|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 7:55 am
Auguste had never so much as built a snowball in his life and this was immediately, sadly apparent.
There hadn't really been many opportunities for him as a child to play in the snow, and growing up, he'd never really seen the point. But now, as the flurries fell all over Destiny City, and the snow began to build to vaguely alarming levels, Auguste thought maybe he'd like to see what all of the fuss was about, even if he wasn't overly fond of the cold as it was.
There was a snowman building contest in a patch of grass in the middle of town, which he'd happened upon unintentionally while he'd been getting out of an early dance rehearsal. Every sort of person was milling about, some with cheerful looking snow people that were family friendly, others with astonishing creations that looked as though they had been built in a museum.
There had been no process for entering, so Auguste had planted himself on a small section of snowy grass and gotten to work.
His snowman currently sort of looked like a blobby mess, but he sort of liked it anyway.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 9:19 am
kuropeco here be attacked by a child The snowman building was something Jada had expected to have to encourage her siblings to do, the five year olds both being relatively displeased when cold AND wet was involved. But one look at everyone else, and their competitive natures had kicked in, both twins shrieking they were going to be best and running off... In opposite directions. Aidan was hard at work on making a snow woman, because Frozen was his favorite movie and he hero-worshiped Elsa. There was some argument going on as to how he would make a snow cape, and that would be something to keep an eye on. But where was Giulia... Jada still couldn't see her pixie child, but wherever there was trouble... So she kept looking, frowning. "You are doing it wrong," a chirpy voice informed Auguste. "You need to pack the snow tighter so it won't melt. Yours is just a snowlump, not a real man at all. Really, how do you expect to win? Let me help you." the voice moved around, closer, to reveal itself as a child with straight, straw-yellow hair and bright blue eyes. Wherever there was trouble, there was probably Giulia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:07 pm
A voice somewhere to Auguste's left piped up as he patted the snowman's - snowblob's - side, a small frown on his face as he stepped back to admire it - and almost tripped over the child that was standing directly behind him. Auguste twisted around just in time and caught sight of a little girl, her head tilted to the side, her pale yellow hair matching her bright eyes.
Auguste smiled, shifting, crouching lower so that he could be on eye level with her, a laugh escaping him.
"It's a very big snowlump, this is true," he said with a wide grin before he straightened again. Auguste cast a woeful look at his snowthing, then turned to the girl again, not in the least bit offended by her interventions. He tucked a stray strand of pale hair behind one ear.
"Are you going to help me? How so?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:58 am
The child sighed, considering the lump that the man had made. "It looks to me like you didn't pack the snow enough," she told him. "Think of it like trying to get as much ice cream as you can into a really tiny cup." she clapped her mittens together, nodding. "You've got to squish it all together. I appreciate the sc-" she paused, seeking the word Jada had used. "The scope of the snowlump. You've got the right idea on size, but you don't have a solid fo-fou-ground level. Base!" she rose onto her tiptoes, looking through the crowd for Jada and Aidan. She could see mom, but where was her Aidan? If they were going to save this poor man's Jada, on the other hand, was still clueless as to where her little sister had gone, the short woman growing progressively frustrated with her inability to see through human bodies and find her ward. "Giulia!" she called, and multiple Julia's turned to look at her, and she waved them off- she didn't need them, she needed the short 5-year-old blonde one. Rubbing her hands over her soft tights, she crunched her way through the snow, turning after a moment. "Honey, stay here." her brother nodded, and she trudged off, purple eyes peeled for a short blonde imp. Turning back to the other man, the child ripped off her gloves. "Quick, start packing them tightly. We need to be started on this before Jada finds us. We can pack a bunch of tiny snowballs into a pile then squish the snow in around them, maybe. That way we don't waste your lump, and he gets stronger in the middle so he doesn't fall." blue eyes leveled on hi, seriously. "Trust me," she told him, "I've read books about snowmen."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:58 pm
Auguste considered this.
"Well, I do like ice cream," he said, after a second, smiling at the child. "I can see what you mean. I've got to just...make it all stay together, is that right? Because otherwise it will fall apart. Er, the...scope," he added, trying to fight a laugh, because it just seemed like such an odd thing to say for a young girl.
He wasn't entirely sure where she had come from; maybe her family was around, making snow people as well? There were plenty of families milling about, couples laughing together; things that made Auguste's chest ache a little, but he pushed aside the sadness and instead focused on the present.
He knelt on the ground beside the girl and began scooping things into little piles.
"Who's Jada?" Auguste asked curiously, as he patted a snowball together. "Is that your nanny?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 7:55 am
He smiled, and Giulia stares at him for a moment, blinking as she took in that little bit of sunshine, her almost-six year old heart giving a floppy little pitter patter. This man smiled so much, and she shouldn't be talking to a stranger at all, much less building a snowman with one. With a chortle, the little piece of trouble did what she did best- What she wanted to do! "Yes," she assured the man, tiny hands already squishing together an unpracticed lump, "it has to be very hard like a snow rock. What is your name?" the man knelt next to her, making a pile of his own, and she wriggled so they could see each other working. He was asking questions of her too. "Jada is my mom." Giulia told him, "My first mommy went away and can't come back, Jada got to be my mommy, since we had the same one and she was the oldest. She is my sister, too." the explanation was stilted, as Giulia tried to think of how to put it. Jada was the only mother she could remember, but she had seen pictures of her first mommy, so Jada wasn't her mother? She had been told she would understand when she was older. "I have a nanny, sometimes, when Jada says she needs more hands." Giulia volunteered the information. "Can you guess how old I am?" kuropeco I swear Jada will bust in soon with apologies. I also now have a powerful need to get Giulia as an actual character.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 7:43 pm
Auguste tucked a strand of pale white hair behind one ear and gave the little girl a quizzical sort of look in return for her wide-eyed stare. He wasn't quite sure he was making the best impression, but, well, at least she hadn't run off screaming stranger danger yet.
At least there were dozens of people around, most of them families, which made the general atmosphere a lot more casual and open and welcoming. Auguste scooped up some more snow and patted it into place, wondering if he was doing it properly and casting a curious glance over at the girl.
"My name's Auguste," he said, smiling. "Auguste Atwell. What's your name?"
My first mommy went away and can't come back.
The smile slid away from Auguste's face, his cheeks flushing somewhat, a look of intense distress starting to make its way across his expression. He'd never been good at keeping his feelings under wraps, everything out in the open, his heart on his sleeve.
"I'm very sorry to hear about your first mommy," he said gently. "But your - your sister, I'm glad that she's been around to take care of you. And if I had to guess how old you were..."
Auguste gave her a dramatic, squinty-eyed look.
"Five? Six?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:47 pm
She was almost-6, and Auguste kept making the best impression in the world just about every time he opened his mouth. "Auguste Atwell," Giulia sighed, and cleared her throat, "It is good to meet you!" she might have held out her hand, but they were currently involved in making snowballs, and she knew little of social nuance. Besides, he wasn't holding out his hand, so clearly they were in a rush. They were- or rather, he was- a bit behind. His eyes squinted and Giulia paused to pose for him, proudly. "I am almost six!" she confirmed happily. "You're so smart! As for my first mommy, I don't know her, so don't be sorry." she packed a snowball on top of other snowballs, squishing them together. "My name is-" " Giulia Montgomery." Jada's voice came from where Giulia could not see, frustrated to have finally found her bothering someone neither of the knew. "Giulia, did you ask before you started building the snowman with him?" "Kind of. Mama, meet-" Giulia gave another fluttery, almost-six-year-old sigh, staring at the white-haired man with something akin to wonder. "-Auguste Atwell. We're going to build the best snowman. Get Aidan over here, we can all do it together!" she looked over to Auguste, nodding. "My brother is Aidan, he's-" "Playing with someone else. I'm sorry, Auguste, I'll try and keep a better eye on her. I'm Jada. I hope she's not been a bother." kuropeco why askdjfljadf what did i do i'm sorry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:57 am
Auguste rolled a bundle of snow up into a heap and began patting it down into a ball - or at least, the best he could. He wasn't exactly a skilled snowperson maker, so he just sort of had to do the best with what he already had, pale white hair falling about his shoulders.
"Oh, I was right," he said, pleased. "I'm glad that you're almost-six, that's a good age."
They were interrupted, however, by the arrival of a tall, curvaceous woman with dark hair stomping towards them, looking somewhat harassed, another young child in tow. Auguste blinked at her, and then the pieces fell together a second later, as though he'd found the puzzle he was looking for.
"Oh," he said, and smiled, hastily climbing to his feet. He stuck out a hand towards her. "No, no, not at all, it's a pleasure to meet you Jada. She's been - Giulia here has been very kind, a delight," he added, with a wink in the child's direction. "She's been lovely enough to help me figure out my snowman."
Auguste stepped back and gestured at the heap of snow.
"Would you care to join us?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 8:17 pm
"I can't wait to be properly six." Giuli confided, leaning over to press her hand into the lump he was making, firming it up inexpertly. "When I'm properly six, I get to pick a puppy. I want a span...eel. It has big floppy ears and big eyes." Six was an excellent age. Auguste climbed to his feet to greet Jada, and Giulia kept working happily, intent on her mission. She was going to make the best snowperson, and Auguste was going to win. If there was a prize. If not, he'd just have the best snowperson. Jada gripped the white-haired younger male's hand firmly, looking between him and Giulia, and somewhat deflating from her 5'2 of irritation, seeing that her ward was unharmed. "A delight?" she inquired with dry humor, red lips curving in an actual smile."Are you sure that's my Giulia? Most people call her a terror after spending a few minutes alone with her." Giulia's smile was like a cat as she blinked her bright blue eyes up at her mother-figure. "I'm a delight." "You're a rascal." Jada rolled her eyes at the child's giggle, and gave Auguste a nod. "Why not. Let's go ahead and build a snowman." "Snowperson." Dropping to her knees, Jada joined them in their endeavor, black curls staining the snow like spilled ink as she started packing together a ball for the snow person. "So, Auguste, what brought you out here for snowman building? Just looking for some stress relief, or did you intend to make the best snowperson before you were assaulted by an imp?" "A lovely, delightful imp."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:39 pm
"A span...eel - oh, a spaniel," said Auguste, with an understanding nod. "Yes, spaniels are nice! I have a dog myself, her name is Pasha." There was a glowing sort of affection on Auguste's face, his cheeks flushed with happiness. "She's a Samoyed, so she's all white and fluffy and loves to play in the snow. Come to think of it, I should have brought her with me..."
Auguste tapped a gloved finger against his chin thoughtfully. "Next time, perhaps."
Jada was slightly formidable, if he was being entirely truthful; but that had more to do with the fact that Auguste had unknowingly been playing with her five year old sister than her appearance or personality. He wasn't sure what big sister wouldn't have been protective or concerned about their sibling being around a complete stranger, after all.
He smiled at her, letting out a small laugh. "No terror here," said Auguste, turning to look at Giulia and giving her a playful wink. "Just a lot of delight. I'm not very well versed in anything snow, you see, so she has been very kind in helping me fix that little fact."
He padded over and sank to his knees again beside the snow lump, rolling up another heap of icy white fluff. "Oh," said Auguste, "Well, I got out of rehearsal early, and saw that it had snowed, and well..." He gave a small shrug, beaming at the others. "I haven't ever really played in the snow before, and I thought it was high time I changed that."infinities 4give me I did not realize Jada was only 5'2".............
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 5:46 am
Oh, Giulia liked Auguste. He had the excellent good taste to like puppies- and to have one. She'd have to keep out an eye for him and this 'Pasha' another time."I don't know what a Sma-yeed looks like, but I am sure she'd perfect. Fluffy is great." Next time was a promise, and her babyfat-pudgy cheeks glowed with the promise of potential future excitement. Jada, on the other hand, was focused on the snowball she was making, and not on the puppy. "Not very well-versed in anything snow?" she inquired, hefting her snowball and pondering- no. She was going to help build the snowma-person. (And wasn't a Snouma a terrible thought?) "I'm very pleased she was polite." Giulia gave her a beatific smile, and Jada's lips quirked at Auguste. "Or that she found someone so relaxed to torment." Her ears perked up at rehearsal, and as Giulia got up and started vrooming her little snowbutt around, Jada tilted her attention to Auguste more fully. "Rehearsal? You play an instrument, or theater?" the older woman was quite nosy about other people, especially ones who looked younger, and got along well with her sister. Anyone who got on with her siblings was a future potential babysitter until proven otherwise. "Not having played in the snow is a shame," here Jada's voice was sly, and somewhat impish. "Snow Forts, and Snow Angels, and ... Snowball fights." The small snowball she had been making was a perfect size, and she chucked it at him with a soft laugh, ignoring Giulia's squawk of dismay. kuropec0 No worries. Everyone seems to! She is a lot of fierce in a teeny package- it's why she wears high heels! I should have made her taller ahaha;;;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:39 pm
"They look like white fluffballs," said Auguste, which was perfectly true, even if Pasha had now grown so much that she looked like a giant ball of cotton. "They're a little hyper, but I've always loved animals, and Pasha just...well, she called to me as soon as I walked past the pet store."
He beamed at Giulia. "Puppies are great. You're welcome to come by and see her anytime you like, if your sister says it's okay," Auguste added with a glance over at Jada. He gave a shake of his head, causing the white strands of his hair to flap against his cold flushed cheeks. "I'm from France originally, and I was never allowed outside when it snowed. And I heard that this part of the States doesn't actually get that much snow, so it's a little surprising and very exciting."
A laugh escaped Auguste, his heart expanding a little in his chest. The two kids, as small as they were, were both very pleasant, or at least, from what he could see so far. It had been a long time since Auguste had spent any time around children at all; there was something extremely, openly pleasant about it.
"Neither," he said, in answer to Giulia's question. "I'm a dancer; mostly modern, but I do some ballet and a great deal of ballroom. We're having a winter show soon, so we're preparing for that."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 2:16 pm
Fluffballs. Snow. Playing with fluffballs in the snow. It sounded glorious to the child, and she turned to give her older sister large, wide, bright eyes."Puppy," Giulia hissed, and Jada's lips quirked. "Aidan and I get a puppy," Giulia announced to Auguste, finalizing her pat on the base of the snowperson. "There. Our snowperson has a butt. Now we need a middle. I'm going to get more snow." The girl flounced off to a snowdrift, grabbing her brother on the way and starting to babble about a puppy, while Jada watched her go in bemusement. "I don't have any objections, I suppose," Jada answered Auguste with a smile. "If you're willing to let her play around with your Pasha, maybe I could also convince you to try and push a little bit of the less fun aspects on her as well? They want a dog, but I'm not sure they understand what all it entails." the 24-year old sighed, running her glove over her hair, shoving it back. "What part of France? Our mother spent a lot of time there, outside Paris. she liked the bustle of the city. The twins grew up there." In the distance, Giulia was waving her arms frantically at her brother, finally grabbing his sleeve and dragging him over to load his arms with lumps of snow. "I doubt they remember it." They had been young, terribly so. Jada just counted herself lucky they hadn't been with Szelem and Kayley when they were killed. "Dancing is a lot of work," Jada said with interest, turning her attention away from the children to take in the young man. "Ballet takes a lot of skill, and ballroom can be a lot of fun, if you've got a good partner. What kind of winter show? A certain performance, or a more generic showcase?" She did need to start introducing Giulia and Aidan to exercise outside of playing hoyden. Sports or dancing could be excellent extracurriculars. She could remember her siblings being pushed into music and the arts, activities befitting a family of 'stature'. Jada had gotten into equestrianism, finding the activity relaxing. Her own dancing experience consisted of the basic expectations for any "well-bred lady" (thanks to her mother- Jada's waltz was still top notch) and the woman still enjoyed the exercise that came from bellydancing. Not the kind of experience she'd admit to having when there was an actual dancer present. Snow was being hauled back in their direction, and Jada did one quick pat of Giulia's slightly lopsided snow-person base. Just to be sure. Giulia was enthusiastic- not exactly precise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2017 4:33 pm
Oops. Maybe he'd started something he shouldn't have, Auguste casting a sheepish look at Jada before scooting over to help Giulia with the middle of their snowpersonthing. "Sorry," he said, laughing a little, cheeks flushed with the winter cold and happiness. "I, uh, hope I didn't put you into a difficult position there, with, um, the puppy wanting and all."
Auguste scooped up more snow and heaped it into a semi-respectable, sort of rounded shape, patting it with gloved hands. "Oh, yes," he said cheerily. "A dog is a great deal of responsibility and everything." A mock-stern look was given to the two children, Auguste wagging a finger. "You've got to know how to take care of one."
It was nice to hear that someone else had been to Europe as well, Auguste rolling more snow up to the rounded thing he was slowly putting together. "I was in Paris, for the most part, with my parents." The expression on his face flickered, just a little, and then settled back into his happy one once more. "It's a lovely place, really, but I like it hear a lot."
Finished with his rounded sort of middle, Auguste started to make a new pile, patting things together, slowly pushing little mounds in one direction. "It is, but it's all I've ever wanted to do in life. My best friend, Colin, he's a wonderful ballet dancer, and my roommate Nadia, she dances too, so I'm surrounded by them, it's very nice. My winter show is just a recital - a showcase," Auguste added, with a smile up at Jada, giving a nod at her perception. "We've each got our own routine to do, and it's mostly for fundraising, since the studio is rather small."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
