Thornton & Coombs Dinner Party (Closed)

[jamesthorn]

The table is set with the family's finest china. The candles lit, and doors are open at Thornton Estate this evening. While the estate has seen countless elegant affairs throughout its long history, there's never been one quite like this one. Tonight, the Coombs are coming for dinner as William Thornton's personally invited guests. Despite the recipe for drama, there's still a dinner to be thrown and William has spared no expense for his son's newest girlfriend, Amelie. Fine wine, gourmet breads and cheeses, fruits, and appetizers are laid out in gorgeous displays by the caterer. To be certain that no nosy members of the press learn of tonight's momentary truce, the invitations were hand delivered and the family's private staff are serving.

Promptly, at eight o'clock dinner will be served, but in the meantime, there's plenty of time for mingling...and drama.

OOC: I've always used this particular property for Thornton Estate even though I believe it's more traditionally furnished than the one pictured. However, if you want an idea of the layout, there are plenty of photos and even a movie on the link above, lmao.

William is played by Pierce Brosnan. Obviously he's American in the game. If you wanna talk to William one on one, Rachel and I both have control of that old fart.

Comments

[under_the_radar]

So...this wasn't going to be awkward at all.

Daniel adjusted his tie and put on his 'dealing with Father' face. Amelie would be here soon and he wanted to get as much of the awkward and snide out before she got here if he could. He suspected that was wishful thinking because Father wasn't talking to him much at all, clearly saving it up for when Amelie got here.

Grabbing a drink off a passing waiter, Daniel walked through the reception rooms aimlessly waiting for the drama to start.

[jamesthorn]

James catches his brother by the kitchen just as all the guest begin to arrive. He stops him with a small frown, and he reaches out to adjust his tie properly. "You ready for this, little bro?" he asks.

[under_the_radar]

"No." Daniel said firmly. "I don't think there's enough time in the universe to prepare for tonight but here we are." He looked his brother up and down. "You brush up well."

[davin]

Sooo, this is new.

Davin has never been to a party like this. Ever. Sure, he's used to Siren Cove's more elegant affairs but this is like, a whole new level. He's sort of terrified. But it's okay; he can totally fake it 'til he makes it.

Step one: look the part.

Step two: alcohol? Alcohol. He's not going to get drunk because hello, he's not a complete idiot. But a glass or two of what he's sure is expensive as hell champagne will loosen him up a little.

He's lingering near the appetizer table with his long fingers wrapped around a champagne flute, but he hasn't touched the food. Last thing he needs is to spill caviar or whatever on his new pressed white shirt. This is so not his scene, and in another scenario he'd be more relaxed and ready to have fun with it, but he's not here as Davin the silly mechanic. He's here as Davin Kavanagh, date of James Thornton.

First date. First. He downs the last of his champagne and takes a breath, straightening his jacket and putting on an easy smile.

This will be fun. Well, interesting. It'll definitely be interesting.

[summersong]

Ah, wonderful. Somebody she's neither related to nor obligated to hate. Alodia snags a champagne flute off a passing tray - she's got no intention of drinking seriously tonight, but it gives her something to do with her hands - then injects a few more degrees of warmth into her smile, taking it from 'polite' to 'friendly', and glides over.

"You look like you're having fun," she says lightly. Davin Kavanaugh, she thinks. Dating James Thornton, if the rumors are true, which would explain why he's here. She's never met the man, but she's heard the name before, and the face matches the one she's seen in the pages of that absurd gossip rag. She's pretty sure she's right on this one. "It's Davin, yes?"

[davin]

"Aye, that'd be me." He switches his champagne to his other hand and holds his out for a polite shake, smiling at the woman. She's gorgeous, and the kind of person who makes Davin stand up a little straighter. And he thinks he may feel his magic tingling a bit, like it does in the presence of someone or something powerful.

He knows the Coombs are apparently the enemies of the Thorntons, one of which he's now dating, but Davin isn't going to let that cloud his judgement. He came to this dinner with an open mind and ready to formulate his own opinion about these people he's never met. "It's nice t'meet ya, but you've got one on me. I'm afraid I don't know your name."

Maybe he should have prepared for this. Made Coombs flashcards or something. He hopes he isn't coming off as rude.

[under_the_radar]

"You look about as comfortable as I feel." Daniel said, walking up to Davin and grinning. "You're going to be fine. Our Father doesn't actively hate you and everything you stand for." He said.

[davin]

"Comfortin'," Davin says with a laugh. Just seeing a familiar, friendly face is enough to relax him a little and he nods, reaching for another glass of champagne. "I'll be fine. I'm just gettin' used t'all this."

He lifts his glass and gestures around the room before taking a sip. "I'm makin' your brother take me out for chili dogs an' milkshakes t'make up for this. I've had dentist appointments less stressful than this first date."

For all he teases, there's fondness in his voice as he speaks of James and his cheeks go a little pink. This is all so unexpected, it's a bit of a whirlwind, but he thinks it will be worth it.

[under_the_radar]

William had been quietly watching the young man James had seen fit to bring with him interact for a few minutes, but it's the kiss that provokes the raising of his eyebrow. James was smiling and chatting away but the Coombs women were beginning to look over too.

Well William couldn't be seen to be a discourteous host. He made his way across the foyer and loomed over James and his...friend.

"The kitchen staff have questions." He growls at his son. When James leaves he smiles tightly at the young man. "You have me at a disadvantage. You know my name, but my son failed to mention you to me." Of course that was a lie. William had seen the guest list earlier this evening and the young mans was the only one he didn't recognise. Still, it didn't hurt to test his mettle.

[davin]

This is it. This is what Davin was worried about. William Thorton: the boss battle.

It's a good thing Davin works well under pressure, and the way William practically barks at his son makes Davin care a little less about how the man thinks of him. He raises an eyebrow when he says he doesn't know his name, because he doesn't quite buy that someone who was so meticulous about the details of this party didn't know every single person on the guest list. But hey, Davin is used to rich guys and their power plays. It's nothing new to him, not in Siren Cove.

"Well, he was quite busy with gettin' this party together. I think he did a lovely job, aye? Ya must be proud." He gives William a charming smile and holds his hand out to give him a firm shake. "Davin Kavanagh. Thank you for havin' me."

[ameliecoombs]

It took her a while to decide on the outfit. She figured she had two options: go in with a demure dress and a smile and try and make nice, or dress for the battle ahead. She kind of wished she had Aoife to ask, but that was still a whole other mess she didn't want to deal with.

In the end, she went with a dress and jacket of armour, and figured to hell with it. She was already flying in the face of everything turning up to this thing, so she might as well look the part.

She steps out of the car and enters the estate, feeling like she's sixteen and being shuffled around to Violet's parties again. This is probably going to be a night of hell, but at least Daniel will be there.

[jamesthorn]

Isn't she the belle of the ball?

Truth is James doesn't know much about Amelie aside from the fact that she's a Coombs, and that makes her...his enemy. Or something like that. James isn't like Daniel. He still has mixed feelings about her family and especially that mother of theirs because what Violent had done wasn't harmless behavior one lets go so easily. Violet murdered his mother. It's hard not to look at Amelie, so beautiful and graceful, and not think about that.

However, James intercepts the beeline William is currently making for Amelie because he can tell his father is trying to catcher her alone. So, he walks up to them both putting a friendly hand on his father's shoulder. "I think there's a question in the kitchen," James says. Rather than make a scene all William can do is nod, excusing himself from Amelie and heading off towards the kitchen.

After his father has made his exit, James turns back to Amelie with a curt smile. "So, I'm James," he says, holding out his hand.

[ameliecoombs]

She can practically see his face straining as he talks to her, and she has to hold back a giggle. Amelie isn't Violet, no matter how many traits they may or may not share, and she's never really understood this whole feud thing the way Aoife does. She likes Daniel a lot, she knows Daniel likes his brother, and therefore she summises he can't be all that bad. Still, he looks like he almost doesn't want to touch her.

She smiles brightly and shakes his hand anyway. "Amelie," she says, like he doesn't already know. "And that was your father, I presume. Lovely house."

She knows it sounds stupid and formal but she's been raised at these kind of events, and the words come almost as if Violet is pulling the puppet strings behind her mouth.

[under_the_radar]

"So you came for a fight, huh?" Daniel said, stepping up silently behind her and taking advantage of everyone else being distracted to wrap his arms around her waist and breathe her in, kissing her cheek. "You look amazing. Way too good for this place and my Fathers company."

[ameliecoombs]

She relaxes into his touch, not realising how tense she was until she lets it out. She's been waiting with bated breath for Aoife to slap someone or James to arrest someone or William to do god knows what, but so far everything seems to be running relatively smoothly. Maybe this won't be so bad.

"Thanks. You look good, too. Everything here looks amazing, I'd tell James he did a good job myself if I didn't think he'd run away from me."

[summersong]

Satan must be making snow angels in Hell, because Alodia Coombs is standing at the front door of Thornton Estate of her own free will and with no intentions of being anything but charming and polite. Not bitchy-polite, either, the sort of snide remarks disguised as pleasant conversation at which she's always excelled, but actually, genuinely polite. She's here for Amelie, and though her cousin may have atrocious taste in men, Alodia still loves her, so she'll make nice with the Thorntons whilst Amelie plays 'meet the parents'.

Vogue doesn't exactly make a guide for what to wear to a 'family gathering' at which one must make a good impression on people one is traditionally expected to hate, but Alodia's very good at making do. She's in a red dress from her mother's latest collection and her favorite sky-high heels, the ones she hasn't had cause to wear since she moved up here - plus a silver necklace, carefully concealed beneath her dress's high neckline and stuffed with every protection charm in the paranoid witch's arsenal and a few more she made up herself for good measure. She may be playing nice, but that doesn't mean she's going to be stupid.

"Oh, I am far too sober for this," she mutters, then pastes on a polite smile as the door opens.

[under_the_radar]

"I can help with that." Daniel said, handing Alodia a glass of champagne and toasting her with his own. "I can't promise that tonight will be any fun at all but I can promise there will be alcohol and lots of it."

[jamesthorn]

Alodia is hard to miss, dressed elegantly in a red dress and black heels, and she certainly fits into the classy atmosphere of the dinner party with her classic style and flair. James ends up beside her at the wine bar, and he asks the server to pour them two glasses. He offers it to her with a nod and polite smile.

This may be the first conversation he's ever had with Alodia Coombs, but tonight all he can really be is polite. "Thanks for coming," James says in greeting.

[jamesthorn]

Once the room is filled with all their invited guests, James takes a look around and ponders how they all ended up here together. He also wonders how long the peaceful calm of polite mingling will last. Probably not long, judging the scowl on his father's face the moment Amelie is announced into the dining room. He covers it well, but James knows better. He knows the calm and gentlemanly dinner host is just a facade.

James tries not to worry about that too much, and just hopes whatever Father is up too they can atleast get through the first few courses of the meal. Because he spent his entire day off picking out the food for tonight and somebody better damn well eat it.

Speaking of somebody, he spots Davin across the room, looking very dashing in his new suit. He picks up a glass of champagne and makes his way over to his date. It's strange having his date, his first date, with Davin be on a night with his family and his family's arch enemy involved. However, he's still delighted that Davin agreed to such a tortuous evening just for the sake of spending time with him. It means a lot to him, and he hopes, even with his father's plotting, they can still have a nice night.

[davin]

Davin is inspecting one of the trays of food when he hears footsteps behind him. He turns to see James and he smiles warmly, discreetly looking him over with pink cheeks. He looks amazing and Davin takes the glass of champagne that he holds out, leaning in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks. God, ya look great."

He takes a sip of the champagne and steps in close to him, looking around and nodding to himself. "So far so good, aye?"

[under_the_radar]

"James." William takes his eldest by the arm and pulled him to the back of the room and out into the kitchen. The help look up and William glares at them until they're all ushered out by the head chef.

When the room is empty, William heads straight for the decanter and glasses on one of the counters. He pours himself a large measure of very good scotch and takes a sip before he turns to face his son.

"I thought Daniel and the Coombs female was bad enough for one night." He said coldly. He left the statement hanging.

[aoife_coombs]

No dialogue and planning about what to wear before this entire event and Aoife had still managed to pick something in the same color segment as her twin sister.

She had planned on finding a serious excuse to not go. This situation was completely bizarre and wrong, and she wasn't sure if she minded the relationship more or the invitation. Like there was no history between the Coombs and this family.

There was a young man missing a tie or a bow around his neck. There was James, looking sullen as usual, the youngest Thornton looking surprisingly clean, and - Aoife swallowed. Mister Thornton, and she was terrified of the man.

Amelie probably wouldn't support her through the night, but Alodia was here. Aoife suffered through worse, she could do this. If everyone could cooperate, she could be home before eleven and call Isaiah for some nice distraction.

[under_the_radar]

"You must be the sister." William said, looking down at the pretty but sharp looking young woman in his foyer. "Can I get you a refreshment?"

[summersong]

Alodia had half expected Aoife to find an excuse to bow out of this, and she honestly wouldn't have blamed her if she had. The sight of her cousin walking through the door, perfectly coordinated with Amelie, brings a genuine smile to her lips, and she takes a quick sip of champagne, using the glass to hide her face until she can force the real smile down and replace it with a fake one. It's a very good fake smile, but if someone sees her real one, they might realize that the one she's wearing now isn't, and that simply wouldn't do at all.

"So," she murmurs, slipping up beside Aoife, "on a scale of one to Violet, how badly do you think this is going to end?"

[ameliecoombs]

She felt almost ridiculously shy approaching Aoife, which is something she's never felt before and never thought she ever would. She doesn't know where they stand. Last time they'd talked, they'd fought, but Aoife is here anyway, and that has to mean something. It's unlike her sister to sit through something she obviously hates unless she has a good reason to.

"Aoife," she starts, noting happily that they've matched, as usual, without having to talk about it. Aoife knows that this is half a battle, though where for Amelie it's a defiant stand against William, she's pretty sure for Aoife it's everyone. "You came." She doesn't know what else to say, but at least she's said something.