Moving In

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander had talked to his sister after leaving Pearces house. As he suspected she was excited at the idea of leaving the citizen manor and moving to a real house. He'd also spent time explaining that she was still to be on her best behavior, that she didn't have free run of the entire manor to her desire. It seemed that she understood well enough though he expected she was mostly excited to play with Breeze and run through the garden.

They'd gathered their few belongings, Zander talked with Pearce after he'd finished his shift and training, then they brought their things to the carriage house. Briella looked at where they'd be staying and her bright green eyes lit up as she bounced from foot to foot with excitement. It was nice to see her so happy and it was also nice to be so close to Pearce. It would be so much easier for the both of them to study, she had actual room to run and play, and Zander could take care of the noble. He dragged his fingers through his hair with a soft sigh and smiled. "Be careful." He called as she ran inside to look around.

Pearce Lockheed

[Pearce Lockheed]

The carriage house was half storage space with large barn doors to one side of and open space (through which one might drive a carriage) and half a small home on the other. There were two rooms on the bottom floor, a central living and dining and cooking space with a loft and a smaller space to the back with a separate door. Much of the gardener's equipment had been stored there until recently but could easily be cleaned up and turned into a small study or similar. There were simple furnishing already. Upstairs, the loft had low vaulted ceilings and at the moment, contained one bed and a simple wardrobe.

Pearce met Zander on the walk from the villa to the smaller structure to the side. He couldn't help but smile at Briella's excitement, rushing off already. Breeze was, of course, off minding her own business and errands. But she would turn up eventually.

"What do you think, soldier?" Pearce asked, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Would you like a tour?"

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander glanced at Pearce with a soft smile. "I'd love one." He stated as he watched his sister dart around. The guest house was much like the house he'd lived in as a child, perhaps slightly smaller. That thought made him shudder a bit but he pushed the memories away. He was glad Briella didn't share the same memories. That she'd been too young to properly remember their home.

He was rather glad that there was already some furniture. The bed could be used by his sister until he got his own. Zander wasn't exactly a stranger to sleeping on the floor. Briella ran back towards the two of them with a bright smile on her face. "Thank you for letting us stay here!" She said with another small bounce. It seemed that both Brogthamon siblings were energetic and hyper.

[Pearce Lockheed]

It wasn't much of a tour, really, but he showed Zander (and Briella though she seemed to already be acquainted which the man found rather endearing) the main floor and the loft. "I think I can have another b-bed frame and mattress moved from one of the other guest rooms?" That could be seen to by tonight, certainly, and some extra blankets retrieved.

Pearce smiled at the young girl. "You're wonderful older brother is paying rent, I'll have you know. I'm not 'letting' you do anything." That might bring up the matter of rent, exactly. At all the bouncing, he was subconsciously starting to worry that maybe this would be more stressful than he realized. But only time would tell.

"The grounds are open to you as well as the main floor of the manor," he extended. That included the kitchen, dining hall, study, library and sitting rooms. The bedrooms and servant quarters, privy, as well as a small private office and the like were upstairs. "I've spoken to Heather but you might want to, to make proper arrangements. You're to be treated like guests. You're welcome to cook yourselves, or join me for meals, just let Heather know beforehand. She likes things to run smoothly." He hadn't invited the Brogthamon's here as servants after all, though he wouldn't be surprised if Zander spoke to his head of staff about more than just meals.

Admittedly, Pearce hadn't had a typical sit down meal in a while. He usually took them in bed or in his study so this would, hopefully, be good for all of them.

[Zander Brogthamon]

"But you invited us here." Briella pointed out with an all too familiar charming little crooked smile. Zander had to bite back a laugh. If Pearce thought he could be a pest now there'd be a pocket sized blonde one running a muck as well.

"Bri, go set up your things in the loft." The girl nodded before grabbing her bag and running back upstairs. Zander let out a soft sigh but couldn't help the smile on his lips. "Don't worry about moving anything in here you've done enough. I'm fine sleeping on the floor until I can buy my own." As soon as he was sure his sister was out of ear shot the boy stepped closer to the nobleman with a mischievous grin. "Or I suppose I could sneak into yours." He purred quietly with a small chuckle.

Briella was well aware of her older brothers sexuality. It wasn't something he'd hid from her. But Zander still wasn't entirely comfortable flirting in front of her or where she could hear. Maybe he was a bit over protective of his sister but the older Brogthamon wanted to give her a chance to be a child as long as she could. Give her something he never got to have. The topic of food brought a question to his mind. "Have you eaten today?"

[Pearce Lockheed]

Briella's smile made it sink in. There were, officially, two adorable smart mouthed grinning children living in his home. Well, one of them wasn't so stressful, at least. And he did like Briella. She had a lot of energy like her brother but she was mature enough for a nine year old.

Pearce opened his mouth to object to Zander's objection but then he closed it and nodded. He didn't want to start an argument and he respected Zander could do what he wanted with the space. It just might take him a while to get used to that and not be so overbearing. Hopefully he wasn't overbearing already. He shifted slightly, never very good at hiding his concerns. And then the notion of Zander sneaking into his room was instantly reassuring. And also immediately awkward after that.

"I d-didn't...I didn't suggest you live here for that but you're always w-welcome," he managed, blushing. If there was a good way to tell someone sixteen years his junior that he desperately wanted to sleep with him but certainly didn't want that to be an obligation without sounding awkward, the nobleman would love to here it right now. He wasn't sure what Briella knew or didn't know but that wasn't his business. He'd assume it best to keep things quiet around her.

Pearce frowned slightly. "Are you going to ask me that all the time?" Zander did a lot already and they weren't living together. Now...he'd likely see him every day. Not that the question wasn't well warranted. Pearce didn't eat when he was nervous or stressed, even over small things. It was a bad habit. He had not eaten since breakfast and it was passed dinner time now.

He avoided the question for the moment, searching suddenly through a pocket and pulling out a metal key. He presented it to Zander. "This also opens the main house. And the storage sheds," he admitted, blush growing deeper. Yes, he'd just given the young man a key to his own home. He tried to move past that. "R-rent is d-due on the first of the month. Heather w-will handle that."

[Zander Brogthamon]

At Pearces flustered talk about how he hadn't invited Zander there to tend to him so personally the boy couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure if that was what you invited me here for I wouldn't be paying rent." The comment on if he was always going to ask if he'd eaten made the redhead chuckle. Of course he was always going to ask. As long as Pearce didn't take care of himself the younger man would for him.

Though it seemed that the nobleman was intent on avoiding the question. That only made him suspect that Pearce hadn't eaten in a while. Still the key did serve to distract him if just for a moment. He smiled for a moment before leaning up to place a quick kiss on his lips. "You're avoiding my question." He stated with a soft smile. He turned his attention to his sister as he heard her run back down the stairs.

"Briella, we're going to have dinner soon." She nodded at him before jumping on his back. Zander wasn't opposed to cooking for the three of them. He enjoyed cooking, when he had the proper materials to do so. "Do you want to have dinner inside or the garden?"

[Pearce Lockheed]

The more direct implication that he might have asked Zander to pay him in sex didn't sit well with him. Only Pearce didn't know what to say in answer to that. In fact he was pretty sure he couldn't say anything at all. At least Zander understood that wasn't his intention. That kept him from freaking out too much. Still, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest a little too loudly. Was it a stupid thing to be worried about? Yes. Could he help it? Not really.

Pearce was pleasantly surprised by the kiss, but not surprised by the observation that followed. "I had breakfast," he stammered, almost as if he couldn't help himself but to be more forthcoming. "I'm n-not hungry," he added. And even if he was he was a little too on edge to eat. It didn't take much to make him nervous, unfortunately.

It took the noble a moment to realize Zander was speaking to him. That he had been included in the 'we.' "Oh, n-no, that's alright," Pearce said, shaking his head and taking a half step back. Briella's antics made him smile. "I'm sure you can b-borrow from the kitchens until you get a chance to shop." Okay, he was being a rather lenient landlord. Even Pearce knew he could be a pushover a lot of the time.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Hearing that he'd only had breakfast was enough to make him determined to have the man eat. However, when he claimed he wasn't hungry the redhead gave him a skeptical look and with a small frown. He did understand that Pearce wasn't much to eat while he was stressed but that didn't mean he could just avoid his meals. Though the boy was known to skip meals as well when he was under stress or upset.

Even Briella frowned at the nobleman at the idea that he wouldn't eat with them. "Please Mister Lockheed?" She asked as her bottom lip poked out in a pout. Zander reached back to place his hand on his sisters cheek as he poked his bottom lip out in a pout. "Yeah Mister Lockheed, please." He whined as he fought back another smile.

[Pearce Lockheed]

The look from Zander had him pull his arms around himself. He wasn't lying about not being hungry but he didn't like seeing the boy upset with him. He knew he should eat but he had found avoiding meals was an easier way to avoid seeing said meals again. Nerves made his stomach roll over easily.

Both of them looking at him amd frowning and begging and making that face and 'Mister Lockheeding' him... Pearce pulled a hand over his face and let out a breath. What had he gotten himself into? "You are b-both incorrigible," he grumbled. "Alright. F-fine. Gardens it is then." Pushover.

[Zander Brogthamon]

When the man agreed both siblings gave a bright smile. Zander led the three of them out to the garden. The same place he and Pearce had dinner at the night before. Though he doubted it would end the same way. That idea made him chuckle. "You two sit here, I'll make us dinner."

It felt rather strange if Zander really thought about it. Like a small family. Not something he'd had in some time. For a long time now it had just been he and Briella. The redhead spoke with some of the servants, specifically the kitchen staff. They showed him around a bit and helped as he roasted off some vegetables and a chicken. Briella spent most of her time in the garden laughing and watching the birds that fluttered from tree to tree and seemed fairly interested in her.

Once the dinner was ready Zander helped bring it out and led his sister to the table. "Briella, dinner." The girl quickly made her way back to her brother.

[Pearce Lockheed]

The nobleman followed the pair to the garden, already amused. Zander had been here often enough and so had Briella and both seemed to have a lot more confidence than himself.

Make them dinner? Pearce wasn't opposed he was just...startled by the announcement. More by habit, he followed the instruction to sit.

It was sort of a family. A very...different one. Perhaps not exactly what he imagined for himself in the past but it was...something. Hopefully a good something.

Pearce watched the girl and the birds in the gardens, a little curious. Breeze appeared to inspect the ruckus among the flowers amd bushes and trees and seemed very confused why Briella was in her space. She was usually curious and standoffish for a while and threaded her way between Pearce's legs for attention, her pale green gaze never leaving the girl. "You'll get used to her, I'm sure," the nobleman assured the cat with a few scratches on her head.

He smiled at the way Zander firmly ordered his sister. He didn't act like that with him. He was impressed woth Briella more for the fact she listened to her brother without at least mouthing off. Clearly the two were close and Zander was likely more a father figure to her.

"It does smell good," he noted. He felt a little better after the moment to relax but the entire premise of inviting the two to stay with him still had him a little anxious. He glanced at Zander amd smiled appreciatively but at least for the moment only took a drink of tea that his staff had provided. "I didn't realize you cook?" He meant it more as enjoying cooking.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Briella watched after the cat with interest but with a gentle nudge from her brother she took a seat and focused on the plate that was set in front of her. There'd been more than enough nights Zander would wake up to calm his sleeping baby sister to give his mother time to sleep or watch after her while their parents were off working. When he wasn't training or violently ill that is. He'd also been raising her on his own since leaving home. The redhead had been more of a father to her than their father had ever been. While she could be rebellious from time to time Briella loved her brother and trusted he wanted what was best for her.

Zander didn't start eating until after Briella did out of habit. He hoped that Pearce would calm down enough to eat something but he wouldn't be too upset if he didn't eat right away. The comment made him pause then chuckle and shrugged his shoulders. "When I wasn't training or watching after Briella I was in the kitchen with our mother." He said softly as he pushed the food around a bit.

Briellas eyes shot to her brother for a quick moment before going back to her food. "I like cooking with Zanny!" She said excitedly with a proud smile. Zander snickered as he reached over to ruffle her hair. There weren't many people that called him by nicknames other than his sister. It helped get his mind off of the ideas of his fathers version of 'training'.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Zander made for quite the protective brother. Considering even the little Pearce knew about his past, he wasn't surprised. He also assumed she had been cautioned to be on her best behavior around the nobleman.

He felt a little awkward, sitting down to a meal with them. Especially when he wasn't eating. It was...impolite to at least not try the food, however. Etiquette demanded he at least do that. Not to mentioned he noticed Zander wasn't eating either. Pearce smiled slightly. "What is your favorite thing to cook, both of you?" He asked of the pair, cutting his chicken and the vegetables into small bites and testing a few out. It was good. Simple, but that was honestly better for his stomach.

The nickname was sweet. And certainly not something Pearce felt allowed to call the boy, more than friends or not.

[Zander Brogthamon]

Zander was glad to see Pearce eating even if it was just a little bit. He wasn't a proper chef by any means but he liked making good food. He began eating more as the man asked his question. Briella spoke first with an enthusiastic smile. "I like making duck and roasted potatoes!" It wasn't something they got to make often, given how expensive the meat and spices were. But it was still something nice they could have together on special occasions.

"I don't really have any one thing in particular I like to make. So long as Bri likes it that's all that's really mattered." Zander said with a soft smile as he playfully poked his sister in the side. She jumped with a yelp then laugh as she shoved his arm playfully. "What about you, Pearce? I don't suppose you really like cooking." He teased with a smile. "But what's your favorite food? I bet I could make it for you." When he caught Briella attempting to feed Breeze a piece of chicken he tapped the table twice with his knuckle to get her attention. He looked up at him with big, innocent eyes only to place the piece in her own mouth with a sheepish smile.