Emily Miliona (darkfacade) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-03-28 09:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, emily miliona, genevieve albrecht |
Who: Emily Milona & Genevieve Albrecht
When: Pieces 24 [backdated]
Where: Morning Glory Café
What: Emily and Genevieve have a chat over brunch and discuss weddings of all kinds.
Rating: Low
Progress: Complete
Emily arrived a little earlier to the Morning Glory Café where she and Vivi arranged to meet a few days prior. The earthquake that shook the Nobles District and left a large hole in its wake now found its way into conversation less and less. Funny how something like that could happen and soon people were moving on and nearly forgetting it happened. Back to the gossip and hearsay that proved far more interesting. The efforts to repair would be under way and nobody seemed to suffer any serious harm. The worst people experienced were some superficial wounds, maybe some injured pride, and a loss of fragile goods that fell off shelves in the quake. Now there were other things to talk about. Like the upcoming nuptials for Lady Alys Coulombe to Lod Basil Norwood. She knew Alys through Cormac, though not very well. They'd attended the party where she went from Audrey to Alys, and Emily suspected that the invitation she received had more to do with Cormac's connection to Alys. Weddings were more for the family and the guests than it was for the actual bride or groom, despite what people said. The waiter arrived with Emily's water and Genevieve in his company. Emily immediately stood with a smile on her face, "Lady Albrecht, I'm glad you were able to come." Nobles were often far busier than most people believed them to be. “Good afternoon, Lady Miliona,” she returned, taking a seat. The waiter retreated quickly, coming back with a second glass of water for Genevieve. She took a sip of it and placed it on the table in front of her. She had not seen much of Emily since her return from the dead - something that had been easily forgotten, what with the multitude of circumstances plaguing the city at any given time - and she took this time to give the younger woman a good look. She looked no different from the last time they had met, shortly before Emily’s death - perhaps a little older, a little more self-assured, but ultimately untouched by time. “I apologize if I kept you waiting,” she said after a moment. “I ran into a bit of an ordeal at the florist.” The florist had attempted to raise the prices of the already ordered centerpieces, seeming to have seen some sort of opportunity to turn more of a profit. It had taken all of Genevieve’s patience to not strangle the man (or perhaps Poison him; Ophion’s lessons surely were not meant to deal with minor annoyances) where he’d stood. The problem had been sorted, but the damage had been done; there were several other florists that would be quite happy to see her part with her gil. “I hope you have been well?” "I did not wait long," Emily said politely to Genevieve as she sat herself, "I have just been perusing the menu to see what they have here. It's been some time since my last visit here, but I do remember enjoying any and everything I ever ordered from here." The mention of the florist caught her interest, and she allowed it to show on her face was patient curiosity. Taking her glass of water to her lips, she wet them with a small sip and then place it back down upon the table. She then looked at Genevieve with an inquiring smile, "So, a florist. I take it the plans for Lady Coulombe's wedding are well under way? Has she chosen a dress? A place where she will be having it?" There were plenty of places to get married and a cathedral made it rather picturesque. "The wedding is rather sudden though," she added, "But perhaps they have known each other for some time and did not wish to wait long." But Cormac looked so puzzled, actually, his exact words were probably best not repeated in polite company. Genevieve retrieved her menu and looked over its contents; perhaps she would have poached eggs with cauliflower. It sounded delightful enough. “They are,” she confirmed, replacing the menu on the table. “Of course, there are still a multitude of things to do. I believe Alys will be making use of a seamstress in my acquaintance for her gown.” She shook her head; the least she could do was provide Audrey with a beautiful dress for what was likely to be an unpleasant experience. “The ceremony shall take place at the Cathedral." “Speaking of weddings, I’ve not heard any word on your engagement to Cormac,” she remarked, casting a curious glance across the table. It had been a minor scandal at the time of their betrothal, marked poignantly by her supposed death. Now that she had returned, Genevieve’s assumption had been that they would carry on as before. Cormac had always been exceedingly fond of Emily, and she doubted that time would have tempered the emotion. "I'm sure she'll look lovely," Emily said turning her focus briefly to her own menu. She'd maybe have a scone with some jam. It sounded reasonable enough and she wasn't terribly hungry for now. She might order more if it didn't satisfy. Her eyebrows perked up about her own engagement to Cormac and she smiled softly. "There are a few hurdles right now," she admitted, as it was nothing new to anyone that was aware of it. Her parents "entertained" her engagement, but before, and even now, they acted as if she would grow out of it. Grow out of it, ha. "Our engagement is in tact," she went on, "but we hope to marry within the next year. Whether or not my parents approve will not stop it from happening. I love Cormac." Everything she'd done was for him and because of him. He was both her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. Funny how these things happened. While she swore to Cormac she wouldn't kill anyone again, she knew she'd do it again if someone dared to threaten him. Thankfully, Genevieve wasn't the type to have Emily take that sort of action. She looked down at her menu bashfully, "But soon. We've spoken about it during our holiday. Where, what it will be like, who we will invite. Good things to look forward to now that the plague is behind us." Emily's gaze lifted to meet Genevieve's with a sunny smile. How queer. She had surely thought that plans had been in motion since Emily’s return. “If your parents are unwilling to provide assistance, do let me know if I can help.” It would give her great joy to watch Cormac wince whenever she came around, and though the preparations were tedious, she found that she was enjoying them. Not quite enough to wish to do it always, or even to suffer through it for herself, but surely offering a helping hand here and there would be sufficient? The waiter reappeared to take their orders, and Genevieve placed hers. While Emily ordered, she sipped her water, idly thinking of whether or not a second wedding was planned much like the first. Her mother had, of course, taken the reins upon Genevieve’s second (unwanted) engagement. Of course, it was all for naught. Genevieve was once again minus a betrothal, a state of affairs that suited her far better than one that left her a parcel to be placed with a new recipient. What, though, would she say were Reinholdt to propose marriage? She honestly could not say. "Thank you, Genevieve," Emily smiled softly, "I just...well, no matter. I'm sure by the time everything is settled, I'll more than likely require your help in some regard. I have so many ideas of what I want to do, and I have an idea of where to look, but it would be good to have guidance as to where to go and to whom I should speak." Until her parents were taken care of, however, the wedding would be on hold. Cormac didn't seem to mind as much, and she was grateful for that. Especially after the whole "dead" thing. After placing their orders, she was content in drinking some more water and observed Genevieve who appeared to be pondering something. "Is something on your mind?" she asked out of curiosity, "It's just...you looked like you were thinking about something. Was it more about Lady Alys's wedding?" She knew that Genevieve was an efficient woman, and it wouldn't surprise her if she was still running through matters concerning the wedding. But, it was always good to ask just in case Emily might hear something else that could prove diverting. Or useful. She looked up, brought back to the present by Emily’s question. “Hmm? Oh,” she said, shaking her head. “I fear that my mind is a whirl with all that has yet to be accomplished. There is far more that goes into a wedding than my initial presumption had anticipated.” Still, it would not do to lose herself to her thoughts in the company of those that she did not trust. Emily Miliona may not be someone who would be a threat in most circumstances, but a bit of wariness had to be allowed for those who returned from the dead. “Now, you must tell me what you have been up to.” Nothing of interest, it would seem. "Well, the wedding feels a bit away, but it will sneak up before you know it." She wanted to ask more about Alys and whoever this Basil Norwood was. Her parents didn't seem to have too strong of an inclination to care about it. Normally they were all a flutter about this sort of thing, but perhaps Basil Norwood wasn't a noble of great consequence to their designs. "Me?" Emily looked surprised, "Well, I have just been...here, I suppose. Not here in this café, but adjusting to being back in Emillion. I assist at Cormac's clinic when I get the chance, and we went on a holiday for his birthday. Otherwise, it would seem that the plague kept me away from outdoors at Cormac's insistence, and the venture I made to try to help with the cure led to quite the adventure." It would seem that she was reacting more to Emillion than Emillion reacting to her. Which was good in many ways. She idly took a lock of hair, and smoothed her fingers over the soft curve of the wave. Almost like she'd been caught being inappropriately, she dropped the curl and then rested her hands on her lap, "My most recent calamity was the quake that thankfully didn't cause any real damage to my parents' home. A crack here and there, but it's been surveyed and some light maintenance fixed it right up. What of yourself? Other than Lady Alys's wedding announcement, I'm sure you've been busy." “I hope your holiday went well,” she said once Emily had finished summarizing the most recent months. She did not comment on the quake - it was such that had presented the opportunity for their meeting - but nodded in understanding. There had been more damage than initially thought; fortunately, it was centered around the rear of the estate which saw little use. She had yet to speak with Audrey to know the extent to the guest house, but she was anticipating a fair amount in repairs. It was fortunate that she had many streams of revenue. “Aside from some light traveling and keeping the tavern running, I fear the life of the elderly noblewoman is quite dull,” she remarked. “I assume that, had I children, there would be more excitement, but it is simply me. Alys and Juliette have their own lives to attend to.” And she would have it no other way. She wanted them to have that which she did not - freedom. "Elderly?" Emily looked aghast, "You are hardly elderly." Sure, Genevieve was probably a few years her own senior, but Emily found the obsession with youth that people had to be...disturbing. She knew how it worked, and in her younger days used it to her advantage, but Emily knew that as soon as you hit a certain age, many people believed that a woman became less useful or desirable. Genevieve seemed to be doing well for herself though, and with two young wards she had under her wing, as well as a tavern, she was hardly slowing down. Emily shook her head as if the whole idea of Genevieve being elderly was utter nonsense, "I am sure that Alys and Juliette serve much easier to handle than young children. But children do grow up." The idea of children never entered Emily's mind. She never spoke about it with Cormac, but she never sought to seek the topic either. She smiled softly as the waiter arrived with their food, placing it before each of them before he went to take care of others, "How do you feel about Alys's upcoming marriage? What do you think of Lord Norwood? I am sadly unfamiliar with him." Genevieve laughed. “It is refreshing to hear that,” she remarked honestly. “It seems that, to many in our class, I am well beyond my expiration date.” It had not escaped her notice that the gossips had begun to flock in force, whispering about her barren womb and unlikely decision to take guardianship of Alys and Juliette. It was still a sore subject, as she had always pictured having children of her own. Circumstances had decreed otherwise, and by now, despite the assurance of her mother and a cadre of white mages that Olena had consulted with, she was far too old to consider such an endeavor. She wanted to query as to how well Emily was acquainted with Alys, but held back the question. It wouldn’t do to make the young noblewoman suspicious. “It was of her own volition, and therefore I cannot be happier for her.” She picked up her knife and fork, cutting into her food; it wouldn’t do for it to cool before she had a chance to enjoy it. “As for Lord Norwood, he is a rather timid man, utterly harmless. A bit of a doddering fool, but kind enough.” At least, such was the image he presented. “I do think that he will make an appropriate groom for Alys.” "So long as he treats her right, and that he loves her, I cannot imagine a happier union to have," Emily said. The Emily that everyone knew was a romantic, but she knew how these noble marriages worked. You married for convenience, to secure station and fortune, and to maintain the rules of society. Nobles rarely married for love, but Emily was supposed to be that person that held out for love to be part of the equation. Naive and well-meaning, that was her public shtick. She wanted to find out more about this Norwood fellow though. "I am sure he has his merits. Not everyone is blessed with wit and intelligence," Emily said, trying to pick out favorable traits, "What he might lack in some areas, he will make up in others." There was a hopeful smile on her face now. Emily took her fork and daintily cut some of her egg, bringing the piece to her mouth to eat. She chewed a little and after swallowing asked, "Where will the two be living once they are married? Does he have an estate?" It always struck her - the romantic naivete of those born to privilege. She had not wanted to marry, for love or otherwise, but she had known it would happen eventually. Her best hope had been that he be kind and as unobtrusive as possible. She did not desire a meddlesome spouse. In many regards, she had been lucky with Alistair. He had been everything that she had needed, and he had been far more patient than she suspected many would have been in his position. The eggs were slightly overcooked. She took another bite regardless. “Perhaps,” she allowed. “Their acquaintance has been a happy one, at any rate. He is unfailingly kind and easy to get along with. He understands that she was not raised to have the same mindset as you or I. It is perhaps his most redeeming feature, that,” she mused. Miles knew Audrey well from what she could gather. And her assumption was that her ward trusted the thief to do right by their agreement. Miles was a man of his word, though he was not above finding loopholes; that was, perhaps, what worried her most. “I am uncertain as to the living arrangements. I expect they will move into his apartment. He is nobility from out of the city, and so does not have a proper estate,” she explained, knowing it to be vastly uncommon to not have procured one within the city limits. "Oh?" Emily was interested in that. Out of town nobles were less known and it's likely why she had no idea who he was. Her head tilted with curiosity, "Where is he from?" She'd done quite a bit of traveling. The farther away she went, the more likely she would not be recognized. But that didn't mean she sat around doing nothing for five years. She'd trained, and also, she'd learned about who was there. The nobles she needed to avoid. But there were other parts of Ivalice she never got to. She continued to eat her food in appropriate bite sizes. "I suppose it is good for her to marry someone not from here," she said thoughtfully, "Not because the people here aren't good, but...I suppose it's refreshing to have something from far away. Will they be doing anything where he is from? Will his family be traveling very far?" “He is still Valendian, but from the vineyard region,” she answered. Idly, she cut her food into bite sized pieces, occasionally spearing one with her fork to chew. By now, at least half of her eggs had been consumed; she was not sure if she would be able to finish the last of it. It had been quite some time since she’d had such subpar eggs julienne. “If I am to remember correctly, his parents are deceased. I an uncertain as to whether he retains any…” she paused, eating another bit of egg before continuing “family. And as Juliette is nearing her class exam, it would be unwise to pull her for such a long a trip.” She did not feel the need to point out that Audrey would not wish to go alone for several reasons. Emily never made it to Valendia, so he was not someone familiar to her. With the name unfamiliar she brushed aside the thought of who this Lord Norwood was. Instead she focused on her meal. Her food was of moderate enjoyment. It certainly wasn't the best breakfast she had but it wasn't the worse either. She set aside the eggs for her scone, cutting it precisely and then spreading some butter over the warm interior. "Oh," she paused and nodded solemnly, "The poor man." Genevieve then explained the situation with Juliette and if she was not to go, then it would not be wise for Audrey to go either. She nodded again, "The last thing she needs is that sort of distraction. I imagine the wedding will be enough of that, traveling would only make it worse." She took a piece of the scone off and gently placed it into her mouth. After swallowing she went on, "Which class will she be taking the examination for?" Genevieve made no comment in regards to the sad state of Basil’s affairs; she had been taught that if she was better off saying naught at all had she nothing pleasant to say. Instead, she finished what she felt appropriate of her meal and took a sip of water, allowing the conversation to turn to Juliette. “It would be quite distracting,” she agreed. “I believe she shall be taking the class examination for monk.” It was a rather interesting choice, but it was one that Juliette had made for herself, therefore one to be respected. She had just been relieved that the girl had not chosen a class where she would have far more contact with Genevieve’s siblings than was necessary. Her elder brothers were quite content to play at roles, and were rather vocal about roles and duties. Juliette had had enough lecture from the Demiels, she was sure. The waiter reappeared and Genevieve requested the check. “My treat,” she told Emily. Not every luncheon or brunch could afford Emily with copious amounts of information . What she did know and learn maybe be useful to know later. This Lord Norwood sounded quaint and utterly boring, and the wedding sounded like it would go off as every other wedding might go. It would be lovely, and pretty, and given Alys's adorable little face, there was likely to be something girlish about it. Maybe it was an unfair assumption, but it was still what Emily expected. She looked to Genevieve, "You are very kind. It is a pity that it is ending. But you have things to do and I believe I am to go see if Cormac requires any assistance." She had become a staple of his clinic, not just there to spend time with her fiancée but also giving a hand around. "It's been a pleasure, Lady Genevieve," Emily said, "I'm glad we were finally able to do this. I know it's been some time since we said we wanted to and I'm grateful we could work it out." Genevieve smiled and stood. “I do hope you have a pleasant day, Emily. I shall look forward to seeing you and Cormac at the engagement ball.” With an incline of her head, she turned to walk away. There were still things to be done, and, sadly, they would not attend to themselves. |