::The door having been slammed by Alterio rocks the manor. Paul sighs, noting more upheaval, and does his rounds, staying in the children's wing. He looks in on Mia, who smirks at him. He smirks back. Looking in on Alkane, he chuckles as he gets greeted with a 'LO PAUL! and a wave. His lips purse when he notices Thirlia's curtains still closed tightly, the girl in a little ball on the floor, and calls Felina to look in on her. He passes by Mairin, whose chameleon-colored hair and eyes are darkening from the tension. He looks at her sympathetically, and with a heavy sigh, continues on the rounds. He then stops in to see Marissa with the Nanny, nods to the woman who's caring for the baby, and goes to the guard's desk at the landing, where he takes out his journal and writes::

It's always a drama in this house. I saw this in his father's house, although there was more of a sinister, violent undertone; here it is more of two children in adult bodies. She is no better than he is, and are either of them equipped to handle these children alone? I think not. Her anger and his pride are like oil and water, the chemical reaction showing that these two things are not a good combination, actually, they refuse to commingle.

So who suffers? He'll say she's making him sick with anger, she'll say he's making her sick in general. But it's these children who will bear the brunt of it. They're too selfish to see that. If they can't live together, fine, that is sometimes what happens in this life. Two people..so smart in business, with commanding presences..are so...::finds the right word:: STUPID when it comes to everyday life. I feel for the children. And that sweet infant who won't know normalcy in a household, with a selfish, preening father and an equally selfish, sexually-charged mother. These arguments are chipping away at the children's minds and if neither will grow up and attempt to work this out, I will have both of them removed from this Manor, and watch over the children myself. As the guard of these Children, I am sworn to do what's best for them.

This just serves to show that no matter how beautiful you are, or how much wealth you've accumulated, it means nothing if you're not mature enough, or smart enough, to appreciate it, or the people around you. And to bring children into this world..::Shakes his head and puts his quill away as Marissa's crying snaps him from his thoughts::

--Journal entry 31 August, Sir Paul Lyons

*the young girl eases her bedroom door shut, trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb her father or Lady Vixen, feeling the quake in her stomach, the tension in the house thick enough to cut with a knife. She winces a little as she hears Mia shrieking for something or another, and slides into the chair at her desk. Her monkey, Cato, chatters quietly in the corner, picking at a few fruits in a dish. She smiles faintly, and begins writing*

Dear Diary,

Things are unpleasant in the manor today. It is almost like a living thing, the animosity lingering in the corners.

Father is hard at work all day and some nights. I hardly see him, but when I do, I am forever grateful that he is alright...though he is not as well as he could be. He tries so hard to provide for us all, the strain is causing him increasing exhaustion and strain. And Lady Vixen is angry with him for not being at home. She shouts at him, I hear their voices wafting down the corridors, and the reverberating slam of doors and stomping feet. He is only doing his best for us, and yet she causes him so much more stress with her accusations. Poor Father.

Thirlia is not well, either, and I do not think the tension in this house is helping her condition at all. I am afraid for her. She seems in so much pain, I don't know how to help her. When I go to see her, I find I soon have to leave, much to my regret, for the mood is much too oppressive to bear. She needs so much happiness, and she shall not get it in this house, at least not just now.

Father has hired Felina as a chamber maid. I feel she is hiding things from me, but I know not what they may be. It almost makes me uneasy to have her here, though I do not feel that she is meaning harm. She simply acts very oddly, always looking around like she's expecting something to jump out at her. She doesn't speak much to anyone but me, that I've seen.

Paul and Jane are the most relaxed people I can talk to at the moment, though Paul seem affected as everyone is by the things happening here. Jane does not seem herself, either, though it's a different sort of strain. I feel like I could just scream and scream...

--Journal entry, 31 August, Mairin Carazzi