Most of the important belongings had already been packed weeks ago, all trusting the war would soon come to an end. Carriage after carriage, bags and cases made their way to the ship awaiting the Valeur family members who'd spent the last months in Stéphan Valeur III's county in Vixhall, Lamadeleide, shielded from the ghastly bone horrors and other terrors roaming the Holy City. Those capable had stayed in Regalia, and it was a longing desire to see them again after so long, not having heard word from them even once during the occupation. Though it was necessary, it was not easy to bare the thought of what could have happened to them.
Eagerly, the family members who had stayed in Lamadeleide brought their last belongings to the remaining carriage. Melodie Adelaide was one of them, having successfully caught all of her nine cats in separate cages after a couple hours of trying and failing. They were all successfully stuffed in place, no harm done to them. Being the last one to embark, the carriage door was finally shut, and they would be on their way to the harbor. In the first carriage, Victoria, Gabrielle Évelyne and Gabriel Louié sat while Melodie Adelaide, her cats and a few others sat in the second one behind them.
"To think we've been here this many months… I'd started to feel a bit at home." Gabrielle said with slight disappointment, looking out the carriage window with a longing expression.
She'd actually enjoyed her stay, despite thinking she wouldn't. Being away from the stresses and responsibilities of her normal life back home in Regalia had seemed like a vacation inside a cage, more or less. Out here, there wasn't all that much to do aside from making the best out of the situation. And the situation itself wasn't all that bad, when she gave it a second thought. Gabriel nodded in agreement, bouncing a bit with the carriage as it ran over some uneven terrain.
"I can't wait to get back to my office…" Victoria said in a somewhat mumbly tone, eager to board the ship as quickly as possible. She retrieved her fan and waved it gently to her face, anxiously wondering if her office was there at all, though a sharp pain halted the gesture as she remembered her collarbone was still fractured and in need of time to heal.
"Oui, that sounds just like you, Victoria." Gabrielle said with a confident chuckle. "Being away from your office has probably served you well, non? Everyone could use a break once in awhile."
A few moments passed before Victoria turned her attention to Gabrielle, an eyebrow shyly perked. "Not for this long… It is ridiculous." she mumbled. "I'd at least have felt somewhat productive if I were able to bring my documents with me. But in all the rush… All I could think of was making sure you were all here." Now looking back out of the window, her tone would begin to murmur again. "How Melodie managed to get all her cats with her in such a short time span amazes me to no end."
Looking somewhat unamused, Gabriel turned to look at the carriage behind them. Their carriage was turning narrowly, allowing them to look through each other's windows. Over there, Melodie seemed occupied in a discussion with her husband François while petting one of her cats on her lap. Gabriel couldn't wait to get back to the Estate where all his proper painting equipment waited for him. And not to mention his literature books.
It took a good half hour before all the equipment and luggage found its way onboard the ship, during which, everyone settled and prepared for the long and wavy journey across the ocean. The Lapérouse looked magnificent, its sails dyed wine red and golden yellow. Victoria and a few others sat inside the quarter galleries sipping tea while the ship finally set sail, wood creaking as it left the harbor. None said much; their thoughts filled with anticipation. How different would Regalia be after the war? They all had questions, but none was around to answer them.
As the harbor became more visible, Victoria sighed in relief upon seeing, smelling and hearing the familiar business of the Regalian harbor. Like ants, civilians hastily walked orderly in all directions, chattering and going about as they normally would. All the noise deafened her worrisome thoughts as this environment she'd missed finally became a reality. The ship swayed with the waves, going to a halt, awaiting docking clearance. They weren't the only ones returning to Regalia, it seemed.
With a thud, the vessel was tied to the docks, and disembarkation would finally begin. Victoria's older brothers Stéphan, Mathieux and his wife Mercia Valeur waited for them.
"Father! Father, bonjour!" Gabrielle and Gabriel yelled more or less simultaneously, rushing towards Mathieux down the narrow plank like it was running out of fashion.
Despite having a bandaid elaborately wrapped around his right arm, Mathieux hugged both his children tightly, overwhelmingly glad to see them again. Stéphan smiled tightly, patting them on their shoulders while his watchful eyes made sure the luggage was brought to land safely. Although their courier Nathan Devolt had lost a leg during the war, he seemed to manage, despite having a mop attached to his peg leg temporarily. A meowing train of caged cats ensued shortly after, as Melodie's pets were brought to one of the carriages one by one.
"Did you forget a cat, Melodie?" Mathieux shouted to her, jokingly.
"Non!" Melodie and Stéphan replied together.
With her umbrella shielding the sharp sunlight, Victoria descended the plank with short steps. She greeted both Stéphan and Mathieux once her niece and nephew were done with them, kissing them on both their cheeks.
"Took you long enough." Stéphan teased with a smirk towards Victoria.
"'Took me long enough.'" She laughed, quoting him sarcastically. "I'm happy to see you too, brother."
A few moments would pass as they all greeted each other and boarded their carriages. Victoria was the last to board the carriage with Stéphan and Mathieux.
"Now." she said, smiling curiously towards them as she softly clapped her gloved hands together. "Shall we get back to business?"
OOC Info:
- Basically, the Valeur family is coming back to RP again! And yes, the name was changed from Valor to Valeur.
- All that happened before they arrived isn't common knowledge, unless they've been told by the people involved.
- I enjoy writing short stories. Might do this again.
L'taggs for l'people:
@Bertramqaz @Artemis_Hanzo @finners4444 @krios41 @Mkat1227 @CatGoddess @_Me_Zebra_ @Numbless
