Juliette Coulombe (clearyourmind) wrote in emillion, @ 2013-09-25 13:08:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, !narrative, juliette coulombe |
You held me down but I got up, already shaking off the dust...
Who: Juliette (& special guest~)
What: The first day of a new life (with a surprise from older sis~)
Where: In and around Vivi's guesthouse
When: Today!
Rating: G
Status: Complete
It felt strange to turn right instead of left outside of Ashwyrm Hall; she almost went the wrong way, before she remembered. The day prior had marked her last at the Demiel estate. At this time yesterday, she had stood by quietly, feeling it was all very surreal as the muscled men carried her things from the room which had been hers for most of her life, until there was nothing left but the rosebud wallpaper and the empty shelves and stripped bed. Her good-byes had been stilted at best; it had been fortunate that Alys had been by her side as she had stammered through them, watching the stony expressions of her guardians -- former guardians -- as she thanked them for their care and they wished her well, all the words empty and devoid of emotion. She had shed a tear or two into Boris' fur, and whispered her good-bye into his ear; she did not think anyone could begrudge her this bit of sadness. And then the short hovercab ride to her new domicile, silent and uncertain as she sat at Alys' side and tried to fathom what could be said in such a moment. The guesthouse, small but prettily appointed, with her boxes stacked in the corner of a bedroom overlooking the gardens. The dinner out, attempts to make conversation when she was far too overwhelmed for anything but thank you and please don't change your mind, things she could not say. So, instead, attempts to be a family, as little as she knew about what that entailed, and a sleepless night in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room in an unfamiliar new life as she worried about whether or not she could really do this, about whether she had been too hasty about... everything. She had risen before dawn to find no cook in the kitchen and a refrigerator devoid of foodstuffs of any kind; by half-past eight, she had returned from a quick foray out to her favored grocer and was putting the finishing touches on a spinach and cheese omelette when Alys emerged from her room. To Juliette's stammers -- she did not know if spinach was acceptable, she did not know if her choosing to cook was acceptable, she did not even know if the trip to the grocer's without prior permission was acceptable -- she had been told easily, cheerfully, that it was a good thing that one of them could cook, and perhaps Alys ought to learn how (how odd, that the sister who had grown up common could not do such a thing and the one who had grown up noble could), and... that had been that. Nothing like what she had expected. She had gotten through her classes and training in a bit of a daze, but at least she hadn't embarrassed herself. And now, here she was, changing direction, moving towards the Countess' estate and... home. The thought was hopeful and stressful and wonderful and terrible all in one. She had wanted things to be magically better, for familial comfort to spring up between them without question or effort but... Oh Faram, what was she supposed to say and do? The fear of saying the wrong thing and being found wanting once again was nearly crippling. She let herself into the side gate with the key she had been given, following the stone path laid out between rows of flowerbeds blooming with fall colors. Would she be home first? What was Alys' schedule like? Were these things they could discuss, while she found her stride? Should she go back to the grocer's? Her repertoire was hardly vast, but they would need to eat dinner, and if there was to be no servants engaged... Her thoughts were interrupted by a booming bark. Eyes widening, she looked around for the source of the sound and... there, leash looped around the wrought iron back of a bench set under a birch tree, giant red bow around his neck, sat... "Boris!" She sprinted across the lawn, all other thoughts forgotten, to drop to her knees at his side and wrap her arms tightly around him, laughing and crying all at once. |