Please excuse any period inaccuracies, let me know what you think cuz I'm excited and most of all enjoy!
Such stories tend to start with a lengthly chapter or six that have no other purpose but to introduce the characters' affableness (or lack thereof), fortune (or lack thereof) and current ambitions and desires (which, we must all know, no one can be accused of lacking). But for the benefit of the characters, rather than the reader, who are much too eager to start their pursuit of those aforementioned ambitions and desires, we will constrict those chapter or six into the following few paragraphs and pray to not be accused of anything harsher (such as laziness or neglect or simply a short span of attention) than having our characters' best interests at heart. So, without further ado, let us be acquainted with:
Lady Ingrid Chillton of Arendelle
Affableness. Undeniably high as proven by her having taken under her protection not one, not two but no less than three orphaned girls. Admittedly, all three of good fortune, high status and perhaps even greater beauty and higher intellect, and yet with the undeniable defect of being all about the same age and thus certain to need and engage all her Ladyship's careful attentions (and nerves) in their coming into society, meeting all the right people and being pursued by all the best of those – all at more or less the same time.
Fortune. Enough to make her Ladyship more than perfectly comfortable without ever even entertaining the idea of matrimony and yet perfectly able to encourage the entertaining of that very idea in any young ladies of her acquaintance.
Ambitions and desires. To promote the already heavily hinted at, most felicitous marriages of all three of her charges but to maintain the highest degree of elegance and non-obtrusiveness while doing so.
Miss Elza Froster of Arendelle
Affableness. Satisfactory, thanks to her perfect manners and education, and only slightly impaired by being more than occasionally accused of accute reserve and the art of 'chilling people to the very bone'. It is only fair to note that those accusations have most often been submitted by her own sister and only very rarely by her aunt. But, again in the interest of candidness, it should be pointed out that most other people are suspected of being too affected by her cold manner to dare comment on it.
Fortune. Sizeable as can be expected of the eldest daughter of a late baron and baroness. Further benefitted by being one of the three aforementioned charges of Lady Ingrid. And yet further by her family's most favourable name and history.
Ambitions and desires. To avoid the fulfillment of the ambitions and desires listed under her aunt's name without causing her too much disappointment.
Miss Anna Froster of Arendelle
Affableness. Indisputable, aided by an exceptionally lively and cheerful disposition. At times faulted for taking 'cheerfulness' to the level of 'impropriety'. But this mostly by her sister and one might suspect mostly to repay the slight injury to the latter's own affableness.
Fortune. Refer to the information provided under Miss Froster's name and take into account her absolute resolution to share all blessings with her sister equality, while distributing any burdens rather unevenly and in no way to the misfortune of Miss Anna.
Ambitions and desires. To have everyone in a good humour at all times. Perhaps to meet a suitable match and that preferably in the most romantic and somewhat dramatic of circumstances but mostly to be in good and abundant company at all times and promote her sister's happiness (and somewhat manage to reconcile the seeming impossibility of those two occurring at the same time).
Miss Emma Swan of Misthaven
Affableness. Questionable since she has proven to possess neither manners as refined as Miss Froster's, nor disposition as pleasing as Miss Anna's. But in order to be fair to Miss Swan's character, it must be said that she also possesses neither the former's alleged coldness, nor the latter's alleged impropriety. However, she has been sentences by those same ladies to an alleged 'prickliness'. A verdict that no other acquaintance has gone to great lengths to disavow.
Fortune. Comfortable and one she has wished numerous times she could replace for still having her parents with her.
Ambitions and desires. To completely, once and for all, erase the adjective in the 'poor Miss Swan' address which she has been on the receiving end of ever since losing her parents at 4 years old. In addition, to convince her friends and guardian that she does not crave a home of her own (and the husband attached) above all else. And, lastly, and only to herself and even that very rarely, to recognize that perhaps she wouldn't mind falling into those most romantic and somewhat dramatic circumstances Miss Anna always talks about.
Mrs Mary-Margaret Nolan of Enchantings
Affableness. The most genuinely affable person one has ever met – being the most devoted daughter before her parents' death, the most unaffected creature while encouraging the attentions of her future husband, the most resolute woman in ignoring her stepmother's displeasure with said gentleman's meagre fortune, the most capable mistress, loving wife and, since recently, indulging mother ever since.
Fortune. Of no importance, she will say with a benevolent smile. And, yet, it is known, that the truthful answer is – one of the largest in the country.
Ambitions and desires. To promote in everyone the absolute felicity that she has found with her own self-proclaimed True Love and, when possible, to encourage the dissolution of the institution of loveless marriages. And, more specifically and most recently, to find the path towards her intimate friend Miss Swan's happy ending (and shove her on it).
Mr David Nolan of Enchantings
Affableness. Second only to his wife's and possessing the added advantage of having no relations with great pride and pretentions and having been raised in a home unaccustomed to unnecessary pomp and circumstance.
Fortune. Insignificant in quantity before his marriage and still insignificant now in the role it plays in his happiness and good humour.
Ambitions and desires. To be forced into unpleasant and condescending company as little as possible (especially that of his step-mother-in-law). To fulfill each and every one of his wife's ambitions and desires and preferably without having to draw his sword on any of Miss Swan's potential suitors.
Captain Liam Jones of Jewel Hall
Affableness. Much higher than expected from a man who's spent so many years at sea, undiminished but somewhat restrained by a slight over-politeness of manner but even that only on his first few meetings with a new acquaintance before giving them the benefit of his genuine warmth and good humour.
Fortune. A tad smaller than expected from a man who's spend so many years at sea, generally attributed to his overly generous nature and rather spontaneous, if not unwise, manner of making any and all arrangements.
Ambitions and desires. To fix up Jewel Hall and tame those spontaneous displays, that his self-aware nature has made perfectly noticeable to himself, by finally settling down. And yet to avoid feeling tied down by such settling. And, above all that, to restore his younger brother to at least some degree of his previous cheerfulness and affableness.
Captain Killian Jones of Neverland
Affableness. Lost, as hinted by its presence among the older Captain Jones's ambitions and desires. Said to have existed at one time in his life but hardly traceable in any of his interactions but those with his closest creatures (a list limited severely to his brother and his dog Smee and very occasionally admitting the presence of Mr and Mrs Nolan).
Fortune. Undeserving of notice and consisting almost entirely of his rather small estate. In part due to the captain's lifelong lack of interest in accumulating such a fortune, in part due to former years of imprudent, one may even venture to say destructive, habits, in part due to his current lack of need for a larger fortune, explained by his insufficient interest in keeping much company or engaging in many (or any at all) leisurely activities that involve more than a book or a gun.
Ambitions and desires. To always have just enough to do about Neverland as to successfully avoid his bother's and the Nolans' schemes for the 'promotion of his happiness' and to promote said happiness himself by a never failing supply of good books and equally good rum.
Now it is unwise and unfair, and altogether not sensible at all, to presume that this miniature exposition is to be the whole of our gallery of characters for the future. But as they have already seen it fit to run along and start making progress on achieving their wishes or rather going back on them and contradicting everything we have just learnt, we are forced to leave off here and quickly get at least a glimpse of their current situations so as to not be entirely too shocked when we catch up with them next.
/
"Upon my word, Nolan, you would be the best shot in the country, if you'd actually aim to kill something."
"Mary-Margaret doesn't like it when I bring in birds."
"Then, by all means, give them to me, but do not go wasting bullets like that," grunted the younger Jones as he hosted his gun over his shoulder one-handed. "It's shameful."
"You are one to talk, little brother. I remember a certain vixen last week-"
"I'm your younger brother and she had little cubs. I'm a sportsman, not a-"
"What's shameful is that you didn't even need me to specify that I was talking about hunting."
Captain Killian Jones shot and didn't miss. Much like he hadn't all day. Then he lowered his gun and turned to his brother so he could have the full benefit of his less than impressed visage and rolling eyes.
"And it is not at all shameful that you would like to have your brother in the company of a woman that has earned herself such a title as 'vixen'?"
Captain Liam Jones continued cleaning the gun he had barely shot on their little party and raised his own eyes to the heavens in exasperation.
"If you'd spent a little less time in the company of books and a little more in the company of, oh say, people, perhaps you wouldn't attach yourself so to my precise wording and will instead comprehend my meaning."
"Ah, but you see, the very reason I prefer books to people is that I can shut them up whenever I please."
At this the older Jones was left with little to do but shake his head and cast a half-amused, half-suffering glance at Mr Nolan. A look which made up a great percentage of his expressions when in the company of his brother.
"I say we head back now, Nolan, I can't manage him when he gets like this. And, if experience is to be believed, Miss Swan might be the only one who can shut his book."
"Oy!"
/
"Miss the ball! For shame, Emma!"
Miss Emma Swan tried to huff and mutter as quietly as possible. As strange as the sight of five respectable women, three of which with bows and arrows in their hands, was, Emma had learnt the hard way that Mary-Margarent's back-garden-turned-shooting-range was not a place for petulance and bad manners even if it was a place for mastering a deadly skill.
"When is the last time I missed a ball? Surely you can manage without me this once?"
"Are you feeling unwell, my dear?"
Lady Ingrid's sweet but predictable reaction came from the side where she and Miss Anna were enjoying what at this point Emma was sure must be a ball-threatening quantity of chocolate-covered strawberries.
"I'm quite well, ma'am. I simply do not feel like it."
"Not feel like it!" exclaimed Miss Anna with the level of disbelief that only she could demonstrate after having known Emma and her decided lack of excitement for balls for all her life. "You are a pretty woman of 24 in possession of a good fortune and a bareable temperament. Balls are given to make you 'feel like it'!"
"'Bareable' temperament?!"
Emma swung around, bow in hand and arrow drown back, towards Anna a bit too quickly for Mrs Nolan and Miss Froster's comfort.
"Aaaand I believe this is enough practice for today," announced Miss Elsa with self-imposed cheerfulness as she extracted the weapon from her closest friend's grip and handed it to their hostess. "An absolute pleasure as always, Mary-Margaret."
"Oh, I'm most happy you don't find it too extravagant and have been so kind as to join me. David gets tired of shooting at unmoving targets so fast. Or so he says. Captain Jones will assure you that he simply gets tired of having me best him every time. Indeed he has good aim but a bow doesn't seem to agree with him quite as much as a gun."
"Much as I hate to align myself with Jones, on any subject, I'm certain he is in the right here, Mary-Margaret. But could we maybe return to that moment in time when dearest Anna here classified my temperament as 'bareable' and none of you bothered to correct her."
Four pairs of amused eyes turned on Miss Swan and gave her such pointed looks that she felt like she had turned into one of Mary-Margaret's practice targets. Finally, it was Miss Anna who decided to have pity and clean up some of her own smear, albeit with a twinkle in her eye.
"I also classified your looks and fortune as 'pretty' and 'good' and, really, Emma, you know quite well how little temperament matters when those two are so well-provided for."
This time Emma's huff was no stifled thing and her sarcastic mutter delivered archly and clearly to all.
"Ah, yes, and it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a husband."
"In want of a ball, at least!"
"'Want of a ball'! I thought we were to attend just such a thing tomorrow."
Mr Nolan's booming voice, along with his wide smile and even wider footsteps towards them, followed by the brothers Jones, dissolved some of the air of stubbornness that had engulfed Anna and Emma.
"We certainly are. It's just that dear Emma seems to find such an occupation not engaging enough," Lady Ingrid kindly supplied the necessary information.
"Ah, of course, she does! I know how it shall be now. We shall all go to the ball and have a jolly good time and her and Killian will have a contest in who can find the thickest book and the darkest corner where to hide from all society."
It is certainly a testimony to the closeness and tight bond between all the persons present (despite the Froster sisters and the Jones brothers having known each other a mere month) that Captain Liam Jones' comment was received with nothing but easy smiles and deep chuckles. Except from his brother, who suddenly found his hostess's targets, that he had shot at hundreds of times, absolutely fascinating and thus forced Miss Swan's eyes to bounce off his back as they darted around and settle challengingly on his brother's.
"My conduct compared to your brother's! Congratulations, Captain Jones, you have found the way to secure my presence at this now too-talked-of ball."
"Fortunate us! Perhaps I can use my momentum and secure the first two dances as well, Miss Swan."
"How sly of you! Alas, you are much too aware that I never secure dances in advance. It gives people much too great a power over one's enjoyment of the evening."
Liam sketched her an exaggerated bow, admitting his defeat.
"Now, Killian! Your brother has persuaded Emma with his usual tricks and wit. You must allow at least equal power to my hope and sincerity."
Killian took another second to admire the ruffled feathers before pulling out the arrow that protruded straight from the center of Mrs Nolan's target and addressing the lady herself.
"Indeed it is much greater," he admitted with a tight smile, making something of a show of presenting Mary-Margaret with her arrow. "For your 'hope' you know I have no taste and little understanding but your sincerity I can never doubt and thus, unfortunately, never convince myself to refuse you."
"Your sacrifice will go down in history I'm sure, Captain."
Killian whirled around to face and respond to the blonde who had made the biting remark.
"There is, of course, also the need of presenting the conduct in opposition to which Miss Swan will base all of her own."
The miss's conduct at the present moment looked like it would not be all too favourable to him but, fortunately, this was much too apparent (and expected and not at all out of the ordinary) to everyone in attendance and David and Liam wasted no time in pronouncing themselves famished.
Lady Ingrid proceeded into the house with all her girls following suit, Miss Elsa having taken some considerable pains to convince Miss Emma to let Captain Jones have the last word 'just this once' and taking her arm to prompt her to take her eyes off the back of his head while he had gone back to his self-imposed task of retrieving Mrs Nolan's arrows.
It was only this last lady which did not immediately follow the rest of the party into the house but advanced rather in the opposite direction.
"Just so there's no doubt – I fully appreciate and recognize the compliment of your sacrifice, Captain Jones."
Killian's eyes moved first to the small, snow white hand on his shortened left forearm, wondering for a second at the fact that these delicate fingers had imbedded the arrow he was grasping in his right hand so deep into the target that he had to put quite a bit of strength into pulling it out, and then looked up into the kind green eyes that took all the sting out of the horrid term 'sacrifice' and induced it with that sincerity he could never doubt.
"It is why I shall make it."
