These hands are small i know (brave)

[Draco Malfoy]

Charlotte Lillian Raine

Charlotte gripped the scrub brush in her tiny palms tightly, grimacing at the thick smell of lye as she scrubbed the black tiles. Her hands were blistered and red from the highly corrosive material that she scrubbed with. Her knees were red and sore from leaning down on them for so long, but luckily she was almost done. Hopefully she'd get the room cleaned and aired out before Henry could return. After a few more moments she paused and cracked her knuckles before leaning back on her heels and stretching, one arm straight up in the air with other hand at her elbow and bent behind her head. Her back arched as far as was physically possible in a deep stretch.

Afterwards, Lottie sighed and stood, straightening her way to poofy skirt and stuffy shirt. Her skirt had a white petty coat beneath the black fabric that made it shorter than she would have liked in the back. Her black blouse was buttoned to her throat, almost choking her with every harsh movement. She wore thigh high tights and a garter beneath her uniform because they didnt need to be constantly adjusted like pantyhose did. The head maid constantly nit-picked at her uniform, even to the point where she would redo the laces of the god-awful corset she was forced to wear beneath her blouse. The maid's of the Calvert house hold were supposed to be "better than avoxes" with their prim and proper looks, straight backs and pretty faces. Some of the other maids were forced to wear push up bras because they were too small in the chest area, not that Lottie ever had that problem but it had to be a pain to have to fill out your shirt just right.

Her raw hands straightened her white apron before throwing her scrub brush into the bucket full of lye-bubbles and turning towards the window. Her ridiculous high heeled oxfords clicked softly around her achy feet as she made her way over to the large window. Her small and slender arms threw open the sapphire curtains swiftly to reveal a courtyard full of bushes that formed a maze that one could easily hide in. She hated going into that maze, anyone could sneak up on her there. She pushed the window open as her cobalt blue eyes searched the grey rolling clouds that seemed to be racing towards the manor. Lottie leaned foward for a better look, her elbows resting on the window seal and her too-short skirt lifting slightly in the back. She sighed in contempt at her job and brushed back the fly away hairs that had fallen out of its pin at the back of her head.
Thoughts: Things are frosty
Tags: brave
Muse: Viva La Vida by Coldplay.
Outfit:]Link! 

[Brave]

living is easy with eyes closed

- - - - misunderstanding all you see - - - -

Henry fucking loved the Hunger Games. Like, a lot. It was the event of the year, especially for the Calvert's, and generally the only time his father was happy to send him down to the betting tables with money that wasn't even his own. He put it all over the place, really, not really caring who he bet on. He generally went for the strongest of the tributes, and the one in the lowest numbered district, yet this time someone from the lower districts had caught his eyes. It was some double reaped tribute with a fantastic sob story that Henry really hadn't cared that much for, but Karolena had practically swooned over it and that had been enough for Henry to blow all his money on the guy, just trying to impress his girlfriend. And he had, for a good fifteen minutes, in which she had even allowed him to kiss her before he, swooning like an idiot, had offered to buy her a drink and she had practically smacked him upside the head and oh, that's right, Karolena didn't drink and Karolena didn't like his parties and No, Henry, I do not want to fool around. As pretty as she was, and as much as their families wanted them to be together, the girl frustrated him to no ends.

She had left with her friends - she always seemed to leave with her friends- and Henry's own had done a terrible job of cheering him up after his epic fail, and in the end Henry had pretty much been left to himself to get (slightly) drunk and then stumble on home (only slightly disoriented) and somehow convince his mother that yes, he was indeed sober and yes, he had used all his money on betting and betting only. She had let him go then, happy as long as he complied to her wishes, and he had plodded his way up the stairs with a sigh. He got halfway up the staircase before his shirt simply became to much of a burden for his body, and he had been quick to pull it over his head as he clambered up the rest of his steps and pushed open the door to his room, his nose wrinkling immediately as he stepped inside the foul smelling place that he had certainly not left smelling so harshly of chemicals.

A quick glance around allowed him to see Charlotte and from there he easily connected the dots, and with a roll of his eyes and an untempered groan (he wasn't good at hiding his upsets) he made his way to the center of the large room and tossed the shirt unceremoniously onto the blue covers. "Jeez it reeks in her, Lottie. I don't know how you stand it, or why mother even allows it when cleaning these rooms. It's such a pain," He had sighed as he went about, throwing open some of the larger windows surrounding his room, opening the doors to his balcony as well to allow complete air exchange. His movements were not as graceful as usual (they never were when he was drunk) and he ended up smacking his hand on the windowsill, only adding to his frustration. A quick glance to his left, however, changed all of that.

Charlotte was standing before him, he'd have to be blind not to notice, and as his frustrations departed, Henry was definitely not blind. While on most occasions the uniforms of the Calvert servants did not flatter the older women who wore them, it was much different when a certain young redhead stood in them, crouched forward at the windowsill, no doubt trying to escape the smell of the lye. His eyes followed her legs from the floor up, his leering unseen from her position, and even in his state of (slight) intoxication, his brain was still capable of making connections where things were important. Charlotte was not Karolena. Charlotte would not push him away, she never did. His heart leaped at the thought, his confidence renewed. He'd show Karolena she was lucky to be in his very presence. He was Henry freaking Calvert, if he wanted a good time, he could get one. He strode over in an easy swagger, his usual charming smile creeping onto his face as he came to stand beside her, very much in her personal space. "That's okay though Lottie. You always manage to still smell nice anyways," And he had widened his smile and softened his eyes and allowed his hand to brush against her hip just slightly, just suggestively, one she didn't even have to take if she didn't want to but why wouldn't she? He was Henry Calvert.

And Henry really loved the fucking Hunger Games.

tag Katie
words 793
lyrics strawberry fields forever - the beatles
credit a girl with kaleidoscope eyes @ caution 2.0
notes yayz for plotting

[Draco Malfoy]

Charlotte Lillian Raine

Charlotte jolted slightly as Henry stormed in the room, stumbling a bit by the sounds of his awkward gate. Her feet moved closer together slightly as she shifted her weight onto one leg, raising her left hip a little higher and dropping the right. She didn't turn even as the sounds of the other windows were being thrown open, she was too immersed within her own mind. She was thinking of home. She missed her dad and the tavern. It would have been packed this time of day, but she was only allowed to go home one weekend every month. The only exception being when the Hunger Games were happening. The Calvert home was filled to the brim almost every night with parties for the duration of the Games and the maids werent allowed to leave until the victor had been crowned. The only upside to the Games in her opinion was that she could steal alcohol without getting caught. Man, she could really use a drink right about then.

Henry's sudden silence coaxed her out of her whirlwind of thoughts. He didnt normally go silent around her unless one of her superiors were in the room, so it was a bit odd to her that he was now. She could feel a tingling at the base of her neck that she reached back to rub just as Henry 's hand brushed her hip. She almost missed the gesture, due to the thickness of the corset. Her cheeks twinged pink as her hands began to work at her apron, slight nervousness spreading throughout her body. She was in a room, alone, with Henry Calvert. Of course she'd crushed on him in the past, she knew he played with people, and being in a room with him when he was drunk, judging be the smell on him, put her in a very awkward position.

If Henry were to put the moves on Lottie, and she refused in a way that left him angry, she would be out on the street. If she accepted and got caught then she would not only be out on the street but be branded a whore. Not that the Capital wasnt full of people who slept around, but for Lottie, well she was already a tavern girl. Being labelled as a whore would make her reputation worse for wear. All this was coupled with the fact that she knew Henry. She wasn't just a maid in the Calvert home. She was his maid specifically. She'd returned to her sleeping quarters late on several occasions because she'd been up talking with him, consoling him when he was upset, and even helping him dress for big events. She knew how he was around other women, knew of his frustration with Karolena, and had witnessed on several occasions of him being downright spoiled. Henry was certainly a charmer, that she was damn sure of, but he also liked to get his way.

She'd known him for almost 3 years now, to the point of him giving her her nickname. Henry was the only person who ever called her Lottie, and it was something she'd never really told anyone else about. She liked Henry but he still had a lot to learn.

Lottie's eyes flitted to him as he spoke, just then realizing that he wasn't as clothed as he should have been. Her cheeks darkened further as she cleared her throat. She had turned towards him when he spoke but now she could only bring herself to stare at the floor she'd just cleaned. Her voice came out soft as a kitten as she spoke. "Henry nothing can get rid of the smell after cleaning with it...."
Thoughts: Things are frosty
Tags: brave
Muse: Viva La Vida by Coldplay.
Outfit:]Link! 

[Brave]

living is easy with eyes closed

- - - - misunderstanding all you see - - - -

Does the room always look like this? Henry thought to himself as the blue walls wobbled in and out like the leaves of a tree on a windy day. Okay, now we know, his inner monologue had continued, six drinks is a mistake, but then he had giggled to himself because no, six drinks are fun, and that had been quite enough rational reasoning for Henry. He had practically stuck his head out the window then (because air was good) and the world had righted itself a bit more (not quite enough) and then he had pulled himself back into the room, cobalt eyes deciding to ignore the approaching storm clouds, and he had turned a bit to use the windowsill as a lean and had glanced back to Charlotte and her unmistakable red tresses and had smiled (really smiled, this time) because red like that, well that was a nice color.

She seemed to take in his state of undress, bringing yet another bought of red, and it only truly succeeded in stroking Henry's ego further, because yes, he was a blush worthy guy with a blush worthy body, and it was about time someone took some damn notice. He would have preferred his girlfriend, sure, but Charlotte Raine was just as pretty and just as available as his prude of a girlfriend had ever been, and right now availability was very high up on Henry's list. His eyes drew shamelessly over the figure of the girl in front of him, the alcohol in his system allowing him to abandon any form of modesty he might have previously known. The room around them fell dark as the clouds, once far off, finally passed over head. Henry's eyes, clouded in a haze of intoxication (and a good deal of unsated lust,) darkened with them.

At Charlotte's words he chuckled, a rich, warm sound that came from deep within his chest as he gazed at the shorter girl, a sly smile stuck to his face like a fly in a spiderweb. He had ducked in closer, shoulder nudging against her own as he had leaned down, his hands finding without reservation a lock of her hair which he grasped calmly inside his fingers, pulling softly, in what could have passed (kind of) as friendly affection. "Nonsense!" He had stated boldly, his eyes light, inviting, gentle, "You, darling, smell as lovely as always," and there he had winked, winked and moved closer, further along the windowsill, nearer to her own body to the point where he was pushing her backwards, pushing her against the sill, and his entire body stood on edge, egging him on, encouraging him, because he was good at this when given the chance.

Then the sky had broken loose and the rain and fallen and there, there was thunder, and he had immediately glanced, first up and then back down to the red haired girl because if he could remember correctly (and he could,) then Charlotte really didn't like storms, didn't like them at all, but that was fine because Henry had just the stuff to fix it (he was good at fixing things.) "I know!" And he had husked the words, practically purred them at her in that soothing tone he knew how to use so well, "I have just the thing for this. You want a drink, Lottie?" And he had scurried off to the other side of the room, his subconscious drooping at the separation, but he had perked it up as he had fished around in his closet for two glasses (small) and a bottle (his least favorite, but oh well,) and had then walked back over to rejoin her, to set the glasses down and poor a generous amount in both before grabbing one and smiling again, don't forget to smile, and then had sipped it, tested it, made sure it was alright before offering the girl her own in a strong fashion, a good fashion, a gentlemanly fashion that would have made Karolena smile. "Just one to take the edge off," He had promised, his smile remaining.

Then he had knocked it back, swallowed heavily, and waited again as the walls once again threatened to collapse.

tag Katie
words 704
lyrics strawberry fields forever - the beatles
credit a girl with kaleidoscope eyes @ caution 2.0
notes yayz for plotting

[Draco Malfoy]

Charlotte Lillian Raine

Lottie was forced to look up at him as he pressed closer to her. She leaned back involuntarily, searching for personal space. Her back bumped against the window sill, trapping her between him and the open space three stories above the ground. As her eyes met his, it dawned on her just how close he was to her in proximity. Her breathing seemed harsh to her ears as he reached to twine a lock of her hair between his fingers that had escaped the pin that held her locks at the nape of her neck. He was just so close. So close to her that if she stood on her toes and stretched she may even be be able to press her lips to his. This of course was out of the question but the thought none the less crossed her mind and flustered her further. Just as he began to reach for him, the rain began to pour. Fear swelled within her small brain, causing her to freeze in her stance. The colour drained from her face as her body began to shake witht he urge to hide in the cupboard.

Henry stepped away from her at the same time, his absence feeling like a fantom limb as the rain drenched her through the open window. Her blouse clung to her body as if it were non-existant, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her skirt hung in a drab circle, drooping and dripping as she spun and closed the window. The room had been aired out long enough for the smell of lye to have disappaited by now. Lottie moved quickly closing the rest of the windows, trying to keep from dripping too much on the freshly cleaned tile. Her fingers fumbled with the latches once or twice as her body shook. When she finished, she noticed Henry had poured both of them drinks. His was gone in a flash, likely intoxicating him further.

He offered one to her and she practically snatched it out of his hand. The drink disappeared down her throat in only two swallows. She wasn't unaccustomed to alcohol but she knew she shouldnt be drinking on the job. Little did she know the alcohol would be the smallest of risks she was going to take that night when it came to her job. Lottie swooned under the affects of the alcohol and knelt down on the floor, her hands resting on her knees with her ankles beneath her. It wasn't like she'd ever had a drink or two before but due to her light weight, lack of food in her system, and fear of thunderstorms the drunken affects seemed to be heightened. Her cheeks regained their colour as she shook herself and made an attempt to rise to her feet, but her way too high heels twisted beneath her, making her slide back to the floor with a heavy thump as her knees hit the tile. Well, the alcohol certainly distracted her from the storm raging outside.

Thoughts: Whooo alcohol~
Tags: brave
Muse: Sweeney todd
Outfit:Link!