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@pontmariusus-blog
Since when do you crochet? Have you been holding out on sick homemade scarves made with love and bro-ship? Honestly, I’m hurt.
I dig it! But we gotta find a way for the residents not to spike the cranberry juice… we don’t want another Macaroni Monday…
--Don’t worry about it. I can teach you, now.
Great. Maybe we should find a ... bodyguard? Or someone to intently watch over the cranberry juice? I would volunteer, but the guys on the third floor...
Cosette did not consider herself a cliched girl. True, she did like chai tea and felt a pull towards floral patterns, but she didn’t get doe eyed and awestruck over every guy who came stumbling into Celibacy Club. But this time, she did. Suddenly she was able to tune out the drone of stupid college students discussing just how far you could go before it was considered ‘’banging because all she could hear was the quickened pace of her heart dancing in her chest. He wasn’t a sexpot billboard model, but there was something so attractive about him that Cosette couldn’t cope for a moment.
“Uh-” She stammered out. “Yeah, really. It’s really nice. If you like celibacy, that is. Celibacy means that you don’t have sex. A lot of the kids in here are having sex. I don’t actually know why they come. Take another flyer.” At this rate she’d give him all her pamphlets before he knew her name. Taking a deep breath, she cut off the ramble and composed herself. Shifting the papers so that she had a free hand, she held it out. “I’m Cosette.”
Her beauty, in all of its glaring brilliance, elicited a foolish smile almost instantaneously. He laughed regardless of if her statements were funny or not and found himself almost irreparably stuck in her gaze -- wow, was she lovely. Bright, kind ... everything. It was the kind of moment Marius heard of in movies, in musicals; a moment where the world stopped spinning and everything came crashing to make perfect sense. Explaining the club made Marius blush - he could feel the heat rise to his cheeks - but he listened intently nonetheless, sputtering a bit and teetering on his heels. Though he heard her words he was rather distracted in her gaze with renewed vigor. “Oh -- oh, I see. I’ll be sure to read the ... pamphlets.” Cosette - a name fit of an angel, he decided. “I’m Marius. It’s really nice to meet you, Cosette. You have a beautiful ....... name.”
Better or worse idea than Macaroni Mondays?
Because Macaroni Mondays did end up getting a bit out of control….
That’s a fair point. I was thinking something more along the line of a general craft night. With fruit juice. Crochet and Cranberry Juice.
Oh, um…I know what that means, I, um…just need to go talk to financial aid.
Oh, yeah. I can show you where the office is. As a student in college, I can relate -- I’ve been there many times myself.
Uh, yeah. We’re best friends.
... -- Oh. He is also my best friend.
courfeyraccentre
... I have an idea for a program.
Big campus full of people you don’t know…totally not a big deal. Right? Right.
Are you okay, my homie? As a fellow student, I understand it can be daunting! Which means scary.
It wasn’t a complex concept. Celibacy= no sex. By the time Cosette felt a tap on her shoulder she was ready to explode. She didn’t know how to answer what qualified as ‘cheating’ or not, and the fact that a pregnant girl was trying to say she was celibate and had been for a long time wanted to make her scream. Whirling around with her pamphlets and info guides clutched under one arm, her face softened as she took in the somewhat awkward man before her.
“SFA?” She asked, chuckling slightly. “This is the Celibacy Club. Here, have a flyer.” Instantly feeling dumb, she shoved one at him before smiling in embarrassment. “I think SFA moved down the hall.”
He’d been distracted for a moments prior to interrupting the blonde-haired woman; curious eyes flit about the room and attempted to make sense of the rather odd series of people & posters, but Marius was far too lost in eavesdropping the conversation of two jocks discussing if condoms meant sex. But when she turned, Marius could swear he heard the lilt of an angel’s song; she was beautiful, stunning with the dream-rightness of someone almost ethereal. It deemed him stupidly silent for a moment. She was talking -- to him. This bumped him back to glaring awareness and Marius found himself stumbling over his words: “Oh, really? I didn’t -- must not have ... the email, you know. Lost in my inbox. But this looks ... the club looks nice?”
No problem, mon ami. [Though he’s going to be slightly offended because it’s almost impossible to forget him with all the talking (shouting) he does in class.]
You’re Enjolras -- [A moment of enlightenment.] You know Courfeyrac, right?
Enjolras…we have…history of 19th century law together…
--Right. Exactly. I knew that.
What has he done?
This is not the Students for Amphibians club at all -- no, it’s not. The room is full of women and men chattering, and posters on the wall display cheerful messages such as ‘ Be willing to wait! ‘ or ‘ Save room for Jesus! ‘
He has accidentally entered Celibacy Club.
He spots someone standing alone and, with her back turned, he approaches; a careful hand raises to tap the blonde-haired woman on the shoulder. Marius can’t see her face ; perhaps she’s an instructor.
“Excuse me, does the SFA not meet here anymore--?”
Ready for Accepted Students Day tomorrow guys??
-- I’m sorry, I forgot your name.
Counting Down
Pink or green? Simple or elegant? A huge bouquet? Or something simple? In retrospect, Cosette wished that someone had told her that planning a wedding was such hard work. Sure, she had poured over the wedding magazines that her Papa had bought her when she was young, but they certainly hadn’t prepared her for the stress. Hiring a wedding planner would certainly help to reduce the anxiety, but Cosette hadn’t reached that point yet. It was a day meant to be for her and Marius to start the rest of their lives, she wanted to handle it and not have someone else plan it.
"Marius?" Cosette turned, an assortment of flowers clutched in one hand. "Which do you prefer? I can’t decide. They’re both pretty. What if we pick the wrong ones? What if we people don’t like it and then it’s a disaster?" She took a breath. "I want this to be perfect."
Then again, perfection would consist of herself and Marius together. That was all it would take to make her happy. What were some flowers in the larger scope of the rest of their lives together? Setting them down on the table, she reached out to grab both of Marius’ hands. It had been a horribly long day, and it was only one of many. At this rate she’d be luck to make it to the wedding at all. "Thank you for putting up with me and my craziness."
Marius didn't know much about planning weddings -- hell, he knew little about anything having to do with event planning, as too many things looked the same to him: flower petals and color schemes, swatches and fabrics, balloons and drapes. All of it resembled each other and he knew not how to discern which was better. This, precisely, was why he was allowing Cosette to just ... handle it. He trusted her, anyway. "Huh?" he'd been distracted, so his reply was quipped and startled from his place of thoughtfulness. "Oh, the flowers. Um --" he studied them ... god, were they the same color? He couldn't tell. Marius scratched his head and listened to Cosette continue to rattle off potential reasons & it wasn't until she took time to breathe that he actually replied. "Cosette, breathe. It won't be a disaster. You're beautiful and you know how to pick out beautiful things -- besides, who cares what people think?" As far as Marius was concerned, the real beauty was their relationship. He found her hands and presented her with a gentle smile. "Of course. Always, Cosette. You're not crazy -- and if you are, so am I."
Doing Everything All Wrong || lalouettecosette
There was something infectious about Marius Pontmercy. Cosette could grow intoxicated by his mere presence, and the sight of his grin drove a matching one onto her face. She just couldn’t help herself around him, and hadn’t been able to since the moment that she had met him. Cosette did not consider herself anything too special, and the fact that Marius was still interested in her was her favorite thing to reflect upon. He loved her back, not only once but twice. Not many people had that going for them.
Breaking the kiss but keeping her neck craned so that she could look up at him, Cosette giggled. Yes, giggled. That was what Marius did to her. "And so we find ourselves in mutual adoration. I’m so glad that you’re just as happy as I am." Playfully frowning, she pretended to pout for a brief moment. “I can’t handle being away from you for so long. The next time you go away for so long I will hunt you down and do something, I haven’t decided what yet, to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.” The word forever was so big, but with Marius it seemed like absolutely nothing. They were forever, and that still wasn’t long enough. “Forever.” She repeated.
"It’s beautiful." Cosette laced her fingers through Marius’ as she stepped out of the elevator behind him. "Tell me, how does a poor student afford such a lovely place, and what’s the occasion?" She was teasing him, of course. Cosette didn’t care why they were out as long as they were out together. They may had been all dressed up like adults in a very adult like elegant place, but a part of Cosette still felt like a giddy girl.
Marius, deliriously in love and distracted with the haze of it all -- -- he lingered in this pure happiness as they walked, altogether lost in his own mind for a few moments before making any attempt at reply. He grinned. "I'm so glad, too. It's lucky you are. If you weren't, well... I don't know what I would do, Cosette," a pause for dramatic effect, head quirking sideways. "I'd probably do a lot of begging, actually. Or I'd woo you. Maybe I'll woo you regardless, actually." And there followed her comment which sparked in him a refreshed sense of glee -- he smiled again, allowed a laugh to peal from his lips. "Oh, no. I wouldn't want to upset you, Cosette. I wouldn't want your wrath -- " a laugh, "It would be scary. I wouldn't survive, I don't think." He pressed a quick kiss to her after he spoke and led her down the hall; the bellhop followed behind them but Marius paid little mind. As far as he was concerned, it was only them two in their own little world, blissful and nearly oblivious. "No occasion," a lie, really, "But I'll tell you what -- I saved up for this. For a while, you know."
Doing Everything All Wrong || lalouettecosette
Cosette bit her lip in excitement, grinning at the man behind the counter. She knew that Marius had a wealthy family, but after his grandfather had kidnapped him it had seemed like he wanted nothing to do with him, and how he had afforded this was beyond her. Still, she couldn’t help but giggle as he tugged her into the elevator and the doors silently slid shut.
"You, Marius, are a madman and I absolutely love you." Deciding that she didn’t care that there was a bellhop in the elevator with them, she craned her neck up to kiss Marius. If you can’t kiss your boyfriend in public on a spontaneous date at twenty years old, then when could you?
She still had a good deal of decency though, and pulled away with a slight smile after the bellhop cleared his throat. “My thoughts as of right now is that I adore you and I’ve missed you so much.”
Things between them had been strange over the last while. Their relationship had been a whirlwind, but considering the fact that they had been married before it didn’t seem strange to Cosette. He hadn’t even met her father (this time around) but she was so sure of it all, of them, that it didn’t scare her the way that she thought it would. For her, Marius was it and always would be.
A madman. Marius grinned at this comment, as it stirred in him some kind of secret adventure, a pride taken from the knowledge that he at least intrigued her -- oh, she loved him and he loved her and it was lovely, all of it was lovely, and the room seemed to glow as they walked.
Even in the elevator the air grew lighter. She kissed him and he kissed her back without even the slightest hesitation -- only excitement, only the clamor of his heart thrumming in his chest. They were acting like ... real adults. Like people in love (which they were!) and this was more than Marius could have ever imagined to feel so right.
"I adore you, Cosette. And -- yes, I've missed you too. Forever, I think."
They stepped from the elevator after a little while -- time was feeling slower, most likely due to the gradual increase of his heartbeat or the accompanied flush of his cheeks. So happy, he was.
"Nice hotel, huh?"
Doing Everything All Wrong || lalouettecosette
"I’ve never heard better news in my whole life." Cosette grinned. "And just for the record, I would never break up with you either." With a fake pout and a sigh Cosette shook her head. "If you insist." In a way, she didn’t really care what the surprise was. She was with Marius and his visit itself was a surprise, so she was already content.
Even with the rain the night was nice and it felt peaceful to be outside. With her hand clasping Marius’s own it was almost perfect except for the curiosity that ate away at her. By nature she had always been one to like to know what was going on and surprises were okay as long as they were occasional.
"Special, huh?" She titled her head to the side. "I suppose it’s special because of the surprise you won’t tell me about?"
As the hotel came into view, Cosette stopped and stared for a moment. Before the age of ten she had never stayed anywhere nice. After she had been adopted she and her papa had constantly been on the move at first and had stayed in a number of places ranging from nice to tiny motels. Still, the sight of the hotel made her heart flutter momentarily.
"This can’t be where we’re going."
Marius smiled and kept his hand entangled in her palm - he held tight, swung his arms, hummed absentmindedly. The rain as a backdrop was perfect, and his glances continuously found her eyes. "I'm glad you won't break up with me, Cosette." And he was. "Yes, yes."
"You must have patience--"
Cosette's reaction to the hotel was better than he had hoped for, and Marius couldn't help but continue to tug her forward, towards the hotel and out of the assault of rain. He laughed: "It is, it is. I told you we were going to a surprise." Marius urged her with him as they walked through the glass doors of which were opened by bellhops - he nodded to the man at the front desk, as well, who nodded back, and it appeared as some preconceived arrangement. (Okay, maybe he had used his family name to his advantage. Just this once.)
The man at the counter slid a roomkey across the counter and Marius grabbed it instinctively, winked at the man, adjusted his suit before continuing - it was all very exciting, enthralling, even, and Marius felt the bubbling of anticipation in his stomach. "Up we go, mm?" He planted a kiss to her temple and lead her to the elevator, wherein he walked in, first, and gestured up to the bellhop.
"Thoughts so far?"
Doing Everything All Wrong || lalouettecosette
"That’s unfair." Cosette pouted. "It wouldn’t be a surprise but I’d probably be happy about it so it’s a win-win situation, right? Unless the surprise is that you’re breaking up with me…" She knit her eyebrows together as she looked up at Marius. "That’s not it, is it?"
Taking his hand, Cosette quickly locked the house behind her as she left before shoving it in her pocket. Not only was it raining but the wind was sharp and biting. If she had had any sense she would have grabbed mittens or at least a scarf. The upside was that Marius’ hand was warm around her own though and when she focused on the feel of his fingers weaving through her own she could push out all thoughts of the cold.
"Do I at least get to know where we’re going?" In the safety of the umbrella she was able to look at him without getting rain in her eyes. It was truly remarkable, how much she loved him. When Cosette looked at Marius she could imagine spending the rest of her life with him plus some. He was perfect for her, everything she had ever wanted and more.
"This feels so normal." Her voice was quiet compared to the pounding of the rain. "After Paris and your grandfather things seemed so rough and I wasn’t sure we’d ever get normal again." She squeezed his hand. "I’m happy when I’m with you."
"Never shall I break up with you," Marius affirmed, booping her nose with the pad of his index finger, followed by the quiet hum of a chuckle. "You can't get rid of me that easily. The surprise is much better than that - much better." The understatement of the century.
Marius wasn't entirely sure why he was nervous in the first place - she'd already unofficially said yes (not to mention he already asked). Nevertheless he was, and it was a miracle that his hand wasn't shaking as badly as it had been before, though perhaps this was due to how tightly he held Cosette's. He led her down the street, tilted the umbrella the slightest bit upwards so they'd see where they were going and, glancing over to present Cosette with a smile, he shrugged; "Somewhere pretty nearby. Not too much walking."
As they walked together through the streets, in between alleyways and along crooked sidewalks, Marius hummed a bit, a sort of contentment in his tone that he found while simply spending time with Cosette. And she was right - when her voice interjected the steady fall of rain he nodded instantaneously. "You're right. It does feel normal, but... also special. Very special," because regardless of how normal it supposedly felt, Marius knew of his impending question, of the hidden ring in his pocket and the surprise.
They walked a bit more and it was quiet between them - comfortably so, with a backdrop of pattering sheets of rain and splashes of cars on the New York City streets. Marius swung their arms and glanced down at her every now and again, and ten minutes of walking passed; together they approached the front of a rather upscale hotel. Marius just smiled.
