Setting the patient wolves among the sheep

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien looked over the invitation again.

Dear Honoured Guest
You are Cordially invited to Our Moving onward and upward Party to celebrate our intention to move from our old house to get a fresh start on greener pastures ...

That line never failed to garner a laugh from Lucien it was a well known fact among the upper-class that they were at risk of losing the house that their family had held for a generation. This was not a movement to greener pastures this was a flight from foreclosure. everyone knew but in the typical fashion of the upper-class they were all pretending it was otherwise. The stench of dishonour was there but the collective nobility was looking away. Not Lucien though.

... We will therefore be holding a ball and auction to get rid of some old pieces of furniture that we can't envisage finding a place in our new home...

Of course meaning, 'we have no room for the treasures our family has accumulated over a lifetime and they might help us not go into bad debt' . It would usually sadden Lucien to see such a proud house fall but not this time. This time he was proud, for he had been the architect of their ruin in that he quickened the inevitable to such a rate that they couldn't prepare. He had cut the throat of their family business and bought up their debt and now he would thrust them fully into the river Styx as it were. This was going to be a fun night.

Of course the purpose of the whole endeavor was to get [member="Lucien Shorn"] some much needed revenge. The boy seemed a crummy actor though so he couldn't know exactly what the revenge was to be or his reactions would not be natural. Lucien feared it was perhaps a little early to be taking Luce to a high society event, after all the stain of the working class wasn't quite washed off his character but time waited for no man so it would have to do.

He had bought Luce a new look from the finest team he knew of but wether it would be enough was yet to be seen.

 

[Lief]

The dreaded hour had come, and though Luce had spent all afternoon mentally preparing himself he still didn't feel ready for the task ahead. How could anyone look their greatest demon in the face, someone who reflected all of their own self-loathing back at them, and not go insane for at least a moment? Only the promise of information concerning the greatest mystery in his life was enough to keep him from dropping the idea of attending all together. He wanted to hide out in his room and forget all about Lars and the sordid events surrounding his demise. Kriff 'em all, what stupid children they had been messing around with lightfoils.

And so the summons had come. Luce dressed in the finery they had acquired earlier, though some of the more subtle details would require the ever vigilant gaze of his Godfather to perfect. Staring at himself in the mirror, Luce could not help but frown. He was unimpressed with the face which stared back; it was that of a killer, a pathetic little boy who had professed his guilt to the world the moment he fled. Of an orphaned boy so unstable that he had been told countless times he would not be able to handle the truth about his parents. Oh how he vehemently loathed his own reflection. It took all his will not to smash the mirror into a thousand pieces.

But no, he had to be on his best behaviour this evening.

Descending the stairs into the foyer, Luce glanced around for his namesake. After all, he had yet to do up his tie and wanted to make sure he did not mess it up. He was attending as Lucien's plus one, which meant absolutely everything he did reflected on the man... Including the way he chose to look. He wanted to call the whole thing off, but the words became lodged in his throat. Instead he stood as pale as a sheet, just about managing to quell the shaking of his hands. He just wanted the whole thing over already.

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Rising from his chair in the livingroom. It was time to Check that [member="Lucien Shorn"] had not committed any deadly faux pas with regard to his attire, formal wear could be quite difficult and Dranok was still learning the intricacies himself however it seemed with the exception of the tie they had muddled through to an acceptable standard. He did tut however at the fact that neither Boy or Valet could tie a bowtie. What sort of Private school had he sent his god-son too. It seemed one that only taught 'common' subjects. Then again maybe Peasantry suppression and dress etiquette were final year subjects and Luce left to become a ... well lucien didn't really know what, before he'd got that far.

None the less Lucien tutted and the bow tie began to tie itself. The perceptive in the room would note that it was Lucien's doing by his slight hand gestures as they sat at his side and the slightly furrowed brow. Since lucien was perceptive he noted that his godson looked Pale and trembly. Nerves , a peasant's emotion ill fitting in a man of Luce's social standing. Yet something further that he would need to fix before they could leave. "Dranok Help Darien (Lucien was not about to give a seven year old alcohol) Lucien to a chair he looks unwell" Lucien ordered then stepped back into the Main sitting room.

He returned a short time later with a glass of what looked like water. Water it was not, this was the sort of beverage people spiked punch with ... not that Lucien did, if he was going to do it he would do it with proper poison. He handed the glass to Luce "This will help, drink it ... mind that you do it all in one though or you'll regret it" Was it immoral to give a boy of sixteen alcohol so strong it could put down a concrete elephant heart and stomach? yes but it would also knock all the pesky feelings out and that was the important thing. Once lucien the younger had drank the fluid the older Lucien nodded "Give him a secound then bring him to the car, if he throws up make sure he keeps it off the rugs and himself" Then he left

Godfather of the year Ladies and gentlemen .

 

[Lief]

Luce watched as the older of the two stepped into the hall and tutted at the sight of him. Had he done something horribly wrong? Then he felt the tie beginning to knot itself and he peered down curiously. Oh, he'd completely forgotten about that! How silly of him. "Sorry, Sir, I meant to get to that" he said, with a subtle tremor to his tone, before Lucien ordered him into a seat. The slave which had been put in his service led him to a chair and Luce sat without complaint, it felt good to get off such weak legs.

When his Godfather returned with a glass of what appeared to be water, Luce felt highly grateful. A refreshing drink would do him good, he knew. However, at the talk of regret Luce rose one eyebrow in wonder, curious as to why exactly this could be. Cautiously he lifted the glass, however he could discern no scent. Maybe it really was water.

Tipping back his head he downed the contents in one gulp... And sucked in a sharp breath. The back of his throat burned and he had a hard time keeping it down. Luce had drunk alcohol before, infact he was about to do the very same when Lucien had found him on Nal Hutta, but this was something else. Finally getting enough air in his system to cough, Luce leaned his head into his hands and gave himself a moment; his head was swimming and his eyelids felt particularly heavy.

He felt Dranok anxiously waiting at his side and got to his feet, remembering that they had somewhere to be. The whole room span for a moment, and he reached out to grasp the shoulder of the slave for support. Blinking several times the room finally came into focus, so he made his way out of the household and down the lawn toward where Lucien was waiting. A fine sight he must've been, it was a wonder he wasn't tripping over his own feet right now!

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien rolled his eyes as his godson stumbled his way down the lawn ... Anyone would have thought the boy had just been pressed to drink a large shot of the strong stuff. "Back straight Lucien you aren't on the Nal Hutta strip now" He called.

That was the first Mark of a real gentleman and the last one to be noted. Even when paralytic a true gentleman could look sober as a judge. [member="Lucien Shorn"] would learn that eventually and indeed given his father should have a genetic advantage. Mikhail was always drunk on something and it seemed after many years that trait had rubbed off on his pupil. Lucien was a closeted alcoholic he bet Mikhail would be so proud.
Once Luce was sufficiently near to the speeder Lucien nodded to his chauffeur who opened the door.

"Take a deep breath then get in ... Throw up in the car and I'll make you walk" He said as if Luce had chosen to drink underage. Once they were both in Lucien nodded to his driver then raised the partition and the vehicle set off. For the evening all of the indications that this was a car belonging to Lucien Cordel had been removed. "Now Darien Lucien (You will learn eventually) for tonight you are not to let slip that I am Lucien Cordel ..." His name would after all be dirt to their hosts for the evening "I will be posing as one Mr. Ostro Pincance, a recently deceased friend ... you are for tonight permitted to talk down to me for I will be posing as the banker doling out your inheritance ... don't abuse that too much though" Tonight was going to be a long night if Luce decided to be too big a brat.

"Are you feeling better?" he added almost as an afterthought.

 

[Lief]

He heard Lucien calling to him from across the driveway and couldn't help but frown. Back straight? He could barely keep his body upright, let alone straight! And the reference to Nal Hutta left a considerably bitter taste in his mouth, weren't they supposed to be moving past that incident? Still, somehow Luce made it to the speeder in one piece, even managing to straighten up a little, not that it would've made much of a difference, he looked like death incarnate.

Inhaling slowly, Luce allowed his head to clear for a moment before settling into the back seat and running a hand up through his hair. He felt a little jittery, as though his whole body was shaking, although thankfully it wasn't. The air had helped so he opened the window just a crack and flooded him with further cool air. Lucien made some sort of threat about throwing up, and the young Shorn simply nodded his head.

Then came quite the interesting topic. Lucien's identity for the evening. He couldn't be known as Cordel? How strange, Luce just hoped he didn't slip up at all. "Yes, Sir" he managed, his voice surprisingly strong given how he felt, "I'll behave" he said, there was a tiny bit of Luce who wanted to see how far he could push this liberty but... He'd had enough bad luck in the past, it wouldn't do to force the hands of fate any further than he already had.

"I feel... Good," he said, barely keeping back a grin. It was true, it was as if all his worries had simply melted away. Even the reminder of who would be there tonight had been dulled down. He felt like he could take on the Galaxy!

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Scandal was never forgotten. Forgiven yes but never forgotten, for forgotten scandal had a habit of reappearing to spear Nobles in the back at inopportune times. Scandal of a criminal nature was the most inconvenient and thus Lucien would never move past it.

He was pleased to see Luce looking better, well more proper anyway. They sat in silence for the most part, Lucien was busy plotting and Luce was likely busy staying upright. In hindsight perhaps alcohol had not been a good idea Luce was it seemed was rather a lightweight. Disappointing trait in a godson ... Lucien pondered whether there was a humane way to raise alcohol tolerance. Forcing a 16 to drink was whilst effective also dangerous and immoral.

They pulled up outside the house of Lucien's latest victims. Their fond farewell to the gilded class. Lucien turned to his godson "we are here, Remember smile and be friendly raise them up and I guarantee there fall will be legendary" Then he made to get out, for the first time in a decade without having his door opened for what banker but Cordel employed a driver anymore, The chauffeur was moving to luce's side just before the door opened lucien lent back over "Don't mess this up ..."

[member="Lucien Shorn"]