[right][sub][color=gray]Nicholas interacting with Rhoslyn [@AXIS] Josephine interacting with Miss Lena van der Meer [@GhostMami][/color][/sub][/right] [center][h3][color=gray][color=006A4E]Mrs. Northam[/color] and [color=A1A2F1]Little Nicholas[/color][/color][/h3][/center] [indent][color=dimgray]The little boy slyly grinned when the maid acknowledged him. He was sweet and gentle, yet that smile and bright fire in his wide eyes, full of curiosity and intrigue, shed light to the mischievousness that festered within him. [color=A1A2F1][b]"Do you enjoy cleaning, Miss Rosie?"[/b][/color] Without hesitation, he reached for her hand, his sea gaze never wavering from her face. When their hands touched, he squeezed her's, as if he was an adult giving her loving comfort. Did she really need it, though? His head turned toward the kitchen, where he could hear chatter. Food was surely being made, wasn't it? He hadn't eaten. But, that could wait. He didn't need the other adults to interfere with his [i]search[/i] and he especially didn't need to see the woman that was taking all the attention in this house. A lady his mother didn't like. The lady that had his uncle's 'assumed' affections. The lady that would be considered most important to the Manor. At least, until she died. Rather than let Rhoslyn lead, he pulled her in the way he [i]believed[/i] his mother was at. [color=A1A2F1][b]"Maybe she's smelling daddy's clothes in the basement."[/b][/color] That was rhetorical. [color=A1A2F1][b]"We should check the basement!"[/b][/color] When Nicholas grew older, if he ever did reach the age of a man, his ambition could be the death of him. As he tugged onto her hand, they walked back to the lobby and when they reached the big door that led to the dark basement, he looked at Rose's face still with that questionable, warm smile, [color=A1A2F1][b]"Do you think the basement is scary? Tootz told me there's buried treasure. Do you believe him? I believe Tootz knows my home better than anyone! Better than mama. Better than uncle. Even better than Miss Lena! And she's [i]ancient[/i]!"[/b][/color] He giggled, the worry for his parent evaporating, as his true intention was slowly but surely showing. Snapping back into the present, Josephine sluggishly, tiredly, turned her head to the guardian of the house, [color=006A4E][b]"Catch my death?"[/b][/color] She drifted into consciousness, and back out. Focusing her eyesight on her female companion, she turned her hand over that held the rose, realizing she was bleeding. Confusion was written all over her face. How did she get here? Why was her hand bleeding? Was she visiting... her husband? [color=006A4E][b]"Maybe... I'm already sick."[/b][/color] She whispered breathlessly. She didn't mean to worry anyone. Her body felt weak. Was she sleep walking again? Her skin looked sickly. It was cold and she wasn't dressed at all for her day. She looked malnourished. With shaking words, shivering lips, she softly asked Lena, [color=006A4E][b]"Am I a good person? Was I a good wife?"[/b][/color] Questions that haunt her. Perhaps, that's why she found herself in front of the crypts. Did she not deserve the house because she failed at being everything Morrie needed? Her mind was foggy but the dream played back like a distant memory. She saw his voice vibrating and entangled within the wind. She felt his kisses against her neck and his light touch down her stomach. She heard his desire and lust for her. His undying love for her. He was calling her to him. He shouldn't be dead, she should be. Moments like these, she wanted to collapse on the dirty ground. She wanted to give up. Her eyes peered past Lena's face and to the kitchen lights. Her sorrowful, lost expression momentarily switched to annoyance, as she teethed, [color=006A4E][b]"Are [i]they[/i] awake?"[/b][/color] She didn't like her brother-in-law, or his naive, lady wife. They cared very little for this place and shouldn't be permitted to even walk the halls, let alone dine within it, among everyone else as if they've always been here. She [i]despised[/i] change. [/color][/indent]