Raphael Toussaint

The blonde opened her mouth to speak but instead all that came out was a winded gasp. She promptly pressed her lips back together, looking at him as though he had dropped right out of the sky and into her lap. Did she really deserve someone who'd say and mean all these things? Could this happiness that she felt with him really belong to her? "Sometimes I wonder if maybe I wrote you to life," Dominique all but murmured to herself but with the comfortable silence in the room the words were his to hear as well. "Like maybe you really aren't real. Just a beautiful figment of my wonderful imagination." It took her a moment to pull herself from the almost trance-liked state he'd seemed to pull her into, nodded absentmindedly, "I would love to read whatever you write. Really," she spoke honestly before a soft snort escaped her as she thought over Raphael's words again, "Even if I end up wanting to take it apart. At least it'll be worthy source material."

Raphael chuckled softly, his fingers brushing her cheek gently as he took in the sweet vulnerability in her words. It hadn't been long ago that gaining soft responses had been practically impossible. He had earned that aloof distance when had unintentionally hardened her heart, and deserved every harsh word Dominique had ever thrown his way.

"I'm convinced you are my biggest fan," Dominique laughed in response. She had never written any of her works with the intention of gaining fame for them. It was why she'd written under a pen name in the first place, wanting her books to go out there into the world and be able to hold their own without a reputable name to keep them afloat. But to know how much Raphael loved them gave her the hope that out there maybe someone else loved her writing just as much as he did. Or at least half as much. "Bonding experience, hmm?" she teased softly, however hearing him say he loved seeing her happy was enough to cause her heart to beat a little faster. She didn't want to get too obsessed with the idea that he felt like a regular ol' prince charming, somehow trying to keep a small part of her locked away at the tiniest possibility he might fall into old habits and leave her high and dry again. "It could be fun. I like being challenged, to a degree, and it could help with whenever writing starts to get stale or the dreaded writer's block sets in," Dominique continued to toy with the idea. "I'm intrigued to read what you'd come up with to be quite honest with you."

"Maybe I am," Raphael said softly, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "I recognized your writing before anyone told me it was yours. I guess that says something about how much you’ve always meant to me." His gaze lingered on her, warm and full of quiet affection. "I just want to share things with you. That's what you’re looking for too, isn’t it? Moments, memories… something real between us." He reached out, his fingers gently tracing the curve of her chin. "If you’re stuck, let me help. Give me your words so far, and I’ll write you a new chapter. If nothing else, maybe my clumsy attempts will be just irritating enough to spark your inspiration." He smiled, a little more tenderly now. "Just don't be too disappointed when I inevitably fall short. I don't have your talent for words, Ma Cherie."

"I'm a great writer but I'm not as almighty as you seem to be painting me out to be," Dominique responded with a soft laugh. Although it was certainly a nice stroke to her ego to know he valued her opinions on these sorts of things so much. It meant a lot to her. It always had. And looking down to meet his gaze and see him looking at her like that... it was worth all they'd gone through to lead up to this moment. "I didn't realize that writing together was something you were interested in," her eyes gleaming at the new revelation. "You'd want me to pick your work apart? You wouldn't get offended?"

"I would beg to differ. I have read your books after all." Raphael pointed out and whilst he was no writer, he had read enough to know a good piece of writing when he had one in his hands. "And no, I am not a writer but you love it and I love seeing you happy. Plus it will be a good bonding experience therefore everyone wins." Raphael answered with a little chuckle. "I will not get offended, no. I will rather enjoy watching that genius mind of yours work. I don't have the attachment to writing like you do but I believe this could be fun."

"And you need to point it out too," she laughed softly as he adjusted himself to further address the situation. Dominique let out a gentle sigh, letting her book rest on her stomach as she let herself look at him. One of her hands absentmindedly reached out to tangle in his hair as she thought about what she'd been pondering now that Raphael had asked her about it. "i think the author's forgotten the character's motives– it just feels out of character for him to forget about why he started the journey in the first place. I don't see why he'd stray off for this... side quest I suppose," she was now picking the book up again and waving it around a bit, pointing to the page with a rather calm and collected frustration. "I really hope he recognizes this in the next few chapters otherwise this is going to be a very unsatisfying ending."

A soft humming sound left Raphael when Dominique's fingers found their way through his hair and he let his eyes follow her features, smiling at the way the blonde explained her concerns about the story. "I see. Hopefully that will rectify that the further you get but if anyone would know that something doesn't quite slot in place the way it ought to then it would be you." And he had no doubt that even if it was fixed further down the line, that there had to be something a little off about the writing for Dominique to notice it in the first place. "I'm not much of a writer, but perhaps we should write something together. If only to see you change my work and get endlessly frustrated at me." He added with a chuckle.

"Friendly capacity– of course, of course. I can behave," she insisted to him with a playful roll of her eyes. "That partner of yours is keeping you on a tight leash however, aren't they?" Laurel remarked with an exhale and a laugh. Despite her jokes, she still admired the man's loyalty.

"Hardly." Raphael scoffed when the woman insinuated that Dominique didn't allow him to do certain things. "I keep myself on a tight leash because I know how to behave appropriately. Besides, beautiful though you are, there is nothing you could give me that would be worth hurting her for." Nor ruining what they were currently developing. He'd felt the repercussions of that once before. Raphael knew he'd be a fool to do that a second time, and, as attractive as he had pointed out the girl was, she couldn't hold a candle to Dominique in his eyes.

"So you're keeping tabs?" her instinct always to deflect, blinking up from her page when he'd cut through the silence to call her out. Dominique had been enveloped by the comfort of their quiet intimacy, she was enjoying spending the day in lazily plopped onto her couch and just enjoying each other's presence as they did their own things. "I guess I got lost in thought," she considered with a light hum. "I began to rewrite what I think this character should be doing and I let myself forget I was actually reading," Dom then admitted, looking back at the page to find the words she'd left off on.

"Once my brain notices something, I can't unsee it." Or unhear it in this case he supposed. Raphael set his book down to one side and twisted to turn to face Dominique, still half draped across her lap. One hand was idly stroking the top of her thigh in a gentle, rhythmic pattern. "And just what is this character like and what should be changed about it?" He was genuinely curious about how she saw what it was she was reading. "I'm interested to hear your professional opinion."

"Are you really going to be this fussy over a 'please'?" she grumbled, rolling her eyes at him initially but having to weigh out her options. "But okay fine– Raphael, could you please give me a hand with this?" Alessandra put emphasis on the word to an almost childish degre

"Oh entirely. Especially so because it is you." Raphael spoke a little too perkily. His expression turned into what could only be described as a cheshire cat grin when she relented. "I'm sorry? What was that? I'm not sure I heard you correctly. You might have to be a bit louder."

"I prefer not to but if the situation calls for it i can play the part," she shrugged back when he pointed out how she didn't seem like the type. "And it seems like you're not totally opposed to getting to know one another considering you haven't left yet."

"In a friendly capacity, of course not. I am not a complete cad." Raphael pointed out, wanting to make it clear even if it hadn't been intended that their interaction was to be a certain type. With the developments with Dominique, he didn't want to give her any reason to believe he wouldn't be true to his word.

"You know, I don't think I've ever heard anything quite as sad as that." Raphael stated. "But then I remember its you I'm talking to and suddenly it makes perfect sense." The man continued with what one would probably have perceived as a charming smile even if his words were anything but. "But I understand."

"I can behave myself if that's what you're afraid of," Laurel replied when he made the comment about what type of friend she had in mind. "And that's fair enough."

"Can you now? You don't seem the type to just behave." Raphael surmised, the humour still playing over his features. "If you can accept that though, I am sure we could find a way to enjoy one another's company anyway."

"You're not as self-involved as you seem to like to lead people to believe," Alessandra shrugged back with softened features. "Thanking me too? You've gotten so polite and gentlemanly these days," she couldn't resist teasing.

"Hm... interesting take on my personality." Raphael answered lightly, a smirk on his face. "Perhaps I am exactly as self-involved as people think." He offered up the corners of his lips tilting up further. "And I have always been polite, now you are just being rude."

"If you've got any suggestions I'm happy to hear them," Willow shrugged back with a casual smile. "You really love your paranormal though, don't you? Did you go to Hogwarts? Or should I assume by the accent you went to Beauxbatons? If it's the latter I'm curious, are there ghosts roaming the halls there like there is in Hogwarts? I'm sure you could've asked them so many question."

"I suppose, but I more appreciate the storytelling than the actual ghosts themselves. And yes, I am from Beauxbatons. They have their own ghosts of course who are more than happy to tell you all their stories. In fact quite a few are very egocentric." Raphael gave to the woman in answer.

"While I don't totally doubt that... I don't think that the possibility of you changing your mindset on that a little is totally out of the cards either," she shrugged at him with a little smile on her lips. "Yeah, soak it up while you can. You know I don't just throw those around. Especially not around you," Alessandra added playfully.

"Is that so? I wonder what gives you that impression." He was curious as to what she saw in him because Alessandra had startling foresight really considering how little he felt he gave away. "I am aware. So thank you."

"A ghost tour?" Willow quirked a brow at that. "Certainly sounds interesting. Is that usually your sort of thing? I can't say I've ever thought to go on one of those but it certainly sounds interesting."

"I think that it's good to explore something outside your usual interests. I enjoy books and what is a ghost tour if not a form of audio book really." He said with a shrug of his shoulders.