Arriving HomeIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | Arriving Home Choosing to take the carriage home did have one disadvatage for Chadwick. As he alighted in the courtyard, he now had just half-an-hour to make himself respectable for dinner. Chadwick rushed from the carriage, tipping the man with everything that remained in his pockets. "Must remember to send a card," he muttered. "Nice man." He was racing for his room, where he was sure he'd have 15 minutes before he needed to actually be at dinner. Unfortunately, as he climbed the stairs, Chadwick heard his mother's voice. She was talking to someone and - unfortunately - they were between Chadwick and his room. Chadwick gasped in terror and ducked behind a nearby pillar. Sadly, he was without gear that would help. The way around would only give him 5 minutes to prepare, hardly enough to dress properly. He might have thought himself unobserved as he heard two female voices in muted conversation but ... His mother's voice was raised. "Chadwick. Why don't you come out from behind that pillar and make your bow to your cousin Islain?" Blushing, Chadwick stepped from behind the column. Somehow he found the reserves to approach them and give a bow to Islain. "Cousin. It is wonderful to see you today." Flora smiled beneficiently. Islain offered Chadwick a little curtsy. "And you, cousin. How long has it been?" She stepped forward and kissed his right cheek, then his left. "You look grown up a little, and I hear that you were the hero of the day." Flora's smile was probably beautific. "I hope you had a pleasant afternoon, Chadwick," she said, "And an informative one." "I was enlightened on many topics, mother. I also ran several errands, one of which was to talk to Petra regarding the painting. She refused to part with it," he gave a pause and returned his attention to his cousin. Flora frowned a little. "I did have a bit of adventure. Rescuing people from fire. I wish I'd understood the situation better, as I hesitated to act at first. But what brings you here?" "I was invited." Islain smiled at Chadwick, flashing him as benevolent and charming a smile as if she were an angel made flesh. "Mandor seems ready to let bygones be bygones in my regard, and I am very ready to return to the place I always loved best in the universe." Flora was listening, a faint frown between her exquisitely marked eyebrows. "That's wonderful," Chadwick said without asking what it was that had turned this situation around. "I look forward to talking to you more at dinner. I have a few matters to attend to before then." "Of course," Islain nodded. "Until then, in that case." She was still smiling, seemingly unaware of Flora's frown. Duty bound, Chadwick made his way up the stairs and to his room. Flora smiled at Islain. "I think my son gives us the hint. We had best prepare ourselves for dinner." Islain bowed as Flora left her. She herself had just prepared for a formal meeting, and could make herself look no more radiant than she already did, at least not without... hmm.... Knowing now that she had to try, though it was rarely possible, to outshine Florimel, she went back to her rooms. The gown she had borrowed from Petra had been magnificent, before Johann's mindtrip had gotten to it, but mended things are always mended things. All of her old clothes were here, and only Flora, of those at court, might ever have seen them worn. She reached into her closet, removed a plunging, curve-hugging gown of deepest fathomless black, with lining of red inside the trumpet sleeves which trailed to the floor. She belted it with a girdle of gold and sivler flowers, set a golden chain bearing one single shimmering firey opal about her neck to nestle in her cleavage, left her hair - the coronet looked perfect again. "This is for you, Daddy," she said to the mirror, remembering that this had been Eric's favorite of her dresses.
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