An Advanced Victorian Steampunk Roleplay discussion
Characters' Havens
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The Kaylock Twins'
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by
๖ۣۜSαᴙαh, The Supreme Overload
(new)
Jul 02, 2013 12:04PM
Please post an image of what your haven looks like.
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Front hall:
The "Bro Space" - Bertrand and Ben's private space (no wives/girlfriends/sisters/offspring/etc. allowed)
Ben's first stag
Lounge:
Formal dining room:
Family dining room:
Bertrand and Amelia's room:
Ben's room:
Timothy and Carlton's rooms are exactly the same:
Formal/public parlour:
Solarium (if the twins have their "bro space" the rest of the family gets this space):
On the day that they had agreed upon, Ben left his office to go and meet Bert to check out their soon-to-be new home. He had been at work a lot recently--so much so that people were starting to comment on seeing him daily. Ben only grinned and joked with his coworkers but the truth of the matter was he was still trying to keep his mind off of how things were between Bert and himself. Bert seemed genuinely sorry but to Ben that was not even the matter. Bert had nothing to apologize for. It was Ben who needed to turn over a new leaf. And with how well things were going with Iyonna, Ben knew it was only a matter of time before Joseph Kaylock found out about who he was courting and he would have to deal with the inevitable conflict.
So, it just seemed... easier to go into work. Plus the L'Estrange vs. Edwards case was actually quite interesting and Ben found himself musing over the outcome when it went to court. Only a matter of weeks now.
Seeing his new home in sight, Ben nodded in approval and hopped out of the coach once it stopped to find his brother.
Bert grinned as he sat Ben approaching. "Isn't it a grand old place, brother mine?" he said as they hugged. "It's bigger than I remembered."The last time they'd been to this estate was some years before their conjoined departures. The twins were friendly with the Hartleys' oldest son, Brian, whom their father had hoped Vivian would entice eventually. Of course, that hasn't worked out at all. Vivian found Brian too much of a dandy at times.
"I don't want a posh-bottom aristocrat who can't even groom his own horse, Bert."
"He's a fine polo player though, isn't he, Ben?"
"Indeed, Squirt."
"I don't care about how well he plays polo. Can he quote poetry and make me laugh? No."
Bert smiled at the memory.
"It is indeed grand," Ben grinned. "I like it already." They walked up together to the mansion. "How are things?" Ben asked.
"Alright, I suppose," replied Bert. "How are you? ...and how is Iyonna?"
"Good, good, all very good. I've been busy at work," Ben said with a sheepish grin. He removed his hat and rubbed his short red hair.
Bert raised an eyebrow expectantly - an expression so similar to Vivian's - and grinned."The Hartleys are out for a short visit to the Midlands but they've given us free rein to explore to our hearts' content," Bert said. "Remember that excellent lounge Lord Simon had? They've renovated it into an even better one. The billiards table they've got is fantastic...and it'll stay with the house!"
According to Geoffrey and to Simon Hartley, whatever furniture wasn't being shipped over would come with the house's price. And it was a good price, too...especially for how much they were leaving behind.
"Excellent!" Ben said, clapping his brother on the back. "Let us go and all dibs on rooms, shall we?" he grinned.
"There's also an excellent room that I think would suit is quite nicely for us, and nobody else in the household," Bert added with a grin.
"Fantastic. We need one of those."
Bert grinned from ear to ear as they stepped over the threshold and into the front hall. "Can you believe it?" he said in admiration. "All of this, Ben...it's going to be ours."
"I can't wait," Ben admitted. "I've had just about enough of that hotel."
"I think by this point you've outlasted Vivvie's longest stay," Bert laughed. "Did she write to you about that time - probably about two years ago? - when she holed herself up for two weeks after fighting with Father yet again about not wanting to pursue Brian?" He shook his head ruefully. That sister of his...
"I suppose it's not as bad as I'm making it out to be," Ben shrugged. "I guess I'm just looking to... settle down." He frowned inwardly. There was that word again.
"Anywhere that's not a permanent home pales in comparison to the real thing," Bert said sagely. "Especially if you're still trying to figure out where you're going." He paused as the walked down the dark hardwood hallway off to the left of the central staircase to the main dining room. "So you're really considering settling down, then?"
"I am really considering it," Ben told his brother truthfully as his eyes roamed the front hall.
Bert smiled. "Here's the lounge," he said.
Giving his brother a grin of approval, Ben strolled in and admired the room. "Wonderful," he said as he sat down on one of the couches. "Will Amelia want to redecorate at all?" he asked casually.
"She's asked to redecorate the parlour, our chambers, a few of the guest quarters, and the boys' rooms, as well as perhaps the formal dining room and the solarium," Bert replied. "Everything else can stay the same or we can change whatever we want."There were so many rooms in the house that he was surprised she hadn't asked for more.
Ben waved a hand nonchalantly. "She can decorate the entire house--even my room--if she wants. If I don't like it, I'll just tell her to change it."
"Well, at the very least she knows what you like in a room," Bert laughed. As they walked through the rest of the house together, Bert felt quite happy and contented. For once in his life he was getting his way with his father, and it felt good.
"Our ball is apparently going to be the fifth of August," he told Ben as they made their way out onto the rear veranda and down into the garden.
Ben rolled his eyes. "Father made sure to send me a formal invite as well. The invitation said inviting Lord Benedict Gideon Kaylock to Lord Benedict Gideon Kaylock's ball. What a twit," he muttered under his breath.
"Probably to make sure you remembered this time, instead of preparing last minute like you did for Vivian's début." Bert shook his head. That had been a nightmare.
"What is there to prepare?" Ben grinned. "Throw on a suit after you bathe and voila!"
Bert rolled his eyes, but he agreed with his brother. "Speaking of Vivvie," he began tentatively, "it's going to be her birthday soon."
Ben's eyes widened. "Oh, right. I'm surprised she hasn't mentioned it yet."
"She's changed, hasn't she?" Bert remarked. "And she's completely over the moon with her newfound freedom and that Mr Walker."He frowned. "You're right, though. It is a bit surprising that she hasn't mentioned it yet. Have you heard from her in the last few days at all?"
"I called on her a few days ago," Ben reminded his brother. "I'm sure she has a list as long as herself for things she wants present wise. Lord knows she's always been demanding on her birthday."
"A few days ago, yes, but it's been a few days," Bert said pointedly. He had neither heard a peep nor seen a hair of Vivian since he'd dropped in on her with Kathleen. "I have no idea what we should do for her birthday. I don't know what the family did while we were gone...and God knows they're definitely not planning anything this year." "By the way, I called on her too a few days ago, with cousin Kathleen. Did you know she's a magical healer? She fixed Vivvie's arm."
Ben raised an eyebrow in surprise. "A healer? Do you mean to tell me she's a goddamn Irish fairy?" Ben roared with laughter at his own joke. She shook his head. "You saw her actually perform magic?" he added a moment later once he had regained his composure. He frowned then. "Do you think there's any chance she has already found a suitor?"
"In a way, yes - she was spirited away and swapped with a changeling," Bert said. "Second question - yes. It was unsettling. Third question - no. She's pretty much under lock ad key." He paused. "Why? Did you have some reservations about escorting her at the ball?" Bert queried carefully.
Ben shrugged. "Yes and no. I supposed I don't mind." He sighed. "It just would have been nice to enjoy myself without chaperoning," he grinned. "But I don't have a problem with it," he addedly quickly. "I'm more than happy to escort Kathleen. What is her last name again?"
"Brosnahan," Bert supplied. "You know who you ought to consult, if you really want to figure a way out of it?" he asked mischievously.
Ben shook his. "No, I don't want to get out of it." He was done shirking his responsibilities. "I told Father I would escort Miss Brosnahan, and I intend to." He smiled at his brother then and said, "Shall we continue the tour?" they had paused in their walking.
"These gardens are lovely," Bert added. He had the sneaking suspicion that his twin wanted desperately to get out of it, but was holding back for some unknown reason, but he let it go."What do you think of that lawn over there? If we can somehow get it slightly more level it'd be a grand pitch," he said, shading his eyes and pointing.
"I like the sound of that," Ben said with a grin.
Bert shared his twin's smile. "It's a plan, then.""Ought we do something for Vivvie, Ben?"
"Sure, Bert, what do you have in mind?"
"We'll still be at Geoffrey's, I think," Bert began, "but perhaps we could throw her a small party or something like that. It'd be nice for her to still have a small slice of the good life. You know her - a closet full of dresses and needing every small excuse to go and wear one out." He laughed, but his words were sincere."Besides," he added as he realised why they probably hadn't seen or heard from their little sister, "it might cheer her up a bit. Mr Walker's gone back on duty with his new London regiment."
"Ah," Ben nodded sympathetically. "I can imagine she must be pretty upset about that. Just tell me when and where to show up and I will be there."
"Good. And we should buy her an extra special gift or something," Bert suggested. "It's too bad Mr Walker will be on duty during her birthday. Can you imagine how much nicer an evening it would be if he was there? I really do like him, Ben. He seems to bring out the best in her while taming all that wildness she has. Barely, I'll admit, but...it works somehow."
"I like him too," Ben agreed. "It's a good thing he's stationed in London. And yes, just tell me how much I owe you," he grinned. He hated shopping.
He knew Ben would say that. "I'll send Amelia," he joked. "Lord knows she'd probably know better."
"I knew I liked her for a reason," Ben grinned.
Bertrand rolled his eyes. "Apparently we're also getting some horses in with the house and furniture," he told his twin as their course through the gardens brought them naturally to the stables. "Not any of the prizewinners obviously, but you know the Hartleys - anything they've got is in the best taste to begin with. At any rate, we won't have to worry about coaches."
"I'd like to look into some horses specifically for polo," Ben told his brother. "I made Miss Dietrich promise to join a polo team I am forming when she returns from America," he grinned.
"Good idea. I need to find ponies for the boys. Mr Walker got Carl over his fear of large animals when he dropped by to visit them earlier this week," Bert told his twin.
Ben laughed in surprise. "Did he? Man, that boy is a keeper!" He shook his head. "I really miss your boys, Bert. I'm sorry I still haven't had time to pay them a proper visit. That will all change once we're under the same roof," he promised. Then he added, "Maybe I can pass by Geoffrey's with you after we're done here? Are they home? Or will Amelia disapprove since they should be studying right now?"
