[ic]

[dormancy]

[In the interest of time and mystery, Vincent and Naoto have met at the overgrown flowers an hour after sunset as promised in a not at all suspicious manner. Luckily, or not, Vincent has found a few becoming flowers for his lady of the evening, and without further ado, they are off to a wonderful evening soiree . . .

The entrance hall is tasteful and elegant with carved wood panels, marble-topped tables, vases with white orchids spilling over. There are four doors in each direction. The door to the right is an open double door with music spilling softly out from it.]

Comments

[dormancy]

Neither can I. So, while we may enjoy the sights, there isn't much good for us here.

[genderbinary]

[eyes travel towards the staircase]

Then, that should be our next destination.

[dormancy]

As you like. —Ah, though, it may be best to remove your shoes or allow me to carry you. They look rather narrow.

[genderbinary]

[dryly]

I won't impose upon you.

[kneels to remove her heels]

[dormancy]

[looking aside~]

Oh, it wouldn't have been an imposition.

[genderbinary]

[refrains from commenting!! and gestures towards the stairs]

After you.

[dormancy]

Hahaha—!

[but he's going~ opening up the door above and waiting by it for Naoto]

[genderbinary]

[I'M ONTO YOU, MISTER]

[enters]

[dormancy]

[The attic is old and dusty as one would expect. There are a few boxes around, some with the tops open to documents and the like, while lamps with cobwebs are tucked into odd gaps. At the end of the attic, there seems to be light filtering up with dust floating through the air. Vincent is letting Naoto go first.]

[genderbinary]

[and probably humid as fuck and FILLED WITH MOLD that's what you get for putting your attic above the greenhouse wtf]

[anyway, checking out these boxes]

[dormancy]

[I am not an architect, and we are all very glad of that~. The boxes are filled with numerous items of interest. It looks like some of Grace's old diaries are present, a few pictures of young Owen and Grace together as well as Owen and Pleasant together, letters are bundled together with ribbon, and there are old ledgers, too.]

[genderbinary]

These may give us some more insight on the relationship between Owen-san and our hosts.

[opening those letters to read]

[dormancy]

[Goodness, there is quite a lot here. Grace is complaining of her father's disapproval of her love for Pleasant. Pleasant reassures her that they will find a way to win her family's approval. Owen does his best to calm Grace down, assuring her that he has no intention of marrying her as her father wishes him to. Owen goes on about his own parents who seem to be also pressing for the match. There seems to be a problem with Grace being an only child . . . Ah, there's a letter between Pleasant and Owen that sounds cordial enough, something about an apology over thinking that Owen agreed to become the inheritor of Grace's father's estate. (Owen denies that he would deprive dear Grace or Pleasant in such a way along with the shame, oh my.)]

[genderbinary]

[going over the letter between Pleasant and Owen several times]

... there's something unwritten here...

[dormancy]

Unwritten? What do you mean?

[genderbinary]

Something implied, but not outright stated. A subtext, if you will.

[dormancy]

[coming over~ checking out the letter]

What do you think is missing, then?

[genderbinary]

[doesn't answer that, exactly, still turning things over in her mind]

Grace-san wouldn't inherit leadership of the family business because she is a woman, correct? It would go to whomever she marries.

[dormancy]

Mm, that's right. Though, the owner of the business is more than allowed to name someone else. No one would dispute that, but it would be rather unfortunate and shameful to whomever she was married to be given a show of no confidence in that way.

[genderbinary]

... shameful, perhaps, but there are more important things than saving face.

[dormancy]

And being penniless and unable to keep your beloved in a proper home . . . Of course.

[genderbinary]

[looks down at the letter again]

... and just how is the relationship between Grace-san and her father?

[dormancy]

I would assume that they aren't on the best of terms, since she has defied his will. But Pleasant has been given control of the business, so he must have given into her desires. It's rather ambiguous, isn't it . . . ?

[genderbinary]

To say the least.

[dormancy]

[picking up a ledger, flipping through the pages which slowly but steadily become covered in more red ink]

I wonder if he hasn't regretted allowing Pleasant to save face at the cost of his business, though.