Who: Remy LeBeau and Elizabeth DeWitt What: Two friends meet, talk, deal with an evil mistletoe, and face the weather. Where: His place, a cafe, and the streets between When: During December's snow plot Status: Completed GDoc Rating: PG-13 for a kiss and discussion of romance and life.
The day started off nice. It was overcast and lightly snowing when Elizabeth arrived at Remy’s house. She dashed up to his doorway and rang the bell, shielding a bag of baked goods and a picnic lunch from the cold. They’d planned to build a snowman and have lunch, then he was going to help her with her coloring. She looked forward to seeing her friend again and hummed cheerfully while she waited for him to open the door.
Remy had enjoyed the wild weather rollercoaster this Winter, even if it was unlike anything he had known before. He did remember hearing rumors the year before that the OC had seen some unseasonal weather, but nothing like this! He was grinning when he opened the door, and ushered Elizabeth in.
“Hey you. Come on in. I have hot apple cider on the stove, so we can get warm before and after we go out.” He nodded to her, and to the kitchen, just behind him. “If you put your jacket on the chair near the stove, it will get nice and warm.” One of his was sitting on a chair with an empty chair next to it, as he was following his own advice.
Elizabeth took his advice, shedding her coat and boots and putting them in front of the stove. “It’s so cold! I don’t remember it being this cold last year.” She shivered theatrically, then smiled brightly at Remy. “Cider sounds lovely, how have you been?”
Remy grinned. “From what I hear, lately, this area tends to be a little different. Apparently weird stuff happens, here, and life can get pretty crazy.” He shook his head. Ever since he had started using the Valarnet, he had realized he knew next to nothing about his adopted home area. And that the truth was far more mysterious and odd than he had ever dreamed.
And he had started getting ideas for both his current comic book series, and for a new one. The ideas and synopsis he had sent off to his boss had been greeted with a rather large amount of enthusiasm, and he was hoping this would carry through with the publishers as well when the idea was ready for prime time.
He smiled to Elizabeth, and poured her a stout mug of the cider, handing it over. “Pretty well. Just enjoying the weather.”
Elizabeth took the cider and sipped it, ‘mmmm’ing at the taste and the warmth. “I am too. It’s so pretty out. The snow make everything look so clean and peaceful.” She hopped up on the counter, her legs swinging a little (though she was careful not to kick his cabinets). “I’ve been taking pictures all over the place, trying to get an album of them together for during the summer. How’s work?”
Remy grinned, nodding, sipping his own mug. His mom had taught him how to make several varieties, the only thing she could really make in the kitchen.
“I like hiking in this.” he waved a hand at a large pack, freshly unpacked, and the coat near it now with snow melting off of it.
“Work’s been good. Just been working on some concepts as well as current jobs. I managed to get ahead some.”
Elizabeth nodded, smiling brightly. “A hike sounds like fun! I even wore suitable boots for it this time.” She waved a foot to show off her new shoes. “Do you get some time off for the holidays? You seem to work a lot.” She wanted to make sure her friend had enough fun in his life, after all..
“I work my own hours, so I tend to not follow regular hours.” He grinned at her. “I tend to just work and get things in, then do my own thing.” He nodded. He grinned at her shoes. “We can go for a short hike, if you like, after we warm up.”
Elizabeth nodded and sipped her drink. “That makes sense. I’d love to go on a hike with you.” She smiled brightly at Remy, then looked down for a second. “Has anyone warned you about the dreams that come from being on the Valarnet?” She spoke softly, as though it was a matter of great secrecy.
“Cool.” He smiled, then blinked at her words. “Er… no. But I have seen a few posts that were confusing about dreams. What exactly is that about?”
He wasn’t sure, now that he thought about it, that he wanted to know, but it would be impolite not to take a warning offered in good faith.
Elizabeth bit her lip, thinking about how best to explain the dreams. “Mine haven’t been so bad. Others dream about traumatic things, from what I’ve seen. It’s. . . supposed to be another universe, I think. One where we’re similar but different. They say everyone on the network has them.”
Remy listened, shaking his head a little bit. “It sounds unbelievable, and like a comic I would write.” He held up a hand. “Which is not to say that I don’t believe you, just. wow.”
Then he paused. “Everyone on the network? But I’m on it and haven’t had the dreams.”
“I didn’t believe either, at first,” she said, touching the abrupt end of her right pinky self-consciously. “But I drew a picture of something I saw in my dreams and my father reacted like it was the devil. He dreamed about it too, I think. He knew what it was without being told.” She looked down, clasping her hands in her lap. “They take a little bit. I was on for about a month before my first dreams. I hope yours are calm, like mine.”
Remy nodded, listening. “Wait, so, multiple people can dream about things from the same universe?” Remy rubbed his face. This was turning out a lot worse than he had planned it. He sipped his cider to give himself a minute to think.
“If I have them, I hope they are, too.” he shook his head, wondering what craziness he had gotten himself into.
Elizabeth hopped off the counter and put her hand on Remy’s shoulder. “Hey, chin up. If they’re bad I’ll be here to help you with them. You won’t be alone.” She spoke softly, but with great determination. Remy was there for her when she needed to tell her story, now it was her turn for him.
Remy smiled at her, distractedly. “Thanks. You’re a good friend, Elizabeth.” Inside his mind he was wondering what he could face, what sort of memories he would deal with, and how. And would he take them well? Damn, this did not sound good.
Damn damn damn.
He swallowed, then nodded to her, and smiled a little. It was as he started to rise that he stumbled, and caught himself on her shoulder, then discovered he could not move from the spot. He glanced up and blinked, a slightly, almost glowing mistletoe was above them.
“You know… I don’t think I bought any crazy mistletoe… did you?”
Elizabeth shook her head and tried to step away. It was similarly ineffective. She sighed and met Remy’s eyes, chuckling softly. “I guess we’re stuck. If it’s mistletoe, then maybe it wants us to kiss?” She was unable to completely hide her excitement at that prospect. It would be nice to kiss Remy, even if it was only a short little thing to get rid of the mistletoe.
Remy chuckled, and then he nodded, shaking his head. “Seems like.” And without ado, he did so, kissing her slow and gently. It was a warm kiss, but not a passionate one, a friendly one, mostly. He gently stroked her hair as he pulled back, then stepped back, the hold on them released. “I guess that was what it wanted, after all?” His voice was gentle as he spoke.
Elizabeth kissed him back, tentative and soft. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her nose fled with the smell of him. She touched his face gently for a moment. Then she took a step back and took a deep breath. “guess so.”she laughed softly, her face bright red. “so let's go do that hike now.”
“Good idea.” Remy nodded. He led the way to the closet, and held out the extra coat and scarf he had prepared. ”In case yours isn’t enough.” He wanted her to be warm with the crazy weather. He worked on getting his own cold clothing on.
Elizabeth nodded and tugged her coat on, trying to get her body to relax again. She felt guilty that she'd enjoyed the kiss so much. It meant so much to her and the warmth of his lips would linger in her memories. “thank you. My coat is fine, but I won't say no to a scarf.”she smiled cheerfully, tugging the scarf around her neck. She could go on without it being weird.
He handed over a scarf, all in blue, as he wrapped a red one around his neck, then opened the door to lead the way outside. He smiled as he looked up at the clouds. “Okay, well, maybe not a long hike. Looks like a storm is rolling in.”
He smiled and shook his head.
Elizabeth looked out the door. “oh my. It really is cloudy.” She smiled and stepped out into the light snow. “It's so quiet, Remy.” The snow fell softly around her, masking the sound of the world around them. Nature was always a good distraction from her troubles.
Remy nodded, eying the skies, then walked with her smiling. “The world gets like this sometimes. But we’ll have to keep an eye on those clouds, so just around the block I think, today. Next time, we can walk farther.” He nodded again.
“Yeah,” Elizabeth agreed, tugging her mittens on as they walked. For a moment she was quiet, contemplating what had just happened. After a few feet she turned to Remy and said, “I expected my first kiss to be more satisfying. I mean it was nice, but knowing that you did it because you had to made it. . .” she searched for the right words, then shrugged and said, “less nice. I'm sorry that happened.”
Remy smiled softly. “I’m sorry it was like that. Most kisses are just kisses. A first kiss with a romantic partner is something special, or with someone you love, even more so, but just a kiss? Sadf to say, mostly, they are just okay.” He nodded.
He shrugged. “From what I have been seeing, Orange County is like this a lot.”
“That hardly seems fair,” Elizabeth noted. “Is it like that with all romantic things?” It certainly solidified her position about pre-romance sex, which was slightly gratifying. “I don’t mind all of it, though I expect I will before too long.” If she’d lost a piece of her finger just because of the dreams she didn’t know what else she might lose over time. “The dreams do strange things. They can change us.”
“No, but this was not… romantic. This was something unplanned.” He canted his head to the side. “And not all romance is all that, either.” He shook his head.
“Hmmm, I hope not too much. I would hate to lose friends to strange changes caused by dreams.“
Elizabeth stopped, offering Remy her hand and a smile. “Not gonna happen. You’re stuck with me for a bit, Mr. French for hottiepants.”
Remy smiled and clasped her shoulder, nodding. “And you with me, Little Miss Sexybrain.” He smiled as he led the way along, clasping her hand before letting go. “There’s a nice overlook this way, with a tea shoppe next to it.” He nodded.
Elizabeth giggled and let Remy take the lead. “So you think my brain is sexy, huh?” Her voice made it clear she was teasing him. “Tea sounds great right now. My throat is frozen from all this cold air.” Her nose too, now that she was thinking about it.
Remy stuck his tongue out at her. “You got a very interesting mind, chere’.” He nodded. He chuckled and offered her his arm. “Come on then. We’ll get some tea, then take a look over the overlook.” He smiled warmly. This was fun.
Elizabeth looped her arm in his, bumping his hip playfully with her own. “Thank you. I appreciate yours as well.” It was nice to walk with him and see him smile. He had such a beautiful smile and it warmed her heart to see it. “This is a good day.”
Remy grinned and led the way along, looking around them as they went. “Looks like the weather might get bad later, but at least it’s holding for now?” He liked the cold weather, himself. it was a refreshing change from New Orleans, or even the South of France and Paris, where he had spent so much time. Not to mention Los Angeles.
The tea shoppe hove into view ahead, and he smiled. “There we are.”
“I’ve never been in this kind of cold either. Well, in my dreams I was. Columbia Is a flying city, that’s where I grew up, and it’s always cold there.” She shivered a little, drawing her coat’s collar up to protect her neck a little more. Once the shop was in sight Elizabeth darted toward it, ready to be inside and sipping some hot tea.
“Weather like this came sometimes in New Orleans, or Paris, but not as often as one might think.” Remy nodded, listening, still not sure what to think of her dreams or of Dreams being that real at all. He didn’t know what to think at all. He nodded, following her to the store and holding the first door for her, then coming in after her. His favorite table as open, and he set his jacket there, as it was nice and warm inside the second door. “I love it here.”
Then he led the way to the counter to order.
Elizabeth followed his lead once they were inside. She put her coat down across the table from his and went to stand in line next to him. “it smells wonderful and after walking in the cold it's so nice to warm up.” She smiled at Remy before turning her attention to the menu. Maybe today called for a nice chai.
Remy nodded, grinning. “I like having it here. Close enough to home to walk it, and to hang out here and work, sometimes.” He chuckled as he ordered, and stepped aside, then paid once she was done ordering. He added some croissants to the order, as well.
Elizabeth ordered her chai and moved to Remy’s side, looking around curiously. “Do you work from here sometimes? I love to draw and read in coffee shops. All the people are so fascinating.” She gave Remy a wide grin. That’s how she’d met him, after all.
“I do. There’s a small loft spot up there…” He waved a hand toward the second floor space. “Where I can sometimes just sit, let the noise flow past me, and enjoy coffee and work.” He grinned. “It’s warm, I can get coffee easily, and it’s comfortable. And I can get free wireless, and a good connection here.” He nodded. “I like it.” He smiled at her.
Elizabeth smiled back and grabbed their drinks when they were ready. She handed Remy’s off to him and bounced back to their seats. “It does seem like a nice place. I spend a lot of time helping out at Miss Anna’s diner because it’s so fun to people watch and she gives me free coffee.”
Remy followed her, grinning, and settled to his seat. “Hey, nothing wrong with that.” He paused. “Anna? I’m not sure I know a cafe owner by that name.” He grinned at her. “I might have to meet her, sometime.” He nodded to Elizabeth. “Any friend of yours is worth knowing.”
“You might know her as Rogue. It’s a nickname, I think.” Elizabeth shrugged and sipped her chai. “She’s. . . well she’s my father’s friend with benefits. I’m living with her for now. I like her, and we’re friendly, but I don’t know about friends.” Elizabeth didn’t think that you called friends miss or mister unless you were teasing.
Remy blinked, then chuckled. “I know Rogue, sure. Anna, huh? Good to know.” He grinned at her, and nodded. “She’s a friend, from a while back, but without those sorts of benefits, mind you.”
Remy nodded, sipping his drink. “Sometimes, friendship is complicated. A lot of times really.”
“It’s worth it,” Elizabeth replied confidently. “I”m better off for having friends. I think some of my friends want to have a deeper relationship, but right now I don’t think I want one with them.” It made her feel a little guilty. “I made a promise to one of them that I would kiss them in the new year, but I don’t know if I want to, now.”
Remy nodded. “I agree.” Then he blinked, and nodded again. “Sometimes, that happens, and you have to let them know what you want, what you feel and make sure they accept it.” He was reminded of far too many friends who were not so accepting, back in New Orleans.
“So, don’t. It’s not your responsibility to do so. If you don’t want to, tell them.”
“I guess I’ll have to see how I feel at the time,” Elizabeth said. “She’s a nice lady, and very attractive but I think she wants more than I’m willing to give and I just. . . I’d rather be disappointing than a tease.”
Remy smiled. “That’s pretty damn smart. Just tell her what you feel. If she respects you, and really likes you, more than physically? She will respect your choice.”
Elizabeth nodded, her confidence bolstered by the thought of having a plan. “You’re right. I hope she won’t be upset, but I have to look out for myself first.”
Remy smiled. “Exactly. You can do this.” He chuckled as he sat back, glancing outside. “Hmm, it’s starting to pick up some. We better get the rest to go.”
Elizabeth nodded and pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I should try to get an Uber now before the snow gets too bad. They jack the prices up-” She sighed, then shook her head. “Um, like they already have. Dang it, Uber.” She slipped her phone back in her pocket and took a sip of her chai. “Is it okay for me to sleep at your place? I’ll behave myself.”
Remy nodded. “Yeah. I have a guest room, there. Made sure to do so, since sometimes some coworkers crash here on the way to conventions and conferences, you know?” He smiled as he gathered his things. “Even got extra slippers and robes, and the place stays plenty warm, I think.” He offered her his arm as he finished gathering his stuff. “Shall we?”
Elizabeth sighed in relief. She couldn’t ask Remy or Booker to drive in this snow. The streets were bad enough to make her worry. “Thank you. I’ll owe you one.” She slipped the bag of croissants into her purse and grabbed her drink before linking her arm in Remy’s. “Yes, before we have to sleep here.”
Remy grinned at her and winked. “We talk about that another day, chere’.” He played his accent up just to boost her spirits some, and led the way out. At least the snow was only falling gently, but it also appeared to be sticking, and Remy didn’t like the look of those clouds. Bah. Silly weather.
“Well, to my place we go again.” And down the street they went.