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Phillipe

"We could make such beautiful music together. ...And fart noises with our mouths. That'd be great too."

0 · 1,092 views · located in Schafedorf

a character in “Who's Afraid of the...?”, as played by Wyatt

Description

Supposedly from the next town over, this 20-something loser has a special place in his heart just for you and your flock in particular. Which is probably why he stops by your fields at least once a day to talk your ear off about the most inane crap. He can tell you're not like the other shepherdess's and that's what he likes about you. If only you were a little less interesting, maybe he'd finally leave you alone.

Still, when push comes to shove and you're left in a tight spot, he's the only one there who can help you out. For once, his dependability and loyalty can be counted on for something. Not only that but this weasel faced moron is not exactly all he seems to be either, with secrets of his own. still, with that machete in your hands and the plan to take down the monstrous beasts of the forests how could he possibly say no to seeing you in action?

So begins...

Phillipe's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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#, as written by Wyatt
The early morning path was a glorious delight for the senses. Dew strewn fields waking up with a crispness that brightened the air and expanded the lungs. Flowers opening up to meet their God in the sky, readying their pollen sacs for the afternoon release. The semi-pleasant odor of animals, mostly cattle, already out in their fields.

Phillipe was in high-spirits as he walked jauntily on the path towards Schafedorf, his short, skinny legs kicking up the dirt. At his hip, he had the money given to him by his master and in his vest pocket, the list of supplies for the Lord's meals. Most of the time, he got everything in Ammon, the next town over, but as per usual, the little idyllic sheep herding village of Schafedorf had the better prices and quality goods. Only 3-4 miles separated the two towns and normally, Phillipe would bring the cart. But the list was short this morning and the morning was beautiful; it was a nice time for a stroll.

Passing a fork in the road where it diverged down to a certain someone's house, Phillipe contemplated stopping by once he'd gotten everything he needed from town. Luckily, he didn't have to wait, as up ahead on the path, he spotted her. Swiping a hand through his shaggy, blonde hair, Phillipe jogged the distance to catch up to Ada, a confident grin plastered on his face.

"Oi! Good morning!" he said in jovial tones as he came up beside her on the path. "Mind if I join you? Seems we're off to the same place, yeah?" He didn't wait for her to answer, continuing to walk with her regardless. Quirking his nose with a curious grin, Phillipe pinched the edge of her scarf and lifted it slightly. "What are you wearing? Covering your firey locks to keep the boys in town from getting too riled up, yeah? Those scoundrels."

Setting

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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Schafedorf was one of the few places that Ada truly felt she could relax. The small shops and quaint streets brightened her mood when she visited in the mornings, a feeling she now desired. There was quite a lot going on in her life, minus the usual frustrations at home. As she walked her mind wandered off, desiring to escape from the newest dilemma her father had presented her with the night before: marriage.

Although she'd known for quite some time that she was ripe, ready for the market, she had always believed that her father would allow her to choose the hand of her future partner. But last night, intoxicated from an evening in the pub, he'd let slip that he'd been approached by a man asking after her. Apparently the man had seen her often in the town and was interested in having her meet his eldest son. Her brow furrowed. There was nothing she wanted more than to leave this place; marriage was out of the question.

The sound of someone's voice called her mind back. Not recognizing the speaker at first, she glanced over her shoulder, catching glimpse of Phillipe's wide grin. Her head snapped back forward and she released a tense exhale. "I suppose," she murmured in response, knowing that he'd already made up his mind to walk with her. She tried to keep her eyes away from him, annoyed that her quite walk into the village had been interrupted. It wasn't as if Phillipe was a horrible person - on the contrary, he was very good to her.

His pull at her scarf prompted her to swat at his hand, her cheeks flushing at his words. "That's not true, Phillipe," she snapped, frowning. "The men in this village could care less." Her words cast a feeling of gloom through her. At least, that's what she'd always believed. Now she wasn't so sure. "Anyway, it's none of your business," she sighed. "Why are you going into town anyway?"

Setting

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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#, as written by Wyatt
He was rewarded by the blush she gave him in response but he couldn't help feeling this was a sensitive topic for some reason. Not that he could ever recall men truly giving her attention in town, at least not while he was there. Then again, his eyes weren't usually looking anywhere but at her.

"Just getting some vege-tables for the cooks," he said with a casual shrug. "I always get the best deals in Schafedorf, although, Ammon's meat and bread is usually better, honestly. No fault of your townsfolk, what with all their attention on sheep and wool. It's worth the walk anyway for the cabbages and taters." Phillipe flashed a sunny grin and bumped shoulders with her, lightly swerving her on the dirt path. "And I get to stop and see you."

Walking ahead of her, he turned to face her and continued to walk backwards on the path. "You've got to take the sheep out later, yeah?" he asked. "Very boring, sounds like you could use a buddy to keep you company. I know! I could stop by again after I've done with my chores and running errands! That way, you don't have to be lonely! Capital idea, yeah?" He gave her a cheeky grin, blue eyes twinkling playfully.

Setting

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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Phillipe was right about the meat - Schafedorf had nothing on Ammon when it came to it. Unfortunately for Ada and her family, however, the walk and price for meat in Ammon just wasn't worth it. She could walk a short ways into Schafedorf for sausage of a good price and acceptable taste, or spend the entire morning to buy better tasting sausage for a higher price. Considering that she was expected to do both the cooking and shepherding, it simply wasn't realistic to go anywhere but Schafedorf.

She stumbled a little towards the edge of the path as he bumped shoulders with her. Although she wasn't annoyed with the playful touch, she sent him a frown. Compared to the men of her village, Phillipe was straight forward and confident; he wasn't afraid to use tender words and delicate touches. He was strange, a person who didn't exactly fit into the mundane and repetitive features of the plain countryside, and perhaps that was why she couldn't truly find it in herself to dislike him. But her view of Phillipe mattered little if her father forced her to marry the man's son.

The mention of the sheep sent a wave of defeat over Ada. Just one more thing she hated about this place. "Who ever said I was lonely?" she demanded, diverting her tawny eyes from his blue. "I get along just fine by myself," she continued, her hasty speech betraying her feelings, "and I'm almost done sewing Father a new pair of trousers. So you absolutely shouldn't come visit me." She pulled the corners of her scarf closer to her cheeks, not wanting him to see the frustrated expression on her face. Although she'd never told him her true intentions of leaving this awful place, he did know of her dislike for watching the sheep. And while she desperately wanted company, she could never admit that to him.

Up ahead the village was growing closer. Village folk were already bustling, going in and out of shops - particularly the bakery and butcher. The village's pleasant atmosphere calmed Ada, allowing her to release some of her tension in a puff of breath.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. I figure for now, we'll let them take a break from one another and the story will follow her. I can play the elder brothers definitely and the father if you need me to. Unless you already have a plan for who they are going to be.

    by Wyatt

0.00 INK

#, as written by Wyatt
A crooked smile of simple adoration spread on his lips, but Phillipe said nothing. Yeah, she'd be lonely later and probably fed up with the bleating idiots she looked after. She might not want him there now but she'd be grateful when he showed up. That was just Ada.

Whistling an upbeat tune, Phillipe fell back to walk beside her again as they neared the village. As they neared the market and abruptly remembering his timetable, especially if he did want to be finished with his errands by brunch, Phillipe leaned in quick to give Ada a sweet peck on the cheek. "I'll see you later!" he shouted over his shoulder, as he quickly made his way away from her through the crowd. No need lingering, especially if that bold move was likely to get him a smack. Even still, as he made his way towards the farmer's stands, he chuckled to himself to imagine her hot headed reaction. It'd be a hoot for them to occupy the same living space together once he married her someday.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. That works! I was planning to have the potential suitor and his father at the farm, just for some drama; but afterwards we can totally skip ahead to the tending of the sheep.

    by tallyrabbit
  2. and then, of course, to the morning that they're found missing

    by tallyrabbit

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The peck on her cheek caught her off guard. Ada lurched to a stop, her hand whipping the scarf from her head as it slapped against her cheek. She wanted to shout at him, make him feel her wrath, but by the time she'd gathered up the words he was already out of sight. Unable to become angry, to release her heart from its flutterings, she blushed instead. Even with her angry words and rude outbursts, Phillipe was always sweet to her.

Still fuming in her own skin, Ada hurried off to finish her errand. The butcher, as always, gave her a good price for the sausage; he was a friend of her father's and treated her as his own. Once out of the shop, she darted back down the street, keeping her eyes peeled in case Phillipe was still around. She didn't want to see him - at least she told herself that. She picked up a new needle from the seamstress on her way out of the village (she'd lost her previous one in the field), then made her way back towards the cottage. Her mind wandered once more, touching on Phillipe occassionally, on his smile, on the soft kiss. Embarrassed by the thought, she gave her head a shake and pressed on, now within sight.

It was as she crested over the final hill that she noticed her father talking to two men, one with smoothed silver hair and the other curly blonde. She paused, watching their interactions. Who were they? She'd never seen them before, not even in the village. Her father, talking excitedly with the two, must have noticed her down the road, for he called out to her and beckoned her closer. Nervous, Ada approached, her fingers nervously combing through her hair.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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#, as written by Wyatt
After the meeting was finished, Ronan Blanche walked to the cabin, stopping briefly in the doorway to look at his daughter. When she glanced his way, he gave a small nod, his lips forming a grim smile, letting her know that despite it being clear how little she'd tried to win over the horse breeder's son, all was well. It would all be right and she would be taken care of by summer's end.

Over breakfast, Ada's two brothers, Bill and Cam, were informed of Ada's "triumph" as her father was now calling it. Cam, with his shock of red hair, laughed incredulously, his face sobering quickly as he said, "Oh, you were serious? No fooling? Someone actually signed up for that?"

Bill, with his much more dour looks and the light brown hair he'd gotten from his mother, merely asked, "Who'll herd the sheep then?" Neither of them really cared to hear her feelings on the matter instead preferring to chow down on the meal she'd made them before returning outside where they were helping to mend the barn roof with their father.

Later in the day just after noon, Phillipe made his way towards the fields where Ada usually let the sheep roam. Flowers in hand, he slipped through the fence and whistled as he approached where Ada stood. "Afternoon!" he said brightly as he came up to her, handing the loose bunch of flowers to her. "These're for you. And I definitely did not take them from your neighbor's garden when I cut through. Tch! Always thinking the worst of me." He sighed in mocking distress but then flashed a playful grin at her.

That is until he noticed her mood was a bit gloomier than usual. Not wanting to ask directly, because she wasn't usually one to answer those types of questions, Phillipe broke off a piece of wheat grass and put the end in his mouth. Sitting on a small boulder nearby he leaned back on his hands and asked, "When we're married, do you want to live in Ammon or Schafedorf?" He gave her a casual look over his shoulder. "You don't seem to like it here too much, at least not close to your family. But I'll go wherever you are."

It was a semi-playful question. Was he planning to really ask her someday? Yes, once he'd saved enough money to buy them some land or rent some good property. Phillipe didn't like sheep, or have any skills with farming but he wanted to eventually become a butler, if not for Lord Leighton or one of his sons, then for some other Lord. Still, it was fun to play this little fantasy game, just to see if Ada was willing to play along...and to feel her out about the question when he really did get the nerve to ask her seriously.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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It took Ada only a little while to finish breakfast. She'd hoped her father would see the expression clouding her face when he'd come back into the house, but perhaps he misconstrued the heartbreak as worry over her behavior. Even though she should've expected such a thing from him, she had truly believed that after the physical altercation he would be against the marriage. As always, however, his perception of how his choices affected her was twisted in his favor - just as it had been towards her mother before her passing.

Her brothers were just as insensitive, but that was no surprise either. Cam had always bullied her and Bill had always been apathetic towards any matters involving her livelihood. Ada attempted to show her discontent concerning the marriage throughout the meal, but her words were drowned out by the three men. Once they'd left, she cleaned up the kitchen and set aside everything she'd need for lunch in a few hours. A numbness had set over her, making her movements slow and uncoordinated. Marry him?

After completing the rest of her chores, Ada guided the flocks of sheep into the fields. She moped to a large tree near the edge of the field, one whose leaves cast shade in a large grassy circle, and crumpled to the ground. Just as she'd planned, she finished her father's trousers, although the stitching had become progressively more untidy as she went along. The sheep grazing quietly a few yards away, Ada brought her knees to her chest and cried.

Some time later, once her tears had stopped flowing and her eyes were less puffy, a whistle sounded through the air. Recognizing the sound, Ada stood quickly, rubbing her face so the redness around her eyes and nose wouldn't stand out so much. He gifted her with some flowers, as he occasionally did when he dropped by, and joked like usual. She gave him a small smile, but it wasn't reflected in her tawny eyes. She sat back down, thumbing the petals. Would Christoph bring her flowers like this?

Of course not. He was only marrying her to share his bed.

Phillipe's innocent question brought on another spur of sadness. Ada laid back down in the grass, rolling onto her side so her back was facing him. Her auburn hair spilled from her shoulders and rested against the grass, creating a soft halo around her. "I can't marry you, Phillipe," she said, her grip on the flowers tightening. "My hand is taken."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. Such a romantic! lol either way she responds, the plot remains the same as the introduction post.

    by Wyatt

0.00 INK

#, as written by Wyatt
"Tch! But I called dibs!" Phillipe groused mockingly, his voice slightly muffled as he began to chew on the piece of grass. Was it a joke? Was she playing the game a different way? In the dappled shade of the tree, Ada continued to face away from him, her hair growing a deeper shade of red in the shadows, occasionally lightened by the sliver of light that the soft breeze shook over her. Was this why she was so sad?

Tossing the blade of grass away, Phillipe hopped off of his rock to sit closer to her on the grass. "Are you messing?" he asked, suddenly knowing the answer without her even needing to say a word. Crap. He'd known her father was pressuring her to marry someone soon but he didn't think it'd be that soon! He thought he'd had more time.

"Alright, then," he said with a nod. "So, when do we run away together? It'll take us half a day's journey to get out of the county but if we move by night, we can probably avoid detection on the roads and such. I can get enough supplies together by tomorrow night and then we can fly like the wind after everyone's asleep. Lucky for us, we'll be leaving close to the full moon, yeah?"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. he's so cute I feel so bad lol

    by tallyrabbit

0.00 INK

Ada's lips tightened, her eyebrows curving. It felt like there was a giant weight sitting upon her chest, crushing her, squeezing out any hope of ever leaving this place. She didn't answer his question, knowing that the absence of an answer was a clear enough answer for him to understand the situation. She could sense him just a few feet away from her now, could feel his eyes upon her, could hear the gears in his head grinding.

His proposition surprised her. While Phillipe had always been very forward about his feelings for her, Ada had always chalked it up to a school boy's crush; she'd believed that it would disappear as soon as someone more wealthy and beautiful showed up. Was he serious? Would he really do such a thing for her? Doubt swept through her. She knew more than anyone that it was a difficult thing to leave one's home behind, especially when family and friends were involved. He was also a jokester, someone who poked fun and dreamed big.

Despite these doubtful feelings, Ada rolled onto her other side to face him. She curled an arm under her head as a pillow and brushed her auburn hair from her tawny eyes. She gazed at him for a moment, trying to assess the seriousness within him. More than anything she wanted to believe that he wasn't joking with her. More than anything she wanted to say yes. But what of her family? What of the men she'd promised her mother she'd take care of in her absence?

Her mind set. And in that moment, she swore she'd break his heart - to protect him from her; to protect him from his hopes of marrying her, a poor man's daughter, when he had so much more potential for greatness; to protect his livelihood, his purpose, so he wouldn't throw away everything for her. She couldn't let him give up everything for her.

"Why would I ever run away with you?" she asked, meeting his blue with her tawny. She stood suddenly and brushed the dirt from her skirts. "I may not be happy with this marriage, Phillipe, but I could never be happy with you. As if I would run away with you. It's insulting that you would believe I'm that weak." Ada, had hands trembling, tossed the flowers he'd given her at him. "I've humored your flirtations this far, but I'm sick of it. Please don't bother me with such words again." Scowling at him, she gathered her belongings and began to set of towards her flocks, desiring to bring herd them into another area of the field.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. We can continue with the conversation a bit more or move on.

    by Wyatt

0.00 INK

#, as written by Wyatt
Everything went cold all at once as her words stabbed into the air between them. Phillipe knew she could get defensive, knew she probably thought he was a pain more than a prospective lover, but at that moment, her words hurt. But that was just Ada and instinctively, he knew now was probably not the best time to clamor for her affection in an ever shrinking world where everyone seemed to want a piece of her. Being a woman was hard and sometimes he truly did forget how hard it must be for her.

Covering up his wounded ego under his usual charm, Phillipe got to his feet with flowers in hand and rushed to catch up to her before she'd barely stepped out from the circle of shade beneath the tree. "Hey, oi! I was just joking!" he said, putting a hand on her arm and standing in her path. He tried to get her to meet his gaze, hoping that she'd believe him. "I was only joking. Sorry, thought you'd clock to it. ...Guess it's not a good time to be teasing like that, yeah?"

He breathed a laugh and shrugged awkwardly, then handed her the flowers back. "You don't have to give 'em back. Just take them. I don't mean nothing by it. Honest. I know it brightens your day when someone can give you something nice." With a sudden playfulness, he gave her a small shove on the shoulder. "Bloody hell, you're so sensitive. You'd think, after all this time being friends with me, you'd have a better sense of humor, yeah?"

Sniffing slightly and taking a small risk at it now that tragedy had been averted, Phillipe smirked crookedly and said, "But if we did run away together, I'd want to take Lord Leighton's head cook's blue crockery. Just one of 'em. Not because we'd need it or nothin', in fact, we'd probably toss it as soon as we got going. I just want to take it because she loves the blasted things so much and she's always a royal cuss to me because I sneak sweets at night." He scrunched up his nose and shrugged defensively with a roll of his eyes, "Not like I'm the only one who does it but I'm bloody sure the only one getting the back of his head whooped for it."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. figure might as well move on so we can get to the adventuring :) perhaps another post concluding the day or something, then hurry ahead to morning?

    by tallyrabbit

0.00 INK

Ada's heart wailed against her chest. She'd done the right thing, only this time the right thing was the hardest one. Phillipe had always been kind to her; always been there for her; always put up with her dreary attitude when it came to herding. She lurched to a stop when he stepped in front of her, unable to meet his eyes even as he tried so hard to meet hers. His apology stung worse. Although he put on an air of kindness, she could hear it in his voice - the pain.

She didn't want to take the flowers back, but he was trying so hard to break through the awkward atmosphere that she felt obligated to accept them. Friends. Was that what they were? She felt like a hollow shell, unable to understand why he was so gentle. "I don't have a sense of humor," she murmured. "I have nothing to laugh about." Although he was so close, she felt so very far away from him. Why did it feel like she was more heartbroken than him?

The mention of Lord Leighton brought a tremor up Ada's back. If only Phillipe knew how very close he was to the man she would soon be marrying. Oh, how she longed to accept his proposal, to run away--- no. Gripping the flowers tightly, Ada lifted her free hand and placed it on Phillipe's chest to give him a push backwards. "Like I said, Phillipe, I'm not going anywhere with you," she said quickly. "I'm sorry for rejecting you so harshly, but that is truly how I feel. So if you don't mind, I'd really like to get back to the sheep. I need to move them to the stream for a drink."

Her hand lingered on his chest for a moment before slipping down his tunic and swinging back to her side. "Thank you for the flowers," she added, trembling lightly, "but please no more. Christoph will be a lovely husband, I'm sure." Ada, not realizing she'd let slip the name of her fiance, turned from Phillipe and hurried away from him. She gathered the sheep with a sharp whistle and ushered them slowly but surely towards the stream at the edge of the field.

Setting

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Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. It got away from me...

    by Wyatt

0.00 INK

#, as written by Wyatt
The hand on his chest shook him, almost bringing his facade crumbling down but he gave her a breezy look as if all was well and yeah, sure, why not the sheep? Of course. Then all of a sudden her hand was the only thing keeping him grounded as the name filtered into his consciousness. There was only one Christoph that he knew. It couldn't be the same guy, could it?

Not someone he came into frequent contact with but often enough. The son of Lord Leighton's horse breeder, he was a cocky cuss who thought he was hot stuff because he trained the elite stock of horses for the Lord of Ammon. From what he'd heard, he did good work but still, every time Phillipe had ever crossed paths with him, even with no words exchanged, the young groom couldn't let the moment pass without making Phillipe feel like something a horse had left on the path.

No wonder she was in a bad mood, then. Catching up to Ada, Phillipe spent the rest of the afternoon with her, sharing entertaining stories from the manor in Ammon, mostly things from the kitchens. They talked no more of her impending nuptials, nor about any plans to supersede the inevitable. Around 2, Phillipe had to go to get back before the gong. His Master was most likely out of the house for the afternoon but would no doubt be there at dinner and Phillipe would be expected for service. There was no comment on how beautiful she was, even though such words sizzled on his tongue in waiting. There was no teasing, flirtatious kiss on the cheek goodbye. He just informed her of his responsibilities, made vague promises about possibly seeing her the next day, and then he left, walking the 3-4 miles home.

He should have left it alone. He should have minded his own business, especially since Ada had all but told him to leave her alone. In that way, at least. As fond as he was of making them, Phillipe wasn't very good at sticking to his own plans. The name kept turning over in his head, the whole way home so by the time he got there, he'd made up his mind to just ask and see. So, straight away he headed for Lord Leighton's stables. Christoph Heleborne was there, talking casually to the stablehand, his usual shadow. Getting up the nerve to address the other young man, Phillipe approached the pair and subtly made his presence known.

"Oi, heard about your recent engagement," Phillipe said with a smile as Christoph turned towards him with a raised eyebrow. Wiping his sweaty hand on his trousers, Phillipe held it out for the other man to shake. "I just wanted to say, congratulations."

The stablehand snorted and Christoph gave him an amused look but shook his hand eventually, "Well, thank you. It's nice to know, even with all the times I've called you a horse's ass, you can still kiss it pretty well."

"Eh, water under the bridge," Phillipe murmured quickly, scratching at the back of his neck with an awkward finger. "So, I hear this lass is from Schafedorf? What's she like?"

Although he'd seemed to have his defenses up when Phillipe first approached, Christoph relaxed a little in talking of his fiance, sighing in a beleaguered way as he thought over his response. "Well, she's a red head, for one thing," he said in disappointed tones and the stablehand, whom Phillipe thought he remembered was named Stan, nodded his head and murmured in agreement.

"Sorry, what's that?" Phillipe asked shrugging in confusion. He actually loved Ada's fiery locks and the way it always added a glow to her face, whenever she let it hang loose. "What's the big deal?"

"Gingers don't have souls," Christoph answered matter of factly. "Plus, she's kind of ugly, pale faced, invisible eyebrows, and her face just covered with freckles. If any of our kids get them, they're going to live in the closet....little spotted freaks." All of that was a gross mischaracterization of Ada's gorgeous features and it actually made Phillipe pause, trying to remember what Ada's eyebrows looked like. Had Christoph even met her?

"Ah, that does sound ghastly," Phillipe murmured in uncertainty, wondering if Christoph would actually lock up his own children. "But she probably has a wonderful personality to make up for it, yeah?"

"I wish," Christoph shook his head with a grunt. "She's like an unbroken mare; everything I would never want in a horse: untamed, obstinate, unruly, disrespectful--"

"Why are you marrying her?!" It almost sounded like Phillipe was invested at first and he quickly covered it by laughing on the tail end of his words, even still, letting the incredulous question hang in the air between them.

"Father won't stop bugging me about it until I choose someone," Christoph conceded. "He says I'm getting too old, with my good looks, it looks questionable for me to remain single. I'd prefer it because there's no commitments to women, not really, but he also wants to ensure by the time he dies, I'll have an heir of my own already old enough and set in line to take over for me as well. It's an old person thing."

"Well, surely...you could find someone more suitable?" Phillipe asked cautiously. "I mean, if she's so hideous and awful...why not find a dame who's more docile or at least pretty?"

"Nah, I'm done being carted to farms and trotted in front of girls and told not to look at them too critically, even as I'm pressured to make a decision," suddenly it was becoming clearer why Ada was in such poor spirits. "She'll be fine. I'll tame her just like I would any mare that was untrained and didn't know her place. By the crack of a whip."

Both Christoph and Stan laughed about that, and Phillipe quickly plastered a raunchy smile on his own face and nodded obliquely, but all he could think was how he hoped Christoph didn't really use a whip on her. Then again, knowing Ada's surly personality, no doubt the groom would find it necessary in the absence of any love or respect for her. Troubled by these thoughts, Phillipe was shaken out of it by Christoph bringing him back to the conversation.

"It's a good thing the women have to take on the husband's name," he said with a smirk. "I'd hate to get stuck with 'Blanche.'" He cast his pretty blue eyes at Phillipe and asked, "Ever heard of her?"

"Um..." Phillipe pursed his lips and frowned with his eyebrows, shaking his head slowly. "Isn't that what you do to snap peas to get them soft?"

"You've been spending too much time in the kitchens," Stan said in amusement.

"Sorry, then, it's not ringing any bells," Phillipe shrugged.

"Really? She lives in Schafedorf," Christoph continued.

"Ah, then probably why I haven't heard it," Phillipe lied. "I don't go there very often." Except it was practically every single day.

"That's not what Muriel says," Christoph said softly, his face unreadable as he gave Phillipe a direct look. The head cook? What in the seven seas was that woman talking to Christoph for? "In fact, she says you visit Schafedorf quite frequently to see a shepherdess when you're supposed to be running errands or helping out. It makes you late. A lot. A pretty little red head that you seem to have a flame for."

Phillipe felt his guts sink through the floor past his feet as the color drained from his face and he stared at the other man. He contemplated for several awkward, silent moments, telling another lie but when he opened his mouth, it was to stammer, "We're just...we're just friends, mate."

"Not anymore you're not," Christoph said, standing at full height now and even giving Phillipe a good shove in the chest as he talked down to him. "She's mine and I'd really prefer her to be friends with people befitting her new station in life. After all, any friends of hers are friends of mine, and neither of us can afford to be seen hanging around with the likes of you. You'll bring her down when it is my job, as her fiance and soon her husband, to elevate her. So, why don't you take your congratulations and shove it up your arse. Mind your own business."

"Elevate her...? Like a prancing pony?" No! What the heck?! Why did he open his mouth?! The other man had been walking away! What was wrong with him?! The defiance melted from Phillipe as Christoph turned back to him with a stony glare, looking the shorter man up and down with an airy confidence. "I just meant...people aren't horses. You can't treat her like you say you're going to."

"People aren't horses?" Christoph said, trying out the phrase like it was the oddest thing he'd ever heard. "No, they're not. But some people," at this point, the groom grabbed ahold of Phillipe with enough strength to lift him off his feet, "Are horse's shit."

Phillipe flailed and hammered at the fists that held him, even as he was dragged through the stables and out the other side. He couldn't see behind him but he could smell it as they approached; the reason why the stables had seemed so clean today. And before he knew it, he was tossed backwards to land in a pile of horse manure, his buttocks sinking sickeningly into the putrid heap the stableboys had made. And it'd been sitting out in the sun all afternoon, so, it hadn't done him any favors in regards to smell.

Stan and Christoph laughed together to watch as Phillipe tried to lift himself up, only for his hands to sink in and keep him locked in the sitting position he was in. Finally, gagging and coughing, he rolled free, his eyes tearing in humiliation and pain over the horribly strong smell.

"Next time I see her," Christoph said arrogantly, "I'll give her your gentlemanly goodbyes." Then he and Stan walked away, leaving Phillipe there to collect himself enough to rush inside for the dinner gong.

Too bad he was covered in manure because right away, Muriel refused to let him serve, instead urging him to go upstairs and get washed up. It was extra humiliating because everyone in the staff room acted like he was an embarrassment, like he'd just decided to roll around in it for fun. Scrubbing himself with the hard soap and a thick bristled brush long after the water had gone cold, Phillipe decided he'd ignore Christoph's order. He didn't 'own' Ada yet and until it was official, Phillipe would enjoy what time he had left to be her friend.

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. wowza that was super enjoyable to read haha you're a great writer!

    by tallyrabbit

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Phillipe, as kind as ever, stayed with her for the rest of the evening. Ada spoke few words, instead listening as he spoke of and smiled about the happenings in the kitchen. She kept her eyes on the flock, rarely flashing her tawny orbs his way, but when she did she could see through him. She could felt the intense awkwardness that had taken up into the air around them - an awkwardness which propelled Phillipe into telling story after story, as if the moment his tongue fell still the world would sever the bond between them. Even as he was leaving, she could sense the tension built into his body. And as she watched him go, she missed the happy little nothings he always gifted her when they parted.

A coldness crept into her, now that she sat with the sheep alone. By the end of the summer, she would be married. Perhaps by winter, she'd be expecting her first child. The coldness intensified with that thought, rippling a shudder through her petite frame. Ada wasn't fond of Christoph, so how could she... Her cheeks flushed and her heart gave a mighty thump, propelling her to stand and herd the sheep back towards the entrance of the grazing field. She called to her brothers, explaining that she needed to start preparing supper, and they met her by the gate to take the sheep from her custody.

After collecting her apron from the kitchen, Ada trotted to the back of the cottage where the chicken coop stood. One of the chickens hadn't produced eggs for several weeks - perhaps past her prime - and was no longer of use to the family; besides, their rooster had recently tussled with the chickens and she expected new chicks to be born soon enough. She captured the chicken easily, toting it by its legs, and brought it to a nearby stump. Buried in the stump was the tip of a machete, poised and ready for use.

The chicken felt nothing. One clean chop and the game was over. Ada plucked the bird and cleaned it as best as possible in a barrel of water, then set to preparing it for dinner. Along with some vegetables from the garden and some bread from the market, dinner came along quickly and the family sat down to eat within reasonable time. Her brothers spoke amongst themselves but her father couldn't stop talking about his plans for her and Christoph. Her fiery anger was the only driving force behind her hunger.

Just before bed, Ada braided her amber hair into two braids, hoping for them to curl her hair for the morning. Tomorrow was a new day, but it didn't seem that it would be any better. As she lay in her cot, she was reminded of the expression that had flickered across Phillipe's face when she'd touched him. Her full stomach felt empty. Why had she been so cruel?

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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#, as written by Wyatt
Things were busier than ever the next day. No routine shopping trip in the morning, Phillipe was kept in the kitchens to help with things, he didn't usually help with. He almost suspected that Muriel and the head butler were trying to keep him from making his daily visit to Schafedorf, like they were in it together to keep him obeying Christoph's stupid rule. But since he couldn't argue without risking his job, Phillipe kept quiet and shined the silver by himself, even though that was more of an evening job that he and the other footman did together after suppertime.

In the stables, Christoph was helping the stablehands put new shoes on a mare who would be taking the Lord's daughter out for a carriage ride later that morning. When he saw Ada approach, Christoph stood and released the horse's hoof from his grip, the stablehand halting his cleaning of the underside of the mare's foot.

"We'll take a break for now, Michael," Christoph said absently, wiping his hands on a cloth as the stablehand led the horse away. Smirking arrogantly at Ada, he said, "Well, if it isn't my lovely fiance, come to pay a special visit to me." His expression briefly sobered, plush lips grown serious as he nodded his head, "If you've come to apologize for slapping me and knocking me off my feet, then I accept. We'll just forget about your little outburst and rudeness and move on. No troubles, my angel. I'm not a man to hold grudges and besides, you've never had a man in your life who has taught you proper dignity or respect. So, I don't fault you for being a little ignorant of the concept." Then he smiled at her as if that truly did solve everything.

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. oh my god I hate him so much lol you do such a good job with his character

    by tallyrabbit

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Upon her approach, Ada could see Christoph and a stablehand working on the hooves of a beautiful dark-coated mare. She'd never seen a farrier at work, so she couldn't help but be interested in what they were doing, but her interest was cut short as Christoph noticed her. She sidled into the barn, playing absently with her hair, and joined him, making sure that the distance between them was just a little too small for their conversation to lack intimacy. Upon his acknowledgement of her, Ada gave a small curtsy, the movement leaving a bad taste in her mouth.

As soon as he started speaking, mocking her and sneering arrogantly, Ada almost gave up. Every part of her being wanted to spit in his face, to reject his hand and return home to help clean up the carnage from the night before. But in the back of her head, there was that promise: the promise she'd made her mother to take care of them. Her chest felt hollow, her heart numb. That's right. She was doing this for her family, not for herself.

"You are correct," she said and forced her tawny eyes to meet his. "I behaved extremely poorly. I am very lucky to be marrying a man who will except me for my faults." Ada paused for a moment as the blood began to pound in her ears. "My love," she began and, much to her disgust, she sank to the ground at his feet, "a terrible thing has happened at the cottage. A creature somehow broke into the sheep's shelter and slaughtered many; their corpses litter the ground, their blood everywhere." Her hands, trembling slightly, grasped her handkerchief and rubbed at the dirt upon his boots, cleaning them as best as she could.

"I do not know what to do," she continued, the words feeling stale upon her lips, "so I have come to you, my fiance, for guidance and help." Ada lifted her face to look up at him from where she sat. "My family is strong and successful in their business, but will struggle this season with only half of the flock. I need your help... please..." She stood then, coming close to him. Her mind screamed. And for some reason, she desired more than anything for Phillipe, for his gentle words and soft touches. But she had no right to ask him of anything, not after rejecting him so cruelly. No. This was what she had to do. "What can I do to convince you to help spare my family from more tragedy?"

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. Ah, yeah. I do often get stuck on "need to stop writing so that the other person can react" and forget to give my partners enough to move forward with. Sorry about that. I did mean to include Phillipe in the last post but eh, this will do, lol. Great post btw! Love how she reacts to Christoph.

    by Wyatt

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#, as written by Wyatt
Watching her undress with a smug grin on his face, Christoph truly did believe that he was going to get his way. Not only was his fiance a subservient little thing but she was also incredibly stupid. At least, that's what he thought until she was running screaming from the building. He almost laughed as she started rubbing herself with filth but hilarity was replaced with horror as she changed gears in an instant.

Humiliation indeed! Putting away the saddle and bridle, red faced and full of rage, Christoph stomped off to go inform his father of this unwanted development. No doubt by the time he reached him some explanation would be necessary as people stared and talked while the young groom walked through the yard.

Indeed, word did pass quickly and soon even the kitchens were overflowing with the news. "He did what?!" Phillipe sputtered with incredulity when he was told. He was in the middle of polishing Lord Leighton's son's shoes when one of the maids told him the story.

"She just ran out of there screamin' and cryin' that she'd been horribly abused," Wanda said, polishing her own set of shoes for her lady of the house, Lady Leighton. "And it was Christoph Heleborne's the one who done it."

Mind racing and feeling sick to his stomach, Phillipe weighed his options, finally coming to the conclusion that if Ada had indeed been raped by Christoph, right in the middle of the stables, then he wasn't going to really need this job because he'd be in jail for killing a man in cold blooded murder. Actually that wasn't true because unless he caught the groom in his sleep, then there was no way he'd physically best the other man. At the very least, he'd run away with Ada and this time, he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

He was busily entertaining fantasies of grabbing Ada forcefully by the waist and kissing her passionately as a way to convince her to 'shut up; we're going' and fantasies of tearing Christoph to pieces while he napped under a tree in afternoon sunlight, when the maid spoke. "Where you headed off to? Cook said no visits today, yeah?"

"Blasted what the cook says," Phillipe grumbled, finishing what he was doing by putting the shoes aside, half-polished. He did briefly entertain the prospect of protecting Ada's honor by going straight to Christoph and at least putting in the effort of punching his lights out, even if he probably wouldn't be successful in anything except getting his arse kicked. But then he thought his efforts would be better appreciated going to the young woman's aid for she would need his support now. Not only had she been violated but it was likely with the scene she'd made, that there wouldn't even be a marriage to a higher stationed working man. She'd need a friend there to listen and help her, to tell her Christoph was stupid if she needed to hear it and to be told it was going to be alright, even if it weren't true.

There was a brief argument in the kitchens with Muriel, the head cook, but Phillipe didn't stay very long to work things out before storming out in the middle of the debate. He was likely going to be fired. On his way to Schafedorf, Phillipe had an idea to get revenge on Christoph and took a long detour to the Silverthorn Woods. Ghosts, demons, and all manner of monstrous beasts dwelt in those woods and Phillipe knew he could enlist the help of the Hund. A dubious group if there ever was one, it was a loose organization of wolves and wolf-like creatures, all working for various self-interests and some even out for hire. Not very well-known, their prices for service had nothing to do with money but 'favors' that could be collected at any time. Debts were almost never forgiven and only by the highest of the Hund, nameless, powerful individuals who could pass down forgiveness like God's blessings from heaven. To be forgiven by the Hund was to cheat death.

Looking to put a hit out on the groom, as soon as Phillipe brought up the name 'Blanche' to explain the situation, he found out about the hit already involving the family.

It was late afternoon by the time Phillipe made it the Blanche's farm and upon arriving, he ambled up the small path to the cottage. Spotting Ada, he veered off the dirt path and hailed her, "Oi! Ada!" One of her brothers, the tall, lanky, sour looking one, was working to load the carcasses in a wheelbarrow and he stopped to give Phillipe a penetrating, yet emotionless look. Waiting until he was within regular conversation distance to speak, Phillipe approached where Ada stood at the barn door.

"Oi...busy day, yeah?" now that he was here, he didn't know how to broach either the subject of her rape or the information he'd gathered from his afternoon in Silverthorn. "Heard about...the thing with Christoph...I'm sorry, if there's anythin' I can do to help you, anything at all that you need...You know I'm here for you."

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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  1. No no don't apologize! You've done nothing wrong lol I've been kind of wildly throwing out things, so I'm sure that's been crazy. I think we're on the right track now though xD and thanks! I just got so angry haha had to step on him somehow

    by tallyrabbit

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After helping some with the carnage, Ada made a quick breakfast, hoping to satisfy their tired stomachs before their hunger got the better of them. She fried up some eggs in the cast iron, then cooked some of the salvaged and usable meat from the attack. The meal was meager, but her brothers scarfed it down nonetheless; her father, on the other hand, continued to work. Swallowing a few forkfuls of eggs, she hurried back out to see what she could do about the barn door. A few minutes later, her brothers set back to work.

It was then that she heard Phillipe's voice cut through the crisp, stale atmosphere. She glanced momentarily over her shoulder at him, her tawny eyes grazing over his face before returning to the door. He'd heard about what had transpired - at least, what he thought had transpired. She thoroughly and harshly reprimanded herself in silence. Of course he'd heard about it; she had, after all, screamed her way all the way to timbuktu. Now, she should've foreseen, was not at work - not at the estate. No, he was here, worried about her.

"Phillipe, it was a lie," Ada said, facing him but unable to meet his eyes. "Christoph tried to humiliate me in front of the barn staff. He said he would help me if I pranced around the stable like a mare in heat in my drawers." Suddenly self-conscious of her vile state as she admitted all, she turned slightly from him. "Thank you for your concern, Phillipe, but I'm afraid that I fooled everyone."

A wave of defeat washed over her and Ada, feeling more humiliated than she had attempting to persuade Christoph, leaned her forehead against the wood of the barn. "I'm filthy," she said quietly, "and the farm is a wreck. Half of our flock has been massacred and we're the only ones who suffered losses in the area. None of it makes sense." A lump formed in her throat. "Why does it feel like someone is playing with me?" she continued, frustration and exhaustion causing her words to falter. "First the marriage and now this?"

Her hands, sore and splintered from working on the barn door, pushed her backwards to stand straight once more. A deep breath upon her lips, Ada turned to Phillipe, eyes glistening with tears she refused to let fall. "After everything that I've done to you in the past two days, can I still ask for your help?" she demanded. "Is that selfish? As soon as I find out who or what did this, I'm going to make them pay, even if I have to hunt them down forever, but I can't do that alone. Can I still ask for you to help me?"

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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#, as written by Wyatt
Phillipe listened with a grim expression on his face, closing his eyes briefly in relief to know that she had not been violated. Not that it would have mattered to him but for her sake, he was very glad that Christoph wasn't that much of a monster. Nodding his head softly as she explained the barely cleaned up mess, he debated now whether to even tell her about the Hund. It would not be safe and the Hund were not to be trifled with. They were the reason families disappeared in the night with not a peep. They heard hushed stories sometimes of a family that had left town and changed their names to escape the wrath of the wolves only to die at the hands of the relentless assassins.

But looking at her now, knowing that she was asking for his help, not just his support, but calling to collect on his friendship, Phillipe couldn't lie to her. "You haven't done anythin' to me," he said with a shake of his head. He gave her a steady look with his blue eyes and a tempered smile appeared on his lips. "There's nothing you could ever do that would shaken my love for you." Scratching at his chin, he quickly added, "You're my best friend. You can count on me to stand by your side, no matter what."

He hesitated, biting at his bottom lip, once more chewing over whether to tell her or not. "I think it feels like someone is playing with you, because someone is," he said. "I found out who killed your family's sheep." Again he paused, glancing behind him, but the tall brother was off in the distance disposing of the carcasses in a mass grave. "It was the Hund, Ada." He waited for that to sink in. "I got a name for the wolfen who were put on the job, Hel and Morko but they're small potatoes. Just incompetent scum; they were supposed to kill all of the sheep, from what I hear. So, the fact that they didn't but they likely won't be back to finish the job, should tell you about their incompetence. Someone ordered this hit but I don't know who. Even still...it's probably better to just put it to rest and move on. The Hund are not something you want to mess with and I'd be satisfied with knowing that whoever asked for this done is going to owe a really big favor someday. Likely one that they cannot perform."

Rubbing a hand through his shaggy blonde hair, he sighed and said, "I'm with you, though. Whatever happens and whatever you decide to do."

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Character Portrait: Ada Blanche Character Portrait: Phillipe
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She'd done nothing to him? Ada knew very well that that statement was anything but the truth. She'd intentionally, viciously hurt him in order to keep him from being swallowed up in her situation. She'd stomped all over his heart - so why was he here? And why was she still, after everything she'd said to him, after everything she'd decided, asking for his help? Perhaps it was because the idea of him keeping his distance made her uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the way his face lit up when he saw her. Perhaps it was because deep down, she'd always known that it wasn't really the promise to her mother that was keeping her from leaving without a glance back.

The information he spilled forth was unexpected. While the situation had seemed strange, and while she'd had her doubts about the attacks, she'd never expected that the Hund was involved. A shiver traveled down her spine, causing tremors in her hands. Everyone in Schafedorf knew who the Hund were, but many laughed it off, pretending that the Hund were simply made of stories forged by parents who wanted to keep their children from wandering into the wood. Ada knew better. She'd hunted in the wood with her brothers before, long ago; to this day she could still remember the eerie feeling of eyes watching them.

But it was the fact that someone had hired the Hund that made her so angry. What had her family ever done to deserve this? They were poor, always had been, and had never harmed anyone in the village - at least, that's what she'd always thought. Ada's tawny eyes found her brothers talking quietly near the grave, exhaustion painted across their features. While they hurt and teased her, they were still important to her, just as her father was, just as her mother had been.

"The thing about people, Phillipe, is that they don't foresee every outcome of their actions," Ada said, finally meeting his eyes. "It's true that whoever ordered the hit will suffer the consequences in the distant future, but what sort of justice is that? That is no punishment. That's simply part of the deal; they knew their sacrifice." She crossed from the barn to the nearby stump, in which her machete sat. Gripping it tightly, Ada pulled it free from the wood and returned to the barn door. With one sharp swing, the machete sank into the ruined door, causing a large crack to form near the hing.

Ada considered the machete for a moment before turning back to face Phillipe. "I'm going to find out who did this," she said, chin raised and eyes defiant. "And I won't stop searching until justice is served." She admired him for a moment, then began moving towards the cottage. As she did, her hand rested upon his arm - a gesture of appreciation - and as she passed her fingers trailed down to brush his - maybe a gesture of something else. "I'm going to collect a few things, but then I'm leaving. If it is your wish to come, then I'll bring enough supplies for the both of us."