Summertime Sadness [summer 1995]

[Odilè Bouvier]

beau chevalier.
1995 outskirts and gardens of the chevalier's summer house.


The grass was languid against her supple fingers- dainty wings in movement and sense. A berating sun blatantly filtered daylight upon the garden below, illuminating its path with a splendid golden glow. It was tranquil- the garden with it's flourish of honeysuckle and daisies, wildflowers, strawberry patches, vines and various statues instituted around the area. The only sounds emitting was a burbling fountain and the occasional chip of a cricket, the rest only sublime nature. Nothing else mattered in honesty, such scene was not to be disturbed.

A woman of exotic taste allowed herself to remain shielded by tall wild grass, white sundress a dire contrast against the dappled green. She was tall if not slim- her skin a dewy golden from excess sunlight and hair sleek. The only insecurity for such figure was her scowling face, pinched nose and upturned mouth. Such putrid expression ruined the overall aura of the fifteen year old daughter, and the white-rimmed sunglasses were the only things sheltering her penetrating horrible gaze from continuing to ruining the picture.

Odilè’s mother and stepfather were currently visiting the Chevaliers, nonchalantly dragging their middle child with them. Perhaps it was at this rare moment when Odile bitterly wished herself to be like her older and younger sister. Maëlle didn’t live with them, so she was out of the picture. Cèsarine was spending the summer with her father and that left Odilè to follow wherever her mother had wanted her to go to. And that meant the Chevalier’s.

The thing about the Chevalier’s, was that they were family friends- and you could not deny that. Lilè’s stepfather was close to Sir Chevalier, and both continued to roll around in their achievements whilst the wives would titter on about fashion or pastries. And the most instructive of ideas was that Odilè of all people, was betrothed! This was Lilè for crying out loud- dire and manipulative Lilè who did not commit to anything but herself. And finding a husband at fifteen? It had been absurd. Of course it was all grandmamma Bouvier’s doing- she wanted her grandchildren to commit to a proper path unlike her pathetic son who’s first wife had committed suicide and his second having four husbands in less than 15 years.

Lilè had found out not too long ago, a week to be exact and from then on it had been a tornado of curses, tantrums, sassy retorts and all over chaos. Odilè was not going to allow anyone to choose who she wanted to marry- hell Odilè wasn’t even sure whether she wanted to marry in the first place. But she was going to, and it was Beau Cheavlier out of all people. And there was nothing wrong with Beau, but she stilled hated the idea nonetheless.

She hummed a simple tune, allowing herself to bask under the sun’s rays. It was a wonderful day and she was not going to let her supposed lover get in the way of her tranquil tanning time. Summer was over in another 3 weeks, and she was to leave the summer house within another week and a half. Making good use of the southern french sun was a needed- yet her mind remained sour and putrid over the news given to her only too recently. Sunlight blastered upon her lazing figure and Odilè couldn’t help but allow her expression to remain in a scowl.

“Merde.” She whispered to herself, stretching her limbed body against the grass. “Merde, merde, [i]merde.”

[Beau Chevalier]

Summer time was usually Beau’s favorite time of the year. It was when he was able to escape from the chaos that was Beauxbatons, and spend some quality self time in the sun at his family’s summer home. Usually he would sleep till lunchtime, take his time enjoying the hot jets of water that drummed down on him during his morning shower before he joined his parents and siblings in the séjour for lunch. Only today it seem everyone but Beau had a different idea. The middle child of Merci and Leroy Chevalier was woken to his older brother Louis pounding away at his door, informing Beau that if everyone else was up then he should be too. Beau was only able to manage a ten-minute shower before Louis was barging through the door, demanding his brother hurry up because they were all waiting for him. The next eight minutes was spent throwing blue cargo shorts on, with a white t-shirt before he exited his room, not forgetting to brush his hair on the way out.

Beau knew why his usual routine was being disrupted, and he didn’t like it one bit, but there was a difference between liking it and having a choice. Sighing lightly, Beau rounded the corner to find the Chevalier’s and the Bouvier’s minus one sitting in a cluster of chair chatting over breakfast. Grabbing a piece of toast, Beau approached his mother and bent to plant a small kiss on her cheek, “Mère du matin.[1]” He murmured, before she slumped into the chair next to her, nibbling at his toast. His mother responded by the usual pat on the hand and a ruffle on the hand, which earned him a snort from his brother, before she went back to her conversation with Jocelynn Bouvier, and he could only guess what they were talking about – wedding preparations, even though the wedding wasn’t planned until his betrothed had finished school.

It had been a few days since the news had been broken to the seventeen and fifteen year olds and to say the two had been avoiding each other would be an understatement. Beau had only seen the brunette’s head at least once over the last three days, and it was obvious she had been hauled up in her room probably throwing those tantrums Odile was famous for. His thoughts had obviously been written all over his face because his younger sister Addie appeared on the arm of his chair like a flash with an all to familiar look on her face, “She’s sitting down by the pool if you want to go talk to her.” The sixteen year old said, clearly trying to piss her parents off by speaking English. She really did have good intentions, but Beau just shook his head and left the room to clear his head.

Ten minutes later Beau found himself exactly where he hadn’t wanted to be, near Odile. It was clear the girl was wallowing in the mind-set that Beau felt, and the next thing he knew he was approaching the girl and sitting a few meters behind her with his feet planted out in front of him and his arms resting lazily on top of his knees. He didn’t say a word for what seemed like forever, but the silence finally got to him and Beau sighed, “I really had no idea what they had planned.” He murmured into the croak of his arm, his thick accent making itself present in the English language.

[ Click for OOC Comment ]

[1] morning mother

[Odilè Bouvier]

A shadowy figure overcast the tanning teenager and behind the wide-rimmed sunglasses, Lile allowed her eyes to peel open the slightest to catch a glimpse at her intruder. It was he himself- her lovely husband of such. Part of fifteen year olds mind contemplated just punching him there and then for even existing and proceeding to mess up her perfect world. She however said nothing nor removed her position of comfort as he sat down near her. Allowing her arms to gracefully lift itself to land above her head, she partially shielded the sun from her face.

"Parents are stupid." was Odile's only reply as she continued to lounge out like a cat- basking upon the suns rays. Her words were languid and lazy. "There are no words to describe how angry I am. I don't want to end up with you, I don't want to end up with anyone." Her voice was soft as she replied back in French, yet all the whilst, Odile never rose to physically address Beau as if lying on the ground was much more important than facing her betrothed.

[Beau Chevalier]

He didn’t know why he felt the need to comfort, or rather pled his case to this girl who had been nothing but a nuisance since their parents had befriend all those years back, with her child like tantrums and demands, but he did and Beau was nothing but that. A guy who comforted those in need, even if it did have self-motive written all over it in painfully red marker.

Beau was a little taken aback by the tone of Odile’s voice, well the lack of it really. Usually Odile Bouvier spoke with such animosity towards himself and nearly everyone else but her younger sister Cesarine, that it came as quite a surprise to Beau the way the younger girl spoke. Much like he does with his younger sister Addie when she is sad, Beau had the sudden urge to wrap his abnormally long arms around the girl, but he refrained, incase suddenly socked him the nose.

Clearing his throat, Beau watched the way the sun streamed through the tree ahead of them and shone down on Odile as he spoke, “You know, I wouldn’t apposed to you seeing other people, even when we have been, ahh, married.” He didn’t realise how much those word hurt to say until they were said, and it was obvious by the crack in his tone that it hurt, “If it made you happy that is.” He added, trying to make light of what he just said.

[Odilè Bouvier]

She shot up suddenly with such force that Odile was certain that a ligament had been torn. Did he really just say that? Her expression was an audiable fact of shock, even bemusement as she stared at the older boy before her. It was rare to see such individual as Odile Bouvier to have a state of ludicrous shock presented on her off-guarded face. His tender tone of dejection surpassed Odile who only heard that one phrase. "Could we?"

[Beau Chevalier]

Odile’s sudden movements frightened Beau, like a lioness suddenly popping out from behind a rock to pounce on her pray, and of course like any stalked zebra, Beau ran, well not literally, more like scuttled back a few inches before he stopped and realized what he was doing. Blushing lightly, the poor boy ran a hand through his already ruffled hair before he nodded, “Well yes.” He responded, “but that doesn’t mean that its right, or that we’d get away with it, “ he quickly added, “but it’s a possibility I’m willing to take if it means you’ll be happy.” even if it means sacrificing my happy ending , he silently added.

Beau sighed quietly, how could he ever be happy, he’ll eventually be stuck in a loveless marriage, and if they are able to pull his idiotic suggestion off he’ll never be able to find someone who’d be willing to be with his fully if they found out he was married. It’s not exactly a win, win situation.

[Odilè Bouvier]

His sudden intent efforts to back away from her caught Odile off guard and a thick eyebrow allowed itself to raise upon her tanned face. She was the dominant individual between the two- or so Odile liked to think. The corners of her full lips twitched and a smirk broke out against her harsh features. How cute. She leant against her arms, palms splayed flat against the grass behind her to support her weight.

"Do you really mean that though? Nothing to tell me? Come on darling, we're practically in love now. Arn't we meant to be honest?" She presented Beau the most sickeningly sweet and oh so sarcastic smile that Odile could ever muster and fixed her coal gaze at him, intently curious whether he truly meant these words or not. She could tell that he was not being entirely truthful- it was a gift more or less.

[Beau Chevalier]

"Don't, don't say it like that." Beau suddenly roared his french accent thick and strong, moving up and away from Odile, Beau's contorted slightly between too many emotions to count. "This isn't how its supposed to be." he said, grabbing at his hair and pulling, "love isn't supposed to be like this, and you-" he pointed at Odile, " being... y-you doesn't help." His rant ending before he fell into a heap where he had been standing, his head falling forward so his chin touched his neck, "this isn't how is supposed to be." he murmured.

"Yah know I actually had the intentions on coming out here to see if I could make this whole ordeal better for you," Beau stated, his head flipping up to glare at Odile, "but now I'm really considering taking my offer back." Shaking his head, he flopped towards the side rather lazily and buried his face in the grass.

[Odilè Bouvier]

"Hey now, what's gotten into you?" Odile stated, a little surprised by his sudden outburst but not scared however. She instead, allowed a mocking expression to grace at her heavy features. "You think I want to marry someone, want to fall in love. I'm too good for you, too good for anybody. Our parents were drunk, it's the only explanation." Odile uttered these words with a lazed expression as she watched her to be fiance express his anger in means of pursuing his face into the grass. "Now darling, don't act too distressed. You can shag whoever you want for now- and so will I. When we both finish school which is at least a few years away, we can start to stress. For now, let's just... relax about it." Her words were suprisingly calm for someone who had thrown a 500,000 euros vase down two flights of stairs only two days ago.

[Beau Chevalier]

Beau’s only reply to the brunette’s first question was a rather unBeau like snort and another shake of his head before he rolled over onto his back to watch the cloud move above him. Rolling his eyes, Beau couldn’t help the smile that grazed his face before he laughed lightly, “You know you awfully optimistic for someone who was all too ready drown themselves in my family’s pool not too long ago.” Picking at the grass beside him, Beau suddenly realized that Odile had quite a bit of maturity and logic to her when she tried, and he realized things wouldn’t be too bad if she acted like that at least half the time they were together. “’reckon they’ll all be in there deciding what colour table cloths we’ll be having at this grand wedding of ours.” He said with a flourish of his hand.

[Odilè Bouvier]

"I'm a girl full of surprises." the brunette shrugged, flipping her coffee-stained hair behind her shoulder. Her tapered cobalt blue eyes fixed upon Beau, as if scrutinizing him. Lile of course, was still raging mad at the whole ordeal but she had to admit- at least her betrothed was good-looking. For Odile would be sure to ram herself straight into a wall if her to be husband resembled that of a frog. "Probably, or discussing children names."

[Beau Chevalier]

Snorting once again, Beau allowed a small, only a small, chuckle to escape before he replied, “Yes, yes you are.” His voice flat, giving no room for Odile to think that he meant anything by it, she really was full of surprises. Picking a small lump of grass, Beau threw it down towards his towards as toes as Odile. The prospect of children had never really interested Beau before, but as if the prospect of marrying Odile was like having a v-sectomy, he blanched his face paling before he recovered, “I quite like the name Reef for a boy.” He said as if they were simply discussing the weather.

[Odilè Bouvier]

"Reef?" Odile said, almost stuttering in process. They were to name their probably to be child after a biological clump of a-biotic processes. "Well I mean it's jazzy and all but it's hardly French and you know what our parents would say." Odile said, almost a little bitter as she in turn, threw a shallow clump of long grass at Beau's direction. "And I suppose you want out daughter to be called Coral, am I right?"

[Beau Chevalier]

Odile's reaction to Beau's suggestion of Reef as their future son's name was priceless and this time the seventeen year old couldn't help the large bellowing laugh that escaped, and he really felt no need to stop it either. Once his laugh had died down, Beau rolled over onto his side and stared at Odile. She really wasn't that bad looking, actually if you squinted you could see the genuinely beautiful girl hiding behind the sneers and glares. Sighing loudly, Beau huffed, "To be honest Odile, after this whole ordeal I'd be quite happy to be disowned then go through my whole adult life having to listen to my father and your Grandmama. Especially about naming our children." Quirking his lips, Beau shook his lip, "Nope I was thinking something along the lines of Blue for a girl, or Isla perhaps. " Shrugging his shoulders he turned to Odile, "What about you any names picked for our future children?" He asked with a smirk.

[Odilè Bouvier]

"We are so provoking and thoughtful, thinking about the names of our next kid." Odile said with a flourish, allowing her head to roll back against her neck, dappled sunlight blaring down at her exposed face. He was chivalrous- Odile would give him the credit for that. He was brave, bold- if not a little brawny. "You know what would happen, right? We'd become...poor." Such words were uttered with a personification of fear. Odile had been poor once upon a time- before her mother had married that of noble blood. It was not a proper indulgement, it was not something she'd look forwards to going back to.

A ponder fused against her expression as he directed the question towards her. Children had been the least on Odile's mind- and secretly she wasn't sure whether she even wanted any. "Ilsa's nice. I like the name Kara, or Paradis. And for a son- I wouldn't give a Merlin's pants so you can choose."

[Beau Chevalier]

Beau had to agree, they were really getting quite a head of themselves, presuming that they would even get the chance to have kids. Odile might have ended up strangling him with her demands before they get the chance to slip the ring on each other’s finger. Shrugging lightly, Beau watched the curve of Odile’s neck as she lent back, and he had the sudden urge to swipe his tongue across it, before he immediately dismissed the thought. Realizing the sun was starting to get to him, he shook his head and sat up, “I’d fine some way to feed our family.” Beau insisted, refusing to believe his family wouldn’t be able to depend on him.

Laughing, Beau stood and watched Odile from above before he replied, “Those are all nice, but enough about our future baby names. Would you care to join me for a swim?” he asked as casually as possibly, secretly hoping she would.

[Odilè Bouvier]

"You better, otherwise I'm marrying some German actor." Odile snidely remarked, but her lips were laced with a languor of amusement- she was never one to have fun, and express it. It seemed that Beau was one of the fair few to whom she did not have some sort of noticeable problem with. Other than of course, the fact that they were to live with each other for the remainder of their life. As Beau stood, a waver of curiosity clutched Odile as she gazed up at him. A swim? Odile? Oh wasn't he so forwards... She smirked, and too rose from the ground. "Wanting to see me in a bathing suit so badly?"