Spirits of the Earth

Serendipity => Northern Serendipity => Topic started by: visualspice on January 20, 2023, 01:24:53 PM

Title: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on January 20, 2023, 01:24:53 PM
OOC: Tags to @DragonSong 

-----------------

It was quite the impressive entourage, not that he'd care for it. But a man of power from the North visiting it's Southern neighbor had to show some strength. It was expected of him, and was the means of his brief escape from the damned war.  He trusted his people little to care for the duchy in his absence- but truly, could they do much more damage than himself?

Duke Leif Arrant lounged soberly in his carriage, the thing rocking back and forth as they traveled at a brisk pace down the road. They had managed to leave Connlaoth with little trouble, surprisingly enough, and were just beginning down Serenian roads. He knew it would be somewhat of a lengthy excursion, with undoubtedly more boring landscapes along the way.

But the good luck couldn't last. And while a broken wagon wheel could put them out for a good many a days, the sudden death of a horse was hardly planned. There was no way a single horse could manage to carry such a haul, and it was decided that the carriage be abandoned for now and they would merge the human cargo with Duke Arrant's- meaning he'd no longer be alone in his own carriage as they traveled down the road. It irritated him he couldn't remain in solitude, but he had suffered far worse in his time.

So after reloading the cargo between the pack horses and the carriage horse that had remained, the group would continue onward down the road into Serendipity.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on January 20, 2023, 05:20:22 PM
The sudden shift in their travel arrangements sent the Bartok nobles and their household scurrying for a bit before they managed to get everyone sorted--they needed at least two people in the carriage with Leif in order to even things out, and, well...

"You lads will have a roaring time together, I'm sure," Jaren assured his son his son's almost-brother-in-law, clapping both Mikhail and Andreas on the shoulder. "The duke seems..." He trailed off into a "coughing fit" as he clearly struggled to come up with something flattering to say about Reina's surly guest, then finally settled on, "He seems a very upright sort of gentleman! I'm sure the lot of you will get on famously."

"Of course, my lord." Andreas dipped into the perfect little half bow that Misha was hating more and more each time he saw it. He gave his father a droll wave before climbing into the carriage with the aforementioned duke, eyeing him warily.

"The others may not know how you and Reina met, but I do," he said in a low, quick whisper before Andreas joined them in the carriage. "I've got an eye on you, your grace."

He quickly such up when Andreas climbed into carriage and seemed to face a sudden, unenviable choice: to sit beside Reina's duke, or Mikhail himself.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on January 20, 2023, 05:28:58 PM
If Leif was put off or intimidated,  the presumption would be laughable at best. He was easily the senior, superior and most experienced of the men, and the air about him reeked of that authority.

It was naturally presumed the two 'boys' would share one bench.

And if Duke Leif Arrant were perturbed by Mikhail's words, it hardly showed. He had better things to worry about than Reina's brother's so called presumptions. He was a Duke, and though this were Serendipity, he wouldn't hesitate to show a man his place.

"Gentelmen, make yourselves at home. It will be a long journey."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on January 20, 2023, 07:09:38 PM
Awkwardly, Andreas shuffled into sit beside Mikhail. Both young noblemen scooted as far as the carriage would possibly allow from each other, each looking out his respective window.

Andreas did at least manage to remember his manners enough to dip his head to the duke and say, "Thank you, your grace."

Silence.

Long, long silence.

Mikhail coughed into his hand.

Andreas shifted in his seat.

Finally, the younger Connlaothian lord cleared his throat and tried, "Ah, your grace--forgive me, things were rather...hectic as we were leaving. What is--that is, why exactly--err..."

"What are you doing here, again?" Mikhail asked blandly, earning a sharp glare from Andreas. Whatever. He was used to it at this point.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on January 21, 2023, 07:15:28 AM
Andreas and Mikhail's tension was palpable. It almost rivaled his own distaste of the situation. Atleast they understood their rank. His atleast earned him peace enough.. or rather the bench to himself. 

However,  peace would have to wait.  It seemed the men were more interested in himself. Leif stared at the young heir of Allar, his expression indifferent as he considered his reply. 

"Much the same as yours,  I imagine.  I'm extending my hand in diplomatic relations.  The war is at a stand still,  and I'm still a Duke who need run his lands. Serendipity is our neighboring country, one we trade with well. Would it not do us well to further extend our agreeable agendas?"
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on January 21, 2023, 08:37:36 AM
Andreas nodded, seemingly accepting that answer, even if he still looked thoughtful. Mikhail gave the duke a hard look.

Bullshit, he mouthed pointedly, out of view of the Allar heir.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on January 21, 2023, 01:10:46 PM
The Duke said nothing,  rather giving Mikhail a subtle look of challenge. He could admire the man well enough.  He probably feared this would lead to a marriage of his sister.

In some ways the young Lord wasn't wrong. But he wasn't here to poke the bull. For now,  Leif Arrant had to stick to civility,  even if it meant playing nice... sharing his carriage... talking... nicely.

His attention then went towards Andreas. He nodded.
"Your sister must be grateful for your company south.  Have the two of you ever been to Serendipity?"
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on January 21, 2023, 02:00:59 PM
Andreas shook his head, clearly resisting the urge to shoot a glare in Mikhail's direction.

That seemed to be an impulse he struggled with quite a lot.

"No, we haven't. Gavriella hasn't really traveled all that far from our duchy or the town estate," he replied blandly, clearly well-versed in smalltalk.

Misha groaned and let his head thump against the window. It was going to be a looooooong ride.



In the coach with Lord and Lady Bartok, Reina had taken it upon herself to make her soon-to-be sister feel at home.

"We should be entering the highlands soon," she told Gavriella, smiling in a friendly sort of way. "Wait until you see, they're quite lovely."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on January 22, 2023, 12:06:03 PM
Leif nodded at that. 
"Your father is right to keep a good lady at home.  But also is equally wise to allow her the pleasure to travel. She is fortunate to have a brother such a yourself to join her. "

‐------

Gavriella nodded,  turning from Reina and starting at the distant hills,  the horizon. 
"I thought Serendipity might be different. But.. it's much like Connlaoth. "
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on January 22, 2023, 12:17:15 PM
"Oh, it is here," Reina replied, "but wait until we're closer to home. Our grounds are really quite lovely, I think you'll like it there."

Her expression softened kindly and she reached over to touch the younger woman's hand gently. Lowering her voice, she added, "I'd be happy to show you around, when we arrive. You'll be running the estate in due time, you know." Her lips quirked on one side. "I'm sure that seems intimidating, but don't worry—Misha's really very easy to manage, once you know the tricks. I'll teach you."



Misha groaned theatrically. "Dear gods, are all your countrymen this dull?"

Andreas snapped his head around to glare at him, opening his mouth to retort angrily before his manners caught up with him and he snapped it shut. He looked back out his window, seething.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on January 22, 2023, 01:27:47 PM
Leif didn't smile as he looked at Misha, but there was a strange playfulness to his eyes. Ahh, to be that young again. And so ignorant to the politics of one's neighbor.

"Shall we speak of something more towards your liking?" The duke inquired, eyes only on Misha.


--‐-----  

Gavriella sighed, not with relief but she did breathe a little easier.
"Perhaps I should be gathering more information about him. As his sister.. I'm sure you've got much to say for him. How he'd like to run his estate, his favorite games, places to visit, church he attends.."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on January 22, 2023, 01:48:25 PM
"Oh? Let's do, please." Misha leaned forward and grinned, eyes hard. "For example, your grace, what precisely are your intentions toward my sister? Her specifically, none of this "political alliance" bullshit."

Andreas choked, eyes wide. That was hardly proper.



"Oh, dear heart, I know everything about my brother," Reina laughed. "Most namely that he has absolutely no interest in running the estate, so whatever you decide I'm sure will be quite fine."

"Reina. Darling." Her mother gave her a frosty smile. "You'll make the poor thing nervous."

Reina huffed and sat back, rolling her eyes. Flicking open a fan, she hid her face behind it and mouthed to Gavriella, Seems I've annoyed her.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on January 22, 2023, 02:21:15 PM
Oh dear, perhaps she should have been more thoughtful of her words.
"I only mean that I don't want to fail your son.  Coming from Connlaoth, I just wish to be sure I conduct myself properly to prepresent your home as it ought to be."

She hoped the words weren't too flowery, but oh how her hands sweat with nerves.


------‐‐-----

Leif didn't flinch nor seemed offended by Misha's brash words. He already had the young Lord figured out on a shallow level. It only made sense he'd be protective of his sister.

"To put it simply? I owe her a favor. And I always pay my debts."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on April 01, 2023, 03:50:39 PM
"Oh, you'll do fine, darling, I'm sure," Reina said with another smile behind her fan. Lowering her voice, she added, "Mother is just testy because she doesn't like it when I tell the truth about matters of the estate."



"A favor," Misha sniffed, clearly unconvinced. Andreas glowered at him.

"Ah...just how long are you planing to stay to repay this...favor, your grace?" the younger nobleman asked cautiously.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on April 08, 2023, 08:56:46 AM
Leif observed Misha unenthusiastically before replying simply, "Until the debt is paid."

Meanwhile... in the other carriage...

Gavriella frowned at Reina. She'd feel better hearing it from her ladyship, but she supposed She'd always need to deal with courtly airs. 

"Thank you," She told Reina, softly. Her smile turned more genuine now. At least her soon to be sister in law and herself were establishing a friendship. 
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on April 08, 2023, 09:12:38 AM
Andreas nodded. "Ah. Of course. Er, thank you." He lapsed into the awkward silence that seemed to have engulfed the carriage.



Reina smiled at the younger noblewoman and gave her a quick wink behind her fan. "My pleasure," she murmured. Her smile softened and sobered a bit at the edges and she added, "Don't hesitate to come to me if you need anything, okay? I love my brother dearly, but--well. Let's just say he may not think to accommodate all a lady's needs." She sighed. "He does mean well, he's just...an idiot."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on April 08, 2023, 09:47:49 AM
Gavriella peeked up at Reina, tilting her head curiously.
"I.. would like to learn more about him," She asked softly, trying her best to do so so Reina's mother could not hear. 

After all.. they were ro be married. How was she to live with someone she didn't know?
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on April 08, 2023, 10:05:55 AM
Reina positively beamed at her. "Oh, well I can certainly help you with that," she whispered back. "What would you like to know?"
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on April 08, 2023, 04:50:21 PM
The young woman blushed.
"I..." the thought trailed off as she feared the Lady, her soon to be mother in law, might hear and cast judgement on the way she inquired about her son.

"Just what sort of man he is. His hobbies.. his likes and dislikes...I... hadn't gotten the time to really talk with him personally back home." She said the last part with a lowering of her head, as if ashamed. She squirmed a little uneasily, sparing a glance at Reina.. then her mother.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on April 08, 2023, 04:59:07 PM
Catching the way her soon-to-be-sister looked at the current Lady of the estate, Reina winced and nodded behind her fan to show she understood Gavriella's reluctance. She held up a finger in a "Wait a moment" gesture before folding her fan in her lap and beaming at her mother.

"Mama, we're making good time--do you think we might pause for a picnic lunch? I could do with stretching my legs."

"Oh, well." Her mother hummed a moment, considering, then nodded. "Yes, yes, I suppose that will do." She signaled for the carriage to stop, and Reina only waited a moment before leaping down and offering Gavriella her hand.

"Walk with me a moment, would you?" she offered meaningfully.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on April 11, 2023, 02:13:49 PM
Gavriella looked at her questionably. But when she suggested the picnic, her entire mood picked up. She didn't know how much she needed out of that confining carriage until she and Reina were walking together, arm in arm.

"I never knew how badly my legs needed stretched in all of my days," the young woman lamented, stretched some as she followed along closely at the other's side.

After a time, she then added, "Thank you... I... it.. was beginning to feel awkward in there."
And she peered over her shoulder at the carriage, then- caught a glimpse of the other, stealing a look at both her brother and betrothed.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on April 12, 2023, 10:02:25 AM
"Oh, I know." Reina sighed as she led the younger woman in a meandering stroll through the easy stretch of grass alongside the road. "I know it isn't exactly practical for such a long journey, but I find that I'd almost rather make the trip on horseback. At least then I'm sore from doing something, rather than just sitting all day."

She followed Gabriella's eyes to the other carriage and smiled a bit, catching a brief glimpse of her own...well, "tagalong" was the wrong word, but she didn't actually have the right one.

"I know he's a bit of an idiot," she said in a slightly lower voice, "but my brother typically means well. He just...doesn't think some things through."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on April 12, 2023, 10:22:31 AM
Out of the entire caravan of nobles, the Duke stood out like a sore thumb. Gavriella wasn't even sure how to describe it...
Perhaps it wasn't looks but the air he was giving off- for he certainly did seem gloomy.

As Reina went on to speak of her brother? Gavriella's eyes went to him, studying him as they walked.

"I suppose I can't blame him if he's underwhelmed by me. I mean.. he's marrying a foreigner."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on April 12, 2023, 11:27:26 AM
Reina shook her head. "It's not that," she sighed. "Misha is...well, let's just say he's used to a certain amount of freedom in his life. He views marriage as...something that rather limits that freedom." She frowned slightly. "He's well aware that he's in a more fortunate position than, say, the two of us when it comes to that sort of thing--but he's also something of a spoiled brat, I must admit."

She sighed again and shook her head slightly. "He was determined not to like you, you know. His own way of rebelling, I suppose."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on April 19, 2023, 12:48:10 PM
At her explanation, she frowned. As she digested it, she couldn't help but mutter, "He's not the only one."

She stared at her feet, trying to take it all in. 

"I suppose we better get used to one another."
Marriage lasted a long time...
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on April 19, 2023, 03:26:22 PM
"Eventually." Reina gave her a sympathetic look. "But you have time. I'll give my brother this—he would never force you into a situation you didn't want. He feels that you've both had quite enough of that with the marriage itself."

She paused, considering, then added delicately, "I do mean, ah...any situation. He'll tell you this himself sooner or later, but he's in no rush to, er, produce any heirs. If ever."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on April 20, 2023, 08:38:50 AM
Gavriella's cheeks turned pink at that and she grew awkwardly quiet, eyes now focused on her feet. Well.. she hadn't thought much about.. that.

But then again...
All nobles deemed to have heirs... so why was she suddenly feeling so absolutely flabbergasted at the idea?

Then again... she did add.. if ever.

Her hands tightened into fists as she remained quiet, before something drew her eyes to have a quick peek towards Misha.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on September 10, 2023, 03:01:34 PM
Reina's brother seemed to be having quite a good time needling the other two nobleman; something that Andreas was clearly bearing with long-suffering stoicism—though no one could speak for the Duke.

"I suppose we should head back," Reina sighed, giving Gabriella's hand a little pat.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on September 10, 2023, 03:08:05 PM
Gavriella nodded almost numbly before falling in alongside her. She grew quiet, chewing over her thoughts before asking ,"Do you think I could ever ger your brother to accept me?" She stared over at where the men still congregated, Andreas standing out amongst the Connlaothians.  "I know we're to be married but.. I'd just hate to be in an arranged marriage where he'll just hate me the whole time."

Maybe it was silly she even cared.
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on September 10, 2023, 05:03:11 PM
"Oh, sweet thing." Reina gave her a sympathetic look and squeezed her hand lightly where she had tucked it into the curve of her own elbow. "He doesn't hate you. I promise." She glanced toward her brother and added wryly, "I rather think that's his problem."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on September 10, 2023, 05:07:43 PM
Gavriella blinked.
"What? What do you mean?" she frowned. She didn't understand that coy look and glanced over at Misha again. "Everytime we've interacted he... I don't know.." She sighed and let her gaze drop down at her feet. "Perhaps I should have paid more attention to Serenian politics with my tutors."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: DragonSong on September 11, 2023, 07:57:27 AM
"It wouldn't have helped," Reina sighed. "My brother has a terrible case of being allergic to sincerity, I'm afraid. He doesn't want to like you, but I'm rather afraid that he's starting to, and the whole thing has put him on the back foot, as it were."
Title: Re: Thoroughfare
Post by: visualspice on September 11, 2023, 10:22:04 AM
Gavriella flushed at what Reina informed.

"You.. you must mean he just doesn't hate me," She insisted, not certain how she ought to feel of her intended were taking a liking to her. Although.. wasn't that the point? Shouldn't she want her husband to be.. interested in her?

She felt foolish for all that she felt but.. she truly felt out of her element and lowered her gaze, chewing on her lip.