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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 18, 2012 16:18:03 GMT -5
It was official.
Francis was lost.
He rolled his eyes as he came across yet another dead end, turning back around once more. He had been one of the curious sort when told about the maze gardens. Who wouldn't enjoy a scenic walk through a lovely garden? Coupled with the fact that it was a maze, it would catch anyone's interest. So on he went, ready to calmly face the garden with his brilliance and wit and-
And now he was lost. He sighed, stopping for a second to glance around. Sure, it had only been half an hour, but he only wanted to spend a few minutes here, ten at the most. He had things to do still, people to see (even though he hardly knew anyone just yet). He couldn't just spend his time prancing about in a garden!
At least it was a pretty garden.
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Post by Juliana Schneider on Oct 18, 2012 17:53:14 GMT -5
Juliana was not one with a sense of direction, nor was she brave at heart. Once arriving on campus she found that she had already lost all sense of direction and order. The young Czech looked over her map of the campus and already felt a headache coming on. Her English was still very poor. Sure she could speak it clearly but reading and writing it was a different story. All those weird double meanings like which, witch, to, too, here and hear...boy was it annoying.
She was also a very shy girl by nature just the sight of a new person made her sweat so being around hundred of new faces it was very disorienting and somewhat terrifying. To escape the loud noises she headed into the quietest place possible; the garden. Now upon entering she had not considered that it was a maze other wise she would've thought twice before entering. She had a tendency to get lost in just about anywhere.
So here she was walking around aimless her sewing bag under her arm and a pair of knitting needles in hand as she knitted a scarf with great speed. Something that she normally did when nervous. Biting her lip she looked over her shoulder where the other deadends were then stopped to push her long auburn hair from her eyes and sighed heavily.
"Could this day get any worse...?"
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 18, 2012 19:17:15 GMT -5
Francis took a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting the gorgeous, American air surround him. Okay, maybe it wasn't so gorgeous, since America was a rather uncultured country, but it was nice enough. Maybe it was the fact he was out in the middle of nowhere at a very nice private college. Or the fact that the air really was nice today, and the weather was perfect and everything would be perfect if he wasn't stuck in a garden. Or, rather, a maze. He didn't want to view it as something pretty when he was getting irritated by his lack of direction.
So he kept walking. If it came to the worst, he figured he could just run straight through the garden. Straight would always get him out. Luckily, it didn't come to worse, for he soon found another person who seemed just as lost.
He quickly approached her, grinning brightly as he took her hand. Time to turn on the charm. "Bonjour, mademoiselle," he said, the French rolling off his tongue in a lovely tone. "You seem to be lost. Might I help you?" Now that he got a better look at her, something about the girl seemed strangely familiar. He wondered if he had met her before.
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Post by Juliana Schneider on Oct 18, 2012 19:30:18 GMT -5
Before Juliana could even take in the person's voice the hairs on her neck began to stand on edge her hands dropping the knitting needles as he took her hand in his. That was a very big mistake. If there was one thing a Czech didn't like it was being touched by someone you didn't know or you hadn't given permission to. And Juliana was no exception except her reactions were often as you say...dramatic.
Before she even saw the face she ripped her hand out of his and yanked out a large thick text book in her sewing bag. Without any such mercy she brought it down on top of his head with a loud 'wham!'. That was one of her many ways she'd 'defend' herself. Pulling back she looked at him and her eyes widened as she the book slipped right from her fingers.
It wasn't because she was shocked that she hit him it was because she actually knew this person. He hadn't changed a day since the day she had known him...short silky golden locks, crystal blue eyes and a smile with a french accent that could melt any woman's heart. It was none other than Francis Bonnefoy her childhood friend up until she was 12 years old.
"F--Francis!"
She squeaked in both surprise and shock her face flushing a deep shade of red all of a sudden. Of all places and of all times she had to find him here. If there was a god up there he sure had a cruel sense of humor.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 19, 2012 10:18:33 GMT -5
Francis had been slapped a good amount of times for his flirtatious deeds. While the percentage of women who swooned over him was rather high, he still made the mistake of crossing those who didn't like being touched, who didn't like his attitude, or who just didn't like him. He was used to being slapped. He would have much preferred a slap than to have a heavy textbook slammed down right on top of his head.
He fell back, the world spinning in front of his eyes, momentarily stunned by the force of the blow. "Merde!" he hissed, rubbing at his forehead once he was able to see clearly again. Maybe he shouldn't have messed with this girl. It was always the red-haired ones that were prone to the slapping. And she was a special case- she was prone to killing those that have done an injustice with a textbook. Completely unnecessary for him. A slap would have sufficed, and he would have totally backed off.
But then she said her name, seemingly sounding surprised. Francis looked up, eyes narrowing for a second before he, too, finally remembered where he last saw this girl. "Juliana?" he asked, standing up (and still holding his head- he could feel a headache coming on). "Juliana Scneider? Is that really you?" If it was, she really grew into a fine, young woman.
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Post by Juliana Schneider on Oct 19, 2012 11:09:19 GMT -5
A cold sensation ran through her body as did a scorching heat flash soon after. He reconized her; she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. She swallowed hard feeling a large lump forming at the throat looking very embarrassed. For some reason this made her think of when they had first met.
She was exactly seven years old and a tomboy to boot. Though she would wear the dresses her mother and stepfather made her to she would always come home with them covered in dirt and grass stains from her romping around. It was on that particular day that she was running around laughing like an idiot and ran right into him. At the time Francis would have been thirteen years old while she just barely made it past his waist.
Being that was a rather violent child she punched him in the gut for ‘getting in her way’ . Upon hearing his French accent became very intrigued for she had never met or even heard anyone who spoke French and was naturally curious about his native land.
After that she followed him around much like a puppy, always asking him questions playing with him and sometimes even brought him to her house to have him teach her how to cook.
It had seemed so long when that happened when they were very good friends. That was until she was twelve years old and broke off their friendship (coincidentally around the same time her mother died and she was forced to move to Russia) for reason either forgotten or just pushed out of thought.
She was brought back from her reflective moment her face still red looking ready to cry from embarrassment. She immediately dropped to her knees keeping her eyes cast down while picking up her scarf in process, knitting needles and textbook.
“I--I’m sorry I didn’t mean to--I mean I--“
She stumbled through words and her things; what was she to say to the man she hadn't spoken to in six years and had just beaten over the head?
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 19, 2012 18:34:41 GMT -5
Francis chuckled, waving off her apologies. His head would heal. It always did (well, when he was slapped, it did, but he figured this was nearly the same thing). Besides, he thought it was cute, the way she was struggling to control her blush, looking as if she might burst into tears at any minute. Was she embarrassed that she hit him, or was she just embarrassed to see him?
He, too, bent down, helping her with her knitting materials that she had dropped when he grabbed her hand. Well, so much for eloquence. "Non, non," he said, shaking his head, blond curls lightly hitting his cheeks. "Allow me to apologize. I didn't mean to sneak up on you in such a way. I was just pleased to find a..." He cut himself off, realizing he was about to call her a beautiful woman, or something along those lines. For some reason, referring to his old friend as such didn't seem like the best of plans, especially when she had just hit him with a textbook. "...Another person," he finished, smiling softly at her.
Once he finished picking up the things she had missed, he placed them in her hands and helped her back up, running his fingers through his hair once he did so. "So, Juliana," he started. "How have you been since we last spoke? How long has it been now...five years? Six?" He honestly lost count. When she left, he just assumed she left for good. "I still remember you as that silly, little girl, always chasing me about," he teased lightly.
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Post by Juliana Schneider on Oct 19, 2012 19:00:37 GMT -5
She wrapped up the yarn quietly being that she hated to find the strings in knots....it always made more tiresome work when she wanted to use it for later. She looked up when he apologized then flashed him one of her sweet smiles, that alone was enough to say that it was alright and that she forgave him.
She paused at his question placing the neatly wrapped ball of red yarn back into her bag then her text book. She gave a rather sheepish look scratching the back of her head...to her this was probably the most awkward moment she had ever experience.
Okay maybe seeing her brother Gabriel after four years of being apart and asking if she could live with him could top it but it was still pretty damn awkward.
"Six."
She nodded her head to clarify it to herself. Six long years...Damn that was long.
When he stated about what she was like as a child her face turned red again. She preferred not to think about her childhood. She was a very proper young lady now and just thinking about how wild and unruly she was made her embarrassed. She giggled quietly though...she had to admit that thinking of herself as a little puppy dog was a pretty funny image.
"Don't remind me...I was such a terror to you and poor Arthur! When I think back on how I would torment the two of you it makes me think of how and why you would put up with me!"
She paused thinking back on her other friend at that time. Arthur Kirkland, a young man from Great Britain who she also would play with as well and had not spoken to like Francis for six years.
"By the way...how is Arthur? Are you two still in touch?"
She gave a warm almost dreamy smile at the thought of the brit. Sure he could be stuffy and a bit of a know it all but she enjoyed just sitting and talking with him and she had to admit that his accent was very sexy even to an eight year old.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 19, 2012 20:25:09 GMT -5
"You weren't all too bad of a terror," Francis assured, raising his eyebrows. Well, she might have been. She certainly kicked hard, that was for sure. Which made the whole hitting-people-on-the-head-with-textbooks make sense now. At least he knew she still had it in her. "I mean, Arthur and I still remained friends with you, so I suppose you had some sort of charm that drew us to you."
Speaking of Arthur...
He pursed his lips in thought at her question. He really didn't have any idea what happened to Arthur after Juliana left the two. Francis moved away, Arthur moved away, and they lost contact with one another. "Non," he said, shaking his head. "I suppose you kept us together, somewhat. I sent him a few Christmas letters here and there, and he would reply with his usual sarcasm, but, other than that, I don't know much about his life these days."
It was rather upsetting, considering how great of enemies they were.
"Well, not to worry! We found each other, so perhaps Arthur will be drawn to our presence in a short time, oui?"
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Post by Juliana Schneider on Oct 19, 2012 20:36:25 GMT -5
She smiled at the mention of 'charm'. She knew exactly what that was; her cuteness. Though she was not a boastful woman (except when it came to drinking) she knew very well that she could be oh so adorable and very cute to where she could manipulate anyone to do anything for her. And she used this quite often as a child from getting someone to play dress up with her to getting out of trouble for smashing the neighbor's window in with a ball.
"Was it because I was adorable?" She asked teasingly giggling while saying so.
When she heard that they were separated as well a rather sad and disappointed look came over her. She remembered the two always fighting and always bickering yet deep down she saw that they really were friends...though they were too proud to admit to one another. But when things did get out of hand she would be the one to stop it...usually with the smashing of both of their heads together.
A small look of guilt crawled onto her face. So it was because she left they stopped being friends...? If that wasn't enough to guilt trip her than she didn't know what would! She looked up at his last comment that bright smile bringing back warm memories. he smiled back still looking just a little bit guilty but decided to let it subside and focus on other things.
"Man I can't believe it...it's quite ironic that we've enrolled in the same college huh?"
She laughed loving a good bit of irony as well as the next. She looked over him from head to two and shook her head.
"You haven't changed a bit..."
She reached a hand up and sofly touched his hair then his cheek with a sweet sweet smile.
"Still the biggest heartthrob in all of France!"
((Man! You almost got the whole relationship between the real nations right! ;D ))
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 20, 2012 18:02:44 GMT -5
[[Did I really? :3 Good to know I'm doing something right!]]
"Adorable? Perhaps," Francis responded with a laugh, scratching at the scruff on his chin. Now that he thought about it, it could have just been because she was an adorable child. After all, it wasn't everyday he got children to run after him and play with him. Plus, he was able to babysit her, and that was a very easy way to earn money, considering he already played with her enough.
When her hand touched his cheek, he smiled back at her, pleased to be called such a thing. "Well, I do try," he said, dramatically placing a hand to his chest. "It isn't easy being such a handsome man, you know." He took her hand, gently squeezing it, and stepped back for a moment to look her up and down. "You, mon cher, have changed quite a lot, however. I mean, I still see that same face from when we were younger, but you've grown so much." He looked back at her eyes, raising his eyebrows. "I suppose it has been too long, hmm?"
Well, he was going to fix that.
"But I'm not going to let you grow up any more unless I can watch that growth," he teased.
He almost wished he could go back to their past. He wished he could play with her and Arthur once more, despite the numerous fights all of them would get in. He wished things didn't have to change. Here she was, a young woman now, ready to face the world. Arthur, too, was probably steeled with what life threw at him. The days of childish innocence were gone.
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Post by Juliana Schneider on Oct 20, 2012 20:30:51 GMT -5
Her face flushed pink and she hid a small smile. Leave it to Francis to make her blush over something as silly as a compliment. She started to laugh at his last comment thinking that it was funny.
"Well there isn't much to watch Francis! I mean I've already matured physically and as you can see there's nothing that special about me."
She said this very modestly. During her developing years she would often hear Ivan say that he loved her sweet, childlike face and that he wanted her to keep it no matter what (though often ended that note with a hand pressing down on her skull and a threat of what would have happen if she were to ignore his wishes). But with Natasha she would tell her over and over again that she was ugly until finally some of those words seeped in.
Besides the 'charm' her face held she only thought of herself as plain. Nothing more and nothing less.
She looked at her hand that was still against his cheek his hand still holding it as she paused the smile slowly melting off of her face. This brought back another memory. A painful one that she had almost completely forgotten.
It was the day that she left him. She told him only two words. "It's over." And then she made to leave just like that. But just as soon as she took her first two steps she found his hand gripping onto hers trying to get her to stay so that they could talk it over but she just ripped her hand out from his and left. No goodbye just silence.
She allowed her hand to slowly slip from his. Was she really that cold that she wouldn't even say goodbye to the man who she saw as a brother?
Taking it in quietly with a emotionless face she shook her head then replaced her bitterness with a broad grin.
"So! I take it that you are lost like I am, right?"
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 20, 2012 20:52:37 GMT -5
Francis blinked in surprise when she said there was nothing special about her. He didn't even bother trying to grab her hand as it slid from his grip. The fact that she truly believed she wasn't special was enough to make his heart wrench. He didn't believe anyone, male or female, should refer to herself or himself as such. Everyone was special in their own way, and everyone deserved to feel special in their own way.
He nearly missed her next question. "Ah. Oui, I suppose I am," he said, glancing about. "Well, now that we've found each other, we'll be able to make our way out of here much quicker, won't we?" Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed her hand again, holding it tenderly as he began walking, picking any old direction he pleased.
He figured it didn't matter where they were going, so long as he was able to get through to her before they arrived anywhere.
"Also," he started, looking straight ahead. "There is so much that is special about you, Juliana. Please don't say there isn't." Then he looked over at her and smiled softly. "For example, you are quite the beautiful girl. I have no doubt that you'll sweep any man off his feet. You have a lovely smile, too."
Hopefully, she would take these to heart. Hopefully, she wouldn't brush these aside as useless compliments.
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Post by Juliana Schneider on Oct 20, 2012 21:21:24 GMT -5
She was about to say that he shouldn't get his hopes up on that but couldn't even let a word leave her mouth as she hand was grabbed and was being half dragged half guided in whatever direction he pleased. She couldn't help but smile.
"Well this is a change! Usually I was the one who'd drag you around!"
Funny how quickly the tables could turn!
She was frozen when he said what he said about her. Her, beautiful? Now that seemed a little bit far fetched and it still embaressed her to no end.
"Fr--Francis stop! You're embaressing me!" She cried looking over her shoulders with a paranoid look, looking as though she was afraid someone heard him say that.
"I have no intentions of sweeping any man off their feet whatsoever! Besides I couldn't even if I tried! I've never even had a single date before!"
It was then she stopped talking completely face shooting up as red as a strawberry. Why did she have to say that? Why did she have to say that in front of him?
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 20, 2012 21:58:49 GMT -5
Francis stopped her completely in her tracks, raising his eyebrows in a perfect arch. And then- he really couldn't help it- a grin appeared on his face, both amused and shocked at the same time. He didn't understand why she would need to tell him of that fact, but he found it endearingly cute. Never mind the fact that she was most obviously embarrassed.
"You've never even been on a date?" he asked. "Well, you are still young." He didn't mention that, by her age, he had been on more dates then he could count. "You still have time to date. Don't try to hurry it along, and don't get discouraged if it comes far later then you'd like for it to come."
He faced her, patting her hand in a comforting manner.
"Surely the perfect man will come along, and he'll be enamored by your beauty." He smiled gently then added, "Unless you're not into men, of course."
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