RP: Going for a visit

[shh_millicent]

Date: November 16, 2004
Character(s): Ella, Millicent, Gilderoy, Julian
Location: House on G-street, the Five Alarm
Status: Private
Summary: While Mummy is sleeping, Ella decides to go and visit Mr Bunny Man
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_millicent]

The feeling of Gilderoy holding her almost made her cry. No matter how she tried, Millicent couldn't remember ever being held like this. There seemed to be no ulterior motive, he didn't attempt to seduce her, he just...held her.

The feeling was quite overwhelming.

Too weak to stop herself from melting into the touch, Millicent relaxed against him, nodding slowly when he asked her of the mittens and socks. She had used them, and Ella felt better because of it.

She obediently took the sandwich he offered, and tried to eat even as her stomach protested wildly at the thought of food. Even in this state she knew she had to eat - for Ella's sake, at least.

Still worried about Avery's presence, Millicent looked up at him, holding his gaze with hers without backing down. She wanted him to know she had her eyes on him, that he couldn't do anything. It was a warning that meant nothing as she didn't have her wand, but then he didn't know that.

She nearly choked on the sandwich Gilderoy gave her as he spoke, her eyes wide with shock as he mentioned the word employer. Not knowing how to feel or where to look, Millicent looked from Gilderoy to Avery back to Gilderoy and then to Ella as she ran into the room.

'I found honey!' she exlaimed happily, running directly over to Gilderoy with it.

[shh_gilderoy]

"It's all right, Millicent," Gilderoy told her, smoothing back her hair some more. He gave her a kiss on her forehead. "He's my partner."

The tension between Marcel and Millicent left Gilderoy somewhat perplexed. If course he wouldn't remember whether they knew each other or not. But if they knew each other, certainly they would be friends. And if they did not know each other, then there would be no reason for this unspoken standoff.

It was a good thing that Ella came bounding in with a small jar of honey. "Aah! excellent! He said cheerfully. Here, why don't you put some of that on a muffin and give it to your mummy. She needs something sweet and good that will fill her up."

When Ella came closer, Gilderoy relaxed his grip on Millicent and moved away to leave room for her daughter. After he noticed Ella had settled in completely, he stood and went over to the doorway that led to the kitchen. "I'm just going to check things out in here, and then we'll be on our way. Julian and I have a lot of work to do today!"

[shh_avery]

Julian felt a flutter of worry as he watched Gilderoy leave the room. Ms. Bulstrode hadn't revived fully yet, but it was always unwise to underestimate a Slytherin, doubly so if they were a Death Eater. He had noted the suspicion in her eyes - only a fool could have missed it - but spoke more of defensiveness than aggression. In many respects, that made her even more dangerous.

Keeping his demeanour personable, despite the pointlessness of it, Julian smiled lightly. "Yes, we are partners." He resisted the urge to make that more pointed... barely. "The idea is his brainchild, but I'm providing much of the capital and experience. I'm sure you recall the multiple businesses the Averys used to hold. Serendipitously, Gilderoy and I were about to view a property for this venture. From what I hear, it's in good shape, so you should be able to begin working soon." He allowed his voice to soften briefly, although his gaze never strayed from hers. "I'm sure it will be a relief to have steady work, both for yourself and your lovely daughter. I trust Gilderoy's intuition for people. He reassures me that you'll make an excellent seamstress. Because of that, I'm willing to advance your first earnings, once we have revenue of course. It should help you settle into your new job nicely, yes?"

The last bit was both a subtle olive branch to a former comrade, and a dutiful reminder of their relative positions. Julian could tell that if he presented the right mixture of authority and leniency, Millicent Bulstrode would be a good worker and a small threat to him. She didn't seem like the type overly concerned with power structures, if she knew her place within them.

[shh_millicent]

Millicent started when Gilderoy left her side. Suddenly she felt alone again, even with Ella sitting next to her, spreading honey on the muffin (and herself a fair bit too).

Millicent took the offered muffin, but kept her eyes on Julian Avery, trying to figure out what he wanted.

'Mr Muffin Man buyed the muffins,' Ella said happily, which made Millicent frown as she tried to understand.

When she did she glanced down at the muffin with suspicion, then back at Avery who was now talking. She was uneasy, but what he said sounded fair. Money in advance could be useful, as she needed to pay for food, and at least he didn't seem to want to hurt her. She nodded, if still on her guard.

'Thank you,' she said softly, although she didn't specify if she meant the muffin of the advance in pay.

[shh_gilderoy]

Oh, everything was just perfectly peachy!!!

Gilderoy beamed at his own heroics. "Marvelous! You are going to make a tremendously fantastic clothier, Miss Bulstrode. I wait in great anticipation to see how you interpret my designs."

He went over to Julian's side and smiled up at the man. "I think it's about time the Muffin man and I went and conducted some business," he said with just a slightly suggestive tone and a purse of his lips at the end of his sentence.

Looking back down to Ella, he smiled again. "Remember your promise, Miss Ella. You're to take care of your mummy and make sure she eats." He looked up at Millicent. "At least two meals a day. And those are full meals. Not just a slice of bread or a carrot. Full meals. Either at Socks or at the Five Alarm. I can also arrange to have some other provisions sent to you if you'd rather prepare your own meals."

With everything in his mind perfectly in place for his plans to proceed, and an astounding admiration for alliteration, Gilderoy patted Julian on the arm and nodded toward the front door. "Be sure you eat all of those muffins and the sandwiches. I don't want to hear that you've skipped out on eating even one of them. And you know your Miss Ella will come to me and report if you've been neglect in following directions."

He saluted the two women with a click of his heels and a flourish of his arm, and then headed out the door.

[shh_avery]

Bowing formally, Julian said in reply to Millicent's gratitude, "You're welcome, Madam. If you think about it, it makes for good business. Staffing is part of ones resources. It only makes sense to keep your employees healthy and happy." They were making a tentative connection on a Slytherin level, so it also made sense to frame things in a logical business perspective. He couldn't resist a small smile to Ella, however. "Besides, I do believe the rabbits prefer your Miss Ella to no-one else for their brushing needs. Unhappy rabbits grow distressed fur." To say the atmosphere had relaxed would have been inaccurate, but Julian felt a sort of tentative peace.

Then Gilderoy came bouncing in with his usual boisterous charm.

Julian had to work some to hide his smile, despite wincing at that blasted nickname. Next he had to fight a small bit of colouring to his cheeks. He knew it was a bit hypocritical to make subtle little claims one moment, then fidget when they were returned, but there were just some things an employee didn't need to know. That her bosses might be stuffing more than just payscrolls was one of them. Clearing his throat a bit self-consciously, Julian bowed again before following Gilderoy.

"Ms. Bulstrode, Miss Ella, have a safe and pleasant evening."

That hadn't been quite what he had in mind for an employee interview, but Julian was nothing if not flexible. A trait which he felt would come in very handy in his future ventures with Gilderoy Lockhart.

[shh_millicent]

Millicent watched them both leave, her body tense and aching now that the pain potion had left her system. She watched Ella waive happily to them, and pushing the muffing on her.

Taking a bite she forced herself to swallow, her mind running in a million directions at once.

Julian fucking Avery was going to be her employer, and he had bought her muffins. He seemed to like Ella enough, but then Millicent remembered him from visit to the house when she was a child. He'd never been cruel to her in any way, but pleasant. Mostly he'd just ignored her though, which he certainly didn't to Ella.

'Mr Muffin Man is almost as nice as Mr Bunny Man,' Ella said, as she pushed at her hand to make her eat. 'Eat Mummy,' she then ordered firmly.

Looking down on her daughter, Millicent followed directions, forcing down the food into a stomach that howled in protest. A thought nagged her mind, and when it dawned on her, she went pale.

'Ella where did you meet Mr Bunny Man and...' she frowned at the nickname, 'Mr Muffin Man?' she asked.

'At Mr Bunny Man's house,' Ella said happily. 'Me and dragon goed there,' she added.

Suddenly, Millicent felt nauseous for a completely other reason than food and potions.