[paris] but even if you had it all.. [eleanor]

you would find, you blow it all
you blow it all away.

It had been months since Memphis had seen or heard from Eleanor, closer to a year really. Right after the war ended he checked in with her to make sure she was alright, since even though they hadn't been as close as they were for a while, he still cared about her. Of course, it probably would of meant more if he had actually gone to check up on her in person rather than sending an owl with a letter. It was a bit impersonal but Memphis hadn't been ready to see her yet. She had replied with news that Memphis was not expecting. She was pregnant. Of course the elemental knew she would make a great parent, but it didn't stop his heart from hurting a little when he heard the news. If she was having a baby then she was most likely with someone and they were serious. The fact that she had signed the letter Devereaux and not St. Clare was not lost on Memphis either. He knew they were only together for a short while ages ago but a part of him still loved her. A part of him probably always would. She made him feel special, not like he was just some undeserving half blood. For a few months after he received the news Memphis was a bit sad but after a while he came to realize that he was happy she was happy. He wanted her to get everything out of life, and he knew he wasn't the guy to give it to her.

And that was when he decided it was time to really go and see her. He wanted to meet her new husband, her child, and find out where the hell Alain had disappeared to the last few years. He spent entirely too long picking out what he should wear before he finally settled on something basic. Jeans that he'd owned for years, the hemming on the bottom was starting to show it too, coupled with a blue short sleeve shirt. He slid into his warm dark tan jacket and tried to calm his nerves as he did. He was anxious to see her and more than a little nervous, he hoped she wasn't mad at him for being awol for so long. The Eleanor he knew wasn't the type to hold grudges, but things changed over the years. He knew he had, and he was excited to tell her all about what he'd been doing since they last spoke. Of course some of it was depressing and sad, but he assumed just about everyone's story got dark during the time of the war. And now things were finally starting to turn up for him. He had started dating a woman who in his eyes was just as perfect as she was and Memphis wanted to tell Eleanor about her. It was weird how badly he wanted to brag about his new girlfriend to someone, anyone, but he didn't really have many friends anymore.

After checking twice to make sure the door to his flat was locked Memphis found a secluded area in the alley behind his apartment building and used his element to morph and travel to his favorite deserted corner of Paris. At first morphing had been one of the hardest things Memphis had ever had to learn but for someone like him the learning curve was pretty quick. He spent years perfecting it in the seclusion of his own home but in recent months he had gotten good enough to actually put it to another use. Not being able to use magic he was happy to be able to use his element to travel, because muggle means of travel were so slow. He walked around the corner and within minutes he was in a bustling area of Paris. Having spent a lot of time here he was pretty familiar with the area, he just had to find the art gallery she said that she was working at. He passed more than a few cafes, ignoring the fact that he would kill for a cup of good tea right about now, and continued to take large steps. Finally it was time. He took a deep breath as he approached the building cautiously. He hoped she was working, he hadn't actually thought about that until just now.

Memphis passed through the entry way and the smell of old things hit his nose. Museums, libraries, and art galleries often smelt pretty similar. Of course not all galleries sold antiques, but some did. Memphis loved the smell and in some small way it was comforting to the book worm. He took another deep breath, holding it in for a moment and looking around. The last time he'd seen her she was sporting a cute little pixie cut with a big streak of color in it. He wondered if she still looked the same, but as he looked through the crowd he couldn't spot that short hair cut. And then his eyes landed on the unmistakeable tone of platinum blonde hair to his left. It was styled differently, a bit longer than he had ever remembered it being, but it was definitely hers. He smiled nervously, biting the inside of his cheek and wondering if this was a bad idea. No it couldn't possibly be a bad idea, he reassured himself quickly. This was Eleanor. She was one of the best people he had ever known. She would be happy to see him... right?

He didn't wait any longer before he started taking steps toward her. The longer he waited the more chance there was for him to over think it and talk himself out of approaching her. Coming up from behind her he thought about scaring her, and then images of her dropping a baby which Memphis assumed was still only like 8lbs onto the floor entered his mind, and he decided against it. Instead he spoke to her, keeping his distance in case it wasn't her or she did happen to be upset with him. "Eleanor?" He asked softly, anxiety being drowned out by the excitement of possibly seeing her again.

Busy, busy, busy!

For some reason, art galleries were always chocka block around Christmas. Eleanor liked to think it was because men had decided to take their significant others out for a nice, relaxed and cultured day. Her gallery was wide and bright with a shiny wooden floor and stark white coloured walls as though not to distract from the paintings that were hanging. It wasn't quite the Louvre but that was her end game.

The Albemarle Gallery was large and set a little off the centre of Paris. It housed the bright, modern art that she was so fond of that her dad thought was rubbish. It was full of statues and sculptures, the walls full of bright and unusual pieces that were incredible and one of a kind. The art world was hard, she knew that, so that was why the gallery was home to unknown artists. Both in France and further beyond. Eleanor gave everyone a chance. An artist just needed a break and that was what she was here for; to help.

She loved this gallery. One of her favourite things was to people watch. She loved how a piece of art could stop someone in their tracks and make them think, even for a minute or to. The place was busy but it was quiet, a gentle hum of conversation was people meandered through the building. It wasn't her gallery. Not by a long shot. She just helped manage it, really. Since having Will, she needed a bit more money and so, her comic book illustrations, though still part of her life, weren't that prevalent. At the moment, she was actually working on illustrations for a children's book that one of her friends had written.

Her long platinum blonde hair was tied back into a sleek ponytail and tied with a length of pink ribbon that matched her sugary ensemble. Eleanor had been meaning to have her hair cut off but she'd just been to busy, she didn't have five minutes to herself, let alone the hour it'd take to shift herself back into her trademark pixie cut. Maybe one day, in time for spring or something. That'd be nice.

"JJ!" The tall blonde called, waving at the younger dark haired man wearing a plaid jumper and jeans. She strode over, breaking into a jog in her heels and when she reached him, she was a little out of breath. "The Blaise Bouchard paintings are wonky. Someone's nudged them. Could you sort them out for me?" She asked with a bright smile before Jean-Jacques turned to complete the task. Blaise Bouchard, also known was Johnny Smith, was one of the more popular artists. He was from London but had adopted a dodgy French accent and changed his name. He was short with glasses and had serious delusions of grandeur. Bless him.

Eleanor took a breath, her hands on her hips. She needed to go Christmas shopping. She still needed to buy for Loren and Alain and her older brother, Jean-Paul. Alain, well. Who knew where he was? He never told her anything. He also hadn't even met his nephew yet. Outside was freezing. The dark grey sky was heavy and laden with snow, the Christmas lights and decorations twinkling outside in the afternoon darkness. It looked beautiful. Paris always was in December. The decorations were minimal but exceptional, classy and elegant. They were second to none.

"Eleanor?"

The voice was deep and decidedly not French. Confused, she spun in a cloud of floral perfume. She squinted and frowned before recognition dawned. "Memphis?" She asked, her bright green eyes wide. They'd never be able to share the same closeness they once had but that didn't mean she didn't like him. Besides, if she was dating Memphis, she wouldn't have married Loren. It had been so long. Swiftly, a smile lit up her pretty face. She didn't hesitate as she threw her arms around his neck in a warm hug. "Merry Christmas!"

When she spun around Memphis was hit with a bit of nostalgia for all the good times they had growing up. Memphis had been close with both of the St. Clare siblings, but Eleanor had always held a special place in his heart. She was one of a kind and he'd probably never find another like her. As she wrapped her arms around him he returned the hug, taking in her familiar scent for a moment and then pulled away. "Merry Christmas to you too." He said cheerfully, his face lighting up with a grin. When he pulled away from her he took a moment to really look at her. She looked a bit different but he was hopeful it was still the same Eleanor he knew. "It's been too long, how have you been?" He asked with full interest in the answer. Looking around he saw all of the magnificent works of art hanging on the walls. Memphis wasn't particularly artistic but he appreciated those who were. Sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans Memphis turned his attention back to her and then spoke again.

"Do you run this place?" He asked, admiration clear in his voice. She was a talented artist, Memphis remembered that much. The last he saw her she was working on comics. A lot of things had probably changed since then but he hoped she was still painting. He doubted that Eleanor would ever stop being an artist, even if she had a real job. Someone with as much passion as her probably could never really give up on it. Memphis often wished he had passion like that for something. For anything really. He didn't have any hobbies other than learning about his Element. As soon as he found out what he was that had pretty much taken up all of his time. He worked at a Runes shop, he spent his free time at Inverness, he never stopped studying. He didn't have anything else going on in his life. It was often difficult talking to old friends from his school days because of this. They all had these great stories about how they landed the job of their dreams, or how they had a really nice flat, or a perfect significant other, and Memphis would smile and listen but he never had anything to add.

Luckily Eleanor was already aware of who Memphis really was. She was one of a handful of people he didn't have to keep that secret from and it was a weight off his shoulders. Even though they would probably never be as close as they once were it didn't mean the ties weren't still there. Alain was her brother and he shared the same gift as Memphis, so Eleanor had a unique understanding of what he was. As he stood there in front of her he couldn't help but think about all the old times. Summers at the St. Clare home, the term he spent at Beauxbatons, their brief relationship... everything flashed in front of him and even though there were shades of dark in the memories for the most part they were good. They made the Elemental smile. Until he thought about Alain, and then he couldn't help but ask her. He had been searching for his best friend for years now and Memphis had nearly lost all hope. He was scared that Alain might of been dead. He had been missing for so long with no signs of him anywhere. He knew bringing up her lost brother might not be the most festive of conversation topics but he had to ask. If she knew anything Memphis had to know.

"Um, I know this probably isn't a good time to ask, but have you heard from Alain?" Memphis had spent months searching for Alain after he disappeared. For a while during the war Memphis had left everything in his life behind on his search for both Alain and his cousin Belladonna but he had come back empty handed on both accounts. He had failed, and that hurt his ego, but he wasn't so prideful that he couldn't admit to defeat. He just hoped she knew something he didn't. Any small sliver of hope would do, even though it would hurt to know that Alain had reached out to her but not to him. He thought of Alain as a brother, he was the closest thing Memphis had ever had to a sibling really.

He always turned up out of the blue and every time she saw him, she felt this weird twinge of…something. What was it? Longing? Nostalgia? Memphis cut an imposing figure. He was the type of man that, when entering a room, seemed to fill it with his presence. Once upon a time, she'd thought he was perfect. He just aligned himself with the wrong girl time after time. But then he made her fall in love with him and then he proceeded to shatter her heart but shame on her for being so stupid. She knew what he was like.

"You look great," Eleanor said brightly as she took a step back away from him, the busy gallery behind her seeming to quieten to a low, happy hum somewhat. "Good," she said with a polite smile as she let him go, clasping her hands in front of herself absently. "Busy," she sighed, offering him a tired smile. What with this place and an eight month old baby, she was run off her feet. "You?" She asked, interested. This was a safe kind of topic of conversation.

Memphis had a track record of disappearing off the face of the Earth for months at a time. It must be an Elemental thing. She'd learned years ago not to take it to heart if he didn't get into contact with her. Eleanor truly didn't want things to be weird or strained between them but it seemed impossible. After all, he had seen her naked and that was kind of awkward. Loren knew about him but she also knew that if they met, her husband probably wouldn't like him very much. She'd been in love with Memphis once and Loren didn't seem to be able to let it go.

Eleanor flushed pink in pleasure. "Sort of," she said with an embarrassed lopsided, dimpled grin. "It's not my gallery but I'm hoping it will be one day. I sort of take care of things. Organise exhibitions, book artists, put on displays. It's not very exciting," she added in a self-deprecating manner as she smiled again. With a baby, painting was no longer a viable source of income but this gallery was. It was safe and secure and usually not anything she'd be interested in but it was full of weird and wonderful characters.

"How did you know I was here?" The tall blonde asked, emerald green eyes wide in curiosity. Had she mentioned she worked here and then forgotten? Possibly. Her baby brain was still sort of full on at the moment. "Not that I'm not pleased to see you," she added hastily, reaching out to place a warm hand on his arm and squeeze affectionately.

"Oh."

The realisation felt like a sucker punch to the gut; he was here for Alain, not her. She swallowed and offered him a brittle smile, dropping her gaze and looking over her shoulder as the art enthusiasts. Really. What was she expecting? Memphis and her brother had always been close. Christmas had been tough for her family. With Alain gone, her mother was prone to fits of crying, her father was prone to fits of anger. Home wasn't happy. Her mother was distraught and her father was so mad at him for leaving without saying goodbye. A dark sort of cloud settled over her as she offered Memphis a tired shrug.

"No," Eleanor finally replied, twisting her wedding ring around her finger as she often did when she was anxious or scared. "Nothing. I have no idea where he is and I don't think I care that much," she stated, her voice cracking as she heaved a sigh. "He didn't even say goodbye. My mum is heartbroken," she said, reaching up to tug on her now longer hair nervously as she shifted. Her pleasant, happy mood had no well and truly evaporated into thin air. As usual.

"It's tough but we're alright," she added in case Memphis gave a shit. If Alain was off frolicking, then fine. She had Loren and she had Will. She had her own small but perfectly formed family to dote on this Christmas. "He hasn't even met Will," she lamented, her slender shoulders slumping. Her son wouldn't recognise him if they met now. "Sorry," she said abruptly. "William's my son." Urgh. How weird did that sound? "I'm also sorry that you came all this way for nothing. I don't think I can help you," she said with a tight lipped smile, suddenly feeling rather down.

Blowing at a lock of platinum blonde hair, she looked at him again. He looked upset and she wasn't really surprised. She did want to touch him. Hold him, reassure him that he was going to be okay but it had been so long, they were practically strangers. "I have his spare key," she offered. "I'd been meaning to give it back to you but I wasn't sure if you'd moved out or not." They'd been room mates once upon a time. "How long are you here for?" She asked, determined not to leave on a sour note. "Have you got time for a cup of coffee? There's an amazing little deli just around the corner~"

He smiled when she said she had been good but offered an understanding nod, he could imagine how busy she was. "The same." He answered shortly, as usual not having much to report in the ways of what he had been up to. Maybe he would tell her what he had really been doing these last two years... but that wasn't a conversation he was ready to dive into right now. He asked if she was in charge and was impressed by the answer. Memphis didn't care about social status or clout he cared about skill and Eleanor had boat loads of it in the art department. He always pictured her growing up and painting masterpieces that sold for more than he would see in his lifetime. "It sounds rather exciting. I still work at the dusty old book shop." He offered up a bit about his life, which was more drab on the surface than hers seemed to be. He took another look around where they were standing and then returned his gaze to her, another smile playing on his lips. "Your mother told me." He replied with a soft laugh at the end. Memphis had always been close with the St. Clare family, even the parents of his friends, so he managed to keep in touch when he could. He hadn't seen them for a few years either but when he popped by their home and they were still living there he wasn't allowed to leave until he finished eating dinner with them. "She told me you were working here and that you had gotten married and had a baby. Congratulations Eleanor." He truely meant it.

Memphis never thought he would be one to have children but Eleanor was probably as close as he had ever gotten to a real relationship. He'd loved and lost and all of that but she was really the only woman who had truly loved him back. At least in his eyes she was. He kicked himself mentally for letting her go but he knew they were beyond that conversation. He would never do anything to interfere with the seemingly perfect life she had made for herself. Instead he resigned to be happy for her, which he really was. Now that all of that was out of the way Memphis had to ask the question that had been at the top of his mind for near two years. It wasn't the reason he came here, really it was the excuse, but that would be difficult to explain to her. He watched her expression but he was left not knowing what she was feeling. Not until she said that she didn't know where he was and she didn't care. That wasn't the Eleanor that he remembered. The words made him frown a little and turn his eyes toward the ground, he was a little ashamed for asking now. He chewed on the inside of his cheek as she recounted how badly Alain had left and he could relate. Alain hadn't gave any of them notice. The people who cared about him most in the world and they were left completely in the dark. If he found his old flat mate he would make sure to sock him one for Eleanor's sake as well.


When Eleanor mentioned that Alain hadn't met Will and that Will was her son he felt that little pang of loss again. He was standing three feet from the life he could of had if he hadn't been such a moron and he knew he could never get it back. "That's not why I came." He pushed out as fast as he could, feeling a little desperate to get that message across. Although he had been scared to see her and he was now using Alain as a reason to come he suddenly realized he didn't want her to think he came for her brother and not for her. She was just as important as he brother was. In fact, for a long time she had been more important than the other elemental. "I came for you." He said but his voice lost its nerve half way through the small sentence. It didn't sound the way he wanted it to. Everything was wrong. He didn't like this weird feeling that was settling in the pit of his stomach. "I mean, well.." He stopped talking, trailed off into nothing, unable to find the words. And then she was speaking again and Memphis silently thanked her for it. The spare key? He had forgotten all about that. Although he still trusted her enough he would take back the key if she held it out to him. "Coffee sounds great, are you able to leave now or should I come back in a bit when you've got a break?" He said and pushed out a strained smile. He wanted things to go back to normal with Eleanor but the more he thought about it the less he remembered normal.

Was normal even happy?

"So tell me about your boy, I bet he's gorgeous." Memphis decided the best course of action would be to change the subject. And he couldn't think of any better way to do it than to ask about her baby. And he honestly wanted to know about her son. He was probably brilliant, she was.

Awkward.

Eleanor didn't know why things were still strained. It was years ago. He'd moved on, she'd moved on. He probably had countless girlfriends since their night together and she was happy. She was. Memphis was a lovely man and needed a lovely woman who could spoil him. Boring? "Nah, I like books," she said kindly and she did. She and Loren had a big house together now in the affluent suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt and there was now space for all of her books.

"My mother?" The artist replied, furrowing her slender eyebrows as she lifted a hand to her platinum blonde hair and scratched her head. She offered him an embarrassed smile. She wasn't sure how she felt about Memphis enjoying a close relationship with her parents. It was good, she supposed. They were both loving and eager to invite anyone over to dinner. "She really needs to stop blabbing," the tall blonde joked with an easy smile. "Oh," she said softly before smiling back at him again. "Thanks," she replied gently.

Will  had been unexpected. Really unexpected but magical all the same. She was twenty four, she was financially and emotionally secure. It was fine. "Don't think I'll be having another one any time soon," Eleanor said with a lopsided grin. She didn't want to tell Memphis that it was a seventeen and a half hour labour and that she hadn't been able to sit down properly for a fortnight. Her mother was watching him, she usually did in the mornings but the artist was due to pick him up soon. Her mum said she'd swing by and drop Will off at the gallery for her.

The words that were spewing out of her mouth were unfair. She did care about Alain but he obviously didn't care about her. She heaved a deep sigh. Did all Elementals just decide to up and leave without telling anyone? "It's fine," she said breezily, waving her hand through the air nonchalantly. He'd never been squeamish about sparing her feelings before so he needn't start doing so now. "I'm just sorry I couldn't help you," she said genuinely. "He could be in Timbuktu for all I know," she joked. Her words were light but was clear that she was still sad. She'd never been particularly close with Alain growing up but his departure was still a bit raw.

I came for you. Eleanor didn't answer but she did offer a gentle smile. Nah. He wouldn't come this way just for her, he must be bitterly disappointed that she couldn't help him out. She and Alain hadn't spoken for months now. Will was eight months old and starting to crawl and stick his chubby little fingers into things he shouldn't. A feeling of uneasiness crept over her but as he agreed to coffee, she sprung into action. "We can go now," she said quickly. "I finish my shift pretty soon then I need to collect Will from my mum so I don't see why I can't just clock off early." Typical Eleanor, bending the rules.

Beckoning him through the bustling gallery, she held the door open for him and wandered down the street a little. "He's amazing," Eleanor said, smiling brightly as she looked up at the clouds. It started to snow a flake landed on the top of her nose, causing her to giggle softly. She didn't bother to wipe it off. "Looks just like his dad," she sighed happily. "All dimples and dark hair. Here," as she walked, she rummaged in her bag to extract a small photo. There was a cute little child dressed in jeans and a brown cable knit sweater. His hair was messy and dark and he had his father's dimples when he smiled but he had Eleanor's skin and her green, green eyes.

"He's teething so he's sticking everything in his mouth. Apples, house keys, paintbrushes," she rolled her eyes playfully, settling back into her normal self. "He really likes Mozart," she grinned. Little Will sat on the floor, eyes wide as he either listened to Loren play the piano or listened to a recording. "Simply put, he's the love of my life and I don't know what I'd do without him." It was true. She'd been cut to pieces over Memphis but Will seemed to have mended her completely. They ended up wandering to a pretty little café just around the corner from her gallery and she opened the door, the warmth, the smell of coffee and gentle chatter hit her in the face.

"Bonjour," she greeted the man behind the counter before ordering a small coffee and a croissant for herself before letting Memphis choose, waiting to translate if needed. It was great now that she was done breast feeding, she could shovel caffeine down her neck without fear. Delicious. Carefully carrying the order to one of the small tables near a window that overlooked the Parisian street, she shook out her hair and sat down, offering him another smile as she tipped sugar into her coffee. "How are things going?" She asked, hinting towards the Elementalism without saying it. "You must be pretty good right now," she commented, sipping her coffee before grinning. "I bet you make all the girls pretty things," she smiled, imagining him manipulating his element to send red rose petals floating through the air to meet his beau.

Eleanor said they could go now and Memphis was thankful. He didn't want to get her into trouble but just standing there was making him anxious. The Elemental followed her out of the gallery and pulled his jacket closed a bit as they stepped outside. It wasn't bitterly cold but it was still cold enough to make him shiver. He didn't bother trying to manipulate the temperature around them, the crispness of the air woke him up a bit and he kind of liked it. When she started talking about her boy Memphis smiled because she was smiling. He could hear how happy she was just by the way she spoke. He might not know her very well anymore but at one point he thought he knew everything about her. He still remembered how she smiled when it was real. Memphis took the photo from her hands and took a good long moment to stare at the boy as they walked. He was a handsome child, but Memphis didn't have any doubts that he would be. Even if she had married a troll she had enough good looks to spread around. He let out a small chuckle, "He's going to be a lady killer that one." He said jokingly as he handed the picture back to her.

Although Memphis didn't have children of his own or younger siblings he had enough cousins to know what teething meant and her words made him laugh a little. "Just wait until he learns the 'no' word." He replied, still smiling. He could still heard Ian saying 'no' to everything just because he could, even juice. Following her into the little cafe Memphis started to feel more at ease with her. Before they dated for that very short period of time they were friends. And as friends they used to go to coffee shops and bistros all the time. He wouldn't know he liked half of the foods and drinks that he did if it wasn't for her pushing him to try new things. He listened to her order something from the clerk and then he stepped forward. He wanted to wow her with his skill in French but it had been some time since he had really used the language. He'd been all over the world since they last saw each other but he hadn't really been in France much. And other than the St. Clare's he didn't know many people who spoke the language. Instead of trying, and possibly failing, to order something fancy Memphis spoke a few words of the language he used to know much better. "I'll have the same as her, please." He said, sounding a bit rougher than he thought he would. Gray eyes turned to her quickly with a look on his face that she should be familiar with. His features asking silently, did I say that right? And then he turned back to the clerk as his tray began to fill up. "Merci" he replied before taking his tray and following her to a table near the window. Even though Paris was wonderful this time of year he couldn't remove his eyes from her. In Memphis' eyes she had always been the brightest thing in the room and that hadn't changed.

Fluidly he took a seat across from her and set his food down on the table, watching the steam rise from his cup for a moment before turning back to her. When she asked how are things going Memphis got the feeling she was asking about more than just his social life. Even if they hadn't been close in a while Memphis still loved the fact that Eleanor really knew who he was. That she knew who Alain and him really were, and that she was so accepting of it. She had never judged him for it. He silently thanked her for that. Shrugging his shoulders but smiling none the less Memphis tore open a sugar packet and poured it into his coffee before replying. "Well I'm not close to being a master but I have learned a lot in the last few years." He stirred his coffee with the tiny little straw and then licked the bit that was on the end off before placing it on his napkin, eyes never leaving her face. "Most of what I've learned is just parlour tricks but I feel like I know myself better you know." Suddenly he felt like all the awkwardness between them could just be wiped away. He was talking to her like he used to. Confiding in her always came easy and honestly he missed it. He wasn't sure why but her comment about making girls pretty things didn't sting as much as he thought it would. He wondered how he should answer that question. Memphis didn't use his gifts to impress the endless string of one night stands that had shared his bed in the last few years, but he doubted she really wanted to her about his escapades. "Unfortunately making pretty things was never my strong suit." He replied instead. "Unlike you." His words were entirely playful and in no way meant as an insult so he followed them up with a soft smile in her direction.

Leaning closer in toward her Memphis lowered his voice so none of the other coffee shop patrons could over hear and the spoke, "I can create a tornado now." He smiled proudly at her and continued. "It was hard to control at first but I think I've gotten the hang of it. Not that I will really ever need that skill, but still." He thought it was impressive. That was clear by the look dancing across his features. Pulling back away from her he took a sip of his coffee but was shocked by how piping hot it still was. "Damn." He cursed softly and cringed as he felt the burning feeling on the top of his lip. He set the cup down quickly and used his napkin to dab off any liquid that was still clinging to his lips. "It also comes in handy at times like this." The Elemental said quietly as he held his hand over his cup and conjured a bit of that cool Paris air to chill his coffee down. Sure other wizards could probably do that too, with their wandless magic, but Memphis thought he did it with so much more flare. Moving on he decided to not test his coffee for a few minutes, cooling tricks or not, and he spoke again. "Actually I spent a good bit of time in Tibet." He had learned a lot there, some of it he probably wouldn't tell her about, but most of it he would. Blood runes could be viewed as dark magic and the last thing he wanted was for her to think he ran off and went rogue.

"And I have to say, I look pretty dapper in an orange robe." He winked at her, not quite flirting, but joking like the old Memphis would have. "The view from the top of Chomolungma is breath taking, even for someone made of air." It was a terrible pun but Memphis went with it anyway, and he laughed just a little at his own stupid joke too.

"Oh, I hope not," Eleanor replied with a laugh. As they walked, the artist blew on her pale hands to warm them. Spring was hurtling towards everyone quickly but she was the type of girl who always felt the cold. She carried a cardigan in her bag at all times in case any air conditioning was particularly brutal. Taking the photo from Memphis, she carefully slipped it into her bag once again.

There was a chasm between them now, she could feel it. Too many things had changed, too much time had passed between them to recapture what they had so they just needed to adapt. Them sleeping together had been a whopping mistake but did she regret it? No. Back then, neither of them were ready for anything serious and she didn't think he'd changed at all. That was fine. She wouldn't judge. Perhaps she just wasn't the right girl for him and he wasn't the right guy for her. Eleanor was done with making him feel guilty, even if the smile he gave her did sting a little bit. Once upon a time, she'd been convinced he had a special smile for her. Different from one he offered to anyone else.

Despite of herself, she smiled at him again. "Super looking forward to that," she grinned. How weird was it to be discussing kids with Memphis now? It was like she'd stepped into the twilight zone or something. Usually, Eleanor could talk at length about William but she didn't know. Things still felt a bit stilted but that could purely be her fault. "Nah he's a good kid," she said pleasantly. "Smart, too. I'm probably biased but that's my prerogative as a mum, right?" She asked brightly.

The café was warm and a strong, comforting smell of coffee and freshly baked goods wafted around them. The blonde's eyes widened as she watched Memphis quite capably order what he wanted and she laughed. "Well knock me over with a feather," she cooed. "I'm impressed. I didn't know you could speak French," she quizzed him, remembering he didn't speak a word a few years ago. Horribly, she felt a twinge of something deep in her core. What was it? Warmth? Fondness? Yearning? Swallowing, she averted her gaze and handed over the coins, paying for both of their orders without giving him a chance to protest.

She'd had these thoughts before. They often came to her in the early hours of the morning; what if? Eleanor wasn't daft. She and Memphis would never, ever work realistically. For starters, he was a nomad. He disappeared for months, years, without word. He was charming  but he was flighty. Then there was the logistics. If they did settle down together, there was his Elementalism. She'd age, he wouldn't, not really. When they'd been dating for a while, people would start to think of them as mother and son or something as horribly wrong. Eleanor had sort of made peace with those thoughts now. Sure, perhaps he'd always hold a tiny part of her heart but that was all he had over her now…hopefully.

Once seated, Eleanor added three tea spoons of sugar to her coffee, no milk, and stirred, pausing to sip at the hot liquid delicately. "Yeah?" She asked with a bright smile. "That's great. I knew you could do it," she said warmly, reaching across the table and squeezing his hand affectionately. The café was busy. It was filled with beautiful, stylish women, most of which were looking at their table. Gentle chatter, cheerful clanging of cups, the whirr of the coffee machine. Background noise, really. But he was looking right at her. Eleanor had forgotten just how blue his eyes were and suddenly, she felt herself blushing.

The tall blonde lazily stirred her coffee before leaving her spoon alone, resting her chin on her upturned palm so she could watch him intently. "Good," she said with another smile. "I'm really glad you’re discovering yourself. It'll do you the world of good, I reckon," she concluded with a nod, a lock of platinum blonde hair falling over her left eye. She looked different now. Her hair was longer, gone was the pixie cut and it had been replaced by a professional, chic shoulder length cut. She was growing up.

Eleanor laughed, flushing pink as she hid her face cutely in her hands. "I'd forgotten how much of a sweet talker you are. That's dangerous," she smiled. Gah. Honestly, girls had no chance when Memphis Gredel started his charm offensive. "I don't paint so much any more," she admitted as she sipped her coffee. "Sketching, maybe but I'm busy all the time. I usually get home and pass out on the sofa," she admitted with an embarrassed smile. Maybe she should start again? Loren would like it. Her dad would, too. Maybe she could make some things for little Will's bedroom.

Brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, she leant in too as though they were sharing a secret. "Cool!" She exclaimed, eyes wide as she grinned. "Oh sure but it's still pretty sweet," she grinned and then winced as he burned himself. "Oh shoot, are you alright?" Eleanor asked quickly, handing him a handful of black paper napkins as she frowned, concern creasing her pretty face. With wide eyes, she watched him, enraptured as her jaw dropped. "Dude," she whispered. "That's the best thing I've seen in a reeeeally long time," she said, sounding awestruck. "Do mine," she insisted, pushing her cup towards him eagerly.

"So that was where you've been," she said, visibly relaxing. It was clear that she cared about him and was worried as to his whereabouts. "Did you like it? It's such a beautiful country," she said wistfully, sighing, her eyes glazing over. Eleanor laughed, high, loud and genuinely. "C'mon. We both know that you'd look amazing in a potato sack," she said with a blush, hiding her smile behind the rim of her coffee cup.

"Funny," she said suddenly, pointing at him with a grin. This was nice. They were easing slowly back into old times. "Chomolungma?" She echoed, confused. "Gosh. My life sounds so horribly boring compared to yours," she added, glumly pulling at her croissant. "I've not been sky diving or swimming with sharks. The best I've done is gone skinny dipping in the Trevi fountain."