An Advanced Victorian Steampunk Roleplay discussion
Characters' Havens
>
Vivian's New Start
message 101:
by
๖ۣۜSαᴙαh, The Supreme Overload
(new)
Jun 30, 2013 11:45AM
"What did you used to do?" Ben queried. "Besides be an idle noble like every other Kaylock girl?"
reply
|
flag
Between Bertrand and Benedict there was one brother who wouldn't go off the handle, and he was standing in front of her."Promise you won't tell Bert?"
Ben looked at her curiously. "Cross my heart, hope to die, Squirt."
Vivian disappeared into the house for a few moments again, then returned with the black box that Joeri had rescued from the Inn. Yet again she thanked God it had not fallen into the Spaniard's hands.She removed one of the delicate combs from her hair and pressed them on the right-hand side of the box. It appeared to have neither chink nor seam, but when she pressed the teeth of the comb to the wood, she pressed in three tumblers that moved the joins in the wood to reveal the outline of the lid.
Next came the puzzle - sliding bits on the top and sides. She clicked them deftly into place.
Finally she turned the comb, removed it, and pulled the lid off the box. Inside it was a very large notebook. Everything in that notebook - every scribble, receipt, scrap of paper - was the record of Ivy Locke's existence.
"I used to work as an informant and thief," she told Ben as she lifted out the tome and handed it to him. Vivian looked at him, her face unreadable.
"This is what I got up to when you were away."
Ben studied it for a long time. He was silent for awhile and then finally said, "Jesus, Vivian. This is... all highly illegal. You realize that if any of this gets out, you'll need a lawyer." He looked up at her then and said solemnly, "Luckily, your brother is a barrister."
Vivian nodded her head, knowing full well how deep underground her work as Ivy had taken her. "I'm not doing it anymore," she assured him.
"Okay," Ben said, reaching out to hug her. "Burn this, Vivian." His tone was deathly serious. "Burn it all and any other evidence. Please," he begged.
At least there was only one copy of everything - Vivian had made sure of that. She shut the box without replacing the book, and motioned for Ben to bring in the drinks.Inside the parlour, despite the warmth of the day, she built a fire. The book lay on the coffee table, and she took a long, hard look at it.
Ben rubbed his red hair and said, "I trust this is your only copy." He was going to force her to lie to him unless she wanted to come clean. He knew his sister too well and he wasn't an amazing barrister for no reason.
"It is, Ben," she said solemnly, looking into his eyes. "I never made copies of any of it." Her green eyes shone with earnestness and she fought against the lump in her throat.
"Okay," Ben nodded. He wrapped his arm around her in a fierce embrace. "I love you, Squirt."
"I love you, too." Taking a deep breath, she took the book. First she pulled out all the loose paper and threw every last piece onto the fire. Then she took the book apart, laying it sheaf-by-sheaf on the grate until just the cover remained. She burned it too.
Somewhere during the intensely hot, sweltering process, she had started to cry unconsciously. When the flames engulfed the book's cover, she sank to her knees on the floor, her head bowed and her curls spilling over her face as she buried her face in her hands.
Ben remained silent. He knelt down behind her and wrapped his strong arms around her, holding her as they watched the flames devour her past life.
Vivian clutched Ben's big, strong arms in her small hands, gripping his shirtsleeves as though they were the only thing anchoring her to the world. She was glad it was all gone now. She was glad that Ben hadn't become angry with her. But for the first time in years - since she had first assumed the alternate identity - Vivian only just realised now just how lucky she'd been throughout the entire thing. And how lucky she still was to have a brother like Ben that she could confide in about it all. Bert would have lost it on her for sure, especially in his current headspace.
Vivian also realised how lonely she'd felt without her brothers, and clutched Ben even tighter.
"I'm sorry, Ben," she whispered through her tears. "I'm sorry for thinking it wouldn't have affected you and Bert..."
She took her brother's silence and the tightening of his arms around her as forgiveness, but it would be a long time before Vivian would be able to really forgive herself.
***END OF SCENE***
With barely contained excitement, Joeri walked up to Vivian's door. He did a quick once over his jacket for wrinkles before he knocked on the door. Then he waited, rocking on his feet and looking up at the house's architecture.
Ben had gone home sometime in the mid-afternoon, and though Vivian would have loved nothing better than tag along with him to avoid being alone, she'd decided that perhaps it would be better to give him space. She had, after all, given him quite a shock; despite Ben'scomposure throughout the entire thing Vivian knew her brother well enough to know she had delivered a stunning blow to him.
It was early evening now; the sun had just gone down and Vivian had not eaten anything since that morning. Once Ben had left, she had gone up to the space on the second floor that she wanted to turn into a reading room that Joeri could use whenever he came on leave. It had an alcove bed that she found very cosy.
Hearing the knock on the door downstairs, Vivian sat upright, cautious. She wasn't expecting anyone.
Despite no longer assuming the identity of Ivy Locke, Vivian still walked around armed enough to defend herself properly whenever she was alone. She hitched up her skirts and slid her long knife out of the sheath strapped to her thigh before descending.
Joeri glanced around, and wondered if Vivian was away. He started to step down the stairs, thinking he would just have to wait until a better time.
Vivian opened the door a crack and sighed - she was relieved to see Joeri there, and not some stranger.Setting the knife down on the small table by the door, Vivian opened the door fully. "I wasn't expecting you tonight," she said happily.
He turned and gave her an apologetic smile. "Ah, yes, sorry. This was a spur of the moment and I couldn't wait to tell you," Joeri said, quickly, rubbing the back of his head.
Vivian stood aside to let him in, then shut the door and locked it behind her. Seeing him glance quizzically at the knife on the table, she explained, "I'm alone right now. Bridget won't be here for a few days yet."She went up on tiptoes for a kiss hello.
"That's understandable," he commented,. Then Joeri smiled and kissed her. "How are you today?" he asked, pulling back, ran his real fingers from her temple to her cheek.
The day had been emotionally exhausting, and Vivian knew that it showed on her face, even in the dim light of the entrance hall's gaslight. She made no effort to hide it from Joeri.Kissing the palm of his hand, she leaned against him, her cheek on the middle of his chest.
"Do you remember what I told you about myself the day you came to visit me at the Grand Hotel?"
Joeri tilted his head as he thought, absentmindedly running a hand up and down her arm. "You called yourself 'Locke' short of Kaylock, I recall," he said slowly, looking at her with small puzzlement.
He had trusted her with his deepest secret, and Vivian led him into the parlour."Ivy Locke, actually," she told him as they sat down. She recalled having given him only the barest details and wondered what else she should divulge.
"Ivy Locke," he repeated, a brow raised. He recalled she introduced herself as Vivian Locke at the inn, then at the hotel, she clarified her last name. Now this Ivy part. "What are you telling me, Vivian?" Joeri asked softly.
Please, God, don't let him be angry with me...In a rush she told him the entire truth, glossing over the portion of the tale that included the Saint and the Spaniard. But everything else -from the thieving and spying to the blackmailing and silent part she had to play in the downfall of various figures in London - came out, and when she was done she said, "Helping save Geoff was the last thing I did under that name. It's all over now. Everything I had linking me to it is now completely destroyed."
Before he could say anything and before she looked up into his eyes - knowing that the look of hurt and betrayal he'd had when she told him that he was not her first would be expressed so vividly in his blue eyes - Vivian added, "Joeri, I didn't tell you not because I didn't trust you, but because...because...if any if it had ever gotten out, I didn't want you to be involved in the scandal. I wanted you to be able to honestly say that you never knew. But it's all gone now, Joeri. All of it. I swear."
Joeri was quiet and he reached out to lay his warm hand over hers. "You don't have to tell me why. I understand your reasons, just like I have my reasons to stay with the identity forced upon me," he said gently after another moment of pause. "I'm glad to hear that it's over, though. And I see how someone managed to reassign me."
Vivian stared at him, shocked at how placidly he took the news, then realised what he'd said last and laughed."That wasn't Ivy Locke at work," she told him, pulling him close and hugging him tightly. "No, that was all Vivian Kaylock. You'd be surprised at how much work the military can do when the Kaylocks ask them for something."
She pulled away, enough to be able to look at him, and said, "But I'm Vivian Northby now, and I have no more secrets. Please forgive me."
He pulled her back into a hug and rested his head on top of her curls. "I don't think you need to ask for it, but I'll give you my forgiveness nonetheless," Joeri replied. "But thank you for trusting me and telling me. I promise to keep your secret safe if need be."
Vivian nuzzled his shoulder. "So, what brings you here? And what did you do today?" she asked him after a peaceful moment, happy it had gone over well. Much better than telling him that other thing, at any rate.
Joeri thought it would be hypocritical of him to accuse her of a hidden identity. If things happened differently, he might be the one who never told her his real name. He smiled as he considered her questions. "Today I went to visit your nephews. I even helped them with riding lessons," he answered, sounding nonchalant. Then he added, in just an equally even tone, "And I told Bertrand everything about what happened at the Rising and my real name."
Vivian stared up at him, shocked. "You...you told Bert? What did he say?"
"Did you know he was there? He even saw me after the explosion," Joeri said, a hint of excitement in his voice and eyes. "He promised to even help me to clear my name."
"I knew he was in Wales then but...he was at Merthyr?!" Vivian exclaimed. "As in, exactly where you were?!"
He nodded, his blue eyes shining in the light. "He read the report of the real Thomas Walker and found me instead," Joeri explained. "But since he was called away for business somewhere else, my report wasn't clarified as me, Joeri Roberts, and instead, I became Thomas Walker in all the confusion." He made sure his voice was low, despite the excitement he felt.
"So...so there was a witness?" Vivian said in disbelief. "And that witness is Bert?"Laughing, she threw her arms around Joeri's neck again and hugged him close. "That's wonderful! That's so wonderful!"
Squeezing her in his embrace, Joeri laughed with her. "I dare not to let myself hope, but perhaps things will turn around for me just this once," he said, his voice rough with emotion.
Still with her arms around his neck, Vivian looked at him adoringly, her green eyes sparkling. "Oh, Joeri." She kissed him, too happy for words.
Joeri kissed her back, sweetly and a hint of a smile on his lips. He didn't dare hope, even when Bertrand reassured him. But telling Vivian made it real, and as he let the truth hit him then, that stubborn ray of hope shone brighter.
Vivian could feel his smile and pulled away laughing. "If I wasn't so happy too I'd tell you to stop smiling so I can kiss you properly," she teased.
He tried to look innocent, but ended up grinning widely. "I'm sorry, my lady," Joeri said, kissing her nose.
Vivian dropped a peck on his nose in return and rested her head on his chest.After such a long day of extreme emotions, she was suddenly exhausted. She shut her eyes momentarily, listening to Joeri's heartbeat and feeling comforted by his warm, sturdy frame around her.
"I love you," she whispered drowsily.
He let himself relax, enjoying her comforting presence. "And I love you, Vivian," Joeri whispered into her hair. He felt the weight lift from his shoulders, and for once, Joeri let thoughts of life beyond the military come to his mind. If he could clear his name, Joeri supposed he'll still be in the military, but at least he'd be able to go home freely, visit Anne and his mother and father. Hopefully, they would take the news well after all these years.
((I thought his mother died?))Vivian mmhm'd happily, then looked up at him. "Do you have anywhere to be tonight?" she asked.
((He doesn't know that! :( ))Joeri looked down, his eyebrows raised. "Not particularly," he said slowly as he thought over his schedule at the inn. "I think my night is free."
She was still getting used to the house and she was all alone in it, and it made strange settling noises at night. Until Bridget came, Vivian wasn't going to sleep easy."I'm a bit scared in this house all by myself," Vivian confessed to Joeri, straightening out his jacket lapel. "Once Bridget gets here, I'll be totally fine but..."
She looked up at him. "It's for nothing more than just so I won't be alone, but...could you stay?"
He smiled, remembering how he and Anne were scared of their own house when they were little. Then he'd tell her stories, acting brave for her, and together they would fall asleep. Joeri reached up to brush her cheek. "Of course. I'll stay," he answered.
After turning down all the lights and making their way up the staircase, Vivian disappeared behind a large screen in her dressing room to change for the night. "You ought to leave clothes over here," she suggested through the woven wicker, peering around it with a smile on her face. She disappeared again completely, shedding her day clothes and stockings and underwear before sliding a cotton shift over her head and wrapping a pale green silk robe around herself.
Stepping out, she put away her clothes and set the underthings into a small basket on the floor of the closet for laundry. After taking a moment to remove her jewellery, she gave her hair a quick brush and cleaned her teeth at her wash stand, then wrapped her arms around Joeri and gave him a hug.
He mmm-ed in agreement. While she was dressing, Joeri took the liberty to remove his jacket and vest, leaving on his white cotton shirt. With her hair down and the green robe making her eyes even brighter, Joeri was amazed, again, at how beautiful she was. He hugged her back. Only a brief inkling of doubt entering the back of his mind, thinking of his dreams and if it would be best to stay. But then he pushed it aside. Perhaps it won't happen tonight, he thought. "Ready for bed, then, my lady?"
"Yes. Just a moment."She turned down the lights in the dressing room and headed into her bedroom. Shrugging off the silk robe in the darkness, she hung it over the back of the chair in front of her vanity table and untucked her bed before sliding in under the sheets on one side.
