[Paris] haven't you seen the ruins of our worlds? [Eloise]

Everything was changing for Memphis and for once he wasn't so sure he was enjoying the change. Normally Memphis loved when things stayed in motion, he got bored easily, but not now. He had some how managed to sleep with and probably lose one of his best friends all in the same night. He had no idea how he was going to fix the situation so Memphis did what he normally did in times like this: he ran. Fleeing to France Memphis went to find one of the few people he could really talk to about things like this. Eloise was probably his longest standing friend, other than Farren, and he trusted her very much. They had met when he spent his fifth year in Beauxbatons and he was pretty sure he would not of survived that year if it wasn't for her. She helped him with classes and especially helped him understand French. Memphis upended his life to spend his fifth year at Beauxbatons for the Tri-Wizard Tournament without actually speaking a word of their language. Looking back, the Elemental realized that his plan could of been better thought out. Eloise saved him though, she made him feel welcome in a strange place and he cherished her for that.

Now years later Memphis spoke fluent French and considered Eloise to be one of his closest friends. He hadn't seen her in a while, at least half a year, and he felt bad about that when he decided to go find her. She had wrote him a letter a while back telling him about a bar that she was singing at and thats where Memphis was headed. When he first read the letter he could barely believe she was in that line of work, it didn't seem like something Eloise would do. He was glad to hear that she was having a good time doing it though. Using his own methods of travel Memphis restructured in a back alley a few blocks from the club that she had told him about. Memphis hadn't spent a lot of time in Paris but he knew where some things were. The bar she told him about was pretty easy to remember, he had been there a few times and overall he had liked it. The former Ravenclaw didn't drink much but he did love the social atmosphere of places like where she was now working.

The sun was nearly set but the streets were far from empty. Memphis smiled casually as he passed by groups of people, and a little brighter when he passed by a small flock of french ladies. That was something he missed about France, the woman were gorgeous. He had half a mind to stop and try to chat with one of them but decided not to. He wanted to see Eloise, she was the most important person tonight. He made his way down the street and stopped just before he reached the club. Turning to face the shop window of a store that was closed for the night Memphis used the reflection of the glass as a mirror. He made sure his hair was still good, he had mastered the 'just got out of bed' look and his dark blond hair was still in place. His faded jeans fit nicely and the light gray v-necked shirt had no wrinkles. Memphis cared about what he looked like, he couldn't help it, and he thought he looked good. The Elemental smiled at his own reflection and then turned back to continue to walk. When he entered the swanky little place his eyes immediately went to the stage, looking for Eloise. He could see the band was there but they weren't playing yet and he was happy for that. He hadn't missed the show yet.

Taking a seat at one of the tables to the side of the stage Memphis ordered a nonalcoholic drink and leaned back in his chair. After sitting for a few minutes and staring around the room looking for her he caught his first glimpse as she walked up on the stage. He didn't want to bother her until after the show so a part of him hoped he wouldn't see her until after. He wanted to surprise her. Memphis took a sip of his drink and when the music started he was impressed. He had never heard Eloise sing before but he wished that he had, she was good. He found himself nodding with the music, his foot tapping away underneath the table. He smiled and watched her as she did her thing. Looking around the club he could tell they were all pretty into it too and he was proud of his friend. She was great, he had a feeling he was going to come and see her more often, something he should of done regardless of her singing ability. When the set seemed to come to a close Memphis found himself slightly disappointed, he wanted to her more, but he was also anxious because now he could see her. He waited a few minutes for her to wrap things off and when she finally started to leave the stage he stood up and snatched a napkin from the table.

He pushed through the small bar and approached her from behind. Memphis was excited to see her and his face showed that plainly. "Excuse me, Miss Tessier could I have your autograph?" He said trying, and probably failing, to disguise his voice from her. Holding out the napkin he grinned playfully at her. He really should have come to see her sooner.

Wednesday night in the French capital and she was all trussed up like a Christmas turkey.

And she was tired. So tired. But there was a show to be put on. Her long blonde hair fell past her shoulders in carefully constructed glossy curls, her eyes bright and outlined in kohl and mascara and her plump lips were a deep shade of scarlet. Her dress was a little past her knees and of a bright shade of emerald green with a pleated skirt that swished when she moved.

The bar was pretty much full and there was a soft lull of chatter and clinking glasses. The bar was clean and the low light cast a pretty glow over all of the patrons. Eloise was used to people not really paying attention to her when she sang and that was fine with her, she didn't crave attention. People didn't really get up to dance, she was just background music. Live music was always alluring, though.

There was always a bit of a thrill to get up onto the stage. Eloise was such a quiet and meek girl and doing something as audacious to get up and sing was just crazy. No wonder Dorian was so shocked when he saw her again. As the band began to play, her big green eyes darted over to the bar and she felt her heart drop and rest somewhere that felt like her stomach when she saw he wasn't there. Oh. She frowned faintly. What was she doing to do now? She'd written a song for him, just him and she was about to sing it and he wasn't here to hear it.

It was probably best that he wasn't there. Stepping up to the microphone, she offered a small smile as people settled down to watch her, wine glasses in hand. She nodded gently to the beat of the guitar as she began to sing. The club was a jazz club but the guys in the band wanted to try something new. The song she was singing was sort of like a cheery pop-ballad and she glanced up as she reached the chorus and felt faintly relieved when she saw people bobbing along. Phew.

The band played a few more similar songs and when the final chord struck and the guys finished playing, there was a polite round of applause that made her smile shyly as she waved to say thank you. Right. Shift was over. She was going to head home, take a bath, getting into her snuggly pyjamas and read a book with a cup of tea. With her back to the audience, she grabbed her bottle of water and a few of her belongings before she paused.

Someone knew her name and instantly, she was on her guard. Confused, Eloise spun in a neat little circle to be met with a familiar face. "Memphis!" the short blonde cooed, eyes wide and smile broad and sparkling. It was so good to see him! On the stage, she let out a little squeal and bounced excitedly before she laughed at his request.

She grinned broadly. No one had ever asked for her autograph, kidding or not. She took the napkin from him and hastily scrawled her signature on it before handing it back and quickly hopping off the stage. Stepping closer, she looped her arms around his neck and gave him an affectionate squeeze before stepping back and kissing him once on each cheek. "What are you doing in Paris?" She asked, voice raised a little over the music that was playing some unseen speakers and above the chatter of the customers.

"Come, sit sit," she gushed, flapping her hands at Memphis as she pulled him to a secluded table at the back. "You get more and more handsome every time I see you," she said with a grin. It was true. Once upon a time, she had an all-consuming crush on the man. Nowadays, her heart had been taken by someone else but he was still gorgeous. She simply offered him a crooked grin.

Memphis knew she would recognize his voice but that didn't mean he wasn't happy when she spun around and squealed. He loved how excitable Eloise could be, she was so cute when she did it. He smiled brightly at her as she handed the napkin back to him. While she was getting off the stage he quickly folded it up neatly and stuffed it into the pockets of his jeans and waited for her. He had reappeared in her life without warning enough times to know what was going to come next. Hugging her gently back and smiling even wider when she placed a kiss on each of his cheeks he remembered why he wanted to see her. Eloise made everything so much lighter, she radiated happiness and Memphis really needed that tonight. When she asked what he was doing in Paris he wasn't sure what to say. He didn't want to say something lame and he wasn't sure if he should dive right into the emotional dilemma he had gotten himself into. He didn't want her to think he came to see her because just because he needed her help on a female problem. Memphis really had missed her, this visit was long over due. Luckily he didn't get the chance to answer right away because she was ushering him to a table before he could reply.

After she sat he took his seat and chuckled lightly at her compliment. If he was someone else he might of blushed at her words but Memphis was pretty confident in his looks. Once they were sitting he finally got a good chance to really look at her. She still looked like the Eloise he remembered but there was more there. She had always been beautiful and if Memphis wasn't so blind he would of seen that years ago. He leaned back comfortably in his chair and relaxed a little before he replied to her. "And you look lovely. You were amazing up there Eloise." He said to her honestly. It was impressive that she could go up there in front of the crowd and sing. And she had an incredible voice, Memphis was sad he hadn't known about it until now. "I've gotta' admit though, I was a little surprised to see you doing that?" Saying this with a smile he was confident she wouldn't take it as an insult. He was merely making an observation and he had a lot of respect for Eloise for being able to break out of her shell up there.

He set his forearms on the table, his elbows hanging off the edge, and leaned in when he spoke. "I missed you." The Elemental said with another sweet smile, his eyes never leaving her. He really had. "So what has been going on in your world? I bet you've got guys jumping through hoops for you know that your a songstress." Memphis wondered if that was actually even a word after he said it. It sounded like it wasn't one but he felt like he had heard it somewhere before. Either way he waited for her to reply with a small smile on his face. He wanted to talk to her about Farren, he wanted her advice, and someone who wouldn't judge him, but he knew all of that could wait. He was just happy to see her. For a brief moment in time he was honestly more interested in her and her life than his own. He hoped she had good news to tell him, he wasn't sure how much more bad news he could handle.

Memphis was like a bright ray of sunshine. Since moving to Paris, she had very few friends. She was miles away from her family and childhood friends on Bordeaux. Apart from the guys in the band, she was effectively alone. She had friends  in vet school but they were class mates, really. She didn't often go out with them in the evenings. They were all nice people but Parisians were…sort of odd. Haughty, unfriendly, cold and perfectly put together. Eloise felt like a troll.

She grinned again as the hug was returned, taking a half step backwards, her hands resting on his strong forearms to steady herself before giving them an affectionate squeeze. It was so good to see him. The petite blonde really liked when he popped up unexpectedly. She loved surprises.

As they were sitting, a sudden thought occurred to her. "Do you have a drink?" She asked, her big green eyes wide with concern. Without giving her friend a chance to answer, she wrangled the nearest barman. "Hi," she said with her sunniest smile. "Could I please have two beers?" the young man smiled swiftly and headed off to get them. "Beer is okay, right?" She asked with a gentle frown before she laughed.

Her porcelain cheeks flushed pink gently, positively radiating pleasure at his compliment. Eloise wasn't stupid. She'd seen the not-so-subtle glances of the other well dressed young women in the club were shooting her. Memphis, as usual, was easily the most attractive man in the place. "Thank you," she said with a grin, flushing pink again as her hands self consciously went to her throat. Even sitting in a shaded corner of a Parisian club, she felt special. Being out with a lovely, sweet, kind and attractive man was always super.

"You know, you're not the first person to say that to me," she admitted with another dimpled smile, looking at the table as she chewed on her lower lip. "Honestly, I kind of just fell into it?" She began. "I came here looking for part time bar work in the evenings for some extra cash. I was given a trial one night and I thought I was alone so I was cleaning up and singing to myself and the owner came in and heard me. Then he said he had a house band and needed a new lead singer and here I am," she said cheerfully.

Her plump lips offered Memphis was soft, genuine smile. "I missed you too," she said honestly as the drinks came. Taking one, she slid the other bottle across the table towards him before taking a sip out of her own. She might be a jazz singer in Paris but she was still the same old Eloise. No cocktails and vintage champagne for her, thanks very much.

"I live here now," Eloise began. "I'm studying to be a vet. I have better luck with animals than I do with people," she joked, knowing that Memphis knew she was an Animagus. She supposed she had an unfair advantage. She couldn't really explain what she had but it was like a sixth sort of sense. She could feel what the animals were saying. Whether they were hungry, thirsty, sore, if their bandages were too tight, if they were too hot, too cold. It gave her a chance to give them the best possible treatment she could manage.

A songstress? "You make it sound so sexy," she grinned, pausing to take a sip of her beer before shaking her head swiftly, sending long blonde curls tumbling around her pretty face. "You'd be surprised how hard it is to meet guys," she began with a brief smile. "They look but they don't touch," she began. "No one ever comes up to me after a gig. No one's ever offered to buy me a drink," she said with a playful roll of her eyes. Not that she minded at all, she wasn't very good with boys. She didn't really know how they worked.

Ah.

Did she want to tell him about Dorian? She didn't see why not. She and Memphis were good friends. "There's this one guy," she began as she avoided his eyes, her small fingers gently peeling the label off her bottle nervously. "We sort of have history." "History" would be the best way to describe hers and Dorian's relationship. "We were friends in school and things sort of went a bit belly-up. Then he came breezing back into my life, all tall and handsome, smelling gorgeous and he's got that smile that just makes me melt and --"

She stopped suddenly, clearing her throat and feeling rather awkward. "We sort of had a moment the other night," she said, flicking her emerald coloured eyes up his. "We nearly kissed. But then he sort of ran away," she said with a gentle smile. "I've been here for almost a year. You'd think I would have found myself a nice cute boy who likes art galleries and who can cook, right?" She joked even though she was feeling a little bit blue.

"How about you?" She asked, genuinely interested. "Are you in Paris for long? Do you have somewhere to stay?" Eloise asked. "Because I have a spare room if you want it? Maybe we could go sightseeing or something tomorrow?"

Letting out a small laugh Memphis nodded to his friend, "Beer is fine." Memphis wasn't much of a drinker but he could appreciate a good ale now and then. He wondered if the beer in Paris was as artistically crafted as everything else was, hell even their cheese had character. After mentioning that he was surprised to see her in this kind of job he paid attention to her answer and smiled at it. Eloise was always full of energy and she was possibly the sweetest person he had ever met, he loved that about her. She wasn't over confident, over bearing, or a pessimist. Whenever Memphis was around her he got this calm feeling like the storm was going to pass and everything was going to be alright again if he just remained hopeful. It was probably why he almost always seeked her out when his life fell into pieces. Her cheerfulness made him feel loads better in a matter of seconds, the smiles weren't politely forced, the smiles he gave her were always real. "Well your amazing, I didn't know you could sing that good." Honestly he was shocked that he had known her for as long as he did and never knew she had such great pipes. When the drinks came he caught the one that Eloise slid to him and took a quick sip of it, it was smooth and refreshing and Memphis liked it.

He took another sip and listened to her tell him about her new life, what she was doing now that they were both graduated. He wasn't surprised to find out that she was training to become a vet. Most of the memories he had about Eloise back in their school days had something to do with some kind of magical creature. After all, she had been the one to get him Reagen, his fluffy little kneazle. Not to mention the fact that she was an Animagus. Memphis wanted to pick her brain about that ability but he knew there would be time later. He had recently met a Metamorphamagus in Diagon Alley and that feature had piqued his interest, he wanted to know how it compared and contrasted to being an Animagus. He knew one was a born trait and one was a learned ability, but there was more to it than that. Memphis was always interested in learning about new kinds of magic and he was very proud of Eloise for achieving something so great. Never in his wildest dreams would Memphis be able to hone that kind of wand magic, all of that was lost to him now, and sometimes he envied those who could. "That seems like a perfect job for you." He said honestly and gave her another charming grin.

"Maybe I'll bring Reagen by so you can give her a check up, I'm not sure how long Kneazles are supposed to live but she still seems to be doing alright." He shrugged his shoulders and took drink from his beer. Memphis didn't want Reagen to die, but he wanted to know if it was going to come soon, so he could emotionally prepare himself for it. All things died, it was a truth he was going to have to live with for many more years that most wizards, he figured he should start getting used to it as soon as he could. Fighting to push away all the depressing thoughts that surfaced with the idea of his Kneazle passing he took a deep breath. Now that they were on the topic of her being a diva Memphis was feeling cheerful again. He wasn't sure if he should be happy or upset when she said that they were looking but not touching, he was trying to gauge her opinion on the matter before he commented. "Well I will buy you a drink." He said, sitting up straight and puffing out his chest a little with a small laugh. He sat back in his chair when she brought up Dorian and he leaned back just a little, paying attention to her and making sure he didn't fall backward at the same time. Beer in one hand, good music from the speakers, and the company of a friend, this was probably one of the best nights he'd have all week.

Her stories always flowed so well, Memphis never got bored when he listened to her talk about things. She could be talking about how many stones there were in the Great Wall of China and Memphis would be entertained. Some people just had that skill, even if she didn't think she did. He couldn't help but smile as she went off on a small tangent about this man thats he has history with, she was adorable. "Ran away?" He asked abruptly, leaning forward so all four posts of his chair were firmly on the floor again. "Why would he do that?" Memphis wasn't expecting that ending to the story, Eloise deserved a fairy tale ending, not that one. A little confused he tilted his head and looked at her, hoping his questions weren't bringing up bad feelings. If that happened to him he would be sad about it, especially if he felt the way she felt about this mystery guy. He had a feeling she had more than just small, school time feelings for him, from the way she spoke about him. He shrugged his shoulders when she made the statement of finding a guy by now. "Being able to cook is over rated." He said with a pleasant smile, she knew he couldn't cook to save the life of a staving child. He lacked the patience for it really.

When she asked about him he swallowed hard. Memphis had come to France needed the advise of a friend. He had found Eloise not only because he enjoyed her company but because he needed her help. But now, suddenly, when she asked about him he felt like he didn't want to talk about it. He wasn't sure how to bring up the subject, especially not after her story. They seemed to both be having problems with the school sweethearts, the only difference was in Memphis' case he was the bad guy. He wasn't ready to admit that out loud, not to her, not yet. He skipped that part of the question and hoped that she wouldn't notice and instead answered the rest of her question. "I came here to visit you, I didn't plan ahead of time for somewhere to stay." Eloise knew that he was an Elemental, so he figured she was asking these questions to be friendly and to see if he wanted to stick around for a bit, which he did. Memphis could come and go as he pleased he never made hotel reservations because he could just float on back to where he came from whenever he wanted. However the idea of staying in Paris for a few days and rooming with Eloise was a lovely one. He had been to the city a few times but he had never really experienced it.

"I'd like that." He said after taking a larger sip of his beer. "As long as there's no wine tasting involved." Grinning as his eyes met hers he hoped she was okay with that stipulation. He had never known her to be a big wine drinker and honestly Memphis found the whole ritual a bit boring. He didn't want to taste fermented grapes and then spit them back out into his cup, it seemed odd to the Elemental. And way too slow paced. "Maybe you could show me some of these art galleries you mentioned? If I'm going to be someone's dream guy I need to learn how to cook and enjoy art galleries right?" He was joking with her now and the light tone of his voice gave that away. Memphis never really spent much time looking at art, it wasn't his thing, but he had a good eye for beautiful things. Although he was enjoying the lighthearted conversation Memphis' mind was running over all of the information she had just given him. The story about the mystery man was what interested him the most. He could see how her story somewhat compared to his, if looked at the right way, and he was interested to know how she reacted to the other guy's actions. As his eyes fell to the table Memphis took to turning the bottle of beer that was currently sitting in front of him in circles and avoiding eye contact for a moment.

"Soo.." He started slowly, wondering if it was wise to bring back up this conversation or not. He knew Eloise would tell him if she really didn't want to talk about it, but still he didn't want to put an awkward stamp on their lovely evening by bringing up her love life. "How did you react when he ran out? I mean... are you mad at him?" Memphis hadn't run out on Farren but sometimes he wished that he had, at least then he wouldn't of made everything ten times worse. Instead of just leaving the room he made it seem like he didn't care about her, then professed his undying love, and five minutes later realized he wasn't really in love with her anymore. He was in love with the Farren that he used to know, the cardboard cut out of a beautiful girl who he respected. She wasn't a happy person anymore, she wasn't even a sliver of her old self, Memphis had no idea who she was. And he couldn't possibly be in love with a stranger. His silver gray eyes slowly trailed up to meet her and the smile had been washed out from his face, replaced by a more serious look, if Eloise was paying attention to his expression she'd know there was more behind his question than he was letting on.

Eloise offered him a shy smile. He wasn't the first (and he wouldn't be the last) to comment on this surprising job. She was shy and she was quiet and being centre of attention, up on  stage, shaking her hips in time with slow jazz? Night club singer hadn't been top of her list. Her pale cheeks flushed faintly. "Thank you," she said softly and sincerely. "It's not really something I like to tell people." She was a light sleeper so rolling home at one in the morning suited her perfectly.

"It's just…fun," she said, flicking her big green eyes up at him with a grin. "I get to play a character. I get to dress up and be something totally new for a few hours," she said before she stopped. "I know that sounds silly," she admitted with another blush. Why should Memphis want to change his life? It was perfect. "I'm not exactly new to the city but I'm new to city life. I don't even really know what to do with myself here. I feel a bit like a fish out of water," she replied with an embarrassed smile as she took a sip of her beer.


"Raegen!" Eloise exclaimed, offering him a bright smile before wiggling in her seat. "Oh how is she?" She gushed. She loved pets. She'd always wanted one but with her being an Animagus, she felt a bit awkward. If it was her, she was sure she wouldn't want to be kept in a house or a garden. She smiled at him gently. "I'm sure she's fine," she began with another smile. "But bring her into me," Eloise said quickly. "I'd love to see her and I'm sure we'd have a lovely chat." She was kidding but she offered Memphis a smile that let him know that if Raegen was sad or sore or sick, the kneazle would tell her herself.

Eloise laughed, high and clear, her pale fingers going into her hair as her cheeks dimpled. "If you buy me a drink, I'll be the envy of every girl in a ten mile radius," she commented without skipping a beat. That much was true. Memphis was a god. If he wasn't sitting in the shaded bar, he would be surrounded by girls. If he chose to look around the establishment, he would see at least ten women shooting shy glances and whispering with their friends.

The sound of his chair hitting the floor again made her jump suddenly. Feeling embarrassed, she frowned and looked down at the table she was sat at. Eloise had always been unlucky in love. Whoever she liked, didn't like her back and then there was Richard. Richard Proulx. She had no idea what he was doing now but she'd heard a rumour that he'd gone and knocked up a girl.

It was sweet and exciting but it was also terrifying and awful. She didn't like thinking about Richard. She shook herself a little, her pale fingers slowly and carefully peeling back the label on her bottle. "Why wouldn't he do that?" The petite blonde countered, smiling to show that she was okay. For the most part. "Dorian and I, we --" trailing off, she swallowed quickly. "We have history. It's complicated."

"Stay with me," she said again with wide eyes, nodding eagerly. "Please?" She added. "Just for a little while?" Her apartment wasn't big but it was big enough for Eloise to feel the empty space. Her smile faltered a little at the wine tasting comment. Wine tasting was hers and Dorian's thing. They were so close, so close to rekindling what they once had and she had to go and ruin everything by falling back in love with him. "I promise," she said with a grin.

"That'd be fun," she said cheerfully. "A few museums are open rather late now so I could take you on a tour to see the lights, too?" Eloise didn't offer to take Memphis to see the Eiffel Tower light show. That place held a special place in her heart for another boy. Pathetic. "You don't need to do anything," she said, looking directly at him. "You're kind and smart, cute and thoughtful. That's all girls want," she said with a nod that made her blonde curls bounce. "You're perfect. Just come with me to soak up the culture and besides," she said with a grin. "The Louvre is full of pretty ladies. For this weekend, Monsieur Gredel, consider me your wing man."

"No," Eloise replied gently, offering a sad, brittle smile. "I'm not mad. I did the same thing to him at school." The words brought everything back as tears pricked at her eyes. She was a stupid sixteen year old girl. Stupid and thoughtless and reckless. "See," she began, taking another swig of her beer. "A few years ago, right after my boyfriend broke up with me, he…he told me he liked me and I freaked. I was so upset, I didn't realise I'd broken his heart. We haven't spoken in three years. I bumped into him here," she said.

"And we've been hanging out. It's nice but there's something missing. Now I look back, when I was dating Richard, I was thinking about Dorian. Just a little. And now," she let out a soft laugh as she shook her head. "Now he's moved on and I'm stuck behind here. I had a moment. I was so convinced that he felt it, too. Just for a second. I felt so strongly for him, it was electric. I moved in and he moved back but it's okay. It's to be expected. Boys like him don't date girls like me."

Looking up, she extended a hand to softly squeeze Memphis'. What did they look like? Sat in a jazz bar in Paris, looking glum and drinking to numb the pain. "What's wrong?" Eloise asked gently, tapping his wrist. "Come on, we can drown our sorrows. Could I have two more beers, please?" She asked a passing barman before pausing. "And maybe some shots? Of anything. Thank you."