Page 343: Making Up
Making Up
Summary: Anais tries to, with Lucienne. It's… hilarious, guys.
Date: 28/06/2012
Related Logs: I'm sure there are some but I'm not linking them.
Players:
Anais Lucienne 
Courtyard, Four Eagles
The Courtyard of Four Eagles Tower is floored with a fine grey stone that match the color and tone of the interior structure of the castle's yard. Plants have been potted and placed around the entrances to add some color, the greenery accompanied by several trellises of flowers that climb the support columns. The most prominent structure in the area is the set of large slab steps that lead up to the great oak doors of the Great Hall. Several hallways and accesses lead off into different sections of Four Eagles which makes this the hub of noble activity when court is not being held.
28 June, 289

Back at the Roost, the traveling nobles have returned and are settling back into the castle routine. The sun is shining, the birds chirping (there are birds, because I say so) and the Lady Lucienne is seated at the table with her handmaid. She's dressed perhaps a little oddly for the weather, a dark silk scarf wound about her slender neck. Currently, she's looping and drawing tight a circle of twine about the fingers of each hand, teaching Celine the game 'cat's cradle'.

Anais has spent the last few hours catching up on things about the keep and making certain everything is unpacked properly. And now that that's finished, she makes her way outside. Seeing Lucienne, she dons her best friendly smile and makes her to to the table to join her there. "Ah, cat's cradle," she observes as she takes a seat. "Saffron and I used to spend ages doing that. Good to be home, Luci?" she asks, looking up from the string to her goodsister.

Lucienne laces another finger into the twine, draws it taught, and shows Celine. The handmaiden bobs her head, what else is she going to do? As Anais joins them, Luci looks over wordlessly. Her eyes dart back to her handmaiden, full of discomfort. And then back to Anais, whereupon she clears her throat gently. "If anywhere were to feel like a second home, it would be Seagard - but I do prefer the Roost. Is there something you require of me, my lady?" Her fingers remain splayed in front of her, holding the string.

There are so many possible, honest answers to that question. But instead, Anais only smiles, reaching out to set a hand lightly to Celine's arm. "Celine, would you mind giving Lady Lucienne and I a few moments?" she asks, apologetic. "Just a few words, Luci," she adds to the Terrick lady, smile unfaltering.

The handmaid looks a little worriedly to Lucienne, eyes wide as she waits for approval. "Please," insists her lady as she looses the string and unravels it from her fingers. And so, Celine rises and moves to hover over by a column somewhere out of earshot, whilst Lucienne looks expectantly at Anais, brows lifting in silent enquiry.

Once Celine is gone, Anais turns back to Lucienne. "Your brother, my husband, wishes for us to get along better," she explains with a small smile. "Having his wife and his sister at odds is certainly no better for his constitution than having his wife and his mother at odds. I understand that we may have…gotten off on the wrong foot." Her smile quirks, deepening at one corner with the faintest dimple. "It seems the Riverlands are more different from the Westerlands than I might have thought, and I'm afraid so much change at once has left me unsteady on my feet, so to speak. I know that we're very different women, Luci. But I hope that you'll forgive me for actions chosen out of fear and love for my husband, and that perhaps we can move forward from here."

Lucienne is certainly not smiling, staring rather unnervingly still at Anais as her goodsister speaks. She folds her hands neatly in her lap atop the string without a glance, taking a long moment to - process. To study the blonde sitting with her. Occasionally, she even blinks. And finally, she pieces together a reply. "Out of what you call 'fear and love' for my brother, you have, what? Tried to damage my standing not only within my family, but without as well? I will dismiss your threats, my lady, for I believe it best for our House if we move forward. But I am sure you will understand that I have no desire to play your kissy-face games in our social circles."

"Damage your standing?" Anais echoes, brows rising innocently. "Certainly not, Luci. I only sought to protect my husband from what seemed a dangerous influence. Jacsen's explained to me that I misunderstood what he was saying, though," she adds with a small, apologetic smile. "And it's no wonder, is it? This whole thing with the poppy has been so stressful, and left things so confusing. I see now that you were just trying to help him. I know how hard it is to watch him when he's going through the withdrawals," she adds, smile fading to a sympathetic expression. "I'm so sorry, Luci. Can you ever forgive me?"

It's Lucienne's turn to echo, incredulous: "It's no wonder?" She blinks rapidly, exaggerating her shock. "I said I would dismiss your threats, my lady, but I have no desire to misplace my trust in you. I suppose you shall have to be content with that and perhaps in time, it will be different. In the meantime — stop smiling at me." All huff and bother, she gathers her string and rises.

"But Luci," Anais says with an artless flutter of her lashes and the saddest possible expression. "I only want to be your friend. But if that's how you feel, I'll just have to try harder. Thank you for speaking with me," she adds with a small, sad smile. It's pathetic, really. Like trying to frown at kittens and puppies and unicorns and rainbows. "I only hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me some day."

"You're the worst liar ever," Luci responds in a playground manner, highly judgmental, her expression all irritation. "Maybe when you can be honest, we can work together. Celine!" She barks at her handmaiden, and gestures to the keep's steps. They're going inside.

There might be a flicker of a more genuine smile at Lucienne's accusation, though Anais is, if nothing else, persistent. "I look forward to it, Luci. I really do. Welcome back home," she adds, warm. "I do hope we'll have a chance to spend more time together soon."

THEY'RE GOING INSIDE.