[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/231219/3ba0893141f236caf5333fc999e6af1c.png[/img]

[youtube]https://youtu.be/bRnJoLw5v10?si=NjgiRKokT2TLN2Qz[/youtube]
[sub]“Who do I trust? I thought that you loved me. What is happening to us?”[/sub][/center]
[h2][color=gray]Paris, Theodore de Villiers’ apartment[/color][/h2]
[sub]Mentions [@WhiteAngel25] & [@Lexisheeps][/sub][hr]
Aurélie stood leaning against the side of the window, looking out at the people on the street below. Mostly tourists, in this part of Paris, but Aurélie still watched them curiously. Her fingers were curled around her upper arms as she stood with her arms folded over her waist, studying those below. Her soft blonde hair flowed loosely over her shoulders. Still thinned from her ordeal, but clean and smelling like flowers. Somewhere in the back of her mind, her old hobby tried to crawl to the surface. To photograph the people she was watching.

Fashion had changed since the last time she was here, and her clothes didn’t fit quite right anymore. Some of her items were too big. She had lost some of her curves, more bone than fat at some points. Her mother had ensured she got a whole new wardrobe nonetheless. A new Aurélie, basically. A week of eating and sleeping well brought more colour to her face, and a slight chub to her cheeks. She stayed in her same old room at the estate. It was exactly as she left it, and it had been comforting to walk the halls and lay in her soft bed under the canopy with fairy flights. Her mother, who doesn’t owe Aurélie a single thing as an adopted, now adult daughter, took care of her. She was a warm hug on a cold winter night. One of the only reasons Auri didn’t let her dark thoughts take her away. She no longer had to fight for Cosette’s survival. So what was she here for? But, today she had travelled here to her brother’s home by taking a taxi, and she was really proud of herself for doing so. Leaving the comfort of her familiar home. Even though she did have to text both her mom and him a status update every couple of minutes. 

Behind her, Theo was pacing his apartment, scatterbrained as usual, trying to find his phone charger. [color=rosybrown]”You live [i]really[/i] close to the Louvre.”[/color] Her eyes drifted to a picture on Theo’s windowsill. It was the family, posing for a picture in the warm sun of Egypt. Her yellow sundress blew a little with the wind, and the grins on everyone’s faces were genuine. She blinked, wondering when Theo had taken her camera to develop the pictures. What else did he develop?

She looked at her baby sister, the turmoil in her heart swirling like a hurricane. She missed her. All Aurélie did was for Cosy. She fought for Cosy, survived for Cosy, did Von Galloes’s beckoning so she’d be able to see her, talk to her. The older sister had spent countless visitation sessions earning back Cosette’s trust, telling her who Auri was, who her parents were, who Theo was and that they were coming to save them. Until eventually, Von Galloes would re-wipe Cosy’s mind all over again, and Aurélie would choke back tears upon the discovery. Then, it all started back over again. Now Cosette is with Thierry, and she is with Sabrina, like a properly shattered and divorced family. 

[color=steelblue]”I like walking to work. You know how the traffic is in Paris and public transport every day would drive me insane.”[/color] The man dropped his charger into his backpack as he looked at his sister, her eyes still on the road below from his apartment on Rue Chanoinesse, above a liquor store, almost next to Aurélie’s old workplace; Au Vieux Paris d'Arcole. He lived here both because it was close to work, and the street reminded him of his sister. Though he wouldn’t easily admit to this sentiment. He walked through his home, in search of something else this time. He’d been at the estate for the last week, only returning to his Paris apartment this morning to prepare for tonight’s gala, gathering his notes he had left haphazardly on his desk when he was called by his mother because his [i]sisters[/i] had reappeared. The shock of his damn life. 

Aurélie smiled a little, pulling herself from her thoughts. She knew her brother well, and it wasn’t a coincidence that he lived on this street. [color=rosybrown]”Well, your apartment is really fancy and quite neat. Look at you adulting.”[/color] She looked over her shoulder at her pacing brother. She wasn’t exaggerating. The apartment was, despite its place in an old building, fully renovated and modernised, though its ancient beams and old windows remained as a reminder of the building’s origin. The wooden herringbone floors were well-kept and original, but the doors had been replaced by black steel and glass variants. It reminded her a lot of Theo’s bedroom at the estate. Blue, dark and broody. It was nice, but it also reminded Auri of how much 7 years actually was. He was no longer a teenage boy with too much energy and an appetite larger than life. He was a man, taller than his father, dressed neatly most of the time and owned an apartment, worked, lived his life as an only child of divorced parents. Her baby brother was a man, and Aurélie was stuck in time as a teenager.

The week at the estate wasn’t nearly enough to catch up on it all, but Theo gave her the gist of it before they spent hours in front of the fireplace hashing out the details. Of his life. Of France. Of the world. Everyone had grown up, moved on, and made a life. While Auri had been yanked from her life like pulling on an elastic band, and now she snapped back into place. Yet she never felt so wildly [i]out of place[/i]. Her fingers sometimes twitched with the side effects of the augmentation in her mind, and the first night at the estate she woke up screaming, bathing in sweat from her nightmare. It took her mother and Theo a while to calm her down. The second night, Theo slept on the couch in her room, the poor tall man all curled up and cramped. She screamed that night, too. On the third night, Theo slept next to her in bed. He wasn’t leaving her side, hadn’t until this morning when he left the estate. Words couldn’t describe how thankful she was for him. [color=rosybrown]”The Louvre pays you well.”[/color] She teased him instead. Her brother, a Louvre conservator-restorer extraordinaire.

Theo stopped in his tracks, shoving his water bottle in his bag with a little too much force, a twitch of annoyance in his face. [color=steelblue]”The Louvre pays me well because dad [i]makes[/i] them pay me well. So I won’t ask questions, or stick my nose in places it doesn’t belong.”[/color] There was a bite to his tone as he abandoned his bag on the table once more, walking toward the front door instead, collecting his boots to bring back to the living room. He started putting them on after sitting down on his sofa. 

There was a lot he had to process over the last week, and it brought a lot of old pain back, too. Pain he’d very carefully drunk and [i]fucked[/i] away. That or by entirely burying himself in his work. Maybe he was more like his dad than he would like. The events in Egypt, the divorce of his parents, navigating life as an only child, everything came flooding back. He’d spent a good two days entirely knocked off his axis, upset at his mom before he let up for Aurélie’s sake. Both of his parents had kept things from him, and Theo wasn’t entirely sure what to think about it all. All he knew was he had his sisters back. Even though he missed his littlest one like crazy when she left to be with Thierry.

Aurélie was a bit surprised at the bitterness lacing her brother’s voice. He had always balanced the delicate matter of choosing not to see his father’s upbringing or lack thereof, and its effects on his kids. Chose not to see their mother’s part, either. But now that he had learned everything, and that he was kept in the dark, and the choice Thierry faced, Theo was mad. 

Aurélie only knew what Theo had told her, accompanied by hot chocolate by the fire. He had actually made a good life for himself, and she couldn’t be more proud. He had to navigate a lot by himself. There was some really complicated stuff there, but Theo always tried to be a good son. Tried to visit both his mom and his father on days like Christmas. Tried to be kind to Nick. Bowed down and did his job. Just to show his father that he was a son worth loving. Worthy of attention. Anything.  But now? Theo was a grumbly, frustrated man, and Thierry had fallen off the too-high pedestal Theo put him on. 

Aurélie didn’t like it. She didn’t want to see Theo and her father grow apart, despite knowing that there was 7 years of history she wasn’t here for. She hadn’t spoken to her dad since it all happened, because she needed time. Everything was rushing toward her, missing 7 years of her life, suddenly being an adult in a world she left as a teen. But Theo? She didn’t want that relationship to shatter beyond repair. [color=rosybrown]”Theo, you can’t stay mad at dad forever. He loves you. You love him. You shouldn’t push him away.”[/color] She tried, tearing her eyes from the road below and turning, looking at her brother instead. 

He scoffed, trying to act tough, but she could see the hurt swimming in his eyes. His parents had kept him in the dark. He hadn’t spoken to his father yet, either. [color=steelblue]”Yes I fucking can. And he pushed me away first, Auri. Hell, he never let me in to start with.”[/color] Auri winced as she saw a frustrated muscle in the man’s jaw tick. A sigh came from her lips as she walked up to him. [color=rosybrown]”Just talk to him, Theo. When you’re ready. Hear him out. And tell him your truth. Your feelings… they’re important too. But don’t make decisions on unspoken conversations.”[/color] She tried. Sure, this family was broken as hell, but she’d be damned if it broke even further. 

Theo nodded but looked away, focussing on tying his shoes instead. He wasn’t certain how to act, and thankfully, he hadn’t needed to be anywhere near his father or Nick, completely focused on Aurélie and Cosette. His sisters. His priorities. He even broke it off with his situationship, so his full focus could be on the girls. Took a week off, too. His request for leave had never been fulfilled so fast, yet he had to answer a lot of calls surrounding tonight’s event. That and, there was still an odd offer lingering on his desk from the higher ups.

Looking down at her brother, Aurélie still couldn’t get over how much he looked like their father. He had always taken after Thierry, with some softer edges because of Sabrina. But now, he’s a man. And the spitting image of her father. But less weathered. Less haunted by his choices. It conflicted somewhere in Auri’s mind. Would it conflict with Nick, too? She sat down in a brown leather armchair and pulled up her legs, hugging one knee to her chest. [color=rosybrown]”Dad thinks I hate him. Maybe I should try that… hating him.”[/color] Her gaze shifted from her brother back toward the window, where the sky beyond the buildings was turning orange. [color=rosybrown]”Maybe that would make all of this easier.”[/color]

The young woman blinked, only to try and disguise a pool of tears rising in her waterline. She was sure Thierry had given up on trying to repair anything with her right off the bat. It would require effort on his part. But he made his choices, about the daughter who had been critical of him when she was still around. Angry, argumentative and sometimes even mean. Maybe he finally had some peace and quiet when she was gone. No one nagging him to be better to Theo and Cosy. When the reality was in between them. She had been an unwanted child. Not worth the effort. And now she was back. He hadn’t come by the estate to visit her. And while a rational part of Aurélie realised that may be because of Sabrina’s words at the harbor and Thierry just wanting to give her and Auri a respectful time and distance away from him, it still stung. 

[color=steelblue]”But you don’t. You still love him.”[/color] Theo stated simply, leaning back on the sofa. He put one ankle over the other knee and held onto it with his hand, his other arm draped over the back of the sofa as he and Aurélie shared a look that could only be described as ‘[i]c’est la vie[/i]’. [color=rosybrown]”Yeah… I do.”[/color]
   
She had never really liked embraces, yet she couldn’t help but long to be back in the one her father gave her upon finding her. Or the one her mother gave her when they reunited.

After a moment, Aurélie looked back at her brother. They had to leave soon, take the motorcycle and head back to the estate. To get ready for tonight’s event. But it was kind of nice to be with Theo, just together.  [color=rosybrown]”What about Nick? What do you think of him, really?”[/color] she asked, curiously, wanting to stretch this moment. She hadn’t asked before. Didn’t want to push his buttons.

Theo raised a brow at his sister. [color=steelblue]”Il es américain.”[/color] He stated as if that explained all of it, his lips slightly curling. Aurélie let out a slight snort. Sure, the cultural differences were definitely there. Aurélie smiled and rolled her eyes at Theo, raising her brow right back for the real opinion. Theo moved his hand and raked it through his hair, opting to cross his arms instead, as if his feelings needed to be protected, guarded by his toned biceps. [color=steelblue]”I don’t know. I think it went wrong from the start. The way I was introduced to him. Mom and dad were still married and-”[/color] the man’s adam’s apple bobbed and he briefly glanced to his lap. The divorce wasn’t just a mess, it was goddamn terrible. [color=steelblue]”And I was still… uprooted. From you guys being missing and,”[/color] Theo looked away, and Aurélie could see he was trying to push down emotions once more. She angled her head slightly to the side and patiently waited until Theo gathered himself again. 

[color=steelblue]”I was still not over the divorce, I guess. And seeing mom just… shatter.”[/color] He looked back at his sister as the hurt swam in his eyes as if it belonged there. Nestled in, made itself a home. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Aurélie of his shaking hands when he called an ambulance for his mother, the night it all became too much for her. That was between them, mother and son. [color=steelblue]”Everything is just so complicated. And I don’t nearly see Nick often enough to really [i]have[/i] to have an opinion about him, you know?”[/color] Theo audibly cleared his throat to avoid obstruction with his emotions. The topic of Nick was complicated to Theo because he had spent a lot of time just trying to deny that what remained of his family, his married parents, broke too. The changes were too much for him as he tried to navigate life as an adult. 

He kind of figured that Nick thought of Theo as an annoying kid who wanted to be just like his dad but couldn’t. And frankly? It had been painful to see his father bond with Nick over things that [i]he[/i] had wanted to bond with his father about. Sitting at the dinner table with them, the two laughing and talking about some adventure somewhere, details probably redacted. Or how he’d hear from colleagues about his father’s adventures or discoveries, instead of from his father himself. Theo was both happy about his father’s genuine smiles and jealous of the experiences he wasn’t having with him. Theo’s own stories weren’t as thrilling, either. His requests to get to the field were constantly denied for various unknown reasons, and so the restoration wing became his home. Unless he went on extremely safe trips to extremely safe regions to excavate in the field. In hindsight, Theo should’ve been more suspicious of that. Now there was an enticing offer on his desk at the Louvre.

Aurélie nodded slowly. It was easy not to think of, or make decisions about their father and Nick when they weren’t around them. But it wasn’t like Aurélie wanted to leave everything unsettled. Nick’s face as he gave her Sabrina’s ring flashed through her mind. The image she had of him; kind, caring, it fractured there. How he spoke to her mother. She knew that there were several years of history between those three that she wasn’t privy to, but it had been her first look at how shattered her family had become. And while Nick had been an immediate calming force for her, he unwillingly represented something for Aurélie. How her father had moved on, and her family was never going back to how it was. Theo’s voice broke through her thoughts. 

[color=steelblue]”I haven’t given enough of an effort, maybe. I could’ve been a better son. And it’s not really fair on them, I guess. I don’t care that dad is gay. I mean, you are [i]half[/i] gay.”[/color] Theo’s lip curled up, and Aurélie chuckled softly. Their dad didn’t even know Aurélie dated both a girl and a boy in high school. Seemed so far away now. [color=steelblue]”But Nick is [i]younger[/i] than I am. I am barely an adult, I barely know wrong from right and what is right side up. I don’t think I can [i]understand[/i] it, is all. The age difference, the timing.”[/color] Aurélie nodded, surprised by Theo’s maturity. Very different from when he was a kid, that was for sure. He was calmer and more self-reflective. But, she didn't like to see the frustrated tick of his jaw more often than the bright goofy grin he had sported as a teen. It was like he’d lost his spark, somewhere there in Egypt.

[color=steelblue]”I guess maybe no one would’ve been good enough, or okay enough in my eyes. I think I would’ve had issues with anyone. Young, old, male or female. All of them aren’t mom.”[/color] He cleared his throat and looked away again, grabbing his bag and letting his feet touch the ground once more. He pushed off the sofa and looked down at his sister. 

[color=rosybrown]”Well, we’ll see them tonight. So,”[/color] Aurélie let the implications of that hang in the air as she stood up from her chair. Theo gave her a wry smile. [color=steelblue]”If dad even comes.”[/color] He said, walking with Aurelie to the little hallway at his front door. She tugged on her boots there, and Theo grabbed two motorcycle helmets from the hanging cabinet. 

[color=rosybrown]”He will. This is your work. Something you’re proud of. And it’s being celebrated. He’ll be there. And he’ll be proud of you, Theo. I’m proud of you.”[/color] He handed Aurélie her helmet, and she grinned, taking it in her hands after having put on her coat. Her brother was a damn steady rock during all of this. Sure, she had her mother, her father, and probably even Nick. But her brother and sister were everything for her and always had been. Everything she did was for them, even though it meant burning her own bridges. 

Now, without any bridges or building materials, she wasn’t sure. It felt like drowning in the Seine, and the only thing keeping her from going under was this tether called Theo. Even now, she found herself wanting to fight for her sibling's relationships with their parents, while hers was silently going up in flames. She watched as Theo’s eyes focussed on her, reading sorrow in his deep brown eyes.

[color=steelblue]”Thank you. Auri. I’m… really glad to have you back.”[/color] The tall man wrapped his arm around his sister. She had always been the older and wiser one. The one protecting him. Fighting his battles. Responsible, so he didn’t have to be. But their roles have kind of shifted now.

She had always protected him. Now it was his turn to protect [i]her[/i].
[hr]
[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240108/8da8e2d45f4dc83b112d1fda361bcd26.png[/img]

[youtube]https://youtu.be/C4FvWgBgkzc?si=ZmPN69vsadYkInnZ[/youtube]
[sub]“I've been dreaming, dreaming 'bout you, 'bout us. My head is a jungle.”[/sub][/center]
[h2][color=gray]Voidlight Headquarters, Basement research labs, Doctor Nova Ashford's office[/color][/h2]
[sub]Mentions [@WhiteAngel25][/sub][hr]
Nova was supposed to go home and rest up after her harrowing experience. Nova did no such thing. When Dragon showed his handsome face in the basement labs, of all places, after Nova retreated there like a naked molrat hiding from sunlight, Brenda about passed away in awe. Nova had to mop her drool off the floor and reattach the woman’s jaw to her face. He had come to ask why the hell Nova hadn’t taken the offered ride home, but instead went to her office to work. Nova understood his worry, but she couldn’t deny that she saw appreciation in his eyes. He wasn’t forgetting about Stella, either. 

Accompanied by the warmth his caring created in her belly, she worked. She couldn’t forget, not that easily, and she was [i]not[/i] giving up on Stella. It was true had her motivation had multiple factors. She had appreciated the woman’s strength and clarity down in the facility. Admired her self-sacrifice. She was important to Dragon, too. But she also wanted to give Cosette the good news of Stella’s return. The girl’s distraught face was one of the images that came by often in her restless sleep. And, she wanted to show Dragon she was worthy. Of what? She wasn’t sure yet, but someone couldn’t be entirely selfless, after all. 

She ensured to make a detailed report of her experiences with the Dark Energy below the sea, specifically focusing on the heart of hearts. Her subsequent tests and experiments on smaller Dark Energy animals weren’t unsuccessful per se, but it was nothing compared to the behemoth of a beast Nova had shot with the arrow. The heart of hearts Stella now possessed. 

The amount of coffee the young scientist consumed was nothing short of problematic, but she kept going. Every minute Stella was being held there was a minute too long, though even Nova couldn’t deny a person couldn’t think well without sleep. And so she napped, on the sofa in her office, or with her cheek on her arms at her desk. She’d slept at home twice, but it was short and restless. At one point, while Nova was more staring straight through her tempered glass computer screen than at it, a message popped up on the lower right-hand side. A little caught off guard, Nova opened the message with a tap from her finger, seeing that it was from the Vice President himself. 

[b][i]“Is there anything I can do for you, Nova?”[/i][/b]


Her heart tried to find all corners of her chest cavity. She had answered [i][color=Silver]Yes, coffee, please. The way I like it. Thank you![/color][/i] while in reality she had wanted to answer [i][color=Silver]Yes, coffee, please. And your company. Maybe a snuggle? Thank you![/color][/i] But she was too chickenshit. When had the adoration from her side, and the oblivious to Nova’s existence from his side turned into a mutual friendship? And understanding, of sorts? How does she find piping hot coffee on her desk after having stepped out for fresh air, or when did he arrange for an assistant to fetch her things from her apartment?

During coffee, he told her they were expected in Paris, at the Louvre, for a Gala. Together. She knew it was because of their involvement in the rescue of the two de Villiers daughters, and to strengthen the bond between Voidlight and the Louvre, but Nova couldn’t help but feel a little nervous about travelling with Dragon. Paris was a very romantic city, after all. 

At the very least, she was happy to see Cosette again. And to get out of her basement. It was just a shame her travels to France weren’t accompanied by the good news about Stella she had hoped to bring.
[hr]
[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240109/245e5047ff222d6d04762757ce0e23cb.png[/img]
[sub][i]Singlehood[/i][/sub]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7zegSN7e78&ab_channel=Euterpe[/youtube]
[sub]“Singlehood makes me suffer from loneliness, couple life makes me suffer from weariness.”[/sub][/center]
[h2][color=gray]Paris, the Louvre, Gala[/color][/h2]
[sub]Mentions [@WhiteAngel25] & [@Lexisheeps][/sub][hr]
The young man with brown, slightly curly hair and striking ember eyes trotted up L'escalier Lefuel at the Louvre, taking two steps at a time. He could do so easily because he was tall, taller than his father. But unlike the quite clean-cut man that fathered him, Theo was a bit more scruffy. His hair is a little bit wilder, his facial hair short, and his clothes usually not involve a suit, but jeans or chinos instead. He looked a lot like his father, and he wanted something to set him off against him. Yet, his letters said Monsieur T.N. de Villiers, and in passing, he was often greeted as monsieur de Villiers by employees of the Louvre, from cleaners to security to higher personnel in neatly pressed suits. Everyone knew who he was. Both because Theo wasn’t above striking a conversation with literally everyone, and because of who his father was. Who his mother was. Two powerhouses in this business of dust and bricks and fantastical places. But those closer to the Louvre’s ex-director’s only son knew he didn’t like being called by that title. That was his father, and Theo was well… Theo. He would often find himself insisting that people call him just that. 

Maybe it will always be like this. Overshadowed by his father’s name and legacy, his mother’s accomplishments and the Lennox family name. Even now, during an event in honour of an artefact he had both retrieved and worked on restoring, the whispers in the hallway spoke of Thierry’s somewhat unconventional departure instead. Still, it didn’t damper Theo’s own pride, and he’d damn well show them. Show everyone that Theodore de Villiers is his own man, not just the son of.

He walked the brightly lit halls at a brisk pace, a big smile on his face but this time, it didn’t quite meet his eyes. The route through the Louvre’s employee spaces was ingrained in his brain, from when he was a little kid and his mother took him through the Louvre, to his father’s office, just to see him. Because little Theo wanted to. Picking him up from work was always great fun, too, and Theo always wanted to go see the exhibits. The Louvre had always felt like a second home, and it still was. Yet, something sinister lurked behind the walls that Theo hadn’t privy to. Secrets hidden, stories untold. But he wasn’t a fool. He knew the truth now, and that made this whole event tonight a weird mixture of faded pride, muted self-importance and cognitive dissonance. 

Today he was wearing a three-piece [url=https://www.studiosuits.com/cdn/shop/products/emeraldgreensuitlk_1_1500x.jpg?v=1680588466]suit[/url], emerald green and charming. Aurélie said it made him look dashing. His smile was flattering as he arrived at the right side wing. A woman Theo knew as Céline stood before him, ordering all the other staff around. A woman twirled one of his rebellious curls the right way, while another fixated a small mic to his suit. He let it all happen as his gaze landed on the woman before him. He had fleeting something with this particular event coordinator. In the supply closet, like the casanova he kind of was. In her car, too. But, it seemed like any type of relationship wasn’t in the cards for Theo, and lately, he’d begun to wonder if that had anything to do with his upbringing.

Or if he was just incapable of loving.

Or being loved.

He gave her a firm nod, his hands coming up to straighten his jacket. [color=steelblue]”Thank you, Céline, I’ll be on my best behaviour.”[/color] He winked at her, and the woman rolled her eyes with a knowing smirk. His gaze slid to the door he’d be walking through. In a way, he’d been dreaming of a moment like this for all his life. But right now, he wanted none of it. The man felt uprooted. Tossed around. Nothing was what it was anymore, and the people he had looked up to fell down in front of his eyes. Was his father out there? Was Cosette here? Was Aurélie still panicking about having to be in a crowd of people?

His sister had said his dad would be here. That he would be proud of his son, but frankly, Theo didn’t quite know the feeling, despite chasing it all his life. The man fixed his tie and waited patiently in the room as he was finally deemed presentable enough.
[hr]
[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240108/79e85ed3383b37de7f6a877360c022ae.png[/img]
[sub][i]Nothing but hope[/i][/sub]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BAZLSJ87Vo&ab_channel=Frank619[/youtube]
[sub]“Is it my time? Here comes the pain. All over Paris, I’m abandoning myself.”[/sub][/center]
[h2][color=gray]Paris, the Louvre, Gala[/color][/h2]
[sub]Mentions [@WhiteAngel25][/sub][hr]
Aurélie’s knee moved up and down with nerves as the Paris lights flashed by the limousine’s window. Her heart hammered out of her chest as she tried to find a peaceful place in her mind that didn’t make her want to drop and roll out of the car. The gentle, soft voice of the woman who raised her reached her ears and the daughter focussed her gaze on her mother. She looked stunning. Ethereal even. While probably not Sabrina’s intention, Aurélie found it to be a perfect revenge dress. 

With a small smile and a nod, Aurélie showed her appreciation to her mother’s words. She was just incredibly nervous. Once upon a time, Aurélie loved the gala’s and the grandeur. Watching her parents on the stage, people dance and wear the most extravagant clothes. Now, it had been 7 years since she had been in a room with more than a maximum of 10 people. As her mother spoke of Theo’s pride, her face brightened and her nod was more enthusiastic. [color=rosybrown]”I know. It’s the only reason I’m here. Theo and Cosy.”[/color]

The chiffon of Aurélie’s [url=https://i.etsystatic.com/8088492/r/il/970c6d/3968120478/il_794xN.3968120478_bj93.jpg]dress[/url] flowed around her legs smoothly as she walked the staff halls with her mother sometime later. It was dark blue: Theo’s favourite colour. And it brought out her honey eyes well. Or at least, that was what Sabrina had told her. Her ashen blonde hair fell in soft curls over her bare shoulders, and her make-up was done exceptionally well by her mother. Her nails were manicured like they used to be. It felt odd, being a 25-year-old woman all of a sudden. She never felt like she had grown up. She just spent 7 years as an 18-year-old. Thankfully, she had her mom to hold her hand tonight. Literally. 

They had opted for the side entrance. The eldest de Villiers had already anticipated the curious stares, insistent whispering and pointing of fingers, but she’d like to put it off as long as possible. And that included avoiding the red carpet full of cameras. They were tough out of luck if they wanted to photograph the stunning Lennox woman and her missing and found adopted daughter. A soft squeeze in her hand from Sabrina made Aurélie look up at the woman. Warmth flooded her system as she smiled up at her. Aurélie was an adult now, and by no means did Sabrina have to take care of her, or take her in. Especially after the divorce. She was Thierry’s mistake, after all, not hers. And while she might have been officially adopted by the woman, that didn’t mean Sabrina still had any obligations toward her now. 

And so, how she treated her the last week was even more touching to Aurélie. The eldest wasn’t a fool. She never blatantly chose to not see her mother’s busy schedule or her part in their upbringing, as Theo had, but right now she woman was like an anker to Auri’s capsizing boat. But this week Sabrina prioritised [i]her[/i]. Chose [i]her[/i]. And loved her unconditionally. 

A few Louvre employees walked past the two women, not even attempting to hide their stunned whispering. Aurélie was used to it from her youth. Both her mother and her father were a big deal at the Louvre, and whenever she would walk the halls with them, whispers of awe would reach her ears. It always made her proud of her parents. Who they were. What they have achieved. Despite its effect on their children. But now the whispers and stares were more toward her. The missing de Villiers daughter is no longer missing. Just… alive. A freakshow. Come one, come all. 

Before a door that would lead to the main lobby, Aurélie stopped her mother in her tracks and took a steadying but shaky breath. She was here for her brother. She had to support him. Yet she felt unsteady on her legs at the prospect of the crowd. At the very least, she’d see her little sister again. Her mother’s previous words went through her mind and she took in a massive breath. [color=rosybrown]”Okay. Sneak in the sidedoor completed. I can do this. I can.”[/color] She said it more to herself than to her mother. One nod from the beautiful brunette caused the doors to swing open for them, exposing them to the grandeur of the gala. 
[hr]
[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240109/65a5a225c8c7a7c33cc3011720942f5f.png[/img]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUQjUgTrvNA&ab_channel=CausesVEVO[/youtube]
[sub]“I’ll take anything you’ve got, or could you help me find your pulse? Teach me how to dance with you.”[/sub][/center]
[h2][color=gray]Paris, in a car[/color][/h2]
[sub]Mentions [@WhiteAngel25][/sub][hr]
With big eyes, Nova looked out of the car window at the sights Paris at night had to offer. Her different coloured eyes roamed over the streets, the people walking, the shimmering lights. It was marvellous, and way better than the fake window’s ‘Paris at night’ setting in her office. Nothing could beat the real deal, after all. It was cold outside, but the woman’s cheeks were rosy with anticipation and the blush she had chosen to brush on her face. 

As they entered a tunnel, her gaze tore from the sights back over to her companion. Dragon, whatever his real name was, looked more dapper in a suit than she would’ve ever imagined. She was lucky her cheeks were already dusted rosé because one look at him right now resulted in the very same shade. Her hands were folded on her lap, and the soft satin of her [url=https://dbrweddings.com/media/catalog/product/m/a/manu-garcia-2022-mg3319-beaded-french-sleeves-olive-green-satin-high-slit-evening-gown_01.jpg]dress[/url] was like a caress to her hands. Dragon’s assistant had picked it out for her, as Nova was too busy to go dress shopping on top of everything. It’s not like she knew what to wear to a party in France, at the Louvre, anyway. 

In a way, it felt odd to go to a party and drink cocktails and possibly throw in a flirtation or two toward Dragon while Stella was still not found. Guilt had it’s nasty claws in Nova. Yet she also knew this event was important for networking as well, and establishing further relationships between Voidlight, The Louvre and possibly the Lennox family. And who better to send than the Vice President and his arm candy, Ms. gathered-from-the-basement? In reality, she knew her personal invitation stemmed from her role in getting the girls and Nick back. She had a bit of social anxiety about such a big event, and the woman briefly wondered if she should inform Dragon about it. 

Though, he might already know everything about her. She was sure he had her screened entirely before allowing her to be an agent for him. To be in the know. To bide her time, she speculated what would be in the file. Has a cat. Owns an alarming amount of houseplants. Caffeine intake is at its very best concerning. May require additional feedback on how to ensure no strands of hair fall from a bun. Her eye twitches when colleague ‘B’ is closeby, may need further medical investigation to find the cause. Heartrate picks up when presented with pictures of the Vice President.

Right, this was going nowhere. But the car was steadily approaching the Louvre. Big lights were already visible as the car slowed to a crawl, getting in line with other cars waiting to unload the VIP’s. While the entire world had modernised at a shockingly fast pace, Paris had a knack for remaining old and classy, like being transported 50 years back in time. There seemed to be a red carpet, as lights kept flashing, photographing people in front of a massive banner. She looked at Dragon again, her chest constricting for various reasons. [color=peachpuff]”It seems a bit… hectic.”[/color] she admitted nervously as her hands on her lap started fidgeting.