Men and Cousins [ 5/6 Darton x Thomas, C ]

[Sir Darton de Lac]

Seeing Thomas at the masque reminded Darton he had not taken the time to properly welcome his cousin to Triadon and to inquire after his health, family and ambitions. It was time to rectify that; they were cousins, albeit distantly, though he'd always managed to get along with Thomas over the majority of those who bore the name de Lac. Perhaps it was thanks in part to their shared appreciation for the arts of war and the skills of the swordsman.

Word was that his cousin had been seen having words with the St. Claires, piquing his curiosity. Oh true, he knew his cousin's mother had a beady eye on the Dukedom of Twinport for her son, but Darton was familiar enough with Daven St. Claire to know that was none too likely to occur, especially with the pearl of hidden knowledge he held courtesy of Riordan. That knowledge was part of what urged him to request a meeting with Thomas, the better to gauge where the younger man's head was at and where his ambitions were set. If they were something Darton could prove of assistance with, he would.

For now, he stood in the gardens, a man taking his ease. Dressed casually in a loose-fitting doublet and shirt, breeches and boots, he opted to forego a hat, preferring the sun on his head as he waited, occasionally bowing politely to a passing lady or one of the Councillors on their way to a meeting of their own with the King and Riordan. He was relieved not to be included in that.

Darton was a man who preferred the sword to the council chamber.

[Lord Thomas de Lac]

In the back of his mind, Thomas remembered that his relative was in Triadon, although his training kept him so focused that it was difficult to concentrate on anything else. This soon changed after his meeting with Vivianne and the new quest he had with his cousin Julia. He wanted to help his country and house however he could and if that meant sacrificing his life, he was more than willing to do so. He assumed that Darton would be all for Thomas going to find the smugglers and bring them to justice.

He preferred not to know what his mother had planned for him and hoped that it would not interfere with his own plans to have his skills recognized. Being the best swordsman required work, opportunity and luck, so he hoped that now Lady Fortune was on his side.

After receiving the word from his cousin, Thomas headed over to the gardens to meet Darton in good spirits. While he had no idea what Darton wanted from him, perhaps at the end Thomas could suggest a duel. He had his sword by his side as he always did outside and despite his slight soreness from training, he wanted to test himself against another opponent.

A figure ahead of him had to be Darton and Thomas walked closer to him before offering a greeting. "Good day, Darton!" His small but happy smile shone on his face as he held out his hand to shake Darton's. "I pray you are well."

[Sir Darton de Lac]

Watching the young man approach, Darton couldn't help but smile. He might be the black sheep of the de Lac family, but here was a specimen they could all be proud of. He'd already heard that Thomas was making a solid name for himself with the Guard hopefuls and in the Court. His hand reached out to grip his cousin's, the other rising to clap his shoulder in greeting. "I'm very well, thank you. How are you settling in to Triadon?"

Releasing Thomas, he gestured to a bench that offered a comfortable, shaded place to sit while they enjoyed some long overdue catching up. Riordan kept him on his toes lately, what with all of the changes and schedules involving their guests but he welcomed the excitement so long as it did not get out of hand. There were rumbles of trouble impossible to miss, his ear kept firmly to the ground with the intention of averting any disaster headed Riordan's way before it arrived.

[Lord Thomas de Lac]

Thomas hoped that he was doing everything he could to honor his house and yet he still needed to expand his network and connections. He doubted that Darton was as introverted as he was and making acquaintances came easily to him. Perhaps one of these days, that would change for him. Thomas was optimistic, anyway. He offered Darton a small smile, though his eyes shone with how eager he was to see his cousin.

"Great," he said, "and I am settling in very well. I met an amazing woman." He would have to gush about Vivianne later, if there still was an opportunity to do. He followed Darton to the bench, settling himself in a comfortable position so they could start to talk.

"How is your life here? Have you found good dueling partners or is it not necessary?" Thomas wanted to know everything about Darton's life so he could gleam an insight into that sort of life.

[Sir Darton de Lac]

Triadon could prove overwhelming to those less at ease with putting themselves forward; Darton took this opportunity to observe his younger cousin, listening to what was not said equal to what was said. As one placed securely (and somewhat highly) within the Court, he could smooth Thomas's way wherever possible. It was what family did, and he would be pleased to do this for Thomas. Seated beside his cousin, Darton paid attention to the tone as well as words.

"An amazing woman? You intrigue me, who is it?" Darton waved off Thomas's questions about himself, though he did respond to the one regarding dueling partners. "Keeping in practice is always necessary, cousin, but the Guard is always open to crossing swords in the practice ring. Shall I take you over and introduce you to some of the better instructors and swordsmen?"

[Lord Thomas de Lac]

He respected Darton and hoped that his cousin continued to be worthy of it, because Thomas chose to be unendingly loyal to those he wished to follow. The world had good men within it, although they were difficult to find if one was not an excellent judge of character. For once, Thomas stayed optimistic because this was family.

Vivianne was his secret until now and although he had enjoyed it, Thomas desired to tell someone who might give him advice or share in his enthusiasm. "Vivianne Trevelyan," he started. "She is daring, mischievous, and knows her way around food. There was this onion jam -- I cannot even describe it." His eagerness took a somber turn. "Pray tell, how can one see if a woman is interested?"

His serious musing disappeared as Darton suggested striving for better opponents and Thomas was up for the challenge. "I would be more than honored," he stated. "I wish for nothing more than to duel with the greats." He smiled then, a happy broad smile as eagerness quickly caught up with him.

[Sir Darton de Lac]

Darton leaned back with a low whistle, not concealing his obvious surprise at the name Thomas mentioned so casually. He did not know what he expected, but a Trevelyan was not it. The only name that could have been worse, he ruefully admitted to himself, was de Vere, but the rivalry between the coastal houses was well known. Reserving judgment, he nodded thoughtfully. If a Trevelyan lady caught and held Thomas's eyes, she had to be someone unique.

"How do you know if a lady's interested in you?" The question wrung a smile from him as he looked at his cousin, confirming that Thomas spoke in deadly earnest. Honor, goodness and a measure of innocence shone from him. How Thomas became the diametric opposite of his oldest brother, Darton had no concept, but he wasn't about to spoil the man. That wasn't his job. "Well," he began slowly, "she seeks to spend time in your company, to speak with you. She smiles and laughs when you are witty or clever, blushes if you pay her a compliment. It's in the way she looks at you, Thomas, that you feel you are entrusted with her happiness. Does that help?"

He was no expert on women, though he'd seen plenty of women succumb to Riordan's charms that he felt confident in what he was saying.

[Lord Thomas de Lac]

One was not able to help to whom they were attracted and Thomas thought it was an odd twist of fate that he and Vivianne met in such a place, in the castle. Really, her name did not matter (as long as it was not a de Vere) and all was right with the world. If he was able to show his affections properly to the woman.

He wondered how much more experience Darton had than him, if he was like Aristide at all. Judging by his manner, Thomas had to decline that thought. The man was not so self-assured that he flaunted it and Thomas took that to be a good sign. Listening to Darton speak, he considered what his cousin said carefully. Vivianne had been forward with him, or maybe that was just her physical nature.

"I think so," he admitted. "She seems to be difficult for me to gauge her behavior." Or was that just his inexperience speaking. "She likes to guide me by holding my hand." He flushed at the very thought, quite pleased with it.

[Sir Darton de Lac]

Darton was no Aristide, but neither was he a shy, retiring boy either. Priding himself on discretion when it came to the women whose company he enjoyed, he saw no reason to embarrass those ladies with discussion of their charms. Perhaps it was a kind of self-assurance, or his own brand of maturity, but it was who Darton de Lac was.

Paying heed to what his cousin said, he found it intriguing how Thomas spoke of Vivianne. Had he seen the girl before? Darton couldn't be sure, but he had a feeling she was the sort who did not look to gain attention. Beautiful, but in a quieter way than say the St. Claire girls or Marisa de Vere, he thought. One thing ran true for him, however, and that was Thomas's infatuation with the young lady. So long as Vivianne made his cousin happy, Darton wasn't about to interfere, not knowing how his Aunt could be.

"She likes to hold your hand?" Darton looked over, catching sight of the blush. Oh yes, the younger man had it bad for his little Trevelyan. "I'd call that a definite interest, cuz. And you return it, I see. Have you kissed her yet?"

[Lord Thomas de Lac]

Right now, Thomas needed all the advice he could get from men with any experience. He knew he was sidetracked from asking his cousin to help him in regards with his quest for the Royal Guard, but that came later. He figured that Darton might answer his questions more seriously than Aristide or Laurent, without giving him grief in the process.

His heart pounded quicker as he thought of the woman and knew that was a definite sign of attraction. He had been attracted to a woman before, of course, although had never spoken to anyone he fancied in the past. So this was forging new ground for him and it was terrifying.

"Perhaps that is just how she is," he backpedaled, "and she holds everyone's hands." Once he said it aloud, he realized how ridiculous that sounded. Darton said it was a sign of interest and Thomas wanted to be optimistic, really.

Reckless was another story. "Kissed her?" he asked, taken aback. "I can only kiss her if we are engaged to be married!"

[Sir Darton de Lac]

Manfully restraining himself from the chuckle that threatened to rise, Darton averted his gaze so that the humour did not show. Thomas asked his questions in earnest, out of a genuine desire to learn and be sure of his path. Laughing at him was grossly disrespectful, particularly as Darton had once been in his cousin's shoes. The man who guided him had been kind enough not to laugh, he would do no less for the cousin who did not view him as the family's black sheep. "The lady may be affectionate by nature, cousin, but I feel safe in assuring you that she doesn't hold the hands of many gentlemen." A thread of mirth crept into his tone.

The shocked tone in Thomas's response first startled him, then nearly forced that burgeoning laugh out of him. By the Warrior, how the hell had the family produced two brothers more dissimilar than Thomas and Aristide? And how the hell had Aristide left his brother in such terrible ig.... of course. Veronica. Who else would interfere on such a level? Just one more thing to despise her for, really. Clearing his throat, Darton sought to correct his cousin. In a kindly manner, of course. "Thomas, my good cousin, allow me to assure you that your brothers and I have kissed any number of women without being shackeled to them. You can kiss her without being betrothed. In fact," he nudged him, "I encourage it."

[Lord Thomas de Lac]

Thomas mused over this. As their meetings had been few, Thomas had kept his eyes open for any signs of her afterwards and he had never seen her with another man. Perhaps he was just not looking in the right places -- he liked to think that she was as virtuous as he. "Good," he said with a small sigh of relief. "I have never held the hand of any lady besides my sister and mother. But I was very young."

Darton may not have considered himself much like Aristide, or more likely, Thomas felt so removed from his older brother and any other men that the differences between them were conspicuous. He saw how much trouble his mother gave Ari for each woman he dallied with as well as his parents' marriage. Thomas doubted he was able to leave a woman after being physically intimate with them.

"I know you all have," Thomas stated and shook his head. "I cannot. The line of physical intimacy is a serious one to cross. Once I do, I am giving all of myself to them and I want to ensure I have the right woman with whom to do so."