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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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?"

[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.

[jamesthorn]

"You don't look half bad yourself," James says, returning his smile, feeling the warmth in his chest when Davin leans over to kiss him on the cheek. Despite everything else, it's nice to have Davin here with him, someone to keep him from going nutty between his brother and his father. And it doesn't hurt that Davin looks very handsome in his suit too.

Putting a hand on the small of Davin's back when he steps in closer, keeping the hushed question just between them, James takes a glance around the room too. "So far, no one's burned anything down, and you actually showed up. I'm counting wins on all fronts," he says, taking a small sip of his champagne. "How about you?" He asks, brows raised, because he knows Davin was a little nervous the other day. "Everything okay?"

[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.

[summersong]

Once upon a time she would have been offended when somebody didn't recognize her. Later, she would have been relieved. Now, though, Alodia just... doesn't particularly care. It means they move in different circles, that's all. The indifference is a nice change. Maybe she's growing up.

"I'm Alodia," she says, shaking the offered hand. "Amelie's cousin, but I hope you won't hold it against me." A bright smile, making it clear she's only joking. She's got no idea where he falls on the rivalry spectrum, or if he's even on it at all, but pre-empting any potential hostility certainly can't hurt.

[davin]

Davin blushes slightly when James compliments him and nods, biting back a smile at James' hand on his back. "Was that a legitimate concern?"

He laughs a little, but then he remembers what James had told him. He wanted to meet the Coombs with an open mind, reserve judgment for himself, but it's kind of hard not to look at them through a James colored lens. He curls his arm loosely around James' back. "I'm fine, thanks for askin'. But how are you doin'? This can't be too easy on ya."

[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]

"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."

[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."

[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."

[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.

[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?"

[aoife_coombs]

Like a predator smelling prey. No, no. Aoife was the stronger one here, even with her familiar distant. "Amelie is my sister, you are correct, sir. And a glass of water would be appreciated. Sparkling, please."

[jamesthorn]

"Thanks," James tells him, finishing his work on Daniel's tie. He looks him over, and his baby brother looks more grown-up all of the sudden. "I'm just sorry that Demetri and June couldn't be here. They would've loved to see this disaster."

[jamesthorn]

"Fire is always a legitimate concern when it comes to Coombs and Thornton affairs," James manages a joke that he isn't sure is even that funny to anyone except himself and the other miserable people in this room. No matter the amount of years that have passed, there is always that underlying history of what took place between his family and the Coombs. He didn't want to think about the idea of history repeating itself with Daniel and Amelie, but even James could admit, that despite the hatred and contempt that continued between them, their families were somehow still drawn together. Bound by shared history....

He likes when Davin tries to comfort him though, wrapping his arm around his back, and he smiles back at him. "I'm doing...okay," he says with a nod. "My father is handling this all better than I expected." William is up to something. James just doesn't know what it is yet.

[under_the_radar]

William clicked his fingers at a passing waiter and the man scurried off, returning a moment later with a glass of sparkling water for her.

He smiled politely, maybe it was a little tight around the edges, but he was making an effort. If this one was plotting something she was hiding it well. "You're here to support your sister. That's admirable." He grudgingly acknowledged. "Have you met my sons?"

[under_the_radar]

Daniel laughed nervously. "Demetri would've just smoothed the whole thing over by now. Or June would be making herself the centre of attention and getting us all off the hook." He sighed. "We're fucked."

[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.