Forums » General Roleplay » The Rose Affiliation

"So?" he huffed. "People have been complaining to me all day. You should have just told him do deal with the results himself and not come back." Dropped his head onto his arms, he stretched his legs out in front of him. It was days like this that made him want to go straight home and sleep, but that would only give him another headache. "I can come over tonight. And really, I'm fine. I just tired. My mother has been on my case and I don't think things are going well at home. I should start looking for an apartment..." He sighed again, still not bothering to show any real effort in their the meeting.

Lemon floated in and out of the conversation about the odd boy. However when Yuri brought up an apartment Lemon’s glazed over expression quickly cleared. “You don’t need to do that, you can just use a guest wing in the house” she pauses a moment before continuing “well knowing you there are also small rooms in the servant's building at the back of our property,if you want space” she types her fingers a bit on the desk as she speaks “It would make me feel better if you would stay on property anyways, Just think about it and let me know tonight” she softly smiles. “Speaking of that can we go to my place and you can start your fitting while I have the cooks make up some warm soup and bread because I’m starving” a bright smile crosses Lemon’s face as she talks about soup. Lemon pulls out her phone to text the Bruces to pull the car around to the front of the school. With a yawn Lemon jumps up grabbing her bag and Yuri’s hand as she starts to drag him to the hallway. It was so natural that it took till she had drug Yuri halfway down the hall that she realized it wasn't appropriate. She quickly dropped his hand walking quicker to push the door open. She looks over her shoulder at Yuri locking eyes.

Yuri finally sat up when Lemon mentioned living in her home. Which, admittedly, was a very large home and not some two bedrooms, intimate sort of things, but he couldn't help but feel an instant denial toward it. "Isn't it strange to offer me a place at your home though?" he questioned, even after Lemon pulled him so his feet and started down the hall. She'd already moved on to soup and tonight, but his mind still muddled through the actual possibility of moving out of his parents' house...and into someone else's? It was such a strange thought.

"I'm really not so sure about your offer, but I am grateful for the offer," he finally managed. "I don't know if my mother would really kick me out. Well, she's not my mother anyway. But if it does happen, maybe we can revisit this conversation?" Blinking, he looked own, only realizing that they'd been holding hands when Lemon let go of his. "Um, was there anything else you wanted to say?" he added with a strange look at his hand.

As lemon held the door as she looked back toward Yuri “It's not strange, we have the living quarters for all our staff and there is a few villas they use also, you know keep them close less chance of secrets getting out. However, me offering you a room in the house is rare because those rooms are only for council members, witch you are, But you can choose to stay in the single male housing building too just let me know” after this statement Lemon’s eyes flick up toward Yuri who is staring at his hands with no sign of moving. She glances at her own hand then makes a soft fist “there is a lot I want to say but not right now, I just… We just… Just not now” She lets out a forced laugh and another smile “Now come on I’m starving and Bob is waiting” Lemon pushes past the doors and to the school gates where a sleek black luxury SUV sits.

Lemon climbs in sitting in one of the seats she can feel how close Yuri is everything in her twisted. However, she knew this was not the time, so Lemon just let her earlier words hang in the air between them, she was not going to bring up the results it was just too much right now, she just wanted to get thru Bronx’s mother’s party tomorrow. That's when it hit her she forgot to tell Yuri what the party was. She sighs and rubs her hand over her face. “I forgot to tell you the theme of the party, It's an old school decadent masquerade hosted by Bronx’s mother” Lemon clenches her fist tight.

Yuri shook his head again, but he couldn't come up with a single real excuse for not taking Lemon's offer. He should feel grateful, but he felt a little useless instead, taking help for someone he wanted to one day protect himself. Or something like that. He didn't know where their relationship would really end, but he knew he didn't want to just take handouts. He wanted to earn his keep. "Alright. I'll think about it, but I can't make that kind of decision lightly. We'll talk more later, alright?"

Following Lemon to the car, he stayed silent until she mentioned the party again. He turned in his seat, eyes wide and incredulous. "A masquerade? For Bronx's mother? Shouldn't you have mentioned that before?! Ugh, this is the worst," Yuri added, rubbing his still throbbing head. "I hate to say it, but do I really have to go to such a thing?" Even though he stood up to Bronx earlier, the guy gave him the strongest sense of unease. Yuri didn't fear him, but the logical part of his brain knew that he should. Bronx could easily ruin both of them and Yuri loathed the day that he tried.

Lemon let the house thing go for now but she was partially hurt that Yuri wouldn't let her do this small thing for him. As Yuri stammered over having to go to the masquerade Lemon’s face soured. “Of course you have to go, Bronx is a sitting member and to snub his mother’s event would be a personal sub to him, and right now we can give him a reason to have a vendetta, Plus his mother always has the best food at her events” Lemon twist he thumbs over and over still not quite making eye contact with Yuri.

As the SUV pulled up to the large house a man opened the door. Where the butler Bob and another stern man stood on the stairs waiting for them. The two were quickly whisked down to a long corridor to a small sitting room with a stand in the middle. Lemon lounged in a large chair sipping tea while she watched Yuri getting fitted for a customized suite. To her it was fun to watch the facial expressions as the man chisized Yuri when he moved. Finally, after a good amount of watching Yuri and finishing her tea Lemon spoke up “I picked a deep maroon for the suite to match this” With a flip of her hand a young maid ran over with an ornate box. Lemon’s smile widened as she pulled out a cream bird beak mardigra mask that was inlaid with golden trim. “It's from the French quarter in New Orleans, My dress is gold and my mask is Maroon, What do you think?”

Yuri rolled his eyes but managed to bite his tongue before he could say that maybe snubbing Bronx was a good idea. It wasn't, of course, but he still regretted not preparing an article that could ruin the other boy. After all, he tried to hurt Lemon the same way. "Alright. It wasn't like I would refuse to go to this party, but I do wish I didn't have to. I'm afraid I'll make a fool of myself," he added with a sigh. Unlike Lemon, he didn't grow up with these kinds of parties or lush homes or expectations that could ruin an entire family. He had no idea how she managed.

The feeling only got worse when they were pulled into the sitting room, Yuri prodded and moved around in ways he never experienced before. It left him disgruntled and trying his best not to show it on his face. He didn't think the tailor noticed, but Lemon knew him too well at this point. She could tell he'd become flustered as much as frustrated and that flustered him even more. "I'm sorry, what was that?" he echoed before Lemon fetched the box. What lay inside left him speechless. "You never cease to amaze me. Everything in this world, it's absurd beyond belief. I hope you know that, Lemon. I feel absurd just trying to step into it."

With another flick of Lemon’s wrist the maid closed the box and ducked away quickly. Lemon slowly turned her gaze toward Yuri. “ don’t worry you’ll do fine, I will always be by your side to help you” Lemon let those words linger in the air a moment. “ we all had to take those etiquette classes freshman year and you are high enough your actions will not be questioned, just might want to limit the conversation.” Lemon let out a soft giggle “who am I kidding it’s you, I don’t have to worry about conversation” Lemon crosses her legs as the old Tailor told her details about the suit in French, this caused Lemon to clap her hands several times. “Yuri you are going to look amazing, The old man said You can change now and after that if you want we could head to the garden for a snack before we have to meet Nanna to review some ballroom steps followed by dinner with my father”

Yuri cracked a small smile. Lemon really knew how to encourage him and he couldn't even fault her for it. He wanted to make her proud by living up to those expectations. "Thank you. I'm not sure how right you are about my skills, but I'm glad for the encouragement regardless. You know, I never meant to learn manners for situations like this." He shook his head. He'd only wanted to make things easier for his mother, but he felt glad that it helped Lemon. Now that the tailor had finished he gathered his things and motioned for Lemon to lead the way. "I will admit that ballroom dance is not one of my specialties. In fact, I think I might be able to talk circles around politicians better than dance," he added with a dry chuckle. He feared that even Lemon's tutelage might not remedy that.

Lemon looked at Yuri adoringly as he spoke of his shortcomings “Just don’t overthink it plus you’ll be in a mask so not many people will know its you and it can’t be worse than last year when one of the uncles got so drunk he did the chicken dance on a table” Lemon gave Yuri a soft nudge as they walked. When the two of them rounded the corner there was a large open glass doors that lead out onto a patio overlooking a rose garden maze and beyond that was a pond. A small table sat in the middle made up with all kinds of finger foods. Lemon took a seat at the small table and began to nibble on finger sandwiches and macaroons, while she soaked in the sun and Yuri’s presence. “ I’m more worried about tonight, my father seemed odd” Lemon set down the macaroons she just took a bite of. “He said some new business prospects were joining us tonight, and I would be quite surprised when I met them”

......

Yuri furrowed his brow as he stood next to Lemon, ignoring the finger food himself. The air felt heavy with the cloying scent of roses, making him rub at his nose. It would be strange to wear a mask later, but not as strange as Lemon's current mood. "Your father said that? I don't know why parents can't say exactly what they mean from the start," he added with a sigh. Leaning his hip against the table, he stared out over the gardens. "I hope that you're right and my mask hides me from any shame, but everything you say just makes me more nervous. There's no way anyone wouldn't know it's me, right? And these strange new prospects?" He shook his head. "If you're going to teach me to dance, I think you should do it quick because I have the worst feeling about all of this."

Lemon reaches out placing her hand on Yuri’s “you’ll be fine, it's just a simple event, you’ll get more comfortable as you spend more time in this world, that’s why I think it’s a good idea for you to think about staying here, at least for the summer” Lemon retracts her and while pushing her chair back to stretch as she stands with her back to the lovely landscape. The sun setting over the lake cause a soft glow to form around Lemon showing of just how beautiful her unique features are but more importantly the true kindness that only Yuri knows instead of her cold and distant mask the world knows of her. “You are right we need to head to the west wing to start our lessons” Lemon doesn't wait for a reply but just passes back into the house and down several long twisting hallways.

They arrive and begin the lesson. Nanna was an old crass german woman who immediately put the two of them to work. She used a long cane to adjust them and even smack yuri a few times with it when his posture was wrong, this caused Lemon to giggle and a wide smile across her face. However, the whole lesson Lemon couldn't relax she felt Yuri's hand on her back and the closeness of his lips. His smell washed over her and she deemed never to forget his smell. Finally at the end of the lesson as Nanna dismissed them to go prepare for dinner. Lemon guided Yuri to her quarters. As she entered her room she fell on her old brown sofa. “Well how was it?”

Yuri's lips lift into a smile. He can't help it when Lemon shines like this. It isn't just the sun, but Lemon herself. In that way, she really suits her name. "I'll continue to think about it. I promise I'm not being stubborn for no reason. I trust that you know what you're talking about, after all," he murmured. Trailing after her, he breathed in deep, finding the fresh air more soothing, even if they went back inside seconds later. That was the last of the calm though. The whole lesson left Yuri tense and fighting back the urge to curse. Lemon looked like she enjoyed herself, but Yuri could hardly get his hands right, let alone the step sequence. Only his attention to detail saved him, though apparently, he danced like 'a wooden plank with feet.' Nanna's words of course. How could he help it when so close to Lemon?

When they were finally released, Yuri trudged after Lemon, falling onto the floor with his back to the couch. "I don't know about you but that I thought that was the most awkward thing I've done in my life!"

Lemon laughed slightly at Yuri's words. But the lessons had taken her back to a simpler time when she was seven or eight taking dance classes with Bronx and how close they were but she quickly pushed those down. “Nanna is a lot nicer these days, But you also just listen, Where as when I was young Bronx never listened.He would leave class covered in welts from her cain” With another giggle and glint in her eyes Lemon continues “He is a horrible dancer and he doest have your excuse of not being trained.” Lemon pats Yuri’s shoulder then uses it to stabilize herself as she pushes to her feet. Lemon slowly walks to her closet moaning about how sore she is. Lemon walks in the closet where she digs around throwing shoes and articles of clothing all round. From the closet Lemon shouted “Its smi-formal dinner tonight Bob should bring clothes for you soon. Just listen for the door” It was quiet for a few moments as Lemon changed but then came Lemon letting out an odd grown and shouting “YURI, I'M STUCK, HELP ME” Lemon was quite a sight she was half way into a floor length yellow halter dress with small flowers of different colors embroidered all over it. Her arms pinned straight up and the dress along enough to cover the lady parts. “Unzip the zipper at the top,” She leaned over a bit so he could do it for her.

Yuri winced at the idea of being hit with that woman's cane. Still, it was a bit funny of a thought. "You and Bronx used to be close didn't you?" Things were complicated now, he could understand that well enough now, but he supposed it was different when they were kids. Everything was before the reality of adulthood. He shook his head, letting his eyes close as Lemon went to get dressed. Even without looking, he could tell that she created a mess. Hangers hit the ground, clothes rustling and a few thumps sounded from the closet. He hoped she wasn't always like this.

"Lemon, are you quite-" Yuri didn't get the chance to finish his question before she let out a shout. His eyes snapped open, looking around to realize that she was still in the closet. Doing...what exactly? His face all scrunched up, he peered on only to see the unholy sight of a half-dressed and very dramatic Lemon struggling with her dressed. For a second, all Yuri could do was cover his eyes and shout back. "What are you asking me?! What are you even doing!" Groaning loudly, he peered between his fingers to find Lemon already bending over in expectancy. Seriously, what had his life come to?

Reaching for the zipper, he gave it a quick pull. "Can I go now..."

With a loud breath Lemon wiggles the dress down over her body and zips up the side. Lemon walked out of her closet and witnesses the odd expression on Yuri’s face. This just causes her to have a giggle fit before a knock on the door makes her stop “Your dinner clothes” Lemon whips open the door snatching the clothing from the young maid and with a quick thank you she closes the door back and presents the Hugo Boss bag to Yuri. in the bag contained a hunter green button down and a tailored pair of slacks. “I thought green would bring out your eyes and match my dress. Now change.” Lemon pushes the bag into Yuri’s hands and points at the bathroom. As Yuri changes Lemon touches up her makeup and hair. Lemon knew Yuri to well by now, always making simple things so complicated, how can she just show him that sometimes in this world it's better to just go with it and accept that his position has certain perks. Lemons eyes roll toward the picture of her mother and she mumbles “how did you do it with father? Why aren't you here anymore?” Lemon kisses two fingers as she stands up from the vanity. Lemon walked toward the bathroom door and started playfully whining at Yuri as she knocked “Stop overthinking and brooding …. I'M SO HUNGRYYYY and chef is making chocolate cake tonight.”

The sour look never quite left Yuri's face when Lemon brought the clothes. They were nice, of course, far nicer than anything he would normally wear, but the pretentiousness of it made him feel like a doll. Still, he changed dutifully, fixing the cuffs in a manner that said he knew what he was doing. There was a mirror in the closet as well so he used to make sure he looked sophisticated, folding his socks down, sweeping his hair into order. Only Lemon's knock roused him from his meticulous tasks.

"Alright, alright. I'm ready so there's no need to complain." Swinging open the closet door, he half-smiled at Lemon. "How do I look?"

As the door opened it look all of Lemon to catch her breath. Yuri was so put together and looked like he was right out of one of the soap teen shows she watched. Lemon took a step closer as she straightened Yuri’s collar she then leaned in to inhale his aroma. She was so petie her head barely passing his shoulder and her small frame looking even smaller in the elaborately embroidered dress. After a moment Lemon stepped back and smiled at Yuri. “You look perfect” Lemon held out her hand “well aren’t you gonna escort me properly”.

Lemon held Yuri’s hand tight knowing when she let go she wouldn’t know how long till he would hold it again. As they turned the corner to the parlor to wait until dinner was served there was a tall lean woman with long jet black hair and sharp features. She almost looked like a lioness hunting prey as she glanced at Yuri, but the moment Lemon ran up and wrapped her arms around the woman her features softened for a blink of an eye. “Auntie Lee what are you doing here I thought you were still in Greece sailing?” The women took a sip of her gin before she answered “Well my sister Ming is the new potential business partner, She finally convinced her husband to do some investing now that her horrible step-son is leaving the house” Lemon nodded along politely smiling “Well, I’m looking forward to meeting her auntie but first let me introduce you to my second” Lemon looks over her shoulder and waves Yuri over. “This is Yuri” Lemon softly places a hand on his arm as the other lady glance up and down like she is sizing up her prey. “What family is he from, I’m surprised he is escorting you and not Bronx,” Lemon’s hand tightens on Yuri’s arm “None, I choose a neutral second as to not be influenced by the family’s” Lemon holds back a ruder thing she wants to say and interns just smiled softly but she does however completely avoid the Bronx question. The lady excuses herself after that statement and heads over to the wet bar and refill her drink while talking to an uncle. Lemon leans into Yuri so she can whisper softly as to not be overheard “That’s Auntie Lee, she is my favorite Auntie because she taught me all about fashion after my ….” Lemon’s sentence trailed off but she quickly regained composure and smiled “Anyways, I am happy we get to meet her sister, I’ve only ever heard stories of their childhood and that her sister got married 10ish years back to some half European man with a son, Auntie Lee said her and her sister grew apart as Auntie Lee started working for the families as a collector and eventually becoming the third wife to uncle Bob.”

Yuri held himself back as Lemon went to throw her arms around a rather sharp looking woman, She reminded him of a raven, elegant but deadly. But then, it was something expected in this family. Even Lemon could bare her fangs. He knew that without being a victim himself. Still, something about the conversation nagged at his senses, leaving him narrowing his eyes and giving 'Auntie Lee' an even colder look when she finally addressed him.

"It's nice to meet you, ma'am. I hope we can get along in the future." Despite the politeness of the words, he let his own bit of ice pierce through his words. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way. Thankfully, the conversation ended without casualties though and he smiled, watching the woman leave to the bar.

"Sorry," Yuri sighed as he relaxed again. "I got tense again, so I'm not sure I made a good impression. Your aunt though...she said her sister's name is Ming...?" He shook his head, that sense nagging at him again. It would be too much of a coincidence though so surely he heard wrong. Or it was just coincidence. Either way, he found his eyes trailing back to the wet bar. "That story. Don't you think it sounds a bit similar to the story of my family?"