[french ministry] life's not a wonderland [émilie]

"Au revoir, papa!" With a kiss on the cheek, Zoé Deveaux said goodbye to her father and left him to his work. Her neatly wrapped present was still on Fréderic's desk, unopened, but she didn't mind. He was always busy and the fact that today was his birthday didn't change it. It probably made it even worse since she knew that her mother had insisted on him coming home today on time. Apparently she had some nice dinner planned just for the two of them and Zoé really hoped that her father wouldn't forget the time. Esther was a peaceful woman but once she got mad? Well, no one should cross her path then.

Shaking her head, the brunette closed the door behind her and smiled to herself. Every now and then her parents had their differences but they still loved each other dearly, even after all these years, and she could only hope that she would end up in a similar relationship. But well, she was only nineteen, there's was no need to think about what would be in ten to twenty years, all that mattered that she was happy right now. Her thoughts went to Pierce and her smile grew wider. Yes, she was indeed happy right now.

Zoé had just reached the lobby where she'd take a portkey back to Inverness when her gaze fell on a familiar looking blonde, someone she hadn't seen in a while. Even though she'd never been anything but nice to the girl, Émilie Côté had never seemed to like her much. Being close to the older girl's boyfriend had apparently bothered her a lot and despite all her efforts to prove to Émilie that Volker was almost like a brother to her, the other Papillonlisse had never trusted her.

Once the elemental had started her sixth year, Émilie had been gone, dropped out apparently, and even though she'd been a little sad that the girl had never really warmed up to her, Zoé had also been relieved that she'd be able to spend time with Volker without someone glaring at her all the time. Since then they hadn't seen each other and it made her wonder what the blonde was doing with her life. Now that Volker had disappeared without a word, she was quite sure that he and Émilie weren't a couple anymore but maybe, just maybe, the other witch knew a bit about his whereabouts.

Taking a deep breath, Zoé walked over to her former house mate, a friendly smile on her face. "Émilie, hey. It's good to see you." Slender fingers brushed a strand of hair out of her face as she looked at the blonde. "Do you work here now?" Émilie had never liked her much but maybe it was time for a fresh start.

It was the second week Émilie Côté had been able to wear clothes to work that were non-uniform, and she had fully embraced the change in coffee cart policy. Her previous get-up was required to be all black, with hideous black, rubber shoes as the frosting on the cake. Now she blended in to the general population of the Ministry workers, wearing a combination of colorful robes or colorful skirts and sweaters. Today she was wearing a tight, midnight purple skirt, with a white sweater set, and she had charmed everything so that when she inevitably spilled coffee all over herself, the coffee would slough right off.

The coffee cart was set up to one side of the main lobby of the French Ministry, complete with two quaint café tables that more often than not had no occupants. Most workers wanted their coffee to-go, always in a rush to get somewhere and they always needed their espresso to accompany them. Today, however, one elderly wizard wanted a cappuccino to stay, complete with an actual porcelain cup and saucer.

It was a lovely lull, the time between everyone's morning caffeine fixes and the after lunch caffeine crash, and Émilie had nothing left to clean up until the wizard was finished with his drink. She tap-tap-tapped her fingers against the counter, wishing she had anything to do at all except stare around this lobby for what must have been the millionth time. Finally, after what felt like ages, the wizard drained his glass and shuffled away from the coffee cart. Émilie took her time coming around the cart and bussing the table with a few swishes of her wand. She had just straightened up and turned around, used mug in hand, when she heard her name.

Her eyes quickly found the source, as the girl was standing right in front of her. Émilie's eyes widened as she took everything in. Zoé Deveaux. A glowy, happy, positively-making-Émilie-sick Zoé Deveaux. Émilie's preferred reaction was to drop the coffee mug she was holding, but unfortunately, she was the one that would have to clean it up so instead she forced a small smile onto her lip. Her "So lovely to see you, too" was secret code for "Hello, get out, I'm pretty sure you're the reason my life is terrible now." She mimicked Zoé as she pushed her hair out of her face, tucking her own strand of stray blonde curl behind her ear and blinking quickly as she tried to keep her smile sweet. Blowing up or breaking down at work was one of the basic work no-no's. Better to just grin and bear it and hopefully never see her again.

"I do work here," Émilie nodded, hoping Zoé had missed her "Émilie" nametag that was clearly different form any other identification the actual Ministry workers carried. She didn't really want to go into all the details about what she actually did here, and while there were still no customers wanting or drinking coffee at the two lone tables, there might be a chance she wouldn't have to explain her real job.

The witch had most assuredly blamed her breakup on everyone except herself, and Zoé was no exception. She had never liked how close she and her fiancé were, and it took Émilie's mother quite some time to talk her down from sending a threatening owl to the younger witch demanding to know why she had ruined everything. Instead, she now blamed everything on her one-time would-be groom. It was surprising now to realize that it had been quite some time since this girl had crossed her mind, but seeing her now reminded her how comforting it was to dislike her.

She was clearly out of school now, Émilie realized, and she quickly pleaded with all the powers that be that she didn't work at the Ministry. What would be the most pleasant way to make sure she didn't work there? Besides actually asking, that was much too simple a solution. "What are you up to?" It hadn't even crossed her mind that she was probably doing the post-school elemental nonsense that her other half had gotten into after school, and if she had even considered the possibility that Zoé was in contact with the other ice elemental, Émilie would definitely break the work no-no of not breaking down.

Zoé figured the smile on Émilie's face wasn't completely real but she chose to ignore it. At least the blonde was trying to be nice, that was a first step, right? She could definitely work with that. Her brown eyes scanned the nametag as the witch responded and she tilted her head to the site a little, wondering which department she worked in. Magical sports maybe? She'd been Quidditch captain at school, after all, and if she remembered correctly, Émilie had always been a fan of which team was it again? Right, Caladri du Camargue. She just wanted to ask when her former house mate raised her voice again.

"I just visited my dad. It's his birthday today, so I thought why not surprise him," she replied with a shrug, followed by another smile. "He was quite busy, though. Just as always. I just hope you have more free time than he does." The elemental couldn't deny that the conversation felt kind of forced, but at the same time she also didn't want to just say goodbye and leave. As someone who always tried to be friendly or at least polite, the fact that someone didn't like her bothered her more than it should and so she was determined to make the best out of the coincidence that had brought them together.

Her gaze fell on the two coffee tables right next to them and she quickly looked back at Émilie, a questioning look on her face. "Would you like a coffee? My treat, of course." She wasn't sure if the girl would accept but the least she could do was offer it to her. "I promise I won't keep you away from work for too long. I just thought it would be nice to catch up a little, you know?" It was hard not to ask her about Volker right away but she definitely didn't want Émilie to think that he was the only reason why she wanted to talk to her.

Heaven forbid that Zoé Deveaux stoop down to the level of sending a gift to her father for his birthday. No, she had to be the perfect angel she always was and hand deliver it, didn't she? Still, Émilie returned the smile, saying "Oh how thoughtful you are," and smiling again. And now she hoped that Émilie had more free time than he did? What was she getting at? If Émilie could count to a high number, she would be well on her way to counting the seconds that had to pass before this girl would leave her alone and get out of her life again.

Her eyes widened as Zoé suggested they get a coffee together. Well, that would be quite awkward. Not only the having coffee with Zoé part, but also the part where Émilie would have to be the one to make it for them.

"You know, don't you?" Émilie narrowed her eyes at the younger yet taller girl. There couldn't possibly be a reason Zoé would want to spend time with her unless she knew that she wasn't an actual Ministry worker, but just worked at the coffee cart. It was bad enough that the elemental had surely persuaded her fiancé to pick up and leave her, but now she also wanted to humiliate her at work. Not if Émilie had anything to say about that.

She didn't give Zoé any time to respond before continuing. "That I don't drink coffee, I mean," she added with a nod and a shrug. "But we can catch up if that's what you really want." There was still no one else around the coffee cart and hopefully it would stay that way until Zoé had properly left the building. Émilie was still holding the empty cup that she was in the process of cleaning up, but she just assumed that Zoé wouldn't be able to connect the dots between the empty cup, Émilie holding it, and Émilie saying that she didn't drink coffee. That was something a smart person would do.

Émilie set the cup down on the table closest to them and sat down carefully beside it. "I don't know how long I have, though, dreadfully busy and all that, you know how job's go." Or did she? She was visiting during a work day, when most people should be at work. Oh, maybe Zoé had a "nighttime" job, one that required less clothing and more glitter. That was probably it.

"So..."

Oh how thoughtful you are.

Zoé almost winced at the obvious insincerity of Émilie's words. She could be naive and gullible but even she realised that her former house mate didn't want her to be here. What in the name of Merlin had she ever done to deserve the older girl's hate? She'd been Volker's friend, nothing more, nothing less, and she'd never even thought of being anyone else to him. Émilie's obvious distaste that was still there, even after years, hurt more than she wanted to admit but she wouldn't let her see it. She should have just passed the girl without saying anything.

She knew? That the blonde still hated her? Well, she hadn't really tried to hide it, had she? Sure, she hadn't been openly hostile but her false friendliness had been enough to make her feel like crap. Émilie continued and Zoé wondered if she was mocking her now. Her gaze feel on the cup the witch was holding before it went back up to her face. Apparently she was at least too polite to tell her that she didn't want to see her right in the face. The elemental didn't know if it made things better or worse.

Dreadfully busy, sure. Zoé sighed and shook her head, a defeated look in her eyes. "I think I won't bother you any longer." She let her gaze wander for a second, taking in the busy hall with all kinds of wizard and witches running around and even spotted a house elf that was accompanying his rather arrogant looking master, before she looked back at the French girl. "It was... good to see you." A lie, yes, but she wouldn't stop being her friendly self just now.

The former Papillonlisse turned around and took a few steps away from her but then she stopped and looked back once more. "I don't know where he is either." Her voice was accompanied by a sad smile as she focused on the path in front of her again. She had no idea if Émilie would react to that but maybe it would show her that it was futile to blame her for Volker's disappearance.

Wow. Getting rid of her was easier than she had remembered. Émilie's fake smile turned into a fake pout, trying to be as sad as possibly that she wouldn't be bothering her any more. And hopefully never coming into this building again. Or this city. And maybe Émilie ought to look into how to deport a witch, just in case she needed to reclaim the whole of France as her personal space.

"And so good to see you, too, Zoé," she cooed, wondering how much longer she needed to keep this up. She hated the customers at her coffee cart, but she would give anything to be dealing with them instead right now. She raised a hand and wiggled her fingers in a very sincere goodbye as Zoé turned to leave. Finally. She would stay seated until Zoé had at least gotten out of her eyesight, just in case she decided to come back for whatever insane reason she could think of.

Émilie was finally smiling out of actual happiness, pleased that she had managed to fend off whatever Zoé was trying to accomplish with her ambush. But of course, she put too much faith in her abilities, as the brunette witch had stopped and turned around.

She didn't know where he was. Émilie felt her heart sink immediately, leaving her body and taking with it whatever walls she had so successfully put up. She knew who she was talking about. How could she not? He was always on her mind, always lurking behind every memory, if the thought of him wasn't actually bashing up against the walls of her brain demanding to be thought about.

She wanted to play dumb, anything but admit that any of this was about him, especially in front of her. Émilie didn't ask for her help, she didn't want it, and she especially didn't want her sympathy. But as much as she wanted to refuse everything that Zoé ever offered her, a part of her had been sure that he was off doing Elemental things, no doubt seeing other Elementals at the same time. Someone had to know where he was, know that he was okay, even if she didn't know that. At least someone was there to take care of him.

Zoé had liked him almost as much as she had, she couldn't lie about this, could she? She was a terrible person, but surely she wouldn't have stooped this low just to get a reaction out of her, right? She wanted to say something, but what was there to say? Émilie watched as the younger woman turned around to leave again, absentmindedly flicking away a tear that she hadn't realized was streaking down her cheek.

How had she never considered that when he left her, he was leaving other people too? Had she really been that focused on herself that she hadn't even stopped to consider anyone else? Her mind jumped to wondering if the other members of his family knew where he was. She had received a letter from his sister Anke not too long after things abruptly ended, but she had thrown it away without even opening it.

Émilie was out of her chair and walking towards her before she realized what she was doing. "Wait," she said just loud enough for Zoé to hear, eyes watering as she drew up and closed the space between them. "Are you sure?" Like anyone could be anything less than sure when they saw him, he looked much too perfect to mistake for anyone else. Those lips, that hair... "Since when?" She was still speaking quietly, finally very interested in whatever she could tell her. For someone who almost always turned her ears off whenever Zoé opened her mouth, Émilie was finally giving her the quiet attention that she deserved.