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✫age: 20xx✫gender: ♀xx✫wealth: 9xx✫kingdom: nearonxx✫location: gardensxx✫mentions/tags: theodore"It's my dream, don't you know," Annalise continued. Her tone was edging on the serious side of things, as if her statement was a matter-of-fact comment, and she lacked any signs of laughter on her facial expression, but she knew he knew she was only joking. Annalise had been crowned best actress time and time again within the Purcell household.
"Rebelling through a strange garden in a pricey dress selected from my mother that I've only had for little over an hour." Her eyes widened as she really pondered over the situation, and she quickly shook her head.
"That is all one big lie, you are right; Annalise Purcell does not run."Her head shook side-to-side quickly at the comment of a surprise party, as if it was the most dreadful thing her ears had ever heard.
"Absolutely not," she agreed.
"I've grown up with brothers and Peyton, whose strength is as equal as a man's. I wish to save your pretty nose, Theodore Lefeuvret." She tilted her head just a bit and shot him an innocent, sugar-sweet smile. Obviously she'd never hit anyone, especially not Theo, but it was fun to tease. In fact, despite the heaviness of the conversation, Annie was feeling better. Maybe it was because even just the sight of Theodore managed to lift her spirits, or because his laugh brought joy to the situation. She wasn't exactly sure. Her head did bob slightly in agreement as he made mention of their quick reunion. It
was nice. Not only was it a treat to see Theodore out in public, but it also gave her the hope that things were getting better between Nearon and Arkley. She was more than excited to finally have the opportunity to chat with an Arkley member without fearing she'd get caught. She could finally spend more time with Theo, and Aretha, too; she wanted to hear every little detail of the time that happened between their last meet and their latest.
For whatever reason, picturing Ambrose and Theodore meeting reminded her of the image she'd had of bringing her future husband home to meet her father. It was weird to think that, but Annalise got the sense that things would get very awkward very quickly. She couldn't quite figure out why that reason was, but it was enough for her to feel squirmy right then and there. She silently thanked Theodore for moving on just as she was about to shiver in an uncomfortable way. There was nothing special about what Theodore said in terms of his partner, yet it was enough to dim Annalise's mood, though just for a split second. She supposed that was because the last time the two had gotten together, neither knew what "stunning" meant in terms of physical attraction. But, yet again, as much as the idea of change made her antsy, she knew it was something that was going to have to happen to everyone at some point in their life. It wasn't thrilling in her mind, but it was part of growing up.
"Well, I suppose that's what this whole trip is about," she murmured, puckering her lips in thought.
"If you were to be honest, do you believe you will take the time to try and find a woman to court here, especially while the kingdoms are at ease with one another?" She wasn't too sure why exactly she was asking this, maybe because it was something she was thinking about on her end, but it came out regardless. It was said in a more serious tone, though, suggesting she wasn't teasing him about plucking out a bride any longer. Of course, he didn't have to give an answer either, but she was genuinely curious to figure out just how many people here were truly going to attempt to court someone.
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♚age: 22xx♚gender: ♂xx♚wealth: 5xx♚kingdom: arkleyxx♚location: back roomxx♚mentions/tags: elizabethLauren offered a silent shrug at her quiet thanks, unsure of what exactly to say that would be perfectly appropriate for the situation. It was only just his opinion, and it seemed they had already dug a far enough hole on that subject. Lauren wasn't willing to leap in it quite yet. He knew of men who considered him to be indifferent based on his beliefs. Typical Arkley men, or maybe it was just the type that had connections with his father. Whatever the case may be, they carried themselves proudly, with intentions of making women know each and every chore in the house as if they were born to do it. In some of their minds, they did believe women were born to do just that. Perhaps the reason Lauren hadn't been sucked into their all-too-convincing words was because in his mind, he'd envisioned his mother to be the hero everyone wanted, needed. Rhonda was his parental figure. The maid who'd helped him learn his alphabet was a woman. All throughout his life, his go-tos had been women. His father disliked the sex, that was something Lauren learned quickly. He'd been taken from his father at a young age, nearly before he could even talk, and therefore didn't remember anything he'd said during those first few years, but he'd always made a snarky comment each time Lauren tried to visit as he grew up, and they all bundled up inside his mind. His distaste towards women, the comments he made about how Lauren's stupidity was because he grew up with them. Not one slipped by Lauren, despite not having the voice to say anything in return. Oh, how lucky that man was that he was dead.
"My thoughts are beyond imaginable, but I used to believe I could change that," he admitted, a twitch of a smile on his lips at the memory of young, determined Lauren Shaw.
"I was told it was something my mother wanted dearly, and I was convinced I'd make it happen." He pressed his lips together as he pondered over it, reaching for his glasses once more, just to fiddle with.
" 'Course, I didn't go into teaching, or anything related to the law, but... P'rhaps someone will one day." Her words
"someone like yourself" hadn't floated past him easily; his comprehensive side had snatched that up before any of the other words, but he didn't make a comment on it. She didn't know who he was, after all. It was strictly based on the tossed newspaper and his grumble towards words that made her decide on that phrase. Oddly enough, his misery hadn't seemed to scare her off, and she hadn't disregarded him for that book of hers. God, what was happening to him? Three women that he'd spoken to, now, and three that he hadn't brushed aside. Things truly were getting dangerous for him, weren't they?
"I suppose you deserve your own category, too," Lauren returned a moment later, his tone lighter now, much like his own.
"A bookworm with an attitude and a strong distaste for her family's business. I haven't come across one of those yet." He meant no harm to his "attitude" comment, referring to it as more of a blunt, independent personality than anything else, and whilst he had a feeling she wasn't going to get offended over that, he really wasn't sure. Her words held meaning to them, and Lauren was genuinely surprised to find himself latching onto them; though he didn't believe women were unintelligent, some- particularly in a situation like this, where marriage was to be involved- acted as if they were the most airheaded beings on the planet, and all for attention, too. He couldn't stand it. But this one spoke intelligently, thoughtfully, and although it was evident she'd much rather live in her own fantasy world than here, it all made sense. Lauren didn't once find it stupid.
"Lack of truth and overstretched drama," he mused,
"seems to get them every time." He tilted his chin to meet her gaze once more, adding in a tone that was more directed to her than the first,
"I respect your opinion, both with the dramatics of a newspaper and the mind of a human-being. I suppose I can consider myself flattered, though if I were to tease, I believe I do have the right to make mention of how it was you who had joined me. I believe that makes it a bit more difficult to rid me if you did not like my company." With that, a ghost of a smile fell upon his face, fleeting; a shadow on a sunny day, unable to keep its visuals for more than a second.
"I'd prefer ill-mannered and brash over flirtatious and foolish," he told her honestly.
"Although I do not know how things are from your perspective, I can only guess you've the experience of that exact personality I despise, only in men. Suitors, if I am being exact. People often act like desperate animals in the heat of springtime come the season of courting."