sweethymns | Mι∂ηιgнт ιη Ƥαяιѕ

[ Ah...that's a melancholy thing to consider, that she can't chase, maybe even when she wants to. It's a sentiment that Gus digests slowly, and it's one of those impossible problems that he faces with as much earnesty as he can muster, because the world isn't as black-and-white as people would like it to be.

(And, to some extent, he's bad at choosing: he has heart, a sharper mind than he likes to let on, but he hasn't grown up. Claude grew up too fast and Gus still has a difficult time choosing between aliases— add the two and maybe they'd be able to balance each other out. If only.) ]

The solution's simple, come on. I just have to keep on wanting to see you, and I'll end up here. Right?

[Coming out with the tray of tea sandwiches and when he hears what Gus just said...

He can't even deal.

(Iona's safety is his first and utmost priority and it's clear to him that this is one of the least safe things ever!!) Whatever, here's your tea sandwiches losers.]

[GUS?? You're supposed to be cute and kinda dumb, not make Iona surprised like this???]

Uh, yeah, I guess that kinda works, but, um... [She waves her hands back and forth as if saying, "No, no, no!"]

I mean, I just told you that I'm a witch right? I mean, this is my cafe, but even that doesn't guarantee that weird stuff happens sooner or later; it's a magic thing so...

[Wait, why is she even insisting on making him rethink this? Iona's not sure herself, but she's probably so used to having to keep a certain distance from shorter lived people.]

[ Claude is 10000% not On Board for this, but it's also no place for him to question his brother's decisions, which he holds to be more important than his own; whatever trouble he gets into, he'll do his best to clean up.

If his sandwich-eating looks a little more vehement than usual, forgive him.

Gus, on his end, happily digs into his coffee and shrugs as lightly as can be expected on him, because he knows, on some level, the futility of transient relationships. People die around him all the time. ]

You also saved my life. And, even if I never get to see you again, I'll still remember what you did. Don't tell me not to!

[Somehow... Yeah, no, Gus's reply is incredibly rewarding. Iona knows the feeling is selfish, but to have been able to save someone and then to be repaid with something that she cautiously call a budding friendship... It's amazing. It's great.

It makes her glad to be alive.]

Thanks, Gus. Even if I tried, I have a feeling it wouldn't work.

[Claude, don't think she's been ignoring you for one second.]

Uh, Claude?? No input? Seriously? Not even thinly veiled sarcasm???

Thinly-veiled? I like to think I make it obvious when I've tapped into my sarcasm resources.

[ There it is, there we go. For once, he isn't smiling his infuriatingly placid smile. ]

Auguste's made himself abundantly clear. I've no doubt you don't need my input on the matter.

. . .

[Iona stands up and then reaches over with her left hand to... Pinch Claude's nose.]

Boooooo. Weak sauce.

[then she lets go!!]

[ How undignified...!!!!! He'd protest, but with her hand on her nose, he'd just sound ridiculous...

So all he does is lean back in his chair, fold his hands on his knees. Nerd. ]

Come, come. Surely you don't mean to say that you want to be showered with validation— I'm trying not to undermine Auguste's words with my own, I've been told everything I say sounds mildly insincere.

[ GEE

WE ALL WONDER WHY ]

I dunno. I was expecting some undermining. Like, yeah, that'd suck ass and make me feel down, but it'd be your own?? That's not a problem in itself...

[Sweet girl, but incredibly crude language.]

Ah, never mind. I guess what I wanted to say in the first place is that I'm sorry both you and him got involved with me. I wasn't planning on using any magic whatsoever, but. Here we are.

Uh, I hope no one out there is gonna ask about that by the way... [Is that too much to hope for...]

[ Gus is in the back pulling some faces, which happens often when Claude is in the equation: there's a signal to 'stop' when she says "it would be your own", because he knows what his brother will say about it. It'd be "that's irrelevant", and it's not a nice thing to hear no matter how many times it happens.

(Note how Claude avoids using the word 'brother', he regrets saying it in the 'heat' of the moment when they came back, really.)

But. There's that slightly morbid smile on the elder Aubert's face when Iona mentions someone asking about her arm. ]

Doubtful. They'll be looking into it extensively by now, I imagine.

[ Claude must you do this ]

Mn. Well, I asked, got my answer. [SIGH and she flops back down onto the sofa chair, crossing her leg.]

That said, guess we'll all lay low then? I doubt they're gonna find out much because even in my own environment, I'm the only one who has this kind of arm. So freak of nature among even the weirdos.

You'd do best to lie low, of course. As for Auguste, that's his decision to make.

[ He sips his coffee, reaches inside his jacket with a free hand to inspect something that looks like an even more antiquated version of a beeper, one that glows faintly in his hand when he presses a switch on the side. ]

—And me, I see I've already been approached by unsavories who'd like me to operate on your arm.

[ He says this like he's saying he just got a message about someone's dog who just had puppies. ]

[From the kitchen, there's a noise, a deep stomp, coming from Oren who 's about to that resonates throughout the cafe, but stops when Iona makes her command.]

Oren. Stand down.

[Silence. Iona coolly looks at the device and then at the brothers.]

I stopped a bullet. Scapels won't even leave a scratch.

[ Claude is yet again about to say something wildly inappropriate, when Gus raises his hands and tries to pacify the situation. ]

Aaaaalright, alright! Sorry, Claude has a morbid sense of humor...

[ He shoves the rest of his sandwich into his mouth to buy time, and append: ]

What he's trying to say [ not that Claude will contest to misinterpretation ], is that there are bad people after you and he'll know about it. Yeah?

Ah. Well then.

That said, if they find me anyways, I'll fight every single one them.

[IONA...]

[ IONA... ]

O...kay, let's not do that though, because that could end up getting really damn messy.

[ Says Gus??? Who is he to talk...

Also lbr they're gonna get in trouble anyway, sigh. ]

Is there any way that you could like...go to your time? And uh. Maybe we can wait for things to blow over.

Well, when I open the door, it returns me to my apartment in my year. I'll be fine. I'm more worried for you guys!

Yeah, well. I'm used to danger! Right, Claude?

[ Cue approximately 5 seconds of silence. ]

I wonder how many shots you'll need, starting today.

[ A stellar vote of confidence, as only he can deliver under the right circumstances. He usually doesn't do this in front of other people— undermine Gus— but. Well. ]

[That little exchange makes Iona giggle. In light of what Gus told her about his doctor and being able to talk to Claude himself, it's just... Well, it's nice. Family can be nice. Even if she doesn't know the circumstances and the skewed dynamics of the Auberts, it doesn't change that fact.

Iona stands up and ties her hair back up again before turning to the brothers.]

Are you two going to rest up here for a while since everyone's in a tizzy where you're from? Since I'm here, I might as well keep it open for my other customers.

Edited 2015-06-12 09:10 (UTC)

[ Despite the small shudder that comes along for the word 'shot', Gus picks himself right up when he sees that Iona is going to open up shop again. ]

—Sure, do you need any help? I've always wanted to wear an apron.

[ Good motives. ]

Ah.. Are you sure?

[Not that she isn't opposed to help, but in light of how Gus is from a family whose essentially a French syndicate, it'd be kind of weird. Yeah. Even for a witch. But she won't fault him for that though.]

Hm. I suppose it'd make up for how our date ended up though.

'f course! I'll go wash my hands and pull my hair up, alright?

[ This is a new experience for him!! Also he might get to see more magically-inclined people, which is kind of cool if still pretty disconcerting.

He springs up and trots over to where Iona is, craning his neck. Overexcitable, this one. ]

... Oh, alright. [She sighs, but her expression is fond nonetheless. Iona's been finding Gus a difficult person to refuse if only because he was stupidly sincere even beyond her level. She points him to the back where Oren is.]

You can ask Oren for a uniform and apron in there and he'll get you settled in.

[ Gus has a lot of things to work on, but he takes direction surprisingly well, all things considered: he bounds to the back where Oren is, and everyone in the other room would be able to hear him cheerfully asking the guy where he can find a spare apron. RIP, Oren.

Meanwhile, Claude looks up from his perch in the far end of the room, and gives Iona one of his wan smiles. ]

Miss Iona. A word, if I may.

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