Las peleas eran algo común entre Francis e Izzy desde que eran humanos, parecía parte de ellos y aunque uno pensaría que tras haber vivido bastantes años se les habrían acabado las razones para pelear, no era así. Realmente Francis ya no sabía bien que había enojado a Isabelle pero sabía como arreglar las cosas, desde Paris había encargado sus dulces favoritos y había encargado peonias rosas desde Nueva York. —Ambos sabemos que yo soy un tonto pero te amo— comentó entrando al salón donde la chica se encontraba con las flores en una mano y la caja de macarons en la otra
Notes: Phoenix is finally able to have company, but Xavier decides to have a little visit with Isabelle as he assumes Adam has gone in to see his brother. After a bit of a tough start, the two ease into their time spent together, laughing and enjoying their conversation outside of work.
Xavier
The wait to see the two people in the hospital hadn't been nearly as long as it could have been. However, it felt to Xavier that it was much longer. The worry had been eating at his insides for much longer than he let on, but some of the department heads had mention how distracted he seemed. Xavier had gone through most of his life with little to no tragedies in them. His parents were both alive and well; with no siblings to speak of, he never had anyone but himself to worry about. He cared little for his extended family. The only people he had to worry about were girlfriend's and his last one was quite independent. He lived a tragedy-free life for 29 years and he certainly hoped to keep it that way. As he left from work to head to the hospital, he moved at a careful pace, leaving the sheets of work behind that he had been keeping as record for Isabelle. His overcoat was left open in his rush to return to the hospital in hopes of seeing the pair in good health. He checked in at the front desk asking for an update with a charming smile. The news was good as far as he was concerned, he headed towards Isabelle's room. Knowing that if Phoenix was cleared to have visitors someone would already be in to see him. Xavier's shoes hit the tile with a resounding click at every one of his steps. It would be no surprise to the girl that she had a visitor, but just in case he wanted to give a little knock on the door as well.
Isabelle wasn't happy to be in that hospital bed, in fact, she hated it more than the next person. It wasn't about the food or the smell of bleach and being poked and probed all the time... It was more like a 'I can't have my computer nor do my job here' kind of thing. She felt idle, and to the young brunette, that was never good. Life to her, was one big adventure that had been put on hold because of what had happened. She wanted to be out there, finding new investors and pushing Lupin Interprises further up, guiding them towards better things, to new and more exciting paths. Obviously, that wouldn't be possible for a while, now that she was stuck in that hospital bed. Letting out a yawn, the brunette zapped through the channels, trying to find something interesting to watch when someone knocked on her door. Visitors? Why would she be getting visitors? Adam never knocked, Phoenix was still confined to a bed, the doctors knocked twice and then came in... She had given her statement to the police, so who could it be? Clearing her throat, the brunette lifted up the back of her bed in order to get to a sitting-like position and then smiled, running her fingers through her hair, in case it was all messy. "Come on in."
Xavier
He gave another pause, a little unsure of whether he should really walk in. He was only assuming that Phoenix would be seeing his.. brother. The idea made sense, the two certainly looked alike, but the concept was still sinking in for him. Xavier squared his shoulders a bit before walking into the room. It was like any other hospital room he supposed - though he had little to go off of. His eyes roamed the room quickly before landing on her. He soaked in her appearance, able to see only what was visible on her face and arms, he gave another pause. Standing in what he decided was awkward limbo between taking a seat without invitation and wanting to leave cause he shouldn't have come. Adam wasn't in the room, and he supposed that was a start. "Wow, someone looks all cozy with her Television. Must be nice to not have to get up for meetings at the crack of dawn's ass." Xavier's lips twisted into a weary smile, relief filling the pit there at the sight of her. Now if only he could see Phoenix.
Isabelle almost wished she hadn't allowed Xavier in, mostly because she must have looked like hell to the young businessman; and he always looked so dapper and impeccable that now she was feeling crappier than usual... The blonde man, however did not waste too much time before he stole a small smile from her lips. "I suppose that all you have to do is to get shot twice." She teased, forcing herself not to laugh, or else she would end up feeling some kind of pain. "If you're here to see my boss, well... our boss, he's not around. He went home for a shower."
Xavier
Xavier made a face, a little bothered by her response, before shaking his head at her. "Only twice, not too difficult apparently." He stepped closer, his shiny black shoes contrasting with the tile below him. He pushed away his overcoat as he reached the edge of her bed and let his fingers dip down to touch the bed she was in. "Quite the opposite, and by technicality, he is not my boss. So just yours apparently." Xavier winked playfully before supposing he owed her an explanation. "Not exactly quiet news about you two, one day you're there and the next gone. I was worried."
Isabelle smirked. It was nice having someone around who was there for her and not because they were supposed to be beside her, like Lucas was supposed to. Not that she didn't like Lucas' company, she just felt like a burden to the young man. "I could say I would help you with that, but my aim isn't the best. I would end up killing you and that is definitely not something that we want." She raised one hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she stuck her tongue out to wet her partially chapped lips. Yes, Belle definitely needed some chapstick. "I'm fine, X. See? I'm a tough cookie."
Xavier
"i am going to have to politely decline said offer. Not that I doubt your marksmanship, but rather because I fear that being shot or being shot at is about all my mother's heart could take if she found out." Xavier was curious, if this was what it was outside of ICU, he couldn't imagine what Phoenix was like while there. "Yeah, tough cookie looks like she could use some water. Or some coffee and something smothered in grease. Or chocolate if that takes your fancy. You being in here has done nothing to my workload. I'd say you have added another stack of papers for me." The manager moved, walking towards the empty chair at the side. He sat, unbuttoning his suit as he did and crossed his legs in an leisurely elegant fashion. "You can't just go around getting hurt and getting time off. Soon everyone will be doing it to get out of my meetings." He flicked at some non-existent lint on his sleeve before bringing his eyes up to her. He didn't want to bring up work, but he had never known Belle to slack off like some of the people who worked under him. Toying with her now, seemed to be the only time he would be able to say it and it be somewhat truthful.
Isabelle felt her mouth watering and her stomach growl when he mentioned coffee and something greasy. It was all that she had been craving for the past few days, but no one let her have any. She wouldn't dream of asking for such things to Adam, mostly because asking him for favors was not her style. She had far too many debts with him to add another to her account. Not that this could be compared to her father's debt, the new computer and tablet that Adam had given her, and also to the car that she had wrecked in that shooting, but still, the less, the better. "I'm sorry for getting hurt. It was definitely not in my plans, but I'll give you a day's notice the next time. Is there any urgent matter that would require my presence at the company?"
Xavier
A noise hit his ears, one that had not come from him and a smirk spread across his features. "It'll be my treat on your first day free from here," Xavier said with a wink. Not a fan of particularly greasy foods and eating with his hands. It appealed to his inner child he supposed - the idea of eating with his hands and just having grease drip down his hands and chin. Though he doubt it would ever happen in public, the idea soothed the urge a little. "A day would be preferable," he joked softly before his eyebrows furrowed. "Nothing that can't wait until you're better. Your duties are being handled for the time being, you'd do well to just sit around like a lump of potatoes until you're better. No need to apologize for being hurt, however and apology to worrying me half to death would be nice. I think I would quite like one of those. if you're curious - no, you have not been replaced. No one could replace you if that means anything to you."
Isabelle raised one brow. They weren't friends, so why would he be visiting her if not to talk business? "Honestly, though. If you're not here to talk business, then I'm probably going to need these nurses to lower my Morphine doses, because I might start hallucinating, or something." She joked. It wasn't like they would only talk business, but it was something that they had in common. That, and their refined taste for books. "Psh. You weren't worried, X. C'mon." I mean, why would he? Why would anyone worry about her at all? Still, his words meant something to her. To feel that needed somewhere... It was a nice feeling. "Well, I'm glad my super nice boss hasn't found anyone to replace me just yet. It meas a lot..." She said that last part looking at him, maybe he would understand that it was meant to him.
Xavier
Tilting his head a bit, Xavier let a smile spread on his lips slowly at her words. "You doubt me. I'm wounded by those words." Having casually sat back in the seat moment before, Xavier shuffled moving to sit up as she spoke once more. His head dropped a little and a chuckled passed across his lips before he brought his eyes up to her slowly. She spoke again, despite his silence and their eyes locked, another smile twisting his lips. "I am going to be quite honest with you for about two minutes. Nearly everyone I spend my day with I could careless about. That being said, meetings at seven in the morning are some of the only meetings I can tolerate when having to attend them with our other associates. Most of the people in the company are the kind of people I would rather throw an abnormally large and heavy object at. Disregarding the fact I just said all of that as the lead manager of the company, I would go so far as to say that of the many men and women I encounter in a single day or week, you are by far among my favorites. To that extension when I found that you were not in attendance to any meetings - you, someone very dedicated and honest about her work as well as able to hold a conversation with me that is just that - a conversation... I would put the feeling that arose under the category of worried. So yes, I was worried. I doubt anyone would truly ever replace you, I wouldn't be worried." he sat back then, winking and waiting for her reaction to his words. At the very worst she would be angered by them and kick him out, but he had found out what he wanted in that case. Isabelle was looking to be on the road of recovery.
Isabelle pressed her lips together. There was something in the things that he had said, that caused the brunette to want to cry, not because he had offended her in some way, but, because, aside from her father, no one really valued her. Not that she was looking for validation, but it felt good, nonetheless, to know that she was being missed, or that someone appreciated the hard work that she had been putting into something that was supposed to be nothing but an excuse to have her hanging around Adam all the time. "Look at you, showering me with your fancy words." She smiled, finally. "I feel special already. And well, you know the name the company we work at has, so it's no wonder you feel like throwing heavy objects at them. I must admit though, that seven in the morning meetings are far more pleasing in your company."
Xavier
"You haven't heard the real fancy words just yet. Try these. Bloviate. Chantpleure. Esoterica. Moniker. lHalcyon. Vernacular." The man winked and grinned tapping at the arm rests with his fingers. "The beauty of a technology business is all the hardware lying around. Even when I'm being awful about your caffeine intake? How kind of you to say." Xavier paused, allowing a moment of silence to fill the air as his thought returned to what Adam had said recently. That she was his assistant. His eyes rose to her, connections wiring together inside his head - none of which he would say out loud to her. "Tell me about the food that they feed you here. I don't believe I have ever had the displeasure of being admitted to a hospital in this country before."
Isabelle couldn't help but to roll her eyes at his joke. She had heard those words before, in books, of course, but never really in an actual, real world sentence. People were far too lazy for that these days. "Bloviate. Use it in a sentence, go. Seduce me with words, Rhiding!" The brunette joked, moving one hand up to her chest as she bat her eyelashes to the man sitting next to her bed, before a silly little chuckle escaped her lips. It felt good to have some innocent company, one that wouldn't ask questions about the shooting, or shoot glares at her. "Yes, even when you're being a pain in my behind, nagging me about my hot beverage of choice. Haven't you heard? Bantering with handsome blond men is my favorite hobby. Oops, I don't think I should have said that Adam was handsome. That will blow his ego like you wouldn't know. But you are. Handsome, I mean. And no, I am not flirting." At his inquiring about the food, Belle shrugged, lacing her fingers on her lap as she gave the subject some thought. "It's alright, I suppose? I mean, it tastes like nothing, so... It's not like I can complain. But where have you been hospitalized, young Padawan?"
Xavier
"Asking me to use it in a sentence? You really know how to get my fire going." He paused, shifting in his seat as he thought for a moment. "Keats, in the financial department bloviates about nearly everything he apparently does. Know how impossible it is to get the man to shut up? Too much work for one person. Would you like if I spoke formally to you? Without contractions and speaking as though reading from an English dictionary? Lavish your mind and soul with the simple love that is books. Speaking of which have you been reading while you've been here?" Xavier's eyes roamed in search of a means for her to do something with her time other than fight with the television before them. "You chose it, not only once a morning, but occasionally more than once. He has an ego? I would have never known. You've got to at least appreciate that facial hair however," he admitted rising a hand to his own chin. Having shaved that morning, it was clear of even a shadow, but to grow hair out of any kind was always a task for him. Odd considering the creature living on his father's lip. "Flirting? You? Perish the thought." Xavier chuckled as she had picked up on his subtle mention of never being hospitalized in this country. "Tastes like nothing, maybe I should treat you to all you can eat once you're free. Surely I am the master and you are the Padawan? However, to answer the question. Germany on a couple of occasions. I got hurt in South Africa and being a tourist I had to go to the hospital. Got hit in England a couple of times on my bike."
Isabelle laughed at the example that he came up with when she asked him to. Truly, Keats from the financial department really couldn't shut up for one second about anything and everything he did. It was something that both Isabelle and Xavier had pointed out to one another, perhaps he wanted a medal of some kind? "Oh, please. Romance me with words, X. I'm in dire need of some romance. Rhiding, I choose yooou." She teased, pretending she was throwing something at him, mostly, pretending that she was holding a pokeball. Not that he would know... Xavier didn't look like he would know about Pokémons. No, he was far too fancy for that. "Ah... reading. Well, Mr. Lupin was kind enough to bring around a tablet, which, I still can't get behind. I'm sorry, but I can't. I like books. Pages, not--tablets." Shaking her head, she paid attention to his little story, before arching one brow. "Wow... Even getting hurt looks fancier when it's your life. What's up with that? But--Okay, fine. You can be the Jedi, since I'm obviously younger." Belle winked, teasing him. "And curse my soul! I have flirted with you!"
Xavier
Xavier's lips spread into a grin, a chuckle rumbling in his chest as she laughed, in a manner he could describe as carefully. it was easy to forget why she was here in the first place. "It is exceedingly difficult to attempt to do too much on command, however what I can do I shall. Let my voice ravish your eardrums," he said making a gesture with his hand before eyeing what she was doing. A single eyebrow rose at the sight of her throwing something imaginary at him, but he said nothing about it. "Tablet is too new for you? Too simple to have an entire library at your fingertips? Though I suppose I would have to agree, there is a novelty and beauty behind pages with bindings and the ink in each page. Anything you in the mood to read? I could smuggle a few in past Adam next I visit." Not that pissing off Adam appealed to him any, but he had decided before this visit that despite Adam being who he was - Xavier would refrain from letting the other man's birthright stop him from doing as he liked. "You know nothing of what it looked like when I was hurt. Besides most of it was just a few nasty scratches that got healed up rather prettily. Not just any Jedi, I am a Jedi Master. Lemme guess you're one of the people who love being a Sith Lord. You can be honest with me, I won't try to kill you." Xavier shimmied a bit, turning to pull a hand through his hair, "I didn't realize we were flirting, let me get myself turned so you only see my good side."
Isabelle sighed audibly, one hand back on her chest, eyes gazing up dreamily when he mentioned ravishing her eardrums with his voice. Although she was certain that he wasn't taking this seriously, and she hoped he wasn't because c'mon, her life had too much excitement already with being practically imprisoned in someone else's house and dealing with his ways, to name two things. She didn't need to add a secretive involvement with someone else to that list. Besides, Xavier was a co-worker and that could only end badly in the first place. "Actually, I think that carrying an entire library in my hands is something rather amazing, but I miss flipping pages... I miss the smell of old and new books, I miss the experience of going to a library and reading other people's notes. It's kind of the main reason why I go to public libraries, even if I'm against writing in books, at the same time, I love reading what was going through people's minds while they were reading the same passage I was." She shrugged, instinctively reaching up and running her fingers through her hair. "But you don't have to worry about it. Lucas has promised to bring some of my books, but I really appreciate your offer. I don't want you getting in bad terms with the boss... Who--should be more worried about Phoenix, but hides in my room for whatever reason." Rolling her eyes, Isabelle leaned back against her pillow. She shouldn't be badmouthing Adam, or else, people would start asking why did she put up with him in the first place. Why didn't she quit her job? Why didn't she move out. "Anyway, what makes you think I want to be a Sith Lord? Do I look evil to you? I know I'm a control freak, but c'mon."
Xavier
A smile started to pull at his lips, she was one of those types. Reading was more than just what was on the books, it was more involved in that. Although Xavier understood what she meant, he had a preference for used textbooks during his years in university, not because he could not afford them brand new, but because others would write notes and highlight important things along the margin that sometimes helped better than any professor could. With that he could sympathize her missing a true book. "I have recently given up on caring about what side I am on. I would prefer to be under his radar completely, but considering that I am a friend of Phoenix and I would consider us something of friends as well... I doubt there is a chance I could ever truly be on his good side. Maybe he has his reasons for staying in here rather than running about being worried. I have no doubt that should we ever be stuck in a closed environment together he would be sick of me in less than an hour - nothing I could exactly control." Their few encounters had taught Xavier some things. Smoking for the man was a must, Xavier talking in vernacular was something of a requirement, and being himself was certainly a sure way to piss him off. Having gone to school for so many years, made Xavier's ability to comprehend and understand things constantly prevalent. He noticed the fine details in the most overlooked places - though he supposed it was part of his job as well. "Everyone wants to be Evil because you get so powerful. Being good is always the harder path. I figured you might be more of the take the easy route type," he commented with a chuckle and a playful wink before sitting back in his seat.
Isabelle raised one brow. "Well excuse you for jumping into conclusions when it comes to me. We can no longer be friends after that, Mr. Rhiding." She said, wiggling her finger at his direction, being extra obnoxious about it. "Being good is always more difficult, not to mention, way cooler because, this world lacks actual strong, female heroes, so excuse me for wanting to be a Jedi and piss all over those Sith devils." Oh God, why was she talking like that? Her father would be embarrassed for her if he heard her talking like that. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I think it might be the medication I'm under, so will you promise to be a good boy and not hold it against me? Thank you very much." But in the end, she remembered something and, after sighing again, Isabelle looked up at the handsome man sitting beside her. "Are you sure we can't talk about work? Hm?"
Xavier
"I just figured you might be the type, but if you are to scorn me for all life and refuse being my friend I will take back my words and beg for your forgiveness. For your friendship, I do not know if I can live without." Xavier placed a hand over his heart, the other reach out towards the wagging finger as a playfully pained expression crossed his features. They fell into a bright smile, his hand returning to the chair he sat in and the other nestling into his lap. At her words, a low chuckle escaped him despite her apology, "Oh, no. Don't be sorry. No harm done. I was just wondering if you meant that literally or metaphorically, because I think you'd have a tough time doing it literally. I will not hold it against you. Mention it again maybe once or twice? Very possible." At her sigh, his head tilted with interest a quirk of a smile pulling at his lips as he did so. "We could talk about it, but you are here to recover not do work. You won't miss much, and I'll provide a summary of all that you have missed. As well as a folder for the updated information that you consistently keep track of. Your boss said no work. "
Isabelle arched one brow, looking over at the man sitting beside her. "Were you wondering if I could literally piss over someone? Because that is definitely not a nice mental image to have. Much less when I'm already feeling vulnerable by having a catheter shoved up my urethra." Shaking her head, Isabelle crossed her good arm over her stomach, pretending to be angry at him, but obviously, failing to keep her act for longer than a minute, as she changed the subject directly to work. "My boss is definitely not here at the moment, so I don't see what the big deal is, X."
Xavier
"Well, when you say it like that it sounds awful. So we're going to not have that mental image go through our heads. Thank you for that very, very truthful statement." Xavier's brow furrowed as he tried not to thing about what she had just said, eyeing as she made a face at him and persisted. Adam has said a resounding no. Xavier didn't always listen to Adam, so he could easily defy whatever he had said, but Adam didn't seem like he was ordering Xavier to keep his mouth shut about work, but rather almost asking in his own way. She was his personal assistant and she had gotten hurt, for her to hurt herself worse by stressing out or worse would make him undoubtedly unhappy. At the very least he could understand that, so he just smiled at her words. "You are correct. He is not. Are you attempting to divert the subject because my conversational skills are not enough for you? Is this your way at renouncing my one chance to becoming your friend? I might go home and do something that is very manly and depressing."
Isabelle offered him a playful, yet teasingly grin. Yes, she was making fun of herself, apparently. But then again, if she didn't, who else would make herself laugh when she was alone in that hospital bed? Adam certainly wouldn't, since all he ever did was look at her with that permanent frown on his forehead, and Phee was still on another room, so... "Always glad to help, curls." She moved her good arm up, using her index and middle finger to salute him as those words escaped her lips. Belle, however, couldn't hold back a laugh when he got all dramatic over her attempts to talk about work. "No, not at all. You still have a great chance of becoming my friend, and I'm afraid that now you must tell me what manly and depressing thing were you going to do at home."
Xavier
Xavier rolled his eyes at the word curls. His hair wasn't nearly that curly - at this length. Mostly. He fought the urge to raise a hand up and touch his hair as if to verify to himself that his hair was short enough to not seem curly. One of his eyebrows rose at her salute, but he smiled despite it. He had certainly missed having Belle around and it hadn't even been that long. "Oh that is a relief! To think that I might have had to suffer through the rest of my career with the knowledge that we might never truly be friends was enough to make my heart nearly stop. I would say either go home and write depressing poetry, or resign myself to my mother's care and mope about my parent's home while dragging my feet and whining all day. These are considered manly things, for clarification."
Isabelle reached up with her good hand, but, noticing that she wouldn't be able to reach his head in order to pat his curls, the brunette simply lowered her hand and patted his knee in a sympathetic, more like 'oh you poor thing' kind of way. "There, there, Keats. No need to turn to sad poetry. We still have a chance at being friends, I promise you." She teased him, before moving her hand back to rest on her lap. Belle had certainly missed spending time with him, finding Xavier far too interesting to keep their contact strictly during work hours. "We're not going to talk business, are we?"
Xavier
He watched as she rose her hand up, but unsure of what for he simply watched, following the limb as it made its way down to his knee where her hand patted it. "Sad poetry would have been my new and only outlet. I would have gone around to coffee shops all across the city and spoke every night in all black. It would have changed my life completely. The sort of damage that is never repaired and most certainly going to scar me until I'm too old to walk on my own. Look at what you could have done to me. Horrifying. Truly." Xavier offered up a lopsided smile and a light chuckle before speaking, "Well that depends on the kind of business you'd like to talk, how much of our talk shall be business and whether or not you'll spend the rest of your stay fretting over what you should or could be doing. If any of these answers are wrong, we will not be discuss business of any kind."
Isabelle let out an amused laugh when he mentioned the poetry sessions, wearing all black. Xavier had away of amusing her, because he was different than most people she would converse with. "Awful. Have you been walking around with your little bongo? Playing it as you recite your soulless, mournful poetry?" The brunette joked once again, before rolling her eyes at him. "You are the worse co-worker I have ever met. What kind of person does not want to discuss business with the other asks? Jesus, X. But fine. You owe me, or else, I'll have you walking around with your bongo, reciting your depressed verses."
Xavier
Bongos. His nose scrunched up at that. He was not a huge fan of bongos - a fact he blamed on a bad experience in central Africa. "No bongos. Maybe a ukulele or some maracas and I'll snap my fingers and wear those black glasses that are really just useless and a beret too. I will look absolutely horrible, all cause of you." Xavier lifted a hand up to cover his mouth, fighting the laughter that rose up. "Surely I am not worse than some of our co-workers. I can't stand to spend more than five minutes around some of them before praying in hopes of not dying of boredom or worse. Business is just about all I talk about all day, but I could easily talk about so many other things. Owe you? I will owe you? Pray tell what exactly will I owe you. Some services I do not provide, there is a fine print on this 'owing' you thing. I'm thinking just a shaker actually. I think that will do fine for my purposes."
Isabelle laughed yet again when Xavier continued to prolong their amusing chat over melancholic poetry and odd behavior when it came to being sad over a fictional friendship break up. Xavier had something to him, a way to carry himself that Isabelle missed around the company. He was a hard worker, that much was clear to see, however, he was also a young man who enjoyed laughing from time to time. Which was something that the brunette could certainly relate to. "Let's hope I am not one of said co-workers or else, I might as well terminate our friendship for once and for all." Belle said, moving her hand to her chest again, pretending to be in pain over a heart break. "Yes, you'll owe me. Because, here I am, wishing we could be discussing work, while you're refusing to do so. But don't worry, I won't require any of your sexual services. Mostly make you do my job on a daily basis for about a year." She teased, winking at him.
Xavier
Xavier made a face, "Surely this termination is getting out of hand. I reassured you upon entering this room that you are not like them. If you think you could be without my friendship, then I suppose there is no choice, but to let you do as you will. Know that one I too shall terminate our friendship because holding onto the pain of our memories together in slow motion will only make trying to connect with others more difficult." The man fought an eye roll at her words, smirking a bit instead. One of the few people who actually did their work besides him. It wasn't exactly a secret as to why the old manager got replaced. "I don't have an sexual services, so should you have chosen that path, you would have been sorely disappointed. You would have to continue with you ovulation without immediately relief. All of it? Certainly not. Personal Assistant is a no for me. No point after hitting the top-tier." A cocky grin spread on his lips before he threw her a playful wink.
Isabelle shook her head while another batch of laughter as he carried on. "Oh, by the grace of God. 'Continue with my ovulation without immediately relief'? You're joking, right?" She looked at him, confused and also amused by his choice of words, mostly because most men wouldn't use the word 'ovulation' in their day by day chat with a woman. "I was in it for the sex, I'm not looking forward to be impregnated with your magical beans." She teased, making a face at him as she motioned her head towards his crotch, before laughing again. "Oh, come on. Being a PA isn't that bad. It's not my ideal job, but it's a job nonetheless. It pays the bills, I guess." Although she had no bills to pay just yet, and all of her money went to her account's savings, Isabelle merely repeated the words that most people would tell her whenever they said something about their jobs: that it paid the bills. A nurse came in to let them know that visiting hours was over, which caused the smile vanish from Belle's lips. "Hug?" She asked, almost pouting as she opened her good arm to him, waiting for a hug.
Xavier
"I am doing anything but joking. I am quite serious," Xavier choked a little on her next words before letting out a bark of good-humored laughter. "Magical beans are they? Consider it done. You get the beans I get the pleasure and everyone is happy. " Xavier had never been an assistant, but to graduate from university he was required to do some time as an intern. That had been awful enough as it was. Just as he parted his lips to respond a woman came in interrupting his visit. He eyed her, obviously displeased by her presence. His frown fell as his eyes turned to Belle. He smiled at her pout and stood slowly, pulling his overcoat around him before moving to her bedside. "As if I could say no to a face like that." He bent down, a bit of an awkward position as he stopped low enough to wrap an arm around her and her to wrap hers around him. As he pulled away, he dipped once placing a kiss at the top of her head, "Feel better."
If there was ever one thing Giselle has hated, it was the cold. The closer to the equator she is, the closer to home she feels. As she walks through the city of New Orleans after sunset, she finds herself reminded of this again. The night air is breezy, and goosebumps rake up her arms. She'd come here with one purpose: to find a coven of witches. Word had reached her ears about a powerful witch who resided in the area, and where there were powerful witches there were powerful covens.
Loud, garbled noises echo from somewhere down the street, and Giselle walks closer to make out what it is. Music, thumping loudly from a bar, is what she learns it is. A shorter building greets her eyes, and cradled in the middle is a nice wooden door opened, welcoming the world in. Not hesitating, she steps inside and is hit immediately by the warmth that can only come from lots of people being in an enclosed space. And the smell, of course to be expected--is that of alcohol and sweat. She strides up to the bar. The bartender is a twenty-something man, dark hair, well built with his shoulders held loosely, easily. A lazy patriarch.
"Whiskey." She says to the man, catching his eyes and smiling daringly at him.
"You sure you're gonna be able to handle that, lady?" He asks in return, but he's smiling and she knows she's getting to him. If she plays it right, she can pretend to be drunk and and coerce information out of him.
"I can," She winks.
She opens her mouth to say more, but a woman walks into the bar. She's thin, blonde, and has all the confidence of someone who owns the place. Giselle's eyebrows shoot up and she watches her.
Adam was nervous, incredibly nervous. Not since their almost first date had he been anywhere near nervous, but this was more nervous than he had ever been before. On the surface, it seemed a little strange that he was nervous to be going on a date with his girlfriend. But Adam was very aware that it was only by a tremendous amount of love and grace on Belle's part that she was still his girlfriend. As soon as she told him what he had done, he knew it was over. That was what he deserved. He spent the last two days seeing a counselor and attending an AA meeting. He wasn't an alcoholic. The only time he'd ever drank before that night was on that date last year. In general, Adam wasn't tempted by alcohol. He just wanted to forget that night. And he did. He still didn't remember anything from after he got home that night and he kind of hoped he would never have to remember it. It completely broke him knowing how badly he hurt Isabelle.
It wasn't too long until he was at the restaurant. He stood outside waiting for Belle, especially since he was early. He was so nervous to see her. He was nervous to see how she would act around him. He knew that she would still be scared to be around him or for him to be near her.
Adam woke up in a funk. He knew he would though. He did every year on this day. It was the anniversary of his parents' death and it was always a dark day for him. He couldn't be around people because he snapped even quicker and harsher than he used to. It was the worst day to be around him and he couldn't stand being around anyone else. But that had never been a problem in previous years because he didn't have friends or people who cared enough to be there for him. Mrs. Potter was around and she cared, but she knew she couldn't help him, so she always let him be. He tried to tell Belle about it and warn her that he couldn't be around her and that she should avoid him, but when he started to tell her yesterday, she was being all sexy and teasing him and he just never got the chance. So he really had no choice but to shut off his phone and avoid her like the plague. He did run into people though and luckily, managed to avoid doing anything he would regret later.
He had cut school early and went to their graves. He sat there for hours, sobbing until it was dark out. There was so much pain in his heart and he just didn't want to deal with it anymore. He made his way to the bad part of town to a dive bar where he knew they would serve minors if you bribed them enough. The thing about having an endless amount of money and being financially set for life was that people very rarely ever refused to give him what he wanted. He grabbed the glass of vodka and downed it quickly, wincing when the offensive liquid made its way down his throat. It wasn't pleasant, but it worked. He began to feel numb. Three glasses of vodka and four beers later, Adam was completely drunk. He nearly fell off of the barstool, finally causing the sleazy bartender to call a cab for him out of pity.
Adam stumbled out of the bar and into the cab and rambled incoherently to the cab driver as he drove him home. As soon as he paid his cab fare, he stumbled into his house. By now, it was one o'cock in the morning, but surprisingly, he managed to stumble into the house and upstairs without waking up anyone. He was numb from the pain and his thoughts were all over the place to say the least. But now, he didn't want to be alone anymore. He kept thinking of how sad he was and kept thinking of Belle and seeing her hips swaying as she taunted and teased him yesterday and he just wanted to not be alone anymore. He wanted Belle. He made it up to her door and managed to turn the knob and stumbled into her room.
