Welcome and stuff. [Jeremy] on At Home

Leonor De Matteo

August 25, 2021 1:10 AM

Welcome and stuff. [Jeremy] by Leonor De Matteo

Felipe had been interested in being absent this week anyway but mama and papa had been surprisingly alright with it. Mama was pretty much alright with whatever papa told her to be alright with, although she certainly had a soft spot for their son, and papa was eager to show off their heiress without the would-be heir there to make things seem murky. Leonor couldn't entirely blame him for that. She also had to keep in mind that she wanted this. She chose to be heiress. She could give it up, just like Felipe had, and they would be supportive of that too. They weren't unsupportive of Felipe by any means, they just did have any real tangible ways to support him anymore; they'd given him more than a commoner needed so now it was just about him living life. Besides, he was practically an adult at this point.

This week, it was Leonor's turn to think about adulthood, wherein she would be expected to marry. It was no secret that her father hoped she might just marry Jeremy Mordue and perhaps a part of her thought that wouldn't be the worst thing ever. In fact, a lot of her thought it would be pretty alright. At the same time, she thought that he might be enough like a petulant version of her father that he might start expecting her to be every bit as submissive as her mother was and that just wasn't going to happen. Plus, while she wasn't at all sure she loved being at Los Jardines de Plata, she was quite sure she didn't have anywhere else to go; living at whatever Mordue spare home Jeremy was set to live at was not her idea of a good time. Perhaps they could live separately, makeout and stuff, and then go about their merry ways. That might not be so bad.

Leonor tried not to think about any of the possible futures that might be come about after this visit from Jeremy as she stood with her father in the receiving room, looking at the unlit fireplace with a crease forming deeper and deeper in her forehead. She was frowning but it was more anxious than sour, which made it a strange expression for her, although it was becoming more familiar than she'd like to admit these days. She wore a long dress (she'd had her quinceañera the previous winter and while she wasn't necessarily expected to wear more proper clothes all the time, this was a special occasion) that cinched at her waist and swooped like a bell to her ankles. The hem was high enough so as to avoid getting too dirty and to reveal lapis blue shoes. The dress itself was an unholy number of ruffled layers, intended to show off how wealthy a family was that they could afford so much fabric, in soft pinks, whites, and browns, intended to show off how humble this particular wealthy family was. Her father stood beside her, dressed in similarly themed clothes although he looked about as regal as ever just by virtue of how he carried himself so Leonor didn't pay too much attention to the outfit itself. Felipe always looked easygoing in his nice clothes and Leonor couldn't help wishing she carried that ease, if not the regality, as she forced herself not to fiddle with the beaded belt strings around her hips. Finally, a fire roared to life beyond the hearth.

"Welcome," Ilefonso De Matteo said with a warm grin, his arms out as if to offer an embrace to the whole of humanity, "to Los Jardines de Plata."

22 Leonor De Matteo Welcome and stuff. [Jeremy] 1471 1 5

Jeremy Mordue

September 04, 2021 11:32 PM

Yeah, whatever by Jeremy Mordue

Jeremy had travelled by floo often enough to know how it affected him. He was a pretty steady traveller, probably helped by the fact that rocketing off and spinning around weren’t uncommon events in a Quidditch match. Therefore, when he stepped out of the fireplace behind his uncle at Los Whatever de Thingy, he was pretty sure that it wasn’t the journey that was making him feel slightly sick.

This whole thing had its plus points. First, he was outshining Simon, Nathaniel and Sylvia for the first time without a broomstick being involved. Second, it annoyed the heck out of Leonor. Those were fun points to dwell on when it was all just hypothetical. Now he was actually here, and there was the possibility this was going to get real, and it was a bit weird.

It got even weirder when Leonor’s dad looked like he was going to hug them, but then Jeremy realised he was just sort of gesturing at his weird, ugly house like they ought to be impressed.

“It’s our pleasure to be here. Thank you for inviting us,” Uncle Alexander said, offering a hand for Leonor’s dad to shake. “Isn’t that right, Jeremy?” he added, slightly pointedly.

“Yes. Thank you, sir,” Jeremy offered a bland smile and a quick bow.

13 Jeremy Mordue Yeah, whatever 1443 0 5

Leonor De Matteo

September 04, 2021 11:50 PM

Great, same. by Leonor De Matteo

OOC: Time hopping! BIC:

The Mordues had been present for a few days now and Leonor wasn't sure whether things were better or worse than before. Her own father seemed eager to encourage her and Jeremy to spend enough one-on-one time together (as much as two teenagers who were possibly being sold to each other could be one-on-one in this life) but she wasn't sure whether it was to see how well they interacted or to give the Grown Ups privacy for discussing things like dowry and gross stuff. She hoped they were just talking about Quidditch but doubted it somehow. Her mother was occupying the other members of the Mordue clan, probably with Felipe's reluctant participation since he basically sucked at planning apparently and had actually returned the day after Jeremy arrived after all.

Leonor was wearing her hair up in a bun with one twisted braid hanging over her shoulder, and an elegant red cotton dress with bell sleeves hung to just below her knees, with a cinched, embroidered waist meant to accentuate how wifeable she was. Ugh. She was alone with Jeremy in the part of the garden nearest the house, where a fountain bubbled and free roaming chickens and other small animals roamed around. Leonor had been wearing sandals but had kicked them off in favor of sitting on the edge of the fountain with her feet in the water; etiquette be damned, it was like a thousand degrees outside.

She closed her eyes and leaned back a bit, letting the sun wash over her face, the water wash over her feet, and a soft breeze brush over the rest of her. She wasn't sure where she'd live or what would happen if she was married off to Jeremy friggin' Mordue but there was a definite feeling that this may be one of the last relatively care-free summers she had here, either because she was taking over soon or leaving soon, and she wanted to enjoy it.

"Sit with me, Jeremy," she said with a voice like a sigh. "We are stuck together, we may as well not sit in horrible bored silence." She opened her eyes, gazing at him lazily for a moment before shutting them again. "Does your uncle want you to marry me?"

22 Leonor De Matteo Great, same. 1471 0 5

Jeremy Mordue

September 05, 2021 6:46 PM

How do you cope with this? by Jeremy Mordue

OOC: CW - casual racism BIC:

This place, and the people in it, were insufferable. Leonor's dad seemed to behold the world around him as genuinely wonderful, to the extent whether Jeremy wondered if he could actually see past the end of his nose. Jeremy might only have been seventeen but he had seen enough of life to know how full of misery and disappointment it was. Mr. De Matteo had to be delusional or on something seriously strong to see the world as he did.

Especially this part of it. It was far too hot and full of bugs. Whatever flowers or scenery or mango trees people wanted him to be impressed by, there was no overlooking the heat. And what was so great about having mango trees? His home had apple trees. Apples were far less sticky and acidic, and grew in weather that was also inhabitable by humans.

Reluctantly, he followed Leonor out of doors, fairly sure she was taking him for a walk out of spite. He was surprised by the degree of freedom the adults were giving them. Maybe it was because they were in the protective bubble of Leonor's home. Maybe it was because the thought of exertion or of bodies pressing together in this heat was clearly repellent.

He watched with envy as she stuck her feet in the fountain, wishing he could dive in head first. He took a seat beside her, wondering whether she was trying to get him sunburnt to add to his misery. He was already a little red on his nose and ears from his first day, as no amount of sunblock potion seemed able to compete with the Mexican sun. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing at his brow.

"No, I'm sure he's just here to enjoy the weather," he snapped at her question. "Clearly he's at least considering it."

13 Jeremy Mordue How do you cope with this? 1443 0 5

Leonor De Matteo

September 05, 2021 11:41 PM

Make as bad of choices as I can get away with, just to feel something. by Leonor De Matteo

The fact that they could sit here together, miserable together, basically made Jeremy Leonor's best friend, despite everything. There was no one she'd met who quite understood being a wildly important second fiddle the way he did and since they were basically shoved together right now, with all of the weird boy-girl stuff that possibly entailed for their futures, he was also the only one she knew closely who understood arranged marriages the way she did. It was odd to hate someone you knew so well and cared so much about. The amount of energy and time she'd put into thinking about whether or not he was properly unhappy might have spoken to how greatly she hoped he wasn't.

She scoffed at him though since he was being a jerk. While Jeremy Mordue was the sort who always thought he was better than everyone else, if the two of them were going to keep spending time together, he would need to figure out that he was better than everyone else but her. She was no mewling kitten to be fed milk and given soft places to lay down. She was a pawn who had learned to play chess and he was not going to be her king.

"People like us don't say no to invitations like these," she said lazily, not bothering to be properly angry at him. "He could be entertaining my father just to keep your options open. I wondered whether you knew more than that. I suppose you aren't in on that though, apparently. How very disappointing," she added in Spanish, pretty sure it annoyed the heck out of him when she did that. "For what it's worth, I'd rather be stuck with you than whoever the next person is that my father tries to dredge up. At least you aren't boring most of the time." Ever since her quinceañera, and of course the entire debacle the previous year, the De Matteo patriarch had been searching all over for a suitable candidate for his daughter. Of course, it would be her luck that he landed on the one person she actually cared about enough to end things with when things went so sideways. She was pretty sure Jeremy would only hate her more if he knew she'd broken up with him for his own safety.

She splashed some water at him from the fountain, more than a little tempted to push him in and fall right on top of him. "There's no way you're comfortable in this heat."

22 Leonor De Matteo Make as bad of choices as I can get away with, just to feel something. 1471 0 5

Jeremy Mordue

September 06, 2021 6:48 PM

I knew liked me for a (terrible) reason by Jeremy Mordue

"Could be either," Jeremy shrugged. He had the nagging feeling that keeping his options open was not going to look like a very profitable option, and that his uncle would just be glad that anyone wanted him. "So, it seems we're both equally in the dark," he added. He couldn't exactly outdo her right now but he could drag her down with him. Especially if she was going to be smug and speak Spanish.

"Thanks?" he said, searching what appeared to be a compliment for sarcasm. It was a vaguely underwhelming compliment on the grand scale of things but he didn't really get many. It was probably some kind of trap. "You too, I guess," he shrugged, seeming fairly indifferent.

"Wow, great deduction, genius." He rolled his eyes. "No one can seriously want to live here." He decided not to say that if they got married she would have to come and live in Oregon. It didn't sound enough like a joke. Besides, that was probably one of the details their parents were discussing. The heat pressed on him, and he tried to take a deep breath. He tried to imagine Leonor in Oregon, having to wrap up in a thick cloak and stare at a rain soaked window. Of course, that was Oregon in winter (and parts of autumn and spring) compared with summer here. "Does it ever drop below a billion degrees?" he askes. He didn't exactly mind her splashing him. It was refreshing. "And you... Enjoying wearing that, are you?" he asked, nodding at her ridiculous dress as he reached a hand in and splashed her in return.

13 Jeremy Mordue I knew liked me for a (terrible) reason 1443 0 5

Leonor De Matteo

September 17, 2021 12:05 AM

Who likes who now? by Leonor De Matteo

If this is what courtship was supposed to be, Leonor decided it wasn't all that bad. She was pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be this. Vague compliments that were also insults, splashing your potential betrothed, vague insults that were also compliments . . . it was stupid. But it was alright. It was better than whatever Felipe would have done in her shoes, she suspected. Jackson wasn't all bad but Leonor was basically just set on hating her at this point anyway and the Teppenpaw seemed to be in the same boat with her.

"Thanks," she replied, closing her eyes and relaxing into the sun again.

She wasn't insulted by his comment on living here, even though she was pretty sure she was supposed to be. "What, a million miles from anyone annoying, with a whole town of Muggles at your beck and call, basically to worship you?" Her stomach felt a little sick at the thought and there was no shortage of consternation in her voice. "You get used to the heat. Although . . . I've gotten used to the cold too," she admitted, thinking of Sonora and the very real possibility that she'd be moving to the United States if things 'worked out'. Of course, she was the heir of the two of them so it would make more sense for him to move here. Still, running Los Jardines de Plata was hardly a full time job and with her parents still alive, it wasn't as if she was needed full time here. The muggles didn't even like her.

She put a hand up when he splashed her back but she smiled at him and her defense was halfhearted. She scoffed though at his comment. "Are you kidding? I looked like a flower turned upside down, it's ridiculous. Do you find it alluring and impressive, Mr. Mordue? I am pretty you're the reason I'm stuck in it." She had the thought to just take it off and run around in her skivvies but that didn't seem like it would go over well.

22 Leonor De Matteo Who likes who now? 1471 0 5