To Meet (Jacques)

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Bored.

That's what Ellie Brennham was in that singular moment of the day. She was always the odd one left out and maybe that should have made her feel more rueful, but she couldn't begrudge either of her siblings for not doting upon her like she was a princess. Secretly that was something she wanted. She wanted someone other than her family to want her presence. But that was being selfish wasn't it? That wasn't a trait you could be when you were in a family of six and sharing the attention with not only two other boys and one more girl. So instead Ellie was independent.

When her mother worriedly asked her if she wanted a companion walking through Knockturn Alley, Ellie merely lifted her head and raised an eyebrow before flashing off her wand and her fist as she confidently strode through the place. Once she was sure her mother couldn't see her, she started to take in her surroundings. Her eyes darted everywhere, wide and curious and also so very interested. She imagines that once before the Second Wizarding War this place was populated, was thriving, was alive with activity like her Aunt Tess once told her. Before prejudice was seen as wrong, which was a bad thing, and this was a primarily pureblood play place. It was the equivalent to Ellie's moth as a candle, tempting her ever so much.

The first place she saw was an 'antique' store, and so she walked in glad she was wearing the proper attire to make a good impression. Her hair was pulled back to expose her neck and crystal ball earrings, her cardigan was a black color to go with her navy blue pencil skirt and her shoes were black with little navy ribbons on them. Not to mention her white tights, and the little bag that was charmed not to restrict her purchases black and beaded and hanging on one shoulder. She made eye contact with a stranger behind the counter and gave a short nod before she moved through the store fluidly, trying her hardest to act the way she imagined her Aunt Tess would, but not trying too hard to reveal that this sort of poise was out of her jurisdiction.

Her body paused in front of a section. The bookshelf before her was just darling, just too cute, just too perfect for her eldest brother. She let a small smile play at her lips as she imagined the furniture in Caelan's room, crowded with more books than necessary and the elegantly carved sides would have been covered in Phillip's drawings and Ellie's origamis that she made in her free time. She pondered the possibilites alone, and content as she stood before the towering bookshelf. She felt another presence in the section with her making her tense up and clutch at her purse for her wand which she was sure she couldn't do much with, but she could probably poke her attacker's eyes out if worse came to worse.

Ellie merely stayed staring at the bookshelf, tense and waiting for anything to happen to throw her off guard.

Subject: Re: To Meet (Jacques) Sun Apr 19, 2015 2:38 pm

It had been a week since Jacques had last been in Knockturn Alley, being annoyed by that child who couldn't keep her nose out of other people's business. Jacques had never been a people person, through his own choosing, but that witch had simply reassured him that people would only ever slow you down.

And that, he most certainly didn't need.

He'd managed to locate what he needed to, and now Jacques was heading back to Borgin & Burke's to pick up the item in question. He'd kept the secret from everyone, especially his mother. Elenore couldn't be trusted with the information either, so he'd done what he did best, he gave enough information to satiate their need for knowledge, whilst protecting himself from negative ramifications.

Getting out of the house hadn't been an issue, and as always, he had his man servant following him from a difference. Just in case. Jacques wasn't much fond of the idea, but seeing as he was of a wealthy, powerful family, he knew it was important. Besides, Jasper was his man, loyal to him, not his parents. Which meant Jacques had no worried that he would be getting in trouble.

As they'd agreed, Jasper had waited outside of Borgin & Burke's, staying as inconspicuous as a six foot, well built, well dressed man could in the street. Jacques had slipped inside, giving the shop keeper his order stub and then explaining he was going to be browsing the shop for a short while.

This shop had taken Jacques interest because of the Dark Magic he had read about, this shop sold things that were beyond his wildest dreams, and he wasn't going to let that slip through his fingers.

Jacques was simply perusing a tank of shrunken heads when he caught sight of another in the shop, and instantly he set to judging her. She wasn't a threat, he soon decided from her tense posture. And, from the way she dressed... well, she was at least a halfblood, but he wasn't sure if she was more than that. "You can relax." Jacques told the witch after a short moment, eyes still on the shrunken heads. "Creating scenes in public is not my style." He added, not wanting her to think he was a push over, but that in here he wasn't going to do anything.

"Found something you like?" Jacques asked, eyes turning away from the shrunken heads to the cabinet she was standing before. "I'd have someone check it, before you buy it. They sell all sorts of strange things here." He told the witch, looking over the cabinet with wonder. What could you do to that bookshelf that involved Dark Magic? Well, the possibilities...

Jacques smiled to himself at the prospects, forgetting for a moment that the witch was there.

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~ Clement Heir ~ 24 ~ Athletic ~ 5'11" ~ French Accent ~

Thanks to .V0ldiemort @ TDA for my signature!

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It went without saying that Ellie's experience with purebloods that were of a "traditional" sense was rather low. She loved her parents, loved her siblings, don't mistake her loyalty or her love, but sometimes she wondered what life would be like if they were more... sophisticated. That wasn't a very postive thought, but living with three siblings was chaotic especially with a mother who could be just as energetic. Cassana Brennham had a way of exuding the equal amount of energy as her youngest, Taela, on days when she didn't have work. There were many holidays spent with Cassana chasing an errant Taela while Devin was chasing an errant wife and Corie wrestling Phil while Stephan and Caelan argued about some nerdy thing whilst Aunt Brooke and Uncle Joe corralled their three other children.

It was hectic and Ellie could appreciate the fact that their big house was never quiet, but not appreciate the obvious things that were missing.

Holidays with the Aunt Tess and her family were different, of course their daughter was well mannered and always taken aback by the volume of which Phillip entered. Their daughter always showed some amount of surprise at the way that Corienna and Phillip daringly fought each other and the amount of passion Caelan had in reading. Taela was talkative to Uncle Ben for some strange, strange reason. The house wasn't totally quiet. They shared laughter and shared stories about their year before toasting to a good continuation of the year before a new one. They smiled and enjoyed resting, in some sort of peaceful state as opposed to their usual rambunctious nature.

It was sweet and tender and it was something Ellie desired sometimes.

Not to mention she loved shopping with her mom and the others for the elegant dresses and attire they wore. Caelan always looked itchy in his robes, and Phillip looked unnerved wearing so many pieces of clothing with 'fancy shmancy' names'. Taela was too little to wear anything gala-worthy, instead puffy cupcake dresses with ties and buckle shoes. Taela didn't care much for it, not as much as Ellie did. She liked the blue chiffon dress she wore to the Watson Aniversary dinner which was for their closest friends and she loved waltzing with her dad who had taught her for weeks before. She was familiar with some pureblood traits, some customs, and she could walk with more grace than either of her siblings.

But it wasn't as natural quite yet, she'd hoped to take more ettiquete lessons in her upcoming years.

"Oh," she replied dumbly her head snapping to the boy standing near her not too far. "And what makes you think I wasn't relaxed?" She asked, curious not snappish, and cautious too because if he didn't create scenes then he was definitely not a half-blood or a muggleborn. Instead she was hoping for some advice on her appearance by a pureblood. Well he was male so maybe it wouldn't be as helpful? Oh well, she'd already said it.

"Yes," she answered curtly with a nod, but smiled still, "it's carving is intricate in a delicate way and the design brings forth wonder," her fingers lifting to reach for a touch before his comment stopped her just an inch before it and she pulled away as if slapped, surprise coloring her features. "Really? What could sort of strange things could be done to a bookshelf?" She asked incredulously.

Subject: Re: To Meet (Jacques) Sun Apr 19, 2015 6:09 pm

The question on what had given the witch away brought a small laugh from the Clement heir. Not too loud to be heard throughout the shop and seem audacious. But not too soft that it might be deemed as a snigger in the witch's direction. "You can see it a mile away." Jacques told the witch, still looking a little amused.

"You were tense, your shoulders create an unnecessary arch in your back. Not to mention your hand shot to your purse. A wand, perhaps? Or maybe even some Muggle artifact for self-defence. Whatever it is, you did it to make yourself feel safe." Jacques summarised, not questioning her moves, because he knew such things happened. But he did wonder why she was so jumpy.

"If you wanted to look less frightened, you have to internalise it, and continue as normal outwardly. Otherwise it makes you a target quicker than necessary." He concluded. So, perhaps he had listened to his father on the few occasions he'd come down to Jacques' tutoring lessons. Merlin they'd covered so many things over the years until now.

As the witch moved to touch the bookcase, Jacques took a half step back. He wasn't scared of the thing, but he would rather not be blown up by a curse before he'd even started school in the country. It seemed, however, that his words had frightened the witch as she pulled away sharply only a few moments later, asking him what they could do to a bookcase.

"Well, that you would have to ask the owner. But it could be a curse, or it could be a bookcase that transports things to places you can't get to, or back from. Honestly, the possibilities are endless." Jacques explained, watching the witch carefully. "It is a nice piece though, if there isn't any magic within it that can harm you." He complimented her choice, giving her a small smile before turning his attention away from her once more.

Jacques wasn't big on conversation unless it suited him. So once he'd said what was needed, he moved on almost immediately. His mother had said once that it was rude of him, but Jacques pointed out that if he found a person interesting, they would talk about what was needed and then move on. If he'd given them that much time, it normally meant they hadn't done anything wrong.

However, there was no denying, to any outsider who didn't know Jacques, that his actions were exactly as his mother said. Rude.

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~ Profile ~
~ Clement Heir ~ 24 ~ Athletic ~ 5'11" ~ French Accent ~

Thanks to .V0ldiemort @ TDA for my signature!

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At his amusement from her failure to show confidence, Ellie felt herself bristle, her magic crackling within her in indigence, but she bit her tongue. The irrational side of her told her to snap at him telling him something uncouth and unnecessary, however the logical side told her she was merely getting what she asked for. Dealing with criticism was something she was unused to because she so rarely needed or asked for it. Here and now she was taking mental notes. If she wanted to really explore the nature of being a pureblood youth, she had to be able to listen to other purebloods; something this boy clearly was without a doubt in her brain. The arrogance was a tell-tale sign.

Relax shoulders, don't make any sign of needing self defense, internalize. She bolded the last note, because it was the easiest summary of what to do. She let her body go lax for a moment, her shoulders go soft and her eye brow raise.

"It's a w-not a Muggle artificat," and she wanted to shout and tell him she definitely wasn't a muggle, but as the thought came to mind she felt awfully guilty because there was no shame at all in being a muggle. It was wrong of her to even think the thought and the seeds of doubt in her exploring the facets of being a pureblood were planted. "And I'm not scared of you per se, not even frightened so," she said lifting her chin in defiance, "you're just a boy and I've got more skills than you could ever dream of posessing in my back pocket." She said assuredly. "But I was frightened of what you might have been because the fear of the unknown is greater than that of which one has experienced." She bit her lower lip as he turned away, taken aback by the fact that he hadn't given a single signal. Well more taken aback by the fact that he hadn't given her a name.

"How barbaric," she murmured more to herself to him, "I really appreciated the conversation and I do hope to cross paths with you again, boy." She called out sarcastically, feeling a scowl come across her features before she shook them off as she went to the cashier to ask him about the bookshelf, surely her mother wouldn't mind her purchasing it in the later years.

Subject: Re: To Meet (Jacques) Sun Apr 19, 2015 7:00 pm

The witch's body language was easy to read, and he couldn't help but be some what amused at her bristling. He'd touched a nerve, how satisfying. Which only seemed to make her more boring. Being able to read people made his game dull, he liked a challenge. Oh well, he could find another one, he supposed.

Jacques honestly hadn't meant anything about the Muggle artifacts, his father had shown him and his sister self defence in the Muggle form first, and then the magical would come from school. Unfortunately, his father had not been accepting of the idea of them having wands before school started, they were only allowed to do the theory of magic. But he let that go when the witch continued on.

The comment on not being scared made Jacques raise an eyebrow at the witch. Okay, no talking with your face, Jacques. He told himself. But she hadn't seen because he'd turned away. Good. However, she was a fool for that much, yes he might be eleven, but he was much more than she realised he was.

With the final comment, Jacques turned, following the witch from a distance and waiting for the cashier to go off to get his book. "You should be scared of power. Not necessarily that in physicality, but in name." He told her, smiling to himself and noticing the package on the desk for him. As the man came back through, Jacques picked it up and the man nodded.

"Thank you for your business, Master Clement." The man said. "I will put it on your families account."

"With no note of what I purchased." Jacques inquired, and the man nodded once more.

"Just as you asked, sir." He insisted, and that was enough for Jacques as he tucked the package under his arm and left the shop without another word.

________________________________________________

~ Profile ~
~ Clement Heir ~ 24 ~ Athletic ~ 5'11" ~ French Accent ~

Thanks to .V0ldiemort @ TDA for my signature!

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