✧ paris ✧ discussion

Etude is a small, cute, cozy bookstore owned by the author Magnus Dayne. It is larger than it appears, but still not large. The owner and his niece have managed to fit an astonishing amount of books in it though, and it appears to be organization by tornado, though Thessa can easily locate any book they have in stock for you within minutes. There are nooks and crannies everywhere, and plenty of comfy armchairs hidden around the shop for those who have come to spend the day and browse the books. Near the front of the store is a counter with a cash register, and this is also where they have their coffee and whatever Thessa has been making that day. She usually makes some sort of pastry in the kitchen up in their apartment above, and the smell often wafts down to fill the bookstore with its sweet smell. Etude is known for their wide range of books, friendly demeanors, and their exquisite coffee. Their customers range from prestigious and choosy literary persons to casual lovers of any and all books. Etude has a few easily recognizable qualities: the vintage-type quality of the store that gives it a warm homey feel, and the unusual coffee-cup shaped chairs that line the front of the store(in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can warm in the sun or admire the rain), found by Thessa herself, of course. There are also usually small and friendly animals scurrying around the shop due to Thessa's inability to leave a stray on the street, but thankfully they're all exceedingly well behaved and trained, and willing customers often adopt one of her precious babies. Thessa never fails to check up on the animals that are adopted out, and this endears customers to her on a certain level.

About halfway on their way to Etude, Teddy ended up asking Misha to carry him (as the young russian boy had anticipated him doing) and he paused to crouch and let the younger boy hop up onto his back. Misha may not look like he's very strong, but scaling walls and freerunning like he used to do really built up his muscles. It was something he still did around Paris, but since he also had to look after Teddy he couldn't do it as often. Though if this place turned out to be a good one, then he would be able to run around for longer, like while Teddy was in school. Speaking of, he didn't know how they would be able to enroll Teddy in school. Magnus must know a way, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to it. Toting Teddy on his back, Misha lagged behind Magnus a bit because of the extra weight but didn't make a single noise of complaint.

"Yeah! I wanna learn how to tie shoes!" Teddy cheered, clinging tightly to Misha's back as he was carried. When they arrived at the bookstore, Misha looked around the area and found he recognized it from before he met Teddy. He had slept on the rooftop of a few of these buildings before, actually. He'd never been inside Etude though, he didn't figure on there being much use in a bookstore in terms of his survival. The minute Teddy saw the 3 legged cat in one of the chairs, he started to wriggle excitedly on Misha's back until the russian boy had no choice but to set him down for fear of him dropping off his back. "KITTY!!!!!" Teddy squealed as he rushed over to the cat to start petting it. Despite his abundant enthusiasm over the animal, he was very gentle when he pet the cat.

Misha's eyes roved the interior of the store the minute he set foot inside of it, memorizing the layout like he would do to places he would break into in the past, though that wasn't the intent he had this time. He flinched when he heard a voice above yell down, on edge despite knowing there was someone else here before arriving. He was just uncertain, wary about the circumstances and really not wanting to screw this up and put Teddy in a position where he would be hurt. The smell of the cherry pies cooling had both boys tummies growling from the minute they stepped into the shop and Misha couldn't stop himself from lifting his head a little to sniff the air appreciatively, almost like a dog or a cat would. His gaze flitted over to Thessa as she bounded down the stairs and he watched her introduce herself before glancing at Magnus. It took him a moment to process what he said, then realized that the girl was the niece he had spoken of. Misha turned to look at Teddy and make sure he was preoccupied with the cat before looking at the door to see it was locked to keep people outside from coming in, and only then when he was certain Teddy would be safe did he return his attention to those in front of him. "I Misha, he Teddy." He said slowly, his voice soft and shy in front of Thessa as he introduced himself and the blonde boy. "Mongoose said I work here, can have Teddy me live here, Teddy go school, be safe. I-I promise, ne budet problemoy.....ah, how you say, not be burden for you and Mongoose." he had no idea that he was saying Magnus' name wrong as he stared at them, biting his lip nervously as he waited for her reaction.

Teddy looked ready to explode from pure happiness as the kitty rubbed his face against his hand. He had a huge grin on his face, the type that could light up a whole room. Misha turned to look at Teddy and his grin made a smile appear on his own face. Misha turned his attention back to Magnus and Thessa and bit his lip when she offered her hand and hesitantly offered his own for her to shake, kind of wishing he'd had the means to wash up properly now because his hand looked dirty compared to hers. While Misha was a little too skittish to get hugs, Teddy adored them and if he wasn't distracted by the kitty, he would have charged over to hug Thessa without another thought since they'd be living together now.

Misha watched Thessa as she spoke, doing his best to understand her words. It took him a few moments to process, but he realized she was also agreeing about them staying here. She'd help get Teddy into school, and even take him to and from so that he could work here with Magnus. They even had rooms, actual rooms he and Teddy could stay in! With clothes and food covered by Misha's working here! That meant he'd no longer have to worry if Teddy was getting enough to eat. That lifted such a weight off the Russian boy's shoulders, and he had to lift a hand to scrub at his eyes when they burned with tears, too happy to be able to properly express how grateful he was in that moment. He peeked up at Thessa in surprise when she suddenly spoke Russian, his eyes widening in surprise and excitement at having someone be able to understand him. He immediately switched to his native tongue and rambled off that he was russian and it was so great to meet someone else who spoke it and man, english was hard wasn't it? and other such things until he got distracted by her offer of pie and nodded enthusiastically.

Teddy came charging over when he spotted the new animal that Thessa had, clinging to her leg and looking up at her and the ferret cutely before asking, "Wassat?" and pointing at the ferret.

Misha looked a little disappointed when she told him that she was still learning Russian, but at least if she was learning he could sometimes get across things he didn't know how to say in English. Teddy was pretty good at getting the jist of his words most of the time, but it would be nice to eventually be able to just talk and not struggle with his words. Then again, they both seemed pretty fluent in English, he supposed it wouldn't hurt to try and learn from them so he could speak it better. He probably was expected to since he would be helping out at the bookstore.

The sheer look of adorable adoration on Teddy's face as the ferret licked his nose and tapped him on the shoulder was more than enough to put a smile on anyone's face if they were somehow not smiling already. "He booped my shoulder and licked my face I WILL LOVE HIM ALWAYS!!!" he squealed out happily, reaching up to take the ferret and snuggle him without squishing him, giggling up a storm when the ferret licked his cheek as he skipped up the stairs with Misha right behind him, looking worried about him tripping. He glanced behind him when Magnus closed the door at the bottom of the stairs before steadying Teddy as he did nearly fall backwards down the stairs like he thought might happen. As Teddy skipped happily after Thessa to get pie, Misha hesitantly reached out to stop Magnus so they could talk. "Before Teddy go school...there paperwork need be done so bad man can't get him again. Paperwork saying Teddy no longer his charge. I would put as my charge, but not old enough yet, have to wait until 18." it was clear he'd done his research on the matter, though given how much he clearly cared for the younger boy it was no surprise. "Can't put in school without paperwork, otherwise bad man could find and take him. If paperwork say Teddy not his, school will not let bad man take him. Will help, Mongoose?"

Teddy bit his lip. "Mmm...I think so." he said, making sure Brandy was safely on his shoulder before moving to try and clamber up onto the stool. He giggled when Brandy licked his cheek again and stumbled back from the stool. Giggling more, he looked up at Thessa and shrugged. "I guess I can't!" he chirped out, not bothered by it in the slightest as he raised his hands up to her instead like he would do with Misha. "Lift me please?" he asked sweetly, giving her his cutest smile.

Misha looked relieved when Magnus said he would help and adopt Teddy so he couldn't be taken away. He didn't want anything to happen to Teddy and while he knew it was important for him to go to school, he didn't want to risk him being taken by the man because he was his foster father. At his mention of questions, Misha hesitated, glancing over at the balcony where they could talk privately, then over at Teddy who seemed entirely distracted by Thessa. He nodded and said, "Yes, we talk while Teaser has Teddy busy. Don't want overhear the things." he bit his lip again and hoped that he would be able to convey why he didn't want Teddy to go back to the man. Though he was also worried about if Magnus would ask after his own past. It would surely be odd to him for Misha to be all on his own, but he didn't think it was safe for him to speak of his own past and he hoped that Magnus was more concerned about Teddy than him.

Teddy giggled as he was lifted up, grinning more when she hugged him and squirming in delight. He loved hugs so much that just the small hug made him even happier, if that was possible. When she said not to fall off, he stopped squirming on the seat and lit up more when she mentioned a sandwich. "Oh yes! I would love a sandwich please!! I'm very hungry, Misha wasn't able to get much for breakfast today. Just an apple and a piece of bread." he told her, kicking his legs as if it didn't matter that they hadn't had much to eat out on the streets. "I think Misha is more hungry than me though. He always gives me his food."

Misha followed Magnus out to the balcony and hesitated before sitting on the other chair, looking up at the sky as he accepted a plate from Magnus. He looked down at the pie again, the smell alone making his stomach growl more and he took several huge bites before Magnus asked him about the man. Swallowing, he bit his lip as he tried to find the words to tell Magnus. "Teddy...lost both parents...big fire. He put in computer for people to take him take care of." he hesitated. The next part was going to be...difficult. It had upset Misha greatly just hearing it. "Teddy was taken in by man but....man is not good man. He.....he touch Teddy where not supposed to...a-and then..." his voice got shaky and he had to set down his plate of pie, appetite gone, scared of dropping it with how much his hands were shaking. "Man force himself on Teddy." he whispered softly, his eyes burning with tears. "Teddy run and I find and take care of but....th-the bruises...a-and he had the wh-white stuff that show man did the thing to him. I-I keep Teddy hidden so man can't do that again. Can't let him, Mongoose. Can't. Much rather it happen me aga-" he cut himself off and looked away, shaking and hugging himself as he tried not to cry.

Teddy snuggled Brandy again as he declared, "I love aaaaalll the sandwiches!" He tilted his head thoughtfully and said, "Do you have the jelly and peanut butter?!?!" he asked excitedly, bouncing in the seat with a grin. He definitely looked like he needed a bath after getting fed, though it was clear that Misha had at least tried to keep Teddy relatively clean. Teddy loved that Thessa could cut the apples into little shapes and he giggled as he watched her. "Its a little bunny!" he squealed out as he watched her before asking, "Can I have a piece?" he didn't want to reach over while she was holding a knife.

Misha struggled to get his emotions under control as he hugged himself, closing his eyes for a moment to take deep breaths. He knew that Teddy would be able to tell if he had gotten upset, despite being so young he had grown very perceptive of Misha's emotions most of the time. Misha looked up at Magnus when he said he was sorry, looking him in the eyes as Magnus promised that no one would ever touch him or Teddy like that ever again and that he would help fix it. He lifted a hand to scrub at his face, not wanting to let Teddy see his tears in case he popped out here like he had been known to do. Though hopefully Thessa was keeping him distracted enough to stay away. "I-I....w-want trust you, Mongoose." he said softly, his voice a little shaky. "I-I am 16, not yet old enough but....I have no papers. No one know I exist but him and you and Teddy....he no have papers on me like man did for Teddy." he ran his hands up and down his arms, looking out at the sky again and biting his lip. "It...might help you have papers for me but...I worry about man coming for you...he not like Teddy man....h-he....d-dangerous..." he shivered in fear and looked around, as if the man was nearby or could hear him talk about him.

((the answer to that btw, is he'd get into all kinds of mischief but not on purpose XD))

Teddy wasted little time when she put the plate in front of him, barely managing to say, "Thank you, Thessa!" before he shoved a whole slice into his mouth to munch away, a huge grin on his face as apple juice ran down his chin. At her question of jelly, he tilted his head and swallowed before saying, "Well....Misha says I shouldn't be picky but...I-I kind of like strawberry more...is that okay?" he looked a bit nervous asking, knowing that with Misha they hadn't been able to afford being picky and he had dealt with it of course but he really didn't like the texture of grape jelly.

Misha looked nervous as he waited for what Magnus would say. He was almost certain the other man would make him leave if he had someone dangerous who might try to come for him. So he looked more than a little startled when Magnus said not to worry, promising that the man wouldn't get to either of them. The determined look in his eyes spoke of how truthful he was, that he really did plan on making sure the man didn't get him, or hurt him. He was still worried about what might happen if the man found out he was with other people, but he wanted to believe, just this once, that maybe things would be alright. Scrubbing at his eyes again, he took a shaky breath and said, "I-if you no mind...a-and think it be safer with you have papers me...I-I no mind either." In truth, the idea that the papers could work like they would for Teddy and keep him from being taken again by the dangerous man made him want to believe even more that things might finally be going his way. That for once in his life, he would finally be safe. "Th-thank you Mongoose...." he sniffled out after a moment. "Thank you for protect me and Teddy." then something came to mind and he glanced over at Thessa and Teddy, biting his lip. "I can't....say all the things...is hard in english...but..." he frowned, trying to place what words to use in his mind. "I-i don't think...is good idea for me be seen change by either them. Never show Teddy, not want him worry, but Teaser is good person, I tell. Not want her see either. Not want get upset, keep both happy....but...I have...marks on skin...bad ones...ones that..." he struggled to come up with what he should say next before he got frustrated and said something in Russian. "Is easier if show you but...never let Teaser see, not let Teddy see. No want worry, or upset." he looked at Magnus. He was putting a lot on the line by trusting him, but Magnus genuinely wanted to help, and his everything was telling Misha to trust him. He didn't think he had the strength to actually go into detail about what happened, but before Magnus went through with getting papers for him, Misha felt it was important he know exactly what the man he was running from was capable of. "Must....show what dangerous man....capable of. What dangerous man done me before and do again if chance find me...." Misha said softly, his voice shaking. "Want....trust Mongoose. Trust you care of Teddy....t-try trust care me too..."