A Bond Of Ten
Backdated to 4/12/2024
Stamina: 6 Evasion: 6 Strength: 5 Wisdom: 4 ArcPower: 6 Accuracy: 8
Thoughts
Speaking
Mentions: @Camille De Varenne
(598)It was a winter day, with snow covering the rooftops. The ten year old Maisie was in her room, staring at her bed, where a white dress with roses embroidered was layed out on her bed.
She had been told to put it on and a maid would come to put up her hair. Then she was to go to the dining room and meet the De Varenne family. And take a bath, for Merlin's sake. Her mother had said, before she closed the door.
The girl knew the De Varenne family quite well. Their family had been business partners and, they were often holding balls and things. And they had a boy--Camille, who was the same age as her. So, like any two sets of parents who have children the same age, they were told to socialize.
After she clothed herself, had her hair put up and various necklaces and bracelets put on her like they were decorating a Christmas tree, she was sent downstairs.
She remembered her manners, and held herself up high, took a deep breath, and pushed went into the dining room.
It was a medium sized room with a long mahogany table in the center, matching chairs placed on the four sides. Her grandfather occupied one end, and Mr. De Varenne was opposite him. The two wives were next to their husbands, and in Maisie's case, her mother was there, too, with her father, and the De Varenne children were by their mother. Her five siblings were already seated, with a seat for her between Michael and Madeline. She felt her face go red.
"Come," her father said, not unkindly, "We've saved you a seat. I believe you'd still remember Camille?" He motioned towards the youngest of the three De Varennes'.
Of course she remembered him. He was one of the first children other than her siblings she'd talked to. The girl thought as she nodded politely, curtsied towards the De Varennes, and took her seat.
Their dinner was brought, one course by one course, and Maisie soon grew bored of the business chatter by the two fathers. By their third course meal, Millie had started fussing and her mum took her out. Maisie sometimes wished she could just disappear from these formal meals. The food, though gourmet, didn't interest her much, and she soon grew bored, and fidgeted under the table. She'd only engaged in small talk about how her day was, the weather, her school work and whether she was a witch or squib. Sometimes, she'd say something and all the adults would roar in laughter. She didn't understand. She didn't want to either. She just wanted to run out and find the bunnies in the garden.
When the adults tired of asking about the children one by one, they resided to talking business. This didn't interest most ten year olds, so she naturally blocked some out, imagining a fantasy world. Even like that, snippets still entered her mind.
"We need a lot of investments to make it work."
"That much interest is too much!"
"If you want to make a good boarding school for lads, you'd better get the best teachers possible."
"No, of course we won't accept squibs!"
Maisie looked up at that sentence. Maybe because she just had her first instance of magic not long ago. Before then, her aunts thought she had no hope and her parents ought to just send her to muggle schools.
Then her eyes caught two light hazel eyes staring at her across the table. Maisie smiled and mouthed: "Want too escape this?"
Last edited by Maisie Fenwick Rose Williams on 12 Feb 2026, 09:22, edited 1 time in total.
A Bond Of Ten
| C | date: 4/12/2024 location: Elsewhere, Windsor |
abilities: lovely creature dialogue: #0a2a28 mentioned: @Maisie Fenwick Rose Williams |
C |
| CV | Life for the youngest De Varenne son mainly consisted of two things; perfecting his artistic pursuits, naturally, and performing— on stage, but also at the various events and meetings his family dragged him to. Their family was acknowledged across all of France and southern Europe for their influence in the arts, ranging from threaters, art schools and of course, their star, Camille. Even at his young age, he had become somewhat of an icon, resembling his family’s legacy, and famous for his talent in the arts and beauty. Camille didn’t care enough about this business to know half of what went on behind the scenes, only that it was the reason they moved between different estates. It had been a few years since their first visit to Windsor for one of Alain De Varenne’s meetings with a prominent pureblood wizarding family with estates across the UK—a visit that eventually led to the family relocating to England in hopes of expanding their influence there. As usual, Camille found these privately hosted dinners, stuck between adult conversations incredibly dull. Most of it went over his head entirely, but per routine, he was expected and forced to tag along. From what he could remember of this Williams family, albeit not much, was that they had at least six children, and a daughter in his age. The pair of them had been encouraged to socialize, serving as a small consolation prize to keep them entertained during the endless discussions about money and interests. This December evening was no different, except that his father was in a particularly determined mood, hoping to secure an investment for their first prestigious art school in London. For this important dinner, Camille was kept on an even tighter leash. The family arrived on the dark street, curtesy of the sun having set many hours ago. Before going inside, the master of the household grabbed the youngest son by his shoulder, forcing him to look him in the eye. From this angle, the shadow creased in his forehead, Camille thought he looked like a monster. “One slip, Camille, and it will reflect poorly on the entire family. I will not tolerate it.” A threat in precaution, for whatever scene the boy would cause. These threats were nothing new, despite him never doing anything to warrant this scrutiny. “Mon mari,” his mother, Sylvie said pleadingly, standing idly by and shifted uncomfortable in her stance at her husbands tone. “Silence, woman!” Alain snapped, which she obliged immediately, head bowed. Their older, adult children glanced between themselves, but said nothing. The first time he’d heard his father take such a tone with his mother, Camille—still very small then—had been struck with terror, eyes lowered, body trembling under the weight of Alain’s fury. But tonight, though still a child, he met the man’s gaze with a glare of defiance. “I know how to act.” He said through gritted teeth, shoving himself free from the tight grip on his shoulder. “Better than you ever will, old man.” With his chin held high, posture immaculate, he turned his back on his fathers tight expression and approached the door. As promised, Camille acted the part of the perfect, well-behaved child all throughout dinner. He spoke when spoken to, shared only a few polite words with the Williams children, and never once disrupted his father’s bargain-making. By the sounds of it, they were not in complete union of how much money should be spent. In truth, no one at the table played their role half as flawlessly as he did. Eventually bored by the conversation, his gaze drifted, meeting the eyes of their daughter Maisie across the table. Despite himself, he managed to easily return her smile, and her offer couldn’t have come soon enough. “Yes, please,” he mouthed back, his father too engrossed in conversation about interest to notice him slipping off his chair. |
CV |
Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny
A Bond Of Ten
Backdated to 4/12/2024
Stamina: 6 Evasion: 6 Strength: 5 Wisdom: 4 ArcPower: 6 Accuracy: 8
Thoughts
Speaking
Maisie, upon seeing Camille slip out his seat, followed suit. Her siblings noticed, but didn't say anything; they were getting ready to slip out themselves. Her mother was yet to be back, and her father and grandfather were far too engrossed by the conversation to notice. She didn't really care if the De Varennes noticed, because even their two adult children and Mrs. De Varenne were for sure to be bored.Mentions: @Camille De Varenne
She slowly moved to the heavy curtains and slid behind them. This obviously wasn't an elegant way to exit, as she intended to go through the window and into the garden, but it was one of her favorite ways. Besides, though her mother disliked her being unladylike, her father always seemed amused, and said she was just a child.
She hoped her younger sister wouldn't come running towards her-she always seemed to enjoy sticking to her like glue-but this would ruin the dinner, because her younger sister always made a ruckus.
The window seat was nice and cushiony, and the girl had spent many an afternoon hiding in there, reading, especially under the influence of reading a muggle book: Jane Eyre, where the young protagonist did the same.
There were two white windows, shut tight as to not let the snow drift in. Maisie pulled sharply and one of the windows opened, a gust of cold winter air blowing onto her face.
Sure is cold...
"I do believe we can't go to the garden, surely it must be cold." she whispered to Camille. She hadn't thought of the winter coldness, she was so caught up in her escape plan. "We might have to go somewhere in the house. Maybe the library or the play room: it's always warm in there." she said in a hushed tone, as to not let her voice reach the other side of the curtains.
Knowing that opening the door would interrupt the adult talk, she said quietly, "We'll go out and 'round the house to the back, and go through the service door.
She offered one of the few blankets strewn across the window seat to the boy, and taking one herself, she kneeled on the seat and put her leg onto the window frame. She held onto the window frame as she hoisted her body up, before slipping through the window and onto the snow beneath.
"Don't be afraid. Come on through the window." she said, a bit louder now she wasn't in the room.
(412)
A Bond Of Ten
| C | date: 4/12/2024 location: Elsewhere, Windsor |
abilities: lovely creature dialogue: #0a2a28 mentioned: @Maisie Fenwick Rose Williams |
C |
| CV | Following the Williams daughter, she led them behind the curtains to a pair or windows with a seat, perfect for a moment of reading. She didn’t bring them there to read, however, but to jump out of with the bigger goal of finding a quiet place for them to spend their time, away from the adults. Why they couldn’t simply walk there, through the house, was beyond him. But, she knew the surroundings better than he did, he would have to follow her lead, unless he wished to spend the rest of the evening anticipating his father’s next scorching glare. Still, the suggestion seemed out of character for a daughter of a somewhat finer family. Such behavior would not be encouraged in his house. Perhaps even punished, depending on his fathers mood. Camille glanced at her, blinking with eyes wide in bewilderment. By the sounds of it, these kinds of escapades were not unusual for the girl. Grabbing a blanket, he watched her in quiet awe, hoisting herself up and slipping through the window, down onto the snow. Out of all the ways to exit a house, through the window would be a first for Camille this December evening. There were definitely more civilized ways, and probably more effective, to get around the house than take a leap out in the snow, but he was not scared to jump. The suggestion that he was made him roll his eyes, already one knee onto the windowstill in determination. “I’m not scared,” he told the girl firmly, though in the same quiet voice, to avoid being overheard. Then in the next moment, to prove his unwavering courage, pushed himself over the edge so his legs feet were dangling free. “You make it sound like this is a normal occurence. Does your parents let you jump out the window on the regular, or are you simply good at hiding it?” Careful not to tear any threads of his cashmere sweater on any sharp edges, Camille eased himself onto the ground, sinking a few inches in the snow during his landing. Without his winter robes, it was colder than he’d remembered. Regretfully, he thought that he should have brought one of those blankets while he still had the chance. Breathing a cloud of hot breath into the cold air, he wrapped his arms around himself to delay the severe shivering. “It’s freezing." Camille glanced around with a grimace of discomfort. "Where to now?” |
CV |
Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny
A Bond Of Ten
Backdated to 4/12/2024
Stamina: 6 Evasion: 6 Strength: 5 Wisdom: 4 ArcPower: 6 Accuracy: 8
Thoughts
Speaking
Guessing he was skeptical about her doings in terms of climbing out of window, one very inappropriate behavior for a girl with her background, while watching him with his feet dangling from the window sill, she said dryly, "I lived in Wales with my grandparents and siblings when I was younger, I ran around a lot, hence my climbing abilities; my grandfather always gave us permission to run round and explore his house-or manor, I suppose, so he doesn't mind." Knowing the obvious question he was going to ask, and thinking she ought to say it, too, she continued, "If you want to pull the huge dining hall doors, which makes a groaning sound, that's up to you, but I don't think it's a good idea, really."Mentions: @Camille De Varenne
Watching him ease himself out as to not tear his clothes, she found this an interesting specimen. Sure, they may have the same kind of background, but their lives seemed different. He seemed scared of his father, which she was not; he didn't think much of climbing though windows, which also mystified her, and what a strange question, of course she didn't hide much when climbing though windows, she made lots of noise anyhow, the curtains, however, were a great friend.
"My mother would perhaps be surprised, but not too much, she's seen me climb out before. Actually , she was the one who taught me, in case of an emergency, you know. So short answer, yes, they let me and my siblings jump out." She grinned, it was amusing the differences between them.
She smirked when he fell into the snow, but she suppressed a laugh, no, that would be rude, and she was told to be on her best behavior. Well, the best behavior someone who told a guest to jump out the window after her would be.
When she heard his remark about the cold, she sighed, looked around and saw a rock jutting out and stepped on it, then leapt to catch the window sill, and hoisted herself back up, reaching for another blanket all in one quick go, it was exhilarating. She could have just used her hands to push herself up, but thhis was more fun, and when she turned around, his expression would be priceless, and she was in the need of a laugh. But yes, it was dangerous, and she could have cracked her head.
"Here, your blanket.", was her first sentence after she thrust the blanket towards him. "We're going round the house to the domestic service staircase, it's quicker, then up to the library or playroom. Or if you want, we can go to the summerhouse over there." was her second sentence, as she looked at him expectantly.
A Bond Of Ten
| C | date: 4/12/2024 location: Elsewhere, Windsor |
abilities: lovely creature dialogue: #0a2a28 mentioned: @Maisie Fenwick Rose Williams |
C |
| CV | As if reading his mind– or perhaps merely irritated by his complaint judging, by the sigh that followed his perfectly timed question, Maisie launched herself in what could only be described as a dramatic leap of faith back up onto the window ledge, the kind of unnecessary dramatics that suggested either exasperation or a death wish, only to return moments later with one of those blankets. IIn the freezing air, with his bones aching and teeth on the verge of chattering, Camille had, if only for a fleeting second, imagined what it might feel like to be wrapped in one of those pieces of fabrics, though naturally, assuming they wouldn’t be condemned to sit in the snow all damn evening, he had not deemed it necessary to bring one for himself. It was simply due to an oversight, not in any way what-so-ever due to incapability, that he himself hadn’t brought one along. Usually, he delighted in having others perform mundane tasks on his behalf, finding a kind of natural order in the idea of people tending to his needs without him having to raise a finger, but when the gesture came with the suggestion that he could not provide for himself, it became less an indulgence and more an insult. To be fair, it was a fair assumption of him to assume that no fine lady of the house would want their decorative blankets and pillows to be dragged outside through snow, mud and worse things. Though he also hadn’t expected a fine family to encourage their children to jump out the window as a common way of exiting the house, either. However, with her help that felt a bit backhanded, he felt foolish when accepting the blanket from her. Still, with his chin tilted high in the familiar angle of practiced indifference, Camille unfolded the blanket and draped it around himself. Not a second too late, he concluded when some of the cold was shielded off. “Thank you,” he mustered to say through pride and shivers, despite feeling slightly out of his depth in this dynamic. Camille never serviced people, but it was somewhat an expectation that a boy of his rank, would court a girl and not the other way around. Camille hadn’t asked her to jump up a window, neither did he think it could be expected of anyone. Maisie presented him with two options for their next destination. A summer house didn’t sound very warm at this time of the year, neither did he know enough about either to have a preference. “The library or the playroom will do fine.” The way he said playroom suggested that the boy was unfamiliar and somewhat bemused with such a concept. Playroom sounded a bit juvenile to his ears, a boy who had been forced to grow up faster than others. There had certainly never been a room like that in their properties. Sadly. At least not for a very, very long time. |
CV |
Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny
A Bond Of Ten
Backdated to 4/12/2024
Stamina: 6 Evasion: 6 Strength: 5 Wisdom: 4 ArcPower: 6 Accuracy: 8
Thoughts
Speaking
"You're welcome." she said, pulling her own blanket closer as gales of wind hit them like knives to the skin.Mentions: @Camille De Varenne
"The playroom it is, then!"she laughed, "Seriously, you've never been in or seen a playroom? You know, a room with toys and books and pillows and a fire for warmth?", she said, noticing the emphasis on said word.
"Even my eldest brother who's 18, and ready to graduate, pops in there at least once a day during the holidays. It's cozy and very, very warm." She led him along the house, the snow crunching under each drop of weight into the snow.
Winter was always an enormous landscape of wonderland. The snow fell glistening on the pine trees, and the other trees, lost were their leaves, stood dead-like. Bushes had a layer of thick snow, and all the animals usually roaming the gardens and grounds were probably asleep. It was sad, desolate, yet also with a hint of liveliness in the winter, and she would've enjoyed going to the summerhouse, looking at the grounds, but the playroom was warm, too. Besides, she could show this strange boy who seems to have no knowledge of the most simple thing to a child: toys.
Now at the back of the house, she led him up to an unassuming door, and she opened it carefully. The door creaked slightly, but it was a comforting sound, just like wood crackling in the fire in her room, it was a sound she associated with home.
"Cookie's (cook) is sometimes in here, but it's fine, she doesn't bite, she might even give us some biscuits!" she whispered. They were in the house now, and it was warmer, with definitely no wind whistling in her ears.
However, upon passing by the usually open kitchen door, there was no trace of cookie, and so she took him up the steep and narrow wooden staircase to the second floor.
"Here we are!" she exclaimed, as she opened the varnished oak door to the room that was a sanctuary to the Williams children. The wood crackling in the fireplace was the only sound effect, though she imagined trumpets blowing, that would've been cool. But no one in her family played the trumpets. It was only something in those movies muggles watched.
A Bond Of Ten
| C | date: 4/12/2024 location: Elsewhere, Windsor |
abilities: lovely creature dialogue: #0a2a28 mentioned: @Maisie Fenwick Rose Williams |
C |
| CV | On the way to the next destination, the blanket drawn closer around him, they trudged through the snow. Picking up on his tone regarding the concept of a playroom, Maisie immediately questioned him if he’d never been in something like that before, her own humor suggesting it was something common to have. To most children his age, it most definitely was. Camille was not like most children, which came with both positives and consequences. Being robbed off of his childhood was one, though the boy was far too young to understand the unfairness between other children’s expectations placed by their parents, and the strict, adult expectations his own father placed on Camille. Biting his lip through the cold, focused on not tripping, he kept his eyes on the snow beneath his feet while answering, “Maybe when I was younger and I don’t remember. We don’t have one at home, no.” Toys had been exchanged for dancing and singing lessons, and everything his parents bought him, that he wasn’t demanding for himself, had to do with advancing himself. The only thing back home that was a novelty in his paved out life-path, was a single stuffed unicorn plush toy. It had been— was— his favorite growing up. Perhaps the only remnants of a normal childhood that was left. Camille was ten years old now, he was expected to have grown out of such childish needs, but he had refused to throw it out. When his father had tried to part him with it, the boy had thrown an absolute screaming fit. The servants thought he was dying, or worse: that Alain De Varenne could not properly raise his own son without violence. Gossip spread in hushed whispers through the halls, Camille had heard them once while sneaking through the kitchens, whispers Alain did not enjoy. Since then, they had not touched the damn unicorn, or anything else of his for that matter—though the topic itself still soured the air whenever it was brought up. Of course, Camille was not about to reveal to this girl anything about his stuffed unicorn back home, it would ruin his image. Camille glanced once at Maisie at the mention of her brother. “Your brother plays? Like children?” His tone was surprised. The mental image of his own rigid older brother rolling on the floor with a toy car, laughing like a child, was so absurd it startled a laugh out of him before he could stop it. The sound was strange in the cold air. Shaking his head quickly before Maisie could comment, he muttered, “Nothing. I just can’t imagine my brother doing the same.” They arrived outside of a wooden door. Before entering, Maisie whispered, "Cookie's (cook) is sometimes in here, but it's fine, she doesn't bite, she might even give us some biscuits!” The sentence made no sense to him. Camille gave her a puzzled look, his mind conjuring a strange image of an oversized cookie with teeth, snapping at anyone who dared reach for it before they themselves could take a bite. As they entered however, the kitchen area was empty, the boy looked around warily for any living cookies that would chase him down and bite his butt. He sure hoped that no one would bite him! Alas, they could sneak inside unnoticed. On the second floor, behind an oak door, was the playroom. Maisie led him inside, introducing the space with an excited flourish. Letting the blanket he’d been dragging along fall to the floor, Camille glanced around the room. There was a crackling fireplace, cozy seating areas, but otherwise it looked like a normal room. That’s it? He thought anti-climatically. He’d expected… Well, he wasn’t sure what he’d expected. A flying toy broomstick, at least. It would be improper to disappoint her with his own underwhelming reaction. “So, what do you like to do here?” Perhaps he simply hadn’t seen the best parts. |
CV |
Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny
A Bond Of Ten
Backdated to 4/12/2024
ThoughtsSpeaking]
This boy was interesting, she decided. He did not do anything children would do, he talked like a grown up, and didn't seem to understand the word "fun". They had the same kind of noble background, yet why was her world so vibrant yet his seemingly so grey? How could a child like him or her be stripped of toys? She could hardly imagine herself or her siblings' life without toys.Mentions: @Camille De Varenne
"Well, mostly he plays blocks with my little sisters, but he plays wizards chess with me and my brothers because we don't play blocks anymore." Maisie was surprised he could laugh, she was beginning to think that ability was long lost.
She was actually expecting more of a reaction at the (grand) playroom, but a "so, what do you like to do here" was good enough.
She gestured him in, and pointed to the big dark oak bookcase lining one side of the wall, a ladder propped against it, the shelves filled with books of all colour and sizes, the ones on the bottom shelves more thumbed and worn than the ones on the top. The girl ran to the ladder, climbed one or two rungs and pushed. The ladder zoomed across the bookcase and stopped on the other side. She grinned at him, "Ever seen this? You wanna try?"
Maisie stepped off and ran to the other side, where comfortable plush seats faced the window. Blocks and an abandoned chess set were scattered on the rug, among other discarded toys.
"It's not very clean, but this is about it. Books and toys. The others are in the trunks and shelves over there." She nodded towards two wooden trunks and a length of shelves, with baskets stacked in it neatly. "It's usually cleaned by our maids, but Mum and Dad usually enforce that we do it ourselves."
She sat down on a chair and motioned to the one next to it. "We can play chess if you'd like."
A Bond Of Ten
| C | date: 4/12/2024 location: Elsewhere, Windsor |
abilities: lovely creature dialogue: #0a2a28 mentioned: @Maisie Fenwick Rose Williams |
C |
| CV | To show what she enjoyed the most about this room, Maisie ran over to the dark oak bookcase and climbed the ladder. Bewildered and slightly awestruck, Camille watched with wide-eyes as the ladder, that had first been firmly hanging on the right side of the little library, zoomed across all the way to the other side. Nothing impossible with magic, of course, though that was something he hadn’t seen before in his ten years alive. Camille had already gathered that the girl was on the wilder side, finding some weird sense of enjoyment jumping on things and throwing herself in the air, relying on luck alone to not faceplace into something sharp and dangerous. Camille wasn’t a coward; he simply didn’t see the purpose of doing anything unnecessary. Partly out of self-preservation, mostly because his parents frowned upon immature behavior. Despite himself, even Camille couldn’t quite keep the flicker of temptation out of his eyes. It looked fun. “Ever seen this before? You wanna try?” Maisie asked when she was finished. Already moving on, the girl ran to another part of the room by the window facing the snowy cityscape outside. On the table laid a forlorn chess game, and perhaps in spontaneity, she proposed the idea of playing chess. Camille glanced from Maisie, back at the bookcase. “We can play chess.” He’d played it before and had learned how to do a rocade as late as last month when he challenged Julien. “But first…” In a sudden surge of childish energy, so unlike himself, he leapt over to the ladder, climbed it like she’d demonstrated. Uncertain of exactly how it worked, he pressed somewhere at random, hoping it would have the intended effect. He knew what would happen, yet he gripped the wood tightly, yelping, “Woah!”—his head whipping back in surprise as the ladder suddenly surged to the other side. When he came to a stop a second later, his neat hair lay in charming disarray. Camille’s expression, however, was smiling. The boy dampened his bottom lip, regaining his elegant composure before he said, “Okay. That was fun.” Just because it had been fun, didn’t mean he had to show just how exciting it had been. With the boyish impulse sated, Camille stepped down onto the floor, feeling slightly jelly-legged and woozy. Running a hand through his hair to fix the mess he’d made, he walked over to Maisie and sat down opposite her, inevitably claiming the black side of the board. His arms crossed over the table like he meant business. Camille always opted to win, and if there was no chance of him doing so, he usually didn't even bother. Even if his brother probably let him win on purpose the majority of the times they’d played together. Who knew how long dinner would last, but one game couldn’t hurt. |
CV |
Ilias Lahlou | Ilvermorny