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Post by Tim on Dec 5, 2020 13:00:46 GMT -5
Of course, Putin wouldn't believe the Imperial family is alive, because it's been a century now, and he doesn't know about Sol Duga or time travel.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Dec 5, 2020 13:14:07 GMT -5
Them asking about Putin would have been the most logical question in their minds, since Putin might be the sort to hurt them if he found out. That’s why the family doesn’t want to become rulers of Russia, they’re content to be ordinary British people
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Post by Tim on Dec 5, 2020 19:00:11 GMT -5
Nor can I blame them. Things didn't work out so well the last time they had that job.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Dec 7, 2020 14:35:20 GMT -5
This is a short chapter, but it gets better
Chapter 6
"Dad, are you sure you don't want to take Ambien? It's over 12 for the flight", said Nika.
"I don't trust medication, I don't want to relapse. And I need to look after Chiara", said John.
Chiara gave him a baleful look from inside her soft-sided travel case. "You're going to England, girl. You've never been out of LA before", he said.
Josh raised an eyebrow when he saw the older man bending down to speak with the tuxedo cat. "Uh, I got the stuff ready. Should I call Uber?", he asked.
"Oh yeah", said John absently.
"Dad, here's Chiara's' papers for the immigration people. And the blue folder has our passports and tickets", said Nika.
"Okay, I haven't been on a commercial flight since in years, ever since we took Mom and Dad to Hawaii for her birthday", John mused aloud.
"Because you've been holed up in your studio, Dad. One day you should go on vacation by yourself, just go somewhere and chill", said Nika.
"Ha, and remember how tightly wound you were, Nika? I'd want a travel companion but since I'm celibate, that'll probably be never", said John.
"Never say never, Dad", she chided.
The group made their way outside after one final spot check as Josh tracked Uber on his phone. "This feels like some sort of movie, I just found out my girlfriend is a Romanov and her and her Dad are from a time-traveling family. Now we all need to hear is something involving aliens", said Josh with a shake of his head.
"It does sound weird, but I can't wait to get more answers. I had no idea Grandmere was a Romanov, I just thought her and Pepere were British. I just hope Putin's goons don't find out", said Nika.
Josh put his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her head. "I won't let them hurt you, Night Owl", he vowed.
"Same here, no one is going to mess with my family", agreed John.
Josh nodded and showed them his phone as a black BMW with tinted windows parked in the driveway as Josh and John placed the bags inside the trunk. The driver said nothing as they got inside and programmed the GPS for LAX. The trio sat quietly in the backseat with Chiara in her case resting on John's lap, the tuxedo cat quiet in her case. The driver found the quickest way to LAX and dropped them off at the international terminal as Josh gave him a twenty dollar tip.
"Dad, I know security takes forever but just be patient", said Nika.
"I haven't flown commercial in so long", he said in dismay when he saw the line.
After dropping off their bags at the British Airways desk, the trio got in line to go through security. Bored-looking TSA agent examined their tickets and passports and checked Chiara's papers before they went through a line where they had to empty their pockets and take off their shoes. "This really sucks, I hope that scanner doesn't give you cancer", said John in horror once they finished.
"I hope not too, but it's necessary. I don't think you've been commercial since the 80's", teased Josh.
"I know, I'd heard of the new security measures but I didn't know it was like that. When we get back to LA, I am never flying again", John vowed.
They found their gate and John wondered if Chiara was going to be upset during the flight. "Dad, you don't drug a cat before the flight. She already ate back at the house and there's towels inside in case she has to pee", said Nika.
"I'm just concerned, I've never traveled this far with her before", said John.
"Once we arrive, Chiara can run around", said Josh.
John was startled when business class was called and Josh and Nika pushed him forward. "It's Business Class now", said Nika.
After finding their seats, John carefully placed Chiara's case below the seat and put on his seat belt. He looked on warily as Josh handed Nika an Ambien tablet and a bottle of water. "Relax, Dad. Just make sure we don't sleepwalk", teased Nika.
John was still concerned as the pre-flight video played on the overhead screen. Soon both Nika and josh were knocked out fast asleep and with her head resting on his shoulders and his arms around her waist. John wondered if he was going to be able to sleep and if Chiara was going to be all right for such a long flight, knowing he couldn't drink alcohol or take Ambien. He reached into Nika's bag and took out her copy of Chapman's Homer, figuring that the massive doorstopper could make him sleepy. He was wary of the book's heft and it's weird poetic style instead of the prose of which he was familiar, awed that his daughter had read this as a child.
Two hours of reading the Iliad, John was sure his eyes would burn from fatigue or fall out of their sockets. He wished he'd brought along his copy of Siddhartha or Buddhist books as this heavy doorstopper made him want to pass out from boredom. He idly wondered if there was a Buddhist temple near her uncle's house as his drooped shut
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Post by Tim on Dec 7, 2020 17:56:37 GMT -5
As I said, I doubt this would even be on Putin's radar. As far as he knows, the Romanovs all died on July 17th, 1918.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Dec 10, 2020 18:41:48 GMT -5
Chapter 7
"You guys, we're in Manchester", said John once the plane landed.
Josh muttered something and opened his eyes, blinking in the harsh light of the cabin. He shook Nika as she mumbled something in French, her blue eyes hooded and dazed. "I feel hungover", she muttered.
"It's the Ambien, at least we weren't zombies. And you have to show us your cousin", said Josh.
Josh helped her get from the seat and out onto the aisle while John took Chiara's cage. The trio left the plane and Nika walked on wobbly legs down to the gate as Josh helped support her. At the end of the gate was a young woman with long straight dark brown hair to her waist who held up a sign which read LA Family. "The Ambien hasn't worn off yet, huh?", teased the woman in a crisp Yorkshire accent.
"Yes. You're Great-Aunt Skye's granddaughter, correct? I haven't seen them in so long", mumbled Nika.
"Yes, I'm your cousin Pearl Malone, but I'm a Sutherland through the maternal line", she replied.
John wondered about this woman as she led them towards the baggage carousel, thinking she must be one of these Sol Duga folks. He vaguely remembered hearing Maria talking about her sister Olivia but nothing about someone named Skye, musing to himself that his daughter might have a bigger family than he thought. "Oh, I forgot my manners. I'm Pearl Madden, we're all staying at Great-Uncle Ian's house in Harrogate, Roseblanche", she said.
John could only nod and wondered if this was some odd English thing to name your house. Pearl turned in his direction and his mouth went dry as his heart skipped a beat. It had been so long sine he had dated anyone or found a woman attractive, and he realized with a jolt Pearl had to be one of the most beautiful women he had seen in many years. She was barely five feet tall and very petite with long straight dark brown hair the color of chocolate and her almond-shaped hazel eyes had lovely green and gold highlights compared to his own hazel eyes which were mostly brown. With a sudden realization, John knew it would be foolhardy to try since he was old enough to be her father.
The group found their baggage and followed Pearl out of the airport. "Roseblanche is outside of Harrogate, Great-Uncle Ian wrote a series of best-sellers about Alexander the Great and they were turned into a miniseries so he made plenty of dosh", said Pearl with a smile.
John and Josh loaded their bags into the trunk of her black Volkswagen Passat as Pearl took the wheel, Chiara resting on the floor of the backseat. Josh and Nika nearly passed out in the backseat from the Ambien and John found himself sitting up front with Pearl as he tried not to feel giddy as a teenage boy. "It's less than an hour away, Great-Aunt Olivia has been supervising the cleaning", she said, turning on the engine.
"Okay, is everyone in Sol Duga coming?", he asked.
Pearl giggled and John felt faint. "No, only those who are Romanovs living in England. There's thousands of us, the house can't accommodate everyone. Great Uncle Alex and Great Natalie will be arriving tomorrow. Hugo said when everyone gets here, he'll tell you lot what to do", she replied.
"My daughter's mother faked her death and is hiding in 1920's Argentina. I guess they want Hugo to give them answers about the Romanovs. I'm still confused", he chuckled weakly.
"I've always known, my grandmother was open about it. My grandfather was Persian and Skye was his concubine since he was already married, my mother was actually born in 318 BC in Babylon. My grandmother had to flee since there were a lot of palace intrigues involving his wife", said Pearl.
John thought his head was going to explode with this information. "If you had told me this last week, I would have run away screaming or called the cops, but after hearing Hugo and knowing about Nika's family, I believe every bit of it. So your mom was born in ancient Persia and your grandpa was a Persian, and judging from your last name, your dad is Irish. I believe all of this, I've always been sensitive and spiritual, so this doesn't surprise me as it should", John mused aloud.
"And you're a Torres, Nika is a Lacroix and I'm a Sutherland. Alex married into the Jarvinens", said Pearl.
"Does he have hemophilia?", he asked.
"No, he was cured when the family was sent forward in time. We beat the Bolsheviks after all", said Pearl with a grim smile.
John could only nod as they were now driving through glorious moorside scenery. The green of the dales contrasted with the limestone underneath, topped by the first of the season's heather as tiny pink and purple blooms accentuated the green under a brilliant blue sky with few clouds, the whole reminding him of a water color landscape.
"My family is very proud to be from Yorkshire, which is why the house is called Roseblanche. Us Yorkshire folk are very proud of part of England", laughed Pearl.
"I can see why, it's gorgeous. I've never been to this part of England before, we've played shows in London, Birmingham and Manchester but not in Yorkshire", said John.
"Your loss, Yorkshire is prettier than Lancashire. And Arctic Monkeys are better than Oasis", she teased.
John tried to control the blush threatening to creep up his face at the sound of her laugh. "Uh, the only new music I listen to is electronic and house. I don't go to clubs but I do produce a lot of it in my studio", he said.
"Bloody awesome, there's no recording studios near Roseblanche. I play guitar and sing a bit, mostly folk music. My grandmother knew the old Yorkshire folk songs", said Pearl.
John looked into the backseat and saw that Josh and Nika were still passed out from the Ambien. "I will never touch that stuff, I had a really bad problem with drugs and I barely take anything", he said.
'I see, I wouldn't touch Ambien either", agreed Pearl.
They arrived at Roseblanche and John admired the exterior. Roseblanche was a lovely Georgian-style house surrounded by hills nestled at the bottom of a dell, the blue skies adding part of the frame. The house itself was long and two stories high, made of pale buff brick weathered to a homey brown with white wood trim. Around the perimeter of the house were white rosebushes in full bloom and even from yards away their scent filled the air. "White roses for York, of course", laughed Pearl.
"Guys, we're here", said John.
Josh muttered as he opened his eyes and shook Nika. "I am never going to touch that shit again, this is worse than the time I did cocaine", he mumbled.
"You better not, and at least you never went further", chided John.
"Yeah, I was being stupid. It felt great but gave me the hangover from hell, I just drink sometimes. Drugs are shit", he declared.
Josh shook Nika and she opened her eyes, the blue orbs slightly unfocused. "We're here, Night Owl", he said.
"What was that stuff?", she muttered.
"We're never taking Ambien again, I feel like a zombie", said Josh.
"Same here, maybe some coffee would be nice", said Nika.
John and Josh got their bags from the trunk as Pearl led them inside the house. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Hubert and I will escort you to your room. Sir and Lady Sutherland will not disturb you until supper. They said for you not to be bothered because of your flight", said the butler.
Josh and Nika tried not to laugh at John's shocked expression. "Dad, what did you expect?", she teased.
John just laughed. "I've never stayed in a house with a butler before", he chuckled.
Hubert led them upstairs via a wide stairway which resembled the one on the Titanic. "I want to see the rest of the house", declared John.
"Don't rock musicians have big houses in California? A lot of British rock stars do", said Pearl.
"Depends, my place is really modest by LA standards. I just collect a lot of CD's and albums and guitars, the biggest room is my studio. I do have a pool, but that's an LA thing. I don't need a big house, it's me, Chiara and Mildred, my housekeeper", he replied.
Chiara fidgeted in her cage as John led her out once they got to his room. "The kitty box is in the corner and there's dishes nearby, if you need anything, use the phone and here's a list of numbers", said Pearl, pointing to a notepad on the desk.
John suddenly felt aware of how exhausted he was as he nearly staggered. "I'll let you rest up, I'll tell Great-Aunt Olivia", said Pearl as he plopped down on the bed.
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Post by Tim on Dec 11, 2020 0:26:37 GMT -5
Nice that they took the cat with them.
Olivia is Olga, right?
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Dec 11, 2020 7:48:40 GMT -5
Nice that they took the cat with them.
Olivia is Olga, right?
Yeah, she’s legally Lady Olivia Sutherland now. Ian was knighted for writing bestselling history books and a series of alternative history novels on Alexander the Great set in ancient Babylon. John dotes on Chiara like a human child since he otherwise lives alone with a housekeeper, Nika and Josh live together now.
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Post by Tim on Dec 11, 2020 12:42:14 GMT -5
Wonder if Sol Duga ever met Alexander themselves.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Dec 11, 2020 12:59:12 GMT -5
Wonder if Sol Duga ever met Alexander themselves.
I actually have an idea of a story where Ian’s sister Skye did go back in time and met Alexander, I’ve been kicking it about for a long while. But I’m busy AF with studying for final exams and finishing three final papers, one of which is my senior thesis plus the stuff I already have here. So I might get around to writing it when everything calms down and I’m finished with something
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Post by Tim on Dec 11, 2020 13:00:32 GMT -5
Imagine if they brought Alexander to this time. The poor guy wouldn't know which way was up!
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Dec 14, 2020 21:48:21 GMT -5
Sorry if the updates are a bit slow, but I have to turn in three papers and a final exam by the 23rd
Chapter 8
"So this is like room service the? I have no idea how a manor house works", said Josh
"Yeah, sort of. When we'd visit England, we stayed here since Great Uncle Ian has the biggest house. I really want to ask Great-Aunt Olivia about being a Romanov, it's all finally sinking in. But this is a lot more new for Dad, since he's never been to Roseblanche", said Nika
"Same here, the last few days feel like I'm in some movie or having an out-of-body experience. But I do want to know, if your family are Romanovs, then what about those bodies they found? DNA doesn't lie", said Josh.
"I know, and how did they get the family out of Siberia? Ekaterinburg is in the middle of nowhere", said Nika.
"All in due time. We both need coffee and a shower", said Josh.
Half an hour later, both felt much better after a hot shower and a change of clothes. "I wonder if the house has a huge library. Don't big English houses have big libraries?", Josh mused aloud.
Nika laughed as she carefully brushed her hair, the damp curls shining and the scent of lilac clinging to the dark mass. "Yes, Great-Uncle Ian has an enormous library. That's what attracted him to Olivia, she borrowed his copy of Diodorus and read and understood it. She was the first woman he met who was on his intellectual level", she said.
"Ah, a sapiophile. We got that in common", he teased.
"Yes, smart people are more interesting to date than dumb people. But seriously, we need caffeine", said Nika.
She picked up the phone and called the kitchen to send up some tea and cake. Josh had gone over to the window and gazed at the valley in awe, opening the window to get a better view. From this vantage point, he could see the nearby green hill dotted with tiny blooms of heather with the off-white and green limestone peeking out from underneath. The sky seemed bluer since there were few clouds and the scent of roses wafted up from the rosebushes, so very different from their view in LA. "I want to paint this", he murmured.
"Yeah, it's different from the view in LA. But Yorkshire has a different sort of beauty, more subtle", she said.
"Oh, I got to text Mom and Dad", said Josh apologetically.
"If we have to go back and fetch Mom, will your parents think we're still in England? And what if people think we're missing? I really need to pick Hugo's brain", she said.
"Same here, I'm as new to this as you are. I don't think my parents would understand anyways, they're the most suburban, middle-class white people on the planet. I have no idea where I got musical ability, my family is so suburban", said Josh ruefully.
"Your mom and dad are nice, it was great to visit them for Thanksgiving last year", she said.
"Yeah, since John doesn't do Thanksgiving. But i just wanted to let Mom and Dad know I'm fine", he said.
Josh gave her a hug as they looked out the window. "You know, I've never been on vacation with a girlfriend before. I've always traveled alone or with my parents", he mused aloud.
"Really? But this isn't really a vacation, this is more like having my dad and boyfriend get to meet my family thing", she joked.
"Ha, your family is definitely more interesting than mine. As far as I know, no one in my family is royalty or time travelers", he chuckled.
There was a discreet knock on the door and Nika answered it as a maid in a starched uniform set down a tea tray on the desk before leaving. "This might be your first real English tea, Grandmere doesn't do the fancy tea anymore", she said.
Nika poured them each a cup of tea and added cream and sugar to hers and a slice of lemon and sugar to his. "I thought these kinds of things only existed in Jane Austen novels", he said, gesturing to the tray of tiny sandwiches and delicate cakes.
"It's mostly in fancy hotels and tea shops, but yeah, the English still have high tea. We'll meet Uncle Ian and Aunt Olivia later, Alex and Natalie are driving up from London. You're going to love Uncle Ian's library", she teased.
"I can't wait. If we get a bigger house, I want a huge library, with plush chairs and a big oak desk", declared Josh.
"Same here, our library is getting too cramped", she agreed.
They sipped tea and snacked on the sandwiches in a pleasant silence as they gazed out the window. "I wonder if we can explore the area, I imagine the hiking here is good", he said.
"Maybe, but be prepared for the weather. Yorkshire weather is unpredictable", she replied.
"Did you ever meet your great-grandparents?", he asked.
"Only my great-grandfather, my great-grandmother died ten years before I was born. He actually lived with Pepere and Grandmere because he thought England wasn't good for his health, too cold. He died when I was seven and he used a wheelchair, he was always sad because him and my great-grandmother were very close. I would have liked to have met her, Grandmere always spoke well of her", said Nika.
"Knowing that he was the czar gives it a new meaning, I suppose. I just really want to pick Hugo's brain, since it's finally sinking in. And I'm glad your family isn't interested in being the next czar or czarina, Putin sounds like a ruthless bastard", he muttered.
"Russia is a mess, period. But you are going to like Ian and Olivia", she said.
Just then, the phone in the room and rang and she picked it up. "Speak of the devil", she chuckled.
Josh followed her out of the room until they arrived at a parlor down the hall. A dignified older couple in their 70's waited for them and he immediately stood up and tall as he instinctively knew he was in the presence of someone important. "Great-Uncle Ian and Great-Aunt Olivia, this is my boyfriend Josh. Josh, this is Sir Ian Sutherland and Lady Olivia Sutherland", she said.
"Uh, hi", he squeaked.
Ian chuckled, his green eyes filled with amusement. "Oh dear, you don't have to be intimidated. My grandchildren enjoy your music, I suppose Yanks are still starstruck by nobles", he teased.
"Americans are agog over titles, they seem very impressed. But welcome to Roseblanche, Josh. We're glad that Nika has a boyfriend, she was always so serious", said Olivia kindly. She was still slim and her face was very Slavic-looking with its high cheekbones, blue eyes tilted up at the corners and rosebud mouth, revealing that she was still a handsome woman.
Josh realized he was looking at a much older version of Olga Romanova. "Hugo told us about you, I can certainly see the resemblance, Lady Sutherland", he said.
"Please call me Olivia, since in the states people don't use titles. I suppose it is a big shock, it was just as big a shock to find ourselves in England after falling asleep in that horrid house. But I suppose it was an even bigger shock since very few people are aware of the Sol Duga, not even the Queen or MI6 know of us", said Olivia.
"It was a big shock, since my family are such ordinary, middle-class suburban people. I'm the black sheep, or maybe tutti-frutti sheep", he joked.
"And it was a shock for you, Nika. Zoe refused to tell you and as a child you were too young to understand. Our children were told from a young age, it's better since there isn't that shock. And Zoe is in very big trouble, if she wanted to leave, she could have told Hugo first", said Ian.
"I guess, I just texted my parents to let them know we've arrived. I couldn't do that to my parents. They've been very supportive, even if they were upset I dropped out of high school", said Josh.
"Some very smart people are school leavers, I've met a few. And I really liked your albums with Dot Hacker, especially the Process EP's. But why did you have a breast on the cover?", asked Ian.
Josh blushed. "It was a photo from Esquire, we thought it was artistic", he muttered.
"I see, but I don't think children listen to your music. Let us take you on a tour of the house, I suppose you have never seen a manor house before", teased Ian.
Josh tried not to stare open-mouthed at the library, easily the coolest room in the house by far. It took nearly the entire third floor and shelves crammed with books lined its massive perimeter, the shelves reaching up to the ceiling. The ceiling had a glass dome in the center painted to resemble the night sky as blue-tinged light filled the room, painted stars twinkling. It contrasted with the soft brown, green, and gold Paisley Persian rug on the polished hardwood floors and the massive oak desk with matching plush brown chairs, the scent of lemon wax hanging in the air. "Wow", was all he could say.
"I know, Nika mentioned you enjoy reading. You can check it out yourself, my grandchildren enjoy browsing", said Ian.
"Our library at home isn't nearly as big, but my music room is sweet. I have all my guitars, my keyboards, drums and more books there. It may look cluttered, but there's an order to stuff", said Josh.
"I know, I don't touch anything in there", agreed Nika.
Josh started at the first end of shelves and scanned the titles. To his relief, the books were arranged alphabetically by subject. Most of them were history books mostly about ancient Greece and Alexander the Great, the history of India, Richard III, English history and Hinduism. Another section had the first editions of his novels and nonfiction and Josh had to chuckle when he saw Jack's novels in there as well, wondering if he could borrow one.
Nika just grinned at her boyfriend's awe, knowing how he was always buying books and how their shelves could barely fit any more. "We might have to get new shelves soon, maybe put them in the living room", she said.
"Maybe the bedroom after we run out of space, then again we might need a bigger house", he teased.
"Or leave them at Dad's house", she suggested.
"John already has too many books", he said.
"Yeah, my two favorite men are hardcore bibliophiles and musicians", she laughed.
Josh chuckled and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Ian and Olivia just smiled at the couple, seeing they were clearly happy and in love. "We'll show John the library, you can borrow what you want", said Ian.
"Thank you, sir", replied Josh.
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Post by Tim on Dec 15, 2020 0:35:38 GMT -5
Understandable.
And good luck on that exam.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Dec 20, 2020 19:47:48 GMT -5
I tuned in all my papers and exams so I can finally start updating regularly 😊
Chapter 9
John felt much better after taking a nap and then a shower as Chiara looked out the window with wide green eyes. "I know, it's gorgeous but different. I've never been to this part of England before either, normally I prefer sun but this is pretty", he said.
John straightened his tie as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. He wore pressed back slacks and a white buttoned-down shirt under a black brocade vest with brown and dark green flat beads that shone. His long dark brown curls fell past his shoulders, frowning when he saw a few gray hairs around his temples and on his sideburns. He combed his hair and was satisfied that at least he wasn't going bald, as he made sure his tie was correct.
"Dad, I haven't seen you wear a tie in years", said Nika
"But it's not every day I have dinner with a Lord and a Lady. Do I have a lot of gray hairs?", he asked anxiously.
"Just a few, but don't dye your hair. If it goes salt and pepper, the silver fox look would totally suit you", said Nika.
"Yeah, my uncle uses Grecian formula and he looks like a vampire. Just don't", said Josh in mock-horror.
"No way, I don't want to look like a vampire. I want to be a cool, dignified older guy", laughed John.
Josh just chuckled as he put an arm around Nika's waist. His brown eyes glowed with appreciation as he looked at her, clad in a royal blue tube dress that clung to her slim figure and flattered her ivory skin and dark curls. For once Josh didn't wear his usual dark baggy clothes and wool beanie. Instead, he wore pressed black slacks and a buttoned-down shirt topped by a black blazer, his brown hair neatly combed and parted to the side.
"Yeah, I don't think you wear crotch pants to dinner at Roseblanche", she teased as Josh took her hand and kissed her cheek.
John followed them and Hubert to the parlor. Seeing his daughter and his friend walking hand in hand gave him mixed feelings. On the one hand, he was glad for them and to see his daughter looking so beautiful and radiant. On the other h and, seeing them together accentuated his own loneliness and how he had been single and celibate for nearly twenty years. Fleetingly, he wondered if a relationship with Pearl cold work, since she was the first woman he'd been attracted to in that long.
Hubert led them to a smaller dining room next to the larger one. Ian got up and shook their hands. "I thought we ought to use the smaller dining room, since it's only a few of us", he said.
"Good idea, this is more cozy. Then again, I usually eat on a card table in my studio", said John with a rueful smile.
"I can imagine, you're a very prolific artist. Natalie and Alex are coming tomorrow, one day we will have a family reunion with everyone", said Olivia.
"Sorry I'm late, Aunt Olivia and Uncle Ian", said Pearl apologetically.
"You're not late at all, Pearl", said Olivia kindly.
John suddenly felt his mouth go dry. Pearl wore a forest green tube dress in a similar style to Nika's, her dark brown hair in a braid wrapped around her head and held in place by a clip adorned with white silk roses. Around her slim neck was a chunky necklace made of malachite that rested on the modest swell of her breast, nearly the color of her green eyes.
Nika gave her father a concerned look as John tried not to blush. Josh pulled out a chair for Nika and for Pearl as Hubert poured everyone a glass of sparkling water. "We don't drink anymore", explained Ian.
"That's all right, I haven't drank alcohol in over twenty years. After I stopped doing drugs, I still drank until I quit that too. I haven't had any drugs or alcohol in over twenty years", said John.
"I read about it in the Guardian, it's wonderful you're sober. I suppose it's an artist thing, artists tend to be a barmy lot", said Ian.
"Nika, how is your student teaching going?", asked Olivia.
"It's coming along well, I'm working on my masters", she replied.
"Yeah, and you needed a break. And I thought working on your senior thesis was hard", said Josh.
"My senior thesis was 15 pages, my masters thesis is over 20 pages long", she explained.
"She's Apollo and I'm Dionysus, together we make Cygnus", teased Josh.
"Hah, great Rush reference", laughed Pearl.
"You're a Rush fan?", asked John in surprise.
"Yeah, especially their 70's stuff with the concept albums. I saw them on their last UK tour", said Pearl.
John was more attracted to her now, never having met any woman who listened to Rush. "You're surprised, since I'm not fat and weird. It's not the first time", said Pearl coolly.
John actually looked crestfallen. "Pearl, Dad has been celibate for so long he doesn't know how to talk with women", chided Nika.
"Oh, sorry about that. But I don't like to be called a clever girl, I'm used to being condescended to but I don't like it", said Pearl.
John was glad when the first course arrived, hoping he didn't permanently offend Pearl. The conversation throughout dinner moved towards lighter subjects as servants removed dishes and brought new ones. "John, I didn't mean to sound cool. I didn't know you were celibate", said Pearl.
"It's okay, the only women I've talked to lately are my daughter and my goddaughter and Mom. When I was a young guy after I first joined the band, I acted like a young dickhead. I partied too much and had lots of groupies, I was a teenager with a teenage boy's brain. I got sober and felt guilty for how I treated women, Mom raised me better than that", he replied.
"I see. I barely date either so I can sort of understand", said Pearl kindly.
John couldn't help the grin forming on his face and the blush that threatened to spill onto his cheeks. Nika and Josh tried to hide their grins while Ian and Olivia just smiled kindly. "Oh my, soon we shall meet in the library", said Ian.
After the dessert dishes were cleared, Ian led them towards the library. Everyone settled in their chairs as Ian sat at his enormous desk. "Tomorrow, Alex and Natalie will be here. Once they are here, Hugo will arrive and give the instructions. We have never had a case where one of our members faked their death, it could be a case of Zoe going rogue or something worse", he said.
"How long have you guys been around?", asked John.
"You are one of us, John. While Hugo is over 3,000 years old, the organization itself dates back to 971 and was founded in Iceland. Hugo can tell you more", Ian replied.
"Wow, Iceland is awesome. We played a festival under the midnight sun last year", said Josh.
"it is, Iceland is our headquarters, the island of Hvit Orn in the west. But it's impossible to enter unless you're a member", said Olivia.
"That sounds like something out of a myth, it's common in a lot of myths that only certain people can see", said Josh.
"I'm rubbing off on you", teased Nika.
"I'm living with a super-smart girlfriend, it's bound to rub off on me", he chuckled, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"My, you two make a lovely couple", said Olivia.
Ian chuckled as he put an arm around his wife and kissed her cheek. "I know, we've been lucky. And Josh, I've seen you eying my library. You can choose something if you like", said Ian.
Josh blushed guiltily as he got up from his chair and walked over to the bookshelves. He selected a copy of Ian's novel In the Gardens of Babylon and sat back down, fidgeting like a schoolboy at the end of the day. "That was my first novel, Skye helped me write it since she gave me the idea. Unfortunately, she died of cancer two years ago", said Ian sadly.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Ian", said Josh.
"No worries, she lived a good life and inspired my novels", said Ian with a little smile.
Josh lay sprawled out on the bed propped up by the pillows as he read Ian's novel, Nika lying next to him reading a collection of Aeschylus. He was engrossed in the book yet conscious of Nika next to him, her loose curls against his neck and her lilac scent lingering on her skin. Yet he didn't find it distracting, just very pleasant and familiar.
Josh reluctantly set down the book and placed a bookmark between the pages, blinking his eyes and shaking his head. Nika did the same with her book as he snuggled against her, sighing when she ran her fingers through his hair. "You're the only person i want doing that, I have boring brown hair', he said.
"Your hair is not boring, at least you're not bald. And mine gets tangled easily and needs a lot of conditioner", she chided.
"And it smells of lilacs, Night Owl. Us guys don't have nice floral conditioners", he joked.
Josh just laid his head down in her lap and savored the feeling of her fingers through his hair. She shifted slightly and one of her long brown curls came loose as Josh gently rubbed the end between his thumb and forefinger. "You have beautiful hair, much nicer than mine", he murmured.
"Thank Dad's genes, him and I got the same hair", she chuckled.
Reluctantly Josh lifted his head from his girlfriend's lap and got up to look out the window. "This is amazing, I haven't seen the stars in ages", he said in awe.
Nika nodded in agreement as she stood next to him by the window. The sky outside was inky-black and illuminated by innumerable tiny stars and the thin edge of a waning moon turning into a new one, the stars twinkling like facets of a finely-cut diamond. "You can't see the lights in LA for the smog and light pollution, or in New York. Not even in Palm Springs, only in Yorkshire I've seen stars this bright", she said.
Josh nodded. He thought the sky here in Yorkshire was the clearest and brightest he had ever seen, having lived nearly his entire life in LA. The illumination of the stars lit up the grounds of Roseblanche as it made the white roses shine brilliantly against the darkness, so very different from the lights of LA below their house.
"Maybe I'll do a sketch of this, and I could finish it as a painting when we get home", he mused aloud.
"Yeah, it's different from LA. Are you going to do it in a Van Gogh style or something else?", she asked.
"I'll see when I'm done", he mumbled.
Josh suddenly got an idea as he reached inside his bag for his drawing pad and a pencil while Nika opened the windows. She sat on the bed and continued reading as Josh stood by the window and sketched the view. The room was silent except for the sound of his pencil against the paper and her turning pages, a soft swishing sound that echoed in the room.
Josh felt an elated sense of accomplishment as he put the last touches on the sketch, sighing in both tiredness and delight. He went over to the bed and handed her the pad as she studied it. "This is a fine sketch, I'd love to see the painting of this. The night sky isn't the easiest thing to paint", she replied.
"I'm going to paint it when I get back home, maybe find a few photos on Google for reference. Maybe one day I can do a gallery show one day", he mused aloud.
"You will, Josh", she said reassuringly.
Josh put the sketch pad and pencil away as he rejoined her on the bed. Nika wore a purple satin slip under a white satin robe adorned with cherry blossoms, her legs bare under the short hem and her hair loose around her shoulders. A slow smile formed on his face and his brown eyes glowed as he lay on bed and Nika placed his head on her lap. "I have the best view in England", he teased.
Nika giggled as she brushed a lock of his hair away from his forehead. "What about the view outside the window?", she joked.
"It's great, but it's not my girlfriend", he laughed.
Josh gently tugged on her curly brown hair to lower her face as she leaned down to kiss him. The first few kisses were soft and gentle, little chaste ones but they gradually grew hotter and more passionate. Josh lifted his head from her lap and kissed her before reaching for the sash of her rob. Nika was still as Josh untied the robe and slid off her body to reveal the purple slip, the mulberry purple flattering her fair skin and dark hair. His breathing was heavy as he leaned over and kissed her softly, his head resting on her thigh. "I think you're a bit overdressed, Josh", she teased.
Josh laughed and was still as Nika unbuttoned his pajama top and slid it off to reveal his slim torso as a slight blush formed on his cheeks. "You look fine, Josh. Six pack abs are overrated, I like skinny guys. Especially a certain skinny guitarist", she joked.
"Hah, your Dad?", he teased.
"No way! We're not ancient Egyptians", she exclaimed in mock-horror.
Josh laughed as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He sighed into the kiss when he felt her hands on his chest, the sensation sending little tongues of flame to his core. He broke the kiss and took off his pajama bottoms as Nika removed the slip and his brown eyes turned golden with lust. A slow smile formed on his lips when he saw she was nude underneath. "Bad girl, and at your great-uncle's house", he drawled.
"We're on the opposite end from Uncle Ian and Aunt Olivia, and at least three rooms away from Dad", she laughed.
The couple lay back on the bed spent with lust. Nika snuggled into his embrace and Josh kissed the top of her head. "You rode me hard, Night Owl. I can barely move", he teased.
"You were the one who suggested it, Joshua Adam Klinghoffer", she chided.
"Hah, and I loved it. I'd like to meet your family and get some answers from Hugo. I knew when I dropped out of high school, I was going to do interesting things. Just not this, but it comes with the territory. Good night, Night Owl", he whispered.
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Post by Tim on Dec 20, 2020 19:55:32 GMT -5
Hey, Rush, i remember them. Of course, they're Canadian, like me.
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