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 Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 2:36 pm
 Nestled in the north, away from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh city and surrounded by the majesty of the highlands, lies an ancient manor. It's been passed down for hundred of years from father to son. Now it rests in a loving hands of the Viscountess of Argyll, Elizabeth Jenkins. Though impressive the manor has only temporary staff when she requires them and her companion and ex-butler, the impressive and stately Baxter brown. The manor grounds are expansive and well cultured. Elizabeth spends a good deal of time caring for a small part of it personally and once a week brings in a gardener to keep the rest trimmed and neat. Otherwise it grows wild, especially in the woods that take up some of her land. She enjoys exploring these woods on horseback, as she owns a fine black stallion. He's a recent addition to the household. As is the motorbike hidden in the back of the garage. Her socialite associates don't think much of that sort of behaviour. The manor itself is kept in a neat and classical way, with lots of ancient artwork, wood panelling and old solver inside. It's much like anyone would expect an old British manor to be like, with a few exceptions. Elizabeth's room is luxurious and sensual, with fine fabrics and a massive walk in closet. Baxter's room is modern and minimalist, just enough to suit his simple needs. Charlie's old room is the way it was when he left - with lots of naked women posted on the walls, messy bed and a variety of paperwork and files scattered between the robot figures on his shelves. But it seems this room will need decorated and another room tidied up, as Charlie and his wife Lenten Belle-Vernal Jenkins will be moving in with their new son Remi. Much to the interest of the neighbours. And there have been whispers that one other person holds a key to the manor, a mysterious man that no one has seen yet who Elizabeth refers to only as her 'Dark Knight'...
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:08 pm
Lent's eyes, green for the moment, widened as the car pulled up to the manor. "It's stunning!" She grinned widely. Admittedly, she had missed finery while living on the island. Not that living in the tents was unappealing, after all, it was as luxurious as you wanted on the inside. But still. There was something to be said about the beautiful architecture and manicured grounds. It felt more like... home.
She opened the door and stepped out with excitement, brushing her red curls away from her face and reaching down to help Remi out of the car. His wings and odd eyes were concealed by glamour for the moment, that had taken a few tries, but concealing the oddness from human eyes wasn't nearly as hard as changing someone's appearance, thankfully. Although, perhaps she would learn to do that as well, now she would have so much time on her hands.
She straightened out Remi's outfit, making sure he was perfectly clean and presentable in a very motherly way before standing once more. Her heels made a sharp sound as she took a few steps on the stone before looking back for Charlie. "I like your place." She grinned and laughed lightly, the musical sound easily carrying as always.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:23 pm
"Our place." He corrected his wife as he stepped out of the car behind her and collected the bags. He gave them both a smile full of affection. He leaned on his cane. The journey had been long and he was feeling a bit cramped and stiff. In moments Baxter took the bags off him and disappeared ahead of them into the manor. Some habits he hadn't gotten rid of yet it seemed.
"Or more technically, it's hers." He nodded to Elizabeth as she dashed out of the house towards them with delight. Though she had only been home a couple of hours long than them, the way she acted anyone would have thought they had all been apart for months. She hugged Charlie, Lent and Remi tightly.
"My darlings, you're home! Oh it's so good to have you here. It must be so different for you Lenten, with being so used to the sand and the sun. I hope you don't mind rain." the older woman giggled. "And how's my favourite little man?" She tickled under Remi's chin and made the baby laugh.
"I love you too mum." Charlie rolled his eyes and shook his head with amusement and gave her a hug. "Shall we go get you settled in, dearest?" He ducked his head and tucked a kiss behind Lent's ear before leading her towards the house at a gentle pace.
"I bet the neighbours are gossiping already." Liz giggled. No doubt the news that Charlie had returned with a wife and child had been spread like wildfire.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:36 pm
"Our place." Lent echoed Charlie with a smile. That had a nice ring to it. She guessed one day it really would be their place. Guy wasn't exactly fit to run an estate anymore. Sooner or later they would have to fake his death, she guessed. People would be asking questions sooner or later.
Well, he was dead anyways.
She shook her head as Baxter took off with the bags before anyone could protest and Elizabeth came rushing out to greet them. "The rain isn't bad, and this is much more like where I grew up." She laughed as she returned Liz's eager hug.
"Sounds wonderful. I assume we'll need to make some... changes to your room." She grinned. She didn't need to see the room to have a very clear mental image of what it would look like. First order of business: Cleaning up.
Lent smirked. "Let them gossip. They can come over and I'll just... charm their pants off." She laughed and followed Charlie into the house.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:51 pm
One day Charlie would be faced with being viscount, when they worked out what to do about Guy. He knew, without asking, that Guy had no intention of taking over the family position. But Charlie had not been raised to be the head of the house. That had always been Guy's position in the family. It was a little frightening really, he was content with just being a baron. But at least he'd be able to give Lent more as a viscount.
"Oh yes, you grew up in France. Well, it's a little colder and wetter here, but quite familiar otherwise. Oh the ladies in the area will simply adore your accent. And yes, they'll probably expect you to join in with their tiresome brunches and lunches and dinner." Elizabeth waved a hand. She had to do them all too, but with the older ladies. At least Lent would get the pleasure of the young wives of upper society.
"Ah... yeah. I guess." Charlie blushed a little. If Liz and Baxter had left his room the way it was then there were a lot of changes that needed made. "You might want me to clear the walls a little before we let Remi in there actually." He muttered bashfully. It still looked like he was a student. "And don't charm their pants off, or the gossip will just get worse. Try not to kill anyone we know." He smirked to Lent as they stepped onto the hardwood of the hallways.
It was grand. A large wooden staircase stretched up to the next floor. Paintings hung on the wooden walls. A suit of armour stood by the door, placed there more as a joke than for any real reason.
"Welcome home, my children!" Elizabeth gushed as Baxter came down from the room to hug them each in turn.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:59 pm
Lent laughed as she was told she would have to join in with the socializing. "It'll be just like old times. I'm sure I'll remember that song and dance." She grinned and shook her head. Some things changed, and something definitely didn't.
She looked at him and raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "You didn't get enough company? You needed inspiration on the walls as well." She laughed lightly. Remi was already running around with excitement, looking at everything and babbling, half in English and half in French, and plenty that just couldn't be understood at all. "I'll try, but I make no promises." She smirked and stuck her tongue out at Charlie playfully.
Lent clapped her hands as she took in the grandness of the foyer. "Simply beautiful." She smiled, before hugging Baxter, her hand slipping down to squeeze his a** playfully.
"Careful, Remi!" Lent rushed over and scooped up the little boy who was playing with the armor a little roughly. "That's old and heavy. It could fall on you. Promise me you'll be careful." Remi smiled and nodded before Lent put him down once more.
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:14 pm
"Yes dear, you'll get back into the habit quickly enough, I'm sad to say." Elizabeth smiled and patted her on the arm in sympathy. Ever since she'd come of age she'd had to put up with all of that herself. She didn't get a break from all that socialising crap like Lent had.
Though she had skipped out on the last dinner party to go ride her bike instead.
"I had the company and the inspiration. Lots of inspiration. Inspiration we came here to help Remi avoid for a while, so I'll get on tearing them down after we're settled a little." Charlied admitted with a soft sigh. He watched their son running around with an odd amount of pride. He adored his family, however unexpected it was. He laughed and stuck his tongue out back at her.
Baxter turned bright red at the hands on his a**, though it was appreciated. He smiled at her.
"Pleased to see you too, Lady Lent." he cleared his throat and smiled warmly at her. Memories flooding back were doing nothing for his composure. Liz looked at him and smirked, knowing fine well what was on his mind. She'd deal with that later.
"I think the armour has more to worry about than Remi does." Charlie stated as the little boy waddled over and hung onto his cane playfully. "Come, we'll go relax in the drawing room before we get to work." He grinned, using the cane as a guide for the little boy. Remi hung on with one hand and toddled along at his side.
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:37 pm
Lent smiled as she was told she would slip right back into bad habits. "Well, it's been a while." A long while. But it wasn't a big deal. People hadn't changed much. It was still all gossip and who you knew and what you had with those types of folk.
She laughed and shook her head at Charlie. "Did you ever think you would marry a girl ten times more attractive than the ones on your poster?" She smirked a little at him. There were a lot of things to be said for being half faerie and half Succubus. A lot of them she didn't like, but being super naturally beautiful in any form had never bothered her in the least.
She smiled at Baxter. "I hope that you've been having some fun now that you're not bound in service Bax. There are much better ways to be bound, you know." She grinned. Obviously the move had her in a great mood. She did love to travel.
"That's the truth." Lent shook her head at the boy before looking back to Charlie with a nod. "Sounds like a plan!" She raised an eyebrow as Remi hitched a ride. "You know, I don't the cane does you much good like that, Charlie."
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:02 am
"Sweetheart, I never thought I would marry at all." Charlie smirked over his shoulder at Lent as he replied to her amused question. He looked her up and down with a sly smirk and then gazed down at Remi tagging along at his side with an affectionate smile. "But I'm glad I married you."
Baxter's cheeks turned a bit pink at Lent's teasing. Oh he knew well about being bound. Elizabeth had picked up a few ideas from her lover, and he had a lot of experience himself. It still amazed him that somehow she always managed to end up the one holding the rope though. Not that he minded.
"I'm getting by, miss. Elizabeth keeps me well in hand." He grinned down at her. She was a tease. "Perhaps I could show you how much fun later..." he began.
"Bax! That's my wife!" Charlie piped up. Baxter looked mortified at having been caught. But when Charlie laughed at Elizabeth broke into giggles at the ex-butler's expression he let out a sigh. This family would drive him into insanity.
"yes, it's kind of hard to walk with him grabbing the cane like that. Luckily he goes slow. Besides, anything that keeps him on the ground and heading in the right direction is good in my book." Charlie remarked to Lent about Remi's habit for grabbing his cane. He was still unhappy about him breaking his arm. he'd never really thought about how fragile he really was until then. "Besides, Remi likes to play with daddy's stick, don't you Remi?" he grinned down at his son. Remi beamed up at him charmingly.
He was going to be twice the heartbreaker his parents were.
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Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:35 am
Lent laughed. "Everyone gets married eventually. I'm living proof of that." She shook her head, and amused expression turning into a smirk at Baxter's blush.
"Yeah, come on, Baxter. It's the first night in the house, Charlie at least deserves first turn!" She grinned and laughed alongside Charlie and Elizabeth. One had to wonder really how good Remi's verbal skills were. This kid was learning how to flirt mercilessly early on in life.
"Of course, there's more than enough to go around." She winked at Charlie and her plush lips curved as she glanced towards Baxter. Lent wasn't exactly one to deny a good meal.
Lent sighed a little as Charlie griped a little about his flying accident. "Children have accidents. He shouldn't have been flying without me, but it's pretty instinctual." What a funny thought that must have seemed like. "I think he must have gotten tired, or over excited." She ran her hand through her scarlet curls and watched Remi play with the cane as they turned into the drawing room.
"Oh really?" She raised an eyebrow at Charlie, another smirk playing across her lips. "I was sort of hoping he hadn't acquired that Faerie trait." She laughed lightly.
Lent smiled widely as she took in the charming room. A slight sigh escaping her bowed lips. "Gorgeous." She said in approval as she sat herself down lightly on the nearest couch, glamour fading away to reveal her massive wings and tri-colored eyes. Not to mention the beauty factor going up a few notches.
"Come here." She held her hands out to Remi and gestured him closer, the child skipped over and hopped onto her lap, looking up expectantly. She ran her slender hands over him, letting the magic wash away to reveal him fully, wings, eyes, and slightly shiny skin included. He beamed.
"D'aww." Lent cuddled the child. "Go on. Go play." She pushed him off her lap and shook her head. "I hope the girls and boys here can handle him." She laughed.
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:30 am
"Took you long enough." Charlie smiled at her as she flirted shamelessly with Baxter and made him blush and grin. "I maybe never thought that I would marry someone so beautiful, but did you ever think you'd marry... well... me?" He waved a hand at himself, indicating the whole package. Human. Smart. Not as good looking as he used to be. He paused. "And I plan on getting the first turn, on my own. I can't compete with him." he smirked, shaking his head with great amusement. At least he was a very patient and open husband.
Baxter merely raised one eyebrow.
"Oh I do worry about him. We'll have to keep an eye on him. What if he tries to fly off one of the balconies? Or if he takes a trip to another estate on his own. I don't want my little darling to be hurt again." Elizabeth sighed with grandmotherly concern as she took a seat in the drawing room. She gave Lent a smile of appreciation at the compliment. "And what Faerie trait would that be dear? Something about sticks?" She asked innocently. She hadn't quite picked up every idea from the Sands yet. Some things she was happily oblivious to.
"Oh Christ. No, just no. I am hoping he's 100% human in that regard. Last thing we need is him causing a racket with a sibling or two. he's going to be enough of a handful as it is." Charlie wrinkled up his nose. Not all faerie habits sat right with him. He glanced to his mother and his cheeks coloured a little. "It's not important mum."
He eased himself stiffly onto the seat next to Lent as she removed the glamour from their son. He smiled a little at that. As much as he appreciated her efforts to fit in, inside the house he was much happier seeing Remi the way he really was. Just as he preferred Lent's natural form best of all for some reason. Not that he didn't fully enjoy when she chose to mix it up a little. It was kind of like getting to have any woman he wanted whenever he wanted, physically.
Remi toddled off and Charlie smirked at Lent's thoughts as the toddler became fascinated by Baxter and decided to use him as a climbing frame. Baxter sat patiently and let him. Having grandkids of his own made him used to such things. Though not usually with such skill.
"There are a couple of families with children around his age. I suspect he'll bring in some of whatever it is that makes your kind ever so charming, Lenten. He'll be the star of the school almost instantly, when he's old enough to go." Elizabeth laughed, delighted at the boy's antics.
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Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:30 am
"I was waiting for the right person." She grinned at Charlie and laughed. And then sort of wondered if that sounded strange to Elizabeth and Baxter. She didn't recall ever specifically telling them how old she was. Maybe they assumed she was as old as she looked, which couldn't be more than twenty-four. She shrugged her shoulders. "I assumed my sisters would eventually come and force me to fulfill my obligations, I suppose. I didn't think about it much."
Lent raised her eyebrow and smirked. "Oh? I'll be the judge of that. And I say neither one of you might be able to compete with Guy." She laughed lightly. Everyone knew that was more or less a lie. But it must not have been entirely a lie for her to have spoken it out loud, amusingly.
Lent nodded at Elizabeth. Him fluttering off to visit the neighbors would be... a hassle. "If he takes a trip to another estate on his own I would be left doing clean up, and I really would rather not." Lent said pointedly. That couldn't be allowed to happen. Not because Lent was averted to killing the neighbors, but because she assumed Elizabeth preferred for them to remain alive.
Lent smirked as Elizabeth asked what Lent meant and Charlie was quick to protest. She riled a little with indignation. "You know, the only reason people don't typically do it is because they're taught not to." She wrinkled her nose a little and shrugged. "Just different customs, Charlie." But she digressed and didn't tell Elizabeth. She wasn't looking to pick a fight.
Lent grinned and laughed lightly. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll be way more popular than I was growing up. Lucky little thing. So spoiled." She shook her head in an amused way. She certainly didn't hold her son's easy life against him, although she did worry a little how he would turn out. "Hopefully he plays well with the normal human children though. I think he might be a little too used to children who can fly and make things explode with their minds." She laughed at that. But it was true. Which was kind of scary.
Babies just shouldn't be able to set things on fire with their minds.
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Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:56 pm
Charlie leaned back in his seat and chuckled wryly as Lent mentioned waiting for the right person. She'd had a lot in her lifetime. He was amazed she hadn't fed from him and left him a shrivelled shell, there on the beach. He stretched an arm along the back of the sofa, slipping it around her shoulders affectionately. "might they not still come some day? Should I be thinking about anti-succubus measures? Or will I just give them Baxter and let him wear them out?" He smirked and looked at the ex-butler who blushed a little more but grinned knowingly.
Though Charlie did give Lent a very small and playful thwap on the arm as she teased him about Guy. He really missed his brother, though he knew Lent didn't really. She was much better about it these days at least. Now they were married and parents she seemed to have forgiven him for a lot. Which he was thankful for. Elizabeth merely politely pretended she wasn't listening in to a conversation comparing her sons' anatomy. Though she had a gentle smirk on her lips and a wistful look in her eyes. it was hard to tell whether she was thinking of a certain cambion or her late husband. The boys had to inherit their talents from somewhere after all.
"I would appreciate the neighbours staying alive." She sighed after a moment's happy thoughts. The older woman giggled suddenly. "Well, there are one or two that might benefit from a little visit." She added mischievously. She really did not like some of them at all.
"Different customs or not, that just doesn't cut it for mortals. Ick. I mean could you imagine...?" Charlie wrinkled up his nose, looked at his mother and shuddered. He knew fine well she was a beautiful woman for her age, but there was no way he could even remotely entertain such ideas. He'd heard stories about the Vernals that made his toes curl. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, but was distracted as Remi stopped climbing on Bax and flutter over for a grandmother cuddle. She fussed over the boy happily and made him giggle.
"I just hope he ends up as happy as his daddy." Charlie smiled, nuzzling his nose behind Lent's ear and giving her a gently kiss. The local children would have to learn to deal with their new friend's...quirks...
Charlie grinned wickedly.
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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:42 am
Lent frowned, averting her eyes for a moment. "No, I am sure they will seek me out. They like to keep up with members of the sisterhood, and they keep a particularly watchful eye on me." Her colorful eyes flickered to look at Baxter for a few moments. "Charlie, these women would leave him dead or worse when they were done forcing him to do whatever they wanted." She met Baxter's eyes and then Elizabeth's. "And then they would very likely kill Remi. These women are not to be... joked about."
Her jaw clenched as she looked at the floor, but the tension quickly began to pass. "But, today is supposed to be a happy day. We just got to our new home! We can talk about them later. I don't predict them finding me here for a while, at least." She waved her dainty hands in an entirely dismissive gesture.
Lent grinned and laughed in surprise at Elizabeth. "Well... accidents happen." She smiled with far too much innocence and shrugged her delicate shoulders. She kind of wondered how serious Elizabeth was. Or if Elizabeth realized she was remotely serious. Either way wasn't very important to her, but it was a bit of an amusing thought the Faerie-Succubus to think that her-mother-in-law wanted for her to actually knock some one off. Most people just didn't have that kind of... ambition.
Lent's eyes followed Charlie's to look at Elizabeth. She studied her for a moment of two before a slow smirk curved her lips. "Oh, I can imagine." She said, letting her tone slow to a sultry drawl. "But for your sake, I will just keep on imagining." She grinned and laughed as she was nuzzled and kissed.
She smiled bashfully. "I am sure he will." She replied whole heartedly. Who wouldn't love the boy? He would have all the happiness in the world. In Lent's mind anyways. Her concept of happiness may have been a little different than some people's though.
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Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:40 am
Charlie looked a bit grim as Lent spoke about her sisters. He knew fine well what the dangers were, what had happened to her previous son. And he was damned if he would lose another child too. He looked to Baxter who relaxed back in his chair and raised an eyebrow. Not that he wasn't concerned, but he was not going to make a fuss about it until it was an actual issue. Charlie knew Baxter would keep his cool if it came to protecting the family. he was probably already making emergency plans in his head. Elizabeth merrily bounced Remi on her knee.
"Honestly! So grim. If the Royal Mail can't find this place half the time when I've been living here since I was born, then your sisters aren't going to find us easily." She said confidently.
"You're right. We're home! We should act like it." Charlie nodded to Lent, smirking at his mother as he did so. She'd been a lot more relaxed since Don had come into her life. She never wore her hair up these days unless she had to. He gave Lent a happy squeeze. This would mean christening his bedroom. As a married man for once.
And the rest of the manor actually.
Elizabeth giggled as Lent laughed and replied to her about her neighbours. There was a twinkle in the old woman's eyes that made it quite unclear whether she was joking or serious. Time would tell on that one. But there were a few people the world could do without. She lifted Remi up and laughed as he fluttered his wings. She was charmed by her little grandson. No glamours involved. He was simply the best little person in the world. While she was occupied she missed the gaze Lent gave her. Shame.
Charlie shuddered a little next to Lent. "Yes, please. Keep that in your head and never ever let it out, sweetheart." he laughed quietly in her ear as he nuzzled her. Last thing he wanted was to walk in on his wife and his mother. Together.
He wouldn't be surprised at either of them for doing that really.
"So, shall I make some tea and then let you get settled in?" Baxter asked as he stood. Old habits died hard. Elizabeth smiled at him, her eyes lingering on his with a little hint of a promising smirk.
"Please, Bax. I am sure all this travelling has made us all thirsty. And you'll find some juice in the fridge for the little prince." She giggled, dropping Remi down to rub noses with him cutely.
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