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]

William didn't use violence. He didn't need to most of the time. He had people for that, if the situation called for it. That wasn't to say he was weak in any way. He prided himself on his physique and trained with a boxing instructor three days a week. He just preferred to use his strengths in other areas before resorting to violence. It always raised too many questions.

With an effort that mildly surprises him - James is wiry but apparently very strong with it - William shoves his son away and straightens his tie.

"You and your siblings would be nothing without the family, the business, the money. How well would June fair on her own without somewhere to come whenever her latest hairbrained scheme to be a fashion designer fell through? Demetri's career would be over without my financial support for the Mayor. A word in the wrong ear at your precinct is really all it would take to see that you rose no higher. Daniel's clients might cost me something to dissuade away from his so called art, but everyone has a price." He finished his drink and set the glass on the counter. "All I ask is that you and your siblings tow the family line in public. This is hardly that, now is it, James?"

[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?"

[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."

[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.