la vie en rose

The blonde gave the male a smile. “Well, that’s good. You wouldn’t believe how many people do.” She replied shaking her head at the thought. “Yes, you can never be too careful - though, I do prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt,” Pandora stated shrugging, her blue hues looking up at the male. “Oh, then you must try one. They are truly delicious. I want to say they were of my own invention but I may be mistaken.” She insisted smiling as she held the basket out to him.

“I don’t know how that’s even possible.” He said. Jean nodded at her next comment, feeling much the same himself. Although, his recent altercation had made him a little more weary of people. “It’s better that way.” He agreed with a smile. The blond reached into the basket and pulled one of the muffins she had pointed out as apple cinnamon. He pulled down the paper on the side and took a large bite. Surprised with how nice they actually were, after he had finished the mouthful, a smile spread on his face. “They’re good.” He said, taking another large bite.

Lucy didn’t know what made her send the owl, she hadn’t been able to sleep again all night, not since the nightmare had woken her up and made her feel as if the walls were closing in on her and suffocating. It was the feeling of needing to get out that had her writing the letter. Her first response had been to call for her brother, yet her voice had caught in her throat and had her hesitating. She’d worried him enough and felt guilty with how much she was putting him through. It was the conversation that Lucy shared with Jean the last time he had visited which had her reaching out to him, talking about being scared and if it was okay, it left her feeling like he wouldn’t judge her. 

The young witch sat on the edge of her bed nervously waiting, all the while her anxiety was beginning to claw its way up her throat, leaving her skin feeling itchy and uncomfortable. If she had to wait much longer Lucy would have to take her chances and attempt to go out on her own just so she wasn’t seeing the same four walls closing in on her. It was at that moment that she heard his voice, as a small sense of calm washed over her skin and eased the feeling in her stomach slightly, knowing that she wasn’t on her own. Unable to leave the house without a jacket to hide her bruises, she grabbed the first thing that came to hand not caring what it looked like, and followed the sound of his voice to the front door. Peering her head around the corner, Lucy gave Jean a shy smile. “Hey.” She muttered sheepishly, suddenly feeling embarrassed. 

Hearing her voice come from the side of him, he turned his head and was met with the sight of a more casual, still somewhat bruised, but equally beautiful, Lucy. A smile immediately found its way to his lips, as it always did when she was in the room. Of course, he could tell that she was a little reserved, and he was sure he understood why as well. It had been a while since she’d left the house, and Jean knew from personal experience how difficult that was. In fact, even coming to collect her was a scary task. “Are you ready?” He asked, his voice soft but also with a hint of excitement to it. Spending some time with her, even if it was just as some very awful and not equipped helper, was always going to make him equally nervous and excited. He stepped closer to the blonde, meeting her gaze. “You don’t have to go out if you’re not ready.” He said, reassuring her that it was okay to have second thoughts. “But I was thinking that maybe we could go to that little coffee shop a few streets away -- the one that does the nice hot chocolate with the little marshmallows. Or we could go to the sweet shop on the other side of town.” He suggested. Then, thinking that maybe she might not want to go anywhere crowded, he spoke again. “Or, if you wanted somewhere quiet then we could go to the river, or the meadow -- or, or you could just tell me where you wanted to go?” He offered an apologetic smile, realising that he had just been listing places she already knew were options. “Yeah, that’s probably better.” 

Pandora stood there silently waiting for the male to realise he was no longer alone. She daren’t say another word while he was so lost in his own thoughts, she knew only too well how frustrating it was to be disturbed mid-thought. She grinned as the blonde finally parted from his thoughts and acknowledged her presence. “Yes, it’s important to make sure you’re eating throughout the day. So many people get so busy they forget to eat.” She explained still smiling brightly at the male. The witch paused momentarily as she thought about the wizard’s words. “Oh, I never considered that.” She stated simply. Maybe that was why a few people had ignored her offer. “On this occasion no it’s not but that’s probably a good rule to go by I suppose. How sad though.” Pandora found herself frowning but not for long as the male’s question soon brought a grin to her face, “Muffins mainly.” She pointed to a plain sponge muffin, “Those are just plain and then those-” Her finger moved slightly to the other ones, “Are chocolate chip muffins and lastly, my favourite-” She pointed at the ones in a red muffin case “Those are Apple-Cinnamon Muffins.” 

Jean looked shocked, as if he had just been told the most unbelievable piece of news ever. “I could never forget to eat.” He said, genuinely serious. A smile came to the blond’s lips when she mentioned that this was not a test not to take sweets from strangers -- not that they were sweets exactly, but they were certainly close. “It might be a good rule,” Jean agreed, though he also remembered the countless times that he had not listened to that rule and had no negative things happen. Well, not for taking sweets anyway. “But I don’t know how reliable it is.” Jean’s interest piqued as she began describing the muffins that lay in her basket. Each of them looked delicious. “I don’t think I’ve tried apple-cinnamon muffins...” The young wizard mused aloud.

Having overslept, Jean woke up to an owl staring him in the face and a letter being dropped on his chest. If he had wondered why it was so cold that night, then it was because he had left the window open -- wide open, it seemed. Though he didn't remember opening it that much in the first place. Pleased with its prompt delivery, the owl then flew out the way it came in. The blond shifted in his bed, rubbing his eyes as he peered down at the letter wondering who could have sent it. It didn't take long for curiosity to get the better of him though, and he tore open the letter. Lucy. Jean had skipped straight to the end of the letter, just like he did whenever he was trying to read a book. Reading back through the letter, the blond only felt himself grow more confused. Why me? He thought as she requested that he accompany her on her first outing since her ordeal. Ryan would have been the best first choice, surely? Either way, he wasn't going to deny the blonde's request. In fact, he'd already jumped out of bed and straight into the shower. Letter left on the bed behind him.

A wide grin tugged at the blonde’s lips as she listened to the male, hooked onto his every word. She found herself growing excited at the idea of her friend having a crush on someone. “Are we hypothetically talking about you? You don’t have to answer I know we are.” Violet replied grinning. “Who is it? Is it someone I know… Wait… Oh my gosh, is it Lucy? Please tell me it’s Lucy?” She rambled leaning forward on the table resting her chin in her hands. “I’m sorry, ignore me, I’m getting carried away.” The witch apologised smiling sheepishly as she brought her mind back to the male’s question at hand. “Okay, well, I think the most important thing is making it personalised to her so it shows you’ve really thought about it. You don’t want the generic things that everybody gets. What kind of things does she like?” She asked prompting the male. “Let’s get the present sorted first and then we can worry about the card.” 

Jean nodded slightly as she asked if they were actually talking about him -- though the hypothetical scenario had gone out the window long before then. His cheeks grew a darker shade of pink when she correctly guessed who he wanted to give a present to. He knew this wasn’t a good idea -- they were friends! “W-why would you say that?” He asked, a little flustered. Was it that obvious? Did Lucy know? Did Ryan know? His hand moved back to play with his snapback, adjusting it nervously. Jean nodded as his friend informed him of how to go about it. “That’s what I wanted to do -- I didn’t just want to get her something anyone could.” He said, cheeks flushing even more as he looked down at the table. He hesitated, knowing that if he told her, it would basically confirm that is was Lucy. But he sighed and began anyway. “Well, chocolate -- obviously. And well, I think she likes teddies, and stuff. But that’s all something anyone else could get her.” Jean nodded. “Presents first...” It was probably for the best that he was asking for help on this one, because Jean did have a habit of just picking up everything he thought someone might like whenever he went shopping for presents.

“He knew why he wanted to kiss her. Because she was beautiful. And before that, because she was kind. And before that, because she was smart and funny. Because she was exactly the right kind of smart and funny. Because he could imagine taking a long trip with her without ever getting bored. Because whenever he saw something new and interesting, or new and ridiculous, he always wondered what she’d have to say about it–how many stars she’d give it and why.”

Do you have a crush at the moment?

Um, yes – and have done for a little while.

Longest relationship you’ve ever been in?

Around six months -- I think. It might have been a little longer, or shorter, though... Violet would be better to ask. 

How do you know it’s time to end a relationship?

I guess when you don’t love them anymore? But, I feel like you should try before things get to that point. If there is anything you can do, that is. 

What do you notice first about another person?

Usually, their smile. 

Have you ever had a valentine?

I have in the past, yeah!

Well, probably a mixture of reasons. Mostly the fact that I haven’t asked anyone on any dates in a long time. Not that they’d agree to them, necessarily, but I think that would be one of the first steps to not being single. But, I don’t have any plans to ask anyone either -- not yet. 

“So,” Jean began, pulling the cap off his head for just a moment before he placed it back on at a slightly different angle, “hypothetically speaking, if you were thinking of getting a Valentine’s present for a girl... How would you go about getting her something?” The blonde could feel his cheeks getting warmer with every word. “What would you get?” His gaze moved from the floor back up to meet hers. “Because I kind of want to get the perfect thing, but I don’t think I am very good at that and I don’t want to get her something that she wouldn’t like because that would be a little pointless and even more embarrassing and I’ve thought about some things but I don’t think they’re really that good and I don’t think I want to get the typical every day Valentine’s present that anyone could give her...” Jean finally took in a breath, before continuing. “And then that’s without even thinking about what kind of card to get and what I should write in it.” The wizard looked a little out of his depth, that’s for certain.

Elodie walked into the kitchen coughing as she wafted the smoke away. “JEAN!” She shouted alarmed. “What on earth have you done now?”

Jean took a step back as his sister shouted, her tone of voice taking him back a little. Not that he wasn’t exactly used to hearing his name at that volume and in that tone. But he acknowledged the importance of it a little more in that moment than usual. “Well, I tried baking.” He explained, moving back in to remove the blackened chocolate souffle from the oven. It was charred everywhere, with no redeeming pieces. Perhaps souffle was not something he should begin with. “I thought it would be nice, since you’re always the one cooking for me. And... I was bored.” He shrugged. He’d been in the house the whole day and he had already exhausted his list of possible things to do indoors. It was not a long list. “I don’t think I did it right.” He said, and almost on cue the fire alarm in the hall began to sound -- high pitched and loud. 

“Don’t panic.” Jean said, hearing the door to the kitchen open and watching the smoke billow out into the hall. “I meant for that to happen.”