Tea & Masks

Laurel had begun to grow into an older woman who's dark brunette hair had just begun to streak more prominently with silver looks up as the Auden strolls in. She doesn't bother speaking, simply waving her hand at Charlie to indicate he should wait outside. The door closes and Auden finds herself alone with her aunt in the auspicious dining chamber that practically dripped opulence. 

"I was going to send a doctor to check on you," Laurel's thin voice demurs towards Auden, her sharp granite gaze only seeking Auden's as the fire-haired girl takes her seat across from her aunt. It's years of practice that allow Auden to slip her practiced mask on, something cool and indifferent as she forces a smile to her lips. "But you seem well enough." 

"I didn't sleep much last night." It was a truth, though Auden doesn't elaborate why, and as always Laurel doesn't care to ask more. "I didn't realize we would have breakfast together." Laurel gives her giggle, so lacking in actual joy that it serves to grate on Auden's nerves. 

"Of course we would. It's your birthday after all." Laurel never disclosed more than she intended and Auden could see her mull something over as she took a sip of amber tea, floral and feminine. "I can scarcely believe it's been eighteen years since we found you… Well since we took you into our home." Of course, the most obvious thing in Laurel's voice is the praise she has for herself. For taking in that wild thing that was Auden. The too heavy dress scratches at Auden and she has to force herself to take a breath that goes deep into her stomach against the aching of the laces. 

"Your kindness is unparalleled across Roshin." Not even Laurel seems to detect Auden's sarcasm as she hums to herself taking another sip of tea, setting it aside with too-delicate looking hands. Auden knew that Laurel only appeared soft and delicate. So long as those around her bent to her will, she remained such. But Auden recalled before she as a child, who didn't know how to play her aunt's game, that she saved her steel to mold those as she saw fit. 

"Well, I only did what any aunt would do, what your father would want. Raise you properly, give you all the education and tools to succeed in society." Laurel sighs dreamily, clearly pleased at the mention of her reputation. A few moments of silence stretch on as Auden forces herself to take small, measured bites of the sandwich that had been laid out for her lunch. She knew better than to take any larger bites, no matter how hungry. 

Another thing that drew Laurel's long list of irritation towards Auden. 'Auden, here in my home we we don't eat like starving animals.' Had been some of her favorite chides towards her niece. "But you've grown into a fine woman, Auden. One would hardly believe that you came from the wilds. Not a trace left on you." There was a time the pride in Laurel's voice would make Auden weep. When it was all she wanted. But she had grown past needing such things. "I'm thinking that… Given your history it would be a good thing to get out away from the wilds, the Walls as quickly as possible." 

She sets her teacup down, fixing Auden with a steely granite gray look that makes her want to shrivel up. "I spoke with Magnus Celdage and his mother. At that last soiree you did not come to." Again that steel bites into her words, and Auden tries not to drop her mask. To shake the damned woman until she let out what new plan she'd dreamt to tame her niece. "They both agree that you two would make a good match. We'll have you introduced at your birthday debut, and you'll be married before spring's end." 

Laurel's next words cause Auden to choke on her tea. Gasping and spitting she feels some it dribble down her chin and Laurel gives her a distasteful look. 

"M-marry him? Me?" Auden flinches as she stutters, and Laurel only looks more displeased, putting her cup down with a sigh. 

"Well what did you expect? That we could allow you to run wild here forever?" Wild. Again that word digs its teeth into Auden's skin as she slinks back in the pink plush seating of the table. "But you should be pleased. I've already spoken with your uncle and he approves of the match as well." Laurel chatters on and on, perhaps aware perhaps not that every word was a knife to Auden's stomach. She'd only met Magnus a handful of times, a few years older than her seemed to largely ignore Auden's existence and the few times they had spoken he'd not been pleasant. Brooding, quiet and Auden noticed the way he watched her with disdain when he thought Auden's mismatched gaze was turned elsewhere. 

"I-" The word catches in Auden's throat as she picks up her teacup trying to buy time to think of the right plea, the right words that would change Laurel's mind. "Am surprised that they thought I was worthy of him." The words taste like bile on her tongue but it was the only half-plea she could make. Laurel's grin only stretches wider as she throws her head back, baring her throat in a laugh. 

For a half second, with thoughts that don't feel entirely her own, Auden thinks of taking that throat between too sharp teeth and... and... As quickly as it could come, the thoughts fled Auden and she tightens her grip around her teacup leaving her with a cold dread. 

"Auden- darling, whatever your mother was, your father was meant to take over this settlement, the Estate rather than myself. That means a lot to people who remember him. Enough so the Celdage's are willing to... overlook your mother's lowborn status."

Laurel's words hang heavy in the air, and Auden can't help but feel a sense of disgust rising in her throat. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and sets the teacup down carefully on the table.

"Wouldn't Magnus be more suitable for Priscilla?" She's too scared, too disgusted to find her clever words, pointed meanings and speaks bluntly causing Laurel's smile to fade. 

"Perhaps if she weren't already promised to the king's middle son." Laurel's long crimson nails click against the edge of the sandy-wood table sounding like knives in Auden's ears. "Magnus will be coming to your birthday, to officially court you. This is not a debate, Auden." Worried, twisting her hands in her lap Laurel sighs entirely too dramatic for Auden's tastes. "I was worried when I first took you in... That you had too much of your mother in you. But I have seen what steps you've made and if I had not raised you, I'd never know that you came from beyond the wall, from their world."

 Immediate revulsion sounds in Laurel's tone as she gets up pacing to the windows. "There are wicked and wild things in those woods Auden, and you've worked hard to not become one. Stay the path I've guided you on, marry Magnus. Your life will be well-provided and none will question your status with the Celdage's name." The speech leaves Auden feeling speechless and cold as Laurel looks up from her teacup, to pin Auden once more beneath that too sharp gaze. Auden can see it then in the afternoon light of the too-bright sunlight that poured through the large windows that lined the dining room, revealing truths that Auden didn't want illuminated. There was no talking her way out of this. 

Once, when she was a child, Auden would have panicked. She'd fallen to her knees and wept and begged, for Laurel's mercy, for anyone to save her. However Laurel herself had seen to it that Auden had grown up from a child well before her time and she knew better than to wait around for some mercy or savior that would never come. Laurel herself had taught Auden how much a mask could hide, so in that moment Auden held firm on hers. It would be only to her own detriment if Auden revealed her true feelings, the inkling of a plan swirling through her head. 

"Fine." Auden states, allowing some of her true anger to bleed into her words. Let Laurel think that she won, that Auden was unhappy but accepting. "What else can I do but accept?" Laurel beams those words, her grin stretching her too plush lips apart to a toothy smile. 

"That's the spirit, Auden. Magnus isn't the most handsome or interesting, but he'll suit you well." Laurel suspects nothing, perhaps Auden's anger but nothing further when she finally excuses herself from Laurel's dreadful lunch