DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Dawn of Revolution

The Suitor, part 2

"I'm terribly sorry I can't come home more often, Father," Murbella said as the family began the first course of dinner late that evening. "Work keeps me so busy at the castle."

"Much the same for me," Maggie admitted, giving Murbella a sympathetic look. "We're still negotiating territory rights with the Illaran Republic after that vein of cobalt was discovered right on the border. We at the castle joke that natural features ought to be more respectful of where we put our international boundaries!"

Farraday chuckled heartily. "That is the price we pay to live in the comfort of civilization. Maggie, Murbella, I am delighted you found time to join us. You are just in time to hear about Mozzie's delightful new affairs."

"Oh yes," Murbella said warmly, turning to look at the third sister. "Father's message mentioned you have some exciting news for us, Mozzie! I would love to hear more about it."

"This ought to be good," Maggie added, leaning forward and giving Mozzie a curious look. "You've always been the one to avoid making a fuss, Mozzie. What have you been up to?" She made a crafty smile.

Miranda looked like she was bursting to tell them herself, so Mozzie set down her knife and fork, took a deep breath, and announced, "I have a suitor. My co-worker Ferrol."

Maggie gasped, hands over her mouth. "Congrats, Mozzie! You're the first of us to be courted. I'm happy for you!"

"You're so kind," Mozzie said with a humble smile. "To that effect, I visited Central Park when invited by my suitor. We had a pleasant talk before parting ways."

"I'd like to know more," Minerva put in. She took a sip of dark red wine. "Was Ferrol a respectful gentleman? Did he make you comfortable? And were you a proper lady of high standing?"

Miranda made a face. "Goodness, Minerva, did they have to speak every word perfectly?"

"It's just my way of showing I care about them," Minerva said simply. She paused for a second. "But I suppose you're right. Mozzie, did you enjoy yourself with Ferrol? Did he make you happy?"

Mozzie cleared her throat. "I promise, Minerva, that I behaved as befitting my social station. And Ferrol was respectful and gracious." Then she smiled. "As for the fun answer, I had a wonderful time. The conversation, the weather, the good feelings had by all... courtship is a modest affair, but a pleasant one."

"Surely that wasn't all," Murbella egged her on. "Did Ferrol say anything interesting?"

"Anything romantic?" Maggie piled on.

Mozzie's smile widened, and then she summarized her afternoon with Ferrol. An awkward silence followed.

"By the gods!" Miranda cried. She almost knocked her wine goblet over as she gestured in frustration. "That wasn't courtship, Mozzie! That was just idle small talk! Anyone could do such a thing."

"Indeed. Quite underwhelming," Maggie added loftily. "If I were that timid with my diplomacy duties, I'd have given away half our kingdom's territory by now!"

"Ferrol's courtship doesn't seem very calculated to me, according to what I hear," Murbella added. "Courtship is a project with clear results in mind. It seems Ferrol did little to advance his case."

Mozzie made an exasperated noise. "Murbella, not everything can be treated like a royal project! This is about Ferrol's and my true feelings." She put a hand to her heart. "I must listen to what my heart says."

"Mmmmmm. That is fair, Mozzie," Farraday said as he cut his steak. "I would never ask you to do something that made you uncomfortable. Especially seeing how you're the gentlest of the five."

"Thank you, Father."

Miranda looked from Mozzie to Farraday, then burst out, "Father, admit it: you hoped they would do more than that! Isn't it insulting that Ferrol did so little to court her? He didn't even bring flowers or kiss her hand!"

Mozzie's eyes widened. "True, he didn't do that."

"Starting negotiations without a gesture of good faith? Sloppy," Maggie said, shaking her head.

"So uncalculated," Murbella added.

Minerva gestured. "Now, girls, there's no need to criticize Mozzie's and Ferrol's actions. Mocking Mozzie won't help her."

Mozzie bowed her head in thanks to her eldest sister. Then Farraday spoke up.

"Hmmmmm... perhaps a part of me is rather miffed that my daughter didn't inspire a grand gesture of love. Is Ferrol merely toying with you, Mozzie? I'm not sure I can marry my daughter off to a man who plays games."

Mozzie nearly choked. "Wh-which is it, Father? Should Ferrol be bold or reserved?" She hung her head. "Is there even a right answer?"

"I believe there is," Miranda said with a cunning grin. Uh-oh.

Ferrol dabbed his mouth with his white napkin. "I fear I am contradicting myself. My apologies, Mozzie. Part of me wishes for Ferrol to make a bold gesture and show manly resolve. Another part of me fears that Ferrol may upset you if he pushed the matter too far."

"That settles it, then," Miranda concluded, clapping her hands together. She looked around at her father and sisters. "We will coach Ferrol on how to make the perfect marriage proposal for Mozzie! Not too timid, and not too assertive."

Mozzie squeaked in alarm and hid her face behind her hands. "M-marriage? Miranda, let us not get ahead of ourselves! Ferrol has not even proclaimed his love for me." Even saying that aloud was both terrifying and exciting. How would she handle a marriage proposal if given one?

"Very well. We shall mentor Ferrol on the art of proclaiming his love to Mozzie," Miranda said.

"A fair plan," Murbella agreed.

"And after that, perhaps a week later at most, Ferrol will ask for Mozzie's hand in marriage," Miranda added.

Mozzie squeaked again and pressed her hands over her burning-hot face. She squirmed in her seat. "Miranda...!"

"I only wish to help, Mozzie," Miranda's voice told her cheerily. "Not to worry! I am aware how timid your heart can be. I will ensure both you and Ferrol are happy with the proposal! I do this for you."

"Or your own amusement," Murbella half-joked.

Mozzie lowered her trembling hands. "Father, what do you think?"

"Perhaps the six of us are getting rather worked up," Farraday said, unable to suppress a smile. "Miranda, please don't push your sister any further. And Mozzie, I vow to aid you however I can. I may even speak to your suitor man to man if need be."

"You'd... be gentle with him?" Mozzie asked cautiously. She knew how firm and uncompromising her fathe could be.

"Of course I would," Farraday assured her. He swept his arms to encompass the table. "I believe we need time to process this development and approach it with fresh minds tomorrow. We cannot yet agree on how to move forward with it."

"Maggie, you argue for a living," Miranda implored the second sister. "Convince them to help me push this courtship along. Mozzie's whirlwind romance awaits!"

Everyone chuckled at that, and an amused Minerva spoke up, "May I remind you, Miranda, that real life is not a bodice ripper novel? It seems you read more of those than we did."

"Just... a few more, yes," Miranda said evasively, nervously looking away.

Maggie shrugged. "I'm sorry, Miranda, but I won't push it any further. We will have fresh minds for this tomorrow, as Father says. No negotiation is completed in one sitting."

Miranda folded her arms. "Very well. But when we convene to to discuss this another time, I shall speak first and speak truest!"

"You do that," Murbella teased her. "At the very least, you shall speak the loudest."

Miranda merely smiled and resumed her dinner.

Mozzie was relieved when the family finally moved on to new topics, but she was already mulling this over in her mind, unable to let the courtship topic go just yet. Was Ferrol holding too much back, or was he just respecting Mozzie's admittedly timid pace with this? Neither seemed totally right or wrong. At least the bodice rippers were refreshingly straightforward!

Oh, and this was not over. Not by a long shot, as Mozzie found out the next morning!

*o*o*o*o*

"Is that a self-disguise spell scoll?" Mozzie inquired when Minerva presented a scroll to her in the sitting room after breakfast the next morning.

"It certainly is. Borrowed with permission from Father's collection," Minerva explained. "Though this idea is actually Miranda's."

"I proposed my plan in our secret meeting earlier this morning," Miranda explained smugly, gesturing to Minerva, Maggie, and Murbella. "It was the first and best idea we put forth."

Mozzie eyed the spell scroll warily. "This isn't going to hurt, is it?"

Miranda chuckled. "Of course not, dear sister. You may even enjoy it."

"We will simulate a variety of meetings between you and Ferrol," Murbella told Mozzie. "Minerva will disguise herself as your suitor and act like him. Then, we test how you react to different conversational styles."

"All you have to do, Mozzie, is be yourself," Maggie added.

Mozzie thought it over. "It's an intriguing idea," she admitted, "but would it be helpful? Minerva, I would know I'm talking to you, not Ferrol."

Minerva motioned with the spell scroll. "Not to worry, Mozzie. I'm confident you can picture yourself in a real meeting. And I am a better actress than you may realize. Lessons from Maggie and Miranda can be quite fruitful."

"She's up for it," Miranda said, pointing at Minerva. "And you, Mozzie?"

Mozzie nodded. "Let's meet my suitor."

"Wonderful. Just a moment." As Maggie, Miranda, and Murbella backed away to make room, Minerva exited the sitting room and shut the polished wooden door behind her. Then, Mozzie heard the faint hum of illusion magic.

To get in character, Minerva knocked on the door. Feeling rather silly, Mozzie answered, "Come in!"

There was Ferrol in all his humbly handsome glory, wearing his waiter uniform from work, a warm smile on his face. Mozzie gasped; this already felt so real! Did spells get more effective every year? Ferrol was right there!

"G... good afternoon, Mozzie," the fake Ferrol said timidly, making a polite smile. "It's good to see you again. Outside of work, I mean! Haha."

Mozzie smiled back and made a polite bow. "Good afternoon to you, too. Do I find you well?"

"I don't have long before my next shift," Ferrol said. "But I just wanted to see you before I go. To give myself something to buoy my spirits during a hard day's work."

"How thoughtful," Mozzie said fondly. "Do your best."

"I shall. And..." Ferrol looked like he wanted to say something, nervously looking away and twisting his hands together.

"Yes?" Mozzie prompted.

"Oh, it's nothing," Ferrol admitted. He turned to go. "See you on our next shift together! Let's make it a good one."

Mozzie simply waved goodbye, allowing the fake Ferrol to take his leave. The door shut behind him.

"That went rather well," Mozzie said brightly. "Sisters, that was so convincing! Well done with the acting lessons."

"That's not the problem here, Mozzie," Maggie said, shaking her head.

Mozzie flinched. "Did I say something unbecoming of me?"

Maggie pointed a dramatic accusing finger at her. "You didn't say anything interesting! What on earth was that?"

"Minerva did all the work in that scene," Miranda added, hands on her hips. "Ferrol didn't see any hint of your passion, Mozzie. He could have been talking to anyone just now. He might as well have chatted up an old washer lady on his way to work!"

"You have so many fascinating things to talk about, Mozzie," Murbella piled on, hands clasped at her navel. "Why not illuminate Ferrol with your words?"

Mozzie hung her head. "So... I bored him. Is that it?"

"You bored me, too," Miranda said.

"But Ferrol seemed fine," Mozzie protested. "Right?"

"He wanted to confess his love, but was too nervous," Murbella explained. "That was why he hesitated near the conversation's end. You were meant to prompt him and draw out his true feelings. But you let the chance slip away."

"I didn't even realize that," Mozzie admitted.

Maggie cleared her throat and raised her voice a bit. "Okay, conversation #1 was a dud. Let's move on to #2! Ferrol, get ready!"

"You get ready, too," Miranda added to Mozzie, who flinched again and nodded hastily.

Once again, the fake Ferrol knocked, and Mozzie graciously welcomed him.

"Mozzie. I only have a few moments," the fake Ferrol said a little breathlessly as he hurried to join her. "I can't wait any longer to tell you what's in my heart."

Even if Mozzie was speaking to Minerva, it felt so real to look into Ferrol's eyes and hear his sweet words! Mozzie felt herself going red as she took a nervous step back. "F-Ferrol, if you're in a hurry, perhaps it could wait until this evening?"

"I can't wait any longer, Mozzie!" Ferrol took hold of Mozzie's shoulders, his face alive with passion. "For months now, I have been enchanted by your beauty! You're so kind, so graceful, so... so...!" He couldn't find the words. Or rather, Minerva pretended she couldn't find them. It felt the same either way!

Mozzie made a nervous laugh. It sounded ridiculous. "Y-you're so sweet, Ferrol. I love working with you, too."

Mozzie distinctly heard Miranda groan in disappointment until Murbella shushed her.

"Mozzie, I love you! Truly, I do!" Ferrol proclaimed. "There, I said it! Even if I'm just a humble waiter making meager coins, I pray that one day, you might be mine. If you will have me."

This was definitely Mozzie's turn to speak. She opened her mouth to say something becoming of a well-bred woman like her -

She made that funny laugh again.

"That's enough. Scene ruined," Maggie declared, clapping her hands twice. "Minerva, back in position, please."

Staying in character, Minerva/Ferrol jogged back out of the room and shut the door yet again. She was so committed to this!

Now Mozzie was the one groaning in disappointment, clutching her head in despair. "It's so overwhelming, sisters! I am truly sorry."

"No need to apologize. We are here to help," Murbella told her gently. "I admit, this would not be easy for any of us, either. But we believe in you, Mozzie."

Mozzie lowered her hands and stiffened her back. "Thank you, Murbella. I promise to do better! Yes, I adore Ferrol too, and I wish to tell him that, real or fake! Minerva, I am ready!"

Maggie made a proud smile. "Then we are all set for conversation #3!"

Miranda intervened. "Actually, let us skip ahead to #7."

Murbella winced. "That's the one you wrote, Miranda. I'm not so sure about this."

"And I am," Miranda said defiantly. "You saw Mozzie just now. She's getting stronger! A real test is what she needs."

Mozzie gave the closed door a nervous look. "Wh... what manner of test?"

"Miranda, I'm not so sure about #7 either," Minerva said from behind the door. "It's... oh my."

"I insist!" Miranda declared, and the sisters were done trying to fight it. So, the fake Ferrol burst into the sitting room and marched right up to his love interest.

"Mozzie, my sweetest flower, I must have you," Ferrol said lustily, and he promptly took hold of Mozzie, leaning her back and preparing to kiss her.

Mozzie yelped. "F-Ferrol!"

"I cannot contain my love for you, Mozzie! Marry me, and we shall find eternal happiness side by side!" Ferrol continued, his face just an inch from hers. "Will you accept the flame of my passion?"

"I... um...!"

That was when the self-disguise spell finally wore off with a puff of pale violet dust, and that was also when Farraday passed by the room on his own business. He glanced in.

"Minerva, it's wonderful you love your sisters so dearly, but perhaps that's a bit much?" Farraday said with forced calm.

Minerva yelped just like Mozzie and stepped back from her sister. "F-Father! That, well, that was a crude roleplay idea of Miranda's, and my Ferrol disguise wore off at the wrong time," Minerva babbled, going rather pink. She fanned herself.

Farraday gave his five daughters a curious look. "Are you coaching Mozzie in the ways of courtship with a Ferrol disguise? Is that what you needed my scroll for?"

"Yes, and Mozzie's performance was very disappointing," Miranda said, until Murbella swatted her shoulder to make her stop.

"You are not mistreating your sister, are you?" Farraday asked everyone but Mozzie. They assured him they were not. Not much, that is!

Once Farraday left, Maggie stepped forth to speak. "I suppose that will do for the Ferrol simulations. Poor Mozzie can't take much more."

"No, I cannot," Mozzie confirmed, trying to get her heart to slow down. It was racing like a prized mare!

"I apologize, Mozzie, if my roleplaying was excessive," Minerva gently told her sister.

Mozzie shook her head. "You're only doing your part. I'll be fine now that the shock has worn off."

"No more surprises, I promise," Miranda added. "I just wanted to explore every possibility, Mozzie. Please forgive me."

Maggie gave her a look.

"And I just wanted to satisfy my boundless curiosity," Miranda added.

Mozzie smoothed her blue gown. "I'm not yet confident I am ready for proper courtship with Ferrol. Is there anything else we can try?"

Minerva nodded. "Indeed, Mozzie. Because now it is Ferrol's turn."

Mozzie cocked her head. "I'm sorry?"