***All characters depicted herein are of age, 18 years old at least, and all sexual activities portrayed are consensual. Enjoy!***
Convening at the Cummings' castle, Pleasant Cummings, 24, finds herself coming home again, feeling much less apprehensive about this visit compared to previous times, and she comes with her fiancee's father, George, 47, and her fiancee's brother, Craig, 20, meeting with her father, Domhnall, 64, and her sister's husband, Ray, 61, in the outer courtyard.
Carmichael, the Head of Household Operations, announces, "Mistress Pleasant; and Mr George, and Mr Craig Reid; welcome, all of you."
Pleasant holds her form in a proper manner, and addresses Carmichael with, "Thank you, Carmichael. You do such excellent work."
Carmichael quickly remarks, "That I do, young Miss. Like the time I personally cleaned you up after your accident when you were six. With all the toilets on the premises, you could have chosen one instead of ruining Mrs Elise's prized rug. I take my leave. Much to be done."
Ray sniggers, and George and Craig feel uncomfortable, as Pleasant casts her mind back to her past with a sense of good humour, as she says, "Ah, yes. I had forgotten all about that rug. Grandmother was disappointed."
Domhnall calls after Carmichael, "Very well, Carmichael. Don't let us impede your duties."
Carmichael can be faintly heard saying, "That may not be possible, Mr Domhnall. Have fun," before trailing off into the house.
Domhnall says to his daughter, regarding her accident that Carmichael mentioned, "I'm pretty sure Elise didn't care much about that rug anyway," and winks at his daughter with a small chuckle.
Pleasant looks fondly on her father, as they stand equal across from each other, both adopting the exact same posture, and she takes a deep breath before saying, "I'm pretty sure she didn't care about the rug, but she does about me," and she extends a hand to her father, asking him, "How do you feel about me?"
Domhnall gazes back softly into his daughter's eyes, hearing her words, and he steps forward to hold her waist in his arms, pulling her close for a hug. His daughter holds him back, and he treasures the feeling of her hands there, never wanting her to let go, nor he from her. He affectionately tells his daughter, "I am proud of you, and I care..."
Pleasant pulls away to look Domhnall in the eyes, asking him, "And? Father?"
Domhnall looks back into his daughter's eyes, with tears clouding his own, and he says, "I am waiting for the perfect moment to tell you, so you will believe it, and feel it, and not just be some throwaway words. I have not been there for you enough. Let me get this right?"
Pleasant sees the sincerity in her father's eyes, and feels a warmth in his arms she has not felt in years, so she nods, saying, "Okay. It's okay," and she turns to Ray and extends a hand as she enquires, "All well with you and Gloria?"
Ray takes Pleasant's hand to shake, and answers, "Gloria really enjoyed seeing you before. I know we have never been that close with each other, but I have a lot of love and respect for you. It has always been my hope to see you do well, and you seem to be doing just that. That can't be bad. Just know that you can come to me for anything."
Pleasant replies, "I know," and they break their handshake.
Domhnall greets George and Craig with a handshake each, saying, "Welcome, both of you. Always good to see you, George, and, Craig, it is good to see you outside of the office."
Craig holds Domhnall's hand firmly, telling him, "I just want to do my best for Tiffany. However, tonight is about Pleasant, and I am happy to be here for her."
Pleasant hears Craig, and smiles, saying, "That means a lot to me, Craig. I am happy you are here."
Domhnall announces to the group, "Let us make our way inside to the lounge, where we can have some fun," and they make their way inside, as Domhnall regales the group with a story, "You won't know this, Pleasant, but I had my stag here too before I married your mother..."
Entering the lounge, Pleasant and the four gentlemen gather in the homely comfort from the warm lighting and flickering candles arranged about the place, with a wall-mounted television displaying a roaring fire in a fireplace. Around them are couches, armchairs, and sofas, all adorned in textured upholstery, velvety to the touch.
Domhnall pours glasses of whisky from a drinks cabinet beneath the mantelpiece, and Ray passes the glasses around; a single-malt Scotch whisky, one of many varieties whose bottles sit atop the cabinet.
Standing in a circle, Domhnall leads a toast, addressing Pleasant, "It makes me so happy to see the woman you have grown into. Seeing the love you have for Frankie is a joy any father hopes to see, and I look forward to being a part of that," and addresses the group as a whole, "We are about to be joined together. Our families to become as one, bringing a culmination of our pasts to take us on the road to a better future. So, to Pleasant, and to Frankie, and the love they have for each other."
The group lift their glasses, and sip their drinks, taking in the warming whisky trickling down their throats, then sitting down on the furniture around, facing in towards the mantlepiece.
Craig asks Pleasant, "How are you feeling being here?"
Pleasant candidly answers, "I'm feeling pretty good about it. I told you before, I don't mind being here. As much as I have bad memories of this place, I want this to be one of many good memories here. I see my getting married to Frankie as a fresh start for us to make happy memories in this castle; ones I hope to cherish for the rest of my days. I certainly don't need any more loathing."
Craig says, "As your best man for the wedding, I wanted to make sure you got the stag do you deserve, and will remember well."
Pleasant responds to her best man, "You have done good so far," sipping from her glass, and settling back into the chair comfortably, she enquires, "What else do you have planned?"
Craig teases Pleasant, coyly remarking, "Oh, you will see soon."
Ray says to Craig, "Out of the five of us, you will be the only one not married. Any plans to tie the knot?"