shackledfencer

[shackledfencer]

Well they were certainly taking it calmly, he thinks. But, he supposes they were... well, working class people so it wasn't too far fetched to think they weren't nearly as ruffled as others may be. Not to mentioned they were in the medical trade in the first place.

Clinical.

That was it.

He too dismounted his horse and tethered the pair to a tree, for the forest was thick and manouvering horses would be impossible the further they went.

Birthday Celebrations | Mystery Edition

[shackledfencer]

Anatole took a little to catch up, missing the failed dismount but catching a few words as they faded out.

"'Not exactly'?" He asks, concern lacing his voice. "Did something happen?"

Speaking of, he did not see Marcel. But he was sure the group would not have left so calmly if the host had been injured.

...Right?

Birthday Celebrations | Mystery Edition

[shackledfencer]

Well, while he is sure Marcel would give him a stern talking to later for letting her go along with him (if, in fact, his suspsicions were correct and someone had been hurt or worse), he could hardly tell her what to do, right?

In any case, he follows along after her and curiously regards the gentlement ambling out of the treeline and back towards the manor...

Well, somehting must have to had happened if it was cutting the hunt short.

Birthday Celebrations: Horse Edition

[shackledfencer]

At the sound, Anatole's head snapped to the direction of the treeline. Of course, it was common to hear gunshots when hunting yes; but the small cry that accompanied the gunshot was not.

"Kale? If you would please get the party back to the pen. One of the ther servants will help you with whatever you need. I have to check in with your father."

The boy seems suspicious, but nods and calls his friends to a race back to the manor. They set off, and Anatoe brings his horse around to face Loius.

"Miss, you may go back as well, if you prefer."

Birthday Celebrations: Horse Edition

[shackledfencer]

The ride took as long as it needed to, entertaining the children for long enough for them to let the restlessness leak out and for the exhiliration of horseriding to fade to a satisfying feeling.

There wasn't much to note on the journey, apart from fields, hills and slopes that were remarkable in form.

Birthday Celebrations: Horse Edition

[shackledfencer]

He nods in understanding, but does not say anything further.

After opening the gate, and allowing the more agitated children to ride ahead, he mounts his own horse and urges it out of the gates.

"Shall we?" He asks, eyebrow raised in question before he takes off after the group, towards the rolling fields of green opposite the thick of woods.

Birthday Celebrations: Horse Edition

[shackledfencer]

He nods, coming around to unhook the reigns and lower the stirrups.

"Place one foot in this, and hold tight the reigns to pull yourself up." He says,  kneeling to hold the stirrup steady as he offers her the reigns.

"Alternatively, if you would like trousers, do let me know and I shall be able to arrange something of the sort."

Birthday Celebrations: Horse Edition

The horse did not seem to mind her presence at all. It looked like it was quite used to this, and a little releived he was to carry someone who wouldn’t scream at him to go faster, or would grip the rreigns too tightly.

Anatole, now finished with the children, offers Loius a hand.

"Do you need any help?" He asks politely, ignoring the children who were yelling to be let out already.

[shackledfencer]

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At this point Louis assumes ‘Miss Eliza’ is the duck, unless there was something she was missing entirely. Still, she doubted anyone would like their animals getting chased around by their friends, but that was assuming that they were actually talking about the duck. Not being entirely sure if her understanding was off she just nodded, doubting ‘Miss Eliza’ was a person being moved between pens and/or chased around by small children. 

Louis waits as Anatole goes around getting the children situated. She thought about it and decided that riding side saddle for a bit wouldn’t be too bad until they were out of sight. Randomly, she looked back to where her brother and Marcel had been. She was pleased to see they were talking and not standing around awkwardly, or worse. 

At the sound of her name she looks up and approaches. It did look as if there were just enough horses left over. For a moment she considered petting the mane of the one closest to her, but she wasn’t sure how the large, hoofed animal would react to the touch.

The horse did not seem to mind her presence at all. It looked like it was quite used to this, and a little releived he was to carry someone who wouldn't scream at him to go faster, or would grip the rreigns too tightly.

Anatole, now finished with the children, offers Loius a hand.

"Do you need any help?" He asks politely, ignoring the children who were yelling to be let out already.

[shackledfencer]

"Well, Miss Eliza was moved to a serpate pen for this occasion. I daresay Kale would not like his friends to be chasing her around all day."

Though, it was likely the thing would get huffy from being kept insude all day, and would most likely make an appearence that afternoon.

He was broken from his thoughts by the children again, but moreso the apparence of one of the child's parents, demanding them to 'get on with it already.'

With a brittle smile, he excused himself from Louis long enough to seat the children to their satisfaction. Between the two horses left, there was just enough for the addition of the Lady.

"Come though Miss Louis." He waves. "And we can head off."

Birthday Celebrations | Louis, Alois, Marcel, and Anatole

[shackledfencer]

Anatole had learned a long time ago that if one was covered with excitable children, the best thing to do was play dead.

Or was that with bears. Hm.

Either way, the children seemed to get bored of his lack of response to being trampled, and instead attached themselves to horses and tried to get up onto them. It was a little amusing seeing as their stubby legs could not even reach the stirrups.

But, from his vantage point on the ground, he could very well see Miss Louis approaching the ren, and he decided to at least attempt the allusion of grace and stand up, brushing the dust from his clothes.

"Will you be joining us Miss Louis?" He asks politely, ignoring the yelling of children demanding he help them up on their horses.

Birthday Celebrations | Louis, Alois, Marcel, and Anatole

[shackledfencer]

Hmmm... The blush was rather suspect, and he resists the urge to narrow his eyes behind the frames on his face. After all, it would be rude to outwardly show any signs of distaste to Marcel's guests. Especially ones that somehow warrented such high praises from the man.

"Well, he was quite interested in.. whatever it is you do. Or have. He wasn't much for details past telling me how smart you are. Pity, I might have been better prepared for this meeting." He smiles tightly. "But I am glad the books got to you safely. I would have fretted otherwise. I beleive he must have told you they are quite hard to come by, and I do hope you are making well use of them."

Instead of oh, I don't know, planning to sell them to the highest bidder.

"Oh goodness no. If anything, it was I being rude by not introducing myself." He says. "Anatole. Anatole Merus. Secretary and Manager of Nautilus Inc, as well as the personal affairs of Marcel and the young Mr. Kale. Please," He said, stepping aside to usher them around to the back. "I am sure Marcel will not be much longer. In the meantime, feel free to eat and drink and engage in whatever it is that suits you. We shall also have trout fishing and hunting later this afternoon, if either of you are interested."

Birthday Celebrations | Louis, Alois, Marcel, and Anatole

[shackledfencer]

Ah... Yes, he had heard about these two. or at least, one of them in particular.

After tracking Marcel down at the last party and giving him a severe dressing down, yes he had heard all about this delightful and educated woman. And heavens forgive him, but he was rather suspicious. After all, Marcel had quite the large fortune behind him, a deceased wife and living son; so of course he would be prime material for any... leeches.

Though, really, thinking that was completely unfair. Who knows, this woman might be very nice. but for now, he shall err on the side of caution.

"Pleased to finally meet you Ms. Louis. Marcel talks about you quite fondly." He remarks, handing the invitation back to her instead. "I trust you received those medical texts with no issue?"

Birthday Celebrations | Louis, Alois, Marcel, and Anatole

[shackledfencer]

He had so far seen more than a few friendly faces, and for that at least he was rather relieved. Mrs. Jennings who ran the grocerer and her multitude of children and distinct lack of (another) husband. The Warbutrons, all stiffness and politeness and their rather eccentric twin daughters. All manner and class of people here today it seemed.

Though, to be fair, Marcel didn't really mind who his son hung out with. He reasoned that he would much rather Kale spend time amongst the poorer classes, in order to value what he has and learn things like compassions and thrift rather than pride and thinking one is better than others.

And, well, it was certainly a fine thing to learn. After all, Kale would take this all over one day, would he not? Compassion was one of Marcel's strong points (unlike his father) and he would hate it if Kale ended up more like his grandfather than father.

Still, after ushering Dr. Simmons through, he turned next to what seemed to be a set of twins (shopkeepers if he was reading them correctly).

"Invitation please?" he asked politely, holding out a gloved hand in anticipation and lifting his clipboard to crosscheck the names.

Birthday Celebrations | Louis, Alois, Marcel, and Anatole

[shackledfencer]

Anatole loathed parties.

They were over in a flash, you had to make nice with idiots and more importantly, the organisation was a headache and a half. Of course, it would have been fine if he weren't the one organising it, but Marcel was in a tizzy for some reason and wasn't at all much help apart from sending out the invitations. Anatole himself had to organise the catering, the overnight lodgings with the small town below, instruct the maids to turn down all the bedrooms in the estate for the closer guests and not to mention the clothes, the presents, the special paddock being constructed so that the young master and his friends could go riding and the trout to be released in the lake behind the estate for the gentlement to go fishing and the tea and emroidery materieals for the ladies and-

It was just such a headache.

Still, the day was upon them and everything that needed to be done was indeed done. Marcel was still getting ready and trying to convince his son to wake and dress, which left the task of greeting hte guests to Anatole.

Thankfully, they had all met him before and weren't at all bothered by a dark man being practically in charge of Master Carpus's business. They all treated him like a person (thank goodness) and made pleasentires before moving to the back of the mansion, out into the sprawling yard where archery, horseriding and bowls were set up, and servants were milling about with refreshments to start usher in the beginnings of the celebration.

Birthday Celebrations | Louis, Alois, Marcel, and Anatole

Alois had been reasonably surprised when a certain party invitation had appeared in Louis and his’ mailbox. He’d looked it over with a large degree of confusion before handing it off to Louis. Personally, he’d never cared much for these party things, but Louis seemed to do better with them. 

Louis, unlikely Alois, was actually excited, but not because it was a party. Actually, the thing that interested her the most about the invite was who it was from. She hadn’t expected the invitation and was pleasantly surprised that Marcel had sent it even if it had been mostly directed to her brother. Then again, she supposes it would have been strange to invite her specifically and asking her brother to attend wouldn’t be unusual. 

Of course, after getting the invitation, Louis was frantic about picking out clothing for her and Alois. That and she spent an unreasonable amount of time fretting over things like gifting, since it was a birthday party. Louis knew what kinds of things children liked, but considering the fact that Marcel was the rich, business type, she wasn’t sure what to get.

Eventually, when the date arrived Louis and Alois traveled to the Carpus residence. Louis did a good job in picking their clothing, because Alois actually managed to look proper and gentlemanly and Louis just looked like Louis. Clothing aside Louis held a box wrapped in shiny paper and tied shut with an equally shiny bow. 

[shackledfencer]

"Neither did you, if I may say." He replies, stowing away that name for later investigation. "I hope the rest of your stay here is pleasant. As for me, I shall be off. Good day, Mr.Finch," And with a nod, he turns about and vanishes into the crowd.

[shackledfencer]

"Just hoping perhaps I can convince you to come back. After all, business is definitely good not only for the island, but for my employer as well." He says matter of factly.

But he has to agree there. He had no idea where the shopkeeper got his wares; but he had all manner of weaponry. From the common pistol to the exotic scimitar. He suspects that the man has a contact in the east, but he cannot really think of a reason why he should dig for information. Well, apart from his own curiosity anyway.

"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you in any case, Mr...?"

[shackledfencer]

Flintlocks huh? Not an unusual gun at all and ammo was plentiful for that sort. Never mind they were easily jammed, but people seemed to prefer the things over rifles. Small and handy and easily concealed, he supposed.

"Well you'll find no better place then. For ammo or repairs."

He pushed open the door to a dimly lit shop. Racks upon racks of all manner of guns and weaponry, all locked behind thick, steel grates and guarded by what seemed to be very large slaves.