Inappropriate

Writers: Jane, Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 9th April 2008

Characters: Causton, Teene, Benaran
Description: Causton, Teene, and two of the children meet Benaran.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 9, day 14 of Turn 4

"Warm enough, baby?" Teene asked, snuggling her face into Neva's infant one to check. Satisfied she looked across at Sousie in the arms of her father. "And you, little one?"

Causton lifted Sousie quite easily into his arms, the toddler weighed no more than a small flagon of wine. "I think if she was any more rugged up, she'd melt." he smiled across at Teene. He could see Sousie was trying to nod at Teene, but her face was obscured by the wrappings that bound her body heat in. "We ready to go?" he asked.

"Always ready for fresh air and exercise," Teene said, nodding at the door. "Let's go."

Causton held the door open for Teene as she walked through with Neva the baby gurgled. Sousie leaned forward, almost toppling from his arm, her small finger poking out of her sleeve covered by a mitten. "You certainly rugged them up well." he laughed softly at Teene.

Causton held the door open for Teene as she walked through with Neva the baby gurgled. Sousie leaned forward, almost toppling from his arm, her small finger poking out of her sleeve covered by a mitten. "You certainly rugged them up well." he laughed softly at Teene.

"I don't think I could rug them up _too_ well," Teene said, her tone a little worried as she took the steps down to the path with great care.
"Since they're not going to be running around which is what keeps the older children warm." She had been out earlier with the older ones, running and playing in the snow but these two hadn't been included in that outing.

"So where to, any preference?" Causton asked, pleased to be included in this outing, even if it were only as the pack-runner to tote Sousie around. "She could go down and toddle once we're in an open area."

"Open and with snow no taller than she is," Teene said, looking about her. Though it was days after the blizzard there was still plenty of snow lying about. "Let's just walk toward the Hold and back. The paths are cleared, at least."

"Yes, a wise move." he nodded. This time he spent with the babies was good for them all and it gave Geni a break to spend some time alone, or with the older children. "Though we could have taken the cart out for run you know? That way we could have all stayed rugged up..." he and the boys had been working frequently, with the help of some of the hall technicians, to get the old cart back up in its traces and it was finally ready to take out for a run.

"What about the poor runnerbeast out in this weather?" Teene scolded the Vintner Hallmaster. "And my hips! Causton, I _need_ to walk and run around after children and up and down stairs ... Please don't let's use the cart too often or I'll be as wide as its back end!"

His guffaw sounded out loudly across the deserted white courtyard. "Your wish is my command, my dear." he nodded, "Come on then, let's whittle away at those barn door hips you're complaining about!" he said with a sparkle in his eyes. Teene was like a younger sister to both he and Geni and like a younger sister, he took immense pleasure in teasing her whenever the opportunity arose.

"How charming to see the happily wedded couple at play." Benaran had been walking for quite a while, the fresh air and snow-covered scenery had not improved his mood at all. Still, his words retained a semblance of civility.

Teene glanced around, but there was nobody else around. The man - as bundled up as they were and hard to identify but with very blue eyes and a nose to be proud of, as her mother would have said - was clearly addressing them.

"Oh Benaran, I'm afraid you have the wrong end of the stick." Causton laughed, "Teene is out fostermother and helpmate to my wife." Causton stopped and held out his hand in greeting to the Lord Holder's son.
"Well met on this cold but fine day." he said in greeting.

"Fostermother?" The holder accepted the Hallmaster's son, but gave the woman a quick glance. "You seem to be quite familiar with her.
Apparently your wife allows you much freedom."

"I beg your pardon?" Causton bristled at the man's words.

"Of course Master Causton is - er - familiar with me!" Teene said, laughing at the ridiculous suggestion in the Hold-man's words. "I live with the family, after all."

Benaran raised an eyebrow - barely discernible beneath his hat - and looked from one to the other. "You live with two women? And there are no arguments between the two?"

"You have no need to explain yourself Teene." Causton warned, "The statement you made, _Sir_, was totally uncalled for - both in the company of the lady and _my_ children."

Benaran scowled at the Hallmaster. "And yet it's appropriate to be discussing the hips of your children's fostermother?"

"Nothing wrong with hips," Teene said firmly. "Everybody has them."

Now the holder's attention turned to the fostermother. "Gentlemen don't discuss those of women unrelated to them."

"Unless they are like fam-" Causton began, then stopped realising to whom he was speaking, "Since when should I explain myself to you in my own Hall? I demand you offer Teene an apology."

"An apology?" Benaran sneered. "I think not. I simply spoke when I encountered you outdoors. How many others could have seen your interactions and not mentioned them to you, but instead gossiped about the relationship between the two of you?"

"I do not care for idle gossip and ignore it when I do. You however, have brazenly given Teene an insult - for that she deserves an apology."

"It doesn't matter," Teene protested, trying to smooth things over between the two men. "I always tell the children not to worry themselves over what people say."

"I offer her no insult," was the holder's reply. "I simply stated what I observed and how it appeared to me. Perhaps at your old home things were different, but here your behavior with your children's fostermother would be considered inappropriate on many levels."

Teene sighed. Apparently now that she was the foster-mother and not the Hallmaster's wife she was going to be ignored.

"Simply stating what you did in her presence is enough of an insult. I would ask you to keep your opinions to yourself in future." Turning to Teene, "Come on, we planned on a pleasant walk with the children, and I intend that we should have one." He took a determined step around the arrogant son of the Lord Holder, hoping this would be the last dealing he would have with the man.

Benaran glared as they stepped away but said nothing. There was nothing to be gained by prolonging this incident, though he had already made up his mind that he did not like this new Hallmaster and that sentiment would not be easy to change.

Teene sighed as they walked away from the man, thinking that perhaps she might have been the cause of what could prove to be a long-standing problem. Was she too familiar with Causton? She glanced at his profile as they walked. He and Geni were like family to her. Like a sister and brother-by-marriage, as Causton suggested. It had always been that way but did it need to change in this new place?

Last updated on the April 9th 2008

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Inappropriate