Mayfair Manor

[.David Talbot.]

Cyrus and Armand introduced themselves one after the other without getting up. They both had the red hair as witch marks but Cyrus had brown eyes like his sister Dolly Jean and Armand's were as gray as Eleanor's.
Jack made the effort to stand up and offer him his hand when he told him his name. His red hair was lighter than his cousins but it still marked him as one of them. He even had the green eyes to match.
Courtland was the one who greeted him like a true Mayfair. He stood with Antha locked in his arms and made a low bow that almost put her on the floor before he gave him his name. When he sat back down he put Antha right back where she had been and then pulled his arms tightly around her and laid his head against her shoulder. "Learn to speak up," he advised his cousin. "Or you're never going to get a word in edgewise in this family. We like to yell a lot." He gave him a grin that was almost as wicked as anything Antha could manage. "And good god man learn to lighten up. We share a goddamn unbrakeable bond of blood that's going to bind us together for the ******** rest of eternity. You don't have to stare at the floor around us." He was still grinning. There was no anger or frustration just Courtland. It was just how he talked. "After all," he leaned forward over Antha's legs with a broader grin and a twinkle in his eyes that promised he was just as insane as the girl in his lap, "We're in your mind. You don't have the luxury of intimacy issues."
Jack mirrored his laughter and Cyrus and Armand grinned at him. "Attention whore," Jack said as he went to kick his leg. But Courtland was fast enough to draw his legs up into the chair so that they tangled with Antha's.
"You forgot the psychotic part," Cyrus reminded him as he stood and went to Felix to put an arm slowly around his shoulder and draw him further into the room. He knew types like him. Slow movements were key. "Ease up. We're family, after all." He gave Felix a smile that being a father had taught him. It was somewhere between 'the boogeyman doesn't exist' and 'you're being silly'. It was a comforting smile.

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

Antha gave a small sound of shock as she was lifted into the air and then lowered so that her curls brushed the ground, clutching and grabbing at him as if afraid he would drop her. "They're right, Felix," she said when she was safely in the chair again, curled around Courtland like a child with a teddy bear, "Your chain has already begun to form. You are bound to us---to me. Is it so hard to open up a little?"
"We won't bite," Vittorio added very simply while Dolly Jean giggled against his chest.
Eleanor gave Vittorio a long, hard stare. "Don't make promises you can't keep, cousin dearest."
Antha gave a little roll of her eyes at the girl. "Oh, shut up, Eleanor."
"If you're not going to be agreeable," Vittorio chipped in again, "Then you can just leave." It was no secret among the family that of Antha's generation, Eleanor was easily the least liked of them all. She relied too heavily on the bond they shared, imagining they would never throw her out of their favor as long as they were connected by the blood that made them merely many pieces of the whole. As it had turned out, she was quite mistaken.
It was Dolly Jean who did not pick up the faint trace of hostility in the air, despite the words being bandied about the room, and looked up at Vittorio with something like shock on her face. "It's cold," she said to him, and she seemed perfectly mystified that she hadn't noticed it before.

 

[Vikteren]

As Antha disappeared into the house--into the swell of chatter and old magic and family, though she gleamed as brightly to his mind as a new thread in an old tapestry--Vikteren followed behind, remaining a fair distance so as not to be drawn into query. He stayed in the hall outside the library while Antha went in, aware of the tangle of names and faces and overwhelming personality seeping from the room; and wishing to remain separate of it. He'd seen how Antha's brother had reacted to him; he had no such suicidal desire to invoke the entire family's dislike.
And the vampire felt peaceful in the hall. The house was old and elegantly constructed, and it seemed natural to him, like the aristocratic manses of past centuries.
He closed his eyes and leaned back, ever so slightly, against the wall, listening to their voices within.

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

For a few moments, tangled up with Courtland as if they would knot themselves together, Antha wanted nothing more than to go stand in the hall with Vikteren. After all that had taken place in the day so far, she wanted nothing more than some small bit of peace. But she was here for Felix, to keep them from overwhelming him, and she couldn't leave.
However, she wasn't the only one with the idea. When Dolly Jean felt she had had enough of them for a few moments, she gathered her courage and dashed across the room, through the door into the hallway, closing the door behind her to keep the madness inside and the quiet outside. Of course she hadn't thought she would find Vikteren outside the door, but it came as no great shock. She had seen him in yard and it registered in her mind somewhere that she hadn't seen him anywhere but beside her cousin before.
"I know you," she said softly as she settled down on the floor across the hall from him, her legs pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around herself, "You came before. With Antha." She let herself lean forward a few inches, slowly, giving him those childish big brown eyes, and let her voice fall to a whisper. "Oncle Julien says you live with her now. He was yelling at Malakai because Malakai likes you. Malakai says it's because you're a vampire, and because as long as you're around she'll never marry Claire Leonelli." She paused to cast her eyes once around the hall, looking for someone perhaps, and then continued, her tone more secretive, confidential. "Do you not like Claire? I don't either. He scares me."

 

[.David Talbot.]

"Shut up Eleanor," Courtland and Jack echoed Antha. Cyrus and Armand sat quietly glaring at her.
"Take a seat," Courtland suggested with a gesture to the nearest chair.
Cyrus smiled at him. "Tell us something about yourself. Where have you been all this time? Who's your mother? What brought you here now?"
"What were you and Antha doing before you got here?" Armand added with a suggestive smirk.
Cyrus reached over Jack to punch his brother's arm. "It's none of your business what they did or didn't do."
"Yeah!" Jack agreed. His tone was sarcastic and he was grinning as he punched Armand in the same place. Harder though.
While they were talking the door opened. Julien stood there staring at them all in turn. He had had time to compose himself again and it showed. "Do you children ever try to keep your hormones in check?" he asked with an irritated glance at Antha and Courtland.
"You're one to talk," Courtland replied in a childish mimic with a glance at Felix.
"If that isn't the whore calling the kettle black," Jack snorted.
"You can't tell us to keep our hormones in check when you've never tried," Armand snapped.

 

[Goblin In A Suit]

Kain had followed Antha into the Libary not knowing what else to do but he knew he didn't want to stay out side. Kain didn't respond at all to what they said but heard every word. So far he seemed to be invisable to them. That was fine by him. He looked at all the books in awe. He almost couldn't wait to start looking through all of them, but he had to stay polite.  

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

For a few moments, tangled up with Courtland as if they would knot themselves together, Antha wanted nothing more than to go stand in the hall with Vikteren. After all that had taken place in the day so far, she wanted nothing more than some small bit of peace. But she was here for Felix, to keep them from overwhelming him, and she couldn't leave.
However, she wasn't the only one with the idea. When Dolly Jean felt she had had enough of them for a few moments, she gathered her courage and dashed across the room, through the door into the hallway, closing the door behind her to keep the madness inside and the quiet outside. Of course she hadn't thought she would find Vikteren outside the door, but it came as no great shock. She had seen him in yard and it registered in her mind somewhere that she hadn't seen him anywhere but beside her cousin before.
"I know you," she said softly as she settled down on the floor across the hall from him, her legs pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around herself, "You came before. With Antha." She let herself lean forward a few inches, slowly, giving him those childish big brown eyes, and let her voice fall to a whisper. "Oncle Julien says you live with her now. He was yelling at Malakai because Malakai likes you. Malakai says it's because you're a vampire, and because as long as you're around she'll never marry Claire Leonelli." She paused to cast her eyes once around the hall, looking for someone perhaps, and then continued, her tone more secretive, confidential. "Do you not like Claire? I don't either. He scares me."

She slunk across the hall from him, pressed her spine to the wall. Vikteren supposed that he didn't blame her.
She hardly seemed one of the Mayfairs at all. Her eyes were too wide, and though she spoke as though she carried secrets, it was in the incongruous manner of a child's. And no child would ever remain one for long, were they forced to carry secrets in such a family. It seemed incongruous.
The vampire looked back at her, unreservedly, with eyes as green as a cat's. "I don't know who Claire Leonelli is. I've never met him." he said straight-forwardly. "And we're not...quite living together." Certainly a little over two nights didn't constitute moving in with Antha, did it?

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"What do you want, Oncle Julien?" were the first irritated words from Antha's mouth, "If it escaped your attention, we're a little busy, so could you make this fast?" She let her head fall to the side to stare at him, her gaze quite far from friendly, but pressed herself a little more against Courtland, trying to further irritate him.
Meanwhile, DollyJean sat quietly for a few moments, a vague smile on her face that was reminiscent of Antha. It was a sad smile, but it promised she understood something. It was not a look that was often seen on her face. "I'm weak-minded," she explained, "The doctors said that it's a genetic deficiency. Antha says it's because we interbreed." Almost the moment the words were out of her mouth, the smile changed, becoming something shy and childish again. "I don't understand things like other people do. My cousins have to explain them to me. If someone's not with me, I get confused and get lost. But I keep our secrets. Even if I have to try really, really hard, I never betray the family. Antha says as long as it stays that way, she'll always be proud of me." Her eyes shifted for a moment, looking at the door that had closed behind Julien, and her voice returned to a whisper. "Antha's smiling different today. She looks...happier." There was something in her eyes as she spoke, her voice even, that said she credited him with this change.

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix was bombarded by the sudden onslaught of questions. He was going to try and answer each one in due time when Julien came in the room. And it didn't seem like a time to answer now after Antha asked what he wanted. Felixed turned to Julien and waited for his answer. Since Felix was the nexest Mayfair here that wasn't an infant, he wonder briefly if it was about him.  

[.David Talbot.]

Julien groaned. He ran his hand once through his hair and just stared at Antha until he had his words perfectly planned out. "Mon dieu! I am so tired of this Antha. So very tired." He paused just to look at Felix and point to the nearest chair. "Sit down Felix. You're making me nervous."
"He's been in this family one day," Jack hissed in his most outraged voice, "You can't order him around."
Julien gave a wave of his hand like he'd brush him aside. "Antha listen to me. This has gone far enough. You are our Designee of the Legacy! Does that mean nothing to you? You come home with a different vampire or lycan or Talamascan every month and try to outrage me. You clash with Sleet like it's a game until suddenly we can't find you for days and he returns you in a bloody heap. Today you found another Mayfair boy and brought him here without ever telling me a thing. It cannot go on like this Antha. For once please just act like you are a respectable Designee of the Legacy. Act like you don't have a deathwish! I am in charge of you and I am putting a stop to it right now."
His ranting stopped long enough to turn to Felix and say much more gently, "You will have to excuse us Felix. As you will learn every fight between my niece and myself is battle and we do little but fight."
Jack stood up as if his rage wouldn't let him sit still. It took Armand and Cyrus both holding one of his legs to keep him from going to Julien and doing somethign stupid. "You're not head of the family! What right do you have to go ordering anyone around?"

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix looked between the people that were speaking. It seemed the many of his cousins didn't like Julien. Felix hasn't known him long enough to hate him yet, but then again, Felix didn't like him either. Paying the chair Julien pointed to a glance, Felix shook his head and looked back to Julien. "No thanks, sir. I prefer to stand."

And that was actually the truth. While standing he was alert, aware of his surrounding and able to react quicker. If he needed to sit, it was to focus harder on something. And out of everything that he's seen his cousins do, Felix would rather be alert and ready to react.  

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"What do you want, Oncle Julien?" were the first irritated words from Antha's mouth, "If it escaped your attention, we're a little busy, so could you make this fast?" She let her head fall to the side to stare at him, her gaze quite far from friendly, but pressed herself a little more against Courtland, trying to further irritate him.
Meanwhile, DollyJean sat quietly for a few moments, a vague smile on her face that was reminiscent of Antha. It was a sad smile, but it promised she understood something. It was not a look that was often seen on her face. "I'm weak-minded," she explained, "The doctors said that it's a genetic deficiency. Antha says it's because we interbreed." Almost the moment the words were out of her mouth, the smile changed, becoming something shy and childish again. "I don't understand things like other people do. My cousins have to explain them to me. If someone's not with me, I get confused and get lost. But I keep our secrets. Even if I have to try really, really hard, I never betray the family. Antha says as long as it stays that way, she'll always be proud of me." Her eyes shifted for a moment, looking at the door that had closed behind Julien, and her voice returned to a whisper. "Antha's smiling different today. She looks...happier." There was something in her eyes as she spoke, her voice even, that said she credited him with this change.

He was silent for a moment, listening to the voices in the room beyond.
"...Act like you don't have a deathwish!..."
Vikteren returned his gaze to Dolly Jean, with a wan, crooked smile of his own. "Then I am surprised. She has had a very...trying...night."
Even though she seemed a little lost, a little unclear, the vampire found himself rather inclined to like the girl. She didn't seem stupid, merely...simple, in a very complicated world.
And she had picked that errant thought from his mind like a loose thread, without seeming to even try, one of the signs of a skilled empath.

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

Dolly Jean let her head fall as she remained silent for a moment, listening to Antha's voice like a small child would listen to their parents fighting. "I don't know your name," she said finally, looking up at the vampire, "Julien never said it. He kept calling you 'that vampire'." Again she was silent for a moment, listening to the voices, until something registered in her mind that hadn't before. "If you don't live with Antha, why are you always with her? You were with her in the graveyard, weren't you? And at the Talamasca motherhouse and Le Cirque du Graal Rouge, and here twice. Antha's never spent that much time with someone all at once before. She even got tired of Nicolae after a couple of days." She stood in one fluid movement, clasping her hands behind her back and swaying slightly as she stood, like a child who can't seem to keep still. Immediately her cheeks flushed and she turned a gaze to him that was apologetic. "No one in this family goes anywhere with anyone without everyone else knowing about it, especially Antha."
For a long moment, Antha stayed still, staring at him. 'Glaring' wasn't a descriptive enough word for the look she gave him, for the depth of hate that seeped through the emerald green of her eyes. Finally, she rose, walking up to Julien until there was but a few inches between them, her entire body tense with anger.
Vittorio was the one who went to her, going only close enough to hold her hand and keep her from striking him. "Listen very closely to me, Oncle Julien," she said slowly, carefully, shaking Vittorio's hand off of her own, "You do not control me. I do not answer to you. If you want to continue whining and complaining about me then go ahead, I don't give a damn. But the next time you try to order me around, I swear I will make your life a living hell. Anything you ever decide you want to do, I will forbid it, any order you make when you become head of the family, I will contest it. Anything that ever goes wrong in your life---and it will begin to happen much more frequently, I assure you---you can look back on this moment and remember that I warned you. Because if you will remember, Julien, as Designee of the Legacy, I own you. You answer to me, not the other way around. Do we have an understanding?"
The moment she was done speaking, she reached behind her, grabbing for Vittorio's hand, which he gave her, because if she didn't hold onto something, someone, she was going to hit him, and the force of her fury could very well kill him. The umbra didn't know right from wrong, after all, they just knew her emotions, and Antha had taken all she could from Julien. Any more would leave him dead. "Now, I suggest you go downstairs and do no bother me again. This is my house, after all, and I reserve the right to throw you out when I absolutely cannot stand your presence any longer."

 

[.David Talbot.]

"You can say what you like but you are still my charge and I still have influence in this family. Your court of demented cousins is not all there is to this family. They are a small piece of it! And I am not going to let you ruin the rest of us so that you can have your fun and games. You have come too close already and next time I think you'll fall too far into insanity to bring them back to their senses!"
He turned angrily and went for the door. He stopped in the middle of turning the doorknob to look back at her and say slowly, "Stefan and I had a talk. We both decided that if you won't choose your own husband then we will choose one for you. Mark my words little brat princess, you will be married in one month whether you like it or not. We need an heir out of you damn it. Or would you rather see everyone destroyed because you don't want to settle down?"
Jack had time to hurl a book at his head as he left but Julien closed the door behind him in its path. He gave the vampire a judgemental look as he spoke to Dolly Jean. "Same goes for you. How do the lot of you expect this family to carry on when all of you refuse to settle down?" He gave one angry sigh and stomped down the stairs and into the parlor.
Cyrus sat staring at the door after he was gone. "I'm glad he doesn't bother me," he said. "I've done my part for the family. I have a daughter and I've slept with the Designee of the Legacy. That's all the contribution they can ask for."

 

[Vikteren]

The vampire watched Julien's back, retreating down the hall, with a completely stoic expression.
It was unfortunate, but he couldn't exactly say that he was surprised.
He looked over at Dolly Jean, shook his head half-heartedly, and then addressed Antha.
I retract my former opinion. I don't like him much, either.