Leah Allen (leahallen) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-07-11 18:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | gabriel allen, leah allen |
Who: Leah and Gabriel
What: Leah returns home
Where: The Allen residence
When: Backdated to 3 July
Ratings/warnings: PG for talk of sexual situations.
The last week at Miss Lydia’s had felt like a month, with Leah counting down the hours until she was off probation and able to walk out of the brothel without actually quitting. There had been times when she’d been sorely tempted to do just that, especially in the first week or two, but she had to admit being able to feed regularly was doing wonders for her. She felt healthier and more energetic than she had since she’d manifested.
Her father had been right. She couldn’t continue on like she had before she started at Miss Lydia’s. But staying there wasn’t going to work long term for her. The idea of someone choosing her like a side of beef and paying for the privilege, it was humiliating. The fact that some women didn’t have any better option than to sell themselves like that was infuriating, and eventually she would be unable to hide that fury.
So. She was going to need to work on alternatives for herself, and work on the cause of making sure one day no woman would have to sell her body to keep herself or her family fed.
But that was for later. Right now was being free of Miss Lydia’s for a few days and being herself again instead of Vicky Smith. She stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the family home once more.
Gabriel had heard the carriage pull up, and was stepping out of the house to meet her, smiling widely. He'd been by often enough during her month there, but they'd had to be careful to not be overly familiar, and it did his heart glad to see her in her usual fine clothes.
“Kitten,” he called out, and then picked her up in his arms to swing her around, kissing her cheek. “Welcome back home again, my darling girl. Come in, come in, can I fetch you some tea?”
“Papa,” she put her arms around him as he swung her and laughed, happy to be herself around him again without having to worry about giving herself away. “Tea sounds wonderful.”
She allowed herself to be maneuvered into the house, and looked at it with fresh eyes after being away for a month. The expensive but tasteful furnishings and decorations reminding her once again of how very lucky she was to have been born into a family with means.
“It’s so good to be home. I’ve missed you, and the animals too.”
“Your Blackie has been in mourning all month,” he replied with a laugh as he brought the tray over and poured, adding extra sugar to hers.
He passed her a cup and saucer, fixing his own before settling in his usual chair. “The house has been an empty cavern, and I've been miserable rattling around in it.” He sighed a little, looking over at her over the rim of his cup. “So, my brilliant girl, what do you suggest we do, now that you've explored that particular option?”
He knew she'd chafed a little at Miss Lydia’s while under probation, but she had more freedom now to come and go -- but he could see her deciding to leave it altogether and take a less fraught path.
“Regardless,” he added, taking a sip of his tea, “I think it might serve you well if we circulated a touch more in more liberal circles, among those who would be aware of what we are.” Liaisons among that crowd were certainly easier for him, perhaps she'd find a likewise agreeable stable of dependable partners.
“I would agree with that.” Leah nodded, setting down her tea. “I have a much better understanding of that option now than I did a month ago, and it won’t be a long term solution for me.” For one it was extraordinarily risky even with her ‘Vicky Smith’ persona. There was always a chance, albeit small, that someone who knew her would come to the Academy and spot her. Better to find a way to establish ways outside of prostitution to gain the nourishment she craved.
“More liberal circles would be ideal.” She knew it wouldn’t be as easy for her as it was for her father, but she was going to have to try.
He nodded. “I’ll make inquiries at the Club about getting you a membership of your own, and in the meantime, I’ll make certain you accompany me to the sort of parties where you might find company that is less likely to judge.”
A thought occurred, and he looked over at her, critically. “And you might meet Anne. I think you’d do well to talk to her. And you’d also do well if you made her a mentor of sorts.” While she didn’t hold much sway in the House of Shadows as the sole demon representative, she was someone Gabriel respected greatly, a venerable succubus who was a century his senior, and who reminded him (painfully at times) of his dearly departed mother -- a formidable woman -- a woman who’d gained standing and power in her own right.
He didn’t see Anne often, but he knew she’d accept if he requested a meeting.
Leah raised an eyebrow. “It would have been nice if that idea had occurred to one of us before now.” She brought her teacup to her lips for a sip, wondering if there had been any reasons her father hadn’t mentioned it prior to today as well as wishing it had occurred to her. But she’d been focused on her studies and making do with servants until after graduation and the incident with the stable boy had caused her father to put his foot down.
At the time neither of them had been thinking beyond the immediate problem. Now that she had some breathing room perhaps it was time to think more long term. A club membership would be helpful, having Anne as a mentor, assuming she’d agree, would be tremendously helpful. “Do you think she’d be willing to help?”
“I do,” he replied. “She takes her duties seriously, and I’d imagine she’s got her fair share of responsibilities, but one of those responsibilities is to her constituents -- and we have enough of a history to warrant a favor or two. You’d do well to pick her brain -- she’s ambitious, and has navigated through waters that were no doubt even choppier than yours have been.”
He wished at that moment that his mother and Leah’s mother had still been alive -- he missed them both fiercely, and saw so much of them in the determined tilt of his daughter’s chin and the fierce intelligence in her eyes. He sighed and nodded his head at her remark. “I’ll admit,” he said, quietly, “I acted on impulse, and was pulling at straws, going with what was known and immediate. I was… I am worried about you, kitten. About your future, about your health, and I want desperately to provide every opportunity for you. And I acted while frustrated, and angry, which is never a good state to be in.” He took a sip of tea. “To be fair,” he added, “you were stubborn enough to insist on following through -- which is partially to your credit, but I did suggest finding some regular lovers as well, I do recall,” he added with a small smile.
“Forgive me?” He added, quietly. “I visited your mother’s gravestone last week, and had a long conversation with her, and I have no doubt she was rolling her eyes at our jumping into this half-cocked without thinking it through, but I am trying my best, dear heart.”
“I know you are, Papa.” Mollified, she reached over across the table to pat his hand. “There’s nothing to forgive. I was the one who took the idea and ran with it, and I might be the slightest bit stubborn at times. Can’t imagine where I get that from.” She winked at him and then sat back with a sigh.
She wished she’d been able to know her mother and paternal grandmother. Her mother’s family was nice enough, but she didn’t see them often and it wasn’t the same.
“I think trying to find a few discreet lovers is probably my best option. It’s so blasted frustrating, having to tiptoe around everyone and not just be able to do what I need and want, all because I happen to have been born female.”
“Damn right,” Gabriel replied, heartily. “I daresay, circumstances might be getting decidedly less restrictive from century to century, and on their current trajectory, I expect you’ll be around for a great deal more progress than I could possibly imagine, but for the time being…” he sighed. “We must make do with what we have. And I think that situation might be happiest for all parties, if you can make it work.”
He paused, raising an eyebrow. “There’s also the matter of whether you’ll be open to suitors any time soon in our more human circles. I suppose it helps that I’m seen as a touch continental -- and as you’re college educated and have your own fortune, that carries with it a certain amount of eccentricity that can allow for some time and space, if you need it, but people may talk.” He frowned a little. “They’ll probably talk regardless. Heavens knows I’m sure they’ll manage to find fault with something.”
“I'm sure there are a few that think I should be married with a few children by now.” Leah sighed and picked up her tea again. “I’m not opposed to the idea, in theory. But it would take a very open minded human indeed to understand what I am and what I need. Most of the young men I know don't show the slightest inclination that way. Of course it could be that such things aren't talked about where I can hear them.”
She took a sip of tea then raised an eyebrow at her father. “You haven't been beating off any suitors on my behalf have you? Now that I've finished school I'm surprised I haven't had anyone approach.”
“Leah, my darling, look at you. I’ve had to cultivate an aura of ‘overprotective papa’ for years now, and a few young things have had their hearts quite thoroughly broken. None that you’ve shown an honest interest in, from what I could tell, and most you haven’t even known particularly well -- they’re just all a flutter over your beauty, and leave it at that.” He paused. “There are, of course, other less conventional solutions -- a man who primarily prefers men, for instance -- or a fellow demon -- you’d both have your secrets that could be quite damaging could it come out, and would both want to look elsewhere for purposes of pleasure and sustenance, but if you got along reasonably well as friends, it could be a blessing to you both.” He shrugged. “And perhaps one of those lovers you find might be suitable -- aware of your nature, and reasonably capable of circulating in society. You have your own money, so you don’t have to necessarily marry to improve your status… and, well.” He frowned a little in thought. “If you wish to not marry at all, you most certainly could go that route.”
He took his own tea and held it for a moment. “If someone you genuinely want to give it a try with does come along,” he added with a slight smile, “do let me know, so I don’t immediately start showing him the door, will you?”
“Of course.” Leah nodded thoughtfully. All of those were options to consider and see what direction things played out. “Ideally I’d like to find something similar to what you had with Mama, but we’ll have to see what develops. I’ve plenty of time after all. For now I’d be happy just to establish enough arrangements that allow me to leave Miss Lydia’s once and for all.”
She wanted love and a family, eventually, but if she was going to live for centuries there was no rush. The father of the man for her might not have even been born yet, let alone the man himself. Whatever happened in that regard would happen.
Gabriel nodded, and reached over to give her hand an affectionate squeeze. “Your mother was a uniquely understanding soul, and I miss her. Incredibly so. And I very much hope you can find a partner who supports your needs, who loves you for who you are, not despite it, and who respects your brilliance and independence. Stubbornness and all. You are a force to be reckoned with, and I have no doubt you’ll move mountains in your time here on earth. Whoever’s at your side will be incredibly lucky to be there as witness to it.”
A sudden look of wistfulness passed over his face. “Do you know,” he said, quietly, “I treasured the time I was able to have with my own mother during those golden years when we were both adults in our prime. There’s nothing quite like having a family member who is also a friend, a confidante, a stable presence.”
Taking a sip of his tea, he smiled fondly at his child, still so very young, so full of promise -- he wanted to be there for her for as long as he could, to see what she could make of her future, even though he knew she’d far outlive him. He cleared his throat. “God willing, you and me might have a nice go at it ourselves for a nice long while.”