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]

That James is willing to try makes Daniel a little speechless. He managed a smile and shrugged nonchalantly although he knew his brother would have caught his moment of gratitude and love for his elder brother. James wasn't a cop for nothing. He was good at spotting things.

"So...Davin, huh?" He said, changing the subject in case one of them was overcome with the urge to do something dumb like hug the other or something. "Father is going to combust internally."

[jamesthorn]

His father's threats hardly move him. James loves his job, but he would find another and be perfectly fine if it meant he didn't give his father the satisfaction of trying to run his life. It is the threats against the others though that give him real pause. Yet, his father wouldn't ever win, not against the four of them. They would stick together. They always have.

"Threaten me all you like, Father. Davin is towing the family line if I say he is," he says, lifting his chin slightly higher. He is a cop. He is well trained, and he knows how to fight. However, he uses slight restraint. For the moment. "So you are going to be respectful to him. Just like you are going to be the same to Amelie."

[under_the_radar]

"We're in public, James. And I invited them here. I will be civil because that is my responsibility." William said, scowling angrily. He didn't appreciate being lectured by his own child. "Hopefully this evening will pass without incident." He made a face. "Of course, precautions against the Coombs women had been taken. The houses defences have been significantly improved since your mothers...accident." William clenched his jaw. Thinking of his late wife always provoked a storm of emotion that he struggled to tamp down. His teeth creaked against it for a second before he spoke again. "An incident of the magical variety would go very badly for them."

[jamesthorn]

James just picks up his glass, downing the rest of his scotch. His father has set him in a mood, and he really just wants this to be finished. There is a reason all of them avoided William. Nights like this one where he proved just what an awful manipulative bastard he truly is. James has always wondered what his mother, Jacqueline, ever saw in the man. She was warm and kind and everything a mother ought to be.

"I don't think any of them are here to cause an incident. They are here to eat steak and go home," he says, placing his empty glass down. "Are we finished here?"

[jamesthorn]

James definitely catches the strain in her voice to be polite to him when she clearly wouldn't do the same otherwise if circumstances were different. He wonders if her loyalties to Amelie are the same as his own to Daniel. If they are, it's easy to understand her willingness to go along with this ridiculous charade of a dinner party.

"I've always made it a point to encourage my brother, Daniel's happiness. No matter what his areas of interest happen to be at the moment," he says not exactly willing to give his vote of approval. He couldn't call himself happy for the two of them.

[jamesthorn]

"That's her," James says, looking over at Amelie standing with his little brother. He can tell that Daniel is completely smitten with the woman. She's beautiful, well-dressed, poised, and James can certainly see why Daniel is taken with her. "I promised Daniel that I would try to give her a chance."

[aoife_coombs]

Oh, really now?

Aoife pondered her options for a moment. "Did you ask my sister the same question?"

[davin]

"Well, ya should. He seems t'really like her, an' she seems t'like him just as much." Davin bites his lip and then reaches out to take James' hand, squeezing a little. "You're a good man, y'know? Lookin' past the name an' givin' the girl a chance. It's big of ya."

[under_the_radar]

William looked at his son for a while. There was so much of his mother in him. It hurt to look at him sometimes. She'd always been better with the children. His parents had been standoffish and cold, but Jacquelines were warm and loving. William had focused on the family businesses instead of the family itself and Jacqueline, always smarter than he was, had rightly taken issue with it.

He'd tried for a while. Long enough that James might remember some of his fumbling efforts. Jacqueline had smiled and laughed and told him he'd do better soon. He'd smiled ruefully and shook his head at her only to have her take his face in her warm hands and kiss his forehead.

Then she'd been taken from him.

After that the anger over losing her had overruled the want to be a better father. It was an easy feeling to fall back on now.

He waved a hand dismissively. "We're finished. Go back to your date. Try and keep your brother from embarrassing the family any more than he already has."

[under_the_radar]

"I've yet to speak to your sisters." William answered her honestly. He only approached this one because it was proper.

[aoife_coombs]

"Really? Oh, you're in for a treat. Don't forget my cousin either, mister Thornton. Alodia is such an intelligent young woman."

She sipped her water. "If you converse with her, the night will be over before you'd know it."

[under_the_radar]

William couldn't tell if that was a threat or an actual suggestion. He smiled tightly. "I'll be sure to say hello." He straightened. "Please enjoy the evening, Miss Coombs." He said and walked off. The less time he spent with these women the better.

[aoife_coombs]

That was.. A surprisingly quick end to the suffering

Aoife put her glass aside and decided to do her own tour of the house. If she was going to play the dumb little dolt, better flourish by it.

[jamesthorn]

James smiles at Davin's words, that he's a good man, because it's something he's always tried to be. Maybe he isn't always outgoing and friendly, but he always does the right thing. It makes him feel good that Davin thinks of him that way. He checks his watch and sees that it's nearly time for dinner to be served, and he gives Davin's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I need to go see where they are on dinner. I'll be right back. Stay outta trouble," he says, giving his arm a pat before he heads off the kitchen.

He is distracted by the nice time he's having with Davin, despite the weirdness of spending their first night out at his father's house surrounding by the most awkward family dinner ever, he doesn't see William corner him in the kitchen until it's too late. He wishes he had because by the time he leaves the kitchen his father has made him so angry, spewing his vileness about nearly everyone, that he wants to shoot something. Giving himself a moment, he escapes through the back hallway away from the guests and the Dinner Party of Awkward and tries to quell his semi-murderous thoughts.

There's a veranda attached to the room he finds himself in and he heads outside and tries to catch some fresh air before he has to go back inside and face William again without wanting to choke him.

[jamesthorn]

James sees that his words have pleased Daniel, and he isn't positive this will change anything about his feelings for Amelie or her family. However, he knows he's said the right thing for Daniel, and Daniel is his responsibility. Their father certainly wasn't going to make any type of effort.

He looks back at his brother as a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips. "Yes, Davin." He gives his brother a pat on the shoulder. "He likes me, and I like him. But the fact that Father is going to lose it does make him even more appealing." He pauses and gets a look in his eye. "Is that why you're dating, Amelie? Is this like when June dates all those older men? We are all such bad children."

[jamesthorn]

If James does remember William's failed attempts at good parenting, the memories have long since faded into something closer to bitterness and hatred towards the man. He can hardly be blamed. When Jacqueline died, William was cold and aloof and left them all with nannies, even June who had only been a baby. It barely felt like they even had a parent most days, and when William was around he was awful. He was judging and hard and never loving the way James remembers his mother.

All those sour memories are hard to overcome even if at one point William did try, and that's why James is more than glad to escape. "Of course, Father, as you wish," he says, giving a placating nod after he demands he look after Daniel. "Good talk."

With that, he angrily leaves the kitchen and goes to get a breath of fresh air.

[under_the_radar]

Daniel rolls his eyes - his brothers back again. "No, James, that's not why I'm dating her. And June dates older men because she likes being a princess and bleeding them dry. She's more mercenary than the rest of us put together." He said, smiling fondly while he thought about his sister and the havoc she'd wreck at this shindig. "Demetri seems to be the last bastion of hope for Father. Poor man is in for a shock." He said, looking at his brother with a meaningful eye.

[jamesthorn]

James just laughs at the twinkle in Daniel's eye. "Yes, it would appear we've all done a decent job of disappointing him," he says, as Demetri's own choice of partner is certain to disappoint just as much. Possibly more as Demetri had taken the path of political power.

His face becomes more serious after a second. "I don't think Father is just going to take any of this laying down. Tonight he is doing an awful good impression of someone that cares," he says. "Just keep an eye out. I think he's up to something."

[under_the_radar]

"He's always up to something." Daniel says, scowling. "Anything in particular pinging your radar?"

[davin]

It's been a long, awkward while since James disappeared and Davin is uncomfortable with all the small talk, surrounded by people he doesn't know. He really just wants to get out of here, but he can't. He's here for James, and he's not going to let him down.

He sees a flash of movement on the veranda outside and he pushes away from the wall to head for it, grabbing two glasses of champagne off of a tray and looking around to make sure there are no eyes on him before he slips outside. Seeing James makes him smile, but the look on his date's face makes Davin frown with worry.

"Hey, I was missin' ya," Davin says quietly, coming up behind him and setting the champagne glasses down on the railing. He puts his hand between James' shoulder blades and moves it back and forth a little, turning to look at him. "Are ya alright?"

[davin]

"I've kinda realized that," Davin says with a laugh. "We can learn together."

He gives Daniel a skeptical look. "Pretty Woman, huh? Why do I find that a little hard t'believe?"

[jamesthorn]

As angry as he is, James is still happy to find that the person that has come to find him is Davin, not another unwelcome encounter with his father or an awkward one with one of the Coombs women. Instead, it's just Davin the only person here that doesn't belong, much like his father was so kind to point out, because he isn't part of this crazy messed up rivalry. James likes it that way too.

Davin's hand against his back is comforting, and most of his anger eases away with a sigh. He turns against the railing to face Davin and offers him a smile. "Just taking a breather---" He lies mostly because why tell Davin every mean thing his father had to say about him? He doesn't care anyway.

"I'm sorry this is such a weird night," he says, looking away for a quick moment, a little embarrassed that he didn't take Davin out somewhere better than this. There aren't any prying eyes out here, and he feels comfortable enough to place a hand on Davin's cheek. "You won't hold it against me too much I hope?"

[jamesthorn]

James shakes his head. "I really don't know yet. But I suspect he isn't just letting Amelie and her family walk away so simply."

[davin]

Davin watches James' face closely, and he can't help the way he blushes a little when James cups his cheek. It's tender and sweet, and it's not really something that Davin has ever experienced. He smiles and reaches up to curl his fingers loosely around James' wrist, thumbing at his pulse. "Nah. I mean, now that I've had a conversation with your father, I know what kinda stress your under, an' I know how much tonight goin' well means t'ya. I'm not - I mean, I don't really think I was the best choice for a date, but - I'm still glad ya picked me."

[jamesthorn]

If it's possible James feels even worse about tonight once Davin reveals that William had indeed had a conversation with him. He can only imagine how that conversation must have gone, judging the awful things William had said to him only moments ago, and he hates that William might've said something that could have hurt Davin in any way. He's used to his father being shitty. He didn't want to purposefully subject someone he likes to that.

But then Davin says that he's glad James invited him here for the night, even with the weirdness and the conversation with his father. Davin's still glad to be here. James he isn't sure how to take that and loses all sense of words for a moment. He looks up at him returning the his smile with one of his own. Suddenly he's very overwhelmed with the urge to kiss Davin. He didn't mean to wait to kiss him, but the moment hasn't felt right yet. Unlike now. Now it really does.

On the veranda, it's quiet away from the party, and they are standing so close and he feels the warmth of Davin's hand on his wrist. All it is a moment to place his other hand on Davin's cheek to bring him closer, pressing his lips to his in a soft kiss.