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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 11, 2013 12:17:12 GMT 10
The aroma of fresh cut roses were was in the air, and two lips pressed together as the smell hit a nose turning up then into the simple curvature of an amused expression. Muscles shifted and a torso bent just above the waistline as Leonardo leaned in to take in another whiff of the flowers that had caught his eyes only a few seconds earlier. Not bad... An amused chuckle finished the thought as the man stood up again and turned sideways taking a few paces before coming to a cashier- a woman who seemed to be more focused on writing papers than tending to roses.
"Excuse me, I would like to purchase the bouquet," were the crisp stylized words that escaped from those previously pressed lips, and the reflection of an easy enjoyment playing into the air.
The woman snapped her head up instantly managing a cheery expression before straightening up just a little bit more. "Yes sir, of course, would you like it delivered anywhere or packaged or...?" the woman began and seemed ready to start a rant on possibilities if she wasn't shut up fast enough.
The brown haired man on the receiving end of this mentally sighed wishing nothing more than to tell her to silence and let him tell her what he wanted. Instead, he let out a sort chuckle and gave an amused sort of expression that turned the woman's features scarlet in another moment. "I shall request for delivery if you would be so kind," he replied giving a brief unnecessary bow at the end of his sentence which only served to fluster the woman that much more.
"O-of course! May I take your name, the address you wish to send it to, phone num-" the woman started rather quickly only to be silenced again by another subtle laugh.
"Send them to Miss Elisabeth Sofia Baskerville in one, three, one, four Brookshire Way. On the tag I would like you to thank her for her donation to the Mattias's Foundation for Gun Awareness and Safety Project sincerely Leonardo Mattias," was the smooth reply that caused the woman to nod at every word save for the last few phrases in which she paled and seemed to perk up at the same time. Leon mentally sighed.
"You're Leon Mattias?!" she asked causing the still somewhat young man to mentally cringe. He despised when those outside of his inner circle referred to him by that name. Mr. Mattias would do. Mentally sighing and placing somewhat of an amused expression on his features, he nodded accordingly before giving a deeper bow.
"Please keep this our little secret until the flowers get there though, my dear," he smiled leaning forwards across the table and causing the woman to lean back just a little in the process. He could see from the color on her cheeks that she was all but ready to pop. How sad it was that he could make them react in such a way, the fairer sex that was. However, t was useful when it came down to it, and that was all that mattered to Leon.
"O-o-of course!" the woman proclaimed quickly. "I'll have the order done presently! Thank you for your purchase!" she continued babbling on before quickly ringing up the order. She cut even cut the cost in half before sending the man on his way. Amused by the woman's antics more than anything, Leon decided to pay the full price regardless before leaning the store with nothing more than a sort and charming 'good-bye'.
The sound of the doors slamming behind him was a reassuring resonance that he was done, and Leon let off a soft sigh. That was more tedious than he had expected but he supposed that was what happened when he himself went out into a crowd of people and not his personal servants of sorts. He enjoyed it though, when it came down to it, more than he would admit. It was a pleasurable annoyance he supposed. A simple shake of the head was given before the man turned and started down the street setting his hands in his pockets and melding with the crowd around him. It was in these times that he realized just how much humans reeked. Heh.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 11, 2013 13:18:46 GMT 10
>>Why does he have to be this way?.. It's not like I begged to come with him. I just asked, thats all. Daddy's the one who insisted I tag along<< She thought for the third time in he last hour. Gwendolyn stood with her back leaning on the plane glass window of the florist's shop. Her hands behind her keeping her white and blue dress off the glass. If she got dirty, it would make things that much worse.
Gwen sighed. She looked about the market at all the people walking past. Most ignored her. Others stared and smiled. She knew she stood out in that dress. Made her feel like she was in a re-booted Alice in wonderland commercial. She wanted to pull the bow out of her hair something fierce.... but she couldn't. It was a gift from Daddy. She'd ware it for him, if it made him happy.
She never saw much of him any more. He was so busy with the corporation, yet he always had a gift for her when he came home from his trips. She was glad for that.
The doors opened and her big brother Leonardo stepped out. He didn't even look her way. He just walked off into the crowd. Gwen sighed and leaned forward off the glass and followed. Did he even remember she was there? Would he stop if she did?, or would he just keep walking?
Gwen entertained the thought. She would have liked to test the theory, but decided against it. It would just make him angry with her.
She kept her eyes downcast and followed. Her stomach growled its protest at being empty. She'd neglected her breakfast having to leave at a moments notice.
“Le?...” She spoke and tried to get his attention, catching up.
“Could we stop for something to eat?”
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 11, 2013 13:58:43 GMT 10
How odd it was that the smallest of sounds that even partially reflected his name caught Leon's ears so readily. Then again it was paired with Gwen's voice, and psychology argued that sentient beings often associated closely with the sounds that were common such as the voices of others. Either way, the minute that he heard even a variation of his nickname, Leonardo stopped and looked backwards briefly staring at Gwen's face and taking in the way she mouthed the question after that.
She was hungry? Leon's features hardened a little as he stopped to consider where they were and how long they had been out. It really hadn't been that long, but it could arguably be considered brunch time to some people he supposed. He himself was not hungry, but then again he had made sure to eat a lot that morning as it was. After a few seconds, he gave a brief sigh and rolled his eyes before rolling his shoulders and composing himself again as if he had never done it to begin with. The entire motion was a relaxed gesture, something that he rarely did even in the closest of associates. Family alone tended to receive such notions that still reflected immaturity. "Yeah yeah yeah," he replied raising a hand and rolling his fingers briefly and forming them into a pre-snapping motion. It was a habitually gesture to snap for Leon. It made people do what they were told and without questions, and in this case, he would be calling one of the other people following the two of them to quickly go find a restaurant or store with the some sort of food and bring it back. Gwen herself probably recognized the motion if not from Leon but maybe the other boys who used it just as habitually. "What do you want?" he asked waiting almost patiently after that.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 11, 2013 16:19:39 GMT 10
Her brother stopped and looked her way. She stopped also and looked up at him, hopeful. >>Oh, Forgive my rudeness. I've been busy with my errands and haven't thought about lunch. I'm a little famished myself. Where would you like to go, my dearest Sister?<< she imagined him saying. Then he'd take her hand and they'd go hunting for a restaurant.
Instead she got a sigh and a “Yeah yeah yeah”. Gwen frowned. >>Really, Le?...<< She thought, watching him go through the familiar motion of having one of the servants attend to her. She almost balled up her firsts as anger started to build. Her mouth opened slighly as she prepared to say.... something. She didn't know what yet. “What do you want?” he asked changing his tone. Gwen closed her mouth. Nothing good would come over getting angry and causing a scene. She glanced behind her, she could see Guido and Lucia waiting for her to say something. Her request would be followed by the snap of her brother's fingers and they would rush off to find what she wanted, only it wasn't what she wanted.
“For you not to be a stick in the mud” she mumbled almost to herself. At that point, she didn't care if he heard it or not. Gwen wanted so badly for him to spend some time with her. To do something fun for once. Was that so much to ask? Why did everything have to be so formal.
Something caught Gwen's eyes as she turned to look at her brother. Her eyes stopped at the unfamiliar sight.. It was a restaurant. Something foreign. She didn't take the time to look at what type of food or even read the name properly. It was just a few yards away and She knew she had to jump into action if she was to catch Leo off guard. She pushed her anger down and rushed forward, taking Leo's other hand in both of hers. >>Please, just come with me<< She pleaded in thought, deciding she had nothing to loose and letting the chips fall where they may.
Gwen looked up at him, giving him her puppy dog eyes and a million dollar smile in place of the frown a second ago. She leaned back on her heels and pulled at him firmly, hoping. “Just lunch with m big brother. Lets try this place” She said in the sweetest voice she could manage, and pulled him along through the glass doors into the restaurant, her eyes never leaving his.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 12, 2013 9:25:39 GMT 10
The murmur that escaped from Gwen's lips caught Leo's heightened ears, and he only managed to not growl at her. They were in public, and it would do no good to start too large of a scene. They were still Mattias's as he saw it, and with eyes on them, it was a matter of pride. Biting the bottom of his lip to keep his voice from jutting outwards, he stood firm and instead allowed his eyes to habitually look back towards the two that were following not too far behind now.
Gwen did manage to catch Leon off guard, and his head turned sharply eyes catching hers and finding himself frozen for a moment. The sensitive eyes of a girl were something Leon had long-since learned how to deal with. He kept them at arm's length but proved to be charming enough to address them well. He knew how to turn them down without a second notice but not crush their tendrils and keep them coming back in the process. However, it was the eyes of a child, the pair of eyes of a little sister that were put up in such an expression that caused him to hesitate.
For all he was, Leon wasn't quite a bad person. He certainly didn't think so anyways. He figured he was decent all around if a bit more... picky than most. He observed everyone wanted something. He was just good enough to get it most of the time. However, it was when he was staring down the eyes of Gwen that Leon realized he was more vulnerable than any man should have been as he saw it. Damn it all.
As her er requests were spilled out and an offer made, Leon looked sideways towards the restaurant that was pointed out. Before he could say one lick of protest - not that he was even sure that he would be able to protest against that request, ugh- Leon found himself being carted off down the short ways towards the restaurant. "A-alright," was what hit the air after a moment as Leon kept moving forwards now at Gwen's side.
Guido looked at Lucia. Lucia looked at Guido. Both shrugged and followed suit waiting for any other sort of beck and call that might come from the somewhat picky man that they had learned to call boss or even 'master' at times. Neither one particularly adored Leon- especially when the man happened to be in a bad mood and actually wiling to express it. However, they tolerated him for the income that he blessed them with and went on. No questions were asked. Rather than follow directly inside just yet, they waited in front of the restaurant.
As they entered the restaurant, Leon became aware of the cool lighting and general calm atmosphere of the restaurant - something he was accustomed to more at mutual gatherings than restaurant settings. Mentally sighing as his scrutinizing gaze caught sight of a few haphazard cracks in the ceiling that probably weren't going to cause it to fall down any time soon but were still unsightly creations. "May I help you?" a voice called, and Leon's dark eyes dropped down to meet the gaze of the hostess who had just spoken.
For a minute, he didn't know what to say, yet after that, he quickly retreated back under the cool expression that said everything would be alright. "Table for two, please," he smiled eloquently causing the woman to smile back and even add a sort laugh as though he had said something funny. He ended up giving a soft laugh in turn before the woman fished up the menus and then quickly led the way to the table in question, or rather a booth it seemed.
Gestruing for Gwen to choose which side she wished to sit on before sliding into the opposite seat, Leon sat down before fishing up the menu that had been set down as well. With her job perpetually done, the hostess quickly turned on her heels making a soft giggling sound before quickly heading off again. Leon mentally sighed a little more amused than anything before looking down at the menu. "Anything seem appealing?" he asked after a moment, his voice still caught in the suave tone that he had been using before.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 12, 2013 15:48:03 GMT 10
Gwen's smile never wavered and her hand never left her brother's the whole way to the booth. She Jumped into the bench seat of the booth and swung her legs back and forth. She knew she acting 8 instead of 12, but she couldn't help herself. It felt like years since they'd eaten together at a restaurant. Just the two of them.
She glanced at her menu still on the table when Leo asked her if she saw anything she liked. Gwen raised herself up and leaned forward onto her elbows. Her bum no longer on the seat, She raised a hand and extended a finger toward her brother. She giggled as her finger hooked the top of his menu and she pulled it down slightly to gaze into his eyes. Her smile broadened at their eyes met. "I never know what to pick, big brother. You pick for me" She said playfully, letting go of his menu but still teetering on the table on her stomach and elbows. "like you used to" She added with a giggle.
Before he could answer, The waitress cleared her throat to get their attention. Gwen immediately sat back in the bench and stopped swinging her legs. "May I get you a refreshment?" She asked, again not able to hider her smile at the interaction of the siblings.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 12, 2013 16:14:11 GMT 10
When it came down to it, what was four years in comparison with the expanse of life? When someone was younger, it certainly seemed as though four years was a big difference- the reflection of the twelve year old girl acting eight being a clear example, but as time went on, ages and their gaps seemed to shorten. Unluckily for Leon, he had yet to come to a point where the sheer age gap between himself and his sister could be overlooked. There was arguably fifteen years difference between the two of them, and he could easily be her father considering that age gap and how the world sometimes played out. It was actually possibly because there was such a large age gap that Leon felt more irritated at his father when he thought about the scandal that all of it entailed. However, hopefully as years ran its course, things would eventually level out somehow. Hah maybe he was being too hopeful for his own good. Since when did the industrialist believe in something that couldn't be plotted out just yet anyways? Hope was for the religious.
Watching Gwen's airy ways was a reminder to Leon that for now years meant a lot more. She was still a kid, still a child. He was an adult and was supposed to be the responsible one at all times. However, even then, the fact that she was his little sister pulled at a few strings, and his boyish thoughts sometimes crept up into Leo's mind. Maybe he could scare her with spiders like some brothers did and just laugh all the way away. No, that was silly. He was being silly, sigh.
Glancing down at his menu, Leon reflected on how the various food dishes didn't quite appeal to him. Brown eyes fell then on the dessert menu, and he was aware that his appetite was growing again. He wasn't too fond of sweets overall, but they did sound appealing at the moment for one reason or another. A small smirk came to his features just as he caught sight of a finger hooking his menu and pulling it downwards. Looking up briefly as a confused expression worked its way across his face, Leon half sighed at Gwen's response his face twitching with an amused expression regardless. She was twelve now, and she could order from the adult menus at most places now. Wasn't that enough to warrant choosing her own meal? The giggle sound that had escaped seemed to prove otherwise.
He'd opened his mouth to reply back, but a cough, and Leon's head turned sideways brown eyes refocusing on the woman that had stepped up and asked. "I will have sweet iced tea with no lemon," he replied before looking sideways at Gwen as a thought came to him. "She shall have the pink lemonade with only a quarter cup of ice and a plastic straw," he stated making a gesture briefly before looking at Gwen with a 'I know what you like' expression for only a brief moment.
The waitress's eyebrow raised a little at the quickness of answering but wrote it down and nodded. "I'll get your bread as well," she replied before nodding and ducking away rather quickly. Leon sat back after a moment and found himself returning his gaze to Gwen. "How about we buy the dessert menu and just split that?" he asked a more amused expression playing onto his features after a moment.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 15, 2013 6:36:18 GMT 10
Gwen's eyes squinted as she smiled showing her renewed pleasure at her brother. >>He remembered!<< she gushed to herself. It really wasn't her favorite any more, but she still liked pink lemonade, and just the fact that he got it right to the last detail of her almost OCD quirk of ice quantity and straw made her happy. Had it really been two years since her preference changed?
Her smile lessened to one of surprise. She stood and leaned forward, both hands on the table. “Do you mean it, Le?” She asked in doubt. >>This better not be a joke, Big Brother!<<
Things were going in her favor more that she'd hopped. All she planned on was getting him into the restaurant for a one on one lunch. Desert for one with two spoons was unthinkable. Was Leo really doing this for her? She hoped so. This might be her last chance, for all she knew. After today she would be starting a new life, so to speak.
But what choice did she have? The counselors were right. she was bored to death at her middle school and starving for a challenge. The curriculum was so easy, she never had to study or really pay attention yet was top of the honors classes. But wasn't this too much?. Skipping a grade was one thing, but three?.. she was terrified. How would she ever fit in?. What was even more worrisome to Gwen was that once she was officially a “High School” Student, the rift between her and her brothers would widen. They'd start treating her like she was a teen, and not a tween. Things were already bad enough. She was so scared of the whole confusing mess.
She struggled daily to with trying to keep her brothers close, but there was something wrong. She looked at how her friends interacted with their own siblings and it made her jealous. Why was her relationship different?
"I'd really like that" she said glancing away as she said it, then back
Gwen gazed into her brother's eyes and waited.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 15, 2013 6:59:45 GMT 10
Leon did in fact remember a few things here and there. Despite the fact that he was more or less out of 'the house' now with his own apartment and a separate life, and despite the fact that work now called him to travel and be even farther away from time to time making sibling interactions less consistent, there were certain details, especially about the family life, that Leon knew well enough. Though it hadn't occurred to him that in the course of two years she could change what she liked, Leon had unwittingly done something decent if maybe not for the best of reasons.
It might be selfish to say that the man leonardo Mattias picked up on such things for his own benefit- considering it was the small things that people remembered and more or less valued him for. However, when it came down to it, it was how he saw himself, anyways. Keeping his sister happy was better than making her angry especially when in public eye. No. He would play the good big brother- the respectable figure that was seen watching after his siblings and the like. Regardless of the fact that he wasn't sure if it was in his true nature to do such a thing, he would keep up appearances and his facade. More than he realized, the family name claimed his social status.
He caught the subtle dip in her lips that then blossomed into a surprised expression, and Leon couldn't help but find himself bemused by it. As she stood, he allowed his eyes to follow her stance before finding that she was coming closer to address him. The question that followed afterwards drew a brief look of confusion before a more habitual smile. "Why would I lie?" he asked tilting his head to one side and cause a few of his brown locks to shift to one side. "The desserts looked better than the food." It was honestly one of the most blunt truths Leon had uttered in a while. He could have said that he wasn't hungry for a big meal- which was true. He could have said that he was having a sweet tooth craving. However, he had gone with what was exactly on his mind- though whether people picked up on this was questionable when it came to Leon.
If someone had told Leon that his sister was in high school, he might have laughed up until the realization hit him. He was not out of the familial loop about such matters, but to Leon, Gwen would always be ten years old somehow. It was two years ago when he was still twenty-five and still doing what he was today which was probably why. The passage of time seemed slow to him wherein it was actually speeding past him without him even realizing it. The thoughts of her being older- of school life that was up above even her age- was not something Leon normally concerned himself with. However, the thought of it would probably have made him almost upset though if he would have even realized the emotion within himself, that was.
"The chocolate cake looks decent," Leon commented breaking his gaze with Gwen to look down at the menu again. He had always had a sweet tooth here and there though whether he indulged in it depended on his mental strength in the moment.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 15, 2013 8:09:38 GMT 10
She didn't have an answer for his accusation. >>Why would I lie?<< she repeated his question in her mind. She shook her head slighly looking down at the coaster before her, wishing the lemonade was there so she could reach out and pick it up to take a loooooong sip, buying her time to think.
The fact was, she didn't know. He'd never lied to her about anything that she could remember. But then there were times when she felt things were kept from her. She didn't have any proof at all, just a nagging feeling of sorts. Just something that didn't feel right.
Could she tell him of this?... >>He'll just laugh at you<< she reasoned. Still... she had to say something.
“I'm sorry, Le. I didn't mean it like that, Its just....” She reached up and twirled her hair with her finger as she did when she was nervous or deep in though.
She couldn't bring herself to open up about that now.
“You're usually strict about stuff like that” She said instead. It wasn't a lie, really. It was also true, and was the real reason she'd asked if he was serious about having desert instead of the main entrée first.
She pushed that whole mess to the back of her mind. She glanced at the small triangular paper sign that advertised a new desert item and the million dollar mile was back. Her finger left her hair and picked up the sign instead. She twirled it on her finger, eyes returning to her brothers
“Death by Chocolate!” she exclaimed happily. “Its the cake on steroids. Could we?...” She asked, her voice pitch rising to an almost plea. The spinning sign reached the top of her finger and flew off. Gwen's eyes followed its trajectory as it arched to the left. The smile replaced with an "uh-oh!" as it bounced off their waitress's forehead as she approached, landing on the bread basket. She jumped in surprise, the drinks on the tray toppling.
Gwen knew she shouldn't have, but there was no stopping it. She burst out laughing, the covered her mouth to stop and just giggled uncontrollably, literally doubling over. She tried to apologize, but couldn't stop the giggles long enough to finish.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 15, 2013 9:50:54 GMT 10
It was horribly natural for Leon to keep things from people. He was an information broker in his free time, after all, and none of the family actually knew that either. He was bound and determined to keep it that way, by the way. Cal it a guilty pleasure, but he enjoyed twisting people's arms in the shadows at night just because he was able to do so. He didn't see himself as a terrible person for enjoying such things. He just didn't want any of his family to judge him for it.
If Gwen had stated her true feelings on him, Leon probably would have laughed and said something along the lines of 'if I told you my life story and everything I was thinking, I would bore you to absolute years'. Most of what he did was relatively boring as he saw it, anyways. Work was done, he went and did other things, then he went to bed, and the day was repeated. The fact that he was so calm about some of the things he did probably unnerved a few of his victims per-say, but they were always shut up in one form or another.
Instead, as she apologized, Leon simply half smiled watching her small gestures and noting that some things never seemed to change. That was good for him as it were. As she explained that he was normally strict about food and maintenance of a healthy died, the man couldn't help but half-laugh a little. "Mother has raised us well hasn't she?" he asked raising his eyebrow bemused for a moment before allowing it to fall downwards again. "One different meal should not be too bad now would it?" he asked leaning forwards then and staring into her eyes so similar to his own.
After a moment, he leaned back resting fully on the back of the booth feeling his shoulders press into it and it sag in response. As Gwen fished up the sign on their table and began to look over it, Leon found himself looking at the back of it that read much the same thing as the other side did. Death by chocolate sounded like some B rated movie to be perfectly honest, yet the way Gwen had exclaimed it was enough to bring a bit more amusement to Leon's features. At her question, he was about to give a nod before the damn table sign decided to become an Olympic diver and jump away from his sister's fingers off towards the waitress. The sound of glasses hitting on a tray and splashing liquid around caused Leon to jump before his eyes actually found what was wrong. The waitress was now staring at him with nothing short of a judgmental look.
Suddenly the sounds of laughter hit Leon's ears, and his eyes all too venomously went darting at Gwen. Nothing short of a sharp sigh was given before Leon shifted in his seat and finally stood up giving a brief bow to the woman before starting to take glasses and set them down on the table least they spill the full amount of liquid they were holding that were somewhat teetering now. "Ah forgive me ma'am," was the soft apologetic words that flowed out of Leo's mouth all too easily. The woman blushed a little realizing that the man was taking the blame.
"O-oh it's alright, really," she replied quickly trying to fish up anything she could to wipe up the liquid. Leon fished off one of the wraps that fitted over his silverware offering it to her as she quickly took it and backed up a little. Shooting Gwen a brief glare, the woman looked back at Leon and tried to be pleasant. "I'll get you some more drink," she murmured before scurrying off all too quickly.
Leon stood there for a moment before shooting a sideways glance at Gwen his dark brown spheres far from even remotely amused. "That was not funny, Gwendolyn," he stated bluntly slowly sitting back down in his booth as he did so.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 16, 2013 8:07:45 GMT 10
The laughter died the second Gwen heard Leo sigh in that particular way that always cut right through her. It was his way of saying “I'm disappointed in you, young lady” that sobered her right up. She looked up at him and saw his eyes. He was “really” angry. He looked calm and composed, but she knew better. Gwen's gaze fell upon the waitress's and she saw her glaring. The amused smile that said “She's so darn cute” was gone. Gwen looked away.
Suddenly she became very aware of the other diners around them. Without looking, she knew she'd attracted unwanted attention and hushed criticism at what had just transpired.
Gwen straightened in her seat and folded her hands on her lap. She knew the fun was over. Everything was ruined now. Why did her efforts to have fun with her brothers always backfire like this?. To make things even worse, He'd just apologized in her stead and took the blame. Gwen felt like she was going to be sick. She pressed her lips together and willed the sensation to go away. Gwen's head lowered and she stared at her hands, heat coloring her cheeks in embarrassment.
Gwen looked back up at her brother just in time to get another sideways glance of her brother's judgmental eyes. He need not strike her, the look hurt just as sharply. “I... But....” She squirmed, unable to find words to explain. Sara lowered her gaze and her head to stare at her hands folded on her lap. >>This was supposed to be the perfect day...<< Her eyes burned and threatened to fill with tears. She willed for that not to happen. It would make things that much worse. Another humiliating scene and her brother might just get up and walk away.
“Mi dispiace” (I'm sorry) She whispered when the waitress left. “Certo che ha ragione, fratello” (of course, you're right, brother). “It wasn't funny at all.” Gwen looked up and locked her eyes to his. Her facial features remorseful.
Gwen somehow managed to keep the tears at bay. >>Couldn't we just start over?<<
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She looked up at her brother and locked eyes with his. She hatted the way he seemed to study her. Why did he always have to judge. >>If this happened in a movie we'd all be laughing...<< she thought, becoming frustrated at the whole thing.
“If you could forgive this momentary lapse in judgment....” She hesitated hating the formality. But it was the high standards which her brothers, especially Leo expected of her as a Mattias. She just wanted to be a normal 12 year old girl. Why did everyone expect her to act like an adult. >>I just want to be me. Just for today.<< she told herself. Tomorrow her new life as a high schooler would start. She felt her eyes begin to burn again and willed them to stop. “May we continue with our lunch, Le” She said, wanting to turn away. Wanting to excuse herself to the ladies room where she could just let it all out. Instead she gazed, her eyes fearing to even blink. >>I'll be a good girl, I promise << She almost added out loud. She dared not. Not in public.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 16, 2013 8:42:05 GMT 10
Leon would never realize just how lucky he was being the oldest of the Mattias siblings. As the oldest, he had been the blank slate of his parent's expectancies. Sure they could hope that he would come out the way they wanted, but he was always their guinea pig. Because of this, he had arguably more freedom than any of his siblings had had. Work was still hard, and school was still torture, but he never had to live up to anyone but himself.
No to Leon, though, being the oldest was the hardest. He had been forced to pave the way for the rest of his siblings. His father had come down harder on him than any others as he saw it. He was the one that was supposed to inherit the most in their more than a little traditional family, and with inheritance came more than enough responsibility. At times he was suspicious that his younger brothers and even Gwen got away with much more than he ever did, but his speculation had always been filtered from his personal perspective.
As Gwen looked at him, Leon stared back his gaze only softening a little as she lowered her gaze away from his. A part of him wanted to breathe in as much air as possible and sigh outwards as heavily as possible as if to make it more a 'huff' than a breath or maybe even a deep sigh of anguish depending on how long he sustained it for. However, he held back. They were in the public eye, and too much scrutiny would only draw more unwanted attention. The soft whisper caught Leon's ears before he saw her lips move. As she agreed that it wasn't funny, half in Italian, and half in English, Leon found himself staring at the girl. Suddenly she was much more underaged than he remembered, and he couldn't help but feel a brief pang at scrutinizing her so harshly. Some obscure part of him wanted to hug her briefly and tell her it was alright and that there really was no harm done.
However, it was as she started speaking in that eloquence- the stressing careful words that the family stressed so much in both English and Italian- that Leon found his perception changing again. She was older, a child that knew her way around speech and who should be able to stand on her own two feet. She could speak and therefore should have been able to do everything else correctly. How ironic it was that she spoke to change his demeanor when it only confirmed something else in him. Mentally sighing, Leon found himself straightening up a little in his chair. "Yes, we shall," he replied to her last question a brief nod given before his head turned and his eyes refocused on the half-empty drink not too far from him.
His ice tea had been completely ruined as he saw it, yet Leon felt the obscure compulsion to pick it up and take a sip then and there. After a moment, he gave a brief shake of his head before looking back towards Gwen. He decided on a change of subject then and there. "Are you ready for school tomorrow?" he asked unsure of why that had been the first thing out of his mouth but deciding that it would be a common ground on which to stand on. He had gone to school, and now she was in school. It worked out, somehow.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 16, 2013 10:44:52 GMT 10
Gwen's eyes blinked. She slowly exhaled a breath she'd not known she was holding. It was such a small and hollow victory, but her lips still twitched up into a half smile knowing that she may salvage something from this disaster somehow.
She followed his gaze to his ruined drink, wincing when he shook his head yet again with disapproval, and she knew it would be an uphill battle for her to soften him up again to where she could be herself. She'd play his game, for now. It wasn't really a choice. This saddened her.
“Y-Yes. As ready as I'll ever be, I guess.” She replied to his surprising question. Her eyes widened slightly just before her answer. Gwen even stuttered. She was so unprepared for this change in subject. Leo never asked about her world. He'd only react to her problems, when he'd catch wind of them either from her other family members or staff. “Considering I'm starting at the new high school.... I'm not sure how things will work out, you know?” Gwen replied, doubt lacing her voice. “I'm going to be the youngest girl there.” She finished, but not really. >>They're going to make fun of me! I won't have any friends. It's going to be a living hell.<< “Not sure how I'll adjust or fit in” She added instead.
She wrung her hands on her lap slowly in a nervous tic, stopping when she realized what she was doing. She looked looked away, braking eye contact with her brother as her mind forced memories she'd rather forget on her. Her friends in middle school gave her news of skipping grades a luke-warm reception. They'd promised it wouldn't change anything, but over the summer, they called her less and less and in the last few weeks, her phone didn't buzz or ring at all.
She didn't pursue them as they distanced themselves. It was for the best, or so Mikey said. She wouldn't have the time for games once she started a challenging curriculum. He promised there were all sorts of clubs to join and after-school activities and new friends to make. Rafael was a bit more blunt in telling her to leave her childish past behind and embrace the future. The problem was, they kept forgetting she was still a child herself. Just 12 freaking years old! Why was that so hard to understand!
Gwen closed her eyes briefly before returning her gaze to her brother.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 16, 2013 11:19:07 GMT 10
As Gwen replied, Leon blinked noting the shaking in her voice. It had been there for only a moment, yet he had recognized it well enough. It reminded him of when he gave orders to some of the more nervous people who worked under him. However, he couldn't quite correlate the two experiences. Gwendolyn wasn't a nervous person was she? Leon certainly didn't think so. Then what was wrong? The thought that he had never quite come into her world willingly didn't come to Leon's mind, but if he had realized it, he probably would have been surprised by it himself. It was ironic how he could take everyone around him apart and know all their secrets save for those that resided in his own house. They were people he purposefully made off limits to himself though whether for chivalry or honor he knew not which.
Would he truly encroach on his siblings if necessary? It was a question that Leon had thought over several times both in his younger days and now that his job was in full swing. He still wasn't sure considering it had never quite come up, and honestly he hoped it would stay that way. He didn't feel like using his siblings even if he knew he could. However, did that make him weak? Wasn't he supposed to use every resource available to him? Those were the words of his father now weren't they? Then what was wrong with it so long as it came with no recourse to their family name? Somehow it still bothered Leon and probably would continue to do so for years after if something didn't drastically change.
As Gwen continued, Leon gave a brief nod in more or less understanding- or what he thought to be understanding. Though he was intelligent, he had never skipped so many grades for a variety of reasons. Thus he could not relate to the change. However, he could briefly relate to the idea of being ostracized in one form or another. What he had been was not what had been expected of him, and thus in his early years he had been expected to change. It had been hard, but he had done so. He had become a talking person, one who knew his way around etiquette and formal speech among other things. It pleased his father, and though he would never admit it, that was one of the few things that Leon wanted in life. What a foolish wish it was! Especially for the man expected to use every resource. How silly.
"I am sure you will do fine," he replied after a moment giving a brief nod of his head. She as a Mattias after all, and thus he knew she could do it in one way, shape, fashion, or form. After a moment, a brief chuckle escaped from the man but was cut short as he noticed his younger sister's position and motions. A silence fell briefly as Leon's mind crashed into yet another thought. Gwen had no had to go through what he had, had she? He couldn't remember when it came down to it. He had been out of house more often than not by that time, anyways. No, that was silly. Only he was the one that had needed help in such an area. All of his younger siblings had been perfect in comparison. Somehow spite had briefly boiled in Leon's blood before he dissolved it reminding himself that it would do no good in this situation especially since it was a public place.
"You are a Mattias after all," he reminded her after a moment just as the waitress walked up again setting down new drinks and muttering a quiet apology for 'her' mistake. Leon looked sideways and briefly gave an discernible look towards the woman before twisting up his menu and holding it off. "We will have everything on the dessert menu, thank you," he stated. The woman paled for a moment a little more started than not but quickly nodded and scuttled off again.
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