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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 0:14:22 GMT -5
Well, December snows were never great. And they were in the Loire--it was an even more meager showing than in Normandy. But Nicki could be counted on to get as excited about two inches even as an adult as most children would be. That first moment of looking out the window, the pulling on of clothes, the running downstairs--yep.
In fact, the first thing he did upon entering the dining room for breakfast was go and scoop Evie up and dance her around excitedly (not before squeezing Nattie's shoulder, a veritable torrent of public affection from him, and in front of his family).
"Evie Bass, I bet you anything you can't beat me in a snowball fight."
"I will so! David will help me!"
"That traitor! David, how could you?"
He stopped to kiss the top of his sister's head. She waved him away as she pushed her plate to the center of the table. "Don't get her too excited just yet; we've got piano to practice."
"But maman! It's nearly Christmas!" Evie had switched into English, knowing it was endearing to her mother to hear her speak in a slight accent.
"And Madame will be extremely displeased with me if we get back to New York and you haven't practiced the entire time. Come on. David, there's a letter for you."
Evie stomped out in frustration and David helped Adrienne, heavily pregnant as she was, stand. "Well go on, eat something," she told Nicki with a little smirk, pleased at having cleared the room for them, then left.
Nicki smiled sheepishly in Nattie's direction. "I come in and they clear out," he joked as he put eggs on his plate.
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Sept 27, 2011 0:22:24 GMT -5
She smirked and took a bite of the sausage on her plate, which happened to be filled with slightly more food than a proper woman should have. But she'd been assured by Adrienne that it was okay, after she'd initially prepared herself a meager plate.
"Does sis happen often?"
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 0:30:17 GMT -5
The exact words had been, "you're at a table with a pregnant woman and two children; grab it before it's gone," because this was Adi they were talking about and if there was one thing that drove her crazy it was people who didn't eat for politeness's sake.
"Not particularly." Adi had been acting weird, and he was dying inside because Nattie was going to figure it out and then his whole plan would be for naught. The snow had really messed things up, because by the time he had planned to propose it would just be slush, ruining any chance of a view, or of being outside.
Then he remembered to be excited again as he sat down. "It snowed!"
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Sept 27, 2011 0:44:37 GMT -5
She raised her eyebrow and looked across the table at him, her smirk unwavering, chewing softly. When he exclaimed about the snow, she looked out the window with a look of boredom and giggled. Indeed it had snowed, sure, but where she came from that, would have been considered rain.
"It did didn't it, I'm afraid I had not noticed until now, I vas vondering vy I vas having se, vat do you call it, se feeling of homesickness? Alsough, at home, vell, hopefully you vill be seeing vone day."
She took another bite of food.
She could feel that the whole house was slightly on edge, they were all acting slightly off. But she had been taught to keep her mind and her mouth from wandering, so she'd said nothing. It was most likely, none of her business nor concern.
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 0:48:02 GMT -5
"We can't all come from a magical winter wonderland of brawny men and fur coats," he said indignantly. "France is trying her best. Impressive weather may not be her strong suit."
There was a plaintive whine from upstairs, a stern response, and then some morose plunking on the piano.
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Sept 27, 2011 0:50:05 GMT -5
"Vell, France has oser sings going for sem" she smiled "vine, fashion, music-" the piano got a little louder and Nattie had to laugh "Sometimes."
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 0:51:02 GMT -5
"We're growing on you, then?"
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Sept 27, 2011 0:52:33 GMT -5
"Vell-" she pursed her lips "se vine, it is sometimes bitter and se fashion odd. But I can't say anysing against se music."
She titled her head softly "In short, da."
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 0:55:40 GMT -5
"And the-- people?"
He seemed honestly a little nervous.
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Sept 27, 2011 0:57:55 GMT -5
Before speaking she thought for a moment "For se ones I have met, I love sem all."
And this was the truth, she'd honestly never met such a fun loving family. They made her comfortable, and they made her feel loved so far away from home.
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 0:59:20 GMT -5
He grinned like an eight-year-old and went back to his eggs even more cheerful than before.
"It might not be snowy enough for a proper snowball fight, or sledding, but I thought we could go on a walk later. The countryside does look nice under a little dusting, especially before it gets trampled on."
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Sept 27, 2011 1:01:40 GMT -5
"Oh that vould be lovely" she replied, trying her best to speak more clearly. It wasn't because she disliked her accent, but more than once since she'd arrived she'd been asked to repeat herself, which was something Nattie hated more than anything else.
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 1:03:29 GMT -5
Nicki always seemed to know what she was saying, but it could be hard with kids, who were just starting to really get a handle on their own language, let alone the accent from another one.
"If we're lucky, David will keep Evie occupied trying to scrape some snowballs from this. There'll be a big bare spot on the front lawn."
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Sept 27, 2011 1:05:25 GMT -5
"I can only be imaging" she laughed gently "I have never been making of the snowballs, is it fun?"
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Sept 27, 2011 1:09:20 GMT -5
"What? With all that snow? Snowball fights are the best! When you can, you make a big fort to hide behind, and get on teams, and hurl snowballs at each other, and then whoever gives up first loses."
He frowned.
"I wish we had some more."
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