Post by France on Dec 6, 2011 23:46:03 GMT -6
[/i]: The signing of the treaty, dictated by France and Britain, ended the War of the Austrian Succession. The French population was dissatisfied with the terms, considering the French conquests during the war.Francis Bonnefoy
-France-
"Remember, mes chers, gender does not matter in l’amour… only the ‘eart counts. And who am I to deny the ‘eart, ah?"
Name:
Francis Bonnefoy
Origin:
Paris, France
Gender:
Male
Orientation:
Pansexual
Religion:
Agnostic (Once upon a time France was a Catholic nation, however as the country no longer lists an official religion, he himself has pulled together his own views.)
Birthday:
July 14th
Age:
29
Languages spoken:
Primarily French, also fluent in English. (Various other languages are spoken across the country including Flemish, Basque, Alsation, and Breton. He doesn't use them very often, however, preferring the more widely used French and English languages.)
Personality:
At first glance, Francis might come off as your average playboy. He flirts with everyone and is free with his touches, but he does not make inappropriate advances as much as everyone seems to think. If he does something you do not like, and he can tell you do not like it, such as touching your ass or giving you a friendly kiss as a greeting, he will gladly withdraw and apologize. He knows that not all countries are as forward with their affections, and as such not everyone is used to this behavior. (However, he may persist if their reactions are amusing.)
Francis is actually very serious when it comes to relationships, as much as his flirtatious nature suggests otherwise, and will stick with his loved one through thick and thin. He'd never turn away from them, cheat on them, or be unfaithful in anyway. He dedicates himself heart and soul to his romances, lavishing his partner with as much attention and care as he can give them. He becomes so serious about relationships that breaks ups never fail to set Francis off. No matter how many relationships he goes through... the hurt when they leave him never lessens. Whether he is dumped, or vice versa, the period after a break up is often very emotional. He will often go out binge drinking or lock himself in his room and just cry for days after. It isn't unheard of for him to launch pathetic attempts to get his ex-lovers back during this period, either. As soon as most of the depression ebbs away, however, something that could take hours, days, or even weeks, he will be back to his usual self. Life goes on, c'est la vie.
It is pretty hard to get Francis angry. He prefers to tackle everything with an optimistic, friendly attitude, so he does not leave much room for anger. If one does manage to irk him, however, I would watch out. He'll do his best to stick to verbally berating you, but it's not unheard of for him to get violent if you push him too far. However, Francis is very kind to women. He would never lay a violent hand on one without a very good reason, and would very rarely say unkind words to them-- no matter how angry they make him, so they are generally safe from even his most violent outbursts. He finds them to not only be incredibly attractive, but also sees them something that must be treated fairly and tenderly. (This is not because he thinks them weak, but rather just morals that the previous centuries have drilled into his head. He actually believes that women are strong creatures perfectly capable of fending for themselves, and knows for a fact that women are often superior to men in many ways.)
He cares a lot about his appearance. Francis is pretty vain and does consider himself to be beautiful, and as such spends a lot of time in the morning making sure he looks as good as he possibly can. He keeps his hair at a very specific length, trims his beard regularly, shaves, and only dresses himself in the most fashionable of clothes. Yes, Francis does actually shave, despite what some people say. He doesn't like for his legs or chest to be too hairy, and the thought of a full beard makes him gag.
His two loves in life, besides romance, are the Arts and the Culinary Arts. He has been honing his skills since he was little in many artistic fields. Culinary has taken most of his focus, but he also does some painting on the side, and has been known to dabble in short stories and poetry. He absolutely loves to show off his skills in the kitchen and will often offer to make dinner for any one and everyone. He enjoys their reactions to his talents, although he tries his best to hide his love for the compliments behind a thin veil of modesty.
Likes:
- Art
- Literature
- Fine wine
- Beautiful people
- The outdoors
- Romance
- Baking/Cooking
- Theatre
- Children
Dislikes:
- Loud noises
- Violence/Physical Conflict
- War
- Death
- Burnt food
- Dwelling on the past
Appearance:
Standing at 5' 8 3/4" inches, Francis is a man of rather average height. He is possessed of a handsome face, with a well angled jaw structure. He keeps his chin covered in a well trimmed stubble-- he even goes so far as to regularly measure the hairs growing there each morning, determined to cut them away if they grow too long. Keeps his brows well-shaped in a way that accents his features and sets off his blue eyes. Wears his blonde hair just about to his shoulders and often pulls it back with a ribbon. His body build is pretty average to match his height, but he keeps himself well-toned and well-shaved, to maintain a physique that he considers attractive. (His appearance is VERY important to him, if you haven't guess already, and he hates to have even hair out of place.)
Relationships:
- Germany: Francis has a deep respect and attraction to the other. He used to be terrified of him, but that was when they were fighting. Now that they are allies, he fully pursues good relations with Ludwig. He considers him someone worthy of his admiration, and quite handsome to boot. He tries his best to see beyond Ludwig's thick walls and see the man beneath.
- England: While France and England have had a long history of fighting one another, Francis no longer bears the nation any ill will. He acknowledges the peace that they've had for over a century, and while his people still make gripes and complaints about the English... Francis has nothing but respect for Arthur. He teases the Brit on occasion, as he enjoys how easily flustered the other can get. (Burst of anger or embarrassment are equally adorable in Francis's eye.) If asked what their relationship was exactly... he'd probably answer something along the lines of "We're best friends, though... I really wouldn't object to being more than that~" and one of his trademark winks-- regardless of the beating he's sure to get for it.
- Spain: Long time friend of Francis's. He finds his easy going personality and good looks quite refreshing. Loves nothing more than to spend time with his friend, though he really wishes he'd take a little more note of his flirting...
- Prussia: Probably his best friend out there, and one of the only ones he will really let loose with. He doesn't show many people his wild side, but he, Gilbert, and Antonio have just been through so much that he's stopped giving a damn what they think about him. He enjoys spending time with him and just having a good time-- even at the expense of others. (A little prank now and then never hurt anyone.)
- Canada: He sees the boy as his son. He knows full well that he wasn't always there for him when he was younger, neglecting him and leaving him as he did, and tries his best to remedy that now. He's actually very protective of the boy and treats him with a tenderness akin to how he treats a woman-- only minus the sexual attraction.
- America: Another he see almost as a son. Tries his best to put up with and spend time with the younger, energetic nation. However, he's old and just can't keep up(or so he says). Really wishes he would eat a little-- a lot-- better.
History:
507-- Battle of Vouillé: Clovis conquered Gallia Aquitania, thus forming the basis of modern-day France.
51-- November 27, Clovis died. His kingdom was divided among his four sons; the territory with its seat at Paris went to Childebert I, the kingdom of Soissons went to Chlothar I, the kingdom of Orléans went to Chlodomer, and the kingdom of Rheims (Austrasia) went to Theuderic I.
561-- November 29, Chlothar I died. Again, the kingdom was divided among his four sons; Paris went to Charibert I, Burgundy to Guntram, Austrasia to Sigebert I, Soissons to Chilperic I.
595-- Childebert II died, his kingdom was divided between his two sons. The kingdom of Austrasia went to Theudebert II, the kingdom of Burgundy to Theuderic II.
612-- Theudebert II, the king of Austrasia, was assassinated. His realm went to his brother Theuderic II, king of Burgundy.
613-- Theuderic II died. His bastard son Sigebert II briefly inherited his kingdom.
Sigebert II, the king of Burgundy and Austrasia, was executed by Chlothar II, who inherited his kingdoms thus becoming sole king of the Franks.
632-- April 8, Charibert II died, possibly in an assassination ordered by his brother Dagobert I. His infant son Chilperic succeeded him as king of Aquitaine.
Chilperic was also killed. Dagobert I reacquired Aquitaine and became sole king of the Franks.
639-- January 19, Dagobert I died. Austrasia went to his son Sigebert III, and the Kingdom of Neustria and Burgundy to Clovis II. Both of these new kings are considered early rois fainéants.
732-- October 10, Battle of Tours: Frankish and Burgundian soldiers under the Mayor of the Palace Charles Martel inflicted a significant defeat on the invading armies of the Umayyad Caliphate.
751-- Childeric III was dethroned as the last king of the Merovingian dynasty, Pepin the Short was later crowned king of the Franks, thus starting the rule of the Carolingian dynasty.
774-- Following successful conquests, Charlemagne became king of the Lombards.
795-- The Spanish March was created by Charlemagne as a buffer zone between the Frankish kingdom and Al-Andalus.
800-- December 25, Charlemagne is coronated Imperator Augustus by Pope Leo III.
811-- The treaty of Heiligen is signed between Charlemagne and the Danish king establishing the boundary between Denmark and the Frankish Empire.
812-- Frankish conquests in Spain were recognized by Emir Al-Hakam I.
814-- January 28, Charlemagne dies and his only legitimate son, Louis the Pious, inherits the Empire.
843-- Treaty of Verdun: An alliance between Louis the German and Charles the Bald, and their victories over Lothair I, compelled the elder brother to negotiate the division of the Frankish Empire. It was divided in three parts; West Francia for Charles the Bald, Middle Francia for Lothair I and East Francia for Louis the German, hence laying the foundations of modern France and Germany.
876-- October 8 Battle of Andernach: After Louis the German's death, Charles the Bald is heavily defeated at Andernach by Louis' successor, Carloman of Bavaria, in an attempt to conquer his late brother's kingdom.
1004-- Robert annexed the Duchy of Burgundy.
1031-- July 20, Robert died in a civil war against his sons. His second son, Henry I, succeeded him; his third, Robert I Capet, disputed the succession and led a new revolt.
1032-- Henry bought peace by reversing the annexation of the Duchy of Burgundy and giving it to his brother.
1214-- July 27, Battle of Bouvines: The French army defeated a combined English-Flemish force, enabling the kingdom to consolidate its control over Anjou, Brittany, Maine, Normandy and the Touraine.
1302-- May 18, Bruges Matins: The exiled citizens of Bruges, in Flanders, returned to their hometown and killed every Frenchman.
July 11, Battle of the Golden Spurs: Flemish insurrectionists soundly defeated a French occupation force.
1357-- The States-General passed Étienne Marcel's Great Ordinance in an attempt to impose limits on the monarchy, in particular in fiscal and monetary matters.
1415, August 13, Hundred Years' War (1415-1429): An English army under King Henry V landed in the north of France.
1418-- May 30, The army of John the Fearless, duke of Burgundy, captured Paris. The dauphin, the future Charles VII, fled.
1419-- September 20, John the Fearless was assassinated by companions of the dauphin. He was succeeded by his son Philip the Good, who would ally himself with the English against the French crown.
1453-- July 17, Battle of Castillon: In what is considered the last battle of the Hundred Years' War, the French inflict a decisive victory on the English army, eventually gaining back all English-held territories of France.
1508-- December 10, War of the League of Cambrai: Representatives of the Papacy, France, and the Holy Roman Empire and Ferdinand I of Spain established the League of Cambrai, whose purpose was to defeat Venice and partition its territory.
1572-- Massacre of French Protestants.
1610-- May 14, King Henry IV died, possibly at the hands of his Florentine wife Marie de' Medici. He was succeeded by his eldest son Louis XIII, with de' Medici ruling as regent.
1648-- August Fronde: Cardinal Mazarin ordered the arrest of the leaders of the parlement of Paris, which provoked widespread rioting.
October 24, Thirty Years' War: The Peace of Westphalia ended the war with France obtaining the better bargain, and annexing eastern territories.
1659-- Franco-Spanish War: Victorious France signs the Treaty of the Pyrenees with Spain and annexes northern Catalonia and French Flanders. The war confirms France as the dominant continental power and Bourbon strength over the Habsburgs.
1668-- May 2, Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle: end of the War of Devolution. France obtains Lille and other territories of Flanders from Spain.
1678-- Treaties of Nijmegen: A series of treaties ending the Franco-Dutch war. France obtains the Franche-Comté and some cities in Flanders and Hainaut (from Spain).
1684-- August 15, Truce of Ratisbon: End of the War of the Reunions. France obtains further territories in the north-west from Spain.
1697-- September 20, Treaty of Ryswick: End of the Nine Years' War between France and the Grand Alliance. Territorial changes were made in Europe and the colonial empires of the countries involved.
1701-- July 9, Battle of Carpi: In what was the first battle of the War of the Spanish succession, Austrian invaders encountered the French army at Carpi, Emilia-RomagnaCarpi, and defeated them.
1713-- April 11, War of the Spanish Succession: France and England signed the Treaty of Utrecht, under which Philip V of Spain renounced for himself and his descendants any right to the French throne. Similarly, possible heirs to the French crown renounced all rights to the rulership of Spain.
1714-- March 7, War of the Spanish Succession: The Treaty of Rastatt ended hostilities between France and Austria.
1738-- November 18, Treaty of Vienna: The signing of the treaty ended the War of the Polish Succession. France gained the Duchy of Lorraine and Bar.
1748-- October 18, [iTreaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
1763-- February 10, Seven Years' War: France and some allied and enemy nations sign the Treaty of Paris ending the Seven Years' War, resulting in a major blow on French colonial possessions.
1768-- May 15, Treaty of Versailles: In order to pay its debts and being no longer able to suppress struggle for independence, the Republic of Genoa ceded Corsica to France. Corsica remained French ever since.
1778-- February, France recognizes the American colonies as independent from the United Kingdom, making its involvement in the American War of Independence official. France will wage war with the United Kingdom in the Americas and other parts of the world assuring victory with the Peace of Paris.
1789--July 14, The French Revolution began with the storming of the Bastille.
1793-- January 21, Former King of France Louis XVI was executed by guillotine. The National Convention had taken power a few months earlier.
1793-- June 7, Revolutionary Paris sections took over the Convention, calling for administrative and political purges, starting 1 year and 2 months of what is known as the Reign of Terror.
1793-- October 16, Former Queen of France Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine.
1798-- July 7, The United States Congress rescinded treaties with France, a moment considered as the semi-official beginning of the Quasi-War.
1799-- November 9, Coup of 18 Brumaire: General Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the French Directory, replacing it with the French Consulate.
1801-- February 9, War of the Second Coalition: The Treaty of Lunéville was signed after the victory of the French Republic against the Second Coalition states (led by the Austrian and Russian Empires), marking the end of the war with only Britain left fighting France.
1802-- March 25, War of the Second Coalition: The Treaty of Amiens established a peace between France and the United Kingdom.
1803-- May 2, Louisiana Purchase: France sold Louisiana to the United States of America, renouncing its last territorial possessions on continental North America.
1805-- December 2, War of the Third Coalition: The French Empire is victorious at the decisive Battle of Austerlitz which marks the end of the Third Coalition (Austria, Russia, United Kingdom, Sweden and others) against France and its client states.
1806-- July 12, Napoleon dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, and created the Confederation of the Rhine, a union of French client states composed of 16 states in present-day Germany.
1807-- June 14, War of the Fourth Coalition: The French Empire is victorious at the decisive Battle of Friedland which marks the end of the Fourth Coalition (mainly Prussia, Russia, Saxony, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) against France and its client states.
1808-- May 2, Beginning of the Peninsular War which will last until Napoleon's defeat against the Sixth Coalition in 1814.
1809-- July 5–6, War of the Fifth Coalition: The French Empire is victorious at the decisive Battle of Wagram which marks the end of the Fifth Coalition (mainly the Austrian Empire and the United Kingdom) against France and its client states.
1812-- September 14, War of the Sixth Coalition: The Fire of Moscow marks the beginning of French retreat after the French invasion of Russia. The First French Empire reached the height of its power and declined henceforth with the disastrous Battle of Berezina. The Sixth Coalition will go on to win the war and Napoleon will be exiled in Elba.
1823-- April French invasion of Spain: France started its invasion of Spain, eventually succeeding and restoring the monarchy, ending the Liberal Triennium.
1830-- July, July Revolution or French Revolution of 1830: the conservative House of Bourbon is overthrown and replaced by the more liberal Orleans Monarchy with Louis-Philippe becoming King of France.
1831-- November 22, First Canut revolt: first clearly defined worker uprising of the Industrial Revolution.
1839-- March 9, Pastry War: Victorious French troops withdraw from Mexico after their demands were satisfied.
1848-- February, February Revolution or French Revolution of 1848: Republican riots forced King Louis-Philippe to abdicate and flee to England.
December 20 Louis Napoleon Bonaparte starts his term as the first president of the French Republic.
1851-- December 2, Exactly one year after his coup d'état, president Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte becomes Napoleon III of France, ending the Second Republic and creating the Second French Empire with him as dictator.
1854-- March 28, Crimean War: France and Britain formally declared war on Russia.
1860-- Following the Franco-Sardinian victory over the Austrian Empire in the Second Italian War of Independence, Italian regions of Nice and Savoy were transferred to the French Empire as a reward.
1894-- January 4, The Franco-Russian Alliance was confirmed.
1904-- April 8, The Entente Cordiale was signed, insuring peace between France and the United Kingdom after a millennium of constant rivalry between the two nations. The peace agreement has survived to this day. With the Anglo-Russian Entente of 1907, France, the UK and Russia were known as the Triple Entente in opposition to the Triple Alliance.
1914-- August 3, World War I: Germany declared war on France.
1918-- November 11, World War I: The first armistice at Compiègne was signed between France and Germany, ending the Great War. France regained control of Alsace-Lorraine.
1939-- September 1, Second World War: France declared war on Germany.
1940-- June 25, Second World War: The Second Armistice at Compiègne was put into effect after the French and British armies were heavily defeated in the Battle of France by the German Wehrmacht. The northern half of France was later occupied by German forces and the southern part was governed by the collaborationist Vichy Government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain.
1944-- August 25, Second World War – Liberation of Paris: In what is considered the last battle of the Allied Operation Overlord, Free French Forces and the French Resistance liberated Paris from German occupation as a strong symbolic effort to restore French honor, tarnished by the fast defeat. The rest of France was liberated as the Americans advanced towards Germany.
1951-- April 18, Treaty of Paris: Establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) between France, West Germany, Italy, and the Benelux countries, producing diplomatic and economic stability in Europe between former enemy states. The ECSC is credited as one of the major "ancestors" of the European Union.
1963-- January 22, Élysée Treaty: signed by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer on January 22, 1963. The treaty contained a number of agreements for joint cooperation in foreign policy, economic and military integration and exchange of student education. The treaty was signed under difficult political situations at that time and criticized both by opposition parties in France and Germany, as well as from the United Kingdom and the United States. Opposition from the United Kingdom and the United States was answered by an added preamble which postulated a close cooperation with those (including NATO) and a targeted German reunification. The treaty achieved a lot in initiating European integration and a stronger Franco-German co-position in transatlantic relations.
1998-- July 12, France won the 1998 World Cup of football on home soil. This was their first FIFA World Cup title.
1998-- December 31, Introduction of the euro: the exchange rates between the euro and legacy currencies (the franc for France) in the eurozone became fixed.
Hobbies:
- Baking -- Francis enjoys cooking, particularly the baking of various pastries, cakes, and breads, more than almost anything else. He prides himself on his ability to make beautiful, decadent desserts that taste just as good they look. He loves watching how people react to when they first take a bit of any of his delicious confections.
- Bike Riding -- Living in a beautiful country often makes one want to take in the scenery, and Francis is certainly no exception to this. One of his favorite past times is bike riding-- or to be more accurate motorcycle riding-- through the country side. (He affectionately calls his large, black motor bike "his little girl", or "ma fifille".)
- Dancing -- He absolutely adores going out on the town for a night of good food, fine wine, and a bit of care free dancing. Dancing is another form of art to him, as well as one of the most romantic things in the world. It's a way to have fun, express himself, and meet new people-- potential friends, colleagues, even lovers. The Dance is just another way to show off his charm, grace, and culture.
- Reading -- There's nothing quite like a good book. Many a-evening can find Francis curled in front of the fire with a book in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. He particularly enjoys classic French literature, but he won't turn his nose up to any good book.
- Flirting -- While many would argue that flirting is not a hobby, Francis would beg to differ. He will often flirt with people for no other reason than to have fun with it and take amusement from how they react to him. He often has no intention of bedding his partner, and usually leaves them without a second thought. (Of course, he always makes sure to excuse himself politely.)
Random Quirks:
- When he gets flustered over something, his French accent gets worse. It goes from simple silent h's and the occasional "ze" to a full blown, near impossible to understand mess. Happens a lot when he is frightened or feeling uncharacteristically shy in his romantic pursuits.
- Usually only drinks wine. If he goes for any other alcoholic drink, I would worry. That usually means something's wrong.
- He will spend up to five hours in the bathroom if his looks aren't just perfect before finally giving up.
Roleplay Sample:
It had been a very long season. Not only had it been unseasonably warm, it had been unseasonably boring. Normally the Autumn brought with it cooler temperatures, a colorful landscape, the sigh of wind through the trees, and more than a few travelers hastening to get back to wherever they had come from before the harsh winter set in. Travelers of all kinds- wanderers, merchants, homeless vagabonds, but… most importantly of all: peddlers of artistic wonders. They would bring along their wagons full of paintings and sculptures, or their bands full of talented actors and musicians. But so far… nothing. There hadn't been a single arts peddler or acting troupe or musical geniuses in the making.
And it was beginning to piss the young lord off.
Francis sat in his study moodily flicking a quill back and forth across his writing desk. Fall was almost over, and only one or two people who were of any interest to him passed by at all. There had been some he had entertained simply to hear any tales they had to tell… but a simple story just wasn’t enough. He pushed himself back in his high-backed chair and frowned at the ceiling, blowing a stray strand of hair out of his face. He needed more than just simple words to keep him captivated and entertained. He needed pictures, and music, and people.
He stood up from his desk, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “I suppose I will check if there ‘as been any word of any more travelers…” Francis muttered to himself as he walked in a slow circle about the room. He could go ask one of his servants in charge of watching the road… but if there wasn’t any news, then what would he do? He paused in his pacing for a moment, thinking. If there weren’t any signs, he’d just amuse himself with one of the servant girls-- or boys, they were all handsome, it didn't really matter their gender.
But even in his own estate, he couldn’t leave his room in the state he was. Goodness, no! It was a disgrace to his good name. What would all his staff and family say if they saw him walking around in nothing but his long, imported silk night shirt and hose? His hair all a mess? And worse! What if someone had happened to wander by and asked for a place to stay? The Bonnefoy house, even with its high class and standards, was notorious throughout all of France to be a safe haven for any weary traveler who had a good story to tell.
Francis frowned, moving over to the wardrobe, stripping off his shirt and hose as he went. He stood naked looking in at all his clothes for a long moment before picking out a simple royal purple tunic with golden trim, black half-trousers, matching golden hose, and supple leather boots. It was rather casual, he had to admit, but it was sure to impress, especially if he brushed out his hair and tied it back with a matching silk ribbon- which he fully intended to do.
It took him almost another hour to decide that he was presentable enough to let himself out of his quarters, and head out into the hall. No one was around, but the Bonnefoy household was a busy place so it was only a matter of time before someone bustled by- a servant, or a guest.
Francis hurried through the house, stopping only when someone passed by, and even then only long enough to give one of his usual flirtatious greetings. With any luck there would be word of something interesting coming up the road, and this dull season would be temporarily brightened.
He reached the front section of the house, where the guards of the estate made their quarters and the servants most familiar with him went about their jobs. Francis looked around the large, lavishly decorated front room and frowned. “Ooh. Why can’t you ever be easy to find, mon ami? Outside per’aps?”
He quickened his pace and made for the front door, quickly pushing them open to find the boy he was looking for. “Bonjour, Pierre!” He walked over to the smaller curly haired blonde and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “So, mon ami, is there any news? ‘ave you seen anyone?”
Pierre looked up at Francis and grinned, waving one arm excitedly. “Oui, oui! Bonnes nouvelles, monsieur~!” His voice was high and shrill, annoying to pretty much everyone. The young lord didn’t seem to mind at all- in fact he was the only one that ever talked to him. “There’z a caravan not too far down the road, zir! Lookz like an acting troupe to me, they even 'ave a band wiv them! I’d zay they should be 'ere witheen the 'our. Should I zignal them over?”
Francis burst into a grin, laughing and clapping the man on the back. “See that you do! Oh, I ‘ope it is an exciting one!” He patted Pierre on the back one more time, and turned away. “Treat them well, oui?” With that he ran back inside, he had to be ready when his newest guests arrived after all!
And it was beginning to piss the young lord off.
Francis sat in his study moodily flicking a quill back and forth across his writing desk. Fall was almost over, and only one or two people who were of any interest to him passed by at all. There had been some he had entertained simply to hear any tales they had to tell… but a simple story just wasn’t enough. He pushed himself back in his high-backed chair and frowned at the ceiling, blowing a stray strand of hair out of his face. He needed more than just simple words to keep him captivated and entertained. He needed pictures, and music, and people.
He stood up from his desk, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “I suppose I will check if there ‘as been any word of any more travelers…” Francis muttered to himself as he walked in a slow circle about the room. He could go ask one of his servants in charge of watching the road… but if there wasn’t any news, then what would he do? He paused in his pacing for a moment, thinking. If there weren’t any signs, he’d just amuse himself with one of the servant girls-- or boys, they were all handsome, it didn't really matter their gender.
But even in his own estate, he couldn’t leave his room in the state he was. Goodness, no! It was a disgrace to his good name. What would all his staff and family say if they saw him walking around in nothing but his long, imported silk night shirt and hose? His hair all a mess? And worse! What if someone had happened to wander by and asked for a place to stay? The Bonnefoy house, even with its high class and standards, was notorious throughout all of France to be a safe haven for any weary traveler who had a good story to tell.
Francis frowned, moving over to the wardrobe, stripping off his shirt and hose as he went. He stood naked looking in at all his clothes for a long moment before picking out a simple royal purple tunic with golden trim, black half-trousers, matching golden hose, and supple leather boots. It was rather casual, he had to admit, but it was sure to impress, especially if he brushed out his hair and tied it back with a matching silk ribbon- which he fully intended to do.
It took him almost another hour to decide that he was presentable enough to let himself out of his quarters, and head out into the hall. No one was around, but the Bonnefoy household was a busy place so it was only a matter of time before someone bustled by- a servant, or a guest.
Francis hurried through the house, stopping only when someone passed by, and even then only long enough to give one of his usual flirtatious greetings. With any luck there would be word of something interesting coming up the road, and this dull season would be temporarily brightened.
He reached the front section of the house, where the guards of the estate made their quarters and the servants most familiar with him went about their jobs. Francis looked around the large, lavishly decorated front room and frowned. “Ooh. Why can’t you ever be easy to find, mon ami? Outside per’aps?”
He quickened his pace and made for the front door, quickly pushing them open to find the boy he was looking for. “Bonjour, Pierre!” He walked over to the smaller curly haired blonde and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “So, mon ami, is there any news? ‘ave you seen anyone?”
Pierre looked up at Francis and grinned, waving one arm excitedly. “Oui, oui! Bonnes nouvelles, monsieur~!” His voice was high and shrill, annoying to pretty much everyone. The young lord didn’t seem to mind at all- in fact he was the only one that ever talked to him. “There’z a caravan not too far down the road, zir! Lookz like an acting troupe to me, they even 'ave a band wiv them! I’d zay they should be 'ere witheen the 'our. Should I zignal them over?”
Francis burst into a grin, laughing and clapping the man on the back. “See that you do! Oh, I ‘ope it is an exciting one!” He patted Pierre on the back one more time, and turned away. “Treat them well, oui?” With that he ran back inside, he had to be ready when his newest guests arrived after all!
Roleplayer: Desu Zombie, or you can just call me Desu, Zom, Zombify, or Ouk.
Password: Hetalia Rocks!
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