#lilou:thread

“you know, you really-- should be careful who you try to have for dinner...” the soft, dreamy lilt of her voice does little to disguise the steel in her voice-- the irritation at almost having been dinner. “it’s rude, not to ask-- you know?” the little laveau turns to face him, unfurling her magic, until it’s energy--and vibrancy fills the room. he wasn’t the only one with a secret. “maman was right-- vampires have no manners.”  a swish of her hand sends him crashing into the unsuspecting couple next to them. “oops--excuse moi.” she extends her hand to help him up. “i’m sorry-- didn’t mean for you to fall. still-- you are a little less eager to drink now, right? that was the point.” an impish smile spreads across her lips. “hello. i’m lilou.”

lilou knows she shouldn’t talk to people like she already knows them-- she knows it’s disconcerting at best, and downright weird at best. still when she sees them walking down the street it’s hard to keep her vision to herself. “oh-- you might not want to stop for that coffee-- it’ll make you late. and you really--need to be at that meeting, right? get one after-- from the little indie coffee place across town.” and that’s way too much detail. “happy halloween!”

time passes differently when lilou’s around bee-- he drags her into a world flooded with colour--and texture--and taste. today she is covered in flour-- flecks of it dot her hair, as something caramalises in the oven. she lifts her wine glass to her lips and drains half of it. let’s the burgundy shade of it stains her lips. the warmth turns her cheeks pink-- and when she meets his gaze, for a moment she feels--- shy. she is herself-- all of herself, and he gets to see it (it’s not the first time--not even the hundredth and yet---). “oh-- i don’t know why you always want me to help you burn things in the oven-- headache elixirs--sure. herbal tea--a wiz. food-- occasionally-- but baking has always been too exact for me. butter can be very unforgiving.” she smiles widely, and shifts on her perch. she’s cross legged on the counter and reluctant to move. “can i play music? after all if we’re baking all night there should be music--non?” 

“okay-- now we have maybe a minute.” 

she is a silly drunk-- she giggles, and spins in the moonlight, let’s all pretenses of seriousness fall away until there is just here with a dazed smile on her lips and a champagne bottle in her hand. “if you’re going to corrupt me-- and ply me with over priced alcohol-- the least you can do is dance with me.” it’s mostly quiet--the street empty except for them. her shoes abandoned on a cafe chair, her dress dragging along cobblestone-- she isn’t even sure how she got here. how any of this became her reality. but then they smile at her and it causes her to move-- causes her to close the gap between them, with a small mischevious smile on her lips. “...i demand dancing.” the moment drags--deepens as she holds their gaze--and suddenly another question is pushing past her full lips, her cheeks flushed--her voice unsteady-- “how come you never.... went there with me?... never thought of me as more than a friend?”  she’ll take the life time ban from champagne now, please. 

she sticks out in the bar-- her dress is a little too proper, layers of thin white fabric, draped across her skin, stilettos, and dark red lips. there’s still snow caught in her hair, tangled in the strands of her hair that have escaped from the bun piled on top of her head. she feels eyes on her-- the last of the nights customers--trying to place her. but she ignores them--opting instead to cross the room to her target. “am i too late? i had a thing to go to for my... grandmother. i only managed to run away-- just now.” she meets his familiar gaze with a warm one of her own and offers him a small, private smile. her stomach clenches at the sight of him--fills with something like butterflies-- but she refuses to acknowledge them--despite the stars in her eyes. she slides behind the bar-- she’s comfortable here now, despite the fact that she looks out of place like this. “can i help you close? i promised you adventuring tonight--and well these shoes aren’t really adventure shoes-- but i think we can make do... if things get really desperate..i suppose you could carry me.” 

the dark haired girl is a little frazzled--her eyes scan the notes in front of her but her mind zones out-- drifting to the thought of her astronomy partner. she hates working with him. he’s almost always late-- and almost always leaves early. everyone knows who he is-- the stories about him are as prolific as they are varying in truth. lilou doesn’t really want to get to know him though-- or at least she hasn’t in the two meetings before today. she just wants to pass astronomy. she hears him sit in the chair opposite her and gives him a tentative smile.  "twenty minutes late. you’re getting better at showing up on time--shall we try for ten next week?”