Escorting To Class (Open)

[William Forrester]

TS: Morning of the 1st Cycle, 8th Brightening of Ponutis, Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post-Fractum

Standing by the door of their townhouse William found himself slouching and leaning against the doorway for short moment before he heard granny yell from the kitchen. "Stand up straight right this moment and don't let me catch you leaning!" Nearly falling over due to the shock William stumbled a moment before finally catching his footing and standing tall. Looking back and forth towards the kitchen he saw no one, how she had seen him he had absolutely no idea. He had no response to her, but that was probably best. And Josephine, like usual, was running behind.

Finally, rushing around the corner the short, but surely not petite Josephine appeared wearing a green dress. With a bounce to her step she handed William her bag as she walked out the door saying her goodbyes to granny in the process. Leaving the townhouse right behind her William closed the door and walked slowly, taking no effort to catch up as he knew eventually she would return by his side. Turning she walked backwards away from him with a smile, "Twice you were yelled at granny this morning, starting off real well." She really loved to mock him, and loved much more so to be the cause of getting him in trouble. "Don't think I forgot who was the one that got me in trouble." He could not prevent the smile that formed, she could never make him angry.

Laughing at that comment Josephine turned and walked away forcing him to catch up yet again. Their townhouse wasn't too far away from the school, but unfortunately they were forced to walk by the markets and businesses of the wealthier citizens of the city. This had always caused much delay as Josephine would go off somewhere and he would have to track her down. However, that wasn't going to happen today he assurred himself and stayed very close to her as they passed through the crowds. Then, all of a sudden he lost sight of her for a moment as she went through a crowd that he had to go around. Losing sight of her altogether William stopped in place and looked around. Where had she gone? What a headache she was.

[Isadora de Lunette]

"You look as if you've lost something." Isadora came up alongside of William's elbow, her small mouth pulled into something of an amused smile...a smile she seemed to bear often enough. She did not gaze about the crowded street for any sign of his sister, but instead looked directly at him, hands clasped before her, chin lifting slightly. As ever, her maidservant stood just behind her, a plump and aging shadow. "Was that Josephine I saw?" She seemed oblivious to the fact that it was Josephine was what he had lost...or perhaps just deliberately getting in the way. The former seemed more realistic.

She'd spotted him shortly before his sister had wandered away from his side, having been walking along the road towards the twin townhouses that acted as the local schools for well-to-do youngsters. She had no intentions of stepping foot within the doors of Snowden-Montague, not that brightening, but she went mostly to get a gander at the school next door...and not to gawk, but to scout out the potential of finding someone willing enough to teach her to use a sword of some sort. Not that Anastasie knew this; the old woman wouldn't have approved and would have found someway to prevent Isadora her seemingly aimless wanderings.

The decision to approach William had been an abrupt one. He seemed to take no pleasure in her company in the slightest, but there he was, looking utterly lost. She almost felt sorry for him in that moment. She knew the drama in his family, knew it if only because her sister wrote her about it...how could she not feel poorly for him when he'd been disinherited? Still, he had a tongue to be wary of and though their families were tied with marriage, there was no love there; William seemed to pulse animosity.

"I'm sorry to have missed her. It would have been nice to speak with her again," she added somewhat gently, not wishing to incur any wrath.

[William Forrester]

This was the last thing he needed right now, a voice in his ear when he was trying to look for his sister who often acted like a little child when surrounded in things she liked. She wanted to see everything immediately and without thought she would leave the world and everyone she was with behind. William did not turn to face her but he knew exactly who had approached him when he had looked out the corner of his eye. Isadora. Wonderful. He did not respond to her question about Josephine for he knew the exact direction she had come, opposite from where Josephine headed. Last thing he needed right now.

He was sure Josephine would eventually find her way to classes, but he had her books. Ignoring her for as long as possible as he looked about but did not move from that spot in case Josephine would return on her own. Finally, he could not take her talking anymore and turned to face Isadora who seemed so intent on chatting with him. What reason she would want to chat with him after how rude he had been to her again and again on purpose he did not know. She was nearly as bad as Josephine. Actually, she was worse for he did not like her at all whereas he cared for Josephine most of all in this world.

"I understand you are trying to be friendly and such, but I really do not need it right at this moment. Josephine bounded off like usual leaving me here looking for her, carrying her books of course. Is there something you wanted?"

William could not deny that he at least liked looking at her for she was very beautiful. Maybe she had caught him looking at her from the distance many times and thus found it in herself to come and speak with him whenever she could? He had absolutely no idea. The truth that he looked at her in such a way and would even fantisize about her during the day and dream of her at night was one fact he would try as hard as possible to not let her know such a reality. Why he disliked her so much outwardly was something he could not describe, but the fact that her sister, who at one point was he had been interested in and later married to his brother, who he hated, may be a very big reason why.

[Isadora de Lunette]

Isadora's smile faltered slightly. She hadn't truly been expecting anything other than the response she had obtained, but prepared for it or not, she had been hoping he might at least try to be polite at one time or another. He was distracted, she knew it, and began to wish she'd just left things be and continued her walk without interruption. Still, she'd approached him and she was perhaps stubborn enough not to waiver; her smile reappeared quickly.

"I simply came to see what had you in such distress," she offered after a moment, true enough in its way for he had looked confused and more than just a little nervous standing there. "It wouldn't do if I say family ill-at-ease and yet just walked by, don't you think, brother?" She put a slight emphasis on the word, as if finding it some form of enjoyment in pointing it out...when all she merely meant to do was remind them that they were kin in some form or another and she was merely trying to be polite.

She looked around her then, at the faces in the crowd and the glimpses of store walls she saw beyond those faces. "Perhaps you should consider allowing your sister to hold her books. Then you wouldn't have to worry over chasing her." Another slight pause, her smile faltering somewhat.

"I was heading in that direction anyhow. If you like, I can bring them there for you." He'd been rude and yet despite that, her voice had remained calm and steady and she hadn't backed down, perturbed as she might have been with the cold reception. She could not help that he disliked her, truly had no idea for the reason of it, but she'd be damned if she let herself follow the self-same route of cold tone or angry words. "Or perhaps I can help you find her? I was in no rush to be anywhere." She'd have rather not, but in the face of being polite, it only seemed the respectful thing to suggest.

[William Forrester]

Isadora was seemingly try to chose her words quite carefully and come off as being friendly, but she should have known much better than to call him brother. They may be related, but it was only by marriage, and not one he was in favor of. Plus, the fact that he looked at her in another way did not make the brother mention all that appealing as well. "You smile far too much, especially when the situation does not warrant it. And do not call me brother ever again." His interest in her only went so far, and it had nothing to do with her personality. At times like this he though up all he could muster to get her to go away.

Suddenly though, William laughed slightly at her comment about how it would probably be best if Josephine carried her books. The laugh quickly faded though, as it seemed her good humor was fading as well by his not so wonderful personality. He had turned away facing her during the laugh to try and hide it as much as possible, but looking back at her again as she now asked if she could be of assistance it was far too much. She was being far too inviting of her friendly services, he did not like such help when not asked for it. How presumptious of her, that help was necessary.

He had to be bold, maybe to get her to finally leave him alone. He knew not simple harsh words would do it, nor would a simple no thanks, and outright violence towards women wasn't his thing nor would it play well at all. Finally, he decided on a course and took it without hesitation. His attention focused back on her he allowed a sly smile on his face and his eyes to trace her body. Stepping forward he took her by the wrist in his left hand pulling it to him as he pulled her to him allowing his lips to nearly touch the skin as he moved them to her left ear.

"Listen, I do not want your help, nor do I even like you as a friend, the only interest in you that I have is .....", he said, going on to whisper the most sexual things that usually are not even said or done in the bedroom. They would even make a much older, sexually experienced woman blush a deep red. Much of what he said could also be considered of such an odd, fiesty, aggressive nature that it was a true detail of how Forrester's liked to treat their women they bedded in the bedroom. He wasn't all that different from his father and brother like he would have one believe.

He did not step back through all of this, instead he still held her wrist firm, but not too hard. He hoped that this would have caused her to try and break free, which eventually he would allow but without much challenge.

[Isadora de Lunette]

Isadora's composure remained stoic as he attacked her smile and bid her not call him brother. She supposed she could take no offense in his preference in refusing the title for they were, truly, not siblings. Not by blood. "If that's what you wish," she murmured her assent, feeling suddenly like she wanted to turn about and leave, the desire to do so pulsing through her.

Yet she didn't move, stubborn in her resolve, and watching him with now open wariness...a wariness that increased somewhat as he laughed. It was not the sort of laugh that heralded good humor, but something...she couldn't quite put her finger on what that something actually was. She shifted slightly to catch the eyes of Anastasie as William turned aside, the maidservant hovering nearby, nervous and discomforted; Stasie did not like William.

Thus she was not paying much mind as William suddenly stepped towards her and grabbed at her wrist, jerking her forth with such movement that it brought her up against him, her wrist pained with the grip. She gasped and behind her Anastasie called out in surprise, reaching out a hand to Isadora as if to grab at the waist of her dress. She arched away from him only to go rigid as she felt his breath on her skin. It wasn't a pleasant feeling for her nerves were suddenly high strung, her heart pounding with a surge of fear as she remained clutched, unable to pull back. And then he whispered and first she blanched at the content of his words, a white pallor that ripened into a heated red across her cheeks.

When his grip loosened some and his whispers stopped she took a step back, but rather than free herself immediately, her right hand rose and struck through the air to hit his cheek. Only then did she jerk her wrist from his grasp, Anastasie's arms going around her with a cry of relief. "It is no wonder your father disinherited you." Her voice was sharp, stinging...she was still clearly rattled by his boldness. "Do not touch me like that again."

"Dora, come away." Anastasie grasped Isadora carefully by the arm, urging her away and Isadora did turn then, warily and very carefully, her whole body shaking. No one had ever treated her so roughly before--no one. It was a strange thing to have knowledge of--that someone had so crassly grabbed her, spoken thusly, holding her against her will. She had no wish to repeat it.

[William Forrester]

The power he felt at that moment and the flow of adrenaline from his course of action was truly a new feeling, a new calling. He had never done something like that before, not to a mere commoner, and especially not to a noble woman. It was a invigorating experience, the fear he caused though with the strong feeling of sexuality of being so dominant over such a young beautiful woman. Interesting. At first he had not wanted it to go this far nor had he expected her reaction to be like this, but obviously he hadn't thought too much into it.

As she pulled back once, and then twice he reached out with his lips to kiss her cheek right by her ear but she finally broke free, obviously very scared of what had just happened and how he had touched her. He saw what was coming, but that made it even more sick, for he did not stop the attack as he could have. Instead, he allowed the slap to come and hit his face, taking the force and turning his head with the blow to lessen the effect. However, it did not take too much away from the pain that occurred. He took a joy in it even though he hissed at the effect of the pain going through him. Turning back to face her he didn't have a face of shock, but instead smiled and raised his hand to his cheek to find one of her nails had actually pierced the skin and drew a small trace of blood.

Touching it with his finger he pulled his hand back to look at the blood, again with a smile. "Now look what you've gone and done," he said as he raised the hand to his lips and tasty the blood. "Mmmm...tasty." He took her following words in stride with a smile, saying no more as her plump servant pulled her away. Isadora was shaking like a fightened little kitten, looked as if her legs were going to give way and cause her to fall to the ground. Oh, now that would have been so much more spectacular. The thought of everything and how he frightened her actually caused him to become quite aroused. Watching her walk away the entire time his thoughts were broken as he heard Josephine call out.

"William! There you are!" Coming through the crowds, which most were oblivious to what just happened, Josephine bounded and came up to his side, crashing into him in play. "You're going to make me late," she said with such an innocent smile though she knew all too well that their split was all her fault. Finally, he turned to face her with a smile free of the evilness that was there a mere moment ago. William laughed at her smile and innocence in it all. "You are surely going to be the death of me, such evil hidden behind such beauty and innocence. Truly our mother's daughter you are," he said as she slid her arm around his, the journey to class continued. However, he could not stop himself from looking back to see the distant Isadora.

Turning his head back he looked down at Josephine with a smile. "Oh yes, I ran into Isadora de Lunette a few moments ago, she says hi and said she would like to catch up very soon. What a truly pleasant young woman she is."

[Azanael]

It was said that in Daltina nothing went unobserved, and in this particular case that was a very true statement. There were five sets of eyes watching the scene as it unfolded, though those eyes happened to all be from different directions and locations. The commoners who walked down the paved street and around the nobles had not stopped, or even taken notice of what occurred. They were not part of the affair and truth be told the commoners of Daltina kept out of noble business. However those five sets eyes were, for the main, of noble heraldry; not that it mattered in this case for they were all about to make a great deal of noble interest.

One set moved out from the side of the street where he had been casually looking at some of the goods a vendor was selling; his movements brought him up behind Isadora where he began to follow her and her maid. His presence was obvious, but he could just be any other person moving in the same direction, and this fellow did indeed have the aura of nobility about him, even in Isadora wouldn’t be able to recognize him. He was short, broad of shoulder and wore expensive bright green clothing and carried a cane which he tapped upon the ground as he walked. A sound that could grow ever more annoying as it continued.

Another set of eyes began his movements also, parting with the shadows in one of the side alleys which also contained vendors he moved in William and Josephine’s direction, following them from a short distance, taking a little care given that William was a disgruntled youth and would no doubt find fault in anything that occurred. Given the fellow was disinherited he was not of much worth, but then again should Gerald perish this fellow would probably find himself inheriting once more and thus his importance remained.

[William Forrester]

OOC: I was wondering if you were going to step in or not after that whole display...haha.

IC: William knew there were some who had taken much notice of the exchanged, surely someone there who was watching and keeping an eye on him at the bahalf of his father. It did not concern him whatsoever, his mother had power over his father and she loved him without any hesitation no matter what he did. He was untouchable, so he thought of course. With a cocky smile on his face he continued his escort of Josephine to class, they were close now, which was good since they were nearly late. It was as they grew closer that William noticed a group of three boys hanging out by the gates to the entrance of the girls school.

Interesting. Though, certainly not the good kind. As they grew closer still he noticed they had not yet seen the two, but were talking loud about the series of deaths of nobles that had recently hit the city hard. William wasn't unaware of the situation, and it was one of the main reasons he escorted Josephine to class everyday and he would continue until the person behind it was found. What purpose there was behind the murders he had no idea, but if they were taking out the weaklings so be it. There were far too many weak noble houses that were of no worth anymore.

However, for now all his attention went to the gathered boys, Josephine seemed to be figety. They all looked much older than her, but not quite as old as himself. He did not recognize any of them, though it wasn't unlikely he would know the family of each when he got their surnames, and he would get them one way or the other.

[Isadora de Lunette]

Isadora did her best to maintain a look of remaining unshaken as she clasped her arm around Anastasie's and began a slow, steady pace away from him. Oh, she shook. How could she not when the terror coursed through her veins so hot and rampant? She had not thought William to be such a disturbing individual--headstrong, yes, and defiant there was no doubt, and yes perhaps a trifle strange, but this...this was disturbing on a level she did not wish to dwell on.

But she walked away, trying to hold her head high with dignity, keeping her eyes fastened ahead of her and meeting the stares of none, though she felt them on her. They would talk, of that there was no doubt, and she had little to do about it save endure whatever words twisted into slander.

But she'd not have time to worry on that then for she became acutely aware of a noise tickling at the back of her senses. Unable to see that she was being followed, she could only get a taste of what meandered close behind, and for a moment she felt the fear grasp at her heart, her fingers tightening around Anastastie's arm as she paused in her hurried steps. Nevermind that the noise was annoying--she feared only that William followed.

She turned warily and that she was slightly relieved that the individual was not William was evident on her face--not even she could hide that behind a fixed mask. Still, after such an encounter she was not likely to forgive the male sex anything so soon and she eyed him hesitantly, not knowing him. "Sir? Is there aught I can help with? Is your cane perhaps broken?" An odd question, certainly, but he seemed to be very persistant in the tapping of that cane. Perhaps there was something wrong with it after all...

[Azanael]

William Forrester

The murders of the nobles were indeed something to be worried about, especially for those young and up coming nobles who did not have the clout or ability to bring armsmen to bare, either for protection or in response to the attacks. Though whether the nobles themselves were engaging in these attacks was another quest entirely, a question that had yet to be answered for the simple reason that few people were interested in investigating the occurances. There had been no reports thus far of attacks in the open, nor any to happen in the light of a brightening, which meant that they were relatively safe in the crowded streets of the City of Nobles.

The group of noble youths who spoke of the murders were doing so in a loud manner because of their outrage that little was happening; the murders had not yet been brought to justice and already a few cycles had passed since the last event. They were irate and spurred to do something about it themselves, and perhaps they would in the near future but only time would tell. The fact that they watched Josephine and William walk to the gate to the girls’ school meant little other than perhaps taking notice of a female noble ripe to be married off. Perhaps one of them, or more than one, had an eye on Josephine and the fortune that might come with her should they marry. A fortune that would be spirited away from William if he should ever come upon an inheritance again.

The set of eyes that followed William and Josephine did so until they reached the girls school, at which point that particular fellow continued down the street until he came to another of the street vendors and picked something up that interested him. It would be the first time that William will have seen the fellow and he looked quite unremarkable. He was tall, broad of shoulder, plump and wore robes much too baggy for him, though they did help to disguise the largeness of body. These robes did not disguise the hammer resting in a loop at his thick belt, nor the long dagger sheathed upon the opposite side of his hip. The fellow might simply have been anyone, a priest or cleric perhaps?

Isadora de Lunette

Isadora’s green clothed and cane wielding annoyance stopped when addressed, a large bright smile highlighting his features which were almost comical given the fact he was wearing various forms of actor’s makeup. ”Why Helloooo, there young miss!” He said, his voice of a pitch quite high, that caused a few passerbys to wince and glance over at him. He lifted his cane up and examined it as if it were all part of a grand performance upon a Daltinan Operatic Stage. ”Why no, it does not appear to be broken, or rather I think not…” His expression transforming from brilliant happiness to dramatic confusion. ”How could one tell if it twere broken? Is there some reason for your thinking such?” He brought it closer to examine it, his eyes crossing as the cane was brought so close to his face.

”Hazah!” He shouted, perhaps a little too loud for such a public street and in the company of such a prominent nobility figure. ”I have found the fault!” He turned the cane and showed it to Isadora, though he would not allow it out of his grasp. The fault he had found was simply a smudge on the paint. ”Unacceptable, truly unacceptable! I shall have my butler beaten for such a disgrace!” He brought the cane down and the butt end hit the ground with a louder version of the previous tap, which was oddly metalic given that the cane appeared to be made of wood.

”And whoooooo might you be?” He inquired, leaning forward and using an eye glass he had fished from his coat pocket he examined her from head to foot.

[William Forrester]

Arriving at the gates of the girl's school William looked at the boys and back at Josephine before his attention was focused on someone else, who turned off from them and headed in another direction. Many people had done the same, but for some reason William picked up an odd vibe from this man that drew such a long attention. So much attention was drawn that he didn't realize Josephine had left his side and became surrounded by the boys who were giving her all their attention. Watching the tall, plump, and broad shouldered man there were a few things he noticed.

The man did not really appear like the warrior sort, or mercenary, but the man had hidden weapons. Well, they were suppose to be hidden, however he had gotten a good view of them. A long dagger and a hammer? A concealed dagger wasn't all that odd, but the hammer seemed really odd, why would such a man carry something like that? Turning back to look at Josephine for a moment William saw nothing real interesting for the moment when that gentleman was of much more interest. However, when he turned back to look he lost sight of the man for a moment in the crowds.

[Azanael]

Williams thoughts seemed immediately suspicious, which might be a good attitude in this brightening and age due to the recent murders, however the fact of the matter was that the Cleric, we shall call him such for ease of reference… for now, was not really trying to hide anything. His weapons were attached to the belt which encircled his more than generous waistline and hung simply there. William did loose site of him though as a Giant moved walked past carrying some sort of device that allowed two nobles to sit upon his back and take in the view from on high. It was a canvassed to give the nobles shade and it appeared that there were even tables and such up there for them to rest drinks upon.

Josephine was laughing, being charmed and flirted with by the boys, though it was obvious there was some relationship between them all as her reactions were those of someone familiar with such attentions. She turned around after a while and noticed William was still there. She excused herself and moved over, giving him a slap on the arm to get his attention and thus break his revere of the Cleric. ”You don’t have to stay and watch me all brightening, Wil. I will be fine now that I’m at school. Run along and see to your business!” A smile before she turned and skipped back to the group of boys and they all moved off further into the school compound.

[William Forrester]

William had lost all notice and attention on Josephine at this point for he was too busy watching and trying to find the man who had brought an odd feeling his way. The man looked normal and acted normal, but there was truly anything but normal with this man. Feelings such as these did not come often, and because of it he decided to follow this man for alittle longer and note everything about him. As much details as possible would be good information to give to the town guard. Suddenly, Josephine broke him from his thoughts and spying as she called out to him.

Waving to her as she skipped off he barely gave her any attention at all as the cleric had stopped at a store and was looking over some goods. Walking off in the man's direction William stayed to the side, walking along the gate of the building and then along the side of the street. He did not want to follow right behind and he had grown so accustomed to following and spying on people he had learned a thing or two. Getting close, but not too close he made sure to take note of any names given or anything he said that would be of further interest to him. Maybe he was tracking a dead lead, but even if that were the case he was still an interesting character to learn more about.

[Isadora de Lunette]

ooc: sorry! been away!

ic:
Isadora was irritated and perhaps a bit flustered given her earlier exchange with William, giving her usual mask of solemn sweetness an edge of irritation as she stared at the man she'd just turned to confront. An odd man, without a doubt, with a voice pitched in such a way that it annoyed more than it soothed. Repressing a sigh and forcing a faint smile over her mouth, Isadora shook her head. "I hardly think a scrape of paint is worth the beating of your butler, my lord." Shocked over the notion as she might have been, she hoped not to let it slide into her voice. "And I cannot imagine that a scrape of paint missing could cause such a noise. There! That noise there. Certainly you can hear it as well?"

But he was already given to examining her and Isadora lifted her chin, straightening her back as if to display herself at her best. She wasn't at her best...not really...she was a little too frazzled for that. [color=#996699]"I am Isadora de Lunette,"[/b] she responded...for it would have been impolite not to--though she did, in all honesty, wish to do nothing more than turn on her heel and leave him to his own devices. He seemed a man of means, not to be so easily pushed aside. That she did not know him only meant that she needed to exert a bit of caution.

"I am afraid I've not had the pleasure of your name, my lord. Might you be so kind as to provide it?"