Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena

C date: November, 2021
location: Elsewhere, Cap d'Antibes
abilities: lovely creature
dialogue: #0a2a28
mentioned: @Elena Clark
C
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CV
Forehead pressed to the window of the flying limousine-styled contraption, Camille gazed at the endless stretch of turquoise beach, the soft waves rolling onto shore looked more inviting than they were. Freezing, at this time of the year. His body ached in that familiar way— painful, but nothing he wouldn’t recover from by tomorrow, the usual aftermath of a day’s ballet training.

Despite the calendar winter, this particular November afternoon made one almost forget that Christmas approached in less than one month. Time tended to muddle together for the young boy regardless, for Camille’s days always bore the same routine; get dragged out of bed by seven, be dressed and warmed up at the barre by eight, followed by four hours of dancing until the one hour lunch, pas de deux together with the girls, and jumps with the other boys during the afternoon, repeat. Monday to Friday with only holidays off. Despite the hard work, Camille enjoyed doing something he clearly excelled at. He had the favor of the teachers, though his name being on the school building certainly played its part, meanwhile the fellow dancers either envied him, or praised him. Being praised was more favorsome, of course, though he was used to the conflicting opinions of others. No matter how much he enjoyed it, Camille always looked forward to the weekends, not because the expectations disappeared, but because they offered some variety in the usual routine. Instead of the ballet studio, Camille spent a few hours perfecting his pitch with a vocal coach. For a boy of merely seven years old, Camille lived like few other boys his age, in the pursuit of perfection.

After staring out the window, lost in thought, his gaze drifted back to his older brother, playing the role of personal escort and chaperone, in the seat opposite him in the u-shaped cream-colored, leather seats. His expression was serious and unreadable as always, nose-deep into the newspaper he was reading about something mind-numbingly boring that Camille had no interest in what-so-ever. Adult things, as he called it. Technically still a child on the verge of adulthood, only seventeen years old, the boy looked and acted twice his age. Instead of spending his free-time partying and going on dates, or the more casual attitude towards relationships, he served as their fathers right hand. That was something Camille couldn't fathom, why anyone would subject themselves to that kind of life. Studying his features, Camille thought he had never looked more like father than when he did then. Of course, he had a few more redeemable qualities that the senior lacked. Their father would never have accepted that he do this, for example:

“Arrête la voiture.”1 Camille demanded suddenly, no real reason behind it except the knowledge that it would forfeit the inevitable a little while longer. Julien teared his eyes off the paper, wondering what was wrong, already sounding exasperated. “Laisse-moi descendre. Je veux aller à la plage.”2 Camille added, stubbornly.

“Il fait trés froid,”3 his brother said calmly with a firm undertone, hoping to end the discussion before it had taken root. Everyone knew that once Camille had set his mind to something, few forces on this earth were stronger than his own force of will to change his mind.

Camille, ten years his junior, leveled him with an incredulous glare. “Je vais pas nager.”4 Not out of fear of the cold, it was just inconvenient.

What followed was a short staring match, ending with Julien caving a few seconds under the pressure of light hazel. “Trés bien,”5 he muttered, closing the newspaper with a snap. “Manteau sur le dos, chaussures sèches, et quinze minutes. Pas une seconde de plus. Nous sommes déjà en retard. Nous ne voulons pas faire attendre père.”6 Then he won't mind waiting a few more minutes, the younger boy thought. Signaling to the driver, the flying limo made an abrupt landing on one of the banks below.

With newfound excitement, for nothing else but a few minutes to himself on the beach, Camille threw himself out the magical vehicle and raced up a sandy hill, leaving his older brother behind pinching his nose, fearing it would be a miracle if they managed to summon the young rebellion back in only fifteen minutes. That was none of Camille's problems. Reaching the top, he glided down towards the beach in bold speed, without a care in the world of who saw him, when he a few seconds later lost his balance and tumbled down on his ass in the sand. By the time he stopped rolling, the boy had traveled close to three meters from the spot where he tripped.

Already chuckling to himself, Camille threw a glance over his shoulder, half-expecting his brother to be standing on the hill behind him, wearing his signature look of disappointment over his immature brother behaving like a child. Heavens forbid he got sand all over his coat and shoes. Julien wasn't there. He was still alone. With a deep sigh, his head rolled back in the cold sand. For a moment he just laid there, with his eyes closed, breathing in the smell of salt and sea, the soft sounds of waves rolling onto shore lulling him to a state of peace, knowing it wouldn't last forever.


1. Stop the car.
2. Let me out. I want to go to the beach.
3. It's freezing
4. I'm not swimming.
5. Fine.
6. Coat on, shoes dry, fifteen minutes. Not a second longer. We're already late. We don't want to keep father waiting.
CV



Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
Image posted by the member
Image posted by the member xx SECOND YEAR | RAVENCLAW xx Image posted by the member
english ; french ; thoughts │ wordcount ; 561
xxx☽ MENTIONS ; @camille de varenne
NOVEMBER, 2021 ; DATE ☾
xxx
xxx☽ OUTFIT ; bam, with this coat
"coucou" = "hi" ; OOC NOTES ☾
xxx
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XXX
Short puffs of blossoming vapor rose in the crisp air, result of the clash between her own heat and the descending temperature of november. From the height of her eight years of existence, Elena looked at the world through colored glass. Every little detail was reason enough for marvel — the way leaves slowly twirled down in a myriad of warm hues, how the light flickered in between fluffy clouds, a single bee landing on rose petals. A bell-like laughter echoed throughout the hill, followed by a high-pitched scream and a breathtaking race, her little legs moving as fast as she could order them to. The heavy steps, paired with a familiar grunt, of her father were getting farther and farther, sign she would most likely have a few minutes of respite before getting caught in the tickle trap.

France had always been her second home. Forever longing for the country which had seen her birth, her mother, Victoria, dragged the little family back at each vacation, sometimes even making her daughter skip a few days of school for a weekend escapade. Though the peacefulness of the countryside, the delicious fresh air of the north or the thrill of the capital were beloved by each member of the trio, the south had always been their favourite destination. That was especially true in colder months, with crowds disappearing, the colors turning mute and the world slowing down, freezing cities in a sort of enchanted time bubble.

Elias, supported by the pleading gaze of his miniature blonde, had successfully convinced his wife to rent a house in the midst of the historical center, a lovely little piece of art itself, old stones and out-of-date appliances, decorated as though a grandmother has just left the kettle on and will be back in a few. Nights consisted of watching forgotten movies on DVDs, tucked under heavy blankets, a warm mug clutched tightly between their hands. In the daylight, like today, they would take long strolls around the city, near the beach or in the surrounding forests — picking flowers, eating street food and racing each other.

The small raven was currently running with all her might, a smile brighter than the sun twisting her lips, sounds of delight escaping her as she trailed up and down the small hills of sands. Once her parents were out of view, she slowed down her steps, taking long breaths and closing her eyes, enjoying the scent of the nearby sea. Waves were gently crashing down the shore, licking the sand before retreating ; a few birds were flying low, digging into the ocean to fish their dinner. The area was deserted, save for a darker shape visible in the distance.

Eyes narrowing, the little blonde brushed the sand that had clung to her navy tinted coat, and stomped her coffee brown boots in its direction. It was a boy, she soon realized. Tousled brown hair, shut eyes, laying on the sand. Elena stopped right next to him, leaning forward, head hoovering right above his, projecting a weirdly shaped shadow over his features. Her observing must have blocked out the sun — either that or he had supernatural powers, which would be super cool — because his eyes shot open, suddenly drowning navy orbs into a pool of melted honey and hazel hues. Pretty, she noted, blinking twice before flashing a bright smile.

"Coucou !"
XXX
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ꜱᴛᴀ 6 ; ᴇᴠᴀ 7 ; ꜱᴛʀ 4 ; ᴡɪꜱ 9 ; ᴀʀᴄ 6 ; ᴀᴄᴄ 8
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❝ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤, 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.❞
☘︎ STAFF ACCOUNT ; ᴍᴀʟᴀɪᴋᴀ ᴏᴍᴇɴᴜᴋᴏ

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
C date: November, 2021
location: Elsewhere, Cap d'Antibes
abilities: lovely creature
dialogue: #0a2a28
mentioned: @Elena Clark
C
Image posted by the member

CV
The granted fifteen minutes were fast ticking by, close to seven of those, Camille spent almost asleep in a sandy bank. While not quite asleep, his consciousness was drifting between different dreamlike images, imagining himself lying on an Italian beach in the summer, sunbathing on a lush sunbed. June, more specifically— his favorite month— when it was neither too suffocatingly hot in the southern parts of the country, yet still warm enough to spend most of his time outside in nothing but breathable linen and flowing silks. His eyes remained closed, long and dark lashes gently brushed his cheek; his chest raised calm and steady beneath his coat, that, despite the colder temperature, especially while lying still on a cold beach, preserved enough warmth for him to feel comfortable lying there. The only thing he could see was the orange tint of the sun shining through his eyelids. Birds could be heard from above, though nothing that bothered him. The blockage of the sun, however, did.

Frowning at the sudden intrusion, Camille squinted his eyes open, the outside world tinted in a muted blue color while he adjusted to the new light. The first thing he saw was two large, blue eyes looking down at him with a look of curiosity, those belonging to a young blonde. Not his brother, who he would have naturally assumed at first. Initially relieved that Julien hadn’t returned to drag him back to the vehicle, another moment passed where he realized that said blonde was pretty… and he was still lying in the sand like a homeless person. Immediately flooded with embarrassment over his current position, so improper for someone of his status– and perhaps some excitement to be in the presence of a cute girl— Camille shot up to a sitting position. Misjudging the distance between them, and how far she’d leaned down over him, their foreheads collided with a loud thud.

Yelping, “ouch!” Camille tumbled back into the sand. What happened to the girl, he couldn’t tell with the pain blurring his vision, his head pounding where they’d knocked into each other. The boy groaned, raising his hand to rub the sore spot with the palm of his hand.

A few seconds passed before the world became clear again. The next time he attempted to get up, he did so slowly to avoid any further injuries. When he finally stood on his own two feet, Camille dusted sand off of the back of his coat, mentally noting that his brother would not be pleased if he left any sand in the car later.

“Désolé,”1 he added, smiling sheepishly at her, hoping to soften the impact with a charming smile. “Tu vas bien?”2 Camille followed up with genuine concern, his brows creasing gently as he gazed her over, gauging her own state after the collision.

Since he was fine, give or take with the lingering ache on the side of his forehead, there was no reason why the girl would have suffered a worse fate, except for the fact that she was a girl. From his limited worldview at the age of merely seven— shaped largely by the stark contrast between his father’s coldness, his mother’s tenderness and vulnerability, and his sister’s monthly breakdowns that Camille found confusing— girls seemed much softer and more delicate. Upon first assessment, there seemed to be no lasting harm made. Watching her intently for her reaction, he was mesmerized by her cute button nose and pretty, blonde hair. Her outfit, too, suggested she came from a wealthier family, the kind of clothes he’d expect someone from a fine French family to dress their daughter in for a winter stroll. At first impression, Camille liked everything about her. Neither was he shy to voice his opinions.

“Je t’aime.”3 The words tumbled out of his mouth with unabashed confidence only a child--- or someone used to adoration--- could muster, meant in the simplest of terms. At seven years old, what he liked about her were her soft, kind features. “Je suis Camille. Comment tu t’appelles?”4


1. Sorry.
2. Are you okay?
3. I like you.
4. I'm Camille, what's your name?
CV



Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
Image posted by the member
Image posted by the member xx SECOND YEAR | RAVENCLAW xx Image posted by the member
english ; french ; thoughts │ wordcount ; 651
xxx☽ MENTIONS ; @camille de varenne
NOVEMBER, 2021 ; DATE ☾
xxx
xxx☽ OUTFIT ; bam, with this coat
"c'est pas grave" = "it's okay" ; OOC NOTES ☾
xxx
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XXX
Sunlit features, currently overshadowed by her own presence, frowned as the peculiar boy slowly awakened from the dreamy state he had been plunged into. A gentle breeze blew a few chocolate tinted strands over his eyes, as the blonde blinked twice, a large smile spreading on her juvenile face. His hair was the exact colour of melted chocolate — a sight which transported her far, far away from this sun-blessed country, into the highlands of its rainy nemesis. Lost in the depths of england, her grandmother would spend hours crushing, melting and measuring the exact amount of cocoa and milk, of eggs and sugar to produce the most delicious thing the blonde's taste buds had ever experienced, a piece of art worthy of admiration from every living soul in this planet. Her childish brain hadn't bothered learning the name, and yet it truly was her favourite thing in the world. With her cat. And the flowers blooming in her garden. And the way her mother's eyes looked when she laughed. And-

Ow!

In a split second, hell had dawned over her and a hound born straight into the darkest pit of this eternal region jumped at her head, splitting it in half. Both hands miserably holding the bridge of her nose, she stumbled backwards and fell on her butt in the warm, wheat coloured sand. How oh-so sensitive this age was, for the second she felt the throbbing pain reach her brain tears veiled her vision, and a loud sniffle was heard. Non content of the humiliation of receiving such a blow after trying to make a pleasant encounter, the pain of feeling like a crybaby was added on top of her fluctuating emotions, making the blonde harvest ill feelings towards the cause of both sentiments.

"Tu vas bien ?" The question caused another loud sniffle to be heard, and she abandoned the safe fortress her hands formed between herself and the world to try and produce a smile. Which probably rendered as an odd grimace, accompanied by tearful eyes and a reddened nose, as well as a non-convincing "Mmh !" Her mother always told her a smile was worth more than many words, which currently floated her boat as she found it extremely hard to produce any form of words without completely breaking down. Trying to prevent oneself from crying somehow always made it worse, as the shame of tearing up so easily was piled up with whatever reason one had for said breakdown. "C'est pas grave," she managed to utter, rubbing her forehead with one hand. Storm tossed eyes flickered over his features, wondering if he would be willing to run into the sea to catch fishes with her. Or course after seagulls. Or roll down sandhills.

"Je t'aime."

A second floated, a second of bafflement — those words had only been uttered within the secrecy of familial walls, and held a different power. She had heard the tender way her parents whispered them as she slowly drifted into slumber, accompanied with a gentle kiss on her temple ; she knew how it felt shouting those as she ran away, passing the barriers of school and waving goodbye ; she had seen the reverent, sacred emotions floating between her mother and father each time they uttered them, the adoring, loving gaze that accompanied them. They were heavy, they were charged with meaning. And, it seemed, they were uttered by sun-kissed boys who had just bumped heads with hers.

A giggle escaped her, one that swiftly dried her tears and swept the frown creasing her forehead, a bell-like sound that quickly turned into a heartfelt laughter. A tear escaped her, crystal liquid crashing down onto the soft ground. Clutching her stomach, the golden haired girl couldn't see if the hilarity of the situation was shared by her newly found companion — (she would quickly learn it wasn't).
XXX
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ᴍᴏᴏɴᴄʜɪʟᴅ ── ꜱɪxᴛʜ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴇ | ᴄᴀʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴄᴇ
ꜱᴛᴀ 6 ; ᴇᴠᴀ 7 ; ꜱᴛʀ 4 ; ᴡɪꜱ 9 ; ᴀʀᴄ 6 ; ᴀᴄᴄ 8
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❝ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤, 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.❞
☘︎ STAFF ACCOUNT ; ᴍᴀʟᴀɪᴋᴀ ᴏᴍᴇɴᴜᴋᴏ

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
C date: November, 2021
location: Elsewhere, Cap d'Antibes
abilities: lovely creature
dialogue: #0a2a28
mentioned: @Elena Clark
C
Image posted by the member

CV
Despite his young age and limited encounters with children his own age, Camille liked to believe he was perceptive and clever. Being paraded around under his father’s arm at social events, among important people who censored and stripped words from the judgement of their true thoughts, had taught him that— like the uneasy feeling of a half-remembered cupboard, a secret he hadn’t understood then. While still too young to properly understand the deceit of adults, their lies and cheats, perception was the greatest tool among professional liars. Clever boys, in his mind, were always right. After their heads had crashed together, he’d quickly asked if she was alright, the lingering throb in his temple a reminder that there had been no light impact, one deserving a second acknowledgement.

The receiver of his unfortunate collision reassured him that it was alright. Something strained lingered beneath the childish sweetness of the girl’s voice. It was also clear, watching how the girl forced a smile resembling a painful grimace, that it was a lie, an unconvincing one, at that. Why she would lie to him, Camille couldn’t imagine – only that she’d done so poorly, though the regret of realization, regardless of who was to blame, tugged at his heartstrings all the same. The uncomfortable ache only bothered him for a second or two, before his childish impulses overran his attention span: the blonde girl’s fairy tale beauty rendered him awestruck, until the words of affirmation tumbled out of him without regret. Every time he’d used similar words generously, without much meaning behind them, they had been received with awe and appreciation; this time, he imagined, would be no different.

Camille watched her, his hazel eyes wide with anticipation to learn her name, likely as beautiful as she was. The reaction was the opposite of what he had imagined. Instead of blushing and smiling at him with adoration, the welling tears had disappeared, replaced by a look of wonder as his words settled. At least she wasn’t on the verge of tears any longer; she was even prettier now, the thought crossed him lazily, but was interrupted by a new, unwelcome sound. A giggle escaped her, followed by hearty laughter that lightly bounced off of the waves rolling onto shore, washing over him in a sudden tide of embarrassment. Camille’s childishly hopeful expression faltered into a confused frown, the heat quickly grazing his cheeks. Biting his lip, he glanced around the empty beach, failing to see what was so amusing. Suddenly, it felt as if he had just finished a solo performance with no applause. The only thing that could have made it worse was if his brother had reached the dune, looking down in disappointment; at least it wasn’t his father. He didn’t like it.

Sucking in a breath, determined to understand, he said: “Je ne vois pas ce qu'il y a de drôle,”1 pouting, while crossing his arms over his chest.

No one had ever laughed at him before, his previously successful interactions had left him with enough confidence to correct her reaction. Perhaps she had never had anyone utter the words to her before. That would have explained her bursting into laughter, an act of ignorance he could forgive.

“Tu n’es pas censée rire quand quelqu’un te dit qu’il t’aime.”2

Still, Camille—emotionally moldable and sensitive—wasn’t impossible, even if she’d been impolite. A few simple words, or even the offer of a kind smile, would have healed the small sting of her reaction. He still held onto the hope of getting to learn her name.


1. I don't know what's so funny.
2. You're not supposed to laugh when someone tells you they love you.
CV



Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
Image posted by the member
Image posted by the member xx SECOND YEAR | RAVENCLAW xx Image posted by the member
english ; french ; thoughts │ wordcount ; 406
xxx☽ MENTIONS ; @camille de varenne
NOVEMBER, 2021 ; DATE ☾
xxx
xxx☽ OUTFIT ; bam, with this coat
translations at the bottom! ; OOC NOTES ☾
xxx
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XXX
Once, upon a sunny morning of spring, a tiny blonde was taking a stroll through a park, hopping around like she was powered by an unidentified energy that knew no cut. The leaves had just begun to regain their colorful hues, and a glittery veil appeared to have been cast over the world, filled with childlike wonder and promises of blooming once more. Racing as always, the raven found herself stumbling over her own feet, collapsing headfirst down a small hill. She landed on her stomach, chin hitting the ground so hard a single tooth escaped, bouncing back straight into two bushes, a little further. Hoping onto her feet, she followed, reaching out for the ivory piece of organ — suddenly claws dug into her skin and she retreated, clutching her hand. There, under the branches, was a brown cat, the exact colour of melted chocolate, looking at her with a frowning expression.

The boy in front of her had the exact same expression etched onto his porcelain traits.

Cristalline tears rolled down Elena's cheeks as she made repeated attempt at supressing her laughter, tentative that only resulted in another chuckle each time she tried to regain a modicus of seriousness. The heart rob facing her appeared to have been used to love and praise, and wholeheartedly believed his words would have sufficed in winning her devoted adoration. In contrast, the honey haired had been destabilized by the sudden declaration, as to her words held a weight, especially one as heavy as 'love'. Hearing it unexpectedly, from a stranger's mouth, had short circuited her ability to analyze the situation clearly, resulting in incontrollable chuckles. Pinching both lips together, she managed to turn her laughter into an oddly formed smile, and focused on not laughing again, as it appeared to hurt her new friend dearly.

"Tu n'est pas censé dire je t'aime à quelqu'un que tu ne connais pas," she retorted immediately, sticking her tongue out to conclude what she knew to be true as well as an imparable argument. The matter of his pouting now solved, they could proceed to more interesting topics. Such as who was the fastest. Or could they try to approach any seagulls.

Bolting upright, she immediately recovered her juvenile energy, the earlier pain instantly forgotten. Unfortunately, he was still sulking. Frowning, the raven took a few steps towards him, until she was standing right above him, before leaning as far as she could without falling — and she almost did. Staring at him like an owl — or a cheshire cat, she blinked twice, face splitting into a large grin as a few seconds floated.

"CHAT!"

Poking his shoulder, she instantly started running, almost stumbling in the sand before trailing again towards the opposite end of the beach, not caring to look back — he would follow, wouldn't he?
XXX
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ᴍᴏᴏɴᴄʜɪʟᴅ ── ꜱɪxᴛʜ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴇ | ᴄᴀʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴄᴇ
ꜱᴛᴀ 6 ; ᴇᴠᴀ 7 ; ꜱᴛʀ 4 ; ᴡɪꜱ 9 ; ᴀʀᴄ 6 ; ᴀᴄᴄ 8
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"You're not supposed to say I love you to someone you don't know."

❝ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤, 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.❞
☘︎ STAFF ACCOUNT ; ᴍᴀʟᴀɪᴋᴀ ᴏᴍᴇɴᴜᴋᴏ

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
C date: November, 2021
location: Elsewhere, Cap d'Antibes
abilities: lovely creature
dialogue: #0a2a28
mentioned: @Elena Clark
C
Image posted by the member

CV
Sensing his declining mood, the girl found enough restraint to stop laughing by pressing her lips tightly together, though a strange-looking smile lingered. “You’re not supposed to say ‘I love you’ to someone you don’t know,” the girl countered his grumpy statement, sticking her tongue at him. Camille’s eyes widened at the gesture, wondering how her parents allowed her to do that, or if she perhaps only dared in their absence. If he had done the same, he wouldn’t hold it against his father to return a swift slap. But those were only speculations based on the man’s strict authoritarianism, consequences conjured in his mind that he hadn’t dared test. She spoke in such a childishly confident and matter-of-fact way that Camille sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, faltering in his judgement. He was almost inclined to believe she was right, albeit it felt fundamentally wrong to question the adults around him, who had never done anything but encourage him to be openly affectionate. Why would his mother lie?

Admitting he was wrong, even if in that moment it hadn’t felt wrong to say the words, was almost as embarrassing as being laughed at straight to his face. Instead of saying anything, he continued to sulk with his arms crossed over his chest, frowning deeper as his chin tucked further into his scarf. Lowering his gaze at his sandy shoes, he dragged his feet against the surface, tracing a circle in the sand. In the moment of humiliation, regardless of how mild the correction had been, Camille wished his brother had come to fetch him back to the vehicle just then. With no such luck—and knowing he’d have complained in the car if he’d left unresolved—the girl took a few steps toward him. He regarded her with a questioning expression as she leaned in, an eerily wide grin stretching across her face, nearly losing her balance in the process.

A finger poked his shoulder, initiating a chasing game with one simple exclamation. “CHAT!” she yelled and ran to the opposite end of the beach. While he might not have formally played the game more than once or twice in his life, the natural impulse to chase hit him immediately, knocking the last sulk out of him. In an instant, he was already pursuing her in a game of cat and mouse. A brief stumble gave him enough of an advantage to catch up on the distance created between them, laughing when he quickly closed in on her from behind. His oxford lace-up shoes were hardly made for these conditions, making it more difficult to gain speed, but he was close on her heels as they raced along the shoreline.

Stretching an arm forward, reaching for her blue coat that was just out of reach, he taunted her with a laugh: “Tu es trop lent.”1 With a determined groan, summoning all the speed and strength he could muster, he exclaimed, “Je t’ai!”2 and lunged forward. Wrapping his arms around her waist, they toppled together, slowly tumbling into the cold sand.

Landing stomach-down, pinning the girl beneath him, he lifted his face up towards the sky and laughed. Snaking his arms free, the boy pushed himself up on his elbows and jumped to his feet. His coat was covered in sand, the lower part of it partially damp, yet he barely noticed, too caught up in play. “C’est toi le chat!”3 he said in triumph, darting back the direction they’d come from.


1. You're too slow.
2. I've you you!
3. You're it!
CV



Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
Image posted by the member
Image posted by the member xx SECOND YEAR | RAVENCLAW xx Image posted by the member
english ; french ; thoughts │ wordcount ; 668
xxx☽ MENTIONS ; @camille de varenne
NOVEMBER, 2021 ; DATE ☾
xxx
xxx☽ OUTFIT ; bam, with this coat
translations at the bottom! ; OOC NOTES ☾
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A laughter filled with pure delight escaped her as she trailed through the beach, tiny feet hitting the sand and pushing as fast as she could humanly achieve. Suddenly the icy air of november disappeared under the heat of her effort, sun peaking from under a cloud and bathing the scene in golden light. The beach had regained its vibrants colours, cristalline water shimmering under the wind, boats lazily slicing the tranquil waters in the distance, seagulls chanting far above in the sky. Juvenile giggles rose in the air, little figures chasing each other across the immensity of the beach. A postcard.

Elena had a whole new perspective of this already lovely place, which now appeared a true land of undiscovered treasures. Or perhaps was she simply overwhelmed with thrill at the idea she had made a new friend, one she could play tag with, and race, and take on seashell hunts in the ocean, and chase seagulls with, and draw and paint and eat the most gigantic ice creams covered with chocolate syrup. They could be pirate, screaming and defending their territory, attacking any intruder and ruling the seas, or fantastical creatures, soaring high and low, bestowing their gifts upon mere humans, or the only survivors of an abandoned earth, thriving in nature and feasting over wild berries. The world was theirs to take.

"Tu est trop lente!"

Only seconds after this ominous warning was shouted, the golden haired girl felt her sun being shadowed, and soon arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her in his fall. A high pitched, though short, scream escaped her and they toppled in the sand. It quickly became obvious this instinctive instinct that was expressing her surprise vocally was a mistake, as somehow the entirety of the sand present on this beach found itself entering her mouth. She coughed and spit as they rolled before finally stopping.

At first a frown creased her forehead, ready to pout at him for making her eat sand, but whatever frustration she harboured instantly vanished upon seeing him look up and laugh. The sound was so sweet she wished she could bottle in it a snowball, and be able to hear it again each time she shook it. Facing such display of pure joy, she could only spark into a similar smile, the playful glimmer returned, and she immediately bolted after him. It somehow only took a few seconds to catch up to him, perhaps because his shoes appeared ill-fitted to such activities. "CHAT!" she shouted upon touching his shoulder, accelerating and diverging to the right.

Panting, she ran and ran and ran, a giant grin splitting her face in half. Looking back at him, she struck her tongue again, which seemed to horrified him, given his face decomposed and his mouth opened to shout some-

RAM.

The shock was brutal, head colliding into some bone of the human body, her entire frame sent backward from the strength of the impact. She collapsed into the sand, laying on her back, all air vanished from her lung. Before her was an angel, the sun forming a halo around his figure, preventing her from seeing anything, until a glimmer of gold around his finger drew her attention away from her temporarily blind condition. She instantly recognised it as this really important jewelry her grandfather often wore around his little finger, a signature something ring. Aristocracy.

Immediately jumping to her feet, she brushed the sand off her coat, head bowed in contrition. "My apolog- oh uh, toutes mes excuses, monsieur," she awkwardly smiled, trying to recall the sentences her grandparents had tried to drill into her. Though her childish mind had not quite grasped the concept of it, she knew people who were dressed as he, and wore rings like those were to be treated with respect, as to not 'cast disgraceful shame further down our bloodline'. Regina would be proud of her, for handling the situation with maturity. This matter settled, she quickly pivoted to resume her play with Camille, but was stop in her tracks by the sudden, new expression on his previously endearingly joyful features.
XXX
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ᴍᴏᴏɴᴄʜɪʟᴅ ── ꜱɪxᴛʜ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴇ | ᴄᴀʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴄᴇ
ꜱᴛᴀ 6 ; ᴇᴠᴀ 7 ; ꜱᴛʀ 4 ; ᴡɪꜱ 9 ; ᴀʀᴄ 6 ; ᴀᴄᴄ 8
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"My deepest apologies, sir."

❝ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤, 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.❞
☘︎ STAFF ACCOUNT ; ᴍᴀʟᴀɪᴋᴀ ᴏᴍᴇɴᴜᴋᴏ

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
C date: November, 2021
location: Elsewhere, Cap d'Antibes
abilities: lovely creature
dialogue: #0a2a28
mentioned: @Elena Clark
C
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CV
Distracted by the chase, neither had noticed a new presence arriving on the beach. Camille realized first, only because his head wasn’t turned the other way. Laughing, his eyes lingered on her face, tongue shoved past his lips in a teasing grimace. A towering silhouette of a man appeared behind her. The familiar figure drained him of excitement. His mouth parted, as if to shout a warning, but no sound emerged. Their game came to an abrupt end, figuratively and literally, when she ran straight into Julien. Meanwhile, Camille came to a halt just a few metres away, watching the interaction unfold with a wary expression. Tension had settled in his brother’s shoulders, his hands had also raised, gently grazing her shoulders to keep them both steady. It was clear by his posture that he did not approve, yet the child remained clueless when her head tilted back to look up at him and offered her silly apologies.

Monsieur. A title better suited for someone at least ten years his senior. Yet, Julien, only seventeen of age, painted quite a picture in his tailored suit and the golden sigil around his finger. Maturity had been forced on him early. The girl could impossibly know, and exactly that misconception regarding his age amused him. Despite himself and the severe expression on his brother's face, Camille stifled laughter, and failed. In return, he earned a sharp glance in silent warning, one only Camille would register, though he did not otherwise react. Julien was always proper, of course. Even when a girl with sand all over her coat had carelessly rammed straight into him, he never raised his voice, merely gave her polite attempt at an apology a nod in acknowledgement.

“Ne vous inquiétez pas.”1 A crease appeared between the teenager's brows when he glanced up at Camille. Most of his scorn was reserved for Camille, for not returning to the car in proper time. After giving the younger boy a disappointing once-over, Julien realised he’d been wasting his time rolling in the sand with a stranger while knowing Alain was expecting their return. Camille’s lingering amusement quickly faded, his lips pressing together into a subtle pout. Already knowing what his brother must be thinking, he threw an awkward glance down at his dirty and wet coat. His shoes were not in much better shape after the game of chat. Clearly unaware of the tension in the air and the unspoken bloodbond between the two boys, the girl turned back to him, judging by her expression, expecting the play to continue. Unfortunately, he could not mirror her enthusiasm. His fun was over.

“J'ai besoin d'y aller,”2 Camille muttered apologetically, still managing to throw his brother a sour look from beneath his lashes.

Believing he had no need to repeat himself—words that had never been outwardly said at all— Julien began walking back up the dune, expecting the young boy to follow. Taking the chance while he was not looking, Camille darted forward and stopped in front of the girl to grab her by the shoulders. He leaned in, brushing his mouth against tousled honey blonde hair by her ear and whispered a promise, louder than the oblivious child realized.

“On se retrouve ici demain.”3

With no time for logistics, he thought the location alone was enough; it all made perfect sense in his mind. They’d meet here tomorrow. Camille didn’t even wait for her approval. Sealing the promise with a quick kiss on her cheek, Camille pulled back, his eyes sparkling in mischievousness. Before his brother got angrier, he released her and ran in the direction where his brother had just vanished behind the dune peak. Only once he’d reached the car did he remember that he still didn’t know her name.


1. Everything is fine.
2. I have to leave.
3. We'll meet here tomorrow.
CV



Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny

Finished At the Edge of the Shore Elena
Image posted by the member
Image posted by the member xx SECOND YEAR | RAVENCLAW xx Image posted by the member
english ; french ; thoughts │ wordcount ; xxx
xxx☽ MENTIONS ; @camille de varenne
NOVEMBER, 2021 ; DATE ☾
xxx
xxx☽ OUTFIT ; bam, with this coat
translations at the bottom! ; OOC NOTES ☾
xxx
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XXX
The immediate and sudden change she noticed in her newest friend caused a slight frown to crease her brows, looking at the elegant stranger with wary eyes. Though young, there was the same stern look in his eyes, the one she often saw her grandparents wear when the occasion was proper. And Camille had shifted into a troubling picture of her father's expression whenever his parents were in the room. It suddenly looked like he beared the weight of the world over his shoulders, as though with one gaze who she suspected were his brother had pinned him down a dissecting board, ready to pluck the wings the ocean and sun had given him. As though childish carelessness had been refused to him.

The raven did not like it one bit.

Her education prevented her from protesting, and it was with a heavy heart she stood there as both climbed their way out of the beach. It felt like a piece of her heart was slowly being torn away from it, as though she would never see him again, never again. Yet suddenly, as she was about to make a run for him and plead him to play with her five more minutes, Camille pivoted on his feet, almost tackling her to the ground in an enthusiastic embrace, whispering what Elena quickly considered an oath.

"Demain," she repeated, grinning ear to ear. Her expression turned into a stunned one as he planted a kiss on her cheek, quickly turning from a lovely shade of beige to a brunt shade of pink. He really ought to know such displays of affection towards strangers were odd.

Though, she might grow accustomated to his affectionate endeavours. Tomorrow she echoed once more, watching him trail behind the stern figure his brother was, tiny character hesitating between walking and hopping. Tomorrow, they will play 'chat' again. And perhaps tomorrow she would tell him her name, between two fits of laughter as they chase each other at the edge of the shore.
XXX
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ᴍᴏᴏɴᴄʜɪʟᴅ ── ꜱɪxᴛʜ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴇ | ᴄᴀʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴄᴇ
ꜱᴛᴀ 6 ; ᴇᴠᴀ 7 ; ꜱᴛʀ 4 ; ᴡɪꜱ 9 ; ᴀʀᴄ 6 ; ᴀᴄᴄ 8
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"Tomorrow."

❝ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤, 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥.❞
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