Thomas sits at the head of the Throne Room, which had been stripped of its previous black silks now was filled with auspicious, white satins and enough American flags to hang on the door of every house in Virginia. Below him stands all the nobles of the court watching in fervent anticipation. Just how he likes it (ignoring the lurking, black gremlin in the shadows of the room). After all, yesterday had been the day of his wedding to his former sister-in-law, now wife, Martha, who sits by his side. Today, he ascends the throne as king. Thomas stands and begins the show.
"Honored friends, family, and everyone else, we thank you all for joining us today on this joyful occasion. We know that the death of King George Washington is still fresh in our hearts, but, at times we must break a few eggs to make the omelette of our Nation." Thomas begins with a good meaning grin. "We shall continue on our great path; in remembrance of those behind us, while still looking towards the future. In steps toward a new and more peaceful future We call upon Ambassadors…" Shit. What were their names again? Thomas glances at the smudged writing on his hand, "Lafayette du Motier and Henry Michigan. We send you on a diplomatic mission to England to deliver this letter to the English Congress in good faith that they will speak to the King." Thomas finishes with a winning smile.
The two men step forward and bow before Henry speaks, "Actually, your Majesty, my name is Hercules Mulligan." Shit.
Lafayette continues off, "I'm already an Ambassador for France, and you should know that." He gave Thomas an incredulous look. Double shit.
Thomas's hands start sweating. "Yes, of course I knew that…." he trails off. What the fuck should he say now?
Lafayette seems to take pity on him, and brushes it off, "You know what? Don't worry about it. Hercules will do a fine job by himself."
Eager to jump on the chance to get out of that conversation, Thomas quickly agrees and hands the letter to Hercules who takes it gingerly. "Set forward, good sir, and deliver that to England."
With that, Hercules gives one last bow and leaves the room. Welp, that is at least one matter of business finished. On to the next. "Now, as I understand, dear Angelica, you wished for council?"
Angelica steps forward from where she had been standing with her sisters and father, her pink dress swaying with her steps, before stopping in a bow in front of him. "Yes, your Majesty, I wish your favour for me to leave and attend university in France."
Why the fuck would she come to him for this? Is this something that the King has to decide? To say Thomas was confused would be an understatement but seeing how this was not necessarily a good time to stop and ask questions to his wife, he moves onto the next best thing. He zeros in on her father and trusted advisor, who was frantically shaking his head at the back of the room. "I have no problem with this so long as your father is in agreement." There. You can never go wrong with "Go ask your dad."
James grimaces and glowers at him. Angelica turns fully and gives her father an expectant look.
"Father," she states warningly, "remember what mother said?" To his credit, James does not sulk back but instead stands his ground against whatever his wife had threatened him with.
"I have no problem with this." Or not.
Thomas gives a charmed smile, and declares the matter over and court dismissed. As the court clears, he scans for his next target and begins making his way over to the shit disturber in the corner of the room, with Martha at his side.
"Alexander, my son-"
Alex immediately cuts him off, "Don't flatter yourself, we are barely the same species." Ahh, there it is, the inescapable irritation that comes with having any sort of conversation with this little shit head.
"Alexander," Martha cuts in, "I know you miss your father but do you really need to wear all this black? It's kind of downing the mood of, well, everything." Which was true as the brat had decided to show up to the wedding in the exact same outfit he has worn everyday for the last month, pure black mourning clothes. "It was bound to happen at one point, darling, it's how life works. I know you know this, we had this conversation every time one of your hamsters died."
Alex seems to swell at that, "Philip was a treasured part of this family and nothing will ever replace him!" Except for the other seven hamsters he had, including a second one with the name Philip, but apparently Alex had not been thinking about that. "Besides that, mother, nothing I can wear will ever represent just how black my soul is. Nothing that I show –no tear, no forced breath, nothing– will ever truly show how much I grieve for my father. Those at which things a man can act will never show what's within."
Thomas only barely avoids rolling his eyes at the boy in front of him. "Look, Alexander, that is very sweet that you love your dad so much, but…" Thomas squats down so he is eye level with Alex. "Don't you think it's time to grow some balls and start being a man? Everyone's dad dies at one point, you're not a special snowflake. But if your dad is what's spirling you into this unmanly show of emotions then take note, as I view you as a son to me." Like hell he does. "Now in terms of your desire to return to France for your studies, don't you think you're needed here? You are next in line for the throne after all," Thomas finishes with a patronizing smile.
Alexander begins to almost vibrate next to him, hands clenching. Is that normal behaviour of twenty year olds or is he on some bad trip?
Martha takes the initiative to begin speaking just as Alex opens his mouth. "Alex, sweetheart, please I want you to stay here with me."
Alex stops for a moment and begrudgingly looks at his mother. He grits out, "If that is what you wish, mother, then I will stay here."
Thomas cuts in, "Such a touching scene of mother and son love. But with that, my dearest," Thomas grabs Martha's hands, "let's go celebrate our marriage."
Yelling directly out to the guards and anyone still in the room, "for every shot we drink, a cannon will fire as per tradition states!" Thomas leads her out of the room to get shit faced.
