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Occurs on February 2nd, 2024 the morning after
checking on a crumbled tart

René woke up before the alarm went off, he’d been so used to waking up at the same time by now that he really didn’t need it. But when he opened his eyes and saw a mess of blond hair and he was careful not to move too much and wake them with a start. Just laying there for a bit, he ran his hand down their back and just enjoyed the fact that they were still here. Even though he really knew that he was the guest here, it was nice to see.

“Alexandre? It’s time to get up.” René nudged them slightly as he pressed his lips to the top of their head. They were so cute with how they were clinging to him, it was a nice change after the past month. This was closer to what he’d wanted to happen, even if he was still getting used to the idea of it. Today he might ask them a bit about all the scars, about the tattoos, and most importantly, he would ask about the last month. Whatever he could to just try and figure things out so he could make sure things would work out.

“Alexandre… I adore you.” Whispering as he held them a little tighter and kissed them again. As much as he wanted to just carry them off, he knew he had to take it easy even if he felt miles better than he had the day before.

Well, he wasn’t expecting that and laughed as they shifted around. “Well I’m glad you decided to stay settled in. I’m ok with either but maybe it might shave time to shower together?” Teasing them a bit as he set up and went about his normal stretching. Bending forward until his face touched the comforter, he really felt the stretch and it felt good even if a bit sore, much better than before. Looking over at them, they really did look sleepy still and he couldn’t help but smile at how cute they looked.

“You always seemed so well put together I never expected you to be so sleepy in the morning, it’s really cute. But maybe it’s also because we stayed up late after everything.” Sliding off the bed, he stretched a bit more and cracked his neck. Mornings were usually easy for him and he was always up and about getting ready to shave before work. It was always when the afternoon dragged on without any customers that he’d need some espresso or company to keep awake.

“If time gets short on us, we can always order something to my shop and it’ll be there when we get there?” Turning back to look at the other as he picked up the discarded clothes from the night before, he’d put them wherever they needed to go.

“Alright, that makes a bit more sense then. Just a shower is alright, I don’t want to be late. To be honest I want to get there a bit early so I can shave.” Following along behind Alexandre he really looked around the room and bathroom. It was nice, a little small, but he liked what he saw.

“I’ll be fine in what I was wearing that you cleaned for me, I don’t get terribly cold unless it's windy but then nothing really helps with the wind. I keep the shop pretty warm, and there are a few space heaters scattered around and in the backroom if needed too. I picked them up after I got snowed in that night when my ankle was healing up. It got pretty cold back there, I think it’s because the shop is below street level?”

Setting his dirty clothes down on one of the counters, he leaned over the sink and looked in the mirror. There was just the smallest sign of where he’d had bruises and scratches but otherwise, he just looked as rough as he had before the attack. All the little nicks and stubble on his face from not shaving and a bit of tiredness that seemed to linger after the day before. Rubbing his face a bit, it felt rough and he really hated it.

“I keep it fairly hot, helps with my shoulder.” Turning away from the mirror he figured they might have a hard time staying warm with how small they were. “Well I hope I was warm enough to help with that last night, don’t want you freezing to death on me.” Teasing a bit as he stepped over and leaned a hand in to feel the water temperature, it was alright enough maybe not as hot as he would have liked but it would still help either way.

“Oh I can just shave at my shop, I have everything there and I’m used to using the razor I have. It’s been the same one for a while and I’m not sure how well I’d do with a different type in a rush.” It was a bit unfair that they didn’t need to shave but he’d been used to the sort of routine he’d had for years of it.

Stepping into the shower behind the blond, he leaned into the water a bit and worked at his shoulder carefully. It was always a bit stiff when he slept on it and he’d passed out pretty hard after things. “Oh I guess you can probably see it now, or feel it if you want.” Leaning down a bit for them to see, he traced over it with his fingers. It was pretty well hidden by his tattoo but there was an indent there from front and back. “It’s always a bit sore and stiff, especially when you claw at it like you did a few times in the shop. It’s alright though, it’s not the worst just uncomfortable. Do yours bother you too?” Reaching forward, he traced a few of their scars with his fingers lightly.

“A good reason to make sure you stay warm then.” Letting them pull his hand along their scars, he’d felt them before but this was different with them guiding his hand over them. Rolling his shoulder again, he welcomed the warm water with a sigh of relief. It really did help even if he wanted it a bit hotter.

“They do sometimes but honestly it’s just from everything that happened and the fact I slept on it wrong. It’s not too bad though and I’m used to it. I usually sleep on my back or my other side to avoid it but I was a bit too busy to think about that last night. I have a few patches at my shop for when it gets worse while I’m moving furniture around.” Working his hands through his hair, he hummed a bit as he went about his normal routine. He didn’t mind if his hair had to dry in the cold, he was used to that too.

It took him a bit to figure out what Alexandre meant as he mumbled his way through things in French as he tried remembering. “Oh wait… it’s that little kid's thing, right? With the spectre? I partially figured you might not take sun well, I’m alright in both but then again I spent a lot of time outside walking around or getting into things.”

“Well, I’ll do my best to help out regardless. I can always turn up the temperature in my shop or see about getting some other things there to help with that.” Reaching over and grabbing something to wash with, he went about getting that done quickly as he soaked in more of the warm water. “I like this shower better than the guestroom one and… that bath certainly looks fun. Maybe something for the weekend?” Teasing them a bit as he finished up with his hair and body.

“I think I’m good now, so you can have the water back.” Shuffling around, he ran his hand down their back before stepping back out and grabbing a towel to dry off. Back at the mirror, he took another look at how rough he looked while drying off his hair as best he could. Using a hair dryer wasn't really an option unless he wanted it to get frizzy. Frowning a bit, he noticed a single gray hair and plucked it before wrapping the towel around his waist and sitting on the edge of the bath to watch the other.

“I know you said where my clothes are but I’m not really sure of the layout here still and don’t want to startle your cousin if I manage to find my way to their room instead of the laundry. Things are still a bit hazy here and there from the past day or so but I feel a lot clearer today, well honestly after last night.” Whatever that starseed thing was, it had helped a lot. He was still a bit hesitant about the hole in his chest so maybe if it was alright to waffle on whether or not he did the whole magic, he would just focus on what he had been and just pick up where New Year’s had left off.

“I won’t mind it too much, it gets a bit chilly when people open the door and keep it held open.” Feigning a shiver, he smiled as they agreed with his idea for the weekend. “I like both, as long as the water is hot but I look forward to the weekend.” It would be a nice reward for making it through the workweek, a little treat.

“Okay, I think I can find it then and we can both get ready in time to head out?” He didn’t have his phone in here to check the time but he knew it was creeping very close to when the shop would need to be opened up for the day. He still hadn’t looked at it to see all the voicemails that had been forwarded from the shop’s landline.

Getting up, he wandered downstairs and found the laundry room. It was a bit small and he felt like he was going to hit his head on some of the pipes that were against the ceiling in there. It didn’t take long to get his clothing out and on before grabbing his bag as well. That done, he sat on the couch near the front door as he looked over the messages on his phone. Most of them were related to pick-ups that were supposed to happen but there were a few wondering if he was alright because there was apparently blood on his doorstep. Everything was a bit fuzzy still but he’d clear things up when they got to his shop if he could.

“Alright, I figured you would since my car isn’t here and I’m still not back to a hundred percent.” Getting up with a groan, René followed along as he double-checked the last few messages that had come in this morning about whether his shop would be open or not. He sent a few responses out as he got into the passenger seat of their car, it was busy work but it was important to make sure the regulars he had kept coming back if he wanted this business to keep running along smoothly.

“I think I’ll have just enough time to shave before opening up, I feel like a porcupine.” Rubbing his face as he settled in and put his seatbelt on. “I need to figure out how to explain the mess that was apparently left on my doorstep after what happened. Maybe a robbery? Or just something less drastic but enough to warrant me closing shop.” He’d have to figure it out before the first regular asked him, at least he had Alexandre there so he’d be a bit more focused on things again.