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"Hm."

[That's all little Emily has to say on that matter. She may be somewhat wise for her years, but she's not sure how to deeply parse what makes Iona tick aside from obvious causes (damaging her cafe, making trouble with other customers, etc).]

"Thanks for helping me."

[Help with the stars at least. The precognitive girl's appreciation is quiet, but sincere. Iona comes by to collect Emily's dishes and raising a brow at the growing pile.]

Geez. You'll have enough to fill another jar in a few hours.

Edited 2015-06-14 04:56 (UTC)

My pleasure.

[ He sets aside the multicolored stars, gets up and moves his chair back towards his own section of his table— but not without a practiced bow, polite and prim. ]

Don't make her work too hard, Miss Iona.

Now you're making me sound mean.

[She shakes her head at Claude, but it's the friendly kind. One of the kids in the study group calls out to her.]

"Iona, catch!"

[A glass is tossed up in the air, but then what can only be described as an invisible force of nature, makes it create an arc that drops the glass neatly into Iona's outstretched palms.]

Hey, I thought I mentioned no telekinesis on the cups!

[The kids laugh and another pipes up.]

"Then tell us which one you're dating again? We missed the news!"

[Iona shakes her head and tries to make her escape to the counter.]

As owner of the Midnight Grind, I have the right to remain tight lipped about my dating life!

[ Gus sees an opportunity, and he pops his head out from the back. He can tell that Claude is about to make a vaguely snide comment, but he cuts in with a light: ]

I'm the lucky guy with the date! Don't bother him too much, alright?

[ Trying to get the kids out of Claude's hair, not that he thinks his brother can't handle it...

[There's some whoops and a, "Good going, Jackie!" And Iona just responds with a light roll of the eyes and a smile. Only Oren notices it from a mere glance; the way the smile is more melancholic than anything and how it speaks to her mindset of trying not to be attached, but knowing too well how bad she is at that.

It's supposed to be temporary. She's just wishing it wasn't.]

❇ ❇ ❇

[An hour or two later, the study group has dissolved and everyone, including Emily and her brother have left. Oren's clearing up the tables while Iona...

For someone who's a hard worker, she sure does crash hard because she's laying on the large sofa letting out a deep sigh.]

A romp around Paris and then getting straight to work may not be my best idea. Thanks for helping out though, Gus!

[ Gus is similarly stretched out on a chair, hair pulled up, undone apron slung over his face. Clearly the day's taken its toll on him, along with his hectic falling-off-the-roof routine the night before: honestly, he hasn't gotten much sleep over the past few days.

But he lifts up the hem of the fabric draped over his eyes, gives Iona a grin. ]

None necessary! I'm the one that made you run around, lightening your load was the least I could do, right?

And you paid it off spectacularly. Oren might not say it, but he appreciates the help too!

[Even if he was super loud and had little grace as a waiter, geez. Oren has no comment though. Iona pulls up her legs to wrap her arms around her knees, looking at the brothers expectantly.]

Soooooo. What next?

[ Ah, the elephant in the room. Gus sits up in his chair, looks back and forth between Iona and his brother. ]

Well...you should probably. Go home? I don't know about what I'm going to do— I have to lie low, but that's nothing n—

[ To which Claude interrupts with a brief: ]

"Maybe you could go with Miss Iona, Auguste. Though of course, it's not up to me to say."

Ah. Well. Yeah, that's... That's definitely an option!

[Oren: NO. COMMENT.

Iona's twirling her hair, going over how this may or may not go over well- they're from a different parallel time after all and while she may not have to sweat certain details with them (like historical ones), just... Oh, what the hell. Over think this later.]

I live in an apartment, but I could use magic to make extra rooms... [Thank god her only roommate is Oren and he doesn't even sleep!]

[ This actually reminds Gus that he hasn't heard how far into the future Iona is actually from: clearly his brother withheld that information just so Iona can have the satisfaction of him flipping out. Which he'll do in a second, just watch him. ]

—Hey, really? I have to say that I'm curious... what year are you from? 1900? 1950...?

[ Aim for the stars, Gus. ]

... Add another century to 1900, hon. Then you'll be more on the mark.

[THAT'S ALL SHE'S GOTTA SAY ABOUT THAT.]

Edited 2015-06-15 05:44 (UTC)

[ Uh. ]

Uh.

[ A. Century??? ]

—Does that mean you think I'm an old man?!

Well.

I wouldn't be wrong...

Noooooo!!!! I'm 20, I can't be an old man already?! What does that make Claude?! He'd be ancient if I'm old?!

[ Gus... ]

Huh! I had a feeling you were technically younger than me!

[And with his age revealed, she can finally go over to him and ruffle his hair like he was some kid brother of hers! She was wondering why there was some big sisterly instincts in her when it came to Gus (well, some of it was big sisterly instincts anyways)]

Don't worry too much about it Gus. Both you and Claude look good for your age of over 200 plus years!

[IONA...]

Edited 2015-06-15 05:59 (UTC)

[ Leave him to weep, Iona... this is devastating news?! He won't refuse the headrubs, though, he's too weak. ]

No...my dream of being sexy, ruined... Ruined because of magical time elements!!

Oh, don't be a drama queen. And think of it this way...

[Points to Oren who's currently cleaning dishes and ignoring Gus's idiocy and the wibbly wobbly time shenanigans.]

Oren here's around 500 years old! And still looking just fine!

[More than fine even, he's largely considered gorgeous to many ~~and he's not even human whatsoever but it counts??!~~]

Not comforting!

[ Also kind of unnerving?! Gus's eyes flick over to Oren, in appraisal. ]

Should I call him 'grandpa'...

Ahaha, you probably shouldn't.

Alright, so both you and Claude are staying over at my place then? Oren and I will get things ready in no time!

[YEAH, THAT'S IT CLAUDE YOU'RE COMING ALONG.]

[ ???? WHAT...WHY IS THIS HAPPENING... he shoots Gus a look, but his brother just shrugs and gives him a thumbs up, which he interprets as 'please don't make me suffer being the only visitor from the 1800s'.

If that's what his brother wants. ]

Very good. I'll be preparing myself mentally for the inevitable shock that comes with traveling a few centuries.

[Now that the Midnight Grind is clean and everything ready for the next day, Oren speaks up after exiting the counter.]

Should go smoothly. Iona will make rooms. Staying in our century should be safest. No one can come into the cafe unless Iona or I are here.

But first...

[Oren pauses as if deciding whether to go through with what he's about to say or not. And then he faces Iona and in his deadpan says:]

Jackie. Apartment is a mess. Leaving your underclothes and bra over the sofa again. Unseemly.

Inviting guests to an slovenly residence is careless.

[He's had enough centuries to learn when not to give a fuck. At the mention of her underwear in front of the guys, Iona takes the towel that was in her apron and throws it at Oren's face before running to the door, opening it and shutting it behind her.

The towel is stuck to Oren's face, but he doesn't bother to remove it as he turns to the Auberts.]

Give her a few minutes. Apartment should be spotless.

[ INTERNAL HILARITY

Gus almost spits out the water he'd poured for himself, and Claude has to turn his head to the side, politely, to stifle an incoming guffaw. Bless you, Oren, for giving the elder Aubert some great ammunition to work with....slovenly, huh. ]

Ah, you shouldn't have. We wouldn't have minded.

[ Claude... ]

Inappropriate.

[God, Claude. And somehow, Oren definitely expected that kind of reaction from Gus...]

How many people still searching? For Gus.

[Because Oren did notice Claude using those 1879 communicator thingies.]

Half of Paris. Including his father.

[ Aubert Senior, who is exceedingly protective of his youngest— and ostensibly his only— son. Claude says this with an air of detachment, and glances back down at his muted communicator. ]

I think he's due for a bit of a vacation. Auguste?

[ Gus is still choking on air, and he holds up a hand through his coughing to mean 'sounds about right'. ]

Half of Paris.

[Oren repeats this slowly. It kind of brings up memories, but past the 1800s and more into the early 1900s with him and Berna in Paris. While spending time among the artists, writers, and actors, most everyone found the Crystalline Witch incredibly charming and desirable. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that half of Paris wanted to look for her too.

It's only a memory though. Right now, he knows that Iona is pretty deep into this mess as well although it would have been avoidable if his mistress hadn't taken a liking to the brothers.]

Iona's arm. Nothing like it. The people must be baffled.

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