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Post by Adrienne on Jul 29, 2009 17:30:10 GMT -5
*The ballroom was decked out in full regalia; guests were dressed to the nines, and little David Dupont bounced excitedly, peeking from behind the door he'd enter from. Adrienne was fussing over Evie's dress, and Nicki was ignoring them all in favor of fussing over his own cravat.*
*He had other things on his mind--ones he'd had to coax his sister out of Normandy and convince her to attend a party to orchestrate. However, everything was going well so far. He grinned to himself.*
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Post by Chuck Bass on Jul 29, 2009 18:20:29 GMT -5
*Two days after his arrival, Chuck had received an invitation written in a familiar hand writing yet anonymous. After a few days of consideration, he decided to go. Chuck found himself a last-minute date, donned a newly tailored tux and arrived at the celebration.*
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Post by Adrienne on Jul 29, 2009 18:25:11 GMT -5
*A little farther into the night, the majordomo banged on the floor with his staff to silence the crowd and orchestra.*
"David Dupont, Vicomte d'Enjolras, and Miss Evelyn d'Enjolras wish to make an announcement."
*There was polite applause as David, 7 years old, came out holding 3-year-old Evie's hand.*
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Nicolas, Comte d'Enjolras, and Lady Adrienne d'Enjolras."
*Nicki escorted his sister to the landing, both of them smiling, and they were about to descend the stairs when Evie, dressed in white and dark curls bouncing, flew to her mother's side and clung to her skirt. Her mother picked her up, smiling, as an 'aww' rippled around the room, and began her careful descent talking to the toddler.*
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Post by Chuck Bass on Jul 29, 2009 18:37:45 GMT -5
*Chuck froze as what felt like ice traveled through his veins.
She was alive.
His date noticed his sudden change in demeanor and asked him what was wrong but all he could do was stare as Adrienne descended the stairs with two children.
The girl... There was something about the girl that made his heart jump.*
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Post by Adrienne on Jul 29, 2009 18:50:27 GMT -5
*Dark eyes, dark hair, and a complexion sure to become darker than her mother's: Evie was obviously not the daughter of redheaded, blue-eyed Fernand.*
*Evie giggled as her mother stage-whispered insults directed ad Tonton Nicki, but momentarily paused when she remembered something she'd been meaning to say.*
"Maman, quand est-ce que nous rentrerons chez nous?"
*Adrienne smiled sweetly at her daughter.*
"End of the week, sweetheart." *Evie understood English, but still hadn't gotten around to speaking much of it.*
*Evie pouted.*
"Je n'aime pas Paris. Je veux rentrer maintenant et voir mon chat et mon lit et Coralie et--"
"Est-ce que tu ne fait que vouloir, vouloir, vouloir, tout le temps??" *Adrienne teased, and opened her mouth to speak again but caught sight of someone.*
*Her hold on her daughter tightened.* "Dieu au ciel."
(("Mama, when are we going home?" "I don't like Paris. I want to go home right now and see my cat and my bed and Coralie and--" "Can you do nothing but want, want, want, all the time?" "God in heaven."))
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Post by Chuck Bass on Jul 29, 2009 19:00:20 GMT -5
"Charles... Charles."
*But Chuck didn't answer his date. Instead, he turned and left, heading for his limo.*
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Post by Adrienne on Jul 29, 2009 19:04:05 GMT -5
*Adrienne set Evie down, mumbling something along the lines of 'go see Tonton Nicki', and ran after of him. The fact that all eyes were still on her from her entrance, and that she was still in a ballgown and dancing slippers, didn't seem to matter.*
*People were hard to push through, especially in a hoopskirt, but she managed to get out the door after him and into the middle of the road. The car had already begun to pull away.*
*There were plenty things she had planned to say if she ever saw him again--things such as "Asshole" or "Get out of my sight" or possibly just a slap in the face.*
"I didn't not love you! I was an idiot!" *Was not one, but it was what came out of her mouth, in the middle of the street, clad in full formal dress, feeling like an idiot.*
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Post by Chuck Bass on Jul 29, 2009 19:18:14 GMT -5
*Chuck ordered his driver to stop. But instead of getting out, he stayed silent and still.*
"Who is she?"
*A long pause... then--*
"No one," *he replied coldly then ordered his driver to drive.*
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Post by Adrienne on Jul 29, 2009 19:22:10 GMT -5
*'No one' stood in the middle of the street long after he had pulled away. There were no tears or fits or cries of indignation. She took a moment to pull herself together, then went back inside, smiling flawlessly as she socialized, making sure the children went to bed, tending to the guests after they had done so. Nobody commented on her flight, at least not directly, and the night went smoothly. She and her children returned to Normandy early--in fact, the next day.*
*It had shaken her, this encounter, but she would not break. She couldn't.*
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