[Gerald Stapleton (Aluinn)]

Showing up unannounced was not something Gerald was accustom to, nor was it something he had anticipated. Upon arrival at The Albany and the supreme lack of awareness that Geoff's brother was to appear this evening, Gerald promptly found out where his brother was that evening and quickly jotted out a missive to be sent there immediately.

As he sat on a comfortable arm-hair in the middle of Geoff's humble but comfortable flat, he wondered how he had come to this situation. He had been quite certain his mother would send ahead word to Geoff that Gerald was on his way; it was her idea to send him off to his brothers in the first place after all. After months of recovery from his injuries in hospital he had been sent to his family's estate in Cornwall. The country air had done him well but his mother had eventually grown tired of his drolling about the home with nothing to do but sulk. She had announced a fortnight ago that he would be shipped off, quite as though he were still in leading strings, to spend time with his brother in London, "To find yourself a nice wife and something to do other than sulk around my house!" Angela had exclaimed.

Gerald tapped his cane against the toe of his boot. He felt mildly awkward waiting in his brother's sitting room alone, unexpected or anticipated by anyone. He had no desire to poke through Geoffrey's things so he was left here to sit and contemplate his beaning here, as it were. Angela seemed to think he would find a wife and settle down, as though he, as a wounded soldier, had no worth in life any longer but to produce children. He sighed and rubbed both eyes with one hand; thumb in his left socket and two forefingers in the other. He was not here to find a wife, if anything he just wanted to remember what being normal was. And feel like an adult again.

After months of being taken care of, Gerry was eager to find his independence again. Ironic, then, that he was depending on his brother for shelter. He snorted aloud and tipped his head back against the back of the chair.

[Geoffrey Stapleton (Shar)]

It was as well that Geoffrey was accustomed to walking wherever he went; the speed at which he hastened home would otherwise have been impossible.
He thought as he walked, having always found the two activities an excellent combination, and had almost settled things in his mind by the time he slowed to catch his breath in the last block before The Albany. Then it occured to him to wonder whether his papers were locked up for the night. They were, of course. If he hadn't done it, his valet certainly would have. It was worrisome nonetheless. It would be an interesting dance, keeping them out of Gerry's path for--how long would he be staying? No matter, no matter. They'd sort it all out.
"Gerry!" he called out as he entered, hand outstretched as he headed straight for the sitting room and the brother seated therein. "You made excellent time! I had not expected you tonight at all!"

[Gerald Stapleton (Aluinn)]

At the sound of someone entering, Gerry lifted his head off the back of the chair and squinted to re-adjust his eyes to being open. Had he fallen asleep? Perhaps. He seemed rather prone to dazing off lately, with nothing to do one tends to become rather lethargic.

His brother, tall and happy as usual, practically burst into the room.

"You made excellent time! I had not expected you tonight at all!"

Gerry peered at the outstretched hand and lifted his own as he stood from the chair, his weight shifted to his right leg, allowing his left to touch the ground only in order to provide balance.

His hand curled around his brother's and grasped it firmly. Geoff's hands were not rough and scarred and worked over as Gerald's were, and it felt odd to come into physical contact with the man he called brother and had shared many letters with over the years, yet had seemed so far away. But here he was, and Gerry was about to ask for a rather large favor.

"Yes, well," he gave Geoff a tilted smile, "I am not exactly certain how my visit came to be a surprise. I had assumed mother would send word, however it seems she did not. Perhaps she presumed I would do so, being a grown man and all I really ought to have-" he paused, releasing his brother's grip, he turned, lifted the cane from its resting place beside the chair and pushed his weight on it for support, "But she'd been coddling me so much during my stay I figured she would have taken care of it. I'm sorry for the intrusion."

[Geoffrey Stapleton (Shar)]

Geoff had been rather hoping to gloss over the issue of not knowing Gerry was coming without lying outright. He disliked lying; it was too easy--inevitable, almost--to be caught, and when was, there was no good excuse. This was a strange viewpoint for a man in his profession and position, and he was aware of it. However, there it was.
"Not at all, not at all. It'll be good to have company around the place. As for Mother, why in God's name do you think I live in London? Mother is without doubt the finest woman in all existence, but I think if I lived there she'd insist on going over all of my correspondence for correct spelling."
That having been said, he shrugged with a grin and turned the conversation, not finding his brother's posture to inspire confidence. "Please have a seat--your trip must have been tiring with your leg not yet recovered."
Sleeping arrangements, sleeping arrangements... someone else he might trick or cajole into taking his own bed and allowing him the camp bed or the couch. Gerry would not be so easily cajoled, he suspected, and trickery would only come back to bite him later on, since he'd be here more than just a night or two. Again, the inevitability of being caught.
The offer had to be made, however, both from good manners and because he really wished his brother would take him up on it. "I shall arrange for the camp bed to be prepared directly," he said. "It would be most gratifying to report to Mother-excellent Mother!-that you had not to use a camp bed, comfortable thought it is, on your first night here. Will you take the regular one?"

[Gerald Stapleton (Aluinn)]

Gerry cracked a smile at his brother's response. No doubt Geoff had fled to the busy city to retreat from their mother's omnipresence at home. Though he supposed Geoff now thought of this place as home. Gerry allowed himself to glance around while his brother spoke; inspecting his surroundings with mild interest until Geoff suggested he sit, bringing up the topic of his leg.

While he knew that his brother meant well, Gerald could not help the flare of frustration that burned the back of his neck. He was just fine, thank you, to stand all day if he pleased. He was not an old man who needed to retire and rest here and there lest he keel over. Gerald held his tongue, however, for he did not think that he should begin a spat first thing upon re-greeting his brother after so many years. Grinding his teeth together, he slowly folded himself down into the chair, leg trembling with effort.

"Thank you." he murmured. Then, with the suggestion that Gerald steal his brother's bed. He shook his head adamantly and shot his brother an ironic grin, "Actually, with sleeping on a hard cot for the past fifteen years, I find it rather uncomfortable to lay in a bed... I would not bother to tell mother, but I've been sleeping on the floor at home, and crawling into bed just before waking up so as not to alarm the servants with a perfectly made bed every morning."

[Geoffrey Stapleton (Shar)]

Geoffrey laughed, both delighted and surprised by the idea. "Did you really!" What a marvelous thought-he should never have come up with it on his own A distaste for comfort after harder living... it bore thinking about, even if he would have to be wary indeed of using it in his work.
He had sat himself when his brother did, and grinned as the ramifications of the idea hit. "Then I may tell her after all that you did not use the camp bed? We needn't tell her you prefer the floor... You realize I can't feel comfortable with relegating you to the floor any more than she could, though? The camp bed shall at least be /available/ to you, even if it is not as hard as you'd prefer. We can have some paving stones brought in and placed atop it, if that will do any good at all."

He rose again, another idea occuring to him. "I am remiss--you didn't eat already, did you?" He suddenly recalled that he had not eaten either. Now, what might be available on a night he'd given his valet off... "I'm not sure what London delicacies I may have to offer you, but--" he disappeared into the kitchen and rummaged briefly. "Ah! You'll like these, I'm sure. I've been introducing all of society to a certain bakery-soon there will be no point in going there, for the entire ton will be crowding the place. But for today, we have pastries. And bread. And..." More rummaging. "There appears to be some cheese. It is not a princely meal," he admitted. Not like the supper set at Lady Viola's. He'd had his eye on the salmon--it had looked cooked to perfection, and was being sadly neglected in favor of roast beef. Which meant, of course, that there would have been no competition. Ah, well.

[Gerald Stapleton (Aluinn)]

Gerry shrugged at his brother's excited exclamation in regards to his preference for hard surfaces for sleeping. Gerald had once enjoyed a soft bed, in his youth, and he was certain he would, in time, return to being used to them enough to get a good night's sleep. Until then, however, he would graduate slowly, "I think I may use the camp bed after all, though you needn't tell mother, really; omission is always an option." he suggested with a knowing smile; their mother could be a hassle, but they loved her dearly enough to dish out copious amounts of patience when dealing with her.
He cleared his throat an laughed demurely, "I'm certain paving stones will not be needed, I've put you quite out by arriving so abruptly, I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble."

Before Gerry could tell his brother that he'd stopped at an inn during his travels this afternoon for a small dinner before arriving at Geoff's flat, the man had already sprung into action and was busily preparing a small feast for the pair. Gerry's fingers drummed the handle of his cane, the cursed thing was both a blessing and a curse.
"Pastries sound delicious." Gerald said, his sweet tooth flaring up, "You shall have to bring me to this bakery, I should like to visit such places during my stay here." he said and it was true; he wanted to get out and do something. While at home he'd been happy enough to sit around and do practically nothing but that was mainly because there was nothing to do.

"Never fear, brother-" he let out a chummy laugh, "I am not a princely person."

[Geoffrey Stapleton (Shar)]

"But just think of all the fun we could have explaining them," Geoff answered from the kitchen. "That would be more than worth the trouble. As for putting me out, think nothing of it--I haven't had a guest in far too long, and am planning an exhaustive round of visits to show off my brother, the Major." First people like the Hutchinsons, he rather thought. Ease Gerry into it. Move up the social ladder slowly. Aside from Lady Viola: they'd have to see her earlier, as it was her home he'd departed from so abruptly. Aside from which, of course, she was Lady Viola.
"And to show modest little London to my brother. We shall visit the bakery as often as you like, and any number of other places." He emerged with a cutting board and bread, pastries and the promised cheese.
"Good," he said in answer to the last. "Then we'll get along famously." He favored his brother with a grin and took a slice of the bread, topping it with a bit of cheese. He gestured at the board, placed on a light table between their two chairs. "Please. I don't stand on ceremony when it's just family."

[Gerald Stapleton (Aluinn)]

A lopsided grin feel on Gerry's face. Yes, it would be a sight to see the pair marching through the building with paving stones. Well, Geoff might march, Gerry would more than likely hobble and limp. He frowned at the thought, then tossed his head and turned to watch his brother re-appear into the room, food in tow.

"Oh dear," he murmured. He had expected to meet Geoff's friends but he had not anticipated becoming a side show or a new pet to be shown off to acquaintances like a fancy addition to one's collection of knick-knacks. He squinted, he was reading far too into this. Geoff was trying to be nice, to be brotherly and ensure that Gerald was not left lonely. It was kind, really, and Gerald mentally chided himself for thinking anything but the best of his brother. The man was practically a saint for all he was putting up with, "I don't suppose you have anyone special I might get to meet." he guessed that Geoff was not courting anyone, for Gerry was certain mother would have known- even if Geoffery had not personally told her, she would have found a way to the information, but it was worth asking.

Gerry helped himself to some of the bread and cheese with Geoff's encouragement, enjoying the taste rather much, "We might have to visit that bakery on routine." he said through a mouthful, savoring the taste of the bread.

[Geoffrey Stapleton (Shar)]

"Special people?" Geoffrey asked, deliberately obtuse and quite possibly vapid. "Why, dozens. There is Mr. Hutchinson, for example, a very fine sort, there's Mr. Hopkins-Lawrence, who's..." words failed him. "well-worth meeting. The Fotheringtons, of course--you may have met one of them, over the course of your career. Anyone special you're interested in meeting?"
"Twice a day," he promised asthe food began to disappear and he had one more regretful thought of the supper he was missing. Not to mention the rest of the entertainment, of course. "Although you may change your mind once you find out what else London has to offer."