OOM: France, 2005

[ikissdhimbck]

[Third OOM]


Kate wakes to sunlight poring into her room, the shadows of Chêne-liège leaves dancing across her eyes. She breathes in deeply, stretching her legs against the cotton sheets, and rolls over. Her hand smooths over the mattress, searching.

And then she remembers.

Eyes open to an empty bed, her tanned hand resting against stark white sheets. For a while, she doesn't move. She dares to wonder when she'll wake up to something other than the vice-grip ache in her heart.


A knock comes at her door, light but insistent, like the determined birdsong outside the french doors.

Comments

[ikissdhimbck]

She laughs quietly.

"What on earth are y'gonna throw me a party for?"

[betagainstme]

"Birthday? 'You're Awesome Let's Celebrate?' Do I honestly need a reason?" Alice gives her a :| look.

[ikissdhimbck]

Another laugh, this time a bit stronger.

"I draw the line at any type of affair that's like the shindig y'threw at the bar."

She takes off the frosted cupcake ensemble, and tries on something in blue that comes well -- well -- above her knees.

To her credit, she doesn't faint.

[betagainstme]

"You look so pretty, I knew you would!" Alice says from the other room. Yeah. She's future telling :|

[ikissdhimbck]

"Where's the rest of it?"

[betagainstme]

Alice starts laughing.









And does not stop.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate feels mildly exploited.

There is a very good chance this particular dress is not going to make it into her 'yes' pile.

However, if the goal was to get her to forget about things back at the bar, in that much Alice has succeeded.

[betagainstme]

Spoiler: it was.

Alice tries on her dresses...and they all end up in the buy pile.

"Find anything to keep?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate nods.

(It's silk, and it's ridiculously form-fitting, and there aren't nearly as many layers as she's used to; but it's gorgeous and feels like heaven against her skin.

And it's just for the bar. Like Alice said. Yes.)

"Your card of credit's gonna have t'be magic, too, if you're gettin' all that."

[betagainstme]

"Just watch." Alice grabs the dress from her and wanders up to the cashier. A few moments of rapid French and a swipe of her card and they are the proud owners of some new clothes.


:D?

[ikissdhimbck]

:O!

"That's it?"

And they're on to the next store?

Oh, no wonder Jasper hates that thing.

[betagainstme]

"Oooh this store sells only shoes." Alice plasters herself against the window. "Let's go in heeeeere."

[ikissdhimbck]

"How are we gonna carry all these bags?"

When she agreed to go in, she didn't think they'd come out with half the store.

And it's still only eleven o'clock.

[betagainstme]

"We'll get someone to bring them back for us." Alice decides, popping back into the shoe store, only to come out a few minutes later with a man, who they laden down with their bags.

In rapid French, she explains where they live, and the man nods enthusiastically; he knows exactly where it is...and he's holding a crisp 100 euro bill in his hand.

"Merci," Alice sing-songs before turning back to Kate. "Are you hungry? Or...do you wanna just wander around and take a break?"

She's doing this for you, Kate!

[ikissdhimbck]

She is rather speechless.

"I wish I understood what y'say to these fellas. They all act so perfectly obliged to do what you ask."

She smooths her hands down her bare arms, glancing down the street.

She sees a confectionery shoppe.

"Um. Can we go in there?"

[betagainstme]

"Absolutely!" Alice grins, skipping across the street haphazardly. There are few cars on this street anyway. And besides, she'd see if she was gonna get hit.

"I love the smell of candy."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her reflexes may be super sharp, but Kate's are entirely human. Her heart picks up the pace a little as she hurries across the street (in a much straighter line) after Alice.

"It doesn't bother you, does it?"

She tips her face away when they catch the unwanted attention of a few male passersby.

"Jasper just about looks like he's swallowed a toad whenever he sees me with food."

[betagainstme]

"The smell isn't bad. It's the taste that's horrendous. Like eating dirt. Or so I hear...I've never eaten dirt."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate smirks at her.

"Dirt's good for you."

Or so her old Southern sensibilities say.

She takes a deep breath as they enter the candy shop; her mouth is watering already.

"This is better, though," she sighs.

[betagainstme]

"I wish I could eat it." She says, peering into a bucket of something small, wrapped and sweet.

:(

[ikissdhimbck]

:(

When Kate gets back to the bar, she'll have to ask the Lady if she might sell anything comparable. Denying a lady her sweets is simply cruel and unusual.

"How long has it been?" she asks quietly, going wide-eyed at a display of fancy chocolates. "Since the last time...?"

[betagainstme]

"I guess before 1920." Alice sinks her hand into a basket of peppermints, wrapped in shiny plastic. "I don't know. I woke up craving bl--"

She breaks off and smiles at the attendant. "Bonjour."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Bienvenue!"

Kate turns away from the shopkeeper, biting back an embarrassed smile. They go on in French, perhaps asking if there's anything the ladies are interested in, but it might as well be Greek to Kate.

Oh, my. Is that taffy?

[betagainstme]

When Alice turns away from the shopkeeper, she's holding a huge back of candy and chocolate. "Apparently I'm buying this. So you better eat it all."

[ikissdhimbck]

There are stars in Kate's eyes.







"S'not much of a threat."

Translation: I love you, Alice.