August 31st, 1891 — Theatre - La Travieta

She hadn’t been dreading this per se, but unsure as to what Mister Foxwood remembered of their interaction in the gardens, of the fool she had made of herself, practically throwing herself at him she was not eager for this first meeting.  She half expected him to admonish her publicly for kissing him, or make some comment so that the world would know how embarrassed she ought to be. 

Natsuko, of course, had met Poppy since the incident, telling her nothing of the liberties she had taken with her cousin, but trying to make it clear to the other girl that she believed that any notion Poppy may have had for a future between Suki and her cousin was gone, not least of which because of the deal she had with her Aunt.  Inspite of that, she had no intention of cutting Poppy off, of losing Poppy’s society because Natsuko had behaved poorly with her cousin.  If that meant seeing Mister Foxwood on a regular basis and learning to live with that embarrassment, then so be it. 

Still, she knew this first proper meeting would be hardest, and being stuck in so small and so intimate a space, as the opera box, all evening was probably the worst possible circumstances.  Ida and Poppy had had horrible months, and it was hardly surprising when both had needed to excuse themselves, Miss Valendurs, Mister Chang and Mister Valenduris had followed them to help. As the hostess she couldn't run out of the box without causing a scene, leaving herself and Mister Foxwood alone in the box. Her Chaperone, her grandmothers maid, was sound asleep in the box.

Had it been a ball, she might have, engineered a full dance card – something to ensure that they needn’t pass more than polite friendly words, but the 8 of them in their box made contact unavoidable, and on the basis that it was unavoidable, like any good battle she thought it best to tackle it head on.  ‘Good evening Mister Foxwood’ she greeted, her most serene and cordial smile on her face, hoping to god he couldn’t sense the depth of her discomfort. 

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Dress - Atticus Foxwood

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   Poppy Dashwood

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Gin made something stunning

When Atticus had woken up the day after his birthday, he wasn’t entirely sure if his meeting with Miss Mountbatton had been a dream; it been realistic enough and he could still taste her lips against his, but neither Anthony nor Basil could confirm where he’d wandered off to after leaving them to finish drinking themselves into a stupor. It wasn’t as if he could ask her either, given the awkwardness of the situation (and how would he explain what they’d done if it was in fact, a dream?), so instead he chalked it up to a very realistic daydream. He'd pushed it to the back of his mind.

At least he didn’t have time to mull over it as his ears had been filled by nothing except words from Poppy and how excited she was for the opera; he didn’t take into consideration that he’d have to see Miss Mountbatton and be near her until they’d appeared at her box, despite knowing that she was the one who had extended the invitation. Well then. Tonight would be rather interesting; he kept his eyes mostly on his cousin and her interactions with Mr. Valenduris, although every so often he found his eyes drifting toward Miss Mountbatton. In the back of his mind he knew it wasn't a dream - Atticus wasn’t the type to have those - but there was enough doubt he wasn’t sure how to broach the topic.

When it was just himself and her, Atticus couldn’t help but turn his full attention on her; she was beautiful, as always. “Good evening, Miss Mountbatton.” He nodded at her before he stood up from his seat, moving closer to occupy a seat his dear cousin had been sitting in before. Being near her was like being a moth drawn to a flame. Generally he was a man who wasn’t at a loss for words, yet tonight, as his gaze met hers, he found he wasn’t sure where to begin. He felt the ghost of her lips against his.

He cleared his throat. “I hope you’re enjoying the opera so far. Do you come a lot?” A safe topic; Atticus could dance around this forever.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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Natsuko had been pleased that she had been seated in such a position, at the front of the box that meant she could not have looked at him without making it incredibly obvious and still her neck ached from the effort of keeping her vision straight ahead, the effort of not looking at him worse than just biting the bullet, and now faced with him, she felt the tension leave her shoulders and upper back. Relaxing in his presence, as she often found herself doing. Whatever admonishment or public castigation she had been half expecting from him -didn't come. But she was still surprised when he switched seats to sit closer to her, and she met his gaze with a soft one of her own.

Suki had to admit that, in spite of herself, she liked this, sitting with him, talking with him, just with him. It felt natural, the thing that had made the last few months so engaging and fun - the easy friendship that had formed between them, joking about their exuberant affection for their owls, an indulgence which few others understood it seemed, and their teasing perspicacity that she rather enjoyed, that in Suki's case at least had allowed her affection to grow, to slip behind her society mask and get to her.

Natsuko gave a small fond sigh, 'Yes, I love the Opera, this was my Aunts box for years, but her interest has wained, and when the opportunity came I took over the boxes sponsorship' she explained, 'There is something to be said for singing something loudly and in Italian to make heart break all the more palatable.' She glanced toward the stage where the woman playing Violetta was singing 'Amami, Alfredo, amami quant'io t'amo', her farewell note to her love, telling him of her love as she prepares to leave him. The irony tasted bitter in her mouth.

'And you Mister Foxwood?' she asked her brow raised, looking back to him her expression warm with affection she couldn't entirely hide, 'do you enjoy Opera or are you only joining us out of sufference?' she coloured a little at the innocent question that could have sounded rather pointed if he remember the garden - which of course she was sure he didn't. 'I mean' she tried to recover, 'Are we taking you from more enjoyable diversions this evening?' she managed a small, lame smile.

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Gin made something stunning

There was something calming about being with Miss Mountbatton; he didn’t care where he was as long as she was with him - she was beautiful, for one, but more importantly she was able to keep her own in a conversation. Talking to her felt natural and it was something Atticus wanted to do forever, if she’d let him. They'd shifted from acquantices to something akin to friends, and he found he wanted to seek her out for everything: her opinion, for small talk, for dances. Anything to be near her. But Poppy’s words of Miss Mountbatton seeking a matchmaker fleeted into his mind. What if his visions of her in the garden weren’t a dream? Even if they were, he had every intention of making them a reality: Atticus needed Miss Mountbatton - Natsuko - in his life.

He flicked his eyes up to her as she spoke, allowing an easy smile against his lips. She’d mentioned her aunt several times before, and Atticus found that he wasn’t surprised they would like some of the same things. “I disagree. There is something even more heartbreaking about singing loudly; it allows the entire world to see your heartbreak. They will scrutinize every angle of you and the relationship, wondering what went wrong.” But there always something heartbreaking about yearning for someone in silence. Almost unattainable; was a matchmaker something she wanted? His own gaze followed hers toward the stage. Then his fingers gripped the arm of the chair until he felt her eyes back on her.

“I am here for several reasons, many of which are for Poppy.” Atticus met her gaze and wondered if she was playing at something. “Although, I am here for you, as well. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than in your company, Miss Mountbatton, even if the Opera isn’t my favorite activity.”

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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She met his gaze a soft little smile on her lips, that was tinged with just a little sadness. He was right of course, proclaiming one's feeling was always so much easier in an Opera, even if it did usually end up in tragedy and at least one of the parties dead. When in reality declaring one's feelings, opening yourself up to the scrutiny of the other person and society was harder than passing ones self off as the cool and immutable 'Empress.' It was definitely easier to be her than Suki sometimes, she couldn't get hurt.

Her gaze met his and her mouth formed a small 'o', her brows knitting, and she looked back at the stage as she tried to control her features as her brain fought to process his turn of phrase. Nowhere else I'd rather be...' was he trying to kill her? She wanted to close her eyes, bury her head in a pillow and scream - the emotion behind the scream she wasn't entirely sure. 'You flatter me Mister Foxwood.' she said, attempting levity, but her voice was stiff and she felt as though she had a lump in her throat. Looking back from the stage, but unable to look at him not knowing what she would see there, or not knowing what she wanted to see there. Her heart thundered in her chest, so much so that it felt like he might be able to hear it, and she could feel her breathing getting shallow, her chest heaving.

'I....' she tried to speak again, but platitudes and social avoidance failed her, 'I eh, ' there was much she wanted to say, but so much that society prohibited a woman from voicing. 'You must know that your company is important to me as well.' she managed, it was clipped, her tone thick and she was looking at her hands.

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Gin made something stunning

Atticus watched her with a piqued interest; he wanted to flatter her. He wanted to jump over the seats, cup her face and kiss her again - make his dream a reality, if it’d even been one. Natsuko Mountbatton had been on his mind for weeks, more so when Poppy had brought up that damn matchmaker… His eyes flicked up to hers and he couldn’t help but offer her a slight smile as she finally glanced back from the stage. What she was thinking was beyond him, so as she seemed to stumble over her words, he stood up and moved a single seat closer to her, keeping a few in between them.

He liked hearing those words come from her mouth; Atticus reached out to take her hand but then thought better of it, draping his arm across the back of the chair. “Then I think I should spend more time in your company.” There wasn’t even an, if you’d like attached to that; it was a statement, something that Atticus was going to do, and if it happened to blow up in his face he could at least say he tried. “And if that’s the case, I think Atticus would be more proper than Mister Foxwood.” His eyes turned toward her and he felt his heart beating heavily against his chest. Still, he felt light, like he could take on the entire world being around her.

Tossing a look over his shoulder to ensure her chaperone was still asleep, Atticus reached out to take her hand in his.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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   Natsuko Foxwood

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For a long moment she didn't dare to look at him, her gaze fixed on the place where their hands joined. It left her breath short and her brow knotted as she tried to control her emotional expression. But she wasn't idle, her finger's traced his, running over the palm of his hand, and the joints of each finger, her stomach suddenly feeling hollow and her breathing shallow.

'Please be sure Mister Fo...Atticus, please be sure' she pressed, looking up through her lashes at him, it was easier to wear your heart on your sleeve when you weren't looking into someone eyes, but she forced herself to meet his. 'Please be sure' she felt numb, even her cheeks, although she could feel them drained of colour, 'Because well....well...' she stumbled again over her words, cursing internally. When her own heart was in the mix, apparently all of the Empress's cool composure evaporated when it was in relation to someone she actually cared about losing.

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind enough to express it 'Because I could not bear it if... you chose someone else? Her treacherous mind finished for her, she was going to diminish the impact - to say that she didn't want to endanger her friendship with Poppy, but she couldn't bring herself to lie to him. She squeezed his hand, almost unconsiously to express a modicum of all she wished she could, all she wished she was equipped to express. Her head dropped forward again, 'Because Mister Foxwood, I would like to spend all of my time with you.' she managed, chancing a look at him, trying to read his features. Her passage was booked, the looming reality of what it would mean to go to Japan. It hadnt seemed too bad when she had agreed to it, but then she hadn't been in love then. 'if you do not think me too bold to say.'

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Gin made something stunning

As her fingers traced his hand he hummed with content, and he couldn’t help the slight smile that twitched against his lips as he simply sat there and held her hand. Atticus’ eyes flicked up to her as she spoke, and his stomach flipped at her words. His fingers tightened against her hand as if merely holding it would ease all the emotions he could see flickering across her face. He didn’t immediately reply to her, allowing Miss Mountbatton to speak freely, although he wanted nothing more than to pull her against his chest and never let her go.

Seeing her in pain hurt him, and Atticus didn’t like it. Her fingers squeezed his hand and he brought their hands up to his mouth and placed a chaste kiss against her palm. “If there is one thing I have been, and always will be sure of, Miss Mountbatton, is my want of you.” He finally replied as he met her gaze. He wasn’t sure what would happen with the matchmaker Poppy spoke of, but if he didn’t step up now he would regret this moment for the rest of his life.

He exhaled a shaky breath to expel some of the nerves he felt; his heart hammered as she spoke the words confirming what he felt - it was all he needed to speak his next set of words. “I would be honored if you would court me, so I may spend all my waking hours with you and all my sleeping hours dreaming of being with you.” And then Atticus smiled at her, softly, his eyes never once leaving his face. He loved her more than he could ever express.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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She watched enthralled as her returned her affectionate squeeze and followed, starry eyed as he pressed her hand to his lips. She let out a long sigh, and a noise of complete relief. Her face broke, a gasping expression that was half sob, half laugh as she setteled into a broad warm smile. Courting was not an exclusive affair, more of an indication of 'short listing' from the entire ton to a select few, and yet it meant the world to her. More than she could say. His expression, as effusive as he was in his speech she had heard it was typical of gentlemen to be effusive in their praise and flattery when asking questions like this. It wasn't false, it was jsut expected and it would be too much to hope that of all the ladies of his acquaintance, with the various Miss Malfoys on offer that she could hope to win him.

She wondered if he knew how charming he was, how his attentions would make her the envy of the ton, and how she would owe Poppy everything for offering her this chance of happiness. 'It is I who would be honoured by your consideration' she smiled, she wasn't sure if it would be enough to put off her aunt now that matters were set and the match maker paid. But she supposed it would not hurt, even if only to allow herself to enjoy this time with him, until he either made his decision or her time ran out.

She covered his hand, already holding her own and met his gaze. There was still much she couldn't say, much that society and propriety would forbid her from saying, and just reveled in the intimacy of this moment, the strains of opera filling the air, their hands clasped together.

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Gin made something stunning

It had been incredibly lovely and thoughtful of Natsuko to invite her out tonight and after everything that had happened this month between Mr. Beauregard’s… loss and her almost catastrophic fiasco with Mr. Valenduris, Poppy had been at her wits end. She’d locked herself away like a maid in an ivory tower for two weeks, unable to even think about the next social engagement she was meant to attend. Letters from friends had come and gone, all of them ignored until at last Aunt Viola had come into her room with this notion of the opera and Poppy had begrudgingly decided it was time to set the past behind her. At least… as best she could.

Had the brunette paid any attention whatsoever to the invitation itself, she would have noted that Ms. Valenduris had been mentioned and, by proxy, she might have then assumed the brother too would be in attendance. As it was, she had not and the meeting anew, after last time’s debacle, had been awkward at best. Poppy had endeavored to mostly keep things light as was her usual personality, and until the drama onstage had unravelled her thoughts and teased them back in the direction of Mr. Beauregard, she’d been doing quite alright! A small excuse from the box had provided her enough of a respite to pull herself together with the added benefit of Mr. Valenduris’ company, to check up on her. Poppy was finding herself increasingly grateful for the blonde’s presence in her life; he was always there just when she needed him, the guiding hand that saved her from herself.

As the brunette made her way back to the box, Mr. Valenduris having excused himself for a smoke, Poppy was not prepared for the sight she walked in upon. There, huddled together when their seats had originally been quite a bit of a ways apart, were Natsuko and Atticus. Were they… holding hands? Poppy’s own hand fluttered up to cover her mouth delicatley. Well this was a splendid development, indeed! Backing up out of the box and making her entrance again a bit more noisily, Poppy cleared her throat giving the couple time enough to disengage if they so pleased. Then, seating herself on the other end of the isle far away from them and pulling out the lovely fan Ms. Mountbatton had sent her for her birthday, Poppy refocused her attention on the opera. It was in her best interest to leave them be for the moment. Atticus would be hearing enough from her about all this, this evening.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton" & Atticus Foxwood

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© Fox

Those were the words he wanted to hear; Natsuko Mountbatton had agreed to court him, and Atticus was the one who was honored. Of course there was a low chance it wouldn’t lead to anything, but he wasn’t going to let her slip through his fingers; he wanted to marry her, to watch her smile and exude happiness for the rest of her life - she made him happier than she could ever imagine. He smiled at her, soft and loving, because as of now this was probably one of the happiest moments of his life.

It was unfortunate that his dear cousin Poppy ruined the moment as she made quite the entrance. Of course she’d seen them holding hands, how could she not? And even if he dropped her hand… Atticus was sitting much closer to Miss Mountbatton than he had been previously. Maybe he had expected her to give them privacy instead of being a meddling relative as she must be wondering what has transpired between them. She cleared her throat and Atticus wanted for the questions to pour out because he knew Poppy well enough to know that she had a thousand stirring around in her head, but none came. She didn’t say a peep and turned her attention away from them.

He had no interest in disengaging with the woman in front of him, although he did press another chaste kiss against her hand before pulling his hand away. “She’ll want her thanks in due time.” He murmured as he leaned forward toward her. Poppy would want the credit for bringing the pair together. “But I am not ashamed to be seen with you like this.” If he could marry her tonight he would, but Atticus knew he wanted to do it properly… and that meant waiting.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton" / Poppy Dashwood

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Natsuko felt breathless, giddy and she couldn't keep the smile from her face. She wanted the world to leave them be, let her enjoy this moment -perhaps even another kiss. Locked away in the box together alone she could imagine there was no one else in the world but her and Atticus.

The door to the box opened, and a shock of fear ran through her - at being caught touching a gentleman. Natsuko's first impulse was to pull back, to let go of his hand, pull back and feign her indifference and she was shocked when he didn't. He was arguably the one with the most to use - he was the one that ran the risk of being forced into marrying should society interpret their interaction the wrong way. He was the one liable for breach of promise if she felt herself aggrieved by him.

Instead he kept a hold of her hand, and she watched with a dewy expression as he kissed her hand once more. She chuckled lightly at his comment, 'I'm fairly sure she would be due it.' she demurred, her neck bent, wave, arched in lovely pride. She made a mental note to send Poppy something lavish by way of thank you. Suki gazed out from under her lashes at Poppy, flashing her an expression of utter gratitude. She didn't know what to say to her friend - what was the precedent for being caught in adoring intimacy with her cousin.

She tried to read Poppy's face for any expression or indication that she was affronted or otherwise outraged - aware as she was that Poppy's plan to set up Atticus had other players, and that Poppy may have settled upon one of them as her preferred 'sister', sister as she was in every way that mattered.

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   Poppy Dashwood

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Gin made something stunning