Fleur Delacour (fleurdesetoiles) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-08-24 19:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, ash ketchum, fleur delacour |
Who: Fleur and Ash
When: Backdated to August 16th
What: Random meeting
Warnings/Rating: Low
Status: Partner thread/complete
Thankfully the day was one of perfection as there was a slight breeze and the air wasn’t overly hot and oppressive as it was in the beginning of summer. It meant it was a perfect day to have a fundraiser and encouraging for people to come out though Fleur never failed to be surprised at the amount of people that showed up for events supporting animal training and shelters. Beside her, her own monster of a dog, sat passively unsure of what to make of all the other people and animals walking around. She couldn’t help but think that it was a small relief that her dog wasn’t cowering behind her.
“Animal trainer, huh?” Fleur asked as she read the tag on Ash’s jacket. “What kind of training?” She asked kind of curious as to what it was he did. Since he was there at the fundraiser being put on by local departments, such as the Fire Department, she didn’t think it was the typical stuff and that alone made it interesting.
“Yes, ma’am. I train animals to assist those in service professions. Firefighters, police officers, and soldiers. I train them to be partners, not pets. Sometimes, I’ll train one for a disabled person, but only if they understand that it’s not a pet. Most, sadly, are just as ignorant as most other pet owners, and treat animals as if they could never be their equals.”
Ash was very fervent and very adamant in his speaking, but also police. He smiled to the beautiful woman.
Fleur gave him one of her signature smiles as she listened to him speak noting the passion in his voice. It was always a welcome sign to her to hear people talk so adamantly about something whether it was their love of sports, their job, profession, music or whatever it was they had devoted themselves to. It was a special kind of person that could carry out that kind of commitment.
“How did you get into that?” She asked naturally curious about just about everything and everyone. It was a fair question as it wasn’t the most common profession for someone to get into. “Oh, how rude of me, I’m Fleur by the way,” she said as she extended her hand to him.
“My father was one before me. He had been an Olympian, and blew out his knees, and so he found a new thing to concentrate on, in his love of animals, and his admiration of those who serve. He started training, helping dogs and cats and certain smarter and larger birds become companion partners to those who served.” Ash nodded. “When he died, I took up his cause, and found in it, well, a passion of my own.” He smiled to her, eyes dancing. “That’s a beautiful name, Fleur, almost as beautiful as you.” he bent over her hand and kissed it, slow and softly.
"Ah, a noble cause. I am sure that there are many people that are glad you did." She told him giving him a shy but bright smile as he kissed the top of her hand. "My parents wanted to be different I guess... Which is a good thing. How many more Sophies or Améiles does the world need?" She joked in her accented English.
Ash smiled at her. “I’m glad they did. The name suits you. beauty for beauty, and special for special.” He nodded to her, and kept her hand in his, warm and welcoming. “Would you care for a walk?”
His other hand gestured a short distance away from the main area, where a drinks and snack stand stood. “Ice cold waters and tea await.”
Fleur gave him a smile finding that she didn't mind at all that he kept her hand. "Oui, I would," she told him honestly not minding the idea in the least. "Long as I do not have to have tea. A year in London will cure anyone that is not British of their taste for it."
Ash smirked and led the way. “Good.” He started off with her, enjoying the breeze on the warm day./ And her hand in his. “Nah. Plenty of nice cool water for us, in the little drink thing they have set up. He waved at a few people as they went.
“What drew you to our humble little event?”
As they walked Fleur took in the surroundings quietly having never attended the event before. It was all foreign to her and it was very different than the rather fancy fundraisers and events the ballet company threw. She liked the more laid back atmosphere though. “Heard about it from a girl at lessons and figured I would check it out. Summers are kind of boring when I am out of work and have nothing to do. Even with a trip to Paris to see my parents it has been a slow summer.”
“Lessons?” He smiled at her, raising an eyebrow and nodded. Sounded like she was a world traveler, which made him grin. He had gone to Japan, himself, and come back only recently. So he understood that. “Well, I’m glad you came by. Seeing a sexy woman who cares beats out just talking to bored people, any day.”
"Ballet lessons. The company does not make us take lessons in the off-season too but it is hard getting back in shape for the winter shows if you don't." It wasn't as bad as coming back from her injury but Fleur wasn't going to take that chance. "Besides I still have some catching up to do from my injury anyhow."
Fleur gave him one of her charming smiles, "I do what I can." She said with a grin. "Besides I do like animals. My puppy is very spoiled don't be fooled."
“Yeah? Awesome! My mother was a ballerina when I was very young. She broke two toes and… well, she went on to other things, but I remember watching her dance,. and she taught me half the exercises I know. She is as much responsible for me being in shape to compete as my father was.”
Ash smirked at her. “Oh yeah? Not a bad thing.” Then he chuckled as they walked. “A sexy woman, nice, dances with skill, and loves animals? Damn, you really are amazing.” He nodded.
"Oh, really?" That bit of information Fleur found interesting just as it wasn't much of a popular career choice for people to make. "Smart lady then. Besides it is always attractive if a guy knows how to dance enough as to not step on their partner's toes." Then again to her just a guy knowing how to dance was attractive.
Fleur gave him a soft laugh. "It does sound rather amazing when you put it like that," she said with a nod. "So will I get to see one of the dogs you trained before I leave?"
“Yes, ma’am.” He whistled a long and loud whistle, complex, yet fast, and there was an answering bark in response. And then there were some murmurs as a dog came barrelling through them, sleek, athletic, and moving fast, coming to a halt next to Ash as he settled to his seat, head raised and attentive to Ash. A saddle contraption was on his back strapping supplies there, and he wore it without complaint.
He panted, and cocked his head to Ash as Ash pulled out some turkey and fed it to the good dog. “Apollo? This is Fleur. She wanted to meet you, you big handsome boy. Say hello.” Apollo nudged up to Fleur and sat again and delivered a soft bark, waggling his head once, and nodding, as sure as anything, to her.
“Fleur, this is Apollo.”
"Please call me Fleur," she told him with a laugh. "Makes me feel old when people call me ma'am and twenty is hardly old." She told him happily turning her attention to the dog that was moving so agile towards them.
Leaning down she pet the animal happily letting it lick her hand in return. At least the dog didn't run from strangers like her dog did. It wasn't that Jake was unfriendly, he was harmless, his problem was that he was afraid of even his own shadow. "He is adorable!" She said giving the dog yet another pet.
Ash laughed. “You’re not old! You’re young and beautiful.” He nodded. “Thanks. He’s a good guy, and loves people. He has taken to the training better than I had ever dreamed he would.”
"I say you got lucky then," Fleur told him standing back up with one further pet to the animals soft coat. "My dog was easy to train but he certainly is not a people dog until he gets to know you. He runs away from everything, especially umbrellas. I think he is a little big too for most people."
“Could be. I’d love to meet him sometime. Apollo here is a friendly dog, and takes to other dogs readily. And to people, too.” He grinned at her as he rose and then nodded to her.
"Then I shall introduce you sometime soon, how is that?" Fleur said finding it rather easy to agree too. "It would be good for him or something like that," she said with a laugh realizing they sound like they were talking about kids not their dogs.
“Sounds like fun! I can make you chili cheese fries and help you enjoy them, and our dogs can talk.” He nodded, eyes warm on her.
Fleur gave him a puzzled look, "Chili cheese fries?" Apparently she had missed that food since she had been in California and now she was curious as to what it was. It certainly didn't sound like something her mother would ever let grace her table.
Ash’s eyes went wide. “You’ve never had chili cheese fries? Holy cow! Okay, yes, we have to get together, now, so I can cook them for you. We can watch some old silly movie, and play with the dogs and you can sample them.” He nodded.
"Ma maman is a French chef that owns a couple four star restaurants, such a thing would never be allowed on her table." Fleur said with a laugh imagining the look her mother would give her at the mere suggestion. "That and I am not supposed to eat them which means I absolutely have to." She was terrible at following her diet for ballet so she figured it was a good thing she was naturally slender.
Ash laughed and handed over his card, which had his number and address on it. “Call me sometime, when you are up for it.” He nodded.
Fleur took the card, looked at it, and tucked it safely into her pocket. "Alright, or you know you could just ask me what I am doing this weekend and I will tell you nothing." She told him not really one to beat around the bush when it came to things.
Ash opened his mouth, closed it, then grinned. “Would you be interested in coming over, this weekend, introducing your dog to mine, and hanging out with someone who wants to admire you and feed you chili fries?”
"See easy," She gave him a satisfied grin. To Fleur it was always as simple as that when it came to asking something of someone. "But yes, I would. How about Saturday evening?"
“Sounds good.Should I pick you up, or do you just want to come by, say around seven?” He smirked. He would have to get a bottle of wine, and make sure he was stocked up for this!
“I have a fitting to go to for a job but how about you leave me your address and I will stop by after?” She couldn’t see a reason to make him go out if he wasn’t going to when she was already going to be out and about. “Seven should be good.” She would have to think of something to bring herself not wanting to show up empty handed.
Ash dug in his pants for a pack of stick it notes. He wrote out his address and then handed it over on two notes, stuck to each others’ backs. “There Sounds like a plan.” He nodded. “See you then!”
Fleur gave him yet another smile as she took the tiny piece of paper and read over the address curious to see if it was somewhere she was familiar with or not. It didn’t seem like it would be too hard to find. “Oui, I will see you then.”
He watched her go, admiring the view, and grinning.