Ties That Bind: chapter 8

Everybody filed out of the court, a few of Francoeur’s acolytes stopping to be interviewed by the press while Francoeur’s French and American friend’s politely refused comment and grouped together to speak. Francoeur made a twitter of excitement before pulling Cara to Lucille for introduction.

Cara walked up to Lucille as Francoeur introduced them, making chirping and twittering sounds as form of introduction.

“Salut, je Lucille.” Lucile said, holding out her hand.

“Bonjour, je Cara.” Cara said blushing at her terrible attempt at the accent.

Lucille only smiled then hugged Francoeur and spoke rapid French to him as they caught up, Cara noticed she was inspecting the dress she had made and gave Cara an approving smile. Mitch went to the three others and seemed to be communicating well until she realized the skinny man was trying to hide a laugh. Cara giggled as his miscommunication only amused them then turned to the Professor, knowing her communication would fare better.

“Eet iz a pleasure to meet zhe one who cared for mon ami.” He said smiling as the white monkey held up a card.

“The pleasure is all mine.” She said smiling before taking the card and reading it.

CA VA?

She looked at the monkey and smiled.

“Tres bon, merci.” She said blushing again at her accent.

The monkey gave a polite hoot then made a grin and tipped his hat.

“I am known as zhe Professor.” He said making a polite bow.

“I am Cara, the man who was with me is Mitch.” She said turning to gesture when she realized Mitch was somehow trying to communicate by flapping his arms like a bird’s.

“I can see…” the Professor said, amused.

“Yeah…French doesn’t come naturally to him.” She explained and blushed as he imitated sleeping and hugging before laughing, oblivious to the true amusement of the others.

“Perhaps we can lend a hand?” she asked, gesturing.

“Oui.” The Professor agreed and both went to aid the misunderstood Mitch.

"-was the most adorable thing I ever did see." he chuckled, Cara guessed his story and felt glad it was not understood.

"Indeed, I would be sure zhey shared zhe same enjoyment had zhey understood." the Professor commented.

Mitch gave a small chuckle and looked at the group then froze and began to frown. Cara swore she heard the cogs in his head turning before he turned back to the Professor and the group before groaning and smacking the side of his head.

Cara gave a small snort along with that tall man as the smaller couple grinned knowingly at each other.

“Well THAT was…well I feel like such a sap…an don’t you razz on me lady.” He warned.

Cara quickly covered her face, blushing as she attempted to snuffle her giggles.

“I don’t plan to…though I’m sure you seemed pretty ossified with that show you put on.” She giggled.

“What did I say about razzing?!” Mitch burst out before smacking himself on the face and holding it there.

Cara giggled and turned to the three friends as the Professor introduced her.

“Elle est Cara, Cara ils est Raoul, Emile, et elle est Maude.” He said, forgetting to translate for her.

“Bonjour, je Cara, ca va?” she asked feeling her cheeks burn at her accent.

They seemed impressed and shook her hand in turn, she knew enough and assumed much by common sense that the tall one was Raoul, the short man Emile and the woman was Maude. She was pleased at how courteous they were as they returned her question in kind.

“Tres bon, merci.” She replied, smiling, after that whatever they said she had to turn to the Professor for a translation.

Seeing his chance he translated for her.

“Zhey asked how you came to find Francoeur and eef ‘e was hurt.” He explained.

She paused a moment and chose her words carefully to ensure she would be understood properly.

“I was scavenging for materials in the bins outside of the market when I came upon him hiding and he scared the living life out of me.” She explained and waited for him to translate before continuing.

“I had at first assumed he was a hurt homeless but I realized he was not and was just fixing to hit him over the head to make my escape when he began to write his name on the ground.” Again she paused and waited before resuming.

“Seeing he was docile but still hurt I guess I pitied him and decided to bring him home and help him.” She explained.

The Professor finished the translation and Raoul decided to speak first, allowing the Professor to translate for him.

“He asks if you could explain how he was hurt.” He said.

Cara thought for a moment, recalling how Francoeur limped and had to be partially carried most of the way and she remembered the bruise on his shoulder and remembered how the reporter had said he had been shot. Again she spoke carefully, not wanting to be misunderstood.

“He was limping heavily, it seemed like he was exhausted from jumping, and there was a bruise on his shoulder.” She explained.

The Professor explained while Cara noticed the couple become confused while Raoul seemed to become thoughtful as the girl spoke up and the Professor translated.

“Madame Maude asks if you checked for a bullet wound.” He said.

“The bruise was the bullet wound.” She said and waited as the Professor translated.

The second he finished translating Raoul piped up and began to speak excitedly, clearly he was a dramatic man Cara mused.

The Professor explained hastily as Raoul continued his monologue.

“He says zhat his assumption zhat Francoeur has…armor like skin has been proven by how he was unharmed.” The Professor sighed and stopped translating as he explained to Cara directly.

“Misour Francoeur is simply an enlarged form of hees insect self, insects have an exoskeleton, an extremely hard skin zhat protects zheir inner organs, and zhat exoskeleton simply grew wizh him along wizh hees other flea abilities.” he explained.

“Which is why he can jump so high, resist damage so well, and why his appetite is as such.” Cara said, catching on to what he was explaining.

“Oui, you are very intuitive madame.” He said.

“Father taught me to stay as such.” She said smiling then felt her smile fade as memory began to distract her from the moment.

“Madame?” the Professor asked, noticing her fading attention.

She blinked and cleared her throat, correcting herself.

“Sorry, I just…was remembering him.” She said solemnly.

Recognizing her tone he nodded understandingly.

“I see, I am sorry if zhe subject eez…sensitive.”

She smiled at him, glad he understood.

He smiled at her for a moment when Lucille suddenly stepped forth and spoke to her then looked at the Professor to translate.

“She asks zhat you stay at zhe hotel as a guest.” He explained.

“She wishes to congratulate you and Francoeur for zhis achievement.” He finished.

Cara was surprised and looked towards Mitch for help, she was unused to being thanked in such a higher class way.

“We’d be glad to join you.” Mitch said, sending her a friendly smile to show he understood her fear.

The Professor translated before Lucille turned to Cara, clearly wanting her personal opinion.

Cara bit her lip and looked at her dress, wiping away invisible dust on the itchy fabric. Cara had never been asked to attend such a matter, the closest to such was when her father had-…

She took a deep breath and smiled at Lucille, earning a delightful smile in return as she nodded.

“I would very much like to join you.” She said, almost echoingly.

The Professor smiled and translated despite the message having already being received.

Lucille nodded and wrapped an arm around Cara’s and she spoke, gesturing to Cara’s dress, clearly interested.

“She’s asking where you had gotten your dress.” The Professor explained.

Cara smiled, secretly hoping nobody had noticed but she explained nonetheless.

“It belonged to my father’s mother.” She explained.

The Professor translated for her, earning a confused cock of the eyebrow from Lucille before she smiled and pulled her with a little more force.

Cara walked quicker to ease the pulling but was clearly surprised and sent Mitch a worried look.

Mitch returned her look with an understanding grin and just winked at her, somehow knowing what Lucille had planned and followed, whispering to the confused Professor as they went. The others followed them out, the smaller couple making talk that suggested their relief for his health while Raoul seemed to be questioning Francoeur very eagerly.

Outside they hailed two cabs, pushing through reporters and common sightseers. Cara went with Lucille and noticed how Francoeur stayed close to her, while still holding Lucille’s arm she held Francoeur’s hand as a sign of assurance. They walked and Cara looked back to see Mitch and Raoul protecting the Professor from the reporters as they went, the small couple stayed behind Francoeur the whole time, making themselves small while refusing comment. Cara turned back and looked off to the side as Mitch led the Professor back to his truck to head towards the hotel. Lucille led the others to a waiting carriage; clearly Lucille had planned ahead because the carriage could hold more than the original four occupants. Briefly Cara wondered if Lucille had planned on making an escape with Francoeur and the Professor. She brushed that idea aside and allowed Lucille, Francoeur, and the couple to climb in before she herself climbed in and closed the door.

Cara sat beside the couple across from Francoeur and Lucille and she looked out the window curiously. He watched as the crowd began to pass by before they began to ride towards the hotel, buildings and people passing by very quickly. Feeling a little motion sickness coming on she looked away from the window and glanced at Francoeur, catching him in the act of staring at her. She blinked and sent a friendly smile with a small wave, he returned it with a sweet burble and a smile, tilting his head ever so slightly that made Cara blush at his adorableness. She turned her view away only to see Lucille, Maude and Emile sending each other knowing glances.

“Ahh L’amour.” Lucille cooed.

Maude giggled while Emile just smiled while Lucille smiled mischievously at Cara while Cara looked around, confused at what Lucille had said and why Maude was giggling at her. She felt her cheeks warm further under the bewilderment and nervousness until she shifted nervously in the dress and looked down, not wanting anymore of the gazes until they reached the hotel.

_@_@_@_@_@

Mitch drove while Raoul and the Professor caught up, that was all he could do since trying to decipher their language would only give him a headache. He drove back to the apartments he shared with Cara and told the professor he would be back in a moment. He ran in and grabbed a box from his room and hurried back, earning inquisitive looks from his two companions.

“You’ll see.” He said plainly before restarting the truck and heading to the hotel.

They arrived shortly and all three got out of the truck, Mitch holding the wooden box under his arm as they walked in. The hotel was modest, nothing fancy but it did give an air of classic due to its simple décor, briefly he wondered if any of its works were genuine before shaking his head. Those thoughts were something somebody he once knew would have thought and he just shook them away before following Raoul to the elevator and climbed in. Mitch looked around and tried his best to stay still despite feeling uneasy in such a shifty contraption.

Once the doors opened for their floor Mitch hurried out without looking back and waited for his companions to catch up and lead him to the rooms.

“Next time I’m takin’ the stairs.” He muttered lowly, forcing his grip on the box to loosen as he trudged after the two Frenchmen.

They came to a room at the end of the hall and Raoul simply walked in, Mitch allowed the Professor to walk in first before he followed and looked up. He blinked in surprise, the room was larger than he expected and split into two rooms, it had its own sitting room and two bathrooms and all Mitch could do was wander around the rooms in his daze.

“Somezhing you are not used to, no?” the Professor asked, clearly amused at how Mitch was reacting.

Mitch glanced at him before shutting his own mouth and leaning near the Professor to whisper.

“I gotta be pretty keen with ya, doc. This here joint is the bee’s knees an’ I’m feelin’ a bit as a rag a muffin if you know what I’m sayin’.” He whispered.

The Professor blinked in confusion before nodding.

“Understood.” He said plainly before walking off to meet with the couple as Mitch wandered about some more.

The Professor greeted his shorter friends and smiled as they exchanged their own greetings before he decided it was time to bring up the subject fouling his mind.

“Does anybody know what ‘keen’ or ‘rag a muffin’ means?” he asked, earning perplexed looks from the couple.

_@_@_@_@_@

Mitch wandered, searching for two specific individuals before he came to a closed door and knocked on it experimentally. After a moment the shuffling of feet told him there was more than one person inside and the door opened a crack to reveal Lucille who greeted him sweetly.

“Ca va misour Mitch.” She said with a smile.

Mitch cleared his throat and tipped his hat slightly before holding out the box.

“For Cara.” He said.

Lucille frowned and stepped out of the room and took the box, looking it over curiously.

“Pour Cara?” she asked looking up at him.

Mitch rubbed the back of his neck and glanced around to ensure nobody was looking before he whispered.

“Pour Cara, it uhh…is a gift…um present.” He tried to explain discreetly.

Lucille frowned and looked at him before making an understanding smile and backing to the door, opening it while keeping eye contact.

“Merci, misour.” She said and nodded before stepping quickly inside and closing the door.

Mitch stood at the door for a moment before sighing and clapping his hands lightly before walking back to the sitting room to wait.

_@_@_@_@_@

Francoeur looked at the mirror, Lucille had been thoughtful enough to pack a few suits for him and he looked over the navy blue pinstripe suit with newfound scrutiny. He didn’t know why but he wanted to look his best and he found himself adjusting buttons or shifting his coat, maybe amending the flower on his suit or retying a shoelace. He looked about himself, turning in the mirror and looking for anything out of place as he corrected his gloves one last time before a knock on the door made him turn in time to see Mitch walk in.

Mitch looked at him and looked up before backing out, making a sound and gesture to show he recognized his mistake. From his tone Francoeur assumed he was apologizing and made a recognized chirp to show he understood and smiled, gesturing for the man to come in.

Mitch looked about before walking in and looking at the room, Francoeur could tell he was nervous about something and he began to speak, though Francoeur could not understand. He assumed he was talking about Cara and somebody called Tricia and listened as he spoke, trying his best to understand the man’s possible confession. After he had stopped speaking Francoeur gave him a thoughtful look and made a smile to signify his optimism despite the miscommunication and Mitch made a small laugh in return before heading out the door. He stopped when he was about to open it before turning back and saying something to Francoeur, a single sentence he could not understand before Mitch left and he was left pondering to himself. Something told him that whatever Mitch had said, it was about Cara but he couldn’t help but feel like he was missing something from it.

He frowned and looked down before shaking his head and turning back to the mirror, finding his hat a little out of place he tipped it ever so slightly to the side and gazed at himself in the mirror. He stared at his reflection before he decided he had scrutinized himself enough and took a breath and looked at his reflection before turning away and walking out of the room to the hotel dinner cafe.

_@_@_@_@_@

Francoeur sat patiently at the dinner table with the men and Maude, waiting for the two main ladies to arrive when he heard voices outside the room, one sounded like Cara and the other like Lucille. She sounded like she was assuring her of something before the doors opened and everybody looked up to see as Lucille walked in, gazing at the rooms occupants with great interest. Curious he tried to look past her and leaned to the side to attempt to get a better view when Cara stepped into the room. Francoeur looked at her in shock; she was dressed in an ankle high midnight blue sequin dress, small lace dangled from the bottom and around the neck. The lace sleeves were long enough to reach halfway to her elbows and silver diamond earrings dangled from her ears, a shady green that highlighted the brown of her eyes. She had her hair up in a simple bun and wore simple turquoise slip on heels that she seemed a little unsteady in, prompting her to hold onto the doorway for support. All the while Francoeur stared at her, he did not know why but the way she looked just seemed so…alluring. The dress was not too much, other than the sequin and dangling lace it was pretty simple and did not overly hug her curves. He noticed that Cara had a deep red look on her face and he watched as Lucille led her to her seat before sitting at her own

As he stared he didn’t notice the knowing smile Mitch made when Cara had walked in and sent another to Lucille who gave him a thankful nod.

Once everybody had sat Lucille could not help but notice how Francoeur kept stealing glances at Cara, a curiosity and fascination she had never seen before written all over his face. She assumed he had never seen her in such clothing and found it curious to ever see her in such attire, considering what she had been wearing before it was understandable.

She looked at Raoul and noticed when he made a look of surprise and made a gesture towards Cara, giving Lucille a look to show his surprise.

“This day is just full of surprises.” Lucille mused and glanced at her other three companions who were trying not to stare.