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

[aoife_coombs]

"Amelie. Is that a new outfit, or something you simply didn't have the right event for, before now?"

If Aoife remembered correctly, her sister never had a serious enough relationship to be invited over to meet the man's family. Not that this was the case with Daniel Thornton, of course. This night was only William Thornton's fault, and his sons lacking the upbringing to tell him that this wasn't a good idea.

"I was officially invited, instead of -" No need to underline that fact. If Amelie thought she could do this alone, Aoife wasn't going to change her mind.

[ameliecoombs]

She understands perfectly well the underlying poison in Aoife's words, and she's reminded all too well how much all of them are like their mother, whether they like it or not.

"Can't say I've had the cause to wear it before, no." She pauses, on unsure ground and half expecting Aoife to walk away from her. "I know you were invited. I saw you talking to William Thornton..." She trails off, unsure herself of where exactly she was going with that.

[aoife_coombs]

"I had to be invited by a Thornton, yes. Didn't you want me to meet your paramour or did I simply slip your mind?" Aoife sips her drink.

"I'm here for you, Amelie, no matter if you like it or not. If you don't, I'll be with Alodia for the rest of the hopefully short night. I mean, the Thorntons aren't really well known for their inspired banquets, no matter how hard James seems to have tried."

[ameliecoombs]

She takes a sip of her drink and tries not to react. "You made it quite clear you had no intention of meeting Daniel, if I remember rightly." She knows her sister likes to play the victim, but honestly, she'd told Amelie herself that she had no intention of getting to know any of them.

"Of course I'm glad you're here, don't be ridiculous. I just didn't think you'd actually come for me."

[aoife_coombs]

"That was before you changed your mind about him being someone you seriously wanted to date. Like, in the outside world, opposed to some ..whatever you two did in his studio. He's the artistic one of the family, isn't he?" Like Aoife didn't know, but if her sister was being stubbornly dumb, so could she.

"And show the Thorntons that this is how easy they can rip us apart? I didn't think so."

[ameliecoombs]

"I never changed my mind, I wasn't exactly hiding him before. Yes. He's an artist. You know that perfectly well, as you've so delightfully mocked me for it in the past."

Amelie sighs, adjusting the gold bracelet on her wrist and eyeing Aoife seriously. "I don't want to play this ridiculous game any more, Aoife. I like Daniel a lot, and you can either be supportive of that and be my twin sister again, or..." She shrugs. It'll kill her to continue letting this drag on, for it to get worse, but she's not about to throw away the first thing she's felt honest to god happy about in years.

[aoife_coombs]

"Or what? Drop the family name? Disappear from this town and never see me again? Permanently pretend not to be a witch so you won't worry your father in law?"

I have a boyfriend that makes me nervous and excited and I need your help with a load of things concerning him, Aoife wanted to tell her. One of our ancestors got me a familiar and it's amazing how good the magic feels, moving freely through me. I'm happy. Except for this, because somehow there always had to be something on the other side of the scale.

"I thought I was the one always working so very hard to be something I'm not, but I guess it's a thing we share."

[ameliecoombs]

He wasn't even close to being her father in law, and Amelie had never pretended she wasn't a witch, but she knew that Aoife was beyond argument at this point. She was starting to wonder if they would ever be able to get past this.

"I don't want to discuss this anymore, Aoife. Daniel's going to show me around the house. I'll be back for dinner."

[aoife_coombs]

How can she.

This is usually the moment that Aoife gives up and backs down for the peace of the family. It's always her that is the weakest one of the siblings, scraping to make sure that everyone's okay and fine with what Aoife does and feels. It's always her following the smarter, funnier, more social Amelie but not this time, not now. Not with this issue.

"Oh, yes, of course, please don't let him wait on my behalf. You need to put the people that matter first."
It hurts like shards of ice pushing into her body, but ice will melt and Aoife will be able to pass through this moment. What would she be doing without anyway? The silly smilie-dialogues through their phones? It's not like she's still the sum of what Amelie isn't.

She purses her lips. "Must be such an adventure, getting a tour through a big, fancy house, so unlike the one you grew up in. Enjoy."

[ameliecoombs]

"Oh Aoife, please try and think outside yourself. I would be more than happy to spend the night with you, if it didn't mean I would spend the entire night being hissed at and mocked."

Aoife's being a child, and it doesn't look like she's planning on stopping any time soon. "It's not about the damn house. It's about spending time with him away from the glares of you and his father."

[aoife_coombs]

"That would be the first time in weeks." She knows it's a weak offer, that there are siblings that don't see each other for months, but Amelie and Aoife are twins. "Good to know I only have to end up in a hostile environment to make that happen. Honestly, Am? Why did you even except this invitation? Why not something informal with just the guy and his father, instead of this pompous nonsense like we need to talk about your bridal treasure?"

The wind picks up outside, and Aoife reels her emotions back in. "You heard me, you are excused. Maybe mister Thornton and I can find more things in common while you're gone."

[ameliecoombs]

"You think refusing William Thornton when he organises something like this is a good idea?"

It's the first time she's maybe admitted that she's a little bit afraid, that maybe Aoife's words are making more of an impression than she thought.

"I wanted to see you," she starts, if little pathetically. "You were so mad. So was I."

[aoife_coombs]

"You weren't afraid of him, was it? Not hiding yourself, and all that? Raised to be a perfect guest, or is the son you worry about? Does he hurt his son if they don't follow his wants and needs? Wow. He does sound like something you'd want to share a crème brulée with."

How can Amelie do this if she knows this? "These are the people you are with now?" Aoife swallows the angry tears clogging up her throat. "The ones I want to keep you from, that's what made you mad? How can you think that that was something that should keep me from you?"