[paris] woven variations | • j o l i e

Prosper had never handled muggle money in his life, but a coffee table was just a coffee table, right? A bed was just a bed, wasn’t it? Prosper didn’t know what benefit he might gain from shopping at a magical furniture shop, and apparently the exchange rate was pretty good right now; so here he was. The young man had a wad of cash in his pocket, held together neatly by a brown rubber band and he was waiting for someone out the front of a furniture store.

Prosper had run into Jolie a few weeks ago. He knew her through friends and they’d hung out a few times here and there at school, but at the coffee shop where they met they seemed to really hit it off. He’d always flirted with the girls in a couple of grades below him, and Jolie had flirted back, so there was already a bit of spark there. They’d hung out a few times and gone on some artsy-theatre type dates. He wasn’t looking for anything serious, and he didn’t think she was either. She would be heading back to school in a couple of months anyway.

It was nice, light and fun. There had been a bit of making out and lots of relaxed hanging out and Prosper hadn’t been this happy for a while. A part of him wanted to make things for her and write her stuff and perform all kinds of romantic gestures for her; it was the natural thing for him to do. The last few times he’d tried all of that stuff out, though, it had gotten him in trouble. Besides, their current vibe was much more relaxed and friendly and he wasn’t sure that being overly romantic with her would send the right message.

He couldn’t resist buying some flowers, though. Just a few sunflowers, tied together with a ribbon. He’d done the ribbon himself. The young man caught sight of her approaching up the cobbled pathway. “These are for you,” he told her, pressing the flowers into her hand and wrapping one arm around her back affectionately. With the arm around her shoulders, he steered her in the direction of the big furniture store.

They’d agreed to meet here after she’d spent some time at his place and commented on the fact that he barely owned any furniture. It was sort of a joke to begin with, but now it was an actual thing. “How are you, gorgeous?” he asked, addressing her like most girls he talked to.

“Au Revoir~!” Jolie sung out happily, ass she stepped out of the bakery, holding a small box of treats. Her skirts swung around her as she took the few steps towards her final destination. This was the first time she’d ever shopped with anyone for anything, but since this was furniture, she was going to treat it like set building. And when one didn’t even have a bed, one couldn’t be picky, right? Jolie shook her head, because she believed if even she was impovrished, she’d still be the pickiest little snit in the shoppe.

She saw him long before she got over to him, and took a minute to admire his form. He was fit, and he was a bit much, and it was lovely. Jolie tucked purple hair behind her ears, letting her eyes examine his back. Prosper was a sweetheart, and this summer had been one of the best she’d experienced. Luckily she had more of it left, and was looking forward to it. She’d have to split her time between this and camp, but that’d be no problem yeah?

Jolie sent Prosper a sweet smile, leaning up to kiss his cheek as he handed her the flowers. “Beautiful!” She chirped, staring down at the flowers. She handed him the small chocolate box, wiggling her brows. “Sweets for my sweet…” Giggling softly, she allowed herself to be lead.

“I’m good! You?” She gently bumped him, before reaching over to straighten his clothing. “My mother wants to send me to that camp, and I might go? It’ll be fun, I guess. But I also don’t want to go. She doesn’t like it when she cant keep tabs on me…” She rolled her eyes, looking up at Prosper. “I’m just excited we can get you some furniture…” They made it into the shop, and she peered around curiously.

“…Do you need a couch? Of course you do…”

“Exchanging gifts. Very traditional of us,” Prosper commented with a cheeky grin, taking the box from her. “Thanks.” The boy held the door open for his… friend… and they entered the store together. An assortment of bedframes and coffee tables and all kinds of assembled and unassembled furniture greeted them. The former Papillinlisse patted his pocket, feeling the wad of cash he’d borrowed from his parents.

Prosper and Jolie had made out on Zara’s bed last week. He knew his blonde friend would chuck a fit if she knew, but when it came to things like kissing, Prosper always lost his head. It was too hard to think when someone gorgeous was all pressed up against him. “I need a bed,” he answered, nodding his head thoughtfully. The boy gave her a side-long glace, wondering if she’d hear the train of thought that had lead to that in his voice.

“You should stay in Paris with me instead,” he joked with a crooked smile. He wouldn’t mind, but Zara probably would. Especially since they still hadn’t gotten around to putting up walls yet. Prosper figured she’d seen him in a leotard, so it wasn’t a pressing issue. She probably cared about it a little more. He stroked her back absentmindedly. He hoped he wasn’t being too forward, or sending the wrong impression.

A couple of months ago and the age difference wouldn’t have even crossed Prosper’s mind. Now that he’d graduated, however, he certainly felt that there was a gap between them. He’d only been out of school for a little while, but his life was already so different to how it had been. He wasn’t living at home anymore. He was totally free to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Not that the age difference bothered him – she was sixteen, not like twelve or something; he was just more aware of it.

The two walked into the mattress section of the store and Prosper got an idea. As they walked past a particularly comfortable looking mattress, Prosper gave Jolie a shove so that she'd fall onto the mattress. "Comfy?" he asked cheekily, ready to bounce on the thing himself.

“Hmm?” Jolie looked up from the flowers she had her face pressed in. “Oh, right. Very traditional.” She wiggled her brows, dipping into a curtsey. “Should I expect a visit to my father later?” She giggled again, rolling her eyes. “I’m tempted to use these for a flower crown. What do you think?” Instead she tucked them in her back, hands stroking the soft petals from time to time. She’d never gotten flowers before, especially not from a guy near her age. They were all awkward, and mouth breathers, and it was boring. Flowers were nice! Now she had expectations. ’Everyone must give me flowers’ How to send that out to the populace was unknown to her.

A warm blush covered her cheeks, and she bumped her arm against his before nodding. “You do need a bed…” She didn’t look at him for a moment, before she tucked herself closer against him, nuzzling his chest. “Maybe walls? Oh!” She stared at a big shiny monstrosity of a canopy bed that was painted a metallic gold. Her fingertips stroked the thick poles, and she immediately began shaking her head no and laughing. “Don’t do this one…Please. I’d laugh every time…”

She let him lead, and she followed willingly. He was safe. Which was more than she was sometimes willing to give to other people. Prosper didn’t have any…preconceptions about her, and it wasn’t like they were dating. It was nice. She could burrow herself against him, and cling, and he wouldn’t think that she was planning their wedding. Jolie didn’t want to think of serious things like that, and the last person that she’d tried to date…well, she was only 16! What did Jolie know of relationships? Why would she want to run away and be with someone?

The next thing she knew she was flying, and landed on something that felt like she was floating on a cloud. She sat up slowly, eyes focused on Prosper before she giggled, and flopped backwards. Why didn’t her bed at home feel like this? She wiggled on it, trying to get comfortable, before sitting up and bouncing up and down on her bum. “I like this one!” She reached out and grabbed Prosper’s wrist, pulling him forward, and let out a little squeak when she dragged him a top of her. Their faces were close, and she blushed again before pulling away and bouncing on the bed.

“Come on and try it out with me…” She cajoled, hands held out as if to lure him into her game.

“If your father is one of those fathers, I expect he wont like me very much at all,” Prosper replied, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Prosper followed her gaze to the big shiny gold thing she’d started stroking. “Every time what?” he asked cheekily, raising a curious eyebrow. The boy’s showed his teeth as he bit his lower lip, his expression teasing. “No I agree,” he added after a moment’s pause. “Walls are good. I definitely need walls.” The curly-haired boy had memorized Zara’s timetable by now. And thankfully, she was a very reliable and diligent student. Zara hardly ever missed a class.

Prosper knew when he had the place to himself, and took advantage of the fact. Still, he’d much prefer to have privacy whenever he wanted it, rather than whenever Zara’s timetable had allowed for it. There had been too many close-misses for Prosper’s liking. He wasn’t planning on getting a ballet-slipper-smack to the face anytime soon.

He was snapped out of his thoughts as she dragged him down with her. The boy made sure to adjust even as he fell, so that he didn’t squish her with his whole body. He rolled off of her, still grinning devilishly. One of the muggle attendants nearby frowned, exchanging glances with one of the other shop workers. They were probably going to get kicked out any second  Prosper didn’t notice any of it. He was too busy playing her game.

She’d gotten to her feet and was bouncing on the bed, so the boy reached out and yanked her ankles out from under her, so that she fell on her bum. He moved closer, hands still trapping her legs. “How’s that?” he asked, “comfortable?”