PW124: Making Amends

[Ivone]

December, Winter Solstice, PW 124 Residential District: Vyaduka House

It didn’t snow often in Marn, but as the winter solstice neared, the clouds certainly threatened it. They were steel grey and piled one atop the other.

In a few more months, a year will have passed since the death of her husband and child. So much had happened since that horrible day. The most pivotal thing to happen was her arranged meeting with Aurelio Merynir. Three months ago, he had come into her life and changed its course. Three months later, their relationship was changing. He had invested three months in trotting Ivone around, helping her make connections and finally, socially anyway, stepping back a little. That was part of the plan as well. Slowly, he would act as if he had lost interest in her and that should be easy enough to do. He had the Laleonalia elf to warm his bed.

Instead, if things went as they hoped, Khayyam Vyaduka would encourage Ivone to distance herself socially from Aurelio Merynir and find her a more suitable partner. And, Khayyam would. She knew he would. Assuming he accepted her back into his life, of course. But… Ivone thought he would do that, too.

The first step, though, was making amends. She needed to apologize, to offer tears and beg his forgiveness for her anger and foolish words. And, this is how Ivone came to be on the steps of the Vyaduka house, holding a basket of things she had hand-made: scented candles, soaps, some hot house flowers, and even a masculine body-wash.

Ivone was clad in a simple, yet elegant surcoat of lavendar. The trim was furred and dyed lavender. Her gloves were navy blue as was her dress. All in all, she made a pretty picture, especially when the snow began to fall softly around her face. Ivone lifted the knocker and rapped a few times on the door. Khayyam was supposed to be home. She’d checked already at his office and was informed he had returned to Vyaduka manor. His other, regular haunts were also vacant. This could only be where he was, unless he had some mistress somewhere.

Ivone looked out into the street and watched the snowfall as she waited for someone to answer the door.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

Azuel was playing a game of chess against Jafar. Jafar was losing badly, but it was a less typical scenario than one might think. Jafar had a surprising head for the game, a skill for which Azuel was grateful. As of late, It seemed that playing chess was the only time they could spend together gracefully.

Azuel had Jafar’s king pinned against the back by a well guarded castle, and had already moved his queen into position, slowly edging Jafar into a corner. So many of Jafar’s other pieces, besides his pawns, had been captured that there was little he could do to oppose it, merely delay it by surrendering what few special pieces remained to the fury of the queen.

Jafar’s knight was the last to nobly sacrifice himself in defense of his liege, whereupon Azuel managed to bring his queen right beside the king in a manner which kept her protected by his castle. Since the king could not move diagonally backwards, it was...

“Checkmate” Azuel said simply. Jafar groaned putting his hand to his face and smiling.

“That was an awful game on my part. Must have felt great.”

A smile graced Azuel’s lips, implicitly confirming Jafar’s statement, and he began to pack up the pieces. After picking the board clear, he flipped the board over; the chessboard was large and thick; it was designed to fold in half, serving a double purpose as a box to hold the pieces.

As he set the box down, Jafar piled his capture pieces inside. Azuel did the same, and when both were finished swung the board closed. Jafar slung it under his shoulder and stood, pushing his seat back as he did so. Azuel made to leave with him.

The brothers meandered off out of the living area, discussing each other’s mistakes and strategies that game. The board was kept in Jafar’s room, so they headed to the opposite side of the building through the front hall.

Such was it that they heard the knock. The glanced at each other. Not having expected company tonight, both faces showed confusion. Jafar eventually shrugged. “You answer it; I’ll take the board back.”

Azuel nodded, “Sure. I wonder who it is.” He made for the stairs, walking down slowly. When he opened them, he blinked. There was a woman about his age standing there in the cold, holding a gift basket of some sort. He blinked a couple more times. This was not a face he had expected to see.

“Oh. Hello. You are Ivone, right?”

Jafar, who had just exited the room behind Azuel, suddenly stuck his head back through the doorway. “Yes, that’s her.” He confirmed. He walked back out into the room, but didn’t take the steps down. Instead he leaned against the railing of the second story. “Quit letting her freeze, Azuel.”

Azuel’s breath caught in his throat. He was fairly confident Jafar was just as baffled by her appearance as he was, but at least he seemed to be composing himself. “Right! Er, sorry.” Azuel stepped aside and motioned for her to enter.

[Ivone]

Ivone turned when the door opened. Snow had fallen on her lashes and her cheeks were pink. Her hands were tucked back into the warm, furry, lavender muffler she had. She smiled shyly at Azuel and at Jafar, who was the better looking one of the two, but already spoken for. A thick braid of golden hair emerged from the hood and fell over her left breast.

“Yes, Ivone Malatrast.” Ivone gave Azuel a brief curtsy as it would be proper to do so.

When Azuel gestured, Ivone stepped inside and pushed the hood back. She was a petite woman, with a heart-shaped face, fair skin, and large violet-blue eyes framed in dark lashes. She wore no make-up or powders, what they saw she had been born with.

“Jafar…” Ivone looked down at the floor as she gave another curtsy for the Vyaduka heir.

“Thank you.” Looking to Azuel, she said, “I wonder, is your grandfather at home and taking visitors?” Ivone’s voice was surprisingly rich for a woman of her stature. Looking at her, one might expect her to have a squeaky, small voice to go with her small build, but her voice was full, rich, and cultured.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

Azuel’s eyes wandered Ivone. Though a lesser mind might have assumed that he was admiring her form, he actually was simply curious as to her motive. Last he had heard of Ivone, she had railed against Khayyam for the reckless release of a battlemage which had gotten her husband and unborn child killed. Azuel cringed to recall that nasty bit of business. It had been an accident, but it was hard not to see where Ivone’s grief and rage might spring from.

That was not to say she wasn’t beautiful. She was about his age and cut a very striking figure. The snow was all the makeup she needed; the light dusting had framed her face with an elegance no cosmetics could catch. Azuel took a step backwards, his face impassive. Jafar, by contrast, seemed to be eagerly inviting the eye candy. Azuel’s lip twisted downwards when he glance back. Besides the distasteful nature of admiring Ivone while engaged, with his brother so focused on Ivone Azuel could not silently convey his surprise to his brother without verbalization. Azuel turned back, dejected.

The question remained in the air: what was she doing here, acting like there was no ill will between her and Khayyam? His grandfather certainly held no grudge over her outburst. In fact, he had been rather subdued for a great period of time after she had called his recklessness to his attention. Azuel might have gone so far to declare the experience to have positively changed his character. But Azuel had also heard nothing of any renewed rapport between them.

Apparently he had taken to long with his thoughts, as Jafar rolled his eyes and responded, “Not sure where he is at the moment. He might currently be overseeing dinner preparations with father and Latifa. Since you are here, you’re welcome to join us for a meal.”

Azuel’s eyebrows raised, but did not display the full extent of his bemusement. He got the distinct, if incorrect, impression that something had occurred that rendered this normal. Either that or his brother was simply taking what opportunities came to them.

“Yes,” he supplied, eager not to let his bullheaded brother upstage him with politeness. If Ivone was now a friend to Khayyam, he wasn't about to make such any more difficult than it had to be. It was never healthy to hold onto the past. “Here, allow me to take you to the dinner hall so that we may find him.”

[Ivone]

As the Vyaduka men studied her, Ivone removed her gloves, unwound the thick muffler she wore, and tucked both in the hand muff. Then, she unfastened the buttons of her coat, with care, well aware of Jafar’s appreciative gaze without having to look. Ivone blinked when Azuel turned away, surprised, but raised well-enough not to comment. She was used to gentlemen helping her from her coat. So, she removed her own coat. The dress underneath the coat was well-fitted across the bodice, showing just enough décolletage without being risqué, only enticing. Though, from Jafar's vantage point, her bow would probably afford him a tantatlizing, yet frustrating view. The cut of the dress also emphasized the smallness of her waist before flaring out slightly to fall to the floor. The dress was long-sleeved, fastened at her wrists with a row of navy buttons.

When Jafar extended the offer of dinner, Ivone lifted her gaze to him and held his for a moment. The look was guileless enough and her smile was still a little shy. The pink in her cheeks turned a little pinker from Jafar’s appreciative looks. He was an attractive man and both brothers watched her as she divested herself of garb as she was undressing for their pleasure.

She inclined her head and blinked slowly before turning that steady violet-blue gaze to Azuel, giving him the same look, only she held Azuel’s gaze a tad longer than she had Jafar’s. Had she kept her gaze on Jafar too long, it would have been unseemly and overly flirtatious, and she couldn’t have that.

“Thank you, Jafar, Azuel, I appreciate it. Where, pray, should I put my things?” She lifted her coat and other winter items. They were draped over her arms. Ivone knew the Vyadukas did not use servants and that was fine. Ivone had sent her own servants away eight months prior. Serving herself was not a problem. Ivone waited with a pleasant expression on her face.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

“There are coat hooks under the stairway, along with a cupboard on which you can leave your scarf and gloves.” Azuel rattled off immediately, beating Jafar to the information. Due to the mild weather which Marn enjoyed all year round, there were only enough hooks for each of the family members; there was not one for his dead mother either, because they had been installed to replace a pair of old coat hanger only after her death. Still, it had become a problem more than once. He ought to suggest the addition of a guest hook later. “Let me remove my coat. I won’t be going anywhere tonight anyways.”

Azuel lumbered over to the hooks in the wall and removed his long grey, if exceptionally fine, coat from its proper place. He shuffled to the side for Ivone and opened the drawer, folding his coat neatly before unceremoniously dropping it inside and rolling it shut. All the while, his mind raced. The situation was not familiar and he did not understand every aspect of it; that alone was enough to worry him. He did not care to look the buffoon after making some clownish, ignorant mistake.

He debated asking her as to the nature of her unexpected arrival upon their doorstep, but decided that such would not only make him look ignorant but also possibly be insensitive to the tragedies that Ivone had endured. If she was willing to put them behind her, he did not care to risk dragging them back up. So instead he waited for her to finish with patience, moving from the cupboard and blithely staring across the hall rather than at Ivone herself.

On a whim, he stepped back out and looked up. Jafar was still there, perhaps hoping for another, better peek at Ivone’s cleavage. Azuel’s brows furrowed, “You do still have to take that board back,” he commented dryly. There was a subtle accusation to his tone that Jafar was likely going to pick up on, if only as a result of living with Azuel rather than any significant perception on his part.

Jafar sighed but reluctantly parted, exiting through the upper door as he had originally intended to do. Azuel couldn’t help but wonder if Ivone had noticed Jafar’s transparent scheme; and furthermore, if he should apologize on his brother’s behalf. Ivone did seem rather shy with her nervous, fidgety motions.

“...I apologize for my brother’s ogling.” Azuel eventually stated, leading her to the door which would take them to the kitchen. The rest of the house was much more minimalist than the entry hall, and he did hope she would not be disappointed by the lack of glamor. “He is of a crude disposition, at his worst.”

[Ivone]

“Thank you. You’re very kind.” Ivone followed Azuel and put her things away. Ivone glanced at Azuel from the corner of her eye, amused as she rebuked his brother. She had been an only child and had no experience with the ins and outs of sibling relations.
The pink that had receded, returned at Azuel’s comment, but Ivone managed to graciously say,

“Men will be men, but it is a truly honorable one, like you, who does not ogle when the opportunity arises.” Or ones who do not care for women, but Ivone did not say that. She did not know if Azuel preferred men or women. Perhaps he was just one of those without a preference at all.

Ivone followed Azuel to the dinner hall, noting the unremarkable décor as she passed through the rooms. This, too, left her unfazed. She had visited the house once or twice in times past, when Tian and she had first been married. Ivone smiled at Azuel,
“Whatever they are cooking, it smells good.” Truth be told, she liked the low-key décor. It was more familial and reminded her of her childhood. The garishness of most upper class houses was often appalling. Ivone preferred understated quality. She could think of only one instance when peacock finery was suitable, but immediately cut-off that line of thought. That was also in the past.

Ivone paused and reached for Azuel’s arm, lightly touching it with her fingers.

“Azuel, thank you for receiving me with kindness. I hoped to come here today to make amends for my outburst at the funeral. To… to apologize.” Ivone looked down at the floor and bit her bottom lip. Her hands were clasped together and she twisted her wedding ring in nervousness. When she looked him in the eye again, it was with entreaty. Ivone reached out to take one of Azuel’s hands in both of hers. Her hands were soft and dainty.

“Do you think Khayyam will forgive me if I apologize? He was… he was Tian’s closest friend and I foolishly drove him away when I needed him the most. Everyone… everyone says you are the most like him. So, if you say he will, then I will feel better.” She seemed in earnest.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

Unused to receiving compliments, Azuel’s voice caught in his throat when Ivone began claiming that he was an honorable sort of person. His gaze tracked the floor, mostly from embarrassment but partly to ensure that he stayed true to her perception of him. Ivone was awfully attractive, and Azuel would rather not have her as the subject of his lewder thoughts.

Of course, his stance left him entirely unprepared for her sudden touch upon his arm. The sensation brought him back out of his reverie such that by the time he turned to face her, she had already placed her hands around his right arm and showered him with further praises of his kindness and consideration. Azuel’s unease was only furthered, though one wouldn’t have guessed it from his face which alone of his body language was impeccably controlled. Ivone must have been desperate for his grandfather’s forgiveness if she felt the need to be sycophantic to his useless grandson.

She finished by comparing him to Khayyam and asking how he viewed her chances of receiving his grandfather’s pardon. Azuel knew what his grandfather would do and responded easily. “My grandfather holds nothing but guilt and regrets for that day. He will be eager to see that you have forgiven him for his rashness.” Azuel frowned sympathetically and looked down into her eyes, although his hand withdrew itself from her grasp. “And equally ready to forgive in turn. I do not believe he has ever held your words against you. We too have lost loved ones.”

Azuel turned back to the final door to the kitchen and opened it. Maalik and Latifa were there, and both heads turned from their work. They immediately fixed on the woman behind Azuel. He nodded and stepped in, motioning her forwards. Maalik’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, not unlike Azuel’s had earlier. Latifa adopted a soft, charming grin, but her curiosity was transparent to Azuel. “Ivone has asked to join us for dinner,” Azuel explained. Their reactions, in tandem with her words not moments ago, did much to reassure Azuel that nobody else had been expecting this either. His shoulders sagged a tiny distance with relief, the gesture so small as to be unnoticed by all but Latifa. “Do you have enough prepared to include her?”

Latifa nodded easily, “We always wind up cooking more than we eat. Jafar will simply neglect dragging the remains off to a horrible fate in his room. We should be done soon; take her to the dining room, I suppose.” Her smile took on a mischievous bent as she turned to address Ivone. “A pleasure seeing you as always, Ivone.”

Azuel’s left eye twitched harshly. Apparently both of his siblings couldn’t get enough of Ivone. He turned from the room in a huff, utterly distraught and embarrassed by their conduct.

[Ivone]

Ivone’s gaze moved from Maalik, whose expression was not particularly welcoming, to Latifa’s, whose was more than welcoming. In fact, it almost looked as if Latifa was regarding her in much the same way Jafar had. Well, let her look, then. Let them all look, if they wanted.
Ivone gave a small curtsy and she smiled prettily back at Latifa.

“Maalik, a pleasure. Thank you, and you as well, Latifa. I appreciate the offer of the meal. Did you know it’s begun to snow?”

When Azuel left in a huff, Ivone looked distressed as if she worried she had offended Azuel in some way. She turned her head to watch Azuel leave. Ivone’s hand had lifted to hover over her heart as she spoke further.

“I had hoped to speak to Khayyam privately for a moment and had said as much to Azuel. Do you think that offended him?”

[Azuel Vyaduka]

Latifa’s hand settled over her lips, a dainty giggle escaping her lips. “Nevermind him. He’s just too easy for me to tease. In fact,” Latifa stretched and leaned such that she could see over Ivone’s shoulder, “I believe he went to the dining hall, intending for you to follow. He might have forgotten that latter part due to his embarrassment.” A vibrant smile graced her features, absolving her of all wrongs. She met Ivone’s eyes easily before turning back to the simmering chicken atop the stove. Her movements were graceful, upright, and implied a certain confidence in herself which Azuel lacked.

“If you’ll kindly follow Azuel through the door and wait, we’ll be out shortly. Khayyam knows we’re nearly done and will be there any moment to take his place; I hope you don’t mind enjoying conversation with the old man after dinner.” She shrugged in the direction of the door.

“Do go easy on him when you catch up. He gets quite enough from me.” Latifa returned her attention to the meal, ruffling through drawers in search of the proper spices. Maalike was wiping his hands upon a towel, and continued to say nothing. He did eventually extend a firm nod to Ivone, but it seemed to be encouraging her to leave for the dining hall as much as it was a greeting.

[Ivone]

Ivone nodded. "I will."

She followed Azuel out the door and called after him, "Azuel? Where is the dining room? May I help set the table?" Ivone did not rush after Azuel on a matter of principle.

[Azuel Vyaduka]

Azuel had been waiting on the other side of the door, and took a hesitant step backwards when Ivone finally followed him through. His shoulders dropped in relief when she did not immediately step forth with accusations on the matter of his sub par manners, instead choosing to offer aid in setting the table.

“Ah,” Azuel eventually replied while she approached, still plainly hesitant. “Actually, Jafar and I already set the table before we started our game. We’ve little to do but wait, I’m afraid.”

At that he turned and opened the door immediately to the right, revealing the dining hall. A great chandelier hung from the ceiling, a spot of vain grandeur that Azuel had never personally cared for, not least of which was due to the effort required to change its bulbs. Though he could see why they did not enjoy the company of servants, Azuel admitted that such people had their uses.

The rest of the hall was more in line with their plain, functional décor. The tablecloth was simple but fine, not unlike Azuel’s coat. It was distinct from Azuel’s garments in its colors, of which it enjoyed various shades of blue.

The table it covered was exceptionally long, far longer than the Vyadukas would ever need as a family alone. It had been chosen with entertaining high class company in mind, or as Azuel preferred to think of it, ‘suffering’ their company. Having largely withdrawn from the political sphere herself, he was certain Ivone would understand if he conveyed his thoughts to her. He refrained from doing so however, instead pulling out an arbitrarily chosen seat. The head of the table was, of course, for Khayyam only; that said, the seat was identical to every other seat which surrounded the table.

“Take a seat wherever you like,” he stated, assuming she knew better than to sit at the table’s head. He himself had chosen to sit two seats away from it, leaving a single one between him and Khayyam.

[Ivone]

"Ah, I see."

Ivone looked at the extensively long table and considered the number of people in the Vyaduka family and realized she made an odd number for the seating. If Khayyam sat at the head of the table, then Maalik probably sat to his right or left. Because Azuel did not hold out a chair for her, Ivone hesitated. She did not want to take someone's regular seat. So, opting for the lesser of all evils, she moved to the chair across from Azuel.

"Do you think I should have approached Khayyam before seating myself at his table? I know you said he would welcome me, but ... I feel as if I am being remiss somehow."

That is when the door to the dining room opened and Khayyam entered. Ivone turned, eyes wide, and immediately made a deep curtsy, head bowed. The curtsy was perfectly done.

"Khayyam, it is good to see you again." Rising she moved forward and reached for his hand. Clasping one of his hands in both of hers, she searched his face beseechingly.

"I came to ask for your forgiveness and to apologize for my rudeness the day of Tian's and Gregory's funeral. Even grief cannot excuse such an outburst. And, I also now know that you continued to handle Tian's affairs and care for me to ensure I did not fall into hard times despite my behavior. Thank you."

Ivone smiled up at Khayyam, who wore a soft look of surprise and a doting smile on his face.

"Tut, tut, Ivone." Khayyam patted Ivone's hands with his free hand. "That is in the past and there's nothing to be forgiven. Grief is probably the most excusable reason if there ever was one."

Khayyam glanced at Azuel from under his dark brows with a look that wondered why a lady still stood at a table while a man sat. "Here take a seat." With good-natured manners, Khayyam pulled out Ivone's chair and held her hand until she sat. The fact that she sat across from Azuel did not go unnoticed either. Wheels began to turn in his head. Jafar had already been married well. A marriage into the Malatrast family would not be a bad thing either. There was always Maalik, but Khayyam and he did not see eye to eye, but Azuel... well, the boy would never do so well on his own.

Khayyam smiled dotingly down at Ivone. "I see you have met Azuel. Did you two go to school together?"

"No, we did not. Azuel, I think you are older than I by a few years,are you not?"

[Azuel Vyaduka]

Azuel’s lips twitched a bit, feeling a mild sense of achievement at having successfully predicted his grandfather’s reaction. It was unfortunately swiped from his visage when Khayyam shot him a look; Azuel accurately read that as well. If Azuel had dared, he might have rolled his eyes. Regardless of their generally aligned views, Khayyam was from an older generation. The friction that arose between them tended to come from that angle.

His thoughts on the matter were dispelled by a more pressing concern, namely a question directed his way. His voice was curt and ever so slightly chilled as he responded to Ivone, “No. As I understand the situation, you are a year older than I.”

Khayyam bristled up, turning his head to Azuel and clearly indicating his view on Azuel’s terseness. Immediately regretting his decision, Azuel wanted nothing less than to shrink down into the floorboards. The situation was utterly alien to him. He did not know what to do or how to act. It drove him mad. He folded his hands together on the table and kept himself from showing it.

He was spared any further torment relating to the matter when Maalik opened the door. Latifa walked through carrying a large roast chicken upon a tray, wearing a proud grin. Maalik started moving backwards, presumably to carry the rest of the food from the kitchen. He left the door open, but stopped and did not proceed down the hall. He stepped slightly aside for someone; Jafar soon stepped into the room, his expression identical to that of Latifa yet appearing more contented than triumphant. He sniffed hungrily.

Approaching from the side of the room opposed to Khayyam, Jafar deigned to sit next to Azuel but farther away from Khayyam. Azuel was relieved he hadn’t immediately chosen to sit next to Ivone. After the words that Azuel had spoken to Ivone in the hallway after Jafar’s crude behavior, such an act would have been unbearably awkward.

Azuel decided to stay quiet. He was not interested in complicating his situation; he saw no reason to make this easy for his grandfather. So long as he did not act obviously, he might be able to make it through this without further scorn.

Ever friendly, Latifa slipped into place between Khayyam and Ivone.

[Ivone]

“No. As I understand the situation, you are a year older than I.”

"Oh? Really? What age are you? I just turned 21 last month."

The conversation was derailed by the arrival of food and the rest of the family. Ivone smiled at Latifa as she took the seat next to her. This left the open seat by Khayyam for Maalik. Unless Maalik decided to sit further away, which would highlight the strained family dynamic to an outsider.

"Everything looks wonderful. Are there any other dishes to bring out I might help with?"

"No, no," replied Khayyam, genially, "You are a guest at our table."

Ivone bowed her head, "I hope," she looked up at Khayyam with a winsome smile, "... given your close relationship with Tian, that I might be considered more than just a guest in the future."

She had dared rebuke him, though it was done gently, and Khayyam took it. The doting smile appeared once more for her and the wheels turned in his head. There were more ways than just friendship to become more than a guest...

"Of course! You are right, my dear," was the reply she received. No look of censure was given to Ivone, no, nor were Khayyam's thoughts regarding the matter. He had been in politics too long to give away his thoughts that easily. What an unusual dynamic this woman brought into the house with her.