A return...

[sweariwontdie]

He comes up the path, escorted by a large winged man. From just the look on his face when the Mansion appears before him, he seems unsurprised by it. Perhaps he's betrayed its familiarity, but perhaps he's glad to be back.. Armand smiles, and though he chooses not to go inside, he walks around the grounds.

He wears what anyone would expect of a man

Comments

[tomboy_22]

She's spotted them coming a long ways - Anita never quite misses Lucivar's presence when he's not hiding. Call it the magnet factor. She was just out on the porch, not quite lounging. Waiting for someone, perhaps.

Instead, she's observing the new arrival curiously.

"Well, that's a get up we don't see every day," she points out without further introduction.

*glomps* As you might have noticed on the flist, several of ours are broken, so, er, we'll be sending the non-broken (or burned) folks for now.

AND WELCOME BACK.

[sweariwontdie]

Armand peers at the woman, trying to decide if he knows her. If he does, it will come back to him, he decides. He bows, putting on a smile, which he hopes is more pleasant than worried. He adds an extra inch or two to make up for any deficiencies in the smile.

"Is there something odd about it, mademoiselle? I wear it at home nearly every day."

[tomboy_22]

She's cheeky and rude, but the good thing about Anita is that she's very tiny - it kind of kills the threatening bit, unless, well, she's trying to be threatening, which she isn't at the moment.

"It's just like I said, darling," she draws in response. "Not a usual sight for me."

She wanders over, extends a hand. "Blake. Anita Blake. Welcome to the Mansion."

[sweariwontdie]

"Well, I will try not to shock you so much again in the future."

He takes her hand and bends to kiss it. Armand actually likes playing the old-fashioned gallant to modern ladies. "I'm Armand St. Just. This is a return for me. I've been gone more than a year, it seems."

[eyrienprince]

Lucivar is not going to let Armand out of his sight, at least not right away. "Look any different to you?" With a loose gesture, and he leans against a tree. "You can stay outside. Everyone interesting comes out anyway." 'Interesting' as far as Lucivar is concerned, that is.

[sweariwontdie]

"It looks exactly the same," Armand says, and that worries him a little. Maybe it is only he who has changed. "I understand that things work a little differently now. I think Karla told me once." If he's nervous, he's trying to hide it.

[eyrienprince]

Lucivar does catch some of the nervousness, just a little, but he nods, slightly. "I suppose. There was some food shortage but it seems to have passed now with some help. At least something stays the same." He doesn't quite grimace. "It still does the same...things as ever."

[sweariwontdie]

"From what you've told me, I take it that it's still dangerous, yes?" He sighs, and rubs his hands together. "I'm well-protected, as you know. As well as possible, so don't fret over me too much."

[doriath_crowned]

When trouble broke, Elured dragged his brother kicking and screaming away from the Finwean Wing. He also dragged him away from the corridor where Iphigenia sleeps after they found her room burned to shreds... and empty.

Elurin is sulking in the common room. Elured is looking sad and serious.

They're not Ambarussa - they're far younger, barely 70 years old. But here is nonetheless a pair of Elven twins.

[sweariwontdie]

Eventually Armand peers inside the common room. He's not sure he wants to go in, until he sees the youngling elves. He starts forward, until his mind does the math. There was no way these were the Ambarussa unless they were struck by a de-aging spell, which wasn't impossible. But the expressions were different.

He searched his memory again for a snippet from a long ago read history, and shook his head when he came up blank. Instead of making assumptions, especially about children who were possibly of the House of Finwë, he smiled and gave them a head nod.

"Now why are such fine youngsters inside on a lovely day like this?" he asks.

[doriath_crowned]

Those are actually not Finweans - they're Teleri, of the House of Thingol. And well. Kind of victims of the Feanorians, though these twins have developed intriguing relationships with their former enemies.

The serious one looks up, curiously. That's one funnily-dressed man, he'll give him that.

"My brother won't go out," the boy replies, quietly. "Then again, he won't speak to me at all."

And said brother doesn't even dignify that with the shadow of an acknowledgment.

[sweariwontdie]

"Oh I see," he said quite solemnly. "Is there a reason for it? I'm new returned, and I don't know anything that has been happening around here." He reinforces his smile, trying to look harmless. "But I know a little bit about young elves, and boys in general."

[fallenlomion]

Not one of the elves Armand know, we don't believe, but there are resemblances. Looking almost like any other teenager, he is stalking his way across the lawn, frowning at his feet, eyebrows drawn down.

He does notice Armand, though, and look up with a touch of annoyance, briefly, and then summons a smile that is as charming as it is false, eyes still wary. "Good day, Lord..." Already giving him the once over, trying to draw conclusions.

[sweariwontdie]

"Lord?" Armand echoes, his eyebrows up in surprise. "Not really, or rather, it doesn't count." He nods, unsure of what kind of greeting to give. "I don't think we've met before. I haven't been around here for some time."

[fallenlomion]

"Nothing wrong with courtesy, is there?" A bit sharper than he means, and he moderates his tone at once, though... "You left?" His gaze sharpens, then, all his attention on Armand. "Did you intend to return, then?"

[sweariwontdie]

"I did. I retired to a house not far from here." He keeps his tone polite, trying to guess whether he should be worried about this elf or not. He tilts his head though, to make his glance at the ears obvious. "I did intend to return. I'm surprised to find the place inhabited with the Firstborn again. What house are you descended from?" He's trying to decide if giving his adopted elven name would help or not.

[glacianbitch]

Karla is never, or almost never, unaware of where Armand is. And so is sitting on the steps, chin on her hands and watching his approach, doing her very best not to spring off the steps and hug him breathless like some - foolish girl. Or something like that.

She has dignity, right? Right?

[sweariwontdie]

His eyes go to her. She's not unfamiliar--he's seen her in the intervening time, but not here. He can't help grinning though. "I thought I saw a scruffy looking witch around here somewhere. Are you she?"

[glacianbitch]

She can't help the grin that spreads over her face. "I'm not that scruffy looking," she protests, and then can't quite stay sitting down, and hops up to go - well, not quite attack hug, but it's definitely a glomp.

"You're here!"

[sweariwontdie]

He hugs her tight. "You are one of the people here who isn't supposed to be surprised. I thought you sent Lucivar to fetch me?" He kisses her cheek too.