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Duchesse du Labarre. (laduchesse) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-08-22 02:50:00

Entry tags:

character_development, demetri_blake, thérèse_du_labarre

Subject: Little round balls of glass, hours of fun.
Who: Thérèse du Labarre.
Where: The sunroom, Christopher's house.
Warnings: None as yet.
Open to: Anyone at the Blake estate!

Thérèse had made a discovery. A few of the floorboards at the back of the sunroom were on a very gentle slope. Not enough to be noticed or seen by the naked eye without great scrutiny, but it was there nonetheless, and she had found a wonderful use for it.

Marble run. Lying on her side, she watched the glass beads roll down, down, down, judging their speed, occasionally racing a pair that had similar times in order to judge the fastest. The point to it all? None whatsoever, but Thérèse was amusing herself. Somewhere inside her, an eight-year-old still resided, and on occasion, she had to be entertained.

Her favourite marble was a very pretty, small one, clear with swirls of blue in two different shades. She would lie in bed and gaze at it as the candlelight illuminated it; another pastime that could occupy her for hours. Currently, she was about to race it against a larger, redish one. An experiment of sorts, to see how weight and size matched up.

Inwardly (and somewhat outwardly, mumbling under her breath), she cheered on the blue marble as she set them off, watching them roll along the floor until they hit the skirting board of the wall.

Blue won. Victory!

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laduchesse
2008-08-24 04:37 am UTC (link)

Thérèse was still a little lost in her own world, picking up the blue marble again. She was about to send it back down the makeshift run when she heard a voice, and she gasped, starting.

She turned her head, seeing Demetri, and she sat up quickly, smoothing her skirts and chuckling quietly. "Forgive me, I wasn't aware anyone was around... yes, this is what the French do in their afternoons! We play marbles and hum to ourselves." She stood up and picked up her bag of marbles, showing them to Demetri. "I've got quite the collection, look."

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rogueblake
2008-08-24 10:51 am UTC (link)

Demetri kept his distance at first but smiled at her. "It is I who should ask your forgiveness my Lady. I did not mean to either startle you or interrupt your afternoon." It was amusing to see her so relaxed and not so wrapped in pretense. He moved closer to her and sat down as she showed the marbles. "Indeed you do. Did you bring these all with you or have you found some in England as well?"

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laduchesse
2008-08-24 05:00 pm UTC (link)

Thérèse sat down beside him, rooting through the bag of marbles. "They are mostly French, yes... I haven't been shopping long enough to find new marbles. I should like some new ones. Pretty, English ones. Oh, but look at this..." She reached into the bag again and lifted out a large marble made of... well, marble. "This is a Roman marble. My brother is an antiques dealer and quite the history fiend, and would rather like to get his hands on it, I imagine. But it's mine, and he doesn't know I have it. It's meant to be played with, not hidden away in his dusty old shop." She chuckled and set it down beside her. "Oh, my brother. He's quite the strange one."

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rogueblake
2008-08-25 12:46 am UTC (link)

"There used to be a few good shoppes in London that had great marbles, once upon a time. And it was a great many years ago. Perhaps some new ones to add to your collection should be procured," Demetri said with a grin.

He looked over her collection, picked up one here and there, examining it and the searching for another one. He grinned. "I didn't know you had a brother. Is he still in France? I would imagine an antique dealer moves around the world a bit."

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laduchesse
2008-08-25 05:09 am UTC (link)

Thérèse smiled again, watching him as he looked through her bag. "I should like that. Although I'm unsure how I should justify that to Christopher when he asks why I'm going to London. I'm going marble shopping! Yes, I doubt he'd like that." She gave a quiet giggle and leant back in her chair.

"No, he's in London now. He attended the ball that Lord Hurst hosted, with me. He was my chaperone. I feel awful, I spent a good part of the evening in conversation with Christopher, I didn't get the opportunity to apologise..."

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rogueblake
2008-08-25 10:16 am UTC (link)

Demetri couldn't help laughing. "Knowing Christopher, that wouldn't go over well at all I'm afraid. But I am in London quite often, perhaps something will catch my eye for you." He grinned and sat back a little as well.

He thought back to the ball, and though much of it was tainted by bad memories, he tried to recall seeing Thérèse. "The ball was quite memorable I must say, and I do recall seeing you with someone other than my brother. I dare say he could do nothing except forgive you, my Lady. I bet you are glad to have your own so near now. Does he plan on setting up business here as well?"

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laduchesse
2008-08-25 10:32 am UTC (link)

"That would be wonderful of you." Thérèse reached over and gave his arm a gentle, grateful squeeze, ever the uninhibited one about contact. "I should like to go to London again one day, perhaps you would accompany me? Christopher is ever so busy nowadays."

She nodded. "He already has a nice little shop. Ever so dusty and cluttered, however. I should like to take a duster to that place and clear it out entirely..."

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rogueblake
2008-08-26 09:16 am UTC (link)

Demetri grinned and gently pat her hand on his arm. "It would be no trouble at all. And I would be honoured to accompany you, though I will have to talk to my brother about taking you out himself," he added with a grin.

"I should say that your brother would be very lucky to have you cleaning up after him. Some of us, we're just no good at that kind of thing," Demetri chuckled and let one of the marbles go, watching it roll after the others.

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laduchesse
2008-08-26 11:26 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, pssh. I doubt you'll have to talk him out of much." She sat back and sighed; ever since the ball and that emotional conversation, she had seen very little of Christopher. If she didn't know better, she would worry that he was avoiding her.

Talking of men who didn't want her around. "Oh, I don't think so. My brother has much more interesting things to do than spend time with me. I'd most likely just get in his way." She sat back against the back of the couch and folding her hands in her lap again, letting out a quiet, hopefully inaudible sigh as she watched the marble go. "You're very lucky to have your brothers and sister so close. My brother, he has a life so separate to my own. We live different existences."

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rogueblake
2008-08-27 09:00 am UTC (link)

"I don't know. He can be pretty stubborn," Demetri said with a grin. "But I think I can be a pretty good persuader as well. I'll talk to him."

He looked up from the marbles and shook his head. "I speak from experience. They always want you around even when they do have a very bad way of showing it. I pulled away from my family because I thought it was the right thing to do and in the end, I just missed them and was miserable. Who knows, once your brother gets settled, your existences might become closer."

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laduchesse
2008-08-27 04:10 pm UTC (link)

Thérèse smiled, patting his arm again. "Thank you, my dear. You're quite the sweetheart. It appears all the Blake children are of the utmost loveliness. I should like to meet Lucas one day."

"I think Théodore is more interested in his work. He loves history and things. Constantly has his head in books. He lives in the past, and I'm stuck here in the present." Her smile was mildly sad, but she recovered quickly. "Dear Demetri, tell me how I could possibly capture Christopher's attention?"

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rogueblake
2008-08-29 09:11 am UTC (link)

Demetri smiled back at her. "You are most welcome my Lady. And I think it is you who brings it out in us. I'm sure before too long you will indeed get to meet Lucas as well."

He laughed a little. "Your brother sounds like me, according to my siblings. You've seen the library. I spent far too many hours there, reading all I could. Though I do very much rather living in the here and now."

Demetri took her hand and kissed him. "I would not have you sad. And capturing Christopher's attention.... why I believe you already have." He thought upon his words carefully. "You must understand that my brother has suffered greatly and even now, after all this time, it still pains him. Be patient Thérèse, with him, and be there for him."

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