Fic: Etienne
Oct. 2nd, 2012 06:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseTitle: Etienne
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Call Me Mistress
Pairing/Characters: General series
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 940
Prompt: For the 100_tales prompt 083. Questions.
Summary: Amy conducts her first interview as Mistress
Warnings/Content Notes: No warnings apply. Very mild reference to BDSM.
Amy was curled up on one of the sofas in the conservatory, reading. She looked up as Jack entered, carrying a cardboard box.
"What have you got there?"
"What have you got," Jack said, putting the box down by her feet. "These are gifts from a potential companion – he's hoping for guest status, I think."
Amy frowned and put her book aside. She wasn't sure about receiving gifts. Men who gave gifts usually wanted things in return. "What do you think?"
"Mid-priced Bordeaux," Jack said, examining the bottle. "Mid-priced chocolate assortment. And carnations."
Amy toyed with the pendant around her neck. "What did you think of him? Is he nice?"
"I think you'll find him charming enough. He's twenty five, caucasian, French-Canadian, and his name is Etienne."
"Etienne." Amy repeated it a few times, trying to get her tongue around the name, especially after Jack interrupted to point out it was two syllables and not three.
"The decision is yours," Jack said, "but you should interview him before you decide."
Jack had sent the last three potentials packing but if he thought Etienne had promise, then she had no choice. It was her duty to choose companions. She got to her feet and took a deep breath. "Lead the way."
***
Etienne was pacing the lounge. Tall, of average build, with brown medium length hair, he had both hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. His cheeks were flushed from the bitter north wind that had been battering at the windows all day, and when he spotted Amy he quickly moved his hands to fuss with his windswept hair.
Amy extended one hand graciously and Etienne shook it briefly.
"This is Amy, the Mistress of the House," Jack said, taking up a position slightly behind and to the right of her.
"Of course. I'm Etienne." He gave her a nervous smile. Amy wasn't used to anyone being flustered in her presence. She forced back her own nerves.
"Thank you for the gifts," she said. "May I ask why you chose carnations?"
He looked somewhat dismayed and shrugged before saying uncertainly, "Roses seemed too formal…too, too…presumptuous? You don't like them?"
"They're not my favourite. But I appreciate the thought very much. Would you like to sit?" Amy gestured to the nearest chair and Etienne dropped into it like a very obedient dog. She took the next closest chair.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Amy looked over at Jack who stepped forward. "Would you like to tell us how you found out about the House?" he prompted.
Etienne nodded vigorously. "My cousin, he lived in one of the Houses in Toronto for six months. This was a few years ago. He said it was a very special place. Now he works for a major fashion house. The Mistress made that possible. Many things are possible, if you can impress the Mistress of a House." He gave a nervous laugh and waved one hand around. "Or so he said. But he exaggerates."
Amy nodded thoughtfully. "Jack says you're French-Canadian." The accent wasn't strong but it was there, and she found she liked it.
"Yes," Etienne replied, with as much angst in his voice as there had been over the carnations. He needn't be worried, she thought.
"Tell me more." Amy gave him an encouraging smile.
"I'm from Montreal. I'm studying to be a lawyer." Etienne paused, saw Amy wasn't going to criticise and went on, "I'm here on a study programme. To learn more about the British legal system and look into European law."
"How long is the study programme?"
"One year. But if I like it here…" He trailed off.
Amy shifted forward in her seat. He'd piqued her interest. "Companionship status is subject to a background check."
"Oui, yes, of course."
"Guest status is the same as companionship status, but you may live in the house. We do have two rooms currently available." Amy looked to Jack again, who gave a slight nod.
Etienne rubbed his hands on the knees of his jeans. "I can stay?" He pointed to the floor, apparently needing confirmation of the offer. "In the House?"
Jack nodded. "I'll run the background check and if it's clear, you can move in the day after tomorrow. Do you have somewhere to stay until then?"
"Yes, yes, I have a place, but it is not…not so nice." Etienne gestured. "Thank you. I will try to be a good companion, Mistress. Only…"
"Only?"
He looked at the floor for a long moment before he said, "I just – I thought there was a, a, trial?"
At her puzzled look he went on, "Um, a challenge? A test?"
The fault wasn't with his explanation, though he was becoming increasingly flustered as if it were. Thankfully, Jack touched Amy's shoulder to get her attention. "I'm sure you will ascertain Etienne's skills on your own time, Mistress."
Amy realised this was another one of the Things Mistresses Did. She supposed it was a sort of "punishment" applied in advance. Oh dear. She didn't really want to have Etienne whipped or caned. The poor thing – he seemed younger than his years, and skittish as a roe deer.
Of course, he'd have to strip to be punished or – tested? Trialled? She'd have to ask Jack about the terminology.
If she asked him to, she thought that Etienne would strip right here and now. She bit at her lip.
"I'm sure I can come up with something suitable once you've moved in," she said at last. Etienne gave her a look that was part gratitude and part terror.
She found she liked that, too.
Fandom: Original
'Verse/Series: Call Me Mistress
Pairing/Characters: General series
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 940
Prompt: For the 100_tales prompt 083. Questions.
Summary: Amy conducts her first interview as Mistress
Warnings/Content Notes: No warnings apply. Very mild reference to BDSM.
Amy was curled up on one of the sofas in the conservatory, reading. She looked up as Jack entered, carrying a cardboard box.
"What have you got there?"
"What have you got," Jack said, putting the box down by her feet. "These are gifts from a potential companion – he's hoping for guest status, I think."
Amy frowned and put her book aside. She wasn't sure about receiving gifts. Men who gave gifts usually wanted things in return. "What do you think?"
"Mid-priced Bordeaux," Jack said, examining the bottle. "Mid-priced chocolate assortment. And carnations."
Amy toyed with the pendant around her neck. "What did you think of him? Is he nice?"
"I think you'll find him charming enough. He's twenty five, caucasian, French-Canadian, and his name is Etienne."
"Etienne." Amy repeated it a few times, trying to get her tongue around the name, especially after Jack interrupted to point out it was two syllables and not three.
"The decision is yours," Jack said, "but you should interview him before you decide."
Jack had sent the last three potentials packing but if he thought Etienne had promise, then she had no choice. It was her duty to choose companions. She got to her feet and took a deep breath. "Lead the way."
Etienne was pacing the lounge. Tall, of average build, with brown medium length hair, he had both hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. His cheeks were flushed from the bitter north wind that had been battering at the windows all day, and when he spotted Amy he quickly moved his hands to fuss with his windswept hair.
Amy extended one hand graciously and Etienne shook it briefly.
"This is Amy, the Mistress of the House," Jack said, taking up a position slightly behind and to the right of her.
"Of course. I'm Etienne." He gave her a nervous smile. Amy wasn't used to anyone being flustered in her presence. She forced back her own nerves.
"Thank you for the gifts," she said. "May I ask why you chose carnations?"
He looked somewhat dismayed and shrugged before saying uncertainly, "Roses seemed too formal…too, too…presumptuous? You don't like them?"
"They're not my favourite. But I appreciate the thought very much. Would you like to sit?" Amy gestured to the nearest chair and Etienne dropped into it like a very obedient dog. She took the next closest chair.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Amy looked over at Jack who stepped forward. "Would you like to tell us how you found out about the House?" he prompted.
Etienne nodded vigorously. "My cousin, he lived in one of the Houses in Toronto for six months. This was a few years ago. He said it was a very special place. Now he works for a major fashion house. The Mistress made that possible. Many things are possible, if you can impress the Mistress of a House." He gave a nervous laugh and waved one hand around. "Or so he said. But he exaggerates."
Amy nodded thoughtfully. "Jack says you're French-Canadian." The accent wasn't strong but it was there, and she found she liked it.
"Yes," Etienne replied, with as much angst in his voice as there had been over the carnations. He needn't be worried, she thought.
"Tell me more." Amy gave him an encouraging smile.
"I'm from Montreal. I'm studying to be a lawyer." Etienne paused, saw Amy wasn't going to criticise and went on, "I'm here on a study programme. To learn more about the British legal system and look into European law."
"How long is the study programme?"
"One year. But if I like it here…" He trailed off.
Amy shifted forward in her seat. He'd piqued her interest. "Companionship status is subject to a background check."
"Oui, yes, of course."
"Guest status is the same as companionship status, but you may live in the house. We do have two rooms currently available." Amy looked to Jack again, who gave a slight nod.
Etienne rubbed his hands on the knees of his jeans. "I can stay?" He pointed to the floor, apparently needing confirmation of the offer. "In the House?"
Jack nodded. "I'll run the background check and if it's clear, you can move in the day after tomorrow. Do you have somewhere to stay until then?"
"Yes, yes, I have a place, but it is not…not so nice." Etienne gestured. "Thank you. I will try to be a good companion, Mistress. Only…"
"Only?"
He looked at the floor for a long moment before he said, "I just – I thought there was a, a, trial?"
At her puzzled look he went on, "Um, a challenge? A test?"
The fault wasn't with his explanation, though he was becoming increasingly flustered as if it were. Thankfully, Jack touched Amy's shoulder to get her attention. "I'm sure you will ascertain Etienne's skills on your own time, Mistress."
Amy realised this was another one of the Things Mistresses Did. She supposed it was a sort of "punishment" applied in advance. Oh dear. She didn't really want to have Etienne whipped or caned. The poor thing – he seemed younger than his years, and skittish as a roe deer.
Of course, he'd have to strip to be punished or – tested? Trialled? She'd have to ask Jack about the terminology.
If she asked him to, she thought that Etienne would strip right here and now. She bit at her lip.
"I'm sure I can come up with something suitable once you've moved in," she said at last. Etienne gave her a look that was part gratitude and part terror.
She found she liked that, too.
