Mι∂ηιgнт ιη Ƥαяιѕ

[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".

Comments

[effet]

[ Well! That settled, he reaches into his pocket and produces one shiny gold Franc (which incidentally doesn't look like the currency they used to use, but. hey.), which he lobs at Oren. SO much throwing being done today. ]

Alright, alright. Coffee and a cake for me.

[ And he starts fussing with his hair, pulling it up and then deciding against it, slicking it back experimentally before deciding that he doesn't like that either. Tryhard... ]

Oren, Oren. Do you think Iona likes this... [ posing with his bangs pulled back, trying so hard to smolder like the Hoff. ] ...or this? [ shaking his hair out like a big labrador. ]

1/2

[oren]

[Oren catches the coin effortlessly, before staring at Gus as he asks his opinion on hairstyles.]

. . .

[AND HE LOOKS AT HEI CAUSE LIKE HELL HE'S HELPING OUT...]

[healbuff]

["Oh, your hair seems loner compared to the last time I saw you..."

"Ah... I haven't had the time to focus on grooming myself lately."

"That's okay! I think longer hair would be a nice look on you! It makes you look more relaxed!"

. . .

Hei coughs a bit.]

Ah, well her preferences aren't exact. You'll be fine, Gustave.

[The most goddamn helpful men in the world right here.]

[effet]

What kind of terrible advice is that!?

[ CALLING YOU OUT, HEI?! What is this, why is everyone so uncooperative?! ]

Objectively! Which do you think looks better?!

[ He does both styles, and yet he still looks like a total dweeb either way. ]

[healbuff]

Ah, but it's Miss Iona you're trying to impress, right? I may not be that helpful in that regard.

[Smile smile smile!!!!]

[effet]

[ THROWS


TWO MORE TEDDY BEARS!!! ]

[healbuff]

[CATCHES, Hei's gonna get his workout for the day done...]

Does she even need that many teddy bears!?

[effet]

I couldn't choose between the one in a top hat or the one with a monocle.

1/2

[oren]

[Oren's just gonna serve Gus his cake and coffee while allowing Hei to take the brunt of Gus's ridiculousness, god these children...]

[infusion]

[About 40 minutes later, the door opens and Iona walks in, greeted by her customers.]

Hi, everyone! Glad you're enjoying yourselves! Is Hei doing alright??

[Hei perks up at the sight of the witch and is about to greet her, but instead her eyes grow wide at the sight of Gus.]

Gus! You came back!!

[effet]

[ Gus does an immediate 360 when he finally hears that familiar voice, and puts down a stuffed monkey (it's in a vest...it's cute!!) so he can stand up and welcome Iona with literal wide arms. ]

Iona, of course I did! See, I'm just as magic as you are.

[infusion]

[For a split second, Iona looks worried, what with Hei and Gus in the same room... Was he going to object...? The warlock smiles at her though and she takes that as an "everything's A-okay."

She goes over to ruffle Gus's hair affectionately, with a laugh.]

Well, that'd explain why you're running on some sort of mysterious energy. Sorry, did I keep you waiting for too long? And Hei and Oren weren't mean to you were they?

[effet]

[ He takes that headruffle and smiles like a big dope, ready to give Iona a big hug in return...

...but instead of doing that (just yet), he turns and points an accusatory finger at Hei. Poor guy. ]

He threatened to kick me out?! And he made me throw all of my bears at him!

[infusion]

What?? Hei?? Oren, I can see, but not Hei.

[Iona shakes her head, smiling.]

He's nice!

[healbuff]

[ehehehehehehehehe ///

Hei just glances to the side... take that frenchman...]

[effet]

'Nice'. Maybe to pretty girls, but definitely not to me...

[ Shrivels... ]

[infusion]

Wellll, then I hope you didn't do anything that would make him dislike you, right?

[ crossing her arms as she speaks with the tone of a big sister here]

[effet]

[ A sulk is on the horizon— but his eyes get a little sharper, his expression slightly warier. ]

Yeah, I did. I wasn't 'magical', for one.

[healbuff]

[And at that, Hei interjects.]

It's not quite an issue anymore. You've been able to find this cafe more than once, I'm assuming. Although, that would mean, Miss Iona will have to keep me updated in case things get out of hand.

[Ah... At that Iona glances at the floor, lips pursed.]

... That said, you're in good hands. The owner is a trustworthy witches among magickind, so you're very fortunate.

[effet]

...Are you kidding? She's not going to keep updating you about me, just to be clear.

[ Conclusions he draws: these. He looks visibly weirded out. ]

And yeah, I know. I don't need you to tell me that Iona's great, I knew that.

[infusion]

Not so much you, just...

[ Iona sighs and shakes her head ]

Anything magical related has to be regulated and having someone non-magic involved can get complicated.

[effet]

[ It's not as if he feels he needs to be told— he knows a thing or two about politics, despite his general attitude of looking like a dumb chump at all times— but he relents for exactly that same reason. He doesn't intend to step on toes. ]

I know, I know. They're the rules, right. You don't need to tell me twice, I know how to be discreet about some things, believe it or not.

1/2

[healbuff]

Ah, well as I said, you're in good hands. I'm here to assist in any way I can after all.

[There's a vibrating coming from his pocket and he takes out a smartphone to scroll through the texts.]

Seems like I'm needed elsewhere. I've just been busy all week.

[Iona looks apologetically at her fellow warlock.]

"Sorry for making you work in my place instead of getting to relax..."

[Hei shakes his head, smiling gently at her.]

It's no trouble at all. I'll be taking my leave now.

[He bows his head politely at Gus and then Oren leads him out to the door.]

[infusion]

[Iona here takes a deep breath as if relieved.]

Oh, thank god. I thought I was gonna get lectured.

Anyways! Gus, are all those for me? [Pointing to all the gifts.]

[effet]

[ There's a bit of deflation once Hei leaves, a transition form work to play; he can appreciate the guy meaning well, but it's not something he wanted to be reminded of here.

(Something he'll need to grow out of or reconcile, his instinct to want to separate the inherent duality of his life— but all in due time.)

He sits up a little straighter, pushes his mountain of gifts closer to Iona. ]

—Yeah! I didn't know what you'd like, so I just got a whole bunch of things.