#(I really like August and Josephine's dynamic: obviously; we both have a soft spot for odd couples in general;)

[beatingheart-bride]

"Honestly, it was kind of refreshing," Emily admitted with a shrug. "My whole life, people were dreadfully careful with what they said around me. It felt like everyone was perpetually walking on eggshells in my presence, as to not taint my delicate ears with any semblance of profanity. So in a strange way, it was refreshing to hear a swear pass Randall's lips, even if it mortified him in the moment.I can't quite explain it, but it made me feel less like I was put on a pedestal."

She'd felt less like a perfect porcelain doll, or like a child who everyone worked diligently to retain her innocence. She'd always detested being treated differently because of who she was, and thus Randall's slip-up was a nice change of pace. In hindsight, Emily couldn't help but wonder if it had helped to break the ice, and showed Randall that he was truly free to be himself around her.

"A swear slipping out every now and then never hurt my feelings, but it isn't a habit I want the children to pick up. Thankfully, no one's had much trouble holding their tongues around them, even some of our sharper-tongued housemates. And thank goodness for that: I don't know what I'd do if they started parroting some of the things I've heard some of our housemates say in the past!"

@beatingheart-bride

"I felt like I had sworn in front of a princess!" Randall admitted with a shy laugh, the rest of his family laughing along as he rubbed the back of his neck: Though he would freely admit he could cuss a blue streak with the best of 'em, he tried to keep his mouth clean in public, and certainly keep it extra-clean in the presence of an upper-class young woman like Emily. Needless to say, his failing to do so absolutely mortified him in the moment, though he could certainly laugh about it now.

"I, uh...I didn't want to sound like I had no manners," he continued sheepishly, adding, "It, uh...it did take a while for her to convince me that she wasn't offended by my cursing-I felt awful, I really did, in the moment, though, I felt like it made it seem like I was born in a barn..."

"Awww, reminds me of when August and I first started getting to know each other," Josephine giggled amusedly, seeing a lot of similarities between her husband and grandson in the moment as she went on to explain just how nervous her future spouse was in the early days, very flustered being around such a confident, forward, and scantily clad woman (which quite flattered her, honestly).

"I used to have him over for coffee after performances, and bless his heart, he was so nervous-the only thing louder than his racing heartbeat was the way his cup used to clatter against his saucer! Well, one day, he got so wound up that he dropped his cup and spilled coffee all over the rug (which didn't bother me much; if anything, the coffee stain made that cheap ol' thing look better), and between his very rapid-fire apologies, I could hear him cursing under his breath, and that only made him apologize even more!"

"I'm not usually one for vulgarity," August admitted bashfully. "But I was just so frustrated and embarrassed by my inability to sit still that it just...slipped out, and I felt awful, just awful, swearing in the presence of a lady!"

Most people wouldn't bat an eye at swearing around someone in her profession, but he was a consummate gentleman to everyone he met, and so he didn't think twice about apologizing to her (even though, as she told him, she'd heard worse).