recolle | [ CLOSED ]

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WHO: Laurent & Fuuka
WHERE: Cinema -> Cafe?
WHEN: Early September
WHAT: COOKIES
WARNINGS: Cookies??

Laurent has asked Faolan to follow him and lurk at a more subtle distance, partly because he hasn't managed to get around to explaining to Fuuka about the whole 'I have a bodyguard' thing and partly because once he has explained he suspects she might still find his lurking over the both of them too closely intimidating.

Which he couldn't blame her for, considering Faolan tends to let his face rest in a perpetual frown to the point that Laurent wonders if it might be stuck that way.

Which leaves Laurent pacing down the street in white shirt and light jacket, looking out for any sign of Fuuka as he nears the cinema with Faolan hanging back to give them space. The bright heat of summer has eased, and the monsters have long gone, but Laurent still finds his eyes flicking around a little warily regardless just in case.

He hadn't anticipated America being so challenging, but then again he's starting to think the problem is more localised rather than something that spans the United States as a whole.

Reaching the corner of the cinema Laurent slows to a stop, digs out his phone to check the time then glances around again, trying to spot a familiar face to flag down.

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As Fuuka walked out the house, she had to admit, she was a little bit nervous. It was one thing to be delivering cookies to someone but to be doing so to someone who may or may not be rich? Well, that was quite something to wrap her head around! Especially now that he has a bodyguard with him at all times too. How was she suppose to handle that?

With the bag of cookies in hand, she searched for him wondering where he could be. However, it didn't take her long before she spotted him. "Oh, there you are! I was wondering where you might be!"

For a split second, she couldn't help but wonder. Perhaps his bodyguard decided to let him be?

"Have you been waiting long?"

He shoves his phone back into his pocket, ambles over to her with a smile.

"I admit I'm a little late, I lost track of time. Faolan will be with me today, but he should keep to himself. I believe you've spoken with him before?"

Laurent gestures back a little to where Faolan is hanging back alternating between watching them and watching the other people moving around them.

"Oh no, I haven't, I hope that I didn't keep you waiting!" She said before shaking her head. But as soon as she heard Faolan was behind them, she had to giggle a bit.

"I was wondering where he was! I was expecting him to show up but that explains it! He seems to be pretty protective of you."

"Well I should hope so, it is what he's paid for."

Laurent flicks a smile, glancing back at him then over to Fuuka again.

"Although I expect our recent adventures have him more on alert."

Admittedly, Faolan isn't being paid danger money to deal with monsters. Or... whatever it was that happened to Laurent down in the underground.

"Then I hope you didn't make him worried too much. He was starting to question your methods a little!" Especially after she promised him that she would watch over him.

Either way, that's when she handed said bag of cookies to him. "Ah, before I forget, here you go! I wasn't sure what kind of cookies you would like but I made sugar cookies."

...Which may or may not be a bit burnt.

Laurent hasn't ever had someone bake cookies specifically for him, so burnt or not he finds the gesture terribly charming. He peeks into the bag a little before carefully closing it again and offering her a smile.

"I'll save them for later, thank you."

Both because he really does want to save them, and equally so that on the off chance she has baked something terrible he won't visibly cringe in front of her when eating them.

"How hungry are you? Should we go somewhere with hot food or do you just want a drink?"

For right now, Fuuka was happy knowing he didn't mind them! She wasn't a great baker but the important thing was that she tried! Hopefully, it won't turn out as bad as she feared it would!

But with his remark, she couldn't help but smile brightly at him.

"Maybe somewhere we can get a drink? Although, if you're hungry, I wouldn't mind going out to eat either."

"Not that I have a bias, but there's a decent French cafe a short walk from here. They have a few small pastries and make pleasant tea and coffee. If that suits?"

He isn't quite sure what Fuuka likes, after all. If she has a sweet tooth or prefers savoury things. Although the cookies perhaps indicate that his gut instinct is right, and that she'd enjoy the cakes. He glances back at Faolan to make sure he's still watching, then flashes Fuuka a reassuring smile.

"I promise not to compare their baking to yours."

"That sounds lovely! I don't think I ever been there befor so I wouldn't mind trying it!"

It was a good thing that Fuuka indeed have a sweet tooth! Although, she had to giggle a little. "But it's okay! I don't think my baking can compare to that of a French cafe!"

But then, she looked back at Faolan. "He can come too, if he wants!"

Laurent doesn't turn, but it isn't difficult to guess who Fuuka is talking about regardless.

"He'll be following us anyway. I'm sure we can offer him something if he promises not to loom too menacingly."

He gestures ahead in the right direction then begins to walk, slow enough for Fuuka to fall into step with him.

"Have you lived in Recollé your entire life?"

Since Laurent suspects it is obvious he has. If his accent didn't give him away then surely his mannerisms and confusion would. He can't remember if he has mentioned it to Fuuka or not specifically, but no doubt she could guess that he's French. Fuuka, on the other hand, blends in much better.

"I don't know, he is pretty protective of you. I think the least we can do is treat him to something too!" That and it seems a bit rude to go out without giving Faolan something for all his hard work.

Although as she followed behind him, she shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not! I just moved here recently to start my classes! So everything around here is new to me!"

Not to mention between everything going on, it was quite the adventure lately too. "What about you? Are you new here as well?" She said with a giggle.

"The accent gives it away."

He pushes his hands into his pockets, gaze split between the people he's weaving between on the pavement and Fuuka.

"I'm attending the University here, classes begin this month. Before, I was in Paris. The food is better in Paris."

In Laurent's opinion, at least. He steps aside to let a particularly large baby stroller come past, the moves to walk beside Fuuka again.

"And you? Where did you live before?"

He isn't familiar enough with accents to guess, after all.

"Oh? What are you studying?" She said before walking around the area a little. As she moved aside, she couldn't help but giggle at the baby inside the stroller.

"But I'm from California, I went into this college because my dad majored here before." Which seems kind of silly in hindsight when she could have gone to another college somewhere else but...if it made her father happy, then why not?

"Business. Not very exciting, I understand. It's a joint degree with a college in Paris, I can't say Recollé was chosen for any sentimental reason like yourself. It was simply the American university on offer, and experience in American business seemed a good idea."

To better deal with American companies, understand similarities and differences. All those sort of reasons.

"And yourself? What are you studying?"

Something more interesting than business, Laurent is sure.

"I don't know, business can be pretty exciting. It's just a matter of trying to find what's interesting about it! Especially when you got a chance to go overseas!"

Said the girl who also went into a slightly boring major.

"But I'm in computer engineering. I'm afraid that my major isn't interesting either so I suppose we can study boring subjects together?"

"You are quite wrong. Computer technology is the future, Miss Yamagishi. Which means you are leading the future by studying it."

Whereas Laurent himself wouldn't recognise a line of code in one language compared to another. He's quite content using a macbook which requires little technical know-how.

"It's just here," he adds, and turns up a side-street and toward a cafe decorated in black with neat gold lettering. Neatly decorated cakes and breads line the window, and a few filled baguettes and sandwiches inside along with smaller pastries. The staff busily move up and down behind the counter, although once glances up and greets Laurent in French.

For a moment, Fuuka didn't say anything to him. Instead, she just stared at the older man before chuckling a little to herself. "That is one way to put it! I never really thought much about how I could lead the future!"

All things considered, she went into this field to make her father proud of her. However, now with the thought in place, she had to wonder a few things.

Either way, the thought didn't last as she found herself in front of the place. With so much going on, she had to giggle a little. "Goodness, it is quite the busy cafe, isn't it?

"It's popular. Shall we sit toward the back?"

He slips around the people standing examining the sandwiches, makes his way toward a table away from the entrance in a corner and begins to shrug off his jacket.

"What would you like? Tea, coffee? Something cold? I am repaying you for your baking efforts, so don't be shy about it."

As Fuuka followed him toward the back, she had to chuckle a little. "You sure do know your way around the area! I'm impressed!"

Although, she had a feeling that he might know the place like it was the back of his hand. "But I wouldn't mind some tea. However, I am good with anything!"

"I like to come here when I have a morning to myself, it reminds me of home. What sort of tea do you prefer? Breakfast tea? Chamomile? Green tea?"

Laurent offers her a small, slightly amused smile. Anything is an easy thing to say, after all, but people usually have some degree of preference under it all. He'd rather not serve someone something they dislike.

"Maybe green tea. I know whenever I drink it, it reminds me a little bit of home too. I know my grandmother use to drink it all the time!"

Despite the cheerful tone, there was a hint of sadness behind it. Just how was her family doing, she really wasn't sure these days.

His smile turns rueful at that, but Laurent nods.

"Green tea it is," he assures her, and shrugging off his jacket he vanishes over to the counter -- pausing to ask Faolan a question as he lingers looking up and down the cafe. The man frowns at Laurent as he answers, but Laurent just smiles and joins the back of the queue. A few minutes later he hands Faolan a cup as he walks back past him, then slides a small trap onto the table -- setting down a pot of green tea for Fuuka, a small cup and another pot and cup for himself.

Between them, he sets two small plates -- one with a small strawberry tart on it and one with a chocolate one.

"There, that should keep us going." He says, and moves to set the tray out of the way on an empty table before settling into a chair.

For a moment, Fuuka almost forgotten that Faolan was there looking over them. When she saw him again, she had to give a giggle. His bodyguard was sure doing a really good job, she'll have to give him that!

As she saw the display before her, she couldn't help but be in awe a little.

"Goodness, this is a lot more than what I was expecting! I'm impressed, the tarts look so pretty! I think I should come here more often!"

"You should. French patisseries are the best."

Laurent draws his chair in a little and carefully cuts both the pastries in half so they can share, pauses to pour out some of his own tea.

"I find it pleasant here. It's quiet, they never play music. There are people around, so you don't feel alone, but there's no obligation to speak with them besides perhaps to ask for more hot water. You can see people coming and going, guess what they might be thinking."

Couples making plans, elderly friends meeting up to discuss their children, parents trying to placate children with sweets, busy workers catching a short break. It's reassuring to know that the world is still carrying on as normal, even when Laurent sometimes feel at a loss to understand it.

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Sorry about the late response, school has been busy!

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