black_wolf (black_wolf) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-09-04 14:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | lucien swinton, maggie swinton, una nicnevin |
Who: Lucien Swinton, Una Nicnevin, Maggie Swinton
What: Lucien and Una attempt to maintain their grace aboard an airship. Maggie does so with a far greater degree of success.
Where: Una and Cassius's engagement party
When: 27 August, 1888 [slight backdate]
Lucien wasn’t quite sure how he felt about airships.
Then again, he hadn’t spent much time in one.
More precisely, until this weekend, not any. But one did not turn down an invitation from the veritable forces of nature that consisted of the Baroness Balmore and Lord Ravensworth (and what he thought of that particular pairing was another topic upon which he did not know how he felt).
So here he was, floating in mid-air, and doing his best to not seem overly disconcerted despite the decidedly unnatural nature of it all. He tried not to stray too close to the edge -- he’d done so once, and it made him decidedly green about the face.
At least Maggie seemed to be enjoying herself -- she was laughing with a cluster of people, animated and bright and utterly at ease, and he couldn’t help but admire her. Having looked briefly at the food selection and decided that while it was no end of lovely, he had no appetite for it due to his stomach still doing flip-flops, he was currently debating whether to go over and bask in his wife’s warmth for a little, despite the fact that she was currently rather daringly close to a railing, or swing by to check in with Bertie, whose presence also settled his nerves somewhat.
The airship had too much metal in it to suit Una's taste, but she had bravely decided to go up and look round anyway, if only because she refused to give into her fears. She'd chosen a divided skirt in the Balmore tartan on the grounds she might choose to climb the ladder between dances and recitals. Now that she'd achieved her goal, it was making her teeth itch to stay so high and on such an unnatural device. But still, she meant to see, and be seen.
And there was Lord Black, speaking of people who needed to see her, and to whom she needed to be gracious. Una made her way over to him, smiling. "Lord Black. Such a pleasure to have you with us today. I appreciate your coming."
The Baroness was a veritable woman, a force of nature, and Lucien never failed to feel exceedingly young and no end of stupid in her presence. His Pack adhered to the Old Ways scrupulously -- a bowl of milk or wine and bread every night, on every stoop, and the rituals of the year were followed as they had been for a millennia (and would, under his watch, continue). He had a healthy respect for the Sidhe as a result -- he could practically smell the weight of their power and years, and while he’d developed what he would modestly term a friendly understanding of sorts with Conall, he’d still bend knee without hesitation if the man asked.
He exposed his neck in deference, and extended a hand. “Lady,” he said, “I was deeply honored by your invitation, and that of your intended. Your taste, as always, astounds.” He tried not to look as unsteady on his feet as he felt, despite the airship’s smooth path.
"You're too kind," she replied, which covered a multitude of answers, and the corners of her mouth turned up. In this company Una didn't feel the need to keep her glamours so strong that other supernaturals couldn't see her as she was, and the smile betrayed the slight points on her teeth. "Our gathering is blessed by your company. And how fares your lady wife this evening?" Etiquette demanded the question. Not that she thought less of the woman, but Una preferred to ask women how they fared on their own for the most part.
“She seems to be enjoying herself quite well, Lady,” Lucien replied. “She has a great deal more experience with Airships, than I,” he added, shooting Maggie a quick glance. “She certainly doesn’t seem as if she realizes she’s floating in midair,” he said, with a little bit of a smile. “I would be honored to make introductions, when convenient,” he added. “She is…” he looked over at his wife again, and lost himself for a moment in the flash of her eyes as she laughed. “She is extraordinary,” he finally settled with, turning back to the Baroness.
Realizing he was being a touch overly effusive, he colored a little. “I did quite appreciate your singing earlier, it was beautifully done,” he said. “I hope you are able to take the opportunity to enjoy your own celebration, as well as be such a gracious hostess.”
Even though Una knew Lucien would have said as much had she been a terrible singer, she smiled at his praise. "You're too kind. But part of my enjoyment is in speaking with my guests and making new acquaintances. Of course I should love to meet your wife this evening, but pray do not interrupt her if she is busy. And I am delighted to see you so happy in your marriage. I hope that the Earl and I will follow in your footsteps in that way." Her smile was a blessing offered to the youth. Lucien might be Cassius' rival, but she could wish him and his wife well with grace.
This caused a nearly imperceptible pause before Lucien replied with, “I hope you all happiness and joy, Lady. Lord Ravensworth is a respected colleague, and a brilliant mind. I’ve no doubt you’ve found an excellent match in one another.”
From what he could overhear thus far, he knew Cassius was avoiding political conversation, and figured it would be crass to do so with his bride-to-be, so he left it at that.
He couldn’t help but think of their marriage in political terms -- a merger of two incredibly powerful entities, one of whom was decidedly not in Lucien’s corner on most issues. Such an open support of the vampires by such a high ranking Sidhe was… he wasn’t sure whether to be baffled, offended, troubled, or a mixture of all three. But Mac was here, and seemed to be lending his support to it, so the least he could do was accept it gracefully.
"Your courtesy is unparalleled, as always." It was one of the rote phrases Una used in place of the forbidden words of thanks. They would hardly have driven a Sidhe so old and powerful as Una or Mac away, but it was a habit for Una to avoid them nonetheless. "I hope that now that the Earl and I are to be married that we shall all see more of each other. I intend to continue entertaining regularly after the wedding and to include a broad circle in the company. Generally those affairs will be a little less wild than this evening, however," she added, offering a wry smile and a glance down at the boat, where there was dancing in a style old enough that Lucien might not remember it from his own youth.
Lucien followed the Baroness’s glance, and very nearly turned green again as his stomach swooped at the drop.
He cleared his throat a little, reaching for a railing. “Well,” he managed, “there’s something to be said for that. And I should be quite gratified for the opportunity.”
The cluster of people Maggie had been holding court with seemed to be splitting off and re-circulating, and he could see her looking his way. He smiled, invitingly, and raised a hand in acknowledgement.
“Lady,” he said, looking back at Una, “I wouldn’t wish to keep you from the rest of your guests, but would you do me the great honor of meeting my wife just now? I do believe she’s free.”
"It would be my very great pleasure," Una replied, and offered her arm so Lucien could lead her to Maggie.
Maggie was having a great time.
Airships didn't bother her, they'd been a part of her world ever since her family had returned to New York after spending her early years out west when she was a girl. On top of that, being friends with Biddie meant she'd been on airships several times since coming to England. So she felt just as comfortable in their viewing decks as she was on a London promenade.
On top of that were all the new people, music and poetry she’d been exposed to that evening. Listening to the Sidhe Lord Conall sing had almost brought tears to her eyes, his voice had been so beautiful.
She spotted Lucien approach with their hostess and curtsied in Una’s direction as they drew near. “Lady Una, please let me express my gratitude for your kind invitation to your party. Lucien and I have had a wonderful time this evening.”
All right, so she was lying a little.
She’d been having a wonderful time, Luce was put off kilter by the entire affair besides his unfamiliarity with Airships. Maggie knew he'd struggled so far and touched his arm as she came to his side, giving a reassuring smile.
Lucien looked over at her with an expression that was clearly fond, the line in his shoulders relaxing as she patted his arm. “I’ll admit, I’m more than a little envious of your ease up here, my dear,” he said, smiling. “Your footing is far surer than mine.”
"Oh, the pleasure is ours, having all of your company, Lady Black. And I'm delighted that you've lured your husband up to the airship. I, like Lord Black, am a little less certain of the footing," Una confessed, for all that her glamours concealed any greenness around the gills she might be feeling. "Have you travelled much by airship?"
“I have an unfair advantage Lady,” Maggie replied with a smile. “I can’t remember a time when airships weren’t crossing the continents and oceans, while for both of you the invention happened in the blink of an eye. My father’s railroad company also invested in airships and my first ride was from San Francisco to New York as a little girl. Since then I’ve travelled on them several times, including to come to this beautiful and ancient country.” She glanced at the shore and gave a little laugh. “Most of your buildings are older than my country, some even older than Columbus.”
"Things change quickly in this modern age," Una agreed. "It's good to see youth and energy such as yours in the leading ranks of society. Many of us are set in our ways until something comes along to shake us up. Like airships or railroads. Or the printing press in its day. We elderly folk shall adapt; we always do. Don't we, Lord Black?" Her expression was teasing; she knew Lord Black considered himself young. And he very much was, but Una preferred not to think on how young most of those attending the affair were.
When Lucien had first taken his father’s seat at the House of Shadows, he’d been barely over thirty, he knew there’d been some members who’d called him the Infant Phenomenon -- there were so many who’d marked time in centuries rather than years, and even now, he hadn’t yet passed his first century.
With Maggie at his elbow, he felt a touch more grounded, and Una’s playful expression surprised a laugh out of him. “Yes, well,” he said, looking fondly at his wife, “a younger, more agile partner can certainly help to bridge that gap.”
He wondered at the dynamic between Lady Nicnevin and Cassius -- the age range was far greater in their case, and her rank outmatched his by leagues. While Cassius no doubt benefitted greatly from the arrangement, he supposed it took a certain degree of humility for the man to enter into a relationship with a fiance so obviously out of his league.
That, or an excess of confidence.
He suspected the latter.