(1866-08-19) Disgracing a Venerable Name
Disgracing a Venerable Name
Summary: Thomas meets Lilith. They don't get along.
Date: 19 Aout, 1866 IE
Related: None
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Lilith  Thomas  Sonya  Synthia  

The Perky Porpose Inn, Four Corners
Sailors from all around the known world cram into the chairs and tables of Four Corners' most famous dock-side establishment, fighting for elbow-room with adventurous locals and merchant's men. Its possible to hear gossip from the most unlikely of places while enjoying the cheap, entirely palatable seaside fare… though picking one voice out from the many is sometimes difficult in the incredible din created by all the laughter, shouting, cheering, talking, even fighting. It is a sprawling place, with several rooms to let and a huge public room that spills through double doors and into the street with wooden tables and chairs tended by attractive servers with platters of cups and plates. It is open at all hours, lit during the day by open-slatted windows and by night by tin-and-glass lamps cut with silhouettes of mermaids. The walls are whitewashed and a small stage is stuck in one corner for musical performances. Every form of entertainment can be had here, and the city guard is rarely seen.
19 Aout, 1866 IE

It's early in the evening in one of the taverns of Four Corners. Its busy, its loud, and there are bards playing music for the crowd. Lilith hasn't quite gotten fully wasted yet. But she is wasted enough to dance indecently to the merry tune the bards are playing. The Cassomir lady still doesn't look very ladylike at all at this point her body twisting and moving to the music in a suggestive manner. She has a tankard of ale in one hand and she takes sips of it as she dances about the room twisting and spinning and laughing softly as a few men make attempts at grabbing her. She is quick on her feet though and manages to avoid most of the groping.

In enters Thomas right at the height of the song, accompanied by two other fellows - one of average height, young, red hair and a happy demeanour, the other short, squat, built like an iron plug and with a flat face that looks like someone held it close to the sun for a year or two. All three of them wear simple clothing, Thomas in a green tunic and brown trousers and the others similarly muted. Their belts, with well crafted sword and dirks, boots, sturdy, worn but taken care of, and builds, like soldiers, belay their profession. Thomas pauses, his eyes immediately snapping to the drunk Cassomir. "Good God. The mercenaries in this town…" He laughs, shaking his head in disbelief.

Lilith is dancing her way by the trio of men when she hears Thomas comment about mercenaries. Striking pale blue eyes lock onto the man as she pauses her dance taking a long drink of ale and eyeing him and his company. "One should never make an assumption on an unknown persons rank. They just may come from a better family than you my Lord…and wouldn't you hate to give them offence?" Her tone is playful and teasing and her words spoken more like a noblewoman than a commoner. She smiles at Thomas oh so sweetly a rather knowing glint in her eye, like she knows a secret that he doesn't. Then she turns and saunters back to the bar for a refill.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I doubt your assessment, my Lady, but I do believe mine still stands, at least in attitude if not in profession." Thomas returns back to her, motioning over to a table for him and his boys to have a drink at. Though ale's the primary beverage here, the three of them order a bottle of Ryalta rum to the table along with a jug of ginger beer and lime leaves. After the three of them have gotten their (wooden) mugs and the tools, they begin to fix whatever kind of drink this is.

"Is that your way of saying I act like a mercenary?" Lilith calls back with a laugh. She gets her drink and saunters back over to the table where they now sit propping her back against it lightly and eyeing Thomas in amusement. "You've got then wrong profession altogether but perhaps I do act a bit…mercenary for a Knight. In fact I'm probably a pretty sorry excuse for a knight all things considered. Sir Lilith Cassomir, nice to meet all three of you." She lifts her glass in a salute to the trio smiling sweetly and then takes another long drink.

"Well met, Sir Lilith.” Despite the razzing, Thomas and his cohorts rise from their seats. "Thomas Chandus, Baron Repton March. These are my two comrades, Lewis and Stewart." The oldest and youngest, judging by the flick of his wrist. "Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Perhaps one would be better not admitting that to a man you just met. Would you join us, Sir?"

Lilith blinks looking a little surprised but still pleased. "Thank you for the offer Baron Chandus I will gladly join you." There is a look of mischief in her eyes as she circles the table once. It certainly looks as though she is up to something. Then she tries to settle rather quickly but still very gracefully onto Thomas's lap when she porches his chair next. "This looks like the best seat here. Don't you agree Your Lordship?" Her blue eyes sparkle with amusement.

Thomas is not amused whatsoever with Lilith's choice of seat. His body stiffens considerably and his expression, relaxed and somewhat amused before turns to ice, lips pressing down on eachother. "Lilith Cassomir. Get. Off. Me." Rumbles the Baron. He doesn't explain why he wants her to. He doesn't explain how he wants her to. His cohorts watch eagerly, though curiously, not getting up from their spots.

Lilith sits quite comfortably atop Thomas's lap wiggling just a little. She notes the stiffness and the icy demeanor with what looks like genuine curiousity. She offers the gentlest of smiles trying to look sweet and charm him a bit now. "Forgive me Your Lordship but I find your lap to be quite comfortable. Surely you would not deny a lady her comfort? That would be most cruel and I am sincerely hoping you aren't a cruel man. I have no ill intentions towards you whatsoever and it would be a shame if you didn't share that sentiment."

Thomas's demeanour softens considerably as Lilith speaks, though he still doesn't appear to be pleased that she's sitting in his lap. "Sir Lilith. I apologise for my tone before, but I would appreciate it greatly if you would kindly take your seat somewhere else. It… is not appropriate for me, not at this moment." Stewart and Lewis continue to watch with interest, now sipping on their ginger beer rum drinks.

Lady Synthia Reine strides into the tavern in search of her knight. The lady is wearing a dress tonight, a gown of fine black silks with red dragons embroidered onto it. Her hair is pulled into a loose yet elegant bun and her expression is a perfect mask of composure as she drifts inside. What she finds is a strange woman sitting on her knights lap. Lilith is studied carefully as Synthia moves closer doing her best to be stealthy and study the situation before she acts. Her expression is one of composure but there is a coldness to her pale green eyes as she regards Lilith for some reason.

Lilith smiles warmly and rises up once more. "As you wish Your Lordship, it wasn't my intention to offened you at all. And your apology is accepted, I'm sure you have your reasons for such a reaction." She will settle into another seat at the table instead and offer Thomas a small almost apologetic smile.

Thomas is evidently happy that Lilith did not press him on his reasons, or at least he's not as upset anymore. He simply nods in response to her. His eyes dart over to Synthia, expression remaining mute for the moment being and he rises. Despite her station, after all, she's still a Lady. "Sir Lilith, may I introduce to you Lady Squire Synthia Reine, my charge." His arm sweeps to the now sedate knight in a stiff motion.

Thomas is evidently happy that Lilith did not press him on his reasons, or at least he's not as upset anymore. He simply nods in response to her. His eyes dart over to Synthia, expression remaining mute for the moment being and he rises. Despite her station, after all, she's still a Lady. "Sir Lilith, may I introduce to you Lady Squire Synthia Reine, my charge." His arm sweeps to the now sedate knight in a stiff motion.

Lilith regards Synthia with open curiousity than wanes a bit when she notes how controlled the other lady is. She sighs. "Do we have to be so formal? I don't like formal…if I wanted formal I would have stayed home with my stuffy Cousin the Viscount. And as you can see I am here…far away from that utterly blind and paranoid man." She takes a long drink of her ale and glances to Synthia once more. "Nice to meet you I suppose Lady Synthia."

If Thomas had been mollified by any of Lilith's charm, it drains away completely now. He stares at her for a few moments, silent, his hands held to his side and fists balled. "His Excellency is an old friend and war comrade. He has his faults as we all do, but blindness is not one of them. Apologise."

Synthia frowns slightly at Lilith's words. "I am inclined to agree with Baron Chandus. I have also met and fought with the Viscount Cassomir…he is a decent sort and should not be spoken of so disrespectfully…especially by his family." Synthia is tense now regarding Thomas with faint concern out of the corners of her eyes but most of her attention is on Lilith her eyes even colder now.

Lilith eyes Thomas back with an angry determined stare. "Apologize?! After he wrongly imprisoned me! You must be joking….you obviously haven't met him lately." Lilith glares and rises to her feet. "I think I will go. Anyone who favors that jerk over me is not pleasant company." And she whirls on her heel intending to leave. She pushes past where Synthia is standing remarking off hand to the woman as she passes but loud enough for it to be heard by Thomas. "Of course you agree with him, I know jealousy when I see it. You can have him for all I care."

The Baron is close to bubbling over. "Of all people favouring the Viscount, it should be you. Or, you may continue carousing the pubs and acting in a manner that disgraces the venerable name you wear. I watched your previous Viscount and Mistress of the Hunt die and have fought beside your liege on many occasions. His sacrifices in the course of his duty honour his lineage. You ought to change your behaviour if you wish to serve your family with that same honour and perform YOUR duty, Sir, as your ancestors have done and relations continue to." Thomas snorts. "You act as a child whose toys have been taken away and whose tantrum not humoured. Perhaps it is right that you ought to leave. Good eve, Sir Lilith."

Synthia is silent, her cold eyes watching Lilith. The words spoken to her though seem to have something of an effect. Her eyes widen just a touch and then narrow danerously she turns her head away from Thomas to hide the fact that she is blushing lightly. Maybe there is some truth there. Lilith gets another cold look and an equally cold reply. "Your words are disrespectful and improper, yes its probably best if you leave." Lady Synthia's hands shift and a flash of steel can be seen hidden up one of the sleeves of her dress. A warning to Lilith.

"I know my family has lost much…and we are still losing. I have watched my family drop dead one by one and now we are ruled by a man who doesn't even recognize his own family. I have no respect for him…respect is earned not given away like free candy. I am not worthy of much respect but neither is he." Lilith turns to look at Thomas again and smiles bitterly. "A child? Maybe so…but at least I am capable of speaking the truth as I see it however twisted it may be. We all have our ways of coping with loss Your Lordship…mine is to act like a fool and enjoy what's left of my life, because if I actually think of all that has been lost to my House I just might go mad with grief…just like my cousin has." The she is gone twisting through the crowds and heading out the door.

"No. Respect is to be given to ones betters, and as your lord and Viscount he IS your better. You, an annointed knight, have no conception of the heirarchy which binds our society together by the grace of the One and his saints." Thomas shakes his head rapidly, growing increasingly angry each minute the conversation is extended. His tone has rises and finally explodes. People are beginning to watch beyond those in the immediate vicinity. Stewart and Lewis also rise from their seats, resting hands on their belts.

"Your circumstances may be regrettable, but so are many. Our kingdom fills with those who ought to be grieving and yet, where would we be if all acted as you? You have a responsibility as a noble knight and lady to MORE than just yourself, but to those you serve and those who serve you. You ABROGATE it in order to fulfil your own immature fantasies, making merry and abandoning your vows. You have caused great offence to your Viscount and to myself with this. Be gone, then, be gone I say!"

Synthia is silent now but she moves quietly over to one side of Thomas as he rises. Her hands are held together one hand hidden in her sleeve in what seems to be a polite stance but for the hilt of the hidden dagger she is holding in her covered hand. Lilith is watched carefully as she withdraws and Synthia's eyes are cold still. Nothing is said and the lady does her very best to maintain her stoic expression, she succeeds save for the hint of anger burning in her eyes.

"That woman is a bloody disgrace." Thomas grunts after Lilith has left, eyebrows scrunched together. He plops back down into his seat and doesn't look like he wants to make any more conversation.

"Indeed. I am sorry you had to suffer her company…you and the Viscount are both deserving of more respect than that." Synthia bows her head low as Thomas sits down, her hands lower the dagger once more hidden from sight. She falls silent again seeming to sense Thomas's poor mood. She studies him a moment her gaze unreadable. "Would you like me to leave you now Baron Chandus? I came to tell you that I have finished a first draft of that assignment you gave…to be reviewed whenever you have the time." Synthia's tone is polite and perfectly respectful her mask now firmly in place with no traces of that earlier blush remaining.

"No, I do not want to be here. We'll take our drink and move back to the manor and prepare our departure in the next few days. I have some business to close up tomorrow." Thomas replies tiredly, draining his mug in one go. Stewart stashes the jug of ginger beer while Lewis takes the rum. "And my squire? I appreciate the protectivness, but don't use it pre-emptively." A slight smile pops one side of his lips up and he pats her on the shoulder. "Come." The Chandus party makes for the door.

"I would never dream of it Baron Chandus. I strike out only with good cause." Synthia offers Thomas a very faint smile as he touches her and she will move to follow behind her knight as he and the others two with him move to take their leave of the inn.

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