gabriel l. corner (coverstory) wrote in valesco,
@ 2008-11-12 20:27:00

Entry tags:

Octavia!
Gabriel's eyes bore into the grandfather clock across the room, finding the date and counting. It had been a week since he had found out he was going to be a father, and that meant it had been a week since he'd completely dropped off the face of the earth when it came to--anything. Octvia's invitation could not have been timed any better, and Gabriel used the sick days he'd been saving up to take the week off in Austria.

He should be home. When he had thought about it, because all young pureblooded men thought about their heirs and when the time would come, this was supposed to be a happy time. He should be thrilled, he should be elated. And, to be honest--there was an excitement bubbling under his skin.

It was just being completely overwhelmed by being disowned by his entire family and losing everything he knew.

His shoulders slightly tensed as the door opened, and Gabriel's gaze left the clock to send a soft smile at Octavia. He would apologize for being a lousy companion, but that would mean revealing the reasons behind his nearly forlorn demeanor.

"Where would you like to have dinner?"

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incharge
2008-11-13 03:41 am UTC (link)

Octavia had had enough of London. In fact, she'd had enough of England altogether. England meant things like her uncle, and his constant harping on her about getting married. Or other people like Kirby Catchlove, who were fine for temporary, completely selfish use, but started to become troublesome once things like dependency and irrational feelings arose.

Which was why she found things like conveniently wrapping up loose business ends in foreign countries to be extremely useful. It wasn't a blatant lie, since she did have a business associate residing in Austria with whom she had to butt heads with in order to straighten some things out. As to bringing Gabriel along, she'd had several things on her mind, but the poorly-concealed melancholy the man was in was the first.

"There is that charming cafe across the way," she said, gazing out the window. Octavia turned around to face him, arms folded. "Or I suppose we could simply stay in. However, dear Gabriel, the idea of dining with you while you bask about in this pseudo-misery is rather unappetizing. For heaven's sake, what is going on?"

Except she never really had the patience to be tact...

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coverstory
2008-11-13 05:42 am UTC (link)

His head tilted up and Gabriel watched her for a moment before looking away. It really was unfair of him, to turn Octavia's impromptu holiday into a moody mess. Gabriel pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose as he thought about how he should attempt to discuss this, and found there were really no words that could properly describe his ordeal.

"Has there ever been an instance where you thought you could---" Gabriel pursed his lips, sitting up with his hands now on the arms of the chair, ready to grip his fingers into the fabric when the imminent panic attack arrived. Oh, he was quite sure he was not going to be able to get through this unscathed, physically or verbally. And for this to be the first time he actually voiced that---he was going to be a--

--bother. His nails curled into the fabric and he looked straight at Octavia, "Have you ever been enticed to do something you found morally wrong, but have proceeded to--go along with the actions, even if---even if the ramifications could be---tremendous?"

Gabriel's voice had tightened greatly by the end of his question, but he remained stiff backed and his expression was neutral. If only the rest of his body could hold itself together.

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incharge
2008-11-13 05:53 am UTC (link)

Raising her eyebrows in a carefully inquisitive manner, her mind raced forward trying to discern the meaning from Gabriel's vague sentence. Surely, he hadn't--no. It couldn't be anything about her, for why would Gabriel take the pains to fret over her own troubles? This wasn't the beginnings of an accusation; it sounded more like a confession was about to follow.

Relieved, and with a clearer focus on what Gabriel had to say, Octavia turned her gaze away from his and studied the bleak surroundings from outside the window.

"I'm not entirely sure what you mean," she mused quietly, fingers running lightly over the drapes. "Have I ever done something I'm not proud of, certainly. Ramifications, without a doubt..." She murmured a bit more, more to herself than contributing to the conversation.

Her eyes flashed over to his. "Are you in trouble?"

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coverstory
2008-11-13 06:27 am UTC (link)

His lips pressed into a fine line, and Gabriel kept eye contact with Octavia. He would be able to say this! He would, because he knew in his heart that he was going to deal with this. Eventually. He was, Gabriel knew that he would never be able to let his own child be born or grow up without him, so he knew that he had it in him to push through the tremendous mess he'd made.

"I---yes."

Because he was definitely in trouble. Trouble with his parents, trouble with his sister, trouble with the rest of his family, his friends, his entire life. All Gabriel had ever known in life was to grow up, follow instructions, and be happy doing it. And, for the most part, he was quite willing to do so. He never complained, he never found much wrong with his lifestyle, and when he did, he had always had the opportunity to keep it to himself and let the moment slip past.

But--this moment was going to be with him for the rest of his life.

"I..." Yes, now his leg was bouncing rather rapidly, and he could feel his heart begin to pound faster and faster, ready to begin bashing against his ribs. It even felt a bit darker in the room, had she closed the shades or was it just his mind going blank from everything? "I had---relations, with a woman, who...she isn't of the most...she has a rather unsavory...bloodline."

His cheeks puffed as he needed to contain himself from squeaking, because Gabriel feared, but was rather sure, that his voice was going to take a turn into that tone of intense panic and that was not needed at the moment.

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incharge
2008-11-13 06:42 am UTC (link)

That was certainly not what Octavia had been expecting. Some sort of trouble with the law, or being blackmailed, perhaps. A plea for money because he was far too embarrassed to request it of his family. A scandalous story about to be published by him in his own paper--something a bit different than this sort of melodrama.

Of course, there was a world of trouble laying ahead of Gabriel and his chosen mistress, there was no doubt about that. What Daniella would think--she repressed a shudder. This sort of behavior was simply unacceptable for someone with a family like his.

"I assume this is a problem because you have no intention of giving up the child or the woman?" She had to bite her tongue to keep the derision from her voice. After all, she had been in a situation not unlike this-- Gabriel was lucky it was she he was telling this too.

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coverstory
2008-11-15 04:33 am UTC (link)

"No...I don't."

Saying that out loud was not something Gabriel thought he would ever be able to do. It was probably the statement that he had been fearing the most, but it came so easily once Octavia questioned him, that he startled himself. His grip left the arms of the chair and he sat back, feeling somewhat relieved and thoughtful as his heart began to slow back into its normal pace.

He was sure that he would be having more of these minature panic attacks, but Gabriel was pleasantly surprised at how he'd managed to unknowingly find a way to relax himself. Now, if he could just as easily persuade his family as he did himself, then life would be grand.

Maybe he could at least let himself think it was a possibility.

Gabriel looked over at Octavia once more, eyes narrowed slightly as he thought. "Do you hate me?"

Because this is what they'd all been raised to think and believe, yes? That socializing with those of lesser blood was a sin, and something you could never be forgiven of. Gabriel hadn't ever been completely convinced about these ideals as his parents were not as vocal as some, but he knew that some other family members, and friends, well...it was practically their entire center of life, being a pureblood and only that.

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incharge
2008-11-15 05:19 am UTC (link)

A sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Octavia turned to the window, her hands clasped behind her back. "I don't hate you, Gabriel, there's no need for such melodramatics. You'd be surprised at the number of indiscretions a number of our peers have committed. Intentions to see it through, on the other hand, are few and far-between."

Did she hate him? No, of course not. Octavia did think that the entire situation could have been avoided with a bit more caution on Gabriel's part. It was, however, admirable that he was determined to be by the side of this woman--even though he would be expected to want nothing to do with the tawdry affair.

Nobility, however, did not make the acceptance of society easier in the slightest.

Gazing at the rain-slicked street, she sighed. "Have you any idea what you'll be telling your family?"

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