The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Bethany]

Swallowing thinking, Beth reaches over to take Carver's hand. Okay, this is... way more, umm, more from the center. 

[Panis zi’Ulthlis]

"If everyone would take their seats, we can get started," the Lord Hand calls out, already sitting in his own chair. He's leaning forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees, hands steepled. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver glances back at the entrance again, heart pounding, a lump in his throat. This is wrong. We're not supposed to be alone like this. Roland's supposed to be here for when I fuck up.

Carver takes a deep breath, then another, nausea heaving in his gut. Focus. Head high. Breathe.

[GamesMaster]

Lord Speaker Amir La'Livingston stares down at the pair entering, his first glimpes of the notorious Amell Twins. Or Amell "Twins", as the case might be. His practiced eye picks up much more than he consciously notices, but he does filter a lot of the information in realtime, picking up what he can.

Holding hands -- the female's idea. They're in this together, whatever it is; she either believes the imposter is her sister or she's behind the deception, trusting in the person present. Boy looks nauseated (scuffed his left boot on the doorframe, just a touch; favoring the leg?) anxious or ill? (he glanced back, taking his cues from someone behind him? Vallen or someone not present?) Vallen looks defiant, proud (fooled or in on it? [A Vangalite?]) The girls were the same height, but this boy is taller than the girl, broader of shoulder (they do have the same eyes, that same nose)

He leans forward, hands clasped under his chin, elbows on his knees, waiting. Watching.

[GamesMaster]

Lady Merchant Aluiries zi'Huntinghawk is not paying nearly as much attention to the twins as her esteemed colleague. Indeed, she's doing sums in her mind, letting them walk in without staring. The sums, however, are vitally relevant to the situation at hand; they're calculations of net worth, something any Merchant Light has to hand, whether it's keeping all that straight in their head, as the esteemed alchemist does, or an assistant with figures on parchment handy. Aluiries didn't become a world-class alchemist, did not found a business selling alchemical supplies and remedies across the entire region, letting someone else do her sums. So she skims the briefing she had her assistant prepare, and does the math herself, calculating exactly how great the distance is between the Amell household and the Samenfeld woolen garments empire. 

How slim it's gotten in the past few weeks.

[GamesMaster]

Lord Sage John zi'Smith isn't paying the scene any attention at all. To him, this is another day at the office; he doodles complex diagrams of star patterns on his parchment, pretending to take notes, his mind on his upcoming date night with his husband. Sure, this year was nothing particularly special -- only 99 years of marriage -- but isn't that the best time to surprise your partner with a gift? A hundred years would be too predictable. Though, for the hundredth, he plans to outdo the ninety-ninth, and he only has a year and four days to plan that out...

He begins to jot down ideas, his imagination running away with him.

[Aveline Vallen]

"Lords, Ladies and Lich," Aveline booms out solemly, managing to keep her tone even for that last word by years of training alone. "As ordered by this very body, I present Lord Carver zi'Amell and Lady Bethany zi'Amell, twin children of the late Lady Leandra zi'Amell!" 

[NPCs]

As Beth dips into a deep curtsey- praying that Carver remembers to bow, not mimic her- the assembled Lights murmur softly. "It is pleasing to see that the zi'Amell line will not crumble into dust quite yet," one of the Lights whispers, the thin, almost wet sound reaching them all clearly thanks to the enchantments on the chamber. The speaker is clad in heavy, black velvet robes that cover them entirely save for their dark russet gloves and hint of pale white jawline just barely visible under the hood. "There is still use to the city left in that pool," is added and heard by all, though the tone suggests it was meant as a personal aside.
 

[NPCs]

"Forgive me," an elderly human male says in a very well trained and precise voice. "But while I am far from their social circle or peer group, I had been under the impression that the Amell twins were sisters?" A double cut, calling out their young age and also dropping the zi. Technically not required, as he was talking about the family and the prefix is given to people, not families, but it's considered customary to use it when the reference is about members of the family that would be given that prefix if addressed. Beth at least would recognize the man, though Carver might only recall the family crest displayed above his chair. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver does remember to bow, but only just -- he wobbles a little, and his bow is a little irregular because of it, but he bows.

"You are mistaken," he says bluntly, forgetting -- or "forgetting" -- his manners. "Before we begin, may I introduce -- our guardian was held up at the gate. He should be here."

[GamesMaster]

Lord Sage Ian zi'Magnus leans forward, intrigued, studying the scene before him. "Guardian? I had no notice of a guardian."

And he would have had notice. While his husband has been moody, secretive, of late -- he thinks he's so clever, does John, and he is, but he's shit at keeping secrets when he gets excited, he's like a child with a new toy behind his back -- he's been focusing on this Amell case. It has nothing to do with him or his field of study, but that's why it's been a welcome break from the mathematics that make up the bulk of his time. And, well, it's children -- something he and John both agreed was unnecessary, given their lifestyle, but something he holds a fondness for regardless. How can he not pay attention when the welfare of children are involved? A guardian puts his mind far more at ease -- at least, if it's a good sort, not this Jadan character.

[Bethany]

"Roland of Golden Green," Bethany says in a clear, ringing voice. "The mentor and father figure of our late mother's first husband. We met rather unexpected on our way to Raplin's Oak and he has been ever since a source of wise counsel and parental support."

[NPCs]

"Mentor of your mother's first husband? She was never married before your father," zi'Berti scoffs. "Clearly, this 'Roland' is the one that... tricked... you into bringing this... mockery to this most illuminated body." Berti is a skilled administrator who has taken the moneylending and investment company from his mother's family well beyond its already lofty heights... but he thinks himself a far more skilled orator than he is.

[GamesMaster]

"On the contrary," says la'Livingstone. "There was a previous marriage, but it was annulled, leaving the resulting issue illegitimate."

[NPCs]

"Thank you for your expert input as always, Lord Speaker," Lord zi'Livingstone says silkily. As always, he never uses the name of his illegitimate brother. "But the boy does have the look of a zi'Amell. It's in the eyes, the mouth." He studies the pair closely. "Lady Beth- you are willing to swear that this is your twin? The elder of you?"