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The atmosphere is thick at Woodstone as ghosts (and the livings) slowly come to terms with the events of the last few minutes. Isaac’s stomach is still spinning with anxiety, even though his betrothed is standing right besides him.
In his anxiety, Isaac had been so sure that his dearest was the one who had left. Isaac looks over to Nigel, who gives him a solum smile, reaching over to take his hand. He can’t imagine what he would have done if it were Nigel. He would struggle to remain even half as composed as Thorfinn is right now. He hates to even think it, but he is glad it was Flower and not Nigel. He is glad Thor is left alone and distraught and not himself.
Isaac can scarcely believe he had thought such a thing. Poor Thor.
“I know this is ill manners,” Nigel says quietly as the two enter the maple suit, where they have decided to spend the night. “but I am so relieved that it was Flower and not you Isaac.”
Isaac sighs in relief. The guilty thoughts that have been plaguing him are felt by his beloved aswell.
“I just cannot fathom being without you Isaac,” Nigel continues, “those few minutes when I was concerned you were gone, it felt like a hundred years.”
A hundred years. Isaac should have acted on his feelings for Nigel a hundred years ago. Yet another thing Isaac feels guilty for.
“I am so sorry it took me so long to embrace us, Nigel.” He needs to apologise for it now. He needs to apologise now, for who knows what tomorrow will bring. He couldn’t bare to have thoughts unsaid.
“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Nigel says, reaching out to touch his cheek lightly, “and I shall try to be more open about my desires from you my fiancé’.”
“Oh Nigel,” Isaac swoons, “I’ll never leave your side, never again.”
Nigel awakens and finds himself warm and unable to move. It was really quite peculiar. Nigel pushes against his restraints, causing his would be captor to pull him in closer and nuzzle into his hair.
Nigel chuckles and sighs happily, following Isaacs lead and snuggling closer. He need not be free afterall.
“Nigel,” Isaac sighs.
“Yes sweatheart?”
Isaacs face scrunches adorably, as though he were not expecting a reply, before Isaac slowly reveals his hazel eyes.
“Oh…I,” Isaac says as his face takes on a slightly pink hue, “was dreaming of holding you close, though it appears it was not a dream afterall.”
Nigel chuckles. Trust Isaac to be an unknowing be a cuddler.
“Dreaming of me?” Nigel teases, “I’m the man of your dreams.”
“I wouldn’t dream it any other way,” Isaac replies, oozing class and suave. Nigel melts under Isaacs charm. His dearest was such a contradiction, confident yet nervous, strong yet gentle, American yet intelligent.
“May I join you to observe the basement ants this morning?” Isaac says quite out of the blue.
“Yes of course.”
Isaac always objects to ant watching, it was quite peculiar that he would choose to join Nigel.
“Good,” Isaac says happily, “We have much engagement party planning to discuss, and what better place than over a disgusting swarms of insects.”
“Actually ants form well organised colonies lead by a queen,” Nigel says as Isaac shudders at the thought.
“Trust you to enjoy things that follow a Queen.” Isaac scoffs, rolling his eyes, “I will still join you.”
Isaac choosing to watch ants? It appears as though his darling wasn’t exaggerating in his claims to never leave his side.
“Perhaps we should go our separate ways,” Nigel says as the pair approach the manor after their customary morning walk. It was a delightful stroll, possibly the most delightful stroll Nigel had ever partaken in, after the most delightful morning Nigel had ever had, and the most delightful ant-watching. And there in lies the problem. How could one not find their fiances excitement over their recent betrothal, well, exciting. This coupled with Isaacs swifty increasing displays of physical affection, well Nigel was in desperate need of some alone time.
Isaacs feet immediately stop, and he stares back at Nigel with a look of pure terror. Nigels mind flashes back to his own shock at seeing the white light and assuming the worst.
“I shall return shortly, I still have some matters to attend to in the shed,” Nigel explains. Well so much for being open about his desires; not the best start to their betrothal.
“Well, I’ll come with you,” Isaac says, swifty turning back towards the manor door
“If only that were possible,” Nigel mutters under his breath. Sharing a bed together had been absolutely marvellous, but Nigel wouldn’t for a moment assume this meant Isaac were ready for more intimate activities, no matter how much he longed for it to be true.
“What was that, my fiancé?”
“Nothing, my fiancé,” Nigel says, “Perhaps you should spend the afternoon with Henrietta and Alberta, it is nearly time for your television viewing.”
Isaac looks a tad guiltily at his feet, “And you shall be alright without my company?”
“Oh yes my love,” Nigel takes his hand and gestures to head, “You will be with me, in my thoughts.”
And there really had never been a truer statement uttered from his lips. There was likely not to be a single thought without his darling fiancé. Isaac however still looked a little uncertain.
A cheeky though crosses Nigels mind, “And in my heart.”
Isaac melts at the sweet words, before smiling.
“You mean right here,” Isaac says smirking and reaching out to place a hand over the bullet wound in Nigels chest.
Nigel can’t help but swallow the tight knot that forms in his throat. Does his fiancé understand how enticing he is being?
“Don’t dally,” Isaac says as he leans down to give Nigel a sweet kiss, “I would like you for afternoon delights…I uhh… Jay made turkish delights for afternoon tea.”
Perhaps Nigel should ask Isaac to assist him with ‘shed matters’. Breathe Nigel, plenty of time for those matters once married.
“Delightful.”
“Nigel,” Isaacs voice echos through the grounds of Woodstone. He had spent more than an hour with Hetty, Alberta, Nancy and Pete, and he was done. Yes, it is quite interesting and an important moment in Petes development to be a less of a push-over to those filthy cholera ghosts. But was the drama and Pete telling the Cholera ghosts to return to the basement something he would prefer over spending time with his fiancé. Absolutely not.
So Isaac had been walking towards the shed in the hope of running into his beloved. Nigel was running late. Flowers memorial would start soon and he desperately wanted to get there early and pitch it as a joint celebration for both Flower and his engagement. He even asked Samantha to bring the two balloons.
“Nigel,” Isaac wails. He knew he shouldn’t have left Nigels side. What if Nigel was sucked off while handing his shed matters.
“Nigel!”
Isaac was starting to panic, but it was ridiculous, there was no light. What if, he went down in the shed. No his Nigel was still here, unless it had occurred while Isaac was in the basement. No it can’t be. And if it can’t be then why has Isaacs walking speed increased ten-fold.
“Isaac?”
“Oh my,” Isaac gasps reaching out to hug his love “Nigel.”
“Are you quite alright Isaac?”
Isaac knew he shouldn’t have let Nigel out of his sights. His day was miserable. No one had wanted to hear about the engagement, nor assist him in the celebrations. Yes, he too was upset over Flowers departure, but they were engaged!
“I am now,” Isaac sighs into his partners hair, “though we should hurry or we shall be late to Flowers memorial. Now let me explain the operation. We will enter the ….”
“So, that was a setback,” Isaac says as the two occupy the library during Nigel usual solo ‘reading time’. “However, there are advantages to our engagement party being postponed for a short time.”
“hmm,” Nigel says his face literally in a book as his fiancé paces back and forth.
“There is more time for this engagement party to be the perfect celebration of me…” Isaac says before catching himself, “my love for you. Our love.”
Nigel chuckles. He isn’t too concerned with a party or a large celebration. He loves Isaac and wants to marry him. But his dearest does have a love of pageantry, and his wishes cannot continue to be ignored by the rest of a mansion.
“And I want it to happen as soon as possible in case you…”
Isaac halts his speech mid-sentence. Was Isaacs intense clingy behaviour and hyperfocus on the engagement party due to excitement about their upcoming nuptials or something else entirely.
“Isaac?” Nigel says walking away from his book and up to his partner, “why does this party mean so much to you?”
Isaac sighs and sits down. “One moment Flower was here,” Isaac says, “and now she is gone. When I couldn’t find you today, I worried perhaps you had gone. There are so many more experiences I would like to have with you, and to know you could be gone at any moment… I want everything to happen now.”
“Oh Isaac,” Nigel sighs, “I’m not planning to be sucked off any time soon, or go down on you.”
“I know, but just in case, I would like to have a wonderful experience celebrating our love with all of my friends,” Isaac says with the most loving expression.
Sometimes Isaac breaks his heart. Nigel had no idea Flowers departure had affected him so, though he understands those few minutes were indeed very stressful. If Isaac wanted a distraction from the uncontrollable nature of the after-life, and some wonderful memories. Nigel would make that happen.
“I will make sure you have the best engagement party ever.”