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[formidable]

Private AU/PSL RP, set anywhere from 1879 alternate history France to 21st century North America. A tale of two brothers and the witch and her golem who gets entangled in their lives. Urban fantasy, steampunk, magic, guns, and coffee collide. ➤ PART I ➢ "La Caravane".

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[infusion]

... I think so.

[She puts her hands behind her back, tilting her head quizzically at Claude.]

But it's not confusing.

[pragnanz]

Mm. But this is likely one place your nose should stay out of— hasn't Oren warned you enough?

[ Read: 'do you really want to know about all of this messy business'.

The topic has him slightly more aware of the people around him, not that anyone can tell that he's around— glimpses of dark jackets or impatient feet that tap a little too loudly against cobblestone. ]

1/2

[infusion]

[She wants to retort again, wants to say something about how they already know so much about her, a witch who was supposed to keep herself and the nature of magickind a secret, so it's not like anything they tell her will be--...]

[infusion]

[... Again, Oren's sideways glance with his piercing eyes and the silent language between them reigns her in again. But she does manage...]

Well, guess how much I actually listen to him.

[... To get a jab in at Oren's expense, but hey. He's used to it.]

[pragnanz]

[ Claude isn't exactly the right person to ask to be forthright, but he does understand the hypocrisy of keeping something a secret that remains mostly public knowledge, so after a raise of a brow and a beat of silence, he concedes. ]

Not often, I imagine. [ first things first, take that Oren!! ] But to provide some clarity: me being Auguste's half-brother— not full— puts me in a position where people assume that I would fold, under the right circumstances.

They aren't exactly foolish for thinking so. Many people would.

[infusion]

[While Gus may have already told her, hearing it from Claude puts the situation in a somewhat different light, at least when it came to his personal feelings about his life in general. Iona can't extrapolate much, but things kind of made more sense with that context.]

... Hm.

No wonder why you're so annoying.

[She says while still giving him a genuine, if small, smile.]

[pragnanz]

[ His surprise only lasts for a moment: he breaks into something that echoes her smile, even if that's also brief. ]

When everyone around you is annoying, it becomes a goal to see how much more annoying you can get, in turn.

[infusion]

Since I'm a witch, I think I make quite the annoyance. I've been told as much!

[iona that's nothing to be proud of...]

[pragnanz]

Well.

You are annoying.

[ CLAUDE?! WHAT KIND OF THING IS THIS TO SAY... ]

[infusion]

You're not supposed to agree!!

[Partly joking, partly serious on her part here.]

[pragnanz]

[ Chuckling now... ]

I couldn't possibly lie to you, Miss Iona. It's one of my many virtues.

[ LIAR?! ]

[infusion]

Yeah, cause if you lie to me, I'll steal your nose for real.

[what a pair of babbies]

[pragnanz]

Your obsession of noses borders on excessive. I've a couch for you to lie on, if you feel like confessing your darker psychological workings.

[ Nerd. He turns a corner, pretends not to see that shady-looking guy definitely standing a couple houses away from his apartment. ]

[infusion]

Aren't you a surgeon? You'd be the last guy I'd go to for a psyche check.

[Shaking her head, Iona notices Oren who's steely gaze lands on the man who's standing not too far away from them.]

Looks like someone's been working overtime.

[pragnanz]

Not just him.

[ A wave of the hand, to another similarly-sketchy man lingering in another alley, and another one who thinks that hiding behind a newspaper is the best way to look Completely Discreet. ]

A chance for me to show you how popular I am, I suppose.

[infusion]

Hmmm. Well, we've been walking in plain sight for this long so we're still fine. But someone's gonna notice a door opening by itself...

[aka Claude, there's another entrance, right]

[pragnanz]

[ He stops for a second, glances at his apartment. ]

Well.

The ladder leading to the second floor hall window is very accommodating.

[ Listen, the nice landlady lives on the bottom floor... he can't just barge in through the back door leading into her kitchen like some sort of criminal?! ]

[infusion]

[how considerate claude...]

Okay... Alright, I think I can make this work. I can keep you invisible in your own bubble, but here's hoping that ladder isn't a loud one.

[pragnanz]

[ Listen...he has his rent to consider. ]

And where does that leave you?

[ The big question. ]

[infusion]

[Ah... Iona keeps to being chipper regardless of how she's actually feeling.]

Oren and I might explore more! But we'll have to go back eventually. I've had my fun after all.

[So she says, mostly to convince herself.]

[pragnanz]

[ He watches her for a few seconds after she finishes, eyes swimming and brows furrowed.

Ugh.

He feels compelled to say something nice. How... novel. ]

...You're a charming girl. I'm sure you'll forget all about this in a matter of days.

[infusion]

[The first part makes her surprised before she replies, flapping one hand in the wind.]

Hey, give me some credit here! You and Gus have made things memorable for me so I don't think I'll forget that easily.

[pragnanz]

Well. I suppose you might be seeing Auguste again, knowing him— so, yes. You might not.

[ A light laugh. ]

I'd rather not find you again on a surgeon's table, is what I'm saying.

[infusion]

[Iona shakes her head, but looks considerably cheered up, all the same.]

You owe me, remember? I expect you to visit me again before I ever end up under the knife.

[pragnanz]

Stay invisible, then. I can't visit a cafe with no owner.

[ Banter, this is new. He huffs a soft exhale, then turns to the side of the building where he'll have to take the ladder to his destination. ]