Callie and Jean-Paul - Backdated to the evening of the 21st.

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

Callie and Jean-Paul exchange gifts, and Callie meets Jenner.



Between the dance the previous night and her impending departure the next day there was far too much that needed to be done. Callie had been busy rushing around that morning packing her suitcase so full that she had to sit on it in order to get it closed, as well as cleaning her room. Then there were presents to wrap and deliver to their respective recipients, and thanks to her meticulous planning she had not needed to try and convince someone to take her shopping for more. Now they were all sitting in their pretty silver wrapping and matching ribbon bow at the foot of her bed, begging her to be delivered. She gathered them up, and set out to play Santa's elf.

A fair while later, she stood in front of one of the identical doors in the mansion. The rest of her gifts had been delivered, and now it was time to finish the job. She knocked and waited. Hopefully she wouldn't have to leave it in the hallway, though she doubted anyone would steal it.

Mister Beaubier opened the door. He was wearing a dark t-shirt, jeans, and his new pet rat, who was draped over his neck like a stole and making a sound that was much like a combination of purring and the world's smallest engine trying to turn over. Callie's teacher greeted her with one of his usual, reserved smiles.

"Still feeling like yourself, I hope."

"I am very much. Thank you." Callie flashed one of her trademarked smiles at him, as well as the rodent on his shoulder. Funnily enough, it didn't seem out of place to her for the critter to be there. It seemed at home, like it had always been there. The noises it made though still made her giggle. It was cute. Not the pet for her, but still cute. "Joyeux Noel," she said in her pitiful attempt at a French accent as she pulled the present out from behind her back.

He seemed almost taken aback by the gift, but managed to hold on to his smile. "The Christmas elves are out early, I see. Merci." He accepted the gift, then waved Callie inside. "Come in, I have one for you as well. Well, not Christmas so much, but you've been doing very well with your climbing and that deserves note. The timing just works out well, is all."

Color rose in her cheeks at the mention of her progress at climbing. She knew she wasn't where she could be, but her body was struggling less to complete the tasks she set before it. It would have to do for now. "You didn't have to get me anything Mister Beaubier," she said. The rat was staring at her with those dark beady eyes. She could see its nose sniff in her direction and held out her hand to it to give it a chance to pick up on her scent. "When did you get a rat? Can I see him? Her? It?"

"His name is Jenner." The rat climbed onto Callie's hand without a moment's hesitation and started up her arm, heading for a shoulder perch. "Morgan decided that I didn't have enough affection in my life and left him on my nightstand." Jean-Paul lead the way inside. "And you did not have to get me anything either, but here we are. We'll call it even. One moment." He headed for his room, leaving Callie in danger of being tickled to death by an affectionate rodent sniffing her chin, returning shortly with a box wrapped in plain white paper. "Pour vous, mademoiselle."

The sensation of little feet scampering up her arm was almost enough to cause a scream, even though there was a barrier between the paws and her skin. She wasn't quite used to being around animals, and while she was not exactly scared of the creature she was unsure of how to behave. So she did the most sensible thing to keep from scaring Jenner; she stood completely still. "I wanted to thank you for helping me," she said as Jean-Paul returned to the room. "Oh thank you." Her arm reached out slowly so as not to disturb Jenner, who had decided that her head would be a suitable look out spot.

Jean-Paul took pity on his student and corralled Jenner back into his cage once she had her present. "It was no trouble. It kept me from getting too bored. Hopefully you will enjoy your trip all the more for it, hm?" He looked back at his gift. "Should I open it now or wait for the proper day?"

With the rat safe and sound in his cage, Callie was more visibly relaxed. She shook her head, and felt her hair to make sure the little guy hadn't decided to leave her a present, which he thankfully hadn't. "I hope so too. And either way it's Croatia, so you can't really go wrong. And you can open it now if you want, or wait. I leave tomorrow so I just wanted to make sure everyone had everything before I left."

"I do admit to a certain curiosity." He regarded Callie's gift, currently sitting on the coffee table. "Let's open them both?"

"Okay! On the count of three? One... two... three." In accordance with her nature, Callie carefully lifted up the tape to ensure that the wrapping was not ruined.

Jean-Paul was a less tidy beastie when it came to this sort of thing, skinning his gift in two swift motions.

There was a nondescript white box under the wrapping of Callie's gift, with a baker's dozen of copper cookie cutters, shaped like flowers, leaves, and trees inside.

With the paper gone, Jean-Paul was left holding an illustrated collection of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales.

"Ooooh! I love them! I'll totally use them at home. Thank you Mister Beaubier!" To show her appreciation Callie threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug.

"Merc-oof!" One hardbound edition to the solar plexus was apparently what it took to render a Quebecois speechless. Jean-Paul managed to get an arm around Callie in something like a return embrace while he got his breath back. "I'm glad you like them. And I hope the trip goes well, of course."

"I do!" It was more of a squeal than words really as Callie stepped back and admired the cookie cutters. "I'll use them a lot. And thank you. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well. Oh and a happy happy New Year!"