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Reunion
Jun 27, 2008 17:47:25 GMT -5
Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jun 27, 2008 17:47:25 GMT -5
"Well, Marie, we have something in common," said Jean. "I sing when I'm nervous or scared." Said Jean, and Marie broke into a wide smile. She suddenly didn't feel so embarrassed about being scared. If even her Papa could get scared, perhaps it wasn't something to be so ashamed of. Jean suddenly looked very serious. Colette eyed him suspiciously, wondering what was on his mind. Marie simply stared in avid curiosity, hanging on his every word. "Marie, I want to talk to you seriously, you need to listen carefully, can you promise me that?" She nodded in affirmation and toddled a little closer as he knelt down to look her in the eyes.
"Marie, I want you to know, that you can come to me with anything. If you need to know anything, if you have questions or just need to talk to someone when the world doesn't make sense, I'm there for you. Don't hesitate to tell me anything, because no matter what you'll say or do, I'll always love you. Do you know why?" Said Jean, still very serious, and Marie was starting to smile. She shook her head no even though she had an inkling of why. He loved her! She was a good daughter, and he was proud of her. Her knowing it was instinctual, like how a cat can sense one who wishes them no ill will. With her child's mind she knew without a doubt that she pleased him, and without knowing how or even wondering. It made her little heart glow with happiness.
"It's because you are my daughter, my flesh, my blood, my life, and I'm your Papa. I don't want harm to come to you, I would die before being the person responsible. Do you understand, mon ange?" He finished, and Marie grinned. Before he had completely opened his arms to her, her little arms were around his neck, her face buried in the soft cloth of his shirt. Her throat felt tight and her heart heavy and active, until all of the happiness contained in her bubbled out as tears in her eyes. She felt accepted and loved. As she pulled away and looked into her Papa's face with her smiling one and he wiped away those tears, Colette looked on with an aching heart.
She was happy but also not. Did Jean love her? Was she just an accessory in this picture? She would be gone soon, and the little girl that she so adored would become close to her father and be without her, no longer in need of her, no longer close. She was expendable, and would soon be gone. There would be another wife, surely. It was the way of the world. Jean did not have a son to carry on the family name. And Marie was so young! Colette certainly could not remember much about her own mother, and she had been four years old when her own had passed away. Jean would take a sweet and loving wife, most likely, now that his father had passed and he had a fortune of his own; he could chose for himself and society would not argue, as long as the lady was appropriately titled and French. Would Marie see that lady as more of a mother than she, Colette, had the chance to be? A lone tear snaked it's way down her pale cheek and she nonchalantly lifted a hand to wipe it away. No one had seen. She was just quick enough, for in the next moment she saw her husband's eyes stray to her. Guilt! She saw guilt, yet again. Almost confusion, too, a hint of misery in light of his contentment. Why?
In the next moment the voice of the head kitchen servant and cook broke the reverie. It was customary for dinner to be served sharply at six, whence the great clock in the foyer would ring out and the family would assemble formally to take their meal. They had been out at six this evening and not yet formally announced. The poor Archambault had probably been at a loss of what to do in accordance with etiquette. It was nearly unheard of for the cook herself to announce the readiness of dinner to the family personally, but this was an interesting situation. She saw on the woman's face a bit of hesitance, and smiled her calming social smile to set her at ease.
"Why, thank you. The family will be down shortly." She said as Marie mumbled some excited words about crepes and held up her arms to Jean expectantly, wanting to be picked up and carried. "Papa!" She whined a little, stretching her arms out further for emphasis. Colette stood and exited, waiting in the hallway, for she could not (as protocol dictated) walk too far ahead of her husband, though he could not exit a room before her. The etiquette of titled France was drilled into her to the point that she no longer had to think about it to carry it out perfectly.
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Reunion
Jun 28, 2008 18:05:46 GMT -5
Post by Jean Jondrette on Jun 28, 2008 18:05:46 GMT -5
Jean picked up his daughter at her request and carried her to the hallway where he and Colette met. They walked towards the dining hall in anticipation of the meal that awaited them.
It seemed like everything was normal and nothing had happened in Japan. He couldn't say that, he couldn't lie to Colette to Hana and himself, it was too much. Jean longed for things to be different, and they will...they must.
"I can smell dinner!" said Jean with a smile. "Can you smell it, Marie?"
Marie nodded as she placed her head on his shoulder. Colette was looking, Jean had noticed, and she looked happy they were getting along. But Colette had a talent of always looking glad and happy, no matter what. It was hard to read her thoughts, but Jean tried to figure it out with actions and her eyes. He knew it was her eyes that gave it away.
"Here Marie, wher do you want to sit?" asked Jean as he waved over a large table that ran over most of the room. It was a marvelous room though, like out of a palace in a child's storybook. With two large paintings hung on the walls oppostie each other, windows next to them and a tile floor that shined when the chandelier shone brightly in the night.
Marie pointed to the seats nearer to the kitchen. The servants would be pleased they didn't have to travel far. But, against tradition, Marie sat at the head and Jean and Colette sitting across from each other.
"Thus seat gives me a nice view of your face, Colette, perhaps I should sit here more often,"Jean said trying to convince Colette he was true.
The servants came in with the three bowls of soup to start off the meal. They weren't very filling, but then again, that's the point of appetizers. Then came out the main course which was absolutely delicious. Jean was happy to get French food after all those years. It was one of the reasons he never wanted to leave Paris or France altogether.
As they finished, the crepes came out as the grand finale, an to marie's delight, they were chocolate crepes, her favorite. Jean noticed she tugged on Madame Archambault's skirts when she came out to ask how the meal was and told her, "Thank you for the treat!"
Jean held back laughter. He remembered then during pregnancy that Colette said her child would eat nutritiously and not give in to sweets as easily as other children. Marie had not agreed with this apparently.
"That was an excellent meal," said Jean wiping his mouth. "I'm so full I could burst." Marie seemed to not understand, probably thinking that her father would literally burst! "No, mon petit ange, it's an expression, meaning: 'I've eaten too much.'"
Marie giggled at this and asked for more 'spressions, as she called them. They left the dining hall as Jean told Marie more expressions she could use.
"Oh my, it's late, surely you must go to bed, Marie?"
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Reunion
Jun 28, 2008 21:30:49 GMT -5
Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jun 28, 2008 21:30:49 GMT -5
Marie was assuaged when Jean lifted her into his arms and began carrying her down the hall and then the stairs. Colette followed smilingly at his side, occasionally stealing glances into Marie's face and winning a little giggle and a smile as her daughter watched her.
"I can smell dinner! Can you smell it, Marie?" Said Jean, and Marie nodded as she continued to stare at her mother and lay her head down upon his shoulder. The wide doors were opened by two male servants in the Jondrette livery and the family passed through. Three settings were placed at the end farthest from the kitchen entry, but Jean allowed Marie to decide where they wanted to sit. Marie pointed to the end of the table nearest the servant's entry, done over so that when closed it appeared as if it were part of the wall. She liked to smell the warm aromas from the kitchen when the door opened.
Colette smiled as the servants graciously reset the eating ware and Jean ceremoniously place Marie in the seat at the head of the table. This surprised Colette. How bold of him! The servants looked surprised too, and so did Marie, but everyone regarded it with smiles as the musings of a proud father. A tall down pillow with tasseled ends was brought for Marie to sit upon, so that she could reach the table. She arranged her skirts daintily, her back as straight as her mother's as she, too, sat, facing her husband with a warm and slightly flirtatious smile.
"Thus seat gives me a nice view of your face, Colette, perhaps I should sit here more often," Said Jean, and she chuckled and sent a playful wink his way. The finger bowls came and went, and then the food was quickly served in a few small courses. The food was excellent. The cook hired for the household was extremely talented. Colette was sure that after le bal many noble families would be bartering to take the whole kitchen staff home with them. Colette was quite happy letting them be jealous and supplying her own family with the very best.
Dessert was served, Marie's favorite, and the delight on her face was unmistakable. Colette sighed and shook her head at her, for she was a lover of healthy cuisine. She was sure that Marie would grow out of it, as all children did, after her fair share of terrible stomach aches. Marie did not like many very sweet things, though she adored dark chocolate, chocolate crepes, and rose vanilla custard. Colette loved the same things. Both girls dug into the dessert with dainty grace and guilty pleasure.
Madame Archambault entered through the servant's door and waited patiently in the corner there in case of any additional requests or comments that the family might make. She crept closer as Colette motioned for her and complimented the meal, and as she retreated was stopped by a gentle tug on her skirts. Marie smiled up at her and whispered conspiratorially, "Merci beaucoup, pour le traiter!"
Jean looked as if he would bust into laughter at any moment, and a small blush of pleasure came to the lady cook's cheeks as she curtsied and exited the room. "That was an excellent meal," said Jean as he dabbed at his mouth with the napkin, "I'm so full I could burst." Marie gasped and reached for his hand, alarm apparent in her expression. She looked imploringly into the amused face of her mother, willing her to save her papa. Jean smiled and clarified, which made Marie pull back her hand and giggle.
"Papa, tell me of some other 'spessions!" She said excitedly, her blue eyes large and loving. Colette stood first and then Jean as Marie was lifted from her seat. As soon as the family was out of the doors held wide for them once more by the well-dressed help the staff went about cleaning the table unseen.
"Oh my, it's late, surely you must go to bed, Marie?" Said Jean, and Marie pouted a bit, looking at her mother. Colette nodded. "It is very late for you, princesse." Marie sighed resignedly and then looked at her father. "Another story?" She requested as Colette took her hand and her husband's and started to lead them both toward the night nursery to put her little girl to bed.
They entered the room and Colette called the nurse and nursemaid from the adjacent room to ready Marie's bed and bedclothes. The nursemaid took Marie's hand and led her into the room from which she had come while the older woman, the nurse, arranged the little bed and pulled back the curtains that surrounded it. Marie returned shortly in her white muslin nightgown that had soft pretty lace about the neckline and sleeves. Colette helped her into the bed herself and waved her hand dismissively to the help. With a curtsy, they left, and Colette pulled up a cushioned stool that she had on hand in this room for just this purpose.
Marie looked between her mother and father and asked curiously, "What was it that happened at the Opéra?" For she had overheard little snippets of the conversation in the park, although she had not understood. Colette looked surprised and glanced at Jean questioningly. Should they try to explain it? No child's mind should be burdened with thoughts of madmen and murders.
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Reunion
Jun 28, 2008 21:55:02 GMT -5
Post by Jean Jondrette on Jun 28, 2008 21:55:02 GMT -5
Jean heard Marie's request and looked at Colette. He thought he might be able to tone it down with Marie, but if he couldn't he would make it up as he went along. "Well, Marie, this story begins here in Paris, at the Opera Populaire. There was once a young girl named Christine, who lived and performed at the Opera. She was just a chorus girl until she performed when La Carlotta, the prima dona, quit. She was the leading lady and caught the eye of a man, the Vicomte de Chagny, Raoul." He was now thinking about what Colette had told him and what rumors had passed before he left. "Then, she mysteriously disappeared one night and no one knew where she had gone. Then the next night at the performance, a mysterious voice came out of the blue, taking on the persona of the Phantom of the Opera, a rumored legend. Christine disappeared with Raoul into the Opera, perhaps because the Phantom was an admirer of her."
That was all Jean knew of the story from his experience, he turned to Colette to tell the rest of the story. Colette thought for a moment and continued where Jean left off. This gave him some time to think to himself.
He wondered if Hana was alright and if she needed him. Of course she was probably lonely, he would go over there whenever he could and check on her. Jean made a goal to see Hana everyday, whether he was eating a lunch at the Cafe Noir and she was nearby, whether he was on a stroll throughout the city, if he was returning from his business and he was nearby the apartment, he would see her.
Colette managed to finish the story, without including the murders and the madness of the Phantom, so marie was safe from nightmares tonight. "Good night Marie," said Jean kissing her forehead.
Marie returned the good night and kissed her mother. Colette closed the curtain, leaving a little crack so light may come in and they left the room. Jean put his arm around Colette as they walked down the hall.
"It's still early for us to retire, what shall we do?"
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Reunion
Jun 28, 2008 23:03:15 GMT -5
Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jun 28, 2008 23:03:15 GMT -5
Colette watched as Jean hesitantly began to tell the tale, using simple language and cutting out the bits about hatred, murder, and the madness of the 'phantom'. She watched the intent look upon Marie's face and was happy to see that it was the same look that she often had on her face with any other story. There was no horror in this for her. She just hoped that afterwards, she would not ask any questions. As Jean ceased to tell the story about half-way through and with a look urged her to finish it, she decided that she would stretch it out a bit so that Marie's already drooping eyelids would not be able to help drifting closed by the end.
"Well.." She started, collecting her thoughts on the pause. "Raoul and Christine were very much in love. They wanted to be married. Yet... the ghost in the Opera House, who was actually a man, wanted Christine to love him. He was very ugly, though, and like the beast he became very mean because people did not like his ugliness. People can get very jealous when they love someone who loves someone else, because it hearts their hearts." She laid her hand on Marie's heart and felt the steady little beat there while Marie nodded solemnly up at her mother. Colette smiled down on her and continued. "The Phantom did some very bad things because he was angry and sad. When people do bad things, the police want to come and tell them to stop."
Marie interrupted. "That family today, they were bad?" Colette smiled again and shook her head. "No, ma chéri; sometimes the police have the wrong idea about what is bad. But what the Phantom did was very, very bad. It made a lot of people sad." She paused again and looked into Marie's curious face, noting how quickly sleepiness was taking her over. "He wrote an opera, and Christine sang in it. He played alongside her secretly and because she knew that he had done bad things and the police needed to get him, she revealed him as the Phantom. This made him angry and he did even more bad things. He lit a fire and that destroyed the beautiful Opera House."
Marie frowned and then said, "We were in the Opera House today, Mama." Colette chuckled and said, "Yes, they just rebuilt it." Marie nodded understandingly and then said, "It's very pretty. Did Christine and Raoul get married?" Colette smiled and said, "Yes, and lived happily ever after. She is singing as Juliette in the next Opera. Would you like to see that?" Marie got very excited and nodded, but soon settled back against her pillow in exhaustion. Jean leaned forward and kissed her forward, bidding her goodnight. Colette received her goodnight kiss as well and the curtain was closed around their now sleeping angel.
Colette and Jean stood from their seats and silently exited the nursery. Jean slipped his arm around her waist and Colette stiffened a bit, unused to the intimate contact. He then asked, "It's still early for us to retire, what shall we do?" It was such an innocent question, and asked without a hint of suggestion. Colette turned to him abruptly and standing very close, cradled his face gently in both of her hands. She stared up into his eyes as they stood there alone in the semi-dark hall, her eyes imploring. She felt as if she wanted to ask a question, but didn't know what it was. She stood up on her tip toes with a sigh and laid a kiss gently upon his chin, letting her breath feather his neck. "Jean..." She breathed, inhaling his familiar masculine scent. She felt as if her heart were about to burst.
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Reunion
Jun 29, 2008 0:02:01 GMT -5
Post by Jean Jondrette on Jun 29, 2008 0:02:01 GMT -5
He heard and understood what Colette wanted, and of course knew what she was implying. He was human and a husband, needing to fulfill the desires of him and his wife. It wasn't that Colette and him couldn't , it just seemed wrong. It was strange, he was worried about being faithful to his mistress rather than his wife. It was a reverse situation that made him think. He thought fast and simply kissed Colette on the lips as they walked to their bedroom down the hall. No servants were near them, they were alone, nothing could stop them from making love. Jean opened the door to the bedroom and let them both in. Walking backwards toward the bed, they fell back and landed on the soft surface and continued. Jean kissed her for a few more moments then it began... ***CENSORED*** Jean laid in bed, watching as Colette slept next to him. It had been so long since they had intimacy and he wondered whether or not he was convincing. By this he meant whether or not he had seemed starved for it or he acted as if he had been getting it somewhere else. It wasn't every night with Hana, they had shared some, but they were focused less on physical and more on emotional. He stared at her still, seemingly unable to do anything else, until he heard a small cry from Marie's room. Jean got up and placed a shirt and trousers on quickly before running to Marie's room, hoping not to wake Colette. Reaching the room, Jean walked in and opened the curtain and saw a scared Marie clenching Yua tightly. "Marie, what's wrong?" She claimed she had a nightmare, she wouldn't tell him what it was about, so Jean just opened the curtain fully and sat next to her. "Mon ange, it's alright, you don't have to worry. The nightmare's not real, it's all in your head..." Marie asked him to sing to her, to make the bad thoughts go away. Jean looked into his daughter's eyes and took a deep breath in. He chose a song his mother sang to him, it was supposed to be sung higher, but his voice made it deeper. "Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around... Nothing's gonna harm you no dear, not while I'm around..." Jean began, holding Marie. Demons are prowling everywhere nowadays. I'll send them howling I don't care, I've got ways... Nothing's gonna harm you... No one's gonna dare, others can desert you, not to worry, whistle I'll be there. Demons will charm you with a smile for a while, but in time... Nothing can harm you, not while I'm around..."* When Jean finished he looked down at marie and she was asleep, smiling all the while. He tucked her in with Yua in her arms and turned to the door. He saw Colette in a robe standing there, creating a shadow on the floor. *Lyrics property of Stephen Sondheim from his musical Sweeney Todd.
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Reunion
Jun 29, 2008 0:56:19 GMT -5
Post by Les Jondrette Femmes on Jun 29, 2008 0:56:19 GMT -5
Colette awoke with a start. She felt that something was wrong. She sat up in the bed and the sheets fell from her nakedness, making her shiver. She peered through the darkness and felt out tentatively with her hand until she touched bed... empty bed. Where was Jean? A stab of panic went through her heart, although she didn't know why.
She quickly pulled herself up and out of bed, rushing to her dressing room and fumbling about quickly to locate her dressing robe. It was long white silk with lace laid over it in the imperial style. She buttoned the front down quickly at least to her thighs and rushed out of the door. She stopped and listened intently. The only sound in the whole house was a strange, distant creak--or whine--the wind?
She followed the sound and as she drew nearer calmed herself, for it was Jean's voice, singing, and in Marie's room. She stood in the dark doorway and listened to his song, full of comfort. Her baby girl's eyes drifted closed, nightmares gone from her mind. Colette had been so busy staring at her daughter in loving wonder that she did not notice Jean's eyes upon her for several moments. When she did it nearly made her jump, though she never jumped; she felt the adrenaline travel to the tips of her fingertips and toes and tingle there coldly.
She stared into his eyes for several moments. They had made love. She couldn't believe it. It was not like the first time--dutiful and quick. He seemed to try this time, to enjoy it. Did he really? How would she know? She had known no other man in such a way. Colette had always been a woman of ingenuity and cleverness, wise with the ways of the world, but love was something that escaped her. He was her husband. He belonged to her, and she to him. She clung to that dumbly as if there was nothing else, and she recognised that ignorant clinging as the same that had bothered her agile mind so much in others. What was it, denial? She knew nothing of love with a man, she realized, except for him, and some womanly instinct was not giving her any rest. Was he... acting?
She held out her pale hand to him in the strain of moonlight from the window, the white lace of her sleeve hanging from her arm. She looked ghostly in that light, already dead. She smiled at him, beckoning, and whispered, "Come to bed, my love."
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Reunion
Jun 29, 2008 11:03:09 GMT -5
Post by Jean Jondrette on Jun 29, 2008 11:03:09 GMT -5
Jean answered Colette's call and took her hand in his. it was late and he needed rest after the long day. Tomorrow would be just as long, but lately he had been suffering from insomnia. If he was tired most of the day, something might slip in front of Hana or Colette. He would go to the doctor tomorrow to see if he recommended anything, then he would go see Hana and have a nice lunch with her.
Jean looked at Colette, she was tired as well. He had tried to enjoy their love session, but it wasn't the same as his and Hana's. There was passion in their relationship, but his and Colette's relationship never had a spark. Jean could act all he wanted, but it was useless, he could never truly, romantically, love Colette. He loved Hana beyond words, and beyond description and that was the truth.
The couple laid in bed and pulled the covers around them. Jean turned to face Colette and she faced him. "Good night, my dear," he kissed her, heard her good nights and shut his eyes. He shut his eyes to return to Hana, and their life after Colette was gone.
He could see them, in the summer at the country house outside of Paris. Sun would stream down upon the grass and through the trees and flowers would be in full bloom and vibrant as ever. Marie would be running through the grass playing with Yua, as him and Hana sat nearby, laughing and holding hands and kissing each other. It was peaceful and no one was there to ruin it. That was Jean's dream, that was what was going to happen. Jean received everything he wanted as a child, would this be any different? Jean could only wonder for now.
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Reunion
Oct 31, 2008 22:29:05 GMT -5
Post by wowposter on Oct 31, 2008 22:29:05 GMT -5
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