harmonia

nora jazairi. lady's maid to lady caroline.

[inharmcnia]

Basic information

Name: Nora Jazairi, born Noura al-Jazairi

Title(s): None

Referred to as: Miss Jazairi

Nickname(s): None

Age: Forty-one, born 3 February 1882

Gender: Cis woman

Sexual orientation: Biromantic, bisexual

Occupation: Lady’s maid

Nationality: Naturalised British citizen. Previously French Algerian.

Religion: Technically Roman Catholic, but her relationship with religion is complicated. She was brought up vaguely Muslim, but was educated in Catholic school and regularly attends Mass.

Class: Working class

Place of birth: Algiers, French Algeria

Hometown: London, U.K.

Faceclaim: Sofia Boutella

Physical description

Height: 5’5’’

Weight: Around 125 lbs

Build: Slim, long and lean with narrow and sharp edges

Distinguishing marks: None

Hair colour: Dark brown

Hair style: Long, always worn up and pulled back. While shorter hair would be more fashionable, she finds long hair is easier to keep out of the way. Besides, she doesn’t mind resembling a Pre-Raphaelite beauty.

Eye colour: Dark brown

Clothing: What is expected of her. Simple day and evening dress depending on the occasion. While even the clothes she wears on a rare day off are far from showy, they’re always neat and fit her well.

Scent(s): Pond’s Cold Cream, lemon hand lotion, whatever soap she’s using.

Accent: Something between RP and Estuary English. Decidedly English.

Personality

Summary: Both extremely easy to read and nearly impossible to truly figure out, Nora has spent her adult life leading a fairly uncomplicated existence. Her face will betray her if she's expected to lie for any reason, but she knows when to speak and how much she needs to say to avoid any questions she might not want to answer. As much as she would love to be the mysterious, dramatic female hero of her own story, the truth is much more simple; she's a quick learner and knows what is expected of her. Still, she's not some artful manipulator, either, nor is she interested in becoming one. Truly, she's much too soft-hearted for that.

Virtues: Affable, diligent, perceptive, resourceful, self-aware.

Vices: Credulous, indecisive, nosy, short-sighted, single-minded.

Moral alignment: True neutral

Natal chart: TBD

Habits: Emulating and matching the body language of those around her, tidying up and straightening things in her close proximity, fiddling with anything she’s holding when nervous, smiling when anxious or uncomfortable.

Character tropes: Single Woman Seeks Good Man, Idealist vs. Pragmatist, For Happiness, (hopefully) Earn Your Happy Ending

Family ties

Parent(s): Emir al-Jazairi & Rabia Mahrez

Sibling(s): None

Spouse: Has never been married. Has been almost engaged once.

Child/ren: None

Miscellaneous headcanons:

In addition to English, she speaks French and Arabic. Having been educated by Roman Catholic nuns, she also obviously understands a fair bit of Latin.

TBA

Wanted plots

Nora might dream of an easier life filled with some sort of wealth, but her loyalties lie with the working class and those with similar circumstances to her. Someone could potentially exploit said loyalties and make her more sympathetic to whatever cause they themselves believe in.

That being said, she does have perhaps unearned admiration and loyalty towards whatever lady or family she's serving. Her devotion and love cannot be bought, but she's not above being bribed with either material goods or social capital. So, please test her. It's going to be torturous for her.

TBA

[evansrosie]

Rosie didn't hide. She never hid. She were the first one out, voice booming, cacklin' laughter, ever hogging the spotlight.

Except for parties like this. Except for when it were so obvious that she were a hanger-on; a maid.

She'd strode out into the warm gloom on the pretense of enjoying the gardens. In truth, as soon as she was out of the puddle of chandelier light that flooded the lawn, Rosie broke into a run and had been perched on the edge of a stone fountain for what felt like forever. Until now, of course.

Rosie tightened her grip: she had been twisting the hem of her best dress with the force of a laundry maid. She peered up at - mercifully - someone she recognised, if only in passin'.

"Hello," Rosie muttered, tucking a long cord of hair behind one ear. She'd woven daisies along the crown but they were saggin' now. Looked stupid. Girlish.

"M'fine." Her tone curled with irritation and embarrassment. "M'hidin', aren't I? I don't exactly need company..." A peal of genteel laughter prompted them to look towards the house. The sight took Rosie's breath away.

Sadly, she said, "It is beautiful." Glancing back at Miss Jazairi, Rosie added: "You should get back. I've no intention of movin' from m'post any time soon. Beautiful people should be with beautiful people. Not out here." With me.

[inharmcnia]

She tilted her head to the side as she studied Rosie for a moment. She had clearly stated she didn't need or want company, but Nora didn't want to leave her alone. The poor girl seemed upset somehow.

"Oh, nonsense. You have been given the night off just like everyone else. Surely no one expects you'll be spending the time hiding, unless you genuinely wish to do so." She had been in Rosie's position once, over twenty years ago now, and could empathise to a certain point. When you were expect to be neither seen nor heard, anything else seemed daunting. The servants had been a rare night of freedom to enjoy a fine party, but it was highly unlikely that meant no one would chastise them for stepping out of line. The fact that Rosie was hiding made perfect sense and Nora could not blame her for it.

She remained silent for a moment, carefully considering her next words. She wouldn't be caught dead openly badmouthing her employers, not yet at least, but that hardly meant she agreed with them or the seemingly ancient way their society functioned.

"Are you certain you wish to be left alone?"

[pbutlcrs-deactivated20231210]

"Ah, apologies." She was almost bashful in response to Nora's reassurance. "I suppose I'm simply not used to... being seen." In truth, much of her role placed her firmly in the background, and she preferred it that way. She was a cook, not necessarily a hostess. With a nod, she flitted her gaze toward the tower. "It's very elaborate, to be sure." She didn't see the necessity of it, but of course it was easy to tell what it signified; that being, that one could. "I can only hope the champagne is good."

At Nora's question, she nodded. "Yes, I suppose so. Though I admit I feel a little restless. I always do, when I'm away from my work." She studied Nora, expression warm. "The evening is just getting started, though. And you? What are you looking forward to?"

[inharmcnia]

Nodding along as Mrs. Bernard spoke, Nora continued taking in the atmosphere. The sounds and smells surrounding her were enough to make her feel intoxicated even though she hadn't yet had a drop of alcohol.

"I understand. It is strange, being thrust into a world you usually only see glimpses of." While she was delighted to be out there, surrounded by the sort of glitz and glamour she rarely got to enjoy, she couldn't keep her thoughts from drifting to tomorrow and the day after that, to the work that would be waiting for her, for all of them. "Hopefully you get to enjoy some of it, even if your mind if busy. I am certain the outside help that has been hired will do their very best to match your cooking, even if it might be a difficult task." A friendly laugh escaped her and her fingers travelled to carefully fix her hair. The hairstyles she usually wore were decidedly neat and thus suitable for service. On the night of the party she had literally let loose.

An excited smile followed the gentle burst of laughter as Rebecca inquired about her plans for the night. "Oh, I suppose I am simply enjoying a bit of people-watching," she answered truthfully, "everyone is looking so exquisite, it is almost like art." Nora did not know much about the technicalities of paintings and sculptures, but she did appreciate all things beautiful. "Besides, who knows what might happen. I have heard all sorts of things take place in these parties."

[vivienvalentino]

Sofia Boutella as Delphine Lasalle in Atomic Blonde (2017)

[inharmcnia]

when: 22 june 1923 where: some quiet(er) corner of the garden with: anyone!

While she certainly wouldn't have minded being an important guest of honour, Nora was grateful she could slip away from the party-goers and enjoy a moment of quiet solitude. Well, that might have been the case if her planned hiding spot hadn't already been occupied by someone with similar intentions.

"Oh, I am sorry," she apologised immediately, taking a step back as if allowing the other just a little more space. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything. I simply needed to step away for a moment." Nora had spent her adult life in the service of fine houses and the wealthy families who owned them, but parties of such a calibre were still a rarity, especially ones where she was allowed to meander and loiter about. She wasn't overwhelmed per se, but the excitement of it all was starting to get to her.

Nora studied her companion curiously while trying to appear as neutral as possible. "It's a beautiful party. Very busy, too." She wouldn't ask why they were hiding, instead choosing to invite them to do so if they so wished.

[aureliebarre]

Where: The garden, Montmere House When: June 22nd, 1923 With: Anyone! (Might go with a cap of 2 or 3, just to spread the night's fun around a bit!)

Of all the would-be flappers, sophisticates, and drunks breezing through the house tonight, Caro surely qualified as the most excited. Parties at Montmere were, in her opinion, as rare as a sparrow's teeth. Real, actual parties, with the potential for thrills, for a whisper of danger, were something she hadn't experienced, since . . .she couldn't pinpoint just when, but she was positive that her new family had most definitely not been present at the time.

Plentiful alcohol, sleek attire – even a hint of anonymity, if you choose!

Her thoughts buzzed with elaborate fantasies. Perhaps someone below stairs would be caught in a nasty affair and sacked without ceremony. Perhaps some drapes would be set ablaze by a tipsy guest, and she'd watch the whole thing dissolve into ash.

She may have been getting ahead of herself, there. Surely, at the very least, the champagne tower would shower someone or other, at least.

As she took a sip of her drink (her second already, because her hostess didn't want everyone sober, did she?), her eyes widened.

"My god," she said, with a chuckle. "You've really decided to live a little, haven't you? The Patches themselves would be seeing green, with that outfit!"

[inharmcnia]

It was funny, she thought, just how comfortable and beyond effortless it felt to step out of her ordinary life, even if were only for one night. While she knew better than to enjoy herself too fully, Nora couldn't help but entertain herself with all sorts of imagined scenarios where she would be mistaken for someone else, some sort of an important, glamorous woman with a household of her own. It was highly unlikely of course, as no lady or lord would be fooled by her simple dress, no matter how well it suited her. This reality was made all the more clear when she took her place next to Lady Caroline. Unsurprisingly, she looked like the very definition of opulence and luxury.

"I believe it is an annual tradition, my lady. Allowing the staff to enjoy the summer party, that is," she commented politely, the untroubled smile she worse on her face audible in her voice. It might have been a jibe, of course, but Nora knew better than to act puzzled or, worse, ask. "Surely it would be criminal to let that go to waste. Especially on a night like this; Miss Fortescue-Ryland has truly outdone herself." She remained silent for quite a while as she marveled at her surroundings with near religious fervour. Fortunately she managed to keep herself from gawking, and eventually turned to face Lady Caroline once more. "It appears everyone is enjoying themselves. I hope you're having a fine evening, too, my lady."

[pbutlcrs-deactivated20231210]

open to all , 22 june 1923 , montmere's foyer

Mrs. Bernard had never quite felt like herself when it came to nights like these. Thought the staff had their night off, with others working in their stead, she could never entirely settle her mind or shift out of her working mode. Wearing one of her only fine dresses, which she had worn to one or two of these events already, she felt wholly out of place and her body language must have made that fact obvious. "I promise you I am not attempting to be distant," she protested, in response to an uncertain look that she believed had been cast her way. "I am simply - marveling at the artistry." She waved a hand toward the elaborate champagne tower, which provided quite a focal point. "It seems such a shame to remove a piece and ruin all that work."

[inharmcnia]

"Mrs. Bernard," Nora greeted before the head cook announced she hadn't tried to appear withdrawn. "Oh, I promise I wasn't accusing you of doing anything of the sort," she hurried to assure with a gentle shake of her head. Truth be told, she had been far too busy simply gaping at the sheer grandiosity of everything to truly notice whether or not Mrs. Bernard was appearing unsociable. Besides, she certainly wouldn't have judged the other for doing so. "I was doing the very same thing. I am not sure I have ever seen anything quite like it." She wasn't sure if that was entirely true, but it seemed like the right thing to comment. The champagne tower was certainly a sight to behold, even when surrounded by other equally impressive demonstrations of wealth and class. Nora raised her full brows carefully, tilting her head to the side. "Have you been enjoying the festivities so far?"

[montmererp]

Title: Miss Jazairi Full name: Nora Jazairi (Noura al-Jazairi) Age: 41 Occupation: Ladies Maid to Nemesis Faceclaim: Sofia Boutella (SAS Rogue Heroes)

❧ Nora does not remember much of her early childhood in Algiers. Her first few memories are linked to the women in her family; her grandmother's warm embrace and her aunt introducing her to her newest little cousin. While she doesn't necessarily miss her home country or the city she was born in, Nora does find herself pining after this feeling of home and kinship, of being a valued part of something bigger than herself. Perhaps that is why she has spent her adult life attaching herself to grand houses as a lady’s maid. It has not stopped her from yearning for a different life, a better life, but it has kept her hands busy and her mind from wandering to thoughts of bitterness.

❧ At first the smog-filled streets of London were kind to Emir al-Jazairi and his family. He was a merchant and ran his little shop on Edgware Road amidst the new community of Arab migrants. While business was never necessarily booming, the Jazairi family could enjoy some of life’s small comforts and a resemblance of good fortune. Nora was educated at a Catholic school founded by French nuns and learned quickly to emulate the behaviour and demeanour of girls who had been born into more favourable circumstances. This skill came in handy when her parent’s business and livelihood dwindled down and their comely, well-mannered daughter became the family’s biggest asset.

❧ Life comes at you fast, and Nora soon found herself joining the droves of domestic workers. Her so-called lucky break came when the family of a wealthier, more respectable classmate hired her, and subsequently spoke highly of her morale and attention to detail. Since that very day, Nora has known her value to the outside world lies in her work ethic, and her ability to climb the social ladder in her natural charm. This knowledge has not made manipulative, nor has it taught her to be cunning or crafty.

❧ While a realist in many ways, Nora has not given up her dreams of an easier life. There was a time when she dreamed she might be able to achieve her goals in a different way, by working hard and dedicating herself to something other than service and the search of a rich, kind-hearted man, but the realities of her existence and the society around her eventually became impossible to ignore. Still, she goes about her life with a certain ease and a peaceful smile, hopeful she will one day be rewarded for her patience.

Relative(s): N/A

Harmonia is taken