You're Stuffy. 'Rules this', 'Rules That'

[Giuliano Raven]

Set in the holidays before 2035 school starts.
At Raven Manor, just off the coast of Italy. Entire family scattered around the manor.
It's lunch time. There is plenty food on the table.

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Giuliano stood stubbornly in the dining hall,wearing awkward formalwear. He could not believe what his mother and father had planned for him. While Giuliano quite liked the idea of being betrothed, knowing that he would not have to worry about all that 'love' rubbish, it was simply not fair that he was not allowed to have a say in who he would be marrying. He had expected that he would have some say, but apparently, he did not. And now there was this boring party being thrown for them, with all sorts of people being invited. They were all old and boring. Who were the Smiths anyway? The Italian boy had never heard of them before, and he had little ambition to meet any of them. He refused to be a little puppet. He just knew that Payley, or whatever her name was, was going to be stuffy. Just like Grace was before she went weird or something. She was going to be all about rules and regulation and appearances and everything. While Giuliano was a proud pureblood, and knew that things such as mudbloods and half-breeds were not welcome in his family, that did not mean he was one of those crazy purebloods that could not function in real life because he was so far up in a medieval ideology that he couldn't keep up with the current century. Giuls loved getting into mischief and having fun and getting messy and doing silly things. He was a child and wanted to behave like for until he was no-longer a child. Simple as that.

Giuliano accepted a brush from his younger sister, Izabella, gratefully, and quickly gave his hair a few brushes. His mother would shoot him with a hex if he was not presentable. Even if he hated this, he had to set an example for his younger siblings, who, if they were lucky enough, would have something like this done for them. Except, hopefully they would be allowed to actually have input or something on who they would be marrying. He remembered Grace not liking this sort of thing - but she was corrupted by a mudblood. Amanda before him was happy to be married off. And he was happy to be betrothed. He really was, he just wished it was to a nice Italian girl, not some girl from Merlin knew where.

He grinned at Dante, who was just watching him silently. "Wish me luck?" he rolled his eyes and chuckled as Dante simply stared at him. "Yeah, didn't think so." Giuliano handed Dante the brush, before he went to greet his mother, who, upon seeing his hair, flourished her wand and made it better - even though Giuliano thought it was fine to begin with. His father was not here for the meeting, which was peculiar since he was the head of the family, but Mother was just as capable of discussing the family with people. Besides, Ciro would also be there to represent Father. Giuliano was confident that everything would go smoothly. Except for the girl. He knew that she was going to be some overly proper, boring, rule-obsessed girl. He stood as tall as he could beside his mother and Ciro, as a tall man and girl entered the room, being shown the way by house elves. As mother greeted the two, Giuliano remained by Ciro's sit, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
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[Richard Mckay]

Mr and Mrs Raven. Richard had done many hours of business with Affonso Raven back in his Ministry days and they had kept in touch since then. He had heard that in recent years, Emiliana had fallen ill. Richard was not surprised, she had always been a sickly woman and after having so many kids he was surprised that she was not dead. He knew that he would never get that many children from his own wife Ginevra. He was lucky enough to get the three he currently had let alone risking going for a fourth. She was a tough woman his wife, not at all surprising, considering the family she came from. From what he had heard, many of Affonso's children had been doing well for themselves. As of yet he could not say the same, but his own children had yet to reach school age. The only child of which held any value to him right at this moment was walking beside him, her little legs pumping slightly faster then his in an effort to keep up. He shook his head at his illegitimate child. Of good breeding though she was, Richard had not intended for her birth to happen. A chance meeting with a woman in a bar had caused this and though he would never regret Paisley, he regretted her not being legitimate. However there was no way, he was ever going to marry the monster of a woman that was her mother so, unfortunately, Paisley was stuck with having the Smith name, but not being able to lay claim on any of the assets. Of course, Richard had little claim on them either considering that Isla, was chosen as heir over him. Richard did not mind so much though, he hated paper work. He had even hated it when he had been in the ministry. Why he was ever working for them he still did not know.

Grabbing onto Paisley's hand, Richard jerked her to him and then proceeded to pick her up. At her squirming he simply glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before hushing her. "You may wish to be late, little madam, but I am a serial punctual arriverer. I would prefer some punk kid not mess that up. Whether you are mine or not." He told her, making sure that she was secure against him as he quickened his stride. Sometimes he wished that manors would have less distance to walk. He understood that need for non apparition charms, but this was ridiculous. He normally just flooed everywhere, be seeing the nature of this visit and Paisley's state of dress, flooing, would not be the best solution. Finally reaching the house, Richard dropped Paisley to her feet and opened the door, his eyes immediately finding both Emiliana and her eldest son Ciro, along with young Giuliano. However, he did not see Affonso. Perhaps his old friend was away on buisness. Never-the-less it seemed that he would be dealing with the misses and the heir. That suited him just fine. As he was not an heir himself. Looking down at Paisley he quickly clipped her over the ear as she was pulling at the ribbons in her hair. "Mess this up and you will regret it." Richard straightened out his formal robes and made his way behind a pair of house elves to Emiliana and Ciro. He bowed slightly and motioned for Paisley to do the same. "Mrs Raven, Master Raven. A pleasure, certainly." He smiled at the pair. "And might I add that you are looking especially healthy today Emiliana." he was being honest at that point and so had momentarily dropped the formalities. He turned to Paisley. "Might I present my eldest, Paisley." he again motioned for her to curtsey. "You must be Master Giuliano. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."​

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[Paisley Hayes-Mckay]

Stuffy. Stuffy McStuffiness. That was the name of the boy that Paisley Hayes-Smith was currently on her way to meet. How did she know this? Well, it was quite obvious really. What young, nice, playful boy would want an arranged marriage? With her?! She didn't have any assets, she had nothing to her name... anything she managed to achieve would be of her own volition and would have nothing to do with her father or her gold digging mother. Well, her mother wasn't a gold digger and Paisley did love her despite her eccentricities, but still! Paisley sighed as she hurried along behind her father. He was much too tall for her to keep up with however and it soon appeared that Paisley was too be running along beside him, like a dog. This was ridiculous. She was only ten and had only barely just turned so, she shouldn't have to run like this, not in this dress, surely. Sighing, Paisley quickened her pace and was about to complain to the man beside her, when she suddenly found herself being scooped up into his arms. The shock and surprise had her squirming in her fathers grip only for him to hush her. She frowned and pouted. This was not fun at all. She wanted to walk, but she didn't want to run and she didn't want to be carried like a baby. She was not a baby! She would be going to school next year! She was an adult now! Instead she resigned herself to the fact that the rest of the walk was going to be completed with her being carried whether she liked it or not. She was just going to have to put up with it. Never mind the fact that her father was crushing her dress. She was just going to ignore that. Not like she particularly liked it anyway.

When they finally reached the manor/mansion whatever it was called, Paisley was promptly dropped to her feet, where she had to stop herself from stumbling. That was a bit rough. She turned to glare at her father, but noted that he had already stepped inside. Sighing and rolling her eyes - grateful that Richard did not seem to have eyes at the back of his head like her mother - Paisley followed her father inside and scanned the room. Yep, she didn't know anyone. Not surprising, she didn't really get out much as it was. Now she would get out even less if she was not in the company of any of her older relatives. Her father seemed inclined to want to keep her close, Merlin only knew why and whilst she was rather grateful - she did love her father after all - she did often find herself wishing that he was not so highly valued with family, tradition and law. It was ridiculous the amount of time she had seen him put into the family business, though she didn't actually know anything about it. Honestly Paisley would be happy just to be making mud pies in Grandmother's garden, though with Grandfather sick and in bed, that was likely to be less possible as no-one was allowed in her garden these days. That was unfortunate. At the thought of mud pies though, Paisley's hands went to the ribbons in her hair. She actually liked these and she wouldn't want to mess them- "Ow!" Paisley rubbed her head where her father had hit her. That showed her for forgetting to pay attention. As they were lead over to the Raven family, Paisley followed suit every time her father bowed. Not that she knew much about curtseying and all that. It was silly and she disliked it, but anything to make her father happy. Then, as Richard introduced her, she nodded at each of the three people in front of her, before setting her eyes on the youngest. He would have to have been her age if not slightly older. She figured this must be Mr McStuffy.

Her thoughts were proved correct when her father inclined his head to Mr Stuffy and spoke to him. She tilted her head slightly and held out her hand to Giuliano. "It is my pleasure also, Master Giuliano. I hope that together we can unite our families and-" Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Paisley stopped listening to herself by this point. She knew the speech off by heart and what was the purpose of concentrating on it when she could focus on the fact that these shoes were rather annoying and she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with them. They were a little tight for her feet as it turns out and she really wished she could just take them off and throw them. Sighing she returned to what she was saying. "-as I am sure you will also reciprocate." What had she been talking about again? Oh well, like it mattered now anyway, what was done was done and had been sanctioned months ago. Today was just a formality. If she was going to be spiteful she would say this had been planned since before she was born, but as her mother had told her, she was not planned, at all. Her mother hadn't been rude about it or anything, she hadn't said it to hurt Paisley, but she had rather said it to force Paisley to see the truth of her situation. Paisley was a dreamer, but now she was a realist, at least where her mother was concerned, she was definitely still a dreamer in her own rights. Yawning slightly at the discussion of the adults, Paisley instead focussed on her betrothed. He really didn't look all that stuffy. But he had to be she was sure. She leaned closer to him slightly, looking around to ensure that they were being ignored. "I hate parties like this. All this pomp and ceremony, might as well be living in the nineteen twenties." She whispered, nodding and smiling at him. Hopefully he wouldn't be too offended by her tactlessness. But she had to be herself, she couldn't be anyone else.
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[Cirino Raven]

Ciro found the day to be a slow one. He was here because he was asked, and really wanted to be anywhere else. He was only here for Giuliano, and that was because he had to be here. After spending the better part of an hour listening to his mother drop hints about several eligible woman around Italy, Ciro was rather close to demanding that she drop the subject of women and focus on her other sons. She had plenty of them, and not all of them had matches yet. Every visit he had to this house, he would immediately be prodded about his whereabouts, whether he was married, whether he had settled on a job in the Ministry, or something equally trying. His mother was serious about her match-making and would not settle for anything less than accuracy, a trait that Ciro himself had inherited, but when focused on him he loathed it. He simply told her that he was still travelling, as was his right, and gently pointed out that he was not thirty, therefore had no reason to look to share his life with anyone, least of all some woman he wouldn't be interested in.

Ciro tugged Giuliano to attention as Richard Mckay and his child entered the room. The last thing he wanted was for Guiliano to go daydreaming as he so often did. Perhaps it was some sort of ploy from the younger to get out of this? Ciro had done much worse when younger to get out of betrothals, Giuliano would have to be more inventive to throw his mother off from her crusade to have all of her children married before thirty. Ciro inclined his head to Richard Mckay as he addressed formalities and complimented his mother, who was looking healthier than usual, Ciro had to agree. He hadto admit that the young Miss Paisley looked quite adorable, but less than pleased to be there. "A pleasure to greet you both." He watched carefully as Giuliano and Paisley interacted, finding Paisley to be different from girls Giuliano would have met, and was grateful, because Giuliano would need someone to keep him in line, otherwise he would dream his entire life away before he got to live it. "Mister Mckay, please follow me. There is much we still need to discuss. Mother, you watch Giuliano please." With a gesture of his hand, Ciro then began to lead Richard Mckay out of the room, offering Giuliano and Paisley the ability to truly greet each other as children should. He doubted his mother would bother them too much.
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[Richard Mckay]

Richard kept a cautious eye on his daughter as she made her speech to the young Raven. Richard wasn't entirely convinced with her deliverance, but it was going to have to do. Shaking his head he pressed his hand against her back to coax her forward before looking back towards the stand in. Rick was of course, being harsh, Ciro was certainly not a stand in. He was a decent guy and so Richard was quite happy to be negotiating with him. At forty one, Rick was the youngest of his siblings, however Ciro was the eldest, not including Amanda, so it was definitely an interesting combination. Rick nodded at Ciro and followed the younger man out of the immediate vicinity of the younger generation. Leaning against the wall as he got out of the room, Richard looked over at the children as they interacted with each other. It was pretty funny when he thought about it. With all of this ceremonial stuff, Richard usually felt uncomfortable and he could tell that Paisley was pretty uncomfortable, but she was giving it her best shot. "Let's just see how well she does." He stated, before following Ciro the rest of the way out of the foyer.
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