Lady Mary Crawley (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thequitecontrary) wrote2018-04-30 05:57 pm
thequitecontrary) wrote2018-04-30 05:57 pm
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[Upon receiving Mary's note, Thor is quick to try and respond in some manner. He does attempt to write a letter in return, but finds he prefers to get straight to the point.
Knowing what patron she's under makes it relatively easy to figure out where her door is and he knocks. While he waits, he changes position several times. Arms folded, arms behind his back, one arm on the wall, hands clasped in front of him, she'll probably catch him midway through a change.]
Knowing what patron she's under makes it relatively easy to figure out where her door is and he knocks. While he waits, he changes position several times. Arms folded, arms behind his back, one arm on the wall, hands clasped in front of him, she'll probably catch him midway through a change.]
[The knock at the door surprises her a bit. She hadn't been expecting anyone, but she's pleased to find Thor on the other side when she opens it. Mary grins at him.]
Oh, hello. You must have gotten my note. [A pause.] Would you like to come in?
[Her room is, like everyone else's, small and not much to speak of. Back home it would be improper to have a man in her bedroom, but here there are only so many places where one can have privacy. Even the bedrooms aren't a guarantee, as the walls aren't incredibly thick.]
Oh, hello. You must have gotten my note. [A pause.] Would you like to come in?
[Her room is, like everyone else's, small and not much to speak of. Back home it would be improper to have a man in her bedroom, but here there are only so many places where one can have privacy. Even the bedrooms aren't a guarantee, as the walls aren't incredibly thick.]
I did. [Thor says, simply. He'll let his smile do the talking.
He bows his head politely at her invitation, feeling some of his courtly manners come back up. It's an effect she seems to have on him, though it makes him feel just a little inappropriate coming into her room.
Not that it stops him.]
I would be glad to.
He bows his head politely at her invitation, feeling some of his courtly manners come back up. It's an effect she seems to have on him, though it makes him feel just a little inappropriate coming into her room.
Not that it stops him.]
I would be glad to.
[Her room back home was a lot more intimate than this one. Here she has the required furniture for functioning and not much else. It feels much less personal, though the room is small. Mary offers him the chair while she sits on her bed. They're close enough that their knees are practically touching.]
I must say, I found it both exciting and worrying to watch the battles in the arena today. [Mostly she was worried about Will being in way over his head.] I did not worry overly much for you, since you are an excellent warrior, but I was still glad that you walked away victorious - and relatively unscathed.
I must say, I found it both exciting and worrying to watch the battles in the arena today. [Mostly she was worried about Will being in way over his head.] I did not worry overly much for you, since you are an excellent warrior, but I was still glad that you walked away victorious - and relatively unscathed.
[Thor accepts the invitation to sit with a small nod. If he stands, he'll fidget.]
You and I both. I don't think my pride could have accepted anything else. [He laughs, lightly. He's mostly joking. Mostly.]
Maybe with practice you'll be winning arenas for yourself, soon.
You and I both. I don't think my pride could have accepted anything else. [He laughs, lightly. He's mostly joking. Mostly.]
Maybe with practice you'll be winning arenas for yourself, soon.
[Mary snorts a laugh at that. It's an automatic reflex and the sound is a bit unladlylike. She covers her mouth and then laughs again.]
I highly doubt that, but I appreciate your confidence in me. I'd like to continue working with the bow and arrow, as I feel much stronger with that than I do with the sword.
[Her eyes slide over his handsome face and down one of his muscled arms revealed by the tunic he wears. Mary feels a little jolt in her stomach.]
You're an excellent teacher. I know that you like to help everyone, but I admit that I wish to keep you all to myself.
I highly doubt that, but I appreciate your confidence in me. I'd like to continue working with the bow and arrow, as I feel much stronger with that than I do with the sword.
[Her eyes slide over his handsome face and down one of his muscled arms revealed by the tunic he wears. Mary feels a little jolt in her stomach.]
You're an excellent teacher. I know that you like to help everyone, but I admit that I wish to keep you all to myself.
You know I’m glad to help you, but should someone ever knock the bow out of your hands, you’ll need to know what to do next.
[Or you’ll get hurt, is the unspoken part there. He enjoys the little spark between them, he’s loathe to bring it down with talk of training and war. He grins when she veers it off topic for him, reaching out to set a hand on her shoulder.]
Lady Mary, are you flirting with me?
[Or you’ll get hurt, is the unspoken part there. He enjoys the little spark between them, he’s loathe to bring it down with talk of training and war. He grins when she veers it off topic for him, reaching out to set a hand on her shoulder.]
Lady Mary, are you flirting with me?
[Mary knows that. It's one of her biggest fears about this place. She worries that a fight might come down to hand-to-hand combat and that she will be sorely outmatched. She will keep training, but she also hopes that she might be able to rely on her skills in negotiation to get her through such a situation. Perhaps it's a naive hope.
Flirting is entirely more fun though and Mary gives Thor a sly smile.]
And what if I am?
Flirting is entirely more fun though and Mary gives Thor a sly smile.]
And what if I am?
Then you should know that I'm extremely flattered.
[Thor reaches in, brushing his fingers over her chin to tilt her head upward so their eyes can meet properly.]
I enjoy our time together.
[Thor reaches in, brushing his fingers over her chin to tilt her head upward so their eyes can meet properly.]
I enjoy our time together.
A man like you doesn't get his share of compliments?
[Mary highly doubts that, but she's pleased nonetheless that he is so flattered by hers in particular. His hand on her face makes her take in a deep breath, but she's quite open to having it there, as evidenced by the fact that she nuzzles a bit into it.]
I do as well. You've even made training enjoyable.
[Mary highly doubts that, but she's pleased nonetheless that he is so flattered by hers in particular. His hand on her face makes her take in a deep breath, but she's quite open to having it there, as evidenced by the fact that she nuzzles a bit into it.]
I do as well. You've even made training enjoyable.
[It feels impossible to smile more, but the way she moves into his hand is terribly endearing. He feels compelled to kiss her and yet, feels he ought to restrain himself.
Is it really the time or place? Is this really where his priorities should lie?]
We should take enjoyment where we can, who knows how long it will last here. [He doesn't mean to sound grave, but he does. It passes, however, the focus is back on her.]
I don't know an awful lot about you, you know. I feel like my reputation has preceded me, but all I know about you is that you grew up in a big home with sisters who didn't try to kill you.
Is it really the time or place? Is this really where his priorities should lie?]
We should take enjoyment where we can, who knows how long it will last here. [He doesn't mean to sound grave, but he does. It passes, however, the focus is back on her.]
I don't know an awful lot about you, you know. I feel like my reputation has preceded me, but all I know about you is that you grew up in a big home with sisters who didn't try to kill you.
[He has a point though. Right now they're training and the days seem rather routine, but if there is actually a battle it may mean much harder times for all of them in the future. Perhaps he's right that their joy might be fleeting.
Her lips press a gentle kiss to his wrist.]
What do you want to know? [A pause.] I know that's rather open-ended, though if you have a specific question, I'm happy to answer. Otherwise, my father is the Earl of Grantham, I'm a widow, and I help manage my family's estate back home.
Her lips press a gentle kiss to his wrist.]
What do you want to know? [A pause.] I know that's rather open-ended, though if you have a specific question, I'm happy to answer. Otherwise, my father is the Earl of Grantham, I'm a widow, and I help manage my family's estate back home.
[ It doesn't take long to find her room. There are only so many rooms occupied (one fewer now, if he's heard right, and what does that mean? what does it mean?), after all.
It's discomforting, being in here. At every moment he half expects her to appear, expects to be - what? - caught and lectured? Caught and threatened with exposure. Caught and suddenly in the midst of a duel he'd rather not dare.
But she isn't here. But he hasn't seen signs of her. And it seems indeed as if Emily Kaldwin's vanished from this insula.
Which is why he's here. Expression discernibly unsettled, jaw tight, knocking on Mary's door. ]
It's discomforting, being in here. At every moment he half expects her to appear, expects to be - what? - caught and lectured? Caught and threatened with exposure. Caught and suddenly in the midst of a duel he'd rather not dare.
But she isn't here. But he hasn't seen signs of her. And it seems indeed as if Emily Kaldwin's vanished from this insula.
Which is why he's here. Expression discernibly unsettled, jaw tight, knocking on Mary's door. ]
[Thor isn't overly familiar with Mary's time or the terms she uses, but he can use context to gauge a deeper understanding. He knows an Earl is a man in a position of power, he knows that she's from a time long before his recent visits to Earth. He knows that women didn't have much power then, he knows it means something that she managed her family's estates.
He zeroes in on one word in particular, though he approaches it with hesitation.]
A widow? [He asks, simply. If she wants to explain she will, but he won't force it out of her.]
He zeroes in on one word in particular, though he approaches it with hesitation.]
A widow? [He asks, simply. If she wants to explain she will, but he won't force it out of her.]
[Mary is becoming more used to visitors at her room, whether they be her housemates or people from other insulae, so when the knock comes, she's not terribly surprised by it. She is rather surprised to see the particular man on the other side of the door, however. They have spoken a few times, but Daud hasn't come to her room before.]
Mr. Daud. Please, come in. [Mary moves back and opens the door fully, allowing him to come in. The one thing she does wish for is having a better space for entertaining guests. It's rather improper to have them in her bedroom, but it's one of the few places that is generally private. She motions to the single chair that she has in her room, offering it to him while she takes a seat on her bed.] Are you quite well?
Mr. Daud. Please, come in. [Mary moves back and opens the door fully, allowing him to come in. The one thing she does wish for is having a better space for entertaining guests. It's rather improper to have them in her bedroom, but it's one of the few places that is generally private. She motions to the single chair that she has in her room, offering it to him while she takes a seat on her bed.] Are you quite well?
[Mary nods, her expression sad but not sorrowful. She had already mourned Matthew and accepted his death, and she's not upset that Thor has brought it up.]
Yes. My husband died in an automobile accident three years ago, the day after our son was born.
[There is another bit of information to him. Admittedly, thinking of George right now makes her sadder than thinking of Matthew.]
Yes. My husband died in an automobile accident three years ago, the day after our son was born.
[There is another bit of information to him. Admittedly, thinking of George right now makes her sadder than thinking of Matthew.]
[ He doesn't address the question. Scarcely recognizes it, focused as he is on securing answers. (Answers to what, what does he expect to find here or anywhere and why is he here, it isn't his business it isn't his concern and if she's gone, so much the better for him, best to just let it rest.)
He settles his eyes on her, does his best (his rather unsuccessful best) to appear undisturbed. ]
I heard your message in the fountain.
Someone disappeared.
He settles his eyes on her, does his best (his rather unsuccessful best) to appear undisturbed. ]
I heard your message in the fountain.
Someone disappeared.
[Mary pauses at his words, looking more closely at him than she had when he had first arrived. Daud appears troubled, serious. Granted, most times Mary has met the man he has seemed serious, but this time seems to be more disturbed.]
Yes. A woman named Miss Emily Kaldwin. Have you any information about her?
Yes. A woman named Miss Emily Kaldwin. Have you any information about her?
[ He sits straight-backed in the chair, the fingers of one hand drumming slow and quiet against his thigh. And how is he supposed to respond to that? What can he say that won't give himself away? He gives Mary a searching look, trying to discern what she might know, whether she suspects anything, but it's hard to say when his own head's buzzing with this uncertain news. ]
I noticed her absence.
It's unusual
[ Which doesn't really answer the question at all.
Which isn't really getting him anywhere at all.
There's a chance that maybe, just maybe coming here was unwise. ]
I noticed her absence.
It's unusual
[ Which doesn't really answer the question at all.
Which isn't really getting him anywhere at all.
There's a chance that maybe, just maybe coming here was unwise. ]
You did?
[She tilts her head to the side. Mary had no idea that the two of them even knew each other. Of course, she doesn't keep tabs on everyone's social lives, but she's somewhat familiar with the circles that her housemates run in. As far as she could tell, Daud and Emily had never held a conversation.
He looks a lot more uncomfortable than she's ever seen him look before.]
Did you know her?
[She tilts her head to the side. Mary had no idea that the two of them even knew each other. Of course, she doesn't keep tabs on everyone's social lives, but she's somewhat familiar with the circles that her housemates run in. As far as she could tell, Daud and Emily had never held a conversation.
He looks a lot more uncomfortable than she's ever seen him look before.]
Did you know her?
[ Does he look just a little more uncomfortable? Probably. Yes. Definitely.
He'd brought that question on himself. He'd called down that question by the bare act of coming here, of speaking Emily's name. Still, it cringes him internally, makes him realize once again that he shouldn't have pursued this, that he doesn't need to know and this is only liable to give him away somehow.
What's he supposed to say? 'I killed her mother'? 'I was paid to kidnap her'? 'I saved her from life at the hands of a witch'? 'We compacted with the same bastard of a god'? 'She was empress-to-be and then empress in a dying city, a city I happened to live in'? ]
We crossed paths.
[ It's true, anyway. ]
Didn't speak much. But I notice people.
I take it you knew her.
He'd brought that question on himself. He'd called down that question by the bare act of coming here, of speaking Emily's name. Still, it cringes him internally, makes him realize once again that he shouldn't have pursued this, that he doesn't need to know and this is only liable to give him away somehow.
What's he supposed to say? 'I killed her mother'? 'I was paid to kidnap her'? 'I saved her from life at the hands of a witch'? 'We compacted with the same bastard of a god'? 'She was empress-to-be and then empress in a dying city, a city I happened to live in'? ]
We crossed paths.
[ It's true, anyway. ]
Didn't speak much. But I notice people.
I take it you knew her.
[Mary is still skeptical, and would bet that their acquaintance is more than simply crossing paths. Otherwise, why come here and ask about her? That's a lot of effort for someone you knew in passing. For now though, Mary will keep her thoughts to herself and take Daud at his word.]
Yes, since we shared such close quarters. We only spoke a few times, but she and I got along rather well. I admit that I'm concerned that something may have happened to her.
Yes, since we shared such close quarters. We only spoke a few times, but she and I got along rather well. I admit that I'm concerned that something may have happened to her.
[ Makes sense that Emily and Mary would get along, doesn't it? Both nobles with a streak of stubbornness. Not that he knows so much about Mary. Not that he'd known much about Emily, not the way she'd turned up here. ]
You said her room was emptied.
How long has it been?
You said her room was emptied.
How long has it been?
[ At some point after this conversation, Will grabbed himself a piece of paper and penned a note to Mary. ]
Lady Crawley,
I hope this note finds you well.
I've been thinking about something, and after some careful consideration I believe you might be the perfect person to determine the merit of this idea.
[ Which is also to say he's not about to try to execute on it, but is thinking she'd be perfect for it. ]
I believe it would be beneficial for the entire group of Chosen, to have an opportunity to discuss common questions, concerns, even speculation about our situation.
We've had the occasional open conversation, but ... perhaps this is a ridiculous idea. Still, it would be better in the hands of someone who has the skills to bring it to fruition.
W. Graham
[OOC: I know Charles' player is working on the mini-senate and this might actually dovetail best into that plot? Will's bringing it up in this way because ICly he's not aware of Charles' intentions. ]
Lady Crawley,
I hope this note finds you well.
I've been thinking about something, and after some careful consideration I believe you might be the perfect person to determine the merit of this idea.
[ Which is also to say he's not about to try to execute on it, but is thinking she'd be perfect for it. ]
I believe it would be beneficial for the entire group of Chosen, to have an opportunity to discuss common questions, concerns, even speculation about our situation.
We've had the occasional open conversation, but ... perhaps this is a ridiculous idea. Still, it would be better in the hands of someone who has the skills to bring it to fruition.
W. Graham
[OOC: I know Charles' player is working on the mini-senate and this might actually dovetail best into that plot? Will's bringing it up in this way because ICly he's not aware of Charles' intentions. ]
[Thor notes something about her expression. He's seen that kind of sadness, resigned and accepting. He knows she's the sort to keep her composure, regardless, so he cannot be sure it's not fresh in her mind.
He rests a hand on her back, gentle and comforting.]
That is a significant loss to bear. I had no idea. [But he supposes it's not his business to know everything she's been through.]
What of your son? He still lives?
He rests a hand on her back, gentle and comforting.]
That is a significant loss to bear. I had no idea. [But he supposes it's not his business to know everything she's been through.]
What of your son? He still lives?
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