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3336 Cream Puff Way

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I don't mind, French is a nice enough language to speak.

[Nor does he have any negative connotations with it. Truthfully, he probably wouldn't mind German either, the majority of his training had been done in Russia and that's where the bad memories were.]

There was a Frenchman in the Commandos, Dernier, didn't speak a word of English.

[aigue]

Thank you.

[She means it. This is going to be weirdly fun.]

Oh? What was he like?

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[His lips quirk up just a bit, his shoulders straighter. It's all subconscious, just a reaction to being able to do something nice for someone, instead of something that causes them pain, it's nice.]

Pretty sure he was saying rude stuff a lot of the time, only his best friend spoke any French so we couldn't tell. He was a good man, though, brave. All the Commandos were.

[aigue]

You'd all have to be brave to do what you did during that war. Sounds like someone I'd get along with, at any rate.

[Sassy, at the very least, and she likes sass.]

I might have to make a list. 'Friends of Bucky's I want to one day meet'.

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They're all dead, so I think you'd find it hard to meet them.

[Well... not Steve, but he's in a category all of his own.]

But maybe I could meet Beowulf one day?

[aigue]

[She wouldn't be surprised if Zephyr could pull them from before they died, or even after.]

Maybe, if he's still around. Between was supposed to be what was left of every reality, so I don't know if there are any more Fairy Tales out there.

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I don't think it could be what was left of every reality, not if places like this exist and we all came from other worlds. Surely there wouldn't be a Meadous, if Between was all that was left?

[aigue]

That's what I'm hoping. Unfortunately, our settlement had the occasional problem with pockets of unreality, and visions of the future that seemingly warped reality. I'm reasonably sure this is all real, but you can never be completely sure.

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If it's not real, then you've got a hell of an imagination to dream up all the other people here.

[That's the only reason that he believes it's true, he'd never be able to imagine an embodiment of Fairy Tale fox being his friend.]

[aigue]

[She chuckles at that.]

If I do, it would only be because the humans who made me were even more imaginative.

[And they're rounding on the coffee shop.]

So, know of any poetry, or do you want to owe me?

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Poetry?

[What?

When he ventured here before it was literally to peek in and check out what sort of space it was, he hasn't actually encountered The Stain yet.]

[aigue]

Haven't you been here longer than me?

[Well, he's going to get to meet The Stain now. He's behind the counter when they enter, in all his Stain-y glory.]

Payment is poetry instead of money.

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Oh, uh, sure.

[He steps forward a little self consciously.]

That night when joy began
Our narrowest veins to flush,
We waited for the flash
Of morning's levelled gun.

But morning let us pass,
And day by day relief
Outgrows his nervous laugh,
Grown credulous of peace,

As mile by mile is seen
No trespasser's reproach,
And love's best glasses reach
No fields but are his own.

[He tilts his head back to look at Renart as if to ask if that's enough, but she doesn't have to answer because the Stain is already issuing a 'right on' and two cups of coffee.]

[aigue]

[So... she was fully expecting him to just be awkward and not have anything in mind, which would have been fine because not only has she heard her fair share of poetry over the years, Le Roman de Renart is an epic poem in and of itself.

She really did not think he would be able to break out any poem, especially a beautiful one like that, so don't mind her as she just stares at him like he grew a second head.]

That was impressive.

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[It’s strange what the memory recovers and what’s still lost. Poems from the war are all well and good, but he’d prefer his motther’s name or what his favourite food used to be. He shrugs, offering her one of the cups with a small smile.]

What’s that expression for? A Brooklyn boy can’t know poetry?

[aigue]

[She blinks, then takes the coffee.

And might be getting a little in his space to take it, with a flirty smile.]

Bucky, if you're planning on continuing to surprise me like that, then by all means, keep doing it.

[Then she turns and saunters over to a nearby table to sit.]

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[Despite the smile, his muscles still tense when she gets into his space. It's not for long, though, so he doesn't say anything, just follows her to sit at the table with half an eye on her and half an eye on the door.]

Stop flirting with me.

[He's just putting it out there.]

We're just friends, it makes it awkward.

[aigue]

[She takes a sip of her coffee, outwardly very nonchalant, inwardly disappointed that not only did he not flirt back, but he's telling her to cut it out.]

I'm not expecting anything out of it.

[She pauses, then adds:] I'll try to stop, though.

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Thanks.

[He's aware that he might have been a bit harsh, but the flirtation really does make it awkward for him.]

I have a hard enough time with friends, I don't cope well with additions like flirting. I don't want that spoil this.

[aigue]

I think you've been doing fine on both ends, personally. Especially considering you flirt back sometimes.

[Which, yeah, it is rude to call him out on that, but if he wants her to stop it's only fair that she bring up him doing it, too.]

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What?

[He looks utterly and completely stymied.]

When?

[He's been flirting? Successfully? Why didn't he notice this at the time?]

[aigue]

[She stares back because uh, wow. He's not just teasing her, is he? Any person with half a mind knows when they're flirting at someone.]

That first time we were dancing, and I asked you about the girls you used to step out with.

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I panicked.

[Might as well answer this honestly.]

You asked me about the other girls, but-- I don't remember them. I just answered on instinct, I guess-- I guess you're right, I was flirting. Sorry.

[aigue]

That makes sense. [That was still flirting, though.] But there have been other times.

Did you really not realize it?

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I really didn't realise it.

[He's not sure if he should be pleased that parts of himself are coming back, or unnerved that he's flirting with Renart.]

It just seemed natural.