Meeting William

Posted on Sun Feb 5th, 2023 @ 22:49 by Reagan D'Angelo & William McAvoy
Edited on on Sun Feb 5th, 2023 @ 23:00

Chapter: Days of Future Past
Location: The Kitchen
Timeline: 1990
2105 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

William looked around the kitchen that had, had a big upgrade in the last couple of weeks from the fire stove that he had grown used to since waking up. He was not at all used to all the new equipment that had been brought in and that was why he stuck to his room as much as he could outside of meal times or where he was helping to tackle the grounds to free up some more building space and making sure that his crypt remained undiscovered by everyone who could not possibly understand his situation or would fear.

It was easy was he was doing and it kept him out of the way for the most part but he was hungry and thirsty and it was not a mealtime yet so that left him without much choice but to venture into the kitchen and try to investigate. Claire had explained the castle now had electricity so coal and wood were no longer needed but he did not understand how magic could be created so easily. With a push of a button, everything seemed to work, taking out all work from a task. Everyone had it so much easier in 1990 than in the 1400s. He ventured to the device he had seen Claire more than once and just stared at it trying to work out how it turned on. “Work.” He snapped at the device finally.

"I know it's likely cutting edge, considering Claire's investment in our ability to cook for ourselves rather than letting us get away with microwaved ramen, but I don't think it's that advanced quite yet." Reagan's voice was casual, maybe a little lazy as she entered the kitchen, wearing a fresh shirt and sweatpants with a towel around her neck. The dark, wet status of her hair let more of that natural red that tinged the blonde shine through, indicating she'd just finished a shower. Now? It was coffee time. She approached the machine to peruse the buttons and take the pot to fill with water. "New here as well?"

“Very new.” He said gruffly as he tried to focus on all the new words that she had said. “William.” he introduced himself slowly trying to remember he was no longer Lord William McAvoy but simply William McAvoy of some random Scottish town that no one would ever be able to track down.

"Coffee? Or were you looking for something more substantial?" Settling the filled pot into the machine, she set it to start heating up and set a pristine white filter in before starting to add the grounds. "Reagan. It's nice to meet you, William. Whereabouts did Claire convince you to come all the way here from then. May I guess by your accent? A scot?"

"Coffee will do thank you." He had grown accustomed to the bean water that people seemed to drink by the tankard in this day and age. "I am a local. Been here many years." He assured quietly looking at the machine as the water started to seep through it. It was not the machine he had been considering using but it looked even more complicated that the simple kettle.

Once all was done and there was only waiting left to do, Reagan smiled at him and gave him a proper once over with her eyes, a hand tucking a few blonde strays behind one ear. "If you're sure, William. Do you have a nickname? Will? Bill? Been here at the castle for many years or just in the general area? And I thought I'd met everyone Claire hired... you must be a sneaky one."

"William is my name. I have been at the castle for many years. I was born and raised here." He said trying to not use as many grand words as him and Claire had discussed. It made for simple conversation but he was sure that no one would believe let alone understand his 600-year slumber and be able to understand. "I am the caretaker so it is likely why you have not seen me until now." He was pretty adept at fixing some of the issues that had arisen so far with his experience with land and people management so it was a job that he enjoyed and gave him some purpose again.

"Oh, I had no idea! Well you do a lovely job keeping the grounds tidy and maintained, have to say." She smiled at him again, going to retrieve a pair of clean mugs once the coffee pot was filling in earnest, not long away from being ready to pour. "Well, you know you're always welcome to come up and say hi to most of us, if you'd like? If you'd prefer not, that's fine too. Just been here for awhile now and surprised I haven't at least seen you in passing. Or heard Claire mention you. Everything is new for me too, but I usually make it a point to try and meet everyone when I end up somewhere new. Habit from running a business and all."

“I have spent a lot of the last couple of moon cycles trying to make something out of the disrepair that has become of the grounds.” Being outside made it easier to avoid the majority of people. “I appreciate your compliment my… Reagan.” He might have been able to stop the form of the title coming out but the courtly bow came out without thought.

The wording there got an odd look from Reagan, but she decided not to pry. He was certainly an odd one, but if he'd been here all along and Claire trusted him, that was good enough for her. "Just Reagan is fine. Or Rae... Odd hearing 'my' before that, going to be honest. Were you just about to properly address me, William? Is there noble blood there I should be aware of?"

Mostly joking with him, she turned to fill the two cups she retrieved and handed one mug to him first before cradling her own and blowing gently across the top of the steaming liquid. "If only it were this easy to get my ex to bow and use noble titles in my presence..."

The man took the mug and looked at him adding the sugar and milk how he liked it before he leaned against the counter and offered an embarrassed smile. "Yes... and it is hard to get out of the habit." He admitted hoping people of this time did at least in some circles did it.

"Don't worry, William, your little quirk is safe with me. About the closest thing we have to actual nobility here is Claire, and I don't assume she enjoys it either. But I don't know how you two get on either, hm?" Cradling her cup, she takes the first few tentative sips, having added nothing but a splash of cream to help it cool and give a hint of the fancier drinks she tended to order in the cities. "A perfect pot if I do say so myself. But really should give the machine all the credit. Sure you're used to more traditional means of making coffee, living out here all your life?"

"I am not used to coffee. But I do like to brew things, longer to warm but you appreciate it more." He admitted. It was nice but it was an acquired taste that was for sure and he definitely liked it sweeter. "I am currently fixing up a little cottage on the grounds." It was somewhere for him to have some privacy but also for him to guard the crypt.

"I can appreciate that sentiment, definitely. I may be a city girl, but the country and the quieter, slower things are certainly growing on me the longer I am out here." Now she could just settle in, cradle her mug and watch him with a little smile, listen and reply. It was nice. "A cottage out here? That sounds like heaven to me. Remind me to pay you a visit when I'm looking to retire, may buy it off of you."

William had never been in the city at this time but Edinburgh in his time had been bad enough. He had only just recovered from Henry IV of England and an English army easily taking Edinburgh in a show of strength after The Duke of Rothesay went back on his word. Maybe one day, he would visit there again but he first needed to brave the nearby town. That would be his real test of character. "Please do Reagan. And I will never sell." He assured her. "It is Lady Claire's grounds so you will have to take it up with her." He owned nothing in this time other than what was given to him.

She laughed a bit at that statement, tucking a few strands of loose hair behind her ear before taking another generous sip of her coffee. The drinks got larger as the temperature got more bearable, more urgent as the need to finish before it got too cold settled in. "Oh, I think I can convince Claire to lend me a cottage out here if we live long enough to be wrinkled and grey." She couldn't help the silly little grin, expanding on the stereotype in her head of living with Claire in a cottage as two friends who never married. "There you go with the titles again, but I suppose Claire is royalty, isn't she? Lady is only proper."

"She is not royalty," William said with a smile. "Titles do not denote royalty. The united kingdom has a social structure much like more European countries. Each is very important to different areas of skills." It felt like a simpler time to William but he was starting to see that other countries and even this time had different concepts.

Reagan couldn't help but smile at that, wondering if William here would even understand her jokes if she made them. He was well learned for a country man though, she had to give him that. "Way she carries herself sometimes? One would never guess otherwise. I'm a dual citizen, you know, but did spend most of my years in New York. America... doesn't really do hereditary titles. Unless you count wealthy business owners passing their holdings on to their spoiled and incompetent children. Suppose that's not much different than a lot of European royalty in the end, is it?" She muses, before cradling her mug and taking a generous drink now that it's sufficiently cooled.

"Not necessarily as it's not an automated thing. Herarity is... it passes father to son or nearest male relative I am sure women have a much better chance of owning business that way." He mused before shaking his head. "I have taken up enough of your time though... I should let you get on." He realised as he noticed how much the sun had gone down whilst they were speaking.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all, William. Was a pleasure to meet you! Would you like me to walk you back to your room? I never pass up the opportunity for exercise." Reagan was quick to finish up her coffee then, the caffeinated delight only serving to calm someone as usually energetic as Reagan D'Angelo. Maybe on an off day it might give her jitters, but she was already bouncing off the walls to begin with, so now it was just... calmer. She offered to take his cup as well with a silent gesture. "Might be good to figure out where I can find you in the future as well, incase I have issues requiring the groundskeeper, you know?"

“It is out in the grounds but if you have a moment it would be nice for someone to know where I can be found if I am needed.” He reminded allowing her to take the cup though he wanted to take hers and clean them both. It was good manners but it would only be rude to refuse her kind offer.

Reagan simply smiled and nodded her compliance with his idea before briefly running their cups under the water in the sink and turning them upside down for a more thorough cleaning later. Turning back to him, she motioned toward the door with one hand. "After you then, William. I would hate to have an emergency of some sort and not be able to locate you. Out in the grounds then... outside the castle proper? I will never say no to fresh air."


[To be continued]