rêveuse

“If she is anything like you, I am sure that I would have.” Huojin confirmed though he’d never really gotten the opportunity to find out. He couldn’t change that now though and it was difficult to miss what he’d not had. “Hm… So you want suggestions from me as to something to try? Have you never had something you have always wanted to do but never got around to? Like ice skating was one for me at one point.” He gave as an example. “Maybe you could go to a food experience where you try all types. And I think that’s what life is for; learning.” 

“We were always told that we compliment one another well, so I’d say so,” she nodded with another smile. “Yes, I would,” Edith confirmed, curiously watching as he began to think of what to suggest to her. “Well I have some big goals I’d like to achieve some day, but they’re still more or less things I know I can do. I guess I’ve never tried to set myself up to attempt something entirely new,” she admitted. “Ice skating? That sounds incredibly difficult but incredibly fun,” Edith commenting, trying to imagine Huojin ice skating. “Did you ever succeed at that?” she couldn’t help but wonder. “Oh that does sound like it could be a good time. It wouldn’t be something new if I just went for a wine and cheese tasting though, but I might have to sign myself up for that nonetheless because your suggestion immediately brought my mind there,” the blonde admitted with a light giggle. “Would you want to go to try some new food experience with me? I wouldn’t know where to start signing it up and it’d be fun to do something like that together.”

“Shouldn’t I be the one offering to buy you a drink? Not the other way around.” Cedric asked the blonde, letting himself take a moment to let his eyes glance over the others outfit before meeting her eyes again. “Oh I can imagine you’re nothing less then good company and it would be in poor taste for me to refuse you.”

“It’s 2025, a woman can be the one to ask,” Edith replied simply. “But if you insist on paying, I won’t say no either,” she added with a light laugh. “What a gentleman. It’s almost impossible to believe you’e not already spoken for. Unless you are, then I should give you a slap for entertaining me in the first place.”

She raised her eyebrows at Edith. “Tequila cool with you?” Annie asked the other. 

“Drinking tequila is almost always asking for trouble,” she pondered for a moment, before giving into a smile, “But why not, right? Not like I have anything to lose.”

“I can’t say I ever really had the pleasure of meeting your sister so I can say with complete certainty that the person you are without her is plenty good enough. You are quite the woman Edith but I imagine that will take you a little time to see it yourself. “Why don’t you set a resolution to try at least one new thing each month? It could be a good way to get to know lots of new people and also you may find out exactly who you are in the process. I imagine you did a lot with your sister in the past.” A hum left his lips. “Ah yes… ‘Seize the day’…I suppose that some of the things I’ve been through have left me grateful for the life I do have. I like having control over my own decisions.”

“I think you would’ve really liked her,” Edith smiled, but perhaps she was biased. She thought her sister was the best person in the world. “That’s not a terrible idea,” she admitted. While Edith certainly had her own goals and aspirations outside of her sister, but it wouldn’t hurt to go out and try some new things throughout the year. “Any suggestions for the month of January?” she asked with a light laugh. “I can understand that. They’ve shaped who you are and there’s nothing wrong with that. With each life experience you grow just a little stronger and wiser,” Edith mused. “We really just spend our whole lives learning, don’t we?” she added with another laugh.

“Nah, that’s fine,” Annie replied. “Trust me, two expensive drinks is better than one.”

“I guess I’d be a fool to say no,” she finally said with a light shrug of her shoulders. “I’ll go with whatever you end up choosing.”

“Cheap champagne? You didn’t put cheap champagne in this, did you? You know I could get us the expensive stuff, right?”

An expression of gentle concern and sympathy drifted over Huojin’s face at the others explanation. He’d not expected it when he’d questioned the others somewhat muted enthusiasm. “No, I see why that would bring your mood down. I know how much she means to you and I’m sorry to hear it, truly.” He tried to comfort, resting one hand softly on the woman’s back. “Resolutions… mine is usually just to live life to the full. Not let an opportunity pass. I’m quite interested to see what opportunities will come of tonight’s festivities.”

“It’s alright. I need to learn who I am without her after all, I guess it’s just all been a reality check of sorts... you know?” she shrugged, knowing her sister Elodie wouldn’t have wanted her to give up everything just because of her. “But it’s a new year, new beginnings. It’s something I am going to have to learn to embrace,” Edith said with more conviction in her tone. “That sounds like a great resolution,” she admitted with a smile after hearing Huojin out. “Carpe diem if you will,” she added with a laugh chuckle. “I feel like you’re somebody who doesn’t take things for granted like most do. It’s most likely why you have the accomplishments that you do. Imagine what you can achieve if you continue to practice that mentality– I’m sure it’ll be impressive.”

“I was just about to say the same thing, so you totally don’t sound like a snob,” Annie replied with a slight laugh. “Why don’t we try a top shelf shot. My treat. I love spending the Parkinson money. It feels like payback sometimes.”

“Thank goodness for that,” she exhaled a sigh of relief before setting the glass back down. “Are you sure?” Edith asked. “While that sounds wonderful and I love a good revenge plot when done tastefully, I wouldn’t want you doing that just for my sake.”

“Sorry, I don’t mean to bring down the mood or anything,” Edith sighed as she took another drink. “I just really miss my sister. She moved here with me originally but decided Paris was and always would be home,” she admitted. “Anyways, got any opinions on the new year? Are you a resolutions type of person?”

“Fancy a drink?” she beamed at the handsome stranger she recognized from the coffee shop only a few days ago. “I promise I’m good company.”

“Okay you gotta tell me what I’m drinking before I actually take a sip,” Octavia said with a laugh as she looked up from the cup, “I know this is a party and I love a good surprise but not this kind of surprise.”

“I’m going to sound like such a snob but... this tastes cheap,” Edith pouted after sipping from the glass. “I guess at the end of the day it’s still doing it’s job but,” she peered at the liquid as if that would answer her questions, “I just wish it tasted better. Don’t you?”

Cedric couldn’t help but notice someone’s eyes on him as he scrolled through his phone as he waited for his coffee, looking up he raised an eyebrow at them, “Can I help you or are you just going to sit and stare at me all day? I mean I can’t blame you, but just ‘cause you may have the time, doesn’t mean I do.”

“I mean I could make it quick, but there really is a lot to take in,” Edith replied coyly when the other finally looked up from his phone. The French girl was definitely being a little careless lately when it came to keeping under the radar, but she didn’t see the harm in all the flirting she’d been doing here and there. Besides, it was clear the other was a very attractive man. “But if you’re busy I understand. I’ll just take a mental picture then.”

“And just how big are you thinking, you do realize it will be us who has to carry it in here. Unless you’ve met someone who is a lot more capable of carrying in large objects.” Elodie commented with an amused smile on her lips, “But I won’t say no to going that little bit extra this Christmas, decking the whole home in decorations and a lot of lights.” Anything to make it feel more cozy and to take away that ache of being homesick. “Christmas Tree Farm and her Christmas album of country style classics. Sounds perfect.”

“You make a good point, although I’m sure we could batt our eyelashes at someone and get them to help,” she mentioned with a cheeky little grin. “I’m glad you’re up for the excessive decorations though– I’m beyond excited at the mere thought of all the twinkling lights hanging up in our place,”  Edith admitted, trying to find the joy in the holiday despite the uncomfortable truth behind them being so far from home for them. “Absolutely! Those country style classics are underrated by the way.”

Theo couldn’t help but smile at the accent and language, chuckling softly. Between his Scottish lilt and her French tone, he was impressed they had got this far without having to call out ‘what?’ in the conversation. “Let me do something for you as a return at least. I’d feel pretty bad if I didn’t get to make it up to you even slightly. You can name the terms.”

Edith hoped she didn’t look too ridiculous, listening very carefully to every word he said because of how unfamiliar she was with the Scottish accent. And yet, somehow the two were making the conversation work. “Oh are you sure? You really don’t have to do all that,” she said, although the flirt in her enjoyed such an offer. “How about a simple meal? I mean it’s not like you chose to live in my body for a day and wear those heels, I don’t exactly want my terms to seem like punishment.”

“I never said I hadn’t shut myself off but… what I will say is time changes things and I also am quite adept at letting people see what I want them to see.” Huojin admitted with a little smile. “A talent I’ve learned over the years. Quite useful really, probably the most useful thing my father ever taught me.” 

“That’s completely fair,” the blonde nodded in understanding when Huojin spoke truthfully. “Ah, while I’m sure that can be nice– it must get a little lonely sometimes too, no? While it can be useful, it’s still a form of putting up barriers. I mean as long as there’s still some people you let in, there’s nothing wrong with being selective about those people.”

“Oh this?” Vic thought for a moment, “I think it was my Aunt Gabrielle’s actually,” She said, “I definitely get my fashion from my mum’s side of the family. The French side, naturally.”