16 May 14, 01:25 AM
Veronica: She's standing in front of a large vanity mirror, putting on her last finishing touches with a frown and a resigned look in the eyes. "Well they certainly didn't waste any time" she observed sardonically. "I've been graduated all of four days. FOUR DAYS, Cam" Thoroughly disgusted with the whole thing, she plopped, no small feat in a dress and heels, onto the chair in front of the vanity. "Hex me, now"
16 May 14, 01:25 AM
Veronica:
encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTy0MzeUMgSOM9XXpdCYD1MH2hu0mGXjnbDiAjjz7jE4RQvd5ZL16 May 14, 01:28 AM
Cameron: Scowling, he wasn't any happier about this then she was. He loved his parents, but this one quirk of theirs about contracts was going to mess them both up. "I know, Ronni, trust me. I'M AWARE." Of course he was, he was next in line, right? "No. Man up like you have a pair, Ronni. Jeeze, you think I'm going to have it any easier?" He stepped up behind her and put a hand on either shoulder looking into the mirror.
16 May 14, 01:34 AM
Veronica: She sighed, "sorry, not your fault, I just..." She put down the brush, realizing that obsessively painting her face, while good for having something to do with her hands, wasn't going to help anything. "Couldn't they have given me a bit more warning. Seems like 'be sure to look nice dear, your fiance's coming to dinner" isn't something you mention over lunch." She made a face at him in the mirror. She arched a brow at him. "Yes actually" she answered, turning to look at him wryly. "Woman, remember?" She pointed to herself, "at least you'll probably get to read your contract." When he put his hands on her shoulders, however, she relaxed noticeably and took a slow, deep breath, reaching up, she placed a hand over the one to her left. "You're right though, nothing to do about it now." She studied their faces in the mirror, similar-looking masks of irritation. "I hope he's not a total bastard" she murmured, no fear evident in her tone, but it was there in the eyes. "They wouldn't do that,
16 May 14, 01:34 AM
Veronica: right?"
16 May 14, 01:41 AM
Cameron: "They didn't want you to know in advance because you'd fret. And they didn't ell either of us way in advance cause they know we'd give the a hassle about it." He rolled his eyes at her. "Pffft, because they will want me to see how locked in I am I bet. No, I'm the one who has to carry the name, I suspect mine will be worse then anything you get." A smirk. "No way, one look at you and he'll be counting the nights till the wedding. Come on, he's probably as looped in on this as you are, given no choice I bet."
16 May 14, 01:43 AM
Veronica: She snorted. "Smart of them" she acknowledged grudgingly. "How much would I have to pay you to go to dinner naked?" she asked, looking mischievous. "Right, because being the one to continue the line is way worse than being breeding stock" she wrinkled her nose at him and sighed. "Kidding, maybe...okay no they both suck." She smirked, "On second thought maybe I'LL go to dinner naked, let him think he's stuck with a crazy person." She thought about that a moment, considered it. "You think?"
16 May 14, 01:49 AM
Cameron: He gave her a reflective look as if considering it. "Hmm, will make my time much worse, but it does have simplicity to it." He snorted. "We're both breeding stock, Ronni, get real, I just don't carry the child but I'm supposed to be just as happy and obedient about it." He chuckled, leaning down to motion with his hands. "With these? He'll want to speed the wedding up." He leaned back quickly and moved out of reach before she could hit him with something. "Oh come on, anyone in a contract has to be right? He's never met you before. At most he might have seen a picture. At most."
16 May 14, 01:54 AM
Veronica: She shook her head. "Nah, Cam, I'm kidding. I'll handle it." She smoothed her hair one last time and stood. She smirked, "I guess you're right, and you do get to deal with a pregnant, hormonal probably teenage bride for nine months" she grinned and waggled her eyebrows at him. "Maybe I should feel worse for you." She rolled her eyes, "happy and obedient, right." He commented on her anatomy and she picked up the first thing her fingers touched on the vanity, which happened to be a rather expensive bottle of perfume. Turning, she made it hurl it at his head, but seeing him across the room she grinned and sat it down again. Sighing, she stood. "You're right, maybe he's as unhappy about it as I am." She crossed the room, staring at the door as if it might bite her. "What's the expression, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
16 May 14, 02:00 AM
Cameron: "Gah" he responded making a face "That's going to be a mess. I've heard horror stories." He moved fast, remembering her aim. He did give her a look tho. "Now hang on, who are we considering the enemy? Have our parents turned out that bad?"
16 May 14, 02:02 AM
Veronica: She grinned, "so I guess that means you won't be coming to visit so often to see your dear sister after I'm pregnant with your niece or nephew?" the teasing light had returned. She gave him a look that clearly asked whose side he was on. "No, but they hardly count. They fell madly in love in like thirty seconds, but not everyone gets that lucky, Cam..." Something in her seemed to melt, however, and she nodded. "I get your point, I'll give it a chance, but if he's a prick I make no promises."
16 May 14, 02:05 AM
Cameron: He grinned. "Oh I'll be there because my sister will consider me safe base and won't be treating me badly because I'm her brother." Cameron stepped closer and frowned at her. "Yeah well if they were so in love how come we get contracts? No, something else to it then just that. I think somewhere along the line we became closer to commodities to be sold. The love is there, but it's more 'cherished' then adored." He clearly thought they should be adored. "If he's a prick, you put it to him sharply when you first get him alone. If he doesn't like that he'll learn and fast if he wants his home to be peaceful
16 May 14, 02:10 AM
Veronica: She laughed, her first honest laugh all day. "Pretty assets" she agreed. "Even though I'm the prettiest" she made a kissy face at him, childishly. "I adore you, Cam" she said seriously. "You know that right?" Because that was her biggest fear really, that once she was gone, things would change. She tried to avoid these conversations but...it felt like the time for one. She got a somewhat dark look in the eyes. "d@mn straight" she murmured, and there was the slightest trace of steel in her tone before she smiled. "Shall we?"
16 May 14, 02:22 AM
Cameron: "Definitely prettier, I'm the handsome one." He laughed at her at first and then sobered coming over directly. Holding open his arms he pulled her in for a very tight, strong hug. "d@mn straight I do, sis, and you aren't losing me. So drive that from your mind. No matter what kind of marriage you had, we're a team long before anyone else." He nodded approvingly at her steel tone and nodded.
16 May 14, 02:26 AM
Veronica: "The most handsome" she agreed. She went into his arms, and for a second she clung to him, unwilling to admit she was afraid. "Stop doing that" she mumbled into his shoulder. "You're not allowed to know what I'm thinking, its...creepy." Another moment and she released him, knowing if she didn't do it now she never would. "We should go down now before they send someone up." She took his hand and squeezed before she released him. "For the love of Merlin don't let me fall on my @ss on the stairs."
16 May 14, 02:30 AM
Cameron: "I know. Not like we're twins even." He ran his fist roughly up her back. "Go up you mean We're supposed to be in the dining room when they bring them up I think." He grinned. "Done!" and put his arm around her waist holding her tightly against him. "Let me drag you off there at once..."
16 May 14, 02:32 AM
Veronica: She shook her head, "Nope, I'm the older, wiser one, remember?" She nodded, "Right, dining room" and it was the first time her nerves felt obvious to her. Having him close was comforting, gave her a sort of strength to straighten and find her resolve. She smirked as she opened the door, darting her eyes at him. "Can it be kicking and screaming? Might as well make an entrance." But as they entered the hall she was quiet, gathering her nerve, and though she was nervous, her steps never faltered.
16 May 14, 02:36 AM
Cameron: Cameron felt proud of her as they went up the flights to the dining room on second. There their mother waited, motioning them to seats beside each other across the table from three set places. She fussed over Ronni's hair and top for a moment before they heard feet coming up. In her ear her mother whispered "Behave like a lady, now. You want to make an impression on them." And as soon as she moved away Cam whispered "So no kicking me. Remember that."
i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r508/shava4/Eduarto/b_zpsd78191a4.jpg16 May 14, 02:40 AM
Veronica: She sat rigid, allowing herself to be fussed over almost as though she were part of the decor. "Of course mother" she murmured softly, tone perfectly polite but otherwise there was nothing, a veil had fallen over her expression. "Wouldn't want them to be disappointed after coming all this way. Would we?" As her mother moved out of hearing and Cam spoke she turned her head nearly imperceptibly. "Of course not, pinching you is much more fun."
16 May 14, 02:51 AM
Cameron: He smiled as he stood behind her chair and subtly put a hand on each of her shoulders very light on the back out of sight. Just to make sure she felt him there. The three Egyptians came in, but he ignored the clearly older ones and focused on the young man who he cold see was much older then them yet still young looking. For his part, Omari looked a glance around, saw her, then panned up to Cam with some interest, as if he hadn't seen him before. As introductions were made, he nodded his head when mentioned before he held the chair for his mother who his father ignored.
16 May 14, 02:57 AM
Veronica: Bolstered by her brother, Veronica relaxed a bit. She could do this. She could. With any luck, this contract, though it was a cage in its own right, at least meant she wouldn't be under her parents constant 'protection' anymore. She was fed up with being their princess. She wanted to be a woman in her own right. She studied the young man in front of her, though she tried not to do so obviously. Smirking, she leaned over to Cameron and said softly in French "I think you might have competition for most handsome in the room, Cam." Her mother shot her a look, they had discussed on countless occasions that making comments in other languages at the dinner table was as rude or worse than whispering. It hadn't, however, curbed their habit of doing so.
16 May 14, 03:03 AM
Cameron: His eyebrows went up and Cameron smirked as he took his seat, but it was the newcomer who responded also in French. "And pleasure to meet you both. Thank you. A young woman in any group is automatically the prettiest in the room so i shall not give you false flattery." Cameron chuckled under his breath trying not to add more as his father looked a little irritated. he said "If the comments are done? I think that it is good to know that all the details have been taken care of and that tonight we celebrate a union between our families..." he began to drone on as the two siblings tuned him out.
16 May 14, 03:08 AM
Veronica: She was focused on her brother, so when Omari spoke, it took her by surprise, and a moment to realize he was answering in French. She didn't blush, but she did meet the newcomer's eyes for the first time. "Is flattery not always false by definition?" Arabic this time since she was addressing him directly. Let her parents think she was trying to be accommodating. When her father spoke up, however, she went quiet. As her father droned on about the importance of the occasion, she murmured "What he means to say is that we're here to celebrate their first successful auction."
16 May 14, 03:12 AM
Cameron: He raised an eyebrow at her meeting her gaze directly, but with a certain amount of confidence in his words which were also in Arabic. "Exactly why it is not needed here, since the conclusions are already in." In others words, why butter up what I already have. Cameron gave a silent whistle as his father took over and murmured back "And the winner of it isn't too blatant about it either."
16 May 14, 03:15 AM
Veronica: Her expression, if possible, became even more veiled. "Charming" English this time, screw accommodating. She resolved to ignore him completely as far as she was able from that point on. "Let him think what he likes" she told her brother. "As if I find myself suddenly in need of his approval just because his father was the highest bidder."
16 May 14, 03:26 AM
Cameron: He could feel his sister getting steamed and figured he would be hearing about this later on, big time. "Indeed." Omari said, his eyes suddenly looking more interested in her. Cam nodded at her words as the first course was brought in. "Oh what i wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall of your first private conversation with him..."
16 May 14, 03:31 AM
Veronica: Refusing to let him get to her more than he already had, she focused on her brother. "How about you marry him and I'll wait for the next one?" But she knew she was stuck. Merlin this was going to be awful. She lowered her voice further. "With any luck that won't be until at least dinner number two, maybe by then I'll have something to say to him that isn't an expletive."
16 May 14, 03:34 AM
Cameron: He snorted and then held up his hands in silent apology as his mother glared at him. He didn't miss the father was ignoring them, but the mother gave them a few glances, maybe as if pondering the siblings' pairing. The first course gave them a little time to work with at least, but the other side of the table had impeccable manners with food, even if the parents were a little curious abut what they were actually eating it being unfamiliar. They let the parents do most of the talking, though both siblings were being watched by both sides. Omari in particular seemed to be judging how close they were and what issues he might face.
16 May 14, 03:38 AM
Veronica: Taking a soft but deep breath, she steeled herself. All she had to do was get through this dinner...and the rest of her life, but first there was the dinner. She would worry about the rest later. In the spirit of continuing to ignore Omari, and also in the interest of keeping her mother off both her and Cameron's cases, she addressed his mother in Arabic. "I imagine this is very different from what you're accustomed to. Are you enjoying London thus far?" She was gripping Cameron's arm under the table so hard she was going to have to apologize later even as she gave Omari's mother her most charming smile. Obviously ignoring each other worked well enough for his parents.
16 May 14, 03:41 AM
Cameron: The woman's eyes came to her swiftly enough and she smiled. In the same Arabic, but a lot more accent she said "It is a very different place from home, for certain! A lot of history here, yes?" Cam under the table shifted her grip to his leg, feeling a change of pace was needed.
16 May 14, 03:46 AM
Veronica: She nodded, charmed, and relived to have someone to talk to who might be helpful to her cause. "Not nearly as in Egypt I think, but plenty yes." Gradually, her grip on Cameron's leg relaxed, though she kept her hand there in case for several more minutes. "Do you enjoy traveling?" It was small-talk, which Veronica normally abhorred, but for the moment it was necessary, a lifeline, and she took hold with both hands. If she was going to marry this man, she needed an ally, maybe even a friend. Perhaps she could find that in his mother. At least her own had stopped glaring.
16 May 14, 03:51 AM
Cameron: The woman hesitated before adding after a glance at her husband to see him occupied "Different history, much more modern." Again, hesitation and she glanced at Omari who answered for her. "This is Mother's first trip outside of Cairo since she moved there with my father from Paris. Thus everything about it is exciting and unnerving all at the same time." His mother placed a hand on his arm in thanks and it was clear they had a different bond then the father did.
16 May 14, 03:56 AM
Veronica: She seemed nervous about her husband, and Veronica wondered, for a very nervous moment, if that should worry her for her own future, but then Omari came to his mother's rescue and she focused on him again, against her better judgement, searching his eyes, which she was forced to admit were very nice. She nodded to him, but didn't respond, addressing his mother again. "You must let me show you around while you are here then" she might come to regret the offer, but it was as close as she could make herself come to offering her future husband a truce. If he chose to reject it, well, ignoring him was still an option. Dinner was drawing to a close, and as they neared dessert, Veronica realized she had survived, the relief was only evident for a moment before she caught herself again.
16 May 14, 04:01 AM
Cameron: Omari pursed his lips at her offer even as his mother turned a worried look on her husband who turned having caught part of it. "We've already been toured around a bit. Thank you for the offer, maybe another trip then." rather curtly before her own father said "Veronica, take Omari down to the living room so you two can spend a few moments getting to know each other, Mr Silver here wants to hear Cameron's description of Hogwarts and how it differs." With an apologetic glance, Cameron got the chair for her and moved to the head of the table as Omari stood, patting his mother's shoulder before stepping out into the hallway first and then waiting for her to point the way.
16 May 14, 04:06 AM
Veronica: Feeling reprimanded, but not sure what she'd done (supposing her earlier attitude toward his son was not the cause) she nodded. "Of course" At her own father's words, however, she went noticeably rigid for a moment and then after a long beat. "Yes, father" Cameron got her chair and she stood gracefully with a pointed look at Cameron as though she was not sure which of them she felt worse for. She followed Omari out of the room and led him to the sitting room in silence. Turning, she looked up at him, annoyed that he was noticeably taller which forced her to look up at him, though not as much thanks to her shoes. "I believe, as you said, we can dispense with the useless flattery"
16 May 14, 04:11 AM
Cameron: Omari didn't miss the communication between her and her brother who was clearly slightly younger. When she stopped and looked at him he nodded, seriously. "Yes, I see little point to it." He looked around the living space and stepped over to the fireplace mantel, clearly liking the fireplace stone. "You are setting yourself up for disappointment with my mother I am afraid. My father will nix anything which involves her going out of his sight." It was clearly an expensive house. "Your parents take great pride in their home I can tell." His watched her from the corner of his eye. "Do you believe they feel the same about you?"
16 May 14, 04:18 AM
Veronica: Conceding that point, she frowned at his comment about her mother. It was not yet her place, if it would ever be, to dig too deeply into his family. "I...got that impression" she said carefully, and she doubted it was because he was in any way protective. His mother seemed nervous, almost frightened of his father. "He does not seem the type to tolerate being...disobeyed" it was as far as she dared push, but she wanted to know what he'd say, wanted some indication of whether he agreed with his father's methods. His comment about the house caught her off guard. "Yes" she said simply, and then after another moment. "It reminds them of their honeymoon in Greece." Her first instinct when he asked the question was to snap at him, but she stopped, remembering what she and Cameron had said only an hour before. "It depends on what sort of pride you mean" she said softly, but in no way sadly. "My parents view me as an asset to be traded, so it stands to reason that yes, they take pride in the aspects they consider....useful selling points." She sounded matter of fact as she said it.
16 May 14, 04:22 AM
Cameron: He shook his head, not meeting her look. "The culture we grew up in does not and my father is an excellent example of that raising." He kept his voice neutral on purpose; after all she was not to be trusted with too much yet. His eyes however lit up at the mention of Greece. "Greece is like this? Interesting. Have you ever been there?" He then turned as she spoke and listened to her words before taking the distance between them up in two long strides. "Assets is it? And how do you feel about that, Ms Clarke? I am quite interested to know your thoughts on this....deal."
16 May 14, 04:28 AM
Veronica: Which told her absolutely nothing, and she suspected he'd done it on purpose. Arse. The slight tinge of interest in his voice however, intrigued her. "Yes" and then a shake of her head. "No, its their special place. We don't do much traveling really. A bit here and there." Okay, this was going better than she might have thought, but she was determined her guard would not come down near so easily. Though she had the urge to step back when he came toward her, she stood her ground. "I..." and for a brief moment she considered opening up to him. Very brief. "Don't think what I feel has any consequence to you." She sounded maybe vaguely bitter as she added. "The deed of sale has already been signed, has it not?" What difference did it make to anyone really how she felt? Except for Cameron of course.
16 May 14, 04:32 AM
Cameron: "Shame." He looked over the fireplace one last time, an interest there indeed. "Honeymoon then so we can see what they liked so much." He looked at her, directly and frank. "Then you would be wrong. What I said upstairs was because I dislike lying and false words. I see little point in making you feel I am appreciating you when right now all I know you from is a piece of paper and a picture from school. It is a deed very much, but that does not mean I know anything about you to compliment you on unless you want me to begin verbally expressing my reactions to your 'assets' which I think not."
16 May 14, 04:36 AM
Veronica: A smirk, though not at him. "Exactly" His eyes found hers, and as he spoke, a smile tugged persistently at the corners of her lips, though she resisted. She did, however, relax, some of the rigidity leaving her frame. "Touche" she said softly and a bit of the life returned to her eyes. "I'm not especially fond of the concept of being sold for breeding stock" she said finally. "But I get the impression that is the general idea." She shrugged. "My brother and I both knew early this was our parents' plan for us. I had hoped I might have a bit longer to...enjoy being out of school."
16 May 14, 04:41 AM
Cameron: He nodded, having expected it, but the touch of appreciation in her voice for truth he liked. "Good. You speak your mind. I will advise you not to do so in front of my father. I was not pleased to have not much say in it either, but the family needs a solid connection here in the UK and I am the only son." His face did not show it but he said a touch softer "I am sorry we are not closer in age, I am sure that is a disappointment for you." He pursed his lips a tad. "The contract, however, leaves little leeway for personal opinions and my father and yours seem to share a love of things being completed on time."
16 May 14, 04:46 AM
Veronica: "I think it is safe to presume I will say less in front of your father than I say in front of my own, which isn't much, I can assure you." It relieved her on some level to realize he was being used just as much to serve a purpose as she was. "A...business endeavor?" She relaxed another fraction. "Will it anger you if I tell you that makes me feel a bit better?" Not that she much cared either way, but it was good to know in advance how bad his temper was. She laughed then, and for a moment her expression brightened with it. "Not particularly actually. You obviously don't remember boys my age." She gave him a serious look, though this was the first that lacked a sarcastic edge. "Have they given you any information regarding a timeline of...events?" Marriage, babies, all of it would likely come far too quickly for her liking.
16 May 14, 04:50 AM
Cameron: He nodded. "Business. Nothing personal, I am sure you are a nice person to get to know, but I don't think I will be given the chance to take things slowly." A raised eyebrow to her comment about age. "Excuse me? I do not thin I understand that part..." As she asked details, he realized in her culture as well women must not be told much. That would help in the long run. "Details yes. Civil marriage, by the end of the summer, child within a year. I will have a house in the South near the coast but that is still being arranged. Our family business will be coming across the channel."
16 May 14, 04:57 AM
Veronica: She could, in a strange way, appreciate his honesty. She had never expected to be loved, never even hoped for it. "Somehow I think you're right" she acknowledged, liking him much better than she had a few minutes ago still didn't mean she was excited about the prospect of having his children, especially since a great many of those details were...foreign to her still. She tried not to simile, and she succeeded...mostly. "I do not mind someone older because boys my own age are focused on one thing and one thing only." To include her brother, but she made exceptions for him. "It would be nice to actually have a conversation on occasion once things are...settled." Yes, once they got through the pesky details of marriage and sex they could begin getting to know each other properly. That thought did earn a grin. "A year" she said the words as though she wasn't quite sure how she felt about them, and in truth she wasn't. She had known it would go quickly, had hoped maybe not quite so quickly.
16 May 14, 05:00 AM
Veronica: "I suppose we really will have to skip the formalities then" she said, more seriously than before. There was no time, and she found herself uselessly frustrated, could they not even have afforded her just a little time to be human? No, no of course not. She studied Omari's expression and wanted to sigh. She felt the cage doors she'd always seen as inevitable swing shut with a silent clang of finality. "So everything will be settled very quickly then." It was all she could think to say. "I suppose there are details we should discuss as to your expectations."
16 May 14, 05:18 AM
Cameron: Comprehension lit his eyes. "Ah! I see. So parents here do not see to their son's education in such things beforehand?" Curious, he hoped her mother had at least told her the woman's side of it. If not he would be very displeased. "I suspect your father might have argued for something bigger in a service, but my father is used to throwing money around I am afraid. Were you expecting something more?" Her expression showed two things; first frustration, but also resignation. Both pleased him that she was going to do as she was told. "Business will keep me moving rapidly as my family sends in exports and I have to arrange their destinations. but I will have time at the beginning for us to try and get used to each other for awhile. With my father in Cairo running distribution I will often have to make trips back there and to also check on my sisters. Would you be interested in that sort of travel or no? What do women expect here in a marriage?"
16 May 14, 08:34 AM
Veronica: Another twitch of her lips as she considered the implications of that statement alone. he was probably some sort of expert. Was that good or bad? She had no idea. Much as it pained her, the idea of discussing sex with her brother, he was probably the most experienced one in the house. Merlin that was just odd. "Not in the way I think you mean" she answered. "Here, boys see to their own...education." She answered his next question more carefully. "I have very few actual expectations regarding the details. I wasn't given much to go on where they are concerned." She smirked, "if you're asking was I expecting a party, the answer is no." More like a funeral. Business trips? She smiled wryly at him. It was all so horribly cliche. So they would be married, and he would never be home? Could be worse, she decided, and then thought of his mother. Definitely worse. "I understand" she said simply. What else was there to say? He surprised her, however, when he asked if she was interested in coming
16 May 14, 08:41 AM
Veronica: along, and it showed. "Yes" she said quickly, almost too quickly. The idea of being home by herself endlessly, while initially attractive, would likely become boring later. At least this way she could hedge her bets. "I would be interested." Something else caught her attention. "Sisters?" She studied him over again. "How many?" His next question she considered for several seconds before she answered. "It depends" She glanced around at the house, a solid testimony of her own parents' feelings for one another. "In a real marriage, meaning one where the participants choose one another, I suspect the expectations are far different." Another wry smile. "In a...business arrangement, I suppose it depends on the woman. As far as I am concerned I have no expectations of you. I do not know you. I would prefer to be treated with respect as it saves me the trouble of making us both miserable, and..." Here her tone was softer, less ironic and what little teasing there was was lost. "I have never been afraid of much in my life. I would prefer not to be afraid of you." It spoke volumes without speaking much of anything, and was the closest she could safely come to telling him that her biggest fears where he was concerned stemmed from whether she would have the same look she'd glimpsed from his mother in ten years time.
16 May 14, 12:51 PM
Cameron: A smile. "Really?" A soft laugh before he became more serious. "That must be rough on the girls around them. Guys are not very good at self control I think." She had few expectations? He frowned, had she been raised to think it would all be taken care of as well? So be it. "I'll make some plans then. Afterwards should at least be something special." The smile returned with her interests. "Excellent. There are some standards I will have to teach you for some of those places, a few changes or wardrobe as this," he motioned at her dress, "while very nice would not do in some areas. It might actually get you stoned to death in some. But I shall guide you." He also nodded at her interest in his family. "Four, two much older and I am the middle of a set of triplets so my younger sisters and I are very close." A wry look, as if he knew what she meant. "You will have no reason to fear me. This is not a child-slave marriage after all or something perverse. I will take care of you and see to your
16 May 14, 12:53 PM
Cameron: needs as I expect the reverse back to me. Seem fair enough?" It took him a minute before he glanced at the door, realizing what she was probably referring to. "I am not my father, not in this. He is a harsh man, but generally easy to get along with if you toe a certain line. You will not have to deal with him much, I promise you that."
17 May 14, 12:02 AM
Veronica: He seemed surprised by her desire to travel, and she wondered why. "Of course. You try being cooped up behind walls your whole life and see how eager you are to go anywhere else." Emphasis on anywhere, she might have gone to the moon if she could have managed it. She shrugged, "I don't know much about it" she assured him. "Just the stories that make rounds in the dorms at school" and those she heard from her brother, but that was another matter. She looked startled by his comment. "My mother has put a great deal of energy into decorating the rest of my life to her liking, I assumed this would be much the same." When he spoke of making the after special, something in her softened, and she began to think it possible she had misjudged him...a little. "That...would be nice." It would at least give her something to look forward to after all of the political dust had settled. He smiled, and now that she wasn't feeling quite so guarded, she acknowledged it was a nice smile, and did so in
17 May 14, 12:08 AM
Veronica: return. "Ah yes,I imagine my behavior up to this point would be...less than ideal to some cultures." Though her expression was not apologetic, there was understanding. "I will trust your judgment on that" she murmured. It beat getting stoned to death at any rate. He spoke of his sisters and she grinned. "Oh...oh wow...that is..." and Cameron said she was hard to deal with sometimes...but that meant one thing very important: He likely understood women, and what's more, he obviously cared for his sisters. It served to soften her further, though she still stubbornly withheld judgment. She made a face at his choice of words before she could stop herself. "I should hope not" she agreed. She hesitated, but not for long. "Yes" she said softly, sincerely. "That is fair enough." She looked up at him from under her lashes. "I suppose I will need some guidance in that regard as well. I don't have much practice...'toeing the line'" she admitted. "Though I would appreciate it if you didn't mention that to my mother."
17 May 14, 12:12 AM
Cameron: Tilting his head he considered the point and then nodded, accepting it. "Granted." Ah, so she heard stuff from other students then, likely to be overblown or incorrect as they were passed around. He nodded. "Yes, I can imagine. In my case it is my father's will which runs our family, sometimes too much." A glance at the door and he shook his head; they would get into that later on. "Good. I shall plan appropriately then and leave some spontaneity in it." She understood about behaviors? "What have you heard if I may ask?" She also seemed surprised about his sisters. "Oh wow what?" he asked with a smirk. "I shall not say a word to your mother long as I have no difficulties with you myself, naturally, and there will be time for guidance as you put it later on. He will be returning to Egypt with my mother so there will be time for that at least." He frowned as an idea occurred to him. "Enlighten me to what you need in the house, please, if there is some special skill or hobby you do on a regular basis."
17 May 14, 12:23 AM
Veronica: "I understand" It was, after all, her father's word which was final in their house as well, though her mother had more power than some. Spontaneity, the word earned a genuine smile, though it faded somewhat as she considered how to best communicate her understanding of cultural norms. "Essentially it is a woman's job to be seen and not heard" she smirked. "but also to be entirely covered, so I suppose not exactly seen either." She grinned, appreciating the shift in topic. "I was just thinking how Cam might feel if he had three more sisters to deal with" she answered. "I think I might feel something like sympathy for one man in a house with that many women." She did appeared relieved at that, though she tried not to be too obvious about it. Having only him to deal with was a much more attractive concept. "Need" she repeated. "I...enjoy reading, most especially cultural and language studies" she said after a moment. "I also..." and here she hesitated, "I enjoy fashion design."
17 May 14, 12:31 AM
Cameron: Nodding, he clearly was still serious. "Essentially, yes. That culture has some rather severe punishments for those who break the rules of the religion as it is heavily religious based there." He chuckled at the comment about her brother. "Yes, there are times I felt a bit too much focused on." His eyebrows raised; that was an odd combination to him. "Reading is not an issue. Fashion design? Do you make clothes then and if so what style?"
17 May 14, 12:38 AM
Veronica: She looked relieved he seemed all right with her love of reading given the tenor of the conversation. His reaction to the fashion comment almost made her laugh. "It varies" she answered. "Mother has very traditional ideas about the way women should dress. The only way I could develop my own style was to create one for myself." She shrugged, "I'm not sure I could explain it to you in broad terms. I see something I like and I personalize it. That's all it is really."
17 May 14, 12:53 AM
Cameron: He noticed the relieved look and smiled. "What, did you think I was against knowledge?" He shook his head and went rather serious again. "I have no objection to your learning, long as obedience is still seen as that is what will get both of us in trouble." Listening, he certainly couldn't tell whether her talent was good or not. "Well then, if I give you an outfit to wear, it will be ones that can not be altered or added to as often if I give you one it fits certain guidelines. Here in the UK of course you can wear what you like. Within reason," he added having heard of some really absurd outfits
17 May 14, 01:00 AM
Veronica: "For women?" she gave him a look as though asking if he'd checked out during their conversation about cultural differences. "I was prepared for it as a possibility, yes." She nodded, seeing the reason in his clothing comments. "As I said, outside of the U.K. I trust your judgment, and here I would never wear anything that reflected badly. I have too much self-respect for that." Well, mostly. Sometimes she had been known to dress in certain ways merely to give her parents potential for a stroke, but he didn't need to know that. She got the impression he liked control, and she didn't mind him having the illusion of it if it made her life easier. "So, let me see if I have this right. I get the impression what this essentially comes down to is you're agreeing to see to what I need so long as I am willing to behave properly depending on the audience and behave as you see fit, correct me if I've misunderstood."
17 May 14, 01:06 AM
Cameron: Nodding he gave the room again a look. "Yes. And I know the public perception of it is that culture is down on education for women, but that is not entirely true. There are extremists in every culture, we just seem to be inflicted with the more public ones." She began a sum up and he paid grave attention to her words, nodding at the points. "Close enough I think for our purposes. It fits under the simple idea of I will see to what you need and you will see to what I need. That includes certain behaviors during travel and family visits of course. I assume, for instance, that you wish your brother to have access to our house from the way you react to him for instance."
17 May 14, 01:10 AM
Veronica: That earned him a wry smile again. "Right, our extremists weren't so much sexist as...blood purist" she knew very little about either of the great wars that had afflicted London in past years. Her parents had towed a very careful line of neutrality. When he confirmed her summary, she nodded. Not bad for a first conversation, she was forced to admit, though Cameron would be disappointed. Speaking of Cameron. "I would consider that important, yes." More than important, but she didn't know him well enough yet to risk giving him leverage. "My brother and I are very close" she acknowledged calmly. "We've spent a lot of time playing "them against us" with our parents since we were kids."
17 May 14, 01:16 AM
Cameron: Again he nodded, amused. "Yes, and I consider the blood to be far worse then the gender personally. One at least is a physical difference the other is just hatred. There are those who accept it for religion and have long and happy lives it seems." He shrugged. Her other point was in answer to his own. "My sisters and I have always felt it was family against everyone else. We never told our father anything that blatantly however." Motioning to the door he added "I think we have about covered what could be expected, unless you have something else you want to bring up?"
17 May 14, 01:22 AM
Veronica: "Then we can agree on those points at least." She nodded. "No, I think you are right, any longer and my parents might get the impression this is going well. I can't abide giving them that sort of satisfaction this quickly." She didn't particularly care what he made of that. "I am" she added hesitantly after a moment. "Glad to see that first impressions are not always what they seem however."
17 May 14, 01:25 AM
Cameron: Leading the way this time he stepped out and then as they walked back he said "I can always enter first and you come along a few minutes later if it gives you a better position." His face was grave but his eyes were clearly amused at her. "I have surprised many before you. I assure you, I am more then a surface."
17 May 14, 01:28 AM
Veronica: "Thank you" she smirked, "But no, I think Cameron and I will be in enough trouble as it stands. He's still got to go through this, I'd rather not make it worse for him if I can help it." She said nothing for a long moment at his surface comment, and then: "I think you'll find me more difficult to surprise than most" said softly and with simple confidence. "Everyone is more than a surface, Monsieur Zander" she responded. "The only difference is how deep they allow others to tread."
17 May 14, 01:34 AM
Cameron: He assembled his face into one of seriousness as they headed up and nodded to her comment, but the second one deserved words. "Very true, as I have demonstrated this evening in fact." Let her wonder how that was meant. "I have to admit feeling more positive to know you are not some empty headed socialite as many English girls are spoken of." He motioned her into the dining room saying nothing as they went back to their seats seeing as dessert had been delivered.
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It's the only way I can distract myself from the real world issues I have to deal with daily so I NEED to.