(it's no problem!)
Amelia swallowed, bowing her head. "I'm sorry, father. I was just wondering," she hastily apologized, stomach twisting. Her father sighed, pinning her down with a look. "Yes, we've made accommodations for them." His words held a hidden meaning; that this had better be the last suitor, because they were staying for the month and that was that.
Lord Swan gestured over a servant, and pointed to Jonathan and Valentina. "Take them to the west wing (idk how manors work). Amelia, go with them. I trust that you will not become too… intimate with our guest before the courting starts." The two shared an apprehensive look.
"Go on," Lord Rembrandt encouraged, nodding at his children. Jonathan shrugged and was the first one to move, heavy sword swinging at his side.
(lol me neither)
Amelia's face flushed at the comment, and she trained her eyes on the ground, swallowing. "Yes, father." She was the second to get up, motioning for the Rembrandt siblings to follow her. Oh god, I hope Jonathan didn't take that to mean that I'm– naughty. Oh god.
Once they were safely out of sight from the adults, Valentina wiggled her eyebrows. "Jonathan, you naughty boy. I didn't know that you participated in hedonism," she whispered.
"That would be you, if you could get away with it," Jonathan muttered back.
Amelia blushed furiously at the comment leading the way through the hallways. "I– I don't think it would be proper– to do anything– I'm sorry if it offends you, Jonathan but I'm not particularly comfortable with intimacy."
"No, that's alright," Jonathan said quickly. "I'm a firm believer of purity until marriage, unlike my sister."
Valentina pretended to look insulted, placing one fluttering hand on her chest and leaning back. "Me? Never."
Amelia's eyebrows shot up, her eyes darting to Valentina. Truth be told, she didn't exactly look like….. well, a virgin. "I see," she said, swallowing again. Then, deciding to partake in a bit of fun and tease her suitor, she dipped her head close to Valentina's ear. "How many times?"
"Four," Valentina whispered back, trying to ignore Amelia's warm breath on her cheek. "And those are just the ones that Jonathan knows about. Why, do you want some advice?"
Amelia almost choked on her response, holding her hands behind her back and sneaking a glance at Jonathan. "Just curious, it seemed to irk him, which I found funny.."
"Well, I do have a habit of messing around… places that I’m not supposed to be inside of,” Valentina said, trailing her fingers up Amelia’s arm and giving a small smirk.
The two jumped apart when Jonathan suddenly made a loud cough, glaring at Valentina. “None of this… nonsense here, okay, Len?” he said, hastily drawing Valentina aside. “I know that Father thinks that it’s just a phase, but you have to snap out of it before you’re burned at the stake. I’m your brother! All I want is what is best for you.”
Amelia drifted to the opposite side of the hall, unsure of why her arm was suddenly tingling. She glanced back at the siblings, who seemed to be engaged in an angry conversation. Feeling like she was intruding, she forced her gaze to the carpet. What is wrong with you? Stop right now.
"Look, I can't help it if she's cute," Valentina whispered, annoyed. "And I know that you just want what's best for me, but I know what I'm doing. I know what will happen if I get caught. You're not my keeper, and it's definitely not just a phase." She looked around, suddenly realizing that her voice had risen to a half-yell, half-normal tone. "You don't even like her anyway. You're just doing what Father tells you. So shove off, Jonathan."
Amelia couldn't help but over hear the tail end of Valentina's sentence. "…You're not my keeper, Jonathan. And it's definitely not a phase."
What on earth could she mean by that? Amelia furrowed her brow, thoroughly confused by Valentine Rembrandt. Not a phase? What?
Valentina and Jonathan returned, cheeks flushed and refusing to look at one another. "Sorry about the argument," Jonathan said, struggling to keep any remaining bitterness from leaking into his voice. "It was rather trivial. Now, on to the bedrooms, shall we?" He then realized what he said and flushed a bright red. "No, not like that, I mean-"
Valentina rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face. "Don't give her a free baby, Jonathan. No one needs one of those little nightmares."
Amelia flushed once again, biting her bottom lip. "I hope your argument has been resolved. And– um– It's fine, Jonathan, I understood what you meant. Careful to keep her eyes fixed on his face and not Valentina's she continued to lead the way, passing several ghosts, until they finally arrived at two adjoining bedrooms in the West Wing. "The one on the left is for you, Jonathan, and the one on the right is yours, Valentina. My room is just down the hall, the one with the brass lion knocker. I'll leave you two to get settled."
Valentina dipped a small curtsy, and Jonathan bowed as well. "Thank you," he said, turning away. "It was lovely to meet you, Lady Swan."
"You too," she returned, sinking into an elegant curtsy before leaving for her chambers. Once safely inside, Amelia shut the door behind her, locked it, and sank down to the floor, trying to collect her thoughts before any ghosts made an appearance.
Valentina dragged Jonathan into her chambers once Amelia was gone, slamming the door. "Lord, that girl is beautiful! I'm so jealous of you…"
Jonathan shifted in his seat. "That's very nice and all, Valentina, but don't you remember that sodomy is a sin in the Bible? You know how uncomfortable it makes me feel…"
"So is eating seafood, and I don't see you denying the chance for some good shrimp whenever the fishermen barter with our cook," Valentina retorted, sinking down on the bed. "Jonathan, I think I'm in love."
(do you want to be jon for a bit? he's not evil, just thick-headed)
(yeah sure, feel free to let me know if I'm rping with him wrong. Also that is one of my favourite arguments against homophobia)
Jonathan groaned, slapping his forehead. "Len, you just met her. It's barely been an hour– and besides, I'm the one trying to court her. How are you going to explain this to father? And also, she's probably not even– not even into girls!"
Amelia inhaled deeply, methodically sorting through her thoughts. Jonathan did seem nice, probably on the better end of the spectrum of suitors she had received, but… something felt off. Not about him– but about his sister. She didn't know what or why, but she felt all… tingly and peculiar when looking at her. And it was extremely confusing.
Jonathan groaned, slapping his forehead. "Len, you just met her. It's barely been an hour– and besides, I'm the one trying to court her. How are you going to explain this to father? And also, she's probably not even– not even into girls!"
"Well, it's not necessarily love yet," Valentina said thoughtfully, sitting up. "More like a feeling of intense attraction that involves, yes, taking off her clothes and doing immensely sinful things together, but it's also just spending time together, taking long walks in the garden and sharing meals together. Maybe in another life, I could have been the one courting her, not you. We'll see about the 'you're actually the one trying to marry her' part later."
Jonathan let out an exasperated sigh, sitting down on the bed beside her. "Val…. come on, you can't take this from me. Maybe I'm not experiencing attraction quite yet, but she's the best bet I have so far for a wife, not just status-wise. For once, could you just keep your hands off of a pretty girl you've set your eyes on and.. maybe let me try? I think this could really work."
Letting out a groan of frustration, she pushed herself to her feet and drifted around the room, unsure what to do with herself. Humming a tune, she eventually sat down at the harp and began absentmindedly trailing her fingers over strings to improvise a dreamy melody.
Jonathan let out an exasperated sigh, sitting down on the bed beside her. "Val…. come on, you can't take this from me. Maybe I'm not experiencing attraction quite yet, but she's the best bet I have so far for a wife, not just status-wise. For once, could you just keep your hands off of a pretty girl you've set your eyes on and.. maybe let me try? I think this could really work."
Valentina gave him a dubious look, then sighed. "Fine. But don't expect me to fix everything when all of your cheesy courting tactics go to hell. If you really like her… then I'll try to step back. Just this once. And don't expect any favors from me in the future."
Jonathan smiled a little. “Thank you. I don’t suppose asking for you to lay off even if I don’t end up liking her is a request you’ll take to kindly, so I’ll take what I can get.”
The song helped ease her nerves, and eventually she was in a calm enough state that when the first ghosts began to materialize, she felt no apprehension whatsoever. “Good morning,” she hummed to a small child, moving towards her vanity.
Just then, the window blew open, and a small bottle fell off of the vanity. Jonathan glanced uneasily outside, where there was not even a breath of wind. He made a quick cross over his chest. "Why are you so frightened? Do you think that this place is haunted?" Valentina asked.
(hehe)
Jonathan scowled at her moving to firmly shut and lock it again. "There have been rumours….. I don't know, nothing major, but better safe than sorry. He righted the bottle on the vanity, glancing nervously around the room to ensure that there was nothing… off.
The child drifted after her, looking up with large, sad eyes. "Miss," he said, moving to tug on her dress. His hand passed right through, but he didn't seem to notice. "Miss, where am I? Are you a ghost? You look like a ghost." He couldn't have been more than six, maybe seven. Amelia knelt down next to him. "I'm not sure," she started in a soothing voice. "I'm Amelia, who are you?" The child paused to think.
"Charlie. I think my name is Charlie."
Valentina scoffed. "You are too superstitious for your own good, brother. God may exist, but until I see a spirit that won't give in to the human temptation of pulling jests on us 'frail beings,' then I have no cause to believe in them."
Jonathan rolled his eyes, crossing the room to check the door. "I'm not superstitious. Just…. cautious, that's all. And you, sister, aren't cautious enough. Whether it pertains to every single pretty maid in the manor or ghosts."
"Hello, Charlie." The little ghost tried on a smile. "Hullo. Where– Where is my sist– where…… that's funny…" Charlie frowned. "I don't remember."
Amelia quickly took action before the child got upset. "Charlie, do you know where you need to be?" This was a good start, it helped to give the spirits a sense of purpose so that they didn't lose their way.
Charlie shook his head.
"There's a nursery just a few corridors down," she smiled, "Take three lefts. There might be other children there too. Can you do that for me?" Charlie nodded. "Yes miss. Thank you, miss."
(bump)
(sorry my grandpa in korea died and i've been really busy)
Jonathan rolled his eyes, crossing the room to check the door. "I'm not superstitious. Just…. cautious, that's all. And you, sister, aren't cautious enough. Whether it pertains to every single pretty maid in the manor or ghosts."
"No, I think you're just a coward," Valentina teased. "And even if ghosts did exist, I would pray to them to take me instead. I'm sick of this life. Oh, woe is me!" She placed a hand dramatically on her forehead and pretended to faint.
(Oh my god I’m so sorry for your loss)
Jonathan glared at her, pushing his hair out of his forehead with one hand and locking the door with the other. “Very funny, Valentina. Hilarious.”
