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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]

[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.

[infusion]

[Since Oren's taking care of the customers and their leftover dishes, Iona seats herself across from Gus, with an expression that's a mixture of touched and amused.]

I gotta say, you're the first guy who's already trying to spoil me so soon.

Oh, but you got enough rest, I hope? At least since we dropped you off.

[effet]

It's equivalent exchange, you know? You gave me clothes and let me sleep in your home— something in return for a favor granted.

[ It's a creed, perhaps a little pragmatic of him, but it's what he's grown up with. But that doesn't stop it from being largely sincere, too, and he genuinely looks happy about her accepting his gifts.

...He hopes. ]

And, yeah. I slept the whole day, until someone found me lying facedown on the floor?! [ a laugh. ] He thought I was dead, you should've seen the look on his face.

[infusion]

Ah, that makes sense then. The macarons look so cute! ♥

[She seems like she's accepting the gifts either way at least! When he puts it like that, it's a gesture of gratefulness and there's nothing wrong with that (although Oren would probably say the dress is too much).]

You ended up on the floor? I'd be surprised if they didn't think you were dead...

[effet]

Sometimes you just, you know.

End up on the floor.

[ He says this as if it's perfectly normal...Gus... ]

And hey, since the others weren't any help: what's your favorite color?

[infusion]

[She wanted to ask him if he got in trouble and whether he or Claude were interrogated about her... But then he springs that last question so she blinks, thinking about it.]

Ah... Well... I guess I do tend to lean towards blues and violets. But there's creamy whites and pale yellows, and greens...

Oh! Indigo.

[effet]

[ Ah... he wilts a little, and then holds up the dress he brought her. ]

Do you hate red...?!

[infusion]

Oh! That's lovely though!

[She takes the dress in her arms, looking at it with admiration.]

I don't hate reds! Did you choose this yourself?

[effet]

Aah...I had a little help, but it was mostly me!

[ He isn't exactly ready for Iona to meet or know about Evangeline, former assassin-turned-kind-of-friend... so there's that. Eva really likes red. ]

[infusion]

Then I like it.

[She says this firmly and sincerely although she has to mention with some bemusement...]

I probably won't be able to wear it in LA though!

[effet]

That's fine, that's fine.

You can come wear it to one of my parties!

[infusion]

Oh, but if it's a party maybe a creamy white--...

Wait, what?