Post by The Poetic Protégée on Mar 16, 2008 6:21:16 GMT -5
The Libertine Role-Playing Thread
Anyone can join in at any time, just make sure you read the previous parts of the story so that it all makes sense. Feel free to invent yourself as a new character or get involved with your JA persona.
John was in a bad mood, and for once it had nothing to do with the availability of wine. The letter had arrived an hour ago, the first Jay had known about it was a great crashing from John's study. Running in, she had been in time to see John setting fire to the manuscript he had been working on for the past month. Snatching it from his hands she managed to put out the flames but not before half the pages were charred beyond recognition.
"Why?" she asked throwing the ruined play to the floor. With a snarl, John lifted the letter in his hand and began to read aloud.
"Dearest Johnny,
I was pleasantly surprised to recieve the manuscript for your new play but you must surely know that I cannot accept it for this season considering the conduct which sees you banished to the country until next week. If you would consent to submit it for next season, I would be only too pleased to consider it. It pleases me no end to see that you are attempting to reform your ways.
Etherege requests your presence at the casting for his latest play. I have told him you will be there. Do not let me down now.
Charles."
John spat. "Reform my conduct? It is his conduct that needs reforming. And if he thinks I will assist Etherege in the production of another mundane piece of drivel..." He tore the letter in two and threw it to the floor. Jay sighed. She should have known.
"My dear John, need I remind you of the reason why we are confined to the country for the duration of the season?"
"The Countess was asking for it!" cried John, "I cannot be held responsible for other people's perversity."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Of course not," she said, "But if you present her with such a poem, what do you expect?" She was no fan of the Countess in question who had been flirting with John for months before the aforementionned poem had been gifted to her. And the poem had been good, if utterly unsuitable for presentation at a royal banquet.
"It is society's double standards that are to blame, not me," said John fiercely, "After all, she was the one who asked me to read it aloud."
"I think, my dear, that you need to practice the art of saying no," said Jay as she picked up the books that John had swept to the floor in his rage. John ignored her and threw himself onto his desk chair where he sat watching her tidy up with black fire in his eyes. They both knew he would not be able to resist going to town as soon as his banishment was over and that his first port of call would be the theatre.
"You might as well help Etherege with his casting whether the play is drivel or not," said Jay as she came to sit on the arm of John's chair. "Otherwise you'll spend the entire duration of the play complaining about the acting abilities of the lead actress and bemoaning Etherege's choice of leading man."
"Fine," said John with unconvincing grumpiness, "But if Charles thinks..."
"Don't do it for Charles. Do it for me. I have put up with three months of your complaints, the least you can do is spare me three more." She kissed John on the cheek and saw him smile for the first time in days. Being confined to the country wasn't good for him. The trouble was, neither was the town. Still, thought Jay, it would be nice to have a change. One short week and London would once again have its Libertine.
Anyone can join in at any time, just make sure you read the previous parts of the story so that it all makes sense. Feel free to invent yourself as a new character or get involved with your JA persona.
********
John was in a bad mood, and for once it had nothing to do with the availability of wine. The letter had arrived an hour ago, the first Jay had known about it was a great crashing from John's study. Running in, she had been in time to see John setting fire to the manuscript he had been working on for the past month. Snatching it from his hands she managed to put out the flames but not before half the pages were charred beyond recognition.
"Why?" she asked throwing the ruined play to the floor. With a snarl, John lifted the letter in his hand and began to read aloud.
"Dearest Johnny,
I was pleasantly surprised to recieve the manuscript for your new play but you must surely know that I cannot accept it for this season considering the conduct which sees you banished to the country until next week. If you would consent to submit it for next season, I would be only too pleased to consider it. It pleases me no end to see that you are attempting to reform your ways.
Etherege requests your presence at the casting for his latest play. I have told him you will be there. Do not let me down now.
Charles."
John spat. "Reform my conduct? It is his conduct that needs reforming. And if he thinks I will assist Etherege in the production of another mundane piece of drivel..." He tore the letter in two and threw it to the floor. Jay sighed. She should have known.
"My dear John, need I remind you of the reason why we are confined to the country for the duration of the season?"
"The Countess was asking for it!" cried John, "I cannot be held responsible for other people's perversity."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Of course not," she said, "But if you present her with such a poem, what do you expect?" She was no fan of the Countess in question who had been flirting with John for months before the aforementionned poem had been gifted to her. And the poem had been good, if utterly unsuitable for presentation at a royal banquet.
"It is society's double standards that are to blame, not me," said John fiercely, "After all, she was the one who asked me to read it aloud."
"I think, my dear, that you need to practice the art of saying no," said Jay as she picked up the books that John had swept to the floor in his rage. John ignored her and threw himself onto his desk chair where he sat watching her tidy up with black fire in his eyes. They both knew he would not be able to resist going to town as soon as his banishment was over and that his first port of call would be the theatre.
"You might as well help Etherege with his casting whether the play is drivel or not," said Jay as she came to sit on the arm of John's chair. "Otherwise you'll spend the entire duration of the play complaining about the acting abilities of the lead actress and bemoaning Etherege's choice of leading man."
"Fine," said John with unconvincing grumpiness, "But if Charles thinks..."
"Don't do it for Charles. Do it for me. I have put up with three months of your complaints, the least you can do is spare me three more." She kissed John on the cheek and saw him smile for the first time in days. Being confined to the country wasn't good for him. The trouble was, neither was the town. Still, thought Jay, it would be nice to have a change. One short week and London would once again have its Libertine.
