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[cache_coeur]

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”Allô, mon amie! Je ne suis pas disponible pour le moment, mais laissez-moi un message et je vous rapellerai dès que possible! À bientôt!”

CODING

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[cache_coeur]

The little contraption? A bridge?

[She thumbs the elastic off the hose's trigger before turning the tap on, starting to fill the sink.

Has she ever let anyone do a reading for her? No. But it also doesn't feel like something safeguarding for a special moment, so:]

Sure. I can tell you what it means.

[maellum]

Yeah. We saw the real one. I think he's obsessed.

[And while Maelle would smile fondly at that, Sciel discovering the elastic makes her frown. Boo. Sciel really does see everything.

She'll pretend she didn't totally put that there, though.]

So. What were the categories? Love, money...?

[cache_coeur]

Love, money, health or the soul.

[A more fun gamble: what of that she's willing to share with Maelle, and money is only there as a polite out. But you can't ask for vulnerability from others and not offer it in return, so might as well let the cards do the same for her as they've done for anyone else.]

Let's do... love. You know, I should have pulled that one for Gustave, the answer could have been about trains.

[maellum]

[She makes a soft soubd of amusement.]

Nah. I think it would still be about Sophie.

[Maelle shrugs again and looks at Sciel. Love? Sciel has a big heart, that's for sure. She pulls a card and turns it over, frowning.]

The Fool? Ouch.

[cache_coeur]

[Sciel glances over hand under the water to feel the temperature change as the sink fills, her smile gentle but her expression carefully neutral otherwise.]

So... despite the funny name, the Fool actually means "a new journey." It's about freedom and adventure and living in the moment. It's telling me to follow my heart, and to not worry about what's ahead.

[All of which she has in spades, of course, but journeying anywhere means leaving something else behind.

She turns off the water, and turns her attention back to the dishes.]

When it comes to love, it's a suggestion to let go, fall in love, to ignore your uncertainties. Which sounds lovely, of course, but the Fool isn't like other new beginnings. The Fool thinks nothing bad can happen to him as long as he's enjoying himself... see how he's about to trot off a cliff? How he ignores the dog's warnings, and journeys without a map?

[If only that was Gustave's card! He could do with a little bit of recklessness in love.]

[maellum]

[Maelle leans her elbows on the counter, listening, looking down at the backs of the remaining cards. She does look back down at the Fool when she mentions the particulars, the dog, and she tips her head left and right as she mulls it over.]

Do you feel like it applies to you?

[cache_coeur]

[She glances sidelong at Maelle, at the tangle of red hair falling over her shoulder as she leans, and starts properly washing the dishes.]

In some ways. I don't feel like I'm likely to fall in love any time soon, but if it's a new beginning, it's at least a possibility. And I like the Fool as a warning –– maybe it's saying that I won't survive this new adventure on my own. Or that I need to heal to enjoy what's coming to me next to the fullest.

[She shrugs, and gives a little chuckle.]

I used to draw the Fool all the time, you know. It's been a while.

[maellum]

So for all the healing you say Gustave and I need to do, you need to do some, too.

[Not that she thinks Sciel would deny it. They're all pretty fucked up just by nature of being from Lumière, aren't they? Their fractured world.]

[cache_coeur]

[She nods. Her voice is a smidge more careful, but this is life, and there's no sense in not being frank.]

Well, yes. I didn't really plan to be here, nor did I think I'd have a future after the Paintress.

[maellum]

[Sciel wasn't wrong. Maelle gathers up the cards, shuffling the Fool back in.]

You'll not only have many adventures ahead of you, but you'll be able to experience them while getting old, too.

[Such a novel thing that Maelle hasn't really thought about that for herself.]

[cache_coeur]

[She sets one plate in the drying rack, and then the other.]

And that's plenty exciting on its own, even without some new love. So we'll see!

[maellum]

But would you want new love? You have the time...

[Revenge, Maelle thinks, but she won't press too much.]

[cache_coeur]

[No, is the immediate thought, but she knows she can't live this way forever. It's difficult even after just six years. She draws in a deep breath, sighing not at Maelle but at the mere thought.]

I suppose... if grief could move over to make space for something else to sit with me, I'd like that. But we'll see.

[maellum]

[Maelle misinterprets the sigh, and frowns.]

... sorry if I'm prying too much. Just, you know. The cards. I was curious.

[She tries to be sensitive about these things. She saw how Gustave was after Sophie--both times they went their separate ways.]

[cache_coeur]

You're fine. [She wipes a hand off on the dishtowel, just so she doesn't touch Maelle with a wet hand; her palm settles on the back of her neck, gives her a gentle squeeze.] It's hard for me but you can ask me whatever you like.

[maellum]

[An incoming wet hand would be a good excuse to duck away, but Maelle stays, giving Sciel a small smile. She believes what she says, but that doesn't mean she'll take her up on it.]

I'll remember you said that the next time you go out.

[cache_coeur]

[That pulls a laugh from her that's allllmost a groan.]

And I'll tell you if I find love.

[maellum]

[Maelle laughs, pleased with that reaction.]

You'd better. I should be no more than fourth to know.

[Anyway!]

I mentioned a surprise, didn't I?

[cache_coeur]

Fourth at latest, understood and promised.

[And wow, she’d completely forgotten.]

You did. What is it?

[maellum]

Something to wear.

[It's not a dress that gives Maelle anxiety or a tiny skirt, but when Maelle ducks out of the kitchen for a moment and returns, she has something held behind her back.]

Eyes closed, hands out.

[cache_coeur]

[Oh, that’s sweet of her. Sciel wraps up washing the utensils and puts her hand out when Maelle is ready, eyes closed.]

Alright!

[maellum]

You have a lot already, but you also have two arms.

[Maelle puts a stack of bracelets into Sciel's hands.]

[cache_coeur]

[Sweet and thoughtful. Sciel’s expression is transparently touched, and she slips a couple on immediately before pulling Maelle into a hug.]

They’re so lovely, thank you. I can never have enough, and it’s only fitting that I have my students on one arm and you on the other.

[maellum]

[Gustave's not the only one she thinks about when shopping. Maelle laughs on an exhale, Sciel's hugs always sure and sincere. They're nice.]

I am technically your student of the cards.

[cache_coeur]

[It’s so good to squeeze Maelle in her arms. She kisses the girl on the temple when she finally pulls back a little.]

You are my student of the cards, and affairs of the heart!