#clairmontblooded

November 7, it was a day Isabella dreaded more than anything. It's been a year now and the closer that day got the more restless she got. She had thought about leaving, going far far away from everyone but in the end, she did not have it in her to leave her family around this time of the year. Perhaps she was also scared of drowning in her grief all alone. Isabella was more quiet than usual, she hid herself away in a fairly abandoned corner of Sept-Tours. The place seemed so cold and quiet and she knew he would have hated it. He had always been the life of a room, the bright light. But now the light was gone. She smelled him before she heard or saw him; Matthew. Part of her wanted to run to be alone but another part of her wanted nothing more than to have company.

And so she stayed until he found her.

@clairmontblooded : "I know today is difficult for you"

She clenched her jaw, not looking up at her brother yet. "It is difficult for all of us," she said quietly, not wanting to claim the grief all for herself. Her mother was suffering, her siblings were grieving as well. But her... Isabella always tried to be a source of positivity but right now she could not find it in her.

In the weeks since Philippe's death, Ysabeau hadn't left her bedroom. More often than not she could be found sitting in the large bay window, staring blankly out at the grounds of Sept-Tours, fiddling unconsciously with her scribble ring. An anniversary gift from her husband hundreds of years past, inscribed with words of love, and now one of the only things she had left of him. She neither ate nor slept.

Marthe came to her often, trying to gently convince her that she needed to feed. When no amount of wheedling could get the new widow to go out hunting, her friend started bringing in cups of blood for her to drink from so she could at least get some sustenance. Those would go untouched and Ysabeau's sculpted features turned wan and gaunt, with deep shadows etched under her green eyes.

Every person in his life was of use to him. And most people he also cared about. There was no greater love, however, than his Ysabeau and although he had been highly disappointed that his mate would create a child without his consent, Philippe did not have it in his heart to be mad for long. How could he when Matthew had brought her such joy despite everything? He was a threat to the secret he had kept for centuries but he was also someone that could be of great use to him. And so he allowed his existence.

Philippe spent the day in his study, looking at maps and writing letters. His children had been given duties of their own, gathering information for him or asserting power in his name. But not Matthew, not this time. Ysabeau was once again gone, needing space. Though used to it, he never found it to be easy. This, however, was the first time him and Matthew would be alone.

@clairmontblooded : "Can I trust you?"

Isabella enjoyed many things in her life and she was not ashamed to admit that she had a weakness for tourneys. There was so much to love about them, truly. Even though it was still impossible for her to truly blend in, it still felt like she had a chance to mingle properly. She looked at her brother then, smiling a little when he said,

@clairmontblooded : If he wins, the knight has the right to name his Queen of Love and Beauty. And at the feast, they shall dance.

"Queen of Love and Beauty? That sounds like a marvelous title to gain." She would likely be able to trick a fine knight into giving her that title although she felt like that would take all the fun out of it. A small chuckle fell from her lips. "Perhaps you should win this joust, dear brother. I am sure there are many fine ladies who would for you to name her your queen."

@clairmontblooded // meme

Baldwin doesn’t answer immediately,Matthew’s words hang in the air — deceptively simple, irritatingly serene, the kind of philosophical softness Baldwin has no patience for… except when it comes from him and that is precisely why Baldwin’s reply carries weight rather than dismissal.

He turns his head slightly, studying Matthew with that cool, incisive gaze that has cut down far more dangerous men than his brother.

A low exhale falls, almost a scoff, but quieter. Measured.

"Paths are also erased by standing still"He stepped closer, not confrontational, but with the authority of someone who has led armies and families and crises Matthew never saw.

"You walk because you can afford to.I walk because stopping is not an option."His eyes narrow, not in anger — in recognition. "You choose your paths.I clear them."

There’s a flicker of something like wry amusement, the ghost of a smile that never fully forms. "But you already knew that, Matthew."

And then, softer — the closest Baldwin ever gets to admitting anything resembling respect:

breaking dawn / @clairmontblooded

It's cloudy today. Yet warm. Or, rather, as warm as it can be around these parts of the world. A small breeze tugs at her hair as they walk. Quiet words and other such philosophical musings interspersed with companionable silence.

There's a lot on her mind. There always is. Her mind is always racing from one thing - her thesis, aptly named: Empowerment and vampire literature: an examination of female vampire characters as a cultural response to oppression - to the next - whether or not werewolves and vampires could mate and what the world's response to that would be - with little to no breaks in between.

The gift and the curse of being brilliant, she supposes.

"Freyja take a photograph of us, please" she handed her phone to stand on Matthew's left putting her hand on his shoulder. Only four every year were selected as a Senior Research Fellow so before his term ended she wanted a picture. Someone else would be given the honour next year.

"I'm sorry" Matthew kissed the side of Armand's head before the picture. Well, he was sorry but maybe Armand would think it worth it to be past of Ysabeau's mantle piece.

"Tria, Dio, Ena (three, two, one) " Freyja counted and snapped the picture.

"I have to attend to my students" Matthew tried to leave. No, he'd have to stand there for another photograph, another parent was asked to take their photo, ladies on the left and Armand on Matthew's right.

"Maman, we have to attend to students." And with that finally they were free to scold students on robes, help with hairpins, it was such a high honour to be a Fellow but it also meant ensuring those wearing the All Souls emblem looked prestigious and presentable for their photographs. It would be a long day, the ceremony in Bodleian would finally begin and Matthew put his arm around Armand for a quick sideways embrace before he'd take his place with the other three to hand degrees and shake hands. Long, long day.

Ysabeau would come and sit next to Armand in her saved seat, Matthew's sister was more interested in acquiring a new historical dagger than to watch students get their degrees.

"He makes such a stunning image in his collegiate robes does he not?" She whispered to Armand.

From the stand Matthew was staring trying to hear what she was saying.

@clairmontblooded

Armand was certain that almost no one could be prouder right now than he (maybe Ysabeau, maybe Armand would give her the crown of being the proudest person around). Anyway, Armand wore his head a little higher than usual today, now that his companion had been given the honour of being a Senior Research Fellow. 

One of Armand’s hands traced over the small of Matthew’s back while lifting his gaze to give the ancient vampire a little smile. “Listen to her and look prouder,” he mouthed while giving Matthew a little wink. Naturally, Armand knew how he was supposed to stand and which angle he was supposed to show for the perfect picture. 

He didn’t blink anymore, and he also stopped breathing for show, so nothing could ruin the overall view. And frankly, Armand wasn’t even sure why Matthew apologized. For the first time in his life, Armand experienced something like a family dynamic. No matter how foreign it still was to him, something about the warmth Ysabeau radiated whenever she was around Matthew drew him in more than it should, even though Armand could tell that she was a proud, strong woman you don’t want to mess with.

Unlike Matthew, Armand found it endearing, and he stood there completely still until all the photos were taken. Or better said, until Matthew complained enough to be released. The younger vampire followed Matthew, who attended to his students, just to scold them on their robes or other things. “You are nagging too much, καρδιά μου.” He gave Matthew a teasing little smirk before getting onto his tiptoes. When no one was looking, he placed a quick kiss on Matthew’s cheek before they had to sit in different places.

Armand quickly went back to his seat and saved one for Ysabeau, from where they were able to follow the ceremony perfectly. Maybe Armand was still a little too proud. In fact, he felt his heart swelling and his nose lifted a little more. That was his companion right there. Attractive. Strong. And more than just smart. Matthew had brains like no other. And right now, Armand wasn’t even certain what attracted him the most. Perhaps the entire package?

“He does. I’m so proud of him. He worked so hard and diligently,” Armand whispered back after leaning a little closer to the blond woman. His amber-coloured eyes wandered over to Matthew for a second or two. Was he trying to figure out what Ysabeau and Armand were talking about? The younger vampire smirked a bit, lifted his hand, and covered his mouth a bit from the view as he leaned in to whisper into Ysabeau’s ear: “He looks like he is trying to figure out what we are talking about.” Armand lowered his hand again and laughed very softly. He then sat back in his normal position with his hands on his lap in a perfect, straight posture. His bright amber-coloured eyes found Matthew’s blue ones again before he gave his companion a quick, almost unnoticeable wink.

Ysabeau looked up at Matthew with a small smile, and one of her smaller hands came to rest on one of the ones he had cupping her face. Philippe was sending him to the Holy Roman Empire on one of his covert assignments, and he would no doubt be gone for some time. She would miss him, as she always did when one of her children were away. Perhaps more than she would have missed Louis or Louisa, although she did not want to admit to herself that she favored Matthew above his siblings.