InsaneJournal

Who: Fleur and Portia
When: Sometime in Mid-August
What: Catching up
Warnings/Ratings: None
Status: Complete

Portia was looking forward to seeing Fleur, they had both been so busy recently that it was far too long since they had caught up with each other. She missed her beautiful french friend and hoped she was doing okay.

She felt partly guilty as she was now in this wonderful relationship with Alex while Fleur’s own relationship had ended unhappily. She hadn’t wanted to rub it in her friends face. Hopefully her news would be enough to sort of apologise thought.

"Je suis ici," Fleur called out as she let herself into her friends's house upon arrival. They had long been comfortable with each other to forgo the formalities and just let each other in. Besides knowing Portia she was busy working on her latest project.

"Is Chinese okay?" She asked as she deposited the bags onto the kitchen counter and went in search of plates. The aroma of fried rice and chicken drifting out of the containers. It had been a while so she was overjoyed at the chance of seeing her friend again.

Portia had been in her studio working on some new designs when Fleur entered her house, “I’ll be out in a minute” she called back, washing her hands free of the pencil and crayons she’d been using.

“Chinese is good, actually it smells great” she told Fleur as she entered the kitchen, “You’re a star” she told her friend as she saw Fleur had already found the plates. “Drink?” she offered moving to the fridge, “I have a bottle of our favorite in here” she added with a grin.

Fleur gave her friend an easy smile, "Crack it open." She told her as she set the plates on the table along with their food. "I got you your usual as always." They were both fairly predictable when it came to what they liked to eat.

"So, tell me what have you been up to lately? Feels like it has been forever."

Portia nodded and removed the bottle from the fridge and pulling out the corkscrew from the cutlery drawer. “Thanks Fleur, I hadn’t realised how hungry I was until I smelt it” she smiled.

“It really does” she agreed, pouring them each a glass of wine, “I’ve been busy with work. Did I tell you I’ve been assigned the styling crew on Thor’s next two films?” she asked, “So there’s that but I’ve also been given an opportunity to be a featured designer as part of a new fashion house”

"You are always busy with work," Fleur teased lightly but then again during the season so was she. Her schedule went from busy to empty in the summer. "But no you didn't!" She said happily.

"That is really amazing though! Congrats!" She exclaimed happy for her friends's success. Portia had worked hard and deserves all the success she got. "You are well on your way to being famous!"

“I know I am but, well, you know me, I’m a workaholic” and she really always had been. There were just so many ideas and things to do. “Thank you. I don’t know about that but it is rather exciting. I’ve also found a wonderful woman to help me, her name’s Annie and she has some incredible designs of her own. I guess I’m taking on a kind of mentoring role with her” And Annie was helping her juggle everything, thank goodness.

Fleur wrapped her hands around her glass of wine and listened intently. "That really is amazing. I am glad you found someone to help you properly. You should have some time to relax once in a while."

"One of these days I am going to talk you into going to Paris with me." It was a place that they both liked to go and it was a good place for fashion. "What kind of clothes are you working on? Any particular style?"

“It’s more so I can focus on all the projects at once without getting too bogged down in the detail” Portia admitted, “But yes I relax when I can” mostly with Alex currently as they were practically living together between their houses.

“I would love to, you know that” Portia told her, who in their right mind didn’t love Paris if they worked in fashion, “Affordable, comfortable but stylish” she said, “That’s the aim of the fashion house anyway”

Fleur nodded because she did know that, “Then you should totally come and visit anytime you want. My parents are looking to move back to Marseille and sell their Paris flat.” It had come as a bit of a surprise to her but now that she had time to think about it Fleur wasn’t that surprised. Paris had been for her and her sister’s sake. “I think I am going to buy it from them. It is time to buy my own piece of something.”

“It should be a success because you do all those things well,” as someone that had worn her clothing for years she could vouch for Portia’s skill at all the above. “I will be your best customer. Promise.”

“Oh my, really? I guess if they don’t need to be in Paris...” If Fleur’s parents wanted a less busy lifestyle she could understand the move, still she wasn’t sure if she would leave Paris had she lived there. “Fleur that would be wonderful, you’re own little bit of Paris” she grinned.

“Thank you” she said at her friends kind words, “You know I love creating clothes for you. You’ve been my inspiration so often”

Fleur nodded as she sipped her wine, "Yeah, it is about time I have something that is my own so why not start with a Paris flat?" She told her friend with a grin. "The sellers will give me a good price too."

"Whatever I can do to help," Fleur said with a grin. "I like helping you and watching you work."

“And how wonderful to know you have somewhere to go to should you ever need to just get away for a while” Portia said which with all the madness around the county could be quite often.

“Thank you Fleur, I’m sure it must be quite boring to watch me” she grinned.

"Yeah, I might live there for a while too.." She mused out loud for a moment. "But not tomorrow or even next month so don't worry." She told her friend with a smile. Though she wasn't sure in the long run she would want to stay in California forever. "More like when the urge for a Paris shopping spree comes over me."

Fleur shook her head, "Nah. I don't mind. You forget I am used to watching dancers do the same thing over and over and over again. Watching you is way more interesting."

“Okay good” Portia replied, “I’m not ready for you to disappear to France” She’d miss her friend terribly and visiting just wouldn’t be the same.

“That is a good point” she replied, “I guess at least with me you will see some variety in my designs”

"Me either just yet," Fleur told her though it was something she had considered a few times. "Besides the weather is far better here anyhow. One of these days I will get to the beach."

"Lets not forget I get to try on these designs too," she teased affectionately.

“It really is. I do love summer. You should, Alex and I keep saying the same but so far we’ve not made it” Portia replied.

“Of course, and the trying on part is much more exciting on your part” she smiled.

"Just something else we have in common," Fleur noted with a grin. "Not sure I would really like the beach though unless I could have one of those cute beach umbrellas and a good book." She had never been much of a water person.

"Then we should make a date to go to the beach? That way so we can say we did it at least once?"

“A good book on the beach is a must” Portia nodded, though she did enjoy the water herself. “It’s a deal. We can’t let the summer pass without going once” she smiled.

"Non, we must this year." They always said last summer they would go and they never had gotten around to it. Then again there had been a lot going on last summer. Perhaps she would take her sister to the beach when she came.

Portia agreed, “I’ll check my diary and see when I next have a day or afternoon free and let you know?” she checked. It would be nice just to lay on the beach with her friend and relax.


“Sounds good to me,” really for the most part she had almost every day free so she wasn’t too concerned over her own schedule. “Lets just not wait until the end of August because I have to actually attempt to be semi in shape when the seasons starts,” she told her friend with a laugh knowing that it would never happen. That she always spent the first week sore, popping aspirin and soaking in an ice bath.

“Of course. I’ll check things as soon as I get home” she promised with a smile. “You’ll be in great shape I’m sure” Thought even Portia knew those first couple of weeks were hard on everyone.

“But enough about me and my boring life, tell me about this new project of yours or even better can I see it?” Her interest was piqued and now she was more than a little curious about seeing what her friend had been up to as of late.

“Of course you can see” Portia agreed, “I have around 60% of the designs completed on paper and some even made up already” she smiled. She was behind in how far she wanted to be but should still be able to make it in time for her show.

"Then let me see," Fleur said happily as she finished her food and her glass of wine. She was curious to get a glimpse of this new stuff. "No neon umbrellas right?"

“Sadly not” Portia laughed as she too finished her food but picked up her glass to take with her. “I think you’ll like them though” she added as she led the way to her studio.

“Everyone needs a little brightness in their lives,” she told her friend with a laugh. It was the reason why she tended to migrate more towards color than anything just black and white. Though a lot of her wardrobe was made of the two in some form or another. “I will find a neon umbrella one of these days.”

“Oh I completely agree” Portia said entering the room, “And I still keep an eye out for one for you” she smiled. Before retrieving her sketch book with the show designs in it and handing it over to Fleur.

“Jake will really love me then,” she said with a laugh recalling her dog’s great fear of umbrellas. Fleur wasn’t sure where it came from but she was certain that she wasn’t ever going to cure it. Silently she flipped through the sketchbook for a moment looking at each design in turn. “Can I have like one of each? That should be enough to last me through the season.”

“How is Jake? Still as mad as ever?” she asked with a smile, she had a big softspot for the friendly dog. Portia laughed, “You know if I could I’d always design and make you enough clothes to last you in every season”

Fleur shrugged. “Always.” Even though she had never wanted a dog part of her had grown attached to the furball over the past few months. “Every time I think I want to give him away he looks at me with those puppy eyes and I change my mind.” She chewed on her lip a moment. “I know you would. I have to keep the other stores in business too,” she told her friend with a laugh.

“Of course he does” Portia smiled, “He can’t risk letting you give him up. He loves you” she told her friend. And he was an adorable dog even if he was a little mischievous. “That’s true” Portia agreed, “I guess they all deserve a chance to make you look more beautiful”

Fleur had to laugh, "I think at first it was because he was stuck with me when Bill left." It may have been the case at first but whether she admitted it or not the furry animal had become a close companion. "More like everyone else deserves a chance at your clothing too."

Portia knew Jake and Fleur were good friends really, they both relied on each other and kept each other company. And she was glad her friend had such a faithful and loyal pet. “Thank you. I have to admit I’m nervously excited about the reactions to my work at the show”

“It’ll be great, promise!” Fleur told her friend with a smile knowing that it would be true. Portia’s work was always well received when she did a show. “Then we can even celebrate!” It suddenly occurred to her she forgot to tell her friend something. “Because my mom is opening another restaurant you know... Like here. In California. Says she doesn’t want to always stay behind in Paris when my dad comes over here to teach for the fall semesters so this way she can have something to keep her busy too. They’re going to homeschool Gabrielle for a while.”

“Oh really!?” Portia smiled widely, “How exciting. Then we should definitely celebrate there” she nodded. “What does Gabrielle think about that?” Portia imagined it would go one of two ways she’d either miss her friends or like not having to go to traditional school lessons everyday.

“Yep. You and I have the first reservations naturally. Before the opening...” It was something that sounded fun and she was interested in seeing what her mother had done with the chosen place. “She is alright with it for the time being since it means getting to travel back and forth but give it a few weeks.”

“Wonderful. I look forward to seeing it” Portia replied excitedly, she too was interested in seeing it and seeing Portia’s mother too. It had been a long time since they had properly spoken.

“Hopefully it won’t be too bad and she’ll adapt well to the change”

“I am sure she will. She’s strong like that and I think she sees it as a new adventure.” She wasn’t too worried about her sister. “Means we can take a vacation soon too.”

“Vacations are great” Portia nodded, “Alex and I are talking about taking one soon too. Maybe after my show”