Juliette Coulombe (clearyourmind) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-04-14 16:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, audrey leradine, juliette coulombe |
Who: Juliette & Audrey
What: Congratulations are in order
Where: The guesthouse, then the streets!
When: Today
Rating: Tame
Status: Complete!
Juliette arrived at the guesthouse somewhat later than she had originally intended to do. A guildmember -- a colleague, she thought dazedly -- had caught her on her wandering along the street in the Bazaar, perusing the final sales of the festival, and had ended up proposing a detour for celebratory ice cream. She had gone, deciding on the spot that -- if not today, when? She felt, for a rare and wonderful afternoon, as though she could do anything. Going out to ice cream with a near stranger had really seemed almost easy. And so as she arrived at home, she was still smiling, clearly still in a very good mood despite the fact that there would be a ball yet to attend this evening. A ball couldn’t bring her down today. “I’m home,” she called out as she toed off her shoes, kneeling in the hallway to scratch first Boris, then Mercutio between the ears. Audrey had been in the kitchen washing dishes. It wasn’t a particularly odd sight as the younger Coulombe sibling quickly learned her sister’s commoner ways hadn’t been completely eradicated with her reintroduction to into high society. “Welcome home!” she called out, hearing her sister’s voice down the hall. Turning off the faucet, she picked up a hand towel, walking towards the hallway where she caught sight of Juliette petting the dogs. Drying her hands, she put her hand on her hip and smiled. “You look in an awfully good mood today.” “I -- oh you must not have seen the network,” Juliette said, straightening up, hand still resting on Boris’ shaggy head. The towel in Alys’ hands gave away her recent activities, so of course she would not have been looking at her communicator while she was in the kitchen. She had tried to tell everyone at once, but she was glad for this chance to say it in person, too. She was practically glowing as she said, “I passed my exam.” Audrey had raised her eyebrows in minor shock, but was quick to change her expression to one of sheer joy. “Congratulations!” her grin was wide, from ear to ear as she tossed the towel over to the table and neared her sister in a hug. It had been when she hugged her that an expression of worry consumed her. Letting go of her, she stepped back, watching her with a smile. “Are you excited?” It was a measure of increasing comfort that Juliette could answer the hug, wrapping her arms around Alys and squeezing. An expression of joy for which she did not have appropriate words; to her, this change meant so much more than passage into the next stage in her life. “Thank you,” she murmured. When her sister stepped back, she was still smiling, a bright, slightly dazed expression. “I am,” she admitted. “Very much so.” “Well,” she reached for the towel again, stepping into the kitchen and placing it in its appropriate home. “Ms. Han is out for today. Why don’t we go out and get something to celebrate?” Juliette followed after her, still smiling. The offer was considered less than a moment before she said, “I would like that. You… have been very occupied lately. I would enjoy an outing.” And there was plenty of time before the ball was scheduled to begin -- they could return home and prepare for the evening with time to spare, she was certain. “Do you have anything in mind?” “Have you ever had Ramen?” she turned, leaning on the counter as she looked at how happy the new monk looked. “There’s a stand in commoner’s where my guardian used to take me whenever I did something well. It’s outdoors, we can bring Boris and Mercutio.” “I do not think I have,” Juliette said thoughtfully, “but I will try it.” She was gamely set to try just about anything, and the dogs would probably be pleased to have a chance to stretch their legs, too, even with the festival crowds. “Great, we can take a crystal there. It’s not a far walk,” she had moved from the counter towards her bedroom, sliding her bag’s strap of her shoulder. Getting the leashes ready, the two strolled out of the guest house with the pups at their heels. Juliette walked quietly for a few moments before saying, far less cautiously than she might have another day, “You do not talk about that time much.” Sometimes, it was as though she had to discover who her sister had been before through other people exclusively. She didn’t want to say that it made her feel lonely, but… “Is it because you prefer not to? That is,” she hastened to clarify, “do you prefer not to… think of it?” Audrey hadn’t looked at her when she asked her question, her gaze focused ahead trying to avoid the small frown that begged to form on her lips. “My old life does not befit a lady. I’m afraid you wouldn’t like it much,” she mused seeing the crystal in the distance. My current life hardly befits a lady, Juliette did not say. Ladies danced at parties and hosted poetry readings; they did not sweat and bleed and look forward to working for a living. “I won’t ask if you prefer I didn’t,” she said instead. She had come to think Alys’ odd friends were not so bad (infinitely odd, but not bad), but she had things she didn’t want to mention, too, didn’t she? Even if in her case, it wasn’t quite the same. “I don’t mind, mostly. I’m more afraid what you’ll think of me, in all honesty.” Crouching down, she picked up the white fluff ball of a pup, holding it in her arms before reaching forward with her hand towards the crystal. “Her name was Leila.” With her hand on the scruff of Boris’ neck, Juliette touched the crystal, too. The few moments it took for the Nobles’ District to melt away and the Commoners’ District to appear, she thought through those words, wondered if they were more alike than she’d realized. She was afraid of the same thing. And then, that was... and no one Alys had introduced (or even not) seemed of an age to be this mysterious Leila. Had she left? Had she died? Could one ask such a thing? She didn’t know, but once they had safely arrived in their new location, she said quietly, “I do not think I… could think ill of you.” Alys caused her bewilderment on a regular basis, but never anything like disdain. Audrey had set the puppy done, jumping and immediately pulling at the leash as Audrey pulled back snapping at him reprimandingly. Glancing over her shoulder at her sister, she had been grinning. “Promise?” she laughed, leading her through the crowded streets towards the ramen stop. “I promise.” It was said with the ease of someone who, at seventeen, had rarely had her mettle tested (and who, at the end, could not fathom what sorts of things might be hidden from her in her sister’s mysterious commoner past). Juliette smiled, Boris’ leash firmly in hand as she followed. |