regency au } { of stable boys and marriage contracts

[impetere]

Peter: Why would I buy a stable boy, Cora? We have more than enough servants as it is.

Cora: [huffs] You are always saying that we need someone to take better care of the horses.

Peter: [and he's giving her the look. The what are you really trying to do here look]

Cora: [and this is a total innocent face. She's just looking out for the horses. What are you talking about?]

Peter: [eyebrow up] I can ask your sister. I cannot promise that they will sell him.

Cora: [beams at him before moving forward and pressing a kiss to his cheek] Thank you. [it doesn't matter if they do or don't, only if they're willing to try. At least she knows if Stiles is working for the Hales, they will treat him better than the Whittemores do. And she can avoid Jackson]

Peter: Of course, when you marry Jackson Whittemore, your horse will not have someone to care for it.

Cora: [and the pleased look turns into a sulk. She so does not want to marry Jackson Whittemore.]

Peter: [sighs] Cora.

Cora: He's insufferable and rude. Only a fool would want to marry him.

Peter: Yes, which is why he is in need of a strong woman to show him this and to better himself.

Cora: Why does that have to be me?

Peter: Because it would be improper for it to be your brother.

Cora: That's not an answer.

Peter: Malia is too young, Laura is already promised, and a union of our houses will give us more land we trust you will be able to help the people that they tax out of their homes.

Cora: And what makes you think he will actually let me do anything? There's only one thing he cares to get from me, and I certainly do not wish to give it to him.

Peter: I have yet to ever see you let anyone let you do anything. [he chuckles] But if you don't want to marry the boy, you need to tell your sister in a way she understands.

Cora: [and she gives him a look at that] She already understands.

Peter: And yet.

Cora: [huffs, and she's going to do a teenage storm out now, leaving his quarters and heading out into the woods to sit under a tree and ... pout.]

Derek: [and he comes out after a bit to find his sister] Where are you hiding, little pup?

Cora: [she hears him and sighs softly, slumping back against the tree] I am fine, Derek.

Derek: [he follows her voice, going to stand over her] You shouldn't be out here alone.

Cora: I can take care of myself.

Derek: I know, but doesn't mean it's still not my job to protect my sisters.

Cora: [she glances up at him feeling a little helpless, before her fingers play with the fabric of her skirt] I don't want to marry him.

Derek: Well, then you need to find a suitable alternative.

Cora: For me or for him?

Derek: Either. But you want to sway Laura to your cause? Show her that you have found someone of worth that holds your heart. [sits next to her, wrapping his cloak around them both.] She can't follow hers, but that is what she wants for us.

Cora: And who's standard of worth do I have to hold them to? Peter's?

Derek: Your own. We’re nobles - we don't marry for love. But if that is what you want, you will bring them into the pack, and you know what that will bring to them. What will be expected. Jackson Whittemore is a fool, but it's what he has that Peter wants control of to be able to heal. He will have to fall under Laura's thumb as alpha. [he shrugged his shoulder] It is your choice.

Cora: And what if I don't find someone in time?

Derek: Then you break the little boy into shape. Or... find a way to make him not want to marry you. [smirks a bit]

Cora: [sighs. It'd probably be easier to do the latter than the former, but she'd find a way. It just might take time.]

Derek: [leans in closer] And I don't think many people will mourn the loss if he just happened to disappear to the southern kingdoms out of fear.

Cora: [she makes a snort of a sound that's entirely unladylike to cover the laugh] It would be unfortunate, wouldn't it.

Derek: Oh, so unfortunate. I think I would cry a week at his loss.

Cora: I would be ... simply inconsolable, I'm sure.

Derek: But at least you would have taken something of his in the process. What's this I hear about you wanting a stable boy?

Cora: [she shrugs nonchalantly] The Whittemores treat him terribly, and he is good with the horses. Peter is always complaining about the ones we already have.

Derek: This the same one who muddied your dress?

Cora: What if it is?

Derek: [shakes his head] You went back to talk them him when you excused yourself from tea, didn't you?

Cora: No, I went to sit outside. He rode by when he was exercising one of the horses.

Derek: [watching her, his eyebrows up, wanting her to continue]

Cora: I was more interested in the horse than I was in him. He just happened to talk to me in the process.

Derek: Well, just be careful on talking to him. From what I've gathered, Jackson is a jealous type.

Cora: [rolls her eyes] I don't care what Jackson thinks.

Derek: No, but you should care about what Jackson does. He won't take his anger out on you.

Cora: [... oh. She didn't think of that.]

Derek: [nods] Not all people care about their servants like we do, Cora. Remember that.

Cora: [she nods, her eyes falling to her hands] He's kind. There haven't been very many kind people since we've gotten here.

Derek: I've noticed. It may be something that your reign will help change.

Cora: I don't want to be their lady. I don't want ... him.

Derek: [sighs] I know, Cora. I wish it could be different, but I don't have any power in this family.

Cora: I know. [her shoulders droop and she looks down at her hands] Would it have been too much to ask for him to be kind?

Derek: You were promised to him years before he turned into who he was. Peter couldn't have known.

Cora: He could have judged based on his parents.

Derek: Well, in the end Laura has final say. You need to appeal to her.

Cora: And how am I to do that when she is miserable? She doesn't want her own contract any more than I do and hers we can't break. [even though she wishes more than anything they could]

Derek: But if she knows you will also be miserable, but she can change yours... then maybe she will so you can avoid the fate she has resigned for herself.

Cora: [maybe. It was a big maybe, though, and she doesn't want to get her hopes up]

Derek: [sighs, and pulls himself up] Come on, let's go back before Peter sends out a search party.

Cora: [sighs and waits for him to stand completely before she takes his hand to help her up] Thank you for coming to get me.

Derek: I will always come find you, Cora. One of the few things I'm good at.