A Clash of Cultures (Griff)

[Lady Roslyn]

Lady Roslyn Griffin was somewhat bored with her day so far. Nothing interesting ever seemed to cross her path, then again, the only interesting that Camelot had to offer at the moment was doom and gloom. If the city wasn’t under attack then someone had been kidnapped or the army were marching here, there and everywhere. Roslyn ran a hand through her hair and continued to walk around the market stall. She was wearing quite a tight fitted dress today with a long skirt which didn’t show off her figure too much. Roslyn didn’t want to attract the wrong sort of attention after all. Roslyn wasn’t even quite sure what she was looking for at the markets, she just knew she hadn’t found it yet. Sighing, she decided this was a pointless occupation of her time. She was getting much too flustered in the crowds of the markets, and she wasn’t really going to buy anything anyway. She therefore took her leave, and headed in the direction of the castle gardens.

The gardens were always beautiful, and were well kept. They were certainly a more worthy place of a walk than the hot, and sweaty marketplace. She had no idea what had possessed her to walk there in the first place. She only usually went there when she had a specific thing to buy, but she was well stocked up on supplies in terms of her dresses and suchlike, so she had no reason to be there in the first place. She clearly hadn’t been thinking. Roslyn began to walk slowly through the gardens and breathed out gently, enjoying the gentle calm in comparison with the hectic scene she had just been part of. This was much more suitable really. Roslyn did not want to return home for some time, her father had been in a rage when she had left this morning, and would probably remain so for some time.

Roslyn wondered whether anything of interest was actually going to occur today, though she would not object to just spending a slow afternoon out here walking. Many nobles did walk here, but today it was quite empty, and Roslyn almost felt like she was missing out on some event. She frowned, there was nothing happening in Camelot today, if there had been a joust or a fight then she would have been in attendance, but no. It was quite curious, as the weather was quite beautiful. She wondered how anyone could think to do anything but take a walk and enjoy the scenery. Roslyn sighed to herself, glad at least that she could enjoy the day, and the splendour of it all. So she just continued to walk; lost in her own thoughts.

Tagged: Griff Aubert
Timeline: Series 2-3 Gap
Location: The gardens in Camelot
Time of Day: Afternoon[/color]

[Griff Aubert]

Griff was bored. Lucan was doing whatever it was he did all day, and Lord Allard was over seeing some business back at the estate so Griff was left alone. He'd already been in Camelot for a month and come to the conclusion that it was boring, especially when Lucan kept telling him he wasn't allowed to spend all his time in the tavern. What else was he supposed to do? Completely convinced that he was going to spend the rest of the day horribly bored, he made his way down to the market. There had to be something of interest there.

With a sigh, he found himself wandering through the stalls, not really paying attention to his surroundings. Camelot was supposed to be fun. He was supposed to have found Lucan and they would spend their days in taverns and at feasts, enjoying life and doing everything their father would disapprove of. Instead, he was suffering from the same amount of disapproval, just from his brother. Lucan really needed to lighten up, but if Griff couldn't convince him of that fact then no one would. The youngest Aubert was forever determined though. One day he would get his brother into a tavern and he would jolly well enjoy it. Griff could be rather determined when he set his mind to something, and this was definitely something that was going to happen. He had decided and his stubborn nature had declared it as a fact.

He was so absorbed with thoughts of how to get Lucan to actually enjoy his life, that he almost didn't notice the young woman walk past him. Luckily, Griff appeared to have a sixth sense when it came to the fairer sex. His thoughts of Lucan ceased and instead he stood there, head turning so he could watch the woman walking. She was either his age or only a few years older, not that age would stop him. He had been known to try it on with several older women, not that he ever got anywhere but it was the thought that counted. "My lady," he grinned, the flash teeth-revealing grin of his, the one that very rarely let him down. "I cannot help but you see you a walking alone."

[Lady Roslyn]

Roslyn was actually starting to enjoy her walk, it was a lot better than just lazing idly around her father’s home, waiting for something interesting to happen in her life. She was so sick of just sitting inside, and not really doing all that much with her life aside from panic that her father was going to sign her life away to some nobleman that she didn’t care for. It was a real fear, and one that Roslyn always had to live with. It wasn’t ideal, but it was her life. She would have to find someone suitable to marry soon, or her father would just drag her up the aisle.

Obviously this enjoyment wasn’t meant to last though. Someone was intent on ruining that enjoyment by imposing their presence upon her. She wasn’t in a particularly social mood, and couldn’t see why that was such a hard concept for everyone else to grasp. She wasn’t surprised when she discovered that the voice belonged to a young man. Roslyn rolled her eyes; it was always a man; always. Usually the men at court tried their luck with her, and when they found she was uninterested they cast their nets a little wider. Roslyn didn’t like to name names, but it was usually the same noblewoman that they all went to satisfy themselves with. That was probably an over-exaggeration, but Roslyn didn’t like the woman in question, so she was well justified to moan a little about her.

Roslyn resisted the urge to groan, the man hadn’t got the hint from her body expressions that she clearly just wanted to be left alone. Perhaps he just assumed that she was playing hard to get, and that she actually liked his obvious advances. However, he was completely wrong; she really did just want to be left alone, no matter how charming he thought he was. “Your powers of observation precede you, my Lord.” Roslyn said, more than a bit annoyed at how presumptuous this man was being. That was, if he could call himself a man yet. Looking upon him he seemed nothing more than a fresh faced boy; no doubt ready to take on any, and every challenge which came his way; including her, unfortunately. Roslyn couldn’t recollect having seen this man in court before, perhaps his family had only just unleashed him upon society. She smiled a little at the thought, but didn’t laugh; instead she turned the smile into a smirk, “And I aim to keep it that way, good day.” She curtseyed, rather hoping as she turned to leave that this would be the end of it. However, Roslyn had a horrible feeling that this was going to be anything but, and that she was in for a long afternoon.

[Griff Aubert]

Hmm. Well. She was certainly in a good mood. Obviously she needed a little Aubert charm in her life – that would certainly put a smile on her face. Griff was quite certain, and when he was certain he tended to be determined. To him, there was no other possible course of action. Why, it was his duty, surely, as a gentleman to try to cheer her up? What kind of cad would leave her so...distressed? Griff was no cad. Well, alright, he was but that was hardly the point – unless she would appreciate that sort of thing, of course. He’d only been in Camelot for a few months, so it was hardly surprising that he’d never seen her before. It would also be unsurprising if she had never heard of him; although that was something he was determined to change. He was going to have a reputation – of this he was sure – he just hadn’t had enough time to procure one yet. Well, he should think any woman would leap at the chance of helping. He couldn’t get such a reputation on his own, now could he?

Her words brought a grin to his face. She was going to be fun then? Oh good. Girls who were easy were often boring, not that Griff was put off by boring, he just preferred a challenge. It was better for the reputation. Already she looked annoyed, which he thought was a tad premature. She had hardly given him a chance to be charming. Still, her annoyance was not going to stop his persistence. He folded his arms across his chest and looked her up and down with absolutely no subtlety whatsoever (it was not a quality Griff Aubert much cared for).

“Shall I impress you with my powers even more, my lady?” He asked, eyebrows raised because obviously he was impressing her, even if she couldn’t see that yet. He could be forgiven for sounding a little rough around the edges – he had only been in Camelot for a short time, after all, and wasn’t quite used to its women. What he had noticed, however, was that for some reason a lot of them liked his accent, so he emphasised it as he spoke to her. “Many of them a little less passive...”

The girl didn’t appear too impressed, but that was alright because Griff was convinced her actions and words were only an attempt not to sound too eager. She was clearly walking off so that he would follow her. So he did. Obviously. “How can it be a good day when we are parting? Unless my lady takes pleasure in breaking hearts.” Alright, it was a little dramatic, Griff was well aware of this but it was bound to work. Why wouldn’t it?

[Lady Roslyn]

Roslyn was getting incredibly sick of being disturbed, could this man not see that all she wanted was some peace and quiet? She had enough nobles sniffing round her heels at feasts and whatever social function she was made to attend, she didn’t need more running after her while she was trying to grab a few moments to herself. Roslyn had been put in front of men for as long as she could remember, and she had always been told to impress them. Roslyn had never really grasped how to do that, nor was she sure she wanted to. She had seen women charming men around the court, and it all irritated Roslyn no end. Surely a man should fall for a woman because of her attitude, and not because of what she could offer him at the end of the night? Jesu, the thought was enough to make her blush, not that she wasn’t capable of such things, but she didn’t need them to attract men, nor did she want to do all of that. She had morals and standards, unlike certain women at court. Perhaps she should send this man to that red haired idiot, they’d probably get along like a house on fire. Roslyn looked the man up and down, no doubt he thought he was the finest charmer that she had ever come up against. Well, she was in no mood to stroke his ego, not that he needed it enlarging, from what she had seen so far.

She cocked her head to the side a little, looking on at the man with a pained expression on her face. He clearly wasn’t taking the hint easily. Urgh, this was just annoying. All Roslyn wanted was a bit of solitude, was that too much to ask for? “Is irritation one of your powers? As you are excelling in that as well, my Lord.” Though her words were rude, her mannerisms were anything but. She had not raised her voice, nor her hand to this man; nor would she ever. Roslyn had far too much pride to let herself lose face in front of this man. He wasn’t worth it. She was a Lady of the court, and that was that.

He was being quite dramatic a little prematurely in their conversation wasn’t he? Roslyn doubted very much that she had even touched upon his heartstrings, let alone broken it completely. She smirked a little, unsure of what to reply with at first. There was no way that this conversation was going to lead anywhere. She just wanted to be left alone, though she was now thinking that there could be more imaginative ways of ridding herself of this man. “My own heart would be left unbroken.” She pointed out reasonably, “You would no doubt mend yours in a heartbeat my Lord. There are many pretty heads in Camelot.” It was a test of sorts, to see if he would just up and leave, or whether he would be persistent enough for her to have to change tact. Roslyn wasn’t used to men pestering her when she clearly didn’t want to be bothered, but she was not going to let this get to her in the slightest.

[Griff Aubert]

Well, she’s no fun, Griff thought, before deciding that she clearly needed more of his attention to make her more fun. Maybe she was used to male attention – she was rather beautiful – and so what he should be doing was upping his game. Fortunately for her, that was certainly something he could do. She might think he was irritating now but she was sure to change her mind. Why wouldn’t she? He’d been reliably informed he was both charming and handsome. Roslyn should consider herself very lucky indeed to have turned his head.

He frowned at her – a put upon frown, as he was actually enjoying himself rather a lot. It was therefore a rather dramatic frown (no doubt something she’d find irritating, but even if she wanted to slap him or run a mile, he was having an effect on her mood, so his plan was working). “I think you’re confusing irritating with charming. An easy mistake to make.”

Griff noticed her small smirk and had to try rather hard not to start grinning. His plan was definitely working. See, there wasn’t a woman alive he couldn’t charm. It was just his natural...suave...ness. Hmm. Suaveness. That was a word. Anyway. What did it matter when he had such a beautiful woman in front of him, one who was so obviously enjoying his attentions. “That there may be,” he replied with a nod, “But none such as you. Why else would I be stood here? I assure you I am a man of good taste.” He grinned at her, “A connoisseur of beauty.”

[Lady Roslyn]

All Roslyn had wanted to do was to spend some time on her own, away from her father to enjoy the beautiful Camelotian day. She should have known that it was all too much to ask. She was too young and too amiable to ever imagine that a moment of her life would ever be her own, and that she could just decide to have an afternoon to herself and that would be what actually happened. Perhaps she should actually find herself a husband, as then she might have a hope of having some time to herself without being bothered by her father, or half of Camelot for that matter. Perhaps that was a little dramatic, but Roslyn was angry so she didn’t care how irrational she was being. She sighed out a little, trying to remain as lady like as possible in front of this idiot of a man. Whatever charm he thought he had was lost on her, she didn’t find him charming, she just found him annoying. There was nothing gentlemanly about harassing a woman who clearly didn’t want to be bothered on her afternoon walk. No, he was just a fool, and a young and foreign one at that. “I don’t believe I am my Lord.” She replied sweetly, but sternly.

Roslyn was not naive, nor stupid enough, to imagine there was any truth in what the man was saying to her. He might think himself charming, but he was impolite, and it was starting to irritate Roslyn. Well, it had irritated her right from him opening his mouth but still, the situation was not getting any better. “You might be a man of good tastes, but you have no manners, my Lord.” She said with an air of maturity, she was sure she was older than this fool, she knew how to act in social situations. It was becoming clear that whoever this man was, he did not. Perhaps he had learned these lines from a cousin, or brother or some other form of aquantances and he was trying them out on any woman who would listen. He was obviously not from Camelot, not with the way he spoke anyway. Roslyn couldn’t say she liked his accent much, she didn’t like much about him. He was handsome yes, she would not take that away from him of course, but even that was tarnished by his mannerisms. “If you wish I can point you in the direction of women who would much prefer your attentions.” She was quite keen for him to say yes to that, as then she could get rid and get back to her peace. He still hadn’t even asked for her name, honestly, was the man completely stupid? He wanted to charm her, and what not and he had not even bothered to ask her name yet. How nice of him. “I am Lady Roslyn Griffin, by the way. As you did not ask.” She thought she was doing quite a good job of controlling her temper as she gave a short curtsey, hoping this would be the end of the conversation.