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Post by |ADMIN LEFFIE| on Dec 1, 2012 22:34:01 GMT -5
Hello residents of the Manor! These are your ghosts speaking, and do we have a surprise for you! To celebrate the holiday season, a Secret Santa event will be held, and presents will be exchanged on Christmas Eve!
For those of you unaware of how this works, you may sign up here on this page if you wish to give and receive a gift. Once everyone has signed up, we will randomly distribute the name of another resident to you. On Christmas Eve, you can open your gifts and reveal who gave what to who! It's as simple as that!
If you don't know what to give to the person you receive, don't worry, the ghosts might just be willing to spy on your secret person to give you a hint! ;D Happy gifting!
THE LIST
_________ÉRIK__________ _______Erik Lenoir________ ______ Adina Gillespie______ ___ Anastasia Goodwin-Hart__ ___Christine Lucinda Dallas___ _Christine de Chagny, née Daaé_ _____Claude Delacroix______ _______Erik Castagne______ ___Christine Svenna Daaé____ Le Vicomte Raoul Eduoard de Chagny Comte Philippe Maurice de Chagny Christine Emilie, le Vicomtesse de Chagny ______ Erik Lavalais_______ _____ Teressa Lavalais______ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________
((OoC: This event will be held IN CHARACTER, however I can set up another, OoC event if you guys so wish it! Simply reply to the thread with your characters thoughts on why or why not they want to do it and let them sign their names! There is a pen hanging on a chain attached to the sheet for them to use!))
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Erik Spectre
Don Juan Triumphant
One must get used to everything in life, even eternity...
Posts: 87
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Post by Erik Spectre on Dec 3, 2012 20:52:44 GMT -5
Érik had seen the bulletin board before, but only at a distance. It was only on this day, when Marguerite had asked him to go to town to fetch her some silk for a bonnet she was to make, that he actually looked closely at it. There was only one bulletin... An event, sponsored by the ghosts... Curious, Erik looked closer.
"Gift giving..." he thought, rubbing his chin. He'd never been given a gift before, though certainly he'd given gifts to others. This would provide him with a chance to flatter a person's ego, whoever that person might be, while also receiving a present in return. It was an excellent idea!
However, he had to be cautious. No one had signed their name for this event as of yet, but the multiple Vicomtes in the area might be given his name, or he theirs... He might not receive the greatest gift in the world, but he could certainly find something appropriate to give to Raoul de Chagny...
And if it was Christine... His Christine, especially... things would become complicated... He couldn't let his true intentions show... But nevertheless, this event was to take place on Christmas, and he fully intended to be where others were during the "season of giving."
So, in his clumsy, embarrassing childish hand, Érik signed his name on the first line, with this own red fountain pen. Thus, he would be the first name others saw when they decided to give gifts of their own. They would pray that they did not receive his name, but time will tell what Christmas morn' brings.
He left to go to town to by his lovely little wife a bolt of silk.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Dec 3, 2012 22:12:36 GMT -5
Erik was taking his midnight walk one night when he saw something new he hadn't noticed before. It was a bulletin board, and because it was dark, there was a light illuminating it from the top. He saw one notice posted there. He started to read...a Secret Santa event? What the hell was that? He read further.
It stated that it was a gift-giving event and it would be done anonymously, until the gifts were opened. If one signed their name to the list, they would be expected to give a gift and would receive one in return. Interesting concept. He paused a moment and thought about it. He would have to purchase a gift, probably in the village. That would be all right. He was already considering a gift for a very special friend.
But the only name there was Érik. He hoped he didn't get that fellow's name. His one encounter with the man, some months earlier, had not exactly ended in friendship. He pondered a bit more. The only logical thing to do would be to put his name up. Then if no one else added their name, he would simply surrptitiously erase his own name and have done with it. But he suspected some of the other mansion residents would be intrigued by the idea.
Erik didn't have his red fountain pen. He kept that in the lair. He only used that for his notes to write letters to opera people when they offended him in some way and he wanted something done about it. But he had his fountain pen with black ink with him. So he added his name in his rather odd looking, but legible left-handed script.
Then he kept walking, taking his usual route about the mansion grounds and hoped he would get someone's name that he liked.
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Dec 3, 2012 23:35:18 GMT -5
Adina had been happily humming some olde English Christmas songs of many years ago when she noticed a strange little piece of paper on a board hanging beside the front door of the manor. She looked at it and read the title... "'Secret Santa'? Hmmm..." She nibbled on a nail and then looked down at the list... Only two people had written their names on it: one in an almost illegible hand and the other in a lovely script. It had been two Eriks who signed the list; Lenoir being one of them! But who was the other one? She had not met him before.
She looked over and saw a pen hanging from an odd little string beside the paper. She reached out and picked up the pen to scrawl out her name. Perhaps this would be a lovely opportunity to meet new people! And she could make a handmade gift as well! Oh, this was so wonderful, she could barely contain her excitement! She smiled to herself and went back up to her room to begin preparations for the gift she wanted to make.
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Dec 3, 2012 23:40:32 GMT -5
It was a late night in the stables dealing with the stalls and feeding of the horses, plus some electrical work and other repairs. She definitely had her hands full at this place. Finally finished as she strode back to the Manor, feeling a little cold with the chill of the night air. The sight of a bulletin board baffled her as she slowed her steps and moved towards it. Wondering why it was there and what was one it.
Now standing before it as she looked it over with a curious yet critical eye, reading some parts of it aloud and other parts silently but her lips were moving. "Secret Santa, huh?" she said. But now it baffled her and rose her brows, "Ghost?" So the bleedin' place was indeed haunted?!? Ooo... interesting!
But a Secret Santa! She smiled at the thought having done a few in the past. It was fun despite one year it wasn't. Looking at the names already on the list and rather intrigued. No doubt there will be more and if so, she wondered who would get who. Or better yet, who she will get and who will get her. Cringing, she wondered if anyone would know what she liked.
Always prepared to carry a pen with her actually, it was a habit she made since it seemed that she always needed to have a pen with her no matter where she went. If it wasn't used to wrote something down, it was to use it like a tool! So, clicking on the ballpoint and wrote her name "Ana" on the list. Pausing a moment if that would be enough and decided on a whim to use her who first name. Not sure why but she did and added on "stasia" to the "Ana". So now it read "Anastasia" on the list. Pausing again then filled in her last name "Goodwin-Hart". Sighed and slightly satisfied as she smiled, then decided to leave the pen there for others to use. That was just her thoughtfulness at work.
Walking away from the bulletin board wondering what will happen, what she will give, what she will get, who she will get, and more. Smiling. This will be fun, she thought!
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Dec 4, 2012 20:12:20 GMT -5
Lu was headed for the stables to take her horse Effie on a run around the grounds for some exercise. She loved spending time riding ad this had turned out to be a good place for that. She came outside and then saw something she must have missed before. It was a board nicely mounted near the entrance to the door.
Lu read the notice slowly. "Well, I'll be!" she said to herself. "Ain't that somethin'! Secret Santa...that's somethin' new." She understood that she was singing up to get a Christmas gift and to give one back. It sounded like a lot of fun. Lu liked to get gifts, but she had also learned that giving things could be fun.
She smiled and looked for a pencil to sign with. She didn't have one but there was a pen of sorts tied with a chain to the board. She turned it over in her hand, never having seen a ball point pen before. She signed her name, then wished the pen hadn't been chained. She would have liked to take it along. It worked very well.
Lu continued on her way to the stables and Effie.
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Christine Daaé
The Swedish Nightingale and Fairy of the North
If when the time comes, I refuse to go with you, well then, Raoul, you must carry me off by force!
Posts: 1,592
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Post by Christine Daaé on Dec 7, 2012 2:15:38 GMT -5
It was about a month after the wedding. Things were moving along splendidly so far. The young couple and Christine's adoptive mother were still living in the manor, as a place in the village was a bit much to afford on Raoul's zoo-keeper salary, but Christine didn't mind. In fact, she was actually happy that they'd stayed. Even with the English she had been teaching herself, she still felt much more comfortable, both socially and on a regular day-to-day basis, there in the manor.
She had visited the stables on one occasion or another, and to both her surprise and to her pleasure, she came across an old friend whom she was not expecting to ever be able to meet again, given the circumstances. It was César! César, the white horse out of Le Prophète, who she enjoyed visiting at the opera and to whom she used to feed sugar and sweets. The last time she had seen the horse (for she had been a bit afraid to go down below into the cellars afterward) had been when she was upon the horse as Érik had taken her to and from the House on the Lake (apparently he had “employed the horse's use”).
Since their rencontre, she had been visiting on most mornings the white stallion who she had known to be her friend. She would go fairly early in the morning, usually around seven thirty to eight o'clock, to visit him, bringing some sort of a treat along with her. She was returning from her little visit when something she was passing captured her attention.
She had often passed moderately large bulletin of sorts just outside of the entrance of the manner, but she had never really bothered to pay it any attention at all. After all, it was quite seldom that anything was posted there at all (she hadn't noticed anything previously), so there was really no point in stopping to stare at a blank board. Today, however, something was different. The thing she had noticed was a sheet of paper pinned to the board and fluttering gently in the soft near-winter breeze.
Curious..., the girl thought as she approached the sheet. What could this be for...?
She began to read the thing over in her head. Hello residents of the Manor! Christine rubbed her eyes a bit. She hadn't been thinking in English yet all day. She needed to take a moment to collect her thoughts, and so she closed her eyes. When she opened them, however, she was even more confused than she had been before. For now, rather than seeing the writing in the English that she had seen only mere moments beforehand, what she now read was in French, or so it appeared. She blinked a few times in shock. This place really was very strange. She wasn't sure that she could ever quite learn to become completely expectant of the bizarre thing it held in store.
After managing to shake of this brief wave of shock that swept over her, she continued to read the notice. These are your ghosts speaking, and we have a surprise for you! To celebrate the holiday season, a Secret Santa event will be held, and presents will be exchanged on Christmas Eve!
Christine had never heard of a “Secret Santa” event before, but assumed that it must have something to do with Father Christmas, given the name. As she continued to read on, she found that the notice explained the entire thing. Apparently names were randomly distributed and you were to give a gift to the person whose name you received.
She read over the list of names to herself. She only recognized two that were there so far: Erik Lenoir, whom she had met and who had served as Raoul's best man at their wedding; and Érik – the Erik whom she knew and whom had been her mentor. The poor thing... she thought to herself. She knew that, although he was very good at giving gifts when he wanted to be, social events such as this weren't exactly his forte. But perhaps this would be good for him? Perhaps this whole event would be good for cheering him up a bit?
She glanced and saw the pen dangling from a string near the posted notice. After a bit of silent deliberation, she took up the pen in her little gloved hand and signed her name on the sheet of paper.
Christine...
She paused. She was still getting used to writing her name – her new name after the wedding. She still felt a bit torn about the thing, though it was a bit silly, perhaps. She felt some sort of mild obligation to use Raoul's name (after all, she was his wife), but at the same time, another part of her couldn't bear the thought of giving up her father's... She knew that several ladies of the stage, if they married, they would sometimes alternate between the two depending on the circumstance. After all, if they had become known under one for some time, it would be a bit confusing to suddenly go by another. Finally, she finished writing:
Christine de Chagny, née Daaé
She kept the pen in her hand as she looked it over for a moment, examining her writing. Satisfied, she let it drop again, and then returned on her way back inside of the manor.
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Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
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Post by Claude Delacroix on Dec 7, 2012 17:41:58 GMT -5
Claude had been hearing the most painful Christmas cheer around the manor. The blasted holidays were around the corner and the mere thought of it made him ill! At least his physical form was ill... He went about the manor and happened upon miss Christine signing something beside the front entry doors. What on earth was she doing?
He moved back so she would not see him and as soon as she was gone, he went over to look at the bulletin board. A Christmas gift exchange? Ugh! How fowl and retched! How loathsome and disgusting!! But... Perhaps not. He saw that several people had signed already, including the pretty maid, monsieur Lenoir, and the lovely miss Christine. He lightly scratched at his chin and grinned at the thought of giving a gift. What if the lovely Teressa signed the paper as well? But then he paused and frowned. He reflected upon how he had told her about his true self... No, not Teressa. He did not wish to damage her; she was so lovely and beautiful...
Claude redirected his attention to the hanging pen and shook his head. He had no need for pens or writing utensils. With a wave of his hand, his name etched itself into an empty space on the paper in blood red ink. He smiled to himself and left the room. The Devil giving a gift? Let alone receiving one? Now that would be most interesting.
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Erik Castagne
When you sing, the angels weep...
When you sing, the angels weep...
Posts: 87
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Post by Erik Castagne on Dec 9, 2012 13:50:09 GMT -5
Castagne generally only came out at night, unless there was a very good reason. He didn't like to meet anyone and he didn't like to speak to anyone. And there was no reason for him to do so, most of the time. He left the mansion, intending to take a midnight walk through the grounds and stop for a while at the graveyard. he felt kin to those who had gone before, often feeling as if he were mostly dead already. It gave him a strange comfort to walk among their resting place.
As he left the mansion, his attention was caught by a large, lighted bulletin board. It had only one notice on it and he was curious. He read the names on it, most of them not familiar. Érik? No last name? Who could that be? Erik Lenoir? He had heard the name, but didn't know who he was. Adina Gillespie, Anastasia Goodwin-Hart, Christine Lucinda Dallas, Claude Delacroix....he know none of those, but that last...Claude of the Cross? It sounded like a priest or monk. Was a man of the cloth living here too?
Then he saw it...Christine de Chagny, née Daaé... could this be his darling Christine? Had she married the cruel Vicomte who had stolen her away from him? He turned away and closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. No, it couldn't be. His Christine was called Christine Joy... a better name there could not be for she who had brought such joy to his heart. But then she had disappeared. Perhaps he should try to speak to more of those in the mansion, perhaps someone knew where she had gone. It would undoubtedly do no good to stay locked in his lair. He would have no chance of finding here then. He determined he would search for her.
Then he turned back to the posting. What were the names for? He read about the gift exchange called "Secret Santa." He had no idea who "Santa" was, but none the less, it would be lovely to receive a gift and even lovelier to give one. And the fact that it was secret would be interesting. He decided to sign the posting.
He looked in his pocket for his fountain pen and didn't find it. So he used the strange looking implement hanging on a chain from the board. It felt odd to write with it, but it wrote smoothly and he signed his name in his right-slanting, rather nice hand. This picked up his spirits a bit, it was something to which to look forward, and he had the impetus to look for Christine. He began to feel good and he actually smiled underneath his strange mask.
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Dec 9, 2012 14:04:56 GMT -5
Christine was out on her way to work at the aquarium (it was the last few days before it closed for the winter season) when she passed by the bulletin board just outside of the manor. She stopped to look at it, as she often did, but saw something now she hadn't seen previously. On the board was a sheet of paper (it appeared to be a sign up list) titled 'SECRET SANTA'
She read over it briefly and smiled to herself. It sounded like a fun thing to do – to be able to exchange gifts with others in the manor and possibly meet new people. As she looked over the list of names, she realized that the vast majority of those signed up were people she'd never met before, with the exception of Erik Lenoir and Adina Gillespie. There were many others though, including... what? Raoul had told her about the name-alikes in the manor, but she had yet to actually meet one. And now there was one, possibly two (she couldn't quite be certain of one of them) on the list. How very odd...
Well, she thought to herself, This could be fun...
She took out a rather “fishy” looking pen from behind her ear and wrote her name on the list in bright blue ink, Christine Svenna Daaé, and then tucked it back behind her ear again, resuming her way to the village to get to the aquarium.
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Raoul Edouard de Chagny
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
Posts: 365
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Post by Raoul Edouard de Chagny on Dec 9, 2012 14:40:54 GMT -5
Edouard awoke alone in his suite. He had not seen Emilie for quite some time. She had been staying away, probably entertaining Gustave. He was annoyed. He probably should get himself out of bed and look for her. She could be outside on the grounds. He washed and dressed and put on his stylish tan wool greatcoat with matching top hat.
The sun was shining. It was a cold, but glorious day. There was no wind as he stepped outside and the cold air felt good against his face. He was about to walk toward the garden area, where the plants were completely dead ead and covered with a light coating of snow and the trees bereft of leaves, when he saw a large bulletin board. Curious, he walked up to it to see what was posted.
The board had only one announcement and it was for something called a "Secret Santa" gift exchange. Edouard didn't know what that was until he read the full announcement. Some people had already signed the sheet. He knew a couple of them. Erik Lenoir , for one. He sighed. He hoped he wouldn't get Lenoir's name. But it was the season of forgiveness. Perhaps they could come to an understanding. He didn't see Emilie's name. Of course he would give Emilie and Gustave gifts outside of this, but it was interesting. Emilie had not signed just after or before Lenoir so she probably hadn't been with him. That was a good sign.
Edouard wrote his name as "The Vicomte Raoul Edouard de Chagny" is a somewhat cramped and illegible hand.
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Post by Philippe Maurice de Chagny on Dec 9, 2012 15:19:54 GMT -5
Philippe was just coming back from a nice winter trot with Aleta, and he was frightfully cold. On his way inside the mansion, he passed by the bulletin board. He hadn't really noticed it going outside to the stables because he'd been in a hurry to spend time with his horse, the only familiar thing besides his brother in the entire house. Now that he looked at it, he noticed a bulletin...
'Secret Santa...' he thought, rubbing his cold, but still gloved hands. Christmas at the de Chagny household had never been a truly cheery one after their father died, as Philippe never really knew what Raoul wanted. If he signed up for this event, he would be able to give a gift to someone who might actually like it!
But then again, he didn't know that many people in the manor yet. He saw Ana's name on there, and he quite liked her... But then there was that Christine girl's name... The one his brother liked... Hmm... Well he wouldn't know what to get her, that was for sure... He could ask his brother for help if he received her name, but he found it a bit unlikely considering the number of names on the board. He didn't know anyone else, and he didn't see his brother's...
Wait... The Vicomte Raoul Eduoard de Chagny? Who in the world was that?! His brother's middle name was Christophe! But... it did certainly look like Raoul's handwriting... But why...? Was there a de Chagny imposter running around using his brother's name?! He would have to find Raoul and ask him about this immediately!
He turned to leave, but then looked back. Maybe he should sign up for this event? It would give him the chance to meet the mysterious Eduoard, to be sure... It was also strange the number of Eriks were on the list, as well as the three different Christines. One was even married to a de Chagny, though he knew that Svenna was Christopher's sweetheart, and she continued to use Daaé.
Intrigued, Philippe took the strange pen that was dangling beside the sheet and wrote out Comte Philippe Maurice de Chagny in his sprawling, elegant cursive hand, though it took up the entire line. Maybe he should have just stuck with Philippe de Chagny... Well it was too late now. He was quite curious as to what gift someone would come up with for him, and pondered what kind of person he in turn would have to gift.
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Post by ladybarbossa on Dec 9, 2012 22:10:05 GMT -5
As usual, she was quite a busy woman and moved about the Manor with purpose and constant duties that occupied her time. But as she moved past a door she spotted something that she'd not seen before and it drew her cautious curiosity. Slowly moved towards it to look it over. Bewildered at what she read of this Secret Santa but the names - some of them - were familiar. Picking up the pen which did not look like a pen she usually used and was unsure how to use it until she finally did. It was such a smooth pen that flowed well enough when she wrote her name on the list while smiling since she noticed her Husband's name on the list, too.
Christine Emilie, le Vicomtesse de Chagny
Satisfied she put the pen down and thought if Gustave should be added but then decided that would be up to the boy. However, she wouldn't mind if anyone else just gave him gifts. He was such a good boy and so very proud of him. She'll go get him to bring him to the board and let him decide. He was old enough to make a decision upon his own. She left.
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Post by Erik Lavalais on Dec 10, 2012 18:56:23 GMT -5
Erik had been feeling particularly out of norm these past weeks, ever since his last encounter with Christine...He hated to think about it, but it kept bothering him. All the time, his thoughts strayed to what he could've prevented, what he could've done instead of making a complete fool of himself in front of her. He chided himself every time for behaving in such an ungentlemanly manner, but no matter what he told himself, the low feelings remained. He'd often take walks through the corridors to clear his mind. As he sauntered through the halls, he passed by a board that he'd never seen before. He stopped, looking at the paper posted to the board.
"Secret Santa...?" Erik furrowed his brow, confused. What the hell was a Secret Santa? He scanned the lines at the top of the paper...
Ghosts? That only served to make him more confused...but then he read on. There were instructions on how the whole event worked and Erik cocked his head. Gifts? Give one, receive one, apparently...Well, perhaps this would be a Christmas worth celebrating. Although, he didn't see many-- Wait...
Christine...? She'd signed the list. He didn't have to look any further. He picked up the pen and signed his name on the next empty line, hoping that perhaps luck would favour him. If he got Christine as his "Secret Santa" recipient, he could apologize more thoroughly than he'd been trying to do. For the past few weeks, he'd started leaving little notes of apology outside her door. But imagine....if he could find out what she wanted....Oh this would be wonderful! He turned on his heel and walked away, his mind reeling with what he might be able to get her...
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Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
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Post by Teressa Lavalais on Dec 10, 2012 20:19:20 GMT -5
Teressa had just gotten back from her walk around the manor's exterior, and had been walking up to the door when the little board caught her eye. She pulled the furs she'd found in her room closer about her. She leaned forward and read the little paper. "Secret Santa"? Hmm, sounded interesting. People could give gifts and receive one...Sounded like fun, to her! She scanned the names.
Lenoir was on the list, as well as the little blonde Christine, and...Erik? What the hell was Erik doing on the list? She picked up the pen and signed the list. Well if he was doing this, then she'd follow suit. Perhaps she'd find out what he was up to. Strange man....he always had some stupid scheme going on in his head.
She walked into the Manor, pulling the door shut behind her and pulling the furs just a bit more around her to keep warm.
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