10 Apr 2023, 04:24
La Vie En Rose
En Route to the Castle of Babilstow
If Simon Kincaid had his way, he would be embarking on the venture to visit his father's home alone. His Aunt Maggie wasn't allowing that without meeting Adrian Hawthorne and seeing where he lived for herself first. Okay, she could check it out. It was now his mission to make everything about this trip seem as normal as possible so the next time he would journey out, he could hopefully do so unescorted.
Usually his aunt was so trusting and allowed him to do nearly anything but something about him visiting his vampire of a father's home for the first time was where she drew the line. It didn't help that the trip between London, England, and the unitary authority and historic county of Cornwall was 5 hours and ten minutes by train. Departing from London Paddington via First Great Western Service, they would stop in Par and then request a stop at Luxulyan railway station, a very small unstaffed station.
Simon knew that it would be different. He could tell as he watched the city scene turn into a suburbia and suburbia turn into rural farmland. Still, he watched out the window as he listened to his music from his iPhone and looked down to deliver a text or two now and again. He wanted this to seem routine, mundane, a like-I-do-this-every-Tuesday sort of feel.
Par was already in Cornwall, just not necessarily within walking distance from wherever it was they were going. They had been told that they needed to inform the conductor if they wished to request a stop on the line at Luxulyan and that told Simon just how remote they really were. That wasn't the best scenario for him, as Aunt Maggie too was used to the hustle and bustle of London - and felt there were plenty of people around for help if needed.
All Simon could do was make this seem normal, and as the train slowed to the single platform and stopped with no station, no staff, no ticket gate - just a shelter and a bench. There was a solar powered help point which allowed waiting people to find out when the next trains will arrive. "End of the line," Simon said as he hopped up, placing the strap of his bag over his shoulder, standing before the train was even at a complete stop. He eased his weight and shifted balance and helped stabilize himself from the seat-back in front of him - something a Londoner who used public transportation frequently knew like second nature.
Together they got off and headed to the southern end of the 'station' where the car park was located, leading to the village's main road. Simon's father Adrian had indicated that someone would be there to drive them to his home. Simon wondered if that meant he didn't drive, or he just was too haughty to do so himself.
A man stood with a sign that said KINCAID just as one would awaiting arriving passengers at an airport at the gate and Simon glanced over to Aunt Maggie with a grin because, well, the sign was a bit excessive since the two of them, the man, and the Range Rover Evoque was the only things within sight of anything really.
"Splendid afternoon to you, Miss Margaret, Master Simon," and he lowered the sign and opened the back door of the vehicle. Simon pulled up his satchel and got in, sliding over so that Aunt Maggie wouldn't have to walk around, nor would their personal chauffeur have to open another car door. Once inside, the man shut the door and Simon looked over at his aunt and smiled.
Perfectly normal.
"I don't know why you're smiling when we're about to enter a vampire's LAIR," she said and reached out, gripping his hand and giving it a squeeze before closing her eyes and exhaled slowly.
"You're about to meet my father - half of who I am. We're about to see where he lives, HOW he lives. It's exciting," he answered and he flipped his hand over he could squeeze her hand this time. She opened her eyes and looked over to him and he just kept on smiling.
"It's something," his aunt muttered but then silenced herself as their driver now opened his door and got in. They buckled up and were on their way. Again, Simon watched out the windows. Cornwall had to be one of the most beautiful regions in Great Britain and it astounded him that there weren't more towns and villages around. Everything was so secluded.
Everything seemed normal enough until they pulled off the road when there was a curb. Waiting for there was an ornate black Victorian-era looking carriage, nearly as big as probably the late Queen's carriage, and in front was a horse hooked to it. "Right this way, Miss Margaret, Master Simon," the chauffer of the car said as he opened the door for them. "A car would probably stress and damage these back roads," Simon said, again striving toward normalcy. It seemed to have worked, because a once seemingly-supicious Aunt Maggie now smiled as she got out of the Evoque.
Their chauffeur now became their driver, as once he had helped them climb into the carriage, he got up on the bench and clicked for the horse to begin. They set off once more, leaving the SUV behind on the curb.
The roadways turned into pathways, sometimes lined with countryside and other times lined with trees. Eventually, the trees engulfed both sides of their view.
Simon was interested to see what sort of dwelling a vampire lived in. Was it a small quaint little cottage? Some windowless sort of tiny farmhouse? Crazy to think he hadn't seen another house in forever....
They could hear the horse's hooves create a steady beat on the ground and Simon began to bob up and down some to it and Aunt Maggie just laughed, as if knowing her musical nephew just couldn't resist. He had the music in him.
FINALLY, the horse came to a stop and lush foliage could be seen from both sides of the carriage out the window. It seemed as if they were still deep in the forest. The carriage shook a little as the carriage driver descended from the bench and unlatched the carriage's door. "Enjoy your visit Miss Margaret and welcome home, Master Simon."
London was home. The words perplexed Simon some and he thought perhaps they also did Aunt Maggie because she was looking forward and seemed stunned by what she just heard. Simon lowered his head not to hit it on the door frame and hopped out of the carriage and looked at the direction of the home only - it wasn't some small quaint little cottage, nor was it some windowless sort of tiny farmhouse. It was HUGE. No, we're not talking large home. We're not even talking mansion. It was a flippin' CASTLE!
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
10 Apr 2023, 15:25
La Vie En Rose
Dinner with the vampires.
Okay, so....magic is real, dragons live in this world, vampires exist and his father was one, and ....he lived in a castle. The revelations that were placed upon him in these past few years were really stacking up.
Simon turned around to take in his surrounding because it was all so surreal. The castle seemed to be old, not made from newer materials, and it was adorned with many gothic features: asymmetry, pointed arches and it had a sort of dark and mysterious quality to it but as Simon tried to figure out why he thought that, he figured it was probably the windows. The windows that the castle had were dark and they appeared blackened - either by some sort of film over the glass itself or from perhaps a heavy dark cloth to cover them. Made sense; these were vampires, after all.
The grounds were as elaborate as the castle and there were surprisingly a lot of flowers growing around, some so much as extending up the stone of the castle itself. There were a few different varieties but the most widespread was roses. That was somewhat unexpected for the garden at the home of vampires.
"If you'll follow me," the driver said and Simon came to Aunt Maggie's side. All of a sudden he wasn't sure this was such a good idea. They were about to enter this large and most-likely complex castle that Adrian Hawthorne had home-field advantage of knowing. Still, something told Simon that it was quite unlikely that he was planning to cause them any harm. "This place is insane," he whispered to his aunt before linking his arm with hers.
Attempts at normalcy gone.
A key was placed into the keyhole and turned and the driver then unlatched a long bar that secured the heavy wooden door. He opened it just enough for the three to walk in before shutting it behind them. It was now dark. With the heavy door they just walked through now secured, he then opened up another door that seemed just as heavy and cumbersome. As they now entered a foyer area, again adorned with roses and a stone corridor reminiscent of Hogwarts, there stood Adrian Hawthorne to welcome his son and his traveling companion into his home.
"Do ensure when departing or arriving that one of the doors is closed at all times," Adrian said and Simon saw him glance to his aunt but then his gaze fixated on him. There was, obviously, no light coming in from any windows that the castle held but there were torch lights that provided enough light to the dark bricks and vaulted ceilings around them that they could see. This space was graced with a couple decorative chairs and there was a small table with a vase on it containing roses.
"Welcome, Simon," Adrian said, smiling widely. There was something a little unsettling about a vampire smiling, or maybe it was just something a little unsettling about Adrian Hawthorne smiling. Still, Simon took the polite route and returned the smile.
"Thank you. I - I didn't imagine it to be quite like this. It's insane," he repeated his phrase from before. His father watched him almost curiously but then again, Adrian always had a way of having this intense gaze that made him seem as if he was encompassing everything there was to encompass in a situation - all knowing.
Niceties and politeness, right. Simon was distracted for the moment.
"This is my aunt, Maggie Kincaid," he said as he stayed close to her side though and he forced himself to stay focused on the introduction and not allow his eyes to wander around the brilliant space before them. The inside of the castle was as intricate and ornate as the outside, if not more.
"I have looked most forward to meeting you, Margaret," he said as he reached out, taking both of her hands and enveloping them into his own. She drew a slow breath again and looked over to Simon as if wanting some reassurance but before he could even give an encouraging smile, she turned back to look to Adrian. "You have raised my son admirably."
Simon watched as Adrian now turned that hawk-like gaze to his aunt and he wondered what either of them was thinking at that moment. He did notice that Adrian unlocked his gaze with her and seem to scan her facial features, perhaps looking for similarities between her and his mother - the way he had done so with him when they first met.
"You both have arrived in time for supper. I hope you are hungry. I had food brought in," and at that he gave another almost smirk as if it was such an oddety. "Simon, your aunt is not exclusive in meeting someone new today. I would like you both to meet a comrade of mine."
He led them through the corridors and they walked passed large rooms, a lounge area perhaps, and - was one a ballroom??? Simon had tried to arch his back some to get a longer look but the rooms were too dark and the moment too fleeting. Large tapestries hung on the wall between paintings, again it reminded him of Hogwarts. The only difference was that he saw no suits of armor there, but there were small stands with heavy fancy looking vases containing roses.
"You're a fan of roses?" Aunt Maggie asked. Her voice sounded upbeat, perhaps either proud of herself for being able to speak to a vampire or amused that said vampire would like flowers.
"Not particularly, but Arabella loved them so."
Simon was surprised by this statement. The rose theme seemed to be scattered nearly everywhere inside and outside of the castle and was it truly all because of his mother? Did he still think of her, still care for her? Aunt Maggie glanced over his way, almost seeming to wonder the same.
An archway led them to a well lit room and as they entered, someone stood up from the table. He was tall, with long blond hair, and dressed in attire from a different century.
"May I introduce you to Gideon Atwell. He has been a dear friend of mine for some time now and has been there through the good and the bad. I am ever grateful for his companionship. Gideon, this is my son, Simon and his aunt, Margaret."
Simon reached out to shake his hand and the man did so with a smile; a smile that seemed to come much easier than his father's and his eyes, they didn't bore into him in the same manner either. There was something more casual about this vampire. "Hail and well met!" Gideon said and Simon wasn't quite sure what he meant but was pretty sure it was similar to 'a pleasure to meet you.' He responded with a "you as well." When that handshake ended, the long blond haired vampire extended his hand out to Aunt Maggie, only he didn't shake her hand, but leaned down to kiss the back of her hand. It seemed a bit forward, but Simon didn't realize it was just considered a respectful way for a gentleman to greet a lady.
"Sir, supper is ready," a man said from the doorway into the room. Adrian motioned for everyone to be seated and the four did so. Simon did one extra scoot of his chair closer to the table, the sound echoing in the large home and he glanced around, to his aunt, to his father, to Gideon. What on earth were they going to talk about???
The same man then came around, placing a plate of food before Aunt Maggie and then another to Simon. It was some kind of steak along with small potatoes and green beans and it smelled absolutely delicious. When the man returned, he filled up their goblets with a drink and then set down two glass cruets next to each of the vampires. Yes, it contained a dark crimson liquid and it wouldn't take a genius to guess what was in there.
Adrian poured some of the thick liquid from the one in front of him into his glass and Gideon followed suit and then the blond proposed a toast,"to new company: may we learn to like, love, and trust one another." He raised his glass and looked over to Adrian. Adrian raised his in the air and Simon glanced to Aunt Maggie and the two slowly did the same. It was a bit awkward, but perhaps better than silence.
"So, you're the sister of the infamous Arabella Kincaid," Gideon continued. "And the progeny we've recently heard so much about. Please, tell me about yourselves."
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
28 Apr 2023, 14:41
La Vie En Rose
Laughter to break the ice.
Aunt Maggie looked over to Simon. She sort of looked a bit startled from the request, almost as if she knew she was the adult in the situation and was the one that should speak first. Simon was a little suspicious of the encounter so far at the table. How were they supposed to eat and converse so casually when two of the dinner party were consuming what was most likely to be human blood?! At least that's what he assumed it would be since their dinner hosts were both vampires. ...They were both vampires, weren't they? He also found it quite curious that Gideon seemed to now be doing the majority of the talking. Was he social? Trying to be friendly? Curious minded? Was there some other reason why it defaulted now to him?
"I'm Maggie Kincaid," he heard her begin and Simon turned his attention to his aunt and smiled, proud of her for not only gathering up the courage to be in the presence of two vampires but to speak to them so casually. "I run a bookstore and bakery in London where I live with my Spectacular Simon," oy - not the /s/ thing. "I spend a lot of time serving in my Church and local community and try to keep this handsome and hormonal lad in line. I enjoy reading, music, and, well, baking."
Simon tilted his head because that was so odd and Gideon smiled as if he caught onto it as well but Adrian just kept watching Simon in what seemed to be a curious manner. Granted, yes, he was a fourteen year old, but did she have to describe him as such?
It was time to interject, he supposed, and it seemed he was up at bat for the next introduction anyway.
"Uhh - " there was a hesitation. "I'm Simon Kincaid and uhh - " there was that hesitation again. No, he needed to stop. One thing he realized quite early on in his interactions with Adrian, written or otherwise, was that the man (if one could call him such) liked to dominate the moment. He wasn't going to allow him to do that anymore.
Hesitation showed weakness as it was a state of temporary inaction because of uncertainty. No more, even if he covered up the fact.
Simon cleared his throat, almost as if that was perhaps the cause for his delay and took in a drink from his cup. It was some sort of fruity drink - fizzy and sweet. Honestly, he would have preferred water but right now it was his saving grace in hopes at rectifying his little introductory presentation.
Clearing his throat one more time once the goblet was set down, he looked back to Gideon, granting him his full attention and focus. As he spoke, he would look over the other man and gather information about him - his lack of coloring from his face, his long blond curly hair, his grey-blue eyes - everything about him seemed very neutral and in contrast to the other vampire next to him which was his father - dark hair, dark eyes, harsh sharp features of his face.
"I'm Simon Kincaid and I'm a Londoner through and through. Music is my passion, faith is my anchor. I enjoy socializing, reading, learning, photography, hockey, skateboarding." he tried to paint himself as a pretty average kid and yet not deviating at all from the truth - at least with the exception of removing all parts of his magical life and keeping those hidden: his love his magical castle of a school, broom racing, dragons, potions and herbology.
"I'd love to see you teach Adrian to skateboard," the fairer vampire said, smiling first at Simon and then over to his fellow vampire companion. Simon noted there seemed to be no deviation in the oh-so-normal-expressionless-face of his father. Maybe that was a standard for him.
The lack of reaction seemed to only amuse the other vampire more and he began laughing. It was an odd sort of sputter at first and then was a sort of awkwardly drawn out haunting sort of series of laughter - but the thing was, it seemed to reach his eyes and they somehow almost seemed to gain more expression and color as he carried on.
Once he got passed the initial feeling of being startled by it, Simon found the laugh contagious, as some laughter could be. He smiled first and then also laughed along and it was enough to break the tension because Aunt Maggie followed.
As for Adrian Hawthorne, he didn't laugh, but his expression did seem to soften - even if just slightly.
Thread complete.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)