Everybody Loves Raguna
Chapter 55
The Family Portrait
"What are you saying, sir?" Ivan asked his father-in-law as the two shared a quiet brunch,
"I'm saying we should have ourselves painted." Jasper told him, "We should have a family portrait! I'm telling you, I'll hire the best painter I know!"
"Well..." Ivan mumbled, "I think that's a great idea!"
"The De Sainte-Coquile Family Portrait!" Jasper clapped his hands, "Oh, this is great!"
"But does it only have to be our family?" Ivan asked, "Can it not be my brother and his family as well?"
"Hm..." Jasper pondered, "I say we do ours first, as a personal one.. Then we could do the full one!" he suggested,
"Great." Ivan said, "And when will we do this?"
"The painter should arrive by next week. He's been doing our family portraits since my own grandfather's family!"
00(LE NEXT WEEK)000
"Hm..." Raguna pondered as he looked at the huge doors of the manor, his attention caught by a small sign on them,
ATTENDING IMPORTANT FUNCTION- The sign read,
"They must be busy." Felicity told him, "I think we should come drop this off later."
"Alright." Raguna turned away, "I wonder what they're doing."
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"Yes! I love it!" the painter said as the family got into position, "Keep that pose! I love it! Wunderbar!"
"This is really itchy..." Ivan complained, since his frilly collar was very wooly,
"You only have to deal with it for two hours." Bianca told him as she held Leonard up,
"Two hours?!" Ivan growled, "Oh boy."
"It would usually take 4 hours with any other painter." Jasper informed, "But Gaich is the best."
"'Zank you, Jasper." Gaich (pron. GUY-ACH) said as he fixed his glasses, then dipped his brush in his paint, "I remember when I painted you for the first time... You were a wee lad, aye."
"He painted my father's family portrait." Jasper chuckled, "It's still in my room, along with my grandfather's."
"I see." Ivan said as he kept his chin up,
"Madame, please hold the babe a little higher." Giach told Bianca,
"Ok." Bianca held Leonard a little bit higher, "Like this?"
"Perfect." Gaich nodded as he painted around.
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"My leg is itchy." Ivan muttered,
"Please don't move, Sir Ivan De Sainte-Coquille." Gaich told him, "I'm working on you now."
"Oh boy..." Ivan sighed,
"Relax, dear." Bianca comforted him, "It'll be over soon."
"I think I'll get myself some sashimi after this." Jasper licked his lips.
"Silence!" Gaich ordered, "'Zer must be order!"
"Ok!" Ivan stood quiet and still.
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"Hmm hmm..." Gaich hummed, "'Zer!" he exclaimed, "It is finished!"
"Can we see it?" Jasper asked,
"Not yet!" Gaich yelled, "Please wait for it to dry."
"How long will that take?" Ivan asked,
"5 hours." Gaich informed, "I suggest you do some leisure activities in the meantime."
"Ugh..." Ivan groaned, "Hopefully Raguna will be more up to this... He's more impatient than I."
"Relax, he will!" Jasper reassured him, "I will probably hang the full family in... I don't know."
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"Here we go!" Gaich led his patrons to the painting, "'Ze masterpiece!" he presented the work of art to them,
"Woah." Ivan said in surprise,
"Wonderful." Jasper clapped, "You outdid yourself!"
"I look beautiful!" Bianca said, "So does Leona!" she looked at her son, who was shining in vibrant oil colours.
"'Zat will be 50,000 coin." Gaich said, "And for 'ze ozer- 'Ze full family... That will be 75,000 coin if you want to do it today, 60,000 coin if tomorrow- and if provide lodging for me."
"We'll do it today!" Jasper said without hesitation, "We are ready!"
"What?!" Ivan said in shock, "Oh no..."
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"I hate wearing the monkey suits." Raguna complained as he borrowed a fancy dress from Jasper's younger years,
"I look so fabulous!" Felicity said as she paraded her extravagant attire,
"My wife wore that." Jasper said, "She was a beautiful creature..."
"Where's your father?" Bianca asked Ivan, "He is late."
"I will begin!" Gaich announced, "Is 'zere anyone unaccounted for!?"
"My father, sir." Ivan told him, "He-"
"Tell him to hurry up!" Gaich yelled, "I will begin wizout him!"
"Sorry I am late!" a voice called out, revealing the man of the hour, donned in great clothing with many ribbons, medals, and awards. "Major General Alvar Leon at your service!" he walked to his position.
"Oh my." Gaich said, daunted by the man's huge size, "'Zis is new."
"He's not tall." Jasper joked,
"That's right... He's huge!" Raguna chuckled,
"My stars!" Gaich took a deep breath, "Very well! A challenge 'zat can be overcome!" he claimed and went on to painting.
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"Where are we going to put it?" Raguna asked as he saw the great family portrait completed, "This is like- a world wonder."
"Look at Leona and Lucia." Felicity smiled as she saw her children there, "They look so beautiful!"
"Leonard is even better!" Bianca said pridefully, "He radiates adorability!"
"I like how... I actually fit." the Spaceman said, "I like it."
"We should put this up... there." Jasper pointed to the top of the stairs, above the doors to the cellar,
"Awesome." Raguna nodded, "We should do it!"
"Behold, Ivan De Sainte-Coquille..." Ivan said, "The Great Kardian Trader."
"Oh yeah?" Raguna said, "Behold Raguna, The Great Kardian Warrior."
"You got nothing." the Spaceman came up, "Behold! Alvar Leon! Conqueror of the Achaians! Slayer of the Sultars! Master of the Larak System, Lord of the FM-112 Sector!"
"I hope you will have one like this, Ivan." Jasper turned to his son-in-law,
"Well, let's hope Gaich will still be living." Ivan joked, "I can't wait to see what ours will hold, dear." he turned to Bianca, "Leonard will probably be married with kids of his own."
"I'm so excited!" Bianca smiled, "You hear that Leonard?" she cooed her son, "Oh..."
"Gah..." Leonard mumbled, "Ah ha!"
Important News to all my Readers:
There will be NO new stories at this time, I still have a few to finish... Prease Understand!
