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Post by Nameless on Sept 18, 2018 11:32:20 GMT -6
Slater Mansion-England
A Week Later...
Freedom, Democracy, Fun. Three words he had not thought he'd be able to use in conjunction with each other. His mother was true to his word, after finishing all the work that he could. He was made to play hard and relax. He was able to eat all the steak he wanted, and all the sweet desserts too. It was like paradise, for the first time in years or in the decades that he was the heir of Slater Conglomerate. For once in his life, he was able to live as what the commoners thought of them rich people to be. Spoiled, worry free and everyday seeming like a vacation without end. Could this be perhaps the start of his independence from them? has his family truly seen his worth as his own man now?
Julius would sit on the dinner table, excited for another one of his steak night meals, he considered the steaks his just rewards for every battle he had won solo, in every event he had won and promoted the Slater name, his victory and feats were trending in social media all over. While he was doing well in the Professional League, he knew he was still at the bottom of the barrel and there were still some mighty pros he had need to defeat or cross swords with to be able to truly call himself a pro and not be because of rank and sudden popularity. His thoughts of bliss were pushed away and the color almost drained away from his face when he saw his mother sit down across him for dinner and talk in a very cryptic manner about opportunity. A very big one if one were to study her words correctly, which Julius did. What was it that he needed to go through with? Baffled at the seeming cryptic message coming from what seems to be a week off paradise, suspicion would arouse from the young heir's mind. He would not show it openly of course, so he focused on cutting the steak slowly and dining on it for awhile before he would give his answer.
Wiping the side of lips with a table napkin. Julius would speak gently, hesitation almost flickering in his beautiful mauve eyes.
"Mother, you speak in a most foreboding manner" Julius started. "What is it that is expected of me? Why does this expectation suddenly worry me?" He motioned with his hand to ask Hermann to draw closer, God knows he needed the courage from his foster father.
"Is this more work?" He chuckled, trying to hide his hesitation and suspicion behind the veil of a joke. "Or do I need to promote the conglomerate more in GBN?" He let out a gentle smile exuding confidence or to him atleast.
"Tell me of this expectation mother, you can't leave your son hanging now, Just who is this special guest and what is their relation with our business?" Julius would lean back further into the dining chair, his hands firmly on the utensils and his gaze fixed upon the visage of his mother.
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Oberst
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Post by Oberst on Sept 18, 2018 12:10:21 GMT -6
" Nothing of the sorts, dearest. you are doing an amazing job so far. you have become a man and thus you are going to need a fiancée- a beautiful young girl to become your wife in the future and of course not any girl would do. Your father and I have picked the perfect candidate, she should be arriving here soon ... " The blond woman explained to her anxious son in a relaxed and gentle tone.
Said and done, Marten would arrive with Sara in tow in a matter of moments. This wasn't the first time they saw each other but for the sake of formality Marina introduced the two of them to each other, urging the young lady to sit at the table with them.
" You are certainly looking radiant this evening, Sara. Welcome to the Slater house, please make yourself at home. I'll have our servants take your luggage to a room in the second floor." For the sake of her own privacy she was going to be provided with a bedroom of her own, she might have been Julius self appointed fiancée but they would need to get to know each other better before she let them sleep in the same bedroom.
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Post by akureiryu on Sept 24, 2018 7:51:15 GMT -6
Sara felt like she was a child about to attend one of her parents 'parties' again as she stood in front of the door to this large mansion, being prepared on how to act and behave before she entered. She couldn't help feeling butterflies in her stomach as she took a long breath, reminding herself to calm down. She stepped out of the way as Marten walked up to her, thanking the guard once he opened the door before she walked in. The home of her potential husband looked even bigger on the inside than it had from the outside. It wasn't too often she'd seen somewhere bigger than her own home.
She followed Marten as he guided her through through the halls, not wanting to get lost on her first day here. The two eventually made their way into a dining room, and Sara quickly saw Marina and Julius looking at her. As Marina was introducing the two of them to each other, Sara knew they had met before since she'd seen the picture of herself presenting him with an award. But it's not like the two of them had really had much interaction. She bowed politely as Marina introduced her to Julius, still assuming that he'd known about this arranged marriage idea just as long as she had, if not longer.
Sara sat down at the table when Marina invited her to, smiling at the compliment she was given. "Thank you very much for welcoming me into your home," she said. "It's absolutely beautiful." She nodded a little when the woman said that her servants would take care of her bags. "I might have overpacked a little. I hope they won't be too upset with me," the dark-skinned girl joked, wanting to make a good first impression with her hosts. She looked calm, but she could feel her heart racing in her chest as she spoke to the two of them.
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Post by Nameless on Sept 24, 2018 11:04:34 GMT -6
Fiancée.
That single word uttered by his mother seemed to suddenly mute out the colors in the world along with her voice as she spoke. Julius felt his knees weaken and shake, luckily he was sitting rather luxuriously in the cushioned wooden chair engraved with ornamental designs akin back to the medieval ages. His mouth fell agape and his gentle hands loosened its grip on the utensils but not loose enough for him to drop them altogether, looking like he simply was too lazy to hold the utensils correctly. But of course his bodyguard and mother would know this, they have been with him for years after all. The colorful dinner hall decorated with countless paintings and murals on the walls, seemed to mesh altogether if they were water they would have swallowed him whole, at least that's how Julius felt.
Mouth dry, Julius struggled to regain control of his bodily facilities that he seemingly lost, Including his ability to think clearly, his mouth still agape, he tried to utter a word, even a sound would've sufficed, as he could have then worked with it to start his vehement protest of said notion, presented by his mother nonetheless. Every fibre of his being screamed trying to give his body strength or voice, but none came. The strong door made of oak, swung open slowly opened by a bodyguard named Marten, Julius' eyes would fall on the lass, his gaze firm and unmoving, a glint of defiance and helplessness in them, but whether or not she had agreed to this openly or fought against it, the young ivory haired man didn't know. He would lean back on his seat letting out a soft exhale, and with it the countless words imbued with rage and bitterness, his eyes closing peacefully.
He was not going to embarrass a guest no. Uninvited she may be in his life--she was a guest inside their mansion still. A guest of the Slaters nonetheless, it would be remiss of him to slight her honor just because of his own mother's betrayal. Though Hermann knowing was another matter to be decided later on. His eyes would open as was with his composure starting to come back to him, his mauve eyes that had a piercing effect once again transfixed itself on sara's visage, he would gesture with his right hand open towards the food in a minimalist manner.
"You must eat miss sara was it? I'm sure you've traveled far, apologies I had not met you in person myself. If I knew you would be coming..." his gaze would shift towards his mother for what a split second, momentarily enough for it to not distract the young girl that was in their presence.
"I would have picked you up myself, but alas there's nothing to be done"
Just who is she? She seems familiar, like a distant memory.
His left hand would reach towards the fine wineglass that was a little beyond his dining plate, instead of wine however it was filled with a slush of yellow. It was fresh mangoes mixed with condensed sweet milk, it was more akin to a smoothie. Julius had tasted it during on one of his rare travels in asia, and has taken a liking to it ever since.
"If the food is not to your liking however, I can ask our chefs to serve ones that are more suitable for your palette, if you would so choose" Julius smiled, all his actions and words were calculated as he studied her, every word or gesture serving him additional time to try and remember where he had met her before, all the while pleasing both his mother and their guest despite his inner apprehension still festering inside of him. |
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Post by vgraumann on Sept 24, 2018 18:43:17 GMT -6
Marten had been more conversational with Sara once they had arrived, lightening up substantially now that he knew that she was safe.
As they walked he had given her as much of a guided tour as he could in order to try and get her familiarized with the main building of the estate. He’d briefly gone over who she was about to meet and their relations to the company. She had probably already knew as much as he did but he shared anyway out of courtesy.
After she had been let into the room he had stood out the opposite side of the door, slipping a pair of earbuds out of his front pocket and plugged them into his phone. In truth he always was interested in music and the fact he had heard every song he had loaded onto the device close to a hundred times hardly bothered him. As it was the young girl was still his charge and he would not leave the building until he was dismissed.
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Post by akureiryu on Sept 25, 2018 16:29:43 GMT -6
Although the two hadn't really spoken much on the way to the mansion, Sara had paid attention while Marten had told her about the mansion as they walked through it as well as who she was meeting. She'd tried to do some research on her own about Julius and his family before her trip here, but she was thankful for the information he shared with her. Just before he opened the door to the dining room, the dark-skinned girl thanked him for what he'd told her.
Sara's attention was first on Julius, the young man her parents had decided would become her fiancee. She could practically feel him looking at her, staring, studying. There was another moment that she felt like a child, being introduced and paraded around to her parents guests and business associates. But that moment passed just as quickly as it arrived once Marina had begun speaking and introduced the two of them. She looked toward Julius, seeing the way he was sitting in his seat, and believed that he likely had known about their parents plan for the two of them for at least as long as she had.
Even as she took her seat at the table, the silver-haired girl knew she still couldn't relax. Her potential future husband and mother-in-law to were probably both still making up their minds about her. She would have to wait until she was alone in her room before she could have a chance to really breathe. Sara looked back toward Julius when she noticed him gesturing toward the food that had been laid out for them on the table.
Her eyes got bigger for a moment as she listened to Julius, surprised to hear him saying that he hadn't known she was coming. Was she wrong in her assumption that he'd been told about this arranged marriage some time ago, like she had been? 'He couldn't have just found out about this... right?' she thought to herself before speaking.
"There's no need to apologize," she said with a polite smile. "I understand that things come up. The man who drove me here, Marten, was very helpful once I arrived." She didn't want to cause any sort of trouble while she was visiting, certainly not on her first day of being here. And Julius seemed to be trying to make her comfortable by offering to have the chefs cook something else for her if she needed it. "All of the food looks delicious. I'm sorry I interrupted your meal." Sara would continue to wear that mask of hers while she was here, wanting to keep her hosts happy. She just needed to make it through this trip, then she could return home and continue the 'discussion' with her parents until they gave up on this idea of theirs.
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Oberst
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Post by Oberst on Sept 26, 2018 5:41:31 GMT -6
Marina was a very perceptive woman. She could practically feel Julius glaring at her behind that cold detached look in his eyes- a trait he'd basically inherited from his father. The blond woman realized now that maybe waiting until the last moment to make the announcement was a flawed move on her part but she wasn't going to wait another five years and from the looks of it Sara had also been dragged into this involuntarily.
She attempted to lighten up the tense atmosphere by making small talk with Sara and reassuring her there was plenty of places to go out and see while in the UK. Truth to be told Marina had expected Julius to be far more accepting of her fiancee, after all, all he did in his spare time was lock himself in his room and play GBN for hours on end and that wasn't exactly going to help him find a suitable young girl to be his bride in the near future.
Earlier she'd noticed her phone buzzing but she had far more important matters to currently attend what with introducing her son to Sara and make sure they behaved accordingly. Now she could check the text Marten had sent her earlier. " See that it's done." She simply replied back to their bodyguard.
While they finished dinner their servants would take Sara's luggage to her own bedroom and make sure to organize everything prior to her arrival. Most rooms in the mansion had their own bathrooms for the sake of convenience.
Later that evening, once Sara had gone to her room to sleep Marina called her son to meet her at their studio that resembled a library more than a private office. Massive bookshelves loaded with hefty tomes stood erect, a large oak desk that belonged to their family for generations stood at the center, a spot chosen by Julius great grandfather and that remained unmoved.
" I know what you are thinking. Hate me if you must that won't change the fact the duty to your family comes first. I know it seems selfish for us to ask this of you but do you seriously think our fortune came out of thin air? Your father and countless generation of Slater men have made enormous sacrifices that paved the way to our success. I am not asking you to love Sara but do give her a chance. Commoners would only dream of being given half the opportunities you are given, besides if it's a mistress you are looking for I am sure there will be more than a chance for you to find one or two." Her tone of voice was firm but she didn't want to come out as two demanding.
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Post by Nameless on Feb 11, 2019 14:23:59 GMT -6
Julius stature seemingly changed as he walked inside the Manse. It was as if he was a man possessed by an otherworldly being, his expression was a mix of stern and fearsome. His delicate features contorted into a face of absolute disgust and seething anger. He would've understood if this trickery was done by his father, but his mother? While he had his own misgivings towards her, and knew how manipulative she can be, he did not expect such a disrespectful play with her power. While he strived to be the very epitome of "perfect son" his mind was so warped and consumed with anger that he certainly did not care about the fearful stares the housemaids were giving him--unaware that his ire was very prominent in his features and he gave no damn about it or mayhap he did but did not have the thinking capacity to do so.
Stopping by a heavy oaken door that filled his nostrils with a peculiar and familiar scent of his childhood. He exhaled--his shoulders heaving as if trying to exorcise the demon that possessed him. But alas it was in vain as it was not exorcised, as the moment he knocked thrice and then opened the door, seeing his mother's face amplified his anger.
"Mother!" He bellowed the door nary closing an ilm behind him. "How could you?!" he followed up immediately as he closed the heavy door behind him, almost in a slamming manner. "What form of madness is this? This is father's way of doing things! Not yours!"
Marina being the fearsome woman that she is, gave him an answer quickly and efficiently as if she had been rehearsing this answer for years. Almost like this was planned years before even he was a twinkle in his parent's eyes. Julius stepped back without meaning to, surprised at how nonchalant his mother was about it like he was merely a business associate being cut off as he held no advantage for her anymore to use.
"So you use me and throw me away is that it?" His eyes furrowed and his eyes glared at her like daggers, and his voice was deep and angry. "I am merely cattle to be sold? to be used for the glorious Slater name?"
"I will take no part in this charade" |
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Post by Oberst on Feb 13, 2019 5:56:36 GMT -6
Far from being upset with Julius seething anger, Marina felt proud of her son unyielding pride. In the absence of his father she had done a fine job raising him into the man he was today.
" Julius, can't you see we're doing what's the best for you? If you refuse your father won't have any mercy, he will disown you and leave you to fend for yourself. Your cousin will marry Sara's brother and the plan will go on with or without you. All you would achieve would be humiliating yourself and renounce to every privilege for the rest of your life. I know young men want to do as they please but times come when we must take responsibility and accomplish our duties." Marina had dropped the stern tone, instead becoming more dotting and loving towards her angered offspring, such mood swings weren't uncommon.
" The hand of a beautiful and young girl and wealth that would ensure the success of your children and grandchildren, please, think before you throw all of that away for the sake of petty individualism."
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Post by Nameless on Feb 15, 2019 10:45:12 GMT -6
His mother's words were like pincers suddenly grabbing hold of him, holding him in place while the ground beneath him seemingly crawled up to him and pull him down like quicksand. Someway, somehow his mother had still found a way to corner him, despite his righteous anger and fury. Marina's words were smooth like a balm for the discord filled thoughts that enveloped Julius' better functions and yet he felt a familiar chill. The same chill that he radiates when he himself is either threatening someone or has earned his scorn and anger, but his mother? She wasn't even angry at the least, she spoke in a normal tone and yet chills emanated from her. Julius was dumbfounded, confused and his anger was not doing his thoughts any better.
She had warned him of being disowned, something he had not thought about seriously nor entertained. While he may have wanted autonomy and freedom, disownment was something he had not come to grips with. Must he then simply take it in stride if he was to maintain everything? He can be free, it was being offered, albeit a dire consequence of rebellion--and yet what would be the cost for the freedom he so yearned? Humiliation? Julius Ahasuerus Slater. The rising star of the Slater company and Gunpla Battle Network now a prodigal son; a social phariah. Could he handle such ramifications?
Knees weak, he felt lightheaded and yet he focused his energy, his anger and focus on his hand to clench it. He needed an anchor to weigh himself back in, to face his mother, and he started with using his anger as anchor.
"Disownment? I am a mere plaything then. I am but an option. Why do you keep me around then?" He muttered slowly gaining back the traction in his thoughts and the edge in his words. "If my cousin can marry her, then why I can't I marry someone else then and still be of use to you and father?" he said coldly.
"What of Sara? is she fine to play the sacrificial lamb the same as I? If I knew any better she's forced as well to do this" |
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Post by akureiryu on Feb 21, 2019 15:40:12 GMT -6
While she'd been walking toward her bedroom in the Slater's mansion, Sara could feel herself struggling a little more with every step. After a long flight and everything else that had happened since then, she was looking forward to laying in bed and sleeping for the rest of the night. But once she actually got to her room, got changed into her sleepwear, untied her hair from the twintails she'd been wearing it in, and was laying in bed, she felt like she was full of energy.
The stubborn girl laid in her bed, as if she was trying to force herself to fall asleep. But nothing she tried helped her to drift off. She still continued to lay there, however, keeping her eyes closed as more and more thoughts slipped into her mind. The dark-skinned girl finally opened her eyes with a sigh, staring up toward the ceiling. "Maybe if I get something to drink..." she muttered softly to herself before getting out of bed.
Sara left her bedroom and started to walk through the halls, remembering the short tour he'd given her when he was taking her to the dining room. But it was hard to remember everything he'd told her. She continued to walk, looking around the mansion a little as she tried to find the kitchen, and suddenly stopped when she heard Julius' voice shouting at someone. The words were muffled by a closed door, but she was sure it was his voice. Curious, the silver-haired teen walked in the direction it had come from, slowly getting closer. Though his voice was loud, it wasn't until she was close to the door that she could finally hear another voice. A female voice. His mother.
Wanting to know what the two were talking about, Sara moved closer to the door and nearly pressed her ear against it to listen in on their conversation. Marina's words were still difficult to hear clearly, but Julius' tone remained loud and angry, which she could finally hear. Her eyes got bigger as she heard the things he said: wanting no part of this, claiming he was nothing but a plaything for his parents, what sounded like trying to pass her off on his cousin. It was a surprise to hear just how against this idea he was as well. For a moment, she considered entering the room and telling them both that she felt the same way. But word would surely get back to her parents. No, she couldn't come out and admit the truth... but that didn't mean she had to give up.
When Julius spoke her name, Sara jumped and tried to move away, her feet colliding and causing her to fall forward. She hit against the door and, thanks to the door seemingly not being completely closed, accidentally pushed it open as she stumbled forward. Her blue eyes were huge from the surprise, but it wasn't just from falling forward and revealing herself to the two speaking in the studio. "I-I'm sorry," she quickly said as she stood upright, bowing her head a little. "I-I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just... I heard shouting and.... a-and..."
As she looked back up at the two of them, it was clear to see how upset the girl was. "I... I had no idea how... a-against the idea of marrying someone like me you were. I didn't mean to waste so much of your time by coming here," she said, getting more upset as she spoke and what she'd overheard sunk in. It was enough to make her feel like a fool for coming all this way. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words didn't come as she looked back and forth between the two. She brought a hand up to wipe her eyes before she bowed her head a little again. "I-I'll try not to bother you... for the rest of my time here," she said, her words trembling as tried to fight back her tears. "I-I'm sorry that I'm not... that I'm not good enough to be your wife." With that final apology, Sara turned and left the studio, pulling the door closed behind her, quickly making her way back toward her bedroom.
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Oberst
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Post by Oberst on Apr 10, 2019 7:45:25 GMT -6
" Do not question your father authority or our motives. Either accept it or be cast away!" Marina had enough arguing for the evening, laying down a foreboding ultimatum before dismissing Julius.
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