regency au } { of tournament champions and being spoken for

[hereditare]

Parrish: [and he will see the frantic cheering and go over to see the young woman and smile at her] It's a pleasure to have a fan in the audience, m'lady.

Cora: Well, it is a pleasure to see him get what he deserves. [will smile in return] You joust well, for someone we've never seen before.

Parrish: I normally do not travel this far north, m'lady, but I was told that there are beautiful flowers still to be found in the forest snows.

Cora: I'm sure you will not be disappointed, if you intend to stay a little while longer.

Parrish: I have yet to find myself disappointed. [smiles at her, but Cora is a few years too young for him, but he is still gracious]

Laura: [that's okay, she isn't trying to flirt. but overprotective sister is overprotective, so eventually she will weave her way behind her chair and place her hand on her sister's shoulder] We should be getting ready for the winner's feast.

Cora: [glances back at her before nodding, and turning back to Parrish] Would it be silly of me to ask if you will be attending?

Parrish: [sees Laura and there is that tiny bit of HELLO in his eyes, and then he focuses back on Cora, nodding] Seeing that I may be a winner come next round, I am sure of it. Are you still in need of escort? It would be my pleasure.

Cora: [is about to say something but Laura's hand clamps down on her shoulder gently as she does] Considering the knight you just bested is my intended it would probably be in poor form.

Erica: But I don't believe Lady Laura has an escort. [before Laura can say anything otherwise, and the older girl immediately looks flustered]

Parrish: Well, then I am sorry that I bested him, m'lady. He did give good effort though. [looks up at Laura and offers her his best charming smile] M'lady, it would be my honor.

Cora: Don't be. I'm certainly not. [she much prefers to see him lose. and with that both girls look up at Laura on the spot, eyebrows raised expectantly]

Laura: [her mouth works for a moment, before she swallows] I was going to attend with my brother, Derek, but how can I say no to such a gracious offer.

Parrish: Derek Hale, the one who is the victor of the sword fighting? Well, I am sure he will be able to find one of the many maidens who would thank God for their grace if he was to ask them. There were plenty around the sword ring when he won.

Laura: My brother does attract quite the crowd, it is true.

Parrish: Then please bless me with the honor of your arm tonight, m'lady Laura.

Laura: [she pauses for a moment, before swallowing again and nodding] Of course.

Parrish: [smiles] Then I will be waiting at the feast for you come the eve.

Laura: [nods and gestures for Cora and Erica to follow her somewhere where she can quietly murder them]

Parrish: [and he is going to go win this joust tourney so that he can be the champion on her arm]

Laura: [and she will be there, looking beautiful in red as expected]

Parrish: [and amazingly, they are dressed to match as he only has like, two vests and they are both red]

Laura: [a smile as she sees him] Congratulations, Sir Parrish.

Parrish: Thank you, m'lady. I believe that it was the joy from knowing I would have your arm that gave me purpose to win.

Laura: [she smiles softly, her head dropping a bit, before she reaches to take his arm] As kind as you are, my lord, I should warn you that I am spoken for.

Parrish: Well, then it is a shame, but I will have to enjoy your company just the same since your intended is not here to properly escort you.

Laura: How fortunate that you happened to win today.

Parrish: My stars have shifted for the better these last few months, that is for sure.

Laura: [she pauses at the head of the stairs so they can be announced, before moving over towards the table for the winner. Cora isn't sitting far from them, next to a glaring Jackson Whittemore]

Derek: [is at the table as well, eyeing this new boy on his sister's arm curiously]

Parrish: [nods to Lord Hale before guiding Laura to her seat and getting her settled before taking his own]

Laura: [settles carefully and politely as per usual. Across the room she can make out her betas and the rest of her pack around one of the less prominent tables, but she's still keeping an eye out for Peter] So where do you hail from, Sir Parrish?

Parrish: Hail from? Oh, it is a small southern territory. Gilderland. I will not be saddened if you have not heard of it. Many have not.

Laura: I haven't. Which seems odd as we have done a great deal of traveling.

Parrish: We are very small, and the people tend not to travel from the town. They did not understand my urge to wander.

Laura: [she's catching that, but she's intrigued enough not to out him and just carry on with the conversation] Most don't. Some prefer to have roots.

Parrish: There is more than enough time for me to make those roots. I prefer to see the world before I am put back into that cage again, so to speak. [and that he is not lying about]

Laura: Mmmmm. [she turns to reach for her goblet of wine] I suppose that is understandable.

Parrish: So what of you, Lady Laura. Why is your intended not here at your side this evening?

Laura: Lord Argent is on a quest for his father. I'm sure that in time, he will return to ... make his claim. [she doesn't necessarily look thrilled about it, but it is what it is. she didn't really have a choice] In the meantime, I wish to be sure that my sister is settled before he does.

Parrish: To young Lord Whittemore? [looks over at Jackson, who is still sore at losing and drinking heavily]

Laura: She is less than pleased, but the Whittemores have been quite generous to us. My uncle believes it to be a good match.

Parrish: Well, a good match and a happy marriage are different things. One is for power, one is of love. Which is more important to him?

Laura: Jackson or my uncle?

Parrish: Your uncle. I'm sure that if love was of important to young Whittemore, he would not be drinking so heavily in front of his intended. Being in her presence would be all he needed to be intoxicated.

Laura: [she smirks softly before shaking her head] My uncle is a ... pragmatic man.

Peter: [and speaking of him, he's finally entering the room after having put the child down to sleep who really wanted to come to the feast]

Laura: [poor Malia. She catches his eye and gives a small wave, before turning back to her escort] There he is.

Peter: [and that is not Derek next to Laura. He's going to come over and check on his eldest niece] I was under the impression you were escorting your brother to the feast, Laura.

Laura: [takes another sip of her wine] Well, when the champion of the tournament is kind enough to be ambushed by your sister and her lady, the least you could do is allow him to escort you. [aka blame your other niece]

Peter: Mm, hmm.

Parrish: Lord Hale, it is an honor that your niece has bestowed upon me. I am Sir Parrish of Gilderland.

Peter: I don't believe I have heard of such a place.

Laura: Apparently it is very tiny.

Parrish: We just got our first real church last fall. [bright smiles]

Peter: [look. He so knows you're lying] I see.

Laura: [reaches up and pats her uncle's arm as though to say "let it go" because she's well aware he's lying too, and she should be allowed to have some fun before she gives up her freedom entirely.] That must be lovely for them.

Peter: [sighs, nodding] I do hate to interrupt, but I am afraid that I must steal your brother away from his feast. Malia refuses to go to bed until her cousin comes to kiss her goodnight.

Derek: [hears that and just groans]

Laura: [laughs] I'm sure she is not the only one. [referring to the flock of ladies who are watching him from across the room]

Derek: [and he was hoping to get to dance with half of them and perhaps bed one tonight too.] I will not be long. Can I trust my sisters to behave until my return?

Laura: You act as though we are brazen wild women.

Derek: Well, there are days in which you both act as if you were raised by wolves.

Peter: [grabs Derek's arm tightly]

Laura: [an eyebrow raise in return because really?]

Derek: Sir Parrish, I leave my sister in your care.

Parrish: I won't let any harm become her, I swear.

Laura: We will be fine. Go! You may break her heart if you wait any longer.

Derek: [and he will go to leave with Peter at his side]

Parrish: Your family is very close, I see.

Laura: We are. We are all we have, so we need to be.

Parrish: I see.

Laura: [nods and as she does the music starts up and the younger members of the party start to crowd the dancefloor. Cora is among them, dragged out by Erica and disappearing into the crowd] I'm sure most families are.

Parrish: [he wouldn't know, but he nods like he does] Would you care to dance?

Laura: [glances over, surprised, before nodding] I would, thank you.

Parrish: [and he will lead her to the dance floor and he will fake knowing all the dances since he learns fast from watching]

Laura: [she won't mind taking the lead occasionally, if only to keep them from tumbling to the ground]

Parrish: [nope, he doesn't mind. He's good at not being too proud since he's still learning how to blend in]

Laura: [she's getting that. And as a result, they still look pretty good.]

Parrish: [and then there will be food and more wine and dancing]

Laura: [and eventually she will need to take herself outside for some fresh air. Her sister may have also disappeared from the ballroom at some point, but she's not worried about her yet]

Parrish: [and he will join her and putting his cloak around her shoulders] If you are ready to head back, I can escort you to where you are staying?

Laura: [she shakes her head] I just need some air. It was getting a bit warm in there.

Parrish: I take it being from the north, you are not that used to a lot of warmth.

Laura: No we are not. We prefer our winters.

Parrish: You would not like my world too much then. It is full of fire, heat, and ash.

Laura: [there is a small bit of tension at the mention of fire, but it melts away as soon as it's there, shaking her head] Not particularly fond, no. Fire is one of the few things I would prefer to live without.

Parrish: [there's a small, sad smile] You and me both.

Laura: Then why spend so much time with it?

Parrish: I think because the fire, while I hate it, is also a part of me. You can't run from what you are.

Laura: [that strikes a little close to home too] No, you cannot.

Parrish: [he looks at her, and then carefully reached up to push a strand of hair from her face back in place. His bare hand is warm, even in the cold north wind] You may be from the cold, but there is a warmth within you. It's nice.

Laura: [she blushes, her head ducking away from his hand a bit] My family has always run a bit warm.

Parrish: Then maybe there's hope for you one day to come south enough to see me again? I can use some fans in the crowd, after all.

Laura: [she looks up at him, and there's something in her gaze that is begging him not to give her something that she could come to love but never have] Perhaps. If we travel that way.

Parrish: [he gives her a small smile, one that shows under all the air of confidence, he had no clue what the hell he was doing, but he liked this] And perhaps I will listen for tourneys in which Lord Whittemore or your Lord Argent will attend so that I could see you in the crowd once more?

Laura: [she shouldn't make promises she can't keep. But she also wouldn't mind seeing him again either] It would be uncouth of me not to attend.

Parrish: Then I will always look for you in the stands, to see if luck will be on my side.

Laura: [nods before taking off the cloak and handing it back to him] On second thought, I think I will return to my room. Thank you, for a lovely evening, Sir Parrish.

Parrish: Yes, it has. [he takes the cloak, and then gently takes her hand and bows, a light kiss on her knuckles, very polite.] Sleep well, Lady Laura.

Laura: [she nods as she takes her hand back, before disappearing to her room and exhaling slowly, trying not to have let herself enjoy it too much. It can't happen again, and she knows it]

Parrish: [and he's going to go off on his own and find his tent to sleep in, Liam the puppy squire he had found in the woods while training curling up against him for warmth]

Cora: [meanwhile, she will probably be up to shenanigans, but we should probably wait for that until Derek is finished judging her life choices from earlier]

Derek: [will always be judging her life choices. Baby sister]