Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin)

Subject: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:25 am

Christmas had come and gone with little to no celebration in Elenore's small home in New York. Not because the witch hadn't wanted to celebrate, but because almost everyone had returned home for the holidays. To spend it with their loved ones, and not in a city where very few of the students of The Julliard school had come from.

The option to go home was a luxury afforded to everyone else, but Elenore had remained within her New York apartment for the holidays.

Her only company coming in the form of her three small puppies who were growing day by day in to quite the characters. Lyonette, the golden retriever pup had found her name for the bravery she displayed upon being let free of the crate in the apartment. She had been the first to emerge towards Elenore as she sat upon the lounge floor, coaxing the small pups out, and had given the softest of barks when Elenore's hand had moved forth to pet her gently. Elenore's lips had turned up in to a smile as she'd waited for the pup to grow accustomed to her scent, before allowing Elenore to fuss her endlessly.
Lyonette had also been the bravest when it came to the veterinary visit, Elenore had been told.

Odette, the black labrador had been named after the fondness the small puppy had seemed to find whenever Elenore had taken to her piano, or had softly sung to the puppies to soothe them to sleep when a thunder storm had rattled through the building a couple of nights in. Odette had grown sleepy the quickest of the three pups, and the soft yawn that she had displayed at the end of Elenore's lullaby had confirmed the name for Elenore.

It had been Mignon's name that had been the hardest for Elenore. The Bassett Hound was neither brave nor musical. She wasn't overly inquisitive, but instead liked to curl up and sleep for most of the day. This behaviour was normal, Elenore had been told, because the pups were still growing, and therefore needed a lot of sleep, much like small children. But Mignon had been the sleepiest of the puppies. Playful, though, and thoroughly clumsy due to her oversized ears, Mignon had been an amusement for the witch, and thus, the name had sprung to mind as a small joke. Dainty, the name translated to, but Mignon was anything but dainty in her mannerisms. The staff had shared Elenore's amusement with it all.

Christmas and New Year had passed, the latter thankfully filled with a little bit more interesting festivities than the former. With most students back, the dorms had been filled with parties, and bars across the city were insisting people came out to party. Elenore had joined the girls from her classes for the evening at the campus' party, seeing the night in with others, but Kevin had not been present. The witch had looked for the man, but he'd either never turned up, or else had left before the stroke of midnight.

January classes had continued anew, and Kevin had been around once more. The two had shared pictures of the three pups together, taken walks around Central Park together when the snow had relented enough for the puppies to be able to enjoy it, and just as they usually did, spent time together around the city.

As February came in to being, though, Elenore had opted to repay Kevin's kindness. The witch had found herself not knowing the boy's birthday, and with Christmas already having been and gone, there was only one more holiday in which it would be okay to get the man something in return. The only trouble was, Elenore did not know how you repaid such kindness, nor what would mean the most to Kevin. It had, therefore, been something that had left the witch with a lot of thinking to do.

But the idea had struck amongst one of their meetings, as the witch showed Kevin the pictures upon her phone that she'd taken of the pups in the remains of the winter snow that had just melted, Kevin's eyes had grown fond at the 'artistry' of the piece. Elenore hadn't really known what he meant, truth be told, it was just a picture of Odette in the snow, accidentally reimaged in black and white, but the contrasting tones... Elenore had not quite followed which part Kevin had adored so much, but it had brought forth the conclusion of what she needed to do.

Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday, leaving no excuse for Kevin as she planned the day. A day which had turned in to a weekend...

The staff had been their usual accommodating selves as Elenore listed everything she wanted for the weekend. The food had been sent on ahead, her bags had been packed to ensure her wardrobe could handle the lower temperatures, and Kevin had been notified of their trip. His invite simply informing him to meet her at the cafe across the street at 7am on the Saturday morning. Nothing more had been provided to the man, because he didn't need to know anything more.

The car would be waiting for Kevin's arrival, Elenore and the three pups waiting in the back seat for the man to climb in. Lyonette, upon Kevin's arrival would be the first to clamber across to him and take her seat upon the man's lap, whilst Odette looked over curiously. Mignon remained blissfully unaware, snuggled in to Elenore's lap for warmth, her ears over her eyes as she slept on.

Any question raised by Kevin as they pulled away from the curb would simply be responded to with a soft 'you'll see' before Elenore would move the topic away from their current topic to another. A knowing smile playing on her lips all the while.

Two hours passed, before the up hill climb came. Kevin's eyes looked curiously between her and the snow covered mountains they were climbing and Elenore could no longer resist.

"We're spending the weekend in the Catskills. I've been told it has some of the most beautiful scenery that can be captured by a camera." The witch explained, eyes full of excitement as she did. "And," Elenore continued, reaching down for the box that had been tucked down by her feet. "I thought you would like this, instead of using your phone."

When Kevin would open the box, he would find a camera inside that had been the best one could buy. Apparently, for an amateur photographer this would be much too much, but Elenore had never considered Kevin to be an amateur. Of course, it was only one of the presents the witch had gotten for Kevin, a camera could never measure up to the gift of three precious lives, but it was the first gift of many that weekend, and hopefully the man would enjoy it.

"And..." Elenore would add as the car slowed. "This will be our home for the weekend." Elenore added as the glass house came in to view, giving the perfect view from the side of the mountain out across the valleys. The witch looked across to Kevin to see his reaction, hoping beyond all else she'd done enough to make him happy.

Merlin knew, getting presents for people you cared about was one of the hardest things in the world.

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:04 pm

Christmas had been a terse affair for the Harrington male. Where he had expected some level of coolness for being away for as long as he had, he hadn't expected to return to an empty home in England. Least of all, without being informed. Of course, the house hadn't stayed empty for very long but that hadn't been much better either. He had been forced to sit in a corner like a child and think over his actions, he had even been told to seriously reconsider his trip back to New York and his studies at Julliard. There had been many very valid reasons to not go back.

And only one reason to return.

And so come January, Kevin Harrington was back in class, this time possibly more serous than ever before about his education. And his fellow students.

Or maybe one in particular.

Due in no small part to his insistence, Kevin and Elenore's timetables were almost similar despite their vastly different majors. Most of the comprise as on his syllabus though with a course in stage direction squeezed into her timetable justified by how she may need to know this stuff in case she ever performed on stage instead of playing her music behind the curtains. And it was in these stage direction classes that he saw the French witch coming into her own.

After her birthday and with the company of her three puppies, the talented witch had transformed somehow. She smiled and laughed more than she had the whole of last year, she was open to friendships and communications, she was even once spotted sitting in the quad with some of her classmates, politely accepting a sandwich she never ate but held on to under guise of "hanging out" with her new friends.

The redhead couldn't resist taking a picture with his phone, from his vantage point on the roof of the drama building overlooking the quad. The weak winter sunlight filtered down to the witch in dappled blades of gold and yellow, making every strand of dark brown hair come alive, making every particle of her almond shaped eyes glow with joy and sorrow alike.

Scrolling through his album, the man was shocked to realize he had enough pictures of Tuesday to make an exhibition out of. Maybe he would some day. Art was all about beauty and no one could deny the French witch was beautiful.

Another good thing about their dynamic now was that despite her showcase being over, the brunette hadn't objected to being taken around New York to further explore the city and it's vibrant sense of culture. The trips that had begun as a source of inspiration for both Kevin and Elenore had now turned into genuinely enjoyable explorations of the city, its food, its art, its music, its dance, its sports and so much more. In fact, Kevin was planning to take her to a Yankees game next season, just so she could have the most American experience of all - watching her team lose at a terrible game while getting bits of corn dogs spat on her by strangers as they yelled at the field, encouraging their favorite players to "suck less ass".

February arrived with its usual cold to New York, and the smell of urine on the streets was replaced by puddles of yellow ice frozen over sidewalks and in alleys. The rat population once again receded to its underground haven as the city froze through the nights and people on the streets got lost in a sea of black coats and jackets while the subway cited yet another reason for not functioning as it should.

And Valentine's day approached.

Not much of an observer for the holiday, Kevin was nonetheless forced to take note of the occasion when he received word that he would be spending it with Elenore this year. The man had seriously considered saying no, completely aware of how much he liked being around the witch at this point. In the end, he had said yes just because his brain had argued that if he uninvited himself, she would send the invitation to another someone, another someone with far less noble intentions than he.

So at a quarter to seven that Sunday, Kevin entered the cafe across from Tuesday's apartment, a bouquet of peonies in hand and covered in a dark blue coat that wouldn't stand a chance in the cold if he stood there too long. The waitress/cashier who knew him enough to start on his favorite coffee by now blushed profusely at the sight of the flowers, only to be muffled when all Kevin gave her was the twenty dollar bill for his coffee and her tip. Shortly after, Tuesday's limousine pulled up, dashing the cafe employee's hopes and dreams and Kevin got in, passing the flowers over to their rightful recipient.

"Hey kiddo, and hey Lyonette, how are you girl?" he asked at the golden retriever jumped into his lap, demanding her ears stroked. "You've been doing okay? It's getting cold out, you have to stay warm." And with that, the man pulled his coat aside, letting Lyonette snuggle into him before covering most of her body with the woolen garment. The other two puppies were sticking csoe to Tuesday but Lyonette had good taste.

"So, am I allowed to know where we're going?"

'You'll see'

And saw he did, with a small grin on his face as they left the crowded city in favor Of the mountains gleaming beautifully with fresh fallen snow. Really, perhaps the state of New York had some beaut left. He would have pulled out his phone had the scenery been less picturesque. But capturing it as it was would not have done it justice, not now.

After about two hours of casual chit chat and playing with the puppies, Elenore finally revealed their destination. The Catskills.

Kevin hand't been there in a long time, but his memories of the place were not unhappy. In fact, the reveal made him grin even more. There would be much going on in the winter but that didn't mean they would be bored.

"I thought you would like this, instead of using your phone."

An auburn eyebrow raised in surprise, Kevin moved slowly to receive the box, making sure not to disturb the golden retriever on his lap. The package was made to be opened easily, printed wrapping paper instead of wrapped. A low whistle escaped the man as he took in the beauty that lay within.

A FotoFinish X Pro with all twelve accompanying lenses. Lauded as a revolution in modern photography, the camera was currently the best thing on the market for professional photographers. Kevin had the exact untouched model customized to him and inscribed with a "K Harrington" back home.

"This is beautiful," he murmured, lost in thought his his fingers gently touched the black, sleek machine, caressing it more lightly than he would a lover's face. "How did you even know to get this?"

This would have had to cost the witch somewhere in the avenue of a hundred thousand dollars.

And the surprises weren't over yet. When Tuesday leaned over to show him on her phone where they'd be staying, the man gulped. Not because he had never seen such a grand house before but because the possibility of that camera and those panoramic views... He was not ashamed to say he would have wept had he been alone.

"You are the best, I swear," he burst out childishly, reaching reaching over to give her a tight squeeze and jostling Lyonette in the process who woke up with a sharp bark.

They rest of the journey was spent with them soothing the puppies back down and Kevin trying to assemble his camera before the limo came to a stop outside their glass and metal home for the next few days.

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:05 pm

Watching Kevin with the puppies was always something the witch enjoyed, the softness with which he spoke to them all, the way he was not too put out to cuddle them closely in to him. It was the kind of softness that would always enamour the witch to him, she'd realised a few weeks ago when he'd been playing with the puppies and believed she wasn't watching.

But it was incomparable to the childlike reaction the witch received upon providing the man with the first of her gifts this weekend.

The camera had been easy for Kevin to open even as he worked around Lyonette who'd snuggled happily in to his coat, and the look upon his face as he lifted the camera free from the box had been like a small child on Christmas. It was impossible not to smile warmly at the sight before her, almost wishing she could have captured the reaction in the same manner Kevin could snap a picture perfectly. But she was much too slow, her phone not poised, and the picturesque moment had been lost, except for in her memory.

"How did you even know to get this?"

"I didn't," Elenore admitted softly in that moment, because she could not for a moment pretend that she understood technology, and especially not the camera market. "But, apparently this is the best camera that is on the market at the moment." She explained, though, by the sounds of it, Kevin already knew that. Looking back up to the man's features and away from his hands which were gently turning the camera this way and that as he marvelled at the item, Elenore could see that the decision had been the right one.

One that only became more apparent when she explained where they would be staying, and the man's arms wrapped around her in what could only have been pure joy in that moment. Perhaps Kevin had never seen such a big house before, perhaps he was just excited because the home would allow them an almost untouched three-hundred and sixty view of the Catskills, but whatever the case, she didn't mind being wrapped momentarily in his strong embrace, the smell she could never exactly place filling her senses for merely a moment before Kevin was moving away.

Lyonette had woken with the movement on the man's behalf, spooking her which left the two of them trying to settle her back down for the next few moments before she set off the others.

As the car stopped, Elenore looked across to Kevin, feeling much more hopeful than she had about the trip in a very long time. The planning had made her very nervous, not sure if she would ever be able to get it right, but so far...

"Are you ready?" The witch would ask, and almost on cue, the door of the limo would open for them. Not waiting for Kevin's reply, Elenore would emerge from the car -- not before Odette had let herself out -- cradling Mignon who still slept soundly against her for warmth. Lyonette would not waste time, hurrying out behind her and hurrying after Odette and beyond, nose to the floor to take in the new place they'd just emerged in. When Kevin joined her, their driver would see to their luggage, before departing, leaving the two of them very much alone.

"There is food already prepared for us, if you're hungry, and then, if you'd like, we can go for a walk around the Catskills." The witch offered, as Mignon fussed herself awake. Bending down, the witch carefully let the pup go, smiling fondly as the Bassett Hound hurried after her sisters, not so gracefully. "Come on," the witch insisted as she straightened herself back up and took Kevin's hand, pulling him forth towards the house.

Inside, the house would be comfortably heated by a log fire, and no matter which way you looked, you would earn a fantastic view of the hills. Elenore would work carefully to take out the continental breakfast that had been made for them before laying it out in front of Kevin to tuck in to -- much too aware that their early start would likely have left him quite hungry after the drive.

From there, the witch had excused herself to change in to something much more appropriate for their walk, the thick woolen jumper and jean combo together with a pair of walking boots not too dissimilar to those she would have worn whilst riding back at the Palace had been adorned, and then a thick coat, scarf and gloves had followed. Kevin hadn't seemed to think so far ahead, which had been the perfect time to pull out the new, thick, long winter coat she'd bought for him to keep him warm. Just a small present, but the man's jackets never appeared to offer much warm, and Elenore had seen to that, too.

From there, the two had set out with the three dogs and the camera to explore.

But not before Elenore had remembered to nip back inside to collect their lunch that had been made up as a picnic that had thankfully been shrunk small enough to fit in her small bag that she would take with them.

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:05 pm

"Are you ready?"

The wizard merely nodded, his eyes glued to the view. Letting the Lady and the puppies disembark first, he was the last out of the car and into the freezing mountain air, his dark blue coat doing little to shield him from the elements. "Could have told a man to pack better," he teased as she grabbed on to his hand and pulled him towards the glass and steel structure, a monument to modern art if Kevin had ever seen one. The open concept building made the wizard feel slightly homesick, but there was noting back home worth going back to right now.

More surprises waited indoors in the form of a breakfast laid out, and for the first time, Kevin let out a full laugh. "Really, we're here and eating this?" Regardless, he indulged in the overly fancy meal prepped by probably the finest chefs in New York. She was trying, and he appreciated the effort.

The suggestion for a walk was more than welcome as nothing could be better than exploring the wild beauty of the mountains with his new toy. The dogs too would get some exercise. His earlier woe of not packing appropriately was taken care of when Tuesday produced yet another package containing a long, dark coat that fit him surprisingly well.

"Hey, this isn't bad," he commented, turning around as he patted the thick material over his body, only to stop in his track as the French beauty emerged from her room.

Over the past months, anyone could have seen that Elenore Clement's fashion sense had been evolving. She was no longer the church goer she had been a year ago, embracing higher hems and shorter sleeves, allowing herself low heels and even an out of place dash of color here and there. Changes that Kevin had told himself to be indifferent to but was proud of nonetheless because it mean the witch was asserting herself.

But to see in her proper all american jeans and riding boots, the least that could be said about her was that she cut a stunning picture. The lighting all around worked better than a studio's and her features were sharper than most models working today.

"May I?" he asked softly before raising his new camera to her and taking a picture, not wallowing her time to flatten her hair. A single strand was floating beside her face, and the image captured was sharp enough to immortalize it mid movement. A small bit of imperfection to make her real.

Their walk was highly enjoyable, Kevin letting her talk whilst he played with his camera, taking shots of the woods, the puppies, her, the sky, anything that piqued his interest. He asked how she had though to come here and listened as she explained. He told her how bustling this place was in summer with Jewish holiday goers and they even found a nice spot to have a picnic lunch at. The food was once again too fancy. Who cut sandwiches so neatly anyway?

The sun was low in the wintry sky by the time they reached the mansion once again, the dogs now thoroughly exhausted and the sleep one nestled once again in Tuesday's arms. Walking clearly wasn't for her. All three puppies were settled into their baskets before both students disappeared into their rooms for a shower and change.

Kevin had just exited his shower and was in the middle of getting dressed, dark blue jeans in place and t shirt held in hand when his room began to glow.

The orange pink rays of sunset were magnified tenfold in the glass house and casting his shirt aside, the male reached for his camera, calling out to Elenore.

"Tuesday, you've got to see this," he called out, heading towards the pool. The sunset reflected through the glass and unto the calm waters of the pool was just about the most beautiful one could imagine. Or at least that was what he thought until Elenore walked into the picture.

The two stood admiring the sinking sun until it had sunk, the cold making him realize he was still partially undressed. Tuesday reminded him of dinner and the man groaned, walking to his room to grab his T shirt once more. "Okay but we're not eating whatever you have packed today," he warmed, emerging from his room with a slightly disgruntled look. At her questioning gaze, he grinned though.

"How about tonight, I introduce you to the wholesome American tradition of making S'Mores on an open fire. Do we have marshmallows?"

As it turned out, they did not. The house had plenty of prepared food and a well stocked pantry but no one had thought to put marshmallows, gram crackers and chocolate in there. Luckily, a phone call to the nearest facility later, all ingredients as specified arrived. Kevin had made sure to have a nice fire going by then.

"I can't believe you've never had S'Mores, did you not go camping as a kid?"

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:05 pm

The day had been filled with the walk around the Catskills, the fresh air and Kevin's excitement to use his new camera to capture absolutely everything they came upon was much too infectious. For the first time in a very long time the witch had found the escape of the outside to be fulfilling, refreshing, and it had eased her mind considerably as she watched the puppies bouncing around their new playground, exploring and more often than not, pulling off the best photogenic scenes that could be asked for.

The witch had enjoyed all of it, even when Kevin had questioned her choice of lunch. The witch had just been quizzical on that part, not really understanding what was wrong with the picnic that had been laid on for them.

By the time they had reached back to the glass house, the witch's legs had been complaining from the use. The dull ache in the muscles reminding her that she did not do this kind of thing enough. Perhaps, though, that could change going forward.

Elenore had retreated almost upon reentering the house to change, not wishing to stay in her outside clothes for too much longer. Jeans were, the witch found, still not to her taste. They clung to her frame a little familiarly to ever be known as comfortable, but she'd been told they were much more practical. The sales assistant didn't seem to be wrong very often in the choices she'd made before, so Elenore had followed the advice that had been given.

The witch would always feel much more at home in a skirt, or a dress, though. Which had been her option for the evening, just something simple, was needed for the evening. With just the two of them in the house, Elenore had afforded herself that luxury. The witch had just been putting in her earrings when Kevin's call had come. The witch had stood from the dressing table she was perched upon and hurried through the house until she'd found the man -- topless.

Elenore's cheeks had flushed a deep shade of red at the sight of the man before her, her eyes inexplicably being drawn to Kevin's stomach and the definition of the muscle in that area. She'd never expected-

Kevin's motions to the sky had made her eyes peel away from him and to the sun that was sinking in the sky. Moving to his side the two had watched from the pool area for what must have been over an hour. The changing colours bringing forth a serenity to the situation that would never have been described in words. Each of them pointed out areas of interest to the other, and perhaps it was just her, but the two of them just seemed to... gravitate closer to one another.

For warmth, Elenore had decided upon remembering that Kevin's torso was bare, bringing the soft pink hue back to her cheeks anew as she ushered the man back inside under the premise of dinner.

Only to be stopped in her tracks.

Kevin did not want the food that had been prepared for them, which left the French witch looking almost helplessly back at him in that moment. Elenore Clement had never cooked a meal in her life. She'd never had to, and quite honestly, she had never wanted to. The idea that Kevin might want her to-

"How about tonight, I introduce you to the wholesome American tradition of making S'Mores on an open fire. Do we have marshmallows?"

The relief would have shown quite clearly on the witch's features that the expectation to cook was not what Kevin wanted, before it was replaced with confusion. "What are S'Mores?" The witch would ask, only for Kevin to give her much of a similar look of confusion.

The man had been helpful enough to explain to her, though, and after checking through the cupboards in the kitchen (that were much too stocked for a weekend visit), they found that none of the ingredients needed were stocked in the home. A quick call later, though, and the ingredients had arrived, Kevin had stoked up the fire suitably for their dinner, and the pups were gently snoring in their bed which the two had moved closer to the fire to ensure the puppies were warm enough.

Elenore had brought the ingredients to the man before perching on the seat close by, waiting for Kevin to make the famed snack he was about to introduce to her.

"I can't believe you've never had S'Mores, did you not go camping as a kid?"

The young witch let out a soft laugh at that much, before shaking her head. "My family doesn't go camping." Elenore replied, not unkindly. "Actually, my family don't do holidays, in truth. Maman and Papa were always too busy to leave the Palace for something like that."

Which was true, they rarely spent time away from the Palace, and when they did, it was for Palace business only.

"We did get to play in the arboretum, though." Elenore added, trying to make up for it. "When we went for a ride through the grounds, Jacques and I used to play there sometimes, but I would get scalded for muddying my dresses, or getting sticks caught in my hair, so we stopped going." The witch explained, perhaps briefly caught in the time when her childhood had been... not happy, but maybe closer to normal.

"What about you and your family?" Elenore asked, quickly pushing the focus away from herself because she'd offered a little more than she'd meant to.

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:05 pm

"What are S'Mores?"

"Okay now e have to have them, this is bordering on cruelty."

How could the kid have never had S'Mores before? For someone who grew up with a wealth opportunity, Tuesday sure had little to her experience. But then again, she was from France, that lace had away of draining the fun from everything.

The next few minutes were spend explaining to her how the mushy, camp food put together treat was made and widely enjoyed by normal people. If she was amazed by the invention, the witch hid it well. Never mind, he would show her when the ingredients arrived.

The fire was warm and the puppies fast asleep when Kevin set out constructing his first S'More. "You can watch the first couple, but then you have to help," he warned good naturedly as he skewed a marshmallow on a poker and held it over the open flame. "I can't believe you've never had S'Mores, did you not go camping as a kid?"

"My family doesn't go camping."

This made the man look up. Elenore almost never spoke of her family, and when she did, it was always on such hesitant terms, as if trying not to reveal even to herself that she had done so. The revelation that she had never gone on a holiday made him.... feel bad somehow. Everyone deserved a holiday, even people who lived in fancy palaces and pretended they were above it all. How had the leaders of France neglected to look after their own family?

Actually, it was easily explainable. From his own knowledge as well as what little the French witch had divulged, Kevin had a pretty good idea what the people in that palace were like.

Cold, and in denial.

"Here, watch this," he coaxed, his voice dropping several octaves to affect a more gentle tone. Bring the semi melted marshmallow back, he picked up a cracker and places it another. Then, with second cracker now covered in chocolate, he brought it down on the marshmallow to make a sandwich. Pressing the two crackers distributed the chocolate and white connections easily enough, forming the famed S'More.

"M''Lady," he murmured amused, holding the treat towards her as if a butler. "Your S'More is served."

"What about you and your family?"

The question caught him off guard. Which family? The one he had ran off from long ago or the one that wouldn't even return his calls? The one that made him sit in a corner on Christmas to make him feel bad about himself?

"We used to," he managed unconvincingly. "Not so much lately because..." puling back another marshmallow form the fire, he made a second sandwich, offering it to the witch again. "We had a yearly outing a while back, but then the reason for it went way so we did too I guess." It wasn't a total lie, the trips to Alabama still happened, the wizard was just alone these days.

"So, what's the verdict, best food ever?" he asked, changing the subject to a happier one. The third dessert sandwich to be made was passed to the witch as well despite the fact that she hadn't finished her second one. "Only a truly sophisticated pallet can appreciate the complexity of these flavors."

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:06 pm

Elenore had sat watching the man as he prepped the marshmallows on a poker and then put them in to the fire. Almost subconsciously the witch sat forward to take note of what Kevin was doing -- he had, after all, insisted that she would have to give it a go herself after the first couple he did. It looked simple enough as he carefully rotated the poker and kept the marshmallow away from direct contact with the flames.

From the fire, the marshmallow was wedged simply between two crackers with chocolate. The heat from the marshmallow all but melting the chocolate in the few seconds it was pressed together. The snack was not offered via a plate, instead just being given to the witch from the man's hand. For a moment, Elenore hesitated, hoping a plate would come in to being, but nothing materialised. It was going to be like the hotdog experience all over again she realised as she took it from Kevin's hands.

Almost much too nervously, the witch took a gentle bite from the corner.

The first note the witch made was how messy the snack was. With the bite she'd taken it had pressed forth the marshmallow from the bottom and the sides of the biscuit, making his fingers sticky almost instantly. The second, however, was the sweetness that came with the crackers, the chocolate and the marshmallow that she had managed to get. The taste complimented one another until, the corners of the witch's mouth pulled up in to a smile as she took another, slightly larger bite of the snack.

A second S'More was already being passed to the witch before she'd managed to finish half of the first one, meaning the witch had to sacrifice the hand she was using to try not to spill the first one on her clothes. Kevin either hadn't noticed, or didn't care, though, as he returned to making a third one.

The reply to the question he'd provided, though, made Elenore consider as she finished her first S'More, her fingers thoroughly sticky with the remnants of the chocolate and marshmallows upon them. Kevin sounded... well, not like his normal self in that moment. Usually so upbeat and carefree, it sounded like he had problems at home, too. But what problems, the witch didn't pry. He allowed her that much privacy, so she wouldn't encroach on his privacy either.

"I'm sorry you don't get your holidays anymore." The witch offered softly instead.

"So, what's the verdict, best food ever?"

"So sweet!" Elenore replied honestly, taking a bite from the second S'More just in time for Kevin to pass her the next one. "But very good! I mean, it's really simple, and yet..." She wasn't sure how to explain it, truthfully, the melted chocolate was something the witch definitely had a soft spot for, and the stickiness of the marshmallow that had been toasted gave it a little extra flavour that she couldn't place to anything she'd had before. "They're so messy though!"

The final observation was punctuated with a corner of the biscuit falling from it's precariously balanced place on her hand in to her lap and the witch... let out a laugh in that moment. Rather than being mortified that she'd messed up her dress, it was just... amusing.

"Here, eat this one!" Elenore insisted, offering the third one back to Kevin -- and not ready to take no for an answer in that moment either.

"Do you always eat such undignified food?" The witch asked, retrieving the crumb from her skirt in an effort to save the situation. "Or do you just do this to make me feel silly?"

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:06 pm

Watching her approach the confection with the nervousness of someone told to ingest poison, the man nonetheless felt proud when she took her first bite. Something she certainly would not have done a year ago. Tuesday's fashion sense was no the only thing evolving with time and change of city.

"I'm sorry you don't get your holidays anymore."

"No need to be sorry," he assured her, roasting the next marshmallow. "It is what it is." And it was, and there was beauty in it. If he could resist it this summer, he would not go to Alabama. He might not eve go back to the UK.

There was no time to be morose though, for even if the brunette beside him had started too slowly, too cautiously, she was definitely in her stride now, telling him how sweet it was. "That's the beauty of it," the redhead confirmed. "This is the sweetest thing in the world that will kill you, and who wouldn't want death by such means?"

At her complaint of the method of delivery, the man merely laughed. "Things don't always have to come in a plate, or with silverware," he teased, passing ehr the third treat which was balanced carefully before extended his own way.

"Here, eat this one!"

"No free hands, babe," he pointed out, motioning towards one hand holding the poker over the fire and the other getting ready with the next cracker. Kevin expected her to withdraw the offer, or wait until he did have his hands free. Instead, Tuesday was not backing down, holding the S'More out to him as if challenging him to find a solution.

So the wizard did.

Leaning forwards, he took a big bite of the sweet sandwich from her hand, almost demolishing half the treat and leaving crumbs in the wake of his bite. The snack almost melted in his mouth, making him emit a satisfied sigh as he chewed.

"It's official, I'm quitting Julliard and going pro at S'More making," he declared, pulling the next marshmallow off the fire and squishing it between two chocolate-y crackers. "This is my life's calling." As if to prove his point, he leaned forwards another and took the rest of the S'More from erh extended hand, ehr lips barely coming in contact with her aloft fingers as he scooped the rest of the treat in his mouth.

"Sorry kiddo, no more sharing, they're all mine now," he laughed. "Unless you want to give them making them a try." S'More in one hand, he beckoned her down on the floor near the fire, trying to let her experience the process of making one herself. "I know I make it look easy, but it's very complicated," he teased, guiding her hand to the poker to ensure she didn't touch the hot part.

"Now hold it over the fire until you feel it has melted enough to be squished, but if you hold to long-" As if it had heard, the marshmallow melted completely off the metal poker, falling into the fire. "That happens," he explained, retracting the skewer and stabbing a new marshmallow through it.

"Let's try again."

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:06 pm

Kevin's teasing brought a small shake of the head from Elenore when he pointed out that not all food would come with a plate and a knife and fork to eat it with. The witch knew that, of course, but something to keep from getting so messy would have been nice in that moment, especially with the stickiness that was known on each of her hands in that moment.

Stickiness that was only further made when Kevin leaned in and bit half of the S'More from the one she'd offered him back. In truth, she had not expected such a manner to be used to take the snack back, and yet... it didn't feel wrong like she would have thought it would. It just felt... comfortable. Something that surprised the witch as Kevin leaned back in to eat the rest of the S'More in her fingers, his lips grazing against her skin sending almost electric-like feelings through her arm.

The witch's eyes averted from the man before her at that thought, her cheeks being touched with the lightest of colour. Colour that the witch hoped could be afforded to the heat emitting from the fire before the two of them and nothing more.

"You can't quite Julliards!" Elenore replied almost too quickly, before she caught herself. "You're much too good at your classes!" She added, trying to play it off as if she hadn't just blurted out what she had. No, the thought of Kevin leaving... she couldn't fathom being here in America without the man sat before her. He was the only friend she had, the only person she felt comfortable around, and if he left...

The thought was pushed away, Elenore not wishing to dwell on that in the moment.

Instead, the witch focused upon the task that she'd been given, trying her hand at making the S'Mores. Moving down from the chair, Elenore sat carefully before the fire and Kevin's side. Legs neatly tucked to the side, the witch took the poker as she was shown, and allowed Kevin's hand to steer her in the right direction. The marshmallow already skewered was wasted to the flames, and the next one Elenore had held too close to the fire. The flames had burst from the sugary treat before the witch corrected her position, and the cloud of sugar fell to waste in the pit of the fire.

Kevin had worked almost on auto-pilot to help her with the next one, telling her that it was okay to not get it the first time.

The second one had been pulled from the fire a little too early, and the marshmallow didn't melt quite as much as she had hoped it would. The third was closer, and by the fourth, Elenore had come to understand just how long you needed to hold the marshmallows above the flames before they were squashed between the crackers.

The pair had relaxed considerably by that point, talking about their day and their hopes for the pictures they'd captured that day. Almost all too naturally, Elenore had found herself leaning in to the man beside her as they talked, unaware of her actions because she was relaxing more and more each moment in to a sense of security she had not known for a very long time.

At some point, the witch had started to feel drowsy from the day, her legs giving off a dull ache and the heat of the fire making it all too easy to fall asleep. Her head rested gently against Kevin's shoulder as she spoke softly about trying to capture the beauty of the Catskills in musical form. Each word became slower, though, the clear sign that the witch was losing herself to the pull of sleep, but desperately clinging on to the here and now for all it was worth.

And, she would probably realise later, Kevin's arm that held him up in the half sitting - half leaning manner he'd adopted only Merlin knew how long ago.

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Subject: Re: Joyeuse Saint Valentin (Kevin) Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:06 pm

"You can't quite Julliards! You're much too good at your classes!"

"I'm really not," the redhead countered with a hearty chuckle. "I appreciate the generosity though." And generosity it mostly was. Kevin had never bothered to participate in a class full of young aspiring artists trying to stand out. In fact, he stood out for not even trying to impress the teachers. The only thing that had changed this semester was that his attendance was up and that was merely because of his schedule almost completely clashing with a certain someone's.

Some thing, the wizard could get up in the mornings for.

As the due continued to chat and eat marshmallows, time almost flew. Or it did for the male anyway as he regaled Tuesday with stories of the American wild west and the almost parched beauty of the burnt farmlands in the south. At first, seh listened out of politely, later she did so out of drowsiness and soon enough, her light breathing was all that responded to his tales of cowboys swashbuckling through the saloons of yore. When the witch had fallen asleep on his shoulder, Kevin did not know.

And as loathe as he was to move her, he knew he couldn't just keep pretending.

Because that was what he was doing. He was pretending. And she had to wake up sometime.

But maybe not just quite yet.

Using his hands to shift her slightly, the redhead angled his body so her next drape over him handed naturally to his torso, allowing him to gently scoop the French girl in his arms. Getting up with her in that embrace was a feat and a half but luckily, he managed it. A few more years and it would not have been possible.

The steps Kevin Harrington took to her bedroom, to safely deposit the brunette tucked close to him, were slow, soft and measured.

In a futile attempt to make this dream last just a little longer than it had any right to.

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