An Advanced Victorian Steampunk Roleplay discussion
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The Kaylock Twins'
message 151:
by
๖ۣۜSαᴙαh, The Supreme Overload
(new)
Aug 18, 2013 10:23AM
"That you're sorry and that you want to make amends," Ben shrugged.
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Bert knew that was he had to do but there was something bothering him deeply.And what if she...pushes me away this time?
He drained his glass of whiskey and poured himself another. Bert knew Ben and Amelia were right and the guilt of what he'd done and said to Vivian was weighing heavily on his shoulders. Moreover he hadn't factored in Timmy and Carl asking their mother behind half-closed doors about Vivian. He'd overheard one such conversation the night before and Carl had sounded as though he'd been crying.
"But we miss her, Mummy...why hasn't she come to see us fow so wong?"
"I'm an idiot," Bert said out loud.
"No, you're not," Ben replied. "You're just trying to protect your family. And if she turns you away then you have your answer and you're guilt free," he added to Bert's silent question. "Either way, you'll feel better."
Bert sank down into his chair with a sigh."Why are we all so fucked up?" he asked rhetorically, his tone dry and humourless.
"What...what was the tone of the letter she sent to you?" Bert asked softly.
"Apologetic and defiant at the same time," Ben replied. "I've told you that you can read it if you like," he reminded Bert. "And while I don't want to add to your stress, I've been thinking that I want to leave London." He sipped his brandy, letting his news set in.
Bert looked up, Vivian pushed from his mind at his brother's announcement."Where to?" he asked.
Ben shrugged. "I honestly have no idea... yet." He fiddled with his red ribbon still tied to his wrist and then sighed. Carefully, he relayed the night's events and revelations with and from Melody. "Sounds ridiculous I know, yet... I believe her," he admitted.
"Stranger things have happened," Bert mused with a shrug. "Though...even to us, nothing quite as strange as this," he added admittedly. "What's your gut instinct about all of it?" he queried.
"I feel like if she meant me harm, there'd be no reason to play me like this. I mean, who am I?" Ben shrugged. "No one worth the amount of effort. Leave London and the Kaylock name means absolutely nothing. We are just rich and there are plenty of rich people. No," Ben shook his head, rubbing his short red hair, "I've been given a gift and I don't mean to spit the gift horse in the mouth."
"Then go for it," Bert said simply.
Ben smiled. "And you must do the same."
Bert nodded quietly."I do feel pretty horrible about how I handled it," Bert told his twin after a moment. "I...I reacted how Father does when he hears something he doesn't like." He hung his head, ashamed of his himself.
"Don't beat yourself up over it," Ben said consolingly. "Just do what must be done to make amends."
"Yeah, I know." Bert chuckled half-heartedly. "You do what you need to do, Ben," he said, looking at his brother sternly but with fraternal affection. "I'm behind you all the way."
"Thanks buddy," Ben grinned, sipping his brandy.
Bert managed a small smile and settled back in his chair to finish his whiskey.((end?))
Ben woke the next morning feeling slightly better than he had for the last few weeks. He smiled to himself and, still lying in his bed, he whistled the tune that Melody taught him, thinking about her. He chuckled to himself and thought about how long it would take her to come. Dressing in some casual house clothing, he opened the door to his bedroom and when he saw his butler, he said to him, "I am expecting a guest by the name of Melody. Please show her into the parlor when she arrives."
"Certainly, milord," the butler replied with a small bow.
With a grin on his face, Ben walked to the kitchen to see if there was anything he could eat.
Melody perked up at the tune that whispered past her ears and smiled, getting a tingle of excitement. She got herself prepared before she transported herself to Ben's side. She landed in a kitchen and glanced around spotting Ben. "You called?" She asked with a smile on her face as she leaned against a counter. "Apologies for being late, I had to grab something before I came." She told him. "So may I have your answer now, or would you like to wait till later?" She wondered.
Ben had just taken a sip of his milk when Melody appeared in front of him in her kitchen. Choking, he sprayed the white liquid all over the floor in front of him as he gasped for breath. "Jesus Christ," he muttered. "Excuse me, Melody, I wasn't expecting you... not to knock first," he joked, regaining his composure. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he apologized to Mrs. Patterson who came running into the kicthen to clean up his mess. Seeing the gorgeous blonde who was now sitting at the table in the Kaylock kitchen threw her for a loop but she did not show it. "Er... can I show you the gardens, Melody?" Ben asked hastily, holding out an arm for her to lead her away before the boys and Amelia came running in to investigate.
Melody wrinkled her nose slightly at the sight of milk coming out of orifices that she didn't think it could come out of, before giving a little chuckle of amusement. "Ah yes maybe I should have warned you about that little tid bit of information, sorry." She murmured, glancing over at the lady that came in, offering up her best smile. "Of course." She said, gratefully taking his arm as she rose from her chair, following him out of the kitchen towards the gardens.
"Right this way, my lady," Ben said with a grin, his charming self once again. He was dressed in house clothes but he didn't think Melody would care. Mrs. Patterson raised an eyebrow though behind his back, wondering if the blonde had spent the night. Shaking her head, she wiped up the milk and put Ben's breakfast away. Once they were outside, Ben said, "Do you have a habit of always springing up like that Miss Melody?" he asked with a grin, his blue eyes twinkling.
Melody smiled and strode by his side, giving a small good morning wave to the older lady. She wondered if she was possibly an unwanted intrusion but then thought differently once they reached the garden. "You know you have a very lovely home, from what I've seen so far and an even better garden." She told him. "And in answer to your question yes, if you call me." She smiled. "Now what was your answer to my question? Yes now or later?" She asked.
"Why, thank you," Ben replied. "I'll be sure to give you a grand tour later on once my brother's wife is up and their kids settled in whatever activity she has planned for them. They can be... a handful," he grinned. When they reached a small area of the garden that had a bench, Ben motioned for her to take a seat but he remained standing. Sighing, he rubbed his short red hair and then replied, "I think now is as good a time as any. Before I lose my nerve," he chuckled. "Tell me what I need to do."
Melody smiled and nodded. "I'll be looking forward to it." She told him, becoming more and more curious about his family. "And I'm sure the little mites are adorable." She cooed. She sat as instructed and could feel the tension and nervousness coming off of him. She patted the space next to her and crossed her legs politely. "Well as you already know you tell me your wish, I draw up a contract, you sign it according to what your wish cooensides with and I tell you any rules that may or may not need to be said." She told him with a pleasant smile. "So what is your wish? Or do you not wish for a contract at all?" She wondered.
"I can have a wish granted without signing a contract?" Ben asked, confused, sitting down next to her.
Melody sighed, shaking her head. "Well yes potentionally you could have a wish granted for free but that is only when I feel the person has done something exceptionally worthy of having a free wish, which some people may refer to as miracles." She told him. "But in this case no, you have to have a contract with me to have your wish come true as it were. So as I said, you tell me your wish, I draw up a contract, you sign and then I help." She told him. "Does that sound more reasonable to you?"
Ben nodded with a grin. "Sorry, Melody, forgive my ignorance, this is all just so new to me. I do wish to sign a contract with you." He sighed now and then said, "I know how... silly this might sound but... there is this girl...." he grinned sheepishly now, rubbing his short red hair.
Melody nodded and smiled. "Its ok, don't worry for a mortal you have taken this in rather well compared to others." She reassured, listening carefully to where this wish was going to go. "Ah before you say much more I have to tell you that I cannot make someone fall in love with you, otherwise it takes away their free will. But I can assist in setting up situations in which you can court this lovely lady you have in mind." She told him. "So what is the wish you want to make involving this lady?" She asked.
"Oh, I wouldn't want you to make her fall in love with me," Ben replied with a chuckle. "You see, I was courting her about a month ago and things were going very well until... I found out that she had been keeping something of her past from me." He sighed then and stood up, beginning to pace. "I... I reacted poorly and now she lives in Boston." He shrugged then. "I don't even know what I want, really," he admitted. "All I know is I was happy when I was with her and now that she is gone, I am unhappy."
Melody nodded and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Well so far I understand the situation and what has been going on. But for me to be able to do anything I need you to wish for something a little more specific." She told him. "Unfortunately I am restricted from offering up ideas for the type of wish you want because it would go against the free will rule... don't ask. So you like this girl, she lives in Boston and now what?" She asked.
Ben shrugged, throwing his hands up hopelessly. "I... I don't know," he admitted. "I... I think I want to be with her. Despite everything. I'd move to Boston if I could."
Melody pursed her lips and tried to mull over an idea. "So what I'm hearing is that your wish is to be with this girl." She murmured to herself aloud so it didn't break any rules. She clicked her fingers and a scroll of paper appear beside her. She grabbed the scroll of paper and unraveled it, showing it to him. "This is our contract. Your wish is clearly stated at the top. 'To follow after the girl you like.' Is that correct?" She asked. "The rules to a contract are as stated below:No playing god.
No asking for more wishes.
No stealing someones free will.
No bringing someone back from the dead.
No stealing someone else's wish.
No asking me to kill someone.
etc...." She murmured. "Do you agree to these rules and regulations?" She asked.
Ben's head was starting to spin again. Just the sight of her making a paper appear in front of them magically made him quickly glance around to make sure Amelia and the boys weren't around. He cleared his throat and then said, "Well, specifically, my wish is to be with her happily ever after--until death do us part at our old age, that sort of thing. Does that make sense?"
Melody snapped her fingers in realisation. "Ah! That makes for a better wish. Apologies." She told him, brushing her fingers over the writing of the wish before it wavered and reworded itself. "Your wish is as stated above. 'To marry the girl you love who lives in Boston.' Is this correct?" She asked. "Now to do this sort of wish I can only supply you with the means to fulfil your wish. If your wish, however, cannot be fulfilled then there is nothing I can do."
Ben nodded. "I understand. And yes, that is my wish. To be happily married," he added, unable to shake his legal training.
Melody smiled and added the 'to be happily' onto his wish. "Good now we are getting down to business." She told him, rolling up the scroll from the top leaving the bottom exposed that had a ribbon next to a sign here signature line. "Now to sign this scroll you must kiss the scroll along where your signature would be and then we can get into the swing of things." She smiled. "Please sign and hold for three seconds." She instructed.
Ben laughed, shaking his head. I'm about to sign a contract with a kiss. Let's hope Mrs. Patterson--or worse: Amelia or Bert--aren't watching.Grinning, he leaned forward, keeping his blue eyes on Melody as he did as she intructed. Here goes nothing. He did not pull away until she gave a satisfactory nod. I have nothing to lose....
Melody couldn't help but smile at the look he gave her as he kissed the scroll, but she thought it was better than him having to kiss her, which considering his wish, wouldn't have been appropriate, but she still blushed none the less. Once he was done signing she rolled the scroll up the rest of the way and snapped her fingers before it disappeared. She stood, brushed herself off and bowed. "Your wish is my command. What do you wish for me to do first Master Ben." She asked, standing straight again.
Noticing her blush, Ben winked at her, flattered he could make her do so. "I have no idea," Ben laughed. "I thought you were going to tell me what to do." He rubbed his short red hair with his large hand and was about to put his hand in his trousers pocket when he realized he was still wearing his house clothes and he grinned at her sheepishly. "Well.... I suppose the first thing I would like to know is if Iyonna--that's her name--is still interested in being with me?"
Melody barely smiled and stood to attention watching him as he came up with an idea. She shook her head. "Unfortunately because I have never met the nice young lady I can't track her down, nor am I allowed to infiltrate her thoughts. But if you wish for me to find her and keep watch then all I need is something that belongs to her. I will report back once you call me." She told him, the emotion having flowed out of her.
"Fuck," Ben muttered. He didn't have anything of hers. "What about a letter from her to me? Would that work?"
Melody was a little surprised by his harsh reaction but barely took notice. "Yes a letter should do, it will be faint but I should be able to find her." She assured him, waiting patiently for any other instructions. "Is there anything else you wish me to do Master Ben?"
"Don't call me Master Ben?" he grinned.
Melody gave a short nod. "As you wish Master." She told him. "Where is this letter you wish me to track her with, I will go get it and be on my way if you wish?" She asked.
"I meant don't call me 'Master,'" Ben laughed. "The letter is at my office," he told her. "I can take you there now. Just let me get dressed." He offered Melody his arm again to lead her back inside the house.
Melody nodded in understanding and took his arm at his offer, walking beside him towards the house. "Of course." She told him, wondering why humans had the need to change so often for different events. "Is there anything else you wish of me here before I go off to track your lady?" She asked.
"Er..." Ben replied, thinking. "No, not really. So you said when people make contracts with you, that keeps the demons away, right?" he asked with a small grin but concern in his eyes.
Melody glanced over at him and nodded. "Yes but only for so long, if they are desperate enough they can break our contract and force one upon themselves. You see the only down side to a contract is the fact that the person I make a contract with can control me, almost like their own personal puppet. If you think of the strings as the rules in which we must both abide by then as long as they keep within the rules, anything is possible." She told him, almost robotically. "But demons have a terrible way of distorting the rules..." She trailed off. "Sorry, forget what I said Ma- Ben." She corrected.
"Oh my God, Melody, I'm so sorry," Ben murmured. "Is there... is there anything I can do to help you get out of this lifestyle completely?" He was genuinely concerned and he now felt bad making a contract with her at all, like he was using her.
