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Alyssum Second's Office — La Rose Sauvage
Situated on the ground floor, the room has tall casement windows that open out onto the south-westerly facing grounds of La Rose Sauvage. Soft white muslin drapes filter out the heat of the sun in the summer, and during the cooler months the heavier drapes of cream that hang at the sides add a layer of warmth to the room. The floor is of burnished golden oak, laid over with an Akkadian wool rug in muted shades of creams and golds. A desk of pale ash wood stands in the center of the room, its surface kept clear save for whatever contracts and paperwork relating to the running of the Salon might need to be dealt with at any one time. A small fireplace is on the eastern wall, and warms the office with a cheery brightness during long winter evenings, and a wider than average mantel above is the perfect spot for the numerous flower displays that are to be found there.
A tall bookcase filled with books on a variety of subjects stands on the wall opposite to the fireplace, and alongside it is a white-painted door that leads through to the Second's private chambers.
A note had been sent to Marielle, summoning her to the White Rose Second's office. No signature, no name, just that message is written on the small piece of paper in an admittedly masculine hand. As soon as the White Rose courtesan enters the chamber, she will note that the seat across from the desk is for once not occupied by the familiar veiled figure of Olivia, but… the rather unveiled intense presence that is Jacques Verreuil nó Rose Sauvage, formerly in charge of the Thorns but since a few months ago, mainly focusing now on the duties required to lead the salon as a whole. Dark eyes scan Marielle, as Jacques remains seated, leaned comfortably against the backrest of the chair. He wears a black shirt in combination with breeches of the same color. The very opposite of the white that defines the interior of this office.
As one expects of a White Rose, with the expensive fabrics and jewels that is Marielle's taste, Marielle arrives perfectly modest, well deceptively modest. This day Marielle wears a dress that is cut in such a way that when she moves skin is flashed. "Hey Ol.." The masculine writing didn't full register for the White Rose. When she sees Jacques Marielle flushes, even through her veils it is visible. He is a strong presence and a Thorn. The flustering is an instinctive reaction from Marielle and likely one of the few times that she legitimately gets flustered. To him she dips into a curtsy. "I.." She starts a moment and gives a gentle shake of her head to cause it to focus, "Hello." Is all she manages to breath out. Around Marielle glances, likely trying to assure she is in the right room.
"Sit down.", Jacques tells her. His demeanor is not unfriendly, but his tone is authoritative and commanding, as would be expected of someone from his background. "Marielle." A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he studies her for a moment. "Obviously, I am not Olivia. In fact, she is the reason that I have summoned you here." Her signals are noted, those flushed cheeks and that soft exhale. She is in the right room, it breathes the very essence and feel of Alyssum. "Marielle. May I ask how old you are?", he asks then, matter-of-factly, dark eyes studying her and her reactions.
The Valerian inclination that is part of Marielle kicks in as she slips into a seat with no questions asked. "She off on a trip?" wonders Marielle. She does not focus to much on what her Second, or fully marqued Courtesans, do. Their time is fully their own, after all. She still stays flushed and gives a small shiver of pleasure as she is studied. She might be very controlled but she does react pretty instantly to looks and touches. "Ah, a couple months shy of turning twenty." A cant of her head is given and she visibly draws from her deceptive skills to put herself in a more collected way. "Why do you ask?"
"Hmmm." Jacques changes his posture a little, sitting up as he rests his hand on the table, palm down. "You are still very young…" Letting that statement hang there in the air for a moment, he smiles. "And yet I can see, you have been trained well. What is your attitude towards the other White Roses, I wonder?" And after ignoring her question about Olivia thus far, he finally has a heart. "Yes. Olivia has decided to leave us. She has left service to Naamah to visit her family and find out how she can be of use to House d'Albert…" The latter he states with a low almost snort. "This is of course acceptable at any time. But she is leaving a vacant spot."
A flush is given at the compliment about her training, "I think very much about this Salon." says the White Rose. At the wonder towards how she is with other White Roses she cants her head in thought, "IT depends on who they are and what they need." A slight smile is given at his reaction of Olivia leaving, "Perhaps she believes it is her place now." says Marielle. "Who is going to fill her spot?" wonders Marielle. Even though she is seems put together and can answer everything with seeming flawlessness her eyes betray her thoughts are a still on the hazey side from his presence. She is, after all, a White Rose who could have been a Red Rose if it wasn't for her being more inclined towards the innocence. She has not made the connection of her being bid to his presence and the vacancy. The 'innocent' flower is likely thinking of more inappropriate things still.
Jacques receives her statement with a lift of his brows, even if his features do not give away anything beyond a faint smile. Perhaps it is the Alyssum side of her that requires a deeper consideration. "You are already helping with instructing the novices?", he wonders. "As for Olivia… and who will fill that spot she left… I am wondering about that myself." Leaving it at that for now, he gives her another appraising look, perhaps toying a little with the White Rose, probing her with his mere glances.
"I have summoned you, because Séverine has recommended you to me," Jacques finally states. "Séverine informed me about how well you and her worked together in arranging a very special fête last year. That you have arranged more events for the White Roses." His smile deepens a little in the moment he refers to the Red Rose Second. "I know, Séverine will miss Olivia. She has told me as much. But… she told me she could envision you as Olivia's successor."
"When I can or am needed." responds Marielle, which likely means when she is not on an assignation or doing other duties. The White Rose flushes even more under his look, she is a White Rose through and through, despite her Valerian tendencies. A blink of surprise is given at the possibility of her becoming Second, "Olivia mentioned she was considering me as her Successor but I did not think Severine also thought me suitable." A hand lifts to give a tug to the veil hiding her face. This calls for a unhindered by veils moment. "I try to think of things to do that will put Rose Sauvage in a good light. I'm very aware we cater to.. more specific tastes."
"Truth be told," Jacques tells her, "I am a bit sceptical that you can pull it off. You are very young for a Second. You have to convince me, so…" He smirks ever so faintly. His gaze glows a little with dark fire when she reaches for her veil to remove it. "I will be giving you this chance, Marielle. And yes. Rose Sauvage is special, and we attract a certain clientele. All I want to know is… do you wish to become Second? Would you like to claim that position? If you are reluctant to accept the offer, I shan't be mad at you."
In a rare moment of showing that she is also noble born Marielle drops the 'White Rose' in her she she says, quiety bluntly but gently, "I have no hesitation of accepting. It has been my goal since I became old enough to understand what it means." Marielle is an ambitious White Rose and clearly rarely admits such things. "I was considering what I could do to assure my spot as Olivia's successor." There is no shame in her admission. she is, after all, being completely honest with Jacques in this moment. Her veil hides nothing since she removed it. Though, her lashes are lowered as she watches his reactions. She is still flushed and trembling slightly in reaction to his presence.
No more veils, no more games. It is an adequate moment, to discard them, now that Jacques has posed that grave question, which requires a totally honest reply. Her honesty is appreciated, even as he narrows his eyes just so, perceptive of the subtle change in her bearing and tone. "Ambition is good," he tells her. "In fact, it is what brings us ahead in life. Thank you for showing me the true Marielle, I believe I can entrust her with the position." It may be a light jest, but it goes along with an intense look into her eyes before his gaze sweeps over her frame, taking in her body language. "Perhaps you may show me the other Marielle occasionally, if this would please you." A thorny bait indeed, but he offers it nonetheless. "So, if you are agreeable to take the position. It is yours. This here shall become your office, and it fits you so much better than me. I expect weekly reports on contracts, but apart from that, I trust you will run the White Rose branch as you like."
The sweep over her form causes Marielle to instinctively arch under his gaze and flush deeply. Her training as a White Rose, as an Alyssum, is very ingrained into her even if she shows the noble Rousse bloodline she was born from. The offer causes the eyes of Marielle to darken with pleasure. "You have always had the right to see whatever side of me you wished." That is more of a Valerian response, likely, than White Rose. There is no innocence to the words just in how her reactions are. "I will assure you have the reports on your desk before the week ends." With Marielle that likely means minutes before midnight on the last day of the week so she can assure she has down to the minute contracts on it.
"Fine then." Jacques meets that gaze, and his eyes darken as well, for a moment, before his expression hardens and he moves to stand. "It will be on me to decide, when and if I want to explore these sides," the Dowayne of Rose Sauvage informs Marielle. He vacates the seat and gestures for her to take it. "I shall expect your first report." With that said, he leaves her to her new office.