he begins driving. The sun reflects off of his sunglasses, and the breeze plays at his otherwise neatly groomed hair.]

Here. [He tosses his phone over to her. It lands in her lap.] Find some music to listen to. Unless you're an Oasis fan, that is.

[winterheart]

[She picks up the phone and puffs up her cheeks as she scrolls through some lists.]

Oasis is pretty cool. Unfortunately, I'm also American which means I am saturated with the swill known as bad pop music in my veins.

[She says that, but instead, she picks Makin' Out by Mark Owen, a rather obscure track, but one she has nostalgia for.]

Thankfully, I won't inflict any of that on you.

[hedgemaze]

You're too generous, because an hour and a half of nothing but pop music? An awful form of torture, Devon.

[The song plays, and since he was the one who invited her to be the DJ, he turns the volume up.]

Never heard this one before.

[winterheart]

Most people haven't.

[She beams as if proud of herself.]

It's what I call a hidden gem.

[hedgemaze]

Oh? Know many more of those, do you? Hidden gems are nice, but there's a reason the more famous songs are, well... famous.

[winterheart]

The invention of the repeat button sure does help.

[But she says that with good humor. After that song is over, she chooses, Don't You Want Me by The Human League.]

When in doubt, go 80s is what I say.

[hedgemaze]

[He wrinkles his nose.]

Now, I'm all for the 80's. Britain churned out a lot of good music then. But let's not play this one.

[winterheart]

[Devon is amused by his distaste and switches to Ziggy Stardust.]

Better?

[hedgemaze]

Hm. Bowie is always better.

[A beat. Then:]

Though from one of the stranger concept albums out there.

[winterheart]

[Devon runs a hand through her hair, smiling as the car zips down the road making the wind blow through it.]

Well, all I gotta say is that I'm gonna learn what you like and don't like very quickly during the next hour.

[And as she said before. Knowing the good and the bad, that's what's going to be part of this strange partnership they've landed in with one another. Devon can't really imagine doing this with anyone else at this point.]

[hedgemaze]

At least where music is concerned, I'm sure. But honestly, I haven't met anyone who at least doesn't like the idea of Ziggy Stardust.

[winterheart]

My mother was basically in love with Ziggy Stardust. Well, anything that Bowie did really. I grew up listening to him because of her.

[hedgemaze]

Then your mother has good tastes. My father listened to the album once, and asked why I thought it was anything special. He just couldn't grasp it.

[winterheart]

He never did strike me as a fan of weird alien looking men who possess the power of wicked guitar.

Also... You don't have to reply to this part if you don't want to, but I can't tell if you two get along or not.

[hedgemaze]

[He doesn't respond immediately to that, only letting Ziggy Stardust the Martian sing a little more through the car speakers. James supposes that she'd be able to tell, with time. And if they were to be married one day, why should he hesitate in talking about his father with her? It would be a moot point.]

Sometimes we get along, sometimes we don't. To be honest, the distance helps; it's a large house, and I can go an entire day without seeing him there, without even meaning to. [He shrugs, an attempt to sound casual.]

He was never really around when I was younger. The estate was probably not where he ever wanted to be. Instead, he'd rather escape his somewhat torturous home life by finding comfort in the warmth of women that were not my mother. As you can imagine, that made my own home life... less than ideal.

But that was a long time ago, and he's sorry for it now. But sometimes, some things come too late, don't they?

[winterheart]

[She listens to him quietly as James explains his father. And it was the first time he's mentioned his mother.

During an extensive conversation with Lucy in previous years when it was first announced that she was engaged, her cousin had spoken in a hushed tone about James Aubel's mother; how the marriage to Philip was troubled and that it had driven her past the breaking point. Lucy had often marveled that James was amazing for enduring such familial hardship, raising to great heights, being successful, charismatic. Devon also recalls that Lucy didn't seem to worry about the long distance of the engagement and certain words come to mind.

"I was engaged; it wasn't as if I had the freedom to sleep around with whatever women I pleased."

That explains a lot actually. Devon and some other family members were skeptical of how faithful James was. She definitely had her doubts, what with his looks and infuriatingly confident and smug manner along with his off-handed treatment of people on the surface.

But she knows better now. Devon leans back in her seat to look up at the sky.]

... I guess it's a good thing you can still be around with him. Despite everything.

Was he the one who told you to take me out?

[hedgemaze]

[He had half expected more pressing questions about his father, and maybe even his mother. And that is where he would have to draw the line, not sure he'd be willing to go into more detail today, especially concerning the latter. Never mind that he was certain that she had probably heard about the circumstances of her death; it was a big ordeal when it happened, and not exactly something that could be kept secret.

(Barring certain secrets that he kept buried within in, and had no intention of unearthing.)

He's glad for the slight change of subject, at least enough to careen away from darker matters. He scoffs.]

Am I that transparent?

[winterheart]

Transparent like plastic wrap.

Or glass if that sounds fancier for you.

[hedgemaze]

Neither. Fine crystal.

[But all joking aside...]

Yes, he was the one who "strongly suggested" [can you hear the air quotes?] that I take you out today. Said that you were probably feeling too cooped up in the estate, and that you should have something else to do other than just paint.

[winterheart]

Well. I sure do have an astute dad-in-law.

[She muses mostly to herself, before continuing.]

I think I might have been feeling cooped up, but didn't realize it. I get really wrapped up in my work as you can tell, so sometimes I do need a nudge in the other direction.

Besides, good on him though. This is the first time we've spent together outside. I'm really looking forward to it.

[hedgemaze]

[James makes no comment on whether or not his father is “astute”, though a small part of him begrudgingly might have to deign him thanks later for telling him to take out Devon. It seemed that she was wanting to get out the house — just neither of them realized it.

He wonders, vaguely, if he should be more attentive to her. He doesn’t want for Devon to be bored out of her mind, after all; but then again, he’s not exactly a mind-reader, is he?

At the last remark, he raises a brow.]

I’m glad you’re looking forward to it, but I must warn you, that I’m not a very exciting person to go shopping with. I’ll just smile and nod while you try things on, or carry your bags. But I might not have much input.

[That probably isn’t what she meant when she said she was looking forward to this, James.]

[winterheart]

Oh, c'mon. I promise you, I'll make it more engaging than that.

[She sees this as a chance to bring up more conversation, more ways to discover things about him. You never know what can happen on a shopping trip that isn't just about clothes.]

[hedgemaze]

Oh, I'm not complaining. I'm just giving you fair warning.

[Because honestly, he's envisioning this like the stereotypical fiance who sits outside the dressing room while on his phone, muttering "uh huh"s to his bride to be, as she comes out wearing dress after dress after dress, asking him "how do I look?"

But he supposes if art supplies are involved, it might not be so bad.]

[winterheart]

Well. Like everything else in life James, we put effort into making things worthwhile and polish the dull moments to get the shine underneath.

[With that said, Devon leans back in her seat arms behind her head, to just relax for the rest of the ride before they reach the city.]

❋ ❋ ❋

Oh. My. God.

[The moment they reached the city and found a parking spot, Devon got to work on looking for the perfect shop to start with. No, not the sleek and modern designer fashion boutique. No, not the fancy shoe store. Something else had caught her eye and it's a small thrift store that's out of sight and out of mind for most shoppers that also had some art pieces on display mainly some eerie assemblage boxes. Devon is all over these, taking out her phone to snap some pictures and she turns to look up at James, her eyes shining.]

I know what my next projects are going to be!