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| The drinks are on me!; tag de Vere | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 12 2011, 01:20 AM (148 Views) | |
| Edward Stanley | Nov 12 2011, 01:20 AM Post #1 |
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*10th December 1512* It wasn’t normally tradition to celebrate one’s birthday unless of course that person was Jesus Christ, but there were other reasons to celebrate, one being the news that his wife was with child. Though really, who needed a reason to have friends and family over for a dinner? It was also now official that he had somehow managed to find a husband for his ward, the Baroness Rose Hastings. Well Edward hadn’t found anyone; Robert and Rose had found each other themselves. ‘Arranging’ that marriage had been easier than anyone could have thought, it made Edward wonder if his daughters’ marriages could be so easy. His little Anne may already have a future husband, but marriage arrangements had a way to be broken. Edward wasn’t worried though, it would be at least ten years time before he would see his daughters married. It had been a lovely dinner that his new Countess had organised and it was good to see much of his family and friends in one place. Norfolk though did not stay all too long, he had business to attend to, a Christmas ball to organise. He stayed long enough though, as did they all. The newly betrothed Lord FitzWalter and Baroness Hastings, of course had been there too, this dinner was for them as much as it was for Derby and his wife. But as his guests left one by one or two by two either to their own homes or up in one of his guest rooms, Edward found himself joyfully sitting in the parlour with a bit too much wine at his disposal. For once he was in a good mood, and the dinner was a distraction from what was to come, all that impostor business and all. When Edward realised he wasn’t the last one up, he stood up and raised his goblet, grinning as he saw one man he had known for quite sometime. “Oxford! Come drink with me, it’s too early to call it a night!” Edward wasn’t taking no for an answer either, he himself poured his once brother-in-law a goblet of wine and held it out to him expectantly. “You can’t let me drink alone can you?” The day Edward became the 3rd Earl of Derby, he gained two friends. Thomas Howard and John de Vere took Edward under their wings (so to speak) when Edward was still a young lad of thirteen and Thomas and John were already men in their twenties. They became fast friends or at least loyal acquaintances and still were to this day. John and Edward even ended up marrying one of Thomas’ sisters each, so in the end they had become family too. At least for a time, as both of their wives were taken from them, but both men had been able to move on and found a second wife, it was all too similar. Though Edward still saw the Howards and de Vere as family, John and Thomas were just like big brothers he never had. He looked up to them, but just as any brother would say he could hold his own, he didn’t rely on the men’s support all the time. But a little guidance didn’t hurt anyone. Edward continued to grin at his friend, having half the mind to tackle the man before he made his way out the exit. “I wouldn’t want to beat you at wrestling again! I’ll sure do it, to make you stay!” It would be safe to say the wine had already affected Derby a little by now, especially if he was considering wrestling with a man in the middle of the night in his home, which would have been bad manners indeed! But Edward was only teasing wasn’t he, after all the times Thomas and John dragged the younger Edward into the sparring ring, how else was he to learn how to fight? |
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| John de Vere | Nov 12 2011, 02:06 PM Post #2 |
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The holiday seasons for John de Vere did not go much past simple tradition. Christmastime, he thought, was the most frivolous of them all, the most merry, and around every corner he could expect to see mistletoe hanging as if to pester him personally. For the most part, though, the change of season did not bother the earl, and with his happy wife he actually welcomed the holiday spirits. He endeavored to ignore the French guests, but when his own duties concerned them and their stay, he found it just a tad difficult. Nonetheless, he was quite cheery when he'd found the opportunity to leave court, to take his wife with him and enjoy the company of fellow Englishmen and women... Englishmen and women only. Coming to the Derby house in London was like a breath of fresh air, letting fond memories fill his mind as he mingled with the other number of guests and let his wife roam freely with her own merry spirits carrying her about. He thought it best for her to find friends, for after all, these were her people now, her countrymen. Never mind that of Ireland. He made sure his son, too, did not miss out on the time allotted for comrades and even family. It was not exactly a warm reunion between the boy and his uncle Norfolk, but John paid little mind to it. The new Countess of Derby had a child on the way, Christmastime was here, his wife was her buoyant self, and most importantly, they were all here at once. John found himself surprisingly thinking of lighter, better things, things that did not concern with his work back at court or even in Oxford, and even shared a few dances with his own countess in joy of it. The wine flowed freely, the music was fine, but all too sudden did it come to and end. Even with the late hour John felt rather energized, but nonetheless bid a warm goodnight to his wife and son, mingled with a few others, but ultimately found himself in the company of perhaps the only man he wanted to be in the company in. A wide smile found John's face as the younger earl approached him, his own expression softened by the alcohol and John's hand ever more willing to reach for the chalice given to him. "This is your night, Derby!" He exclaimed, chuckling. "You have been drinking with all of us the entire evening!" Extending an arm out around Derby's shoulders, John gave his old friend a good pat on the back and shook his head in humor. While John took a sip from his newly refreshed cup of wine, Edward seemed to have other things in mind. Wrestling? Pah! The Earl of Oxford was well past thirty, but his muscles remained even stronger than they had been, even more prominent, and his virility seemed to only shine in his maturity as a man and solider. He would have no problem wrestling a man of Edward's age... or even Edward, for that matter. A villainous grin touched his lips as he looked at his brother in law, a faint flash of a challenge brightening up the dark hues of John's eyes for only a moment. "If we don't have a headache in the morning," he began, stifling a chuckle. "Then we will see just who shall beat who... again." Taking another liberal sip of the purple wine, John would have probably tackled him right then and there were they not indoors. He was his own man, Edward his, with over a decade of history behind them; they could do what they damn well pleased! But even in his warming intoxication John would not even consider it here, and instead only kept a humored smirk about his lightly unshaven mouth. "As long as you think not to cheat again!" He boomed, finally laughing and giving his friend another hearty pat on the shoulder. Moving to the nearest clothed table, John fell into a chair and motioned for Derby to take the other opposite him. "Hiding a dagger in your boot... for shame!" Shaking his head, the earl chuckled breathlessly into his chalice as he took a sip, his eyes dropping from Edward's if only for a few moments. "You were such a feisty little boy, Edward," he continued, grinning, "I do not think you'll be able to move as quickly as you could at fifteen," he paused and thought fondly back on those days, a young earl of Derby leaping onto his back in the middle of a wrestling match to tactfully try and choke him. It always ended with Oxford flipping him over his shoulders and onto the boy's back, but even then the older earl had seen much fire in the young Derby. "And I shall disarm you just as fast as I did back then, should you try and bring a knife to a fist fight.." John chuckled again and finished his chalice, setting it upon the table and immediately thinking of refilling it. Edward was no untrained and defiant teenager anymore; even through the alcohol he could see wisdom in Derby's eyes, his body solid from both the hardships of life as a man and even as a solider at arms. John would be a fool to underestimate him... and was merely glad to call him family. |
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| Edward Stanley | Nov 16 2011, 10:27 PM Post #3 |
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Edward laughed. It may not be the best thing to be so loud at this hour, but everyone else who had stayed would be in bed upstairs and were likely to not even hear the commotion two good friends were making…or going to make. Edward felt like that boy of fifteen again being alone in the company of his good friend and where too much wine had already passed his lips. He was in a good mood indeed. He grinned lightly when John accepted the wine, and took a gulp of his own. “And what’s so bad with a little more?” At this close, Edward could have kissed his brother-in-law, but thankfully that thought did not cross his mind. He was though close enough to see the change in John’s eyes and he chuckled at his words. “What are you talking about, John, you never beat me!” It of course was a lie, if Edward had managed to beat John in a spar it was most likely because he had cheated in some way or another, and only really barely. Both Norfolk and Oxford always forced the younger Derby to work a sweat or think quickly. It had to be Norfolk who had started to teach Edward how to cheat, simply because he would be amused when the stakes were raised. He made Edward believe that he could win when a trick was played, but alas the young lad never estimated John’s skill and almost always ended up on his back in the dirt. Oh the memories made Edward laugh heartily. And at the mention of how he cheated, made his laugh boom. “Well you can’t blame me, John, I was taught by the best!” Oh this day, this night was a happy one! He even cared not that John led him in his own house, it was something close friends and family got away with at moments like these. As soon as he plopped himself down in the opposite chair, Edward gave his drinking companion a mad grin and chuckled. “Do you think really? Are you sure you’re not too old, my friend, do you need a cane?” Edward gave him a mischievous smile which seeped up into his blue eyes. He then downed the rest of his wine in one large gulp, before he slammed his empty cup upon the table. He at least remembered to bring the pitcher with them and somehow managed to pour more wine for them each. He was a little unsteady but accomplished the task rather well; miraculously he didn’t spill a drop! That was until he took up his goblet again and spilled a little down his hand, for he really had filled it to the brim. He raised his cup up and grinned at his brother-in-law, his mentor, his friend. “Let us drink to the good ol’ days! To us and the many more days to come!” |
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| John de Vere | Nov 28 2011, 05:33 PM Post #4 |
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John was beginning to grow more and more pleased with having come as every moment and gulp of wine passed between them. Even as Derby found himself fantasizing about teenage victories, Oxford was only more inclined towards the merriment. "Is that how you remember it?" He asked with a grin, reaching for his refilled chalice of wine. "I think I have quite the different version of things," chuckling, the earl drank from his cup and sighed in contentment. The warmth of the alcohol was beginning to become more and more noticeable, and for a brief moment John was thankful that his wife -and everyone else, for that matter- had retired for the night. He did not realize how much in need he was of a time like this. "Taught by the best, indeed," he paused and smirked. "The very best of tricksters and formidable cheats." Norfolk's methods, even as the-then Earl of Surrey had always been known and perhaps renowned. Whether they weer publicly complained about or whispered in fearful secret, it was this very way of Thomas Howard that kept most lesser men at careful bay. "I should have known, though," he went on, still smiling, "that he would have you bring a knife to a wrestling match with me." Shaking his head, John took another gulp of his wine and chuckled heartily, feeling the alcohol exponentially as the time passed. "He thought I was something like a.." he paused and his eyes drifted beyond his friend, as if mindlessly searching for the phrase. "A stick in the mud. What with the way I carry myself." He flashed Derby a devilish, playful smirk, daring him to challenge his honor. Even in the midst of losing his sobriety, John would always rise to a game of sorts... "A cane!" The earl nearly bellowed back, shocked at the notion and completely ridiculed. Loving it, though, John only laughed. "Like that old Bath fellow?" He shook his head and finished off his cup of wine, reaching for the pitcher and refilling it in the next fluid and knowing movement. "Oh Lord, Edward! Surely I am not that old!" He laughed again and took a sip of the replenished purple wine. "Poor girl, that Isabel... were Lord Bath any younger, I think I would have made the move myself were I Norfolk," he paused and shook his head, "but despite the man's glory, I see him far past losing his virility. By God, he is older than my uncle would be!" That made little difference back then, though, knowing the thirteenth Earl of Oxford had been a formidable ally of the Philibert de Chandee, fighting hard against the tyranny of Richard III. "Perhaps he is riding only on his own momentum?" John laughed at the thought and took yet another sip of his wine, never missing a bit with his comrade sitting opposite him. "Norfolk's only benefit is should Isabel have a son out of the old man, and it wouldn't be long after that before the Lord Bath regrettably passes.." he narrowed his eyelids, as if already having thought about this plenty a times before. Which, in truth, he had... but he had little time, if any, to voice them. "Even then, not much over the child could be promised, and with Bath gone, I see most of it all dying with him." The earldom, he supposed, would be left to any de Chandees left, perhaps lastly the Howards, but Philibert's legacy was mostly his image, his deeds he'd performed alongside Henry and Jasper Tudor. Little was spoken anymore of either of them, and once Bath was gone, so would everything else. "In any case, I am far from having to need a cane! And even if I had one for myself, I would not hesitate to use it on you!" |
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| Edward Stanley | Dec 13 2011, 10:09 PM Post #5 |
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Edward could only chuckle. Oh this was too much fun indeed. It would seem both men needed it, especially him. All the things he had went through to get to this day, but he had pulled through it all and now it seemed things were settling down again. Edward said nothing about what version John might have different than Edward’s, though when John spoke of tricksters and cheats, he couldn’t help himself and he grinned. “It hardly worked though! You still managed to send me into the dirt!” He drank more of his wine, his grin still residing across his lips. He chuckled once more at the mention of the wine and nodded; a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Well of course! You can never trust Norfolk to play fair. Ah enough of that, you’re just a sour puss because you got nicked a couple of times!” Edward gulped down more of his wine, leaning back in his chair as he chuckled heartily, quite amused at John’s displeasure. But then a quizzical eyebrow raised as John started comparing ‘himself’ to Lord Bath. Sure Edward should have expected it, as both of them were Norfolk’s men and it wasn’t a secret Norfolk cared little for the French fellow. Chuckling, Edward glanced about them as if they were young lads about to get into trouble for something and he leaned over the table to whisper with a mocking horror look on his face. “Careful, he might be lurking.” He chuckled again, before he lost his act, sipped at his wine and leant back again. “I heard he was mighty friends with the late King, why he decided now to find a wife I have no clue. Norfolk is hoping the old bugger dies without an heir, because Isabel gets it all, which relatively means Norfolk gets it.” He gave John a knowing smile, it paid well to be on Norfolk’s side, but that didn’t mean the Earls were dependant on the Duke. At times it was useful, like him needing to rid the world of a certain impostor, but when it came to push and shove, both Earls could stand on their own two feet rather well. And Derby knew well enough now that he didn’t have to do everything Norfolk wanted him to do, and that was the way of politics. When John returned the conversation to good humour again, Edward grinned. “You live to kick my arse do you, John? If that’s the case then maybe we should be use sparring sticks too tomorrow! That’s if we can still see straight by then.” He smirked and downed the rest of his wine, before again refilling both goblets, which was starting to be a great feat on its own. “Or perhaps we can settle it now and see who can’t hold his wine!” Edward wasn’t getting out of the sparring, he knew John would drag his ass out come tomorrow. |
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| Isabel Leigh | Feb 13 2012, 10:22 AM Post #6 |
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Virtue alone is invincible.
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[align=center]Mistress Leigh Isabel is in 8 threads and can has more! App | Plot[/align] | |
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10:58 AM Jul 11