regency } of contract marriage and strange werewolf systems

[cunningwolf]

Chris: [so after breakfast, he wanders himself down to the room his sister has been in, knocking on her door] Kate, are you decent?

Kate: [is already dressed and sitting by the window. She glances back at the sound of her brother's voice before responding] Come in.

Chris: [and he steps in, smiling softly at her] I figured I would come and sit with you until you were summoned to the chapel.

Kate: [smiles softly at that before nodding] I appreciate that.

Chris: [he moves closer] You do make a beautiful bride, sister. Did your girls make that in just a day?

Kate: [glances down before shaking her head] They just used something I already had. They're resourceful that way.

Chris: [goes to sit across from her] Are you okay?

Kate: [she glances up, considering for a moment before shrugging] I'm fairly certain I've been worse. This is already considerably less stressful than my last wedding.

Chris: And there are a lot less expectations riding on you this time. [chuckles]

Kate: [snorts before shaking her head] I think this will be better for everyone, really.

Chris: [nods] Do you feel you will be happy?

Kate: [Happy is such an interesting word. Kate can't really remember the last time she was actually happy. She isn't really sure she'll see it here] I'm sure Father is turning in his grave somewhere. That makes me happy.

Chris: [chuckles] I'm sure if zombies were real, he would be trying to figure out how to become one to reclaim the throne.

Kate: Mmmm. I'm sure he would.

Chris: [sighs] Peter Hale is a good man, under that leather exterior he presents to us.

Kate: I know. It's how I knew he would do it.

Chris: He will take good care of you. I have no doubt of that.

Kate: I don't need a man to take care of me. I haven't for a long time.

Chris: Oh, I'm quite aware of that. [but he has a feeling there are things that they can help each other with, in ways Peter and Kate are blind to] But don't rip his head off if he tries.

Kate: That entirely depends on how he tries.

Chris: Ripping your husband's head off if not a good way to keep the peace. [but he's laughing]

Kate: Don't worry. The peace will be safe.

Chris: And who knows... perhaps you will find the man hidden inside of the wolf that I've heard stories about.

Kate: Personally, I think that man died when his wife did. That is usually the way it goes. But I can handle the wolf.

Chris: I think you may find he's still there. You probably haven't seen it because you tend to rile him up for your own amusement.

Kate: He makes it so easy.

Chris: Watch him with his daughter, or his nieces when he thinks no one is looking. From what I've heard, you'll see a much different man.

Kate: I'll try. [she has a tendency to make herself known more often than not, but she can be discreet when she wants to be.]

Chris: [reaches over to take her hand] And just like I know you can be a different person too... the one I see when you think I'm not looking and you're with Allison.

Kate: [glances away to the window at that] Make sure she's not married off to someone completely worthless.

Chris: Oh, I'm afraid my standards are so high, she may never get married. [laughs] But I think I am going to take a page from Peter's book and allow Allison to present me with a few worthy choices and see who she feels is a match that I can test for true worth.

Kate: [she pauses for a moment as she considers] I'd look out for the curly one, then.

Chris: Sir Isaac, you mean? Oh, I have heard about that one.

Kate: She's giving him an exceptionally hard time.

Chris: They were rivals in that archery tournament. I think he feels the need to regain his honor.

Kate: Oh, it's not competitive, I assure you.

Chris: Should I then show him where Allison learned her skills from? [smirks. It's always fun testing suitors]

Kate: Only if you wish to draw her closer to him.

Chris: Victoria warned me I would come to hate this stage of raising her.

Kate: She wasn't wrong. [she glances back to the window again] But if you truly mean to let her decide, you will have to trust her. Take a page out of our father's book and not let your paternal instincts get in the way. [after all, he certainly didn't with her]

Chris: [sighs] I know I'm going to miss having you at my side to help me. And her.

Kate: [small smile] I won't be that far away. You could always come visit, or I can visit you. Peter seems content to leave me with the ability to travel.

Chris: I think from that conversation Peter doesn't want you to feel you have any obligations to him beyond the fact you will be married.

Kate: That's not much of an alliance now, is it.

Chris: The more I look at the contract, Kate... I don't think it was meant to create peace. I think Gerard did this knowing it would bring war. Daniel being raised as he was... I think father wanted to be able to use this to give reason to come back and kill them.

Kate: Are you really surprised?

Chris: No. I just sometimes hate seeing how much he can twist his words and ways into thing. In a way, I can understand why the Hales hated him and feared him so much.

Kate: They weren't the only ones.

Chris: I have a lot of work to do in making sure that our family name can bounce back. Daniel isn't going to make that easy. He all but declared war on me when he left the manor last night.

Kate: I can handle Daniel. I still have friends in high places, and I'm sure there's another war somewhere he could be fighting.

Chris: [nods] Oh, I'm sure. Maybe get into his ear he could go over to the colonies and start his own branch of the Argent family there and keep him from our affairs here in Europe.

Kate: [raises an eyebrow] Are you sure that's good for the colonies?

Chris: Well, it will make sure there are no werewolf problems in the colonies that is for sure.

Kate: If nothing else. [but what about all the innocent werewolves that get in his way]

Chris: We'll find some way to handle him.

Kate: [nods] At least we know that most of our people are more likely to support me than they are him.

Chris: True.

Kate: We will find our way out of it, one way or another.

Chris: That we will.

Kate: [glances up as there's a knock on the door and sighs] I believe that is our cue.

Chris: I guess so. [stands up and offers his sister his arm]

Kate: [takes it and off they go to get married! but not to each other]

Chris: [no, because that was wrong even back then. But Chris will give his sister to Peter Hale, and then go to stand next to his daughter and take her hand, needing the reassurance as much as giving it to her that they will all be fine]

Allison: [takes his hand and gives it a small squeeze and a reassuring smile]

Peter: [and he will accept Kate's hand in marriage, small but important ceremony, and then there will be more revels and the Hale wine storage is probably half empty at this point]

Kate: [yep, and after all of that, Kate and Peter are finally left alone for the first time .... ever.]

Peter: [and yes, he is taking his wife to his chambers because they are married now. Pretty sure that the servants have moved her things there during the party. He isn't sure what to say] I um.... I have some paperwork I need to work on before I head to bed. [so unsure of what he was supposed to do] You are welcome to the bed. I will try not to disturb you.

Kate: [raises and eyebrow and dryly:] How romantic. [but she'll start through the process of at least getting out of the outer layers of her dress.]

Peter: [stiffens a bit, then just turns and licks his lips, heading back out to his parlor and his desk. He's closed the door behind him, and just sits and puts his head in his hands a moment, finally getting a moment alone to breathe]

Kate: [sighs in response, and finishes getting undressed and getting into bed but she doesn't sleep right away, just glancing around the room and taking everything in]

Peter: [after a few deep breaths, he just goes and tries to focus himself into his work. Eventually he will undress out of his fancy layers down to his base layer and try to keep working, but he's going to end up falling asleep at his desk. Like he normally did]

Kate: [and since the Hales aren't the only ones with sharp hearing, Kate will make her way out when she hears the lack of the sound of his pen, and sigh again, before moving to wake him up] Peter.

Peter: [and his head will dip and he will be sitting up straight, confused a moment before looking over at Kate] Are you okay?

Kate: Fine. I just thought it might be better for your back if you slept in an actual bed.

Peter: [chuckles] I haven't slept in that for years, my dear.

Kate: That explains far more than you would think. Still, beds have an intended purpose. You should use it. You might almost be shocked at the difference.

Peter: [he just shook his head.] I understand the function. It isn't the mattress. [it's the memories that haunt him in that room. The wife who died in that room]

Kate: [she can infer as much. Her mouth draws to one side as she glances around the rest of the room, before gesturing with one hand] The couch then?

Peter: [nods] That is my normal spot. [he goes to stand, his back popping as he stretches it back out] You should return to bed as well, my lady. You don't need to lose rest over me.

Kate: You assume I was sleeping to begin with. [but she'll do as he asked, and not ponder the implications of abandoning her, his new wife, in the room where his old wife died.]

Peter: [sighs, and goes to take her hand gently, hearing her tone of voice] Kate... I will be frank, I don't know what to do with any of this.

Kate: [glances down as she turns to face him, before raising an eyebrow] What do you want?

Peter: [he thinks for a moment, then just shrugs] I don't know. The last twelve years I have done nothing but provide.

Kate: Then maybe you should give that some consideration.

Peter: [he nods] What do you want? [because that is always easier for him to deal with]

Kate: [she shakes her head] I'm not the topic of discussion here. [she's not going to let him get away from it that easily]

Peter: That kind of question is going to take me more than a few moments of thought.

Kate: Well. [goes to plop down on the couch that he was supposed to be sleeping on, but they're not doing that right now] It's not as though we don't have the time.

Peter: [sighs. insufferable woman]

Kate: [all part of her charm. She'll smirk at him before reaching over and patting the seat next to her]

Peter: [he will roll his eyes, but he will go to sit next to her obediently.]

Kate: So. Tell me about Peter Hale.

Peter: You have spent how many days in my presence? Do you really need me to answer that?

Kate: I've spent many days in your presence conspiring to see just how tightly you're wound determine if it were possible to make you explode, provided the right amount of pressure were applied. I would hardly consider that qualifying as knowing you.

Peter: Yes, and you take great joy in that, I've come to learn. [sighs, then leans forward, resting his arms on his thighs and clasping his hands] There isn't much to who I am, as opposed to who I am supposed to be. All of which is coming to change, leaving me to wonder just the same thing.

Kate: What is the point of living life if you're not enjoying it? [it's more in relation to her first point] You behave like a man who doesn't know how to relax.

Peter: You do realize that in the span of four years I lost my wife, and then my only sister and alpha, and in each of those I gained more responsibility and wards than I had time to deal with... plus not only this manor, but other lands and people that I needed to care for all while trying to keep us out of war with your family? Laura may be the alpha now, but until she marries I'm her legal guardian and the lord of the Hale family. You know the truth as to who runs this family, but to the eyes of the rest of the world, it is a different picture.

Kate: [raises her eyebrows at him] And all of that precludes you from being able to want things for yourself.

Peter: I have four others I put before my needs. Five, now with us wed. Their happiness is all I need.

Kate: That is either a lie or some grand self-delusion.

Peter: Why do you feel it has to be a lie? Do you not believe that people can exist that don't need things for themselves?

Kate: No, I don't. Because people, in their most inherent nature, are selfish creatures. The only reason they don't want something is because they don't think they can have it.

Peter: Or they've had it, and it was taken from them without their say. [a bit bitter in that]

Kate: Death is a part of life. But there is also a difference between living and survival, and I'm not sure you're doing either.

Peter: [is just going to work his jaw a bit at that, but his posture is stiffening back up, trying to pull his feelings out of it]

Kate: See, there you go. [she's not afraid to call him out on it, pointing at him as she watches him like a hawk] Winding up again. It's like you're afraid to actually let yourself feel something.

Peter: [he just closes his eyes] I think I'm done with questions for the night.

Kate: [a wry smirk, that essentially confirms it] And what if I wasn't here for questions.

Peter: You've seen me to bed to preserve my back. You've gotten your enjoyment in winding me up. What else do you wish to accomplish tonight, my lady, before you are relaxed enough to sleep? [probably a bit meaner than he means, but he's wound up and his tone is clipped]

Kate: [watches him sharply for a moment, before shifting and inching closer] I could see if I could wind you down. [she stops just a breath from him, eyes wandering over his face carefully] It is our wedding night after all.

Peter: I'm afraid I am far long out of practice on that kind of winding down, my lady. I don't think I would be any good to you in that regard.

Kate: I'm sure I've had larger disappointments.

Peter: [more softly] I haven't since my wife left this earth.

Kate: [her approach softens, before continuing] All the more reason to try. She's dead, Peter, and while I'm sure she appreciates your ... fidelity, you are not. Pretending the need isn't there doesn't make it go away.

Peter: What need? To fornicate? That is not something I need.

Kate: I cannot even hear your heartbeat and I know that that is a lie. [she's still hovering at that distance, one hand reaching forward slowly and pressing against his chest] You assume it is merely about the pleasure in the act itself, and on some level it is, but there's more to it than that.

Peter: [her touch gets a deep exhale from him, his eyes looking down at her arm a moment, his mind still working before his eyes lift to look into hers] What is it that you are searching for in this? [because it is more to him. It's a lot to him, that kind of intimacy. He never understood Derek's running around. That moment is the most intimate connection two people could have and it wasn't something done lightly. And especially not for a wolf] Because this is something I fear we both view differently.

Kate: You're scared that it will make you vulnerable. And it will. But people need that vulnerability and release. They need that connection because if they don't then they stay locked in a prison of their own making. And those are the cruelest sort.

Peter: That was not what I asked, my lady.

Kate: If I'm going to be your wife, you need to trust me, Peter. [her hand lingers against his chest, keeping that pressure there] And if you cannot trust me with this, then how can you trust me with anything? Despite how this marriage was made, you should know well enough that I am not passive and I am not a trophy you can keep in a case. I did not enter this as lightly as you may think.

Peter: I never claimed you were one. Nor would anyone ever see you as a passive wife. [he shook his head, trying to pull away]

Kate: [she lets him. She may be aggressive, but she would never force him, she shifts and leans back against the couch again, resettling as she does] Eventually you're going to have to let me in. Maybe not tonight, but ... sooner, rather than later.

Peter: [he stands and paces away to the window, looking up at the stars a moment. He thinks a moment, a hand on the smooth brick as he focuses and finds the right words.] You say there is a difference between living and survival. I'm sure you're aware that wolves mate for life. My wife and I were mated, Kate. That is not a tie that gets undone, even in death. [he looked over his shoulder at her] Sometimes I think the only reason I didn't follow her to death is because I was too stubborn to leave our child orphaned in this world. So you speak in terms of people who are alive and have wants and desires. All I feel is pain and loss, and focusing on others is what helps dull that away. [you wanted to see the real Peter Hale, Kate. The pained blue eyes are the core of the man.] I'm sorry that I will be a poor excuse for a husband in many ways to you because of that.

Kate: [she sighs softly, watching him] I'm not asking to replace your mate, Peter. I'm not looking for your love, either. But I am going to be your partner, and as far as appearances are concerned, I'm going to be your wife. This is different than you and Laura - people aren't looking for her to be a leader. But your enemies will expect a certain synchronicity with us and if they can't find it? They will be able to smell a divided house. So you will have to give me something.

Peter: [he nods] You are right in that. But it will take time. I can't change overnight.

Kate: I'm not expecting it too. But we have to start somewhere.

Peter: [he turned back to look at her, leaning against the wall] Perhaps we can at least start somewhere a bit less intimate?

Kate: What would you prefer?

Peter: [he thought, his fingers going up to play with the cord around his neck, the ring there coming into view. Nervous habits] Beyond making it through one day where we aren't trying to take shots at each other?

Kate: That might be a larger undertaking.

Peter: [laughs sharply at that, but he's amused] It may take an act of God.

Kate: [she sighs softly] Personally I think it would be easier to sleep together, but if you insist.

Peter: [looks at the bedroom sadly] It will be easier when we are in the summer castle. But if the lady insists...

Kate: I don't ... [she huffs] I was being facetious.

Peter: I know. But I'm trying to extend an olive branch. I'm not abhorrent to share the bed, my lady. I don't sleep in that specific one. It will be easier when we move. The intimacy beyond sleep will take time.

Kate: [sighs softly] Fine.

Peter: [he thinks a moment] You don't have to sleep there either if you don't wish to. We could bring the pillows and blankets out here. [he's making a compromise]

Kate: I think that would be easier for both of us.

Peter: [gives her a small nod] Then wait here a moment. [and he will go into the bedroom and use the blanket to literally fold up the ridiculous amount of pillows on the three blankets and he will drag it out into the parlor, bringing it over by the window where the breeze will blow across them gently but the sun won't hit their faces in the morning. He takes a moment to make a little litter, the pillows cushioning their heads from the floor and wall, and the down blanket on the bottom as a very thick but comfortable pad. He then holds out his hand to her] Will this work for you?

Kate: [nods as she takes his hand before moving to settle next to him]

Peter: [and he's going to settle in next to her, unsure a moment before turning a bit and gently wrapping his arm around her to allow her to shift closer if she wanted to]

Kate: [and she'll take it, shifting so that she's facing away from him and he's pressed against her back against his chest and is resting comfortably on her side]

Peter: [he will do so, and it won't be long until he's drifting back off to sleep, his nose going to nuzzle a bit into her hair as he sleeps, his hand moving to rest almost protectively over her stomach. A pose he hasn't slept in for a long time, and comes back almost naturally]

Kate: [doesn't even notice and drifts off soon after, relaxing completely in his arms as she falls off to sleep]

Peter: [and he will sleep through the night until there are stirrings outside in the yard for the morning that start to draw him back awake. He feels the body against him and pulls it closer a moment, wanting the closeness to another person]

Kate: [hums and settles closer. It's still cool outside so it's not too hot for this kind of cuddling, so she doesn't mind staying close]

Peter: [eventually he will wake up, knowing where he is and who he's with and... he doesn't pull away. Which in itself is a big step forward.] Did you sleep well? [softly, not wanting to be too loud]

Kate: [still doesn't open her eyes, just nods in response] Mmm-hmmm.

Peter: Good. [and he's going to resettle, his hand on her stomach just softly drawing circles there] I promise you the bed in the summer castle is a lot nicer than my floor.

Kate: [laughs roughly] One would hope.

Peter: [chuckles a bit, then his voice drifts off, looking up at the window and listening to see if he should be getting up and handling the manor just yet]

Kate: [doesn't really care and likes to laze in bed, so she's just going to stay where she is, one hand wandering down to rest over his gently]

Peter: I could have a servant bring us breakfast. I'm sure we are not expected to join them.

Kate: Mmmmm. Breakfast would be good.

Peter: Stay here then. I will return in a moment. [and he will softly withdraw to get up and walk to his parlor door, getting his maid to bring up breakfast, tea and coffee for him and his lady wife and to set it up on the table by the couch when she arrives with it. The maid nods and goes off, and he heads back to the pillow bed.] We should be served in a few minutes.

Kate: [curled up some into the warm spot he left behind, and when he comes back, she nods] Perfect.

Peter: [and he's going to sit down next to her, his hand going to idly draw her hair away from her face.] What do you wish to do today?

Kate: [sighs] I have a few matters I need to attend to before we leave. And you probably should make sure your niece is married before you wind up having to rush things.

Peter: That I do. I'm sure the two of them will be happy having something in place as soon as I can make it happen for them. Laura has never really been big on large ceremonies.

Kate: Smart girl. Makes things much easier.

Peter: That she is. She's going to run this manor well.

Kate: I never doubted that.

Peter: Neither did I. It's just seeing them grown up... moving on to new lives... it makes me feel old.

Kate: Well, my lord, I hate to be discourteous that night after which we were married, but you are in fact old.

Peter: [laughs softly] As I am aware, but I also do count my years differently than human years.

Kate: So basically you cheat by employing some kind of strange werewolf system.

Peter: Seeing that werewolves who are lucky to avoid hunters can leave to be a few hundred years old... yes.

Kate: Impressive.

Peter: Not that I'm expecting to live that long myself. I'd think life would get boring after a while.

Kate: You don't think people could surprise you?

Peter: Well, if they manage to, it would be a surprise, now wouldn't it?