Jacques Clement
Adult
Posts : 428
Birthday : 2004-08-10
Join date : 2015-04-12
 | | Subject: 25 Years... (One Shot) Sun Jun 30, 2019 1:38 pm | |
| If anyone had truly believed that the Quidditch World Cup was the biggest event of 2026, they had been very much mistaken. France had been the centre of much attention in the months since the decision to overturn the Statute of Secrecy, but as July came in to being, the focus shifted away from the changes in laws, to something much more special to the people of France.
The twenty seventh of July 2001 had been one of the biggest days in living memory of the Clement dynasty. The whole of France had gathered around to watch the union of the Current Lord and Lady Clement by any means they could. National holidays had been given to the country as a whole to celebrate with the pair, and the whole world had joined in as they watched.
Twenty five years had passed since that day.
Jacques had been... thoroughly impressed with the work undertaken by the masses of Paris. The way everything seemed to change from it's already beautiful aura to something streaked with much more sophistication, celebration. Silver seemed to line everything on the streets now, his Maman and Papa's face seemed to be on anything and everything it could, the fact their twenty fifth anniversary was approaching being boasted on ornaments, clothing, textiles. Everything showed the fact a celebration was fast approaching.
Having only flown back in the evening before the celebrations, Jacques and Mimosa had been quickly ushered to change and be ready for dinner on the evening of the twenty sixth. They had both complied, of course, Mimosa hurrying off to change in to one of the many dresses that had been styled for the young witch for the summer. Fashioned in the Clement colours, the younger witch had looked beautiful as she stepped out of her room, twirling gracefully for him as she asked how she looked. Jacques' answer was the same as always, denoting that the witch was the most beautiful in the world, and that he would be honoured if she would accompany him to dinner that evening.
Mimosa's soft giggle had travelled throughout the Palace if the rest of the evening was anything to go by, everyone was thoroughly excited for the prospect of the vast celebrations of the next few days, but happy for this short family moment of dinner between the four of them. No mention of Elenore's absence was said, but that did not mean that his parent's glances towards the door with hope didn't go amiss to Jacques. Elenore had truly decided not to come home for the summer, and Jacques knew that this was not something his parents had taken gently.
Dinner finished late, by the time Mimosa had fully explained her travels to America to the Lord and Lady Clement, dessert was being served. From there, Mimosa's talks turned to the Quidditch World Cup and the few games she had seen whilst they were in Italy had taken up most of the after dinner drinks. Then she had to explain everything about the Zeverai family and she had done in the visit, by the time the young witch was wrapping up conversation about her summer, the hour had grown late, and Mimosa's small frame was starting to show the clear signs of exhaustion.
Never one to make the young witch feel like she was going to miss out, Jacques excused them both with the explanation he was tired from their travels. The fond smile from his parents showed they knew the truth of the matter, and after bidding them both goodnight, Jacques had escorted Mimosa back up to her room.The maids had helped Mimosa change -- clearly disgruntled with Jacques' presence as they scooted Mimosa behind screens whilst they helped her change. It had been in that moment that Jacques realised why there had been an awkward moment between all the parties in the room.
Mimosa was almost thirteen, and she was no longer a child any more.
Noting such things to himself in that moment, Jacques had turned away from the screen to show he was respecting the younger witch's privacy. Almost half an hour later, Mimosa emerged heading straight for her bed as the maids quickly departed the room. The witch had climbed in to bed, still talking rapidly about the upcoming ball and who was going to be in attendance. Jacques had listened to her until she had tired herself out completely, her eyes slowly giving in to exhaustion as he leaned down to press a soft kiss to her forehead.
The young man didn't look away from the younger witch until he was sure that she had fallen asleep, and then ensured the covers were over her shoulders so she wouldn't grow cold. It was in that moment as he looked up that he found his Maman stood just inside the door, watching silently with a warm smile upon her features. Jacques had gently disentangled his hand from Mimosa's before moving across to his Maman.
"Elle est endormie, Maman," Jacques managed softly to the Lady Clement, a knowing smile on his lips because how many times had she told him the same as he waited for his moment to bid Mimosa goodnight?
"Je doute que ça la dérange," Vanessa Clement replied, the conspiring smile upon her lips showing that they both knew it to be true. How many times had they done this now, and it still didn't get old.
"Dors bien, Maman," Jacques offered, gently kissing his Maman's cheek before he left the two witches alone and retreated to his own room.
The twenty seventh had dawned beautiful the next morning, and as his Maman and Papa had requested, Jacques had taken Mimosa out for the day. The whole of France had been given the Monday off from work to join the celebrations of the Lord and Lady Clement's twenty fifth anniversary, and the whole of Paris had been gifted with celebrations. Carnivals took over the streets, parties were being held in every public space available, and the whole of the country seemed to be embracing the celebrations of the love shared by the Lord and Lady Clement.
Mimosa and he had joined one such party on the younger witch's insistence, and the day had flown by in an inordinate amount of celebratory drink and food, music and dance, excitement and more. Mimosa's enjoyment had been clear as they continued to spend the day out in Paris, and the Clement Heir had been quite the surprise for many of the people gathered.
It had been late by the time Jacques pulled the Pagani back in to the garage, Mimosa already given in to the exhaustion of the day. The young witch had been returned to her rooms before Jacques went to find his parents, wishing them both a happy anniversary and enquiring as to how they'd spent their day. The Lord Clement had just looked fondly to his wife in that moment, simply denoting that they had spent their day in the only manner that was necessary. Together. Smiling to himself, Jacques had kissed them both goodnight, and left them to enjoy the remainder of their special day together.
The twenty eighth of July came in to being slowly, perhaps knowing that the Palace needed all the time it could save to be ready for the evening. Jacques had rolled over to see the alarm clock on his bedside denoting it was only just half past seven and let out a soft sigh. Stretching out, the young man extracted himself from the bed sheets and headed for the bathroom to change. Today was going to be a long day, he was sure.
Breakfast was simple, just the four of them once more. The Lord and Lady Clement looking happier that day as they kept catching one another's eye and smiling softly. It would perhaps have been unnoticed normally, but the warmth surrounding the two was unmistakable as Jacques listened to Mimosa try to explain the dress she was going to be wearing that evening, and how much they were going to dance, and who was going to be there. As if Jacques didn't already know which dignitaries, which cousins, but Mimosa's excitement was not something the young man wished to curb, so he instead humoured her until breakfast was done, and then whisked her off out in to the gardens for the morning to ensure his Maman and Papa could get on with everything they needed to.
The day went quickly, and after luncheon had been served, the ladies had retired to their rooms in order to get ready for the evening. The staff were all but running around the Palace to put the final touches in to place as Jacques and his Papa moved to the Lord Clement's solar. Work didn't wait even amongst the celebrations, and today was no different as the Lord Clement went over the current situation of the acquisitions and mergers, and the general movements of the other countries that had been under their hold.
The men had worked quietly together for a number of hours before they'd followed suit with the women to get changed. Jacques had opted for a simple tuxedo for the evening, not wishing to overshadow his parents in any manner, and Mimosa had picked out a dress in the house colours that complimented his own attire beautifully.
As the two of them had descended down to the ballroom, Mimosa's confession had come forth. During the world cup it seemed she had lost another bet Jacques hadn't been aware of. After losing not only his twenty first birthday present (which had already been replaced, thanks to Jacques' public image and the very big announcement from the reporters at the games as a young lady proudly showed off her winnings with the personalised car of Jacques) but the small boat he'd gotten the witch, Jacques had thought Mimosa would have learned her lesson. Apparently, this hadn't been the case.
"So, you basically have to dance with Shiera for the first dance, and I have to dance with Jaime." The young witch had finalised, not looking very happy with this news at all, but trying to look less annoyed than she was.
"I think you should stop betting, mon chouchou." Jacques had replied softly, smiling down at the young witch as they turned the corner. "I don't want to have to give up all my dances with you!"
The smile was back in place as the duo stepped in to the ballroom, everyone's eyes turning to meet them as they arrived. It didn't take long for the two of them to be caught by family members, or politicians, or other diplomats of the world and conversation flowed easily. Jacques' eyes easily found the Zeverai family in and amongst the guests, the vast amount of blonde huddled together showed them up like a sore thumb, and Jacques couldn't help but feel uneasy as he took in the youngest Zeverai. Still a boy, of course, but the Austian looked much too smug, and more than a little too at ease in the current setting, his eyes upon Mimosa even if they were trying to be subtle.
Jacques' gaze had been averted as the announcement came that the Lord and Lady Clement were here, all eyes turning to the double staircase that joined in the middle before carrying down together. The Lord Clement appeared on the left, the Lady Clement on the right, but even before the next part happened, Jacques had known what was coming.
Louis Clement had clearly been upset as he stood in his solar, denoting how the organisers believed that a showcase opening was in order. The Lord and Lady Clement would descend the stairs in the same time, join in the middle and walk together down the remaining stairs. "I'm not a puppet." Louis had insisted to his son as they stood before the world map. The hint of a smile had touched Jacques' lips in that moment, not quite able to point out that his Papa didn't have to listen to anybody. His Papa knew, Jacques knew, but his Papa didn't wish to ruin the moment for his Maman.
"Maman won't mind." Was all Jacques had said, because he didn't need to say more.
True to form, the Lord Clement had not waited the time he was supposed to before moving to the stairs. Instead, he'd moved down the stairs to the middle, and back up the other side to his wife, bowing gently to her as he offered his hand to her. The fond smile upon his Maman's lips had shown exactly what Jacques had expected, she didn't mind her husband's antics, and indeed had likely expected them as the two of them descended the stairs, together, as they always would. Pausing only at the middle to take in those present, the Lord and Lady Clement had made it down to the guests in and amongst the music playing from the orchestra at the back of the room.
The small speech of welcome from his Papa had ensued from there, welcoming their guests from far and wide, insisting that they were overjoyed to share this milestone with them all. He gave thanks to all those who had aided them through all of this, their family, their friends, their children, Mimosa, before the Lord Clement had turned to his wife. His smile growing, and his eyes sparkling with the prospect of happy tears that wouldn't fall, Louis thanked Vanessa for standing by him for all of their life together, for accepting him for the man he was, despite all of his flaws, and for being the perfect woman of house Clement.
For being his, and only his.
As the crowd broke in to soft awws and welcome applause, Jacques' eyes met that of one guest he was genuinely happy to see. Azalea Harrington stood beside the Lord Murray with her arm tucked gently in to his. The soft lilac of her dress matching the man's pocket square as she watched on with a polite smile. The Lord Murray, as ever, looked unmoved by the speech that had brought many to tears, or at least smiles, but Jacques would not have expected anything less. The blonde had been the ring bearer at his parents wedding, Jacques had learned. Bowing his head lightly to the witch in acknowledgement, Jacques' attention returned to his parents.
Before them, the head of the French military stood, denoting that they had been honoured to be present for this special event, before giving way to the choir that stood behind them. The song was not one Jacques had heard before, but the beauty of it had captured his parent's love clearly. As the two stood before the crowd, he could see the emotion building in both of them, the hint of tears in their eyes as they looked to one another, and the manner in which the Lord Clement seemed to be able to comfort the woman beside him without moving. A silent conversation, perhaps, as they looked to one another.
The choir's song's final note filled the room, leaving the guests to applaud them before they moved off, out of the way. The waiters and waitresses had ensured everyone held a glass by that time, and the whole room had turned to the Lord and Lady Clement.
"To the happiness of marriage," the first toast came, only to be echoed around the room.
"To the Lady Clement," Louis offered, and the room toasted once more.
"To the Lord and Lady Clement," Jacques finalised, the third toast being drunk to with the most enthusiasm before the orchestra started again.
The Lord Clement moved in to the middle of the room with his wife close behind, turning to her and taking her in to his arms. The duo danced as they had twenty five years ago to the song Vanessa had written for their wedding day, though perhaps a little bit slower than they had before. After the first few moments, Jacques stepped forth, in to the foray, and moved across to the Zeverai family.
"May I have this dance?" The Frenchman would ask of Shiera, though looking to her father for permission. A small nod from the Austrian confirmed he was allowing it, and as Shiera took his hand, Jacques led her gently out to the dance floor, carefully placing his hand on her waist and leading easily in to the dance. From behind them, Jacques watched the younger Zeverai ask for Mimosa's hand to dance. Averting his gaze from that, Jacques' attention came back to Shiera as he offered her polite conversation. Knowing the witch had been at the Quidditch World Cup led to easy conversation, though the witch easily turned the conversation to her own agenda as they turned just enough to find the Lord and Lady Clement dancing.
"They're so happy," the witch insisted, her Austrian accent quite clear though very soft. Her eyes twinkled with happiness as she watched for a moment, bringing Jacques to take in his parents as they danced, his Papa talking softly in to his Maman's ear and making her smile more with each moment. Whatever was being said, it did not dispute Shiera's words.
"They are, but I'm told happiness involves constant work, perseverance, and many other factors that involve a lot of dedication. Not unreachable, though." Jacques replied, noting how Shiera seemed to be a little bit taken back by his words, but not deterred by them.
Her eyes instead moved across the room to find Mimosa and her brother.
An uneasy feeling settled in Jacques before she even spoke.
"Mimosa is nearly of age," Shiera spoke softly still, ensuring they couldn't be overheard in that moment. "I'm sure she'll find many suitors heading her way soon, she's beautiful. Jaime is yet to find himself a suitor... perhaps we may be family one day."
The idea was placed purposefully, Jacques was sure, and as much as he wished he could deny it, there was not denying his shoulders had tensed with the idea of Mimosa being engaged to anyone. His own sister was not yet in the position, he was not in that position, the idea of Mimosa being betrothed to someone at her age... The man did not like it in the slightest.
"Mimosa is too young to worry about such things just yet," Jacques replied gently to the hint he'd been given.
"We both know that's not true," Shiera replied softly, but to her credit, the witch did not press such things upon him again, instead switching conversation to how his masters was going, and her own ideas for what she wished to do after finishing her studies at Durmstrang.
The song finished up as Shiera's explanations ended, and after excusing himself politely, Jacques had moved off to mingle with others -- keeping his eye on who Mimosa was talking to throughout the night. The Clement heir found himself being pulled around the Ball, dancing with cousins who still believed they might be able to woo him, dancing with the young children who had been brought to the Ball with their parents, and being drawn in to multiple conversations the moment he bowed to whomever he'd been dancing with.
His Maman had been a saving grace only once as they danced together, giving the young man time out from the guests. The softly spoken explanation of the conversation with Shiera had been the first on Jacques' agenda. The question he'd left at the end one that brought his Maman's eyes to his, the answer clear. He hadn't needed to ask, that was the message, Mimosa was no different to himself or Elenore, and there would be no point at which they would consider betrothals from anyone. Mimosa wouldn't be subjected to such things, but Jacques had needed to know directly.
It was about halfway through the evening when Jacques had finally caught up with Azalea, more than glad that the witch wasn't going to insist upon dancing with him. Josh had been talking with another Pureblood Potioneer when Jacques had caught up with them, making it quite easy to extract Azalea from his company with the promise of returning her to him shortly. The two had caught up with one another briefly before Jacques had turned the conversation to Mimosa. The question of how beautiful she looked had been unnecessary as Azalea simply gushed on the subject, the pride quite clear in her features as they watched her dancing with one of Jacques' cousins.
Knowing the witch would be on his side, Jacques had let her in on the offer he'd received earlier in the evening from the Zeverai family. Azalea's own horror had been the same as his, and after gently assuring her that the family would not do such things, Jacques had spotted his Papa heading their way. His Maman was busy talking with the Spanish families at that moment, and Jacques motioned for his Papa to join them.
Once the Lord Clement had managed his way to them, Jacques introduced them both.
"Azalea, this is my Papa, Lord Louis Clement," Jacques explained.
"Please, call me Louis," the older Clement had corrected, not wishing to be so formal.
"Papa, this is Azalea Harrington, we go to University together." Jacques continued on, looking between the two of them hopefully. "Azalea is doing a Potions Masters, but she has an affinity with Herbology, too. You remember the plant I spoke to you about in the gardens that may be able to be used as a base potion? Azalea is doing the research."
But as Jacques finalised his explanation of who the young witch was beside him, he noted how the colour in his Papa's face had drained in that moment, almost as if he'd seen a ghost, perhaps. Though, the Lord Clement recovered a moment later, Jacques had seen it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Harrington." Louis replied, taking the witch's hand and placing a soft kiss upon her knuckles to show he meant those words. "You're always welcome to use the Palace's resources for your projects, of course."
Jacques' eyes had remained upon his Papa, who suddenly could not look in his direction, whilst he enquired about the studies further, showing an interest in the witch's work and listening dutifully as she explained. The Lord Clement didn't resist questioning the witch further, though, indeed getting to know as much as he could. Azalea complied, leaving both men with something of a simple understanding of the research, clearly excited to talk to people about what she hoped to achieve.
As that conversation finished, though, Louis excused himself from their presence, leaving the two to watch Mimosa dancing with yet another cousin. Azalea didn't seem to be phased by the whole experience, instead denoting how nice his Papa was.
But for the second time this summer, Azalea had left him with the confused state of mind Jacques did not enjoy.
Azalea Harrington was a bigger part of the Palace than she could ever know, and Jacques was going to find out exactly what that was. One way or another, he was going to understand all of this...
Louis Clement returned to his wife's side only a few moments later. Their fingers linked together for only a brief moment before the Lady Clement's eyes turned to him.
No words were spoken in that moment.
No words ever seemed to be exchanged between the two in public.
But there was no doubt the glint in his Maman's eyes had been dulled slightly in that moment.
Something wasn't right.
And Jacques would find out what it was. ________________________________________________ | |
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