FINN DE LA SALLE
Phoenix
Posts: 266
Age:
651
Occupation:
French Teacher/Mercenary
Status:
Widowed
Played by:
ANGE
Last seen Oct 20, 2024 15:21:40 GMT
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Pieces
Jun 30, 2023 21:35:00 GMT
Post by FINN DE LA SALLE on Jun 30, 2023 21:35:00 GMT
’They’re just bannocks, aye? I talked Mrs. Ward into lettin’ me into the kitchen to make some.’ Finn glanced down at the pot of sauce on the stove. Just bannocks had rapidly turned into Bridget bringing him down whatever food she could steal away from the kitchens with. Her father wouldn’t have wanted to see any of his tenants to starve, but Bridget trying to court the Frenchman with food and those unsupervised visits had annoyed the man. There were better prospects out there for his daughter, unfortunately she hadn’t wanted any of them.
Finn shredded the herbs he’d shoved last minute into his cart at the store. He should’ve paid more attention to what Bridget – and hundreds before and after her – had done while they’d cooked for him. The food would be edible, but nothing near the feasts they used to throw in the court. After he’d left, after Joan and Bridget, there’d been little point in worrying about any sort of raptures from what he ate. Food was fuel and for the most part that was it. He likely would’ve survived without it, or at least reincarnated the moment the starvation was acute enough, but he’d only ever thought about it once, and then he’d already been more focused on getting back to his wife and son than he had been on trying to beg more than the barest amount from those the English had almost taken almost everything from.
His son. A small smile touched Finn’s lips as he glanced up at the clock. It had been months since Alec had found his way to his classroom, but there were moments when it still seemed like some sort of fever dream. Geraint had sworn that both Bridget and Alec had perished, holding onto the truth to the very last. He had already been searching for some sign of his son’s survival before Alec had arrived in Mystic Falls, but since he’d continued digging, holding onto the vain hope that perhaps he had lied about his own daughter too. Bridget wouldn’t have gone without a fight, wouldn’t have left her son like that. He’d tried to figure out what Geraint could have held over her head to force her, but somewhere deep inside, Finn suspected that it was just a wild goose chase, a desperate hope for a miracle.
Hoping to pick Alec’s brain about what small things he might have found out since about what had happened around his birth, and to offer up what knowledge he had of it, Finn had invited his son to dinner. What would pass for it at least. He bent close, inspecting the sauce he’d prepared to go with the chicken that was resting beneath its foil jacket on the side. It clung to the spoon like it was supposed to, the taste of the chicken jus and lemon juice bursting in his mouth as he tested it. Perfect. Maybe he wasn’t such a novice after all.
The sound of the bell buzzed through the apartment as he bent to make sure that the potatoes too were almost done. Finn abandoned the task, heading over to the intercom on the wall. Hearing his son’s voice as he picked up, Finn buzzed him into the building. He quickly checked the potatoes, deciding that another ten minutes would have them full crisped. Anticipating Alec’s arrival, he strolled back to the door, opening it just as the elevator doors pinged open a couple of yards down the hallway. ”Hi, come on in.” Finn stepped back, holding the door open for his son to slip through. ”I hope you’re hungry. Dinner’s almost ready. Can I get you some wine?” The bottle of chardonnay, bottled just a few miles from where he had grown up, was already breathing on the table, right next to the stack of paperwork he’d managed to gather over the last couple of years.
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ALEC DE LA SALLE
Phoenix
Posts: 42
Age:
276
Occupation:
Mystic Grill Bartender, Hunter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Lucian Ackerman
Played by:
Emma
Last seen Sept 23, 2024 23:16:00 GMT
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Pieces
Jul 16, 2023 16:48:05 GMT
Post by ALEC DE LA SALLE on Jul 16, 2023 16:48:05 GMT
 Alec had started over more times than he cared to admit, that was one of the downfalls of being immortal, but Mystic Falls had turned out to be exactly the fresh start that he had needed. He had made his way to the town after Evangeline had told him that she’d found a lead on a man that might be his father and Alec really hadn’t held out much hope that it would be true given the way that every other lead he’d found over the years had turned out to be nothing more than a letdown but this time it had worked out. He had found his father at last and getting to know him was something that Alec knew he was never going to take for granted. He had no way of knowing what the future was going to hold but he had grown up without knowing who the man was and he had spent years searching for him so no matter what happened Alec knew that he wasn’t going to let them lose touch now. Not only had he found his father but he had found Lucian as well. The two of them had grown up together and truth be told he was Alec’s first love but the timing had never seemed right for them. Back when they were kids it never would have been accepted if they had decided that they wanted to be together and when they reunited during the war Lucian had been in a dark place after losing his lover while Alec had been captured, tortured and had eventually succumbed to his wounds after returning to save Lucian who had ended up getting into trouble for helping him escape. Alec had done his best to move on with his life and he’d found other things that made him happy but the truth was that whenever he had thought about his future, the only person that he had wanted to share it with was Lucian and now he had the chance to do just that. Working at the Grill might not be the most exciting job in the world but working for a friend helped and he knew that he could count on Evangeline to make sure that he had time to spend with his husband and father and days off when he needed to focus on a particular hunt as well. That evening he had agreed to meet his dad for dinner since Lucian was busy doing a stock take at the store and Alec knew that it would give them the chance to catch up. By now he knew the way to his dad’s building with ease but he still had to be let into the building and it didn’t take him long to push the button and have his dad answer. Moments later the door was opening and Alec headed straight for the elevator, taking it to the right floor and feeling a smile touch his lips as the doors opened and he spotted his dad waiting for him down the call. “Hi, thanks,” he said, slipping into the apartment and taking off his jacket once he was inside. That day he’d spent some time with Lucian earlier before spending the rest of the day hunting and it had been a particularly busy one so truth be told he knew that he needed to relax for a while now before picking up some takeout for his husband on the way home to make sure he actually ate something. “Trust me, I’m starving,” he chuckled. “That would be great, thanks,” he nodded as he looked over at his dad. “How has your day been?”FINN DE LA SALLE
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FINN DE LA SALLE
Phoenix
Posts: 266
Age:
651
Occupation:
French Teacher/Mercenary
Status:
Widowed
Played by:
ANGE
Last seen Oct 20, 2024 15:21:40 GMT
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Pieces
Jul 29, 2023 16:53:15 GMT
Post by FINN DE LA SALLE on Jul 29, 2023 16:53:15 GMT
Gadifer had helped to burn his parents’ home to ash, had helped to kill them both, but he hadn’t left the boy he’d found in those ashes afterwards to suffer in the same way. Even now, Finn wasn’t sure whether raising him had been some sort of penance for what he had done, or if he had just been an opportunity for a man without a wife or a child of his own. Either way, Gadifer had proven to be a better father than Geraint was centuries later. He had taught the boy to read when only the nobles and the religious were literate, he had seen that he could ride and wield a sword as well as any of his knights. He had taken him with him to travel and to see a world by water was something few were able to do now. Finn huffed out a breath through his nose, the sound wreathed with the faintest of amusement. He had still taken his son into war, but he could not begrudge that. Without Gadifer’s care he might not have been able to withstand what came next.
Had his son built up his emotional armour and resilience in the same way? They had spoken often since that first visit at the school, slowly picking apart each other’s pasts, but you couldn’t unpack hundreds of years the same way you might have done a decade or two. Finn had found himself reluctant to share the worst parts of what he had seen and imagined that Alec had been the same. You held onto those tragedies and horrors, unwilling to unleash them on someone who hadn’t suffered through them. He’d have done the same with Bridget if they had been successful and he’d been able to return to Scotland, to see the tiny life that had sprung forth while he had been gone. It was a father’s hope, to see the world peaceful, hopeful, for their child, and in that way he had found himself failing just as Gadifer had. He’d have called it their curse, but it hadn’t stopped with just the two of them.
Wine did little for him, but he had uncorked a bottle ready for dinner tonight. A way to lubricate those reluctant verbal locks as he spoke to Alec of his birth, of those first few years he hadn’t been privy too. Finn glanced at the bottle, sitting on the counter with two glasses, but didn’t pour yet. Moments later, as he’d assured that the meal was ready – and as flavourful as he could make it – the bell had rung, announcing Alec’s arrival. Leaving the meal to handle itself for its last few minutes, Finn headed for his apartment door.
It still caused a kick in the pit of his stomach to see that reflection of himself there before him. His lips curled into a genuine smile, the welcome warm as he stepped back. He closed the door again behind Alec, immediately turning the topic to the food. ”I suppose you have suffered through meals far worse.” As he had. There were no gourmet chefs standing by in war. At the time Alec was being born starvation had been rife as the English had rampaged through Scottish lands, forcing him to scramble for whatever he could find wild on that long trip back. Finn trailed his son into the kitchen, heading immediately for the wine he’d mentioned. The chardonnay gurgled into the two glasses and he offered one to Alec, chuckling wearily. ”Quiet, but busy. You’d think that things were calmer at a school at this time of year, but there’s been endless paperwork. I suppose I can’t complain since it’ll be over in a few days. How about you?” His brows drew together faintly as he studied his son. He knew that Alec juggled as much as he had once upon a time – marriage, a day job, the far more difficult, far more difficult work he did as a hunter.
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ALEC DE LA SALLE
Phoenix
Posts: 42
Age:
276
Occupation:
Mystic Grill Bartender, Hunter
Status:
Married
Partner:
Lucian Ackerman
Played by:
Emma
Last seen Sept 23, 2024 23:16:00 GMT
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Pieces
Mar 26, 2024 0:56:40 GMT
Post by ALEC DE LA SALLE on Mar 26, 2024 0:56:40 GMT
Ever since he’d learned he was adopted Alec had wanted to learn as much as he could about his biological parents. He’d known what had happened to his mother but his father had been a different matter entirely and Alec had felt sure that he must have taken after the man as far as being a phoenix went. He’d spent most of his life searching for answers and it still seemed a little surreal that he’d found everything he’d ever wanted in Mystic Falls. He had found his father at last and he had also been reunited with Lucian. He might not have planned on having too much to drink and getting married but finally it felt like his life was how it should be. He’d had the chance to get to know his father and learn some about his history and he’d also been able to find out what Lucian had been up to since they’d gone their separate ways during the war. Alec knew that he was lucky and for the first time in his life he felt like he was whole. He had always felt like a part of him was missing before, he hadn’t known anything about his heritage other than the small amount his parents had put in the letter they had written him and he’d spent such a long time denying his feelings for Lucian that it had started eating him up inside. Having both of them in his life now felt almost too good to be true but Alec knew that he wanted to make the most of it. There were still things he didn’t know about his father or his past but he had the chance to find out. Even now as the door opened Alec couldn’t get over the resemblance between his father and himself. He had always known that he’d looked different to his adoptive parents but here was someone who looked just like him and it was enough to bring a smile to Alec’s lips knowing that he’d found his dad at last. As his dad said he’d probably suffered through meals that were far worse, Alec couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right about that, food these days is so much better than what we had when I was a soldier,” he admitted. Back then even before learning he was a phoenix he’d often had to share his rations with other men to make sure that they had enough to keep them going and he’d made do as best he could but it hadn’t been easy at all. “Thanks,” Alec said, taking the glass that was offered to him and lifting it to his lips to take a sip. “I don’t think I could deal with all that paperwork, it was always bad enough having to turn in papers and take exams let alone having to grade them,” he chuckled. “I bet you can’t wait for the break.” Alec had done well in school but he had often found himself counting down the days until the holidays started just like everyone else did. He couldn’t imagine going back as a teacher the way his dad had but Alec supported him anyway. “Mine has been pretty good, I spent time with Lucian earlier before he went to work and after that I caught a hunt,” he shrugged. “It seems like there’s always plenty around here to keep me busy.” He only went after those who hurt others but there were plenty of those around these days so they kept him on his toes to say the least. FINN DE LA SALLE
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FINN DE LA SALLE
Phoenix
Posts: 266
Age:
651
Occupation:
French Teacher/Mercenary
Status:
Widowed
Played by:
ANGE
Last seen Oct 20, 2024 15:21:40 GMT
|
Pieces
Apr 11, 2024 19:46:04 GMT
Post by FINN DE LA SALLE on Apr 11, 2024 19:46:04 GMT
Growing up in the French court had been a privilege in a way, Finn supposed. Without Gadifer’s exploration of Europe, he might have lived a far simpler one. Perhaps he never would have learned to read, perhaps his parents still would have died early, but, Finn supposed, eventually he still would have realised that he was something greater than just a farmer. He’d asked himself a thousand times over what he might have done then. Farming was a marketable skill, of course, and he even now he could have travelled the world over finding people willing to take him on as a hand for a season or two, but training horses or gathering crops for seven hundred years would have been torture in the end. Becoming a warrior had allowed him to see the world, to find its blessings in small doses and witness its atrocities.
If there was one regret he’d had about those he’d committed himself, it was that he’d left Broch Tuarach with no one in charge of the big house he’d taken away the security the tenants would’ve had. Geraint had been an evil he wouldn’t have wished upon his worst enemy, but the crofters and their families had been innocent. Perhaps he’d had time to change his will after his daughter had died. Someone might have taken ownership, making sure the land was farmed and the crofters were protected. He hadn’t thought of that until much later though. Years later famine had fond Scotland all the same and there was a good chance that so many of those he’d known had died during those lean years.
Finn supposed he’d been spoiled by the modern day since then. Technology, transport, the luxuries of hot running water and rich food. He never could’ve imagined it when he’d stolen down to the castle’s kitchens as a small boy to try and charm a treat from the cook. Military rations had been a step down on what they’d lived on then, but he’d never questioned them. You couldn’t expect luxuries when you were fighting for your life. ”Not a fan of MREs?” Finn asked lightly. ”It was worse before, believe me. Your third month of cabbage soup is hard to get through.” And he’d been one of the lucky ones. No matter how lean food got, how long it had been since they’d seen anything close to a vegetable, he’d carried on at full strength. Others hadn’t been so lucky.
Pushing away the thought that he might end up counting his blessings now, Finn took a sip of his wine and leaned back against the counter. ”In the end you stop reading most of it,” he admitted ruefully. ”You skim it for what’s wrong and try and make sure you reward the ones who actually put in the effort.” It probably wasn’t the way you were supposed to teach, but it wasn’t like he’d actually gone and got a teaching qualification before he’d turned up at the high school. Finn hummed lightly at Alec’s observation before his grin broke through and he nodded. ”It couldn’t come soon enough.” At one point he wasn’t sure he’d even stick it out beyond the first summer, but a handful of years later he was still here with no intentions of moving on yet. Dark brows furrowed faintly as Alec flipped the pleasant to something far darker. ”That was why I came in the first place, but I haven’t kept an ear to the ground like I should have. What was it?” He could have become a hunter, he supposed, turned his skills into something more altruistic, but he’d never wanted to become judge, jury and executioner.
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hope to see you in the discord! 
