[Private] The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AdAstra)

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee sat silent for a moment after Frollo spoke. She stared at him, trying to register the words. Of all things he could of said, he said that. The first feeling that really showed was denial. The young girl shook her head,

"N-No...you can't be". She continued to look at him, eyes widened in shock, he looked nothing like her mother. She began to shake, there were too many emotions consuming her. Hands gripping the sides of the chair, in her mind she had so many questions. One managed to escape her lips without thinking about it properly, "Why didn't she tell me about you?"

[AdAstrα]

Aimee's reaction didn't surprise Frollo at all. In fact, it would have shocked him more if she had remained silent and expressionless; she was related to him after all and generally speaking, his family wasn't exactly known for handling things in that way. He gazed at her for a few moments, giving her some time to let these news sink in, before he proceeded.

"It is true. I'm your uncle." He paused, automatically looking around as if to make sure nobody was listening, but naturally there was no one there. "Your mother...Colette...was a clever woman. But she made one big mistake. She lied to my father you see. Disrespected him. Which was, of course, completely unacceptable. We couldn't have a filthy blood traitor in our family, that would've had terrible consequences for us all. Perhaps you understand now, dear? She never mentioned her family...because she didn't have one."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee will still in shock, she listened to Frollo but only barely. Something that did catch her attention was 'filthy blood traitor' and that her mother had lied. She narrowed her eyes a little, questions yet again formed in her mind. Having little to no fear at that point, she replied,
"Can't lies and sins be forgiven? And what do you mean by blood traitor?". The young girl was in a confused state. What had her mother done exactly? She had never explained her past or her childhood to her and now Aimee wanted and needed to know. If her mother lied...was her mother in the wrong somehow?

Wait, something finally registered. 'She never mentioned her family...because she didn't have one'. Looking back at the man, she spoke again, a hint of anger in her voice, "Did you and my grandparents disown mother?". Her mother had always spoke out in fear and sadness whenever she did talk about her family, and Aimee had always wondered what had happened.

[AdAstrα]

"Sins can only be forgiven if the person who commits them seeks forgiveness." Frollo began impatiently, wanting nothing more now than to end this conversation as quickly as possible. "Your mother did not. She was too proud to admit that she had done wrong." He looked at her, noticing her anger, and lowered his voice slightly, "I'm sure you can imagine it....running off with some scoundrel only days before her arranged marriage and denying it to my father; lying straight to his face, as it turned out. It was a scandal! We had no choice but to disown her. It broke my mother's heart but yes, my dear, that is the truth. I wish it wasn't so, but...I'm afraid your mother was doomed the instant she decided to disobey my father."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee was listening to him, not sure of what to make of the situation. She could see what her mother did wrong, Aimee had always disliked dishonesty, but Aimee had always been against arranged marriages. Marriage was about love, not who someone decided you would be with. She had no doubt that the 'scoundrel' he was talking about was her father. She had to think about what to say for a few moments, staring at the floor. She lifted her head back up and replied,

"My father, who I guess you were referring to as the man mother ran off with, is no scoundrel Sir, he's the greatest man I've ever knew. And what about the man mother was supposed to marry, was he a good man? And...I know lying is a sin, and she shouldn't of lied to her own father...", Aimee finally trailed off. She couldn't think of more to say. In fact, she felt that talking about this was going to end up with her getting upset. Aimee's thoughts about what was going to happen to her came back to mind and she awaited a reply.

[AdAstrα]

Frollo sighed. "He was a good man indeed. And I bet your father was, too." He added, although he had his doubts about this,
"But let's not discuss this futher right now. It isn't a particularly...uplifting story."
He was relieved to find that she seemed keen to change the subject as well, and swiftly took advantage of this, speaking in his clear, demanding voice once again. "The bottom line is that I am your uncle, which means that you'll be under my protection from now on. You'll be living here with me."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee was surprising at how...reasonably calm the man was. His appearance and voice made it hard to trust him, but she was the sort of person to look beyond those things. Of course, she still had doubts. Especially about the story of her mother. There had to be more to it. She wasn't sure about the idea of living with him, but he didn't say it as a question. It looked like she had no choice in the matter. After thinking about it, anywhere was better than the streets.

"Ok", she said rather quietly. It seemed like she had calmed down a bit, she was trying to relax at least. "And thank you. It's not very nice, being out there on your own...". She was going to say that it wasn't very nice out there altogether, but she had come across good people as well as bad, and she could never forget travelling with the gypsies alongside her parents.

Edit: (OOC - How do you want to continue this? Do you want to follow on from this post for a bit, or do a time skip to...well, maybe a couple of weeks later. I have no idea how Frollo is going to go all evil on Aimee yet...seeing as he's being rather 'nice' to her right now. You got any ideas? ^.^)

[AdAstrα]

(OOC: I'm not sure really. I guess I could have him leave her there or something now and then we could do a little time skip, so that he can show his true colours a wee bit more. he's being "nice" to her now because he's trying to win her over, but that's obviously going to change later on lol.)

"Oh, I understand." He said absent-mindedly, only half listening to what she had just said as his hand was already placed on the doorknob. "Now, I have more important businesses to attend to. My maid will show you to your room and give you something to eat. I shall be back in a few hours." He didn't turn around to look at her before he left, but as he opened the door an image of her face flashed through his mind. The pale skin, the clear blue eyes....so remarkably like his sister. The sister that he had once cared for, but who now was worth less to him than the dirt under his boots.
His lips curved into a little smirk as he left the room. He couldn't help but wonder what she would think now, if she knew that her daughter was in his custody. Of course, it no longer mattered. She was dead.

But the voice echoing inside his head was growing louder, screaming with despair, begging and pleading as if her life depended on it. A memory, distant and half-forgotten, yet closer at this moment than it had been in a long time.
"No, Claude, please....! No!"

[UncoordinatedPisces]

In the time Frollo was gone, Aimee had indeed been shown to her room. It was going to be the first time she had slept in a real bed for years. Even though she was anxious, she couldn't help but feel grateful. The maid was rather nice to her too, which made her a little more comfortable. She always felt more comfortable in the presence of women. It was surprising how much time had passed by, after eating and washing and receiving new clothes. Aimee, who hadn't cared much about clothes that often, was in awe at some of these dresses. She could tell they had been there for a while though, and some were massive on her.

As days passed, Aimee felt she saw little of Frollo, which was a good thing for her anyway. She was trying to get used to going from 'rags to riches'. She hadn't had permission to go out into town, but Aimee enjoyed walking around the Palace of Justice's garden. The were statutes and ponds, and all type birds who lived in the many different fruit trees. It reminded her of the paradise Adam and Eve must of lived in. She was sat on a bench, just thinking silently to herself. It was about 3 o'clock, and the day was still warm.

She knew Frollo would be back soon from wherever he went, for he joined her for dinner. And then, he'd go downstairs. She wouldn't see him for a while. Although she heard faint screams and was hushed away to her room whenever there was a knock on the door, or an arrival of some sorts. Aimee was a curious girl, and she sat thinking about what was going on down there. She often wondered about her mother, and whether all the things said about her were true. She had been meaning to ask some questions...mainly about her mother's childhood, but she hadn't found the right time to yet.

[AdAstrα]

Claude Frollo was walking briskly down the streets, chuckling to himself as one heathen after another stopped dead in their tracks at the mere sight of him, rapidly moving out of the way and staring in awe as he walked past. The core of the city seemed unusually crowded with all sorts of ragtag - but mainly gypsies, who always stood out in their colourful garments and bejeweled limbs. He had to stop and think for a few moments; why did they all appear to be in such a good mood? There had been another raid on a gypsy camp lately; surely there wasn't much at all to be so pleased about? They ought to be grieving. Quivering with fear. Or at least stay inside their hiding place where they thought they were safe, for the time being. He didn't like seeing them move around carelessly like this, like nothing he ever did had any impact on them whatsoever. It felt like a mockery. A punch in the face. He had made it his mission to exterminate them, and as a powerful, respected man, it was a fully reachable goal. They should be fearing for their lives. Surely they realised that it could all be over any day now...

Then he remembered. Tomorrow was the 6th of January. The Feast of Fools.

He let out a silent moan as this realisation fully sank in. The festival. His presence was mandatory, and although there were always plenty of other things he would much rather be doing, he attended it every year. It was never an enjoyable experience, for although it appeared to entertain the more simple-minded Parisians, he certainly did not find it amusing.

He reached The Palace of Justice in no time and frowned as he walked in through the door. It was dinner time soon, which meant Aimee was waiting for him. Unable to think of any excuse not to join her straight away, he walked up the stairs.