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 Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:52 pm
“Oui. Just hold it like this.” Toulouse held the thick blade of grass between his two thumbs, the backs of which faced him. “You have to make sure the grass lies flat against your thumbs, otherwise it won’t work. See here this little hole between my thumbs, where the grass lies? That’s the part you blow through. Like this.” After showing Jules the space between his thumbs, Toulouse put the blade of grass to his mouth and blew somewhat hard.
A shrill whistling noise sounded as his breath met with the blade of grass. The sound was choppy at best and Toulouse realized he was sorely out of practice. He remembered a time when he used to play tuneless melodies for his sisters so long ago.
“Well, anyhow, that’s how you do it.” Toulouse chirped, knocking the painful memories out of his head and the grimace off his face. “It’s simple really. You try now Jules.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Felicity replied sincerely. “A-about your family I mean. I kind of wish I could get rid of the rest of mine, you know?” Felicity laughed, then realized with a jolt that she had just said something completely insensitive and uncaring. It was one of those speaking before thinking moments. “Uh, I mean,” She amended quickly hoping she hadn’t hurt Mir’s feelings, “It’s just my brother’s wife is a complete biznatch. She just keeps nagging and nagging, I really would like…uh, wait…what I mean to say is…dammit...” Felicity pulled a face urging her motor mouth to stop. God, she was such a jerk. Let's just dig the hole deeper she thought
“That would be silly.” Felicity quickly ended, referring to the sleep shirt comment. She gave herself a mental kick in the head for being such an idiot. "
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:27 am
Choppy sound or no, Julien was fascinated. He plucked another blade of grass, positioning it very carefully, his brows furrowed in concentration. Placing it carefully against his lips, Julien blew hard, succeeding only in a flat, windy sound that was nothing like a whistle at all. He blinked, looking over at Toulouse with a faint frown. "I did it wrong?"
Mireille's smile felt brittle on her face as she listened to Felicity. She knew the woman meant no harm, knew that people all over the world made such jokes every day without ever meaning it... but it didn't keep it from hurting every time she heard such comments. Still, she'd picked up a few tricks during the book signings that Robin had arranged for her. "Julien seems to be settling into life in my house fairly comfortably. He's already made a pretty good friend in Aesop," she offered, the smile cracking just enough for words to come out as she turned to watch the two boys instead of Felicity. "And he loves crafts of every type. I'm trying to find ones that truly suit him."
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:10 pm
Toulouse let out a hardy laugh when he saw Jules face after his first attempt.
“You’re blowing to hard my boy, but that was a wonderful first try. Not bad. Not bad at all.” Toulouse chuckled, not having completely regained his composure. He flicked his golden hair out of his eyes “Blow it just a bit softer. Pretend you’re the very wind rippling through a million blades of grass in a golden field…Be gentle, yet firm. Make the grass bow to you.” Toulouse clutched his chest dramatically giving Jules a theatrical roll of his eyes. “I think you’re squeezing too hard too. Like this.” Toulouse placed his lithe hands over Julien’s, adjusting the boy’s thumbs with his own until they looked to be positioned right.
“There you go ma puce. Give it another go.”
“I’m sorry Mir!” Felicity cried out stormily, feeling the calm air fill with a palpable tenseness. She knew she had somehow hurt her new friend’s feelings and she had to make it better! The redhead grabbed Mir into a bear-like hug. “Don’t listen to me. I’m just a know-it-all librarian with a big mouth.
"I’m glad that Julien is doing so well. I know a woman in town who gives pottery classes and I’m sure she’d love to help Jules if he‘s interested. I can give you her number if you like.” Felicity wanted dearly to clean up her word vomit so Mir wouldn’t look so sad. Her heart pounded in her ears and she had a feeling she wasn’t doing such a good job. God, shewas such a heel.
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:30 pm
Sticking his tongue out just a bit, Julien concentrated on moving his hands as Toulouse directed. When Toulouse let his hands go, Julien nodded, looking down at his hands carefully, and the way the grass lay between his thumbs. He needed to learn this properly, so that he could teach Aesop, after all. "Gentle, yet firm," he repeated to himself oh-so-seriously, drawing a deep breath and blowing. For a brief second, there was a little whistling sound, but it petered out into breathy nothingness as Julien failed once more.
"What'd I do wrong this time?" he blinked, looking at Toulouse with his head cocked to one side.
Mireille squeaked a bit as she was hugged tightly, her arms awkwardly lifting to hug Felicity back, patting her friend on the back before extricating herself as politely as she could manage. "I bet Jules would love pottery," Mireille nodded, grateful that the subject had fully changed. "I'll definitely take the number. I want to make sure that he has some way to really challenge himself, you know?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:38 pm
“Non, you did it right.” Toulouse replied laughing at the way Jules had cocked his head to the side cutely. “Didn’t you hear the little whistle you made? You have the technique right, now all you have to do is practice. Like my father always said, “Twice and thrice over, as they say, good is it to repeat.” You’ll get your whistle Jules. Of that I have no doubt.” Toulouse smiled widely and patted Jules on the shoulder, while realizing how much he liked the fair haired child.
“That is so wonderful to hear!” Felicity gushed. “Veronique is great with children. I’m happy that at least Julien seems interested in things. Toulouse doesn’t want to do anything. He’s such a goose.” Felicity laughed, turning to watch her little ward blow on a blade of grass. Cute. Very cute.
“So, do you have some paper and pencil in that safari sack of yours? I’m afraid I didn’t bring any. I'm never prepared. I shudder to think what would happen if I had to hand out my number in a pinch." ”
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:54 pm
Julien grinned back at Toulouse, lifting the whistle to his lips and trying again. For several long seconds, there was only the wind of his breath. And then, somehow, it caught the grass just right, and there was a sharp, shrill whistle that made Julien jump in surprise. He blinked at Toulouse, eyes wide and surprised laughter bubbling up from his chest. "Wow..."
"I should have my cards here somewhere," Mireille nodded, digging into her bag. She paid little attention to the whistle, starting only a bit when Julien managed to hit the sharp sound just right, then triumphantly pulled out a pen and some business cards. "Here you are," she offered, handing over the pen and one of the cards.
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:40 pm
“Splendid!” Toulouse cried in excitement over the whistle Jules had created. “That was great! You did it.” Toulouse patted Jules on the back happily.
“Ah, thanks!” Felicity took the offered card and pen, hastily writing down the pottery number. “Just ask for Vic and tell her Felicity sent you.” Felicity giggled. “If Vicky is in a really good mood, she’ll probably give you free lessons."
[[Get better soon Mir!]]
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:13 am
"I have to practice," Julien said, looking up at Toulouse as he lifted one hand to rub against his ears. "It'd be nice if it wasn't shrill enough to make me deaf." But there was utter delight in his eyes, and the smile on his lips hadn't faded at all.
"I don't suppose Toulouse would like to join us, maybe? It might do him good to focus on something to do with his hands, after all," Mireille suggested, eyes warm as she watched the boys. "And he gets along with Jules beautifully."
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:10 pm
“Don’t worry. You’ll get better and better.” Toulouse replied. Happy that Jules’ was so excited about the whistle. “Do you play anything else? Like a-a flute or violin?”
“I highly doubt that. If I asked him, he’d probably say no…but maybe if Julien asked him, he’d say yes.” Felicity shrugged not really knowing what Toulouse would do. “Toulouse doesn’t do much really, least ways when I’m around. I just sits around and moans at me most of the time, ordering me to do things for him.” Felicity sighed, getting down thinking about the fact that Toulouse never talked to her or confided in her. She really wanted him to trust her. The only answers she got from him were from that stupid deal that she made with him when they first met. “I just don’t know what he’d like to do with his time. He’d never tell me that’s for sure."
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:28 pm
Julien shook his head, not particularly bothered by the thought. "I'm not very musical," he shrugged. "I like to make things, instead. I have this quilt at home that's really warm and cozy, and I'm going to check out books next time we go to the library to see how they're made." He nodded firmly, then gave a sharp grasswhistle again, grinning.
"Julien has a way with people, doesn't he?" Mireille asked, looking thoughtfully at the two boys. "I've never seen people just... take to someone as quickly as they seem to with him. I hope he never loses it..." She paused, then looked at Felicity. "Why don't we suggest it to both of them, now?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:42 pm
“Ah, I see.” Toulouse nodded. “That’s a very good ambition that. Alas, I’ve never been very good with my hands. You’ll have to show me for sure when you make anything. I would absolutely love to see it!” Toulouse was positively beaming at the child, growing fonder of him by the minute. Toulouse was feeling so relaxed right at that moment. He sighed, enjoying the time of his contentment.
“Yes he does.” Felicity giggled. “Some people just have that gift. It’s not like they’re better than anyone one else, but they just got that little extra something you know? I adore people who are so charismatic. I’m sure Julien will always be that way.” Felicity smiled following Mir’s gaze that roamed over the boys. “I’ll call them over and you ask. I’m sure Toulouse would take it much better, yes?”
Without waiting for Mir’s response, Felicity cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted, “Oi! Toulouse. Julien. Can you come over here a second?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:18 pm
Julien glanced up at the call, then tucked the blade of grass into his pocket before reaching for Toulouse's hand. "Come on," he said, nodding to the women. "Let's see what they want."
Mireille just chuckled, watching the boys respond with cheerful good humor. "That's fine," she agreed, already knowing that Julien would dive on the idea of another crafting class.
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:44 pm
“Gah!” Toulouse exclaimed as he was pulled along behind Julien. “You’re too fast for me ma puce!”
Felicity laughed hysterically at the sight of poor Toulouse being pulled by Julien. “Hurry faster before we forget the question.” She cajoled the running boys.
“What could you possibly need to ask us Felicty?” Toulouse grumbled, heaving for breath. “I hope very much that it’s important.” Toulouse brushed his golden hair from his eyes, leaning heavily on Julien. He gave a dramatic sigh, rolling his blue eyes as Felicity.
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:55 pm
Before Mireille could even open her mouth, Julien turned to frown at Toulouse. "Be nice," he said, squeezing Toulouse's hand. "It's better for everyone." There was faint disappointment in Julien's eyes as he spoke, and after a moment, he turned back to the women. "What is it?"
Mireille watched Julien chastise Toulouse and held her tongue, hesitant to speak without knowing whether Toulouse would take offense to the nudging. But she drew a breath after a moment and offered a smile. "I know that Julien loves doing things with his hands, and I'm going to enroll him in a pottery class," she said, picking her words carefully. At the thought of the class, Julien brightened right up, squeezing Toulouse's hand again gently in excitement.
"I was wondering, Toulouse, if you'd like to join him. It'd do Jules good to have a friendly face in the class, after all," she added.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:34 am
“I’m nice…enough.” Toulouse said after a moments hesitation. There was just something about Felicity that rubbed him the wrong way. He couldn’t think why though as he looked at the freckly redhead. No matter how much he tried, he could never say anything to her without a hint of sarcasm or derision. It was just something…he shuddered, suddenly cold.
“Oh, classes.” Toulouse stuttered blinking his eyes to clear his strange reverie. “Eh…I don’t know. I don’t like being around to many people. It reminds me to much of my, my années à la cour de fées. It makes me-” Toulouse shook his head, not wanting to reveal how much being around too many people upset him. His stomach dropped at the thought of it. “I just don’t like it. I’m sure Jules would be fine without me. Wouldn't you?” Toulouse smiled at Jules, that expression not quite reaching his eyes.
“Come on Toulouse.” Felicity encouraged. “I’m sure you would like it.”
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