dizzy_land | closed rp, Beaufort and Percy.

Entry tags:

beaufort,
percy

closed rp, Beaufort and Percy.

After being seemingly possessed by the spirit of piracy and violence, whilst seemingly forgetting his inability to use any kind of weapon, Beaufort thought it better to stay indoors. Especially after that new doctor took the trouble to laugh at his misfortune in French (which, admittedly, led to some sarcastic comments about the Swiss), he didn't particularly feel like being social. For at least a week or so, his desire to not be ridiculed further by certain people was winning over his desire to go and apologise for his impropriety. If you could class drawing a sword on someone as impropriety.

However, he did eventually find the nerve to go and knock on Percy's door, and for once, was hoping he, and not Marguerite, was in instead of vice versa. There was a lot of explaining that needed to happen, but there was a lot he felt he had to say too. Before he lost the chance to say what he had so foolishly got into a proper fight over.

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Percy had been in bed. He spent a lot of time in bed lately, but usually Marguerite was with him in such cases. This time however, when Beaufort came knocking at his door, Margot had left to do something within the confines of the Park. Groggily Percy sat up and got dressed, swaggering to the door and wondering who on earth it could possibly be. Perhaps one of his friends - but it was usually he who sought them out and not the other way 'round.

He pulled open the door and could not contain his surprise - nor his disdain. "Monsieur," he said dryly. "Forgive me, but the lady is not at home. Try back at another time."

Beaufort should have expected that, to be fair, but he normally made sure Percy had left before even attempting to talk to Marguerite. It was just more sensible that way. "No, monsieur, I came to talk to you, actually. If that is not inconvienient." He did notice that he had clearly woken the man up, and thought now would not be the best time.

Percy very much had to pause and consider whether or not the man was being sincere - and if he was, whether it was indeed inconvenient or not. He was a fair man though, even to so-called adversaries, and so he nodded his head. "Not at all, monsieur. Do come in." He pulled open the door wider and stepped back to allow Beaufort to come into his little renovated giftshop.

Beaufort smiled, because he understood why Percy would refuse to talk to him, even if it was convienient. He entered and glanced around the gift shop, not too critically, as they were all stuck in similar circumstances, after all. "I...well, first and foremost, I came to apologise for, clearly, taking leave of my senses and even saying those things, let alone acting upon with them." He fumbled awkwardly with the bandage still wrapped tightly around his right hand, feeling rather foolish, if not stupid. "I hope you will understand it was more the park's doing than out of my own volition."

Percy nodded and went about finding something to offer the man. A drink of water, perhaps. He was still a host after all, albeit a reluctant one. He paused in his search though when Beaufort started off by apologising, and it was then Percy noticed the bandaged hand. He looked reasonably apologetic himself.

"This has not been the first time the Park has warped my own sense of judgment and free will, monsieur. I assure you, I do not hold you in judgment for your actions those days." He added with a bit of a grimace, "and I am very sorry about your hand."

He nods, a little distracted by things he's considering saying, considering apologising for, as nothing past this point is as safe ground as his first apology. "My hand is not important. It's my own fault for even attempting to use a sword. I got thrown out of fencing after one lesson." He shrugs, as it's painfully obvious that he's clumsy, and he learnt long ago not to bother being embarassed by it. "However, there's other things I should apologise for. If you're prepared to listen."

"Clearly it is not your fault for attempting to use a sword," Percy then argued, but it was gently as he was not about to really fight the man over something like this. The point was the Park had used them both, but if the Frenchman wanted to fault himself then Percy was not about to correct him again.

"I am prepared to listen. I've invited you into my home, have I not?" He crossed his arms and leaned against a counter that he could not remove from the space inside his makeshift home. He was intrigued by the whole prospect.

Beaufort took a deep breath and looked Percy right in the eye, because he wasn't going to get this wrong, or clumsily fumble over it. He felt he had to do this, especially because he was about to say a lot of things which would be much more aggressive than these apologies suggested. "I will admit that I...did covet your wife for quite a long time. And I apologise. But your wife's a good woman and never even considered that fact. I will also admit that I expected more resistance from you, but perhaps you were oblivious of that fact. I just wanted to be clear about everything, and make it perfectly clear that I do respect your marriage and if it did concern you, which I thought it would have, it need not concern you any longer."

Ah ha. So a general apology was that man's aim. Not without hinting at how very close he had come to obtaining Marguerite, of course. Very interesting indeed. Percy had considered playing the fool here, which would not have surprised Beaufort, but Percy was always a fan of continously confusing people.

"Actually, I was well aware of the fact that you rather fancied my wife. After all, you would not be the first who was so easily charmed and captivated by her. It was not that I was oblivious, monsieur, it was more personal than that. Now the Park is very...tricky, and usually these little parts we are forced to play have some actual truth to them in the end." Percy was walking about the small area of his home while he spoke, very casually coming to his point. "So when you said that I didn't deserve her, even if it was spoken on that day we were all swashbuckling for no apparent reason, there had to have been some truth to it."

"And sir, you were right. I was undeserving. Entirely. Lord knows why the lady decided to stay with me, but she has made her decision. Your presence didn't concern me, sir, but don't mistake me. I appreciate this, monsieur."

Beaufort blinks. Did he just pull a politician's trick on him and second guess his point, then make it back to him? There's something to this Percy he's clearly missed, because he really did not see that coming. He was, after all, going to say exactly that, but in more polite and diplomatic terms than he had done with a sword in his hand. "If you know you are undeserving, sir, why do not seem to make any effort to be more deserving? Forgive me for only making observations from a distance, but it seems...rather out of sorts." After all, he put so much effort into making sure he was good enough for Vivienne. Not that it was a particularly good example.

Percy caught the surprise and was pleased with himself, but silently so. "Your worry for Marguerite is touching." It was sincere, or as sincere as he could be with the man. Margot seemed to like him and value Beaufort's friendship, and so he couldn't really be terrible to him. "I can only assure you that I am trying to be deserving. I cannot prove to you that I am a better husband, a better man for Marguerite. You only have my word."

Beaufort bit back a retort of but I don't trust your word, and attempted to find a more polite way of phrasing it. He was also unsure of how sincere Percy was really being. Everything was a little more confusing now that he had been...surprisingly insightful. "Why, exactly, should I take your word for it, though? For all I can see is you have been rude and impolite to me from the outset, at least, at first, with no particular reason."

"Monsieur, there is a long history that I couldn't possibly go into with you. If you truly care for Marguerite, you'll just have to trust her judgment." It was as simple as that. Percy had no intention of telling him why he acted the way he did. "I'm not saying to trust my word, especially seeing how much we dislike each other, monsieur. I'm saying trust the one you care for, yes?"

Beaufort pauses awkwardly and is not quite sure where to go from there, "I trust her judgement. However, I am also aware that sensible judgement is often lost in matters of love." He knew that one first hand and it was well beyond what he should question, but he was a little sceptical of that too, by this point.

"Well, Monsieur Beaufort," Percy then declared, "if her sensible judgment does come back to her, she is more than welcome to run into your arms."

Beaufort scowled a little, "That was not entirely my point, Mr Blakeney. I was more saying you should take nothing for granted, sir."

"What makes you think that I'm taking her for granted?" He raised his brow and smiled quietly. "Public life can be very different than private life, monsieur."

"If you thought I was unaware of that..." Beaufort breathed in carefully, as he was running out of ways to express what he thought without sounding...wrong. Not that he took this to mean that he was wrong. "But to be honest, the fact for a long time, I spent more time with her than you did. That, I don't quite understand."

"Not that I have good reason to explain myself to you," Percy said with a nod of his head, though he did not sound very off put. "My wife and I had our reasons, monsieur. I thought she very much loathed the sight of me, and I had my own reasons for the estrangement. I shall not go into details, though I wonder how much she told you."

"Not that you do, sir, not at all. But in that sense, you also cannot blame me for making certain assumptions, no matter what she did, or did not tell me." He was vague sure. He did vague well.

Percy put his hands on his hips and stared at the Frenchman. "No," he said through pursed lips. "No, I cannot blame you. Tell me, monsieur, if you worry about my relationship with m'wife, and yet you tell me that I should have no more concern about your intentions, why are you here exactly?"

Beaufort considered this question, as he hadn't really expected it. Why was he here? "Because, there were a lot of things that I felt like I had to say, but perhaps it was not a good idea to say them whilst I...at an earlier point. I suppose I'm raising these concerns now in order to clear the air, so I can leave this be without thinking there are many things I still need to say."

"Well, have you accomplished this, Monsieur Beaufort?" Again, he was sincere. If the man had thought enough to speak to him, he might as well be a little considerate. Marguerite thought well of him. Really, besides being 'competition', Percy had no real ill will towards him.

"To a large extent, yes, I have." He swallows hard, because he's particularly sure that saying something, as was quite usual, didn't get him very far at all. "Although, I'm intrigued, sir, why do you play the fool? You're clearly much more insightful than first appears."

Percy leaned his head to the side and thought quietly to himself, toying with that quizzing glass hanging around his neck. "Sir, I can do no more than answer that is it a coping mechanism. I wear a mask to protect myself, that is all."

He dropped the quizzing glass and sighed very softly. "We all wear masks, do we not?"

"Oui, bien sur." There is one thing which Beaufort still feels the need to ask about, "I am still curious, though, what on earth do you need to hide yourself from here, of all places?"

"Habit, I suppose," Percy replied, the very hint of a smile on his face. It kept things interesting as well, but he wasn't about to admit that out loud.

"Seems like the sort of habit most people would be quite happy to have an opportunity to break." Beaufort noticed the slight change in expression in his face, otherwise he would have let it go.

"Ah, but it's a very strong habit, monsieur," said Percy. "I am attempting to change my ways, sir, rest assured."

"Strong habits aside, I do not wish to be...at odds with you any longer, sir, which I suppose was my real purpose in coming here and talking to you." He had no real interest in having the Englishman angry with him.

Fair enough, thought Percy. With a gentle nod of his head he extended his hand to the Frenchman, "I don't wish it either. A truce then."

Beaufort extends his hand briefly, then looks at it and realises that it will probably hurt. Quite a lot. So he switches to his left and gives Percy a slight smile, "Do you mind? I...yeah, that's not pleasant."

"Oh, my good sir, not at all" Percy said after a slight awkward pause. He smiled as well and switched hands, grasping Beaufort's good extended hand and shaking it firmly. "A truce then."

Beaufort shook his hand and nodded, "A truce indeed. I'd invite you to drink to it, but alas." Well, that was one peace made in his life, at least. If a relatively minor one.

"Alas. Perhaps a ride on the teacups sometime then," Percy replied, laughing quietly as he withdrew his hand.

Beaufort laughs slightly, as he knows that'll only end with him flat on his face. "Perhaps, yes. Or maybe just coffee."

"Coffee, coffee sounds...splendid. Just splendid." He smiled a bit more naturally, having felt better about the whole situation. Yes, this could be very good, he decided. "Well, you must forgive me, Monsieur Beaufort, for I am not yet dressed for the day and must excuse myself."

Beaufort nods, "Very well. I shall see you at some point soon for coffee, non?" He smiles and makes to leave, feeling much better about the situation.

"Oui, you shall, monsieur." Percy half bowed at the waist and smiled gently, opening up the door for Beaufort and seeing him off. "Take care, sir."

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closed rp, Beaufort and Percy.

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