dizzy_land | Open RP - Percy is a strange (wo)man

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Open RP - Percy is a strange (wo)man

Normally when Percy suffered from the throes of boredom he'd seek out one of the members of his league to entertain him, or perhaps write another insufferably terrible poem to share with His Highness, the Prince of Wales. He'd go to London for a lark or race his yacht down the Thames, scheme another scheme or maybe even figure out another way to sneak into the chaotic streets of Paris. Now? Now all Percy could do was meddle in little ways. He did enjoy a good disguise.

Dressing up as an old hag had been easy, but to dress up as a pretty young woman? Well, that would be a challenge indeed. He had found a dress, something rose-coloured and pretty in one of the shops (he did suppose it was pretty, but the tailoring was poor...and confusing), and had disguised himself well. A painted lady! It made him laugh to see his own appearance. His breast was small and his shoulders were wide, and he looked more like a Hapsburg lady of old than a dainty maiden, but he was fair enough under all the makeup and lace and frills.

Ah, and now for the fun. He left Adventureland and just went walking, wondering who would be fooled and who would just think him completely mad. He kept a fan in front of his face and tried not to topple over in these demmed pumps.

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"It is not aimless if there are such friends to be met with," he said gallantly. "I far prefer such amusements to those the park provides, Miss Roland. Yet there is still more to be done if one wishes it. I, for example, provide legal services to the residents of this strange land and assist, on occasion, with the education of the younger children who live here."

He gave a coquettish laugh, which surprisingly did not sound completely forced. "Too true, sir, too true. I'm afraid I must take back my previous words." Now, now, Percy was intrigued here. "Legal services? Good Lord, sir, what sort of legal services could a person need in a place like this? I feel as though we have an omnipotent enforcer of the law here at times."

"Our unseen captor is not so harsh when one behaves with propriety. Some time ago now I was retained in the interests of two young gentlemen who wished to be married. I inquired as to the legality of such a thing of Mr. Mouse and interpreted his words and actions in the affirmative. Thus was I able to draw up a legal and binding marriage contract for them." His expression was wry in the telling. But it wasn't as though he had much demand for his services.

"In another instance, a small group of men and women had determined upon providing police services for the community without inquiring of the general populace if they desired such a thing. I hosted a Town Meeting - a forum, if you will - for discussing the matter, and their proposal was ultimately rejected. But it was a fine example of democracy in action."

A noble cause, Percy thought with a smirk that he had to conceal. It seemed that such laws in place during his own time were all at once almost thrown out here in the Park, and he was glad for it. He had known men who had loved each other (it was Paris, for Godssakes) and it did his heart much good to hear such a marriage being defended by Mr. Adams. As for a democratic forum...

"I see now. It is reassuring to hear these things, sir, for I had feared that personal prerogatives were a thing to be missed while trapped here. You do a good service to us poor souls, even if public need for a lawyer might be small where there is no law in the first place." Aside from some laws, that is. He smiled and laughed softly, for he was afraid his feminine charm might slip. He wondered why Mr. Adams had not recognised him yet.

It was an unusual cause for John, certainly. The devout man from early New England knew little of such things until he began his adventures, but rationally he could concede the possibility. It was only in practice that it still seemed damn uncomfortable. He certainly didn't look back on his make-out session with Percy with any fondness and he didn't even want to think about the logistics of going any further with another man.

"You have decided opinions about the law for such a young lady," John observed.

Percy would have loved to laugh, but the idea of laughing at his deception was too cruel. John had called him young - he could not help but preen at that. He did like the man though, very much, and wondered if he should make this encounter with Madame Roland a short one.

"Truthfully, sir, I am an odd lady with odd tastes to match," he replied with a smile. "I can appreciate the law for I have seen the world without it. I have no patience for mob rule for it offends culture and civility."

"I would be no gentleman if I agreed with you on the former, Miss Roland, but I do sincerely agree with you on the latter point."

He'd be no gentleman if he said it, at any rate, but John was beginning to see that she was indeed an odd lady. He just couldn't put his finger on why...

"May I ask of this world you have seen without law or do I presume too much?"

"Why it would be your own world, sir," he replied with some reservations. "I do confess that your name is not one that is unknown to me, and the situation I speak of is dear France. She is in grave trouble in my time, sir. The streets of Paris run thick with blood."

Percy thought that he might have told the man too much, but he desired to talk of his own time. He had been silent on the subject for a very long time, and it distressed him. For all he knew the revolution had continued without him and his league had been arrested and killed.

"I am sorry to hear it, madam. France has been ever our good ally and friend." But he was niggling away at details as a good lawyer should. "But if you'll forgive me for saying so, Miss Roland, you do not sound French..."

"People tell me that I have a very fair English accent," he replied, lowering the fan from his face and closing it up in his gloved hands. It was partly true at least. "As you know France and England were never allies, but the ousted French aristocrats have found a home in English society. You see, Mr. Adams, the revolution in France is one fought against their nation and people."

"A situation I am most familiar with," said John looking faintly thoughtful. He was scrutinizing Miss Roland's face now that the fan was removed and discovered that she looked somewhat familiar, though he couldn't place her exactly. For some reason, her face brought back memories of that day with Sir Percy. Hadn't he spoken of revolution as well?

"I am surprised to hear, however, that your aristocrats have made a home in the enemy's country."

((Urgh - so sorry for being slow! XP))

Percy waved the closed fan up and down with a shaking of his "slim" wrist. "England's aristocrats sympathise with those unfortunate ex-patriots of France. The Prince of Wales has made sure the aristos feel welcome in certain social circles. It is an odd partnership, for certain, but let us not forget that many an Englishman was raised in Paris by French nannies."

"Many aristos have been saved by an English gentleman working in disguise. He is the talk of London and Paris, for no one knows who he may be! They say he sneaks into the prisons of Paris at night and whisks the innocent away before they can be executed by the French mobs calling for their heads. No one has seen his face, not even those he has saved." Percy laughed softly. "An interesting tale, is it not? Romantic and ridiculous."

John shook his head in disbelief. He was beginning to feel that nothing would ever surprise him again when it came to the British, the French, or wealthy men.

"It sounds a fairy story," he admitted. "Dashing, though. My sons would enjoy it." The attorney in him added, "How does he know who's innocent, I wonder..."

The paranoid bastard in him watched the lady's face carefully.

"How he may judge the innocent from the guilty I cannot be sure, Mr. Adams," replied Percy carefully. "I suppose he started by saving his friends, would that not make sense? Then, perhaps, after visiting the prisons and seeing the others awaiting executions, he continued his quest?"

"It might be a fairy story. I'd like to believe that it is, for if the Pimpernel really existed he might be the most conceded person in the world. Dodging the Republicans and getting away with his deeds must go straight to his head."

"Or perhaps he'd wish you to think so," said John shrewdly. Though an essentially honest man himself, he understood that there were different kinds of disguises others had and a clever man might hide in plain sight. "But you seem to know much of this gentleman's doings. More, perhaps, than most?"

"Perhaps," he replied, tapping his fan without thought against his leg. "I can imagine that the Pimpernel is a complicated man, if he does exist that is, for certain." Despite how simply he had put things in the past to explain his intentions, he believed him to be deeper than just that.

Percy had to pause before he replied, "More than some. Everyone knows of the Pimpernel, my own knowledge hardly qualifies me as an expert." But then again, he couldn't truthfully admit to that in John Adams' company. "Maybe," he added quietly, barely above a whisper.

He didn't know what it was - the inflection in her hushed voice, her posture, her expression, something - but John looked up and met her eyes directly. There was a long pause as he digested her words, then, "...Percy?"

Percy didn't shy away when John met his eyes, merely returned the gaze with the sort of waiting posture someone might take standing in front of the firing squad. He bowed, "Sir." When he spoke he had no need of disguising his voice, not even with that labourious drawl.

"It is I. Forgive me for tricking you."

John just started laughing helplessly. Eventually he managed to choke out, "You are the oddest fellow of my acquaintance, but lord preserve you, sir."

It was an interesting reaction, but it made Percy smile nonetheless. "If the Almighty does not then no one else will, sir," he replied with slight bow.

"I confess..." John chuckled, but what he wanted to confess never materialized. Mostly he just looked puzzled. "Why, sir? Why parade about as a lady feeding me ridiculous tales?"

Percy shrugged his rather elegant shoulders. "Mr. Adams, I am a strange man. To properly explain my motives might take a whole afternoon." He smiled. "I enjoy acting, sir, and this keeps me amused."

Feeling relieved, John nodded. He'd been somewhat afraid that this was all intended to make him look the fool once more in Percy's presence, but that had been reason enough for him. "I see. Well, one needs some occupation in this odd world we find ourselves in, certainly." Then an idea struck him. "I say, Sir Percy, have you ever acted upon a stage? For the life of me I have read many plays but have never seen one performed. Perhaps you might form a company and do me the very great honor of staging a performance for the inhabitants of the park!"

He was glad he wasn't asked to explain - not at the present moment at any rate. Perhaps another time; he would not mind at all divulging his secrets to John. At the mention of an act Percy became exceedingly...nervous. A stage? Percy was taken aback by the very idea. "My wife is an actress, but as for myself I've never stepped upon a stage..."

But what would be the difference between his own performance and one set upon a stage? He reasoned that it would merely be on a smaller scale, and with less risks. He could organise well enough, and his "people" skills were fair... "Perhaps....perhaps, John, that I just may consider the idea. I may just need your help, sir, if you were willing to give it."

"Have you not?" asked John surprised. "But you're just the man for it. And an actress for a wife as well. Who better? You must be quite familiar with how it all comes about."

A man without any secrets himself, John tended not to see them in others. It was one of many failings. But an endearing one, one hopes, for he didn't pursue the matter.

He bowed and smiled. "I am entirely at your service. What do you require?"

Open RP - Percy is a strange (wo)man

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