A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed! I didn't think I would get that many with just one chapter, but heck, it was worth it. Sorry it took so long, college, you know. I'll try to chug out chapters a bit faster, but I can't promise anything, as I am now in summer classes and I really do value studying a bit more (though I take more enjoyment in this). Enjoy….!

Chapter Two: Visitation Rights
"Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character."
Now, Mr. Briefs was quite a man. He had long ago made it a hobby of his to further investigate the follies of his fellow man, namely his wife. She was boisterous, proud, and bit over-exaggerated in certain areas, but he did love her. Why else would he help her bare the family five daughters?

With her exclamations of how they would never get to meet Mr. Son, he realized that he was indeed, one step ahead of his wife. Mrs. Briefs was, of course totally oblivious to her husband's actions. Earlier in the week he had taken it upon himself to be one of the first to visit their new neighbor. He could hardly contain the surprise, but chose to wait until after dinner, or else all would suffer a terrible case of indigestion at his wife's screeches, etc.

Marron, quite frankly, brought up the subject of hoping to one day get a glimpse of Mr. Son. "I do think him to be a tall, terribly handsome man. Don't you think Juu?"

A hint of a smile passed over the second youngest face. "I should hope so! It's hard enough indeed to find a suitable partner for all the balls and parties. Oh, I hope he's a good dancer too!"

Bulma and Chichi busied themselves with their hats, decorating them for special occasions. "I hope Mr. Son likes one of your hats my dears," stated Mr. Briefs as he took his place by the fire, book in hand. Mrs. Briefs offered a small glare from her stitching.

"We'll never know what Mr. Son likes, seems how we are never to meet him."

"Oh mama, really, we'll get to see him at assemblies. I'm sure one of the ladies will be nice enough to introduce us," remarked Bulma. Chichi paused and looked up as her mother tossed her stitching pattern onto the table. "I highly doubt it! Those who will have already made his acquaintance will most likely keep him to themselves. After all, there are many single young ladies in this village, and mothers are always hoping to secure such a man. Besides, I don't want to have to beg for an introduction!"

Mr. Briefs set his book down, a playful smile easing across his features. "No, I wouldn't think you would my dear. And I am glad to see that you don't rely on others as much as most do." His wife only picked up her stitching again, deciding not to honor her husband's teasing with any breath of hers. Juu, however, could not help breaking the silence with a few simple coughs.

"Don't keep coughing so Juu! Have a bit of compassion on my poor nerves!"

Juu huffed, answering in a bit of a scorn, "I don't cough for my own amusement! Something bothered my throat…" She turned towards her older sister. "When is your next ball, Bulma?"

"Hmm, tomorrow fortnight 1."

"So it is," exclaimed Mrs. Briefs, "and Mrs. Long, who I hoped would tell me about Mr. Son, won't be back till the day before the ball. She won't be able to introduce him to me, as she won't have the chance to meet him herself."

"Well then, my dear, you may get ahead of her and have the wonderful privilege of introducing Mr. Son to her!"

Mrs. Briefs sighed and looked to her husband, obvious irritation taking hold of her every feature. "You know that is quite impossible when I've never met him before. Quit teasing me."

"I suppose two weeks time isn't really enough to know somebody. You cannot know the character of a man in so short a time. But if we do not take up this opportunity, someone else will. And I am sure that Mrs. Long and her nieces are well deserving of this chance, and will find it to be a gracious act of kindness if she were introduced to Mr. Son by our family. However, if you do not wish to be so neighborly, then I will introduce them myself."

The girls all blinked at their father in confusion. His wife busied herself with claims of unfair "teasing".

"Is that so? Do you not think introductions to be all that important? I don't really agree on that matter. How about you, Launch? You're sensible of such things, have the deepest reflections and I know that you read many books and make quite a few extracts 2."

"Umm," Launch started, not quite sure what to say really.

"While Launch is adjusting her thoughts, let's return to the subject of Mr. Son," he said, reaching for his book.

"I'm sick of Mr. Son!" shouted Mrs. Briefs, red-faced and quite put out.

Mr. Briefs looked astonished as he stood. "I am quite sorry to hear that. I really wish you had told me so before, so I would not have called on him this morning. It is very unfortunate, but as I have already visited him, I'm afraid we can't escape the acquaintance now."

The pure shock on each of the ladies' faces pleased him. Even that his wife was more astonished gave him such a grand sense of accomplishment, that he silently patted himself on the back. Mrs. Briefs chimed in many praises on her husband, reminding the girls that indeed, he was quite a good father, and took great care in looking after them. "And never to tell us, what a good joke!"

"Now Juu, you may cough as much as you choose," he remarked, taking leave of his family. He was quite proud of himself, but could only stand so much of the 'silliness' of his wife and youngest daughters.

Closing the door of his library, he could hear talks of balls, dance, and when the soonest moment invitation could be made to ask Mr. Son to dinner.

1: two weeks from tomorrow.

2: basically, she copies certain passages from what she's reading to analyze them.

A/N: well, I mixed slightly old-world English with common terms and phrases. Just a bit. Is it awkward? Let me know so I can switch to just modern English then. I want authenticity, but I also want it to me legible and enjoyable to read. So please review and let me know what you think! I know this chapter was boring, but hey, it sets the stage for everything else!

Ja Ne: Pearl