Post by indifferentred on May 19, 2012 10:50:33 GMT 10
Series: Quiet Affections
Title: Managing Women
Rating: G
Event: 400 word dash
Words: 400
Summary: Part of the premise for this is inspired by the review sesquipedalian gave to my first fic on here - "The Right Choice." So this is dedicated to you... After a trying conversation with his youngest daughter, Vivenne makes Wyldon see sense.
“Vivenne!” Since she is currently engaged in dead-heading her favourite rose-bush, she does not look up.
“Margarry told you, then,” she observes absently.
It is all the opening he needs. “The cheek of the girl! Proposing marriage to the poor lad without even consulting me!” He has started to pace. “It wouldn’t have happened in my day, Vivenne!”
She rolls her eyes and reaches for the watering can. “No, it certainly wouldn’t. In your day, Margarry would have been waiting around for years for Owen to pluck up the courage to ask her. An indubitably better situation, I’m sure,” she adds tartly.
She can almost feel his eyes narrowing behind her, and turns. “You’re mocking me,” he accuses sternly. She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose tiredly. “No, dear, just suggesting that perhaps yours isn’t the only view of the situation.”
He scowls darkly. “Are you seriously saying that I should agree to this… this betrothal?” His fist slams into the open palm of his other hand to emphasise his point. “If I once gave way, Vivenne, Margarry would never respect me again!”
“Dearest, far be it from me to criticise, but do you really think that refusing your permission will in any way gain you Margarry’s respect? I don’t. She has her own mind, Wyl, and she loves Owen.”
Her husband frowns grudgingly. “But what does he think about the whole idea?”
Airily, she waves a hand. “Oh, Owen has adored Margarry since the moment he set foot in this house.”
Obviously, this is the wrong thing to say - he is pacing again. His voice squeaks indignantly as he snaps, “I’ve never noticed anything of the sort!”
“You’re his knight-master, dear, not to mention Margarry’s father - you weren’t meant to notice.” She smiles. “Let them marry, Wyl.”
His voice is almost a whisper. “She’s so young, Vi. They’re both so young.”
Vivenne rises from her knees and rests a comforting hand on his arm. “So were we, once. Give them your blessing, Wyl.”
He sighs and she knows she has won. “Vi - “
Brusquely, she interrupts. “Stop pacing - you’re working a hole in my lawn.” Turning back to her basket of gardening tools, she adds, “If you want to do something useful, hold these.” Obediently, he accepts the pruning shears.
“Mithros curse managing women!” he grumbles half-heartedly.
She kisses his cheek. “Awful, aren’t we?”
Title: Managing Women
Rating: G
Event: 400 word dash
Words: 400
Summary: Part of the premise for this is inspired by the review sesquipedalian gave to my first fic on here - "The Right Choice." So this is dedicated to you... After a trying conversation with his youngest daughter, Vivenne makes Wyldon see sense.
“Vivenne!” Since she is currently engaged in dead-heading her favourite rose-bush, she does not look up.
“Margarry told you, then,” she observes absently.
It is all the opening he needs. “The cheek of the girl! Proposing marriage to the poor lad without even consulting me!” He has started to pace. “It wouldn’t have happened in my day, Vivenne!”
She rolls her eyes and reaches for the watering can. “No, it certainly wouldn’t. In your day, Margarry would have been waiting around for years for Owen to pluck up the courage to ask her. An indubitably better situation, I’m sure,” she adds tartly.
She can almost feel his eyes narrowing behind her, and turns. “You’re mocking me,” he accuses sternly. She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose tiredly. “No, dear, just suggesting that perhaps yours isn’t the only view of the situation.”
He scowls darkly. “Are you seriously saying that I should agree to this… this betrothal?” His fist slams into the open palm of his other hand to emphasise his point. “If I once gave way, Vivenne, Margarry would never respect me again!”
“Dearest, far be it from me to criticise, but do you really think that refusing your permission will in any way gain you Margarry’s respect? I don’t. She has her own mind, Wyl, and she loves Owen.”
Her husband frowns grudgingly. “But what does he think about the whole idea?”
Airily, she waves a hand. “Oh, Owen has adored Margarry since the moment he set foot in this house.”
Obviously, this is the wrong thing to say - he is pacing again. His voice squeaks indignantly as he snaps, “I’ve never noticed anything of the sort!”
“You’re his knight-master, dear, not to mention Margarry’s father - you weren’t meant to notice.” She smiles. “Let them marry, Wyl.”
His voice is almost a whisper. “She’s so young, Vi. They’re both so young.”
Vivenne rises from her knees and rests a comforting hand on his arm. “So were we, once. Give them your blessing, Wyl.”
He sighs and she knows she has won. “Vi - “
Brusquely, she interrupts. “Stop pacing - you’re working a hole in my lawn.” Turning back to her basket of gardening tools, she adds, “If you want to do something useful, hold these.” Obediently, he accepts the pruning shears.
“Mithros curse managing women!” he grumbles half-heartedly.
She kisses his cheek. “Awful, aren’t we?”