Who

Dwane, Mayte, Vani, Halkarie

What

Mayte's the only person who actually has an invitation.. but the rest of us really want to know what Mayte is planning on doing with Vani?!?!?

AU Scene happens elsewhere~~

When

No IC Date, BECAUSE IT AIN'T IC.

Where

AU: Manor House

OOC Date 23 Dec 2017 07:00

 

d-wane_default.jpg mayte_default.jpg vani_default.jpg a-hali_default.jpg

Oh, it's gonna be weird, alright. AND AWESOME.



AU: Manor House

Welcome to the Manor House for the Christmas of 1845! The drawing room has plenty of space for our guests to sit and converse, or share in convivial entertainments. It's a high room with ornate plaster ceilings, oak-panelled to half-height and with a hand-printed wallpaper above, fleur-de-lis on terra cotta, with a frieze below the coving. The curtains are red velvet with fringes, and there are lace nets at the windows. The room is lit by beeswax candles and oil lamps; we don't trust the new gas lights. The focal point is a huge stone fireplace, recently updated with a tiled surround. A log fire burns in the grate, making the room warm and comfortable; if you're chilly after a stroll in the grounds, the armchairs that surround it are very cosy! On the wide mantelpiece, candelabras add to the light, while ornaments and framed daguerrotype portraits crowd the rest of the surface, as well as several small tables. You can even see the greeting card that someone has sent us by the new Penny Post! There's a mirror above the hearth and family portraits on the walls. This year, we have followed the Royal example: a Christmas Tree, so recently introduced to this country by Prince Albert, stands in one corner of the room, gaily decorated and lit with white candles - a fine supplement to the sprigs of holly and other greenery that wreathe the fireplace and hang from the walls. Look out for the mistletoe! There are comfortable places to sit: padded, wooden-armed chairs and and a pair of chaise longues are placed around the room, while the cushioned window seats in the leaded windows provide more casual accommodation. You might like to use a card-table for a hand of whist, or play chess or backgammon. Of course, you are welcome to use the library, the billiard room, or the smoking room. In the evenings, we might gather round the piano to sing carols - if you sing or play, perhaps you will entertain us? And do take a look at the children's toy theatre, with its cardboard scenery and figures! During the afternoon, mulled wine will be served, or negus for the children, and of course, tea. Small minced-meat pies, cold cuts and sugar plums are among the delicacies laid out on the side-board. Or perhaps you would like a glass of claret? When the village carol-singers arrive, though, the wassail punch-bowl will make an appearance. If you lack anything, please avail yourself of the bell-pull, and the parlour-maid will assist you.


Halkarie is not a guest here, he's more like… a worker. A big worker who is good at helping build up the fire. Usually someone more dainty would be doing this, but with all the visitors things are a bit short staffed. So the quiet large lumberjack has been hijacked. It brings a lot of wood with him then kneels before the fire to begin building it back up into a cheerful flickering fire. Quiet he may be, but not silent, as he hums an old tune.

It's been a couple day's now since Dwane made it home for the holidays and well… he's been acting a bit like a sailor on shore leave. He straggles into the parlor, a little bit bleary eyed and rubbing at his face like he just got up from a nap. Never mind that it's rapidly approaching dinner time probably. He'll just stagger on over towards the shelf where some liqour had been set up the night before. There's a bit of a clinking over in that corner before he looks around. "Anybody seen a glass?"

Vani is more likely to be found in the slush and muck outside, but this particular evening she is dressed up to the nines in her very best Sunday best. With the manor's open door policy and a rumor that the spread was impressive brings this particular harlot in from the cold. With dark wary eyes, and the quiet unobtrusive steps of someone who definitely doesn't belong here she attempts to mingle, hiding her fingerless gloves in the reticule she stole 'borrowed' just for this occaision.

And who is this pulling up the drive in a dramaticly black coach with light grey horses? It's Mistress Mayte, dusting snow from her black coat and stomping her boots dramatically before tossing the cloak aside to reveal a gossip-causing red dress. Rumour has it her husband (who died two years ago so no more of that stupid mourning black, VICTORIA) left her not only his wine merchant business but the ins on quite a few of the movers and shakers in the House of Lords. She swans in and takes a glass, barely stopping to greet someone before stopping by the fire where Halkarie is fixing the logs. "Good man," she tells them.

Halkarie doesn't realize that someone is talking to him right away, but when he does, he totally fumbles the log. It rolls out of his hands and rolls right over Mistress Mayte's shoes before heading right towards the harlot that has decided to come in. "Appologies, mistress." His voice is a deep baritone, the kind that just rolls right over any other sounds.

Since it seems like nobody is going to come to Dwane's rescue with an empty glass that he can fill with booze, he'll give a sigh and then crouch down to start rummaging through more of the cabinets. "Gotta be one here somewhere…." He's not really paying much attention to those around him, but his search is taking him in the general direction of Vani. At least he still has that scotch bottle in hand as he wanders further and further away from the booze corner.

He's not ready to start drinking straight out of the bottle yet.

Oh please let Mayte see that…

Dwane will let Mayte see a lot if she just asks nicely….

Vani lifts her foot to reveal a boot slightly more robust and worn than her reclaimed finery would suggest is hidden under her heavy green skirts. It is this scuffed boot that finally stops the momentum of the log of wood. In a quick motion she scoops up the log and smiles brightly at the bleary eyed gentleman approaching. "I believe this is a fair exchange. The serving man over there dropped this. And I had no idea it would be so heavy" And with a winsome smile and flutter of dark lashes she will attempt the switch before Dwane realises what is afoot.

Mayte may be a lady (or somewhat close to it) but she doesn't flinch when that log rolls over her foot. Nevermind how her mouth pinches white at the corners when it does but, "Nothing to apologize for, my good man. Such things do happen but Mayte's eyes follow the log to rest by Vani and Dwane. A quick lift of one eyebrow and she mutters to Halkarie, "You may want to rescue that log before…" the glass waves in Dwane's direction, "he gets ahold of it." Who knows what Dwane does with his wood. Who knows.

I believe there is a BOOK that covers what Dwane does with HIS wood

Halkarie did not expect to be called on to be ANYTHING but a silent-humming presence here, and now there's a pretty woman with his log, and someone who looks way important is actually speaking to him. Slow blinks before Halkarie sits upwards and traces his eyes towards Vani. "I, um, yes Mistress." Standing he's just going to tower over the women and he'll try to look smaller than himself, like a proper servant should.

Dwane may be distracted, but he's still got priorities. He'll take the log that Vani is holding out towards him, BUT SHE'S NOT GETTING HIS SCOTCH! He's got a pretty tight grip on it and just tuck the wood under his arm. "Exchange?" He'll raise one of those magnificent eyebrows. Brain still hasn't woken up from nap, but he does look over to the servant that is indicated. "Ah, good man! You dropped this!"

There is only a veneer of proper about this woman come in from the cold. And her skirts sway as she looses log without recieving the scotch in return, thats one good thing about covering ankles, no one can see you stamp your foot. "Well yes." She flutters. "The most basic rule of life is that there isn't nothing for free, and I believe you now have my log without offering suitable exchange." Nevermind that you know, it really isn't her wood, it's Halkarie's. And then the serving man stands and there is a gasp. "My word, you are both positively giant!" She exclaims with breathless awe, moving slightly towards Mayte where at least she isn't going to be towered over. "They must have been fed well as lads to achieve such stature I wager." This is for the other 'lady', even as she examines the glass and the room beyond.

WAit. Dwane is handling Halkarie's wood.

Big boys have to have one another's… back.

A Christmas Carol never prepared me for THIS Victorian men's tradition.

Sipping quietly at her glass, Mayte eyes Dwane making his way over with the log and tells Halkarie out the side of her mouth, "Yup, he's got your log alright. But you might wanna…" and then Dwane's too close for Mayte to finish the statement without the larger man overhearing. Somehow that tiny glass of wine is now vacant of wine and Mayte waves over another, forcing the servant to stay another moment. Vani gets eyed with an amused glance but if Mayte knows or cottons on to her usual partaking in life, she doesn't mention: "Country boys, they both must be." The recharged glass of wine is waved first at Halkarie and then at Dwane, "Simple but capable," and let's nevermind the way Mayte gives Dwane a good long once-over. So long that it could be defined a twice-over by proprietary standards.

Both that gasp and awe from Vani and the once over from Mayte aren't missed by D'wane and he gives both women a smile and a little bit of a salute with his scotch bottle holding hand. "The country life would probably have agreed with me…" And the country ladies… "But you have me mistaken. My home is just two blocks down the lane." And he did eat pretty well as a child, at least until they shipped him off to the Royal Navy at the tender age of twelve. As for that log… He's just going to hold it out towards Halkerie assuming he's going to take it eventually.

Vani's brow rises, also a native of the city - but without Dwane's advantages. "My apologies sir." There is a respectful bob, even as she steps away from this conversational group to collect a plate of the offerings at hand. It is clear that she is not the lady she resembles as she returns to this felicitious grouping plate and glass in hand and proceeds to use her fingers to nibble at the fruit and sweets she has collected. "You must hit your head a lot." She points out, hiding her mouth with the glass as she speaks. "Being so tall, and doorways being so short." There is a glimmer of humor in her dark, dark eyes as she watches the servingman intently to see what his next move is. "I've never been to the country, but if that's what is produced there may be some truth to the tales of clean air and simple living." She murmurs an aside to Mistress Mayte, even as she pops a little more food into her mouth.

With a faint smile, Mayte eyes how Dwane holds the log, clearly enjoying the tension underlying the scene. Vani reappears and her little joke has Mayte snicker in amusement; not the polite laugh of a young girl seeking a husband but of one clearly amused. "My trips to my estates," note, not her deceased husband's, "never showed me such a… vantage point." That earns Halkarie an appreciative eye as well before Mayte moves her free hand to hover, enquiringly, over Vani's plate: "May I be so bold?"

Halkarie does take the log from Dwane EVENTUALLY and holds it to his chest. Eyes move from person to person before he takes a step back. Is it possible for the second tallest person here to just disappear? Probably not. Since no one has asked him a direct question he'll keep to his place and retreat back to the fire. Simple bumpkin will be a simple bumpkin and that fire is going to grow BIG.

So Dwane does give his log to Halkarie without much fanfare. Just a simple handoff. And with one hand free… the man can now snag one of those glasses from the servers that have started circulating. Sure it's not a proper tumbler, but a glass is a glass even if it's a champagne flute and full of champagne. That's not a problem since D'wane will just chug that flute down so he can pour the scotch finally. "Doorways are even shorter on ships." So yes. It's probably amazing that Dwane doesn't have more head trauma at this point.

Vani gives a little moue of disappointment, her eyes dropping from her inspection of the servingman to her plate, carefully laden with enough food to see her through the next couple of days. "Why of course!" She holds the plate out with false brightness. "The host is most generous." Which is the thought that is likely prompting her own imitation of such generousness. There is another appraising glance given both men, even as her lips switch from pout to wickedness. "I suspect such a vantage point would be a heady experience." She murmurs, hopefully for the other woman's ears alone. This is why her original plan was: Get in. Eat. Get out. PROFIT! "I can imagine you on your hands and knees…" Yeah, this isn't the rough-gut gin that this lady is used to, what is in her glass is clearly the good stuff, and her tongue is starting to run away from her. "My word, is it getting warm in here?" She asks, handing off that plate even as she starts to fan herself with one slender hand.

Even in her red robe, Mayte doesn't try to avoid the fire for a while, looking almost blissful for a while as the heat of it flares behind her. Dwane's comment earns him an amused look especially since they've been observing his tippling habits; not one to be condescending, she raises her glass to him even as her other hand takes a nut from Vani's plate. "They are, aren't they," she says of their hosts It's one of those comments that could end a conversation, but Mayte turns to Vani and avers, "The wine has been excellent," even if her lack of excitement in that quarter indicates mediocrity, "and the spectacles," both tall (Dwane) and long (Halkarie, by length of name), "just delicious." Yes, boys, they're talking about you.

A seriously SCANDALIZED look gets directed at Vani and swiftly said scandalized person whispers into Halkarie's ear. It is clear to hear though, as the servant isn't bothering to try to keep it TOO quiet. "Get. her. out. of. here." This is a RESPECTABLE place! Halkarie looks at the upper servant like he's absolutely insane, but a firmly pointed finger says that HALKARIE will find himself tossed out if he doesn't do something right now. Pushing himself to his feet he awkwardly shuffles himself to Vani's side. "Mistress, if… I might show you around?" Aka, throw you out? Halkarie is trying to be gracious though, and offers an ARM.

Luckily, Dwane's honing up his eccentric uncle skills and with his connections and you know, an actual invitation, he's not getting much side eye from the servants. Especially considering he's now just standing there drinking and the worst offense is probably the bottle still in his hand. He does snort a little bit at the comment about his hands and knees, but then Halkerie is offering to take the woman away and so he turns to look towards Mayte. "If you enjoyed the wine," he may have missed the sarcasm, "You should try the scotch." He will extend the bottle towards the lady.

Vani's gaze travels, up… and up… and uuuuup! "Uh." The champagne really going to the harlots head as her breath catches in a most unusual way. "I think I need to… go…" At least she came to this on her own. "The gardens…?" Comes her tremulous suggestion as she hands off plate and glass to that scandalised tattle-tale. Is Halkarie ready for this? Because that flutter is about to turn into a proper faint in 3…2…1… CATCH!

Is Mayte really the only invitee here? An exasperated 'umph!' and she turns to the scandalizee, tongue all ready armed to flay but Vani's fainting and while the Mistress doesn't move out of the way, she's not exactly any help. You know what's helping? Dwane. "The masters of the house tend to keep some good stuff on hand," and she'll take that bottle, thank you. Vani earns a hearty 10 out of 10 for her faint: "Wonderful! Masterful!" To the tattle-tale, Mayte bosses, "Go put that away and make sure you don't annoy us for the rest of the night." Shoo. Begone. To seal the deal, Mayte takes a swig of the scotch and hmms, airing it with a sip of wine. Because multi-tasking. For Halkarie: "Don't dr… Yes, show her around." Good call. "The gardens."

WAIT WAIT WAIT WAITTTTTTT. HALKARIE NOW HAS A PASSED OUT WOMAN IN HIS ARMS WHAT DOES HE DO NOW? Other than sweep her up in his arms and just… stand there. Stumped. Confused. A glance between the other large man and the actual Mistress here. WHAT SHOULD HE DO HELP HIM.

Dwane watches as Vani does that very impressing faint. He takes half a step forward to try and catch the woman, but Halkarie beats him there. As for what the other man should do with her now, he waves towards the door. "You heard the ladies. The fresh air might do her good." Or some smelling salts, but Dwane doesn't have much experience with the vapors and those other lady type problems seeing as he's spent over half his life on a ship. He does nod towards Mayte and her comments. "Indeed. Their great uncle owns a distillery or something." So the scotch is GOOD.

Hey look, man, Mayte is about the last person you want to ask about smelling salts or any sort of sobering influence. Halkarie's confused expression earns him an imperiously raised eyebrow (thank you, Empress Victoria, for making that a thing in England): "Well? Take her to the gardens. Or better, my carriage." Mayte don't care 'bout no scandal accusations. Another long sip of scotch and Mayte's handing the bottle back, commenting a bit breathlessly with scotchy vapours, "You know, on the continent, they have a drink called Absinthe. Something to do with a worm…"

MAYTE. But the mistress said to take the passed out woman to her carriage and she does look like a fine lady so… Biting a lip Halkarie throws a glance between them before turning with a "Yes, Mistress," and takes himself and passed-out woman to that carriage. (Who knows WHY fine people do what they do… poor Vani's going to wake up in a stranger's mode of transportation. Hopefully it isn't… too weird."

Oh, it's gonna be weird, alright. AND AWESOME.

Waking up in strange places is probably a way of life for this Vani…

The talk of absinthe and the continent has Dwane perking up as he holds the fragile looking champagne SCOTCH flute in his hand. "Absinthe! That's the green one, yeah?" He looks over to Mayte for a brief second for confirmation to make sure he's thinking about the right liquor. "Think I had that when I was in Marsielles last…" Although how many years ago that was, he's probably forgotten at this point. They start to blur together after a while.

"Chop chop," Mayte huffs at Halkarie's back(side). And sniffs at the tattler's intrusion: "Thank you for your help," which means this tattler won't be getting good wine for roughly a year. Now back to Dwane: "Yes, the green one! It's not wine, but you pour it over a lump of sugarloaf, and it gives you the most imaginative dreams. I hear it even cures malaria!" Speaking of blurring, Mayte pushes the bottle of scotch back to Dwane, ignoring the whispers of the crowds around them: "You have a wide taste in liquor, sir. Can I trouble you to call on my household for some business?" Mayte isn't being coquettish, it's just the modern parlance.

To be fair… he probably drank too much of it to remember what those absinthe dreams might have been. Dainty little cups and Dwane don't really go together well as the flute in his hand proves just how out of place that might be. "I have a wide taste in many things. You might be interested in some of these rice wines I brought back from my latest tour, if you're business is in liquor." But his taste in many things is going to have him be a little bit rude. Seems someone forgot his manners being out of society for a bit too long. His stomach grumbles and he takes a few steps away to chase down one of those plates with the fancy little hors d'oeuvres. Somewhere in those few steps, he gets flagged down by an old chum and well, maybe he'll catch up with Mayte at some point later to exchange things like names so he knows where exactly he's supposed to go calling. For strictly business reasons.

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