forum Can’t You See The Ghosts? // a medieval lesbian romance // ONE-ON-ONE // closed

Started November 22, 2018 by @blue_topaz

tune

Valentina dipped a small curtsy, and Jonathan bowed as well. "Thank you," he said, turning away. "It was lovely to meet you, Lady Swan."

"You too," she returned, sinking into an elegant curtsy before leaving for her chambers. Once safely inside, Amelia shut the door behind her, locked it, and sank down to the floor, trying to collect her thoughts before any ghosts made an appearance.

Valentina dragged Jonathan into her chambers once Amelia was gone, slamming the door. "Lord, that girl is beautiful! I'm so jealous of you…"
Jonathan shifted in his seat. "That's very nice and all, Valentina, but don't you remember that sodomy is a sin in the Bible? You know how uncomfortable it makes me feel…"
"So is eating seafood, and I don't see you denying the chance for some good shrimp whenever the fishermen barter with our cook," Valentina retorted, sinking down on the bed. "Jonathan, I think I'm in love."
(do you want to be jon for a bit? he's not evil, just thick-headed)

(yeah sure, feel free to let me know if I'm rping with him wrong. Also that is one of my favourite arguments against homophobia)

Jonathan groaned, slapping his forehead. "Len, you just met her. It's barely been an hour– and besides, I'm the one trying to court her. How are you going to explain this to father? And also, she's probably not even– not even into girls!"

Amelia inhaled deeply, methodically sorting through her thoughts. Jonathan did seem nice, probably on the better end of the spectrum of suitors she had received, but… something felt off. Not about him– but about his sister. She didn't know what or why, but she felt all… tingly and peculiar when looking at her. And it was extremely confusing.

Jonathan groaned, slapping his forehead. "Len, you just met her. It's barely been an hour– and besides, I'm the one trying to court her. How are you going to explain this to father? And also, she's probably not even– not even into girls!"

"Well, it's not necessarily love yet," Valentina said thoughtfully, sitting up. "More like a feeling of intense attraction that involves, yes, taking off her clothes and doing immensely sinful things together, but it's also just spending time together, taking long walks in the garden and sharing meals together. Maybe in another life, I could have been the one courting her, not you. We'll see about the 'you're actually the one trying to marry her' part later."

Jonathan let out an exasperated sigh, sitting down on the bed beside her. "Val…. come on, you can't take this from me. Maybe I'm not experiencing attraction quite yet, but she's the best bet I have so far for a wife, not just status-wise. For once, could you just keep your hands off of a pretty girl you've set your eyes on and.. maybe let me try? I think this could really work."

Letting out a groan of frustration, she pushed herself to her feet and drifted around the room, unsure what to do with herself. Humming a tune, she eventually sat down at the harp and began absentmindedly trailing her fingers over strings to improvise a dreamy melody.

Jonathan let out an exasperated sigh, sitting down on the bed beside her. "Val…. come on, you can't take this from me. Maybe I'm not experiencing attraction quite yet, but she's the best bet I have so far for a wife, not just status-wise. For once, could you just keep your hands off of a pretty girl you've set your eyes on and.. maybe let me try? I think this could really work."

Valentina gave him a dubious look, then sighed. "Fine. But don't expect me to fix everything when all of your cheesy courting tactics go to hell. If you really like her… then I'll try to step back. Just this once. And don't expect any favors from me in the future."

Jonathan smiled a little. “Thank you. I don’t suppose asking for you to lay off even if I don’t end up liking her is a request you’ll take to kindly, so I’ll take what I can get.”

The song helped ease her nerves, and eventually she was in a calm enough state that when the first ghosts began to materialize, she felt no apprehension whatsoever. “Good morning,” she hummed to a small child, moving towards her vanity.

Just then, the window blew open, and a small bottle fell off of the vanity. Jonathan glanced uneasily outside, where there was not even a breath of wind. He made a quick cross over his chest. "Why are you so frightened? Do you think that this place is haunted?" Valentina asked.

(hehe)

Jonathan scowled at her moving to firmly shut and lock it again. "There have been rumours….. I don't know, nothing major, but better safe than sorry. He righted the bottle on the vanity, glancing nervously around the room to ensure that there was nothing… off.

The child drifted after her, looking up with large, sad eyes. "Miss," he said, moving to tug on her dress. His hand passed right through, but he didn't seem to notice. "Miss, where am I? Are you a ghost? You look like a ghost." He couldn't have been more than six, maybe seven. Amelia knelt down next to him. "I'm not sure," she started in a soothing voice. "I'm Amelia, who are you?" The child paused to think.
"Charlie. I think my name is Charlie."

Valentina scoffed. "You are too superstitious for your own good, brother. God may exist, but until I see a spirit that won't give in to the human temptation of pulling jests on us 'frail beings,' then I have no cause to believe in them."

Jonathan rolled his eyes, crossing the room to check the door. "I'm not superstitious. Just…. cautious, that's all. And you, sister, aren't cautious enough. Whether it pertains to every single pretty maid in the manor or ghosts."

"Hello, Charlie." The little ghost tried on a smile. "Hullo. Where– Where is my sist– where…… that's funny…" Charlie frowned. "I don't remember."

Amelia quickly took action before the child got upset. "Charlie, do you know where you need to be?" This was a good start, it helped to give the spirits a sense of purpose so that they didn't lose their way.
Charlie shook his head.

"There's a nursery just a few corridors down," she smiled, "Take three lefts. There might be other children there too. Can you do that for me?" Charlie nodded. "Yes miss. Thank you, miss."

(sorry my grandpa in korea died and i've been really busy)

Jonathan rolled his eyes, crossing the room to check the door. "I'm not superstitious. Just…. cautious, that's all. And you, sister, aren't cautious enough. Whether it pertains to every single pretty maid in the manor or ghosts."

"No, I think you're just a coward," Valentina teased. "And even if ghosts did exist, I would pray to them to take me instead. I'm sick of this life. Oh, woe is me!" She placed a hand dramatically on her forehead and pretended to faint.

(Oh my god I’m so sorry for your loss)

Jonathan glared at her, pushing his hair out of his forehead with one hand and locking the door with the other. “Very funny, Valentina. Hilarious.”

(yeah sure, no problem)

Amelia folded her hands neatly in her lap, praying that her hair was not falling out of the elaborate braid one of the maids had put it in. The dining room was empty except for her and a butler; Valentina and Jonathan had yet to show up. A servant had been sent to their rooms to collect them a minute or so ago, which gave her another few to soothe her frazzled nerves and compose herself enough to hold a conversation without stammering. She didn't know why she was so nervous….. but she was, and either way she needed to pull herself together, and quickly.

(perfect)
"Your hair is so beautiful!" Valentina exclaimed, speed walking towards Amelia. And it really was, with Amelia's bright blond hair pulled back and perfectly framing her heart-shaped face… No. Valentina, stop. You said you'd give Jonathan a chance, remember?

Amelia smiled bashfully, a slight pink rising to her cheeks at the compliment. She stood to greet the twins, dipping into an elegant curtsy. “Thank you, Valentina. I trust that both of your accommodations were satisfactory?”

"Lovely, although Jonathan here believes that this house is haunted," Valentina teased. "Brother, last time I checked, a gust of wind did not mean spirits."

Amelia forced a laugh while her blood ran cold. “I’ve lived here all my life, I can assure you that we have no spiritual guests, but I do have ghost stories, if you’d like to hear after dinner.” She smiled, gesturing to the table. “But for now, lets eat.”

Jonathan ladled a generous dose of honey into his wine, stirring. He lifted up his goblet in the air. "To the generous hospitality of Lord and Lady Swan."