Anzhelina can be an unsavoury young woman. (purebred) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2008-09-11 21:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | anzhelina dolohov, jacqueline macnair (née wilkes) |
Placeholder.
Who: Anzhelina and Jacqueline.
Where: The Dolohov estate.
What: They discuss things.
When: Thursday afternoon, I believe.
Rating: PG.
Status: Complete.
Jacqueline was finding everything rather stifling at the moment, so it was with welcome relief that she Apparated to Anzhelina's home, her turn elegant as she appeared in the foyer. Carefully smoothing her hair, she rearranged her unrumpled clothing and waited for her hostess to arrive, wondering if Barty was around at the moment and hoping he was on another errand. She loved the boy, but she was in desperate need of some female companionship at present, and he certainly couldn't provide her with that. Anzhelina and Olga were casually sitting in the high-ceiling living room, not discussing anything of significance, but exchanging words in Russian every now and then. Anzhelina loved Olga's company, and when she started to get up to answer the door, Anzhelina waved her hand at her with a small smile. She'd been expecting Jacqueline, and when she pulled the door open, she greeted her friend with a crooked grin. "Took you long enough. We have a lot to talk about," she said, stepping to the side. She immediately threaded her arm through her friends, an intrigued expression on her face as she nodded out the window toward the gardens. "Well, begin. I am a receptive ear and I'm dying to hear about everything." "We must first get out of earshot," Anzhelina smiled devilishly, leading Jacqueline through the main corridor, and nodding into the living room where her governess was as they walked past it. There was also the issue of Barty, who hopefully wasn't anywhere near, but she wasn’t that worried. Jacqueline’s presence would make any interaction with Barty a lot less awkward, and for that she was grateful. Anzhelina tugged on the door to their back porch, stepping outside and taking in a deep breath. She followed, glad she had brought a jumper to ward off the chill of the early September air. It was as though, once summer was over, the world couldn't wait to get damp and cold. She followed her friend, still looking rather bemused and intrigued. This whole thing was really quite mysterious and she was dying to know what had gotten the girl so perturbed. "Out of earshot of whom exactly?" "Olga, for starters. Young Bartemius Crouch is here, as well, as you already know. I do not think I can find the words to tell how awkward it has been." Anzhelina lounged on one of the cushioned benches. There was one across from her, too, that doubled as a swing. She took the swing, crossing her ankles daintily and resting one arm along the back, elbow bent to rest her curious head on her hand. "Awkward? Anzhelina, you must have it out. Did something happen? Did Barty say something to you?" Jacq really had no idea what the boy could have done to make things so tense between the two of them. He was always so polite (well, with one exception) to her. "It was Demetrius, really," she explained, watching her friend. "Trying to play matchmaker. He wrote to me last night, inebriated, to tell me that Barty fancies me." It felt weird to say that out loud. She had always considered Barty as a harmless acquaintance, and never really thought about whether or not he was even interested in such things. "Alcohol is a less sophisticated truth serum." She rolled her eyes at the mention of Demetrius. "How utterly shocking that Mulciber did something idiotic." She said, her tone dry. Then it clicked into place what Anzhelina had said and she leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Barty what?" She asked, shock and surprise permeating her voice. The thought of Barty fancying anyone was so beyond her comprehension it took her brain a few moments to begin working properly. Anzhelina scrunched her shoulders. "I do not even know. I find it strange this is happening after my father and I had a brief discussion about marriage and who the prospects are," she looked thoughtful and worried, even, chewing nervously on her thumb. A cocked eyebrow, a sympathetic cant of the head. "This distresses you? Do you not find Barty a suitable match? He's really a nice boy, Anzhelina. I'd be happy to marry him if I didn't feel quite so familial about our relationship." Now that her thoughts had caught up to her words, she realized that if Barty had feelings for her friend, it might be a good idea to praise him a bit. "I know he is, Jacqueline. I am more concerned about his fragility. I am not sure if he would be capable of taking care of a wife," her eyes went down to her feet, briefly, before connecting with Jacqueline's again. "There is more to a successful marriage than just being kind and chivalrous, or there should be." She nodded. "No, I understand that. Do you mean his emotional frailty? Surely you can't mean physical, as he's proven to be quite an able supporter of Him on the field of battle. I know he's been quite successful on several missions." "Sitting at dinner with him, and observing how on edge he often is, I am beginning to wonder if he is emotionally prepared for anything that doesn't involve books, his job or whatever else that occupies his time." She felt she wouldn't be able to have a relaxed conversation with Barty. He was always so tense, which made her tense. She stood from the swing and went to sit beside her friend, her face concerned. Inside, she was torn between her desire for Barty to have what he wanted and for Anzhelina to be happy in her marriage. Still, she was here with her friend now, so she must focus on that. "Well, he has always been like that. But he's managed to get this far without having a breakdown." She smiled at her, voice now heavy with sarcasm. "What if one day long after he and I are settled, he spontaneously combusts? I am not equipped to clean up that kind of mess." "And what if marriage settles him down? The reason he is like he is is because his father has always treated him poorly. He doesn't believe that any of his accomplishments are worth noticing. Perhaps being secure in marriage with a beautiful, intelligent woman will prove to him that he is worthy of respect." Anzhelina tried to ignore feelings of sympathy; she didn't want that to be the reason why she gave in to him. "If he were more confident in his abilities, and less self-depreciating, I would be able to appreciate the good things about him. As it stands, it is hard to appreciate someone who doesn't appreciate himself." She filed that information away for later, to be told to Barty when she felt the time was right. No, she didn't want Anzhelina to marry Barty against her will, but perhaps if she was able to see how wonderful he was without his chronic lack of self-esteem interferring, she would realize she could love him. "That is certainly understandable." She sat back, fingers spreading over the fabric of her skirt. "Is there anyone else you would prefer?" "I must say that I am generally unimpressed by the gentlemen who frequent our gatherings," and she was, which probably wasn't a good thing. "With you, at least, I do not have to mince words. It really is too bad you are female." "All of the gentlemen?" She asked, surprised. Not that she would want her friend to have feelings for Aquila, but surely she must have noticed how wonderful he was? Was it possible other people didn't see this? "I imagine my life would have been a lot easier if I had been male." "Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I were out on the battle field like our men," she reflected, making a face at the very idea. Anzhelina didn't wish to be that involved. Fueling the fire from the sidelines was more than good enough for her. She blinked, surprised by the sudden change of subject. "In our current forms, no, I don't believe it would be terribly well-advised." "But much easier than finding a suitable husband," she joked. "Jacqueline?" "Yes, Anzhelina?" Leaning her head into the bench, she nudged her friend with her foot. "I will try to give Barty a chance. It is difficult to completely disregard my reservations, but he does deserve a chance. And I would be a dishonest cow if I said he does not intrigue me, passively, and on a very small level." "Passively, and on a very small level I can work with. For the sake of not being a dishonest cow myself, I should warn you that I'm going to nudge him along a bit. He is like a brother to me, and I want him to be happy." She rested her head on her hand again, a contented smile on her face. At least there was a baseline to work with, at least she could assure Barty that much. She would kill to have that much reassurance in her own romantic pursuit. "I do not mind if you talk to him; perhaps you can put an end to the awkwardness between us," Anzhelina wasn't worried about what Jacqueline would say, though hopefully she'd be subtle. "I will do my best. Romance isn't exactly my forte but it never hurts to try, and I do know quite a lot about how to handle Barty and put him at ease." Anzhelina stood, straightening her dress, and stepped down from the porch onto the brick walkway. "Let us take a stroll around the estate. It might rain soon. And we can turn our focus to you." |