regency au } { of upcoming nuptials and appropriate escorts

[impetere]

Stiles: [is watching the grounds getting decorated for Derek's wedding. He's up on the battlements, sitting on the edge and cutting into an apple with a dagger while eating it. It's very red and blue, and shiny and he can't help but smile to himself as he watches them organize it]

Cora: [had spotted him up there and goes up to join him, leaning on the top of it next to him] Are you supervising?

Stiles: [grins] Nope. I'm staying out of everyone's way. I'll end up tripping on something and bring the whole thing down. [he held out an apple slice to her]

Cora: [she takes it with a smile, before turning her eyes back to the scene again] Good. Because Lady Caroline might have something to say about that.

Stiles: Oh, I'm sure. She is a woman intent on perfection and I am not going to get in her way.

Cora: It's been good for her, I think. She was so despondent when she arrived here.

Stiles: I had noticed that, but I have not tried to pry.

Cora: I don't know what it is either. Derek seemed to indicate that we shouldn't ask.

Stiles: Then we don't. Best to not let whatever is in the past change our opinions of the current person we meet.

Cora: [she nods her agreement] I think so.

Stiles: So what does your brother have you doing for the wedding?

Cora: We haven't spoken about it yet. I'm not sure he has many choices to make.

Stiles: Well, I have been told that I do not need to participate in the ceremony, as I am a guest. I do, however, need to find myself an escort.

Cora: Do you? Do you have someone in mind?

Stiles: Well, I do, but it will come down to if the lady is a part of the wedding ceremony and gains an escort through that.

Cora: Ahh. Perhaps it might be worth braving Lady Caroline's presence to find out.

Stiles: Perhaps. Though it can wait until dinner when she isn't so busy.

Cora: That sounds wise.

Stiles: Though, I guess I should ask - are you in need of escort to the wedding?

Cora: I haven't been told otherwise.

Stiles: Well, if Lady Caroline is not in need of either of us... would you do me the honor of escorting you?

Cora: [smiles softly before nodding] I would like that.

Stiles: [grins, that ear to ear grin] As would I.

Cora: Good. I will check with Derek and make sure I'm not spoken for.

Stiles: And let me know what color your dress will be then, and I will dress to match.

Cora: [she nods] I will.

Stiles: So how is the medicinal training going?

Cora: Well. I'm learning a lot.

Stiles: If you wish to learn something on a willing subject, I am very human and very studiable.

Cora: Is that a risk you're sure you want to take?

Stiles: As long as you don't kill me or cut me open, I am all for being a man of science.

Cora: I will keep that in mind, then.

Stiles: [smiles] So your admirer is still sending you educational materials?

Cora: He is. [there's a pause, and there's a part she isn't sure if she should share but she feels she should ask all the same] And he's offered to escort me to the Duke's masque.

Stiles: Oh? [intrigued] So you'll finally get to meet him. That's good, right?

Cora: It is. I've been wanting to for a long time.

Stiles: How do you feel about it though?

Cora: [she pauses, biting her lip] Honestly? I'm excited. I feel like I know so much about him, but I don't even know his name.

Stiles: I hope you have a plan for knowing who he is. Since the point of the mask is to hide your face.

Cora: If all else fails, I plan to play coy long enough to lull him into a false sense of security before stealing the mask off his face. [she doesn't have the patience to let it last for long. LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW]

Stiles: ... That's just mean. [makes note to make mask hard to pull off]

Cora: [she sighs] I tried asking nicely. It didn't work.

Stiles: Perhaps he is afraid that if you know who he was, you would not be as amicable to him.

Cora: Why? I would like to think that he would know me well enough that I would only be upset if I felt he wasn't being his true self with me. [a beat] Or if he is Jackson Whittemore.

Stiles: I was reading once that a mask sometimes allows a person a sense of freedom to truly show who they are behind it, without the fear of judgment based on identity.

Cora: Perhaps. But if you cannot give your identity, then all you'll ever be is a mystery. And as fun as the chase of it has been ... mysteries are never anything more than that.

Stiles: Well, I will pray for you that it is not Lord Whittemore.

Cora: [smirks] Thank you.

Stiles: I guess I will have to look elsewhere for an escort to the mask, though.

Cora: I'm sure there are any number of ladies in court who would be happy to escort you.

Stiles: Oh, I know. I was thinking to ask Lady Allison but Isaac won that bet last week at the tourney so I am back to ideas.

Cora: Lady Martin may be free. I hear she is quite intelligent. She may be a good match for you.

Stiles: Perhaps. The Argents are coming for the wedding, yes? I could ask her then.

Cora: [she nods] You could.

Stiles: I don't really spend a lot of time with Lady Argent and her ladies. What is Lady Martin like?

Cora: [she takes a deep breath because how do you describe Lydia Martin] She's very astute, and very sharp. She's like Allison in the sense that she does not make herself easy to woo. But challenge her intellectually and you will have her interest.

Stiles: [he bites his lip a moment. Roland and Watt had mentioned that he should find another lady to be interested in, and if Cora really did want him, she would be a bit jealous and he would be able to know what that meant. But he didn't want to mislead either lady] Well, perhaps I will. Perhaps it's time I start to spend time knowing the other ladies better.

Cora: [Stiles, that would backfire in your face so hard. You assume that Cora understands romantic situations enough to realize there's something to be jealous of] I think you will enjoy her company.

Stiles: Then I will talk to her. [in which he will probably tell Lady Lydia and Lady Allison that he needs their help with this and hope they don't think he's being ridiculous]

Cora: [hard to say, but she will just still be over here, being oblivious]

Cora: Good.

Stiles: [and that would be about the point they will get to witness the best accident as Liam comes racing through the square, nimbly avoiding one of the workers and in so trips on a pile of red and navy fabric and gets all but swallowed into the sea of it]

Cora: [snorts as she sees Caroline's face start to get red, and she shakes her head] I should go save him. But I will see you later?

Stiles: [laughs] yes, you should do that. I will see you later.