"You'll have to ask him about it when he gets back," Ysabel suggested to Marie. Her interest in Ambrose's job would give them something to talk about and in addition, she didn't know all the details herself.
"What about horses?" she asked as Marie finished listing the things she'd drawn. "You've so much experience with them already, have you tried to paint them?"
If Marie wanted to give it a try she had ample subject material here. Any one of them would stand quite nicely for a portrait with minimal fidgeting. The lighting in the stable was slightly dim, she supposed, for such a task, but there was nothing to prevent Marie from cross-tying one of them outside in the sun on a nice day.
"I'll show you my watercolors if you show me some paintings when you do them," she said with a smile.
"As for the needlework, when I was very little we used to make tapestries. I learned to embroider, too. Nowadays you can really just find little counted cross-stitch patterns, but the freehand needlework is much more interesting."
She pulled the hem of her gown back a bit, revealing delicate silk slippers with a pattern of vines and flowers on the toe and along the sides. "I did these last summer."
Christmas in June
It was very much like a dream, at least to Marie. She had a home again and better yet a family. It was a strange family, but it was hers. She was even getting used to Ambrose, not understanding him but she was learning when to stay out of the way. Of course Ysabel was helping with that too.
But then Ysabel was helping with every thing. She'd bitten Marie three times at this point and Marie was no longer fearful in the slightest. In fact, she was sorry that Ysabel was insisting she recover some. Right now providing blood for her vampire was the only thing Marie felt capable of doing and to have that put on hold bothered her.
Rather than dwell on that, however, she'd thrown herself into the lessons Ysabel had been giving her. Italian, Ysabel said she should learn another language and Marie was tackling this one head on with no fear. It wasn't -that- different from Spanish. It was a bit frustrating to keep mis-accenting the words and she kept thinking in Spanish. But Marie was determined, she wanted to make Ysabel proud.
Setting aside her workbook, she touched her father's belt buckle and her mother's silver brush and comb. She still missed them. But now she though she heard someone in the kitchen, or maybe the family room and half ran out to see who it was.
Her sneakers were well worn, her jeans frayed and the t-shirt faded; but everything was clean. Half skidding to a halt she tried to remember to walk like a lady, like Ysabel said she should.
Ysabel
15 years ago
Marie
15 years ago
Marie nodded. If she could just not be half scared of Ambrose she’d like to ask him about this band, or bands he played for. And she still wanted to ask if he’d teach her a little.
“I’ve tried, I seem to have trouble with them though. Especially the front legs and the necks; they all come out too thick or too thin.”
She brightened as Ysabel offered a sort of exchange. She’d very much like that, although she was equally certain that Ysabel’s would be much better.
“Why would you make a tapestry?”
Wouldn’t it be much easier to paint something? Marie had never quite seen the use for tapestries and wall hangings and such.
“Oh! Those are pretty. Did you really make them?”
“I’ve tried, I seem to have trouble with them though. Especially the front legs and the necks; they all come out too thick or too thin.”
She brightened as Ysabel offered a sort of exchange. She’d very much like that, although she was equally certain that Ysabel’s would be much better.
“Why would you make a tapestry?”
Wouldn’t it be much easier to paint something? Marie had never quite seen the use for tapestries and wall hangings and such.
“Oh! Those are pretty. Did you really make them?”
Ysabel
15 years ago
Ysabel laughed softly at Marie's problem with painting horses. "Mine look like elephants," she confessed. "Or cars. Anything but horses. maybe we should both practice. I know Elegy can be bribed into standing still with a carrot or three."
It was something they could do together, too, and Ysabel wanted to do as many things with Marie as possible. It would help cement their bond even without the help of her bite, and in addition, she was just enjoying having a child around again.
Addressing Marie's next question she said, "Well, it was an art form back when I was young. It took a very long time, and often many of us worked on a tapestry together. They still took weeks to complete, but they were beautiful and intricate and each one told a story." She smiled as she remembered many candle-lit nights in the Yolgrave chapel, working together with Elsa and her ladies on just such a project. "Perhaps I'll try to start one myself. A little one."
The shoes were an object of some interest too, apparently. "I didn't make the shoes. I just did the embroidery on them. On several of my gowns, as well."
Ysabel looked up at Marie. "I can show you, if you like. We can do one for you."
The suggestion was made a little hesitantly. Ysabel wasn't sure how Marie would take to wearing a gown and shoes like hers, even if just for fun.
It was something they could do together, too, and Ysabel wanted to do as many things with Marie as possible. It would help cement their bond even without the help of her bite, and in addition, she was just enjoying having a child around again.
Addressing Marie's next question she said, "Well, it was an art form back when I was young. It took a very long time, and often many of us worked on a tapestry together. They still took weeks to complete, but they were beautiful and intricate and each one told a story." She smiled as she remembered many candle-lit nights in the Yolgrave chapel, working together with Elsa and her ladies on just such a project. "Perhaps I'll try to start one myself. A little one."
The shoes were an object of some interest too, apparently. "I didn't make the shoes. I just did the embroidery on them. On several of my gowns, as well."
Ysabel looked up at Marie. "I can show you, if you like. We can do one for you."
The suggestion was made a little hesitantly. Ysabel wasn't sure how Marie would take to wearing a gown and shoes like hers, even if just for fun.
Marie
15 years ago
Marie grinned she wouldn’t say no to that. If they could do something together, it would be good.
“He’s very good I’m sure it could be done.”
However, she just boggled at Ysabel’s next story. Why would any one want to do that. It just too so much time and then you couldn’t do anything with it but look at it. Well that was sort of like a painting but some how it seemed quite different. Still she offered hesitantly,
“I’d like to watch a little if you do.”
It wasn’t as intimidating or as overwhelming to be offered to show how to do trim or decoration on her shoes or something and she nodded. Of course, she nodded affirmative, like she would do anything else. Even if she didn’t want to if it would make Ysabel happy and proud of her she’d try anything.
When offered a gown she beamed. Yes! That would be brilliant then she could look a bit like Ysabel, not nearly as pretty or right (Marie was certain she’d look at least a bit goofy), at least she could try.
“Yes please. Some of them a very pretty.”
They were all beautiful, but she did have favorites.
“He’s very good I’m sure it could be done.”
However, she just boggled at Ysabel’s next story. Why would any one want to do that. It just too so much time and then you couldn’t do anything with it but look at it. Well that was sort of like a painting but some how it seemed quite different. Still she offered hesitantly,
“I’d like to watch a little if you do.”
It wasn’t as intimidating or as overwhelming to be offered to show how to do trim or decoration on her shoes or something and she nodded. Of course, she nodded affirmative, like she would do anything else. Even if she didn’t want to if it would make Ysabel happy and proud of her she’d try anything.
When offered a gown she beamed. Yes! That would be brilliant then she could look a bit like Ysabel, not nearly as pretty or right (Marie was certain she’d look at least a bit goofy), at least she could try.
“Yes please. Some of them a very pretty.”
They were all beautiful, but she did have favorites.
Ysabel
15 years ago
Ysabel reflected that working with Marie was likely to be easier than any of her husbands' otherchildren had been over the years. She had never had a child as a familiar; the experience was certainly proving enlightening. It seemed that any suggestion she made was of interest to Marie. She had yet to hear the girl really object to anything, and she didn't necessarily expect her to.
Surely there were bits and pieces of her personality shining through; her preference for colors, patterns, styles, and the like, and Ysabel was glad of it. She didn't want Marie to completely disappear in a flood of vampiric familiarity.
"All right, so now we have some good ideas for projects we can do. While we're out, we can look for how to start and what to do first."
She beamed at the girl; Ysabel wasn't exactly egotistical but she knew this bond wouldn't last forever and it pleased her to know that if and when she and Marie parted ways perhaps some bit of her would remain.
Their bond wouldn't last forever... Ysabel grew serious at the thought, for just a moment. How would she go about severing that bond? And when? And - what if Marie declined to do so, or wished to become a vampire herself?
All things in due course, she decided. She had been given the choice, and she didn't see why Marie couldn't be given the choice, if she showed an interest in such things. But could she really let the girl go if that was what she desired? Ysabel liked her, and she enjoyed having both a familiar and a child.
Time enough to consider that later. She had promised to let go of Marie if that was what she wanted, and she should hold true to her word.
Looking at the clock on the microwave, she noted it was about time to head to the mall.
"Are you ready to go?" She plucked one more strawberry from the tray and nibbled at it daintily. "We should start heading to the mall. The cab will be here in a few minutes."
Ambrose being away meant no truck; it was about time for Ysabel to buy a car of her own, but for now she used the tried and true "someone else can drive me" method.
Surely there were bits and pieces of her personality shining through; her preference for colors, patterns, styles, and the like, and Ysabel was glad of it. She didn't want Marie to completely disappear in a flood of vampiric familiarity.
"All right, so now we have some good ideas for projects we can do. While we're out, we can look for how to start and what to do first."
She beamed at the girl; Ysabel wasn't exactly egotistical but she knew this bond wouldn't last forever and it pleased her to know that if and when she and Marie parted ways perhaps some bit of her would remain.
Their bond wouldn't last forever... Ysabel grew serious at the thought, for just a moment. How would she go about severing that bond? And when? And - what if Marie declined to do so, or wished to become a vampire herself?
All things in due course, she decided. She had been given the choice, and she didn't see why Marie couldn't be given the choice, if she showed an interest in such things. But could she really let the girl go if that was what she desired? Ysabel liked her, and she enjoyed having both a familiar and a child.
Time enough to consider that later. She had promised to let go of Marie if that was what she wanted, and she should hold true to her word.
Looking at the clock on the microwave, she noted it was about time to head to the mall.
"Are you ready to go?" She plucked one more strawberry from the tray and nibbled at it daintily. "We should start heading to the mall. The cab will be here in a few minutes."
Ambrose being away meant no truck; it was about time for Ysabel to buy a car of her own, but for now she used the tried and true "someone else can drive me" method.
Marie
15 years ago
Marie smiled broadly and nodded. Something about having several projects lined up felt good. It gave her a little bit of a sense of permanence. She was still settling into her roll as familiar and harbored some minor doubt that she’d do something wrong and Ysabel would let her go. Marie frowned slightly. She didn’t know how she’d manage without Ysabel. Baldy would get her and she’d wind up back on the streets, she might even wind up back with her uncle.
Impulsively she leaped up and hugged Ysabel. Someday she could explain how grateful she was, but for now that would have to do. Scrambling back to her room she found her wallet, it only had a few dollars in it but she felt like she needed it, and stuffed it in her pocket and charged back into the kitchen. She’d completely forgotten to walk or even behave in a lady like manner. Skidding to a halt in front of Ysabel.
“Ready.”
It had been a short run but she’d gone so fast she was a bit breathless.
She was looking forward to this trip more than she could say.
Impulsively she leaped up and hugged Ysabel. Someday she could explain how grateful she was, but for now that would have to do. Scrambling back to her room she found her wallet, it only had a few dollars in it but she felt like she needed it, and stuffed it in her pocket and charged back into the kitchen. She’d completely forgotten to walk or even behave in a lady like manner. Skidding to a halt in front of Ysabel.
“Ready.”
It had been a short run but she’d gone so fast she was a bit breathless.
She was looking forward to this trip more than she could say.
Ysabel
15 years ago
Ysabel beamed at Marie's unexpected and impulsive hug. She warmed at the touch; she and Ambrose hugged, of course, but this was different. Marie might not be all that much smaller than her but Ysabel's years had given her distance from the girl. Not even much of a girl, Ysabel reminded herself, but by human standards a young lady on the verge of adulthood. Five, six years could fly by in a moment and Marie might no longer be an impulsive child but a woman grown.
Even so, that thought contributed to the soft smile that remained upon her lips when Marie came bounding back into the kitchen. As she finished wrapping up the tray of fruits and vegetables Ysabel said, "Well then, I think I just heard a car pull up outside. Let's go see if Amby is waiting for us at the mall already, shall we?"
Guiding Marie with a hand on her back, Ysabel headed toward the door. She handed Marie the keys, letting her take chare of locking up, and they made their way toward the cab, Ysabel with her handbag and Marie with her old wallet making lumps in her pocket.
((ooc: Both out))
Even so, that thought contributed to the soft smile that remained upon her lips when Marie came bounding back into the kitchen. As she finished wrapping up the tray of fruits and vegetables Ysabel said, "Well then, I think I just heard a car pull up outside. Let's go see if Amby is waiting for us at the mall already, shall we?"
Guiding Marie with a hand on her back, Ysabel headed toward the door. She handed Marie the keys, letting her take chare of locking up, and they made their way toward the cab, Ysabel with her handbag and Marie with her old wallet making lumps in her pocket.
((ooc: Both out))