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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 0:31:14 GMT
Geoffrey went about the rest of the festivities with a wide smile, almost unable to let go of his presents; he had to always be carrying one. He enjoyed a slice of cake and went inside after helping clean up the party. After moving his birthday loot to his room, he sat on his bed and opened the letter. After taking it out of its envelope, he began making his way to the kitchen for a glass of water, reading the letter all the while. However, he didn’t make it far. In the middle of the hallway, he froze, eyes wide on the words near the bottom of the first page. Eventually, he flipped the page over and read some more, not liking what he found. The letter fell from his hands and he lifted his hand to his face to cover his mouth. The glass of water he had originally wanted was forgotten- in fact, everything was forgotten except for getting to the pie shop. He was out the door and on his way to Thanksgiving town, completely numb, leaving his jacket behind and barely pausing for long enough to put on his shoes. In some trance-like state, he made it to the shop, rapped on the door and leaned his head against the doorframe, waiting. He needed to see Emma. He needed someone to hug while he thought, and he needed it to be her. Back in the frat house, the letter that informed him of his being cut off from his family and removed from the heirship he once held lay on the floor, scathing remarks from his father face up for anyone to see.
Raphael: He wandered through the hallway, still grinning in elation at all the things that had transpired through the party.
"Geoffrey?" he called, wondering if the seraphim was still strumming his guitar in some corner somewhere. As he walked through the hallway, he stumbled across a letter, with the unmistakable "eau de Beaumont" wafting from it. He picked it up. Usually he wouldn’t pry, but he was much closer to Geoffrey now than anyone else, and he was beginning to get worried.
He skimmed over the contents quickly, trying not to read in depth. But he didn’t have to read in depth to realize what had happened. He folded the letter and carried it with him into the living room, tucking it away where no one else could see it. He sat heavily on a chair, his fingers steepled and pressing against his mouth. He had a feeling he knew where Geoffrey was now, and he didn’t want to interrupt him. But he would be here when he got back, and he would be here for him as long as he needed.
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Post by macxcheese on Nov 16, 2014 0:50:24 GMT
Emma: She'd left the party a bit early, hoping to get home and start on the gift right away. She now realized it was foolish to think she could get it done in one night. Bleary eyed, she set down the work in progress and leaned back in one of the shop's chairs. She inspected her now bandaged fingers, veterans of the ongoing war with her sewing needle. It was a lucky thing that she was such an expert with cuts and pokes, or she would've had to restart the project quite a few times.
She hadn't noticed the shadow pass by the shop's window and jumped at the sound of a knock. She wondered if Robin had forgotten something and quickly jumped up. A look of surprise took over her face when she arrived at the door, and her first thought was to cover the mess on the corner table. Her second was quite different though. Something was very wrong, it showed clearly on his face. Shifting the door open more, she asked, "Geoffrey, what's wrong?
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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 1:03:54 GMT
Geoffrey turned to look at her, face a blank slate, devoid of emotion apart from the tears that welled up in his eyes the instant he heard her voice. There was something about the voice of someone you trusted. It released any pent up feelings you may have been trying to hold back- it gives you permission to open up, even if just for a minute. Geoffrey had remembered this being the case even as far back as his single digit years when his mother would ask him what was wrong, sweetie, and what was the matter, angel, giving him permission to cry into her shoulder. He didn't want to cry today, not now, but it happened anyway.
His throat felt as if it had constricted to the size of a needle. He tried to swallow, tried to form words, but instead ended up closing the gap between them and leaning down to envelope Emma in a hug. He buried his face into her shoulder and allowed the tears in his eyes to find their way onto his cheeks, her shirt, her hair. His crying was mostly silent, but his shaking shoulders deceived him and occasionally he choked as he tried to speak.
He told himself he hadn't wanted the responsibility or grandeur anyway. He told himself his sister deserved it and he'd been slacking for too long. He told himself everything he could think of, but none of it made him feel better. He hadn't wanted to be cut off from his family, he'd just wanted to be free to make a decision. He just wanted to hear that his parents would love him whether he was the Earl or not- and that letter was easily interpreted as the opposite.
Geoffrey didn't know how long he stayed like that, but eventually he stood up a bit straighter and cleared his throat, pulling his arms away from Emma. Finally, he was able to form enough words to say, "I'm sorry. It's kind of cold out here- I didn't mean to keep you." He rubbed the back of his arm over his eyes, clearing away any lingering tears before he looked at her shoulder.
"Ah. I... I've made a mess of things." It only then occurred to him to take his handkerchief out of his pocket, which he then handed to Emma.
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Post by macxcheese on Nov 16, 2014 1:24:06 GMT
Emma gasped as she was pulled forward. It only took her a second to return the embrace though, and she leaned her head against his as she felt him quake. She didn't know why he was crying, but that really didn't matter. That fact that he was did.
In all honesty this crying Geoffrey scared her a bit. She'd seen him cry of course (he'd cried probably three times tonight), yet this was different somehow. She didn't quite know what to do, so she just rubbed his back and waited until he regained himself.
Concern showed plain on her face as he apologized. "No, it's alright. Here-" She was cut off by the handkerchief. Frowning, she took the cloth and used it to wipe Geoffrey's face, tears or no. She grabbed his hand with her other one and led him in the shop, stopping at the first table. After pulling the chair out for him, she found one of her own and reclaimed his hand. "Now, why the tears love?"
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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 1:42:03 GMT
Geoffrey sat next to her and furrowed his brow. After rummaging through his pockets and finding he'd left the letter behind, he realized he'd have to explain. He was silent for quite some time as he held her hand tightly, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.
Eventually, he sighed and ran his hand through his hair as his eyes welled up with tears again. He concentrated on her hand as he attempted to speak.
"I... My family... My father, he...." He forgot how to speak for a moment. Cupid's bow, how he'd wished he'd brought the letter with him! He bit his lip and tried again. "My family hates me and... it.. It's all my fault." He choked again and found himself unable to explain for a few more minutes. "They cut me off. I'm not the next Earl anymore. I'm not even a Beaumont anymore, really." He looked away for a minute and put his chin on the table. "I'm... nobody."
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Post by macxcheese on Nov 16, 2014 2:05:42 GMT
Emma: She quietly watched him as he spoke. It all sounded so familiar. Family issues, blame, identity. She didn't realize how hard she was gripping his hand until she saw it when he set his head on the table. She set her jaw hard at his claim and felt her anger bubble. Who told him that? Who would dare to say that to him? She let out a slow breath, trying to calm herself. A soft "no" escaped her and she looked into his eyes. Her voice got louder. "You are someone." She squeezed his hand again. "You- you work at Penelope's Pies. And play guitar! And sometimes you can be so infuriating, and lovely, and that is someone! You're Geoffrey! Don't ever say you're nobody!" She noticed how loud she was talking and blushed, looking away.
A moment of silence passed before she said, "I-I'm sorry, that was a bit preachy, haha. Um..." She trailed off, looking down at the table awkwardly.
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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 2:16:15 GMT
Geoffrey: He sat up and looked at her- really looked at her. There was a reason she was running this pie shop. There was a reason she was doing all the hiring and was working all the time and tired herself out from juggling this place and the University and her brother. What that meant was she understood what he was going through- all too well. She'd been there. He could have guessed from awkward conversations where she dodged family questions, but this settled it. If family was all you had- and he had reason to believe it wasn't- then they were both alone in this world. That was why she could reassure him and comfort him better than anyone, if he had to guess.
He was going to say something about how she never needed to apologize to him, and the words were on the tip of his tongue, but what came out instead was, "Thank you." Of course he was still upset, but the beginnings of a smile began to work their way back on his face. He needed to learn how to move forward and... work... hard.... That would be a feat indeed, but he was already trying! So he needed to try harder.
He took her hand in both of his and brought it up to his lips where he placed a kiss on her fingers.
He'd been about to say that he would leave her be, that he'd taken up too much of her time at such an odd hour, that his frat mates would be wondering where he was, but, once again, he found himself saying something different as he leaned closer to her.
"May I have permission to kiss you?"
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Post by macxcheese on Nov 16, 2014 2:40:26 GMT
Emma: She mumbled, "Your welcome," although she really wasn't sure why he was thanking her. She'd been practically yelling at him a moment ago! She looked up at the brief touch on her hand and was about to offer something from the kitchen. He spoke first though, and she froze instead. A sudden nervousness came over her and she heard herself start to stutter. "I-I supp-pose s-so..." She looked up at him The nerves slid away and she replied with more confidence, "Yes." She clumsily scooted closer and closed her eyes. She had no idea how to kiss someone. Little butterflies sprang up in her stomach and she felt nervous giggles in her throat, but somehow she kept it them down.
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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 2:55:46 GMT
Geoffrey couldn't help but smile. She was trés adorable, and sometimes (but not often!) he forgot just how adorable.
While Emma might not have known how to kiss someone, Geoffrey certainly did. He kissed her briefly, but sweetly, once before being unable to help himself and kissing her one more time, slightly longer, again. His heart pounded as he pulled away and pushed some of her hair behind her ear. His face felt hot-- wait. HIS face felt hot??? What??? He suddenly felt nervous, but elated, self-conscious, but proud of himself for bonjooooour, landing the prettiest girl in school and possibly every holiday. It wasn't unpleasant, the mixture of feelings, but it was baffling. He'd never felt like that before, and he didn't know what to say. Imagine! Geoffrey! Not knowing what to say! It had already happened twice today! When would the oxymorons cease!
At the risk of looking trés, trés uncool, he kissed her cheek and stood up, somewhat reluctantly.
"As much as I would just adore kissing you more, if I know my frat mates, they've started to worry." He scratched his neck and smiled at her, single dimple standing out even in the low light due to how defined it was. "I believe I have to be here tomorrow, though, for work, mais bien sûr, so I'll see you, non?" He felt himself cheering up a bit, and that was a miracle, he was sure.
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Post by macxcheese on Nov 16, 2014 3:28:32 GMT
Emma: It seemed like forever before she felt the kiss and a giggle escaped her lips after the first one. The second was a surprise and her eyes fluttered open a bit. She felt his nose bump into her cheek before it ended and she giggled again. She covered the laugh with her hand, feeling silly for the sound. She was just... happy, she supposed. He made her happy. A thousand other things too, but at that moment the overwhelming feeling was pure joy.
Her blush competed with his as they sat there quietly. She couldn't think of anything to say and wasn't sure she could control her snickers if she opened her mouth. Luckily, Geoffrey moved, though unluckily it meant he was leaving. She jumped up, knocking her chair over with a clatter. The sound made her cringe and she pushed it to the side with her foot. "Right!" she said, fingers skating over her scar. "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow then!" She scooted from behind the table and walked him over to the door, then gave him a quick hug. "Well, goodbye then!"
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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 5:02:50 GMT
Geoffrey: He kissed her on the top of her head (that was always easiest to reach) before nodding and smiling at her.
"Thank you, really," he said as he opened the door. "I owe you one." He waved just before closing the door and realized on his walk back to the frat house that for someone from Valentine Ville, it sure took him a while to realize he was in love with someone.
He crept into the frat house and turned around as he did so he could close the door quietly before tiptoeing toward the spot where he'd dropped the letter. Geoffrey frowned thinking about it. What kind of parent did that on their kid's birthday anyway?
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Post by kryss on Nov 16, 2014 7:41:36 GMT
Raphael: He'd been sitting in the living room so long he had almost begun to nod off, his chin slipping from where it sat propped on his hands. He jerked his head back up quickly, just in time to hear the door open, it would seem. Geoffrey walked in, clearly trying to be sneaky, but Raphael stood and intercepted him before he could reach the hallway.
He pulled him tightly into a hug that lasted several moments before letting go and standing arm's length away, his hand on Geoffrey's shoulder. He cleared his throat and asked,
"How are you doing...?"
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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 7:47:53 GMT
Geoffrey: Though his brows were upturned at his compassion (here we go again), he managed a slight smile. "I guess you... found the... the letter," he said lamely. "I'm... fine, considering the circumstances." And there it was all over again, his face feeling hot. He couldn't stop thinking about Emma. He knew it had to be love- unless he was mistaken?? He definitely hadn't felt that way before. But hey, maybe he was wrong! He'd ask Raphael! Maybe he would know. A few moments passed before Geoffrey figured out how to phrase his question.
"What does it mean when you know a person and you miss her when she's not around, you think about her all the time and imagine the two of you one day running towards each other in slow motion and you're wearing a brown suede vest?"
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Post by kryss on Nov 16, 2014 8:17:37 GMT
Raphael: "Well, okay." he said, letting go slightly awkwardly. He had been prepared for tears, or depression, but he was happy that Geoffrey was doing well. He put a hand on his back and guided him to the living room. As they sat, Geoffrey asked his question. Raphael had a hard time holding back a laugh.
"It means, piccolo angelo, that you are in deep. Some laymen may refer to it as "love". But that's up for you to decide for certain~" Was Geoffrey getting serious so fast? This boy was a well of endless contradictions that often resulted in laughter or adorable facial expressions.
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Post by zykrinnox on Nov 16, 2014 8:24:17 GMT
Geoffrey: He looked up at the ceiling and blinked a few times at it. "I can safely say," he started slowly, "That I've never felt this way about anyone before. Ever." He nodded but then looked back at Raphael and remembered the letter again. He should probably tend to any lingering feelings there might be about that.
"When I first read the letter, I... I felt alone. I knew I wasn't!" he added quickly, before Raphael could protest, "It was just how I felt. I needed... I just needed to see her," he explained. "I guess she has family problems too..."
He pondered that again, face finding anew the sullen expression he'd worn earlier. "You read the letter?" he asked. It wasn't accusatory, merely curiosity since he didn't see the letter on the ground anymore and he'd seemed to know something was the matter. He looked around. "Where is it?"
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